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Six Flags Lifeguard, 16, Says He Was Told Not to Come Back Until He Takes Out Earrings
"I just want my job back," said Jamieson Minor, who claims he's a victim of gender discrimination
By Caitlin Keating
A 16-year-old Six Flags employee who had spent his teenage years wanting a job at Hurricane Harbor Splashtown in Spring, Texas, claims that he showed up for work wearing earrings and was told he can’t come back until he takes them out.
Jamieson Minor told ABC affiliate KTRK that he used the money he earned from his job as a theme park lifeguard to get his ears pierced on June 1. When he went to work, he “was told to clock out and not return until he removed them,” the news outlet reports.
“The HR lady explained that it is their policy that female employees can wear earrings, but male employees cannot,” Minor told the news outlet, adding that the person who pierced his earrings said he shouldn’t remove them for five weeks.
Six Flags did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.
RELATED: 24 Actresses Who’ve Spoken Out About Being Paid Less than Male Stars
Jamieson Minor
The teen’s mother, Kelly, told KTRK that she doesn’t think it’s right “just because he’s a male he can’t return to work,” and added that she is trying to get Six Flags to change their policy.
She added: “To be honest with you, I don’t even like earrings on males but my son wanted his ears pierced, and I told him, ‘Bottom line, I’m going to fight that because it’s not right.”
Minor is now without pay and wants to return to work.
“I didn’t expect that to happen to me…I just want my job back,” he told KTRK. “That’s really it.”
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Kate Hudson Brings Her Son Ryder on the Red Carpet for a Family Event with Mom Goldie
On Friday, Kate Hudson stepped out with her 13-year-old son Ryder Robinson on her arm to attend her mother Goldie Hawn’s Goldie's Love in For Kids event in Beverly Hills
By Maria Pasquini
Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock
On Friday, Kate Hudson stepped out with her 13-year-old son Ryder Robinson on her arm to attend her mother Goldie Hawn’s Goldie’s Love in For Kids event in Beverly Hills, California.
Hudson, 38, looked elegant in a shimmering full-length grey and blue dress which clung to her toned physique. Meanwhile Ryder kept things casual in a pink button-down shirt and black pants.
Hudson shares Ryder with Chris Robinson, the lead singer of The Black Crowes. The couple was married from 2000 to 2007.
Wyatt Russell (left) Ryder Robinson, Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell
Khloe Kardashian/Snapchat
But the real lady of the hour was Hudson’s mother, Hawn, who throws the annual event to raise money for The Hawn Foundation — which helps children find solutions for their stress and anxiety — and the foundation’s MindUp program.
The legendary Hollywood actress wore a black voluminous ball gown with a sheer back, which the 71-year-old joked she was told not to wear to the Golden Globes. Hawn was accompanied by her loving partner of 34 years, Kurt Russell.
In May, Hawn revealed to PEOPLE that the secrets to maintaining a lasting relationship are all about “love, gratitude, compassion, because sometimes every man or every woman will drive their partner crazy. Family. Fun. Laughs. Sex…if you don’t nurture that, and remember, you’re done.”
She also admitted that even though “monogamy is a very tough order,” couples should feel free to be open about finding other people attractive.
“I’m sure I’ve been party to it, and Kurt’s been — we’re all normal this way. It’s like, ‘You really liked that guy, didn’t you?’ Or the woman says, ‘You were looking at her.’ My answer would be, ‘Of course. Why not? She’s beautiful.’ Would you want a man who doesn’t look? Who doesn’t feel inspired by the beauty or the curves of a woman’s body? Or the way she is? I mean, come on. We’re human beings. There is, I guess, an elasticity to the relationship. Otherwise it’s going to break, just like a rubber band,” she added.
Goldie Hawn (left) and Kurt Russell
Inside the event — which was also attended by Hudson’s brother Wyatt Russell, 31, and her boyfriend Danny Fujikawa — guests sipped on Casamigos margaritas and palomas and Hudson, who was seen on the dance floor throughout the evening, was never far from her family or her boyfriend’s side.
But Hudson wasn’t the only member of her famous Hollywood family to cut a rug that night. Before dinner, Hawn got up on stage and performed a choreographed dance to Grease favorite “You’re the One that I Want” alongside a troupe of dancers —
a performance which was very well-received by the audience.
Kurt Russell (left) Goldie Hawn, and Kate Hudson
After the dinner and program portion of the evening, Hudson was the first to hit the dance floor to a cover of Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It,” and afterwards her boyfriend joined her to groove to a cover of Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On.”
On Saturday, Hudson also shared a sweet photo of her mom from the event which she captioned with an explanation of why the event was so important. “Mama Goldie inspiring us tonight with her passionate words about her mission with #MindUp.” Hudson wrote. “MindUp is a curriculum my mother began 13 years ago encouraging positive thinking and behavior resulting in improved academics, optimistic children and more harmonious family relationships. So proud of my Mom tonight and the impact she is having on over 6 million kids in 12 different countries. Incredible night!!!”
RELATED VIDEO: WATCH: ‘Just Wait’… Kate Hudson’s Priceless Reaction to ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Trailer
Romance rumors about Hudson and Fujikawa started after the pair were spotted kissing during an L.A. lunch date in March.
Since then, the couple has been spotted all over the world. From going for a night out in N.Y.C. to celebrating Hudson’s birthday together in L.A., and even to Cambodia, where the couple took a trip together in June.
It appears Fujikawa fits right into Hudson’s hipster lifestyle. “Kate’s a free spirit who has always been attracted to musicians,” a source previously told PEOPLE. “But Danny also appeals to her because he is talented, bright and cosmopolitan like she is.”
Added the source at the time, “Kate’s enjoying herself. At this point it’s not serious.”
Reporting by ABBY STERN
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Danny Fujikawa
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Contributing to Google's PDFium
Peter Steinberger Patrik Weiskircher
Company Development PDFium
The goal of our PSPDFKit SDKs is to parse and render every PDF out there. The format is quite complex, it has been around for a long time (since 1993!), it has gone through many revisions, and it’s always stayed backward compatible (e.g. you can make a PDF that is also a ZIP file). This all means that parsing and rendering PDFs is a rather difficult challenge, and making a good decision about which low-level PDF engine to use is very important. That said, we want to share how we came to this decision ourselves, so let’s dive into a little bit of history of PDF rendering engines at PSPDFKit.
Everything Started with Apple
When we started in 2010, PSPDFKit was exclusively available for iOS. Already there was a lot to do, so other platforms weren’t something we thought about yet. This made the choice of which PDF engine to use simple: iOS already had a pretty good PDF renderer as part of Core Graphics.
However, we quickly ran into issues. Customers sent PDFs that simply crashed deep inside Apple’s stack, including when they were opened in Apple’s mobile Safari browser or other system apps. While we were quick to write good bug reports (e.g. rdar://18501998 and rdar://19073954), bugs were solved very slowly — with some of them taking years and always requiring an update to iOS itself. And sometimes Apple fixed a bug but introduced two new ones or produced different rendering results depending upon the iOS version.
Seeing Apple’s slow update cycle, we decided that we needed to own the complete render stack and started to write a new parser/renderer in pure C. Unfortunately, in 2013, other languages that are now interesting (Rust, Swift, ...) weren’t quite up to the task, seeing as performance is critical for rendering PDF documents.
Going Multiplatform
We started working on PSPDFKit for Android in early 2014, and we used a combination of C and C++ for the native backend, with Java for the model layer and UI. Writing a PDF renderer in Java would have been too slow, especially given the large amount of cheap, underpowered Android devices that are in use.
We made decent progress on our rendering engine, but we also estimated that it would take a few more years until we covered all edge cases, undocumented behavior, and instances where the specification and Adobe Acrobat differ.
Then, in May 2014, Google released PDFium, the PDF rendering engine in Google Chrome, as open source. It’s battle-tested and written in C++. After a detailed evaluation, we stopped working on our own rendering engine and adopted PDFium for all our products.
Adopting Google’s PDFium
When we first looked at PDFium, it appeared to be really rough. There was barely any documentation, and there weren’t many source files. Everything was clumped together in massive files, and the simple act of deciphering how to use it was difficult. But we tried our best and discovered that while it looked rough on the outside, it actually worked really, really well. We also noticed that Google wasn’t just dropping the code and not maintaining it. The company continued working on it, smoothing out the rough edges, and fixing bugs and security vulnerabilities.
And one of the best bits? It’s written in C++. While C++ is not the favorite language of many people, it means one important thing for us: It compiles everywhere. We could use this engine on iOS and Android and have a common base.
Using an existing engine that’s been in production for years is great for security. Google Chrome is a large target, and both external security researchers and Google’s own Project Zero team put a lot of time into making sure PDFium is secure.
We’ve made many modifications to PDFium over the years. From bug fixes to performance improvements, we’ve done it all. We mark every location where we change a line to make merging from upstream easier, and these thousands of changes we’ve made have improved and tailored PDFium to our needs. We’ve also fixed many bugs and improved render fidelity to the point where our fork of PDFium is faster and renders PDF documents more correctly.
We Can Fix Our Own Bugs
When we were using Apple’s Core Graphics renderer, there often were times when all we could do was report a bug we encountered, since Apple’s renderer is closed source. With PDFium, we have the ability to fix obscure bugs, which still come up from time to time, in PDFs ourselves. The PDF spec is vague enough and so old that we still see surprising combinations, but we can now work quickly with our partners to ensure compatibility.
Contributing Back
We also recently started contributing some of our bug fixes back to PDFium. This was a difficult decision to make, as the quality of our PDF engine and our extensive test case database is a competitive advantage for us. But in the end, we felt it’s more important to give back than to keep these things to ourselves. This will be an ongoing process and will take some time, but ultimately it will benefit millions of Google Chrome and Android users as well. PSPDFKit’s competitive advantage is a great user interface, easy integration, an extremely customizable product, and fast, uncomplicated support.
On that note, our first change has already landed on master! It deals directly with how, in certain situations, PDFium chose the wrong layer configuration when looking at a PDF, which meant the content wasn’t visible.
Another tricky problem was one where opacity wasn’t considered when painting a pattern, which meant some PDFs ended up with big, black spots that should have been transparent. This one should go in soon as well.
While contributing these changes, we also noticed that the documentation on how to actually contribute back was a little lacking, so we are trying to make this clearer for future patches. We’re inviting other companies working with PDFium to help as well — everyone will benefit if we work together.
Summary: Good for the Customer, Good for Us!
The decision to focus on PDFium as our engine has been a win-win. It is good for the customer, as we were able to quickly deliver a robust PDF experience across platforms, and it is good for us, as we can focus on what the customers want: the best user experience of any PDF framework out there.
How We Work at PSPDFKit
How PSPDFKit Succeeds at Being a Remote Company
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Adempas Seen to Benefit Idiopathic PAH Patients Who Fail to Respond to Revatio in Pilot Study
by Patricia Inacio, PhD
In News, PAH News.
Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients who failed to respond to treatment with Revatio (sildenafil), either alone or combined with other phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, may benefit by switching to Adempas (riociguat), according to results of a pilot study.
Adempas was also seen to ably help treatment-naive patients, using it as a first PAH therapy.
The study, “Initial Riociguat Monotherapy and Transition from Sildenafil to Riociguat in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Influence on Right Heart Remodeling and Right Ventricular–Pulmonary Arterial Coupling,” was published in the journal Lung.
For years, the only therapies available to alleviate the symptoms of IPAH were so-called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, like sildenafil, sold by Pfizer under the brand name Revatio in the U.S. But not all patients respond to Revatio or other such inhibitors, even when used as combination treatments.
Riociguat, marketed by Bayer as Adempas, is an approved PAH therapy. Both Revatio and Adempas relax and widen the blood vessels, but they do so in different ways. In fact, the therapeutic action of Adempas is potentially stronger than that of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.
In a pilot study, researchers tested the effectiveness of Adempas in lessening various symptoms linked with IPAH in a group of patients who had never received a treatment (treatment-naive) and a group who failed to respond to Revatio. All participants were being treated at a specialty hospital in Russia.
Specifically, the team assessed treatment in patients using the World Health Organization functional class (WHO FC) — in which the higher the FC, the more severe is the disease — the 6-minute walk test (6MWT; to assess exercise capacity), and parameters that measure heart function, namely right heart remodeling and right ventricular–pulmonary arterial (RV-PA) coupling.
These last measures are important to evaluate as the disease can damage the heart’s right ventricle and cause it to fail.
WHO FC, 6MWT, right heart remodeling, and RV–PA coupling were all assessed at study entry (baseline) and following 12 weeks of treatment with Adempas.
In total, the study enrolled 20 patients with idiopathic PAH (ages 35.7 to 50), 12 who were treatment naive, and eight who had been using Revatio for a median of 21.5 months but failed to respond to the therapy.
All patients were given Adempas up to a maximum dose of 2.5 milligrams (mg) three times a day. The dose was tailored to each patient.
At baseline, 67% of patients in the treatment-naive group were classified as WHO FC III (eight people), and had a mean 6MWT of 381 meters. Among those who switched from Revatio to Adempas, 50% (four patients) were in WHO FC III before any therapy initiation (Revatio or Adempas), and had a mean 6MWT of 371 meters.
Overall, after 12 weeks on Adempas, both groups showed a significant improvement in WHO FC and 6MWT compared to baseline (mean change of 76 meters), the study reported.
In the treatment-naïve group, the WHO FC III score dropped scores in three patients (two became FC II and one FC I), and had a mean increase of 76.8 meters in the 6MWT at 12 weeks.
In the group that switched from Revatio to Adempas, one patient improved in WHO FC score (from FC III to FC I), and had a mean increase in 6MWT of 71.6 meters.
Echocardiography at week 12 showed that Adempas treatment lessened several of the heart disease parameters, including pulmonary arterial pressure.
“In conclusion, riociguat treatment demonstrated a positive effect on functional status, RV–PA coupling, and right heart remodeling in treatment-naïve patients with IPAH and in patients with IPAH who failed to achieve treatment goals with sildenafil and who were switched to riociguat,” the researchers wrote.
“This suggests that transitioning from sildenafil to riociguat may be an effective therapeutic strategy in patients with IPAH who fail to have an adequate treatment response to PDE5i [phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors],” and “suggest[s] that it may be possible to delay disease progression in this patient group,” the team concluded.
Tagged Adempas, Bayer, Pfizer, Revatio, riociguat, sildenafil, switch.
Previous: Actelion’s Opsumit Shows Promise as Treatment for Portopulmonary Hypertension, Trial Results Show
Next:Using the Muppet Theory to Explain Anxious Episodes
Julie Gentleman says:
I have been on adempas for the last 2 and 1/2 years.
It is a great drug. My status has improved tremendously. The one drawback is my blood pressure runs on the lower side but I don’t feel that it affects me functionally. It does however concerned other Healthcare professionals if they have to do some kind of procedure where I require sedation. Then it can cause a problem.
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Exporting sound measurement solutions to the Southern Hemisphere
Building Export Sales in the Southern Hemisphere
Simon Rehill, General Manager of Pulsar Instruments - a designer, manufacturer and supplier of world-leading occupational sound measurement solutions for 50 years - has been travelling the southern hemisphere recently catching up with some of our reputable Sales Partners in the Antipodes and South Africa. During his trip, he met with our partners SKC in South Africa, Accurate in New Zealand and Acoustic Research Labs in Australia.
Simon, who started out with Pulsar as Export Sales Manager, said: "I primarily joined Pulsar to help support our international distributor network and our growing worldwide business, it's great to put this into practice by visiting as many of our overseas partners as possible."
"I'm dedicated to growing our global distribution network and helping our export partners find the right markets for our noise meters, dosemeters and other sound measurement solutions" he said, "We believe the right way to do this is to train them in how to use our products face to face so they can truly understand the potential that they offer customers in their markets" Simon added.
Whilst in Australia Simon was also able to meet with a new potential Sales Partner in Brisbane, and train them in the products and to discover opportunities to work together in the future to further grow our export business in Australia. "We recognise, that our global network of sales partners plays a crucial role in the growth or our business and we are always looking for opportunities to work with companies around the world."
Last year, Simon was also able to visit our sales partners in East Asia including Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, and also several of our European distributors with more visits planned for latest this year.
Ambitious Plans
Pulsar Instruments is a world-leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of noise products such as occupational sound level meters, personal noise dosemeters and noise-activated warning signs. The company was formed in 1969 and since then has enjoyed continued growth for its noise products both in the UK and internationally.
Pulsar currently supplies thousands of noise measurement instruments to around the world; across Asia, Africa, Australasia, Europe and North and South America, as as our global business continues to grow we are actively seeking new ambitious partners. We give our partners access to our range of innovative, world-leading noise products, and provide plenty of marketing and training support to them so they can grow their business, enhance their reputations and become the best supplier of noise measurement instruments available in their territories. We build strong effective relationships with our partners to ensure our customers receive the first class service and support they expect from Pulsar Instruments.
Find out more about joining our growing distributor network please contact Simon for more information. Tel: +44 1723 518 011
Become A Noise Products Distributor
Pulsar - Trusted Noise Measurement Experts for 50 Years
Pulsar Welcomes New Export Sales Manager
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Journal of Systems Science and Complexity
September 2007 , Volume 20, Issue 3, pp 454–460 | Cite as
Output Variable Structure Control for Time-Invariant Linear Time-Delay Singular System
Jifeng Guo
Cunchen Gao
Synthesis and design of output variable structure controller for time-invariant linear time-delay singular system are studied. In the case that the system is regular and the system index is one, switching function with integral compensator and variable structure controller are designed, which guarantee that the sliding mode is asymptotically stable and the solution trajectory of the system arrives at the switching manifold in limited time. The design method is applicable to the systems which can be regularized. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate effectiveness and simplicity of the design method.
Linear singular system output variable structure control time delay
The project is supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 60574005.
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© Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007
1.Qingdao Technological UniversityQingdaoChina
2.Ocean University of ChinaQingdaoChina
Guo, J. & Gao, C. Jrl Syst Sci & Complex (2007) 20: 454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11424-007-9041-2
Received 28 December 2004
Revised 24 June 2006
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Jeanne de Montbaston
Reading Medieval Books
Women’s Strategies of Memory Project
“My Well-Beloved Valentine”: Marriage, Medieval and Modern
June 24, 2014 April 19, 2017 / Jeanne de Montbaston
Heart-shaped Book of Hours, BnF, latin 10536, 15th c. Image via this site.
Two of my oldest friends got married this weekend, at a beautiful woodland campsite complete with superhero-themed decorations, crazy dancing, and a campfire with s’mores. And it was particularly fun because they’d thrown out – or subverted – all the traditions that feministy types (or, you know, adults who’ve been responsible for their own lives for years) get irritated by, and this made everything more personal, and very touching. The bride was not ‘given away’ and they tossed a coin to decide who would speak first. The vows echoed the formal language we’re familiar with, but were written entirely by the couple. They’d done the legal bit the day before, so the ceremony just involved their promises to each other.
I loved this, and partly because it made me think about traditions and what it means to reshape a tradition into something new. In fact, this ceremony was, in a way, looking back to even older traditions. In medieval England, it was perfectly legal, and normal, to contract a marriage simply by making the promise to each other, ideally in the presence of witnesses who could be called upon to give public testimony that the event had occurred. It was only much later that weddings become religious ceremonies or required an official celebrant with legal power, and later still that it became customary for a male family member to ‘give away’ his daughter.
You can see how people were adapting traditions in the period I study, in fifteenth century England. What I love about this period is the amazing sense you get that, suddenly, you’ve got access to the thoughts and words of ordinary people making their own decisions about love and marriage. So, I thought I’d share the story of a fifteenth-century woman and her marriage.
Letter from Margery Brews to John Paston, c. 1477. From London, BL MS 43490, f. 23.
The image above is a letter, dictated in 1477 by a woman named Margery Brews, who was writing to the man she hoped to marry, John Paston. Margery and John were engaged to be married, but her father was refusing to provide John with sufficient money to keep his wife, while Margery’s mother was pleading with him to relent.
Despite this very real worry, Margery writes to John in deeply emotional terms, addressing him as her “well-beloved Valentine” – the first recorded use of the term ‘Valentine’ to mean ‘lover’ that we have in English. In medieval England, letter writing could – like marriage vows – be an occasion for formal language, for phrases whose significance was much deeper than the mere words on the page. Yet here, we can see Margery reaching beyond the formal language she must have been taught as young girl, to find a more personal register. In effect, she coined a tradition.
True Love: ‘Le Duc des vrais amants’ with his lady, in London, BL MS Harley 4431, f. 143r. By Christine de Pizan, made for Queen Isabeau of Bavaria, c. 1410-14.
Margery continued to write to John as “well-beloved Valentine,” and later signs herself “your Valentine,” in a letter promising that if John and her father can come to an agreement in their planned meeting, she will be “the merriest maiden on the earth”. Reading Margery’s letters is rather like reading only one half of a conversation, but we can guess at John’s character, not only because he insisted upon marrying Margery despite her lack of money, but also because of what we know of his strong-willed younger sister. Almost a decade before Margery Brews wrote her letters, Margery Paston, John’s nineteen-year-old sister, married her parents’ steward Richard Calle. At the time, John – aged about twenty-five – was both worried and contemptuous at his sister’s unconventional choice, but she stood firm, refusing to renounce the marriage even at the urging of the bishop of Norwich. It seems possible that, when John found himself, like his sister, weighing up the possibility of a marriage for love rather than money, he found himself rather more inspired by his sister’s example.
Both stories have happy endings. Margery Paston and Richard Calle’s marriage endured, producing three sons. Margery Brews proved herself to be a quick-witted person, whose letters to her husband carry a tone of partnership in business when she writes to him “in haste” to inform her husband of his responsibilities to his tenants and her concerns about his business, and ends with news of the good health of “all your babes”.
Margery Brews’ letters began as an intimate record of a one ordinary woman setting out to write something more personal than the formal language traditionally used by engaged couples. Now, though, they’re famous as the ‘first Valentines’. It was lovely to be at a wedding that involved the same re-writing of tradition to make it more personal and more meaningful. I hope people reading this post enjoyed it, and I hope you’ll take a (soppy, yes!) moment to send my friends some good wishes!
Walters Museum MS W.166, f.16r. via Wikipedia Commons.
Anyone who has read Cynthia Harnett’s The Wool Pack, with its story of Nicholas and Cecily’s betrothal, might recognise the quotations from Cecily’s letters as being lifted from those of Margery Brews.
If you want to know more about the Paston women, Diane Watt has published a selection of their letters as The Paston Women: Selected Letters, which has lots of helpful notes and is in modernised spelling. You could also try Colin Richmond’s book The Paston Family in the Fifteenth Century, or the first section of Rebecca Krug’s beautifully written book Reading Families (the whole book is well worth reading).
Family, Feminism, Gender and Sexuality
← Women and Folk Art in the Eyes of Male Artists: Yet more Cultural Femicide
Patriarchy and the Establishment of ‘Objective Facts’: The Narrative is Already Gendered →
15 thoughts on ““My Well-Beloved Valentine”: Marriage, Medieval and Modern”
Katharine Edgar
Wonderful post and best wishes to your friends. I especially love the idea of tossing a coin to see who will speak first.
I never made the connection with Cynthia Harnett and the Paston letter – duh! Good old Cynthia.
Thanks! It was a lovely idea – they had the whole thing planned down to the ground with little details like that. It was fab.
I shouldn’t admit it, but I only made the Harnett connection because I happened to be reading The Wool Pack yesterday when I looked up the Paston letters! Nice coincidence.
Jenni Hill (@Jenni_Hill)
We nearly played rock, paper scissors!
Oh, that would have been *awesome*!
Freyalyn
I have ‘The Wool Pack’ – a lovely little story. And another excellent post, as ever.
Thank you! And yes … I have a great soft spot for that story, it’s so beautifully researched.
Aaaaw, thank you Lucy, we were really happy to have you there! This post is awesome, I didn’t know about the first Valentines!
Glad you like it. It was such a beautiful day, I was thrilled to be there.
L. Palmer
That is a sweet love story, especially placed against what is perceived of the medieval period.
Aw, glad you think so! I have a big soft spot for the whole Paston family. Their letters are amazing, so human.
Before I forget...
I love how you are so passionate about that period in history, I love the 18C the age of invention and wonderful new ideas.
I have a question, did you learn to read the manuscripts, (latin/old english)? In another life I would love to learn to read them as the originals share so much more than translations.
Ooh, in that case, have you come across Joanne Bailey’s blog? She writes about the eighteenth century with a focus on gender, and I find her work really interesting (from my fairly ignorant perspective!). She’s here: http://jbailey2013.wordpress.com/.
I did learn to read manuscripts – my Latin is fine, but my Old English is less good! I’m currently trying to work it up again. I mostly work on the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, so Old English is a good 500 years before some of the things I read. It’s really fun reading the originals, though, definitely! What I love best is coming across a scribble by some completely ordinary person, which they never expected would be read 500 years later … for example, there’s a manuscript I’ve been reading that’s got lots of the educational texts you might expect, but it also has a place where someone’s jotted down how many tennis balls they’ve got kicking around in the cupboard! That sort of thing makes me grin.
Anyway, thanks for your comment, it was lovely to read!
To read the ordinariness of life must be so exciting. I have always read original books rather than what other say about it so how envious I am of you to be able to step into the past.
Thank’s for the link to Joanne Bailey it is indeed very interesting, I shall follow you both.
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Histories of Emotion
Medieval People of Colour
Women's Strategies of Memory
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build a therapy practice
Need More Clarity In Your Therapy Business?
I can tell you all about the program I created, The Superpower Method For Therapists® Program, but graduates can best help you decide whether it's right for you.
I talked to a recent graduate of the program, Annie Bjork, about where she was before she signed up and what's changed. Listen to our 5-minute conversation or read some of her thoughts below.
“Before I signed up for the program, I was confused about how I wanted to position myself, market myself, and figure out my message. The biggest change is that I’m clear about who I want to be talking to and why and what my main focus is.”
“There’s power to the group. It makes a difference knowing everyone is dealing with what you’re dealing with.”
“There’s real value to having time carved out in your calendar. I’m continuing to carve that out to keep moving my practice forward.”
If this is the time for you to make big changes in your business like Annie did, learn more or register now.
Tagged: niche
How Tom Narrowed His Niche And Filled A Daytime Group
Tom Bruett was just two months into private practice when he enrolled in the Superpower Method For Therapists® Program. As he says, “Before starting the program, I didn’t have a business plan, niche or budget.” He accomplished more during the 14 weeks of the program than most people accomplish in a year.
Here, Tom talks about his insights about his business and the most important moves he made during the program:
In Tom’s words:
“The most impactful thing I did in the program was to narrow down my niche and identify who I work best with. After doing that I was able to fill a daytime group, which I never thought I’d be able to do…. It feels like night and day, before starting the program to now.”
If you’re ready to make 2017 the year you find focus and turn your practice into a phenomenal business, please join us.
Learn about the program and register.
Registration closes on Tuesday, February 7th.
Tagged: business coaching for therapists, niche
Ivy's Practice Is Thriving MORE Since She Claimed Her Niche
Spotlight on Ivy Griffin, MFT in Sacramento, California
About a year ago, Ivy ran a general therapy practice. She had a lot of clients, but she was starting to feel overworked and even burned out. She worked hard in the Superpower Method For Therapists™ Program and made some big changes to her business.
She embraced the niche of Highly Sensitive People. She’s created an online coaching group for highly sensitive women and an engaging blog for highly sensitive people. She's created a free audio and worksheet with tools for HSP's. As an HSP myself, I freaking love her content.
Ivy had the same fears about narrowing her niche that most therapists have. Ivy had been getting a lot of calls for adolescents, because that’s another niche she’s well trained and experienced with. She didn’t want to suddenly start saying no to all of those people.
Listen to or watch my brief conversation with Ivy about the changes she's made in her business in the past year.
She shares why she's more sought out than ever.
She answers the question: "What would you tell a therapist who is afraid the claim a niche?"
She talks about the changes she's made to her business model now that she's embraced this niche.
Flourish, Ivy’s coaching program for highly sensitive women
The Superpower Method For Therapists™ Program
Tagged: niche, differentiation
market a therapy practice
When You Talk About Your Work, Set Yourself Apart
A colleague asks a therapist “who do you work with in your private practice?”
The therapist answers:
“I work with high functioning adults” or
“I work with people going through transitions.”
These answers describe clients in the most general and least compelling way, squandering an important opportunity.
I understand why a therapist would answer this way. It’s a quick way to describe the range of people you work with and it doesn’t exclude anyone who you might like to work with. But never say it again.
When you say that you work with high functioning adults or people going through transitions you set yourself apart from… almost no one.
When a colleague asks you who you work with, it’s an opportunity to communicate your unique understanding of a group of people. It’s time to show your enthusiasm for helping that group.
Look for new ways to talk about the people you work with so that your colleagues will remember you.
If you have a particular niche, you probably don’t have as much trouble setting yourself apart. But even if you have a general practice working with adults, you probably work better with some “high functioning adults” than others. Here are some examples of ways to describe particular groups of clients:
“highly sensitive”
“spiritual seekers”
“introverted”
“parents of young kids”
Look for similarities in the people you work best with, and name those. Your conversations with colleagues are likely to become more interesting rather than dropping off. Your colleagues will remember what you said about your work.
But what if you like working with LOTS of different kinds of people?
As the conversation continues, you can mention that too. You’re not going to be limited to just one kind of client. When your colleagues see that you have confidence and expertise with one group, they’ll imagine you working well with other people too.
Is it time to build your practice in a big way? Are you ready to think bigger? Apply for a free phone consultation now.
Tagged: niche, how to talk about your work
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Federal Workers, Secret Service, Socialism, and Human Nature
It’s been a tough couple of months for Federal Workers, active and retired. The horrible judgment shown by managers of the General Services Administration has been exceeded only by the horrible judgment shown by members of the Secret Service and the US military. As is ALWAYS the case, these episodes have produced extreme makeover suggestions for the Federal workforce. Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney has made attacking Federal workers a key plank of his fairness platform. I heard Greta van Susteren this week on her show wonder why Federal workers should EVER need to go to conferences.
Why Indeed!!! It always struck me when I was a member of the Federal workforce that we were the only employees in America expected to be motivated by socialist principles. Quite odd really. Our pay system, which emphasized seniority and paying your dues, was redolent of the best European socialist labor unions. So clearly, federal workers are a special breed of Americans who are completely unaffected by money or rewards. (One feels compelled to ask why not freeze their pay forever?) And as far as going to conferences, well, clearly, federal workers, unlike employees in private industry, just don’t need to engage in the team-building and broadening activities so favored by private industry. Americans pay for these activities in the same way they pay for government activities–but for private industry these expenses are just part of overhead and not directly charged. (This is one reason why I worry that a single payer system for health care is not practical given the American political culture. We will pay more to private industry much more willingly than we will pay more to government.)
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not justifying anything GSA did in excess of the law or spirit of the government regulations they themselves create. (Hypocrisy has a particularly nasty odor.) But I do take issues with those who see socialism lurking around every corner and yet blithely want to impose these same socialist principles on the Federal workforce.
And now for the second scandal. The horrible behavior of Secret Service officers and US military in Colombia has elicited well-deserved, widespread criticism although the appropriate redresses are not so clear. Some suggest hopefully that the Secret Service should hire more women. Generally I think more gender and diversity balance in all organizations is always a step toward goodness, although I doubt men would think it fair to discriminate against them just because of their sexual organs. The most ridiculous thing I’ve heard is the intimation that somehow this kind of behavior is a function of having President Obama in office or a “lax” Democratic administration. To begin with, the Secret Service Director is a carryover appointee of President Bush.
But more to the point, men travelling away from home in groups have tended to engage in certain behaviors for Millenia. (We will truly have reached an entirely new evolutionary state when such behavior significantly declines, but clearly we ain’t there yet.) Entire genres of fiction and movies have been spawned by such behavior: The Hangover comes to mind. Port cities across the world steel themselves for the visits of naval ships. In fact the oldest profession could not otherwise exist. And then of course there’s pornography–the largest industry on the internet.
I’m not trying to rag on men. My targets are instead the commentators and individuals who like, Captain Renault, claim to be shocked, shocked to find that men behave in such ways. Really?
Last night I tweeted that I distrust Big Government and Big Business. That I believed in individual effort and community. And that people tend toward both goodness and bad decision-making.
Government and business will continue to make mistakes and bad decisions because both are built on the same raw material: humans. That’s why community standards and individual efforts both play a role in shaping societies and nations.
Posted in Government Performance, linkedin, Nature of Federal Workers, Organizational Dynamics
Tagged big government, politics
Sentiment and Leadership are a Necessary Partnership, Like Water and Flour
A couple of Sunday morning metaphors, one illuminates why change is hard. The second is Lessons from a CIA Manager #23: Sentiment and Leadership are like mixing Water and Flour in a Dough.
I actually just posted some quick words over at RebelsatWork.com on why rebels need to stop advertising themselves as destroyers of the status quo. By making that your focus, you risk confusing the means with the ends. But you can read more about that here.
In that piece I used some garden metaphors to describe the more subtle relationship between forward change and the status quo. And I was reminded of what people say about home remodeling. Builders always say it is easier and cheaper to build a new home from scratch than it is to remodel extensively an existing structure. And they’re right. Making structural changes while retaining that which is good or necessary of what already exists has got to be just about the hardest of organizational activities. But sometimes that’s the only path that’s available to you as a rebel.
To build a new business from scratch you have to stop doing the work and providing the services that presumably people still need. A non-starter.
To gain enough backing to start making at least some of the necessary changes, you have to take into consideration the views of those who love the organization and its culture in a Billy Joel kind of way or Bruno Mars. Unless you can figure out how to fire them all, or transport them to a parallel universe, you have to make change happen with the talent you already have.
Second Metaphor. Sentiment and Leadership are like mixing Water and Flour in a Dough. Here I was inspired by a tweet this morning in the regular Sunday morning tweetchat #spiritchat .
Too much compassion w/o healthy detachment from another’s processes leads to compassion fatigue #spiritchat
It’s from Debra Reble. (now that’s a cool last name.) And it reminded me of the difficulty I had in senior positions trying to reconcile the desire to be compassionate with the larger responsibilities of leadership. The last ten years or so of my Agency career I actually had an articulated goal of being MEANER, although a coach I worked with convinced me to think of it as becoming more powerful. (That was helpful.) I thought of it as being less sentimental, not having less compassion. But it’s the same thing. I recognized that my responsibilities to a broader group of people meant I sometimes had to take actions or make decisions that were harmful to an individual, perhaps even someone who was a good friend. (You can justify your actions by saying that you are promoting a greater good, but really, are we that confident of the causality between our actions and desirable outcomes? I’m not.)
But the answer I learned was that you can’t abandon compassion/sentiment. You have to balance them constantly against the demands of management like you need to balance water and flour in a dough. Water makes the dough stickier; flour makes it less so. And anyone who has made any pastry or pizza crust from scratch knows that its’s a process of constant adjustment. There is no school solution. It’s all in knowing the feel of the dough in your hands. And only experience will enable you to translate that tactile feel into knowledge for making better decisions and interventions.
Too much compassion without detachment from your personal attachments leads to decision mistakes.
Too much leadership without compassion for human realities leads to group misery.
Posted in Change, Innovation, Leadership, Learning, Organizational Dynamics, Rebels/Heretics
Tagged Decision-making, twitter
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The efficiency of nuclear plasmid DNA delivery is a critical determinant of transgene expression at the single cell level
Dominic Glover, Denisse L Leyton, Gregory William Moseley, David Andrew Jans
BACKGROUND: The nuclear envelope that encloses the nucleus is a significant barrier to non-viral vectors and shrouds the relationship between the trafficking of plasmid DNA to the nucleus and expression of an encoded transgene. Here, we use a novel single cell approach to quantify nuclear import of plasmid DNA following non-viral transfection and correlate this with reporter gene expression. METHODS: Through the fractionation of intact nuclei from HeLa cells, the intranuclear copy number of plasmid DNA was quantified after transfection with either polyethylenimine (PEI) or LipofectAMINE2000 (LFA). Importantly, the use of a reporter protein that is incorporated into chromatin and retained in isolated nuclei permits analysis of gene expression by flow cytometry to be compared with nuclear plasmid delivery. RESULTS: PEI was found to mediate a greater and more rapid nuclear accumulation of plasmid DNA compared to LFA, but reporter gene expression was shown to be higher for LFA than PEI when an equivalent number of plasmids were in the nucleus. Sorting of the extracted nuclei according to the level of reporter expression demonstrated that reporter expression was dependent upon the number of plasmids delivered into the nucleus, with both threshold and saturation in expression evident with few or many nuclear plasmids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate formally that although the efficiency of plasmid nuclear delivery is a critical determinant of the level of transgene expression, intranuclear events also influence the transcriptional activity of the transgene, and must be taken into consideration when attempting to maximize the efficiency of non-viral vectors.
Journal of Gene Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1002/jgm.1406
Glover, D., Leyton, D. L., Moseley, G. W., & Jans, D. A. (2010). The efficiency of nuclear plasmid DNA delivery is a critical determinant of transgene expression at the single cell level. Journal of Gene Medicine, 12, 77 - 85. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgm.1406
Glover, Dominic ; Leyton, Denisse L ; Moseley, Gregory William ; Jans, David Andrew. / The efficiency of nuclear plasmid DNA delivery is a critical determinant of transgene expression at the single cell level. In: Journal of Gene Medicine. 2010 ; Vol. 12. pp. 77 - 85.
@article{20efdd934b6b48568098c5bc7ac2d007,
title = "The efficiency of nuclear plasmid DNA delivery is a critical determinant of transgene expression at the single cell level",
abstract = "BACKGROUND: The nuclear envelope that encloses the nucleus is a significant barrier to non-viral vectors and shrouds the relationship between the trafficking of plasmid DNA to the nucleus and expression of an encoded transgene. Here, we use a novel single cell approach to quantify nuclear import of plasmid DNA following non-viral transfection and correlate this with reporter gene expression. METHODS: Through the fractionation of intact nuclei from HeLa cells, the intranuclear copy number of plasmid DNA was quantified after transfection with either polyethylenimine (PEI) or LipofectAMINE2000 (LFA). Importantly, the use of a reporter protein that is incorporated into chromatin and retained in isolated nuclei permits analysis of gene expression by flow cytometry to be compared with nuclear plasmid delivery. RESULTS: PEI was found to mediate a greater and more rapid nuclear accumulation of plasmid DNA compared to LFA, but reporter gene expression was shown to be higher for LFA than PEI when an equivalent number of plasmids were in the nucleus. Sorting of the extracted nuclei according to the level of reporter expression demonstrated that reporter expression was dependent upon the number of plasmids delivered into the nucleus, with both threshold and saturation in expression evident with few or many nuclear plasmids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate formally that although the efficiency of plasmid nuclear delivery is a critical determinant of the level of transgene expression, intranuclear events also influence the transcriptional activity of the transgene, and must be taken into consideration when attempting to maximize the efficiency of non-viral vectors.",
author = "Dominic Glover and Leyton, {Denisse L} and Moseley, {Gregory William} and Jans, {David Andrew}",
doi = "10.1002/jgm.1406",
journal = "Journal of Gene Medicine",
issn = "1099-498X",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
Glover, D, Leyton, DL, Moseley, GW & Jans, DA 2010, 'The efficiency of nuclear plasmid DNA delivery is a critical determinant of transgene expression at the single cell level' Journal of Gene Medicine, vol. 12, pp. 77 - 85. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgm.1406
The efficiency of nuclear plasmid DNA delivery is a critical determinant of transgene expression at the single cell level. / Glover, Dominic; Leyton, Denisse L; Moseley, Gregory William; Jans, David Andrew.
In: Journal of Gene Medicine, Vol. 12, 2010, p. 77 - 85.
T1 - The efficiency of nuclear plasmid DNA delivery is a critical determinant of transgene expression at the single cell level
AU - Glover, Dominic
AU - Leyton, Denisse L
AU - Moseley, Gregory William
AU - Jans, David Andrew
N2 - BACKGROUND: The nuclear envelope that encloses the nucleus is a significant barrier to non-viral vectors and shrouds the relationship between the trafficking of plasmid DNA to the nucleus and expression of an encoded transgene. Here, we use a novel single cell approach to quantify nuclear import of plasmid DNA following non-viral transfection and correlate this with reporter gene expression. METHODS: Through the fractionation of intact nuclei from HeLa cells, the intranuclear copy number of plasmid DNA was quantified after transfection with either polyethylenimine (PEI) or LipofectAMINE2000 (LFA). Importantly, the use of a reporter protein that is incorporated into chromatin and retained in isolated nuclei permits analysis of gene expression by flow cytometry to be compared with nuclear plasmid delivery. RESULTS: PEI was found to mediate a greater and more rapid nuclear accumulation of plasmid DNA compared to LFA, but reporter gene expression was shown to be higher for LFA than PEI when an equivalent number of plasmids were in the nucleus. Sorting of the extracted nuclei according to the level of reporter expression demonstrated that reporter expression was dependent upon the number of plasmids delivered into the nucleus, with both threshold and saturation in expression evident with few or many nuclear plasmids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate formally that although the efficiency of plasmid nuclear delivery is a critical determinant of the level of transgene expression, intranuclear events also influence the transcriptional activity of the transgene, and must be taken into consideration when attempting to maximize the efficiency of non-viral vectors.
AB - BACKGROUND: The nuclear envelope that encloses the nucleus is a significant barrier to non-viral vectors and shrouds the relationship between the trafficking of plasmid DNA to the nucleus and expression of an encoded transgene. Here, we use a novel single cell approach to quantify nuclear import of plasmid DNA following non-viral transfection and correlate this with reporter gene expression. METHODS: Through the fractionation of intact nuclei from HeLa cells, the intranuclear copy number of plasmid DNA was quantified after transfection with either polyethylenimine (PEI) or LipofectAMINE2000 (LFA). Importantly, the use of a reporter protein that is incorporated into chromatin and retained in isolated nuclei permits analysis of gene expression by flow cytometry to be compared with nuclear plasmid delivery. RESULTS: PEI was found to mediate a greater and more rapid nuclear accumulation of plasmid DNA compared to LFA, but reporter gene expression was shown to be higher for LFA than PEI when an equivalent number of plasmids were in the nucleus. Sorting of the extracted nuclei according to the level of reporter expression demonstrated that reporter expression was dependent upon the number of plasmids delivered into the nucleus, with both threshold and saturation in expression evident with few or many nuclear plasmids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate formally that although the efficiency of plasmid nuclear delivery is a critical determinant of the level of transgene expression, intranuclear events also influence the transcriptional activity of the transgene, and must be taken into consideration when attempting to maximize the efficiency of non-viral vectors.
UR - http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122670821/PDFSTART
U2 - 10.1002/jgm.1406
DO - 10.1002/jgm.1406
JO - Journal of Gene Medicine
JF - Journal of Gene Medicine
SN - 1099-498X
Glover D, Leyton DL, Moseley GW, Jans DA. The efficiency of nuclear plasmid DNA delivery is a critical determinant of transgene expression at the single cell level. Journal of Gene Medicine. 2010;12:77 - 85. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgm.1406
10.1002/jgm.1406
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Vice President for Research
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Multiple Pathways to Recovery: A Conversation about Addiction Research and Treatment Services
Wednesday, February 13, 2019, 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Iowa City Public Library , A
123 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240
In this Obermann Conversation, three researchers and practitioners will discuss alternative forms of treating alcohol and drug addictions, including effectiveness for various populations.
Paul Gilbert conducts research to understand and address alcohol-related disparities. He is particularly interested in the ways that gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation shape drinking patterns, risk of alcohol use disorders, and use of treatment services. His current projects include an NIH-funded study to test an explanatory model of alcohol treatment disparities, a New Faculty Research Award from the College of Public Health to identify and describe the strategies people use to overcome alcohol problems when they don’t utilize treatment services, and an evaluation of Iowa’s social host liability law that’s supported by the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy. His next project will be a national study to understand how people define recovery and the strategies they use to change drinking behaviors, with comparisons between individuals who obtain treatment, those who use 12-step groups, and others who pursue independent change.
Marvin Hain has a BS in Health Promotion and a Master of Social Work from the University of Iowa. He worked at the Iowa City Community Mental Health Center as Homeless Outreach Coordinator for one year and also at the Cedar Rapids Vet Center. As a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), he has at the VA Medical Center in the Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program since 2002. He currently works at the Coralville VA Outpatient Clinic. take care of my cats, and work out.
Steve Steine is a Clinical Manager at Prelude Behavioral Services in its Eastern Iowa Office. He has a Master's degree in substance abuse and counseling from the University of Iowa.
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UT Dallas Research Wiki
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Guideline Statement
Guidelines for Period of Performance
The following guideline outlines the period of performance of costs for grants, contracts, and subawards at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). The guideline assures compliance with The Office of Management and Budget Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) – 2 CFR 200 – 200.77.
The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and OMB Uniform Guidance provide the basic criteria to determine direct costs and period of performance on federally sponsored projects.
Where a funding period is specified, a grantee may charge to the award only costs resulting from obligations of the funding/budget period, unless carryover of unobligated balances are permitted, in which case the carryover balances may be charged for costs resulting from obligations of the subsequent funding period.
Budget Period – The budget period is a specific interval of time for which sponsoring agency funds are being provided from a particular fiscal year to fund a recipient’s approved activities.
Performance Period – The performance period is the complete length of time the recipient is proposed to be funded to complete approved activities.
Obligations - refers to the amounts of orders placed, contracts and subgrants awarded, goods and services received, and similar transactions during a given period that will require payment during the same or a future period
The period of performance is documented in the grant agreement and are available to the principal investigator (PI), as well as all staff involved with the grant program. The grant agreement will provide the following information in regards to period of performance:
Grant begin/end dates
Pre-award costs authorized by the federal agency, if any
For multi-year programs, it will state if any unobligated balances be carried over and charged for obligations of the subsequent funding period
The grantees are responsible for ensuring all approved activities are completed by the end of the grant.
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Rush: Arcade Game App
December 6, 2017 By Michael Humes Leave a Comment
Developer: Ketchapp
Price: Free download and play with premium upgrade option
Game apps are a plenty in the world of downloading free apps and it’s been a while since I reviewed a free game for apps so today’s feature app is Rush. It’s a hot, trendy app so I had to download it to see what all the “rush” is about.
Rush Game Play
There is really no laborious registration process required in order to play. The tutorial is straightforward. Tap the screen to change lanes. “Change lanes for what?” you ask. Well, the game entails a sphere rolling down a roller coaster like road whereas you have to avoid obstacles and to dodge such obstructions you have to tap the screen to move from lane to lane. Don’t slide your finger! It takes too much time and makes the game play harder. The game requires quick thinking and patience as it is challenging at first. Don’t be distracted by the techno music in the background and become riveted by the neon color theme as it only enhances Rush. As you navigate the sphere through the roller coaster- like road, your speed will increase and your reaction time is tested. The first couple times I played this, I literally made it past three or four obstacles. Pitiful! Luckily, restarts are unlimited. Advice: look ahead along the road as if you were driving a vehicle. This seemed to help me elevate my game after my first failed attempts.
Collect gems for extra points to rank up. You will receive daily rewards to unlock different roads and different types of spheres like an 8-ball for example. Once you get the hang of it, compare your high scores with players across the world. I am not at that level yet. The free version does contain ads, but if you upgrade to the premium package for $1.99 you will lose the ads and earn gems two times faster.
Final Take
Simply put, the controls are easy and the game play is addictive, yet challenging. It’s one of those games you can set down and come back too. I would advise taking a break every once in a whiles as staring at the screen with bright colors and the general pace of the game becomes hypnotic. It’s available for both Android and Apple so give it a try.
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Abortion Rights Foes Aren’t Backing Down From Kavanaugh Support
With ‘Roe’ on the Line, Some Democrats Seek Federal Codification of Abortion Rights
Family Research Council: The Extreme Anti-Choice Group Molding Trump’s Reproductive Rights Policy
Sep 18, 2018, 4:15pm Ally Boguhn
“We still see Judge Kavanaugh as a qualified candidate,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America.
While some anti-choice groups say Ford’s allegations deserve to be heard, they did not back off from vocal support of Kavanaugh.
Drew Angerer/ Getty Images
Anti-choice groups and abortion rights opponents are standing by Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, amid accusations that he sexually assaulted a young woman while in high school.
Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University, spoke publicly for the first time about the alleged attack in an interview with the Washington Post published Sunday. While some anti-choice groups say Ford’s allegations deserve to be heard, they did not back down from their support of Kavanaugh, whose nomination they have lauded.
Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, said that allegations should be heard, but he criticized their inclusion in Kavanaugh’s confirmation process. “Everyone should be heard, but those who are being heard should not be used for political purposes by Democrat Senators who have turned this confirmation process, predictably, into an ideological, obstructionist circus,” he said in a statement to Rewire.News
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, said in a statement to Rewire.News that the organization wanted to see the allegations against Kavanaugh examined, but she stood by its support for Supreme Court nominee. “We want to see the process go forward to vet the current allegations, but, in looking at the way in which the charges were handled (hidden until the hearings were over and handled by those who have been very public about their goal to oppose this nominee no matter what), we still see Judge Kavanaugh as a qualified candidate who is in the political battle of his life because of the abortion lobby’s efforts to keep Roe v. Wade law of the land,” Hawkins said.
“Considering Judge Kavanaugh’s transparency during the hearings, including releasing a record number of records, meeting with Senators, and testifying for three days of contentious hearings, we think it is good that he is open to answering more questions,” she continued. “When this is over, it will be impossible for anyone to claim he has not been thoroughly vetted.”
Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-choice group closely aligned with the Trump administration, didn’t back down from its support for Kavanaugh. The organization has traveled the United States to encourage what they refer to as “vulnerable red-state Democratic senators” to confirm the judge. “Obviously Ms. Ford’s allegations are serious and should be heard,” Mallory Quigley, a spokesperson for the group, told McClatchy. “Judge Kavanaugh should also have an opportunity to respond. This should be done as quickly as possible so that the vote can continue without delay.”
“We have no reason to change our support for Judge Kavanaugh,” Quigley added.
Operation Rescue Senior Vice President Cheryl Sullenger suggested in a blog post that Blasey Ford was “not credible” and compared the news to what she implied were unfounded allegations against conservatives like Roy Moore and Trump.
The organization’s president, Troy Newman, doubled down on his support for Kavanaugh. “It’s shameful that Democrats would try to destroy yet another man’s life and drag his family through the mud without cause,” he said. “It’s time for conservatives to stand up to the baseless allegations trotted out by Trump-hating politicians who have no other argument than slander and sexual smear tactics. Operation Rescue stands strong in our support of Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.”
Bryan Fischer, who hosts a talk-radio program for the American Family Association, used a blog post on the organization’s website to reject the accusations against Kavanaugh and attempt to cast doubt on Ford’s allegations by pointing to her political views. He said that should the accusations against the judge derail his confirmation, Kavanaugh would become a victim.
“Here’s what should happen. Ms. Ford’s accusations should be dismissed with extreme prejudice, Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination should be sent to the floor of the Senate this Thursday as scheduled, the Senate should vote to confirm him as soon as possible, and he should take his rightful place on the Supreme Court bench by the first Monday in October,” Fischer wrote. “Anything else is a travesty of a mockery of a sham, making Brett Kavanaugh a victim of a gross miscarriage of justice before he ever dons the robe of the Supreme Court.”
Americans United for Life, which voiced its support for Kavanaugh upon his nomination, has not publicly stated whether it maintains support for the judge. The group did not respond to requests for comment.
Abortion, Abortion restrictions, Access to abortion, Anti-Choice Groups, Brett Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh Hearings, Operation Rescue, Politics, Priests for Life, Roe v. Wade, students for life, Supreme Court, Susan B. Anthony List, Troy Newman
Analysis Politics
Jun 5, 10:34am Ally Boguhn
May 10, 9:01am Laura Huss & Kat Jercich
Marie Newman ‘Can’t Walk Away’ From Second Chance to Unseat Anti-Choice Democrat in Illinois
Apr 19, 4:37pm Ally Boguhn
Fatima Goss Graves
Abortion Doesn’t Harm Women. Banning Abortion Harms Women.
Apr 15, 3:04pm
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Research | Open | Published: 12 March 2019
Delta-radiomics signature predicts treatment outcomes after preoperative chemoradiotherapy and surgery in rectal cancer
Seung Hyuck Jeon1 na1,
Changhoon Song2 na1,
Eui Kyu Chie1,
Bohyoung Kim3,
Young Hoon Kim4,
Won Chang4,
Yoon Jin Lee4,
Joo-Hyun Chung1,
Jin Beom Chung2,
Keun-Wook Lee5,
Sung-Bum Kang6 &
Jae-Sung Kim2
Radiation Oncologyvolume 14, Article number: 43 (2019) | Download Citation
To develop and compare delta-radiomics signatures from 2- (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) features that predict treatment outcomes following preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer.
In total, 101 patients (training cohort, n = 67; validation cohort, n = 34) with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma between 2008 and 2015 were included. We extracted 55 features from T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Delta-radiomics feature was defined as the difference in radiomics feature before and after CCRT. Signatures were developed to predict local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM), and disease-free survival (DFS) from 2D and 3D features. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to select features and build signatures. The delta-radiomics signatures and clinical factors were integrated into Cox regression analysis to determine if the signatures were independent prognostic factors.
The radiomics signatures for LR, DM, and DFS were developed and validated using both 2D and 3D features. Outcomes were significantly different in the low- and high-risk patients dichotomized by optimal cutoff in both the training and validation cohorts. In multivariate analysis, the signatures were independent prognostic factors even when considering the clinical parameters. There were no significant differences in C-index from 2D vs. 3D signatures.
This is the first study to develop delta-radiomics signatures for rectal cancer. The signatures successfully predicted the outcomes and were independent prognostic factors. External validation is warranted to ensure their performance.
After the landmark randomized trial [1], preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) has been a standard treatment strategy for locoregionally advanced rectal cancer. However, efforts have been continuously made to promote risk-adaptive therapy. One such approach is local excision [2, 3] or even observation [4, 5], rather than TME, in good responders following CCRT to reduce the risk of impaired quality of life. Alternatively, adding chemotherapeutic agents or intensifying radiation doses may be attempted in patients with poor response or prognosis [6,7,8]. These strategies can be implemented with the help of treatment outcome predictors; however, there are still no tools explicitly available for this purpose.
Radiomics provide image features associated with clinical characteristics or outcomes that are extracted from medical images. Numerous studies have been conducted on various cancer types, including lung cancer [9], glioma [10], and head and neck cancer [11] as well as proposed radiomics-based predictors of good performance. Radiomics models for rectal cancer have recently been developed using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) [12,13,14,15,16,17,18]. Some researchers have built radiomics models to predict pathologic response to CCRT [12, 13, 17, 18]. Meng et al. [14] reported a radiomics signature to predict disease-free survival (DFS) using pretreatment MRI in which the models could predict the treatment response or prognosis with acceptable predictability. Nonetheless, clinical response to treatment is another important indicator and may improve the performance of the models. Although treatment response is an important prognostic factor, it cannot describe the entire details of response. In this context, some researchers have examined delta-radiomic features, which are the differences in radiomic features before and after treatment. Delta-radiomics deals with serial changes in images, which is one of the major parts of radiologic studies. Delta-radiomics features have been reported to be associated with treatment response or outcome [19, 20]; however, reports on delta-radiomics in rectal cancer are less [21].
In this paper, we have focused on applying delta-radiomics features extracted from T2-weighted MRI to build prediction signatures for treatment outcomes and compared the performances of 2- (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) features.
This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board of our hospital; the requirement of informed consent was waived. The protocol was compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. We retrospectively enrolled patients with locally advanced (cT3–4 and/or cN1–2) biopsy-proven rectal adenocarcinoma treated at our institution with preoperative CCRT and TME between 2008 and 2015. Patients with the following were excluded: distant metastasis (DM) at the time of diagnosis, MRI with poor quality (e.g., artifact), or slice spacing of MRI not 4 mm (to minimize the influence of different voxel sizes). Included patients were randomly allocated to the training or validation cohort in a 2:1 ratio.
We examined local recurrence (LR), DM, and DFS. LR and DM were defined as recurrences inside and outside the true pelvis, respectively. DFS was calculated as time from beginning of preoperative CCRT to death from any cause or recurrence.
Image protocol
An MRI scan was obtained for each patient before preoperative CCRT (MRI-before) and before TME after completion of CCRT (MRI-after). MRI-after was acquired at 72 days (median; interquartile range, 70–78) after the start of CCRT. MRI was performed using 1 .5T Gyroscan Intera, 3 T Achieva, or 3 T Ingenia MR scanners (Philips Medical Systems, Best, Netherlands). The protocol included T2-weighted sequences using the following parameters: repetition time, 2424–8296 ms; echo time, 92–120 ms; flip angle, 90°; slice thickness, 3 mm; slice spacing, 4 mm; matrix, 512 × 512–576 × 576.
Each region of interest (ROI) was segmented on all T2-weighted axial with reference to diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences. On MRI-before, the ROI was delineated on the tumor with an area of low to intermediate signal intensity on T2-weighted images, excluding the intestinal lumen. The ROI on MRI-after was defined as residual tumor and/or rectal tissues with abnormal signal intensity on T2-weighted images where tumor preexisted [13]. Bladder urine of approximately 1-cm3 sphere volume was drawn to obtain average pixel value of bladder urine which was used for normalization. Segmentation of all patients was performed manually using the Eclipse system (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA) by a radiation oncologist with 12-year experience in gastro-intestinal tumor. Representative examples of tumor segmentations are demonstrated on Fig. 1.
Examples of tumor segmentation on MRI acquired (a) before and (b) after preoperative CCRT
Image preprocessing and feature extraction
Image preprocessing and feature extraction were performed using in-house MATLAB R2017b software (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA). For preprocessing, Collewet normalization algorithm [22] was used to reduce the differences between image acquisition protocols. All pixel values were normalized to average intensity of bladder urine [23] to improve image reproducibility. Pixel values were quantized into 64 levels with bladder urine signal intensity corresponding to the highest level. The 3-dimensional ROIs were isotropically resampled to 1 × 1 × 1-mm3 voxels. For 2-dimensional analysis, the ROI on the axial slice with the largest area was selected and resampled to 1 × 1-mm2 pixels.
Within each ROI, (a) volume (or area in 2-dimensional analysis), (b) 8 first-order features, (c) 15 texture features from gray level co-occurrence matrix, (d) 13 texture features from gray level run length matrix, (e) 13 texture features from gray level size zone matrix, and (f) 5 texture features from neighbor gray tone difference matrix were extracted. The details and list of the extracted features are described in Additional file 1: Appendix A and Table B1, respectively. The delta-radiomics feature was defined as the difference between features on MRI-before and MRI-after and calculated as follows:
$$ \mathrm{Delta}-\mathrm{radiomic}\ \mathrm{Feature}={\mathrm{Feature}}_{\mathrm{MRI}-\mathrm{after}}-{\mathrm{Feature}}_{\mathrm{MRI}-\mathrm{before}} $$
Feature selection and statistical analysis
Robustness of each feature was evaluated by generating translated ROIs and calculating their features. The method was modified from the stability test introduced by Bologna et al. [24] Eight translated ROIs representing inter-observer variability were generated by translating ROI by ±1 mm in lateral and/or ± 1 mm in vertical directions; 0 mm in both directions yields the original ROI and is thus excluded from the robustness test. After extracting the features from the original ROI and 8 translated ROIs, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were calculated for each feature. Features with ICC > 0.9 in both 3D and 2D extraction in MRI-before and MRI-after were considered robust and selected. This process substituted the comparison of features derived from multiple observers.
The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method was used to select core features and to develop score-based signatures in the training cohort. The final value of λ, a tuning parameter, was determined by 10-fold cross-validation, which gave minimum cross-validation error. A radiomics score (Rad score) was generated by linearly combining the selected core features and their respective coefficients. Consequently, the optimal cutoff of Rad score, making the greatest difference in outcome between the two groups divided by the cutoff, was determined.
The differences in clinical and treatment parameters between the training and validation cohort were evaluated using the Student’s t-test or chi-squared test, as appropriate. Survival outcomes were compared between these cohorts using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses of clinical factors and radiomics scores were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Performance of the models were evaluated with area under the ROC curve (AUC) and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, and the relationship between radiomics scores was quantified using Pearson correlation coefficient and variance inflation factor (VIF). Variables with a significant association were integrated into multivariate analysis; the association was considered significant when p < 0.05. R software version 3.5.0 was used to perform all statistical analyses (http://www.r-project.org).
Patients and treatment characteristics
A total of 101 patients were included in the analysis, with 67 in the training and 34 in the validation cohort. The median follow-up duration was 49.7 months (range, 9.3–99.4). Clinical characteristics of the two cohorts are summarized in Table 1. There was no significant difference between the two cohorts.
Table 1 Patient characteristics of training and validation cohort
All patients received radiotherapy doses of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions to the primary tumor and regional lymphatics with the 2D (n = 18) or 3D (n = 83) technique. Additionally, 5-fluorouracil (n = 19) or capecitabine (n = 82) was administered concurrently with radiotherapy. TME-based surgery was performed at a median 48 days (range, 28–90) after the end of CCRT. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 91 patients (90.1%); fluorouracil and leucovorin in 20, capecitabine in 36, uracil and tegafur in 7, and FOLFOX in 28 patients, respectively.
Development and validation of Delta-Radiomics signature
The delta-radiomics signature was developed using the remaining 22 features after the robustness test. The 22 robust features with ICC > 0.9 are listed in Additional file 1: Appendix Table B2. LASSO Cox regression analysis was conducted in the training cohort to select radiomics features with non-zero coefficients. Rad scores predicting LR, DM, and DFS are as follows:
$$ \mathrm{LR}\ 3\mathrm{D}\ \mathrm{Radscore}=-5.9627417\times {10}^{-5}\ \mathrm{x}\ \mathrm{Volume}+4.0761146\times {\mathrm{Int}}_{\mathrm{Energy}}-135.5705805\times {\mathrm{GLCM}}_{\mathrm{Energy}}+286.7201809\times {\mathrm{GLCM}}_{\mathrm{SumAverage}}+2.7222298\ \mathrm{x}\ {10}^{-3}\times {\mathrm{GLCM}}_{\mathrm{Autocorrelation}}+0.1212618\times {\mathrm{GLSZM}}_{\mathrm{LZLGLE}}-263.8275908\times {\mathrm{NGTDM}}_{\mathrm{Coarseness}} $$
$$ \mathrm{LR}\ 2\mathrm{D}\ \mathrm{Radscore}=-3.9078995\times {10}^{-4}\times \mathrm{Volume}+2.4888091\times {\mathrm{Int}}_{\mathrm{Energy}}-22.2879655\times {\mathrm{GLCM}}_{\mathrm{Energy}}+432.3870771\times {\mathrm{GLCM}}_{\mathrm{SumAverage}}-8.7912561\times {\mathrm{GLRLM}}_{\mathrm{SRLGLE}}-37.6853716\times {\mathrm{NGTDM}}_{\mathrm{Coarseness}} $$
$$ \mathrm{DM}\ 3\mathrm{D}\ \mathrm{Radscore}=2.0001257\times {\mathrm{Int}}_{\mathrm{Energy}}+9.0766595\times {10}^{-5}\times {\mathrm{GLCM}}_{\mathrm{SumVariance}}-36.4133193\times {\mathrm{GLRLM}}_{\mathrm{LRLGLE}}+1.3710706\ \mathrm{x}\ {10}^{-4}\times {\mathrm{GLRLM}}_{\mathrm{LRHGLE}}+2.0565009\times {10}^{-8}\times {\mathrm{GLSZM}}_{\mathrm{LZHGLE}}-108.1326981\times {\mathrm{NGTDM}}_{\mathrm{Coarseness}} $$
$$ \mathrm{DM}\ 2\mathrm{D}\ \mathrm{Radscore}=0.4580866\times {\mathrm{Int}}_{\mathrm{Energy}}-45.2277485\times {\mathrm{NGTDM}}_{\mathrm{Coarseness}} $$
$$ \mathrm{DFS}\ 3\mathrm{D}\ \mathrm{Radscore}=1.6123539\times {\mathrm{Int}}_{\mathrm{Energy}}+7.9686750\times {10}^{-5}\times {\mathrm{GLCM}}_{\mathrm{SumVariance}}-32.6172005\times {\mathrm{GLRLM}}_{\mathrm{LRLGLE}}+1.1112033\ \mathrm{x}\ {10}^{-4}\times {\mathrm{GLRLM}}_{\mathrm{LRHGLE}}-101.5991090\times {\mathrm{NGTDM}}_{\mathrm{Coarseness}} $$
$$ \mathrm{DFS}\ 2\mathrm{D}\ \mathrm{Radscore}=0.3188674\times {\mathrm{Int}}_{\mathrm{Energy}}-44.9766973\times {\mathrm{NGTDM}}_{\mathrm{Coarseness}} $$
Optimal cutoff values of Rad scores were determined and used to divide the cohort into high- and low-risk groups, and a higher score was correlated to a higher risk. In the training cohort, all Rad scores were significantly associated with respective outcomes (all p < 0.05, log-rank test). The prognostic performance of all Rad scores was validated in a randomly selected cohort. All Rad scores significantly stratified the risk in the 2 groups (all p < 0.05, log-rank test). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves for LR, DM, and DFS according to 3D and 2D Radscores are demonstrated on Fig. 2 and Fig.3, respectively. The AUC and Hosmer-Lemeshow Chi-square values suggest that the predictability of the signatures is acceptable and are detailed on Additional file 1: Appendix Table C.
Kaplan–Meier curves of (a) local recurrence, (b) distant metastasis, and (c) disease-free survival according to optimal cutoffs of 3D Rad scores. P-values from log-rank test are shown
Integration with clinical features
Univariate analysis followed by multivariate analysis was performed to verify radiomics scores as independent prognostic factors for the respective endpoints in the combined cohort. Detailed results of the analyses are presented in Additional file 1: Appendix Table D1–3. All radiomics scores, regardless of 2D or 3D signature, were significantly associated with the corresponding outcomes on multivariate analysis.
Comparisons of 3D and 2D signatures
Correlations between 3D and 2D Rad scores were investigated in the 101 patients. Pearson correlation coefficients of 3D and 2D Rad scores for LR, DM, and DFS were 0.840 (95% CI = 0.771–0.889, p < 0.0001, VIF = 3.39), 0.641 (95% CI = 0.510–0.743, p < 0.0001, VIF = 1.70), and 0.665 (95% CI = 0.540–0.761, p < 0.0001, VIF = 1.79), respectively. The scatterplot of Rad scores and their correlations are shown in Fig. 4.
The scatterplots between 3D and 2D Rad scores of the entire cohort (n = 101) predicting (a) local recurrence, (b) distant metastasis, and (c) disease-free survival. Linear fit lines and 95% confidence intervals were drawn, and presented coefficients and p-values were calculated using Pearson correlation coefficient
The value of C-index was calculated and compared for each Rad score. In terms of all outcomes, the C-indices between the 2D and 3D Rad scores, both as continuous and binary variables divided by cutoff, were not significant (Table 2).
Table 2 Comparison of C-indices of 3D and 2D Rad-scores. The 95% confidence interval for each C-index is presented
In the present study, we developed and validated the prognostic role of delta-radiomics signatures in locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative CCRT and surgery. Furthermore, we compared the performance of 2D and 3D radiomics features. To our knowledge, this is the first publication to incorporate delta-radiomics features to predict recurrences in rectal cancer.
A good response to preoperative CCRT is consistently associated with improved treatment outcomes of rectal cancer [25, 26]. Although pretreatment radiomics features predict pathologic tumor response, they do not contain all of the information regarding response. Images following preoperative CCRT can reveal indicators of tumor response. Tumor regression grade according to post-treatment T2-weighted MRI is correlated with pathologic tumor regression grade [27, 28]. Thus, we hypothesized that delta-radiomics features on T2-weighted MRI have prognostic power. A recent study showed correlation between delta-radiomics features and clinical response in rectal cancer [21]. Analyzing 16 patients, the study provided an evidence of clinical significance of delta-radiomics features. Since there are no studies with large patients concerning delta-radiomics, however, we strictly limited the number of features included in the investigation. We only included the features that are widely used in radiomics studies, and the image preprocessing step was onefold. Furthermore, we included the features with ICC > 0.9 in all 3D and 2D analyses, leaving 22 features for LASSO regression.
The developed Rad scores were successfully validated in a randomly selected cohort. Some radiomics features may be closely related to clinical factors, thus the signatures should be independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis to be valuable. Rad scores along with clinical factors consistently reported to be prognostic were independently associated with treatment outcomes. Remarkably, post-treatment pathologic characteristics such as pathologic stage and tumor regression grade are incorporated in the analysis. The results suggest that delta-radiomics features may contain more information than microscopic findings, e.g., tumor genotype or microenvironment.
The developed signatures are believed to be useful in daily practice. There is no consensus regarding the use of adjuvant chemotherapy after preoperative CCRT and surgery. Subgroups that may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy have been reported [29,30,31]. It is generally hypothesized that patients at high risk of recurrence, usually those with distant metastasis, benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Most of the patients (90.1%) in our study received adjuvant chemotherapy, suggesting that, for patients with low Rad scores, adjuvant chemotherapy can be omitted.
We compared 2D and 3D delta-radiomics signatures in predicting outcomes. One major advantage of the radiomics approach is that it can represent properties of the whole tumor. However, in the case of 2D features, only part of the tumor is segmented. Therefore, there are concerns regarding the power of 2D radiomics features. The main advantage of 2D radiomics features is the convenience in investigation and application; investigators or users only need to delineate the tumor on 1 representative slice. In addition, 2D features, particularly slice thickness and spacing, may be less dependent on the image-acquiring protocol. Several authors have utilized 2D radiomics features of rectal cancer and reported their predictive power [32,33,34]. As rectal cancer usually grows along the wall and has an irregular shape, the segmented whole tumor may not represent its actual shape [35]; hence, 2D radiomics features need to be further studied. Regarding all outcomes, both 2D and 3D Rad scores were independent prognostic factors on multivariate analysis. By comparing C-index, 2D and 3D Rad scores were not statistically different in prognostic power, possibly because of the high correlation between scores. Hence, our data suggest that 2D delta-radiomics features can be investigated as a good surrogate for 3D features of rectal cancer.
One of the drawbacks of our study is the exclusion of functional images such as DWI or other modalities such as CT and PET. Several studies have reported the correlation between DWI parameters and response or outcomes after CCRT [36,37,38]. Recent work by Giannini and colleagues demonstrated the role of PET-derived radiomics features in predicting treatment response [18]. We believe that the performance of delta-radiomics signature would improve with the incorporation of other sequences or modalities. We hope that radiomics features from various images can be used in subsequent delta-radiomics investigations. Another limitation of the study is the different parameters of the analyzed T2-weighted images. We normalized the pixel intensity using Collewet’s method and urine intensity and resampled the voxels or pixels into isometric cubes or squares. Nonetheless, the preprocessing steps cannot fully compensate for the differences. However, we believe that the radiomics signature should be applicable to various image protocols for widespread clinical use. In that context, the wide applicability of our signatures needs to be tested in MRIs from other institutions.
In conclusion, we developed radiomics scores to predict treatment outcomes after preoperative CCRT and surgery. The results support further investigation of delta-radiomics features in rectal cancer. The 2D and 3D delta-radiomics features were similarly informative. External validation of our signatures is necessary to ensure their performance.
CCRT:
Chemoradiotherapy
DFS:
Disease-free survival
Distant metastasis
DWI:
Diffusion-weighted image
LASSO:
Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator
LR:
Local recurrence
TME:
Total mesorectal excision
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This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (Grant number: NRF-2017R1D1A1B03033892).
The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to the Personal Information Protection Act but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Seung Hyuck Jeon and Changhoon Song contributed equally to this work.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
Seung Hyuck Jeon
, Eui Kyu Chie
& Joo-Hyun Chung
Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82 Gumi-ro 173beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
Changhoon Song
, Jin Beom Chung
& Jae-Sung Kim
Division of Biomedical Engineering, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, 81 Oedae-ro, Mohyeon-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin, 17035, Republic of Korea
Bohyoung Kim
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82 Gumi-ro 173beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
Young Hoon Kim
, Won Chang
& Yoon Jin Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82 Gumi-ro 173beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
Keun-Wook Lee
Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82 Gumi-ro 173beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
Sung-Bum Kang
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Conception and design of the study: JSK and CS. Acquisition of data: SHJ and CS. Analysis and interpretation of the data: SHJ, CS and JSK. All authors participated in clinical data acquisition. Writing and revision of the manuscript: SHJ, CS, and JSK. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to Jae-Sung Kim.
This retrospective patient study was approved by Institutional Review Board of the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and the requirement for written informed consent was waived. This study complies with the standards of the Declaration of Helsinki and current ethics guidelines.
Additional file
Additional file 1:
Appendix A. Extracted radiomics features. (DOCX 37 kb)
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Radiomics
Delta-radiomics
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Clinical Radiation Oncology
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04/07/2018 Travel Europe By Train
European Trains
Virtually missing your 1st train of a trans-continental trip probably isn’t the ideal way to start off. Obtaining to ride on the popular Glacier Express train up to Tasch and then seeing that town along with Zermatt and the Matterhorn was fairly a treat! Eurail Pass Flexi allows you to travel during a specified time period on nonconsecutive days. To avert this from happening in the initial location, confirm your stop on a map in advance and double-verify your ticket for the names of your departure and arrival stations.
Flying into Germany right after spending Christmas with my family in England saw us arrive in Hannover and then take the two-hour train journey to Berlin. Many cities of Europe are close collectively, so if you travel by train you get to see a lot of the sights and get pleasure from other rewards as nicely. Once you happen to be in Europe, you are free to travel regardless of whether by bus or train, which tends to make traveling around Europe simple and hassle-free. By train, in each and every capital in Europe (I have searched and found no exception) you arrive in the center of the city. Never ridden the train for a extended distance but have believed about it quite a handful of times.
Bear in mind that on trains where reservation is optional (domestic trains in Benelux nations, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and considerably of Eastern Europe) you can sit where you like, and if you uncover your reserved seats not to your liking just sit elsewhere. The program won’t sell you a ticket, but comes up with train occasions involving a split-second eight-minute connection in Munich, a 10-minute connection in Budapest, and a 20-minute connection in Bucharest. Travelling to Spain is easy and inexpensive, flights are typically less pricey than a train journey inside the UK. Wonderful bargains can be had specially when booking final minute. The whole journey only took about three hours we had a little screen that told us how fast the train was travelling and for a lot of the journey we were travelling at about 149 kilometres an hour.
They use the French Railways reservation system, so have access to the ideal fares to, from, by means of or inside France, even though they can’t access all the ideal fares for travel inside Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia or eastern Europe. Nonetheless practically often the bus is going to be the least expensive way to travel from point A to point B. In my travels I found the bus was much much more prominent in the baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania due to the lack of train transport.
This frequently gets asked by overseas guests unfamiliar with train travel, even if it’s clear to a European familiar with train travel. The only advantage to travelling by train is the scenery and the folks you meet. In hindsight, we could have lengthened our mainland Europe trip and skipped England. Then cross the border to Kakarbhitta and then travel to Kathmandu in a bus (14 hours). Nip down this to the South Corridor (Couloir Sud) which runs underneath the tracks linking all the platforms, quickly verify the indicator boards then nip up an escalator again to the appropriate platform for your onward train to Cologne or Amsterdam.
europeantrains
Do You Require Travel Insurance?
Ought to I Get A Provident Loan?
