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AMP-activated protein kinase fortifies epithelial tight junctions during energetic stress via its effector GIV/Girdin
Nicolas Aznar,
Arjun Patel,
Cristina C Rohena,
Ying Dunkel,
Linda P Joosen,
Vanessa Taupin,
Irina Kufareva,
Marilyn G Farquhar,
Pradipta Ghosh ,
University of California, San Diego, United States;
Research Article Nov 4, 2016
Cited 16
Open annotations. The current annotation count on this page is being calculated.
Cite this article as: eLife 2016;5:e20795 doi: 10.7554/eLife.20795
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Loss of epithelial polarity impacts organ development and function; it is also oncogenic. AMPK, a key sensor of metabolic stress stabilizes cell-cell junctions and maintains epithelial polarity; its activation by Metformin protects the epithelial barrier against stress and suppresses tumorigenesis. How AMPK protects the epithelium remains unknown. Here, we identify GIV/Girdin as a novel effector of AMPK, whose phosphorylation at a single site is both necessary and sufficient for strengthening mammalian epithelial tight junctions and preserving cell polarity and barrier function in the face of energetic stress. Expression of an oncogenic mutant of GIV (cataloged in TCGA) that cannot be phosphorylated by AMPK increased anchorage-independent growth of tumor cells and helped these cells to evade the tumor-suppressive action of Metformin. This work defines a fundamental homeostatic mechanism by which the AMPK-GIV axis reinforces cell junctions against stress-induced collapse and also provides mechanistic insight into the tumor-suppressive action of Metformin.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.20795.001
Epithelial cells normally display a polarized structure, with the membrane protein and organelle compositions differing between the basal and apical sides of the cell (Kaplan et al., 2009). This asymmetry between apical and basolateral compartments segregates structures, proteins, and organelle functions across polarized cells. Cell polarity is fundamental for both the architecture and function of epithelial tissues; its loss triggers organ dysfunction, neoplastic transformation and cancer progression, all via dysregulation of cell growth and division (Martin-Belmonte and Perez-Moreno, 2012).
Epithelial polarization requires the coordination of multiple fundamental cellular processes that are driven by their own set of unique signaling pathways and whose integration in space and time dictates overall epithelial morphogenesis (St Johnston and Sanson, 2011). Among the evolutionarily conserved pathways that control epithelial cell polarity, several collaborate to assemble, stabilize and turnover the cell-cell junctions, e.g. CDC42 and PAR proteins, such as the PAR3-PAR6-aPKC complex (Wodarz and Nathke, 2007), and pathways that regulate membrane exocytosis and lipid modifications (St Johnston and Ahringer, 2010; Wodarz and Nathke, 2007).
Besides the pathways mentioned above, regulation of polarity requires an additional signaling component which is triggered exclusively under conditions of energetic stress. Three studies (Lee et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2006; Zheng and Cantley, 2007) published in 2006–2007 simultaneously reported a surprising role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the maintenance of epithelial cell polarity and barrier functions. Discovered in 1984, AMPK is unique in that it is a metabolic sensor protein which is activated during energetic stress and thereby, couples energy sensing to cell polarity by protecting cell junctions against stress-induced collapse. Using the polarized Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cell line (MDCK), it was demonstrated that AMPK is activated during calcium (Ca2+)-induced tight junction (TJ) assembly (Zhang et al., 2006; Zheng and Cantley, 2007). Depletion of the AMPK catalytic α subunit or expression of a kinase-dead mutant of AMPK inhibits TJ assembly as indicated by a loss of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER); the latter is a measure of paracellular ion flow which depends on TJ stability. Activation of AMPK with 5-aminoimidizole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) partially protects TJs from disassembly induced by calcium depletion (Zhang et al., 2006; Zheng and Cantley, 2007). These findings closely followed another major revelation that the tumor suppressor LKB1 (Liver Kinase B1; also known as Serine/Threonine Kinase 11 – STK11) is a direct activator of AMPK (Hawley et al., 2003; Hong et al., 2003; Shaw et al., 2004; Woods et al., 2003), and that polarity defects precede the development of tumors in genetically modified mice with tissue-specific deletion of LKB1 (Hezel et al., 2008). Together, these discoveries established the first links between energetic stress, cell polarity and oncogenesis. Since then, multiple studies have reported the protective role of AMPK in maintaining cell-cell junctions across a variety of cell types in diverse tissue types [lung (Garnett et al., 2013), heart (Castanares-Zapatero et al., 2013), the blood-brain barrier (Liu et al., 2014; Takata et al., 2013), kidney (Seo-Mayer et al., 2011), intestine (Spruss et al., 2012)] while mounting a pathologic response to a variety of stressors, from bacterial invasion (Patkee et al., 2016) to ischemia (Seo-Mayer et al., 2011).
Although there is a wide consensus on the role of the LKB1-AMPK axis and in particular AMPK's role in reinforcing TJs and preserving cell polarity during adverse environmental changes, it remains largely unknown how this kinase actually accomplishes this. One study suggested that muscle myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) may be the effector of AMPK during energetic stress in the fly (Lee et al., 2007), but those findings have since come into question (Shackelford and Shaw, 2009) because the phosphosites on MRLC do not conform to the optimal AMPK substrate motif found in all other established in vivo AMPK substrates. Furthermore, subsequent studies have demonstrated that the LKB1/AMPK pathway is not required for the maintenance of polarity during energetic stress in either flies (Haack et al., 2013; Mirouse et al., 2013) or fish (van der Velden and Haramis, 2011; van der Velden et al., 2011). Thus, despite the fact that it has been a decade since the first studies revealed AMPK's ability to preserve the epithelial architecture and function in the setting of energetic stress, effectors of AMPK that orchestrate these functions have not been identified. Here, we demonstrate that the multimodular polarity scaffold protein GIV (G-alpha interacting vesicle associated protein, a.k.a. Girdin) (see Figure 1A), is a novel substrate of AMPK, and define the molecular mechanisms by which the AMPK-GIV signaling axis protects the epithelium by stabilizing TJs and preserving cell polarity when challenged with energetic stress. Findings also reveal how deregulation of this pathway fuels the growth of tumor cells under energetic stress.
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AMPK binds and phosphorylates GIV at Ser (S) 245.
(A) Schematic showing the functional modules of the multimodular signal transducer GIV. From the N- to the C-terminus the domains are-- a Hook-domain (grey) which binds microtubules (Simpson et al., 2005); a long coiled-coil domain (green) assists in homo/oligomerization (Enomoto et al., 2005); a Gα-binding domain (GBD; yellow) which constitutively binds Gαi/s proteins (Le-Niculescu et al., 2005); a PI(4)P-binding motif (pink) which enables GIV to bind PI4P-enriched membranes at the Golgi and the PM (Enomoto et al., 2005); an evolutionarily conserved GEF motif (red) which binds and activates Gαi (Garcia-Marcos et al., 2009) and inactivates Gαs (Gupta et al., 2016), and releases ‘free’ Gβγ from both. The C-terminal ~200 aa of GIV (purple) also has key domains that enable GIV to bind and remodel actin (Enomoto et al., 2005), bind and enhance phosphorylation of Akt (Anai et al., 2005; Enomoto et al., 2005), bind ligand-activated RTKs (Ghosh et al., 2010; Lin et al., 2014), and bind and activate Class 1 PI3-Kinases (Lin et al., 2011). (B) Consensus phosphorylation site for previously identified substrates of AMPK are aligned with the putative AMPK substrate site in human GIV. Conserved residues are highlighted with colors. (C) The sequence encompassing the putative AMPK substrate motif was aligned among various species using ClustalW. Conserved residues are shaded in black and similar residues in gray. The consensus residues within the sequence are highlighted in blue. The residue, Ser(S)245 which was predicted to be phosphorylated by AMPK is highlighted in yellow. (D) Immunoprecipitations were carried out on lysates of Cos7 cells expressing myc-AMPKα2 using anti-myc mAb. Immune complexes were analyzed for endogenous GIV and myc (AMPKα2) by immunoblotting (IB). (E) Lysates of Cos7 cells expressing myc-AMPKα2 were used as a source of AMPK in pulldown assays with bacterially expressed GST or GST-GIV-NT (aa 1–440; which includes S245) immobilized on glutathione beads. Bound proteins were analyzed for myc (AMPKα), Gαi3 (negative control; because this G protein binds GIV's C-terminus, not N-terminus) and endogenous GIV (positive control; because GIV homo-oligomerizes via its NT) by immunoblotting (IB). (F) In vitro kinase assays were carried out using recombinant AMPK heterotrimers (α2/β/γ) and bacterially expressed and purified GST-GIV-NT (1–440) proteins or GST alone (negative control) and γ -32P [ATP]. Phosphoproteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography (top). Equal loading of substrate proteins was confirmed by staining the gel with Coomassie blue (bottom). AMPK phosphorylated GST-GIV-NT WT, but not the non-phosphorylatable SA mutant or GST alone. (G) Biochemical validation of a phosphospecific rabbit polyclonal antibody which detects GIV exclusively when it is phosphorylated at S245. In vitro kinase assays were carried out as described above and incubated in the presence of cold ATP. Phosphoproteins were analyzed for pS245-GIV and His (GIV-NT) by immunoblotting (IB). (H) In cellulo kinase assays were carried out in Cos7 cells co-expressing GIV-FLAG (WT or SA mutant) and myc-AMPKα constructs, and stimulating AMPK by glucose deprivation for 6 hr prior to lysis. GIV was immunoprecipitated from these lysates using anti-FLAG mAb and analyzed for phosphorylation of GIV at S245 by immunoblotting (IB) with anti-pS245-GIV and FLAG (GIV-Flag). GIV-WT, but not GIV-SA is phosphorylated at S245 in cells responding to energetic stress. (I) AMPK-/- and control MEFs were subjected or not to energetic stress by exposing them to growth conditions with (+) or without (-) glucose for 4 hr prior to lysis. GIV immunoprecipitated from equal aliquots of lysates (lower panel) were analyzed for total (t) and phosphorylated (pS245) GIV by immunoblotting. Representative blots are shown (n = 3). (J) Top: Homology model of GIV-bound AMPKα generated using the solved crystal structure of constitutively active Par1-MARK2 (a member of the AMPK family of kinases) in complex with the CagA protein encoded by pathologic strains of Helicobacter pylori [PDB: 3IEC (Nesic et al., 2010)] as template. Bottom: The target:template alignment is shown for the GIV peptide (with H. pylori CagA protein) and AMPK (with MAPK2, partial alignment of binding site residues).
AMPK binds and phosphorylates GIV at residue S245
GIV regulates epithelial cell polarity and morphogenesis (Bhandari et al., 2015; Houssin et al., 2015; Sasaki et al., 2015); it's role at cell-cell junctions has been attributed to its ability to bind PAR3 (Sasaki et al., 2015) and the cadherin-catenin complexes (Houssin et al., 2015), and accelerate nucleotide exchange on (i.e. activate) the trimeric G-protein α subunit, Gαi via its C-terminal GEF motif; Figure 1A (Sasaki et al., 2015). An examination of GIV's sequence revealed the presence of an evolutionarily conserved optimal substrate recognition site for AMPK [FxR/KxxS/TxxxL (Banko et al., 2011; Hardie et al., 2016; Marin et al., 2015)] within the N-terminus of GIV (aa 239–250; Accession no. Q3V6T2) (Figure 1B–C). We asked if AMPK recognizes (binds and phosphorylates) GIV as a substrate and phosphorylates Ser 245 (S245) within the consensus. To investigate if AMPK binds GIV, we used two complementary approaches. First, co-immunoprecipitation assays using Cos7 cells expressing myc-tagged AMPKα2 confirmed that GIV co-immunoprecipitates with AMPK (Figure 1D). Second, GST-pulldown assays confirmed that the N-terminal 440 aa of GIV [which contains the residue S245] is sufficient for binding AMPKα2 (Figure 1E). These results demonstrate that GIV binds AMPKα both in vitro and in cells and that the interaction is mediated via GIV's N-terminus.
To investigate if AMPK phosphorylates GIV, we carried out in vitro and in cellulo kinase assays and generated an affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal phosphoS245-GIV antibody to specifically detect the phosphoprotein by immunoblotting. Autoradiographs of in vitro kinase assays carried out using γP-32 ATP, recombinant AMPKα2 heterotrimers and bacterially expressed N-terminal fragment (aa 1–440) of GIV showed that AMPK phosphorylates GST-GIV-NT WT (1–440 aa) but not a non-phosphorylatable mutant protein in which the Ser at 245 is mutated to Ala (A) (S245A; henceforth referred to as SA) (Figure 1F). Identical results were obtained when in vitro kinase assays were carried out as above, except by replacing γP-32 ATP with non-radioactive ATP and analyzed by immunoblotting with the anti-pS245-GIV antibody (Figure 1G). The phospho-specific antibody also showed a high degree of specificity; it did not detect non-phosphorylated GIV-WT or the phosphomimicking mutant in which S245 is mutated to Asp(D) (S245D; henceforth referred to as SD) (Figure 1G). To confirm if AMPK phosphorylates GIV at S245 in cells, we carried out in cellulo kinase assays in cells coexpressing both GIV-FLAG (substrate) and myc-AMPKα (kinase). Because AMPK is activated by increasing concentrations of AMP during metabolic stress induced by glucose starvation (Hardie, 2004; Tzatsos and Tsichlis, 2007), we triggered activation of AMPK by growing the cells in glucose-free medium prior to lysis and by immunoprecipitating GIV and analyzing it for phosphorylation at S245 by immunoblotting (Figure 1H). Phosphorylation of GIV at S245 was detected exclusively in the glucose-starved cells expressing GIV-WT, but not in those expressing GIV-SA (Figure 1H). That AMPK is required for phosphorylation of GIV at S245 after energetic stress was further confirmed using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs); such phosphorylation was induced by glucose deprivation in control MEFs, but not in MEFs derived from AMPK-/- mice (Figure 1I). These results demonstrate that AMPK phosphorylates GIV at S245 in vitro and in cells. Furthermore, a homology model of GIV's N-terminal sequence bound to the catalytic α-subunit of AMPK generated using a previously solved crystal structure of CagA in complex with the AMPK-related kinase, MARK2 [PDB: 3IEC (Nesic et al., 2010)], showed that the residues within and flanking S245 and the consensus substrate recognition sequence are compatible with AMPK's ability to bind and phosphorylate GIV at Ser 245 (Figure 1J).
These findings are in keeping with results from the first large-scale high-throughput (HTP) Mass Spectrometry analysis (LC-ESI-MS/MS) aimed at mapping human protein-protein interactions (Ewing et al., 2007) in which GIV co-immunoprecipitated with FLAG-tagged AMPK in HEK293 cells(Ewing et al., 2007) and two prior HTP MS studies aimed at mapping the human phosphoproteome (Schweppe et al., 2013; Zhou et al., 2013) which also reported that S245 on endogenous GIV is phosphorylated in cells. We conclude that GIV is a bona fide substrate of AMPK and that S245 is a specific substrate site for the kinase.
GIV phosphorylated at S245 localizes to cell-cell junctions
Next we asked where GIV, and more specifically GIV that is phosphorylated at S245 (henceforth referred to as pS245-GIV), localizes in cells responding to energetic stress. We studied this by carrying out immunofluorescence studies on monolayers of Type II MDCK cells which are a widely used cell-based model system to study epithelial cell polarity, junctional integrity and epithelial morphogenesis (Dukes et al., 2011). Type II MDCK cells have been used as the primary model system in the initial studies that revealed the role of AMPK in the stabilization of TJs (Zhang et al., 2011; Zhang et al., 2006; Zheng and Cantley, 2007). While GIV was not detected at cell-cell contact sites in fully polarized domed MDCK monolayers at steady-state under basal (normoglycemic) conditions, it localized transiently to cell-cell junctions during energetic stress (Figure 2A). Active AMPK also localized transiently to cell-cell contact sites exclusively after energetic stress at specialized zones of the TJs, called tricellular TJs (Figure 2—figure supplement 1). pS245-GIV was not detected at the cell-cell contact sites either in isolated single cells or in fully polarized domed MDCK monolayers under normal glucose conditions, but localized to the cell-cell junctions transiently when single cells assembled junctions during the course of their growth into confluent monolayers (Figure 2B). Although pS245-GIV was not detected at the junctions of fully polarized domed monolayers, it was prominently detected once the monolayers were subjected to energetic stress with glucose starvation (Figure 2B). pS245-GIV was also readily detected at cell-cell junctions when domed monolayers were exposed to low-calcium states with the Ca2+-chelator EGTA, indicating that such localization is Ca2+-independent. Both conditions, i.e., low-calcium states (EGTA-induced) and energetic stress states (induced by glucose deprivation) were accompanied by activation of AMPK (Figure 2—figure supplement 2). Using cross-sections of Z-stacked images of MDCK cells treated with EGTA, we confirmed that pS245-GIV colocalizes preferentially with Occludin, a marker of tight junctions (TJs), and only occasionally with β-Catenin, a marker of adherens junctions (AJs) (Figure 3). These results demonstrate that pS245-GIV preferentially localizes to the TJs and that such localization is seen exclusively during TJ turnover; localization is seen both during TJ assembly as cells come in contact to form a monolayer and during TJ-disassembly as monolayers collapse in response to energetic stress or Ca2+-depletion. These findings raise the possibility that pS245-GIV may serve as one of the effectors of AMPK at the TJs which enables the kinase to enhance junctional stability exclusively during stress-induced junction turnover. That little or no pS245-GIV was observed at cell-cell contact sites in fully polarized domed monolayers at steady-state indicates one of the two possibilities: (i) the AMPK-GIV axis, of which pS245-GIV is a product, may not have a role at the TJs under physiologic conditions, but is required to fortify TJs exclusively under conditions of energetic stress, or (ii) pS245-GIV may be required for the maintenance of TJs, but cannot be detected because of rapid dephosphorylation and a short half-life at the junctions. Finally, that GIV-SA expressing cells have normal TEER at steady-state (no energetic stress, normal calcium, normal serum; Figure 4C), but fail to 'recover' TEER when they are returned to NCM growth conditions after an initial exposure to LCM (Figure 4D) suggests that in the absence of the AMPK-GIV axis energetic stress and disassembly of junctions triggered by low calcium may set in motion some yet unknown pathways in an irreversible manner, perhaps culminating in detachment and/or apoptosis.
Figure 2 with 2 supplements see all
GIV and S245-phosphorylated GIV localize to cell-cell junctions.
(A) MDCK cells were grown on glass cover slips, exposed or not to energetic stress (glucose deprivation for 30 and 120 min), and subsequently fixed and stained for total (t) GIV (red) and DAPI (blue; nuclei) and analyzed by confocal microscopy. Representative confocal images are shown. In domed monolayers at basal condition, GIV is absent from cell-cell junctions. However, GIV is detected at cell-cell junctions (arrowheads) after energetic stress induced by glucose deprivation. Scale bar = 10 μm. (B) MDCK cells were grown on glass cover slips, at various stages during their growth phase: from single-cells (top), to non-confluent monolayers (middle), to confluent domed monolayers (bottom). They were fixed and stained for Occludin (a TJ marker; green), pS245-GIV (red) and DAPI (blue; nuclei) and analyzed by confocal microscopy. Confluent monolayers were either maintained in complete medium in the presence of glucose (+ Glucose), or subjected to energetic stress by glucose deprivation (No Glucose) or calcium deprivation (EGTA). Representative fields are shown on the left. RGB plots, generated using ImageJ on the right assess the degree of colocalization between pS245-GIV and Occludin along the lines in the corresponding images during cell polarization are shown in the middle. Schematics summarizing the staining pattern in each condition are shown on the right. Scale bar = 25 μm.
S245-phosphorylated GIV (pS245-GIV) localizes preferentially to tight junctions (TJs).
MDCK cells were grown to full confluency into domed monolayers prior to exposing them to the Ca2+ chelator EGTA for 6 hr prior to fixation. Fixed cells were co-stained for pS245-GIV (red) and either the TJ-marker Occludin (Left; green) or the AJ-marker β-Catenin (Right; green) and analyzed by confocal microscopy (z-stack projections and x-z cross-sections). Top: Representative confocal images are shown, each taken at the level of the TJs (marked by Occludin; left) and AJs (marked by β-Catenin; right). Middle: RGB profiles showed that pS245 GIV colocalized with Occludin but not β-Catenin. Bottom: Sections through the 3D reconstruction of a confocal Z-stack confirms that, in most instances the pS245-GIV colocalizes with the TJ marker Occludin, and lies just apical to the AJ marker β-Catenin. In some cases (arrowheads), the lower pole of the pS245-GIV signal partially colocalizes with the upper pole of the β-Catenin signal. Schematic summarizes the localization of pS245-GIV and its relationship to the TJ and AJs. Scale bar = 25 μm.
Phosphorylation of GIV at S245 stabilizes tight junctions (TJs) under low-calcium states and is essential for epithelial barrier function and morphogenesis.
(A) Whole cell lysates of MDCK cells stably expressing wild-type GIV (GIV-WT), or non-phosphorylatable (S→A; GIV-SA), or phospho-mimicking (S→D; GIV-SD) mutants of GIV were analyzed for GIV and tubulin by immunoblotting. (B–C) Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was measured using a Millicel-ERS resistance meter across fully polarized domed monolayers of various MDCK cell lines grown to domed confluency in Transwell inserts (schematic shown in B) in the presence of full growth media with normal calcium. Bar graphs (C) display the TEER measured across each cell line. As expected, type I MDCKs exhibit higher TEER than type II cells. No significant differences were noted between the MDCK-GIV cell lines stably expressing the various GIV constructs. n = 3. Results are expressed as ± SEM. ****p<0.0001. (D–E) Changes in TEER was measured across monolayers of various MDCK cell lines during exposure to low-calcium media (LCM; left), followed by switching to normal calcium media (NCM; right) or during energetic stress when exposed to media without glucose. Graphs in D and E show that compared to MDCK-GIV-WT cells, TEER rapidly dropped across MDCK-GIV-SA monolayers exposed to LCM (D) as well as energetic stress (E) but relatively preserved in MDCK-GIV-SD cells. This drop is rapidly and completely reversed upon exposure to NCM in MDCK-GIV-WT and SD cells, but remains impaired in MDCK-GIV-SA cells. n = 3. Results are expressed as ± SEM. **p<0.01; ***p<0.001; **p<0.01. (F) MDCK-GIV cell lines were grown to full confluency into domed monolayers, treated with EGTA for 1 hr, and subsequently fixed. Fixed cells were stained for E-cadherin, Occludin, and DAPI (nuclei; blue), and analyzed by confocal microscopy. Images displayed are representative of 13–15 HPF images captured at 60X mag in each cell line. Preservation of TJs and AJs, as visualized using Occludin and E-Cadherin as markers, was significantly higher in MDCK-GIV-WT and MDCK-GIV-SD [65–90% of the imaged surface area; n = 15 randomly imaged fields in each cell line], but not in MDCK-GIV-SA cell lines [0–4% of the imaged surface area; n = 13 randomly imaged fields; p<0.001]. Scale bar = 10 μm. See also Figure 4—figure supplements 2 and 3 for the findings at baseline and at 4 hr time point. (G) Parental MDCK cells and various MDCK-GIV cell lines were seeded and grown in collagen-containing matrix for 2 weeks and analyzed for the formation of cyst and tubular structures by light microscopy. Representative cysts and tubular structures are shown for each cell line. L = lumen. Scale bar = 50 μm. (H–J) Bar graphs display the % of cysts with single lumens (Y axis; H), cyst volume (Y axis; I) and % fields with tubule formations (Y axis; J) seen in each cell line in G. Absolute numbers for cyst volume were normalized to parental cells (set to 100%). Three independent experiments comprising 450–600 cysts per cell line are summarized. Results are expressed as ± SEM. **p<0.01; ***p<0.001; ****p<0.0001.
Phosphorylation of GIV at S245 is essential for junctional integrity and epithelial morphogenesis
To determine the role of pS245-GIV at TJs in MDCK cells, we first compared the levels of expression of endogenous GIV by immunoblotting lysates of Type I and II MDCK cells which present different physiological properties such as junction integrity and stability (Barker and Simmons, 1981). Expression of GIV was significantly reduced (~by 80–85%) in Type II MDCK cells, which present 'leakier' junctions compared to Type I MDCK cells (Rothen-Rutishauser et al., 1998) (Figure 4—figure supplement 1). Such low levels of GIV expression have previously been reported by others [GIV in MDCK II cells could be detected by immunoblotting exclusively after enrichment by immunoprecipitation (Sasaki et al., 2015)]. Despite multiple attempts at depleting the residual low amounts of GIV by shRNA (lentiviral vectors), we failed to generate cell lines stably and reliably depleted of GIV, suggesting that the already low levels of endogenous GIV may be essential for the survival of MDCK cells in monolayer cultures. As an alternative approach, to study how phosphorylation of GIV at S245 affects cell polarity we generated MDCK II cell lines stably expressing FLAG-tagged full length GIV constructs at levels ~ 2 to 3 -fold above the low levels of the endogenous protein (Figure 4A): GIV-WT (which models the physiologic state allowing cycles of phospho-dephosphorylation at S245); the non-phosphorylatable SA (which models the constitutively dephosphorylated state); the phosphomimicking SD mutants (which models the constitutively phosphorylated state at S245). The functional integrity of TJs, as determined by measuring paracellular permeability of ions assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) across fully polarized domed monolayers (Figure 4B) were similar between the parental and various Type II MDCK-GIV stable cell lines at steady-state (normal glucose and calcium); as expected, all of them were significantly 'leakier' than Type I MDCK cells (Figure 4C). However, when these cells were exposed to low-Ca2+ media (Figure 4D) or deprived of glucose (Figure 4E) the drop in TEER when was significantly more across MDCK-GIV-SA monolayers and significantly less across MDCK-GIV-SD monolayers compared to MDCK-GIV-WT. When normocalcemic conditions were restored, MDCK-GIV-WT and SD cells regained their baseline TEER, whereas MDCK-GIV-SA cells did not (Figure 4D). The MDCK-GIV-SD monolayers also showed a smaller drop in TEER (25%, compared to 50% in MDCK-GIV-WT monolayers) when exposed to EGTA (Figure 4—figure supplement 2A), whereas the MDCK-GIV-SA monolayers failed to regain their TEER as efficiently as MDCK-GIV-WT cells after a Ca2+ switch (Figure 4—figure supplement 2B). These findings indicate that although all MDCK-GIV cell lines make stable TJs in normal growth conditions, the MDCK-GIV-SA monolayers are more vulnerable and the MDCK-GIV-SD monolayers are more resilient to Ca2+-depletion or energetic stress compared to GIV-WT cells.
The patterns of vulnerability versus resilience between the MDCK-GIV-SA and SD cell lines were also observed when the morphological integrity of TJs was assessed by immunofluorescence. Under normoglycemic and normocalcemic conditions, MDCK-GIV cell lines were indistinguishable from the parental Type II cells and from each other. They all grew into confluent monolayers of fully polarized cells with intact TJs and AJs, as determined by immunofluorescence studies looking at the localization of Occludin (Figure 4—figure supplement 3), E-Cadherin, ZO-1 or β-Catenin (data not shown). However, clear differences emerged when the localization of TJ and AJ proteins were analyzed in these cells after exposing them to conditions that trigger disassembly of cell-cell junctions by either depriving them of Ca2+ (with EGTA; Figure 4F, Figure 4—figure supplement 4) or by subjecting them to energetic stress (by glucose starvation; Figure 4—figure supplement 5). Both conditions revealed the early disruption of TJs and AJs and increased vulnerability of MDCK-GIV-SA cells compared to control MDCK parental cells or the MDCK-GIV-WT cells. These cells exhibited increased actin remodeling and formed stress fibers compared to control or GIV-WT cells, indicative of junctional instability, loss of polarity and cell-flattening (Figure 4—figure supplement 5). By contrast, the MDCK-GIV-SD cells were more resilient, in that junctional markers localized to cell-cell junctions despite prolonged exposure to conditions that disrupt junctions (Figure 4F; Figure 4—figure supplements 4–5). These findings indicate that an interruption in the AMPK-GIV axis during energetic stress, as modeled in the MDCK-GIV-SA cells in which AMPK cannot phosphorylate S245 on GIV, made junctions more vulnerable, leakier, and triggered loss of cell polarity. Under the same set of conditions hyperactivation of the AMPK-GIV axis, as modeled in the MDCK-GIV-SD cells which mimics constitutive phosphorylation at S245 on GIV, resisted stress-induced loss of junctional integrity and preserved barrier functions and cell polarity in the face of stress. We conclude that phosphorylation of GIV at S245 by AMPK is largely dispensable under normal growth conditions but essential for TJ integrity exclusively during energetic stress. This single phosphoevent not only resists stress-induced junctional collapse, but also favors their reassembly during recovery.
Because destabilization of the epithelial barrier alters epithelial morphogenesis (Pollack et al., 1998; Roignot et al., 2013), next we asked if the contrasting junctional properties of MDCK-GIV monolayers affect cell behavior during cystogenesis within 3D Matrigel cultures; the latter is a stringent assay for testing the integrity of polarity pathways. When cultivated in 3D collagen matrix, which limits the availability of glucose, nutrients and oxygen by diffusion only, MDCK cells with intact polarity pathways form cysts comprised of polarized cells lining a single central lumen (O'Brien et al., 2002). When one or more of the polarity pathways are disrupted, cysts display abnormal features, e.g., deformed or multiple lumens, elongated structures, tubules or other abnormal shapes or sizes. MDCK-parental and MDCK-GIV-WT cells morphed into cysts with a single central lumen and infrequently into small tubular structures (Figure 4G–J). MDCK-GIV-SD cells formed cysts that were consistently smaller in diameter (by ~30–40%) with a smooth edged central lumen (Figure 4I), but with a notable absence of tubular structures. By contrast, MDCK-GIV-SA cells morphed into larger cysts invariably featuring multiple lumens and abundant complex branched tubular structures (Figure 4G,J). These data indicate that phosphorylation on GIV S245 is a key determinant of normal epithelial morphogenesis-- phosphorylation favors polarized normal cysts, whereas absence of phosphorylation favors branching tubules and multi-lumen structures that are associated with loss of cell polarity.
Stabilization of tight junctions by AMPK requires phosphorylation of GIV at S245
Previous studies (Zhang et al., 2006; Zheng and Cantley, 2007) have shown that inhibition of AMPK, either by genetic manipulation or by chemicals like Compound C makes TJs vulnerable to disruption, whereas pharmacologic activation of AMPK with AICAR or Metformin stabilizes TJs. We used these modulators of AMPK on the MDCK-GIV stable cell lines to investigate if the previously observed role of AMPK in the protection of epithelial TJs is mediated via its ability to phosphorylate GIV at S245. If such phosphorylation is essential, we expected that pre-treatment of monolayers with AMPK agonists AICAR or Metformin would not protect TJs formed by MDCK-GIV-SA cells no matter how efficiently AMPK is activated. Conversely, we expected that treatment of monolayers with the AMPK inhibitor Compound C would not disrupt TJs assembled by MDCK-GIV-SD cells, in which the need for AMPK has been bypassed by expression of a mutant that mimics constitutive activation of the pathway. We found such is indeed the case because compared to MDCK-GIV-WT cells, the loss of functional integrity of TJs (as determined by a drop in TEER) after short (2 hr) exposures to Compound C was significantly less in MDCK-GIV-SD cells and greater in MDCK-GIV-SA cells (Figure 5A). As anticipated, the protective actions of Metformin (Figure 5B) or AICAR (Figure 5C) on TJs of cells exposed to low Ca2+ media was seen in MDCK-GIV-WT, but not in MDCK-GIV-SA cells. Immunofluorescence studies confirmed that the increased susceptibility and resilience of GIV-SA and GIV-SD cells, respectively, to the AMPK inhibitor Compound C correlate with the early and late loss of structural integrity of TJs and AJs, as determined by the loss of localization of junctional proteins from cell-cell contact sites (Figure 5D). Prolonged exposure of monlayers to Compound C showed that MDCK-GIV-SD cells continue to stay attached as monolayers, long after MDCK-GIV-WT and SA cell lines have detached and floated in clumps of dead cells, indicating that the GIV-SD cell line is relatively insensitive to the AMPK-inhibitor Compound C (Figure 5—figure supplement 1). The findings in the MDCK-GIV-SA cells indicate that phosphorylation of GIV at S245 is required for the protective actions of AMPK activators on TJ integrity. The findings in the MDCK-GIV-SD cells indicate that phosphorylation of GIV at S245 is sufficient for offering protection against and escaping the disruptive actions of AMPK inhibitors on TJs (see schematic and legend; Figure 5E). Because Compound C, the only available cell permeable effective inhibitor of AMPK can also inhibit other kinases besides AMPK (Bain et al., 2007; Vogt et al., 2011), there is a possibility that GIV may interplay with kinases other than AMPK to maintain TJ integrity. We conclude that pS245-GIV, which is generated only when the AMPK-GIV axis is intact, is both necessary and sufficient to fortify TJs, avoid junctional collapse and preserve cell polarity in the face of energetic stress. We further conclude that a significant part of the junction-stabilizing effects of AMPK agonists AICAR and Metformin during energetic stress (Zhang et al., 2006; Zheng and Cantley, 2007) are mediated by AMPK via its downstream effector, pS245-GIV.
Figure 5 with 1 supplement see all
Stabilization of tight junctions (TJs) by AMPK requires phosphorylation of GIV at S245.
(A) MDCK cell lines stably expressing various GIV constructs were grown in Transwell inserts to full confluency into domed monolayers prior to exposing them to Compound C for 1 hr. TEER was measured before and after treatment with Compound C as in 4B-C. Bar graphs display the change in TEER in response to Compound C (compared to basal). MDCK-GIV-SA cells show more drop in TEER and GIV-SD cells show less drop in TEER compared to MDCK-GIV-WT cells. n = 3. Results are expressed as ± SEM. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001. (B,C) MDCK-GIV cell lines were grown in Transwell inserts as described above and pre-treated (+) or not (-) for 1 hr with either Metformin (B) or AICAR (C) prior to exposure to low calcium media (LCM). Bar graphs display the drop in TEER after exposure to LCM. Drop in TEER was significantly less in MDCK-GIV-WT cells when pre-treated with Metformin (B) or AICAR (C). No significant difference was seen in the degree of drop in TEER in MDCK-GIV-SA cells irrespective of pre-treatment with Metformin (B) or AICAR (C). n = 3. Results are expressed as ± SEM. ns = not significant; *p<0.05; **p<0.01. (D) MDCK cell lines stably expressing various GIV constructs were grown to full confluency into domed monolayers prior to exposing them to Compound C for the indicated periods of time prior to fixation. Fixed cells were stained for the TJ-marker Occludin (green) and DAPI (blue; nuclei) and analyzed by confocal microscopy. Images displayed are representative of 10–11 HPF images captured randomly at 60X mag in each cell line. Loss of TJs, as determined by loss of Occludin staining from cell-cell contact sites, was observed early in MDCK-GIV-SA and WT cells, but preserved for longer in MDCK-GIV-SD cells (compare 6, 10 and 20 hr time points). At each time point, the % area of the monolayer that showed loss of Occludin at cell-cell contact sites was significantly higher in MDCK-GIV-WT (65–90% of the imaged surface area; n = 10 HPFs) and in MDCK-GIV-SA cells (85–100% of the imaged surface area; n = 11 HPFs) when compared to MDCK-GIV-SD cell lines (2–10% of the imaged surface area; n = 10 HPFs; p<0.0001). MDCK-GIV monolayers exposed to Compound C for 20 hr were also monitored by light microscopy, and representative images are shown in Figure 5—figure supplement 1. (E) Schematic summarizes the effect of the pharmacologic modulators of AMPK used in various panels of this figure and their effect on the AMPK-GIV signaling axis, junctional stability and TEER. Compound C, which inhibits AMPK, inhibits phosphorylation of GIV-WT at S245, destabilizes TJs and reduces TEER. The phosphomimicking GIV-SD mutant which bypasses the need for AMPK, is relatively resistant to the action of Compound C. Metformin and AICAR, two activators of AMPK trigger phosphorylation of GIV-WT at S245, stabilize TJs and preserve TEER. The non-phosphorylatable GIV-SA mutant is relatively insensitive to the actions of Metformin and AICAR.
Phosphorylation at S245 increases GIV's affinity for junction-associated microtubules
Next, we probed the molecular basis for how pS245-GIV stabilizes TJs and resists stress-induced junctional collapse. We hypothesized that phosphorylation at S245 could impact the functions of one of the two N-terminal modules in GIV that flank this residue (Figure 1A): (i) the ~200 aa long hook module which binds microtubules (Simpson et al., 2005) and (ii) the ~1200 aa long coiled-coil module which mediates homodimerization (Enomoto et al., 2005). First, we ruled out a significant impact of phosphorylation at S245 on GIV's ability to homodimerize (Figure 6—figure supplement 1). Then, we focused on the impact of such phosphorylation on GIV's ability to associate with microtubules. 3D reconstruction of deconvolved confocal images showed that pS245-GIV colocalized with and followed the bundles of polymerized microtubule tracks at the cell-cell borders (Figure 6; Figure 6—figure supplement 2). More importantly, pS245-GIV exclusively laced those microtubule tracks that ran along cell-cell junctions (arrowheads; Figure 6C) and not those that were found on the free-borders of the cells (arrows; Figure 6D). RGB plot analyses revealed two distinct patterns: (1) pS245-GIV overlaying individual microtubule tracks (Figure 6I); and (2) pS245-GIV in the middle of two parallel microtubule tracks ('linker' pattern; Figure 6J). These findings indicate that pS245-GIV colocalizes with junction-associated microtubules and raise the possibility that the phosphoevent may impact GIV's ability to bind α- and/or β-tubulin heterodimers.
GIV phosphorylated at S245 (pS245-GIV) localizes along junction-associated microtubules.
(A) Subconfluent monolayers of MDCK cells grown on cover slips were fixed and stained for α-Tubulin (green), pS245-GIV (red) and DAPI (blue; nuclei) and analyzed by confocal microscopy. Image A shows an xy-plane maximum projection of a deconvolved stack of images, acquired at 20-nm z-intervals using a Olympus cellSens deconvolution (constrained iterative) and restoration system (Olympus FV3000) and a Apochromat 60XOSC2, NA 1.4 objective. The total thickness of the image stack is 4.8 mm. Two regions of interest (ROI), 1 and 2, are indicated with white boxes. (B–D) 3D reconstruction of each ROI shows the close proximity of pS245-GIV (red) to connecting microtubules (green) running along the cell-cell junctions (arrowheads). Little or no pS245-GIV staining (red pixels) is seen on microtubules at the 'free' cell border in panel D (arrows). (E–H) Maximum projected ROI‘s 1 and 2 are magnified in E and G, respectively. Individual Z-stacks of each ROI is shown in Figure 6—figure supplement 2. Single Z-stacks of ROI‘s 1 and 2 are displayed in F and H, respectively. The insets in panels F and H show red, green and merged channels of respective figures. The white line indicates the pixels used for generating the RGB profile plots shown in I and J. RGB profiles show that pS245-GIV (red pixels) often co-localizes either completely with microtubule tracks (green pixels; I) or lay between two microtubule tracks (J) at the cell-cell junctions.
The structure of microtubules shows that the last ∼100 amino acids of α- and β-tubulin project from the surface of the MT primarily as two helices (Nogales et al., 1999; Nogales et al., 1998). We hypothesized that GIV might engage the free C-termini of tubulin monomers, as has been previously demonstrated in the case of the AMPK-substrate CLIP-170 (Mishima et al., 2007). We prepared recombinant GST fusion proteins representing the C-terminal ~100 amino acids of α- and β-tubulin (see Materials and methods) and used them in GST pulldown assays. These assays revealed that full length GIV preferentially bound the C-terminus of α-, but not β-Tubulin, and that this interaction is increased during energetic stress (Figure 7—figure supplement 1). Using bacterially expressed N-terminal GIV constructs (aa 1–440) that were phosphorylated in vitro with AMPK, we confirmed that the GIV●Tubulin interaction has two key properties: (i) it occurs between GIV's N-terminus and prefers the C-terminus of α-Tubulin (Figure 7A); (ii) it requires GIV to be phosphorylated at S245 by AMPK (Figure 7A–B). Tubulin co-sedimentation assays further confirmed that energetic stress favors the association of GIV with polymerized, sedimentable microtubules (Figure 7C–D), and that phosphorylation at S245 (mimicked by the GIV-SD mutation) is sufficient to enhance such association (Figure 7E–F). These findings demonstrate that phosphorylation at S245 by AMPK impacts GIV's ability to bind α-tubulin and associate with polymerized microtubules. Taken together with our findings by confocal microscopy (Figure 6), we conclude that energetic stress triggers pS245-GIV to specifically bind the junction-associated microtubule tracks. Because AMPK regulates post-translational modifications on the C-terminus of α-Tubulin during energetic stress (Herms et al., 2015) and because it is capable of stimulating microtubule polymerization specifically at the cell periphery [via phosphorylation of the plus end protein, CLIP-170 (Nakano et al., 2010)], it is possible that either or both of those phenomena play a role in restricting pS245-GIV to associate exclusively with the junction-associated microtubule tracks. Although further experiments will be needed to shed light on these mechanisms, the results presented in this work and the published literature to date support the following model (see legend Figure 7G): Energetic stress triggers AMPK signaling and phosphorylation of GIV at S245, pS245-GIV localizes to TJs, the N-terminus of GIV binds α-tubulin and junction-associated microtubule tracks. It is here that GIV may subsequently impact cell polarity and junctional integrity by assembling various functional complexes with its C-terminus, i.e., by (i) binding the Par3/Par6/aPKC polarity complex (Ohara et al., 2012; Sasaki et al., 2015); (ii) binding and modulating the endocytic trafficking of E-cadherin (Ichimiya et al., 2015); (iii) linking cadherin-catenin complexes to the actin cytoskeleton (Houssin et al., 2015); and finally, (iv) binding and activating G protein, Gαi via its GEF motif and maintaining epithelial polarity through the Par polarity complex (Sasaki et al., 2015). Each of these functional associations of GIV have been implicated in the generation of cell polarity.
Phosphorylation of GIV at S245 increases its ability to bind α-tubulin.
(A) Bacterially expressed and purified His-GIV-NT WT were phosphorylated (+) or not (-) with recombinant AMPK heterotrimers (α/β/γ) in vitro prior to their use in binding assays with GST-α-Tubulin-CT or GST-β-Tubulin-CT immobilized on glutathione-agarose beads. Bound proteins were analyzed for GIV-NT (anti-His) by immunoblotting (IB). His-GIV-NT(1–440) binds GST-tagged carboxyl terminus of α-Tubulin exclusively after phosphorylation by AMPK. No binding is seen with β-Tubulin regardless of phosphorylation. (B) WT and non-phosphorylatable SA mutant His-GIV-NT proteins were phosphorylated (+) or not (-) by recombinant AMPK as in A prior to use in binding assays with GST-tagged carboxyl terminus of α-Tubulin. Bound proteins were analyzed for GIV (His) by immunoblotting (IB). (C–D) Tubulin cosedimentation assays (see Materials and methods) were carried out with equal aliquots of pre-cleared lysates of Cos7 cells that were grown in the presence (G) or absence (NG) of glucose for 18 hr. Samples were centrifuged at high speed to separate the microtubule polymer (P; pellet) from the soluble tubulin (S; supernatant), resolved by SDS-PAGE, and analyzed for the presence of GIV and tubulin by immunoblotting (IB). The ratio of GIV in pellet vs supernatant was quantified by band densitometry and displayed as bar graphs in D. Error bars represent mean ± S.E.M; n = 3; *p<0.05. (E–F) Tubulin cosedimentation assays were carried out with equal aliquots of pre-cleared lysates of Cos7 cells expressing either vector control, or FLAG tagged GIV-WT or SD mutant as in C, and analyzed for the presence of GIV, GAPDH (negative control) and tubulin by immunoblotting (IB). The ratio of GIV in pellet vs supernatant was quantified by band densitometry and displayed as bar graphs in F. Error bars represent mean ± S.E.M; n = 3; **p<0.01. (G) Schematic summarizing the role of GIV in the regulation of cell-cell junction stability during an energetic stress and illustrating how the current findings relate to prior work. Exposure of epithelial cells to conditions that induce energetic stress result in depletion of cellular ATP stores and accumulation of AMP (step 1); the latter activates AMPK kinase (step 2). Once activated, AMPK phosphorylates GIV at S245 (step 3) triggering its localization to the cell-cell junction (TJs) via increased ability to bind TJ-associated microtubules (Lee et al., 2007) (step 4). Once localized to the cell-cell junctions, GIV has been shown (Houssin et al., 2015) to bind AJ-localized protein complexes, e.g., α- and β-Catenins and E-cadherin and links the catenin-cadherin complexes to the actin cytoskeleton (steps 5 and 8). GIV has also been shown to bind TJ proteins, e.g., aPKC/Par3/Par6 complex (Ohara et al., 2012) (step 6), and link these proteins to G proteins and the actin cytoskeleton (Sasaki et al., 2015) (steps 7 and 8).
The AMPK-GIV axis suppresses anchorage-independent growth; mutations allow some cancer cells to evade such suppression
Next, we asked how the AMPK-GIV stress-polarity pathway impacts cancer cell growth. Most cancers are epithelial in origin, and the loss of cell polarity is a critical step that fuels both malignant transformation and metastatic progression (Forcet and Billaud, 2007; Mirouse and Billaud, 2011). While activation of AMPK may allow healthy cells to tide over short periods of energetic stress by preserving cell polarity and temporarily restraining energy consumption and growth, tumor cells are known to establish mechanisms to survive prolonged periods of energetic stress by down-regulating AMPK signaling and escaping its restraining influences on growth. To dissect the role of the AMPK-GIV axis, and specifically, pS245-GIV on growth properties of cancer cells, we queried the comprehensive catalogs of genetic mutations identified by genome sequencing, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) databases. A search of both databases revealed that the sequence within and flanking the AMPK-consensus site is frequently mutated (Figure 8—figure supplement 1). While many of those mutations were predicted by computational modeling to have various degrees of impact on the GIV-AMPKα interaction (see legend, Figure 8—figure supplement 1), we chose to characterize one recurrent mutation, L249P (four residues downstream from S245) which was found in two different colorectal tumors. The residue L249 is a key part of the consensus sequence (FxR/KxxS/TxxxL) that is recognized by AMPKα and likely makes a large contribution to the binding energy because it is predicted to be buried in a hydrophobic pocket on AMPKα. Computational modeling analyses predicted that when L249 is substituted with a Proline (P) (Figure 8A) a H-bond between L249 and S184 on AMPK will be lost, the Pro will not be able to sit within the hydrophobic pocket where L249 lies, and instead poses a steric clash (see legend; Figure 8A). Thus, the L249P mutation (henceforth referred to as LP) was predicted to abolish AMPKα's ability to recognize GIV as a substrate. As predicted, AMPK failed to phosphorylate the GIV-LP mutant as efficiently as GIV-WT either in vitro (Figure 8B) or in cells (Figure 8C), much like the SA mutant (Figure 1). When expressed in MDCK cells, this mutant recapitulated the key phenotypes we observed previously with the non-phosphorylatable GIV-SA mutant, i.e., defective restoration of TJ integrity after Ca2+ switch, as determined by measurement of TEER (Figure 8D) and defective epithelial morphogenesis, as determined by the formation of abnormal multi-luminal large cysts and abundant tubules in 3D cystogenesis assays (Figure 8E). These results demonstrate that the L249P mutant of GIV found in colorectal tumors is not phosphorylatable by AMPK, and its expression in MDCK cells is associated with leakier TJs, disruption of cell polarity and abnormal epithelial morphogenesis.
An oncogenic non-phosphorylatable GIV mutant reduces junctional stability and favors anchorage-independent growth.
(A) Homology model of GIV-bound AMPKα is shown on the left. Boxed area in the model is magnified to show the impact of replacing Leu (L) at 249 with Pro (P). L249 is predicted to be favorably buried in a hydrophobic pocket in AMPKα, contributing to binding energy; P249 is expected to induce a steric clash. See also Figure 8—figure supplement 1 for a complete list of mutations within and flanking the motif in GIV that is targeted by AMPKα. (B) In vitro kinase assays were carried out using recombinant AMPK heterotrimers (α/β/γ), bacterially expressed and purified substrates, His-GIV (WT and mutants) and His-Gαi3 (negative control), and γ-32P [ATP]. Phosphoproteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography (right). Equal loading of substrate proteins was confirmed by staining the gel with Coomassie blue (left). AMPK efficiently phosphorylated His-GIV-NT-WT, but not the SA or the LP mutant. (C) In cellulo kinase assays were carried out in Cos7 cells co-expressing GIV-FLAG (WT or LP mutant) and myc-AMPKα constructs, and stimulating AMPK by glucose deprivation for 6 hr prior to lysis. GIV was immunoprecipitated from these lysates using anti-FLAG mAb and analyzed for phosphorylation of GIV at S245 by immunoblotting (IB) with anti-pS245-GIV and FLAG (GIV-Flag). GIV-WT, but not GIV-LP is phosphorylated at S245 in cells responding to energetic stress. (D) Bar graphs display the change in TEER measured across monolayers of MDCK-GIV-WT and LP cells during Ca2+ switch. TEER is restored efficiently in MDCK-GIV-WT cells, but not MDCK-GIV-LP cells. (E) MDCK cells grown in collagen containing matrix were analyzed for the formation of cyst and tubular structures by light microscopy as in 5G. Representative cysts and tubular structures are shown. L = lumen. Images were captured at 20X magnification. (F–G) DLD1 colorectal cancer cells stably expressing various GIV constructs were analyzed for their ability to form colonies in soft agar for ~2–3 weeks. Representative fields photographed at 20X magnification are shown in F. Bar graphs in G display the number of colonies (Y axis) seen in each cell line in F, as determined by light microscopy throughout the depth of the matrix in 15 randomly chosen fields. Compared to GIV-WT, GIV-SD inhibits, whereas the non-phosphorylatable GIV-SA and GIV-LP mutants enhance colony formation. (H-I) DLD1 cells in F were analyzed for their ability to form adherent colonies on plastic plates for ~2 weeks prior to fixation and staining with crystal violet. Image of the crystal violet-stained 6-well plate is displayed in H. Bar graphs in I display the number of colonies (Y axis) as determined by ImageJ (colony counter plugin). (J) NIH3T3 cells expressing HA-KRas-G12V alone, or co-expressing HA-KRas-G12V and GIV-WT-FLAG (WT or mutants) were analyzed for their ability to form colonies in soft agar prior to staining with MTT. Bar graphs display the number of colonies formed/plate (Y axis) in each condition. Compared to GIV-WT, GIV-SD inhibits, whereas the non-phosphorylatable GIV-SA and GIV-LP mutants enhance colony formation. n = 3. Results are expressed as ± SEM. ns = not significant; **p<0.01; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001; ****p<0.0001.
We hypothesized that GIV-LP may represent a mechanism present in tumor cells that specifically disrupts the AMPK-GIV axis, uncouples energy sensing from cell polarity pathways and thereby, evades the growth restraining effects of AMPK. To test this hypothesis, we generated DLD1 colorectal carcinoma cell lines stably expressing GIV-WT, LP, or the various mutants used in this study and assessed their ability to grow into colonies in a three-dimensional (3D) spatial conformation within soft agar matrix. We chose this cell line because the LP mutant was found in colorectal cancers. The 3D colony-formation assay recreates in culture the typical 3D architecture of the tumor tissue and heterogeneously exposes cancer cells to diffusion-limited glucose, oxygen and nutrients and to other physical and chemical stresses (Weiswald et al., 2015) at the tumor core during the early periods of avascular growth. We found that compared to parental DLD1 and DLD1-GIV-WT cells, colony formation was enhanced in those expressing the non-phosphorylatable SA or LP mutants but suppressed in the DLD1-GIV-SD cells (Figure 8F–G). These growth patterns were reversed when tumor cells are homogeneously exposed to unlimited oxygen, nutrients, metabolites, and signaling molecules in 2D anchorage-dependent colony growth assays (Weiswald et al., 2015) (Figure 8H–I); compared to DLD1-GIV-WT cells, DLD1-GIV-SA and LP cells lost the growth advantage previously seen in 3D and showed reduced 2D growth, whereas the DLD-GIV-SD cells overcame the growth suppressive effects previously seen in 3D and showed enhanced 2D growth. These findings indicate that the growth-enhancing effect of GIV-SA or GIV-LP and the growth-suppressive effect of GIV-SD are restricted to conditions mimicked by anchorage-independent growth in 3D. Those effects were also seen in 3D growth of Ras-transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts (Figure 8J), indicating that the AMPK-GIV axis may in part be responsible for mediating the previously observed growth suppressive action of AMPK in this model system (Ng et al., 2012; Phoenix et al., 2012). These results indicate that disruption of the AMPK-GIV signaling axis (mimicked by GIV-SA or LP) favors anchorage-independent 3D growth, whereas constitutive activation of the pathway (mimicked by GIV-SD) prevents such growth. We conclude that AMPK-dependent phosphorylation of GIV at S245 restricts epithelial cell growth to anchorage-dependent conditions via its ability to protect the epithelium from stress-induced junctional collapse, but fails to grow without anchorage, presumably because of death (anoikis) when anchorage is lost. Tumor cells expressing GIV mutants that cannot be phosphorylated by AMPK evade this protective mechanism.
AMPK agonists exert their tumor suppressive effects via the AMPK-GIV axis
AMPK agonists such as Metformin and AICAR inhibit anchorage-independent 3D growth of a variety of cancer cells (Vincent et al., 2015), e.g., lung, pancreatic, colon, ovarian, breast, prostate, renal cancer cells, melanoma, and even acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells [reviewed in (Shackelford and Shaw, 2009)]. We asked if the growth suppressive action of AMPK agonists requires an intact AMPK-GIV signaling axis. Anchorage-independent growth assays were carried out using various DLD1-GIV cell lines in the presence of increasing doses of AICAR or Metformin. As expected, both AMPK agonists effectively suppressed the growth of parental DLD1 and DLD1-GIV-WT cells in a dose-dependent manner (Figure 9A–B), whereas the growth of DLD1-GIV-SA and LP cells was only mildly suppressed and only at higher doses. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of GIV at S245 by AMPK is essential for the growth suppressive actions of AMPK agonists. We conclude that anti-proliferative actions of AMPK agonists like Metformin is mediated at least in part via the AMPK-GIV signaling axis. These findings, along with the findings in Figures 4–8 support the following model: In normal epithelial cells in which the AMPK-GIV axis is intact (Figure 9C) pS245-GIV serves as a major effector of AMPK at the TJs, inhibits stress-induced junctional collapse, preserves cell polarity, and the epithelial barrier functions to tide over stress events. Under these conditions, AMPK agonists restrict epithelial cell growth to anchorage-dependent conditions. In tumor cells in which the AMPK-GIV axis is disrupted (Figure 9D) TJs are vulnerable to stress-induced collapse, cells lose polarity and overcome the need for anchorage for growth. Under these conditions, anchorage-independent growth is favored, which initiates and sustains cancer growth, and AMPK agonists are rendered ineffective.
Phosphorylation of GIV at S245 is essential for the tumor-suppressive actions of AICAR and Metformin.
(A, B) Parental DLD1 colorectal cancer cells and those stably expressing GIV-WT and the non-phosphorylatable SA and LP mutant GIV constructs were analyzed for their ability to form colonies in soft agar for 2–3 weeks in the presence of increasing concentrations of AICAR (A) or Metformin (B). The number of colonies was counted by light microscopy throughout the depth of the matrix in 15 randomly chosen fields. Graphs display the % reduction in colonies (Y axis) in each cell line, normalized to their respective controls (no treatment). Error bars represent mean ± S.E.M; n = 3; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001; ****p<0.0001. The growth suppressive effects of AICAR (A) and Metformin (B) observed in DLD1 cells expressing GIV-WT were significantly reduced in cells expressing GIV-SA or GIV-LP. (C,D) Working models for how the AMPK-GIV axis impacts cell polarity in normal epithelial cells and in cancers. In the presence of a functional AMPK-GIV axis (C) in which GIV can be phosphorylated by AMPK at S245, cell polarity and the integrity of TJs are preserved in the face of energetic stress, thereby maintaining epithelial barrier function and homeostasis and anchorage-dependency for growth. In the absence of a functional AMPK-GIV axis (D), either because AMPK cannot be activated or GIV cannot be phosphorylated by AMPK at S245, TJs succumb to energetic stress, cell polarity is lost, and cells can undergo anchorage-independent sustained growth.
Findings showcased in this work help draw three major conclusions. The first conclusion is that the polarity scaffold protein GIV is a direct target and an effector of the energy-sensing kinase AMPK; phosphorylation of GIV at a single site is necessary and sufficient to mediate the junction-stabilizing functions of AMPK in the normal epithelium. In doing so, this work has revealed an elusive link between the stress-sensing components and the cell polarity pathways (see legend, Figure 10), and improved our understanding of molecular mechanisms of how epithelial monolayers are protected despite being constantly bombarded by energetic stressors by fortifying cell-cell junctions against stress-induced collapse. Because GIV serves as a junctional scaffold in both epithelial (Sasaki et al., 2015) and endothelial cells (Ichimiya et al., 2015), it is possible that the stress-triggered mechanisms outlined here also account for the protective role of AMPK on cell junctions observed consistently in a variety of tissue and cell types, in both epithelial (Garnett et al., 2013; Patkee et al., 2016; Seo-Mayer et al., 2011; Spruss et al., 2012) and endothelial (Castanares-Zapatero et al., 2013; Liu et al., 2014; Takata et al., 2013) cells, in the face of diverse chemical, bacterial and metabolic stressors. Given the overlapping substrate specificity of AMPK and its related kinases [reviewed in (Shackelford and Shaw, 2009)], it seems likely that AMPK-related family members such as the MARKs, may phosphorylate S245 on GIV under other conditions or in specific tissues. Because GIV is a GEF for trimeric G proteins (Garcia-Marcos et al., 2009), and because GIV's ability to trigger Gαi signaling is essential for cell polarity (Sasaki et al., 2015), it is possible that localized GIV-dependent G-protein signaling at the cell-cell junctions triggered by energetic stress may modulate cellular stress response via G-protein intermediates.
GIV (CCDC88A) functions at the nexus of a variety of cellular pathways that regulate and respond to changes in cell-cell junctions.
A protein-protein interaction network (see Materials and methods) shows all known and predicted protein-protein interactions (relevant to the current work), both functional and directly physical in nature, that stem from computational prediction, from knowledge transfer between organisms, and from interactions reported in other (primary) databases. The clusters of functional associations shown here are meant to be specific and meaningful, i.e. proteins jointly contribute to a shared function; this does not necessarily mean they are physically binding each other. The interaction network shows that GIV (CCDC88A) functions as a key polarity-determinant scaffold which links major components that sense cellular energy (STK11, LKB1; PRKA, AMPK) and determine cellular growth and survival responses (on the left) and signaling pathways, e.g., Wnt (top; light blue) and growth factor and integrin pathways (purple; bottom) that dictate anchorage-dependent vs independent growth in normal and transformed cells, respectively, to cell-cell junctions (both tight and adherens; on the right). The microtubule stability determinants (upper left; dark blue) are likely to synergize with the AMPK-GIV axis for protecting junctions against stress-induced collapse. Two previously defined functional interactions of PRKA (AMPK) studied in different contexts stand out as key links: (1) Phosphorylation of the microtubule plus end protein CLIP-170 (CLIP1; deep blue) by AMPK enhances the speed of microtubule polymerization (Nakano et al., 2010); and (2) Phosphorylation of the TJ- protein cingulin (CGN; green) by AMPK increases the association of plus ends of microtubules with TJs (Yano et al., 2013). Key at the lower left corner indicates how each functional interaction within this network was color-coded.
The second conclusion is that the AMPK-GIV stress-polarity pathway inhibits oncogenic transformation and growth and that disruption of this pathway (accomplished via mutations identified during genomic sequencing of colorectal cancers) helps tumor cells escape such inhibition and gain proliferative advantage during 3D growth. These conclusions are in keeping with prior observations that polarity defects precede the onset of tumorigenesis when the LKB1-AMPK pathway is inhibited (Hezel et al., 2008), fueling the speculation that polarity defects may be one of the major mechanisms for tumor initiation when the energy sensing pathway is dysregulated (Hezel and Bardeesy, 2008). Multiple studies on GIV have demonstrated its role as a bona fide metastasis-related protein across a variety of cancers, primarily via its ability to initiate and amplify tyrosine-based G protein signals (Aznar et al., 2016; Ghosh, 2016) and couple it to actin cytoskeletal remodeling at the leading edge of migrating cells predominantly via interactions mediated by its C terminus [reviewed in (Ghosh, 2015)]. This study is the first of its kind that reveals the protective role of GIV's N terminus. Because loss of cell polarity is known to impact both early and later steps of oncogenic progression (Wodarz and Nathke, 2007), it is possible that loss of cell polarity due to the disruption of the AMPK-GIV axis impacts not just the early phases of transformation and cancer growth, but also fuels cancer invasion into adjacent tissues and the formation of metastases.
The third conclusion is that the AMPK-GIV axis appears to be necessary for at least some of the protective actions of the AMPK agonist Metformin on the epithelium. Metformin (Glucophage), the most widely used type II diabetes drug in the world, reduces blood glucose by activating the LKB1-AMPK pathway (Shaw et al., 2005) and inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis [reviewed in (Shackelford and Shaw, 2009)]. Besides its ability to lower blood glucose, Metformin also exerts two other effects in an AMPK-dependent manner: (i) it stabilizes cell-cell junctions and protects barrier functions of both epithelial and endothelial monolayers in the setting of a variety of pathologic stressors; and (ii) it suppresses the growth of a variety of tumor cells and embryonic stem cells in culture and tumor xenografts in mice [reviewed in (Shackelford and Shaw, 2009)]. By demonstrating that phosphorylation of GIV by AMPK is required for Metformin to exert both these effects efficiently, this work unravels that activation of AMPK, and more specifically, the AMPK-GIV signaling axis as an important mechanism of action of Metformin. It is noteworthy that although multiple retrospective clinical trials have generally concluded that prolonged use of Metformin reduces the incidence of cancer, others have reported conflicting results, and several prospective clinical trials are underway to identify which target populations may specifically benefit from this drug [reviewed in (Kourelis and Siegel, 2012; Pryor and Cabreiro, 2015)]. Given the widespread long-term use of metformin as a prescription drug and its potential utility both in chemoprevention as well as chemotherapy, further studies are warranted to investigate if the GIV-expression status in tumors [e.g., its expression as a spliced isoform lacking the C terminus (Ghosh et al., 2010) or mutants that prevent phosphorylation by AMPK (current work), or its overexpression as full length (Ghosh et al., 2016)] may help identify which patients may benefit from the tumor suppressive actions of the Metformin.
In summary, this study not only populates the stress-polarity pathway with a new player, i.e., GIV, and reveals how this player and the pathway may be altered in cancers, but also it provides mechanistic insights into the epithelium-protecting and tumor-suppressive actions of one of the most widely prescribed drugs, the AMPK-agonist Metformin.
Reagents and antibodies
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Unless otherwise indicated, all reagents were of analytical grade and obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO). Cell culture media were purchased from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA). All restriction endonucleases and Escherichia coli strain DH5α were purchased from New England Biolabs (Ipswich, MA). E. coli strain BL21 (DE3), phalloidin-Texas Red were purchased from Invitrogen. Genejuice transfection reagent was from Novagen (Madison, WI). PfuUltra DNA polymerase was purchased from Stratagene (La Jolla, CA). Goat anti-rabbit and goat anti-mouse Alexa Fluor 680 or IRDye 800 F(ab′)2 used for immunoblotting were from Li-Cor Biosciences (Lincoln, NE). Mouse anti-His, anti-FLAG (M2), anti-α tubulin and anti-actin were obtained from Sigma; anti-Myc was obtained from Cell Signaling (Danvers, MA); anti-Occludin and anti-ZO1 were obtained from Zymed (San Francisco, CA); anti-β-catenin and E-cadherin were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Dallas, TX). Rabbit anti-Gαi3 and anti-GIV CT were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology; anti-GIV-coiled-coil (CC) was obtained from EMD Millipore (Carlsbad, CA), anti-AMPK and anti-pAMPK were obtained from Cell Signaling. The affinity purified anti-pS245-GIV rabbit polyclonal antibody was generated using a phosphopeptide corresponding to the sequence flanking S245 in human GIV as immunogen by 21st Century Biochemicals (Marlboro, MA).
Plasmid constructs and mutagenesis
For mammalian expression, a well-characterized and extensively validated C-terminal FLAG-tagged construct (Ghosh et al., 2010) was used. It was originally generated by cloning human GIV (NCBI RefSeq Accession: Q3V6T2) into p3XFLAG-CMV-14 between NotI and BamHI. All subsequent site-directed mutagenesis (GIV-Flag full length S245A (SA), S245D (SD) and L249P (LP) were carried out on this template using Quick Change as per the manufacturer's protocol. The GST-GIV-NT WT, SA and LP (1–440 aa), GST-GIV-NT WT (440-747aa), His-GIV WT, SA, SD and LP constructs (1–440 aa) used for in vitro protein-protein interaction and kinase assays were cloned from GIV-FLAG p3XFLAG-CMV-14 and inserted within the pGEX-4T or pET28b vectors, respectively, between NdeI/EcoRI restriction sites. Previously validated HA-Ras G12V (Aznar et al., 2015) and pcDNA3-Myc-tagged wild-type mouse AMPKα2 (Mu et al., 2001) constructs were generous gifts from Robert Hayward (King's College London, London, UK) and Morris Birnbaum (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA). Previously validated GST tagged carboxyl termini of human α1A- (aa 399–451) and β2B- (aa 390–445) tubulins in the pET49b vector backbone were generous gifts from Toshio Hakoshima (Nara Institute of Science Technology, Nara, Japan) (Hirano et al., 2011).
Construction of a homology model of GIV bound to the catalytic α-subunit of AMPK
The homology model of the AMPKα●GIV complex was constructed using the ICM comparative (homology) modeling procedure (Cardozo et al., 1995) using the structure of constitutively active Par1-MARK2 (a member of the AMPK family of kinases) in complex with the CagA protein encoded by pathologic strains of Helicobacter pylori [PDB: 3IEC (Nesic et al., 2010)] as a template and guided by the GIV/AMPKα sequence alignment in Figure 1A. The initial model was by assigning the backbone coordinates of both target molecules (AMPKα and GIV) to their counterparts in the template; this model was further refined using extensive sampling of residue side chains in internal coordinates and then additionally relaxed by full-atom local minimization in the presence of distance restraints maintaining the conserved hydrogen bonds and thus protein secondary structure and topology.
Cell culture and the rationale for choice of cells in various assays
Tissue culture was carried out essentially as described before (Garcia-Marcos et al., 2011a; Ghosh et al., 2008, 2010). We used a total of five different cell lines in this work, each chosen carefully based on its level of endogenous GIV expression and the type of assay. AMPK+/+ and AMPK-/- SV40-immortalized MEFs that have been extensively validated in prior publications (Lamia et al., 2009) were a generous gift from Katja Lamia (SALK Institute, La Jolla) with permission from Benoit Viollet (Institut Cochin INSERM, France). Parental Cos7, MDCK, NIH3T3 and DLD1 cell lines were obtained from ATCC and cultured at 37°C in a 5% CO2 humidified incubator according to the ATCC guidelines. Briefly, Cos7, NIH3T3 and MDCK cells were grown in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin-glutamine. DLD1 cells were grown in Roswell Park Memorial Institute medium (RPMI) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin-glutamine. Cells were passaged at 90–100% confluency using ATV. All these cell lines were cultured according to the ATCC guidelines, screened for drifting by short tandem repeat (STR) profiling services offered by ATCC for all lines >10 passages, and periodically monitored for mycoplasma infection (once a year).
Cos7 cells were primarily used to transiently overexpress tagged proteins for use in biochemical studies; lysates of these cells were used as source of proteins in various protein-protein interaction (immunoprecipitation and pulldown) and in cellulo kinase assays. We use Cos7 cells because they are easy to transfect (> 90% efficiency) with most constructs.
Type II MDCK cells were primarily used to study the effect of GIV on cell polarity. These cells have been extensively characterized in 2D and 3D cultures to study cell-cell junctions and cell polarity integrity. We determined that levels of GIV are significantly lower (~10 fold) in these cells compared to MDCK type I cells, thereby allowing us to reconstitute GIV expression exogenously and analyze the effect of various mutant GIV constructs without significant interference due to the endogenous protein.
DLD1 cells were primarily used to investigate the role of the AMPK-GIV axis on growth properties (anchorage-dependent and independent) of colorectal cancer cells. There are several reasons why this colorectal cancer cell line was chosen: (1) We focused on colorectal cancer in this study because the oncogenic mutant we characterized was found in two different colorectal tumors. Thus, DLD1 cells were deemed appropriate for us to translate our findings. (2) These cells have been extensively characterized with respect to most oncogenes (ATCC database), and are highly tumorigenic in 2D and 3D cultures due to a mutation in KRAS (G13D) (Ahmed et al., 2013; Shirasawa et al., 1993).
Low-passage NIH3T3 fibroblasts were used exclusively in neoplastic transformation assays to study the role of the AMPK-GIV axis during neoplastic transformation. Ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells were used because this is the gold standard assay used to study the role of a gene/protein in tumor transformation (Egan et al., 1987). Like Cos7 cells, these cells are also highly transfectable (~80% transfection efficiency with GIV-FLAG). Such ease of co-expression, consistently at high levels allows us to study the effect of various mutant GIV constructs on Ras-transformed growth.
Generating bioenergetic stress
To activate AMPK in various assays, we subjected cells to energetic stress (mimic ATP-depleted state with high AMP/ADP to ATP ratios) by exposing them to glucose-free media for indicated durations as done previously by others [reviewed in (Hardie, 2011)]. Whenever such energetic stress was used in various assays, activation of AMPK was confirmed by immunoblotting in each instance. Besides glucose deprivation, we also eliminated growth factors/serum in these assays. This is because GIV has been previously implicated as an upstream modulator of growth factor triggered metabolic response, e.g., its ability to modulate mTOR activation (Garcia-Marcos et al., 2011a; Wang et al., 2015), regulate the exocytosis of glucose transporters and uptake of glucose into cells responding to insulin (Lopez-Sanchez et al., 2015; Ma et al., 2015), as well as its ability to trigger reversal of autophagy in response to growth factors (Garcia-Marcos et al., 2011a). We carried out all energetic stress assays in the absence of serum (which is a source of multiple growth factors) so as to avoid unanticipated and confounding feedback loops (from growth factor receptors to AMPK via GIV) from making interpretation difficult in assays designed to selectively dissect the role of signaling from AMPK to GIV.
Transfection, generation of stable cell lines and cell lysis
Transfection was carried out using Genejuice (Novagen) for DNA plasmids following the manufacturers’ protocols. MDCK and DLD1 cell lines stably expressing GIV constructs were selected after transfection in the presence of 800 µg/ml G418 for 6 weeks. The resultant multiclonal pool was subsequently maintained in the presence of 500 µg/ml G418. GIV expression was verified independently by immunoblotting using anti-Flag and anti-GIV antibodies, and estimated to be ~3x the endogenous level. Unless otherwise indicated, for assays involving glucose starvation, cells were incubated with DMEM without serum and glucose. Cells were treated with 4 mM EGTA (Fisher Scientific; Waltham, MA) in the appropriate experiments.
Whole-cell lysates were prepared after washing cells with cold PBS prior to resuspending and boiling them in sample buffer. Lysates used as a source of proteins in immunoprecipitation or pull-down assays were prepared by resuspending cells in Tx-100 lysis buffer [20 mM HEPES, pH 7.2, 5 mM Mg-acetate, 125 mM K-acetate, 0.4% Triton X-100, 1 mM DTT, supplemented with sodium orthovanadate (500 µM), phosphatase (Sigma) and protease (Roche) inhibitor cocktails], after which they were passed through a 28G needle at 4°C, and cleared (10,000 x g for 10 min) before use in subsequent experiments.
Protein expression and purification
GST and His-tagged recombinant proteins were expressed in E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) (Invitrogen) and purified as described previously (Garcia-Marcos et al., 2011a; Ghosh et al., 2010; Ghosh et al., 2008). Briefly, bacterial cultures were induced overnight at 25°C with 1 mM isopropylβ-D-1-thio-galactopyranoside (IPTG). Pelleted bacteria from 1 L of culture were resuspended in 20 mL GST-lysis buffer [25 mM Tris·HCl, pH 7.5, 20 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 20% (vol/vol) glycerol, 1% (vol/vol) Triton X-100, 2X protease inhibitor mixture (Complete EDTA-free; Roche Diagnostics)] or in 20 ml His-lysis buffer [50 mM NaH2PO4 (pH 7.4), 300 mM NaCl, 10 mM imidazole, 1% (vol/vol) Triton X-100, 2X protease inhibitor mixture (Complete EDTA-free; Roche Diagnostics)] for GST or His-fused proteins, respectively. After sonication (three cycles, with pulses lasting 30 s/cycle, and with 2 min intervals between cycles to prevent heating), lysates were centrifuged at 12,000X g at 4°C for 20 min. Except for GST-α/β Tubulin-CT constructs (see in vitro GST pulldown assay section), solubilized proteins were affinity purified on glutathione-Sepharose 4B beads (GE Healthcare) or HisPur Cobalt Resin (Pierce), dialyzed overnight against PBS, and stored at −80°C.
In vitro GST pulldown and immunoprecipitation assays
Purified GST-GIV-NT or GST alone (5 µg) were immobilized on glutathione-Sepharose beads and incubated with binding buffer [50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 100 mM NaCl, 0.4% (v:v) Nonidet P-40, 10 mM MgCl2, 5 mM EDTA, 30 µM GDP, 2 mM DTT, protease inhibitor mixture] for 90 min at room temperature as described before (Garcia-Marcos et al., 2011a; Ghosh et al., 2010; Ghosh et al., 2008; Lin et al., 2011). Lysates (~250 µg) of Cos7 cells expressing AMPK construct were added to each tube, and binding reactions were carried out for 4 hr at 4ºC with constant tumbling in binding buffer [50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 100 mM NaCl, 0.4% (v:v) Nonidet P-40, 10 mM MgCl2, 5 mM EDTA, 30 µM GDP, 2 mM DTT]. Beads were washed (4X) with 1 mL of wash buffer [4.3 mM Na2HPO4, 1.4 mM KH2PO4 (pH 7.4), 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 0.1% (v:v) Tween 20, 10 mM MgCl2, 5 mM EDTA, 30 µM GDP, 2 mM DTT] and boiled in Laemmli's sample buffer. Immunoblot quantification was performed by infrared imaging following the manufacturer's protocols using an Odyssey imaging system (Li-Cor Biosciences).
GST- α/β Tubulin-CT constructs were immobilized on glutathione-Sepharose beads directly from bacterial lysates by overnight incubation at 4ºC with constant tumbling. The next morning, GST-α or β Tubulin-CT immobilized on glutathione beads were washed and subsequently incubated with appropriate His-tagged GIV-NT constructs at 4ºC with constant tumbling. Washes and immunoblotting were performed as previously.
For immunoprecipitation studies, cell lysates (~1–2 mg of protein) were incubated for 4 hr at 4°C with 2 µg of appropriate antibody, anti-Flag mAb (Sigma Aldrich) for GIV-FLAG, anti-Myc mAb (Cell Signaling) for Myc-AMPK, anti-GIV-CT Ab (SCBT) for endogenous GIV or their respective pre-immune control IgGs. Protein G (for all mAbs) or protein A (for polyclonal anti-GIV Ab) Sepharose beads (GE Healthcare) were added and incubated at 4°C for an additional 60 min. Beads were washed in PBS-T buffer [4.3 mM Na2HPO4, 1.4 mM KH2PO4, pH 7.4, 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 0.1% (v:v) Tween 20, 10 mM MgCl2, 5 mM EDTA, 2 mM DTT, 0.5 mM sodium orthovanadate], and bound proteins were eluted by boiling in Laemmli's sample buffer.
In vitro and in cellulo kinase assays
In vitro radioactive kinase assays were carried out as described previously (Bhandari et al., 2015) using purified His- or GST- tagged GIV-NT proteins (WT, L249P and S245A mutant; 3–5 μg/reaction) and recombinant, purified AMPKα2 heterotrimers (Signal Chem; 100 ng/reaction). The reactions were started by addition of ATP (5 μCi/reaction γP32-ATP and 6 μM cold ATP) and carried out at 30°C in 30 μl of kinase buffer (20 mM Tris·HCl, pH 7.5, 2 mM EDTA, 10 mM MgCl2, 0.1 mM AMP and 1 mM DTT). Phosphorylated proteins were separated on 10% SDS-PAGE and detected by autoradiography. Non-radioactive in vitro kinase assays were carried out as described above, except the radioactive ATP mix was replaced with cold ATP (25 μM) in 30 μl of kinase buffer. Phosphorylated proteins were separated on 10% SDS-PAGE and detected by immunoblotting with anti-pS245-GIV antibody.
In cellulo kinase assays were carried out in Cos7 cells co-expressing both substrate and kinase proteins as done previously (Lin et al., 2011). Briefly, myc-tagged AMPKα2 and GIV-FLAG (WT and mutant) constructs were co-expressed in Cos7 cells, and the kinase was activated by subjecting the cells to energetic stress by glucose-starvation overnight (16–18 hr) prior to lysis. GIV was immunoprecipitated from these lysates and analyzed for phosphorylation at S245 by immunoblotting with anti-pS245-GIV antibody.
Quantitative immunoblotting
For immunoblotting, protein samples were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to PVDF membranes (Millipore). Membranes were blocked with PBS supplemented with 5% nonfat milk (or with 5% BSA when probing for phosphorylated proteins) before incubation with primary antibodies. Infrared imaging with two-color detection and band densitometry quantifications were performed usinga Li-Cor Odyssey imaging system exactly as done previously (Garcia-Marcos et al., 2010 ;2011a; 2011b; 2012;Ghosh et al., 2010) All Odyssey images were processed using ImageJ software (NIH) and assembled into figure panels using Photoshop and Illustrator software (Adobe).
MDCK cell lines were fixed at room temperature with 3% paraformaldehyde for 20–25 min, permeabilized (0.2% Triton X-100) for 45 min and incubated for 1 hr each with primary and then secondary antibodies as described previously (Ghosh et al., 2008). Dilutions of antibodies and reagents were as follows: anti-GIV (1:300); anti-phospho-Ser245-GIV (pS245-GIV; 1/250); anti-Occludin (1/250); anti-ZO-1 (1/250); anti-β-catenin (1/250); anti-E-cadherin (1/250); Phalloidin (1:1000); DAPI (1:2000); goat anti-mouse (488 and 594) Alexa-conjugated antibodies (1:500). Images were acquired using a Leica CTR4000 Confocal Microscope with a 63X objective. Z-stack images were obtained by imaging approximately 4-μm thick sections of cells in all channels. Cross-section images were obtained by automatic layering of individual slices from each Z-stack. Red-Green-Blue (RGB) graphic profiles were created by analyzing the distribution and intensity of pixels of these colors along a chosen line using ImageJ software. All individual images were processed using Image J software and assembled for presentation using Photoshop and Illustrator software (Adobe).
Calcium switch and transepithelial electrical resistance [TEER]
MDCK cells were plated at 1.5 × 105 cells per squared centimeter and allowed to establish confluent monolayers for 2–3 days before incubation for 16 hr in low-calcium medium (S-MEM containing 5% dialyzed FBS) and switched to normal-calcium medium (low-calcium medium supplemented with 1.8 mM CaCl2) for the indicated times. TEER of MDCK cells grown on 12-mm polycarbonate Transwell filters (0.4 μm pore size; Corning Costar, Corning, NY) were measured by using an epithelial voltohmmeter Millicel-ERS resistance meter (Millipore, Carlsbad, CA) with three parallel filters for each group of cells at each time point. TEER values were obtained by subtracting the blank values from the filters and the medium, and expressed in ohm·cm2. For other experiments carried out in this work that required TEER measurements, various pharmacologic and chemical treatments were carried for the indicated durations (in each figure panel) prior to analysis using the same protocol outlined above.
MDCK cystogenesis assays
The 3D collagen matrix procedure was performed as described previously (Bhandari et al., 2015). Briefly, 3X 104 MDCK cells were added to a collagen solution at pH 7 (GlutaMAX 24 mM, NaHCO3 2.35 mg/ml, DMEM 1X, FBS 2%, Hepes 20 mM, Collagen I 2 mg/ml) and placed in a well of a 4 well chamber slide. After the collagen polymerization, culture media (DMEM 1X, FBS 2%) was added to the plate which was placed in a 37ºC CO2 incubator. Media was changed every 2 days for up to 2 weeks. Cysts and tubule formations were monitored by phase-contrast microscopy. Cyst volumes were calculated using the formula 4/3 × π × r3 assuming that cysts are spherical in shape.
Anchorage-dependent colony growth assay
Anchorage-dependent growth was monitored on a solid (plastic) surface as described previously (Lopez-Sanchez et al., 2015). Briefly, approximately ~5000 DLD1 cells stably expressing various GIV constructs were plated in 6-well plates and incubated in a 5% CO2 at 37°C for ~2 weeks in 0.2% FBS growth media. Colonies were then stained with 0.005% crystal violet for 1 hr. Each experiment was analyzed in triplicate.
Anchorage-independent colony growth assay
Anchorage-independent growth of DLD1 cells was analyzed in agar as described previously (Aznar et al., 2015). Briefly, petri plates (60 mm) were pre-layered with 3 ml 1% Bacto agar (Life Technologies) in DMEM containing 10% FBS. Approximately ~5000 DLD1 cells stably expressing various GIV constructs were then plated on top in 3 ml of 0.3% agar–DMEM with 10% FBS. All assays were carried out using three replicate plates at a seeding density of ~5000 cells/plate. Following overnight incubation in 5% CO2 incubator, 1 ml DMEM supplemented with 2% FBS was added to maintain hydration. After 2 weeks of growth, colonies were stained with 0.005% crystal violet/methanol for 1 hr, and subsequently photographed by light microscopy. The number of colonies in ~15–20 randomly-selected fields were counted at 10X magnification. Each experiment was analyzed in triplicate.
Oncogenic Ras transformation assays
Neoplastic transformationin Ras-transformed NIH3T3 fibroblasts was analyzed using standard assays of colony formation in soft agar as described previously (Clark et al., 1995). Low passage NIH3T3 cells (~5000) stably co-transfected with appropriate GIV-Flag construct (2 µg cDNA) and HA-Ras G12V (1 µg cDNA) were analyzed for their ability to form tumor foci in soft agar plates. Plates were incubated in 5% CO2 at 37°C for ~2 weeks in growth media supplemented with 2% FBS. They were finally incubated with 0.1% (wt/vol) 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT; Sigma) in PBS for 1 hr to visualize colonies. The remaining NIH3T3 cells not used for this assay were lysed and analyzed for GIV-Flag and Ha-Ras G12V expression by immunoblotting.
Confocal imaging and 3D reconstruction of deconvolved images
Confocal Laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was performed with an Olympus FV3000 microscope equipped with a 60X oil immersion objective (Apochromat 60XOSC2, NA 1.4), with the pinhole set at 1 airy unit. Images were sequentially recorded with excitation wavelengths 405, 488 and 561 with the corresponding dichroic mirror. Z-stacks were acquired 0.2 mm spacing, according to Nyquist with a size of 1024 x 1024 pixels. Images were processed using the 3D deconvolution and 3D reconstructions tools of the Olympus cellSens (version Dimension Desktop 1.15) software. Co-localization analysis was performed using single stack or maximum projection images with the use of public domain Java image processing program ImageJ (version 1.49v, http//imagej.nih.gov/ij). Crop images were further sharpened in ImageJ.
Tubulin co-sedimentation assays
The association of GIV with microtubules was monitored using a method adapted from (Vallee, 1982; Vallee and Collins, 1986). Briefly, microtubules were polymerized from whole-cell lysates of Cos7 cells transfected or not with WT-GIV, S245D-GIV or S245A-GIV. Cells were scraped off the tissue culture plates, and washed with chilled PBS. Of the cell pellet, 10% were used for Triton-X lysis to monitor total amounts of protein evaluated (inputs). The pellet was then washed again in chilled PEM buffer (0.1 M PIPES, 1 mM EGTA, 1 mM MgSO4, pH 6.6) and lysed by Dounce homogenization in hypotonic buffer (1 mM EGTA, 1 mM MgSO4, pH 6.6) supplemented with protease and phosphatase inhibitors, DTT and Na3VO4. After lysis, 0.1 M PIPES (pH 6.6) was added and lysates were centrifuged at 4°C for 10 min at 20,000X g. The supernatant was separated from the cell pellet and was then clarified by centrifugation at 4°C for 60 min at 130,000X g. The supernatant was then incubated with 25 µM Docetaxel at 37°C for 30 min in the presence of 1 mM GTP to allow microtubules to polymerize. Microtubules were separated from soluble tubulin by centrifugation at room temperature for 30 min at 17,000X g. The supernatant, containing soluble tubulin, was collected and supplemented with 5X sample buffer. The pellet, which contained polymerized microtubules, was gently washed with PEM buffer and resuspended in 4X sample buffer in PEM. Protein in the supernatant (S), input (I) and pellet (P) were analyzed by immunoblotting.
Interaction network analysis
Multiple databases of gene or protein interactions, such as those compiled by extensive PubMed search, iRefIndex (Razick et al., 2008), BioGRID (Chatr-Aryamontri et al., 2015), IntAct (Kerrien et al., 2012), STRING (Szklarczyk et al., 2015) or GeneMANIA (Warde-Farley et al., 2010) were mined for functional interactomes of the components of the energy-sending pathway (AMPK, LKB1 and the AMPK-related family of kinases) and GIV (ccdc88a). The genes and a subset of their neighbors were then extracted from the databases and reconstructed as an interaction network to highlight the major links between energy-sensing components, the junctional complex-associated genes, and the genes that provide input signals (growth factors, integrins and the Wnt pathway) for the assembly and disassembly of junctions. All splice isoforms, information regarding whether an interaction is stimulatory or inhibitory, or post-translational modifications are collapsed, i.e., each node represents all the proteins produced by a single, protein-coding gene locus, and each link represents some form of functional association.
Each experiment presented in the figures is representative of at least three independent biological repeats (with at least two technical repeats for each condition within each biological repeat). Statistical significance between the differences of means was calculated by an unpaired student’s t-test. A two-tailed pvalue of <0.05 at 95% confidence interval is considered statistically significant. All graphical data presented were prepared using GraphPad.
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Johanna Ivaska
Reviewing Editor; University of Turku, Finland
In the interests of transparency, eLife includes the editorial decision letter and accompanying author responses. A lightly edited version of the letter sent to the authors after peer review is shown, indicating the most substantive concerns; minor comments are not usually included.
Thank you for submitting your article "AMPK fortifies epithelial tight junctions during energetic stress via its effector GIV/Girdin" for consideration by eLife. Your article has been favorably evaluated by Randy Schekman (Senior Editor) and three reviewers, one of whom, Johanna Ivaska (Reviewer#1), is a member of our Board of Reviewing Editors. The following individuals involved in review of your submission have agreed to reveal their identity: Michael J Caplan (Reviewer #2); Tomi Mäkelä (Reviewer #3).
The reviewers have discussed the reviews with one another and the Reviewing Editor has drafted this decision to help you prepare a revised submission.
This interesting and well written manuscript describes experiments designed to explore the role of GIV/Girdin in the stabilization of epithelial tight junctions. It has previously been shown that activation of the AMPK kinase both facilitates tight junction assembly and stabilizes tight junctions, enhancing their resistance to factors such as energy deprivation that ordinarily lead to tight junction dissolution. The authors provide evidence indicating that GIV/Girdin is a substrate for AMPK activity. Using antibodies directed against GIV/Girdin and phosphoGIV/Girdin they show that GIV/Girdin and phosphoGIV/Girdin are not present at tight junctions at steady state. Under conditions that produce energy stress or that destabilize junctions, however, phosphoGIV/Girdin accumulates at sites of cell-cell contact. They further report that overexpression of phosphomimetic GIV/Girdin maintains junction integrity and TEER in the face of juncetion-perturbing stimuli, whereas this effect is not seen with overexpression of a non-phosphorylatable GIV/Girdin. The authors suggest that AMPK-mediated phosphorylation of GIV/Girdin constitutes the mechanism through which AMPK mediates its effects on junction stability. They find that phosphoGIV/Girdin is associated in a phosphorylation-dependent manner with microtubules that are organized along cell contact sites, and suggest that this microtubule association may play a role in the effects of GIV/Girdin on junction stability. Some tumors express a mutant form of GIV/Girdin that lacks the AMPK phosphorylation site. The authors suggest that AMPK-mediated phosphorylation of GIV/Girdin may act to link the regulation of cell growth to cell junction stability and that expression of this mutant form of GIV/Girdin might allow tumor cells to grow in an anchorage-independent fashion. They find that expression of phosphomimetic GIV/Girdin prevents anchorage independent growth, whereas expression of non-phosphorylatable GIV/Girdin does not prevent anchorage-independent growth. The data are generally strong and well presented. The figures are clear and well presented. There are, however, several points that should be addressed and questions that need to be answered.
Essential revisions:
The data shown support the conclusion that Ser245 phosphorylation of GIV plays a role in TJ integrity. However, the current data does not sufficiently demonstrate that the observed TJ regulation by GIV is dependent on AMPK. Furthermore, almost all data relies on overexpression of GIV mutants. The report in whole would be significantly strengthened by providing evidence of endogenous GIV participating in energy stress signaling to tight junctions in an AMPK-dependent manner.
1) Absence and presence of energy stress and knock-down of AMPK should be shown to demonstrate the role of AMPK and energy stress in phosphorylating GIV S245 (Figure 1H).
2) What is the localization of AMPK upon stress, does it translocate to the junctions?
3) Calcium deprivation / EGTA treatment should be linked to AMPK activity to demonstrate that AMPK-dependent phosphorylation is needed for proper cell contacts.
4) In Figure 8F and H. The data should be shown of all mutants and the parental cell line in the presence and absence of energy stress (AMPK activation).
5) The imaging data presented in Figures 2, 3, 4F and 5D provide critical support for the authors' interpretation of the role of GIV/Girdin. It is somewhat disappointing, therefore, that no effort is made to provide any quantitative analysis of these data. It would substantially enhance the impact of these data if the authors provided quantification and statistical analysis of the extent of localization of GIV/Girdin to sites of cell-cell contact under each of the conditions tested. Similarly, a quantitative analysis of the extent of co-localization of GIV/Girdin with occludin and β-catenin (as depicted in Figure 3) would be very valuable.
6) The lack of recovery of TEER in SA cells returned to NCM (Figure 2D) is perplexing, since SA cells develop normal TEER at steady state. How do the authors explain this apparent discrepancy?
7) Similarly, why are SA cells (in which GIV is not available for AMPK phosphorylation) sensitive to Compound C? (5A). This is especially perplexing since the effects of Compound C on occludin localization (5D) are the same in SA and WT. The authors should address this apparent inconsistency. In addition, they should note and acknowledge that Compound C is not highly selective for AMPK and can have off target effects on a number of other kinases.
[Editors' note: further revisions were requested prior to acceptance, as described below.]
Thank you for resubmitting your work entitled "AMP-activated protein kinase fortifies epithelial tight junctions during energetic stress via its effector GIV/Girdin" for further consideration at eLife. Your revised article has been favorably evaluated by Randy Schekman (Senior Editor) and a Reviewing Editor Johanna Ivaska.
The manuscript has been improved but there are some remaining issues that need to be addressed before acceptance, as outlined below:
Data revisions or further clarifications needed for experimental data:
Reviewer point 4:
It seems that no revisions were made to this manuscript based on the comments and we apologize if the question was not clear. The request was to include the missing data from the parental cell line in 8H (no energy stress). If the glucose starvation is not feasible, using AICAR or metformin are a suitable alternative. However, the data with these treatments in 9A and B lack data with the parental cells and the GIV-SD mutant.
Reviewer point 6.
Please include some of this explanation for this discrepancy (as nicely explained in your response letter) in the manuscript text as you find appropriate.
Editorial revisions necessary:
Figure 1I. Please include the AMPK wt and AMPK -/- labelling also on top of the immunoprecipitation panel (like you have done for the lower lysate panels). Please state in the figure legend how many experiments were performed with similar results (as you are only showing a representative blot and no quantifications).
Figure 2—figure supplement 2
Please state in the figure legend how many experiments were performed with similar results (as you are only showing a representative blot and no quantifications).
The word supplement is miss-typed "supplement" in several supplementary data figures, please correct.
This comment has two parts. In the first part, we are glad that the reviewers / editors are in agreement that "the data shown support the conclusion that Ser245 phosphorylation of GIV plays a role in TJ integrity". This is important to us because it is our major claim in this work, and much of our efforts went into comprehensive and conclusive experimentation to test this central hypothesis using multiple complementary approaches, generate phosphospecific Abs, use relevant mutants, etc.
In the second part, the reviewers/editors have pointed out that a major weakness is the need to overexpress GIV (WT or mutants) in our studies. They rightly point out that the study would be significantly strengthened by testing the role of endogenous GIV at TJs in an AMPK-dependent manner and go on to suggest a few experiments. We agree and have included in this revised submission the experiments suggested (see Responses #1 and #2 below) to implicate endogenous AMPK phosphorylates endogenous GIV under energetic stress, and that endogenous AMPK localizes to the TJs. As for our need to use of exogenously expressed GIV mutants in MDCK cell lines at levels equal amounts of WT endogenous GIV, we had addressed this technical limitation in detail in the subsection “Phosphorylation of GIV at S245 is essential for junctional integrity and epithelial morphogenesis” explaining why this was done, how we validated the cell lines to confirm that such expression did not affect the functional and structural integrity of junctions at steady-state.
We have now carried out the suggested experiment and included the results in Figure 1 as panel I. Consistent with our prior findings, we confirmed that endogenous AMPK is necessary and sufficient to trigger phosphorylation of endogenous GIV at S245. More specifically, we found that energetic stress (induced by glucose depravation) could trigger phosphorylation of endogenous GIV at S245 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) from control mice, but not in MEFs from AMPK knockout littermates (AMPK -/-) [see subsection “AMPK binds and phosphorylates GIV at residue S245”, second paragraph, and Figure 1 legend].
We have now carried out the suggested experiment. We analyzed total-AMPK and phospho(active)-AMPK in domed monolayers of MDCK cells as they are subjected to energetic stress by glucose deprivation. These conditions mirror the exact conditions showcased in Figure 2 [in which we had analyzed the distribution of pS245-GIV]. We found that (phospho)-AMPK was not detected in fully polarized domed monolayers at steady-state grown in the presence of glucose (no energetic stress); however, when domed monolayers are subjected to 6 h of energetic stress [induced by glucose starvation] active AMPK was detected exclusively at the TJs of tricellular contact (tTJs), as determined by colocalization with Occludin where 3 or more cells come in contact. With prolonged energetic stress (i.e., 12 h of glucose starvation) tTJs were the first to disassemble and were associated with a blush of active AMPK. Longer duration of glucose starvation was associated with a loss of any specific signal for active AMPK. In this revised submission, we have now included our findings of localization of phospho-AMPK as Figure 2—figure supplement 1 (see subsection “GIV phosphorylated at S245 localizes to cell-cell junctions” and Figure 2—figure supplement 1 legend).
Unfortunately, we could not detect endogenous total AMPK under any of these conditions despite trying various commercially available antibodies. This is perhaps not unexpected because other groups who discovered the role of AMPK as a master regulator of the 'stress polarity pathway' in 2006-2007 [both Cantley and Caplan groups] also did not report the localization of AMPK at junctions.
We thank the reviewers/editors for this question because the experiments we have carried out have indeed revealed some unexpected new findings in the context of AMPK and raise the possibility that specific cellular components in the found exclusively at the tricellular TJs may either activate AMPK at that location or help localize activated AMPK to that site.
We agree. In this revised submission we added an additional Figure [Figure 2—figure supplement 2] in which we have displayed the immunoblots corresponding to the immunofluorescence studies in Figure 2. These immunoblots confirm that phosphorlation of GIV at S245 after calcium deprivation (in the presence of EGTA) or during energetic stress (induced by glucose deprivation) is accompanied by phosphorylation and activation of AMPK. See subsection “GIV phosphorylated at S245 localizes to cell-cell junctions” and Figure 2—figure supplement 2 legend.
In this comment, the reviewer refers to our data [anchorage-dependent and independent growth] on DLD1 colorectal cancer cells. We had compared and contrasted the two modes of growth [in 3D vs. 2D] precisely because one, i.e., 3D growth, but not 2D growth assay is known to recreate in culture the typical 3D architecture of the tumor tissue and heterogeneously exposes cancer cells to diffusion-limited glucose, oxygen and nutrients and to other physical and chemical stresses at the tumor core during the early periods of avascular growth. When we induced further energetic stress [by glucose starvation] of DLD1 cells in 3D growth, this led to complete growth arrest of all GIV-expressing stable cell lines tested, making it impossible to assess differences. This is not unexpected given the fact that these tumor cells, like all others, are chronically energy [ATP] depleted despite ~10-15 fold higher glucose consumption [i.e., Warburg effect]. Therefore, it is not surprising that glucose deprivation was incompatible with growth. We would like to point out that we have indeed carried out the experiment that is proposed here, but using a slightly different approach. Instead of glucose deprivation as a way to activate AMPK in these anchorage-independent growth assays, we activated AMPK with AICAR or Metformin, and those results were showcased in Figure 9 (panels 9A and 9B). It is certainly possible that we have misinterpreted the question, and if so, we are willing to explain/respond with further feasible experimentation.
