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Tag: one track mind
One Track Mind: John Moods
The Berlin-based<|fim_middle|> emotional record that informed several of the tracks on her album.
Continue reading "One Track Mind: Burd Hauz"
Tags burd hauz, expire together, in my sky, one track mind, walking volcanoes
One Track Mind: Elori Saxl
The US musician and filmmaker writes about the delicate balance between improvisation and composition in big dog little dog's Panorama
Today we welcome US musician and filmmaker Elori Saxl to the blog, whose album The Blue of the Distance has just been released. Combining digitally-processed recordings of wind and water with analog synthesizers and chamber orchestra, The Blue of Distance is an enchanting blend of ambient and neo-classical pieces, with the album taking its title from a phrase coined by Rebecca Solnit in A Field Guide to Getting Lost, referring to the phenomenon of faraway mountains appearing blue due to light particles getting lost over distance.
For her One Track Mind feature, Elori has written about big dog little dog's Panorama with an eloquence and level of detail that makes me want to massively up my game. Over to her…
Continue reading "One Track Mind: Elori Saxl"
Tags ambient, big dog little dog, electronic, elori saxl, one track mind, panorma | artist talks in depth about the enigmatic beauty of Townes Van Zandt's Highway Kind
The premise of One Track Mind is pretty simple: I ask artists to pick one track that means a lot to them – either something they've discovered recently, something that's been with them for years, or one that reminds them of a specific time in their life or career – and tell me what makes it so special to them. I get to talk to the artists I love, and they get to talk about the artists they love. Love all round!
John Moods is the musical solo exploration of Jonathan Jarzyna from the Berlin based pop band Fenster. Released back in August of this year, I came to his 2021 album So Sweet So Nice a little late, but it's one of my favourite releases of the year. Tackling questions about mortality in an often light-hearted and delicate fashion, it at times evokes the hazy melodies of 80s acts like Steeley Dan, at others diving off into Paul Simon-adjacent territory, but all the while maintaining its own strong, distinctive identity. It's a beautiful, beguiling body of work, and I one I highly recommend if you're not already familiar with his music.
For his One Track Mind selection, John describes a song that seems to him to channel something from beyond this earthly plane.
Continue reading "One Track Mind: John Moods"
Tags highway kind, john moods, one track mind, so sweet so nice, townes van zandt
One Track Mind: Cousin Kula
The recent Rhythm Section signees talk about a record that relentlessly soundtracked a memorable tour.
Today we welcome Bristol-based jazz/psych outfit Cousin Kula to TPW. With co-signs from the likes of BADBADNOTGOOD, their debut album Double Dinners landed last week and follows previous EPs OODLES and STROODLES along with their 2020 Casa Kula Cassette, which caught the attention of Bradley Zero who subsequently signed them to his Rhythm Section label.
For their One Track Mind selection, Cousin Kula talks about their touring obsession with a record by a fellow Rhythm Section artist.
Continue reading "One Track Mind: Cousin Kula"
Tags couisin kula, double dinners, now that you're gone, one track mind
One Track Mind: Corrina Repp
The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter delves back into a song that soundtracked a memorable roadtrip
Currently based in Los Angeles, Corrina Repp originally emerged in the Portland scene and has, across six albums and two decades, carefully and patiently developed her sound. Fragile, delicately crafted, and often stripped down to the very barest of bones, Corrina's music explores universal themes through intimate and often personal narratives that gives it real emotional heft. I first became aware of Corrina via her 2006 album The Absent and The Distant and still go back to it on an almost weekly basis, especially the track Afloat, which is, without doubt, one of the saddest and most beautiful songs ever written. Her brilliant new album, Island, is out now, and if you're a newcomer to her work it's a great place to start.
For her One Track Mind selection, Corrina talks about the transportive experience of hearing a song from a titan of US jazz and pop music for the very first time.
Continue reading "One Track Mind: Corrina Repp"
Tags corrina repp, islands, one summer, one track mind, peggy lee, the white birch and the sycamore
One Track Mind: Ora The Molecule
Nora Schjelderup delves back into her childhood via a track from the Spanish pop act Mecano.
Ora The Molecule is the musical moniker of Norwegian-born artist Nora Schjelderup. Released earlier this year, her debut album Human Safari is a pretty much perfect electro pop record, combining buoyant melodies with robust, 80s-inflected production: bascially tailored-made for me to completely love. Tracks like Helicopter and Creator are among the most exuberantly wonderful tracks you'll hear this year, and she's also recently released an EP of remixes of Beat Beat Beat from Gillian Gilbert – the founding member of New Order – Moon Boots and OTON which are all well worth checking out.
For her One Track Mind selection she's chosen a track from a childhood favourite band, with a message she's felt a deep connection with for many years.
Continue reading "One Track Mind: Ora The Molecule"
Tags beat beat beat, hoy no me puedo levantar, mecano, one track mind, ora the molecule
One Track Mind: Wildhart
The Swedish group on finding inspiration from fellow Gothenburg band Little Dragon
Wildhart's 2016 album Shine absolutely blew me away on its release, and is one I return to on a regular basis, especially the title track which is about as perfect as synth-led pop gets. After a brief hiatus following 2018's Caught In A Fisheye EP they returned with new music this year, releasing singles His Arrows Won't Hit Us and Beter Bby, and sounding just as beguiling as they ever have. It's wonderful to have them back, and to welcome them to TPW today.
For their One Track Mind selection they have chosen a song from fellow Swedish group Little Dragon and discuss the delicacy with which light and shade is kept in perfect balance: something they're very adept at themselves.
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Tags little dragon, one track mind, wildhart
One Track Mind: Loscil
The Canadian producer goes deep on Glenn Gould's 1981 recording of Aria da Capo.
Today we welcome Canadian electronic producer Scott Morgan -better known as Loscil – to the blog. One of the most singularly talented producers and an absolute TPW favourite, Scott has produced around 16 Loscil albums over the past two decades. His latest Clara – like them all – is carefully considered and completely engrossing, and a testament to just how powerful and emotionally rewarding electronic music can be when done right.
For his track, Scott waxes lyrical about his obsession with Glenn Gould's interpretation of Bach's Goldberg Variations, in particular his 1981 recording of Aria da Capo.
Continue reading "One Track Mind: Loscil"
Tags aria de capo, bach, glenn gould, goldberg variations, loscil, one track mind
One Track Mind: Mint Julep
The Portland duo discuss their addiction to Ruby Haunt's Sorry, Sabrina
Today we welcome wife and husband duo Hollie and Keith Kenniff aka Mint Julep to the blog: a group I've only recently discovered but are quickly becoming a TPW favourite. Their new album In A Deep and Dreamless Sleep came out last week, and honestly, it's just so wonderful. Touching on elements of shoegaze, indie-pop and more amorphous forms of electronica, it conjures an atmosphere as rich, vivid and densely packed with ideas as anything you're likely to hear this year.
For their track, Keith has selected a short but powerful track from Californian group Ruby Haunt's 2018 album Blue Hour.
Continue reading "One Track Mind: Mint Julep"
Tags in a deep and dreamless sleep, mint julep, one track mind, ruby haunt, sorry sabrina
One Track Mind: Anna B Savage
The singer-songwriter discusses her abiding love for a Nat King Cole staple
Released last month, Anna B Savage's debut album A Common Turn was three years in the making and the result is remarkable, sounding at once defiant and deeply vulnerable and exploring themes both lightweight and profound. Throughout, her voice is never short of extraordinary, with tracks frequently starting life as exposed, skeletal frames before building to triumphant, roaring crescendos.
For her track, Anna has selected an artist and record that will doubtless be familiar to most, and speaks about it with such passion that we should probably all take a moment to truly appreciate its magnificence.
Continue reading "One Track Mind: Anna B Savage"
Tags a common turn, anna b savage, let there be love, nat king cole, one track mind
One Track Mind: Burd Hauz
The California-based artist finds inspiration in the raw emotion of Walking Volcanoes' Expire Together
Today we welcome California-based artist Burd Hauz, whose debut album In My Sky landed last month and is already one of my favourite LPs of the year. Bringing together sultry R&B cuts, tough, trappy beats, lo-fi indie rock and even grungy guitars, it's 30 minutes of pure, heartfelt, and seemingly boundless creativity, packing in an outrageous amount of different tones and styles in its short running time. It's really brilliant: you should go and listen to it.
For her track, Burd Hauz has picked a fiercely | 1,885 |
Mortgage Guide 101 was created to provide you with accurate and clear information about mortgages and how to negotiate mortgages with confidence.
We do not directly sell any type of mortgage products or mortgage services through this web site. We are also not affiliated with any mortgage or finance companies. We are here to provide information and help you navigate the maze of mortgage mumbo jumbo, as well as give you the inside scoop.
Mortgage Guide 101 will give you definitions of key mortgage terms. We'll explain what those mortgage terms mean in ordinary English. We'll give you tips, and sometimes point you in the<|fim_middle|> over the life of the mortgage.
We have some great information you should know, as a consumer, before you sign for a mortgage for your property. I'm sure you will find Mortgage Guide 101 helpful! | direction of tools that will help in your search. We'll even tell a few war stories along the way.
Mortgage Guide 101 is an independent information source and our mission is to provide tips on helping you to get the right mortgage. In addition to those tips, you will also get access to trusted financial companies through the links at the top of each page.
Information on this site has been collected from many sources including: personal experience working inside and for financial services companies, as well as our own experience buying homes and negotiating mortgages. Feel free to contact us at our e-mail address if you have any mortgage questions or any Mortgage Guide 101 suggestions. We'll be happy to hear from you.
Remember, the most important thing is deciding you are ready to buy. Then, before you buy, take the steps to make sure what amount of mortgage you qualify for and with which lenders. Your mortgage 'pre-approval' will let you know what your price limit is when you are house hunting.
There are a multitude of online sites which can step you through the process of finding financing and even pre-approving you for a mortgage. It can save you a lot of footwork. Your online search is worth the time and effort. Even a partial percentage lower on your mortgage interest rate can mean thousands less in costs | 269 |
The Sing Your Joy young adult chorus performs its season-ending April show. The audition-free chorus for ages 16 to 29 will resume for the 2019 fall season starting Sept. 9. (Brad Edwards Photography)
Sing Your Joy choir preparing for its ninth season in Victoria
Young adult choir open to all, starts 13-week season soon
When Gordon Miller and Christine Chepyha started the Sing Your Joy choir in 2011, it was for young adults looking for a place to come and sing.
It's free and there are no auditions or barriers.
And it has stayed that way ever since. The choir is getting ready for its ninth season, with an intake at the first rehearsal, Monday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m. at Oak Bay United Church.
READ MORE: Sing Your Joy choir to stage Time Warp show
READ MORE: Sing Your Joy shares its community feeling
The only caveat is it<|fim_middle|>mondaymag.com
Saanich musician brings 'greatest hits' to the Oak Bay stage
Valerie Harper, TV's Rhoda, has died at 80 | 's a youth choir for singers aged 16 to 29, which was also the goal from the beginning.
"We wanted to create a choir for this age group with no barriers to participation, and quite often finances are a barrier," Chepyha said.
The choir runs two sessions, a fall season from September to December and a winter season from January to April, each of which ends with a performance. This year's concert event is called Beautiful & Beyond and is booked for Dec. 6 at St. Aidan's United Church.
Co-directors Gordon Miller and Christine Chepyha of the Sing Your Joy chorus with Board Chair
Peter Scales.
(Brad Edwards Photography)
Each season between 65 and 70 per cent of the choir return. Some come and go for high school, others are transient post-secondary students. And some join while visiting from other parts of the world, Chepyha said.
"Once you try it a couple nights, we ask those who want to join to commit for the concert."
When the group starts there is a period of getting to know each other. By the end, the choir is a great community with friendships who support each other, she added. "And they make a great sound."
This year's music will include songs by the Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot and Pink, as well as some Broadway musical pieces. Chepya added the Beatles music after being inspired from seeing Paul McCartney in Edmonton last year.
The choir's co-directors share duties, with Chepyha doing piano accompaniment while Miller conducts. Miller was the Oak Bay United Church musical director when they started and is now in community outreach with the James Bay United Church. Chepyha is a professional musician.
The two are compensated for their time from the ticket sales for the concert and donations.
Looking ahead, the group will commission its first musical piece to perform next year. The co-directors secured a grant from the CRD Arts committee and are using it hire composer and choir director Brian Tate. Sing Your Joy will perform the piece next year for its 10th anniversary.
"(Tate) will work with our singers to develop the lyrics … we're really excited, because this is our first time we've engaged a composer to write the piece for us," Chepyha said. "It shows we're getting there."
For more information visit singyourjoy.ca/join-now. New and returning singers are welcome on Sept. 9 and 16, the start of the 13-week season.
editor@ | 517 |
Home > Best Domain Backorder Service: How Does It Work?
Domain backorder is a very important service provided by the domain registrars worldwide. In this article, I'm revealing the best domain backorder services and how does the whole process work.
So, you leave a backorder and you pay for it. After being expired, the domain will go right straight to your account unless the owner renews it. Usually, some of the domain names take two-four weeks to be redeemed.
The process is more like a "Fetch and Catch" process. You find a valuable domain. And you place a backorder for it. This gives you a chance that you may own it after it becomes available in the registry.
Domain Backordering is an awesome way<|fim_middle|> questions or concerns in the comments section below. I hope that this was a useful piece of information about the best domain backorder services and how does it all work.
I would like to appreciate your efforts and knowledge. Your article is very helpful to me. | to get valuable domain names that are no longer available to register. Yet, the process is not guaranteed to really get the domain name.
You firstly pay for the service provider and registry tries to get the domain for you. If they fail to do that, a full refund will be processed back to your account.
The domain name registration and renewal process have a typical lifecycle. The above image has been taken from the ICANN official website. And it reveals the different stages a domain passes by.
Once the domain has reached the "Pending Delete" stage, It publically becomes available for new registrations. And here, you or the backorder service can pick up and register the domain name.
It is not a guarantee that all those who place a domain backorder will get the expired domain name. You can either get or miss it due to different factors that could be affecting the process of Domain Backorders.
How to Place a Domain Backorder?
Some of the providing companies will require you to participate in an auction in order to grab your backorder domain name. Such companies have made this process to be either private or public.
All these make them sure that all their customers get an equal opportunity of obtaining the domain names. So, take note of what it takes to win your expired domain before placing your backorder.
You will definitely need to remain focused and attentive. Most companies offering the service have set an unpredictable period of time for availing the expired domain name to their customers. Also, the process of participating in an auction may be private.
In general, the domain backorder provides you with a great opportunity of back ordering any domain. It is not affected by the period of its registration.
First, determine the expiry period of each domain. The best one is the domain name that is to be expired soon. You may also need to place the backorder on time (just before the domain gets expired) to let the domain registrar pick it up for you immediately after it drops.
You also need to understand that the system prevents the current owner from knowing that there are any backorders on this domain. This is to ensure that all the customers either new or existing users get an equal opportunity of obtaining the domain.
It is also very good to understand that it is not always possible to backorder all the expired domains. It – very likely – might be renewed by the owners before being deleted permanently from the registrar's database.
Another reason could be the HOLD status. At this point, it will be very critical for you to determine the outcome and trademark settlement among others. Such a situation forces the registrar to place the domain under hold.
That was exactly how domain backorder works and how to secure your favorite domain. I've also mentioned a few providers that are offering a quality service in terms of domain name back ordering.
Furthermore, you still need to know that such service providers would love to enhance their profit opportunities by placing a domain name in an auction. So, it's very much recommended that you place the backorder just before the domain expires.
Please let me know shall you've got any | 618 |
Full Form of BRB, What is the Full form of BRB?
by admin | Jan 1, 2022 | General Full Form, Network Full form
The Full form of BRB is Be Right Back. BRB is a phrase which is usually used as a situation in chatting on social networking sites like Yahoo Messenger, Facebook, Gmail, Watsapp etc. It is used to specify a situation when a person is chatting online with someone and...
Full Form of BFF,<|fim_middle|> which marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year by Sindhis. Sindhi Hindus are socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province... | What is the Full form of BFF?
by admin | Jan 1, 2022 | General Full Form
The Full form of BFF is Best Friends Forever. BFF is a term of endearment used to describe a very close friendship, typical of teenagers and young people. It is a form of writing digital affection in the 21st Century. BFF is often used by teenage girls as an...
CEO Full Form, What is the Full form of CEO?
by admin | Jan 1, 2022 | General Full Form, Organization Full Form
CEO Full Form The Full form of CEO is Chief Executive Officer. CEO refers to the highest position in an organization or company who looks after overall management and administration. In other words, CEO is the senior most executive or corporate officer or...
CGPA Full Form, What is the Full form of CGPA?
CGPA Full Form Class 8th English Lessons Class 8th Science Lessons Class 8th History Lessons Class 9th English Lessons Class 9th Science Lessons Class 9th Hindi Lessons Class 10th English Lessons Class 10th Science Lessons Class 10th History Lessons The...
BHIM Full Form, What is the Full form of BHIM?
The Full form of BHIM is Bharat Interface for Money. BHIM is a mobile payment App developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). It was launched on 30th December 2016 in New Delhi by Prime Minister...
Cheti Chand Full Form, What does Cheti Chand stand for ?
Cheti Chand Full Form Cheti Chand is basically a Sindhi festival which is celebrated mostly by Sindhi Hindus. It is a festival | 362 |
Today we feel like visiting Alicante to show you seven unique places this amazing<|fim_middle|>m area of caves.
A place to not be missed in Alicante are "Fuentes del Algar". This natural oasis can be enjoyed by the whole family and was declared as a protected Humid Zone since 2002.
The visit takes us on an impressive 1.5 mile journey along the Algar river, with several waterfalls and natural reservoirs of extraordinary beauty along the way.
Cala de Moraig it considered as one of the most beautiful places of the Costa Blanca. This small cove of gravel and transparent waters is the ideal location if you want to enjoy the blue seas of the Mediterranean in a more intimate and relaxed way.
In addition, very close to Cala de Moraig, you can visit the cavity of the Riu Blanc, one of the largest underwater galleries in Europe.
In this list of seven unique places in the province of Alicante, we could miss mentioning the "Castillo de Guadalest", an 11th-century fortress whose walls are home to the entire town. Without a doubt, this getaway will make you travel back in time with your whole family.
Cabo de la Nao is part of a route of viewpoints on the coast of Javea with fabulous views of the Mediterranean and accessible by car. As a point of interest, just below the impressive cliff there is a tiny cavity called Cova dels Orguens that is also accessible by small boats. | coastal city has to offer. An interesting route by car to enjoy your holidays in Alicante.
Located in the north of the province of Alicante, the "Natural Park of the Montgó" is known for its wide diversity of flora with over 600 different species registered.
One of the most attractive excursions –and one we highly recommend- is to the top of the limestone massif, standing 753 meters high. The views from the top are amazing, and on a clear day you can clearly see the beautiful island of Ibiza.
Another wonderful place to discover in Alicante is the beautiful island of Tabarca, located in front of the coast of Santa Pola and which once attracted Barbary pirates. Today it is a natural paradise with crystal clear waters, beautiful streets to wander through and delightful restaurants to enjoy the local cuisine.
Located in the town of Busot, the Caves of Canelobre are open to the public most of the year and are one of the main tourist attractions in Alicante.
This magnificent karst cavity is a clear example of the amazing natural engineering of water, which, over 145 million years, has managed to sculpt the rock into many different and incredible shapes located in more than 80.000sq | 260 |
The Netcraft Web Server Survey is a survey of Web Server software usage on the Internet. Netcraft received responses to its July 2002 survey from 37,235,470 sites. This is a dip from June's peak of 38.8 million sites that is lower than May's previous low of 37.6 million.
Apache, Microsoft, Zeus, and iPlanet remained the key players with shares of 57.62 percent, 31.87 percent, 2.11 percent, and 1.33 percent, respectively. The number of servers decreased across the board for all of the key players except Microsoft. The results from the July 2002 Netcraft Web Server Survey are in. Results for the July survey were compiled from responses received from more than 37.2 million Web sites. This is a<|fim_middle|> the previous month's 29.20 percent. Apache-specific servers accounted for 59.18 percent, a decrease from June's 61.18 percent. Macintosh-specific servers again decreased, this time from 1.02 to 0.32.
Of the servers surveyed, 18,406,482, or 49.43 percent, had .com domains. This is the first time in the survey's six years that the amount of .com domains has fallen below 50 percent. According to Netcraft, the proportion of the survey based under .com has steadily decreased from around two-thirds in 1996 to less than half. Netcraft attributes this to registration in ccTLDs becoming more straightforward and the speculative registration of .com domains unwinding. | dip from June's peak of 38.8 million sites that is lower than May's previous low of 37.6 million.
NT-specific servers accounted for 32.11 percent, an increase from | 45 |
Podium finish may have been Evans' last hurrah for 2019
28th August 2019, 12:03pm
Rally favourite Simon Evans was thrilled with his second place at the Eureka Rush in his LWR Subaru, and also gave us an update on the family's Mini Cooper AP4. The rally may well have been Evans' last in the Les Walkden Rallying Subaru, with the car now likely up for sale. "This is easily the best Subaru I've ever driven," Evans told RallySport Magazine during the pre-event test near Ballarat. "It just does everything so well and is great fun to drive." The multiple Australian Rally Champion contested a Side By Side race in his factory-backed Polaris on Saturday, before joining the ARC event on Saturday night. Evans explained his rally in depth in a lengthy Facebook post that included: "This rally was even more technical than the motocross track I raced on yesterday. Lots of cre<|fim_middle|> finished I thought, well I did the best I could so no matter the result I should be happy. The results came through and I was in second with Lewis third and I extended my lead over him by a little bit as well. "So to split the formidable Toyota team was a true feat. It goes to show that rallying is not about raw speed, but consistency and reliability play big factors into this as well. It also helps to have an awesome car and team behind you. Thank you to Les Walkden for trusting me with your car." Away from the pressure of the rally, Evans said that the Mini Cooper AP4 that his brother, Eli, drove in a number of ARC rounds is unlikely to see ARC competition again. "I've told dad I'll prepare it and run it in the Finke Desert Race, but he didn't like that idea," he laughed. "I reckon with extra suspension travel and a few other adjustments it would be perfect for it!" | sts with sharp turns and trees and stumps lining the roads edge, just waiting for you to run a little wide and end your rally. "First stage on Sunday and the pace was sensational. Everyone was fast and Molly was on a mission, taking 11 seconds off me, and I wasn't going slow!! "The old me would've stepped it up on the next stage, the longest of the rally and most dangerous! But I thought, I'm happy with my pace at the moment so I stuck to my plan and maintained our current pace. "Clearly this was the decision of the rally. Hayden clipped a rock and broke the suspension (not that I was anywhere near Hayden for pace).
Simon Evans had a busy weekend in Ballarat. Photo: Peter Whitten
"Molly got it wrong over a crest and visited one of the stumps I'd mentioned earlier, ending her challenge for a win. So after this stage I found myself in second place, with Lewis Bates breathing down my neck just a handful of second back in third. "So last stage of heat one I said to Lewis, seeing your brother has a huge lead and we are fighting for second place, let's put beers on this stage to keep it interesting. It's something Ed Ordynski and I used to do in the good old days. 😉 "Well, Lewis was up for it, we get to stage end and Lewis won the stage with me 0.6 seconds behind, and Harry a further second behind me in third! I think we should race for beers more often. "Going into heat two, a repeat of heat one, we had made a couple of adjustments to our car to cope for the stages being swept. We had a couple niggling issues with our car for the last three stages and I thought for sure we were going to loose second place, but in the same instance Lewis was having dramas with his car as well. "When we | 394 |
Our volleyball teams played well at the NSW All Schools Volleyball Tournament last week. First grade beat Kelso High School in a close final. Our 16As won the U16 event and our 14As finished 3rd in the U15s division. Well done to all players and coaches. Congratulations to our Opens basketball team who defeated Armidale HS in the last 16 round of the CHS Basketball Competition on our home court last Thursday Our team will now compete again in the Final 8 competition to be played on June 27-8 in Terrigal. At the CHS Table Tennis Tournament this week, our team fought through to the semi-finals but were eliminated by Blakehurst High. Well done also to the first XI football team for their gritty 2-1 win against SGS. Grammar is always very hard to beat at home and our boys had to step up their defence to hold on for a victory.
Congratulations to the boys who participated in the Red Shield Appeal recently. According to Salvation Army organisers, their behaviour was excellent. They singled out David Chan (Year 12) for his exceptional effort. Well done David and all the volunteers who collected money.
Congratulations to the first XV for their courageous win 12-0 against the Grammar 2nd XV at Weigall last Saturday. It was a hard defensive game for our boys who showed they could hold out the strong Grammar forwards. SGS showed great sportsmanship by keeping their 2nd XV side intact, despite having a bye for their first XV. The High second XV showed better than expected form in their easy<|fim_middle|> thanks to Kritman, and Kenneth, we managed to get ahead of them, and win. The second match against Grammar Cs was also very intense. By the end, we were only a few points behind, and we ended up losing 42 – 44. However, we fenced very well in both matches, and if we had more time to rest between matches, we probably would've won.
Our match was against Barker B. We had a great start, with all three of us winning our first matches with authority, meaning the score was 15-5. However, as time went on, Barker gained some ground until the score was almost tied. However, we fought back, with some great strategy meaning the score was 45-37, our way. Unfortunately, Barker really fought back, with the final score 45-44. But do not worry, we will take revenge. Good effort.
On Saturday we had our first finals. Although we did make it, it was our 2nd time in a comp and we failed 5-0 against Hills 1. Although this is sad, we think we can go back and win next time with more training.
On Saturday, we fenced in the finals against Grammar but lost 5-1 to them due to faulty equipment – the sword wouldn't work properly. Congratulations to David who won a match.
On Saturday the 4th of June the Sydney High 16As played an intense game against our friends in Sydney High 3rd Grade. It was a 5 set match, which would prove challenging as we usually play 3 set matches.
A combination of nerves, confusion with new rotations, injuries and the skills of 3rd Grade meant that we played a terrible first two sets, losing both. However in the third set we were determined not to lose in straight sets. We played as a team and supported each other, and this allowed us to take the third set from 3rd Grade despite the fact they held match point. Winning that set and holding off the end of the game was a crucial moment for us, and from then on we were unstoppable. Working together we took the next set with ease. In the final set, which was the decider, we continued to play strong and smart and after our intense struggle through five sets we finally managed to win the game!
I would like to extend a large amount of thanks to the Sydney High 3rd Grade, who played brilliantly and gave us a great game, Mr Kay the Volleyball MIC who organised the game and the games of many other SBHS teams on the day and Ms Trompetter, who encouraged all the High teams on Saturday and assisted injured players. Your help and support, especially on weekends is a major contributor to the success of High volleyball.
A win in three sets to Sydney High.
A win to Sydney Grammar in four sets.
Round 4 saw us halfway through the season and put us against a team with some interesting statistics. Riverview was one of the later schools to join GPS volleyball and their start was tentative. However, strong support and a strong coach have seen them overturn a number of traditionally stronger teams such as Grammar. The fact that their coach is a High Old Boy – Oliver Konakoff – means they know some of our moves!
It was clear from the outset that this was going to be a tough match. The Riverview Seconds came out strongly with some excellent play. This didn't translate into points for them giving us an easy first set. The second was far more strongly contested and we just lost by 26-24; one of our first set losses in ages. This seemed to galvanise the team who managed to run out the next two sets for an overall 3-1 score. If the Seconds were good, the Firsts were an even tougher crew. We were always going to have problems with two key losses to injury and overseas volleyball duty. Again, a solid, and much improved Riverview side met many of our responses. It was a fairly easy first set but our opponents were changing ideas and tactics to make set two far harder and causing another rare upset by taking set three from us. In what became a heated fourth set we managed to run out 3-1 victors.
From a High perspective this was confirmation of strength and depth in both our senior teams; we are not relying on the performance of a few to get the wins. From a wider GPS perspective it does nothing but good for our sport. Weak sides lead to less enthusiasm from schools and coaches. Strong teams means that the competition is genuine and the interest sustainable.
Over two great days late last term the School Athletics Carnival was held at nearby ES Marks field. The Carnival is designed to cater for all standards and boys are encouraged to participate in at least three events on the day. The Carnival went very smoothly thanks to the efforts of staff, student volunteers and willing competitors. Particular thanks once again to our Data Team who donated their skill and computer expertise over two days. Also I would like to thank all staff who came to ES Marks to get the carnival started at 8.15am. Our Carnival is now one of only a few large school Carnivals held at the track and it continues to be a great spectacle when it is in full swing. Senior boys in particular seem to appreciate what, for most of them, will be the last such event they participate in.
Special Awards from the Carnival include….
Over the summer break I created a Moodle page with all the information that athletes need to stay informed about the CHS and GPS seasons. This will be the main way that I will communicate with the Athletics community in future. Athletes will need to inform themselves about Zone, Area, and the CHS Carnivals, the training program for the GPS Season which starts during the next holidays at ES Marks and all the GPS Carnivals. I also have put great stories about fantastic athletes and some videos from last year's GPS Finals. Remember if you placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd at the SBHS Carnival you will be going to Zone. So look on Moodle, print your permission note; get the note signed by your parents and get them back to me as soon as possible.
Sydney High Athletics, Cross Country and the PD/Health/PE Department are holding "The Jaggar Gift" on Moore Park West. This is a handicapped race. The top athletes from each Year will be given the opportunity to participate in this race. How does it work? We will compute your handicap according to the 1.6KM runs you have completed over the last year to determine your starting time. The runner with the largest predicted handicap starts first. For the start, the clock is set at this number of seconds and begins counting down. Other runners start when their handicap time (written on their hand at registration) comes up on the clock. When the clock reaches zero, all runners have started. Check out Moodle to see if you are entered into the Race.
From 2000 to 2003 Professor Hickie was CEO of beyondblue: the national depression initiative, and from 2003-2006 he served as its Clinical Advisor. In 2003, he was appointed as the Executive Director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute (BMRI). In 2006, Professor Hickie received the Australian Honours Award of Member (AM) in the General Division; for services to medicine in the development of key national mental health initiatives and general practice services in both the public and non-government sectors. In October of that same year, the Australian Financial Review included Professor Hickie in its list of the top 10 cultural influences. The specific comments noted his role as a "long-term campaigner", "the person who orchestrated the campaign" that led to the COAG announcements ($4 billion dollars over five years). Professor Hickie was appointed to the Prime Minister's Australian National Council on Drugs from 2007 to 2011, and has led the BMRI as a founding member of the new National Youth Mental Health Foundation ('headspace'). Also in this year, Professor Hickie was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
Areas of Research: Depression, Anxiety, e-health, Early Intervention and Prevention; Lifespan Cognitive Change.
Professor Christensen's research interests include depression and anxiety that are major causes of incapacity and present high risk for self harm. Her major research aims are to improve levels of help seeking to mental health services in Australia and globally; develop and trial prevention and early intervention programs using health technologies for anxiety, depression and self harm; improve the quality of health promotion, prevention and early intervention services through the implementation of evidence-based web and telephone services and to improve knowledge about the way in which individuals use and respond to health technologies. | win against an outclassed SGS 5th XV. It was heartening to witness the celebrations of the players and the High supporters – not seen by me at Weigall since 2002. The 16As and 16Bs both had wins on what was a successful day against 'the old enemy'. I hope that wavering rugby players are inspired to train hard and play on after last weekend and that more boys who should be playing rugby, do so.
Our current capital campaign total stands at $1.067m. We need to quickly reach our initial target of $2m to take any opportunity for implementing our building plans. Before tax time each year I encourage parents to consider making a tax deductible donation to the SBHS Building Fund which is dedicated to saving for major building works – in our case a multi-purpose centre. Anything you could give at this time really helps the cause. For those who would rather give in a meaningful but painless way, join the 110 of us in the Monthly Giving Scheme. Our target is to double the number of donors this year. On or about the 15th of each month a nominated amount is automatically debited from your account or credit card. In late June each year you receive a statement from the school detailing the total of your donations in the twelve months from July 1 the previous year.
Just go to www.sydneyboyshigh.com/donations/project-donations where you will find a donation form for each mode of giving to the Capital Works Appeal.
"Special guest Mr Maxfield, players, coaches, staff, parents, students – welcome to our Winter sports assembly for 2011. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land where we gather, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay our respects to them and their elders past and present, and to any Aboriginal people here today.
"The culture shift to logging in strength and conditioning and the 'three training sessions' policy that I spoke about last year, is not yet fully embedded in our Senior School. Preseason preparation by our senior rugby squad was poor, with no more than seven or eight of our players fully prepared, as revealed by an analysis of the logging records. Consequently, we have suffered a high percentage of trial season injuries, but not so among the prepared players. School policy is that three training sessions per week must be completed for selection in A or B GPS teams and are recommended for C teams. We insist that first and second grade players in Football or Rugby take personal responsibility for adequate physical preparation, by logging for strength and endurance and sprint training sessions.
"Our winter sports are popular in 2011 but once again I find myself lamenting the reduced numbers of rugby players in the school. We need more balance in sports participation to fulfil our commitments as an AAGPS member. I exhort parents to let their sons grow and be themselves. If they want to play rugby – let them. Other high achieving schools have 4 or 5 opens teams, we should too. The time they spend training and playing is far from wasted. They might well be learning more valuable life skills than they will in the classroom. I urge boys to value the first or second XV jumper more. Prepare yourselves and show your grit as you face the challenge of full second grade GPS competition. It will be tough but if you concentrate on your basics and play to the strengths and limitations you have, then you can have an enjoyable season. More importantly, you are all making a statement about High rugby – we are playing the game and we are in the competition. Nevertheless, I have a duty of care towards you. If I lose confidence in your preparation as a means of self-protection, then your participation in the competition is in jeopardy. Please do what is asked of you as a whole squad! Thank you as always to Geoff Stein for his commitment to the administration of the sport and to the energetic Rugby Committee for their unflagging optimism and belief in rugby as a sport and character-building endeavour.
"Association Football is our most popular winter sport. Perhaps for the last time, thank you to Richard Gifford for his efficient administration of the sport and for his recruitment and management of coaches. Mehdi Hazrati has brought structure, self-confidence, discipline and passion to the first grade squad. I foresee a competitive season ahead. Thank you also to Matt Mulroney for his input into the program as second XI coach and for his junior development efforts. Football is no longer lagging so much behind in physical preparation, but more needs to be done to make both our major winter sports equally tough options. It's heartening to see that a Football Committee is functioning again. Partnerships with parents make so much of a difference to the engagement of families with the sport.
"Volleyball is very successful thanks to the discipline of the boys and the management of Michael Kay, Paul Ganderton and Marina Trompetter. Full GPS status for volleyball is just around the corner and other GPS schools, particularly SGS and SIC, are growing stronger. Thank you to Cathy Meaney, the SBHS Rifle Committee and the Sydney High Rifle Club Inc for the continued successful development of the target rifle shooting program. We have high hopes for the team this year. Cross country running has attracted larger numbers this season. Thank you to Ms Dam and her staff for their seamless operation of this sport. Fencing has moved into its new home in the Casey COLA. Thank you to Jenni May for her leadership in developing fencing at High. Well done also to the Fencing Committee for getting together and planning for the future of their sport.
"In sport, as in life, it is necessary to set yourself goals. One longitudinal study of university undergraduates found that only 3% of the sample had any form of written goals. Twenty years later that same 3% were worth more financially that the other 97% put together! The study's finding reinforce the idea that the act of setting a goal and the commitment shown by writing it down, unlocks our creative resources and commences the process of bringing the goal to fruition. Top sports people are persistent goal setters, with strong personal motivation and a desire for personal achievement and success. Last year's guest speaker at this assembly, Ewan MacKenzie, had a goal to lift the Queensland Reds out of their slump. Hasn't he achieved his goal!
"People need a process to set goals well. Without goals we just react to external events and people, rather than act, guided by our own decisions and purposes. Think about what you want most to be like or to do in life. 'Being goals' include: building greater self-confidence, concentration, perseverance, patience, intrinsic motivation, tenacity, optimism, commitment and better organisation. In order for things to change for you, you have to change things. That's when 'doing goals' are valuable. These goals can be simple and practical – reducing your 1.6k time by 30 seconds, gaining selection in the 15As or not missing a training session. We all feel better when we set, test ourselves and achieve goals!
"Our winter sport is strong at High. We stand up and take on the competition, no matter what. We relish the struggle. That need to struggle has been our history, is our present and will be our future. Congratulations to all boys selected in GPS teams this season."
On Wednesday 8 June all parents of boys in Years 10, 11 and 12 were sent by email details of the scheduling system and a unique code to be entered at www.edval.com.au/book.
On Tuesday 14 June all parents of boys in Year 7 will be sent by email details of the scheduling system and a unique code to be entered at www.edval.com.au/book.
On Tuesday 21 June all parents of boys in Years 8 and 9 will be sent by email details of the scheduling system and a unique code to be entered at www.edval.com.au/book.
On the Edval website you will see your son's teachers listed and you will be able to select those with whom you require an interview. (If you hover over a teacher's name, the subject involved will be shown.) At the same time you can indicate your availability between 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm (7:30pm for Years 10-12).
Interviews should not exceed five minutes duration. If there is insufficient time, a further appointment may be made for a later date, or contact by telephone arranged.
This week the Senior Library has been crowded with film goers enjoying the featured films in our anime festival. We will continue to present Miyazaki's Porco Rosso, a clever and humorous film set in post WW1 where aviator and hero Porco Rosso, a man with a pig's head, tries to protect ships cruising the Adriatic from air pirates above. As with many of Miyazaki's films, subtle moral and environmental ideas pervade the story and references to the period create a beautifully atmospheric film. The festival will continue next week as well, with another of Studio Ghibli's creations featured.
This week the Senior Library has launched a survey to gain feedback from the senior students who use it regularly. The survey is located in Moodle course "Library Surveys" > "McDonald Senior Library Use Survey". The library will be encouraging students to complete the online survey and results will be used to improve or add library services.
The Story of series…with titles including Ford, Nike, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Disney and Microsoft. These may be useful in Business Studies.
Do Not Open : an encyclopedia of the world's best-kept secrets an interesting and fun read about some of the weirdest and most fascinating secrets from history, science, mathematics and nature.
Islam: religion and culture by Markus Hattstein is a compact but comprehensive book covering the origins and history plus "The Basis of Faith" and chapters on "Science and Art", "Islamic Law" and "Family and Society". It is attractively presented with many photographs and printed illustrations.
Guinness World Records 2011 – purely for those who are interested in finding out about amazing records this year!
Lecture notes on Mathematical Olympiad Courses High School Mathematics Contests Parts 1-6 – with problems and solutions from many Mathematics competitions.
6.30am - Students arrive at Boggabilla Central School.
6:30pm - Arrive in Sydney. Dinner at Outterside Centre, Abbotsford, SBHS to provide.
5:00pm - Have dinner in room 901, SBHS to provide. Take School Bus to ANZ Stadium for State of Origin Football game, then students make own way home via school with billets.
11:00am - Morning tea, touch and departing formalities on Maroubra beach Depart for Boggabilla. Dinner en-route Arrive back at Boggabilla very late.
Finally, the wait is over! SBHS and SGHS Senior Drama Production, Sharp Love, is slated to hit the stage on 17th and 18th June. Preparations for this family-friendly show began early in Term 1 with the production-unit meeting every Tuesday after school. When I joined High this year, I wanted to get involved with something stimulating and creative. I saw this as an ideal opportunity and put my hand up. Despite being the only junior in the cast, the team made me feel comfortable and welcome. It has been a wholesome experience for me. I learnt a lot about creating new ideas, translating them into script and then finally, performing.
'Sharp Love' is a devised performance that aims to look at love and war through the recent era – in 50s, 70s, 90s and today. The love story of the 70s era revolves around a young group of protestors. They are strongly opposed to conscription in the Vietnam War. The main characters meet at the protest and fall in love. The very next day the birth dates of the conscripts are announced. Will our young lovers be torn apart by war? Will their relationship end in tragedy or happiness? To find out more come and watch the performance at Campbell Hall, Sydney Girls High School.
The show starts at 7:30 with admission $10 for adults and $5 for children. Bookings can be made with Ms Jennie Rohr in the Drama Department. All money will be taken at the door.
Nelson TANG of Year 10 answered the last question correctly and scored the chocolate bar to the envy of his classmates. Peter Garret is the Australian politician married to a German wife.
Die Frage für diese Woche ist: Wo ist der Dinosaurier?
Our May winner of the volunteers $10 lunch voucher draw is Rebecca Tsai. Thank you, Rebecca for your help and make sure you remind your son to go to canteen to redeem his voucher!!
Preparing fresh food for lunches takes longer than popping pre-packaged foods into an oven which is why the canteen staff are grateful for the help they get. Because of the amount of fresh food prepared in the canteen at High, we generally need 3-4 people each day ie up to 20 volunteers a week to help. We do appreciate how people give up their time to come in especially when life can get quite busy.
If for any reason, you can't get to canteen to help on your rostered day, please ring someone else on the roster to swap with or let canteen know beforehand, so they are not caught shorthanded for that day. Thank you to students for understanding that if we are short of help not all items from the menu may be available or that you may have to be patient when we are serving.
Thank you to these people who helped out last week: Carolyn Pope, Rebecca Tsai, Betty Chan, Fiona Nasif, Malin Wongthaveevatana, Vicki Moller, Cindy Tseu, Jenny Mou, Sachiyo James, Vikki Angell, Joanna Lu, Hellen Lin, Nada Andrews, Katrina Morrow, A big thank you to Nina Ilina Liu who, despite an injured foot, only popped in for a couple of hours and ended up helping all day as we were short at the last minute.
Please phone Tracey and Karen on 9360 4027 if you would like to help out in canteen on any particular day.
It was a tense evening at Newington for the FED Finals. We had 3 teams represented. First up were the Year 8s with Kevin Liang, Josh Maloof, Niyazal Bari and Thomas George as team adviser. Our boys had the difficult job of arguing against the proposition that "Our main form of punishment should be Community Service" .This was made almost impossible when the Newington team defined the topic as referring only to those convicted only of minor and non-violent crimes. Unfortunately, despite being a close run debate the other side were awarded the win. The Year 10s did better arguing the merits of the Carbon Tax. They did such a good job that they not only won the debate and the final, but they convinced me to go on the Climate Change rally in the City on Sunday! Very well done, boys.
In the FED final in the senior B division, High was given the topic "that we should have a tax on carbon" against a very strong Knox side. Placed on the affirmative of this very topical debate, we based our case around the fact that it was highly likely that Knox would run a counter model of an ETS, which they did, and through some strong rebuttal we were able to point out that not only would the costs associated with a carbon tax be the same under an ETS, they would also be worse because of the fluctuating price in a free market. In the end we managed to win an extremely close debate where both sides managed to argue an extremely complex case.
Our first Red Cross blood drive of the year kicked us off with 67 donations from Sydney Boys and 35 from Sydney Girls. Go Team Guys! Each of these 102 donations can go on to help save 3 lives. Remember that 1 in 3 people will need a blood transfusion in their lives so please consider making a donation for our next drive in Term 3 or for our younger students, when you're over sixteen.
A joint venture with Sydney Girls, our regular sausage sizzle was replaced with scrumptious kebab wraps on Moore Park West. A soccer game with the girls and students from Cleveland St made for a bit of fun too. The event was a brilliant success with $4866.05 raised between the schools for the United Nations Children's Fund. UNICEF provides essential supplies such as Oral Rehydration Tablets and Long-Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets to combat dehydration and malaria in developing countries so thanks for your contributions!
We contributed $137 to Stewart House through their Donation Drive and Raffle. The Year 7 Reps took point on this event and helped make it a success.
Headed up by the Year 11 reps, this event was a killer kickoff to their leadership experience. Mufti and the usual sausage sizzle on the Flat made for a great day and raised $2307 for the Sir Roden Cutler Foundation going towards a mobility scooter. The Foundation was founded by Old Boy Sir Roden Cutler to address the mobility needs of the disabled and elderly.
42 Years 11 and 12 boys spent their Sunday helping raise funds for the Red Shield Appeal. Starting from Salvos HQ on Elizabeth St, the morning group did doorknocks in the Bondi area while the afternoon group covered collections at Circular Quay and Pitt St Mall plus a group in Burwood. The money collected went to social and community services including support for the homeless, recovering addicts and victims of domestic violence. Remember to try to support any charity taking collections. Donating some spare change can brighten up your day and help someone in need.
We sold steaming hot ramen near the canteen to help you guys stay warm and raise money for earthquake and tsunami victims through the Japanese Red Cross. A shout out goes to Vyaas (Year 7) for being proactive in getting this fundraiser off the ground and getting Year 7 involved. The figures aren't in but I bet there are a lot of full donation tins and stomachs by the end of the week!
We've got the Boggabilla Mufti Day and BBQ coming up on Friday the 17th of June! You might feel a little Mufti'd out but who doesn't love an excuse to help a worthy cause and get out of uniform. For the forgetful, just remember: Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday!
Congratulations to the 1st XV for their gutsy 12 – 0 win last Saturday. Their victory was built on resolute defence and determination, despite some serious concentration lapses and ill-discipline. The first try by Jesse Moffat was a clinical execution of "8, 9,15", which the Waratahs couldn't have done any better.
Unfortunately the support for the 1st XV was marred by some inappropriate barracking by a contingent of past students, who chanted "bull****", "bull****" when a referee's decision went to Grammar. This kind of support is not welcomed as it does not honour the school, our opponents or the 1st XV. My question to them is where will they be next week when we play Newington, then Kings, then Shore, then Joeys, then Scots and finally Riverview? I know the real High supporters will be there each game. I also know they won't be because their support is just "bull****".
Once again, congratulations to Mr Scrivener, Mr Aldous and the 1st XV, you persevered and succeeded. Your efforts last Saturday earned you the right to wear the 1st XV jersey proudly, as all previous 1st XVs have done before you.
Referees are an important part of any sport, without them we would have confusion on the field and player's safety and enjoyment would be severely jeopardised and diminished.
It is important that referees are always treated with respect and never abused.
Everybody involved in the game has a responsibility to help stamp out the abuse of referees, from those on the sideline watching to the head of the Union, it is up to YOU to give referee abuse the Red Card!
What can you and should you do if you see someone abusing a referee or match official?
Encourage your friends and family to act responsibly and treat referees with respect. Referee abuse is ugly, it is unnecessary, it reflects poorly on the individual, the team and the game as a whole.
Referee abuse does not help to grow the game from a grassroots level and we all have a responsibility to see that it is given a Red Card!
We want everyone to enjoy their Rugby. Thank you for your support.
Round one of the GPS football season kicked off last Saturday with matches against Sydney Grammar. Disappointingly, all games scheduled for Moore Park West where cancelled due to the state of the grounds. Fortunately the Weigall fields had handled the recent wet weather far better and the 16s and Opens fixtures ran as per schedule. The early 16As match went to Grammar 2-0 in a keenly contested match. High strung several encouraging passing phases together but were unable to convert. Whist the game was a tight struggle, Grammar were perhaps the more aggressive of the two teams, winning the battle of the midfield and ultimately the match.
The 16Cs took the field intent on reversing the result from the previous week. Early exchanges were encouraging, however, a much more determined Grammar outfit took the honours. Pleasingly, a disappointed High team vowed to turn things around next match against Newington.
5th Grade. Saturday's match was not the best the 5th grade team has seen, mainly due to the possibilities presented in the first half. After losing 4-2 to the same Grammar team the week before, we came to Saturday's match expecting a tough game, though we were confident that we could win if we played well as a team. The first half looked very promising, with an early goal by Ashwin Rudder forcing the Grammar team onto the defensive - featuring some great defending by first-time stopper Cameron Morrison. Due to a penalty goal, the scores were even at 1-1 at half time, and we were sure we could win the game. That was before Grammar scored 3 goals in the space of 5 minutes. From there, morale was crushed. At the end of the day, the match became a disappointing 7-1 loss. Disappointing especially because the game looked so hopeful.
2nd grade struggled to deal with Grammar's version of 'Steve Austin'. 'Steve' possesses perhaps the longest throw ever seen at the Weigall fields and there have been plenty. High knew it was coming but failed to clear the danger. Defence of such a threat requires clear communication among defenders, precise judgment of the flight of the ball and most importantly a commitment to get to the ball first. Grammar 4, High 1 tells the story of who got it right. High's goal was scored by Gavin Sutton.
The 1st grade fixture was a cracker. High pace, high skill and high commitment. Supported by a strong crowd of Old Boys, High took an early lead through a spectacular strike from Andreas Purcal. A well drilled High defence held a menacing Grammar attack out and went to half time 1 up. High's ability to clear dangerous aerial balls was notable. Ryan Caetano, Will Shao, Andrew Huyhn and Nakul Bhagwat continuously turned defence into attack with clearing headers, eagerly picked up by the energetic midfielders, Sam Lane and Adam Booth. Whenever Grammar looked dangerous it was Sam and Adam who consistently 'got there' to snuff out their attack.
With Grammar equalising early in the second half, the stage was set for a classic GPS 1st grade finish. With both sides squandering goal scoring opportunities, including Grammar missing a penalty, the game was finally decided by a superb piece of play by Arjun Punekar. Pouncing on a loose ball just inside Grammar's half, Arjun proceeded to beat three Grammar defenders on a run down the left flank then delivered a bullet like cross which was met by Siva Sooriakumar to drive it home for the winner.
The remaining 10 minutes seemed to take forever. High remained composed under pressure and were unlucky not to wrap up the match with a clever short corner option worked by Sam Lane and Gianni Romeo, with Gianni's short hitting the crossbar. With time up, the "ref" blew full time to the delight of both players and supporters. High 2- Grammar 1.
Credit to coach Hazrati who has put in place the team structures that enabled High to remain composed and play football when under pressure. Credit also to keeper Brendan Hancock whose reassuring presence in goals gives confidence to the whole team. Brendan was outstanding as was Oliver Meroni up front. Oliver's tireless debut in the 1st XI proved he is up to the task.
Congratulations to Nakul Bhagwat (GPS 2nd XI and captain), Sam Lane (GPS 3rd XI) Brendan Hancock (GPS 3rd XI) and Arjun Punekar (GPS 3rd XI) for their selection in the combined GPS representative teams. They will play matches against CAS and ISA teams in the coming fortnight. It must be noted that Arjun is in Year 10 and to make these teams is a remarkable achievement.
On the previous Saturday the football committee held a BBQ at Moore Park West. The BBQ raised valuable funds for the football program. I would like to thank all those involved for organising and running this valuable fundraising event.
There are no matches this weekend due to the long weekend. Our next GPS match is the following Saturday, 18/6.
Before beginning the report on the School Championship finals I would like to wish Shaun Pak, Jeremy Dobrowolski and James Cao luck as the NSW representatives in National Epee Competition in Brisbane on Sunday 19 June. Thanks also to Angela Pak who will accompany the boys and to Antonio Signorelli who has made this opportunity possible. Good Luck.
Thanks also to Hayden Rabone and Ben Hillier who have been refereeing at the competitions on a volunteer basis. This is such a fine reflection on our school.
The finals of the schools team competition was a daunting one, as we were up against St Aloysius A. Despite the immensely strong opposition, we did not falter for a bit and tried our best to win. The match didn't start off well, as we were down 5-1; however, we kept a close distance throughout the matches and were never far from them. Halfway through, we managed to make an epic comeback to be ahead 25-24. Our last two bouts were quite difficult and as a result, we lost the match overall 45-31. However, we did very well, considering we were up against the top team in the competition.
Our first opponent was a team we lost against in the pools, SACS 2. Determined to take revenge for our unprepared loss 2 weeks ago, we were fired up to beat them this time. We started off spectacularly, winning 15-8 after 3 bouts, with myself, William and Ian in great shape, and Albert shouting encouragement. However, we started to let our guard down, and after another 3 bouts, they caught up to 30-24. We started to drop off then, and with a few great attacks by the opponent, we ended up losing 45-37. Although we lost this time around, we know for sure we will beat them next time with our new training regime.
SBHS Senior 1: Shaun Pak (C), Hayden Rabone, Mathew Chan, Ben Hillier.
First match was against Manly High. We had a slow start to the match trying to get hits on our opponents. We used Ben and to rest myself to give him a chance to fence and rest my shoulder for the upcoming match. Although we had a slow start to the match it didn't stop us winning 45-27. Our next match against St Aloysius was going to be a tough match. Always having seen them in the quarters, and always ending up on top, we knew they were bound to come back. We had a slow start with Hayden losing 0-5. Slowly catching up to 35-34, we could see us fencing in the semis. But the last bout with me, they slowly caught up. Trying to catch up from 38-44, we exchanged points but they had ended up on top and took the match from us, 41-45. It was a tough match but Aloys had ended up on top.
We were ranked 6th among the teams, and we were the top team. Our first match against Barker A, was intense, we were supposed to go up to 45, but we ended up winning at 39, because the time ran out. At the start of the match we weren't doing very well, but | 6,107 |
Kingston K-PEX 100 is a flash-based portable media players from Kingston's Portable Entertainment eXperience (K-PEX) line of digital entertainment products. K-PEX 100<|fim_middle|> 17 hours of power when fully charged (this is assuming you are using it strictly as an MP3 player; your mileage, of course, will vary); the screen is sharp and clear. And at an MSRP of $130 for the 1GB version and $180 for the 2GB version, it's not a bad choice. | features 1-GB or 2-GB built-in storage plus an extra miniSD memory card storage slot, 2″ (5.0 cm) 220 x 176 pixel resolution color TFT LCD screen, user interface available in languages such as English, Spanish, Japanese, Simplified and Tradition Chinese, Portuguese, Korean and Russian, digital FM radio tuner, USB Hi-speed 2.0-compliant, supports various audio formats such as MP3, WAV, WMA, Ogg(Q10), Audio ASF EQ setting with manual and preconfigured options, video playbacks of MPX format and requires transcoder software to play WMV, ASF,MPEG 1 & 2 and AVI formats. K-PEX 100 also allows users to view JPEG picture files and TXT format text files. And the media player weighs just 65g.
InformationWeek reviews Kingston K-PEX 100 portable media player and concludes that this is a very neat little gadget. The sound quality is good; you get, according to the manufacturer, | 222 |
I occasionally guest blog for Hana Baby about my experiences and feelings as a mum who<|fim_middle|> Changing rooms or Shaming rooms? | practises gentle parenting. A slight side step from my main focus subject here these days, but rarely is anything in my life clearly one thing or the other. Many of my interior design decisions and influences are as a result of life with children, the challenges but also opportunities this affords me.
The most recent instalment is about siblings. I thought I would share it with you here.
I knew I wanted to have more than one child from the moment children crossed my mind. I'm the youngest of three and have very fond memories of childhood, memories of companionship, adventure, dares and bikes and trees and rope swings. I wanted my children to build those same ties, to share their life, their experiences with someone who simply accepted them for who they are, because they are a part of them….
Next Post | 166 |
World Cup points are on the line this week at Copper in Big Air and the season-opener of Halfpipe. These athletes are likely to go big.
Photo: U.S. Freeski Team
The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix takes place Dec. 14-17, 2022 at Copper Mountain Resort, Colo. You can live stream the qualifiers and finals in each of the four events on Outside Watch, or the Outside TV app, available on Apple, Android, Roku, or Fire TV streaming devices. Click here for a detailed guide on how to watch, with start times for each event.
A lot has happened in the 10 months since the Olympic cauldron was extinguished in Beijing. Freeskiing's double gold medalist Eileen Gu started her freshman year at Stanford (taking her 1.6 million Instagram followers with her). And Nico Porteous, the first man from New Zealand to win a winter gold medal (in Halfpipe), ruptured his ACL while carrying a friend piggy-back down a mountain in Austria. He's out for the season.
But hey, the "Good Vibes Crew" from the U.S. is back in the 'pipe this week as<|fim_middle|> event, competing on the days between the Big Air rounds. Copper will mark an exciting return for American Hanna Faulhaber, who turned 18 in September and led the U.S. team in Beijing with her sixth-place finish. Faulhaber has a ton of amplitude and a few new tricks, according to U.S. Freeski Sport Director Skogen Sprang. China will also have a strong contingent that will include three of its Olympians – most notably Li Fanghui, 19, who placed fifth and Zhang Kexin, 20, who placed seventh in Beijing.
If you're not already planning to be cheering at the base of Copper, you can catch the free livestream here. Here's a detailed guide on how to watch all of the events this week.
Meet Nancy Greene, Canada's Female Athlete of the 20th Century
Big Air | the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air goes off at Colorado's Copper Mountain. In Beijing, David Wise dubbed the trio of himself, Alex Ferreira, and Birk Irving the "Good Vibes Crew," or G.V.C.—and said the other two had been trying to talk him into sticking around a little longer on the competitive circuit. It worked, as Wise competes for more medals this week. Another Birk, Norwegian Birk Ruud (Big Air gold) is at Copper, too. And a pair of American siblings from the East Coast who just missed the 2022 Olympic cut are finding their competitive fire.
They're all competing this week in Halfpipe or Big Air at the World Cup freeski event at Copper Mountain. Here's who to watch.
Halfpipe veteran David Wise is competing this week at Copper and looking to add more medals to his collection. Photo: U.S. Freeski Team
Athletes to Watch in the U.S. Grand Prix and Big Air at Copper
Big Air begins with qualifying rounds on Wednesday, and the field is stacked. Only the top 10 men will make Friday's final, and the heavy favorites are:
Birk Ruud, 22, the Olympic gold medalist from Norway who won the season opener in Chur, Switzerland, by unleashing an extremely difficult pretzel variation that showed his remarkable control (a switch left double 900 bring-back). The men who finished 2-3 in Chur: Noah Porter Maclennan, 19, from Canada, and American Troy "T-Pod" Podmilsak,18, have also made the trip down I-70 and will likely throw their 1800s in Colorado.
U.S. Olympic veterans Alex Hall and Mac Forehand are in the field, too. But keep an eye on two upstarts. First, the wildly creative 18-year-old Matej Svancer of Austria who has a quad cork and won the Steamboat event a year ago with a stylish and complicated 1980 that earned a near-perfect 98.00 points. Second, 19-year-old Hunter Henderson, a lacrosse player from New Hampshire who, at 16, was the first skier to land 1600 double corks in all four take-off directions.
Hunter Henderson is a new name to watch at this event. Photo: Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
In women's Big Air, only the top 8 will advance to Friday's final.
In Gu's absence, watch Beijing Olympic silver medalist Tess Ledeux of France, 21, who already won the season opener in Chur, beating out the 2022 Olympic bronze medalist Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland, 22. Gremaud also returns, hoping to one-up (or, ideally, two-up) Sandra Eie of Norway who, at 27, finished second in Chur, bumping Gremaud down to third place. And, of course, Kelly Sildaru of Estonia, 20, returns to do double duty as usual, competing in both Big Air and Halfpipe at Copper. Also worth watching: Grace Henderson, 21, Hunter's older sister, whose confidence may be at a career high after she made her first World Cup podium last month in slopestyle.
The Halfpipe season opens on Thursday with a best-of-two-run qualifying round. From there, the top 10 men and top 8 women will advance to Saturday's best-of-three-run final.
On the men's side, Porteous might be missing but the whole U.S. Olympic team returns, led by the 32-year-old dad from Reno, David Wise (the 2014 and 2018 Olympic champ who took silver in Beijing); 28-year-old Alex Ferreira of Aspen, who took the 2018 silver and 2022 bronze; and 23-year-old Birk Irving who placed fifth in his Olympic debut. The other headliner from the host nation is two-time world champion Aaron Blunck, who has never placed higher than seventh in three Olympics but always does well at Copper. Three of Blunck's six World Cup wins in halfpipe have come at Copper (in 2013, 2018, 2019).
Hanna Faulhaber will attempt to better her sixth-place Beijing finish at Copper this week. Photo: U.S. Freeski Team
The women's halfpipe is wide open. The only returning medalist from Beijing will be Canada's ex-ballerina Rachael Karker, who took bronze behind Gu and fellow Canadian Cassie Sharpe. Karker attended Canada's National Ballet School from ages 7 to 11 and said she remains in love with the feeling of weightlessness, choreography, and expression she learned at the barre and now, at 25, uses on snow in the halfpipe. Two-time X Games champion Sildaru (who took fourth in Beijing) will be working overtime here in her best | 1,068 |
Blink-182: Punk for All Ages
Now in their forties, the band's members have come to seem less like posers than pioneers.
By Kelefa Sanneh
Pop-punk is designed not to affront listeners but to gratify them.
Illustration by Erik Carter
In 1988, the Los Angeles punk band NOFX celebrated its fifth birthday by embarking on a tour of Europe. The first engagement was in Rotterdam, in front of hundreds of people, virtually all of whom were unimpressed. "I thought you guys<|fim_middle|> with the pop-punk boy band 5 Seconds of Summer. The vocals, which seem to have been aggressively pitch-corrected, have the same synthetic gleam as the electric guitars, and when Hoppus and Skiba run out of words, there is always a "Whoa," an "Oh," or a "Nah" nearby. The album includes a couple of novelty songs, presumably to evoke fond memories in longtime fans. (One goes, in its entirety, "I want to see some naked dudes / That's why I built this pool.") "Los Angeles," startlingly generic and overblown, should gratify fans in a different way: this is the boring band that Blink-182 could have become but, for the most part, didn't. Hoppus is forty-four and Skiba is forty, but the best songs could have been written only by overgrown teen-agers. "Left Alone" makes a bad relationship sound like the end of the world, partly because of Barker's apocalyptic drumming. And "Bored to Death," the rousing lead single, approaches the platonic ideal of late-period Blink-182: a rousing expression of post-adolescent—very post-adolescent—confusion.
Blink-182 was never cool. Barker quit another band when he joined, in 1998, and a former bandmate responded to the news by saying, "Are you joking? Those guys are posers." The members had no interest in punk credibility, and punk credibility had no interest in them. Fat Mike, of NOFX, never seemed impressed by the genial antics of Hoppus and DeLonge, who made a mockery of his conviction that punk should be at least a little bit confrontational. He once sang, "Fuck a Muslim, fuck a Jew / Fuck fans of Blink-182." (That is, roughly: Fuck them, fuck me, fuck you.) But the passage of time has made the members of Blink-182 seem less like posers and more like pioneers—the guys behind those old songs that provided a soundtrack to millions of childhoods. In a recent Times interview, Jake Ewald, of the thoughtful pop-punk-inspired band Modern Baseball, confessed that he was two musical links down the pop-punk chain. "I got into that kind of music from the bands that got into it from Blink-182," he said.
At a recent show in Brooklyn, another young band—quite obscure, and quite noisy—happily flaunted its debt. Posture & the Grizzly, from Willimantic, Connecticut, played a short set that ended with the singer, Jordan Chmielowski, howling, "I bet you're sad / This is the best time we ever had." Blink-182 fans surely recognized the words: this was a cover of "Please Take Me Home," a gloriously self-pitying song from "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket." And Chmielowski, doing great violence to the vowels, sounded quite a bit like DeLonge.
The new Posture & the Grizzly album is called "I Am Satan," and it shows that a great pop-punk record need not be particularly pop. If the album has a rallying cry, it is "Just fucking kill me," delivered with what sounds like startling sincerity, despite the jaunty bass line. When the album was released, in May, Chmielowski posted a message to fans on Facebook. "I need you to tweet @markhoppus and tell him how good I Am Satan is," he wrote. "I am confident if you all come together as one, we can kick skiba out and I will become the new Tom. Blink will be back and better than ever." This was a provocation but also, of course, a tribute. It has been seventeen years since "Enema of the State," and Chmielowski has kept the faith. No doubt he speaks for lots of people, many of them old enough to know better, when he gives voice to the conviction that Blink-182 should—will!—never die. ♦
This article appears in the print edition of the July 25, 2016, issue, with the headline "Good Clean Punk."
Kelefa Sanneh has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2008.
A Critic at Large
Outpunking the Punks
How hardcore conquered New York.
Onward and Upward with the Arts
Vampire Weekend Goes West.
By Lizzie Widdicombe | were a lot better," the promoter said after the show. Mike Burkett, known as Fat Mike, is the bassist and lead singer of the band, and in a new oral history called "NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories," he explains that the rest of the tour substantiated the promoter's judgment. "It finally started to sink in that maybe we were not a good band," he recalls. Audience members hurled insults, or bottles. Burkett was ready to quit when a friend played him a brilliant new album of "melodic punk rock" by a more established band, Bad Religion, which gave him a better idea. He writes, "I had a new plan: stop sucking."