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US20020177581A1 - Novel anti-inflammatory androstane derivative - Google Patents
Novel anti-inflammatory androstane derivative Download PDF
US20020177581A1 US10/066,836 US6683602A US2002177581A1 US 20020177581 A1 US20020177581 A1 US 20020177581A1 US 6683602 A US6683602 A US 6683602A US 2002177581 A1 US2002177581 A1 US 2002177581A1
Keith Biggadike
GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Development Ltd
2000-08-05 Priority to GB0019172A priority Critical patent/GB0019172D0/en
2000-08-05 Priority to GB0019172.6 priority
2000-08-05 Priority to GB0019172 priority
2002-02-04 Application filed by Keith Biggadike filed Critical Keith Biggadike
2003-02-04 Priority claimed from ARP030100352 external-priority patent/AR038348A1/en
2012-06-14 Assigned to GLAXOSMITHKLINE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LIMITED reassignment GLAXOSMITHKLINE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GLAXO GROUP LIMITED, BIGGADIKE, KEITH
A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
A61K9/007—Pulmonary tract; Aromatherapy
A61K9/0073—Sprays or powders for inhalation; Aerolised or nebulised preparations generated by other means than thermal energy
A61K9/008—Sprays or powders for inhalation; Aerolised or nebulised preparations generated by other means than thermal energy comprising drug dissolved or suspended in liquid propellant for inhalation via a pressurized metered dose inhaler [MDI]
A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
A61K31/13—Amines
A61K31/135—Amines having aromatic rings, e.g. ketamine, nortriptyline
A61K31/137—Arylalkylamines, e.g. amphetamine, epinephrine, salbutamol, ephedrine or methadone
A61K31/56—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives, e.g. steroids
A61K31/58—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives, e.g. steroids containing heterocyclic rings, e.g. danazol, stanozolol, pancuronium or digitogenin
A61K45/00—Medicinal preparations containing active ingredients not provided for in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
A61K45/06—Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
A61K9/0075—Sprays or powders for inhalation; Aerolised or nebulised preparations generated by other means than thermal energy for inhalation via a dry powder inhaler [DPI], e.g. comprising micronized drug mixed with lactose carrier particles
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising a compound of formula (I),
or a solvate thereof, together with a long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist which formulation has a therapeutically useful effect in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract over a period of 24 hours or more.
This application is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/958050 filed on Oct. 2, 2001, which is based upon International Patent Application No. PCT.GB01.03495 filed Aug. 3, 2001, which claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB 0019172.6 filed Aug. 5, 2000.[0001]
The present invention relates to a novel anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic compound of the androstane series and to processes for its preparation. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations containing the compound and to therapeutic uses thereof, particularly for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions. [0002]
Glucocorticoids which have anti-inflammatory properties are known and are widely used for the treatment of inflammatory disorders or diseases such as asthma and rhinitis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,121 discloses 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-(1-oxopropoxy)-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester (known by the generic name of fluticasone propionate) and derivatives thereof. The use of glucocorticoids generally, and especially in children, has been limited in some quarters by concerns over potential side effects. The side effects that are feared with glucocorticoids include suppression of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, effects on bone growth in children and on bone density in the elderly, ocular complications (cataract formation and glaucoma) and skin atrophy. Certain glucocorticoid compounds also have complex paths of metabolism wherein the production of active metabolites may make the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of such compounds difficult to understand. Whilst the modern steroids are very much safer than those originally introduced, it remains an object of research to produce new molecules which have excellent anti-inflammatory properties, with predictable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, with an attractive side effect profile, and with a convenient treatment regime. [0003]
We have now identified a novel glucocorticoid compound which substantially meets these objectives. [0004]
Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a compound of formula (I) [0005]
and solvates thereof. [0006]
The chemical name of the compound of formula (I) is 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester. [0007]
References hereinafter to the compound according to the invention include both the compound of formula (I) and solvates thereof, particularly pharmaceutically acceptable solvates. [0008]
The compound of formula (I) has potentially beneficial anti-inflammatory or anti-allergic effects, particularly upon topical administration, demonstrated by, for example, its ability to bind to the glucocorticoid receptor and to illicit a response via that receptor, with long acting effect. Hence, the compound of formula (I) is useful in the treatment of inflammatory and/or allergic disorders, especially in once-per-day therapy. [0009]
Compound (I) undergoes highly efficient hepatic metabolism to yield the 17-βcarboxylic acid (X) as the sole major metabolite in rat and human in vitro systems. This metabolite has been synthesised and demonstrated to be >1000 fold less active than the parent compound in in vitro functional glucocorticoid assays. [0010]
This efficient hepatic metabolism is reflected by in vivo data in the rat, which have demonstrated plasma clearance at a rate approaching hepatic blood flow and an oral bioavailability of <1%, consistent with extensive first-pass metabolism. [0011]
In vitro metabolism studies in human hepatocytes have demonstrated that compound (I) is metabolised in an identical manner to fluticasone propionate but that conversion of (I) to the inactive acid metabolite occurs approximately 5-fold more rapidly than with fluticasone propionate. This very efficient hepatic inactivation would be expected to minimise systemic exposure in man leading to an improved safety profile. [0012]
Inhaled steroids are also absorbed through the lung and this route of absorption makes a significant contribution to systemic exposure. Reduced lung absorption could therefore provide an improved safety profile. Studies with compound of formula (I) have shown significantly lower exposure to compound of formula (I) than with fluticasone propionate after dry powder delivery to the lungs of anaesthetised pigs. [0013]
An improved safety profile is believed to allow the compound of formula (I) to demonstrate the desired anti-inflammatory effects when administered once-per day. Once-per-day dosing is considered to be significantly more convenient to patients than the twice-per day dosing regime that is normally employed for fluticasone propionate. [0014]
Examples of disease states in which the compound of the invention has utility include skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, pruritis and hypersensitivity reactions; inflammatory conditions of the nose, throat or lungs such as asthma (including allergen-induced asthmatic reactions), rhinitis (including hayfever), nasal polyps, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and fibrosis; inflammatory bowel conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease; and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. [0015]
The compound of the invention may also have use in the treatment of conjunctiva and conjunctivitis. [0016]
The compound of formula (I) and solvates thereof is expected to be most useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract eg asthma and COPD, particularly asthma. [0017]
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that reference herein to treatment extends to prophylaxis as well as the treatment of established conditions. [0018]
As mentioned above, the compound of formula (I) is useful in human or veterinary medicine, in particular as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agent. [0019]
There is thus provided as a further aspect of the invention the compound of formula (I) or a physiologically acceptable solvate thereof for use in human or veterinary medicine, particularly in the treatment of patients with inflammatory and/or allergic conditions, especially for treatment once-per-day. [0020]
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of the compound of formula (I) or physiologically acceptable solvate thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of patients with inflammatory and/or allergic conditions, especially for treatment once-per-day. [0021]
In a further or alternative aspect, there is provided a method for the treatment of a human or animal subject with an inflammatory and/or allergic condition, which method comprises administering to said human or animal subject an effective amount of the compound of formula (I) or physiologically acceptable solvate thereof, especially for administration once-per-day. [0022]
The compound according to the invention may be formulated for administration in any convenient way, and the invention therefore also includes within its scope pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound of formula (I) or a physiologically acceptable solvate thereof together, if desirable, in admixture with one or more physiologically acceptable diluents or carriers. Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for once-per-day administration are of particular interest. [0023]
Further, there is provided a process for the preparation of such pharmaceutical compositions which comprises mixing the ingredients. [0024]
The compound according to the invention may, for example, be formulated for oral, buccal, sublingual, parenteral, local or rectal administration, especially local administration. [0025]
Local administration as used herein, includes administration by insufflation and inhalation. Examples of various types of preparation for local administration include ointments, lotions, creams, gels, foams, preparations for delivery by transdermal patches, powders, sprays, aerosols, capsules or cartridges for use in an inhaler or insufflator or drops (eg eye or nose drops), solutions/suspensions for nebulisation, suppositories, pessaries, retention enemas and chewable or suckable tablets or pellets (eg for the treatment of aphthous ulcers) or liposome or microencapsulation preparations. [0026]
Advantageously compositions for topical administration to the lung include dry powder compositions and spray compositions. [0027]
Dry powder compositions for topical delivery to the lung by inhalation may, for example, be presented in capsules and cartridges for use in an inhaler or insufflator of, for example, gelatine. Formulations generally contain a powder mix for inhalation of the compound of the invention and a suitable powder base (carrier substance) such as lactose or starch. Use of lactose is preferred. Each capsule or cartridge may generally contain between 20 μg-10 μg of the compound of formula (I) optionally in combination with another therapeutically active ingredient. Alternatively, the compound of the invention may be presented without excipients. Packaging of the formulation may be suitable for unit dose or multi-dose delivery. In the case of multi-dose delivery, the formulation can be pre-metered (eg as in Diskus, see GB 2242134 or Diskhaler, see GB 2178965, 2129691 and 2169265) or metered in use (eg as in Turbuhaler, see EP 69715). An example of a unit-dose device is Rotahaler (see GB 2064336). The Diskus inhalation device comprises an elongate strip formed from a base sheet having a plurality of recesses spaced along its length and a lid sheet hermetically but peelably sealed thereto to define a plurality of containers, each container having therein an inhalable formulation containing a compound of formula (I) optionally in combination with another therapeutically active ingredient preferably combined with lactose. Preferably, the strip is sufficiently flexible to be wound into a roll. The lid sheet and base sheet will preferably have leading end portions which are not sealed to one another and at least one of the said leading end portions is constructed to be attached to a winding means. Also, preferably the hermetic seal between the base and lid sheets extends over their whole width. The lid sheet may preferably be peeled from the base sheet in a longitudinal direction from a first end of the said base sheet. [0028]
Spray compositions for topical delivery to the lung by inhalation may for example be formulated as aqueous solutions or suspensions or as aerosols delivered from pressurised packs, such as a metered dose inhaler, with the use of a suitable liquefied propellant. Aerosol compositions suitable for inhalation can be either a suspension or a solution and generally contain the compound of formula (I) optionally in combination with another therapeutically active ingredient and a suitable propellant such as a fluorocarbon or hydrogen-containing chlorofluorocarbon or mixtures thereof, particularly hydrofluoroalkanes, especially 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-n-propane or a mixture thereof. The aerosol composition may optionally contain additional formulation excipients well known in the art such as surfactants eg oleic acid or lecithin and cosolvents eg ethanol. One example formulation is excipient free and consists essentially of (eg consists of) compound of formula (I) (preferably in unsolvated form eg as Form 1) (optionally together with a further active ingredient) and a propellant selected from 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-n-propane and mixture thereof. Another example formulation comprises particulate compound of formula (I), a propellant selected from 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-n-propane and mixture thereof and a suspending agent which is soluble in the propellant eg an oligolactic acid or derivative thereof as described in WO94/21229. The preferred propellant is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. As noted elsewhere in this specification, compound of formula (I) does not appear to form a solvate with 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. Pressurised formulations will generally be retained in a canister (eg an aluminium canister) closed with a valve (eg a metering valve) and fitted into an actuator provided with a mouthpiece. [0029]
Pressurised aerosol formulations preferably do not comprise particulate medicament, a propellant and a stabiliser comprising a water addition (i.e. water added in addition to nascent formulation water). Pressurised aerosol formulations also preferably do not comprise particulate medicament, a propellant and a stabiliser comprising an amino acid, a derivative thereof or a mixture thereof. [0030]
Medicaments for administration by inhalation desirably have a controlled particle size. The optimum particle size for inhalation into the bronchial system is usually 1-10 μm, preferably 2-5 μm. Particles having a size above 20 μm are generally too large when inhaled to reach the small airways. To achieve these particle sizes the particles of compound of formula (I) (and any further therapeutically active ingredient) as produced may be size reduced by conventional means eg by micronisation. The desired fraction may be separated out by air classification or sieving. Preferably, the particles will be crystalline, prepared for example by a process which comprises mixing in a continuous flow cell in the presence of ultrasonic radiation a flowing solution of compound of formula (I) as medicament in a liquid solvent with a flowing liquid antisolvent for said medicament (eg as described in International Patent Application PCT/GB99/04368) or else by a process which comprises admitting a stream of solution of the substance in a liquid solvent and a stream of liquid antisolvent for said substance tangentially into a cylindrical mixing chamber having an axial outlet port such that said streams are thereby intimately mixed through formation of a vortex and precipitation of crystalline particles of the substance is thereby caused (eg as described in International Patent Application PCT/GB00/04327). When an excipient such as lactose is employed, generally, the particle size of the excipient will be much greater than the inhaled medicament within the present invention. When the excipient is lactose it will typically be present as milled lactose, wherein not more than 85% of lactose particles will have a MMD of 60-90 μm and not less than 15% will have a MMD of less than 15 μm. [0031]
Formulations for administration topically to the nose (eg for the treatment of rhinitis) include pressurised aerosol formulations and aqueous formulations administered to the nose by pressurised pump. Formulations which are non-pressurised and adapted to be administered topically to the nasal cavity are of particular interest. The formulation preferably contains water as the diluent or carrier for this purpose. Aqueous formulations for administration to the lung or nose may be provided with conventional excipients such as buffering agents, tonicity modifying agents and the like. Aqueous formulations may also be administered to the nose by nebulisation. [0032]
Other possible presentations include the following: [0033]
Ointments, creams and gels, may, for example, be formulated with an aqueous or oily base with the addition of suitable thickening and/or gelling agent and/or solvents. Such bases may thus, for example, include water and/or an oil such as liquid paraffin or a vegetable oil such as arachis oil or castor oil, or a solvent such as polyethylene glycol. Thickening agents and gelling agents which may be used according to the nature of the base include soft paraffin, aluminium stearate, cetostearyl alcohol, polyethylene glycols, woolfat, beeswax, carboxypolymethylene and cellulose derivatives, and/or glyceryl monostearate and/or non-ionic emulsifying agents. [0034]
Lotions may be formulated with an aqueous or oily base and will in general also contain one or more emulsifying agents, stabilising agents, dispersing agents, suspending agents or thickening agents. [0035]
Powders for external application may be formed with the aid of any suitable powder base (carrier substance), for example, talc, lactose or starch. Drops may be formulated with an aqueous or non-aqueous base also comprising one or more dispersing agents, solubilising agents, suspending agents or preservatives. [0036]
If appropriate, the formulations of the invention may be buffered by the addition of suitable buffering agents. [0037]
The proportion of the active compound of formula (I) in the local compositions according to the invention depends on the precise type of formulation to be prepared but will generally be within the range of from 0.001 to 10% by weight. Generally, however for most types of preparations advantageously the proportion used will be within the range of from 0.005 to 1% and preferably 0.01 to 0.5%. However, in powders for inhalation or insufflation the proportion used will usually be within the range of from 0.1 to 5%. [0038]
Aerosol formulations are preferably arranged so that each metered dose or “puff” of aerosol contains 1 μg-2000 μg eg 20 μg-2000 μg, preferably about 20 μg-500 μg of a compound of formula (I) optionally in combination with another therapeutically active ingredient. Administration may be once daily or several times daily, for example 2, 3, 4 or 8 times, giving for example 1, 2 or 3 doses each time. Preferably the compound of formula (I) is delivered once or twice daily, more preferably once-per-day. The overall daily dose with an aerosol will typically be within the range 10 μg-10 mg eg 100 μg-10 mg preferably, 200 μg-2000 μg. [0039]
Since the compound of formula (I) is long-acting, preferably the compound will be delivered once-per-day and the dose will be selected so that the compound has a therapeutic effect in the treatment of respiratory disorders (eg asthma or COPD, particularly asthma) over 24 hours or more. [0040]
Topical preparations may be administered by one or more applications per day to the affected area; over skin areas occlusive dressings may advantageously be used. Continuous or prolonged delivery may be achieved by an adhesive reservoir system. [0041]
For internal administration the compound according to the invention may, for example, be formulated in conventional manner for oral, parenteral or rectal administration. Formulations for oral administration include syrups, elixirs, powders, granules, tablets and capsules which typically contain conventional excipients such as binding agents, fillers, lubricants, disintegrants, wetting agents, suspending agents, emulsifying agents, preservatives, buffer salts, flavouring, colouring and/or sweetening agents as appropriate. Dosage unit forms are, however, preferred as described below. [0042]
Preferred forms of preparation for internal administration are dosage unit forms i.e. tablets and capsules. Such dosage unit forms contain from 0.1 mg to 20 mg preferably from 2.5 to 10 mg of the compound of the invention. [0043]
The compound according to the invention may in general may be given by internal administration in cases where systemic adreno-cortical therapy is indicated. [0044]
In general terms preparations, for internal administration may contain from 0.05 to 10% of the active ingredient dependent upon the type of preparation involved. The daily dose may vary from 0.1 mg to 60 mg, eg 5-30 mg, dependent on the condition being treated, and the duration of treatment desired. [0045]
Slow release or enteric coated formulations may be advantageous, particularly for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disorders. [0046]
The pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention may also be used in combination with another therapeutically active agent, for example, a β[0047] 2 adrenoreceptor agonist, an anti-histamine or an anti-allergic. The invention thus provides, in a further aspect, a combination comprising the compound of formula (I) or a physiologically acceptable solvate thereof together with another therapeutically active agent, for example, a β2-adrenoreceptor agonist, an anti-histamine or an anti-allergic.
Examples of β[0048] 2-adrenoreceptor agonists include salmeterol (eg as racemate or a single enantiomer such as the R-enantiomer), salbutamol, formoterol, salmefamol, fenoterol or terbutaline and salts thereof, for example the xinafoate salt of salmeterol, the sulphate salt or free base of salbutamol or the fumarate salt of formoterol. Pharmaceutical compositions employing combinations with long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonists (eg salmeterol and salts thereof) are particularly preferred, especially those which have a therapeutic effect (eg in the treatment of asthma or COPD, particularly asthma) over 24 hours or more.
Since the compound of formula (I) is long-acting, preferably the composition comprising the compound of formula (I) and the long-acting β[0049] 2-adrenoreceptor agonists will be delivered once-per-day and the dose of each will be selected so that the composition has a therapeutic effect in the treatment of respiratory disorders effect (eg in the treatment of asthma or COPD, particularly asthma) over 24 hours or more.
Examples of anti-histamines include methapyrilene or loratadine. [0050]
Other suitable combinations include, for example, other anti-inflammatory agents eg NSAIDs (eg sodium cromoglycate, nedocromil sodium, PDE4 inhibitors, leukotriene antagonists, iNOS inhibitors, tryptase and elastase inhibitors, beta-2 integrin antagonists and adenosine 2a agonists)) or antiinfective agents (eg antibiotics, antivirals). [0051]
Also of particular interest is use of the compound of formula (I) in combination with a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor. The PDE4-specific inhibitor useful in this aspect of the invention may be any compound that is known to inhibit the PDE4 enzyme or which is discovered to act as a PDE4 inhibitor, and which are only PDE4 inhibitors, not compounds which inhibit other members of the PDE family as well as PDE4. Generally it is preferred to use a PDE4 inhibitor which has an IC[0052] 50 ratio of about 0.1 or greater as regards the IC50 for the PDE4 catalytic form which binds rolipram with a high affinity divided by the IC50 for the form which binds rolipram with a low affinity. For the purposes of this disclosure, the cAMP catalytic site which binds R and S rolipram with a low affinity is denominated the “low affinity” binding site (LPDE 4) and the other form of this catalytic site which binds rolipram with a high affinity is denominated the “high affinity” binding site (HPDE 4). This term “HPDE4” should not be confused with the term “hPDE4” which is used to denote human PDE4. Initial experiments were conducted to establish and validate a [3H]-rolipram binding assay. Details of this work are given in the Binding Assays described in detail below.
The preferred PDE4 inhibitors of use in this invention will be those compounds which have a salutary therapeutic ratio, i.e., compounds which preferentially inhibit cAMP catalytic activity where the enzyme is in the form that binds rolipram with a low affinity, thereby reducing the side effects which apparently are linked to inhibiting the form which binds rolipram with a high affinity. Another way to state this is that the preferred compounds will have an IC[0053] 50 ratio of about 0.1 or greater as regards the IC50 for the PDE4 catalytic form which binds rolipram with a high affinity divided by the IC50 for the form which binds rolipram with a low affinity. A further refinement of this standard is that of one wherein the PDE4 inhibitor has an IC50 ratio of about 0.1 or greater; said ratio is the ratio of the IC50 value for competing with the binding of 1nM of [3H]R-rolipram to a form of PDE4 which binds rolipram with a high affinity over the IC50 value for inhibiting the PDE4 catalytic activity of a form which binds rolipram with a low affinity using 1 μM[3H]-cAMP as the substrate.
Examples of useful PDE4 inhibitors are: [0054]
(R)-(+)-1-(4-bromobenzyl)-4-[(3-cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-pyrrolidone; [0055]
3-(cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-N′-[N2-cyano-S-methyl-isothioureido]benzyl)-2-pyrrolidone; [0057]
cis 4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1-carboxylic acid]; [0058]
cis-[4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1-ol]; [0059]
(R)-(+)-ethyl [4-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)pyrrolidine-2-ylidene]acetate; and [0060]
(S)-(−)-ethyl [4-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)pyrrolidine-2-ylidene]acetate. [0061]
Most preferred are those PDE4 inhibitors which have an IC[0062] 50 ratio of greater than 0.5, and particularly those compounds having a ratio of greater than 1.0. Preferred compounds are cis 4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1-carboxylic acid, 2-carbomethoxy-4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1-one and cis-[4-cyano-4-(3-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxyphenyl)cyclohexan-1-ol]; these are examples of compounds which bind preferentially to the low affinity binding site and which have an IC50 ratio of 0.1 or greater.
Other compounds of interest include: [0063]
Compounds set out in U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,438 issued Sep. 3, 1996; this patent and the compounds it discloses are incorporated herein in full by reference. The compound of particular interest, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,438, is cis-4-cyano-4-[3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid (also known as cilomalast) and its salts, esters, pro-drugs or physical forms; AWD-12-281 from Astra (Hofgen, N. et al. 15th EFMC Int Symp Med Chem (September 6-10, Edinburgh) 1998, Abst P.98); a 9-benzyladenine derivative nominated NCS-613 (INSERM); D-4418 from Chiroscience and Schering-Plough; a benzodiazepine PDE4 inhibitor identified as Cl-1018 (PD-168787; Parke-Davis/Warner-Lambert); a benzodioxole derivative Kyowa Hakko disclosed in WO 9916766; V-11294A from Napp (Landells, L. J. et al. Eur Resp J [Annu Cong Eur Resp Soc (September 19-23, Geneva) 1998] 1998, 12(Suppl. 28): Abst P2393); roflumilast (CAS reference No 162401-32-3) and a pthalazinone (WO 9947505) from Byk-Gulden; or a compound identified as T-440 (Tanabe Seiyaku; Fuji, K. et al. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 1998, 284(1): 162). [0064]
Phosphodiesterase and Rolipram Binding Assays [0065]
Assay Method 1A [0066]
Isolated human monocyte PDE4 and hrPDE (human recombinant PDE4) was determined to exist primarily in the low affinity form. Hence, the activity of test compounds against the low affinity form of PDE4 can be assessed using standard assays for PDE4 catalytic activity employing 1 μM [[0067] 3H]cAMP as a substrate (Torphy et al., J. of Biol. Chem., Vol. 267, No. 3 pp 1798-1804, 1992). Rat brain high speed supernatants were used as a source of protein and both enantiomers of [3H]-rolipram were prepared to a specific activity of 25.6 Ci/mmol. Standard assay conditions were modified from the published procedure to be identical to the PDE assay conditions, except for the last of the cAMP: 50 mM Tris HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mM MgCl2, 50 μM 5′-AMP and 1 nM of [3H]-rolipram (Torphy et al., J. of Biol. Chem., Vol. 267, No. 3 pp 1798-1804, 1992). The assay was run for 1 hour at 30° C. The reaction was terminated and bound ligand was separated from free ligand using a Brandel cell harvester. Competition for the high affinity binding site was assessed under conditions that were identical to those used for measuring low affinity PDE activity, expect that [3H]-cAMP was not present.
Assay Method 1B [0068]
Measurement of Phosphodiesterase Activity [0069]
PDE activity was assayed using a [[0070] 3H]cAMP SPA or [3H]cGMP SPA enzyme assay as described by the supplier (Amersham Life Sciences). The reactions were conducted in 96-well plates at room temperature, in 0.1 ml of reaction buffer containing (final concentrations): 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 8.3 mM MgCl2, 1.7 mM EGTA, [3H]cAMP or [3H] cGMP (approximately 2000 dpm/pmol), enzyme and various concentrations of the inhibitors. The assay was allowed to proceed for 1 hr and was terminated by adding 50 μl of SPA yttrium silicate beads in the presence of zinc sulfate. The plates were shaken and allowed to stand at room temperature for 20 min. Radiolabeled product formation was assessed by scintillation spectrometry.
[[0071] 3H]R-Rolipram Binding Assay
The [[0072] 3H]R-rolipram binding assay was performed by modification of the method of Schneider and co-workers, see Nicholson, et al., Trends Pharmacol. Sci., Vol. 12, pp. 19-27 (1991) and McHale et al., Mol. Pharmacol., Vol. 39, 109-113 (1991). R-Rolipram binds to the catalytic site of PDE4 see Torphy et al., Mol. Pharmacol., Vol. 39, pp. 376-384 (1991). Consequently, competition for [3H]R-rolipram binding provides an independent confirmation of the PDE4 inhibitor potencies of unlabeled competitors. The assay was performed at 30° C. for 1 hr in 0.5 μl buffer containing (final concentrations): 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 5 mM MgCl2, 0.05% bovine serum albumin, 2 nM [3H]R-rolipram (5.7×104 dpm/pmol) and various concentrations of non-radiolabeled inhibitors. The reaction was stopped by the addition of 2.5 ml of ice-cold reaction buffer (without [3H]-R-rolipram) and rapid vacuum filtration (Brandel Cell Harvester) through Whatman GF/B filters that had been soaked in 0.3% polyethylenimine. The filters were washed with an additional 7.5 ml of cold buffer, dried, and counted via liquid scintillation spectrometry.
The invention thus provides, in a further aspect, a combination comprising the compound of formula (I) or a physiologically acceptable solvate thereof together with a PDE4 inhibitor. [0073]
The combination referred to above may conveniently be presented for use in the form of a pharmaceutical formulation and thus pharmaceutical formulations comprising a combination as defined above together with a physiologically acceptable diluent or carrier represent a further aspect of the invention. [0074]
The compound according to the invention in combination with another therapeutically active ingredient as described above may be formulated for administration in any convenient way, and the invention therefore also includes within its scope pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound of formula (I) or a physiologically acceptable solvate thereof in combination with another therapeutically active ingredient together, if desirable, in admixture with one or more physiologically acceptable diluents or carriers. The preferred route of administration for inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract will generally be administration by inhalation. [0075]
The individual compounds of such combinations may be administered either sequentially in separate pharmaceutical compositions as well as simultaneously in combined pharmaceutical formulations. Appropriate doses of known therapeutic agents will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. [0077]
Surprisingly, the compound of formula (I) has demonstrated a significant propensity to form solvates with commonly used organic solvents. Such solvates are essentially stoichiometric eg the ratio of compound of formula (I) to solvent is close to 1:1 eg according to Applicant's analysis has been determined to be in the range 0.95-1.05:1. For example, we have prepared solvates with solvents such as acetone, dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMAc), tetrahydrofuran (THF), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, isopropanol and methylethylketone. The solvation of compound of formula (I) is not predictable however since we have found that even though it does form a solvate with isopropanol it does not appear to form a solvate with ethanol or methanol. Furthermore it does not appear to form a solvate with 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, ethylacetate, methylacetate, toluene, methylisobutylketone (MIBK) or water either. However due to the toxicity of many organic solvents it has been necessary to develop special final stage processing conditions (discussed later) in order to permit the compound of formula (I) to be produced in unsolvated form. Thus according to another aspect of the invention there is provided a compound of formula (I) in unsolvated form. [0078]
Surprisingly we have also discovered that the compound of formula (I) in unsolvated form may exist in a number of polymorphic forms. Specifically we have identified polymorphic forms which may be distinguished by means of X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) which we have named as Form 1, Form 2 and Form 3. Form 3 appears to be an unstable minor polymorphic modification of Form 2. Broadly speaking the Forms are characterised in their XRPD profiles as follows: [0079]
Form 1: Peak at around 18.9 degrees 2Theta [0080]
Form 2: Peaks at around 18.4 and 21.5 degrees 2Theta. [0081]
Within the range 21-23 degrees 2Theta Form 3 shows a single peak whereas Form 2 shows a pair of peaks. A peak at 7 degrees 2Theta is present in all cases however it is present at much higher intensity in the case of Forms 2 and 3 than is the case for Form 1. [0083]
The XRPD patterns of the polymorphs are shown overlaid in FIG. 1. The conversion of Form 2 to Form 1 with time in an aqueous slurry at ambient temperature is shown in FIG. 2. In the conversion of Form 2 to Form 1 the loss of a peak characteristic of Form 2 (labelled B) at around 18.4 degrees 2Theta, a marked reduction in intensity in the peak at around 7 degrees 2Theta (labelled A) and the appearance of a peak characteristic of Form 1 (labelled C) at around 18.9 degrees 2Theta are particularly noticeable. [0084]
The temperature dependence of Form 3 is shown in FIG. 4. The temperature was varied according to the profile shown in FIG. 5. From FIG. 4 it can be seen that Form 3 converts first to Form 2 over the temperature range 30-170° C. and then converts to Form 1 over the temperature range 170-230° C. In the conversion of Form 3 to Form 2 the division of one peak in the range 21-23 degrees 2Theta into two peaks within the same range and the shifting leftwards of the peak at around 18.6 degrees 2Theta to around 18.4 degrees 2Theta are particularly noticeable. In the conversion of Form 2 to Form 1 similar changes to those noted in the previous paragraph may be observed. [0085]
The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) profiles of Form 1 are shown in FIG. 3. The profiles are characterised by a transition at around 280-300° C. (typically close to 298° C.) corresponding to an endothermic event in the DSC and chemical degradation in the TGA. The DSC profiles of Forms 2 and 3 were not materially different under the conditions of the experiments performed and thus DSC is not a suitable technique for distinguishing between the 3 Forms. In FIG. 3 the absence of activity in the TGA and DSC profiles below around 298° C. implies that the substance shows good physical and chemical stability at normal operating temperatures. [0086]
As shown in the Examples, enthalpy of dissolution of Forms 1 and 3 have been determined in certain organic solvents and accordingly an enthalpy of transition from Form 3 to Form 1 of 5.1-6.7 kJ/mol has been estimated. [0087]
Thus we prefer compound of formula (I) in unsolvated Form 1 since this form appears to be thermodynamically most stable at ambient temperature and also appears to be least susceptible to undesirable moisture sorption (see results in Examples section). [0088]
Although use of a compound of formula (I) in solvated form is not preferred, nevertheless we have surprisingly found that certain solvate forms have particularly attractive physicochemical properties which makes them useful as intermediates in the preparation of a compound of formula (I) in unsolvated form (eg by removal of solvent as a final step). For example we have discovered that certain stoichiometric solvates can be isolated as solids in highly crystalline form. Thus we also provide as an aspect of the invention: [0089]
Compound of formula (I) as the methylethylketone solvate [0090]
Compound of formula (I) as the isopropanol solvate [0091]
Compound of formula (I) as the tetrahydrofuran solvate [0092]
Compound of formula (I) as the acetone solvate. [0093]
In particular we provide the aforementioned solvates as solids in crystalline form. A further particular advantage of these solvates is the fact that desolvation of the solvate (eg by heating) results in formation of the unsolvated form as the preferred Form 1. The aforementioned solvates have relatively low toxicity and are suitable for use in industrial scale manufacture. Compound of formula (I) as the DMF solvate which may also be isolated as a solid in crystalline form is also of interest for use in onward processing to unsolvated Form 1. [0094]
The compound of formula (I) and solvates thereof may be prepared by the methodology described hereinafter, constituting a further aspect of this invention. [0095]
A process according to the invention for preparing a compound of formula (I) comprises alkylation of a thioacid of formula (II) [0096]
or a salt thereof. [0097]
In this process the compound of formula (II) may be reacted with a compound of formula FCH[0098] 2L wherein L represents a leaving group (eg a halogen atom, a mesyl or tosyl group or the like) for example, an appropriate fluoromethyl halide under standard conditions. Preferably, the fluoromethyl halide reagent is bromofluoromethane.
As noted later, preferably the compound of formula (II) is employed as a salt, particularly the salt with diisopropylethylamine. [0099]
In a preferred process for preparing the compound of formula (I), the compound of formula (II) or a salt thereof is treated with bromofluoromethane optionally in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. A preferred solvent is methylacetate, or more preferably ethylacetate, optionally in the presence of water. The presence of water improves solubility of both starting material and product and the use of a phase transfer catalyst results in an increased rate of reaction. Examples of phase transfer catalysts that may be employed include (but are not restricted to) tetrabutylammonium bromide, tetrabutylammonium chloride, benzyltributylammonium bromide, benzyltributylammonium chloride, benzyltriethylammonium bromide, methyltributylammonium chloride and methyltrioctylammonium chloride. THF has also successfully been employed as solvent for the reaction wherein the presence of a phase transfer catalyst again provides a significantly faster reaction rate. Preferably the product present in an organic phase is washed firstly with aqueous acid eg dilute HCl in order to remove amine compounds such as triethylamine and diisopropylethylamine and then with aqueous base eg sodium bicarbonate in order to remove any unreacted precursor compound of formula (II). As noted later, if the compound of formula (I) so produced in solution in ethylacetate is distilled and toluene added, then unsolvated Form 1 crystallises out. [0100]
Compounds of formula (II) may be prepared from the corresponding 17α-hydroxyl derivative of formula (III): [0101]
using for example, the methodology described by G. H. Phillipps et al., (1994) Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 37, 3717-3729. For example the step typically comprises the addition of a reagent suitable for performing the esterification eg an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid such as an activated ester or preferably a 2-furoyl halide eg 2-furoyl chloride (employed in at least 2 times molar quantity relative to the compound of formula (III)) in the presence of an organic base eg triethylamine. The second mole of 2-furoyl chloride reacts with the thioacid moiety in the compound of formula (III) and needs to be removed eg by reaction with an amine such as diethylamine. [0102]
This method suffers disadvantages, however, in that the resultant compound of formula (II) is not readily purified of contamination with the by-product 2-furoyldiethylamide. We have therefore invented several improved processes for performing this conversion. [0103]
In a first such improved process we have discovered that by using a more polar amine such as diethanolamine, a more water soluble by-product is obtained (in this case 2-furoyldiethanolamide) which permits compound of formula (II) or a salt thereof to be produced in high purity since the by-product can efficiently be removed by water washing. [0104]
Thus according to this aspect of the invention we provide a process for preparing a compound of formula (II) which comprises: [0105]
(a) reacting a compound of formula (III) with an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid as in an amount of at least 2 moles of the activated derivative per mole of compound of formula (III) to yield a compound of formula (IIA); [0106]
;and [0107]
(b) removal of the sulphur-linked 2-furoyl moiety from compound of formula (IIA) by reaction of the product of step (a) with an organic primary or secondary amine base capable of forming a water soluble 2-furoyl amide. [0108]
In two particularly convenient embodiments of this process we also provide methods for the efficient purification of the end product which comprise either [0109]
(c1) when the product of step (b) is dissolved in a substantially water immiscible organic solvent, purifying the compound of formula (II) by washing out the amide by-product from step (b) with an aqueous wash, or [0110]
(c2) when the product of step (b) is dissolved in a water miscible solvent, purifying the compound of formula (II) by treating the product of step (b) with an aqueous medium so as to precipitate out pure compound of formula (II) or a salt thereof. [0111]
In step (a) preferably the activated derivative of 2-furoic acid may be an activated ester of 2-furoic acid, but is more preferably a 2-furoyl halide, especially 2-furoyl chloride. A suitable solvent for this reaction is ethylacetate or methylacetate (preferably methylacetate) (when step (c1) may be followed) or acetone (when step (c2) may be followed). Normally an organic base eg triethylamine will be present. In step (b) preferably the organic base is diethanolamine. The base may suitably be dissolved in a solvent eg methanol. Generally steps (a) and (b) will be performed at reduced temperature eg between 0 and 5° C. In step (c1) the aqueous wash may be water, however the use of brine results in higher yields and is therefore preferred. In step (c2) the aqueous medium is for example a dilute aqueous acid such as dilute HCl. [0112]
According to a related aspect of the invention we provide an alternative process for preparing a compound of formula (II) which comprises: [0113]
(a) reacting a compound of formula (III) with an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid in an amount of at least 2 moles of activated derivative per mole of compound of formula (III) to yield a compound of formula (IIA); and [0114]
(b) removal of the sulphur-linked 2-furoyl moiety from compound of formula (IIA) by reaction of the product of step (a) with a further mole of compound of formula (III) to give two moles of compound of formula (II). [0115]
In step (a) preferably the activated derivative of 2-furoic acid may be an activated ester of 2-furoic acid, but is more preferably a 2-furoyl halide, especially 2-furoyl chloride. A suitable solvent for his step is acetone. Normally an organic base eg triethylamine will be present. In step (b) a suitable solvent is DMF or dimethylacetamide. Normally an organic base eg triethylamine will be present. Generally steps (a) and (b) will be performed at reduced temperature eg between 0 and 5° C. The product may be isolated by treatment with acid and washing with water. [0116]
This aforementioned process is very efficient in that it does not produce any furoylamide by-product (thus affording inter alia environmental advantages) since the excess mole of furoyl moiety is taken up by reaction with a further mole of compound of formula (II) to form an additional mole of compound of formula (II). [0117]
Further general conditions for the conversion of compound of formula (III) to compound of formula (II) in the two processes just described will be well known to persons skilled in the art. [0118]
According to a preferred set of conditions, however, we have found that the compound of formula (II) may advantageously be isolated in the form of a solid crystalline salt. The preferred salt is a salt formed with a base such as triethylamine, 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, diisopropylethylamine or N-ethylpiperidine. Such salt forms of compound of formula (II) are more stable, more readily filtered and dried and can be isolated in higher purity than the free thioacid. The most preferred salt is the salt formed with diisopropylethylamine. The triethylamine salt is also of interest. [0119]
Compounds of formula (III) may be prepared in accordance with procedures described in GB 2088877B. [0120]
Compounds of formula (III) may also be prepared by a process comprising the following steps: [0121]
Step (a) comprises oxidation of a solution containing the compound of formula (V). Preferably, step (a) will be performed in the presence of a solvent comprising methanol, water, tetrahydrofuran, dioxan or diethylene glygol dimethylether. So as to enhance yield and throughput, preferred solvents are methanol, water or tetrahydrofuran, and more preferably are water or tetrahydrofuran, especially water and tetrahydrofuran as solvent. Dioxan and diethylene glygol dimethylether are also preferred solvents which may optionally (and preferably) be employed together with water. Preferably, the solvent will be present in an amount of between 3 and 10 vol relative to the amount of the starting material (1 wt.), more preferably between 4 and 6 vol., especially 5 vol. Preferably the oxidising agent is present in an amount of 1-9 molar equivalents relative to the amount of the starting material. For example, when a 50% w/w aqueous solution of periodic acid is employed, the oxidising agent may be present in an amount of between 1.1 and 10 wt. relative to the amount of the starting material (1 wt.), more preferably between 1.1 and 3 wt., especially 1.3 wt. Preferably, the oxidation step will comprise the use of a chemical oxidising agent. More preferably, the oxidising agent will be periodic acid or iodic acid or a salt thereof. Most preferably, the oxidising agent will be periodic acid or sodium periodate, especially periodic acid. Alternatively (or in addition), it will also be appreciated that the oxidation step may comprise any suitable oxidation reaction, eg one which utilises air and/or oxygen. When the oxidation reaction utilises air and/or oxygen, the solvent used in said reaction will preferably be methanol. Preferably, step (a) will involve incubating the reagents at room temperature or a little warmer, say around 25° C. eg for 2 hours. The compound of formula (IV) may be isolated by recrystallisation from the reaction mixture by addition of an anti-solvent. A suitable anti-solvent for compound of formula (IV) is water. Surprisingly we have discovered that it is highly desirable to control the conditions under which the compound of formula (IV) is precipitated by addition of anti-solvent eg water. When the recrystallisation is performed using chilled water (eg water/ice mixture at a temperature of 0-5° C.) although better anti-solvent properties may be expected we have found that the crystalline product produced is very voluminous, resembles a soft gel and is very difficult to filter. Without being limited by theory we believe that this low density product contains a large amount of solvated solvent within the crystal lattice. By contrast when conditions of around 10° C. or higher are used (eg around ambient temperature) a granular product of a sand like consistency which is very easily filtered is produced. Under these conditions, crystallisation typically commences after around 1 hour and is typically completed within a few hours (eg 2 hours). Without being limited by theory we believe that this granular product contains little or no solvated solvent within the crystal lattice. [0122]
Step (b) will typically comprise the addition of a reagent suitable for converting a carboxylic acid to a carbothioic acid eg using hydrogen sulphide gas together with a suitable coupling agent eg carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) in the presence of a suitable solvent eg dimethylformamide. [0123]
An alternative process for preparing a compound of formula (II) comprises treating a compound of formula (X) with a reagent suitable for converting a carboxylic acid to a carbothioic acid eg using hydrogen sulphide gas together with a suitable coupling agent such as CDI in the presence of a suitable solvent eg DMF. Compounds of formula (X) may be prepared by methodology analogous to that described herein. [0124]
An alternative process for preparing a compound of formula (I) or a solvate thereof comprises reacting a compound of formula (VI) [0125]
with a fluorine source. [0126]
Examples of suitable sources of fluorine include fluoride (eg sodium fluoride) or, more preferably, HF. The preferred reagent is aqueous HF. A solvent such as THF or DMF may be employed. [0127]
A compound of formula (VI) may be prepared by a process comprising [0128]
(a) alkylating a compound of formula (VII) [0129]
or a salt thereof; [0130]
(b) reacting a compound of formula (VIII) [0131]
with an epoxide forming reagent; or [0132]
(c) esterifying a compound of formula (IX) [0133]
In process (a), analogous conditions to those described above for the conversion of a compound of formula (II) to a compound of formula (I) may be employed. Typically compound of formula (VII) will be reacted with a compound of formula FCH[0134] 2L wherein L represents a leaving group (eg a halogen atom, a mesyl or tosyl group or the like) for example, an appropriate fluoromethyl halide under standard conditions. Preferably, the fluoromethyl halide reagent is bromofluoromethane.
Process (b) is preferably performed in two steps: (i) formation of a halohydrin especially a bromohydrin (eg by reaction with bromodan or equivalent reagent), followed by (ii) treatment with base such as sodium hydroxide so as to effect ring closure. The product of step (i) is a compound of formula (IXA) which is a novel intermediate that may be isolated, if desired: [0135]
wherein X represents halogen, especially Br. [0136]
In process (c), a suitable reagent would be an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid such as an activated ester or preferably a 2-furoyl halide eg 2-furoyl chloride in the presence of an organic base eg triethylamine. This reaction may be performed at elevated temperature eg around 60° C. or else at ambient temperature in the presence of an acylation catalyst eg dimethylamino pyridine (DMAP). [0137]
Compounds of formula (VII) may be prepared by a process comprising esterification of a compound of formula (XI) [0138]
Analogous conditions to those described above for the conversion of a compound of formula (III) to a compound of formula (II) may be employed. For example, a suitable reagent would be an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid such as an activated ester or preferably a 2-furoyl halide eg 2-furoyl chloride in the presence of an organic base eg triethylamine. Compound of formula (XI) is known (J Labelled Compd Radiopharm (1997) 39(7) 567-584). [0139]
A compound of formula (VIII) may be prepared by a process comprising [0140]
(a) alkylating a compound of formula (XII) [0141]
or a salt thereof; or [0142]
(b) esterifying a compound of formula (XIII) [0143]
In process (a), analogous conditions to those described above for the conversion of a compound of formula (II) to a compound of formula (I) may be employed. Typically compound of formula (XII) will be reacted with a compound of formula FCH[0144] 2L wherein L represents a leaving group (eg a halogen atom, a mesyl or tosyl group or the like) for example, an appropriate fluoromethyl halide under standard conditions. Preferably, the fluoromethyl halide reagent is bromofluoromethane.
In process (b), analogous conditions to those employed above for the conversion of a compound of formula (IX) to a compound of formula (VI) may be employed. For example, a suitable reagent would be an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid such as an activated ester or preferably a 2-furoyl halide eg 2-furoyl chloride in the presence of an organic base eg triethylamine. [0145]
Compounds of formula (IX) and (XIII) may be prepared by alkylating the corresponding thioacids (XI) and (XIV) (defined below) using methodology analogous to that already described (eg by reaction with a compound of formula FCH[0146] 2L wherein L represents a leaving group (eg a halogen atom, a mesyl or tosyl group or the like) for example, an appropriate fluoromethyl halide under standard conditions. Preferably, the fluoromethyl halide reagent is bromofluoromethane. The thioacid (XI) is a known compound (J Labelled Compd Radiopharm (1997) 39(7) 567-584).
Compound of formula (XII) may be prepared by a process comprising esterifying a compound of formula (XIV): [0147]
This process may be performed using methodology analogous to that already described. For example, a suitable reagent would be an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid such as an activated ester or preferably a 2-furoyl halide eg 2-furoyl chloride in the presence of an organic base eg triethylamine. [0149]
Compounds of formula (XIV) may be prepared from the corresponding carboxylic acid eg by a process analogous to that described above for the conversion of a compound of formula (IV) to a compound of formula (III). The aforesaid corresponding carboxylic acid is known (Upjohn, WO 90/15816). [0150]
A further alternative process for preparing a compound of formula (I) or a solvate thereof comprises deprotecting or unmasking a compound of formula (I) in which the 11-β-hydroxy group is protected or masked. A first such process comprises deprotecting a compound of formula (XV) [0151]
wherein P represents a hydroxy protecting group. [0152]
Examples of hydroxy protecting groups P are described in Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry Ed J F W McOmie (Plenum Press 1973) or Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis by Theodora W Green (John Wiley and Sons, 1991). [0153]
Examples of suitable hydroxy protecting groups P include groups selected from carbonate, alkyl (eg t-butyl or methoxymethyl), aralkyl (eg benzyl, p-nitrobenzyl, diphenylmethyl or triphenylmethyl), heterocyclic groups such as tetrahydropyranyl, acyl (eg acetyl or benzyl) and silyl groups such as trialkylsilyl (eg t-butyldimethylsilyl). The hydroxy protecting groups may be removed by conventional techniques. Thus, for example, carbonate may be removed by treatment with base and alkyl, silyl, acyl and heterocyclic groups may be removed by solvolysis eg by hydrolysis under acid or basic conditions. Aralkyl groups such as triphenylmethyl may similarly be removed by solvolysis eg by hydrolysis under acidic conditions. Aralkyl groups such as benzyl or p-nitrobenzyl may be cleaved by hydrogenolysis in the presence of a Noble metal catalyst such as palladium on charcoal. p-Nitrobenzyl may also be cleaved by photolysis. [0154]
The 11-β-hydroxy group may be masked as a carbonyl group. Thus a second such process comprises reduction of a compound of formula (XVI) [0155]
Reduction to the compound of formula (I) may be achieved eg by treatment with a hydride reducing agent such as borohydride eg sodium borohydride. [0156]
The 11-ketone (XVI) may also be masked. Examples of masked derivatives of compound of formula (XVI) include (i) ketal derivatives eg ketals formed by treatment of the compound of formula (XVI) with an alcohol eg methanol, ethanol or ethan-1,2-diol, (ii) dithioketal derivatives eg dithioketals formed by treatment of the compound of formula (XVI) with a thiol eg methanethiol, ethanethiol or ethan-1,2-dithiol, (iii) monothioketal derivatives eg monothioketals formed by treatment of the compound of formula (XVI) with eg 1-hydroxy-ethane-2-thiol, (iv) derivatives formed by treatment of the compound of formula (XVI) with an alcoholamine eg ephedrine, (v) imines formed by treatment of the compound of formula (XVI) with amines, (vi) oximes formed by treatment of compounds of formula (XVI) with hydroxylamines. We claims such derivatives of compound of formula (XVI) as an aspect of the invention. [0157]
These masked derivatives may be converted back to the ketone by conventional means eg ketals, imines and oximes are converted to carbonyl by treatment with dilute acid and dithioketals are converted to the ketone by a variety of methods as described by P. C. Bulman Page et al (1989), Tetrahedron, 45, 7643-7677 and references therein. [0158]
Compounds of formula (XV) may be prepared by a process comprising [0159]
(a) alkylating a compound of formula (XVII) [0160]
or a salt thereof wherein P represents a hydroxy protecting group; or [0161]
(b) esterifying a compound of formula (XVIII) [0162]
In step (a), analogous conditions to those described above for the conversion of a compound of formula (II) to a compound of formula (I) may be employed. Typically compound of formula (XVII) will be reacted with a compound of formula FCH[0163] 2L wherein L represents a leaving group (eg a halogen atom, a mesyl or tosyl group or the like) for example, an appropriate fluoromethyl halide under standard conditions. Preferably, the fluoromethyl halide reagent is bromofluoromethane.
In step (b), analogous conditions to those employed above for the conversion of a compound of formula (IX) to a compound of formula (VI) may be employed. For example, a suitable reagent would be an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid such as an activated ester or preferably a 2-furoyl halide eg 2-furoyl chloride in the presence of an organic base eg triethylamine. [0164]
Compound of formula (XVIII) may be prepared by alkylating the corresponding thioacid using methodology analogous to that already described (eg by reaction with a compound of formula FCH[0165] 2L wherein L represents a leaving group (eg a halogen atom, a mesyl or tosyl group or the like) for example, an appropriate fluoromethyl halide under standard conditions. Preferably, the fluoromethyl halide reagent is bromofluoromethane. The corresponding thioacids are known compounds or may be prepared by standard methodology. Compound of formula (XVIII) may alternatively be prepared by protection of the corresponding hydroxy derivative.
Compound of formula (XVII) may be prepared by a process comprising esterifying a compound of formula (XIX) [0166]
or a salt thereof wherein P represents a hydroxy protecting group. [0167]
This process may be performed using methodology analogous to that already described for the conversion of compounds of formula (III) to (II). For example, a suitable reagent would be an activated derivative of 2-furoic acid such as an activated ester or preferably a 2-furoyl halide eg 2-furoyl chloride in the presence of an organic base eg triethylamine. [0168]
Compounds of formula (XIX) may be prepared by protecting the corresponding hydroxy derivative (III), having first protected the thioacid which would then be deprotected. [0169]
Compounds of formula (XVI) may be prepared by a process comprising [0170]
(a) alkylating a compound of formula (XX) [0171]
or a salt thereof or a derivative wherein the 11-carbonyl group is masked; or [0172]
(b) esterifying a compound of formula (XXI) [0173]
or a derivative wherein the 11-carbonyl group is masked. [0174]
In step (a), analogous conditions to those described above for the conversion of a compound of formula (III) to a compound of formula (II) may be employed. Typically compound of formula (XX) will be reacted with a compound of formula FCH[0175] 2L wherein L represents a leaving group (eg a halogen atom, a mesyl or tosyl group or the like) for example, an appropriate fluoromethyl halide under standard conditions. Preferably, the fluoromethyl halide reagent is bromofluoromethane.
Compound of formula (XXI) or a derivative thereof wherein the 11-ketone group is masked may be prepared by alkylating the corresponding thioacid using methodology analogous to that already described (eg by reaction with a compound of formula FCH[0177] 2L wherein L represents a leaving group (eg a halogen atom, a mesyl or tosyl group or the like) for example, an appropriate fluoromethyl halide under standard conditions. Preferably, the fluoromethyl halide reagent is bromofluoromethane. The corresponding thioacids are known compounds or may be prepared from the corresponding carboxylic acids by methods analogous to those previously described.
Compound of formula (XX) may be prepared by a process comprising esterifying a compound of formula (XXII) [0178]
or a derivative thereof wherein the 11-ketone group is masked. [0179]
Compounds of formula (XXII) and derivatives thereof wherein the 11-ketone is masked may be prepared by oxidation of the corresponding hydroxy derivative (IV) followed by masking of the ketone and subsequent conversion of the carboxylic acid group to the thioacid (see eg conversion of compounds of formula (IV) to (III). [0181]
A further alternative process for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) or a solvate thereof comprises reaction of a compound of formula (XXIII) [0182]
wherein L represents a leaving group (eg halide other than fluoride such as chloride, iodide or a sulphonate ester such mesylate, tosylate, triflate) with a fluorine source. [0183]
Preferably the fluorine source is fluoride ion eg KF. Further details for this conversion may be obtained by reference to G. H. Phillipps et al., (1994) Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 37, 3717-3729 or J Labelled Compd Radiopharm (1997) 39(7) 567-584). [0184]
Compounds of formula (XXIII) may be prepared by methods analogous to those described herein. Corresponding novel intermediates of formula (VI), (VIII), (IX), (IXA), (XV) and (XVI) wherein the —CH2F moiety is replaced with a —CH2L moiety (wherein L represents a leaving group other than fluorine) are claimed as an aspect of the invention. [0185]
A further alternative process for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) or a solvate thereof comprises deprotection or unmasking of a derivative of a compound of formula (I) in which the 3-carbonyl group is protected or masked. [0186]
The 3-carbonyl group may be masked in a manner analogous to that described above in relation to masking of the 11-carbonyl position. Thus the 3-carbonyl may be masked eg as a ketal, monothioketal, dithioketal, derivative with an alcoholamine, oxime or imine. The carbonyl group may be recovered by conventional means eg ketals are converted to carbonyl by treatment with dilute acid and dithioketals are converted to the ketone by a variety of methods as described by P. C. Bulman Page et al (1989), Tetrahedron, 45, 7643-7677 and references therein. [0187]
Certain intermediate compounds are new and we provide these, together where appropriate with their salts and solvates, as an aspect of the invention. [0188]
As noted above, we provide as a particular aspect of the invention a process for preparing a compound of formula (I) in unsolvated form which comprises: [0189]
(a) Crystallising the compound of formula (I) in the presence of a non-solvating solvent such as ethanol, methanol, water, ethyl acetate, toluene, methylisobutylketone or mixtures thereof; or [0190]
(b) Desolvating a compound of formula (I) in solvated form (eg in the form of a solvate with acetone, isopropanol, methylethylketone, DMF or tetrahydrofuran) eg by heating. [0191]
In step (b) the desolvation will generally be performed at a temperature exceeding 50° C. preferably at a temperature exceeding 100° C. Generally heating will be performed under vacuum. [0192]
There is also provided a compound of formula (I) in unsolvated form obtainable by the aforementioned process. [0193]
There is also provided as a particular aspect of the invention a process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 1 polymorph which comprises dissolving compound of formula (I) in methylisobutylketone, ethyl acetate or methyl acetate and producing compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 1 by addition of a non-solvating anti-solvent such as iso-octane or toluene. [0194]
According to a first preferred embodiment of this process the compound of formula (I) may be dissolved in ethyl acetate and compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 1 polymorph may be obtained by addition of toluene as anti-solvent. In order to improve the yield, preferably the ethyl acetate solution is hot and once the toluene has been added the mixture is distilled to reduce the content of ethyl acetate. [0195]
According to a second preferred embodiment of this process the compound of formula (I) may be dissolved in methylisobutylketone and compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 1 polymorph may be obtained by addition of isooctane as anti-solvent. [0196]
There is also provided a compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 1 polymorph obtainable by the aforementioned processes. [0197]
A process for preparing a compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 2 polymorph comprises dissolving compound of formula (I) in unsolvated form in methanol or dry dichloromethane and recrystallising the compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 2 polymorph. Typically the compound of formula (I) will be dissolved in hot in methanol or dry dichloromethane and allowed to cool. [0198]
There is also provided a compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 2 polymorph obtainable by the aforementioned process. [0199]
A process for preparing a preparing a compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 3 polymorph comprises dissolving compound of formula (I) in particular as the acetone solvate in dichloromethane in the presence of water (typically 1-3% water by volume) and recrystallising the compound of formula (I) as unsolvated Form 3 polymorph. [0200]
The advantages of the compound of formula (I) and/or its solvates or polymorphs may include the fact that the substance appears to demonstrate excellent anti-inflammatory properties, with predictable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behaviour, with an attractive side-effect profile, long duration of action, and is compatible with a convenient regime of treatment in human patients, in particular being amendable to once-per day dosing. The advantages may be appreciated in particular when the compound of formula (I) and/or its solvates or polymorphs are employed in combination with a the long-acting β[0202] 2-adrenoreceptor agonist. Further advantages may include the fact that the substance has desirable physical and chemical properties which allow for ready manufacture and storage.
FIG. 1: Overlay of the XRPD profiles of Form 1, Form 2 and Form 3 polymorphs of unsolvated Compound of formula (I). [0203]
FIG. 2: Overlay of the XRPD profiles of Form 1, Form 2 and a 50:50 mixture of Form 1 and Form 2 polymorphs of unsolvated Compound of formula (I) together with the time dependence of the profile of the 50:50 mixture of Form 1 and Form 2. [0204]
FIG. 3: DSC and TGA profiles of Form 1 polymorph of Unsolvated Compound of formula (I). [0205]
FIG. 4: Temperature dependence of the XRPD profile of Compound of formula (I) Unsolvated Form 3 obtained at 5 timepoints. [0206]
FIG. 5: Temperature and time profile for the XRPD experiments of FIG. 4.[0207]
The following non-limiting Examples illustrate the invention: [0208]
EXAMPLES General
[0209] 1H-nmr spectra were recorded at 400 MHz and the chemical shifts are expressed in ppm relative to tetramethylsilane. The following abbreviations are used to describe the multiplicities of the signals: s (singlet), d (doublet), t (triplet), q (quartet), m (multiplet), dd (doublet of doublets), ddd (doublet of doublet of doublets), dt (doublet of triplets) and b (broad). Biotage refers to prepacked silica gel cartridges containing KP-Sil run on flash 12i chromatography module. LCMS was conducted on a Supelcosil LCABZ+PLUS column (3.3 cm×4.6 mm ID) eluting with 0.1% HCO2H and 0.01 M ammonium acetate in water (solvent A), and 0.05% HCO2H 5% water in acetonitrile (solvent B), using the following elution gradient 0-0.7 min 0% B, 0.7-4.2 min 100% B, 4.2-5.3 min 0% B, 5.3-5.5 min 0% B at a flow rate of 3 ml/min. The mass spectra were recorded on a Fisons VG Platform spectrometer using electrospray positive and negative mode (ES+ve and ES−ve).
DSC and TGA profiles were obtained using a Netzsch STA449C simultaneous thermal analyser using an unsealed pan with nitrogen gas flow and a thermal gradient of 10° C./min. [0210]
The moisture sorption characteristics were obtained using a Hiden Igasorb water sorption microbalance. The programme provides for stepwise increase in relative humidity (RH) from 0 to 90% RH and then decrease back to 0% RH in steps of 10% RH. [0211]
The XRPD analysis shown in FIG. 1 and [0212] 2 were performed on a Phillips X'pert MPD powder diffractometer, serial number DY667. The method runs from 2 to 45 degrees 2Theta with 0.02 degree 2Theta step size and a 1 second collection time at each step. The XRPD analysis shown in FIG. 4 employed the same instrument with an Anton Parr TTK thermal accessory using a method running from 2 to 35 degrees 2Theta with 0.04 degree 2Theta step size and a 1 second collection time.
Intermediates Intermediate 1: 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid
A solution of 6α, 9α-difluoro-11β, 17α-dihydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid (prepared in accordance with the procedure described in GB 2088877B) (18 g, 43.64 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (200 ml) and triethylamine (15.94 ml, 114 mmol) was treated at <5° C. with a solution of 2-furoyl chloride (11.24 ml, 114 mmol) in anhydrous dichloromethane (100 ml) over approximately 40 min. The solution was stirred at <5° C. for 30 min. The resulting solid was collected by filtration, washed successively with 3.5% aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, water, 1M hydrochloric acid, and water and dried in vacuo at 60° C. to give a cream coloured solid. The dichloromethane filtrate was washed successively with 3.5% sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, water, 1M hydrochloric acid, water, dried (Na[0213] 2SO4) and evaporated to give a cream coloured solid which was combined with that isolated above. The combined solids (26.9 g) were suspended in acetone (450 ml) and stirred. Diethylamine (16.8 ml, 162 mmol) was added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for 4.5 h. The mixture was concentrated and the precipitate collected by filtration and washed with a little acetone. The washings and filtrate were combined, concentrated and loaded onto a silica gel Biotage column which was eluted with 24:1 chloroform:methanol. Fractions which contained the more polar component were combined and evaporated to give a cream coloured solid. This was combined with the solid isolated above and dried in vacuo to give a pale beige coloured solid (19.7 g). This was dissolved in warm water, the pH adjusted to 2 with concentrated hydrochloric acid and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract was dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated to give, after drying at 50° C., the title compound as a cream coloured solid (18.081 g, 82%): LCMS retention time 3.88 min, m/z 507 MH+, NMR δ (CDCl3) includes 7.61 (1H, m), 7.18-7.12 (2H, m), 6.52 (1H, dd, J 4, 2 Hz), 6.46 (1H, s), 6.41 (1H, dd, J 10, 2 Hz), 5.47 and 5.35 (1H, 2m), 4.47 (1H, bd, J 9 Hz), 3.37 (1H, m), 1.55 (3H, s), 1.21 (3H, s), 1.06 (3H, d, J 7 Hz).
Intermediate 1: 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid (first alternative method)
A stirred suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-11β, 17α-dihydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid (prepared in accordance with the procedure described in GB 2088877B) (1 wt, 49.5 g) in acetone (10 vol) is cooled to 0-5° C. and treated with triethylamine (0.51 wt, 2.1 eq), keeping the temperature below 5° C., and stirred for 5 min at 0-5° C. 2-Furoyl chloride (0.65 wt, 2.05 eq) is then added over a minimum of 20 min, maintaining a reaction temperature at 0-5° C. The reaction is stirred for 30 min at 0-5° C. then sampled for analysis by HPLC. A solution of diethanolamine (1.02 wt, 4 eq) in methanol (0.8 vol) is added over ca 15 min followed by a line wash of methanol (0.2 vol) and the reaction stirred at 0-5° C. for 1 h. The reaction is again sampled for analysis by HPLC then warmed to approximately 20° C. and treated with water (1.1 wt). The reaction mixture is then treated with a solution of HCl (SG1.18 (11.5M), 1 vol) in water (10 vol) over ca 20 min maintaining a reaction temperature below 25° C. The suspension is stirred at 20-23° C. for at least 30 minutes then filtered. The filter cake is washed with water (3×2 vol). The product is dried in vacuo at approximately 60° C. overnight to give the title compound as a white solid (58.7 g, 96.5%). [0214]
Intermediate 1: 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid (second alternative method)
A stirred suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-11β, 17α-dihydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid (prepared in accordance with the procedure described in GB 2088877B) (1 wt, 49.5 g) in acetone (10 vol) is cooled to 0-5° C. and treated with triethylamine (0.51 wt, 2.1 eq), keeping the temperature below 5° C., and stirred for 5 min at 0-5° C. 2-Furoyl chloride (0.65 wt, 2.05 eq) is then added over a minimum of 20 min, maintaining a reaction temperature at 0-5° C. The reaction mixture is stirred for at least 30 minutes and diluted with water (10 vol) maintaining a reaction temperature in the range 0-5° C. The resultant precipitate is collected by filtration and washed sequentially with acetone/water (50/50 2 vol) and water (2×2 vol). The product is dried under vacuum at approximately 55° C. overnight to leave 6α,9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-yl S-(2-furanylcarbonyl) thioanhydride as a white solid (70.8 g, 98.2%) (NMR δ (CD[0215] 3CN) 0.99 (3H, d) (J=7.3 Hz), 1.24 (3H, s), 1.38 (1H, m) (J=3.9 Hz), 1.54 (3H, s), 1.67 (1H, m), 1.89 (1H, broad d) (J=15.2 Hz), 1.9-2.0 (1H, m), 2.29-2.45 (3H, m), 3.39 (1H, m), 4.33 (1H, m), 4.93 (1H, broad s), 5.53 (1H, ddd) (J=6.9,1.9 Hz; JHF=50.9 Hz), 6.24 (1H, m), 6.29 (1H, dd) (J=10.3, 2.0 Hz), 6.63 (2H, m), 7.24-7.31 (3H, m), 7.79 (1H, dd) (J=<1 Hz), 7.86 (1H, dd) (J=<1 Hz)). A portion of the product (0.56 g) is mixed with 6α, 9α-difluoro-11β, 17α-dihydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid (0.41 g) in a 1:1 molar ratio in DMF (10 volumes wrt total steroid input). The reaction mixture is treated with triethylamine (approximately 2.1 equivalents) and the mixture is stirred at approximately 20° C. for approximately 6 hours. Water (50 vol) containing excess conc HCl (0.5 vol) is added to the reaction mixture and the resultant precipitate collected by filtration. The bed is washed with water (2×5 vol) and dried in vacuo at approximately 55° C. overnight to leave the title compound as a white solid (0.99 g, 102%).
Intermediate 1A: 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid diisopropylethylamine salt
A stirred suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-11β, 17α-dihydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid (prepared in accordance with the procedure described in GB 2088877B) (49.5 g) in methylacetate (500 ml) is treated with triethylamine (35 ml) maintaining a reaction temperature in the range 0-5° C. 2-Furoyl chloride (25 ml) is added and the mixture stirred at 0-5° C. for 1 hour. A solution of diethanolamine (52.8 g) in methanol (50 ml) is added and the mixture stirred at 0-5° C. for at least 2 hours. Dilute hydrochloric acid (approx 1M, 550 ml) is added maintaining a reaction temperature below 15° C. and the mixture stirred at 15° C. The organic phase is separated and the aqueous phase is back extracted with methyl acetate (2×250 ml). All of the organic phases are combined, washed sequentially with brine (5×250 ml) and treated with di-isopropylethylamine (30 ml). The reaction mixture is concentrated by distillation at atmospheric pressure to an approximate volume of 250 ml and cooled to 25-30° C. (crystallisation of the desired product normally occurs during distillation/subsequent cooling). Tertiary butyl methyl ether (TBME) (500 ml) is added, the slurry further cooled and aged at 0-5° C. for at least 10 minutes. The product is filtered off, washed with chilled TBME (2×200 ml) and dried under vacuum at approximately 40-50° C. (75.3 g, 98.7%). NMR (CDCl[0216] 3) δ: 7.54-7.46 (1H, m), 7.20-7.12 (1H, dd), 7.07-6.99 (1H, dd), 6.48-6.41 (2H, m), 6.41-6.32 (1H, dd), 5.51-5.28 (1H, dddd 2JH-F 50 Hz), 4.45-4.33(1H, bd), 3.92-3.73 (3H, bm), 3.27-3.14 (2H, q), 2.64-2.12 (5H, m), 1.88-1.71 (2H, m), 1.58-1.15 (3H, s), 1.50-1.38 (15H, m), 1.32-1.23 (1H, m), 1.23-1.15 (3H s), 1.09-0.99 (3H, d)
Intermediate 1B: 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α[-(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid triethylamine salt
A stirred suspension of Intermediate 1 (30 g) in ethylacetate (900 ml) is treated with triethylamine (1.05 molar equivalents, 8.6 ml) and the mixture is stirred at approximately 20° C. for 1.5 hours. The precipitate is filtered off, washed with ethylacetate (2×2 vol) and dried in vacuo at 45° C. for 18 hours to give title compound as a white solid (28.8 g, 80%). NMR (CDCl[0217] 3) δ: 7.59-7.47 (1H, m), 7.23-7.13 (1H, dd), 7.08-6.99 (1H, d), 6.54-6.42 (2H, m), 6.42-6.32 (1H, dd), 5.55-5.26 (1H, dddd2JH-F 50 Hz), 4.47-4.33(1H, bd), 3.88-3.70 (1H, bm), 3.31-3.09 (6H, q), 2.66-2.14 (5H, m), 1.93-1.69 (2H, m), 1.61-1.48 (3H, s), 1.43-1.33 (9H, t), 1.33-1.26 (1H, m), 1.26-1.15 (3H s), 1.11-0.97 (3H, d).
EXAMPLES Example 1 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester Unsolvated Form 1
A suspension of Intermediate 1 (2.5 g, 4.94 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous N, N-dimethylformamide (25 ml) and sodium hydrogen carbonate (465 mg, 5.53 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at −20° C. and bromofluoromethane (0.77 ml, 6.37 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at −20° C. for 2 h. Diethylamine (2.57 ml, 24.7 mmole) was added and the mixture stirred at −20° C. for 30 min. The mixture was added to 2M hydrochloric acid (93 ml) and stirred for 30 min. Water (300 ml) was added and the precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with water and dried in vacuo at 50° C. to give a white solid which was recrystallised from acetone/water (to yield the acetone solvate of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17α-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester) and dried in vacuo at 50° C. to give the title compound (2.351 g, 88%): LCMS retention time 3.66 min, m/z 539 MH[0218] +, NMR δ (CDCl3) includes 7.60 (1H, m), 7.18-7.11 (2H, m), 6.52 (1H, dd, J 4.2 Hz), 6.46 (1H, s), 6.41 (1H, dd, J 10, 2 Hz), 5.95 and 5.82 (2H dd, J 51, 9 Hz), 5.48 and 5.35 (1H, 2m), 4.48 (1H, m), 3.48 (1H, m), 1.55 (3H, s), 1.16 (3H, s), 1.06 (3H, d, J 7 Hz).
Pharmacological Activity [0219]
In vitro Pharmacological Activity [0220]
Pharmacological activity was assessed in a functional in vitro assay of glucocorticoid agonist activity which is generally predictive of anti-inflammatory or anti-allergic activity in vivo. [0221]
For the experiments in this section, compound of formula (I) was used as unsolvated Form 1. [0222]
The functional assay was based on that described by K. P. Ray et al., Biochem J. (1997), 328, 707-715. A549 cells stably transfected with a reporter gene containing the NF-κB responsive elements from the ELAM gene promoter coupled to sPAP (secreted alkaline phosphatase) were treated with test compounds at appropriate doses for 1 hour at 37° C. The cells were then stimulated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF, 10 ng/ml) for 16 hours, at which time the amount of alkaline phosphatase produced is measured by a standard colourimetric assay. Dose response curves were constructed from which EC[0223] 50 values were estimated.
In this test the compound of Example 1 showed an EC[0224] 50 value of <1 nM.
The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) can function in at least two distinct mechanisms, by upregulating gene expression through the direct binding of GR to specific sequences in gene promotors, and by downregulating gene expression that is being driven by other transcription factors (such as NFκB or AP-1) through their direct interaction with GR. [0225]
In a variant of the above method, to monitor these functions, two reporter plasmids have been generated and introduced separately into A549 human lung epithelial cells by transfection. The first cell line contains the firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of a synthetic promoter that specifically responds to activation of the transcription factor NFκB when stimulated with TNFα. The second cell line contains the renilla luciferase reporter gene under the control of a synthetic promotor that comprises 3 copies of the consensus glucocorticoid response element, and which responds to direct stimulation by glucocorticoids. Simultaneous measurement of transactivation and transrepression was conducted by mixing the two cell lines in a 1:1 ratio in 96 well plate (40,000 cells per well) and growing overnight at 37° C. Test compounds were dissolved in DMSO, and added to the cells at a final DMSO concentration of 0.7%. After incubation for 1 h 0.5 ng/ml TNFα (R&D Systems) was added and after a further 15 hours at 37° C., the levels of firefly and renilla luciferase were measured using the Packard Firelite kit following the manufacturers' directions. Dose response curves were constructed from which EC[0226] 50 values were determined.
Transactivation (GR) Transrepression (NFκB)
ED50 (nM) ED50 (nM)
Compound of Formula 0.06 0.20
Metabolite (X) >250 >1000
Fluticasone propionate 0.07 0.16
In vivo Pharmacological Activity [0227]
Pharmacological activity in vivo was assessed in an ovalbumin sensitised Brown Norway rat eosinophilia model. This model is designed to mimic allergen induced lung eosinophilia, a major component of lung inflammation in asthma. [0228]
Compound (I) produced dose dependant inhibition of lung eosinophilia in this model after dosing as an intra-tracheal (IT) suspension in saline 30 min prior to ovalbumin challenge. Significant inhibition is achieved after a single dose of 30 μg of compound (I) and the response was significantly (p=0.016) greater than that seen with an equivalent dose of fluticasone propionate in the same study (69% inhibition with compound (I) vs 41% inhibition with fluticasone propionate). [0230]
In a rat model of thymus involution 3 daily IT doses of 100 μg of compound (I) induced significantly smaller reductions in thymus weight (p=0.004) than an equivalent dose of fluticasone propionate in the same study (67% reduction of thymus weight with compound (I) vs 78% reduction with fluticasone propionate). [0231]
Taken together these results indicate a superior therapeutic index for compound (I) compared to fluticasone propionate. [0232]
In vitro Metabolism in Rat and Human Hepatocytes [0233]
Incubation of compound (I) with rat or human hepatocytes shows the compound to be metabolised in an identical manner to fluticasone propionate with the 17-β carboxylic acid (X) being the only significant metabolite produced. Investigation of the rate of appearance of this metabolite on incubation of compound (I) with human hepatocytes (37° C., 10 μM drug concentration, hepatocytes from 3 subjects, 0.2 and 0.7 million cells/mL) shows compound (I) to be metabolised ca. 5-fold more rapidly than fluticasone propionate:— [0234]
17-β acid metabolite production
Subject Cell density (pmol/h)
number (million cells/mL) Compound (I) Fluticasone propionate
2 0.2 118 9.7
2 0.7 903 23.7
Median metabolite production 102-118 pmol/h for compound (I) and 18.8-23.0 pmol/h for fluticasone propionate. [0235]
Pharmacokinetics After Intravenous (IV) and Oral Dosing in Rats [0236]
Compound (I) was dosed orally (0.1 mg/kg) and IV (0.1 mg/kg) to male Wistar Han rats and pharmacokinetic parameters determined. Compound (I) showed negligible oral bioavailability (0.9%) and plasma clearance of 47.3 mL/min/kg, approaching liver blood flow (plasma clearance of fluticasone propionate=45.2 mL/min/kg). [0237]
Pharmacokinetics After Intra-tracheal Dry Powder Dosing in the Pig. [0238]
Anaesthetised pigs (2) were dosed intra-tracheally with a homogenous mixture of compound (I) (1 mg) and fluticasone propionate (1 mg) as a dry powder blend in lactose (10% w/w). Serial blood samples were taken for up to 8 h following dosing. Plasma levels of compound (I) and fluticasone propionate were determined following extraction and analysis using LC-MS/MS methodology, the lower limits of quantitation of the methods were 10 and 20 pg/mL for compound (I) and fluticasone propionate respectively. Using these methods compound (I) was quantifiable up to 2 hours after dosing and fluticasone propionate was quantifiable up to 8 hours after dosing. Maximum plasma concentrations were observed for both compounds within 15 min after dosing. Plasma half-life data obtained from IV dosing (0.1 mg/kg) was used to calculate AUC (0-inf) values for compound (I). This compensates for the plasma profile of Compound (I) only being defined up to 2 hours after an IT dose and removes any bias due to limited data between compound (I) and fluticasone propionate. [0239]
C[0240] max and AUC (0-inf) values show markedly reduced systemic exposure to compound (I) compared to fluticasone propionate:—
Cmax (pg/mL) AUC (0-inf) (hr. pg/mL)
Pig 1 Pig 2 Pig 1 Pig 2
Compound of Formula (I) 117 81 254 221
Fluticasone propionate 277 218 455 495
The pharmacokinetic parameters for both compound (I) and fluticasone propionate were the same in the anaesthetised pig following intravenous administration of a mixture of the two compounds at 0.1 mg/kg. The clearance of these two glucocorticoids is similar is this experimental pig model. [0241]
Example 1 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester Unsolvated Form 1 (First Alternative Method)
A mobile suspension of Intermediate 1A (12.61 g, 19.8 mmol; equivalent to 10 g of Intermediate 1) in ethyl acetate (230 ml) and water (50 ml) is treated with a phase transfer catalyst (benzyltributylammonium chloride, 10 mol %), cooled to 3° C. and treated with bromofluoromethane (1.10 ml, 19.5 mmol, 0.98 equivalents), washing in with prechilled (0° C.) ethyl acetate (EtOAc) (20 ml). The suspension is stirred overnight, allowing to warm to 17° C. The aqueous layer is separated and the organic phase is sequentially washed with 1M HCl (50 ml), 1% w/v NaHCO[0242] 3 solution (3×50 ml) and water (2×50 ml). The ethylacetate solution is distilled at atmospheric pressure until the distillate reaches a temperature of approximately 73° C. at which point toluene (150 ml) is added. Distillation is continued at atmospheric pressure until all remaining EtOAc has been removed (approximate distillate temperature 103° C.). The resultant suspension is cooled and aged at <10° C. and filtered off. The bed is washed with toluene (2×30 ml) and the product oven dried under vacuum at 60° C. to constant weight to yield the title compound (8.77 g, 82%).