In this comment, the reviewer asked us to provide a quantification of some sort for the IF panels showcased in Figures 2, 3, 4F and 5D. As an example, he/she asked us to assess the extent of colocalization using RGB profiler as we have done in Figure 3. We agree. In Figures 2 and 3 of the original submission, we had presented quantification of colocalization using graphed intensities of 'red' and 'green' pixels using the RGB profile graphical analysis tool on ImageJ. We have now provided the quantitative analysis of the remaining panels listed in this comment (Figure 4F and 5D) and included the additional data in Figure legends for these two panels indicating what% of surface area of how many random fields imaged had the phenotype that is displayed in the Figure panels.
As for the quantification of the extent of colocalization of total GIV/Girdin in the Figures 2, 3, 4F and 5D, we could not do that reliably and consistently because the currently available anti-GIV antibodies, although able to detect a small pool of GIV at junctions after energetic stress, the signal is faint and seen only transiently amidst a larger pool that is known to be mostly cytosolic [see Figure 2A]; such noisy faint signals made quantification of colocalization unreliable and almost impossible. This was the primary reason we invested in generating and validating a phosphospecific GIV antibody that can specifically detect the specialized pool of GIV at the TJs. We have confirmed that both SA and SD mutant GIV cannot be detected with anti-pS245GIV antibody [see Figure 1G], and hence, we did not use this antibody in the IF assays characterizing the role of phosphorylation of GIV at TJs using the various cell lines [Figure 4F, 5D]; instead we just followed the disassembly of junctions using occludin and E-cadherin as markers of TJs and AJs, respectively.
In this question, the reviewer accurately points out that GIV-SA expressing cells have normal TEER at steady-state [no energetic stress, normal calcium, normal serum], but noted that they did not 'recover' TEER when they were returned to normal-calcium growth conditions after an initial low-calcium exposure. We too have been perplexed by this observation. We believe that the prolonged delay in [almost lack of] recovery could be because the cells expressing the non-phosphorylatable GIV-SA mutant is expected to be defective in two conditions where we showed that the AMPK-GIV pathway is triggered: 1) when single cells come in contact and assemble TJs [see Figure 2B, top two panels]; and 2) specifically at TJs subjected to Calcium or glucose deprivation [see Figure 2B, lower three panels]. So, after the junctions are disassembled in GIV-SA cells [drop in TEER in low-calcium state] single cells must come together in normal calcium medium. However, because these cells are unable to phosphorylate GIV at S245 as single cells come together during the reformation of the monolayer, we believe that some of these cells just detach and die during the prolonged assay period [as seen in IF assays (Figure 5D) and by light microscopy (Figure 5—figure supplement 1]. We speculate that energetic stress or disassembly of junctions due to low calcium may set in motion some yet unknown pathways in an irreversible manner after junctions are disassembled in the absence of the AMPK-GIV axis [in GIV-SA cells].
In this comment the reviewer points to the findings in 5A where we show that the functional integrity of TJs in GIV-SA cells is more significantly impacted after treatment of cells with Compound C than GIV-WT cells [i.e., drop in TEER is more significant]. He/she also rightly points out that in panel 5Dthe effect of Compound C on the structural integrity of TJs and AJs [as determined by IF] looks similar, i.e., in both cases junctional proteins are lost from cell-cell contact sites by 6h after treatment with Compound C. We would like to point out that TEER measurements had to be carried out with shorter periods of incubation [2 h], whereas IF assays were carried out with longer incubation [3, 6, 10 and 20 h]. Shorter incubations were necessary to see the early impairment in functional integrity [TEER] and tease out the differential sensitivity of WT and SA cells. Longer incubations in IF assays that were designed to look at structural integrity of TJs/AJs were more helpful to appreciate the resistance of GIV-SD cells, but were not sensitive enough to see early losses in functional integrity. In order to make sure that readers notice the difference of incubation times [which we mention in the labels for each Figure panel], we have now reinforced the short and prolonged exposures in the subsection “Stabilization of tight junctions by AMPK requires phosphorylation of GIV at S245”, just so that readers understand that the data is consistent overall.
As for the fact that Compound C may have off target effects beyond just inhibition of AMPK, this is a very important point that we have now included in the subsection “Stabilization of tight junctions by AMPK requires phosphorylation of GIV at S245” when this compound was used for the first time. We thank the reviewer for pointing this out.
We had misunderstood this question in the first revision cycle. We appreciate this clarification. We have now included the data with DLD1 parental cells in panels 9Aand 9B. These cells, much like the DLD1 cells expressing GIV-WT, are susceptible to the tumor-suppressive actions of Metformin and AICAR. The text and Figure legend are also edited accordingly. The DLD1-GIV-SD cells virtually do not form colonies in 3D anchorage-independent growth assays [please see Figure 8F-G]; treatment with AICAR/Metformin did not change that finding. We left out DLD1-GIV-SD from the graphs displayed in 9A-Bto avoid confusing readers because display of the SD data [normalized to untreated, as done for the remaining cell lines] will show that colony growth [~0-4 colonies/well] remain at 100% despite treatment with AMPK agonists.
We have now included the stated explanation in the subsection “GIV phosphorylated at S245 localizes to cell-cell junctions”.
We have now revised Figure 1I and legend to do exactly as recommended.
We have now revised the legend for Figure 2—figure supplement 2 to indicate how many times we have assessed AMPK phosphorylation when EGTA or glucose starvation were used as ways to activate AMPK in various assays.
We apologize for this error. We have now revised 2 supplementary figures where the word supplement was misspelled.
Nicolas Aznar
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, United States
NA, Conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data, Drafting or revising the article
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Arjun Patel
AP, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data
Cristina C Rohena
CCR, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data
Ying Dunkel
YD, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data
Linda P Joosen
LPJ, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data
Vanessa Taupin
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, United States
VT, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data
Irina Kufareva
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, United States
IK, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data
Marilyn G Farquhar
MGF, Contributed unpublished essential data or reagents
Pradipta Ghosh
Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, United States
PG, Conception and design, Analysis and interpretation of data, Drafting or revising the article
For correspondence
prghosh@ucsd.edu
"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-8917-3201
National Cancer Institute (Postdoctoral Fellowship T32CA121938)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM071872)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI118985)
National Cancer Institute (R01CA100768)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK099226)
American Cancer Society (ACS-IRG 70-002)
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
We thank Gordon N Gill (UCSD) and Deepali Bhandari (CSULB) for their critical input during the preparation of the manuscript. This work was supported by NIH grants CA100768, CA160911 and DK099226 (to PG). PG. was also supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (CAMS award), the American Cancer Society (ACS-IRG 70-002) and by the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. IK was supported by NIH grants GM071872 and AI118985. MG-F was supported by the NIH (CA100768). CCR was supported by the NCI/NIH (T32CA121938).
Reviewing Editor
Johanna Ivaska, University of Turku, Finland
Received: August 21, 2016
Accepted: November 3, 2016
Accepted Manuscript published: November 4, 2016 (version 1)
Version of Record published: November 22, 2016 (version 2)
© 2016, Aznar et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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LeBron James brought March Madness to the NBA
Colin Krauss
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Someone should remind LeBron James he chose to skip college and go straight to the pros because he hosted a March Madness of his own this past month. The victim? Anybody and everybody.
LeBron James went absolutely nuclear in March with a Cleveland roster that has had a difficult time with injuries. In leading the Cavaliers to 10 wins in 16 March games, James has posted absurd averages of 30.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks. He even had four triple-doubles for what it’s worth.
Combine those with shooting splits of 55.1 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from three, and this past month has been one for the record books. Even for LeBron, who finds himself practically a co-author of basketball record books.
LeBron passed Michael Jordan for most consecutive games with double-digit scoring when he played the Pelicans on March 30 (867 games). He was in his bag all month pulling out passes, dunks, shots, and dribble moves that are simply unstoppable when combined with his 6-foot-8, 260-pound frame.
James started the season as an MVP candidate, but the Cleveland turmoil reached its apex around the New Year and through January. Isaiah Thomas was as inaccurate as could have been predicted. Derrick Rose cemented himself as an on-court and off-court parasite. The locker room became a mess. Thomas called out Kevin Love over the severity of his injury.
Basically, they were awful, but this awfulness led to the Koby Altman blockbuster on Feb. 8.
With a new team, they needed a while to gel. By March, they had solid chemistry, but the East was looking more competitive than anticipated, and the Cavs were facing the possibility of falling somewhere between the fifth-and-seventh seed for the playoffs.
CLICK HERE FOR ESNY's NBA LEAGUE CENTER
LeBron, as only he can, put the team on his back to make sure they were going to keep home-court advantage through at least the first round.
James needed to pull out everything in his arsenal, and he did not disappoint. He was clutch. He was explosive. He was a marksman. Let’s ask Jusuf Nurkic how LeBron has played:
The single most-powerful dunk of LeBron James’ career. Year 15. Jusuf Nurkic just saw his life flash before his eyes twice. pic.twitter.com/u6B9H1s2cb
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) March 16, 2018
Or you can ask the Lakers what it’s like to attempt to contain LeBron:
Assist of the Night: LeBron James fakes out the Lakers with a no-look to Ante Žižić! pic.twitter.com/tsdVReHNOF
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 12, 2018
You’ve heard it between 500-to-1,000 times this season, but LeBron is 33 and playing in his 15th season. If you include the postseasons, it’s closer to 17 or 18 seasons. Yet, that was quite possibly the best dunk of LeBron’s career. The explosion and distance of the takeoff, the peak of the jump, and power of the slam is just stupid. Replay that dunk with headphones and try to define the sound of the dunk. It’s a brand new sound that humans have never witnessed before.
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He also posterized the Nets’ Joe Harris. He channeled Heatle LeBron with a windmill slam in Phoenix, taking off a little inside the free throw line. His clutch gene appears at an all-time high. Any game that came down to the wire seemed like it would be a Cavalier win.
Against the Pelicans—the same game that LeBron passed MJ for most consecutive double-digit games—he hit three straight fadeaways in the left mid-range within only minutes left to seal the game. With 3:19 remaining, he hit one over Ian Clark. With 2:41 remaining on the Cavs’ next possession, he hit a step-back over Solomon Hill. With 2:00 remaining on the very next possession, he hit another one over Ian Clark, putting the Cavs up seven. It was a game of free throws after that, and the Cavs pulled away.
Cavs fez a mesma jogada três vezes. Todas jogadas individuais pro LeBron.
Resultado vc já sabe…
CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/9eUPEnj2xr
— King James Brasil (@Le_BR_on) March 31, 2018
On March 19, the Cavaliers were up against the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. This was not only a potential playoff matchup but also a personal rivalry between the King and the Greek Freak. Giannis always gives everything against LeBron, but James was unstoppable. He posted a ludicrous triple-double with 40 points, 12 boards, and 10 assists. He also had a trio of threes and tied a season-high with five offensive rebounds.
It was another nice one down the stretch as well. With five minutes left, he hit a fading jumper over Giannis. A few minutes later, he took on the entire Bucks team for a game-sealing transition throwdown. That dunk is below:
?: Cleveland venció a Alces de Milwaukee por 124 puntos a 117, con 40 unidades de LeBron James, además de 12 rebotes y 10 asistencias. A pesar de la derrota, Bucks está en séptimo lugar de la Conferencia del Este en busca de calificar al playoff. pic.twitter.com/QO7m6vh8u2
— José Juan Vázquez (@jjangelv) March 20, 2018
Two days later, on March 21, the Cavs took on Toronto. The Raptors are top five in offensive rating, defensive rating, and net rating, which is the sweet spot for contending teams. They also are the first seed in the Eastern Conference with a crew that is 12 deep on a good day. But they can’t seem to take down LeBron regardless of their roster.
LeBron went supernova and led a second-half comeback behind a 35 point, 17 assists, no turnover monster of a game. That’s just not fair. It was almost exclusively inside the arc as well. He was 11-for-19 from the field and 12-for-14 from the stripe. Toronto had 79 points at the half, and among those who are skeptical of Cleveland’s chances, it did seem like the Raptors were sweeping the Cavs off the floor.
But it doesn’t work that way in the East. LeBron is King, and the Raptors are Cleveland’s practice opponent. Just ask the last three seasons of Raptors. With half the fourth quarter remaining, and the Raptors up 112-110, LeBron took Jakob Poeltl to school, crossing him up and jamming a dunk home. The next possession, George Hill hit a three off a LeBron pass. The next possession LeBron hit a cutting Love for a lay in. One minute later, he split Pascal Siakam and Poeltl for an uncontested dunk. One minute later, LeBron hit a pair of free throws to put Cleveland up five.
The next possession, LeBron got fouled on a three and hit two of the free throws. The game-sealing play with 28 seconds left was a LeBron drive and kick to Love for an open three that he knocked down, putting Cleveland up four. The game became a free throw contest and Cleveland pulled out a comeback win over the first seed behind LeBron’s superstar performance.
LeBron was magnificent even away from home. In Denver against the Nuggets, LeBron pulled out another insane stat line of 39 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists, with only three turnovers, while nailing five threes. No one was able to even slow him down, let alone stop him.
Wilson Chandler is too weak. Gary Harris is too short. Paul Millsap is not quick enough. Will Barton had no chance. Nikola Jokic is not in the same athletic solar system. When the game was close with 1:41 remaining, LeBron hit an and-one layup on Jokic to put the Cavs up five. With 1:11 remaining on the next possession he cashed a three to put Cleveland up five once again. With 40 seconds left, he canned a fading jumper on the left side over Chandler to put them up five again. With 9.5 remaining, the King hit an even more difficult contested fadeaway over Chandler, and the game was over.
Every game. Every night. LeBron was simply too much to handle for anybody. Even in the six games they lost LeBron still averaged 26.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists on 49.2 percent shooting.
Offensively, LeBron is having the best season of his life. The scoring, passing, athleticism, and clutch domination is seriously on a whole new level, and the postseason is a mere two weeks away. Like LeBron said, it doesn’t matter what seed the Cavaliers are, if LeBron James enters your building, you’re in for a hell of a challenge.
“Listen, it doesn’t matter to me if I’m a 6 seed, a 3 seed, a 2 seed or an 8 seed, If I come into your building for a Game 1, it will be very challenging.”Lebron spits truth. pic.twitter.com/kqSB92GHwT
— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) March 8, 2018
NEXT: Picking A Knicks' Foursome For Augusta
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Toughest 2013 Sun Belt Non-Conference Football Schedules
By Andy Coffaro - June 18, 2013
ULM travels to Oklahoma, Wake Forest and Baylor in 2013. (John Reed-USA TODAY Sports)
We continue our mission of ranking the non-conference schedules for teams in non-automatic qualifying conferences. Today we tackle a Sun Belt Conference that looks radically different than 2012.
The loss of four teams to Conference USA, along with the additions of Texas State and Georgia State, gives the Sun Belt only eight teams while it awaits the arrivals of Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Idaho, and New Mexico State in 2014.
For more non-conference schedule rankings, feel free to check out our previous reviews for the SEC, MWC, ACC, American, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12. Don’t agree with our rankings? Leave us a reply below.
8. Texas State Bobcats
08/31 – at Southern Mississippi
09/07 – Prairie View A&M
09/21 – at Texas Tech
09/28 – Wyoming
11/02 – at Idaho
Former TCU, Alabama, and Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione has done a fine job of transitioning Texas State from the Football Championship Subdivision to the WAC, and now into the more stable and ever-growing Sun Belt. His Bobcats are looking at quite a favorable non-conference slate that opens with a trip to Hattiesburg to take on a Southern Miss squad that went 0-12 last season. Texas State has the luxury of hosting the second toughest opponent on this slate, Wyoming, at home on September 28th. The biggest challenge by far for the Bobcats is a trip to Lubbock, TX to face a crazed Texas Tech crowd and Red Raiders offense that finished second in the country with 356 passing yards per game last season.
7. Arkansas State Red Wolves
08/31 – Arkansas-Pine Bluff
09/07 – at Auburn
09/21 – at Memphis
09/28 – at Missouri
10/12 – Idaho
Arkansas State capped off an impressive 2012 campaign (10-3) by winning the school’s first bowl game since joining the FBS in 1992. Gone is two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Ryan Aplin at quarterback. His yet-to-be-determined replacement could be aided by a soft schedule that features FBS opponents all finishing below .500 in 2012. If Arkansas State ever had its sights on an SEC upset, its week two trip to a rebuilding Auburn Tiger squad could be its chance. Although Arkansas Stqte must play two SEC teams on the road, they do get SWAC foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff and future Sun Belt member Idaho at Liberty Bank Stadium.
6. Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns
08/31 – at Arkansas
09/07 – at Kansas State
09/14 – Nicholls State
09/21 – at Akron
11/2 – New Mexico State
Hot off back-to-back New Orleans Bowl victories, the Ragin’ Cajuns of UL Lafayette are optimistic about another great season – especially with the return of record setting quarterback Terrance Broadway. Although the Ragin’ Cajuns open the 2013 season against an Arkansas team still dealing with the repercussions of the Bobby Petrino scandal and with a trip to take on a Kansas State squad coping with the loss of Heisman finalist Colin Klein, these are still two tough road games to open up the 2013 campaign. UL Lafayette will certainly get some relief the following three weeks when they take on Nicholls State, Akron, and New Mexico State, teams that went a combined 3-32 a year ago.
5. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
08/31 – vs Kentucky (at Nashville, TN)
09/07 – at Tennessee
09/21 – Morgan State
09/29 – Navy
11/09 – at Army
Recently embattled and scandal-prone head coach Bobby Petrino hopes to rebuild his reputation at Western Kentucky. His Hilltoppers return running back Antonio Andrews whose 3,161 all-purpose yards last season made him the second FBS player in history to go over 3,000 all-purpose yards in a single season. The first player to do so? Barry Sanders. The Petrino era gets rolling with a neutral site matchup against a struggling Kentucky squad that suffered a shocking overtime loss to the Hilltoppers just a year ago. A week two visit to Neyland Stadium could prove to be quite challenging against Tennessee, although the Volunteers did rank 107th nationally on defense a year ago. The final two non-conference games consists of option-obsessed Navy and Army. Thankfully, Western Kentucky was rather sturdy against the run last year clocking in at 34th in the country.
4. South Alabama Jaguars
08/29 – Southern Utah
09/07 – at Tulane
10/19 – Kent State
11/16 – at Navy
Ranking the #5 and #4 toughest non-conference schedules is probably the most difficult task on this list. Both Western Kentucky and South Alabama play Tennessee, Navy, and an FCS school (although the Hilltoppers do get Navy at home). That left comparing Western Kentucky’s two games versus Kentucky and Army (combined 4-20 in 2012) versus the South Alabama Jaguars’ tussles versus Tulane and Kent State (combined 13-13 in 2012). Ultimately the visit from the Golden Flashes – who were just a MAC Championship win away from playing in a BCS bowl game last year – helped South Alabama secure the #4 slot by the absolute slimmest of margins.
3. Georgia State Panthers
08/30 – Samford
09/07 – Chattanooga
09/14 – at West Virginia
09/21 – Jacksonville State
10/-5 – at Alabama
On September 2, 2010, the Georgia State Panthers played their first football game in school history. Just three short years later, they’re already transitioning from the Colonial Athletic Association (FCS) to the Sun Belt. The Panthers schedule is especially intriguing on two fronts: they are the only Sun Belt school to play three non-conference games at home (although all are against FCS squads). Secondly, they’ll play two brutal road games when they travel to Morgantown and Tuscaloosa to take on a Mountaineers offense that was 9th in the nation in scoring in 2012 and a Crimson Tide team looking to repeat as national champions. The last time Georgia State played ‘Bama in 2010, the then Bill Curry-led Panthers suffered a 63-7 defeat.
2. Troy Trojans
08/31 – UAB
09/07 – Savannah State
09/21 – at Mississippi State
09/28 – at Duke
11/16 – at Ole Miss
Troy misses out on the #1 ranking by the width of a hair, and they have the historic letdowns of Duke football to blame. The Trojans kick of the season against UAB (3-9 in 2012) and follow that up against FCS doormat Savannah State. This is the same Savannah State squad that lost 84-0 to Oklahoma State and 55-0 to Florida State last year. Thankfully the contest versus the Seminoles was called early due to inclement weather. After the home openers, things get tremendously tricky for Troy: on the road versus a Mississippi State squad that went bowling last year and beat Troy in Veterans Memorial Stadium; two months later they return to the state of Mississippi to take on an Ole Miss team that’s had the college football world buzzing all summer with their impressive recruiting class. However, although Duke did go bowling last year, three home losses to FCS opponent Richmond going back to 2006 should give the Trojans confidence that they can stand toe-to-toe with the Blue Devils.
1. ULM Warhawks
08/31 – at Oklahoma
09/07 – Grambling State
9/14 – at Wake Forest
9/21 – at Baylor
9/28 – Tulane
The athletic department at ULM didn’t do coach Todd Berry and the Warhawks any favors by forcing his players to open the 2013 season with tough road contests at Oklahoma, Wake Forest, and Baylor. Although ULM does get a bit of a breather in week 2 versus a Grambling State squad that won only a single game last year, the Warhawks don’t even get the luxury of a bye week in September. A tough season opener against perennial Big 12 champion contender Oklahoma is followed two weeks later by a visit to a Wake Forest squad that just barely missed out on a bowl game last season. One week later on September 21st, ULM gets right back on the road to take on an increasingly improving Baylor Bears team that is coming off of three straight winning seasons and bowl appearances. At least the Warhawks can take some solace in knowing their final non-conference contest is against a Tulane club that finished 109th in offense and 114th in defense nationally in 2012 on their way to a sluggish 2-10 season.
Andy Coffaro is a contributor to FBSchedules.com. Follow him on Twitter @andycoffaro and LinkedIn.
Georgia State will lose to one of those FCS teams, if not all 3. Seriously. Ga State is pathetic!
Atlanta_Mafia says:
Sounds like another soar Beagle trying to sling mud at GSU again?
bboggs2blake says:
They have already beaten south Alabama on the road before. I think they can do a repeat
PeteF3 says:
Seems to me Missouri is a better upset pick for the Red Wolves than Auburn. There is a non-zero chance that ASU could go 2-0 against the SEC.
Andy Coffaro says:
PeteF3: Great call on Mizzou. It’ll be interesting to see if ASU can swing one of those upsets.
CFBfanatico says:
LOL. So there is a chance. Saying “non-zero” cancels out zero, meaning there is a chance.
So you’re saying that there is a chance!
How is a team playing 3 FCS opponents not last in the ranking regardless of who the other two teams are
Robert: Guess it’s all a personal opinion in terms of how to rank these schedules. If the thinking is that the more FCS schools you have, the worse your schedule is, then I totally hear you. Ultimately my thinking is that a road contest to WV is tough and that no one in the conference has a more difficult non-conference game than Georgia St. going to Alabama. That combo of 3 FCS home dates and 2 FBS road games did make it tough to determine where to place them.
Robert is just a soar Beagle from Statesboro High School whining because no one wants to play pretend FBS ball in the mosquito wilderness…
Brendan Burke says:
UL Lafayette’s last three non-conference games aren’t consecutive dates, the NMSU game is in November.
Good catch Brendan. I should have worded it differently. I was trying to convey UL Lafayette’s last three non-conference dates should give them a breather, but clearly those games aren’t consecutive.
MinuteScooter says:
how about Umass? Open up @ Wisconsin then go to Kansas St and then host Vanderbilt…0-3 and they may not score a td
MinuteScooter: UMass is actually over in the MAC. I’m working on that article right now as we speak, and I agree with you that their non-conference schedule is brutal.
brandyn firsdon says:
Are you guys gonna do one for the MAC?
Andy is working on it. Should be done soon.
Thanks for asking about that brandyn. Working on it as we speak!
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Eastern High School
01Project Overview02Image Gallery03Services & Recognition04Related Projects
01 Project Overview
Additions and renovations to Eastern High School created modern, personalized learning environments for students within a historic building.
Eastern High School was built in 1923, and is one of the oldest continuously-operating high schools in the District of Columbia. Due to its age and size, the school building was renovated and right sized to better meet the needs of students, the community and district standards. The renovations restored the original grandeur of the building while providing modernized classrooms and improved learning environments. All interior spaces were renovated and all building systems upgraded to increase efficiency and decrease operating costs.
Associate firm: cox graae + space architects
District of Columbia Public Schools
4,000 New SF
280,000 Renovated SF
Preserve the historic grandeur of one of the oldest high schools in D.C. while providing modernized learning environments
02 Image Gallery
More InformationLess Information
Restoration of high ceilings and original window designs brought back the old school charm, while integrated technology and flexible furniture modernized the learning environment.
All interior spaces were renovated, including the enclosure of two courtyards.
Building systems and components were renovated and upgraded to increase efficiency and decrease operating costs.
The existing auditorium was upgraded and is now the home of the District of Columbia Youth Orchestra.
The exterior of this historic high school facility was restored to its original grandeur.
03 Services & Recognition
The school did a complete 180 and went from bad to wonderful. I really like it now, and I’m proud to be a Rambler.
anaje boyd, student
2011 Award for Excellence – Historic Resources
American Institute of Architects, Washington, DC Chapter
2011 Citation – Historic Preservation
AS&U Architectural Portfolio
2011 Honorable Mention Award
Learning By Design
School Planning & Management Education Design Showcase
04 Related Projects
Middletown High School
Hilliard Innovative Learning Hub
Olentangy Berlin High School
Columbia City High School
Columbia City, IN
Wilson High School
Phelps High School
Pike Preparatory Academy
Northwood PK-12 School
Portsmouth Junior/Senior High School
Portsmouth, OH
Princeton Middle/High School
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As the battle intensifies in the 2019 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, players can now create their own rivalries with the launch of F1® 2019. Releasing two months earlier than previous iterations, players who purchased the F1® 2019…
Codemasters® and Koch Media today announced that F1® 2019, the official videogame of the 2019 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, will ship a full two months earlier into the F1® season and launch worldwide on Friday 28th June 2019. The…
Built for Victories Across Every Genre and Platform, the Recon 70 is the All-New Successor to the Recon 50. Available April 1, 2019
New DiRT Rally 2.0™ Trailer Showcases Official FIA World Rallycross Championship Content
Codemasters released the latest trailer for DiRT Rally 2.0™. The new video, ‘World RX In Motion’, showcases the pace, intensity and thrill of playing through FIA World Rallycross Championship events.
Meet the animals of Farming Simulator 19 in this brand new gameplay trailer!
Meet the animals of Farming Simulator 19! This is the most complete farming experience ever, coming November 20 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC/Mac. In this new gameplay trailer, explore one of the many activities on your farm:…
Jagged Alliance: Rage! Announced For Later This Year
THQ Nordic has announced that Jagged Alliance: Rage! Will be released later this year on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. Rage is a new game in the series, starring some of the classic characters of the original. The game is still a…
Remedy & 505 Games Reveal New Game, “CONTROL”
Creators of Max Payne and Alan Wake Remedy Entertainment revealed their new game Control during Sony’s E3 press conference. Published by 505 Games, Control is a third-person action-adventure game combining Remedy’s trademark gunplay with…
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Categories > Games > Final Fantasy XII
Deadly Marks
by Person 0 reviews
Vaan reacts to Montblanc's surprise at his living through the Shadowseer hunt.
Category: Final Fantasy XII - Rating: G - Genres: Drama - Warnings: [!] - Published: 2008-06-25 - Updated: 2008-06-26 - 1272 words - Complete
1Insightful
When somebody grabbed him by his shoulder from behind, Tomaj tensed but didn't really worry. Nobody would be stupid enough to attack him in the middle of the Sandsea, and even if they were the bar was always filled with want-to-be mark hunters who had more than enough strength between them to beat off a simple attacker even if they lacked the skills need to be recruited into Clan Centurio.
So worry only set in when he was whirled around to face Vaan, who raised his other hand in order to clutch both of Tomaj's shoulders tightly enough that it might leave a bruise, his eyes wide enough to see the whites around them. "Something wrong, Vaan?" he asked.
"Montblanc tried to kill me!" Tomaj noticed several people at the tables around them looking up at the exclamation, but they all quickly turned their attentions back to their drinks. If anyone was trying to kill someone else, they didn't want to risk getting caught up in it.
"Doesn't sound much like him," Tomaj said blandly, positive that Vaan must have misinterpreted something. If his clan leader had tried to murder one of his hunters, rumors of it would have reached Tomaj's ears before the attempted victim did, no matter how fast he'd run.
"He told me himself!" Vaan said, already calming enough to start shifting from looking afraid to looking outraged. "He sent me on this hunt, right? And when I just went to get my reward from him he told me he'd thought it would kill me when he gave it to me!"
"But it didn't, right?" Tomaj asked, giving him a solid thump on the shoulder. Admittedly, there was a chance that it had; Vaan had sat around regaling him with stories of his adventures often enough for him to know that the younger man had wound up working for more than one ghost in the previous few months without realizing it until they passed on, so maybe the same thing could happen to him. But Tomaj doubted that even Vaan would come back from the dead just to corner him and complain about it.
"Well, yeah," Vaan admitted grudgingly, like he though that acknowledging in any way that this wasn't the most awful thing that had ever happened would be turned against him.
"And you weren't even seriously injured?"
"You wouldn't say that if you could see my back." Vaan let go of one of Tomaj's shoulders, his grip on the other loosing a little at the same time, and reached back to touch the offending part of his body with a grimace. "And that doesn't change what he did!"
"And he did fulfill all the requirements of posting an elite hunt and hiring you as a hunter, right? He would be risking his position if he didn't."
"Yeah, so?" Vaan was starting to look suspicious, like he knew where this was going and wasn't happy with it. "That doesn't make it right."
"All right, Vaan. The table in the corner is empty. Sit down, think about why what you just said makes accusing our Clan leader of attempted murder ridiculous, and I'll get you a drink." The way Vaan's face lit up told Tomaj that he'd decided to focus on the final part of that sentence instead of getting annoyed with the rest of it, and he rolled his eyes as he turned him around and gave him a light nudge on the shoulder towards the table. "A non-alcoholic drink."
Vaan snorted and grumbled, "Everyone I'm traveling with doesn't care if I drink sometimes."
"Since Penelo's one of them, I sincerely doubt that's true." Tomaj couldn't resist staying where he was long enough to get a look at Vaan's back to see if any of the visible skin really was that bad. When he saw the scabbed over but still livid wounds peeking out from both the bottom of his shirt and its collar, possibly indication that the cuts stretched all the way between them, he winced a little himself. Maybe Vaan did have reason to be a little upset about his last hunt, even if he was aiming it in the wrong direction.
When he returned with two glasses of juice Vaan was slouched in his seat, not letting any part of his back touch the chair. His expression looked like he might actually be thinking about what Tomaj had meant, although it was just as likely that he was thinking about how he'd one day be the best sky pirate in the world or the best way to dodge Migelo if the bangaa found out that he was in town and tried to make him work.
"You know," he said when he set Vaan's glass in front of him, "if you're going to be angry at Montblanc about this you should be just as mad as me."
"Why?" Vaan asked, eyeballing him. "You weren't even there when he sent me on that hunt."
"But I was there when you grabbed the bill for Roblon and ran off to find the petitioner. A rank six hunt in the Nabreus Deadlands/? Between the mark itself and the hell that place has turned into I was /positive I was never going to see you again. And I didn't say a word to stop you, did I?"
For a moment Vaan looked so injured and betrayed that Tomaj rather wished he'd kept his mouth shut, but then his expression shifted, first to thoughtful, then to stubborn. "But you weren't the petitioner for that one. With this one, Montblanc /was/. Are you telling me you still would have let me go fight that one if I'd had to come to you to get the job."
"...Maybe not," Tomaj had to admit. "But I've known you for a lot longer than Montblanc. He wasn't sending off someone he's seen as a snot-nosed brat following his big brother around like a puppy."
Like Tomaj had hoped, outrage over that comment seemed to break through Vaan's mood. "Oh, shut up! You're only a year older than me, no matter how much you try to pretend that I'm just a kid. When I was a 'snot-nosed brat' you were one too."
"I've always been mature for my age," Tomaj said with a laugh, further annoying Vaan by reaching out to ruffle his hair before he got serious again. "But, honestly Vaan, you can't blame Montblanc for this. Most serious mark hunters, and at this level you've sure as hell become one, don't just expect to die on a hunt, they want to. Die in glorious battle, leave your mark on the world as other hunters strive to take down whatever it was that got you to avenge you, maybe even get a statue thrown up somewhere if you can drag out the battle long enough to get stories told about it. That's why you don't stop a hunter who you think is biting off more than they can chew; you expect that they know what they're getting into."
"Well, for future reference, I don't plan on dying on any hunt," Vaan said, glaring at him definitely.
"Noted," Tomaj replied, tipping his glass to Vaan before taking a swallow of his own drink.
Then Vaan smiled wanly, and if Tomaj had thought his betrayed look was one that he'd never want to see on Vaan's face this one was much, much, worse. "If I'm gonna die in battle, there are ones a lot more important coming up that I need to stick around to do it in."
And to that statement Tomaj finally had no response.
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Economy, Domestic Economy
S. Korea Shifting Iran Focus From Trade to Investment
Trade is like gluing two things, but investment is rather a chemical reaction. When two materials react chemically, it is almost impossible to detach them. So the Korean government urges Korean companies to invest more in Iran
The South Korean ambassador to Iran said Seoul is shifting focus from trade to investment in Iran.
Kim Seung-ho also told Mehr News Agency in an interview that Seoul is looking beyond trade.
South Korea has increased its commercial exchanges with Iran after Tehran signed the nuclear deal with world powers in 2015.
Last Iranian year (March 2016-17), bilateral trade reached the highest level of $6.33 billion over the past 10 years. Latest statistics on bilateral trade also indicate that this rising trend looks set to continue and a new record is at hand
“Trade is like gluing two things but investment is rather a chemical reaction. When two materials react chemically, it is almost impossible to detach them. So the Korean government urges Korean companies to invest more in Iran,” Kim said.
Iran signed its biggest credit line deal in recent years with South Korea’s Eximbank in August 2017. The deal envisages as much as €8 billion in loans provided by South Korean companies to finance various projects in Iran.
“The Iranian and Korean companies should apply their common projects to Korea’s Eximbank. Then the bank reviews if the project is really profitable or not,” the ambassador explained.
Referring to hurdles in the way of foreign investment in Iran, he said the Islamic Republic needs to improve its business environment to help foreign investors gain a foothold in the country.
“We can’t go further (than urging Korean companies to invest in Iran) because the government can’t enforce its will. It is for the companies to decide if they want to put their money here in Iran or not … If Iran provides a good environment for foreign companies, they won’t hesitate to come here,” he said.
“Iran needs to make the environment more conducive to absorb foreign investment. It should provide some good incentives and of course make the environment more predictable and transparent.”
Speaking of a conductive business environment, he called on the Iranian government to do more to pave the way for foreigners to have a stronger presence in the country.
“Let me give you a simple example. Here in Iran, there are not enough schools for foreign children. So when it comes to Korean companies sending their representatives to Iran, everybody is reluctant. So we send someone here who has not very young children.”
Government Spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht recently said foreign investment in Iran has seen a tenfold increase following the 2015 nuclear deal reached between Iran and six world powers
Addressing a news conference earlier this month, Nobakht said over $13 billion of foreign investment were made in Iran last year (March 2016-17), IRNA reported.
Director General of Industries Ministry’s Foreign Investment Office Afrouz Bahrami said Iran attracted $24.95 billion in foreign investments during Sept. 2013-17.
Germany, China, Turkey, Austria, the UAE and France were the biggest investors in Iran during the four-year period and the most attractive industries for investors were polymer and chemicals, steel, trade, motor vehicles, mining, plastic and medical devices.
Alborz, Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, Fars, West Azarbaijan, Kerman, Zanjan and Qazvin were the most attractive Iranian provinces for foreign investments during the period.
Iran-South Korea Relations
Seoul Seminar Targets Iran Business Prospects
South Korea to Finance Construction of 3 Hospitals in Iran
Seoul Seeks to Diversify Relations With Tehran
Call for Investment Rather Than Trade
Tehran, Seoul Strengthen Water, Wastewater Coop.
S. Korea’s Hyosung Eying Iran Polypropylene Deal
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints
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Archival Collections Portal > Rare Book & Manuscript Library > Kulchur Foundation records, 1936-1994, bulk 1969-1989
Kulchur Foundation records, 1936-1994, bulk 1969-1989
Series II: Kulchur Magazine and Kulchur Press,
Subseries II.1: Kulchur Magazine
Subseries II.2: Editorial Files
Subseries II.3: Unpublished Manuscripts
Subseries II.4: Administrative and Financial Records
Series III: Lita Hornick Files
Series IV: Photographs
Series V: Artwork
Series VI: Publications
Kulchur-- a little magazine focused on cultural criticism and later a small press, was an important publisher of avant-garde poets, particularly poets associated with what became known as the New York School. The Kulchur Foundation Records include administrative, financial and editorial records related to Kulchur Magazine, Kulchur Press, and the Kulchur Foundation. Additionally, it includes photographs, correspondence, artwork and manuscripts related to the Foundation or to its president-- writer, publisher, and art collector, Lita Hornick.
Kulchur Foundation
29.74 linear feet documen t boxes (29.74 linear feet documen t boxes 50 halfsize document box 1 record storage cartons 2 oversized flat boxes)
This collection is located on-site.
This collection is arranged in 6 series Series I: Correspondence, 1961-1993; Series II: Kulchur Press and Kulchur Foundation, 1953-1989 Subseries II.1: Kulchur Magazine, 1961-1966; Subseries II.2 Kulchur Press Editorial Files, 1967-1989; Subseries II.3 Unpublished Manuscripts, 1953-1992; Subseries II.4 Administrative and Financial Records, 1961-1994; Series III: Lita Hornick Files, 1948-1994; Series IV: Photographs, 1950s-1990s; Series V: Artwork, 1965-1980; Series VI: Published Material, 1961-1993
1991 Addition: Correspondence, manuscripts, publicity files, art work, and printed ephemera received by Lita Hornick and the Kulchur Foundation between 1979 and 1989. Also included are files related to poetry readings sponsored by the Kulchur Foundation during this period as well as correspondence relating to Lita Hornick's graduate work on Dorothy Richardson and Dylan Thomas in the 1940s and 1950s.
2000 Addition: Correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, printed materials, and a video cassette.
The correspondence series includes letters to and from Lita Hornick and Kulchur Press. Most of the correspondence in editorial or administrative in nature, though as Hornick's lists of friends and business associates overlap considerably, the letters are often social in tone.
This series comprises the bulk of the collection and includes the editorial, administrative, and financial records of Kulchur.
This series includes Lita Hornick's writings that were unpublished or published by an entity other than Kulchur Press. It includes a number of poems and short essays, many written in collaboration with friends (often written as an exquisite corpse exercise), as well as manuscripts for her full length books, Kulchur Queen and the The Green Fuse. The series also includes manuscripts and research notes related to her Master's Essay and her PhD Dissertation, both from degrees she received at Columbia. The research files for her dissertation include correspondence with friends and associates of Dylan Thomas's with whom she corresponded while researching her dissertation on Thomas.
The photographs series is a relatively small series that includes professionally taken portraits of Lita and her family as well as a number of snapshots and candid photos of Ms. Hornick with her family and friends. Of interest, as well, are snapshots taken at some of the parties thrown by Lita and Morton Hornick. There are also photographs of artworks sent to Ms. Hornick by art galleries so that she, an enthusiastic art collector, could preview new works.
This small series includes artwork from the collection of Lita and Morton Hornick, including several pieces by Joe Brainard. Artwork that was acquired as cover art or illustrations for a book published by Kulchur will be found in the editorial files for that publication, rather than as part of this Artwork Series.
This series is comprised of periodicals, printed books, and broadsides and includes material published by Kulchur Press, material written by Lita Hornick, and books and periodicals in Lita Hornick's Collection.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Kulchur Foundation Records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Related Material-- at Columbia
Dorothy M. Richardson: the quest for selfhood. Lita Rothbard's Masters Essay
The intricate image; a study of Dylan Thomas. Lita Hornick's Dissertation
Papers Processed 06/20/1988
Addition Processed 08/26/1992
Addition Processed 05/15/2000 HR
Papers Re-processed 10/- -/2010 Carrie Hintz
Finding Aid Written 10/--/2010 Carrie Hintz
2010-10-12 xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz.
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Baraka, Amiri, 1934-2014 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
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Berrigan, Ted Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
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Brainard, Joe, 1942-1994 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
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Ford, Charles Henri Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Hornick, Lita R., 1927- Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
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Malanga, Gerard Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
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Publishing critical essays, commentary, reviews and original artwork by writers and artists such as Ted Berrigan, Alice Notley, and LeRoi Jones, Kulchur was an important vehicle for promoting American poets and cultural critics associated with the New American Poetry of the mid to late twentieth century, particularly the New York School of poets and artists.
The Kulchur Foundation, a non-profit publishing and arts organization, began as a small, literary journal in 1961. The magazine was founded by Marc Schleifer who also edited Kulchur 1 and Kulchur 2 before handing over administrative and editorial control of the magazine to Lita Hornick.
Lita Hornick, who was to become the driving force behind the magazine and Kulchr's subsequent publishing and arts patronage activities, was born Lita Rothbard in 1927 in Newark, New Jersey. She graduated from Barnard College in 1948, where she developed her taste for modern literature and avant-garde poetry. She went on to do graduate work in English at Columbia University, writing her masters thesis on feminist novelist Dorothy Richardson, and, later, her doctoral dissertation on the work of Dylan Thomas. She was married to Morton Hornick and had two sons.
When Hornick took the reigns of the magazine's third issue in 1961 she made significant changes to the publication. The first two issues of the magazine had been managed by Marc Schleifer and published annually--under Hornick's direction the magazine focused more on arts criticism and commentary rather than literary publication and increased its publication schedule to quarterly. Hornick also established Kulchur Press, Inc. as an incorporated business in 1961 (albeit one that never turned a profit and was almost entirely privately funded by her and her husband).
Though Ms. Hornick took over the administrative reigns of the magazine in 1961 with Kulchur 3, she assigned guest editors for the first few issues of the magazine that she published (Gilbert Sorrentino edited Kulchur 5, and Joel Oppenheimer guest-edited Kulchur 6). Starting with Kulchur 7, the magazine was run by Ms. Hornick as managing editor, but supported by an editorial board of LeRoi Jones, Gilbert Sorrentino, Frank O'Hara, Joseph LeSeur, and Bill Berskon. This general arrangement lasted for five issues before Hornick took over the sole editorship of the magazine starting with Kulchur 7 and lasting through the magazine's final issue, Kulchur 20.
The stress and hectic schedule of editing and publishing a quarterly wore on Hornick, so in 1966 she decided to alter the focus of Kulchur, Inc. away from periodicals and cultural commentary and towards publishing books, primarily of poetry. The first book published by Kulchur Press was the contemporary poetry anthology Poems Now, edited by Hettie Jones, though most subsequent books would veer away from the anthology format. Over the course of the Press's run, it published books by notable New York School poets such as Ted Berrigan, John Giorno, and Rochelle Owens, among a host of others. By far the venture's most successful book was Screen Tests, a book of poetry by Gerard Malanga accompanied by photographs of individuals taken by Andy Warhol. Hornick, an avid art collector, was very interested in these collaborations between visual artists and poets, and published a number of such volumes.
In 1970 the name of the organization officially changes from Kulchur Press to Kulchur Foundation to reflect its work as an arts funder and grant-giving agency as well as a publishing venture. This move also allowed the organization to obtain the tax exempt status available to it as a cultural foundation rather than a business. Though Kulchur's publishing efforts remained unchanged with this shift to foundation status, the foundation started to take on more cultural programming than it had previously, such as producing a series of poetry readings at the Museum of Modern Art starting in 1973 and co-producing theatrical productions. In 1981 Kulchur stopped publishing, though Hornick maintained foundation work in the name of Kulchur until her death in 2000.
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BERT NEWTON outs GRAHAM KENNEDY / DON LANE as PEDOPHILES
On July 1, 2018 July 1, 2018 By Author
During his 2018 TV Logie awards speech, Bert Newton made a very clear reference to the fact that his TV star buddies Graham Kennedy and Don Lane were rampant pedophiles:
“Graham Kennedy was always the sort of man who nurtured young talent. He enjoyed giving young people a chance on television, he was a great mentor, he mentored a lot of young people. You knew if you went to his dressing room it was locked, he will be inside doing some mentoring. Don Lane was a mentor too. He did a hell of a lot of mentoring.”
Don’t fall for the media’s attempts to cover this revelation up as ‘homophobic’ or whatever PR executives are scrambling to think up. There is a difference between being gay – and raping kids! Stop lumping the two together, which is tactical, a whitewash of child sex trafficking. The #metoo movement is also being used to cover up pedophilia; it focuses on the sexual harassment and assault of adults while ignoring the entertainment industry’s main problem – child rape.
Bert Newton was talking about sex with vulnerable young children. Young child TV stars such as those who worked on ‘Young Talent Time’ and ‘Hey Dad!’ have spoken up about the culture of pedophilia within Australian TV studios. Multiple victims of VIP child sex trafficking named famous entertainers including Graham Kennedy, Don Lane and Bert Newton as pedophiles, to the Wood Royal Commission and the current Child Abuse Royal Commission.
Graham Kennedy, Don Lane and Bert Newton frequented boy brothels at Kings Cross when child trafficking there was coordinated by gangland cop Roger Rogerson who is now in prison for murder. 2005 Young Australian of the Year for community services, Dr Reina Michaelson named Graham Kennedy, Don Lane and Bert Newton as members of a VIP pedophile ring that also produced child pornography at TV studios.
These VIP pedophiles have raped kids without accountability for so long, they feel free to arrogantly boast about it on TV, as Bert Newton just did.
View the footage of Bert Newton’s Logie speech here:
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/bert-newtons-bizarre-comments-on-graham-kennedy-mentoring/video/ea8d59350657edb9e4984f0253c948e5
Australian Human Rights Commissioner Rosalind Croucher led Bathurst City Hall Ritual Murder
5 thoughts on “BERT NEWTON outs GRAHAM KENNEDY / DON LANE as PEDOPHILES”
Karen Thomas-Weston
I have a feeling that Bert’s days as an Australian icon are numbered. Maybe he senses the same thing and maybe his conscience is playing on him. I wonder too about Daylight Sommers and all of the Hey, hey it’s Saturday crowd.
Bill Stickers
The way he talks about it just shows how socially accepted it was and is among these men. The rampant pedophilia in the entertainment industry needs to be exposed.
Bert Newton’s son always seemed to be going off the rails. makes you wonder what he was exposed to.
The Nightingale Files
Reblogged this on The Nightingale Files.
Marty Boy
My own late father was related to the Packer family and it was rumored that the late Graham “Gra Gra” Kennedy was an illegitimate son of the late Sir Frank Packer, as his mother (from the Scott family) was a struggling radio soap actress and had an affair with serial womanizer and reputed deviant, Sir Frank Packer and gave birth to his “bastard” son (Graham Kennedy), whom was really raised by his Grandma Scott in Balaclava (near where I live and close to Elsternwick where I was born and where my parents first lived, when they were married) . People wonder why someone like Graham Kennedy lasted as long as he did on Australian TV, especially with Channel 9, and why always with GTV 9? Did the Packer family have something over Graham? Also those rumors about his alleged homosexual relationships with Bert Newton and Phillip Brady, what did Clyde & Kerry Packer know?(both dead like my father, now, also his relations, all 3 men died from heart cardiovascular disease-a Packer/Hewson curse that’s now affecting me! It was alleged that Graham Kennedy really died from HIV/AIDS, ironically in 2005, the same year that Kerry Packer & Rene Rivkin died, also all 3 men died in NSW-more irony there).Also like his blood relation KP, my father (who may have been Sir Frank’s illegitimate son as well) was considered “too dumb” and “dyslexic” (like KP) to hold down a profession, and had to do back-breaking plumbing work for his “father” (Sir Frank’s distant Scots-Irish cousin) and also difficult mechanical work for his politician Dutch brother in law.(KP was made to do the printing trade).
Like KP, my father had a “dog’s life”, but he lived for work, he was like a “country dog” he could’ve retired, but needed to keep on working for his sanity (like KP) . My late father also worked for a plumber in Caulfield, during the 1970s (called Jack Ryan- a hard task-master, like Sir Frank) and old Jack Ryan knew the Packers real well and got his plumbers to do jobs at the Richmond Channel 9 studios (where Ronnie Biggs also worked briefly) and also at Don Lane’s home (I think in the Caulfield area too, as Don Lane was Jewish-his real name Donald Morton Isaacson), my dad’s workmate was told off by Don Lane in an arrogant abrupt manner like, “..tradesmen enter at rear, not through here..it’s private..” (was Don Lane trying to hide something?)
Bert Newton & Phillip Brady were Catholic Irish stock and so was Bert’s wife, Pattie McGrath. I knew some of Pattie’s McGrath relatives quite well, they were a rough & ready bunch, around from the Richmond/Prahran areas originally, Matthew gets a lot of his “personality” from the McGraths. Phillip Brady used to live with his widowed mother at the old family home in Hawthorn. Phillip Brady had relatives who were wealthy land owners in the old Moorabbin Shire, many of them buried in Brighton Graveyard on North Road.Bert Newton’s father (I think he was called Clem Newton) was the president of the old Fitzroy VFL football club, like my father’s “dad” & possible real “dad” (Sir Frank Packer) , Bert’s father was also in the AIF and it was reckoned the tropics killed his father off, as his father died in 1950, just after he got back from overseas. My fathers uncles also all served in the AIF, one nearly was killed in an German bomb explosion.
Another late neighbor of mine (who used to run a TV shop in Chapel Street Windsor near Pattie Newton’s rellies) used to work for Phillips, and once did a call in job at Graham Kennedy;s Frankston home, my late neighbour, Jimbo, was himself gay and knew old Gra Gra was camp and met one of Gra Gra’s Greek boyfriends and his old Italian uncle, whom Jimbo recalled the Italian uncle being a sweet guy.But Graham was nothing like the others living in the Frankston household, he ran out towards Jimbo shouting, “..Tradesmen at rear!!!..”
He was the rudest customer Jimbo ever met!
Jimbo also met Bert & Pattie at an house auction in the Camberwell area, during the 1970s and thought Bert was shallow & superficial.
Anyway I have enough anecdotes to fill a book!
Fiona’s writing a book too!
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Dental Material Found In McDonald's Burger
AFP | Updated: January 30, 2015 12:40 IST
A Japanese woman got more than a mouthful when she discovered fragments later identified as "dental material" in a McDonald's hamburger, marking the fast-food chain's latest food quality embarrassment. The news, confirmed by McDonald's on Friday, comes two days after the company admitted several foreign objects had been found in food at Japanese outlets, including a human tooth in a container of french fries at an outlet in Osaka.
An unidentified woman told the Asahi television network she had found three tiny fragments of what looked like teeth in a burger she bought at a McDonald's in northern Kushiro city in September. "I took a bite and there was a crunch," the woman said in footage aired Friday, adding that she initially thought it was a piece of sand or stone. "I can't help thinking that it was (already) in the meat."
A third-party examination determined the opaque white fragments were "dental material", according to company spokeswoman Miwa Yamamoto, saying the substance is commonly used to fill cavities or in other dental work. McDonald's, however, would not confirm the woman's claim that the fragments were inside her burger.
Yamamoto said the customer was told that there was an "extremely low chance" it could have fallen into raw material, given the highly-mechanised process. None of the employees at the outlet had issues with their teeth at the time and the customer denied it could have come from her, Yamamoto said.
On Wednesday, McDonald's acknowledged a human tooth had been found in fries sold by another outlet last year, while it has also been hit by incidents in which pieces of vinyl were found in chicken nuggets and a tiny piece of hard plastic in a sundae. Japanese media reported several other cases of contamination, including a piece of metal in a pancake.
The incidents mark another public relations setback for the firm, which is struggling to recover from a battering to its reputation this summer when a Chinese supplier was found to be mixing out-of-date meat with fresh produce.
Then, late last year, the company had to airlift an emergency supply of french fries from the US after a chip shortage had resulted in rationing at its 3,000 restaurants across Japan. Labour disputes on the US West Coast had bunged up the export chain, leaving Japanese firms scrambling to secure fresh supplies.
The difficulties looked set to hit McDonald's bottom line, with the Japanese unit earlier saying it was on track to report a 17 billion yen ($142 million) annual loss for 2014. The subsidiary's Tokyo-listed shares, which are down nearly 10 percent since late July, fell 1.07 percent to 2,503.0 yen on Friday. McDonald's Runs Out of French fries in Venezuela
Image Credits: Associated Press
Tags: McdonaldsJapanFast FoodFast Food ChainFood Scare
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The American Burger Bandwagon: Carl's Jr Opening its first Outlet in India This August
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When Buying Olive Oil, Knowledge Is Power
Nancy Harmon Jenkins , Zester Daily | Updated: January 09, 2016 15:59 IST
It's an old story -- you've heard it before, and not just from me -- but it's coming around again. Predictably, just as U.S. specialty markets begin to trumpet the arrival of fresh new-harvest, extra virgin olive oil comes the warning that it ain't what it seems.
According to journalist Tom Mueller, speaking on the popular CBS News program "60 Minutes," an astonishing 80 percent of the extra virgin olive oil sold in the United States does not meet the standards for extra virgin.
That statement requires some clarification. To be characterized as extra virgin, legal parameters must be met. They are set by the International Olive Council, and they are liberal. The oil, for instance, must have only 0.8 percent free oleic fatty acid and a peroxide content of 20 milliequivalents, or meq.
But there's more. To qualify as extra virgin, an oil must be free of defects, with perfect flavor and aroma. And that's where a lot of extra virgin oil on sale in the U.S. falls down, usually because it is too old (Unlike wine, olive oil does not improve with age.) or has been exposed to damaging light, heat and/or atmosphere. The finest extra virgin will deteriorate very quickly. I know firsthand because once in Tuscany I deliberately exposed a glassful of extra virgin, milled just days earlier from my own olives. Within a week of exposure, it was unrecognizable, pale in color and with almost no flavor or aroma except for the slight development, as yet inchoate, of rancidity.
Much of the 80% of substandard extra virgin oil cited by Mueller (if indeed the figure is accurate, which I tend to doubt) was probably legally produced, bottled and shipped. But once it left the producer's hands, all bets were off.
Let me give a disturbing example: In my local Whole Foods I bought a bottle of oil from a Sicilian producer whom I know well, one who makes his award-winning product with scrupulous care. And it shows: The oil has a robust flavor you associate with new oils made from barely mature olives and picked just 12 to 24 hours before pressing. Yet, the oil I purchased was pale yellow, indicating exposure to too much light, and it was unmistakably rancid, so much so I had to spit it out at the first taste.
So buyer beware, or caveat emptor, as they said back in Rome.
The conclusion of this somewhat misguided "60 Minutes" report was simple: The problem with Italian olive oil is a creation -- like so many Italian problems -- of the Mafia, a catch-all for everything wrong with Italy. And we Americans, who sometimes seem to fear the Mafia as much as we fear ISIS, certainly don't want to give any support, financial or otherwise, to the dons. So should we all stop buying Italian olive oil?
Hang on a minute. If Italy is ground zero for olive oil fraud, the country is also recognized as ground zero for fraud protection, with not one but three national police forces responsible: the Carabinieri (like state police only national), the Guardia di Finanza (the tax police) and the Corpo Forestale, park rangers who also have the responsibility of investigating counterfeit foods and pursuing anti-Mafia activities. It was the Carabinieri in Turin last November who charged seven top olive oil companies with commercial fraud, among them Carapelli, Bertolli, Sasso and Coricelli. All were accused of selling as extra virgin, at extra virgin prices, oils that barely qualified as second-tier virgin, resulting in a 30% rip-off on the price.
Do the names sound familiar? They should. All these brands are in wide distribution outside Italy (as well as within), and especially in the U.S. through supermarkets and big-box stores. Although media have targeted the brands as "Italian," in fact Carapelli, Sasso and Bertolli, which all began life a century or more ago as Italian family companies, are now owned by the Spanish multinational Deoleo. On its website, Deoleo promotes itself as "the world leader in the olive oil market." That's no stretch -- Deoleo owns seven of the most widely sold olive oils in the world, including the abovementioned.
As frauds go, I have to confess, I don't find this one all that shocking. Selling oil that barely reaches the cheap virgin qualification as more expensive extra virgin? It's a bit like selling cheap toilet water as Chanel No. 5, and it's tempting to fault consumers for their ignorance. If you can't tell the difference between eau de toilette and a Chanel classic, it's your problem, honey, not mine. Nonetheless, fraud is fraud. While this may be fairly entry-level fraud, it is still deceptive. And illegal. And possibly dangerous to the health of people who consume a great deal of what they believe is heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil.
The core of the problem is that, even in Italy and other regions known for producing fine oil, most consumers, including experienced chefs, have little or no idea what top-quality extra-virgin olive oil ought to taste like. Here's a simple tip: It should leave your mouth feeling clean, not the least bit greasy, and it should have the fresh, herbal fragrance and flavor of just-cut grass. You've never actually tasted fresh-cut grass? Get out there behind the lawn mower and try it. It's not going to kill you!) The flavor and aroma of fine, fresh olive oil can get a lot more subtle than that, and experienced tasters will detect nuances, from roasted nuts to citrus to green tomatoes and tomato leaves, but basically if you keep in mind the adjectives fresh, grassy, herbal, clean, you'll be on the right track.
What to look for in olive oil
A well-made olive oil will have a good balance of three basic characteristics: the fruity flavors of sound, healthy olives, and the bitterness and piquancy (pepperiness) that are indications of the presence of antioxidants that make olive oil the fat you want on your table for all its great health benefits. What should be avoided is oil that has a flat, tired flavor, that tastes of rancidity, that leaves your mouth feeling coated with fat or that tastes like a jar of commercial tapenade that was opened three weeks ago and got lost in the back of the refrigerator.
Fortunately, now is a perfect time to educate your palate with the outstanding flavors of fresh, well-made olive oil. From the Mediterranean -- especially Italy -- and from California, producers are rushing olio nuovo, new-harvest oil, to market. It is expensive, but worth investing in, if only to give you a firm base-line sense of what excellence is all about. Once you've tasted it, you will never again mistake bad oil for good.
Here are just a few I have tasted and liked. Please note these are not by any means the extent of fine extra virgin olive oils; these are specifically new oils that I have tasted recently.
From Gustiamo in New York:
-Pianogrillo from Sicily, $38.25 for 500 milliliters.
-Tratturello from Molise, $44.50 for 750 milliliters.
-Rio Grifone, organic from Tuscany, $39.50 for 500 milliliters.
From Market Hall Foods in Oakland, California:
-Séka Hills, top-ranked Californian oil, $18 for 250 milliliters.
-Titone, award-winning Sicilian organic, $28 for 250 milliliters.
-Olio Verde from Sicily, single cultivar, nocellara del Belice, $38 for 500 milliliters.
From Olio2go in Fairfax, Virginia:
-Capezzana from Tuscany, $44.50 for 500 milliliters.
-Frescobaldi from Tuscany, with the prestigious Laudemio seal, $32.95 for 250 milliliters.
-Villa Zattopera from Sicily, single cultivar, tondo Iblea, $36.95 for 500 milliliters.
Direct from the producer, California Olive Ranch:
COR Limited Reserve, $19.99 for 500 milliliters.
Copyright Nancy Harmon Jenkins via Zester Daily and Reuters Media Express
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Tag Archives: Anna Farris
Video Verdict: ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close,’ ‘A Dangerous Method,’ ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked’
Max von Sydow, left, and Thomas Horn in a scene from “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.” Von Sydow’s work on the film earned him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.
This week’s video releases are anchored by a drama that earned two Oscar nominations while taking a fictionalized look at the fallout of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Filed under Video Verdict
Tagged as A Dangerous Method, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Amy Poehler, Anna Farris, Blu-ray, Blu-ray reviews, Blu-rays, Chipwrecked, Christina Applegate, David Cronenberg, David Cross, DVD reviews, DVDs, entertainment, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, film, film reviews, films, Forrest Hartman, home video, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Keira Knightley, Max von Sydow, Michael Fassbender, Mike Mitchell, Movie Reviews, movies, Sandra Bullock, Stephen Daldry, Thomas Horn, tom hanks, Video Verdict, Viggo Mortensen
Video Verdict: ‘Moneyball,’ ‘Killer Elite,’ ‘What’s Your Number?’
Brad Pitt, left, and Jonah Hill star in the sports drama “Moneyball.”
This week’s major home video releases include an all-out action film, a by-the-book romantic comedy and an excellent sports drama.
Tagged as Anna Farris, Bennett Miller, Billy Beane, Blu-ray, Blu-ray reviews, Blu-rays, Brad Pitt, Chris Evans, Critics' Choice Movie Awards, DVD reviews, DVDs, entertainment, film, film reviews, films, Forrest Hartman, Gary McKendry, Golden Globes, home video, jason statham, jonah hill, Killer Elite, Mark Mylod, Matt Sherring, Moneyball, Movie Reviews, movies, Oscars, reviews, Robert DeNiro, Video Verdict, What's Your Number
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Before completing the form, please read the Terms and Conditions.
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Man with Down syndrome dies after group home worker who drove him takes nap in hot van
Posted 3:48 PM, September 21, 2019, by CNN Wire
A group home worker in Pinellas County, Florida is accused of leaving a 35-year-old man with Down syndrome to die in a hot van.
On May 9, the worker with Crossroads of Pinellas — identified as 26-year-old Joshua Russell — was taking care of the man with Down syndrome and was driving him back to the group home after a hospital visit. On their way back from the hospital, Russell decided to make a stop at his house and left 35-year-old John Lapointe inside the van.
While at his own home, Russell consumed kratom. Russell told deputies he took the substance to feel “more alert.”
After taking the kratom, Russell hopped back inside the van and resumed his drive. During the drive back, Russell started to feel tired and nauseous. He then parked the van in the driveway, turned the vehicle off and took a nap.
Backstreet Boys surprise Down syndrome group with a meet-and-greet before Louisville concert
Russell later woke up sweating from the van’s heat and noticed Lapointe was not breathing.
Russell tried CPR but could not revive Lapointe, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.
Russell, who was armed, called his mother and told her he was going to kill himself after realizing what he just did. His mother told Russell he should not kill himself.
His mother called 911, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office responded to their location on 82nd Avenue near Oaskhurst Road in Seminole.
When deputies arrived on scene, paramedics had already pronounced Lapointe dead and Russell left the area on foot and was armed. When deputies located Russell, the 26-year-old told them he was going to kill himself.
Eventually, deputies were able to place Russell in custody. Sheriff Gualtieri said the van’s inside temperature at the time of Lapointe’s death was about 125 degrees.
“You know this poor guy baked in that car, that’s what happened,” said Gualtieri.
Russell is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a disabled adult.
Teen with Down syndrome says she wasn’t allowed to ride Ferris wheel with friends because of disability
Topics: down syndrome, Florida, group home, van
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Franklin's Fortune Deck Building Game
Joseph Warren and the Boston Rebellion
The Essential Guide To Stevens Decoys
Home of Franklin's Fortune Deck Building Game - Order NOW FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING!!!
The Essential Guide To Stevens Decoys (Hardcover Collector's Edition 2014) with Free Shipping
Order today - Free Shipping! Hard Cover Collector's Edition with Special Tenth Anniversary Dust Jacket Cover
Limited edition of 500 copies, numbered and signed by the author, 8.5 inch by 11 inch format, 164 pages, over 135 color photos, 70 black & white pictures, diagrams and species guide with tally of species recorded.
To contact Shane about Stevens Decoys: Go to Contact Us page
Book reviews...
Decoy Magazine, Joe Engers June 2004
"...the author explains that its intent is to provide a "practical understanding" of Stevens Decoys: how to recognize, authenticate, attribute and date a decoy made by George and Harvey Stevens, and how to avoid a fake or spot restoration. And the book proceeds to do just that."
Hunting & Fishing Collectibles Magazine, Stanley Van Etten August 2004
"This book is as essential to a Stevens collector as a "Field Manual" is to a birder. If a collector is puzzled by a particular decoy in hand as to whether or not it is a Stevens, authentic or unaltered, let him pick up this book once again and use it as the Essential Guide it was designed to be, referencing to its check list, diagrams, and close-up photos."
From Decoy Collectors...
"OUTSTANDING! Great information and long overdue!" Paul Loder
"Great approach and a very useful guide. I believe you shared what most people would not share with the general public." Greg McKinney
Excerpts from The Essential Guide to Stevens Decoys...
Harvey considered his decoys to be in a realm of their own. In his mind every distinguishing nuance in his work distanced his decoys dramatically from the techniques of all other makers, including his own brother. Harvey's harsh berating of other makers revealed his feisty and competitive nature...
Harvey's last decoys of around 1892 were so perfectly balanced that they met an astonishing mathematical standard. It seems history is indicating that Harvey may be the only maker that would possibly consider this much unnecessary structural precision to be quintessential in a hunting decoy...
One of the more under-utilized methods of determining the authenticity of a Stevens decoy is the bill carving detail because it is one that most collectors do not know about. It seems almost impossible that the carving of the bill lines could be so precise and unchanging that they can validate the authenticity of a decoy, but in this case it is reliable...
From the author...
I call this book the Essential Guide because it is intended to convey the practical understanding that is indispensable when investing in a Stevens Decoy. I do not illustrate the details of construction that aren't useful when inspecting a Stevens decoy that you are considering buying. The section entitled "Five Ways to Identify a Stevens Decoy" will teach you how to recognize, authenticate, attribute and date a decoy made by Harvey and George Stevens and consequently how to avoid buying a fake, a decoy with repairs, or one that has been restored...
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100.33.146.132 (talk)
(→Protection of freedoms)
Latest revision as of 02:50, 1 January 2020 (edit) (undo)
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* ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
* SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
* NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
* LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
* STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
* ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED
* OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
* ====================================================================
* This product includes cryptographic software written by Eric Young
* (eay@cryptsoft.com). This product includes software written by Tim
* Hudson (tjh@cryptsoft.com).
Original SSLeay License
/* Copyright (C) 1995-1998 Eric Young (eay@cryptsoft.com)
* This package is an SSL implementation written
* by Eric Young (eay@cryptsoft.com).
* The implementation was written so as to conform with Netscapes SSL.
* This library is free for commercial and non-commercial use as long as
* the following conditions are aheared to. The following conditions
* apply to all code found in this distribution, be it the RC4, RSA,
* lhash, DES, etc., code; not just the SSL code. The SSL documentation
* included with this distribution is covered by the same copyright terms
* except that the holder is Tim Hudson (tjh@cryptsoft.com).
* Copyright remains Eric Young's, and as such any Copyright notices in
* the code are not to be removed.
* If this package is used in a product, Eric Young should be given attribution
* as the author of the parts of the library used.
* This can be in the form of a textual message at program startup or
* in documentation (online or textual) provided with the package.
* 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the copyright
* notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
* documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
* 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software
* must display the following acknowledgement:
* "This product includes cryptographic software written by
* Eric Young (eay@cryptsoft.com)"
* The word 'cryptographic' can be left out if the rouines from the library
* being used are not cryptographic related :-).
* 4. If you include any Windows specific code (or a derivative thereof) from
* the apps directory (application code) you must include an acknowledgement:
* "This product includes software written by Tim Hudson (tjh@cryptsoft.com)"
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY ERIC YOUNG ``AS IS'' AND
* ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
* IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
* ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
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* HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
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* OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
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* The licence and distribution terms for any publically available version or
* derivative of this code cannot be changed. i.e. this code cannot simply be
* copied and put under another distribution licence
* [including the GNU Public Licence.]
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Attribution[edit]
Protection of freedoms[edit]
The license may include clauses that strive to protect the essential freedoms of the work, such as:
transparent copies: a clause requiring all copies of the work to be in a transparent file format (documented and not encumbered by patents) which allows the work to be freely used in perpetuity
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The license may not include clauses that strive to limit the essential freedoms of the work, such as:
usage restrictions: the license must not limit the licensee's actions beyond those which may have a plausible and direct impact on the essential freedoms of the work or its derivatives. Explicitly, it must not limit commercial use of the work.
Recommendations[edit]
Authors of licenses should make an effort to gradually make licenses which share the same philosophical roots and legal principles compatible with each other to ensure that works under these licenses can be combined and aggregated freely. This may be accomplished by altering the terms of the license (e.g. by removing arestriction which the other license does not have), or by adding migration clauses which allow the use of the licensed work under the now compatible license.
When making copies of a work, the licensee should be allowed to refer to a resource pointer instead of being required to distribute the license text itself with each copy of the work. Similarly, the license should allow the author or authors to specify a resource pointer for the attribution of multiple authors of a work. This is to ensure that the attribution requirement for complex collaborative works does not become an impediment.
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Retrieved from "http://freedomdefined.org/index.php?title=Definition/Unstable&oldid=23608"
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Wicker Man - General Discussion
MakoMania
Re: SW8
I don't think it's much to do with the manufacturer but rather the no limits povs that have been released that make the coaster look tame and boring. As ever though, plans can be altered so it's possible it could be better than those recreations. I think they'll have a hard job beating BPB's 2018 coaster though.
SeaWorld has rescued over 35,000 animals in need![/i]
Capt.Barnacles
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
See I'm potentially disagreeing here. Having had a closer look at the layout for the BPB MACK coaster, it certainly looks like it's not going to live up to some of the other megacoasters out there like Helix and the Blue Fire clones. So whilst we're looking at one of the weaker MACK coasters, SW8 could surprise us all with something. We'll just have to see.
Yeah, it doesn't look as good as Helix, Blue Fire I'm not sure. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes and personally the BPB coaster looks very much like my kind of ride, but I'm sure SW8 has not revealed all it has to offer yet either
OhShambhala
Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 am
I feel like SW8 will be a dark horse. The plans aren't showing us everything and if the rumours of a launch are true, this could be a world class coaster!
Airtime Machine, Shambhala!
Burniel wrote:
With the general excitement around the topic, I would say that we haven't really had much to get excited about since we had the plans and planning permission. I'm sure the topic will get far busier once the season starts and people will be watching construction for themselves regularly.
However like I said previously, SW8 is far further along in its construction than The Smiler was at the same time in 2012. The Black Hole tent was still standing even into February yet the attraction was getting over 100 times the amount of posts per day. SW8 has had an entire attraction removed and is moving into its landscaping. In regards to all we have us the plans, that's exactly my point. We need to have something else put out on mainstream social media platforms not only so that enthusiasts can begin with the mindless speculation that generally fuels the excitement for Merlin attractions (e.g. FINS!) and the public can actually find out that something is coming to the resort, as right now all they see is "SW8. Groundbreaking new development." and a beloved attraction has been removed. Fingers crossed the incredible marketing work from The Smiler and Ghost Train is brought through as this seems to work very effectively.
I'd like to clarify that this isn't a reflection of how good I think SW8 looks, I think the attraction will be nice but at this point MMXVIII is doing a far superior job of building excitement and that's a fact that no one can argue with. Having regular construction updates (and posting them publically) is a fantastic move from Blackpool as it's managing to capture interest not only through the UK but even in the US, whereas SW8 has barely stretched out to the south of the UK if we are honest we ourselves.
My main point is I really think Alton need to start with even some subtle Tweets about the ride because right now I, and I'm sure many others, are more excited for MMXVIII and Blackpool who are in direct competition with them at this point.
In the below article Nick Thompson, deputy Managing Director at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, talks about how Construction 2018 and SW8 will combine to benefit both Alton Towers and BPB as well as the wider UK theme park industry as happened back in 1994 with Nemesis and The Big One:
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/ ... -1-8382766
Do people really realistically think that this ride could have a launch or are we making things up in a fantasy world? I suppose the magnetic lift system could be a hint, but that first corner looks quite tight to be taken at much speed.
It would be a first for GCI but would give Merlin their much loved USP of Europe's first launched wooden coaster. (If I'm not forgetting anything, would any sort of magnetic lift system would be a first for GCI?)
Burniel
Joined: June 2013
Location: Dragon's Fury's SRQ
I'm fairly sure I've also raised concerns about the impracticality of a launch at some point. I just don't see it being practical, due to that corner as you rightly say, but it nevertheless seems clear that the plans we have do not show the full extent of the coaster - where's the secret element? (Being kept a secret I suppose )
The only way I can see a launch being possible is if the plans are hiding the existence of additional track which does not head straight around the corner (perhaps a curved drop?), but even then I question whether the launch could truly be anything huge given the tightness of the layout in places and the family orientation of this project.
The excuse given for the magnetic lift - that it is to reduce noise - is, in my opinion, valid and I see no reason to look much further into it for now, other than marking it down as a wild possibility. After all, there's also going to be extensive tunnels to reduce noise, proving that such precautions are necessary.
As it is, the launch theory is just a "washing machine" to me.
Burniel | Great at theme park knowledge, not so great at designing signatures.
I wonder when the park starts giving us minor advertisements and teases. When did marketing kick in for The Smiler?
The thing with the launch is the lift technology is technically a 'launch' so they could genuinely market it as one even if it's travelling at something like 10mph
OhShambhala wrote:
The first major marketing point was when the SW7 minisite launched on 11th April 2012, so I would expect something similar within the next three months.
Full-on marketing and teasers didn't being until September 2012 and the name of the ride wasn't announced until January 2013, but we do, of course, have to remember that they were experiencing delays.
Also, we should have new banners around the construction site in March so they may act as teasers as well and might give a better indication of the theme.
I still think this whole Wicker Man thing sounds interesting, it could be made to fit into either Mutiny Bay or Katanga Canyon.
Themeparkinternational
If this is a launch coaster wouldn't it be the first in the world because Lightning Rod isn't a true woodie?
Themeparkinternational wrote:
To some people Lightning Rod is classed as a full wooden coaster which might make things difficult as Alton need to be extra careful on advertising something which is arguably false.
Twinklepark
"World's first roller coaster fully dedicated to being made out of wood, with a launch"
Twinklepark wrote:
That would be horrendous. I hope Merlin don't do something like that, although it hasn't stopped them before...
TheBeast
Location: Newcastle
Contact TheBeast
That would be absolutely brilliant if they actually named it that! Although I do doubt that the ride will have much overlap with the BPB ride. The two parks wouldn't want to interfere with each other, instead bring out two different rides that seem in no way similar- thats the way i read the article posted above. I doubt we will see a launch on the woodie because of the wear upon the track pieces, or have i missed something here?
Credit to NemesisRider for an amazing signature!
I doubt wear on the track would be much different to any other high speed wooden coaster, the only difference is using magnets to accelerate the train instead of gravity. I believe GCI have said in the past that they are open to doing launches.
Who else is thinking first day of the 2018 season for opening day? Construction seems to be moving at quite a rapid pace compared to the Smiler which was a considerbaly larger coaster, construction 18 also seems to be moving ahead quickly and it would be interesting to see if Blackpool and Alton open their coasters on the same weekend.
I think opening day 2018 is a reasonable target for SW8's opening day however with Construction 2018 it's worth remembering that they are not going to be installing any steel for the coaster until November, and there's a lot of track to put in, so that may open sometime around May 2018.
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Exploring London
A blog about London and its history…
Treasures of London – The Banqueting House…
While we’ve looked at some of the history of the Banqueting House during last year’s special on King James I’s London, we thought we’d take a more in-depth look as part of our Treasures of London series…
A perfect double cube with a sumptuous painted ceiling, this early 17th century building is the only remaining complete structure from the Palace of Whitehall which was destroyed by fire in 1698.
The building replaced an earlier banqueting hall built on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I and another, shorter-lived hall, built by King James I, which was destroyed by fire in 1619.
Following its destruction, King James had Inigo Jones design a new hall to provide, as the previous hall had, a location for state occasions, plays and masques – something of a cross between an organised dance, an amateur theatrical performance and just a chance to dress up.
Jones, who partnered with Ben Jonson to produce masques, designed the hall – which has a length double the width – with these performances specifically in mind. The first one – Jones and Jonson’s Masque of Augurs – was performed on Twelfth Night, 1622, even before the building was completed (the last masque was performed here, incidentally, in 1635, after which, thanks they were moved to a purpose built structure nearby, ostensibly to save the newly installed paintings from being damaged by the smoke of torches – see below).
The incredible paintings on the ceilings, which celebrate the reign of King James I and will be the subject of their own Treasures of London article at a later date, were installed by March 1636. Produced by Flemish artist Sir Peter Paul Rubens, they had been commissioned by King Charles I, King James’ son, in commemoration of his father. Ironically, it was outside the building where the monarchy was so celebrated that King Charles I was beheaded in 1649 (this is marked in a ceremony held at the Banqueting House on 30th January each year).
Following the king’s execution, Whitehall Palace wasn’t used for several years until Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell took up residence there in 1654, using the Banqueting House as a hall if audience. It stood empty after Cromwell’s death in 1658 until the Restoration in 1660 when King Charles II again used it as a grand ceremonial hall for receiving foreign embassies and conducting court ceremonies (these including the ancient custom of what is known as ‘Touching for the King’s Evil’ to cure those afflicted with the disease of scrofula as well as the washing of the feet of the poor by the sovereign on Maundy Thursday.)
King James II was the last king to live at Whitehall Palace and during his reign, from 1685-88, it was used as a royal storehouse. But it was revived for formal use following his reign – it was here that King William III and Queen Mary II were officially offered the crown on 13th February, 1689.
During their reign, the court’s focus shifted to Kensington but the Banqueting House was used for Queen Mary to lay in state after her death in 1694.
Following the destruction of the remainder of Whitehall Palace in 1698 – the origins of this fire are apparently owed to a maid who had put some linen by a charcoal fire to dry – the Banqueting Hall was used briefly as a Chapel Royal and, following a renovation in the late 1700s, it was used for concerts and, from 1808, as a place of worship for the Horse Guards.
Further renovation works followed and in 1837, it was re-opened as a Chapel Royal and used as such until 1890 when this practice was formally discontinued. In 1893, Queen Victoria gave the Royal United Services Institute the use of the building as a museum – among the things displayed there were the skeleton of Napoleon’s horse, Marengo. In 1962, the exhibits were dispersed and the Banqueting House today is used for a range of royal, corporate and social events.
There is an undercroft underneath, designed as a place where King James I could enjoy drinking with his friends. It was later used for storage.
WHERE: Corner of Whitehall and Horse Guards Avenue (nearest Tube stations are Westminster and Embankment); WHEN: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm; COST: £5 adults/£4 concessions/children under 16 free (Historic Royal Palaces members free); WEBSITE: www.hrp.org.uk/BanquetingHouse/.
PICTURE: Courtesy of Historic Royal Palaces/newsteam.co.uk
Posted in Banqueting House, Charles I, Charles II, Civil War, Elizabeth I, Elizabethan, Glorious Revolution, Inigo Jones, Jacobean, James I, James II, Mary II, Oliver Cromwell, Restoration, Treasures of London, Victoria, Whitehall, William III | Tagged Ben Jonson, Chapel Royal, Horse Guards, Marengo, Masque of Augurs, masques, Maundy Thursday, Napoleon, Palace of Whitehall, Royal United Services Institute, Sir Peter Paul Rubens, Touching for the King's Evil | Leave a Comment »
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GemuBaka The writing of D.J. Tatsujin
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Street Fighter X Megaman first impressions/Mini Review
Alexander “MixMasterLar” Browning was a freelance writer on the old Rithum.com and Gemubaka sites, and has also done opinion pieces on games and the industry here and there. Today, he brings you his thoughts on Capcom’s latest offering, Street Fighter X Megaman.
A few days ago mega-game developer Capcom released a free PC title called Street Fighter X Megaman on its Capcom-Unity page. The game was made primarily by Capcom fan and indie developer Seow Zong Hui with support from Capcom themselves to celebrate the end of Street Fighter’s 25th anniversary in 2012 and mark the beginning of The Blue Bomber’s 25-year benchmark in 2013. While seeing the title in print would lead one to believe it is another hyper fighter that brings over yet another franchise with the likes of Ryu and Chun-Li, this title makes it clear that it is much more Megaman then anything.
The game plays more or less exactly as classic 8-bit Megaman titles should. Players run, jump, shoot and slide through 10 side-scroller levels in classic platforming fashion. Most any gamer knows the drill, but the catch this time around is all the Robot Masters you’ve come to expect have been replaced with Street Fighter characters in 8-bit form in levels inspired by Street Fighter lore. It’s a very interesting premise, and for free, worth your time in downloading.
The core game is unchanged from the NES titles and the reboots Megaman 9 and Megaman 10: You select from one of eight levels in which you progress through fairly simple platforming segments until you reach the boss of that stage. Power-ups such as health are scattered throughout the level, but the best reward comes from defeating the stage boss, which grants you his/her ability. In this title, you take on one of the Street Fighter characters such as Ryu, Chun-Li, Blanka or C. Viper and, upon defeating them, you gain one of their signature moves (such as Hadouken from Ryu, Lighting Kicks from Chun-Li, etc). The format was amazing back on the NES and it still holds up – I don’t think anyone will argue that. If you have been itching for some classic Megaman lately then you should enjoy yourself.
The graphics and music all hark back to the Nintendo. The stages look pure 8-bit and portray their motifs well: A jungle stage for Blanka, an Aztec stage for Urien and a construction site for Rolento (which, as a huge fan of Final Fight, is one of my favorites in the game in terms of presentation) help round out the locations. The music, which was produced by a fan going by the handle of A_Rival, is mostly chiptune arrangements of the main Street Fighter themes with a little of Megaman’s classic music thrown in. I would have to say the presentation of the entire game is its absolute strongest point. Rather it’s seeing Dan introduce the new weapons as you earn them or catching all the small nods to Street Fighter within the levels themselves, it’s more spot on then miss. Granted, a slums for Chun-li (versus the ancient Chinese motif she ended up with) would have made the game feel alot more like the locations in Street Fighter, but that’s hardly its main fault.
That honor goes to the overall flow of the game and the difficulties of the levels themselves. For most seasoned and hardcore Megaman fans, the levels seem really easy compared to earlier titles. Granted, Megaman is known for being a little too hard at times but at this point it’s kind of required before you can label it as a Megaman game. Yet on the other end, you have the fights with the Street Fighters being much harder then they should be. There isn’t a good beginner level to present to players because every boss is capable of killing you before you have a good chance to grasp what’s going on. While this may seem pretty fun for hardcore fans, it makes it to where anyone who is fairly new to the games can’t pass one stage. Passing the game among friends yesterday, I noticed everyone could learn to pass the stages (even if my less then experienced friends needed a few retries), but only seasoned players could touch the bosses.
What we have is a difficulty curve that is too easy for players who are proficient in platformers, then too hard for newer players whenever the boss is presented. This problem only gets worse as the player earns the moves/weapons from defeating the bosses, making the stages become easier with the proper tools that you acquire while the end stage fights only becoming doable as you go on. In my humble opinion, try and fight Chun-Li and Rolento first as you can pump the shoot button away and defeat them about half the time without the need of another technique. Considering the older titles had great care in planning out a good route for players to experience the game – while still giving freedom in allowing the player to tackle any segment first – it makes me wonder why on Earth Capcom would allow this seemingly blatant flaw in a game that is being promoted and marketed as THE 25th Anniversary of two pretty important game series.
But perhaps that’s being a little too harsh on the game. It is, when you boil it down, a fanmade tribute to two great Capcom franchises. As a small time game, it blows away any of the Megaman hacks you might have played and, while I love the flash version tributes on Newground,s I would easily say Zong Hui has pulled off the Megaman formula the best since Megaman creator Keiji did it. But then you remember Capcom isn’t planning on doing anything else for Megaman this year aside from releasing the NES titles on the 3DS, and if you are like me, you have undoubtedly wondered why they wouldn’t make this a bigger project.
The game is short by platforming standards and just doesn’t have enough to warrant more than one playthrough. Still, I had a blast playing it for some serious nostalgia and you can’t beat free.
Also, a save feature so I didn’t have to beat the game in one swoop would be nice. Even Megaman 2 had a password system …
-Lar
PS: You can get the game and try it out yourself here: http://www.capcom-unity.com/brelston/blog/2012/12/17/street-fighter-x-mega-man-now-available-for-free
I did when it was released on the 17th and had a fairly good time with it.
Tags: videogames
Categories: GemuBaka Review, IndieSnack
Author:indiesnack
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Classic Albums Live – Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
April 16th at 7 pm
Savannah Center, 1545 North Buena Vista Blvd, The Villages, FL 32162
Resident $38 | General Public $43 | Package $35 each
In support of One Team One Fight 4 P.T.S.D. and Combat Veterans to Careers.
Classic Albums Live takes classic albums and performs them live, on stage—note for note, cut for cut—using the world’s greatest musicians. From Craig Martin, founder of Classic Albums Live: “The very first track of [Rumours] lets you know that heartache awaits. It’s not easy to fall apart, then sing about it, then have 25 million people buy it. It was therapy and it paid great. This is a tough album for us to perform. The vocals are tricky; there’s nuance and layering and thunder and the guitars are orchestral. Plus, the vibe of the album—the feel—that’s hard to recreate. I wanted the band to move into an apartment together to prepare for this album, but that didn’t fly, so we rehearsed our tails off and we got it. What’s cool about this record is that everyone knows all the words, even the ushers at the shows, so when CAL hits the stage and plays this masterpiece it is joyous.”
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Category Archives: Retro
Theme Hospital: Retro
Posted by GamepadGlory
Theme Hospital was developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1997. The aim of the game is for the player to design and manage a hospital. Like most of Bullfrog’s games, Theme Hospital is permeated by an eccentric sense of humour. The game is the thematic successor to Theme Park, which was also produced by Bullfrog.
The player has no direct control over the patients that wander the hospital, although gameplay largely centres on influencing their actions in one way or another. The player does, however, have the ability to pick up any staff member in the building and move them to a different area and to expel any patients from the hospital. The player may also force the patient into taking a chance of possible cure at the risk of killing the patient and rearrange the queue of each of the rooms in the hospital.
Each level consists of an empty hospital to plan and design, with set goals in the fields of financial attainment, patients cured, percent of patients cured, and hospital value. Holding negative funds or allowing sufficient patients to die will bring about losing requirements. When the goals have been met the player has the option to move on to a new, more elaborate hospital with tougher winning conditions and more diseases present. The final level in the game, ‘Battenburg‘ consists of an enormous, yet somewhat awkward, hospital with all the diseases and rooms in the game present, all disasters frequent and very high winning requirements.
Theme Hospital Review (PS1) (gamesbrainsandheadbanging.com)
ubuntu games fps (tiolefhasi.wordpress.com)
Posted in Retro
Tags: Bullfrog, Bullfrog Productions, Electronic Arts, Entertainment, Game, gaming, Hospital, Humour, Patient, pc, ps1, retro, Theme Hospital, Theme Park, Video game
Crazy Taxi: Retro
Crazy Taxi is an open world racing game developed by Hitmaker and published by Sega. The game was ported to the Dreamcast in 2000. The main objective of the game is to pick up customers and take them to their chosen destination as quickly as possible. Along the way, money can be earned by performing stunts such as near misses with other vehicles. The player is directed to a destination by a large green arrow at the top of the screen. The arrow does not adjust based on obstacles, but rather points in the general direction of the destination. Once the player arrives near the destination, they must stop within a specified zone. When the destination is reached, that customer’s fare is added to the player’s total money earned. Ratings are then awarded depending on how long the player took to complete the journey. If the customer’s timer runs out before the player reaches the destination the customer jumps from the taxi.
Players can select three, five or ten minute settings, or the Arcade Rules used in the original coin-op version of the game. In the three time-limited settings, play continues for the designated period of time, after which the cab automatically stops and no more points can be scored. Under Arcade Rules, the player starts with an initial time limit of one minute, which can be extended through time bonuses earned for quick deliveries. Console versions of the game also feature a mode known as Crazy Box, a set of minigames that feature challenges such as picking up and dropping off a number of customers within a time limit, bowling using the taxi as a ball, and popping giant balloons in a field.
The arcade version of the game includes one stage, and an additional original stage was added for the console versions. Both stages are based in sunny coastal California locales, with steep hills and other strong similarities to San Francisco. The player has a choice of four drivers and their cabs, each of whom has slightly different attributes.
Crazy Taxi Mashup (gamepadglory.wordpress.com)
Crazy Taxi PSP (crazytaxigames11.wordpress.com)
Crazy Taxi iOS review (mobot.net)
Top 8 re-releases for Xbox Live Arcade – Classic games we’re happy to get to see again (30plusgamer.com)
SEGA’s weekend App Store sale includes Crazy Taxi and more (idownloadblog.com)
Tags: Arcade game, Crazy Taxi, Customer, Dreamcast, Entertainment, Game, Games, gaming, retro, San Francisco, Sega, Video game
Hogs of War: Retro
Hogs of War was developed by and published by Infogrames for the PlayStation and PC in 2000. The game is set in a First World War-era where anthropomorphic pigs engage in combat.
The gameplay is a turn-based tactics game where players take turns controlling individual members of their squad of hogs to engage in combat with the opposition, similar to Worms. Each turn, a player takes control of a single squad member in a third-person perspective to move around the map including jumping over terrain and swimming over bodies of water yet can only engage in combat when stationary. Each turn has a set time limit that ends if the timer counts down to zero, the player skips their turn, a weapon or ability is used or if they have accidentally injured themselves such as walking into a mine field or falling from a high surface. Other hazards include bodies of water that while can be swam in, is damaging to nearly all types of soldiers that drains health as they swim. If a teammate is knocked into water by an opponent, they will automatically swim to the nearby shore line. While difficult, it is also possible to knock hogs off the map resulting in instant death. If all health is gone and the player is on land, they will fall over with a last comical remark before exploding.
The tune for the game is John Philip Sousa‘s Liberty Bell March. The design of the game is discussed in the book The Game Maker’s Apprentice, which is co-authored by the lead programmer of the game and has a foreword by one of the game’s designers. Voice over work was provided by comedian Rik Mayall shown in the following clip.
Retro Review: Silent Hill (nemesisarts.wordpress.com)
Tags: Entertainment, Game, Games, gaming, John Philip Sousa, Player character, playstation, retro, Rik Mayall, Turn-based tactics, Video game, Video Games, Worms
Ratchet and Clank: Retro
Ratchet & Clank was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2. In the game, Supreme Executive Chairman Drek plans to take pieces from other planets across the Solana Galaxy and create one new planet for his people, the Blarg, whose planet has become polluted and uninhabitable. Aside from the two protagonists, the game also introduces Captain Qwark, who appears in the following games, as both enemy and ally.
The game offers a wide range of weapons and gadgets that the player must use to defeat numerous enemies and solve puzzles on a variety of different planets in the fictional Solana galaxy. The game also includes several mini games, such as racing or lock-picking, which the player must complete to proceed. The game was positively received by critics, who praised the graphics and variety of gameplay, along with the comic and humorous style to the sci-fi story.
The game introduced features such as the ability to purchase items, weapons, and unlocking gadgets as the game progresses, which have become a staple of the series in following games. The first in this series does not feature the upgrade system of experience earned for enemies killed, instead the player may purchase stronger, gold versions of select weapons using a combination of hidden Gold Bolt items and regular bolts. Check out this funny tv spot,
Trailer Premiere: Ratchet and Clank Movie (blinkinggamereviews.wordpress.com)
Making sense of the PS4 game lineup (reviews.cnet.com)
Ratchet & Clank: The Movie? (gamepadglory.wordpress.com)
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault Receives New Map and Game Mode (news.softpedia.com)
Tags: Entertainment, funny, Game, gaming, Insomniac Games, List of Ratchet & Clank characters, PlayStation 2, PS2, Rainmaker Entertainment, ratchet clank, Solana Galaxy, Sony, Video game
Mr. Moskeeto: Retro
The player controls a small mosquito,named Mr Moskeeto, who has taken up residency in the house of the Yamada family, life-sized humans that serve as the protagonist‘s food source in the game. The goal of the game is to stock up on blood through the summer so that the mosquito will survive the winter ahead. The player is tasked with sucking blood from specific body parts of the family members without being noticed. If the player is not careful, the human will become stressed and eventually attack.
The game is made up of a series of stages which must be unlocked in order by completing each previous stage. Players can choose their own path though each stage. At the start of each stage is a briefing detailing the room where the stage takes place, the victim and areas on their body from which blood can be sucked, and any prevalent dangers. The rooms in each stage are fully explorable. Each room has items hidden in obscure places which can bring various benefits.
Top 7 Weird Video Games – Creepy, strange, shocking, and just plain weird video games (30plusgamer.com)
a380 Pocket Retro Game Emulator (coolest-gadgets.com)
Tags: Blood, Business, Entertainment, Game, gaming, Gossip, Health, Hematology, Medical Specialties, Medicine, Mister Mosquito, Mosquito, PS2, retro, Video game
Super Mario Sunshine: Retro
Super Mario Sunshine: Retro game of the day
Super Mario Sunshine, developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It was released in October 2002 across Europe. It is the second 3D Mario platformer, following Super Mario 64. The game takes place on the tropical Isle Delfino, where Mario, Princess Peach and five Toads are taking a vacation. A villain resembling Mario, known as Shadow Mario, vandalises the entire island with graffiti and Mario gets blamed for the mess. Later on, Mario is ordered to clean up Isle Delfino, while saving Princess Peach from Shadow Mario. Mario cleans up the island with a device called Flash Liquidizer Ultra Dousing Device or FLUDD for short.
When Mario first acquires FLUDD he can spray and hover using its nozzles, it can be upgraded later in the game to extend functionality. The rocket nozzle, which blasts Mario up high into the air and the turbo nozzle, which lets Mario sprint at high speed on land and water and break down specific doors. Mario can also ride Yoshi later in the game, who can eat fruit and squirt the juice of that fruit. This juice can be used to dissolve orange generators acting as obstacles, and briefly transform enemies into platforms for Mario to step on. The color of Yoshi and color of its juice depends on the type of fruit last eaten.
There are 240 blue coins and 120 Shine Sprites. Each level consists of eight tasks, which may be played again at will once they are completed. Once the player has collected enough Shine Sprites, a new level is available at Delfino Plaza, either by the acquisition of a new ability or a plot-related event. Of the 120 Shine Sprites, 24 are gained by collecting and trading Blue Coins at a rate of 10 coins per sprite. Gameplay proceeds in this fashion until all of the Shadow Mario-related missions are completed, which unlocks the level containing the final boss. Check out this crazy tv spot!
Super Mario Sunshine 2 Is Long Overdue (nintychronicle.wordpress.com)
Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Super Mario Sunshine Reference) (nintychronicle.wordpress.com)
!Nintendo Wall Graphics – New Super Mario Bros (nintendowallgraphicssupermariosaleusa9.wordpress.com)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Game Review (epicagames.com)
Super Mario Portal Edition (With Video) (teksocial.com)
Tags: Entertainment, Game, GameCube, gaming, Gossip, mario, Nintendo, Princess Peach, retro, Super Mario Sunshine, Video game, Yoshi
Gran Turismo: Retro
Gran Turismo: Retro game of the day
With yesterdays exciting announcement from Sony about the release of its latest incarnation of Polyphony Digitals long running racing simulator series, Gran Turismo 6 for PS3, we thought it only right that today’s retro game of the day was the original.
After five years in development Gran Turismo was published by Sony Computer Entertainment and released in 1997 for the PlayStation console. A year later the game’s development group was established as Polyphony Digital. To date has spawned over 10 spin-offs and sequels.
Gran Turismo is based on the racing simulator genre and uses two different modes, Arcade Mode and Simulation Mode. In the arcade mode, the player can freely choose the courses and vehicles they wish to use. Winning races unlocks additional cars and courses. In simulation mode the player is required to earn different driver’s licenses in order to qualify for events, and earn credits, trophies and prize cars. The credits can then be used to purchase additional vehicles and for parts for tuning. Gran Turismo features 140 cars and 11 race tracks, long with their reversed versions.
Gran Turismo 6 – watch full presentation from Silverstone (vg247.com)
Gran Turismo 6 page found on official site (vg247.com)
Gran Turismo 6 officially announced, available this holiday (joystiq.com)
Gran Turismo 6 Confirmed via Leaked Press Release (autoevolution.com)
Sony shows off Move, PlayStation Plus at E3 (video roundup) (reviews.cnet.com)
Tags: Entertainment, Game, gaming, Gran Turismo, GranTurismo, Kazunori Yamauchi, playstation, Polyphony Digital, retro, Sim racing, Sony, Sony Computer Entertainment, Video game
Eternal Darkness: Retro
Eternal Darkness: Retro game of the day
Eternal Darkness is a survival horror video game released for the GameCube. Developed by Silicon Knights and originally planned for the Nintendo 64, it was released November 2002 in Europe. It was the first video game published directly by Nintendo to be rated M for mature by the software rating board.
Eternal Darkness’ plot revolves around Alexandra Roivas, who is investigating the mysterious murder of her grandfather Edward Roivas. While exploring his Rhode Island mansion, she discovers a secret room containing, among other odd items, a book bound with human skin and bone. When she reads this book, The Tome of Eternal Darkness, she experiences a scene in the life of Pious Augustus, a respected Roman military commander in 26 BC. Pious is led by mysterious voices to an underground temple, where he chooses one of three mysterious artifacts. The artifact transforms him into an undead warlock, the Liche, and makes him slave to one of three Ancients, powerful godlike beings whose Essences are incarnated as the artifacts. As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that Pious is attempting to summon his Ancient into this reality, while the powerful fourth “Corpse God” Mantorok is bound on Earth already, apparently helpless to stop it. If this summoning came to pass, the Ancient would feast on the bodies and souls of all living beings, and cast the universe into the horror of eternal darkness. The game utilises sanity effects to enhance the gameplay.
Though not a commercial success, Eternal Darkness was widely praised, winning the Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development award at the Annual Interactive Achievement Awards long with numerous other awards.