This was not easily done. Musicologists may dispute, even now, that it was ever really done at all. But, in the years after that European tour, NOFX honed a slaphappy version of punk rock, fast but surprisingly catchy, with Burkett delivering his sneering lyrics more or less in tune. Mediocrity remained central to the NOFX brand: the band's two live albums are called "I Heard They Suck Live!!" and "They've Actually Gotten Worse Live!" But, starting in the nineteen-nineties, NOFX put out a series of spirited and memorable albums, which sound even more impressive once you read about the trying conditions under which they were created. "The Hepatitis Bathtub" is nominally a story about a band that somehow failed to fail, but it is also an estimable work of anthropology, criminology, and, above all, pharmacology. NOFX never broke up, and even without the benefit of a hit the band has amassed fans all over the world, enough to launch "The Hepatitis Bathtub" onto the Times best-seller list, at No. 3, in a category that surely amused Burkett and his bandmates: "Celebrities."
Years after Burkett hatched his plan, he helped encourage the next generation of punks to think big. In suburban San Diego, a NOFX fan named Tom DeLonge was inspired by the group's 1994 breakthrough album, "Punk in Drublic." The album opens with a rousing two-minute blast called "Linoleum," which is enhanced by deft tempo changes and some fairly precise vocal harmonies. In a 2014 interview, DeLonge remembered how impressed he was. "It was game-changing," he said. "It sounded good." He began to wonder whether it might be possible for his own band to evolve, too.
His band was called Blink-182, and he had formed it with his friend Mark Hoppus, who shared his obsession with punk—and, in particular, with pop-punk, a seeming oxymoron that was in fact a subgenre, known for simple chord progressions and memorable tunes. Pop-punk is user-friendly, designed not to affront listeners but to gratify them; some traditionalist punks consider it at best a guilty pleasure and at worst an abomination. But DeLonge and Hoppus played their four-chord songs with guileless enthusiasm, and their lovesick lyrics mimicked plot points from clean-scrubbed teen movies. They had a surprise hit in 1997, when rock radio stations started playing "Dammit," which has a refrain that speaks for wistful high-schoolers (and former high-schoolers) everywhere: "I guess this is growing up."
Instead of shrinking from mainstream success, the band embraced it. DeLonge and Hoppus fired their original drummer and hired Travis Barker, who is (unlike either of them) a virtuoso; in 1999, the trio released an album called "Enema of the State," which eventually sold more than four million copies in the United States. In the video for "All the Small Things," they dressed up as members of an unusually inept boy band, but as the song ascended the pop chart, eventually reaching No. 6, the parody began to seem like a prophecy. They more or less looked the part—one early review in Billboard flagged their "beach-boy good looks." And their commitment to juvenile humor (the stage banter on their live album can be summed up in two words: "dog semen") camouflaged an equal interest in the evergreen pop topic of adolescent melancholy. At the center of "Enema of the State" sits "Adam's Song," a plainspoken chronicle of depression, with a video that became an MTV staple. They were pop-punk pop stars, and they cannily found ways to shift their focus without unduly complexifying their music.
Their adolescent outlook, especially in the early years, occasionally found expression in spiteful breakup songs in which boys wonder what's wrong with girls. "Enema of the State" included "Dumpweed," a downright giddy farewell to a "nightmare" girlfriend, in which DeLonge sings, "I need a girl that I can train." But many of Blink's best songs endure because they turn inward: the lovelorn boy has sense enough to wonder what's wrong with him.
"Take Off Your Pants and Jacket," from 2001, is by turns peppy, sulky, and stupid—Blink-182 at its finest. And in 2003 the band released a moody untitled album that became an unlikely fan favorite. Listeners who had once thrilled to a composition called "Dick Lips" were now just as happy to sway along with "I Miss You," a subdued love song that had Hoppus murmuring the first verse and DeLonge yelping the second one, which sounded like "Where arrre yehw? / And oy'm so sah-ree." DeLonge is known for his unplaceable drawl (SoCal skateboarder, perhaps, with a dash of London punk, in a combination so distorting that it can resemble a speech impediment), and its persistence reassured fans that he still hadn't finished growing up, and perhaps had barely started.
By 2003, when the untitled album came out, Blink-inspired acts like Avril Lavigne and Good Charlotte were beginning to appear, proffering their own combinations of punk and pop, and supplying a guitar-driven alternative to the R. & B.-inflected hits of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. (Compared with the sexually suggestive, sonically adventurous teen idols who ruled MTV, these young punks could seem charmingly square, with their unsyncopated rhythms and just-be-yourself attitude.) Blink-182 did not invent pop-punk: a bratty, sappy California band called the Descendents essentially created the style, in the early nineteen-eighties, with a sublime little album called "Milo Goes to College." And Green Day, a decade later, was the first truly mainstream pop-punk band. But it was Blink-182 that emerged as a touchstone, spawning more imitators than any American rock band since Nirvana. Their seeming ordinariness convinced a generation of goofy punks that maybe they, too, could turn out deceptively simple songs as well constructed as anything on the pop chart. And their prankish camaraderie made fans feel like members of their extended social circle. In a 2002 documentary, Hoppus grew earnest while talking about DeLonge. "He's my best friend," Hoppus said. "I'm sure he'll always be my best friend."
In recent years, Hoppus has had occasion to rethink that "always." (Perhaps this, too, is growing up.) In 2005, the band announced an "indefinite hiatus," apparently at the insistence of DeLonge, and then reunited a few years later and created an album called "Neighborhoods," which was decidedly ungoofy but surprisingly effective. Then DeLonge stepped away again—he is currently working on a multimedia project inspired by his research into exoplanetary life—and Hoppus and Barker decided to do something radical: hire a replacement. The new guy in Blink-182 is Matt Skiba, a singer and guitarist who is part of the Blink generation—the founder of an excellent goth-inflected pop-punk band called Alkaline Trio, which built its fan base in the aughts. Skiba, because he has a track record of his own, is obliged to sing like himself: apparently he is the rare Blink-182 fan who doesn't do an impression of DeLonge's accent, at least not when he is near a microphone. A few weeks ago, during a private concert in New York, sponsored by Spotify, Skiba sang DeLonge's part in "First Date," an old standard, snarling instead of drawling. The fans chanted, "Ski! Ba! Ski! Ba!"—a gesture of welcome.
Hoppus, who is now the de-facto leader, feigned offense. "Ay, that's fucked up," he said. "I've been in this band, like, twenty-five years, and you guys cheer for Matt?"
The reconstituted Blink-182 was promoting its new album, "California," which functions as a big-budget reboot of a beloved franchise, and which made its début at the top of the album chart. It was produced by, and written with, John Feldmann, who helped to mobilize the post-Blink onslaught: he worked on albums by Good Charlotte and dozens of their peers, and more recently collaborated | 2,004 |
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Chronic poverty and education: a review of literature
Pauline Rose
Caroline Dyer
Primary education is widely perceived to have a key role in reducing poverty and is positively associated with development-related outcomes such as improving productivity. For girls in particular, it is highly correlated with improvements in health and reductions in fertility, infant mortality and morbidity rates. There is general acknowledgement that it is central to breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty. However, this review argues that the processes by which education influences poverty are insufficiently understood, particularly with respect to intergenerational poverty transmission. It finds that the discourses of poverty theorists and educationists currently run on parallel tracks; and that neither discourse benefits as fully as it should from the conceptual advances of the other.
Chronic poverty theorists have developed nuanced definitions of multi-dimensional poverty in relation to both its duration as well as its dynamics. Education is seen as both a cause, and a factor contributing to the transmission of poverty, but little attempt is made in this literature to unpack the 'black box' of education. Conversely, the term 'chronic poverty' hardly appears in the education literature, which typically focuses more sharply on other indicators of disadvantage - such as caste, class, race – that education needs to challenge if it is not to reproduce unequitable social power relations. Its recognition that educational deprivation has multiple causes, including poverty, contests an oversimplified view of the capacity of formal education to tackle various forms of social disadvantage. The use of education to address chronic poverty specifically does not emerge from this review of the literature as a focus of education policy.
Case studies of donor agency policy, non-government agencies and national governments, show that they draw on both economic arguments and rights-based approaches to development to justify the focus on primary education reflected in the international commitments to the Millennium Development Goals on poverty, education and gender. However, the paper also identifies a series of methodological tensions and challenges to demonstrate that the evidence base in relation to exactly how education interrupts intergenerational transmission of poverty is weaker than its confident reiteration by agencies such as these would suggest. It argues for a methodologically innovative future research agenda that brings poverty and education research together to provide a nuanced and detailed understanding of how the two are linked, and to improve policy targeting. Six case studies of policy innovations that use educational measures to address chronic poverty are included in the Appendixes.
Publication Type(s)
CPRC Working Paper
poverty dynamics intergenerational transmission of poverty education cash transfers
Chronic poverty and education: a review of literature PDF 885.0 KB
2005 | 548 |
We wanted to give you a review of all of our vendors as feedback for any other couple needing help with this difficult decision. With me being from Australia, my husband being from Florida and us living in Dallas, we really needed help choosing our vendors. It's so difficult not living in the same location as your wedding, but we were 100% satisfied with every vendor we chose.
We chose the Hau Terrace at the Halekulani Hotel because it was stunning, but the food and service was what made it the perfect place. We had guests from all over the world with very different tastes and everyone found the Halekulani faultless. My father who was also not keen for us to get married in Hawaii was made speechless by the quality of staff at our wedding. In particular, Tom Nguyen made our parents feel part of the day and the decisions with his speedy communication and presence at every event. This venue went with our theme of sophistication meets relaxed ensuring ourselves, family and guests felt they had VIP treatment in one of the best venues in Hawaii.
Dave Miyamoto, what a guy! We struggled with choosing this vendor because having good photos was so important to us.
To have a mix between a photographer that has the ability to capture emotions, whilst remaining calm, poised and present is unbelievable. Not only did Dave manage to do this time and time again, he helped keep the theme of our wedding going… calmness.
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This was a struggle for us, we would sit down for hours and hours trying to decide on songs and in the end threw our hands up and left it in the hands of our DJ Tony So. He has a real knack of picking up the mood in the room and adjusting the music to fit this. There was never any awkward silences. He made sure things moved smoothly from one part of the reception to the next. He is also a wonderfully kind and gentle man.
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If you want quality, she is the woman to go for and extremely quick and responsive in her communication. She ensured our linens tied into our wedding colors and added to the 'wow' effect when you walked into the room.
Abby at Pacific Sun Spray Tanning Waikiki is the best. I did a lot of research into this as anyone who has had a fake<|fim_middle|> best man had his. This literally meant all we had to do was turn up and enjoy our day.
I can honestly say my husband and I enjoyed not only working with Laura but having her there on our special day. We never felt stressed and I didn't turn into Bridezilla. Laura is worth her money time and time again, she's an investment to ensure your day will be perfect and gives you the feeling that you are planning your wedding with one of your closest friends.
We cannot thank our vendors enough for their time and dedication to our wedding. A special thanks to Laura who made the wedding of our dreams happen in real life. It was better than we could have ever expected! | tan knows how careful you have to be. I am super pale as is my husband so I needed a tan that was light, looked natural and didn't make the groom look sickly pale in contrast for the photos. She comes to your hotel room, is very generous with her time and advice and does free touch ups up to 48 hours after the tan. She also has a super fast tanning solution which means you shower after 2 hours of application. This meant we could shower and get out and about quicker. We also had a blast in our hotel room as it was 'girl time' we ordered lunch and chilled to music until we could all shower!
It was so easy for us to pick up our marriage from the Sheraton Hotel. We dealt with a girl named Olga who was very organized. Simply call them, leave a voicemail and she will either call or text you back if you are living out of the country. It's by appointment only but she made it so easy, we didn't have to worry about getting into a car we just walked to the Sheraton and were walking out 15 minutes later.
In terms of a minister. We wanted a very personal ceremony, one we wrote our selves…. we also wanted someone good looking and male. Gordon Noice was great for us. He was happy to read the ceremony we had written whilst adding his own lines which gave the ceremony some humor. He is such a relaxed personality and helped put my husband and I at ease. He has a vibrant presence about him that really added to the mood of the ceremony.
Lastly, the most important reason our wedding day was such a success, Laura Ann Lewis.
If you want a planner that takes the time to understand her clients, who is motivated to find vendors that not only fit with your price range but fit with your personality then this is your woman. Her attention to detail is remarkable and her knowledge about vendors on the island is limitless. Every guest we spoke to said they loved the flow of our wedding. Laura is the reason our day went without a hitch, or even if there was a hitch we never knew about it as that's how Laura is. She ensures your wedding party knows your wedding day is meant to be enjoyed and their job on your wedding day is to do the heavy lifting to ensure you are not bothered with anything. She motivated our wedding party and they all did everything in their power to ensure we enjoyed our day. My maid-of-honor had my cell and my husbands | 507 |
Frequent loss of the long arm of chromosome 18 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Frequent loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 9 in Chinese esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.
Chromosomal imbalance in esophageal squamous<|fim_middle|>-q23 distal to SMAD4, SMAD2, and DCC.
Comparative genomic hybridization of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: correlations between chromosomal aberrations and disease progression/prognosis.
Cytogenetic analysis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines by comparative genomic hybridization: relationship of cytogenetic aberrations to in vitro cell growth.
Frequent loss of copy number on the long arm of chromosome 21 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. | cell carcinoma: 3q gain correlates with tumor progression but not prognostic significance.
Genotypic analysis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by molecular cytogenetics and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Cytogenetic studies of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas in the northern Chinese population by comparative genomic hybridization.
Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 11 in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.
Allelic analysis of serous ovarian carcinoma reveals two putative tumor suppressor loci at 18q22 | 114 |
An event for all aspiring or professional acrobats to come play, learn, share, and enjoy everything about the acrobatic world. I'll be teaching a Trios class and a Cheer washing machine class (L-base). Get your ticket and come play!
Interfusion Festival brings together like-minded souls from across the US and beyond for four days of learning, healing, play and connection on MLK weekend. From AcroYoga, to Zouk, to Pole dancing and Massage, there is something for everyone. I'll be teaching AcroYoga Foundations from 10:00 to 11:50 AM on Saturday January 19 at the Westin in Alexandria. Sign up or buy your Interfusion ticket today!
I'm so excited for all the awesome events this summer! Catch me at the following events, hope<|fim_middle|> Crystal City (1235 S. Clark St. in Crystal City, VA). All levels welcome.
Steal the show with these whirly, twirly AcroYoga washing machines. Join Brian Cruikshank and Maren Hill for another spin filled Acro workshop where you'll learn the tricks to master two amazing flowy machines and impress your friends.
What's a Washing Machine? It's a dynamic sequence of AcroYoga poses that ends where it begins, creating a repeatable cycle. In the workshop we'll explore timing, body movement, weight transfer, and dynamic transitions to find ease and fluidity in each cycle. Take another step toward mastering ALL THE WASHING MACHINES!
No partner necessary! Check out the event page on Facebook. | to see you there!
July 28-29, 2018 AcroLove DC (discount code "marenhill10") – teaching foundational washing machines with Brian Cruikshank.
August 10-12, 2018 NY AcroFest (discount code "marenacro") – teaching "liberty parade" with Jason Smith and Trio Counterbalance with Brian Cruikshank.
This fall come to the D.C. Acrobatic Convention, October 12-14, 2018 at Xtreme Acro (14702 Southlawn Ln, Rockville, Maryland 20850). Tickets on sale starting 2/1/2018.
The D.C. Acrobatic Convention will bring together acrobats from around the country. Enjoy 3 amazing days of partner acrobatics, starting Friday and going through Sunday. Xtreme Acro and Cheer is a world-class gymnastics facility with more than 70 national champion titles in gymnastic acro, in addition to numerous international titles. This state-of-the-art 11,500 square foot facility is fully air-conditioned. There are two full 42×42 acrobatic gymnastics spring floors and two training belts above the acrobatics floor – including a twisting belt!
Stay connected on Facebook and Instagram.
Join us for some yoga and AcroYoga at Wanderlust DC 108 on Saturday September 23rd at RFK Stadium lot 7. We will have four 25-minute AcroYoga classes. We'll also be "jamming" at the event, so come over and say hi!
If you haven't snagged your ticket yet, check out the Wanderlust Facebook group. You may be able to pick one up there!
Join Maren and Brian for AcroYoga at Earth Treks Cyrstal City (1235 S. Clark St. in Crystal City, VA) every first and third Monday of the month (8/21, 9/18, 10/2, 10/16, 11/6) from 8:30PM to 10:00PM. AcroYoga is a fun and uplifting practice that can be both playful and challenging, plus it compliments your climbing routine. AcroYoga combines the playfulness of partner acrobatics with the mindfulness of yoga, and the creativity of dance. Working in partnership with others, the practice builds trust, communication, connection, flexibility, and strength. No partner required.
Space is limited – sign up for yoga in person or via phone to guarantee a spot.
Who: Fun and adventurous souls. All are welcome not partner or experience necessary.
Why: we like to have fun. and climb on people.
Maren will be teaching two workshops at the First Annual AcrOhio Festival. Get your ticket today!
Labor Day weekend in Columbus, OH … Come and enjoy 3 amazing days of acroyoga, partner stunts, standing acrobatics and oh so much more starting Friday and going through to Sunday. The weekend will be filled to the brim with lots of jamming, inspiring instructors, a world premier gymnastics facility, amazing acrobats, and so much more in a safe, fun and relaxed environment. We will be providing 24 different classes for everyone from beginners to the advanced. Ticket prices are at the low, low price of just $80 for early bird ending July 31. Be sure to get them fast as we might sell-out.
Join us for a "Counterbalance Like a Ninja" on Saturday, August 12th from 5:00 to 6:30. We'll share some of our favorite two person and three person counterbalances.
Counterbalances are one of the best ways to build trust and stability. From the flashy to the therapeutic, come play and explore the limits of body movement and coordination. Experience the magical float of shared weight and breath and master gravity defying poses.
AcroYoga Foundations in College Park!
Join Maren Hill for a fun filled intro to AcroYoga and some serious playtime! No partner or experience necessary.
Please bring yoga mats, blankets, water, and a positive attitude!
Where: College Park, MD.The location is TBD. If it's nice outside class will be at Mckeldin Mall.
Saturday 1/14 Intro to AcroYoga from 1:00 to 3:00PM, w/ Maren and Esther at The Happy Yogi (16650 Georgia Avenue Olney, MD 20832) Register here.
Monday 1/16 AcroYoga from 8:30 to 10:00PM w/ Maren and Brian at Earth Treks Crystal City (1235 S. Clark St. in Crystal City, VA). All levels welcome.
Monday 2/6 AcroYoga Fundamentals from 8:30 to 10:00PM w/ Maren and Brian at Earth Treks Crystal City (1235 S. Clark St. in Crystal City, VA). All levels welcome.
Saturday 2/11 Counterbalances at Interfusion Festival from 10:00AM to 12:00PM w/ Maren and Brian at The Westin (400 Courthouse Sq, Alexandria, VA 22314). All levels welcome. Purchase tickets to the festival. 30% off!
Monday 2/20 AcroYoga Fundamentals from 8:30 to 10:00PM w/ Maren and Brian at Earth Treks | 1,203 |
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Stambush offers News and Info 'ext<|fim_middle|>
University of Southern Indiana's student publication
About The Shield | ensive world view'
James Vaughn
When the factory Connie Stambush worked for relocated in 1992, something told her to quit, so she did.
"I flipped a coin, bought a backpack, a one-way ticket and landed in Germany," she said. "I wanted to live overseas and see what it was like to be an outsider. I think that's important for anyone in any profession. It makes you empathetic toward other cultures."
The new senior writer for News and Information Services is no stranger to diverse environments.
Stambush spent six years abroad, working as reporter in Europe and Asia. She wrote an adventure book about the four years she spent riding a motorcycle through India.
"It's interesting because I was a woman on a man's machine in a country where women don't travel alone," she said.
She had publishing offers, but didn't accept them, concerned that they weren't the right fit for her writing.
The Evansville native holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Indiana University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative nonfiction from Sarah Lawrence College in New York.
"Everybody ought to go abroad – it makes you see things in a new light." Stambush said. "We need to get out of believing what we think so we can think about what we believe."
She has freelanced for a variety of publications and agencies since 1998.
"Making a living as a freelancer is challenging," Stambush said. "I was always looking for work."
She has worked with USI a couple of times – first as an adjunct instructor in the English department, then on the university's identity initiative, which eventually became "Get the Edge." She did research and conducted interviews for the brand.
She's no longer freelancing. Instead, she's getting into the groove of her new job at the university, she said.
"I like the people here a lot," Stambush said. "It provides me with the diversity I'm used to."
She said she was at a point in her life where she wanted to work with others. The job has changed her way of life.
"I have to leave the house every day now," Stambush said with a laugh.
She's been coming in and out of the tri-state for awhile, but she's excited about her new position, she said.
"It's an edgy position the university is at right now," Stambush said. "It's kind of big, but it's offering new and exciting things that a lot of people may not know about and I'm here to help tell them about it."
News and Information Services Director John Farless is responsible for hiring Stambush.
"She's excellent," Farless said. "She jumped right in and is proving that she is everything we thought she would be."
He led the search committee that saw a number of candidates from a variety of backgrounds.
"We were looking for someone who had significant experience in writing for a lot of different criteria," he said. "She has a journalistic background and we knew she'd bring new ideas to the table."
Farless said Stambush appealed to the committee because she can handle a wide variety of tasks at one time and her background is non-traditional and unique.
"She has what I would call an extensive world view," Farless said.
Connie Stambush
News and Information Services
James Vaughn, Chief Copy Editor
On campus visitation, funeral for Rice scheduled for next weekend
University founder, first president dead at age 90
Demand for health professions rising
New fraternity could come to campus
Trustees raise concerns over expected enrollment
New academic calendar receives mixed reviews
April Ryan to keynote MLK, Jr. Luncheon
Polling location could potentially come to USI
Lighting a Tradition brings community together
Task force assists adult students | 782 |
John Deere Men's JD9600 12 Steel Toe<|fim_middle|> protective material. Merchandise values cannot be marked below value or mark items as "gifts" - US and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.
Please view and enlarge all images. The pictures are part of the description. If you are not completely happy with the item when it arrives then we kindly ask you to please get in touch with us to discuss any problems you may have.
The item "John Deere Men's JD9600 12 Steel Toe Miners Waterproof Pull-On Boot Black 11 W" is in sale since Friday, March 16, 2018. This item is in the category "Clothing, Shoes & Accessories\Men's Shoes\Boots". The seller is "salonikaangel" and is located in Saint Petersburg, Florida. | Miners Waterproof Pull-On Boot Black. Brand new with their original box and tags!
Please know your size in this brand of boots as this is a nonreturnable item. 3360 Ballistic Nylon PU Coated Waterproof Shaft. Genuine Cambrelle II Moisture Wicking Lining treated with Agion.
John Deere 12 Miner Boots are WATERPROOF, incredibly warm and provide full foot protection! Whether you're walking in a couple inches of water or through a rugged job site, these Boots can handle your workload... Pull on these Miner Boots for unbeatable protection and top-end comfort features, like the waterproof leather and polyurethane-coated uppers to keep your feet dry, 400-gram Thinsulate Ultra insulation for those bone-chilling days, and full foot protection thanks to the steel toe and metatarsal guard.
These Work Boots feature a reliable TPU outsole for top traction, and an orthotic insole to keep your feet from feeling fatigued. Best of all, the sole has a puncture-resistant plate, so your feet are protected against nails, tacks and other sharp objects. Please view all pictures and they are the main part of the description. All Items are securely packed with generous | 255 |
Officials today announced the launch of FieldNET Advisor, a groundbreaking new tool from FieldNET by Lindsay that takes irrigation management to a new level. FieldNET Advisor uses patented technology to deliver growers the information they need to make faster, better-informed irrigation decisions — improving yields while reducing water usage and other input costs — delivering the smartest solution in irrigation.
Track the available soil water throughout the field by combining a soil map of the field, proprietary dynamic crop canopy and root growth models, the most accurate hyper-local weather data available, and the applied irrigation history.
Create a high-resolution map showing the amount of water available to the crop across the entire field.
Forecast the crop's future water needs and predict when and where, without additional irrigation, the yield will begin to decline due to water stress. It also calculates the amount of yield that would be lost due to the stress, which varies based on the crop's development stage and the severity of the stress.
Automatically generate variable rate irrigation (VRI) prescriptions, which are continuously updated to account for actual and forecasted weather, changing crop water requirements, and as-applied irrigation.
Integrate into FieldNET's powerful remote monitoring and control platform, giving growers the ability to immediately put their irrigation decisions into action and monitor their progress.
Magnusson added that for growers who already have FieldNET remote monitoring and control<|fim_middle|> your local Zimmatic dealer or visit www.fieldnetadvisor.com. | equipment installed on their pivots, FieldNET Advisor requires no additional hardware or sensors.
For more information about FieldNET Advisor, talk to | 27 |
H.E.R. out to prove she earned her Grammys with new concert
Chuck Arnold
Social Links for Chuck Arnold
H.E.R. Getty Images
More On: musicians
Panic! at the Disco<|fim_middle|>: "Yes, absolutely! That is really the goal — to inspire little girls to do stuff that may not be expected of them."
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When the alt-R&B artist known as H.E.R. rocked the Grammy stage in February with a custom-made Fender Stratocaster guitar that was as transparent as she is mysterious, she knew that she had to come through for the little girl who dreamed of this moment.
"I saw all the legends in the crowd, people I grew up listening to," says H.E.R. (pronounced "her"), who will share a soul-sister double bill with Erykah Badu at Barclays Center on Saturday. "I was like, 'Man, I gotta show them why I deserved to be nominated!' "
Not only did the 21-year-old artist born Gabriella Wilson slay the audience with a righteous rendition of her single "Hard Place," but she won two of the five Grammys for which she was nominated: Best R&B Album (for 2017's "H.E.R.") and Best R&B Performance ("Best Part"). It was a triumphant night that turned up visibility for the enigmatic singer and multi-instrumentalist who used to keep her identity a secret by hiding her face in any promotional images.
H.E.R. onstage at the 2019 Grammy Awards.Getty Images
"The thing about me dropping my music anonymously . . . you had no reason to connect to anything else but my music and my message," says H.E.R., who still likes to cover her eyes with dark shades. "The music just speaks for itself. But people definitely recognize me more now."
H.E.R., which stands for "Having Everything Revealed," adopted the acronym as she was discovering herself while making the transition from girl to young woman. "Now I'm giving women a voice," says the songstress, who was signed to MBK/RCA Records when she was just 14. "Sometimes it's hard to put into words what you're feeling. I think my message encourages that honesty and that realness to yourself and who you are."
Early on, the Vallejo, Calif., native knew she was meant to be a musician. "I really discovered [music] when I was in the womb," she says with a laugh. "My dad had a cover band. They would rehearse in my living room while my mom was pregnant . . . Music was all around me from the time I came into the world."
With a Filipina mother and an African-American father, H.E.R. was raised on a diverse mix of musical influences, from Mariah Carey and Journey to James Brown. "My parents have very different tastes," she says. "They exposed me to so many different things. I represent both sides."
Another major inspiration was Alicia Keys: In fact, going by Gabi Wilson, she sang "No One" on the "Today" show in 2007. Then, at 12, she performed "Unbreakable" for her idol as Keys was honored at the ASCAP Awards.
I really discovered [music] when I was in the womb.
- H.E.R., aka Gabriella Wilson
When Keys hosted this year's Grammys, H.E.R. says, "It was a full-circle moment . . . She was very proud of me."
She'll get to share the stage with another musical foremother, Badu, this Mother's Day weekend. "She's a queen," says H.E.R. "We're representing for the women, and she's a mother, so I think we should celebrate her."
And with her Bring the Noise Foundation, Inc. — which provides underprivileged students and aspiring musicians with access to instruments and instruction — H.E.R. is hoping to help the next generation of artists.
"I plan on donating a bunch of guitars to different schools around the country," she says. "There could be a new Slash out there, there could be a new Lenny Kravitz."
Or maybe even a new H.E.R., shredding through stereotypes | 880 |
Q: Python parse nested xml I have an xml file that has multiple layers of data in.
<?xml version="<|fim_middle|>LogTime"]
dev_log = log.get("DevLog", None)
component_log = log.get("ComponentPrivateDataLog", None)
if dev_log:
print(log_time, dev_log["@State"])
if component_log:
print(log_time, component_log["Component"], component_log["PrivateData"])
Example of such a parser: xmltodict.
| 1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DeviceLog DevID="10503847" DocDate="2017-03-01T00:00:00" BSLogDate="2017-02-28T06:22:36">
<Log LogTime="2017-02-27T18:33:58">
<DevLog State="PowerOn"/>
</Log>
<Log LogTime="2017-02-28T08:59:03">
<ComponentPrivateDataLog>
<Component>1</Component>
<DataType>1</DataType>
<PrivateData>0301</PrivateData>
</ComponentPrivateDataLog>
</Log>
<Log LogTime="2017-02-28T08:59:13">
<ComponentPrivateDataLog>
<Component>1</Component>
<DataType>1</DataType>
<PrivateData>0401</PrivateData>
</ComponentPrivateDataLog>
</Log>
<Log LogTime="2017-02-28T10:16:44">
<DevLog State="StandByIn"/>
</Log>
<Log LogTime="2017-02-28T12:29:55">
<EndOfFileLog />
</Log>
</DeviceLog>
In this, each Log tag is a separate entity having its own time attribute and a child node. I am using minidom to parse the data.
The following is the code:
from xml.dom import minidom
xmldoc=minidom.parse("testxml.xml")
dl=xmldoc.getElementsByTagName("DeviceLog")
for d in dl:
dId=d.attributes["DevID"]
dId=dId.value
dod=d.attributes["DocDate"]
dod=dod.value
bsld=d.attributes["BSLogDate"]
bsld=bsld.value
log=xmldoc.getElementsByTagName("Log")
for l in log:
logtime = l.attributes["LogTime"]
logtime = logtime.value
devLog = l.getElementsByTagName("DevLog")
for dl in devLog:
devEvnt = dl.attributes["State"]
devEvnt = devEvnt.value
print dId,dod,bsld,logtime, devEvnt
The above code prints the time and state of the StandBy (last entry) and not the first PowerOn state. I tried indexing log=xmldoc.getElementsByTagName("Log")[0] and similarly for logtime. But didn't work.
How can i parse the logs so that I get each log with time in a separate line?
A: If it helps you, use a special parser that reads your XML data into a pretty dictionary, which is a bit easier to deal with.
import xmltodict
myxml = """
...
"""
mydict = xmltodict.parse(myxml)
logs = mydict["DeviceLog"]["Log"]
for log in logs:
log_time = log["@ | 686 |
The REMKO slow-combustion heater can be used all year as an economic heat source, to heat with dry wood, peat briquettes or coal. The device is filled with fuel from the top and functions according to the slow burning principle.
The low – noise warm-air fan, which sends the air through the standard heat exchanger in a concentrated manner, works very effectively.
The prerequisite for the even heating operation is that the chimney draft stabiliser remains even and stable during all operating and weather conditions.
An even chimney draft guarantees an effective removal of the fl<|fim_middle|> | ue gases and intake of combustion air.
The REMKO Allmat slow combustion heater is equipped with a Bimatik warmth regulator. A temperature sensor records the respective temperature on the heat exchanger and automatically regulates the combustion air.
Well suited for long term operation.
Precise heat dosing with automatic Bimatik warmth regulator.
Fast room heating by low noise circulating-air fan. | 75 |
More than 50<|fim_middle|> will satisfy for less, and by the help of Olga and her online course, I know, I will get there.
What an amazing course! Thank you Olga!
These lessons were possibly the best part of the week!
As a designer I learned how to sketch at school but unfortunately never really developed the skill… So Olga's course was a great way to brush up on the principles of perspective and along the way I also picked up a whole suitcase of tricks on how to make my sketches look really professional!
The course is fun, fast-moving, extremely well organised and after each lesson I felt like I made a whole lot of progress! And the price is so reasonable!
This video-course covers how to hand render interiors by using 1- and 2-points perspectives in addition to marker shading.
In this 5 lessons video course "BASE" (+ bonuses) I go over 1- and 2-point perspectives, marker techniques, composition and interior design drawing hacks.
Do you struggle with perspective drawing?
Let me help you! Learn my proven step-by-step system to master interior sketching with markers in a week or less and create your own professional-looking interior drawings!
Your access to the course is unlimited.
I this lesson we will draw a bedroom interior in 2-point perspective. Also we are going to learn here basics in interior design drawing. I will cover such fundamentals like: vanishing points, horizon line, chiaroscuro, concept of aerial perspective. After this lesson you will understand how to work with markers (like Copic, Promarker, Chartpak etc), how to make beautiful gradients with them and how to render different kinds of textures, for example glass, metal, fabric, wood, mirror.
This lesson is all about cementing our knowledge about 2-point perspective from previous lesson, but this time hand rendering of a classical armchair will be our point of interest. After this lesson you will understand how you can draw complex objects via simple forms.
We are going to make here a stylish sketch of a dining room in minimalistic Scandic style. Here I will introduce you to the concept of 1-point perspective. As for the textures, lacquered surfaces and wood will be our focus.
Here we will combine our knowledge about 1- and 2-points perspectives in one drawing of a living room in Classic French style. Textures covered in this lesson: crystal, textile, wood. You will perfect and polish your skills which have been built in previous lessons.
This lesson will be all about creating an incredibly-looking furniture layout in markers in only 30 minutes! Without time lapse, all in real time. You will fall in love with this one, I promise you! Textures covered here: ceramic tile, glass, wood, textile.
Lessons from the course are so interesting!
This is an excellent course! Lessons from the course are so interesting! Perspective drawing became easy for me after this course! I found Olga on YouTube and was soooo happy to learn from her!
🖍Markers paper (Canson, Copic, Molotow), better 70 g/m2, as this kind of paper save marker pigment so they can live longer and be of use. Regular paper also will be fine.
What kind of materials do I need for the lessons?
Are there any VAT taxes if I live in the EU?
Yes, the tax percentage, which is calculated based on the EU country, will be added on top of the original course price.
I have a question, how can I connect with you?
Simply email me at olgaart888@gmail.com Usually I answer within 48 hours. | 0 designers, interior design students, and architects have gone through this course and already "WOW-ed" their customers and lectors. Join them!
"Sketching is an essential skill for interior designers as it helps us to transfer our ideas from the head onto the paper."
It is some of the best money I've ever spent!
Some time ago I stumbled upon Olga's profile on Instagram. I was instantly taken by her ability to make design ideas come to life with her vivid and detailed sketches. Unfortunately I don't speak Russian, so when her sketch course came in English I didn't hesitate to sign up for it.
It is some of the best money I've ever spent. Olga is a splendid educator, and I am so pleased with the results I get.
The lessons are well structured, easy to follow, and you will quickly get nice results. She really loves sketching, and her passion goes into her teaching so you can't help to get smitten by her enthusiasm. I know, that my sketching skills are not yet close to Olga's level, but I | 220 |
Tennis is an enjoyable sport that is fast paced and high impact. If you enjoy playing tennis as a hobby, then you may be ready to step up your game. Once you've mastered the basics for tennis, there's only room for improvement.
Most professional tennis players can give you a few tips on how you can improve your tennis game beyond just learning new skills and practicing.
One of the most important elements that can be a big game changer in your match is the quality of your tennis racket.
So, if you're interested in improving how you play and moving up to become an intermediate player, then we have some valuable information for you. In this article, we will discuss the best tennis rackets for intermediate players of 2018.
Every professional player can tell you that a well-designed and balanced tennis racquet can make a world of a difference out on the tennis court. If you're here to improve your chances of winning, then this tennis racquet may be for you. It's designed to give you even more power while you're out on the court, making every swing count. It has enhanced elements that increase its power and give you better vibration control. This is sure to step your game up and give you a better match overall.
The Wilson Tour Slam Racket is designed to give you even more power than you would usually have on the court. It has an aluminum constructed frame which gives you the lightness you need in racket but also the sturdiness to back a good swing. It has volcanic frame technology which can help increase the amount of power it can output and also increases the stability.
The power strings are tuned to be tight, giving you extra power each time you hit the ball. The stop shock pads can help reduce the amount of tension the racket receives, thus giving you more control over how you swing it. The strung balance also includes 3 points which make the extra paddle light.
If you're looking for a lightweight racquet that<|fim_middle|>'re just starting out, it's important to understand how a high-quality racquet can change your game. Just because you can serve well and are getting a good score each time, it doesn't necessarily mean that your racquet couldn't use an upgrade. Any intermediate player can tell you that a racquet is more than just getting a better score. It can increase your comfort, make it easier to grip, and give you increased power whenever you serve the ball.
If we had to recommend one of the above-listed racquets to you, we'd have to go with the Wilson Hyper Hammer Racket. The reason for this is because this racquet gives you the perfect balance between both power and increased control. Not only is it easy to use, but it is also quite forgiving, making it perfect for those who are just learning as well as the pros. If your matches tend to last a while, then you'll find it's perfect for those because of its lightweight frame.
Hopefully, this article has helped you find the best tennis racquet for intermediate player that will fit your style. Remember, it's not about how good you are at the game, but more about if you know how to take advantage on the tennis court. It's all about learning your weaknesses and strengths and getting the right equipment to make yourself excel. | 's going to give you increased power when you swing medium to long strokes, then this is the racket for you. It's made of titanium and graphite making it super durable and long lasting. The Head Tis5 CZ gives you even more control than other racquets and also can give you better serves.
Whenever you're in a match, you're going to want to be able to control the ball with greater stability and be able to swing the racquet at a fast pace. With this racquet, you won't have a hard time swinging it back and forth because it's not too heavy, so it makes it easier to use in longer matches.
The Head Tis5 CZ Racquet is a step up from the Tis5 Racquet. It's designed with a titanium head which gives you increased stability and durability. The graphite composite gives it a more durable frame. The Softac grip gives you improved handling, making it easy to swing without it slipping out of your hands. The comfort zone technology gives you increased comfort in the grip to help you serve better and give you increased acceleration to your shots.
The Wilson company has always been a manufacturer of high-quality tennis rackets. Thanks to the 1999 Tennis Magazine Spring Gear Guide, the Hyper Hammer 5.3 got a jump-start during its introduction, when it was named the most powerful in its category.This racket has become the Wilson's most popular model and has since then been enhanced to give the best performance out of all of their rackets.
If you're looking for a racket with increased control, power, and maneuverability, then this is the racket for you. It clocks in at 27.5 inches which gives you more leverage and increased length. This allows you to hit the ball with additional leverage.
The Wilson Hyper Hammer Racket has a heavy head balance which helps increase its stability and gives you faster momentum with its light frame. The Power frame is perfect for players who use compact and short swings. The oversized head gives you added length and improves your reach without making it too big. This racket is perfect for players who need more forgiveness with more power. It's designed to be lightweight and easy to use. The head has an open string pattern which allows for more power and better spin.
The Head Tis5 is a lightweight racquet that gives you increase power and is great for people who like to use medium to long strokes. It's crafted from a mix of titanium and graphite, which helps increase its durability. The Tis5 gives you even more control than you would have imagined and gives you the ability to serve better. When you're playing, whether it be practice or in a match, you're going to have more control over the ball and be able to swing the racket at much higher speeds.
The Head Tis5 Racquet is one step down from the Tis5 CZ Racquet. It's designed with titanium which can give you increased durability. The graphite composite gives you a durable frame and gives you improved gripping. This makes it easy to swing, without it absorbing much impact from the ball. The comfort zone technology will also give you increased comfort to the gripping system. To help you serve better, it is best used for people who have faster swings, as this is not used for power but more control.
If you're a player who is looking for a large and forging racquet, then this may be the racquet for you. It's super lightweight but still gives you increased power, quality, and gives you a good balance of all its features. The racquet comes pre-strung, meaning you won't have to string it yourself. If you're in search of a power racquet, then this racquet isn't for you, as this is more for people who are looking for more balance and control versus serving with more power. It's great for younger people or for shorter people who need a little more leverage for their swing.
The Head Liquidmetal 8 racquet is designed to be easy to use and lightweight. It's so lightweight that some players say that they have a problem with it. Make sure that you're looking for a racquet with more forgiveness than with power. It provides its users with increased string tension, making it easy to control. If you're the type of player who likes to serve compact strokes, then this will be your top pick. It's made with a Liquidmetal technology and also has a dampening system which helps with the vibrations whenever the ball hits the paddle.
The racquet weighs 9.3 oz and is extra long in length at 27 1/3"
Whether you're a pro, or if you | 945 |
A small crowd of diplomats leave the comfy confines of an air-conditioned training room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) with cups of coffee to brave the hot summer temperatures for a smoke or chat outside, milling about in their dark suits and high heels between commercial attaché training sessions. They represent a veritable menagerie of Georgia's diplomatic missions strewn across the world, everywhere from the Netherlands to Uzbekistan. Different as they are geographically, after a few minutes they reassemble in the training room with a unified sense of purpose: to deepen the skills necessary to promote Georgia's exports and Georgia as place of investment.
It is no secret that Georgia's fortunes are intricately tied to its external trade, and this is not lost on the Georgian men and women who are on the front line of Georgia's diplomatic corps. Georgia remains an attractive location for investment with a highly educated and cheap labor force, and a structurally sound investment framework. From the standpoint of trade, Georgia has a wide variety of exports that are highly competitive on world markets, some with which readers may<|fim_middle|> If you look at any government, any country that has these types of programs — like the United States, where ... for every dollar that's invested in export promotion, the return was 142 dollars, that's tremendous," he said.
"[W]e have seen that each of those countries has gained. The UK has a program, the Canadians have it, the U.S. has it — almost every country that is either developing or developed has a program where they are leveraging their foreign services to grab business. Business has become part of diplomacy; countries that trade usually don't go to war." | be familiar, such as mineral waters and wines, but others with which they may not be, such as live sheep and nuts (Georgia is the world's third-largest exporter of hazelnuts!).
Yet the lack of knowledge about Georgian products and investment opportunities on the world market is a distinct challenge. Georgia has historically faced difficulties in trade promotion due to the small size of its diplomatic corps (some attendees mentioned the difficulty in being perhaps one of just two people in their respective posts handling commercial affairs, compared with the enormous services of some larger countries like the U.S. and China) and a lack of trained commercial attachés. But that is something the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking active steps to improve.
From July 9 to 11 the Diplomatic Training Center of Georgia held a high-level training workshop in Tbilisi on commercial law, trade, and the skills necessary for Georgia's economic diplomats. This is the second phase of training for a core group of MFA and Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (MOESD) officials, following the first phase, which was held in Washington, DC in May of this year.
The workshop, now being held in its second year, is part of a multi-year joint project among the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the U.S. Embassy Georgia, and the MOESD.
Maia Kipshidze, the Director of the MFA's Diplomatic Training Center, described the goals of this partnership training as twofold: firstly, to deepen the experience of and provide knowledge to commercial attachés to increase their skills to promote Georgia abroad and Georgian exports; and secondly, to help put together a commercial development curriculum for the Diplomatic Training Center to provide a short-term training course on commercial diplomacy for potential attachés before they leave for their posts — in short, to turn the working core group into working trainers.
Kipshidze sees a link between "the skills and the experience of the commercial attachés and the economic attachés, whose direct duty and responsibility it is to facilitate the process of attracting investments to Georgia from abroad" and improving the Georgian economy.
"I think [commercial diplomacy] is crucial, very important. Georgia is a small country and needs to put its name on the commercial map; the more investments, the more economic growth — that is, there is a proportional link; the more qualified and experienced staff that the Ministry will have, the more prospects there will be for Georgia," she told Investor.ge.
Training topics included areas as diverse as WTO trade law, negotiating free trade agreements, financing trade and insuring against political risk, dispute resolution, export promotion, trade fairs, and presentation skills, among many others. The areas of training are indicative of the high level of Georgian commercial development, which has improved immensely. Training, accordingly, is specifically tailored. Manoj Desai, the Principal Commercial Officer of the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, indicated that the training had become tailored according to Georgian needs and feedback, focusing on areas this year like presentation and negotiation skills.
Desai arrived for two days of the program to lecture on a variety of topics and engaged in a bilateral dialogue with his Georgian counterparts. He emphasized the importance of the program to Investor.ge, "The goal [of the program] is to help Georgia become a global player in world markets. | 694 |
Nowruz/New Day at Touchstones<|fim_middle|> – there's a pretty impressive number of top art galleries in Sheffield. | Rochdale
Abdullah © Len Grant and Global Conversations Group
Nowruz/New Day at Touchstones Rochdale, Manchester, 13 July–21 September 2019, free entry - Visit now
Since 2009, with the support of the Art Fund, the British Museum and the V&A have been assembling an important collection of contemporary photography focusing on the Middle East: the Art Fund Collection of Middle Eastern Photography.
In 2016, Touchstones Rochdale was invited to curate an exhibition drawn from this collection. In recent years Rochdale has become home to a large number of people seeking refuge from countries across the Middle East. In light of this, the gallery invited Global Conversations, a group of refugees who meet on a weekly basis at nearby St. Chad's Church, to co-curate the exhibition. Nowruz/New Day presents the results of this unique collaboration and poses a range of critical questions about the collection and, more generally, how the Middle East is presented through the media.
Nowruz/New Day at Touchstones Rochdale, Manchester
13 July–21 September 2019
Museums in Leeds
The famous, man-eating Leeds Tiger, a 3,000 year-old-mummy that survived WWII, the gothic ruins of a 12th century Cistercian monastery, and 'the best cinema in the world' are just some of the treasures waiting to be discovered as you work your way through this hand-picked selection of museums in Leeds.
Art Galleries in Leeds
From purpose-built, civic institutions to art deco breweries and repurposed mills, Leeds and its surrounding region is bursting with some of the best galleries and art centres in the North. Check out our top picks.
Art Galleries in Sheffield
A contender for the UK's largest practicing community of artists and designers outside London | 388 |
The Cleveland Arms ends its days.
Here's part two of our retro gallery of Doncaster's lost pubs.
Over the last 100 years or more, Doncaster's pubs have been demolished for a number of reasons.
Farewell to the Angel and Reindeer.
A batch were demolished for the construction of North Bridge. Another group were<|fim_middle|> 1930 and rebuilt during street widenings, mostly incorporating better facilities, on set-back street lines.
Others, largely beer-houses, were just demolished as being unfit to trade or through redundancy. Clearance of old property for new housing and extensive road developments in the 1950s and 1960s led to significant numbers being swept away, albeit with some licences being transferred to premises erected out of town.
How many of these pubs in the midst of demolition can you remember?
The archaelogical dig revealed by the demolition of The Elephant.
A former landlord of an Angel Inn on the east side of French Gate opened the New Angel on the opposite side of the road in 1810, the older establishment surviving until 1838. Conveniently situated on the Great North Road, the new premises quickly became Doncaster's principal hotel. A prominent list of guests stayed at the new Angel but the most important were Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred and the Princess Alice. They spent a night there on August 27, 1851 while journeying to Balmoral. Afterwards, the hotel was styled Angel & Royal. The last pints were pulled at the premises on December 30, 1962 at 11.30pm. The New Year's Eve extension had been brought forward – and regulars 'dug in' to a huge iced cake baked by a customer to commemorate the closing. Then, the hotel, was demolished to make way for the Arndale (now Frenchgate) Centre.
Dating from at least 1829 the Bay Horse, French Gate was demolished c1909 due to the construction of the North Bridge and rebuilt on a site slightly south of its original position. The past owners of the Bay Horse included Samuel Johnson & Sons of Wath; Alfred Ream & Son, Doncaster, who paid £2,100 for the premises in 1894; Bass, Ratcliffe & Gretton Ltd of Burton upon Trent. The rebuilt premises were demolished in November 1966 for the Arndale Centre.
Last orders for The Bay Horse.
The Cleveland Arms existed at the corner of Duke Street/Cleveland Street from at least 1856. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1938 and listed among its previous owners were Timothy Lindley and Whitworth, Son & Nephew. In August 1986 a blaze caused £3,000 worth of damage to the pub which had been refurbished only months earlier. The pub's name was changed to the Emporium during the 1990s but is no longer trading being converted for other uses.
The Black Boy meets its fate.
An Elephant Inn existed in Doncaster's High Street – on the site currently occupied by the NatWest Bank – from at least 1763.
The inn closed in 1829 and a new Elephant was opened on the south side of St Sepulchre Gate in 1850. Rebuilt in 1915, as a result of the St Sepulchre Gate widening scheme, the new hotel was designed in what can only be described as 'free-style'.
After a mere 60-year life span and a short existence as a furniture store, the Elephant was demolished.
An archaeological dig on the site revealed some interesting finds, among which included several Roman ditches, a fourth century pot containing a number of coins and a rare medieval jug.
The Star, at the corner of St James' Street/Cemetery Road, may be traced to 1818. Plans were approved for rebuilding the Star to the designs of HL Tacon & Son, for Whitworth, Son & Nephew in February 1914.
The Star at the corner of St James Street and Cemetery Road.
The premises closed on October 17, 1971 with Dennis Carrier pullingthe last pints – he had been at the pub since 1955.
Another picture charting the last days of The Star. | cleared from 1890 to | 8 |
Is Your Marketing Strategy Taking Advantage of the Holidays?
HomeBlog BlogIs Your Marketing Strategy Taking Advantage of the Holidays?
The holiday season is the<|fim_middle|> and promote holiday-themed merchandise. To accommodate mobile visitors to your site, make sure that your website is compatible with a full spectrum of devices. If you don't have an app for your store yet, now is the time to create one. With almost half of US consumers now using mobile devices to shop, making your store as accessible as possible for mobile visitors is sure-fire way to boost your mobile sales. | most lucrative time of year for retailers all around the world. To attract more holiday shoppers this year than ever before, take an extra few moments to make sure that your holiday marketing strategy is up to scratch. The following list outlines five effective holiday marketing strategies to help you ensure that your ROI this year is cause for celebration.
Holiday shoppers come in many shapes and forms, and it's important to be prepared for all of them. While some shoppers start preparing for Christmas as early as Thanksgiving, others leave it until Christmas eve. To ensure that both the early birds and the procrastinators get the best of your Christmas sales, schedule fresh deals to debut once a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas eve.
Sales are a crucial part of attracting holiday shoppers, but you don't want them to start eating into your profits either. To choose the sales that will optimally benefit your ROI, identify which of your products are in the greatest demand, which have the best profit margins, and which are the most overstocked. By putting these products on sale, you can attract shoppers to your store without diminishing your holiday profits.
During the holiday season, you're likely to get a lot of first time visitors. To make sure that they make the transition from bargain hunter to repeat customer after the holidays, start offering return incentives. Try adding coupons to your sales receipts that kick in after the New Year, or offer special gift certificate deals. The more gift certificate sales you make, the more post-holiday customers you are guaranteed. For example, in November, Texas Roadhouse began offering a free holiday turkey with every $100 purchased in gift certificates, or a $5 bonus with every $30 purchased in e-gift cards.
Your social media pages are an important part of your holiday advertising. Consumers will visit your Facebook, Twitter and Google + platforms to check out your upcoming sales and decide whether or not to stop by your store. To ensure that your social media pages display your store in the best light possible, keep your pages consistently up to date, posting fresh updates consistently throughout the day. To attract new followers to your pages, offer exclusive social media deals and giveaways.
Make sure that your website is in tip-top holiday shape by updating your graphics, images and videos to reflect the holiday season. Add a special holiday sales tab to make it easy for visitors to find your discounts and special offers, | 478 |
Bold New Steps to Counter Climate Change<|fim_middle|> the fight to reduce methane emissions — regarded as the single most effective near-term strategy to limit warming," he said.
"We are able to reflect on the past year as the period when we gained momentum in our global commitment to foster a healthier planet."
How To Save Our Ocean
Blinken on Meeting the Migration Challenge |
President Joe Biden signs an executive order intended to help restore national forests devastated by wildfires, drought and blight, during an event at Seward Park on Earth Day, April 22, 2022, in Seattle.
This year, on Earth Day and the weeks leading up to it, the Biden-Harris administration announced another bold step forward—a raft of new policies designed to tackle the global climate crisis.
The April observance of Earth Day is more than a celebration of nature and our environment. It also marks the rise of the environmental movement. Ultimately, that first Earth Day in 1970 culminated in the passage of sweeping laws for the protection of air and water quality, and conservation of endangered species of animals, and the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
This was a series of bold steps toward mitigating the problem of environmental degradation. This year, on Earth Day and the weeks leading up to it, the Biden-Harris administration announced another bold step forward—a raft of new policies designed to tackle the global climate crisis. They include a series of initiatives to combat deforestation at home and around the world, as well as commitments to protect the ocean by creating two new marine sanctuaries; to protect fish populations; to decarbonize the shipping sector; to tackle plastic pollution; and to promote offshore renewable energy deployment.
These initiatives join a long list of measures undertaken by the Biden-Harris Administration in its first 14 months. They include the U.S.-China Joint Glasgow Declaration to accelerate climate actions in the critical decade of the 2020s ; partnerships with vulnerable countries to help them build resilience against the impacts of climate change; and convening a virtual climate summit with 40 world leaders in an effort to rally the world to tackle the climate crisis and meet the demands of science.
"This Administration has made the climate crisis a foreign policy priority by working to scale up global ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, infusing the climate dimension into our broader policy, and significantly increasing investments in climate adaptation and resilience. Thanks to U.S. leadership at COP26 in Glasgow, the world is much closer to keeping a 1.5 degrees Celsius limit on global temperature rise within reach," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Earth Day.
"We also released the United States Long-Term Strategy under the Paris Agreement, which outlines how we will achieve a net-zero economy by 2050, and, in partnership with the EU, we enlisted more than a hundred countries in | 511 |
Tag Archives: philosophy
SEARCHING FOR TRUTH 101–AGAIN?
HISTORY, IDEAS, PHILOSOPHY-ETHICS, THINKING AND THOUGHT
"I, TomDickHarryJoeMaryJaneAnnDorothy, do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God."
Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard. Truth may also often be used in modern contexts to refer to an idea of "truth to self," or authenticity, we can find in Wikipedia.
More? Truth is usually held to be opposite to falsehood, which, correspondingly, can also take on a logical, factual, or ethical meaning. The concept of truth is discussed and debated in several contexts, including philosophy, art, religion, and science.
Many human activities depend upon the concept, where its nature as a concept is assumed rather than being a subject of discussion; these include most of the sciences, law, journalism, and everyday life. Some philosophers view the concept of truth as basic, and unable to be explained in any terms that are more easily understood than the concept of truth itself.
Various theories and views of truth continue to be debated among scholars, philosophers, and theologians. Language and words are a means by which humans convey information to one another, and the method used to determine what is a "truth" is termed a criterion of truth. There are differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth: what things are truth-bearers capable of being true or false; how to define, identify, and distinguish truth; the roles that faith-based and empirically based knowledge play; and whether truth is subjective or objective, relative or absolute.
So, "Tell the truth now."
"I repeat. Are you 100% certain, sure, absolutely positive<|fim_middle|> Confusion results when community is lost.
HEALTH DEPENDS UPON THE CONVICTION THAT OUR ACTIONS COUNT. I remain potent only so long as I get feedback which demonstrates that the force of my action is felt…I [obtain] the knowledge of the resonance of my actions, as well as the joy of knowing that my gifts are received and appreciated.
[I become] a responsible agent, with a sense that the future is open, [and] I understand myself to be essentially in a social context, and therefore my fundamental desires always involve other persons." –Sam Keen, To a Dancing God [1970] | ?" "100%!" "Well, I looked him in the eye, and I could tell he was telling the truth, by God!"
The search for truth, write Richard Marius and Melvin Page in a popular textbook A Short Guide to Writing about History (2014) is based on three processes: the search for evidence or SOURCES; the evaluation and ANALYSIS of the evidence; and the PRESENTATION of one's findings.
PRIMARY sources are NEAREST to any subject or topic of investigation: all kinds of materials written or other communications–including, even, sculpture and architecture, interviews, statistics, geography, military history, videos,
SECONDARY sources are ABOUT sources: books and articles by scholars–or even book reviews, documentaries, biographies.
THEN: ASSEMBLE sources; EVALUATE sources (who, what, when, where, why); DETERMINE reliability (bias, prejudice, incompleteness).
Good historians, the authors write, do not implicitly trust their sources, nor do they trust their own first impressions. They do not either simply ask random questions: they systematically use questioning and make inferences.
THEN: Historians fit together the evidence to create a story, an explanation, or an argumentation (p.20): the PRESENTATION. The results of the findings–the "truth of the matter"–come in the form of DESCRIPTION, NARRATION, EXPOSITION, or ARGUMENTATION–the four common modes of communication or expression.
In the search for the truth, they write (p. 48), "Skepticism is one of the historian's finest qualities."
A note about ARGUMENTATION: [Classical definition: "A mode of communication which attempts to convince or persuade by using ethos, logos, or pathos."] They state that argument is "a principle of organization that unites facts and observations to present a proposition to the writer" (58); arguments arise "because the evidence can be interpreted in different ways according to the assumptions of the historians themselves" (78).
TEILHARD DE WHO?: MORE ODYSSEY WITH CLARKE AND CHARDIN
AUTHORS, IDEAS, PEOPLE, THINKING AND THOUGHT
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ: 1 May 1881–10 April 1955, was a French idealist philosopher and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist, and took part in the discovery of the Peking Man. He conceived the vitalist idea of the Omega Point (a maximum level of complexity and consciousness towards which he believed the universe was evolving).
Although many of Teilhard's writings were at one time censored by his Catholic Church, in our time he has been posthumously praised by popes. However, some evolutionary biologists are still negative. Nevertheless, Chardin has had a profound influence on the New Age movement, being described as "perhaps the man most responsible for the spiritualization of evolution in a global and cosmic context"–even being described as a "visionary" philosopher and a contemporary "truth-sayer" or "prophet." Teilhard de Chardin has two comprehensive works, The Phenomenon of Man, and The Divine Milieu.
(Teilhard is mentioned by name and the Omega Point briefly explained in Arthur C. Clarke's and Stephen Baxter's The Light of Other Days. The title of the short-story collection Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor is a reference to Teilhard's work. The American novelist Don DeLillo's 2010 novel Point Omega borrows its title and some of its ideas from Teilhard de Chardin. Robert Wright, in his book Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny, compares his own naturalistic thesis that biological and cultural evolution are directional and, possibly, purposeful, with Teilhard's ideas.) [Wikipedia]
"The perception of the divine omnipresence is essentially a seeing, a taste, that is to say a sort of intuition bearing upon certain superior qualities in things. It cannot, therefore, be attained directly by any process of reasoning, nor by any human artifice. It is a gift, like life itself, of which it is undoubtedly the supreme experimental perfection." (The Divine Milieu, p. 131.)
"When a distinguished but elderly statesman states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong." –Arthur C, Clarke
"Mystics seem intent in regarding the death of earth as the birth of the new cosmic man. In this respect, Teilhard de Chardin's vision is remarkably like A. C. Clarke's Childhood's End": 'Let us suppose from this universal centre, this Omega Point, there constantly emanate radiations hitherto only perceptible to those persons we call "mystics." Let us further imagine that, as the sensibility or response to mysticism of the human race increases with planetisation, the awareness of Omega becomes so widespread as to warm the earth psychically while physically it is growing cold. Is it not conceivable that Mankind, at the end of its totalisation, its folding-in upon itself, may reach a critical level of maturity where, leaving the earth and stars to lapse slowly back into the dwindling mass of primordial energy, it will detach itself from this planet and join the one true, irreversible essence of things, the Omega Point? A phenomenon perhaps outwardly akin to death; but in reality a simple metamorphosis and arrival at the supreme synthesis.'" –Chardin, The Future of Man, p. 127, in Harper's, December 1971: 77-78)
"GIMME SOME A' LOVIN'"!: HEALTHY FEEDBACK
AUTHORS, EDUCATION AND LEARNING, IDEAS, PEOPLE, PHILOSOPHY-ETHICS, THINKING AND THOUGHT, UNIVERSAL TRUTHS
Omne agens agit propter finem. Every agent acts on account of an end.
To begin, let us focus on statements regarding human action from Thomas Aquinas, the Summa Contra Gentiles [I.II:1:6]: That is to say, every subject acts toward an end that is a good for him.
The act of love is the first of all acts and gives rise to all others.
Thomas asks whether love is the cause of all that the lover does. His reply is brief yet incisive: "I reply that every agent acts for an end. The end, however, is the good which is loved and desired by each thing. Hence it is clear that every agent, whatever it may be, carries out every action from some love."
The primacy of the person in Aquinas' "moral universe" is evident. The first affective motion is love (amor). The priority of love holds not only for the passions, but also for the rational appetite or will. Thus love is the most basic motion of the will and the principle of all moral action. The absolutely first appetitive motion in rational beings is the love of persons. It is this love that gives rise to all moral action, whether good or evil, since in all action the agent aims at the perfection of some person, either himself or another. It is no surprise then to find Thomas explicitly stating this position: "The principal ends of human acts are God, self, and others, since we do whatever we do for the sake of one of these."
BUT: "A subject isolated from sensory stimulus and social interchange begins to hallucinate rapidly and to lose all sense of reality. Sadists who subject prisoners to solitary confinement understand intuitively that the cruelest punishment is to remove a man [or woman] from the community and thereby deprive him [or her] of his [or her] humanity. | 1,629 |
Casa Colonial is<|fim_middle|> the pool deck that is being used as a gym /study with an adjacent storage room. | a unique and elegantly designed house that displays the character and detail of traditional Mexican architecture and Spanish Mediterranean style. It is situated on a solid rock bluff, offering expansive views of the local mountains, Zihuatanejo Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The house is located in the gated community of Cerro del Vigia, offering 24 hour security. The main level consists of a kitchen with island, dining area, living room, powder room, laundry/sewing room office nook. From this level you walk out onto a partly covered pool terrace with 3 graceful arches supported by columns. The upper area has a large master bedroom which opens out onto a covered deck the full width of the house. The second bedroom opens onto the front deck overlooking a private courtyard with a fountain. All of the furniture and most of the contents will be included in the sale. There is a large area under | 181 |
Frequent Subgraph Retrieval in Geometric Graph Databases
Nowozin, S., Tsuda, K.
(180), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, November 2008 (techreport)
Discovery of knowledge from geometric graph databases is of particular importance in chemistry and biology, because chemical compounds and proteins are represented as graphs with 3D geometric coordinates. In such applications, scientists are not interested in the statistics of the whole database. Instead they need information about a novel drug candidate or protein at hand, represented as a query graph. We propose a polynomial-delay algorithm for geometric frequent subgraph retrieval. It enumerates all subgraphs of a single given query graph which are frequent geometric epsilon-subgraphs under the entire class of rigid geometric transformations in a database. By using geometric epsilon-subgraphs, we achieve tolerance against variations in geometry. We compare the proposed algorithm to gSpan on chemical compound data, and we show that for a given minimum support the total number of frequent patterns is substantially limited by requiring geometric matching. Although the computation time per pattern is larger than for non-geometric graph mining, the total time is within a reasonable level even for small minimum support.
Nowozin, S., Tsuda, K. Frequent Subgraph Retrieval in Geometric Graph Databases (180), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, November 2008 (techreport)
Simultaneous Implicit Surface Reconstruction and Meshing
Giesen, J., Maier, M., Schölkopf, B.
We investigate an implicit method to compute a piecewise linear representation of a surface from a set of sample points. As implicit surface functions we use the weighted sum of piecewise linear kernel functions. For such a function we can partition Rd in such a way that these functions are linear on the subsets of the partition. For each subset in the partition we can then compute the zero level set of the function exactly as the intersection of a hyperplane with the subset.
Giesen, J., Maier, M., Schölkopf, B. Simultaneous Implicit Surface Reconstruction and Meshing (179), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, November 2008 (techreport)
Taxonomy Inference Using Kernel Dependence Measures
Blaschko, M., Gretton, A.
We introduce a family of unsupervised algorithms, numerical taxonomy clustering, to simultaneously cluster data, and to learn a taxonomy that encodes the relationship between the clusters. The algorithms work by maximizing the dependence between the taxonomy and the original data. The resulting taxonomy is a more informative visualization of complex data than simple clustering; in addition, taking into account the relations between different clusters is shown to substantially improve the quality of the clustering, when compared with state-of-the-art algorithms in the literature (both spectral clustering and a previous dependence maximization approach). We demonstrate our algorithm on image and text data.
Blaschko, M., Gretton, A. Taxonomy Inference Using Kernel Dependence Measures (181), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, November 2008 (techreport)
Infinite Kernel Learning
Gehler, P., Nowozin, S.