Example 1 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester
Unsolvated Form 1 (Second Alternative Method) [0243]
A suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester acetone solvate (prepared eg according to Example 11) (50.0 g) in acetone (1500 ml) and water (75 ml) was heated to reflux. The resultant mixture was clarified by hot filtration (Whatman 54 filter paper) during which time some solid crystallised in the filtrate. Further acetone (200 ml) was added to the filtrate giving a bright solution at reflux. The solution was distilled at atmospheric pressure until turbidity was noted whilst at reflux (approx 750 ml solvent collected). Toluene (1000 ml) was added to the hot solution and distillation at atmospheric pressure was continued giving crystallisation at a temperature of approximately 98° C. Distillation of solvent was continued until a reaction temperature of 105° C. was achieved (approximately 945 ml solvent collected). The mixture was cooled to ambient temperature, further cooled and aged at <10° C. for 10 minutes. The product was filtered off, washed with toluene (150 ml) and sucked dry. The product was dried at approximately 60° C. under vacuum for 16 h to leave the title compound as a dense white solid (37.8 g, 83.7%). [0244]
The XRPD pattern of Example 1 product is shown in FIG. 1. The DSC and TGA profiles are shown in FIG. 3. [0245]
Unsolvated Form 2 [0246]
A suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester (prepared for example according to Example 1, first method) (6.0 g) in dichloromethane (180 ml) was heated to reflux giving a bright solution. The solution was clarified by hot filtration (Whatman 54 filter paper) and the solution was distilled at atmospheric pressure (approx 100 ml solvent collected) giving crystallisation at reflux. The mixture was held at reflux for approximately 30 minutes and slowly cooled to ambient temperature. The mixture was further cooled and aged at 10-20° C. for 2 hours. The slurry was cooled to below 10° C. and the product was filtered off, sucked dry and dried at approximately 60° C. under vacuum overnight to leave a white solid (4.34 g, 71%). [0247]
A more pure sample of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester unsolvated Form 2 was obtained by a cooling crystallisation of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]- 11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester (prepared eg according to Example 1, first method) in methanol (60 volumes, distilled at atmospheric pressure to approx 37.5 volumes). The product was isolated by filtration and oven dried at 60° C. under vacuum for 16 hours to leave a white, electrostatic solid (4.34 g, 71%). [0248]
The XRPD pattern of Example 2 product is shown in FIG. 1. [0249]
A suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester acetone solvate (prepared eg according to Example 11) (20.0 g) in dichloromethane (800 ml, 40 volumes) and water (10 ml, 0.5 volumes) was heated to reflux giving a bright solution. The solution was clarified by hot filtration (Whatman 54 filter paper) during which time some solid crystallised in the filtrate which was fully dissolved upon heating to reflux. The solution was distilled at atmospheric pressure (approx 400 ml solvent collected) and allowed to cool to ambient temperature. The mixture was further cooled and aged at <10° C. for 10 minutes. The product was filtered off, sucked dry and dried at approximately 60° C. under vacuum overnight to leave a white solid (12.7 g, 70%). [0251]
The XRPD pattern of Example 3 product is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. [0252]
Example 4 Interconversion of Forms 1, 2 and 3 of Unsolvated 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester
Slurrying a mixture of Form 1 and Form 2 in water at ambient temperature revealed that the components are transformed entirely to Form 1 with time. XRPD results are shown in FIG. 2. Similar results were obtained by slurrying a mixture of Form 1 and Form 2 in ethanol at ambient temperature. From these results it may be concluded that Form 1 is the thermodynamically more stable polymorphic form out of the two forms. [0253]
Thermal XRPD studies on Form 3 were performed as shown in FIG. 4. The temperature and time profile is shown in FIG. 5 and the 5 traces shown in FIG. 4 were obtained at the equilibration points shown in FIG. 5. The results indicate that Form 3 is converted first to Form 2 and then to Form 1 as temperature is elevated. [0254]
Example 5 Moisture Sorption of Forms 1, 2 and 3 of Unsolvated 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester
The moisture sorption characteristics of the three forms were determined by monitoring the weight change of solid when exposed to stepwise increased and then decreased humidity. The results obtained were as follows: [0255]
Form 1: uptake of 0.18% w/w of moisture over the range 0-90% relative humidity at 25° C. [0256]
Form 2: uptake of 1.1-2.4% w/w of moisture over the range 0-90% relative humidity at 25° C. [0257]
Example 6 Enthalpy of Dissolution of Forms 1 and 3 of Unsolvated 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester
Enthalpies of dissolution in DMSO and acetonitrile were determined at 25° C. The results were as follows: [0259]
Form 1 Form 3
Acetonitrile +13.74 +8.62
DMSO +1.46 −5.21
(results in kJ/mol) [0260]
Form these results it may be determined that the enthalpy of transition from Form 3 to Form 1 is approximately 5.1-6.7 kJ/mol. On the assumption that the entropy of transition is small, since both Forms are unsolvated, the enthalpy of transition may be equated with the free energy of transition. Thus these data suggest that Form 1 is the thermodynamically most stable form at 25° C. [0261]
Methylethylketone Solvate [0262]
A suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester (prepared eg according to Example 1) (400 mg) in methylethylketone (3.2 ml) is heated to reflux giving a clear solution. A portion of the solvent is distilled off at atmospheric pressure (approx 1 ml) and the mixture cooled to approximately 20° C. The crystallised product is filtered off, dried at approximately 20° C under vacuum to leave the title compound as a white solid (310 mg, 68%). NMR δ (CDCl[0263] 3) includes the peaks described in Example 1 for the parent compound and the following additional solvent peaks: 2.45 (2H, q), 2.14 (3H, s), 1.06 (3H, t).
Isopropanol Solvate [0264]
A solution of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester (prepared eg according to Example 1) (150 mg) in isopropanol (15 ml) is left to slowly crystallise over a period of approximately 8 weeks. The resultant chunky crystals are isolated by filtration to leave the title compound as a white solid. NMR δ (CDCl[0265] 3) includes the peaks described in Example 1 for the parent compound and the following additional solvent peaks: 4.03 (1H, m), 1.20 (6H, d).
Example 9 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester
Tetrahydrofuran Solvate [0266]
A suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester (prepared eg according to Example 1) (150 mg) in THF (20 vol) is warmed to give a clear solution. The solvent is allowed to slowly evaporate over a period of 6 days to leave title compound as a white solid. Alternatively, the THF solution is added dropwise to solution of potassium bicarbonate (2% w/w) in water (50 vol) and the precipitated product collected by filtration to furnish the title compound as a white solid. NMR δ (CDCl[0267] 3) includes the peaks described in Example 1 for the parent compound and the following additional solvent peaks: 3.74 (4H, m), 1.85 (4H, m).
Tetrahydrofuran Solvate (Alternative Method) [0268]
A mobile suspension of 6α, 9α-difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid triethylamine salt (prepared eg according to Intermediate 1B) (1.2 g) in THF (10 ml) is treated with a phase transfer catalyst (tetrabutylammonium bromide, typically between 8 and 14 mol %), cooled to approximately 3° C. and treated with bromofluoromethane (0.98 equivalents). The suspension is stirred for between 2 and 5 hours, allowing to warm to 17° C. The reaction mixture is poured into water (30 vol), stirred at approximately 10° C. for 30 minutes and filtered off. The collected solid is washed with water (4×3 vol) and the product oven dried under vacuum at 60° C. overnight to give the title compound as a white solid (0.85 g, 87%). [0269]
Example 10 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester
DMF Solvate [0270]
A mixture of Intermediate 1 (4.5 g, 8.88 mmol) in DMF (31 ml) is treated with potassium bicarbonate (0.89 g, 8.88 mmol) and the mixture is cooled to −20° C. A solution of bromofluoromethane (0.95 g, 8.50 mmol, 0.98 eqv.) in DMF (4.8 ml) at 0° C. is added and the mixture is stirred at −20° C. for 4 hours. The mixture is then stirred at −20° C. for a further 30 minutes, added to 2M hydrochloric acid (100 ml) and stirred for a further 30 minutes at 0-5° C. The precipitate collected by vacuum filtration, washed with water and dried at 50° C. to give the title compound (4.47 g, 82%). NMR δ (CD[0271] 3OD) includes the peaks described in Example 1 for the parent compound and the following additional solvent peaks: 7.98 (1H, bs), 2.99 (3H, s), 2.86 (3H, s).
Acetone Solvate [0272]
A solution of Intermediate 1 (530.1 g, 1 wt) in dimethylformamide (DMF) (8 vol) is treated with potassium hydrogen carbonate (0.202 wt, 1.02 eq) and the mixture cooled to −17±3° C. with stirring. Bromofluoromethane (BFM) (0.22 wt, 0.99 eq) is then added and the reaction stirred at −17±3° C. for at least 2 h. The reaction mixture is then added to water (17 vol) at 5±3° C. over ca 10 min followed by a water (1 vol) line wash. The suspension is stirred at 5-10° C. for at least 30 min and then filtered. The filter cake (the DMF solvate of 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester) is washed with water (4×4 vol) and the product is pulled dry on the filter. The damp cake is returned to the vessel, acetone (5.75 vol) added and heated at reflux for 2 h. The mixture is cooled to 52±3° C. and water (5.75 vol) added, keeping temperature at 52±3° C. The mixture is then cooled to 20±3° C., filtered and dried in vacuo at 60±5° C. overnight to give the title compound as a white solid (556.5 g, 89%). NMR δ (CDCl[0273] 3) includes the peaks described in Example 1 for the parent compound and the following additional solvent peaks: 2.17 (6H, s).
Example 12 Dry Powder Composition Containing 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, Unsolvated Form 1
A dry powder formulation was prepared as follows: [0274]
6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy- 0.20 mg
16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid
S-fluoromethyl ester, unsolvated Form 1 (prepared according
to Example 1, first alternative method and micronised to a
MMD of 3 μm):
milled lactose (wherein not greater than 85% of particles 12 mg
have a MMD of 60-90 μm, and not less than 15% of
particles have a MMD of less than 15 μm):
A peelable blister strip containing 60 blisters each filled with a formulation as just described was prepared. [0275]
Example 12A Dry Powder Composition Containing 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, Unsolvated Form 1, and a Long Acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist
A dry powder formulation may be prepared as follows: [0276]
Long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist (micronised to a MMD 0.02 mg
of 3 μm):
have a MMD of 60-90 μm, and not less than 15% of particles
have a MMD of less than 15 μm):
A peelable blister strip containing 60 blisters each filled with a formulation as just described may be prepared. [0277]
Example 13 Aerosol Formulation Containing 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, Unsolvated Form 1
An aluminium canister was filled with a formulation as follows: [0278]
6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy- 250 μg
to Example 1, first alternative method) and micronised to a
1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane: to 50 μl
(amounts per actuation) in a total amount suitable for 120 actuations and the canister was fitted with a metering valve adapted to dispense 50 μl per actuation. [0279]
Example 13A Aerosol Formulation Containing 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, Unsolvated Form 1, and a Long Acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist
An aluminium canister may be filled with a formulation as follows: [0280]
Long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist (micronised to a MMD 25 μg
(amounts per actuation) in a total amount suitable for 120 actuations and the canister may be fitted with a metering valve adapted to dispense 50 μl per actuation. [0281]
Example 14 Nasal Formulation Containing 6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-16α-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17β-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester, Unsolvated Form 1
A formulation for intranasal delivery was prepared as follows: [0282]
6α, 9α-Difluoro-17α-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy- 10 mg
S-fluoromethyl ester Unsolvated Form 1 (prepared according
to Example 1, first alternative method, micronised):
Polysorbate 20 0.8 mg
Sorbitan monolaurate 0.09 mg
Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate 94 mg
Dibasic sodium phosphate anhydrous 17.5 mg
Sodium chloride 48 mg
Demineralised water to 10 ml
The formulation was fitted into a spraypump capable of delivering a plurality of metered doses (Valois). [0283]
Throughout the specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word ‘comprise’, and variations such as ‘comprises’ and ‘comprising’, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers but not to the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. [0284]
The patents and patent applications described in this application are herein incorporated by reference. [0285]
1. A pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising a compound of formula (I),
2. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (I) or a solvate thereof and the long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist are both present in particulate form.
3. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 2 further comprising a particulate carrier.
4. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 3 wherein the carrier is lactose.
5. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 further comprising a liquified propellant gas.
7. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 wherein the inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract is asthma.
8. A method of treatment of a inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract once-per-day which comprises administration of a pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1.
9. A method of treatment according to claim 8 wherein the inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract is asthma.
10. An inhaler containing a plurality of doses of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compound of formula (I)
or a solvate thereof, together with a long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist, which formulation has a therapeutically useful effect in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract over a period of 24 hours or more, and which doses are suitable for once-per-day administration of the formulation by inhalation.
11. An inhaler according to claim 10 wherein the compound of formula (I) or a solvate thereof and the long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist are both present in particulate form.
12. An inhaler according to claim 11 wherein the formulation further comprises a particulate carrier.
13. An inhaler according to claim 12 wherein the carrier is lactose.
14. An inhaler according to claim 10 wherein the formulation further comprises a liquefied propellant gas.
16. An inhaler containing a plurality of doses of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a particulate compound of formula (I)
or a solvate thereof, a particulate long-acting β2-adrenoreceptor agonist and a carrier, each drug being present in an amount adequate to provide a therapeutically useful effect in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract over a period of 24 hours or more following once-per-day dosing by inhalation.
17. An inhaler according to claim 10 wherein wherein the inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract is asthma.
US10/066,836 2000-08-05 2002-02-04 Anti-inflammatory androstane derivative Active 2021-01-27 US6759398B2 (en)
GB0019172A GB0019172D0 (en) 2000-08-05 2000-08-05 Novel compounds
GB0019172.6 2000-08-05
GB0019172 2000-08-05
US09/958,050 US7101866B2 (en) 2000-08-05 2001-08-03 Anti-inflammatory androstane derivative
Applications Claiming Priority (11)
PCT/GB2003/000467 WO2003066036A1 (en) 2002-02-04 2003-02-04 Pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising an androstane derivative and a beta-2-adrenoreceptor for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions
AU2003207016A AU2003207016A1 (en) 2002-02-04 2003-02-04 Pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising an androstane derivative and a beta-2-adrenoreceptor for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions
US10/503,417 US20050164997A1 (en) 2000-08-05 2003-02-04 Pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising an androstane derivative and a beta-2-adrenoreceptor for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions
JP2003565460A JP2005527496A (en) 2002-02-04 2003-02-04 Pharmaceutical formulations for inhalation administration comprising androstane derivatives and β2- adrenergic receptor for the treatment of inflammatory conditions and allergic conditions
EP10178712A EP2363121A1 (en) 2002-02-04 2003-02-04 Pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising an androstane derivative and a beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonist for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions
ARP030100352 AR038348A1 (en) 2000-08-05 2003-02-04 Pharmaceutical formulations for administration by inhalation
MYPI20030385 MY139577A (en) 2002-02-04 2003-02-05 Anti-inflammatory androstane derivative
TW92102383A TW200302831A (en) 2002-02-04 2003-02-06 Novel anti-inflammatory androstane derivative
JP2010177124A JP2010280701A (en) 2002-02-04 2010-08-06 PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATION FOR ADMINISTRATION BY INHALATION CONTAINING ANDROSTANE DERIVATIVE AND β2-ADRENORECEPTOR FOR TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATORY AND ALLERGIC CONDITIONS
US09958050 Continuation-In-Part
US09/958,050 Continuation-In-Part US7101866B2 (en) 2000-08-05 2001-08-03 Anti-inflammatory androstane derivative
PCT/GB2001/003495 Continuation-In-Part WO2002012265A1 (en) 2000-08-05 2001-08-03 6.ALPHA., 9.ALPHA.-DIFLUORO-17.ALPHA.-`(2-FURANYLCARBOXYL) OXY!-11.BETA.-HYDROXY-16.ALPHA.-METHYL-3-OXO-ANDROST-1,4,-DIENE-17-CARBOTHIOIC ACID S-FLUOROMETHYL ESTER AS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENT
US10/503,417 Continuation US20050164997A1 (en) 2000-08-05 2003-02-04 Pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising an androstane derivative and a beta-2-adrenoreceptor for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions
US10/066,836 Active 2021-01-27 US6759398B2 (en) 2000-08-05 2002-02-04 Anti-inflammatory androstane derivative
US10/503,417 Abandoned US20050164997A1 (en) 2000-08-05 2003-02-04 Pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising an androstane derivative and a beta-2-adrenoreceptor for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions
AU (1) AU2003207016A1 (en)
MY (1) MY139577A (en)
TW (1) TW200302831A (en)
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CA2440680C (en) 2010-06-01 Steroids as agonists for fxr
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Hennessy '87 pens second poetry collection
Published in the November 13, 2013 Issue
John Hennessy ’87 (Photo: Anton Kisselgoff)
New book: Coney Island Pilgrims, by John Hennessy ’87 (The Ashland Poetry Press)
The author: Hennessy teaches courses in creative writing and literature at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is the poetry editor for The Common, a magazine based at Amherst College's Frost Library. His first poetry collection was Bridge and Tunnel. Hennessy won the Transatlantic Review Award in fiction from the Henfield Foundation and was a resident fellow in poetry at the Amy Clampitt House.
The collection: The poems in Hennessy’s new volume have appeared in Best American Poetry 2013, Poetry magazine, The Believer, and The Yale Review, among other journals. On the book’s jacket cover, Jonathan Ames ’87 called the poems “sumptuous yet lean, wild yet measured. The unbearable beat of life rushing by is suffused beneath his lines, but he is trying to get it all down, to record as much as he can, until the next thing happens.”
Opening lines from the title poem:
“Paul used to say that I should seek God
in the loneliest places. While the subway
ground along firing sparks, I lobbed
my school-tie behind me, St. Peter’s stone.
He said to watch the driver sway,
glide toe to heel, a holy piston
pumping the rail. I drank and crooned
into beer cans, inflated brown bags
in both hands, popped them like balloons.”
Review: “Reading John Hennessy’s Coney Island Pilgrims is entering a labyrinth. Actual places introduced by the poems are destabilized to question the depth of human experience,” wrote a reviewer for Mead magazine. “The book challenges our knowledge of the world and begs us to rethink.”
Have you published a book or do you have an upcoming performance, exhibition, or other arts-related event? Let us know.
Source URL: https://paw.princeton.edu/article/hennessy-87-pens-second-poetry-collection
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← Benatar/Giraldo Along With Etheridge Shine At Artpark
Darius Rucker Has A Good Time Out At Darien →
Disturbed And Gang Deliver A Whale Of A Show At Darien
Posted on July 31, 2016 by Joseph Suto
Darien Lake PAC
If you like your music loud, hard hitting, bombastic with some smoke and flashpots mixed in, then Sunday evening would have been the show to see. That’s when Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin rolled into the Darien Lake PAC and delivered a strong set to a very decent sized crowd.
Vocalist David Draiman, drummer Mike Wengren, guitarist Dan Donegan and bassist John Moyer delivered one of the best sounding heavy metal shows perhaps ever at Darien venue. The visual effects helped add more to the mix as Disturbed pulled out all the stops on this one. The band was just in town in early April when they played a sold out show at The Rapids Theatre.
Starting off with the powerful “Ten Thousand Fists” the band then launched into “The Game” quickly followed by “The Vengeful One” to the roaring approval of the crowd.
Other highlights during the bands set were “Stupify” and “Indestructible”. Concluding with their big hit “Down With The Sickness” they left no stone unturned as the audience was left begging for more.
Benjamin Burnley led his band Breaking Benjamin through an enthusiastic set which began with “So Cold” and ended with the band’s biggest song, “The Diary Of Jane”. Burnley mentioned on more than one occasion how grateful he was for the fans because if it wasn’t for them he would not be able to be up there performing.
Another interesting side note on Breaking Benjamin is that this show was exactly one year ago from when they were last in town and played The Fairgrounds Event Center in 2015.
Alter Bridge the band featuring vocalist/guitarist Myles Kennedy and Creed members guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips played a fast paced set of songs culled from their four albums. They do have a new release scheduled in October entitled The Last Hero.
The night was kicked off with Saint Asonia, a supergroup featuring former Three Days Grace singer and guitarist Adam Gontier, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Corey Lowery and drummer Rich Beddoe. The band played a short but powerful set that featured songs from their debut album as well as a few covers from Gontier’s old band Three Days Grace.
Ten Thousand Fists
The Vengeful One
Who Taught You How To Hate
Stupify
The Sound Of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel Cover)
Inside The Fire
Down With The Sickness
Blow Me Away
The Imperial March/Schism/Smells Like Teen Spirit/Walk
Polyamorous
Ashes Of Eden
Until The End
I Will Not Bow
The Diary Of Jane
Come To Life
Farther Than The Sun
Metalingus
Addicted To Pain
Rise Today
King Of Nothing
Dying Slowly
Just Like You (Three Days Grace Cover)
I Hate Everything About You (Three Days Grace Cover)
Better Place
Let Me Live My Life
Special thanks to Tim Tobin and Ashley Ball for making this review happen.
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Tajikistan on the Move
Statebuilding and Societal Transformations
Edited by Marlene Laruelle - Contributions by Jesse Driscoll; Michele Commercio; Hafiz Boboyorov; Tim Epkenhans; John Heathershaw; Brent Hierman; Sophie Hohmann; Marlene Laruelle; Edward Lemon; Suzanne Levi-Sanchez; Parviz Mullojonov; Kirill Nourzhanov and Sophie Roche
The southernmost and poorest state of the Eurasian space, Tajikistan collapsed immediately upon the fall of the Soviet Union and plunged into a bloody five-year civil war (1992–1997) that left more than 50,000 people dead and more than half a million displaced. After the 1997 Peace Agreements, Tajikistan stood out for being the only post-Soviet country to recognize an Islamic party—the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT)—as a key actor in the civil war as well as in postwar reconstruction and democratization. Tajikistan’s linguistic and cultural proximity to Iran notwithstanding, the balance of external powers over the country remains fairly typical of Central Asia, with Russia as the major security provider and China as its principal investor.
Another specificity of Tajikistan is its massive labor migration flows toward Russia. Out of a population of eight million, about one million work abroad seasonally—one of the highest rates of departure in the world. Migration trends have impacted Tajikistan’s economy and rent mechanisms: half of the country’s GDP comes from migrant remittances, a higher share than anywhere else in the world. However, it is in the societal and cultural realms that migration has had the most transformative effect. Migrants’ cultural and societal identities are on the move, with a growing role given to Islam as a normative tool for regulating the cultural shock of migration. Islam, and especially a globalized fundamentalist pietist movement, regulates both physical and moral security in workplace and other settings, and brings migrants together to make their interactions meaningful and socio-politically relevant. It offers a new social prestige to those who work in an environment seen as threatening to their Islamic identity.
The first section of this volume investigates the critical question of the nature of the Tajik political regime, its stability, legitimacy mechanisms, and patterns of centralization. In the volume’s second part, we move away from studying the state to delve into the societal fabric of Tajikistan, shaped by local rural specificities and social vulnerabilities in the health sector and gender relationships. The third section of the volume is devoted to identity narratives and changes. While the Tajik regime works hard to control the national narrative and the interpretation of the civil war, society is literally and figuratively on the move, as migration profoundly reshapes societal structures and cultural values. « less more »
978-1-4985-4651-5 • Hardback • May 2018 • $110.00 • (£75.00)
978-1-4985-4652-2 • eBook • May 2018 • $104.50 • (£70.00)
Series: Contemporary Central Asia: Societies, Politics, and Cultures
Subjects: Political Science / World / Asian, History / Asia / Central Asia, Social Science / World / Asia
Marlene Laruelle is research professor, director of the Central Asia Program, and associate director of the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (IERES) at the Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University.
Introduction, Marlene Laruelle
Part I: State Dynamics. Policies, their Actors and their Spaces
Chapter 1: Hobbesian Neopatrimonialism, Jesse Driscoll
Chapter 2: Rebels without a Cause? Authoritarian Conflict Management in Tajikistan, 2008-2015, John Heathershaw and Parviz Mullojonov
Chapter 3: From Moscow to Madrid: Governing Security Threats Beyond Tajikistan’s Borders, Edward Lemon
Chapter 4: Tajikistan’s Multi-Vector Foreign Policy: Constructing Relations with Russia, China, and the United States, Kirill Nourzhanov
Part II: Tajik Society: Local Developments and Social Vulnerabilities
Chapter 5: Dushanbe Is Quite Far: Deconcentrated Agrarian Reform in Rural Tajikistan, Brent Hierman
Chapter 6: Local Governance in Khatlon, Tajikistan, Suzanne Levi-Sanchez
Chapter 7: Development Practices, Insecurity, and Risks: Injectable Drug Users in Gorno-Badakhshan, Sophie Hohmann
Chapter 8: “A Woman Without a Man is a Kazan Without a Lid”: Polygyny in Tajikistan, Michele Commercio
Part III: State Memory and Moving Identities
Chapter 9: Oblivion, Ambivalence and Historical Erasure: Remembering the Civil War in Tajikistan, Tim Epkenhans
Chapter 10: Translocal Securityscapes of Tajik Labor Migrants and the Families and Communities They Leave Behind, Hafiz Boboyorov
Chapter 11: Illegal Migrants and Pious Muslims: The Paradox of Bazaar Workers from Tajikistan, Sophie Roche
This collection of studies on state and society and their interplay combines the best of theoretically informed and ethnographically grounded research to date on contemporary Tajikistan. The authors collectively offer nuanced and realistic assessments of the political, economic, and social dynamics influencing Tajikistan’s autocratic regime, the elites within, on the margins of, and excluded from the ruling Rahmon family’s consolidated privileges, and the broader Tajik population at home and abroad. In short, this is a sobering and useful resource for scholars, policymakers, and program implementers seeking a deep understanding of this so-called ‘post post-conflict’ country.
— David Abramson, Georgetown University
This is an important study. Compiling a wide range of topics such as foreign policy, civil war memories, migration, gender relations, and Muslim piety, it provides an impressive kaleidoscopic image of post-civil war Tajikistan. Casting new light on the state-society nexus, this volume is a remarkable advance in our understanding of the multiple movements in and beyond the country on local, translocal, and regional scales. This is a significant book not only for scholars of Tajikistan and Central Asia but also for scholars of political science, anthropology, and area studies interested in the complex assemblage of authoritarian state politics, socio-economic complexities, and mobility at the crossroad of postsocialism and globalization.
— Manja Stephan-Emmrich, Humboldt University of Berlin
This is an excellent book that brings together insights from cutting-edge research on Tajikistan, greatly advancing our understanding of the country. The contributors deftly integrate social science theories and concepts into their fine-grained analysis, covering a number of key issues confronting the country: how the state pursues security at home and abroad; what underlying support sustains its authoritarian rule; how society addresses daunting challenges such as inequality, drug use, polygyny, and migration; and what are the underlying legacies of its civil war. This book, in short, provides a penetrating look into the most essential problems in Tajikistan’s politics and society.
— Lawrence P. Markowitz, Rowan University
The first section of this volume investigates the critical question of the nature of the Tajik political regime, its stability, legitimacy mechanisms, and patterns of centralization. In the volume’s second part, we move away from studying the state to delve into the societal fabric of Tajikistan, shaped by local rural specificities and social vulnerabilities in the health sector and gender relationships. The third section of the volume is devoted to identity narratives and changes. While the Tajik regime works hard to control the national narrative and the interpretation of the civil war, society is literally and figuratively on the move, as migration profoundly reshapes societal structures and cultural values.
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Chattanooga Lookouts Tickets
Find tickets from 9 dollars to Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday July 18 at 7:15 pm at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, TN
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“Little” (2019) Universal Pictures
“Little” stars Marsai Marti, Issa Rae and Regina Hall in a story that follows a ruthless business woman who is transformed into her younger self on the eve of a massive business deal. She’s rude to everyone. She has no genuine relationships. She only cares about wealth and power, which is an outlook on life that will be exposed for its flaws when she suddenly finds herself as a kid again. The trailers for this movie looked cute. But they didn’t build a ton of excitement to be honest. This isn’t a film that is necessarily aimed for my age bracket. Yet much to my surprise it was able to connect with me and I thought it was a lot of fun.
Tina Gordon’s direction had a subtle energy to it that showcased the humor in many of the situations effectively. I also thought her efforts on the writing side along with Tracy Oliver created a charming sense-of-humor. They result was a story-line that delivered much more sincere amusement than I was expecting. Oliver also wrote “Girls Trip” and Gordon co-wrote the screenplay for this year’s “What Men Want.” Two comical films I felt were carried, in part, by the writing and I think both Gordon and Oliver brought their comedic talents over to this project and blended their personalities nicely.
I won’t try to tell you this isn’t a formulaic comedy, because it absolutely is. But it doesn’t sell itself as anything other than that. It’s a reversal of the Tom Hank’s classic comedy “Big” with some of the exterior layers changed up. It does create some new dynamics but regardless you can easily predict the path of the story. However, I don’t think a ‘fresh plot-line’ is this film’s selling point as much as the overall energetic personality of the movie is. The selling point for this one is the three lead characters. Their unique personalities. Their charisma, attitude, and the humor that results from it. Which I think the film thrives on because I was constantly engaged with the amusement of it all as the story progresses.
I think the casting was excellent. Regina Hall felt perfectly tailored to the role. She was elegant, classy, and sophisticated. But she was also heartless, blunt, and so disrespectful it resulted in shock-value laughs that I thought landed perfectly. Primarily because of the placement and timing of the situations. As well as the effortless delivery from Hall that showed zero hesitation which I felt sold the various moments with hilarity. Issa Rae was fantastic as well and was equally as comical but with a more down-to-earth personality that I felt was hard not to connect with. She had a great comedic timing and she was able to create the needed chemistry with both Hall and Martin that the story needed to convey their character dynamics effectively.
The spot-light of the movie however was easily the performance of young Marsai Martin. She was the true star with a performance that was everything this film needed and more. After meeting the grown-up version of Jordan Sanders and seeing the warpath she can create though Hall’s performance. I felt Martin as a younger Sanders was able to carry that same personality over to her version of the character to sell the idea of the body swap concept. She was cute and charismatic. She also created the feeling of having an adult personality through her performance and it resulted in a ton of laughs. Martin’s comedic timing was sincere, her expressions and mannerisms felt like a sassy business women. But when required she also felt like a normal kid and she was more than capable and comical in both.
I think this is a movie that’s certainly worth checking out if you enjoyed the promo material. It’s a fun, spirited comedy that creates some vibrant characters which can easily appeal to a wide range of audiences. The story may be a little by-the-numbers, but with the comical beats landing very frequently I enjoyed myself. It does get a little cheesy at times and the soundtrack may feel a little generic. But the performances from the lead trio, and a visible sense-of-humor in the writing make this comedy a success and certainly worth a night at the theaters with some genuine laughs.
April 13, 2019 in Pure Comedy. Tags: #LittleMovie, 2019, Grade 80, Issa Rae, Little 2019, Little Movie Review, Marsai Martin, Regina Hall, Tina Gordon, Tone Bell, Tracy oliver, Will Packer
← New Trailer And Images For Disney’s “THE LION KING” Coming July 19th
The First Trailer And Images For “STAR WARS: THE RISE OF THE SKYWALKER” →
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Simona Halep – ITF World Champion
Simona Halep has been named ITF Women’s World Champion for 2018 after a spectacular year that saw her lift her maiden Grand Slam trophy at Roland Garros and finish World No.1 for the second consecutive year.
“It’s a great honour to be named as ITF World Champion for the first time,” said Halep. “I had an incredible year, winning my first Grand Slam at Roland Garros and finishing the year as world No.1. To be recognised in this way is really special and provides extra motivation to keep working.”
For the second year running, the 27-year-old concluded her campaign at the top of the world rankings, although such a feat will have resonated more this time around following her triumph on the clay of Roland Garros in June.
A herniated disk in her back ended Halep’s season prematurely and denied her the chance to contest the WTA Finals having won the Race to Singapore. Nevertheless, the Constanta-born right-hander ended her year with a 46-11 win-loss record and a commanding lead at the top of the world rankings.
Halep is the third Romanian player to be acknowledged as ITF World Champion. Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau were boys’ junior doubles champions in 2002, while the latter received the men’s doubles award in 2015.
HomepageEN, News
Simona finishes year-end No. 1
WTA Dedicates World No.1 Trophy to Tennis Legend Chris Evert
Simona, forced to withdraw from WTA Finals due to a lower back injury
WORLD NO.1 AND ROLAND GARROS CHAMPION, ALONGSIDE 18 OTHER WTA TITLES
COPYRIGHT @ SIMONA HALEP
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Dual Theory – Ace Deuce February 9, 2009
Filed under: Dual Theory — solarblade @ 3:26 pm
Tags: acoustic, Dual, indies, Theory
Devia Initium (The Lonely Beginning)
Destiny In Disguise
Nice Guys Finish Last
Rockyhaven
You Hold the Key
High School is So Last Year
The Last Goodbye
1. Devia Initium (The Lonely Beginning)
LOL how many albums in a row did I review something that has a short opening? Devia Initium has a sinister opening and I was definitly most impressed. Youko and Hunter started to sing/speak whichever and they sounded almost dead goving, the track more appeal. Then they split off to two different parts and then the song just comes to a close.
2. Diamonds
Diamonds is Dual Theory’s most memorable track being used in one episode of Show Me Your News which is Youko’s podcast. I have to say I love the piano melody played throughout, but Youko, high notes aren’t exactly your kit & kaboodle. Song’s meaning was kind of romantic in a way and had a lot put into to it.
3. Destiny In Disguise
Another song that I instantly loved at first listen, Destiny In Disguise is basically more upbeat and has a better piano melody IMO. Youko even sounds better as well, even getting some of the harder notes right. I swear Hunter singing the 2nd verse, I’m not sure why…but hmmm….I think the best part was when Youko was singing the chorus with just the guitar and piano melody. I thought that was amazing. The ending was a little random, but good nonetheless.
4. Castaway
Whenever I hear this song, it makes me feel free-spirited and then listening to the lyrics it’s quite romantic as well. I’m already feeling that the album is going to be a huge difference than “Life on Display”. I wouldn’t want to call this ethereal but the keyboard is making me think otherwise. Hopeful little track.
5. Nice Guys Finish Last
Well, doesn’t the title seem truthful though? He’s singing about how he’s putting his all and being a man and all he’s getting is just crap and being treated like it doesn’t mean anything. Brutally honest and almost sad to hear. I do like how Youko and Hunter play off after chorus with the ~It doesn’t really matter~ section.
6. Rockyhaven
I was awe-ing at this track when I first listened to it. I mean it’s not about love or any gushy shtuff. It’s just a relaxing song about nature pretty much. I mean there’s some hidden meanings because of the whole ~I feel so alive here, this place that’s within me~. Maybe he’s talking about the mind, but give it a lively arrangement and well…it’s euphoric almost, that is until Youko hits that uber high note….that was whoa…
7. Senses Fail
We finally get a darker song with Senses Fail and it’s brutal. I’m not sure what the topic is actually falling on, but with the ~failing senses~ and the otherwise dark lyrics it’s quite baffling. I have to say I love that middle part when Hunter this part with multiple bass triplets and Youko’s evil speaking part, that was golden. Amazing song to just pop up for me.
8. You Hold the Key
I’ll admit it right away, I didn’t connect to this song at all and still can’t manage to. I mean it’s upbeat and it’s a positive song, don’t get me wrong….but there was something missing for me. Lyrics are also hopeful in mind because the lover has the “key” to make him open up and such. I think my initial not-liking was Youko’s high-pitching again…it’s a dangerous zone and most of the chorus was either in it or on the brim of it.
9. High School is So Last Year
After “Devia Initium” this track is the shortest track on the album not even making 3 minutes. OMG, cussing FTW…..Anyways, it’s pretty much exactly what love is about in High School which is that relationships are shaky because you people can cheat and move on to other people and Youko in the later part remembers this person and proclaims that he’s had it better and doesn’t even wanna speak to em….so honest.
10. Paranoia
Yeah, this song was what was missing from the album. Paranoia really is like a story in the song which is awesome. The first verse is just so mean and the song continues to speak about via the verses. The song is about, how he wonders what he did to make someone hate him and it bothers him like crazy. I do kind of wish there was an ending to the story portion because it just left a huge cliffhanger IMO.
11. Golden Heart
We finally get a ballad and Golden Heart is a long one as well reaching past 6 minutes. Usually, that’s a big no-no in ballad world because that’s just being mean and will make people get bored. I really thought the melancholic arrangement with Youko’s deep vocals really put me in a mood. It was an alright track, just too long-winded for me.
12. Last Night
When this started up, I immediatly thought this sounded like “High School is So Last Year”. It’s quite to dark song given such a happy arrangement which shows some much needed sarcasm. I’m pretty sure they’re talking about heartbreak, but I’m not entirely sure. It’s alright, but the other tracks do manage to be better IMO.
13. The Last Goodbye
Awwww, the “last goodbye”? I guess it has to happen when you breakup with someone. Then again this could be incorporated in various situations and Youko is contemplating if it is the last one, but for right this is the last one. I thought this would’ve been a good album finisher for obvious reasons but yes, pretty somber, but good track.
14. Overkill
We’re back to the “Devia Initium” instrumental to finish up the album. It’s quite awesome hearing Youko speak out in a poetic way. It’s so chilling and yet with such an interesting kind of way seems a little hopeful, but it’s just a interlude before going into our final track. Overkill seems to be just like less memorable since it is a Youko-only track. Youko…..high note warning!!!! It’s alright, but “The Last Goodbye” would’ve been a more attainable to finish this album IMO.
You can see how much more work was put into this with all the new sounds that was included. Another major difference was that this album wasn’t as dark and depressing as their previous album was which was surprising because of how many happy songs there were in contrast. Some of the tracks did suffer of sounding a little alike and Youko’s new lover for high notes, but still a strong album, but I prefer their last one. BTW Happy B-day Youko!
Dual Theory – Life on Display January 15, 2009
Tags: acoustic, Dual, indies, Pop, Rock, Theory
Losing Grip
Weapon Intangible
Life on Display
Better than My Best
On My Own Again
Song of Last Regrets
The Final Letter
Breakdown (Flood)
1. Losing Grip
I really didn’t expect such an abstract beat to open the album. It’s kind of hard to describe it fully, but it’s quite the unusual sound. Going on, this song has a very crazy meaning to it. With a track called Losing Grip, it’s definitly understandable. Oh yea, loving the keyboarded drum sound. Cool way to begin the album.
2. Weapon Intangible
Dang, this song can really get depressing to the listener, I have to point it out. Like the chorus is metaphorically saying to break his heart, cause it’s inevitable and I have to give props to that for pushing such a topic with sense with it. Jeeze, Youko your whispering part was fantastic here.
3. Life on Display
Ahhh, the title track. Oh, so it’s like people want to see what you do next right? That’s the kind of vibe I’m getting from this song. Not many would exactly get the point first listen like me (This is my 4th time listening). I didn’t really connect much with the song, but its nice musically I got to say.
4. Four Years
Pretty much scoping about life in high school (hence four years). I have to agree with a lot what their saying because it’s usually the best years and Youko is singing about how they aren’t ready for college even though Youko is in college….(ironic?). Then there’s this ~I won’t be who you want me to be~ line that’s also a focus point to the song. Good song though.
5. Better than My Best
I see a little bit of a oops here. Like, you guys said in the previous that I’m not gonna be who you want me to be and then ebunk that statement with this song, I find it quite amusing actually. The song has a fun kind of beat to it, but with some unhappy lyrics. I do like the honesty written with this track, so it’s a good listen me.
6. The Passion
In other words, he wants respect. Luckily, this doesn’t affect him because ~he’s in his own little world~. The speaking part was pretty nifty and the rest of the song is like a fantasy to listen to. It’s funny to find such a happy song in the album full of depressing/sad/emotional tracks.
Case in point, this track is definitly emotional and pretty sad. I mean when all he wants is freedom, but all the inner chaos is happening, it’s hard to get that. Put it to a pretty good sound and you get an A+ track. Where’s the happiness?
8. On My Own Again
I always wonder if this is a steel drum sound playing with this song…hmmm. Anyway I think the joys of being single is written here. Other words, Youko and Hunter is pretty much bombing the other person. Even more better is this whole fun sound, I personally love the entire thing, it’s hook after hook. If there’s one song to listen from them, it’s this one.
9. Answer
I think the darkest song in both music and lyrics, is Answer. I really enjoyed the chanting in the background with Youko’s deeper voice. It sent chills down my spine here. OMG for big words like ~condenscending~ in the chorus it really kind of took a life on its own. The guitar solo was really freaky too mwahaha. Using metaphors a lot again, I think he made his point, hmm was this directed to anyone? o.0 Oh yea, this would make a great music video IMO
10. Black Rose
I like the arpeggio opening with Black Rose and then turns into a pretty rad pop track. Once again using a metaphor ~Life is like a black rose~ as the main theme which is nice, but it’s so difficult to follow because the music is covering Youko and the chorus was fast…I still loved what I understood from it and the whole ~wither and die~ thing added it up for me.
11. Dancing In the Dark
I considered this a slower version of “Black Rose” but with strings played on ze keyboard. I totally laughed a little when Hunter did the whole ~and he wish~ part in the bridge. It was like random, but random needed since Youko prolly would sound confusing without it. There’s something simplistic about the song that I really like. Lyrics are once again kind of sad and lonesome, but how can you not like a song like this.
I think Youko’s strongest guitar playing is definitly apparant here by the opening. Someone doesn’t exactly have a lot of patience because OMG they can’t take the whole waiting (hence the title). ~If I was a Wiseman, I’d give up all hope~ talk about going far in their moods. I’d definitly would hear this on the radio, I mean if it was on it, this’d be the song to be mainstream. Wait, I love the double singing as well I have to note that.
13. Song of Last Regrets
For being a song of Last Regrets, this wouldn’t have been my initial style to put it too. It’s pretty upbeat, but the lyrics are amazingly depressing once again. Sounds like one of them have been hurt by someone and either they are hurting hard or embarassed much. I might be overly exaggerating this, but is suicide mentioned here? Maybe metaphorically?
14. The Final Letter
This song has such a nice sound with the piano melody going on and Youko’s more calmer vocals. Songs topic?: break-up. I like the way the chorus was written out and it’s pretty much basic and easy to follow. The bridge though was great IMO. Y’know there is one thing I do have a problem and that’s the basicness of it…I mean we know she’s gettin dumped…do we need anymore hints at it LOL
15. Miss Sunshine
Oddly, this track is the sore thumb of the album. It sounds like a song you would hear when you wake up in the morning, which is nice since it has that dreaminess and Youko shows off a calm vocal sound which I have to give props to. Even better is that Youko and Hunter harmonize almost perfectly here. It’s their strongest track IMO on the album.
16. Breakdown (Flood)
Wait, there’s actual synth and this beat sounds like “Losing Grip” at first then this awesome synth beat comes in. Youko is once again letting his guitar speak, totally cool. All of the Breakdown side is a guitar solo which means it’s the interlude before the vocal track Flood. Flood finishes this long album up, but it kind of comes short. I was expecting a more crazier finish since Breakdown was off the wall. I think it precedes “Rockyhaven” since the similarities. Jeeze, way to make water seem murderous…~The water is toxic~…..
What a dark album. Life on Display was what it was to them at the time I think. Very honest and angsty. Most of the songs were either a sad or evil topic which was surprising, especially after the EP. Some of the meanings would pass over people’s head because of the upbeat sounds which included drums this time. It’s a good album, but be prepared to get a little emotional.
Dual Theory – You’ve Got to Be Kidding EP December 18, 2008
Filed under: Dual Theory — solarblade @ 4:06 am
The Country Song
Your Mom is Hot
Sandwich of the Night
World-Ending Nightmare
All About the GDP
Oblivious
He’s a Monkey
Bitches and Hos
The Country Song (original from 2002)
You Know What I Don’t Get?
You know, I wonder how bored they were when they made this first track. Like seriously, it’s so abstract and maybe it seems, but Youko is like going crazy on his guitar and making some funny quotes along the way. I think I laughed the most at the end where Youko’s like practically saying a minute passed by and stops all noises and then repeats the guitar line and it goes into the next track.
2. The Country Song
Youko even said they were really really bored when they created what I can apprehend is the strangest song so far. I mean country isn’t my kind of style in the first place, but I like how they made the song in a view of a farmer’s eyes. They keep saying ~Milking the cow~ so many times, but it is so funny. ~What do you call that? trough? trough.~ It’s hilarity.
3. Your Mom is Hot
Hmmm, a call out to milfs all across America? I do believe so, now it starts out with this lady moaning ~Yeah~ so dirty-like. It’s also the first time were hear new sounds like a beat which is cool. I do think the song is kinky just for the song’s topic which is a little obvious right?
4. Sandwich of the Night
As strange as it is, the song is a ballad, at least I think is. I didn’t think Youko would actually sing about a need to have a sandwich. I wanna say that the song is like a dream song, because well sometimes people dream about food. Youko is also producing a more deeper tone which is interesting to hear. The ending was just awesome ~Want a tissue?~
5. World-Ending Nightmare
Definitly another short track, but it seems to be the more serious track off this EP. I like how chaotic the song’s structure is going from quiet moments to freaking out and busting out. It is a little short though, but I guess it’s understandable. Crazyness for sure.
6. All About the GDP
Oh jeeze, trying to rap there, Youko? It’s quite unusual since it’s the first song to not feature any guitar, which surprises me. Now the GDP is pretty advanced stuff and hearing a song more or less a rapping version is quite baffling. Youko, your no 50 Cent, but I’ll give you props of being able to do it, and not sound awkward. Though the disc scratching is another story.
7. Oblivious
Wow, another guitar-less track appears and the music seems to be familiar hmmmm, are we channeling Ricky Martin? Even though the music is a cover, the lyrics are original and still carries some interest, maybe not as much as the other songs, but this is pretty memorable. Very strange and yet tantalizing track.
8. He’s a Monkey
Talk about being mean. I mean there’s so many odd choices of lyrics mentioning DBZ Budokai and using Vegeta’s Big Bang Attack and then leads to the chorus which OMG, I just got it. The song is about Vegeta XD. I guess you can’t say it’s unoriginal since not many songs mention video games.
9. Bitches and Hos
Could you be surprised this song is the shortest song and the strangest. I mean the voice clippings are so random and it so covers Youko a lot. I’m pretty sure Hunter is behind, but this song is just so hilarious and could be the best track of the silly ones on here. Totally won me over XD.
10. The Country Song (original from 2002)
Yep, the song is the original version, which is awesome. As you will see as well, the song is of low quality so don’t bitch about it. It also seems to have been in the beta stage as well. There’s some differences like not many random farm sounds and more open spaces in the guitar playing. They do seem to enjoy themselves as they laugh their asses off trying to get through the song.
11. You Know What I Don’t Get?
Amazing, your gonna finish off the EP with an almost 15 minute conversation? That’s just crazy guys. At least we get to know them before the whole blowup in popularity. Youko is totally the funny one of the two while Hunter is more of the calm type, which is great because they seem to feed off each other’s energies. Then a little time passes and they do a little Soap Opera skit moment which is so golden XD. Basically this track is like Peter Griffin’s version of “You know what grinds my gears” but before the popularity of it rised. Loved the Transformers talk too, that just made me laugh so hard.
I’d consider this to be a concept album because of all the radical topics covered. I mean some were so crazy like milf loving, sandwich addictions, Vegeta being a monkey, and awesome Bitches and Hos. There were a few tracks that seemed to be a little more serious like World-Ending Nightmare and Oblivious. I wonder if they’ll do another track like the last one again. Wait, SMYN was basically that in the later episodes XD.
Dual Theory – Prologue December 4, 2008
Tags: acoustic, Dual, indies, SwordHunter, Theory, Youko
In the Dust
This Recurring Wound
Beyond Euphoria
Pathway to Solitude
Lost in the Game
Leave Me Be
Best Days of Our Lives
1. In the Dust
We begin the album with a pretty depressing song. It’s definitly a song about rejection by the other person and hearing ~I’d expected you to be there~ really does send chills down spines. I was definitly surprised that it was only acoustic, but it didn’t hamper the experience at all and I quite enjoyed the final minute of the song where Youko and Hunter quietly sang the lyrics and gradually got louder. Great first track.
2. This Recurring Wound
Wow, this song is definitly emo-ish especially the first verses. Though, I was a little confused about what the song was really about and all the cutting, bleeding, and such. The song pretty much flies by me, but once again the ending are where Youko repeats ~Your words are like poison~. Definitly something surprising if you ask me XD
3. Beyond Euphoria
After two dark tunes we get a pretty interesting tune. I’m pretty sure it’s a happy tune, but it’s like there’s some hidden meaning to it. Granted, the song’s verses switch to a girl and boy and all the tribulations of love. Though I was shocked that the song ended sudden almost. I did like the song though, even though it’s pretty short ^_^
4. Façade
Interestingly, Façade has a pretty melody to it and Youko’s vocals fit so well on the verses. Hunter does back him up every finishing line and they sound good combining each other’s vocals. It’s basically about wanting someone to show their real side, but in the end it’s like they can’t do/won’t do, and lies some disappointment. It’s one of the favorites from me.
5. Pathway to Solitude
Something sweet occurs here as it is the first acoustic ballad of the album, I actually had a little trouble listening to this. Youko’s more emotional voice kind of goes a little flat and makes it seem pretty awkward. The chorus sounds better and he’s more confident. Actually the longer the song goes by the better it gets. Hence after the solos when Youko and Hunter play off of each others lyrics, that was impressive.
6. Lost in the Game
I thought the notes at the beginning sounded like it was latin-influenced, but alright maybe the song sounds a little latin-influenced. By the title, the song is about being so much of yourself, that something will destroy you eventually. It’s quite a high school topic and it’s true. I really didn’t know what to think when the verses came out since they sounded lifeless almost. It’s alright, but not one of my favs.
7. Desperate Measures
Yup, as the song implies ~Desperate time calls for desperate measures~. I kind of also got a little bored, it could possibly the speed of the song and how long and connected most of the song was. It just seemed to drag most of the time, luckily it wasn’t to the point that I wanted to press next, was it a filler track perhaps?
8. Leave Me Be
I heard immediatly the raw emotion through this track and it was so surprising to hear that. I mean yes, it’s a little emo, but it was a good kind of emo. Like something teenagers can actually feel for. I mean it’s pretty much simple in lyrics leave him alone damnit! It’s one of the darkest songs on the album albeit put into an upbeat kind of sound.
9. Best Days of Our Lives
We definitly get a lively and happy track and OMG Hunter is actually leading the track practically and it comes as a definite shock and he sounds good as well. Then I find myself wondering why does the song sound pretty repetitive. I do like the whole cherish the moments you have, quite nice and I guess in the end, the song seems depressing cause it sound like a breakup happened or something. Please elaborate hahaha.
10. Emotion
Entering the shortest song off the album, it’s practically an interlude. Are they pulling a Hikki? (Youko, you can ask me bout that one). Anyway, it’s like Youko’s guitar playing is singing the song rather and even though there is some off notes, it’s definitly a nice listen. Hunter’s beat is quite cool keeping it together and such. Then we are led into.
11. Epilogue
Haha, I love how the album is called “Prologue” and the last song off the album is the Epilogue. As well it should they convey feelings through a story and that’s where the terms come from. Being the longest song as well, this ballad was more better than the first one for sure. I hear some minor tapping sounds as well, I wonder if it was intentional and some both guys are singing it’s tough to differentiate the two unless they are singing simultaneously. Still what a nice way to finish this album.
So their debut album is for sure different to their later albums because well, it’s all acoustic music. What I liked about the song is definitly the lyrics as they are honest lyrics and even though some of them are a little surprising like This Recurring Wound most of them are something teens can relate to one way another. Both Youko and Hunter have nice voices and even though it isn’t at full force (they explained it) I’m actually wanting to hear them belt it out. Nice album guys!
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Utada Hikaru – Face My Fears January 18, 2019
Filed under: Utada Hikaru — solarblade @ 6:00 am
Face My Fears (Japanese Version)
Face My Fears (English Version)
Don’t Think Twice
1. Face My Fears (Japanese Version)
Opening the single up is of course the song used as the intro for Kingdom Hearts III and boy does seem like it steps outside of what “Hikari” and “Passion” did previously. I really do love how the song starts off slowly and kind of in a somber light before it builds itself into this dubsteppy breakdown that kind of makes the mood feel uncomfortable and off the wall and I kind of enjoy that switch of moods. Then again it’s no surprise that the song was produced by Skrillex of American fame here. It feels like such an odd pairing, but I kind of dug the track even if it doesn’t quite live up to the dynasty that the previous Kingdom Hearts themes had.
2. Chikai
Which seems to kind of how I feel about Chikai despite this being an actual separate song used as the ending theme of the game (kind of weird we won’t be getting an orchestral version of “Face My Fears” right)? With the time I’ve had with this song since her album, “Hatsukoi” last year, Chikai is still kind of an odd song, mostly because of the rhythm here, but the moodiness and sentimentality of the track kind of stuck out to me and I thought Hikki sounded very nice here. Fitting song for the franchise!
3. Face My Fears (English Version)
No surprise that the single would also include English takes on both themes and great to have prior to the game’s release. Really not much to say here but I mean it’s still sung pretty well from Hikki and at least I can understand this lyrically. There’s just something mysterious about this song and I just love it!
4. Don’t Think Twice
Yeah, this is the US title for “Chikai” and its just until now that we finally get its English variant and I’m pretty happy to see this as I feel like the emotions carry better here. I think Hikki also had a bit more time to really get the lyrics right for the game. It’s just a pretty song and it’s another ballad that ended up sticking to me.
Wow has it been over 10 years since Hikki released an actual physical single (not counting that odd U3 single). Of course, this is a pretty big deal because this is the single to promote the theme songs for Kingdom Hearts III and that was more than enough to warrant a single! I have to say that both Face My Fears and Don’t Think Twice are pretty appropriate and decent songs to serve the game and the Japanese cuts are on equal ground as well versus the US/JP differences between the KH1 & KH2 themes. I just hope this puts a fire into Hikki and she can return to releasing singles!
Utada Hikaru – Hatsukoi July 21, 2018
Play A Love Song
Hatsukoi
Too Proud with Jevon
Pakuchii no Uta
Nokoriga
Oozora de Dakishimete
Yuunagi
Shittosarerubeki Jinsei
1. Play A Love Song
Opening the album, Play A Love Song starts off with such an ethereal kind of glow and positive outlook like “Fight the Blues” did but this song is a lot more chill and laidback in comparison as well. With the simple piano melody and light strings, percussion and synths, the song is definitely reminiscent to stuff from “HEART STATION” for myself. There’s something relaxing about the track and it just starts the album off on a nice note.
2. Anata
So the bolded tracks are digital releases she dropped in the last two years prior to the release of the album! With a piano intro, Hikki brings it in quite nicely and softly, but it does kind of come off a little similar to “Play A Love Song” in the arrangement and same instrumentation as well (minus synths though). Though I was happy to hear brass in the song though to kind of spice things up, but it’s a middle-of-the-road kind of track for me.
3. Hatsukoi
As the title track of the album (and released a couple weeks before the album was released), Hatsukoi marks as the first ballad on the album and it really pops out especially since Hikki is singing in a slightly higher register. Though the ~I need youu-hoo~ lines sound so alien to me for some reason like it’s not Hikki but yet it is. As the song moves forward, strings are added to the arrangement. It’s a dramatic track and she sounds good in this one!
So to be honest, I was pretty hyped for the album just to listen to this song in full and if you didn’t know this is the song chosen to be the theme song for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III. Though unlike “Hikari” & “Passion” before it, Chikai is more of a ballad with strings and piano at the forefront. Though it does take some interesting turns with the beats because it kind of throws me off a bit since it’s not a simple beat to follow. It might not quite live up to its hype, but I suppose it works for the series (especially with the English lines she throws in this). Makes me wonder when we’ll get its US version, “Don’t Think Twice” released.
5. Forevermore
Moving on, Forevermore was another digital single released and this one has a little more oomph than all the previous songs that came before it. I do like the songs more bright nature and the lowkey jazz vibes I get is also a nice twist to the song. It does feel like it’s building up the entire way, but never totally feels like it makes it there? Still, I’m pretty impressed by her vocals here!
6. Too Proud with Jevon
Hmmm? Something odd from Hikki once again? It seems like it’s the case with Too Proud with the kind of upbeat, but also somewhat playful atmosphere I get with the synths and harp? It’s a mellow track it feels like and Hikki sounds relaxed and then hearing the tune kind of going into an R&B sound is just unique! Could’ve lived without Jevon though, he kind of takes me outta the song…but otherwise, quirky little track.
7. Good Night
I thought our next track Good Night was going to be another piano ballad, but it’s quickly dashed as it’s more like a rock ballad, but still has strong pop elements! I have to say, the song’s more lowbrow sound is nice and really was there to set Hikki’s vocals up front and she sounds pleasant if not maybe a little weak? I don’t know, but there’s just something mysterious yet refreshing about the song. I mean she does say ~gooooooooood~ a LOT in the track, but it’s still one of the standout tracks here.
8. Pakuchii no Uta
If I thought “Too Proud” was a bit strange on the album, Pakuchii no Uta is basically the “Boku wa Kuma” for this album as the sound of the intro is kind of cheesy and kid-like, but afterwards the song kind of goes into this somber-like state that sounds more depressing than “Good Night” did. It does go back to the kiddy-like sounding lyrics, but otherwise…just not quite that good.
9. Nokoriga
Pipe organ to open up the next track? I guess, but it just suddenly drops when Hikki begins to sing the first verse. I don’t know why, but this song just doesn’t do much for me for some reason. Maybe it’s the simplistic arrangement or the boring pipe organ chords that plays, but this song just doesn’t go anywhere for me and I almost fell asleep to it.
10. Oozora de Dakishimete
The last of the digital singles released, Oozora de Dakishimete kind of makes up for the boredom from “Nokoriga” with a more lighter sound but happier arrangement as well. I like the arrangement and Hikki’s vocals are a lot more mesmerizing to listen to going in and through the song. There is a couple of odd parts in its choruses where the arrangement gets bass synth and acoustic guitar? Still, the song is a much needed improvement.
11. Yuunagi
Something dark comes this way in our penultimate track to the album, Yuunagi with some dark chords played by the piano. At the minute mark is when Hikki begins singing and boy does this song sound fantastic and sends you to a different place. It’s such a haunting ballad and my thoughts take me through an Autumn forest for this one even if lyrically it’s about loss. It’s one of the best tracks off the album hands down!
12. Shittosarerubeki Jinsei
As the album’s closer, Shittosarerubeki Jinsei is definitely the one track that got something different going on from the other tracks on the album from the unique beats and cool bass and other things like the strings that give it a somewhat Arabesque groove. Why it was chosen to close the album instead of “Yuunagi” is interesting though. I kind of dug it!
Wow, it feels like forever since her last album doesn’t it? Hatsukoi as a whole left me both fulfilled and somewhat bored by it at the same time? I don’t know why but it feels like none of the songs were terrible persay, but many of them felt a bit too mellow for me, I’m kind of missing the truly upbeat stuff like the stuff she released back in “ULTRA BLUE” and “HEART STATION”. Still, this is a pretty decent album and Yuunagi is a hidden gem to the album!
Utada Hikaru – Hikari (Ray Of Hope MIX) January 12, 2017
Hikari (Ray Of Hope MIX)
Simple and Clean (Ray Of Hope MIX)
Hikari (P’s CLUB MIX)
Simple and Clean (P’s CLUB MIX)
1. Hikari (Ray Of Hope MIX)
Seeing a new remix for Hikki’s Hikari single (which is due to a new Kingdom Hearts compilation) was an interesting move for Hikki and I was wishing it was a new song (or maybe a remix for “Passion” would’ve been better). Anyway, the new remix is pretty different from the original going for this very unique arrangement that sounds like a mix of ethereal vibes and underwater/tropical undertones. While I do prefer the “Simple and Clean” version, it’s a cool arrangement and something that’ll stick out in Hikki’s repertoire.
2. Simple and Clean (Ray Of Hope MIX)
Since the two songs are actually different from one another, I wasn’t surprise that the remix would be a smidge different from another. Having an English version of the song really helps Westerners get used to the track by understanding the lyrics more. I do enjoy the verses a lot as the deeper synth tones give a much darker feel. Though the chorus is a little out of place, but I mean there’s not too much you could do.
3. Hikari (P’s CLUB MIX)
It feels like they slowed the remix down a lot and replaced some of the more synthy stuff with beats and a different set of synths. I do like that the beginning of the song had some lyrics from another Hikki song, “traveling” thrown into it (it’s also in the Ray Of Hope MIX as well). As a remix itself, I’m a bit in the middle of the road because it just sounds a bit too slow for my liking.
4. Simple and Clean (P’s CLUB MIX)
Same thing can be said about Simple and Clean’s version of the remix. I will say that the remix itself works better with the vocal melody of this track more than “Hikari’s” just for the cadence to the beat and her lyrical flow. Overall, this is the preferred version of the two, but I still like the first two tracks more.
I was a bit surprised that Hikki would release this as a single (although digitally at the moment). As the Ray Of Hope MIX was used as promo for Kingdom Hearts 2.8, dabbling back into Hikari and Simple and Clean seems like beating a dead horse at this point, but I enjoyed the effort that remixing the songs would give a fresh twist to these old songs. I will say, the tropical EDM feels of the Ray Of Hope MIX is cool and puts a totally different spin on things, the P’s CLUB MIX didn’t really do much (well maybe it did for S&C). Overall it’s OK, but I hope by the time KH3 releases, we’ll have a new song to love!
Utada Hikaru – Fantôme October 1, 2016
Ore no Kanojo
Hanataba wo Kimi ni
Nijikan Dake no Vacance feat. Shiina Ringo
Ningyo
Tomodachi with Kobukuro Nariaki
Manatsu no Toori Ame
Kouya no Ookami
Boukyaku feat. KOHH
Jinsei Saikou no Hi
1. Michi
Opening up Hikki’s album, we have Michi which many people did say was an upbeat song and I can tell that with the arrangement right from the start. I really like the beat and hearing Hikki again after so long is really nice and it feels like her voice did recover a bit from the thin sounds she had back in “HEART STATION”. She’s never really let us down with opening tracks and this is no different, a really bright and light-hearted song!
2. Ore no Kanojo
Unlike the happy “Michi”, Ore no Kanojo opens with some string bass to some kind of jazzy track. I’ve always thought Hikki’s lower spectrum in her voice suited songs with this kind of lower and darker feel and while Ore no Kanojo doesn’t seem to be as sullen as should, I really like her timber for this one. I also really like that it builds up to this conclusion and softly finds itself quiet (with synths of course) and then ends with a final verse. It’s different and I quite like it!
3. Hanataba wo Kimi ni
While it has been quite a while for us Hikki fans to get this album due to her going on that 6 year hiatus, back in April she released two digital singles for fans to get excited for as she returned. As the two digital singles were tie-ins for different things, I still was just happy to see Hikki releasing new songs. Hanataba wo Kimi ni is the first ballad of the album and she stuck to the simple piano/strings style of work and while I say overall it’s OK, it really doesn’t compare to past songs like “FINAL DISTANCE”, “COLORS”, or even “Dareka Negai ga Kanau Koro”. It’s just a vanilla ballad, but a sign that she was still around.
4. Nijikan Dake no Vacance feat. Shiina Ringo
Who knew that Hikki would collaborate with Shiina for song? Either way, it’s exciting news as they are legends in the genre! Also, it’s pretty great that this was chosen as the main song to promote the album! Once again, Hikki’s lower vocals sounds so good with the simplistic arrangement of guitars before more instrumentation is presented. At first, I was wondering where Shiina was but she enters the song in the 2nd verse. While I normally can’t stand her vocals, she calmed it for this one and she gelled nicely with Hikki for the most part. This was just a great song and one of the standouts here!
5. Ningyo
Opening with some pretty harp, Ningyo is another ballad for the album and once again sticks to the simpler routes. While I feel like this would make a good pairing with “Kairo” for some reason, Ningyo has this mesmerizing arrangement that’s only slightly thrown off by the drums (which was a bit brash against the harp, especially towards the end). Still, the song is nice, but it’s just there for me.
6. Tomodachi with Kobukuro Nariaki
Moving into our next track, Tomodachi picks things up with a cool beat and nice acoustic glow. I do know just from reading around that this is kind of about crushing on someone of the same gender but the reciprocation is one-sided. I really like when Hikki talks about these kind of things but fits them to a happier beat, something strange but whimsical about that. While I’m not entirely sure where Nariaki is pertaining to the song (maybe guitar or trumpet?). Cool song and a pretty catchy one at that too!
7. Manatsu no Toori Ame
The other digital single released back in April, surprise, surprise though that it’s another ballad. Like my problem I had with “Hanataba wo Kimi ni”, the easy to go to arrangement is pretty basic as things go, but I feel like Hikki did a lot better with emoting and making the song her own and giving off this cold and sad atmosphere (even with the beats, it added some colors throughout). It gets better in the 2nd half with strings and a push of volume and grandeur. It’s a good ballad that really can stand with the best of Hikki’s ballads!
8. Kouya no Ookami
After such a nice ballad, I wasn’t expecting some sexy breathing to pop up next. Kouya no Ookami brings back up more of Hikki’s funk style and I approve of the notion since a lot of this album so far has been slow sailing. I was kind of expecting more from the sog, but I’m not sure why because I love the horns and bass lines and then the break into the pre-chorus with added piano was interesting, but it led to an anticlimatic chorus IMO. It’s OK, but there could’ve been a little more to it than what we ended up with.
9. Boukyaku feat. KOHH
It felt like a heartbeat starts off on Boukyaku and there’s just something radiant and soothing about this intro that caught my attention after “Kouya no Ookami”. Maybe that it reminds me of something from Final Fantasy X. Though this intro goes on for a while (about a minute and 35 seconds) before KOHH does a sort-of rap/spoken dialogue for another minute before Hikki finally makes her presence known. Though at that point the song just kind of phases out of mind as the arrangement doesn’t excite me as much and KOHH for the same reason. It just feels like an extended interlude to me.
10. Jinsei Saikou no Hi
As we near the end, we have the last new track of the album and Jinsei Saikou no Hi feels like a throwback to her earlier days with that tinge of R&B, but a mix of what she was throwing out in “HEART STATION” with the ethereal synths and lightheartedness. While I’m surprised it’s the album’s shortest track, I felt like this had some nice character about it. Weird that it reminds me of “Niji-iro Bus”? Nice short track!
11. Sakura Nagashi
Ending the album, I was a little perplexed by the choice of including Sakura Nagashi (as it’s the oldest track on the album, released as a digital single back in 2012. I still think it’s a really beautiful, thought-proving ballad she has here no doubt, it’s just the choice of including it as all the other tracks were done in 2016. Beyond that, it’s a great emotional ending to the album that fans have been heavily waiting for.
Wow has it really been almost 8 years since “HEART STATION”, her last studio album that wasn’t a best (or a tribute album)? I feel like it hasn’t been too long since Hikki did throw out some songs during her hiatus. Then it culminated into Fantôme and while I don’t think it’s her best album to date, it’s nice to see her return. I feel like there’s something missing to the album that made her last couple such pieces of art that I’m maybe a little worried? I mean her voice does sound better, but the songs just mostly didn’t resonate with me as much as her last 3 albums had. I’m sure I’ll get used to it though with more listens!
Utada Hikaru – Sakura Nagashi November 20, 2012
Filed under: Utada Hikaru — solarblade @ 9:42 pm
Sakura Nagashi (Instrumental)
1. Sakura Nagashi
It’s been so long since we’ve heard Hikki last and out of the blue she releases Sakura Nagashi (which is tied to Evangelion of course). This song was definitely worth the wait for Hikki to throw in because it’s definitely one of her best ballads IF NOT one of the best! There’s something so profound and beautiful with this ballad that I feel like it was some sort stroke of genius. It’s pretty, Hikki sounds amazing and while the PV is a tad touchy in places, it fit so nicely together. Great song, but she’s not gonna get out of hiatus-land? Damnit….
I’m not sure why but Hikki just surprised and blown everyone away with Sakura Nagashi. Like I said, one of her best songs to date and really made me feel like this hiatus is essentially restoring her flow and lyrical content (even though she was pretty good before the hiatus), I’m sure this’ll get more popular as the days come and maybe perhaps beat “Flavor Of Life” in some of the records that it created. *RECOMMENDED*
Utada Hikaru – Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL.2 December 8, 2010
CD 1 Track Listing
Beautiful World -PLANiTb Acoustica Mix-
Arashi no Megami
Show Me Love (Not A Dream)
Goodbye Happiness
Hymne à l’amour ~Ai no Anthem~
Can’t Wait ‘Til Christmas
1. Beautiful World -PLANiTb Acoustica Mix-
I should get the song that hasn’t been released physically on Hikki’s discography, the end of the first disc contains an acoustic version of Beautiful World. I was a little turned off at the fact that PLANiTb decided to make this one acoustic because we all know that their past works have made the songs more electronic and edgy. There’s a little bit going on, but natural instruments all over the song basically. I don’t think Hikki resang for the version which is a bit meh, and it shows since some of the parts don’t sound right together…but it could just be me. I still prefer the original version though.
1. Arashi no Megami
Beginning the second disc of all new material, Arashi no Megami is kind of a slow start for the disc because it’s rather a simple song for Hikki to put out, but I’d say it’s a bit like “Be My Last” and how the song is very melancholic and mostly stays at the slow rhythm. To me it doesn’t do much since I’m not usually the one that likes the simple Hikki ballad…it just doesn’t do anything for me.
2. Show Me Love (Not A Dream)
We’ve known about this song for quite a long time (actually knew the title right around the release of “This Is The One”. I was creeped out at first because of the gloomy atmosphere of the song in the verses, but she sounded so right with the song, but then the chorus comes in and the mood just turns into a rockin’ one. It’s kind of like “Kremlin Dusk” in where there’s just so much angst going on and “Drama” with personal lyrics. It’s a great mixture and I was hoping she’d have another rock song someday and this worked out very well.
3. Goodbye Happiness
Being the song with the most promotion for the album (only one of the five that got an actual PV), Goodbye Happiness is definitely catering to the people that love songs like “This Is Love”, “Celebrate” and the original version of “Flavor Of Life”, it’s upbeat, fun, and yet the lyrics are the opposite. I have to say, I really enjoyed the song since it’s just cute and Hikki sounds great being herself. I think I love the ~oo oo, oo oo~ parts of the song since it just caught my attention. It’s just a song that I needed to hear from her this year lol
4. Hymne à l’amour ~Ai no Anthem~
Though to be honest, Ai no Anthem was actually the first promotional song for the album and being a cover of a French song, I was wondering what Hikki had up her sleeves for this one. Well, it’s definitely one of her WTF songs since she sings some of the song in French and the music arrangement is not of her normal which was a loungy/bossa nova/jazz style. I did like the fact it was so different from what she really did and adding that flute solo was pretty damn cool for me. She does go back to Japanese for the rest though. The only problem was though that the song was way too long for such a style since it changed so little and kept the same pattern. If it wasn’t 6 min+, it’d be prolly a whole lot better.
5. Can’t Wait ‘Til Christmas
Giving the release date, I guess Hikki wanted to end the second disc with a Christmas tune. Though, I didn’t really want another piano led ballad like “Arashi no Megami”, but I guess we just got stuck with it. Like said song, it’s not very exciting for me, but it’s passable…just not the kind of song I’d see myself listening to much…”Nichiyou no Asa” did a much better job representing Christmas.
Yeah, it’s very sad to see that Hikki is going on an hiatus over a hiatus but at least she gave us a good present to keep playing and playing. I don’t know why, but half was pretty good and half was kind of meh. The good ones though were more than strong enough to be released as A-sides which would be Show Me Love, Goodbye Happiness, and Ai no Anthem. The other three kind of seem underwhelming compared to the multitude of amazing songs on this best-of…eh can’t wait to see her back!
Utada – Dirty Desire December 27, 2009
Dirty Desire (Mike Rizzo Radio Edit)
Dirty Desire (Digital Dog Radio Edit)
Dirty Desire (Razor N’ Guido Radio Edit)
Dirty Desire (Mike Rizzo Club Mix)
Dirty Desire (Digital Dog Club Mix)
Dirty Desire (Razor N’ Guido Main Mix)
Dirty Desire (Mike Rizzo Dub Mix)
Dirty Desire (Digital Dog Dub)
Dirty Desire (Razor N’ Guido DUHB)
1. Dirty Desire (Mike Rizzo Radio Edit)
He’s definitely no stranger to American releases, but Mike Rizzo gets his remixes right and of course Hikki’s Dirty Desire is a part of that list. Changing to already danceish original, the remix gives it a harder electronica vibe and Hikki’s vocals are a little bit filtered, but honestly it kind of fits.
2. Dirty Desire (Digital Dog Radio Edit)
Ok, the start of this remix is already different enough to make it seperate from the last song, but sadly the melody of the remix feels rather empty and rather plain. I did like how they incorporated the talking parts of the song to seperate the verses. It is however, the shortest radio edit off the single.
3. Dirty Desire (Razor n’ Guido Radio Edit)
The 3rd main remix off the single, Razor N’ Guido instead begins the remix with a short snippet of the talking part before leading into the first verse. If it wasn’t for the radio edit telling me, I thought this would be the club mix since it feels so much like one.
American singles never really impress me and even here on Dirty Desire nothing really pops out at me. Nice remixes, yes, but might as well be forgotton, since usually most J-pop fans don’t go to these kind of singles.
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From SourceWatch
AECOM Government Services, Inc. is the government services arm of AECOM, a global design and management comany offering a wide variety of services from transportation and facilities maintenance, to power and mining projects, military logisitics and international development assistance. [1] AGS' history goes back over 70 years, beginning as Holmes & Narver Services, Inc., a construction and engineering company with a long history of government contracts. [2] [3] [4] [5]
1 Contracts
2 Joint Ventures
In 2002, AGS was awarded a contract to assist the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk in a variety of base operations support services. [6] (pdf file)
Combat Support Associates: "AGS and its joint venture partners Research Analysis and Maintenance (RAM) and SMI International receive support from subcontractors MPRI, Anteon, and Sato to fulfill the Combat Services Support Contract-Kuwait." [7]
Civilian Police International: "AGS and its joint venture partners MPRI, Wackenhut, and KBR support the International Civilian Police (CIVPOL) mission of international peacekeeping." [8]
Forfeiture Support Associates: "AGS and joint venture partner L-3COM/MPRI provide program management, administration, and quality control services to support the DOJ's asset forfeiture program". [9]
Multinational Force and Observers: "AGS and its subcontractor, Care Services Ltd. (CSL), provide support for the multinational military peacekeepers and civilian observers assigned to monitor the Egypt-Israel border." [10]
Rock Island Integrated Services: "RIIS, a joint venture between AGS and Del-Jen, Inc., provides comprehensive installation support of arsenal's manufacturing and direct support missions for the US Army and other DOD customers."
Resources Sciences Arabia, Ltd.: RSAL, as a subsidiary of AGS, receives support from teaming partner Xenel Industries, Ltd. to deliver technical, managerial, and design services to commercial petroleum companies and US military operations in the Arabian Gulf. [11]
Albert Konvicka: President [12]
AGS-Fort Worth
1200 Summit Avenue
email: info AT ags DOT aecom DOT com
Retrieved from "https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=AGS&oldid=147561"
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Review: Alien Covenant
What can I say? Sometimes reviews come and go out of order. Foregoing the gap of time between seeing this new “Alien” film and this review, let’s get on with it. “Alien: Covenant” directed by Ridley Scott and written by John Logan, Dante Harper, Jack Paglen, and Michael Green is a gigantic improvement over Scott’s last foray into space philosophy with “Prometheus” in my opinion. However, while I was not a fan of “Prometheus”, “Covenant” has given me pause to reconsider elements of that initial film.
This time around the focus is on the crew of the Covenant, a colony ship headed towards a new planet for humanity to thrive on. Aboard the ship Walter (Michael Fassbender), a newer model Android with a middle-American accent roams around keeping an eye on the colonists and runs the ship’s tech. Unfortunately for the colonists (but fortunately for the audience), they never make it to their destination of Origae-6. A neutrino blast rocks the spaceship carrying two-thousand frozen colonist members and causes quite the havoc- outright killing the captain (James Franco) and damaging the ship in the process. After the chaos has calmed the crew comes across a signal that Tennessee (Danny McBride) recognizes as a John Denver song. They investigate and find a planet even more suitable for colonization than Origae-6. The former first mate and new captain Oram (Billy Crudup) makes the decision to go for the much closer planet, dismissing the lone contrarian Daniels’ objection (Katherine Waterston), the widow of the late captain.