‘Shadow of the Eternals’ Revealed as ‘Eternal Darkness’ Sequel (bagogames.com)
Eternal Darkness spiritual sucessor teased, reveal and crowdfunding campaign launch May 6 (polygon.com)
Precursor Games Says It Will “Definitely Discuss” Releasing Eternal Darkness On Wii U (mynintendonews.com)
Eternal Darkness Inspired Shadow of the Eternals Launched Kickstarter on Monday (news.softpedia.com)
Tags: Ancient, Entertainment, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, Eternals, Game, GameCube, Games, gaming, Gossip, Nintendo, retro, Rhode Island, Silicon Knights, Survival horror, Video game
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: Retro
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: Retro game of the day
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, released Nov 2000, developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Majora’s Mask is the sixth game in the series, set in Termina it is an alternate version of the usual series setting of Hyrule. The Skull Kid has stolen Majora’s Mask, a powerful ancient artefact and under its influence he causes the moon to fall towards the Termina. Link, the stories protagonist, travels back in to find a way to stop the moon from destroying the world.
The gameplay of Majora’s Mask expands on that of its predecessor, Ocarina of Time. While it retains the concept of dungeon puzzles and ocarina songs it introduces character transformations and the restriction of a three-day cycle. Transformations are based around using three Masks which, when worn, allow Link to become different creatures. Each form, Deku Scrub, Goron and Zora feature their own unique abilities. The second addition, the three-day cycle, imposes a time limit of three days game-time into the mix. Link can return to the first day by playing the Song of Time on his Ocarina, he can also slow down time or warp to the next morning or evening by playing variations of the song.
Majora’s Mask runs on an upgraded version of the engine used in Ocarina of Time but required the use of the 4MB Expansion Pak. The use of the Expansion Pak allowed for much greater draw distances, accurate dynamic lighting, more detailed texture mapping and animation.
Artist handcrafts wearable The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask piece (polygon.com)
Spanish Retailer Lists Majora’s Mask For Nintendo 3DS (mynintendonews.com)
A Real Life Majora’s Mask (rivalanimus.com)
Majora’s Mask: The most unique Zelda game in existence? (agamersopinion.wordpress.com)
Exclusive: Zelda 3DS “feels totally different,” needs to be played in 3D for “intended experience” (reviews.cnet.com)
Tags: Entertainment, Game, gaming, Legend of Zelda, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link, Majora, Mask, Nintendo, Nintendo 64, retro, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Video game
Super Mario Bros. 3: Retro
Retro game of the day
Well what can I say, this possibly the first game that I actually completed and I mean actually completed not the usual ‘Oh yea I completed that game’ just to show off in the playground. Super Mario Bros. 3 was developed and published by Nintendo for the NES and is the third game in the series, the clue is in the name. Released in 1991, in Europe, the game focuses on Mario and Luigi who embark to a quest to save Princess Peach for a change.
Mario and Luigi battle through eight worlds in an attempt to restore order to the Mushroom World. This version of Mario introduced brand new power-ups which could augment their abilities, establishing several conventions that have also been featured in later titles of the franchise. Completing stages allows the player to progress through the overworld map and to succeeding worlds. Each world features a final stage with a boss to defeat. The first seven worlds feature an airship controlled by one of the Koopalings, while the player battles Bowser in his castle at the end of the eighth world.
Super Mario Bros. 3 also included a multiplayer option which allowed two players to co-operatively. Through this mode players can also access several minigames, including a remake of the original Mario Bros. arcade game.
Super Mario Bros. Characters Reimagined as Hipsters (laughingsquid.com)
Game On: New Super Mario Bros. U (World 3) (atthebuzzershow.com)
Super Mario Bros. Crossover 3.0 and Exploding Rabbit’s link to the past (polygon.com)
Super Mario Bros.: The Movie 20th Anniversary Screening tickets available now (polygon.com)
Tags: Bowser, Entertainment, gamer, Games, gaming, Gossip, Koopalings, Luigi, mario, Mario Bros, nes, Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment System, Princess Peach, retro, Super Mario, Video Games
Pixel Mashup 1 – 20
Pixel Mashup 21 – 40
Pixel Mashup 41 – Present
Ways to Die
Vessel – #Ep3: Getting Control
Vessel – #Ep2: Deeper Underground
Vessel – #Ep1: We’re in the Goo
SPAC Ops Mashup
The Walking Dead Mashup
RT @StemLongStem: Beyond: Two Souls Special Edition is only £32.99 pre-order on Amazon right now. Bargain. @SavyGamer @GamepadGlory 6 years ago
RT @TheSi_Project: Anyone got suggestions before i post my #TopFive #Lightgun games on #RetroGaming consoles?? #Playstation #Snes #NES 6 years ago
@TheSi_Project duck hunt, time crisis, die hard trilogy 6 years ago
hotukdeals.com/deals/xbox-liv… @TheBigMacDaddy there u go punk! 6 years ago
hotukdeals.com/freebies/8-fre… @sholmes169 @whippyice @TheRealSuperSi @TheSi_Project #free #origin 6 years ago
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Lake Placid Leaning towards 2020 Youth Games Bid
The deadline to submit a bid package for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games is November 15, but the Lake Placid News reports local officials said Thursday …
Sep 18, 2010 8:05 AM | Other Youth Olympic News
Singapore 2010 Youth Games Defends Price Tag
In the aftermath of the Singapore 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, the Singapore government said it underestimated the cost of hosting the inaugural Games, which …
Singapore 2010 Youth Games Praised By Rogge
The inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore closed Thursday to the tune of drums, “an eclectic array of singers and an elaborate fireworks …
Aug 26, 2010 11:20 AM | Other Youth Olympic News
Singapore Youth Olympic Flame Lit At Opening Ceremony
A crowd of 27,000 packed a stadium overlooking Singapore’s Marina Bay where a towering flame was lit, signalling the start of the Inaugural Youth Olympic …
Aug 14, 2010 4:04 PM | Other Youth Olympic News
Singapore 2010 Presented With Special Olympic Flag
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon received a specially-designed Olympic Flag for the inaugural Youth Games from International Olympic Committee …
IOC Head Expects Youth Games Will Overcome Apathy and Costs
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge said he expects the Singapore Youth Olympics will overcome spiralling costs and subdued fan …
Aug 12, 2010 8:53 AM | Other Youth Olympic News
Singapore 2010 – Media Centre, IT Systems, Paperless Entry
Singapore 2010’s Main Media Centre at Marina Bay Sands is open to welcome journalists from around the world ahead of the Youth Games, reports Channel …
Singapore 2010 Olympic Cauldron Lit
Following its arrival in Singapore ahead of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, S.R. Nathan, President of Singapore, lit the cauldron for the first time …
2010 Youth Olympic Flame Arrives In Singapore
The Youth Olympic Flame has arrived in Singapore ahead of the first Youth Olympic Games being held August 14-26. The Flame was welcomed by Minister for …
Aug 5, 2010 9:05 AM | Other Youth Olympic News
Singapore 2010 Update
Tickets for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games have picked up, with 70 per cent of tickets sold to date. Ticket sales cover the Opening and Closing …
Aug 2, 2010 11:18 AM | Other Youth Olympic News
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The Day That Changed My Life Forever
It was a routine antenatal appt…..
I’d dropped my two kids at my sisters. “I won’t be long” I said.
At the Doctors, normal questions were asked. How was I feeling? Blood pressure normal.
Have you felt the baby move regularly?
“Erm, I think so” I said.
‘Pop on the bed and let’s just have a listen” she said.
The doppler moved over my swollen belly. I was 17 weeks pregnant. Over the scary stage,
excited for the next.
I shifted my body a bit and listened.
The Dr’s voice was soothing. “I’m going to send you over to the hospital for a scan, just to be
on the safe side”.
“Is everything ok” I said. I searched her eyes for reassurance.
She guided me to a chair outside the room to wait. What was I waiting for? The corridor was
dimly lit. A light flickered overhead. The floor was a pale speckled blue.
“Ok” The Dr said “They’re expecting you. Can someone drive you over to the hospital?”
“I can drive myself” I said. I was numb. In shock. In a daze.
I rang my sister to ask if she could have the girls for a while longer and drove over to the
hospital. Tears were streaming down my face. I was talking to myself out loud. “It’s going to
be ok” I said. “You’re ok in there. It’s fine” I was frantic through my tears.
I don’t know how I got to the hospital. I don’t remember driving there. I don’t remember
parking. I don’t remember the walk in to the antenatal department.
Suddenly I saw my mum. She ran in and hugged me, flustered, trying to be calm.
I was called in to a room, another Dr listened for the baby’s heartbeat.
The silence was deafening.
I was ushered into the ultrasound department. About 6 pregnant women all at different
stages of their pregnancy sat there. Some alone. Some with partners. I couldn’t look at them.
I was called in.
The atmosphere was sombre. The sonographer was quiet. She spoke softly as if she knew
the outcome already. I wanted to scream at her.
I waited. Nobody spoke. My mum sat beside me.
The cold gel was spread over my belly. She looked at the screen and moved the probe over
and over my belly for what seemed an eternity. But not long enough.
Eventually she turned it off. The screen remained turned away from me. I wanted to see it.
To see the little heart beating.
“I’m sorry” she said.
I cried then. I sobbed.
I was sent upstairs to a ward. Another long wait to see another specialist.
My husband was called. He was at work in London. He was on his way.
The baby had died probably in the last week. There was no reason. No explanation. No
answers.
I was sent home to wait for the baby to ‘expell’. Two days passed. Nothing. All that time I still
had hope. Hope that they were wrong. That my baby was still alive.
I went back to the hospital and was given something to help the process. I was put in a
maternity ward with pregnant women and women who had had their babies. It was a cruel
blow.
It happened that night. I gave birth for the third time.
But this time, no noise, no baby cries. Just my own tears.
It was taken away.
And just like that, my baby had gone.
I was never the same.
Ten years later and something will take me back there and I’ll catch a sob in my throat.
Usually a song lyric. I still cry. I still hurt. I still wonder. What if?
Whatever stage of pregnancy you’re at, the loss is all consuming. You’re grieving for what
might have been. Your future. Their future. The dreams you had and the memories you
never got to make.
It will never leave me. It’s part of me and it changed me forever.
But as with any loss, you learn to live with it. The pain dulls, life goes on.
My advice for anyone who’s friend, colleague or family member has gone through or is going
through a miscarriage. Don’t gloss over it. Don’t say “It wasn’t meant to be” Yes someone
did say this to me. Or “At least you have two healthy children” or “Nevermind, you can try
These statements don’t help. This isn’t what they need. All they need is love, hugs, warmth,
understanding. No words are necessary. Just be there, cry with them, tell them life sucks.
Be led by them. They don’t need a reason or any practical advice. Nothing you can say will
help. They just want to be listened to.
That’s all I wanted.
And even now, all these years later, when I see a 10 year old playing outside and my heart
hurts again, I know that what I’ve learned is compassion and understanding. I feel deeply for
every woman who has gone through this. I cry with them, for them. And when a baby is born,
whatever race, religion or gender. They’re all so very precious.
They’re little miracles after all.
Anna Cascarina
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Is Axial Seamount erupting? Seafloor off the coast of Oregon has dropped 8 FEET due to movement in the ‘wired’ underwater volcano
Geologists previously predicted Axial Seamount would erupt this year
For more than a week the region has experienced thousands of tiny quakes
Seafloor has also reportedly dropped by almost 8ft (2.4 metres)
Both are said to be a sign of magma moving from beneath the summit
An undersea volcano situated 300 miles (480 km) off the coast of Oregon is thought to be erupting after signs of magma were spotted near its deep sea vent.
Geologists predicted the volcano, called Axial Seamount, would erupt this year during a public lecture in September.
And for more than a week the region has experienced thousands of tiny earthquakes – a sign that magma is moving towards the surface.
The seafloor has also reportedly dropped by almost 8ft (2.4 metres), additionally said to be a sign of magma being withdrawn from a reservoir beneath the summit.
And the forecast was made by geologists Bill Chadwick of Oregon State University and Scott Nooner of the University of North Carolina Wilmington during a lecture last year, followed by a blog post.
They based their forecast on some of their previous research, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which showed how the volcano inflates and deflates like a balloon in a repeatable pattern as it responds to magma being fed into the seamount.
‘It isn’t clear yet whether the earthquakes and deflation at Axial are related to a full-blown eruption, or if it is only a large intrusion of magma that hasn’t quite reached the surface,’ said Professor Chadwick, who works out of OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport and is affiliated with NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory.
Researchers know of two previous eruptions by the volcano, but those 1998 and 2011 eruptions were detected months or years afterward.
Last year, researchers connected monitoring equipment to an undersea cable that, for the first time, allowed them to gather live data on the volcano, whose peak is about 4,900 feet (1,500 meters) below the ocean surface.
This cable has led to the volcano being dubbed ‘wired’.
Full article: Is Axial Seamount erupting? Seafloor off the coast of Oregon has dropped 8 FEET due to movement in the ‘wired’ underwater volcano (Daily Mail)
This entry was posted in Politics, USA and tagged Axial Seamount, Bill Chadwick, earthquakes, eruptions, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Is Axial Seamount erupting? Seafloor off the coast of Oregon has dropped 8 FEET due to movement in the 'wired' underwater volcano, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, Newport, NOAA, NSF, Oregon, Oregon State University, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Scott Nooner, underwater volcano, United States, University of NOrth Carolina Wilmington. Bookmark the permalink.
America’s capsizing economy: Can it right the ship?
US Navy Starts Accompanying British Ships Off Iranian Coast
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Festivals• My Outfits• Outfits
10 reasons you should visit Roskilde Festival in Denmark at least once
1. Roskilde Festival is 100% non-profit.
This means that no “sponsors” who want your email address and mobile phone number in exchange for a lighter or raincoat will bother you at the festival. Around 25,000 volunteers work on a voluntary basis to ensure that everything runs smoothly and, above all, in a relaxed manner. The millions of euros in profits that remain every year have been donated since 1972.
2. The journey couldn’t be more stress-free.
This is also because we go there by car each year, but you can easily get to Roskilde by public transport as well. Denmark definitely is an over-organised country. Guides are everywhere, all speak English. From Copenhagen it’s only about half an hour to Roskilde city. Every train you ask for leaves in about five minutes. In the car there is enough space for you and your backpacks – and free Wifi on top of that. What do you want more?
3. The line-up is astronomical.
The organizers have around eight million euros at their disposal to buy bands. There are almost certainly some of your favourite bands in about 180 acts. But Roskilde is not only counting on big names – there is also a lot to discover. For my review of this year’s performance’s, check out my other post.
4. The Danish people are perhaps the nicest in the world.
Which is why you don’t feel lost among 60,000 people in front of the gigantic Orange Stage. Everybody take care of everybody, everybody let you through. And the binders tirelessly distribute water that is passed all the way to the back.
5. In Roskilde, you’ll see shows that are only played here.
Several bands are flying in especially for this festival, even if they are not on tour in Europe at the moment. In 2017, for example, Solange, the legendary 90ies rap crew Digable Planets, indie songwriter Angel Olsen, Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan and rap producer Clams Casino. And the festival finale on the biggest stage on Saturday was a small sensation: a three-hour and for the first time combined Moderat- & Modeselektor show! We could hardly believe it ourselves – after all, the strict separation of these two projects had been sacred to the Berliners Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary so far.
6. You won’t feel like festival, you’ll feel like you’re on holiday.
Since the festival is located close to the sea, there is always a holiday feeling – when the wind is right, the air smells of salt. In the morning you will be woken up in the tent by seagulls screeching.
7. There is seriously good food, mostly also organic.
Thai Curry, Pizza, Pulled Pork Burger, Chia Porridge, Craft Beer and Flat White Coffee – almost everything of a quality that would also pass for “pretty good” in corresponding restaurants. But don’t worry: For those who are no longer satisfied with “Rock’n’Roll”, there will also be classical festival food at one or the other stand. Where there’s a will, there’s a way to the next questionable doner kebab.
8. 08/15 shows are the exception here.
Because the festival is simply too legendary and the scenery too powerful. “This is the biggest crowd I’ve ever played for,” Ice Cube told around 60,000 people at the Orange Stage on Saturday. “In California, they have Coachella – they can’t get to this.” And Lorde: “I only knew ‘concert’ and ‘something about Copenhagen’. I had no idea it would be so magical.” There was a whole monologue by Solange: “I have a twelve-year-old son. I always play a show in Europe, then I fly home again. I thought that’s how family and work work work. But I’m exhausted. I can’t anymore and I have the feeling that I have no more energy and no more voice. And then I see you… so much love. This can’t be happening.” Their show was so moving that The XX later interrupted their own set for the following announcement: “Were you with Solange earlier? That was overwhelming.”#
9. Good is done with your money – also in Germany.
Roskilde Festival, which is – one cannot say it often enough – non-profit, donates primarily to aid, integration and animal welfare organisations. Cultural projects are also supported. In the past, for example, the Refugee Council of Schleswig-Holstein and the Pudel Club in Hamburg, which was threatened with closure but has since been saved.
10. Coming back to Roskilde always feels like home.
To entertain around 130,000 people for over eight days and to offer more than just a few bands and beer stands is a huge task – one that the organizers of Roskilde Festival in Denmark face every year. They themselves do not advertise with the mere festival experience, but speak of a week full of “freedom and togetherness”. I remember the first time I visited Roskilde festival as clearly as if it was yesterday. 2014 we experienced “The Orange Feeling” ourselves. And it is this special atmosphere which can be felt everywhere around the huge site in Roskilde, which mutates into Denmark’s fourth largest city during the festival period. Even on the screens after concerts there is nothing like advertising and instructions, but more of a motto: “Take care of each other”.
Treat Me Like Fire
Ich finde es richtig hammer, dass du jedes Jahr beim Roskilde bist!! Meine Eltern sind auch so Alt-Hippies und erzählen mir seit Jahren davon, die waren in Ihrer Jugend mal da… Hach, ich wünschte eines Tages komm ich da auch mal hin! Bis dahin freue ich mich weiterhin auf deine Beiträge vom Roskilde. Liebe Grüße, Sarah
Dahria
Love your outfit despite the rain!! Comfy but oh so chic
Thank you so much!! I am Danish and I just found your blog, I was surprised you knew (and visited) Roskilde :) Happy to see that my country is so approved!
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Gospel-Centered Musings
A collection of absorbed thoughts and writings that have been turned in the mind, meditatively and inconclusively for the sake of the Gospel.
The Church and the Empire
Posted: September 21, 2015 | Author: Michael M. Dewalt | Filed under: Church History, Church History 1, History, Patristic Church History | Tags: Church history, Church History 1, History, martyrdom, pagan | Leave a comment
Key Points During this Time
Popular opinion responded negatively to Christian aloofness, the strangeness of their beliefs and practices, and Christians’ unwillingness to worship pagan gods. Imperial authorities were bothered by the apparent obstinacy of Christian subjects unwilling to show political loyalty by worshipping the emperor and the gods of Rome.
Roman persecution of the church prior to the mid-3rd century was sporadic and localized, not systematic.
Christian apologists of the 2nd century responded to both popular and philosophical accusations against Christianity, employing the philosophy and rhetoric of the day in order to rebut accusations and promote Christian belief and practice.
The logos Christology of the 2nd-century apologists supplied Christian intellectuals with a way to address non-Christian concerns about Christian teaching, as well as providing the foundation for later Trinitarian speculation.
The surviving literature of 2nd-century martyrdom supplied stories and themes that permanently shaped the self-understanding of the Christian church.
A developing theology of martyrdom was expressed through several characteristic motifs, many of which helped connect the martyr’s experience with that of Jesus Christ.
Although persecution of Christians in the second century was sporadic and localized, the threat and occasional reality of its occurrence contributed greatly to the formation of early Christian identity. Popular opinion responded negatively to Christians for a number of reasons, including their aloofness, the strangeness of their beliefs and practices, and especially their refusal to honor the gods of Rome and the surrounding culture. Many non-Christian intellectuals found Christian belief to be ridiculous and criticized the social composition of the church. Imperial authorities were bothered by Christian stubbornness in refusing to demonstrate their allegiance to Rome by the usual means, i.e. worshiping the genius of the emperor and the gods of Rome. The legal basis for Roman persecution expressed Roman sensibilities of justice, but also strict Roman insistence on submission to imperial authority.
Christian apologists sought to respond to the critics of Christianity in a variety of ways, relying mainly on the philosophy of the day as a means by which to explain Christian belief. Some sought to clear up misunderstandings about Christian practice, stressing the virtues by which Christians lived. Others upheld the moral superiority of Christianity in comparison to pagan culture. Justin Martyr laid aside numerous popular charges against Christianity, sought to explain Christianity as the fulfillment of Judaism, and advocated an understanding of Jesus Christ that connected him to the principle of the Logos. This gave non-Christian intellectuals a framework in which to understand the significance of Christ and shaped early Christian belief.
Although martyrdoms were sporadic, their occurrence led to the celebration of their faithful acts, especially in the composition of accounts of their martyrdoms. These circulated throughout the churches, shaping Christian theology and liturgy as the church connected the martyr’s experience with that of Jesus Christ. Martyrs were understood to be faithful witnesses and heroic athletes, and the descriptions of their deeds were tinged with commonly occurring motifs, such as grace, Eucharist, baptism, the Holy Spirit, and eschatological hope. Christian self-understanding came to be pervaded by the ideals conveyed by descriptions of martyrs’ deeds.
The Subapostolic Age
Posted: September 15, 2015 | Author: Michael M. Dewalt | Filed under: Church History 1 | Tags: Church history, Rome | Leave a comment
“Jewish Christianity” became less prominent during the subapostolic era due to mutual rejection of each other by many Gentile and Jewish believers, though distinctive strands of Jewish Christianity persisted briefly in such groups as the Ebionites, Nazoraeans, and Elkesaites.
The so-called “Apostolic Fathers” consist of a loose corpus of texts in different genres composed in the subapostolic era, addressing various issues of identity, moral practice, and church life.
Apocryphal literature and other forms of early Christian literature attest to the range of popular piety and doctrinal convictions of early Christian communities.
Debate exists as to whether the subapostolic literatures are best understood as testifying to the decay in the vitality of apostolic faith or simply as distinct adaptations to changing circumstance.
The deaths of key Jewish Christian leaders and the Roman suppression of the Jewish revolt in Palestine brought a new situation for the church in the last part of the first century. The proportion of Gentile Christian believers grew, as Jewish synagogues took steps to exclude Christians and the more extreme elements within each group polarized to the extent that common ground was difficult to find. By the middle of the second century, even the church in Palestine was largely Gentile. However, three strands of Jewish Christianity survived for at least a few generations, each characterized by distinctive features. The Ebionites, whose name was probably based on the Hebrew expression for “the poor,” revered Jesus as a prophet and Messiah, but denied the virgin birth. They observed ascetic practices and were concerned with purity issues. They expected Gentile believers to follow the Law of Moses. The Nazoraeans followed the Law of Moses but did not expect Gentile believers to do so. The Elkesaites followed the Gnostic revelations of the prophet Elkesai. Within orthodox Gentile churches, the influence of Jewish Christianity may also be seen in the use of texts heavily influenced by Jewish Christianity, including the Didache, the Pseudo-Clementines, the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, and the Sibylline Oracles.
Out of the subapostolic period of the late first and early second centuries a number of texts collectively known as the Apostolic Fathers survive, supplying unique insight into early Christian thought and practice after the passing of the apostles. The Didache is a manual of church life. Dating from about the end of the first century, probably from Syria, this text focuses mainly on moral instruction for new converts and instruction regarding the conduct of worship practices and church order. Epistle of Barnabas dates from the first half of the second century and is primarily concerned with Christian identity. Barnabas argues that Christians are the legitimate heirs to the Old Testament covenant, particularly due to their figural interpretation of it, in contrast to the Jewish literal interpretation. 1 Clement was written in the 90s by one of the presbyters of the church in Rome, in response to leadership conflict in Corinth. The letter emphasizes the importance of stability and respect for appointed authority and includes rich imagery and theological reflection. 2 Clement is not actually by Clement, but is a homily of moral exhortation composed by an unknown author in the second century.
Shepherd of Hermas is a composite apocalyptic text from second-century Rome. It supplies helpful information about the organization and social location of the Roman church, but focuses on the issue of how to address post-baptismal sin. Ignatius was a bishop of Syrian Antioch who wrote a series of letters to different churches in the early second century, while en route to Rome to face trial and probable martyrdom. The letters depict a leader eager to offer testimony to his faith in the face of suffering and death, who is also concerned with stressing the importance of church unity in response to the threats of divergent beliefs. He is the first writer to attest to a three-fold ministry of bishop, presbyters, and deacons in each congregation. Polycarp wrote a letter to the Philippians in response to Ignatius; the letter is saturated with New Testament language. Papias of Hierapolis wrote five books of Explanations, commenting on the oracles of Jesus. Only fragments survive, offering a tantalizing glimpse into early traditions regarding the composition of the Gospels.
The second and third generations of Christianity also saw the production of New Testament Apocrypha—texts purporting to be from the time of the apostles, yet manifestly from different times and contexts. These include texts of various genres—Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Apocalypses, for which a few examples illustrate the breadth of the literature. The Gospel of Thomas is an early collection of Jesus’ sayings, displaying an Encratite or Gnostic bent. The Gospel of Peter is a passion narrative with Docetic leanings. The Protoevangelium of James expands the narrative of Jesus’ birth, focusing on traditions regarding the Holy Family, especially Mary. Apocryphal Acts focus on the careers of the apostles, preserving early traditions about their ministries and deaths and often displaying ascetic tendencies. The anti-Gnostic 3 Corinthians was normally included with the Acts of Paul. In the Apocalypse of Peter, Jesus is depicted as offering a graphic description of the torments of the wicked in the afterlife. These texts provide insight into the popular piety of the second and third centuries, as well as clarifying the significant diversity that existed among Jesus’ followers.
Some debate exists as to the significance and use of the subapostolic literature. For some, they show the continuing development of Christian belief and practice along a consistent trajectory from the New Testament period. For others, they betray a decline in vitality and imagination, as church leaders focus more on structures, moralism, and legalism. In either case, they attest to the ongoing devotion of committed followers of Jesus, responding to changing circumstances and new situations.
Jesus & the Church
Posted: September 10, 2015 | Author: Michael M. Dewalt | Filed under: Church History 1 | Tags: church, History, Jesus | Leave a comment
Christianity developed within the community of Jesus’ earliest disciples on the basis of core Jewish beliefs, as interpreted and exemplified according to Jesus’ teaching, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection.
The most significant controversy in the very early Christian church concerned the terms by which Gentiles would be accepted into the community.
With the church’s expansion from Jerusalem, traditions about the work of particular apostles became associated with specific locales by the end of the first century, most notably: James in Jerusalem; Peter and Paul in Rome; John in Ephesus; and Thomas in Syria.
Early Christianity was not uniform, yet a common faith in Jesus and a common core of apostolic traditions helped shape a specifically Christian set of doctrinal commitments, worship practices, and ethical expectations.
The Apostle Paul
Jesus’ first-century ministry of healing and teaching not only attracted large crowds, but he also gathered a number of disciples with whom he worked closely. Many acclaimed him as the Messiah, the Lord’s “anointed” who would deliver God’s people, Israel. After the Romans put Jesus to death as a political threat, reports of his resurrection led his disciples to become convinced that God had vindicated him as Messiah (Christ), and the events of Jesus’ atoning death and subsequent resurrection became the pillars of Christian faith. Early Christian beliefs, worship, and ethical practices owed much to the traditions of Judaism, to which were added distinctive Christian convictions about the role of Jesus Christ as the world’s savior.
The early church in Jerusalem consisted mainly of Jewish believers, though they were a diverse lot; some were Judaean, but many were Hellenistic Jews from the Diaspora. They looked to Peter and then James, the brother of Jesus, for leadership. Once persecution at the hands of the Jewish establishment broke out against Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem, the Hellenists in particular were scattered, taking the message of Jesus’ gospel (or euangelion, meaning “good news”) into the synagogues of many different cities of the Roman world. Soon, even large numbers of Gentiles were being attracted by the Christian message and lifestyle, causing the most significant controversy for the church of that era: the terms by which Gentiles should be received into the church. The Apostle Paul effectively championed a liberal position on the issue, with the result that Gentile Christians were in the majority by the end of the first century.
Fairly strong evidence supports the tradition that both Paul and Peter ended up in Rome and were martyred there under the emperor Nero. Peter probably played a significant leading role in the church at Rome, though the claims that Peter was the “pope” are anachronistic. Other locations came to be associated with the work of specific apostles, namely John in Ephesus and Thomas in Syria. The church at Ephesus may have been the most influential church of the mid- to late-first century, very likely the point of origin of some or all of the Johaninne literature of the New Testament. Strong traditions also place Jesus’ mother Mary in Ephesus, under the care of John. East of Antioch, the gospel spread among communities of Syriac-speaking people, whose traditions preserved certain Semitic features and a literature with strong ties to the name of the Apostle Thomas.
First-century Christian communities were diverse. Yet they enjoyed a significant measure of unity, due to a common faith in Jesus, a shared heritage in Judaism, a core of apostolic teaching, and habits of frequent travel and communication between churches. Out of this matrix arose characteristics that would come to distinguish churches far and wide, such as a shared commitment to interpret the Old Testament scriptures in light of Christ, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Sunday assemblies, and moral emphases.
Roman, Greek, and Jewish Worlds Set the Setting
Posted: September 9, 2015 | Author: Michael M. Dewalt | Filed under: Church History 1 | Tags: Church history, History | Leave a comment
Christianity began in a cultural setting defined by three circles of influence: Roman law and government, Greek culture, and Jewish religion.
Christian attitudes, practices, and social norms showed the influence of pre-existing cultures, yet were worked out within a distinctively Christian frame of reference
Judaism provided the immediate religious context for Christianity
The setting in which Christianity began was primarily shaped by three key influences: the political rule of the Roman Empire, the cultural impact of Greek expansion, and the religious legacy of Judaism. These three not only shaped the world in which Jesus of Nazareth was born, lived, and died; they also provided the setting in which Early Christianity grew and flourished. The Roman Empire defined the political and legal environment of the early church. Christians faced charges in Roman courts and their cases were adjudicated by Roman appointed judges. Latin was the official language of government and was especially in use in the western part of the empire. Following the campaigns of Alexander the Great, Greek (Hellenistic) culture spread over much of the Mediterranean world and beyond. Greek was the language most commonly used throughout the Roman Empire. For centuries, Hellenistic standards were the primary influences on education, literature, and philosophy. As Christians developed their own theology, they did so mainly using the categories and terminology inherited from Greek philosophy. Christian practices were deeply shaped by the practices of the broader culture.
Jesus was born a Jew and his earliest followers were Jews. Although the Jewish homeland (Israel) was the scene of a number of revolts against Rome and was eventually taken away from the Jews, the principal elements of the Christian faith found their original significance in expectations shared by many Jews regarding the Messiah. Early Christian worship and leadership were modeled on that of the synagogue, and Christians used the Jewish scriptures, especially the Greek Septuagint. Christian ethics owed a great deal to Jewish principles. One of the most remarkable aspects of the story of the church is to be seen in the transformation of a movement centered on a person of Jesus’ humble origins, to become the official religion of the empire and a decisive influence on western civilization and the world.
Michael M. Dewalt
Michael Dewalt is a humanities teacher and junior high assistant football coach at Cair Paravel Latin School in Topeka, KS. There he also serves as a member of the Integrated Humanities Committee and Academic Committee. His undergrad studies are from Word of Life Bible Institute and Clarks Summit University and his graduate studies are from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and Faith Theological Seminary. He is a member of Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Lawerence, KS, the Evangelical Theological Society, and the American Society of Church History, and winner of the Zwingli Prize Award at the Calvin500 Conference & Tour in 2009. Michael blogs at Gospel-Centered Musings, has written numerous articles for Logo’s Calvin500, Place for Truth a voice of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and Heritage Book Talk, and is published in the Puritan Theological Journal. Michael lives in Kansas with his wife, Emily, their son Wyatt Cash, two cats Nutkin and Ariel and dog Brutus.
#chicken #biggreenegg #dinner
Big brother and sissy. #siblings
Tell me baby why you been gone so long. Don't call me an outlaw, no. I guess it's 'cause the truth, it’s the hardest thing I ever faced. You should have seen it in color. #countrymusic #davidallancoe #johnnypaycheck #shooterjennings #jameyjohnson
Merry Christmas from the Dewalt family. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.”
On vacation and missing our kiddos already.
Brother sure loves his “sissy” (he calls her). He adores her and ask to hold her and spend time with her every night. I am thankful to have a son as kind as Wyatt.
I had a wonderful breakfast with my family this morning on our first snow day of the year. I was trying to decide what picture to post, but why not all of them? #WillowHarlan #SnowDay
Precious.
Go Bucks! #buckeyenation
I am on Thanksgiving break, which means I am going stay up past 10 and watch a movie. Hopefully two shots of espresso at 7:45pm will help. #illyespresso
Back to the simple things in life, like checkers.
What I thought was going to be a good day to watch Jalen Hurts turned into an exciting game.
While it sounds cliché, I had one of the “best days of my life today” with Wyatt and friends. #collegefootball #kansasstatefootball
Happy 10th Anniversary to my better 3/4ths, @esdewalt. You are the most loving, gracious and caring person I know. “I fell for you like a child, Oh, but the fire went wild.”
Ribeye, smoked mushrooms, boom tomato’s and couscous and chickpeas in a curry sauce. #dinner
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Student-Built Rocket Engine Packs A Punch
Bryan Cockfield
A group of students at Boston University recently made a successful test of a powerful rocket engine intended for 100km suborbital flights. Known as the Iron Lotus (although made out of mild steel rather than iron), this test allowed them to perfect the timing and perfect their engine design (also posted to Reddit) which they hope will eventually make them the first collegiate group to send a rocket to space.
Unlike solid rocket fuel designs, this engine is powered by liquid fuel which comes with a ton of challenges to overcome. It is a pressure-fed engine design which involves a pressurized unreactive gas forcing the propellants, in this case isopropanol and N2O, into the combustion chamber. The team used this design to produce 2,553 lb*ft of thrust during this test, which seems to be enough to make this a class P rocket motor. For scale, the highest class in use by amateurs is class S. Their test used mild steel rather than stainless to keep the costs down, but they plan to use a more durable material in the final product.
The Boston University Rocket Propulsion Group is an interesting student organization to keep an eye on. By any stretch of the imagination they are well on their way to getting their rocket design to fly into space. Be sure to check out their other projects as well, and if you’re into amateur rocketry in general there are a lot of interesting things you can do even with class A motors.
Posted in Transportation HacksTagged amateur rocketry, boston, burpg, engine, iron lotus, liquid fuel, rocket, test, thrust, university
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30 thoughts on “Student-Built Rocket Engine Packs A Punch”
MvK says:
What is a lb*ft, looks like a curse word ?
cliff claven says:
Kind of curios myself…. In the past I have seen engines rated by force, apecific impulse for solid rocket and other fixed fuel availability engines, and so on…
Force is generally lb (pounds force, sometimes lbf) or N (newtons). lb*ft is energy, and I don’t really know how that applies here, but, then again, I am not a rocket scientist.
loonquawl says:
The Lotus-site says “The pressure-fed engine produces 2,500 lbs of thrust with 233 sec Isp SL” – so they use the ususal units. Perhaps they had the rocket on a horizontal foot long spar, measuring torque produced?
Austin Briggs says:
My name’s Austin Briggs, and I’m the current director of BURPG. We’re well aware that thrust isn’t measured in torque! It appears as though the author of this article mistook our unit of “lbf” (pound-force) for “lb*ft” (pound feet). For reference, our 2,553 lbf of thrust is approximately equal to 11,356 N.
Since the testing of this video, we’ve since designed a 450 lbf thrust engine powered by gaseous propellants to test critical propulsion technologies. We’re currently designing our most capable engine yet, stay tuned for updates on that. We’ll hopefully be out testing our Lotus Dev 2 engine (same as Iron Lotus above but with regenerative cooling) sometime in the spring.
Yeah the author changed the unit when writing the article. It’s supposed to be lbf, pounds of force.
aki009 says:
It’s a fancy term for “we were too busy designing cool stuff to switch to the metric system”. For the rest of the world it’d be something in Newton meters.
Antron Argaiv says:
Nice to see BU carrying on the Massachusetts tradition!
I suggest that they move their test site to Auburn, for extra authenticity points.
preamp says:
Boston University Rocket Propulsion –
BURP?
Arjan Wiegel says:
Sorry, BURP is already taken by Big Ugly Rock Piece. (LEGO)
It’s fine… We’ll just make a disambiguation page on Wikipedia ;)
Well at least they went with BURPGroup and not BURPSociety.,
Not new news.
My second grandson is following his older brother in the UC San Diego program “SEDS”.
The rocket engine is 3D printed as well, and it’s launched just North of Edwards Air Force Base here in California.
So yes, the school has been building rockets for may years.
Here’s “Vulcan II”
Capt McAllister says:
I just looked up the Vulcan II:
https://sedsucsd.org/projects/vulcan2/
It is only rated to go to 45,000 feet, or 13.71 km. That’s a long way from the 100 km that BU is going for.
That’s true.. But that’s high enough for Low Earth Orbit “Cubesats. ;-)
Bunsen says:
You don’t have any idea what “orbit” means, do you?
I actually do have an idea.
If I tell you any details, the men in black will visit you..
45k ft is where some commercial airplanes fly…
Here’s a “Hot Fire Test” form the launch area. The 3D printed rocket engine performed flawlessly.
I was there that day, and the crew was very excited on the successful fire.
Fun fact. Steel is made from iron.
flubber says:
“Recently”? This video was posted Apr 9, 2017.
Alex W says:
Yeah – this is a relatively old development. Unfortunately, it looks like the liquid-liquid development has quieted down lately in favor of more rapidly-accessible solids. It takes a LOT of work to keep a student group going in the face of 25+% turnover, especially when working on something as cumbersome as a liquid biprop design. We used to do HTPB-N20 hybrids, and even that was hugely tough to perpetuate despite being fundamentally much simpler.
My name’s Austin Briggs, and I’m the current director of BURPG. We’re still kicking along. If you follow our Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/BURocketPropulsionGroup/ , we’ve been developing new propulsion systems and new vehicles. The time between tests can be pretty quiet when looking in from the outside, but we’re constantly working towards getting to 100 km. Currently designing our most capable engine yet. Stay tuned for us making it public.
J. Kent Hastings says:
Maybe 13 km could be considered Very Low Earth Orbit, maybe? There’d be too much atmospheric drag for a cubesat to stay up long, I reckon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Earth_orbit
reg says:
Each letter is in the range of 2x the thrust, literally starting with the Estes engines you played with as a kid. For reference, you can buy M engines off the shelf. Also, a lot of people have been moving to hybrid rocket engines even in M’s and below. There has been some back and forth with the BATF, and the last I knew, you could possess an M engine but without a proper magazine, you could not store an M engine. I have not been to a big launch in years, but back in the day, there were a lot of vendors that would either stock medium engine propellant grains (the casings on larger engines are re-usable) and would meet you there with pre ordered large engine grains. The hybrid rocket engines got around all of that.
Glenn Koenig says:
There is a huge difference between achieving a certain altitude as opposed to achieving orbit. An object in orbit not only needs to reach an altitude high enough to escape atmospheric drag, but also be traveling fast enough to escape gravitational pull, that’s over 17,000 mph.
Gregg Eshelman says:
Going up, up, up to great heights, even well above the altitude of low orbit, is relatively easy. The hard part is getting moving *sideways* fast enough to stay up there.
you might check out
Big Dumb Boosters: A Low-Cost Space Transportation Option? (Part …
https://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk1/1989/8904/890403.PDF
Arthur Schnitt suggested using steel instead of titanium or stainless steel in booster thirty or forty years ago
slincolne says:
Any recent footage?
The video is dated 2017
My first rocket engine at age ten ejected its nozzle never to be seen again. I learned from that to ask someone who knows what he’s doing to weld the thing in place (clearly brazing didn’t cut it). The second rocket engine suffered a bit of a malfunction that scared me sufficiently to not try to make my own rocket engines, and instead focused on playing with them computers. And I survived with no damage to any body parts.
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2016 VANS WARPED TOUR® PRESENTED BY JOURNEYS ® TUESDAY, AUGUST 9 AT 2:00 P.M.
The 2016 Vans Warped Tour®, Presented by Journeys® will make a stop at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Tuesday, August 9 at 2:00 P.M. Tickets are on sale now.
With a lineup that in many ways signals a return to the tour’s roots, the 22nd edition of Warped Tour welcomes back several fan favorites, including: New Found Glory, Tonight Alive, Less Than Jake, Yellowcard, We The Kings, Sleeping With Sirens, Falling In Reverse, Four Year Strong and Reel Big Fish, to name a few.
The new Monster Energy Party Zone will present festival-goers with two stages of heavy music from bands such as Every Time I Die, Motionless In White, The Color Morale, Chelsea Grin and many more.
In keeping with its longstanding tradition of bringing music fans the best of newer, up-and-coming acts, this year also includes bands like State Champs, Like Pacific, In Hearts Wake, Capsize and From Ashes To New, plus much more.
“Who would have thought that we would be still bringing you the Vans Warped Tour in 2016? Each year I look forward to the summer and the chance to tour with so many old friends and hopefully some new ones,” says tour founder Kevin Lyman.
Jim Estepa, President and Chief Executive Officer of Journeys, adds, "As our partnership with Vans Warped Tour grows, we are thrilled to make the jump forward to naming both of the main stages this summer. The visibility, brand growth and full integration that we’ve been able to build into the program with the Warped team has been not only practically beneficial, but also an incredibly fun relationship to build. Over the years that we’ve worked together, we’ve grown our promotional presence, grown the offerings that we can make to our employees, grown our retail partnerships to include ticket sales in multiple markets and now grown to be the name partners of the main stages. It feels like a natural next step for us and we are excited to see what the future brings!”
As part of its ongoing mission to help those in need and encourage positive social change, the Warped Tour’s charitable organization Unite The United will be launching a charity auction to aid LA band The Ghost Inside in their efforts to recover from a devastating bus collision that occurred while out on tour last November. The auction will kick off on Thursday, May 19th at www.ebay.com/unitetheunited.
The lineup for the 2016 Vans Warped Tour at the Backyard at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas is:
Falling In Reverse • Four Year Strong • Less Than Jake • New Found Glory • Reel Big Fish • Set It Off • We The Kings • Yellowcard • Waka Flocka Flame • Issues • Mayday Parade • Real Friends • Sleeping With Sirens • State Champs • The Maine • The Story So Far • Tonight Alive • The Summer Set • Crown The Empire • Every Time I Die • Ice Nine Kills • Motionless In White • The Color Morale • The Word Alive • Whitechapel • Chelsea Grin • coldrain • Cruel Hand • From Ashes To New • Gideon • In Hearts Wake • Oceans Ate Alaska • Vanna • Veil Of Maya • Emarosa • I See Stars • Knuckle Puck • Masked Intruder • ROAM • SECRETS • The Heirs • The Interrupters • Young Guns • Prof • Against The Current • Assuming We Survive • Ballyhoo! • Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! • Ghost Town • SYKES • Teenage Bottlerocket • Too Close To Touch • Waterparks • Broadside • Cane Hill • Capsize • Dash Ten • Like Pacific • More To Monroe • Mother Feather • Old Wounds • Palaye Royale • Reckless Serenade • Safe To Say • SayWeCanFly • The New Low • Wage War • With Confidence
Tickets start at $29 (plus applicable service fees) and are on sale now at the Hard Rock Hotel box office, by calling 888.9.AXS.TIX or online at www.axs.com and www.vanswarpedtour.com.
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Cuil’s Dangerous Strategy Part II: Is There Hope?
Scott D. Anthony
This article was co-authored by Michael Putz, a Business Development and Strategy Director at Cisco Systems. Putz was an integral contributor to the ideas presented in Seeing What’s Next through collaboration between Cisco and Clayton Christensen on the future of the telecommunications industry. The post reflects the personal views of the authors, not of Cisco Systems.
Click here to read Cuil’s Dangerous Strategy Part I.
New-search-kid-on-the-block Cuil Inc. has its work cut out for itself. First, it has to fix embarrassing bugs that plagued its hotly hyped launch this week. Then, it has to figure out how to break from the pattern showing that companies that try to leap over market leaders with a better-performing product typically fail.
Cuil could look to Apple for signs of hope. Apple was far from the first mover in the digital music space when it introduced its first-generation iPod in 2001. That player was superior, and more expensive, than devices offered by Rio, Cabo, Archos, and others. Apple’s iPhone was a late entrant to the smartphone industry. Research in Motion, Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung are still struggling to match Apple’s intuitive interface and powerful computing platform.
In both cases Apple entered an established market with products that were functionally superior to established products.
Harvard Business School Professor and Innosight founder Clayton Christensen’s research found this approach–which he termed a sustaining strategy–tends to not work because it entices devastating response from motivated incumbents who have the right skills to fight back.
In fact, in 2007 Christensen publicly predicted the iPhone’s failure, telling BusinessWeek: “The iPhone is a sustaining technology relative to Nokia … History speaks pretty loudly on that, that the probability of success is going to be limited.”
Yet, Apple’s digital music strategy has been an unqualified success and its mobile phone strategy appears on its way to similarly rarefied heights. Why has Apple been able to buck the trend? In both cases it recognized that it had to create a completely different value system to disrupt an entrenched incumbent value system.
From the beginning, the MP3 movement had the potential to disrupt the music label/record store/portable music player value system. But there was one key problem. The existing value system controlled a scarce asset–physical distribution of songs on CDs and tapes.
Realizing the disruptive potential of MP3 technologies therefore required more than a device. It required agreements with the record industry to distribute individual songs in digital form in Apple’s DRM format, a mechanism for the safe and simple distribution of those songs (iTunes store), and tools to help consumers manage their new digital music collections (iTunes software).
Similarly, the smartphone disruption isn’t really about mobile phones. It is about creating a new mobile computing ecosystem that has the potential of disrupting the Intel/Windows computing value chain. Again, success requires integrated hardware and software and the ability to get a wide variety of software. The final piece of that puzzle could very well be the App Store Apple launched earlier this month.
In both cases, a disruptive movement had begun, but no one had yet “perfected” the disruption. The Perfecting Disruptions required new forms of integration, and a company with the resources to drive the integration, to succeed.
Unfortunately, this analysis doesn’t provide much hope for Cuil as a standalone entity–unless it completely re-frames its approach.
First of all, Perfecting Disruption doesn’t appear to be a game for pure startups. It’s hard to imagine a startup freeing music from the existing distribution model with 99-cent song deals with multiple music labels. Similarly, no startup could have spit in the face of phone industry convention that operators (like AT&T) had to be deeply involved in the user experience and have tight control over software downloaded onto mobile devices.
Worse, Google does such a good job of search, it is difficult to see what precisely Cuil (or another player) could perfect. Google also has one of the most beautifully integrated businesses known to mankind. As more people use its search, it becomes a more attractive advertising location, which furthers the utility of its search, and provides ample cash to invest in bolstering its core offering. The virtuous cycle makes Google’s search-based business seemingly impervious to a Perfecting Disruption.
Of course, that doesn’t make Google impervious to all disruptions. After all, Google isn’t really a search company. It is a company that sells advertising, with search as an effective, but still imperfect, way to drive advertising revenue.
Search-based advertising still doesn’t really get the advertising job done for companies who remain frustrated by their inability to precisely target and track their advertisements, or predictably run campaigns that achieve their business objectives.
Through this lens, Microsoft’s basic strategy of investing heavily in new advertising technologies and acquiring means to capture eyeballs (through its failed attempt to purchase Yahoo!) may make sense. After all, Microsoft has the right resources and technological moxie to develop an integrated offering that perfects the still imperfect world of Internet advertising. Perhaps Cuil could develop technology that plays a part in this story.
Apple shows that it is possible for companies to come late to a disruptive party and still emerge triumphant. Perfecting Disruption requires integrating in new ways to fulfill the promise of a disruptive trend that would otherwise not achieve its potential.
Scott D. Anthony (@ScottDAnthony) is a senior partner of the growth strategy consulting firm Innosight and co-author of Dual Transformation: How to Reposition Today’s Business While Creating the Future.
This article is about DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION
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Grace College Seniors Apply Math for Real-World Solution
Grace College Campus Safety Director Glenn Goldsmith (L) with the mathematics students who found his team a more efficient route: Joshua Tew, Gabrielle Kuszewski, and Katelyn Ware. Grace Mathematics Program Director Dr. Kristin Farwell (R) guided their work.
Even on cold, frosty mornings, Grace College’s Campus Safety team rises early and unlocks the doors to each academic building on campus. These quiet heroes make it possible for sleepy students to reach their 8 a.m. classes and staff members to open their offices each day. Thanks to three enterprising seniors from a mathematics capstone class, Campus Safety is now making their rounds more efficiently.
“The original problem was to find the best route for Campus Safety,” said Gabrielle Kuszewski, a senior mathematics student at Grace College. “Their original drive time to unlock all campus doors was 12 minutes and five seconds each morning,” Kuszewski said. “We were able to get it down to nine minutes and 28 seconds.” The students improved Campus Safety’s driving time by 25.6 percent.
Over eight weeks, the team of three collaborated to find the best solution. First, they found the time it took for Campus Safety to get from each building to every other building on campus. The group used Google to map the distances and then found an equation that would calculate the time it took for Campus Safety to reach each building. “With that information,” Kuszewski said, “We were able to model our situation and find the best route, mathematically.”
The team used the integer programming formulation of the traveling salesman problem. This technique is famous in the world of computer science and mathematics; it addresses a specific problem and finds the optimal solution, starting and stopping at the same point of reference. In this case, Campus Safety had to start at McClain Hall and travel to every building on campus before returning to McClain. The student team found the quickest route for Campus Safety to take.
Kuszewski partnered with fellow seniors Katelyn Ware and Joshua Tew. Dr. Kristin Farwell, mathematics program director at Grace College, guided their work. According to Kuszewski, the process helped her team learn to collaborate effectively and work through obstacles. “Most of all, it was a great, practical example of how math can help people in the real world,” she said.
Grace College’s mathematics department is dedicated to developing concepts and real-world applications. The department offers four mathematics majors. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in business, computer technology, science and other related fields. For more information on the Grace College mathematics department, visit here.
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Blakeslee profiles prosecutor who ignored TYC cases
A reader directed me to Nate Blakeslee's article in Texas Monthly about Randy Reynolds, "The Reluctant Prosecutor" whose refusal to pursue TYC sex abuse cases investigated by a Texas Ranger put the agency in the crosshairs of angry legislators for the last year and a half. (Nate is the reporter who first broke the TYC sex abuse scandal in the Texas Observer.)
To point out a few highlights from the story:
The uglier the case, it seems, the less likely Reynolds is to put somebody in prison. In the past six years, 58 cases of indecency with a child or sexual assault of a child have been referred to his office. Reynolds has obtained a conviction in only one of them: the case of the former sheriff of Loving County, Richard Putnam, who pleaded guilty to molesting a teenager. Reynolds offered him probation.
The story cites AP declaring that
according to court records, [Reynolds] had declined to prosecute more than 80 percent of the cases brought to his office over a two-year period. (The average Texas prosecutor had declined to prosecute 18 percent during the same period, the AP reported.)
And going forward,
voters in the 143rd District ... may be stuck with Reynolds for a while. One-hundred-dollar-a-barrel oil has brought many things back to this region—new motels, fast-food chains, drilling rigs, roughnecks, landmen—but attorneys are not among them. The State Bar of Texas lists only seven lawyers in Monahans. One of them is dead, one is disbarred, one is the district judge, and one is the county judge. Of the eleven listed in Pecos, there are only four still practicing, leaving aside Reynolds, the county attorney, and the county court-at-law judge. There are simply not that many people around who are qualified, much less willing, to do Reynolds’s job.
See the full story here.
Labels: District Attorneys, sex crimes, TYC
It's been a year and a half since the indictments and neither person has been to trial. Kudos for Mr. Blakeslee for milking this for all it's worth. Seems he should've included some information about what the hold up is for those trials. Of course, like most journalists today, he was only looking for information that supported his understanding of the truth. Randy may not be the strongest prosecutor, but if there's such a thing as karma or judgement day, I'd rather be in Randy's shoes than Mr. Blakeslee's
123txpublicdefender123 said...
Why haven't the Texas Rangers asked the Attorney General's Office to step in and prosecute some of these cases?
And with all due respect "anonymous," I don't know Mr. Johnson, but Blakeslee is one of my journalistic heroes for what he has done in exposing injustice in Texas. His book on the Tulia cases was a must read.
Does anyone have any information on when Brookins and Hernandez are set for trail? What's going on with all of that?
The Attorney General has the case in question and has since last spring. I suspect the reason the case has not come to trial is because there is not enough evidence. Maybe Mr. Blakeslee exposed injustice in the Tulia case, but I believe he is the cause of injustice in this case. Lots of people have been seriously effected, me included, by Mr. Blakeslee's, less than objective, reporting.
In my haste I failed to mention my respect for 123txpublicdefender123. Public defenders are, in my humble opinion, the real heroes when it comes to the justice system. Thank you for the service you provide.
Blakeslee's "less than objective reporting"?
Personally I don't believe in "objective" reporting. Not that I don't think it might be a good thing, but like unicorns, I don't believe it exists.
That said, as you're assigning blame, keep in mind that the agency's E.D. Dwight Harris literally quit his job and ran away to hide rather than face questions about what Blakeslee reported, thus hanging his employees completely out to dry. (If he'd shown more backbone, I suspect all of last year might have played out differently.)
The Lege and TYC admin surely have caused a lot of suffering for uninvolved parties in the wake of his coverage, but that's hardly Nate's fault. The Dallas News was already onto the same story and published an independent version days later - the Pyote case was coming out, one way or another.
To the first anonymous poster, if karma or judgment is as lazy as your buddy, the esteemed Randy Reynolds, nobody, including Mr. Blakeslee, will "get what's coming to them."
Good post, Grits for defending Blakeslee; he did a good job along with the Dallas News, D.Swanson, in particular. Some who were upset about the expose of administrator/youth sex abuse, knew about it but failed to do anything. If they had acted more responsible, the problem could have been solved at a lower level and much quicker, without the national scandal.
The scandal had been building for several years. Remember the book "Raped by The State"? That guy reported all sorts of abuse to his superiors and other state officials, who ignored the abuse and corruption until the WTSS sex case broke the news. Many top TYC people knew about big problems but looked the other way or acted to protect their own. Some are still in the leadership.
Isn't this prosecutor something that Whitmire should investigate?
To date the TYC debacle has not been good for anyone to any great extent. I think the employees and the youth have been big losers. If any of you think TYC has been improved then you do not have a clue! No programs are in place and education is a mess. No one can decide what format to use in operating TYC. What a mess. I forgot Jerry Madden thinks great strides have been made in reforming TYC. Jerry Madden needs a reality check!
That last paragraph about the lack of qualified attorneys in the area is yet another example of why juvie facilities that serve overwhelmingly urban youth populations shouldn't be located in rural areas.
Attorneys fall into that category of "qualified professionals" mentioned by advocates of regionalization.
I'm convinced that anyone named Randy is a complete idiot in that neck of the woods.
Here is the deal on Doug Swanson since someone mentioned him earlier. I have to say he did write some pretty good stories and deserved the award he received. However, when he was given hard evidence to show that the Governor and Jay Kimbrough ousted some good Administrators, based on lies, false information, and trumped up allegations that were confirmed with no evidence by OIG, Mr. Swanson failed to write that story. Also, when he was given good factual information that the DMN had printed some lies and slander some TYC Administrators, he failed to make any corrections. Why? Simple, because it might have raised a question about credibility in Mr. Swanson's previous stories on the "WTSS sex scandal/cover-up"? In the end, Doug didn't write the whole story of TYC, just bits and pieces to make himself look good and pick up some nice awards along the way. Typical big newspaper crap. In all liklihood, I am sure Doug sleeps well at night, like any typical reporter.
1:12,I don't know which stories you are referring to, but I would add Gregg Jones to the list. He and Swanson have published explosive allegations about TYC employees and facilities with no apparent independent investigation at all. Sloppy and irresponsible.
Some of you folks must have been nearly caught up yourselves, to be so upset with Swanson and his team. His team went to many TYC facilities and did investigations and reports based on TYC's own data, or lack of it. They were investigative reporters and other agency staff, plus some TYC investigators that verified the massive corruption, mistreatment of youth and employees, and general mismangement by those in charge; and failure to follow the laws of Texas and TYC!. If you didn't get all that, you didn't want to get it or were probably part of it. Thanks again, to Blakeslee and Swanson for exposing this rogue agency, that hurt so many youth and good employees, and undermined the criminal justice system in Texas.
You are so full of crap. Some of those investigators that gave the information to Swanson and others are the corruption. Get your facts straight. Swanson is a typical reporter that knows lies and scandal sell newspapers, even if the reporters are the one making up the stuff without sufficient evidence. I bet Swanson slleps with his award, but we all know its tarnished with his crap.
6:57, I have this opinion because Blakeslee and Swanson never asked me for any information. Since I'm not telling you who I am, you'd have to take my word for it, but if they or any of their "team" really investigated two significant items that I can think of offhand, splashed all over the DMN, they would have taken the time to at least try to talk to me and others with information. Their stories had inaccuracies and lies that damaged people (I'm not talking about myself) and they based those stories on hearsay and bogus information received from the new TYC regime and others with obvious agendas. What I know about their TYC coverage causes me to doubt all of their other reporting. They took the lazy way.
Amen 7:38! The WHOLE STORY was never reported because it was not as interesting as the sensationalized story that the public craves. Anyone that believes the "data" provided by anyone still employed with TYC or the media is crazy.
As far as the administrator who was ousted for a bunch of lies, maybe Swanson will report when he wins in court against TYC.
State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, twice increased a senior aide's regular $7,400 monthly salary by $4,000 in both July and August of 2007. The Chronicle found more than 20 instances of temporary pay increases to staffers in his office since 2007, totaling more than $50,000.
That's called a bonus and thus unconstitutional. Too bad Doug won't write about that...
TYC knows how to do two things well: to stick together so that not much gets out and to discredit anyone who brings out what they want covered up. The same people still run things at TYC - just look around.
TYC employee do not want anyone to pay for their misdeeds. They are able to enlist a lot of other people to support them. Be warned, they will attack you if you point this out.
# 95 / 2008-09-30
Request TYC Investigate All Cases
September 29,2008
As a concerned Citizen of Texas, the included news report highly disturbs me when it states that not all cases are being properly investigated. The possibility that not all cases will be investigated infuriates me. Each child being held under the “color of law” deserves to have his or her case fully investigated. The Youth of Texas deserve to have their perpetrator convicted in a Court of Law and sentenced. Each and every state employee that wrongfully sexually abuses our young people I expect to be convicted, sentenced and registered for life as a Sex Offender.
I am looking to you to see this is done if it takes the rest of your life to investigate each case. As you have been hand-picked to see that each child receives justice, I am holding you responsible and accountable for each Youth that endures the abuse, rape, torture, neglect and brutality of the Texas Youth Commission.
Respectfully watching,
Concern Citizen of Texas
(name,address,city,state,zip)
TYC hit again with blistering reportwww.mysanantonio.com
Web Posted: 09/25/2008 12:00 CDT
TYC hit again with blistering report
By Lisa Sandberg - Express-News
AUSTIN More than 18 months after the state's juvenile corrections system was nearly torn apart by a sex abuse scandal, the agency's youth advocate said Wednesday that scores of abuse and neglect cases appear to have been closed over the past year without being properly investigated.
Texas Youth Commission ombudsman Will Harrell identified 85 cases of alleged abuse or neglect that according to the agency's own records were closed without being investigated by the agency's administrative arm, the Youth Rights Division, or by any law enforcement agency, in violation of procedures.
Another 88 recently closed abuse and neglect cases were investigated by a law enforcement agency, but not by the Youth Rights Division as required by policy,Harrell said in a blistering report he delivered to the state's top leadership Wednesday.
A total of 564 cases alleging mistreatment of youths were closed by the agency without any record indicating how they were disposed, the report says.
In some instances, abuse allegations were assigned to the alleged perpetrator to investigate, Harrell said. Other cases were left hanging after being assigned to people who had been transferred to other departments and not notified, or to people who had left the agency.
TYC conservator Richard Nedelkoff said in a statement that he was appalled by the report's findings. He said he had been assured that the main problem is that the agency's database does not reflect final dispositions for the 564 cases.
Uncertainty in the area of the treatment of youth simply cannot be tolerated, said Nedelkoff, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry late last year after a top-to-bottom agency reorganization. We will not be satisfied with anything less than 100 percent accountability on this issue.
Perry was every disappointed in the report's findings, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. This system should have been addressed, Allison Castle said.
Harrell said the abuse and neglect cases examined by his office include the most serious allegations such as sexual or physical assault of youths by staff members, youth-on-youth violence and medical neglect. We're not talking about grievances like the food is too cold, he said.
Harrell said his staff put in hundreds of hours over the past several weeks examining the agency's records. The results disturbed him so much, he said, that he felt legally compelled to bring the issue to the immediate attention of everyone from the governor's office on down.
He cited a law passed last year requiring him to report flagrant abuses to top elected officials.
Though he didn't name any individual at the agency, Harrell went out of his way in his report to defend the agency's inspector general, Bruce Toney. Over the past year, Toney repeatedly raised some of the concerns to agency officials to no avail, Harrell said.
His findings come more than 18 months after the agency nearly imploded on allegations of staff members physically and sexually abusing youths at facilities throughout the state, with some administrators turning a blind eye to the problem. The Legislature last year ordered sweeping reforms.
TYC spokesman Jim Hurley said in a statement that the agency had already taken steps to revamp the system for reporting alleged abuse and neglect. All cases are now being reviewed under the command of the agency's law enforcement arm the Office of Inspector General rather than its administrative arm.( 2008 KENS 5 and the San Antonio Express-News)
Send to the following:
Texas Youth Commission Contact List
Conservator:
Mr. Richard Nedelhoff,Conservator
Texas Youth Commission
Email Comments
4900 N Lamar Blvd
P:1-512-424-6130
Office Inspector General:
Mr. Bruce Toney, OIG
Email Bruce Toney
Chief Ombudsman:
Mr. Will Harrell, JD, LL.M, Chief Ombudsman
6400 East Highway 290, Suite 202
Email Harrell
Special Prosecution Unit:
Ms.Gina DeBotties, Executive Director
904 E. Market St.
Palestine, TX 75801
Palestine, TX 75802-2024
Email Botties
Send Copies of ALL Complaints to:
Sunset Advisory Commission
Email Sunset
Sunset is currently reviewing the TYC , they need
to hear from "YOU". Please take a few minutes to
"TAKE ACTION" to comments and let your voice of
thoughts and opinions be heard. Thank You
Instructions for How to Copy and Paste the Letter
To copy and paste the letter into your senator's web-form at (put TYC links herewww.senate.gov), point your mouse arrow at the beginning of the text that you want to copy.
1.Click your left mouse button and hold it down.
2.While holding the left mouse button, drag your arrow to the end of the text that you want to copy.
3. Release the button.
4.The text should be highlighted.
5.Place your mouse arrow over the highlighted text, click your right mouse button once and let go.
6. A new menu should appear from toolbar.
7.Select Copy from the drop down menu.
8.When you get to the message form field for your senator at (put TYC links here www.senate.gov), point your arrow at the beginning of the message field that you want to copy your text to and right click with your mouse.
9. Click Paste from this menu.
10.Submit your form and help our children!
It is too bad the OIO did not bother to talk with staff to learn about the files they were going through. An interview is probably a good thing...
That being said I am furious that things which are reported are not investigated. I and so many others go out of our way to be hypervigilant, reporting information which may, at the lowest degree of consideration, be viewed as abuse or neglect of youth.
This is very disheartening. Some days, working for TYC makes you so tired.
Did you ever think that TYC will not look into these allegations because some are against some of the TDCJers brought in to "reform" the Agency? I mean, how did Bronco Billy get away with ordering mass OC sprayings against youth against the TYC policy and the agreed court order? Why was he never brought to justice? Why did he not go before a grand jury? What about the misappropriations of funds by dear ole Demetria? Why was she not brought before a grand jury. Most importantly, the DAs can see that there is unequal justice being dished out by TYC, and that's why so many cases are being no billed. Hell, let's face it, the two that started this fiasco, Brookins and Hernandez will probably never go to court much less be convicted. Of course important cases were ignored because they didn't want to have to make a confirmed finding on one of their buddies.
Square on the nail head! If you want to understand the warped culture of TYC then and which appears to be continuing....the abuses and corruption by TYC administrators and top dogs, check out "Raped by The State". Its from one who was in the bowels and seen the corruption, top to bottom; and not from someone who is guessing about the twisted daily operations that brought about the downfall of a once proud agency.
It appears someone touched a sore spot and the truth here. Are the abusers upset for being discovered, and now they feel abused? Typical TYC thinking. Did this guy not understand the book? Was he awarded his GED and can't read or write, but excelled in TYC?
Did you ever try and read the "book?" It's no wonder that Randy had to pay for someone to publish it in the first place.
Grudges and sore spots, my friend. Several lawmakers revieved the book, used it and even brought it to the open meetings of the Criminal Justice Committee with Senator Whitmire, Hinojosa, Harris, Madden and others. They quoted many abuses and used the book to help understand how and why reforms should be initiated. It appears the writer scored his goal by releasing the book and helping start the statewide reform sorely needed in TYC, even though you have an apparant grudge with the writer. The ACLU, American Youth Works, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, FOX News and many other youth care agencies applauded the book and praised the writer's courage. Sorry for your own personal and obvious discomfort, but this guy has helped thousands of youth in Texas, who were abused by TYC, and many employees that were misused by the dark,rogue,out-of-control regime. Legal firms have even asked him to testify as an expert during their lawsuits against the failed agency. Best of luck to the writer as he helped bring an end to the reign of terror from Austin TYC.
Luke, I am your fatthher. Join the dark side and we will reign over the universe. It is your destiny.
Chance's book is the one full of grudges. It is virtually unreadable, most of it is way off topic, and many of the things he complained about were resolved before he wrote his book. You had to put on a hazmat suit to get to anything useful; a ton of toxic waste for an ounce of "something is wrong in TYC."
That's the conclusion I came to after reviewing his book in comparison with John Hubner's "Last Chance in Texas" (a book that appears to have been written to help make TYC look good just when it needed good press the most) when doing a presentation at an academic conference on the state of TYC and the serious literature available (or lack thereof, as the case turned out) regarding TYC.
If my review isn't sufficient, Mr. Chance's book was also reviewed in an academic journal recently:
http://swjcj.cjcenter.org/archives/4.2/
and Mr. Chance wrote a rebuttal that makes plain just how much of his ego and arrogance are wrapped up in his book. Out of 5 pages he wrote in response to a 2 page review, he spent maybe 2 sentences responding to the review and the rest was self-aggrandizement, some of which bordered on delusional. For example, his claim of a 5 star rating at Amazon.com was based on a single review left by a person who supported what the book represented but apparently hadn't actually tried to read it.
Courage would have been taking the information he had (specific information, not just a vague "strange things are afoot at the Circle K") and telling anyone he could get ahold of that something was wrong until someone listened and did something. A certain case manager at WTSS did just that, which is how Brookins and Hernandez were finally caught. Writing an almost unreadable book full of vague allegations and entire chapters of how the author is smarter than the rest of the world is not what I call courage. The main reason his book showed up in the hands of legislators is because he was grandstanding for attention and took advantage of someone else breaking the story to make himself look important.
I'm glad TYC is getting fixed (at least that's what they've been telling us for the past year and a half) but let's give credit where credit is due. Mr. Chance did a lot less to help TYC than he wants people to think. Maybe I should take credit for saving TYC because I presented my analysis that "stuff is about to hit the fan" at the academic conference 4 months prior to the DMN breaking the story.
The TYC Board and some lawmakers were made aware of TYC failings back in 2003/04, far before your 'saving' of TYC. The letters were made public through the Dallas/Houston News. Several staff at WTSS knew about the sexual favors being provided to administrators by youth, yet failed to act. Senior TYC management also knew years before about big problems and in some cases intentionally covered for their hand picked sexual abuser administrators. It appears you were there when this took place. Why didn't you intervene, since you know so much?? It appears you are now forced to provide services that you failed to provide to youth earlier, so you are now in discomfort? Are you the type that allowed the implosion in the first place? How do you sleep,with all the apparant guilt you must feel? Isn't that referred to as 'projection' by those of your caliber, to keep the blame on others and away from the true source - You. Have a nice day and try to not harm yourself. Some reforms require people to really do their jobs, rather than make excuses for not providing treatment for youth and causing a loss of the public trust by going along with the twisted, 'protect our own' clan in power. Irregardless of your personal agenda with the author of the book, he appears to have gained statewide support by exposing this network of horrors, which was verified by other organizations. Go Randy.
WOW, can someone else get in here? I know Randy and Bio. The indorsements about the book at www.rapedbythestate.com, disagree with Bio's comments. He has an apparant goal to discredit the book, perhaps to focus faults away from TYC and maybe himself. Informed sources indicate you - Bio, did know about sexual abuses and possibly in concert with the local media, went out of your way to suppress it? There is strong evidence that all this will come out at the trials, so you have perhaps, good reason to discredit all you can. I bet you did know the s... was about to hit the fan.....you were right in the middle of it and helped cover it up, didn't you? If this is true, then wouldn't you are as guilty as the administrator sex abusers. The caseworker who reported the abuses was far behind the assistant principal, who reported the sex abuse to the superintendent; but you should have known that and discarded it, right? As far as Randy, he did an excellent job of bringing this to the public and also far ahead of you or the caseworker. Once his book became public, several got in line to report abuses and mismanagement.
"and Mr. Chance wrote a rebuttal that makes plain just how much of his ego and arrogance are wrapped up in his book. Out of 5 pages he wrote in response to a 2 page review, he spent maybe 2 sentences responding to the review and the rest was self-aggrandizement, some of which bordered on delusional. For example, his claim of a 5 star rating at Amazon.com was based on a single review left by a person who supported what the book represented but apparently hadn't actually tried to read it."
Oh now that's funny! But this is even better...
"Courage would have been taking the information he had (specific information, not just a vague "strange things are afoot at the Circle K") and telling anyone he could get ahold of that something was wrong until someone listened and did something. A certain case manager at WTSS did just that, which is how Brookins and Hernandez were finally caught. Writing an almost unreadable book full of vague allegations and entire chapters of how the author is smarter than the rest of the world is not what I call courage. The main reason his book showed up in the hands of legislators is because he was grandstanding for attention and took advantage of someone else breaking the story to make himself look important."
Now those are TYC outsiders who obviously summed up what we all knew. The book was nothing more than, well, a run-on sentence full of rants with no clear intention other than to play a burn game. Maybe you all should file open records request and see how he wrote those investigations?
Did Bio/Dio just plain lose it,... again? The dude is sick.
Can Diogenes just paste and copy here? He's wasting our time with his double comments which mean little as it is!
He can join Randy at the nut farm if he ever did.
The old guard has to discredit Randy Chance's book. One little known fact is that only a very small part of his book (Raped by the State, 2004) referred to the sexual abuse of youth by TYC staff. Almost all of the book outlined the TYC cover up system that we all know so well. In that, he was right on th money. No one would talk about that before Randy blew the lid off of TYC. He referred to the "untouchables" on every campus who cover up for each other and promote each other (still do). They always had the administrators to watch their back.
Now these TYC untouchables are known as Grits bloggers (or whiners). They still deny everything and complain about Whitmire and those pesky ole reporters who should have never looked in on their dirty little game.
Takes one to know one 5:22, sounds like you're pretty good at whining. Are you a part of the old guard or the new and improved screwed up version?
Way to go 5:22. Of all the reviews I've done on this site, you seem to be the only honest one. Unless you worked in an isolated ool in Austin, you had to know about the mismanagement and who was getting away with what and who would be promoted even before job postings were sent out. D.H. moved his cronies into every area of TYC and it was their watch that allowed TYC to rotten from their ill leadership, if you could call it leadership....I call it corruption. Just look who was fired when the truth began to emerge. Yes, it took a book by someone who was concerned enough about the agency and real criminal justice to bring the truth to the public. Like it or not, most of you old-timers knew what was going on but were afraid to rock the boat, to insure you own position safety. You were't alone, most folks did the same...however, how can you now sit back and critize the book and author for trying to bring change and improve the agency? Someone has to step-up; why didn't you?
9:40, you might have given yourself away in the first sentence. I think you ARE 5:22, and are probably the book's author. "...Randy blew the lid off..."? Really? In 2004?
You (and some others I can think of) remind me of the rooster who thinks the sun comes up every morning because he crows. I hope you sell every copy, but I think those who were there already know the truth and no one else cares.
I tried to read the book when it first came out, but it was so poorly written, both grammatically and factually, that I never finished it. I'm just glad I was reading someone else's copy, and did not spend my own good money on it.
BTW, Randy "quoted" a good friend of mine, who told me that what was written bore no resemblance to what he told Randy. So much for factual reporting!
Several people wrote to TYC board members and lawmakers, back in 2003and 2004. Some communications were exposed by the DMN through the open records act. I too, read the book and noted some errors. I have also noted errors in other books. Some folks miss the big picture...the expose, administrative cover-up for 'team player' abusers, the youth abuse, illegal detention, illegal use of security and special plans, that should be monitored by psys...but weren't, misuse of employees and public funds; and seem to concntrate on a grammer error, as personal revenge. Its good that most people aren't like 12:22am, since everyone would be fooled and miss the big picture. This dude has went far out of his way to trash the book. Why? It appears you were brought out in the book, or by the book's expose and want terrible revenge. If so, then, hey you should have been doing your job in the first place and you wouldn't be so bothered by the book! Get over it, see your friend, a psy..or transfer out of TYC. Many were grateful for what the book brought out, however there are always some ingrates,who are jealous or feel exposed in their own position, and... sometimes criminal positions. "A good friend told me".....talk about hogwash, this is a great example of what LIARS use to spread bunk.
Ref 522....I am not Randy but I do know him and I also am aware of numerous similar situations such as he wrote of. I think...know.. many old timers are also aware of much abuse of power and misuse of youth and employees. Many have hurt youth, covered for coworkers and simply turned the blind eye to mismanagement and corruption. When you do that, you are part of the problem....so don't sit back and complain that someone or lawmakers want to reform TYC. Some of you have soft jobs with the agency and don't want any change; it could upset your soft job! Many have forgot what the agency is about.....care and rehabilitation of troubled youth. Rehabilitation was replaced with abuse and institutional warehouses, which some of you dearly support. If you are so insecure in your activities, perhaps you should look twice in the mirror.
For those new to the TYC scandal, here is something to start with. Randy Chance's book "Raped by the State" opened the whole dirty story of TYC. Chance used poor grammar and should have used an editor. Then there was an investigation (at Evins) of TYC practices by a state Senator.
Next, Nate Blakesley wrote the article "Hidden in Plain Sight" in Texas Observer 02/23/2007. This was a good brief description of how TYC works.
Next, Doug Swanson (Dallas Morning News), Mike Ward (Austin American) and others did some investigative work and wrote some good articles outlining the TYC corruption.
Blakeslee, Swanson and Ward didn't have an interest in the bigger story. They mostly limited themselves to the small part related to the sexual abuse of youth by TYC staffers. They ignored all the other points brought out in Randy Chance's book.
Those stories have not yet been told and top staffers at TYC now are able to benefit by this ignorance. Most of the TYC story is still "Hidden in Plain Sight."
At least, this will give you a start. To verify this for yourself here is a tip, read Randy's book and then look around at your facility or site and see how well what he described is still what you see now. Be aware that hiding things in plain sight takes a lot of skill and those in the in crowd are masters of this.
And are there black helicopters hovering overhead, 2:05?
No, a more interesting story is what happened after the coup in March 2007. Now, THERE'S a conspiracy!
Lots of the worse administrators and managers, some who covered for each others abuses, got what they gave to others for years! If you feel sorry for this bunch of criminals, you're probably one of them; or they protected you with their dark cloak and misuse of power. Too bad that their replacements seem to be nearly as bed.
Book sales must be down, Randy is really trying hard to push his book.
Let me try and give it a plug.
For a closer look into the evil empire that used to rule TYC with it's dark and rogue imperial cloak, pick up the highly publicized book by Randy Chance, "Raped by the State". Any 3rd grader with a 1st grade education can read it, and see that it lacks objectivity and credibility, but it can be yours today for as little as $19.99 You may also be lucky enough to get the autographed version, if Mr. Chance can remember how to spell his name.
How's that? Can I do a QVC infomercial for you?
Too bad Randy's an idiot who likes to talk to himself on this blog. It's apparent that he had to put together some farce he calls a book to get back at those who never promoted his dumb ass.I guess since I posted that I must be an old guard member who abused kids. Get real, I never worked with them. What an idiot.
Your previous outrageous posts proves you're a psycho. Grits had to pull your posts, thankfully.
Anyone who has been around for awhile and knows TYC, knows Randy's book has helped the overall situation.
Apparantly you have been touched personally and deeply by the expose. Were you fired or about to be? I hope you weren't around youth, with your warped attitude. Maybe you should check the price of some medications to control your rage. Watch your blood pressure also. The book helped many but apparantly you are to envious to understand.
Whatever Randy. You call that a book? It was nothing but an ego filled racist psycho rant.
I just love all these anonymous mud-slings! Wouldn't it be funny if it were found that these folks making outrageous accusations about each other back and forth, actually sit in the same OOL?
Still no word on Brookins and Hernandez? Look what we have after nearly two years.
Hey 2:52.....it's obvious that Randy's 'Raped by The State' hit a home run! It started a major reform in Texas and the book has you twisted tight enough to explode. It must have come too close to the truth for you. No one else seems as bothered as you. Were you in the book? What page?
fav.or.it said...
I bet 'Psyco' gets fired within 30 days of Cherie taking over. Hopefuly, she'll clean the remaining TYC upper corruptive/abusive/criminal administrators.
sent from: fav.or.it
If you want the real details behind the sex scandal at WTSS...ask Diogenes. Right in the middle and probably knew while it was going on, but failed to act!
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2 hours ago News
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described as absurd, the lies, propaganda and accusations against President Muhammadu Buhari.
Osinbajo said on Wednesday night while responding to questions at an Interactive Session and Engagement held at Muson Centre, Lagos on Wednesday night.
The interactive session tagged: “Unveiling The Truth”, organised by young Christian group, had some Christian leaders in attendance.
Participants used the occasion to ask plenty of questions bothering on insecurity, economy, blaming of past administrations, social welfare for the unemployed, corruption, and timing of TraderMoni.
Other questions bothered on Next Level slogan, farmer/herders crisis, lopsided federal appointments, Islamisation, Buhari’s commitment to addressing critical issues in the country among others.
Responding, Osinbajo said that President Buhari was committed to addressing the problems facing the country such as security, economy and fixing critical infrastructure and fair treatment of all sections.
He said Buhari is addressing farmer/herders crises and has no intention at all to Islamise the country.
“President Muhammadu is possibly one of the most committed people I have ever met. He is committed to seeing that resources of this country are used for this country.
“In general terms, we find that there is fairness in the distribution of appointments. Many of the accusations against Buhari are not true.
“Sometimes, people listen to propaganda and if we look at the facts, things are totally different. On Islamisation, first of all, it is untrue, it is propaganda.
“Anybody who complains that President Buhari is propagating Islamic agenda, how is that possible?
“A lot of these are just propaganda. Never listen to these. Many of these are absurd, they are deliberate propaganda. They come from the same source. Don’t believe them. Let’s be fair,” Osinbajo said.
The vice president, who urged Nigerians not to fear or doubt the good intention of the President, advised Nigerians to stop spreading rumours about things that never happened.
Osinbajo noted that the major cause of farmer/herder crisis remains pasture and water which the government has made concerted efforts to address.
On accusations of lopsided federal appointments, Osinbajo said that the Southeast with five states has five ministers more than some regions with higher number of states.
On TraderMoni, he said that the National Assembly does not need to approve money for it as it is a programme of the Bank of Industry meant to lift many Nigerians out of poverty.
On the timing of implementation of the National Social Investment Programme, Osinbajo said it kicked off after the budgetary allocation was passed by the National Assembly in 2016.
According to him, the party never promised N5,000 monthly stipends for the unemployed but for the vulnerable which is ongoing.
He said the NSIP has engaged so many youths in its N-Power programme and government has the plan to increase the number to 1.5 million young Nigerians in the Next Level out of 1.7 million people churned out of tertiary institutions every year.
On criminality, the vice president said that the way forward is local policing and intelligence as well as immediate arrest and prosecution of criminals in the country.
On security, he said that the country has made significant progress and moved forward from what the situation was before the 2015 general elections.
The vice president said that the APC Next Level slogan centres on job creation, power, making credit more available to entrepreneurs, agriculture, infrastructure and others.
The vice president urged Christian leaders to jettison thinking about any Islamic agenda and Islamisation, saying many Christians are in the cabinet of President Buhari.
He said that the media should desist from spreading rumours, decrying fake news about Buhari being another person from Sudan.
Addressing the accusation that the present administration often blames previous administrations, Osinbajo said that the country can not move forward without considering the past.
According to him, corruption remains the bane of national growth and development. He said most of the woes confronting Nigerians were caused by wastefulness of past governments.
The highlight of the interaction were high praise led by choir and power-packed prayer for the country and general elections led by Bishop Wale Oke.
The participants prayed for God’s mercies on the country and God’s protection on the vice president especially from the recent helicopter crash.
2019 ElectionMuhammadu BuhariYemi Osibanjo
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Published on October 8, 2019 January 6, 2020 by AmandaLeave a comment
Posy Morland has always lived above Bookends Bookshop. She and her brother lived here before her parents passed away, and she came back from college to help raise her brother after they were gone. Their home is thrown into jeopardy when Posy’s landlady and boss, Lavinia, dies, leaving the bookshop to Posy and the rest of the property to her odious grandson, Sebastian. The two new owners go head-to-head over their beloved bookshop, desperate to keep it alive but at odds about the best way to do so.
I so wanted this book to be spectacular. The bookshop setting, the stellar love/hate chemistry between Posy and Sebastian was there, everything was there, but one thing was missing. Glaringly obvious to me as I neared the end of the story was the fact that we never got to know Sebastian at all. We almost never got chapters from his point of view, and when we did they focused on his actions and never delved into his thoughts or emotions. Because of this, Sebastian’s feelings felt as though they came out of the clear blue sky. The ending felt very rushed, like the author had hit word count and everything after that was just to wrap everything up. The best romances, in my opinion, allow you to get to now both your heroine and your hero, and not getting Sebastian’s view point really hurt the ending of this one. Overall it was cheerful and cute and an enjoyable read, but the ending really dented my feelings about it.
HHC Rating: 3.5 Stars.
Categories Book Reviews, Contemporary, Romance•Tags Annie Darling, Book Review, Bookstore Romance, Contemporary, England, Hate to Love, Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts #1, London, Posy, Posy Morland, Romance, Sebastian, The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts
Annie grew up obsessed with rom-coms. After her dad passed, she and her mom watched them religiously, and she went to school for screen writing to write her own – featuring Tom Hanks of course. But after school she came back to Ohio, where she has lived with her uncle since her mom’s passing, and she can’t seem to move on with her life. She’s waiting for her Tom Hanks, her perfect match, but she’s not out there looking for him. Instead she’s sitting in her best friend’s coffee shop working remotely doing freelance article writing for everything from cold sore creams to gardening rakes.
Everything changes when a famous romantic-comedy director announces he’s shooting his new movie in Annie’s hometown. Annie’s best friend insists it’s fate, and it truly seems it could be when she finds a sudden connection to the director and ends up working on set. But instead of learning the ropes in the hopes of creating her own movie someday, Annie finds herself the unwitting heroine in her own Tom-Hanks-esque love story.
I rarely pick up books that have just been published, because I am always too busy working my way through a massive backlist TBR. Waiting for Tom Hanks kept popping up on my radar, though, and I finally decided that I just had to read it. Cut to visiting 3-5 different indie bookstores before finally finding it at Target by accident. The million-and-one references to rom-coms, Nora Ephron, and Tom Hanks are delightful, so long as you are just as obsessed with rom-coms as Annie and actually get all of the references, because there are many. Annie’s uncle also runs a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game, which I absolutely love with a singular purity, and honestly Uncle Don is just so pure over all. He is easily my favorite.
Annie as a character was slightly annoying because she couldn’t see what was going on, but that’s how rom-coms go, aren’t they? There was hardly any diversity of any shape or form (which is also mostly on par for rom-coms, though it’s a huge problem of the genre), and the ending was definitely rushed – I could have used another 25-50 pages for better pacing, please! Also, there were almost no physical descriptions in the entire book – so maybe there’s a lot more diversity than we think? That’s probably a pipe dream, but oh well. Overall it was a very cute book that I will be passing along to many friends.
Book 2 – Not Like The Movies (Book available in 2020)
Categories Book Reviews, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance•Tags Adult, Annie, Book Review, Comedy, Contemporary, Drew, Dungeons and Dragons, Kerry Winfrey, Movie Set, On-Set Romance, Rom-Com, Romance, Romantic-Comedy, Screenwriting, Tom Hanks, Waiting For Tom Hanks
Fix Her Up (Hot and Hammered, #1) – Tessa Bailey
Published on July 2, 2019 July 1, 2019 by AmandaLeave a comment
Georgie Castle has always been invisible. As the pesky little sister left out of the family business, she’s found her own way in life, using her business degree to launch a small company doing children’s birthday parties. Only, the business is so small that it’s just her. Dressed up as a clown. But no matter how good she is at her job, it definitely doesn’t make her family take her anymore seriously than they ever have.
Travis Ford is back in town after a shoulder injury ended his shining baseball career prematurely. He’s drowning his sorrows in beer and take out until someone breaks into his apartment and starts throwing food at him. Literally. But is he really going to let his best friend’s kid sister tell him how to live his life? Heck no. What could Georgie know about life? She’s just a kid. The pesky little sister of his best friend, who came to all his games growing up and spied on him from a tree in her back yard.
As Travis begins to build a new life, he becomes increasingly aware of a few things.
1) Someone started a betting pool to see who the baseball playboy will date first.
2) His washed up fame has left him high and dry… and lonely.
And 3) Georgie is so not the kid he remembers from his school days.
Too bad she’s busy building her own life, determined to make her family take her seriously, and is treating him like the big brother he’s always been to her.
This book was exactly the distraction I needed, though had I known the title of the series I probably would have been better prepared. It started off super cute and then became quite, quite steamy, actually. I’ve since shoved it at multiple friends who are also enjoying themselves. We’ve been texting about it and it mainly ends up being heart emojis because we all love Georgie and Travis just so much. Not safe to read aloud at work, and also probably inappropriate for anyone under 18.
I will say that the whole ‘little sister’ trope is a bit overused, and Travis calling her “baby girl” and referring to her as his little sister all the time does make everything a little, well, awkward. Add in that Georgie is a literal birthday clown and Travis is obsessed with her being a virgin, and you have the ultimate awkward scene. But it still managed to somehow be cute. When it comes to contemporary romance, there’s always a lot of objectification, and Georgie and Travis both participate in this quite a lot, but it doesn’t overwhelm the story. This was a light, quick read, with some very steamy (and somewhat awkward, I’ll be honest. It’s very step-by-step rather than overall-emotion) scenes. I’ve never read any of Bailey’s books before, so I’ll have to check out a few more before I can say for sure that this is her normal style, but it was a fun summer beach read!
Other books in this series:
Book 2 – Love Her or Lose Her (Expected Publication 2020)
Categories Beach Reads, Book Reviews, Contemporary, Romance•Tags Adult, Baseball Romance, Beach Reads, Book Review, Brother's Best Friend Romance, Contemporary, Fix Her Up, Georgie Castle, Hot and Hammered, Little Sister Romance, Long Island, Romance, Sports Romance, Tessa Bailey, Travis Ford
Heart of Iron (Heart of Iron, #1) – Ashley Poston
Published on June 18, 2019 June 17, 2019 by AmandaLeave a comment
Ana and Di were found floating in an escape pod seven years ago, with no memories of what came before. They’ve built their own family out of Captain Siege’s misfit pirate crew, beings from all parts of the galaxy, ravaged by plague and run out by oppression. To Ana and Di, they are perfect. They are home. But Di, an illegal robot called a Metal, has started to glitch, and Ana will risk just about anything to avoid losing her best friend in the universe.
Robbert Valerio lost his father in the Metal rebellion that also took away The Iron Kingdom’s royal family. As the celestial convergence approaches, and with it the crowning of a new emperor, Robb finds new information that could be the key to finding his father. The possible proof that he survived the rebellion after all is too much to ignore, and Robb begins the hunt for truth.
As the luck of the goddess would have it, the search for an answer to Di’s glitching leads Ana right to Robb, and the two realize that there could be a lot more aboard the mysterious ship Tsarina than each originally imagined.
This whirlwind adventure takes the old-as-time story of Anastasia and launches it into space, where it takes on a life of its own. Multiple races from across the universe find danger, hope, and love (in many forms), in this interstellar saga. Poston does a fantastic job of world building through her characters’ eyes, showing the reader the world as they see it, rather than info-dumping huge amounts of data abut space colonies and future-world-orders. With plenty of nods to all the Sci-Fi stories of our youth, this book was a delight form start to finish. I, personally, cannot wait for the second and final book in this duology to be published next month.
This is one of those books that is definitely YA – the characters are mostly in their late teens – but also appeals to readers of just about any age. So far, there’s nothing inappropriate for younger readers either, so barring anything happening in the second book, this one would be safe for precocious younger readers who’ve exhausted everything else in the middle grade range.
HHC Rating: 5 Stars.
Book 2 – Soul of Stars (Book available July 23rd, Review available August 13th)
Other reviews for this author:
Once Upon A Con, Book 1 – Geekerella
Once Upon A Con, Book 2 – The Princess and The Fan Girl (Review Coming Soon!)
Categories Adventure, Book Reviews, Diverse Books, LGBTQA, Romance, Science Fiction, YA•Tags Adventure, Ana, Ananke Armorov, Anastasia, Ashley Poston, Best Friend Romance, Book Review, Captain Siege, C’zar Taizu, D09, Dimitri, Diverse Books, Dmitri Rasovant, Dossier, Heart of Iron, Heart of Iron #1, Iron Kingdom, Jax, LGBTQA, Lord Rasovant, Marigold Aragon, Metal, Pirates, Rasputin, Robbert Valerio, Romance, Sci-Fi, Science Fiction, Space, Tsarina, YA, Young Adult
On The Way To The Wedding (Bridgerton, #8) – Julia Quinn
Published on May 28, 2019 June 11, 2019 by Amanda7 Comments
Gregory Bridgerton is the seventh of eight children, all of whom, aside from him, have married for love. So it’s no surprise that he believes in the all-consuming emotion. He just hasn’t found the right girl yet. He’s sure he hasn’t. He would know, right away, when the right person showed up. And then he does. A single glimpse and he’s lost. He’s found her. And yet, she couldn’t care less.
Lucy Abernathy doesn’t believe in love. She’s seen men lose their heads over her best friend so often that it has become almost funny. Practically engaged herself, she doesn’t mind when Hermione’s beaus ignore her existence, but it would be nice to be asked to dance on her own merit once in a while. Hermione claims to be in love with someone else, anyway, so the gentlemen are wasting their time, even if they don’t all give up so easily.
When Hermione has a sudden change of heart and finds herself in a true love-match, Lucy starts to look at things differently. She starts to wonder if she’s been missing something in front of her this whole time. Could love be real? Could she have it, if she took a chance? And what about being practically engaged?
The final installment in the saga of the Bridgerton family, On the Way to the Wedding, does not disappoint. Easily the most complicated of the series storylines, Gregory must adjust his own perspective before he can admit his true feelings, and he’ll have to face his worst fears to reach his happily ever after.
I always start this book a little sad. I know I’m at the end of the series once again, and I drag my feet because I don’t want it to end. The story also starts a little slow, because its complicated narrative requires it. So much happens in so little time, and our hero and heroine go through such drastic changes, face such strong obstacles, that the slow start is the only slow piece of the story.
Gregory, whom we’ve looked at primarily as a child for the duration of the series, is finally finding his footing as an adult, and his family gives him subtle and not so subtle nudges in the right direction. In any Bridgerton novel, the love story is always overlapped by the hero or heroine’s journey to find their place in the large family, and the youngest son is no different. The books are just as much about finding your place in the world as they are about settling down and finding the love of your life, and that is the strongest reason as to why I come back to this series again and again.
Book 1 – The Duke And I
Book 2 – The Viscount Who Loved Me
Book 3 – An Offer From A Gentleman
Book 4 – Romancing Mister Bridgerton
Book 5 – To Sir Phillip, With Love
Book 6 – When He Was Wicked
Book 7 – It’s In His Kiss
Categories Historical, Romance•Tags Blackmail, Bridgerton, Bridgerton Clan, Bridgertons, Bridgertons #8, Engagement, Gregory Bridgerton, Hermione Watson, Historical, House Party, Julia Quinn, London, Love at First Sight, Lucy Abernathy, Marriage, Regency Romance, Romance, Wedding, Weddings
It’s In His Kiss (Bridgerton, #7) – Julia Quinn
Hyacinth Bridgerton may be the youngest of the Bridgerton clan, but she is far from the picture of refined elegance that her elder siblings garnered in the ballrooms of London. Hyacinth has been dealing professionally in gossip and intrigue since she was born. It’s no wonder, then, that her best friend in the world is the only woman in London able to speak her mind whenever she pleases: Lady Danbury. They have an appointment every Tuesday, where Hyacinth usually entertains the grandmotherly figure by reading the latest novel that they’ve come upon.
It is at one of these Tuesday appointments that Hyacinth makes the unfortunate acquaintance of Lady Danbury’s grandson, Gareth St. Clair. Gareth is a younger son forced into the position of heir, but still unable to escape his father’s ominous shadow. When he comes upon his only inheritance from his paternal grandmother, an old diary written in Italian, Gareth knows he will help to translate its contents and potentially locate her missing jewelry in order to rescue the St. Clair estates from his father’s clutches. Enter Hyacinth, who has less than a firm grasp of Italian, but is his maternal grandmother’s trusted friend, the exact kind of person Gareth himself is short on these days.
As Gareth and Hyacinth delve into Grandmother St. Clair’s diary and churn up the truth about Gareth’s past, the young man must also come to terms with his present and future, and decide if that future has space enough for Hyacinth, who is herself discovering what kind of woman she wants to become.
After the clump of books 4, 5, and 6 happening concurrently, it felt nice for time to pick back up to its normal pace again. Hyacinth has always been one of my favorite characters, as has Lady Danbury, and Gareth’s sarcasm and wit fit into the mix quite nicely. The rest of the Bridgertons orbited our hero and heroine well, and the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing. Hyacinth is nothing if not the queen of mischief, so it was no surprise that she got up to all kinds of escapades in her own story. The hunt for the jewels and the addition of Italian as the language of choice for the diary really set this one apart. Once you’ve finished all of the Bridgerton novels, you’ll definitely want to check out The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After for even more fun with all of the couples – though Hyacinth’s final story will forever hold a special place filled with glee in my heart.
Book 8 – On The Way To The Wedding
Categories Adventure, Book Reviews, Historical, Romance•Tags Adventure, Anthony Bridgerton, Bastard, Book Review, Breaking and Entering, Bridgerton, Bridgerton Clan, Bridgertons, Bridgertons #7, Family Secrets, Gareth St. Clair, Historical, Historical Romance, Hyacinth Bridgerton, Immigrant Families, It's In His Kiss, Italian Ancestors, Julia Quinn, Lady Bridgerton, Lady Danbury, London, London Season, Miss Butterworth and The Mad Baron, Mystery, Regency Romance, Romance, Secret Diary, Treasure, Treasure Hunt, Younger Son
When He Was Wicked (Bridgerton, #6) – Julia Quinn
Published on May 2, 2019 June 11, 2019 by Amanda7 Comments
Concurrent with the previous two books in the Bridgerton saga is Franchesca’s story. Although she is rarely mentioned and even more rarely seen in the previous novels, Francesca is a Bridgerton through and through. Married a few years before the start of this story, Franchesca is supremely happy with her husband, John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin, and they are set to celebrate their anniversary when he dies suddenly. Left widowed, she turns to the new Earl, John’s cousin Michael, for support. Michael, however, feels suddenly that he must get away from Franchesca as well as John’s memory, and flees to India for three years.
As the years go by, Franchesca puts her time as the Countess of Kilmartin into running the estate in Michael’s place, but all the while she feels lonelier and lonelier. After three years, she happens to arrive in London for the season at the same moment that Michael returns from the continent, both of them ready to face the marriage mart. As they attempt to rekindle their friendship and navigate their way through the overcrowded ballrooms unexpected sparks begin to fly, and Franchesca finds herself running back to Scotland in the fear that she might dishonor John’s memory by reaching for the one thing she never thought she would find again: love.
I really wish we had focused a bit more on her first marriage, since John felt distant an unimportant, despite him being deeply involved in the storyline and the two main character’s lives. That being said, I quite enjoyed Colin’s interruptions of Michael’s quiet evenings, egging him on. We got to know both main characters pretty well despite Franchesca being a bit more of a loner than the rest of the Bridgertons, which explains her being rarely present in the previous books. Colin, Eloise, and Hyacinth are in nearly every book, meddling in their siblings affairs, but Franchesca operates almost entirely independent of her family. This book was mostly Franchesca and Michael insisting they could never do exactly what they were in the midst of doing, and people pointing out what they were doing, even while they denied it. The illness aspects of the book definitely helped move the plot along, but also detracted from potential character development.
I am always unsure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, I want more of Franchesca’s story. I need to understand her as a child, sharing a birthday with Eloise, in order to understand her as an adult. Maybe that is the problem I also had with the previous book. I needed more of a relationship between Eloise and Franchesca to understand Eloise.
Categories Book Reviews, Historical, Romance•Tags Book Review, Bridgerton, Bridgerton Clan, Bridgertons, Bridgertons #6, Colin Bridgerton, Countess of Kilmartin, Earl of Kilmartin, Franchesca Bridgerton, Historical, John Stirling, Julia Quinn, Lady Bridgerton, London, London Season, Michael Stirling, Romance, Scotland, Second Chance Romance, When He Was Wicked
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Separate but Equal.