(178), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, October 2008 (techreport)
In this paper we consider the problem of automatically learning the kernel from general kernel classes. Specifically we build upon the Multiple Kernel Learning (MKL) framework and in particular on the work of (Argyriou, Hauser, Micchelli, & Pontil, 2006). We will formulate a Semi-Infinite Program (SIP) to solve the problem and devise a new algorithm to solve it (Infinite Kernel Learning, IKL). The IKL algorithm is applicable to both the finite and infinite case and we find it to be faster and more stable than SimpleMKL (Rakotomamonjy, Bach, Canu, & Grandvalet, 2007) for cases of many kernels. In the second part we present the first large scale comparison of SVMs to MKL on a variety of benchmark datasets, also comparing IKL. The results show two things: a) for many datasets there is no benefit in linearly combining kernels with MKL/IKL instead of the SVM classifier, thus the flexibility of using more than one kernel seems to be of no use, b) on some datasets IKL yields impressive increases in accuracy over SVM/MKL due to the possibility of using a largely increased kernel set. In those cases, IKL remains practical, whereas both cross-validation or standard MKL is infeasible.
Gehler, P., Nowozin, S. Infinite Kernel Learning (178), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, October 2008 (techreport)
(175), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, September 2008 (techreport)
Seeger, M., Nickisch, H. Large Scale Variational Inference and Experimental Design for Sparse Generalized Linear Models (175), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, September 2008 (techreport)
Block-Iterative Algorithms for Non-Negative Matrix Approximation
In this report we present new algorithms for non-negative matrix approximation (NMA), commonly known as the NMF problem. Our methods improve upon the well-known methods of Lee & Seung [19] for both the Frobenius norm as well the Kullback-Leibler divergence versions of the problem. For the latter problem, our results are especially interesting because it seems to have witnessed much lesser algorithmic progress as compared to the Frobenius norm NMA problem. Our algorithms are based on a particular block-iterative acceleration technique for EM, which preserves the multiplicative nature of the updates and also ensures monotonicity. Furthermore, our algorithms also naturally apply to the Bregman-divergence NMA algorithms of Dhillon and Sra [8]. Experimentally, we show that our algorithms outperform the traditional Lee/Seung approach most of the time.
Sra, S. Block-Iterative Algorithms for Non-Negative Matrix Approximation (176), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, September 2008 (techreport)
Approximation Algorithms for Bregman Clustering Co-clustering and Tensor Clustering
Sra, S., Jegelka, S., Banerjee, A.
The Euclidean K-means problem is fundamental to clustering and over the years it has been intensely investigated. More recently, generalizations such as Bregman k-means [8], co-clustering [10], and tensor (multi-way) clustering [40] have also gained prominence. A well-known computational difficulty encountered by these clustering problems is the NP-Hardness of the associated optimization task, and commonly used methods guarantee at most local optimality. Consequently, approximation algorithms of varying degrees of sophistication have been developed, though largely for the basic Euclidean K-means (or `1-norm K-median) problem. In this paper we present approximation algorithms for several Bregman clustering problems by building upon the recent paper of Arthur and Vassilvitskii [5]. Our algorithms obtain objective values within a factor O(logK) for Bregman k-means, Bregman co-clustering, Bregman tensor clustering, and weighted kernel k-means. To our knowledge, except for some special cases, approximation algorithms have not been considered for these general clustering problems. There are several important implications of our work: (i) under the same assumptions as Ackermann et al. [1] it yields a much faster algorithm (non-exponential in K, unlike [1]) for information-theoretic clustering, (ii) it answers several open problems posed by [4], including generalizations to Bregman co-clustering, and tensor clustering, (iii) it provides practical and easy to implement methods—in contrast to several other common approximation approaches.
Sra, S., Jegelka, S., Banerjee, A. Approximation Algorithms for Bregman Clustering Co-clustering and Tensor Clustering (177), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, September 2008 (techreport)
Combining Appearance and Motion for Human Action Classification in Videos
Dhillon, P., Nowozin, S., Lampert, C.
(174), Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, August 2008 (techreport)
We study the question of activity classification in videos and present a novel approach for recognizing human action categories in videos by combining information from appearance and motion of human body parts. Our approach uses a tracking step which involves Particle Filtering and a local non - parametric clustering step. The motion information is provided by the trajectory of the cluster modes of a local set of particles. The statistical information about the particles of that cluster over a number of frames provides the appearance information. Later we use a "Bag ofWords" model to build one histogram per video sequence from the set of these robust appearance and motion descriptors. These histograms provide us characteristic information which helps us to discriminate among various human actions and thus classify them correctly. We tested our approach on the standard KTH and Weizmann human action datasets and the results were comparable to the state of the art. Additionally our approach is able to distinguish between activities that involve the motion of complete body from those in which only certain body parts move. In other words, our method discriminates well between activities with "gross motion" like running, jogging etc. and "local motion" like waving, boxing etc.
Dhillon, P., Nowozin, S., Lampert, C. Combining Appearance and Motion for Human Action Classification in Videos (174), Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, August 2008 (techreport)
Example-based Learning for Single-image Super-resolution and JPEG Artifact Removal
Kim, K., Kwon, Y.
This paper proposes a framework for single-image super-resolution and JPEG artifact removal. The underlying idea is to learn a map from input low-quality images (suitably preprocessed low-resolution or JPEG encoded images) to target high-quality images based on example pairs of input and output images. To retain the complexity of the resulting learning problem at a moderate level, a patch-based approach is taken such that kernel ridge regression (KRR) scans the input image with a small window (patch) and produces a patchvalued output for each output pixel location. These constitute a set of candidate images each of which reflects different local information. An image output is then obtained as a convex combination of candidates for each pixel based on estimated confidences of candidates. To reduce the time complexity of training and testing for KRR, a sparse solution is found by combining the ideas of kernel matching pursuit and gradient descent. As a regularized solution, KRR leads to a better generalization than simply storing the examples as it has been done in existing example-based super-resolution algorithms and results in much less noisy images. However, this may introduce blurring and ringing artifacts around major edges as sharp changes are penalized severely. A prior model of a generic image class which takes into account the discontinuity property of images is adopted to resolve this problem. Comparison with existing super-resolution and JPEG artifact removal methods shows the effectiveness of the proposed method. Furthermore, the proposed method is generic in that it has the potential to be applied to many other image enhancement applications.
Kim, K., Kwon, Y. Example-based Learning for Single-image Super-resolution and JPEG Artifact Removal (173), Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, August 2008 (techreport)
Unsupervised Bayesian Time-series Segmentation based on Linear Gaussian State-space Models
Chiappa, S.
(171), Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, June 2008 (techreport)
Unsupervised time-series segmentation in the general scenario in which the number of segment-types and segment boundaries are a priori unknown is a fundamental problem in many applications and requires an accurate segmentation model as well as a way of determining an appropriate number of segment-types. In most approaches, segmentation and determination of number of segment-types are addressed in two separate steps, since the segmentation model assumes a predefined number of segment-types. The determination of number of segment-types is thus achieved by training and comparing several separate models. In this paper, we take a Bayesian approach to a segmentation model based on linear Gaussian state-space models to achieve structure selection within the model. An appropriate prior distribution on the parameters is used to enforce a sparse parametrization, such that the model automatically selects the smallest number of underlying dynamical systems that explain the data well and a parsimonious structure for each dynamical system. As the resulting model is computationally intractable, we introduce a variational approximation, in which a reformulation of the problem enables to use an efficient inference algorithm.
Chiappa, S. Unsupervised Bayesian Time-series Segmentation based on Linear Gaussian State-space Models (171), Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, June 2008 (techreport)
A New Non-monotonic Gradient Projection Method for the Non-negative Least Squares Problem
Kim, D., Sra, S., Dhillon, I.
(TR-08-28), University of Texas,<|fim_middle|> maximum entropy problem. We call our method non-monotonic maximum likelihood (NMML) and show its application to different problems such as tomography and image restoration. We discuss some theoretical properties such as convergence for our algorithm. Our experimental results indicate that speedups obtained via our non-monotonic methods are substantial.
Sra, S., Kim, D., Schölkopf, B. Non-monotonic Poisson Likelihood Maximization (170), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, June 2008 (techreport)
Machine Learning for Robotics: Learning Methods for Robot Motor Skills
pages: 107 , (Editors: J Peters), VDM-Verlag, Saarbrücken, Germany, May 2008 (book)
Autonomous robots have been a vision of robotics, artificial intelligence, and cognitive sciences. An important step towards this goal is to create robots that can learn to accomplish amultitude of different tasks triggered by environmental context and higher-level instruction. Early approaches to this goal during the heydays of artificial intelligence research in the late 1980s showed that handcrafted approaches do not suffice and that machine learning is needed. However, off the shelf learning techniques often do not scale into real-time or to the high-dimensional domains of manipulator and humanoid robotics. In this book, we investigate the foundations for a general approach to motor skilllearning that employs domain-specific machine learning methods. A theoretically well-founded general approach to representing the required control structures for task representation and executionis presented along with novel learning algorithms that can be applied in this setting. The resulting framework is shown to work well both in simulation and on real robots.
Peters, J. Machine Learning for Robotics: Learning Methods for Robot Motor Skills pages: 107 , (Editors: J Peters), VDM-Verlag, Saarbrücken, Germany, May 2008 (book)
New Frontiers in Characterizing Structure and Dynamics by NMR
Nilges, M., Markwick, P., Malliavin, TE., Rieping, W., Habeck, M.
In Computational Structural Biology: Methods and Applications, pages: 655-680, (Editors: Schwede, T. , M. C. Peitsch), World Scientific, New Jersey, NJ, USA, May 2008 (inbook)
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has emerged as the method of choice for studying both the structure and the dynamics of biological macromolecule in solution. Despite the maturity of the NMR method for structure determination, its application faces a number of challenges. The method is limited to systems of relatively small molecular mass, data collection times are long, data analysis remains a lengthy procedure, and it is difficult to evaluate the quality of the final structures. The last years have seen significant advances in experimental techniques to overcome or reduce some limitations. The function of bio-macromolecules is determined by both their 3D structure and conformational dynamics. These molecules are inherently flexible systems displaying a broad range of dynamics on time–scales from picoseconds to seconds. NMR is unique in its ability to obtain dynamic information on an atomic scale. The experimental information on structure and dynamics is intricately mixed. It is however difficult to unite both structural and dynamical information into one consistent model, and protocols for the determination of structure and dynamics are performed independently. This chapter deals with the challenges posed by the interpretation of NMR data on structure and dynamics. We will first relate the standard structure calculation methods to Bayesian probability theory. We will then briefly describe the advantages of a fully Bayesian treatment of structure calculation. Then, we will illustrate the advantages of using Bayesian reasoning at least partly in standard structure calculations. The final part will be devoted to interpretation of experimental data on dynamics.
Nilges, M., Markwick, P., Malliavin, TE., Rieping, W., Habeck, M. New Frontiers in Characterizing Structure and Dynamics by NMR In Computational Structural Biology: Methods and Applications, pages: 655-680, (Editors: Schwede, T. , M. C. Peitsch), World Scientific, New Jersey, NJ, USA, May 2008 (inbook)
A Kernel Method for the Two-sample Problem
(157), Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics Tübingen, April 2008 (techreport)
We propose a framework for analyzing and comparing distributions, allowing us to design statistical tests to determine if two samples are drawn from different distributions. Our test statistic is the largest difference in expectations over functions in the unit ball of a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS). We present two tests based on large deviation bounds for the test statistic, while a third is based on the asymptotic distribution of this statistic. The test statistic can be computed in quadratic time, although efficient linear time approximations are available. Several classical metrics on distributions are recovered when the function space used to compute the difference in expectations is allowed to be more general (eg.~a Banach space). We apply our two-sample tests to a variety of problems, including attribute matching for databases using the Hungarian marriage method, where they perform strongly. Excellent performance is also obtained when comparing distributions over graphs, for which these are the first such tests.
Gretton, A., Borgwardt, K., Rasch, M., Schölkopf, B., Smola, A. A Kernel Method for the Two-sample Problem (157), Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics Tübingen, April 2008 (techreport)
Energy Functionals for Manifold-valued Mappings and Their Properties
Hein, M., Steinke, F., Schölkopf, B.
(167), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, January 2008 (techreport)
This technical report is merely an extended version of the appendix of Steinke et.al. "Manifold-valued Thin-Plate Splines with Applications in Computer Graphics" (2008) with complete proofs, which had to be omitted due to space restrictions. This technical report requires a basic knowledge of differential geometry. However, apart from that requirement the technical report is self-contained.
Hein, M., Steinke, F., Schölkopf, B. Energy Functionals for Manifold-valued Mappings and Their Properties (167), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, January 2008 (techreport)
A Robot System for Biomimetic Navigation: From Snapshots to Metric Embeddings of View Graphs
Franz, MO., Stürzl, W., Reichardt, W., Mallot, HA.
In Robotics and Cognitive Approaches to Spatial Mapping, pages: 297-314, Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics ; 38, (Editors: Jefferies, M.E. , W.-K. Yeap), Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2008 (inbook)
Complex navigation behaviour (way-finding) involves recognizing several places and encoding a spatial relationship between them. Way-finding skills can be classified into a hierarchy according to the complexity of the tasks that can be performed [8]. The most basic form of way-finding is route navigation, followed by topological navigation where several routes are integrated into a graph-like representation. The highest level, survey navigation, is reached when this graph can be embedded into a common reference frame. In this chapter, we present the building blocks for a biomimetic robot navigation system that encompasses all levels of this hierarchy. As a local navigation method, we use scene-based homing. In this scheme, a goal location is characterized either by a panoramic snapshot of the light intensities as seen from the place, or by a record of the distances to the surrounding objects. The goal is found by moving in the direction that minimizes the discrepancy between the recorded intensities or distances and the current sensory input. For learning routes, the robot selects distinct views during exploration that are close enough to be reached by snapshot-based homing. When it encounters already visited places during route learning, it connects the routes and thus forms a topological representation of its environment termed a view graph. The final stage, survey navigation, is achieved by a graph embedding procedure which complements the topologic information of the view graph with odometric position estimates. Calculation of the graph embedding is done with a modified multidimensional scaling algorithm which makes use of distances and angles between nodes.
PDF PDF DOI [BibTex]
Franz, MO., Stürzl, W., Reichardt, W., Mallot, HA. A Robot System for Biomimetic Navigation: From Snapshots to Metric Embeddings of View Graphs In Robotics and Cognitive Approaches to Spatial Mapping, pages: 297-314, Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics ; 38, (Editors: Jefferies, M.E. , W.-K. Yeap), Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2008 (inbook)
Popper, Falsification and the VC-dimension
Corfield, D., Schölkopf, B., Vapnik, V.
(145), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, November 2005 (techreport)
Corfield, D., Schölkopf, B., Vapnik, V. Popper, Falsification and the VC-dimension (145), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, November 2005 (techreport)
A Combinatorial View of Graph Laplacians
Huang, J.
Discussions about different graph Laplacian, mainly normalized and unnormalized versions of graph Laplacian, have been ardent with respect to various methods in clustering and graph based semi-supervised learning. Previous research on graph Laplacians investigated their convergence properties to Laplacian operators on continuous manifolds. There is still no strong proof on convergence for the normalized Laplacian. In this paper, we analyze different variants of graph Laplacians directly from the ways solving the original graph partitioning problem. The graph partitioning problem is a well-known combinatorial NP hard optimization problem. The spectral solutions provide evidence that normalized Laplacian encodes more reasonable considerations for graph partitioning. We also provide some examples to show their differences.
Huang, J. A Combinatorial View of Graph Laplacians (144), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, August 2005 (techreport)
Beyond Pairwise Classification and Clustering Using Hypergraphs
Zhou, D., Huang, J., Schölkopf, B.
(143), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, August 2005 (techreport)
In many applications, relationships among objects of interest are more complex than pairwise. Simply approximating complex relationships as pairwise ones can lead to loss of information. An alternative for these applications is to analyze complex relationships among data directly, without the need to first represent the complex relationships into pairwise ones. A natural way to describe complex relationships is to use hypergraphs. A hypergraph is a graph in which edges can connect more than two vertices. Thus we consider learning from a hypergraph, and develop a general framework which is applicable to classification and clustering for complex relational data. We have applied our framework to real-world web classification problems and obtained encouraging results.
Zhou, D., Huang, J., Schölkopf, B. Beyond Pairwise Classification and Clustering Using Hypergraphs (143), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, August 2005 (techreport)
Generalized Nonnegative Matrix Approximations using Bregman Divergences
Sra, S., Dhillon, I.
Univ. of Texas at Austin, June 2005 (techreport)
Sra, S., Dhillon, I. Generalized Nonnegative Matrix Approximations using Bregman Divergences Univ. of Texas at Austin, June 2005 (techreport)
Measuring Statistical Dependence with Hilbert-Schmidt Norms
Gretton, A., Bousquet, O., Smola, A., Schölkopf, B.
(140), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, June 2005 (techreport)
We propose an independence criterion based on the eigenspectrum of covariance operators in reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces (RKHSs), consisting of an empirical estimate of the Hilbert-Schmidt norm of the cross-covariance operator (we term this a Hilbert-Schmidt Independence Criterion, or HSIC). This approach has several advantages, compared with previous kernel-based independence criteria. First, the empirical estimate is simpler than any other kernel dependence test, and requires no user-defined regularisation. Second, there is a clearly defined population quantity which the empirical estimate approaches in the large sample limit, with exponential convergence guaranteed between the two: this ensures that independence tests based on HSIC do not suffer from slow learning rates. Finally, we show in the context of independent component analysis (ICA) that the performance of HSIC is competitive with that of previously published kernel-based criteria, and of other recently published ICA methods.
Gretton, A., Bousquet, O., Smola, A., Schölkopf, B. Measuring Statistical Dependence with Hilbert-Schmidt Norms (140), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, June 2005 (techreport)
Consistency of Kernel Canonical Correlation Analysis
Fukumizu, K., Bach, F., Gretton, A.
(942), Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 4-6-7 Minami-azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8569 Japan, June 2005 (techreport)
Fukumizu, K., Bach, F., Gretton, A. Consistency of Kernel Canonical Correlation Analysis (942), Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 4-6-7 Minami-azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8569 Japan, June 2005 (techreport)
Approximate Inference for Robust Gaussian Process Regression
Kuss, M., Pfingsten, T., Csato, L., Rasmussen, C.
(136), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, 2005 (techreport)
Gaussian process (GP) priors have been successfully used in non-parametric Bayesian regression and classification models. Inference can be performed analytically only for the regression model with Gaussian noise. For all other likelihood models inference is intractable and various approximation techniques have been proposed. In recent years expectation-propagation (EP) has been developed as a general method for approximate inference. This article provides a general summary of how expectation-propagation can be used for approximate inference in Gaussian process models. Furthermore we present a case study describing its implementation for a new robust variant of Gaussian process regression. To gain further insights into the quality of the EP approximation we present experiments in which we compare to results obtained by Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling.
Kuss, M., Pfingsten, T., Csato, L., Rasmussen, C. Approximate Inference for Robust Gaussian Process Regression (136), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, 2005 (techreport)
Support Vector Machines and Kernel Algorithms
In Encyclopedia of Biostatistics (2nd edition), Vol. 8, 8, pages: 5328-5335, (Editors: P Armitage and T Colton), John Wiley & Sons, NY USA, 2005 (inbook)
Schölkopf, B., Smola, A. Support Vector Machines and Kernel Algorithms In Encyclopedia of Biostatistics (2nd edition), Vol. 8, 8, pages: 5328-5335, (Editors: P Armitage and T Colton), John Wiley & Sons, NY USA, 2005 (inbook)
Visual perception I: Basic principles
Wagemans, J., Wichmann, F., de Beeck, H.
In Handbook of Cognition, pages: 3-47, (Editors: Lamberts, K. , R. Goldstone), Sage, London, 2005 (inbook)
Wagemans, J., Wichmann, F., de Beeck, H. Visual perception I: Basic principles In Handbook of Cognition, pages: 3-47, (Editors: Lamberts, K. , R. Goldstone), Sage, London, 2005 (inbook)
Maximum-Margin Feature Combination for Detection and Categorization
BakIr, G., Wu, M., Eichhorn, J.
In this paper we are concerned with the optimal combination of features of possibly different types for detection and estimation tasks in machine vision. We propose to combine features such that the resulting classifier maximizes the margin between classes. In contrast to existing approaches which are non-convex and/or generative we propose to use a discriminative model leading to convex problem formulation and complexity control. Furthermore we assert that decision functions should not compare apples and oranges by comparing features of different types directly. Instead we propose to combine different similarity measures for each different feature type. Furthermore we argue that the question: "Which feature type is more discriminative for task X?" is ill-posed and show empirically that the answer to this question might depend on the complexity of the decision function.
BakIr, G., Wu, M., Eichhorn, J. Maximum-Margin Feature Combination for Detection and Categorization Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, 2005 (techreport)
Towards a Statistical Theory of Clustering. Presented at the PASCAL workshop on clustering, London
von Luxburg, U., Ben-David, S.
Presented at the PASCAL workshop on clustering, London, 2005 (techreport)
The goal of this paper is to discuss statistical aspects of clustering in a framework where the data to be clustered has been sampled from some unknown probability distribution. Firstly, the clustering of the data set should reveal some structure of the underlying data rather than model artifacts due to the random sampling process. Secondly, the more sample points we have, the more reliable the clustering should be. We discuss which methods can and cannot be used to tackle those problems. In particular we argue that generalization bounds as they are used in statistical learning theory of classification are unsuitable in a general clustering framework. We suggest that the main replacements of generalization bounds should be convergence proofs and stability considerations. This paper should be considered as a road map paper which identifies important questions and potentially fruitful directions for future research about statistical clustering. We do not attempt to present a complete statistical theory of clustering.
von Luxburg, U., Ben-David, S. Towards a Statistical Theory of Clustering. Presented at the PASCAL workshop on clustering, London Presented at the PASCAL workshop on clustering, London, 2005 (techreport)
Approximate Bayesian Inference for Psychometric Functions using MCMC Sampling
Kuss, M., Jäkel, F., Wichmann, F.
In psychophysical studies the psychometric function is used to model the relation between the physical stimulus intensity and the observer's ability to detect or discriminate between stimuli of different intensities. In this report we propose the use of Bayesian inference to extract the information contained in experimental data estimate the parameters of psychometric functions. Since Bayesian inference cannot be performed analytically we describe how a Markov chain Monte Carlo method can be used to generate samples from the posterior distribution over parameters. These samples are used to estimate Bayesian confidence intervals and other characteristics of the posterior distribution. In addition we discuss the parameterisation of psychometric functions and the role of prior distributions in the analysis. The proposed approach is exemplified using artificially generate d data and in a case study for real experimental data. Furthermore, we compare our approach with traditional methods based on maximum-likelihood parameter estimation combined with bootstrap techniques for confidence interval estimation. The appendix provides a description of an implementation for the R environment for statistical computing and provides the code for reproducing the results discussed in the experiment section.
Kuss, M., Jäkel, F., Wichmann, F. Approximate Bayesian Inference for Psychometric Functions using MCMC Sampling (135), Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, 2005 (techreport)
Generalization bounds and learning rates for Regularized principal manifolds
Smola, A., Williamson, R., Schölkopf, B.
NeuroCOLT, 1998, NeuroColt2-TR 1998-027 (techreport)
Smola, A., Williamson, R., Schölkopf, B. Generalization bounds and learning rates for Regularized principal manifolds NeuroCOLT, 1998, NeuroColt2-TR 1998-027 (techreport)
Generalization Bounds for Convex Combinations of Kernel Functions
Royal Holloway College, 1998 (techreport)
Smola, A., Williamson, R., Schölkopf, B. Generalization Bounds for Convex Combinations of Kernel Functions Royal Holloway College, 1998 (techreport)
Generalization Performance of Regularization Networks and Support Vector Machines via Entropy Numbers of Compact Operators
Williamson, R., Smola, A., Schölkopf, B.
(19), NeuroCOLT, 1998, Accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Information Theory (techreport)
Williamson, R., Smola, A., Schölkopf, B. Generalization Performance of Regularization Networks and Support Vector Machines via Entropy Numbers of Compact Operators (19), NeuroCOLT, 1998, Accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Information Theory (techreport)
Quantization Functionals and Regularized PrincipalManifolds
Smola, A., Mika, S., Schölkopf, B.
NeuroCOLT, 1998, NC2-TR-1998-028 (techreport)
Smola, A., Mika, S., Schölkopf, B. Quantization Functionals and Regularized PrincipalManifolds NeuroCOLT, 1998, NC2-TR-1998-028 (techreport)
Support-Vektor-Lernen
In Ausgezeichnete Informatikdissertationen 1997, pages: 135-150, (Editors: G Hotz and H Fiedler and P Gorny and W Grass and S Hölldobler and IO Kerner and R Reischuk), Teubner Verlag, Stuttgart, 1998 (inbook)
Schölkopf, B. Support-Vektor-Lernen In Ausgezeichnete Informatikdissertationen 1997, pages: 135-150, (Editors: G Hotz and H Fiedler and P Gorny and W Grass and S Hölldobler and IO Kerner and R Reischuk), Teubner Verlag, Stuttgart, 1998 (inbook)
Support Vector Machine Reference Manual
Saunders, C., Stitson, M., Weston, J., Bottou, L., Schölkopf, B., Smola, A.
(CSD-TR-98-03), Department of Computer Science, Royal Holloway, University of London, 1998 (techreport)
Saunders, C., Stitson, M., Weston, J., Bottou, L., Schölkopf, B., Smola, A. Support Vector Machine Reference Manual (CSD-TR-98-03), Department of Computer Science, Royal Holloway, University of London, 1998 (techreport) | Austin, TX, USA, June 2008 (techreport)
Kim, D., Sra, S., Dhillon, I. A New Non-monotonic Gradient Projection Method for the Non-negative Least Squares Problem (TR-08-28), University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA, June 2008 (techreport)
Non-monotonic Poisson Likelihood Maximization
Sra, S., Kim, D., Schölkopf, B.
(170), Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany, June 2008 (techreport)
This report summarizes the theory and some main applications of a new non-monotonic algorithm for maximizing a Poisson Likelihood, which for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is equivalent to minimizing the associated Kullback-Leibler Divergence, and for Transmission Tomography is similar to maximizing the dual of a | 204 |
Movers, shakers and deal-makers have elevated Manny's to the very top of the food chain, but the power of this iconic steakhouse's brand lies in the way it lets everyone else know that they're welcome, too.
Real men don't like fussy, frilly logos.
Menus are in the tradition of the classic New York-style steakhouse.
Once a dinner-only restaurant, Manny's began serving lunch and breakfast when it moved to the W Minneapolis – The Foshay hotel in 2008.
Print ads also doubled as guest check inserts, postcards and posters that were displayed on easels in the Manny's foyer.
Another print ad, this one featuring a glimpse of the restaurant's interior at its then new location in the Foshay Tower.
Manny's feature-rich desktop site included information on private dining, the restaurant's bar, and the hotel's other lounges (also operated by Parasole Restaurant Holdings). In addition, the site included an interactive feature in which a server took viewers through the table<|fim_middle|> to the chase. | side display of meats on Manny's famed meat cart.
Manny's mobile site cuts right | 18 |
There has been widespread discussion and debate regarding Donald Trump's IQ. His supporters often boast about his high IQ, while his detractors argue that he does not have the intelligence required to be president. So, what is the truth?
Donald Trump has not publicly released his IQ score, so we cannot say for sure what his IQ is. However, there are some reports that suggest he might have a high IQ. In 2016, for example, Mensa International (an organization for people with high IQs) revealed that Trump had taken their IQ test and scored in the top 2%.
Trump has also described himself as a genius. Based on this information, whether or not it is factually accurate, this would give Donald Trump an IQ of around 156.
While IQ tests may not be the best measure of intelligence, they can give us some insight into Donald Trump's cognitive abilities. Based on the available evidence, it seems likely<|fim_middle|> depends on the definition of intelligence being used. However, based on the most commonly used definition of intelligence (as measured by IQ tests), a score of 130 or above would be considered high.
About Donald Trump
Donald Trump was the 45th President of the United States. He was born in 1946 in Queens, New York.
Trump attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor's degree in economics. He then went on to work in his father's real estate business. In 1971, he became president of the company.
Trump has been married three times and has five children. He is a wealthy businessman and television personality. He was the host of The Apprentice, a reality TV show, from 2004 to 2015.
In 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for president of the United States. He won the Republican nomination and went on to defeat Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons | that he does have a high IQ. However, we cannot say for certain without seeing an official IQ score from an official test.
There are a few different ways to measure someone's intelligence. One common method is an IQ test. However, it is important to note that IQ tests measure only certain kinds of intelligence, and do not necessarily reflect a person's overall intelligence.
IQ is also not the only factor that determines success. Personality, motivation, and experience are also important.
View our table of IQ scores of famous people for more IQ test scores of US presidents.
IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, is a measure of cognitive abilities and potential. IQ tests have been used for over a century to identify giftedness and measure intellectual ability.
The most common type of IQ test is the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. This test is composed of a series of questions that assess different areas of intelligence, such as mathematical skills, memory, and spatial perception.
IQ tests are not perfect. They have been criticized for being culturally biased and for not accurately measuring all forms of intelligence. However, they remain one of the most commonly used methods for assessing intellectual abilities.
What is a High IQ?
The average IQ score is 100. Scores fall within a bell-shaped curve, with most people scoring between 85 and 115. A score of 130 or above is considered high.
There is no definitive answer to the question, "What is a high IQ?" because it | 299 |
Dance Commentary by Heather Desaulniers: "Constants & Variables"
Consider 'constants' and 'variables' through a mathematical and algebraic lens - terms in an equation, fixed/consistent versus changeable/unknown. Twisted Oak Dance Theater has chosen this apt title ("Constants & Variables") for the company's annual curated program at Dance Mission Theater. Each year, Director Colin Epstein assembles a new performing arts salon, a shared concert with returning mainstay constants and newer variables alike. For the fifth anniversary edition of this program, which ran this past weekend, Epstein invited a cohort of alumni from past years - Mid to West Dance Company, One Thought Theater, Twisted Oak Dance Theater, Ninja Hoops, Heather Arnett and 13th Floor. In addition, ka·nei·see | collective joined Friday's performance, previewing their full<|fim_middle|> porous portals between life and death were explored through a narrator and two couples. Choreographically, a recurring waltzy sequence acted as a break in the action, injecting some winsome charm. And the group dance at the end was a hilarious physical mash-up; an farcical vaudevillian take on everything from contemporary dance to pas de deux partnering to 1970s jazz pas de boureés. | -length work Readymade, which will have its premiere next weekend also at Dance Mission Theater.
Opening the program was Mid to West Dance Company's Faces and People, an ensemble work for six dancers choreographed by Sarah JG Chenoweth, Rebecca Chun and Mo Miner. A joyful expression of fluidity and connectedness overwhelmed the stage from the first entrance to the blackout – bodies moving through space, carving out the space and creating shapes within the space. Whether staccato or legato, in unison or cannoned timing, partnered or individual, each movement flowed deliciously into the next. Hands sliced through the air, upper bodies swung forward in rebounding curves, hips undulated, legs battemented in second position, arms swept like birds' wings. Lush physicality, phrasal connectivity, forward motion and delightful performances – a beautiful start to 2016's "Constants & Variables".
Twisted Oak Dance Theater brought Epstein's Untangled, an interdisciplinary mix of dance, text and scenework set in an abstracted theatrical container. Characters from different realms came together - three muse-like orchestrators, a devilish imp and a human - in a game of control that ultimately became a parable of choice and structure. And peppered throughout the program were three comical interludes by One Thought Theater on the meaning of art, one of which called on the audience for participation.
Two apparatus offerings were up next. First, Ninja Interrupta by Ninja Hoops' Zach Fischer and Marria Grace – a super fun and playful combination of martial arts, acrobatic choreography, juggling, humor and of course, hoops. One might assume that Heather Arnett's Saving Seats was a solo but it was in fact a quintet, a cast of one dancer (Arnett) and four chairs, one of which was attached to Arnett's back throughout the entire piece. An innovative approach to the relationship between movement, props and set pieces, Saving Seats found the soloist 'partnering' with all of the chairs – I definitely look forward to seeing more of Arnett's work in the future.
13th Floor closed the 2016 "Constants & Variables" program with The End of the Story, a multi-genre physical theater composition with cleverly tangled plot points and purposeful quirky melodrama. Narratives of interruption, unexpected turns of events and | 484 |
At common interval public firms must put together paperwork known as financial statements. Financial statements show the financial performance of a company. They're used for both internal-, and exterior<|fim_middle|> by way of incremental annual fees (amortization) in opposition to revenue. Customary accounting procedures require most intangibles to be expensed as purchased and by no means capitalized (put on the steadiness sheet). An exception to this is purchased patents which may be amortized over the lifetime of the patent.
About Weblog – That is my weblog where I put up my opinions on the markets, investing, private finance, and easy methods to find a financial advisor. I'll most likely throw in some personal stuff for good measure. All-equity price: The discount charge that displays solely the enterprise dangers of a challenge and abstracts from the consequences of financing. These monetary reports circulate outdoors the enterprise; as soon as launched by a business, its monetary statements can end up within the hands of almost anyone, even its competitors. | purposes. When they are used internally, the administration and generally the workers use it for their own info. Managers use it to plan ahead and set goals for upcoming periods. When they use the financial statements that have been published, the management can compare them with their internally used monetary statements. They will additionally use their own and different enterprises' monetary statements for comparability with macroeconomical datas and forecasts, as well as to the market and trade in which they operate in. You will deal with enterprise problems involving ratios, proportions and p.c. You'll research the mathematics of merchandizing by analyzing discounts and markups. You'll take care of the concept of the time worth of cash and how it's applied to each easy and compound interest. You will research odd annuities and specifically how they relate to mortgages. Because the proprietor of the factor, whenever you registered it with the United States or any of its subdivisions, you allowed the United States to retain the Authorized Title to your Registered thing. This is based mostly on a perversion and failure to disclose materials facts to you at the time you Registered your Factor.
Your loan utility just isn't determined solely on your online business credit score rating, however it does play an enormous position. You may get hold of a replica of your report from Dunn & Bradstreet for a price. You can verify for errors and prepare yourself to clarify any worrisome points to the bankers. In some cases, revenue could also be realized at the time of receiving cash and never at the time of providing companies.
Documentation is required for every expense you submit, and it takes roughly two to three weeks to process. You will obtain an email when your price range reevaluation has been completed. Are you in want of a mortgage?have the financial institution denied you of a mortgage,we are right here to help you financially,all you must do now is to e mail us together with your details in the format below and get back to us by way of felixfinanceloan01@ to get your immediate loan of any quantity at any destination.
In a number of respects, intangibles are much like pay as you go bills; the use of cash to purchase a profit which will probably be expensed at a future date. Intangibles are recouped, like mounted belongings, | 469 |
2018_Music on Main, Vancouver
Music on Main, Vancouver
Welcome to Music on Main, where our mandate is "Music that brings us together." Since 2006, we've produced over 400 events, featuring more than 1,000 musicians and over 100 world premieres. In 2010, we launched our now-annual Modulus Festival, which "provides western Canada with one of the finest windows onto the post-classical scene" (Gramophone Magazine). In November 2017, we co-hosted IS<|fim_middle|> (Jennifer Butler), Eight or nine, six or seven (James Maxwell), and Evta (Ana Sokolovic). PARTNERSHIPS: Over the 2017/2018 season, we struck meaningful and lasting partnerships with the following organizations, among others: Canadian League of Composers, International Society for Contemporary Music, Microcosmos Quartet, Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, Western Front, Coastal Jazz & Blues Society, Suoni Per Il Popolo, NOW Society, Redshift Music Society, Instruments of Change, DOXA Documentary Film Festival, PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Standing Wave Society, The Fox Cabaret, Vancouver International Bird Festival, and the 27th International Ornithological Congress. | CM World New Music Days 2017, the largest contemporary music festival in Canadian history. Need an escape from your to-do list? Want to connect with leading music makers and other music lovers? Get to know Music on Main.
Music on Main presents top-flight musicians and classical, new, and genre-bending music in casual, but stimulating, environments. It's where artists are encouraged to develop their practice through new presentation methods, new repertoire, and new ideas. It's also where attendees can find community. Audience members are encouraged to have a glass of wine, meet their neighbours, and chat with artists and their new friends after the show.
We have a reputation as storytellers for the post-classical age. We create innovative musical experiences by deepening artists' and audiences' relationships to music, to each other, and to themselves. In doing so, Music on Main serves as a community curator, uniting larger and more diverse audiences through new musical experiences.
MUSIC ON MAIN, THE YEAR IN REVIEW – A STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT Number of public performances and events: 21 for MoM Season + 50 for ISCM2017 Total number of sold-out concerts: 10 for MoM Season + 12 for ISCM2017 Number of co-productions: 6 for MoM Season + 50 for ISCM2017 Number of works performed: 81 for MoM Season + 140 for ISCM2017 Number of new works premiered: 5 for MoM Season + 30 for ISCM2017 Number of works broadcast: 77 (63 YouTube, 13 Soundcloud, 1 Facebook) Number of publications: 48 programmes, 2 composer essays, 2 brochures, 1 ISCM2017 book Total number of attendees: 2,310 for MoM Season + 9,602 for ISCM2017Complimentary tickets distributed to community members: 387 for MoM Season Total number of staff and contractors: 15 for MoM Season + 35 for ISCM2017 Number of volunteers (including Board): 45 for MoM Season + 79 for ISCM2017 Total number of cumulative hours worked by volunteers: ~540 for MoM Season + 878 for ISCM2017 Facebook Followers: 1,772 Twitter Followers: 1,868 Instagram Followers: 995 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2017/2018 Operational Growth and Expansion: Thanks to continued attention to our strategic plan, the past season saw our administrative team grow from four to five permanent FTE positions, supported by BC Living Wage commitments and health and dental benefits. Music on Main continues to receive stable funding from all three levels of government, and set a new institutional record in terms of private-sector fundraising for the fiscal year. This new benchmark was direct result of investments in staff in prior years, and allowed Music on Main to lengthen its institutional planning horizons, working towards continued long-term stability. ISCM World New Music Days 2017: From November 2–8, 2017, Music on Main, working in partnership with the Canadian League of Composers welcomed the world to Vancouver for what was the most expansive new music festival in Canadian history. This $1.4million festival attracted a roster of 135 composers from 50 countries. The festival also allowed Music on Main to collaborate with 23 Concert Partners, including the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Turning Point Ensemble, to produce 50 events (12 of which were sold out) that featured more than 300 musicians and 140 new works, for an in-person and digital audience of over 9,000. Digital Storytelling Program: By sourcing expertise of industry consultants, marking targeted investments in specialized staffing, equipment and infrastructure, and striking relationships with additional funders over the past two years, Music on Main continues to provide musical adventures and community to audiences online, via social media and other web platforms, in addition to its work on the concert stage. Our efforts to create meaningful artistic community for audiences online has resulted in an audience of over 15,000 throughout the past year. Our videos have even received mentions in the Washington Post and the New York Times. Canadian and World Premieres: Music on Main was fortunate to premiere a number of works in the 2017/2018 season. We presented the world premiere of Nancy Tam's Walking At Night By Myself; the North American premieres of Songs of Insurrection (Frederic Rzewski), telegrams (Michelle Lou), and FREIA (Karlheinz Stockhausen); and the Canadian premieres of Ten Thousand Birds (John Luther Adams), and Sonatra (Michael Gordon). Additionally, at ISCM2017 there were 30 world premieres, including Pressed for Time – a sitar concerto (Mohamed Assani & John Oliver), Sorrow and Its Beauty (Michael Finnissy), Concerto Corto (Jared Miller), Klavierklang (Hildegard Westerkamp), Klee Wyck Woman | 1,114 |
"Popcorn Shooting" Defendant Has Self-Defense Immunity Hearing
Goal: Show that shooting was more likely than not self-defense
Posted by Andrew Branca Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 04:00pm 74 Comments
It was three years ago last month that retired police officer Curtis Reeves, then 71 years old, shot and killed 43-year-old Chad Oulsen in a Florida movie theater. The case became known as the "popcorn shooting" because the shooting allegedly happened over spilled popcorn.
Reeves has been charged with second degree murder and aggravated battery. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and raised the legal defense of self-defense.
As usual, the media has been slathering the phrase "Stand-Your-Ground" all over this case, when in fact the case has nothing to do whatever with "Stand-Your-Ground" or any legal issues of retreat. What is relevant to this case, however, as it is to pretty much any self-defense case in Florida, is self-defense immunity.
Yesterday was the first day of Reeves' self-defense immunity hearing, taking place in a Pasco County courthouse, which we'll get to in a moment.
Before we do so, however, it's important to understand just what that hearing involves, and what it doesn't involve, in order to avoid unnecessary confusion of the legal issues in play.
As Usual, Media Unable to Understand Stand-Your-Ground
First, let's make sure we all understand what "Stand-Your-Ground" actually means. It does not mean, for example, what ABC News claims it means in a post made as recently as yesterday:
Reeves is invoking Florida's "stand your ground" law. The law allows people to use deadly force when they fear death or great bodily harm.
As usual, the media gets this law wrong from every perspective. First of all, as we'll see in a moment, SYG and self-defense immunity are entirely different legal concepts, and are even found in entirely different statutes. SYG is not something that is "claimed." Self-defense immunity, in contrast, is claimed, and that is in fact what Reeves is claiming in this self-defense immunity hearing.
Second of all, neither SYG nor self-defense immunity "allows people to use deadly force when they fear death or great bodily harm." Certainly fear of death of grave bodily harm is one necessary condition for the justified use of deadly defensive force, but it is far from a sufficient condition. The law imposes numerous additional conditions before a use of deadly force will be justified as self-defense. Fear of death or grave bodily harm is not, alone, enough to relieve someone of criminal liability for their use of deadly defensive force.
Finally, in this case (as in the Zimmerman case) the issue of retreat, and thus the Stand-Your-Ground that would relieve a defender from a duty to retreat, is legally and factually irrelevant. There is no duty to retreat until the prospects for a physical confrontation is apparent—you can't retreat from what cannot yet be reasonably perceived. Under the facts of this case, at the point the physical confrontation became apparent the 71-year-old Reeves was seated in a darkened theater, beside his equally elderly wife, with his ability to flee highly constrained by the narrow aisles, poor lighting, limited physical capability, and the proximity of the (claimed) aggressor Oulsen.
Stand-Your-Ground in a Nutshell
So what does Stand-Your-Ground actually do?
In brief, it relieves a defender of an otherwise existing legal duty to retreat before they can use force in self-defense. Importantly, however, a duty to retreat is only one of five elements that must be present in order for use of deadly force to be lawful. Further, these elements are cumulative. This means that each and every one of these required elements must be present in order for a claim of self-defense to be legally valid. If any required element is missing, even one, whatever the use of force was, it was not lawful self-defense, and the person responsible faces criminal liability for that use of force.
In every state in the country there are five elements of a self-defense claim that must be met, unless an element has legally excused. Those elements are:
Innocence: The defender must not have been the physical aggressor
Imminence: The threat against which they are defending must be about to happen right now
Proportionality: The defender used no more force than necessary to neutralize the threat
Avoidance: The defender did not have a safe avenue of retreat
Reasonableness: The defender's perception of threat was both genuine and objectively reasonable
In a Stand-Your-Ground state, like Florida, all that's happened is that the element of Avoidance has been legally excused. Each of the other four elements of the self-defense claim must still be present, or the claim of self-defense fails as a matter of law.
That is, even in a Stand-Your-Ground state, the user of deadly force in self-defense must still have not been the aggressor, must still have been facing a deadly force threat about to happen right now, must still have used no more force than necessary, and must still have genuinely and reasonably have perceived the deadly force threat. All four of these elements must be present for the claim of self-defense to be sustained. If the prosecutor can convince the jury that even one of these has been disproven, the claim of self-defense fails completely. Certainly merely being in fear of death or grave bodily harm, as suggested by ABC News, is not sufficient to sustain a claim of self-defense.
All a Stand-Your-Ground state is saying is that if you meet those four criteria they will not put you in jail for the rest of your life simply because you purportedly failed to take advantage of a safe avenue of retreat before defending yourself against a deadly attack.
Another way of stating this is that what Stand-Your-Ground effectively does is to re-define the scope of lawful self-defense, by expanding the range of conduct that would qualify as legally justified by having removed one of the five constraints (elements) on that use of defensive force.
Self-Defense Immunity in a Nutshell
Self-defense immunity, on the other hand, has nothing whatever to do with the definition of lawful self-defense. It does not modify the required elements of a self-defense claim, as does Stand-Your-Ground.
Instead, self-defense immunity merely says that if the defender's conduct qualifies as self-defense, however self-defense might be defined, then the defender is entitled to immunity from criminal prosecution and civil suit.
So, these are two completely different legal concepts. Stand-Your-Ground redefines self-defense by removing one of five elements (Avoidance) but leaving the other four still in place. Self-defense immunity states that if you meet the required elements, whatever they might be, you qualify for legal immunity. You don't claim Stand-Your-Ground, it simply exists as a legal standard. You do claim self-defense immunity, if you wish.
Different Legal Thresholds/Burdens Pre-Trial versus Trial
Another important consideration is the difference in standards of evidence and burdens of persuasion applied to a self-defense immunity hearing on the one hand and a criminal trial on the other.
At trial, once a defendant has sufficiently raised the issue of self-defense and gotten it into court in the first place (a very low threshold), it becomes the prosecutor's responsibility to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of the trial's finder-of-fact (usually a jury, but the judge in the case of a bench trial).
The prosecution accomplishes this by disproving, beyond a reasonable doubt, any one of the four remaining elements of the self-defense claim (innocence, imminence, proportionality, reasonableness). If the prosecution is successful, self-defense collapses. If prosecution fails to do so the jury will be instructed to acquit the defendant.
At the self-defense immunity hearing, conducted pre-trial, the legal standards are quite different. In addition, here there is only a judge acting as the finder of fact, there is no jury.
More specifically, at the self-defense immunity hearing it is the responsibility of the defense to convince the judge of each and every required element of self-defense by a preponderance of the evidence, rather than the responsibility of the State to disprove even one element beyond a reasonable doubt.
That is, to succeed in a motion for self-defense immunity the defense must convince the hearing judge that it is more likely than not that the defendant was the innocent party (non-aggressor) and that the deadly force threat to the defendant was imminent (about to happen right now) and that the defendant's force was proportionate to the threat (no more defensive force than necessary) and that the defendant's perception of the deadly force threat was genuine and objectively reasonable under the totality of the circumstances. If that can be done, self-defense immunity will be granted, and there will be no criminal or civil trial.
To look at it from the opposite perspective, in order to defeat a motion for self-defense immunity the prosecution must convince the judge that the majority of the evidence disproves any single one of those elements. If that can be done, self-defense immunity will be denied, and the matter can proceed to trial (both criminal and civil).
In the course of this hearing both the defense and the prosecutors are free to present evidence, including forensic evidence (e.g., the video captured in the theater, embedded below) and witness testimony, as well as to contest the other side's evidence (e.g., through cross-examination).
Those, then, are the goals for the defense and prosecution in this week's self-defense immunity trial, with the judge to decide which side has succeeded. The defense must show that a majority of the evidence supports every element of the self-defense claim. The prosecution must show that any single element of the self-defense claim is not supported by a majority of the evidence.
What Reeves' Must Prove in Self-Defense Immunity Hearing
With that framework in mind, how might the defense be seeking to meet its obligation to support each element of the self-defense claim by a preponderance of the evidence?
Innocence: The defense needs to show by a majority of the evidence that it was Oulsen, rather than Reeves who was the physical aggressor. Mean words here are not enough. Either party simply being rude or obnoxious is not enough. The question will be who was the first to use, or threaten to use, physical force against the other. (There is also the question of the degree of force threatened, or more accurately the reasonably perceived degree of force threatened, which we'll address in a moment.)
Imminence: The defense needs to show by a majority of the evidence that the threat presented by Oulsen was imminent, about to happen right now. That means both that the threat was not a threat to be realized some time in the future, and also that it was not a threat that was already passed. For example, in yesterday's hearing the prosecution argued that whatever Oulsen's throwing of popcorn might have constituted, once it was over it was over, and it could not be the basis for a defensive response by Reeves. On the other hand, a pretty good indication that someone is about to use force against you is that they just have. So, that will be the debate.
Proportionality: The defense needs to show by a majority of the evidence that the force used by Reeves was no more than necessary to neutralize the threat posed by Oulsen. Given that Reeves used deadly defensive force, then, he must have been facing a reasonably perceived threat of deadly force. The state seems likely to argue that Oulsen at worst threw popcorn, which cannot constitute deadly force.
The defense, on the other hand is likely to argue (correctly) that what matters is not the actual degree of aggressive force but the reasonably perceived degree of aggressive force, from the perspective of the defender under the totality of the circumstances. Also, what is being lawfully defended against is not the force that has already occurred but the imminent force that is about to occur.
Here it will be relevant that Reeves and Oulsen were not men of equal size, strength, and fighting ability, nor resilience. The 43-year-old Oulsen was clearly more physically capable and the 71-year-old Reeves clearly more physically frail. Both common sense and Florida law make clear that elderly targets of physical violence are far more vulnerable to serious bodily injury than are younger targets facing an identical physical threat. The defense will be arguing that Reeves did not fire his shot in defense against thrown popcorn, but in defense against a reasonable perception that he acting in defense against an imminent threat of grave bodily harm—even if that was in the form of a weaponless, bare-handed beating.
Reasonableness: Many of these same factors—differences between the two men in terms of age, strength, vulnerability—will come into play in evaluating whether a majority of the evidence supports the argument that Reeve's perception of harm was both in good faith and objectively reasonable. In addition, there are other factors in the totality of the circumstances, including the fact that the theater was darkened, perhaps noisy from the action-movie trailers that were playing, that options for movement were limited by the narrow aisles between seats, that Reeves' elderly wife was also present, and so forth.
If Reeves can convince the hearing judge the each of the required elements of a self-defense claim is supported by a preponderance of the evidence, Reeves ought to be granted self-defense immunity and his vulnerability to a criminal and civil liability for the shooting death of Oulsen should be eliminated.
On the other hand, if the judge concludes that Reeves has failed to prove even one of the required elements by a preponderance of the evidence, Reeves ought to be denied self-defense immunity, and be subject to both criminal and civil liability.
So, that's where things stand for this week. Keep your eyes here at Legal Insurrection for further coverage of State v. Reeves.
As promised, here's that video of the confrontation in the theater. All the action takes place at the far right-hand edge of the screen. The fellow moving around is Reeves, Oulsen is off-screen except for an arm or such interjected into view. Early on we see what appears to be a verbal confrontation, then Reeves leaves to go complain to a theater employee. Reeves then returns to sit beside his wife, and the confrontation escalates to its fatal conclusion. The point at which snow appears to fall across the video is immediately after the shot has been fired (the "snow" is dust that has been disturbed by the concussion of the gunshot.)
Andrew F. Branca is an attorney and the author of The Law of Self Defense, 3rd Edition, and a host on The Outdoor Channel's TV show, The Best Defense.
[Featured photo is a screen capture of video of the self-defense immunity hearing taking place today.]
74 74 Comments Law of Self Defense, Stand Your Ground
Law of Self Defense, Stand Your Ground
Ragspierre | February 21, 2017 at 4:09 pm
It's like the old Peter, Paul, and Mounds song…
When will they ever learn…when will they EVVVVVVEERR learn…???
Another Ed | February 21, 2017 at 4:39 pm
Live coverage and a stream of updates by the local newspaper available here:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/stand-your-ground-hearing-begins-in-pasco-theater-shooting-case/2313825
rduke007 | February 21, 2017 at 4:48 pm
Looked like Oulsen threw a substantial punch or two…
Tom Servo in reply to rduke007. | February 21, 2017 at 5:30 pm
I see what you saw, blown up it's not a punch, looks like Oulsen snatches something away and then throws it back to Reeves – coke or popcorn, can't tell.
Having seen this video, this entire incident makes even less sense than it did before. A completely empty theater, and these two morons had to sit right next to each other just to aggravate each other?
Reeves is going to find out that being assaulted by a deadly bag of popcorn isn't going to be enough to get him off the hook. Oulsen already found out that the reason you don't act like a dick in public and needlessly aggravate people is because you never know when you're going to run into that needle in the haystack who's got a gun and who's suddenly decided that today is the day he's gonna blow his top.
2 lives ruined forever (many more when you consider families) just because 2 jacked up idiots decided they had to prove who's dick was bigger.
rduke007 in reply to Tom Servo. | February 21, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Can't make that out in the video.
Whatever happened, puch, popcorn, coke etc seemed very fast and I didn't' see Reeves as being the physical aggressor.
Olinser in reply to Tom Servo. | February 21, 2017 at 9:35 pm
He wasn't 'assaulted by a deadly bag of popcorn'.
He can make the reasonable case that the soda was an initial attack to stagger/disorient him for a follow on assault with his fists. Since you can't really see the guy for most of the video, this disproves none of that, and as was broken down in the story, as a 70ish year old man he has very reasonable fear of grievous injury from a much younger man attacking him.
And as usual the moron DA has overcharged their case.
There is no way he's getting convicted of 2nd degree murder.
Gremlin1974 in reply to Olinser. | February 23, 2017 at 5:52 pm
Agreed, it should be noted that the popcorn was the second thing thrown by Olsen at Reeves if you watch between 1:17 and 1:26 you can see the cellphone that Olsen threw at Reeves.
If I were the defense I would argue that once Olsen had thrown the cellphone at Reeves he was the clear aggressor and that Reeves perceived having his popcorn snatched and thrown at him was a means of distraction and a prelude to further physical violence. Which I would think is most likely the case, considering the gunshot happened basically before the popcorn hit he floor.
inspectorudy | February 21, 2017 at 5:00 pm
We've all been there next to an a$$hole but with the entire theater empty, why didn't they just move back one row? I don't understand this. I have a concealed carry permit but I wouldn't think of it in a situation like this unless the guy had his hands on me and I could not step away. There is something wrong with both of them. Just like in the Zimmerman case there was something wrong with both of them.
iconotastic in reply to inspectorudy. | February 21, 2017 at 6:34 pm
There was a great book I read (and have bought for others) that had a few memorable quotes in it that seemed to apply to this situation:
"The armed person who has "put away childish things" doesn't lower himself to engage with jerks he won't remember in an hour. He holds himself above speaking like a child, reacting like a child, and thinking like a child."
'In fact, having a gun means you have to take guff from everybody. And maybe even be real polite and say yes, sir, in the process.'
Now if I could just remember where I read it 🙂
moonmoth in reply to iconotastic. | February 21, 2017 at 10:49 pm
The passage that you've quoted sounds as though it may have come from Massad Ayoob's pamphlet, "In the gravest extreme : the role of the firearm in personal protection". I used to give copies of it away to people who said foolish things about when they felt they'd be justified in using lethal force.
Andrew Branca in reply to moonmoth. | February 22, 2017 at 9:06 pm
What a nice compliment! 🙂
Gremlin1974 in reply to Andrew Branca. | February 23, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Without a doubt the quote I use most in discussing carrying for defense with people who don't understand.
ConradCA in reply to inspectorudy. | February 21, 2017 at 7:54 pm
Zimmerman did nothing wrong. He belonged to the neighborhood watch and operated according to the instructions provided by the police. It was Trayvon who was the thug and attacked to teach that crazy axed cracker a lesson. Furthermore, Zimmerman showed remarkable restraint in using his weapon. It wasn't until he was on his back with the thug on top bashing his head into concrete that he killed Trayvon in self defense. It was only Tyrant Obama the Liar's need to lie his way into office using this case that ruined Zimmerman's life.
inspectorudy in reply to ConradCA. | February 22, 2017 at 9:17 am
I do not feel that Zimmerman did anything wrong once Martin grabbed him but the whole thing with a "Neighborhood watch" is only supposed to be to alert the police of a suspicious person in your neighborhood. It was never meant to be an armed guard mentality. That is what I meant by both were wrong. Obviously, Martin was a thug who got caught with the wrong guy but Zimmerman has shown through many times since that there is something wrong with his thought processes. To go out in your neighborhood with a gun looking for trouble is not a very smart thing to do. What if one of his neighbors who didn't know who he was did the same thing to him? Would you want an armed untrained neighbor skulking about your yard at night?
aerily in reply to inspectorudy. | February 22, 2017 at 10:38 am
An 'armed guard mentality' would have been the case if Z attempted to confront and or detain TM until police arrive. There is zero evidence that GZ did this. What the evidence did show is that GZ was trying to observe TM from a distance to direct police and lost sight of TM. When GZ was walking back to his car he was confronted and assaulted by TM. An eye witness neighbor heard GZ screaming for help. He went outside and saw TM in a mounted position beating GZ. TM was told to get off of GZ by the neighbor. TM refused and continued his attack. The eyewitness neighbor went back into his house to call 911.
jack burton in reply to inspectorudy. | February 22, 2017 at 11:21 am
Zimmerman was on his way to the store to buy lunch supplies the same as he did every Saturday night. I would suggest you look up the Branca posts on this case as it is obvious that you have no clue as to what transpired that night.
Another Ed in reply to inspectorudy. | February 23, 2017 at 12:00 am
"To go out in your neighborhood with a gun looking for trouble" is a troubling concept. That is an example of blaming the victim for violence instead of the attacker. If Zimmerman was not armed and had been permanently incapacitated or killed by Martin would your comment then be "to go out in your neighborhood without a gun looking for trouble" or even the more neutral "to go out in your neighborhood looking for trouble"?
What is your next argument, that women invite rape because they are sexually attractive when they wear anything more revealing than a burqa?
Gremlin1974 in reply to inspectorudy. | February 23, 2017 at 5:57 pm
Except either through lack of knowledge or intentional omission you are leaving out the one thing that blows a hole in your argument. While Zimmerman was a member of the Neighborhood watch at the time he spotted St. Trayvon of the Sacred Hoodie, he was on his way to the grocery store, not "on duty" with the Neighborhood watch.
bildung | February 21, 2017 at 5:25 pm
Oh lord here come the legal beagles again.
It'll go to trial and a jury won't decide like obsequious law students.
If the old bird has decent counsel all he has to do is convince the jury he was being terrorized by a punk who got what was coming to him.
Walker/Harvey all over again.
Hell even the guy at the gas plaza (Davis?) got a hung jury the first time and only got convicted the second time b/c he had no resources left to mount a defense. And those punks were in a separate vehicle–not glowering directly over him and his wife.
Florida should do itself a favor a let the old boy off now, but it probably won't.
Olinser in reply to bildung. | February 21, 2017 at 10:58 pm
Wow you're ignorant.
Dunn (the gas station shooter) was found GUILTY of all charges (attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon I believe) except for 1st degree murder, and sentenced to 60 years in prison off just the first trial. Regardless of the retrial he was in prison the rest of his life.
bildung in reply to Olinser. | February 22, 2017 at 11:25 am
Yea Davis was the mope's name; my bad.
The larger point is that even a guy like Dunn, who lit up the vehicle as it was fleeing, is hard to convict on a murder charge stemming from a confrontation HE DID NOT START.
Perhaps, Great Swami, you noticed Slager didn't get convicted either for precisely the same reason.
And then there was Joseph Walker.
All this despite the fact that all you proceduralists GARONTEED they were going down cuz that's how it works on Law and Order.
Juries give tremendous weight to that most sacred of discretionary principles: Don't start no sh!t, won't be no sh!t.
The old boy has a very solid chance to come out very light on this thing or to beat it altogether.
Blueshot in reply to Olinser. | February 22, 2017 at 11:32 am
And Dunn deserved it 100% as well.
Archer | February 21, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Quick (maybe) question regarding Proportionality: Does the full spectrum of force apply to Reeves' actions? Or only those levels of force he is physically and circumstantially able to apply?
Hypothetically, if Reeves had been carrying (for example) a can of pepper spray, and hosed Oulsen with pepper spray following the thrown object, that would certainly be more reasonable than using his gun. However, since he did NOT have pepper spray, that level of force was unavailable to him, as was "going fisticuffs", which would be unreasonable against a younger, more physically fit aggressor.
I personally advocate carrying multiple defensive tools — ideally covering the full spectrum of force — whenever possible, but not everyone can do that. Since the elderly Reeves essentially had only the two extremes available — doing nothing ("taking it", and equally valid, making his also-elderly wife "take it") and using deadly force — how might that affect his claim of self-defense? Will it make any difference at all?
Gunstar1 in reply to Archer. | February 21, 2017 at 7:51 pm
You can't use a gun in place of pepper spray just because you have a gun and not pepper spray.
It doesn't matter what other weapons one has or not, there is a definition in which deadly force applies as Andrew noted. Does the situation fit the definition?
He could try and argue that as an elderly man he is in greater fear of great bodily harm than a younger person, but that is simply trying to fit the situation to the definition.
In other words, if "taking it" means he is not going to suffer death or great bodily harm, then doing nothing is the only option.
BrokeGopher | February 21, 2017 at 9:41 pm
I think the self-defense claim will ultimately fail. When you come down to it he responded to a punch/shove/popcorn with a bullet. Assuming such a spat was about to lead to a grave threat is not objectively reasonable. Absent other facts coming out, I think Reeves' goose is cooked.
jack burton in reply to BrokeGopher. | February 22, 2017 at 11:26 am
There are often factors that we are not aware of that can be brought out at a trial. For instance, I have a herniated neck disc that can easily cause paralysis or even death with a sharp blow to my head. As long as I know that (and it is specifically documented in my medical records at my request) then it is not necessary for my assailant to know that. If he threatens me with a punch that is no different than if he says, "I am going to kill you."
BrokeGopher in reply to jack burton. | February 22, 2017 at 1:13 pm
I think Reeves' statement to the effect of "I'll show you", if it's corroborated, will sink his claim of believing his life was in danger. Also, his actions have to be objectively reasonable and proportional to the threat. Nobody is going to say that one punch is appropriately responded to with a bullet. I stand by my prediction that his claim will fail.
Andrew Branca in reply to BrokeGopher. | February 22, 2017 at 9:10 pm
"Nobody is going to say that one punch is appropriately responded to with a bullet."
And to think, for a mere $24.99 you could speak intelligently on these issues. 🙂
Gremlin1974 in reply to BrokeGopher. | February 23, 2017 at 6:16 pm
Actually I think objectively he has a better than 50% chance of gaining Self Defense Immunity if not during this hearing then during trial.
Sian in reply to BrokeGopher. | February 22, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Have to disagree on your point, the threat of imminent physical violence against a septuagenarian by someone 30 years younger and in by all accounts very good physical shape is no question a great bodily harm situation.
Gremlin1974 in reply to Sian. | February 23, 2017 at 6:16 pm
Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner! Isn't logic fun!
mekender | February 21, 2017 at 10:21 pm
A wrinkle in the mix because it is FL…
FL law allows for use or attempted use of deadly force to prevent the imminent commission of a violent felony. It is my understanding that Oulsen not only snatched (Robbery 812.13 or Robbery by sudden snatching 812.131) and threw the popcorn at Reeves (Battery 784.03), elevated to a felony thanks to Reeves' age (Assault or battery on persons 65 years of age or older 784.08). But Oulsen also threw a phone in an Otterbox case at him (Launching a deadly missile 790.19) which should also qualify as Aggravated battery elevated because of Reeves' age. And I believe I remember hearing multiple reports that Oulsen was also screaming threats at Reeves, which would be Assault or Aggravated Assault, also elevated due to Reeves' age.
That is at least 5 or 6 felonies that Oulsen had already committed before the shot was fired, I would imagine it would be reasonable to believe that further violent felonies were imminent.
Here is the motion for immunity:
http://curtisreevestrial.com/files/471.pdf
Gremlin1974 in reply to mekender. | February 23, 2017 at 6:18 pm
Interesting, not sure if it will actually help him but very interesting.
Mac45 | February 21, 2017 at 11:59 pm
Here is the problem for Reeves, and why he was charged. Oulsen snatched Reeves popcorn from his hand and threw it at him. But, there is no evidence that Oulsen was actually attempting to climb over the back of his seat to attack Reeves. If he was, there would be strong grounds to argue that a physical attack was IMMINANT and, given the disparity in the size of the individuals, that Reeves was very likely to suffer grave bodily injury or death if Oulsen had succeeded in reaching him. However, if Oulsen was not trying to make direct contact with Reeves, imminence of bodily injury goes out the window.
A noted, it is lawful to use deadly force to defend oneself from an violent felony. So, snatching the popcorn from Reeves could constitute strong-armed robbery. On the other hand, it might be considered nothing more than theft. And theft is not a forcible felony. Simple assault, even against the elderly, is not classified as a forcible felony, but either a 2nd or 1st degree misdemeanor. Battery is usually a 1st degree misdemeanor, but is elevated to a 3rd degree felony, if perpetrated against a person of 65 yoa or more. Intentionally hitting Reeves with the box of popcorn and the cellphone could constituent a battery and, given his age, would elevate the charge to a felony which, under FSS 776.08 would be a forcible felony. However, the fly in the ointment there would be that, once the popcorn and cellphone have been thrown, the battery is done and Oulsen no longer has the means to continue the the commission of the battery, unless he produces another projectile or attempts to close with Reeves. Aggravated assault would be a forcible felony, but such an assault requires that a deadly weapon be used as a threat. A box of popcorn and a cellphone in an "Otterbox" case is extremely unlikely to be considered a deadly weapon. So, in order to persevere, before a judge, the defense has to present a convincing case that Oulsen was actively engaged in climbing over the back of his seat OR that a reasonable man would reasonably believe that such action was occurring or that snatching the popcorn from Reeves constituted the forcible felony of robbery by force.