Only shortly after landing on the seemingly vacant planet does the crew realize the grave mistake they have made. For those curious to know if Ridley Scott could still handle the inherent gore and gross out antics of the xenomorphs, fear not (Or, maybe do?). Scott tries to outdo his own initial chest-bursting alien scene with a fresh and bloody violent vigor. The crew is quickly outmatched by the albino proto-xenomorphs and that may have been the end of it, had it not been for their savior in David (Michael Fassbender, again), the A.I. android from “Prometheus” (coincidentally the best part of that film). The first and third acts of the film are decidedly more “Alien” in nature than “Prometheus” was, however the second act delves back into the Gothic space philosophy that permeated the first film- and this film balances these differing styles and aesthetics fairly well. Scott’s obsession here lies in the big questions surrounding David himself, and he goes to great lengths to give weight to David’s inner turmoil.
David takes great interest in Walter, teaching him to play the flute at one point cleverly pointing out the obvious distance between the models. Walter can take direction and learn, but only David can teach and create. In fact we learn a great deal more about David in this film and the story paints a much more complete picture of his motivations and purpose, which I assume he himself does a lot of thinking on as well. Once again, Michael Fassbender is the best part of this series of films. Having him become the linchpin of these films was a distinct choice and it paid off for Scott. I know some were disappointed in the more predictable “Alien-ness” of these films, and while the ending can be seen from miles away, I love that this universe is finally shaping up to become more recognizable in form. This film at least felt as if it existed in the same universe as “Alien” and “Aliens”, there was even a bright yellow exo-suit worn at one point as a visual reminder and I admit, I cracked a smile at the sight of it.
While this film is not near the heights of the first two films, it is the third best “Alien” movie in the franchise. There are a few moments here and there that were questionable though. At one point David mimes to a freshly born Xenomorph that stands upright and I outright laughed at the screen- it was cheese-tastic and it immediately brought to mind the scene in “Spaceballs” where a freshly chest-burst Xenomorph dons a hat and cane singing “Hello My Baby!”. Probably not the response that was intended or wanted, but hey- don’t do that next time. There was also a sequence where we, the audience, are given the Xenomorph’s perspective a la “Predator”, and that was just an awful idea to be honest. So, while not perfect- this film is highly enjoyable and has finally hooked me into Mr. Scott’s curious prequel series of Alien films. What Ridley Scott does next is anyone’s guess, but I am now invested in finding out what that will be.
Final Score: 2000 Doomed Colonists and 1 Mad Robot
AlienBilly CrudupCovenantDanny McBrideDemian BichirKatherine WaterstonMichael FassbenderReviewRidley Scott
Previous postReview: Baby Driver
Next postLet’s talk about Twin Peaks
2 thoughts on “Review: Alien Covenant”
Dan O. says:
It was a fun movie. As stupid as it got. Nice review.
spacecortez says:
Thank you! Yeah, there were definitely a few questionable moments, but overall it’s a step in the right direction.
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I Get Around…and Have You Seen Kyle?
That’s Arigon whistling that old Beach Boys hit “I Get Around.” And she certainly does.
Recently, Arigon visited the beautiful cities of Seattle and Walla Walla in Washington State and performed at the historic Cain’s Ballroom.
As most of you know, Arigon is a woman of many talents and when she makes “an appearance” it’s anybody’s guess as to whether she will be singing with her guitar, doing her one-woman show or talking about the entertainment industry.
As we mentioned last month, Arigon was invited to join the Native Americans In The Comic Book World panel that happens at this year’s Phoenix Comicon. The panel takes place on SATURDAY, MAY 28TH AT 4:30PM at the Phoenix Convention Center, Room 126B.
You will need to buy a ticket to get in ($35 each) — but the convention is bigger than all that! There are dozens of panels about comic books, science fiction, fantasy — even zombies! Genre icons like George Takai, Leonard Nimoy, Wil Wheaton (“Star Trek”) and the legendary Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee will take the stage and talk about their past and future projects. Also included is a huge trade show featuring book signings, all kinds of products and comics and plenty of items that will make you go “Hmm…” AAAY!
“This is the first time I’ve actually presented at a comic convention. I went to one of the early San Diego Comic Cons many years ago. My Mom dropped me off and I just drooled over the guys selling “Creepy,” “Eerie” and back issues of Batman, Spiderman and Superman in those cardboard long boxes. I didn’t attend one panel — I got lost in the trade show.” Arigon has been a “genre” fan for a long time and she is super excited about being part of the scene. “I’ve attended the big San Diego Comic Con, but also their affiliated shows Wonder-Con and the hip Alternative Press Expo. It really gives me a charge to be around people who are pursuing their passion. Nothing like it!,” she enthused.
Rezium Studios continues to crank out the comics — and there is some discussion about having “Super Indian” become part of one or more Tribal Newspapers. “I hope we get it worked out soon. I never thought my work would be a strip comic like ‘Peanuts’ or ‘Brenda Starr,'” Arigon smiled. As soon as we get the okay — we’ll let you know where you can look for “Super Indian” in print.
How did everyone like “Kyle?” Arigon has been busy knocking out ideas and drawing the adventures of the strangely compelling hairless cat. “There is just something appealing about him! I was watching the documentary on OWN about Chaz Bono and saw that he owned a family of hairless cats. I spent most of the show yelling out, ‘Kyle! No!,” laughed Arigon. We know that Kyle will be making more appearances as part of the “Super Indian” universe very soon.
We’ll have an update from the road next week about how the Phoenix Comic Con went — and more “Super Indian” news. Stay in touch and THANK YOU to almost 900 people who have “liked” Super Indian on Facebook. Phenomenal numbers considering the very “soft” opening of the webcomic. We HEART you guys!
Tags: Arigon, Arigon Starr, Chaz Bono, Hairless Cat, Kyle The Cat, Native American, Native American Comic Book, Native American Indian, Phoenix Comic Con, Phoenix Comic Con 2011, Rezium Studios, San Diego Comic Con, Super Indian Comics, Wacky Productions Unlimited
Previous Wonder Con 2011 and Kyle’s Royal Wedding
Next Fun at Phoenix Comic Con 2011
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Michael and Sally McCracken
SERC
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ENGR2019AGUEROADAME49081 ENGR
Engineering Capstone Project - Computer Vision
Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Melina Aguero Adame Engineering Susana Murillo Engineering
Advisor(s): Stephen Weis Engineering
Location: Session: 1; Basement; Table Number: 6
As part of one of the engineering capstone projects, a calibration testing system was improved with the aid of computer vision. Computer vision was integrated into this project as a solution to a rotating pedestal calibration test that was previously performed by the naked eye. The main goal of this system was to detect and track a red 635 nm wavelength laser spot with offsets as small as 0.025 inches on a 10 x 10 inch grid accurately and precisely. Designing this system involved three major criteria: camera selection, data processing hardware, and algorithm performance.
The first criteria studied in the design process was the camera. The system required a camera that was compact in size, covered the entirety of the grid at less than 11 inches, and captured high quality images. Furthermore, two main data processing hardwares were explored: Raspberry Pi and a standard test laptop. The processing hardware criteria considered were speed, portability, and maintenance. Finally, RGB and houghcircles were the two algorithms used to detect the red laser dot. Testing was conducted to compare the algorithms based on their ability to detect the laser spot, precision in tracking, and repeatability. These design considerations guided the down selects for the final components used in this system.
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ENGR2019BIESEMEIER44452 ENGR
Design and Development of an Actuation and Extraction Force Tester: Programming
Author(s): Thomas Biesemeier Engineering Zach Hollis Engineering Ben Krause Engineering Talha Mushtaq Engineering
Advisor(s): Robert Bittle Engineering
Location: Session: 2; 3rd Floor; Table Number: 3
The LabVIEW team for the Applied Avionics Inc. project focuses on fully integrating the programming of all electrical components with LabVIEW. The major requirements for this project include utilizing LabVIEW to display and capture data feedback, completely automate the testing process, and to read and send data directly to AAI’s database. By creating an actuation and extraction feedback machine that is fully LabVIEW controlled, a variety of switch body types were able to be accommodated and tested. The machine has been shown to decrease variability of results and improve the efficiency of AAI’s current process in all aspects required.
ENGR2019DECK64177 ENGR
HyPIR Electrolysis for Potassium Hydroxide Solutions at Different Laser Specifications
Author(s): Trystan Deck Engineering Aliesha Rau Engineering
Advisor(s): John Fanchi Engineering
Location: Session: 2; 2nd Floor; Table Number: 9
We are presenting a method referred to as Hydrogen Production by HyPIR Electrolysis. The method increases the rate of hydrogen production from a 1 molar potassium hydroxide and water solution under 6 volts when an infrared laser is irradiated with an optimum wavelength of light through a cell and concentrated on exposed copper electrodes. The irradiating light facilitates the dissociation of water by stretching the hydrogen oxygen bonds and increasing the rate of hydrogen production. Production of hydrogen due to the class 4 laser is altered by the specifications of laser energy, pulses per second, and spot size.
ENGR2019DEVOOGHT49649 ENGR
FDM 3D Printing Mechanical Property Testing
Author(s): Luke Devooght Engineering Melina Aguero Engineering
Advisor(s): Becky Bittle Engineering
In this experiment, the mechanical properties of 3D printed specimens of different printing parameters were tested under tension. The printing parameters of these specimens were: surface resolution, infill density, and print orientation. Parts were printed in Onyx nylon with a Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printer called the Markforged Onyx Pro. Factorial sets of specimens using all various parameters are printed and tested to create a reference table for future engineering projects. Specimens are then printed as composite variations with continuous fibers in order to understand the benefits a composite may have.
ENGR2019MCMULLIN27782 ENGR
Design and Development of an Actuation and Extraction Force Tester for Switch Assemblies
Author(s): Lee McMullin Engineering Cassady Greene Engineering
Location: Session: 1; 1st Floor; Table Number: 4
Applied Avionics Inc. requested that a TCU Engineering Senior Design team manufacture a quality testing machine to verify the actuation force/distance and extraction force of various switch type bodies. The switch bodies tested are used for commercial and military aviation systems and need to pass inspection through various Mil-Specs and agencies. This machine is intended to improve the current system by reducing operator subjectively and dependency, upgrading software to improve data acquisition, and improve the cycle time for testing each switch. The machine designed is fully automated and LabVIEW integrated and has decreased the variability of results and improved the overall efficiency of the current process.
ENGR2019NIKOLAI12345 ENGR
Stock Car Suspension Stiffness Ratio Analysis
Author(s): Danny Nikolai Engineering
Advisor(s): Mike Harville Engineering
A racecar’s suspension is one of the key contributors to its performance on a track. Each component – springs, shocks, links, etc. – can be dealt with as a variable within a mathematical model. There are hundreds of combinations of these variables, with each change affecting the stiffness ratio. Using the sway bar as the variable of interest, data acquisition, and computer modeling, a mathematical was developed for predicting the stiffness ratio as a function of sway bar diameter. This model can simplify the time-consuming iterative process that is “racecar setup” by allowing a race team to plug numbers into an equation to make predictions instead of conducting on-track test sessions to determine the results of each component change.
PDF: Attached to this email.
Design and Development of an Actuation and Extraction Force Tester: System Manufacturing
Author(s): Danny Nikolai Engineering Garrett Marler Engineering John Nelson Engineering Tanner Pursley Engineering Bret Rogers Engineering
The manufacturing team for the Applied Avionics Inc. project focuses on fabrication and physical construction of the switch test machine. This involves use of Autodesk Inventor CAD software and collaboration with the TCU machining department to create various components in-house, as well as communication with third party suppliers for sourced components. The purpose of the layout group is system integration, which includes accounting for and mounting all controllers, power supplies, and wiring that is a part of the machine. This requires detailed planning in order to encompass all parts, allow for machine function, and maintenance of professional appearance.
ENGR2019PRASAI24291 ENGR
Remote Controlled Robotic Arm Vehicle
Author(s): Chris Prasai Engineering Mike Tran Engineering
Advisor(s): Morgan Kiani Engineering
In our project, image tracking was employed to provide a honing mechanism for a robotic "scorpion tail" attached to a small Remotely Controlled Vehicle. The car will be controlled wirelessly through a web interface, with mobile phones being the target user. Like the Mario Kart Versus Mode, where multiple cars drive and bump into each other, the vehicle will be controlled wirelessly while the "tail" is actively seeking targets and upon close proximity will "pop" the balloon. Each car will have 3-5 balloons to start, and the objective of the tournament will be to hunt down the remaining cars and “pop” their balloons, until all cars lose their balloons and the victor remains with at least one balloon intact. Python and Google Cloud were used to make a server with for the mobile website, and C++ was used to relay the commands sent wirelessly to the vehicle's two DC motors. Image tracking was implemented using the popular computer vision OpenCV library in python. The research will conclude with a tournament on Pi day (March 22, 2019).
Object Detection and Retrieval Using Low-Cost Autonomous Robotic Vehicle
Author(s): Chris Prasai Engineering Michael Chau Engineering Armando Romero Engineering Mike Tran Engineering
In our project, we aimed to design an autonomous rover similar to that of the popular Mars rovers such as Curiosity. Our rover employs a differential drive system with two continuous rotation servo motors that are controlled with the popular ROS robotic programming library in C++ and Python. A navigation algorithm employs the known position of the robot gathered from a magnetic encoder on the motors and the multiple optical range fidners placed around the vehicle to avoid obstacles on route to its destination. A camera is employed to detect target objects for simple pick-and-place tasks using its DC motorized gripper placed at the front of the vehicle. We have successfully built this vehicle and will demonstrate its capabilities at the 2019 IEEE R5 robotics competition in Lafayette, Louisiana as well as at the SRS presentation day.
ENGR2019SNODGRASS41681 ENGR
Use of Solenoid Magnetic Fields in Linear Actuation
Author(s): Jack Snodgrass Engineering
A reconfigurable surface is a three-dimensional object that can be repeatedly configured by a user without the deformation of any individual component, usually involving the individual mobilization of unique pins. For this to be accomplished, a controlled system must be established for the movement of each individual component. Reconfigurable surfaces often use small motors to actuate desired components. The goal of this project is to replace the motors with magnetic fields produced by solenoids, which will hopefully prove to be more energy efficient and space-saving. To accomplish this, I have assessed multiple makes, models, and styles of solenoids in order to define which characteristics allow users the greatest control over the displacement of the individual pin components. Applying this data has allowed for me to create prototypes of solenoids, which will perform the best within the aforementioned design parameters.
ENGR2019STANEK50106 ENGR
Design and Development of a Beam Expander
Author(s): Hannah Stanek Engineering Emma Birbeck Engineering
Rotating Precision Mechanisms, Inc. (RPM) requested that TCU Senior Design update their current Laser Position Accuracy Test Set, which utilizes a laser to calibrate rotating pedestals. RPM positions this test system at a range of distances from a rotating mirror, passes a laser beam through an optical system to the rotating mirror, and measures the offset of the reflected laser dot in order to test the pointing accuracy and repeatability of their positioners. RPM requested that the redesigned test set deliver a reflected laser dot size within 0.125 inches when the test system is any distance between 10 and 100 feet from the rotating mirror. Our prototype for the redesigned Laser Position Accuracy Test Set relies on an optical component called a beam expander to cleanly extend the laser beam at the desired dot size over the specified range of distances. In order to design and manufacture this beam expander, our team researched optical collimators, beam expanders, and lenses in addition to using an Optical Ray Tracing software to model potential beam expander designs. After constructing and testing a working prototype, we completed several iterations in order to improve the resulting laser dot size. Finally, we compared our beam expander design to an Edmund Optics research grade beam expander to further quantify the success of our design.
ENGR2019TASMIM50191 ENGR
Method For Measuring Mechanical Properties of Polymeric Biomaterials
Author(s): Seelay Tasmim Engineering Nelli Bodiford Chemistry & Biochemistry
Advisor(s): Tristan Tayag Engineering Jeff Coffer Chemistry & Biochemistry
Polymeric biomaterials are the most widely used materials in medicine today. This is due to their ability to better represent the natural tissue response as compared to other materials like metals. When polymeric biomaterials are used in applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, they must be able to perform with an appropriate host response. For instance, they must have the same mechanical properties as that of the environment in which they will be used. Therefore, knowing the mechanical properties, such as Young’s Modulus, for these materials is important. Here we will present a simple and inexpensive method for measuring the mechanical properties of polymeric biomaterials. We will use samples of Polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polymer which can be used as a long-term implantable matrix for controlled and targeted drug delivery, for testing. This method makes use of equipment that is readily available in most universities and research centers to cut samples of PCL material, with an average sheet thickness of 125µm, and generate their stress strain curves. The PCL samples were fabricated via the electrospinning technique with fiber diameter of ~4.5µm. Samples fabricated via this technique either have solid fibers or porous fibers with a pore size of ~0.5µm. To analyze the reliability of the method, the mechanical property results generated using this method were compared to mechanical properties presented in the literature for similar materials. We then used this method to characterize PCL samples based on fiber porosity and fiber orientation. The samples characterized were: Solid aligned PCL (S-A PCL) samples, where the solid fibers are all oriented in the same direction, solid randomly oriented PCL (S-R PCL) samples, where the solid fibers are oriented in random directions, and porous randomly oriented PCL (P-R PCL) samples, where porous fibers are oriented in random directions. Our data resulted in the S-A-PCL samples having the highest Young’s Modulus followed by S-R-PCL and P-R-PCL samples.
ENGR2019THACH59309 ENGR
Design of Robotics Vehicle with Autonomous Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance
Author(s): Bao Thach Engineering Sam Adams Engineering Ben Krause Engineering Irene Kwihangana Engineering Chris Prasai Engineering
In our project, a control-theory based algorithm would be employed to develop a small electric vehicle that can self-navigate through an unknown course to arrive at the desired location while avoiding obstacles and walls. This project is an extension of our successful project funded last year, in which we were able to operate a partially autonomous car to run around a location and generate a virtual map. Our team expects to grant the car full autonomy like a self-driving car and let it travel through a relative abundance of places to create computer models of critical infrastructures without the help of humans. The success of this project will have a broad impact on society. First, this capability would be useful in self-driving cars, which allow drivers to spend their time more productively instead of driving to work or assist disabled people. Second, the car can generate a simulated model of places that help to analyze unknown locations. Finally, the project can surely create a platform for future TCU engineering students to learn about self-driving car technology and machine learning. This project is expected to succeed due to the achievements we gained from the previous project.
The algorithm will be written in Python/ROS, controlled by Raspberry Pi 3, and tested on a walled course constructed by us. It should be able to navigate a course without having already driven through it. Another special feature is that the car will also precisely arrive at a pre-determined location.
ENGR2019WHITE19751 ENGR
Design of a Mechanical Clutch System for a Programmable Surface
Author(s): Caydn White Engineering
Flatfoot and cavus foot are postural issues that affect approximately 40% of people and can be corrected by means of orthotic inserts for shoes. A digitally reconfigurable mold is being developed as a tool for orthotists to visualize and fabricate orthotic inserts. The surface will be formed by an array of solenoid actuators controlled by the orthotist. The patient will stand on the reconfigurable surface while the orthotist evaluates the patient’s needs by manipulating the surface. Once the orthotist is satisfied with the array, the surface position will be held by a clutch system, so the patient can step off the surface and the surface positions can be recorded. This work describes my development of a prototype mechanical clutch for the digitally reconfigurable surface. The result of this project is a proof-of-concept design of an array of twenty-five physical clutch points which may be individually addressed by means of servo motors controlled by an Arduino microcontroller. With the development of this prototype, it is believed that such a control interface could be implemented on a system large enough for an adult human to stand on. This proof-of-concept is a small step in a larger project of developing a full-scale reconfigurable surface by which an orthotist could create posture correcting devices.
FDM 3D Printing Mechanical Properties
Author(s): Luke Devooght Engineering Melina Aguera Engineering
In this experiment, the mechanical properties of 3D printed specimens of different printing parameters were tested under tension. The printing parameters of these specimens were: surface resolution, infill density, and print orientation. Parts were printed in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic with a Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printer called the Stratasys UPrint SE Plus. Specimens were first printed similar to Stratasys published material properties standards and then tested to form a control on these known properties. Factorial sets of specimens using all various parameters were then printed and tested to create a reference table for future engineering projects.
ENGR2018ELLIOTT14728 ENGR
Author(s): Lindsey Elliott Engineering
Advisor(s): Robert Bittle Engineering Efstathios Michaelides Engineering Ken Morgan Geological Sciences
From an engineering perspective, Rare Earth elements have the potential to transform technology in previously unprecedented ways. Their magnetic, luminescent, and electromechanical capabilities are allowing electronic devices to become more compact, reduce emissions, operate more efficiently, and cost less to produce and purchase. Such developments are proving beneficial to the economies of many developed nations because of their use in popular everyday consumer technologies as well as industries such as healthcare and education.
Along with this positive impact comes a political overlay that threatens the longevity of Rare Earth use. Presently, Rare Earths are expensive and dangerous to extract. This is largely due to the fact that they are not found together in large concentrations, so it is only economically feasible to extract them with another material, such as coal. The process of extraction is also hazardous and cumbersome; separating Rare Earths from other materials involves processes with high levels of emissions that may be dangerous to human beings if overexposure occurs. On the other hand, nations with more flexible safety and health regulations are investing in the development of Rare Earths and setting themselves apart as production leaders. Nations with more stringent health and safety regulations are becoming dependent on these nations to provide the Rare Earths for their applications. As a result, leaders in engineering industry can only benefit from Rare Earths if they develop systems that use Rare Earths more effectively than other materials commercially available and develop a reliable business relationship with a Rare Earth supplier. This condition is not likely to be encountered frequently in today's intricate social webs and economic systems.
The possibility of extracting Rare Earths through more efficient, safer processes is becoming recognized as a relevant topic of research. Additionally, investigation into alternatives to Rare Earths in some of the more common applications may allow for safer and less politically charged production methods for many 21st century advancements.
Through literary investigation, this research project seeks to highlight the main characteristics that makes Rare Earths desirable from an engineering perspective, proposed alternatives to Rare Earths based on engineering demands, and the direction of the Rare Earth industry as a result.
ENGR2018KRAUSE24985 ENGR
Autonomous Vehicle With Room Mapping And Obstacle Avoidance
Author(s): Ben Krause Engineering Chris Prasai Engineering Bao Thach Engineering
The goal of this project is to design and construct a small modular autonomous car with room mapping and obstacle avoidance capabilities. The vehicle would be useful in cases where it is dangerous for a human to complete a task, or where it is more efficient to have an autonomous vehicle to scout ahead. A key design goal for this project was also to create an inexpensive platform for research into the realm of autonomous vehicles. The car uses lidar technology to create real time 2D room map and detect obstacles. It is programmed to explore rooms and move without human input. We designed the car with a powerful on board computer, enabling it to run complicated programs and operate without the need of an outside computer.
Development of a Device for controlling a Light Switch with a Remote Controller
Author(s): Seelay Tasmim Engineering Annie Le Engineering
Advisor(s): Sue Gong Engineering
The goal of this project is to develop a low cost and user-friendly device for remote actuation of light switches. We envision a product that is simple to install, easy to control via a remote, and able to function with a variety of light switch geometries. This device can minimize the inconvenience as well as the risk of injuries from turning the light on and off in the dark, especially for elderly people. For this target end user, the device must be simple and require no technical knowledge. Because of this, we have designed a mechanical actuator that will be mounted to the outside of a light switch without the need for tools and controlled by a simple button remote to be kept at the bedside.
ENGR2018TOLBERT23197 ENGR
Tracking High Velocity Metal Objects
Author(s): Jacob Tolbert Engineering Lindsey Elliott Engineering Maya Hall Engineering John Hofmeister Engineering Darian Nezami Engineering Matt Spallas Engineering Cole Vallow Engineering
Advisor(s): Mike Harville Engineering Stephen Weis Engineering
Tracking and recording data from high velocity objects is a difficult task, especially when the object is hidden from view during portions of its flight path. When tasked with this problem, the process of solving it began with copious amounts of research into existing and developing technologies. From thermal imaging to radar detection, many options were explored.
Through a rigorous process of elimination to determine the most efficient and cost effective option, induction coils were chosen as the speed sensing device needed to track the desired objects. Normally when current is induced in one of these coils, there is an unchanging frequency of that current. However, when a conductive material passes through the center of a coil, the original frequency changes. This change can be monitored, giving valuable information about an object's location when evaluated over a specific time period.
After hours of bench top testing, several conclusions were made about the production and effectiveness of the induction coils. Chiefly, it was found that the smaller the induction coil diameter the more effective, the object passing through the coil has a larger effect if it does not pass through the exact center, and the "sweet spot" for the number of coil turns falls between 15-25 turns.
ENGR2018VICTORIAN55314 ENGR
ACME senior design
Author(s): Brandon Victorian Engineering Matt Leonard Engineering Lauren Trost Engineering
Senior design SRS submission:
For our presentation we hope to speak on three of our major groups of our senior design team:
Our first piece involves using programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that are used as the electrical interface between the programming and the mechanical system. Through its own ladder logic program, the code enables the PLC user to dictate when certain relays should be opened or closed for the purpose of turning on and off the vacuum supply and power sources. The PLC then collects data from the pressure transducers so that a signal indicating the next step is sent back to the design. After reading the pressure associated with a certain head, the user can then close a solenoid valve by sending a signal to it via the PLC which will stop the flow of air. With the PLC, the user is in control of where the flow is going to and is consequently, able to modify it through the code. Although the PLC is not a power supply, it does have the ability of processing information by receiving and sending out specified actions, set by the user, to different electronic and mechanical components.
The second piece is based of a tool from a company called pave more. The “pave more” design is a design that picks up bricks from the hack to a separate location to pack them. The design uses separate heads that pick-up bricks using foam that creates a seal on the brick. The heads are connected to a vacuum that allows us to pick up the bricks efficiently. The heads are each on their own spring system that allows them to be picked up at different heights. They are also each on a separate solenoid valve that will sense a missing brick and close the valve to still allow the system to pick up the bricks. The vacuum system is connected to a filter to protect it from the dust and dirt that are on the bricks.
ENGR2017CULVER43732 ENGR
Self-Erecting Inverted Pendulum
Author(s): Steve Culver Engineering
Advisor(s): Walt Williamson Engineering
In this experiment, we examine the non-linear dynamics of a mechanical system consisting of an inverted pendulum with one free-turning rotational degree-of-freedom attached to a computer-controlled cart with one linear degree-of-freedom. Using a Quanser Linear Servo Base Unit with Inverted Pendulum and paired software package, we used first principles to develop the non-linear control system needed to move the pendulum from stable equilibrium to unstable equilibrium and maintain unstable equilibrium. This combines the self-erecting inverted pendulum experiment and the classic pendulum experiment. Through the paired software package, we were able to derive the dynamic equations to develop the transfer function and proportional-velocity feedback system that describe the linear motion of the cart, successfully creating the non-linear control system for both phases of the experiment.
Use of an Xbox Kinect™ as a 3D Scanner for the Manufacturing of Custom Orthotic Insoles
Advisor(s): Steve Weis Engineering
This report examines the function, accuracy, and ease of use of an XBOX Kinect™ as a 3D surface scanner. The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate the utility of a Kinect™ for XBOX 360 (Microsoft®) paired with Skanect (Occipital) and MeshLab software packages as a low cost solution to surface scanning and processing. My conclusion is that the Kinect™ is able to accurately model the recorded point cloud as a continuous 3D surface that matches the contour and scale of the test subject surface. Both Skanect and MeshLab effectively interpolated the smoothing of the 3D surfaces and provided higher resolution imaging than an unaltered image. The resultant resolution of the contoured surface is higher than the resolution of the 3D printers used in this experiment, demonstrating an effective digital duplication of a physical surface.
ENGR2017GETZ62984 ENGR
Design and Development of an Electronic Stability System for a Digital Small Hole Gauge
Author(s): Lauren Getz Engineering Robin Livesay Engineering Karla Lopez Engineering
For this project, a digital grip gauge was designed for Lockheed Martin to measure the grip length of the aircraft skin of the F-35. The objective of the electrical group is to ensure that the gauge will be capable of recognizing when the measurement has stabilized. When stabilized, a light will turn on, which allows the operator to know the measurement is ready for reading. We developed three prototypes that each complete this objective. The first prototype uses two force sensitive resistors (FSR) powered by Arduino. The Arduino code is programmed to turn on a light when the forces on the sensors are equal for a certain range within different zones. The second prototype consists of a comparator circuit with two FSRs connected to a NAND gate. When both FSRs measure the same force, within a range, a light will turn on. The third prototype utilizes two small push buttons that complete a circuit. When both buttons are pressed, the circuit is completed and a light will turn on, indicating to the operator that the part is flush with the aircraft skin and the measurement is stabilized. While each of these prototypes satisfies the objective, the third prototype was ultimately selected due to size constraints of the gauge design.
ENGR2017HALL10343 ENGR
Image Reconstruction Using Compressive Line Sensing
Author(s): Maya Hall Engineering
Compressive line sensing is a process of acquiring data and reconstructing images. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of the two parameters that are used in the image reconstruction algorithm on the quality of the reconstructed image. These two parameters are the compression ratio and the line group. The compression ratio is the ratio of the number of measurements taken at each line vs. the resolution of each line. The line group is the number of lines that are grouped together and solved jointly when reconstructing the image. A higher compression ratio results in degraded image quality because less measurement data is used to reconstruct the image. The larger the line group, the better the quality of the image at a cost of longer computation time. The key is to find a balance between the compression ratio and line group choices so that the image is reconstructed with as little data as possible while still maintaining a high image quality. We will present images reconstructed with different compression ratio and line group based on the data obtained in air and in water.
ENGR2017SCHMITZBERGER13895 ENGR
Design and Development of a Digital Grip Gauge using a Split Ball Probe
Author(s): Evan Schmitzberger Engineering
The objective of our work is to design and build a depth gauge that efficiently and accurately measures the depth of a narrow hole, and give feedback via an electronic screen on the device. This design is being made for Lockheed Martin and will allow their employees to measure a large amount of rivet holes both quicker and more accurately than their current solution. Speeding up the measuring process while retaining accuracy will cut down on production time significantly. Our design was founded on the idea of a small hole gage, we modified the gage to be set up as a probe and anchor onto the back side of the hole. The probe has been coined as a “split-ball” due to its inner shaft splitting the outer shaft that contains a ball type end effecter. Our prototype has been through many iterations utilizing the on campus Fab Lab to 3D print most of our parts. Our mechanical team has been in close work with our electrical team to ensure that the mechanics and electronics function together seamlessly.
2017 Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas - All Rights Reserved.
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NCSS Unconference
Host an #sschat
#sschat is more than just a hashtag. It’s an open group of dedicated network of educators and enthusiasts who aim to improve their personal, and our collective, teaching of social studies subject matter. We aim to help social studies teachers by helping to facilitate democratic collaboration where educators can challenge & support each other to grow in their craft and, consequently, offer richer learning experiences for students. Activities within our network includes the use of #sschat and affiliated hashtags on Twitter, discussions on our Facebook page, and participation in the annual NCSS unconference, but we are always looking to grow our network into new spaces.
Join in the #sschat conversation
1. Join the live #sschat discussions on Twitter Every Monday Night from 7-8 PM EST (see calendar on the home screen)
2. Join in 24/7 Discussions on Social Studies related topics on twitter follow the hashtag #sschat or affiliated hashtags
3. Like our Facebook Group
4. Like our #sschat Book Club on Facebook and join in the conversations
5. Write a blog post that will be shared on our website and Facebook page with our #sschat network
6. Visit this website for archives of Twitter chats and more
#sschat history
The following #sschat history was written by co-leader Dan Krutka after his presentation at the 2017 Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference in Austin, Texas. To reference, please use the following:
Krutka, D. G. (2017). The #sschat Network: History, Purpose, & Implications of a Subject-Area Community. In P. Resta & S. Smith (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2017 (pp. 2190-2200). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).
Abstract: In this paper, the author reviews the history of the #sschat network, an informal and organic professional development community that emerged on Twitter in 2010 and has grown beyond solely that medium and shifted ever since. The author has served as a co-leader of #sschat since 2012 and therefore tells the #sschat story from an emic perspective. The paper details the rise and evolution of #sschat, responsibilities of co-leaders, efforts of collective resource sharing, organization of face-to-face events, and online network infrastructure. In sharing this history, the author hopes educators and researchers might consider the possibilities and challenges of understanding informal subject-area communities online. He concludes with implications for the field.
#sschat history preview
Social studies educators Ron Peck and Greg Kulowiec were early #edchat participants who believed a subject-area social studies chat could help them apply their learning to their social studies classrooms. After a brief consideration of a history-specific hashtag, #sschat was born through a Twitter conversation on July 6th, 2010 and the first synchronous #sschat Twitter chat was held on Monday, July 12th, 2010 as participants discussed using tech tools in the social studies classroom. Over the next several months, the chat remained small in numbers, discussing topics like project-based learning (PBL), critical thinking, and using maps in the social studies classroom. Greg Kulowiec described #sschat on Twitter to Kristen Schulten of the New York Times in 2011 in ways that still resonate with the ways social studies educators use Twitter today:
Participants in SSchat tend to share links, resources, lesson plans, examples of projects and student work. Blog posts written by teachers that relate to the discussion topic are also extremely helpful. Although SSchat takes place on Monday nights as a synchronous discussion, people post to Twitter all week and tag their tweets with #sschat as a method to share resources asynchronously. Participants tend to use the chat hashtag all week to ask questions, share resources and prepare for the upcoming chat. We welcome all, and especially encourage new social studies teachers to join in. (n.p.)
An #sschat Twitter chat has been held nearly every Monday since, with chats occurring from 7 to 8pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). Since the inception of #sschat, this network has always depended on all the #sschat participants who make the chats and sharing worthwhile. For a fuller history of #sschat, read Dan’s article linked above.
#sschat co-leaders
Past #sschat co-leaders: Ron Peck, Greg Kulowiec, Becky Ellis, Shawn McCusker, Melissa Seideman, and Joe Sangillo.
#sschaters in Seattle in 2012
EdCampSS leaders in Philadelphia in March of 2012
Current #sschat co-leaders: Dan Krutka (@dankrutka), Michael Milton (@42thinkdeep), Chris Hitchcock (@CHitch94), Andrew Swan (@flipping_A_tchr), and Mary-Owen Holmes (@MsHolmesTeach).
Michael, Dan, and Chris at #NCSS16 in Washington D.C.
#sschat References
Krutka, D. G., & Carpenter, J. P. (2016). Participatory learning through social media: How and why social studies educators use Twitter. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 16(1), 38-59. Retrieved from https://citejournal.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/v16i1socialstudies1.pdf
Krutka, D. G. & Milton, M. K. (2013). The Enlightenment meets Twitter: Using social media in the social studies classroom. Ohio Social Studies Review, 50(2), 22-29.
McCusker, S. (2012, July 19). What is #sschat? I’m glad you asked. Go Where You Grow [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://gowhereyougrow.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/what-is-sschat-im-glad-you-asked/
Nestico, S. (2012, March 16). Countdown: EdCamp Social Studies. Coal Cracker Classroom [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://coalcrackerclassroom.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/countdown-edcamp-social-studies/
Peck, R. (2011, September 17). A Personal Learning Network for Social Studies Educators Herff Jones/Nystrom. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/groups/social-studies/75179
Schulten, K. (2011, September 30). Teachers teaching teachers, on Twitter: Q. and A. on ‘Edchats.’ New York Times. Retrieved from https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/teachers-teaching-teachers-on-twitter-q-and-a-on-edchats/
Tabor, B. (2014, December 5). Chats spark resources for educators: TWU professor helms document of ways to teach about Ferguson. Denton Record Chronicle. Retrieved from http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20141205-chats-spark-resource-for-educators.ece
#sschat Schedule
Teaching Students to Ask Their Own Questions in the Social Studies Classroom #sschat July 22, 2019 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm #sschat Host: @RightQuestion and @kserge7
#engsschat July 29, 2019 at 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm #sschat Host:
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Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling promotes mesenchymal stem cells to repair injured alveolar epithelium induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice
Shi-xia Cai†1, 2,
Ai-ran Liu†1,
Song Chen3,
Hong-li He1,
Qi-hong Chen1,
Jing-yuan Xu1,
Chun Pan1,
Yi Yang1,
Feng-mei Guo1,
Ying-zi Huang1,
Ling Liu1 and
Hai-bo Qiu1Email author
© Cai et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2015
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have potential for re-epithelization and recovery in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In a previous in vitro study, the results showed that the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway promoted the differentiation of MSCs into type II alveolar epithelial cells, conferred resistance to oxidative stress, and promoted their migration, suggesting that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway might be one of the key mechanisms underling the therapeutic effect of mouse MSCs in ARDS.
Mouse MSCs stable transfected with β-catenin or green fluorescent protein control were transplanted intratracheally into the ARDS mice induced by lipopolysaccharide. Lung tissue injury and repair assessment were examined using haematoxylin and eosin staining, lung injury scoring, Masson’s trichrome staining and fibrosis scoring. Homing and differentiation of mouse MSCs were assayed by labelling and tracing MSCs using NIR815 dye, immunofluorescent staining, and Western immunoblot analysis. The inflammation and permeability were evaluated by detecting the cytokine and protein measurements in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
In this study, β-catenin-overexpressing MSC engraftment led to more significant effects than the GFP controls, including the retention of the MSCs in the lung, differentiation into type II alveolar epithelial cells, improvement in alveolar epithelial permeability, and the pathologic impairment of the lung tissue.
These results suggest that the activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway by mouse MSCs by overexpressing β-catenin could further improve the protection of mouse MSCs against epithelial impair and the therapeutic effects of mouse MSCs in ARDS mice.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Alveolar Epithelial Cell
Epithelial Permeability
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the major cause of acute respiratory failure in critically ill patients, with a mortality as high as 40% despite improvements in supportive care [1,2]. The physiological hallmark of ARDS is the disruption of the alveolar-capillary membrane barrier, leading to development of noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema, in which a proteinaceous exudate floods the alveolar spaces, impairs gas exchange, and precipitates respiratory failure. Therefore, the repair and regeneration of the alveolar epithelium is associated with the treatment of ARDS [3].
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with their properties of multipotency and immunoregulation, are able to differentiate into alveolar epithelial cells, promote re-epithelialisation, alleviate inflammation, improve pathological impairment, and even reduce mortality in ARDS models [4-6]. However, the therapeutic effects remain limited because of the low engraftment and differentiation rates of MSCs in the lung tissue of ARDS models [7,8]. Therefore, clarifying the mechanisms underlying MSC function in epithelial repair in ARDS may lead to the improvement of cellular retention in injured lung tissue, differentiation of MSCs into alveolar epithelial cells and the MSC-mediated therapeutic effects in ARDS.
The canonical Wnt signalling pathway, which depends on the accumulation of β-catenin, is one of the fundamental pathways in cell proliferation and motility, cell fate decisions, cell polarity during embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis [9]. Several recent studies have shown that Wnts and their downstream canonical signalling have critical effects on the self-renewal and differentiation of MSCs, which express a number of ligands, receptors, and inhibitors of the Wnt pathway [10].
In our previous study, we found that activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway promotes the differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived MSCs (mMSCs) into type II alveolar epithelial (AT II), confers resistance to oxidative stress, and promotes their migration to injured lung tissue in vitro [11]. However, the role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the fate and therapeutic effect of MSCs in ARDS remains unexplored in vivo, where a more complicated environment and regulatory mechanisms different from the specific and limited cultural conditions of in vitro differentiation may affect the MSCs. In our previous study, a long-term, stable mMSC line modified with activated β-catenin was constructed using lentiviral vectors and confirmed to be able to activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which could regulate the proliferation, migration and differentiation of the MSCs; this cell line is suitable for in vivo investigations [12]. The aim of our current study was to identify the effect of β-catenin overexpression on the repair of injured alveolar epithelium and its overall therapeutic effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ARDS mice.
Mesenchymal stem cell transfection and culture
mMSCs derived from the bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice was obtained from Cyagen Biosciences, Inc. (Guangzhou, China). The details of the transfection of MSCs by lentivirus vectors were described in our previous work [12]. After transfection, mMSCs carrying an empty vector and enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) (control mMSCs) or mMSCs carrying both the β-catenin gene and eGFP (mMSC-Ctnnb1) were cultured in a 1:1 mix of Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium/nutrient mixture F-12 (Wisent, Inc., St-Bruno, Quebec, Canada) containing 10% foetal bovine serum (Wisent, Inc.) and 1% antibiotics (streptomycin and penicillin) and were incubated at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2. The cells were used at passages 6 to 10 for the experiments.
Preparation of experimental animals
Male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8 to 12 weeks and weighing 20 to 25 g, were obtained from the Laboratory Animal Center at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences (Beijing, China). All animal experiments performed in this study conformed to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome
The mice were first anaesthetised with pentobarbital (50 mg/kg) by intra-peritoneal injection and received a single dose of LPS (100 μg intratracheally (i.t.)) from Escherichia coli serotype 0111:B4 (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) in 50 μl sterile normal saline (NS) [13]. The mice were then allowed to recover in a 100% oxygen chamber until fully awake. The control mice received 0.9% NS instead of LPS.
The mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 36 for each group): the NS + PBS group, in which mice received 30 μl phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) i.t. 4 hours after instillation of 0.9% NS i.t.; the LPS + PBS group, in which mice received 30 μl PBS i.t. 4 hours after the induction of ARDS; the LPS + mMSC control group, in which mice received control mMSCs (500,000 cells in 30 μl PBS) i.t. 4 hours after the induction of ARDS; and the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group, in which mice received mMSC-Ctnnb1 (500,000 cells in 30 μl PBS) i.t. 4 hours after the induction of ARDS. The mice were sacrificed after 3, 7 or 14 days, and samples were collected from each mouse for lung injury assessment, biochemical analysis, and histology. A diagram of the experimental protocol is shown in Figure 1.
Diagram of the experimental protocol. BALF, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; i.t., intratracheally; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; mMSC, mouse mesenchymal stem cell; NS, normal saline; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline.
Haematoxylin and eosin staining and lung injury scoring
The right upper lobe was embedded in paraffin and sagittally sliced at 5 μm. The sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Oedema, alveolar and interstitial inflammation and haemorrhage, atelectasis, necrosis, and hyaline membrane formation were each scored using a 0 to 4 point scale (0, no injury; 1, injury in 25% of the field; 2, injury in 50%; 3, injury in 75%; and 4, injury throughout the field). The total lung injury score was calculated as the sum of these scores [14]. Ten randomly selected high-power fields (400×) in each slide were analysed by two investigators who were blinded to the mouse groups.
Labelling and tracing of mesenchymal stem cells
The cultured control mMSCs and mMSC-Ctnnb1 were labelled with CellVue NIR815 dye (eBioscience Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) following the manufacturer’s instructions. NIR815-labelled cells (5 × 105) were directly instilled into the trachea of the LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 mice. Ex vivo lungs from three subjects per group were imaged at three time points (3, 7 and 14 days post-instillation) using a Maestro In-Vivo Optical Imaging system (excitation = 786 nm, emission = 814 nm, exposition time 4,000 ms; Caliper Life Sciences, MA, Boston, USA) [15]. The autofluorescence spectra were then unmixed based on their spectral patterns using the Maestro 2.4 software (Caliper Life Sciences). The fluorescence intensity of the lungs was measured by placing the regions of interest on the organ, and the average signals were normalised based on the exposure time and the area of the region of interest (scaled counts/second).
Immunofluorescent staining
Immunofluorescent staining for the detection of MSC engraftment homing and differentiation in vivo were performed as previously described [16]. Briefly, the left lung tissue samples from the LPS + mMSC control group and the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen then stored at −80°C until use. The tissue was embedded in optimal cutting temperature (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bremen, Germany), and cut at a thickness of 10 μm. The slides were fixed in acetone at 4°C for 15 minutes and then blocked with 3% bovine serum albumin in PBS/0.3% Triton X-100 for 30 minutes at room temperature. After washing and draining, the slides were incubated overnight at 4°C with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) primary antibody (1:100, Abcam Incorporated, Cambridge, MA, USA) alone or with the same volume of GFP and pro-surfactant protein C (SP-C) primary antibodies (1:100, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Paso Robles, CA, USA). After three washes with PBS, these slides were incubated with secondary Goat Anti-Mouse Alexa Fluor® 488 and Goat Anti-Rabbit Alexa Fluor® 647 antibodies (Abcam Incorporated) at a 1:200 dilution in 2% bovine serum albumin for 1 hour at 37°C in the dark. The nuclei were stained with DAPI for 5 minutes. The images were captured using a fluorescence microscope (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). The retention or differentiation of transplanted MSCs was quantified based on the count of GFP-positive MSCs or the ratio of the count of GFP-positive to the count of SP-C-positive MSCs in randomly selected high-power fields (400×) for each slide by histopathologists blinded to the protocol design.
Western immunoblot analysis
Total protein lysates were extracted using RIPA lysis buffer. The protein was separated by SDS-PAGE and electro-transferred to PVDF membranes (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). The membranes were blocked in Tris-buffered saline containing 0.1% Tween-20 and 5% bovine serum albumin for 1 hour at room temperature and then incubated at 4°C overnight with primary antibodies recognising SP-C, β-actin (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA, USA), or occludin (Abcam Incorporated). Immunoreactive bands were detected with chemiluminescence reagents (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bremen, Germany).
Cytokine and protein measurements in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected by flushing 1 ml ice-cold PBS back and forth three times through a tracheal cannula and then centrifuged at 800 g for 10 minutes. The concentrations of the interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 proteins in the supernatant were measured using murine cytokine-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (ExcellBio, Shanghai, China) strictly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The amounts of total protein and albumin in the BALF were measured as a marker of epithelial permeability using ELISA kits (Cusabio Biotech, Wuhan, China). In addition, the levels of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in the BALF were measured using ELISA kits (Cusabio Biotech).
Evaluation of the lung oedema
Lung oedema was evaluated using the ratio of lung wet weight to body weight (LWW/BW) measured as previously described [17]. Briefly, the whole lung was removed and cleared of all extrapulmonary tissues and the LWW/BW was calculated based on the values of lung wet weight and body weight (mg/g).
Masson’s trichrome staining and fibrosis scoring
The lung sections were stained sequentially with Weigert’s iron haematoxylin solution, Biebrish scarlet-acid fuchsin solution, and aniline blue solution; a blue signal indicated positive staining for collagen. The criteria of Ashcroft were used [18], and lung fibrosis was quantified based on the findings in ten randomly selected high-power fields (400×) for each slide by histopathologists blinded to the protocol design.
The data are presented as the means ± standard deviation. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 16.0 software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Comparisons among multiple groups were performed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni’s post-hoc test if the data were normally distributed. A P value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Effect of β-catenin-overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells on the pulmonary histopathology of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome mice
An increased thickening of the alveolar wall, alveolar and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration, haemorrhaging, alveolar exudates, and oedema were found in the lung tissue of mice after LPS-induced lung injury, and the Smith score for quantification of the lung injury was also increased. However, these histopathologic characteristics and the Smith score were alleviated at 3, 7, and 14 days in the LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 groups compared with the LPS + PBS group (P < 0.05). The effect was greater in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group than in the LPS + mMSC control group (P < 0.05) (Figure 2A,B).
Effect of control mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) or β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs on the histopathology of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury and survival over 14 days. (A) Histopathological analysis of lung tissues from mice of all the experimental groups were performed at days 3, 7 and 14 after the LPS challenge (haematoxylin and eosin staining, magnification 200×). (B) Quantification of lung injury showed a significant reduction in the severity of lung injury in the LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 mice. The change was more significant in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group than in the LPS + mMSC control group; n = 6 at each time point for each group. The results are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. *P < 0.05, versus normal saline (NS) + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group; # P < 0.05, versus LPS + PBS group; & P < 0.05, versus LPS + mMSC control group.
Overexpression of β-catenin increases the retention of mesenchymal stem cells in the lung after lipopolysaccharide challenge
Ex vivo NIR imaging was performed on the lungs from LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 mice 3, 7 and 14 days after MSC administration to trace the intrapulmonary mMSCs. Colour-coded fluorescence images indicated that the signals in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group were stronger than those in the LPS + mMSC control group at the end of days 3, 7 and 14 after the LPS challenge. For each group, the signal gradually reduced after day 3. Though the signal decreased significantly on day 14 after the LPS challenge, it could still be detected (Figure 3A). Similar results were also observed using an immunofluorescent staining assay to detect the MSCs in lung tissue (Figure 3B).
Effect of β-catenin overexpression on the retention of mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) in the lung after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. (A) Ex vivo NIR imaging of the lungs. Representative photographs of colour-coded fluorescence images are shown from three mouse lungs obtained 3, 7 and 14 days after mMSC administration from the LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 groups. (B) Immunofluorescent staining to detect mMSC engraftment in lung tissue is shown as green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive (green; white arrows point to the GFP-positive cells). The nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Representative photographs are shown from six mouse lungs 3, 7 and 14 days after mMSC administration from the LPS+ mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 groups. All microphotographs were taken at 400× magnification (scale bar = 20 μm). The count of GFP-positive MSCs in randomly selected high-power fields (count/field) represent the mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). & P < 0.05, versus LPS + mMSC control group.
Overexpression of β-catenin promotes the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into type II alveolar epithelial cells in vivo
Differentiation of the MSCs into AT II cells was evaluated 14 days after the MSC administration by analysing the expression of SP-C, a specific AT II cell marker, in the engrafted MSCs by immunofluorescence staining. Co-localisation of SP-C (red) and MSCs (green) in the lung tissue, which appeared yellow, could be seen in both the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 and LPS + mMSC control groups; however, mMSC-Ctnnb1 treatment led to a higher differentiation efficiency of the MSCs into AT II cells than the control treatment (Figure 4A). The total expression of SP-C protein in the lung tissue 14 days after MSC administration was evaluated using Western blotting analysis. The results showed that SP-C protein was upregulated in the LPS + mMSC control group and the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group compared with the LPS + PBS group (P < 0.05), and the increase in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group was more significant than the increase in the LPS + mMSC control group (P < 0.05) (Figure 4B).
Effect of β-catenin overexpression on the differentiation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) into type II alveolar epithelial (AT II) cells in vivo. (A) The differentiation of mMSCs into AT II cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining 14 days after mMSC administration in mice from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 groups. mMSC engraftment in lung tissue appears green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive (green), a specific AT II cell marker pro-surfactant protein C (SP-C) appears red, and co-localisation in each case appears yellow (the white arrows point to double-positive cells). The nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). All microphotographs were taken at 400× magnification (scale bar = 20 μm). The ratio of the count of GFP-positive to the count of SP-C-positive MSCs in randomly selected high-power fields is presented as mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). &P < 0.05 versus LPS + mMSC control group. (B) The expression of the SP-C protein in the lung tissue on day 14 after mMSC administration was evaluated using Western blotting analysis. β-actin was used as an internal control, and the results represent the mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). *P < 0.05 versus normal saline (NS) + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group; # P < 0.05, versus LPS + PBS group; & P < 0.05, versus LPS + mMSC control group.
β-Catenin-overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells improved lipopolysaccharide-induced lung permeability
LWW/BW was calculated to evaluate lung oedema. LWW/BW was significantly reduced in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group compared with the LPS + PBS group at days 3, 7 and 14 (P < 0.05) and in the LPS + mMSC control group at days 3 and 14 (P < 0.05). At day 14, LWW/BW was almost restored to normal levels in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group (Figure 5A).
Effect of control mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) or β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung permeability. (A) Lung oedema was measured using the ratio of lung wet weight to body weight (LWW/BW). The results are shown for samples taken 3, 7 and 14 days after LPS exposure. (B) Total protein (TP) and (C) albumin (ALB) concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using mouse-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to evaluate the epithelial permeability of the lung. (D) Expression of the occludin protein in the lung tissue on day 14 after mMSC administration was evaluated using Western blotting analysis. β-actin was used as an internal control. (E) Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) concentration in BALF was measured using a mouse-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data represent the mean ± standard deviation of six animals at each time point per group. *P < 0.05, versus normal saline (NS) + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group; # P < 0.05, versus LPS + PBS group; & P < 0.05, versus LPS+ mMSC control group).
To evaluate the effect of β-catenin-overexpressing MSCs on epithelial permeability of the lung, the total protein and albumin concentrations in the BALF were measured using mouse-specific ELISAs. Total protein and albumin were significantly reduced in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group compared with the LPS + PBS group (P < 0.05) and the LPS + mMSC control group on days 3, 7 and 14 (P < 0.05). Significant decreases in total protein and albumin were also observed in the LPS + mMSC control group compared with the LPS + PBS group on days 3 and 7 (P < 0.05), while no difference was observed on day 14 (Figure 5B,C).
Additionally, to analyse the tight junctions of the pulmonary epithelial cells after MSC administration, occludin protein expression was evaluated in the lung tissue 14 days after MSC administration using Western blotting analysis. The results showed that occludin protein was upregulated in the LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 groups compared with the LPS + PBS group (P < 0.05), and the increase observed in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group was more significant than that in the LPS + mMSC control group (P < 0.05) (Figure 5D).
The concentration of KGF, an important cytokine for the improvement of lung permeability, was measured in BALF using a mouse-specific ELISA. KGF was significantly increased in the LPS + PBS, LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 groups compared with the NS + PBS group on days 3, 7 and 14 (P < 0.05). Both control mMSC and mMSC-Ctnnb1 administration decreased the expression of KGF on day 3 compared with LPS + PBS treatment (P < 0.05). On day 14, KGF was higher in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group than in the LPS + PBS (P < 0.05) and LPS + mMSC control groups (P < 0.05) (Figure 5E).
β-Catenin-overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells attenuated acute lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation
The levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were measured in the BALF of mice 3 days after LPS treatment using ELISA. All three cytokines were significantly higher in the LPS + PBS group than in the NS + PBS group (P < 0.05). IL-1β and IL-6 were reduced in the LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 groups compared with the LPS + PBS group (Figure 6A,B), while IL-10 was increased (Figure 6C) (P < 0.05). Comparatively, the decrease in IL-1β and increase in IL-10 observed in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group were more significant than the changes observed in the LPS + mMSC control group (P < 0.05).
Effect of control mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) or mMSCs overexpressing β-catenin on acute lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary inflammation. Levels of the proinflammatory cytokines (A) interleukin (IL)-1β, (B) IL-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokine (C) IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in mice receiving MSCs at 3 days after LPS-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). *P < 0.05, versus normal saline (NS) + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group; # P < 0.05, versus LPS + PBS group; & P < 0.05, versus LPS+ mMSC control group.
β-Catenin-overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells inhibited lung fibrosis
The deposition of collagen in lung tissue after 14 days of LPS exposure was evaluated by Masson’s trichrome staining and was markedly increased in the LPS + PBS, LPS + mMSC control and LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 groups compared with the NS + PBS group (P < 0.05). Reduced deposition of collagen was observed after intervention with either GFP-transfected MSCs or Ctnnb1-transfected MSCs when compared with LPS + PBS (P < 0.05), but the decrease observed in the LPS + mMSC-Ctnnb1 group was more significant than that observed in the LPS + mMSC control group (P < 0.05) (Figure 7).
Effect of control mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) or mMSCs overexpressing β-catenin on lung fibrosis. (A) The lung fibrosis was evaluated by Masson’s trichrome staining 14 days after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure (200×). (B) The quantification of lung fibrosis is shown as arbitrary units (n = 6). *P < 0.05, versus normal saline (NS) + phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group; # P < 0.05, versus LPS + PBS group; & P < 0.05, versus LPS + mMSC control group.
MSCs have been shown to migrate to and engraft in injured lungs and differentiate into lung epithelial cells in vivo and have been considered to be a potential treatment for ARDS [4-6,19]. However, the relatively low engraftment and differentiation rate of MSCs in the injured lungs [4,7,8] limit their beneficial effects for ARDS therapy. In our previous in vitro study, we found that activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway promoted the differentiation of mMSCs into AT II cells, migration to injured lung tissue, and resistance to oxidative stress [11]. This suggested that the canonical Wnt pathway may contribute to the improved therapeutic value of MSCs in ARDS. In the present study, we confirmed this positive effect of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway on LPS-induced ARDS mice using MSCs stably transfected with the β-catenin gene.
The canonical Wnt pathway is a fundamental regulatory pathway in development, differentiation, and other physiological functions of cells and organisms [9]. Canonical Wnt activation mainly depends on the accumulation of β-catenin. The binding of canonical Wnt ligands to the Frizzled (Fz) co-receptors and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 5 or 6 results in the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and the accumulation of β-catenin, which then translocates into the nucleus to regulate target gene expression [20]. Therefore, β-catenin is considered to be the key signalling regulator of the canonical Wnt pathway. To obtain MSCs with stable, long-term transgene expression of β-catenin, lentiviral vectors were used for transfection in our study. According to our previous study, the lentiviral vector transduction efficiencies were as high as 95% even 20 passages after transduction, and the overexpression of β-catenin in the mMSCs led to the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, suggesting increased activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway [12].
This construction of stable, long-term mMSCs lines with altered canonical Wnt signalling was also confirmed in our previous study by changes in cellular phenotype as well as altered biological behaviours including proliferation, differentiation, and migration of the mMSCs [12]. These characteristics suggested that the gene modification might facilitate ARDS therapy, and the observation that the administration of β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs improved both the histopathological morphology and survival of ARDS mice more than treatment with mMSCs alone confirmed the benefits of β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs for ARDS.
The biological functions of MSCs, including anti-inflammatory properties and abilities to differentiate into specialised cell types and mediate the repair of injured tissue, are based on their concentration and localisation in the injured or inflamed sites. Many studies have highlighted the ability of systemically or locally administered MSCs to migrate and home to inflamed, traumatised, ischaemic, and tumourous tissues [21-25] and their ability to specifically colonise the injured site, rather than intact loci [26]. Likewise, several studies have observed the enhanced recruitment of transplanted MSCs to the lung tissue in ARDS mice compared to normal control mice [5,27]. The positive effect of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling on the migration of MSCs has been demonstrated recently in other studies [28,29]. Our previous study also found that the migration of mMSCs to injured lung tissue through Transwell chambers was significantly enhanced when canonical Wnt signalling was stimulated by Wnt3a or LiCl [11]. In agreement with these studies, the results presented here show that β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs exhibited increased retention in the lung of LPS-induced ARDS mice compared with control mMSCs.
In addition to the increased migration, the increased retention of MSCs in the lung tissue of ARDS mice may have a protective effect against adverse factors that decrease survival of the transplanted MSCs in complex in vivo situations, such as the production of oxidants, inflammatory factors, hypoxia, ischaemia, and so forth. In our previous study, we discovered that canonical Wnt signalling protected mMSCs against oxidative stress damage, which was evident by increased survival and inhibition of apoptosis [11], and that the β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs exhibited increased proliferation compared with control MSCs in vitro. All of these mechanisms may contribute to the increased retention of mMSCs in the lung after LPS challenge.
AT II cells are characterised by their ability to synthesise and secrete alveolar surfactant that reduces surface tension and prevents collapse of the alveoli and by their ability to differentiate into type I alveolar epithelial cells that serve as progenitor cells for re-epithelialisation of impaired alveoli, significant in both physiological and pathological conditions [30]. The repair and regeneration of injured AT II cells is therefore critical for the recovery of patients with ARDS [31]. MSCs were proved in several investigations to be able to differentiate into AT II cells in vivo and in vitro [32,33]. Our previous study also demonstrated that canonical Wnt signalling is activated during the differentiation of mMSCs into AT II cells and that this enhanced signalling increases the expression of specific AT II cell markers [11]. Consistently, our present study showed that the activation of the canonical Wnt pathway through overexpression of β-catenin in mMSCs significantly increased their differentiation into AT II cells in the lung after LPS challenge.
Injury of the alveolar epithelium in ARDS is considered to be a key factor in the leakage of protein-rich oedema fluid into the interstitium and alveolar space [34]. Many studies have found that MSC treatment significantly reduces the lung wet-to-dry ratio, the amount of excess lung water, and the level of BALF protein, a marker of endothelial and epithelial permeability, in experimental ARDS [7,35]. In our study, we demonstrated that the β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs also significantly improved the epithelial permeability, as evident from the LWW/BW, BALF albumin and total protein. It should be noted that the reduced total protein and albumin concentrations in the BALF is also attributed to the increased permeability of endothelium. As some studies found MSCs could preserve vascular endothelial integrity in the injured lungs after haemorrhagic shock [36], and even might differentiate into endothelial cells following bleomycin-induced lung injury [32], the effects of MSCs on the endothelial permeability in LPS-induced ARDS mice and whether β-catenin is involved in these effects is worth exploring in further studies.
The permeability barrier in the terminal airspace of the lung is due in a large part to tight junctions between alveolar epithelial cells [37]. Occludin is one of the well-characterised tight junction proteins and provides most of the barrier function of tight junctions [38]. Functional opening of the tight junction barrier and downregulation of occludin protein expression has been observed in acute lung injury in adult animals [39]. Our results presented here showed that the expression of occludin protein in the lung tissue was downregulated after LPS challenge and that mMSC treatment inhibited the repression of occludin protein. Moreover, the overexpression of β-catenin in mMSCs may provide additional benefits.
KGF, which is capable of stimulating proliferation and migration in AT II cells leading to the propagation of alveolar epithelial restitution [40] and reducing lung oedema and inflammation, was mechanistically implicated in the beneficial effect of MSCs on alveolar fluid clearance in ARDS. In our study, the results showed that treatment with β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs markedly increased BALF KGF compared with treatment with mMSCs alone at day 14 after LPS instillation. These results indicated that the further improvement in lung permeability observed after treatment with β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs may contribute to the repair of tight junctions and the increased paracrine signalling of KGF from the mMSCs.
MSCs can regulate the activity of a broad range of immune cells [41,42] and were found in several investigations, including the present study, to be able to inhibit inflammation in ARDS in vivo. Several lines of evidence supported this conclusion: pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ, IL-1β, IL-6 were reduced, while the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased [7,27]. The overexpression of β-catenin in the mMSCs amplified this effect; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear and should be explored in the future.
In addition to the alveolar epithelial cells, engrafted MSCs in the lung could also differentiate into lung fibroblasts, myofibroblasts and interstitial monocytes, which may participate in pulmonary fibrosis [32]. The activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling may be involved in the pulmonary fibrosis. Konigshoff and colleagues [43] demonstrated that dysregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling in AT II cells has been linked to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Moreover, Chilosi and colleagues [44] suggested that the aberrant nuclearisation of β-catenin in bronchiolar lesions could promote epithelial-mesenchymal transitions in the diseased lung. Another study found that β-catenin in the alveolar epithelium protected from lung fibrosis after intratracheal bleomycin [45]. Based on these observations, we evaluated whether the β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs or control mMSCs alone increased the risk of pulmonary fibrosis after intratracheal LPS. The results of the present study showed that lung fibrosis decreased after treatment with control mMSCs alone and that this effect was more significant after the engraftment of β-catenin-overexpressing mMSCs.
Activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway through the overexpression of β-catenin increased the retention of mMSCs in the lung, promoted the differentiation of mMSCs into AT II cells, further improved the lung epithelial permeability, further attenuated acute pulmonary inflammation, and further inhibited lung fibrosis compared with control mMSCs, thus contributing to an improved therapeutic effect of mMSCs in ARDS.
Shi-xia Cai and Ai-ran Liu contributed equally to this work.
ARDS:
AT II:
type II alveolar epithelial
BALF:
BW:
eGFP:
enhanced green fluorescence protein
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
GFP:
green fluorescent protein
i.t.:
intratracheally
KGF:
LWW:
lung wet weight
mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell
NS:
normal saline
SP-C:
pro-surfactant protein C
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81070049; 81170057; 81201489; 81372093; 81300060; 81300043), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China (BK2011600; BK20131302), and Graduate Innovation Project in Jiangsu Province of China (CXLX13_123; CXCL_151).
SXC carried out the molecular genetic studies, participated in the establishment of animal model and drafted the manuscript. ARL conceived of the study, and participated in its design and helped to draft the manuscript. SC participated in the design of the study and performed the statistical analysis. HLH participated in the design of the study and carried out the labelling and tracing of MSCs. QHC carried out the immunofluorescent staining. JYX participated in the biochemical analysis. CP carried out the Western immunoblot analysis. YY participated in the design of the study and helped to draft the manuscript. FMG carried out the haematoxylin and eosin staining, and participated in the lung injury and fibrosis scoring. YZH carried out the Masson’s trichrome staining, and participated in the lung injury and fibrosis scoring. LL participated in the statistical analysis. HBQ participated in the design of the study and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhong-da Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing, 210009, People’s Republic of China
Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266003, People’s Republic of China
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, People’s Republic of China
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This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
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Grown-up Faith: The Big Picture for a Bigger Life
Kevin Myers
Grown-up Faith - Hardcover
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Why isn't life everything we expected it to be? And why doesn't our faith resolve our frustrations and problems?
Kevin Myers, the founding pastor of 12Stone Church, a congregation of more than 30,000 active attenders near Atlanta, believes the reason we don't experience a transformed life is that we fail to grow up spiritually. We focus on developing physically, intellectually, emotionally, and financially, yet our faith remains immature and anemic.
In this powerful new book, Myers offers a deep yet simple roadmap to a grown-up faith through understanding the whole context of the Bible, developing spiritual intimacy with God, and gratefully embracing holy obedience.
As you understand the Bible and the big picture of God's story with humanity, you begin to find answers to life's most compelling questions. As you begin to understand God more, your longing and ability to experience spiritual intimacy with him increases, as does your desire to obey what God asks of you and your ability to follow through. This is the way to the bigger life, a life even better than you expected--or even dreamed possible.
Contributor(s)Kevin Myers , Charlie Wetzel
About the Contributor(s) Kevin MyersKevin Myers is the senior pastor of 12Stone® Church, one of the largest churches in the United States and the... Kevin Myers
Kevin Myers is the senior pastor of 12Stone® Church, one of the largest churches in the United States and the nation's fastest growing church in 2010, according to Outreach magazine. A gifted communicator, influential leader, and strategic thinker, Kevin planted the church in 1987 and over the course of thirty years has grown 12Stone® into the Wesleyan Denomination's largest and most influential church. Kevin mentors pastors and church planters, speaks at churches and businesses around the country, and serves on the boards of Indiana Wesleyan University, Wesley Seminary, and the Wesleyan Investment Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that assists churches with capital needs.
Charlie Wetzel
Charlie Wetzel is a classic late bloomer. He graduated from the University of New Orleans with a BA and MA in English, and then worked as a chef, teacher, college dean, and car salesman before becoming a full-time writer in his mid-thirties. Charlie has written more than eighty non-fiction books over twenty-five years. He also writes fiction and wrote the screenplay for the short film "The Candy Shop," which won the Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival in 2011. When Charlie's not spending time with his wife and three children, he's usually enjoying cooking, music, movies, or martial arts.
ISBN-139781400208456
Publish Date01/29/2019
Weight (lbs)1.42 lb
Case Weight (lbs)34.18 lb
Dimensions 8.7(h) x 5.8(w) x 0.9(d) inches
Pages240
By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214 USA) providing information about products and services of HCCP and its affiliates. You may unsubscribe from these email communications at any time. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at yourprivacy@harpercollins.com.
© 2019, HarperCollins Publishers. All Rights Reserved.
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Homepage About Works Glossary
Thesaurus Starting Points Search Advanced Search Login | New account
If you are looking for a word and it doesn't appear in the Glossary, this will be because it has the same sense in Modern English, and can be found in any general dictionary. We only include words that no longer exist in Modern English, have changed their meaning since Shakespeare's day, or have an encyclopedic or specialized sense that would make them unfamiliar to many modern readers. Under this last heading, we include all the proper names (such as figures in classical mythology and local place-names) listed in our Themes and Topics (see Starting Points above).
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SHAKESPEARE'S WORDS © 2018 DAVID CRYSTAL & BEN CRYSTAL
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Claudia Chan is a recognized author, leadership and culture change expert, and entrepreneur dedicated to activating individuals and organizations to accelerate diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and world.
‘How We Rise’ Book
She is the CEO of S.H.E. GLOBL, a coalition+content+convening platform that helps over 100 companies unlock a diverse and inclusive workforce to transform both its culture and its communities. She is the founder of their award-winning leadership conference S.H.E. Summit that has made advancing women and workplace inclusion both accessible and actionable. Cross industry companies from Deloitte, EY, Samsung, Bacardi, Home Depot, Adidas to Morgan Stanley send rising talent for leadership transformation and to connect with private and public sector influencers. Claudia is also the author of the leadership book THIS IS HOW WE RISE: Reach Your Highest Potential, Empower Women, Lead Change in the World which was named by CNBC as a “top career book of 2018” and also featured in The New York Times. Claudia was also recently named 1 of 8 UN Women Champions for Innovation. She has been referred to as “the change-agent maker” and Fast Company has called her the “Richard Branson of women’s empowerment.”
Prior to launching S.H.E. Globl Media, Claudia was President & Co-Owner of the popular women’s entertainment company, Shecky’s, for 10 years. Claudia is a lifelong New Yorker, proud alumnae of Smith College, mom of two and an equal partner with her husband, John.
Claudia @ SHE Summit
Claudia & Reshma Saujani
Claudia Speaking at SHE Summit
“Steering one of the most influential women’s movements”
“Richard Branson of Women’s Empowerment”
“S.H.E Who Must Be Obeyed”
“Claudia Chan is a Maker”
“Integrating Men into the Women’s Movement”
“One of the 20 most influential moms of 2017”
Claudia’s “How We Rise” Leadership Podcast
As a fourth year SHE summit attendee, this conference continues to amaze me with the caliber of speakers, topics, and the involvement and commitment to make the world a better place for all. The summit is stimulating, educational, and motivating, and I leave thinking about ways to incorporate the knowledge into my work environment.
Shawn P.
Group Director, R&D Quality, Bristol-Myers Squibb
The overwhelming feedback we received from our participation in S.H.E. Summit was incredibly positive. We exceeded our goals of the partnership on all fronts. I look forward to our continued collaboration with the S.H.E. Summit team of incredible women to execute against our joint mission of helping women rise to their full potential and lift other women along the way.
Marlene G.
General Counsel, North America, Bacardi U.S.A.
SHE Summit has been instrumental in launching Prudential’s women’s initiatives. We used SHE Summit as a launch event for our #OwnMyFuture initiative and we were overwhelmed by the resounding success. #OwnMyFuture is now a company wide effort stemming from our partnership with SHE Summit.
Priya P.
Director, Segment Marketing, Prudential Financial
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RXACTIVE Fitness Wear Helps You Work Out Harder In Less Time
Christine Magee @christinekmagee / 4 years
Many of you probably know the feeling you get when you only have 30 minutes to squeeze in a run between work and a dinner meeting, but you’ve drank enough coffee to keep going for miles. RXACTIVE has a solution.
The company launched an Indiegogo campaign yesterday for its activewear with built-in resistance, and far surpassed its funding goal of $30,000 within the first day.
Founders Frank Yao, an NYU med student, and Keeth Smart, a former Olympic fencer, initially designed RXACTIVE as a tool to help patients with unhealthy living habits reach a minimum baseline of fitness so that they could start exercising regularly.
They soon realized that a massive group of fitness freaks in the U.S. would be a far better target market. The two have since been working with a team of doctors at NYU, as well as former NBA Commissioner David Stern (one of their advisers), to turn the technology they developed into a product that athletes want to wear.
“Our clothing is specially designed with elastic panels that are placed to counteract target muscle groups,” says Yao. “We’ve positioned elastic panels opposite those muscles, so that more effort has to be generated to make the same movements.”
Essentially, it’s like having built-in resistance bands in your leggings. Like a high-tech take on ankle weights.
We’ve seen this before with Sketchers Shape-Ups and Reebok EasyTone shoes, which became somewhat of a fad back in 2010 before they tanked, resulting in lawsuits and mass refunds.
“Not only did these products not work, but research came out showing that they were harmful,” says Yao. “They messed with tendons and joints at the foot, and as a result people stopped using them.”
To avoid this, RXACTIVE has tested their clothing extensively to make sure it won’t cause injury. When running with REACTIVE products, athletes demonstrated a 23 percent increase, on average, in hamstring and quadriceps activation. They also increased their heart rate by 8 percent on average, and burned 14 percent more calories.
“We use resistance bands in the rehabilitation hospital constantly, we tie them to different things, they’re all over the floor so much that it almost becomes a tripping hazard,” says Dr. JR Rizzo, an instructor at the NYU School of Medicine and adviser to RXACTIVE. “Being able to integrate them into a wearable form factor is fantastic, and will really revolutionize high performance training.”
RXACTIVE says the first products will ship to Indiegogo backers before Thanksgiving, and they plan to sell their compression shorts and leggings starting around $120 per pair after the campaign finishes.
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Tag Archives: apps
Angry Birds Developer To Trade In Baby Merchandise
The most widely used game which is present in every single smartphone and tablet will be soon seen on baby merchandise. Rovio, the developer of Angry Birds, has decided to move into the baby product business.
Rovio is keen to expand its business and seeing the success of its Angry Birds game, it can be said that the gaming company will succeed in its goal. Angry Birds toys are already available in the market and they too are being liked by a lot of people.
The Finland based company was started by 3 students and was sponsored by Nokia and HP in its initial stage but now it has become a multi-million dollar company.
Ville Heijari, vice president of franchise development, said that the company’s top priority will be game development for sure but at the same time it wants to enter merchandising venture as it is one of the fastest growing businesses.
Baby Merchandise will include a lot of products like a 42-inch square blanket having images of angry birds. Apart from baby products, Rovio will also provide flip-flops, bags and the iPhone cases with images from its game.
Will you get your baby an Angry Birds product?
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Posted in Featured, Headline, Linked Post, Post | Tagged angry birds, angry birds blanket, angry birds toys, app, application, apps, baby, baby merchndise, baby products, blanket, business, cellphone, franchise, game, gamer, games, gaming, internet, latest buzz, latest news, latest tech, licensing, merchandise, mobile, online, online gaming, phone, Rovio, rumor gossip, smartphone, social gaming, software, stuffed toys, tech, tech news, technology, toys, Ville Heijari, web | Leave a reply
Google+’s Real Name Rules Are “Abuse Of Power”: A Microsoft Researcher
A Microsoft researcher by the name of Dana Boyd openly criticized the “Real Name” policy of Google+ calling it an “abuse of power” by the tech giant. This news comes amidst the so called “bogus patents” feud between Google and Microsoft.
According to the “real name” policy of Google+, users cannot use pseudonyms or nicknames in their profiles. Earlier, Google+ used to delete the accounts which were found to violate this policy but now a days it has started giving the users a chance to provide their real name if they don’t want their account suspended.
Dana Boyd said that,” ‘Real names’ policies aren’t empowering; they’re an authoritarian assertion of power over vulnerable people.” She stated that the people who use pseudonyms are the ones who are most marginalized by power structures.
Though the statement of Dana Boyd is genuine but it has come at a time when Microsoft and Google are playing the “blame game” openly.
Furthermore, Microsoft is also rumored to launch its social platform in the coming months. Hence this statement though not of Microsoft, is being seen as a declaration of social war.
We think that this “Real Names” policy is rubbish and there is no need of such kind of dumb “policies” especially on a leading social network.
Do you agree with Dana Boyd or support this “policy” of Google+?
Photo Courtesy of meneame comunicacions, sl
Photo Courtesy of Robert Scoble
Posted in Featured, Headline, Linked Post, Post | Tagged app, application, apps, cyber bullying, Dana Boyd, data, fake name, fake profile, g+, google plus, Google Social, Google+, google+ policy, gossip, internet, latest buzz, latest news, latest tech, microsoft, microsoft research, microsoft researcher, microsoft social, real name, real name policy, rumor, social, social media, social network, social networking, social networking sites, social war, software, tech, tech news, technology, terms of use, web, web application, website | Leave a reply
Windows Phone Down 38%
Microsoft has tried its best to boost its smartphone sales but recent data from comScore shows that Microsoft’s share in US smartphone market has decreased from 7.5% to 5.8%, nearly 38%, which is not a good sign for the company’s future in smartphone sector.
Recently, Microsoft’s Mango OS, which is said to be the best software update by the tech giant till now, was deployed in Fujitsu-Toshiba’s IS12T and it is expected that major manufacturers will also be using this OS in their future handsets.
But the thing here is that “Mango” is yet not widely available in the market and even when it does, there is no guarantee that it will be able to create a buzz as experts say that its competition will be with the iPhone 5 and some major Android based smartphones.
Microsoft Windows Phones are quite good but they haven’t enjoyed the limelight as much as the handsets based on Android OS and the iDevices.
Most likely, the reason behind this is that Windows Phones are not advertised as much as its competitors especially in third world countries who are the largest consumers of smartphones. Secondly, it is not as cost effective as Android based handsets.
Will “Mango” be able to boost Windows Phone sales or has it been a bit late to do the needful?