The textbooks from my childhood years basically ended with a few token pages towards the end that no one ever really talked about, Gorbechev and the Star Wars program, something about Reaganomics. But the chapter before? The one covering the sixties? We had a unit on that. That was about Martin Luther King.
When you’re a white kid and you learn about the civil rights movement in a small town, and you’ve never met a black person in real life, here is what you learn: Slavery was wrong. Segregated drinking fountains were wrong. Jim Crow laws were wrong. Separate but Equal laws were wrong. Martin Luther King had a dream, and now black people and white people have the same equal protections under the law. We listened to Michael Jackson’s Black or White and nodded; yes, yes. We get it. Thinkin’ about my baby, it don’t matter if you’re black or white.
Teaching history is a tricky thing, because it is imperative to connect the past with the present, to find a way to make what is long buried and distant feel relevant, shape our understanding of the now. And that’s challenging, that’s higher-level thinking than a lot of kids are capable of reaching or some teachers are capable of communicating.
It’s higher-level thinking beyond some adults as well. But I digress.
And so I learned about Rosa Parks and lunch counter sit-ins in the same way that I learned about Paul Revere, Abraham Lincoln, Greek mythology, the three ships of Columbus, what a blacksmith was. History. Facts, to be written on an index card, memorized for a quiz: Harriet Tubman escaped slavery. Andrew Jackson: seventh president, Trail of Tears. In fourteen-hundred-ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
I was in the second grade when crowds engulfed the city of Los Angeles, the biggest riots since the 1960’s, killing fifty-three people. We had learned about Martin Luther King by then. But no one really talked about Rodney King. My best friend knew who he was, sort of: we giggled in the way that children giggle when she told me a story about her grandmother with Alzheimer’s, who conflated “Rodney King” with “Ronald McDonald” while watching the evening news and couldn’t understand why anyone would be so upset about anything involving the clown who invented the McNugget.
When we learned about Separate but Equal, we learned that Separate almost never really meant Equal. We learned that white schools were funded better than black schools – white children got desks and qualified teachers, and black children sat in crowded, filthy classrooms reading hand-me-down books, if they were lucky enough to have books at all. We learned that many of the players in the Negro Leagues were stronger, quicker, better at the game than their white counterparts, and yet paid a fraction of what the white players made.
We took a field trip to see the exhibit of Norman Rockwell’s famous painting, “The Problem We All Live With.” Norman Rockwell, whose name I knew from the framed magazine covers hanging in my basement, inherited from my grandmother: bow-tie wearing doctors inspecting apple-cheeked youths in beanie caps, girls in plaid skirts twirling pigtails with ribbons; dogs and apple pies and milkshakes at diner counters; America.
Except this painting hung by itself, daring to occupy an entire wall, daring you to look closer.
We looked at the girl in the white dress, and we took in the violence of the tomato splatter, the ugliness of the word scrawled on the wall, the shirt cuffs and shined shoes of the men surrounding her. And I, a little white girl, imagined what it might be like to be that little black girl. It’s what the painting asks of you: empathy is the price of admission.
We looked at the black and white photos ensconced in plexiglass frames nearby, photos meant to convey a sense of the time, the framework for understanding the painting. And I looked at them then, and I saw black and white, wire-rimmed glasses, tailored suits and starched dresses: ancient history. How ugly those people were. How embarrassed they would feel now, if they only knew how stupid they looked today.
And I think about how the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, a fact I once scrawled on an index card to memorize for a test. We read it aloud in class, pronouncing the strange words tentatively, able to read but not really comprehend:
“The Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.”
And we would look at photos in our history books, snapped one hundred years later in 1963, when the fire hoses were turned on peaceful protestors, police dogs attacking children in the streets. We looked at those images, us little white kids, and thought, How horrible. How horrible it used to be, unaware that during the very week we looked at those images, Los Angeles was in flames, four white police officers walked free, and fifty-three people died in the streets.
There’s a popular image circulating the internet today, as Baltimore burns. It contrasts well-dressed protestors in 1963, peacefully marching through city streets, with Baltimore looters atop a burning car.
We’ve heard media pundits plea for reason, cry out for peaceful protest in the “tradition of Martin Luther King.” And we forget, because this wasn’t something we wrote on an index card, it’s maybe something we never learned at all, that the man remembered for his peace, for his gentleness, was also angry, was also furious at a system that rendered him both separate and unequal. Who might be remembered for speaking about his Dream, for his Mountaintop, for urging nonviolence above all, but who also said:
“It is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard.”
And I look at these images from a mere fifty years ago, and I don’t see history. I see right now.
And I think about how the chapters of those history books were so neatly compartmentalized: the Civil War, chapter six, turn the page to take a different quiz for Reconstruction, a separate exam for Industrialization, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the New Deal. I wonder which image that’s currently circulating on Twitter will wind up in the history books, if the protests surrounding #BlackLivesMatter will be taught at the same time as Occupy Wall Street, as the struggle for gay marriage equality, if they’ll all be reduced to the footnote at the bottom of the page or whether they’ll have their own unit, students memorizing names like Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, answers to a quiz to be studied and forgotten.
I think about the ways we were taught that the battles had been fought and won, that those who stood up to corruption and inequality had already had their nights spent in prison, their flesh torn by dogs and rocks and by fire hoses, had suffered and had overcome. I think about those images of “separate but equal” schoolhouses, and I think about the school in which I learned all of these things, comfortable in my own desk with my own brown-bag lunch, twirling my blond pigtails. I compare that image with the schools in my Philadelphia neighborhood now, many of which have been forced to close their doors in a place where graduation is statistically rare, where teachers are forced to buy their own supplies, where poverty is extreme and hunger is common.
This is separate. This is not equal.
And the battles have been fought and yet the battles continue to need to be fought. Being a human doesn’t come with an owner’s manual, and the logic puzzle of how to create a fair and just society in the world – that’s bigger and more complicated than any human brain can solve, too filled with random chance to ever truly get right, and yet humans fight because it’s part of our attempt to solve it anyway, an ingrained if unfortunate part of our history and our human nature. That we’re all this howling mass of flesh and bone and emotion: born into this world to kick and to claw, to love and to fuck and to cry and to struggle.
I am not asking you, my fellow white people, to set a car on fire, and I am not asking you to go marching into the streets. But I am asking you to attempt to understand why someone else might do those things. I am asking you to consider that the history we learned is not dead and buried, it is alive and we are the ones living it. I am asking you to consider that racism has not ended because of our black president. I am asking you to consider that racism is real, and not contained within in the pages of our fifth-grade history textbooks.
I am asking you to think before you take to the internet, before you condemn without imagining, before you pass judgement without thought. I am asking you to study your history, by which I mean: learn about the problems that sparked the protests, rather than focus on the results. I am asking you to consider that decades of poverty and discrimination and disenfranchisement in our country are the very real descendants of the institution of slavery, of separate but equal laws, of Jim Crow and voter disenfranchisement and housing discrimination. I am asking you to consider this idea with empathy.
I am asking you to consider how you’d like to be remembered, when we are all dead and buried, our bones graying into further ash, when children look back at our own images, so foreign and ancient to their eyes, and marvel at how it used to be, and wonder at its strangeness, at how much the world has changed.
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124 thoughts on “Separate but Equal.”
arnonarnon says:
I believe we are one and should remain same.
anakhaarikara says:
This is a very powerful piece. It commands that we look within ourselves, and reflect on our history. I absolutely love the way you have written this. Extremely thought provoking.
Lynze says:
To echo others, I too loved this post. After reading some of the comments, I found myself asking how we actually make equality happen. I believe that love is the key, but is it? Even if everyone got on board and LOVED to make racism go away, would it? Can everyone truly be saved? By saved, I mean their racist and/or discriminatory views be eliminated. I think so much in our world needs to change, and in my opinion racism isn’t the root problem, it’s simply a byproduct of a larger problem. I wonder if people are too different from each other to ever really stop hating each other. For every person who loves others without seeing their skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, etc., there seems to be so many more people who pass judgment on those that are different and even hate what’s different. It makes me very sad for the world that I will raise my children in, and I wish we could find a way to get more conversations going about how we change this. I apologize for rambling on and on here, but your words really spoke to me and opened my eyes. Thank you for the post!
kzdiamondboo says:
Eloquent. Thank you.
Mat Atahari says:
A fine piece of writing… Moving.
chbk6 says:
Great work. Very well written!
makeitcometolife says:
I want all of these words to flow from my lips! Thank you for this. 🙂
facetfully says:
Just finding your blog, but this is a beautifully written and unfortunately true post.
ભોમિયો says:
radio4rifugiati says:
Respect and share, please
raquelclark19 says:
Thank you for writing this. I am crying as I type this. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As a black mother, I am obsessed with holding conversations about race with whites because I have a young son who may meet them in a hoodie on a sidewalk on a rainy night. Knowing that people like you exist feeds my courage to let him walk into this world trusting faces that don’t look like ours.
Penamon Perks® says:
Very good post. It’s sometimes difficult for others to see themselves. It’s even harder for them to change. Right now I bet there is a teenager in a heated argument with their parent about their sexuality. There was a time folks believed that special needs was to be shunned. Everyone can’t be the same because we are all different right down to our fingerprints. It’s truly ridiculous to even think we should be categorized into groups. I think it was done for the divine purpose to get us to learn to LOVE, BE GRATEFUL, AND LIVE AS ONE. Everyday a new person is being sent down to earth to test this theory ie: siamese twins, blind, deaf, the list is endless.
I nearly fainted when my autistic son told me this. He said more people are coming and they will be different too. He said God loves them too. He’s the father of creation and gets to make whatever he wants. I smiled!
Afrika Bohemian says:
Thank you so much, this is beautiful and contains so many truths
velmagrier says:
I enjoyed reading your blog and it made me reflect on my own experiences of inequality while growing up in New York. I am Hispanic and also very mixed with Jamaican, Italian and Irish. But mostly I am known in the USA to be Hispanic. Because I am so mixed, upon first sight it would be a struggle for anyone to pinpoint what ethnicity I am. But, having a Spanish surname gives those in doubt the reassurance that I a non-White. I was always too aware of the deceit my face and skin lead people to assume something else and then to be treated differently when my surname was revealed. When I emigrated to the UK this was first time in my entire life that me being Hispanic did not matter. To everyone here I am an American. I am a foreigner. I always keep abreast of the news in the States as my family still lives there. In recent months I have had questions from my British colleagues and there worry and concern that things can be so unequal in this day. That non- whites are being discriminated against. And what they see is that it is just African Americans who are being treated this way. I correct them and say no it is unfortunately Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians too.
Will Brown says:
http://itsbiggerthanracism.com/2015/07/22/what-went-wrong-with-integration-2/
russhanson says:
White people deserve to have equality too. Let’s be careful not to white guilt the county into a horde of a different color.
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Questforque says:
An Amazing Read
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hesaidshesaid87 says:
Wonderful piece.😊
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Jan 16, 2020 10:43 PM ET
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In a previous post, I discussed how business team’s questions of “why” are an essential driver of data science value. But because of the greenfield of opportunities data science presents, we should guide those business teams toward valuable outcomes.
Guided analytics, I concluded, can help business teams take advantage of advanced analytics techniques while driving them toward greater business value rather than down potentially interesting but less consequential paths.
In this post, I will discuss how my team uses guided analytics in a customer-centric approach to development – for what the customer is trying to solve – rather than a traditional product-centric approach based on product features and capabilities. Using the Path Analysis Guided Analytics Interface as an example, I’ll explain how we work with business teams to help them answer the next “why” through advanced analytics while driving toward business value.
Teradata has a wealth of experience in path analytics. After solving hundreds of path analysis challenges for customers and partners, we wanted to make path analytics much more accessible to business teams and intuitive for people without data science backgrounds.
To do this, we developed the Path Analysis Guided Analytics Interface.
If you’ve read The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, you are familiar with the minimum viable product (MVP) approach to product development. In short, you initially roll out a very basic version of a product. In this case, we identified a few components of path analysis projects that were “essential” across customers.
After releasing the MVP, you then measure what works and what users request to prioritize feature development. By introducing the Path Analysis Interface MVP to several accounts, we quickly received feedback on what else users wanted to be able to do. Some users were previously exposed to advanced path analytics, but to others, the opportunities were wide open. Often, users asked, “Can the product do this?” With careful questioning, my team honed in on not customers wanted the interface to do, but the actual problems that they were trying to solve.
Initially, the Path Analysis Interface included a couple parameter dropdowns and a “Run” button. After users selected their parameters and ran the query, the interface pushed the query to the database, which crunched the results and returned those to the interface in the form of several visualizations.
One of the great things about the MVP of the interface is that it was incredibly intuitive. If someone wanted to run a path analysis, they could do so almost immediately.
By design, the interface enabled a new group of users to leverage advanced path analytics. Their questions would help our team decide how to prioritize new capabilities of the interface. The potential opportunities looked like a greenfield for the recently-enabled users. However, the purpose of guided analytics is to direct this potential toward use cases we know will provide business value. (Note that data scientists can – and should – still be exploring the greenfield opportunities.)
As we engaged with customers using the interface, we heard some common questions:
What about customers who didn’t complete a path?
Can the interface show me who is likely to complete an event such as churn or upgrade?
Can the interface tell us what a customer is likely to do next based on what they have done before?
There are many rabbit holes we could go down to answer those questions. However, guided analytics kept us focused on providing business value. By dissecting what customers wanted to solve, rather than what they wanted the interface to do, we developed a “predictive paths” feature that allows users to highlight a portion of a path and build a list of customers who have completed that portion but not reached the event of interest.
Predictive paths is useful for marketers hoping to nudge customers along their journeys or entice them toward more rewarding paths. Based on our experience with data science teams, we also know paths can be significant predictors of future action or inaction, especially when combined with some other advanced analytics techniques. But for business people hoping to prevent churn, for example, simply knowing which customers are on those common paths to churn is of immense value.
Hopefully, this example explains how guided analytics can keep business teams focused on business value rather than data science rabbit holes. As we continue to develop the Path Analysis Guided Analytics Interface and other interfaces for business teams, it’s important to remember that we are constantly trying to help these teams answer “why” to drive business value.
Ryan Garrett
Ryan Garrett is senior business development manager for Teradata Field Applications. His goal is to help organizations derive value from data by making advanced analytics more accessible, repeatable and consumable. He has a decade of experience in big data at companies large and small, an MBA from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kentucky.
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The Shops at University Parkway celebrates grand opening of Phase 2
Maryjoy Duncan
Photo Ricardo Tomboc (tomboc@juno.com): The Shops at University Park celebrated the grand opening of Phase 2 on Saturday, Jan. 11 with free food samples, balloon artist, DJ from Cal State’s Coyote Radio, face painting and giveaways, to name a few.
The community celebrated the grand opening of the second phase of The Shops at University Park on Saturday, January 11, located on Northpark Boulevard at University Parkway across the street from Cal State University San Bernardino.
Developed by JR Watson & Associates Development Corp., the center celebrated the recent openings of Afters Ice Cream, FireWings, Asian Fusion Eatery, Poketology and VCA Northside Animal Hospital, which join eateries Wayback Burger, Jimmy Johns, Jamba Juice, and Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. It’s Boba Time will open in the near future.
Photo Ricardo Tomboc: Gil Navarro, SB Valley Municipal Water District Director Division II, and SB Chamber of Commerce President Judi Penman.
“We are very pleased with the businesses that are located here – they are a wide variety, very synergistic,” expressed James R. Watson, Chairman and CEO of JR Watson & Associates, who thanked the community for their attendance. “We’re very pleased to be involved with the City of San Bernardino and with the university, it’s a great place to do business.”
Watson and his wife Judy established the Watson Literacy Center and the Judy Rodriguez Art Program on campus, and declared they will continue to fund future public art programs.
San Bernardino Mayor John Valdivia, Council persons Sandra Ibarra and Bessine Richard were also in attendance.
“This is a great opportunity for development in our city, we’re really excited to have Jim and Judy Watson’s great work here in our community,” stated Valdivia, who congratulated the Watsons on behalf of the city for their investment opportunities in San Bernardino. “The opportunities are endless when we partner, collaborate, and work together in a safe environment and community, this development represents those principles of collaboration and partnership.”
Fernando Dutra, builder and land developer, highlighted the fact that Watson is responsible for the development that spans the campus – 350 new homes between University Parkway and Campus in addition to The Shops, a 20,000-square-foot mixed use project with 12 diversified types of restaurants/businesses that represents over $150 million of assessed valuation.
Photo Ricardo Tomboc: There were numerous family-friendly activities for the community to enjoy.
Visitors enjoyed a free afternoon of family fun, including a ribbon cutting ceremony, entertainment by the Cajon High School Band, a DJ from CSUSB’s Coyote Radio, face painting, a balloon artist, food samples, life-size games and giveaways. Tours of the adjacent student housing The Glen at University Park were also available.
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Film Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
A better movie?
The Hobbit: An Expected Cash-grab.
I’d question whether the absurd runtimes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy taught Peter Jackson anything, but considering how popular the extended versions are, it’d be moot.
So what I’m saying is, I hate when movies are too long.
TL;DR Visually impressive and… oh, that’s about it. Still pretty magical, though. 3 out of 5 stars.
Dat prequelitis.
So the plot is nowhere near as fantastically huge and amazing as LOTR. Set 60 years before the existing trilogy, The Hobbit sees some dwarf prince named Thorin assembling a crew (including Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins) to go get back his family’s old treasure pit/city from a dragon. They encounter resistance on their journey. Sub plots include Bilbo running into Gollum and The Ring; Gandalf worrying that the dragon will team with Sauron; and Bilbo trying to win the respect of Thorin (he does).
The story is also told via a framing device of Old Bilbo (a returning Iain Holm) reminiscing on the day of his party (I think?) from the opening of Fellowship. So Elijah Wood gets a few bucks by being hamfistedly shoe-horned into things.
I think I should take this time to note that this is still a LOTR-esque, Peter Jackson epic. So yes, it’s spectacular. But it pales greatly in comparison.
My major complaint (apart from that ghastly runtime of 2 hours 42 minutes. And this is only the fucking 1st movie) would have to be that Bilbo has no reason to be there at all. Gandalf just busts into his house, mentioning a vague encounter they had when Bilbo was younger, and signs the poor Hobbit up for a journey that has a good chance of getting him killed.
Bilbo intially (and rightfully) resists, then chooses to go because… the plot says so? He is promised a 14th of the treasure, which is immense, but I wasn’t convinced. “I want adventure/some cash” is not sufficient to go through the shit he puts up with.
At least Frodo had the fate of the world riding on his shoulders. Bilbo apparently just doesn’t react well to peer pressure.
Why I hate this movie:
Also, it’s too fucking long.
The LOTR movies kind of got away with their own obscene lengths because they were so full of content and character. The Hobbit, alternatively, is overflowing with padding. The “trolls dun stoles our horses, yo” sequence would be a prime example of this. It proves nothing. It’s only there to show off some of the ceaseless CGI porn that Jackson seems to have a boner for (frame rate whine goes here). The only practical purpose of the sequence is to display some of Bilbo’s “smarts,” which are not impressive. Then Gandalf shows up and saves the day, anyway. Something that Gandalf does a lot.
There are way too many characters. There are, what, 14 dwarves in the main cast? Apart from Thorin and the 2 hot ones, they are entirely indistinguishable. Just no to all of that.
The brown wizard’s sub plot better pay off in the next 2 movies, because he was taking up a lot of screentime with no result.
I was a little bothered by how blasé the massacre of the goblins was. The king (voiced by Barry “Dame Edna” Humphries) is shown to be articulate and at least somewhat intelligent. Yet our “heroes” just mow down the goblins, including the king, because they just happened to run into them. Yes, the gang is fighting for their lives on their quest, but I felt bad for the goblins. Probably because Barry was so delightful as the fatass king.
There’s a bit where Gandalf decapitates a goblin, who has a delayed reaction before his head pops off. This is supposed to be funny. It is horrifying.
Ironically, conidering the near genocide I just bitched about, The Hobbit is much more PG than its LOTR cousins. This leads into the stakes feeling much lower (oh noes, some dwarf might not get his treasure. How awful), and the action having less impact. Apart from the goblin thing, the major battle is against, like, one albino orc on a cliff edge. Hardly riveting stuff.
Thorin is a bit of an ungrateful grump. He should be thankful that Bilbo has agreed to risk his life for no real reason, but no, he just constantly doubts him. Rude.
This feels very much like a Part 1 of something, rather than a cohesive, satisfying story in its own right. And you know how much I love those.
Oh, and there are no consequences of Bilbo using The Ring. Dammit, Frodo. You just suck more every movie. Even ones that you’re barely in.
Reasons to watch:
If there’s one thing The Hobbit does well (and, arguably, the reason it was made/is successful) it’s fanservice. It is everywhere.
Firstly, you’ve got your returning cast. I haven’t read The Hobbit book, but apparently quite a few of the returning LOTR actors’ characters weren’t even in it. You’ve got Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Iain Holm, Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Christopher Lee. And Orlando Bloom is apparently going to be in the sequels. Fangirls, you may sploosh now.
Then you’ve got the references. Gimli’s dad is one of the dwarf brigade. As is Balin, the dead king of Moria from Fellowship. And they show flashbacks to a battle for Moria. Cute.
As for new stuff, Martin Freeman does a pretty convincing Young Iain Holm. Though he doesn’t get to flex his comedy skills too much, he still manages to be the down-to-earth everyman (everyHobbit?) that makes him a decent lead character (are you listening, Thorin?). James Nesbitt isn’t too shabby as one of the more sympathetic dwarves.
And though he has no real part in this one, apart from an early flashback to the dragon’s arrival, Lee Pace is a hot-ass Elf king or some shit. Pushing Daisies, I will always love you.
I love that in this universe, dragons are rabidly obsessed with gold. It’s hilarious. The closing shots are of the dragon waking from its sleep, buried in a sea of gold treasures. Adorable.
I liked those 2 hot dwarves whose names rhymed.
While a lot of the world building feels like filler, there are a few cool tidbits. Gandalf talks about the 5 wizards he knows to exist: himself, Saruman, the brown guy, and 2 blue wizards. Intrigue.
Saruman also scoffs at the idea of a necromancer, but we’re pretty sure it’s legit. More intrigue.
Gandalf actually uses the eagles when he needs them. They rescue the gang from the cliff battle with Albino Orc. Now, why did Gandalf forget about their usefulness until the closing of LOTR 3?
Best line goes to Gandalf, who voices my sentiments about the over-large gang of heroes: “I’ve had enough of dwarves for one day.” Me too, G.
The CGI, as porn and overblown as it is, is top quality. As you’d expect.
The music hasn’t grown on me like the LOTR score did, but it is also great quality. And there’s a few bars of that one song I really liked when Bilbo first spots the ring. You know the one.
Gollum steals the show. Duh.
Oh, and at one point the gang accidentally climbs up a mountain giant thing (because they thought it was, like, a mountain. Natch). The giant fights other giants. It’s incredible. Very Xenoblade Chronicles.
If you liked Lord of the Rings (and if you didn’t, like, what’s wrong with you? For reals?), then you’ll like this. But it is an overlong, CGI-wanking snooze. With cool effects. 3 out of 5 stars.
“But isn’t our CGI pretty?” -Peter Jackson, well on his way to becoming the next George Lucas
Tags: baggins, bilbo, dwarves, elves, Everything, film, freeman, gandalf, goblins, Hate, hobbit, I, ian, ijusthateeverything, Just, lord, martin, mckellen, movie, of, orcs, Review, rings, saruman, the
Oz the Great and Powerful – Film Review | I Just Hate Everything - July 15, 2013
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – TV Review | I Just Hate Everything - March 3, 2014
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – Film Review | I Just Hate Everything - March 29, 2015
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Stock Prediction Algorithm Based on Algorithmic Trading: Returns up to 9.79% in 3 Days
Stock Prediction Algorithm
Top Performing Indian Stocks: This forecast is part of the By Country Package, as one of I Know First’s algorithmic trading tools. The full forecast includes daily predictions for a total of 20 stocks with bullish and bearish signals:
Top 10 Indian stocks for the long position
Top 10 Indian stocks for the short position
Package Name: By Country – Indian Stocks
Forecast Length: 3 Days (12/14/2018 – 12/17/2018)
In this 3 Days forecast for the By Country – Indian Stocks Package, there were many high performing trades and the algorithm correctly predicted 6 out 10 trades. The top-performing prediction in this forecast was RELV.NS, which registered a return of 9.79%. Other notable stocks were CNFH.NS and TVSM.NS with a return of 3.41% and 1.72%. The package had an overall average return of 0.96%, providing investors with a premium of 4.91% over the S&P 500’s return of -3.95% during the same period.
Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited, formerly Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited, is a defense company. The Company is engaged in shipbuilding and fabrication. Its segments include Ship Building and Fabrication, and Trading. The Ship Building and Fabrication segment includes shipbuilding, block manufacturing, ship and rig repairs, fabrication at its Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Export Oriented Units (EOU) situated at Pipavav, Gujarat. Its Trading segment includes steel trading activities. The Company operates shipbuilding facility with 662 meters x 65 meters dry dock. The shipbuilding facility has modular shipbuilding facility with a capacity to build fabricated and outfitted blocks. It fabrication facility is spread over 2.1 million square feet. The Shipyard has a pre-erection berth of over 80 meters length and approximately 40 meters width, and over two Goliath Cranes with combined lifting capacity of approximately 1200 tons.
APTA.NS BLKI.NS CNFH.NS EICH.NS RELV.NS TVSM.NS
Indian Stocks
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Best Indian Stocks Based on Pattern Recognition: Returns up to 70.05% in 14 Days
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Home Media Action Alerts2019 HRC Disturbed by McGill Daily’s Reaffirming its Discriminatory Anti-Zionist Policy
The McGill Daily, a campus paper accused of antisemitism and known for singling Israel out for exclusive condemnation, has reaffirmed its “anti-Zionist stance” that sees pro-Israel commentaries banned from the publication.
In its November 4 edition, the paper’s editorial board penned a “response” that characterized the State of Israel as a “racist” and “colonial movement” and that sought to justify its ban of pro-Zionist voices saying pro-Israel supporters don’t deserve a “… platform to ideas which dehumanize a group of people…” due to their “anti-Arab racism and dehumanization of Palestinian people.”
On September 10, two pro-Israel McGill Law School students, Michael Aarenau and Josh Shapiro, commendably wrote a cogent rebuttal to the Daily’s “definition” of Zionism, a definition that we regard as being antisemitic for claiming that Zionism is racism. As the Daily never responded to their submission, the students reached out to McGill’s Deputy Provost, Fabrice Labeau, saying that the Daily was in breach of its own policies and was therefore engaging in discrimination, due to its avowed ideological bias and failure to foster an open exchange of ideas. It’s praiseworthy that Provost Labeau informed the Daily that if it did not publish Mr. Aarenau and Shapiro’s rebuttal that an arbitration may result in the paper’s funding being withheld. The McGill Daily’s main source of revenue of over $300,000 comes from McGill University student’s fees. Not surprisingly, The Daily postured as if it was the victim accusing Provost Labeau of “administrative interference”.
Under pressure, and with the threat that its funding could be jeopardized, the Daily published Mr. Aarenau and Shapiro’s rebuttal which explained that “Zionism is the national movement of the Jewish people to express their right to self-determination” and which countered claims that Jews are “colonists” of the land of Israel, by asserting Jewish indigeneity to the Jewish state.
Importantly, the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s) definition of antisemitism asserts that “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour” is antisemitism.
The Daily’s own response claimed that “The content of the (Aarenau/Shapiro) letter is unconscionable in its dehumanization of the Palestinian people. We therefore want to apologize to our readers for its presence in our paper, and provide the following response to it.”
Importantly, the Daily publicly acknowledged and thanked the anti-Israel groups Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) of which, it has previously promoted, and Independent Jewish Voices (IJC), both of which are zealous supporters of the antisemitic BDS movement, for helping the Daily “in composing this response.”
In so doing, the Daily openly acknowledged the role that anti-Israel groups have in producing its anti-Israel and antisemitic “journalism”. So much for objectivity, fairness and political neutrality at the Daily.
For some time now, HonestReporting Canada (HRC) has taken the Daily to task for its bigoted anti-Zionist policy and for openly accusing Israel of “apartheid,” “pinkwashing”, “ethnic cleaning,” “imperialism” and for encouraging people to boycott, divest and sanction Israel. The Daily’s gratuitous attacks on Israel, along with its being in bed with anti-Israel groups, and its aversion to providing a platform to a pro-Israel Zionist discourse has contributed to a toxic atmosphere at McGill. As a result, Jewish and pro-Israel students feel they’re being targeted and suffer from prejudice, stigmatization, and are being demonized.
Enough is enough. HRC has requested a meeting with McGill University administrators and has filed a grievance asking the administration to conduct a formal investigation and to take immediate action to ensure that the Daily ceases it’s anti-Israel animus and avowed discriminatory policies.
anti-zionismAntisemiticBDSboycottColonialismcolonistDeputy Provost Fabrice LabeauDivestIJVimperialismIndependent Jewish VoicesIsraelJosh ShapiroMcGill DailyMcGill UniversityMichael AarenauPalestinePalestinianracistSanctionSolidarity For Palestinian Human RightsSphrzionismZionist
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#Israel 🇮🇱 enforcing policy of deterrence by hitting #Hamas targets in #Gaza 🇵🇸 after incendiary 🔥 balloon 🎈attacks… https://t.co/SIwO8X9dz7 about 1 hour ago from Twitter Web App ReplyRetweetFavorite
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Hootsuite Named a Top Rated Enterprise Social Media Management Platform by TrustRadius
The User-Generated Review Site Highlights Hootsuite’s Ease of Use and Strong Support from Enterprise Customers
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – January 28, 2015 - Hootsuite, the world’s most widely used social relationship platform, today announced that it was named a top rated Enterprise Social Media Management platform by software users on TrustRadius, the leading peer review site for business software. Hootsuite ranked high among users for its intuitive and easy-to-use platform that allows organizations to manage social media activities across multiple locations and departments.
The feature is an indication of Hootsuite’s popularity and broad adoption amongst enterprise organizations. More than 1700 enterprises currently use Hootsuite to streamline social media strategy across their company. Hootsuite Enterprise customers include Sony Music Entertainment, Adidas, eBay, Orange, Australia Post, AstraZeneca US, Levi Strauss & Co, FC Barcelona, Eurostar International, Oakley, ANZ Bank, and others.
“We are honored to be featured, in particular, because it reflects Hootsuite’s mission to empower our customers to turn messages into meaningful relationships,” said Ryan Holmes, CEO of Hootsuite. “We are focused on building technology that reflects the continually evolving social media landscape and enables brands and consumers to take advantage and embrace social, allowing anyone to tap into its potential and revolutionize the way in which they communicate with their customers.”
Hootsuite is one of the 23 social media management platforms featured in TrustRadius’ newest Buyer’s Guide to Enterprise Social Media Management Software, a comprehensive tool to aid professionals in choosing the right products to fit their multi-faceted enterprise social media needs. You can download a free copy of the report here: www.trustradius.com/guides/sm.
Blog Post: http://blog.hootsuite.com/hootsuite-top-rated-enterprise-social-media-management-platform-trustradius
Hootsuite Enterprise user reviews on TrustRadius: https://www.trustradius.com/products/hootsuite-enterprise/reviews
Media Kit: https://hootsuite.com/about/media-kit
Hootsuite Careers: https://hootsuite.com/about/careers
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Finding Common Ground
“There’s just something different about the ladies at Houston’s First,” said Anna Hasselbring, who joined the church in 2004. She initially visited while attending Beth Moore’s Tuesday night Bible study during Beth’s long service here. The Prayer Ministry and ladies in First Place 4 Health, a biblical health management program, provided guidance and support as Anna sought the Lord and continued on a long road of emotional healing. His healing and her spiritual growth prepared Anna to mentor young women who need a prayer partner, an encourager or just a listening ear.
Anna was born in El Salvador, where she grew up on a tropical coffee plantation. She was raised Catholic and felt God’s pursuit of her at an early age. Anna didn’t hear the Gospel until age 17 when she moved to the capital, San Salvador. She readily accepted Christ, but wasn’t discipled until she moved to the States where two older brothers had settled. “I had no one to walk alongside me,” she said. “I believe I’m passionate about mentoring because during the years from 18 through my early 20s I had no mentor.”
Her first marriage at 22 was her “ticket out” from the care of her brothers, who kept a tight rein on their baby sister. “It was a foolish decision,” she said. “I married an alcoholic like my father, but the Lord protected me those six years.” Though Anna had no relationship with her father (he had never even lived with the family), she had followed in her mother’s footsteps when choosing a husband.
A new Christian in a new country, Anna lost her mother, just 54 years old, in the Salvadorian earthquake of 1986. “I felt abandoned by God,” she said. “I felt rejected by Him, and the enemy came against me with lies. Anna finds common ground with young women who have been disappointed or abandoned by their earthly fathers or who have lost a dear loved one. “Some women have had no real relationship with their father,” she explains, “and it often affects the relationship they have with their Heavenly Father.”
But God proved to be a compassionate Father to Anna in providing a loving and godly husband, Kris Hasselbring, whom she met in Divorce Recovery at another Houston area church in 1992. They married two years later.
Women of all ages are drawn to Anna’s warm and caring nature. She became involved with T.A.G., Touching Another Generation, a mentoring ministry for women at Houston’s First, and has mentored five women in the last two years.
“I really connect with Millennials,” said Anna. “During a mission trip to Indonesia last year, I met a young woman, also on the trip, who had lost her sister to cancer. It’s a sorrow that only another person who has lost someone can understand.”
As Anna was encouraged by the ladies she met at Houston’s First, so she now encourages others. Anna met Laura Brown in Crossing the Jordan Life Bible Study and became her friend and unofficial mentor. “When I was struggling terribly with doubt, she spoke the truth of the Word of God to me,” said Laura. “When I am baffled as to the correct step to take, her gift of wisdom and her knowledge of Scripture directs me.”
Touching Another Generation
T.A.G.
The Women’s Ministry not only desires for all women to know they are uniquely designed and loved, but for all women to feel connected to the body of Christ. Through their mentoring ministry, Touching Another Generation (T.A.G.), the Women’s Ministry enables mentors to touch the lives of individuals and speak truth into their lives on a more intimate level.
T.A.G. applications for 2016 will be available at every campus beginning Sun, Nov 8. Women wanting to be a mentor or a merea (Hebrew for young friend) can learn more online or by contacting T.A.G. Coordinator Nancy Taylor (Nancy.Taylor@HoustonsFirst.org, 713.957.7641).
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What Allstate Wants in a Tech Pro
by Elisabeth Greenbaum Kasson October 24, 2014 7 min read
HiringJob NewsLanding@
The Allstate Corporation is the third-largest personal lines insurer in the United States, and the largest that is publicly held. Founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck & Co., it was spun off as a separate entity in 1993.
Headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., the company has more than 70,000 employees in over 1,200 offices across the U.S. and Canada. Approximately 3,000 U.S.-based staffers work in the technology space.
Click here to find mobile-development positions.
According to the Allstate talent acquisition team, the company is expanding its mobile technology center, and currently seeks mobile-application developers who are ready to develop and implement innovative, customer-facing mobile applications and responsive Web technology for iOS and Android devices.
Nearly all the current open tech positions are mobile, and include:
Mobile Application Developer – iOS
iOS/Android Application Designer
Mobile Application Developer – Android
The acquisition team is looking for anyone with hands-on mobile application development experience with iOS phones/tablets or Android phones/tablets, as well as those who have exposure to .NET, Java, Eclipse and/or Xcode.
Upload Your ResumeEmployers want candidates like you. Upload your resume. Show them you’re awesome.
How to Interpret a Job Posting
The technical requirements listed on Allstate job descriptions are pretty industry-standard, so it’s important that candidates pay careful attention to the requirements and responsibilities described therein. Here are some additional tips from the company’s recruiting team, many of which are pretty standard issue:
Avoid submitting a resume that has grammatical errors or is poorly structured. It’s important that a candidate submits a resume that makes it easy for a recruiter to quickly review their background.
Avoid submitting cover letters or sending e-mails that read like a template. Cater the cover letter to the company, job, skills, experience, etc. Highlight valuable soft skills you can bring to the organization. It’s critical that technical talent have a balance of intelligence and savvy, as well as a demonstrated ability to be customer-focused and work collaboratively with others.
Avoid applying for multiple positions with the same job title, or applying for several positions that are completely different or of varying levels. Don’t feel like you have to apply for every job with the same title. Recruiters often find perfect-fit candidates who’ve applied to other positions in the organization, so they will call these candidates about other opportunities that might be a better fit.
Also, multiple applications hurt a candidate’s personal brand. It looks like you are uncertain of your next career move and haven’t approached your search thoughtfully.
The Interview Process
The interview process is a combination of a phone screening and two to three rounds of in-person interviews with the recruiter, hiring manager, other leaders, and/or members of the team. Before walking in the door, the talent acquisition team strongly recommended you have some fluency with Allstate’s insurance products and services, as well its vision, mission, and values.
If you want to stand out, the team thinks you need to articulate the value that you would bring to the work, and be unafraid to assert yourself by asking a lot of thoughtful questions.
Finally, Allstate is a stickler for good interview hygiene. Its recruiters expect a personal “thank you” note, hand-written to each individual with whom you interviewed during the application and consideration process. Don’t balk at this step: It’s worth its weight in gold.
What Makes a Good Fit?
Candidates with a good cultural fit are customer-centric, have high integrity, value true diversity, and live into the Allstate purpose by being “good hands,” e.g., wanting to help the customers be prepared for all contingencies.
The talent team also advised that, if you want a peek into how Allstate functions internally, you heed their social media: “It’s a great vehicle for learning about a company’s culture.”
See more Landing@ stories here.
Advice for Seasoned Professionals
Allstate is looking for “technological thought leaders who understand the importance of evolving and changing the way we compete in the today’s marketplace.” A skilled candidate should be an early adopter and a game-changer. “It’s important,” the talent team said, “for seasoned technology professionals to be knowledgeable of the latest technology trends and possess strong leadership competencies to help evolve our business.”
Experienced candidates are encouraged to connect with hiring personnel through social media, or to directly contact representatives at career and professional events.
Advice for New Graduates
Allstate recruits from colleges and universities across the country, and encourages students to connect while still in school. The team mentioned that they are looking for “talented and passionate students and recent grads for our open internships, Leadership Development Program, and entry-level opportunities.”
In addition, n00bs must remember to do their research. As the team stressed: “There is nothing more impressive than a candidate who is well prepared to have a discussion with our recruiters or hiring managers. They’re the ones that ask really great questions.”
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One Response to “What Allstate Wants in a Tech Pro”
mroe October 25, 2014
I’ve gotten loads of calls from head hunters to do interviews at Allstate and this article leaves out the most important thing that Allstate wants. That is, you must be cheap.
Elisabeth Greenbaum Kasson
Elisabeth Greenbaum Kasson is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor who covers the collision of culture, technology and business. Her work appears in the Los Angeles Times, Documentary magazine, Los Angeles magazine, HR Magazine and other venues.
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The ”Habilian Center” is a branch of Iran’s notorious Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The “Nejat Association” and Iran-Interlink are sister branches and parts of the mullahs’ demonizing campaign focused on publishing lies about Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
Habilian began its activities in 2005 and to cover up any association with the MOIS it introduces itself on its website as a non-governmental and cultural organization founded to define the issue of terrorism in Iran.
Seyed Javad Hashemi-nezhad, an officer of MOIS, has been appointed as the Habilian Secretary General. Following the transfer of all Camp Liberty residents from Iraq to Albania, and the Albanian people and government’s humanitarian welcoming of these refugees, the MOIS added an Albanian page to the Habilian website publishing lies about the PMOI/MEK.
On this page Hibilian is introduced by various reliable and well respected independent sources.
Habilian threatens Iraqi researchers and intellectuals
By Iran Probe staffFriday, 7 April 2017 The MOIS and IRGC Quds Force have eliminated Iraqi politicians, writers and intellectuals who support evicting Iran from…
Habilian: Proponent of Iran’s most vicious faction
By Iran Probe staffSaturday, 1 April 2017 One of Iran’s most hideous crimes was the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners, mostly PMOI/MEK members,…
Arab journalist: Habilian is associated to Iranian intelligence
By Iran Probe staffSaturday, 1 April 2017 Ahmed Abu Mottahar, the widely renowned Arab website, Elaph, published an article on 11 August 2008 explaining how…
Habilian’s effort to take advantage of journalists/reporters
By Iran Probe staff Saturday, 1 April 2017 Iran’s MOIS resorts to various methods, including holding a series of conferences and meetings, and hiring…
Lord Aveburry: Habilian – A state NGO
By Iran Probe staff Friday, 31 March 2017 The MOIS ridiculously attempts to introduce Habilian as an independent NGO. However, it has failed completely…
Habilian enjoys support from executioners
By Iran Probe staff Wednesday, 29 March 2017 Former Revolutionary Guards’ (IRGC) Basij chief Mohammad Reza Naqdi is one of the closest colleagues of…
Habilian: A branch of Iran’s notorious Ministry of Intelligence
By Iran Probe staff Wednesday, 29 March 2017 The Habilian Center is a branch of Iran’s notorious Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The…
HomeVEVAK entitiesHabilian
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Don't shy away from asking right remuneration, now is the time: Kanika Dhillon to writers
Radhika Sharma
PTI 18 December 2019
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Writer Kanika Dhillon says the economics of demand and supply is looking out for creators in Bollywood today and she believes budding scribes must ask for better packages as producers are open to giving them a good deal.
Kanika, the name behind films such as 'Manmarziyaan' and 'Kedarnath', has emerged as one of the most sought after screenwriters in the industry.
'Right now, it's a very good time to be a creator in the industry. The economics of demand and supply is looking out beautifully for writers because writers and creators are in demand right now.
'I would urge all the other writers to please go out there and ask for better payment packages because right now is the time that all the leading producers are very open and welcome to giving you better deals and better remuneration. One should not shy away from asking,' she told PTI in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.
Whether it's about better payment or credits on the film's poster, writers have slowly started getting their due and Kanika said the recognition comes with a responsibility.
'If you're out there and been given the responsibility or if you've been given the platform and your name is there on the poster that will also come with a sense of responsibility.
'We should not take it lightly that if people are associating your work with a certain kind of guarantee, we have to take that responsibility to work harder, and continue to strive to get newer stories and better stories and drive ourselves to be better at what we're doing.' With more women voices becoming a part of the writers room, the conversation of creating well-written female characters runs simultaneously but Kanika said she doesn't take that pressure.
However, she believes the industry is gradually moving towards writing 'well-rounded characters', regardless of the gender.
'I organically write strong women characters but it doesn't mean I'll ignore the male characters. I don't want to take the pressure even if it is there because all my films have had both strong female and male protagonists,' she said.
'But as the audiences are used to watching the male character primarily carry the story forward in the majority films, my characters stand out because there are few films where we have female characters doing that, which I think is also changing now. I think it's going to be a norm to have well-rounded characters, whatever the gender of the character be,' she added.
The writer's next is murder mystery 'Haseen Dillruba', starring Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey.
The poster of the film, directed by Vinil Matthew of 'Hasee Toh Phasee' fame, shows a woman in a sari with her feet submerged in a pool of blood, with a knife lying nearby along with a what appears to be raunchy thriller novel 'Vahashi' by Surendra Mohan Pathak.
'I feel both the Indian audience and filmmakers are still kind of coming in their own as they're creating new thrillers and presenting new stories of this genre. I have been a big fan of the genre. A thriller can have various colours to it, it can be a hardcore action thriller, it can take on a colour of a psychological thriller, a lot of sub genres itself.
'The idea behind 'Haseen Dillruba' was to keep quirk, entertainment, the love story and have a mysterious murder at the core so that it can be enjoyed as a thriller as well as romance. So that was the task and that was also the fun part of it,' Kanika said.
This is the writer's second collaboration with producer Aanand L Rai and Taapsee after 'Manmarziyaan'.
Referring to the hit song 'Grey wala shade' from the 2018 romance, Kanika said Taapsee's character has a 'lot of red wala shade mixed with the grey wala shade'.
'It's been fantastic to collaborate with her again. Lot of 'Manmarziyaan' team is coming back. Amit Trivedi for music, Aanand sir as producer. It's an exciting journey because we've already done one which we enjoyed and let's hope this also wins the hearts of the audiences,' Kanika said.
The writer said collaborating with Vinil was a joyride.
'He is such a talented director. I've loved 'Hasee...' When he comes on board to direct my story, I'm rest assured that he's going to take it to next level,' she said.
The film is slated to be released on September 18, 2020. Shooting begins January. PTI RDS BK BK
Akshay Gives Fans a Peek at Life With Twinkle on 19th Anniversary
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Home » Unlabelled » Chicago NATO Command and Communications Operations Update
Kamis, 17 Mei 2012
Chicago NATO Command and Communications Operations Update
Chicago NATO Command and Communications Operations Update - In the past, when I started to start blogging, many thoughts disturbed me. I want to have a blog with a nice and interesting look. I am constantly looking for basic tutorials from some web and blogs on the internet. And thankfully, one by one I started to do it, and of course have to go through some confusion process first, but the most important of a blog that is content, yes on the blog Innaz Review we will discuss a lot of information about gadgets that are very in need by you, now we will discuss first about Chicago NATO Command and Communications Operations Update please refer to the information we will convey until completion:
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Shortwave America knew that the mainstream media was not telling Chicago residents everything, and that they were being good sheeple to appease the whims of the united States Federal Government. Chicagoans have been asking questions for months now about why the security boundaries were drawn the way they were and just how NATO is operating inside their city boundaries under the protection of a whole slew of U.S. federal protection.
Today, Shortwave America set out to get those questions answered. Today, the citizens of the world even beyond the borders of the city of Chicago know everything. Here is a PDF File from Chicago Police News Affairs regarding media access and related issues.
In the http://innaz2.blogspot.com /2012/05/nato-communications-monitoring-guide.html" target="_blank">NATO Communications Guide and Live Communications Coverage post here at Shortwave America, we know which systems they are using and which other communications systems should be watched all while following NATO live from this publication.
There is now photographic evidence on hand to back up the story that is being told here. These new and yet untold details will help you follow NATO while they convene in Chicago.
Let's start with the locations of the various Command and Communications Posts:
There are multiple sites starting at Navy Pier (Command and Communications site #1). The Hollyhock is stationed there, and her transponder HAS INDEED been turned off. At Navy Pier on the secure side of the Chicago Locks operations area is the U.S. Coast Guard Command and Communications operation.
Just behind this secure gate is the U.S. Coast Guard NATO Command and Communications Post
This U.S. NATO Command and Communications Post has VHF, UHF, EHF, SHF, and HF communications running
Here we see the communications and surveillance system at the U.S. Coast Guard NATO Command Post which visibly includes an inverted V wire antenna for HF communications.
Here we see the opposite side of the U.S. Coast Guard NATO Command Operation
The U.S. Coast Guard NATO Command Post tent, assumed to be a mess tent or maybe medical ops
U.S. Coast Guard equipment trailers for the NATO operation inside their Command Post
The next location (#2) is the Chicago Police Department boat house next to the Chicago Locks. In the photos below, we see the Coast Guard patrolling the locks and river side of the operation for NATO, and the Chicago Police boat house itself, along with some of the marine support vessels to include the Chicago Fire Department as always.
NATO Command and Communications location number three is the Chicago Museum Campus itself. The greater compliment of operations are based out of the Chicago Field Museum. In the photos below, we see the U.S. Secret Service, various other government agencies and also various consulates operating at the Field Museum.
Everything looks like a normal museum operation until you see the opposite side of the building facing Soldier Field
No snipers YET
The Chicago Shedd Aquarium, part of the NATO Command and Communications operation
This vehicle displays a U.S. Secret Service window placard, parked outside of the Field Museum
The U.S. Secret Service vehicle with the window placard above
U.S. Secret Service and other government agents enter and depart during busy NATO Command and Communications operations at the Field Museum on May 17th, 2012
U.S. Secret Service Agents briefly meeting in front of the Field Museum on May 17th, 2012. Yes, I overheard everything they said as I walked by.
These vehicles belong to the U.S. Secret Service, various consulates, and other government agencies. They are parked outside of the Field Museum
NATO Command and Communications operation number 4 is at the Burnham Harbor parking lot just across the way from Northerly Island and adjacent to the old McCormick Place. In the photos below, we see various members of the military / Homeland Security guarding the operation, meeting with superiors. We also see the greater cross section of the operation to include their communications and surveillance equipment which includes cellular and microwave frequency operation.
Next up is aviation and ground support operations! Many Chicago residents have witnessed the U.S. Coast Guard aggressively patrolling the skies, along with military and other helicopters. Shortwave America has not only photos, but the exact details on head of state and dignitary transportation operations. Other information includes that which is already publicly available data on the Homeland Security helicopters for all of you aviation enthusiasts.
Before we get to the photos, here is how the dignitary / head of state transportation is working! The military and Homeland Security helicopters meet the honored guests at area airports. Those airports are O'Hare, Chicago Executive, Rockford, and one other airport that is unconfirmed. They then fly the guests to Northerly Island (used to be Meigs Field) at Burnham Harbor, where they are are then transported under heavily armed guard using U.S. Government buses and unmarked vans to the old McCormick Place. They are then taken into and through that building to the new McCormick Place and they are also taken DIRECTLY to the NEW McCormick Place building thus bypassing the old McCormick Place and escorted into an entrance just to the North of the public entrance. (all of this was personally observed). This can also be confirmed by way of the NATO Security Transportation Plan PDF file at the http://innaz2.blogspot.com /2012/05/nato-communications-monitoring-guide.html" target="_blank">Shortwave America NATO Communications Guide and Live Communications Coverage post.
Information above explains why they drew the street closures the way they did. Get it now? Museum Campus being used for operations, Burnham Harbor being used for operations, Northerly Island being used for operations, Lake Shore Drive and Balbo is staging for Chicago Streets and Sanitation equipment, etc.
The reverse order will be taken when NATO guests leave.
Here are the photos!!
Head of State, Dignitary, and Government employee transportation at the old McCormick Place
Government license plate on the buses, any questions?
Coast Guard patrol flies North and then South to 31st and Lake Shore Drive in repeat fashion
Unidentified chopper serving on May 17th 2012 as part of aviation operations for NATO
United States Military Helicopter Transportation for NATO
Close - Up of said NATO Chopper#1
U.S. Department of Homeland Security choppers in formation heading NORTH from Burnham Harbor on May 17th, 2012
Close-Up of Homeland Security Chopper May 17, 2012
WLS / ABC Chopper 7 was escorted through the flight restricted path by Homeland Security choppers pictured above
Close - Up of Homeland Security chopper showing the variety of helos used for this operation
This formation went South to North and then back South to Burnham Harbor
Homeland Security chopper with side door open heading NORTH
A search of the U.S. FAA Aircraft Registration System revealed the information contained in the screen shots below:
Streets and San at Lake Shore Drive and Balbo. Lake Shore Drive is behind me in the photo.
Opposite side of Streets and San staging at Balbo crossing lake Shore Drive, Lake Shore Drive is behind me in the photo
Streets and San staging on Lake Shore Drive facing the lake front at Balbo
Burnham Harbor is absolutely empty of any water vessels
As I started further south to see what else I might find, this reporter crossed through the Chicago Police Gold Star Families Park, the Chicago Fire Department Memorial Park, and the walk was VERY surreal because you could FEEL the tension in the air as joggers and cyclists watchfully went about their daily exercize. No one wanted to make a friendly greeting to other people, even a smile and wave were seen suspiciously. At Lakeshore Drive and 31st street, I met up with a photog from the Chicago Tribune who told me that even the Trib was having trouble identifying the aircraft and determining their operations in regard to NATO. After seeing my photos, the photog called his office and told them my findings. Let's just say it was a very short conversation.
One important observation made through this day long trek was 7 to 8 foot high steel grate fences linked together were seen almost everywhere when it came to major roadsides and overpasses. The fence sections are approximately three to four feet across.
The greater amount of Federal resource and Law Enforcement presence was observed at the various Chicago Federal Buildings. What had previously been just a few vehicles here and there were now street lengths deep and even the local side streets / alleyways near the Federal buildings were packed with Federal Protective Service / Homeland Security Police vehicles.
Homeland Security emergency generator and lighting equipment parked outside of one of the downtown Chicago Federal buildings
The above generator and lighting were attached to this pick-up truck
Homeland Security Van for personnel / arrestee / equipment transport
Chicago Police Special Operations unit Officers hold a mini-conference with Homeland Security Police on one of the many near-by alleyways mentioned earlier
This reporter did speak to Homeland Security Officers who state that they expect the city to absolutely erupt in never before seen violence over the weekend. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. While speaking with the officers, it was observed that their radio transmissions are in the clear as of this time.
One other thing that is proven by this report: Taxpayers are INDEED on the hook for this NATO fiasco! All of this costs money, and it isn't coming from thin air! Hey, Rahmbo and Obummer....where are the funds coming from? WE WANT TO KNOW!!!!
Thanks to all of you for choosing Shortwave America as your up to date source for NATO 2012!
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Our Future Has Not Been Written: Where Do We Go From Here?
Written by Marlise Karlin
Man didn’t believe he could fly – until the day he did. The four-minute mile was said to be impossible – until it wasn’t. Many thought it inconceivable to educate a blind/deaf person – until the day a determined teacher broke through her willing student’s isolation. Wilbur and Orville Wright, Roger Bannister, and Anne Sullivan weren’t heroes, they were ordinary men and women who dared to envision and act on an idea that was meaningful to them. When more people see through the eyes of expansive knowing, we will birth a new paradigm that impacts the way we live each day.
Imagine: a world that works for everyone. Buckminster Fuller, a brilliant innovative thinker was driven by his intention to make the world work for 100 percent of humanity in the shortest possible time. He felt it could happen through spontaneous cooperation. His vision was in advance of the era when it could become reality.
Now is that time, unique to history, when everyday people like you and me can evolve into a society of conscious individuals; empowered to accept the responsibly for designing and shaping our lives. Becoming aware of unconscious beliefs – frees you – you have access to choice.
A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE
Many of you already live and breathe the paradigm a world that works for everyone; some of you are not quite there but are open to new impressions and discoveries, while others think it’s too big of a leap.
We are in the midst of evolutionary change – for some people a world that works for everyone is as inconceivable to imagine as it would have been for our forefathers in covered wagons to envision a world powered by the technological advances that are commonplace today. It’s especially challenging to regard when the crises of humanity are so prevalent: the meltdown of global financial markets and increasing poverty, the natural disasters causing famine and extinction, the continuance of wars and ever-heightening corruption, the oppositional nature of political parties, and the countless countries where no one seems to know how to move toward common solutions.
What We Are Being Offered At This Time In History Is The Most Extraordinary Possibility Ever Presented To Humankind
Sometimes we are given insight into avenues of unlimited potential that are exciting but seem too BIG to handle. So we just walk away, leaving the responsibility to someone else; a leader who has more power and capability will do what’s needed. Right? This kind of thinking is outdated. Today, we make it happen. Joining together, while still retaining our individuality, because we each have something to bring to the banquet. We make it happen.
The best approach I’ve found happens when we express ourselves and take action from higher learning, accessing the profound Energy of consciousness and applying the practical and advanced knowledge we’ve discovered. Less overwhelm. More simplicity.
A NEW WAY TO VIEW WHAT’S POSSIBLE
What would it be like if you lived from your highest potential, surrounded by people accessing an awakened mind and open heart? Ervin Laszlo, Mikhail Gorbachev, Paolo Coelho, and other global leaders have contributed to writing a handbook with answers; filled with concrete solutions to implement radical and positive change in the 21st century. You Can Change The World details the universal rights and changes that a new consciousness can bring and the crucial steps needed to bring about this reality.
IDEALISTIC, IMPLAUSIBLE, OR... POSSIBLE
Why is it that when a person envisions what others can’t yet see or don’t agree with, their ideas are often dismissed? I’m sure many of you have had this experience, as being on the leading edge of anything is never very comfortable. Cambridge biochemist Rupert Sheldrake would most likely agree, as his work regarding the existence of a new ‘morphogenetic field’ (M-field) was highly controversial.
Roger Bannister redefined the unthinkable when he broke all records running a four-minute mile, proving again the phenomenon that once we move beyond the inconceivable, it quickly becomes the norm for others as well. In scientific terms this is when a new M-field is born. I believe we are approaching humanity’s evolutionary leap through a similar window of opportunity now.
Each person who integrates the life force Energy of peace to flow through them makes a difference – and joins in the birth of an M-field where that shift in global consciousness can occur. Will we be the ones to activate it?
If new thoughts and behaviors were to somehow become habitual in a sufficient number of people, it would become increasingly easier for other members of humanity to ‘tap into’ this information. I believe it is already happening; the question is – will you take part by being one of that ‘sufficient number of people’ who sparks this marker in the evolution of humankind?
DETERMINING YOUR FATE
My grandfather was a pioneer who believed what many thought an unattainable feat at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1932 he became the first aviator to cross the Atlantic from Europe to America. He was given a ticker tape parade in New York City in celebration and was invited to meet with President Herbert Hoover at the White House. Yet, when he decided to learn to fly, his family thought it ridiculous, they were so upset no one spoke to him for months. It didn’t deter his vision and eventually his family celebrated his accomplishments as though they had welcomed his ideas from the beginning.
We are all pioneers, and as we accept and exercise the power available to us, we will discover that we are the people who can bring peace to this planet – inner and outer. We each have an ability to determine our fate. You can redefine what is possible. And you can do this through all the colors of your personality. Now is the time.
THE GROUND LEVEL VIEW – THE PRACTICAL
Inner peace lives out loud as well as in still moments. You can have a glass of wine with dinner and not feel like you’re being disingenuous. You don’t have to change your entire life, become a vegetarian, give up all your bad habits, and give all your money to charity to participate in this evolutionary movement. By inviting this field of potential into your life you’re creating this new world, just by living life more consciously.
You are the perfect expression of you right now: the loving, funny, caring, sometimes foolish, overwhelmed or anxious you – inviting the greatness within to emerge. The most enlightened mystics and sages had unique personalities, so why not you? You can have a bad day and still elevate humankind by your vision and stand to make a difference. Once that spark is ignited, transformation happens layer by layer – with exponential shifts occurring along the way.
What does living at your highest potential, progressively advancing higher consciousness look like? You are powerful and thoughtful, compassionate and assertive, courageous and peaceful. You listen to other points of view while looking for synergistic solutions that magnify harmony for attaining peace. You initiate cooperation that inspires and stimulates innovation beyond what you have ever dreamed.
Be committed and take action. Be playful and share what’s possible in the best way you know how. Your vision can be as big as your imagination and it can be as simple as a sincere prayer for more love and peace to enter the world.
I love imagining a world without war, where the prevailing peace is thought of as the norm. I love imagining new systems in place where nature and all living things can coexist and flourish. I love imagining every person communicating from an awakened mind and open heart, a world community that recognizes the inherent value in each person. What do you enjoy imagining? What is your vision? What can you intend that makes you smile just to think of it?
Consider the possibility that this M-field generating the world you want to live in, can only open when you become a part of it. Only you can be responsible for setting the stage of a transition that includes your design. Here are a few steps to assist in the process:
The Practice for Creating Inner & Outer Peace
IMAGINE PEACE: Commit mentally and emotionally to your vision of A World That Works for Everyone.
SHARE LOVE & Live in Awareness daily by asking yourself three questions:
Are my thoughts loving and peaceful or innovative and inspiring?
Does this action encourage synergy, creativity, and solutions?
Are the words I’m speaking empowering, caring, and kind?
If you can answer ‘Yes’ to these questions – you are designing your life to have meaning, purpose, and fun. If you can say ‘Yes’ on a daily basis – you are creating a world that works for everyone just by being you. You are opening that M-field that can ignite the most extraordinary future possible for you and everyone in our global community. Imagine the possibilities...
Share Love
It’s that simple and that profound. STAY CONNECTED to the power of peace in you.
Just by committing to being in awareness of your thoughts and actions and reconnecting daily, allowing Stillness to guide you will have an astounding effect on the collective consciousness. Together we can initiate a wave of cooperation that inspires and stimulates innovation, embraces the Love at the core of every person, and entrains a new era of peace.
Thank you for your courage, commitment, and beautiful heart. What an amazing ride we are on as this extraordinary future comes into reality.
©2012 by Inner Knowing International Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Published by Watkins Publishing, London, UK.
Dist by Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., NY
The Power of Peace in You: A Revolutionary Tool for Hope, Healing, & Happiness in the 21st Century
by Marlise Karlin.
Marlise Karlin is a visionary pioneer, author, and humanitarian, recognized globally for igniting an Energy of peace that brings exceptional healing to the mind and body. Titled the "Inner Peace Expert" by SheKnows.com, Marlise has been interviewed on NBC and Fox News, spoken at Cesar Milan Events to ignite an intention of peace, is a contributor to The Huffington Post and Malika Chopra's Intent.com. "You can't create lasting peace in the world, until you know it in your own heart." ~Marlise. Visit her website at http://www.marlisekarlin.com
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Appreciation and Being of Service Contribute To Evolutionary Shift
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Never Enough Time? Making Each Moment Bring Infinite…
You Have To Be Willing to Believe
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Study: Pay Rates Drop When a Bunch of Women Get Into a Field
Kelly Faircloth
Filed to:pay gap
It’s a common refrain in comments sections across the land: The pay gap is nothing more than a manifestation of the fact that women prefer low-paying occupations. Well, guess what? When women move en masse to a male-dominated field, paychecks wither.
At the New York Times, Claire Cain Miller slices the pay gap several different ways, looking at the many, many places subtle biases could be seeping into your salary. Research says that which fields women enter is one factor—but that choice isn’t necessarily made in a vacuum. “Some of it undoubtedly does represent the preferences of women, either for particular job types or some flexibility, but there could be barriers to entry for women and these could be very subtle,” said Cornell economist Francine D. Blau.
Perhaps the most depressing study cited comes from a trio of researchers at NYU, UPenn, and the University of Haifa in Israel, who crunched census data from 1950 to 2000. They concluded that “when women moved into occupations in large numbers, those jobs began paying less even after controlling for education, work experience, skills, race and geography.” How could this possibly be?
And there was substantial evidence that employers placed a lower value on work done by women. “It’s not that women are always picking lesser things in terms of skill and importance,” [NYU sociology professor Paula] England said. “It’s just that the employers are deciding to pay it less.”
England added that once a bunch of women get into a field, “It just doesn’t look like it’s as important to the bottom line or requires as much skill,” and, “Gender bias sneaks into those decisions.” She and her co-researchers found example after example. Designers, housekeepers, biologists—the list goes on.
A striking example is to be found in the field of recreation — working in parks or leading camps — which went from predominantly male to female from 1950 to 2000. Median hourly wages in this field declined 57 percentage points, accounting for the change in the value of the dollar, according to Professor Levanon. The job of ticket agent also went from mainly male to female during this period, and wages dropped 43 percentage points.
So much for that bright idea to solve pay inequality.
Image via Shutterstock.
Senior Writer, Jezebel
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Patient evaluations of hospital care. A review of the literature.
H. R. Rubin
Attitude to Health
Quality of Health Care
Rubin, H. R. (1990). Patient evaluations of hospital care. A review of the literature. Medical Care, 28(9 Suppl).
Patient evaluations of hospital care. A review of the literature. / Rubin, H. R.
In: Medical Care, Vol. 28, No. 9 Suppl, 09.1990.
Rubin, HR 1990, 'Patient evaluations of hospital care. A review of the literature.', Medical Care, vol. 28, no. 9 Suppl.
Rubin HR. Patient evaluations of hospital care. A review of the literature. Medical Care. 1990 Sep;28(9 Suppl).
Rubin, H. R. / Patient evaluations of hospital care. A review of the literature. In: Medical Care. 1990 ; Vol. 28, No. 9 Suppl.
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author = "Rubin, {H. R.}",
journal = "Medical Care",
T1 - Patient evaluations of hospital care. A review of the literature.
AU - Rubin, H. R.
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The Language of Beer
Beer: A fermented cereal beverage, which is traditionally made from malted barley, hops, water and yeast. Most beer styles are derivatives of ales and lagers. Other ingredients, such as wheat, fruit and spices, are used for unique styles of beer. Corn and rice are used as adjuncts but primarily as cheaper sources of fermentable sugar.
Ales: Beers distinguished by use of top fermenting yeast strains that perform at warmer temperatures than do yeasts used to brew lager beer. Their by-products are more evident in taste and aroma. Fruitiness and esters are often part of an ale’s character. Ales range in color from very pale to black opaque, and styles include white, pale, India pale, hefe, brown, porter and stout.
Lagers: Beers produced with bottom fermenting yeast strains at colder fermentation temperatures than ales. This cooler environment inhibits the natural production of esters and other by-products, creating a crisper tasting beer. Today lagers represent the vast majority of beer produced, the most famous being the pilsner.
Lambics: Lambics are a spontaneous fermented, unblended ale. The use of a large portion of wheat brings out the crispness, with the flavor dominated by a unique tartness or slightly sour taste. Fruit or flavored syrup may be added to flavor the beer before it undergoes a long aging period, ranging from three months to three years, to ensure that the tartness has mellowed.
Witbier: Witbier, or white beer, is a Belgian-style ale that is very pale and cloudy in appearance because it is unfiltered with high levels of wheat. It is always spiced, generally with coriander, orange peel and other spices and herbs.
Barleywine: An extra strong style of ale, originally English, but now produced by many U.S. breweries.
Trappist Beers: Beers brewed in a Trappist monastery. For a beer to qualify for this category, the entire production process must be carried out by Trappist Monks on the site of the monastery. The traditional “Holy Trinity” of beers includes dubbels, tripels and quadrupels.
Abbey Beers: Abbey beers are brewed by commercial brewers and license their name from Abbeys, some obsolete, some still operating. Abbey beers were developed to take advantage of the public’s interest in the Trappist beers. Like the Trappist beers, Abbey beers do not describe a beer style, but rather a marketing term.
Dubbel: The term dubbel stems from using up to twice the amount of malts than the standard Trappist ale. They are a rich, malty beer with some mild alcoholic characteristics and a mild hop bitterness, but no strong, lingering hop flavors.
Tripel: Traditionally the strongest of the Trappist beers. Brewers use up to three times the amount of malt than a standard Trappist ale. Traditionally, tripels are bright yellow to gold in color with a fruity, sweet flavor. Tripels are notoriously alcoholic, yet the best crafted ones hide this character well, making them sipping beers.
Quadrupel: An ale of great strength and bold flavor, the name stems from brewers using up to four times the amount of malts than standard Trappist ales. Typically dark and full-bodied with a rich, malty taste.
Porters: A family of very dark beers characterized by dark chocolate malt flavors and assertive hop bitterness.
Stout: A dark style of beer, usually top fermenting, that is made with highly roasted grain.
Wheat Beer: Pale and cloudy with suspended yeast particles, creamy textured and sweetish.
Pilsner, Pils: A popular style of golden lager pioneered in the Czech town of Plzen, or Pilsen.
IPA: India Pale Ale, a robust and heavily hopped beer that was originally made to withstand the rigors of export by sea to India from Britain.
Saison: Originally a Belgian beer style, a dry strongish ale, traditionally brewed in winter for drinking in summer.
Session Beer: Term describing an easy-drinking beer that is relatively low in alcohol and thus suitable for drinking in quantity.
IBU: International Bitterness Units. This scale provides a measure of the bitterness of beer, which is provided by the hops used during brewing. An IBU is one part per million of isohumulone – the higher the number, the greater the bitterness. The bittering effect is less noticeable in beers with a high quality of malt, so a higher IBU is needed in heavier beers to balance the flavor.
Malt: Specialty malts, such as crystal malt, chocolate malt and black malt, can be added to extract brews to create different styles of beers, like pale ales, porters and stouts. It is possible to brew without any extracts by mashing malted grains. All grain brewing involves mashing base malts, such as pilsner or pale ale malts, in place of the extract. Unmalted grains, such as oats, wheat, or roasted barley, are sometimes used in the brewing process as well.
Hops: Flowers used to season beer. Bittering hops, meaning adding hops early on in the boil process, provide bitterness to the beer to balance the sweetness of the malt. Hops added at the end of the boil, referred to as finishing hops, add flavor and aroma to the beer. Adding hops directly to the fermenter, or dry hopping, lends additional hop aroma to the beer. Hops also serve as a natural preservative, helping to prevent spoilage in beer. There are many varieties of hops available, allowing for great diversity of flavors and aromas.
Yeast: The fermenting that makes beer by converting sugars from malt or malt extract into alcohol and carbon dioxide. There are two major classes of yeast, ale and lager. Ale yeasts tend to produce fruity flavors and aromas, which vary depending on the yeast. Lager yeasts tend to be neutral in flavor and aroma and thus do not produce the fruity esters found in ale yeasts. Beers fermented with lager yeasts are usually cold stored at temperatures below 45 degrees F (7 degrees C), following primary fermentation for a period of a few weeks to several months – a process known as lagering.
Water: Making up 90 – 95 percent of beer, water is an important ingredient in the brewing process. Factors such as mineral content and pH of brewing water can have a significant effect upon the final product.
Copyright © 2020 JL Beers • All rights reserved. • Careers • Comments • Web Design by Absolute Marketing Group
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As Hospitals Crumble, the Sick Turn to Witch Doctors
Dire shortage of qualified doctors and medicines leaves once impressive health sector in a desperate state.
By Michael Muzenda
As Zimbabwe’s hospitals and health services - until a decade ago among the finest in Africa - deteriorate rapidly, traditional healers are doing brisk business.
The healers, known as “witch doctors” beyond Africa, throw bones and prescribe concoctions made from roots, barks, leaves, animal parts and, sometimes, human organs.
The healers have no formal training and their medicines are neither tested nor controlled by any government body. Black Zimbabweans have always consulted them, but now they turn to them out of sheer desperation.
“You cannot get any help from hospitals these days,” said Bill Tafamombe from rural Zimunya, near Mutare, 350 kilometres east of Harare. “Either the hospitals have no medicines or the charges demanded upfront are way beyond the common man’s reach. Many people simply die at home or consult traditional healers.”
Hospitals throughout the country are deteriorating fast. They are desperately short of medicines, equipment and spares. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists are emigrating in large numbers for better-paid jobs and conditions, usually to Britain, Australia and neighbouring South Africa and Botswana.
“When you’re running out of drugs and drips, what do you do?” said Brighton Chireka, who emigrated to Britain after a young doctors’ strike failed to persuade the government to improve the supply of drugs and renew basic equipment. “You are not serving the people. You have to ask the patient to buy equipment for himself – basic things, like bandages. After two months on strike, we realised the government wasn’t going to do anything. We were just causing patients’ deaths, so we called it quits.”
Zimbabwe’s National Medical Association said that in the past four years, forty per cent of doctors in Harare, the capital, have quit the country. In Bulawayo, the corresponding figure is sixty per cent. Meanwhile, half of the eight new doctors produced each year by the country’s only medical school, at the University of Zimbabwe, leave the country immediately on qualifying: there may soon be no new doctors, because teaching physicians are also quitting.
There are now fewer than 900 doctors to serve a population of 11.5 million. The World Health Organisation estimates that the country needs an absolute minimum of 2000 doctors to provide only a basic health service.
Harare, with a population of more than two million, has the country’s two biggest referral hospitals, Harare Central and Parirenyatwa. Their shabby exteriors are dotted with broken windows and leaking pipes while heaps of rubbish pile up around the buildings.
A nurse at the 1428-bed Harare Central, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, said, “Often we lack such basic necessities as surgical gloves, so it becomes hazardous to treat patients, especially those infected with HIV and suffering from other communicable diseases.”
Most of the hospital’s equipment is obsolete. Five of its elevators are permanently broken following the withdrawal of the elevator company, Otis, from Zimbabwe. Consequently, patients have to manhandled up and down stairs. Many toilets and sinks are blocked. Ceilings leak badly. Three out of five dialysis machines are beyond repair.
At Parirenyatwa, with even more beds than Harare Central, nurses say there have been no HIV test kits since November 2003 – in a nation where more than one in every four people aged 15 to 49 is HIV-positive.
Quite apart from dishearteningly low salaries and deteriorating working conditions, the nurse at Harare Central said, “We are fed up with seeing our patients die daily because of the shortages of essential drugs and equipment.”
Most patients at the two Harare hospitals are rural peasants or urban poor. More than 70 per cent of them are unemployed. Over 80 per cent of Zimbabweans live below the international poverty line of a US dollar a day income; so they cannot afford basic drugs or often the most basic of hospital charges.
Twelve-year-old Linda Mudzimwa lives in the densely populated township of Mbare, south of Harare. She has severe asthma but her mother, the surviving parent, cannot afford to buy either an inhaler or anti-asthma medicines - simple and cheap treatments for her condition in most countries. An attack could easily kill her.
“I make sure I am warm all the time because sudden weather changes can trigger an attack,” said Linda. “I cannot have fun with other children of my age. I can only watch them play because vigorous activity makes me run out of breath quickly.”
The problems at the two hospitals spread through every department. Corpses are piling up in the hospital morgues because the last government forensic pathologist quit eight months ago and returned home to Tanzania. With no qualified personnel to conduct post-mortem examinations, bodies are cleared only slowly from the morgues where refrigeration frequently breaks down and the stench is overpowering.
“We no longer go in there,” said a morgue attendant at Harare Central. “If you bring your dead relative you have to find somewhere to put them yourself, or we will charge you if you want us to do that.”
Laundry is piling up because steam cleaners have long been out of order in the absence of spares. Relatives of the sick are told to bring their own linen from home.
“In 1982, when I was just ten, doctors here saved my life when I was knocked down by a car,” said Givemore Madzudzo, whose own mother died painfully in Harare Central after being run over by a vehicle. “Now I am witnessing a total collapse of the health delivery system. We were asked to buy almost all the drugs during the four months she was in the hospital.
“When the doctors operated on her broken leg they used the wrong clamps and surgical screws to bind her shattered bones. They had to be replaced quickly and we were asked to find the right instruments, which cost us Zimbabwe 1.8 million dollars [about 2000 US dollars].
“In the fourth month her leg became cancerous. We were told to take my mother home. We had to buy her oxygen tanks and a wheelchair. She died a week after leaving hospital.”
However serious the health care crisis in the cities, the situation is worse in rural areas. There, doctors and patients alike say many of the hundreds of the once model local government clinics now have no trained medical workers or working refrigerators and radios. There are few medicines beyond basic antibiotics and pain relievers, and even these come largely from global charities, the European Union and the British and American governments.
No one outside Zimbabwe’s government knows, in the final analysis, the scale of the public health crisis. President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF government, paranoid about adverse publicity, has blocked the public release of United Nations appraisals of major health and other social indicators. The network of clinics and doctors has frayed so badly that experts suspect that data once reliably and routinely sent to statisticians are no longer reliable.
Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr David Parirenyatwa confessed last year that the country’s deepening economic crisis [the World Bank says Zimbabwe has the world’s fastest deteriorating economy] makes it difficult for the government to invest in health. He said the situation was unlikely to improve in the near future and the drain of doctors and nurses to other countries was likely to continue.
Michael Muzenda is the pseudonym of an IWPR contributor in Zimbabwe.
ZIM Issue 3
http://tinyurl.com/yy9c47c4
ZANU PF Torn by Rivalries
Harsh Laws and Thuggery Stifle Media
Celebrating Gender Equality in Libya
IWPR’s work with women-led NGOs highlighted at embassy event.
Young Iraqis Are Demanding Change
Nineveh Reborn
Kenya: Challenging Corruption
Investigative journalism is being used as a robust tool for advocacy.
Nigeria: Working Together for Change
Rwanda: How Trade in Banned Alcohol Wrecks Lives
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The People Who Pretend To Be Pixar's Cars On Facebook Want To Get Me Fired
Jason Torchinsky
Filed to:Pixar
I believe I’ve made my position regarding one of the most important philosophical issues known to mankind, where the eyes of an anthropomorphized car should be, abundantly clear: the headlights. The eyes of a car-face are the headlights. This is the right answer, the just answer, the moral answer.
How Pixar screwed up cartoon cars for a generation of kids
Normally, I wouldn't want to bring up something of this gravity during the holidays, but I have to…
Sadly, there are certain individuals who disagree. And they want me fired, because they simply can’t handle the truth.
The organization demanding my dismissal is the Disney Pixar Cars Roleplay organization, an influential and globally-important association of people who like to pretend to be the characters from the Cars series of movies on Facebook.
Here’s the email they sent to everyone at Jalopnik (and possibly BCC’d the State Department):
Where do you think you get off?
“The eyes of anthropomorphized cars are the headlights, not the windshield.” Really? Care to say that again? You are dead wrong. Everyone knows Pixar put the eyes on the windshield to be able to do more with their facial reactions. If you knew anything about the series, you would know that. But you didn’t know that! Another piss-poor, uninformed journalist. Sad state that our media is in.
Do you really think that looks natural? You can barely tell the eyes are in the headlights.
You go on to say, “Plus, if the eyes are in the windshield, what do you do with the lights? Ignore them? Pretend they’re just two evenly sized, symmetrical moles? Growths?” Well pal, you do exactly what Pixar did. Take a look:
That looks perfectly fine, no? Your argument seems pretty stupid now, doesn’t it?We aren’t just calling for you to remove the article - oh no, we want much more. We want Mr. Jason Torchinsky to be fired because of this. Yes, FIRED. We will not stand for this incorrect and blasphemous journalism anymore. No, not in the year 2015.
If you would like to come in contact with us, you can reach us on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyPixarCar…
Disney Pixar Cars Roleplay
It’s clearly a passionate argument. And it’s probably worth explaining a bit about exactly who this group is and what the hell they’re actually doing out there on Facebook, pretending to be fictional anthropomorphized cars from a kid’s movie.
They’re part of a movement known as Internet R0le-Play which is, as you can probably figure out from the name, people pretending to be other people on the Internet. You know, like that famous dog and almost all your friends on Facebook that seem to go on amazing vacations every three weeks.
Vice’s Motherboard had a good story on groups like these a while back, and what makes people join them:
But by and large, players are content to combine role-play with their personal profiles. The consensus is that most of these players are very young, likely in their early teens. As a generation who learned to write fanfic before they learned to tweet, it makes sense that they view Facebook as a creative outlet. The games they engage in—everything from werewolf conventions to Sherlock-themed mafia wars—serve as an outlet for the bitching, the drama, and the Machiavellian self-advancement which might otherwise turn into cyberbullying.
They have grown up with a very different concept of ‘me IRL’: any online setting is fair game for self-fashioning. Fantasy role-play, the ultimate anti-selfie, helps to ease players into real life. It serves as training for the day when they role-play as themselves.
[...] For all its eccentricity, role-playing appears to come naturally to those who do it. And yet it goes against everything Facebook wants of us—a service that even manages to harvest shadow profiles on people that haven’t signed up. To join the social network but then act out of character confounds the patterns Facebook aims to record. In a small way it disrupts the slow, pernicious blandness that social media encourages, letting our alter egos spill out messily around the edges.
The Disney Pixar Cars Roleplay people have 36 freaking rules about how to properly pretend you’re a talking car on Facebook, and have a big list of characters from the Cars movies roleplayers can pick from.
I’m not really clear how seriously anyone takes this, or what people get out of it, but, whatever, if they’re having fun, have at it. Well, at least until I saw this:
Gaaah! What the hell am I looking at? It looks like a heavily warped and serpentined 1966 VW 1300 Beetle with... balls? Breasts? What the hell are those pendulous grey sacks of terror there?
Though, as terrifying as this is, I should point out that the eyes are in their proper location in the headlights. I’m just not sure this helps my argument or not.
There’s other puzzling stuff to outsiders, too, like this strange text message conversation with ‘Mom’ and this odd Lightning McQueen drawing that seems to be placed into all sorts of images and inside joke-y memes, and these humanized Mater and Lightning McQueen people.
So, make what you will of who these people are, and what their windshield-eyes goals may be.
Me personally, I have no problem with them! As far as I’m concerned, they’re good folks, part of the rich tapestry that is the Internet. From a cultural and sociological standpoint, what they’re doing is fascinating.
And if you think about it another way, these people are car enthusiasts like we are... just in a very different way.
What I do have a problem with is them being chronically wrong about the placement of eyes on anthropomorphic cars. And trying to get me fired, because that was a dick move.
In the interest of full disclosure, this email did start a discussion among the Jalopnik Supreme Council, which consists of Jalopnik Prime Minister Matt Hardigree, Jalopnik Managing Imperator Patrick George, and Gawker Media owner Nick Denton. A portion of their discussion is reproduced here:
Hardigree: Look, we all know the Disney Pixar Cars Roleplay group. Everyone knows them. I don’t think we have much of a choice here; Jason has to go.
George: Also, he’s kind of a dipshit.
Hardigree: Yes, yes, exactly. Such a dipshit.
Denton: Wait, who?
George: That dipshit. The little one, with the hair and that... that face.
Hardigree: Crap, wait. His contract is pretty weird. I don’t think we can fire him unless we get the American Council of Churches on board. And they’re totally in his pocket.
In the end, it was decided I would be kept on, for now at least.
And I want to take this moment to re-iterate my stand: the eyes of a car are the headlights. Not the windshield. Sure, successful cartoon cars have used the windshield for the eyes — Susie the Little Blue Coupe comes to mind, and that provided the stylistic influence for Cars — but that doesn’t mean it’s right, philosophically.
I know why the Cars movies use this degenerate method of ocular placement — Pixar’s Jay Ward told me himself: it’s to keep the car’s faces from being too close to the ground, like a snake. And I can understand that. Pixar is full of incredibly talented animators and designers, and they did make these conceptually repugnant windshield-eyes work well.
But that doesn’t mean it’s the right way. It’s just a compromise they felt compelled to use. (Hell, they even got it right with at least one car, Celine Dephare, in Cars 2.)
I’m certain at some point in the future, a more enlightened and bold Pixar will go back and correct their error, and place the eyes where they belong, in the headlights. Deep down, they know it’s true.
Look, I understand how important a group of people, some of whom are possibly adults, who pretend to be characters from cars on Facebook is. Nobody is arguing with the value this organization brings to society and humanity itself. But it’s time this group accepts that while the Cars movies may use the debased windshield-eyes method, the one, true way to anthropomorphize a car is by having the headlights be the eyes.
Look at nearly any actual car, and you’ll see: the headlights are clearly the eyes of the car’s face. And no threats to my job or myself will ever change that. Even if you modify pictures of me to include car-windshield-eyes, like this one they did of me in front of a VW Brasilia:
Sure, pictures like that sting. They sting badly. But I remain undaunted. I’m sorry, Disney Pixar Cars Roleplay group. The original post stays up. I’m not getting fired. Because truth will always have a place here at Jalopnik.
So, to answer your first question, that’s where I fucking think I get off.
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Bobcats Facts & Worksheets
Bobcats are medium-sized wildcats found throughout Northern America from southern Canada to central Mexico.
Worksheets /Science /Animals /Mammals /Bobcats Facts & Worksheets
Download the Bobcats Facts & Worksheets
Bobcats are medium-sized wildcats found throughout Northern America from southern Canada to central Mexico. It is relatively smaller in size than its relative the lynx. These cats are named as bobcats because of their small, bobbed tail.
See the fact file below for more information on the bobcats or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Bobcat worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Size and Appearance
Bobcats are similar to the Canadian lynx but smaller in size.
These are medium-sized cats covered with orange, grey, or brown fur. Their coats vary in color. In addition to this, there are line markings in dark brown or black on their coat.
Their spotting pattern acts as a camouflage.
Their cheeks are covered with long hair. The ears are black-tipped and pointed.
An adult bobcat can range from 47.5 cm to 125 cm in length with an extra 9 to 20 cm long tail. Males are larger than the females.
The weight of adult males can range from 6.4 to 18.3 kg whereas the weight of an adult females can range from 4 to 15.3 kg.
Lynx and bobcats can be differentiated through the appearance of their tails. The tail of lynx is completely dark and the tail of bobcat is black at the top and white on the bottom.
There are a variety of habitats for bobcats which include forests, semi-deserts, brushland, and mountains.
13 subspecies of bobcats can be found throughout North America (from Canada to Mexico).
Bobcats can also settle down near agricultural areas.
There are relatively smaller numbers of bobcats in Canada due to the presence of the Canadian lynx and heavy snow.
In Mexico, bobcats are found in dry shrubland and forests of oak and pine.
Its range ends at the tropical southern portion of the country.
The primary diet of bobcats is rabbits.
Bobcats are carnivores.
In addition to rabbits and hares, they also like to eat rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, and even deer.
Bobcats hunt larger prey during winters.
Bobcats hunt their prey by stalking it and then ambushing it with a short chase.
Bobcats also feed on livestock and poultry.
Reproduction and Offspring
Bobcats can live for 12 – 13 years. The oldest bobcat found was 16 years old.
Female bobcats reach sexual maturity at the age of 12 months and it takes 24 months for males.
Mating season starts from early spring but the time is variable as it is possible throughout the year.
Gestation period is of approximately 50 – 70 days.
Female bobcats will give birth to a litter of 1 – 8 kittens in a well-hidden cave.
The kittens open their eyes when they are 10 days old. Young wildcats go out on their own when they are around 8 months old.
Social system and communication
Bobcats are solitary and territorial animals.
Females don’t share their territories with each other while male territories may overlap with each other.
Males have territories of around 25 to 30 square miles whereas females can occupy around 5 square miles.
They leave scratch marks on trees and use urine, feces, and scents to mark their territories.
Males and females only meet each other during mating season.
Bobcats live in dens. Each bobcat may have one main den and many auxiliary dens, in its territory.
Main den: Main den of bobcats usually comprises of a cave or rock shelter, fallen trees, and hollow logs.
Auxiliary dens: Situated in less-visited segments of the home range and are frequently brush heaps or tree stumps. These are additionally called shelter dens.
Bobcats communicate through scents, visual signals, and vocalizations.
They produce loud snarls and growls.
Bobcats are marvellous predators. They hunt their prey with extreme patience and concentration. They capture their meal with one great leap.
Similar to cats, bobcats have a great sense of sight, smell, and hearing.
They are great climbers and swimmers.
Bobcats can run at up to 48 km/h (30 mph) and they set their back feet in similar spots where their front feet ventured to lessen clamor when chasing.
Bobcats can easily escape from its predator by climbing up a tree.
Threats and conservation
Predators of bobcats include cougars and gray wolves.
Kittens are hunted down by owls, eagles, foxes, coyotes, and bears.
In addition to this, bobcats also have human predators. Humans hunt bobcats mainly because of their beautiful fur.
Habitat destruction and growing human populations are also great threats for bobcats.
However, the population of bobcats is still large therefore, IUCN lists it as least concerned.
Estimates show that there are around 725,000 to 1,020,000 bobcats in the wild.
Bobcat Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about bobcats across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Bobcat worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the bobcats which are medium-sized wildcats found throughout Northern America from southern Canada to central Mexico. It is relatively smaller in size than its relative the lynx. These cats are named as bobcats because of their small, bobbed tail.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
Bobcat Facts
Bobcat Profile
Bobcat went on hunting
Lynxes of the world
Bobcat Trivia
Behavior and socialization
Bobbed-tail
More about lynx
What did you learn?
<a href="https://kidskonnect.com/animals/bobcats/">Bobcats Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com</a> - KidsKonnect, February 4, 2019
Link will appear as Bobcats Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 4, 2019
Farm Facts & Worksheets
Endangered Species Facts & Worksheets
Gecko Facts & Worksheets
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NYCHORAL Presents Honegger's King David
Central Synagogue
David Hayes, Conductor
Hannah Spierman, Soprano
Heather Johnson, Mezzo Soprano
Benjamin Warschawski, Tenor
Brendan Fernandes, Artist and Choreographer
Philip Stoddard as The Narrator
Samantha E. Turlington as The Witch of Endor
NYCHORAL presents Arthur Honeggers biblical epic Le Roi David in the spectacular setting of the historic Central Synagogue in New York.
Music Director David Hayes brings together NYCHORAL, the 18-piece NYCHORAL orchestra, soprano Hannah Spierman, mezzo-soprano Heather Johnson, tenor Benjamin Warschawski and artist Brendan Fernandes in the landmark setting of Central Synagogue for a unique performance of one of Honeggers most popular and evocative works. Incorporating elements of choral and orchestral music, dance and narration, this performance returns the work to its theatrical origins with a dramatic exploration of the challenges of leadership as explored in the lives of three towering characters of the Old Testament: Samuel, Saul and David.
Honeggers Le Roi David was commissioned in 1921 by the Swiss playwright René Morax, who was searching for someone to write incidental music for his play Le Roi David. This gave Honegger the opportunity to be a Biblical composer like the great oratorio composers before him. The music was an instant success, firmly establishing Honeggers reputation. The piece embraces several musical styles, ranging from Gregorian chant to Baroque to jazz. It has been described as lyrical, colorful, exciting, grotesque and grand when appropriate. The piece has 27 musical movements, some instrumental but most for chorus and orchestra. A narrator connects the scenes and the soprano, alto and tenor soloists take on different roles. The plot tells the story of King David, first as a shepherd boy, his victories in battle, relationship to Saul, rise to power, adultery, mourning his sons death and finally his own death.
Once online sales end, tickets will be on sale at Central Synagogue (doors open at 7:30PM.)
Central Synagogue (View)
Music > Choral
Music > Symphony
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OptomCAS | OPTOMETRY ADMISSION TEST
Optometric Education
The Journal of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
Optometric Education Volume 44 Number 3 (Summer 2019)
Optometric Education Volume 44 Number 2 (Winter-Spring 2019)
Optometric Education Volume 44 Number 1 (Fall 2018)
Optometric Education Number 43 Volume 1 (Fall 2017)
Optometric Education: Volume 42 Number 2 (Winter-Spring 2017)
Optometric Education: Volume 42 Number 1 (Fall 2016)
Optometric Education: Volume 41 Number 3 (Summer 2016)
Optometric Education: Vol 40, No 2 (2015)
Optometric Education: Volume 39, No 1 (2013)
Corporate Contributors
You are here: Home » » Current Issue » Conjunctival Lymphoma: a Teaching Case Report
Conjunctival Lymphoma: a Teaching Case Report
Jasmine Wong Yumori OD, FAAO, Naida Jakirlic OD, FAAO, and Kenneth Van, OD
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that can occur in the stomach, salivary glands, lungs, thyroid glands or conjunctiva. This teaching case report involving a patient with localized conjunctival lymphoma reviews key findings, differential diagnoses and treatment and management. The epidemiology, pathophysiology and risk factors associated with conjunctival lymphoma are also discussed. Although this cancer is relatively uncommon, it is critical to diagnose it while it is still confined to conjunctival tissue because delayed diagnosis may lead to systemic dissemination, a more complicated treatment regimen and poorer prognosis.
Key Words: conjunctival neoplasia, lymphoma, conjunctival lymphoma, MALT lymphoma
PDF of Article
This teaching case report describes the diagnosis and care of an otherwise healthy 24-year-old Asian male with conjunctival lymphoma. The case report is appropriate as a teaching guide for optometry students at all levels. It provides a thorough review of conjunctival anatomy and physiology along with explanations of key findings, common clinical presentations, differential diagnoses, epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, treatment and management options and prognosis for conjunctival lymphoma. Although conjunctival lymphomas are typically slow-growing, unilateral and rarely metastatic, students and facilitators are reminded that early diagnosis is critical to minimize the need for aggressive treatment and to optimize patient prognosis.
An initially asymptomatic 24-year-old Asian male was referred to Eye Care Institute at Western University of Health Sciences (Pomona, CA) for evaluation of multiple long-standing large follicles in the inferior conjunctiva of both eyes and newly noted salmon-colored gelatinous masses located in the inferior fornix of both eyes. The patient’s systemic history included seasonal allergies and eczema. His family medical history was positive for an unknown stomach lymphoma in his paternal grandmother. His ocular history included chronic allergic conjunctivitis in both eyes. The patient denied any significant family ocular history. He reported no current medications. The patient indicated drug allergies to erythromycin, neomycin, fluorometholone and loteprednol, the latter two having been used recently to treat his suspected allergic conjunctivitis, which was unresponsive to more conservative therapy.
His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed salmon-pink gelatinous masses in the inferior fornix of each eye (Figures 1A and 1B). The remainder of the examination was normal. The patient denied any known history of a recent viral illness, and preauricular, submandibular and cervical lymphadenopathy were absent. The patient was referred to a corneal specialist for a conjunctival biopsy.
Bilateral conjunctival biopsies were performed at Pacific Eye Care Institute (Upland, CA). The biopsy report showed a population of small- to medium-sized lymphocytes with high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, clumped chromatin with inconspicuous nucleoli and rounded nuclear contours with mildly irregular and clefted centrocytes. The cytoplasm was moderate to abundant with absence of necrotic debris. Immunohistochemistry stains showed population of neoplastic B-cells that were positive for BCL-2 and CD20, and lambda light chain restriction was found. The immunohistochemistry stains were negative for CD3, CD5, CD10, CD23 and CD43 markers. These histopathological findings were consistent with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.
The patient was referred to the hematology department at Keck Medicine of USC (Los Angeles, CA) for an extensive evaluation including full-body computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head. Both were negative for active tissue beyond the orbit. The patient was referred to the radiation department at Keck Medicine of USC for treatment. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT, 16 treatments of 1.5 Gy for a total of 24 Gy) was delivered to both orbits.
Therapy was relatively well-tolerated. The patient experienced ocular dryness, which was successfully addressed with artificial tears. No changes in vision, eyelid edema or erythema, or other symptoms were noted. The patient had been followed closely after radiation treatment, and no evidence of disease recurrence had been seen by the time of this publication (Figure 2).
Figure 1A. Multiple salmon-pink gelatinous masses with engorged vessels and superficial vascularization in the inferior fornix of the right eye.
Figure 2. Inferior palpebral conjunctiva of the left eye three months after treatment. Complete resolution of the salmon-pink gelatinous mass in the inferior fornix and absence of multiple large follicles on the inferior palpebral conjunctiva is evident.
Figure 1B. A gelatinous mass with engorged vessels and conjunctival papillary reaction in the inferior fornix of the left eye.
Educator’s Guide
At the end of this case discussion, readers should be able to:
Identify the anatomical zones and main functions of the conjunctiva
List appropriate differential diagnoses for a suspicious conjunctival mass
Explain common assessment strategies for a conjunctival mass
Describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology and risk factors associated with conjunctival lymphoma
Describe key findings for conjunctival lymphoma
Explain common treatment and management strategies for conjunctival lymphoma
Describe the necessary systemic evaluation following a diagnosis of conjunctival lymphoma
Discuss the expected prognosis and common complications for patients treated with EBRT for conjunctival lymphoma
Recognize concerning signs of suspicious conjunctival masses
Describe an abnormal conjunctival mass in a systematic manner
List common assessment strategies for a conjunctival mass
Recognize characteristic signs of conjunctival lymphoma
Identify possible ocular complications associated with radiation therapy
Knowledge and concepts required for critical review of the case
a. what are the histological features of the conjunctiva?
b. what anatomical structures are located within the conjunctiva?
c. list the functions of the conjunctiva
d. how do you systematically describe a conjunctival mass?
e. describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology and risk factors associated with conjunctival lymphoma
f. describe key clinical findings in patients with conjunctival lymphoma
g. describe systemic complications associated with conjunctival lymphoma
2. Differential diagnoses
a. list the main concerning and characteristic signs of a suspicious conjunctival mass
b. list appropriate differential diagnoses for a suspicious conjunctival mass
c. what assessment strategies are helpful in formulating a differential diagnosis?
3. Disease treatment and management
a. which specialists should you involve in the care of a patient with a suspicious conjunctival mass?
b. what is the appropriate timeline to refer patients with suspicious conjunctival lesions to the necessary specialist(s)?
c. what is the gold standard for the treatment of localized conjunctival lymphoma?
d. list alternative/additional treatment strategies and discuss the rationale behind each
e. discuss the most likely prognosis and possible complications following treatment of patients with conjunctival lymphoma
f. what is the follow-up schedule for patients with suspected and confirmed conjunctival lymphoma?
g. what are potential ocular complications associated with radiation therapy?
4. Patient education
a. how would you educate the patient regarding your suspected diagnosis?
b. what is the most likely long-term prognosis for this patient?
5. Critical thinking
a. how would you have managed this case? Justify your answer based on the findings
b. what would have been a sign of poor prognosis?
Learning activity
Assign the case with selected discussion questions as homework during the Anterior Segment Disease course or as part of the clinical assignment
Require students to provide at least 2-4 recent, peer-reviewed articles to support their answers
Block off 1-2 hours during class or clinic time to allow students to present their answers and learn from each other; encourage questions from other students by providing participation credit incentives
Learning assessment
Assess knowledge regarding conjunctival lymphoma and differential diagnoses by use of multiple-choice and/or short-answer questions
Facilitate demonstration of clinical skills associated with anterior segment slit lamp examination including systematically describing abnormal clinical findings
Incorporate the case into clinical or didactic discussions
Identify anatomical zones and main functions of the conjunctiva
The conjunctiva is a thin, translucent mucous membrane that starts at the eyelid edge between the outer and inner canthi and extends from the inner surface of the eyelids (i.e., palpebral or tarsal region) to the corneoscleral limbus on the globe (i.e., bulbar conjunctiva).1 The conjunctival fornix connects the palpebral and bulbar sections. The conjunctiva is composed of non-keratinized stratified columnar-cuboidal epithelium overlying a layer of loose connective tissue termed the conjunctival substantia propria.2 Nerves, blood vessels, lymphocytes, mast, goblet and Langerhans cells, and the Wolfring and Krause accessory glands are located within the conjunctiva.3 It is crucial to highlight that lymphocytes are found in the superficial layer of the lamina propria, thus making up the MALT, i.e., the tissue that undergoes malignant transformation in conjunctival lymphoma. This is precisely the anatomic reason why conjunctival lymphoma presents as a mobile salmon-pink mass in the palpebral conjunctival fornices and why it can potentially metastasize to other parts of the body via lymph node dissemination.