It is possible that the defense will persevere here. On the other hand, there is an equal, or better, chance that the prosecution will convince the judge that the justification for the lawful use of deadly force in self defense, as outlined in FSS 776.032, does not exist. This is an uphill battle for the defense.
mekender in reply to Mac45. | February 22, 2017 at 1:32 am
The problem with your "once the popcorn and cellphone have been thrown, the battery is done and Oulsen no longer has the means to continue the the commission of the battery, unless he produces another projectile or attempts to close with Reeves" line of thinking is that is judging the situation after it is over.
Reeves had no idea if Oulsen was no longer capable of being a threat, he only had the facts that he knew to be true, that Oulsen had already committed several felonies by both threatening and attempting to do him bodily harm.
"A box of popcorn and a cellphone in an "Otterbox" case is extremely unlikely to be considered a deadly weapon." The motion for immunity specifically talks about that. The combined weight of the phone and its case exceeds that of a cue ball, which is undoubtedly considered a deadly weapon when thrown at someone in anger.
Mac45 in reply to mekender. | February 22, 2017 at 11:49 am
First, the issue of a cellphone being considered a deadly weapon for legal purposes. To my knowledge, no court has ever held that a cellphone is a deadly weapon, per say. What the defense is trying to do here is convince the judge that a cellphone will reliably cause great bodily harm or death, if it strikes another human being after being thrown at him. To do that, the defense likens it to a cue ball. Though a good try, I doubt that a judge is going to embrace this argument.
Second, is the imminence of further attack. Even if we accept<|fim_middle|>start blasting away", he fired one (1) shot.
Also, it wasn't just "Popcorn thrown in his face", it was a cell phone thrown at him, then having popcorn snatched from his hand and thrown back at him, by a man who is half his age, who is standing within arms reach, screaming at him and being restrained by his wife, all in a dark theater.
It is not required that Olsen actually be a deadly threat, it is only required that Reeves reasonably believed he was a threat, which I think is actually reasonable. You have the benefit of unlimited time, hindsight and night vision video, three things Reeves did not have.
Also, no you do not shoot "as a last resort", you shoot to stop a reasonably perceived deadly threat.
Jimbino | February 22, 2017 at 7:41 am
It seems that the five elements used to justify a self-defense killing are present in every case of elective abortion.
Old0311 | February 22, 2017 at 11:12 am
How could Reeves be sure the assault was over? Did Oulsen signify that in any way or was he still pumped up and threating more serious action? With Oulsen out of the frame who can say?
This is a hearing on a motion to grant immunity from prosecution due to the use of force in lawful self defense. If the defendant prevails, by a preponderance of the evidence, he goes free and the case is over. If the state prevails, nothing has changed. The status quo remains and Reeves will go on to trial. Also, this involved a homicide. A man is dead, here. That is a serious matter. So, the defense will have to put on a strong case that Reeves action meet the statutory requirements for immunity.
In a jury trial, this would be quite different. Not only would the prosecution have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Reeves actions did not meet the statutory requirements for the lawful use of deadly force in self defense. Also, given the differences in the ages of Reeves and Oulsen and the fact that Oulsen was the initial aggressor and had not clearly retreated from the field of battle, it is quite likely that Reeves would be able to convince one or more jurors that he was reasonably justified in using deadly force.
This is the situation that one faces when they use deadly force against another. As I said, unless Oulsen was still armed with a projectile, then Reeves should have waited until Oulsen was clearly attempting and able to physically attack him, before he fired. And I just do not see that being the case here.
I think he has a chance in the hearing, depending on how good his Lawyer is, but I also agree that he would have a good chance of convincing a jury.
Sian | February 22, 2017 at 2:02 pm
I'm gonna guess that this one will go to trial. There's enough wiggle-room that Reeves was the aggressor, and eyewitness accounts put him as belligerent, kicking the back of Oulsen's seat and threatening him, but it's also clear that Oulsen was a physical threat who had to be in some state of rage prior to the shooting. Snatching Reeves's popcorn and throwing it at him, followed by the cellphone, well, isn't that two or three felonies right there when stacked with Elder Abuse?
The robbery and battery could be taken as clear indications of an imminent physical attack, and I'm sure that's what the defense will try to show.
Not trying to nitpick but it is important, it was cell phone then snatched and thrown popcorn.
Richard Aubrey | February 22, 2017 at 7:42 pm
I expect the jury will have an easier time putting themselves in Reeves' position than Olsen's place. People like Olsen are not likely to show up for jury duty.
I wonder what Olsen's character is, whether it's allowed in or not. I suspect the jury will infer it. Somebody's going to wonder, if not say, whether Olsen is like this a lot. Who else has he assaulted, terrorized threatened?
"needed killin'" is not allowed in law, but it would be an odd thing if nobody in the jury pool, if not the jury, wasn't wondering about it.
Remembering Haver/Walker. The prosecution had to prove that Fatboy wasn't a threat (doing road rage stuff) so Walker should have driven away, while proving Fatboy was such an obvious threat that Walker should have jumped in his car and driven away. That needle didn't get threaded.
Would Oulsen have taken after a younger, fitter guy this way? The jury will wonder.
Which brings up a question; suppose he did go after a younger, fitter man who, feeling himself threatened, punched him back and, surprisingly, killed him in some accidental fashion. Same requirements? After all, what's more deadly than somebody ending up dead?
Andrew Branca in reply to Richard Aubrey. | February 22, 2017 at 9:22 pm
If the State seeks to argue that Reeves was the physical aggressor, it's quite likely the defense can get into evidence any character evidence on Oulsen that would support the counter-allegation that it was Oulsen who was more likely the physical aggressor.
I expect the State will avoid this problem by not alleging that Reeves was the aggressor, but rather by attacking other elements of Reeves' self-defense claim (e.g, proportionality).
Richard Aubrey | February 23, 2017 at 7:42 am
Is there a caveat to proportionality when there is a large gap between the least-but-possibly-effective technique/weapon available and a gun? For example, a large, fit man with combat arms experience and martial arts current could be expected to use those techniques against somebody who's unarmed and attacking rather than shooting the guy.
A frail, older person who went to the gun because he had no intervening techniques would be excused. How about the first guy? | the premise that the cellphone constitutes a deadly weapon, once it is thrown, the use the deadly weapon is removed from the equation. Unless the attacker has additional deadly weapons, then the defender has to wait for the attacker to continue the attack. And, absent a deadly projectile, which there is no evidence that Oulsen still had access to, Reeves was protected from physical attack by the seats between he and Oulsen. The battery on Reeves, by popcorn box and cellphone, would legally constitute a forcible felony and it is lawful to use deadly force, in Florida, to PREVENT the commission of a forcible felony. Once the forcible felony has been committed, you can no longer prevent it from happening.
So, in my opinion, a strict reading of the statutes involved should lead a judge to rule against the motion, unless some evidence is presented which would lead the judge to assume that a reasonable man would reasonably believe that the attack was continuing and that if Reeves did not immediately use deadly force to stop the perceived attack, he would suffer great bodily harm or death.
Gremlin1974 in reply to Mac45. | February 23, 2017 at 6:41 pm
All of which being very easy to say when you have the benefit of unlimited time, hindsight and video that doesn't show how dark the theater was at the time. Reeves did not have those things, he had to make a split second decision, from the time Olsen reached and snached the popcorn to the time of the shot is just right at 2 seconds, and about a total of 5 seconds from the cellphone being thrown to the shot.
Also, the phone doesn't have to be a "deadly weapon" it just has to be a projectile and as you point out wasn't a direct factor in the attach to which Reeves responded with deadly force, however it is relevant in that it could have increased his fear of further attack and shows that Olsen was willing to employ violence. Remember it is not whether the threat is real or not, it is whether the person thought it was real and if that fear was reasonable objectively.
Mac45 in reply to Gremlin1974. | February 24, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Actually, time was not really a factor for Reeves. According to the video, several seconds elapsed between Oulsen's retreat behind the seats to Reeves shot. Remember, Reeves is a trained, experienced LEO. People with no experience in the use of deadly force in self defense always try to reduce the responsibility for the use of said force to the lowest common denominator. That may be applicable with the vast majority of people, who have little of no training and experience in this area. But, as the training and experience level of the participant increases, so too does the standard for competency. It becomes more difficult to use the incompetent boob defense effectively.
And it is not whether a specific person THOUGHT that a threat existed. The standard is whether a reasonable man, in the same circumstances, would have reasonably thought that a threat existed. The argument which is usually raised in self defense trials is, "How did the defendant know that the victim did not present a reasonable threat?" The real question that has to be answered is what circumstances existed which would lead a reasonable man to reasonably conclude that an attack, which was likely to result in great bodily harm or death, was imminent? That is the $64000 question.
Gremlin1974 in reply to Gremlin1974. | February 25, 2017 at 1:28 am
@Mac45
"Actually, time was not really a factor for Reeves."
Wrong it is a major factor, there was no significat time between Olsen's second attack and the shot.
"According to the video, several seconds elapsed between Oulsen's retreat behind the seats to Reeves shot."
Wow, you are seeing a whole lot more in that video than the rest of us since you never see anything but Olsen's arm. In point of fact it has never been reported that Olsen ever came around the seats, so exactly how did he "retreat behind them?"
"Remember, Reeves is a trained, experienced LEO. People with no experience in the use of deadly force in self defense always try to reduce the responsibility for the use of said force to the lowest common denominator. That may be applicable with the vast majority of people, who have little of no training and experience in this area. But, as the training and experience level of the participant increases, so too does the standard for competency. It becomes more difficult to use the incompetent boob defense effectively."
You couldn't be more wrong if you tried, they tried that same BS in the Zimmerman trial because he had taken classes he was more dangerous, it is not part of the legal question at hand.
"And it is not whether a specific person THOUGHT that a threat existed. The standard is whether a reasonable man, in the same circumstances, would have reasonably thought that a threat existed."
Wrong again, it is did THIS person actually believe they were in threat of deadly harm AND was that belief reasonable.
You should really by Andrew's book, because you really could use the knowledge.
tom swift in reply to Mac45. | February 22, 2017 at 2:26 am
Reeves was constrained by the seats. Oulsen would have no trouble reaching him without having to climb into his row. And of course if Oulsen found other heavier missiles to toss at Reeves, he'd have had no need to get closer to inflict injury.
Mac45 in reply to tom swift. | February 22, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Oulsen was also restrained by the seats ahead of Reeves. And, there is no evidence that Oulsen had secured any other projectiles or was even attempting to do so. So, those points are moot here.
The important point in all of this is timing. If Oulsen had a further projectile weapon to throw at Reeves, then a reasonable case could be made to use deadly force to prevent it being thrown. If Oulsen was attempting to climb over the seats between he and Reeves, or was shot while reaching over so that he was in close proximity to Reeves, then a case could be made for immediacy of action in using the deadly weapon. But, at the time of the shooting, there is no evidence, of which I am aware, that either of these conditions existed.
Reeves was armed with a distance weapon [a pistol] and had some protection from a physical barrier [the seats in front of him]. At the point the shot was fired, Oulsen had no more apparent projectiles to throw and was still on the other side of the physical barrier, the seats, and was not actively attempting to cross that barrier. Also, Oulsen's wife was partially between Reeves and Oulsen and was attempting to restrain Oulsen, when Reeves fired. And, Reeves training and experience can work against him in this case. He was a trained, experienced law enforcement officer. As such, he would be expected to have a far greater knowledge of the law, especially when related to the use of deadly force.
I am not defending Oulsen or arguing that Reeves was wrong to fire when he did. All that I am doing is pointing out that Reeves, because of the conditions existing at the time that he pulled the trigger, has a steep uphill climb to convince that immunity from prosecution exists here.
Huge hole in your argument. It is not required for Reeves to know if Olsen had more projectiles. If a guy comes up to you and reaches behind him as if drawing a gun, does he actually have to have a gun for you to be justified in defending yourself with your gun?
Your argument that Olsen was "constrained" by the seats is ridiculous, I am the same age as he was, not in good shape and overweight and a theater seat wouldn't slow me down for more than a second. Olsen was already on his feet, and most likely being restrained by his wife.
Also, as far as Olsen's Proximity, I don't know how far apart you think these seats are, but Olsen was well within arms reach of Reeves, regardless of the seat.
"Reeves training and experience can work against him in this case."
What?!? Have you completely taken leave of your senses? So because I was an Army Ranger 20 years ago, I am more deadly and should be held to a higher standard? Seriously? Mac45 you are better and smarter than that, that argument is just beneath you.
It is required that a "reasonable man" would "reasonably assume" that Oulsen had further projectiles and that there was a reasonable likelihood that such projectiles would be potential deadly weapons [not just a wallet or cellphone] and that the use of such weapons would be imminent. If Oulsen's hands were empty and he was not reaching to a concealed location on his body, such a reasonable assumption can not be made. And in order to claim that you believed that he had a gun or other deadly weapon, you would have to produce specific circumstances that would lead such a reasonable man to that conclusion. And, no such circumstances exist here.
The seats presented a physical barrier which would have constrained Oulsen's movement toward Reeves. In order to effectively strike Reeves, Oulsen would have had to dive over the seats ot climb over them. There is nothing to indicate that Oulsen was doing either when he was shot.
You can see how far apart the seats are. And, as evidenced by the fact that Oyulsen was able to grab the popcorn out of Reeve's hand, the distance was not enough to totally prevent contact between the two. However, the distance is sufficient to significantly reduce the immediate threat of damage to Reeves, unless Oulsen's body traverses the seat back. This did not happen.
Yes Virginia, because your level of training is greater than that of untrained members of society, you are held to a higher standard. Ask any LEO in the US about that. Not to mention doctors, contractors and scores of others. In Reeves' case, being a retired LEO, he has specific training in when he can and can not utilize deadly force against another. So, like it or not, that training is a factor in the case.
"It is required that a "reasonable man" would "reasonably assume" that Oulsen had further projectiles and that there was a reasonable likelihood that such projectiles would be potential deadly weapons [not just a wallet or cellphone] and that the use of such weapons would be imminent."
Actually no it doesn't matter one whit if Olsen did or didn't have more projectiles or whether or not Reeves or anyone else would assume he did. Remember you don't have to be armed to be a deadly threat. Here is a more clear cut example for you, do you assume that a gun has bullets in it or does there have to be some concrete proof that a gun is loaded before you can defend yourself.
"If Oulsen's hands were empty and he was not reaching to a concealed location on his body, such a reasonable assumption can not be made."
See this is where the time is important, Olsen grabs the popcorn and throws it in Reeves face, Reeves fires the shot before the popcorn can even hit the floor. So where in that less than 2 seconds in a darkened movie theater is Reeves supposed to make that evaluation? The popcorn could have been being used as a distraction so that he could pull a concealed weapon.
"And in order to claim that you believed that he had a gun or other deadly weapon, you would have to produce specific circumstances that would lead such a reasonable man to that conclusion. And, no such circumstances exist here."
100% wrong since you do not even have to possess a weapon to be a deadly threat, just ask St. Trayvon of the Sacred Hoodie…oops don't guess you can.
"The seats presented a physical barrier which would have constrained Oulsen's movement toward Reeves."
Yea, whatever, it certainly didn't constrain him very much since he was able to reach Reeves and yank things away from him.
"In order to effectively strike Reeves, Oulsen would have had to dive over the seats ot climb over them."
Except that he could already effectively strike Reeves which is demonstrated by snatching his popcorn, which Olsen was able to do without acutally getting his body in the frame of the camera, so he could have reached a good deal further than that.
"There is nothing to indicate that Oulsen was doing either when he was shot."
You mean other than Olsen's wife actively trying to restrain him as evidenced by the bullet going through her hand and then into his chest?
You are absolutely correct Olsen never did lean over the back of the seat, yet he could still get to Reeve's popcorn. Which means had he leaned over the seat he could have reached Reeves easily. The seat was basically zero barrer.
Nope, this is the same BS myth and fantasy that "if you have a black belt you have to be registered as a deadly weapon" or "because you are trained you should be able to wound them instead of shooting to kill" or "Because you were in the Army/Marines/Cop/Shooting Champion you are held to a higher standard" It has never been true and I invite you to show even one law saying that it is? I won't hold my breath.
My suggestion to you is to stop getting your information from procedural dramas on TV and gain some actual knowledge.
Sian in reply to Mac45. | February 22, 2017 at 2:13 pm
My big question in this that I haven't found the answer to is in the nature of the wound to Mrs. Oulsen's hand.
Specifically, was the palm of her hand facing Reeves (attempting to protect her husband from the aggressor) or was it facing Chad (attempting to hold her husband back from assaulting Reeves). This could shed a lot of light on what was happening in the moment right before the shooting.
Andrew Branca in reply to Sian. | February 22, 2017 at 9:15 pm
The position of her hand would be meaningless, as it would merely reflect HER perception of events and intentions, and both of those are irrelevant to the core issue which is whether Reeves acted in self-defense. What's decisive is HIS reasonable perception of events. What the wife thought matters not a whit.
I should clarify–the position of the wife's hand cannot undermine Reeves' claim of self-defense, but it could potentially buttress Reeves' claim of self-defense.
If her hand was in a "defensive" posture, attempting to protect her husband from Reeves, that doesn't mean Reeves was the aggressor, it could as easily mean she didn't want her husband shot despite the fact that her husband was the aggressor–an arguably reasonable position for a spouse, but one that does nothing to diminish Reeves self-defense claim.
On the other hand, if her hand was in an "aggressive" posture, being used to attempt to physically restrain her husband from closing on Reeves, that could potentially support Reeves claim that Oulsen was the aggressor.
Sian in reply to Andrew Branca. | February 23, 2017 at 10:45 am
Yes, that's mostly what I was getting at. If she's accustomed to holding her husband back from getting physical with other people, that could be a factor in Reeves' favor.
That was one of the big factors to me in that, regardless of her claims that she was trying to defend her husband from the bullet with her hand (faster than a speeding bullet, wonder if she can fly as well), it sure does appear that she was trying to restrain her husband.
3 things that basically blow a hole in your argument.
1: If Olsen is close enough to snatch popcorn from the Reeves lap or hand then his close enough to be a threat.
2: He is well within the reasonable distance to be a threat, the theater seat being basically no obstacle to a fit 43 year old man.
3: Your assertion that Olsen was not trying to cross the seat is contradicted by the fact that Mrs. Olsen was shot in the hand while trying to restrain her husband, Mrs. Olsen's claims that she put her hand in front of her husband to "stop the bullet" are nothing more that drivel.
1) Simply being close enough to grab or knock something from another person's hand does not mean that you are close enough to inflict any significant damage upon that person. Remember, in order to utilize deadly force against another, legally, a likely infliction of great bodily harm or death must be present.
2)Actually a 3′ high seat would be an obstacle to a fit 43 year old man. He would have to get over it either by climbing, leaping or diving. There is no evidence that Oulsen made any attempt to do any of these things.
3) You are projecting here. Simply because Mrs. Oulsen placed her hand on his chest does not mean that she was actively restraining her husband from moving forward. She could have been attempting to block a potential shot. She could have been attempting to move him further away from Reeves to defuse the situation. Or she could simply have been attempting to calm him by laying her hand on his chest.
So, again, based upon the totality of the circumstances, the is no clear lawful use of deadly force by Reeves. That is why I believe that he will not prevail in the immunity hearing.
Gremlin1974 in reply to Mac45. | February 25, 2017 at 1:59 am
1) Wrong again sparky, its called "The Tuller Drill or the 21 foot rule. Look it up.
2)Except for 2 things, Olsen and I are the same height and I can get over a movie theater seat fairly quickly and I am not nearly in as good a shape as Olsen was. Second, it doesn't really matter since he was close enough to reach Reeves without going over the seat, remember his body didn't even come into the frame of the camera when he snatched the popcorn which means he still had at least room to lean forward and reach Reeves.
3) Lets start with the "she was trying to block a potential shot" delusion first. From the time Reeves draws his gun and fires is a matter of milliseconds. Are you actually attempting to claim that Mrs. Olsen was able to see the gun and move her hand in the way? Because the only other reason she would have had to suspect the old man her husband was assaulting was going to shoot him is if she had prior knowledge that Reeves was armed.
"You are projecting here. Simply because Mrs. Oulsen placed her hand on his chest does not mean that she was actively restraining her husband from moving forward. She could have been attempting to move him further away from Reeves to defuse the situation. Or she could simply have been attempting to calm him by laying her hand on his chest."
All 3 of which are evidence of her trying to restrain her husband, but thanks for keeping me from having to type it all out.
Merlin01 | February 22, 2017 at 12:34 am
Does the fact the Reeves left to complain and returned to be with his wife carry any weight?
To me it means he has gone out of way to resolve this issue(without force) but the assaults continue and escalate from verbal to throwing property and then grabbing his popcorn…I think it's reasonable to expect a physical assault will follow!
Oulsen started this and should have just apologized and turned off his phone.
Beside using your phone in a movie theater should be a capital offense!
Gremlin1974 in reply to Merlin01. | February 23, 2017 at 6:56 pm
IANAL but the only thing I can see this really affecting is that it would most likely end the previous confrontation legally and begin a new confrontation. So basically when Reeves left and came back it reset both parties "innocence".
Andrew can correct me if I am wrong.
Gunstar1 in reply to Merlin01. | February 23, 2017 at 9:15 pm
It carries weight in both directions. Strictly speaking it should not, but both sides will argue that it shows that each are correct.
Defense: He was not some crazy guy looking for a fight because he did what you are supposed to do by going and getting management to deal with the situation. Management didn't respond quick enough to diffuse the situation with a crazy guy.
Prosecution: He was not scared because he left once and could have done so a second time. The guy was just irritated and shot the guy for no valid reason.
Bruce Hayden | February 22, 2017 at 4:21 am
What AB neglected to point out here (I think) is that one reason that SYG is mistaken for immunity in FL is that the two apparently were passed together by the FL legislature. He has been pointing out the absurdity of mixing the two up since the issue arose with Zimmerman here.
AB – got your email this week that you are going to teach a class at Bristlecone Shooting in Lakewood, CO. Great indoor range. Up through the end of the year, I was going there 2-3.times a week to shoot. There are two sides to the range – Tach and Pistol. Tach lets you shoot anything < .50 up to 25 yards. Pistol is limited to handguns and .22. I preferred the Tach side because you could program the targets – for example to present for 2 seconds, then turn sideways for a bit, repeat 5 times for a 10 round magazine. Wish I could be there for your class, but gave up my Bristlecone membership in my move to AZ.
Andrew Branca in reply to Bruce Hayden. | February 22, 2017 at 9:16 pm
You don't need to be a Bristlecone member to take part in my class there, it's open to all comers.
You do, however, need to be in CO to attend, at least for the duration of the class. I can't speak loud enough to be heard in AZ. 🙂
Gremlin1974 in reply to Bruce Hayden. | February 23, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Well you are partially correct about the passage of the laws, but the confusion is and has been pretty much deliberate on the part of parties opposed to SYG and Self Defense in general.
Take it from me, I have attended Andrew's class, if you can go…GO! While his book is great as is his website, there is nothing like having the man himself there to pick his brain.
Gunstar1 in reply to Bruce Hayden. | February 23, 2017 at 9:25 pm
No, this is universal. Georgia has always had stand your ground (ie, no duty to retreat). It was common law since the founding of the state (or before the 1900's at the very least).
We still get news reports saying that the stand your ground law increased justifiable homicide (or various other claims) since it was passed in 2006.
I will note again that you can't blame a law that codified in 2006 for what was already common law for at the least 100 years. Yet that is exactly what the news and "researchers" do.
What was new was the criminal and civil immunity. The press, researchers, and some lawyers do not know the difference.
RodFC | February 22, 2017 at 6:15 am
I think there are several points that have been forgotten.
This initially was the "guy sdhot for texting case" not the "popcorn throwing case". The narrative started to change when it became clear that Oulsen attacked Reeves.
What is more Oulsen's wife was shot through the hand. How did she get shot? Her hand was on her husbands chest trying to hold her husband back.
Barring some audio recording with Reeves shouting something like "Come on attack, so I can shoot you." I don't think he can be convicted– or rather not found not guilty or … whatever.
Furthermore, what was actually happening is not what matters. What matter are what a reasonable man in Reeves situation would make of the situation. Two assaults in a shot period of time, uncertain of what the objects were.
Jackie in reply to RodFC. | February 22, 2017 at 7:00 am
Is it reasonable that Reeves pulled out a gun and started blasting away over the indignity of having popcorn thrown at him? No it's not. If Olsen had thrown a punch instead of popcorn then I could understand this. He threw popcorn. You shoot as a last resort and you better be sure there is no alternative to protect your own life. I just don't see that here. I see a guy who lost control.
bobtuba in reply to Jackie. | February 22, 2017 at 10:14 am
I'm not defending the idiot popcorn thrower, but to me this seems to be a case of Contempt of Cop with the albeit retired cop deciding the death penalty was appropriate. Makes me wonder what kind of crap he pulled while still active.
mekender in reply to Jackie. | February 22, 2017 at 11:06 am
According to the immunity motion, he threw at least 3 punches and an iPhone 5 in an Otterbox case in addition to the popcorn.
Gremlin1974 in reply to Jackie. | February 23, 2017 at 7:06 pm
First of all lets not try to sensationalize an event that is pretty simple. Reeves did not " | 5,454 |
Q: iframe size stays the same after go to another webpage I'm using phonegap to make a iPhone app and have a problem with html/javascript. I have an iFrame in my index.html to show a third-party website<|fim_middle|> start page, there's a blank area down there. Is there any way to fix this? Thanks!
A: You can use the onload event of that iframe. It gets fired every time a page has been completely loaded inside the iframe. You can try this easy example. It alerts on every reload. Just click a link inside the iframe to see the alert box.
<script type="text/javascript">
function load()
{
alert("Iframe is loaded");
}
</script>
</head>
<iframe onload="load()" src="whatever">
<p>Your browser does not support iframes.</p>
</iframe>
| . My problem is when the user clicks a link in the start page of that website and goes to another webpage, the iFrame size stays the same as when it has the start page. So if the new page is shorter than the | 47 |
What happens when PCMag readers take a look at their web suppliers' bandwidth? In Los Angeles County, approximately 70,000 people do not have access to 25mbps<|fim_middle|> as 3 Mbps is the minimum for broadband web. Which means you may easily save more money by bundling your TELEVISION, cellphone and internet services from the identical cable provider. DSL gives web service via cellphone cables and is as much as ten times sooner than dial-up service. | wired broadband. There are 39 web suppliers in Los Angeles with 11 of these providing residential service. Kinds of broadband web embrace DSL, cable, fiber and satellite web.
Finding and evaluating internet suppliers in your area is simple with Allconnect. Fiber relies on glass strands to relay digital code and is far faster than both DSL and cable. After 150GB of information usage, information is prioritize behind other customers during network congestion.
XFINITY Movers Edge®program makes it simpler than ever to take your favorite TV, Web and home telephone providers along. Listed below are our high picks from detailed knowledge comparisons on all 19 suppliers. In addition to internet, they also offer residence phone service.
DSL delivers the internet over telephone traces. Cable web suppliers use the same coaxial cable that connects to your TV to bring you excessive velocity internet. That said, you'll doubtless save money on cable and DSL service in the event you go ahead and purchase your own router slightly than renting gear from the Web supplier immediately.
Obtain speed as much | 214 |
Author: Iyanla Vanzant
In The Meantime by Iyanla Vanzant, In The Meantime Books available in PDF, EPUB, Mobi Format. Download In The Meantime books, Most of us go through life with a vision of what the ideal relationship is supposed to be, yet too often our longing for a soul mate leads to disappointment and heartbreak. What we see, desire, or harshly judge in our mate is but a reflection of self, Vanzant explains, as in IN THE MEANTIME she helps us to break free of our fantasies and view a relationship as an ongoing process of discovery and growth. Whether she is offering practical advice on how to avoid making the same relationship mistakes over and over again, or helping us to view the painful end of a relationship as an opportunity to learn and change, Iyanla Vanzant, as author Patrice Gains has said, 'reminds us that every moment is an opportunity to learn and inspires and encourages us to continue our inward daily search'.
Authors: Iyanla Vanzant
Categories: Self-Help
Type: BOOK - Published: 2012-12-11 - Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Most of us go through life with a vision of what the ideal relationship is supposed to be, yet too often our longing for a soul mate leads to disappointment and heartbreak. What we see, desire, or harshly judge in our mate is but a reflection of self, Vanzant explains,
Authors: Susan Morgan
Categories: Literary Criticism
Books about In the Meantime
Authors: Sarah Sharma
Categories: Social Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2014-01-07 - Publisher: Duke University Press
The world is getting faster. This sentiment is proclaimed so often that it is taken<|fim_middle|>006 - Publisher: Host Publications, Inc.
Poetry. Despite being virtually unavailable since its original publication in 1970, Perro del amor (Love Hound) has greatly influenced the rich tradition of Chilean literature. Written three years before the military overthrow of the government by Augusto Pinochet, these poems offer concise but penetrating language that still resonates today. Opening
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i abandon my heart to god
to my daughter with love between mom and me a
nlp made easy | for granted, rarely questioned or examined by those who celebrate the notion of an accelerated culture or by those who decry it. Sarah Sharma engages with that assumption in this sophisticated critical inquiry into the
Authors: Robin Lippincott
From the intimacy of small town America to big city life, from World War II to 9/11, In the Meantime vividly encapsulates an unforgettable era. On a hot summer's day in 1931, three-five-year-olds meet on a dusty street in a small Midwestern town, beginning a friendship that will last all
Yearnings in the Meantime
Authors: Stef Jansen
Type: BOOK - Published: 2015-06-01 - Publisher: Berghahn Books
Shortly after the book's protagonists moved into their apartment complex in Sarajevo, they, like many others, were overcome by the 1992-1995 war and the disintegration of socialist Yugoslavia More than a decade later, in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina, they felt they were collectively stuck in a time warp where nothing
Authors: Timothy E. Criss
IN THE MEANTIME is an inspirational book for people who, when they experience the rough waters of adversities in life, learn to exercise good decision making to overcome them, and use them to catapult forward. This is a tool to encourage you to keep fighting, and never give up.
Medicine in the Meantime
Authors: Ramah McKay
In Mozambique, where more than half of the national health care budget comes from foreign donors, NGOs and global health research projects have facilitated a dramatic expansion of medical services. At once temporary and unfolding over decades, these projects also enact deeply divergent understandings of what care means and who
Thoughts in the Meantime
Authors: Amanda Evans
Type: BOOK - Published: 2009-11 - Publisher: iUniverse
Thoughts in The Meantime Last night I watched the sunrise while I cried, because in that moment surely a piece of me had died I watched as my childhood lost its sweet taste of innocence traveling into adulthood skipping all of the steps in between Leaving me with a heart
Authors: Rob Brendle
Categories: Religion
Type: BOOK - Published: 2010-06-09 - Publisher: WaterBrook
You're young? Check. You've felt God's tap on the shoulder, like he's got something for you to do with your life? Right. But you're not exactly sure what it is, or how to get there? Exactly. If that's you, then here's a great guide to help you find your way
Only in the Meantime
Authors: Mario Benedetti, Oliver Welden
Type: BOOK - Published: 2 | 584 |
Waterjet manufacturer Alamarin-Jet Oy selects Volvo Penta's D6-435WJ engine to power its high-speed test boat.
When an old engine on Alamarin-Jet's test boat<|fim_middle|> daughter craft to larger vessels, and due to its lack of protrusions below the hull, it is a suitable option for operating in shallow waters and emergency situations. The AJ 285's main applications include military usage, coast guard operations, and commercial search and rescue functions.
Volvo Penta's D6-435WJ is an in-line 6-cylinder, 5.5-liter diesel engine with common-rail fuel injection and double overhead camshafts. It has been developed especially for waterjet use without a supercharger, as these propulsion systems cannot utilize low end torque. | broke down irreparably in 2017, the company sought a new replacement. The vessel is used to show international customers the proficiency of its latest waterjet unit, the AJ 285, and as such it was imperative that the company could install a new engine that would be appropriate for all requirements. After assessing the options from different suppliers, the Finnish company chose a six-liter model by Volvo Penta. The two companies have a history of working together over more than three decades, and it was this relationship, along with the capabilities of the engine, that made the selection a good choice.
Alamarin-Jet was founded in 1976 by a Finnish engineer with a passion for sport-fishing, who wanted to develop an alternative to outboard and sterndrive systems for boating along the coast of the Baltic Sea. The company now makes a range of waterjet units and has created a patented 'Combi-Frame' series, that allows for both long tail and short tail installation, with adjustments made to customers' requirement simply by using a different hull insert.
The AJ 285 is the latest of Alamarin-Jet's Combi-Frame models and is suitable for use with engines up to 500 hp. The test boat currently has a single control, drive-by-wire setup at the helm station, but will be reconfigured later in 2018 to become an un-manned service vessel for use with a remote control. The waterjet can be used in stand-alone vessels or in | 314 |
How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday
PMN Business
Technology and health care companies led U.S. stock indexes mostly higher Tuesday, building on the market's solid gains from a day earlier.
Boeing weighed down the Dow Jones Industrial Average for a second day as shares in the aircraft maker fell amid safety concerns over its most popular plane. The company led a slide in industrial sector stocks.
On Tuesday:
The S&P 500 index gained<|fim_middle|>00 is up 27.95 points, or 1.8 per cent.
For the year:
The S&P 500 is up 284.67 points, or 11.4 per cent.
The Dow is up 2,227.20 points, or 9.5 per cent.
The Nasdaq is up 955.75 points, or 14.4 per cent.
The Russell 2000 is up 201.28 points, or 14.9 per cent.
Rents in most Canadian cities are unaffordable for lower-income earners, study says
Someone earning minimum wage would only be able to afford a one-bedroom rental in 9% of 795 neighbourhoods in Canadian cities in the study | 8.22 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 2,791.52.
The Dow fell 96.22 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 25,554.66.
The Nasdaq composite climbed 32.97 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 7,591.03.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies picked up 0.96 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 1,549.83.
For the week:
The S&P 500 is up 48.45 points, or 1.8 per cent.
The Dow is up 104.42 points, or 0.4 per cent.
The Nasdaq is up 182.89 points, or 2.5 per cent.
The Russell 20 | 205 |
HealthPostures is unvailing a brand new affiliate program in partnership with Shareasale.com. By becoming an Affiliate you can help spread the word about the benefits of the Taskmate and other unique HealthPostures sit to stand products, and earn extra income at the same<|fim_middle|>, Email Blasts, Newsletters, etc.. For each person who clicks through to our website and purchases our services you will receive a 10% commission. For more information visit www.Shareasale.com or simply click HERE. | time!
Our bodies are made to move. HealthPostures' sit to stand ergonomic products encourage an energetic work environment and will provide a sit to stand ergonomic solution that will help prevent and alleviate pain associated with sitting at work. By using HealthPostures sit to stand ergonomic products you will feel energized and productive throughout your work day. HealthPostures sit to stand ergonomic products are proudly made in the USA.
ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network based in Chicago, IL USA. ShareASale services two customer sets in affiliate marketing: the affiliate, and the merchant. Affiliates use ShareASale to find products to promote, and earn commission for referrals on those products. Affiliates use their own website, blogs, PPC campaigns, SEO campaigns, RSS and email, as well as a number of other means. Merchants use ShareASale to implement, track, and manage their affiliate program.
ShareASale was founded in 2000 by Brian Littleton, and to date has over 2,600 merchant programs hosted on its network platform. Advertisers who are using the ShareASale services include the University of Minnesota, uBid and Bozai Boy of New York. ShareASale is among the largest U.S. affiliate networks in terms of number of advertisers who are using an affiliate network to manage their affiliate program.
An average order from our website is almost $500.00 and with a generous 10% commission per sale, the potential is huge and so is the current sit stand ergonomics craze!
Becoming an Affiliate of IntimateRider.com is ABSOLUTELY FREE and EASY! You can become an Affiliate and start earning income today by simply placing one of our banners and/or text links on your Website, Facebook Page, Twitter Posts, MySpace Page | 375 |
The Peregian Beach House 2 design aims to minimise its impact on the sensitive dunal environment whilst maximising the ability of the owners to enjoy this unique landscape during all times of the day and year. The building's form is a response to both the immediate site and the subtropical climate and is conceived as two pavilions which 'float over the native landscape<|fim_middle|> walls, conjures, is not simply visual. This form creates a very private, protected and secure external space, which also has a direct and necessary link to the greater natural environment.
The building addresses both the pragmatic requirements of a beach house for a large family whilst softly integrating itself within both the built and natural coastal environments. | .
A planning approach was adopted which allowed for large external living areas to be incorporated into the central parts of the site, by splitting the house into two pavilions that run down each longitudinal boundary. The fact that these two pavilions are quite narrow means that all spaces enjoy good cross ventilation and, with the opposing pitches of the two roofs, winter sun penetration, whilst protecting the central outdoor space from the harsh southerly winds. The northern facing roof has also been designed to accommodate photovoltaic cells for the dwelling.
The idea that the house is to be negotiated as you would negotiate a path through the site, is also explored, reflecting the nature of the beachside site and the way people have always used it to access the beach. The 'path' through the dwelling is very open and welcoming and somewhat transitionary in nature as once inside the entry space you immediately step through it and back outside - into the primary space of the dwelling - the outdoor room.
From here your view is drawn down the length of the central deck to the landscape beyond. A generous flight of stairs allows for this central out door room to connect with the ground plane. The generous stair acts as another room itself, whereby the user can simultaneously engage with the ground plane activities and the upper levels of the house.
The conceptual planning of the house as both a 'path' and a protected 'outdoor room' is further enhanced by the formal gesture of the folded wall/roof of each pavilion. Through complimentary materials (clear sealed ply wood, oiled hardwood, clear sealed fibre cement sheet and 'woodland grey' roof sheet) the gesture of the folded walls 'capturing' the central out door room conjures up images of trees hanging over a path. The imagery of protecting trees or hands which the folded | 361 |
The research of Roger Stanton concentrates on the human act of categorizing and how it contributes to a broader understanding of the environment. Roger Stanton performs these studies by collecting data from experiments and then testing the ability of mathematical models to account for the data obtained in the experiments. In<|fim_middle|> contends that humans engage in categorization each time they decide the difference between objects. According to Roger Stanton, a few examples of these category distinctions that people make include calling an object a plate rather than a saucer, a spoon versus a fork, or an apple and not an orange.
Roger Stanton observes that children create and learn new categories frequently as they build their knowledge base, while adults continue to establish new categories at a slower rate. There are many theoretical proposals concerning how category membership is established, notes Roger Stanton. Categorization judgments could be based on checking a list of sufficient and necessary features, or similarity to a prototype or set of exemplars, or a variety of other strategies.
According to Roger Stanton, significant evidence in the academic community suggests that a number of dramatic differences are visible in terms of how people learn and construct these categories. However, Roger Stanton reports that there is little agreement in the exact nature of the processes that underlie category learning.
Given the crucial role that categorization has played in our daily lives, it's not surprising that a bounty of literature is devoted to the subject, according to Roger Stanton. As research in category learning continues, Roger Stanton predicts that more experts will be placing an emphasis on developments and discoveries in categorization while studying its application in the real world. | this way, Roger Stanton is able to account for the elements of learning behavior that he witnesses throughout the experiments.
The tendency for most individuals to place items into categories is a core aspect of cognition, asserts Roger Stanton. In addition to perceiving a particular object, it is seen as either belonging to one category or another. Roger Stanton | 66 |
We develop winning strategies that help heritage and challenger brands build lasting loyalty with consumers and thrive in the market. We make sure it's a collaborative process.<|fim_middle|>ings. | From the beginning, we listen carefully to your vision. Once we know your objectives, we generate a verbal and visual strategy that makes the brand name, logo, and positioning work in harmony for the optimal branding message. With our in-house research facility we can test how the consumer will respond to your brand in the real world.
Your brand embodies the sum of what you represent. It must be bold and authentic to attract new consumers, and memorable so your loyal customers reach for your products time and again. Our multi-talented design team create meaningful & compelling graphics that catch the eye of consumers and then go deeper to build brand loyalty & encourage continued engagement. To assess and validate our designs, we have created a research facility at our Morristown HQ where we hold formal and informal focus groups.
We craft the materials to market new and reinvented brands and packaging to the public. Depending on what best serves each brands' marketing strategy, we produce brand books, guidelines and brochures, in-store and trade show displays, website design and social media strategy, and all forms of digital media including high definition 3D render | 225 |
One True Pairing One True Pairing
Tom Fleming, formerly of Wild Beasts, has re-emerged following that group's dissolution as One True Pairing. His debut album is rooted in tales of desperation and shaped by his upbringing in northwest England, exploring notions of masculinity and survival within the current neoliberal era. Drawing from influences that range<|fim_middle|>, creating a body of work that serves as a way through difficult and tumultuous emotions. (Domino)
More One True Pairing
One True Pairing
Tom Fleming of Wild Beasts Announces New Solo Record as One True Pairing
Tom Fleming (formerly of Wild Beasts) has announced his debut solo album under the moniker One True Pairing. The self-titled record is due S... | from Depeche Mode to Bruce Springsteen, he worked with producer Ben Hillier to create a record that focuses his songwriting and the raw nature of his unmistakable voice.
One True Pairing mixes bombast and intimate electronics, using synths, drum machines and guitar to investigate violence, channelling anger and a softness too. "King of the Rats" is one of the most affecting tracks, its burbling production underlying exposed lyrics that conclude in the refrain, "With all your flaws, you can do anything."
The pulse and restrained guitar of "Dawn at the Factory" distils a feeling of entrapment, Fleming deconstructing the machine of overwork and the cycle of working class poverty: "It's the same every night / You'd better get your facts right / Where the strip lights shine / I give you my life." These songs are at once specific, laying bare the motivations of Fleming's characters, yet reach further into analyzing overarching feelings of disillusionment and alienation.
One True Pairing is not an easy listening record, despite its pop structures. Fleming is stark in his observations, yet he has woven hope in amongst the despair | 237 |
Community Academic Profiles–
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Stanford Medical Sites
Lorene Nelson, PhD
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health
Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Population Health
Associate Director, Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine (2014 - Present)
Chief, Division of Epidemiology (2001 - 2010)
Adjunct Investigator, Kaiser Division of Research (1995 - Present)
Co-Director, Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Dept. of Health Research & Policy (1994 - 2003)
Committee Member, Research Programs Action Committee (RPAC), National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2011 - Present)
Councilor, Executive Committee of the Neuroepidemiology Section, American Academy of Neurology (2012 - Present)
Associate Editor, Neuroepidemiology (1999 - Present)
Associate Editor, American Journal of Epidemiology (2000 - 2010)
PhD, University of Washington, Epidemiology (1991)
MS, Univ. of Colorado Sch. of Medicine, Biostatistics (1981)
Alternate Contact Renee Miller Administrative Assistant reneemm@stanford.edu
Dr. Nelson's traditional research program is focused on the epidemiology and complex etiology of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. A recent additional focus of her work is on the development of mobile health tools to carry out prospective research studies on neurologic disorders such as migraine headache.
As the Faculty Associate Director of Research for the Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences, Dr. Nelson is leading strategic initiatives that involve a growing number of population health scientists at Stanford. Our goal is to develop innovative and transdisciplinary approaches to address the critical determinants of population health, including but not limited to strategies that can be addressed using electronic health care records from health information exchanges in defined geographic regions.
Big Data Methods for Behavioral, Social, and Population Health Research
EPI 270 (Spr)
Directed Reading in Epidemiology
EPI 299 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
Directed Reading in Health Research and Policy
HRP 299 (Aut)
Medical Scholars Research
HRP 370 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
Epidemiology Research Seminar
HRP 236 (Spr)
Hoda Abdel Magid
Jessica Hinman
Master's Program Advisor
Elaine Su
Michael Hittle, Sam Jaros
Epidemiology (Masters Program)
Epidemiology (Phd Program)
Immunology/Rheumatology (Fellowship Program)
Changes in Seizure Frequency and Antiepileptic Therapy during Pregnancy. The New England journal of medicine Pennell, P. B., French, J. A., May, R. C., Gerard, E., Kalayjian, L., Penovich, P., Gedzelman, E., Cavitt, J., Hwang, S., Pack, A. M., Sam, M., Miller, J. W., Wilson, S. H., Brown, C., Birnbaum, A. K., Meador, K. J., MONEAD Study Group, Meador, K. J., Pennell, P. B., May, R., Birnbaum, A., Cohen, M. J., Druzin, M., Finnell, R., French, J., Loring, D. W., McElrath, T. F., Nelson, L., Stowe, Z., Van Marter, L., Wells, P., Yerby, M., Moore, E., Wilson, S. H., Brown, C., Ippolito, D., Nair, A., Ayre, B., Skinner, J., Davis, L., Hendrickson, L., Shah, N., Leung, B., Arias, M., Robalino, C., Birnbaum, A. K., Karanam, A., Strickland, S., Latif, E., Park, Y., Acosta-Cotte, D., Ray, P., Boyer, K., Hanson, E., Young, A., Hickey, P., Strauss, J., Madeiros, H., Pennell, P., McElrath, F. T., Walsh, A., Chen, L., Allien, S., Lee, T., Sheldon, Y., Weinau, T., Pack, A., Cleary, K., Echo, J., Zygmunt, A., Casadei, C., Irobunda, I., Gedzelman, E., Dolan, M., Ono, K., Bearden, D., Ghilian, C., Teagarden, D., Newman, M., McCabe, P., Paglia, M., Taylor, C., Delucca, R., Barkley, G. L., Spanaki-Varelas, M., Thomas, A., Constantinou, J., Anwar, T., Holmes, T., Johnson, E., Krauss, G., Lawson, S., Pritchard, A., Ryan, M., Coe, P., Penovich, P., Hanna, J., Reger, K., Meehan, S., Olson, A., Schweizer, W., Rosenberg, J., Smith, A., Hwang, S., Tam Tam, H. B., Cukier, Y., Meltzer, E., DiCarlo, G., Lau, C., Smith, B., Gerard, E., Grobman, W., Coda, J., Miller, E., Bellinski, I., Bachman, E., Meador, K., Krueger, C., Seliger, J., DeWolfe, J., Owen, J., Thompson, M., Hall, C., Willia, V., Labiner, D., Maciulla, J., Moon, J., Kunnaz, L., Cavitt, J., Privitera, M., Flood-Schaffer, K., Jewell, G., McElroy, B., Mendoza, L., Serrano, E., Salih, Y., Bermudez, C., Miranda, M., Velez-Ruiz, N., Figueredo, P., Bagic, A., Popescu Urban, A., Gedela, S., Patterson, C., Jeyabalan, A., Radonovich, K., Sutcliffe, M., Beers, S., Wiles, C., Mosovsky, S., Kalayjian, L., Stek, A., Perez, S., Sierra, R., Miller, J. W., Mao, J., Phatak, V., Kim, M., Cheng-Hakimian, A., Oliva, A., Sam, M., Parker, L., Morris, M., Dimos, J., Miller, D. 2020; 383 (26): 2547?56
BACKGROUND: Among women with epilepsy, studies regarding changes in seizure frequency during pregnancy have been limited by the lack of an appropriate nonpregnant comparator group to provide data on the natural course of seizure frequency in both groups.METHODS: In this prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study, we compared the frequency of seizures during pregnancy through the peripartum period (the first 6 weeks after birth) (epoch 1) with the frequency during the postpartum period (the following 7.5 months after pregnancy) (epoch 2). Nonpregnant women with epilepsy were enrolled as controls and had similar follow-up during an 18-month period. The primary outcome was the percentage of women who had a higher frequency of seizures that impaired awareness during epoch 1 than during epoch 2. We also compared changes in the doses of antiepileptic drugs that were administered in the two groups during the first 9 months of epoch 1.RESULTS: We enrolled 351 pregnant women and 109 controls with epilepsy. Among the 299 pregnant women and 93 controls who had a history of seizures that impaired awareness and who had available data for the two epochs, seizure frequency was higher during epoch 1 than during epoch 2 in 70 pregnant women (23%) and in 23 controls (25%) (odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 1.60). During pregnancy, the dose of an antiepileptic drug was changed at least once in 74% of pregnant women and in 31% of controls (odds ratio, 6.36; 95% CI, 3.82 to 10.59).CONCLUSIONS: Among women with epilepsy, the percentage who had a higher incidence of seizures during pregnancy than during the postpartum period was similar to that in women who were not pregnant during the corresponding epochs. Changes in doses of antiepileptic drugs occurred more frequently in pregnant women than in nonpregnant women during similar time periods. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health; MONEAD ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01730170.).
View details for DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2008663
Development and Internal Validation of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Episodic Migraine Attacks Based on Daily Trigger Exposures. Headache Holsteen, K. K., Hittle, M., Barad, M., Nelson, L. M. 2020
OBJECTIVE: To develop and internally validate a multivariable predictive model for days with new-onset migraine headaches based on patient self-prediction and exposure to common trigger factors.BACKGROUND: Accurate real-time forecasting of one's daily risk of migraine attack could help episodic migraine patients to target preventive medications for susceptible time periods and help decrease the burden of disease. Little is known about the predictive utility of common migraine trigger factors.METHODS: We recruited adults with episodic migraine through online forums to participate in a 90-day prospective daily-diary cohort study conducted through a custom research application for iPhone. Every evening, participants answered questions about migraine occurrence and potential predictors including stress, sleep, caffeine and alcohol consumption, menstruation, and self-prediction. We developed and estimated multivariable multilevel logistic regression models for the risk of a new-onset migraine day vs a healthy day and internally validated the models using repeated cross-validation.RESULTS: We had 178 participants complete the study and qualify for the primary analysis which included 1870 migraine events. We found that a decrease in caffeine consumption, higher self-predicted probability of headache, a higher level of stress, and times within 2days of the onset of menstruation were positively associated with next-day migraine risk. The multivariable model predicted migraine risk only slightly better than chance (within-person C-statistic: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.58).CONCLUSIONS: In this study, episodic migraine attacks were not predictable based on self-prediction or on self-reported exposure to common trigger factors. Improvements in accuracy and breadth of data collection are needed to build clinically useful migraine prediction models.
View details for DOI 10.1111/head.13960
Feasibility of Using a Nationally Representative Telephone Survey to Monitor Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence in the United States. Neuroepidemiology Buka, S. L., Wallin, M. T., Culpepper, W. J., Lee, Y. H., Marrie, R. A., Nelson, L. M., Kaye, W. E., Wagner, L., Tremlett, H., Campbell, J., LaRocca, N. 2020: 1?8
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic neurologic disease of young adults, placing a heavy burden on patients, families, and the healthcare system. Ongoing surveillance of the incidence and prevalence of MS is critical for health policy and research, but feasible options are limited in the United States and many other countries. We investigated the feasibility of monitoring the prevalence of MS using a large national telephone survey of the adult US population.We developed questions to estimate the lifetime prevalence and age of onset of MS using the US-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and piloted these questions in 4 states (MN, RI, MD, and TX). There was a total of 45,198 respondents aged 18 years and above. Analyses investigated individual state and combined prevalence estimates along with health-related comorbidities and limitations. MS prevalence estimates from the BRFSS were compared to estimates from multi-source administrative claims and traditional population-based methods.The estimated lifetime prevalence of self-reported MS (per 100,000 adults) was 682 (95% CI 528-836); 384 (95% CI 239-529) among males and 957 (95% CI 694-1,220) among females. Estimates were consistent across the 4 states but much higher than recently published estimates using population-based administrative claims data. This was observed for both national results and for MS prevalence estimates from other studies within specific states (MN, RI, and TX). Prevalence estimates for Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic respondents were 824, 741, and 349 per 100,000 respectively. Age and sex distributions were consistent with prior epidemiologic reports. Comorbidity and functional limitations were more pronounced among female than male respondents.While yielding higher overall MS prevalence estimates compared to recent studies, this large-scale self-report telephone method yielded relative prevalence estimates (e.g., prevalence patterns of MS by sex, age, and race-ethnicity) that were generally comparable to other surveillance approaches. With certain caveats, population-based telephone surveys may eventually offer the ability to investigate novel disease correlates and are relatively feasible, and affordable. Further work is needed to create a valid question set and methodology for case ascertainment before this approach could be adopted to accurately estimate MS prevalence.
View details for DOI 10.1159/000504050
Two decades of research: Time to incorporate comorbidity management into the care of MS? Neurology Nelson, L. M., Bourdette, D. 2020
View details for DOI 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010036
What Matters in Parkinson's Disease: Sex, Number of Children, or Birth Cohort? Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society Popat, R. A., Nelson, L. M. 2020; 35 (7): 1108?10
View details for DOI 10.1002/mds.28059
A new way to estimate neurologic disease prevalence in the United States Illustrated with MS NEUROLOGY Nelson, L. M., Wallin, M. T., Marrie, R., Culpepper, W. J., Langer-Gould, A., Campbell, J., Buka, S., Tremlett, H., Cutter, G., Kaye, W., Wagner, L., Larocca, N. G., US Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence W 2019; 92 (10): 469?80
Validation of an algorithm for identifying MS cases in administrative health claims datasets NEUROLOGY Culpepper, W. J., Marrie, R., Langer-Gould, A., Wallin, M. T., Campbell, J. D., Nelson, L. M., Kaye, W. E., Wagner, L., Tremlett, H., Chen, L. H., Leung, S., Evans, C., Yao, S., LaRocca, N. G., US Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence W 2019; 92 (10): E1016?E1028
The prevalence of MS in the United States A population-based estimate using health claims data NEUROLOGY Wallin, M. T., Culpepper, W. J., Campbell, J. D., Nelson, L. M., Langer-Gould, A., Marrie, R., Cutter, G. R., Kaye, W. E., Wagner, L., Tremlett, H., Buka, S. L., Dilokthornsakul, P., Topol, B., Chen, L. H., LaRocca, N. G., US Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence W 2019; 92 (10): E1029?E1040
A new way to estimate neurologic disease prevalence in the United States: Illustrated with MS. Neurology Nelson, L. M., Wallin, M. T., Marrie, R. A., Culpepper, W. J., Langer-Gould, A., Campbell, J., Buka, S., Tremlett, H., Cutter, G., Kaye, W., Wagner, L., Larocca, N. G., United States Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence Workgroup 2019
OBJECTIVE: Considerable gaps exist in knowledge regarding the prevalence of neurologic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), in the United States. Therefore, the MS Prevalence Working Group sought to review and evaluate alternative methods for obtaining a scientifically valid estimate of national MS prevalence in the current health care era.METHODS: We carried out a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis for 3 approaches to estimate MS prevalence: population-based MS registries, national probability health surveys, and analysis of administrative health claims databases. We reviewed MS prevalence studies conducted in the United States and critically examined possible methods for estimating national MS prevalence.RESULTS: We developed a new 4-step approach for estimating MS prevalence in the United States. First, identify administrative health claim databases covering publicly and privately insured populations in the United States. Second, develop and validate a highly accurate MS case-finding algorithm that can be standardly applied in all databases. Third, apply a case definition algorithm to estimate MS prevalence in each population. Fourth, combine MS prevalence estimates into a single estimate of US prevalence, weighted according to the number of insured persons in each health insurance segment.CONCLUSIONS: By addressing methodologic challenges and proposing a new approach for measuring the prevalence of MS in the United States, we hope that our work will benefit scientists who study neurologic and other chronic conditions for which national prevalence estimates do not exist.
Validation of an algorithm for identifying MS cases in administrative health claims datasets. Neurology Culpepper, W. J., Marrie, R. A., Langer-Gould, A., Wallin, M. T., Campbell, J. D., Nelson, L. M., Kaye, W. E., Wagner, L., Tremlett, H., Chen, L. H., Leung, S., Evans, C., Yao, S., LaRocca, N. G., United States Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence Workgroup (MSPWG) 2019
OBJECTIVE: To develop a valid algorithm for identifying multiple sclerosis (MS) cases in administrative health claims (AHC) datasets.METHODS: We used 4 AHC datasets from the Veterans Administration (VA), Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), Manitoba (Canada), and Saskatchewan (Canada). In the VA, KPSC, and Manitoba, we tested the performance of candidate algorithms based on inpatient, outpatient, and disease-modifying therapy (DMT) claims compared to medical records review using sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and interrater reliability (Youden J statistic) both overall and stratified by sex and age. In Saskatchewan, we tested the algorithms in a cohort randomly selected from the general population.RESULTS: The preferred algorithm required ?3 MS-related claims from any combination of inpatient, outpatient, or DMT claims within a 1-year time period; a 2-year time period provided little gain in performance. Algorithms including DMT claims performed better than those that did not. Sensitivity (86.6%-96.0%), specificity (66.7%-99.0%), positive predictive value (95.4%-99.0%), and interrater reliability (Youden J = 0.60-0.92) were generally stable across datasets and across strata. Some variation in performance in the stratified analyses was observed but largely reflected changes in the composition of the strata. In Saskatchewan, the preferred algorithm had a sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 99%, positive predictive value of 99%, and negative predictive value of 96%.CONCLUSIONS: The performance of each algorithm was remarkably consistent across datasets. The preferred algorithm required ?3 MS-related claims from any combination of inpatient, outpatient, or DMT use within 1 year. We recommend this algorithm as the standard AHC case definition for MS.
The prevalence of MS in the United States: A population-based estimate using health claims data. Neurology Wallin, M. T., Culpepper, W. J., Campbell, J. D., Nelson, L. M., Langer-Gould, A., Marrie, R. A., Cutter, G. R., Kaye, W. E., Wagner, L., Tremlett, H., Buka, S. L., Dilokthornsakul, P., Topol, B., Chen, L. H., LaRocca, N. G., US Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence Workgroup 2019
OBJECTIVE: To generate a national multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence estimate for the United States by applying a validated algorithm to multiple administrative health claims (AHC) datasets.METHODS: A validated algorithm was applied to private, military, and public AHC datasets to identify adult cases of MS between 2008 and 2010. In each dataset, we determined the 3-year cumulative prevalence overall and stratified by age, sex, and census region. We applied insurance-specific and stratum-specific estimates to the 2010 US Census data and pooled the findings to calculate the 2010 prevalence of MS in the United States cumulated over 3 years. We also estimated the 2010 prevalence cumulated over 10 years using 2 models and extrapolated our estimate to 2017.RESULTS: The estimated 2010 prevalence of MS in the US adult population cumulated over 10 years was 309.2 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] 308.1-310.1), representing 727,344 cases. During the same time period, the MS prevalence was 450.1 per 100,000 (95% CI 448.1-451.6) for women and 159.7 (95% CI 158.7-160.6) for men (female:male ratio 2.8). The estimated 2010 prevalence of MS was highest in the 55- to 64-year age group. A US north-south decreasing prevalence gradient was identified. The estimated MS prevalence is also presented for 2017.CONCLUSION: The estimated US national MS prevalence for 2010 is the highest reported to date and provides evidence that the north-south gradient persists. Our rigorous algorithm-based approach to estimating prevalence is efficient and has the potential to be used for other chronic neurologic conditions.
Evaluation of a Mobile Device Survey System for Behavioral Risk Factors (SHAPE): App Development and Usability Study. JMIR formative research Oakley-Girvan, I., Lavista, J. M., Miller, Y., Davis, S., Acle, C., Hancock, J., Nelson, L. M. 2019; 3 (1): e10246
BACKGROUND: Risk factors, including limited exercise, poor sleep, smoking, and alcohol and drug use, if mitigated early, can improve long-term health. Risk prevalence has traditionally been measured using methods that now have diminished participation rates. With >75% of American citizens owning smartphones, new data collection methods using mobile apps can be evaluated.OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a mobile device-based survey system for behavioral risk assessment. Specifically, we evaluated its feasibility, usability, acceptability, and validity.METHODS: We enrolled 536 students from 3 Vermont State Colleges. Iterative mobile app development incorporated focus groups, extensive testing, and the following 4 app versions: iOS standard, iOS gamified, Android standard, and Android gamified. We aimed to capture survey data, paradata, and ambient data such as geolocation. Using 3 separate surveys, we asked a total of 27 questions that included demographic characteristics, behavioral health, and questions regarding the app's usability and survey process.RESULTS: Planned enrollment was exceeded in just a few days. There were 1392 "hits" to the landing page where the app could be downloaded. Excluding known project testers and others not part of the study population, 670 participants downloadeded the SHAPE app. Of those, 94.9% of participants (636/670) agreed to participate by providing in-app consent. Of the 636 who provided consent, 84.3% (536/636) were deemed eligible for the study. The majority of eligible respondents completed the initial survey (459/536, 85.6%), whereas 29.9% (160/536) completed the second survey and 28.5% (153/536) completed the third survey. The SHAPE survey obtained 414 participants on the behavioral risk items in survey 1, which is nearly double the 209 participants who completed the traditional Vermont College Health Survey in 2014. SHAPE survey responses were consistent with the traditionally collected Vermont College Health Survey data.CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data highlighting the potential for mobile apps to improve population-based health, including an assessment of recruitment methods, burden and response rapidity, and future adaptations. Although gamification and monetary rewards were relatively unimportant to this study population, item response theory may be technologically feasible to reduce individual survey burden. Additional data collected by smartphones, such as geolocation, could be important in additional analysis, such as neighborhood characteristics and their impact on behavioral risk factors. Mobile tools that offer rapid adaptation for specific populations may improve research data collection for primary prevention and could be used to improve engagement and health outcomes.
Physical Activity and Parkinson Disease Risk: An Intriguing Link. JAMA network open Nelson, L. M. 2018; 1 (5): e182633
A High-Density Genome-Wide Association Screen of Sporadic ALS in US Veterans PLOS ONE Kwee, L. C., Liu, Y., Haynes, C., Gibson, J. R., Stone, A., Schichman, S. A., Kamel, F., Nelson, L. M., Topol, B., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., Cudkowicz, M. E., Grasso, D. L., Lawson, R., Muralidhar, S., Oddone, E. Z., Schmidt, S., Hauser, M. A. 2012; 7 (3)
Following reports of an increased incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in U.S. veterans, we have conducted a high-density genome-wide association study (GWAS) of ALS outcome and survival time in a sample of U.S. veterans. We tested ?1.3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for association with ALS outcome in 442 incident Caucasian veteran cases diagnosed with definite or probable ALS and 348 Caucasian veteran controls. To increase power, we also included genotypes from 5909 publicly-available non-veteran controls in the analysis. In the survival analysis, we tested for association between SNPs and post-diagnosis survival time in 639 Caucasian veteran cases with definite or probable ALS. After this discovery phase, we performed follow-up genotyping of 299 SNPs in an independent replication sample of Caucasian veterans and non-veterans (ALS outcome: 183 cases and 961 controls; survival: 118 cases). Although no SNPs reached genome-wide significance in the discovery phase for either phenotype, three SNPs were statistically significant in the replication analysis of ALS outcome: rs6080539 (177 kb from PCSK2), rs7000234 (4 kb from ZNF704), and rs3113494 (13 kb from LOC100506746). Two SNPs located in genes that were implicated by previous GWA studies of ALS were marginally significant in the pooled analysis of discovery and replication samples: rs17174381 in DPP6 (p?=?4.4×10(-4)) and rs6985069 near ELP3 (p?=?4.8×10(-4)). Our results underscore the difficulty of identifying and convincingly replicating genetic associations with a rare and genetically heterogeneous disorder such as ALS, and suggest that common SNPs are unlikely to account for a substantial proportion of patients affected by this devastating disorder.