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Posted in Featured, Headline, Linked Post, Post | Tagged app, application, apps, cellphone, comScore, data, display, Fujitsu, gossip, hardware, IS12T, latest buzz, latest news, latest tech, mango OS, market share, microsoft, microsoft mango, Microsoft windows, Microsoft Windows OS, mobile, Mobile OS, OS, phone, rumor, smarphone, smartphone market, smartphone sector, software, tech, tech news, technology, Toshiba, Windows, Windows Phone, Windows phone 7 | Leave a reply
Gmail Introduces Preview Pane
Gmail has introduced a new feature in the form of Preview Pane which will enable users to browse emails when they are replying to some other at the same time. This feature was long awaited and was finally launched yesterday.
Preview Pane may be a new feature for PC users but it has been there for a while in Gmail’s tablet apps. Users of iPad and Android based tablets are familiar with Preview Pane.
This feature is now available in Gmail Labs and its design is almost identical to that of its counterpart used in tablets.
When a user activates Preview Pane, a three window panel opens up with Preview Pane in between the navigation and email panes.
Users can customize Preview Pane as per their need with the help of a settings button which is present at the top right corner of Gmail.
Users with high resolution screens will get the most of this feature but those with normal resolution need not to worry as Preview Pane will work fine with their screens also.
Though this feature sounds good but a lot of work is needed to make it better. We’ve used this feature and drawn a conclusion that it is still a beta product and it needs a lot of testing. It does not work well with Gmail labels if used in 3 panel mode.
Will you be using this feature?
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Posted in Featured, Headline, Linked Post, Post | Tagged 2 Pane mode, 3 Pane mode, Android apps, app, application, apps, beta, beta version, email, Gmail, Gmail Labs, Google Labs, Google+, gossip, internet, iPad apps, latest buzz, latest news, latest tech, navigation, news, Pane, Preview Pane, rumor, software, tablets, tech, tech news, web, web based mail, web based services, website | Leave a reply
Google Accuses Microsoft And Apple Over “Bogus Patents”
The “battle of patents” between tech giant Google and its rivals Microsoft and Apple Inc. is in news again. Google has accused its rivals of buying some technology patents with a soul motive to hold back Android.
Google’s lawyers claimed in a blog post that Microsoft and Apple are playing dirty game of using so called “bogus patents” against Google’s Android.
Google’s chief legal officer David Drummond stated that Android’s success has forced its rivals to unite and to use cheap tactics against the open source OS.
He further stated that patents are meant to safeguard intellectual property and to increase innovation but now-a-days they are merely being used by some companies to stop others from succeeding in their goals.
Google has lost a lot of patents in past months, mostly owned by Novell and Nortel, which relate to the technologies that can be used in smartphones especially in the Android OS. Most of these patents were bought by an alliance between a number of tech companies which was lead by Microsoft and Apple.
Google’s accusation seems genuine for the time being as fighting with an individual competitor is one thing but fighting a battle against an alliance of its competitors is a very tough thing and chances of Google winning this battle are nearly zero.
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Posted in Featured, Headline, Linked Post, Post | Tagged accusation, alliance, android, android OS, Android Platform, app, Apple, Apple Inc., application, apps, bogus patent, cellphone, data, David Drummond, display, Google+, gossip, internet, latest buzz, latest news, latest tech, lawers, microsoft, mobile, Novell and Nortel, OS, patent, patents, phone, rumor, smartphone, software, tech news, technology, web, website | Leave a reply
Windows 8 Beta Releasing In September ?
The month of September will surely have a lot of surprises for us. Almost every tech blog on the world wide web has already reported about the iPhone 5 releasing in September. Now, we have come to know that Microsoft is planning to launch Windows 8 Beta version in the month of September.
Microsoft is planning to launch a beta build and not a beta preview. This rumor gets support from the fact that Microsoft’s build conference will be held in mid September. It will be the best time to release its beta build.
Windows 8 will focus on touch computing mostly but the traditional computing, i.e with keyboard and mouse will also be supported.
Unlike earlier versions of Windows OS, Windows 8 will be app friendly and a user will be able to customize it the way he wants. Furthermore, according to Microsoft, Windows 8 will revolutionize the way Operating Systems work and its interface will give users the best computing experience they have ever had.
There are also rumors in the tech world that Windows 8 will be deployed in tablets because of its touch interface. If such claims are believed, Microsoft’s market share in tablets, which is close to zero right now, will increase a lot.
Are you guys ready for the Microsoft’s touch OS?
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Posted in Featured, Headline, Linked Post, Post | Tagged app, application, apps, beta, beta build, beta preview, beta version, builder's conference, data, display, internet, iPhone 5, latest buzz, latest news, latest tech, microsoft, Microsoft windows, rumor gossip, September, software, tablet, tech blog, tech news, technology, touch, touch OS, touch screen, video, web, Windows, Windows 8, windows 8 release | 1 Reply
BlackBerry All Set For The iPhone Challenge
RIM(Research In Motion) will be releasing 5 brand new phones including its first ever all-touch screen phone within weeks. RIM has taken more than a year to release its new models and is expecting that this move will bring back its lost reputation.
These phones will be available on more than 200 carriers worldwide and are meant to increase RIM’s market share. Though this is a good news for BlackBerry lovers, these phones are not expected to generate a lot of success for the company.
The Canada based company is currently facing its worst time in the smartphone market. Recently it fired nearly 2000 of its employees in order to provide financial stabilization to the company.
RIM’s stock has fallen upto 68% and it is not expected to rise quickly. A lot of reasons are responsible for RIM’s failure but the delay in launching new phones is the major one.
Apple is going to launch the iPhone 5 in this fall and a lot of Android phones will be rolling around that period too. RIM will face a tough challenge from the world’s leading manufacturers in near future.
No detailed specifications were available till this post was written. We’ll keep you updated.
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Posted in Featured, Headline, Linked Post, Post | Tagged all-touch screen phone, android, app, Apple, application, apps, blackberry, cellphone, data, device, display, gadget, gizmo, gossip, hardware, iPhone 5, latest buzz, latest news, latest tech, launch, mobile, OS, phone, release, Research In Motion, RIM, rumor, smartphone, software, tech news, technology, the iPhone, touch screen | Leave a reply
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Tag Archives: Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Buys inFamous’s Developer Sucker Punch
Sony Corp. has bought game development studio Sucker Punch, the company behind inFamous and inFamous 2 series of PS3 games. Experts say that the tech giant was very pleased with the work of Sucker Punch and decided to buy it.
Sucker Punch Studio is the developer behind a number of PlayStation games as well as Sly Cooper games. It is based in Bellevue, Washington and has worked with Sony Computer Entertainment since 2000. It was acquired earlier today and it is expected that this acquisition will prove beneficial both for Sony and Sucker Punch.
It should be noted that the Sucker Punch studio is one of the elite game developers and interestingly, was founded by Microsoft employees in 1997.
inFamous is the most popular product of the company so far and if we are not wrong, the success of this game played a huge role in acquisition of Sucker Punch.
Sony Computer Entertainment has long been known for its acquisitions of upcoming game developers. Previously, in March last year, Sony bought LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule. The LittleBigPlanet was highly successful and even today, some people like to play it on their PS3.
Sony desperately needs to buck up its PlayStation Network as after the cyber attack which affected millions of its customers, the company lost a large number of its customers worldwide.
Will this acquisition help Sony to build its reputation again?
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Posted in Featured, Headline, Linked Post, Post | Tagged app, application, apps, code, coding, data, developer, display, game, game developer, game development, game graphics, games, gaming, gossip, inFamous, inFamous 2, intenet, latest buzz, latest news, latest tech, LittleBigPlanet, Media Molecule, online gaming, PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Games, PS 3, rumor, Sly Cooper, software, Sony, Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Corp., Sucker Punch Studios, tech news, technology, web | Leave a reply
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Home Features I won’t advise anyone to travel to Libya—Ex-Migrant
I won’t advise anyone to travel to Libya—Ex-Migrant
Mr. Kwadwo Kyeremeh
Former Ghanaian migrant, Mr. Kwadwo Kyeremeh has said he won’t advise anyone to travel to war-torn country-Libya due to personal experiences.
Narrating his ordeal on Suncity Radio, Mr. Kyeremeh stated that the journey is not worth it–if one has the money to embark on.
According to him, he was influenced by a friend to travel to the North-African country.
“I applied for teacher training college before leaving the shores of Ghana. Travelling to Libya is very tedious. Do not go even if you have the money. A friend influenced me to travel. Our hopes were high…and we thought the opportunities there were greater than that in Ghana. Another motivation was that you could use that route to enter Italy and other European countries.”
Mr. Kwadwo Kyeremeh also disclosed the risks they passed through before reaching their destination.
“It took us three days to reach Agadez. There are robbers on the way from Agadez so you have to be careful. Our journey from Agadez to Duroku lasted for a week. You have to wait for about two weeks if you miss the vehicle to Libya. Sometimes we do get lost. Also, the car can develop a fault…and you have to wait for three days,” he said.
See Also: Parliament’s working group engages stakeholders
“At Tamanrasset where the car cannot move up the mountain, we used about five hours to climb. Many people die on the way…and the weaker ones are sometimes beheaded. After reaching where water is available, they gave us a small quantity, “he further revealed.
Libya migrants
He indicated that they depend on flour and also hunting for birds for survival before reaching their final destination.
Mr. Kyeremeh added that they do pass through so many inhumane treatments.
“Most authorities do not help people out when in trouble. A Libyan police officer will even rob you if he/she had the opportunity.”
Mr. Kwadwo Kyeremeh who is now the Administrator for Sunyani Technical University (STU) concluded with how he returned by to Ghana to better his education.
“I came back to Ghana following some fights in Libya. The Ghanaian government promised us a lot but they failed to deliver after they flown us to Ghana. I enrolled to Sunyani Polytechnic when I returned. I am now an administrator with my masters.”
“I won’t advice anyone to travel to Libya. Further your education or engage yourself in trading… and I think that will be beneficial,” he counseled.
The interview was on the heels of a CNN report from Libya that showed hundreds of African migrants being auctioned off as farm workers.
See Also: Fraud is no respecter of persons -internal fraud in banking
Following the development, One hundred and twenty-seven Ghanaian irregular migrants, including two children, who were detained in Libya on illegal migration charges, have returned home last week through the support from the government.
VIAModern Ghana
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Newsom pulls plug on high-speed rail project
published on February 12, 2019 - 12:37 PM
(AP) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday he’s abandoning a plan to build a high-speed rail line between Los
Record 1.7 million flew Fresno’s friendly skies in 2018
published on February 8, 2019 - 4:22 PM
The skies were truly the limit at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in 2018. Officials announced Friday afternoon that a record-breaking
Fresno airport announces major expansion plans
published on February 1, 2019 - 11:18 AM
Fresno Yosemite International Airport announced it is embarking on the largest facility expansion in its history to accommodate the growing
Study: Fresno 26th dangerous place for pedestrians
published on January 23, 2019 - 1:13 PM
Crossing the street in Fresno may not be as safe and simple as one might think, according to a new
Amtrak San Joaquins changes train schedules, routes
published on December 17, 2018 - 1:35 PM
Amtrak San Joaquins has changed its train schedules, in part to better accommodate weekend leisure travelers. Starting Monday, the following
FYI reports Q3 passenger numbers soared
Fresno Yosemite International Airport served more than 480,000 passengers in July, August and September of this year, a record for
Fresno firm looks to find its element in hydrogen
published on December 6, 2018 - 1:29 PM
The clock is ticking for California semi truck owners. After years of having to replace or retrofit engines and emission
Audit cites overspending, poor planning for high-speed rail
published on November 15, 2018 - 1:28 PM
The California High-Speed Rail Authority made costly mistakes early that have ballooned by billions of dollars the cost of the
United expanding Fresno-to-Chicago flights next year
published on November 13, 2018 - 11:37 AM
The launch this past summer of the first direct flights between Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport
Fresno’s high-speed rail station topic of open house
published on October 30, 2018 - 11:02 AM
The California High Speed Rail Authority will unveil the master plan for its Fresno Station District on Thursday from 3-8
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Supersub? Alondra de la Parra replaces Franz Welser-Möst
By norman lebrecht
The Cleveland music director has pulled out of a Berlin production of Magic Flute, requiring a knee operation.
The Staatsoper under den Linden have replaced him with the rising Mexican conductor, music director in Queensland, Australia.
The director is Yuval Sharon, a close colleague of Welser-Möst’s.
Opening night is Feb 17.
why ? says:
replacing a true musician with a charlatanesse ..
Caravaggio says:
Better her than the Herlitzius Elektra replacement the Staatsoper recently announced: the unbearable, underparted and underpitch Merbeth. What are they thinking, if they are at all thinking?
RW2013 says:
I believe Barenboim is relinquishing the musical direction of Widman’s Babylon. Maybe the Staatsoper will give her that too. By that time she would have all of two operas in her repertoire (the Brisbane Carmen is legendary).
you sound like you have a real axe to grind there
MacroV says:
I haven’t figured out yet whether she is a mediocre conductor or just that the SD-erati have it in for anyone besides Carlos Kleiber or anyone under 80 (4 more years and Barenboim is in the clear).
I remember not that long ago that FWM was referred to by many as “Frankly Worse than Most.” But he aged 20 years, grew a few grey hairs, and now he’s the A-lister whose replacement by the young (and I suspect not coincidentally, female) prompts renewed carping.
De la Puerra says:
The fact that he was and still is far from brilliant doesn’t make her any less awful!
Petros Linardos says:
Norman Lebrecht’s posts and SD reader comments can be starting points for further thought and research.
– Alondra de la Parra: I have no opinion but out of curiosity I looked into that excerpt from Márquez’ Danzon n° 2, now famous by that infamous rehearsal video. Actually in concert with the same orchestra I don’t see her do dance (see 6:07 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjZPHW0qVvo ), and even prefer her performance over Dudamel and the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar (6:28 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8Fml4kGf38). Say what you want about the Dude and his Venezuelan orchestra in the classics, but they are a good fit for latin American stylized dance music.
– Franz Welser-Möst was nicknamed “Frankly Worse than Most” by the LPO players, when he was their principal conductor (1990-1996). Thereafter he headed the Zurich Opera (1995-2000) and took over the Cleveland Orchestra in 2002. So, arguably he was an a-lister by 2002, about a decade after “Frankly Worse than Most”. I don’t think he won the day only because of a few grey hairs.
I agree, honestly this piece can be extremely boring if inspiration is not forthcoming from the conductor. The parts are pretty sparsely indicated, and sterile performances at the hands of less-spirited conductors abound.
Vienna calling says:
Do you know how many singers in the world sing this role? Do you know how many of them are available? Maybe you want to check and make some suggestions.
You could have just written “charlatan”. But that wouldn’t have revealed the real reason you don’t like her.
Sue Sonata Form says:
Actually, she’s got a very fine reputation!! There is serious music in Australia; ask Barry Kosky!!!
Alexblueeyes says:
A joke with a baton. Before someone accuses me of sexism: women can conduct; Alondra de la Parra can’t.
Nonameme says:
Cantantelirico says:
What business does Welser-Mōst have conducting opera in the first place? I hope the reviews for Maestra De La Parra are stellar.
What business does Welser-Möst having conducting opera in the first place? I hope the reviews for Maestra De La Parra are stellar.
Good luck! Ms. de la Parra has a formidable chance to prove herself. There is nowhere to hide with the Magic Flute: very subtle music.
almaviva says:
Oh Lord!
Bob T says:
And she has shirked her commitment to the Season Opening concert with Paul Lewis and Queensland Symphony Orchrstra – of which she is Music Director – in order to take this gig. Unprofessional conduct in anyone’s book.
Apparently her QSO contract hasn’t been renewed, so what does she care?
And I’m surprised that Barenboim would want someone like her in his house, or on the other hand…
So typical of her! She once canceled almost on the last minute some commitments with the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra alleging that she was too far along on her pregnancy to travel, but was seen conducting in Europe shortly after! Thanks to that, this was the last invitation she got from their amateur and dazzled artistic director. The orchestra couldn’t have got more relieved!
John Rook says:
‘It’s behind you!’
‘Oh no, it isn’t!’
‘Oh yes, it is!’.
Itsjtime says:
Has anyone ever said anything nice about this conductors work? I have played on the same stage with her and have nothing remotely positive to say about her performance in rehearsal or concert. I have never met anyone else in the field of orchestral playing who has had any type of positive experience with her as a conductor.
What is appealing to promoters, other conductors or audiences?
Very good question! To which I too would like to know the answer…
Saxon Broken says:
What appeals to promoters and audiences?
Well, look at the picture at the beginning of the article…
I have played under her as an musician in an orchestra before, and unfortunately I must say that she is not up to par.
She simply does not have the analytical intellectual, nor the artistic/emotional talent to ever be even a “good” conductor.
Too bad that the 2 old folks, Simmon Rattle and Kurt masur wanted a pretty lady to look at (I can’t imagine any other reason in this case), and allowed her into the conducting scene she’s simply out of her league in.
Suggeritore says:
I wonder what all the fuss is about, all the polemic! Ms La Parra will either be wonderful or not. Or somewhere in between. Zauberflöte is both simple and, therefore, really tricky. I hope she makes a great success of it. As a production the new one has to succeed a classic, which, for the moment at least, will continue in parallel.
AViolinist says:
I have played under her and therefore must stay anonymous. She is a terrible conductor, lacking in the basics of interpretation, musical understanding and technique. She is beautiful and photogenic, I attribute those qualities to her success thus far.
NotAStringPlayer says:
I was a member of POA from nearly the inception…Alondra is many, many things, but a good (or even moderately competent) conductor appears nowhere on any of those lists. Calling her a charlatan is doing her a tremendous kindness.
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Sicily Boat Rental
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Etna Tour
ETNA EXCURSIONS
by Aldo Torrisi, 09/06/2015
Mount Etna History
Jeep Excursion
The “Mountain of Mountains”, Gebel Gebel, this is suggestively the other name of the volcano, Mongibello. Capped in snow during the winter, Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, its height repeatedly modified by eruptions is now around 3.350mt. Etna is one of the major attractions of the island, not only for the impressive display offered by the volcanic activity, but also for the possibility of hiking on trails, riding horses, enjoying jeep off-road tours. The Etna Park is 59,000 hectares large, established in 1987 is divided into five zones. There are many opportunities to explore this force of nature.
We suggest full or half day jeep excursions suitable for everyone. A fantastic experience around the northern side of the volcano between forest trails and fun off-road paths on ancient lava flows. The tour includes short hiking on top of ancient craters and lava paths to better understand the structure of this “breathing” volcano. You’ll walk till the edge of the “Valle del Bove” a spectacular scenery where all recent lava flows has been collected over centuries. Lunch time with typical Sicilian seasonal products from surrounding areas and excellent wine Etna DOC.
To complete your visit of Mount Etna you can choose a full day excursion till the extreme frontier of the volcanic area where is located the Alcantara Valley. This nature wonder has been created from the most ancient crater of Etna called Monte Mojo, whose lava flow arrived till the seaside of Giardni Naxos. Thanks to water erosion we can admire the fabulous canyon of Alcantara River characterized by the rapid flow of the icy river Alcantara that creates a prismatic basaltic lava rock gorges 500 meters deep.
Book this itinerary OR ask for a customized tour using the contact form.
Note: a Half Day excursion means maximum 5 hours from h 8:00AM to h 1:00PM. A Full Day excursion means maximum 8 hours from h 8:00AM to h 4:00PM
Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, its height repeatedly modified by eruptions is now around 3.350mt. The Etna Park is 59,000 hectares large, established in 1987 is divided into five zones. There are many opportunities to explore this wonder of nature: hiking trails, riding horses, jeep off-road tours.
In order to give you an idea we’ve selected 2 itinerary suggestions for trekking/hiking lovers but you can enquiry for a tailored itinerary directly to our professional staff.
MONTE CALANNA LAVA FLOW 1992
Timing: 9.00 pm – 1.30 pm – Route: 4×4 Tour + EASY HIKING – Maximum Altitude: 1300 mt
Pick up from your hotel at 09.00 with Jeep. We reach the upper level of Zafferana city at the base of the Val Calanna. This area was threatened from a huge lava flow on 1992. The eruption started on early 1991 and continue for one year till may 1992. We stop at the base of Val Calanna and start a soft trekking path to reach Monte Calanna inside Valle del Bove and the main course of Lava flow. The route will be on the middle of lava rocks, chestnut trees and other endemically plants characteristic of this area. Once on the Bove’s Valley you’ll have a complete view of all recent lava flows. After this amazing tour we’ll be delighted with a tasty of local honey and pastry.
Equipment Recommended: wind jacket, hat, sunscreen and camera. Remember to wear closed shoes (hiking boots or sneakers) and suitable clothing according to weather conditions
ETNA AND ALCANTARA VALLEY
Timing: 9.00 am – 6.00 pm – Route: 4×4 Tour + EASY HIKING – Maximum Altitude: 1900 mt
Easy trail, suitable for all ages and abilities in the magnificent Alcantara Valley through the ruins of ancient Arab and Norman dominations. We stop for a hiking tour and we notice a small hydroelectric plant one of the first electric source of the area dated 800 AD. Then an ancient tannery dated 1200 AD, and two rare Byzantine Cuba Churches. From this site we follow an easy path along the river Alcantara reaching the Gurne, 16 small lakes carved out by the river flow into the rocks, creating a unique scenery. For lunch we’ve reserved a delightful wine tasting and cellar visit. After lunch we continue with an easy hiking on the paths of Mt Mojo, a peculiar old crater that is not part of Mount Etna, from the top you will appreciate a stunning view of all the Alcantara Valley.
The whole province of Catania is dominated by Etna. The most majestic active volcano in Europe, Unesco World Heritage Site since 2013. The lava of Etna is present just about everywhere in the city and the towns, in cliffs and hills, the color of lava is dominant and even the local produce takes on this color. Living with the Volcano is now almost part of the genetic make-up of the people of this territory. Etna was formed about 500,000 years ago. The scientific explanation of its birth is directly connected to the phenomenon of continental drift and particularly the colossal clash between the African and Eurasian shelves, the same clash that probably caused the creation of the Alps and Himalayas. The immense impact between the two shelves caused the compression of the magma that was deep below the sea and it came out violently creating Etna. The history of Etna is still fundamentally based on myths and number of eruptions recorded which is certainly much lower than the real number. Several centuries before Christ there are already references to the activity of the Volcano in historical resources. From the end of 1st century AD onwards more eruptions are documented, about 200 up to the present day. One of the most serious happened in 1669, with strong tremors and explosions which creates Monti Rossi behind Nicolosi on the south slopes and the lava almost completely covered Catania in just 18 days. After this we have other eruptions during all the 19th century which has formed Monte Gemellaro and the craters of Monti Silvestri. In the 20th century there have been numerous eruptions some of one year long which destroyed vineyards, the cable car till the most renewed all over Italy on 1992 that was threatening the town of Zafferana. The landscape of the Catania province is greatly influenced by the presence of Etna which occupies a vast area, its circumference at the base is about 250km, numerous towns have grown up on its slopes, the total height of the mountain is 3.400mt (12.500 feet). It is true to say that the life revolves around the foot of the mountain, so much that the towns here are connected by the famous Circumetnea railway, opened at the end of 19th century. The lava of Etna is particularly fluid (the temperature of the magma is about 1000 °C). The fluidity means that gases escape more easily, reducing the risk of explosions, but it means also speed, the lava flows quickly and can cover great distances in a short time. Overall it can be said that Etna is rather moderate as regards explosions and expulsion of lava and lapilli. This is due to the fact that every day it gives off tones of gases and sulphor dioxide into the air maintaining an acceptable level of internal pressure. Etna has four summit eruptive craters New Crater, Central Crater, South eastern Crater and North Eastern Crater, and numerous lateral craters. The Etna Regional Nature Park was set up in 1987 and covers 60.000 hectares including 20 district councils of the province of Catania.
At sea-level along the coast the vegetation is mostly halophiles, as you begin to climb up starts growing apples, citrus fruits, pears, nuts, pistachios, almonds and naturally grapes. These gradually give way to pinewoods, ilex groves, oak woods and chestnut woods. From 1.500mt to 2000mt the landscape is dominated by beech-trees, aetnesis birches and large fragrant gorse bushes. Above 2000mt you only find extremely hardy plants such as groundsel and mouse-ear chickweed. The fauna is also very interesting. You find porcupines, foxes, wild rabbits, wild cats, hedgehogs, dormice and vipers. The park is populated by both diurnal and nocturnal birds: Golden eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Kestrels, Rock Partridges, Scopes owls, Buzzards, tawny owls.
In the area of an active volcano the layers of volcanic soil undergo continual changes because of volcanic activity. Although the climate is a Mediterranean one, it varies according to the altitude, conditioning the type of plant life.
CAVES ON ETNA
One aspect of the volcano Etna that should not be forgotten is the presence of numerous cavities that exist all over its slopes, the only volcanic caves in the whole of continental Europe. They are formed along with the rock that contains them, during the lava flows of a volcanic eruption. Consequently it takes a relatively short time for them to form, a period of one week to a few months. We find two principal types of volcanic caves: lava tunnels (or lava flow tunnels) and caves in fracture. Lava tunnels are what remains of channels, now solidified, through which the lava flowed internally and which later emptied because of drainage or because of erosion of the bottom. They conserve an interesting morphology such as: sections of varying geometry, stalactites on the roof, lateral curling rolls formed by the rapid drainage of the lava flow, shelves and shills sticking out from the walls formed by a sudden slowing down of the lava flow. There are more than 200 volcanic caves on Etna today and new ones are continually discovered, mapped and registered. Certainly the most famous cave on Etna is the Gelo Cave, situated at an altitude of 2.043mt and contains spectacular glacier that is present all year long.
THE ALCANTARA RIVER
The Alcantara River is just under 50km long in all and marks part of the border between the provinces of Catania and Messina. The river rises in the Nebrodi mountains near Floresta and flows into the sea near Taormina, crossing the territory of 15 districts in the two provinces. The Greeks are said to have called it “Akesine”, “healing river”, but some claim that Akesine corresponds in reality to the Fiumefreddo River. The Romans area said to have called it “onabala” but some believe this was the name of a torrent. Indeed the Arabs, who always changed names of the places they conquered according to the characteristics of the place, called the river “Al Qantarah” which means bridge. The origin of the walls of the Gorge is clearly linked to a volcanic eruption of long ago, from Monte Mojo the most unpredictable secondary crater on Etna. The flow was made up of basic lava, more fluid than acidic lava and slower to solidify. It flowed along the Alcantara, blocking the river and reached the sea where it created the small peninsula of capo Schisò. The peculiarity of the Gorges is due to the fact that water erosion over the centuries has revealed the internal conformation of the thick basalt walls. They have a column structure with hexagonal and pentagonal prisms that are mostly perpendicular to the height of the walls. This geological phenomenon is determined by the cooling of the lava, which begins externally and gradually reaches the interior. The Alcantara Gorge is one of the most spectacular examples of this phenomenon in Europe.
ETNA IN ANCIENT TIMES
The oldest human settlements on Etna can be traced back to the Neolithic period (6th-3rd millennium BC) when man developed his knowledge of the production of tools for deforesting, tilling and farming the fertile lands. Certainly apart from building villages of huts they also took advantage of the numerous caves created by lava flows which offered safe, warm and comfortable shelter. There is very little archaeological material available to allow the formulation of hypotheses about these early phases of life on Etna, also because of the continuous disastrous events that have frequently changed the landscape.
The native and Greek settlements on the slopes of Etna can be dated to much more recent times, between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. Near Paternò, in the district of Pietralunga on a bend of the River Simeto, a village of oval huts was built and the objects found date back to the 9th century BC. Adrano is also the site of one of the most important Greek settlements of the whole Etna area, and that is Adranon, dedicated to the god of the volcano that cast its huge shadow across the town and surrounding area. The arrival of the Greeks on the slopes of Etna modified the landscape profoundly, the trees of the forest were used to build houses and ships, the sides of the mountain were dug to create terraces for planting vines, large blocks of lava were hewn and cut in order to construct formidable walls to defend city, river beds were used to transport stones, trees and agricultural produce. For the ancient Greeks the eruptions of Etna were attributed to the monster Tifeo or the giant Encelado, imprisoned by Zeus under the volcano. In some texts Etna is described as the workshop of Efesto-Vulcan. The devastating fury of Etna is also referred to in the classical legend of the Pii Brothers who saved their elderly parents from the advancing lava.
General Booking Conditions for all tours:
Once we receive your detailed enquiry, we will send you a proposal within 24 hrs. If you decide to book with us you’ll have to reply our proposal within requested details. Once we receive your confirm and requested additional details, we issue a proforma contract to fill and return signed to proceed with a 20% deposit to secure your reservation. This amount has to be paid with credit card or bank money transfer within receipt to be send max. 2 days after receiving our contract.
Once your initial deposit has been made, we will send you a confirmation e-mail with your receipt number and final tour details. Balance payment can be made directly on site with credit card or cash
General information for Etna Tours
Clothes: We recommend a layered clothing depending on the season (Wind Jacket or Rain coat, long trousers) comfortable and solid closed shoes suitable for hiking/trekking to prevent sand and small stones from getting inside. Health Condition: Our excursions are designed to a wide range of physical fitness and ages, however, please let us know in advance at time of booking if you have mobility disability or have reduced mobility, cardiovascular and/or respiratory system issues, suffer from any food allergies and/or intolerances for the menu of the lunch during the excursion.
Cancellation Policies for Etna Tours:
We cannot guarantee weather or natural environmental conditions nor can be responsible for any shut downs, caused by weather/natural causes or for any reason or cause out of our control. The departure of the Etna excursions is guaranteed ” Rain or Sun .” There are no cancellation risks from our side for the tour till 2200mt. Our tour is comprehensive of transport civil insurance policy which covers insurances for injuries occurred during external activities if these are not caused by non-observance of security instructions given by local staff. Following general cancellation policies:
– 20% of total reservation is not refundable 7 days before the tour
– 50% of total reservation is not refundable from 6 days to 24 hours before the tour.
– No refund for no show.
General information and Cancellation Policies for Wine Tours:
The Wine tour will be around Mount Etna so in case of adverse weather conditions that prevent a safe driving we contact you for alternative day to ensure the tour at no additional cost. If you cannot split the tour date because no other available days during your journey we charge 10% fees of cancellation. Please let us know in advance, at time of booking if you have food allergies and/or intolerances for lunch an tasting food. Following general cancellations policies:
– 50% of total reservation is not refundable from 6 days to 24 hours before departure
– No refund for no shows.
General information and Cancellation Policies for Cooking Class:
Please let us know in advance, at time of booking if you have food allergies and/or intolerances for the menu of the cooking class. Following general cancellations policies:
– 20% of total reservation is not refundable 7 days before the activity
– 70% of total reservation is not refundable from 6 days to 24 hours before the activity
Insurance and Licenses
All transports provided have regular licenses NCC and qualified staff in possession of licenses as required by regional and Italian laws. Furthermore, all vehicles are covered by regular insurance policy for civil liability and damages on person because of extraordinary events and subject to the negligence of the staff members. All activities provided are regularly covered from civil insurances. Any accident occurring for failures and negligence from your side will not be covered by the insurance policy. We strongly recommend that you have full travel insurance to cover your holiday. By accepting our Booking Conditions you are confirming to us that your insurance cover is adequate and in force at the time of travelling with Tripping Sicily.
Create your suitable itinerary to discover the secrets of the Volcano Etna Unesco World Heritage Site. The exciting Jeep 4WD tour which ride on ancient lava flows and rural path that leads to the magnificent panorama of the Valle del Bove. For trekking lovers choose to climb on the top of ancient craters and explore lava caves. We give you a large choice of activities full of entertainment, knowledge and funny moments for the whole family!
General information Clothes: We recommend a layered clothing depending on the season (Wind Jacket or Rain coat, long trousers) comfortable and solid closed shoes suitable for hiking/trekking to prevent sand and small stones from getting inside. Health Condition: Our excursions are designed to a wide range of physical fitness and ages, however, please let us know in advance at time of booking if you have mobility disability or have reduced mobility, cardiovascular and/or respiratory system issues, suffer from any food allergies and/or intolerances for the menu of the lunch during the excursion.
Cancellation Policies We cannot guarantee weather or natural environmental conditions nor can be responsible for any shut downs, caused by weather/natural causes or for any reason or cause out of our control. The departure of the Etna excursions is guaranteed " Rain or Sun ." There are no cancellation risks from our side for the tour till 2200mt. Our tour is comprehensive of transport civil insurance policy which covers insurances for injuries occurred during external activities if these are not caused by non-observance of security instructions given by local staff. Following general cancellation policies: - 20% of total reservation is not refundable 7 days before the tour - 50% of total reservation is not refundable from 6 days to 24 hours before the tour. - No refund for no show.
Insurance and Licenses All transports provided have regular licenses NCC and qualified staff in possession of licenses as required by regional and Italian laws. Furthermore, all vehicles are covered by regular insurance policy for civil liability and damages on person because of extraordinary events and subject to the negligence of the staff members. All activities provided are regularly covered from civil insurances. Any accident occurring for failures and negligence from your side will not be covered by the insurance policy. We strongly recommend that you have full travel insurance to cover your holiday. By accepting our Booking Conditions you are confirming to us that your insurance cover is adequate and in force at the time of travelling with Tripping Sicily.
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Howie family and friends to observe 75th anniversary of the liberation of Saint-Lo
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Notes from the Amazon
For four weeks, seven cadets and students from The Citadel shared the learning adventure of their lifetimes. It included traveling on the Amazon River by boat, working with indigenous people in the jungle and observing the complex ecosystem supporting the diverse animals and reptiles in the Peruvian rainforest.
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Citadel included in Vice News feature on reformed terrorist
Vice News came to the 2018 Intelligence and Cybersecurity Conference at The Citadel to cover a guest of Dr. Muhammad Fraser-Rahim. Rahim is a Citadel Department of Intelligence and Security studies professor, who is also the Executive Director, North America, for Quilliam International. Quilliam International is the world’s oldest counter-extremist organization with headquarters in the United Kingdom and Washington, D.C. Fraser-Rahim works to help de-radicalize former terrorists, which is how he came to know Mohammad Khalid, the subject of this story.
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When one of the most powerful people in the world comes to campus
“So when you mention The Citadel, people immediately think ‘solid people, strong foundation, and commitment to country.’ Everything this institution is respected for you carry out of here, and I think that’s a great advantage whether in the military or in the intelligence community.” The honorable Dan Coats, DNI
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As heard on Spycast at SpyMuseum.org Each week, the International Spy Museum offers a new SpyCast featuring interviews and programs with ex-spies, intelligence experts, and espionage scholars. SpyCast is hosted
Humanities & Social Sciences In The News Science & Mathematics
Plastic scraps from Charleston Harbor make for trashy art
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Good to Go: Graduate Success Stories
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Home WORLD NEWS Polar vortex claims eight lives as US cold snap continues
Polar vortex claims eight lives as US cold snap continues
At least eight people have died in the US Midwest as the region shivers in the grip of its worst cold snap in decades.
An Iowa student found dead outside a college building is among the victims of the deadly freeze.
Hospitals have been treating patients reporting frostbite as life across a swathe of the nation grinds to a halt.
The iciest blasts may still come on Thursday. Ninety million people – a third of the US – have seen temperatures of -17C (0F) or below.
Some 250 million Americans overall have experienced the “polar vortex” conditions, but southern states such as Florida have escaped the brutal chill.
How did the fatalities occur?
University of Iowa student Gerald Belz, 18, was found unresponsive behind a campus building before dawn on Wednesday and later died in hospital. Officials said weather was a factor. His father told local news channel KCRG that Gerald was a “mama’s boy with a tough exterior”.
A 70-year-old man in Detroit, Michigan, was found dead in front of a neighbour’s home on Wednesday
Another Michigan man in his 70s was found frozen to death in his neighbourhood. Officials said he was “inadequately dressed for the weather” and was probably disoriented
On Tuesday, 55-year-old Charley Lampley froze to death in a garage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, having “apparently collapsed after shovelling snow”, according to a medical examiner
An 82-year-old man in Pekin, Illinois, died from hypothermia after apparently falling outside his home on Tuesday
A 75-year-old man was fatally struck by a snow plough near Chicago on Monday. The driver has since been placed on paid leave pending an investigation, according to WGN9 News
In northern Indiana, a young couple died after a collision on icy roads
What’s the forecast?
Thursday could see America’s third largest city of Chicago breaking its 1985 record low of -32C (-25F), according to meteorologists. The city has already passed the record low for 31 January.
The National Weather Service (NWS) announced Rockford, Illinois, west of Chicago, broke its all-time low record of -32C (-27F) when temperatures dipped to -34C (-30F) on Thursday morning.
Cities across Iowa have also broken temperature records.
Cotton, Minnesota, was the coldest place in the US on Thursday, however, with a low of -48C (-56F) based on preliminary data.
The chill is drifting eastward on Thursday, bringing sub-zero temperatures to north-eastern cities such as Boston.
Is the polar vortex linked to climate change?
Unusual side effects of US polar vortex
The people working in a ‘polar vortex’
How cold is it where you are?
Areas downwind of the Great Lakes are expected to be buried by intense “snow lakes” into Thursday night.
The region near Buffalo, New York, should see the heaviest snowfall. Snow could fall at rates of 3in-5in (7cm-12cm) per hour.
The icy cold is expected to loosen its grip on Friday.
With wind chill factored in, the Midwest and Great Lakes have felt temperatures closer to -40C (-40F) and -53C (-63F), which is enough to cause frostbite in under five minutes.
But by the end of the weekend, Chicago could see temperatures as high as 10C (50F).
“It’s going to be at least a 60-degree swing for Chicago,” David Hamrick, a National Weather Service forecaster, told Reuters news agency.
The Wind Chill City
Analysis by Chris Buckler, BBC News, Chicago
On the icy streets of Chicago they are used to bitter winters but this was too cold even for some people who live here.
Rush hour hasn’t existed in this normally bustling city for the last couple of days as many have chosen to stay at home rather than brave such extreme elements.
Those who did go to work arrived bundled up in layer after layer of clothing. Anything exposed – like eyebrows and lashes – were covered in frost.
“They’ve frozen shut a couple of times”, one man told me about his watering eyes.
The Windy City could be renamed the Wind Chill City given the number of warnings there have been this week.
Below several skyscrapers there are still signs pointing out the dangers of falling ice.
You could argue that a slight thaw has begun given that cracks have started to appear on what was a solid sheet of ice covering the Chicago river.
But temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until Saturday at the earliest.
How is the cold snap affecting daily life?
The Arctic weather could cost the US billions of dollars. In 2014, a similar polar freeze cost the country an estimated $5bn (£3.8bn), CBS News reported.
In Minnesota, residents have been asked by natural gas company Xcel Energy to reduce their home thermostats to 17C (63F) in order to help the company handle heating demands.
Michigan residents have had similar requests from their utility companies as providers struggle to keep the states warm.
In pictures: Polar vortex strikes
A guide to surviving a polar vortex
Native American tribes in the northern Midwest states have been helping their members obtain heating supplies during the chill as many live in poor-quality housing, the Associated Press reported.
Detroit has had more than two dozen water mains freeze over this week. A city spokesman told the Associated Press the pipes were installed up to 1.8m below the frost line, but with such drastically low temperatures, the ground has still frozen through.
The US Postal Service has suspended all mail deliveries for the second day to parts of six states.
More than 2,300 flights have been cancelled and another 3,500 delayed due to the polar vortex.
As ice and snow continue to build up, roads have become increasingly dangerous across the northern US. In Illinois, police said they had assisted more than 1,300 motorists and received 460 calls in eight hours – 10 times the norm.
One woman in the state was caught speeding at 115mph (185km/h) on a snowy road with a 35mph (56km/h) speed limit.
At least two people were critically injured in a 27-car pile-up on icy roads in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.
Twenty-one vehicles, including a lorry, were involved in a pile-up in Buffalo, New York, during a snowstorm on Wednesday. Officials have not released details on any injuries, WKBW News reported.
It is reported that the lorry should not have been on the road at the time, due to a weather-related ban.
In Minnesota, prison visits were cancelled over the cold, according to the New York Times.
How cold is Chicago?
The Illinois city became a frozen ghost town after temperatures fell to -30C (-22F), colder than parts of Antarctica.
A Good Samaritan paid for 70 homeless Chicagoans to stay in a hotel as temperatures dropped.
Salvation Army spokeswoman Jacqueline Rachev told the Washington Post: “It’s a deadly situation for anyone. We’re thrilled that someone was in a position to be able to do this.”
Most of the thousands of cancelled flights this week were coming out of Chicago’s airports – O’Hare International is ranked as one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world.
Amtrak also cancelled all trains into Chicago on Wednesday, affecting 55 trains, and said most would be cancelled on Thursday as well.
As the Midwestern city is one of the company’s hubs, train services nationwide could be impacted.
The chill was even too much for Chicago’s Disney on Ice show, which cancelled its Wednesday performance.
More than 600 local schools have shut, keeping 360,000 students at home.
What about Canada?
Most of Canada was under some sort of weather warning – from extreme cold in the Prairies, Quebec and Ontario to heavy snows in Alberta and Nova Scotia.
In Toronto, where winters tend to be milder compared to cities such as Montreal and Ottawa, temperatures had plummeted to -18C (0F). Icy roads and several transit delays made for a hellish commute for the city’s residents.
Environment Canada issued extreme cold warnings for most parts of Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba, urging residents to limit their exposure to cold and keep pets indoors.
Advocates expressed concern for homeless people living in cities hit by the extreme temperatures.
In Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, temperatures were -40C (-40F), with wind chill factors making it feel like -50C (-58F).
“If you don’t get it in December, you will get it in January or February or March. What do you expect? It’s ‘Winterpeg’,” Caroline Rodriguez told CBC.
In Calgary, Alberta, temperatures were a relatively balmy -3C (27F), but were expected to plummet overnight and through the weekend.
In parts of rural northern Alberta, 15in of snow were expected to fall.
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2018 Tax Bills: A & B
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Belanger, Gary & Lori, R94; 8/13 Belanger, Gloria, R102; 8/3 Belanger, Paul & Roberta, R96; 2/13A
Belanger, Renald & Richard, R101; 8/12 Belanger, Stephen, R98; 8/26, 26B & 27 Belanger, Stephen, R92; 8/26C
Bennett, Wayne & Bolstridge, Patricia, R429; 20/45 & 46 Benson, Mark & Betty, R224; 17/16 Bernier, Albert & Williams, Annette, R607; 24/19A
Bernier, David & Angela, R414; 14/13 Berry, Nathan & Kimberly, R151; 10/18 Birdsey, Thomas, R 116; 20/16
Birdsey, Thomas & Michelle, R648; 20/10 Bodeau, Edward & Caroline, R473; 19/36
Boldebook, James, R688; 4A/18 Boldebook, James, R689; 4A/17 Boldebook, James, R690; 4A/16
Boldebook, James, R113; 4A/15 Boldebook, James, R779; 22/10B Bolstridge, Christine, R312; 8/37B
Bolstridge, David, R123; 8/25 Bolstridge, David & Shelly, R115; 8/31A Bolstridge, David & Shelly, R120; 8/23
Bolstridge, Nelson, R121; 8/38 Bolstridge, Timothy, R126; 8/37 Bolstridge, Timothy, R127; 8/31B
Bonville, Serena, R668; 19/5 Bornman, Emerson Jr., R104; 15/30 Bossie, Irene, R48; 18/32
Bouchard, Brian, R738; 2/on 1D Bouchard, Sean & Kara, R106; 20/15 & 17 Bourgoin, Michael, R772; 2 on 13
Bourgoine, Denise, R438; 10/7 Boutot, Leonard & Marion, R130; 16/7 & 8 Boutot, Lou Sandy, R789; 2/9L
Boutot, Matthew & Melissa, R686; 23/10 Boutot, Ronald & Boutot, Timothy, R132; 16/1 Boyles, Lorne & Irene, R135; 5/12A
Bradeen, Jody & Coates, Kimberly, R313; 19/27 Bragdon, Betty, R136; 18/43 Brewer, Debra, R81; 16/2
Bridges, Humphrey, R137; 11/4 Brophy, Jennifer & Frost, Frank III, R157; 20/51
Brown, Sherry, R520; 14/9 Bubar, Steven, R592; 20/32
Buck, Penny, R649; 15/23 Buck Clark Cottage, R146; 23/14
Buitron, Rudolfo, R187; 20/6 & 6A Buker, Nancy, R351; 20/60
Bulduc, Richard & Gregory, Mark, R93; 2/5 Burby, Gary, R148; 16/24 Burby, George, Jr, & Nancy, R143; 24/1
Burke, Nelson, & Chris, R149; 23/11 Burton, Angeline, R150; 17/10 Bushey, Raymond & Hazel, R153; 14/19
Butt, Larry & Jane, R531; 5/22 & 23
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Becoming Enlightened
Written by Dalai Lama
Narrated by Jeffrey Hopkins, Ph.D.
The wisdom, support, guidance, and inspiration we need to become successful and fulfilled in our spiritual lives.
In Becoming Enlightened, His Holiness the Dalai Lama powerfully explores the foundation of Buddhism, laying out an accessible and practical approach to age-old questions: How can we live free from suffering? How can we achieve lasting happiness and peace?
Drawing from traditional Buddhist meditative practices as well as penetrating examples from today's troubled planet, he presents step-by-step exercises designed to expand our capacity for spiritual growth, along with clear milestones to mark our progress. By following the spiritual practices outlined in Becoming Enlightened, we can learn how to replace troublesome feelings with positive attitudes and embark on a path to achieving an exalted state -- within ourselves and within the larger world.
Full of personal anecdotes and intimate accounts of the Dalai Lama's experiences as a life-long student, thinker, political leader, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Becoming Enlightened is a remarkable and empowering work that can be enjoyed by seekers of all faiths, at every stage of spiritual development.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster AudioReleased: Jan 6, 2009ISBN: 9780743579704Format: audiobook
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Ep. 41 - Transformational Activism: Ethan Nichtern & Eric Schneiderman
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Ep. 64 - Ripening on the Spiritual Path
2017-04-28 Brother Phap Ho: In this talk, Brother Phap Ho shares on the theme of this year's Wake Up Retreat, Loving Yourself, Healing the World. He talks about his personal experience with mindfulness, concentration and insight emerging in the light of the four elements of...
43 - The Value of Buddhist Prayer Part 1: Paradox of Prayer in a Nontheistic Spiritual Tradition: You might be surprised to know many Buddhists pray, given that Buddhism is fundamentally a nontheistic religion. It’s possible to be an avowed atheist and a devout Buddhist at the same time. In fact, such a Buddhist might even pray! I’ll explain...
Practice as Process - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Tuesday August 25, 2015: The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you...
The Journey is the Way - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday June 14, 2015: The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you...
Ep. 6 - The Three Naturals: Body, Breath and Mind
Spiritual Inspiration | Creating a Work that Endures: Listen to episode 343 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Spiritual Inspiration | Creating a Work that Endures. Edited and adapted from Levels of Living by Henry Frederick Cope. Spirituality Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast....
Trusting Who We Are (retreat talk) - (2017-12-30): Trusting Who We Are (retreat talk) - (2017-12-30) - The sign of spiritual freedom is a deep trust in our essential nature, and in the light of awareness that lives through all beings. This talk explores the conditioning that entraps us in a...
Attachment and Mystery - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Sunday November 8, 2015: The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you...
Magic For the Modern World: In this week's FBA Podcast, "Magic For the Modern World," Candradasa takes a personal look at aspects of magic in the East and West, considering its place in Buddhist history and practice and also its meeting with Christianity at the time of the Renais...
Case 24: Fengxue: Equality and Differentiation - Kosen Eshu, Osho - Thursday July 23, 2015: The Zenwest Buddhist Society is a federally registered charity in Canada that provides training and education in Zen Buddhism. If you enjoy this podcast, please rate it, review it, and share it with a friend that you think will enjoy it as much as you...
The Art of Dharmic Embrace
Ep. 19 - The Tip of Motivation
Icons and Iconoclasm in Japanese Buddhism
Episode 019 - To Thine Own Non-Self Be True: Answering email from readers and listeners on the path. Can I be Buddhist and still be true to the 12-Step program? Photo credit: Scott Diamon, Tenerife Island, Spain
Heavenly Messengers: 2013-04-10 - Heavenly Messengers - Tara interviews Frank Ostaseski, founder of Zen Hospice, on a contemplative approach to death and dying. Please support this podcast by donating at www.tarabrach.com or www.imcw.org. Your donations allow us to...
Not Just a Bag of Skin: 37 "Not Just a Bag of Skin" Today's teisho by Sunya Sensei is a talk given at our Sunday sitting on September 30th 2012 from our Zendo in the North Carolina Mountains. You can hear a phobe's song in the background! Thanks for your...
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Raja New Trial
Uploaded by Anonymous Fx4pBP
Former police officer convicted of killing Corey Jones files motion for new trial
saveSave Raja New Trial For Later
PLDT vs CA.pdf
United States v. H. William Johns, 858 F.2d 154, 3rd Cir. (1988)
H. Grady Gore, Jr., as Under the Last Will and Testament of Gordon Dean, Deceased v. Northeast Airlines, Inc., 373 F.2d 717, 2d Cir. (1967)
Gan vs CA
Case Digest Crimpro
John Tromza v. Tecumseh Products Company, a Corporation and Marquette Corporation, a Corporation. Marquette Corporation, 378 F.2d 601, 3rd Cir. (1967)
David Haywood, in Behalf of Himself and Others Similarly Situated v. J. C. Ball, N.C. State Highway Patrolman, in His Individual and Official Capacity, H. G. Grohman, Sheriff, New Hanover County, in His Individual and Official Capacity, R. I. Wark, Chief Jailer, New Hanover County, in His Individual and Official Capacity, Claude Foster, Deputy Sheriff, New Hanover County, in His Individual and Official Capacity, 586 F.2d 996, 4th Cir. (1978)
United States v. John Joseph O'Brien, 974 F.2d 1346, 10th Cir. (1992)
Simon B. Vargas v. Immigration & Naturalization Service, 938 F.2d 358, 2d Cir. (1991)
Danielson, Inc. v. Winchester-Conant, 322 F.3d 26, 1st Cir. (2003)
Fernandez-Pineiro v. Bausch & Lomb, Inc., 4th Cir. (2011)
United States v. Sanders, 10th Cir. (2010)
Ernestine Mitchell v. Ford Motor Company, 11th Cir. (2009)
Blueberry v. Comanche County, 10th Cir. (2016)
Motion to Withdraw
EFF: replytomotionforappealability-287
Jamero vs Melicor (DIGESTED)
Moore v. USA - Document No. 5
REPUBLIC-VS-BALLOCANAG.docx
Filing# 86562936 E-Filed 03/18/2019 03:39:59 PM
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF
THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
CRIMINAL DIVISION "X"
CASE NO.: 2016CF005507AXX
NOUMAN KHAN RAJA,
~~~~~~~~~~~~-
RENEWED MOTION FOR JUDGMENT OF ACQUITTAL, MOTION FOR A NEW
TRIAL, AND MOTION FOR ARREST OF JUDGMENT
The defendant Nauman Raja moves for a new trial pursuant to Rule 3.600, Fla. R. Crim.
P., renews his motion for judgment of acquittal pursuant to Rule 3.380, Fla. R. Crim. P., and
moves for an arrest ofjudgment pursuant to Rule 3.610, Fla. R. Crim. P., stating as follows:
1. This Court should grant a new trial because:
a. the verdict is contrary to law or the weight of the evidence;
b. the court erred in the decision of matters of law arising before and during the
course of the trial;
c. the court erroneously instructed the jury on matters of law and refused to give a
proper instruction requested by the defendant; and
d. for any other cause not due to the defendant's own fault, the defendant did not
receive a fair and impartial trial.
2. This Court should grant a judgment of acquittal as to both counts because the evidence
is insufficient to warrant conviction on either count.
3. This Court should arrest judgment because:
FILED: PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL, SHARON R. BOCK, CLERK, 03/18/2019 03:39:59 PM
(a) the indictment or information on which the defendant was tried is so defective that it
will not support a judgment of conviction; and
(b) the defendant was convicted of an offense for which the defendant could not be
convicted under the indictment or information.
THE MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL MUST BE GRANTED.
Failure to instruct the jury on justifiable use of deadly force by a law enforcement
officer requires a new trial.
The defense sought an instruction on justifiable use of force by a law enforcement officer,
including a special instruction modified to provide the jury with a definition of"arrest." This Court
denied both the standard and special instruction in what is plainly reversible error.
Florida law requires the trial court to instruct the jury on the theory of defense. This
principle could not be more fundamental to a fair trial. The Fourth District recounts the law:
Generally, " '[a] criminal defendant is entitled to have the jury instructed on the law
applicable to his or her theory of defense where there is any evidence to support it, no
matter how weak or flimsy.' "Quick v. State, 46 So.3d 1159, 1160 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010)
(quoting Gregory v. State, 937 So.2d 180, 182 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006)). The defendant is
entitled to a special jury instruction if the following three elements are satisfied: (1) the
special instruction was supported by the evidence; (2) the standard instruction did not cover
the theory of defense; and (3) the special instruction was a correct statement of the law and
not misleading or confusing. Dorsey v. State, 74 So.3d 521, 526 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)
(citing Stephens v. State, 787 So.2d 747, 756 (Fla.2001)).
Funchess v. State, 126 So. 3d 1107, 1110 (4th DCA 2012). Denial of the standard instruction on
use of force by a law enforcement officer is the most obvious error. The evidence Officer Raja was
engaged in an arrest at the time of the shooting is not "weak or flimsy," but compelling. In fact,
the evidence of an arrest is almost word for word described by the Fourth District in Peraza, as we
apprised the Court when seeking the instruction:
While we conclude the finding of fact here that the officer was responding to an emergency
and investigating a disturbance was supported by competent substantial evidence, we also
recognize an argument could be made that the officer here was in fact making an arrest. As
the circuit court found, after the officer and his sergeant spotted the man about twenty yards
from them, both the officer and the sergeant shouted the commands "Stop!", "Police!", and
"Drop the weapon!" The officer then closed his distance from the man to approximately
five to ten feet, and continued to command the man to "stop" and "drop the weapon." It is
reasonable to conclude that the officer was taking these actions to make an arrest, and not
merely to investigate the man's intentions.
State v. Peraza, 226 So. 3d 937, 946 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017), affd., State v. Peraza, 259 So. 3d 728
(Fla. 2018).
As the evidence showed at trial, Officer Raja used similar words when approaching Mr.
Jones. The defense in this case was justifiable use of force. It was reversible error for this Court to
decline to give the standard instruction on a law enforcement officer's use of force. 1 Refusal to
give the defense requested special instruction on justifiable use of force by a law enforcement
officer, or some version of it, was also reversible error.
The defense sought the following special instruction:
JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE
The standard instruction reads as follows:
3.6(h) JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE BYLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
In making an arrest of a felon. § 776.05, Fla. Stat. Give if applicable.
A law enforcement officer, or any person [he] [she] has summoned or directed to assist
[him] [her], need not retreat from or stop efforts to make a lawful arrest because of resistance or
threatened resistance to the arrest. The officer is justified in the use of any force that [he] [she]
reasonably believes necessary to defend [himself] [herself] or another from bodily harm while
making the arrest. That force is also justifiable when necessarily used:
1. in retaking a felon who has escaped or
2. in arresting a felon who is fleeing from justice.
A law enforcement officer need not retreat from or stop efforts to make a lawful
arrest or carry out any other execution of a legal duty because of resistance or threatened
resistance to the arrest or other execution of a legal duty. The officer is justified in the use
of any force that he reasonably believes necessary to defend himself or another from bodily
harm while making the arrest or executing a legal duty.
An arrest can be shown by shouted commands from the officer such as to stop,
drop, or similar commands. The words "you're under arrest" or the like need not be spoken
by the officer for an arrest to take place.
I now instruct you Nouman Raja was a law enforcement officer at the time of the
events in this case.
The defense requested instruction meets all of the criteria necessary to require it be read to
the jury. It is: (1) supported by the evidence; (2) the standard instruction did not cover the theory
of defense; and (3) it was a correct statement of the law and not misleading or confusing. It was
error to decline to give it.
The Court improperly instructed the jury on Officer Raja engaging in the initial
provocation.
The state sought the initial provocation instruction over defense objection, and this Court
granted it. A person who reasonably believes he faces a threat of imminent death or great bodily
harm has the right to use deadly force in self-defense, Fla. Stat. § 776.012(2), unless he provoked
the threat by committing an independent forcible felony or initiating an assault. Fla. Stat. §
776.041; Martinez v. State, 981 So. 2d 449, 452 (Fla. 2008). Non-assaultive conduct prior to the
deadly confrontation, however negligent or wrongful, is not sufficient to deprive a person of the
right to self-defense. Though there was no evidence to support the instruction, this Court
improperly read it to the jury, completely undermining the defense of justifiable use of force. A
new trial is required.
The Trial Court erred in failing to enter an acquittal as to either Manslaughter or
Attempted First Degree Murder.
Under settled Florida law, "only one homicide conviction and sentence may be imposed
for a single death." Houser v. State, 474 So. 2d 1193, 1196 (Fla.1985). "[T]he single homicide rule
... affords a second tier of double jeopardy protection." McCullough v. State, 230 So. 3d 586, 592
(Fla. 2d DCA 2017). It applies both to attempts and completed killings, and an injury merges with
the death: "The single homicide rule 'is based on notions of fundamental fairness which recognize
the inequity that inheres in multiple punishments for a singular killing.' Gordon v. State, 780 So.
2d 17, 25 (Fla. 2001 ), receded from on other grounds by Valdes v. State, 3 So. 3d 1067 (Fla. 2009).
"[P]hysical injury and physical injury causing death, merge into one and it is rationally defensible
to conclude that the legislature did not intend to impose cumulative punishments." Id. (quoting
Carawan v. State, 515 So. 2d 161, 173 (Fla. 1987) (Shaw, J., dissenting))." Marsh v. State, 253
So. 3d 674, 677 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018).
In Williams v. State, 90 So. 3d 931 (Fla. pt DCA 2012), the Court found improper
convictions for both attempted premeditated and attempted felony murder. In Williams, an
argument led to the appellant shooting three times at the complainant as he ran away, pausing, then
pursuing him and firing four or five more shots, one of which struck him in the back. The Court
reversed the conviction for attempted felony murder, finding the dual convictions precluded by the
doctrine of merger, even if not by double jeopardy. It first found the event was a single episode,
even though there was a pause between volleys, and rejected the state argument that each bullet
fired was a distinct act. So it is with the case at bar.
"To determine whether the offenses occurred in one criminal episode, a court must
consider 'whether there are multiple victims, whether the offenses occurred in multiple locations,
and whether there has been a 'temporal break' between offenses." Williams, 90 So. 3d at 933
(cleaned up). The shooting in this case involved a single decedent, in a single location, without a
sufficient temporal break between the charged offenses. As in Williams, here there was a brief
pause between two volleys, and as in Williams, the shooting in this case is a single episode for
jeopardy and merger purposes. The Williams Court also found each count did not result from a
distinct act: "To determine whether acts are "distinct," factors to consider include whether there
was: 1) a temporal break between the acts; 2) intervening acts; 3) a change in location between the
acts; or 4) whether a new criminal intent was formed." Ibid. Again, neither the pause between
volleys nor the continued pursuit qualified as distinct acts.
The state charging an attempt- first degree murder- and a completed act- manslaughter
does not avoid the jeopardy, merger, and single homicide rules. The attempt merges into the
completed act, and cannot form the basis of a second count in a homicide prosecution. This Court
should have acquitted on one of the counts.
The Court erred in its denial of the Frye hearing regarding Dr. Juste and its prohibition of
the defense calling additional forensic pathologists.
Dr. Juste's opinions were based on scientifically unreliable premises rejected by the
forensic scientific community. Dr. Juste's opinion was that the fatal shot that struck Corey Jones'
and caused damage to his heart, aorta and pulmonary artery would cause him immediate
incapacitation and that he would thus drop immediately, or within a few yards of where he was
when he received this wound.
All of the medical literature and all of the other experts who have provided opinions in this
case say it is established medicine and science that even with complete destruction of the heart, a
person would have at a minimum of 10 seconds during which they could still run. This would
mean contrary to Dr. Juste's opinion, Corey Jones was likely not shot where he was found. Even
the two experts hired by the State, Dr. Thogmartin and Dr. Nelson, agree Dr. Juste's opinion is
scientifically unreliable and cannot be supported. Dr; Juste's opinion does not meet the Frye
standard for scientific evidence. In addition, her opinion is new and novel in that it is not supported
by any medical literature or knowledge.
In Delisle v. Crane Co., SC16-2182, 2018 WL 5075302 (Oct. 15, 2018), the Florida
Supreme Court rejected the legislature's attempted adoption of the standard for admitting expert
opinion set forth in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993). That
Court found section 90.702, Fla. Stat., unconstitutionally conflicted with its own rule adopting
Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923), as the method of testing the admissibility of
some expert testimony. The Court describes Frye's reasoning:
that the line between when a scientific discovery or principle crosses from
experimental to demonstrable is indiscernible so that courts would do better "admitting
expert testimony deduced from a well-recognized scientific principle or discovery." Id. at
1014. Further, the Court explained, "the thing from which the deduction is made must be
sufficiently established to have gained general acceptance in the particular field in which
it belongs." Id. This rule-that expert testimony should be deduced from generally
accepted scientific principles-has been the standard in Florida cases and, today, we
reaffirm that it is still the standard.
Delisle, slip op. at 4. As the Florida Supreme Court had explained years ago:
The underlying theory for this rule is that a courtroom is not a laboratory, and as
such it is not the place to conduct scientific experiments. If the scientific community
considers a procedure or process unreliable for its own purposes, then the procedure must
be considered less reliable for courtroom use.
Stokes v. State, 548 So.2d 188, 193-94 (Fla.1989).
The Florida Supreme Court held in Ramirez v. State, 810 So. 2d 836 (Fla. 2001) that when
applying Frye, a court is not required to determine the evidence is "generally accepted" on the
basis of a mere "nose count" of experts in the field. Id. at 844. Instead, the court "may peruse
disparate sources-e.g., expert testimony, scientific and legal publications, and judicial opinions-
and decide for itself whether the theory in issue has been 'sufficiently tested and accepted by the
relevant scientific community.' "Id. (footnote omitted) (quoting Brim, 695 So.2d at 272). That is,
"[a] bald assertion by the expert that his deduction is premised upon well-recognized scientific
principles is inadequate to establish its admissibility ifthe witness's application of these principles
is untested and lacks indicia of acceptability." Id. Finding knife mark expert opinion evidence
"scientifically unreliable" and so inadmissible under Frye, the Ramirez court also pointed out other
evidentiary rules apply to expert testimony as well to test its "legal reliability." Thus, "[a]ll
evidence, including expert testimony, is subject to the requirements of sections 90.401, 90.402,
and 90.403, which address relevancy and reliability." Id. at 842.
Under Frye, the courts have excluded a number of experts and expert opinions, such as
"child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome," Hadden v. State, 690 So. 2d 573 (Fla. 1997), sex
offender profile evidence, Flanagan v. State, 625 So.2d 827 (Fla. 1993), and others. This Court
should exclude the testimony of Dr. Juste for similar reasons, as well as its "legal unreliability"
under section 90.403, Florida Statutes (2019), because its probative value is 'substantially
outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of issues [or] misleading the jury,"' and
the state's expert in this case is not relying on facts or data "of a type reasonably relied upon by
experts in the subject to support the opinion expressed." § 90.704.
This Court did grant the state's motion to prohibit the defense from calling more than one
forensic medical expert and referring to the fact the state had consulted with the expert who
testified for the defense. These rulings, too, were error. "Few rights are more fundamental than
that of an accused to present witnesses in his own defense." Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S.
284, 302 (1973). "Any evidence that tends to support the defendant's theory of defense is
admissible, and it is error to exclude it. Vannierv. State, 714 So. 2d 470, 472 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998)."
Dean v. State, 916 So. 2d 962, 964 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006). As the Florida Supreme Court has held,
"where evidence tends in any way, even indirectly, to establish a reasonable doubt of defendant's
guilt, it is error to deny its admission." Rivera v. State, 561 So.2d 536, 539 (Fla.1990).
Ignoring any reference to these fundamental constitutional principles, the state sought to
exclude defense evidence here, arguing more than one medical expert is cumulative under Section
90.403, Fla. Stat. For its argument, the state relied primarily on Millien v. State, 766 So.2d 475
(Fla. 4th DCA 2000). But Millien distinguishes itself. There, as an alternative basis for its ruling
the proffered evidence was excludable as cumulative, the Court noted Millien had already been
allowed to present "several witnesses to prove his '"conspiracy theory."' Id. at 476 and 477. (e.s.).
While it distinguishes Vannier based on what it describes as the categorical exclusion of evidence
there, it is notable Millien has not been cited for its cumulative evidence holding by any other court
since the case was decided nineteen years ago.
The Florida Supreme Court recently addressed section 90.403, Fla. Stat., in the course of
approving presentation of multiple experts in a medical malpractice case, in Gutierrez v. Vargas,
239 So.3d 615 (Fla. 2018). The Court began by noting even cumulative evidence is not necessarily
excludable:
As the rule suggests, cumulativeness alone is not sufficient grounds to exclude evidence:
the probative value of the evidence must be "substantially outweighed" by the danger of
"needless presentation of cumulative evidence."§ 90.403, Fla. Stat. (2017) (emphasis
added); see also Delgardo v. Allstate Ins. Co., 731 So.2d 11, 16 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)
("The real issue facing the trial court was whether a witness will offer testimony that
unnecessarily duplicates the testimony of another witness, in which case the trial court
has discretion to limit or exclude it."). Courts should exercise their discretion to avoid the
needless waste of time through unnecessary presentation of cumulative evidence.
Woodson, 166 So.3d at 233.
Gutierrez, 239 So. 3d at 625. The Court distinguished excludable cumulative testimony from
admissible confirmatory testimony, Id. at 625-26, and the fact different experts reach the same
conclusion does not necessarily make their testimony cumulative if there are some different facts
or evidence each relies upon: "This explanation illustrates the difference between cumulative
testimony, which courts have discretion to exclude, and relevant confirmatory testimony, which
they do not." Id. at 626. See also Williams v. State, 397 So.2d 1049 (4th DCA 1981)(no error in
permitting state to present multiple fingerprint experts).
In Jacobs v. State, 962 So. 2d 934 (4th DCA 2007), the Fourth District reviewed a case in
which the defense was insanity, and where the trial court excluded hundreds of telephone calls, a
handwritten promissory note (IOU) from the victim's lover to the victim with a note on the reverse
side which was written six days prior to the shooting, refused to permit the defendant's daughter
to testify to finding the IOU, and excluded evidence the victim and her lover recently opening a
joint postal box and joint bank account. The trial court excluded the evidence as irrelevant and
cumulative. Id. at 936. The Fourth District reversed, relying on Vannier and Rivera, reiterating:
"[r Jegardless of how the trial court may view the evidence, it should be admitted as relevant if it
tends to prove or support the theory of defense. Dean v. State, 916 So.2d 962 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005)."
962 So. 2d at 936.
In this case, the defendant previously moved to exclude Dr. Juste's testimony under Frye,
but this Court denied the motion without a hearing. It was only through multiple forensic experts
the defense would have been able to show the jury Dr. Juste's opinion is so far out of the
mainstream it is unreliable. The multiple medical examiner testimony is surely not "needless," and
is confirmatory, not cumulative. This Court committed reversible error in limiting the defense
testimony.
This Court also reversibly erred in granting the state motion to forbid the defense from
eliciting testimony two of the medical examiners that they were initially contacted by the state. It
argued: "[a]s was made clear in their respective depositions, Drs. Thogmartin and Nelson were
both initially contacted by an investigator at the State Attorney's Office and asked some questions
about the shooting, which they answered through written (and disclosed) reports. Neither signed a
formal agreement with the State, and neither sent an invoice to, or received payment from, the
State." As the state conceded, the Fourth District permits such a reference. In Sun Charm Ranch,
Inc. v. City ofOrlando, 407 So.2d 938 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981), the Fifth District declined to permit
similar testimony, saying "The relevancy of this evidence is the inference that the party who fails
to call an expert is covering up harmful evidence or concealing bad facts." 407 So.2d at 940. The
Fourth District, however, has limited Sun Charm to consulting experts in Broward County v.
Cento, 611 So.2d 1339 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993), permitting the plaintiff there to refer to the expert as
"the County's doctor," and found no error in the state's mention of the fact its fingerprint expert
was previously retained by the defense in Williams v. State, 397 So.2d 1049 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981 ).
Where here, the state listed the Medical Examiner witnesses, disclosed their reports, and permitted
them to be deposed by the defense, the defense must have been permitted to let the jury hear the
truth, that the state initially contacted each Medical Examiner.
THIS COURT MUST ARREST THE JUDGMENT OR ORDER A NEW TRIAL.
Well before trial began, the defense brought to this Court's attention the profound
deficiency of the Information in this case in its Motion for a Statement of Particulars. As we
pointed out then, and reiterate now: the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments require that a charging
document in a criminal case state the elements of the offense charged with sufficient clarity to
apprise the defense of what it must defend against. Russell v. United States, 369 U.S. 749, 763,
769 (1962). Article I, section 16 of the Florida Constitution contains a similar safeguard. Due
process also requires such definiteness to prevent the jury from being instructed on an uncharged
theory, see Tarpley v. Estelle, 703 F.2d 157 (5th Cir. 1983), and the prosecution and courts from
adopting one theory at trial and another on appeal. See Cole v. Arkansas, 333 U.S. 196 (1948). See
also Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002). On appeal,"[ a]n information is fundamentally defective
only where it totally omits an essential element of the crime or is so vague, indistinct or indefinite
that the defendant is misled or exposed to double jeopardy. Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.140; State v.
Dilworth, 397 So.2d 292 (Fla.1981); Bradley v. State, 971 So.2d 957 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007),
approved, 3 So.3d 1168 (Fla.2009)." Delgado v. State, 43 So. 3d 132, 133 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010).
Mr. Raja thus brought the troubling vagueness and inconsistency of the Amended Information to
the Court's attention before trial, but the Court denied the motion.
Nothing changed from the evidence presented and arguments made by the state at trial. It
is still not possible to determine exactly what theory of conviction the state is proceeding on for
each count. And if the state cannot articulate its theory, how is it possible the jurors could have
agreed on a single theory for each conviction? There could not have been a unanimous vote for a
single theory on either count.
This is also a case in which there are truly inconsistent verdicts for each count. "True
inconsistent verdicts" are not permitted. Fayson v. State, 698 So.2d 825 (Fla.1997). True
inconsistent verdicts occur when one count negates a necessary element for a conviction on another
count. Gonzalez v. State, 440 So.2d 514, 515 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983). How could there be both an
intentional attempted murder and a completed non-intentional manslaughter? There could not be.
A new trial is required.
Stated another way, the evidence at trial was that there were three shots fired in the first
volley, and three shots in the second volley. The state's argument was that the fatal shot came from
the second volley. If the jury believed that the attempted murder arose from the first volley, it is
inconsistent that an intentional act occurred in the first volley, and a culpably negligent act
occurred in the second volley. On the other hand, if the jury believed that the attempted murder,
an intentional act, occurred during the second volley, and the manslaughter, a non-intentional act,
also occurred in the same second volley, the verdicts on the manslaughter count and the attempted
murder count are inherently inconsistent.
THIS COURT MUST ENTER AN ACQUITTAL ON BOTH COUNTS.
The evidence was insufficient or insufficiently weighty to permit conviction on either count.
The defendant here challenges both the sufficiency and the weight of the evidence as to
both counts: "Motions for judgment of acquittal and motions for new trial are decided under
different standards. Compare Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.380(a) (directing a court to enter a judgment of
acquittal in response to a defense motion when "the court is of the opinion that the evidence is
insufficient to warrant a conviction") with Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.600(a)(2) (directing a court to grant
a new trial if "[t]he verdict is contrary to law or the weight of the evidence"). While the former
tests the sufficiency of the evidence, the latter requires the trial court to weigh the evidence and
determine credibility just as a juror would. See Fergien [v. State], 79 So.3d [907] at 908 [(Fla. 2d
DCA 2012)]." Bell v. State, 248 So.3d 208, 209 (Fla. pt DCA 2018).
Acquittal on both counts must be granted where the state failed to rebut a prima fade case
of self defense.
During its case in chief, the state introduced Officer Raja's sworn walk-through statement,
which unquestionably sets forth a prima facie case of justifiable use of deadly force. The state
failed to rebut the defense, so post-trial acquittal must be granted. While the appellate caselaw is
necessarily a review after a defendant's testimony, the same principles apply here, where the sworn
defense version of the facts was presented by the state during its case in chief. As the Florida
Supreme Court recently recounted in Williams v. State, -- So. 3d -- , No. SC16-2170, 2019 WL
336900 (Fla. Jan 4, 2019):
In order to establish a prima facie case of self-defense, a defendant must show that he ( 1)
was attacked in a place where he had a right to be, (2) was not engaged in any unlawful
activity, and (3) reasonably believed it was necessary to use force to prevent death or great
bodily harm. See Leasure v. State, 105 So.3d 5, 13 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012) (citing §
776.013(3), Fla. Stat. (2008) ). However, the jury is not required to accept the defendant's
version of the facts and in fact "must consider the probability or improbability of the
defendant's credibility in light of the circumstances established by other evidence."
Leasure, 105 So.3d at 14 (citing Darty v. State, 161 So.2d 864, 872 (Fla. 2d DCA 1964);
Teague v. State, 390 So.2d 405, 406-07 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980) ).
Slip op. at 3. All of these factors were established in Officer Raja's sworn walk-through statement.
And, once Raja "presented a prima facie case of self-defense, it was necessary for the State to
refute his claim beyond a reasonable doubt." Ibid. Accord, Fowler v. State, 921 So.2d 708, 711
(Fla. 4th DCA 2006))(reversing denial of self defense motion for judgment of acquittal: "We
recognize that the question ofwhether a defendant committed a homicide in justifiable self-defense
is ordinarily one for the jury. Id. However, when the State's evidence is legally insufficient to rebut
the defendant's testimony establishing self-defense, the court must grant a motion for judgment of
acquittal."). Since the state did not rebut the sworn defense explanation, it has failed to show an
absence of self defense beyond a reasonable doubt, and the motion for renewed judgment of
acquittal must be granted.
Insufficient evidence of attempted first degree murder.
There is a complete lack of evidence of premeditation to support the conviction of
attempted first degree murder. The state's theory of prosecution of the counts has changed over
time. At deposition, its lead detective testified the attempted murder actions were the shots that
missed. By the time of closing argument, the prosecutor alternated between arguing the fatal bullet
was shot essentially where Mr. Jones was found, and after Mr. Jones was shot in both arms, to the
prosecutor telling the jury they didn't even have to believe that theory as attested to by its witness
Dr. Juste.
Apparently, the state's theory of prosecution on this count was that the defendant shot at
the decedent after knowing the decedent had dropped his firearm, so according to the state, these
shots necessarily must have occurred after the decedent had passed the location where the firearm
was found. The state's evidence also was that the fatal shot constituting the manslaughter charge
occurred within yards of where the decedent's body was found, which was also past the location
where the decedent had dropped his firearm. Thus, as illustrated in the state's closing argument,
the state contended that the shots that struck the decedent in the arms (the attempted murder count)
occurred after the decedent dropped his firearm and before he received the fatal shot (the
manslaughter count). It is illogical and inconsistent that two of these shots are considered to be
premeditated attempts to commit murder, while one of them was not premeditated, but "culpably
negligent." Thus, there was insufficient evidence to support the attempted murder count.
Lack of proof of an essential element of manslaughter by culpable negligence.
To prove manslaughter, the state must show "[t]he negligent act or omission must have
been committed with an utter disregard for the safety of others. Culpable negligence is consciously
doing an act or following a course of conduct that the defendant must have known, or reasonably
should have known, was likely to cause death or great bodily injury." Florida Standard Jury
Instructions in Criminal Cases 7.7 Manslaughter. The state's proof does not meet this element.
The Standard Jury instruction for manslaughter reads in part:
I will now define "culpable negligence" for you. As I have said, every person has a duty to
act reasonably toward others. If there is a violation of that duty, without any conscious
intention to harm, that violation is negligence. But culpable negligence is more than a
failure to use ordinary care toward others. In order for negligence to be culpable, it must
be gross and flagrant. Culpable negligence is a course of conduct showing reckless
disregard ofhuman life, or ofthe safety ofpersons exposed to its dangerous effects, or such
an entire want of care as to raise a presumption of a conscious indifference to consequences,
or which shows wantonness or recklessness, or a grossly careless disregard for the safety
and welfare of the public, or such an indifference to the rights of others as is equivalent to
an intentional violation of such rights.