Functions of the conjunctiva include:4
Protecting the orbit from the external environment
Facilitating movement of the eyelids and globe
Contributing to the immune defense system (e.g., secreting antibodies and antimicrobial proteins, and mediating cellular responses)
Supporting the optical function of the cornea
Tear secretion
List differential diagnoses for a conjunctival mass
While patients with a conjunctival mass can present with complaints of irritation, pain, discharge, epiphora and photophobia,5,6 most are asymptomatic. Thus, the initiation of the differential diagnostic process for an abnormal conjunctival mass is based on key signs, with a focus on concerning signs associated with possible malignancy. It is critical to highlight that lesion appearance should raise red flags for urgent investigation, but that the definitive diagnosis of a conjunctival lymphoma is ultimately determined via tissue biopsy. Nevertheless, students can follow a rule that is used to summarize clinical features of melanoma as a structured and systematic description of an amelanotic conjunctival mass and the initial groundwork for differential diagnoses. Known as the “ABCDEF” rule,7 the acronym stands for:
Border irregularity
Color variation: both intralesional and interlesional
Diameter: greater than 6 mm is more concerning for possible melanoma
Evolving: new or changing lesion
Funny-looking: unlike other lesions
Figure 3. Click to enlarge
Other concerning signs of a suspicious conjunctival mass include the presence of dilated feeder vessels, leukoplakia (surface keratinization) and transformation of surrounding tissue.8-10 Figure 3 provides a summary of the differential diagnostic approach for abnormal conjunctival lesions.
Conjunctival lymphoma can present with asymmetry, irregular borders, color variation, larger diameter, signs of evolution and “funny-looking” characteristics. More specific key signs for a conjunctival lymphoma include the presence of a fleshy, vascularized, salmon-colored/fish-flesh swollen patch that is freely mobile and usually unilateral.2 While definitive diagnosis is made through conjunctival biopsy with histopathologic examination, differential diagnoses for a conjunctival mass include:
Papillary conjunctivitis
Follicular conjunctivitis
Ocular surface squamous neoplasia
Squamous papilloma of the conjunctiva
Conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)
Conjunctival squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC)
Cystic benign melanosis (CBM) of the conjunctiva
Conjunctival nevi
Primary acquired melanosis (PAM)
Conjunctival malignant melanoma (CMM)
Oculodermal melanocytosis (ODM) or Nevus of Ota
Conjunctival lymphoma
Table 1 outlines key characteristics associated with these common conjunctival abnormalities.
Clinical descriptions of color, size, shape, consistency, symmetry, pigmentation, borders, elevation, presence of feeder vessels and exact anatomic location — whether conjunctival, subconjunctival or fixed to the globe — are crucial for distinguishing between diagnoses.11 Assessment of the extent of the mass in the exam room can include:
Cotton-tipped applicator wetted with topical anesthetic drop: easy movement implies localization to the conjunctiva
Slit lamp biomicroscopy: clinical descriptions should include encroachment onto the cornea; evaluation involving eyelid elevation and ocular rotation is instrumental because masses can be hidden under the eyelid or in the fornix
Gonioscopy: to assess the degree of intraocular angle involvement
Lymph node examination: preauricular, submandibular and upper deep cervical lymph node examination is important to assess the presence and degree of lymph node involvement and disseminated disease
Ultrasound biomicroscopy, CT scans and/or MRI scans focusing on the anterior orbit, with gadolinium enhancement using 2-mm cuts, may also be considered to assess the degree of globe involvement and, with CT and MRI, possible orbital extension. Because it can be difficult to establish a diagnosis based on clinical examination alone, impression cytology, in-vivo confocal microscopy and/or biopsy with a systemic evaluation is usually necessary.
Lymphoma is a malignant neoplasm stemming from a monoclonal proliferation of B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes and, rarely, natural killer cells.2 Lymphoma may be divided into two types: Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin. MALT lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.20 Conjunctival lymphoma constitutes approximately 25% of all ocular adnexal lymphoma and falls into the following subtypes, ranked in order of frequency: extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL; 96% of cases), follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and mantle-cell lymphoma.2 Conjunctival lymphoma is the most common primary neoplasm21 and has been found in approximately 30% of patients with disseminated lymphoma.22,23 Although conjunctival lymphoma tends to be slow-growing, unilateral and indolent, systemic metastasis is seen in approximately 20% of patients; risk of metastasis increases in patients with a bilateral presentation; and the incidence of MALT ocular lymphoma is rising.22,23
While conjunctival lymphoma is primarily seen in the elderly, it has been described in individuals as young as 33 months; trends have been identified regarding subtypes based on age, gender and pathogenesis. Chronic antigenic stimulation from pathogens including Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia psittaci and hepatitis C2 has been associated with conjunctival EMLZ. Autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren syndrome,24 systemic lupus erythematosus25 and Hashimoto thyroiditis26 have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of conjunctival EMZL. Additionally, chronic exposure to bioactive solvents and reagents27 and genetic abnormalities such as translocations, inactivating mutations and trisomies2 have been suspected to be related to conjunctival EMZL.
Describe key findings for conjunctival lymphomas
Patients report few symptoms because conjunctival MALT lymphoma lacks a connective tissue stroma and is thus able to mold to surrounding tissue without causing ocular irritation.11 Therefore, careful slit lamp examination is crucial for identification of the malignant lesions. Characteristic findings of conjunctival lymphoma identified during slit lamp biomicroscopy include the presence of a fleshy, vascularized, salmon-pink patch that is readily movable.2 Because differentiating between benign inflammation and a malignant lymphoid tumor is challenging based on clinical exam alone, patient referral for biopsy with histopathologic examination is necessary for a definitive diagnosis.19
The main roles of primary care optometry in the care of a patient with a conjunctival lymphoma include:
Identifying and describing clinical findings
Appropriately educating the patient regarding clinical suspicion and planning; while the level of detail is dependent on clinical findings and characteristics of both the provider and patient, a focus on providing the correct amount and type of information, aiding accurate recall and understanding, incorporating the patient’s perspective, and ensuring shared decision-making are important28
Referring the patient for further evaluation including consideration for a conjunctival biopsy with an ophthalmologist, specifically a corneal specialist because others may not have the appropriate resources or experience
While no specific guidelines exist regarding the ideal timeline to refer patients for biopsy, a prompt referral with increasing urgency based on more suspicious clinical findings is appropriate. The initial referral for conjunctival biopsy should be made to an oculoplastic or corneal specialist. Pathology should also likely be involved to provide definitive diagnosis before involvement with hematology, radiology and other specialties for staging and initiating treatment.
Isolated conjunctival MALT lymphoma is most often treated by radiology with EBRT29 with or without chemotherapy. EBRT is highly effective and is the current gold standard treatment, with a complete remission rate of 86-100% and a five-year overall survival rate for approximately 94%.11 While no specific consensus has emerged regarding the optimal planning target volume of radiotherapy for treating patients with conjunctival lymphoma, the normal EBRT dose range is 15-45 Gy.2 Including the entire conjunctiva and eyelid within the treatment area has been recommended because the conjunctiva has intrinsic lymphoid tissue.29 Alternative treatment methods include chemotherapy, immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies and/or interferon-α, brachytherapy, complete excision, cryotherapy and careful observation.2 Single-agent or combination chemotherapy is typically used for patients with disseminated disease,22 and there is a recent movement towards use of monoclonal antibody therapy for better local control, less tissue toxicity and better overall systemic control compared to orbital radiotherapy.21 Other variables that can influence management include the patient’s symptoms, ocular surface health and quality of life.
Describe the systemic evaluation associated with a diagnosis of conjunctival lymphoma
Conjunctival lymphoma presents with co-existing systemic lymphoma in approximately one-third of patients.21-23 Thus, if the diagnosis of conjunctival lymphoma is confirmed, a thorough clinical examination is necessary. It is necessary to include basic hematologic screening tests (complete blood count, white blood cell differential, serum immunoprotein electrophoresis), full-body positron emission tomography and CT or MRI, and bone marrow biopsy.2,21 A gastrointestinal endoscopy is also recommended for patients with MALT lymphoma because gastrointestinal tract involvement is frequent.30 Characteristics of conjunctival lymphoma that increase the risk for disseminated systemic lymphoma include fornicial or mid-bulbar location, multifocality and bilaterality.23
Successful treatment of conjunctival lymphoma generally has a very good prognosis regardless of type.2 Low-grade B-cell NHL carries the best prognosis followed by EMZL in which only 9% of patients experience progression or recurrence within the first year of treatment.2 T-cell NHL has the worst prognosis. Specifically, while 90% of conjunctival lymphoma cases do not progress or recur within the first year of treatment, a staggering 50% of patients with T-cell NHL undergo progression or recurrence of the cancer. Other factors that influence prognosis include stage of the cancer, patient age, and non-bulbar location of the lesion. Standard follow-up is every three months for the first year followed by every six to 12 months thereafter.22 It has been suggested that response to treatment, specifically a slow response to radiotherapy, may be associated with the development of metachronous lesions so more frequent follow-up may be required for such patients.29
Common complications for patients treated with EBRT for conjunctival lymphoma include xerophthalmia, keratitis, cataract and retinal damage.11 Such complications are important to discuss and address with patients. For example, lens shielding can minimize cataract development,29 and continued follow-up is needed.
Prognosis of untreated conjunctival MALT lymphoma
While conjunctival lymphoma is rarely lethal, and tumors tend to remain confined to the involved conjunctiva, systemic spread via lymph node infiltration, systemic dissemination to extranodal organs, and contralateral conjunctival involvement can occur, particularly if the cancer is left untreated. If systemic lymphoma develops, the prognosis is determined mainly by the grade of the lymphoma.
Though relatively uncommon, conjunctival lymphoma can present in young adults. Careful clinical evaluation using appropriate assessment strategies is critical to identify concerning conjunctival masses. It is important to promptly involve appropriate specialists to definitively diagnose, treat and manage this cancer because delays may lead to systemic dissemination, a more complicated treatment and poorer prognosis.
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Crim N, Fornies-Paz ME, Monti R, Esposito E, Maccio JP, Urrets-Zavalia JA. In situ carcinoma of the conjunctiva: surgical excision associated with cryotherapy. Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1889-93. Epub 2013/10/05. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S50762. PubMed PMID: 24092968. PubMed Central PMCID: PMCPMC3788814.
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Shields CL, Kels JG, Shields JA. Melanoma of the eye: revealing hidden secrets, one at a time. Clin Dermatol. 2015;33(2):183-96. Epub 2015/02/24. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014.10.010. PubMed PMID: 25704938.
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Bjerrum KB. Primary Sjogren’s syndrome and keratoconjunctivitis sicca: diagnostic methods, frequency and social disease aspects. Acta Ophthalmol Scand Suppl. 2000(231):1-37. Epub 2002/01/05. PubMed PMID: 11763500.
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Dr. Wong Yumori [jyumori@westernu.edu] is an Associate Professor at Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry.
Dr. Jakirlic is an Assistant Professor at Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry.
Dr. Van, a graduate of Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry, practices in the Los Angeles area.
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Abbreviation: J. Optometric Ed.
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Nematologia Mediterranea
Vol. 40, No. 2 (December 2012)
First record of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) from Nigerian soil and their morphometrical and ribosomal DNA sequence analysis
F. Akyazi, M. A. Ansari, B. I. Ahmed, W. T. Crow, T. Mekete
Management of nematode induced wilt disease complex in Capsicum using Pseudomonas fluorescens and Paecilomyces lilacinus
M. S. Rao, D. S. Sowmya, M. K. Chaya, R. Manoj Kumar, K. Rathnamma, J. Gavaskar, K. Priti, N. Ramachandran
First report of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne arenaria and M. hapla (Nemata: Meloidogynidae) from pepino in Turkey
F. Akyazi, H. Han, R. Cetintas, A. F. Felek
Rapid screening technique for assessing resistance to Meloidogyne spp. in cassava
D. L. Coyne, F. Kagoda, E. Mbiru
Description of Xiphinema mounporti sp. n., with new data on two other species from Senegal (Nematoda: Longidoridae)
M. Faye, L. Barsi, W. Decraemer
Effect of various initial population densities of two species of Meloidogyne on growth of tomato and cucumber in greenhouse
H. Charegani, S. Majzoob, H. Hamzehzarghani, A. Karegar-Bide
Morphological and molecular characterization of a new isolate of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar, 1976 from East Azarbaijan, Iran
M. Nikdel, G. Niknam, G. Eliasy
Laboratory and field performance of some soil bacteria used as seed treatments on Meloidogyne incognita in chickpea
M. R. Khan, M. M. Khan, M. A. Anwer, Z. Haque
Patogenicidad del nematodo agallador, Meloidogyne enterolobii, en lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.) en macetas
R. Crozzoli, Y. Aguirre, L. Angel
Nematicidal activity of Strychnos nuxvomica leaf and its constituents against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita
N. K. Leela, Rashid Pervez, K. V. Ramana, O. B. Rosana, S. J. Eapen
Biodiversity of plant parasitic nematodes of cashew plantations in Tripura, India
C. Bhattacharya, M. K. Dasgupta, B. Mukherjee
Biological control of the disease complex on potato caused by root-knot nematode and Fusarium wilt fungus
M. Z. El-Shennawy, E. Z. Khalifa, M. M. Ammar, E. M. Mousa, S. L. Hafez
Distribution of entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) in Bulgaria
D. Gradinarov, E. Petrova, Y. Mutafchiev, O. Karadjova
Foliar application of chemical elicitors induces biochemical changes in wheat against the cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae
S. Pokhare, . Pankaj, N. A. Shakil, J. Kumar, K. Singh
Bio-management of Meloidogyne incognita and Erwinia carotovora in carrot (Daucus carota L.) using Pseudomonas putida and Paecilomyces lilacinus
D. S. Sowmya, M. S. Rao, R. Manoj Kumar, J. Gavaskar, K. Priti
Management of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in tea by two plant extracts, in Tripura, India
Effects of crude antibiotic of Bacillus subtilis on hatching of eggs and mortality of juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita
P. G. Kavitha, E. L. Jonathan, S. Nakkeeran
Two breeding lines of rice resistant to the rice root-knot nematode
M. Jena, S. K. Mohanty, R. S. Panda, L. K. Bose, L. Behera, S. C. Sahu
Comparative efficacy of bioagents as seed treatment for management of Meloidogyne incognita infecting okra
V. Kumar, A. U. Singh, R. K. Jain
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Perception of the importance of chemistry research papers and comparison to citation rates
Rachel Borchardt ,
Roles Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Project administration, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
* E-mail: borchard@american.edu (RB); hartings@american.edu (MH)
Affiliation American University, NW, Washington, DC, United States of America
Cullen Moran,
Roles Formal analysis
Stuart Cantrill,
Roles Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Affiliation Nature Chemistry, SpringerNature, London, United Kingdom
Chemjobber,
Roles Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing
Affiliation Chemjobber, Shell, WV, United States of America
See Arr Oh,
Affiliation Just Like Cooking, Krypton, KY, United States of America
Matthew R. Hartings
Roles Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Rachel Borchardt,
Rachel Borchardt Cullen Moran ... Matthew R. Hartings
Chemistry researchers are frequently evaluated on the perceived significance of their work with the citation count as the most commonly-used metric for gauging this property. Recent studies have called for a broader evaluation of significance that includes more nuanced bibliometrics as well as altmetrics to more completely evaluate scientific research. To better understand the relationship between metrics and peer judgements of significance in chemistry, we have conducted a survey of chemists to investigate their perceptions of previously published research. Focusing on a specific issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society published in 2003, respondents were asked to select which articles they thought best matched importance and significance given several contexts: highest number of citations, most significant (subjectively defined), most likely to share among chemists, and most likely to share with a broader audience. The answers to the survey can be summed up in several observations. The ability of respondents to predict the citation counts of established research is markedly lower than the ability of those counts to be predicted by the h-index of the corresponding author of each article. This observation is conserved even when only considering responses from chemists whose expertise falls within the subdiscipline that best describes the work performed in an article. Respondents view both cited papers and significant papers differently than papers that should be shared with chemists. We conclude from our results that peer judgements of importance and significance differ from metrics-based measurements, and that chemists should work with bibliometricians to develop metrics that better capture the nuance of opinions on the importance of a given piece of research.
Citation: Borchardt R, Moran C, Cantrill S, Chemjobber, Oh SA, Hartings MR (2018) Perception of the importance of chemistry research papers and comparison to citation rates. PLoS ONE 13(3): e0194903. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194903
Editor: Cassidy Rose Sugimoto, Indiana University Bloomington, UNITED STATES
Received: July 8, 2017; Accepted: February 21, 2018; Published: March 28, 2018
Copyright: © 2018 Borchardt et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Data Availability: The dataset file is available from the figshare repository database (DOI 10.6084/m9.figshare.5187529).
Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.
Competing interests: Matthew Hartings - Professor Hartings is an Advisory Board member for Chemical and Engineering News, which is published by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The ACS also publishes the Journal of the American Chemical Society, an issue of which is analyzed in the submitted manuscript. See Arr Oh - Dr. SAO is an Advisory Board member for Chemical and Engineering News, which is published by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The ACS also publishes the Journal of the American Chemical Society, an issue of which is analyzed in the submitted manuscript. Dr. SAO has been paid by the ACS for articles written for Chemical and Engineering News. Chemjobber - Dr. Chemjobber has been paid by the ACS for articles written for Chemical and Engineering News. Stuart Cantrill - Dr. Cantrill is the editor-in-chief of Nature Chemistry, a peer journal to the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Rachel Borchardt - Ms. Borchardt is the chair of the ACRL Impactful Scholarship and Metrics Task Force, which is cited in the submitted manuscript.
Significance, importance and impact are all goals that the chemistry community strives to maximize—a breakthrough discovery, an important finding, a methodology that fundamentally changes the way chemistry research is performed. While individual researchers’ goals may vary greatly, many may aim to not only transform how chemistry research is performed, but to influence broader areas that transcend academic borders [1]. However, these abstract notions of significance, importance, and impact, particularly beyond the scholarly arena, are difficult to define, and even more difficult to quantify.
In recent years, many funding agencies have included requirements of efforts that move research outside of the laboratory. Among these is the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which has recognized the importance of these goals with their “Broader Impacts” requirements in funding applications. The NSF gives guidance on these areas of impact, which include “Innovating for our future”, “Improving our society”, and “Engaging a wider audience” [2]. Efforts in these areas are meant to benefit society at large along with ensuring that chemistry (and other scientific disciplines) continues to receive popular support and maintains an ability to influence policy decisions.
A chemist’s work, then, includes the efforts expended in the laboratory on a research program as well as the efforts outside of experimentation for the benefit of society. Both types of work are necessary to further the field of chemistry. Therefore, it follows that chemists should be properly evaluated for the totality of their work. Some of the highest-stake evaluation points will occur early on during the career of an independent scientist: applying for tenure and seeking grant funding for new projects. Each of these evaluations is, essentially, a snapshot of a researcher’s research career, but can have very different aims. A tenure or promotion evaluation is generally reviewing a researcher for, among other criteria, impact and excellence in scholarship, while a grant funder is more interested in the potential of their research to have future impact. But what criteria are used to make these determinations about impact, excellence, and potential?
Relatively little insight is generally given into these evaluative processes, but it is well known within the chemistry community that citation-based metrics, most notably citation counts, impact factor, and h-index, play a large role in these evaluations [3,4]. Unfortunately, citation-based metrics may take some time before providing an estimation of the impact of a research program or an individual researcher. There is, therefore, a need to account for immediacy during these evaluations, particularly with grant funding.
Previous studies have found that grant decisions can be predicted, to some extent, by evaluation of h-index and similar metrics [5–7]. A recent study has called into question whether grant funding now serves as a “reward” for scientists who have accrued sufficient citation counts rather than as an award for promising research [8]. Another study found that h-index did not predict future success for junior level faculty [9].
Another area where perceptions of research significance plays a role is in the evaluation of individual manuscripts by journal editors and their referees. These decisions certainly reach beyond determining the potential of an article to generate citations. Editors evaluate significance and potential interest of an article along with how that manuscript fits into the scope of the journal. Referees assess the quality the experiments in an article, give their estimation on how well these experiments fit within the current research climate, and make general evaluations as to whether the importance of the research merits publication within the journal.
It is clear that traditional, citation-based metrics alone cannot be used to fully evaluate research or a researcher, but immediacy must be taken into consideration as part of these evaluations. It is also clear that the efforts of chemists to make their work relevant to society and achieve the goal of significance, as judged by their peers, have not been widely considered or measured.
Radicchi, Weissman, and Bollen recently looked at researchers’ perceptions of individual papers. They found that there was a low correlation between citation count and researchers’ perception of impact outside of instances where respondents were evaluating their own work [10]. The authors conclude that researchers are only capable of accurately measuring impact of studies in which they were involved. We, however, would postulate that their findings are an indication that citation counts may not be accurately measuring researchers’ abstract perception of impact within their field, but that this more abstract view of impact is instead replaced with citation counts when considering their own research. This takes into account that a researcher will likely be familiar with their own metrics, and have been evaluated on them in the past, while for other papers, they are more free to substitute their own definition of impact. Regardless, this disconnect between peer judgements of impact and citations for individual articles seems worthy of further exploration.
Accordingly, in this paper, we examine the broad concepts of significance and impact in order to better understand chemistry researchers’ perceptions of individual research articles. We evaluate how individual judgements, based upon different types of significance, relate to commonly-used citation-based metrics as well as other metrics. By doing so we show that researchers do have nuanced and measurable concepts of importance and significance in an attempt to understand how research and researchers might be evaluated when citation counts are not available or relevant. In effect, researchers are able to see different types of significance in an individual research article. We conclude by offering suggestions for how professional chemistry societies can work with bibliometricians to generate guidance for employing metrics that capture the entirety of a researcher’s efforts.
With the goal of testing the ability of chemists to evaluate research importance in mind, we chose an issue from the Journal of the American Chemical Society (volume: 125, issue: 31), published in 2003, 10 years prior to the survey date. This particular journal and issue was chosen to expose survey participants to articles in a wide variety of chemistry subdisciplines and topics from a flagship journal while controlling for journal-level impact, and to have allowed sufficient time for the articles to accumulate citations. We realize that there are a number of journals from which we could have chosen. Assisting in our decision to choose an issue from JACS, was that we all really liked the title, ‘The JACS Challenge’ for our survey. A survey instrument was developed and tested via personal correspondence with 25 chemists. Upon analysis of this initial data, noting the inability of professional chemists to correctly choose the 3 top cited articles, we decided to expand our efforts to include more respondents. This survey was then replicated via SurveyMonkey.
This study was exempted, after review, by American University's Institutional Review Board (Protocol #13167).
The survey consisted of 8 questions, including basic demographic information such as research subdiscipline(s) and age. The following four questions were then applied to the same 63 articles from the JACS issue:
Which three papers in the issue to you think are the most 'significant' (your own definition of 'significant' is what is important here)?
Without looking up numbers, which three papers do you think will have been cited the most to-date?
Which three papers would you most want to point out to other chemists?
Which three papers would you want to shout about from the rooftops (i.e., tell anybody about, not just chemists)?
We recruited respondents using a number of blogposts and various solicitations on social media, including the blog ‘In the Pipeline’. In total, 408 people responded to the survey over a 2-week period. 45 sets of responses were removed for the following reasons: failing to give or denying consent on the IRB protocol form to use their answers for evaluation and submitting more than the requested number of responses (3) to a question. Removal of participants resulted in 363 participant responses included in our calculations.
Article citation counts for each article were recorded in November of 2013 and November of 2016 from Web of Science. H-index metrics of all corresponding authors were recorded in January of 2016 from Web of Science, and the highest h-index for each paper was used. Page Views were recorded from the journal’s website in November of 2016. Mendeley metrics were recorded from Mendeley in November of 2016.
The data set, available online via Figshare, was analyzed using Microsoft Excel [11].
Methdology limitations
Our survey design and execution contain three main limitations. One, the participants in the survey were self-selected from those that are active within online chemistry communication channels, and are only a small subset of the entire field of chemistry. As such, they are not necessarily an accurate representation of the entire field, but their basic demographics are noted below. The second limitation is in the design of the survey itself–namely, that the four central questions were not order randomized. As a result, it is entirely possible that one question influenced the next. As shown in the results, most respondents chose different articles for the four questions, but the possible effects of this influence are unknown and unaccounted for. A third limitation is the open, rather than blind, manner in which the subdisciplines for each article were assigned through an evaluation by the authors of this paper.
We stress to the reader that this survey and study are designed to serve as preliminary analyses designed to illustrate and quantify abstract ideas in a new and interesting way. We invite bibliometricians and other researchers to more deeply delve into our data to examine additional trends not included in our study, including how self-citations may affect differences in total citations and perceived importance.
Table 1 lists the self-reported demographics of the respondents, who were able to select multiple subdisciplines to accurately and fully describe their training and current duties. The demographics of our respondents were weighted more heavily towards organic and medicinal chemistry than the general membership of the American Chemical Society [12]. We estimate that this is due to the readership of Derek Lowe’s blog ‘In The Pipeline’, which focuses on pharmaceutical chemistry and was likely the largest driver for publicizing this survey [13]. Nevertheless, we were able to attract respondents whose self-associated subdisciplines come from across the full spectrum of chemistry.
Table 1. Respondent demographics.
Each respondent was asked to choose 3 papers for each question. In looking at the papers that were selected, the highest correlation between the sets of answers was found for papers that were deemed significant and those that were thought to be the highest cited. Correlations among these categories are shown in Table 2. The correlation between papers deemed significant and those that should be shared with other chemists was higher than the correlation between those that were thought to be the most cited and those that should be shared with other chemists. This result seems to indicate that while chemists do equate significance with citations, the act of sharing papers with other chemists should also be tracked in more detail.
Table 2. Correlations between answers given for each question.
The relationship between sharing with chemists and citations as well as between sharing with chemists and significance is certainly an interesting one. There may be certain papers which chemists find to be significant that might not be expected to show up in citation counts. Prior research focusing on the correlation between scientists storing and sharing papers (specifically through Mendeley reference libraries or over social media) and citation rate has shown that sharing can be predictive of future citations [14,15]. However, these earlier studies never directly looked at the evaluation of significance.
Because citations are the most common way in which the significance of a piece of research is broadly evaluated, we were interested in how well our respondents’ evaluations of citations, significance, and sharing correlated with the actual citations. Fig 1 shows several graphs that display total respondent selections with citations as of November of 2013 (when we closed the survey).
Fig 1. Respondent evaluations and citations (2013) by paper.
The top panel shows the composite selections of our respondents for the question asking which papers they thought had the most citations (blue) and the actual number of citations in 2013 (gray). The other panels also include the number of citations (gray) along with: selections for most significant (green, middle left), selections for which should be shared with chemists (yellow, middle right), which should be shared widely (orange, bottom left), and h-index of the corresponding author (red, bottom right) for each of the manuscripts in the journal issue.
Focusing on the top panel (respondent evaluations of number of citations with actual citations), it is apparent that there are fluctuations in both the peer judgement of citation counts and actual citations. That is bound to be expected as there are definitely variations in citation rate, even within journals. Stuart Cantrill, one of the authors on this paper and chief editor of Nature Chemistry, has commented on this phenomenon in the context of that journal’s JIF, noting the contribution of a small handful of highly cited papers to their overall impact factor, with the majority of articles receiving fewer citations than the impact factor would predict [16]. This phenomenon also led to a published proposal by several leading scientific publishers for the adoption of citation distributions as a replacement for JIF [17].
We see the same kind of fluctuations in the evaluations of our respondents. What is interesting to us are the differences in what the respondents expect to be well-cited papers versus which papers are actually well cited. Fig 2 is a more direct way to view the correlation between respondent choices and actual citation counts.
Fig 2. Correlations between respondent choices and citations (2013).
The top panel is a graph plotting each papers number of actual citations (2013) versus the number of times it was chosen by our respondents for the question: ‘which three papers do you think have been cited most to-date’ (blue). The other panels also plot actual citations versus survey responses: most significant (green, middle left), shared with chemists (yellow, middle right), and shared widely (orange, bottom left). The number of actual citations versus the h-index of the corresponding author is shown in the bottom right panel (red).
To put these graphs in perspective, we calculated the correlation between the aggregate responses for individual survey questions and the actual citations from both 2013 (the year the survey was taken) and 2016. As shown in Figs 1 and 2, there were a number of papers that were selected disproportionately more than these same papers were actually cited. We were curious if that might be because the respondents were viewing the ‘leading edge’ of chemistry. That is, if these articles were very cutting edge, it might take their citation counts a longer time to build up, like the noted Sleeping Beauty papers [18]. The data doesn’t support this point of view as the correlations, generally, decrease from the 2013 citations to the 2016 citations.
Delving into the individual survey questions, we found generally low correlations between each of the four categories and citations, as well as the correlation with the corresponding author’s h-index, as shown in Table 3. There are several observations that can be made from these comparisons. Primary among these is that corresponding author h-index has a stronger correlation than any of our survey responses to actual citation counts. In some ways, this is unsurprising since both h-index and impact factor play a role in citation count, and h-index is sometimes the strongest predictor of citation count [19,20]. We would caution that h-index and citation count don’t fully capture the notion of significance, as measured by our survey, indicating that, despite their common use in evaluation, true significance cannot be captured solely by these commonly-used bibliometrics. However, our findings also concur with one study in chemical engineering that shows that author and research group name recognition correlate strongly with citation count, which gives more evidence to the idea that peer judgments are influenced by name recognition [21].
Table 3. Correlation between respondent choices and citation counts from 2013 and 2016.
On the subject of true significance, it is worth noting that the survey responses indicate far from perfect agreement. While general trends are certainly demonstrated, the chemists did not all select the same articles for these different proxy measures of abstract importance and significance. However, the fact that there are trends at all show that there is a level of general agreement. Regardless, we posit that human judgement, even limited in scope as presented in these results, is a more accurate reflection of the abstract notion of significance upon which we can then compare metrics such as citation count. We furthermore recognize that the true value of a single article to the academic community as well as society as a whole can probably never be fully represented by any human or metric measures.
The second noteworthy observation from these numbers is that our respondents’ judgements of citation numbers were better correlated to actual citations than their estimations of other qualities (significance, shared with chemists, and shared broadly). In some way, this is reassuring; in comparison to the other metrics in the survey, chemists are best at judging citations. This further supports the hypothesis that our respondents, collectively, seem to view citations as being different than significance.
Curious, to us, is the correlation between the articles that would be shared with other chemists and the actual citation count. For the comparison to the citation counts in 2013, the 'shared with chemists' has the lowest correlation of all of the evaluations in our survey. As a citation is literally a way that scientists recommend articles to one another, it is surprising to us that its correlation to actual citation counts isn’t slightly higher. One reason for this might be due to the fact that our respondents might equate ‘shared with chemists’ with a paper being ‘interesting’ rather than ‘useful’. For the sake of this argument, it is instructive to think of two kinds of novelty produced by chemical research: results that lead to a new way of thinking about chemistry and results that lead to a new way of doing chemistry. The latter include reports that are often defined as being ‘methods’ papers. Our results, when viewed from this perspective may be hinting that there might be recognizable differences between a citable paper and a thought-provoking paper. This conclusion is supported by Li and Thelwall, who observed differences in the prediction strength of F1000 peer judgements for different types of articles, as well as other researchers who note that Mendeley statistics could measure “hidden impact” of some types of research articles [22,23]. While the present study does not fully answer this question, it would be useful to study how chemists view and engage with research that explicitly fall squarely into different categories. These results also hint at the importance altmetrics could play, more generally, in capturing this type of significance that citations alone cannot. Unfortunately, due to the age of the journal issue in question, we were unable to track these articles using altmetrics evaluation tools to confirm whether these papers were, indeed, shared widely through social-media channels.
From our full set of results, we wanted to find out how much the selections made by respondents were dictated by their identification with a specific subdiscipline of chemistry. Before we could do this, we had to determine which subdisciplines each of the papers could accurately be assigned to. Individually, the four authors with graduate training in chemistry (SC, CJ, SAO, and MRH) evaluated each article for their judgments on each article’s subdisciplines. The final decision on subdiscipline was made through a collaborative discussion between these authors. All chemical research relies on influence and techniques that come from multiple subdisciplines. However, we made our decisions based on which subdisciplines most informed a particular study as well as which subdiscipline might be most affected by that study. For an article, any subdiscipline that was suggested by our evaluations was accepted. By our analysis, only 4 articles were described as falling within a single subdiscipline, 37 articles within 2, 21 articles within 3, and a single article designated to 4 subdisciplines.
Table 4 shows correlations that analyze the effects of subdiscipline on respondent choices. First, we looked at how often respondents made selections within their own discipline. Papers that were thought to be highest cited and most shared with chemists were selected from the respondent’s subdiscipline 70% of the time. Papers that were thought to be significant were selected from a respondent’s subdiscipline slightly less often, at 63%.
Table 4. Analysis of selections within and outside of respondents’ subdisciplines.
We also looked to see if selections within subdiscipline correlated better with actual citations than selections outside of subdiscipline. Selections from within subdiscipline and outside of subdiscipline had the same correlation to actual citations in 2013, and both sets had a lower correlation than the aggregate selections. Looking at the paper-by-paper data (Fig 3), there are examples of individual subdisciplines’ ability, or lack thereof, to correlate to actual citations.
Fig 3. Respondent selections of most cited by subdiscipline.
Each graph shows respondent selection for most cited (left axis, blue) and actual citations as of 2013 (right axis) for each paper. The top panel shows selections from all respondent subdisciplines. The middle panel shows selections where the respondent subdiscipline matches the article subdiscipline. The bottom panel shows selections where the respondent subdiscipline does not match the article subdiscipline.
In some cases, the respondents’ choices of times cited had a strong correlation to actual citations. Paper 45, ‘A Heterocyclic Peptide Nanotube’ was cited 171 times as of 2013. This paper was selected as being highly cited 50 times, 42 of which coming by respondents that self-identified as having the subdisciplines that characterized that paper. Paper 10, ‘Single-Step in Situ Synthesis of Polymer-Grafted Single-Wall Nanotube Composites’ was cited 251 times as of 2013. Our respondents chose this paper as being highly cited 62 times, 34 times from within the subdiscipline and 28 times from outside of the subdiscipline. Paper 5, ‘An Ionic Liquid-Supported Ruthenium Carbene Complex: A Robust and Recyclable Catalyst for Ring-Closing Olefin Metathesis in Ionic Liquids’ was cited 215 times as of 2013. Our respondents chose this paper 48 times, 13 times from within the subdiscipline and 35 times from outside of the subdiscipline.
In some cases, our respondents entirely underestimated the citation count of an article. Paper 43, ‘Factors that Determine the Protein Resistance of Oligoether Self-Assembled Monolayers—Internal Hydrophilicity, Terminal Hydrophilicty, and Lateral Packing Density’ was cited 325 times as of 2013. Our respondents chose this paper a total of 5 times, all from within the paper’s subdiscipline.
In some cases, our respondents over-estimated the citation count of an article. Paper 30, ‘Formation of Nanostructured Polymer Filaments in Nanochannels’ was only cited 11 times as of 2013. Our respondents chose this paper 40 times, 36 times from outside of the papers subdiscipline. Paper 18, ‘TNA Synthesis by DNA Polymerases’ was cited 59 times as of 2013. Our respondents chose this paper 85 times, 72 times from within the paper’s subdiscipline.
What this data indicates to us is that human-based prediction and judgement of citation rate is difficult. As seen in other fields looking at the predictive power of F1000, active input from a broadly represented group of chemists is needed to best estimate the citation-impact of an article. But even then, it should be expected that the group will overestimate some papers while underestimating others, as echoed in previous studies [24,25]. Yogi Berra, a baseball player who is noted for his quotability as much as his skill, once said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Our study shows that it can be just as tough to make predictions about the past.
Carrying forward the ability of diverse perspectives to optimize judgements and predictions, we wanted to see if the aggregate responses to all of our survey questions could better judge citation counts. Table 5 shows the correlations of combinations of responses to 2013 citation counts. What we find from this analysis is that, based upon the questions we asked of our respondents, questions about citation counts were best at actually choosing more highly-cited articles.
Table 5. Correlation of aggregate survey responses to 2013 citation counts.
We next looked at the correlation between metrics not commonly used in research evaluation and citation counts in relation to our peer judgements. For this study, we have chosen to look at two metrics: inclusion in Mendeley libraries and page views. One reason we chose to look at these metrics is their immediacy–that is, that these metrics can both be gathered and analyzed relatively quickly following an article or even pre-print publication, and thus serve as interesting potential metrics for the evaluation of junior level researchers. Additionally, as mentioned before, they may hold promise in being able to give more nuanced views of impact. Table 6 shows the correlations between these metrics with citation counts and the responses from our survey. As can be seen with the correlations to the 2013 and 2016 citations, both the Mendeley and page-views metric are better at matching relative citation counts than any of our survey responses, reaffirming previous studies that have found correlations between these metrics. These two metrics also show higher correlations to citation rates than does the h-index of the corresponding author. We would like to caution that correlations to these metrics (as we present them) are not predictive and are, likely, formed somewhat in response to the ways these papers are cited. However, what is apparent is that even these metrics fail to replicate what practicing chemists view as significant and important, indicating that, at least for Mendeley, it alone cannot adequately capture these more elusive properties.
Table 6. Correlations between Mendeley inclusions or page views with citations and survey results.
Conclusions and outlook
While the analysis of article citations will always be a necessary activity, it is apparent that citation count does not necessarily correlate with perceived importance. Or, put better: that the importance of a research article is only partly captured by its citation rates. This is certainly not a new finding. But we do hope that our study reinforces previous studies and pushes for use of a better metric or set of metrics that captures paper importance that reflects objective analyses (usage of the paper through citation rates and implementation of its findings outside of the research lab) as well as the more subjective point-of-view of active researchers. Returning to the distinction between papers that change the practice of chemistry versus those that change a chemist’s point of view, how do researchers engage with these distinct types of research articles? Is there a way to capture nuances of how researchers perceive a research article? Could altmetrics play a role in telling this side of the story? Our results indicate that in order to more closely align current measurements with peer judgement, perhaps the future of chemistry impact evaluation should rely more heavily on perception, peer evaluation, and other qualitative peer judgements than on bibliometrics, in addition to those bibliometrics and altmetrics currently available.
Another aspect that continues to motivate us involves the immediacy of research. A full accounting of the importance of a paper, however importance is defined, cannot be accurately evaluated until long after the research has been published. However, scientists are judged on the perceived potential of their work before it occurs (while evaluating proposals for funding) and directly after a set of experiments is completed (refereeing manuscripts for journals). The inability of our panel of experts in chemical research to outperform h-index in judging journal citations suggests the views of just a few critical reviewers: journal editors, program officers, article and grant referees, and the scientists performing the work are inadequate for accurately capturing the importance of a research project and result. Perhaps there are other leading indicators, such as engagement with an article on a preprint server, that can better predict and evaluate the importance of a research project prior to publication, provided that a diverse and robust group of peers can be relied on to engage in such activities in an online sphere.
With these findings, we conclude that the time has come for the chemistry community to actively seek better measures for the evaluation of researchers in the context of the broader impacts we describe earlier in the paper. Our suggestion is not a new one, but adds to calls made by others in chemistry and beyond [26–30]. We note that several other disciplines have already investigated and articulated the need for broader impact measures. The most well-defined example of a model for the evaluation of research based on broader impacts is the Becker Model [31]. The Becker Model outlines the impact of research output and activities in five distinct areas of impact: Advancement of Knowledge (which generally corresponds to traditional scholarly impact), Clinical Implementation, Legislation and Policy, Economic Benefit, and Community Benefit. For each area of impact, it includes a list of different research outputs and activities, as well as measures and other indicators of impact. Other examples include practitioners of marketing and policy research, who have suggested ways to track and foster ‘societal impact’, and the development of a task force in academic librarianship, who are charged with creation of a framework for the evaluation of scholarship in a field that is generally considered to be practitioner-driven [32,33].
We specifically call on all international chemical societies to work together to create an evaluative framework for chemistry researchers that go beyond commonly-used bibliometrics to create a framework for the equitable evaluation of research in the context of the broad impacts it provides to scholarship and in the greater society.
The authors would like to thank the following chemists for their assistance in the survey trial before its full release: Gavin Armstrong, a contingent of members of the Baran Lab at the Scripps Institute, Paul Bracher, Jessica Breen, Raychelle Burks, Vikki Cantrill, Stuart Conway, Christopher Cramer, Aaron Finke, Katherine Franz, Katherine Haxton, Grant Hill, Ashutosh Jogalekar, Marcell Swart, and Bruce Turnbull.
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In markets that are becoming increasingly more competitive, sport marketing and sponsorship have become high impact areas for business success. Consequently, there is a growing demand for trained specialists in the whole sports marketing cycle, both in sports companies as well as in sports foundations, associations, federations and organizations.
Football is undoubtedly the most powerful and most popular sport in the world, linking communities, stirring emotions and breaking down cultural barriers. Football has also become one of the most profitable industries, with a significant economic impact in infrastructure development, sponsorships, TV rights and transfers of players.
Coaching is more than the use of tactical and technical knowledge as per Johan Cruyff’s vision. Coaching is about managing oneself, the players & staff, the team and the environment. Each participant’s personal background is the base for their further development and better understanding of themselves as a coach and/or manager.
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Law enforcement officers gather near the scene where the body of a woman was found near Interstate 35 north of Laredo, Texas on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. A U.S. Border Patrol agent suspected of killing four women was arrested early Saturday after a fifth woman who had been abducted managed to escape from him and notify authorities, law enforcement officials said, describing the agent as a "serial killer." (Danny Zaragoza/The Laredo Morning Times via AP)
The Latest: Border Patrol agent targeted vulnerable women
LAREDO, Texas (AP) — The Latest on the arrest of a Border Patrol accused of killing four women (all times local):
A Texas prosecutor says a Border Patrol agent targeted a vulnerable community when he killed four women.
Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz spoke Monday about the allegations against 35-year-old Juan David Ortiz. He's accused of fatally shooting four women and injuring a fifth who escaped.
Alaniz says Ortiz sought out a "community of people" who were vulnerable "whether it be because of alcohol, substance abuse, drug addiction or prostitution."
Alaniz noted that all of the victims were shot in the head with a handgun and taken to desolate areas around Laredo. Alaniz says Ortiz "executed" the victims in a "cold and callous way."
Alaniz said that investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the killings.
A Texas prosecutor says the Border Patrol agent charged with killing four women is a "rogue individual" whose actions don't reflect on the agency.
Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz spoke during a news conference Monday about the murder charges against 35-year-old Juan David Ortiz. He's also accused of injuring a fifth woman who escaped.
Alaniz praised law enforcement for tracking and arresting Ortiz early Saturday. He says Ortiz's actions "do not reflect the work done by the men and women of Border Patrol."
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost echoed the sentiments and said Ortiz has been placed on unpaid suspension.
Webb County sheriff's Chief Deputy Federico Garza says Ortiz wasn't on duty and wore civilian clothes during the killings.
Investigators say a Border Patrol agent accused of killing four women collected an arsenal of weapons to prepare for a confrontation with Texas police after he thought he'd been identified.
Webb County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Federico Garza released the information Monday during a news conference.
He says 35-year-old Juan David Ortiz collected numerous weapons at his home after another victim escaped and sought help from a state trooper at a nearby gas station.
Garza says Ortiz wasn't immediately identified as the suspect in the woman's kidnapping and the deaths. But he was later identified and spotted at another gas station hours later. He fled and hid in a hotel parking lot.
Garza says Ortiz "was going to try to commit suicide by cop" by brandishing his cellphone to look like a weapon. Instead, Ortiz was taken into custody this weekend in Laredo, Texas.
He's being held on $2.5 million bond on several charges, including four counts of murder.
The Navy says a Border Patrol agent accused of killing four women near the U.S.-Mexico border was in the service for almost eight years.
A biography of Juan David Ortiz released Monday says that he enlisted in the Navy in July 2001 and served until May 2009. He was listed as a hospital corpsman, second class.
He joined the Border Patrol shortly after leaving the Navy. The Border Patrol often recruits servicemembers and gives hiring preference to eligible veterans.
Authorities say the 35-year-old Ortiz "provided a voluntary verbal confession" early Saturday in the deaths of the four women. He's being held on $2.5 million bond on four counts of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and unlawful restraint.
A U.S. Border Patrol supervisor remains jailed in Texas after he confessed to killing four women and assaulting a fifth who managed to escape, police said in court records.
Juan David Ortiz is being held in Laredo on $2.5 million bond on four counts of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful restraint.
According to affidavits , the 35-year-old Ortiz "provided a voluntary verbal confession" early Saturday in the deaths of the women. Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz described Ortiz as a serial killer whose victims were believed to be prostitutes.
Jail records don't list an attorney to speak for Ortiz, who had worked for Border Patrol for 10 years. He is the second Border Patrol agent in Laredo to be arrested on a murder charge this year.
Sex in society
Military legal affairs
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Redox chemistry of vanadium in soils and sediments: Interactions with colloidal materials, mobilization, speciation, and relevant environmental implications - A review
Sabry M. Shaheen, Daniel S. Alessi, Filip M.G. Tack, Yong Sik Ok, Ki Hyun Kim, Jon Petter Gustafsson, Donald L. Sparks, Jörg Rinklebe
Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering
New professors
Highly Cited Researcher
Vanadium (V), although serving as an important component of industrial activities, has bioinorganic implications to pose highly toxic hazards to humans and animals. Soils and sediments throughout the world exhibit wide ranges of vanadium concentrations. Although vanadium toxicity varies between different species, it is mainly controlled by soil redox potential (EH). Nonetheless, knowledge of the redox geochemistry of vanadium lags in comparison to what is known about other potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In particular, the redox-induced speciation and mobilization of vanadium in soils and sediments and the associated risks to the environment have not been reviewed to date. Therefore, this review aims to address 1) the content and geochemical fate of vanadium in soils and sediments, 2) its redox-induced release dynamics, 3) redox-mediated chemical reactions between vanadium and soil organic and inorganic colloidal materials in soil solution, 4) its speciation in soil solution and soil-sediments, and 5) the use of advanced geochemical and spectroscopic techniques to investigate these complex systems. Vanadium (+5) is the most mobile and toxic form of its species while being the thermodynamically stable valence state in oxic environments, while vanadium (+3) might be expected to be predominant under euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic) conditions. Vanadium can react variably in response to changing soil EH: under anoxic conditions, the mobilization of vanadium can decrease because vanadium (+5) can be reduced to relatively less soluble vanadium (+4) via inorganic reactions such as with H2S and organic matter and by metal-reducing microorganisms. On the other hand, dissolved concentrations of vanadium can increase at low EH in many soils to reveal a similar pattern to that of Fe, which may be due to the reductive dissolution of Fe(hydr)oxides and the release of the associated vanadium. Those differences in vanadium release dynamics might occur as a result of the direct impact of EH on vanadium speciation in soil solution and soil sediments, and/or because of the EH-dependent changes in soil pH, chemistry of (Fe)(hydr)oxides, and complexation with soil organic carbon. Release dynamics of vanadium in soils may also be affected positively by soil pH and the release of aromatic organic compounds. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful tool to investigate the speciation of vanadium present in soil. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) is often used to constrain the average valence state of vanadium in soils and sediments, and in limited cases extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis has been used to determine the average molecular coordination environment of vanadium in soil components. In conclusion, this review presents the state of the art about the redox geochemistry of vanadium and thus contributes to a better understanding of the speciation, potential mobilization, and environmental hazards of vanadium in the near-surface environment of uplands, wetlands, and agricultural ecosystems as affected by various colloidal particles. Further research is needed to elucidate the geochemistry and speciation of vanadium in the dissolved, colloidal, and soil sediments phases, including the determination of factors that control the redox geochemistry of vanadium.
Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.002
Oxidation-Reduction
toxic hazards
Colloidal materials
Redox potential
Wetland soils
Shaheen, S. M., Alessi, D. S., Tack, F. M. G., Ok, Y. S., Kim, K. H., Gustafsson, J. P., ... Rinklebe, J. (2019). Redox chemistry of vanadium in soils and sediments: Interactions with colloidal materials, mobilization, speciation, and relevant environmental implications - A review. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 265, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.002
Redox chemistry of vanadium in soils and sediments : Interactions with colloidal materials, mobilization, speciation, and relevant environmental implications - A review. / Shaheen, Sabry M.; Alessi, Daniel S.; Tack, Filip M.G.; Ok, Yong Sik; Kim, Ki Hyun; Gustafsson, Jon Petter; Sparks, Donald L.; Rinklebe, Jörg.
In: Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, Vol. 265, 01.03.2019, p. 1-13.
Shaheen, SM, Alessi, DS, Tack, FMG, Ok, YS, Kim, KH, Gustafsson, JP, Sparks, DL & Rinklebe, J 2019, 'Redox chemistry of vanadium in soils and sediments: Interactions with colloidal materials, mobilization, speciation, and relevant environmental implications - A review', Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 265, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.002
Shaheen SM, Alessi DS, Tack FMG, Ok YS, Kim KH, Gustafsson JP et al. Redox chemistry of vanadium in soils and sediments: Interactions with colloidal materials, mobilization, speciation, and relevant environmental implications - A review. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 2019 Mar 1;265:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.002
Shaheen, Sabry M. ; Alessi, Daniel S. ; Tack, Filip M.G. ; Ok, Yong Sik ; Kim, Ki Hyun ; Gustafsson, Jon Petter ; Sparks, Donald L. ; Rinklebe, Jörg. / Redox chemistry of vanadium in soils and sediments : Interactions with colloidal materials, mobilization, speciation, and relevant environmental implications - A review. In: Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 2019 ; Vol. 265. pp. 1-13.
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abstract = "Vanadium (V), although serving as an important component of industrial activities, has bioinorganic implications to pose highly toxic hazards to humans and animals. Soils and sediments throughout the world exhibit wide ranges of vanadium concentrations. Although vanadium toxicity varies between different species, it is mainly controlled by soil redox potential (EH). Nonetheless, knowledge of the redox geochemistry of vanadium lags in comparison to what is known about other potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In particular, the redox-induced speciation and mobilization of vanadium in soils and sediments and the associated risks to the environment have not been reviewed to date. Therefore, this review aims to address 1) the content and geochemical fate of vanadium in soils and sediments, 2) its redox-induced release dynamics, 3) redox-mediated chemical reactions between vanadium and soil organic and inorganic colloidal materials in soil solution, 4) its speciation in soil solution and soil-sediments, and 5) the use of advanced geochemical and spectroscopic techniques to investigate these complex systems. Vanadium (+5) is the most mobile and toxic form of its species while being the thermodynamically stable valence state in oxic environments, while vanadium (+3) might be expected to be predominant under euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic) conditions. Vanadium can react variably in response to changing soil EH: under anoxic conditions, the mobilization of vanadium can decrease because vanadium (+5) can be reduced to relatively less soluble vanadium (+4) via inorganic reactions such as with H2S and organic matter and by metal-reducing microorganisms. On the other hand, dissolved concentrations of vanadium can increase at low EH in many soils to reveal a similar pattern to that of Fe, which may be due to the reductive dissolution of Fe(hydr)oxides and the release of the associated vanadium. Those differences in vanadium release dynamics might occur as a result of the direct impact of EH on vanadium speciation in soil solution and soil sediments, and/or because of the EH-dependent changes in soil pH, chemistry of (Fe)(hydr)oxides, and complexation with soil organic carbon. Release dynamics of vanadium in soils may also be affected positively by soil pH and the release of aromatic organic compounds. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful tool to investigate the speciation of vanadium present in soil. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) is often used to constrain the average valence state of vanadium in soils and sediments, and in limited cases extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis has been used to determine the average molecular coordination environment of vanadium in soil components. In conclusion, this review presents the state of the art about the redox geochemistry of vanadium and thus contributes to a better understanding of the speciation, potential mobilization, and environmental hazards of vanadium in the near-surface environment of uplands, wetlands, and agricultural ecosystems as affected by various colloidal particles. Further research is needed to elucidate the geochemistry and speciation of vanadium in the dissolved, colloidal, and soil sediments phases, including the determination of factors that control the redox geochemistry of vanadium.",
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T1 - Redox chemistry of vanadium in soils and sediments
T2 - Interactions with colloidal materials, mobilization, speciation, and relevant environmental implications - A review
AU - Shaheen, Sabry M.
AU - Alessi, Daniel S.
AU - Tack, Filip M.G.
AU - Ok, Yong Sik
AU - Kim, Ki Hyun
AU - Gustafsson, Jon Petter
AU - Sparks, Donald L.
AU - Rinklebe, Jörg
N2 - Vanadium (V), although serving as an important component of industrial activities, has bioinorganic implications to pose highly toxic hazards to humans and animals. Soils and sediments throughout the world exhibit wide ranges of vanadium concentrations. Although vanadium toxicity varies between different species, it is mainly controlled by soil redox potential (EH). Nonetheless, knowledge of the redox geochemistry of vanadium lags in comparison to what is known about other potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In particular, the redox-induced speciation and mobilization of vanadium in soils and sediments and the associated risks to the environment have not been reviewed to date. Therefore, this review aims to address 1) the content and geochemical fate of vanadium in soils and sediments, 2) its redox-induced release dynamics, 3) redox-mediated chemical reactions between vanadium and soil organic and inorganic colloidal materials in soil solution, 4) its speciation in soil solution and soil-sediments, and 5) the use of advanced geochemical and spectroscopic techniques to investigate these complex systems. Vanadium (+5) is the most mobile and toxic form of its species while being the thermodynamically stable valence state in oxic environments, while vanadium (+3) might be expected to be predominant under euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic) conditions. Vanadium can react variably in response to changing soil EH: under anoxic conditions, the mobilization of vanadium can decrease because vanadium (+5) can be reduced to relatively less soluble vanadium (+4) via inorganic reactions such as with H2S and organic matter and by metal-reducing microorganisms. On the other hand, dissolved concentrations of vanadium can increase at low EH in many soils to reveal a similar pattern to that of Fe, which may be due to the reductive dissolution of Fe(hydr)oxides and the release of the associated vanadium. Those differences in vanadium release dynamics might occur as a result of the direct impact of EH on vanadium speciation in soil solution and soil sediments, and/or because of the EH-dependent changes in soil pH, chemistry of (Fe)(hydr)oxides, and complexation with soil organic carbon. Release dynamics of vanadium in soils may also be affected positively by soil pH and the release of aromatic organic compounds. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful tool to investigate the speciation of vanadium present in soil. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) is often used to constrain the average valence state of vanadium in soils and sediments, and in limited cases extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis has been used to determine the average molecular coordination environment of vanadium in soil components. In conclusion, this review presents the state of the art about the redox geochemistry of vanadium and thus contributes to a better understanding of the speciation, potential mobilization, and environmental hazards of vanadium in the near-surface environment of uplands, wetlands, and agricultural ecosystems as affected by various colloidal particles. Further research is needed to elucidate the geochemistry and speciation of vanadium in the dissolved, colloidal, and soil sediments phases, including the determination of factors that control the redox geochemistry of vanadium.
AB - Vanadium (V), although serving as an important component of industrial activities, has bioinorganic implications to pose highly toxic hazards to humans and animals. Soils and sediments throughout the world exhibit wide ranges of vanadium concentrations. Although vanadium toxicity varies between different species, it is mainly controlled by soil redox potential (EH). Nonetheless, knowledge of the redox geochemistry of vanadium lags in comparison to what is known about other potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In particular, the redox-induced speciation and mobilization of vanadium in soils and sediments and the associated risks to the environment have not been reviewed to date. Therefore, this review aims to address 1) the content and geochemical fate of vanadium in soils and sediments, 2) its redox-induced release dynamics, 3) redox-mediated chemical reactions between vanadium and soil organic and inorganic colloidal materials in soil solution, 4) its speciation in soil solution and soil-sediments, and 5) the use of advanced geochemical and spectroscopic techniques to investigate these complex systems. Vanadium (+5) is the most mobile and toxic form of its species while being the thermodynamically stable valence state in oxic environments, while vanadium (+3) might be expected to be predominant under euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic) conditions. Vanadium can react variably in response to changing soil EH: under anoxic conditions, the mobilization of vanadium can decrease because vanadium (+5) can be reduced to relatively less soluble vanadium (+4) via inorganic reactions such as with H2S and organic matter and by metal-reducing microorganisms. On the other hand, dissolved concentrations of vanadium can increase at low EH in many soils to reveal a similar pattern to that of Fe, which may be due to the reductive dissolution of Fe(hydr)oxides and the release of the associated vanadium. Those differences in vanadium release dynamics might occur as a result of the direct impact of EH on vanadium speciation in soil solution and soil sediments, and/or because of the EH-dependent changes in soil pH, chemistry of (Fe)(hydr)oxides, and complexation with soil organic carbon. Release dynamics of vanadium in soils may also be affected positively by soil pH and the release of aromatic organic compounds. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful tool to investigate the speciation of vanadium present in soil. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) is often used to constrain the average valence state of vanadium in soils and sediments, and in limited cases extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis has been used to determine the average molecular coordination environment of vanadium in soil components. In conclusion, this review presents the state of the art about the redox geochemistry of vanadium and thus contributes to a better understanding of the speciation, potential mobilization, and environmental hazards of vanadium in the near-surface environment of uplands, wetlands, and agricultural ecosystems as affected by various colloidal particles. Further research is needed to elucidate the geochemistry and speciation of vanadium in the dissolved, colloidal, and soil sediments phases, including the determination of factors that control the redox geochemistry of vanadium.
KW - Colloidal materials
KW - Redox potential
KW - Sediments
KW - Vanadium
KW - Wetland soils
U2 - 10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.002
DO - 10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.002
JO - Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
JF - Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.002
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Credit: Flickr Photo/Debbie R
A Surprising History Of The Apple (And Why Red Delicious Is Out)
Marcie Sillman
Amina Al-Sadi
American as apple pie, the expression goes.
Except that the only apple native to North America is the crab apple, said Rowan Jacobsen, author of “Apples of Uncommon Character.” He spoke with KUOW’s Marcie Sillman about apple history – and where you can find the most delicious varieties.
Apples find their roots in the forested Tian Shan mountains between Kazakhstan and China. Even today, Jacobsen said, 60 percent of those forests are made up of apple trees, with nut and apricot trees interspersed.
In the U.S., apples date back to the founding of the country.
“The apple and the colonist arrived together,” Jacobsen said. “The apple had been grown in Europe for a few thousand years by then. But we brought it over with us and immediately planted it.” Colonist and apple thrived equally.
The Red Delicious emerged as the favorite, beautifully red as its name boasts, but objectively not so delicious. The Red Delicious turned a generation off apples, Jacobsen said.
But apple growers have told him that for the first time this year, the Gala apple (which has a “much more tropical, citrusy flavor,” Jacobsen said) may edge out the Red Delicious as the world’s top apple.
Jacobsen also gave a nod to the Honeycrisp, which he says revolutionized the apple industry. People don’t care how much they pay for that variety, he said.
“I think of it as an apple-flavored Cheeto,” he said. “You bite into it – it’s got these foamy cells that explode and shoot juice all over your mouth and then it’s gone.”
And then there are the varieties you can’t find in a supermarket – perhaps not so glossy or brightly colored, but surprising and delectable. Jacobsen’s favorite: Cox’s Orange Pippin, “considered the greatest-tasting apple of all time.”
The apple, which hails from 19th century England, isn’t pretty. Its skin is gnarled and brownish, but it has hard, crunchy texture.
There are also purple apples with a lychee flavor, and apples with banana notes.
“Don’t let color fool you,” he said.
food 283 books 479 history 317 life +999 feature +999
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Sun Devils Get Served a Dose of Humble Pie in Utah
October 19, 2019 Earl Burnett
This was a pivotal match up that would almost dictate the Pac 12 South champion, and also show the Herm Edwards lead Arizona State Sun Devils where they are in the growth department as a team.
The Utah Utes came in with the same record of 5-1 and coming in as a 14 point favor and looking to avenge the last two losses to the Sun Devils.
Much has been said about these two teams creeping the boarder line of a rivalry, with the snubbing of two star recruits Eno Benjamin and Freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels both choosing ASU over Utah.
How that played out on the field or if it had an effect on either side is not clear, but the outcome suggest that the Devils having 20 plus Freshman may have played into the hands of the situation.
Not coming in focused usually comes in the form of bad penalties, and the Sun Devils displayed that tonight in Utah in the form of 12 penalties for 122 yards including three personal fouls, LB Darien Butler was flagged for unnecessary roughness, Tillman safety Evan Fields ejected for targeting and LB Merlin Robertson penalized for roughing the passer.
Arizona State coach Herm Edwards said he apologized to Utah coach Kyle Whittingham for his team’s excessive penalties.
“I told coach I was embarrassed for our team,” Edwards said. “We don’t play like that. We were too emotional for this game. When you play like that, it mars the game. I’ve never been in a game like that in my whole life.”
Freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels has very little protection tonight and his performance was a mixture of that plus having never seen a defense like the Utes all season. Daniels finished 4/18 for a measly 25 yards and rushed for 8.
“We’ll have to go home and regroup and figure out what we need to do to help him. They have an outstanding defense, probably best in the conference, but we have to find a way to fix it, I know that.” said Coach Edwards after the game.
ASU RB Eno Benjamin gained 104 yards on 15 carries and that was the bulk of all the Devils offense on the night as they fall 21-3 to the Utes.
The Devils defense forced turnovers that in most games would result in a win but were not able to capitalize on the defensive performance, the defense forced two sacks, three fumble recoveries, one interception and four pass break-ups. It was the offense that was not able to hold up their end of the bargain as the defense tried to hold up as long as they could but to no avail.
So back to the drawing board for the young Sun devils, after being served up a good hunk of humble pie and seeing they are far away from being the best team in the pac12 conference.
Going on the road to UCLA next week licking their wounds ASU will look to get back in the win column and get better, and try and get as many wins as possible because its very possible they have ended their chances for a pac 12 south title.
Previous PHOENIX SUNS NEW MENU OFFERINGS AT TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA FOR 2019-20 SEASON
Next A Third Quarter Explosion Caps the Suns Welcome Party
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In vivo release of inflammatory mediators
Home/Nasal Inflamation/In vivo release of inflammatory mediators
Hyperosmolar environments induce histamine release from mast cells and basophils in vitro. To assess whether the same stimulus induces mediator release in vivo, 15 healthy human volunteers underwent nasal challenges with instilled solutions of differing osmolalities: lactated Ringer’s solution (257 +/- 3 mOsm/kg), isosmolar mannitol (277 +/- 6 mOsm/kg), and hyperosmolar mannitol (869 +/- 8 mOsm/kg). The effect of these challenges on the volume, osmolality, and inflammatory mediator content of subsequent 5-ml isosmolar lavages was determined. The volumes of lavages returned after hyperosmolar challenges were significantly greater than those after isosmolar challenges (5.5 +/- 0.2 ml versus 4.2 +/- 0.1 ml; p less than 0.01) and these lavage solutions had higher osmolalities.
Even when corrected for increased volumes, the lavages after hyperosmolar challenges contained significantly higher quantities of inflammatory mediators such as histamine (29.0 versus 10.1 ng; p less than 0.01), TAME-esterase activity (32.7 versus 11.1 cpm x 10(-3); p less than 0.01), and immunoreactive leukotrienes (9.9 versus 3.4 ng; p less than 0.01). The changes in mediators were dose dependent in that incremental increase in challenge osmolality were associated with incremental increases in histamine release.
Therefore, when exposed to hyperosmolar stimuli in vivo, the nasal respiratory airway releases inflammatory mediators and fluid rapidly shifts into the airway lumen. It has been suggested that the mediator release observed on breathing cold and dry air is due to increased osmolality of airway secretions; the present data confirm that osmotic variations at the airway surface can provide an adequate stimulus for cell activation.
Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Silber G, Proud D, Warner J, Naclerio R, Kagey-Sobotka A, Lichtenstein L, Eggleston P.
2017-01-11T07:29:41+00:00By Kuraflo|Nasal Inflamation|
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Craftsman at Sears Uses Data From Lawn Equipment To Improve Their Products
Stronger Brands Through Smarter Products
Smart Lawn Equipment Gives Our Client an Edge Over Competitors
Craftsman at Sears, a top seller of tools, lawn, and garden equipment, had two major challenges: low user ratings for the Craftsman Smart Lawn mobile app and limited usefulness from the app data it was collecting. “We have thousands downloading the app, but it only had a 1.5-star rating. We needed to turn that trend around,” said Bob Boyle, Director of Brand Management, Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard brands. “We also were missing opportunities in data collection, as well as how to use the data.”
Enter Lab651, experts in connected products and mobile applications. “The app needed technical updates - it looked great, but the back-end programming needed work to enhance the user experience,” company co-founder Justin Grammens noted.
Fixing the app’s back-end programming was just the beginning for Grammens, an application and connectivity expert, and his team at Lab651. “We saw huge potential for Craftsman at Sears to create an interactive and rich user experience.” The app lets users know when their mower needed a new blade, air filter, and oil change, or when the battery was losing its charge. Grammens saw the potential for much more...
More Data Drives Better Business Decisions
The team at Lab651 quickly identified a number of key features that were not working as expected and implemented better authentication and security architecture.
Where Lab651 really exceeded expectations, however, was helping Craftsman at Sears leverage the data already being collected and enabling the app to capture even more data to help create cross-selling opportunities and strengthen customer loyalty. Previously, the only data Craftsman was able to collect was the number of users signed up for the current and prior week.
“We created a dashboard that identifies the top five models purchased by customers who use the app, shows geographic information on where they are located, the performance of the mowers, and how often they are using the equipment,” Grammens said. Lab651 also suggested to Craftsman at Sears that it specifically target power users of the mobile app and pushing notifications to cross-sell products to them. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Grammens said. Craftsman at Sears agrees: “Lab651 really opened my eyes to the possibilities of using all this data we are collecting. They think strategically and help us chart a vision of what we want to offer consumers in the future.”
Another challenge that surfaced as the team strategized with Lab651 was its ability to provide the Craftsman at Sears product management and product development teams in real-time which products are being purchased more often and if there is a correlation to product quality issues. “Right now we work with a wide variety of manufacturers, and we don’t really have a sense of which might have product quality issues,” said Boyle. With the new dashboard, our teams can now track the performance and failure rates of various products, which allows them to make better business decisions going forward.
Craftsman at Sears was able to quickly see results and calculate a positive return on investment. Having the ability to purchase items such as Craftsman lawn mower blades and DieHard batteries being just one click away from the consumer in the app, the increase in sales was measurable.
Quote from the client:
"Lab651 is the kind of partner I dream about working with: I throw a project over the fence, and it comes back to me with robust capability and handy features I hadn’t even considered."
— Bob Boyle, Director of Brand Management, Kenmore, Craftsman & DieHard Brands
Helping Companies Access and Use Data Differently
Contact Lab651 to help you build solutions that yield insights into how your customers are using your connected product
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Zimbabwe: Trade Union President Arrested While On Tour in the Country
The ITUC has strongly condemned the arrest of ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo and four members of his staff, Michael Kandukutu, Dumisani Ncube, Nawu Ndlovu and Percy Mcijo, for exercising their legitimate trade union activity.
Read more about Zimbabwe: Trade Union President Arrested While On Tour in the Country
Groups Raise Labor Concerns on the Eve of Dole IPO
Bama Athreya, Executive Director
(202) 347-4100 ext. 106, (202) 701-3051, bama.athreya [at] ilrf.org
Brian Campbell, Director of Policy and Legal Programs
(202) 701-3021, brian.campbell [at] ilrf.org
Socially Responsible Investors, Faith and Human Rights
Read more about Groups Raise Labor Concerns on the Eve of Dole IPO
Schakowsky Testimony on International Violence Against Women
WASHINGTON, DC (October 21, 2009) – Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, delivered the following testimony before the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations and Oversight during the hearing, "International Violence Against Women: Stories and Solutions.”
Prepared Statement of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight
Hearing on “International Violence Against Women: Stories and Solutions”
Read more about Schakowsky Testimony on International Violence Against Women
Teachers, Students, Labor Rights Watchdogs, Religious Leaders, Call on Uzbekistan to End Forced Child Labor in Cotton Fields
CONTACT: Ira Arlook, 202-822-5200, ira[at]neweconomy.org
Leslie Getzinger, American Federation of Teachers, 202 321 4034, lgetzing[at]aft.org
Major Human Rights Abuses Complicate U.S. Trade Relations with Central Asian Republic
Demonstration at Embassy of Uzbekistan Delivers Petitions Demanding That Millions of Children be Sent Out of the Fields and Back to School this Fall
Read more about Teachers, Students, Labor Rights Watchdogs, Religious Leaders, Call on Uzbekistan to End Forced Child Labor in Cotton Fields
No Let Up in the Onslaught against Colombian Trade Unionists
On 1 October at 8.30 p.m., hired assassins seriously injured Mario Montes de Oca Anaya and killed Alberto Luis Pastrana Soto, who was with him at the time, as they approached the main entrance of Hospital San Jerónimo in the city of Montería, Córdoba. These crimes are yet another illustration of the failure to improve the lot of trade unionists in Colombia, where there is a systematic policy of violence against the trade union movement.
Read more about No Let Up in the Onslaught against Colombian Trade Unionists
Guinea: Commission of Inquiry Must Be Set Up to Investigate Brutal Repression of Demonstrators
The ITUC has strongly condemned the brutal repression of demonstrators in Conakry and has reiterated the call for maximum sanctions against the perpetrators and instigators of the barbaric acts perpetrated on Monday 28 September in Guinea, when over 150 people were killed, 1200 injured and numerous women were raped in the middle of the street "The trade union movement is in a state of shock," said Guy Ryder, general secretary of the ITUC.
Read more about Guinea: Commission of Inquiry Must Be Set Up to Investigate Brutal Repression of Demonstrators
ILRF Named as Key Child Labor Advocate on Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child, Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products
Read more about ILRF Named as Key Child Labor Advocate on Consultative Group to Eliminate the Use of Child, Forced Labor in Imported Agricultural Products
US Department of Labor Includes Uzbek Cotton on List of Products Made by Forced, Child Labor
Contact: Brian Campbell, brian.campbell[at]ilrf.org, +1-202-347-4100 x102
Leslie Getzinger, lgetzing[at]aft.org, +1-202-585-4373
Melinda Lovins, Melinda.Lovins[at]calvert.com, +1-301-657-7089
Advocates and Shareholders Express Concern about Ongoing Forced Labor of Children in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Industry
Read more about US Department of Labor Includes Uzbek Cotton on List of Products Made by Forced, Child Labor
DOL Child Labor List Released
Contact: Brian Campbell
Today, the US Department of Labor (DOL) released a list of goods believed to have been produced using forced or child labor globally. The list includes a number of industries where the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) has identified these labor rights abuses to occur including cocoa, cotton, tobacco and rubber.
Read more about DOL Child Labor List Released
US Department of Labor Lists Cocoa, Cotton and Other Goods as Products Made by Forced, Child Labor
Read more about US Department of Labor Lists Cocoa, Cotton and Other Goods as Products Made by Forced, Child Labor
Middle East: Governments Step Up Repression As Economic Crisis Hits Jobs and Incomes
As the economic situation in several Middle Eastern countries has deteriorated over the past three months, an alarming increase in repression of independent trade union activity has taken place, as governments react with force to demands for better protection of incomes and for job security.
In Morocco, massive fraud took place during national employee-representative elections, aimed at excluding trade unions from future negotiations on wages and working conditions. Other forms of anti-union action have included dismissal of workplace trade union representatives.
Read more about Middle East: Governments Step Up Repression As Economic Crisis Hits Jobs and Incomes
Colombia: Trade Unions in Mourning for Two More Murdered Colleagues
Two more trade unionists, Gustavo Gómez and Mauricio Antonio Monsalve Vásquez, were assassinated in Colombia this week, bringing the total of trade unionists assassinated in Colombia since January 2009 to 27. The trade union movement has urged the authorities to do whatever is necessary to put an end to the bloodshed.
Read more about Colombia: Trade Unions in Mourning for Two More Murdered Colleagues
Freedom to Organize at Work Worldwide Recognized on Labor Day
Contact: Eva Seidelman, eva[at]ilrf.org, 202.347.4100 x 105
ILRF releases “Freedom at Work” toolkit focused on one of the most widely violated human rights
Read more about Freedom to Organize at Work Worldwide Recognized on Labor Day
Guatemala: A dysfunctional labour justice system
The ITUC joins the Confederación de Unidad Sindical de Guatemala (CUSG), the Central General de Trabajadores de Guatemala (CGTG) and UNSITRAGUA in expressing its profound concern at the very serious allegations of corruption and impunity within the Guatemalan labour law and justice system, affecting all workers in the union centres’ affiliates, with particular regard to the system’s independence and autonomy.
Read more about Guatemala: A dysfunctional labour justice system
Honduras: Repression and Violence Continue
The ITUC, together with TUCA, and the CUTH, CTH and CGT, its Honduran affiliates, have denounced the repression, forced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and the use of firearms suffered by those taking part in peaceful demonstrations held to protest against the coup d’état and to demand the restitution of the constitutional president, Manuel Zelaya.
Read more about Honduras: Repression and Violence Continue
ILO team arrives to probe rights abuses
A three-member team of International Labour Organisations (ILO) officials is in Zimbabwe to probe alleged violations of trade union rights by the Zimbabwean government.
The team, which is led by Raymond Ranjeva, a senior judge with the International Court of Justice, is set to spend two weeks in the country.
Ranjeva is accompanied by Evance Rabban Kalula, University of Cape Town director of the institute of development and labour law, and Bertrand Ramcharan, a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Read more about ILO team arrives to probe rights abuses
Serious Human and Trade Union Rights Violations following the Coup in Honduras
The ITUC has once again strongly condemned the military coup carried out in Honduras on 28 June with the abduction, overthrow and expulsion from the country of President Manuel Zelaya Rosales, as it had along with its regional organisation the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) on 8 July 2009.
Read more about Serious Human and Trade Union Rights Violations following the Coup in Honduras
Three GSP Petitions Filed by ILRF Continue in 2008 Annual Review
This week, the Obama Administration announced the outcome of the 2008 Annual Review under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programs. The report included a review of three petitions filed by the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) related to the eligibility of countries that have violated the rights of workers.
Read more about Three GSP Petitions Filed by ILRF Continue in 2008 Annual Review
No End to Assassinations in Colombia
The ITUC, together with its regional organisation TUCA and its three national affiliates in Colombia, has strongly condemned the murder of Rafael Antonio Sepúlveda Lara, an affiliate of the national hospital workers’ union, Asociación Nacional de Trabajadores Hospitalarios de Colombia (ANTHOC), and a member of the national executive of the public servants’ federation, Federación Nacional de Servidores Públicos (FENASER-CTC).
Read more about No End to Assassinations in Colombia
Colombia: Two More Trade Unionists Murdered
The ITUC once again strongly condemns and denounces the murders of two more trade unionists in the Arauca region. Pablo Rodríguez Garavito and Jorge Humberto Echaverri Garro, teachers affiliated to the Arauca teachers’ association Asociación de Educadores de Arauca (ASEDAR), were brutally murdered by unknown gunmen.
The ITUC has joined with its regional organisation TUCA, its Colombian affiliates, and ASEDAR, in their resounding condemnation of these murders, mourned by working people and the national, regional and international trade union movement.
Read more about Colombia: Two More Trade Unionists Murdered
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MAXON’s main website
Team Render HTTPS
Posted on October 27, 2016 by Sebastian Rath
This Python Plugin enables HTTPS Support for the Team Render Webserver.
Use this plugin to enable HTTPS Support for the Team Render Server.
Self-Signed Certificate Creator
You can import your own certificates or create them out of the box by using the Self-Signed Certificate Creator which are automatically installed in the Webserver. Once you import or generate the certificate your browser can immediately connect to Team Render Webserver through HTTPS. You can also import your own certificates.
Import certificates
For this step you need a key file and the actual certificate. Before you continue verify that both match to each other, otherwise they might get rejected by the plugin or HTTPS will simply not work.
To import an external certificate, open the Self-Signed Certificate Creator and select File -> Import certificate…
Now select the key file with the file dialog and continue. Then select the certificate with the next file dialog. Follow the instructions of the plugin and restart Team Render Server.
What is HTTP?
This article covers the basics of HTTPS to give you a rough idea of the concept behind HTTPS. For a deeper technical insight visit the resource links below.
TL;DR HTTPS is an application protocol which secures a connection between a web server and a browser. By using the Team Render HTTPS plugin you can be sure that the web server is authenticated and the data is encrypted.
How does HTTPS work? The application protocol behind HTTPS is called TLS (formerly known as SSL). To make use of that, the administrator of a web server has to create a key certificate which is placed on the server and is requested by a browser on the first connect to negotiate encryption mechanisms and to verify the browser is talking to the right server. There are two possibilities how to create these certificates.
Creating certificates which are self-created and self-signed
Issued and signed by a Certificate Authority (CA*)
*an external party several browser vendors trust by default
This certificate has been issues by GeoTRUST SSL – the most browsers trust by default.
By the nature of self-created and self-signed certificates they cannot be verified but from the user – on the good side, they are easy to create and free. Once the certificate has been manually verified by the user and added to the Trusted Certificate Pool of your browser you can safely connect to your web server. With our free plugin we give you the opportunity to secure the connection between your browser and the web server of Team Render Server.
Wikipedia – HTTPS
RFC 2818 / HTTP Over TLS
SSL-TLS Beginner Guide
1. Unzip the file and copy the files to the plugins directory
2. (Re)start Team Render Server
3. Open File->Plugins->Self-Signed Certificate Creator
trs_wi_https.zip (3.4 MiB)
Acceptance of Terms of Use of this site (“Site”) constitutes a legal agreement between you and MAXON Computer GmbH. By accessing, browsing and/or using this Site you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by its Terms of Use. Please review the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use this Site and the materials provided on this Site.
The copyright on all material provided on this Site is held by MAXON Computer GmbH and its subsidiaries (MAXON Computer Inc. and MAXON Computer Ltd.) or by the original creator of the material. Except as stated herein, none of the material may be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of MAXON Computer or the copyright owner. Permission is granted to display, copy, distribute and download the materials on this Site for personal, non-commercial use only provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the materials. You also may not, without MAXON Computer’s permission, use the materials for the development, production or marketing of other materials, works or media of any kind and/or “mirror” any material contained on this Site on any other server. This permission terminates automatically if you breach any of these terms. Upon termination, you will immediately destroy any downloaded and printed materials. Any unauthorized use of any material contained on this Site may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity, and communications regulations and statutes.
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We gather and store your personal information for the purposes of rendering services or as necessary for contractual fulfillment. Your information is used by MAXON to make using the Site and the materials as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
Your personal information will not be given to third parties without your expressed consent unless it is required for providing services or contractual fulfillment. It may, however, be necessary to supply your personal information to certified MAXON partner companies that MAXON implements to provide certain services. We will require that the recipient of the personal information agrees to process such information in compliance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.
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MAXON Computer shall be liable without limitations (1) in case of intent and gross negligence; (2) in case of injuries to life, body or health; (3) pursuant to the terms of the German Product Liability Act; and (4) under a guarantee granted by MAXON Computer. MAXON Computer’s liability for slightly negligent breaches of cardinal duties shall be limited to such damage which was foreseeable and typical for the intended use of the Site and the materials. Cardinal duties are duties of MAXON Computer which enable the use of the Site and the materials and which you may therefore rely on. Any other liability of MAXON Computer is excluded. If your use of materials from this Site results in the need for servicing, repair or correction of equipment or data, you assume any costs thereof.
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Fax: +49 (0) 6172 / 59 06 30
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Authorized company representatives
David McGavran
Court of registration: Amtsgericht Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe
VAT ID number according to § 27 a sales tax law: DE 113864088
Unzip the downloaded archive to Cinema 4D’s default plugin folder.
Provide your bug reports, test scenes or ideas by writing an email to labs-at-maxon-dot-net
Rate this Download
Plugins Python, Team Render
Hi, if I used it under Windows, it doesn’t work for me.
On Mac i don´t have any issues…
Our TRS is Windows Server 2016.
This is popping up in the cmd-line:
File “‘trs_wi_https.pyp'”, line 22, in
File “C:\Program Files\MAXON\Team Render Server R19\plugins\Team Render HTTPS\libs\OpenSSL\__init__.py”, line 8, in
from OpenSSL import rand, crypto, SSL
File “C:\Program Files\MAXON\Team Render Server R19\plugins\Team Render HTTPS\libs\OpenSSL\rand.py”, line 12, in
from OpenSSL._util import (
File “C:\Program Files\MAXON\Team Render Server R19\plugins\Team Render HTTPS\libs\OpenSSL\_util.py”, line 6, in
from cryptography.hazmat.bindings.openssl.binding import Binding
File “C:\Program Files\MAXON\Team Render Server R19\plugins\Team Render HTTPS\libs\cryptography\hazmat\bindings\openssl\binding.py”, line 14, in
from cryptography.hazmat.bindings._openssl import ffi, lib
ImportError: DLL load failed: Das angegebene Modul wurde nicht gefunden.
TRS R19 R19.053
You guys should add support for Lets Encrypt!
Jean-François Yelle
Of course 😉
Leave a Reply to J M Cancel reply
Sebastian Rath
Developer, MAXON Computer Canada
Sebastian has been working for Maxon for a couple of years. Programming in C, C++ and Python. Focus on Parallel computing, network rendering, Python internals and compiler tool chains. He is very good at getting parking tickets.
C++, Exporter, Generator, Modifier, Notifier, Procedural, Python, Team Render, Tool,
Cinema 4D distinguishes itself by its outstanding ease of use and unrivalled stability. Because we invest extra time in careful design and testing, our dedicated engineers often develop ideas that are kept on the shelf until we find the time to bring a prototype to completion.
MAXON Labs is our vehicle to accelerate this process and present Cinema 4D's latest innovations or useful tools from our R&D team directly to you.
© MAXON Computer - Copyright Info | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Imprint
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Tag: pop culture
10 Reasons Why Peep Show is a Gift To Us All
August 24, 2018 August 22, 2018 by Layla, posted in Book Reviews
Although being wary at first that U.K. sitcom Peep Show, starring comedy duo David Mitchell and Robert Webb, would be an uncomfortably erotic hole-in-the-wall experience (as the title suggests), I’m so glad that I did finally give in and give it a go.
The TV series has been described as a grown up version of the Inbetweeners, and while that’s accurate in some ways, I feel like this show was just that much more outrageous and clever (and fried).
If you haven’t yet seen it, then first of all, where have you been?
Second of all, please immediately clear out your weekend and scab your best friend’s Netflix password because you’re in for a healthy 9 series, 54 episodes, or roughly 21 hours and 36 minutes of socially awkward, self-conscious, self-centred, British comedy gold at it’s finest.
Here are 10 reasons why I think the cult-classic Peep Show is due for a re-watch:
Mark’s brutally self-aware internal monologue,
credit: gifer.com
2. The unwavering and unapologetic hedonism of Jez,
credit: giphy.com
3. And who could forget, Super Hans’ classic one liners.
credit: paragraphfilmreviews.com
4. It’s the definitive guide to relationships in your 20s and 30s…
credit: sofeminine.co.uk
5. …And the characters model a balanced approach to health and fitness.
6. Viewers are blessed with plenty of sage career advice…
credit: Channel 4
7. …And there’s no doubt that the show taught us everything we know about Modern History…
credit: gifglobe.com
8. …All while we learned about responsible family planning!
9. It deals with some pretty deep existential truths…
10. But best of all, Peep Show isn’t afraid to face the really BIG issues and tell it like it is
Are you a fan of Peep Show? What’s your favourite episode? (Mine’s the one where everyone gets sectioned).
Tagged comedy, gif, peep show, pop culture, sitcom3 Comments
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Volume 4, Chapter 16
Translator: Manga0205
The instant he connected with Ichika’s Life Seed, images completely different from what was shown up until now poured out inside of Vermudol.
Those were, memories of death.
A cluster of final moments that Ichika had been deeply submerged in.
Memories of being killed by an Ogre, by an assassin.
Memories of being betrayed by friends, by companions, by family.
If there were memories of dying for the sake of justice, for the sake of friendship, there were also memories of yielding to malice and the absurd and dying.
Her countless deaths poured into Vermudol.
That lamentation, that despair──it went berserk inside of Vermudol.
With his magical power and consciousness being shaved down to the utmost limit, he desperately maintained the connection that felt like it was going to break off.
「That’s why, ……-san.」
A moon, could be seen.
What he could see beyond the images of death that were going berserk, was a beautiful moon suspended in a night sky.
「Please don’t, cry like that.」
That was, a memory of her first life.
A gentle memory, from when she didn’t know anything.
「It’s because……I am alright.」
The words that didn’t turn into words, the words that she wanted to turn into words, they poured into Vermudol.
「……Guuh!」
There’s no way she was alright.
This kind of absurdity, irrationality, it shouldn’t be fine to allow.
Vermudol strengthened the connection with Ichika’s Life Seed.
When he did, the technical skill that coiled around her Life Seed like a curse……the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」 could be seen.
That thing that twined around like a chain and restrained Ichika’s Life Seed, Vermudol grabbed it.
「Disappear……!」
Mustering his remaining magical power to the limit, Vermudol interfered with the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」.
Tearing it off, and destroying it……he made it crumble.
Through Vermudol’s interference, the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」, which was 「sealed」 by someone and had its power weakened, was completely eliminated from inside of Ichika.
Simultaneously, the technical skills that were derived from the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」, Memory Inheritance and Ability Inheritance, were also eliminated.
That wasn’t a problem. That was because there was no need to hand down her memories and abilities from now on.
Convinced that he had succeeded, Vermudol lifted the connection to Ichika’s Life Seed.
Simultaneously feeling fatigue that was hard to resist attacking him, Vermudol collapsed onto the bed.
Within his consciousness that was dimming from being at the limit of his stamina and magical power, Vermudol saw the figure of someone slowly lifting him up.
However, while not knowing who that person was, he parted with his consciousness.
「……Mu.」
Tucked in a warm futon, Vermudol opened his eyes.
Within his vague consciousness, Vermudol retraced his memories.
He remembered as far as connecting with Ichika’s Life Seed, and succeeding in eliminating the 「Sacrifice’s Rebirth」.
But, he had no memory of anything after that.
It was there that a familiar voice came down from above his head.
When Vermudol turned his gaze to it, what was there was the figure of Ichika sitting in a chair and looking down on Vermudol.
「……Nn, ahh. My body is still……heavy.」
「It cannot be helped. Vermudol-sama, you had exhausted every last bit of magical power after all.」
Right now, Vermudol was in a state where it was painful for him to move his body a bit.
Magical power would naturally recover, but even so, he probably wouldn’t be able to move for a day.
Since he had exhausted even the magical power that his body would normally safekeep unconsciously, this was only natural.
「Rather than me, Ichika. Are you alright?」
「Yes, there are no problems. Everything is thanks to you, Vermudol-sama.」
Ichika gazed at Vermudol’s look of relief.
The usual expressionless Ichika held a Ringil and a knife in her hands.
Vermudol gazed with an absent minded head at the Ringil skin that was making a refreshing crunchy sound as it was being peeled.
The Ringil, which was cut up into pieces that were at an easy to eat size, was neatly placed on a plate that was on top of Ichika’s lap.
「Say, Ichika.」
「Yes, what is it?」
「Are you alright with not resting?」
「I am resting you know?」
When she said that, Ichika placed the plate on top of the table that was next to the bed.
「I have left today’s work to others.」
「I, see. And yet, is this alright?」
「What are you asking is alright?」
「To be looking after me in a place like this……I’m sure that even you are tired.」
Hearing those words, Ichika made a slightly offended face.
「I am not such an ungrateful woman.」
「Saying ungrateful, you……」
「Today, I decided to devote the whole day to serving you, Vermudol-sama. So please obediently be looked after by me.」
Vermudol was about to say something despite that, but he eventually gave up and breathed a sigh.
「……Got it. Ichika, please do as you like.」
「Yes, I shall do that.」
After Ichika replied like that, she sat down on the edge of the bed, and peered at Vermudol’s face as he lied there.
Maybe having used up all of his strength in that exchange just now, Vermudol had already fallen asleep.
While gazing at his face as he quietly made sleeper’s breath, Ichika expressed a small smile.
Ichika thought “I’m sure that he hasn’t noticed that I called him not as Demon King-sama……but by his name of 「Vermudol-sama」”.
However, that did not matter.
Ichika was feeling exhilarated by the fact that she was released from her cycle of rebirth.
As for if her current feeling of exhilaration would continue on until tomorrow as well, even Ichika herself was not sure about it.
At any rate, there was still something that she had to do.
Her revenge on the God of Life who had played with her fate.
That desire was still within Ichika.
However, in regards to an answer to Vermudol’s question of 「what will you do after that?」, she had yet to prepare one.
She thought that anything would do as long as she could complete her revenge.
That is why she had not thought about anything beyond it.
「……However, that sort of answer. You wouldn’t allow it, would you?」
Making a troubled-looking smile as she watched Vermudol’s sleeping face, Ichika breathed a sigh.
Although she said that she would prepare an answer by the next time he asked, even if she tried thinking of one like this, and answer wouldn’t come to her.
What she wanted to do. What she wanted to become.
The talk of a dream surely anyone would have harbored.
That person said that they wanted to become a knight someday.
Another person said that they wanted to become a Magician that anyone would recognize.
In that case, what about Ichika──what did Ichika herself want to do?
There was nothing.
She didn’t possess any aspirations for the future, and that is why she only dreamed of revenge.
As for beyond the fulfillment of that dream, what should she do?
Ichika didn’t know.
She felt that she was like that even in the lives that she had repeatedly lived out.
She lived thinking only about what she should do to be able to avoid death.
That is why Ichika noticed.
Thinking “so I was this empty……”.
「……Ichika……?」
Noticing a voice calling out to her, Ichika came to her senses.
When she looked over, she found that Vermudol had opened his eyes.
「Yes, is something the matter?」
「……Are you crying?」
Hearing those words, Ichika was surprised.
Thinking “I couldn’t be”, she put her hand to the corner of her eye, but not even a single tear drop had come out.
「W, was I making that sort of face?」
「No……You are expressionless as usual.」
「……Is that so.」
Saying “however”, Vermudol continued.
「I wonder, maybe this is an effect of having been deeply connected. I can understand you more than ever before, Ichika……that is how it feels. It might just be my imagination though.」
「……It is not, your imagination.」
Just as Ichika said, since Vermudol had vicariously experienced Ichika’s life, he had become able to understand better than ever before.
「Nn?」
「Vermudol-sama, you are an unfair person.」
Ichika gently placed her hand on Vermudol’s cheek.
「Even though you were such an unreliable person when we had met……right now, things have made a complete reversal.」
「……That’s not the case at all. You are perfect.」
Hearing those words, Ichika shook her head sideways.
「Something like perfection. What use would something like that be. A dream that anyone would have, I do not have one. I am sure that once I achieve my revenge I……I who had made that my core. Once it is complete……I am sure, that I will become more fragile than anyone else. I, am so scared of that that I cannot take it.」
「In that case, it’s fine if you search for one.」
「……I wonder if it is possible for me.」
It is simple to say “it is”.
However, it seemed that the Human that became the ingredients for Vermudol was unable to.
A life where one simply lived without an objective.
A life that was judged as worthless by the Demon God.
Vermudol could only imagine why it had turned out like that……but surely discovering the thing known as a life’s objective is just that difficult.
Vermudol remembered how when he had infiltrated mankind’s territory as Adventurer Shion, he went along with Kain’s consultation for the future.
In the end, did Kain find his own path?
Going from what he heard in the reports from Rokuna and Ein, he seemed to be spending his days occupied though.
At that time, Vermudol told Kain that if he could see the 「thing he wanted most」, then that was probably the correct path for him.
For Ichika, the 「thing she wanted most」 was probably revenge.
Vermudol felt that since she had set that as her objective, she was probably lost and did not know what was 「beyond that」.
「Ichika, your first dream……what was it? Wouldn’t that be fine?」
The dream from when Ichika was Ria……the time when she didn’t know anything.
It was fine to have that fulfilled.
Ria was Ichika, and Ichika was Ria after all.
However, Ichika sunk into silence.
Vermudol thought “was it something she didn’t want to be heard……?”
Ichika had her gaze wander……then once again, she met eyes with Vermudol.
「……You won’t laugh?」
「Why would there be a need to laugh?」
After Ichika had her gaze wander once again from Vermudol’s reply, she got down from the bed, and stooped down and matched the height of Vermudol’s gaze as he lied down.
「Please don’t mention it, to anyone else, okay.」
「That……goes without saying.」
After Vermudol nodded, Ichika put her hands to Vermudol’s ear, and softly whispered with a low voice.
「The me from that time……wanted to become a wonderful bride.」
「Ahh……I see.」
Certainly, he felt that telling the current Ichika to have that as an objective was a bit questionable.
However, when he saw Ichika having a rare bright red face, the feeling of “I want to try teasing her a bit……” started welling up.
「Say, Ichika. In that case, do you want to be my」
The instant he tried to say that, Vermudol’s mouth was covered up by Ichika’s hand.
「You mustn’t, Vermudol-sama.」
Ichika continued speaking while her face was still dyed red, yet with a somewhat trouble-looking face.
「……If you say that to me right now, I will act upon it in earnest, you know?」
While still covering Vermudol’s mouth with her right hand, Ichika put the index finger of her left hand to her mouth.
「That is why, you mustn’t. Okay?」
He couldn’t tell if Ichika’s words were a joke or were serious, but for the time being, Vermudol nodded.
Seeing that, Ichika took her hand away from Vermudol’s mouth.
And then, she took the plate of Ringils that was placed on top of the desk into her hand.
「Since it seems that you are feeling a bit better……would you like to eat?」
Saying that, she made a thin smile.
Mikss
I do hope Ichika will talk again with Luuty and rekindle their friend ship. I also hope she will meet this first Maid Knight and take her along for Vermudol (teaser comment)
Kriellz
I also want to see Ichika and Luuty together. I’m not sure if Reina will accept him as her master.
exhentai.org fanboy
Plot twist the first maid knight serves the Alva.
Ichika’s moe levels hit maximum this chapter.
Distophic
First waifu is best waifu
Zeref25
That’s my waifu
Indream
Ichika MOE! And i ship them. Great pair.
Ryuu-kun
Ichika still doesn’t deserve all that crap. Fucking bug
A random passerby
Now i definitely want ichikaxvermudol. Also happy that ichika is finally freed of her curse
shadethedemon
Ichika Kawaii, way too cute! That expression though… squeal.
I need insulin now.
DeMinion-kun v.2
Oh god thats soooo cute!!! You healed me, thank you!
Everyone please board on the ship already.
Nakakure
Man that good way to finish Ichika story , author – sama
He almost said a death flag lmfao xD
The Vermudol x Ichika ship is sailing!
Leave a Reply to exhentai.org fanboy Cancel reply
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Home » Linux Gaming News » 39 Days to Mars gets free Additional Victorian Adventures
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39 Days to Mars gets free Additional Victorian Adventures
July 24, 2018 Linux Gaming News
39 Days to Mars releases a free Additional Victorian Adventures update for Linux, Mac and Windows. Along with a discount on Steam as well.
Developer It’s Anecdotal announces a new and free content release. While giving the puzzle-adventure game 39 Days to Mars even more adventure. With a week-long discount now underway.
Also dubbed ‘Additional Victorian Adventures’ coming to all current owners of 39 Days to Mars. The update sprinkles in a handful of new, cleverly-devised co-op puzzles throughout the original campaign. So players can face the challenges organically during a fresh play-through. Join Sir Albert Wickes and The Right Honourable Clarence Baxter once again. Setting out on another heap of exciting 19th century adventures.
39 Days to Mars -Free Additional Victorian Adventure (Linux, Mac, Windows)
39 Days to Mars is a 1-2 player co-operative adventure game. All set in an alternate reality some 150 years in the past. You’re task is to pilot the HMS Fearful — a masterpiece of unreliable engineering — on its maiden voyage to Mars. When the steam engine runs out of coal, the ship’s cat shreds the navigation chart. And them the tea gets cold.
So it becomes clear that interstellar transportation isn’t a walk in the park. It will take the talents of two working together on a mix of puzzles and action sequences. Working to get to Mars in one piece (let alone in 39 days). And Additional Victorian Adventures means more puzzles and such withing a free update. Which is also a pleasure to see It’s Anecdotal bringing more content to the game.
39 Days to Mars is currently available on Linux, Mac and Windows. There is also a 20% discount on Steam and Itch until July 30th. Humble Store also lists 39 Days to Mars, but at full price.
About It’s Anecdotal
It’s Anecdotal is the one-person indie development studio of Philip Buchanan. Having previously worked on titles such as Lara Croft GO and Hitman GO, Philip is now focused on bringing small indie titles to life. Working out of Montreal, Canada; and Christchurch, New Zealand, his aim is to produce concise games that give memorable experiences and have strong atmosphere.
39 days to mars, free, mac, pc, steam, ubuntu, its anecdotal, additional victorian adventures
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My Program
Equipment and Fees
Activity/Coloring Pages
About Me & My Books
I am a professional author/illustrator and have written and/or illustrated over 40 published books. I graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York with a BFA in illustration. I also earned my Montessori certificate in early education from Bank Street College and was a preschool teacher for several years. This has given me a unique understanding of how to make picture books and "early readers" that are both fun and educational for children. I have done numerous school visits and the kids seem to love me! Because I am both a writer and an illustrator, it gives me a unique insight into how books are made.
I live in New York's Mid-Hudson Valley with my husband, dog and cats.
Member SCBWI
Awards and Citations for my books!
Winner of the Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award - The Viper
Winner of the Delaware Diamonds Award - The Viper
NJLA Garden State Book Award nominee - A Dark and Noisy Night & The Aliens Are Coming!