View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0032768
Association of DRD2 and DRD3 polymorphisms with Parkinson's disease in a multiethnic consortium JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES McGuire, V., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., Kamel, F., Umbach, D. M., Marder, K., Mayeux, R., Ritz, B., Ross, G. W., Petrovitch, H., Topol, B., Popat, R. A., Costello, S., Manthripragada, A. D., Southwick, A., Myers, R. M., Nelson, L. M. 2011; 307 (1-2): 22-29
To examine genetic associations of polymorphisms in the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and D3 (DRD3) genes with risk of Parkinson's disease (PD).The study included 1325 newly diagnosed patients with PD and 1735 controls from a consortium of five North American case-control studies. We collected risk factor information by in-person or telephone interview. Six DRD2 and two DRD3 polymorphisms were genotyped using a common laboratory. Odds ratios were estimated using logistic regression.Among non-Hispanic whites, homozygous carriers of Taq1A DRD2 (rs1800497) polymorphism had an increased risk of PD compared to homozygous wildtype carriers (OR=1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.3). In contrast, the direction of association for Taq1A polymorphism was opposite for African-Americans, showing an inverse association with PD risk (OR=0.10, 95% CI 0.2-0.7). Among white Hispanics who carried two alleles, the Ser9Gly DRD3 (rs6280) polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of PD (OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8). The inverse association of smoking with PD risk was not modified by any of the DRD2 or DRD3 polymorphisms.DRD2 polymorphisms are unlikely to be true disease-causing variants; however, three DRD2 polymorphisms (including Taq1A) may be in linkage disequilibrium with possible disease associated variants in the DRD2-ANKK1-NCAM1-TTC12 gene cluster.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jns.2011.05.031
Coffee, ADORA2A, and CYP1A2: the caffeine connection in Parkinson's disease EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY Popat, R. A., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., Kamel, F., Umbach, D. M., Marder, K., Mayeux, R., Ritz, B., Ross, G. W., Petrovitch, H., Topol, B., McGuire, V., Costello, S., Manthripragada, A. D., Southwick, A., Myers, R. M., Nelson, L. M. 2011; 18 (5): 756-765
In 1-methyl-4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD), caffeine protects neurons by blocking the adenosine receptor A2A (ADORA2A). Caffeine is primarily metabolized by cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2). Our objective was to examine whether ADORA2A and CYP1A2 polymorphisms are associated with PD risk or modify the caffeine-PD association.Parkinson's Epidemiology and Genetic Associations Studies in the United States (PEGASUS) included five population-based case-control studies. One laboratory genotyped four ADORA2A and three CYP1A2 polymorphisms in 1325 PD cases and 1735 age- and sex-matched controls. Information regarding caffeine (coffee) consumption and other lifestyle factors came from structured in-person or telephone interviews. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression.Two ADORA2A polymorphisms were inversely associated with PD risk - rs71651683, a 5' variant (adjusted allelic OR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.33-0.80, permutation-adjusted P = 0.015) and rs5996696, a promoter region variant (adjusted OR for AC and CC genotypes compared with the AA wild-type genotype were 0.76 (95% CI 0.57-1.02) and 0.37 (95% CI 0.13-1.01), respectively (permutation-adjusted P for trend = 0.04). CYP1A2 polymorphisms were not associated with PD risk; however, the coffee-PD association was strongest among subjects homozygous for either variant allele rs762551 (P(interaction) = 0.05) or rs2470890 (P(interaction) = 0.04).In this consortium study, two ADORA2A polymorphisms were inversely associated with PD risk, but there was weak evidence of interaction with coffee consumption. In contrast, the coffee-PD association was strongest among slow metabolizers of caffeine who were homozygous carriers of the CYP1A2 polymorphisms.
Vitamin D, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Postpartum Multiple Sclerosis Relapses ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Langer-Gould, A., Huang, S., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Gupta, R., Leimpeter, A. D., Albers, K. B., Horst, R., Hollis, B., Steinman, L., Nelson, L. M. 2011; 68 (3): 310-313
To determine whether low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) contribute to the increased risk of postpartum multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses.Prospective cohort study.Outpatients identified through membership records of Kaiser Permanente Northern California or Stanford University outpatient neurology clinics.Twenty-eight pregnant women with MS.We prospectively followed up patients through the postpartum year and assessed exposures and symptoms through structured interviews. Total serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using the DiaSorin Liaison Assay during the third trimester and 2, 4, and 6 months after giving birth. The data were analyzed using longitudinal multivariable methods.Levels of 25(OH)D and relapse rate.Fourteen (50%) women breastfed exclusively, and 12 women (43%) relapsed within 6 months after giving birth. During pregnancy, the average 25(OH)D levels were 25.4 ng/mL (range, 13.7-42.6) and were affected only by season (P=.009). In contrast, in the postpartum period, 25(OH)D levels were significantly affected by breastfeeding and relapse status. Levels of 25(OH)D remained low in the exclusive breastfeeding group, yet rose significantly in the nonexclusive breastfeeding group regardless of season (P=.007, unadjusted; P=.02, adjusted for season). By 4 and 6 months after childbirth, 25(OH)D levels were, on average, 5 ng/mL lower in the women who breastfed exclusively compared with the nonbreastfeeding group (P=.001).Pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding are strongly associated with low 25(OH)D levels in women with MS. However, these lower vitamin D levels were not associated with an increased risk of postpartum MS relapses. These data suggest that low vitamin D in isolation is not an important risk factor for postpartum MS relapses.
View details for DOI 10.1001/archneurol.2010.291
Familial Aggregation of Parkinson's Disease in a Multiethnic Community-Based Case-Control Study MOVEMENT DISORDERS Shino, M. Y., McGuire, V., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., Popat, R., Leimpeter, A., Bernstein, A. L., Nelson, L. M. 2010; 25 (15): 2587-2594
To assess the familial aggregation of Parkinson's disease (PD), we compared the cumulative incidence of PD among first-degree relatives of PD cases and controls. We identified newly diagnosed patients with PD (n = 573) during 1994 to 1995 within Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California and recruited 496 cases (87%) for the case-control study. Of 720 eligible controls matched by birth year and sex to cases, 541 (75%) agreed to participate. Information on family history of PD and other neurodegenerative diseases was obtained by in-person structured interview. We used the reconstructed cohort approach that provides a better estimate of the risk. The cumulative incidence of PD was significantly higher among relatives of PD patients compared with relatives of controls (2.0 vs. 0.7%; relative risk (RR) = 3.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9-5.9; P = 0.0001). The degree of familial aggregation was higher among first-degree relatives of Hispanic PD cases compared with Hispanic controls (3.7% vs. 0.4%; RR = 8.5, 95% CI 1.0-68.9) than it was among non-Hispanic Caucasian cases and controls (2.0% vs. 0.8%; RR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.5-5.1; P = 0.02). The familial aggregation of PD was stronger among the siblings of PD cases (RR = 5.4, 95% CI 1.8-16.0) than among parents (RR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.2). The incidence and familial aggregation of PD is highest among Hispanics, warranting further studies of genetic and environmental risk factors in the Hispanic population.
Comorbid Cancer in Parkinson's Disease MOVEMENT DISORDERS Lo, R. Y., Tanner, C. M., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Albers, K. B., Leimpeter, A. D., Nelson, L. M. 2010; 25 (12): 1809-1817
The aim of this article was to evaluate cancer occurrence before and after diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated 692 patients newly diagnosed with PD and 761 age- and sex-matched control subjects identified during two periods (1994-1995 and 2000-2003) within Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California. Primary cancers were searched and dated, and all participants were followed up until the end of membership, death, or December 31, 2008. We used unconditional logistic regression to evaluate the PD-cancer association before the date of PD diagnosis or the index date and Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate the PD-cancer association after the index date. Nearly 20% (140 of 692) of the PD patients and 25% (188 of 761) of the non-PD controls had ever had a cancer diagnosis. Before the index date, the prevalence of cancer was not significantly lower in patients with PD (8.1% PD vs. 9.2% controls; OR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.54-1.3). After the index date, the risk of developing a cancer did not differ between PD cases and controls (relative risk [RR] = 0.94; 95% CI 0.70-1.3). Among specific cancers, melanoma was more common among PD cases (before PD, OR = 1.5; 95% CI 0.40-5.2; after PD, RR = 1.6; 95% CI 0.71-3.6), but independent of dopaminergic therapy. Cancer occurrence is not significantly lower among patients with PD. The positive association between PD and subsequent melanoma merits further investigation, as it does not seem to be attributable to dopaminergic therapy, pigmentation, or confounding by smoking.
Autoimmune diseases prior to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: a population-based case-control study MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL Langer-Gould, A., Albers, K. B., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Nelson, L. M. 2010; 16 (7): 855-861
The objective of this study was to determine whether patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have other autoimmune disorders particularly prior to the diagnosis of MS. We conducted a population-based case-control study of patients enrolled in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program. Electronic clinical records through 2005 were used to ascertain incident and prevalent MS cases and identify the presence and timing of 44 other diagnoses. Controls were matched 5:1 for gender, age, and Kaiser membership characteristics. We identified 5296 MS cases (including 924 diagnosed between 2001 and 2004) and 26,478 matched controls. Prior to MS diagnosis, cases were more likely than controls to have uveitis (OR = 3.2, 95%; CI 1.7-5.7), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, OR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.2-2.5), and Bell's palsy (OR = 3.2; 95%CI 1.2-8.3). Cases were also more likely to develop Guillain- Barré syndrome (GBS, OR = 5.0; 95%CI 1.6-15.4) and bullous pemphigoid (OR = 6.7; 95%CI 1.5-29.9). Cases were not more likely than controls to have or to develop rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or thyroiditis. MS may share environmental triggers, genetic susceptibilities and/or alterations in immune homeostasis with IBD and uveitis, but not with other autoimmune disorders.
Reliability and validity of two self-administered questionnaires for screening restless legs syndrome in population-based studies SLEEP MEDICINE Popat, R. A., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., Kushida, C. A., Rama, A. N., Black, J. E., Bernstein, A., Kasten, M., Chade, A., Leimpeter, A., Cassidy, J., McGuire, V., Nelson, L. M. 2010; 11 (2): 154-160
A reliable and valid questionnaire for screening restless legs syndrome (RLS) is essential for determining accurate estimates of disease frequency. In a 2002 NIH-sponsored workshop, experts suggested three mandatory questions for identifying RLS in epidemiologic studies. We evaluated the reliability and validity of this RLS-NIH questionnaire in a community-based sample and concurrently developed and evaluated the utility of an expanded screening questionnaire, the RLS-EXP.The study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente of Northern California and the Stanford University Sleep Clinic. We evaluated test-retest reliability in a random sample of subjects with prior physician-assigned RLS (n=87), subjects with conditions frequently misclassified as RLS (n=31), and healthy subjects (n=9). Validity of both instruments was evaluated in a random sample of 32 subjects, and in-person examination by two RLS specialists was used as the gold standard.For the first three RLS-NIH questions, the kappa statistic for test-retest reliability ranged from 0.5 to 1.0, and sensitivity and specificity was 86% and 45%, respectively. For the subset of five questions on RLS-EXP that encompassed cardinal features for diagnosing RLS, kappas were 0.4-0.8, and sensitivity and specificity were 81% and 73%, respectively.Sensitivity of RLS-NIH is good; however, the specificity of the instrument is poor when examined in a sample that over-represents subjects with conditions that are commonly misclassified as RLS. Specificity can be improved by including separate questions on cardinal features, as used in the RLS-EXP, and by including a few questions that identify RLS mimics, thereby reducing false positives.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.01.012
Interferon-gamma-Producing T Cells, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Relapses of Multiple Sclerosis ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Langer-Gould, A., Gupta, R., Huang, S., Hagan, A., Atkuri, K., Leimpeter, A. D., Albers, K. B., Greenwood, E., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Steinman, L., Nelson, L. M. 2010; 67 (1): 51-57
To determine whether fluctuations in functional T-cell subsets can explain why multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses decline during pregnancy and increase in the postpartum period.Case-control study.Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Stanford University.Twenty-six pregnant women with MS and 24 age-matched, pregnant controls. Intervention We prospectively followed up the pregnant women with MS and the age-matched, pregnant controls; conducted structured interviews; and collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells during each trimester and 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months post partum.Sixteen functional cell types, including interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)- and tumor necrosis factor-producing T-cell subsets, were measured using multicolor flow cytometry. Since these cell types may also fluctuate with pregnancy, lactational amenorrhea, or MS treatment, the data were analyzed taking into account these factors.Fifteen women with MS (58%) had relapses during the postpartum year. CD4(+)IFN-gamma-producing cells fluctuated with MS relapses, declining during pregnancy in women with MS (P < .001) and continuing to decline after parturition in women with relapses (P = .001), yet rising or remaining stable in women with nonrelapsing MS or healthy pregnant women. Lactational amenorrhea was associated with a rise in CD4(+)IFN-gamma-producing cells in women with MS (P = .009). In contrast, CD4(+) tumor necrosis factor-producing cells decreased during lactational amenorrhea in all groups of women and, once this was taken into account, obscured any relationship to MS relapses. CD8(+)IFN-gamma-producing cells were elevated in women with MS throughout the study (P < .001) but did not fluctuate with relapses.Our findings suggest that a decline in circulating CD4(+)IFN-gamma-producing cells leads to postpartum MS relapses. Our findings also suggest that the decline in these cells may begin during late pregnancy and that lactational amenorrhea induced by exclusive breastfeeding may be able to interrupt this process.
Obstetric outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis and epilepsy NEUROLOGY Kelly, V. M., Nelson, L. M., Chakravarty, E. F. 2009; 73 (22): 1831-1836
To estimate the national occurrence of pregnancies in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and epilepsy and to compare these pregnancy outcomes cross-sectionally with those in women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (DM) and the general obstetric population.We studied the 2003-2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, to estimate the number of deliveries in women with MS, epilepsy, DM, and the general obstetric population. Pregnancy outcomes included length of hospital stay, hypertensive disorders including preeclampsia (HTN), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and cesarean delivery. Multivariable regression analyses used maternal age and race/ethnicity as covariates.Of an estimated 18.8 million deliveries, 10,055 occurred in women with MS, 4,730 with epilepsy, and 187,239 with DM. MS was associated with mildly increased odds of antenatal hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-1.5), IUGR (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4), and cesarean delivery (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.4). Similarly, epilepsy was associated with increased rates of antenatal hospitalization (OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.6-3.5), IUGR (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.3), and cesarean delivery (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.9). HTN and PROM were not increased in either group. DM was associated with an increased risk of all adverse outcomes. Length of stay was modestly increased in all groups compared with controls.In this large national database study of pregnancy outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, rates of intrauterine growth restriction and cesarean delivery were only marginally higher than the general obstetric population without increases in other adverse outcomes.
View details for DOI 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181c3f27d
Clinical Features in Early Parkinson Disease and Survival ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Lo, R. Y., Tanner, C. M., Albers, K. B., Leimpeter, A. D., Fross, R. D., Bernstein, A. L., McGuire, V., Quesenberry, C. P., Nelson, L. M., Van Den Eeden, S. K. 2009; 66 (11): 1353-1358
To examine the association between demographic and clinical features in early Parkinson disease (PD) and length of survival in a multiethnic population.Clinical features within 2 years of diagnosis were determined for an inception cohort established during 1994-1995. Vital status was determined through December 31, 2005. Predictor variables included age at diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity, as well as clinical subtype (modified tremor dominant, postural instability gait difficulty), symmetry, cognitive impairment, depression, dysphagia, and hallucinations. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with shorter survival.Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, northern California.Five hundred seventy-three men and women with newly diagnosed PD.Three hundred fifty-two participants in the PD cohort (61.4%) had died in the follow-up period. Older age at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.12), modified postural instability gait difficulty subtype (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.7), symmetry of motor signs (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.7), mild (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3-2.2) and severe (HR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.9-3.9) cognitive impairment, dysphagia (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9), and hallucinations (HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3-3.2) were associated with increased all-cause mortality, after adjusting for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. None of the other factors altered mortality risk. In an empirical predictive analysis, most previous significant predictors remained associated with shorter survival.Both motor and nonmotor features in early PD predict increased mortality risk, particularly postural instability gait difficulty, cognitive impairment, and hallucinations. These predictors may be useful in clinical practice and when designing clinical trials.
Exclusive Breastfeeding and the Risk of Postpartum Relapses in Women With Multiple Sclerosis ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Langer-Gould, A., Huang, S. M., Gupta, R., Leimpeter, A. D., Greenwood, E., Albers, K. B., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Nelson, L. M. 2009; 66 (8): 958-963
To determine if exclusive breastfeeding protects against postpartum relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS) and, if so, whether this protection is related to prolonged lactational amenorrhea.We conducted structured interviews to assess clinical, menstrual, and breastfeeding history during each trimester and 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum and collected neurological examination findings from the treating physicians of women with MS. Hazards ratios (HRs) were adjusted for measures of disease severity and age.Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Stanford University.We prospectively enrolled 32 pregnant women with MS and 29 age-matched, pregnant controls. Main Outcome Measure Postpartum relapse.Of the 52% of women with MS who did not breastfeed or began regular supplemental feedings within 2 months postpartum, 87% had a postpartum relapse, compared with 36% of the women with MS who breastfed exclusively for at least 2 months postpartum (unadjusted HR, 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-14.2; P = .003; adjusted HR, 7.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-24.3; P = .002). Sixty percent reported that the primary reason for foregoing exclusive breastfeeding was to resume MS therapies. Women who breastfed exclusively had a later return of menses (P = .001) than women who did not, and lactational amenorrhea was associated with a reduced risk of postpartum relapses (P = .01).Our findings suggest that exclusive breastfeeding and concomitant suppression of menses significantly reduce the risk of postpartum relapses in MS. Our findings call into question the benefit of foregoing breastfeeding to start MS therapies and should be confirmed in a larger study.
Genes and environmental exposures in veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The GENEVA study NEUROEPIDEMIOLOGY Schmidt, S., Allen, K. D., Loiacono, V. T., Norman, B., Stanwyck, C. L., Nord, K. M., Williams, C. D., Kasarskis, E. J., Kamel, F., McGuire, V., Nelson, L. M., Oddone, E. Z. 2008; 30 (3): 191-204
Recent reports of a potentially increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for veterans deployed to the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War prompted the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a National Registry of Veterans with ALS, charged with the goal of enrolling all US veterans with a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of ALS. The Genes and Environmental Exposures in Veterans with ALS study (GENEVA) is a case-control study presently enrolling cases from the Department of Veterans Affairs registry and a representative sample of veteran controls to evaluate the joint contributions of genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures to the risk of sporadic ALS. The GENEVA study design, recruitment strategies, methods of collecting DNA samples and environmental risk factor information are described here, along with a summary of demographic characteristics of the participants (537 cases, 292 controls) enrolled to date.
Minimum incidence of primary cervical dystonia in a multiethnic health care population NEUROLOGY Marras, C., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Fross, R. D., Benedict-Albers, K. S., Klingman, J., Leimpeter, A. D., Nelson, L. M., Risch, N., Karter, A. J., Bernstein, A. L., Tanner, C. M. 2007; 69 (7): 676-680
The two existing estimates of the incidence of primary cervical dystonia were based on observations in relatively ethnically homogeneous populations of European descent.To estimate the minimum incidence of primary cervical dystonia in the multiethnic membership of a health maintenance organization in Northern California.Using a combination of electronic medical records followed by medical chart reviews, we identified incident cases of cervical dystonia first diagnosed between 1997 and 1999.We identified 66 incident cases of cervical dystonia from 8.2 million person-years of observation. The minimum estimate of the incidence of cervical dystonia in this population is 0.80 per 100,000 person-years. Ethnicity-specific incidence rates were calculated for individuals over age 30. Incidence was higher in white individuals (1.23 per 100,000 person-years) than in persons of other races (0.15 per 100,000 person-years, p < 0.0001). The minimum estimated incidence was 2.5 times higher in women than in men (1.14 vs 0.45 per 100,000 person-years, p = 0.0005). The average age at diagnosis was higher in women (56 years) than in men (45 years, p = 0.0004). There was no significant difference in reported symptom duration prior to diagnosis between women and men (3.9 vs 5.3 years).The estimated incidence of diagnosed cervical dystonia among white individuals in this Northern Californian population is similar to previous estimates in more ethnically homogeneous populations of largely European descent. The incidence in other races, including Hispanic, Asian, and black appears to be significantly lower. The incidence is also higher in women than in men.
Pooled analysis of tobacco use and risk of Parkinson disease ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Ritz, B., Ascherio, A., Checkoway, H., Marder, K. S., Nelson, L. M., Rocca, W. A., Ross, G. W., Strickland, D., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Gorell, J. 2007; 64 (7): 990-997
Epidemiologic studies have reported that cigarette smoking is inversely associated with Parkinson disease (PD). However, questions remain regarding the effect of age at smoking onset, time since quitting, and race/ethnicity that have not been addressed due to sample size constraints. This comprehensive assessment of the apparent reduced risk of PD associated with smoking may provide important leads for treatment and prevention.To determine whether race/ethnicity, sex, education, age at diagnosis, and type of tobacco modify the observed effects of smoking on PD.We conducted the first ever pooled analysis of PD combining individual-level data from 8 US case-control and 3 cohort studies (Nurses' Health Study, Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, and Honolulu-Asia Aging Study) conducted between 1960 and 2004. Case-control studies provided data for 2328 PD cases and 4113 controls matched by age, sex, and ethnicity; cohort studies contributed 488 cases and 4880 controls selected from age- and sex-matched risk sets.Incident PD.We confirmed inverse associations between PD and smoking and found these to be generally stronger in current compared with former smokers; the associations were stronger in cohort than in case-control studies. We observed inverse trends with pack-years smoked at every age at onset except the very elderly (>75 years of age), and the reduction of risk lessened with years since quitting smoking. The risk reductions we observed for white and Asian patients were not seen in Hispanic and African American patients. We also found an inverse association both for smoking cigars and/or pipes and for chewing tobacco in male subjects.Our data support a dose-dependent reduction of PD risk associated with cigarette smoking and potentially with other types of tobacco use. Importantly, effects seemed not to be influenced by sex or education. Differences observed by race and age at diagnosis warrant further study.
Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications on the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS Popat, R. A., Tanner, C. M., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Bernstein, A. L., Bloch, D. A., Leimpeter, A., McGuire, V., Nelson, L. M. 2007; 8 (3): 157-163
Inflammatory processes may be involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We examined the association of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with the risk of ALS in case-control study of incident cases (n = 111) conducted within the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California during the years 1996-2000. Controls (n = 258) randomly selected from the same population were frequency matched by age and gender to the ALS cases. Information regarding use of NSAIDs (non-aspirin and aspirin) and three classes of 'control' medications was collected by in-person structured interview. Subjects who used medication at least twice a week for at least a month were classified as 'ever users'. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for age, gender, history of osteoarthritis/rheumatoid arthritis and pain, and other medication use. Overall, there was no association between NSAID use and ALS; however, some sex differences were noted for non-aspirin NSAID use. Among men, non-aspirin NSAID use was associated with a two-fold increased risk of ALS (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-3.9), whereas among women, non-aspirin NSAID use was not associated with increased ALS risk (adjusted OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.2). ALS risk was not associated with aspirin use or with 'control' medications. This study did not find any evidence to suggest that NSAID use reduces the risk of ALS. The observed sex differences with non-aspirin NSAID use could be due to chance or an unmeasured confounder.
View details for DOI 10.1080/17482960601179456
Clinical and demographic predictors of long-term disability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis - A systematic review ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Langer-Gould, A., Popat, R. A., Huang, S. M., Cobb, K., Fontoura, P., Gould, M. K., Nelson, L. M. 2006; 63 (12): 1686-1691
To identify clinical and demographic factors associated with long-term disability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.We searched the MEDLINE (1966-May 2005), EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PsycINFO computerized databases, and reviewed reference lists of retrieved articles.We included studies that examined predictors of long-term disability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. We excluded studies that did not distinguish relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis from primary progressive multiple sclerosis, enrolled fewer than 40 subjects, observed subjects for less than 5 years, or collected follow-up information in less than 80% of the inception cohort.Two reviewers assessed study quality in 4 domains: cohort assembly, definitions and assessments of prognostic factors and outcomes, and statistical methods. One reviewer extracted data on the direction, magnitude, precision, and statistical significance of the effect of each predictor on prognosis.Heterogeneity of study designs precluded us from pooling the results of 27 eligible studies. Study quality was limited by cross-sectional design, enrollment of prevalent cases from referral centers, and lack of multivariate adjustment. Sphincter symptoms at onset (hazard ratio, 1.1-3.1), incomplete recovery from the first attack (hazard ratio, 1.3-3.3), and a short interval between the first and second attack (hazard ratio, 1.6-1.9) were most strongly and consistently associated with poor prognosis. Other factors widely believed to be of prognostic importance, including sex and age at onset, demonstrated inconsistent or weak effects on prognosis.The most robust predictors of long-term physical disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis are sphincter symptoms at onset and early disease course outcomes. These factors can be used to guide treatment decisions for drugs with significant toxicities.
Lack of replication of thirteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms implicated in Parkinson's disease: a large-scale international study LANCET NEUROLOGY Elbaz, A., Nelson, L. M., Payami, H., Ioannidis, J. P., Fiske, B. K., Annesi, G., Belin, A. C., Factor, S. A., Ferrarese, C., Hadjigeorgiou, G. M., Higgins, D. S., Kawakami, H., Krueger, R., Marder, K. S., Mayeux, R. P., Mellick, G. D., Nutt, J. G., Ritz, B., Samii, A., Tanner, C. M., Van Broeckhoven, C., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Wirdefeldt, K., Zabetian, C. P., Dehem, M., Montimurro, J. S., Southwick, A., Myers, R. M., Trikalinos, T. A. 2006; 5 (11): 917-923
A genome-wide association study identified 13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with Parkinson's disease. Small-scale replication studies were largely non-confirmatory, but a meta-analysis that included data from the original study could not exclude all SNP associations, leaving relevance of several markers uncertain.Investigators from three Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research-funded genetics consortia-comprising 14 teams-contributed DNA samples from 5526 patients with Parkinson's disease and 6682 controls, which were genotyped for the 13 SNPs. Most (88%) participants were of white, non-Hispanic descent. We assessed log-additive genetic effects using fixed and random effects models stratified by team and ethnic origin, and tested for heterogeneity across strata. A meta-analysis was undertaken that incorporated data from the original genome-wide study as well as subsequent replication studies.In fixed and random-effects models no associations with any of the 13 SNPs were identified (odds ratios 0.89 to 1.09). Heterogeneity between studies and between ethnic groups was low for all SNPs. Subgroup analyses by age at study entry, ethnic origin, sex, and family history did not show any consistent associations. In our meta-analysis, no SNP showed significant association (summary odds ratios 0.95 to 1.08); there was little heterogeneity except for SNP rs7520966.Our results do not lend support to the finding that the 13 SNPs reported in the original genome-wide association study are genetic susceptibility factors for Parkinson's disease.
View details for DOI 10.1016/S1474-4422(06)70579-8
Obstetric hospitalizations in the United States for women with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Chakravarty, E. F., Nelson, L., Krishnan, E. 2006; 54 (3): 899-907
To estimate the national occurrence of pregnancies in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to compare pregnancy outcomes in these patients with those in women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (DM) and with the general obstetric population.We studied the 2002 Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to estimate the number of obstetric hospitalizations, deliveries, and cesarean deliveries in women with SLE, RA, pregestational DM, and the general obstetric population. Pregnancy outcomes included length of hospital stay, hypertensive disorders including preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and intrauterine growth restriction.Of an estimated 4.04 million deliveries, 3,264 occurred in women with SLE, 1,425 in women with RA, and 13,574 in women with pregestational DM. Women with SLE, RA, and pregestational DM had significantly increased rates of hypertensive disorders compared with the general obstetric population (23.2%, 11.1%, 27.4%, and 7.8%, respectively), longer hospital stays, and significantly higher risk of cesarean delivery. Although women with SLE, RA, and pregestational DM were significantly older than women in the general obstetric population, disparities in the risk of adverse outcomes of pregnancy remained statistically significant after adjustment for maternal age.To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine national data on pregnancy outcomes in women with common rheumatic diseases. As with underlying pregestational DM, women with SLE and RA appear to have a higher age-adjusted risk of adverse outcomes of pregnancy and longer hospital stays than do pregnant women in the general population, and careful antenatal monitoring should be performed.
View details for DOI 10.1002/art.21663
Effect of reproductive factors and postmenopausal hormone use on the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis NEUROEPIDEMIOLOGY Popat, R. A., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., Bernstein, A. L., Bloch, D. A., Leimpeter, A., McGuire, V., Nelson, L. M. 2006; 27 (3): 117-121
To examine the associations of reproductive factors and postmenopausal hormone use with the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among women.This case-control study was conducted within the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program (KPMCP) of Northern California during the years 1996-2000. Among the 193 postmenopausal women, 62 were incident ALS cases and 131 were controls randomly selected from KPMCP members and frequency matched by age and respondent type (self versus proxy) to the cases. Statistical analyses were carried out using logistic regression.Reproductive factors such as age at menarche, age at final menstrual period, parity, oral contraceptive use, and type of menopause (natural vs. hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy) were not associated with risk of ALS. Postmenopausal hormone use was positively, but not significantly, associated with the risk of ALS (adjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI 0.9-3.8).Reproductive factors were not associated with ALS risk. There is no evidence that suggests a protective effect of postmenopausal hormone use against the development of ALS. However, due to insufficient power, we cannot rule out a possible increase in ALS risk associated with postmenopausal hormone use.
Effect of reproductive factors and postmenopausal hormone use on the risk of Parkinson disease NEUROLOGY Popat, R. A., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., McGuire, V., Bernstein, A. L., Bloch, D. A., Leimpeter, A., Nelson, L. M. 2005; 65 (3): 383-390
Parkinson disease (PD) is less common in women possibly because of hormonal or reproductive influences. The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations of reproductive factors and postmenopausal hormone use with the risk of PD among postmenopausal women.Incident cases (n = 178) and randomly selected age-matched controls (n = 189) who were members of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program (KPMCP) of Northern California participated in the study conducted during the years 1994 to 1995. Statistical analyses were carried out using logistic regression.The association of postmenopausal hormone use with PD risk depended on the type of menopause. Among women with history of a hysterectomy with or without an oophorectomy, estrogen use alone was associated with a 2.6-fold increased risk (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1 to 6.1) and significant trends in the risk of PD were observed with increasing duration of estrogen use, but disease risk was not influenced by recency of use. In contrast, among women with natural menopause, no increased risk of PD was observed with hormone use (estrogen alone or a combined estrogen-progestin regimen). Early age at final menstrual period (44 years or younger) was associated with reduction in risk (adjusted OR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3 to 1.0). Age at menarche and parity were not associated with the risk of PD.Postmenopausal use of estrogen alone may increase the risk of Parkinson disease (PD) among women with a hysterectomy. Among women with natural menopause for whom the usual treatment is combined estrogen-progestin therapy, no increased risk of PD was observed.
The risk for malignant primary adult-onset glioma in a large, multiethnic, managed-care cohort: cigarette smoking and other lifestyle behaviors JOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY Efird, J. T., Friedman, G. D., Sidney, S., Klatsky, A., Habel, L. A., Udaltsova, N. V., Van den Eeden, S., Nelson, L. M. 2004; 68 (1): 57-69
To determine the risk for malignant primary adult-onset glioma (MPAG) associated with cigarette smoking and other lifestyle behaviors in a large, multiethnic, managed-care cohort.The study population included a cohort of 133,811 subscribers to the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California who had received a multiphasic health checkup and questionnaire between 1977 and 1985, were at least 25 years old at their start of follow-up, and had no prior history of benign or malignant brain tumors. In this cohort, patients were followed for up to 21 years for the development of MPAG.Risk for MPAG among women increased with increasing packs of cigarettes smoked per day (p-for-trend = 0.04), adjusting for cigar and pipe smoking, patient age, sex, race, education, alcohol use and coffee consumption. A similar pattern was not observed for men. Individuals who smoked marijuana at least once a month, adjusting for cigarette smoking (packs smoked per day) and for the factors noted above, had a 2.8-fold (CI = 1.3-6.2) increased risk for MPAG. Relative risk for MPAG increased with increasing consumption of coffee (p-for-trend = 0.05).Cigarette smoking was associated with an increased risk for MPAG among women but not among men. Individuals who smoked marijuana at least once a month had an increased risk for MPAG, although no dose-response relation was observed. Drinkers of >7 cups of coffee per day had a 70% increased risk for MPAG and smaller risk elevation for lower consumption. Alcohol usage was not associated with an increased risk for MPAG.
Incidence of Parkinson's disease: Variation by age, gender, and Race/Ethnicity AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Van den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M., Bernstein, A. L., Fross, R. D., Leimpeter, A., Bloch, D. A., Nelson, L. M. 2003; 157 (11): 1015-1022
The goal of this study was to estimate the incidence of Parkinson's disease by age, gender, and ethnicity. Newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease cases in 1994-1995 were identified among members of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California, a large health maintenance organization. Each case met modified standardized criteria/Hughes diagnostic criteria as applied by a movement disorder specialist. Incidence rates per 100,000 person-years were calculated using the Kaiser Permanente membership information as the denominator and adjusted for age and/or gender using the direct method of standardization. A total of 588 newly diagnosed (incident) cases of Parkinson's disease were identified, which gave an overall annualized age- and gender-adjusted incidence rate of 13.4 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI): 11.4, 15.5). The incidence rapidly increased over the age of 60 years, with only 4% of the cases being under the age of 50 years. The rate for men (19.0 per 100,000, 95% CI: 16.1, 21.8) was 91% higher than that for women (9.9 per 100,000, 95% CI: 7.6, 12.2). The age- and gender-adjusted rate per 100,000 was highest among Hispanics (16.6, 95% CI: 12.0, 21.3), followed by non-Hispanic Whites (13.6, 95% CI: 11.5, 15.7), Asians (11.3, 95% CI: 7.2, 15.3), and Blacks (10.2, 95% CI: 6.4, 14.0). These data suggest that the incidence of Parkinson's disease varies by race/ethnicity.
View details for DOI 10.1093/aie/kwg068
Principles, organization, and operation of a DNA bank for clinical trials: a Department of Veterans Affairs cooperative study CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIALS Lavori, P. W., Krause-Steinrauf, H., Brophy, M., Buxbaum, J., Cockroft, J., Cox, D. R., Fiore, L., Greely, H. T., Greenberg, H., Holmes, E. W., Nelson, L. M., Sugarman, J. 2002; 23 (3): 222-239
The mapping and sequencing of the human genome promises rapid growth in understanding the genetically influenced mechanisms that underlie human disease. To realize this promise fully, it is necessary to relate genetic information to clinical phenotypes. Genetic tissue banking in clinical studies provides opportunities to analyze the genetic contribution to variation in response to treatments. The challenges to progress are likely to come from the complex organizational, social, political, and ethical issues that must be resolved in order to put clinical and DNA bank information together. Concerns about subjects' rights, informed consent, privacy, and ownership of genetic material require attention in the development of DNA banks. In this paper we describe one approach to the solution of these problems that was adopted by one clinical trials group, the Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program.
Population-based case-control study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in western Washington State. I. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Nelson, L. M., McGuire, V., Longstreth, W. T., Matkin, C. 2000; 151 (2): 156-163
The associations of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption with the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were investigated in a population-based case-control study conducted in three counties of western Washington State from 1990 to 1994. Incident ALS cases (n = 161) were identified and were matched to population controls (n = 321) identified through random digit dialing and Medicare enrollment files. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to compute odds ratios adjusted for age, gender, respondent type, and education. The authors found that alcohol consumption was not associated with the risk of ALS. Ever having smoked cigarettes was associated with a twofold increase in risk (alcohol-adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3, 3.2). A greater than threefold increased risk was observed for current smokers (alcohol-adjusted OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.9, 6.4), with only a modestly increased risk for former smokers (alcohol-adjusted OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.9, 2.4). Significant trends in the risk of ALS were observed with duration of smoking (p for trend = 0.001) and number of cigarette pack-years (p for trend = 0.001). The finding that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for ALS is consistent with current etiologic theories that implicate environmental chemicals and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ALS.
Population-based case-control study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in western Washington Sate. II. Diet AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Nelson, L. M., Matkin, C., Longstreth, W. T., McGuire, V. 2000; 151 (2): 164-173
The association of nutrient intake with the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was investigated in a population-based case-control study conducted in three counties of western Washington State from 1990 to 1994. Incident ALS cases (n = 161) were identified and individually matched on age and gender to population controls (n = 321). A self-administered food frequency questionnaire was used to assess nutrient intake. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to compute odds ratios adjusted for education, smoking, and total energy intake. The authors found that dietary fat intake was associated with an increased risk of ALS (highest vs. lowest quartile, fiber-adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9, 8.0; p for trend = 0.06), while dietary fiber intake was associated with a decreased risk of ALS (highest vs. lowest quartile, fat-adjusted OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1, 0.7; p for trend = 0.02). Glutamate intake was associated with an increased risk of ALS (adjusted OR for highest vs. lowest quartile = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.2, 8.0; p for trend < 0.02). Consumption of antioxidant vitamins from diet or supplement sources did not alter the risk. The positive association with glutamate intake is consistent with the etiologic theory that implicates glutamate excitotoxicity in the pathogenesis of ALS, whereas the associations with fat and fiber intake warrant further study and biologic explanation.
Epidemiologic approaches to the study of Parkinson's disease etiology EPIDEMIOLOGY Checkoway, H., Nelson, L. M. 1999; 10 (3): 327-336
The etiology of Parkinson's disease has been enigmatic to clinicians, epidemiologists, and basic scientists since the clinical syndrome was first described in 1817. Mendelian inheritance probably accounts for a small proportion of Parkinson's disease. Apart from an increasing risk with age, the most consistent epidemiologic observation has been an inverse relation with cigarette smoking. Neither selective survival of nonsmokers nor behavioral characteristics of smokers can explain this seemingly protective association. Interest in environmental exposures, particularly pesticides, metals, and industrial solvents, heightened substantially following the discovery of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a street drug contaminant, as a cause of human parkinsonism. Epidemiologic and toxicologic research has since been guided to a great extent, although not exclusively, by mechanisms of MPTP toxicity. Efforts to characterize gene/environment interactions have also intensified in recent years. In this review, we evaluate recent evidence concerning the etiology of Parkinson's disease, with emphasis on environmental and lifestyle exposures and their potential interactions with genetic susceptibility traits. The most challenging aspects of epidemiologic research into Parkinson's disease causation include methodologic difficulties surrounding case definition, completeness of case ascertainment, selection of appropriate controls in case-control studies, and assessment of environmental exposures. We conclude with recommendations for future research directions.
Physical trauma and family history of neurodegenerative diseases in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A population-based case-control study NEUROEPIDEMIOLOGY Cruz, D. C., Nelson, L. M., McGuire, V., Longstreth, W. T. 1999; 18 (2): 101-110
This population-based case-control study was conducted in three counties in western Washington state (USA) between 1990 and 1994 to assess the association between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and several hypothesized risk factors, including a family history of neurodegenerative diseases, physical trauma (fractures, electrical shocks, and surgeries), rural residence, travel, and medical history. One hundred seventy-four cases with ALS, newly diagnosed by neurologists, were identified through several case-finding methods. Two controls (n = 348), who were matched to each case by gender and age (+/-5 years), were identified through random digit telephone dialing or Medicare lists. Exposure data were collected through structured in-person interviews. A greater proportion of cases (2. 3%) than controls (0.9%) reported a first-degree relative with ALS, resulting in an odds ratio of 3.1 (95% CI, 0.6-15.7). For a positive family history of ALS among second-degree relatives, the odds ratio was 4.0 (95% CI, 1.0-16.6). Overall, reports of first- or second-degree relatives with ALS yielded a significantly elevated odds ratio of 3.3 (95% CI, 1.1-9.9). No association was found with a family history of Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, or with a family history of the neurodegenerative diseases as a group. No significant associations were demonstrated for any of the other factors analyzed, including a history of fractures, electrical shocks, or surgeries, a history of residence in rural areas, a history of travel to areas in the western Pacific where ALS is endemic, and a medical history of polio, polio immunization, or tetanus immunization.
Study design in genetic epidemiology: theoretical and practical considerations. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs Whittemore, A. S., Nelson, L. M. 1999: 61-69
Recent advances in molecular genetics have created new opportunities and challenges for genetic epidemiologists. Here we review some of the issues that arise when designing a study involving the genetic epidemiology of chronic diseases of late onset, such as cancer. We discuss two considerations that influence the choice of design. The first consideration is the study's goals. We describe the goals of identifying new susceptibility genes for a disease, of estimating important characteristics of known genes, and of learning how to prevent the disease in the genetically susceptible. We indicate how these goals affect the choice of design and present some guidelines for choosing designs that effectively address them. The second consideration is the set of practical constraints to successfully conducting the research. These contraints include problems of potential selection bias, reduced response rates, problems particular to family registries, problems particular to the cultures of various ethnic groups, and ethical issues. We indicate how these constraints affect the choice of design and discuss ways to deal with them.
Recursive partitioning for the identification of disease risk subgroups: A case-control study of subarachnoid hemorrhage JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY Nelson, L. M., Bloch, D. A., Longstreth, W. T., Shi, H. 1998; 51 (3): 199-209
Recursive partitioning is a nonparametric technique that produces a classification tree in which subjects are assigned to mutually exclusive subsets according to a set of predictor variables. We examined the utility of recursive partitioning as a supplement to logistic regression for the multivariable analysis of data from case-control studies, demonstrating the technique using data from women enrolled in a population-based study of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The classification tree produced by recursive partitioning consisted of three main risk subgroups: (1) elderly women who had long-standing hypertension and who were not smokers, (2) middle-aged women who were cigarette smokers and frequent binge drinkers, and (3) women in whom risk variables indicate relative estrogen deficiency (i.e., postmenopausal status, no recent exposure to hormone replacement therapy, cigarette smoking). As a supplemental method, recursive partitioning not only identifies subgroups with varying risks, but also may uncover interactions between variables that may be overlooked in the traditional application of logistic regression to case-control data.
View details for PubMedID 9495685
Assessment of occupational exposures in community-based case-control studies ANNUAL REVIEW OF PUBLIC HEALTH McGuire, V., Nelson, L. M., Koepsell, T. D., Checkoway, H., Longstreth, W. T. 1998; 19: 35-53
Assessing occupational exposures in community-based studies is a challenge for investigators because there are no standardized or validated approaches for collecting information regarding occupational history. The strengths and limitations of the methods available for assessing occupational exposures are reviewed. In community-based case-control studies, the prevalence of most chemical agents is low. The common sources of misclassification in these studies are addressed, as are strategies for dealing with misclassification bias. Methods to assess the presence and magnitude of differential reporting by cases and controls are outlined, together with analytic strategies to improve the classification of occupational exposures.
Occupational exposures and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - A population-based case-control study AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY McGuire, V., Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L. M., Koepsell, T. D., Checkoway, H., Morgan, M. S., VANBELLE, G. 1997; 145 (12): 1076-1088
This population-based case-control study was conducted in three countries in western Washington State to evaluate associations between workplace exposures and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Cases (n = 174) were all newly diagnosed with ALS by neurologists during 1990-1994, and controls (n = 348), who were matched according to age (+/-5 years) and sex, were identified via random-digit dialing or Medicare enrollment files. Four industrial hygienists blindly assessed detailed lifetime job histories for exposures to metals, solvents, and agricultural chemicals. Case-control comparisons were made for jobs held between 15 years of age and 10 years prior to the cases' dates of diagnosis. After adjustment for age and education, ever exposure to agricultural chemicals was associated with ALS (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-3.5); this association was observed separately in men (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.8) but not in women (OR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.2-3.8). Among men, the odds ratio for low exposure to agricultural chemicals (below the median level for exposed controls) relative to no exposure was 1.5 (95% CI 0.4-5.3), and for high exposure, it was 2.8 (95% CI 1.3-6.1) (p for trend = 0.03). Similar analyses based on the panel's assessment of exposures to metals and solvents showed no associations. These findings suggest an association between ALS and agricultural chemicals in men.
View details for Web of Science ID A1997XG00800002
Case finding for epidemiological surveys of multiple sclerosis in United States communities. Multiple sclerosis Nelson, L. M., ANDERSON, D. W. 1995; 1 (1): 48-55
In regard to prevalence surveys of MS in US communities, this article considers the relative merits of case finding through hospitals, physicians, MS service organisations, neurology practices, death certificates, chronic care facilities and media announcements and lay referrals. The current value of hospitals and non-neurological practitioners for case finding is questionable, given the changes in clinical practice with respect to MS and the data collection problems inherent with surveys of physicians. We suggest giving priority to the following case-finding methods: manually reviewing patient records of neurology practices, screening patient rolls of local MS service organisations and surveying chronic care facilities. In some US communities, these methods may need to be augmented by also surveying internists, general practitioners and family practitioners. Capture-recapture methodology offers a way to evaluate the completeness of case ascertainment.
Epidemiology of ALS. Clinical neuroscience Nelson, L. M. 1995; 3 (6): 327-331
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder of unknown etiology. ALS onset is rare before age 40 and increases with age thereafter. Men are at higher risk than women (ratio 1.3:1). Other than age and gender, the only indisputable risk factor for ALS is genetic susceptibility, with familial cases occurring in about 10% of most case series. Genetic linkage studies have provided evidence that a mutant form of the gene that codes for Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, an endogenous free radical scavenger, is important in 15-20% of familial cases. Epidemiologic studies have identified associations of sporadic ALS with work in occupations that involve toxicant exposure. Environmental toxicants may act against a background of increased genetic susceptibility; however, genetically acquired biochemical defects have not been identified in sporadic ALS patients. Other epidemiologic theories of disease etiology have emphasized the potential role of physical trauma, electrical shock, and vigorous physical exertion, but evidence regarding these factors is inconsistent.
SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE AND HORMONAL FACTORS IN WOMEN - A POPULATION-BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L. M., Koepsell, T. D., VANBELLE, G. 1994; 121 (3): 168-173
To determine the degree to which endogenous and exogenous hormonal factors influence the risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage in women.A population-based case-control study.King County, Washington.103 women with an incident, spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and 2 age- and sex-matched controls per case-patient who were identified through random-digit dialing.Information on exposures was collected during in-person interviews of case-patients, controls, and their surrogates.Premenopausal women, especially those without a history of smoking or hypertension, were at a reduced risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with age-matched postmenopausal women (odds ratio, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.68). The use of hormone replacement therapy was associated with a reduced risk (odds ratio, 0.47; CI, 0.26 to 0.86); the reduction was significantly greater in women who had smoked than in those that had never smoked. Of the 23 premenopausal case-patients, 74% were either menstruating when hemorrhaging occurred or had had their last menstrual period 21 or more days before hemorrhaging compared with the expected 43% (difference, 31%; CI, 4% to 58%).Premenopausal women are at reduced risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage, especially those without a history of smoking or hypertension. Hormone replacement therapy reduced the risk only in postmenopausal women who had ever smoked. Among women still menstruating, the risk for hemorrhage was greatest in the perimenstrual period.
View details for Web of Science ID A1994NY33800002
COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF INTERVIEW DATA FROM PROXY RESPONDENTS - DEMOGRAPHIC, MEDICAL, AND LIFE-STYLE FACTORS EPIDEMIOLOGY Nelson, L. M., Longstreth, W. T., Koepsell, T. D., Checkoway, H., VANBELLE, G. 1994; 5 (2): 204-217
To evaluate the quality of exposure data provided by proxy respondents, we used a dual interview protocol in a case-control study of subarachnoid hemorrhage. All control subjects and their proxy respondents were interviewed (N = 283 control-proxy pairs), as were the cases who were able to provide their own information and their proxy respondents (N = 68 case-proxy pairs). The reliability of proxy-derived data was excellent for demographic and body habitus measures (kappa or intraclass correlation range = 0.86-0.99), and all aspects of cigarette smoking history (range = 0.79-0.93). Proxy reliability was somewhat lower for questions regarding medications and hormone preparations (range = 0.55-0.88), alcohol consumption (range = 0.52-0.82), and recreational physical activity (range = 0.55-0.67). Proxy reliability varied according to the relationship of the proxy to the index subject. Relative to the index subjects, proxy respondents tended to underreport the presence or level of exposure. For most exposures, odds ratios computed with proxy-derived data were similar in magnitude to odds ratios obtained with index subject data; important bias due to differential nonresponse or differential misclassification was suggested only for questions regarding hormone replacement therapy. Epidemiologic studies that rely on proxy respondents may require more subjects to offset the effect of nondifferential nonresponse and misclassification on the precision of effect estimates.
View details for Web of Science ID A1994MZ61300011
PROXY RESPONDENTS IN EPIDEMIOLOGIC RESEARCH EPIDEMIOLOGIC REVIEWS Nelson, L. M., Longstreth, W. T., Koepsell, T. D., VANBELLE, G. 1990; 12: 71-86
View details for Web of Science ID A1990EM70000006
RISK OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS EXACERBATION DURING PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Nelson, L. M., Franklin, G. M., Jones, M. C. 1988; 259 (23): 3441-3443
Studies in the past have reported an increased risk of exacerbations in multiple sclerosis during the postpartum period; it is not known whether breast-feeding alters this risk. We interviewed 435 women regarding pregnancy and breast-feeding history, providing for analysis 191 pregnancies that had occurred during a nonprogressive phase of the disease. The exacerbation rates during the nine-month postpartum period (34%) were more than three times the exacerbation rate during the nine months of pregnancy (10%). The exacerbation risk was highest in the three-month period following childbirth and appeared to stabilize after the sixth postpartum month. The exacerbation rates in breast-feeding and non-breast-feeding pregnancies were 38% and 31%, respectively. The average time to exacerbation was similar in breast-feeding (3.0 months) and non-breast-feeding (3.1 months) pregnancies. Although differential exacerbation rates during pregnancy and the postpartum period may be related to hormonal effects on the immune system, the hormonal effects of breast-feeding do not appear to similarly affect the risk of exacerbation.
View details for Web of Science ID A1988N729500026
REFERRAL BIAS IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS RESEARCH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY Nelson, L. M., Franklin, G. M., Hamman, R. F., BOTELER, D. L., BAUM, H. M., Burks, J. S. 1988; 41 (2): 187-192
Referral bias is a significant problem affecting the generalizability of clinical studies conducted in a university setting. To examine referral bias in our university-based multiple sclerosis referral center, we analyzed the characteristics of referral center patients compared to the population-based group of multiple sclerosis patients from which the referral center patients originated. The referral center patient group differed from those that remained in the population-based group in the following important ways: (1) they were younger, (2) they had more mobility impairment for their age, (3) disabled females were overrepresented compared to disabled males, (4) they more often reported recent disease worsening, (5) they had a higher frequency of early diagnosis supported by laboratory tests, and (6) they more often relied on neurologists and therapists for routine care of their disease. The multiple sclerosis referral center setting would appear to be ideal for the conduct of intervention trials, but inadequate for collecting representative natural history data.
View details for Web of Science ID A1988L652600010
Assessing Mental Health among College Students Using Mobile Apps: Acceptability and Feasibility JOURNAL OF COLLEGE STUDENT PSYCHOTHERAPY Palesh, O., Oakley-Girvan, I., Richardson, A., Nelson, L. M., Clark, R., Hancock, J., Acle, C., Lavista, J. M., Miller, Y., Gore-Felton, C. 2020
US Public Concerns About the COVID-19 Pandemic From Results of a Survey Given via Social Media. JAMA internal medicine Nelson, L. M., Simard, J. F., Oluyomi, A., Nava, V., Rosas, L. G., Bondy, M., Linos, E. 2020
View details for DOI 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1369
Cervical dystonia incidence and diagnostic delay in a multiethnic population. Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society LaHue, S. C., Albers, K., Goldman, S., Lo, R., Gu, Z., Leimpeter, A., Fross, R., Comyns, K., Marras, C., de Kleijn, A., Smit, R., Katz, M., Ozelius, L. J., Bressman, S., Saunders-Pullman, R., Comella, C., Klingman, J., Nelson, L. M., Van Den Eeden, S. K., Tanner, C. M. 2019
BACKGROUND: Current cervical dystonia (CD) incidence estimates are based on small numbers in relatively ethnically homogenous populations. The frequency and consequences of delayed CD diagnosis is poorly characterized.OBJECTIVES: To determine CD incidence and characterize CD diagnostic delay within a large, multiethnic integrated health maintenance organization.METHODS: We identified incident CD cases using electronic medical records and multistage screening of more than 3 million Kaiser Permanente Northern California members from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2007. A final diagnosis was made by movement disorders specialist consensus. Diagnostic delay was measured by questionnaire and health utilization data. Incidence rates were estimated assuming a Poisson distribution of cases and directly standardized to the 2000 U.S. census. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to assess diagnoses and behaviors preceding CD compared with matched controls, adjusting for age, sex, and membership duration.RESULTS: CD incidence was 1.18/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-2.0; women, 1.81; men, 0.52) based on 200 cases over 15.4 million person-years. Incidence increased with age. Half of the CD patients interviewed reported diagnostic delay. Diagnoses more common in CD patients before the index date included essential tremor (odds ratio [OR] 68.1; 95% CI, 28.2-164.5), cervical disc disease (OR 3.83; 95% CI, 2.8-5.2), neck sprain/strain (OR 2.77; 95% CI, 1.99-3.62), anxiety (OR 2.24; 95% CI, 1.63-3.11) and depression (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.4-2.68).CONCLUSIONS: CD incidence is greater in women and increases with age. Diagnostic delay is common and associated with adverse effects. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Telemedicine in Multiple Sclerosis Care: A National Utilization Assessment and Systematic Review Wallin, M., Minden, S., Machado, H., Nelson, L., Topol, B., Culpepper, W., Jin, S., Maloni, H., Yeroushalmi, S. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2019
Fetal antiepileptic drug exposure and learning and memory functioning at 6?years of age: The NEAD prospective observational study. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B Cohen, M. J., Meador, K. J., May, R., Loblein, H., Conrad, T., Baker, G. A., Bromley, R. L., Clayton-Smith, J., Kalayjian, L. A., Kanner, A., Liporace, J. D., Pennell, P. B., Privitera, M., Loring, D. W., NEAD Study Group 2019; 92: 154?64
The Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (NEAD) Study was a prospective observational multicenter study in the USA and UK, which enrolled pregnant women with epilepsy on antiepileptic drug (AED) monotherapy from 1999 to 2004. The study aimed to determine if differential long-term neurodevelopmental effects exist across four commonly used AEDs (carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, and valproate). In this report, we examine fetal AED exposure effects on learning and memory functions in 221 six-year-old children (including four sets of twins) whose mothers took one of these AEDs during pregnancy. Their performance was compared with that of a national sample of normally developing six year olds from the standardization sample of the Children's Memory Scale (CMS). The major results of this study indicate that the mean performance levels of children exposed to valproate were significantly below that of the children in the normal comparison group across all seven of the CMS Indexes. With one exception, this finding held up at the subtest level as well. These findings taken together with nonsignificant verbal and nonverbal forgetting scores appear to indicate that, as a group, children exposed to valproate experienced significant difficulty in their ability to process, encode, and learn both auditory/verbal as well as visual/nonverbal material. In addition, they exhibited significant difficulty holding and manipulating information in immediate auditory working memory. However, once the information was learned and stored, the valproate-exposed children appeared to be able to retrieve the information they did learn at normal levels. Finally, the processing, working memory, and learning deficits demonstrated by the valproate-exposed children are dose-related. In contrast to valproate, the findings pertaining to the children exposed to carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and phenytoin in monotherapy are less clear. Therefore, further research will be required to delineate the potential risks to learning and memory functions in children exposed to carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and phenytoin in monotherapy during pregnancy. Additional research employing larger prospective studies will be required to confirm the long-term cognitive and behavioral risks to children of mothers who are prescribed these four AEDs during pregnancy as well as to delineate any potential risks of newer AEDs and to understand the underlying mechanisms of adverse AED effects on the immature brain.
Fetal loss and malformations in the MONEAD study of pregnant women with epilepsy. Neurology Meador, K. J., Pennell, P. B., May, R. C., Van Marter, L., McElrath, T. F., Brown, C., Gerard, E., Kalayjian, L., Gedzelman, E., Penovich, P., Cavitt, J., French, J., Hwang, S., Pack, A. M., Sam, M., Birnbaum, A. K., Finnell, R. 2019
To examine occurrence of severe adverse fetal outcomes (SAO), including fetal loss and major congenital malformations (MCMs), in pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE) vs healthy pregnant women (HPW).The Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (MONEAD) study is an NIH-funded, prospective, observational, multicenter investigation of pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child, which enrolled women December 2012 through January 2016.The 351 PWWE had 365 conceptions, and 105 HPW had 109 conceptions. SAOs occurred more often in PWWE (7.9%) vs HPW (1.9%) (p = 0.025) with odds ratio (OR) 4.45 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.04-19.01). There were no significant differences for fetal loss (2.8% vs 0%, p = 0.126) or MCMs (5.2% vs 1.9%, p = 0.185; OR 2.86, 95% CI 0.65-12.53) individually. No fetal losses in PWWE appeared to be related to acute seizures. Outcomes were not affected by periconceptional folate, unplanned/unwanted pregnancies, prior maternal pregnancy history, or antiepileptic drug (AED) blood levels, except for an AED level effect for fetal loss that appeared to be due to polytherapy. Combined maternal or paternal family history of MCM was marginally associated with increased SAOs (p = 0.046).The findings provide additional information on risks of SAOs in PWWE, assessing effects of both AED levels and periconceptional folate. Group differences in average enrollment gestational age could have affected fetal loss results. Analyses are limited by small sample sizes as the MONEAD study was not powered for these secondary outcomes. The large majority of pregnancies in women with epilepsy do not have SOAs.
Effects of periconceptional folate on cognition in children of women with epilepsy: NEAD study. Neurology Meador, K. J., Pennell, P. B., May, R. C., Brown, C. A., Baker, G., Bromley, R., Loring, D. W., Cohen, M. J. 2019
Emerging evidence suggests potential positive neuropsychological effects of periconceptional folate in both healthy children and children exposed in utero to antiseizure medications (ASMs). In this report, we test the hypothesis that periconceptional folate improves neurodevelopment in children of women with epilepsy by re-examining data from the Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (NEAD) study.The NEAD study was an NIH-funded, prospective, observational, multicenter investigation of pregnancy outcomes in 311 children of 305 women with epilepsy treated with ASM monotherapy. Missing data points were imputed with Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Multivariate analyses adjusted for multiple factors (e.g., maternal IQ, ASM type, standardized ASM dose, and gestational birth age) were performed to assess the effects of periconceptional folate on cognitive outcomes (i.e., Full Scale Intelligence Quotient [FSIQ], Verbal and Nonverbal indexes, and Expressive and Receptive Language indexes at 3 and 6 years of age, and executive function and memory function at 6 years of age).Periconceptional folate was associated with higher FSIQ at both 3 and 6 years of age. Significant effects for other measures included Nonverbal Index, Expressive Language Index, and Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment Executive Function at 6 years of age, and Verbal Index and Receptive Language Index at 3 years of age. Nonsignificant effects included Verbal Index, Receptive Index, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Parent Questionnaire Executive Function, and General Memory Index at 6 years of age, and Nonverbal Index and Expressive Index at 3 years of age.Use of periconceptional folate in pregnant women with epilepsy taking ASMs is associated with better cognitive development.NCT00021866.
Estimation of the Prevalence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in the United States Using National Administrative Healthcare Data from 2002 to 2004 and Capture-Recapture Methodology. Neuroepidemiology Nelson, L. M., Topol, B., Kaye, W., Williamson, D., Horton, D. K., Mehta, P., Wagner, T. 2018; 51 (3-4): 149?57
BACKGROUND: National administrative healthcare data may be used as a case-finding method for prevalence studies of chronic disease in the United States, but the completeness of ascertainment likely varies depending on the disease under study.METHODS: We used 3 case-finding sources (Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Administration data) to estimate the prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the United States for 2002-2004, and applied the capture-recapture methodology to estimate the degree of under-ascertainment when relying solely on these sources for case identification.RESULTS: Case-finding completeness was 76% overall and did not vary by race, but was lower for males (77%) than for females (88%), and lower for patients under age 65 (66%) than patients over age 65 (79%). The uncorrected ALS prevalence ratio was 2.8/100,000 in 2002, 3.3/100,000 in 2003, and 3.7/100,000 in 2004. After correcting for under-ascertainment, the annual prevalence increased by approximately 1 per 100,000 to 3.7/100,000 in 2002 (95% CI 3.66-3.80), 4.4/100,000 in 2003 (95% CI 4.34-4.50), and 4.8/100,000 in 2004 (95% CI 4.76-4.91).CONCLUSIONS: Federal healthcare claims databases ascertained are a very efficient method for identifying the majority of ALS-prevalent cases in the National ALS Registry, and may be enhanced by having patients self-register through the registry web portal.
Resilience and Transition Readiness in Pediatric SLE Patients Lai, J., Nelson, L., Balboni, I., Lee, T., Hsu, J. WILEY. 2017
The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the United States: a population-based healthcare database approach Wallin, M. T., Culpepper, W. J., Campbell, J., Nelson, L., Langer-Gould, A., Marrie, R. A., Cutter, G., Kaye, W., Wagner, L., Tremlett, H., Buka, S., Larocca, N., Leung, S., Dilokthornsakul, P., Topol, B., Chen, L. H., US Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD. 2017: 125
Risk Factors for Severe Postpartum Hemorrhage After Cesarean Delivery: Case-Control Studies. Anesthesia and analgesia Butwick, A. J., Ramachandran, B., Hegde, P., Riley, E. T., El-Sayed, Y. Y., Nelson, L. M. 2017
Women who undergo intrapartum caesarean delivery (CD) are at increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) compared with those undergoing prelabor CD. To determine whether the presence and strength of the associations between individual risk factors and severe PPH vary among women undergoing prelabor CD or intrapartum CD, stratified analyses are needed according to CD subtype.To identify risk factors for severe PPH within 2 distinct CD populations, prelabor CD and intrapartum CD, we performed 2 case-control studies. Women in each study cohort delivered at a tertiary obstetric center in the United States between 2002 and 2012. For each study, cases were women who had a blood loss ?1500 mL or who received an intraoperative or postoperative transfusion up to 48 hours after delivery. Risk factors for severe PPH among women undergoing prelabor CD or intrapartum CD were examined in separate logistic regression models.For prelabor CD, we identified 269 cases and 550 controls. Clinical factors with the highest adjusted odds for severe PPH during prelabor CD were general anesthesia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 22.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.9-99.9; reference group = spinal anesthesia), multiple pregnancies (aOR = 8.0; 95% CI = 4.2-15.0; reference group = singleton pregnancy), and placenta previa (aOR = 6.3; 95% CI = 3.4-11.8). For intrapartum CD, we identified 278 cases and 572 controls. Clinical factors with the highest adjusted odds for severe PPH during intrapartum CD were general anesthesia (aOR = 5.4; 95% CI = 1.7-17.1), multiple pregnancies (aOR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.7-6.3), and a predelivery hemoglobin ? 9.9 g/dL (aOR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.3-6.9; reference group = predelivery hemoglobin ? 11 g/dL).Women who undergo prelabor CD and intrapartum CD have several shared risk factors for severe PPH (general anesthesia and multiple pregnancies). However, the risk factor profiles for severe PPH differed between these CD cohorts. Recognizing these differences may be important when planning resources and interventions for high-risk patients undergoing either prelabor or intrapartum CD.