The negligent act or omission must have been committed with an utter disregard for the
safety of others. Culpable negligence is consciously doing an act or following a course of
conduct that the defendant must have known, or reasonably should have known, was likely
to cause death or great bodily injury.
Florida SJI 7. 7.
The State failed to prove culpable negligence, which is consciously doing an act or
following a course of conduct that the defendant must have known, or reasonably should have
known, was likely to cause death or great bodily injury. Id. The two affirmative elements of the
offense of Manslaughter are (1) the killing; and (2) a causative link between the death ofthe victim
and the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another. Cunningham v State, 385 So. 2d 721
(Fla. 3rd DCA, 1980). Courts have held that in addition to establishing causation in fact, the State
must prove that the defendant's conduct was the legal or proximate cause of the harm at issue. Tyus
v. State, 845 So.2d 318, (Fla. 1st DCA 2003) quoting Eversley v. State, 748 So.2d 963, 966
(Fla.1999). The two questions that must be answered in establishing legal causation are: (1)
whether the prohibited result of the defendant's conduct is beyond the scope of any fair assessment
of the danger created by the defendant's conduct and (2) whether it would be otherwise unjust,
based on fairness and policy considerations, to hold the defendant criminally responsible for the
prohibited result. Tyrus at 320.
In the civil context, a plaintiff must first show that the constitutional tort was a cause-in
fact of the injuries and damages claimed. To establish cause-in-fact, the plaintiff must show that
except for the constitutional tort, such injuries and damages would not have occurred. Id. Secondly,
a plaintiff must show that the constitutional tort was the legal or proximate cause of the injuries
and damages claimed. An act or omission is a legal or proximate cause of a plaintiffs injuries or
damages if it appears from the evidence that the injury or damage was a reasonably foreseeable
consequence of the act or omission. Jackson v Sauls, 206 F.3d 1156 (I Ith Cir 2016)
The State suggested Raja's conduct of (1) driving around the median (2) stopping his white
unmarked van perpendicular to Jones' vehicle (3) exiting without his police vest and (4) allegedly
not identifying himself as a police officer is reckless, wanton, indifferent, flagrant, and grossly
careless and the legal or proximate cause of Jones' death. That is, that by (1) driving around the
median (2) stopping his white unmarked van perpendicular to Jones' vehicle (3) exiting without
his police vest and (4) allegedly not identifying himself as a police officer it was reasonably
foreseeable that a deadly force encounter would ensue. The facts in evidence fail to establish that
Raja should knew of reasonably should have known that the deadly force encounter would occur.
What was more likely by Raja's actions was a traffic crash due to the manner in which he parked
the van.
Raja's conduct is unlike cases where "course of conduct" has been identified.In Tillman v
State, the Defendant was seated close to the victim playing with a gun. Tillman v State, 842 So. 2d
922 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2003.) Tillman never checked to see if the gun was loaded while playing with
the gun and shot and killed the victim. Id. at 927. In Navarro v State, the defendant while test firing
a gun shot and killed his girlfriend. Navarro v State, 433 So. 2d. 1101 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1983).
Both Tillman and Navarro were said to have some experience and training with firearms.
Both cases involve a defendant whose conduct included the use and handling of a deadly weapon.
In both cases the defendant was improperly manipulating the firearm. In both cases the result of
the conduct caused the outcome one would expect if something went wrong. The fact that they
both had training in the handling of firearms might be relevant based on those circumstances when
evaluating the conduct and tragic result. But in this case the conduct alleged to be improper did
not involve misuse of a firearm, nor did it involve any activity that anyone could reasonably
consider gross, flagrant; or that anyone must have known, or reasonably should have known, was
likely to cause death or great bodily injury.
In Brinkley v State, the defendant was charged with Manslaughter by Culpable Negligence.
Brinkley v State, 874 So. 2d 1199, (Fla. 5th DCA 2004) In Brinkley, the defendant shot and killed
his live-in partner's adult daughter, thinking she was a burglar. Id. at 1201. The Court held the
course of conduct of the defendant was such that the question of reasonable fear on the part of the
defendant was a question for the Jury. Id. at 1202. The conduct included evidence the defendant
did not announce himself or try to give any warning; the defendant was aware that his roommate's
daughter frequently stayed at her mother's home; that his roommate's daughter did not usually call
before coming over; and it was not unusual for the daughter to come over around 1:00 or 2:00 a.m.
Id. The conduct also included evidence the defendant told police that he thought that he "had a
good one," and that he previously told his roommate that his philosophy was to "shoot first and
ask questions later." Id. None of those facts were shown in the case at bar.
In Ramos, the Court held that evidence of past neglect and indifference was relevant to
show Ramos acted wantonly and recklessly on a continuous basis, exhibiting a pattern that she
was indifferent to the dangerous and ultimately deadly consequences ofher actions. Ramos v State,
89 So. 3d 1119 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012). The Court also held that the repeated close calls established
a gross and flagrant violation of her duty of care. Id. at 1122. Again, these facts are not even close
to those here.
In Sapp, the defendant was snorting cocaine, taking Xanax, and playing with a gun. Sapp
v State, 913 So. 2d 1220 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). The stage was certainly set there for someone to
get shot. In Dolan, the defendant's girlfriend came home with another man. Dolan v State, 85 So.
2d 139 (1956). Dolan armed himself and fired one round into the wall, showing off. Id. Dolan then
went outside armed with the firearm and confronted the new boyfriend, setting the stage for
someone to get shot. Id. In McBride, the defendant was drunk and brandishing a firearm;
unsurprisingly, someone got shot. McBride v State, 191 So. 2d 70 (Fla. 1st DCA 1966). The case
at bar is utterly distinguishable.
Even if Officer Raja (1) drove around the median (2) stopped his white unmarked van
perpendicular to Jones' vehicle (3) and exited without his police vest, none of those actions
independently or in combination could be considered reckless, wanton, indifferent, flagrant,
grossly careless or the legal or proximate cause of Jones' death. The conduct of Officer Raja has
no causal connection to, and is not the legal or proximate cause of, the deadly force encounter.
Denial of this motion would violate the defendant's rights to present witnesses on his
behalf, to due process and a fair trial under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United
States Constitution, Article 1, sections 9 and 16, Florida Constitution, and Florida law.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true copy hereof has been electronically provided to BRIAN
FERNANDES, ESQ., (bfernandes@sa15.org), Office of the State Attorney. ADRIENNE
ELLIS, ESQ., (aellis@sa15.org), and ALEXIA COX, ESQ., (acox@sa15.org), Office of the
State Attorney, 401 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 on this 181h day of March,
RICHARD G. LUBIN, P.A.
707 North Flagler Drive
Defense@lubinlaw.com
By: /s/ Richard G. Lubin
RICHARD G. LUBIN, ESQ.
Fla. Bar No. 182249
SCOTT N. RICHARDSON, P.A
1401 Forum Way, Suite 720
snr@scottnrichardsonlaw.com
By: Isl Scott N Richardson
SCOTT N. RICHARDSON, ESQ.
FLA. BAR NO.: 266515
RALPH E. KING, III
Palm Beach County PBA
2100 North Florida Mango Road
rickk@pbcpba.org
By: Isl Ralph E. King
RALPH E. KING, ESQ.
Fla. Bar No.90473
STEVEN H. MALONE
stevenhmalone@bellsouth.net
By: Isl Steven H. Malone
STEVEN H. MALONE, ESQ
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Sitting on this plane that is headed to Sonoma Raceway, I found a picture of Jeff Gordon’s 1998 victory lane celebration. At that time, I was working on behalf of NASCAR and it had just dawned on me that I had been playing this game at the highest level in motorsports for over 20 years. Now that I feel super old, I thought I would share what I believe to be my top five keys for uncovering success.
1 - Patience
A common trait I have discovered over the past 20 years is that newbies who are coming into a NASCAR garage believe they can talk, buy, or push their way into a position of respect. One-hundred out of as many times this is because of a lack of self-confidence—and these individuals get frustrated when their investment doesn’t boost them into the perceived inner circle. What these people need to understand is that it takes time. Delivering consistent quality is what earns your rank in the NASCAR family. There are some, of course, who raise their profile quicker than others because of their work ethic, personality, or status. But without a doubt, patience is the key to earning the respect.
2 - Hustle
I recently shared a quote that captures my feelings about the importance of this topic: “Things come to those that wait, but only the things left by those that hustle.” You will see a sticker of the word HUSTLE stuck on the back window of my truck, embossed on my notebooks, and proudly displayed at the top of my social media profile. Hustle isn’t just a word, it’s a way of life for myself, my wife, and every single person I know who wishes to find success. Hustle is something that I believe people see in me or something I can see in others. I have often told teammates who weren’t cutting it that they needed to find another gear. If you find yourself struggling to accomplish your task, get a promotion, or receive the reward you are seeking then shift into that gear and kick up the HUSTLE!
3 - Evolve
I worked my first part-time job as a NASCAR official in 1993 when I was only 15 years old. Throughout the last 25 years I have seen Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, and Jeff Gordon retire; Dale Earnhardt pass away; Jimmie Johnson win seven championships; the boom of NASCAR in the 2000’s; The Car of Tomorrow; and the young guns become the old guard. What has stayed consistent throughout this time period is that the league, the athletes, and the brands have all had to aggressively evolve with the change in consumer behavior. This evolution wasn’t just important for them, but it has also been imperative for me as I look to stay relevant in the sport. Continued education via classes, conferences, and YouTube have helped get me outside of my comfort zone and build confidence when writing blogs, filming vlogs, and staying up-to-date on the latest social platform.
4 - Remember Your Roots
You don’t luck your way into a job in sports; oftentimes these professionals start connecting relationship dots at an extremely young age, whether it is interning at an agency or working with the ground crew at a local racetrack. These angles allow you to meet thousands of people along the way. What I embraced early on was that out of these thousands of people, some of them were going to go on to be my coworkers, bosses, or customers—but I didn’t know which category each of them would end up falling in. Fortunately, I am wired in way where I enjoy connecting and remaining in touch with people. This personality trait has proved to be valuable as there are countless people that I first met as interns who are now heavy influencers. More important is the fact that I treated the young interns with respect, stayed connected with them over the years, and now have uncovered a way for us to work together in our new adventures. Back to my comments about patience, this is where you are able to really have fun doing big things if you have been patient in getting to where you are today.
5 - Enjoy the Ride
What often looks like fun and games quickly becomes a grind for the weak. The countless hotel nights away from your loved ones, the long hours working in 100-degree heat, and the rainy nights quickly separates the people that really want to be here from the rest. So, after 20+ years I ask myself WHY and the answer is often simple: I love the ride. It’s the sense of accomplishment that you feel after a 24-hour day when you crack open a beer with your teammates and commiserate over the ass kicking you just took. It’s the family that you build in the garage. It’s the feeling you get when the jets fly by during the National Anthem. None of these things on their own are enough, but when you total them all up and share those stories at the end of the day, it’s worth it.
I am grateful for the ride that the last 20 years with NASCAR has been—and I can’t wait to see where the next 20 will take me.
Please let me know what your top five tips for success are. I’m curious.
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Chicago News Cooperative
Steve Outing: No One’s Got a ‘Magic Bullet’ for Hyperlocal Revenue
March 6, 2012 March 6, 2012 by Isa Jones One Comment Share this
The founder and program director at the Digital News Test Kitchen at CU-Boulder studies the places where journalism and technology collide. Here he talks with Street Fight about where the concept of hyperlocal has been, where it’s going, and how technology is increasingly impacting how journalists do their job…
Chicago Indie Ad Network Goes for the Big Bucks
October 3, 2011 October 3, 2011 by Steven Jacobs One Comment Share this
Fifteen of Chicago’s most successful local independent publishers have launched a citywide advertising network, aimed at targeting the city’s most influential citizens. The Chicago Independent Advertising Network will distribute ads to leading windy city indies like the Chicago News Cooperative, Center Square Journal, and Windy Citizen…
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Kanye West Did A Whole Lot Last Night, Including Finally Dropping An Album
Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty
Reading Kanye West’s Twitter feed is like going down a black hole. Fan or not, the artist/rapper/designer/producer has a whole lot to say and 140 characters is not enough. For weeks, he’s gone back and forth about the title of his album, the songs on the album, the look of the album, etc, etc. But instead of handling it behind the scenes, he’s made Twitter his virtual stream of consciousness.
Finally the album, The Life of Pablo (T.L.O.P.), is out.
West dropped the 18-track record immediately after his Saturday Night Live performance last night that included Kirk Franklin, Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price and The Dream. Promised to be a Gospel album, West somehow mashed the genre with Trap music making it a first of its kind.
Unfortunately, the album drop came with unnecessary commentary from the Chicago-bred rapper. “Please forgive the profanity and give hugs and blessings to my brother Kirk for standing by me… In a few hours the journey begins…,” he says. He also admits to being in serious financial debt.
Umm.. wow. Guess the good comes with the bad.
Nonethesless, the album is available on Tidal to stream. No word on when it will be on other downloading applications or in stores, but it’s out. And fans can finally take a sigh of relief and just listen.
FAMILY REUNION: Lamar Odom And Khloé Kardashian Attend Kanye West’s Fashion Show
Kanye West Goes Off On Puma For Trying To Give Kylie Jenner $1M Deal: ‘Never Try To Divide Family’
How You Doing? Kanye West Records Diss Track About Wendy Williams: ‘You’re A Dude In A Wig’
Kanye West Did A Whole Lot Last Night, Including Finally Dropping An Album was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
Kanye West , Kirk Franklin , Saturday Night Live
Also On Stuff Fly People Like | SFPL:
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Black T-Shirt Entering ‘Vaguely Green’ Stage of Lifecycle
By John Dixon | May 11, 2019
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A black T-shirt frequently worn by local punk Ryan Matheson entered the “vaguely green” era of its life cycle after a standard washing earlier today, dejected sources confirmed.
“This thing used to be as black as the night sky,” said Matheson, examining his now mossy-colored shirt. “I’ve had it for, like, 15 years — it’s been my favorite since high school. I know this is a natural part of a T-shirt’s journey, but it’s still hard to see it so faded and stretched out.”
Matheson’s shirt’s evolution was reportedly heightened when worn with his still-black jeans.
“He looks like a fool, to be honest,” said Matheson’s girlfriend Brianna Thomas. “And, really, people might not notice how weird the shirt looks if he’d wear literally anything other than black denim. He has a great pair of gray slacks he wears to family dinners at my parents’ house — they’d look fine with those.”
Naturalists specializing in T-shirts, on the other hand, say the vaguely green stage represents full maturity for black garments.
“That strange, off-green color is actually a mark of strength for an intact T-shirt,” said lead researcher Gregory Parks. “A shirt has to be highly valued, or really super cool, to make it to this stage without the sleeves being removed or being turned into a pile of rags.”
Meanwhile, Matheson’s non-romantic acquaintances claimed the changing shirt color evoked a poetic beauty when viewed alongside Matheson’s own aging form.
“Sure, the shirt has gotten sorta faded and tattered over the past decade and a half, but so has Ryan — he just isn’t the same spry teenager,” said longtime friend William Ford. “He grunts when he sits now, and eats antacids like candy when we get Taco Bell.”
When asked when he would finally retire the shirt, Matheson was evasive.
“I mean, yeah… definitely. At some point, I’ll stop wearing it,” he said. “But it has a lot of good memories attached, and still fits like I just bought it yesterday.”
At press time, Matheson was trying in vain to tug the shirt down enough to reliably cover his stomach while at the same time hiding the white stains in the shirt’s armpits.
Kentucky: It’s Time to Ignore How Fucking Sexy He Is and Vote McConnell Out
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You are at:Home»Earphone Reviews»Brainwavz S1 Review
Brainwavz S1 Review
By ljokerl on August 8, 2014 Earphones, Reviews
Details: Flat-cable enhanced-bass earphone from Brainwavz
MSRP: $79.50 (manufacturer’s page)
Current Price: $60 from mp4nation.net; $60 from amazon.com
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 16Ω | Sens: 93 dB | Freq: 20-20k Hz | Cable: 4.3′ L-plug
Nozzle Size: 5mm | Preferred tips: Stock gray single-flanges
Wear Style: Straight down (preferred) or over-the-ear
Accessories (4.5/5) – Black single-flange (3 sizes), double-flange, and triple-flange silicone tips, gray single-flange silicone tips (3 sizes), Comply S400 foam tips, airline adapter, and sturdy zippered carrying case
Build Quality (4/5) – The S1 is well-made, with metal housings and almost comically chunky strain reliefs protecting its flat cable. The cable is rather long at ~4.3ft but resists tangling very well. Mild driver flex is present
Isolation (3.5/5) – Good, especially with deeper-sealing tips
Microphonics (3.5/5) – Surprisingly decent for a flat-cable earphone; noticeable when worn cable-down but improved with over-the-ear wear
Comfort (4/5) – The S1 uses a fairly conventional angled-nozzle housing design, which keeps its large housings more flush in the ear when worn cable-up. What’s unconventional is the angled strain relief, which makes it easier to route the flat cable over-the-ear. It still works cable-down, too, and I actually managed a more secure fit that way
Sound (7.8/10) – Brainwavz has produced a lot of great earphones over the years, from the original M1 model, which remains one of my top recommendations in its class, to the reference-grade (yet very inexpensive) B2. The unifying factor is good performance for the price, and that’s the case with the S1 as well.
The S1 is a bass-heavy earphone with a v-shaped sound signature. The bass is powerful and extended, with a good balance of mid-bass impact and sub-bass depth. The low end is not the most controlled, but it is less muddy compared to most other in-ears that are similarly well-endowed when it comes to bass.
Despite its v-shaped balance, the midrange of the S1 doesn’t sound heavily recessed, partly due to the fullness of the sound and partly because of the prominent upper mids. Strong upper midrange presence also helps with the clarity, reducing the effect of the powerful low end occasionally intruding on the lower mids. Ultimately, this gives the S1 good vocal intelligibility and better clarity compared to other sets with similar bass quantity such as the NarMoo S1 and Tekfusion Twinwoofers.
The strong top end of the Brainwavz does come with some caveats – the earphone sounds a little peaky and has a tendency towards harshness and sibilance. Far from a deal breaker – in fact, the sibilance is in good company with the likes of the popular – and much more expensive – VSonic GR07 in the way it is presented. Also, while the S1 has plenty of treble energy, its tone is not particularly bright thanks to the heavy bass. Similarly, the energetic top end is a tolerable – even beneficial – as a way of counterbalancing the bass, especially at low-to-medium volumes.
On the point of volume, the S1 has above-average sensitivity despite the rather low stated figure. Its overall tonality is hard to characterize – the energetic treble prevents the earphones from sounding particularly warm, but they also don’t sound bright because of the strong bass. To provide some comparisons, the MOE-SS01, a similarly-priced dual-dynamic earphone, sounds colder (and harsher) next to the Brainwavz S1 thanks to its flatter, even more upper midrange-heavy sound. The T-Peos Rich200, on the other hand, is downright brighter – its signature is v-shaped, but biased less towards the low end than that of the S1. The SS01 is more spacious than the S1, whereas the Rich200 has a smaller, more in-the-head presentation.
NarMoo S1 ($40)
The identically-titled NarMoo model is, like the Brainwavz S1, a bass-heavy earphone. What’s surprising is just how similar these earphones sound – through the bass and lower midrange, the S1 matches the S1 almost note for note. The NarMoo unit is a hair bassier and bleeds more up into the midrange as a result, but the difference is small. The NarMoo S1 sounds warmer overall and has a thicker sound. The Brainwavz S1 has a thinner midrange with a brighter tonal tilt. It sounds clearer and has more treble sparkle than the NarMoo S1. However, its treble tends to be more sharp and sibilant, especially at higher volumes, compared to the more laid-back highs of the NarMoo.
VSonic VSD1S ($50)
The VSD1S follows the sound signature of VSonic’s higher-end models, delivering a mildly v-shaped sound with punchy bass. Brainwavz’ similarly-priced S1 model is more powerful at the low end, offering up more of both impact and depth. The bass of the S1 tends to be a little more intrusive. However, despite its tighter, less powerful bass, the VSD1S still sounds a little more distant and veiled in the midrange. The S1 has more presence in the upper midrange and lower treble, which makes its mids sound more clear, crisp, and intelligible.
The VSD1S has less upper midrange emphasis than the S1, sounding smoother overall up until the mid-upper treble, where a couple of narrow peaks make the VSD1S somewhat sibilant. The S1 is similarly unforgiving of sibilants and offers up even more treble energy overall. From a tonal standpoint, the VSD1S is more neutral and accurate. Worth noting is that the bassier, livelier S1 is more sensitive than the VSD1 and will definitely have more of a “wow” factor for casual listeners than the flatter VSonic unit.
Brainwavz R3 ($130)
The R3 is a dual-dynamic monitor with a balanced and refined sound, serving a very different purpose than the S1. The S1 provides an upgrade to popular mainstream sets such as the Klipsch S4 and Beats by Dre Tour while the R3 channels the signatures of higher-end earphones such as the $500 Shure SE535 and $250 Sony MDR-7550. It is flatter and more neutral than the S1, with tighter bass and more refinement all around. The S1 has heavier bass, but also sounds more bloated and a little dark in tone. The treble of the S1 is peaky in comparison, making it sound harsher and more metallic next to the smooth and natural R3. However, the clarity of the S1 is on-par with the pricier R3, likely due to the stronger treble. Indeed, the R3 can sound a little dull and smoothed-over up top at times. The S1 is also a touch more coherent, while the pricier R3 has a wider, more spaced-out presentation.
Value (8/10) – The Brainwavz S1 combines plentiful bass and strong treble to deliver a lively, engaging sound with a popular v-shaped sound signature. Its tuning is like an improved version of the best-selling Klipsch S4, for not much more money. Sure, it could stand to be smoother and the bass can get intrusive at times, but with a price tag well south of $100, good build quality, and a housing design that’s surprisingly comfortable when worn cable-down, the S1 is a good buy.
Pros: tangle-resistant cable, strong bass
Cons: over-ear wear not easy for those with small ears
ljokerl
Living in the fast-paced city of Los Angeles, ljokerl has been using portable audio gear to deal with lengthy commutes for the better part of a decade. He spends much of his time listening to music and occasionally writes portable audio reviews across several enthusiast sites, focusing mostly on in-ear earphones.
dr. priyesh jaiswal on March 4, 2016 10:20 pm
thank u so so much for ur reply..
i prefer wide soundstage so what will be the better option under 50 dollars
and last question xiaomi hybrid will be better or piston 3 or MOE SS01, in terms of SQ, I M from india and MOE is costlier by around 17 dollars than hybrid here..
ljokerl on March 11, 2016 12:18 am
The SS01 will have a wider soundstage if that’s your primary goal. Probably worth the extra $17 as long as you get a warranty as well.
priyesh jaiswal on March 11, 2016 12:23 am
U R like gods messenger :), for budding audiophiles like me.. very helping indeed..
dr. priyesh jaiswal on March 4, 2016 9:27 pm
hi ijokerl,
only yday i came to know of this site and i become fan of u, thanks for these reviews..
1)my que is should i go for piston 3, of xaomi hybrid or brainwavz s1? i hv mild preference for base but not much..
2) in ur review u gave piston 3, 8/10 on sound quality and brainwavz s1 7.8/10 does this mean that much cheaper piston is better than brainwvz s1 in terms of sound quality?
3) also i hv seen many pricey ear phones are rated less than 8, does that mean that piston 3 in better than all those
thanks in advance..
ljokerl on March 4, 2016 10:02 pm
The Piston 3 is the more accurate and more Hi-Fi earphone compared to the S1. The only reason I can think of to get the S1 over the Piston 3 is if you either 1) need heavy bass (the Piston 3 has good bass, but not too much of it), 2) prefer a more deeply v-shaped frequency response, or 3) prefer the design and build of the Brainwavz. In pretty much all other cases, the Piston 3 is preferable.
And yes, there are many expensive earphones that just don’t sound very good.
einoz on May 3, 2015 9:37 pm
Is there any better earbuds at the same price range as Brainwavz S1 that I can buy from amazon uk?
ljokerl on May 4, 2015 12:01 am
Staying close to the S1’s sound tuning, the only thing I can think of is the Rock Jaw Alfa Genus: http://amzn.to/1GUJfOo
einoz on May 4, 2015 5:25 am
Thx man I really appreciate you answering our questions on here it really helps us choosing the right earbuds 🙂 and one more question do you think i should buy JVC HA-FXD80 Carbon Nanotube over brainwavz S1. I listen a lot of hiphop/rap and pop or is there some better ones on the range of 0-70?
and do u have any opinions on Betron YSM1000? my first plan was to buy
Betron YSM1000 and brainwavz S1.
ljokerl on May 4, 2015 10:07 pm
I’ve never heard of this brand.
For hip-hop and pop I would probably go with the warmer and bassier S1 or Alfa Genus over the brighter FXD80.
Finn H on February 15, 2015 11:20 pm
Can you give me a brief overview on the difference of bass and sub-bass between these and the NarMoo S1. They seem very similar and i want to know which one is better in terms of sound quality. Also which one would be worth buying. Thanks
ljokerl on February 16, 2015 9:18 pm
There’s a full comparison to the NarMoo S1 in the review above. That’s about as detailed as I can get, especially with regards to bass which is nearly identical between the two. If you only care about bass you might as well get the cheaper NarMoo unit.
Reply To priyesh jaiswal Cancel Reply
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J&K Henderson to Give Away 1,000 Watches to Spring Fair Gift Buyers
By MH on 9th June 2019 | 141 views
Long-running Jewellery & Watch exhibitor, J&K Henderson (the Henderson Group) will lead the charge in bringing Spring Fair buyers to Jewellery & Watch with an impressive giveaway promotion.
Having been a supporter of Jewellery & Watch for 42-years, J&K Henderson believe in facilitating greater crossover of buyers between Jewellery & Watch in Halls 18 and 19 of NEC Birmingham and Spring Fair buyers in Halls 4, 5, and 20, which offer giftware and fashion accessories. To achieve this, the business will distribute vouchers for a free watch in these strategic Spring Fair Halls, encouraging buyers to make their way to Jewellery & Watch to claim their gift.
Across the five-days of the show, J&K Henderson are expected to gift more than 1,000 watches (with an RRP of £50 each) from across its broad spectrum of brands, which serves to highlight the significant scale and investment associated with the campaign.
Jewellery & Watch event manager, Kirsty Broere, says: “This is a first-of-its-kind initiative for any Jewellery & Watch exhibitor, and we want to thank J&K Henderson for supporting our vision of a more inter-connected Jewellery & Watch and Spring Fair.”
Jewellery & Watch event manager, Kirsty Broere
J&K Henderson director, Jim Henderson, adds: “We are not only one of Europe’s largest watch importers, but we also import unrivalled ranges of jewellery, fashion accessories and gifts so, although watches are our core product, we have so much to offer to buyers who would not normally venture into Jewellery & Watch. In these difficult times our products are sure to help customers increase sales and margins to weather challenging trading conditions. We are offering this promotion as we are so confident once buyers – large or small – take a look at what we have to offer they will become part of the ever-growing family of Henderson customers.”
J&K Henderson is one of the largest volume jewellery, watch and giftware importers in Europe. The business was established in 1976 and today it serves customers across the retail landscape, including multiples, independents, e-commerce giants, giftware purveyors and more. The company prides itself on its excellent reputation, carrying over 20 brands including its own-brand and licenced products. Its white-label design and manufacturing services have also proved popular among high street retailers in the UK and Europe who are looking to put their own unique spin on watches and accessories. Although the company has many large high streets chains enjoying its competitive pricing and excellent design, it prides itself on giving smaller independents the same unrivalled level of service backed up by a national sales force. In recent years, the business has seen its Thomas Calvi, Elizabeth Rose and Lucy K watch and accessory collections achieve unprecedented success.
In 2019, Jewellery & Watch will focus on capturing the attention of buyers in the co-located Spring Fair show with improved accessibility and cross-promotion. Jewellery & Watch exhibitors and visitors will also gain easy-access to the Main Stage in Hall 20, where a selection of global industry experts will explain what 2019 has in store for the world of fashion and luxury retail. Jewellery & Watch 2019 is an ideally-timed and located platform to get the jewellery buying and business calendar off to a flying start. By focusing on diversification and the customer experience, Jewellery & Watch will continue to broaden its base of buyers from across the jewellery, gift and lifestyle sectors.
Assisting in this mission to kick-start the jewellery business year are J&K Henderson and many other prominent exhibitors, including Gecko, HW Tankel, Connoisseurs UK, Hanron Jewellery, Jo for Girls, Azendi, London Pearl, Marjo, Pilgrim, Storm of London, UJT and Wedds & Co. Jewellery brands and businesses located in Spring Fair include Accessories by Park Lane, Shrieking Violet, Carrie Elspeth and Big Metal London.
Visit the large J&K Henderson stand at Jewellery & Watch in Hall 18, J10-K11.
Domino Jewellery have launched 20 new.
Every summer, Gecko Jewellery refreshes its.
The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity has presented.
Domino Jewellery is bringing newness to.
Chancellor Passes Annual Trial of the Pyx
The Queen’s Remembrancer, Barbara Fontaine, on.
Vacancies at WJN
The Women’s Jewellery Network (WJN) is.
Sarah Ward at BOE Genesis Initiative
Sarah Ward, CEO of The Giftware.
Jewellery Industry must Address More than the Gender Pay Gap
‘During April the CIPD released the.
Domino Signet Rings Sales Soar
Domino Jewellery have witnessed an increase.
Apprentice Jeweller to Represent UK in Russia
On Friday 8 March 2019, Goldsmiths’.
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Added on June 26, 2019 Images News Netwok
Man dies of electric shock in Budgam
Srinagar, Jun 25: A man died after suffering electric shock in Beerwah in central Kashmir’s Budgam district Tuesday while repairing transformer.
Sources said Shabir Ahmad Malik (25), son of Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Mochan Beerwah suffered electric shock while repairing transformer in the area.
He received severe burn injuries and was shifted to SDH Beerwah where he was declared dead.
His body was later handed over to his family for last rites, while police have registered the case and further investigation has been taken up.
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Brazilian startup EverWrite wins RBS Prize for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
by Anna Heim — in Latin America
The Brazilian startup EverWrite is the winner of RBS Prize for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with Ledface and Igluu taking the second and third places, the competition’s curator Bob Wollheim just announced.
As you may remember, 12 Brazilian early-stage startups had been shortlisted to pitch their projects to PREI’s jury today and compete for a trip to Silicon Valley (see our previous story).
The winning startup, EverWrite, will no doubt make good use of this free stay in Silicon Valley. As we reported a couple months ago, the company, which provides publishers with a tool to adapt their content to users’ demand, was born in Belo Horizonte, but is currently in the process of moving to the US. Besides the trip, EverWrite will also receive R$50,000 (US$28,800), as well as mentoring sessions.
As for the Campinas-based Ledface, a promising crowdsourced Q&A platform which we have reviewed here, its second place means that it won R$25,000 (US$18,100) and mentoring sessions in partnership with Endeavor.
Besides its R$10,000 (US$5,750) prize, Igluu also won mentoring sessions, a concept it’s no stranger to. The company, whose tagline is “Making Meals Simple”, is currently participating in 21212’s acceleration program, which involves tons of mentoring (see our story about 21212).
Winning these awards could be particularly meaningful for these companies, starting from the exposure every finalist got by pitching their projects today.
Although startup competitions have mushroomed in Brazil over the last month, RBS Prize for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (PREI) doesn’t have to worry. Backed by the powerful Brazilian media group RBS, the competition boasted a prestigious line-up.
Besides the usual suspects from Brazil, such as Yuri Gitahy from Aceleradora and Eric Acher from the VC firm Monashees, today’s speakers also included big names from the US, such as Dave McClure, whose accelerator 500 Startups is already working with two Brazilian startups, Rota dos Concursos and ContaAzul.
The schedule also featured a conference by Ron Berman on the Startup Genome (see our previous story). As you may know, the ambition of the Startup Genome is to identify the patterns of successful Internet startups. Do EverWrite, Ledface and Igluu have what it takes? If PREI’s jury is to be believed, the answer is yes.
Are you familiar with the winners? Let us know in the comments.
This post is part of our contributor series. The views expressed are the author's own and not necessarily shared by TNW.
Read next: Android users, you do not have a 48hr app refund window, it's still just 15mins
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The TurboGrafx-16 Mini is now available for pre-order
Rachel Kaser
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Gun In The Home = Domestic Shooting
Data show that guns in the home are far more likely to used by family members against each other, rather than against intruders for self-defense.
Current Milwaukee case in point:
A 27-year-old Army veteran who police say fatally shot his wife Sunday during a quarrel at the home they shared with their young daughter contends the victim committed suicide.
I have cited this data before.
Guardians Of The Wisconsin Idea Should Abandon Tainted Mining Measure
I'd written last week that the GOP mining bill vote will be a make-or-break-moment for state legislators and for the state's reputation, too.
I was focused at the time on the damage the bill would let loose on the environment, the public's constitutionally-protected water rights, and guarantees in long-established treaties with Wisconsin's Ojibwe people - - all of which should be respected, not dismissed.
Scott Walker's industry-written mining bill will fill wetlands, pollute rivers, undermine a large body of Wisconsin environmental law and revive a bad old national story and shame - - the willful disregard of treaties with Native Americans.
Hang your head, Miss Forward: your state is rushing to enable miles of open pit iron ore mines in a depressed iron ore market - - operations in Minnesota and Michigan are being cut back - - principally to validate conservative ideologies and burnish GOP fund-raising letters and TV ads, and less to promote jobs - - given the losses that will occur in the region in tourism and outdoor recreation...
Given its flaws, this bill should never have been drafted, should never be given serious consideration other than its condemnation, but it's on a fact-free, anti-science fast track and thus will soon present legislators with one of those once-in-a-career "Aye or Nay" moments:
How do you vote and how do you want to be remembered, "Aye or Nay," on replacing the pristine Penokee Hills near Lake Superior at the headwaters of the Bad River with an enormous open pit mine?
But in the last few days, there have been stunning revelations about pro-mining/anti-environmental preservationist campaign donations amassed in a torrent by GOP legislators and Gov. Walker - - by a 610-to-one dollar advantage over environmental donations - - along with equally-jaw-dropping documentation of the mining company's role in writing the version of the bill speeding through the Legislature for Walker's signature.
So let's add editorial writers to those facing a make-or-break moment, and whose role as public-interest watchdogs requires their speaking against a willfully-broken and profoundly-corrupted political process.
Isn't it time to unambiguously abandon this bill and demand an end to further auctions of public resources, state history and The Wisconsin Idea for private gain and one-party, partisan advantage? This is what the State Historical Society had to say about the Wisconsin Idea:
Progressive Republicans, in contrast, believed that the business of government was to serve the people. They sought to restrict the power of corporations when it interfered with the needs of individual citizens. The Progressive Movement appealed to citizens who wanted honest government and moderate economic reforms that would expand democracy and improve public morality. In their crusade for reform on a state and national level, Progressive Republicans were led by Robert La Follette, Wisconsin's governor from 1901 to 1906, and U.S. Senator from 1906 to 1925.
In Wisconsin, La Follette developed the techniques and ideas that made him a nationwide symbol of Progressive reform and made the state an emblem of progressive experimentation. The Wisconsin Idea, as it came to be called, was that efficient government required control of institutions by the voters rather than special interests, and that the involvement of specialists in law, economics, and social and natural sciences would produce the most effective government.
Dismissive Talk Radio Name-Calling On Mining Bill Disclosures
WTMJ-AM's afternoon righty radio talker Jeff Wagner had this reaction to the disclosure today that an out-of-state iron mining company benefiting the most from a bill weakening Wisconsin environmental laws was allowed a hand in writing the current draft speeding to approval:
"No kidding."
And for anyone complaining about it:
"Absolute idiocy...Give me strength!"
Through several platforms, Journal Communications - - Wisconsin's largest media company - - serves up this fact-free, biased name-calling 24-hours-a-day.
Fresh Shaming For GOP/Mining Company
How far has Wisconsin fallen, or been dragged by the corporate water-carriers now in power?
One Wisconsin Now proves that Gov. Walker and GOP legislators let the mining company help write the environmentally-disastrous, treaty-busting mining bill being rushed to a vote:
Drafting records for the open pit mining legislation (accessible here and here) Assembly Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1, obtained by One Wisconsin Now reveal that a preliminary draft of the legislation was shared with the mining company, weeks before being made available to the general public. A series of seven e-mails entitled "GTAC requests" contain numerous changes to the bill suggested by the company, many of which appear to have been made by the legislative leadership in charge of drafting the bill.
The Journal Sentinel picks up the story:
Gogebic Taconite, which had an initial hand in writing a controversial mining bill now before legislators, continues to play a key role in writing the latest draft of the bill...
Details in the latest drafting notes were made public on Tuesday by One Wisconsin Now, a liberal group, which was critical of the Gogebic's influence in the legislation.
"You didn't see any members of the public, you didn't see Republican leaders asking environmental groups how the bill should be stronger," said Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now.
So I ask again, media - - where is your outrage?
Illegal Wisconsin Bear Hunts Bring Criminal Sentences
I had noted this story about illegal killing of bears in Wisconsion in a Journal Sentinel op-ed some time ago and want to close the loop with this news story about the outcome.
Four men who had been the subject of a six-year undercover investigation by state and federal authorities have been convicted of charges related to illegal bear hunting in northern Wisconsin.
Greed and ego lets people do terrible things to living creatures, since the state already sanctions and encourages a large so-called "harvest" of Wisconsin black bears.
You'd think that the 4,400 bears killed legally last year in Wisconsin - - and the number has been higher - - would be enough to satisfy the need and opportunity for what some call "the ultimate family sport" in our state.
Apparently not - - and, by the way, the bear hunting lobby is pushing for the use of dogs in the wolf hunt, as is currently permitted in the bear hunt.
Barrett And Clarke On CNN Tonight. What Happened?
11:00 Summary - - Clarke was exposed as having little residential 911 responsibilities in the the city, regardless. And Clarke looked as lost as was his argument when Morgan wanted to know how many homeowners had used weapons to defend themselves, and Clarke had no data. So Clarke came off as someone on a PR tear, but without much reason for it.
Feel free to weigh in, as this goes on...
You can access Sheriff Clarke's Arm-Yourself radio ad, here.
8:24 - - Well, we're still waiting for these guys to make their remarks. We did get to hear AZ Gov. Jan Brewer come out against gun confiscation - - which Morgan told Brewer no one is proposing - - and got to hear Brewer tell Morgan knives and swimming pools kill people, too.
#Walker and bows and arrows, remember?
8:28 - - OK, after the break. I hope Morgan asks Clarke how many City 911 calls his agency takes. I've heard 1%.
8:31 - - Clarke! No cowboy hat. Disappointed. He says he's not afraid to engage the citizenry? Who accused him of that.
8:33 - - Barrett skewers Clarke over jurisdiction. It's the city coppers who show up and Clarke is responsible for the freeways. And Morgan accuses Clarke of putting on a "Hollywood voice." Zounds!
8:34 - - Clarke is exaggerating his responsibilities. Barrett's got his angry face on.
8:35 - - Morgan asks Clarke for statistics about the # of people in Milwaukee who defended themselves with guns and Clarke says he has no idea.
8:36 - - Morgan is not letting Clarke speak. This is not going well. Talk radio will do another post-debacle Tea Partier rescue, a la Ron Johnson, but Clarke isn't enjoying this.
8:41 - - Now Barrett is up. Barrett cleans up Clarke's misinformation about furloughs, and responses. And tries to refocus on the larger issues - - an internet, off-the-books gun sale that led to the mass killing at Avena spa. Barrett wants better background checks.
8:43 - - Clarke is bringing up the beating Barrett took near State Fair. Does he think that Barrett should have been packing?
8:45 - - Clarke will not answer a direct question about background checks. Runs on about local crime. Great PR for the city, Sheriff. Ego is served!
Walker Says He Has Concerns About Electoral College Changes, But...
Are you lulled into complacency by his 'thinking'?
Remember, this is the same guy who said said Act 10 had kept all collective bargaining rights "intact."
And has had only 40% of his statements vetted by PolitiFact rated true at any level, with more ratings on the false side, like this one:
Walker's fresh Pants On Fire falsehood today [Monday] sent me back to check the full record. It'd been a while.
Well, if only 40% of your ratings have the word "true" somewhere in the finding because you dieseling on like you were still in talk radio, echo-chamber fact-free mode, I guess you're doing really well.
What? CPAC Now Scheduling Moderate Speakers
The annual CPAC gathering of right-wing fringe politicos has booked some moderate from Wisconsin!
UWM Looking For New Way To Further Devalue County Grounds
Having already deforested land it controls on the Milwaukee County Grounds for road-building to serve its even-more park-free Innovation Park development, UW-M now wants another after-the-fact innovation added to the deal:
Reducing the parcel's price to be paid to the County set years ago to help save historic buildings there.
Unless the County caves, those buildings might be demolished.
Talk about disregard for public assets, and raising bad faith to an art form.
Stupid Hears Stupid, Now In Jail
Sheriff Clarke's Arm-Yourself ad gets first FUBAR.
Woman arrested for firing gun claims Sheriff Clarke told her to protect herself
Mining Interests Drowned State Capitol, Legislative 'Process' In Cash
Wisconsin legislative Republicans are rushing companion Senate and Assembly bills to votes on February 6th that will enable iron ore mining in Wisconsin by weakening review procedures and environmental protections.
I doubt by February 6th that legislators will have finished compiling, let alone reading, the voluminous public testimony from last Wednesday's 12-hour public hearing on the measures, or the many comments sent in by email.
Assembly mining committee chair Mary Williams, (R-Medford) described the task ahead in an email to me Monday when responding to an an email I'd sent last week checking to make sure my comment had been received:
From: Rep.WilliamsM@legis.wisconsin.gov
Subject: RE: Comments in Opposition to mining bills for the hearing record. Thank you.
To: "James Rowen"
Date: Monday, January 28, 2013, 1:13 PM
Your email was received. We are still working our way through the thousands of emails and registration slips.
But tell me how any legislators can vote for this bill after the non-profit watchdog group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, using public records, issued this damning report Monday:
Madison – Special interests that back loosening mining regulations for a Florida company that wants to dig an open pit iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin have contributed $15.6 million to the Republican-controlled legislature and GOP Governor Scott Walker who are likely to approve mining permit changes in the coming months.
The Democracy Campaign review also found the campaign contributions made by mining deregulation interests swamped those of mining deregulation opponents – environmental groups – by a ratio of $610 to $1.
Environmental groups which oppose the Republican mining proposal introduced in mid-January contributed only $25,544 to legislators between 2010 and June 2012 and to the governor between 2010 and April 23, 2012.
Do hearings have any real value? Are they taken seriously by legislators, or are they pro forma Kabuki theatrics that let legislators check off a box on a bill-writing form in the state that Walker opened for business?
Thunderstorm In Milwaukee As We Speak
Climate change deniers will call talk radio in a few hours and deny they heard this January thunderstorm underway right now that will raise havoc with buds and bulbs and plants and trees before the temp. goes to zero in 48 hours.
Posted by James Rowen at 12:42 AM 10 comments Links to this post
Multiple Millions From Mining Interests Stain, Shame Wisconsin's Capitol
No wonder the Legislature is rushing the bill to the Governor.
Legislators and the Governor collected $15.6 million from pro-mining/environmental-standard weakening special interests between 2010 and early 2012 - - with Joint Finance Committee member Sen. Alberta Darling, (R-River Hills) alone hauling down $467,000 - - while environmentalists in favor of maintaining current mining and water law spent $25,500, according to media reports based on Wisconsin Democracy Campaign WDC) data.
The other day I had this to say about this disgrace, and it's even more true as news filters out about this unprecedented torrent of special-interest money - - hat tip to the non-partisan, non-profit WDC - - staining the Capitol and Wisconsin state history:
Hang your head, Miss Forward...
Every lawmaker voting "aye" on the mining bill earns permanently the description laid upon Martin Sheen by Marlon Brando in "Apocalypse Now."
"You're an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill."
Ron Johnson To Hurricane Sandy Victims: Go Freeze
Votes "No" with 35 other Republicans - - McCain, Hatch, and others - - on the balance of Federal storm aid to Sandy storm victims still without heat, businesses without roofs, towns without roads, and so on, the record shows.
As I said when he pulled this stunt in the last Congressional session, God forbid he has to look for East Coast votes should Wisconsin suffer floods, storms, fires or other catastrophes after which all Americans have traditionally sent aid.
Righty Talkers Keep Leaving Out Key Hillary Clinton Phrase
They say she said of Benghazi at her hearing last week "what difference does it make," but they leave out part of her rhetorical question and the point she was trying to make to clueless Ron Johnson - - "What difference, at this point, does it make..."
Ron Johnson Finds Meaning In Rand Novels, Flea Market Statuary
Tea partier Ron Johnson is guided by 18th-century politics, 1950's niche novels and flea market detritus. And who thinks we're not really free anymore, as he tells the story to other Ayn Rand devotees - - except to demean a sitting US Secretary of State who deals with the real world, not the fictional globe on Atlas' shoulders.
Remember - - this is a US Senator we're talking about. They ratify treaties, approve federal budgets, judicial and Supreme Court nominees, but let him explain his fixations as he told them to his fellow Randians:
The story behind that is a friend of mine, Ben Ganther, who’s a small business owner and owner of a construction company, called me up one day. And there was this big old statue on the side of the road for sale and it was Atlas. It had the world - - it was obviously the Atlas Shrugged symbol.
And he said he was thinking about buying it, and I said, yeah, absolutely, I’ll pay for half of it. So he bought it up right away. And because he’s a contractor, put it up in the front of his business on a really nice stand, nice little patio around it, lights - - he puts Christmas lights on it in the wintertime.
On PolitiFact, Walker Usually In False Categories
Walker's fresh Pants On Fire falsehood today sent me back to check the full record. It'd been a while.
Though I suspect you'd be unhappy if your kids brought home that kind of report card and expected a pat on the back for the score.
And I'd throw the red flag and ask for a review of one "True" finding that should have been disallowed because it was way too trivial for PolitiFact's consideration in the first place:
The one awarded him for knowing that Wisconsin is called The Badger State because early miners like the one on the state flag burrowed into the ground to make a living.
Like badgers.
I'll bet that State Capitol tour guides tell visiting school children that story. It's on a par with knowing that we make a lot of cheese here, or that Wisconsin has an NFL franchise that plays in Green Bay and is not named the Bears.
Gov. Archer Fabrication's Pants Are Flaming, Again
Internet trolls pound away on their word processors in anonymity and their know-nothing cousins routinely call right-wing talk shows and blather on after gun mayhem to 'argue' that baseball bats and hammers and cars kill people, too.
So why don't you ban them, huh?
Well, Gov. Walker got into that NRA-scripted 'don't blame-the-weapon' act the other day, and had a full-blown talk radio 'say-anything-you-want' moment when he said there had been a bow-and-arrow murder near a Wisconsin school.
But...oops...that never happened, PolitiFact documents:
"We just had someone last week in Neenah near a school kill someone with a bow and arrow."
Scott Walker on Thursday, January 10th, 2013 in a news conference
Talking gun control and Sandy Hook, Gov. Scott Walker says person was killed near a school with bow and arrow
A Word In Support Of Harry Reid On Filibuster Changes
I can't join the bashing on Twitter and Facebook that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had taken last week for deciding against bring the so-called nuclear option on filibuster reform to the floor for a vote.
Reid knows that nothing is forever in politics, and the Dems might want the 60-vote filibuster threshold maintained if they were to lose their majority. Could happen, you know, and how would it feel to be hoisted on that petard?
And how would it look right now if, on the one hand, Dems are effectively marginalizing and beating down the GOP for changing the rules to suit their partisan interests (also plenty of Wisconsin examples, here) from adding Voter ID's, to cutting voting hours, to ending same-day voter registration, to shifting Electoral College vote allocations away from traditional raw vote totals - - all self-serving and condemnation-worthy GOP process rigging - - while also changing the Senate filibuster rule to to get benefit from their current Senate majority?
Reid instead settled for some concessions from GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and yes, I know McConnell quickly sent out a fund-raising letter crowing that he'd won, but McConnell would have raised more money if the allegation was that Dems had gone all dictatorial in the Senate and had overturned historical process for short-term gains, etc.
If the GOP doesn't keep its end of the bargain, then perhaps the Dems, if they retain a majority, go nuclear on the first day of the next session because the GOP proved it couldn't be trusted.
Reid understands the Senate isn't the OK Corral they run over in the House. The Senate is and is supposed to be different, (read: deliberative, hence reasonable).
And Obama will need McConnell's help to get bills over to the House to force that body to take a stand on controversial matters.
If you've nuked the opposition in the Senate, what help might the vanquished offer?
I think Reid did a smart thing knowing it would be unpopular in some quarters.
I'll also bet that there are Dems in Congress and The White House who are quietly relieved they are not embroiled in a huge brawl today over process that, frankly, no one really wins.
David Clarke Arm-Yourself Ad Nets CNN Interview Monday
Sheriff, seeking publicity; Mission accomplished.
Journal Sentinel Editorial Leans Away From GOP Mining Bill, But...
After much back and forth on the merits and gaps in an iron mining bill being rushed to adoption by the GOP-controlled state legislature, the Journal Sentinel editorial board finds too many flaws in the bill (written by mining insiders) to support it - - and, in its own words, "leans toward" (now there's a modifier) an alternative proposal by Democratic Senator Tim Cullen, (D-Janesville) unless the GOP bill is repaired.
And calls the mine "necessary."
The editorial is weak tea, and, additionally, two problems in the paper's argument stand out:
* There is not a word in the editorial about the bill's specific impact on, or the position taken against it by the Bad River Band of Ojibwe, whose waters and wild-rice culture are close downstream from the proposed mine site.
This is a significant piece of the issue, as the Ojibwe have treaty-conferred sovereign status and rights that should be right up there in the discussion.
* The editorial mentions the length of the mine - - but more description is needed. This is to be an open pit project four miles long, and 700-to-1,000 feet deep and a half-mile wide that would replace a range of pristine hills at the headwaters of the Bad River close to Lake Superior.
Gov. Walker keeps linking the proposed mine to the state's mining heritage as stitched into the state flag - - back to a 19th-century era of smaller, hand-hewn mines that predate today's modern, mountain-top removing through blasting, drag-line excavating and over-sized truck hauling.
The location and scope (the ore runs for 22 miles) and context of the project, if more fully and fairly discussed, should do more than suggest leaning towards a different bill.
Or calling it "necessary."
It screams for outright denunciation.
The paper is right that the bill has too many flaws - - and the editorial does a good job of laying out how the bill creates special and unacceptable exemptions from environmental law and protections - - but what the paper wants is a mine sited where the Penokee Hills stand just upstream from the Bad River Band's lands and waters.
When all is said and done, the editorial still backs a large-scale hammering of a square peg into a round hole.
The iron ore in question and the mine site proposed are fatally incompatible with their location.
What Walker, Pro-Mining Legislators Are Ignoring
The Bad River Band already has the power to establish the standards for water quality that flows through its reservation, and where its waters sustain its wild rice beds.
To clarify, and emphasize: It's not up to the state, or the mining company, to set these water quality and usage standards.
The Journal Sentinel's Lee Bergquist spelled this out in 2011.
The Bad River band of Lake Superior Chippewa said Wednesday that the Environmental Protection Agency had approved its application to set standards for water quality on tribal waters.
The approval also allows the tribe to impose limits on water uses on others outside the reservation who live upstream...
One aspect of the regulations allows the tribe to ensure that the quantity and quality of water from upstream sources do not affect the health of wild rice – a matter of cultural importance to the Bad River.
Any GOP legislator listening?
Corporate Wisconsin Seems Determined To Trash Lake Superior
Just as Northern Wisconsin is confronting this potential reality - - release of acidic runoff draining from proposed iron mining through the Bad River to Lake Superior, - - the same area could soon see oil tankers docking with oil fracked from North Dakota shale as well as heavier tar sand crude ripped from the boreal forests there.
As quickly as you can say "Exxon Valdez," kiss the Big Lake goodbye.
The Great Lakes hold 20% of the planet's fresh surface waters - - and the entire Great Lakes basin is suffering increased toxic contamination as we speak:
Surface water pollution is up in the Great Lakes Basin, despite a downward trend overall.
According to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of pollutants released into surface waters in the Great Lakes Basin jumped 12 percent in 2011. At the same time, toxic surface water discharges fell by 3 percent nationwide.
New Mexico Legislator Didn't Get Bobby Jindal's 'No-More-Stupid" Memo
The bill, abruptly withdrawn as stupid (and for some tweaking, maybe), would have forced raped women aborting the resulting fetuses to face evidence tampering felony charges.
Walker's $2/Week Tax Break Rooted In Old John Cusack Film
"Two dollars!"
A long-time fan of the blog suggested we reference John Cusack's classic movie "Better Off Dead" to connect readers with the true value of Scott Walker's Better Off Dead $2/week tax break plan.
And a bonus for political junkies and film buffs alike: the movie, I find, has plenty of transportation elements - - all the better to help us also understand that Walker's better-off-dead/dead-on-arrival plan to pay for a highway-building binge would more than eat up that $2/week tax cut through new gas and road-use taxes and multiple licensing and registration fee boosts.
Here's a few minutes from Cusack's movie that are worth at least $2 in viewing pleasure and political capital.
Sen. Ron Johnson Wins Media Accolade
Washington Post Award. Nicely-done, Senator!
Worst Week In Washington
A weekly award honoring inhabitants of Planet Beltway
Who had the worst week in Washington? Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).
Sheriff Clarke's 'Grab-Your-Gun' Radio Spot Audio
Ready, aim, showboat.
And ignore reality.
Guns In The Home Again Turned On Occupant
This time, in Madison.
Data show guns in a home are far more likely to be used in suicides or domestic homicides than for self-defense.
Someone should get this data into David Clarke's pro-gun PR campaign.
Waukesha Freeman Could Clarify Today's Water Story
The Freeman had this top on its water story today:
Town of Waukesha will not participate in city’s water app
Special to The Freeman
TOWN OF WAUKESHA – The Town Board continued to wrangle over a number of issues at its regular meeting Thursday, with emotions and contention running high at times during the three-and-a half hour session.
But one agenda item that brought the board into unison was a decision not to participate in the city of Waukesha’s quest for water through Lake Michigan.
The Town Board voted not to participate in the Great Lakes water application process, a pivotal move that will likely solidify boundaries between the town and city moving forward.
But the board also voted on a map that would allow town residents, many of whom currently receive and sewer service from the city, continued access to the city’s services.
However, these two accounts are less confusing (and I apologize for the way different fonts have reproduced below). First, from my blog this morning:
Town Of Waukesha Accepts Limited Inclusion Into City Diversion Application
[Revised at 11:00 a.m.] The Town of Waukesha voted at its Thursday night/early Friday a.m. meeting to allow the inclusion of defined, mapped portions of the Town in the City of Waukesha's application for a diversion of Lake Michigan water.
Portion of Town of Waukesha placed in city's future water service area
By Don Behm
of the Journal Sentinel
Town of Waukesha -- A northern slice of the town will be included in the City of Waukesha's future water service area and become part of the city's request for Lake Michigan water, under a resolution approved unanimously by the Town Board.
Priebus Re-Elected RNC Chair After Party's 2012 Loss; Michael Steele - - Not So Lucky
They still like him. Not Michael Steele.
David Clarke Urging Citizens To Arms Themselves
Somehow the budgetarily-challenged Milwaukee County Sheriff found the funds to air a sternly-worded radio spot (I'll post a link later) that urges citizens to get "in the game" arm themselves for self-defense until the law can show up after your 911 call.
Charles Bronson Redux.
The spot is more a way for the media-savvy Clarke promote himself, and also to take a swipe at Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele - - who has cut Clarke's budget - - and Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn - - who is actually more responsible for law enforcement in the City than is Clarke.
The Sheriff's main responsibilities are traffic and county park patrolling.
The Town Board action basically matches up its water and sewer service maps with the city's, which is what the DNR and regional planning commission have sought.
The Town vote removes a barrier to the City's completion of a Great Lakes water diversion application now in the hands of the DNR, and is said to offer protections for the integrity of the Vernon Marsh, where City wells could influence water levels, and also provides other protections and clarity to the Town against some potential City annexations.
The key point is that the Town and City will agree on which limited, mapped and designated areas will be included in the application as potential recipients of diverted water.
Though including mapped portions of the Town into the City's application underscores the City's intent to send some diverted water outside of its borders - - setting up a possible barrier to the application's approval by the other seven Great Lakes states.
All eight states must approve a diversion of water outside of the boundaries of the Great Lakes, and both the City and Town of Waukesha are outside of the Great Lakes basin.
GOP Consolidating Power, One Rule Change At A Time
The GOP, once righteously opposed, as one its leaders said, to changing the rules to suit the players, is pushing a power-grabbing policy, procedural and political playbook. Before you know it, the public will be shut out, as will the other party.
* Republicans didn't like those pesky public hearings that had to be held when a state agency was creating administrative rules that have the force of law in Wisconsin - - so in the early days of the Walker administration, GOP legislators at his behest eliminated the public hearings and moved rule-making approvals to - - where else? - - Walker's office.
Daddy knows best.
* Republicans don't like the single public hearing now required by law prior to the DNR's decision on a mining permit, so the mining law being rammed through the Legislature as we speak retains the hearing - - it just moves it to a spot in the process after the DNR makes a decision.
(All this nicely dovetails with environmental rules the GOP changed last year to more easily permit the filling of wetlands. Call that certainty.)
* Long-standing rules in Wisconsin governing a citizen's obtaining unemployment compensation don't suit Walker, so he is getting them changed. Toughened, they say. Somebody must be cheating.
* Like those phantom, phantom voters whom the GOP wants to discourage with new Voter ID rules.
* Republicans don't like the authority historically placed in Wisconsin law with the independently-elected Wisconsin Secretary of State - - a constitutional position - - permitting that office-holder to take up to ten days to publish and officially launch a bill approved by the Legislature.
Why? Because the current Secretary of State is Doug La Follette, a Democrat, and he had the temerity in 2011 to take the entire ten days to publish Walker's union-busting Act 10.
The hell with that balance of power, that independent inspection of the dotted "i's" and crossed "t's," so State Sen. Glenn Grothman and Sworn Enemy Of Kwanzaa and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (R-West Bend), has introduced a bill to eliminate the Secretary of State's law-publishing authority and force that office to publish bills within 24 hours of approval.
* Republicans hate that the Wisconsin Constitution designates the most senior Associate State Supreme Court Justice to be its Chief Justice because that has meant veteran liberal Justice Shirley Abrahamson has been Chief Justice for a long time.
So the GOP is moving forward with a complex legal and referendum process to change the constitution and let the justices more frequently elect a chief just to strip Chief Justice Abrahamson of her powerful leadership position on the Court and in the rest of the state judicial system. As with the Secretary of State's prerogatives - - these Republicans do not like checks, balances, and power centers outside of their control.
After all, special interests have invested heavily in the GOP and there expectations need to be met, and served.
* And so, after Democratic voters in Wisconsin (Paul Ryan smeared them "urban voters," and many signed up and voted on election day, as the law encourages) voted heavily in favor of a second term for Pres. Obama in November, Walker said he wanted to get rid of that apparently effective same day voter registration process - - then backed away from it.
For now - - but do not confuse this as evidence that there is a new, moderate Walker (oldsters will remember the new Nixon) since it looks like the GOP has an even bolder way to steal the state for GOP Presidential candidates:
* Walker has said he's open to reapportioning electoral college votes by Congressional district - - where the GOP has embedded itself a solid majority through gerrymandered, incumbent-protected redistricting - - so is open to overturning the long-standing, winner-take-all method.
Just to help Republican office holders and the special interests they serve.
"Open?"
Look out.
This is part of a fast-moving national power play.
If you can't win elections, just fix them.
Mining Interests Donated Heavily To WI GOP Legislators
Remember - - these are the very people (hat tip, Rebecca Kemble) - - who are getting ready to deliver this bill to Gov. Walker, and fast. In less eight weeks:
Shortly after 9pm last night, Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) abruptly adjourned the one and only public hearing on a controversial mining deregulation bill after being called out as the second largest recipient of campaign donations by groups that lobbied for a similar bill last session.
Of the nearly $1 million in campaign donations to 20 Senate and Assembly mining committee members by interests backing mining deregulation, $74,000 went to Sen. Tiffany, according to Victoria McMurray who cited Wisconsin Democracy Campaign finance records.
Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) was the biggest recipient, cashing in nearly half a million in campaign contributions, while Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) came in third with $52,000 in donations.
Surprise! Ron Johnson In Damage Control Mode Today
Wisconsin's Tea Party and sunspot-afflicted Senator Ron Johnson took a well-deserved media beating over demeaning and uninformed remarks he aimed at Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Capitol Hill Tuesday - - (and really, why waste a seat on the prestigious Senate Foreign Relations Committee on someone like Johnson if he won't even attend the briefings?) - - so today Johnson began to walk back (modern parlance for apologize, sorta) his comments.
Even though the state's #1 AM radio station gave Johnson a second helping of free air time this morning to help him remove the foot he had inserted into his mouth.
It wasn't a fair fight to begin with: the inexperienced Johnson, who went from the top job position in the family plastics business into politics because he thought Fox commentator Dick Morris was speaking directly to him through the Tee-Vee (true story!) - - against battle-tested Hillary Clinton: Yale law, Watergate hearing staff, First Lady, US Senator, Presidential candidate, Secretary of State, most admired woman in the world - - 11 years running.
VA Just The First To Rig 2016 Electoral Votes For The GOP
Virginia Republicans waited for one African-American state legislator to go out-of-state - - to the Presidential inauguration - - and passed a no-hearing, quickie redistricting law that had it been in place in November would have helped award Mitt Romney most of Virginia's 13 electoral college votes though he lost the state by 149,000+ votes.
Look for Wisconsin and other GOP-led swing states to follow suit with election-fixing new laws designed to make GOP presidential losers into winners by ending rigging the awarding of electoral votes.
Founding Fathers Validated: Bearing Arms, Looking Good
Manicured nails, a pistol and a perm gave customers higher-caliber confidence:
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas (Reuters) - A convicted felon pleaded guilty to dealing in hundreds of firearms without a license from his wife's beauty salon using the promotional slogan "where beauty and bullets collide," authorities said on Thursday.
Sykes Says New Road Fees And Taxes Are DOA. Hmm...
Where have I seen that before?
Yipes, here, on this blog:
These are ideas will go nowhere because the GOP will balk.
Or collectively be required to turn in their "No New Tax Club" badges issued by a Grover Norquist.
And that per-mile-driven tax is DOA because it requires reporting to The Guvmint the very kind of personal, financial and behavioral information that will lead to car confiscation.
WI Legislators Ignore Falling Iron Ore Demand, Mine Closings Nearby
Conservatives disbelieve science and data, whether the subject is evolution, climate change, and the female reproduction system.
In light of the massive open pit Wisconsin iron mine being enabled by GOP state legislators pushing an industry-written bill, you can add disregarding information about iron mine closings in nearby states and longer-term falling demand, as documented here:
...commodity forecasters are predicting the longest bear market for iron ore in 20 years.
Sykes Finishes Up His Ron Johnson Rescue Segment, As Predicted
Talk radio is so predictable. RoJo got his minutes, took softballs, made no news. Though Sykes saying Hillary Clinton "lied under oath" might get some attention.
Mining Votes Will Make Or Break Wisconsin, and Leaders' Good Names
Hang your head, Miss Forward: your state is rushing to enable miles of open pit iron ore mines, in a depressed iron ore market - - operations in Minnesota and Michigan are being cut back - - principally to validate conservative ideologies and burnish GOP fund-raising letters and TV ads, and less to promote jobs - - given the losses that will occur in the region in tourism and outdoor recreation.
Knowing that a mine is years - - if ever - - away from approval and opening in the coming bear market in iron ore, where is the Walker administration's comprehensive Plan B for northern Wisconsin?
Or a realistic, doable Plan A?
How do you vote and how do you want to be remembered, "Aye or Nay," on replacing the pristine Penokee Hills near Lake Superior at the headwaters of the Bad River with an enormous open pit mine.
"Nay" votes against the bill will be affirmations by genuine public citizen/legislators honoring inherited legacies and histories they have sworn to protect - - from natural resources to open government to fair play and inclusive policy.
Every pro-mining "Aye" vote, however, does the opposite and reveals which lawmakers are willing to put the interests of out-of-state mine owners over official Wisconsin oaths, shared values and histories - - including the letter and spirit of this language in Article Three of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which helped establish relationships with native people already here and paved the way for Wisconsin's inclusion into the United States of America:
"The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them."
A lawmaker voting "aye" for the bill is saying, 'to hell with all that.'
And 'I want to clear cut the Penokees, blow a pristine mountain range to smithereens, gouge out miles of open pit scars and release tons of acid runoff into publicly-held rivers, lakes, streams and the Bad River Band's treaty-protected water, wild-rice food supply and culture.'
"Aye or Nay."
How say you?
Key Paragraph In Mainstream Media Mining Hearing Report
Wisconsin State Journal reporter Ron Seely gets to the heart of the matter:
But it became clear during the hearing that despite proponents' claims to the contrary, the GOP mining bill does change and in some instances reduce environmental protections that exist in current mining law.
Look For WI Talk Radio Ron Johnson Rescue
Wisconsin's institutionally-senior but intellectually-junior US Senator Ron Johnson suggested Wednesday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had faked her emotional responses at hearings about the Benghazi tragedies - - was been criticized in Wisconsin media for his degrading and demeaning behavior.
At first, she tried to respond to him with patience and grace, noting there were four Americans killed and others injured, which took the first priority. Johnson persisted with pressing his question; Clinton finally got fed up and let him have it.
National writers took note and gave the decision to Clinton, too:
Clinton raised her voice.
“With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans,” she shouted at the lawmaker. Waving her arms and then pounding the witness table with her fist, she continued: “Was it because of a protest, or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they’d go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?”
Johnson stopped interrupting as Clinton continued. “It is, from my perspective, less important today looking backward as to why these militants decided they did it than to find them and bring them to justice,” she said.
Johnson didn’t attempt a rebuttal. “Okay, thank you, Madam Secretary.”
Look for righty radio talkers Thursday to come to his rescue, perhaps bringing the Senate's most-sexist member on the air to let him redefine his encounter with the world's most-admired woman - - 11 years running.
Let's Not Forget: The Wetlands 'Reform' Law Enables The Mining Bill
This "freshening" was warned about one year ago:
Journal Sentinel Trusts Developer/DNR Complex To Protect Wetlands
The Wisconsin Builders Association the other day was crowing about the wetlands deregulation bill its current and multiple former insiders had helped write.
Regrettably, the Journal Sentinel editorial board has bought in deeply - - trusting the wolf that has moved into the hen house.
The thrust of the editorial: "DNR officials told us this week that the bill retains fundamental protections."
How, exactly, has this DNR management team earned that trust?
Note that the editorial board a) acknowledges that the state has lost half its wetlands, even though b) "the regulatory framework for development in and near wetlands often can be needlessly cumbersome and difficult..."
So why should the outcome under a system of eased regulations, faster permitting and other freedom for the wolf be anything other than accelerated losses of the wetlands that remain?
A similar dynamic is underway with the mining bills - - the Senate version is being written by the same State Sen. Neal Kedzie, (R-Elkhorn), who told the editorial board that all he was doing with the existing wetlands' regulatory process is a little "freshening up."
At the same time, the regulatory framework for development in and near wetlands often can be needlessly cumbersome and difficult, especially for projects that have a minimal impact on a wetland area. The law could use some "freshening up," as state Sen. Neal Kedzie (R-Elkhorn), one of the bill's authors, put it.
Freshening can mean reviving by adding water.
Can you talk about "freshening" a process that, through quicker building in and near wetlands, actually eliminates some wetland acreage or degrades the quality of the water that remains?
Unprepared Ron Johnson Shows The Country What WI Already Knew
Our tea party Senator Ron Johnson emerges from his total, two-year absence and shows he is not yet prepared for prime time.
Hillary Clinton takes him to school.
RoJo also accuses her of pre-mediated emotion. You know those women. All sneaky and emotional!
Key Mining Hearing Tweet Of The Day
Midwest Advocates @MidwestAdvocate
By not inviting the Army Corps of Engineers to testify, legislators continue to ignore regulators, science in push to pass #wimine bill.
Higher WI Gas Taxes, New/Increased Fees Pushed, But...
As I've predicted on this blog, a state task force is recommending higher gas taxes, increased vehicle license and registration fees and a new per-mile-driven annually-collected personal tax - - all to subsidize a new binge of road-building.
Bad River Band Explains, Again, Objections To GOP Mining Bill
The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has consistently opposed the GOP-backed mining bill that threatens the Penokee Hills, the Bad River watershed and the Band's treaty-protected water, land and way of life.
Its statement released Tuesday on the eve of Wednesday's legislative hearing couldn't be more explicit.
Here is the statement, in its entirety. Legislators and Gov. Walker should read it carefully.
Bad River Band Concerns with Mining Legislation ContinueProposed Changes in Mining Regulations Pose Risks to Public Health, Resources FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 22, 2013
CONTACT: Mike Wiggins, Jr., Chairman of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, (715) 292-7236
Cherie Pero, Bad River Band Citizen, (715) 292-9331
Dennis Grzezinski, Midwest Environmental Advocates, Senior Counsel, (414) 530-9200
Glenn Stoddard, Stoddard Law Office, Attorney at Law, (715) 864-3057
ODANAH, WI – Today Tribal leaders of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior continued to express their concerns that a proposed mine in the Penokee Range poses serious risks to people’s health and drinking water and is a threat to the rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other natural resources in the Bad River watershed.
“With a nearly identical companion bills as last session, it is clear that the leadership of the Wisconsin legislature still doesn’t understand that the Penokee Hills cannot be mined without adversely affecting our clean drinking water and our way of life,” said Mike Wiggins Jr, Chairman of the Bad River Band.
“AB 1 and SB 1 was obviously written by and for an out-of-state mining company and will be rushed through the legislative process without formal meetings with Tribal leaders, adequate public hearings, or meeting the ten principles we set forth in September 2011 for future changes to Wisconsin’s mining laws.
As a people and as a sovereign nation, the Bad River Band strongly opposes AB 1 and SB 1 and we ask the Wisconsin Legislature to reject this legislation once and for all. ”
“If enacted as introduced, AB 1 and SB 1 will significantly weaken environmental protections applicable to iron mining,” said Glenn Stoddard, an attorney who serves on the legal team representing the Bad River Band on mining issues. Stoddard outlined some of the major problems with the legislation. Changing the law:
· violates Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine which protects our rights with shared water,
· infringes on federally recognized Chippewa treaty rights,
· reduces meaningful public and scientific input before a permit is issued by the DNR,
· eliminates citizen suits as a means of enforcing a permit after it has been issued by the DNR,
· and creates a more complex and less efficient process for review of a potential iron mine, because Wisconsin will not be able to effectively coordinate its review with federal agencies.
Penokee Range: Geography, Topography and Importance
The Penokee Range, extending through 25 miles of Ashland and Iron counties, is significant to the clean water, environment and culture of the Bad River Band and other northern Wisconsin residents. The surface and groundwater originating from the Penokee Range is in the recharge zone of the Copper Falls Aquifer, on which many residents rely for clean drinking water. Seventy-one miles of rivers and intermittent streams flow through the proposed mining area, emptying into Lake Superior. These waterways are a part of an internationally important migratory corridor; birds and other wildlife depend on area wetlands for survival. The Kakagon Bad River Sloughs—16,000 acres of wild rice, grasses, sedges, trees, streams, and open water located along the southern shore of Lake Superior--depend on the surface and ground water that originates in the Penokee Range to sustain the largest and healthiest full-functioning estuarine system remaining in the upper Great Lakes.
These wetlands have a cultural significance for the Bad River Band and support the largest natural wild rice bed in the Great Lakes in which members of the Bad River Band have harvested wild rice for generations. Legislation Serves Out-of-State Mining Interests to Extract Iron Ore from the Penokee Range
“It seems the primary purpose of the proposed mining legislation is to convince Gogebic Taconite to develop an open pit iron ore mine in the heart of the Penokee Range,” said Bad River Tribal Council Member Frank Connors Jr.
“But despite promises from politicians and mining companies, this mountaintop removal cannot be done without polluting our water. This is our land. This is where we live. We can’t just pack up and move.”
The majority of the Range is owned by RGGS Land and Minerals, Ltd. of Houston, Texas, and LaPointe Mining Co. in Minnesota. Together these companies control a 22-mile, 22,000-acre stretch of the Penokee Range from southwest of Hurley to about six miles west of Mellen.
The Cline Group, out of Florida, secured an option to obtain the mineral rights held for this property, and created a subsidiary called Gogebic Taconite to propose a 4 1/2 mile long open pit iron ore mine, what the company says is the first phase of an eventual 22-mile strip of open pit mining.
For Gogebic Taconite to get to the iron, a vast amount of overlying rock must be removed, some of which contains heavy metals and sulfides. In the Penokee Range, a recent report from Lawrence University researchers estimate a mine 4 miles east-west and 1000-foot deep would generate at least 434 million cubic yards of waste (over three times the volume of Lake Monona).
The overlying rock contains sulfide (sulfur-bearing) minerals (primarily pyrite), which when exposed to air and water create sulfuric acid harming people, fish and plants. The report builds on the considerable work done by geologists in the past, which is documented in the literature at:
http://www.lic.wisc.edu/glifwc/penokee/literature.
10 Principles for Any Changes to Wisconsin’s Mining Regulations
The Bad River Band opposes the proposed changes to the state’s mining regulations in AB 1 and SB 1. For this or any changes in Wisconsin’s mining regulations, we can agree to ten basic principles for changes that would protect the environment and cultural resources for future generations:
1. Exclude any project proposal that has the potential to cause acid mine drainage.2. The burden of preparing and submitting a complete application should be entirely on the permit applicant.3. Provide adequate time for the DNR, the public, federal agencies, and affected Indian tribes to fully review and participate in the process.4. Maintain existing wetland protection standards and the federal/state partnership in the environmental review process.5. Correct, don’t weaken, the DNR’s federal Clean Water Act implementation.6. Allow contested case hearings with full participation by citizens, including Indian tribes.7. Mining legislation must not preempt local control.8. Allow citizen suits to make sure permit provisions and legal restrictions on new mines will be enforced.9. Require consultation with Indian tribes by the DNR as part of the permitting process.10. Participation in contested case hearings should be paid for by the permit applicant or state.
With over 7,000 members, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians is located on an over 124,000-acre reservation in an area within Ashland and Iron Counties on the south shore of Lake Superior (known by the tribe as Gichi Gami).
The Ojibwe people have a long and rich heritage throughout the Great Lakes region and at Odanah on Lake Superior prior to European traders, missionaries and settlers. Treaties signed by eleven Ojibwe Tribes ceded territory in the region, including what is currently the upper one third of the State of Wisconsin.
Learn more about the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians on their website, badriver-nsn.gov.
Democratic Mining Alternative Proposed; GOP Will Ignore It
Give State Sen. Tim Cullen, (D-Janesville), credit for trying to push a mining bill that would leave current environmental protections in place, but Walker and Legislative Republicans are committed to the industry-crafted bill they have the votes to pass that weakens those standards even if they conflict with federal laws and the state constitution.
Such is the state of the state these days,
Re-Reading Mike McCabe's Blog Post On Mining Interests
McCabe did a good job nearly a year ago, and his research is certainly is a good introduction to the mining bill up for a hearing of sorts Wednesday at the Capitol. An excerpt:
The Democracy Campaign first started noticing large campaign contributions from mining interests to Wisconsin politicians just over a year ago, long before the mining bill was introduced. All of the money came from out of state. Roughly a quarter of the donations came from West Virginia mining magnate Chris Cline. The rest came from associates of Cline's. Some of those associates are at Cline Resource and Development. Others are with a company called Foresight, which is majority-owned and led by Cline. Still others are with a law firm Cline does business with. The remainder are other mining executives who've done business with Cline.
Environmentalists claim the mining bill being pushed in Wisconsin was written by the mining industry and would gut existing safeguards. The legislation certainly is Chris Cline's dream. And its approach to permit streamlining and environmental deregulation does bear a striking resemblance to the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council's model legislation known as the "Performance Based Permitting Act" and "Groundwater Protection Act."