Booklist "Top 10 Mysteries for Youth" - The Viper
A Miami Herald Best Book of the Year - The Viper
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year - Hilda and the Mad Scientist
A Junior Library Guild Selection - Hilda and the Mad Scientist
Parents Magazine "Parents Pick" - All Better
Parents Magazine Feature Spread - Me & You
The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval - Me & You
New York Times Book Review - Me & You
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award - Jess and the Stinky Cowboys
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year - Jess and the Stinky Cowboys
Reading Rainbow Reader anthology - Silly Times With Two Silly Trolls
IRA/CBC "Children's Choice"s - Silly Times With Two Silly Trolls & Pudmuddles
NCSS – CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies - The Ghosts of Hungryhouse Lane
Kirkus pointer reviews - various
Booklist starred reviews - various
School Library Journal starred reviews - various
My local newspaper, The Blue Stone Press, did a nice interview with me! Please have a look! Here is the link to see it.
http://www.lisathiesing.com/bsp-interview.pdf
Please Contact me directly to make arrangements.
It has been a dream come true to be a children's book author and illustrator. It's who I am. I absolutely love everything about making books and seeing kids laugh and delight in my work is tremendously satisfying. I have illustrated and/or written about 40 books, some of which have been honored with awards and starred reviews. Also very satisfying. I grew up in New York City and now live 90 miles further up the Hudson River. For more info, please go to my website: www.lisathiesing.com
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ANGOLAKENYALESOTHOMALAWIMOZAMBIQUESOUTH AFRICAUGANDAZAMBIA
Date Started:
Locations (incl. clinics and nearby communities):
New Clients Enrolled (2018):
Mentor Mothers (2018):
Country Director:
Dr. Betty Mirembe
Our work in Uganda
mothers2mothers’ (m2m) work in Uganda is presently focused in Jinja, Namayingo, Bugiri, Bugweri and Iganga Districts, situated in the East Central region of the country. We provide prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) support services in both health facilities and communities. Since launching in Uganda in 2010, m2m has tailored our services to closely match local realities. This includes responding to the high rates of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in Uganda with m2m’s Girls4Change project, which aims to increase access to and quality of sexual and reproductive health information and services for adolescent girls. m2m identifies HIV-positive orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and
supports them and their caregivers, including through the provision of school subsidies to encourage educational attainment. Mentor Mothers also identify children with disabilities, referring them and their families for services, while educating communities to reduce stigma. m2m Uganda was the first country to train Mentor Mothers to promote and foster the economic empowerment of their clients. Furthermore, Mentor Mother-led Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups are improving women’s ability to borrow money to finance income-generating activities. Furthermore, Mentor Mother-led Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups are improving women’s ability to borrow money to finance income-generating activities.
Afuwa Kiiza, Community Mentor Mother Coordinator, Busesa Health Centre IV, Uganda
Our Impact in Uganda
Virtual elimination of mother-to- child transmission of HIV among m2m’s enrolled clients, according to UNAIDS guidelines:
of HIV-positive women enrolled at m2m were initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for life.
of HIV-exposed infants of enrolled m2m clients were given ART to protect them from infection.
of these HIV-exposed infants were tested for HIV at 6-8 weeks.
6 – Our MTCT rate is comparable to the UNAIDS MTCT Indicator, as outlined in their guidelines available here: https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2017-Global-AIDS-Monitoring_en.pdf. National benchmark is based on the latest available UNAIDS data, published here: https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/20190722_UNAIDS_SFSFAF_2019_en.pdf
Community Mentor Mother, Teddy Atim, met mothers2mothers in 2014 when she was 20 years old and pregnant with her first child. As a young mother and wife, she faced many difficulties. m2m’s Mentor Mothers helped her transform her life.
Living in a rural fishing village in Banda, Uganda, comes with socio-economic challenges. Communities live in extreme poverty, unemployment is rife, and polygamy is common.When I found out I was HIV-positive, I kept asking myself: “How did I contract the virus?” and “what will happen to my unborn baby?” When I disclosed my status to my husband, I thought that this would be the end of our relationship. Thankfully the Community Mentor Mothers were there to lend their love and support to us. mothers2mothers empowered me through employment. I now work as a Mentor Mother, providing services to other women and adolescent girls and urge them to regularly visit their local clinics for health checks. The biggest change has been in my husband. He no longer sees me as that useless woman when I was first diagnosed. He loves me so much and calls me “Hope” because I am his future. Today I am a Health Worker and also a happy and healthy mother to three HIV- free children.
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Viator VIP: Early Access to Museo del Prado with Reina Sofia
Reviews | Photos | Get Tickets Viator Exclusive Tours
Hit the Prado Museum before the doors open to the public on this 4-hour Madrid tour ' a Viator VIP available nowhere else. Only available through Viator, the exclusive experience offers access to the museum before its official opening time, meaning you'll see works such as Velazquez's 'Las Meninas' and El Greco's 'The Annunciation' without the crowds. Learn about the artwork from a guide, and then head to the Reina Sofia to admire abstract and surrealist works by Picasso, Dali and more. If you want a private or small-group tour, upgrade when you book.
With your guide, head inside the museum before it opens its main doors. You'll be among the first to enter on this Viator VIP, so you can enjoy the art without the crowds that appear later in the day. Stroll around to see some of the best-known treasures and discover the history of the neoclassical building, commissioned by King Charles III in the late 18th century.
View master works such as The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, The Annunciation by El Greco and Velazquez's Las Meninas. Listen as your guide recounts the stories behind each piece, and shares observations about their composition and style.
Next, visit the Reina Sof'a Museum, another of Madrid's premier galleries and one that is dedicated to 20th-century Spanish art.
Follow your guide through the museum, converted from a hospital building, and view pieces by luminaries such as surrealist Joan Miro and cubist Juan Gris.
Marvel at Picasso's masterpiece of Guernica, and ogle works by surrealist Salvador Dali. Learn about each artist's life and the abstractions they used to convey meaning. After around six hours in total, your tour ends.
If you enhance your experience, consider an upgrade option when you book:
9am VIP Private Tour:
Explore the Prado Museum with a private guide, just for your sole group. Available for a maximum group size of eight people, the private tour offers a more personalised way to see the Prado, with commentary tailored to your interests.
9am VIP Small-Group Tour:'
Enjoy the Prado Museum early access tour with a small group and guide. The maximum group size is 15 people, ensuring an intimate tour of this esteemed art museum.'
Viator VIPs feature travel experiences not typically available to the general public ' from behind-the-scenes access to private viewings and VIP service ' at many of the world's top attractions, often with no lines and no crowds. Viator VIP tours are not available from other 3rd-party online sellers.
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How to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies Live Stream 2019 Bledisloe Cup TV Channel
admin — August 10, 2019 in Uncategorized • add comment
Even the 2019 Bledisloe Cup will be played August 2019 but, unlike other seasons, could include just two games.
Here are the complete Bledisloe Cup fixtures for your 2019 Exam matches occurring between the Wallabies and All Blacks.
Watch Rugby Live – Click Here
Australia vs New Zealand New Zealand vs Australia
Date: Saturday, August 10 Date: Saturday, August 17
Time: 7:45pm (AEST) Time: 5:35pm (AEST)
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
All Blacks vs Wallabies Live Stream
With the Rugby Championship being Regarded as little more than a World Cup warmup for the southern hemisphere’s top four nations the abridged tournament could create a surprise or two involving the tinkering with decisions and tactics.
Champions New Zealand and South Africa have already torpedoed the belief that they will go all out to claim the decoration, confirming that players will likely be rested for their various openers against Argentina and Australia.
While Australia Is going to be studying candidates to deal with deficiencies in depth in key places they can likewise be likely to compete desperately for the silverware at the hope of preventing the kind of confidence-denting declines which have been a feature of a woeful 2018.
The All Blacks, also as Ever, are favorites to maintain a fourth successive title but with all the tournament paid off to three rounds as a result of worldwide show piece in Japanthe winner may easily spring out of the four states.
Newzealand possess Perhaps Maybe not brought their greatest soccer to the tournament at the leadup to the last two World Cups, allowing Australia to claim the Championship at 2011 and 2015.
Given the All Of Blacks went on to win rugby’s biggest prize both those years, fans back home will be alarmed if Steve Hansen’s side miss out of this Rugby Championship.
Hansen will pan For gold in an extended squad of 39, hoping that a blind side flanker could emerge as a replacement for the injury-prone Liam Squire.
He may also expect To see advancement from the medial side’s capacity to handle the rush defence that led to beats the Springboks and Ireland this past 12 months, and a significant scare against Eddie Jones’s England.
The Canterbury Crusaders players that celebrated their third consecutive Super Rugby crown have been rested for its Argentina opener in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Real potential may not become evident before their second match against the Springboks at Wellington, a record of the sides’ World Cup opener at Yokohama on September 21st.
South Africa trainer Rassie Erasmus has likewise made that world cup clash his primary focus, resting half of his squad to get the Championship opener against Australia at Ellis Park.
For many Erasmus’s Asserts of targeting the country’s initial southern hemisphere title since 2009, his decision to”split resources” was regarded as a smack in the head by Australia.
Southafrica are equally as good as any other side of the world in their day and also the yield of utility straight back and 2007 World Cup winner Frans Steyn into the squad to the first time in 2 years is a rise due to their depth.
Michael Cheika’s Wallabies, not having won at Ellis Park since 1963, have been keeping a low profile at South Africa as they look to put a nightmare 2018 season of 4 wins and eight losses supporting them.
Cheika’s squad Were in a very similar funk in the leadup to the 2015 championship but wound up winning three matches to claim the Championship before riding this momentum entirely to the World Cup final in England.
The Wallabies are Not the same pedigree this moment, nevertheless, along with the sacking of fullback Israel Folau has shorn the group of one of its few world class players.
The Pumas may be Better equipped to make inroads at a championship in which they’ve cobbled together just five wins since their 2012 entrance.
Mario Ledesma’s Side will expect the Jaguares sort may be converted into international level But a enormous first-up loss to an understrength All Blacks could visit Confidence plunge prior to a roadtrip to Australia.
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Posted in Team News
Broncos storm home to top two finish
London Broncos breezed home to a massive 40 point win over Rochdale Hornets on Sunday afternoon at Crown Oil Arena, defeating the Championship newcomers 18-58 in a milestone-filled afternoon.
Mark Ioane, who has recently signed on for an additional two years, played his 50th game for the London Broncos – a feat he has not yet achieved at another club, and London, despite a rocky start to the season, achieved the goal of a top two finish, securing four home games in the Super 8s Qualifiers.
The Broncos started as they intended to go on, with a superb joint effort between Ackers and Williams – the hooker offloaded to the Welsh winger, before an enormous run from Williams ended in a return offload to Ackers, who drove over the whitewash. Sammut added the two.
Rochdale’s McMullen knocked on on six minutes, allowing a London scrum. Pewhairangi wasted no time in taking his opportunity, getting a lovely pass to Sammut, who stepped inside former Bronco, Lewis Foster, to dart over the whitewash. Again, Sammut improved.
London added a third inside 15 minutes, when, again capitalising on a scrum, clever footwork from Pitts negotiated a gap in the Rochdale line, and Walker notched up the visitors’ third.
The home side added themselves to the score sheet nearing the end of the first quarter – the Hornets spread the ball wide on the right wing, and Ecclestone went over the whitewash. Yates, not a missing a kick all afternoon, added the extras.
London appeared to have a momentary loss of concentration, and Foster got one back over his old teammates – easily breaking London’s line to cross.
Four more tries would come before half time – a brace for Sammut, a brilliant effort from Matt Davis, a first for Massam, and a lovely Eddie Battye assist to put Bienek in. All four were converted, and London went into the sheds with a comprehensive 18-36 lead.
On the resumption, the Broncos kept Rochdale scoreless for the entire 40 minutes.
Williams opened London’s second half account, finding his gap on the left wing, and running 25 metres to bag his side an additional four pointer. Sammut’s kick uncharacteristically missed.
Ben Evans muscled his way over from close range with 18 minutes to go, before Ackers went over from dummy half eight minutes later to further extend the visitors’ lead.
Walker also bagged himself a break on 72 minutes, after a lovely effort between Pewhairangi and Harrison ended in his slipping around a defeated Rochdale defence.
Speaking post-match, Henderson, though proud of side achieving the goal set for themselves in 2017, was adamant the hard work does not stop now.
“Overall it was a solid performance from ourselves. With the ball we were very good and we made good metres coming out of yardage, though I was disappointed to concede 18 points in that first half.
“There are still some minor improvements and tweaks to be made, but on the whole I’m very pleased.
“Ultimately, we’re trying our best to get ourselves ready for what’s to come in the Super 8s Qualifiers. We’re on that path now. It’s been a really good team effort. Everybody across the board has done their job, and done it well.
“We had a blip a few weeks ago, & other than that, we’ve been very, very good. And that’s everybody involved this team and this squad.”
The Broncos end the regular season at home this Sunday, taking on Batley Bulldogs at Trailfinders. Tickets can be pre-purchased online here.
ROCHDALE HORNETS:
6. Declan Kay, 1. Kevin Penny, 3. Jake Eccleston, 4. Lewis Galbraith, 5. Robert Massam, 27. Lewis Foster, 7. Daniel Yates, 15. Jovilisi Taira, 9. Ben Moore, 17. Lee Mitchell, 11. Jono Smith, 25. Joshua Crowley, 20. Anthony Walker
Subs: 14. Ryan Maneely, 10. Gavin Bennion, 16. Matthew Hadden, 19. Jordan Case
Tries: Ecclestone (17), Foster (21), Massam (26)
Goals: Yates 3/3
LONDON BRONCOS:
24. Alex Walker, 2. Rhys Williams, 3. Ben Hellewell, 20. Michael Channing, 1. Elliot Kear, 19. Api Pewhairangi, 6. Jarrod Sammut, 18. Ben Evans, 14. Andy Ackers, 10. Mark Ioane, 11. Daniel Harrison, 13. Jay Pitts, 24. Matt Davis
Subs: 34. John Boudebza, 23. Matt Gee, 15. Eddie Battye, 31. Lewis Bienek
Tries: Ackers (2, 70), Sammut (7, 24), Walker (13, 72), Davis (29), Bienek (39), Williams (48), Evans (62)
Goals: Sammut 9/10
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Drayton Manor claim first UBL title
Drayton Manor High School confirmed their supremacy in the UBL by beating Acton High School in the final [...]
Drayton Manor conquers the West
The powerful Drayton Manor High School team was the only unbeaten team in the UBL. They confirmed their dominance beating Brentside High School 36:10 and claimed first place [...]
Alec Reed claims the East
In their last game of the UBL regular season Alec Reed Academy has secured first place in the Big East Division after a convincing 55-17 win against William Perkin CofE [...]
Thompson versus rest of the world
Kai-Ern Thompson is continuing his one man crusade to carry Haydon High School to the top of the Big East Division. In their last game they overcome Greenford High School in [...]
Impressive Acton introduction
Acton High School introduced themselves to the UBL in impressive style by beating Elthorne Park 30-19. Elthorne, strengthened by a finally fully fit Will Whyte is a [...]
Thriller at Greenford
The first “almost buzzer beater” took place at Greenford High School who beat Alec Reed Academy 39-37 courtesy of Marcus Rodrigues’s shot 3 seconds before the end of [...]
UBL Competition heating up
Drayton Manor High School continues their relentless campaign in Wild West Division by beating Dormers Wells High School 71-41. The result certainly does not reflect the true [...]
Drayton Manor is the Real McCoy
On Tuesday 31st of October United Basketball League (UBL) has inaugurated its first season at Featherstone High School which hosted Drayton Manor. Alexi Felekis scored the [...]
London United Development League
September 2017 will see the launch of a new initiative to increase the participation of basketball throughout West London. The project involving up to twelve schools mainly [...]
Future Stars recognises that summer in the city can leave young people with a large amount of free time and little to do. Taking part in physical activity and getting fit can [...]
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London Street Directory in 1921 - B.
London Street Listings in 1921.
Bacchus Walk, Hoxton (N1) (Shoreditch), from 179 Hoxton Street to St Johns Road
Back Church Lane, Whitechapel E1 (Stepney), 31 Cable Street to 62 Commercial Road east
Back Hill (EC1) (Holborn), 142 Clerkenwell Road to 30 Ray Street
Bagshot Street, Walworth (SE17) (Southwark), Surrey Grove to Albany Road (Nos 58 to 72 & 51 to 61 are in the Borough of Camberwell; the remainder in Southwark)
Bacon Street, Brick Lane (Nos 1 to 21 & 2 to 22 E1; 23 & 24 upwards E2) (Bethnal Green), 5 Cygnet Street to 52 Fuller Street
Barnet grove, 251 Bethnal Green Road (E2) (Bethnal Green)
Barnham street, 172 Tooley street (SE1) (Bermondsey)
Battersea Bridge Road, SW11
Bear Gardens, 27 Bankside (SE1) (Southwark)
Beck Road, Hackney E9, 69 Mare Street to Sheep Lane
Ben Jonson Road, Stepney E1 (Stepney), 1 Stepney High Street to 2 Rhodeswell Road
Benledi Street, Poplar E14, 409 East India Dock Road
Berger Road, Homerton E9 (Hackney), 34 Church Road to Wick Road
Bermondsey Street, 88 Tooley street to Tower Bridge road (SE1) (Bermondsey)
Bermondsey Wall (SE16) (Bermondsey), Mill street, Dockhead to Rotherhithe Street
Bethnal Green Road, E2 (Bethnal Green), 60 Shoreditch High Street to 303 Cambridge Road - North #1 to #247
Bethnal Green Road, E2 (Bethnal Green), 60 Shoreditch High Street to 303 Cambridge Road - North #253 to #487
Bethnal Green Road, E2 (Bethnal Green), 60 Shoreditch High Street to 303 Cambridge Road - South #2 to #72
Bethnal Green Road, E2 (Bethnal Green), 60 Shoreditch High Street to 303 Cambridge Road - South #74 to #302
Billingsgate Market, Lower Thames street (EC3) (City)
Birchfield Street, 43 West India Dock Road to 50 East India Dock Road.
Bishopsgate (EC2), commences between 62 Cornhill & 158 Leadenhall street to Norton folgate - East side
Blantyre Street, Chelsea (SW10) (Chelsea), 122 Cheyne Walk to 459 Kings Road
Bohemia Place, 346 Mare Street, Hackney E9
Booth street, 104 Brick lane, Spitalfields (E1) (Stepney),
Borough High Street SE1 (Southwark), from London Bridge to Newington Causeway - East Side #1 to #101
Borough High Street SE1 (Southwark), from London Bridge to Newington Causeway - East Side #101 to #325
Borough High Street SE1 (Southwark), from London Bridge to Newington Causeway - West Side #2 to #72
Borough High Street SE1 (Southwark), from London Bridge to Newington Causeway - West Side #1 to #101
Borough Market SE1 (Southwark), end of Bedale Street, Borough High Street
Borough Road SE1 (Southwark), St Georges Circus
Boss street, 227 Tooley street, Horselydown (SE1) (Bermondsey)
Boston Street, 309 Hackney Road E2 (Shoreditch)
Bow Common Lane, E3 (Poplar), Upper North Street to Canal Road
Bow Road, E3 Poplar, from 485 Mile End Road to Bow bridge - North Side #1 to #267
Bow Road, E3 Poplar, from 485 Mile End Road to Bow bridge - South Side #2 to
Bradstock Street, Gascoyne Road, Hackney E9 (Hackney)
Brady Street, 319 Whitechapel Road E1
Braemar Street, Smart Street, 178 Green Street, Bethnal Green E2 (Bethnal Green)
Braintree Street, Mile End Old Town E2 (Stepney), 49 Devonshire Street
Brick lane, Spitalfields, from 42 Osborn Street to 115 Columbia Road - East Side #6 to #148
Brick lane, Spitalfields, from 42 Osborn Street to 115 Columbia Road - East Side #154 to #324.
Brick lane, Spitalfields, from 42 Osborn Street to 115 Columbia Road - West Side #1 to #153
Brick lane, Spitalfields, from 42 Osborn Street to 115 Columbia Road - West Side #157 to #305.
Bridge Street (Stepney) E1 & E3
Brierly Street, Bethnal Green E2 (Bethnal Green), 274 Globe Road
Bright Street, 167 St Leonards Road, Bromley E1
Broad Street, Ratcliff E1 (Stepney), 117 Shadwell High Street to 2 Narrow Street
Bromley Street, Stepney E1, 585 Commercial Road east to Spring Garden Place
Bruce Road, Bromley E3, St Leonards Street
Brunswick Place, City Road N1 (Shoreditch), from East Road to Charles Square
Brunswick Road, 301 East India Dock Road, Poplar E14
Brunswick Street, 211 Hackney Road E2 (Shoreditch)
Brunswick Street, Poplar High Street E14 (Poplar)
Burcham Street, 107 St Leonards Road, Bromley E14
Burdett Road, Mile End Road, Bow to East India Dock Road, Limehouse - East
Burdett Road, Mile End Road, Bow to East India Dock Road, Limehouse - West
Burdett Street, Bromley E3 (Poplar), 184 Devons Road
Busk Street, Tuilerie Street, Hackney Road E2 (Shoreditch)
Buxton Street, Mile End New Town E1, 154 Brick Lane to 69 Vallance Road
Byron Street, 145 St Leonards Road, Bromley E14
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Lend legal definition of lend
https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/lend
(redirected from lend)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to lend: lend a hand
LENDER, contracts. He from whom a thing is borrowed.
2. The contract of loan confers rights, and imposes duties on the lender. 1. The lender has the right to revoke the loan at his mere pleasure; 9 Cowen, R. 687; 8 Johns. Rep. 432; 1 T. R. 480; 2 Campb. Rep. 464; and is deemed the owner or proprietor of the thing during the period of the loan; so that au action for a trespass or conversion will lie in favor of the lender against a stranger, who has obtained a wrongful possession, or has made a wrongful conversion of the thing loaned; as mere gratuitous permission to a third person to use a chattel does not, in contemplation of the common law, take it out of the possession of the owner. 11 Johns. Rep. 285; 7 Cowen, Rep. 753; 9 Cowen, Rep. 687; 2 Saund. Rep. 47 b; 8 Johns. Rep. 432; 13 Johns. Rep. 141, 661; Bac. Abr. Trespass, c 2; Id. Trover, C 2. And in this the Civil agrees with the common law. Dig. 13, 6, 6, 8; Pothier, Pret …, Usage, ch. 1, Sec. 1, art. 2, n. 4; art. 3, n. 9; Ayliffe's Pand. B. 4, t. 16, p. 517; Domat, B. 1, t. 5, Sec. 1, n. 4; and so does the Scotch law. Ersk. Pr. Laws of Scotl. B. 3, t. 1 Sec. 8.
3.-2. In the civil law, the first obligation on the part of the lender, is to suffer the borrower to use and enjoy the thing loaned during the time of the loan, according to the original intention. Such is not the doctrine of the common law. 9 Cowen, Rep. 687. The lender is obliged by the civil law to reimburse the borrower the extraordinary expenses to which he has been put for the preservation of the thing lent. And in such a case, the borrower would have a lien on the thing, and may detain it, until these extraordinary expenses are paid, and the lender cannot, even by an abandonment of the thing to the borrower, excuse himself from repayment, nor is he excused by the subsequent loss of the thing by accident, nor by a restitution of it by the borrower, without insisting upon repayment. Pothier, Pret … Usage, ch. 3, n. 82, 83; Dig. 13, 6, 18, 4; Ersk. Pr. Laws of Scotl. B. 3, t. 1, Sec. 9. What would be decided at common law does not seem very clear. Story on Bailm. Sec. 274. Another case of implied obligation on the part of the lender by the civil law is, that he is bound to give notice to the borrower of the defects of the thing loaned; and if he does not and conceals them, and any injury occurs to the borrower thereby, the lender is responsible. Dig. 13, 6, 98, 3; Poth. Pret … Usage, n. 84; Domat, Liv. 1, t. 5, s. 3, n. 3. In the civil law there is also an implied obligation on the part of the lender where the thing has been lost by the borrower, and after he has paid the lender the value of it, the thing has been restored to the lender; in such case the lender must return to the borrower either the price or thing. Dig. 13, 6, 17, 5; Poth. Id. n. 85. "The common law seems to recognize the same principles, though," says Judge Story, Bailm. Sec. 276, "it would not perhaps be easy to cite a case on a gratuitous loan directly on the point." See Borrower; Commodate; Story, Bailm. ch. 4; Domat. Liv. 2, tit. 5; 1 Bouv. Inst. n. 1078, et seq.
abstract of title
Accommodation Paper
Actio commodati contraria
Actio commodati directa
Agriculture Department
Assigned Account
Balloon Payment
bottomry
Champerty and Maintenance
Commitment Fee
Commodate
So, banks have billions of pounds to lend. What can they do to ensure they start finding these backable businesses?
SME Lending More than Freeing up Cash for Small Firms
"Zopa lenders will be able to review Listings on the site and bid on those they want to lend to, showing how much they want to lend and at what rate."
Social lending site allows borrowers to pitch for most competitive rates; PERSONAL FINANCE
From the point of view of the bank lending to minorities, they need to have more calling officers who go out into these minority communities and look for opportunities to lend.
Capital Ventures
It's pretty tough to break even when you borrow at 10 percent (or, during the late seventies, as high as 12.4 percent) and lend at 5.
Power failure; rural electric and telephone programs show that good government programs never die - they just get more expensive
The management buy-out was approved by the Board of Directors of Lend Lease Corporation Limited, a global real estate company based in Sydney, Australia, following a strategic review of its international businesses.
Management buyout of $1.6b fund
Lend Lease was selected because it is uniquely qualified to successfully deliver the best project at the lowest cost.
Lend Lease to manage Queens development
As part of the Lend Lease Group, Lend Lease Real Estate Investments is one of the largest real estate investment managers in the world and a leading U.S.
Lend Lease issues 2Q report
In Bacon's career at Bovis Lend Lease, he has concentrated on incorporating fast-track methods for building complicated projects within strict schedule and budget guidelines and has demonstrated an ability to manage virtually all phases of pre-construction and construction.
Who's News MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
Just as above, if a bank's lending limit is $3 million, the bank can lend $3.75 million to the borrower.
SBA loans have many advantages
The survey results on banks, willingness to lend to finance consumer purchases raises a natural macroeconomic question.
Statement by Lawrence B. Lindsey, Member, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, before the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, September 12, 1996
Moreover, banks and nonbanks that issue credit cards and other consumer lines of credit should also consider the extent to which the trend is fueled by their willingness to lend to individuals whose credit history is dubious.
Statement by Janet L. Yellen, Member, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Regulatory Relief, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, July 24, 1996
Yet if you accept the premise, unfortunate as it may be, that money makes the world go 'round, how your bank lends out your money can influence which way it spins.
Banking with a heart
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Legibus sumptis disinentibus
Legis constructio non facit injuriam
Legis figendi et refigendi consuetudo periculosissima est
Legis interpretatio legis vim obtinet
Legis minister non tenetur
legislate
Legislative Court
Legislative Facts
Legislative power
Legislatorum est viva vox
Legitime
Legitime imperanti parere necesse est
Lend-Lease Act
lenocinium
Leopold and Loeb Trial
Les fictions naissent de la loi
lesser crime
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lesser-included offense
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Letter carrier
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Lenard rays
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Lenard-Jones potential
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Lenárt, Jozef
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Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority
Lenawee County Association of Realtors
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LENCAR
LenCD
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LENCL
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lend (itself) to
lend (one's) ear to (someone or something)
lend (one's) name to (something)
lend (one) (something)
lend (one) a hand
lend (oneself) to (something)
lend (someone) (one's) ear
lend (someone) a hand
lend (something) out (to one)
lend (something) to (one)
Lend A Hand Foundation
lend a hand with
lend a hand with (something)
lend a sympathetic ear
lend an ear (to one)
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News » Bar news
Bacardi crowns global cocktail champion
Published: 04 May, 2011
Bacardi has crowned the winner of the first Superior Rum Global Legacy Cocktail Competition, in Barcelona.
Marc Bonneton, bar manager of L´Antiquaire in Lyon, France, prevailed over a field of nine other international bartenders.
The contestants, who were from France, Belgium, Germany, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, the UK and the US, had each negotiated national heats to reach the final.
The Oval Room of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona provided the venue for the competition, with some of the industry’s leading figures in attendance, including Peter Dorelli, Salvatori Calabrese, Alex Turner and Agostino Peronne.
Finalists were tasked with creating a “balanced and appealing” drink in the "classic style", that could follow in the footsteps of cocktails such as the Piña Colada, Cuba Libre, Daiquiri and Mojito.
Bonneton, creator of the winning cocktail - Marco's Bacardi Fizz – said: “With my legacy cocktail I pay tribute to Henrico C Ramos, who created his own cocktail (twist on a Gin Fizz) for the opening of the Imperial Cabinet in New Orleans, 1888.
“By switching the gin for Bacardi Superior rum and the orange blossom water for Green Chartreuse (a product local to Lyon) I obtained a very different cocktail but with a similar aromatic structure and distinct texture.”
As victor, Bonneton won a hand-crafted trophy – which is believed to have cost Bacardi £10,000 to commission – a VIP trip to promote the winning cocktail, and the chance to distill his own rum.
Marco's Bacardi Fizz combined 50ml Bacardi Superior rum, 40ml cream, 15ml Green Chartreuse, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml lime juice, 15ml sugar syrup, 1 egg white and soda water.
Bonneton dry-shook the egg white in a shaker with no ice, added the other ingredients and shook the egg white until it emulsified with the cream. He fine-strained the mixture into a tall glass, topped with soda water and garnished with a sprig of mint.
Bacardi to launch $2000 anniversary rum
Proximo and Marblehead strike distribution deal
Bartenders do duel for No. 209 Gin crown
Aquavit: A new lease of life
Bergersen becomes Pilsner Urquell’s International Master Bartender
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Leuschke
Group Architects
6 Eden Street, Newmarket
email@leuschke.co.nz
Over the last 30 years Leuschke Group has created many of New Zealand's most distinctive buildings.
During that time we have earned the trust and respect of our clients to become one of the country's leading architectural practices.
Our work is remarkably diverse - large and small, private and public, for communities and individuals - with particular expertise in luxury residences, apartment developments and boutique commercial projects.
We know that our clients place great value in the working relationships we build with them. Taking time to understand their business needs and aspirations has resulted in a high proportion of repeat business.
We have been able to provide consistency to our clients through the longstanding directors who have developed a deep understanding of our client’s specific needs, expectations and aspirations.
Designing Value
Good Architecture adds value and our ambition is always to create value for our clients through good design, through increasing site viability, improving land values and creating a better living and built environment. We enjoy what we do and delight in seeing a finished project that works for the client, site and community.
We approach each project with an open mind. Our value lies in the ability to understand and exploit a specific site's constraints and opportunities. We are proud of our record of achieving more for our clients than they had anticipated and our ability to generate both enhanced value and design quality.
Zinc House
Blenheim House
Artspace Karangahape Road
Jervois & Lawrence
The Drake Hotel
Balfour Road
Victoria Residences
Hilton - Auckland
House on the Spanish Coast
Herne Bay House
Tio Lane
Eden Green Apartments
Vinegar Lane
Park Residences
Rotorua Police Station
Tasti Foods
We aim high with every project, pushing ourselves, our clients, and the site.
1 Houses 2 Apartments 3 Commercial
In progress Contact
Houses Apartments Commercial In progress Contact ↑
The Balfour Apartments offer modern, high quality city living with views of Auckland harbour. Along with extensive areas of glazing, we designed various façade treatments and textures to create screening and privacy for the spaces within, and views outwards. The building is divided into two structures separated with glazed stairwells and lobbies that provide stunning views out to the harbour and back to Parnell and the museum. This urban residence would sit comfortably in any of the world’s great cities.
Colin Leuschke
B.A. B.Arch ANZIA
Colin Leuschke — Director
B.A. B.Arch ANZIA, Registered Architect
Colin, founding shareholder of the company, brings commercial and development expertise to the practice.
He has undertaken successful projects in Canada, Australia, several Pacific Islands and throughout New Zealand.
He has been on the board of both listed and private property development and Investment companies.
He is the architect responsible for a legacy of completed projects, including Princes Wharf, Hilton Hotel and a significant number of commercial, apartment and industrial buildings.
Lindy Leuschke
B.Arch ANZIA
Lindy Leuschke — Principal
NZCD B.Arch ANZIA, Registered Architect
Lindy specialises in top end coastal and urban housing and residential alterations, with projects spanning the country and overseas.
Renowned for exceptional detailing and material consideration, her talents have been recognised in numerous publications and architectural awards throughout her career.
Brian Cocker
Brian Cocker — Director
B.Arch ANZIA, Registered Architect
Brian embodies the technical knowledge required in any successful architectural practice.
He has extensive experience in the documentation and contract administration of construction in New Zealand.
His professional skills extend to commercial, industrial and residential buildings and his expertiseare an invaluable resource within the practice ensuring positive project outcomes.
Alister Kitchen
Alister Kitchen — Principal
B.B.Sc B.Arch ANZIA, Registered Architect
Alister excels in the creative concepts of many of the buildings produced by the practice.
An expert in negotiating the Resource Consent process while maximising development potential and achieving stunning design outcomes on Leuschke Group’s most iconic projects
Leslie Graham
NZCD Arch
Leslie Graham — Senior Technician
Leslie has been with Leuschke Group since its founding.
With expertise indocumentation and administration of larger, complex projects.
Leslie leads the implementation and ongoing progression of inhouse CAD and BIM standards and brings a wealth of experience to any project.
Andrew Craig — Principal
Andrew is a registered Architect, completing a Bachelor of Architecture Science and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Sydney.
He has extensive experience in delivering quality buildings from concept to completion. He has worked on a wide variety of large complex buildings in Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
His work includes a number of large and exciting projects at Leuschke Group such as Princes Wharf, White Heron Apartments, and Hewlett Packard House.
Rob Knight
Rob Knight — Principal
Rob is a project focused Architect specialising in the delivery of highly complex multi storey buildings utilising the latest BIM platforms.
He has gained substantial experience across Commercial, Residential, Hospitality and Health sectors in London, the Middle East and Australia, and most recently the delivery of Victoria Residences.
Rob brings energy, a fresh approach and an international perspective to the Leuschke Group team.
Luke Leuschke
M.Arch B.Envs B.Com
Luke is an architectural designer, holding a degree in Economics from the University of Auckland, Bachelor of Environments from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Architecture from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Luke studied in Japan, and worked professionally for several leading Melbourne architectural offices before returning to New Zealand and joining Leuschke Group Architects.
Bringing a fresh, contemporary approach to the company, Luke is supported by a team of experienced colleagues.
Our practice is led by long-standing directors and senior management team, providing consistency, continuity and experience to our clients.
Every project is overseen from conception to completion by senior qualified architects to ensure quality of design and execution.
A thorough understanding of the client’s requirements is the context for all work we undertake.
Empathy and leadership are essential qualities for a finished project that we can all be proud of.
NZIA Public Architecture Award for Architecture
NZIA Resene Colour Award for Architecture
NZIA Resene Local Award for Architecture
Translucent House
114 St Georges Bay Road, Parnell
Remuera Apartments
Smith House
Princes Wharf - Stage 1
NZIA Resene Northern Regional Award for Architecture
NZIA Resene Branch Award for Architecture
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Dodger Rookies Hit 3 Walk-Off Homers In A Row, First Time In MLB HistorySunday’s win followed Alex Verdugo hitting a walk-off win Saturday in the 11th inning, and Matt Beaty hitting a two-run shot in the ninth inning on Friday.
Will Smith Reveals New Poster, Disney Drops Teaser Trailer For Live-Action 'Aladdin' RemakeWill Smith and Disney gave the world a first look at the remake of "Aladdin" on Wednesday.
Will Smith Bungee Jumps Out Of Helicopter Over Grand Canyon For CharityWhen you're Will Smith, celebrating your 50th birthday means jumping out of a helicopter that's hovering over a national landmark.
Former Saints Player Will Smith Shot And Killed; Suspect Charged With 2nd Degree MurderFormer New Orleans Saints player Will Smith was shot and killed Saturday after a traffic accident, and a suspect was charged on Sunday with second-degree murder in connection with the killing.
After The Draft Dust Settles, The Waiver Wire Is Your Fantasy Baseball Best FriendThe drafts are all done, and the first pitch of the 2016 MLB season has been thrown.
Actor Will Smith Announces Plan To Boycott The Academy AwardsDuring a board meeting on Tuesday, officials could discuss ways to diversify membership and Oscar nominations.
Will Smith Quells 'Concussion' Controversy At Hollywood Film AwardsSmith was honored Sunday at the Hollywood Film Awards for his work in "Concussion." He plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who uncovered the dangerous effects of head trauma on the brain in football.
Virginia Woman Pleads No Contest To Trespassing Into Home Of Will And Jada Pinkett SmithA 26-year-old woman pleaded no contest for going into the home of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and refusing to leave, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.
Is LA All-In For Hillary Clinton? Hollywood Stars, Pundits Weigh InOn Twitter, some celebrities declared their support.
Razzies Pick Will And Jaden Smith As Worst ActorsWill and Jaden Smith have something they can bond over. They were both awarded Razzies for their performances in "After Earth."
'Fresh Prince' Actor James Avery Dead At 68James Avery, the actor best known for portraying the uncle of Will Smith's character on the hit 1990s sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", has died, according to a spokesperson. He was 67.
Best Actress Nominee Signs On As The New 'Annie'Whether she wins an Academy Award Sunday, Quvenzhane Wallis already has another high-profile gig lined up.
Smith, Jones' 'MiB3' Zaps 'Avengers' Out Of No. 1The comic action heroes of "Men in Black 3" have taken over the weekend box office from the comic-book superheroes of "The Avengers."
'Men In Black 3' Takes Down 'Avengers' With $55M Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones' sequel "Men in Black 3" debuted as the No. 1 movie over Memorial Day weekend with $55 million domestically from Friday to Sunday.
Will Smith Smacks Male Reporter Who Tried To Give Him A Smack On The LipsWill Smith, promoting "Men In Black III" in Moscow, smacked a frisky male reporter who he believed tried to kiss him on the lips.
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Music Theory Topics
Click on these links to learn more about these topics.
Backcycling
Chord Basics
Chord Extensions
Chord Names
Chord Substitution
Enharmonics
Harmonic Minor Scale
Melodic Minor
Parallel Minor Scale
Exotic Scales
Harmonized Scales
Scale Degree
Seconary Dominant Chords
Check out these online tools that will help your musical mind.
If you have a music theory question, I invite you to contact me, Tom Michero at the email listed below. I welcome your inquiries and will respond personally to your question promptly.
Email me: service(at)lotusmusic.com.
On a computer or from a book, learning music is too important to wait. Choose the books and tools that are right for you.
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." -Buddha
Harmonizing Exotic Scales
Just as the process of harmonizing the Diatonic scale produces the chords of the Major scale, this same process can be applied to exotic scales to create their chords. This process involves identifying the modes of the scale and then going about finding what chords are produced by the several intervals. The most important notes of the mode for producing chords are the first, third, fifth, and seventh. This series of intervals will produce four-note chords called seventh chords. However, triad chords can be produced by selecting the first, third, and fifth note.
Often you will hear people talk about notes and intervals very loosely. For instance, a pianist might say that he added harmony to a song by playing thirds. In this case, he is generically referring to the interval which can be either minor or major. Seventh chords can have either a major 7th interval or a minor 7th (flatted 7th) interval. This can be confusing. So, I will try to make it clear as to what interval I mean.
Below is an example of how the chords of C Major are produced. In the Major scale there are seven notes. Therefore, there are seven modes. Each mode has the same distance between the notes as the Major scale. The only difference is the note the modes begin on. The modes of the Major scale are well-known and the names are agreed upon. However, this is not so true with other scales.
When you select every other note of these modes you will end up with the chords that are "diatonic" to the scale. That essentially means the chord only has notes that belong to the scale.
Harmonized Major Scale
This chart below shows the seventh chords that are diatonic to the C Major scale and the modes that come from the scale.
This harmonizing technique when applied to exotic scales can produce some wild sounding chords. The thing that makes the scales "exotic" is that our ears are not used to the intervals and the harmonies those intervals produce. Exotic is all relative. The cultures that these scales derive from don't think they are exotic. (For a list of exotics scales, click the link from the "Topics" page of this website).
Hungarian Minor Scale
The Hungarian Minor scale is among the scales that one might call exotic. The notes of this scale are space accordingly: whole, half, 2 whole, half, half, 2 whole, half. This means the notes of A Hungarian Minor are A, B, C, D#, E, F, and G#. This is like the more familiar Harmonic Minor scale but this scale's fourth note (D#) is a half step higher. This scale has two large harmonic gaps that sound odd to our ears. Indeed, the scale sounds like it could charm snakes out of a basket.
Following the method we used for harmonizing the Major scale, we can lay out the modes of the Hungarian Minor scale as seen below. Notice that each mode begins each and every note of the scale.
Hungarian Minor Scale Harmonized
Next, when we select the first, third, and seventh (I'm speaking the way a musician might) of each mode we come up with the seventh chords that are diatonic to Harmonic Minor. Saying that the chords are diatonic does not mean they have anything to do with the Major scale. It's just a term to indicate that the chords we just came up with all belong to A Harmonic Minor, as odd as those chords might sound.
The D#sus9#5 is not a chord that you run into a lot. The third note is not even a major or minor third interval. It is actually an interval called a second. This interval is also can also be considered as a ninth. So, from these four notes we call spell an extended suspended chord with a sharp five. It doesn't sound as weird as it looks. It actually has a smooth blues feel about it. There are other chords that sound much stranger.
So, you might ask, "What do I do with this, now." I say experiment with it. Try playing the chords in a progression. It will sound odd. Not all scales are set up to harmonize like the Diatonic scale. For instance, the five chord in our example above is an Emaj7. This hardly sounds dominant and the dominant-tonic resolution we are familiar does not exist in this scale.
Often musicians will substitute chords in exotic scales to give it a workable harmony. In this scale you might use an E7 in place of the Emaj7 and the one chord (the tonic) might become Am instead of Am(maj7). As always, it depends what effect you are going for.
Exotic scales are great for creating unique sounds in composition and improvisation. However, use your ear to choose what harmonies you want to extract from them.
The Harmonizer
Down & Dirty Guide
Chords & Arpeggios
4-Note Inversions
The FIN System
Intro. to Fingerstyle
40 Christmas Melodies
Harmonzier Overview
Circle of Fifths II
Django Plays
John Wynn
PerfectPitch.com
Boss Metronome
GypsyJazz.com
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Texas Legislators: Past & Present
Pike Powers
Full Name: John Pike Powers IV
House, 65th Legislature
House, 63rd Legislature
House, 62nd (1) (2) Legislature
(1) J. Pike Powers, Jr., in special election 6/13/1972, sworn 6/19/1972, succeeded Will L. Smith, died 3/17/1972. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-1992 1992.
(2) J. Pike Powers, Jr., in special election 6/13/1972, sworn 6/15/1972, succeeded Will L. Smith, died 3/17/1972. Powers' first session was 62nd 3rd Called Session. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004 2005.
Biographical Notes and Resources
Resolutions and Journal entries
68th Legislature, R.S., HCR 70. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
63rd Legislature, R.S., HCR 141. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
64th Legislature, R.S., HSR 27. Name listed John Pike Powers, IV. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
Photograph. Pike Powers, State Preservation Board
Pike Powers photo and biographical sketch, of Counsel. Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. 2007.
Powers, John Pike IV. Texas State Cemetery .
65th R.S. - 1977
Funding Public Institutions of Higher Education, House Joint
Elections (Vice Chair)
Judiciary Subcommittee on Workmen's Compensation
Texas Coastal and Marine Council
Texas Unemployment Compensation Act, Temporary
63rd R.S. - 1973
Poet Laureate Selection, Special
State Affairs (Vice Chair)
State Affairs Subcommittee on State Personnel
62nd R.S. - 1971
Emotionally Disturbed Children, Interim
Scabies Eradication
LRL Home | View full site
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Store International A Legal Analysis of NGOs and European Civil Society
A Legal Analysis of NGOs and European Civil Society
By Piotr Staszczyk
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About this book:
A Legal Analysis of NGOs and European Civil Society is the first attempt to present the significance of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the light of the postulate of democratization of the European Union’s internal procedures and of strengthening the European identity by structuring cooperation of civil society representatives across national borders. Amid widespread awareness and discussion of “the democratic deficit” and “shrinking civil space,” the role of NGOs becomes increasingly important. Yet the precise legal status of such bodies is ill-defined. This book presents a thorough commentary and analysis of the position of NGOs and European civil society in the EU constitutional system, bringing to the fore existing and desirable means of public participation in EU lawmaking.
What’s in this book:
Recognizing that NGOs have historically been designed to meet the ends of civil society, the analysis focuses on the following topics and issues:
means in EU law of advocating for the collective interests of civil society;
unofficial means of influencing the EU institutions;
access to documents and the European citizens’ initiative as a means of exerting pressure on EU legislation;
relations between the EU institutions and NGOs, including lobbying activities;
bringing actions in the common good before courts and other institutions;
the special role of NGOs in environmental protection;
complaints to the Commission and the European Ombudsman;
EU funding for NGOs; and
transboundary philanthropy.
Drawing on a broad spectrum of sources of law, including CJEU case law and relevant legal literature, this book discusses the above-mentioned topics comprehensively in legal terms.
How this will help you:
In its thorough examination of legal tools that can respond to the “democratic deficit,” this book makes a distinctive contribution to the public debate on the future of the EU, especially in the context of emerging threats to further integration. It will prove to be of great value not only to civil activists, academics and policymakers but also to everyone interested in European integration and affordance for social participation.
Chapter 1 Defining NGOs and Setting Their Place in European Civil Society
Chapter 2 NGOs in the EU Constitutional System
Chapter 3 The NGO Influence on Shaping the EU Law
Chapter 4 NGOs as Entities Acting in the Collective Interest of European Civil Society
Chapter 5 The EU Law and the Cross-Border Activities of NGOs: Selected Aspects
Table of Legislation
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Leeds United Prediction League
Its time to play the game
Predict Now
Rules, Points & Prizes
← Page 204/365 : Baby view
Page 206/365 : Curry #2 of the week →
Page 205/365 : Film Review – 42
Posted on July 24, 2013 by Dave On Film
Got some stick at work today from the girls for “not being very funny today”, telling “Dad” jokes and not mentioning on my Blog the other day that Emma, having never played Top Trumps before managed to beat me at a game on Monday lunchtime using a set of Pirates Of The Caribbean Top Trumps that Trevor had brought from home…so here I am setting the record straight! Haha.
Tonight, we watched the movie “42” which is a biopic on Jackie Robinson, the first black player to play in the Major Leagues at Baseball. It is also the 1,225th film watched as at http://www.icheckmovies.com
He was signed for the Dodgers (then the Brooklyn Dodgers well before they moved to LA) at a time when racial prejudice was still strong in America and across the world. The film follows his career and life, right through to his first season in Major League Baseball.
It’s a cracking story, and although I only know snippets of the real-life story from listening to Dodgers commentator Vin Scully, I really enjoyed the film and the story it was portraying. It’s quite hard to imagine that kind of world, having not ever been witness to it. A world in which opposing team managers were openly standing in the dugout shouting “Nigger” at Robinson as he attempted to bat. We’ve come a long way people…a very long way!
Harrison Ford is the big name in the film, taking part of Branch Rickey, the General Manager of the Dodgers who gave Robinson his big chance and ultimately changed the game completely.
Having recently taken up support of the LA Dodgers, it was a story I was interested in, allowing me a little bit of an insight into their history. When you look at the game today and see all the different cultures, it’s hard to imagine the game this way just 60 years ago.
Great film, great telling of an inspirational story and a film I would definitely recommend to Baseball fans and non-fans alike.
This entry was posted in 2013, 365, Baseball, Movies, Work and tagged 42, Baseball, Branch Rickey, Brian Helgeland, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chadwick Boseman, Dodgers, Harrison Ford, Jackie Robinson, LA Dodgers, Vin Scully. Bookmark the permalink.
2 Responses to Page 205/365 : Film Review – 42
Helen Whitehurst Novielli says:
Whoa, whoa, whoa… Harrison Ford is Branch Rickey? I’m not sure about that casting.
Dave Woollin says:
Yeah he plays the part really well. Obviously I have nothin to compare him against but he seems alright in my book
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NEW BOOK! | Want to trust yourself more deeply and doubt yourself less often? | YOU'VE GOT THIS!PRE ORDER NOW
Margie Warrell
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December 04, 2009 / Build Resilience
What You Can Learn from Tiger’s Mistakes
No doubt you haven’t escaped the Tiger Woods headlines this past week. As far as I’m concerned this isn’t a story about money. It isn’t a story about whether he broke the law. It isn’t even a story about badly managed PR. It’s a story about integrity. Or, sadly, the lack thereof. (I actually spoke about this during a TV interview I did earlier today.)
Our society loves to put high-performing athletes up on pedestals according them, in the process, a semi-God like status. With that we give them enormous influence on us, and more importantly, on our kids who rank elite athletes second only to parents (92%) and on par with teachers (72%) in terms of influence. But of course, with great influence, comes great power and (to quote from the Karate Kid) with great power comes great responsibility.
I don’t know much about Tiger Woods’ private life apart from the salacious news I’ve heard in the media this last week. What I do know is that we should all be very careful in putting anyone up on a pedestal or expecting any individual to be infallible across the board. Just because someone is a brilliant athlete (or actor or singer or politician) doesn’t mean they are always going to be a great role model. Masterful skill in one area of life doesn’t automatically equate to robust integrity or even to plain old common sense. If there’s any lesson in this whole sad Tiger Woods affair, it is this: beware of putting any individual up on a pedestal just because they are good at a sport!
Time and time again we’ve witnessed athletes, celebrities and people in positions of high office suddenly fall from grace. Time and time again we’ve felt like they let us down. We’d trusted them to do the right thing and they blew it. Surely they should have known better, done better, been better than that. What the hell were they thinking?! It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to have millions of people in awe of you, but it seems as though they become drunk on their own fame, fortune and power. Without something or someone to keep them well grounded, they lose their way and become lost in the public persona their publicists create for them. Viewing themselves as almost omnipotent, they delude themselves into thinking their behavior is immune to the consequences the rest of us face. They live in the illusion, like Lehman Brothers once did, that they are too big too fail… or at least to too famous to fall. And only when reality catches up to them, and they come crashing down to earth with a headline-making thud, can they begin to see that they are no more immune to the consequences of their choices, and no less fallible, than the rest of us. In the meanwhile, families are devastated and the respect and trust of adoring fans is damaged as the heroes they so desperately wanted to believe in lose their cape.
None of us are flawless. Good people do bad things. Seemingly smart people do dumb things. We all find ourselves in moments of choice where we feel tempted to do something we know in our heart isn’t the right thing. And we’ve all had those times where we’ve veered off course. Myself included. Certainly Tiger Woods has a huge reservoir of goodwill to be dipping into in the weeks and months ahead as he seeks to restore the trust of his fans and those closest to him. His wife in particular. I have to say, I’d be none too happy if I were in her shoes. I wish him well. I’m sure his fans are willing to forgive him but they need to see some genuine humility first. Trust is a precious commodity. It can take a long time to build but only one moment of transgression to lose. Something all those who have been given the trust of the masses would be well served to keep forefront in mind.
Learning to discern between who you should trust, and what you should trust them with is an important skill to learn in life. With that in mind, my question to you is this: where have you made false assumptions about the lives and characters of others that led to disappointment? Where have you placed trust too hastily or fallen in to awe too quickly?
I’d love to hear what you think about this so please share your comments below.
Quote for today – ‘Integrity is one of many paths we can follow in life. It distinguishes itself from others by being the only path upon which one can never get lost.”
Neuro-Plasticity: Want To Outsmart Your Brain?
How To Raise Brave Girls
Your Words Create Your Reality
Does Fear Cloud Your Intuition? The 5 Gut Instincts You Should Never Ignore
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Lead Purposefully
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It Was Just a Thought…
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Ha, “I’ll explain.”
For I think 10-15 years now I’ve been using the Office suite on PC to make PDFs of Word, Powerpoint, and Excel files and never gave links a second thought. You embed links in text like this in the source file and they’re live in the PDF. Fonts and layout are identical to what you created in the source file.
Not on Mac.
Oh, if you simply type out links as text, e.g., https://www.crunchbase.com/person/jeff-cotrupe, they do save as live links in PDFs. But it is self-evident why that is sub-optimal. Pretty much everywhere in all applications people embed links in all content like this, and that is the standard.
Create a file in Office on the Mac, save as PDF and you’re presented with two choices:
Saving your PDF as “Best for printing” preserves fonts/layouts but kills the links.
Saving as “Best for electronic and accessibility (uses Microsoft online service)” gives you live links, but is also dependent upon which fonts Microsoft has loaded on those servers. In any file I’ve ever tested, this method massacres fonts and layouts and is unworkable.
After much experimentation and testing, here are the only two ways you can use Word on a Mac to create PDFs with embedded live links AND the fonts and layout of your choice:
[1] Use Word for Mac to create your doc. Save as Best Print Quality. Your embedded links are dead. Buy Acrobat Pro DC for $450 or license it for a year for $180. Open your PDF and the source Wordfile. Copy link locations for all links in Wordfile and paste them in into new link boxes you create over those same words or phrases in PDF.
[2] Buy Parallels, Windows 10, and Office for your Mac. Parallels virtual machine frees Word to do on Mac what it does on PC: save embedded live links in PDF. Not sure what it cost my company to buy Parallels and Windows 10 licenses, and the new separate license for Office to use in Parallels.
Long way and lot of money to go just to create live links AND not demolish your fonts and layouts when saving Word to PDF on a Mac, right? But those are your choices.
I bet Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe could get together and fix this in a New York (or Seattle, or Silicon Valley) minute. But there’s a lot of money changing hands in #s 1 and 2 above, so…
Tags Acrobat, Adobe, Apple, Excel, Mac, Macintosh, New York, Office, Parallels, PDF, Powerpoint, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Windows, Word
Getting Engaged and Experienced in Vegas
WOW. What happens in Vegas: I’m writing about it, and analyzing it. Ok, before anyone goes scrambling for legal counsel and/or relationship counsel-ing, what I’m analyzing is Sitecore Symposium 2014 in Las Vegas: a slickly-produced conference with, I’m guessing, judging by the chock-full keynote hall, +/- 2,000 attendees. The event featured multiple tracks and sessions to choose from. While many vendor confabs feature pleas of “Go to the exhibit hall (we beg you) to visit our vendor sponsors who paid big bucks for very little traffic,” at Sitecore Symposium, the vendor partner tables and demos were set up right in the hallway connecting the breakout halls where many of the sessions were held. That was convenient and encouraged dialogue. Bravo, Sitecore. Others take note. I expect this to be a most-copied concept.
KEYNOTE-WORTHY CEO
Judging by his razor-sharp, on-point keynote, Sitecore CEO Michael Seifert, who I interviewed on an earlier sojourn to Vegas, was born to the stage, personable and well-paced. The theme of Seifert’s talk, and of the overall conference, was “Own the Experience.” Another oft-repeated phrase at the event was “Customers for life.” In fact, Sitecore Chief Strategy Officer Darren Guarnaccia said in his Product keynote, “We want to be the preferred tool for customer experience developers, marketers and merchandisers…this is a platform for life.” In this analyst’s view, Sitecore is well on the way to actualizing that vision.
SEIFERT QUOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
Some notable quotes and concepts jumped out of Seifert’s keynote:
“This is the opportunity of our times: to present the right experience at the right time… the most important opportunity in today’s environment.”
JeffTake: This is why both customer experience analytics and real-time analytics, two areas of focus for us at Stratecast, are so important today.
“An experience creates a lasting memory—and that beats content…but you must know the person to provide the experience, so that requires context…and you must have creative, emotionally-engaging content.”
JeffTake: we’re talking a lot about content and context, plus sentiment analysis, at Stratecast these days, and this encapsulates a lot of the ‘why.’
“Consumers are getting MAD: marketing attention deficit.” He explained they are bombarded with email, then Internet banners and popups, and they tune out whatever is perceived as an interruption or not relevant.
JeffTake: this gets to the essence of speaking with and making friends with your customers and prospects, not “marketing AT them,” which is supposed to be the hallmark of digital communications as opposed to so-called traditional marketing.
THE KEY CHALLENGES
Seifert talked about how marketers now have plenty of tools at their fingertips, but that technology is starting to overwhelm them: they face too much complexity; it’s becoming an arms race. He showed this marketing tech chart and cited stats from the Digital Analytics Association that 50% of marketers’ time is spent gathering and analyzing data. And how, even after they’ve assembled all of that data, they still don’t get a comprehensive view of the customer, just bits of it.
Remember, Seifert pointed out, that Amazon, for example, is only selling online [JeffTake: at least for NOW], which makes it simpler, while other organizations have storefronts, distributors, other marketing, sales, and service channels and touchpoints from which they must gather info, and to which they must impart new ways of better serving customers. The idea is to capture all relevant data—but SIMPLIFY.
SITECORE SOLUTION: CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE PLATFORM (SITECORE 8)
Seifert next brought Guarnaccia on stage, and Guarnaccia showed a few dashboard screens from the new Experience Profile. Throughout the event, a number of Sitecorians referred to the Experience Profile as “The exFile.”
Sitecore’s “exFile” (which, come to think of it, could also be a great name for a database of ex-spouses and other partners) provides a current and comprehensive view of the customer, based on data flowing into the also-brand-spanking-new Sitecore xDB (its Experience Database, built on MongoDB, with connectors and Sitecore application software). Guarnaccia explained how now you can collect all the information from social, internal, and external sources and really see who this customer is, what they like, don’t like, what they have been doing on your site (and other sites), and all in all, how they are interacting with your business. Thusly armed, you can predict what they might want to do or see next, and provide what he termed “experience optimization.” Which means to track, visualize, and predict, then generate, on the fly (meaning: in real time) dynamic personas and lists for immediate action.
JeffTake: first, this discussion points out the importance of Stratecast’s 39 Data Sources Enterprises Need to Access. Second, Sitecore nailed what Stratecast has been urging the market to do for years: provide solutions that empower users to ANALYZE THEN ACT.
OTHER PRODUCT KEYNOTABLES
Next Sitecore VP Product Marketing Mark Floisand joined Guarnaccia on stage, and the two discussed some of the platforms’ recent growth stages: version 7.0 was about content. 7.1 was mostly about the user interface (UI: the SPEAK framework). 7.2 was about integrating Commerce Server. With 7.5 (the current version as of Symposium), Sitecore re-architected the platform to add the new xDB. In 8.0, Sitecore 8, the company was adding exFile, plus easy test and optimization for all website changes plus integration with Cloud ML on Azure to do predictive re-segmentation and next-best-experience offers. They announced that Sitecore 8 was in so-called “lighthouse” customers now [JeffTake: heavy beta with a trusted shortlist of top customers] and would be available for technology previews in November, with GA slated for early 2015.
Next, Sitecore partner Coveo dashed up on stage with breaking news: a free version of its enterprise search product for all Sitecore customers (discussed in some detail here).
Commerce Server is an acquired addition and integration of e-Commerce capabilities (including merchandising, shopping cart, and more). Stratecast met separately with Sitecore Director of Product Marketing Wayne Smith, who told us they have been “skilling up” since the purchase in Nov 2013, and that a bunch of Commerce personnel came with the technology. Guarnaccia’s blog post talks about all of this and establishes a Customer Lifecycle that is far more extensive than most of what has passed for “product lifecycle” in the industry at large for, like, ever. With Commerce Server, Sitecore can now map, monitor, and act on everything from initial customer awareness through consumption and advocacy. JeffTake: this means acting as a reference customer, including on social media and as a positive contributor to things like a positive Net Promoter Score.
Author and marketing and sales strategist David Meerman Scott was an entertaining guest speaker, emphasizing, among other things, “humanizing” [personalizing] marketing. He also hit the real-time button HARD (a speaker after Stratecast’s real-time-analytics-espousing heart). Here’s a recap by Sitecore VP Marketing North America James Smith.
OTHER INSIGHTS
Microsoft has named Sitecore its top ISV partner two years running. Sitecore VP Business Development Jean-Paul Gomes told Stratecast “the Microsoft connection” pulls through major revenues for Sitecore. Gomes is an ex-MSFTer who is still well-connected there and spends much of his time at Microsoft’s Redmond, WA (Seattle-area) campus. Sitecore’s partner roster reads somewhat like the Library of Congress, but the company told Stratecast it is moving toward having fewer partners to focus on bigger targets. That sound like “we’re going up-market” to me.
Like virtually every provider, Sitecore strives for replicable processes, but the fact remains that most Sitecore implementations are still one-off affairs, because organizational structures, politics, digital maturity, and technical challenges are always different. Sitecore’s SBOS (Business Optimization Services) offering helps with this, and Sitecore has a number of implementation partners it certifies for various competencies.
Sitecore also has Komfo (social media monitoring, analytics and publishing) and Print Experience Manager (formerly Advanced Print Studio, or APS), but did not heavily emphasize these at the conference. Nor was there talk about privacy and security in any of the sessions or briefings we attended. Best insight on privacy was an answer from panelist Avanade: “Get tight with your legal team.” (Avanade is a Microsoft/Accenture partnership that provides consulting, implementation management, and managed services.) We at Stratecast have a LOT to say about privacy…but hey, that’s part of why we are here.
From partnering to competing, Sitecore sees its primary competitors as Adobe and Salesforce—to which Stratecast would add others, principally Marketo, Silverpop, and IBM Tealeaf, and on the telecom side, Alcatel-Lucent, Comptel, and Amdocs Actix.
STRATECAST: THE LAST BLOGGABLE WORD
Ok, as the cynical analyst, I keep wondering how Sitecore can continually remake and reposition itself to meet changing markets:
In years past, the biggest name in chargeable web content management (WCM, which, btw, is still raging full force under the hood)…
‘Add analytics and marketing automation’ and it’s a customer engagement platform…
Now a MongoDB-fueled customer experience solution.
Somehow Sitecore does it. Or is doing it. Again. Remember, GA of Sitecore 8 is not until sometime in 2015. So the jury is still out, the pudding is not really proof-ready, etc., etc.—we’ll see what we see when Sitecore 8 hits GA-ness next year.
Many Sitecore customers have are running multiple instances of the platform and using different aspects of it, depending on their varying levels of digital maturity. Additional functions are being added and carefully integrated, because Sitecore’s most advanced customers want them and Sitecore believes all customers will need them.
Event-wise, Sitecore Symposium 2014 was really well managed. Oh, and each attendee got a copy of the book Connect: How to Use Data and Experience Marketing to Create Lifetime Customers, written by three Sitecorians: Lars Birkholm Petersen, Ron Person, and Christopher Nash.
In fact, hey wait a minute, this analyst provided a quote for the book and I’m still waiting for my copy signed by the authors, or at least by Petersen. How about it, Sitecore?
Tags Actix, Adobe, Alcatel-Lucent, Amdocs, analytics, Avanade, Beth Torrie, Big Data, Commerce Server, Comptel, Coveo, customer experience, Darren Guarnaccia, Experience Profile, IBM, Jeff Cotrupe, Lars Birkholm Petersen, Marketo, Michael Seifert, Microsoft, MongoDB, Salesforce, Silverpop, Sitecore, Stratecast, Symposium, Tealeaf
A Tale of Two Companies
We’ve been talking about why it’s important to think of search engine optimization /search engine marketing (SEO/M) and Web 2.0 not as the be-all and end-all of your communications universe but as key ingredients in a complete, balanced diet. Of course what we mean when we say “Web 2.0” breaks out into three areas:
Rich Internet applications (RIA) including AJAX and Flash
Broadcast media such as streaming, RSS and mobile SMS
Consumer-generated media (CGM) like consumer reviews, wiikis, blogs and participation in forums
All of us who post on just about any business-focused blog want to talk about best practices, but today is show-and-tell: I’m going to show you how two companies approached this in different ways and how that has led to divergent results. Continue reading
Tags Adobe, AJAX, Apple, blogosphere, CGM, Cotrupe, Edelman, Flash, MarketPOWER, mobile SMS, RIA, RSS, SEM, SEO, Smuckers, Wal-Mart
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“I’m not going anywhere.”
John Porter (Richard Armitage) reassures Katie Dartmouth (Orla Brady) during their captivity in Strike Back 1.2. Source: Richard Armitage Net
~ by Servetus on March 7, 2011.
Posted in fantasy, humiliation, John Porter, loss, me, redemption, Richard Armitage, Strike Back
36 Responses to ““I’m not going anywhere.””
Yet this sentiment has such bittersweet meanings outside of Strike Back. Sometimes one wishes to be free, getting out of Dodge. “Capitivity” is the word, indeed.
Didion said this on March 7, 2011 at 9:26 pm | Reply
Therein lies a great part of the attraction of John Porter. How many men do you meet like that? I’m not talking about being SAS but just being a stand up guy. The Mencken quote comes to mind.
Glad you’re not going anywhere. 🙂
RAFrenzy said this on March 7, 2011 at 9:28 pm | Reply
John Porter is a man you’d like to have in your corner. Hooray for JP!
Also glad you are not going anywhere. 😀
angieklong said this on March 7, 2011 at 9:29 pm | Reply
What a poignantly beautiful moment and how touchingly tender he is with Katie. Can’t you almost picture yourself in such an embrace? Just knowing during tough or even scary moments that someone has your back, sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically is of overwhelming comfort. When at a Retreat recently, I noticed on one wall inside the building in which we met for meals and Sessions, a large and very beautiful hand-carved plaque with the words of Psalm 139:9.10, written, I believe, in German. In “King James” English those two verses certainly convey that feeling for me.
Teuchter said this on March 7, 2011 at 10:01 pm | Reply
That’s a beautifully touching scene; and they perform it so well. There’s such closeness and intimacy between them.
Who wouldn’t want a man like this to comfort them in a frightening situation ?
Amandajane said this on March 7, 2011 at 10:27 pm | Reply
And tenderness! Awwwwww…
We’ll have a “Strike Back” fest this Saturday. Emailed all my friends around and reminded neighbors alike. I was at a friend’s party two weeks ago (with belly dancing ladies) and here I was telling friends both sexes about Strike Back………..!
Tedgirl said this on March 8, 2011 at 2:45 pm | Reply
Tedgirl,
That sounds like a blast! Enjoy the Porter goodness.
RA has infinite capacity to portray tenderness and empathy. Portray is a superficial word in the circumstances; he draws the audience to feel the same emotion. It is so poignant in the scenes with Katie (rather eclipsing, thankfully, scenes with Danni, to understate it); scenes with Margaret, one in particular with Marian, with Elizabeta. Not just with women, either; the mine scene with Gerry in SB. The striking feature is the ability to avoid the maudlin.
fitzg said this on March 8, 2011 at 1:53 am | Reply
Awww!!! I love this scene. Cant wait to see it in my TV. Thank You :*
Jonia said this on March 8, 2011 at 9:47 am | Reply
There’s such an amazing contrast between his powerful arms and shoulders and his chiselled features (and what he is able to express with them) and long, slender fingers. He is the embodiment of what women wish for in a man – strength and tenderness.
Nietzsche said this on March 8, 2011 at 10:24 am | Reply
Exactly, Nietzsche! How can we not react to a scene like this?
Toughness and resolve coupled with tenderness and understanding.
Richard’s physicality–that contrast between the brawniness of the shoulders and arms, his strong aquiline nose and chiseled jaw, and those long, lush, pretty lashes and delicately-shaped mouth, elegant hands worthy of a great artist or musician–are mirrored by what he shows us of Porter’s character.
Here is a strong, steely, tough soldier who is nonetheless capable of gentleness and kindness. A killing machine with a heart and soul.
This is what made John Porter so much more than just another macho action man. It is not that this is sexy although JP looks hot. There is just such honesty in the way he phrases his words. Just a general obsevation here RA can so much with the pauses in his lines. It would have been easy for them to sound trite as though he has said them to a thousand other people which doubtless he had. Added to the tenderness of his touch and sincerity in his expression. Those expressive facial muscles working to the full here.
It was this scene that inspired me to write A jp story
khandy said this on March 8, 2011 at 10:28 am | Reply
I agree! I’ll miss JP if we don’t get to see anymore of him
kadamanja said this on March 8, 2011 at 6:10 pm | Reply
Well, at least we know we will get some more Porter in SB2, but how much is up for grabs.
Richard Armitage and Orla Brady were wonderful together in Stike Back. I hope they will work together again.
Musa said this on March 8, 2011 at 1:30 pm | Reply
I love this scene. I know as a stong emancipated woman, I am not supposed to like it, but I can’t help myself. You just have those days where you’d love a JP to swoop and give you a little reassurance that everything will be ok.
@Rob said this on March 8, 2011 at 2:05 pm | Reply
As a “second wave” feminist, I’m right with you, Rob!
Happy International Womens’ Day, all.
fitzg said this on March 8, 2011 at 8:27 pm | Reply
I’m with you both there, ladies. Instead of “Calgon, take me away” it’s “JP, tell me it’s going to be OK!!”
I think in another actor’s hands, the scene might have come across as condescending or patronizing. But I felt that John respected Katie and also fully understood her need to be held and consoled. I imagined he could see his own daughter in such a predicament and hope that someone would try to comfort and soothe her in the same manner.
That’s also why I decided to give John younger sisters in Truce. He seemed like he would have been a great big brother to have.
Ang…there’s a poem in that first line somewhere???!!!
I still say those scenes with Katie were the best of the series. I just keep watching it over and over.
Not being a “helpless woman” is something I take pride in, however…hubs loves it when I do need a little backup! Nothing wrong with letting your man take care of you every once in a while! And of course, all of that macho woman stuff would go whizzing right out the door at the mere sight of JP! Oh yeah! One huge puddle in a New York minute. 🙂
NovemberBride said this on March 9, 2011 at 12:36 am | Reply
In celebration of Interntational Women’s Day with Annie Lenox and Aretha Franklin “The Sistas Are Doin’ It for Themselves”
@Rob said this on March 9, 2011 at 1:24 am | Reply
I love that song!! Thanks, @rob.
angieklong said this on March 9, 2011 at 3:10 am | Reply
I’ll try to work up a little JP poem for you, NB, if this darned cluster headache abates a bit. We’ve got more bad weather moving in (y’all get snow, we get rain) and it plays havoc with me. Thank goodness all my writing for Camellia Mag is done. Phew! (of course, we’ll do it all again in less than three months, and there’s Best Kept Secret of the South . . . always something!)
Even strong, self-reliant people need some TLC now and again. And who better to give it than JP!
I should not read these posts, (until the next Monday 😉 ) because they are for me like a spoiler, but it is not feasible, because I can’t get away from them, since all the girls here write so beautifully about John Porter
Ania said this on March 8, 2011 at 9:37 pm | Reply
Ania, I guess you can see a lot of us have developed quite a crush on Sgt. Porter. I think some viewers failed to fully grasp how much he brought to this character–JP in his hands is so much more than just the macho soldier with guns-ablazing, although he does that very convincingly when need be. He’s a family man dealing with broken relationships, a concerned brother in arms, a former soldier who never gave up on hoping to right a wrong and clear his name, a hero . . . I hope you will truly enjoy the series.
I really can not wait
Ladies, you know I love The Armitage, and I have loved him faithfuly for years, but this guy in that Jane Eyre movie…is H-O-T! Get me my smelling salts! He has the voice, the pentrating stare and a cravat! I think I am just a sucker for a man with side burns and a cravat. I can’t wait to go see that movie. Here is the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8J6Cjn06kA.
Am I going to get kicked out of Armitage University? 🙂
@Rob,
You already know I find Mr. Fassbender quite fanciable, having taken note of his smouldering good looks and alluring voice a while back. He can also act, which is a nice bonus! Having watched more period stuff over the weekend, I am thinking I am rather a softie for those sideburns and hairstyles, frock coats and cravats, too. 😉 They seem to improve the looks of the average fellow, and the above-average looker? Gawh-ghus.
Ladies!! Ladies!! You are scaring me!!! Am I detecting just the slightest hint of a changing of allegiance here??? Say it isn’t so!! Mr. F may be considered a good actor and good looking but surely there is no comparison between him and our cravat-wearing JT!!!
I’m JK!! I’m sure I will be wanting to see it when it comes out. Looks like a great movie though if the trailer is any indication!
Teuchter said this on March 9, 2011 at 2:21 am | Reply
Teuchter,
I think the problem is @Rob and I may be shameless flirts at heart. 😉
I think we shall need to see the movie so we can properly study Mr. F and his performance as the brooding, enigmatic Rochester to compare it with the brooding, overbearing master Thornton. A sort of –Cravat-Off?!
I’ve watched the trailer now and from a first viewing I think MF makes a compelling Rochester and the film looks great. Judi Dench and a host of other top-notch actors will guarantee a lovely version of Jane Eyre. But fellow posters, I’m in no danger from MF. My heart remains true and steadfast! Bring on Thorin! 🙂
MillyMe said this on March 9, 2011 at 7:30 am | Reply
Right there with you MillyMe! It is going to be a LONG wait so I hope they throw us a few tidbits to help us survive! I have never yearned for a “Dwarf” before – have you? Guess there is a first time for everything!!
Thorin, the Bearded Beauty, will be a worthy contender for the most memorable Tolkien character, methinks! And we have the singing to look forward to, too. But, yes, it’s a long wait *sigh*!
Difficult, isn’t it? I don’t want to ignore other actors and performances, that would be silly; but obsession is well, obsession…
Jane Eyre will be a lovely way to pass the time before the future becomes the present.
Thanks to Rob for Aretha and Annie of the “second wave”. The Third Wave is creating their own path.
fitzg said this on March 9, 2011 at 11:41 am | Reply
Yes, @angie I am a terrible flirt! I bet I could take a lesson or two from you, Miz Southern Belle! 🙂 I do have a fascination with Jane Eyre. I always have. You have to check out the teaser that reads…”I owe you a debt” Here is the link:
http://www.focusfeatures.com/jane_eyre/videos/
Then let’s chat!
To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t have the time or energy to take on another fan gurl crush, but I am really looking forward to seeing this movie. At this point in my life, going to the grocery store san kids feels like a vacation! So sad, but true.
Here’s a fun trivia fact…Gaskell wrote the first bio about Charlotte Bronte.
That was the first Bronte bio I read, and the first Gaskell! It was excellent.
Re-watching the Iraq ep of SB last evening, I was struck by how very good Orla Brady was. I recall Mr. A making a comment about her portrayal of a foreign correspondent. In those scenes, she is so reminiscent of Christiane Amanpour and Lise Doucette, and the other ladies in the war zones. She caught that image of calm and dispassion and objectivity. Just the facts, Ma’am.
[…] repetition doesn’t bore everyone, but I left my picture selection, which is very similar to Servetus’ recent post, to make a point. I hope none of you get disheartened by these situations, because frankly, they […]
Are You Sick of Hearing About FanstRAvaganza?! « RAFrenzy said this on March 9, 2011 at 7:53 pm | Reply
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Tag: police integrity commission
New national integrity commission will ‘cure PIC toothlessness’
The government has submitted a bill to replace the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) and the Customs Integrity Commission (PIC) with a single ‘National Integrity Commission’ (NIC) with greater powers.
The PIC, set up in 2009 investigates public complaints regarding police conduct, but cannot take punitive measures. It is only authorized to make recommendations to the home minister. The NIC, however, will have a wider mandate.
“We held extensive consultations in drafting the bill, especially with the PIC. They shared a lot of concerns, and the shortcomings in their current functioning is worrying. Although recommendations are given, there appears to be no compliance with a single recommendation,” deputy Attorney General Ismail Wisham said.
The new oversight body for the law enforcement agencies – including the Maldives Correctional Services and the immigration department – will investigate alleged violations of laws and regulations by employees, take administrative action, and forward cases for a police investigation to pursue criminal prosecution.
The commission can also recommend changes to regulations and procedures and assess the effectiveness of the law enforcement agencies.
“The NIC will cure the current toothlessness of the integrity commissions. There is really no use to a commission without powers. The new bill has provisions that will empower the commission,” Wisham said.
Fathimath Sareera, the chair of the PIC, was not available for comment at the time of going to press.
According to the PIC annual report for 2014, the commission investigated 141 complaints.
The CIC was established in January 2014. The commission investigated just one complaint in 2014, according to an annual report.
In a recommendation to reduce expenditure in December 2012, the parliament’s public accounts committee had advised merging the PIC and CIC to form a national integrity commission (NIC) with oversight over all state institutions.
Both the PIC and CIC have five members while the NIC will be comprised of five members. If the law is passed, the PIC and CIC will be dissolved and its staff will be transferred to the NIC.
The new commission will also take over pending cases. It will have the authority to form task forces, seek expert assistance from other state institutions, and summon witnesses.
The proposed law states that the five members must have experience or educational qualifications in five areas: legal affairs, governance or public administration, commerce or business administration, human resources, and the economy.
Commission members must also have a first degree and seven years of work experience and must not have parents, wife, husband, or children serving in a law enforcement agency.
The president will appoint members to the commission for a five-year term in consultation with the parliament. The draft legislation does not state that nominees must be put to a vote for parliamentary approval.
The president’s office said the bill was submitted to the parliament last week. The purpose of the new law is to strengthen the functioning of law enforcement agencies and lay out procedures and rules for investigating complaints.
Other independent institutions include the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, the Judicial Services Commission, the Anti- Corruption Commission, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Auditor General’s Office.
Posted on July 9, 2015 July 9, 2015 Author Ahmed NaishCategories PoliticsTags Customs Integrity Commission, national integrity commission, parliament, police integrity commission1 Comment on New national integrity commission will ‘cure PIC toothlessness’
PIC investigating Nazim’s complaint against Police Commissioner
Former defence minister Colonel (retired) Mohamed Nazim’s legal team has submitted an official complaint to the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) regarding claims that explosives were found in his home on January 18.
Lawyer Maumoon Hameed confirmed that the complaint was related to claims by the Commissioner of Police Hussein Waheed on January 29, in which he stated that an improvised explosive device was found at Nazim’s residence along with a pistol and ammunition.
Hameed stated that the search records given to Nazim listing the items that were found and confiscated by the police during the raid did not include any explosive devices, explaining that police only announced its discovery after an analysis conducted without independent oversight.
“We submitted the search record along with the recording of Hussain Waheed’s press conference. No explosives were listed to have been found. That is false information,” Hameed told Minivan News today.
The claims that explosives were found – cited by police as evidence that Nazim intended to harm senior officials and overthrow the government – has also prompted Nazim’s legal team to file a defamation case against the commissioner in Civil Court.
PIC Chair Fathimath Sareera confirmed that the case has been received and is now under investigation, though no further details were given.
As well as suggesting that police had planted the evidence in Nazim’s home, former Commissioner of Police MP Abdulla Riyaz – also on Nazim’s legal team – suggested earlier this week that the discovery of such a device should have prompted the evacuation of the area.
The legal team has also raised questions over why Nazim was arrested after more than 20 days had passed since the police raid on his residence.
The High Court appeal into Nazim’s 15-day remand period – approved on the day of his arrest last week (February 10) – was concluded yesterday, though no hearing was scheduled for today.
Amnesty International are investigating his disappearance as a social media and poster campaign has sprung up calling for his release.
Nazim was dismissed as the defence minister on January 20, being replaced with Major General (retired) Moosa Ali Jaleel who served as the Chief of Defence Force during President Mohamed Nasheed’s presidency.
No forensic evidence against Nazim, says legal team
Former Defence Minister arrested on illegal weapons charge
Police accuse Nazim of plotting coup, planning to harm senior government officials
Pistol and explosive device found at Nazim’s home, says Police Commissioner
Police raid Defence Minister Nazim’s home in early hours
Posted on February 17, 2015 February 17, 2015 Author Mohamed Saif FathihCategories PoliticsTags Commissioner of Police Hussain Waheed, Maumoon Hameed, Nazim's dismissal, PIC Chair Fathimath Sareera, police integrity commission
New PIC and EC members appointed by president
President Abdulla Yameen has today appointed Amjad Musthafa to the Elections Commission (EC), and Adam Saeed Moosa to the Police Integrity Commission (PIC).
The nominees were both approved by the Peoples Majlis last week, with Amjad’s appointment filling one of the two EC seats left vacant after the Supreme Court stripped former EC President Fuwad Thowfeek and Vice President Ahmed Fayaz Hassan of their membership in March.
The five year terms of two current commissioners – Mohamed Farooq and Ali Mohamed Manik – were scheduled to end today, meaning the EC does not currently have the constitutionally mandated quorum of three.
Moosa’s appointment to the PIC brings it up to the maximum of five appointees.
Posted on November 24, 2014 Author Minivan NewsCategories News in BriefTags elections commission, maldives, maldives news, police integrity commission1 Comment on New PIC and EC members appointed by president
Majlis approves nominees to Police Integrity Commission, Elections Commission
The People’s Majlis today approved President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees to fill vacancies in the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) and the Elections Commission (EC).
Following evaluation by the independent institutions committee, MPs approved Adam Saeed Moosa to the PIC with 62 votes in favour, two votes against, and two abstentions.
Saeed was a senior official at the PIC. Following approval of his nomination, the president’s second nominee – Fathmath Minhath – was not put to a vote.
Meanwhile, of three nominees to fill two seats on the EC, parliament only approved Amjad Musthafa, from Gaaf Alif Maamendhoo Alivilaage, with 63 votes in favour, one against, and five abstentions.
Former EC Secretary General Asim Abdul Sattar received 23 votes in favour and 47 against while Aishath Hafeez received 22 votes in favour and 47 against.
The committee, however, had awarded Asim the highest marks with 91.4 points following its evaluation.
The five year terms of two current commissioners – Mohamed Farooq and Ali Mohamed Manik – are due to end on November 24.
Amjad’s appointment would still leave three vacancies on the five-member commission. Former EC Chair Fuwad Thowfeek and Deputy Chair Ahmed Fayaz were stripped of their seats by the Supreme Court in March this year.
Parliament subsequently approved Ismail Habeeb to the EC to replace a commissioner who resigned due to poor health – ensuring a three-member quorum for the parliamentary polls to be held as scheduled on March 22.
Posted on November 19, 2014 November 19, 2014 Author Minivan NewsCategories News in BriefTags elections commission, Majlis, maldives news, parliament, police integrity commission
We don’t wish anyone else to go through same pain: Rilwan’s family
The family of missing Minivan News journalist Ahmed Rilwan have welcomed the decision of the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) to look into allegations of negligence related to the investigation of his disappearance.
“We do not wish for any other family to face the pain and suffering this family has gone through in the past 95 days since Rilwan disappeared,” said the family in a press release today.
Pointing out that the suspected abduction of Rilwan was the first such case in the country’s history, the family said it was essential for the community that the investigation be trustworthy
“Police are reluctant to investigate to the extent that it leaves room to doubt their intention,” continued today’s statement.
While one suspect remains in custody in connection with the August 8 disappearance, Home Minister Umar Naseer has said last week that some cases cannot be solved, drawing parallels with missing Malaysian flight MH370 and the JFK assassination.
Naseer had acknowledged that gangs were involved before offering contradictory statements suggesting it could not yet be determined whether Rilwan’s disappearance was voluntary or enforced.
A private investigative report commissioned by the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) in September ruled out suicide or voluntary disappearance, concluding radicalised gangs to have been the most likely culprits.
Both Naseer and Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed have taken aim at civil society and the media, as well as friends and family of the missing journalist, suggesting vital leads had been lost due to leaked information.
Accusations of a lack of respect shown to the family formed part of the complaint lodged by the family with the police watchdog.
“While the [MDN] report was not compiled with any involvement of the family, police making such allegations against the family are against professionalism of the police and rules for dealing with people who request the police’s service,” the family explained.
Repeated attempts to obtain information on the investigation prompted one police official to tell a family memeber: ‘There’s no further information to give even if you come every day made up like that wearing a burqa’.
PIC Chair Fathimath Sareera Ali Shareef told Minivan News last week that the case was like none the commission had ever received.
Other allegations made by the family suggest police did not properly consider a reported abduction outside Rilwan’s Hulhumalé apartment, previous kidnappings by gangs, and reports that he was followed and threatened as evidence indicating he may have been taken.
It is also alleged that officers in charge of Hulhumalé police station refused to authorise a request by colleagues to search a car stopped the same night, despite potential links with the reported abduction.
Police Commissioner Waheed has rejected accusations of negligence.
“I don’t believe any slips have been made in the investigation which would justify the accusation. But there are lessons to be learned with every investigation. We are learning the lessons,” he told Haveeru late last month.
Attempts to bring pressure to bear through elected representatives failed last month after the People’s Majlis rejected a petitions signed by over 5000 people for as yet unclear reasons.
Groups from across civil society have called for the search for Rilwan to be expedited, with Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) adding its voice today.
“The Centre for Independent Journalism stands in solidarity with our colleagues in the Maldives and urges you to ensure that an independent and unbiased police investigation takes place; that those responsible for the disappearance are brought to justice; and that Ahmed Rilwan is returned home to his family and friends,” read a CIJ statement.
Posted on November 11, 2014 November 11, 2014 Author Daniel BosleyCategories Crime, Society & CultureTags Ahmed Rilwan, maldives, maldives news, PIC, police, police integrity commission5 Comments on We don’t wish anyone else to go through same pain: Rilwan’s family
New ACC members nominated, PIC members appointed
President Abdulla Yameen has forwarded 5 names to the People’s Majlis for membership of the Anti Corruption Commission.
Current members Hassan Luthfee and Muaviz Rasheed have been renominated along with Aminath Minna, Yazumeed Mohamed, and Sofwath Mohamed. The ACC’s inaugural five-year term is set to end this year.
The president has also appointed three members to the Police Integrity Commission with Ali Nadheem, Fathimath Sareera Ali Shareef, and Mohamed Faruhad receiving letters of appointment at the President’s Office yesterday.
The new members for the five-person commission had been approved by the Majlis earlier this week, while a fourth nominee was rejected.
Posted on August 14, 2014 Author Minivan NewsCategories News in BriefTags anti corruption commission, police integrity commission, president abdulla yameen
Majlis approves president’s nominees for Police Integrity Commission
President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees to replace three members of the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) at the expiration of their five-year terms were approved at today’s sitting of parliament.
The three new members of the police watchdog body are Fathmath Sareera Ali Shareef, of special registry number 1320, Mohamed Farhad, of Seenu Meedhoo Hasankaarige, and Ali Nadheem, of Henveiru Gloriosa.
While Sareera and Nadheem were approved with 73 votes in favour and none against, Farhad was approved with 56 votes in favour and 18 against.
The president’s nominee to replace a fourth member on the PIC – who had resigned – was meanwhile rejected today. Adam Zahir, of Maafanu Kurolhi, was rejected with 61 against, five votes in favour, and three abstentions.
The People’s Majlis also passed government-sponsored amendments to the Lagan, Derelict, Flotsam and Jetsam Ownership Act of 1998 with 74 votes in favour and none against.
Amendments to the Police Act of 2008 was meanwhile accepted and sent to committee for further review with 74 votes in favour.
Both amendments were proposed by the government to make minor revisions to remove inconsistencies with the new constitution adopted in August 2008.
Posted on August 12, 2014 August 12, 2014 Author Minivan NewsCategories News in BriefTags Lagan Derelict Flotsam and Jetsam Ownership Act of 1998, maldives news, parliament, police integrity commission, president yameen
Oversight committee rejects President Yameen’s nominees for Prosecutor General
Parliament’s independent institutions oversight committee last night decided against recommending for approval President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees for the vacant post of Prosecutor General (PG).
According to opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Rozaina Adam, the committee awarded President Yameen’s nephew Maumoon Hameed 33 percent and Criminal Court Judge Muhthaz Muhsin 67 percent following a vetting process.
A minimum score of 75 percent or marks is required for the committee to recommend a nominee for approval. The pair were interviewed by the committee last Thursday night (July 10).
Marks were awarded following evaluation of their academic qualifications, experience, competency, management skills, leadership qualities, achievements, and integrity.
The nominees will however be put to a vote on the People’s Majlis floor.
The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has a clear majority of the 85-member house with 43 MPs in addition to five MPs of coalition partner Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
The independent institutions oversight committee is comprised of five PPM MPs, one MDA MP, three MDP MPs and two Jumhooree Party (JP) MPs.
The final evaluation process took place at a closed session last night where opposition MPs reportedly awarded zero marks to both nominees.
In April, Maumoon Hameed failed to garner the required 39 votes in the previous parliament – falling just three votes short – four months after he was put forward by President Yameen.
Article 221 of the constitution states, “The President shall appoint as Prosecutor General a person approved by a majority of the total membership of the People’s Majlis from the names submitted to the People’s Majlis as provided for in law.”
The independent oversight committee in the 17th People’s Majlis had also rejected Hameed’s nomination after the lawyer failed to meet the assessment criteria.
“Approval is based on a preset grading scheme, and not on members’ opinions,” MP Rozaina told Minivan News at the time.
The PG’s post has been vacant since November following the resignation of Ahmed Muizz ahead of a scheduled no-confidence motion in parliament.
Moreover, Acting PG Hussein Shameem’s resignation in early May brought the criminal justice system to a halt after state prosecutors went on strike, citing concerns of a lack of accountability in the absence of a PG.
However, the Supreme Court ordered prosecutors to resume work “without any further excuse” and ordered the seniormost official at the PG office to assume the PG’s responsibilities.
President Yameen meanwhile refused to submit a new nominee to the 17th Majlis during the crisis and opened up a third call for applicants, announcing his intention to nominate Hameed – son of former Atolls Minister Abdulla Hameed – for a second time to the newly elected 18th People’s Majlis.
Meanwhile, at its meeting last night, the independent institutions committee also awarded 68 percent to President Yameen’s nominee for the Police Integrity Commission, Adam ‘Kurolhi’ Zahir.
The committee however approved the nominations of former MP Abdul Azeez Jamal Abubakur for the newly created post of Information Commissioner with 88 percent and Aishath Zahira for deputy governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) with 90 percent.
Posted on July 15, 2014 July 19, 2014 Author Ahmed NaishCategories PoliticsTags Independent Institutions Oversight Committee, jp, maldives news, Maumoon Hameed, MDA, MDP, MP Rozaina Adam, parliament, police integrity commission, ppm, prosecutor general5 Comments on Oversight committee rejects President Yameen’s nominees for Prosecutor General
President’s nominees forwarded to committee for vetting
A number of nominees by President Abdulla Yameen for independent institutions and diplomatic posts have been forwarded to the relevant standing committee for vetting at today’s sitting of parliament.
The nominees include President Yameen’s nephew Maumoon Hameed for the vacant post of prosecutor general, ‘Kurolhi’ Adam Zahir for a vacant seat on the Police Integrity Commission, and former MP Abdul Azeez Jamal Abubakur for the new post of Information Commissioner.
The nominees will be interviewed and vetted by the independent institutions committee.
President Yameen also nominated Aishath Zahira for deputy governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority.
Among nominees for diplomatic posts were Ahmed Shian as ambassador to the EU and non-resident high commissioner to the UK, Dr Mohamed Asim as the non-resident high commissioner to Bangladesh, Abdulla Hameed as the non-resident ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and Fathmath Inaya as the non-resident ambassador to Singapore.
The nominees to the diplomatic posts will be vetted by the national security committee.
Posted on July 1, 2014 July 1, 2014 Author Minivan NewsCategories News in BriefTags ambassadors, Information Commissioner, maldives news, nominees, non-resident High Commissioners, parliament, police integrity commission, president abdulla yameen, prosecutor general
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A Nurse’s Guide to Understanding Digital Recruitment Trends
by Jebra Turner | Apr 23, 2019 | Magazine, Nurse Recruitment, Nursing Careers | 0 comments
More and more health care organizations are using big data, predictive analysis, and data metrics to streamline the process of recruiting nursing talent. Over one-third of human resources departments rely on analytics to manage staffing, according to the 2017 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends report. That trend has exploded over the last few years, as organizations lean on technology in earnest. For example, approximately 95% of hospitals use an applicant tracking system (ATS), which is like a gigantic digital filing cabinet full of resumes, according to industry experts.
Big data (or people data) may sound intimidating to nurses who aren’t tech savvy, but the information that they refer to is often quite simple. “Facebook, Google, the U.S. government—even my own tiny website has its own big data,” says Brittney Wilson, BSN, RN, an informatics expert based in Nashville, Tennessee who owns the popular blog The Nerdy Nurse.
Big data usually means extremely large data sets, which help reveal patterns and associations, especially relating to human behavior or that look at trends and systems and help make a determination, explains Wilson.
“Data is everywhere and almost all of it is discoverable. I always tell nurses to not post anything online that they wouldn’t put in front of a recruiter when they’re applying for a job. You have to assume that someone is scraping that data and applying it to an algorithm,” she adds.
How Organizations Collect People Data—and What That May Mean for You
In a recruiting context, a nurse’s personal information can be culled from social media profiles, consumer data, and public records, in addition to a hospital’s personnel data or those of a third-party recruiting program vendor. That nurse’s individual data points can then be merged into bigger data sets, so analysts can create algorithms or statistical models that aim to predict which candidates are equipped to succeed in a given role.
For example, automated systems can spit out resumes from applicants in a certain zip code, based on an algorithm set to predict turnover. Perhaps previous employees with that zip code may have been short-timers, due to a grueling driving commute or unreliable mass transit.
Then even if nurses knew why they were getting the cold shoulder from a piece of software, there’s not much they can do about it. Their home address data is out there and available to hospitals, even if they attempted to hide it by using another street address, through a UPS or other office forwarding service, say.
But what if that undesirable zip code is for an area with a large minority population? Recruiters and IT folks are starting to realize how digital “gates,” based on zip code and such, may adversely impact underrepresented populations. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission frowns on practices which essentially “profile” applicants and employees.
“We need to attract more racial and ethnic minorities to nursing,” says David Wilkins, chief strategy officer of Woburn, Massachusetts-based HealthcareSource, a provider of talent management systems for hospitals. “We’re thin in labor supply and there’s a high labor demand.” The unemployment rate in health care is so low—RNs at 1.4%, and NPs at 1.1%, according to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. “With such an acute shortage, it’s hard to believe that people are consciously turning away any candidates.” Wilkins wonders if unconscious bias, such as when an applicant has an ethnic sounding name, may be at play.
Crowdsourcing, One Surprising Cyber Trend in Recruiting
Relode is an innovative crowdsource referral platform for health care recruiting. “In 2014, we saw there were lots of inefficiencies in the hiring process and wanted to use software to solve this problem,” says Joe Christopher, chief technology officer at the Brentwood, Tennessee-based firm. “The platform allows our small team to work on thousands of jobs. Health care is profession-centric, so staffing agencies are ultimately working with the company. We’re trying to help you, as a nurse, to take your next step.”
A nurse can sign up on the Relode portal, then work with a talent adviser who will set up a profile and then make a match with an appropriate job opportunity based on the nurse’s experience, skill set, goals, and other desires. “As a new grad, you may have to take what’s available, but if we know you ultimately want to go back to California, we can help. What if we can connect you to this great employer [in another state] who can train you? And then after a year or two, you can go back home to California or wherever. Or you might like it and want to stay longer.”
Relode offers nurses a way to earn side income through its crowdsourcing platform. “Nurses are used to thinking, ‘if I need extra money, I need to work an extra shift.’ But we believe the best nurse knows another best nurse. So as a travel nurse, for instance, you may know nurses in Dallas and Phoenix, and if you connect us and that person gets hired, we pay $3,500 directly into your account,” says Christopher. In fact, one nurse signed up with Relode and referred seven other nurses, earning money for connecting people she already knew to new opportunities, he adds.
Make Sure Your Online Application is Optimized for Search Engines
Human resource experts claim that very little recruiting happens without technology anymore. “Your first point of entry is very likely going to be a piece of software, an applicant tracking system. It has to determine the degree of fit between you and the job. So, make sure your resume is well-structured, clean, and easy to parse for an applicant tracking system,” says Wilkins. “Focus less on making it look pretty, and instead, make it very scannable and readable. The average time someone is going to look at it is six seconds.”
A big part of what applicant tracking systems search for is keywords and phrases. Recruiters may be carrying 100 plus openings at one time so they can’t look at all the resumes for each position. “In order to be seen, yours must be in the top 10 or top 20 ranking,” he says. “You should have multiple resumes to make sure the keywords match. Most of the time organizations tailor job titles and descriptions to a particular opening.”
A Travel Nurse Weighs in on High-Tech, Low-Touch Recruiting
Jake Schubert, RN, BSN, travel nurse and owner of Nursity.com, an online NCLEX prep course, is no stranger to the recruiting process and shares a few key insights.
1. The nurse-recruiter relationship is becoming less and less personal.
I get hundreds of emails from travel nurse recruiters all saying basically the same thing: “would love to work with you… would love to work with you… would love to work with you…” Don’t spam nurses with phone calls and emails. You don’t like it when people do that to you, so why would you do it to them? But if you really want to be effective, stop with the spam and make your message personal. For example, you can go to my Instagram and you’ll see that I love to scuba dive. Then reach out to me there with something personal like, “Hey I noticed you like to dive. We have contracts with three hospitals in Florida that are close to some great dive sites.” But no, they don’t do that. Instead they fall back on the same line: “Let me know when you you’re ready to start traveling with the best recruiting company!” I feel like responding: “Let me know when I’m relevant to you.”
2. Many nurses are naïve about a recruiter’s role and motives.
New graduates and some other nurses may think: “This recruiter is really on my side.” But they’re not—they’re being paid by their company so that’s where their loyalty lies. They know when you’re not asking for enough money, for instance, but they won’t tell you where you’re leaving money on the table. It’s not like other industries where people are required to disclose a conflict of interest—when real estate brokers represent both sides in a transaction, they’re legally required to disclose their dual agency.
3. Nurses have the power to create better relationships with recruiters.
I’m one of the thousands of nurses working with Kaiser Permanente right now. You go online and create a profile on their portal, and they email you when an appropriate job pops up. But that’s not how all jobs get filled in a hospital. It’s all about relationships. Managers are always asking me “Jake, do you know anyone who’s looking for a job?” Every hospital is looking for good nurses, and nurses who have good communication skills are hard to find. If I had one piece of advice for new graduates, it’s “Don’t text a recruiter, and don’t think of email as a long text. Email is an online version of a letter, so don’t leave out the niceties.” When you communicate fully, you show that you’re different and that you have professional communication skills.