View details for DOI 10.1213/ANE.0000000000001962
Obstetric interventions and maternal morbidity among women who experience severe postpartum hemorrhage during cesarean delivery. International journal of obstetric anesthesia Seligman, K., Ramachandran, B., Hegde, P., Riley, E. T., El-Sayed, Y. Y., Nelson, L. M., Butwick, A. J. 2017; 31: 27?36
Compared to vaginal delivery, women undergoing cesarean delivery are at increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage. Management approaches may differ between those undergoing prelabor cesarean delivery compared to intrapartum cesarean delivery. We examined surgical interventions, blood component use, and maternal outcomes among those experiencing severe postpartum hemorrhage within the two distinct cesarean delivery cohorts.We performed secondary analyses of data from two cohorts who underwent prelabor cesarean delivery or intrapartum cesarean delivery at a tertiary obstetric center in the United States between 2002 and 2012. Severe postpartum hemorrhage was classified as an estimated blood loss ?1500mL or receipt of a red blood cell transfusion up to 48h post-cesarean delivery. We examined blood component use, medical and surgical interventions and maternal outcomes.The prelabor cohort comprised 269 women and the intrapartum cohort comprised 278 women. In the prelabor cohort, one third of women received red blood cells intraoperatively or postoperatively, respectively. In the intrapartum cohort, 18% women received red blood cells intraoperatively vs. 44% postoperatively (P<0.001). In the prelabor and intrapartum cohorts, methylergonovine was the most common second-line uterotonic (33% and 43%, respectively). Women undergoing prelabor cesarean delivery had the highest rates of morbidity, with 18% requiring hysterectomy and 16% requiring intensive care admission.Our findings provide a snapshot of contemporary transfusion and surgical practices for severe postpartum hemorrhage management during cesarean delivery. To determine optimal transfusion and management practices in this setting, large pragmatic studies are needed.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mode of Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA Butwick, A. J., Blumenfeld, Y. J., Brookfield, K. F., Nelson, L. M., Weiniger, C. F. 2016; 122 (2): 472-479
Racial and ethnic disparities have been identified in the provision of neuraxial labor analgesia. These disparities may exist in other key aspects of obstetric anesthesia care. We sought to determine whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in mode of anesthesia for cesarean delivery (CD).Women who underwent CD between 1999 and 2002 at 19 different obstetric centers in the United States were identified from the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network Cesarean Registry. Race/ethnicity was categorized as: Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, and Non-Hispanic Others (NHOs). Mode of anesthesia was classified as neuraxial anesthesia (spinal, epidural, or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia) or general anesthesia. To account for obstetric and non-obstetric covariates that may have influenced mode of anesthesia, multiple logistic regression analyses were performed by using sequential sets of covariates.The study cohort comprised 50,974 women who underwent CD. Rates of general anesthesia among racial/ethnic groups were as follows: 5.2% for Caucasians, 11.3% for African Americans, 5.8% for Hispanics, and 6.6% for NHOs. After adjustment for obstetric and non-obstetric covariates, African Americans had the highest odds of receiving general anesthesia compared with Caucasians (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-1.8; P < 0.001). The odds of receiving general anesthesia were also higher among Hispanics (aOR = 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.3; P = 0.02) and NHOs (aOR = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.4; P = 0.03) compared with Caucasians, respectively. In our sensitivity analysis, we reconstructed the models after excluding women who underwent neuraxial anesthesia before general anesthesia. The adjusted odds of receiving general anesthesia were similar to those in the main analysis: African Americans (aOR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5-1.9; P < 0.001); Hispanics (aOR = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4; P = 0.006); and NHOs (aOR = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.5; P = 0.05).Based on data from the Cesarean Registry, African American women had the highest odds of undergoing general anesthesia for CD compared with Caucasian women. It is uncertain whether this disparity exists in current obstetric practice.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mode of Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery. Anesthesia and analgesia Butwick, A. J., Blumenfeld, Y. J., Brookfield, K. F., Nelson, L. M., Weiniger, C. F. 2016; 122 (2): 472?79
Risk Factors for Prolonged Postpartum Length of Stay Following Cesarean Delivery AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY Blumenfeld, Y. J., El-Sayed, Y. Y., Lyell, D. J., Nelson, L. M., Butwick, A. J. 2015; 32 (9): 825-832
Objective?This study aims to identify risk factors for prolonged postpartum length of stays (LOS) after cesarean delivery (CD). Study Design?Patients undergoing CD were sourced from a multicenter registry of 19 academic centers between 1999 and 2002 (n?=?57,067). Prolonged postpartum LOS was defined as a hospitalization duration???90th centile. Maternal, antepartum, perioperative, and neonatal variables were compared between women with and without prolonged postpartum LOS. Results?The 90th centile for postpartum LOS was 4 days, with 14,954 women experiencing prolonged postpartum LOS. Women with perioperative complications had the highest independent risk for a prolonged postpartum LOS: ileus (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]?=?12.28; 95% confidence interval CI?=?8.98-16.8); endometritis (aOR?=?10.45; 95% CI?=?9.51-11.5), and wound complications (aOR?=?5.49; 95% CI?=?4.54-6.63). Several antepartum, perioperative, and neonatal variables were associated with a prolonged postpartum LOS. Conclusion?Perioperative complications had the highest risk for prolonged LOS after CD. Strategies to reduce perioperative complications are needed to decrease the health care burden of prolonged post-CD LOS.
View details for DOI 10.1055/s-0034-1543953
Second-line uterotonics and the risk of hemorrhage-related morbidity. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Butwick, A. J., Carvalho, B., Blumenfeld, Y. J., El-Sayed, Y. Y., Nelson, L. M., Bateman, B. T. 2015; 212 (5): 642 e1-7
Uterine atony is a leading cause of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Although most cases of PPH respond to first line therapy with uterine massage and oxytocin administration, second line uterotonics including methylergonovine and carboprost are integral for the management of refractory uterine atony. Despite their ubiquitous use, it is uncertain whether the risk of hemorrhage-related morbidity differs in women exposed to methylergonovine or carboprost at Cesarean delivery (CD).We performed a secondary analysis using the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network Cesarean Registry. We identified women who underwent CD and received either methylergonovine or carboprost for refractory uterine atony. The primary outcome was hemorrhage-related morbidity defined as intraoperative or postoperative red blood cells (RBC) transfusion or the need for additional surgical interventions including uterine artery ligation, hypogastric artery ligation, or peripartum hysterectomy for atony. We compared the risk of hemorrhage-related morbidity in those exposed to methylergonovine vs. carboprost. Propensity-score matching was used to account for potential confounders.The study cohort comprised 1,335 women; 870 (65.2%) women received methylergonovine and 465 (34.8%) women received carboprost. After accounting for potential confounders, the risk of hemorrhage-related morbidity was higher in the carboprost group than the methylergonovine group (RR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.2 - 2.6).In this propensity-score matched analysis, methylergonovine was associated with reduced risk of hemorrhage-related morbidity during CD compared to carboprost. Based on these results, methylergonovine may be a more effective second line uterotonic.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.01.008
Second-line uterotonics and the risk of hemorrhage-related morbidity AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY Butwick, A. J., Carvalho, B., Blumenfeld, Y. J., El-Sayed, Y. Y., Nelson, L. M., Bateman, B. T. 2015; 212 (5)
Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Associated with a Restless Legs Syndrome Diagnosis in a Retrospective Cohort Study from Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Sleep Van Den Eeden, S. K., Albers, K. B., Davidson, J. E., Kushida, C. A., Leimpeter, A. D., Nelson, L. M., Popat, R., Tanner, C. M., Bibeau, K., Quesenberry, C. P. 2015; 38 (7): 1009-1015
Recent cross-sectional studies suggest that restless legs syndrome (RLS) may be associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) comorbidity or risk factors. We evaluated whether primary or secondary RLS was associated with an increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease in a retrospective cohort study within Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC).We identified members of KPNC with primary RLS and secondary RLS between 1999 and 2008 by an algorithm that incorporated longitudinal clinical records related to the diagnosis and treatment of RLS and comorbidities. We then matched each RLS case with up to 50 individuals with no clinical records of RLS by age, sex, race/ethnicity, zip code, and membership duration. For the analyses we excluded any individual with coronary artery disease (CAD: angina, acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization procedure, CAD death), CVD (CAD plus stroke), and hypertension at baseline. New cardiovascular events were determined from clinical records. Follow-up ended at an outcome event, disenrollment from KPNC, or death, whichever occurred earliest. There were over 473,358 person-y of follow-up in this cohort analysis with a mean follow-up time of 3.91 y and range from 6 mo to 12 y. Survival analysis techniques, including survival curves and proportional hazard regression models, were used to assess the association between RLS status and CVD.There were 7,621 primary RLS and 4,507 secondary RLS cases identified and included in the study. In general, primary RLS cases were younger and had less comorbidity than secondary RLS cases. During the follow-up period, CVD was diagnosed in 478 primary RLS cohort members, CAD was diagnosed in 310, and hypertension events were identified in 1,466. Diagnosis in secondary RLS cohort members was made during the follow-up period with 451, 338, and 598 CVD, CAD, and hypertension events, respectively. Subjects with primary RLS had a similar risk of incident CVD (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.86-1.04) and CAD (HR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.89-1.13) to the comparison cohort, with a slight elevation in the risk of hypertension events (HR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.12-1.25), after multivariable adjustment. Individuals classified as secondary RLS had a significant increased risk of CVD (HR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.21-1.46), CAD (HR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.25-1.56), and hypertension (HR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.18-1.40).Primary restless legs syndrome (RLS) was not associated with new-onset cardiovascular disease (CVD) or coronary artery disease (CAD) but was associated with a slight increased risk of hypertension. In contrast, secondary RLS was associated with an increased risk of CVD, CAD, and hypertension.
View details for DOI 10.5665/sleep.4800
Risk Factors for Prolonged Postpartum Length of Stay Following Cesarean Delivery. American journal of perinatology Blumenfeld, Y. J., El-Sayed, Y. Y., Lyell, D. J., Nelson, L. M., Butwick, A. J. 2015
Patterns of care in palliative radiotherapy: a population-based study. Journal of oncology practice / American Society of Clinical Oncology Murphy, J. D., Nelson, L. M., Chang, D. T., Mell, L. K., Le, Q. 2013; 9 (5): e220-7
Approximately one half of the radiotherapy (RT) prescribed in the United States is delivered with palliative intent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of delivery of palliative RT across the United States.Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database, 51,610 patients were identified with incident stage IV breast, prostate, lung, or colorectal cancer diagnosed between 2000 and 2007 and observed through 2009. Multivariate logistic regression determined predictors of palliative RT.Forty-one percent of the study population received palliative RT, including 53% of patients with lung cancer, followed by those with breast (42%), prostate (40%), and colorectal cancers (12%). Multivariate analysis revealed that older patients (P<.001) and those with higher Charlson comorbidity scores (P<.001) were less likely to receive palliative RT. Black patients with prostate cancer were 20% less likely (P<.001), and black patients with colorectal cancer were 28% less likely (P<.001), than white patients to receive palliative RT. Among those treated with RT, 23% of patients with lung cancer died within 2 weeks of completing treatment, followed by those with colorectal (12%), breast (11%), and prostate cancers (8%). In addition to tumor site, significant predictors (P<.05) of death within 2 weeks of receiving RT included increased age, increased comorbidity, and male sex.Inequality in the receipt of palliative RT exists among the elderly and patients with comorbid conditions and varies with race. In addition, a significant number of patients die shortly after receiving RT. Understanding these patterns of care, along with further research into the underlying causes, will improve access and quality of palliative RT.
View details for DOI 10.1200/JOP.2012.000835
Is exposure to cyanobacteria an environmental risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases? AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS AND FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION Bradley, W. G., Borenstein, A. R., Nelson, L. M., Codd, G. A., Rosen, B. H., Stommel, E. W., Cox, P. A. 2013; 14 (5-6): 325-333
There is a broad scientific consensus that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is caused by gene-environment interactions. Mutations in genes underlying familial ALS (fALS) have been discovered in only 5-10% of the total population of ALS patients. Relatively little attention has been paid to environmental and lifestyle factors that may trigger the cascade of motor neuron death leading to the syndrome of ALS, although exposure to chemicals including lead and pesticides, and to agricultural environments, smoking, certain sports, and trauma have all been identified with an increased risk of ALS. There is a need for research to quantify the relative roles of each of the identified risk factors for ALS. Recent evidence has strengthened the theory that chronic environmental exposure to the neurotoxic amino acid ?-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) produced by cyanobacteria may be an environmental risk factor for ALS. Here we describe methods that may be used to assess exposure to cyanobacteria, and hence potentially to BMAA, namely an epidemiologic questionnaire and direct and indirect methods for estimating the cyanobacterial load in ecosystems. Rigorous epidemiologic studies could determine the risks associated with exposure to cyanobacteria, and if combined with genetic analysis of ALS cases and controls could reveal etiologically important gene-environment interactions in genetically vulnerable individuals.
View details for DOI 10.3109/21678421.2012.750364
Current pathways for epidemiological research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS AND FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION Factor-Litvak, P., Al-Chalabi, A., Ascherio, A., Bradley, W., Chio, A., Garruto, R., Hardiman, O., Kamel, F., Kasarskis, E., McKee, A., Nakano, I., Nelson, L. M., Eisen, A. 2013; 14: 33-43
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease. The current status of the epidemiology, challenges to its study, and novel study design options are discussed in this paper. We focus on recent results from large-scale population based prospective studies, case-control studies and population based registries, risk factors, and neuropathologic findings in chronic traumatic encephalomyelopathy. We identify areas of interest for future research, including time-trends in the incidence and prevalence of ALS; the meaning of lifetime risk; the phenotypic description of ALS; the definition of familial versus sporadic ALS, syndromic aspects of ALS; specific risk factors such as military service, life style factors such as smoking, the use of statins, and the presence of ?-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), an excitotoxic amino acid derivative possibly produced by cyanobacteria found in almost every terrestrial and aquatic habitat; the emergence and disappearance of an endemic ALS in areas of the Pacific; and gene-environment interactions in the etiology of ALS. To move the epidemiology forward, we suggest using well-characterized cohorts of newly diagnosed ALS patients to identify risk and prognostic factors; storing biological material for future studies; building on the National ALS Registry as a resource of future studies; working in multidisciplinary consortia; and addressing the possible early life etiology of ALS.
Utility of Capture-Recapture Methodology to Assess Completeness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Ascertainment NEUROEPIDEMIOLOGY Wittie, M., Nelson, L<|fim_middle|> the antrum, body, or fundus (distal cancers) and 30 of the cardia or gastroesophageal junction (proximal cancers). By univariate analysis, H. pylori infection [odds ratio (OR), 3.6; P < 0.001] and serum pepsinogen I < 50 ng/ml (OR = 2.9; P = 0.003) were both associated with development of distal cancer. In multivariate analysis, there was interaction between the two variables; H. pylori in the absence of low pepsinogen I was independently associated with cancer (OR, 2.4; P = 0.04) but low pepsinogen I in the absence of H. pylori infection was not associated with cancer (OR, 0.8; P > 0.5). In combination, however, H. pylori infection and a low pepsinogen I were associated with a marked increase in the risk of developing distal malignancy (OR, 10.0; P = 0.08).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
View details for Web of Science ID A1993LX26100010
SMOKING CESSATION AND RISK OF STROKE IN WOMEN JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L. M. 1993; 269 (17): 2214-2214
View details for Web of Science ID A1993KZ40600026
CLINICAL COURSE OF SPONTANEOUS SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE - A POPULATION-BASED STUDY IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NEUROLOGY Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L. M., Koepsell, T. D., VANBELLE, G. 1993; 43 (4): 712-718
Over 2 years, we identified 171 patients in King County, Washington, experiencing an incident subarachnoid hemorrhage and characterized their clinical course and outcome. Most (65%) were women and most (68%) were under age sixty-five. Only five died without medical attention. The remaining 166 patients were hospitalized and had CTs of the head. Of these, 103 underwent aneurysm surgery, 40 developed acute hydrocephalus, 32 had symptomatic vasospasm, and 30 re-bled. Sixty-eight percent (68%) survived to 1 month after the bleed and 62% to 1 year. Independent predictors of good recovery by 1 month after the bleed included youth, a high score on the admission Glasgow Coma Scale, and absence of blood on the first CT. In this population-based series, at 1 month after the bleed, approximately one-third of patients were dead, one-third had neurologic deficits, and one-third were doing well.
View details for Web of Science ID A1993KX81200015
CIGARETTE-SMOKING, ALCOHOL-USE, AND SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE STROKE Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L. M., Koepsell, T. D., VANBELLE, G. 1992; 23 (9): 1242-1249
Subarachnoid hemorrhage remains a devastating disease. Identification of etiologic risk factors would allow the possibility of prevention.We conducted a population-based case-control study in King County, Washington. Patients whose bleeds originated from a source other than an aneurysm were excluded. Two age- and gender-matched control subjects were identified for each case through random digit telephone dialing. A standardized in-person interview was conducted with the patient whenever possible, a proxy respondent for the case in all instances, the two control subjects, and their proxies. Analyses involved conditional logistic regression taking into account matching on age, gender and respondent type.Over 2 years, 169 cases were identified, and 149 participated in the case-control study. Compared with those who never smoked, the odds ratio for current heavy smokers (greater than 20 cigarettes/day) was 11.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0-24.9); for current light smokers (less than or equal to 20 cigarettes/day), 4.1 (95% CI, 2.3-7.3); and for former smokers, 1.8 (95% CI, 1.0-3.2). The risk associated with smoking was greatest in the 3 hours after a cigarette (odds ratio [OR] = 7.0; 95% CI, 3.7-13.1) and then fell, not reaching the risk in those who had never smoked until more than 10 years had passed since the last cigarette. Heavy alcohol use (greater than 2 drinks/day) was also associated with bleeds (OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 0.9-5.1, after adjusting for smoking status). These associations were not substantially altered after adjusting for several possible confounding factors, including a history of hypertension.Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use are associated with the occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
View details for Web of Science ID A1992JK92600006
Utility of the sickness impact profile in Parkinson's disease. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L., Linde, M., Muñoz, D. 1992; 5 (3): 142-148
The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) is a questionnaire consisting of 136 items grouped into 12 categories and two dimensions (physical and psychosocial). To characterize its utility in Parkinson's disease (PD), we administered the SIP to 44 consecutive clinic patients with PD. Compared to 44 age- and sex-matched control subjects, PD patients had their greatest dysfunction in the categories of mobility, communication, and home management. The two items that PD patients most commonly endorsed were, "I am having trouble writing or typing" (75%) and, "My sexual activity is decreased" (61%). In general, these treated PD patients had greater dysfunction in the psychosocial than physical dimensions. Two simple PD-specific scales correlated well with the physical dimension score but less so with the psychosocial dimension, suggesting that the SIP assesses more functional domains than the PD-specific scales used. The SIP holds some promise as a broad measure of functional status in PD patients.
BACLOFEN EFFECT ON QUADRICEPS STRENGTH IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION Smith, M. B., BRAR, S. P., Nelson, L. M., Franklin, G. M., COBBLE, N. D. 1992; 73 (3): 237-240
Weakness has been reported by patients as one side effect of baclofen. We evaluated torque production as a measure of contractile strength in 30 subjects with clinically definite multiple sclerosis. Participants, with minimal to moderate spasticity, were titrated onto baclofen by 5mg increments every other day for seven days and maintained at 20mg for one week. Using a KinCom isokinetic unit set at 60 degrees per second, subjects performed maximal concentric quadriceps contractions; three consecutive trials were recorded. Results indicated no significant difference in maximum torque production between sessions. Although torque values remained unchanged, the angle at which peak torque production occurred moved closer to normal values. Subjective reports of weakness do not appear related to physiologic properties of contraction, but may be a subjective interpretation that less stiffness is weakness because of less resistance to muscle contraction.
View details for Web of Science ID A1992HH12300005
SPONTANEOUS-ABORTION AND SUBSEQUENT ADVERSE BIRTH OUTCOMES AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY Thom, D. H., Nelson, L. M., Vaughan, T. L. 1992; 166 (1): 111-116
Our purpose was to evaluate the association between spontaneous abortion and subsequent adverse birth outcomes.Washington State birth certificate records for 1984 to 1987 were used to examine the association between spontaneous abortion and adverse outcomes in the subsequent live birth. Adverse birth outcomes were examined for women with one spontaneous abortion before the index pregnancy (n = 2146) and for women with three or more prior spontaneous abortions and no other prior pregnancies (n = 638); compared with women with no prior spontaneous abortions (n = 3099). Logistic regression was used to estimate the relative risk associated with prior spontaneous abortion of each adverse outcome.Women with three or more prior spontaneous abortions were at higher risk for delivery at less than 37 weeks' gestation (relative risk 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.1), placenta previa (relative risk 6.0, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 22.2), having membranes ruptured greater than 24 hours (relative risk 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.9), breech presentation (relative risk 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 3.6), and having an infant with a congenital malformation (relative risk 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.0).These findings suggest that common causes may underlie recurrent spontaneous abortion and certain adverse birth outcomes. They may also help guide clinical management of pregnancies in women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortions.
CAFFEINE AND STROKE STROKE Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L. M. 1992; 23 (1): 117-117
Cigarette smoking, alcohol use and subarchnoid hemorrhage Stroke Nelson LM, Longstreth WT Jr, Koepsell TD, van Belle G. 1992
EVALUATION OF TREATMENT PROTOCOLS ON MINIMAL TO MODERATE SPASTICITY IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION BRAR, S. P., Smith, M. B., Nelson, L. M., Franklin, G. M., COBBLE, N. D. 1991; 72 (3): 186-189
Thirty men and women diagnosed with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) were treated for ten weeks in a blinded, cross-over study. Patients with minimal to moderate spasticity were randomized to one of three sequences to evaluate the effects on MS-related spasticity of baclofen alone, stretching regimen with placebo, placebo alone, and stretching regimen with baclofen. The Cybex II isokinetic unit, timed gait, Ashworth scale, and subject's assessment of function were objective and subjective measures used to evaluate changes in hypertonicity. There was significant correlation between the Cybex and Ashworth as methods of measuring spasticity. Overall, treatment with baclofen alone significantly improved moderate quadriceps spasticity as measured by Cybex flexion scores. A trend, indicative of enhancing the beneficial effects of baclofen, was noted when stretching exercises were added to the treatment.
View details for Web of Science ID A1991FA66400002
HYPOTHESES TO EXPLAIN THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VIGOROUS PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AND AMYOTROPHIC-LATERAL-SCLEROSIS MEDICAL HYPOTHESES Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L. M., Koepsell, T. D., VANBELLE, G. 1991; 34 (2): 144-148
Many epidemiologic studies indicate a relation between vigorous physical activity and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Physical activity itself is unlikely to cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but could it modify the effects of other etiologic factors such as neurotoxins? Vigorous physical activity could potentiate the effect of a toxin to motor neurons by any of several mechanisms, especially if the toxin's effects were mediated through excitation. Exercise could alter the extent of exposure or could influence the distribution, metabolism or potency of an excitotoxin. Future epidemiologic studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis should include sufficient detail about vigorous physical exercise to explore this relationship further.
MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS SIBLING PAIRS - CLUSTERED ONSET AND FAMILIAL PREDISPOSITION NEUROLOGY DOOLITTLE, T. H., Myers, R. H., LEHRICH, J. R., Birnbaum, G., Sheremata, W., Franklin, G. M., Nelson, L. M., Hauser, S. L. 1990; 40 (10): 1546-1552
We evaluated 48 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (R/R MS) sibling pairs derived from 44 families for age and date of onset of MS symptoms, clinical course, and family history of MS. Age- and sex-matched R/R MS clinic patients provided a statistical comparison group. The age of onset tended to cluster within multiplex families. The initial symptom of MS occurred within 5 years of age in 30/48 sibling pairs compared with 16/48 controls. A positive family history of MS (other than siblings) was present in 43% of the multiplex families compared with 20% among simplex controls. In 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-degree relatives who had lived into the age at risk, 22/1,134 family members of multiplex sibling pairs had probable or definite MS compared with 10/1,215 control family members. Age of onset clustering in siblings concordant for R/R MS and an increased risk of MS in other family members suggest that factors influencing disease onset may be in part inherited in these kindreds.
View details for Web of Science ID A1990ED52000015
Efficacy and toxicity of cyclosporine in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The Multiple Sclerosis Study Group. Annals of neurology 1990; 27 (6): 591-605
Patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis, mild to moderately severe neurological disability (entry score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) between 3.0 and 7.0), and a progressive course defined by an increase in the EDSS of between 1 and 3 grades in the year prior to entry were randomized to receive either cyclosporine (n = 273) or placebo (n = 274) in a 2-year, double-blinded, multicenter trial. Treatment groups at entry proved balanced for age, gender, duration of illness, and neurological disability. Cyclosporine dosage was adjusted for toxicity and a median trough whole-blood level was maintained between 310 and 430 ng/ml. The mean increase in EDSS score was 0.39 +/- 1.07 grades for cyclosporine-treated patients and 0.65 +/- 1.08 grades for placebo-treated patients from entry until the time of early withdrawal or completion of the study (p = 0.002). Of three primary efficacy criteria, cyclosporine delayed the time to becoming wheelchair bound (p = 0.038; relative risk, 0.765), but statistically significant effects were not observed for "time to sustained progression" or on a composite score of "activities of daily living." Active treatment did have a favorable effect on several secondary measures of disease outcome. A large and differential withdrawal rate (44% for cyclosporine-treated patients, 32% for placebo-treated patients) complicated the analysis but did not appear to explain the observed effect of cyclosporine in delaying disease progression. Multivariate analysis did not show institutional effects but did demonstrate substantial effects of baseline neurological disability on outcome. Nephrotoxicity and hypertension were common troublesome toxicities and accounted for most of the excess loss of patients in the cyclosporine arm of the study. Thus, chronic cyclosporine therapy was associated with a statistically significant but clinically modest delay of progression of disability in a group of patients with multiple sclerosis selected for moderately severe and progressive disease. Close supervision by physicians familiar with cyclosporine is mandatory to minimize known adverse effects, particularly nephrotoxicity, when considering the use of this immunosuppressant.
COGNITIVE LOSS IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - CASE-REPORTS AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Franklin, G. M., Nelson, L. M., Filley, C. M., Heaton, R. K. 1989; 46 (2): 162-167
Neuropsychological and neuroradiologic evidence of cerebral lesions is described for 12 patients with multiple sclerosis in whom cognitive disability was far greater than any other neurologic disability. Cognitive dysfunction resulted in significant functional impairment at work or home in three fourths (9 of 12) of the patients described here, despite mild physical disability (mean Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale score, 3.2). A unique feature of the neurologic examination in these patients was the presence of prominent frontal release signs (gait apraxia and placing response) in the lower extremities. Two new scales, a Cognitive Function Scale and a Frontal Release Scale, were adapted for the investigation of these patients. The extensive literature relating to cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis is reviewed and discussed with regard to its clinical relevance.
View details for Web of Science ID A1989T148600009
A COMPARISON OF DEMENTIA IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE AND MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Filley, C. M., Heaton, R. K., Nelson, L. M., Burks, J. S., Franklin, G. M. 1989; 46 (2): 157-161
We compared results of comprehensive neuropsychological testing in 42 patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in an equal number of patients with clinically definite chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis. Age, sex, and education were controlled using demographically corrected T scores based on a large normal sample. Both groups showed significant impairment on the test battery, but the degree of dementia was more severe in the patients with AD. A deviation score analysis, controlling for overall level of cognitive impairment, revealed significant differences between the groups. Alzheimer's disease was associated with relatively greater impairment of learning, memory, and verbal skills, whereas the MS group showed greater relative impairment of attention, incidental memory, and psychomotor functions. These data suggest that both the degree and pattern of mental impairement differ in patients with AD and patients with multiple sclerosis. Our results support a distinction between "gray matter" and "white matter" dementia, and may help clarify the issue of "cortical" vs "subcortical" dementia by demonstrating neuropsychological differences based on secure neuropathologic distinctions.
INTRAVENOUS GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE AND PANCREATIC-ISLET BETA-CELL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS DURING 2-YR TREATMENT WITH CYCLOSPORINE DIABETES Robertson, R. P., Franklin, G., Nelson, L. 1989; 38 (1): 58-64
Cyclosporin is an immunosuppressive drug used with increasing frequency in patients with diabetes mellitus both as experimental primary therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and as therapy accompanying pancreatic transplantation. However, reports have appeared contending that cyclosporin causes glucose intolerance and inhibits pancreatic islet beta-cell function. Consequently, concern has been raised that the beneficial effects of immunosuppression may be offset by adverse metabolic effects of the drug. To address this issue, we examined intravenous glucose tolerance and pancreatic islet beta-cell function in a group of nondiabetic multiple sclerosis patients before and during a 2-yr course of cyclosporin or placebo therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two drug groups and followed in a double-blind manner. Basal levels of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide as well as glucose disappearance rates and pancreatic islet beta-cell function after stimulation with intravenous glucose and arginine were determined immediately before therapy and after 3 wk, 6 mo, 1 yr, and 2 yr of therapy. No abnormalities in these parameters were observed in the cyclosporin of the placebo-treated group. It appears that cyclosporin can be give in conventional doses for as long as 2 yr without encountering evidence for impaired glucose homeostasis. However, whether adverse effects will materialize over longer periods of drug use remains a question.
View details for Web of Science ID A1989R675300010
CORRELATION OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL AND MRI FINDINGS IN CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS NEUROLOGY Franklin, G. M., Heaton, R. K., Nelson, L. M., Filley, C. M., Seibert, C. 1988; 38 (12): 1826-1829
Sixty patients with chronic/progressive MS received a newly assembled neuropsychological screening battery (NSB) and a brain MRI. A neuroradiologist blinded to NSB findings quantified cerebral lesions on MRI. We developed weighted brain area lesion scores according to number and size of cerebral lesions. Patients who were impaired on NSB testing had a significantly higher mean bihemispheric lesion score (X = 26.1) than those who were unimpaired (X = 17.4); this MRI lesion rating score correlated significantly with the cognitive summary score of the NSB (r = 0.35, p less than 0.01). However, we did not find a significant correlation between the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale and any MRI or NSB summary measures. Compared with the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), the NSB cognitive summary score yielded a prevalence estimate for cognitive impairment that is more consistent with previous findings in chronic/progressive MS. The NSB is a useful screening test for cognitive dysfunction in chronic/progressive MS because of its relationship to cerebral lesions on MRI and its greater sensitivity than the frequently used MMSE.
NEUROLOGY PRACTICE PATTERNS IN COLORADO NEUROLOGY Franklin, G. M., Ringel, S. P., Nelson, L. M., DELAPP, C. 1987; 37 (2): 287-289
Eighty-one percent (47/58) of private-sector neurologists in Colorado responded to a mail survey of practice patterns. We evaluated patient load, degree of principal versus consultative care, and use of neurodiagnostic tests. Broad areas of neurologic education that were perceived to have been lacking during residency training were also addressed. Eight-four percent (41/49) of responding neurologists agreed to participate in a more comprehensive prospective study of neurology practice patterns. The prospective data will provide information to determine how many neurologists are needed and the applications for neurologic education.
View details for Web of Science ID A1987F933500017
THE EFFECTS OF PREGNANCY IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY NEUROLOGY Thompson, D. S., Nelson, L. M., Burns, A., Burks, J. S., Franklin, G. M. 1986; 36 (8): 1097-1099
We reviewed the medical records of 178 women with multiple sclerosis to evaluate the number of completed pregnancies, current disability status, and relationship of pregnancy to onset of MS symptoms. We found no differences in the long-term disability of women with no pregnancies, one pregnancy, or two or more pregnancies. Women who had initial symptom onset in pregnancy experienced less subsequent disability than women whose symptoms began before or after pregnancy. Therefore, pregnancy per se or number of pregnancies has no effect on subsequent disability.
View details for Web of Science ID A1986D492700016
Higher than expected prevalence of multiple sclerosis in northern Colorado: dependence on methodologic issues. Neuroepidemiology Nelson, L. M., Hamman, R. F., Thompson, D. S., BAUM, H. M., BOTELER, D. L., Burks, J. S., Franklin, G. M. 1986; 5 (1): 17-28
A population-based study of multiple sclerosis (MS) was conducted in 2 northern Colorado counties in 1982 to determine MS prevalence, to compare the rates with recent North American surveys and to compare the methods used in these studies. Provisional cases were identified from: the patient rolls of MS service organizations, chart reviews in 2 neurology practices, a survey of physicians and a review of hospital discharge diagnoses. Crude-point prevalence for the 2-county region was 84 per 100,000. The age-adjusted rate was higher than the rate for the region above the 37th parallel projected from data in a 1976 national survey, but was comparable to rates obtained in localized surveys conducted in the northern tier of the country. The methodological results revealed that the highest yield sources were the MS service organizations and the neurology practice chart reviews. MS prevalence surveys which neglect these methods may underestimate MS prevalence by as much as 20-40%.
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN RELAPSING REMITTING AND CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Heaton, R. K., Nelson, L. M., Thompson, D. S., Burks, J. S., Franklin, G. M. 1985; 53 (1): 103-110
View details for Web of Science ID A1985ADG6700014
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Renewal & New Building Projects | . M., Usher, S., Ward, K., Benatar, M. 2013; 40 (2): 133-141
With the establishment of a national amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) registry in the United States, methods are needed to ascertain the completeness of case ascertainment, especially in view of the proposal to rely largely on existing data sources.Data about ALS patients residing in the 5-county metropolitan Atlanta area (within the State of Georgia) from 2001 to 2005 were categorized according to their source--ALS Association, clinical (Emory Healthcare, community neurologist, Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration), Medicare and death certificates. ALS diagnoses were verified using chart review. Capture-recapture analyses were carried out using log-linear modeling, stratified by age and race.The final model (based on 798 cases), which included the 4 main sources and 3 two-way interaction terms, yielded an estimated total population of 880 (95% CI 816-965), indicating that the combination of case-finding methods identified about 90.7% of cases. The estimated 5-year period prevalence is 38.5/100,000 (95% CI 35.66-42.19).This study highlights gaps in data based on existing data sources and illustrates a method for combining data from multiple sources to help facilitate the successful establishment of a US national ALS registry.
Associations of welding and manganese exposure with Parkinson disease Review and meta-analysis NEUROLOGY Mortimer, J. A., Borenstein, A. R., Nelson, L. M. 2012; 79 (11): 1174-1180
To examine associations of welding and manganese exposure with Parkinson disease (PD) using meta-analyses of data from cohort, case-control, and mortality studies.Epidemiologic studies related to welding or manganese exposure and PD were identified in a PubMed search, article references, published reviews, and abstracts. Inclusion criteria were 1) cohort, case-control, or mortality study with relative risk (RR), odds ratio (OR), or mortality OR (MOR) and 95 confidence intervals (95% CI); 2) RR, OR, and MOR matched or adjusted for age and sex; 3) valid study design and analysis. When participants of a study were a subgroup of those in a larger study, only results of the larger study were included to assure independence of datasets. Pooled RR/OR estimates and 95% CIs were obtained using random effects models; heterogeneity of study effects were evaluated using the Q statistic and I(2) index in fixed effect models.Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria for the welding meta-analysis and 3 studies for the manganese exposure meta-analysis. The pooled RR for the association between welding and PD for all study designs was 0.86 (95% CI 0.80-0.92), with absence of between-study heterogeneity (I(2) = 0.0). Effect measures for cohort, case-control, and mortality studies were similar (0.91, 0.82, 0.87). For the association between manganese exposure and PD, the pooled OR was 0.76 (95% CI 0.41-1.42).Welding and manganese exposure are not associated with increased PD risk. Possible explanations for the inverse association between welding and PD include confounding by smoking, healthy worker effect, and hormesis.
View details for DOI 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182698ced
Cost-effectiveness of modern radiotherapy techniques in locally advanced pancreatic cancer CANCER Murphy, J. D., Chang, D. T., Abelson, J., Daly, M. E., Yeung, H. N., Nelson, L. M., Koong, A. C. 2012; 118 (4): 1119-1129
Radiotherapy may improve the outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer but at an increased cost. In this study, the authors evaluated the cost-effectiveness of modern radiotherapy techniques in the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.A Markov decision-analytic model was constructed to compare the cost-effectiveness of 4 treatment regimens: gemcitabine alone, gemcitabine plus conventional radiotherapy, gemcitabine plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT); and gemcitabine with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Patients transitioned between the following 5 health states: stable disease, local progression, distant failure, local and distant failure, and death. Health utility tolls were assessed for radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments and for radiation toxicity.SBRT increased life expectancy by 0.20 quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at an increased cost of $13,700 compared with gemcitabine alone (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio [ICER] = $69,500 per QALY). SBRT was more effective and less costly than conventional radiotherapy and IMRT. An analysis that excluded SBRT demonstrated that conventional radiotherapy had an ICER of $126,800 per QALY compared with gemcitabine alone, and IMRT had an ICER of $1,584,100 per QALY compared with conventional radiotherapy. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the probability of cost-effectiveness at a willingness to pay of $50,000 per QALY was 78% for gemcitabine alone, 21% for SBRT, 1.4% for conventional radiotherapy, and 0.01% for IMRT. At a willingness to pay of $200,000 per QALY, the probability of cost-effectiveness was 73% for SBRT, 20% for conventional radiotherapy, 7% for gemcitabine alone, and 0.7% for IMRT.The current results indicated that IMRT in locally advanced pancreatic cancer exceeds what society considers cost-effective. In contrast, combining gemcitabine with SBRT increased clinical effectiveness beyond that of gemcitabine alone at a cost potentially acceptable by today's standards.
View details for DOI 10.1002/cncr.26365
Osteoporosis Screening, Prevention, and Treatment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Application of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Quality Indicators ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH Schmajuk, G., Yelin, E., Chakravarty, E., Nelson, L. M., Panopolis, P., Yazdany, J. 2010; 62 (7): 993-1001
Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are associated with significant morbidity for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). New quality indicators (QIs) for SLE advise bone mineral density testing, calcium and vitamin D use, and antiresorptive or anabolic treatment for specific subgroups of patients receiving high-dose steroids.Subjects were participants in the University of California, San Francisco Lupus Outcomes Study, an ongoing longitudinal study of patients with physician-confirmed SLE, in 2007-2008. Patients responded to an annual telephone survey and were queried regarding demographic, clinical, and other health care-related variables. Multiple logistic regression was used to predict receipt of care per the QIs described above.One hundred twenty-seven patients met the criteria for the formal definitions of the denominators for QI I (screening) and QI II (calcium and vitamin D); 91 met the formal criteria for QI III (treatment). The proportions of patients receiving care consistent with the QIs were 74%, 58%, and 56% for QIs I, II, and III, respectively. In a sensitivity analysis of all steroid users (n = 427 for QI I and II and n = 224 for QI III), rates were slightly lower. Predictors of receiving care varied by QI and by denominator; however, female sex, older age, white race, and longer disease duration were associated with higher-quality care.Bone health-related care in this community-based cohort of SLE patients is suboptimal. Quality improvement efforts should address osteoporosis prevention and care among all SLE patients, especially those receiving high-dose, prolonged steroids.
View details for DOI 10.1002/acr.20150
Meeting Report: Consensus Statement-Parkinson's Disease and the Environment: Collaborative on Health and the Environment and Parkinson's Action Network (CHE PAN) Conference 26-28 June 2007 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES Bronstein, J., Carvey, P., Chen, H., Cory-Slechta, D., DiMonte, D., Duda, J., English, P., Goldman, S., Grate, S., Hansen, J., Hoppin, J., Jewell, S., Kamel, F., Koroshetz, W., Langston, J. W., Logroscino, G., Nelson, L., Ravina, B., Rocca, W., Ross, G. W., Schettler, T., Schwarzschild, M., Scott, B., Seegal, R., Singleton, A., Steenland, K., Tanner, C. M., Van Den Eeden, S., Weisskopf, M. 2009; 117 (1): 117-121
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. People with PD, their families, scientists, health care providers, and the general public are increasingly interested in identifying environmental contributors to PD risk.In June 2007, a multidisciplinary group of experts gathered in Sunnyvale, California, USA, to assess what is known about the contribution of environmental factors to PD.We describe the conclusions around which they came to consensus with respect to environmental contributors to PD risk. We conclude with a brief summary of research needs.PD is a complex disorder, and multiple different pathogenic pathways and mechanisms can ultimately lead to PD. Within the individual there are many determinants of PD risk, and within populations, the causes of PD are heterogeneous. Although rare recognized genetic mutations are sufficient to cause PD, these account for < 10% of PD in the U.S. population, and incomplete penetrance suggests that environmental factors may be involved. Indeed, interplay among environmental factors and genetic makeup likely influences the risk of developing PD. There is a need for further understanding of how risk factors interact, and studying PD is likely to increase understanding of other neurodegenerative disorders.
View details for DOI 10.1289/ehp.11702
Simple counts of ADL dependencies do not adequately reflect older adults' preferences toward states of functional impairment JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY Sims, T., Holmes, T. H., Bravata, D. M., Garber, A. M., Nelson, L. M., Goldstein, M. K. 2008; 61 (12): 1261-1270
To use unweighted counts of dependencies in activities of daily living (ADLs) to assess the impact of functional impairment requires an assumption of equal preferences for each ADL dependency. To test this assumption, we analyzed standard gamble (SG) utilities of single and combination ADL dependencies among older adults.Four hundred older adults used multimedia software (FLAIR1) to report SG utilities for their current health and hypothetical health states of dependency in each of 7 ADLs and 8 of 30 combinations of ADL dependencies.Utilities for health states of multiple ADL dependencies were often greater than for states of single ADL dependencies. Dependence in eating, which is the ADL dependency with the lowest utility rating of the single ADL dependencies, ranked lower than 7 combination states. Similarly, some combination states with fewer ADL dependencies had lower utilities than those with more ADL dependencies. These findings were consistent across groups by gender, age, and education.Our results suggest that the count of ADL dependencies does not adequately represent the utility for a health state. Cost-effectiveness analyses and other evaluations of programs that prevent or treat functional dependency should apply utility weights rather than relying on simple ADL counts.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2008.05.001
Minimum incidence of primary task-specific focal hand dystonia 22nd Annual Symposium on Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Treatment of Parkinsons Disease and Other Movement Disorders Lo, R. Y., Tanner, C. M., Albers, K. B., Leimpeter, A. D., Fross, R., Comyns, K., Bernstein, A., Klingman, J., Goldman, S., Ozelius, L., Marras, C., Bressman, S., Comella, C., Risch, N., Nelson, L. M., McGee, B. S., Van Den Eeden, S. K. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2008: 1630?30
Having IADL dependency does not prevent people from overestimating impact of ADL dependency. Annual Meeting of the American-Geriatrics-Society Sims, T., Mather, M., Mahlow, P., Nelson, L., Garber, A., Goldstein, M. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2005: S2?S2
Invariance and inconsistency in utility ratings 22nd Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Medical-Decision-Making Bravata, D. M., Nelson, L. M., Garber, A. M., Goldstein, M. K. SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC. 2005: 158?67
To assess utilities of composite health states for dependence in activities of daily living (ADLs) for invariance (i.e., when subjects provide a utility of 1 for all health states) and order inconsistency (i.e., when subjects order their utilities such that their utility for a combination of ADL dependencies is greater than their utility for any subset of the combination).Each of the 400 subjects, age 65 y and older, enrolled in one of several regional medical centers of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California and provided standard-gamble utilities for single ADL dependencies (e.g., bathing, dressing, continence) and for dependence in 8 other combinations of ADL dependencies. For order-inconsistent responses, the authors calculated the maximum magnitude of inconsistency as the maximum difference between the utility for the combined ADL dependence health state and that of its inconsistent subset.A total of 76 subjects (19%) gave a utility of 1.0 for all health states presented to them; 19 (5%) gave the same utility other than 1.0 for all health states; 130 (33%) gave at least 1 utility < 1.0 and had no order inconsistencies; and 175 (44%) had at least 1 order inconsistency. Invariance was associated with a Mini-Mental Status Examination score < 28.6 (P = 0.01), with education < 12 y (P = 0.004), with race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White/Caucasian (P = 0.001), and with shorter time spent on the utility elicitation task (P < 0.0001). Among the inconsistent subjects, 69% had a maximal magnitude of inconsistency that was within 1 standard deviation of the mean utilities. The maximal magnitude of inconsistency was associated with longer time spent on the elicitation task (P < 0.0001) and race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White/Caucasian (P = 0.005). The mean (s) utility for dependence in continence among consistent subjects who were not invariant (0.88 [0.24]) was higher than among inconsistent subjects (0.80 [0.27]; P = 0.01).Invariance and order inconsistencies in utility ratings for complex health states occur frequently. Utilities of consistent subjects may differ from those of inconsistent subjects. Utility assessments should attempt to measure and report these patterns.
View details for DOI 10.1177/0272989X05275399
Environmental risk factors in multiple sclerosis - Causes, triggers, and patient autonomy NEUROLOGY Franklin, G. M., Nelson, L. 2003; 61 (8): 1032-1034
Risk of subsequent cancer following invasive or in situ squamous cell skin cancer ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Efird, J. T., Friedman, G. D., Habel, L., Tekawa, I. S., Nelson, L. M. 2002; 12 (7): 469-475
Determine the risk of subsequent cancer following squamous cell skin cancer.Using computerized surgical pathology records and membership data from a health maintenance organization, we retrospectively identified 822 individuals with primary squamous cell skin cancer (SCSC) and 3662 comparison subjects matched for age, sex, race, residence area, and length of membership. Patients were included in the study if they had no prior history of cancer, and received at least one multiphasic health checkup and questionnaire (MHC). Patients were followed for subsequent invasive cancer up to 24 years, with a mean follow-up time of 7.8 years.SCSC patients had a significantly greater risk [adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and education] for subsequent cancer overall (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) [risk ratio (RR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-1.6], and for basal cell skin cancer (RR = 13.8, 95% CI = 8.8-21.9), digestive (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1-2.4), and genitourinary cancers (RR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0-2.0). An increased, but not statistically significant, adjusted risk (RR > or = 1.4) was also observed for lip, oral cavity, and pharynx cancer (RR = 3.9, 95% CI = 0.6-25.0); non-cutaneous squamous cell cancer (RR = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.9-4.4); and respiratory and intrathoracic cancer (RR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.8-2.6). The addition of alcohol consumption, combined occupational exposure, marital status, and smoking history to the multivariate model did not materially change any significant positive associations with SCSC.Our results suggest that patients diagnosed with SCSC may be at an increased risk of subsequent cancer at many sites, although several estimated risk estimates were within the limits of chance given no true association.
Household appliance use and residential exposure to 60-Hz magnetic fields JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE ANALYSIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY Mezei, G., Kheifets, L. I., Nelson, L. M., Mills, K. M., Iriye, R., Kelsey, J. L. 2001; 11 (1): 41-49
We characterized the distribution of exposure to magnetic fields (MFs) during daily activities and during household appliance use, and estimated the relative contribution of various activities and appliances to total daily exposure. One hundred sixty-two subjects provided information on their patterns of appliance use and wore personal monitors for 24 h to collect MF exposure data. Of total exposure, 27% accumulated while subjects were in bed; 41% while at home but not in bed; 9% at work; and 24% elsewhere. Less than 2% of the total MF exposure accumulated during the use of each of the eight individual appliances considered, except computers, during the use of which 9% of the total exposure accumulated. Of the time subjects spent at exposure levels higher than 2 microT, 8% accumulated while they were using microwave ovens, and 4% and 3% while using computers and electric stoves, respectively. Mean MF measurements tended to be lowest when subjects were in bed and highest at work and during the use of microwave ovens, coffee grinders, hair dryers, and electric shavers. Results from questionnaires on household appliance use in the past year were not useful in predicting the total mean exposure level and over-threshold exposures measured by 24-h personal monitors. Significant MF exposure accumulates at home, at work, and elsewhere; therefore, accurate exposure assessment needs to consider residential, occupational, and other sources together. Questionnaire-based information on appliance use has limited value in the assessment of average and over-threshold exposure to MFs.
Reliability of proxy-reported and self-reported household appliance use EPIDEMIOLOGY Mills, K. M., Kheifets, L. I., Nelson, L. M., Bloch, D. A., Takemoto-Hambleton, R., Kelsey, J. L. 2000; 11 (5): 581-588
Exposure assessment presents a major challenge for studies evaluating the association between household exposure to electric and magnetic fields and adverse health outcomes, especially the reliance on proxy respondents when study subjects themselves have died. We evaluated the reliability of proxy- and self-reported household appliance exposure. We recruited 92 healthy couples through either random-digit dialing or newspaper advertisements. Trained interviewers administered questionnaires to each member of a couple independently to assess the reliability of proxy-reported household appliance use. Eighty-five couples completed a second interview 2 months later to assess the reliability of self-reported appliance use. Reliability of proxy-reported appliance exposure was good when we inquired about having any exposure to each of the eight indicator appliances during the past year (range of kappa coefficients = 0.63-0.85; median = 0.76) but was lower with increased time to recall or increased detail. Reliability of self respondents reporting 2 months apart was excellent (range of kappa coefficients = 0.75-0.94; median = 0.87) for having any exposure to the eight indicator appliances during the past year, but reliability was again lower with increased detail. When we used self reports at the first interview as the standard, little systematic over- or underreporting occurred for proxy respondents or for self respondents reporting 2 months later. Because this study did not include cases of specific disease, these findings of no systematic differences in reporting do not refer to case or control status. In summary, reliability of self respondents' reports of appliance use is very good for recent time periods and good for broad aspects of exposure in distant time periods. Proxy respondents can provide information regarding broad aspects of appliance exposure in the past year, but detailed aspects of exposure or exposure in more distant time periods is not reliable.
International variation in the incidence of hip fractures: Cross-national project on osteoporosis for the World Health Organization program for research on aging OSTEOPOROSIS INTERNATIONAL Schwartz, A. V., Kelsey, J. L., Maggi, S., Tuttleman, M., Ho, S. C., Jonsson, P. V., Poor, G., de Castro, J. A., Xu, L., Matkin, C. C., Nelson, L. M., Heyse, S. P. 1999; 9 (3): 242-253
A cross-national study of hip fracture incidence was carried out in five geographic areas--Beijing, China; Budapest, Hungary; Hong Kong; Porto Alegre, Brazil; and Reykjavik, Iceland--during the years 1990-1992. Cases of hip fracture among women and men of age 20 years and older were identified using hospital discharge data in conjunction with medical records, operating room logs, and radiology logs. Estimated incidence rates varied widely, with Beijing reporting the lowest rates (age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population for men 20 years and older = 45.4; women = 39.6) and Reykjavik the highest rates (man = 141.3; women = 274.1). Rates were higher for women than for men in every area except Beijing. In every area except Budapest, review of the operating room or radiology logs identified additional cases that were not reported in the discharge list, increasing the estimated number of hip fractures by 11% to 62%, depending on the area. Review of medical records identified miscoding of hip fractures (ICD 9820) as 'shaft of femur and other femur fractures' (ICD 9821) in the discharge lists of every area except Budapest, increasing the estimated number of hip fractures by 1% to 30%. The final estimates of hip fracture incidence taking into account all investigated sources of undercount and overcount ranged from 15% lower to 89% higher than an estimate based on the discharge diagnoses alone. Although these results indicate substantial limitations in relying on hospital discharge data alone to estimate hip fracture incidence rates, the extent of errors found in the discharge lists is smaller than the large international variation found here and previously reported in incidence rates. The findings support the conclusion that the differences reported among countries mainly reflect genuine variation in the hip fracture incidence rates.
Analysis of prenatal and gestational care given to women with epilepsy NEUROLOGY Seale, C. G., Morrell, M. J., Nelson, L., Druzin, M. L. 1998; 51 (4): 1039-1045
To assess past care practices of neurologists and obstetricians to identify areas in which practice patterns differ from currently accepted optimal care.Retrospective chart review of 155 women identified as having a diagnosis of epilepsy (or seizure disorder) who had been pregnant any time between January 1988 and December 1995 and were admitted to Stanford University Hospital for delivery. A total of 161 pregnancies (132 women) were selected for study.An obstetrician was seen at some point during the pregnancy in 99% of the pregnancies, whereas a neurologist was seen at least once in only 64% of the pregnancies. In the 3 months before conception, an obstetrician was seen in 5% of the pregnancies and a neurologist was seen in 15%. Seventy-five percent of the patients taking antiepileptic medication and 65% of the untreated patients had documentation of folate supplementation at any time during pregnancy. Vitamin K supplementation in the final month of pregnancy was documented for only 41% of those receiving antiepileptic drugs. In over one-third of the pregnancies the mother did not have a maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein measure documented and a similar percentage did not receive genetic counseling. Monitoring of the maternal serum concentration of the non-protein-bound fraction of the prescribed antiepileptic drugs was not documented.We identified specific omissions of appropriate vitamin supplementation, genetic counseling, and drug level monitoring. Educational efforts should be targeted to improve the management of pregnancy in women with epilepsy.
Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging changes correlate in a clinical trial monitoring cyclosporine therapy for multiple sclerosis JOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING Zhao, G. J., Redekop, W. K., Riddehough, A., Li, D. K., Cover, K., Wolinsky, J. S., Paty, D. W., Koopmans, R. A., Mietlowski, W., Scheinberg, L. C., Traugott, U., Aisen, M., Robbins, K., Hurwitz, B. J., Greenberg, S. M., FREDANE, L. M., HERBSTREITH, R., Hurwitz, J. G., Burk, J., McFarland, H. F., Goodman, A., McFarlin, D. E., Krebs, H., Maloni, H., Debronso, J., Franklin, G. M., Burks, J. S., Nelson, L., WANGAARD, C., Sears, S., Nath, A., Smith, L., McGinnis, J., TOURTELLOTE, W. W., Baumhefner, R. W., Ellison, G., Meyers, L., Syndulko, K., Newton, L. 1997; 7 (1): 1-7
View details for Web of Science ID A1997WN53400001
Randomized trial of leaving messages on telephone answering machines for control recruitment in an epidemiologic study AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Koepsell, T. D., McGuire, V., Longstreth, W. T., Nelson, L. M., VANBELLE, G. 1996; 144 (7): 704-706
To determine whether leaving messages on answering machines would aid control recruitment via random-digit telephone dialing, a randomized trial was conducted during 1992-1994 involving 1,323 western Washington households with answering machines. For the experimental group, a message was left informing them about the study and promising a call-back; for the control group, no message was left. Leaving a message increased the response rate by about 20 percentage points (p = 0.002). More households were successfully screened for eligible controls, and individuals found eligible were more likely to participate. Leaving a message can help to improve response rates in telephone surveys.
View details for Web of Science ID A1996VJ77000011
HELICOBACTER-PYLORI, PEPSINOGEN, AND RISK FOR GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY BIOMARKERS & PREVENTION Parsonnet, J., Samloff, I. M., Nelson, L. M., Orentreich, N., Vogelman, J. H., Friedman, G. D. 1993; 2 (5): 461-466
The objective of this project was to determine the association of Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen levels on subsequent risk for gastric adenocarcinoma. This nested case-control study was set in a large health maintenance organization. One hundred thirty-six cases of gastric adenocarcinoma and 136 matched controls without adenocarcinoma from a large cohort that had contributed serum in the 1960's were studied. The presence of IgG against H. pylori had previously been determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum levels of pepsinogens I and II were ascertained by radioimmunoassay. In a sample of subjects, the presence of antiparietal cell antibodies was determined by immunofluorescent antibody assay (Nichols Laboratory). There were 98 cases of adenocarcinoma of | 6,796 |
While nearly 90 percent of seniors in the US want to age in place, it's sometimes necessary to move due to health reasons (think moving to an assisted living facility). Alternatively, some like the idea of moving to a retirement community, or need to downsize in order to free up some extra cash.
If you're in your golden years and want to sell your home, it's critical to look at your house as an investment so it sells quickly and you make money from the sale. Of course, in order for that to happen, you've got to make sure your abode is in decent shape.
While it can be difficult to make expensive renovations if you're on a fixed income, at the very least, you should stage your home for success. Here are some of the top items that should consider - before putting your home on the market.
In order to make the rest of the staging process easier, start by decluttering and depersonalizing each room. Use this as an opportunity to get rid of things you no longer need and start the packing process. People tend to take depersonalizing personally (pun intended!); however, taste-specific decor, items related to your hobbies, family photos, and pet paraphernalia are considered big buyer turn offs — along with clutter — which is why this step is a very important one.
A potential buyer wants to be able to picture themselves in your home, and this can be difficult to do when there are piles of newspapers and a "Gone Fishing" sign<|fim_middle|> such as large, unused furniture and items cluttering closets, the basement, and garage.
If you've been living in your home for a substantial period of time, there's likely to be some dated decor lurking in each room. To potential buyers, this is a turn off, as most seekers look for properties with a modern-day feel. Top updates to consider include popcorn ceilings, fixtures, wallpaper and hardware.
It's also a good idea to replace or remove worn flooring, and replace old carpet or scuffed linoleum to freshen things up. If you have beautiful hardwood flooring underneath tired carpeting, consider hiring a pro to remove it and refinish the floors. Repainting the walls is another easy way to bring life into your home — especially where there's wallpaper.
From leaky faucets and toilets to broken light fixtures, deferred maintenance can make selling a home more difficult, because the buyer is factoring in all of the things they'll have to pay for. Plus, it reduces the value of your property. If you can't fix these items yourself, it's best to hire a handyman so you don't create more damage.
There's no need to recreate the gardens of Versailles to add curb appeal. Simple changes can make all the difference in the world. For example, you can start by removing eyesores (a rusty old swing set, old garden tools, broken lawn furniture), mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes and trees, and getting rid of weeds.
Additional touches, like painting your front door, replacing the mail box, power washing the home and driveway, and adding some shrubs and florals in attractive pots can help brighten up the exterior — the first thing potential homebuyers see when they pull up to your home.
Once you've taken care of all of the heavy lifting, hire a pro to conduct a deep clean of your entire home, including steam cleaning any carpeting, upholstery, and curtains. While you may think you can do it yourself, an expert can thoroughly clean tricky areas, such as the grout between the tiles, ceiling fans, baseboards, and vents, all in record time. It's a small investment that can have a big impact on potential buyers.
It may behoove you to hire a professional home stager to help make suggestions on inexpensive and easy ways to clear clutter, depersonalize, and modernize your home. You may think your property is in good shape, but these pros know what buyers are looking for in the current market. If you're looking to sell your home quickly while maximizing your ROI, this can be a smart investment.
If you follow these simple tips before putting your home on the market, you'll be in great shape to sell your home in no time. Don't neglect to ready your home before trying to sell it, or you may regret it.
Contact a Red Post Realty agent today to get started! | hanging above the door. Since you're not going to want stacked-up boxes in your home during an open house, check out local storage facility options so you can store your packed goods. You may also want to hide away additional miscellaneous, rarely-used items, | 51 |
Habit: densely branched, upright and slow growing evergreen shrub/tree with one to several trunks, contorting into bold appearances. Young smooth, white bark becomes thick, brown and deeply furrowed in older plants. Often clustered at the stem tips the leathery, sticky leaves are narrowly oval with a pointed tip (lance-shaped) and margins that curl inward. Tops of leaves are dark green while the undersides are pale green. Small creamy yellow flowers are trumpet shaped and hairy, not showy and occurring singly or in clusters of 2 or 3 with the most visible part being the stamen. Fruit is a very showy<|fim_middle|> nutrient-poor, coarse soils, drought tolerant.
Don't let the common name fool you Cercocarpus lediflolius is not technically a mahogany (Meliaceae) since it is part of the rose family (Rosaceae). It provides good shelter and food for birds and other wildlife. | achene with a sharp tip and a long fuzzy tail attached to the seed, used in wind dispersal. Flowers from late March though early July.
Ecology: found in the Western United States on rocky ridges and low mountain slopes at elevations in its range of 1200-3000 ft (366-914m) where there is little water and extreme variation in temperature.
Growing Conditions: full sun, in shallow to deep, well-drained, | 101 |
Self-esteem is a desirable trait, except when it derived from comparisons to others. If your self-esteem is dependent on how well you measure up to others, you are eventually in for a big crash. Some day your looks will fade, your abilities will deteriorate, and that promotion you wanted will be given to a younger co-worker. If your self-esteem depends on comparisons to others, you will be devastated when these events occur. But, if you are only focused on being<|fim_middle|> about you, dwell on why God made you the way He did. If you figure out the reason, you will feel far greater joy than you ever felt by just being more 'whatever' than everyone else. | the best you can be, you will be largely unaffected.
To get and maintain healthy self-esteem, keep this thought in mind: recognize that any gift you have, anything that you are good at, exists only because God made you that way. Instead of filling your head with thoughts about all the many truly great things | 63 |
That's more than 25 emails per every human mind on the planet.
And that's just what we send in one day (PDF).
Given the crazy amount of emails that are sent and received every day, it's no wonder that this electronic communication has become too hard to handle for so many of us. But don't worry, here are some productivity secrets that can help you tame the beast.
I can't stress the importance of this one. Chances are, you reply to many emails in the same way, whether it's a refusal of a submission, acknowledging a colleague's efforts or a simple greeting. The one thing you absolutely need to do is to create canned responses for your most oft-used emails.
It's really easy to set up canned responses in Gmail Email Faster & Better With Canned Responses Email Faster & Better With Canned Responses Don't have time to cook lunch? No problem, grab a can. Need some camping chow that won't go bad? Easy, get some canned food. Tired<|fim_middle|>. Now just open them one by one and unsubscribe. I recommend using Gmail's Preview Pane when you do this to speed things up.
There are also add-ons and services to quickly unsubscribe from mailing lists Clear Out Your Inbox: Quickly Unsubscribe From Multiple Newsletters With These Tools Clear Out Your Inbox: Quickly Unsubscribe From Multiple Newsletters With These Tools Unsubscribing from newsletters is about more than just spam. Most of the newsletters that fill our inbox are not selling medicine or offering prize money – they're genuine newsletters from trusted companies we ourselves subscribed... Read More or bunch them up into email digests.
Nowhere is this more apparent than the group email and the avalanche of replies that invariably ensues. Strike back by reminding yourself that not all email has to be replied to, that lots of issues will be – and should be – dealt with by other people. Ask yourself: "If I didn't have this information in my inbox, would I go out looking for it?" Most of the time the answer is probably "no", and that's a sign that someone else is controlling your attention.
Everyone has their own email hacks to manage the clutter and the best way to learn is by sharing them. We also have our own Gmail Guide for Everyone. It helps, as does the advice from pro users. If Stafford hadn't written that article, I would still be drowning in messages and I'm forever grateful to him for that.
So tell me, how do you handle your email overload 3 Tips To Deal With Email Overload In Gmail [Show & Tell] 3 Tips To Deal With Email Overload In Gmail [Show & Tell] Most of us suffer from information overload. Being overwhelmed with private emails may not be a big issue and ignoring half the emails is actually acceptable to a certain degree. In a professional life however,... Read More ? There are no wrong answers here, folks.
I attach individual sound files to important e-mails. This means that I am never tempted to keep checking my e-mail to see if anything important or expected has come in - and doing that is a great time-waster. I use PopTray to check my e-mail and play sound files, and I've also set up other filters in there too (for example, for those e-mails which don't in reality allow you to unsubscribe - they are simply deleted from the server). | of typing the same email replies? Try canned emails! Think... Read More or any other email client. No matter how fast a typist you are, you aren't faster than two clicks of your mouse, right? Save yourself some time and do this now.
The best way to tackle an overload is to first sort it out. That means using filters and labels/folders in your inbox. Outlook has folders, Gmail has labels, and both have filters you can set up to auto-route your email to these folders and labels. You can set up advanced filters 5 Gmail Filters to Help Prioritize & Organize Your Inbox 5 Gmail Filters to Help Prioritize & Organize Your Inbox What filters should each and every person have in their arsenal so that their inbox is as orderly as mine? I'm here to help you get started in setting up your first five filters, or... Read More in Gmail according to your custom needs. In fact, Gmail offers to automatically bring some order to your email 6 Ways To Reclaim Your Email Inbox 6 Ways To Reclaim Your Email Inbox Is there anything else that's as useful, prevalent, and frustrating as an email inbox? It's been around forever and we keep using it, and as long as we keep using it, people like me will... Read More with its new Priority Inbox.
They take some time to set up and categorize well, and the first month requires constant input from you. But it's well worth your time in the long run. Don't just hurriedly put things under labels and filters, think about it and categorize well because this is the automation your inbox will use for the rest of your life.
Ask yourself what the best label/folder name (whether existing or not) would be for this message.
Check if that name already exists, and if not, create it.
Ask yourself if that name should be a separate entity or sub-categorised under one of the existing folders.
Do this regularly and your inbox will be magically cleaner.
Email is a terrible place for a todo list. I really don't get how one can tack on GTD to email. An email is not actionable. Once you read it and understand it, you might end up with a clear action, but your inbox is not the place to shove it.
Your email is about communication, so let it be about that. There are plenty of fantastic apps for to-do lists, and I'd highly recommend Any.do or Wunderlist Wunderlist - The Best To-Do List Application On The iPhone [iOS] Wunderlist - The Best To-Do List Application On The iPhone [iOS] Wunderlist is one of the simplest ways to keep track of what you need to do. It has an elegant user interface that just makes sense. Anyone can pick it up and figure out how... Read More .
You won't believe how many newsletters and other junk email is clogging up your inbox, despite a spam filter. And once clutter starts building up, it can quickly get out of control.To stop it in its tracks, you need to start unsubscribing and there's one really easy trick to do that.
In your email client, just search for the word "unsubscribe". It's appended at the end of every newsletter, so you will suddenly see a list of all the mass mails in your inbox | 677 |
Engineered Wood flooring is an extremely popular product these days and it's easy to see why. We've composed a list of the best characteristics of this dreamy flooring option to get you to understand why it really is the best.
One of the main characteristics of a new floor has to be that it looks good. That's why you're looking for one after all, your carpet has seen better days and you're due an upgrade. Engineered flooring has all the natural lines and patterns that people like to look t but you have something that's practical as well as pretty. It will match all the ideas and decor around your home.
It doesn't do it. Unlike Solid Wood flooring, engineered doesn't expand and contract dependent on the temperature. This means it's safe to lay in places where Solid Wood wouldn't do such a good job. The temperature and moisture<|fim_middle|> of the more hygienic flooring types. Carpets can harbour bacteria and the smells from pets or things that have been spilt. With wooden floors, spillages are easier to clean up and the need for frequent cleaning makes them much more hygienic. | levels fluctuate massively making it a nightmare for Solid Wood flooring. The right engineered flooring however, wouldn't even flinch.