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JD PROGRAM
JD Practice Venue Change — Saturday, June 1st
Dear Parents;
On Saturday June 1st, the JD’s will practice at Clearbrook Park because Rotary Stadium is closed for a rugby tournament.
There may be some softball games going on in Clearbrook Park so please take your child to Coach Scott instead of dropping them off.
Due to insurance rules, all athletes must have a paid club membership to join a Valley Royals Practice Group. To select a membership package and register online click: https://valleyroyals.ca/membership/
We are an inclusive Club accepting athletes of all abilities
The Royals have always maintained a strong junior development system and the club is proud of the number of athletes that have successfully come through this younger age group and developed into some of the best juvenile, junior and senior athletes in Canada. Year after year, the Royals have provided the nucleus of athletes and medal winners that represent BC teams at Western Canada and Canada Games competitions. At the 2012 & 2016 Summer Olympics, Valley Royals athletes were on Team Canada.
Junior Development: Age 8 -13
JD Track & Field Season March-July
Events Offered: Middle Distance, Sprints, Hurdles, Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put, Discus, Race Walk, Hammer(age specific) Pole Vault (age specific), Cross Country
This age group encourages athletes to try all event areas (Racing, Jumps, Throws) in both practices and competitions.
Parents please read this important message from Coach Scott: Valley Royals JD welcome letter
Valley Royals Junior Development Athletes will be competing in these track & field meets for 2019:
May 4th & 5th: Norwesters Elementary Meet at Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, BC
May 18th & 19th: Junior Olympics Meet at Bear Creek Park, Surrey, BC
June 8th & 9th: Jesse Bent Memorial Meet at Percy Perry Stadium, Coquitlam, BC
June 14 to 16th: Langley Pacific Invitational Meet at McLeod Athletic Park, Langley, BC
June 29th & 30th: Universal Meet at Bear Creek Park, Surrey, BC
July 19th to 21st: BC JD Championships at South Surrey Athletic Park in White Rock, BC (Note: To encourage all Royals JD athletes compete at the BC JD Championships, the club will pay for up to 3 entry fees per athlete for this meet. Be sure to have our club administrator, Christa, do the registration to take advantage of this opportunity)
JD Track & Field Coordinator: Scott Svelander
JD Coaches:
Coach Alex Seimens
Coach Abresia Foote Coach Peter Price
Coach Harneet Uppal Coach Parmvir Waring
The focus for the JD athletes at meets should be on enjoying the experience and learning how to do their best in a variety of events and challenging themselves to improve their own mark.
Practice Schedule: https://valleyroyals.ca/practice-schedule/
Track Meet Info & Meet Protocol: https://valleyroyals.ca/meets/
JD Cross Country Season Sept-Oct
Head Coach of Cross Country: Coach Scott Svelander
Assistant Coaches for JD Cross Country:
Coach Andrew Ott Aneesha Narang
JD Cross Country Running is offered 3 days per week starting Thursday August 30th for the Cross Country Season (September & October):
Saturdays 10:00 – 11:00 AM
to start off the season, the JD’s will be training for one hour in duration and, as the season progresses, Coach Scott will decide if their practice duration will be lengthened.
Meet in Clearbrook Park beside the parking lot at the sign for Ron Wiebe playing fields. Bring bottle of water, hat, wear layers.
The JD cross country program is designed for athletes aged 8 to 13 years of age. Athletes turning 14 years of age in this calendar year, who were members of the JD group in the Track & Field Season, may continue training with the JDs or join Coach Scott’s Endurance Training Group (see https://valleyroyals.ca/middle-distance-program/ )
During the Cross Country Season, the JD group continues to train 3 days a week, but move from the track to Clearbrook Park to train on grass and forest trails. At this time the emphasis is placed solely on running and building up a large base (ie more mileage) in preparation for the BC Athletic Cross Country Championships. As such the workouts are a bit longer in distance while still retaining an effort to improve continuous speed. Intervals, tempo, fartlek and hills are some of the tools that are used.
Park in the Parking Lot off of Clearbrook Road on the West Side of the Park (just north of Ecole Clearbrook Elementary School). Meet at the Sign/Entrance to the open field on the East side of the parking lot. Practice is rain or shine so dress appropriately, and bring water.
Training Stages for JD Athletes:
The images below illustrate some of the principles underlying our JD program:
Updated August, 2018
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Vivo Nex review: Bezeless, but not flawless
Kyle Wiggers@Kyle_L_Wiggers August 27, 2018 8:30 AM
Image Credit: Vivo
When Chinese smartphone company Vivo, a subsidiary of OnePlus parent BBK Electronics, announced the Vivo Nex in June, it came as something of a surprise. Just months earlier, at the Mobile World Congress 2018 in February, the electronics maker took the wraps off a radical new smartphone — the Vivo Apex — with an edge-to-edge screen, a fingerprint sensor embedded beneath the display glass, and a motorized, retractable front-facing camera. It was strictly a concept, the company said at the time, and months — or even years — from commercialization.
But improbably, Vivo wrangled enough component suppliers to mass produce it. The phone launched in China earlier this year as the Vivo Nex (and Nex A) and globally as the Vivo Nex S. So how does one of the most intriguing phones in recent memory stack up to the competition? In short: not as you would expect.
Smartphones don’t get much more “bezeless” than the Nex S. If the borders around its screen were any thinner, I’d worry about losing my grip on the darn thing. It’s 1.17mm thick all around (with the exception of an ever-so-slightly wider chin at the bottom), giving the Nex S an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 91 percent — the second-highest of any smartphone on the market (after the Oppo Find X).
Viewed from the front with the screen on, the Vivo Nex S is drop-dead gorgeous. It’s massive, measuring 162x77x7.9mm, and you’ll struggle to find a heavier phone — at 199g, it weighs substantially more than Apple’s iPhone X (174g) and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 (163g). But Vivo has cleverly distributed the weight along the device’s curved, iridescent glass back. And thanks to the edge-to-edge design, the Nex S doesn’t feel particularly large. I don’t have to shimmy my hand up the phone’s sides to reach the top of the screen, and I can easily tap every button — the power button and volume rocker on the right and the programmable action button on the left — one-handed.
There’s something futuristic about a nearly bezeless screen without any notches to speak of. It’s not the best display I’ve laid eyes on, mind you — the 6.59-inch 2316×1080 Super AMOLED panel isn’t as bright or vibrant as my trusty LG G7 ThinQ’s LCD, and its viewing angles are nothing to write home about. But the curved, razor-thin edges are arresting.
It’s worth noting, of course, that the Vivo Nex has a PenTile pixel arrangement. The red subpixels and blue subpixels that make up the panel are interleaved with green subpixels; effectively, there are two blues and two reds for every green. The result is a slightly blurrier picture than is produced by conventional RGB screens, but I struggled to notice it in my testing. Your mileage may vary.
That’s not the only compromise Vivo made in pursuit of an all-screen design. The Nex S isn’t waterproof or dust-resistant, and it doesn’t support NFC or wireless charging. You won’t find a microSD slot onboard, which means you’ll have to make do with the 128G (or 256GB, depending on the model) of onboard storage. But it’s not all bad news: A 3.5mm headphone jack sits next to the USB Type-C port, an increasing rarity in flagship smartphones.
Fingerprint sensor and speakers
Above: The Vivo Nex S’ in-screen fingerprint sensor.
Image Credit: Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat
The Vivo Nex S is one of the first handsets to boast an optical fingerprint sensor, joining Huawei Porsche Design Mate RS, Vivo’s X20 and X21, the Oppo R17, and the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition. Here’s a quick primer: When one of your digits makes contact with an illuminated spot on the lower portion of the screen, a camera beneath the glass snaps a picture. Then a machine learning model analyzes roughly 300 different fingertip characteristics (for example, the distance between finger ridges) and stores the unique pattern to memory.
It worked well in my testing, for the most part. It wasn’t noticeably slower than the dozens of conventional fingerprint sensors I’ve tried, and the setup process was a breeze.
I only wish it was more forgiving. Activating the optical scanner requires giving the phone a slight nudge or picking it up from the table, and it rarely snaps a clean scan the first time around. In my testing, it took about two or three attempts — exerting a bit more pressure on the screen, angling my finger to one side or another side — to get it to register.
The in-display speaker is a different story. Vivo opted to embed the earpiece within the screen to cut down on bezel width — it calls the technology Soundcasting. An actuator vibrates the top third of the display glass, where your ear naturally rests during phone calls, to produce sound. It’s not a novel idea, but the company claims the Nex’s V1 digital audio converter (DAC) and three amplifiers deliver a better experience than competing solutions, like that in Xiaomi’s Mi Mix.
I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I can confirm that calls sound crisp, clear, and free of distortion. In any case, it’s better than Vivo Nex’s bottom-firing conventional speaker, which tends to overemphasize bass at the expense of treble. It’s not the worst I’ve heard on a smartphone, but it misses the high mark set by the likes of Samsung and LG. (Also disappointing: It doesn’t support stereo audio.)
Above: The Vivo Nex S’ pop-up selfie camera.
There’s a lot to say about the Nex S’ cameras. Let’s start with the more unusual of the two: the front-facing camera.
It’s embedded in a plastic strip that extends from a recess on the top of the phone as needed, whenever an app — be it the default camera app, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. — accesses Android’s camera API. Exit said app, and it retracts. It’s a quick (under two seconds) and mostly silent affair, but an optional setting lets you mask its mechanical whir with one of three cheesy sound effects (Sci-Fi, Machine, and Rhythm).
Mechanization is a clever solution to the Nex S’ “bezel problem,” but I couldn’t help wondering about the durability of the moving parts. The ejection motor was strong enough to resist my finger (and automatically retracted when I pushed on it with force), but I worry what might happen after it’s been dropped on concrete or caught in a pocket or used thousands of times over the course of years.
Vivo, no doubt anticipating those questions, made it eminently clear in marketing materials that the camera has been tested to withstand up to 45kg of force when fully extended. But lab results are no substitute for real-world testing, and only time will tell how well it holds up to everyday drops, bangs, and scratches.
All that aside, the 8MP (f/2.0 aperture) front sensor takes decent, but not exceptional, selfies. I was impressed by the amount of light it managed to capture indoors and at night, but I disappointed by the noisiness of the final results. As for the Nex S’ Face Beauty feature, which purports to use artificial intelligence to smooth out wrinkles, blemishes, and other dermatological imperfections, it’s also a mixed bag — skin with the effect applied took on a blurred, pastel-like appearance that I wasn’t especially fond of.
I was much more impressed with the dual rear cameras — a 12MP sensor (f/1.8 aperture, 1.4-micron pixels) and a 5MP one (f/2.4 aperture) — which are easily some of the best I’ve tested recently. The 12MP sensor boasts both four-axis optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS), and it shows — rarely did my shaky hands result in blurry photos. The color reproduction matches that of flagships like the LG G7 ThinQ and Huawei Mate 10, albeit with a greater emphasis on warm hues and tones. And the phase detection autofocus (PDAF) is incredibly fast, even in challenging conditions, like direct sunlight.
Less exceptional is the dynamic range. Even with high dynamic range (HDR) enabled, subjects tended to look flat without a post-session touch-up. And although images were consistently sharp, shadows often lacked fine details, particularly in low light.
I’m no videographer, so I didn’t test the Nex S’ video as extensively as some reviewers. But in the interests of thoroughness, I captured a clip at 4K at 30 frames per second (fps) — the maximum supported resolution. (Other flavors are 1080p and a 720p slow-motion mode that shoots 240fps.) Thanks to the combination of OIS and EIS, it came out smooth as glass — if a bit more compressed than I would’ve liked.
Gallery: Vivo Nex Camera Samples
Camera fanatics will be pleased to know that the Nex S’ app has options coming out the wazoo. There’s standard fare, like panorama and timelapse modes, and a Snapchat Lens-like AR Stickers feature that superimposes cat whiskers, glittery stars, and other cute cosmetics onto your skin. In selfie mode, you can trigger snapshots the conventional way, by tapping the on-screen shutter button, or by holding up your palm or saying “Cheese.” And in professional mode, settings like ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and autofocus can be configured and reconfigured to your heart’s content. (I found the balance tool, which uses the phone’s accelerometer to help line up shots, particularly handy.)
Most phones have some sort of bokeh mode that blurs out backgrounds while bringing the foreground into focus, and the Nex S is no exception. It simulates the effect in software for selfies, and for shots with the rear camera taps both sensors. The results were occasionally good, but more often than not they were marred by blurring around faces and objects.
As one of VentureBeat’s resident AI reporters, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention AI Scene Identification. When enabled, this setting uses machine learning to “balance the lighting” of photos and “determines the ideal exposure.” Unfortunately, it’s difficult to tell which settings it’s adjusting — and even more difficult to tell the difference those adjustments are actually making. I’d have liked to see Vivo take a cue from LG’s AI Cam, which is much more transparent about its “optimizations.”
When it comes to raw performance, the Nex S is among the cream of the crop. It’s packing Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line system-on-chip, the Snapdragon 845, paired with a whopping 8GB of RAM and 128GB (or 256GB, depending on the model) of internal storage. A 4,000mAh battery easily lasts a day and a half off the charger, and a wall adapter supports fast charging.
There are no two ways about it: This phone flies through tasks like few others I’ve tested. Rows of app shortcuts render at the speed of light (or pretty darn close to it). Apps launch instantaneously. And scrolling latency — the lag time between a finger gesture and an onscreen response — is practically nonexistent. In this regard, the Vivo Nex S feels every bit its price tag.
To evaluate the Nex S’ performance a little more objectively, I loaded up Geekbench 4, a popular mobile benchmarking suite. The Nex S earned an 8,732 multi-core score, putting it slightly ahead of the Galaxy S9 and LG G7 ThinQ.
Funtouch OS: Anything but fun
The Nex S ships running Android 8.1 Oreo, but it’s far from vanilla — Vivo’s proprietary Funtouch OS overlays every panel and settings menu. And that’s to its detriment.
Take the Vivo Nex S’ automatic brightness, for example. Unlike most other phones I’ve used recently, the Nex S seems to adjust brightness in large “steps,” rather than gradually. Normally, that wouldn’t bother me, but the steps tend to leave noticeable gaps. Quite often during my testing, I’d walk outside into the sunlight and watch it brighten only slightly — not nearly enough to make out what was on the screen.
Another annoyance? Funtouch’s iOS-like control center. Rather than relegating toggles for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, Do Not Disturb mode, and tethering to the notification shade, like the vast majority of third-party Android skins, Vivo stuck them in a panel that can only be accessed with a swipe upward from the bottom of the screen. It’s not the worst idea in the world — it’s akin to iOS’ Control Center. But what’s harder to forgive is the fact that it doesn’t work consistently. In my testing, pulling up the menu usually took multiple swipes.
Funtouch OS’ notification shade is similarly inspired by iOS. Incoming alerts are rounded, transparent, and larger than average, which makes scrolling through them a lot more tedious than it needs to be. This has the unintended side effect of making the buttons beneath notifications — like the Reply button under a Gmail alert — more difficult to reach one-handed.
Other points worth mentioning:
The settings menu lacks a search bar.
Funtouch OS’ default launcher (home screen) doesn’t have an app drawer. If you want the traditional Android experience, you’ll have to download a third-party alternative from the Play Store.
There’s a good deal of bloatware, including Amazon, WPS Office, Facebook, Newspoint, UC Browser, and PhoneFe.
Funtouch OS doesn’t have a facial recognition feature to speak of — you’ll have to settle for fingerprint or password unlocking.
Jovi, the umbrella brand for Vivo’s suite of AI tools, is a bit half-baked. There’s a Game Mode that “[enhances the] in-game user experience” (it’s not always clear how), and Smart Button, which lets you reassign the Vivo Nex’s Google Lens key, but that’s all there is to it. (The Chinese variant is a bit more capable, apparently — it recognizes over 600 voice commands in Mandarin, allowing you to do things like change settings and accept money from friends in WeChat group conversations.)
Notifications from the default web browser can’t be muted.
To be clear, Funtouch OS isn’t completely without merit. I liked the gestures feature, which lets you assign (and customize) swipes to apps and navigation keys. The multitasking menu — a horizontal carousel of running apps — is an improvement over Android 8.1 Oreo’s vertical list of cards. And a few of Funtouch OS’ “smart features” are genuinely useful, like Smart Click, which lets you reassign the volume rocker to perform a function like recording audio or launching the camera, and Smart Split, which optionally displays messages from Facebook Messenger, Android Messages, and other apps in a floating window.
But Funtouch OS feels generally unfinished, overwrought, and sorely lacking polish.
So who’s the Vivo Nex S for, really?
From a strictly pragmatic point of view, I’d hesitate to say it’s for U.S. customers, who can’t get their hands on one without importing it from overseas. The Nex S will be available in Russia, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, and Taiwan soon, but there‘s no word on a stateside launch.
It’s also not compatible with every major U.S. carrier. And it’s relatively expensive — the price in China is 3,900 yuan, which converts to about $600.
But all that aside, it’s a matter of priorities. Despite the Vivo Nex S’ noteworthy cameras, performance, and design, it feels prototypical in every sense of the word. The screen isn’t as good as it could be, the front-facing camera isn’t as good as it should be, and I’d hesitate to call Funtouch OS any derivation of the word “good.”
That’s a long-winded way of saying it’s less than the sum of its parts.
Bezeless phones are the next big thing — that much is clear. Samsung and Sony are expected to throw their hats into the ring sometime next year, and smartphone makers like Oppo and Xiaomi are already iterating on their respective edge-to-edge designs.
But unless you’re desperate for a taste of the future that’ll leave you wanting, the Vivo Nex S isn’t for you. Here’s my advice: If you have the patience, wait a bit. Let Vivo’s ideas germinate. When the second-gen Nex S comes around, you’ll be glad you sat this one out.
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Entertainment » Television
Hulu and Marvel to Create 4 Animated Series
Hulu is teaming with Marvel to make four separate animated series based on comic book characters like Howard the Duck.
Director Kevin Smith and comics Chelsea Handler and Patton Oswalt are among the people who have signed deals with the streaming service to help produce the cartoons. Smith is taking on the Howard the Duck series.
Other shows revolve around M.O.D.O.K., a villain with an enormous head; Hit-Monkey, about a Japanese snow monkey turned assassin; and Tigra and Dazzler, two superheroes who work in Los Angeles.
Hulu senior vice president Craig Erwich said Monday that animation is a particular favorite for its users. Since the deal was just signed, there's no estimate on when the series will be ready.
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News > All categories > Increasing productivity & engagement in education management
Increasing productivity & engagement in education management
Sponsored: The right technology can inspire people to work more efficiently and effectively than ever before
Wednesday 22nd August 2018
Meetings can often be a challenging, with competing personalities battling to be heard, but this is the way it should be. The best and most groundbreaking decisions are rarely made in a harmonious atmosphere where all the parties agree straight off the bat. Decisions that will truly propel an organisation forward are best made when there are conflicting opinions, made by people passionate about the outcome.
Striking the right balance can feel like an impossible task, but what shouldn’t be holding employees back is the ability to do their best work and submit their valued opinion. Having access to the right information at the right time can be the difference between critical decisions being agreed or not, so why would you allow the potential for your teams to not all be singing from the same hymn sheet?
A recent study suggests that 89% of the population are digitally engaged in some way in the UK. 21st century life would be inconceivable without the 24/7 access to information. You cannot imagine walking through any town or city, without seeing the majority of people either looking at their phones, their smart watches or connected via headphones to their device. The impact of technology is now reaching a point where even touching these devices to get them to do your bidding is almost considered old fashioned, paving the way for voice-activated technology to permeate our homes.
Technology is often criticised for encouraging procrastination, but the potential has yet to be fully realised from an efficiency point of view, let alone the potential cost savings in materials and staff productivity. All organisations understand the value of email versus hand-written communication, Excel rather than graph paper and video conferencing against the cost and logistics of arranging for all parties to be in the same room. These tools should only mark the beginning of a journey towards digital transformation, yet often the hold up to adopting new technologies is not bureaucracy or budgets, but leadership not realising the benefit of technology to their working lives and the tone that this sets for the rest of the organisation.
“Those that work in education are motivated and driven by the chance to contribute to society and help to shape the future, a message that is familiar to us at eShare.”
Good technology empowers your employees and gives them both the platform and the space to collaborate in order to bring out the best in them and allow them to achieve their goals.
Collaboration should be something that is both encouraged and nurtured, as it’s this teamwork and merger of ideas that often fosters the best trouble shooting and creative thinking. Putting restrictions on the ways that board members can securely collaborate will only restrict the potential output of those board members.
Different people work in different styles, so why not utilise the technology available to get the best out of everyone. Instead of allowing resentment to grow against the quieter members of the team, seemingly not contributing much value, give them the opportunity to collaborate and idea share in a medium where they won’t be shouted over, allowing them to reach their potential and put forward a valuable point of view otherwise not heard.
The right technology can inspire people to work more efficiently and effectively than ever before. Those that work in education are motivated and driven by the chance to contribute to society and help to shape the future, a message that is familiar to us at eShare. Our solutions were born out of the pensions crisis and the chance to enable directors and employees at all levels to work smarter and contribute to a better society.
Our software has been enabling colleges and universities to improve their meetings at both board level and throughout the rest of the organisations, freeing up their valuable time for more pressing matters than meeting preparation. If you would like to learn more and receive a free demonstration, please contact info@eshare.net.
For more info, go to: eshare.net
education-management eshare excel productivity smart-watches technology
Plugging into the network
Joined-up technological thinking is already a mainstay of university management, and it’s becoming increasingly essential. Simon Fry looks at the tools helping HE stay ahead
The Report: What does the future of HE look like?
Technology could make higher education open to everyone; at whatever stage of life. James Higgins considers how HE could be a student’s partner for life
How technology can help students learn a foreign language
Technology offers the flexibility to use a combination of tools and methods to help students absorb new information and efficiently learn. In today’s digital age, technology offers many powerful learning tools for teachers to use in classrooms and also for students to study with on their own.
Can HE solve edtech?
What’s really holding back technology adoption in higher education? Charges are normally levelled at technophobia or cost but, as Paddy Smith discovers at Bett 2019, it might just be lack of content
Northumbria University gets down to business with Government funding award
£44,000 will help fund a project designed to help small businesses make better use of technology and modern management practices
The smart campus programming the future
What’s the next chapter for connected learning environments at UK universities? Charley Rogers speaks to the experts to find out…
Cathy Parnham looks at the importance of the virtual open day experience for attracting and recruiting students
More tech for teaching
Over half of university staff want more technology for teaching, finds new survey from Jisc
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Milwaukee Museum Mile Celebrates 5 Years with Plein Air Competition
Saturday May 7 through May 14
By Charles Allis Art Museum - Apr 14th, 2016 08:45 am
Milwaukee, Wis., April 15, 2016 – To celebrate its 5-year anniversary, the Milwaukee Museum Mile is pleased to announce Art in the City: Plein Air MKE, an exciting new outdoor painting competition taking place from Saturday, May 7 through Saturday, May 14 on Milwaukee’s historic East Side. Up to 75 plein air artists from Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and elsewhere will paint along the Milwaukee Museum Mile for five days and compete for $5,000 in awards.
This colorful, week-long gathering of artists, art lovers and collectors will culminate Thursday evening, May 12 with the Art in the City Soirée, to be held at Saint John’s On The Lake, when prizes will be awarded to winning artists and all paintings will be offered for sale. The Art in the City Soirée is a Milwaukee Museum Mile member/donor event. The general public is welcome to attend and purchase art for a $10 admission. There will also be a public art sale on Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, also at Saint John’s On The Lake.
The main competition will kick off on Saturday, May 7 with artists painting within specified boundaries from Prospect and Juneau Avenues north to Lake Park. On the opening day, artists will also have an opportunity to win additional prizes at a timed quick paint competition. From 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. artists will have two and a half hours to paint along Brady Street on Milwaukee’s East Side. Paintings created on Brady Street will also be judged and offered for sale during the Art in the City Soirée and public art sale. Judges for both main and quick paint events are well-known and respected plein air artist Pamela Ruschman, pamelaruschman.com, and art appraiser William DeLind.
In addition, each Milwaukee Museum Mile member museums will host an event at their museums throughout the week. Please visit pleinairMKE.org for more information.
Art In The City Plein Air MKE benefits the museums of the Milwaukee Museum Mile, which is also celebrating its 5-year anniversary on Sunday, May 15. On that day, all member museums will be open to the public from 11am to 4pm, and offer free or reduced admissions. Visit milwaukeemuseummile.org for more information.
Milwaukee Museum Mile Art In The City Plein Air MKE Competition Schedule
Saturday, May 7 through Saturday, May 14 – Main Event, Soirée and Art Sale
Saturday, May 7 – Brady Street Quick Paint Competition
Saturday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 11 – Artists paint along the Milwaukee Museum Mile
Thursday, May 12 – Art in the City Soirée at Saint John’s On The Lake – Prizes awarded / Paintings for sale
Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14 – Paintings for sale to the public at Saint John’s On The Lake
Art in the City Judges
Museums on the Milwaukee Museum Mile
Five small and medium sized arts and culture museums, located on Milwaukee’s historic East Side along the Lake Michigan shoreline, have created the Milwaukee Museum Mile. This joint effort among the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, The Charles Allis Art Museum, Museum of Wisconsin Art at Saint John’s On The Lake, The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, and the North Point Lighthouse at Lake Park, creates a simple and more affordable way for visitors to access and enjoy multiple museum experiences, while promoting the area as a destination to Milwaukee residents and visitors to our city. The museums are located in close proximity to one another, along N. Prospect Avenue and on N. Wahl and N. Terrace Avenues, creating a comfortable stroll for visitors, who can choose the sites most interesting to them and divide their time as they prefer. Milwaukee Museum Mile Day admission discounts follow each museum below:
Jewish Museum Milwaukee, 1360 N. Prospect Avenue (414-390-5730) – Free Admission
Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect Avenue (414-278-8295) – Free Admission
Museum of Wisconsin Art at Saint John’s On The Lake, 1800 N. Prospect Avenue (414-831-6875) – Free
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Avenue (414-271-3656) – Free Admission
North Point Lighthouse, 2650 N. Wahl Avenue (414-332-6754) – Reduced Admission
More information about the Milwaukee Museum Mile is available at www.pleinairmke.org
People: Bill DeLind, Pamela Ruschman
Organizations: Museum of Wisconsin Art
Buildings: Charles Allis Art Museum, North Point Lighthouse, Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Neighborhoods: Brady Street, Lake Park
Recent Press Releases by Charles Allis Art Museum
FORWARD 2018: A Survey of Wisconsin Art Now Returns to the Charles Allis Art Museum
Nov 8th, 2018 by Charles Allis Art Museum
November 15, 2018 – April 14, 2019
Chip Duncan Screens His Award Winning Film The Soundman at the Charles Allis Art Museum August 30, 2018
Aug 16th, 2018 by Charles Allis Art Museum
Duncan will lead a Q&A following the screening
Movie Time’s Summer 2018 Schedule Announced: Leading Men
Jul 10th, 2018 by Charles Allis Art Museum
Prior to each film, Dale E. Kuntz shares knowledge of the film industry and gives the inside scoop on each movie.
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tBT Management
tBT Strategy
Ama Agbeze joins thinkBeyond Talent
We are delighted to announce that Commonwealth Gold medal winning England Netball Captain Ama Agbeze is joining the athlete roster here at thinkBeyond Talent
Agbeze will join fellow former England and GB Hockey Captain Kate Richardson-Walsh and other high-profile athletes including Olympic sprint icon Michael Johnson, Paralympic great Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, two-weight world champion boxer Carl Frampton, Olympic hockey gold medallist Helen Richardson-Walsh and Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood as part of our talent portfolio.
Agbeze led the England Netball Team to their iconic gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, their first ever in a major tournament and a defining moment for netball in the UK. With the match watched live by 2 million, it propelled the sport into the spotlight and at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year that year the Roses were awarded Team of the Year and Greatest Sporting Moment of the Year.
Commenting on the new agreement, Agbeze said: “I spoke to a number of different agencies but I chose thinkBeyond Talent because they share my passion for equality and using my platform to promote female participation in sport and the continued growth of netball. As we celebrate the success of the Commonwealth Games last year and look forward to England’s campaign at the home World Cup this summer, it’s my hope that we continue to inspire more young girls to take up sport and to help bring the joy of netball to a wider audience.”
thinkBeyond Talent Executive Director Lisa Markey added: “Netball is the biggest female participation sport in the UK and England’s amazing gold medal performance at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year has given it the spotlight it deserves. As captain of that team, Ama is one of our country’s finest sports people and a leader we are proud to be working at such an important time for women’s sport.”
MOLLY THOMPSON-SMITH: “A YEAR AGO I WAS CRYING DURING SURGERY – NOW I’M AIMING AT THE OLYMPICS” – THE TELEGRAPH
Introducing the Tessa Jowell Social Impact Award
thinkBeyond Talent shortlisted in PR Week’s Campaigns for Good Awards
Make an enquiry & start your journey today
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ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AMD 880G Motherboard Review
January 19, 2011 by Bobby Pachinger
A couple of weeks ago we took a look at the ASUS M4A88TD-M/USB3 mATX motherboard. Well today we will be taking a look at its big brother the M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3. This motherboard features the same AMD 880G northbridge and SB850 southbridge as its smaller counterpart. AMD’s 880G chipset is sort of the little sister of the 890GX chipset, but is set to be more affordable, while still offering the same performance. This chipset also offers native SATA 6GB/s and USB 3.0 support. Let’s take a look at the M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 and see how well it performs.
Special thanks to ASUS for providing us with the M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AMD 880G Motherboard to review.
We received this board directly from ASUS, but for some reason the box was inside-out. Everything was still nicely packed inside though.
Getting everything out of the box you have the M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 motherboard, 2 SATA 6GB/s cables, 2 SATA 3GB/s cables, I/O shield, ribbon cable and a driver CD. There was also supposed to be a USB 3.0 PCI-E card included, but it was nowhere to be found.
Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11
Tags: 880GAMDAMD 880GASUSATXM4A88TD-V EVO/USB3Motherboard
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Passport Season 44 Episode 4407 | 54m 32s
Thrill to an hour with iconoclastic R&B maverick Janelle Monáe, as the singer and actress performs songs from her acclaimed LP Dirty Computer.
Expires: 10/29/19
Season 44 Episode 4407
ACL is produced by KLRU-TV and funding is provided in part by Dell, American Airlines, the Austin Convention Center Department and Cirrus Logic. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Austin City Limits.
Season 44 Season 43 Season 42 Season 40 Season 37 Season 8
Buddy Guy / August Greene
Thrill to an hour of blues and hip-hop with Buddy Guy and August Greene.
S44 Ep4413 | 54m 11s
Relish an hour with American music legend Willie Nelson.
Arctic Monkeys / Wild Child
Enjoy an hour of modern rock with Arctic Monkeys and Wild Child.
Join a musical world tour with Puerto Rican superstar Residente.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Revel in an hour with New Orleans funk masters Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
Thrill to an hour with iconoclastic R&B maverick Janelle Monáe.
Kacey Musgraves / Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Live it up with contemporary country rockers Kacey Musgraves and Lukas Nelson & Promise of
Miguel / Alessia Cara
Thrill to an episode of chart-topping contemporary R&B and pop with Grammy-winning standou
Enjoy an unforgettable hour with acclaimed singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile.
Sam Smith / Anderson East
Relish an hour of blue-eyed soul with Sam Smith and Anderson East.
Savor an hour-long set with songwriting legend John Prine.
Enjoy an hour with Grammy-winning art-rock performer St. Vincent.
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« My memory of Teddy
Tim Cox »
DJ Image
Published January 17, 2010 Local people 2 Comments
Image (right) and Steele perform in Lancaster. Photo by Leon Laing.
My cousin homie Vinny
Although DJ Image spins full time in the Northeast (Lancaster, Philadelphia and Baltimore), he hopes to reach a national audience. His current gig will definitely help him attain that goal. Image, né Vincent Smaldone, is on a national tour with the legendary Slick Rick. 3rd Rail, a company that fuses hip-hop, art and snowboarding, is promoting the event.
The DJ with Italian roots moved from the hip-hop Mecca of Brooklyn to Lancaster County. Image credits the Chameleon Club in Lancaster for his newfound success. “[The Chameleon Club] helped me play for bigger clubs in bigger cities,” he says about the venue where has been working for years. “They gave me a lot of opportunities.” Vinny also uses his talent to give back to the local community. On a part-time basis, he teaches a DJing class for the Lancaster-based Heads Up nonprofit.
Image used to be part of a group with local lyricist Stainless Steele. The group’s performances/songs consisted of surreal and obscure beats and sound effects — a sound both artists still use today. “I’m a big fan of sound effect records,” Image explains. “Break beats unlocked a whole new thing for me.”
When I arrived at his Lancaster County home, Image’s neighborhood reflected his personality: quiet and modest. His home’s living room is a makeshift library/studio. And his library of CDs and vinyl justify his eclectic taste in music. His alphabetized collection includes music from electronic musician and composer İlhan Mimaroğlu to a Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory soundtrack to early rap classics from Enjoy Records. Image says that he likes Enjoy Records’ recording technique and musicianship. “The Enjoy label is the sh*t,” he affirms.
Support DJ Image by signing up for slacker.com, which is an online radio site. Image programmed all the music on the 3rd Rail 2010 station. Click here to sign up.
2 Responses to “DJ Image”
1 Biggest Fan January 18, 2010 at 3:07 am
DJ Image is an incredible DJ!! He has worked hard and for a long time to be the DJ that he is. He knows what the crowd wants and what makes them dance. Whatever the occasion, he rocks their world! He is very professional and determined to do his best each and every time. His efforts are unstoppable!!! He is unbelievably talented. His determination,focus and his love for music is exceptional. He will always DJ for me! Thanks DJ Image for your contribution in the music world!!!! LAM
2 Doug E Fresh February 9, 2010 at 2:20 am
He’s a natural. Old soul recycled from 80’s rap/hip-hop.
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TEWU-UEW Calls on Vice-Chancellor
The leadership of the University of Education, Winneba branch of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) called on the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni on Wednesday, 19th September, 2018 to congratulate him on his appointment and induction into office as Vice-Chancellor of the University.
They expressed their joy and appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for his continued support for their members. The Vice-Chancellor thanked the leaders for the visit and noted that he recognized TEWU as a very important Union on campus and promised his administration’s support to improve the welfare of members of TEWU.
He used the opportunity to call on the leadership to work in unity to move TEWU forward. Members assured the Vice-Chancellor of their readiness to bury their differences and work as a team to support Management.
The delegation was led by Ms. Theresa Ackon, the Chairperson. Executive members present were Mr. Ebenezer Ofori Atta, Vice-Chairman, Ms. Kathryn Esi Sackey, Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Arthur, Assistant Secretary and Ms. Anthonita Anna Mensah, Trustee. Other members included Mr. Pius W. K. Ameble and Mr. Richard Beyemba Yorda.
Also present were the Ag. Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. James Kagya-Agyemang; Registrar, Surv. Paul Osei-Barimah Esq and Ag. Finance Officer, Mr. Bruno Chirani.
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by Andrea Raja 6 days ago
R. Kelly Recruited 12-Year Old For "Sex Tapes" Two Years Before Filming: Report
According to the legal docs, R. Kelly filmed sex tapes within 2 years of meeting a then-12-year old child.
In a startling development of an incendiary scandal which had grown silent in recent months – it was reported that was officers of the law while he quietly went about walking his dog in Chicago. After placing him under arrest, Kelly was subsequently charged with 13 federal counts encompassing obstruction of justice, enticement of a minor to engage and child pornography. Page Six has since come to learn a few additional details pertaining to his crimes, the arrest, and
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Page Six has come into the possession of an unsealed indictment dating back to 1996 or 1997, in which a timeline is constructed of physical relationship R. Kelly and a teenager took several years to consummate following their initial meeting. According to documents, which form the basis of Kelly’s most grievous charges – when they first linked up within the aforementioned timeframe of 1996-1997, she was young to the point being on the cusp of puberty, at 12 or 13 years old.
The child, clearly now a legal adult, with full agency in the matter, is one of 5 victims who consented to “revisiting” claims they made in the 1990s when R. Kelly was unceremoniously acquitted on a technicality. At least of the 5 victims held up an incident report dated 2009, in which she says she was held captive like the other victims who came forward before her. “Slapping, choking and isolating her in rooms for days at a time with no access to food” were the words Brooklyn prosecutors used to describe R. Kelly’s alleged misconduct.
Previous post 03 Greedo and Travis Barker’s joint project “Meet The Drummers”
Yukon – Lifestyle
Yukon returns today with a brand new visual for “Lifestyle” from his Triangle album. “The hook makes it self explanatory. It’s about being young and having fun. Texas known for…
Ralo – Free Ralo (Album Stream)
Atlanta’s Ralo has been fighting a vigorous legal battle from behind bars for over a year now, but that hasn’t stopped his prolific, independent musical grind. After releasing Conspiracy last fall, Ralo drops…
Maxo Kream – Still
Maxo Kream just released a new video for “Still” f his upcoming album, Brandon Banks which features a cameo appearance from his father, the album’s namesake. Brandon Banks is the culmination a journey from…
Project Pat – CheezNDope Ft. Young Dolph & Key Glock
Taking us back to his classic 2001 release, Mista Don’t Play: Everythangs Workin, Memphis legend Project Pat gives us an updated version one the album’s standout tracks. Listen to the…
ATAK – Uv Kourse
Stamp Brand Ent artist ATAK teams up with producer G Money for his new single “Uv Kourse”. His upcoming project This Is Me 2 is scheduled to drop Fall 2019.…
Mike Zombie – The Silver Tape (Album Stream)
Check out the new mixtape titled The Silver Tape from multi-platinum producer Mike Zombie. Now working with Artistry Worldwide Management, home to Saweetie, Draya Michele and many other influencers, Zombie takes time to reflect on life…
Get Familiar with “Level’d Up”, Four Men Looking To Build a Music Empire From the Ground Up
Level’d Up, founded in 2017 by four visionaries (Chance Jones, Sean Honeycutt, Chase Jones, Kamarin Mack), is intent on building a music empire from the ground up. Former club promoters,…
Lil Durk New Single + Album Announcement
Lil Mop Top – Moppy Bieber (Video by Sage English)
STARZ RELEASES FIRST FOOTAGE OF “POWER” SEASON SIX
YN GEEZ – Ride Wit Me | Visual by MarlissaMonay
Poundside Pop – Drippin Again
YungManny Causes Chaos inside of Sprayground showroom over AI collection!
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ENTERTAINMENT Weekly UK Releases
by Dylan Clarke 1 month ago
Wes Krave – Goin Hard
After the successful release his latest album, By The Code, Wes Krave returns with another single from the album, “Goin Hard.” The release comes at the heels a 100K+ streaming record for previous single, “Shake & Bake.” “Goin Hard” plans to follow in its footsteps, with 20,000+ streams since its recent release. This comes as no surprise, thanks to hard-hitting production matched with Wes Krave’s aggressive flows and use vivid imagery, overall highlighting his talent and love for the art form.
Previous post Lil Baby & DaBaby Baby
Atlantic Records & APG A&R Edgar Machuca Is Setting New Trends While Working with Cardi B, J. Balvin, G-Eazy and more
Edgar Machuca aka Edd Grand who is a GRAMMY Award Winning Song Writer and A&R for Atlantic Record and APG on the publishing side is creating his own wave in…
Fox TV’s “The Four” Contestant, Rell Jerv, Drops “For Pete’s Sake”
When you think about Hip Hop, places like New York City, Atlanta, Miami, and LA, are top mind. But don’t count Wilmington, Delaware out! One the genre’s brightest up-and-comers was…
Tasha The Amazon – Not The Same
There’s hot girl summer, and there’s also chill girl summer, which isn’t to say they are mutually exclusive. Tasha The Amazon is on both with “Not The Same,” a track…
Hollywood Home: Kawhi Leonard Agrees To a 4-Year Deal with the Clippers, Paul George Traded To The Clippers
The 2019 NBA Summer has possibly become the greatest fseason in American pressional sports history. With so many the NBA’s top players and free agents joining new teams this Summer,…
Da Heist – Vicio Prod. By Andrew Hypes
Miami rapper Da Heist shows love to his roots as he samples a Dominican classic for his latest single, Vicio. The song is an uptempo track that is perfect for…
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, David Guetta, Daddy Yankee, Afro Bros & Natti Natasha – Instagram
@Who the hell do you think I am? I don’t give a f*ck about your Instagram. Two Dance music’s most revered acts, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and David Guetta,…
Bahamadia – We Here
Bahamadia is poised to make her presence felt in 2019 with HERE, her first album since 2005’s Good Rap Music. In promotion her long awaited LP, the lyrical phenom has released the powerful visuals…
Clever Feat. Polo G & G Herbo – All In
Lil Baby & DaBaby Baby
Mike Posner – Look What I’ve Become ft. Ty Dolla $ign
Black Milk – If U Say ft BJ The Chicago Kidd
Moneybagg Yo – Dior Ft. Gunna
Blueface – Bussdown ft. Offset (Dir. by @_ColeBennett_)
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featured gallery for June 2018
Looking through the artists' slides in the Archive Project at Visual AIDS is a very intimate experience. I felt a surge of emotions ranging from being sad to being thankful and thought that this must be a small part of what it is like to live with HIV. As I got further into the archives, I found myself actually chuckling out loud -- the archive is full of over the top hysterical artworks! My mixed emotions turned into admiration for the artists' strength to produce such humorous works. Consequently, humor became my focus. I chose a peculiar combination of animals, costumes and fantasy, most bordering on the absurd. The title, Dress Up, not only refers to the outfits adorned, but also to the artists' ability to transform everyday banality into something comical and entertaining.
Karl Michalak's anthropomorphic drawing of seals clubbing a human baby is hilarious, sad and frightening all at the same time. He provides a comic approach to a serious situation that asks one to question humanity and power.
Enrico Filippi's pencil drawing of a woman in an unrealistic position supposedly watching television plunges immediately into one's sexual fantasy. Although titled T.V. Time, the focus does not seem to be on the act of watching T.V., but on the woman's sexually suggestive position.
Jonathan Leiter's collage appropriately titled In the Bedroom (Humpty), provides a lighthearted take on sex by juxtaposing a nursery rhyme character with a photograph of two men engaged in a sexual act.
Gregory Maskwa's painting is also accompanied by a witty title, Jungle Pussy. It is loaded with sexual innuendos and reminiscent of a thrift store landscape painting with a woman looking as if she stepped out of Playboy magazine.
Jorge Veras' ambiguous photograph of clubbers in fishnet stockings and platform shoes reveals a moment from a typical club scene in the late eighties to early nineties. The photograph is not only a tribute to this period, but also, perhaps, to the fun and unpredictable moments that accompanied it.
Thom Markee presents a painting of a man posing as a pony titled Party Pony. The brightly colored painting bears a resemblance to a "pin the tail on the donkey" poster, but not one intended for children.
Rene Capone's pencil and watercolor drawing titled Headlights, appears to unravel an incident involving a deer being hit by a car. In one area of the drawing a deer seems to be in a puddle of blood, while the boy looks as though he may be looking at the accident from another view. Whether the deer escapes alive is uncertain, but its tongue gesture adds an element of sarcasm to the deadly incident.
Tseng Kwong Chi's self-portrait posing as a Chinese dignitary at Disneyland with a Mickey Mouse character investigates commercialism and tourism through dark humor. The artist's stiff posture, monochrome costume and expressionless face deconstructs tourist photography and military portraiture all at once.
James K. Facknell presents a taxidermist coyote peculiarly clad in gold chains, a tracksuit outfit and bandana -- employing humorous techniques to comment on contemporary subcultures, fashion and consumerism.
Derek Jackson's graphite drawing of an unusual woman explores desire, affection and sexual ambiguity. The focus is on the woman's tender face and her altered hands, which render her almost semi-human.
Karl Michalak
Jonathan Leiter
Jorge Veras
Greg Maskwa
Tseng Kwong Chi
James K. Fackrell
Derek Jackson
Monya Rowe
Monya Rowe is a New York City-based independent curator. She recently curated "Were you alright yesterday?" at White Columns in New York and "but I wuv you" at 31 Grand in Brooklyn. Her upcoming projects include a curated feature in Broken Wrist Project and Loyal magazine.
Read Less Read More
View Past Curated Galleries
New GalleryTest
Of Riots and Mourning
Furnishing Evidence
Haunted and Whole: Expanded
Introspective Exploration
LOVE POZ WOMXN
Performative Objects
ACTIVISM AND THE ARCHIVE
THE MULTI-FACETED NARRATIVE OF ILLNESS
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Case nº Ruling Nos. AAR/ST/04-05/2015, in Application Nos. AAR/44/ST/02 & 04/2013 of AAR Cases, July 03, 2015 (case Gspl India Transco Ltd. Vs)
Judge: For Appellant: Shri Sujit Ghosh, Advocate. and For Respondent: Shri Amrish Jain, (AR).
President: V.S. Sirpurkar, Chairman and Shri S.S. Rana, Member
Defense: Cenvat Credit Rules, 2004 - Rules 2(a), 9; Central Excise Act, 1944 - Section 2(h)
Resolution Date: July 03, 2015
Issuing Organization: AAR Cases
Ruling.
M/s. GSPL India Transco Limited (F. No. AAR/44/ST/02/13) and M/s GSPL India Gasnet Limited (F. No. AAR/44/ST/04/13) (hereinafter referred to as applicant) are a subsidiary of Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL), which is a Government Company under the Companies Act, 1956. As the facts and question, on which Advance Ruling sought, is same in respect of above referred applicants, both applications are taken up for common ruling.
Both these cases had a checkered journey so far. Applicants filed applications before this Authority on 13-12-2011. However, the applications were rejected vide order dated 30-3-2012 as not maintainable. Thereafter, the applicants filed writ petition against aforesaid order of this Authority before the Hon''ble Gujarat High Court, who vide order dated 29-8-2012 allowed the writ petition and instructed this Authority to hear the applicant on merits. In the interim. Service Tax laws in India were replaced by a comprehensive Service Tax regime with effect from 1-7-2012. Due to these changes, the applicants filed corrigendum to the original applications on 12-11-2012. However, on the instructions of this Authority, fresh applications dated 1-3-2013 were filed, i.e. present applications. This Authority vide Order dated 16-1-2015 restored the applications, which were dismissed earlier for non-prosecution on 21-4-2014.
Applicant will be engaged in rendering taxable service in the nature of transport of gas through pipelines, classified under the erstwhile taxable category of "Transport of goods through pipeline or other conduit service", under Section 65(105)(zzz) of the Finance Act, 1994, as it existed prior to July 1, 2012. Applicant proposes to avail the benefit of Cenvat credit in respect of the ''capital goods'' and utilizing the same for discharging its output service tax liability. Applicant proposes to adopt engineering, procurement and construction ("EPC") model for laying of gas transmission pipelines. The proposed activity, as described by the applicant, is as under;
The activity of laying of pipelines begins with identification of route of the pipeline from the source to destination. The identification of the route involves a feasibility analysis to ensure that an acceptable route for the pipeline exits that provides the least impact to the environment and public infrastructure already in place. Once the route for the pipeline is identified, the next step is to acquire Right of Use and Right of Way on the said route. In this regard, the applicant would obtain the Right of Use (ROU) in respect of the land along with the identified route either under the Gujarat Water & Gas Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 2000 or the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Acquisition of Right of User Inland) Act, 1962. The first one is a Gujarat State Legislation and the second one is a Central legislation and both are exactly pari materia. The requisite rights of way are obtained through privately negotiated contracts. For the purposes of laying pipeline, the applicant would be required to procure steel pipes and valves and further would have to get the pipes and valves installed and commissioned along the identified routes so as to connect the source to the destination. In this regard, applicant would grant various turnkey contracts ("EPC Contracts") involving supply of pipes and valves as well as installation and commissioning of the said pipes and valves to bring into existence a pipeline connecting the source to the destination. The scope of work of the EPC Contractors would relate to construction of the complete pipelines by carrying out inter alia the following specific work scopes:
a) Supply of Plant and Equipment (including pipes and valves)
b) Installation and construction services, onshore services and offshore services.
c) Supply of mandatory spare within and outside India
d) A civil works package for constructing the pipelines sub-stations
Under the EPC Contracts, the applicant will procure the pipes and valves from the EPC Contractors, under a "Bill to ship to" arrangement whereby, the pipes and valves purchased by EPC contractors from the manufacturers would be directly shipped by such manufacturers to the applicant''s project site (with applicant as consignee) under the cover of appropriate statutory documents/invoice. Further, it would be specifically provided in terms of the EPC Contracts that the ownership of such pipes and valves would pass to the applicant from the EPC Contractor(s) ex works at the manufacturer''s factory (after the necessary inspection, verification and quality clearances at the manufacturer''s factory). Thus the pipes and valves for the pipeline would be owned and received by the applicant at the site as pipes and valves itself i.e. chattel qua chattel. The manufacturer would dispatch the pipes and valves to the applicant under a manufacturer''s invoice as mandated under Rule 11 of the Central Excise Rules, 2002. Upon receipt of the pipes and valves at the project site, the applicant would issue the same to the EPC Contractors free of cost (on bailment) for laying the pipeline along the identified route. The receipt of the pipes and valves and the issuance thereof to the EPC Contractors would be evidenced by appropriate documentation. The applicant would use the pipes and valves so received under the EPC Contracts for transport of gas through pipelines thereby using the pipes and valves for rendering taxable output service.
Applicant further submits that the EPC Contracts awarded by the applicant to the various EPC Contractors would involve both supply of goods like pipes and valves and rendering of construction / erection, installation and commissioning services, and further the price agreed between the applicant and the EPC Contractor(s) will be a composite price, such composite price will be divided into two key components, viz. price for supply of goods and price for rendering of services. The EPC Contractors would charge separately for the supply of goods like pipes and valves from the applicant. In fact, separate invoices would be raised by the EPC Contractors for the sale of pipes and valves and provision of construction / erection, installation and commissioning services for the laying of the pipelines. In respect of provision of services for erection and commissioning of pipelines, the EPC Contractors would qualify their services as "works contract services" and discharge service tax accordingly.
Applicant submits that without the pipes, there would be no pipeline and consequently, provision of the taxable output service of transport of goods through pipeline would be impossible, thereby establishing an inextricable link between the pipes and the output services. That, the pipes fundamentally have a functional utility qua the output services of the applicant as it is the aggregate of these conduit via which the goods are transported and there exists an integral nexus between the process involved in provision of the output services and the use of the pipes; that without the pipes, provision of the output services of the applicant of transport of goods through pipelines would not only be commercially inexpedient, but also theoretically and practically impossible; that without the pipes, pipeline services would not ever be possible; that the applicant submits that the eligibility of an assessee to avail Cenvat credit of capital goods and admissibility of Cenvat credit on capital goods can be determined only in accordance with the Credit Rules. Applicant further submits that even the restriction on availment of CENVAT credit under the Valuation Rules, would not adversely impact the credit eligibility of the applicant vis-a-vis the capital goods in question. Applicant submits that in respect of provision of services for erection and commissioning of pipelines, the EPC...
Other documents of interest:
Criminal Appeal No. 1366 of 2005. Case: Rabindra Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh Vs Republic of India. Orissa High Court
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Baby Archie illustrates transatlantic differences in naming trends, experts say
North American parents are more likely to bestow an invented name that can't be truncated into something casual
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, introduce their newborn son Archie, in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, Windsor, south England, Wednesday May 8, 2019. Dominic Lipinski / AP
TORONTO — On this side of the pond, the revelation of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor as the name of Prince Harry and Meghan’s newborn son immediately sparked questions about his “real” first name — Is it Archibald? Could he be Archer?
Nope. Last week’s royal announcement revealed this kid is simply Archie, an apparent statement by his parents that they hope to give him as normal a life as possible.
The name is “a quintessentially English choice,” declares Boston naming expert Laura Wattenberg, but it notably bucks convention in North America, where many parents eschew such cutesy, short monikers.
“Archie is a Top 20 given name in England and it’s not alone. Charlie and Alfie and Freddie and Reggie are all big hit names in England. It’s one of the biggest differences as you cross the Atlantic in baby name style,” says Wattenberg, author of “The Baby Name Wizard.”
“Cute just plays differently in England versus here, and particularly for boys and girls. We’re much more willing to give diminutives to girls…. You wouldn’t be surprised to meet a Gracie or an Emmy but you would be surprised to meet even a Billy.”
In general, handles ending in “-ie” and “-y” have largely faded over the last century in Canada and the United States, agrees L.A.-based Linda Rosenkrantz of the website nameberry.com
It’s one of the biggest differences in naming trends between the two continents. Archie’s dad, notably goes by the nickname Harry, instead of his given name Henry.
If anything, many North American parents are more likely to bestow an invented name that’s so new it can’t be truncated into something casual, say the experts.
“What I hear today is not, ‘Well, of course we’ll name Billy ‘William.’ I hear, ‘How do I keep people from calling William, “Bill”?”‘ says Wattenberg.
Consider the myriad short names that have been lengthened to seem formal, like Trenton and Jackson.
“The parents look for ways to add something formal, even when a name was a perfectly full name to begin with,” says Wattenberg. “It’s purely a parent’s sense of the name not feeling like it’s enough.”
Professor Cleveland Evans, an onomastics expert at Bellevue University in Bellevue, Neb., says preferred boys’ names tend to be two or three syllables in length, which can be cut to one syllable in everyday conversation.
“By far, the most popular sound pattern in the U.S. and I would guess probably Canada, too, for boys’ names, especially newly popular boys’ names, is two syllables ending in ‘n’ — so you have Jackson and Jayden and all the things that rhyme with Aiden and Mason,” says Evans, author of “The Great Big Book of Baby Names.”
Some parents do choose Ben and Mike for birth certificates instead of Benjamin and Michael, but most still favour a formal name for official identification, no matter the social class, he adds.
“The image American parents have is any child can grow up to be anything and so no matter what their own circumstances are, they want to give their child a name that will fit into the executive suite,” says Evans.
“Meanwhile, I think a lot of working class people in Britain are proud to be working class and are not thinking in that way.”
Gender plays a role, too, with “-ie” nicknames growing in popularity among girls, even if they started out as primarily boys’ names — think Frankie, Billie, Charlie and Teddie.
That trend has pushed some boys’ parents to look for masculine alternatives, says Wattenberg, who studied names that were made out of words and found “boys are being given new names that literally mean weapons and violence.”
“Riot. Rage. Cannon. I think that’s why I think it will take a lot for the cute British nicknames to catch on,” she says.
“Even as gender roles have changed, what hasn’t changed is that parents want boys to be strong above all.”
Top baby names registered with U.S. Social Security in 2018 were Emma and Liam, the agency revealed Friday.
They did not include Riot, Rage or Cannon, but Ruger — also known as a brand of firearms — was used 134 times.
There were only 207 Archies, barely enough to crack the Top 1,000 at 992.
Archie’s middle name Harrison is far more popular in Canada, says Toronto kindergarten teacher Melissa King-Ferman, who says the name was especially popular in her class about five years ago.
In contrast, she’s only met one child named Archie.
“I know more people that have an Archie dog than an Archie kid,” says King-Ferman, a self-proclaimed royalist.
Wattenberg says parents who give a long formal name thinking that they can keep nicknames away are kidding themselves.
“At some point in childhood there’s a change in ownership and the name no longer belongs to the parents, it belongs to the child,” she says.
“I’ve talked to so many parents who thought that they’ve successfully called their son only Christopher, until he was 14 and they suddenly learned he’d been going by Chris at school for years.”
Windsor-Essex first in Ontario with tool to reduce idled ambulances
Business of Health
This section was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of an Innovative Medicines Canada company.
Sponsored byan Innovative Medicines Canada company
Sponsored: How innovative therapies offer hope for cancer sufferers
Sponsored: a preventative lifeline throughout history
Sponsored: Protecting Canadians’ access to medicine
Sponsored: She was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer on Mother’s Day
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Tom Morello, Brad Paisley + More Give 'Game of Thrones' Theme Rock Makeover
posted by Katrina Nattress - May 15, 2019
Dan Weiss will forever be known as the creator of Game of Thrones, but did you also know he could shred?
The showrunner recently found himself in a room with guitar-weilding greats including Audioslave/Rage Against the Machine icon Tom Morello, Scott Ian of Anthrax, and Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme. After noodling on Game of Thrones inspired Sigil Collection Guitars from The Fender Custom Shop, and receiving some playing notes from the show's composer Ramin Djawadi (who can also wail), Weiss called in an unlikely sixth member to get in on the action: Brad Paisley.
After Bettencourt suggested the country star "sprinkle some fairy dust" on the hard rockin' rendition of the show's iconic theme song, the six-piece got to playing. Djawadi led the charge as Morello kept the top melodic line, and each musician was given his turn to add a little flare with his own short solo (who knew Brad Paisley could rock so hard!). Oh, to have been a fly on the wall in that room.
Watch the all-star guitar ensemble give the Game of Thrones theme song a hard rock makeover below.
The Game of Throne series finale airs Sunday (May 19) at 9pm EST/PST on HBO.
Photo: YouTube
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Can a city make its own energy?
On July 6, 2016 July 6, 2016 By Susan FeathersIn Citizen Action, Climate Change, Community, Democracy, Renewable Energy
The novel Threshold explores possible outcomes in Tucson, Arizona as climate change continues to dry out and heat up the Southwest.
The National Climate Assessment targets heat, drought, and insect outbreaks among other impacts for the Southwest. Surface water supply is expected to decrease as snowpack and stream flow decrease.
Projected regional temperature increases, combined with the way cities amplify heat, will pose increased threats and costs to public health in southwestern cities, which are home to more than 90% of the region’s population. Disruptions to urban electricity and water supplies will exacerbate these health problems.
Threshold tells a story about characters caught in a spiraling heat emergency and black out that stuns the city. South Tucson, a city within the Tucson city limits, rises to become more self-reliant through a solar field and solar gardens.
Yesterday, Reuters published an interesting review about changes in solar industries, showing how big solar (large scale solar fields for example) are becoming cheaper and more efficient than roof-top solar.
Many trace the tipping point for utility-scale solar to a 2014 announcement by Austin Energy that it would buy power from a new 150 megawatt solar plant – enough to light and cool 30,000 homes – for 5 cents a kilowatt hour. At the time, it was a record low price for solar power. Since then, projects have brought the price below 4 cents a kWh.
In Tucson, the Bright Solar program offers residents an opportunity to buy blocks of solar power from a solar field. When the grid goes down however, how can residents continue to generate power if they do not have their own home or neighborhood solar panels and battery storage?
It is important to think carefully about these new technologies and the opportunities they offer people for more democratic ownership of common resources. See the concept of Solar Commons.
As solar power becomes cheaper to generate, will everyone benefit? How can a city and utility work to make solar power available to everyone? As the solar industry develops, how can communities make sure their residents have access to new training and skills necessary for employment in the solar power industry?
In Threshold, South Tucson answers those questions and solves another challenge: the high rate of unemployed youth in their community.
Climate Changesolar powerSouthwest citiesTucson
Record Ice Melt in the Arctic: Albedo or Libido?
2 thoughts on “Can a city make its own energy?”
larycham
Threshold sound great as a novel, I am sure, and as the answer to our need for sustainable energy and economic justice. I look forward to reading it for the literary pleasure as well as for new insights into how we in Pensacola can meet our climate challenges.
July 6, 2016 at 1:54 pm Reply
Susan Feathers
Thanks Larry. Hopefully it will spark discussion. As you know, all these technologies, and even climate change itself, are constantly moving targets. What I hoped to do was get people thinking more deeply about exactly what they might do in a life threatening situation, and how their community could plan now to avoid such a crisis. Ultimately, I believe this period of time will be remembered as one of rapid innovation. Let’s hope…
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2018 11 19 Zenith Movement Through Time
Zenith: Movement Through Time
Calibre El Primero 3019 PHC, 1969
Since its creation 150 years ago, Zenith has constantly played a pioneering role in developing and producing precise, reliable and complex timepieces. By integrating the entire range of watchmaking professions in-house, the Manufacture has all the expertise and independence required to create unusual mechanisms that constantly push the boundaries of time measurement. From onboard instruments to wristwatches and pocket-watches, Zenith has filed over 300 patents in the course of its rich history, with a regularity worthy of a finely crafted timepiece.
Zenith has registered more than 300 patents over the course of its rich history.
An incredible record: 2333 chronometry awards won by Zenith
Testifying to the brand’s relentless quest for precision, ten or so of them these patents relate to the index or regulator, a tiny component serving to extend or reduce the active length of the balance-spring in order to achieve the best possible timing precision. The brand is indeed the most titled ever in the field of precision, having won no less than 2,333 chronometry prizes to date. Proudly embodying this impressive mastery, the El Primero caliber will doubtless remain one of the most legendary movements in the epic saga of horology.
Created in 1969, it is the first automatic integrated chronograph ever, also enabling exceptional 1/10th of a second precision, the equivalent of 36,000 vibrations per hour. Over 40 years later, it remains the world’s most precise series-made calibre.
While the history of Fine Watchmaking is punctuated by hundreds of patents filed by Zenith, one in particular already represents a major 21st century breakthrough: the “Gravity Control” gyroscopic module. This self-regulating system exceeds the performances of a tourbillon mechanism, since it keeps the escapement in a constant horizontal position and thus totally free of the variations in rate resulting from wrist movements.
El Primero Striking 10th, Caliber 4052
The Full Range of horological complications interpreted through over 600 movement variations
The Zenith repertoire encompasses the full range of watchmaking complications, from the simplest to the most sophisticated. Over the decades, the brand has built up an impressive array of more than 600 movement variations entirely developed and produced within its Manufacture – a rare feat indeed. While these calibers share the common denominator of impressive chronometric performance, they have also paved the way for other advances in the watchmaking field.
Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane
All watchmaking complications figure in Zenith's repertoire.
The brand with the guiding star was thus one of the first to produce wristwatches, filing a patent for such a model as early as 1909. A year later, the Manufacture once again innovated with a patent protecting its “mainspring development indicator mechanism” that heralded the advent of the power-reserve display about which virtually no brands were particularly concerned at the time. Closer to the modern era, the Elite caliber was one of the first movements designed using Computer Assisted Design (CAD) technology, and was voted movement of the year by the professional press when introduced in 1994. Favoured for its extreme slenderness, its precision and its reliability, the Elite caliber currently equips a number of Zenith timepieces, from a classic ultra-thin model to a ladies’ jewellery watch.
Click here to view Zenith's collections
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westpics
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Symonds Street
Sedlec Ossuary
The National Tramway Museum, at Crich,in Derbyshire, England, is situated within Crich Tramway Village, a period village containing a pub, cafe, old-style sweetshop, including the tram depots. The village is also home to the Eagle Press, a small museum dedicated to Letterpress Printing including an 1859 Columbian
printing press. The museum's collection of trams runs through the village setting. Visitors are transported one mile out into the countryside and back, aboard the varied fleet of trams.
The trams at Crich mostly ran along the streets of cities in United Kingdom before the 1960s, with some trams rescued and restored (even from other countries) as the systems closed. The town of Matlock is close by and the nearest train service is from Whatstandwell railway station on the Derwent Valley Line
(Derby-Matlock line), with a steep walk up to the museum at the top of the hill.
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HomeStories and photos From Studio A (1955)
Stories and photos From Studio A (1955)
January 1, 2007 September 5, 2016 Don Hallock 1950s, Anecdotes, BU Scholars, Highlights, PhotosBach Society Orchestra, Irwin Bodky Roads Mozart Nov, Michael Ambrosino
Images From John (Rocky) Coe
Bob Larsen in Studio A Control Room (with Judy Larsen in the background) — August 1955
Story by Michael Greenebaum
Performance — String group — Nov. 1955
The photo of the chamber orchestra … is of the first televised concert of Harvard’s Bach Society Orchestra, conducted by me. For all I know, this may have been the first orchestral concert televised on WGBH, in the studio on Mass Ave across from MIT. The orchestra also appeared sometime in the spring of 1956. Both of these appearances were arranged by Jordan Whitelaw, with whom I would lunch occasionally at the Signet Society at Harvard.
This is of particular interest this year [2004] since the Bach Society Orchestra is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the upcoming season. I founded the orchestra in the fall of 1954.
I was very glad to come across this photo, quite by accident during a search for information about William Pierce.
Performance – Choral group — July 1955
Prof. Irwin Bodky – "Roads to Mozart" Nov. 1955
Story from Larry Creshkoff
In the Bill Pierce picture, you might be able to make out that the desk microphone is being supported by a stand unlike any you had ever seen before. The story?
Bill Pierce at the Studio A news desk (Nov. 1955)
In 1955, most good mikes were still those designed for radio in pre-transistor days: bulky and heavy. The stands that came with the mike in the picture were straight up-and-down. We wanted to get the mike a bit closer to the face of the person speaking without having it dominate the scene.
We were unable to find a cantilever stand that was large enough or heavy enough to support the mike. So, vaguely remembering something about a law of physics involving the center of gravity, I designed a base for the stand, which was fabricated in the shop — if not by Rocky, then by Peter Prodan, or possibly Ray Wilding-White.
It consisted of what I suspect was nothing more than three pieces of pine — possibly 2" X 2" — with two rounded-off edges on the top surface, assembled into a V shape, with appropriate hardware screwed into the bottom of the V to hold the mike. The wood was then stained to approximate the color of the desk.
The engineering staff, as I recall, scoffed at the idea — John LaBounty and Roger Rice with some derision; Bill Busiek, more gently. They were convinced that the whole rig would tip over. Came the moment of launch and, voilà, it worked!
Rocky — bless you for digging this up. I confess that I had completely forgotten what might have been my most significant contribution to WGBH-TV’s operation during those rickety first two years.
Story from Don Hallock
Bob Moscone in the "scene shop" with the DeWalt saw – June 1955
The original scene shop was an office space measuring approximately 10′ x 20′ next to the record library. When it came time to rip boards any longer than 8′ on the saw pictured here, we had to open the record library door and feed the wood into the saw from out there.
Rocky (John) Coe – trying out smoke effects, 1955
From Vic Washkevich
Airing live TV in Studio A starting with Louis Lyons at 6 pm until sign-off at 11 pm from the summer of ’57 until the summer of ’58 also meant that each of us ten neophyte scholars had to have a lot of faith in one another’s abilities and commitment.
We came from different places, had never met one another, barely knew each other’s first names for a while and suddenly we were the arms and legs of the station, mastering the mysteries of being a switcher, boom man, camera operator, floor manager and lots more all on the same night. Although it was a labor of love, the fulfillment of that trust engendered a camaraderie among us that continues to this day for our class. We’ve had three class reunions since ’58 and we want to thank WGBH for throwing the party for us in April [2000].
Think about it. A bunch of kids walked in the studio and had all the toys in the world to play with, under direction, of course, while actually being on the air. Where else in the world could this happen? If you made a mistake, you didn’t get fired, you got better. And, mistakes were expected, given who we were. In fact, the lifers like Ambrosino, et al. made a lot of mistakes. But that was part of the greatness of being there, at least back in ’58.
Isn’t that wonderful — having air time, a studio, equipment, such as it was, and being able to learn while doing. It was exhilarating. Hell, for all we knew, every studio everywhere had ruts int he floor. For kids just out of college, this is what a TV studio looked like. We had nothing to compare Studio A to, so we made it as good as it could be and it made us as good as we could be.
In the summer of ’58 when we did the Boston Arts Festival, I was the stage manager for the ballet segment. Andre Eglevsky was the featured dancer. As you may recall, the wings of that stage were very narrow. I was crouched in a tiny corner with my headset on talking to the back of the station wagon (control room). Andre, sweating and with his feet propped against the wall behind him ready to leap upon the stage, looked at me and said, "Tell them I am ready."
Somehow, we all were. This experience will never happen again in anyone’s lifetime. It is to be cherished. As you noted many people share that feeling. Oh, and the class of ’58 has decided that we’re going to sing our anthem at the event. Tell Barzyk. That’ll give him something else to worry about. And we want prime time.
← The Lowell Council Ditty (1949)
The BSO and Master Control (1957) →
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Home Yukon Arts & Entertainment Yukon Arts Sharing the Wealth, Creatively
Leave the mundane behind ...
Mentioning the Unmentionable
Sharing the Wealth, Creatively
by Nicole Bauberger
Amber Walker feels grateful for her lot in life: her husband supports her financially so she can pursue her interests as a visual artist and playwright.
Over the past year, in Whitehorse, she has had many opportunities to pursue her artistic interests.
David Skelton of Nakai Theatre is helping her as she develops her play. Sandra Storey, the curator at Arts Underground, has helped her develop her ideas about her paintings. Fellow acrylic painter Marie-Hélène Comeau introduced her to willow charcoal as they worked together on a mural outside L'Association franco-yukonnaise.
She wanted to share this creative abundance with others: "I see a lot of people who are hurting like I was before I found what I wanted, so I want to help in my own way."
So, as a volunteer she has scheduled a series of art workshops, called Empowering Women Through Art, through the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre. The 25-year-old artist hasn't done much teaching before, but she had the inspiration to develop a series of art workshops that use the creative process as metaphors for the decisions and problem solving used in da
wuyoct8p12.jpg
Laurie Larkin-Boyle participating in the Basics of Watercolour held by Amber Walker at the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre's Empowering Women Through Art program.
ily life.
Slanted more toward art therapy than technique, the workshops are open to all women, and Walker hopes to attract a mix of "women at risk" and women in more comfortable places in their lives.
"The main things I'll be working with them on will be developing self-esteem and identity – who we are as individuals and women, and how things change."
For example, the watercolour course approaches painting in terms of "building on a foundation until they are satisfied with the outcome" of their painting, and it invites comparisons of the painting process with their lives, in general.
But it won't be an "advice-like situation". It will be "more like looking at the different ways happiness can be attained, looking for it not from the outside but from the inside."
Walker will supply herself with business cards from the different counsellors who offer actual counselling for women and will pass them on if participants raise questions that are beyond her depth.
Walker is amazed at the distance she's come artistically in the past year. Just a couple of years ago she was working as a correctional officer in a prison in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The training course was shortened and they graduated early and were sent out on the floor before combat training.
Despite feeling less than fully trained, Walker wanted to work to save money to move to the Yukon with the man who would soon become her husband. And she did.
Her husband, youth support worker William Jones, has helped her, Walker says, "on almost every single project I've ever started and [he has] funded a lot of them. He will probably always be partnered in any project that I start.
"I always seem to drag him into it, but he goes smiling."
The pair perform together as a singing and dance group called, People of Fire and Snow. The contemporary dance they do draws inspiration from the patchwork of heritage the two of them descend from.
"He's mainly Southern Tutchone. I'm Aztec, Spanish, Mexican, French, Irish and German."
"We sing in French, Southern Tutchone, English; and soon, Spanish as well. A lot of the songs we do are a mix and are performed a cappella and with drumming."
They're also both part of the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council Dancers, as well.
Walker's play is called 2012 Newscast. It's a cynical play "based on what I've viewed in the news, so far," tackling issues of commercialism, ethnicity, capitalizing on First Nations culture, gender equality and climate change.
She's also working on proposals for shows of her own acrylic paintings.
The workshops she's offering include Altered Books, Jewellery Making, Paint Throwing, Dancing Paint and Collage Making. They take place between now and early December.
She hopes "that when the workshop is done, the participants will be able to come up with me and say, 'I'm glad you showed me this because I never would have looked at my life this way.'"
She's also looking forward to these workshops shaking off the fall temptation to hibernate that she and many Yukoners feel, getting both her and her participants out of the house and into a creative environment supported by other women.
Contact the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre for more information or to register for one of the workshops.
Artpreneur William Jones Ta'an Kwäch'än Council Dancers Nakai Theatre Play Makers Issue: 2009-10-08 Amber Walker Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) Sandra Grace Storey Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre (VFWC) Marie-Hélène Comeau David Skelton Yukon Arts Society & Arts Underground
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Reviewing Octane Boosters - Are They Really Worth It?
Octane boosters have been known to improve vehicular performance, reduce emissions, and save on fuel. But sometimes, these are just gimmicks that don't really work. We, at WheelZine, have set out to answer the question whether octane boosters are good or bad.
Vijith Menon
Last Updated: Sep 25, 2017
Toluene was used as an octane booster in Formula 1 racing.
Do octane boosters really work? Octane boosters claim to increase the performance of a vehicle. They are gasoline additives that have gained popularity over the years, to improve performance, reduce emissions, and save fuel. There is no magical elixir that is designed to improve the performance of an engine. The only time these additives work is when you are not using the right octane rating fuel as your vehicle requires, and you increase it with what is supposed to be an additive.
Octane boosters actually increase the octane count of the gas in a vehicle. They give a permanent boost to the vehicle, unlike NoS (Nitrogen Oxide System), which gives a temporary boost of power. Octane boosters are actually fuel additives that are added to the gas inside the tank. Gas additives take the form of oxygenates like alcohols or ethers, which reduce the carbon monoxide expelled into the air. Fuel system cleaners can also be helpful to clean up harmful build-up and keep your engine running as it should.
Before we go further, let me tell you about 'knocking'. When you start your vehicle, if the air/fuel mixture combusts before the spark plug is ignited, then this is called knocking or pinging. The best way to describe this sound is when you shake a spray paint can really hard. If the mixture combusts later, then your engine is normal and should be running smoothly. To prevent knocking, octane boosters are used in small quantities along with the gas in the tank. Adding lower octane fuel than what's required can also cause knocking. Knocking can actually destroy the engine.
Function of Octane Boosters
These boosters contain anti-knock additives, which when added to the fuel, prevent the onset of knock (pre-detonation or pinging). By preventing knocking, the octane rating of the fuel is raised. These boosters are made of active ingredients such as MMT (methyl cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl), kerosene and alcohols or aromatics such as Toluene. Overuse of these materials may cause lead poisoning. Octane increases the compression ratio. The higher the compression ratio, the better the horsepower of the engine.
Octane Rating
Gasoline has chemicals mixed in it to control how quickly it burns instead of spontaneously combusting. This property is called octane rating. It is a standard to measure the engine performance of the fuel. The octane number is measured in RON (Research Octane Number) and Motor Octane Number (MON). RON correlates with low-speed and mild-speed knocking conditions, while MON is related to high speeds. Every engine is designed so as to operate in its best performance with an octane rating. Most octane boosters increase the octane rating between 2 to 8 points. A typical octane booster will contain the following ingredients: glycerol, ethanol, or methylpropanol. All of these are octane-enhancing chemicals. Many also advertise their octane gain points, which are often 0.1RON. Whenever you think you're getting a 3.0RON increase, you're only getting 0.3RON.
Advantage of Octane Boosters
Octane boosters increase the engine combustion temperature. Engine combustion, which burns air and fuel inside, is significantly improved because of octane boosters. As fuel containing octane boosters enters a vehicle's cylinders, the spark from the spark plug ignites the fuel/air mixture. Due to a high octane rating, the resulting combustion is greater, and this results in more engine power and efficient fuel burning.
Disadvantage of Octane Boosters
The use of octane boosters increases engine combustion and temperature. This increased combustion temperature causes the fuel to be burned in combustion heat, instead of whole fuel being released through the exhaust system and exiting the tailpipe.
The simple truth is that these boosters don't always offer what they are supposed to, and end up harming the bike and the environment. Gasoline additives can be used to inhibit corrosion and lubricate the upper cylinders, though these should not be used often. If you use lower octane in your Mercedes, then you could get premature detonation or 'pinging', which will hurt the performance and engine. It is advised that octane boosters be added to an empty or near-empty fuel tank before filling in gas. It's safer if you use the octane rating appointed for your car instead of the premium gasoline that you see used at various pumps.
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Ford raises industry-wide vehicle sales forecast for 2012
After posting an excellent first quarter sale performance in the United States, Ford Motor Co. has revised its 2012 forecast for industry-wide volume. According to Mark Fields, Ford President for...
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2013 Chevrolet Spark will have a starting price of $12,995
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GM CEO Dan Akerson wants to increase Chevy Volt monthly sales to 3,000
Chevrolet Volt production resumed a week earlier than scheduled on April 16 rather than on April 23 as previously announced. General Motors Co. has said that it is targeting an...
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Getting distracted while driving is a bad idea but according to a new study in the UK, one of three drivers admits to have read texts while on the road....
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Daimler CEO vows to surpass BMW sales with new Mercedes-Benz lineup
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Mercedes-Benz posts record sales in March 2012
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2013 Nissan Altima ad campaign to start this week
Nissan will begin its advertising campaign for the redesigned Altima sedan three months before it could be widely offered. Jon Brancheau, Nissan's vice president of marketing, said that the initial...