So, for instance, if you were applying for a job as a dialysis nurse, Wilkins would advise the use of a preponderance of keywords related to that specialty. “Of course, use the word ‘dialysis,’ but also all the words alongside it and related terms and synonyms.
Dialysis in an elder-care, or long-term care setting, is different than working with general patients at an outpatient dialysis care clinic. Use senior care words, long-term care versus outpatient care words. The care job is probably the same but the stuff on the edges is different.”
Wilkins offers a final caveat regarding online application systems, which sounds basic, but could torpedo your candidacy if ignored. “The average completion for an online application is around 15%, which means 85% of online applications are never completed. While in some cases, this is because a candidate changes their mind mid-process, most of the time it’s just because the process is long and complex,” he explains. “But the really scary data is that 15% of people think they’ve actually fully submitted their application when they really haven’t. Sometimes they just miss the ‘submit’ button at the end. Go back and make sure you completed all the steps.”
Nurses shouldn’t forget to update their own employer’s human resource portal—it makes it easier for the department (or a hiring manager) to identify internal candidates. When there’s a job requisition for an assistant nurse manager with a master’s degree and a set of relevant experience, for instance, a recruiter can look through the hospital’s internal database of qualified nurses before posting the job publicly.
How to Protect Your Online Privacy When Job Searching
“We need to educate nurses that when you put your resume out there on any career site—upload it to CareerBuilder, Monster, Indeed—you’re selling access to that resume,” warns Christopher. An applicant may upload a resume and forget about it, but when they get an email or call from a recruiter, wonder: “How did they get my number?!” When you trace it back, almost always it was that uploaded resume and the terms of service that allow recruiters to contact you.
There are workarounds though, that will protect your privacy without hampering your job search. “Lots of people are able to set up an email address specifically for this use—you’d check it once a day if you’re in the job market, or once a week if you’re not,” says Christopher. “Sometimes the systems also require a phone number. You may be able to set up a Google voice number or use another solution like that.”
When using online job engines and portals, be aware that there are games that some unscrupulous recruiters play, says Christopher. For instance, “a staffing agency that does lots of work with nurses may put up a job listing for an opening that doesn’t exist” at the moment. That gives them a running start for handling hard-to-fill roles, “so that when an employer asks for an ICU nurse, say, they already have 10 nurses that have applied for that. Indeed will no longer host agency jobs, the listing has to be from the employer,” because of recruiter abuses. “Even now Indeed offers applicants a way to filter jobs—there’s an employer of record option.”
Present Your Best Cyber Self to Snag a Job
Nurses and talent recruiters are both figuring out the new communications etiquette, with some stumbles along the way. “I get text messages from recruiters pretty frequently. I was shocked the first time because they contacted me on a very non-professional manner, in my opinion,” says Regina Callion, RN, MSN, travel nurse and owner of ReMar Review, an NCLEX review program.
“Greetings will be skipped, and it will pretty much say ‘Make 10,000 dollars in a month! Sign up today for xyz.’ The lack of formality and information provided is a turnoff.”
That anti-text sentiment is common, even among some Millennial, digital native nurses. “My cell number is the last bastion of privacy for me,” Wilson says. “I don’t want to get a text from a recruiter without my consent. It feels like you entered my living room and sat on the couch and don’t even know who I am.”
But recruiters say that reaching out to nurses in the traditional way isn’t efficient, so they have to employ new channels. “Our team has found that texting is a really great way to communicate for nurses. They’re busy and so instead of leaving a message and waiting for a call back, a text is a brief but direct conversation,” says Christopher. “Obviously, you have to know who the person is and agree to it, but texting is a really efficient way for us to say: ‘Here’s a great opportunity that meets three out of four of your criteria. Do you want to talk about it?’ Or if there’s a simple question from an employer, we can get a quick answer: ‘Are you licensed in California? I know you graduated from school there but …’”
The nurse-recruiter dance requires sensitivity and cooperation from each partner. Recruiters do a service for nurses, exposing them to opportunities they might not otherwise discover and fast-tracking their applications through the hiring process. Nurses can help recruiters by making themselves easier to find and by being open to approach. “It takes a lot of energy to look for a job, and it’s a lot like dating—when you’re not looking, that’s when you’re most desirable,” explains Wilson. “My job before this one was with a startup who found me because I’d SEO’d [search engine optimization, or the process of affecting the visibility of a web page] my profile online so well… I always tell people—take a phone call. You never know.”
NOBC Wants More Nurses Serving on Boards: Here’s Why
by Michele Wojciechowski | Mar 21, 2019 | Blog, Nurse Recruitment, Nursing Careers | 0 comments
In 2017, the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) was founded with the mission “to improve health in communities across the nation through the service of nurses on all types of boards.
Laurie Benson, BSN, Executive Director of NOBC says that “The vision of NOBC was created in direct response to The Institute of Medicine’s 2011 landmark report, ‘The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,’ which called for nurses to play a more pivotal decision-making role on boards and commissions. NOBC represents national nursing and other organizations working to build healthier communities in America by increasing the presence of nurses on corporate, health-related, and other boards, panels, and commissions.”
Benson answered some questions about NOBC.
Why is it important for nurses to be a part of boards? What do they bring to the table that other health care workers don’t?
All boards can benefit from the nursing perspective. Nurses possess a wide range of skills including strategic planning, critical thinking, quality and process improvement, communications, human resources, finance, and complex problem solving. Accustomed to working in teams, nurses fit naturally into the boardroom environment. Always connected to the mission, they understand the challenges, opportunities, and implications of decisions on many levels. Other health care workers certainly make important contributions to the boardroom as well. Nurses welcome the opportunity to serve alongside colleagues and other leaders to make a collective impact.
With 3.6 million nurses in our country, nurses represent the largest segment of our health care workforce. It simply makes good business sense to have the nursing perspective representedin all places where decisions and policies affecting health are made including corporate, governmental, nonprofit, advisory, governance boards, commissions, and panels or task forces that have fiduciary or strategic responsibility.
Is this just to encourage NPs to be on boards or nurses of any rank and experience level? Why?
There is a place in the boardroom for nurses across the continuum. While certain boards require specific rank and experience, many seek candidates at a variety of levels of experience and practice, especially with the increased emphasis on bringing diverse perspectives into the boardroom. Boards are most interested in how a candidate will contribute and bring value to discussions in the boardroom. With each board opportunity, NOBC makes sure we understand the profile of the ideal candidate and then match the opportunity with the skills, experience, qualifications, and interests of those registered in the NOBC database as interested in serving.
A few recent examples include a doctoral graduate who was invited to serve on a nonprofit board for an organization that provides respite care for parents and families of children with daily medical needs; another nurse (BSN, RN) with less than 5 years of experience was invited to serve on an advisory board for a national company who was seeking wider generational representation; and a faculty member (DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC), who will soon be retiring, was selected to serve on the board of a national health care start up organization focused on care of the aging. There are unprecedented opportunities for nurses to serve on boards in every community across our nation!
Has this been started more because nurses weren’t seeking board positions, boards weren’t seeking nurses as members, or both? Please explain.
NOBC wasn’t started for nursing, it was started by nursing. National nursing association leaders came together with one purpose in mind—to work together to improve health for all. However, not all boards are necessarily aware of the growing interest, demand, and impact of nurses serving on boards. NOBC members, partners, sponsors, state contacts, and others are doing a great job in increasing the awareness and visibility of the expansive and exceptional nurse candidate pool that is available to all boards.
What are nurses’ roles on boards?
Board governance is an extension of leadership. As leaders, nurses can serve effectively in all types of governance roles based on the structure and specific needs of each board. Nurses serve as Board Chairs, Board Committee Chairs, Committee members or at-large members—wherever the need matches with their skills, interests, and their ability to contribute value. The varied roles for nurses on boards are the same as for others serving on the boards. Boards contribute collectively, not based on the individual board members. Nurses especially thrive when serving on high performance boards, serving as a contributor toward the good of the whole.
Suppose a nurse would like to join a particular board. What should he or she do to pursue it?
Nurses who are interested in serving on a board should start with your passion! Next, conduct a self-assessment and prepare a one-page board biography. Build your skills through nursing leadership resources and talk to other nurse leaders to learn from their experience. Let others know of your interest in serving on a board and contact an organization whose mission aligns with your interests. Register on the NOBC website at www.nursesonboardscoalition.org to be included in the database for consideration for future board opportunities and to access many resources to support you on your board journey.
Be bold! You don’t need to wait until you have all the answers to pursue a board opportunity. Remember, there will be others on the board who have complementary skills and experience to round out the board composition. While you will be providing a valuable contribution through your board service, nurses always tell us they get so much more from the experience than they could ever hope to give. Create an action plan today to raise your voice in a boardroom that is right for you!
What else is important about the Coalition and its mission that is important for our readers to know?
We are experiencing great momentum and success! The NOBC current thermometer count is at 5,724 board seats toward our key strategy of 10,000 by 2020. I invite you to join us in this important work. Please contact me at [email protected] to explore how we can collaborate to make a significant impact, together, where you live and work.
Lastly, if you serve on a board, please consider a nurse as a candidate for your next board seat!
Apply now to get featured on NursesGetCertified.com!
by Lily Miller | Nov 19, 2018 | Blog, Certification, Nurse Recruitment | 0 comments
Are you an accomplished Family or Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner? It’s time for you to be in the spotlight! Springer Publishing is looking for a select group of rock star nurses to inspire and educate the next generation in your area of expertise. Apply now to be featured in our Day-In-The-Life profiles on our upcoming website, NursesGetCertified.com. Eligible candidates are:
Actively certified as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care or Family Nurse Practitioner
Working clinically in this area of certification
Interested in helping future nurses understand what life is like after the exam
Fill out our form by Tuesday, November 27th for your chance at this opportunity. Selected candidates will participate in a 30-minute interview which will be featured along with a photo on our new website. You’ll also receive a $25 Amazon gift card for participating. Join us in our mission to make nursing certification simple!
The Basics of Starting a Nursing Recruitment Agency
by Kyra Chawla | Sep 17, 2018 | Blog, Nurse Recruitment, Nursing Careers | 0 comments
In this fast-paced era, the demand of nursing is emerging in every nook and corner of the world due to the amazing facilities and developments. Whether it is about treatment or regular health check-ups, the health care industry is playing a significant role in every individual’s life. Can you imagine your days without a health care organization? Of course not!
You probably don’t know about tomorrow, and the only savior in the present scenario is the health care industry. When it comes to health care, the importance of nurses cannot be overstated or overlooked. The popularity and necessity of nursing are known to everyone, as the nurses are the most important part of many organizations. Their quality of service, facilities, and skills are helping patients improve their daily lives.
Hiring a reliable nurse is not an easy task; rather, there are several things to consider before delving deep into the process. Staffing or recruitment agencies help connect nurses with potential jobs in the health care industry while also providing the best facilities to medical organizations.
Many entrepreneurs are observing these facts minutely and have decided to start a business, which can help the health care industry while also taking advantage of ongoing trends. Amidst these scenarios, it is necessary to understand the nuances of how exactly a nursing staff organization or agency is operating, and what types of requirements are needed to resolve the complication of medical institutes. Here is a guide, which can help you in understanding the procedure of how a nursing recruitment agency starts.
Make an Impressive Plan
Before building your castle, you will always need stones, bricks, and cement, and moreover, a strong foundation and base. Isn’t it true? Similarly, while deciding to run an agency for nursing, you need to make a plan, which should be impressive and beneficial too. You will need to decide the following:
which part of the company you are going to handle;
what sort of things should be there in your business;
who will be your target market;
what level of growth you will accept;
how to employ the staff, and much more.
If you are thinking that opening a new business is an easy job to accomplish, then you are sadly mistaken. You can easily observe the above points and can analyze how critical the things are.Moreover, when the situation comes to operate a nursing agency, then the very thing is to get the license, and you need to communicate with the insurance providers as well. Moreover, if you have a strong plan, then the chances of getting new clients will increase. Furthermore, the plan should involve the details regarding the product and services, company description, marketing strategy, tactics, management plan, financial rules, and much more.
Register Your Company’s Name
According to the present scenario and government policies, every organization is bound to register their company name under the laws and should get a license to operate the business. If any hospital recruitment agency is found without a valid license, then they will be arrested and should be taken into the jail. You might be wondering that why the license is important for the business.
When you are talking about the health care industry, then nobody would like to take the risk when they find an organization or agency running without reliable license and papers. Thus, the agencies are required to register their name, so that they can easily operate without any hassle, and moreover, people will trust them and will seek for help. A medical recruitment agency will thus register their name before joining the marketplace.
The process of the registration depends on several aspects such as location, state, and other factors, which are studied before giving the final commitment. Once you are done with the registration process, you will get a tax identification number, which is mostly used while paying the taxes as well as employee withholding. There are several ways you can get the business license like from the online sites.
Insurance and Drug Screening Services Are a Must
There are many things to complete before starting a new nursing recruitment business, but, getting insurance and permission from drug screening services are a must. Having valid insurance will protect your business in every field, and will cover some funds when you face any losses.
Moreover, before you appoint nurses in your organization, you need to conduct a background test and should do a drug screening test, which will further make sure that the nurses whom you have referred are genuine and experienced.
In this digital marketing era, you cannot ignore the importance of a website. When you are operating any business, having an online presence is a must. So, for this reason, you need to develop a website where you can mention about your services and can easily interact with the customers. For better understanding, you can do the promotion of the business in social media platforms and can reach more potential customers.
Never Get Discouraged
When you are entering into the business world, many things will happen, which will sometime demotivate you, and will decrease your willpower. But, make sure that you withstand all the pains, and work professionally. A medical recruitment agency is known for their power and ethics, not for the discouragement and losses.
Mona Clayton Tells Others “A Nursing Career Is Possible”
by Julia Quinn-Szcesuil | Oct 29, 2017 | Blog, Nurse Recruitment, Nursing Mentorship, Nursing Students | 1 comment
When young children and young adults don’t hear about nursing as a viable career choice or learn about how to pursue a nursing career, the world loses an untold number of excellent potential nurses.
Mona Clayton, MSN, RN and CEO of Nurses 2 Roc Pub, knows all too well how some dreams need a little nudge. She is making sure that will happen with a goal to reach out to 100,000 people worldwide to tell them that a nursing career might just be the best career for them.
As a kid growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Clayton didn’t have the encouragement she needed to even think of nursing as a career. “You could say nursing chose me, I didn’t choose nursing,” says Clayton. “I didn’t think about nursing as a career at all. I didn’t like blood, and I didn’t like math. And I never had anyone tell me I could do this.”
She didn’t have professional role models telling her that her fascination with health care and the medical dramas she watched on television might mean she had a passion worth pursuing. They could have told her she could overcome her queasiness about blood and that improving her math just meant she had to practice.
Clayton aims to be the inspiration and mentor for those who might want to follow the same path. With seminars in person and online, casual discussions, a blog, and a pure determination to have good people become good nurse, Clayton spreads her message.
Clayton’s path changed when her cousin became a nurse and when Clayton herself worked in a trauma unit while attending college. After forays into journalism, pharmacy, computer science, and business, Clayton went back to school for her nursing degree in her mid 30s. As an older single mom who was also a minority and didn’t consider herself great in math, Clayton says the unknown was scary. “I think the main barrier for many people is the mindset that they think nursing is an impossible venture,” she says.
In fact, Clayton says when she is running a seminar, the young adults she is speaking with invariably ask her the nuts and bolts of how she achieved her goals. They want to know how she applied to a nursing school and how she even knew which one to apply to. They ask how she was able to pay for classes and did she work and go to school simultaneously. They want the details on how she managed while being a single mom and how hard her classes were. They are all hungry for information on how to make their dream become reality.
Clayton admits the road for her wasn’t always smooth. Her daughter was active in lots of school activities, and Clayton relied on extended family to help fill in the gaps as she continued to work and go to school while raising her daughter. When the going got tough, Clayton says she just looked at her daughter. “She kept me going,” she says. “I wanted her to see the importance of education. I wanted her to see how I did it and then they think, ‘If she did it, I can do it, too.’”
And while Clayton’s message connects her with people worldwide, you’ll also find her talking to people in Target or at the gym. She talks to kids who are curious about nursing and older people who are thinking about going back to school for nursing. And she recruits men and women believing a balance of genders is necessary in the workplace.
“I could go and work as a nurse and not do this,” says Clayton, “but this is a passion and drive I have. It feels great when I see someone succeed.”
What Is Nursing Informatics?
by Julia Quinn-Szcesuil | Jul 7, 2017 | Blog, Certification, Nurse Recruitment, Nursing Associations, Nursing Careers | 0 comments
According to the HIMSS 2017 Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey, nursing informaticists are in a growing field that offers a rewarding career move and one that also helps to advance the field of nursing. Nursing informaticists use their nursing backgrounds, cutting-edge technology, and all the data, communication, and information that is produced in the field to make a healthier world.
According to the American Medical Informatics Association, nurse informaticists are challenged with a wide set of responsibilities, most of which focus on the systems and technologies in which patient information, healthcare results, and research findings are used, stored, and connected. Survey respondents classified their jobs into three main categories: systems implementation, utilization and optimization, and systems development.
Some informaticists tasks include building regional and nationally connected data and communication systems, determining the best ways to ensure that research findings are accessible through practice, promoting information presentation and retrieval in a manner that supports safe patient care, and even defining healthcare policies.
According to the survey, nearly half of the respondents reported great career satisfaction earning salaries of more than $100,000. Because the field is progressing so rapidly, given the technological developments, nursing informaticists receive both on-the-job training and additional training. Forty-one percent of the respondents said they are participating in some kind of degree program to get additional training—including a formal degree program or a non-degree degree program or coursework.
Many nursing informaticists are registered nurses and then go on to earn a bachelor’s or master’s in nursing to gain expertise in the field. Some nursing informaticists might earn an advanced degree in an information technology area like computer science. For those looking to earn an advanced degree, scholarships are available through the American Nursing Informatics Association.
If you are interested in nurse informatics, certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center is also available and the survey results showed that about 51 percent of respondents indicated they would be pursuing some kind of certification and that they thought this additional education would have a positive impact on their careers.
If you’re a nurse who enjoys technology, check out this branch of nursing.
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General News Sat, 16 Sep 2017
Free SHS: NAGRAT to challenge GES sacking of 2 headteachers
The National Association of Graduate Teachers(NAGRAT) has questioned the propriety of the punishment handed to eight Heads of Senior High Schools(SHS) over the supposed violation of terms of reference of the government’s free SHS programme.
Following this, NAGRAT said it will conduct an independent investigation into circumstances that led to the sacking and interdiction of the affected Headmasters insisting the decision by the GES is unfair.
The Ghana Education Service(GES) relieved the 2 head teachers of their post while 6 were interdicted for various acts of indiscipline in the ongoing admissions under the free SHS policy.
They were dismissed in a statement issued by the Ghana Education Service Thursday and signed by Prof. Kwesi Opoku Amankwa.
But the President of NAGRAT, Christian Addai-Poku in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM said they’re likely to call for a review of the “harsh” decision to ensure that the rights of these individuals are not abused.
“Much as we want to appreciate that the employer will have to do everything to ensure that the right thing is done, we believe that listening to what has transpired over the past few hours it is clear that due process has not been properly followed, especially with regards to the two people who have been asked to go the classroom; virtually demoted as Headmasters. Due process has not been properly followed and we think that we want to draw GES attention to it and then we do the right thing.
“We are still gathering information. we have sent our regional chairmen to the various Headmasters concerned especially those who are NAGRAT members to do further inquiries about how the whole thing went on and how come two people were summarily given such punishment. When we gather the needed information we will forward them to our lawyers for advice, if there is the need. If there is the need to sit down with the employer directly and try to trash the issue without necessarily going through the legalities we’ll do that.”
Source: kasapafmonline.com
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Difference between revisions of "Water"
From IMAGE
RinekeOostenrijk (talk | contribs)
{{ComponentTemplate2
|Application=OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 (2012) project;
|IMAGEComponent=Drivers; Agriculture and land use; Carbon cycle and natural vegetation; Crops and grass; Forest management; Human development; Energy demand; Carbon, vegetation, agriculture and water; Land cover and land use; Land-use allocation; Livestock systems;
|IMAGEComponent=Drivers; Agriculture and land use; Carbon, vegetation, agriculture and water; Carbon cycle and natural vegetation; Crops and grass; Human development; Energy demand; Land cover and land use; Land-use allocation; Livestock systems;
|KeyReference=Gerten et al., 2004; Biemans et al., 2011; Biemans, 2012;
|Reference=OECD, 2012; Portmann et al., 2010; Fischer et al., 2005; Molden, 2007; FAO, 2011a; OECD, 2012;
Parts of Water
Data, uncertainty and limitations
Overview of references
1 Key policy issues
3 Input/Output Table
Component is implemented in:
LPJmL model (version 3)
Carbon cycle and natural vegetation
Crops and grass
Related IMAGE components
Agriculture and land use
Carbon, vegetation, agriculture and water
Land cover and land use
Land-use allocation
Livestock systems
Projects/Applications
OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 (2012) project
Biemans et al., 2011
Biemans, 2012
Gerten et al., 2004
Flowchart Water. See also the Input/Output Table on the introduction page.
Key policy issues
What is the combined effect of climate change and socio-economic development on water demand and availability, and on associated agricultural production?
What is the potential of adaptation measures to reduce water stress and water-related crop production losses?
How can water demand be reduced and still provide the adequate service levels to the sectors with the highest demand?
Water availability is essential for natural vegetation and agricultural production, human settlements and industry. Around one third of the world’s population lives in countries suffering from medium to high water stress (OECD, 2012). This number is expected to increase as the water demand will increase due to the population growth, and as water availability may decrease due to global warming.
Today, agriculture accounts for 70% of the total global water withdrawals. Around one third of the total global crop production is irrigated although only occupying 17% of croplands (e.g. Portmann et al., 2010). Irrigated agriculture is expected to increase further to meet the growing demand for food (Fischer et al., 2005; Molden, 2007; FAO, 2011a). Moreover, water demand in other sectors (domestic, electricity, manufacturing) is projected to increase substantially in the coming decades (OECD, 2012). As a result, competition between water uses will increase and the resulting water shortages may affect future food production.
Although the global total quantity of freshwater is more than sufficient to meet all human needs, uneven distribution makes water a scarce resource in some regions and watersheds. Furthermore, climate change will lead to changes in precipitation patterns, thus altering future water availability and adding to water stress in areas where precipitation levels are expected to decline.
To identify current and future areas of water stress, IMAGE includes a hydrology model that calculates water availability and demand. The hydrological module of LPJmL is fully integrated with the terrestrial carbon and land-use dynamics of LPJmL and the rest of IMAGE and dynamically calculates agricultural water demand as well as water availability and withdrawals. Availability of renewable water is the net result of precipitation, interception loss and evapotranspiration by plants and soils. In the model, the surplus in each grid cell flows to neighbouring grid cells in a watershed by means of a river routing scheme. However, river flows are modified by dams and reservoirs used for irrigation, and hydropower production or both.
The effects of water stress on crop production can be quantified, and by including the feedback of water-limited crop production on land allocation, IMAGE can produce more realistic scenarios for cropland expansion and agricultural intensification. IMAGE and LPJmL are fully and dynamically linked (see Carbon, vegetation, agriculture and water), and thus IMAGE scenarios include an integrated assessment of the water cycle, and can be used to assess water availability and demand at high spatial (0.5x0.5 degree grid cells) and daily resolutions.
Input/Output Table
Input Water component
IMAGE model drivers and variables
Irrigation conveyance efficiency Ratio of water supplied to the irrigated field to the quantity withdrawn from the water source, determining the quantity of water lost during transport. This parameter is defined at country level. Drivers
Irrigation project efficiency Ratio of quantity of irrigation water required by the crop (based on soil moisture deficits) to the quantity withdrawn from rivers, lakes, reservoirs or other sources. This parameter is given at country level. Drivers
Crop irrigation water demand - grid Water requirements for crop irrigation, calculated as daily moisture deficit during the growing season. Crops and grass
Land cover, land use - grid Multi-dimensional map describing all aspects of land cover and land use per grid cell, such as type of natural vegetation, crop and grass fraction, crop management, fertiliser and manure input, livestock density. Land cover and land use
Precipitation - grid Monthly total precipitation. Atmospheric composition and climate
Temperature - grid Monthly average temperature. Atmospheric composition and climate
Digital water network - grid Digital water network DDM30 describing drainage directions of surface water, with each cell only draining into one neighbouring cell, organising cells to river basins.
LOD (location of dams and reservoirs) Location, building year, purpose and size of 7000 largest reservoirs.
Soil properties - grid Soil properties that have an effect on vegetation growth and hydrology. These characteristics differ between soil types. Relevant characteristics are soil texture and depth and water holding capacity HWSD database
Water demand other sectors - grid Total annual water demand for non-agricultural sectors (households, industry and electricity production)
Output Water component
IMAGE model variables
Irrigation water withdrawal - grid Water withdrawn for irrigation, not necessarily equal to irrigation water demand, because of limited water availability in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other sources.
River discharge - grid Average flow of water through each grid cell.
Aquatic biodiversity
Irrigation water supply - grid Water supplied to irrigated fields; equal to irrigation water withdrawal minus water lost during transport, depending on the conveyance efficiency.
Water withdrawal other sectors - grid Total annual water withdrawal by non-agricultural sectors.
Water stress - grid Water stress is a basin scale indicator of the mean annual water demand to availability ratio. This ratio gives an indication for the level of water stress experienced in the basin. Basins with a water demand to availability ratio above 0.2 are considered medium water stressed, basins with ratios above 0.4 are severely water stressed. Final output
Retrieved from "https://models.pbl.nl/image/index.php?title=Water&oldid=22988"
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Great Deals for Moms:
Frequently Asked Questions About The First Trimester of Pregnancy
By MommaBe Leave a Comment
The first trimester of your pregnancy is a critical moment of your life. Not only will you go through substantial physical adjustments, the hormonal changes will also affect your mental and emotional states. Above all this changeover, probably the most important thing on your mind is keeping your baby healthy and safe from harm. So, what exactly are the things you should do and the things you can’t do while pregnant? I’ve listed down a number of frequently asked questions to help you through the first three months of your pregnancy.
First Trimester of Pregnancy: Everything You Have to Know During the First Three Months
1. What is First Trimester Screening?
First-trimester screening or prenatal testing is done to detect problems early in the pregnancy. It covers both anatomical and physiological aspects of the baby. Some screening also detects problems with the mother.
2. What is the Difference Between Prenatal Screening and Prenatal Diagnosis?
Prenatal screening detects problems in a large population while a prenatal diagnosis is an in-depth analysis of a particular problem found during screening. While prenatal screening uses affordable and noninvasive methods, prenatal diagnosis involves more invasive methods.
3. What is First Trimester Bleeding?
First-trimester bleeding or obstetrical hemorrhage is common and is experienced by around 25% of pregnant women. While it is usually not a cause for alarm, it is still best to have yourself checked as it can be something serious.
4. What are the Possible Causes of First Trimester Bleeding?
Bleeding during your first trimester can be caused by a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or implantation bleeding, among others. It can also be caused by medical intervention or infection. As mentioned earlier, if you are bleeding during your first trimester, it is best to see your doctor to ensure your safety and your baby’s.
5. What is First Trimester Abortion?
Only around 30%-50% of pregnancies actually make it past the first trimester. First-trimester abortion or miscarriage is usually caused by abnormalities in the chromosomes of the baby. It can also be caused by lupus or diabetes, among others.
6. Weight Gain During the First Trimester?
Weight gain is inevitable for pregnant women but the question is not how much you will gain but how much you should gain. Weight gain will vary from one woman to another and is related to various factors. Nevertheless, there are ways in which you can safely lose weight after giving birth.
7. What are the Factors Affecting First Trimester Weight Gain?
Weight gain during the first trimester of pregnancy is related to the baby’s weight and the placenta, among others. While some women gain weight early in the pregnancy, the majority of the required weight gain occurs later in the pregnancy.
8. What is the Ideal Weight Gain to Assure a Healthy Mother and Baby?
The Institute of Medicine recommends the following weight gain for the respective body weight:
18.5 BMI to 24.9 BMI – 25 lbs. to 35 lbs.
< 18.5 BMI – 28 lbs. to 40 lbs.
25 BMI – 29.9 BMI – 15 lbs. to 25 lbs.
> 30 BMI – 11 lbs. to 20 lbs.
9. What is First Trimester Fatigue?
Each pregnancy is unique and pregnant women from all over the world go through different experiences but one thing is common to the majority and that is extreme exhaustion. Some pregnant women in their first trimester would find themselves sleeping more hours at night while some would have trouble sleeping. Some would feel sluggish during the day and some experience nausea and vomiting, which could drain a lot of your energy.
10. What Causes First Trimester Fatigue?
First-trimester fatigue is caused by multiple factors. It is mainly due, however, to the surge in progesterone during the first three months. Another cause if the increase in blood volume for the developing placenta and for fetal circulation. This results in the heart pumping faster and stronger.
11. How Long Will the Fatigue Last?
For pregnant women who are worried the exhaustion will last the entire pregnancy, you can now relax. As soon as you enter the second trimester of pregnancy, you will start to feel the glow and boost in energy that comes with pregnancy.
12. What is a First Trimester Ultrasound?
A post shared by Mercedes Emmalee Anne (@mercedes_marinucci) on Aug 13, 2017 at 9:08am PDT
Most pregnant women, especially first-time pregnant women, look forward to their first ultrasound appointment. For some, it means their little one’s very first photograph. For others, it is ensuring their baby is growing safely and healthily. The first-trimester ultrasound is scheduled in your first three to four months to confirm your pregnancy. Anything before these months may be too small.
13. Why Do You Need a First Trimester Ultrasound?
You do not necessarily have to schedule an ultrasound appointment early in the pregnancy although your doctor may suggest it for a number of reasons. These include ensuring your baby’s heartbeat, identifying the correct dates of your pregnancy, and ruling out ectopic pregnancy, among others.
14. How is a First Trimester Ultrasound Performed?
A pregnancy ultrasound is mainly performed using transabdominal ultrasound. This involves scanning through your lower abdomen with the aid of an ultrasound gel and an ultrasound probe. For those who want to schedule an earlier ultrasound appointment where the developing embryo may still be too small to see, a transvaginal ultrasound is performed. This is basically an internal ultrasound where the ultrasound probe is lying in the vagina to get a better look at the baby.
15. Do You Need to Workout During Your First Trimester?
Working out during your first trimester is recommended to stay fit and healthy. Exercising has many benefits for pregnant women, which includes regulating weight and getting in shape for childbirth. It also helps improve your mood in spite of the exhaustion that comes with the first trimester.
16. What Kind of Exercises are Recommended During the First Trimester?
Not all women are in the habit of working out on a regular basis and pregnant women may most likely find it hard to start. That is why starting with the basics seems more viable. You can start by walking for around 30 minutes a day, at least three to five times a week. You can proceed to do yoga, pilates, or running eventually to address certain concerns during pregnancy like lower back pain.
17. What is First Trimester Insomnia?
Sleep problems during pregnancy are common among mothers-to-be. While pregnant women get more sleep during their first trimester, the quality of their sleep actually is quite low. This is mainly due to first-trimester fatigue, which can result in insomnia.
18. What Causes Insomnia in the First Trimester?
There are various reasons why pregnant women develop insomnia during their first trimester. The main culprits include the need to urinate more frequently, nausea, vomiting, back pain, and breast tenderness, among others.
19. How Do You Address First Trimester Insomnia?
The main solution for first-trimester insomnia is a good sleeping habit. Start by going to bed at the same time every night and avoiding late night activities. You also need to watch your diet and exercise as they have a huge impact on your sleep.
20. Are There First Trimester Symptoms?
There will be a lot of changes in your physical, mental, and emotional states once you’re pregnant. While it may seem scary at first, you will be able to overcome it eventually. The first key is to know what these symptoms are so you can better address them properly.
21. What are These Symptoms?
The first sign of pregnancy is a missed period although this can be overlooked by some women. Other symptoms include tender breasts, nausea, vomiting, increased urination, first-trimester cramping, fatigue, food aversions, heartburn, and constipation. You will also find yourself going through a surge of emotions including anxiety and exhaustion. These are common to pregnant women and should not be a reason to panic.
Health & Fitness shares a short clip of what to expect during the first trimester of your pregnancy:
Pregnancy is a journey and a good one at that. While some pregnant women will experience some negative symptoms, the overall feeling remains to be joy and excitement. Stay fit and healthy for yourself and your baby by knowing what to expect during your first trimester of pregnancy and how to deal with them accordingly.
How far along are you in your pregnancy and are you experiencing the same symptoms? Let know in the comments section below.
Up Next: Week Thirteen of Pregnancy
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Characters, Comics Characters, Humans,
S.H.I.E.L.D. Cadets
S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents
Garrett's Team Members
Coulson's Team Members
HYDRA Operatives
Centipede Project Operatives
Brainwashed Characters
Multilingual Characters
High Body Count
Characters Killed by Phil Coulson
Hive Hosts
Revision as of 11:32, May 13, 2017 by JacobMrox (wall | contribs)
For the Framework version of Grant Ward, see Grant Ward (Framework) and Grant Ward.
Grant Douglas Ward
Evil Faceless Government Toolbag
Warm and Fuzzy (with Melinda May)
Mr. Save the Day
Dan Filch
The Tin Man
Black Kevlar
The Big Bad Wolf
The King Idiot
The Grant Ward You Knew Over There (By his Framework Counterpart)
January 7, 1983[1]
*Centipede Project (formerly)
S.H.I.E.L.D. (formerly)
Garrett's Team (formerly)
Coulson's Team (formerly)
Trenton Rogers (young)
Austin Lyon (teenager)
"I'm not looking for mercy or absolution. I just want you to know, I've been where you are right now. Filled with rage, wanting revenge... I chose HYDRA for petty, personal, selfish reasons... for a father figure, for vengeance... for closure. But what I saw today gave my life meaning. For the first time ever, I have a sense of satisfaction that I never experienced when I was seeking revenge."
―Grant Ward to Phil Coulson[src]
Grant Douglas Ward was one of the leaders of HYDRA and the most personal adversary of Phil Coulson and his S.H.I.E.L.D.. A former HYDRA infiltrator in S.H.I.E.L.D., disguised as a Level 7 operative, he was abused as a child by his family. As a teenager, he tried to burn down his family home. Ward was imprisoned until he was freed by John Garrett, who trained Ward to become a cold-blooded killer. Ward eventually became more loyal to him than to HYDRA. As an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., he was recruited onto Coulson's Team, working with them on all their missions, pretending to be gruff and anti-social and to become emotionally attached to the team.
During the HYDRA Uprising, he killed Victoria Hand but still maintained his cover as a loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. He broke cover on John Garrett's orders and rejoined HYDRA. Despite harboring feelings for Skye, he followed all of Garrett's orders. When Garrett's HYDRA cell lost the Battle at Cybertek, he was imprisoned by Coulson. Ward managed to escape many months later and rejoined HYDRA under Daniel Whitehall. However, he left the organization again after Whitehall's death along with Kara Palamas. They started a path in order to close their wounds and move forward that culminated in kidnapping Bobbi Morse, whom they considered responsible for Palamas' brainwashing.
Ward ended up accidentally killing Palamas, and he rejoined the remnants of HYDRA, deciding to rebuild the organization and become its new leader. His quest brought him in conflict with Gideon Malick, one of the last heads of HYDRA's old guard, but eventually they made an alliance to destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. and fulfill HYDRA's oldest goal: the return of HYDRA's ancient Inhuman leader to Earth. While on Maveth, he was finally killed by Phil Coulson, but his corpse was taken as a vessel by the dark Inhuman and brought back to Earth.
Early life Edit
Childhood Edit
"My older brother, he didn't beat up my younger brother. He was crueler than that. He made me do it, and I let him. I was afraid."
"What about your parents?"
"They were worse."
―Grant Ward and Skye[src]
File:YoungWard1.jpg
Grant Douglas Ward grew up in Massachusetts and had a difficult childhood. He had an abusive older brother who would frequently force Ward to beat up his younger brother. His parents were even worse. Ward also had a sister with whom he no longer has contact.[2] An incident in particular that had a profound effect on Ward was when his older brother threw his younger brother into a well and would not allow Ward to rescue him. Ward eventually managed to do it without his brother knowing.[3]
Arrested Edit
"I'm curious, did you know your brother was in the house when you set it on fire?"
"No sir I did not."
―John Garrett and Grant Ward[src]
In 1999, Ward went AWOL from the military academy to which he had been sent, stole a car, drove over 1000 miles home, and set fire to his parents' home in a furious rage. Unknown to Ward, his older brother Christian was inside and came close to burning to death in the fire. Christian survived but had Ward arrested by the police and pushed for the courts to try Grant as an adult to get the maximum punishment against him.[4]
Recruited by Garrett Edit
Prison Break Edit
File:Young Ward Garrett 1.png
"I work for a secret organization that's always looking to recruit young men like you."
"And why should I trust you?"
"You shouldn't. Don't trust anybody, ever, especially me."
While being detained at a juvenile detention center, Ward was unexpectedly visited by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent John Garrett, who offered him a choice - leave with Garrett now and be taught the skills needed to survive, or face prison, where his family was pushing for Ward to get the maximum sentence for his crime. When Ward asked why he should trust Garrett, Garrett responded by telling him to never to trust anyone, especially not him. Ward agreed, and Garrett's men broke him out of prison.[4]
Trained for HYDRA Edit
File:YoungWard-Garrett-ForestChat.jpg
"First few weeks were rough, then I realized my thinking was limited, so I started raiding cabins. Got some tools, tent, life got easier. Gonna build a cabin over there."
"See I told you you could do it. Damn son, you stepped up in a big way, I couldn't be prouder if you were my own."
―Grant Ward and John Garrett[src]
Ward was driven into the middle of a forest by John Garrett who shot ducks and reassured him that his brother and the rest of his family were happy to be rid of him and therefore the police would not be looking for him. While Ward continued to ask questions about S.H.I.E.L.D., Garrett revealed that he would be leaving him there with just Buddy, telling him that from now on he would have to survive on his own, hunting for his food and building a place to sleep.
File:Grant-Ward-Young-Hair.png
Garrett promised to return within a couple of months, but he instead left Ward for six months. Although Ward suffered during the first few weeks due to the loneliness and heavy rain, he soon managed to raid nearby cabins, build his own camp and survive with ease. By the time Garrett returned he was impressed by Ward's efforts and he claimed that he could not be prouder. Garrett then pulled a gun and aimed it at Ward, before firing it at nearby cans with incredible accuracy, promising to teach him Ward to shoot and that within a few months he would be able to shoot even better than he could.[4]
Final Test Edit
File:YoungWard-DiscussesHYDRA.jpg
"You've been accepted by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operations division, effective immediately, we need to pack up."
"Thank you sir, for everything."
"Don't do that. You don't owe me or anybody else a thing, you earned it by yourself. It's gonna be hard when you get there."
For five years John Garrett subjected Ward to a number of gruelling survival tests in the Wyoming wilderness, eventually molding him into a cold, driven survivalist with the skills he needed. While eating in their campsite, Garrett told Ward the story of how he had gained his many cybernetic enhancements when he had been left to die. Garrett eventually revealed to Ward that he was not loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D., but to HYDRA who were working within the organisation.
File:YoungWard-SniperTraining.jpg
By this point Ward followed Garrett's many orders without question or hesitation, so he agreed without question to join HYDRA and continue serving with from within S.H.I.E.L.D. if he were accepted into the organisation. They continued Ward's weapons training as they went out to hunt deer at incredible range, sending Buddy out to collect the dead deer once Ward had killed it with his sniper rifle. While Buddy ran out to collect the corpse ready to be cooked for their dinner, Ward jokingly commented that the body was so far out that it would take the dog a while to find it and bring it back to them.
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Garrett happily revealed to Ward that he had just been accepted into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operations devision and would be leaving immediately. When Ward went to thank Garrett for everything he had done for him, he was told not to thank him, as Garrett believed that he had done it all himself. Ward was told that the next few years would undoubtedly be very tough for him, as working for HYDRA within S.H.I.E.L.D. meant that he could not ever get attached to anyone or anything as he would have to be prepared to betray them at a moments notice, but Ward agreed to this prospect without question.
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As they prepared to pack up the camp at leave for the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, Garrett made Ward prove his emotional detachment by ordering him to kill his loyal dog Buddy. When Ward hesitated, Garrett questioned if this was a weakness in him, but Ward insisted that it was not. While Garrett was gone, Ward aimed his pistol at Buddy, but could not pull the trigger, instead firing it upwards causing Buddy to run. However Ward's loyalty to Garrett forced him to take his sniper rifle and he killed Buddy with a single shot as the dog ran through the forest, giving Ward an emotional detachment.[4][5]
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Edit
"I was trained from day one as a specialist, I go in, alone, I get it done. Defusing a nuclear bomb, I'm your guy. A welcoming committee, not my speed."
About five years outside the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, Ward was posed for sixteen months as a Russian attaché at the embassy in Warsaw, Poland.[6] After proving his worth, Ward became a full-fledged agent, rising through the ranks under Garrett's tutelage and supervision.[4] Deputy Director Maria Hill gave Ward top marks in combat and the highest espionage rating since Natasha Romanoff, giving him low marks only in his people skills.[1] In 2008, Ward saw action in Georgia during a rebel uprising. He made several contacts along the South Ossetian border during this time, including Yuri Dubrovsky.[7]
Mission in Paris Edit
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"Something turns up like this Chitauri Neural Link... we get to it before someone bad does."
"Any idea who Vanchat was planning to sell it to?"
―Grant Ward and Maria Hill[src]
Ward was assigned by S.H.I.E.L.D. to a mission in Paris, France, where he was ordered to break into a hidden vault belonging to the international criminal and blackmarket dealer Vanchat and steal a Chitauri neural link which had somehow come into Vanchat's possession in the aftermath of the Battle of New York. Knowing that Vanchat intended to sell the nerual link to an unknown buyer Ward was ordered to find and obtain the link as quickly and quietly as possible.
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Finding the man who intended to buy the link, Ward disguised himself as a waiter and used an X-Ray Plate to copy the man's fingerprints off his wine glass before heading upstairs and using some stolen room keys to break into the man's apartment before using his fingerprints to activate a secret room hidden behind a false wall where he soon found the link. However, just as Ward took the link, he was discovered by the man's girlfriend who called security, who quickly arrived in the room and attacked Ward, forcing him to throw the X-Ray Plate at them before fighting his way through the men.
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Using his top level S.H.I.E.L.D. training, Ward was soon able to overpower and subdue all of Vanchat's bodyguards, using whatever items were nearby to his advantage, including hitting one man with a blender. With the Chitauri Neural Link now in hand, Ward ran to the top of the building, where he was extracted by S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicopter, taking the rope they dropped down for him and flying across the rooftops back towards the United States of America, completing with mission successfully before any of Vanchat's remaining men could find and stop him and retake the neural link.[1]
Coulson's Team Edit
First Mission Edit
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"What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, Agent Ward?"
"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."
"And what does that mean to you?"
"It means someone really wanted our initials to spell out shield."
―Maria Hill and Grant Ward[src]
Before the Battle of New York, Agent Phil Coulson was killed at the hands of Loki and days later restored to life through unknown means. John Garrett, whose health was beginning to fail, tried to find out how Coulson was revived, hoping he could restore his own health. When Coulson assembled a new team of specialists, Ward was suggested to join, but in reality, Ward was Garrett's undercover asset to discover the truth about Coulson's resurrection.[6]
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Having returned from his successful mission, Maria Hill vetted Ward and prepped him to join Coulson's Team. First she questioned Ward about what Vanchat had wanted with the Chitauri Neural Link before testing Ward's loyalty to S.H.I.E.L.D.. Eventually Hill revealed to Ward that Coulson was alive and they discussed their first mission to locate and assist Mike Peterson, a known enhanced individual. However Ward questioned if joining a team was the correct use of his talents as he claimed not to be a very good team player while Doctor Streiten confirmed that Ward was highly fit and mission ready.
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Despite his objections, Ward was recruited onto the team regardless and ordered to pack his bags and regroup onboard the Bus, which would become his home for the coming months. Once onboard, Ward was introduced to Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons, the team's young scientists working on engineering and biochemistry who in turn enthusiastically greeted him before somewhat roughly taking his phone before smashing it and taking his DNA. As Simmons asked what his views were on joining the team and going on their mission, Ward sarcastically compared it to Christmas.
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They were interrupted by the arrival of Phil Coulson who drove his car which he called Lola onto the plane. As they explored the plane, Coulson revealed that the Bus used to be standard issue for new teams until the Helicarriers were created. Melinda May then appeared and explained that they had found the location of one of the Rising Tide's most prolific hackers, although Ward was more interested in the fact that May was part of the team, due to her legendary status as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Coulson insisted that she was merely the pilot and was not there for combat missions.[1]
Meeting Skye Edit
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"She's a groupie. All this hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D., tracking powers - She might as well be one of those sweaty Cosplay girls crowding around Stark Tower."
"What? I would - It was just one time. "
During the new team's first mission together, they encountered the Rising Tide "hacktivist" known only as Skye, who was their only lead in the case of Michael Peterson. Having had some negative as well as violent encounters with Rising Tide after their release of classified data during ongoing operations, Ward took an instant dislike to Skye, whom they soon found recording a message in her van where she was arrested.
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Both Ward and Phil Coulson took charge of Skye's interrogation, with Ward accusing her of being an Avengers fangirl while she accused them of covering up the Battle of Puente Antiguo until Skye revealed that she was aware of Peterson's connection to an organisation known as the Centipede Project, which Ward claimed to not be aware of to hide his HYDRA connection. To gain Skye's trust and learn more about Centipede, Coulson and Ward came up with a plan to pretend to give Ward a truth serum and have him tell her some very low level intel about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s activities, with Ward also claiming to be saddened by killing people due to his grandmother.
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Using information given to them by Skye, Leo Fitz was able to use the Echo Chamber to recreate the CCTV footage of the explosion within the lab and determine the cause. Ward looked on closely as Coulson confirmed that the explosion was clearly caused by a man who had overloaded on the Extremis that was in his body, spotting a Centipede Device that was locked onto his arm, which Jemma Simmons confirmed was highly similar to the Super Soldier Serum developed by Abraham Erskine during World War II. They then began working on their plan to subdue Peterson before he overloaded.[1]
Chase of Michael Peterson Edit
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"The stuff inside you in unstable, it'll kill you and everyone in here!"
"Whose gonna miss us?"
―Grant Ward and Mike Peterson[src]
While Coulson's Team learned more about the situation, Mike Peterson kidnapped Skye and assaulted Melinda May. Before long, Skye managed to hack into the Bus' computers and informed them of her and Peterson's location, so Ward joined the rest of the team to stop him. As they located Skye's Van, Ward insisted that they move Peterson away from such a public location or simply kill him to protect others, claiming that Peterson was just a nobody who was now a major risk, although Phil Coulson insisted that they must try to save him.
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With Peterson failing to comply with the orders given to him by the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents asking him to surrender peacefully, he instead went on the run into Union Station, Ward gave chase and tried to subdue Peterson with a tight chokehold, explaining to him that the Extremis in his body was unstable and could kill everybody nearby if he was to explode. Peterson however was too enraged to listen and instead used his enhanced strength to throw Ward hard on the ground and began desperately searching for his son Ace Peterson, who Coulson had given to the police for his own safety.
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As the hunt for Peterson continued, Ward witnessed a member of the Centipede Project sent by Debbie shooting at Peterson while disguised as a police officer. Coulson welcomed back May while giving orders to Ward to take aim at Peterson, although he insisted that he only fire if he had to, which Ward reluctantly agreed to. He later took a higher position and aimed a sniper rifle at Peterson while Coulson tried to calm him down as Peterson furiously ranted about how S.H.I.E.L.D. dealt with people like him, insisting that he was a good person who could be a hero like the Avengers.
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Fearing that Peterson would explode regardless, Ward prepared to fire, however Leo Fitz arrived and gave him a Night-Night Gun and Ward shot Peterson with it, knocking him out cold and cooling down his Extremis in his body, saving him. After the mission, Phil Coulson took Ace back to his family while Peterson recovered at a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. Later Coulson also recruited Skye to the team as a consultant, over Ward's objections. While Coulson met with Skye, Ward called him and informed him that an 0-8-4 had been discovered and they had been tasked to go to Peru and investigate it.[1]
Finding an 0-8-4 Edit
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"Where's your side arm?"
"If I need a gun, I'll take one."
"Right, I forgot I was working with the cavalry."
―Grant Ward and Melinda May[src]
When Ward was informed by Phil Coulson that Skye would now be brought onto their team, he questioned the decision, claiming that Skye did not have what it takes to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, although Coulson noted she was a consultant, explaining that many people, even Tony Stark, had been a consultant. While Ward argued that Skye's history with the Rising Tide made her a risk, Coulson insisted that her skills would prove valuable as she did not think like a traditional agent.
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The team's second mission took them to Peru to investigate an 0-8-4, as they prepared to take off, Ward gave Skye the handbook for the Bus and ordered her to read it cover to cover. While Ward assisted the situation and ensured that they were all alone by searching for vehicle tracks, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons investigated the item itself, which turned out to be the Peruvian 0-8-4, a weapon seemingly powered by Tesseract technology and had become lodged within an ancient temple which had caused a Archaeologist to panic and to contact S.H.I.E.L.D. to investigate it further.
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Ward and Melinda May discussed her nicked name of the Cavalry and how she gained it during a mission in Bahrain until they were attacked by the local military, with both Ward and May using their S.H.I.E.L.D. training to overpower and disarm their attackers before they found themselves being overpowered by reinforcements. They defended themselves until Ward contacted Coulson who appeared and revealed he knew their leader Camilla Reyes. Once the standoff was finished peacefully, Coulson ordered Ward to let the rest of their team know that everything was now okay again.
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Ward informed Fitz, Simmons and Skye of the near attack against them and engaged in a brief debate with Skye about the rebels of Peru rising up against their government, with Ward noting that such violence should not be celebrated, accusing the Rising Tide's own methods of being dangerous. The encounter remained pleasant until the team were attacked again, this time by local rebels. Ward used a Thunderstick to knock out many of the attackers but the team were forced to retreat. Ward pulled the 0-8-4 out of the wall and they escaped to the Bus with Reyes' soldiers.
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Once they escaped, the team began to catch their breath while Skye joked about missing her own van. Ward then questioned Coulson's decision to bring the Policia Militar de Perú onto the Bus before he asked Fitz what the issues were with him stealing the 0-8-4 from the wall. Fitz then explained that the 0-8-4 was not only fuelled by the Tesseract technology created by HYDRA during World War II, but it was also filled with Gamma Radiation which made it much worse than nuclear. With this information in mind, Ward, Coulson, Fitz, Simmons and Skye all backed away from the 0-8-4 together.[8]
Hijacking and Retaking of the Bus Edit
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"I was trained to be the whole solution, to eliminate variables, and today they keep adding up."
―Grant Ward to Skye[src]
As tensions continued to rise due to the presence of the Peruvian 0-8-4, Ward argued with Leo Fitz about their actions during the mission and who was to blame for bringing the 0-8-4 onto the plane. Before long the argument was stopped by Phil Coulson was claimed that the mission was a success as nobody on their team was killed and they had saved Camilla Reyes' men as well. Skye questioned the team's dynamic while Ward insisted that if he was working alone he could have gotten the mission completed but Coulson ordered them to work it out.
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Taking some time to himself, Ward read the Matterhorn which had been recommended by John Garrett until he was visited by Skye. They began discussing the ideals of the Rising Tide before they discussed the experience of being inside a war zone as Skye asked Ward about his own experiences of being in combat until Skye noticed that Ward had been shot during the firefight, although he insisted it was nothing to worry about. Ward explained that as a specialist he felt he had been trained to be the whole solution and put himself on the line to protect his team by any means.
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Glancing at the Policia Militar de Perú soldiers, Ward noticed that none of them had touched their drinks and were sending messages to one another. Sensing an attack was about to happen, Ward asked Skye for the bottle she had brought over and warned her to be ready for a fight. Ward engaged in a brawl with Nahui and the other soldiers, knowing they would be targeting Melinda May and although he tried his best to protect the team, he soon discovered that Cusi had taken Fitz and Jemma Simmons hostage, threatening to cut Fitz's throat and forcing Ward and Coulson to surrender.
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Tied up together, Ward and the rest of Coulson's Team discussed who was to blame until Ward distracted them by telling them all about Melinda May secretly being the legendary Cavalry, only for her to awake and remind him not to call her that. They discussed their plan as May broke free by dislocating her own wrist before defeating Vilca and freeing Ward and the rest. As a team they then decided to use the Peruvian 0-8-4's power to ambush and defeat the Peruvian military before rescuing Phil Coulson from Reyes during the chaos. Ward ensured the team was ready before they went to work.
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The team they were able to retake the Bus by using the D.W.A.R.F.s to activate the 0-8-4 and blow a hole in the side of the Bus, killing many of the soldiers as they were sucked out. During the chaos, Ward ordered the team to collect the 0-8-4 while he dealt with the soldiers, reassuring them that Coulson could handle himself. While May retook the cockpit and flew the plane to a safe altitude and Coulson captured Camilla Reyes, Ward, using his own S.H.I.E.L.D. training, Ward easily overpowered and subdued the soldiers before trying and failing to save Nahui from being sucked out of the plane, inadvertently killing him during the fight.
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Ward however suddenly found himself in danger of being sucked out of the plane as he lost his grip and fell towards the hole in the side of the Bus. However Skye's quick thinking also helped to save Ward's life when she activated a life boat which blocked the hole and saved Ward. With the plane reaching a safe altitude, Ward collapsed with exhaustion and adrenaline and his looked at how close he had come to a fatal fall from the plane while Coulson helped take out the final soldiers by knocking out Lopez while May flew them back towards the safety of a S.H.I.E.L.D. base where they could relax.
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The team then flew to the Slingshot to deal with the Peruvian 0-8-4 as soon as possible while also arresting Camilla Reyes and the surviving members of her team. Ward spoke to May about how he saw a way to learn more about Skye, thus removing any unknown element she might bring into the mix. Under May's recommendation, Ward agreed to be her "Supervising Officer" and oversee her next stages of training and education to become a true Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Taking time to relax, the team sat down and drank as they watched as the Peruvian 0-8-4 was shot into space to be destroyed.[8]
Acting as Skye's S.O. Edit
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"I don't ever want to do another pull-up again."
"You ever find yourself hanging off the edge of a building twenty stories up, you're gonna want to do at least one."
―Skye and Grant Ward[src]
Ward began her training in combat and weapon training, specifically how to disarm an opponent. However, he felt that Skye was not fully committing herself to it or to S.H.I.E.L.D.. Coulson suggested a different, more personal approach. Ward responded by giving some details of his personal life and rough childhood to Skye, describing his so-called "defining moment" to her.
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The team received a call that a S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist named Dr. Franklin Hall had been kidnapped in an attack which involved an invisible substance picking up and throwing down trucks. The team investigated and Fitz and Simmons learned that the attack was caused by an element called Gravitonium, which could change the effects of gravity. Ward and Coulson investigated who had supplied the vehicles and equipment for the attack, leading them to a man who had been paid in gold. When they learned where the gold had originated from, they learned that Hall was being kept by billionaire Ian Quinn.
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Ward's training became useful when Skye went on an undercover mission to rescue Dr. Hall in Malta, Ward objected when Skye volunteered to infiltrate the compound of Ian Quinn, citing the fact that she was not nearly qualified yet for such an operation. When Skye completed her mission, allowing Ward and Coulson to infiltrate the compound, she used Ward's training to good effect when disarming Quinn. However, she felt she was not ready to shoot someone so she made her escape, but had to be rescued by Ward in the end who fought three of Quinn's guards to protect her. After the operation, Skye seemed to fully commit herself to her training and S.H.I.E.L.D.[9]
Back on the Bus, Leo Fitz showed Ward his new invention, a pistol version of the Night-Night Gun, which could be used in close combat situations.[10]
Searching for Akela Amador Edit
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Coulson requested that his team investigate the case of rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Akela Amador, who was believed to have been killed but had turned up doing dangerous and seemingly impossible missions with her eyes closed. Coulson and Ward retraced her steps and tried to locate her, arriving in Zloda, Belarus. They spoke to an Innkeeper, who claimed that Amador had correctly sensed the woman had a tumor, making Amador's abilities more of a mystery. While they were continuing their investigation. Fitz and Simmons traced a video signal that seemed to be Amador's point of view; they quickly realized that Amador was looking at them. Fitz, Simmons and Skye were in a van that was attacked by Amador, who drove into its side, knocking it over.
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After Melinda May and Phil Coulson captured Akela Amador, Fitz used the signal from the video technology in her eye to build Backscatter Glasses to impersonate her. Ward wore these glasses and went on Amador's next mission. He used the key card Amador bought with the diamonds she stole to enter the Todorov Building in Minsk, Belarus. There he was given the awkward mission to seduce the guard. When this failed, he knocked out the guard and entered a room with a series of strange symbols on the wall. After seeing the symbols, the Englishman informed him the mission was complete. As Ward left the building an alarm was triggered, and he fought his way out of the building. Along the way he accidentally looked in a mirror, alerting the Englishman of the deception, luckily Fitz and Simmons were able to remove Amador's false eye before it exploded.
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After the mission, Ward played cards with Leo Fitz, who seemed strangely confident about his chances of beating Ward. Fitz claimed Ward had a tell which would reveal to Fitz if he was lying. However, all of a sudden ,Fitz folded and left the table, leaving Ward confused. What Ward did not know was that Skye was behind him using the Backscatter Glasses to spy on Ward's cards, and when she told Fitz she would be able to see him naked, he panicked and left the game, although Skye did still use the glasses to see Ward naked.[10]
Questioning Skye's Loyalty Edit
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A few days later, the team was seemingly betrayed by Skye, who alerted her boyfriend, hacker Miles Lydon, that S.H.I.E.L.D. was closing in on him while tracking down a leak that endangered the life of Hong Kong resident Chan Ho Yin. Ward cuffed Skye and took her and Lydon into custody aboard the Bus. When Ward produced evidence that Lydon had accepted payment of one million dollars for the information that endangered Chan's life, Skye was infuriated and felt betrayed by Lydon.
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Later, when the operation to extract Chan from captivity by the Centipede Project (actually John Garrett's HYDRA-funded science group) went sour, Ward released Skye from custody and accepted her help in rescuing Coulson and Melinda May. Skye very quickly managed to hack Centipede's mainframe and release the locked doors, allowing Coulson and May to escape. Coulson later agreed to let Skye remain on the team as long as she came completely clean with the team and agreed to wear a Tracking Bracelet at all times.[11]
Saving the Scientist Edit
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Fitz continued to modify the new Night-Night Guns for Ward to inspect, he was however unsatisfied with the weight, and when he left he heard the team mocking him with funny voices. When strange deaths started occurring where the victims' bodies were found floating with a hole in the forehead, Coulson's team was sent to investigate. Ward found Skye following him and getting a little too close for comfort, although she insisted she was simply observing her S.O.. The team eventually found a connection between the victims and were able to find another man just a few minutes before he died. This man revealed that he was friends with the other victims and they had taken a Chitauri helmet during the Battle of New York, which had given them all an alien virus. The man later died and Simmons checked the team for the virus.
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When the team regrouped on the Bus, it was discovered that Jemma Simmons had been infected by the virus. Trapped on the Bus, they knew that when the virus killed her, it would cause an EMP which would crash the plane. Fitz helped her in an attempt to find a cure, and in a last ditch effort they used samples to the Chitauri helmet to produce one; however, it appeared to be fruitless. Simmons knocked out Fitz and jumped out of the plane to save the others, but the cure did in fact work and Ward jumped out of the Bus to rescue her. Ward administered the cure to Simmons during free-fall and used a parachute to save both their lives. This action earned him unquestionable trust with the group.[12]
Infiltration into the Overkill Facility Edit
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"Are you familiar with the term slam and cram?"
"No and I don't think I want to be."
"How attached are you to your pinky?"
"Very, very attached, and before you ask another terrifyingly vague question, let me be clear. Any plan that involves even one of those scenarios isn't going to work for me."
―Grant Ward and Leo Fitz[src]
When the team had a stopover at the installation known as The Hub, Agent Victoria Hand explained that enemy forces had obtained a weapon called the Overkill Device in Georgia, which had the power to wipe out their own missile systems and render S.H.I.E.L.D. defenseless. Ward volunteered for the mission, as did Melinda May; however, Hand said they needed someone who could disarm the weapon so she assigned Ward and Agent Leo Fitz to the mission.
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Ward entered the assignment watching the back of the inexperienced Leo Fitz. He went in search of his previous contact Yuri Dubrovsky, only to learn that Dubrovsky had been killed and another group of mobsters had taken over. They were taken hostage by a mob boss called Marta. Ward suggested various ways they could escape, none of which Fitz liked as they involved cutting off body parts or risking their lives. However Fitz's technical knowledge came in helpful as he was able to repair the mob's television after a black-out, which earned them a safe trip to where they needed to go.
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The next morning the pair used a camouflage blanket to hitch a ride on the underbelly of a truck which brought them to the compound. Ward took out the guards and they discovered the Overkill Device. While Fitz disarmed it, Ward learned that Hand had not sent in a rescue team. He tried to convince Fitz to leave before the alarm was sounded but Fitz refused, proudly stating that he was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent just like Ward and just as brave as him. Fitz surprised Ward with his quick thinking, adaptability, and courage during the assignment, they managed to escape when Phil Coulson and Melinda May sent the Bus to rescue them.[7]
Dark Past Edit
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"I'm working it out."
"You're punching things. The last thing you need is to punch things."
After Thor saved the Earth from the wrath of Malekith and the Dark Elves, Ward, along with the rest of the team and S.H.I.E.L.D., proceeded to clean up the mess the battle had left in Greenwich. Any piece of alien technology was taken and stored away with S.H.I.E.L.D.; Ward discovered a piece of Malekith's ship and took it away for storage. Later they were called to investigate the mystical weapon known as the Berserker Staff, which had been discovered by Norse Paganists leaders Jakob Nystrom and Petra Larsen.
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While searching for the second piece of the Staff, Ward came across the piece and Professor Elliot Randolph, who the team had earlier consulted about the staff. Ward stopped Randolph from stealing the staff piece but as he attempted to take it from Randolph, the Staff infected Ward with its mystical strength but also brought back a dark memory he had long hidden. As the effects of the Staff continued to affect Ward, his anger rose, causing him to lash out at the other team members. Randolph was locked away on the Bus and questioned, and Coulson developed a theory that Randolph may in fact be an Asgardian. He had Ward test the theory by trying to stab Randolph in the neck, and Randolph bent the blade. He revealed he was in fact an ancient warrior who had destroyed the Staff and hidden the pieces across the world.
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The team finally located the final piece of the Staff thanks to Randolph. When Ward and the team arrived they were confronted by Nystrom, who had beat them to the location. He stabbed Randolph in the heart with a piece of the staff, nearly killing him. Seeing no other choice, Ward grabbed a piece of the Staff and attacked Nystrom. After a difficult battle, Ward defeated Nystrom and the remaining Paganists, while also fighting through his own dark memory, which caused him to collapse at the end of the battle. When Larsen and another Paganist arrived, Ward was exhausted and could barely stand, so Melinda May took the staff herself and defeated the Paganists.[3]
Getting Intimate Edit
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Later at a bar, Ward apologized to Skye who let him know if he ever needed to talk she was there. As he went to his room he saw May with a bottle; after a brief moment of eye contact, she entered her room, leaving the door open, and Ward soon followed. Seeing May as the biggest threat to his mission, he allowed things to get intimate.[3]
Ward defended his team again when they were charged with investigating and protecting a woman called Hannah Hutchins from mysterious destructive events happening around her. The team learned the attacks were being done by Hutchins' old friend Tobias Ford, who had become trapped between dimensions. Ward tried to fight off the attacker and could not. In the end, Melinda May was able to convince the man to leave Hutchins alone, and Hutchins allowed him to die.[13]
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Ward and May continued their relationship, often training together when they weren't going to bed together to release stress. They soon learned that a criminal called Edison Po had been broken out of prison with the help of Centipede Soldiers. Seeing the difficultly of their upcoming missions, Coulson recruited the help of Mike Peterson, who had been training as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Ward protested but Coulson was sure Peterson would be an asset to the team.
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Coulson and Ward went on a mission to investigate one of the Centipede Soldiers who was identified in the CCTV, Brian Hayward. As they drove to the location of Hayward's sister, Ward managed to get Coulson to open up about his previous relationship, which included dinners at the Richmond. When they met the sister of Hayward, Ward approached her telling her Heyward had won the lottery and needed to contact them. They traced her call when she called her brother to tell him what had happened, giving them the current location of Centipede.
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The team attacked the location of Centipede, and engaged in a battle with the Centipede Soldiers. During the fight Ward threw himself in the path of a punch intended for May, much to her annoyance. In the aftermath of the battle Peterson was wounded and Brian Hayward was executed by Centipede. Back on the Bus Peterson received a call from Raina that his son Ace had been kidnapped by Centipede. The team met with Raina and Ward took a position with his sniper rifle; however, the position of the meeting did not allow Ward to see their conversation. When they came back into view, Coulson was being taken by Centipede. Before he could react, a massive explosion seemingly killed Mike Peterson, and Ward was shot in the shoulder while Coulson was taken away in a helicopter.[14]
Rescue Mission Edit
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"No single agent is that important."
"Coulson is."
―Victoria Hand and Grant Ward[src]
Ward was involved in the mission to rescue Coulson, this first involved the capture of Vanchat, a criminal who had connections to Raina. After threatening to throw him out of the Bus, Vanchat revealed vital information about Raina. Victoria Hand took a personal interest in the mission, however she had a strong distrust of Skye. When Skye tried to hack into S.H.I.E.L.D. Hand ordered her off the plane, she first asked Ward and May's opinion, although Ward defended her May said she was not of enough use. When Skye was leaving the plane Ward, Fitz and Simmons provided her with an untraceable phone to call them, trusting her to do her own investigation.
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This plan was successful and Skye was able to give them Coulson's correct location, however Victoria Hand believed he was in a different location due to her own intel so did not provide back-up. The team arrived at the area together, with some new gadgets provided by Fitz to take out the Centipede Soldiers. Ward engaged with one of these soldiers, and after a long and intense fight, used a Night-Night Bracelet to knock him out. Coulson was rescued by Skye and Raina was captured. Ward and the rest of the team gladly welcomed Coulson back onto the Bus and watched as Raina was taken away to prison by S.H.I.E.L.D.[15]
Bad Seeds Edit
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"And you can't think of any reason a top student would want to go after you?"
"No. Um, the top students are my friends. It's competitive here, but we usually don't resort to knocking each other off. This isn't operations. No offense."
"None taken."
―Grant Ward and Seth Dormer[src]
The team's next mission took them to the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy where Anne Weaver informed them that someone was attacking the students with freezing weapons. Ward was tasked with interviewing the students involved, including Seth Dormer and Callie Hannigan, to learn the truth about the attacks.
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Through his investigations the team were able to learn that the attacks were being done by Seth Dormer and Donnie Gill, the two students who had been injured in the attacks, as they had attacked each other to ensure they were not the suspects. The pair were being funded by Ian Quinn, and they launched their weather machine which caused a super storm; Ward became trapped with the other students in the middle of the storm. The machine was destroyed in the storm and Dormer was killed by a lightning strike and Gill was arrested.[16]
True Colors Edit
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Ward assisted his team on other missions with his skills as an undercover specialist. He and Melinda May were teamed up on a mission to infiltrate a train where they had learned an item Ian Quinn had purchased was being moved. Ward was tasked with appearing as a train conductor while the team searched for Quinn's purchase. While he was speaking to May while changing into his train conductor clothes, May revealed that she had told Phil Coulson about their relationship, much to Ward's horror. Ward continued the mission but was attacked by one of Quinn's assassins. He alerted Coulson and the pair jumped from the train to safety. One of Quinn's guards threw a Dendrotoxin Grenade which knocked them out; when they awoke they believed no time had passed and that the train had simply vanished.
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Ward and Coulson made their way back to the Bus to try to figure out what had happened. They both however had a great deal of trouble operating the Holotable while they tried to research the grenade that was thrown at them. Ward took the opportunity to speak to Coulson about his relationship with May; Coulson warned him that if it ever endangered the team, Ward would be punished by being forced to guard Emil Blonsky's cryocell, located at a facility in Barrow, Alaska. They were interrupted by the arrival of their seeming ally Luca Russo who was promptly murdered by Melinda May, who had been tortured by the traitorous Russo.
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The team were able to locate Simmons back on the train and learned that Fitz and Skye had moved to Ian Quinn's Villa, alone. The team attacked the villa to rescue them. Ward arrived and shot Quinn's guards with the Night-Night Guns. Ian Quinn was quickly arrested but was found with blood on his hands. telling Coulson it was dangerous to make Skye go in alone. Skye was later found with two bullet wounds to the stomach after she had been shot by Quinn. Simmons was able to save her life by putting her in a Hyperbaric Chamber.[17]
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Back on the Bus the team began thinking about finding some kind of medication for Skye to save her life. Ward took a moment and punched a S.H.I.E.L.D. jeep; Melinda May tried to comfort him and told him not to blame himself, but he responded by saying he was not blaming himself. May thought he was speaking about blaming Fitz and Coulson, but in reality he was blaming John Garrett, whom he knew had given the order for Skye to get shot. At the thought of losing Skye, Ward's feelings for her grew as his relationship with Melinda May waned.[18]
Raid of the Guest House Edit
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"Garrett wants Quinn. It's my job to make sure Garrett gets what he wants. Now where is he?"
"Can't help you there."
―Antoine Triplett and Grant Ward[src]
The next day John Garrett arrived on the Bus asking to take Ian Quinn into custody, Coulson ordered Ward not to allow Quinn off the Bus, this led to a fist fight between Ward and Antoine Triplett, Garrett's new right hand man. However Coulson and Garrett were able to come to an understanding where Quinn would stay on the Bus until Skye's life had been saved.
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The team traveled to the Guest House where Coulson had been treated for his own injuries, once they arrived they were unable to get through the doors as they did not have the correct passcode. So the team broke in and engaged in a fierce firefight with the guards. Garrett and Ward were able to kill both the guards but soon learned that the base had been set to self-destruct. Coulson and Fitz searched the base to find the GH.325 which had saved Coulson's life, while Ward and Garrett tried to turn off the self-destruct.
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Coulson and Fitz were able to find the GH.325 and the team made their escape, Ward took Fitz back to the Bus to give the GH.325 to Simmons. Garrett and Coulson soon arrived just as the base exploded, when Coulson arrived he ordered Simmons not to give Skye the serum but she already had. Skye began to spasm but soon her heartbeat became more regular and she began to recover.[18] As Skye recovered, Ward admitted to her that he blamed himself for her injury, but Skye reassured him by promising him that she would train harder after her recovery.[19]
Encounter with Asgardians Edit
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"You're a fine warrior."
"I am, so put your hands behind your back and get on your knees."
"Men kneel before me, I do not bow to them."
―Lorelei and Grant Ward[src]
The team found a signal in the desert which Coulson recognized as the arrival of an Asgardian. The team drove to the location of the signal and witnessed the arrival of Lady Sif, whom Coulson had briefly met in New Mexico. Lady Sif explained that an powerful sorceress named Lorelei had escaped the Asgardian dungeons during the war with Malekith and the Dark Elves. She had the power to control the will of men with her voice and touch, and this power had previously allowed her to almost take control of Asgard.
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The team tracked her down where she had already amounted a small army of local police and a biker gang, who were all blindly loyal to her. Ward fought many of the bikers, and his fighting skills greatly impressed Lorelei, who was able to use her voice to put Ward under her power. He drove her away to safety and willingly gave her information about the team. After spending the night together in Las Vegas, Ward was candid with Lorelei about his feelings toward Skye and May and told her that Coulson's Team stood between her and world domination.
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Together, they hijacked the Bus, and took control of Leo Fitz. When Coulson arrived back on the Bus with Sif, Fitz told her he had repaired the Asgardian Collar needed to stop Lorelei, but in reality Ward locked her in the room and ejected her from the plane. Ward appeared with Lorelei and she kissed Ward in front of May to mock her, Ward had a lengthy fight with May, in which he eventually got the upper hand and aimed his gun at her. He would have killed her if his gun was not empty, Sif then managed to get the Collar around Lorelei, ending her control over Ward. May punched Ward in revenge, effectively ending their relationship.[19]
Hunting the Clairvoyant Edit
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When Deathlok attacked John Garrett and Antoine Triplett, Coulson arranged a meeting with some of the heads of S.H.I.E.L.D. including Victoria Hand, Jasper Sitwell and Felix Blake. They discussed a plan to find and stop the Clairvoyant. Grant Ward witnessed Skye becoming an official S.H.I.E.L.D. agent so she could access the Index allowing S.H.I.E.L.D. to investigate the Clairvoyant. Ward was teamed with Triplett to investigate Elijah Fordham, they discussed what they would do when they found the Clairvoyant, Triplett discussing how he had lost his partner in an attack by the Clairvoyant, and asked Ward what he would do if Skye had died. Before they could find Fordham, they were called to help Felix Blake against Deathlok.
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Deathlok was found in Pensacola, Florida, and Coulson and Garrett led a raiding party, including Ward, to Thomas Nash's location. After a few short battles with Deathlok, Nash was located, who was paralyzed and could only speak through a computer. Phil Coulson swore to lock him away, Nash none-the-less continued to mock Coulson but when Nash threatened Skye's life, Ward fired a single shot into Nash's heart and killed him.
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With Nash dead, Ward was arrested and locked in the Cage. After a while Coulson had learned that the true Clairvoyant was in fact an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Coulson came into the Cage and confronted Ward, asking if he had been ordered to kill Nash to protect the real Clairvoyant, although Coulson was correct, Ward continued to lie and deny any knowledge about the Clairvoyant.[20] However Skye informed Coulson that they had a serious problem, Coulson came back a few minutes later with Melinda May unconscious, now believing she was connected to the Clairvoyant. The Plane was taken over by S.H.I.E.L.D. and rerouted to the Hub.[21]
Battle at the Hub Edit
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"There's like a hundred guys out there."
"Twelve, level five foot soldiers, basic armor package and no other way through. The others are depending on us."
"But it's suicide."
"Not if I don't die, and if I do, maybe I deserve to."
During the HYDRA Uprising, Ward explained to Phil Coulson that Victoria Hand, who was believed to be the Clairvoyant, could not get the research and items stored on the Bus, so Coulson had Skye download all of the data onto an encrypted hard drive. They were later joined by John Garrett who had also been attacked by S.H.I.E.L.D., while they were on the Bus they received an encrypted message that revealed HYDRA was coming out of the shadows.
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S.H.I.E.L.D. fired upon the Bus and the team escaped with the help of Leo Fitz's Mouse Hole. Ward and Skye worked together to battle through the Hub. As they hide in a storage room to prepare for the battle, Ward volunteered to go out alone to fight the guards so she could complete her mission regardless. Ward and Skye expressed their feelings for one another and shared their first kiss. With the kiss giving him new energy and determination, Ward ran out of their hiding place and fought off a dozen of the guards before re-teaming with Skye to cut the power across the Hub.
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When Coulson, Leo Fitz, and Melinda May were surrounded by HYDRA agents and John Garrett, who revealed himself as both the Clairvoyant and a HYDRA operative, Ward and Skye were able to switch off the power in the facility which gave Coulson the opportunity to fight Garrett, they were able to overpower the HYDRA agents and Victoria Hand arrived to arrest the Garrett and the other HYDRA agents. Ward witnessed Garrett being taken away by S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson tried to comfort him and explain that his mentor was HYDRA. Ward however was already working out a plan to free Garrett.
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Ward requested to join Hand in transporting Garrett to the Fridge, claiming that Garrett was his S.O. and he'd like to be the one to lock the key to his cell. Once airborne, Victoria Hand mocked Garrett and asked Ward if he'd like to kill the true Clairvoyant. Ward silently stood up and loaded his gun, Hand smiled awaiting Garrett's death, much to her surprise; however, Ward immediately shot and killed the two S.H.I.E.L.D. guards next to Garrett, before turning the gun on Hand and shooting her three times, killing her. He then freed Garrett and they escaped. As Garrett piloted the plane he retold Ward one of his many war stories while Ward contemplated his next move.[21]
Freeing Raina Edit
File:Grant-Ward-Raina.png
"What are you doing here?"
"A gift from the Clairvoyant."
―Raina and Grant Ward[src]
Ward traveled to Raina's prison, fought and killed the guards and unlocked her cell door. Having only known Ward as an enemy up to this point, Raina was immediately suspicious of his presence. To gain Raina's trust, Ward presented her with a gift from the Clairvoyant - a new flowered dress. Ward took her to Havana, Cuba to introduce her to their mutual benefactor. At the Barbershop Headquarters, John Garrett introduced himself and explained he was not the Clairvoyant as she expected, but a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent with a high security clearance, Ward smiled at her confusion and disappointment. Garrett welcomed her to HYDRA. Ward and Garrett presented Raina with the drugs from the Guest House and the encrypted hard drive which Skye had created so she could perfect Project Deathlok.[22]
Raid of the Fridge Edit
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"A little warning next time? You know they had automatic weapons."
"I couldn't resist, it was too good a line."
Afterwards, they went off with Agent Kaminsky to raid the Fridge, Ward arrived pretending to be delivering John Garrett to his cell. However the guards refused to let them inside without Victoria Hand present, Ward claimed Hand was going to meetings to finish the HYDRA invasion. Realizing they would not be able to convince the guards to let them in, Ward had Kaminsky fire at them from a helicopter until the guards let them in.
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Once inside Ward shot both guards and Garrett released a gas which killed all the remaining guards. Once inside Garrett revealed to Ward that the Slingshot Program was a fake and Nick Fury had kept all the alien weapons he had found. While Garrett began releasing its prisoners, including Blackout, Ward took a team of agents and obtained the Fridge's confiscated weapons, including the Berserker Staff, the Peruvian 0-8-4. Ward made a bet with Garrett that there was something hidden under the floor and revealed the Gravitonium, winning him a steak dinner.
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Raina spoke to Ward about how difficult it must be for him to have betrayed Coulson, Ward explained that although he owed Coulson something, he owed Garrett everything. Later however, Raina reported that only Skye could decrypt the hard drive, Ward was ordered to return to Coulson's Team to get the pass codes from her. Knowing that Coulson would have learned that the Fridge had been raided, it was decided that Ward should look like his been in a fight. Before he went to Providence, Ward had Garrett hit him several times, damaging his face and cracking his ribs, as he punched him, Garrett made Ward recite that he was an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.[22]
"Ward is HYDRA" Edit
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"I was on a mission. It wasn't personal."
"It was - you did not just say that. "It wasn't personal"?"
When Ward arrived at Providence, he was greeted by Skye and taken to Jemma Simmons to look at his injuries. While Simmons watched up his many cuts and injuries, Ward lied to Coulson's Team about the Raid of the Fridge, telling them that when they arrived HYDRA had already taken over and he killed John Garrett as Garrett was freeing the prisoners. Coulson decided to take half the team to Portland, Oregon to pursue one of the escaped inmates named Blackout, but Agent Eric Koenig insisted that they all pass the Lie Detector first.
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Ward barely passed his test. He did this by using a thin piece of metal stabbed into his finger; when he told the truth he stabbed himself to give the machine the impression that his reaction to telling the truth and lying were the same. During the test it appeared that this technique was not working as Eric Koenig became suspicious of his answers and drew a gun. Ward worked out clever answers to questions like "Are you HYDRA?" and when Ward was asked why he was there, he chose not to lie and simply answer he was there for Skye, which was true. Agent Koenig accepted these answers and welcomed Ward onto the base.
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Skye and Ward sat together and discussed recent events, with Ward telling Skye that he was not a good man, which she strongly denied and told him that he was before the pair shared a romantic kiss. Later, when Skye and Koenig discussed using NSA satellites to watch the prison break, Ward knew it would expose his part in the scheme; therefore, he pretended that he agreed with the plan to ensure Skye remained unsuspicious before he murdered Koenig, strangling him and hiding his body in a closet.
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When Ward struggled to find Skye in the Providence base, he went to the closet to check she had not discovered Koenig's body. He soon found and convinced Skye to leave with him on the Bus, telling her that Coulson had sent them orders for her to unlock the hard-drive, holding hands with her as they left. Unknown to Ward, Skye had already found Koenig's body and realized that he was a member of HYDRA. She had left the message "Ward is HYDRA" for her teammates to find and went with him.[2]
Questioning Skye Edit
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"Do you - do you think this has been easy on me? Do you have any idea how hard it was? The sacrifices, the decisions I had to make? But I made them. Because that's what I do. I'm a survivor."
"You are a serial killer."
Ward flew the Bus to Ruthie's Skillet in Los Angeles since Skye had informed him that the encryption for the Coulson's Team Hard Drive was location-based. He began to get nervous the longer Skye took to unlock the drive, but she insisted that it was more complicated than he understood. Ward noticed that more and more police officers were arriving inside the cafe and quietly asking members of the public to leave.
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Knowing he was about to be arrested Ward tried to get Skye to leave with him, but Skye revealed she knew his true affiliation to HYDRA and had called the police. The officers attempted to arrest Ward but he easily fought them off while Skye attempted to escape by getting herself arrested. However before Skye could be put in the police car, Ward shot the two officers and tried to order her to stop running. Skye got in the car but as she tried to escape, Deathlok, Ward's back-up, apprehended her, using his Cybertek Prosthetic Leg to leap onto the front of the car and violently rip her out of her seat.
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Ward and Deathlok took the now captured Skye back onto the Bus, where Ward handcuffed her and tried to explain that his feelings for her were real, but Skye was too upset to listen, telling him that he made her sick. Still furious at Ward's betrayal, Skye called him a murderer and a Nazi due to HYDRA's history with Red Skull back in World War II, much to Ward's anger. Skye refused to listen to what he had to say and told him she would not unlock the hard drive for him, explaining that he was right that she would not like the real him as he had assured her she would not. Ward however remained calm and told her that one day she would understand his actions.
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Seeing that Skye would not answer to Ward, John Garrett ordered Deathlok to take over the interrogation, promising more violent methods. However as per Garrett's orders, Deathlok shot Ward with a Heart Stopper to induce a heart attack. As Ward lay on the ground struggling for breath and slowly dying, Deathlok told Skye that he would only save him if Skye unlocked the drive. Although Skye hated Ward, she could not bear to watch him die so she agreed to unlock the drive. Deathlok brought Ward back to life by restarting his heart beat, but Ward remained bitter about the incident.
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As Ward prepared to fly the plane away to safety he was stopped when Maria Hill arrived on another jet with Antoine Triplett. The two traded insults, with Ward explaining that he had hoped Hill had been killed during the Battle at the Triskelion while Hill called him a lowlife for his betrayal. Eventually Hill threatened to shoot Ward out of the sky if he attempted to escape, but Ward confidently said that not only did she no longer have the authority any more now S.H.I.E.L.D. was gone, but Phil Coulson would have never allowed her to put the lives of Skye and Mike Peterson in jeopardy and took off.
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Having escaped from Hill, Ward took the Bus to a high altitude which unlocked the Coulson's Team Hard Drive as Skye had promised to them. However what Ward did not know was Hill had simply been distracting Ward long enough for Phil Coulson to board the plane and rescue Skye. Ward realised the deception too late and Coulson managed to get himself and Skye aboard Lola and drove out of the plane where they managed to fly safely back down to the group despite Ward firing at them and Deathlok using his Forearm Rocket Launcher to try and shoot them out of the sky.
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Not willing to lose his hostage, Ward tried to turn the plane around and go after them, but John Garrett instead ordered them to continue with their main mission and regroup with him back at the Barbershop Headquarters in Cuba as they had gotten the information they needed from Skye by unlocking the Hard Drive. Furious at this humiliating failure, Ward took a moment to threaten to kill Deathlok if he ever did anything like stopping his heart again. However Deathlok remained completely calm and merely informed Ward that he had only been following Garrett's direct orders like he did.[6]
A Terrible Choice Edit
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"I know that you care about us Ward!"
"You're right, I do, it's a weakness."
―Leo Fitz and Grant Ward[src]
With the codes, Grant Ward returned to Cuba, and Raina was able to finish recreating GH.325. Garrett ordered the abandonment of the Barbershop Headquarters for the new Cybertek Manufacturing Facility, and Raina told Ward about rumors she had heard about Skye's parents. Before the members of the Centipede Project could leave, Ward found Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons spying on them. After Ward captured the two and brought them onto the Bus for questioning, Fitz activated the EMP Joy Buzzer that further damaged Garrett's cybernetic parts, nearly killing him as he was already suffering from organ failure.
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Garrett ordered Ward to kill Fitz and Simmons. Fitz and Simmons were able to escape their guards, resulting in Ward chasing them until they locked themselves in a Medical Pod. Ward demanded that the two unlock the door, but Fitz tried to remind Ward of their friendship and stated that he knew Ward cared about them. Ward finally admitted that he still cared about his former friends, but he called it "a weakness" and then ejected the pod with Fitz and Simmons in it from the Bus into Atlantic Ocean. When he returned to Garrett, Ward lied to him and claimed to have definitively killed Fitz and Simmons. At the same time, Ward learned that he had had Raina inject him with the GH.325. He witnessed Garrett's body beginning to spasm and glow; when he stopped, Ward asked him how he was feeling, Garrett simply answered, the universe.[4]
Worrying about Garrett Edit
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"Our alliance with HYDRA was always a means to that end right?"
"Symbiotic."
"And here we are, it's not like we're true believers right? Don't get me wrong, I'll go where you go. Having our soldiers in key positions is great but, then what? Are we really planning a coup?"
Ward witnessed John Garrett showing off his new strength as he ripped a door off it's hinges and began carving strange symbols on it, claiming that he was writing down the ideas that were now in his head. Ward tried to talk some sense into Garrett, telling him that he was a little freaked out and questioning their loyalty to HYDRA, but he had little success as Garrett continued to rant and promised that now it was time for Ward to take whatever he wanted.
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Ward traveled with John Garrett to the new Cybertek Manufacturing Facility. On the flight there, he became worried about the state of Garrett's mind. He confided his worries with Raina, who agreed to talk to Garrett. Despite his concerns, he stayed with Garrett. When they arrived at the Facility Garrett began to mock General Jacobs, who was being given a tour by Ian Quinn. When Jacobs demanded to know why he could hear gunfire, Garrett brutally murdered the General without warning by ripping out his rib and stabbing him in the neck with it, as Ward could only look on in horror. When he asked Garrett what this was the beginning of, Garrett told Ward it was the beginning of the end.
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Ward was forced to lock up Jacobs' entourage. After he had done that, he caught Raina and Ian Quinn attempting to flee with the Gravitonium. He accused Raina of putting thoughts in Garrett's mind but she then changed the subject, claiming that Skye is the key to the evolutionary change and when comes to pass, she and Ward could be together. Although Ward knew Skye perceived him as a monster, Raina cast doubt on that and asked if he was truly was a monster or was what Garrett made him. She then claimed when Skye's hidden darkness comes to light, they could be monsters together.[23]
Battle at Cybertek Edit
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"You said our thing was no strings attached. Looks to me like the ice queen got her feelings hurt. Reminds me of the old days."
"You were never on top!"
When Coulson's Team broke into the Cybertek Manufacturing Facility, Ward demanded John Garrett give him some new orders as to how to deal with this situation, only for his mentor to respond with confusing words about independence. He then received a call from Skye, who boasted that she had taken control of the Centipede Soldiers control center. After taunting Skye about Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons' supposed deaths at Ward's hand, Garrett tasked Ward with apprehending Skye.
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He found Skye who had taken Kyle Zeller hostage with a bomb strapped around his chest. He called her bluff, reminding her that she could have let him die the last time but she did not. Skye expressed pity for him for betraying their team, declaring Fitz a hero for wanting to believe there was good in Ward. As she stated that some people are just born evil, Ward concurred, admitting she that woken up a weakness inside him. He aimed his gun at her head and threatened to take what he wanted from her whether she wanted it or not.
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Skye, however, remained strangely confident and told him she had a weapon more powerful than a bomb which would destroy him; when he asked why that was, she explained because he slept with her, and she was immensely furious. Ward was then attacked by Melinda May, with whom he engaged in a long battle through the facility while Skye used Zeller to free Ace Peterson and communicate with Deathlok. During the fight, Ward and May tried to desperately kill each other with buzzsaws and various other weapons they could find as they charged through a building site in the facility, with them both proving to be equally matched fighters.
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Ward managed to pin May down on a work bench and attempted to slice off her arm with a buzzsaw, mocking reminding her of their sexual history as he sat on top of her, however May managed to break free and began hitting Ward through various walls head first. The fight ended when May managed to get her hands on a nearby nail gun and started bolting Ward's foot to the floor. Despite pleas from Ward who was now defenceless, May punched him in the jaw and fractured his larynx rendering him unable to speak, before telling him that she was done listening to him as she knocked him unconscious with a final hard kick to the skull.[23]
Capture Edit
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"You devoted your entire life to a deranged narcissist who never gave a damn about anyone, and now he's dead. You've got the rest of your life to wrestle with the question who are you without him?"
―Phil Coulson to Grant Ward[src]
Ward was brought before Phil Coulson, angry that Ward had lied to them from day one. Coulson asked Melinda May if she got all her anger out, she said she had not as Ward was still alive, she also told him that Ward was unable to speak due to his fractured larynx. Coulson told him that Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons had survived his assassination attempt, although Fitz may never be the same again. Coulson left him a question: Who are you without John Garrett? He was then taken into custody by U.S. Marines.[23]
Lone Wolf Edit
Prisoner at the Playground Edit
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"I told Coulson weeks ago that I was willing to speak to you to give you intelligence. Why now? Something bad happened?"
―Grant Ward[src]
Grant Ward became a prisoner in one of the vaults in the Playground. In his time he hurt himself by running at the walls and other tactics. He also attempted suicide by cutting his wrists with a folded piece of paper. Once he recovered he refused to speak to anyone except Skye. For three-and-a-half weeks Phil Coulson sat outside Ward's cell but Ward refused to speak.[24] Ward was eventually questioned by Skye about Carl Creel's connection with John Garrett and HYDRA. Ward told her about Creel's abilities. He also provided information on how HYDRA was communicating between its factions. Before Ward could give any information about Calvin Zabo, her father, Skye left and returned Ward to isolation.[25]
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Later when the team was attempting to track down Donnie Gill who had now gained cryogenic powers, Skye came down to gain information from Ward. The two were sidetracked, discussing Ward's alleged abuse by his family who are now considered well-known, respectable people. Ward told her that HYDRA, when coming after a gifted, will first try to recruit them or, if the former fails, terminate them. He also told Skye that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s morals were going to lead to its defeat.
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Leo Fitz, feeling that the others were keeping secrets from him, discovered Ward in his cell. Ward was happy to see Fitz again and told him that rather than kill Fitz and Simmons, he ejected their pod into the ocean to give them "a fighting chance." Enraged, Fitz explained how the loss of oxygen caused him brain damage and that he was now useless to his team, who he revealed had left to go after Gill. Fitz then tried to make Ward feel his pain by removing the oxygen out of his cell to kill him. A gasping Ward, desperate to stay alive and concerned about the team's well-being, revealed that HYDRA brainwashed some of its agents, including Gill, who was used by HYDRA to take the Sandbox. Fitz allowed Ward to live and, with Mack's help, informed Coulson and the group about this.
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Upon returning to the Playground, Skye confronted Ward, who reminded her of his promise to always tell her the truth. She wanted to know if he was brainwashed into working with HYDRA; he told her he was not. He then told her that he could lead her to her father.[26]
Bonding with the other agents, Skye admitted that she once had a crush on Ward. Meanwhile, Fitz felt that Ward was getting more respect than he was from the others.[27] Ward thought Skye wanted to talk about her father when she returned to Vault D weeks later, but she came to ask him about the Words of Creation. Ward told her that Raina was the one who gave him the information on Skye's father but she believed that Raina was playing him. Ward desperately hoped that she was not carving the Words of Creation. Their conversation gave Skye the clue she needed to recognize that Phil Coulson was the one writing them. Later when Raina told Coulson that she wanted to bring Skye to her father she realized that Ward was right after all.[28]
Transfer and Escape Edit
File:Grant-Ward-Prison-Coulson.jpg
"I thought we were rebuilding trust, Coulson. I can help you. I'm still part of your team."
"My team? You think-? You are not, nor will you ever be, on my team. You dropped FitzSimmons out of a plane, you murdered Victoria Hand and Eric Koenig, you betrayed every one of us, you deluded son of a bitch!"
―Grant Ward and Phil Coulson[src]
When HYDRA attacked a United Nations summit posing as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Grant's older brother Christian attempted to hunt down the agency, Coulson had Skye talk to Grant about his brother in hopes of finding out anything. Grant begged Skye not to let him know he was there. He then changed the conversation to Calvin Zabo, which provoked Skye to angrily denounce Cal as a murderer. As a result, Coulson interrupted them and cut them off. Skye came back and Ward revealed to her that her father was trying to rescue her from HYDRA agents and that her mother was killed in the rescue attempt.
File:Grant-Ward-Prison-Transfer.jpg
Ward then tried to convince her to set him free so he could take her to him. Skye however revealed to him that he was being transferred to his brother's custody, much to his horror. Phil Coulson later came down as Grant tried to convince him he could still help them and that he was still part of his team. Coulson angrily listed the many atrocious actions Ward committed (dropping Fitz and Simmons out a plane, killing Victoria Hand and Eric Koenig) and told him that the only reason he was imprisoned at the Playground was because he was of use and the only reason that he was being transferred was because Christian was of more use.
File:Grant-Ward-Escape-Gun.jpg
Coulson escorted him into a truck, advising the FBI agents not to give Ward a single inch. As he walked to the truck, Ward saw all of his former friends, including Fitz, and other agents watching him. Ward then saw Skye and Simmons and called out to Skye, but Simmons then told him that if she ever saw him again, she would kill him. As Ward was about to enter the van, he told Coulson to tell Skye that he would keep his promise to take her to her father. Inside the van, Ward, who had been practicing this in his cell, dislocated his thumb, freeing himself of his handcuffs, and overpowered the agents.[24]
Renegade Edit
File:Grant-Ward-hiding-hat-sunglasses.jpg
"Just wanted to make sure you got my present. I promised him a face-to-face with Coulson. Probably not exactly what he had in mind. I'll be sending a few other gifts your way now and then."
"Like a cat bringing in dead birds? No, thanks."
"Just trying to be helpful."
Ward knew that S.H.I.E.L.D. was pursuing him so he went a bus station in Philadelphia and, in a locker, got money and supplies. He also strapped explosives to himself which deterred Antoine Triplett from pursuing him.
File:Ward cap.jpg
The bus took Ward to Atlanta where he saw a woman on page 117 of her book. Calling himself Zack, he then helped Eliza and her son, Graham, onto a bus to Dallas. When Eliza wanted further conversation, he opted to sit with the woman reading her book, who was also on that bus. After flirting with her, Ward revealed that he knew she was an agent of Coulson's because she is still on page 117. Ward showed her his bomb and left the bus. However he boarded another bus headed to Boston with Lance Hunter on board.
File:Grant-Ward-Meets-Sunil-Bakshi.jpg
In Boston, Ward met Sunil Bakshi in a bar run by a member of HYDRA. During the meeting, Ward asked Bakshi to whom he answered, as Strucker was overseas, to which Bakshi replied that he answered to Daniel Whitehall. Ward also asked if he could meet Whitehall, to which Bakshi replied that Whitehall was busy, but then Ward told him that he could get them close to Coulson. Ward then killed the bartender and the two HYDRA agents that accompanied Bakshi; Bakshi was then tied up and left for S.H.I.E.L.D.
File:Grant-Ward-Shave.jpg
Stopping off at a hotel, Ward took a shower, shaved off his beard and put on a new clean suit before calling Sunil Bakshi's phone. When Skye answered, he greeted her and said he hoped that she liked his present of Bakshi, explaining that he had promised Bakshi a face-to-face with Phil Coulson. He told her that he was planning on delivering similar presents to S.H.I.E.L.D. in the future. He hung up the phone before she could trace the call, then made plans to track down and confront his brother.[29]
Killing Senator Ward Edit
File:Grant Ward AoS2-8.jpg
"I didn't squeeze the trigger when *you* killed all those people!"
"No. It is my fault. I let you all hollow me out, control me."
"Spare me the non-apology. I'm a senator."
―Christian Ward and Grant Ward[src]
Ward soon found Christian as he was talking to his wife and setting up a date with his mistress. Ward sneaked up to the car and silently murdered his brother's security team in seconds before smashing Christian's car window with a man's head and violently pulling his brother out of the car. As Christian rolled down a hill and looked up in horror, Ward simply smiled and said that he had heard Christian had been looking for him.
File:The Wards.jpeg
Ward handcuffed Christian and forced him to walk through the woods where they had grown up, Christian continued to try and manipulate Ward by reminding him of his many crimes, but Ward ignored him and forced him to continue walking. Eventually Ward had them go to the well from their past [3] that their parents buried as their younger brother Thomas had almost drowned in it. Christian was forced to uncover the well while Ward watched, the brothers continued to debate their past and Ward insisted that Christian was still living in denial about his abusive past towards him and their brother. Eventually Christian found the well, but took a chance and attacked Ward before attempted to flee. Ward soon caught up and bushed Christian's head against a tree.
File:Christian-Grant-Ward-Threat.jpg
Ward dragged Christian to the well and threatened to drop him inside if Christian refused to admit to his part in torturing Thomas in their youth. Eventually, Christian tearfully admitted his part. Grant then embraced his brother and they walked back to the road together, making it appear to Christian that he had forgiven him, but in reality he was setting him up. Grant had recorded what Christian said. When they got back to the house, Grant killed Christian and their mother and father and burned down the house, making it appear to be a murder-suicide case. Grant put the recording of Christian's confession in the remains of the house to further ruin Christian's appearance to the public.[30]
Return to HYDRA Edit
File:Grant-Ward-Rejoins-HYDRA.jpg
"Everyone deserves a second chance, but few are willing to do what it takes to earn one."