Engineered flooring is perfect for the professional or the DIY savvy. You can have it installed as a floating floor or a solid floor. It's easy to work with, quick to lay and some designs come with a click system which is the simplest of flooring to install, especially yourself.
Due to the fact that it's made up of layers and layers of plywood that has been bonded together, engineered flooring is extremely durable. It can withstand high and heavy footfall in commercial and domestic environments. The flexibility of the flooring means it can be used in virtually any room as well. As mentioned above, it barely expands or contracts in temperate and moisture doesn't affect the condition too severely meaning it will work throughout the house.
Although the amount of sanding engineered flooring can withstand in its lifetime isn't as much as other types, it can be done. Re-sanding a floor allows you to bring it back to life when it's looking a bit tired and worse for wear. It's also a great way to get rid of scuffs and scratches your floor may have endured throughout the years. It's the top layer of engineered flooring that determines the appearance and wear resistance of the flooring and makes re-sanding possible, hence the importance of selecting a flooring with a thick top layer.
Engineered wood flooring is made of plywood which grows fast and can be used from a young age. Boards are often longer and wider than other types of flooring so less wood is used to create the pieces. The durability of engineered flooring is better than other types meaning less chemical substances are used for cleaning and restoring.
Believe it or not, engineered flooring is one | 353 |
New from A Reel of One's Own by Andrea Thompson: Latest Pixar creation 'Soul' gets lost between worlds
Films about the afterlife are bound to get philosophical about life…well, most of the time, but films like "Beetlejuice" are no less fun for their focus on character and creativity rather than the meaning of humanity. What's<|fim_middle|> will live up to the far richer content that preceded it.
from A Reel Of One's Own https://ift.tt/3aG8BUG
Previous New from Kevin Wozniak on Kevflix: Review – Wonder Woman 1984
Next New from Al and Linda Lerner on Movies and Shakers: Wonder Woman 1984 | surprising about Pixar's latest, "Soul," is how little the afterlife and its mechanics just don't hold up.
I'm about as baffled as anyone. To watch "Soul" is to do so with the understanding that death is going to be somewhat explored, since there's no hiding its basic premise, which anyone can sympathize with. Regardless of any success 2020 has allowed us to retain, or even achieve, we've all gotten a taste of what it was like to lose out on a goal that seemed tantalizingly within our grasp. And Joe (Jamie Foxx) gets dealt maybe the worst hand possible. He's a long-struggling jazz pianist who finally catches a break, only to perish once he does.
Joe manages to avoid going into the light, but he finds himself in The Great Before, where souls who have yet to be born are given their personalities. Will Joe get a companion who will prove just as nurturing to him as he will be to them? Yes, but the soul dubbed 22 is played by Tina Fey, and they've never been too interested in life on Earth. The crash course that we know is coming? It's funny, well, soulful, and for a while it's got a talking cat.
The truly strange thing about "Soul" is how concerned it is with life rather than its own otherworldly premise, which comes complete with childlike creatures who could hold their own against Gru's minions in terms of cuteness. But after setting up a fascinating world that owes as much to quantum physics as philosophy, "Soul" mostly turns it into a backdrop to explore how Joe has lived his life. And how he hasn't.
The movie may be dedicated to the mentors in our lives, but it has something of a fuzzy concept of the lives they have outside of the people they affect. Joe seems to have no shortage of passion, and it gets through every now and then to the students in the mostly terrible middle school band he teaches. He may wince at the resulting noise, but that passion is how he manages to get many of them to care, and even nurture one student who has a gift for it.
Why then, is "Soul" so uninterested in exploring the mechanics of how our souls are molded? Even if the afterlife for fully formed souls isn't the focus, Pixar still gives us a rich world full of possibility, one where humans are already present, consciously or not. This is where souls in touch with their joy and purpose experience that joy, and where others whose joys have deteriorated into obsession become lost, where they can be rescued by those who've achieved a higher form of existence.
Sound interesting? Don't get attached, because while "Soul" has plenty of clever gags and zingers, it doesn't spend much time in the literal darker side of life. Previous Pixar films such as "Coco" have delved into similar realms and topics, but there was vibrancy and investment in both its premise and characters that's missing here. Its true predecessor is probably "Inside Out," but even the various realms of a single preteen girl's mind feels more fleshed out than the dull bureaucracy of The Great Before.
"Soul" may fail to fully follow through on its characters or its premise, but even a duller Pixar film will leave an impression. Few hearts will be unmoved by the end, but not in a way that | 705 |
Alexander Grashow knows how to make the hard work of change easier. For the past two decades, he has been inspiring audiences to take new action in their work and lives. He has delivered keynote speeches, moderated and designed conferences and facilitated countless activities for a wide-range of organizations, including TED, Facebook, Google, IBM, the Clinton Global Initiative, Citigroup and the White House.
Zander shares his experience of working on the front lines with some of the world's greatest leaders and change-makers to show that people don't have to settle for the status quo. These sessions are not about listening to someone talk -- they are fully immersive experiences in which participants identify actionable strategies to initiate change in their own lives.
Our environments are constantly changing. No one believes the rate of change will slow. Yet, how we respond--how quickly, how effectively--is in our control. There is an art and science to adapting ourselves and leading others through these inflection points. Adaptive Leadership--the art and practice of moving people off the status quo--has been on the frontier of leadership development and societal change for over two decades. In this invigorating and pragmatic session, Alexander Grashow will share frameworks and practices for evolving your leadership model and moving beyond what exists today.
Our work usually falls into one of three categories: we are working hard for something we believe in, wandering in search of something or fulfilling someone else's dream. Get out of the abstract land of "purpose" and discover the best application for your talents and focus. The first step is identifying what you should spend your precious energy and attention on; the next step is delivering remarkable results. Through a mix of stories, ideas, and applied tools, the audience will learn ways to identify their "Assignment" and build a plan for integration.
Our future likely depends on our ability to partner, collaborate and rely on others who have differing, and often competing, interests and beliefs. Alexander Grash<|fim_middle|> to get out of your silo and put in some work.
Our team is filled with left-brain/right-brain thinkers. We'd love to create something totally new for you and your audience. Let's design something together.
Read more about Zander's work and philosophy. | ow has spent the last twenty years sitting in the middle of some of the toughest conversations, guiding them to resolution. Through these game-changing efforts, he has learned how to build relationships through dealing effectively with conflict. Zander shares these stories and tools for your organization or team to help you build partnerships in the midst of conflict. The good news: these tools can be internalized. The bad news: you are going to have | 85 |
Map of Colorado's National Parks,
Monuments & Grasslands
Colorado's National Parks Monuments & Grasslands Map
Colorado's National Historic Sites<|fim_middle|> road in the world. | & Landmarks Map
Click on the Colorado National Parks & Monuments below to view More Information
Not all towns appear on map. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for accuracy or completeness of maps. This information was compiled as accurately as possible.
Explore the walking-only monument on the site's self-guided trail. The half-mile walk winds through the well-excavated West Ruin, where visitors can explore the building's rooms and kivas. Visitors end the walk at the Great Kiva, a re-creation of a 40-foot kiva once used as the settlement's central social and religious site. It's the largest and oldest structure of its kind in the world.
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument preserves ancient settlements built by ancestral Puebloans between 1150 and 1550 at the base - and up the walls - of Frijoles Canyon. Today, visitors to the monument can get up close and personal with the Puebloans' feats of engineering. Trails throughout the monument take visitors to various excavation sites, even allowing visitors to enter the rooms, climb ladders and explore the settlements in some places.
Between Gunnison and Montrose. This steep canyon, formed over two million years of erosion, plunges up to 2,722 feet to the raging Gunnison River below. Activities range from easy - hiking, scenic overlooks and an interactive visitor's center - to extreme - rock climbing, white water rafting and kayaking.
Browns Canyon National Monument
Browns Canyon along the Arkansas River is known around the nation for its excellent rafting. With mountains, canyons, and gulches, there is no wonder why it has been designated as a National Monument.
Along the Colorado-Utah border near Dolores. Home to tribes of people from the Anasazi to the Ute, this site is now populated by more than 20,000 archaeological sites. Visitors can check out ancient dwellings, rock art, artifacts and stunning natural formations.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Visitors can tour the once-great center of Chacoan culture, and thanks to a partnership with the University of New Mexico, view ancient artifacts found at the site. A handful of hiking and bike trails also run through the park, allowing vacationers to fully take in the landscape of mountains and mesas that held deep spiritual meaning for the Puebloan people.
Chimney Rock National Monument
Near Pagosa Springs. Once home to ancestral Puebloan Indians, this village is now a major archaeological site. Visitors can explore many of the structures that have been unearthed, including a grand Kiva and several residential structures.
Near Grand Junction. This gorgeous park full of red rock formations and canyons is perfect for hiking, sightseeing, biking and wildlife-watching. Plenty of scenic drives offer breathtaking overlooks and chances to learn about the various formations.
In south-eastern Colorado near along Highway 160. From dino tracks to Comanche Indian rock art to Santa Fe Trail markers, this park contains several historic mementos marking the area's important role in Colorado's past. Visitors have their choice of recreational activities, such as hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Along the Colorado-Utah border near Dinosaur. This 210,000-acre park is home to thousands of dinosaur bones and several archaeological dig sites. Visitors will also find interesting rock art, historic homestead sites and countless recreation opportunities, including hiking trails and white water rafting tours.
Between Cripple Creek and Woodland Park. This prehistoric lake was wiped out by a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. Now, it's home to layers of sediment featuring the fossils of more than 60,000 plants and animals. Hiking trails through park are a great way to explore.
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
32 miles northeast of Alamosa. This 30-square-mile park is home to the nation's tallest sand dunes, towering as high as 750 feet. Visitors can hike the dunes or venture to nearby Zapata Falls. Kids and adults love splashing in Medano Creek and building sand castles.
Hovenweep National Monument
Along the Colorado-Utah border near Dolores. Visitors can explore five Puebloan-era villages last inhabited during the 13th century, including Kivas and spectacular towers. Check out the many trails that criss-cross the park or one of the many interactive programs offered by park rangers.
Between Cortez and Mancos. Native Americans inhabited this site from 400 to 1300 before they disappeared, leaving behind breathtaking dwellings built into the sides of steep cliffs. Visitors can tour the many sites, hike the park's trails and visit its artifacts-filled museum.
Near Sterling off Highway 14. Chalky bluffs and rock formations punctuate this prairie grassland, the setting for James Michener's "Centennial." Home to many birds of prey and diversity of plant life; popular activities include hiking, horseback riding and trout fishing.
Book-ended by the towns of Grand Lake and Estes Park, this 265,828-acre, wildlife-filled park offers dozens of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, biking and cross-country skiing. The park's Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved | 1,107 |
Search Freedom of Information responses for:
Herring Gull relocation costs (FOI)
Produced by the Freedom of Information office
Authored by States of Jersey and published on 08 January 2018.
Could you please tell me the costs of:
the herring gull (Gulliver) to Les Minquiers. Additionally, the number of civil servants (and respective departments) involved in the process.
The capturing, tagging and relocating, of the herring gull to Les<|fim_middle|> three civil service crew aboard the Norman Le Brocq during its routine patrol, accompanied by one other civil servant involved in releasing the gull at Les Minquiers at an approximate staff cost of £100.00.
This was carried out by volunteers at no cost.
No other departments were involved in capturing, tagging and relocating the herring gull. | Minquiers was carried out as part of the Environment department's normal business as usual operations and no specific additional costs were incurred.
One civil servant was involved in capturing the herring gull. We estimate that it took about two hours to capture the gull and deliver it to JSPCA at an approximate staff cost of £72.00.
The gull was transported to Les Minquiers during a normal routine patrol in territorial waters by the department's Marine Resources team on the sea fisheries vessel (The Norman Le Brocq) and therefore no extra costs were incurred. There were | 119 |
The words you use matters, especially when branding a business. Brand language describes what your business do and how you do it<|fim_middle|>'s your next step? Talk to us! We can help you reach your audience and build a community for your brand with the new language you choose. | , as well as setting your customers and employees expectations from your brand.
Easy to understand words that everyone knows and uses in your marketplace.
Tapping into an appropriate range of experienced-based emotions creates strong impact.
Conveys the hope and dreams of everyone involved in your business.
There are words that are so distinct and rarely used they stick out and becomes memorable.
Sometimes there are words you can pair up with other words, word parts and phrases to create something new.
Use words that can bring depth to your brand because they can be defined in multiple ways or applied in various situations.
And words you can use in various ways and forms.
Identifiers gives us subtle clues of how something should be used or compared, revealing a hidden value or use case you may not have understood before purchase. This also works in more abstract, experience identifiers.
Take Starbucks for example, at the start of their branding they released subtle reference to "The Third Place" — where the comfort of both your home and office is available to you.
The Third Place did not exist before and we wouldn't have understood its value if Starbucks did not name it. This is an example of creating identifiers that allows your audience to be more open to new experiences, belief or expectations. As other brands try to communicate home and work environment, no one has effectively removed preconceived notion or expectations as Starbucks.
The language of metrics covers any metric that quantifies value to the customer whether with hard numbers or soft descriptions. Whether it's features, size, number of customers, revenue, growth or all other metrics, most often than not, it's the biggest player who sets the standards.
So why do people try to aspire or exceed those standards and fail to? It's because we let other companies dictate the language of metrics. And when you use the same metrics as everyone else, you'll most likely fall to the "better" trap.
Box's brand is a better version of Dropbox, but that does nothing to differentiate them. Better is actually worse. Different is what matters.
And a great example of different is MapR.
They don't use the same metric as everyone which in turn moves the goal post closer to their brand and farther from their competitor.
In the language of vocabulary, your day-to-day vocabulary matters. It is the signal of what people can expect from your brand and at the same time dictates your CTAs and consumer behavior.
Speaking in a way your audience expects your brand to is a good thing, sure. Like in the nonprofit sector.
But Falken Tires thought differently, in 2016 they changed their tagline from High Performance Tires to On The Pulse. According to Stephan Cimbal, Head of Marketing of Falken Tires Europe, "Competitors are all communicating on quality, reliability and safety but for a challenger brand like Falken we don't have 50 years to build a reputation", which is true compared to the other players on the industry.
They focused on a more human-centered language that their competitors communication did not use. They are a challenger tire company that focuses on youthful excitement while others are tethered to heritage.
By changing the language they were able to shift the playing field.
Your language is a choice so choose your words carefully. Now that you've thought of your language, what | 664 |
Bed & Breakfasts, Holiday Farms, Guest Houses, Holiday Homes, Accommodations, Apartments, Inns, Hostels, Country Houses and Cheap Stays in Italy!
Each one is a natural paradise to die for, enriched by the warm welcome reserved for visitors, and boasting world heritage traditions and festivals. The Italian islands offer all this and much more.
If you love nature, walks in the woods, mountain peaks reflected in lake waters, wildlife sanctuaries for observing animals in their own habitat, a whole range of flora... plan a holiday in the mountains!
The Italian lakes are a viable alternative to a seaside or mountain break, and a year-round destination.
Wellness has become a full-fledged tourism option and spas are an increasing part of the Italian holiday range.
This section is dedicated to hospitality in "Little Italy", the least known, tucked away in hundreds of small villages that are the foundation of the country's priceless heritage.
A weekend in the beautiful Italian countryside?
In this section you'll find a list of B&Bs that are immersed in the green countryside<|fim_middle|> a bird, keeping a pet is a wonderful experience. | or set in gentle rolling hills.
Whether it's a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a hamster, or | 24 |
El Be Quick 1887 es un equipo de fútbol de los Pa<|fim_middle|>1887
Deporte en Groninga
Países Bajos en 1887 | íses Bajos que juega en la Topklasse, la cuarta división de fútbol en el país.
Historia
Fue fundado el en la ciudad de Groningen por integrantes de un gimnasio local, aunque fue hasta 1895 que militó por primera vez en competiciones a nivel nacional, iniciando en las ligas distritales del norte de Países Bajos.
Se unió a la liga de primera división en 1916, de la cual salió campeón en una ocasión, pero su mayor éxito ha sido en los torneos regionales, en donde han sido campeones en varias ocasiones.
En 1954 el club se convirtió en un equipo profesional e ingresó en la Tweede Divisie hasta lograr el ascenso por primera vez a la Eerste Divisie en 1960, y luego de varios años en la segunda categoría, abandona el rango de equipo profesional en 1963.
Palmarés
National football title: 1
1919-20
Tweede Divisie: 1
1959-60
Campeonato del Norte de Holanda: 18
1895-96, 1896-97, 1905-06, 1914-15, 1915-16, 1916-17, 1917-18, 1918-19, 1919-20, 1920-21, 1921-22, 1922-23, 1923-24, 1925-26, 1935-36, 1936-37, 1937-38, 1940-41
Eerste Klasse: 2
1991-92, 1999-2000
Jugadores
Jugadores destacados
Deck Ruijter Zylker, el único jugador del club que ha jugado internacionalmente para .
Referencias
Enlaces externos
Página oficial
soccerway.com
Equipos de fútbol de los Países Bajos
Equipos de fútbol fundados en | 543 |
Die Pestsäule Traiskirchen steht frei im Hauptplatz der Stadtgemeinde Traiskirchen im Bezirk Baden in Niederösterreich. Die Pestsäule steht unter Denkmalschutz ().
Geschichte
Anlässlich der Pest von 1713 wurde die Pestsäule laut Chronogramm 1722 errichtet. 1822 wurde die Pestsäule restauriert und<|fim_middle|> 1987 restauriert.
Beschreibung
Die Pestsäule als Wolkenpyramide zeigt auf dem Postament mit Ornamenten die Reliefs Mariä Verkündigung, hl. Rosalia, Verlobung der hl. Katharina, Mannaregen, Sieg Davids über Goliath, musizierende Engel sowie Medaillons mit den Heiligen Petrus, Judas Thaddäus und Antonius von Padua. Auf Sockeln vorgestellt stehen die Figuren der Heiligen Sebastian, Rochus von Montpellier und Karl Borromäus. An der Säule steht die Figur Maria auf Wolken schwebend. Auf der Säule steht die Figur hl. Dreifaltigkeit.
Literatur
Traiskirchen, Kleindenkmäler, Dreifaltigkeitssäule (Pestsäule) am Hauptplatz. In: Die Kunstdenkmäler Österreichs. Dehio Niederösterreich südlich der Donau 2003. S. 2360.
Weblinks
Pestsäule
Dreifaltigkeitssäule
Bauwerk in Traiskirchen
Baudenkmal (Niederösterreich)
Skulptur (Österreich)
Christentum in Niederösterreich
Säule in Österreich | mit einer Balustrade umgeben. 1945 sind sechs Figuren von der Balustrade verschwunden. Die Pestsäule wurde | 33 |
David Baldacci has 1 media appearance.
A Conspiracy Around Every Corner In Baldacci's D.C.
With over 110 million copies of his novels in print, David Baldacci is one of the most widely read storytellers in the world. Now he introduces a startling, original new character: a man with perfect memory who must solve his own family's murder. Memory Man Amos Decker's life changed forever--twice. The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first<|fim_middle|>aldacci (Mikki), and two children. His cousin is the Democratic Governor of Maine John Baldacci, first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.
David Baldacci is currently considered a "single author." If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.
David Baldacci is composed of 23 names. You can examine and separate out names. | play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can never forget anything. The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare--his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered.His family destroyed, their killer's identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can. But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice. Memory Man will stay with you long after the turn of the final page.
David Baldacci (b. 1960 in Richmond, Virginia) is a bestselling American novelist. Baldacci received a B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. As a student, Baldacci wrote short stories in his spare time, and later practiced law for nine years near Washington, D.C.. While living in Alexandria, Virginia, Baldacci wrote short stories and screenplays without much success. In despair, he turned to novel writing, taking three years to write Absolute Power. It took Baldacci two years to get the book published, but when it finally did hit the shelves in 1996 it was an international best seller.
David Baldacci serves as a national ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and participates in numerous charities as well as founding his own foundation for literacy, Wish You Well Foundation. Baldacci was raised in Virginia and still resides there (in Vienna, Virginia) with his wife, Michelle A. Collin-B | 469 |
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019 - London - Day 1
Thursday 23 May, 2019
HSBC London Sevens 2019
England's Tom Emery fends against the New Zealand defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Ireland's Jordan Conroy scores a try against Scotland on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Argentina's Francisco Ulloa launches an attack against the South Africa defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
South Africa's Muller du Plessis races away from the Argentina defense for a try on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
South Africa's Kurt-Lee Arendse charges through the Argentina defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Argentina's Luciano Gonzalez fends against the<|fim_middle|> in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Kenya's Jeff Oluoch breaks through the Fiji defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Fiji's Aminiasi Tuimaba races away from the Kenya defense for a try on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Fiji team huddle before the game against Kenya on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
France's Samuel Alerte scores a try against Samoa on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
USA's Carlin Isles races away from the Spain defense for a try on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Australia's Lachie Miller charges through the Wales defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Wales' Tom Rogers charges through the Australia defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
New Zealand team huddle during training session prior to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
New Zealand's Andrew Knewstubb during training session prior to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
New Zealand co-captain Tim Mikkelson during training session prior to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
New Zealand's Sione Molia during training session prior to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
New Zealand's Jona Nareki during training session prior to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Japan's Chihito Matsui during training session prior to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Japan's Kameli Raravou Soejima during training session prior to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Japan's Yoshikazu Fujita during training session prior to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Latymer Upper School Playing Fields in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby | South Africa defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Japan co-captain Kameli Raravou Soejima helps Canada's Luke McCloskey to get up from the floor on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Japan's Toshiki Yamauchi cuts through the Canada defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Japan's Katsuyuki Sakai scores a try against Canada on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Samoa's Joe Perez makes a try saving tackle against Fiji's Alasio Naduva on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Samoa's Tomasi Alosio drives through the Fiji defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Fiji's Waisea Nacuqu cuts through the Samoa defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
World Rugby London Sevens 2019
New Zealand celebrate their qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on day one of the World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Australia's Henry Hutchison charges through the USA defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
USA's Steve Tomasin and Perry Baker celebrate the match winning try against Australia on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
USA's Carlin Isles races away from the Australia defense for a try on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Spain's Sergio Molinero charges against the Wales defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
England's Ryan Olowofela attacks against the Scotland defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
New Zealand's Andrew Knewstubb runs in a try against Ireland on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Ireland's Mick McGrath launches an attack against New Zealand on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
New Zealand's Tone Ng Shiu fends off the Ireland defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
South Africa's Werner Kok and Canada's Nathan Hirayama shake hands after the game on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Spain's Juan Ramos and Australia's Joe Pincus compete for a ball in the air on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Fiji celebrate their qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on day one of the World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
USA celebrate their qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on day one of the World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
USA's Ben Pinkelman breaks through the Wales defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
USA's breaks through the Wales defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
England's Tom Bowen charges through the Ireland defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Ireland's Terry Kennedy attacks against the England defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
England Phil Burgess captain breaks through the Ireland defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Scotland's Alec Coombes scores a try against New Zealand on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
New Zealand co-captain Scott Curry breaks through the Scotland defense for a try on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
South Africa's Selvyn Davids launches an attacks against the Japan defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Canada's Adam Zaruba charges through the Argentina defense on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium in London on 25 May, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Argentina's German Schulz scores a try against Canada on day one of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium | 1,687 |
On the southwest side of the parking lot (right when facing the woods), you will find the red-on-white blazes of the Pine Meadow Trail. Follow the Pine Meadow Trail as it heads southwest, parallel to Seven Lakes Drive. Soon, the trail<|fim_middle|> available on our online store (click here) and will soon be available at our retail partner stores. I would certainly suggest getting a copy! | bears left and heads uphill on a rocky path. After a short level stretch, you'll reach a junction where the Pine Meadow Trail turns right. You should turn left, leaving the Pine Meadow Trail, and follow the blue-on-white-blazed Seven Hills Trail, which begins here.
The Seven Hills Trail climbs steadily along a woods road. After crossing a stream, the trail briefly turns left onto another woods road, then turns right, leaving the road, and continues to ascend. Soon, the trail levels off, the footpath narrows, and you follow undulating terrain, with some short ups and downs. You'll also pass an interesting wetland to the right of the trail.
About a mile and a half from the start, you'll reach a T-intersection with a woods road. The orange-blazed Hillburn-Torne-Sebago (HTS) Trail begins to the right, but you should turn left to continue along the blue-on-white-blazed Seven Hills Trail, which begins a rather steep ascent. The grade soon moderates, then again steepens.
At the top of the ridge, the Seven Hills Trail reaches a junction with the orange-blazed HTS Trail. Turn right and follow the HTS Trail as it runs along the ridge of the Ramapo Torne, reaching its summit in about a third of a mile. Here, there is an expansive view to the south over Torne Valley and Hillburn, with the New York State Thruway visible below.
After spending some time enjoying the view, retrace your steps to the junction with the Seven Hills Trail. Now continue ahead, following the joint HTS/Seven Hills Trail along the ridge, blazed with both orange and blue-on-white blazes.
In 0.2 mile, at a high point on the ridge, the two trails split. Bear left and follow the blue-on-white b7 lazes of 7the Seven Hills Trail, which descends steeply into a gully, then climbs back up to reach a western-facing viewpoint, known as Torne View. From here, the Ramapo Torne, which you just climbed, is visible to the left. The view from this vantage point is far more pristine than that from the Ramapo Torne!
Just beyond Torne View, you will reach a junction with the black-on-white-blazed Raccoon Brook Hills Trail, which begins to the right. Continue ahead, following the blue-on-white blazes of the Seven Hills Trail, which soon begins to descend.
After a short climb over a rise, the Seven Hills Trail descends to reach a junction with the white-blazed Reeves Brook Trail. Turn left, leaving the Seven Hills Trail, and follow the Reeves Brook Trail, which descends steadily on a winding footpath, steeply in places. In a little less than a mile, after passing a cascade in the brook, the Reeves Brook Trail bears right and joins a woods road, continuing to descend along Reeves Brook. When the Reeves Brook Trail ends at a junction with the red-on-white-blazed Pine Meadow Trail, turn left onto the Pine Meadow Trail and follow it a short distance back to the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center parking lot, where the hike began.
This loop hike at the southern end of Harriman State Park leads to an expansive viewpoint from the summit of the Ramapo Torne.
Take N.J. Route 17 north to the New York State Thruway and take the first exit., Exit 15A (Sloatsburg). Turn left at the bottom of the ramp onto N.Y. Route 17 north, and continue through the Village of Sloatsburg. Just past the village, turn right at the traffic light, following the sign for Harriman State Park. Cross an overpass over railroad tracks and continue along the Seven Lakes Drive, passing under the Thruway overpass, and soon entering Harriman State Park. Proceed for another mile to the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center, on the right side of the road. Park in the Visitor Center's parking lot.
New Harriman-Bear Mountains Maps Available Now!
Thanks for your hike report. It's good to hear you enjoyed this great hike.
There have certainly been several changes on the maps since the 2003 9th edition (we're now up to the 13th edition!). The new 2010 maps are now | 891 |
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Home Home Second Half of Portland, ME TV JSA sold
Second half of Portland ME TV JSA sold
By Dave Seyler on Mar, 12 2012 from http://rbr.com/second-half-of-portland-me-tv-jsa-sold/
We knew about the sale of WPXT-DT in Portland ME, and we also knew from the contract for that deal that something was also up for its JSA partner, WPME. Now we know what that something is.
The Channel 35 MNT affiliate is going from its licensee MPS Media of Portland License, headed by Eugene J. Brown, to Triumph Broadcasting LLC, headed by Robert J. McCulloch and Jesse Froslie. Froslie provides a bit of a wrinkle in the transaction in the form of being a citizen of Canada, but with a stake of only 20% the holding does not exceed permissible levels of foreign ownership.
The price for the station is $75K cash.
Like WPXT, the station was formerly part of the now-defunct Pegasus television group. Brown picked it up pursuant to terms of a 8/7/06 contract for only $4K.
As the WPXT contract hinted at a change in ownership at WPME, so does the WPME contract hint at a change in ownership at WPXT.
New Age Media is selling CW WPXT to Frank Copsidas and his Tyche Broadcasting in a deal also valued at $75K. Broker Michael Bergner handled both transactions.
Edward Christian, President & CEO, Saga Communications - "committed"...
Sean Stover, CFO, Next Media - "intense"...
David Benjamin, President & CEO, Triad Broadcasting - "tenacious"...
Lew Dickey, President & CEO , Cumulus Media -<|fim_middle|>. Broker"...
Joe Mathias, Former Partner, Benchmark Communications - "driven"...
Bergner & Co.
Bergner & Co. Bergner & Co. | "persistent"...
Jeff Warshaw, President & CEO, Connoisseur Media - "connected"...
Michael Metter, President & CEO, Business Talk Radio - "efficient"...
Jeff Wilks, President & CEO, Wilks Broadcasting - "quick"...
Peter Davidson, President & CEO, Davidson Media - "smart"...
James Embrescia, President & CEO, Media One - "professional"...
David Jacobs, President & CEO, Independence Media - "thoughtful"...
Clarke Brown, Former President, Jefferson Pilot Radio - "unique"...
Rogers Brandon, Vice President, American General Media - "intense"...
Don Turner, CFO, Sunburst Media - "aggressive"...
Craig Klosk, Partner, Wicks Group - "knowledgeable"...
Terry Jacobs, Former President and CEO Regent Communications - "thorough"...
Morgan Dowdy, President & CEO, San Dow Communications - "diversified"...
Barry Drake, President & CEO, Backyard Broadcasting - "there"...
George Beasley, President & CEO, Beasley Broadcasting - "Mr | 225 |
Don't forget to tune your site!
So you have a website, and it is getting some good traffic. Awesome! Now don't forget to feed the hamsters from time to time or your wheel might stop spinning. Tuning your website helps ensure it functions to its fullest and remains a destination for people to visit.
Your webserver or webhost is gathering very useful information…but unless you read and analyze them, why gather the data and take up space? Using weblog analysis applications will help distinguish what is being done to your<|fim_middle|> customers, make sure old accounts are removed, passwords for your database logins and admin logins are changed regularly and no anonymous accounts gain access to your site.
Those are just a few hints to help. Please feel free to contribute others! | site by your visitors. It also shows where your visitors may come from…target those heavy hitters!
As your webserver collects that useful information, the storage requirements grow with the data. Don't forget to go back and clean up after the webserver from time to time to ensure you are not reaching any space limitations.
As your website changes with the times, you might start compiling pages with a ".old" extension. Now is the time to delete those versioned files that may have changed. This also includes any images that are no longer used. Again, this frees up valuable disk space and cut down on clutter.
Is your website database driven? Many times change history and stats are gathered in your database. Purge and archive routines help keep databases running efficiently and serving content the fastest way possible.
Audit your security. Who has access to what and what do they have access to. If you allow public interaction on your website or offer ftp ability to | 190 |
Bentley R-Type Sports Special, 1954
Bentley R-Type Sports Special, year 1954. Colour silver metallic with a pale green cast, pale green leather interior with matching carpet. This tremendous Bentley Sports Special was built by the Englishman Jim York. York spent about ten years converting the Bentley R-type (chassis B91WX) to this breath-taking Sports Special. The idea was to create a car that "Handled like a Bentley but rode like a Rolls Royce". The result is a Bentley special with design elements of the sporty (Jaguar) SS 100 and the Grandeur of a<|fim_middle|> Bentley Drivers Club's Rousham House Gathering (having collected numerous BDC Concours awards in between times). From its completion in the early 1990's this fine automobile has driven about 16.000 Miles. This Bentley R-Type Sports Special was serviced and maintained perfectly. This magnificent 'one off' automobile is in superb top condition and the car drives delightfully! | Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster. The aluminium bodywork panels were hand crafted to perfection by York himself! The chassis and suspension were modified to match the much lighter bodywork. Performance was enhanced with bigger S.U. carburettors and an additional overdrive to the gearbox. Now 8 gear ratios are available. The top speed was increased significantly, and the engine revs were now much lower at cruising speeds. Everything you see is hand crafted, the four-person picnic case was handmade from scratch and it took nine months to be completed. This very special Bentley debuted at the Bentley Drivers Club's Hatfield House Meeting in 1993 where it took 1st-in-class during the Concours d 'Elegance competition. Fourteen years later, in 2007 the car became 1st-in-class at the | 174 |
As a long weekend came about, I couldn't let this chance slip<|fim_middle|> has been going through (what may seem) a very repetitive and boring routine. He wakes up early in the morning and roasts his coffee beans. Opens up his shop at ten. Sells beans and serves coffee to the customer that walk in. Then closes up shop at 7pm.
But anyone who appreciates the art of coffee would not be able to help but fall in love with this beautiful place. It may appear that it has taken him about 5 minutes to make this coffee, but in reality it has taken him decades to make this coffee. (Which is beyond words can describe. I just finished taking my last sip.) To 'the Doctor', his life isn't boring or mundane, its perfect. Every day is a completely new adventure which revolves around something he loves, and gets to share with others. I'm grateful to be able have been on the receiving end, and am ready to hit the road. Thank you, Mr. Doctor, not just for these priceless moments, but for inspiring me to start off this trip in just the right mindset.
« To run, or not to run.
So happy to see you writing again…. and what a comeback! I enjoyed sipping every word and I am looking forward to joining you on this journey. Can't wait for the next entry! | by. I packed my stuff (the bare minimum) and set out to explore as much of Japan as I could during the next 4.5 days. I wrote some journal entries during this trip, which I'll share just as the way they were written down originally, over the course of the next few blog posts. My goal was to write an entry a day.
Wednesday, 21st of September, 2016.
BMW R1200R. 4.5 day tour. Tsuruoka > Shikoku > Tsuruoka.
Sometimes, when you're busy at work, you get used to moving quickly from one task to the next, all the while thinking of ways to maximize your efficiency and output. And sometimes that causes a bit of stress. The last thing I want to do is take some of that stress with me over the next few days, as I travel about 2500 kilometers around Japan. That is why I have decided to make 'this' my starting point.
'This' is Coffea. As I walked in, pushing the rustic old wooden door, the incredibly pleasant and soothing aroma overwhelmed my senses. Gradually, as I began to sit down, I began to hear the classical music playing in the background accompanied by the sound of coffee beans being hand-picked by the coffee master himself, or as my father would call him; 'the Doctor'. This is how my routine fast-paced sense of time began its distortion. It feels like nothing's matters, nothing at all, but for this exact moment. For the duration of this trip, I'm going to be doing a lot of riding. And for an unaccustomed motorcycle rider, that may seem very repetitive, mundane or even crazy. But here I am, witnessing 'the Doctor' experience his life. For years, day after day, he | 382 |
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Lifework Diane Paddison
Flourish Sherry Surratt
Wild Hope Austin Channing Brown
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Cross + Culture Helen Lee
Live Love Margot Starbuck
About TCW
Home>2010>April Issue
Celebration … Eventually
The Old Testament's Naomi has a lot to teach us about this spiritual discipline.
Liz Curtis Higgs
I love anything fun. Especially if it involves laughing so hard that people crane their heads to see what's going on. And food shared with friends? They don't call 'em party trays for nothing.
But celebration goes far deeper than eating, drinking, and making merry.
Some of us celebrate Lent in a dimly lit sanctuary with sober music and ashes rubbed across our foreheads. Others celebrate communion with bowed knees and a lengthy silence. Even funerals celebrate a life well spent, despite the certainty of tears.
All celebration has this in common: a need to recognize something good, to acknowledge God at work in our lives. For a minute, an hour, a day, we intentionally put aside all the negative stuff and honor "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable" (Philippians 4:8).
Celebration doesn't just happen. It's a decision of the will and a discipline of the spirit: to see hope where there appears to be none; to proclaim good news despite the discouraging reports that surround us; to look beyond the present and<|fim_middle|> the women of Bethlehem said to Naomi, "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer" (Ruth 4:14). Though Naomi didn't speak, her joy was obvious as she "took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him" (Ruth 4:16).
Happy endings, in Scripture and in life, seldom come easily. They are hard won through a daily commitment to finding joy in the midst of junk and celebrating the good, rather than whining about the bad. In the words of the Teacher, "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other" (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Embrace them both and you'll discover the delicious fruit of this divine discipline: peace.
Read more articles that highlight writing by Christian women at ChristianityToday.com/Women
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Attitude; Celebration; Joy; Praise; Struggles
From Issue:
Today's Christian Woman, April , 2010
Sacred Celebration
It isn't just about parties and food, says author Shauna Niequist. It's much deeper, lasting, and ever-present.
Ginger Kolbaba
'Every moment is a worship offering to God.'
When Work Steals Your Life Away
Steps for repairing the damage
Diane Paddison
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Sign Up For Our Newsletter CT's weekly newsletter highlighting the voices of women writers. We report on news and give our opinion on topics such as church, family, sexuality, discipleship, pop culture, and more! | glimpse a brighter horizon ahead.
On our best days, a celebration mindset isn't hard to manage.
It's those other days we need to talk about. The ones when grumpiness far outweighs gladness, and the call to celebrate falls on deaf ears.
Our role model for learning how to celebrate even when life goes awry may surprise you: Naomi, that whiny widow from the Old Testament.
Embrace the Good and the Bad
Though her name means "pleasant," Naomi was far from cheerful at the start of her story: In three verses (Ruth 1:3-5) her life fell apart. Her husband died, her sons married pagan women, then both lads dropped dead, leaving Naomi to provide for two foreign daughters-in-law. Only someone heartless—or clueless—would suggest she reach for the confetti in such a dire situation.
Naomi reacted as any of us might. She told grief-stricken Ruth and Orpah, "It is more bitter for me than for you" (Ruth 1:13). Sure, we get this. My pain is worse than your pain. How many times have I thought those words—even said them—while listening to a friend's litany of hurts, all the while comparing them to mine?
Naomi offered a bitter explanation for her plight: "because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!" (Ruth 1:13). Negativity rolled off the woman in waves. I've been there as well, seeing God's hand as a slap in the face, rather than as a loving, guiding presence in my life.
Yet moving forward with Naomi, it's clear something happened. Something good. She began to praise God, rather than blame him. When she heard of Boaz's kindness to her daughter-in-law, Naomi responded, "The LORD bless him!" (Ruth 2:20). Sounds like celebration to me.
Naomi was practicing what the New Testament calls "a sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15). Praising God when it costs you something, when it isn't easy but it's right. That's where the discipline bit comes in. The psalmist of the Old Testament well knew the challenge of celebrating when it hurts: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God" (Psalm 43:5).
I will yet praise him. A decision, a discipline. When we lift our eyes from the pain of the moment to the promise of the future, our hearts and minds lift as well, giving us the strength to go on.
In Naomi's case, she began to put Ruth's happiness above her own: "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for?" (Ruth 3:1). And when Ruth found that home and bore a son, | 617 |
Ari<|fim_middle|> publicly what her future real estate plans might be, it's a safe bet that she and her husband Dalton Gomez will not be homeless. In June 2020 Ariana paid Ellen DeGeneres $6.75 million for a home in Montecito, California.
You can check out the former Ariana Grande residence in this unusual promotional video below from Black Sail Media:
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맥 밀러 Net Worth
이기 진달래 Net Worth
셀레나 고메즈 Net Worth | ana Grande Sells Hollywood Hills Home For $14 Million – A Year And A Half After Buying It For $13.7 Million
셀럽들의 부동산
Just a year and a half after she purchased a stylish Hollywood Hills mansion for $13.7 million, Ariana Grande has flipped it around for $14 million on the dot. While the home may not have been satisfactory for the somewhat newly married Grande, it's an impressive abode at any rate. The property has four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and some incredible Los Angeles views.
purchased a stylish Hollywood Hills mansion for $13.7 millionAriana Grande
Altogether, the home boats more than 10,000 square feet of interior space across three stories, with room for amenities like a full gym, wellness center, home theater, nightclub-style bar, and a wine cellar with space for up to 300 bottles. In case you don't remember the house from when it was for sale last summer, here are some more details from the property's official sales listing:
"Extravagant volume, disappearing walls of glass, smart-home technology and jaw-dropping views of the city, ocean & beyond make this rare offering one to behold. Gourmet chef's kitchen w/black silk granite island, SuMisura brass-accented Italian cabinets, Miele appliances & more. Indoor/outdoor living at its finest, the Fleetwood pocket doors allow for a seamless flow from the main interior to the deck with infinity edge pool blending into the astonishing vistas. Escape to the decadent master spanning the entire top level w/luxurious walk-in closet, lounges, dual vanities, tub, glass shower & water closets."
Grande made a nominal profit on the sale, roughly $300,000, but between fees and closing costs, she probably came out just about even. If you include property taxes and general maintenance costs, she likely lost a little bit of money.
And even though it's not known | 416 |
The discovery of an ancient architectural structure from the Hasmonean era in Jerusalem, the latest in a series of archaeological findings that connects the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, has become an ideological tool for Minister of Education Naftali Bennett, among others.
A worker for the Israel Antiquities Authority works at an excavation site where a compound containing an oil press, a wine press and m<|fim_middle|>ased it. His reference is to the IDF destroying historical sites mainly during the 1948 War of Independence. Most readers of this article were enraged. "It's shameful that something like this is published," an anonymous Internet user wrote as a comment to the article on the site.
Did the discovery of the findings from the time of the Hasmoneans really amazingly match the date of the holiday that commemorates their victory? Or perhaps the researchers waited to publish the discovery so as to achieve the full emotional, religious and national effect?
"Archaeology is connected to the Zionist ethos, to identity, to internal tensions in Israel. The destruction of history, or its discovery, is part of the struggle for legitimacy," said professor Yossi Shain, the chair of the diplomacy program in the political science department at Tel Aviv University. Shain wrote the introduction to Dorfman's book, where he mentioned one of the most effective ideological tools in Israel: Masada. The Masada archaeological site was uncovered in a dig in the 1960s and has been used for years as the venue for the induction of new IDF recruits. On such ceremonies, the recruits declare, "Masada shall never fall again." This slogan transforms the Masada story of Jewish rebels opposing the Roman Empire into a symbol of everlasting Jewish resistance.
But even without reaching such extreme incidents of hiding findings, it is clear that archaeology is being used at times as an effective tool to inflame public spirit. Israelis should be aware of the fact that beyond scientific revelations, archaeology can also carry with it ideological messages manipulated by people with interests. | osaics was exposed near the Israeli town of Beit Shemesh, Sept. 18, 2014.
Nearly 12,000 people liked the Hebrew language post, and close to 1,200 people shared it. The English Facebook post was shared by 550 people.
Bennett was talking about an archaeological find from 2012, but researchers from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) finished reassembling it at the beginning of this month.
The kind of behavior exhibited by the minister, where ancient artifacts are at the service of a political belief, is in itself an Israeli archaeological practice. In fact, archaeology in Israel has often been steeped in ideology, where stakeholders use some of the findings in instinctive and emotional ways. The penetration of ideology into the field of archaeology is a hot topic. In the first half of this year alone, several conferences were held on this issue.
The book "Under the Surface," by the late Shuka Dorfman, who was the head of the IAA for 14 years, was recently published. It describes the connection between archaeology and politics in Israel. "Zionism, like other national movements, has used archaeological science for national ends. The remnants of the past have become tangible evidence for the historical connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel, its homeland," he writes.
"Public interest in archaeology is almost always ideological," archaeologist Moti Aviam of the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology at Kinneret College told Al-Monitor. Aviam, along with Lea Mandelzis, the head of the department of communications at the college, organized a conference on this very topic last year.
Aviam recalls one of the first television programs in Israel anchored by renowned archaeologist and former Minister Yigael Yadin. "The program was titled 'Breaking the Code' (literally, 'Zaphenath-paneah,' the name given to Joseph by the Egyptians, Genesis 41:45). I watched as a kid with my mouth agape. Now it's gone. What still exists? When there's some fantastic finding it appears on the first pages of the big newspapers, and usually it's connected to the Jews and Judaism and our right to this land. Then everyone wakes up," he said.
An article published June 2 by the Israeli news website Mako demonstrates this dichotomy. It criticized Israeli hypocrisy regarding the shock at the destruction of the antiquities of the Syrian city of Palmyra by the Islamic State, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) itself "made sure to flatten history," as the author phr | 557 |
The institute champions the legacy of the brothers-in-arts Sergei Parajanov (1924-1990) & Mikhail Vartanov (1937-2009) who overcame persecution and won the admiration of cinema's greatest artists.
"The Color of Pomegranates by Parajanov, in my opinion one of the best contemporary film directors, strikes with its perfection of beauty."
— MICHELANGELO ANTONIONI
"Vartanov's film Parajanov: The Last Spring was created under prohibitive conditions and yet exemplifies the power of art over any limitations."
— FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA
Parajanov created the masterpieces Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964) and The Color of Pomegranates (1969).
Vartanov filmed the timeless documentaries The Color of Land (1969), Seasons (1975), and The Last Spring (1992).
The work of Parajanov and Vartanov, as a director and a cinematographer, respectively, has been voted among the greatest<|fim_middle|>."
— TONINO GUERRA
"In the temple of cinema there are images, light and reality. Sergei Paradjanov was the master of that temple…"
— JEAN-LUC GODARD
"…Mikhail Vartanov…made a wonderful film Parajanov: The Last Spring…"
"Always with huge gratitude and pleasure I remember the films of Sergei Parajanov, which I love very much. His way of thinking, his paradoxical poetical… ability to love the beauty and ability to be absolutely free within his own vision."
— ANDREI TARKOVSKY
"Probably, besides the film language suggested by Griffith and Eisenstein… cinema has not discovered anything revolutionarily new until (Parajanov's) The Color of Pomegranates…"
"My dear friend (Vartanov)…should you like the (screenplay) Desert, together we could make a masterpiece…"
— ARTAVAZD PELESHIAN
"We have to ensure that the work of seminal artists like Vartanov is preserved…his films…made under the harshest conditions…are crucial to the important heritage of world cinema."
— AGNIESZKA HOLLAND
"Vartanov…the Eyemoman…"
— WILLIAM SAROYAN
Now available: The Colour of Pomegranates by Sergei Paradjanov, The Color of Armenian Land by Mikhail Vartanov, and The Last Film by Martiros Vartanov on Criterion Collection Blu-ray/DVD.
PARAJANOV.com — a widely quoted website — was thought up in 1995 at San Francisco Film Festival, then concieved in 1999 in Hollywood, and born in 2001 to unite the fans, friends and family of the legendary director and artist Sergei Paradjanov (1924-1990).
The website strives to correct the inaccurate information on Paradjanov in media: tries to ensure that all things Paradjanov are presented in the most respectful manner; has publicized and stopped the sale of what our experts believed were forged Parajanov artworks; and over the years has been successful in its goal of familiarizing the world more
closely with the art of this great master. In 2010, the continuation of this work has been
ensured by the foundation of the Parajanov-Vartanov Institute.
http://www.parajanov.com/home.html | films of all time by BFI.
The institute's founder is their disciple and UCLA alum Martiros M. Vartanov — Boy With a Movie Camera.
Parajanov & Vartanov Letters
"My dear friend Sergei Iosifovich [Parajanov]…as for me, I'm certain that you've come into this world to counterbalance mediocrity and swinishness…when I think of you [in prison] I don't want to live…"
"Vartanov…my brother-in-arts…you possess everthing an artist needs – mind, kindness, principles, freedom… Create…perhaps you're the only friend who compels me to live…"
— SERGEI PARAJANOV
Quotes about Parajanov & Vartanov
"With the death of Parajanov, cinema lost one of its magicians. Parajanov's fantasy will forever fascinate and bring joy to the people of the world…"
— FEDERICO FELLINI
GIULIETTA MASINA
"Vartanov's film, Parajanov: The Last Spring, about the last days of our great Parajanov, excited and filled me with the strength to resume the way of the magnificent tale that the Maestro had taken | 264 |
Toward a coronavirus breathalyzer test
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | August 19, 2020
"Multiplexed Nanomaterial-Based Sensor Array for Detection of COVID-19 in Exhaled Breath"
Few people who have undergone nasopharyngeal swabs for coronavirus testing would describe it as a pleasant experience. The procedure involves sticking a long swab up the nose to collect a sample from the back of the nose and throat, which is then analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have developed a prototype device that non-invasively detected COVID-19 in the exhaled breath of infected patients.
In addition to being uncomfortable<|fim_middle|> into the device for 2-3 seconds from a distance of 1–2 cm. Once machine learning identified a potential COVID-19 signature, the team tested the accuracy of the device on a subset of participants. In the test set, the device showed 76% accuracy in distinguishing COVID-19 cases from controls and 95% accuracy in discriminating COVID-19 cases from lung infections. The sensor could also distinguish, with 88% accuracy, between sick and recovered COVID-19 patients. Although the test needs to be validated in more patients, it could be useful for screening large populations to determine which individuals need further testing, the researchers say.
The authors acknowledge funding from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS' mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. The Society is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder® and STN®), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS' main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
ACS Newsroom
newsroom@acs.org
A new sensor can detect COVID-19 in exhaled breath.
Credit: Adapted from ACS Nano 2019, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c05657
View the Image | , the current gold standard for COVID-19 testing requires RT-PCR, a time-consuming laboratory procedure. Because of backlogs, obtaining a result can take several days. To reduce transmission and mortality rates, healthcare systems need quick, inexpensive and easy-to-use tests. Hossam Haick, Hu Liu, Yueyin Pan and colleagues wanted to develop a nanomaterial-based sensor that could detect COVID-19 in exhaled breath, similar to a breathalyzer test for alcohol intoxication. Previous studies have shown that viruses and the cells they infect emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be exhaled in the breath.
The researchers made an array of gold nanoparticles linked to molecules that are sensitive to various VOCs. When VOCs interact with the molecules on a nanoparticle, the electrical resistance changes. The researchers trained the sensor to detect COVID-19 by using machine learning to compare the pattern of electrical resistance signals obtained from the breath of 49 confirmed COVID-19 patients with those from 58 healthy controls and 33 non-COVID lung infection patients in Wuhan, China. Each study participant blew | 232 |
The 10 Best Home Bluetooth Speakers in 2023
Here are our top picks for the best home Bluetooth speakers for home audio listening that provide superb sound quality and deep bass response. Our experts have tested over a hundred home Bluetooth speakers to determine which ones are the best for home audio entertainment with quality wireless Bluetooth streaming and surround sound performance. These speakers can produce a tremendous amount of volume to fill up your living space with quality music without any distortion. They also feature unique and sleek designs which blend in nicely with modern home interior décor. If you are looking for the best home Bluetooth speakers to place in your living room or bedroom for easy listening, be sure to check out our top picks below!
1 #1 Best Overall: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 Home Bluetooth Speaker
2 #2 Best Sound Quality: Sonos Play 5 Home Speaker
3 #3 Best Design: Marshall Stanmore Home Bluetooth Speaker
4 #4 Best Bass: Harman Kardon Aura Studio 2 Home Bluetooth Speaker
5 #5 Best 360 Sound: Bose SoundLink Revolve Home Bluetooth Speaker
6 #6 Best Sound Clarity: DOSS SoundBox XL Home Bluetooth Speaker
7 #7 Best Stereo Sound: Edifier R1850DB Home Bluetooth Speaker
8 #8 Best Bamboo Speaker: AOMAIS LIFE 30W Home Bluetooth Speaker
9 #9 Most Compact: Bose SoundLink Mini 2 Home Bluetooth Speaker
10 #10 Mini Home Theater: Polk Audio MagniFi Home Bluetooth Speaker
#1 Best Overall: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4 Home Bluetooth Speaker
The Harman Kardon Onyx is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that deliver really powerful sound performance and a sleek design in a single package. It is a home Bluetooth speaker that excels in terms of versatility and sound performance – the acoustic drivers are capable of delivering full-range sound quality with virtually no distortion at high volume levels. It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery that supports up to 8 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge and allows you to stream music wirelessly via Bluetooth from your smartphone devices. You can also connect up to 2 smartphone devices at the same time, or pair two Studio 4s together with the Harman Kardon Connect+ app. The Onxy Studio 4 speaker also comes with a built-in microphone with Voice-Logic echo and noise cancellation for you to take conference calls from the comfort of your home. It also supports Siri and Google Now apps with a simple touch of the button. If you are looking for one of the best home Bluetooth speakers for home audio entertainment, the Onxy Studio 4 speaker comes highly recommended.
We were really impressed by how good the Haram Kardon Onxy Studio 4 sounded straight out of the box. The speaker is slightly larger than expected and comes with nice packaging – it is relatively heavy which indicates that it is made out of quality materials. The speaker can produce a tremendous amount of volume and get really loud – it delivers crisp highs, detailed midranges and deep bass that resonate throughout the entire room. You can practically crank up the volume on the Studio 4 to maximum and not experience any distortion, with crystal clear vocals and consistent sound output. The bass and treble ranges blend in smoothly and do not sound harsh or muddy at all – the bass hits hard and produces deep punchy beats that you can feel. Bass-heavy music genres sounded really good with the Studio 4 speakers – electronic dance music was punchy and tight, while rock and hip-hop sounded crystal clear with plenty of lower-midrange notes. Vocal performances are reproduced with pristine accuracy and you can hear every single detail in the music with a decent degree of stereo separation. The bass effects and voice clarity that the Studio 4 speaker has is simply outstanding for a home Bluetooth speaker in this category. In short, if you are looking for a speaker with incredible music sound quality, the Onxy Studio 4 is the way to go.
The Studio 4 speaker is relatively large and is perfect for placement in the living room or dining room where most people can enjoy the music. It features a really unique curved design that blends in nicely with modern home interior décor with a sleek appearance. The speaker comes with a nice and stable base with two feet at the back which helps to balance and secure the speaker in place. Despite the speaker's relatively large size, it comes with a handle at the top which makes moving the speaker really easy. The studio 4 speaker allows you to connect up to two Bluetooth speakers at the same and interchange between them which is really convenient. You can also connect two or more Studio 4 speakers together using the Harman Kardon Connect app. The speaker power buttons are located behind the speaker and fit in nicely with the overall design. The Studio 4 has a built-in battery that delivers up to 8 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge. We also liked the built-in microphone with noise cancellation technology which allows you to take conference calls over the speaker from the comfort of your home – all in all a very neat setup.
The Verdict? The Harman Kardon Onxy Studio 4 is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that delivers outstanding music quality with a sleek and modern design. The Studio 4 speaker is relatively large and fits nicely in living rooms or bedrooms – it has a unique curved oval design with two feet at the back to stabilize<|fim_middle|>time, longer Bluetooth range and a mutli-function button for changing songs. It also comes with a micro USB charger for you to charge the speaker while connected to a laptop or electrical outlet. The speaker also has voice prompts which automatically tell you the battery life over time.
The Bose SoundLink Mini 2 is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that packs great sound performance in a small package. This speaker is specially geared towards sound performance and music quality – they are some of the best home Bluetooth speakers we have listened to that managed to effectively articulate the details in the music with very good bass reproduction. If you are very particular with your music, the Bose SoundLink Mini 2 will deliver exceptionally good sound quality. It also features the latest Bluetooth technology for consistent and high quality music streaming. The volume on the SoundLink Mini 2 can get exceptionally loud and is powerful enough to keep the party going through the night. It's a great option for those looking for one of the best home Bluetooth speakers with a relatively compact size and superb sound quality.
#10 Mini Home Theater: Polk Audio MagniFi Home Bluetooth Speaker
The Polk Audio MagniFi is one the best home Bluetooth speakers that doubles as a mini home theater setup. The entire setup consists of a home theater sound bar system with a subwoofer that delivers room-filling audio and surround sound performance that you can expect from a home theater sound bar. It comes with Polk Audio's voice adjust technology which increases vocal clarity and volume level for crystal clear dialogues. It also features Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding which creates really good room-filling audio performance with full-range sound quality. The speaker features wireless Bluetooth connectivity and can stream music directly from your mobile device; it is also compatible with all TVs. The speaker comes with a wireless subwoofer which delivers deep impactful bass for music and movies. The wireless music streaming works with any TV, cable box or satellite IR remote control – it also has optimized movie, music and sport EQ modes which you can use to adjust the sound quality according to your preferences. The MagniFi speakers are designed to be ultra-compact and blend in nicely with home interior décor. If you are looking for one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that can mimic a full home theater setup, the MagniFi speakers are the ones to get.
We were very surprised at how good the sound from the MagniFi sound bar and subwoofer sounded straight out of the box. We were initially sceptical that such a compact soundbar could produce surround sound – but we were proven wrong by these speakers. The soundbar provides really good room-filling surround sound and listening to the speaker feels as though you are listening to a multi-channel speaker. The level of detail in the music separation and soundstage is incredible – you get full immersive sound quality with a level of detail and vocal clarity that you would expect from a full-blown home theater system. The downward-firing subwoofer produces very deep bass that really resonates through the entire room – music and movies sound especially good with the subwoofer and have plenty of depth. The highs and treble ranges are neatly reproduced without any harshness; the timbre ranges feel smooth and pretty well-defined. The midranges are crisp and detailed, while the lower-midrange is really accentuated by the dedicated subwoofer. When we connected the MagniFi speakers to the TV, we were surprised at how good the speakers sound – they really do sound like home theater system speakers and produce surround sound which gives the impression that the sound is coming from different angles. In terms of sound quality, it's definitely hard to go wrong with the MagniFi speakers.
The MagniFi speakers come with wireless Bluetooth connectivity which works like a charm – you can easily stream music from your smartphone device to these speakers and the sound quality is really good. The sound is well-balanced and rarely requires any tweaks; it also has different EQ options to choose from to adjust the sound performance according to your individual preferences. The single sound bar that comes with this system has a six driver array that projects sound in different directions and creates an immersive soundstage. It also has a wireless subwoofer which connects to the subwoofer to deliver deep bass output. The speakers are relatively compact and fit easily into tight spaces while delivering room-filling audio. The system is equipped with Polk's exclusive Voice Adjsut technology which increases vocal clarity – you can practically crank up the volume on the MagniFi and get very little to virtually no distortion. The universal sound bar works with the TV, cable box or satellite IR remote control and can be setup easily with a HDMI ARC cable. We also liked the fact that the speakers come with a night mode which allows you to listen to music soundtracks without disturbing the neighbors or family members. The MangiFi supports wireless streaming via WiFi, Google Home with Chromecast Audio and wireless Bluetooth streaming.
The Verdict? The Polk Audio MagniFi is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that delivers home theater surround sound performance. It comes with a wireless soundbar and wireless subwoofer that delivers room-filling audio performance and immersive sound. The soundbar itself comes with six driver arrays that help to create a virtual soundstage and project sound effectively. The wireless subwoofer punches very deep and hits hard – the amount of bass that we heard from these speakers is staggeringly powerful. The soundbar also provides really good separation and makes you feel as though you are listening to a full 5.1 sound setup. The wireless Bluetooth connectivity works like a charm and we were able to stream music directly from our smartphone device to the MagniFi speakers without any issues. Furthermore, the MangiFi system can be easily connected to your TV or home console via HDMI cables or through the Wi-Fi network. The speakers feature Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding codec which enhances the overall sound quality and vocal clarity. If you are looking for one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that can produce really good home-theater surround sound, the Polk Audio MagniFi speakers are the ones to get.
← The Top 10 Best Speakers for Xbox One in 2023
The Top 8 Best Razer Headsets in 2023 → | it. The sound performance from the Studio 4 is crystal clear, with crisp highs, detailed midranges and very deep bass response. The treble ranges are clear and smooth with great tonal clarity – you can also crank up the volume on the Studio 4 to maximum and practically hear no distortion which is really good. The Bluetooth connectivity on the Studio 4 is excellent and we did not experience any dips in sound quality while streaming music via Bluetooth – it also allows you to connect up to 2 Bluetooth devices at a time to the Studio 4 and multiple Studio 4 speakers together via the Harman Kardon Connect app. We liked the built-in microphone which provides crystal clear call quality for conferences. Overall, the Studio 4 is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers available and we definitely highly recommend them if you want a good quality speaker for home audio entertainment.
#2 Best Sound Quality: Sonos Play 5 Home Speaker
The Sonos Play 5 is hands down one of the best home Bluetooth speakers in terms of sound quality. The level of sound performance that you get with the Sonos Play 5 is superb – with extremely powerful bass, detailed midranges, crisp highs and full-range sound. They can handle almost any music genre with impeccable clarity and depth, and are great for home audio listening or for surround sound setups. The Sonos Play 5 Bluetooth speaker comes equipped with six amplifiers and six dedicated speaker drivers which provide full-range sound performance. It has enough volume to fill up a large room with pure sound quality and deep bass response; you can also pair an additional Play 5 for a much wider stereo soundstage. The Sonos Play 5 also features multi-room connectivity and allows you to play songs in different rooms at the same time or sync a single song in your entire home with multiple speakers. The only downside to the Sonos Play 5 is that it requires Wi-Fi connectivity to stream music wirelessly. That being said, because more data is transmitted over Wi-Fi, this increases the sound quality that you get from the Play 5. Overall, it's one of the best home Bluetooth speakers you can find that delivers incredibly good sound and we highly recommend them.
We were blown away by the sound performance of the Sonos Play 5 speaker. It functions really well as a center-channel speaker and delivers crisp sound quality with clear vocals and treble ranges. The bass response on the Play 5 punches deep and has plenty of depth. The midranges on the Play 5 are very nicely distilled and sound great even at high volume levels. You can really crank up the volume on the Play 5 without experiencing any distortion and the sound quality remains pure and consistent. You really do get a sense of how powerful the Sonos Play 5 speaker is once you have listened to them for a period of time – they can easily fill up a large living room with full-range sound quality and make you feel as though you are listening to high-end speaker setup. They are great for disco parties and have enough bass to make bass-heavy music genres such as electronic dance music sound really catchy and fun to listen to. Vocal performances sound surprisingly clear and distilled down to its core – you can even pick up details and instrumental notes in music soundtracks which you may not have noticed before. The bottom line is that if you are looking for a home speaker that can deliver superb sound quality above other considerations, the Sonos Play 5 will not disappoint.
The Sonos Play 5 has a sleek and modern looking design that blends in nicely with modern home interior – it is available in black or white colors according to your individual preference. The speakers look really good in living rooms or bedrooms and has a minimalist design that looks really elegant. The speaker is perfect for multi-room speaker installations and sync with Wi-Fi connection. To stream music to the Sonos Play 5, you will need to download the Sonos Connect App into your smartphone – it also works with Spotify and Pandora. The app user interface comes with all the basic functions you need to operate the speaker including volume controls and skip soundtracks; it is simple and relatively easy to operate. The only quibble we have with the Sonos Play 5 is that it requires Wi-Fi connectivity to operate – that being said, the sound quality streamed over Wi-Fi connection is much higher quality and sounds really good. If you want to invest long-term in a home speaker that can deliver top-notch quality sound performance, the Sonos Play 5 is the way to go.
The Verdict? We were highly impressed by how good the Sonos Play 5 sounded with crisp highs, detailed midranges and deep sounding bass. It's a speaker that is worth the investment if you want quality sound performance in your home – it produces cinematic-like sound quality with very good attention to detail and brilliant sound effects. Bass-heavy music genres such as electronic dance music sounded punchy, tight and very well-defined. Vocal performances were reproduced with extreme clarity and remained consistent and clear even at high volume levels. We practically experienced zero distortion from the Sonos Play 5 speaker at its maximum volume setting – it can also produce enough sound to fill up a large room with filling sound quality. The Play 5 has a sleek design that looks very elegant and minimalist – it blends in nicely with home interior décor and looks really sleek. Overall, it's one of the best home Bluetooth speakers you can find that thoroughly exceeds expectations in terms of sound quality.
#3 Best Design: Marshall Stanmore Home Bluetooth Speaker
The Marshall Stanmore is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers with a stunning vintage design and really great sound. It is essentially a portable Bluetooth speaker that can pump out a tremendous 80W output and is ideal for large rooms or gatherings. The speaker features classic Marshall design details with analogue knobs and a vintage leatherette cover that makes it look aesthetically appealing. You can connect your smartphone device to this speaker with Bluetooth with aptX wireless streaming for high quality music transmission; it also comes with RCA inputs to plug into the record player or use the 3.5mm auxiliary input for non-wireless music sources. We liked the fact that it comes with a coiled, double-ended stereo cable with two 3.5mm plugs that looks really classy. The Stanmore speaker also features two power modes – power-saver and standard modes – to optimize the speaker's power performance to save battery. Overall, it's a really classy and one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that you can have with a classic Marshall vintage design.