2013 Cadillac XTS U.S. pricing announced
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Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the creator of the legendary 911, dies at the age of 76
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2012 Bmw 3-Series Sedan Long-Wheelbase (LWB) gets official
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PSA/Peugeot-Citroen sells Paris office to Ivanhoe Cambridge for $327 million
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2012 Nissan NV3500 HD Passenger Van will have a starting price of $32,685
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The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
Selma Lagerlof
Nils is a young lad who likes nothing more than eating and sleeping. He is also a very mean little boy who likes to torment animals. One day he catches a tomte who turns Nils into a tomte, which leaves him shrunken and able to talk with animals, who are thrilled to see the boy reduced to their size and are angry and hungry for revenge.
This is the page of Selma Lagerlof on 24symbols. Here you can see and read his/her books.
Pretty Little Liars #2: Flawless
#1 New York Times bestselling series
The second book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series that inspired the hit ABC Family TV show Pretty Little Liars.
In ultra-exclusive Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four beautiful girls are hiding very ugly secrets. Spencer covets her sister’s boyfriend. Aria is fantasizing about her gorgeous young English teacher. Emily is infatuated with the new girl at school. And Hanna is using some ugly tricks to stay amazingly beautiful. But their most horrible secret is something so scandalous it could destroy their perfect little lives. And someone named “A” is threatening to do just that.
Full of unexpected twists and shocking revelations, Flawless is the second book in New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard’s compelling Pretty Little Liars series.
Seasons of Joy - Every Day is...
Claudia Marie Lenart
Immerse Your Child in the Wonder of Nature in Every Season The pure and simple delight of children playing outside is captured in needle-felted wool paintings created by Claudia Marie Lenart in Seasons of Joy: Everyday is for Outdoor Play. The picture book pairs dreamy images of multi-cultural children, animals, flowers and trees with verse that expresses the joy young children experience in nature's seasons. Children can see themselves in the diverse characters and can be inspired to spend more time playing outdoors and connecting to nature. "Young children learn through imitation and movement. If that movement is filled with imaginative pictures, they are able to take it up in their whole being and express it outwardly in their play. Claudia Lenart's book Seasons of Joy uses the artistic medium of needle-felted wool to express the joy of children in movement at every season of the year." --Barbara Patterson, retired Waldorf Extra Lesson teacher in private practice, author of Beyond the Rainbow Bridge: Nurturing Our Children from Birth to Seven "In Seasons of Joy, Claudia Lenart uses her beautiful rhyming prose to tell a classic tale of the changing of the seasons and the carefree pleasure of playing outside all year around. The details in every scene are meticulous and refined, down to the distinct wing pattern of a butterfly and the catchlight in a squirrel's eye. This book is exactly what it sets out to be - a joy to read and an inspiration for nature play for children everywhere." --Linda Akeson McGurk, journalist, blogger at Rain or Shine Mama, author of There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather "What a treat to meander through the seasons with these wonderful words and beautiful wool paintings. Claudia is an extraordinary fiber artist who has the special talent of bringing magical scenes to life. A delight for adults and children alike." --Donni Webber, www.TheMagicOnions.com, author of Magical Miniature Gardens and Homes Juvenile Fiction: Concepts - Seasons Learn more at www.ClaudiaMarieFelt.com From Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com
The Shadow Queen
A New York Times bestselling dark epic fantasy inspired by the tale of Snow White, from C. J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series. This breathtakingly romantic, action-packed fantasy is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and Cinder.
Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.
In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic of his own—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman—and bring her Lorelai’s heart.
But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.
The Distance Between Us
Money can't buy a good first impression.
Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers learned early that the rich are not to be trusted. And after years of studying them from behind the cash register of her mom's porcelain-doll shop, she has seen nothing to prove otherwise. Enter Xander Spence—he's tall, handsome, and oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and the fact that he seems to be one of the first people who actually gets her, she's smart enough to know his interest won't last. Because if there's one thing she's learned from her mother's warnings, it's that the rich have a short attention span. But just when Xander's loyalty and attentiveness are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn't a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she'd ever realized. With so many obstacles standing in their way, can she close the distance between them?
The first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series that inspired the hit ABC Family TV show Pretty Little Liars.
In ultra-trendy Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four beautiful girls are hiding very ugly secrets. High school juniors Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily have grown apart since their best friend Alison DiLaurentis went missing three years ago. But now someone is sending them anonymous notes, threatening to reveal their darkest secrets. There’s only one person who knows that much about them, but Ali’s gone . . . isn’t she?
Full of unexpected twists and shocking revelations, this is the first book in New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard’s compelling Pretty Little Liars series.
Are These My Basoomas I See...
For Georgia, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Just when she thought she was the official one-and-only girlfriend of Masimo, he's walked off into the night with the full hump, leaving Georgia all aloney on her owney-again. All because Dave the Laugh tried to do fisticuffs at dawn with him! Two boys fighting over Georgia? It's almost as romantic as Romeo and Juliet . . . though perhaps a touch less tragic. It's time for Georgia to get to the bottom (oo-er) of this Dave the Laugh spontaneous puckering business once and for all. It's like they always say: If you snog a mate in the forest of red bottomosity and no one is around to see it, is he still a mate? Or is he something more?</p?
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Cosmos Magazine Cover November 1977 Wooden Poster
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Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby 1968 Polish Wood Sign
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Kazumasa Nagai, was born in 1929 in Osaka, Japan, is an multiple poster award-winner, whose works ar..
Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Cover August 1955 Wooden Poster
This is the cover of the August 1955 issue of the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine.The..
Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Cover December 1954 Wooden Poster
This is the cover of the December 1954 issue of the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine.T..
Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Cover July 1959 Wooden Poster
This is the cover of the July 1959 issue of the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine.The M..
Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Cover November 1952 Wooden Poster
This is the cover of the November 1952 issue of the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine.T..
Modern Furniture by Mario Dal Fabbro Cover 1955 Wooden Poster
Mario Dal Fabbro was at various times during his career known as a furniture designer or sculptor.Be..
Modern Man, The Life of Le Corbusier Cover Wooden Poster
Modern Man is a book by Anthony Flynt about the Swiss-born architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris,..
Omni Magazine Cover August 1981 Wooden Poster
This is the cover of the August 1981 issue of Omni magazine.Omni was a science and science fiction m..
Omni Magazine Cover February 1979 Wooden Poster
This is the cover of the February 1979 issue of Omni magazine.Omni was a science and science fiction..
Omni Magazine Cover July 1981 Wooden Poster
This is the cover of the July 1981 issue of Omni magazine.Omni was a science and science fiction mag..
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Wright State University CORE Scholar Gallery Experts Gallery
Selected Works of Christopher N. Wyatt
The Role of MaxiK Channels in Carotid Body Chemotransduction
Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology
Chris Peers
Christopher N. Wyatt, Wright State University - Main Campus
Medical Cell Biology,
Medical Neurobiology,
Medical Physiology,
Medical Sciences,
Medicine and Health Sciences,
Neurosciences and
Physiological Processes
MaxiK channels are a unique class of K+ channels activated by both voltage and intracellular Ca2+. Derived from a single gene, their diversity arises from extensive splicing, and their wide distribution has led to their implication in a large variety of cellular functions. In the carotid body, they have been proposed to contribute to the resting membrane potential of type I cells, and also to be O2 sensitive. Thus, they have been suggested to have an important role in hypoxic chemotransduction. Their O2 sensitivity is preserved when the channels are expressed in HEK 293 cells, permitting detailed studies of candidate mechanisms underlying hypoxic inhibition of maxiK channels. In this article, we review evidence for and against an important role for maxiK channels in chemotransduction. We also consider different mechanisms proposed to account for hypoxic channel inhibition and suggest that, although our understanding of this important physiological process has advanced significantly in recent years, there remain important, unanswered questions as to the importance of maxiK in carotid body chemoreception.
10.1016/j.resp.2006.10.010
Chris Peers and Christopher N. Wyatt. "The Role of MaxiK Channels in Carotid Body Chemotransduction" Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology Vol. 157 Iss. 1 (2007) p. 75 - 82 ISSN: 1569-9048
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christopher_wyatt/21/
Contact Christopher N. Wyatt
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Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Bugbear
Release Date: Aug. 27, 2019
'Wreckfest' (ALL) Gets PS4/XOne Date, Deluxe Edition, PC Content Update - Trailer
by Rainier on July 2, 2019 @ 11:54 a.m. PDT
Wreckfest is a demolition derby-themed racing game with special attention paid to soft-body damage modeling, sophisticated driving dynamics and in-depth vehicle upgrading, featuring both demolition derbies and more traditional track races.
Have you ever hoped you could get back to the glorious days of Demolition Derby and FlatOut, climb behind the wheel of your banged-up ride and once again wreck your way to the finish line and show who’s the boss? You’re not the only one. Over the years, we’ve been asked thousands of times when are we going to get back to our roots and make another racing game that would capture the same spirit of over-the-top action and reckless racing.
Wreckfest is going to bring those unforgettable moments up-to-date, throw in the mix vehicle upgrading and spice it all up with massive online races where players can battle it out with their tricked out bangers.
Bugbear's Wreckfest is all about fun, breakneck racing and over-the-top crashes. We don’t shy away from contact, and indeed, our in-house engine is all about what happens when cars collide with each other and the world around them at reckless speeds.
It’s motorsport, but not just any motorsport. It’s motorsport with attitude.
Expect epic crashes and tight, neck-to-neck fights over the finish line on run-down racing tracks. Expect proper, big demolition derbies. Expect brand new ways for metal to bend and the defining once-in-a-lifetime moments that can only be achieved in Wreckfest, with its true-to-life physics simulation.
Delayed late last year for more polishing, Finnish game developer Bugbear Entertainment has completed the qualifying and stands on pole position for its release on August 27, 2019 to race onto PS4 and Xbox One.
"It's a great day! Bugbear Entertainment has been working hard on Wreckfest and we are happy to finally welcome the console players to the racing tracks. We've improved the PC version from 2018 tremendously, new tracks, cars, options, customizations and more - It's the best banger racing experience ever." says Janne Alanenpää, CEO and Creative Director of Bugbear Entertainment.
Wreckfest will be available in both standard and deluxe versions, while the digital deluxe edition offers a 24-hour head start into the game on August 26th 2019, both versions will include the exclusive Bandit Ripper V8 racer for everyone who chooses to preorder, digitally or retail**.
The Deluxe Edition also contains the Season Pass, which will grant access to 20 new cars, 20 special roof decorations and additional car customizations like armor, rims and more. This new content will be released step by step after the release, along with free content updates.
Do exisiting owners of Wreckfest (PC) get anything, when the console version launches? YES! On August 27 Wreckfest will receive a big free update, including:
3 entirely new tracks and 1 new derby arena
3 new crazy challenge vehicles
1 new reward car for finishing the carreer
New & improved career events
Several new paintjobs for existing vehicles
Additonal daytimes for all tracks
... and some more cool stuff!
Burn rubber and shred metal in the ultimate driving playground!
Awesome Cars – Old, banged-up, patched-together cars that simply ooze style! From old American heavy-hitters to agile Europeans and fun Asians, you won’t find anything like this in other games.
Meaningful Customization – Change not only the look of your cars but also upgrade their body armor.
Multiplayer – Wreck your friends online and take racing to the limit while chasing for demolition dominance!
Already available on PC, Wreckfest is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on August 27, 2019.
More articles about Wreckfest
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Françoise LheriauAge: 36 years1788–1825
Françoise Lheriau
Lheriau
Birth October 7, 1788 42 44
Mésanger, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, FRANCE
cultivatrice
Historical Event
Yellow Fever Epidemic
between 1793 (I) and 1798 (VI) (Age 4 years)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Note: More than 4,000 Philadelphia residents died from yellow fever - http://goo.gl/4c1Pp5
The Louisiana Purchase
1803 (XI) (Age 14 years)
Note: Napoleon Bonaparte agrees to sell 828,000 square miles of land to the United States for $15 million - http://goo.gl/yH4MPB
1789-01-12 X Jean Pierre Maupille et Francoise Livet 10 NUM 35612 199 - FOUGERES - greffe RILLE 2-11.jpg
Death of a mother Marie Lheriau
between 1812 and 1815 (Age 23 years)
Note: War of 1812 between the Americans and the British. The Creek (or Red Stick) War in Alabama had different origins, but it coincided with the war of 1812, and the U.S. treated it as a part of the larger war, with Jackson and his forces also in charge of defeating the Creeks - http://goo.gl/cu6BNB
1896-1949 John William Rauhut.jpg
Marriage Auguste Isidore Maupillier — View this family
Death 1825 (Age 36 years)
Note: bigenet: LHERIAU Françoise MONPILLIER Augustin 44 1825 D oui CGO
Marie Lheriau
Pierre Lheriau
Birth: March 9, 1746 — Mésanger, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire
Birth: April 19, 1744 — Mésanger, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire
Death: December 19, 1814 — Mésanger, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire
Auguste Isidore Maupillier
Birth: October 7, 1788 42 44 — Mésanger, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire
Family with Auguste Isidore Maupillier - View this family
Birth: March 25, 1786 40 28 — Mortagne-sur-Sèvre, Vendée, Pays de la Loire
Death: April 16, 1831 — Mortagne-sur-Sèvre, Vendée, Pays de la Loire
Marriage: January 19, 1825 — Mésanger, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, FRANCE
bigenet: LHERIAU Françoise MONPILLIER Augustin 44 1825 D oui CGO
1825-01-19 X Auguste Isidor Monpillier et Francoise lHeriau Mesanger 1.jpg
Image dimensions: 2,840 × 1,888 pixels
1825-01-19 X Auguste Isidor Monpillier et Francoise lHeriau Mesanger1.jpg
Françoise Lheriau, cultivatrice, daughter of Pierre Lheriau and Marie Lheriau, was born on October 7, 1788 in Mésanger, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire and died in 1825 at the age of 36. She married Auguste Isidore Maupillier, son of Jacques Maupillier and Augustine Céleste Leroy, on January 19, 1825 in Mésanger, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire. He was born on March 25, 1786 in Mortagne-sur-Sèvre, Vendée, Pays de la Loire and died on April 16, 1831 in Mortagne-sur-Sèvre, Vendée, Pays de la Loire at the age of 45.
Last change September 9, 2012 – 12:15:52
by: Andreas RAUHUT
Family with Auguste Isidore Maupillier
Jacques Maupillier
Augustine Céleste Leroy
Françoise Lheriau(1788–1825)
Auguste Isidore Maupillier1825
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Pasco County Shows It Is Ready For Hurricanes
By Sam Newlon • May 29, 2018
Pasco County officials say they feel prepared as we enter hurricane season.
Despite only receiving 1.28 inches of rain during the first named storm of the season, Pasco County officials say they pulled out all the stops to test its preparedness.
Flood-prone zones were pumped free of water, fire rescue crews were paid overtime to operate high-water rescue vehicles and sandbagging operations across the county were made available for residents to build their own makeshift levees.
"Tropical Storm Alberto showed that we are ready," Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County's head of public safety said. "All the necessary things we did, everybody was in compliance with and right in line with."
Guthrie says all these precautions were part of a typical response from the county. He says a history of emergencies including summer storms in 2015, 2016 and sinkholes scattered across Pasco serve as plenty of real-world experience for response teams.
"We were pleased with the way the community responded during Tropical Storm Alberto," Guthrie said. "Nobody rushed to gas stations and did anything out of the ordinary. They did exactly what we told them and asked them to do, so we believe that we are very prepared for this 2018 hurricane season."
He says Pasco County showed it is ready for the above-average hurricane season, as projected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration.
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a 75 percent chance of an average to above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year. After a dry season with above-average rainfall, Florida will likely feel the impacts of hurricanes even if they don't land on the peninsula.
"We're expecting the worst and hoping for the best here in Pasco County," Guthrie said. "But we are prepared as a county government to respond to the needs that the community has."
Flooding Pasco county
Alberto Leaves, Florida's Rainy Season Pattern Returns
By Jeff Huffman • May 29, 2018
Subtropical Storm Alberto came ashore Monday afternoon in the Florida Panhandle near Laguna Beach, just west of Panama City Beach. The remnant circulation from the system will move through Alabama today, but plenty of tropical moisture remains across Florida this week. This will enhance the typical sea breeze showers and thunderstorms, leading to heavier rainfall rates at times and longer-lasting episodes of thunderstorms in the coming days.
Threats Of Severe Weather Dampens Weekend Music Festivals
By Molly Urnek • May 29, 2018
Jason Ohdagyo Fenmore/Facebook
Festival-goers packed away their fanny packs, bandanas and flags Sunday when both the Sunset Music Festival and Tampa Bay Margarita Festival announced the cancellations of the second day of activities.
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Student to Compete in National History Day Contest
Eighth-grader D’Shanti will compete in the National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland next month
One of Alain Locke Charter School’s very own students has qualified to compete in the National History Day Contest next month at the University of Maryland.
Eighth-grader D’Shanti advanced to the national contest after her submission to the Illinois History Day competition in Springfield last week scored among the top two entries in the Research Paper category. The paper is entitled, “Highway Construction in the 1950s: The Helping and Hindering of Chicago’s Highway.”
All seven Alain Locke students who competed ranked as “Superior” and took home blue ribbons.
Alain Locke students display their Blue Ribbon awards from the May 2 Illinois History Day competition in Springfield
According to the National History Day website, the annual contest regularly draws entries from nearly 3,000 middle school and high school students from the United States and abroad.
The 2019 National History Day Contest, sponsored by the History channel, is scheduled to take place at the University of Maryland from June 9-13.
For more information visit: https://www.nhd.org/national-contest.
Alain Locke Students Advance to Statewide Illinois History Day Competition
After School History Fair, Students Go on to Citywide Competition
7th-Graders Bring Home Red Ribbon Awards
Sign Up + Stay Connected
Alain Locke Charter School
3141 W Jackson Blvd
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Grace Lightman
906110_1487461274890641_7992104535184984457_o
This week I had breakfast with Grace Lightman, and we spoke all about what she is up to at the moment and it was super.Grace sings, really rather beautifully and in the last couple of years has gone from being the lead singer in a band to becoming a solo artist, writing her own songs. I have a great admiration for anyone who can sing (I can't) and also for people who make a decision to pursue a career in something they truly love, that really makes them happy.Grace's voice is exquisite, and incredibly moving - and the music she is creating, her voice and the music, combined with her lyrics, is very poignant, conjuring up a sense of melancholy with a rather dreamy twist to it (listen to Black is the Colour). It is absolutely beautiful, there is really no other way to describe it.Grace currently has silver hair, and with her big alluring green eyes, and kooky black and white outfits, when you meet her, you just know she is someone. What I like about Grace is that she is very down to earth, she is passionate about what she does, she is confident, and she's a hard worker. I have seen her perform, and she captivating, but actually you also kind of want her as your best friend. She is fun and sassy, and very open to new ideas and has a wonderful imagination. You couldn't put her in any sort of box, but perhaps that is the perfected art of a performer. And performing is what she loves most - when she performs 'the whole world stops', for her it is 'the ultimate state of being' - and it is something, she told me, she just couldn't live without.So after leaving a band 3 years ago, Grace realised that she needed to not only sing music, but also create it - up until this point she had only ever performed. She began to be mentored by a song writer, spending two years learning to write songs, and meeting her current writing partner, Patrick along the way. Grace and Patrick write their songs in the deepest countryside on a farm, in a room full of pianos, with chickens in the farmyard outside. I love the image of Grace with her silver hair, and super outfits writing music on a farm - a chicken even features (accidentally) on one of the tracks.Grace and Patrick have hit on something incredibly special and ever since have been building an album, writing to a specific sound and visual palette - of which the first release is Vapour Trails. Grace describes her music and image as sounding, and looking like the Twilight Zone. We are thinking vintage sci-fi from the seventies, and I love this, for me it conjures up the image of old school sci-fi, in black, white, and silver, with lovelorn extraterrestrials lost in time and space.Grace will be releasing her first official single soon from this album, and has shot a video for this, directed by the film director Alex Lightman, who also happens to be her brother. I am so excited to see it.And in the meantime if you would like a taster, Grace recently played a gig which was music directed by her writing partner Patrick - the line up was San Felu, Waylor and Grace Lightman. This was her first gig with a full band, and she also sung one song with each of the other bands, I suggest you have a little listen it's all wonderful:Vapour Trails - Grace LightmanSanctuary Blues - San Felu feat. Grace LightmanHungover - Waylor with Grace LightmanSo excited for your single and video release Grace, it's going to be be magnificent!Alice xxxwww.gracelightman.comFacebook page: Grace LightmanPhotos by Dmitry Serostanov
In Creative Careers, Emerging Brands, London, Music, Theatre, Interview Tags alex lightman, black is the colour, grace lightman, grace lightman song, san felu, twilight zone, vapour trails, waylor
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Ultrasound Tracking Beacons Making Things Sort of Creepy For Consumers
November 17, 2015 | Eric Rand
Ultrasound is supposed to be our friend. However, the security world was made aware last week of a technology being used by an outfit named "SilverPush" that is utilizing a new and unusual method for tracking mobile phone users with ultrasound signals. The basic story is that the company is embedding a tracking beacon in advertisement audio using ultrasound frequencies that are outside of the range of human hearing. The microphone on a cell phone picks up the ultrasonic sound, and an app on the phone that's built to listen for that kind of tone decodes it and sends it on to the company doing the tracking.
This all sounds a little bit creepy, which even the CEO of SilverPush admitted when the story originally came out last year. Ultrasound tracking happens in a way that most consumers would not notice unless they have a cat or dog that suddenly starts acting strange during certain commercials or when they visit certain sites, because their more-sensitive ears can pick up the tones of the attempted data transmission while human ears cannot. This scenario is not science-fiction, but actual reality.
News stories about ultrasound tracking almost all quote the same sound bite [1].
When a user encounters a SilverPush advertiser on the web, the advertiser drops a cookie on the computer while also playing an ultrasonic audio through the use of the speakers on the computer or device. The inaudible code is recognized and received on the other smart device by the software development kit installed on it. SilverPush also embeds audio beacon signals into TV commercials which are "picked up silently by an app installed on a [device] (unknown to the user)." The audio beacon enables companies like SilverPush to know which ads the user saw, how long the user watched the ad before changing the channel, which kind of smart devices the individual uses, along with other information that adds to the profile of each user that is linked across devices.
This explanation might be a little on the obscure side, but to folks who remember the good old days of telecommunications, it may seem familiar: ultrasound tracking functions in a manner that is very similar to old-school modems, especially those that used an acoustic coupler.
For these modems to work, a computer would modulate (that is, vary in frequency) an audio tone, which would be played into a speaker in the half of the coupler that was connected to the telephone handset's microphone. The receiving computer would receive the tones via its coupler's microphone, underneath the speaker of the receiving phone's handset. That computer would then demodulate the tones and convert them back into the original data.
Old-school modems used audio-frequency tones, the sounds you'd hear if you picked up a phone extension when someone was on the line back in the old days. This was done mostly out of convenience; because telephone lines and handsets were optimized for human voice frequencies, noises that were outside of that band were likely to be dampened and less able to be transmitted.
Ultrasound tracking technology operates along very similar lines, except that the modulation of the information takes place at the time the ad is created, and its demodulation happens in your phone.
Given that even early modems were capable of transmitting information at 300 bits per second – while later, more advanced ones got as fast as 56,000 bits per second - the amount of data that can be sent in a couple of seconds of ad time is more than enough time to transmit some unique, trackable values. For instance, advertisers could use 128-bit universally unique identifiers (UUID) and transmit a series of them over the course of a TV spot to see how many of these are picked up by the receiving app on a phone. This can allow them to identify how long the phone (and by extension, the viewer) was “watching” the ad before they changed the channel.
Similarly, encoding a unique value into a web ad would tie an individual ad impression to a specific mobile device that is close to the computer that the ad was displayed on. Site-to-site tracking could be enabled by displaying similar ads on other sites, and then matching the entries with the phone that picked them up. In addition, if the ad's audio repeats, then the time a user spends on individual website pages can also be measured.
Central Dependency
However, this all depends on an appropriate app being installed on a smartphone, one that contains SilverPush's libraries that listen for such ultrasonic tone sequences and decode them.
While at this time I've not found a list of SilverPush’s specific clients, there are various companies out there that do admit to affiliation with them. For instance, "mobyaffiliates” has a page that talks about their capabilities as part of their affiliate network. In addition, the Google Play store has a test app provided by SilverPush.
If your phone does not have an app that contains SilverPush’s code, then they won’t be able to track you through this method. However, finding out which apps have that code may prove to be difficult, since it's not likely that SilverPush will publicize which apps have this type of listening code embedded.
How To Stop It
First, if at all possible, avoid installing any apps that request microphone permission as part of their installation. Preventing apps from accessing the microphone on your Smartphone nullifies this avenue of tracking entirely. You can check the permissions each app has on Android by going to the Setup menu, selecting 'Apps', and then looking down the list of each app you have installed; there's a section at the bottom for permissions. Similarly, on iOS, you can check these via the Settings menu, and checking 'Privacy'.
Second, blocking ads on your computer would prevent them from playing audio over your computer's speakers. Wearing headphones or keeping a computer’s sound off when you're not specifically using it would also prevent the tracking; if the speakers are off, they can't transmit ultrasonic information. TVs are a little harder to mitigate, but muting the sound when ads come on would help.
Third, if you have the capability, put your mobile device on a VPN that blocks advertising and tracking domains. If you have control over the network, then you can prevent it from being used to track your phone. My previous blog entries here talk a bit about how to accomplish this, using general adblocking via DNS. There's other ways to go about it as well, and a good network administrator can shape traffic any number of ways to discourage tracking.
Trying to jam an ultrasonic tracking signal with other ultrasonic sounds might work, but it's likely to drive all the cats and dogs in the neighborhood crazy with the noise, so this tactic would probably not be the best idea.
As you might have realized, ultrasonic tracking is something that's likely to recur in other ways in the future. The technology in question is not all that innovative. In fact, there have been several talks on the notion (for instance, https://www.usenix.org/conference/woot14/workshop-program/presentation/deshotels) as well as some discussion about how malware can be used to exfiltrate information from air-gapped networks in the same way. And, of course, there is the example of the 20th-century modem, which we discussed earlier.
Becoming aware that microphones and speakers are potential threats to our privacy is a good first step, as is taking control of the networks to which your computers and phones are attached. The more of your systems and networks that you explicitly control, the fewer of them will be available for other people to track without your knowledge.
Remember, tracking can only happen with your cooperation, whether you realize it or not. By refusing to cooperate with those who are trying to track you, you can greatly hamper the amount and kind of information that they are able to collect about you, your behavior, and your assets.
Eric is a consultant at Brown Hat Security. Please follow Eric on Twitter.
[1] http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/beware-of-ads-that-use-inaudible-sound-to-link-your-phone-tv-tablet-and-pc/
About the Author: Eric Rand, Castra Consulting
He is currently working for [url="http://castraconsulting.com" target="_blank"]Castra Consulting[/url].
Read more posts from Eric Rand ›
TAGS: ftc, silverpush, ultrasound tracking
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Seattle's Anomie Belle 'Flux' album gets remixed
Anomie Belle is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and producer from Seattle who has been making music for about as long as she can remember. Growing up playing violin and writing songs, Anomie has developed a unique musical style resulting from the amalgamation of a number of genres and sounds. Incorporating elements of electronica, pop, experimental and soul, Belle creates unique sonic patchworks of complexity and emotion.
Her 2017 multimedia album and artbook entitled 'Flux' made waves within domestic and international music circles gaining high praise from KEXP, BBC6 and Exclaim. The concept was perhaps as interesting as the result, with each track of the album paired with a different work of art from an international array of painters and illustrators.
Now 'Flux remixed' aims to recreate the magic once again, aiming high with an all start cast of artists and musicians ready to reinterpret the seminal album. With a deep and varied remix roster made up of names such as: Antibalas, Prefuse 73, Blockhead, Robot Koch, Daisuke Tanabe, Monolake and more. the remix album promises to be just as innovate and groundbreaking as the original.
Today we present a special sneak peak of the upcoming album set to release this December. The remix coming from an artist who requires no introduction; German born, LA based composer, producer and artist - Robert Koch aka Robot Koch. The west coast based producer takes a tastefully minimal approach alongside Belle to weave a sonic narrative full of bassy kicks, plucked strings and textured atmospheres.
Flux Remixed is set to release Dec. 7 on Diving Bell Recording Co.
Stay tuned to their website for upcoming announcements.
Follow Anomie Belle
Follow Robot Koch
Follow Diving Bell Recording Co.
In Blog Tags electronic music, electronica, anomie belle, robot koch, seattle, berlin, underground music, soundcloud, now playing, new music
Track Premiere: December Beaches - It's not fair he gets to do morphine.
Thanks to the Czech DJ and online curator: Moskalus for the track premiere! Listen to the title track in its entirety below and support the release over on our Bandcamp. Releases Monday June 12th.
Tags acid house, house music, chicago, orlando, raw, analog synth, roland, korg, akai, adsr collective, vancouver, december beaches, soundcloud, track premiere, underground music
24 hours of ADSR event gallery
Updates to the event section, our 3 year event "24 hours of ADSR". Check out all the action over here.
Tags event gallery, vancouver, idm, electronic music, photography, live pa, dj, event, underground music, synths
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About AGCI
The Aspen Global Change Institute is an independent nonprofit dedicated to furthering scientific understanding of Earth systems and global environmental change. Our work includes interdisciplinary research, education and outreach, and collaboration with resource managers and policy-makers. Together we strive to facilitate scientific discussion for the betterment of society and natural systems, while promoting practical solutions to the challenges of today's changing Earth systems.
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Basalt CO 81621| 970.925.7376
Science Sessions/ Workshops
Forest Health Index
From the Horse's Mouth
AGCI in the Classroom
Climate Change and Aspen
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Videos + Publications
Quarterly Research Reviews
Alan Hamlet
AGCI Workshop Participation
Learning from Regions: A Comparative Appraisal of Climate, Water, and Human Interactions in the Columbia and Colorado River Systems
AGCI Presentations/Publications
Origins of the Salmon Crisis in the Columbia River Basin and Prospects for Sustainable Long-term Solutions PDF of Slides
Alan F. Hamlet joined the CEE faculty as a Research Assistant Professor in Sept, 2007, with joint affiliation with the inter-disciplinary Center for Science in the Earth System (CSES) Climate Impacts Group. His research over the last 10 years has focused on the impacts of climate variability and change on rivers and water resources systems in the western U.S., with a particular emphasis on the Columbia River basin in the Pacific Northwest.
AGCI News & Events
AGCI has become an intellectual proving ground, a ferment for new ideas and concepts, and a place where the different disciplines actually talk, and progress. Hal Harvey
AGCI has been the most prominent place for developing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary dialogues between scientists and practitioners. Guy Brasseur
We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims. R. Buckminster Fuller
104 Midland Avenue
Aspen Global Change Institute
The Aspen Global Change Institute is an independent nonprofit dedicated to furthering scientific understanding of Earth systems and global environmental change in service of society. Our work includes interdisciplinary research, education and outreach, and collaboration with resource managers and policy-makers. Together we strive to facilitate scientific discussion for the betterment of society and natural systems, while promoting practical solutions to the challenges of today's changing Earth systems.
View Past Newsletters
© 2019 Aspen Global Change Institute All rights reserved.
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J. Roger Charoux
Enlightenment, Delight & Wonder
Nu Au Bouquet Rouge
23.5" x 23.5" J. Roger Charoux
Nu Couché Au Chat Noir
Acrylic & Oil on Canvas
June 5 – June 25, 2019
Reception: Thursday, June 6, 2019 6-8 PM
While the paintings of J. Roger Charoux can be read as impressionistic glimpses into intimate scenes where one is able to observe without being noticed, the artist is also quite interested in the materialistic art of painting itself and his main inspirations are nature, line, and color. For Charoux, color and composition take precedence over the form in order to further emphasize the importance of the subject matter. Beginning with a ‘patch’ or idea with a general idea of subject, he slowly develops the composition by decomposing the drawing and dissolving the patches of color which compose the subject, blurring the line between form and ground in a process that allows him to bring out the raw essence and identity of his work. Through this process, Charoux’s paintings are able to become dreamlike evocations that reveal themselves solely by the reality of that dream.
Charoux's work has garnered much renown throughout his career. In 1951, he was awarded 'le prix du peintre,' and has exhibited in mist of the galleries and art venues in his home of Mauritius. Charoux's work has been acquired by many prominent personages, including former President of the Republic of France Mr. and Mrs. Francois Mitterrand, Indian Prime Minister His Excellency Shree Manmohan Singh, President of Mozambique His Excellency Joaquim Alberto Chissano, the President of the United Nations Mr. Koffi Annan, and the President of the Republic of Congo Brazzaville, amongst others.
Invitation to J. Roger Charoux's exhibition
André Bakoš | Zvia Merdinger | Margaret Adams | Ashley Morgan | Pamela Bennett Ader | Venceslao Mascia | J. Roger Charoux
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See More of Maria Sharapova's Dazzling California Residence
Pottery Barn Is Launching a Friends-Inspired Furniture Line
Go Inside Style Guru Arielle Charnas’s Inspired New York Apartment
WEB-EXCLUSIVE HOME TOUR
An Eclectic California Ranch Inspired by Nature
Designer Tim Clarke and Wade Design Architects go back to the land for a family compound in the Sonoma Valley
Manolo Langis
Many decorating professionals claim Mother Nature as their muse; few translate her inspiration so fully as one design team did for a sprawling family compound set on 140 acres in California’s Sonoma Valley. Overlooking rolling hills and terraced vineyards, the new-build ranch takes its cues from the land, quite literally. The site was chosen as much for its physical attributes as for its habitability—a spectacular giant oak tree, a stately weeping willow, and an ancient rock outcropping delineate the footprint of the home.
“The elements form a triangle, with the main spine of the house falling on one side of it,” says Ani Wade of Wade Design Architects in San Anselmo, California, who worked with husband and partner Luke Wade to establish the kitchen, living room, library, and master bedroom along that fault. “The house acts as a bridge between these outdoor elements but is also meant to be transparent, so we were mindful of the sun’s orientation in each room.” To achieve a sense of lucidity, the architects incorporated walls of windows and, per the clients’ wishes, lowered the roofline during construction, which prevents the structure from obstructing or limiting the view. Exterior wood was stained instead of painted, giving the impression of a house that emerges fully formed from the hillside. “There’s an earthiness to the home; the clients didn’t want anything too precious or pretentious,” says Wade.
In the light-filled dining room, a table made from a felled tree on the property is surrounded by leather chairs from Sol & Luna, and a Lindsey Adelman chandelier gives the appearance of clouds on the horizon. “I was constantly thinking of the composition each room made with the landscape,” says Clarke.
Santa Monica–based designer Tim Clarke took a similar approach in the interiors, uniting natural references and eclectic flourishes. “Out of every window looks like a plein air painting,” says Clarke, citing the changing landscape as the catalyst for a more colorful take on the typical greige mountain home. “In the summer everything turns golden and green. I knew the teal in the bedroom would be a nice complement. And in the winter, when it’s all gray, the strong color feels cozy and inviting.” Such is the case in the kitchen, where pendants that resemble acorns pop against blue-hued cabinetry. “That was more of a happy coincidence,” acknowledges Clarke, noting the reference to that pivotal oak tree. “But it works.” In the dining room—a light-filled space dominated by three walls of windows and a table made from a felled tree on the property—a Lindsey Adelman chandelier gives the appearance of clouds on the horizon. And in the bedrooms, the designer incorporated textiles made by local Native American tribes, a nod to what Clarke calls “the real California.”
To temper the contemporary color scheme, natural textures come in the form of grass cloth wall coverings in the bedrooms, a rustic Sonoma stone fireplace in the living room, and terra-cotta floor tiles in the powder room. “The point was not to compete with the view, but to accentuate it,” says Clarke. “As the house ages, it will blend even more seamlessly with the landscape.” After all, Mother Nature always trumps human intervention.
A sea of lupines gives way to a four-bedroom ranch in California’s Sonoma Valley. The house—a collaboration between Ani and Luke Wade of Wade Design Architects, interior designer Tim Clarke, landscape architect Bernard Trainor, and general contractor Total Concepts—was stained rather than painted to give it a more natural look.
RELATED: Step Inside a Historic Catskill Retreat Outfitted in Vintage Charm
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These Historic Landmark Buildings Around the Country Have Become Homes to Cutting-Edge Art
Kurt McVey
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Modern U.S. National Insignias
Modern U.S. National Insignias- Black Stars
by: Jason Bobrowich [ LEOCMDR ]
The 1970s created many unique camouflage schemes for NATO forces staged in Europe at a state of readiness to fight off an anticipated attack by the Soviet Union & Warsaw Pact forces. One of the most unique camouflage schemes was created by the US Army Modern Army Selected Systems Test, Evaluation and Review (MASSTER): this scheme was commonly known as the MASSTER camouflage or the 7th Army scheme, and was trialed by the 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division in Germany and by the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd (US) Armoured Division in the U.S. The multi-colored, hard-edged camouflage schemes were applied at a unit level, and tested between 1972 and 1973, though some vehicles may have remained in the scheme until the late 1970s.
The very visible and easily-identifiable white stars denoting the U.S. national insignia commonly seen on vehicles were ordered to be painted in black as part of MASSTER. As well, bumper codes and vehicle registration numbers were also to be painted in black, but vehicles combining black stars and white bumper codes could commonly be seen. The final MASSTER report stated that "eliminating, or painting in lusterless black, the star and administrative markings on a vehicle is the most important factor in reducing its visibility."
Simple yet effective the black stars would become history as part of MASSTER.
The larger black stars could also be seen on single-colour vehicles such as the M60A1 prior to the MASSTER scheme.
As with anything in the military, the size of the stars was regulated based on the type of vehicle. However, there were some variations where hand-painted black stars could be seen on vehicles instead of the more consistent stenciled black ones.
Archer Fine Transfers has created a set of markings that would be perfect for a MASSTER or a solid green schemed 1/35 vehicle.
the set contains:
The set includes the following:
2 x 36" stars for M60/M60A1/M60A3 tanks.
This is somewhat inaccurate, in that the M60A3 only used the small 3" stars in Forest Green, MERDC, or the three colour NATO scheme.
10 x 16" stars and 9 x 20" stars for the M113, M577, and M551 Sheridan.
In reviewing reference images, the 16" and 20" stars can also be seen on the M548, M48 Chaparral, M88, M114, M106A1, M578, M110 and pretty much all other vehicles painted in MASSTER in the 1970s. It appears as well that the 20" star would be suitable for the glacis plate of the M60A1.
As with all Archer products they require a bit of preparation and foresight by the modeller to apply them correctly and to ensure they seat and adhere properly. Instructions for proper application are included in the package. My review sample had one of the 20” and 16” stars damaged and separated from the backing paper but there are plenty there as spares.
This set is a must have if you want to create an accurate MASSTER scheme and you don’t have black star waterslide decals. The markings for sure fill a gap in some lesser-known, yet very unique and important Cold War U.S. national insignias.
This set is also a terrific supplement to Archer’s previous set AR35322 of smaller 3", 6", and 12" black stars.
Here are links to fantastic sets of images of MASSTER scheme and single color green vehicles showing the black stars.
Army Years
7th Army
Photo database
Panzerbaer: MASSTER-Tarnanstrich
You mean the US Army wasn't always Olive Drab?
For additional excellent reference material on the MASSTER scheme and the black stars, I highly recommend Tankograd No. 3017 MASSTER, MERDC, DUALTEX.
Highs: A great assortment of black stars for multiple projects.
Lows: It would have been nice to have included more than just two of the 36" stars.
Verdict: A great addition if you are finishing a project in the single colour or MASSTER scheme.
Mfg. ID: AR35363
Related Link: Archer Fine Transfers
Our Thanks to Archer Fine Transfers!
About Jason Bobrowich (LeoCmdr)
FROM: ALBERTA, CANADA
Copyright ©2019 text by Jason Bobrowich [ LEOCMDR ]. All rights reserved.
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Ernesto García Peña – Island Lyrics
The Poetry of Dreams
DOLORES DENARO – Art Historian and Curator –
Ernesto García Peña (Matanzas, Cuba, 1949) belongs to the first post-revolutionary generation of Cuban artists. The long list of his exhibitions reflects the fact that he is recognized in Cuba as one of the best known and respected artists of his country. Upon completing his studies at the Academy in Havana, he remained as a professor and for many years influenced the generations that followed.
The motifs of his paintings – as evidenced by the title of the exhibition and of the present catalogue – resemble lyrical poetry. Each work is a poem marked by the lyricism and the visual language of dreams, featuring imagination and intuition at its core. Visually, the works are marked by an aesthetic of delicacy and oscillate between the surreal and the abstract. García Peña uses acrylic paint like watercolor and, by aqueous application of the acrylic on the surface with paint brushes and flat brushes, obtains a transparency that is full of light.
The different elements are presented on the canvas as a breeze or distant memory. The paintings nourish from this delicate and yet radiant coloring – mainly in shades of blue, gray or red – from the empty spaces that reveal the beige background, as well as from the overlap of the layers that are often complemented with drawings from above or below. García Peña is “an artist of atmospheres of subtle transparencies…”, which are the result of “a long road of searches and explorations”.1
SEARCH FOR BEAUTY AND HARMONY
The artist focuses on transmitting his emotions and fantasies around hedonistic topics. At the core is the ethi- cal principle of the search of sensual pleasure and enjoyment. His work is an obsessive search of beauty and harmony, however he discloses very little about the content of his creations. He leaves the interpretation of his motifs to the viewers. The titles of the paintings provide a clue towards a possible reading of the artist’s intent since García Peña names his work after completion.
Cuando todo comienza ( When Everything Begins)
Cuando todo comienza (When Everything Begins) shows two hills that represent the oversized breasts of a woman. On one of them lies a naked masculine figure in profile, with eyes closed. He seems to be crawling towards the nipple on his thorax, devotedly inhaling the oncoming fragrance. The stylized igniting spark emerging from one of the nipples recalls the first hours of human life, when the female breast develops from a sensual feminine organ into the first source of nourishment for every human being.
El ritual de … (The Ritual of …)
In general, the enigmatic female nude is present in all of García Peña’s works. In El ritual de… (The Ritual of…,), the sensual body of a naked woman seems to be floating between the sky, the water, and the landscape. Only upon a second look it becomes apparent that there is another, smaller erotic female figure in opposite direction within the first. In Amaneceres (Daybreaks) with a similar motif, an androgynous figure lies in ecstasy between the breasts, while above float two other bodies, intertwined.
IDYLLIC SCENES
Overlapping bodies of different dimensions are a typical feature of García Peña’s works. Similarly, erotic scenes are in all his creations – some with stylized feminine nudes and others with couples floating freely on the image surface. The fragility of love is expressed in accordance with the subtly indulgent application of color. Images of “beautiful” dreams are also always idylls, i.e., harmoniously clarified motifs that influence the spectator in a nice and peaceful way. The idylls, in turn, are illusions threatened at the same time by disillusion.
The bull and (more often) the horse, serve the artist as allegories of passion, movement, and virility. While in European iconography the symbolism of the horse depends essentially upon its color – white meaning bearer of light and black, death and ruin2– the Cuban artist is much more interested in the strength and energy that are inherent to this animal. In Móntate y… (Mount and…) a naked woman is levitating with her arms extended backwards within a huge horse head. She is sitting on the shoulders of an equally naked man, who holds her around her legs.
Montate y … (Mount and …)
She obviously enjoys the state of unrestrained freedom, as if she was sitting with windswept hair on the bow of a vessel gliding over the sea. On the nape of the horse lies another couple, one person on top of the other, while from the torso an androgynous figure with wings rises toward them.
El último canto de la bestia (The Last Song of the Beast)
El último canto de la bestia (The Last Song of the Beast) shows a stylized feminine figure playing the violin within the body of a bull, If one understands the bull as masculine, one might be tempted to recall the story of creation in the Holy Scriptures, in which Eve – depending on the translation – was created from a bone (a rib) of Adam.
ISLAND LYRICS
Generally, Ernesto García Peña works in parallel on several paintings, so that the temporal and visual distance with a painting motif may mature in the artist’s conception. Usually, when he stands before the blank canvas, he already has concrete concepts of what he is going to paint. Later he lets himself be carried away in the process by his in- tuitions. He attempts not to follow predefined processes or procedures in order not to bind or restrict himself. However, he sometimes uses ideas he had before, or resorts to one he had already drawn or sketched at an earlier occasion. The time he takes to complete a painting – which he frequently produces as part of a series – varies according to its development. And, analogous to poetry, short rhymes or longer poems arise, all created in the Caribbean island.
1 According to Cuban art critic Virginia Alberdi. See text on the invitation card to the present exhibition of García Peña in Arte- Morfosis Gallery.
2 See encyclopedia of the iconography: www.beyars.com/kunstlexikon/lexikon_8834.html
Ernesto García Peña
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You Are Here: Home → Madrid's Benzema ends drought with a record-setting goal
Madrid's Benzema ends drought with a record-setting goal
9:45 p.m. ET Feb. 15, 2017
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the Champions League round of 16, first leg, soccer match between Real Madrid and Napoli at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday Feb. 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)(Photo: The Associated Press)
MADRID (AP) — Karim Benzema responded to criticism of his recent form with a goal that helped him to make some history.
Benzema scored Real Madrid’s first goal in the 3-1 win over Napoli on Wednesday, helping move his club closer to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and surpassing Thierry Henry as the top French scorer in the European competition with 51 goals.
“It was a great night,” said Benzema, who was voted player of the match. “We all played a great match. I’m very happy with my display today. I feel good as I saw that the fans were supporting me after the goal. That’s important for my confidence.”
It was the type of night Benzema needed to put behind a series of disappointing performances. He hadn’t scored in six games and was making headlines for his numerous missed chances.
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This Air-Dry Cream Is Made With Champagne and Leaves Hair Looking (and Smelling) Super Luxe
Jihan Forbes
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Jenna Rosenstein
If you're a fan of Chrissy Teigen's, Jessica Alba's, the Kardashian-Jenners', or Gigi Hadid's hair, then you're a fan of Jen Atkin. She's known for creating rumpled waves and bends that look effortless but often require sleight of hand with a flatiron or curling wand and a cocktail of cult-favorite products. But now Atkin has created a line of superchic hair products designed for women who don't have a) time or b) a whole squad of hairstylists but still want their hair to look healthy and amazing. You'll have to wait until January for the full details, but here is a sneak peek.
Her line is called Ouai, and it was at least two years in the making. Every product was designed to make us non-Kardashian folk reach the same level of #hairgoals. As in, that elusive model-off-duty, French-girl texture. "I want everyone to feel like a Kendall or a Gigi," said Atkin last night at Ouai's launch event. The line includes a volumizing shampoo and conditioner, a treatment mask, a soft mousse, and a texturizing hair spray. And while I can't show you the products just yet (tune in to allure.com on January 15!), just trust that they are so clean and sleek, your phone might just jump up and Instagram them on its own.
If you're curious about the name (it's pronounced "way"), that was exactly her intention. The name is a fusion between "oui" in French and Atkin's Hawaiian ancestry. It was created with the intention of sparking a conversation. "I wanted you to be at a lunch with your friend, and they mispronounce it and you say, 'No, it's Ouai,'" says Atkin.
Ouai hair care will officially launch in February 2016, but we'll give you a full look at all the products in the line (including—wait for it—supplements!) on January 15. But for now, you can go ahead and follow the brand on Instagram (@OuaiHairCare) if you're dying for more details.
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Karina Hoshikawa
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Best Android games of 2017 for your new phone, tablet, or Chromebook
Matthew Sholtz
2017/12/24 7:54am PDT Dec 24, 2017
1 Best Android games of 2017
1.1 DATA WING
1.2 To the Moon
1.3 Carcassonne: Official Board Game -Tiles & Tactics
1.4 Slayaway Camp
1.5 Beholder
1.6 Sheltered
1.7 Bridge Constructor Portal
1.8 Monument Valley 2
1.9 Don't Starve: Shipwrecked
1.10 Lumino City
1.11 OXENFREE
1.12 Danmaku Unlimited 3
1.13 Old Man's Journey
1.14 Portal Knights
1.15 Galaxy of Pen & Paper
1.16 Radiation City
1.17 realMyst
1.18 Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
1.19 Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition
1.20 EGGLIA: Legend of the Redcap
1.21 Layton’s Mystery Journey
1.22 PixWing - Flying Retro Pixel Arcade
1.23 Morphite
1.24 Super Mario Run
1.25 Prison Architect: Mobile
1.26 Catan Universe
1.27 Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
1.28 The Elder Scrolls: Legends
1.29 Fire Emblem Heroes
1.30 CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars
2 Honorable mentions
Series: Apps & Games Roundups
This article is part of our Apps & Games Roundups series.
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With Christmas only a day away, I thought it would be nice to compile the best games of the year in one of our gaming roundups so that everyone can find some quality releases to play through on their new phone, tablet, or Chromebook. I have personally hand picked every single one of these games, so there may be some included in the list that you may have never heard of, but rest assured every game is a high-quality release. As a matter of fact, as I was putting this list of 30 games together I came across quite a few titles than would be a shame to not mention. Those I have also included at the bottom of this roundup as honorable mentions for the year. So without further ado, here are the best Android games released in 2017.
DATA WING
DATA WING is a stylish top down racer that utilizes minimal graphics to give a sense of racing inside of a computer system. There is a 2-hour story complete with 40 levels to play through. The touch screen controls are easy to pick up and even simpler to use. Just tap on the left or right side of the screen to turn your ship in the corresponding directions. Overall this is a slick little racer that is a joy to play and has a kicking chillwave soundtrack, but best of all it's completely free.
Monetization: free / no ads / no IAPs
Blast through a stylish, neon landscape in this story-driven, racing adventure. DATA WINGs deliver critical data throughout the computer system, following Mother's orders without question. But when the system comes under attack, and Mother becomes irrational, something must be done. DATA WING is the solo passion-project of Dan Vogt; a 15-year veteran of the games industry.
Developer: Dan Vogt
To the Moon is a popular RPG Maker game that was originally released on PC. It has since been ported to a multitude of platforms including Android. If you are unfamiliar with the title, it is an RPG focused on storytelling. There is little actual gameplay to be found, so keep that in mind if you are looking for something with a lot of turn-based battles.
Monetization: $1.99 / no ads / no IAPs
A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing backwards through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish. Dr. Rosalene and Dr. Watts have peculiar jobs: They give people another chance to live, all the way from the very beginning... but only in their patients' heads. Due to the severity of the operation, the new life becomes the last thing the patients remember before drawing their last breath. Thus, the operation is only done to people on their deathbeds, to fulfill what they wish they had done with their lives, but didn’t.
Developer: X.D. Network
Carcassonne: Official Board Game -Tiles & Tactics is the latest Carcassonne digital board game adaptation to arrive on the Play Store. After the last version was pulled from the store due to a licensing change, it is nice to see that Asmodee Digital has breathed new life into this classic by coming up with a release that contains new graphics and a plethora of multiplayer options.
Monetization: $1.99 / no ads / IAPs $0.99 a piece
Carcassonne is a modern classic tile-placement game based on the award wining game in which the players draw and place a tile with a piece of southern French landscape on it. The tile might feature a city, a road, a cloister, grassland or some combination thereof, and it must be placed adjacent to tiles that have already been played, in such a way that cities are connected to cities, roads to roads, et cetera.
Developer: Asmodee Digital
Price: $4.99+
Slayaway Camp
Slayaway Camp is a voxel-based sliding puzzler that is filled to the brim with 80's slasher film gore. Like any quality puzzler, the gameplay is easy to grasp, though it's difficult to master. Of course, if the solid puzzle-filled gameplay is not enough for you, the mature theme of efficiently murdering your victims might just be the change in pace you are looking for. Even if the violence does not appeal to you, there is a toggle to choose a more PG version that is kid-friendly.
Monetization: $2.99 / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 - $1.99
Become Skullface, a psycho slasher bent on slaughtering campers in this darkly comic ode to 80’s horror. A diabolical puzzle game that also happens to be a bloody tribute to the VHS era of videotape horror. No one is safe… no law enforcement enforces the law enough… and no animals or children are harmed… in the summer horror hit of 1984.
Slayaway Camp: 1980's Horror Puzzle Fun!
Developer: Blue Wizard Digital LP
Beholder is an Android port of the popular PC game. If you are unfamiliar with the title, you are a landlord in a totalitarian State who spies on his tenants in order to report on anyone plotting against said State. While that is your goal, you do have a bit of choice on how you want a scenario to play out. There is always the option of blackmail, or just straight up kindness. But in a totalitarian state, these choices may very well backfire.
The State has appointed you to SPY ON YOUR TENANTS. Your primary task is to covertly watch your tenants and eavesdrop on their conversations. You must BUG their apartments while they're away, SEARCH their belongings for whatever can threaten the authority of the State, and PROFILE them for your superiors. You must also REPORT anyone capable of violating the laws or plotting subversive activities against the State to the authorities.
Developer: Creative Mobile Games
Sheltered is like a mix of Fallout Shelter and This War of Mine. For the most part, it retains the lighter sense of humor found in Fallout Shelter, plus it offers a much more in-depth experience that resembles This War of Mine. A perfect combo in my opinion. The basics of the gameplay tasks you with protecting your family by providing a safe place to live while venturing out to find supplies and taking on the bad guys that stand in your way.
Sheltered is a post-apocalyptic disaster management game that gives a whole new meaning to the term “nuclear family”. Given a head-start over the billions lost in a nuclear holocaust, you must gather as many supplies as possible en route to the concrete underground shelter that will soon become your family home for the foreseeable dire future. As the overwhelming despair of this new world surrounds you, how will you survive?
Developer: Team 17 Digital Limited
Bridge Constructor Portal is a newer title from Headup Games that combines the gameplay from their Bridge Constructor series of games with the portal mechanics of Valve's Portal series. It is a slick looking release that has some fantastic bridge building gameplay, all with the presentation of a Portal title. Best of all, this is a premium release, so once you make your purchase, you are free to enjoy the entirety of the game.
Enter the Aperture Science Enrichment Center and experience Bridge Constructor Portal – the unique merging of the classic Portal™ and Bridge Constructor™ games. As a new employee in the Aperture Science test lab, it's your job to build bridges, ramps, slides, and other constructions in 60 test chambers and get the Bendies safely across the finish line in their vehicles. Make use of the many Portal gadgets, like portals, propulsion gel, repulsion gel, aerial faith plates, cubes, and more to bypass the sentry turrets, acid pools and laser barriers, solve switch puzzles, and make it through the test chambers unscathed.
Developer: Headup
Monument Valley 2
After a five-month span between the iOS release and Android's, Monument Valley 2 can finally be played on our platform. You can expect the familiar gravity-defying puzzle gameplay found in the original, but this time with a broader focus on accessibility. So that does mean this is the easier game in the series. Some fans may find that disappointing, while others may finally get to see what the draw of the gameplay is thanks to how easy it is. Either way, you can expect about an hour and forty minutes of gameplay in order to finish this new release.
Guide a mother and her child as they embark on a journey through magical architecture, discovering illusionary pathways and delightful puzzles as you learn the secrets of the Sacred Geometry. Sequel to the award-winning Monument Valley, Monument Valley 2 presents a brand new adventure set in a beautiful and impossible world. Help Ro as she teaches her child about the mysteries of the valley, exploring stunning environments and manipulating architecture to guide them on their way.
Developer: ustwo games
Don't Starve: Shipwrecked is a stand alone expansion that can be enjoyed without having to own any previous releases. It is an open-world survival game with a slight dash of Lovecraftian horror. You start out in a randomly generated world with nothing, to then venture forth into its dangerous ocean filled lands to gather resources, build tools, and harvest food, which is all necessary for your survival.
Klei Entertainment has partnered with our friends at CAPY, creators of Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery, Super Time Force and Below; to bring fans of Don’t Starve the latest single-player expansion: Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked. In Don't Starve: Shipwrecked, Wilson finds himself stranded in a tropical archipelago. He must learn to survive all over again in this new environment filled with new biomes, seasons, and creatures.
Developer: Klei Entertainment Inc.
Lumino City
It is always nice to see PC games that get ported to Android. Lumino City is one of the better releases this year that fits in this category. It is a point and click adventure game with a high level of detail in its design. The amount of polish shown in the title is pretty astounding as it utilizes an assortment of beautifully handcrafted backgrounds. Then there is the gameplay to consider. I am glad to report that it holds up quite well on mobile and even excels with its new touch screen controls.
Lumino City is the award winning puzzle adventure crafted entirely by hand out of paper, card, miniature lights, and motors. Through this gorgeous environment weaves a clever, charming and puzzling adventure. Lumi’s grandfather, the caretaker of Lumino City, has been kidnapped. To find him, you must explore the city and figure out the fascinating mechanisms that power this unique world. Lumino City has an estimated 8 - 10 hours of gameplay and no In-App Purchases.
Developer: Noodlecake Studios Inc
OXENFREE is a port of the popular PC point and click adventure game that tells a story of a group of friends on a supernatural journey. If you are a fan of the hit Netflix show Stranger Things, I would say OXENFREE has pretty much the same feel and atmosphere. You can expect plenty of twists and turns in the plot and at times a frightening story that may just force you to turn all the lights on.
Oxenfree is a supernatural thriller about a group of friends who unwittingly open a ghostly rift. Play as Alex, a bright, rebellious teenager who brings her new stepbrother Jonas to an overnight party on an old military island. The night takes a terrifying turn when you unwittingly open a ghostly gate spawned from the island’s cryptic past. How you deal with these events, your peers, and the ominous creatures you’ve unleashed is up to you.
Developer: Night School Studio
Danmaku Unlimited 3
Any fan of shoot 'em ups or bullet hell shooters should give Danmaku Unlimited 3 a look. Not only are you provided with a perfect 1:1 port that has absolutely no advertisements or in-app purchases, but the gameplay is phenomenal, and the touch screen controls work perfectly. Heck, even if you are new to the genre you are guaranteed a fun time thanks to the inclusion of multiple levels of difficulty.
DODGE. SHOOT. EXPLODE. REPEAT. The Ultimate Bullet Hell experience on mobile returns. Take to the skies once more as the last defender of humanity against overwhelming odds. Lovingly built to be enjoyed by newcomers and genre veterans alike, Danmaku Unlimited 3 is a perfect medley of the best aspects of classic Bullet Hell shooters wrapped up in a modern and approachable package.
Developer: Doragon Entertainment
Who doesn't love a beautiful puzzle adventure game with a great story? Old Man's Journey is undoubtedly one of the most polished titles in this genre. Not only is the artwork amazing, but the music adds such a fantastic tone to the gameplay that you are instantly immersed in the old man's adventure. The only shortcoming I can find is the fact that this is a linear story that will not hold a lot of value for extra playthroughs.
Explore life’s complexities through the old man’s eyes as you experience his heartache, regret, and hope. Immerse yourself in a visual narrative as you uncover stories of the old man’s life told through beautiful vignettes of his memories. Interact with the serene, whimsical environment as you solve playful puzzles and shape the landscape around you, growing the hills to create the old man’s path forward.
Developer: Broken Rules Interactive Media GmbH
Imagine Minecraft, but with a story mode. Now take a look at Portal Knights. That's right, Portal Knights takes the tried and true open-world survival gameplay of Minecraft and adds in an RPG-themed story that will surely give its players some added purpose. Sure you can still build all kinds of crazy structures if you like, but you can also take on a few boss fights or venture down into an enemy filled dungeon. The choice is all yours.
Craft your adventure. Forge your hero. Become the ultimate Portal Knight. Leave the familiar world behind and step into the fantastic unknown with Portal Knights, a cooperative 3D sandbox action-RPG. Level up your character and craft powerful gear to defeat your enemies in real-time tactical combat. Explore dozens of randomly-generated islands and restore peace to a world torn apart by The Fracture.
Developer: 505 Games Srl
Galaxy of Pen & Paper
Galaxy of Pen & Paper is a fantastic turn-based RPG in the popular Pen & Paper game series. This time around Behold Studios has published the release on the Play Store themselves, most likely due to the fact that Paradox Interactive incited a lot of anger with Knights of Pen & Paper 2 going free-to-play, which resulted in a wipe of everyone's save data. Luckily Behold Studios has made it adamantly clear that Galaxy of Pen & Paper will remain a premium title with a single upfront price.
THE ULTIMATE ROLE-PLAYING SIMULATION GOES TO SPACE. Galaxy of Pen & Paper is a turn-based meta RPG about a group of players rolling dice in the year 1999. Create your own game master and RPG party, as they roleplay, explore distant planets in their imagination, fight weird aliens and save the galaxy in the era of dial-up internet and floppy disks.
Developer: Behold Studios
Radiation City
Radiation City is the sequel to Atypical Games' Radiation Island. Just like the original, Radiation City is an open-world survival game filled to the brim with zombies. You can expect gorgeous graphics that bring this frightening world to life. It is your task to venture out into this radioactive city in order to find your missing loved one. While the story may seem pretty cut and paste, the action-packed gameplay is where titles like this shine.
Welcome to the world of Radiation City where a great survival adventure awaits you. Forty years after the unfortunate accident of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, destiny brings you to the area of carefully recreated city of Pripyat. Uncover the amazing story, untangle the mystery and try to save your loved one. This is not an easy task. It’s a huge open world area filled with dangers and anomalies. Hungry predators and sub-human creatures, they all want a piece of you.
Developer: Atypical Games
Myst is a classic point-and-click adventure series that turned the genre on its head back in the 90s with beautifully pre-rendered 3D landscapes. Noodlecake has worked with the original developers to bring a full 3D version of the first Myst game to Android as realMyst, though the basics have definitely remained the same. This means you will be tasked with exploring a mystical island by solving puzzles that slowly reveal the game's backstory.
From legendary developer Cyan Worlds. realMyst is all-things Myst, but amazingly more real. You can explore anywhere, unfettered, and in realtime. Pick your own path through the forest on Myst Island. Look lazily upward into the Channelwood Age trees. Relax next to the rippling fountain as the sun sets in the Selenitic Age. Spin around for a full panoramic tour of Sirrus’ throne room. Seek shelter from the thunderstorm in Stoneship Age.
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
I had been waiting a long time to see Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty come to Android, but luckily it just released in the last week. Two of the later games in the series had already been released on our platform years ago, and it was only a matter of time before Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty was released, and oh boy was the wait worth it. Not only are the touchscreen controls excellent, the addition of HID controller support means that anyone can play this classic puzzle-platformer with their preferred control method.
A mudokon chosen by the fickle finger of fate, Abe was a first class Floor-Waxer for RuptureFarms who was catapulted into a life of adventure. Late one night he overheard plans from his boss, Molluck the Glukkon, to turn Abe and his fellow Mudokons into Tasty Treats as a final effort to rescue Molluck's failing meatpacking empire. Can Abe change the fate of thousands and rescue the Mudokons? Can he escape the dark recesses of RuptureFarms and the desolate, uninviting, and downright terrifying surrounding environment?
Developer: Oddworld Inhabitants Inc
Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition
Originally released in 1999, Beamdog has seen fit to enhance the original Planescape: Torment with newly polished graphics and remastered music, bringing the game into the modern age. However, Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition still retains all of the classic CRPG gameplay you remember. Of course if you find that you do not enjoy all these enhancements, you can easily turn them off in the settings. In my opinion, this is what makes the enhanced edition so versatile. No matter if you would like to play the original or the enhanced edition there is an option fitting for your desired experience.
In Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition you'll explore the planes, survive combat alongside a party of unique companions, and solve puzzles unlike any ever seen in the genre. The original Planescape: Torment was released in 1999 to widespread critical acclaim. It won RPG of the Year from multiple outlets for its unconventional story, characters, and amazing soundtrack. Since then, millions of Planescape: Torment fans have enjoyed exploring the strange and dangerous city of Sigil and surrounding planes.
Developer: Beamdog
EGGLIA: Legend of the Redcap
If you are a 90's JRPG fan, then you may want to give EGGLIA: Legend of the Redcap a look. From a quick glance, you can see that it is styled very similarly to the Mana series. But the comparisons do not end there. You can also grow your world much in the same way you did in Legend of Mana, through the use of objects that allow you to expand your map. Just keep in mind that EGGLIA: Legend of the Redcap is a turn-based RPG that is largely based around random dice throwing. So sure, while this is not an action RPG, it is a quality turn-based affair that works well on Android.
A young girl born to save the world and a Redcap once destined for violence. A story hatched from within precious eggs; a tale of meeting and parting ways... A fantasy adventure with a thrilling story and beautiful graphics, EGGLIA is an RPG you will want to return to again and again. Join colorful characters of varying races including Brownies, Dwarves, Gremlins and Aloes as they work together to revive the lands of EGGLIA, sealed away within mysterious eggs.
Register QR-Code
Developer: DMM.com
Price: To be announced
Layton’s Mystery Journey
If you are unfamiliar with the Layton puzzle adventure series of games, then you are in for a treat. While they were originally only published on Nintendo handheld consoles, the Layton games have branched out to Android with the release of Layton Brothers Mystery Room in 2013 and a more recent release of Layton’s Mystery Journey. The good thing is that Layton’s Mystery Journey is a new soft reboot of the series, so you should have no worry of jumping into what is an already established franchise.
Monetization: $15.99 / no ads / IAPs from $1.99 - $15.99
Developed by LEVEL-5, LAYTON’S MYSTERY JOURNEY™: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy is the latest game in the best-selling Layton Series and first official sequel debuting on mobile. Join Katrielle Layton in the heart of London, as she becomes embroiled in a casual, comical, quizzical quest, which has its roots in our new hero’s search for her missing father, Professor Hershel Layton.
Developer: LEVEL-5 Inc.
Price: $15.99+
PixWing - Flying Retro Pixel Arcade
Sometimes it's nice to just sit down and play a game for the sheer enjoyment of screwing around in its world. I suppose that is why I am such a fan of classic arcade style gameplay. That is why I am so smitten with PixWing - Flying Retro Pixel Arcade. Sure, it may not have a story, and your end goal of climbing the leaderboard may not be as exhilarating as saving the world, but there is something to be said about a game that allows you to simply get out there and have some fun.
Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs from $0.99 - $4.29 ($0.99 IAP removes ads)
Fly biplanes, jets or even a dragon in this stunningly retro themed & colourful environment. Challenge your skills in the time trials as you fly through checkpoints collecting gems or chill out and just fly freely. PixWing is going to change the way you think about arcade flying forever. With unique full-body controls, you have complete 360 degrees control. Your device becomes a window into the game world.
Developer: Greenlight Games
Price: Free+
Morphite
Crescent Moon Games had been hyping up the release of Morphite on Android for quite a while now, and now that it is here I must say the wait was worth it. For the unfamiliar, this game is an open-world adventure that lets you travel the galaxy, comparable to games like No Man’s Sky. The fact that such a monumental game is even able to run on Android is a testament to the developers skills. This one is definitely a title that should not be missed.
Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $2.99 - $4.99
If you are getting a black screen on loading, please reboot your device so it can load the expansion file. If you are getting a black screen after landing on a planet, turn off any Ad block apps you may have turned on. Play the first two missions and explore random planets for FREE. Pay to unlock the full story mode to get all of the weapons and powerups. Ads can be removed by purchasing ANY IAP. Please note: A device from 2015 or later is recommended to play this game.
Developer: Crescent Moon Games
Mario Run is similar to the majority of mobile auto-runner games. You will of course be running and jumping through obstacles and enemies in a set amount of stages. You do this in order to collect the game's currency, which is later used for cosmetic decorations. One thing to keep in mind is that what you get in this free download is only a sample of the game's content. You will not be able to play through the entirety without putting up some cash.
Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs $9.99 a piece
A new kind of Mario game that you can play with one hand. Super Mario Run has received some big updates! You control Mario by tapping as he constantly runs forward. You time your taps to pull off stylish jumps, midair spins, and wall jumps to gather coins and reach the goal!
Developer: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Prison Architect: Mobile
Prison Architect: Mobile is another PC game to be ported to Android. If you are unfamiliar with the title, this is a mix of simulation, management, and strategy game mechanics very reminiscent of Dungeon Keeper, Dwarf Fortress, and Theme Hospital. You essentially build a prison and are tasked with keeping it running smoothly by constant micromanagement.
Monetization: free / no ads / IAPs from $0.99 - $14.99
Escape from reality but not from your custom-made jail. Prison Architect: Mobile challenges you to build and manage a maximum security prison, from laying out cell blocks and inmate facilities, to managing staff pay and prisoner morale. From layout to execution (literally, in some cases), you are the architect, the warden, and the enforcer.
Developer: Paradox Interactive AB
Catan Universe
Catan Universe is the latest Catan release on the Play Store that is meant to take over for USM's previous Catan release Catan Classic. Those that purchased expansions in the classic version should have no worry that their content will carry over to Catan Universe, which is excellent to see. It's also wonderful that we can all now play Catan online with the inclusion of an online multiplayer mode.
After a long, difficult journey, you have reached the coast of an unknown island. Yet other explorers have also landed on Catan: The competition for settlement has begun. Build roads and cities, negotiate skillfully and become ruler of Catan. Go on a journey to the Catan universe, and enter into exciting duels against players from all over the world. The board game classic and the Catan card game bring a real table top feeling to your screen, with brand new graphics.
Developer: USM
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is Nintendo's effort to bring the series to mobile as a free-to-play release. Much like their other titles on Android, the balancing is fair, and you are never pushed too hard to spend your money on the title. The gameplay is similar to the console versions but on a much smaller scale. While I can't say the gameplay will hold everyone's interest, especially after playing the game for a while, what is on offer is still worth playing through.
Get back to nature in Animal Crossing™: Pocket Camp, the new Animal Crossing mobile game where you take on the role of campsite manager. You're in charge, so you can decorate your own campsite however you like. Make it fun, make it cute, make it sporty—it’s up to you to craft the kind of furniture and amenities that will make your camp a must-see for animals visiting the area. While visiting different recreational spots, you'll meet new animals who could use a little help.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends is a tablet only game that plays out as a strategy card game based on Elder Scrolls mythology. Obviously, it is a port of the available PC and iOS versions. The graphics are top notch, and the available lore is a must for any fan of the Elder Scrolls series of games. While this Android version still has a few performance issues, it is nice to be able to play on a tablet instead of having to sit at your computer.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends -- Return to Clockwork City. Inspired by classic adventure tales, Return to Clockwork City is the latest story expansion for The Elder Scrolls: Legends. Set hundreds of years after Sotha Sil’s demise, embark on an epic journey to the fabled Clockwork City filled with danger, wonder, and riches beyond imagination. The road won’t be easy.
Developer: Bethesda Softworks LLC
In Fire Emblem Heroes, players summon characters from the various console and handheld games to their army for turn-based grid combat. The story is a little on the weak side, but the meat of this title is its character collection aspects. With a constant rotation of events and gameplay that can hold its own against the best SRPG, Fire Emblem Heroes is undoubtedly one of if not the best hero collection game available today.
Nintendo's hit strategy-RPG Fire Emblem series is now reimagined for smart devices. Fight battles customized for touch screens and on-the-go gameplay. Summon characters from across the Fire Emblem universe. Develop your Heroes' skills, and take them to new heights. This is your adventure—a Fire Emblem that's like nothing you've seen before. This application is free to download and offers some optional in-app purchases.
CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars is a wildly popular free-to-play competitive multiplayer game. The graphics and overall design are quite polished and give a feeling of a high-quality release. While the lack of control in the battles in the arena is surprising, the fact that you manually get to build your robots is the center of this game's enjoyment.
Monetization: free / contains ads / IAPs from $0.99 - $99.99
Build your own battle bot and unleash its power in this stylish PvP game. From the creators of the hit games Cut the Rope and King of Thieves, comes the most ingenious and stylish battle bot constructor. Join more than 55 million players from all over the world and become the star of the Arena.
Developer: ZeptoLab
Stranger Things: The Game
Lode Runner 1
SuperTuxKart
SPACEPLAN
Tempest: Pirate Action RPG Premium
Death Road to Canada
Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies
Duke Dashington Remastered
Dragon Hills 2
∞ Infinity Loop: HEX
DANDY DUNGEON
Zombie Gunship Survival
And that is the end of the list. I hope everyone found a few games they can enjoy and have a happy holiday to boot. Please feel free to mention any of your favorites in the comments below, even if that particular game is not included in the roundup. This way everyone can join in on the end of year "best of" holiday fun!
best games 2017
series_apps_games_roundups
Tidal offering 12-day free trial starting on December 25th
The OnePlus 5T's face unlock feature is coming to the OnePlus 5
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Your Bad Anime Night Needs: AIKa R-16: Virgin Mission
Posted by Samantha Ferreira | Mar 7, 2014 | Your Bad Anime Night Needs |
Tags: agent aika, aika r-16, bad anime, bandai, bandai entertainment, skeezy
AIKa R-16 is a three-episode prequel to the 1997 OVA Agent AIKa. Back in the VHS days, Agent AIKa gained a degree of notoriety for it sheer number of panty shots. Female characters were often clad in short, tight dresses, which meant that the white panties would show up often during fight scenes, action scenes, or even when the characters were just standing around doing jack shit. Agent AIKa wasn’t a show that would win awards for its writing, but it was still a fun, if campy action show.
In 2007, some marketing genius must have figured that the world needed another dose of Aika. Only she had to be younger. And less legal. And more naked.
I’ll let that sink in a bit.
AIKa R-16 is set many years before the original Agent Aika OVA. In it, the titular Aika Sumeragi is a 16-year-old high school student, who recently earned her Class C Salvager’s license. In plain English, this means that she can take on jobs excavating treasures from the ocean floor. Like any enterprising treasure huntress, Aika… puts up flyers saying she’ll work for hire. That’s right: she’s not going out to find the lost ruins of a lost civilization. She’s not aiming for the riches that lay under the sea. She’s basically creating a “lost and found” service.
Way to show some ambition, there.
That said, she quickly finds a client in the form of class president and Treasure Hunting Club founder Eri Shinkai. The job? To solve the mystery of a high school girl’s left tit. I kid you not. The job is to solve a mystery embedded in a butterfly insignia that’s tattooed on the left breast of Karen Minamino. For some strange reason.
Truly a masterwork of writing.
Anyway, the club sets out for adventure on Eri’s private yacht, with their advisor in tow. On their first night at sea, the group is attacked. Scantily clad warriors from an unknown group board the ship, and attempt to capture Karen. They are unsuccessful, but the invasion does bring up a number of questions: who exactly is Karen, why are these people after her, and what the hell is she doing with a butterfly tattoo on her chest?
No, really. What the hell is it?
To be blunt: AIKa R-16 is a prequel that nobody asked for. The original Agent AIKa was a cheesy, yet entertaining action series that never took itself seriously. There were copious panty shots, but that was just part and parcel of the show itself, which was so over-the-top that it was absurd. This was a show about a secret agent with a magic bustier that turned her into an amazon warrior, mind you. It was far from being good, let alone great. It embraced that, though, and managed to become somewhat fun and endearing.
With this in mind, AIKa R-16 is an OVA that was dead-set on doing being more extreme than its predecessor. Where AIKa had panties, R-16 has full-blown pubescent nudity. Where Agent AIKa had a female antagonist with a sadistic streak, R-16 wheeled out a full-blown dominatrix. Where Agent Aika… well.. you get the picture.
The result is an experience that tries so hard to be bigger, badder, and more extreme than its forebear, only to fail miserably. It’s a poorly paced, horrifically written show that has little of the character that made the original somewhat enjoyable. The unsettling and skeezy, especially since they make it painfully clear that the characters are no older than sixteen whenever possible. The action sequences are poorly scripted, with the general fight choreography ruined by some weird need to find ways to shove the female characters’ asses into the camera in every cut. Likewise, the humor is tropey, fluffy, and generally unfunny.
And you want me to watch this WHY?
AIKa R-16 is a great series for garnering reactions from the crowd. The combination of shameless fanservice and poor writing are the hallmark of a grade-F, bottom-of-the-barrel blunder. the sheer badness of the series ensures that there will be plenty fo jokes and jeers floating, especially if you, as the host, can warm the crowd up with some of your own cracks.
It’s a fun people study, as there is always at least one person in the crowd who will legitimately like the title for some reason, giving a unique flavor to the general jeering and groans that are generally elicited during a showing.
When and how long should I screen this for?
Aika R-16 is a fantastic title to open a night with. The sheer awfulness of the title is enough to set the general tone for an evening, and gives newcomers an idea of what they’re in for through the night.
Personally, I’d play a showing by ear. Keep an eye on the crowd to see how they’re reacting to the show. Some rooms can make it through an entire episode. Others, you’ll need to abort by the halfway point. It really depends on your audience and the tone of the evening to that point.
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Your Bad Anime Night Needs: Wild Cardz
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Your Bad Anime Night Needs: Tekken: The Motion Picture
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