"I completely understand. I think my skills could be of use to you. I know sacrifice, what it takes to move forward in life."
"I have no doubt that's true."
―Daniel Whitehall and Grant Ward[src]
Later, Ward had a meeting with Daniel Whitehall, asking if he could work with him in HYDRA. Whitehall accepted and showed Ward news footage of the alleged murder-suicide of Senator Christian Ward and his parents. Calvin Zabo entered the meeting, Zabo was immediately interested in Ward due to his experience being a part of Coulson's Team. Ward asked Zabo about his experiences meeting Coulson, claiming that it can be a tough experience.[30]
Capturing Skye Edit
File:GrantWard-QuestionsKoenigs-Standoff.jpg
"First, you gave us Bakshi. Now you're back with HYDRA? Pick a side, Ward."
"Oh, I have. Don't worry."
―Skye and Ward[src]
Tracing the Tracker injected into Raina,[28] Ward found her aboard the cloaked Bus and Whitehall had it surrounded by four HYDRA Quinjets. Ward boarded the Bus with other operatives as Skye, Melinda May, Lance Hunter, Antoine Triplett, Billy and Sam Koenig surrounded him with guns drawn. When Skye saw Ward back working with HYDRA, she told him to pick a side, reminding him of how he had kidnapped Sunil Bakshi for them earlier; he told her that he had.
File:GrantWard-Demands-Skye-YWEH.jpg
Ward then told them that if a shoot out began, all would die as the HYDRA Quinjets flying outside would shoot the Bus out of the sky. He promised that if Raina and Skye came willingly, nothing would happen and they would be allowed to go free. Sam Koenig asked what promise did he give his brother before killing him. Ward simply replied by asking who Koenig's brother was. Though the Koenig brothers and the rest of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team had Ward in a cross fire, they chose not to shoot. The women left with Ward, however Daniel Whitehall ordered the Bus to be destroyed regardless.[31]
Keeping His Promise Edit
File:Grant-Ward-Skye-Meet-Calvin-Zabo.jpg
"I have just one question, how does she fit in?"
"I needed insurance that S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't blow us out of the sky."
"But you also ordered that the S.H.I.E.L.D. plane shouldn't be shot down, I had to counter that order myself."
Ward took Skye to the HYDRA base at the Ponce de León Theater in San Juan; as they walked together Ward admired how much Melinda May taught her while he had been gone, noticing Skye was already looking for an escape strategy and remaining calm under the circumstances. Skye continued to question Ward's loyalty to HYDRA and why he had taken her, and Ward assured her it would be revealed soon. He took Skye to reunite her with her father, who was waiting patiently. He left the pair alone to meet.
File:GrantWard-AimsAt-DanielWhitehall.jpg
Daniel Whitehall decided to have a meeting with Ward, Raina, Skye, and Calvin Zabo to discern Ward's motivation for bringing the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to their base and defying his order to destroy the Bus. Raina revealed that Ward loved Skye and his desire for her outweighed his allegiance to HYDRA. When Whitehall ordered Skye to pick up the Diviner, it caused a dangerous stand-off, with Ward aiming his gun at the HYDRA guards. Although they were able to kill a few of Whitehall's men, Ward, Skye and Zabo were captured by HYDRA.
File:Grant-Ward-tied-to-chair.jpg
While bound and guarded by Agent 33, Ward asked her about her resemblance to Melinda May. She talked of her loyalty to Whitehall and Ward commented on how he was once loyal to John Garrett who had gone insane. Ward witnessed Whitehall torture Calvin Zabo and mock Skye about her mother's death. When the Battle for the Kree City began, Ward talked to the guard that replaced Agent 33 long enough for Zabo to free himself, sneak up behind the guard and kill him. Ward asked Zabo to free him, but he refused, citing that he did not want Ward and Skye to see him kill Whitehall.
File:Ward-is-Shot.png
Ward managed to free himself from the chair shortly after Calvin Zabo left, then freed Skye, saying that he would get her to safety. However when Ward's back was turned, she took the dead guard's gun and shot Ward four times in the side and left him for dead, noting that he should never turn his back on the enemy. Ward was saved by the Bulletproof Vest he wore. Agent 33 came to him emotional over the death of Daniel Whitehall. He told her that she was free from HYDRA and, together, they can find her place in the world. She then helped the injured man leave the scene.[32]
The Closure of Kara Palamas Edit
Repairing the Mask Edit
File:GWard-CreepySmile-S2E14.jpg
"I guess it's fair to say we all hide our true selves don't we?"
"Or we just wait for the right time to reveal the truth."
―Selwyn and Grant Ward[src]
Over the next few weeks, Agent 33 treated Ward's gunshot injuries and eventually nursed him back to health, they developed a strong flirtatious relationship and Ward felt he owed Agent 33 a debt for saving his life. Seeking to begin making amends for his debt, Ward was able to track down the inventor of the Photostatic Veil to a diner where he was enjoying a meal with his family; once there, he and Agent 33 discussed their short history together while Ward politely ordered the pancakes from the waitress Rhonda for the two of them to enjoy.
File:GWard-CapturingSewlyn.jpg
Agent 33 still struggled to make decisions for herself now that her controller Daniel Whitehall was dead and they discussed what had happened with them in the aftermath of the Battle for the Kree City. Before their pancakes could arrive, the inventor of the Veil got up to leave, with Ward noting his disappointment and not getting to eat them. Ward left Rhonda a tip before he and Agent 33 pulled out their guns, with Ward shooting the CCTV cameras and helping Agent 33 threatening the inventor, who begged them to take his wallet and leave him alone, only for them to kidnap him together.
File:Grant-Ward-threatens-Selwyn.jpg
They took Selwyn back to their hotel room and forced him to fix the mask. Although he was unable to remove the mask, he was able to get it working again to cover up her scars and fix her voice, allowing her to transform her face into anyone at will. Once he was finished, he and Ward discussed how Agent 33 could use an old photograph to make the mask give her old face back, and Ward revealed that he was unaware of what she really looked like. Once they were satisfied that Selwyn had done all he could to assist them, Ward killed him to ensure he did not tell anyone about their actions.
File:GWard-HandsomeSuit-S2E14.jpg
Ward later found Agent 33 in their hotel room experimenting with the Photostatic Veil, creating new faces to cover her own scars, settling on using Melinda May's face. Ward offered to buy some clothes for Agent 33 while he was out, when Agent 33 questioned where he was going, Ward would only tell her that he was going to pick up another surprise for her. To Ward's surprise, Agent 33 asked him to stop helping her, as she felt guilty for not being able to give him something back, however he insisted that this was not why he was doing this and promised to come back within a couple of hours.
File:Grant-Ward-Agent-33-Skye-Face-Bed.jpg
When Ward returned, Agent 33 had turned her face into Skye's and tried to seduce Ward, but he insisted that he wanted to be with her, not anyone else. He explained that his feelings for Skye had gone when she shot him. As she was clearly upset at the rejection, Ward cheered up Agent 33 by handing her Sunil Bakshi's file, who was being held in a prison by Glenn Talbot. He then proceeded to tell her how John Garrett saved him from his family's cruelty and how, after he had a confrontation with them, he was free to be a new man. Ward promised they would kidnap Bakshi and get revenge.[33]
Kidnapping of Sunil Bakshi Edit
File:GWard-TalkingWithGuard-S2E14.jpg
"Just lending a hand."
―Sunil Bakshi and Grant Ward[src]
Using the Photostatic Veil to successfully disguise herself as Brigadier General Glenn Talbot's own wife, Carla who was due to meet the General there, Agent 33 gained entry into the facility where their target was being held by tricking the guard that she had simply forgotten her access card. Once she was inside she turned off the security cameras, allowing Ward to arrive without being tracked, finding the guard on the security desk paying so much attention to fixing his monitors that he did not see Ward coming towards him with a weapon.
File:Grant-Ward-murders-Talbots-Guard.jpg
With no cameras to capture his actions, Ward quietly murdered the guard at the desk and hid his body before stealing his access cards to help them get through the facility. While he was checking the dead guard's pockets, Ward found himself being watched by Brookton and prepared to draw his weapon to kill the United States Armed Forces soldier, before realising that it was in fact Agent 33 in disguise, as she had already murdered Brookton. Ward teased her for her choice of disguise with her noting that he was the smallest man she could find, which was why the uniform was slightly too large for her.
File:GWard-HelpingHand.jpg
Together they located Sunil Bakshi, who was initially delighted to see Agent 33, believing her to still be loyal to HYDRA and following the orders given to her by the late Daniel Whitehall, although as soon as Ward appeared, he knew he was in danger, questioning who was truly giving orders to Agent 33 and being horrified to learn that they were working on their own orders. When Bakshi attempt to control her using the Faustus method, Agent 33 knocked him out and Ward smiled at her successful before together they took Bakshi outside in a wheelchair and made their hasty escape from the facility.
File:Grant-Ward-hugs-Agent33.jpg
Once they were back at the hotel, they tied down the captured Bakshi and used the Faustus method to brainwash him, holding his eyes open as he starred into the screen. Agent 33 was able to turn the mask off to reveal her true scarred face. Ward smiled at seeing her true identity and, to show her that it was time for a new beginning, introduced himself to her again, and she introduced herself by her real name, Kara Palamas. Palamas then began to taunt Bakshi when he asked if his compliance would be rewarded, while Ward watched closely from the side, amused at Bakshi's suffering.[33]
Recruited by Coulson Again Edit
File:GrantWard-AwkwardPhonecall.jpg
"I'm flattered, bringing the robot along just for a sit down with me."
"There's no need for false modesty, we both know you're that good. But frankly this isn't about you, I'm after bigger fish, Strucker, List."
"Can't help you, not in HYDRA anymore."
In Mexico, Ward bought a cactus for his and Agent 33's house while she called her mother, who was helping her get better reacquainted with her old life by sending her old pictures of herself which allowed her to recreate her original and unscarred face with the Photostatic Veil. However, just as Ward was leaving the shop he got a call on Agent 33's phone and learned that she had been captured by Phil Coulson.
File:GrantWard-HappySurrender.jpg
Ward immediately drove to the restaurant where Agent 33 was and found her unharmed by being guarded by Deathlok. Ward greeted his former ally from his days with John Garrett and was ordered to remove all his weapons. Ward complied with these orders, dropping his guns, knives and garrote, although he tried and failed to keep one small blade on him which Deathlok spotted with his Backscatter X-Ray Eye Implant. With Ward now unarmed and defenceless, Deathlok directed him to a booth where Coulson was waiting to speak with him while he stayed back to keep guard over Agent 33.
File:Grant-Ward-Phil-Coulson-Meeting-S2E18.jpg
Ward and Coulson exchanged false pleasantries as Coulson noted that he knew Ward could kill him if he wanted to. Ward then listened as Coulson explained that he was not after him anymore but was looking to find Baron Wolfgang von Strucker and Doctor List, hoping that Ward could find a way to locate the pair. Although Ward was skeptical about the plan, Coulson mapped out a deal, in which Ward would help infiltrate HYDRA and then have his bad memories wiped using Project T.A.H.I.T.I. which would allow him to begin a happy and completely peaceful life with Palamas by his side.
File:WardKara-DarkCar.jpg
Ward agreed to take the deal, and he and Agent 33 were taken back to their home by Deathlok where they gathered their belongings in preparation for the mission, also taking Sunil Bakshi and locking him inside the trunk of the car. While Deathlok spoke with Coulson, Ward commented that something was amiss as Melinda May was not involved with the mission. Although Palamas insisted they run, Ward reminded her that they could use Coulson to get to Bobbi Morse and find the closure that they were seeking. They then discussed finding another house to continue their relationship in.
File:Grant-Ward-reveals-Bakshi.jpg
Just as Ward and Palamas shared a kiss, Deathlok opened the door and ordered them to break it up, much to Ward's annoyance. They then opened the boot and Ward showed Coulson Bakshi, explaining that he had now undergone the Faustus method and would obey their orders completely. Ward explained that he had brought Bakshi to help with the infiltration as he knew List and could get them inside HYDRA, assuring Coulson that Bakshi was now loyal to his and he was happy to comply with anything Ward or he ordered him to do.
File:GrantWard-ThreatenedByFitz-S2E18.jpg
Bakshi reached out to his old HYDRA allies and soon arranged a meeting with Doctor List. In Coulson's Quinjet they discussed the mission plans until Ward asked how Leo Fitz was doing. Fitz exploded out of his seat at him, and quickly had to be restrained by Coulson and Lance Hunter, leaving Ward's question unanswered. Fitz pleaded with Coulson that both Bakshi and Ward would undoubtedly betray them the first chance they had, but Coulson reassured Fitz that he was aware of the risks and as a result Deathlok would join Bakshi as his bodyguard while he attended the meeting with List.[34]
Using Sunil Bakshi Edit
File:CoulsonWard-BakshiWatching.jpg
"Will you just listen to me! Do you want to get to Strucker or not? Strucker wants powered people, Bakshi alone doesn't get you to him, Deathlok does and he can take care of himself... Trust me."
"Trust me?! I should shoot you just for saying that!"
Ward watched from onboard the Quinjet as Sunil Bakshi and Deathlok met with Doctor List. Looking through Deathlok's prosthetic eye, they watched as List discussed the death of Daniel Whitehall and the resulting Assassination of HYDRA Leaders, questioning if Bakshi himself was involved, which he denied, even turning the suspicion onto List himself while Ward smugly commented that he was right all along.
File:Grant-Ward-Coulson-Stand-off.jpg
When Bakshi offered to trade Deathlok to List for his experiments in exchange for a meeting with Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, Ward was accused of betraying the plan. A standoff ensused with Phil Coulson and Ward aiming their guns at each other while Agent 33 held Leo Fitz by a knife and Lance Hunter drew his gun. Ward convinced Coulson to trust him and lower his gun so Fitz could instruct Deathlok to go along with the plan and not fight back against HYDRA. With the situation calmed, Coulson warned Ward that if he tried that again he would be thrown off the Quinjet to his sudden death.
File:WardFliesQuinjet-S2E18.jpg
When List's plan took off, Ward assumed it was because Strucker was overseas and Coulson gave the order for Ward to fly the Quinjet and follow them. They listened as List explained his desire to track Inhumans and his belief that there was a teleporter they were close to capturing as he had been located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ward overheard Coulson and Fitz noting that this was the same teleporter who had taken Calvin Zabo, Raina and Skye, allowing Ward to learn that the mission was to find Skye, although Coulson still refused to explain why HYDRA would want to find and capture her.[34]
Battle at Calvin Zabo's Building Edit
File:Grant-Ward-Raid-Coulson.jpg
"Deathloks down, we've got powered people on site, HYDRAs storming the building. We're outmanned, outgunned, and our only backup is Fitz... Your call boss..."
When Doctor List took his plane to Milwaukee, Ward and the others followed him and landed the Quinjet on top of Calvin Zabo's Building, where Sunil Bakshi and a team of HYDRA agents stormed inside the building in an attempt to capture any gifted individuals they could find. Ward, Phil Coulson, Agent 33, and Lance Hunter armed themselves and went in the building as well, separating in an attempt to find Skye before she could be found and captured by Doctor List's HYDRA agents.
File:WardCoulson-Spot-Skye.jpg
Ward and Coulson fought their way through many HYDRA agents, before locating Deathlok who had been fighting Lincoln Campbell but advised them on where to find Skye. Coulson and Ward were forced to subdue more HYDRA agents before they turned to see Skye, who started towards them before suddenly being interrupted by the arrival of Gordon. Before Coulson or Ward could get to her, Skye was teleported away with Calvin Zabo by Gordon. Frustrated by the failure, Ward responded by kicking a HYDRA agent hard in the skull and shot another while Coulson looked on in dismay.
File:GrantWard-S2E18-FinalScene.jpg
When Agent 33 found them with an injured Hunter who had been shot in the firefight, Ward listed the many ways they were currently at a disadvantage in this fight and advised Coulson to retreat, since they were outmanned and outgunned and their only backup was Leo Fitz. Coulson chose to allow Ward, 33 and Hunter to escape onto the Quinjet while he decided to surrender to Bobbi Morse and Alphonso Mackenzie so he could then be taken back to S.H.I.E.L.D. where he would request Robert Gonzales' assistance in tracking Doctor List and rescuing his teammates from HYDRA.[34]
On the Team Again Edit
File:HappyWard-FlyingQuinjet.jpg
"My days with HYDRA are over; I'm just an independent contractor now, trying to make amends."
"We'll remain skeptical."
―Grant Ward and Robert Gonzales[src]
Ward followed the Bus with a Quinjet while Phil Coulson was being questioned, as they flew Ward suggested that Kara Palamas could fly, offering to teach her how. Palamas however refused, jokingly telling Ward that if she was allowed to fly she would forget the mission and take them away on vacation. Palamas questioned why they were going to S.H.I.E.L.D. as Ward had fulfilled his promise to Coulson, but Ward insisted that he still had a promise to her that he wished to set right.
File:Grant-Ward-Agent-33-arrive-at-Playground.jpg
When Coulson was finally allowed to continue his plan following his interrogation, in which he offered the Toolbox as a peace offering, he messaged Lance Hunter and Leo Fitz onboard the Quinjet and Ward landed the Quinjet on top of the Bus. Once at the Playground, he was placed under guard with Kara under the order of Robert Gonzales, with Melinda May making it clear that if Ward ever stepped out of line, he and Palamas would be gunned down without any hesitation. In response Ward mockingly told Palamas that May could be very friendly once you got to know her a little better.
File:Grant-Ward-Meeting-Mission-Plan.jpg
Ward was present at a meeting with Coulson, Gonzales, May and Bobbi Morse, with Anne Weaver and Oliver speaking to them from the Iliad, where they discussed the plan to attack Doctor List and rescue Mike Peterson and any other enhanced individuals that HYDRA was holding hostage before destroying the facility. Ward explained that Sunil Bakshi was no longer working for HYDRA but was instead working for him, although May remained highly skeptical. Gonzales put the matter up to a vote and it was decided that they would move ahead with the mission, using Coulson's Team only.
File:GrantWard-Agent33-S2E19.jpg
Ward later spoke to Agent 33 alone and convinced her to stay at the Playground in an attempt to learn more about who she was as an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. before being captured by HYDRA and subjected to Daniel Whitehall's horrific brainwashing. Although Palamas remained highly skeptical about the idea as she claimed that these methods of reconnecting with her past only worked when she called her mother, Ward insisted that a key part of her life had been stolen from her and this was the only way that she would be able to get it back and learn who she was before Whitehall's torture.
File:GrantWard-HandsUp-WasntMe.jpg
Having gathered their weapons and been fully briefed on the mission plan, Ward arrived onto the Bus alongside Phil Coulson, Melinda May, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons. However just as the doors closed behind them, a loud noise was heard causing everyone to raise their guns at Ward who denied any involvement with whatever had caused the strange noise. It was quickly revealed that the noise was Skye being teleported onto the Bus from Afterlife by Gordon. With everyone having now calmed down and lowered their weapons, Ward noted they finally had gotten the original team back together.
File:Ward-breaks-down-the-plan-Bus-awkward.jpg
On route to the Arctic HYDRA Research Facility, Coulson asked Ward to brief the team on Sunil Bakshi's intel before the mission. Ward began breaking down the plan to attack the base; however, sensing that there was too much tension, Ward chose to speak out about his previous actions since being revealed to be an undercover HYDRA Operative working under John Garrett's orders. He expressed that his greatest regret was not the people he had killed but the fact that his actions had destroyed their once great team. Despite this speech, Skye remained pleased that she had shot him.
Attack on the Arctic HYDRA Research Facility Edit
File:The Dirty Half Dozen 1.jpg
"We're on the same team. What were you thinking?"
"That I made you a promise."
"What? That you would kill me? I thought we'd moved past that."
―Grant Ward and Jemma Simmons[src]
When the Bus was spotted by HYDRA, the team ran into the Quinjet and Melinda May used that to escape while the Bus was shot out of the sky. Once they landed, they ran to the base and soon they encountered Sunil Bakshi who had just killed one of List's soldiers. Ward calmed Bakshi's mind before they continued on their mission, with Bakshi insisted on joining Ward. Ward and Bakshi joined Skye and Jemma Simmons as they were attacked by soldiers, Skye demonstrated her new powers of creating shockwaves and knocked out the guards.
File:GrantWard-HelpsDeathlok.jpg
When Ward suggested she should thank him for allowing her to gain her Inhuman powers in the Kree City, Skye said she would simply not try to kill him again. While subduing many of the attacking guards and forcing List to retreat, the team soon found Mike Peterson, who had been tortured by HYDRA and had lost his robotic eye implant and his cybernetic leg. Ward stood guard while Jemma Simmons attended to Peterson's injuries, until she accused Ward of standing around doing nothing and ordered him to find a stretcher to help get Peterson out of the base safely, which he did without question.
File:Ward-aims-gun-at-Jemma-Simmons.jpg
While Ward was searching for a stretcher as requested, Simmons sneaked up behind him and attempted to assassinate him with a Splinter Bomb while his back was turned. Ward however was saved when Sunil Bakshi sacrificed his own life to protect his master. Realising what had happened, Ward aimed his gun at Simmons and demanded to know why she had tried to kill him, she reminded him that she had promised to kill him if she ever saw him again. Ward noted that Simmons had changed and he was disappointed in her, before making his escape from the facility.[35]
Leaving Kara Edit
File:Grant-Ward-lets-33-go.jpg
"Whitehall broke her, and I tried to fix her, but, I'm just not the right man for it, there's not enough good left inside me. She deserves better. I know you'll do the right thing."
As Coulson's Team had successfully destroyed the HYDRA base and freed Mike Peterson and Lincoln Campbell, Ward called Phil Coulson, saying he had decided that it would be better for him to escape before ending up either in a prison cell or with his brain being erased. Ward explained that he knew the team would never forgive him but Kara Palamas did deserve forgiveness and so he he had decided to leave her at S.H.I.E.L.D. so she could have a chance at rebuilding her life as an agent.[35]
True Intentions Edit
Kidnapping of Bobbi Morse Edit
File:Scars Ward.png
"Why can't we kill her now?"
"Closure's about so much more than that. It's about digging in, doing the work. I'll show you what I mean, and then we'll kill her."
―Kara Palamas and Grant Ward[src]
In reality, however, Ward had organized a plan for Kara Palamas to use the Photostatic Veil to disguise herself as Melinda May and fly herself and Bobbi Morse to Ward's location where they planned to kidnap and torture her. Once Morse learned of Palamas' deception, the pair had a prolonged fight and Morse knocked Palamas out with a strong kick to the jaw, but as Morse walked out of the Quinjet, dazed from the fight and unsure of her current location, Ward fired a single shot from his I.C.E.R. and shot her in the head, knocking her out cold.
File:Scars Ward 5.jpg
Ward and Palamas dragged Morse's unconscious body back onto the Quinjet and tied her up. They expressed their love for each other, with Palamas telling Ward that she had found it difficult to be away from him for so long. Although Palamas wished to execute Morse straight away in revenge for betraying her to Daniel Whitehall and beginning her brainwashing torture, Ward told Palamas that in order for her to get full closure, they would have to ensure that Morse's suffering be prolonged before she died. He then shot Morse, who was regaining consciousness, with the I.C.E.R. three more times.[36]
Torturing Bobbi Morse Edit
File:Grant-Ward-Bobbi-Morse-PreTorture.jpg
"You know you and I are a lot alike, both of us living one life on the outside, but who we really are, we keep that buried deep inside, where no one can ever find it. That's why Coulson never saw us coming, that's why you never saw me coming."
―Grant Ward to Bobbi Morse[src]
Ward and Kara Palamas took Bobbi Morse back to an abandoned warehouse, where they tied her to a table. Ward revealed to her that they had learned from Sunil Bakshi that it was Morse who had sold out Palamas' location to HYDRA, leading to her capture and torture at the hands of Daniel Whitehall, and they wanted her to confess this to them to give Palamas closure. When Morse remained calm, Ward opened his toolbag and took out a long sharp needle before revealing that he knew Morse hated needles.
File:Grant-Ward-Needle.jpg
Ward explained to Morse how she would be tortured, that he had used an anesthetic to remove any sensation of pain from her while he pushed needles under her fingernails, knowing that Morse could push away most pain he inflicted to her. He explained that this way, the sensation of unbearable pain, would hit her body all at once. He offered to avoid this pain if Morse confessed. Morse however told Palamas that she had made a choice while at HYDRA to give away the location of one S.H.I.E.L.D. Safe House, not knowing if it was empty or not and believed she had done the right thing.
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Eventually Palamas saw in Morse's eyes that the pain was finally engulfing her entire body, she told Ward and they embraced as they watched Morse suffer. Morse attempted to convince Palamas that Ward was playing with her emotions, explaining that Ward was using symbolic targets from her past life to make her believe he cared about her. Palamas however revealed that she knew all about Ward's past with John Garrett, and how he had killed many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents including Victoria Hand but she was in love with him nonetheless and as a result she would always stand with Ward.[37]
Bobbi Morse's Escape Attempt Edit
File:WardvsMorse-Questioning.jpg
"Is there anything you'd like to say to Kara?"
"Yeah... I'd do it all again."
―Grant Ward and Bobbi Morse[src]
As Kara Palamas slept, Ward visited Bobbi Morse, who had now been suffering from the pain for many hours. Ward complimented her on her resilience before comparing himself to her, as they both hid their true identities from the world, noting that this was why neither she nor Phil Coulson could ever see them coming. Ward attempted to convince her once again to end her suffering by admitting she betrayed her and thus giving Palamas the closure she needed, but Morse refused, calling Ward a complete hypocrite as he had betrayed his entire team.
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Without warning, Morse managed to rip off her restraints and attacked Ward, ripping the needles out of her fingers and attempting to stab him in the neck. The pair engaged in a fierce fight, throwing each other at the walls and through windows until Palamas came to Ward's aid and together they overpowered Morse before Ward shattered her kneecap by stomping on it. Ward offered Palamas the chance to shoot Morse, but she refused, citing that it did not feel right as she did not feel remorse. Ward told her he knew what to do instead, making a plan to break her mentally while also finally killing her.[37]
A Terrible Mistake Edit
File:Grant-Ward-mocks-Morse-BrainsEverywhere.jpg
"Kara? No, no. Kara, no. Kara, look at me. Look at me! No, no, no, no! No, Kara! Look at me, Baby. Come on. It’s… It’s…"
―Grant Ward to Kara Palamas[src]
Ward and Kara Palamas tied Bobbi Morse back to a chair and rigged a rifle behind her. Ward explained that as Morse had clearly shown no regard for her own life, he would force her to watch as someone else, presumably Lance Hunter, was killed while attempting to save her. He told her that the rifle was set to fire at the doorway the moment it was opened, killing them instantly in front of her eyes, which would give them the closure they desired. As they left Ward mocked Morse, noting that whoever opened the doors would have their head blown open.[37]
File:GrantWard-CutFace-S2E22.jpg
When a S.H.I.E.L.D. team led by Hunter and Melinda May arrived to rescue Morse having located their Quinjet and followed Ward's bait. Ward watched them enter with Palamas still by his side, mockingly watching Hunter knowing that he would undoubtedly be dead soon. As Palamas was concerned about May's involvement as she could give the S.H.I.E.L.D. team the advantage in the fight, Ward reassured her that he would kill May as payback for the Battle at Cybertek where she had nailed his foot to the floor and fractured his larynx before arresting him and handing him over to Phil Coulson.[23]
File:GrantWard-vs-SHIELD-S2E22.jpg
Seeking to take out several agents of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team one by one, Ward and Palamas split up so they could hunt down the agents while they were searching the warehouse. Ward hid in a bathroom and waiting for an agent to appear, at which point he attacked and disarmed the man before subduing him by smashing his head over a sink before moving on. At one stage Ward overheard a message on the S.H.I.E.L.D. radio for all agents to move to the south corner and await May's arrival, so Ward prepared to finally gain his revenge against his former friend and lover.
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Ward hid himself and the moment he saw May, he grabbed her and fired three fatal shots into her stomach. To his horror however, he discovered that he had accidentally killed Kara Palamas after she had used the Photostatic Veil to disguise herself as May. As Palamas fell to her knees and began drowning on her own blood, Ward begged her to stay with him but she died in his arms as her Photostatic Veil switched off, revealing her true scarred face. As Ward looked down at the woman he loved he began to cry as his heart broke before he made his escape before he could be discovered and killed as well.[38]
File:Grant-Ward-Wants-More-Names.jpg
"You understand who you work for now? Good, I'm done flying solo; I miss having a team around me. I want more names."
"Hail HYDRA to that, what's the plan sir? Chaos?"
"Closure."
―Grant Ward and his HYDRA team[src]
Ward escaped to Goldbrix Tavern; there he sat staring at a photo of Kara Palamas. A group of HYDRA thugs that he had hired to find the remaining leadership showed up and gave him a list of names. Ward told them that he wanted more, but Kebo, explained that HYDRA no longer had any leadership, and that he cannot give them orders. Unhappy with this answer, Ward smashed Kebo's head into the bar and ordered the others to get more names so he could form a team. When one of the thugs asked him what the plan was, Ward looked down at Palamas' picture and replied "Closure".[38]
Rebuilding HYDRA Edit
Director of HYDRA Edit
File:Ward S3 2.jpg
"HYDRA is fractioned, in pieces. We're gonna rebuild it, the right way. By force."
A few months after his return to HYDRA, Ward had successfully found many new recruits who were fiercely loyal to him and his control; all of whom were loyal to the founding values of HYDRA that had been lost during the leadership of Wolfgang von Strucker and Alexander Pierce, among others. With Kebo as his second-in-command, Ward made his goal to reunify HYDRA's splintered cells and to clean the organization from soft and greedy members who cared only about wealth and not about power, which he blamed as the main reason for HYDRA's decline and inevitable failure, desiring a HYDRA made of strong and loyal fighters.[39]
Hunting Werner von Strucker Edit
File:Grant-Ward-Kebo-Driving-S3E2.jpg
"These people have proven themselves in blood, see how they didn't even flinch. Now it's your chance, to prove you still have a purpose, show me you're not dead weight. So tell me, where's the kid?"
―Grant Ward to Carmine[src]
Seeking to find new members who could bring something to his organisation, Ward set his sights on Werner von Strucker, the son of HYDRA's late leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. Ward found Carmine, a HYDRA agent who knew of von Strucker's location. He stole Carmine's new sports car and drove into him, driving through his warehouse base with the completely terrified Carmine still on the bonnet.
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As they drove with Carmine clinging on for dear life, Ward and Kebo spoke about the old HYDRA's greed, noting that people like Carmine used the money they earned to buy fancy cars and good suits, rather than focusing on the goals that Red Skull founded HYDRA upon, to conquer the world and create unrest and terrorism. Eventually Ward slammed on the brakes, sending Carmine flying across the floor of the warehouse, at which point he, Kebo and the rest of their loyal soldiers then walked over to him and demanded to know where the could find the young von Strucker's location.
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Under fear of torture and death, Carmine quickly gave up the information and told Ward that Werner von Strucker was living on a boat, purchased with his father's money. Ward and Kebo scouted out the area and spotted von Strucker having a party on the boat surrounded by beautiful women in bikinis and his security team. Ward and Kebo once again spoke about how the old HYDRA wasted their money and never used it to its fullest potential, as von Strucker would never let his ship out of the dock. Ward then ordered Kebo to sneak onto the boat and unleash a bag full of rats to scare away the women so they would not be harmed in the upcoming fight.
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Once the women had run away, leaving only the young von Strucker and his personal body-guards, Ward casually walked onto the boat where he was soon stopped by a large security guard who demanded that he turn around and leave. Without stopping, Ward used the skills he had learned from his S.H.I.E.L.D. training and knocked out the guard before walking onto the boat, prepared to fight anyone who was foolish enough to try and stop him. Despite multiple guards attempting to stop him, Ward continued to walk forward and knocked out guard after guard with minimal effort on Ward's part.
File:Grant-Ward-captures-Strucker.jpg
Within mere minutes, Ward had fought every guard on the boat and succeeded in disarming them before knocking them out or throwing them overboard, deciding not to use deadly force on them. Before long however, Ward came across Werner von Strucker, but was hit in the face by one final guard; angered by the blow to his jaw, Ward pulled his gun and fired a single shot into his heart and killed the guard, dropping his corpse into the sea. Remaining calm, Ward told von Strucker that he was an exterminator before knocking out and kidnapping von Strucker with a solid punch to the face.[39]
Recruiting von Strucker Edit
File:Grant-Ward-questions-Strucker-S3E2.jpg
"My father would have had you shot."
"Your father kept you in the dark then died a meaningless death, leaving you a HYDRA face with no answers."
―Werner von Strucker and Grant Ward[src]
Ward and Kebo brought Werner von Strucker back to their base where they told him that he had never earned a single thing in his life and had wasted his family's money. Ward demanded that he hand over all his wealth to them by giving over his banking passwords. When von Strucker resisted, Ward punched him in the face and made it clear that he was not asking for his money but was going to get it. He ordered Kebo to torture von Strucker until he handed over the money.
File:Grant-Ward-tells-Strucker-of-HYDRA.jpg
Before long, Ward returned to find Werner von Strucker trying to kill Kebo. When von Strucker tried to use his family's name as leverage, Ward made it clear that he knew who he was, noting that Baron Wolfgang von Strucker was one of HYDRA's greatest leaders before dying a meaningless death. Ward told him that he had earned his respect and, in a technique that John Garrett had used with him years earlier, gave him tacos as a reward. Ward and von Strucker then explored the base where they discussed their families before Ward explained his goals for the new HYDRA. For his first mission, Ward sent von Strucker to get close to Melinda May's ex-husband Andrew Garner by posing as a student.[39]
New Recruit Edit
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"Take this job for instance, it's all about accountability, patience, attention to detail, it requires a personal touch. This kind of thing mattered to S.H.I.E.L.D., almost a shame we're going to bring it all down."
―Grant Ward to Kebo[src]
Kebo was able to recruit a new soldier in HYDRA, who offered them a crate full of weapons as a show of faith after killing Spud to gain entry. As they examined the box Ward and Kebo discussed their plans for the new HYDRA, noting key comparisons between his vision and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s values, claiming he almost viewed it as a shame that he was going to destroy the agency.[40]
Showdown with Hunter and May Edit
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"I was hoping you were dead, Bobbi was coming for me, at least that rematch would have been more even."
"Hardly, I heard she took two of you after hours of torture."
"Lesson learned, should have rigged the door with a grenade."
―Grant Ward and Lance Hunter[src]
Ward met with Kebo when he arrived at their base with the recruit, who he tried to introduce to the director. Ward greeted the new recruit who seemed oddly reluctant to show his face, however, to Ward's horror, the recruit turned out to be Lance Hunter, who was on a mission to kill Ward. Before Ward could draw his own gun, Hunter grabbed a nearby machine gun and ran behind containers to hide from Ward's soldiers.
File:GrantWard-aims-at-Hunter.jpg
A firefight broke out with Hunter using the stolen gun and firing at the HYDRA agents, one of whom used his own body to shield Ward from a bullet. Ward and Kebo were able to get to cover and discovered that Hunter had seemingly come without any backup; leading to the pair mocking each other. Ward noted that he would have rather fought against Bobbi Morse who he thought would provide a better challenge while Hunter reminded Ward of how he had killed Kara Palamas by mistake. Ward ordered his men to surround Hunter, but before long, Melinda May arrived to assist Hunter, killing Ward's men.
File:GWard-MockingMay-S3E4.jpg
Finding himself now at a major disadvantage during this battle, Ward ordered Kebo to tell Werner von Strucker to film the murder of Andrew Garner to threaten May. Ward explained how he had planned to use the weapons Hunter had provided him with so HYDRA could cause chaos and draw S.H.I.E.L.D. to him but now she had come to him instead. When May tried to insist that Ward had no way out, he told her not to interrupt before throwing the phone with the footage of Garner being surrounded by Strucker as well as a HYDRA Assassin and Arsonist who would kill Garner if Ward died.
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Although the video horrified May, Hunter refused to surrender, instead advancing on Ward and Kebo while firing his gun at the pair. With no other choice, Kebo managed to break a window by throwing a desk through it and ran to the truck with Ward behind him; however, Hunter managed to fire a shot which wounded Ward in the shoulder, causing him to fall hard on the ground. Kebo was able to bring his boss to safety as they drove away and escaped while Hunter continued to fire down at them without landing a shot. With Ward not giving the order to stop Garner was attacked and very nearly killed.[40]
A New Ally Edit
"You've made some mistakes in your gameplay. You used von Strucker's son as a pawn when he shouldn't even be on the board yet.
You see, that's just typical of guys in your generation. You don't even know the game I'm playing."
Having found themselves a new hideout, Ward and Kebo watched as their new weapons were unloaded from a van. Ward discussed how S.H.I.E.L.D. had sent Lance Hunter to try to kill him and accused Kebo of being sloppy as he had allowed him into HYDRA, noting that everyone wanted him dead. They changed the subject to Werner von Strucker, who had disappeared after failing to kill Andrew Garner. Ward ordered Kebo to hunt down and assassinate von Strucker before S.H.I.E.L.D. could find and interrogate him.
As more weapons were being unloaded, Ward was shocked to see that Kebo had returned without Werner von Strucker. When Ward attempted to question him, Kebo handed him a phone. Ward picked up the phone and found himself speaking to Gideon Malick, an ally to Baron Wolfgang von Strucker who was feared by everyone who knew of his reputation. Malick accused Ward of making many mistakes during his time as the Director of HYDRA and offered his assistance in locating Strucker. Ward questioned why Malick would do this and was told that he had chosen a side. Ward then sent Kebo with a team of operatives to Strucker's location in Lisbon, Portugal.[41]
Meeting Malick Edit
"Oh it'll be grand. I'm going to cut off the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Because without Phil Coulson, S.H.I.E.L.D. won't grow back."
Ward again met with Gideon Malick and they discussed Werner von Strucker, who had survived the assassination attempt and fallen into a coma. Malick asked Ward if revenge was his only goal, but Ward insisted that his goal was to assassinate Phil Coulson and destroy S.H.I.E.L.D., as he believed without Coulson, S.H.I.E.L.D. could never return. As they were speaking they were interrupted when Malick received a phone call from Rosalind Price, who apologized for missing her meeting with Malick due to having to capture Lash with Director Coulson.[42]
File:MHOT Ward 2.jpg
Malick had a dinner of octopus served up for the pair of them and explained why the octopus was HYDRA's symbol, describing it as smart and the ultimate killer. Malick continued to press Ward for a request and they discussed how HYDRA's leadership had been destroyed due in part to Ward; Malick made it clear that he knew Ward was looking for Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's secret vault, which was said to contain HYDRA's greatest weapon, but Malick insisted the vault did not exist. However, Ward argued that Malick had killed Werner to become sole owner of it. Ward suggested that they put the mysterious weapon inside it to good use for HYDRA.
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Malick was called away by Giyera and explained that he would not support Ward's plan of revenge against S.H.I.E.L.D. as he believed that it would not fit in with his current plans for HYDRA. Ward insisted that he would find Wolfgang von Strucker's vault with or without the help of Malick, but Malick informed him that although he had proven himself to be a fine predator, he was not top of the food chain as he left, leaving Ward to finish off his final drink. Malick's team of HYDRA assassins then stepped into the room and aimed their weapons at Ward who took his one chance to defend himself.
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Managing to use his S.H.I.E.L.D. training, Ward managed to disarm one of the assassins, using his gun to shoot, kill or wound his attackers. When the gun ran out of ammunition, Ward used whatever weapon was closest to him to fight back, hitting the men with pool cues and cracking them over the head with whatever was nearby. With only one man left standing, Ward succeeded in overpowering and plunging the man's knife into his own throat, smiling as Ward watched him choke on his own blood and die. After the brief but violent fight, Ward was able to kill all but three.[43]
Torturing Malick's Men Edit
File:Ward-On Top Of The Food Chain.JPG
"You have to incorporate what you love into your work. You see the trick is, you want them to know it's gonna hurt... Build anticipation. But you have to let them imagine a better world"
―Grant Ward to Gideon Malick's Men[src]
Ward put the three of Gideon Malick's surviving assassins in a row and noted that the fact that Malick had tried to assassinate him clearly showed that he was on the correct path. Ward calmly showed them a blowtorch and explained just how hot it would burn, noting that he had been a pyro as a kid and indirectly told them that he had nearly burnt his brother to death. Ward then demanded that they surrender the location of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's vault and explain how to access it.
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When they refused, Ward threatened them with torture. As the men managed to stay strong, Ward took a torch and explained that he had always been a fan of fire; he then dragged one of the men out and held the flame to his face, explaining that the key was to breaking someone was to ensure the person knew how much it was going to hurt as he pressed the flame down to his neck. Finally, one of the men told him the vault was in Zepkow, Germany. Having now gained the information he needed Ward thanked the men, noting one would have fit in with his campaign before he shot and killed them.[43]
Hunt for the Vault Edit
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"Ladies and Gentlemen please return to your seats with your seat-belts fastened. You may experience some turbulence coming up, don't be alarmed, that's just your pilot diving to equalise cabin pressure before you freeze to death. Oh and from all of us here at HYDRA, thanks for flying with friendly skies."
Ward boarded an airplane to Moscow to hunt down Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's vault. When they reached cruising altitude, Ward flirted with a Flight Attendant who provided him with a drink. They continued to flirt and she suggested that he come stay with her when they reached Moscow; however, Ward explained that he would not be going to Moscow, but that this was the only plane which just so happened to be flying over where he needed to get to.
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He informed her of his intention to leave the plane while causing it to crash in mid-air by preparing to blast open the doors and ordered her to strap in. Ward then put on a parachute and spoke on the intercoms, telling the other passengers to strap themselves into their seats, explaining that soon the pilot would be forced to make the plane dive down before they all froze to death due to the high altitude, noting that it was HYDRA that had hijacked and brought down the plane. Ward then used an exploding watch to rip off the door, allowing himself to be sucked out as the plane crashed.[43]
Learning HYDRA's History Edit
File:GrantWard-Vault.jpg
"Now we're building an army for it to command and you and I shall rule beside it."
"Okay, that's err, a lot to take in."
Ward eventually located Baron Wolfgang von Strucker's hidden vault and broke inside, ripping a hole through the ceiling and dropping in with his gun raised. Ward discovered that Gideon Malick was already there and waiting for him. Malick explained that he had not been impressed by Presidents or alien technology but he was impressed by Ward and suggested that Ward should be HYDRA's second head next to him, but Ward expressed his desire to kill Malick for his betrayal.
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Malick asked Ward if he knew HYDRA's origins, Ward said that it was founded during World War II by Red Skull, but Malick explained that their history was far older than that. He opened Strucker's safe and pulled out a piece of the Monolith, explaining that it had the power to teleport users to another world. He explained how an Inhuman was born thousands of years ago, so powerful he was banished from Earth, and HYDRA aimed to bring Hive back, using the ATCU to build an army. Malick vowed to help Ward destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. in exchange for learning how Jemma Simmons returned from Maveth.[43]
Meeting Lash Edit
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"You see, S.H.I.E.L.D. showed us how to turn the monster off, now we want to know how to turn that back on."
―Grant Ward to Andrew Garner[src]
Having spent a few days researching HYDRA's long history, Ward went to visit Andrew Garner, who was being kept in a S.H.I.E.L.D. Containment Module. Garner threatened to kill Ward by ripping a hole through his chest, but Ward remained confident. Ward explained that he would not be sedating Garner but instead would use a gas which would force Garner to transform into Lash. Ward then told Garner that he had found a new way to torture Melinda May using him, before filling the Containment Module with gas and watching Garner suffer.[43]
Assassination of Rosalind Price Edit
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"Now you know how it feels Coulson, to watch someone you care for bleed out right in front of you."
"Ward?"
"Gotta admit it still sounds funny when you don't say "agent" first."
Having learned that Rosalind Price had discovered Gideon Malick's connection to the ATCU, Ward was sent to assassinate her. Ward took position across the street and shot Price in the throat while she was having dinner with Phil Coulson. Once she was dead, Ward phoned Coulson and compared Price's death to Kara Palamas', noting that he wanted Coulson to watch someone he cared for bleed out and die in his arms while he watched helplessly. As Ward defended Malick's plans, he informed Coulson that he had sent a team to kill him before hanging up and leaving him to die.
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Returning to the HYDRA base, Ward was complimented on his successful mission by Malick, although he was confronted about nearly killing Coulson, who had barely escaped with his life. Ward claimed that he wanted to put Coulson through his paces, but Malick claimed that this was not something he wished to leave to chance, despite Ward's desire for Closure. Malick told him more about HYDRA's history with the Monolith, claiming Ward was risking everything, but Ward told Malick that he knew Coulson better than Coulson knew himself.[44]
Kidnapping Fitz and Simmons Edit
File:GrantWard-captures-FitzSimmons.jpg
"I can't decide which is worse for you, those moments when Simmons screams, or is it the long pauses when she doesn't?"
―Grant Ward to Leo Fitz[src]
In order to discover the secrets of returning from the Monolith in order to finally complete his plan, Gideon Malick organised the kidnapping of Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons, ordering the death of Luther Banks in the process. The pair were brought before Ward and Malick, who explained the situation. Simmons quickly realised their end goal; when Simmons tried to attack Malick, Ward noted that her rage was new. When they both refused to help, Ward recommended that Malick separate the pair in order to mentally as well as physically torture them both.
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Ward went to speak to Simmons alone, who claimed she was not scared for him while Ward noted that while being trapped on Maveth may have helped her bravery, he felt that when he dropped them in the sea he had made her a stronger woman. As Simmons told him to do his worse, he promised he would not hurt her; however, he left her to be tortured by Giyera instead. While Simmons screamed in pain, Ward visited the enraged Fitz. Ward mocked Fitz while he begged him not to harm Simmons, but Ward sat down and listened to Simmons' screams of pain and watched Fitz suffering as he listened.
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As Ward continued to mock Fitz, he got a call from Phil Coulson. To Ward's horror, Coulson revealed that he had kidnapped his brother Thomas Ward, who was being held at gunpoint by Lance Hunter, before hanging up. Ward soon called back and was allowed to speak to his brother and tried to claim that S.H.I.E.L.D. were the bad guys who had killed the woman he loved. Thomas explained that he had been hiding from Ward all these years and confronted him about killing their parents and Christian Ward. Ward then tried to justify his actions but Thomas refused to hear any of Ward's excuses.
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Coulson then picked up the phone and revealed he had traced the call to Ward's location and S.H.I.E.L.D. were now on their way to the HYDRA Castle to capture him and stop Gideon Malick's plans before hanging up. Enraged, Ward then threw his phone onto the ground, smashing it to pieces before he charged into Jemma Simmons' room and moved Giyera out of his way before furiously demanded that she finally reveal her secrets, beginning to torture her and causing her to scream in agony, much to the pain of Leo Fitz who was forced to listen to his beloved friend's screams of pain.[44]
Entering Maveth Edit
Voyage to Another World Edit
File:GrantWard-mocks-FitzSimmons.jpg
"I've been working for this moment ever since S.H.I.E.L.D. murdered Kara, why would I give that up?"
"Because you've already won, S.H.I.E.L.D. is finished. Do you really need to take a victory lap?"
"This isn't over until I'm standing over Coulson's dead body."
―Grant Ward and Gideon Malick[src]
Ward's methods proved effective and soon Leo Fitz agreed to help them by going on the mission in exchange for ensuring the safety of and wellbeing of Jemma Simmons. Ward brought Fitz to the HYDRA Castle to meet with both Gideon Malick and Simmons who were already there waiting, and Ward mockingly noted that Fitz now finally had the chance to give up the world for the woman he loved, while Simmons looked on in horror at seeing her friend's decision.
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As Ward armed himself and prepared to fight S.H.I.E.L.D., he was approached by Malick, who told him that he needed him to lead men into Maveth. Ward hesitated as he had desired to kill Phil Coulson ever since Kara Palamas' death; however, Malick told him this hatred was a weakness, to which Ward took great offense. Malick explained he had tried to find a suitable partner for years, testing Alexander Pierce and John Garrett, but he had his faith in Ward himself. He told him to lead their men to the other side and look the ancient Inhuman in the eye so they could work with It to control the world.
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Agreeing, Ward put on a military uniform and prepared to go through the Monolith's portal with his team of HYDRA agents. As the room began to shake, the Monolith pieces created a portal which Ward's soldiers jumped through. Malick took a moment to remind Ward to find It and bring it to the same spot within twelve hours when they would reopen the portal, shaking his hand and wishing him good luck. Ward and Fitz then jumped through the portal and arrived on Maveth in the middle of a sandstorm. Ward then ordered his team and Fitz to get moving so they could find the Inhuman quickly.[44]
Encountering Hive Edit
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"Hail HYDRA."
Having arrived on the surface on Maveth through the Monolith portal, Ward and his HYDRA team surveyed the area while Leo Fitz paused to look at his program, annoying Ward who reminded him that they only had six hours until they could find the second portal and return to Earth. As Fitz argued that data they had was hypothetical, he began moving towards Ward and explaining a function. As he talked, Fitz made a move for Ward's gun; Ward stopped him and thrust him down a ridge, climbing down after him.
File:Maveth Fitz and Ward.png
While one of his men aimed his gun at Fitz, Ward threatened to break his arm and reminded Fitz that if he did not return from Maveth when he was ordered to, Jemma Simmons would die a slow and horribly painful death and it would be Fitz's fault. Not willing to give up, Fitz questioned if they would ever find Hive and told Ward that the only reason why Gideon Malick had only sent him because he was expendable; Ward ignored the comment and ordered him to keep moving. One of Ward's soldiers called him over, and Ward and Fitz ascended a rise to see an ancient HYDRA shrine.
File:GWard-ExploringMaveth.JPG
As Ward, Fitz and the HYDRA team continued on their mission, and Fitz continued to berate Ward about how unlikely it was that they would ever discover Hive due to the vast size of the planet of Maveth, comparing the hunt to attracting a cat with blood instead of milk. However while Ward was distracted and ignoring Fitz's insults, Fitz turned and ran towards the hideout of Will Daniels, with Ward then following closely behind so Fitz would not escape from him as he was the only one who could possibly help them find their way back home to Earth once their mission was finally completed.
File:GrantWard-discovers-WillDaniels.jpg
Fitz entered the cave and Ward followed him inside, threatening to shoot the man Fitz was talking to, who both Fitz and Ward believed was Daniels. Believing him to be a possible threat, Ward held his gun to "Daniels"' head while Fitz frantically explained that "Daniels" was their only hope at finding Hive as he had been trapped on the planet for years and would be able to teach them how to survive. Ward saw the Project Distant Star Return insignia on "Daniels"' uniform and decided to leave him alive to guide them, knowing that it was HYDRA who had funded the Project many years earlier.
File:WillDaniels-GrantWard-Maveth.JPG
Ward walked just behind "Daniels" and Fitz and watched them closely. Eventually "Daniels" stopped and explained to Ward that he would have to lead them to the "no fly zone" if they ever wanted to reach the second portal in time. Ward later spoke to "Daniels" alone and asked about the HYDRA statue he had seen as "Daniels" explained what he knew of Hive's history, noting that all he had ever seen on this planet had been death. They then briefly discussed how "Daniels" had survived alone for so many years on his own while also mentioning the Inhuman Outbreak that was happening.
File:GrantWard-captured-Maveth.jpg
As they walked, a sandstorm arose and Ward ordered the team to take shelter while Fitz and "Daniels" stayed together. As they stayed behind some rocks, Ward realized that they had to keep going as they were now wasting time, only to discover that "Daniels" and Fitz had killed his agents and escaped. As he stood with his remaining HYDRA agents, they were shot by Phil Coulson, who then shot Ward in the shoulder, only for Ward to confidently remind him that he would not find Fitz without his help. Ward was taken prisoner by Coulson and the two followed "Daniels" and Fitz to find the portal.[45]
Last Showdown Edit
File:GrantWard-GrandPlan.jpg
"Everyone had this place wrong... It isn't death... It's a new beginning. Malick was right. This is all meant to be. And the fact that you followed me here, that we're in this together, that just confirms the fact that I am part of a grand plan. I see that now."
As Ward and Phil Coulson walked across the landscape of Maveth, Ward told Coulson how what he had seen on this planet had changed his mindset about HYDRA. Ward then explained that he had joined HYDRA for selfish reasons, like finding a father figure in John Garrett and getting revenge for Kara Palamas, but he now felt like he was a part of some grand plan that Gideon Malick had set in motion for him.
File:Ward-Duels-Coulson-To-The-Death.jpg
As they continued walking, with Coulson shooting Ward in the arm to keep him quiet and stop his continued discussions on the meaning of HYDRA, they encountered Leo Fitz and what was supposedly Will Daniels attacking him. Coulson shot "Daniels" from behind but at this moment, Ward broke free and started brawling with Coulson, leaving Fitz to fight "Daniels" alone. Due to his injuries and the fact that his hands were tied together, however, Coulson managed to gain the upper hand and began beating him into submission. Eventually Coulson had beaten Ward to the verge of death.
File:Maveth Ward's death.png
Coulson stood over the defeated Ward and thought about all the lives he had taken during his life, including Victoria Hand, Eric Koenig and the Assassination of Rosalind Price for which Coulson was seeking revenge for. Fuelled by his hatred for his former ally, Coulson knelt down before slowly and powerfully pressing down on Ward's ribcage with his mechanical hand. With Ward unable to defend himself as he desperately gasped for air, his ribs were soon crushed under the pressure, bursting his heart and killing him. Finally, after two years of tormenting S.H.I.E.L.D., Grant Ward was dead.[45]
Post-Mortem Edit
Controlled by Hive Edit
File:Ward as It's host.png
"To drain a man's life with your own hand, to feel the life go out inside him as Mr. Coulson did with me. That look in his eyes. A feeling so powerful, it scared him enough to leave that hand behind."
―Hive to Gideon Malick[src]
Though Grant Ward was effectively killed on Maveth, his corpse still had a role to play. The Will Daniels that was attacking Leo Fitz during Ward's final bout with Phil Coulson was actually the dark Inhuman possessing the astronaut's corpse. While Daniels' body was soon incinerated by Fitz through use of a flare gun, the embodiment of the being then escaped from the now burning corpse and made his way into Ward's body. Making use of the dead body as a new host, the Inhuman followed Coulson and Fitz, finally escaping back to Earth through the portal where he sought out Gideon Malick.[45]
Destruction of the Body Edit
"He was fond of you, Grant Ward."
"And I'm glad he's dead."
"He is, too. In a way. Grant was a thirsty soul. And he suffered for it."
―Hive and Daisy Johnson[src]
During his crusade several months later, Hive stepped into a trap which caused a machine to overload his brain and surge the memories of all his hosts at once, including Ward. His body was destroyed in the explosion of a nuclear warhead shortly after the Battle of the Playground.[46]
Framework Recreation Edit
File:Identity and Change 1.jpg
"I would hate for you to think that I'm anything like the Grant Ward you knew over there."
―Grant Ward (Framework)[src]
A computer programmed character resembling Ward appeared in the Framework - a virtual reality made by Leo Fitz and further developed by Holden Radcliffe. In a "what if" scenario, the Framework's version of Ward was in a relationship with Skye,[47] both working as agents for HYDRA. In the Framework, however, Ward was a double agent for S.H.I.E.L.D., which was acting as a resistance group.[48]
S.H.I.E.L.D. Identity Edit
"I'm agent Grant Ward. I could rupture your spleen with my left pinky... blindfolded."
―Jemma Simmons imitating Grant Ward[src]
Grant Ward, while infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D., generally had a bad temper but was able to stay calm and collected during sticky situations. He was slightly anti-social with strong morals and was known to be "deadly". On his days off, however, he enjoyed a nice book or even singing along to his favorite West Side Story song. As time progressed, Ward seemed to soften somewhat, developing friendships with his fellow Agents, which was eventually cemented upon rescuing Agent Simmons after she jumped from the Bus. Ward did not seem overtly interested in relationships but for a time had a purely sexual relationship with Agent May. However, when he began to develop feelings for Skye, this arrangement ended.
True Personality Edit
"See, I've seen the real Grant Ward, the one buried deep inside. He's a coward who always has an excuse or someone else to blame."
―Bobbi Morse[src]
In reality, Ward was a master manipulator, who was able to adjust his personality in order to gain the trust of others. While he still managed to retain a calm and collected personality, he had very little of the loyalty or morals that he previously demonstrated. His only loyalty was to John Garrett, to whom he claimed to owe everything. He did seem to have some reservations about Garrett's actions. Beyond that, he seemed more than willing to work against Phil Coulson and his team. However, when Raina pointed out that Coulson was a good man and asked him if he owed something to a man like that, Ward admitted that he did owe Coulson something, but he owed Garrett everything. At the same time, he could not bring himself to directly murder Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons and instead ejected them into the ocean.
During his imprisonment, Ward evolved to being his own person, as he was previously restricted by his almost blind loyalty towards Garrett, to the point of even ignoring his own desires. Ward became more remorseless and manipulative as he demonstrated when he knew Skye's pressure points and attempted to use his knowledge of her father to exploit them. He also murdered numerous guards during his escape and his brother and his parents as revenge for the years of abuse they put him through. When he was reinstated as a member of HYDRA he still continued to aid S.H.I.E.L.D. to re-earn their trust, particularly Skye's, but this ultimately ended when she and Simmons attempted to kill him on separate occasions. As a result, he grew a far darker personality and sadistic tendencies, as shown with the kidnapping of Bobbi Morse and torturing her in order to give Kara Palamas the closure she needed. When he accidentally killed Kara Palamas, that was the last straw for Ward; he vowed revenge against S.H.I.E.L.D. and was willing to join HYDRA as its new leader into order to gain "closure".
During his time as the new head of HYDRA, having killed Kara and lost all connections to the team, Ward had effectively severed all ties to his humanity and whatever form of conscience he retained before had been erased. Now his only goal was to make S.H.I.E.L.D. and Coulson suffer as much as he had. Presumably because of this campaign to rebuild HYDRA, Ward had also become more arrogant and narcissistic. He was dismissive of the previous generation of HYDRA, believing their greed was what led to the organization's collapse. When he recruited Werner von Strucker, he assumed that after one act of savagery that the boy could murder Andrew Garner, an act that caused Gideon Malick to chastise him.
Even with his dark personality, Ward cared deeply for his younger brother, Thomas; after fifteen years separated, Grant still loved him. When Coulson had Hunter point a gun to Thomas's head, Grant swore that he would cut Fitz from head to toe if they hurt him.
Ward realized his life had gained a purpose during his mission to bring Hive back to Earth as Gideon Malick's second in command of HYDRA. He reflected on how he lived his life, how he joined HYDRA and what his motives were for it, from a father figure, to vengeance, to closure. After looking back and thinking of how things were at that point, and that the fact he was chosen for this mission, he felt that for the first time, that his life was important for something. He actually felt loyal to the HYDRA organization rather than any individual HYDRA operative, and even spoke the words "Hail HYDRA" for the first time in his career. Hive states, months later and after possessing Ward's body that his final memories were that he was almost glad to be dead. This insinuates that despite his relentlessness, he secretly wished to end his pain and suffering having finally undergone a life of turmoil, from his family, to Garrett, to Kara and was ready to be killed.
File:Ward1.jpg
"Remain alert around Agent Ward. He's a trained killer, one of the best."
―Daniel Whitehall[src]
Excellent Physical Condition: Ward passed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s combat clearance tests with flying colors.
Master Martial Artist: Ward was a master in hand-to-hand combat. His fighting style combined elements of Kali, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, and Krav Maga. Maria Hill evaluated his fighting skills with the highest available marks for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s standards, and able to match the agency's best fighters. Daniel Whitehall considered him as one of the best killers. Ward often used this to take down many opponents at the same time, whether security, or other S.H.I.E.L.D agents. He managed to defeat multiple opponents whose strength surpassed his, even defeating the enhanced Centipede Soldiers.
"He's a specialist; cold blood is a basic requirement."
―John Garrett[src]
Master Marksman: Ward was an extremely accurate marksman skilled in sharpshooting and sniping. John Garrett recommended Ward to take this course in S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy after Ward spent time in the woods using this skill to hunt for food. Ward has famously made a shot from over 1000 yards; Ward says it was 2000. He was also able to shoot Rosalind Price from a long distance, aiming accurately at her neck in order to let her die slowly in front of Phil Coulson.
Multilingualism: Ward was fluent in 6 languages, including English, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and one more. Ward used this skill in missions in Paris, South Ossetia, and Peru, most times as an undercover agent. He had used such skills on the train in Italy, in the Todorov Building in Belarus, and when arriving at the Barbershop Headquarters in Cuba.
"I don't even think Romanoff can pull that one."
Master Spy: Ward was a proficient agent trained in espionage, stealth, disguise and infiltration. He has spent years on some missions as an undercover agent. When taking a Lie Detector test, Ward put splinters of cable wire into his fingers to confuse the sensors. Infamously, Ward used this skill to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. as a HYDRA operative, spending years gaining trust and respect. When questioned by Raina, he explained to her methods that he used to solidify his place on Coulson's Team.
Expert Pilot: Ward was a competent pilot, able to maneuver a huge aircraft such as the Bus.
Expert Tactician: When Ward suspected that S.H.I.E.L.D. was pursuing him, he knew that they would send agents that he had never met. Ward observed that Bobbi Morse was not changing her page as she pretended to read a book. He also spotted Antoine Triplett at the bus station, subtly revealing his explosives to the agent. After the death of Kara Palamas, Ward made his goal to rebuild HYDRA from the ashes, starting with a small cell of only four operatives. Six months later, Ward had dozens of operatives under his command, all of them unscrupulous and trained in brutal fights to the death.
Weapons Edit
As an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a HYDRA operative, Ward was highly skilled with all types of firearms.
Smith & Wesson M&P: The Smith & Wesson M&P pistol is the standard sidearm carried by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and, as such, Ward used it to threaten or shoot most of his enemies, such as the soldiers from the Policia Militar de Perú that surrounded him in Llactapata, and killing Thomas Nash in Florida. He also used it as his sidearm when working for Daniel Whitehall in HYDRA, grabbing it to defend Skye in Puerto Rico. He obtained one of these when he briefly worked with Phil Coulson again searching for Skye in Milwaukee and in a mission to rescue Deathlok and Lincoln Campbell from HYDRA in their base in the Arctic, and kept it while he kidnapped Bobbi Morse, using it to kill Kara Palamas believing she was Melinda May.
Smith & Wesson M&P Compact: Ward started using this pistol as his standard sidearm when his alliance with HYDRA was revealed, and used it to threaten Skye during the Battle at Cybertek.
Heckler & Koch USP: Ward obtained one of these pistols while he was enthralled by Lorelei, and he used it to try to kill Melinda May inside the Bus.
Browning Hi-Power: Ward obtained one of these pistols used by the guards of the Todorov Building in Belarus when he infiltrated the facility.
FN Five-seveN: The standard side-arm used by HYDRA security officers. Ward began to use it following his recovery from being shot in Puerto Rico, being the gun that Agent 33 was carrying when she saved him.
FN Five-seveN USG: The standard side-arm used by HYDRA operatives after its apparent demise and under Gideon Malick's leadership. Ward took one of these weapons from one of the men sent by Malick to kill him, using it to kill all of them but one, who was tortured with the weapon into revealing the location of Wolfgang von Strucker's vault.
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380: Ward carried a small compact semi-automatic pistol as one of his hidden weapons when he went to a rendez-vous with Phil Coulson in Mexico. However, he had to put it in a table along the rest of his weapons when Deathlok scanned him to protect Coulson.
Heckler & Koch HK45: Ward began to use a tan frame variant of this handgun as his main sidearm when he assumed leadership of his own HYDRA cell. He carried it when he went to kidnap Werner von Strucker in Ibiza, to defend himself from Lance Hunter, or when he went to investigate Wolfgang von Strucker's vault, finding Gideon Malick inside.
Smith & Wesson Model 64: A revolver handed by John Garrett during his time in Wyoming, Ward fired in the air when Garrett ordered him to kill his loyal dog Buddy.
Heckler & Koch UMP45: Both Grant Ward and John Garrett used these submachine guns during the infiltration into the Guest House.
High Standard Flite King Shotgun Series: A shotgun that Ward managed to obtain by 1999 while living alone in the forests of Wyoming.
File:Boe2.jpg
M4A1 Carbine: The standard weapon used by S.H.I.E.L.D. Strike Team members, that Ward also used while tracking Deathlok and the Clairvoyant in Florida.
Nemesis Arms Vanquish: During his first mission with Phil Coulson and his team, Ward assembled a Nemesis Arms Vanquish rifle along with a telescopic sight, bipod, suppressor and railed handguard in case Michael Peterson had to be killed due to the instability of the Extremis in his blood.
Desert Tactical Arms Stealth Recon Scout: Ward used this rifle to act as a sniper during the hostage exchange when Ace Peterson was to be liberated by Raina and Phil Coulson became kidnapped by the Centipede Project.
Remington MSR: Ward assembled a sniper rifle to take out Rosalind Price and kill her in front of Phil Coulson, to let him feel the same he felt when Kara Palamas died in his arms. Once he shot Price in the neck, making her choke in her own blood, Ward disassembled the rifle while calling and taunting Coulson.
McMillan Tac-50: Ward obtained one of these rifles and used it to hunt during his days in the forest of Wyoming.
File:Ward's Weapons.jpg
Garrote: Ward carried a polyfiber garrote with metal handles as one of his hidden weapons when he went to a rendez-vous with Phil Coulson in Mexico. However, he had to put it in a table along the rest of his weapons when Deathlok scanned him to protect Coulson.
Wenoka Squeeze Lock Knife: Ward carried a knife as one of his hidden weapons when he went to a rendezvous with Phil Coulson in Mexico. However, he had to put it in a table along the rest of his weapons when Deathlok scanned him to protect Coulson.
Thunderstick: A small staff that releases a wave of sonic energy to incapacitate surrounding targets, Ward used it to escape from a group of rebels that were surrounding his inexperienced teammates in Peru.
Night-Night Pistol: Sometimes, Ward needed to apply non-lethal force to subdue a target without permanent harm, favoring the use of the Night-Night Pistol designed by Agents Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons. This weapon renders the target unconscious to be safely captured, such as when he raided Ian Quinn's mansion in Italy while searching for Skye.
I.C.E.R. (Pistol Version): After Agent Leo Fitz improved the technology of the Night-Night Gun, Coulson changed the now obsolete weapon and favored the use of the pistol version of the I.C.E.R.s. He used two of these in a fight during the Battle at the Hub.
Berserker Staff: Ward accidentally touched the staff in Seville, gaining superhuman strength, but being overwhelmed by memories of his childhood. Having already suffered its side effects, Ward used the staff as a weapon in Ireland to defeat a group of Norse Paganists.
Other Equipment Edit
X-Ray Plate: Ward used this Plate to locate Vanchat's secret safe where he stole a Chitauri Neural Link which Vanchat planned to sell on the black market. He was later forced to use the plate as a weapon, throwing it at Vanchat's bodyguards who found and attacked him.
Backscatter Glasses: Ward used these glasses to mimic Akela Amador's eye implant and complete her mission in Belarus while Jemma Simmons extracted her implant.
Remote Beacon: Grant Ward and Leo Fitz were ordered to activate this beacon to let S.H.I.E.L.D. know the moment they deactivated the Overkill Device developed by a group of separatists in South Ossetia. Despite Ward tried to make Fitz leave before the separatists attacked them, Fitz stayed with him, and Ward activated the beacon.
Flash Bomb: Ward used a Flash Bomb to interrupt a transaction between Emily Deville and Vanchat in order to first distract and then arrest him.
Night-Night Bracelet: A small device developed to inject dendrotoxin directly into a Centipede Device, Ward realized that its design was not practical in combat against Centipede Soldiers, and during its "field test", he had to remove the dendrotoxin capsule from the bracelet and made the soldier swallow it.
Mother † - Abusive Mother and Victim
Father † - Abusive Father and Victim
Christian Ward † - Abusive Older Brother and Victim
Thomas Ward - Brother, Former Best Friend
Anna Ward - Sister-in-Law
Raina † - Enemy turned Ally
Centipede Project
John Garrett † - Former S.H.I.E.L.D. Supervising Officer, HYDRA Superior and Father Figure
Ian Quinn - Enemy turned Ally
Ernesto - Barber
Cybertek
Carlo Mancini † - Enemy
Sofia † - Enemy
Kyle Zeller
Yuri Dubrovsky †
Vladimi
Kara Palamas † - Lover and Victim
HYDRA (Third Incarnation) - Subordinates
Kebo † - Right-Hand Man
HYDRA Arsonist †
HYDRA Assassin †
Gideon Malick † - Rival turned Superior
Giyera †
Hive † - Controller
S.H.I.E.L.D. (First Incarnation) - Allies turned Enemies
Nick Fury - Director
Maria Hill - Deputy Director
Victoria Hand † - Superior and Victim
Felix Blake - Colleague
Eric Koenig † - Colleague and Victim
Coulson's Team - Teammates turned Enemies
Phil Coulson - Team and former friend
Melinda May - Former Lover
Jemma Simmons - Friend
Leo Fitz - Friend
Skye - Enemy turned Teammate and Pupil (former), Former Love Interest
Antoine Triplett † - Colleague and Former Friend
S.H.I.E.L.D. (Second Incarnation) - Former Jailers and Temporary Allies
Phil Coulson - Killer
Skye - Former Love Interest, Attempted Killer
Leo Fitz - Torturer
Jemma Simmons - Attempted Killer
Antoine Triplett †
Bobbi Morse - Torture Victim
Lance Hunter - Attempted Killer
Billy Koenig
Sam Koenig
Michael Peterson/Deathlok - Ally (under HYDRA coercion), now Enemy
Robert Gonzales †
HYDRA (Second Incarnation) - Situational Allies
Daniel Whitehall † - Superior Officer
Sunil Bakshi † - Enemy turned Thrall and Savior
Jasper Sitwell †
Centipede Soldiers
Brian Hayward †
Centipede Soldier 2
Werner von Strucker - Subordinate turned Enemy
Todd Chesterfield
Akela Amador - Enemy turned Ally (former)
Chan Ho Yin/Scorch †
Policia Militar de Perú
Camilla Reyes - Ally turned Enemy
Cusi †
Vilca
Nahui † - Accidental Victim
Norse Paganists
Petra Larsen
Elliot Randolph - Ally (former)
Luca Russo † - Ally turned Enemy
Tobias Ford †
Sif - Ally (former)
Lorelei - Enemy turned Enthraller
Dogs of Hell
Emily Deville
Selwyn † - Victim
Andrew Garner/Lash †
Campbell † - Victim
Rosalind Price † - Victim
Appearances for Grant Ward
The Well (flashbacks)
Ragtag (flashbacks)
Eye-Spy
Girl in the Flower Dress
FZZT
The Magical Place
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Chase
T.R.A.C.K.S.
T.A.H.I.T.I.
Yes Men
The Only Light in the Darkness
Making Friends and Influencing People
Face My Enemy (mentioned)
A Hen in the Wolf House
A Fractured House
The Things We Bury
What They Become
Aftershocks (mentioned)
Who You Really Are (mentioned)
Love in the Time of HYDRA
One Door Closes (mentioned)
Afterlife (mentioned)
The Frenemy of My Enemy
The Dirty Half Dozen
S.O.S. Part One
S.O.S. Part Two
Laws of Nature (mentioned)
Purpose in the Machine
A Wanted (Inhu)man (mentioned)
Devils You Know
The Inside Man (flashbacks)
Paradise Lost (flashbacks)
Bouncing Back (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
The Inside Man (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
Parting Shot (mentioned)
Spacetime (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
Paradise Lost (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
The Team (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
The Singularity (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
Failed Experiments (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
Emancipation (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
Absolution (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
Ascension (corpse controlled by Hive and mentioned)
Hot Potato Soup (mentioned)
Identity and Change (mentioned)
No Regrets (mentioned)
All the Madame's Men (mentioned)
The Return (mentioned)
Grant Ward's death marks the third time Phil Coulson had killed a main antagonist in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..
According to Hive, who took possession of Grant Ward's body after his death, Ward was glad to be dead as he "was a thirsty soul and suffered for it."
Brett Dalton and his characters Grant Ward share the same birthday.
The writers of the show limit the actors' knowledge of future events. Due to this, Dalton himself had no idea Grant Ward was a member of HYDRA until shortly before the reveal.
A HYDRA operative named Agent Ward appears in Secret Wars: Hail Hydra. He was later introduced to the main Marvel Comics universe.
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↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.01: Pilot
↑ 2.0 2.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.19: The Only Light in the Darkness
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.08: The Well
↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.21: Ragtag
↑ How Soon Could Grant Ward Find Redemption On Agents Of SHIELD?
↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.20: Nothing Personal
↑ 7.0 7.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.07: The Hub
↑ 8.0 8.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.02: 0-8-4
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.03: The Asset
↑ 10.0 10.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.04: Eye-Spy
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.05: Girl in the Flower Dress
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.06: FZZT
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 1.09: Repairs
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.10: The Bridge
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.11: The Magical Place
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.12: Seeds
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.13: T.R.A.C.K.S.
↑ 18.0 18.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.14: T.A.I.T.I.
↑ 19.0 19.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.15: Yes Men
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.16: End of the Beginning
↑ 21.0 21.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.17: Turn, Turn, Turn
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↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.01: Shadows
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.03: Making Friends and Influencing People
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.04: Face My Enemy
↑ 28.0 28.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.05: A Hen in the Wolf House
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.07: The Writing on the Wall
↑ 30.0 30.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.08: The Things We Bury
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.09: Ye Who Enter Here
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.10: What They Become
↑ 33.0 33.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.14: Love in the Time of HYDRA
↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.18: The Frenemy of My Enemy
↑ 35.0 35.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.19: The Dirty Half Dozen
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.20: Scars
↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.21: S.O.S. Part One
↑ 38.0 38.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.22: S.O.S. Part Two
↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.02: Purpose in the Machine
↑ 40.0 40.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.04: Devils You Know
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.06: Among Us Hide...
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↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3.09: Closure
↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3.10: Maveth
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 3.22: Ascension
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.15: Self Control
↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.16: What If...
Grant Ward on Marvel Database.
Retrieved from "https://marvelcinematicdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Grant_Ward?oldid=10274"
Comics Characters
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Top StoriesConservativeIndependentMAGACommunity
byPoli Storm
Tensions rise at U.S.-Mexico border as migrants, holiday travelers...
Hundreds of Central American migrants in Mexico massed on Thursday around a tense U.S. border crossing, where security measures held up…
www.reuters.com
By Lizbeth Diaz, Reuters
TIJUANA (Reuters) - Hundreds of Central American migrants in Mexico massed on Thursday around a tense U.S. border crossing, where security measures held up long lines of Mexicans headed to Thanksgiving gatherings on the other side of the frontier.
With few belongings, and many of them with children in tow, the migrants set out for the crossing from the baseball field in the Mexican border city of Tijuana where they have been camped out. Around 6,000 migrants who have trekked across Mexico in a caravan in recent weeks are now crammed into the field.
They arrived at the Chaparral border crossing, opposite San Diego, California, and said they would wait there until they could request asylum, in spite of growing U.S. measures to tighten the border.
“We are already desperate, last night it rained and we all got wet. There is no room left. We are all sick. My children have a cold ... and nobody has come to give us help,” said David, a Honduran who only provided his first name.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had authorized the use of lethal force on the border and warned that the United States could close the whole frontier.
The San Ysidro vehicular crossing into San Diego, one of the busiest in the world, was briefly shuttered in the afternoon by U.S. officials as they performed a security exercise.
Tens of thousands of Mexicans enter the United States daily to work or study, and many were trying to get to Thanksgiving celebrations. Mariana del Campo, a retired professor, had hoped to make it across before the closing, but was stuck in the line.
“What’s happening on the border is maddening,” she said as she waited in her car. “I don’t know how long we can put up with this. Someone is going to get tired or explode.”
Also stuck in her car waiting to cross for Thanksgiving was 54-year-old Aurora Diaz, who said her U.S.-based daughter was reluctant to visit Mexico in case Trump closed the border.
Read the full story on the Reuters website.
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Shared/Reselling hosting
The records management domain
Administration VDS/Server
Go to ISPmanager, go to «Domains» → «Domain names», highlight the desired domain name and click «Records».
To create, click on the «Create» button.
Then fill in the fields that appear:
Record name,
Record information update time (TTL section),
The Type of record. Depending on the type of record, its purpose and set of additional parameters change, where:
The NS record points to the DNS servers that are responsible for storing the rest of the domain resource records.
The MX record points to any host to which mail should be routed to reach the desired domain.
TheTXT record specifies any textual information about the domain and is used to confirm rights to the web resource.
The CAA is a special DNS record that allows domain owners to define a limited list of certification authorities.
The PTR record associates the host IP with its canonical name.
The SRV record - a standard in DNS that determines the location, that is, the host name and port number of servers for certain services.
The DNAME record provides redirection for a subtree of the domain name tree in the DNS.
The CNAME-a record that is responsible for binding subdomains to a canonical domain name or another domain.
IP address. The specified IP address will be associated with the domain name specified in the Name field.
In Addition to creating a domain record, you can edit it by clicking the «Edit» button and delete it using the «Delete» button.
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How to grow your own pineapple
What’s the difference between ice cream and frozen yogurt?
Are oleander plants really poisonous?
What are the best tropical fruits? 15 exotic types to try
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Food tips & info
The Myria Editors· April 17, 2016
You don’t have to visit Hawaii to get high-quality pineapples harvested at the peak of ripeness.
In fact, it is entirely possible to raise your own sweet, juicy, plant-ripened pineapples without a trip to the islands.
By Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Horticulturists Dan Gill and Allen Owings
Patience for pineapples?
Pineapples aren’t hard to grow, other than providing protection during the winter. The plants are tough and aren’t prone to insect or disease problems.
Producing a pineapple does require some patience, however. It usually takes about two years or more from planting to produce a ripe fruit. During that time, though, the pineapple plant makes a very attractive foliage plant. Spring or early summer is an ideal time to get started.
>> How do you choose a ripe pineapple?
How to begin growing your own pineapple
To grow you own pineapple, start with a fruit purchased at the supermarket. Choose one that has a healthy, green, leafy top (or crown) and that’s wasn’t too badly battered during processing and shipping.
To root the top, you will need a gallon-size container, enough potting soil to fill it, slow-release fertilizer, a sharp knife and pruning shears.
First, use a sharp knife to cut the crown from the fruit. Make the cut cleanly and as close to the fruit as you can. Next, remove enough of the lower leaves from the cut crown to expose about one-half to three-quarters of an inch of stem. Lay the crown aside for three days to allow the cut to callus over.
Fill the gallon container almost full of the potting soil and add the slow-release fertilizer according to label directions. Plant the pineapple top just deep enough to cover the exposed stem, firming the soil around it to make it stable. (If necessary, you can insert two or three pencils in the soil to hold the top in place.) Water the plant thoroughly and place it in a shady area outside to root. The crown should root in a couple of weeks.
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Your pineapple after a couple weeks
After the crown is rooted, move the plant into part sun for a week, and then move it into full sun. Grow your pineapple in full sun outside throughout the summer, keeping it well watered.
In three to four months, the plant will have outgrown the gallon pot. At this time, shift it to a three-gallon-sized container using the same well-drained potting soil and some more slow-release fertilizer. The plant will produce its fruit in this pot. The larger pot is important. If kept in a small pot, the plant will produce a smaller, poorer-quality fruit.
Going into the winter, it is important to remember that the pineapple continues to need full sun, but it is not able to tolerate freezing temperatures.
>> Vintage pineapple recipes from 1961: Pineapple sun fest recipe ideas
You have two options: One — leave your plant outside in full sun through the winter, but bring it into a protected location on those nights when temperatures are expected to dip below the upper 30s. Return the plant to full sun as soon as possible. Two — overwinter the plant in a greenhouse or on a sunny window.
As your pineapple grows
By the second summer, the original small crown should have grown into a large, handsome plant about 2 feet across. At this stage, your plant should flower. The first sign of flowering is a bright red color in the center of the plant.
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Soon, a stalk will appear with lavender flowers peeking out from a structure at the top shaped like a small pineapple. This structure will develop into the fruit.
>> Recipe for pineapple-marinated grilled chicken sliders
From flowering to ripe fruit takes about five months. You can generally harvest a ripe pineapple in the fall of the second year from a spring- or early-summer-rooted crown. The fruit you get should be about the same size or a little smaller than those at the supermarket. Or if you did a great job, maybe even a little larger.
Deciding when to harvest the pineapple is especially important. The idea is to allow it to fully ripen on the plant. If you harvest too soon, it won’t be as sweet. If you aren’t sure, it’s better to leave the pineapple on the plant too long than to harvest it too soon. When ripe, pineapple fruit stores fairly well on the plant, so you don’t need to be as worried about leaving it on too long as much as harvesting too early.
A pineapple fruit is ready to harvest when the background color changes from green to gold. The feel of the fruit will go from rock hard to slightly soft – giving a little to firm pressure with your thumb. Also, the fruit will develop a rich, pineapple smell. Use all of these signs when deciding when to harvest the fruit.
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Each plant will produce a single fruit and then die. You can, however, start new plants from the crown of the fruit you harvest, from slips that form on the flower stem, or from suckers that appear at the base of the original plant. And after growing them once, you are sure to want to grow pineapples again.
The pineapple belongs to the bromeliad family, and originated in tropical South America. Its Latin name is Ananas comosus, and it’s related to the bromeliads grown as ornamentals, and also to the Spanish moss commonly seen hanging from trees in the South.
The flavor of a plant-ripened pineapple has to be experienced to be believed. You are in for an exceptional treat.
This article is by The Myria Editors, and was posted or last updated on April 17, 2016
Based on/Source: Information provided by Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
Source publication date: April 23, 2010
Photo credit: Top pineapple photo thanks to Kyle McDonald. Photo 2 of the pineapple growing thanks to Nick Jewell.
Filed under: Food tips & info, Gardens & backyards
fruitfruitsgardenshow-toplants
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GRUPO CAÑAVERAL
Grupo Cañaveral, Vol. III 1997
Echarme al Olvido
No Te Voy a Perdonar
No Te Voy a Perdonar, Vol. 4 1998
Haste El Cielo Lloro
Cañaveral Yaguaru 1999
Mala Mujer
Nunca Fui Tu Dueño
Essential Album
About GRUPO CAÑAVERAL
Furia Musical award-winning Grupo Cañaveral was formed in January of 1995 by vocalist/percussionist and ex-Corraleros de Majagual Humberto Pabón Olivares, as well as journalist/radio announcer Agustín Teutli Delgado, with the intent of resurrecting the-then dormant Mexican cumbia style. During their early years, they not only accomplished their goal, but evolved the style of cumbia into forward-thinking music of their own hybrid design.
Grupo Cañaveral became a top-selling outfit after achieving three gold records by their third anniversary in 1998. (Since then, they've also achieved double gold and diamond status for later recordings.) Grupo Cañaveral became one of the hardest touring acts in Mexico. They not only played their own country and the southwestern United States, but went east to headline stages and festivals across Latin America. Their enduring popularity facilitated appearances in the Mexican soap opera scene. The band had a role in Siempre Te Amare -- which starred Laura Flores and Fernando Carrillo -- and they later appeared in Maria de Todos Los Angeles. The band is also a family affair with Humberto's son Emir Pabón adding lead vocals and percussion; he'd previously collaborated with Giant Sonora, Wilfrido Vargas, and Grupo Mayor. Another son, Dairon Pabon, plays tambor alegre.
The hits kept coming for Grupo Cañaveral. 2002's No Mientas Mas, 2005's No Te Voy a Perdonar, and 2009's Flor de Mayo all charted. In 2010, Hui Pi Pi... with Emir fronting the band, began a new chapter and was their biggest hit since the '90s. In 2011, the band underwent several personnel changes and renamed themselves Grupo Cañaveral de Pabon. This version was delivered on Juntos por la Cumbia in 2014 and on an accompanying live album. In 2017 they issued Fiesta Total, which featured collaborations with Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Los Claxons, Belinda, Valentino, Lucero, and Matute on different takes of the band's hits as well as cumbia versions of tracks by their guests. ~ Drago Bonacich
Música Mexicana
Grupo Tentacion
Grupo Tentación
Son de Madera
Dos de Madera
Dulce María
Grupo Soñador
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Arena League was a convention and in-store Magic play program launched in 1996 that ended in 2007.
2 The first promotional cards
3 Vanguard
4 Foil cards
5 Panoramic lands
6 Unhinged
7 Distribution errors
8 List of Arena League promos
Arena League debuted at Origins on July 4, 1996. The league was introduced to close the gap between casual and professional play, offering a possibility to play competitively in public without the pressure of participation requirements or ranking issues. Arena League tournaments were organized by registered store owners all over the globe. The choice of formats was completely at their disposal to allow casual formats which would attract less competitive players.
The first promotional cards[edit | edit source]
In order to increase the attractiveness of joining the league, promotional cards were given out. In 1996, participants received one of five alternate art basic lands randomly at the beginning of each season. The five lands, all illustrated by Tony Roberts, had art that joined together to make one long illustration [1] The best player of a season was additionally given an alternate art Disenchant, the second best player was awarded an alternate art Fireball. These prize cards were given out at the end of each season. Player ranks were determined by a complex ranking system similar to the DCI ranking. Players had to sign up and were assigned a member card with a membership number. All matches had to be reported to Wizards of the Coast by every store where they were analyzed and player ranks were calculated. This system prevailed for six seasons which were given names: Summer 96 starting at the 2nd of August, Harvest 96 starting the 20th of September, Autumn 96 starting the 8th of November, Winter 97 starting the 3rd of January, Tempest 97 starting the 21st of February, and Spring 97 starting the 11th of April. Uncut sheets depicting all cards were awarded to judges helping to organize the events.
Vanguard[edit | edit source]
Starting with the Radiant 97 season, oversized cards replaced the alternate art cards, but the basics of the prize system did not change. During this period of the Arena League, four seasons spread over the years 1997, 1998, and 1999 were assigned to a special format named Vanguard which needed specially created character cards for play.
Foil cards[edit | edit source]
With the successful introduction of foil cards into the world of Magic, the prize structure was changed again after the Radiant 99 season. At the end of each season, the two top-ranked players and a randomly chosen player with at least 30 points were rewarded with a promotional foil card. Furthermore, every player who managed to collect 15 or more points during the season received one foil basic land. Points were awarded for winning (2 points) and losing (1 point) matches. Over the years, some of the land cards were reissued. This first era of promotional foil cards ended in disarray in 2002 when a cycle of foil Limited Edition basic lands was aborted midway, already released promo cards were reissued and during the last season starting at October the 14th, Friday Night Magic promo cards Jackal Pup and Quirion Ranger were given out as prize cards instead of Arena League promo cards.
Panoramic lands[edit | edit source]
Starting with 2003, the Arena League introduced yet another prize schedule. Seasons were now synchronized with the release of new expert level sets and could be held until the release of the next set. After each season, the 20 players with the most points were rewarded with a randomly chosen alternate art basic land out of a set of five issued for the whole year. Each of the first two sets of promotional lands again connected to form one long, panoramic piece. Players with the 10 topmost scores were awarded with an Arena League foil prize card changing with each season. The two highest ranked players were presented a special Arena League life counter. Points were again collected by winning (2 points) and losing (1 point) matches.
Unhinged[edit | edit source]
The prize system was slightly altered starting with the special Unhinged Arena League season at the end of 2004. Henceforth, prize cards were given out immediately after a certain requirement ws met. For collecting 8 tick marks, a player was given one randomly chosen non-foil alternate art basic land. For collecting 16 tick marks, he was given a promotional foil card. Further cards could be handed out for additional tick marks at the discretion of the tournament organizer. Tick marks can be collected by winning (you gain 2 tick marks) and by losing (you gain 1 tick mark) a match. Tick mark counters are reset with the beginning of a new season. The Unhinged season was special because alternate art Unhinged cards were given out instead of basic lands and because it partially overlapped with the Champions of Kamigawa season.
Distribution errors[edit | edit source]
For unknown reasons, during the Guildpact season in 2006, two prize cards, Castigate and Wee Dragonauts, were given out instead of one. The exact distribution of these cards was left to the tournament organizer.
Due to a sorting error, the promotional cards Pouncing Jaguar, Rewind, Skittering Skirge, Duress, and Karn, Silver Golem were additionally distributed in English Urza's Destiny booster packs in place of uncommon cards.
List of Arena League promos[edit | edit source]
See: Arena League promos
↑ Magic Arcana (September 18, 2002). "Arena lands". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
Retrieved from "https://mtg.gamepedia.com/index.php?title=Arena_League&oldid=324415"
Magic tournaments
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Listen Up, America: Don't Get Cuba Wrong Again
March 1, 2016 Topic: Politics Region: Americas Tags: CubaCapitalismBarack ObamaForeign PolicyEconomics
Ahead of Obama's visit, Cubans are hungry for capitalism.
by Cheryl Benard
As President Obama prepares for his historic trip to Cuba, I offer some impressions from my own visit, just completed. During a ten-day trip to four Cuban cities, I found a country impatient for change and anxious for good relations with the United States—a country that has been mismanaged to a condition far below its potential by a government that is way out of its depth, but also one that deserves a better neighbor than the United States has been in the past.
Visit Cuba today, and your first surprise will be the warmth of your reception. Female immigration officers in eccentric uniforms—short skirts and black fishnet stockings—conspiratorially ask if you would prefer them not to stamp your passport; they have heard that coming here might cause you trouble when you return home. Waiters, taxi drivers, ordinary people of all sorts, but government officials too: everyone conveys their relief that the long freeze finally seems to be ending, and their concern that the U.S. election might reverse things (neither Cruz nor Rubio has much of a fan club here).
Once in the country, it won’t take you long to understand why everybody is so ready for change. Cuba is Exhibit A for what happens when a country is hit by the unfortunate double whammy of Communism and an embargo. In this fertile country with plenty of rainfall, you will have to search long and hard to find any fruits or vegetables. The shelves in supermarkets and stores are yawningly empty, and in Soviet fashion, the few items they do have are kept behind counters presided over by staff who must hand you that bar of soap or that can of tomato paste. Life has been about to get better, thanks to the government’s newest and greatest Five-Year Plan, for several decades now, and the citizenry is heartily sick of these consecutive broken promises. It doesn’t take a political scientist or an economist to observe that whatever they’ve been up to here, it’s not working.
I take that back: some things are working. There are no homeless people sleeping on the streets, no beggars, no street children running after you to ask for coins or to try and sell you something. There’s no official minder stationed in the hallway of the hotel to keep an eye on the comings and goings of foreigners, as there used to be in the old Soviet Union. Tourists roam free. Dutch pensioners swept into an impromptu dance by their bus driver, cheerful young Canadians circling the roundabouts in rented old-timers, clusters of expensively dressed East Coast museum curators busily marching about on various cultural missions: everyone can go where they please and talk to whomever they want. This is not Iran, where you must have a “guide” and there’s always a chance you might end up in prison. And it’s certainly not North Korea, where the same is true in spades.
And while there may not be a free press or democracy, and at least one human rights investigation about a suspected political assassination is ongoing, there is little evidence that average Cubans are cowed by their government. Instead, you will be struck by their irreverence, from the bartender who gleefully shows you the screensaver on his phone, featuring Raul Castro Photoshopped into a bikini, to the young father who traces little crazy circles near his forehead as he flourishes his new baby’s ration card—which includes an allotment of coffee and tobacco.
You may also be struck by what, for lack of a better term, I will call solidarity. You will notice it in offices and workplaces, which are marked by hugging, mutual praise and coworkers playing with babies in a break room while the mother teaches a class. On the freeways, hitchhiking is prevalent and, as everyone insists, perfectly safe. This spirit extends even to the street dogs, who wear little ID tags giving them a name, listing their neighborhood and spaying date, and concluding with an exhortation. “My name is Aparicio. I live near Orfebreria Museum. No me maltrates”—don’t mistreat me.
Here is my bottom line: Communist Cuba has failed, but not without achieving a few notable things along the way. It did raise almost the entirety of a population formerly mired in poverty to a standard that, while low, is considerably higher than in most third-world countries, and it should hold on to some of the social programs that made that possible. When it had its back to the wall, after the Soviet Union collapsed and there was nothing and no one left to buffer Cuba from the embargo, they somehow managed to keep their heads above the water. During that period the country engaged in several somewhat desperate economic experiments, which also largely failed, but included valuable and successful elements worth keeping, such as organic farming and homeopathic medicine.
Today, the country has unquestionably run out of steam and out of time. The welfare programs and social services with which the government bought itself the forbearance if not exactly the love of its people, will imminently run out of funds. The excellent doctors and medical professionals of whom it was justly proud, even renting them out to other countries to generate income, are abandoning the public free clinics to instead earn multiples of their salary as drivers and translators for the tourists. The Wi-Fi zones, set up in public parks to appease the public demand for connectivity, are packed with Cubans chatting away to friends and relatives in the United States, or surfing the web, learning all the facts and news and opinions that cannot be found in the boring and bland state-run press.
And everyone is oh-so-ready for capitalism. I have rarely met a population more ready. In the smaller towns of Cienfuegos and Trinidad, families are busily renting out private rooms to tourists and building flimsy extensions onto their rooftops to create even more such rooms. Airbnb is flourishing, despite the obstacle of poor internet connectivity. Not only do government-licensed taxi drivers know all about Uber, they can’t wait for it to arrive so that they can jump ship. Improvised souvenir stands abound. Elderly Cubans stand on the roadside offering honey from their private beehives, packaged in reused water bottles with a layer of dead bees still floating on the top. Paladares, private “restaurants” operating out of people’s homes and limited by law to a maximum of ten tables, are everywhere. Every Cuban you meet has five ideas for the small business he or she intends to launch. Cuba and capitalism could be a match made in heaven—an entirely new concoction of private enterprise with a spoonful of socialism to take the edge off, like the sugar in their other great invention, the mojito.
The tattered billboards that still line the roadside with inspiring socialist messages, the giant silhouettes of Fidel and Che in neon on the sides of buildings or in stencils on the backs of buses, feel as quaint as the old-time cars that populate the highways: relics of the past, soon to be replaced with something more contemporary.
But what exactly will that be, and where does America fit into the picture? Stroll through Old Havana today, with its modern art installations perking up the colonial squares, its beautiful refurbished churches and boutique hotels and bars featuring the framed signature of Hemingway, and the revolution feels like just another quaint relic of the 1950s. But visit the Museum of the Revolution in Havana, or the Bay of Pigs Museum in Girón, and you will find yourself confronted with a less amiable narrative. Here, too, the first impression is of the time-capsule sort, as you take note of the dated political language and the chest-thumping Communism.
A sign read,
“We can call people, if it is a matter of fight, to the six hundred thousand of Cubans whom are unemployed (. . .); to the five hundred thousand of workers whom live in despicable hut (. . .). That’s the people, the one that suffers all the unfortunes, and therefore, they are able to fight braverly!”
But once you get past the rhetoric and focus on the historical facts, perhaps supplementing them with your own reading and research after you’ve left the museum, you are likely to conclude that the basic message here is not untrue.
Batista was inarguably a dictator who stayed in power by military force, not by election, and was enabled therein by the United States. He was repressive to his population, in the pocket of foreign companies and in bed with the worst elements of the American underworld. His removal was a good thing, and the revolution indeed fought “braverly” for greater equality and a better life for the citizenry. Did they go too far? Perhaps—though not by any measure of what a revolution generally looks like. No one enjoys having their property nationalized, but on the other hand, in the 1950s, according to a 2008 USDA report, U.S. interests controlled more than 70 percent of Cuba’s arable land. That’s not a situation any self-respecting country can be expected to tolerate.
Then there’s the Bay of Pigs. Really, we thought it was a good idea to arm 1,400 disgruntled Cuban exiles, put them in boats and launch them towards Cuba—just on their word that the Cuban population would promptly rise up and overthrow Castro? (Sound familiar? Americans seem never to learn that expatriates have their own agendas and are not our most accurate source of political information.)
This bright little idea cost almost two hundred young Cubans their lives, as they rushed to the beaches to defend their country. The stark white stone markers that denote the place where each one fell, and that remain scattered around the bay and the surrounding landscape, make a far more moving statement than the antiquated agitprop in the adjacent museum.
We’ve made a lot of mistakes in Cuba in the past. And unfortunately it’s not difficult to imagine a scenario in which we will now commence to make new mistakes, to the detriment of Cuba, and with the result of alienating a country that at this moment wants few things more intensely than good relations with us.
The less happy scenarios aren’t that farfetched, sadly. If change is injudicious—too fast, too uneven, too repetitive of past mistakes, too insensitive to local needs and values—this can end badly. I personally witnessed the probably very last thing I was expecting to see in Havana: a troop of Muslim fundamentalists attempting to proselytize on the street to a baffled young group of locals. And recently, someone has built a large, at the moment cavernously empty, mosque in downtown Havana, a puzzling presence in a country exclusively populated by Catholics and socialist atheists.
For now, all eyes and all hopes are on the United States, awaiting renewed ferry traffic to Miami, a fast internet, foreign currency, opportunities for business, additional political parties and real newspapers with actual news. But treat Cuba once more like the exploitable nobody next door, and Americans could end up with a hostile beachhead right on their front step.
Oh, and that Museum of the Revolution? Right next to the enormous Cuban flag in the entrance hallway you will also find a marble bust of Abraham Lincoln. Remember, everyone? We had a revolution too, and a rending civil war against social injustice, and when we’re not supporting “our son of a bitch” we favor the democratically elected, and we, too, fight for equality. Braverly.
Cheryl Benard has written widely on political Islam. Her most recent book Eurojihad, Cambridge University Press, October 2014, predicted increased Islamist violence in the West.
Image: Cheryl Benard
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