The sound performance from the Marshall Stanmore is solid and punchy – it has enough power and wattage to fill up a large room with filling sound without any issues. The speaker produces really accurate and pristine sound quality with crisp highs and smooth lows – the lower-midrange frequencies sound very pronounced with plenty of depth. The bass on the Stanmore hits hard and punches deep, although we felt that it does not have the level of depth that the Sonos Play 5 can reproduce. The volume that the Marshall Stanmore can pump out is impressive – you can turn up the volume to its maximum setting and expect very little to no distortion. The speaker does not produce any buzzing noise when connected via Bluetooth and the treble ranges sound smooth without any harshness. We also tested the sound quality on the Stanmore while plugged in using the RCA cables and they sound fantastic – with smooth sound quality and clear vocal performances. You also get a good degree of stereo separation and soundstage with the Stanmore speaker which is perfect if you like instrumental or classical music genres. If you are looking for a home Bluetooth speaker with clarity and plenty of volume, the Marshall Stanmore is a great choice.
The Marshall Stanmore really excels in terms of its unique vintage design. It's the perfect speaker for those who like a vintage rock n roll feel to the speaker with analogue buttons. The volume and bass knobs look really sleek and feel very nice to touch – it comes with treble and bass knobs which allow you to adjust the sound performance according to your preferences and looks really delightful to touch. The speaker is really easy to hook up and the wireless Bluetooth connectivity works like a charm. The speaker comes with RCA inputs and 3.5mm inputs with a double-ended cable for you to plug it into turntables or to your laptop if necessary. The speaker looks really classy and blends in nicely with modern home interior décor – you can place it in the living room or use it as a bookshelf speaker. The speaker is relatively large but also built for portability – it has a solid construction and made of durable materials and feels very nice to touch. The wireless Bluetooth on the Stanmore supports aptX connectivity which provides high quality music streaming from compatible aptX Bluetooth devices. We also liked the fact that the Stanmore speaker is compatible with Apple TV and other devices that have an optical output, which makes it pretty versatile.
The Verdict? The Marshall Stanmore is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers with a classy vintage design and quality sound performance. The speaker features a vintage Marshall design with leatherette casing and classic knobs that feel nice to touch. The speaker is made from really durable materials and has a pretty solid weighty feel to it – which indicates that it is made of quality materials. The sound performance from the Marshall Stanmore is superb, with crystal clear vocal reproduction, crisp treble ranges, detailed lower-midrange frequencies and good bass output. We were very impressed with how clean the Marshall Stanmore sounded straight out of the box with no hint of any distortion at high volume levels. You can practically crank up this speaker to maximum volume and it will not produce any distortion; the sound quality remains consistent throughout with plenty of depth and soundstage with up to 80 watts of pure power. The wireless Bluetooth connectivity on the Stanmore works like a charm and even supports aptX connections. It also comes with RCA inputs to plug into record players, optical inputs and 3.5mm inputs for non-wireless music sources. If you are looking for one of the best home Bluetooth speakers with a classic vintage design, the Marshall Stanmore is the speaker for you.
#4 Best Bass: Harman Kardon Aura Studio 2 Home Bluetooth Speaker
The Harman Kardon Aura Studio 2 is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that can produce a stunning amount of low-end bass with crisp sound quality. It is built to deliver 360 omni-direction sound and comes with ambient lighting which provides an aesthetically appealing white light glow from the center turbine with an animated ring of center LEDs. The Studio 2 features proprietary stereo-widening DSP technology which helps to deliver fully optimized audio performance. The speaker itself comes equipped with six high-midrange transducers and a dedicated subwoofer that delivers deep stunning lows and tight bass performance. It also comes with wireless dual sound feature that allows you to link two Aura Studio 2 speakers together to create a much wider sound-field. If you are looking for one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that can produce stunning low-end bass and crystal clear music performance, the Aura Studio 2 comes highly recommended.
We were surprised at how good the HK Aura Studio 2 sounded – the bass from the Aura Studio 2 goes very low and has plenty of depth. The bass is unlike any bass we have heard before – it hits tight and punchy and adds plenty of depth and complexity to the music. The low-end frequency ranges hit much harder than you would expect and adds a lot of layers to the music performance. Vocal performances sound really good on the HK Aura Studio 2 and the treble ranges are crisp and nicely defined. That being said, we did find that the higher frequency ranges on the Studio 2 sounded more mellow as compared to the Harman Kardon Onyx speaker. Instrumental music sounded decent with good attention to detail, although the speaker does not really pick up the subtle notes in the music as the speaker is more bass-orientated. Bass-heavy music genres such as electronic dance music performed exceptionally well on the Aura Studio 2 with really good deep lows – you can really feel the depth of the bass from the Aura Studio 2 and it fills up your room with powerful sound. You can also crank up the volume on the Aura Studio 2 speakers and it will not distort, although the treble ranges can start to buzz at the highest volume levels.
In terms of design, the HK Aura 2 is a clear winner. It features a stunning coned-shaped like design and the tinted glass looks really good. The subwoofer is located in the center of the speaker and there is a center subwoofer hole which pumps out deep bass directly from the acoustic drivers. The design is aesthetically stunning and always makes for a good conversational piece in your home. We also liked the LED lights on the Aura 2 which gives it a nice aesthetically pleasing appearance. The wireless Bluetooth connectivity on the Aura 2 works like a charm and we did not experience any clipping noise or dips in sound quality while streaming music from our mobile device. We also liked the wireless dual sound feature which allows you to connect two Aura 2 speakers together to create a much wider soundstage – it's ideal for outdoor spaces and large living rooms. The Aura 2 speaker looks really sleek and stylish and blends in nicely with modern home interior décor – it is a medium-sized speaker that does not take up much space and is easy to place around the home including on bookshelves or desktops.
The Verdict? The Harman Kardon Aura 2 is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that delivers stunning lows and very deep bass performance. The sound quality from the Aura 2 is very crisp, with nice midranges and very tight lows that add plenty of depth and complexity to the sound. If you are in the market for a bass-heavy Bluetooth speaker, the Aura 2 will definitely not disappoint. Bass-heavy music genres such as electronic dance music hits hard and come with very tight and bass – the bass does not muddy into the midrange frequencies and stays where it should be as bass. It hits tight and goes really low – you can even feel the bass while listening to the Aura 2 speaker at 70% volume. We also liked the fact that the speaker does not distort at high volume levels, although the higher frequency treble ranges does start to roll off at higher volumes. The speaker has a really sleek and stylish design with ambient lighting that gives it a very unique appearance. It blends in nicely with modern home interior décor and makes for a great conversation piece in the living room or dining room. Overall, it's one of the best home Bluetooth speakers you can find that delivers the strongest bass and if you are a bass lover, we highly recommend this speaker for your home.
#5 Best 360 Sound: Bose SoundLink Revolve Home Bluetooth Speaker
The Bose SoundLink Revolve is one best home Bluetooth speakers that have deep, clear and immersive sound with a true 360 degree sound coverage. It is built primarily for home use although it is relatively portable. The unique design of the SoundLink Revolve speaker allows instruments and vocals to naturally separate and spread across an immersive soundstage with 360 degree coverage. It is crafted with a sleek aluminium body which is durable and water resistant up to IPX4, and comes with an incredible battery life of up to 12 hours of continuous playtime. The SoundLink Revolve also supports wireless pairing with your mobile devices with voice prompts, and allows you to take calls or access Siri or Google Now from the speaker microphone. You can also pair two speakers together for extra sound and larger sound coverage. If you are looking for one of the best home Bluetooth speakers with fully immersive 360 degree sound, the Bose SoundLink is a great choice.
When we first tested the Bose SoundLink, we were surprised at how much sound such a relatively compact speaker could produce. The sound which this Bluetooth speaker produces fills the entire space easily and has depth and good bass response. The 360 design of this speaker allows the sound to separate out evenly with detailed clarity – we were extremely pleased with the rich quality of the sound and impactful bass. The 360 degree design of the speaker allows for convenient placement anywhere in your living room and it will disperse sound throughout the entire room – it delivers deep bass that scales up with higher volume levels. Bass-heavy music genres such as electronic dance music sounded very punchy right off the bat, and the drum and lower-midrange frequencies were reproduced with distinct clarity. The one advantage that the Bose SoundLink has over other speakers is the level of clarity that you get with these speakers while maintaining deep bass impact – the bass stays where it should be as bass and does not muddy into the midrange or upper range frequencies. The timbre ranges on the Bose speaker is nice and sharp and sounds delightful to listen to. We were surprised at how clear vocal performances from the SoundLink Revolve sounded with great spatial imaging and detailed separation.
We really liked the design of the Bose SoundLink speaker and it blends in easily with modern home interior decor. The speaker itself feels very high quality and the round aluminium finish gives it a very elegant appearance throughout. We liked the look, feel and touch of the SoundLink Revolve and it feels very high quality. The speaker is also relatively compact and lightweight which means that you can take it with you easily. The battery life on this speaker is incredible and can last a good 12 hours on a single charge. We also liked the fact that we could connect this speaker up to two mobile devices and the setup was almost instant with the Bose Connect App. The SoundLink Revolve speaker charges fairly quickly with the included micro USB. The voice prompt functionality was also useful to guide us through the wireless pairing process with our mobile device. In this regard, the Bose SoundLink Bluetooth speaker has all the functionality that you would expect from a modern Bluetooth speaker with the ability to adjust EQ settings on the fly.
The SoundLink Revolve comes equipped with an auxiliary input in case you need to connect the speaker to other non-wireless sources in your home, such as a laptop or audio player. The speaker itself is designed for portability and the cylindrical shape of this wireless speaker makes it easy to grab and travel on the go. One great aspect about this speaker is that it is water-resistant which means that you can take it to the pool or the beach without having to worry about splashes of water damaging the circuitry. It is also possible to pair two SoundLink Revolve speakers in party mode through the Bose Connect App to increase the overall sound performance; this is perfect if you need to use this speaker in wide open spaces or for a larger party.
The Verdict? The Bose SoundLink Revolve is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that deliver a fully immersive sound experience in your home environment. It can deliver loud 360 degree sound while maintaining consistent and impactful lows – the highs and midranges sound detailed and refined. Apart from the stylish and sleek aluminium finish, the speaker itself is designed to be extremely durable and water resistant which is a nice feature to have for poolside parties. The battery life is a good 12 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge, and the speaker can be paired with another SoundLink Revolve for a much wider soundstage in outdoor spaces. It can also connect instantly to your mobile device via the Bose Connect App which also provides firmware updates to enhance the sound performance of the SoundLink Revolve. While the Bose SoundLink does not produce as much volume output due to its compact size, it is a really refined looking speaker that delivers quality sound performance with plenty of depth and impact. It is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that emphasize quality sound over quantity and we highly recommend them.
#6 Best Sound Clarity: DOSS SoundBox XL Home Bluetooth Speaker
The DOSS Soundbox XL is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that provides exceptional sound quality and vocal clarity. It comes with enhanced 20W acoustic drivers and DSP technology which delivers crisp sound performance with detailed midranges and rich bass performance. It comes with a 12W subwoofer and 2 passive bass radiators to enhance the lower-frequency ranges and creates impactful bass response with minimal distortion. The DOSS Soundbox XL supports Bluetooth 4.0 for consistent wireless music streaming for up to 33 feet and is compatible with all Bluetooth enabled devices. We liked the fact that this Bluetooth speaker also supports auxiliary inputs and TF card readers for non-wireless music sources. This Bluetooth speaker comes with a built-in 2200mAh rechargeable battery that delivers up to 10 hours of continuous playtime at 50% volume and recharges in 3-4 hours. If you are looking for one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that can deliver superb sound clarity with a sleek design, the DOSS Soundbox XL is the way to go.
The sound performance of the DOSS Soundbox XL surpassed our expectations from a speaker in this class – it punches above its weight and delivers sound quality that feels like you are listening to a high-end speaker. Straight out of the box, the bass from the DOSS Soundbox hits hard and is really amazing – it can play bass frequencies as low as 20 Hz and you can hear and feel the bass performance. This means that you can actually hear and feel how tight the bass from the DOSS Soundbox XL actually is – compared to the JBL Xtreme, the bass is more controlled and deep but not as big as the Xtreme. The highs and midranges on the DOSS Speaker sound clear and very crisp and the sound performance is very well-balanced. It produces very distinct and clear soundstage with stereo separation and you can even pick out details in the music which you might not have noticed before. Vocal performances sounded superbly clear as though the artist is standing right in front of you; bass-heavy music genres such as electronic dance music come across as punchy and well-presented. We did not hear any bloated sounds or muddiness in the sound; every single note is reproduced clearly and distinctly and is really enjoyable to listen to. In terms of sound performance and bass response, you cannot go wrong with the DOSS Soundbox XL.
The DOSS Soundbox XL has a very sleek and modern looking design with a black plastic exterior that feels durable and nice to touch. It's a speaker that you can easily place in your home living room or dining table and it blends nicely with modern interior décor. The speaker itself is relatively compact and easy to carry around or store it in a backpack. It comes with nice buttons at the top of the speaker which allow you to adjust the volume and Bluetooth settings on the fly. The speaker itself boasts some pretty impressive specs, with a 12W subwoofer and 2 passive bass radiators which help to improve the bass response. It features Bluetooth 4.0 with a wireless range of up to 33 feet – we did not experience any dips in sound performance while streaming music directly from our smartphone device. We also liked the fact that it support auxiliary inputs and TF card readers for non-wireless mp3 players. It comes with a 2,200mAh built-in battery capacity that provides up to 10 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge at 50% volume. The entire package comes with the DOSS XL speaker, micro USB cable, 3.5mm audio cable and user manual for easy reference.
The Verdict? The DOSS SoundBox XL is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers for audiophiles looking for superb sound quality in a home speaker. We were so impressed by the sound quality from the DOSS speakers that it is truly comparable to higher-end Bluetooth speakers – and probably even better. The highs and midranges on the DOSS XL are superbly clear and well-defined, and the timbre ranges are very smooth. We liked how good this speaker sounded straight out of the box and it carries very good soundstage and detailed separation – the sound is projected exactly how the artist intended it to be heard. The bass response from this speaker is punchy and tight, and not boomy or overwhelming. It produces the kind of bass that you would describe as classy and nicely controlled with a good degree of tightness. The speaker also has really strong and consistent wireless Bluetooth streaming and has a built-in battery capacity of 2200mAh that delivers up to 10 hours of music playtime. We liked the fact that the speaker looks really modern and sleek with nice buttons at the top to control the music settings. Overall, it's one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that exceed expectations and we definitely recommend it if you want a superb listening experience in your home environment.
#7 Best Stereo Sound: Edifier R1850DB Home Bluetooth Speaker
The Edifier R1850DB is essentially a dynamic 2.0 home Bluetooth speaker housed within an MDF frame that delivers stellar stereo sound quality. The speaker comes with high-quality acoustic drivers and woofers that deliver full-range sound with deep bass – it also features an additional subwoofer output which allows you to add a dedicated subwoofer to these speakers to transform it into a full 2.1 sound system. The Edifier R1850DB comes with Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless music streaming and is compatible with virtually any Bluetooth smartphone device including phones, tablets or laptops. It also has a digital and analog input for PC, turntables and non-wireless music sources. We also liked the fact that these home speakers have optical and coaxial ports for lossless connection. The speaker comes with treble and bass controls with volume toggle buttons on the rear panel. It also comes with a wireless remote control for input selection and volume adjustment on the fly. If you are looking for 2.0 home Bluetooth speakers, the Edifier R1850DB speakers are the ones to go for.
The sound performance of the Edifier R1850DB is silky smooth and crystal clear. The silk dome tweeters and woofers produce very clean sound performance with deep bass. We paired the Edifier R1850DB speakers to an 8" Polk subwoofer for much deeper bass and lower-end frequency response. The Edifier speakers produce crisp highs, detailed midranges and smooth vocals. The level of stereo separation that you get with these 2.0 speakers is exceptional and you can hear each detail coming from separate channels with pristine clarity. They also produce full-range sound quality and can reproduce practically the entire audio spectrum without any issues. We did not experience any boomy sound or harshness in the treble ranges with the R1850D speakers – every note was accurately reproduced and undistorted. The Edifier speakers can also pump out very good volume and fill up a large room with filling sound without any distortion. Orchestra performances on the Edifier speakers sounded very realistic and cohesive; you can pick up details in the music which you might not have noticed before. The level of bass impact from the Edifier speakers is also excellent, with plenty of depth and deep lows that add a layer of complexity and substance to the music.
The Edifier R1850DB speakers have a really sleek and modern looking design that blends in nicely with modern home interior décor. We liked the fact that these home speakers come with removable grills and gives you the option to take them off or keep them on depending on your preferences. The volume, treble and bass controls are located at the back of the speaker which keeps the front appearance clean, although the buttons are a little hard to reach. The speaker comes with an included remote control which makes adjusting the sound and volume relatively convenient. The entire speaker is housed within a solid MDF frame which reduces sonic resonances. We tested the wireless Bluetooth connection and it works like a charm without any interruptions or dips in sound quality. It is also easy to connect non-wireless music sources such as your laptop or computer to these speakers through the RCA to AUX input, or via the optical or coaxial inputs for turntables. The subwoofer output on the R1850DB makes it convenient to connect an additional subwoofer to create a full 2.1 setup for deeper bass – although we feel that the low-end frequencies on the R1850DB are well articulated even without a dedicated sub.
The Verdict? The Edifier R1850DBs are some of the best home Bluetooth speakers that deliver crystal clear stereo sound in a full 2.0 setup. These speakers are sleek, modern and very solidly constructed with MDF cabinets. The sound quality from these speakers is among the very best we have tested, with crystal clear vocals, crisp highs, nice treble ranges and deep bass. The level of detail and stereo separation that you get with these speakers is outstanding – you can even crank up the volume on these speakers and they will not produce any distortion. The sound on these speakers is full-range and they can cover virtually the entire frequency spectrum very well. The R1850DB speakers have treble and bass controls at the rear with a wireless remote for easy adjustment. The Bluetooth connectivity on this speaker works like a charm with no dips in sound quality. It also has optical, auxiliary and coaxial inputs for a variety of non-wireless music sources. Overall, the Edifier R1850DBs are some of the best home Bluetooth speakers we have tested and we highly recommend them.
#8 Best Bamboo Speaker: AOMAIS LIFE 30W Home Bluetooth Speaker
The AOMIAS LIFE is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers with a full 30 watt output of pure sound. It's a home Bluetooth speaker we have tested and is available at a really reasonable price point. This speaker comes with sleek bamboo wood designs and dual drivers at the front with a passive radiator for superior 30W sound performance and deep bass reproduction. They can produce full-range sound with high-frequency response with a passive basin. The AOMAIS LIFE speaker comes with 3 EQ modes – classic, party and surrounds modes that can enhance classical music, heavy metal music or rock and pop style music genres. It comes with a long-lasting lithium-ion battery that can provide up to 10 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge and even double as a power bank for other mobile devices. We liked the fact that the AOMIAS LIFE gives you the option of pairing two speakers together to create 60 watts of stereo sound. It comes with full Bluetooth connectivity with auxiliary inputs that allow for 3.5mm input devices to connect easily. Overall, it's one of the best home Bluetooth speakers available with a stunning and exotic design, and comes highly recommended.
The sound quality and bass output of the AOMIAS LIFE is outstanding coming from such a compact home speaker. The bass hits hard and feels very impactful – it is enhanced by the passive bass radiator at the back of the unit. The sound from the AOMIAS speaker is smooth, detailed and crisp without sounding harsh or compressed. You can tell that the speaker is equipped with very high quality drivers and music performances sound really crisp and lifelike. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to the stereo separation on this speaker with good distinction between the right and left speaker channels. It can also get loud enough to literally shake your entire room and can serve as a background outdoor speaker for large gatherings – we liked the fact that you can turn up the volume on these speakers and they will not produce any distortion. The AOMIAS speaker comes with two speakers and a subwoofer in the package and has three equalizer modes which adjusts the sound according to your individual preferences. The rock and pop EQ settings are perfect for bass-heavy music genres and really bring out the beats in the music while adding plenty of depth to lower-midrange frequency reproduction. It's a speaker that you can place in your home environment for very clean and rich room-filling sound anywhere you need it to be.
The AOMIAS LIFE 30W speaker has a very stunning design with the bamboo wood at the front. These are not the kind of speakers that you would take outdoors but rather for home or bookshelf use. The Bamboo wood design makes the speaker look especially sleek and it blends in nicely with modern home interior décor. We liked the fact that you can actually pair two of these speakers together wirelessly to create a wider 60 W stereo sound stage. It comes with a built-in battery that delivers up to 10 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge with an emergency power bank that prevents music fadeouts. The speaker pairs almost instantaneously with Bluetooth enabled devices including iPhones and android smartphones; it also comes with a 3.5mm input terminal for non-wireless music sources. The speaker itself comes with dual passive subwoofers which help to enhance the overall bass output and sound quality of the speaker – the bass sounds deep and very rounded. That being said, our only quibble with the AOMMIAS LIFE speaker is that the bass starts to roll off below 80 Hz and does not go as deep or tight as the JBL Xtreme. Otherwise, it's a really good speaker that delivers plenty of volume and solid bass which makes it very enjoyable to listen to.
The Verdict? The AOMIAS LIFE 30W speaker is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers with plenty of volume and a stunning bamboo facing design. The speaker comes with attractive bamboo wood at the front which makes it blend in easily with home décor and furniture, and is great for living rooms or bedrooms. The AOMIAS Speaker also comes with dual drivers and passive radiators for superior 30W sound and heavy-bass performance. The speakers produce really good full-range sound quality with nice treble ranges that sparkles, and deep lows with depth and tightness. The bass on this speaker hits hard and scales up with higher volumes without distortion; it does start to roll off under 80 Hz but otherwise sounds really good. Apart from the sound performance, the speaker comes with a built-in battery that delivers up to 10 hours of continuous music playtime together with wireless Bluetooth streaming – you can also pair two AOMIAS LIFE speakers together to create a 60 watt soundstage. It's one of the best home Bluetooth speakers that you should not miss out on, especially if you like the wooden design of the AOMIAS LIFE speaker.
#9 Most Compact: Bose SoundLink Mini 2 Home Bluetooth Speaker
The Bose SoundLink Mini 2 is one of the best home Bluetooth speakers you can find that delivers exceptional sound from a small package. This speaker is capable of exceptionally big sound with deep bass for a full range listening experience, and can easily fill up a large room in your home with rich sound. It is designed to be wireless and ultra-compact for you to take the speaker virtually anywhere, and is able to connect to your Bluetooth devices for up to 30 feet range. It also features a built-in speakerphone which lets you take hands free calls on the go, and features an integrated lithium-ion battery which delivers a whopping 10 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge. The voice prompts on this speaker also talk you through the Bluetooth pairing, making the Bose SoundLink very easy and intuitive to use. The Bose SoundLink Mini 2 is available in Carbon or Pearl colors and can also be customised with colored accessories to fit your preferences. Overall, the SoundLink Mini 2 is a great investment for those looking for a great home Bluetooth speaker in a small and compact package.
The sound performance of the Bose SoundLink Mini 2 is definitely some of the best that we have heard and a vast improvement over its predecessor, the SoundLink Mini. This speaker is capable of producing amazing sound quality at high or maximum volume with no distortion. From a music reproduction perspective, the SoundLink Mini 2 is capable of very high quality with incredibly crisp highs and detailed midrange, with stunning bass output. Music performances on the SoundLink Mini 2 came across as lifelike and bold, and we were surprised at how good these speakers were in creating that surround stereo effect as though we were listening to multiple speakers at the same time. The speaker can also get extremely loud and fill up an entire room with immersive and high quality sound; it's the perfect choice if you need a speaker to keep the party going or to fill up a large room with music. It also has a sleek appearance which makes it blend in nicely with home décor.
The Bluetooth implementation on the Bose SoundLink Mini 2 is seamless and intuitive to use. The speaker has the ability to remember up to eight paired devices and can be paired simultaneously to two devices at the same time. When you turn the speaker on, it immediately announces the battery level and the devices to which it is paired. If the first device stops and the second device starts playing music, the speaker will automatically switch to the second device. The speaker also comes with an integrated speakerphone for you to take hands free calls on the go, which is a nice added touch.
We really liked the sleek and modern design of the Bose SoundLink Mini 2. The speaker feels weighty and solid when held in the hands, and has an overall sturdy and durable build. The SoundLink Mini 2 is also small enough to fit into small backpacks and can be conveniently brought around with you due to its portable size. The Mini 2 has various improved features over its predecessor, including longer battery life of up to 10 hours of continuous music play | 7,717 |
On September 22, 2009, Gwilym Jones PhD, mammalogist, professor of biology at Northeastern University and NOC member since 1996, received the Commonwealth's Gov. Francis W. Sargent Conservation Award for his contributions to conserving the natural resources of Massachusetts.
Jones, of Framingham, is the eighth recipient of the award established in 2000 by the Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) Fisheries and Wildlife Board to honor the former governor and noted conservationist who directed the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) in 1963 and 1964.
"On behalf of the Patrick Administration, I congratulate Dr. Jones for all that he has done to preserve biodiversity, protect habitat and restore common and endangered wildlife across the Commonwealth," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles. "Massachusetts is fortunate to have such a committed environmental steward."
Jones received the award—a hand-carved wooden loon decoy created by Geoff Walker of Hank Walker Decoys of Newbury—at a ceremony held at the New England Wildflower Society's Garden in the Woods in Framingham. State officials on hand included EEA Undersecret<|fim_middle|> Jones has made incredible contributions to wildlife conservation in Massachusetts through his work on the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, and with his critical policy role regarding the importation and liberation of wildlife in Massachusetts," said Fisheries and Wildlife Board Chairman George Darey. "We appreciate his continued conservation efforts on local and national levels."
Jones is a member of a number of professional societies including the American Society of Mammalogists, the Society for Marine Mammalogy (charter member), The Wildlife Society, Bat Conservation International and of course, the Nuttall Ornithological Club. He was guest editor for The Northeastern Naturalist in 2001 and 2005. | ary for Environment Philip Griffiths, DFG Commissioner Mary Griffin, MassWildlife Director Wayne MacCallum and members of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. The board selected Jones after reviewing nominations from a selection committee.
Jones was the first chairman of MassWildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee when it formed in the early 1980s. This committee provides MassWildlife with advice on the conservation and protection of more than 400 species of wild plants and animals. During his tenure as chairman, Jones assisted in the establishment of the first Massachusetts endangered species list, prior to passage of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. He also served on the Fisheries and Wildlife Board from 1986 to 1999.
"We are very proud that we have an individual of Dr. Jones' caliber, who has dedicated his skills and talents to so many of the important wildlife protection policies and programs undertaken by our agency," said Commissioner Griffin, whose department includes MassWildlife.
Jones earned a doctoral degree from Indiana State University, a master's degree from Purdue University and a bachelor's degree from Hanover College. He served in the U. S. Naval Reserve as a mammalogist in Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, and the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland. In 1976, Jones came to Massachusetts to teach at Northeastern University, where he began as an associate professor of biology and served most recently as director of the university's Center for Vertebrate Studies Marine Science Center in Nahant.
"No one is more qualified to receive this honor than Dr. Jones, a professional's professional," said MassWildlife Director MacCallum. "Dr. Jones has done great work for both the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and for an amazing array of international, national, regional, state and local conservation organizations and wildlife agencies." Jones has served as a consultant for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Massachusetts Boston, the Boston Zoological Society, the Green Briar Nature Center, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society. He is a member of the American Society of Mammalogists, Bat Conservation International, and the Nuttall Ornithological Club and a charter member of the Society for Marine Mammalogy.
Jones has won several prestigious awards in the fields of teaching and biology including Excellence in Teaching awards from Northeastern University in 1987, 1992, 1994 1996, and 1997. In 1991, he received the Rocky Bridges Conservation Award from the Gun Owners' Action League, and in 1990 was named Conservationist of the Year by the Massachusetts Wildlife Federation. He received a special Certificate of Appreciation from the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1998.
"Dr. | 577 |
HomeNewsIndividual Squad NewsVirginia Polytechnic Institute And State University NewsAHS grad finds scene of horror at Virginia Tech
AHS grad finds scene of horror at Virginia Tech
on 16 April 2007 .
The Sun Chronicle (Mass.)
BY GEORGE W. RHODES, SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
When Virginia Tech student Jonathan Skinner went to bed Sunday night, he never could have imagined the carnage he would face Monday morning after a madman with a gun wreaked havoc on the placid and pretty campus.
Skinner, a student who serves as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician, had three classes scheduled for Monday, but chaos took over when the lone gunman killed two people in Ambler Johnston Hall and then went on to slaughter 30 more in Norris Hall across campus.
At least another 26 were wounded.
Skinner, 22, a 2003 graduate of Attleboro High School, heard chatter on his police scanner about the first murder, as he awoke, although he didn't know it was a shooting. Then the rest happened.
"The radio pretty much exploded with shouting between the EMTs and police about what was going on," he said Monday in a telephone interview with The Sun Chronicle.
Skinner, who wasn't slated for EMT duty that day, didn't know exactly what was going on, but he knew whatever was happening was bad and went to the scene in his own car.
It was worse than bad, it was a nightmare.
"It was shocking," Skinner said. "I had never seen anything like it before."
Gunshots were still exploding when he arrived and the toll was painfully obvious.
But at first it didn't sink in that people, a lot of people, had been shot.
"I thought they were cut or had fallen or got injured," he said.
"But when they walked up to us we could see they had been shot, once, twice or three times," Skinner said. "They were shot everywhere. In the arms, in the legs in the back in the shoulders. It was kind of surreal."
Skinner said he didn't know if the shooting he<|fim_middle|> horrendous.
"It was the worst thing you can imagine," he said. "There were bullet holes and casings everywhere, broken glass and then you see the bodies," said Skinner who compared it to something a combat soldier would see. "It's something you couldn't be prepared for."
He and fellow EMTs were on the job for about 12 hours and got help from communities in a 50 square mile area, he said.
And the job is not over.
Skinner is slated to work a 24-hour shift today.
"I don't know how I'm going to wake up (Tuesday), but I've got to get up and go in and work through it," said an exhausted Skinner.
Today's shift will end and he'll go home, but the memories of Monday will never be over.
"It's definitely something that's going to stick with me the rest of my life," he said.
GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. | heard was from the gunman or police, but at that point it didn't matter.
Neither he nor his fellow EMTs had time to think about the horror- they had to act.
Skinner, an Emergency Medical Technician with an Enhanced rating, along with the rest of the 40 or so members of the school's student staffed and run EMS organization who are trained to provide Advanced Life Support services, began to care for the wounded.
"I didn't think much about what was going on," he said. "You almost go on automatic pilot. You know what you have to do."
Most of the preliminary care was provided at the EMS station that was just a few hundred yards from Norris Hall where most of the killing took place.
At one point Skinner and a team had to go into the building to check for survivors and get them help.
The scene inside was | 175 |
On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, China. 'Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2' (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed as the causative agent of what we now know as 'Coronavirus Disease 2019' (COVID-19). Since then, the virus has spread to more than 100 countries, including South Africa.
Access important information here by going to the following site: https://sacoronavirus.co.za/
Special thanks to all, especially the delegates who made the conference possible!
Welcome to the first fully fledged conference of the newly established Digital Humanities Association of Southern Africa (DHASA). We are proud to celebrate the launch of Digital Humanities in Southern Africa.
DHASA 2017 intends to bring together<|fim_middle|> ( Virtually )
Department of English and the Co-Director of the Stanford Literary Lab
Prof Paul Arthur
Chair in Digital Humanities and Social Sciences at Edith Cowan University, Australia.
Pip Willcox
Head of the Centre for Digital Scholarship at the Bodleian Libraries and Co-director of the annual Digital Humanities at Oxford Summer School University of Oxford
Glen Worthey
Digital Humanities Librarian and Co-lead of the Center for Interdisciplinary Digital Research | both National and Internationals scholars in the DH domain covering applicable topics in the Humanities and Social Sciences arenas. The topics could focus on DH within the African and Southern African contexts, as well as on any topic related to methodological or computational aspects in DH.
Topics include, but are not restricted to:
Language, Literature, Visual Art, Performance / Theatre Studies, Media Studies, Music, History, Sociology, Psychology, Language Technologies, Library Studies, Philosophy, Methodologies, Software / computation, Other.
The Conference takes place at one of the most prominent universities in Southern Africa, located within the picturesque Western Cape Province. It will attract high-level academic discussions and combine that with the collegial sharing of experiences and insights in the serene, beautiful town of Stellenbosch.
The activities include a two-day pre-conference program comprising of workshops and tutorials (17 & 18 January 2017), followed by two days (19 & 20 January 2017) of peer-reviewed oral and poster presentations. Due to limited space, conference attendance numbers cannot exceed 220 delegates. It is therefore important to respond as early as possible by registering for the event.
We look forward to the first official DHASA conference and the wealth of academic minds who will join us in Stellenbosch.
Visit the official DHASA site here
Keynotes and Workshop Presenters
Prof Mark Algee-Hewitt | 290 |
Electrical & Computer Engineering students work in the Washington Nanofabrication Facility cleanroom.
The largest public access fabrication center in the Pacific Northwest, the Washington Nanofabrication Facility (WNF) is poised to drive entrepreneurship efforts not only on campus but in the entire region, thanks to several recent developments including a new National Science Foundation (NSF) Center, associated $4.5 million grant and upcoming $37 million renovation.
Located on<|fim_middle|> UW faculty and students is available to researchers from various businesses and start-ups. More than 140 researchers utilize the lab every month.
For information on using this premiere facility, visit the WNF website. | the UW campus and directed by UW ECE Professor Karl Böhringer, the WNF provides access to micro and nanofabrication processing equipment, which is used to make computer chips and tiny sensors for various electronic devices. The cleanrooms, which minimize environmental contaminants, are essential as the materials that researchers develop are often smaller than a speck of dust. The same equipment used by | 78 |
One of the oldest boutique hotels in Hong<|fim_middle|> rooms and suites – 32 luxurious studios and 24 stylish spacious suites – at the hotel, have benefited from the refurbishment. Key improvements include avant-garden design work, updated in-room technology and new, dynamic color schemes in its freshly upholstered furniture. The property is in a prime location in Hong Kong at Causeway Bay. Facilities include lobby and penthouse conference rooms as well as a fully equipped fitness centre. The studios and suites all come with Wi-Fi internet, television, all modern amenities and all bathrooms come with modern toiletries.
For customers who look for an intoxicating combination of classic Asian hospitality, high-tech gadgetry and whimsical interiors inspired by a word-renowned designer, the new J Plus Hotel by Yoo is a good choice. | Kong – The J Plus Boutique Hotel – has a fresh new look after an intensive facelift. The property also has been renamed as J Plus Hotel by YOO, designed by Philippe Starck.
All fifty six | 43 |
Home » 2019 Quality Professional of the Year | Gary Griffith: Advancing the Inspection Field
2019 Quality Professional of the Year | Gary Griffith: Advancing the Inspection Field
Michelle Bangert
KEYWORDS dimensional metrology / gaging / GD&T / Quality Professional of the Year / Tolerancing and Dimensioning
If you've ever suffered through a difficult lesson, you were likely not in Gary Griffith's class. Griffith teaches geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), quality audits, measuring and gaging, and other quality-related subjects, and though the technical aspects could make for a dry learning experience, his students say Griffith makes it fun. And if you need help after class, he's available. And in some cases, this means a long time after class. Diane Pereira took his class almost twenty years ago and now is a trainer herself but still relies on Griffith if she's stumped by a question. "I want to call him the da Vinci of blueprint reading," says Pereira. "He's a genius. That's the word that comes to mind. He's my mentor in the GD&T world."
And his students aren't the only ones who've noticed his skills. Last year ASQ honored Griffith with the Hromi Medal, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the inspection profession. Jim Spichiger, who nominated Griffith for the award, wrote, "In my opinion, Mr. Griffith's book "The Quality Technician's Handbook" is the most influential book on this subject matter."
In addition to this book, Griffith has written ten more books and trained thousands of people on quality themes. For these reasons and more, Griffith is our 2019 Quality Professional of the Year.
It All Started with Hula Hoops
He'd always been interested in manufacturing—mechanics and physics were his two favorite subjects—and his lifetime of manufacturing experience began in high school. He worked the second shift at a plastics plant, making hula hoops.
After graduation, he continued his manufacturing career at Eaton Corp. where he learned about machining and inspection. The inspection job was where he was first exposed to quality, and the early days of quality were difficult.
"Back then, there wasn't much quality," Griffith says. "Back then you were lucky if you made good parts. The experience was basically two-fold. I realized first of all, as an inspector, you're finding bad parts all over the place. I was also impressed when using precision measurements, like gage blocks and things. I was amazed at how accurate these things are. That just kicked off everything."
"That was back in the day, make product, get it out the door, that was the modus operandi of the companies I worked with, and suppliers too. That's where I got an appreciation, or vendetta, to help improve quality."
When the Ohio plant shut down, he went to California for a week to scout out the job market there. He found plenty of opportunities—13 job offers—and so his family moved to California.
Aerospace and Moonlighting
Griffith later worked at Allied-Signal Automotive and Allied-Signal Aerospace, and held positions as a quality engineer and quality manager. "For me it was all about I've got to make a living, but I also want to make a difference in quality," Griffith says.
During his long career, he's found some positive trends in quality, from quality circles to SPC to better attitudes about quality, but also says there is still work to be done.
"If the producers are not responsible for quality, quality<|fim_middle|> bangertm@bnpmedia.com
2019 Quality Plant of the Year: Quality Takes Flight at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale Center of Excellence
Meet Katherine Cox, our 2017 Quality Professional of the Year.
Meet James Bossert from ASQ, our 2018 Quality Professional of the Year.
Meet Our Professional of the Year | will not get better," Griffith says. "Companies have to realize they need to transfer the responsibility of design quality to engineering, and manufacturing quality to manufacturing. The responsibility to judge quality is still the responsibility of the quality department, and to support manufacturing."
He's still on a mission to improve quality, this time as a consultant. It all started thirty years ago when the local community college asked him to teach a course. "I found, rather quickly, that I loved teaching," he says. Then he began moonlighting and doing training on his own for local companies and teaching seminars on vacation. After about ten years, he decided that teaching and consulting was what he wanted to do.
Today he runs Griffith Training and says getting to see results from his classes has been a career highlight. "The best thing I've seen is the improvement because of that training," he says. "When I taught at college, I'd work very hard to teach, then they leave and I'd never see them again. These days, the last several years, I not only train the people, I see them do it right. It's a closed loop. That's the best thing. They actually learned it and did it right."
He's proud that his mechanical design courses and GD&T lessons help engineers design and dimension items properly. "I know once I teach them, it will be at least one source of quality that won't cause scrap," Griffith says.
It All Started with One Quality Tip
Back in 1976, he was part of a corrective action to train machine operators on how to measure flatness. He decided to write a short article including a photo of the inspection setup after the training just to help the operators remember what they had learned. He called it a quality tip. "It wasn't long before I had another 40 to 50 people asking me for it. Then calling me, 'When are you going to write another one?' About a year later, I had written 27 of them and sent them to about 800 people." He realized that it might need a table of contents. The project became a book, and it's been in print ever since.
This book eventually lead to many more—"I found that I also loved writing," he says—and eventually an ASQ medal. Jim Spichiger had never met Griffith before he nominated him for the ASQ Hromi Medal. But he had known of his book for more than twenty years and thought the author deserved to be recognized.
Spichiger uses the book to teach a course preparing students for ASQ's certified quality inspector and certified quality technician exams, and says the book is a good fit for the open-book ASQ inspector technician exam.
Griffith won the ASQ award and the two met for the first time at the ASQ awards ceremony in Seattle last year. (According to Spichiger, in addition to his writing skills, Griffith is also a great pool player.)
The Teacher We All Want
Griffith also uses his books in his own classes. Judging by student feedback, these classes seem to go well. Just three weeks after a training session with him, engineers have been clamoring for the next one, says Brian Flowers, who met Griffith when he was looking for training for his engineering staff. The staff took an intermediate GD&T course and then advanced training courses and SPC training. This training was very specific to the company, which Flowers appreciated. Griffith tailored the course around their specific engineering drawings, and was able to point out GD&T issues that weren't properly applied in the drawings. His teaching skills have earned him a lot of repeat business. When other employees have gone on to new companies, Flowers notes that they've hired him to do training there as well.
"I think everybody that has gone through his class got a lot out of it," Flowers says. "There are other teachers out there, but not like him."
In addition, his former students say that this GD&T guru is approachable and has a good sense of humor during class. "He's amazing, he's funny. He can put a technical topic or field, very intimidating for people, especially new people, and he can make it light enough and lighthearted enough to dissipate that fear that comes with inspection and GD&T," says Pereira. "I keep thinking, who's going to be the next Gary Griffith? Gary is the go-to guru for GDT. I just hope he never retires."
At this point, she doesn't need to worry. Even after a 50-year manufacturing career, Griffith is still enjoying his work and doesn't plan to retire anytime soon. As he says, "Why would you quit a fun job?" Q
GARY K. GRIFFITH
Author, Instructor, Trainer, Consultant; Griffith Training, Corona, CA
A FEW OF HIS BOOKS:
"The Quality Technician's Handbook" 6th Ed.
"SPC Methods for Long & Short Runs" 2nd Ed.
"Measuring & Gaging Geometric Tolerances"
"Advanced Geometric Tolerancing for Engineers"
"Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing—Applications and Inspection"
"The Industrial Trainer"
CERTIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
ASQ Hromi Medal
Certified Instructor (State Of California; Lifetime Credential)
Fellow (Institute of Advancement of Engineers; I.A.E.)
Past Education Chairman (Los Angeles Section, ASQ)
TRAINING SERVICES PROVIDED:
Dimensioning & Tolerancing Courses: Mechanical Drafting, Tolerance Stackup Analysis, Concurrent Engineering, Advanced Geometric Tolerancing, Design for Manufacturability/Assemble-ability (DFM), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Functional Gage Designs For Geometric Tolerances, Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing, Graphical Inspection Analysis (Paper Gaging)
Quality Courses: Corrective Action & Problem Solving, Certified Mechanical Inspector Refresher Course, Certified Quality Auditor Refresher Course, Certified Quality Technician Exam Preparatory Course, Quality Auditor Training Course, Team Problem Solving
Inspection Courses: Inspection Planning, Inspection and Gaging, Measuring & Gaging Geometric Tolerances
SPC Courses: Planning for Statistical Process Control, Statistical Process Control for Short Production Runs, Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility (R&R) Studies
Shop Training: Basic Blueprint Reading, Shop Mathematics Course
The Hromi Medal recognizes individuals who have made significant and noteworthy contributions to the science of inspection and/or the advancement of the inspection profession. Gary Griffith's citation read: "For significant and long term contributions as an author in the field of inspection; specifically for authoring "The Quality Technician's Handbook," "Geometric Tolerancing Applications & Inspection" and "Mechanical Inspection & Gaging Methods." Also for devoted and enduring contributions as an educator to countless inspectors and technicians for over 35 years."
Recent Articles by Michelle Bangert
Quality's 20th Annual Spending Survey: Let the Software Spending Begin
Introducing E-Mobility Inspection
3D Measurement Explained
Company Projects: Get Everyone Involved
Michelle Bangert is the managing editor of Quality Magazine. She can be reached at | 1,479 |
Tech specialist agency BENCH PR has announced it has added both Skillsoft and Yume to its expanding<|fim_middle|> estimated 3.9 million tonnes of food going to waste annually.
Jocelyn Hunter, managing director of BENCH PR, said: "Both Skillsoft and Yume are bringing much-needed innovation and new ways of tackling growing problems in our region.
"The way people learn is so different today. They want content in multiple formats, whether that's online, in books or through video that they can access anytime, anywhere. | client portfolio.
Skillsoft, a global eLearning provider, is looking to increase its brand awareness in the Asia Pacific this year and has chosen BENCH to represent them across the region.
Yume is Australia's first surplus food online marketplace, and recently secured $2.6 million of investment to fund its expansion throughout Australia.
Katy Barfield, founder and CEO of Yume, said : "BENCH PR are a highly skilled team with a social conscience.
"They were passionate about partnering with us and understand the unique marketplace we've built to help connect buyers and suppliers and reduce the | 117 |
The NLR Air Transport Safety Institute (NLR-ATSI) is a research and consultancy organisation embedded in the National Aerospace Laboratory of the Netherlands (NLR). NLR-ATSI is one of the largest institutes of its kind in Europe. The institute was officially opened<|fim_middle|> air transport safety issues. The services provided by NLR-ATSI can be divided into the following expert areas:
Safety Management
Safety regulation
Safety cases and safety assessments
Operational and flight technical assessments
Air safety data analysis
Safety modelling for advanced operations
Incident & Accident investigation
Safety training
Security
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) uses data from NLR-ATSI on the operation of aircraft for commercial air transport for their annual safety review.
References
External links
NLR-ATSI Home page
NLR Home Page
Introduction NLR-ATSI
ProGA (SESAR WP-E research project led by NLR-ATSI)
ASCOS (European Commission research project led by NLR-ATSI)
Research institutes in the Netherlands
Aerospace companies of the Netherlands | by Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven on October 31, 2007. NLR-ATSI is a not-for-profit organisation with 32 employees. Around the world, NLR helps all air transportation stakeholders understand and address the complex safety challenges of new technologies and operations required for air transportation development. NLP's clients include air navigation service providers, aviation authorities, airports and airlines.
The institute advises government and industry in the Netherlands and abroad on | 97 |
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Uterine Sarcoma: Introduction
Cancer starts when cells in the body change (mutate) and grow out of control. To help you understand what happens when you have cancer, let's look at how your body works normally.
Your body is made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Normal cells grow when your body needs them, and die when they're damaged or your body no longer needs them.
Cancer is made up of abnormal cells that grow even though your body doesn't need them. In most cancers, the abnormal cells grow to form a lump or mass called a tumor. If cancer cells are in the body long enough, they can grow into (invade) nearby areas. They can also spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).
What is uterine sarcoma<|fim_middle|>ologic Oncology Program at Wilmot Cancer Center
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Uterine sarcoma is a very rare cancer that starts in the thick muscular wall and supporting tissues of the uterus. (This part of the uterus is called the myometrium.) Most uterine cancers are not uterine sarcoma, they're endometrial carcinomas. These cancers start in the inner lining of the uterus.
Understanding the uterus
The uterus is an organ that's part of the female reproductive system. You may know it as the womb. It's where a baby grows during pregnancy.
The uterus is usually pear-shaped and about the size of a fist. It's in the lower belly (pelvic area), between the bladder and the rectum. The uterus is connected to the fallopian tubes. These tubes carry eggs from the ovaries into the uterus. The small opening that connects the uterus to the vagina is the cervix.
The uterus is made up of 3 layers:
Endometrium. This is the innermost lining. (It's where endometrial cancer starts. This is the much more common kind of uterine cancer.)
Myometrium. This is the middle layer of thick muscle.
Serosa. This is the smooth outer layer that coats the uterus.
During labor, the myometrium muscle helps push the baby out through the cervix. The smooth serosa makes it easy for the uterus to slide and move in the pelvis as needed.
How uterine sarcoma spreads
If uterine sarcoma spreads, it tends to first go to places near the uterus. It can spread to the cervix, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and lymph nodes. In later stages, as it grows, it can spread to the bladder, bowel, lungs, liver, or bone.
Cancer that spreads to other parts of the body is called metastatic cancer. The process of spreading is called metastasis. Metastasis is a complex process. The cancer cells of the tumor in the uterus grow into other tissues, blood vessels, and the lymph system. The cells then travel through the bloodstream or the lymph system to reach other parts of the body, where they can grow into new tumors.
The tumors in these new areas are still uterine sarcomas. So, when this cancer spreads to the lungs, for instance, the cells in the lung tumor are uterine sarcoma cells, not lung cancer cells. And the disease is called metastatic uterine sarcoma, not lung cancer.
Talk with your healthcare provider
If you have questions about uterine sarcoma, talk with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can help you understand more about this cancer.
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2020, the year of athlete activism
Posted on September 30, 2020 by Andy Ware
Muhammad Ali (left) and Martin Luther King Jr.
By Keenan Harrell, M.A.'21
2020 has been a year like no other. From the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the world over by storm and exposed the severe systemic inequalities that exist in the U.S., to the killings of unarmed African Americans like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor and the civic unrest that has ensued, this year has been a story of immense heartbreak.
Despite such a woeful narrative surrounding this year's reckoning with racial inequality and social injustice, there's still opportunity for triumph. From renewed interest in civic engagement, to citizens bonding over shared inequities and unifying to eradicate them, there is promise of a more just, fair and equitable society on the horizon.
Keenan Harrell, M.A.'21
In all of this, we've seen prominent athletes utilizing their platform through conventional and nonconventional methods to enact meaningful social change. Through activism, athletes and sports organizations are playing a crucial role in the current fight to achieve racial equality, social justice, and systemic change within our country.
Athlete activism is not a new phenomenon. On April 28, 1967, Muhammad Ali, one of the most influential and prolific boxers the world has ever seen, stood proudly in his religious convictions and challenged America's status quo when he refused induction into the U.S. Army. He did so as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war. Often met with staunch criticism, Ali remained outspoken not only against his<|fim_middle|>.
Keenan Harrell is currently pursuing his master's degree in philanthropic studies. He is the community relations manager for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. See Keenan's story.
Filed under: Topical NewsTagged athlete activism, athletes, Colin Kaepernick, Keenan Harrell, Muhammad Ali, social change, social injustice, sports | opposition to the Vietnam war, but also the oppression of Blacks in America.
Ali was bold. He was fearless. He understood that his position as a high-profile athlete gave him an extremely valuable and elevated platform to raise awareness around topics of injustice and discrimination; issues that he wasn't just passionate about, but personally affected by. Ali's legacy is the embodiment, and perhaps, maybe even the blueprint of modern-day athlete activism.
Today, activism through sport is more prominent and perhaps more effective than ever before. Athletes are taking matters into their own hands – utilizing their notoriety and platform to bring to light issues that have plagued our society for far too long, such as racism, vast inconsistencies within our criminal justice system, economic disenfranchisement, police brutality, gender inequality, and more.
It's these very issues that are being addressed by some of our most prominent athletes and sports teams. Furthermore, it's not just awareness or attention they're raising; they're producing tangible solutions as well. For example, NBA star LeBron James recently launched the More Than A Vote campaign to educate, empower, and mobilize citizens to vote, combat voter suppression and increase civic engagement, especially within black and brown communities. He's also recruited other prominent athletes such as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and WNBA star Skylar Diggins to support and advance the campaign.
Another example of athletes using their platform to advocate for social change is the story of Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick, former NFL QB and outspoken champion for racial equality, captured America's attention when he began to kneel during the national anthem played prior to every NFL game. He did this to bring awareness about systemic oppression, racism, and police brutality endured disproportionately by black and brown communities in the U.S.
Despite sacrificing his professional football career, Kaepernick's activism has led to significant changes within the NFL and other prominent institutions that are likely to advance the fight against racism and inequality for years to come.
Kaepernick's protest reignited the national conversation about race relations and police reform in the U.S. While these conversations have illustrated how polarized different groups in America are in addressing these systemic issues, enough support and attention was raised to inspire more athletes and sports organizations to take similar stances as Kaepernick.
Since Kaepernick's initial protest in 2016, numerous players, leagues, etc., have taken a knee as a form of protest and continue to do so today. Despite being regarded by some as a controversial method of protest, kneeling has become synonymous for speaking out against systemic oppression, inequality and social injustice.
Sports play an extremely unique, yet valuable role in our society. Clearly, sports are more than just entertainment; they're a reflection of our shared beliefs and represent some of our humanity's best traits: common purpose, unity, teamwork, and overcoming adversity. Because of this, it's imperative that we remain open-minded in recognizing athlete activism and/or the platform of sports as a legitimate tool in helping to solve some of our society's most critical issues.
Athlete activism is here to stay. Not only am I a firm believer that sports will grow as a conduit in catalyzing positive social change, I also believe that they will play an integral role in creating a more equitable and just society for all | 655 |
RICHARD J WILLIAMS
Writes about cities
Sex and Buildings
Review of Hard Boiled Hollywood: Crime and Punishment in Postwar Los Angeles by Jon Lewis
Posted on July 3, 2017 by Richard J Williams
This is a book about a city in transition from backwater to megalopolis, driven by a film industry itself in a state of flux, dealing with the fallout from the shift from silent to talking pictures and the dissolution of the studio system. The landscape Jon Lewis surveys is contingent; Hollywood is never exactly a place but a series of fleeting moments in often obscure locations. He describes the employees of the industry meeting to network, to audition and pitch "in restaurants and drug stores, in silent-era mansions…in Hollywood bungalows, in modest houses by the beach and in a movie star's compound in the Hollywood Hills". These are the locations of three important films Hollywood made about itself, Sunset Boulevard, In a Lonely Place and The Big Knife. Revealingly, these films show little if anything of the film studio. Hollywood is rarely a concrete reality here, but a set of disconnected practices in dispersed and heterogeneous sites.
This is also a book in large part about death. It starts with a murder, the unsolved 1947 Black Dahlia case, in which the body parts of an aspiring starlet were found in a vacant lot near downtown. It closes with two celebrity deaths: Barbara Payton, a now largely forgotten actress who died derelict in 1967, and Marilyn Monroe, whose 1962 death has attracted as much speculation as that of her alleged lover, John F. Kennedy. In between are any number of other deaths: those of wannabes inhabiting a dangerous demi-monde, killings of and by gangsters associated with Hollywood, deaths simply though excess.
Hollywood emerges as both a fantastic lure – the one place consistently capable of realising The Dream – and a fantastic danger, not only for those unfortunates who try and fail but also for its successes, who often enough find themselves unable to cope. The Los Angeles cityscape that emerges in film, in the media and elsewhere speaks to both qualities, especially the latter. So Hollywood's LA was always this dangerous, transitory city. The roadside drugstore, the abandoned lot, the crumbling (yet barely old) mansion – these are the cinematic tropes of the emergent metropolis.
Hard-Boiled Hollywood deals in things that have become clichés. Hollywood is success and tragedy in equal measure, its stars likewise, the place fantasy as much as reality. What Lewis makes clear is the extent to which these clichés are based on fact. So he has trawled the newspapers for the crime reports and movie reviews that show how, for example, Billy Wilder's 1950 black comedy Sunset Boulevard was based on entirely believable premises. It also shows how, as an exposé of the murkiest side of Hollywood, it was also a politically charged work.
In places Lewis' language slides into a kind of Chandlerese, and it's unclear where his voice ends and that of his subjects begins. The narrative can be hard going, too, especially on Hollywood's flirtation with gangster society, simply because there are so many names, and so many scores to settle. But on the way fantasy and reality interact in the films of the period, and on Hollywood's essential darkness, this is a dense and compelling book.
Jon Lewis, Hard Boiled Hollywood: Crime and Punishment in Postwar Los Angeles (University of California Press, 2017). Review first published in Times Higher Education (1 June 2017)
Posted in city, Uncategorized | Tagged crime, film, film noir, Hollywood, LA | Leave a reply
NDSM: Are You Tough Enough?
Posted on February 23, 2016 by Richard J Williams
What you're looking at are a handful of pictures of the former NDSM shipyard in Amsterdam (NDSM stands for Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij – Netherlands Dock and Shipbuilding Company). It's a place I've visited often the past two years researching a book on creativity and the city. The yard was built in 1946, largely supported by US Marshall Plan funds, and until it closed in 1984, it built up to six vessels per year, including some of the largest tankers for the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate Shell, whose headquarters can be found nearby. You get there by ferry from Amsterdam Centraalstation – it chugs downstream for twenty minutes through a landscape of enormous skies and rehabilitated industrial ruins, depositing you in an unearthly, description-defying place….which I am now going to try to describe.
NDSM is building on an epic scale, but its qualities exceed architecture in the strict sense. It is heterogeneous and informal and the only unifying feature is a colossal slipway, most surfaces of which are covered in graffiti. It now forms a kind of accidental piazza. Scattered around are buildings of every kind and none: two vast assembly sheds, among the biggest single span buildings in the world. In the distance, a brightly painted assemblage of shipping containers forming a student housing complex that is simultaneously chic and extremely grim. Then there is smelting works converted by Group A architects in 2014 for the local headquarters of Pernod-Ricard and (bizarrely, in the same building) Greenpeace; a crane turned into a boutique hotel; and for no particularly obvious reason, a Soviet submarine from the mid-50s. Nobody really knows why it is here, or how it got here.
If NDSM has a core, it is the ship assembly building, or Scheepsbouwloods at the head of the slipway. Since 2000 this has been the home to a community of artists and designers who have occupied this colossal space with a set of temporary and informal structures of varying degrees of sophistication (there are about 100 artists in the complex, occupying some 140,000 sq ft of space). Some of these occupations are bodged out of plywood and found materials, while others have the polish of designer clothes stores. This, the so-called 'Art City' has recently (2014) been incorporated as a foundation and appears to be headed towards a more formal future. But in its present condition it describes something important about the subject position of the creative city. It is a city of a city of encampments and occupations, a modern-day Wild West. As much as the art city represents a set of practical solutions (cheap, abundant space, freedom from official intervention) it also represents a set of lifestyle choices that imagine the city as a set of defensive enclaves, sometimes quite fortified, even hostile.
In a 2012 film about NDSM, one of the original artists, Bart Stuart elaborates this outsider's subject position. NDSM he claims is a city on its own terms, standing in friendly but critical opposition to the official city across the waters of the IJ. It's not for sale; it's not to be recuperated into the general 'project' of the city's regeneration. The city is 'not an office where you can plan everything and organise who is sitting where and how much is that…'
So – as a prominent bit of graffiti asks – what's happening? What is going on in places like NDSM? What kind of a city are we creating in the name of creativity? I certainly think in a way analogous to Reyner Banham's exploration of LA, I think there is an architectural history to be written of places like this. In fifteen years, the creative city has moved from hucksterish rhetoric to a reality with distinct architectural forms. And as Banham discovered in the LA of the 1960s, it makes little sense to describe only the formal architecture as the creative city, as the vast majority of it is produced informally. It's a city of occupations, a precarious, temporary city whose undeniable dynamism is also a barrier to the weak: it's a place where the strong survive. This attitude has become economically prized. In Amsterdam, the broedplaatsen, in the first instance a panicked government response to large scale squatting, has become core urban policy. Edgy is now mainstream, you might say, and exploring its informal architecture is a good way of understanding what is happening. NDSM is good at identifying the complexities and contradictions of the creative city, its superficial openness ('everyone is creative', as Florida says) butting up against a defensiveness and exclusivity. That exclusivity is inseparable, I think, from the cultivated harshness of this and similar environments. The persistence of the squatter aesthetic, the choice of industrial readymades such as the shipping container, the tolerance of graffiti, these things all say: you have to be tough to survive here, to survive the creative economy. Are you tough enough?
Posted in Amsterdam, architecture, art, creative industries, Uncategorized | Leave a reply
LA's Forties – a talk for Salon London
Posted on November 19, 2015 by Richard J Williams
Here is an edited version of a talk I gave on 7 November for Salon London's 'The Century' event:
So which city is 1940s Los Angeles, 'sunshine or noir' as Mike Davis put it? The great beach metropolis, light-soaked and perpetually optimistic? Or the dank, furtive city of Cain and Chandler that in the movies looks more like Engels's Manchester than anything else (it's always raining for a start, a trick Ridley Scott borrowed for Blade Runner). Well it's both, of course, but at different times sunshine wins out over noir, at least in cultural terms. In the 1940s it's certainly noir (…)
It is the Freudian city par excellence, a city defined by its unconscious. Whether or not you buy into Freud doesn't matter: it's literally a city full of Viennese emigrees who absolutely did. The compelling and influential culture of noir was an explicitly Freudian culture, produced by artists and writers and film-makers for whom psychoanalysis was alive. Knowing that, and knowing just how much of LA's distinctive culture in the 1940s was produced by middle-European Jewish intellectuals explains a great deal: it's noir rather than sunshine and couldn't have been any other way.
Noir is sometimes produced intentionally and self-consciously, in the case of the novels of Raymond Chandler or the films of Billy Wilder. Or<|fim_middle|>'t think this is right. The landscape and plan are extremely robust, as a view from Salisbury Crags attests. The bigness of the landscape, not to mention the sky, accomodates a vast range of building styles and qualities. (2) AND BIG. Not enormous, but it is a complex, surprisingly sprawling, largely suburban regional capital of half a million, and if you take the travel-to-work area into account, it's half of Scotland. In that context, the heritage voice, while noisy, can't be allowed to be the only voice in the room. Lots of people have a stake in this place, not only those who would prefer it were a museum. (3) CITIES CHANGE. There are some particular issues around recent developments and their perceived quality or otherwise. But the conversation about development in the city too often polarizes into an infantile battle between those who want it, and those who want to stop it at all costs. That battle doesn't do anyone any favours. There can be a much more constructive conversation between past and present, present and future, as – if you actually read it properly – the 1948 Abercrombie Plan for the city shows. And as I said in an earlier piece in the Edinburgh Evening News, great cities aren't diminished or threatened by change: they embrace it. (4) MISTAKES ARE ACTUALLY FINE. We can't, and don't always get things right first time; we learn what works by doing. And as I've said elsewhere, if we get it wrong, we can always do it again, or adapt.
Edinburgh has some local difficulties to do with planning, and the monitoring of quality: I was powerfully reminded of that over the weekend, and in fact sympathise with many of my critics, as well as Edinburgh World Heritage. But what was again striking to me was the sense of fear in the conversation. Every side in the debate – heritage lobby, architectural modernist, neo-Georgian traditionalist, whoever – perceived threat in change, whether from developers, the actions of the city council, or even the opinions of obscure academics. So widespread is this anxiety about the future, and so multifaceted, for the time being it makes a sensible conversation about Edinburgh's buildings if not impossible, certainly very hard. (The council's tendency to make covert deals is, I am sure, a form of collective avoidance). And that is why I used the word 'neurotic', and stand by it.
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Posted on March 15, 2015 by Richard J Williams
What you're looking at is one of the towers of Lasalle College, a small private art school in central Singapore. Built in 2007 to a design by RSP, it was extensively funded by the Singaporean government who have been enthusiastic promotors of all things 'creative' since the early 2000s. Of all the things I saw in Singapore last week, this was perhaps the most thought-provoking, less for the architecture (which is undeniably spectacular) than for the attitude that it embodies. It makes a simple deal: accept that the arts are in the service of the national project, and they will be funded with an inconceivable generosity.
The deal is legible enough in the window vinyls, the words 'excellence', 'spectacle' and 'critique' screaming out the message. For many UK humanities academics, this kind of of sloganising is simply grotesque: aren't these words supposed to be a means of interrogating the very things they seem here to support? You can picture a generation of cultural studies scholars with their heads in their hands.
That reaction, to my mind, would miss the subtlety of the deal. Of course 'spectacle' and 'critique' and all those other words shouldn't be turned into mere decoration. But I doubt those words are really much more than decoration in any of the work we might do in the west, the business of naming being, after all, a form of commodification (and where would critical theory be without all those publishers making a business from it?). Lasalle abruptly challenges that myth. To believe in the myth, you have to cling onto the comforting idea the arts can be somehow stand 'outside' society too, a zone of freedom beyond the reach of government.
That freedom would be nice were it real, but my twitter feed during the period I was away suggested that my world was in fact a narrow and censorious one. Too often last week, my academic freedom seemed to be the freedom to agree with a majority view.
Lasalle's windows inadvertently say the unsayable: our freedom is conditional on complicity. It's discomforting for westerners, but in Singapore's case, for 50 years, the government has been adept at meeting its part of the deal, remarkably so. It houses and feeds its citizens better than any European country I can think of (certainly Scotland, whose record on both is scandalously awful). Of course, Singapore's wheels may well be coming off, as two NUS academics, Donald Low and Sudhir Vadaketh, have argued in an excellent new book. But for the time being, Singapore remains a compelling, if troubling example.
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Singapore stroll
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Belgrade Ramble
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The Year In Culture, Kind Of
Posted on December 31, 2014 by Richard J Williams
1. THE WIND RISES. The last film by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli. A sprawling epic about the designer of the Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane. Humour, tragedy, pathos, the surreal – all human life is there. The aircraft are magnificently realised too, especially the huge Junkers G. 38, whose interior spaces form one of the film's most intriguing tableaux.
2. THE EDINBURGH SCULPTURE WORKSHOP. Designed by Sutherland Hussey, and completed in 2012 or so, it's now into its second phase of development. A collection of studios and exhibition spaces supported by a mixture of private and public funding. It's a very, very good building indeed. Simple top-lit spaces, robust surfaces, and spaces for reflection. An undemonstrative, deeply practical building it's the exact opposite of almost everything built for culture these days. Brilliant.
3. ADVENTURE TIME. I came to this series late, now in its sixth season. The most mindblowingly weird programme ever broadcast on mainstream TV, it's the visual equivalent of a nitrous oxide-LSD trip. But there's real depth to it too. Jake the Dog is one of the all-time great cartoon characters, a classic hippy philosopher in the Jerry Garcia mould. Unlike Garcia, however, he has magical shapeshifting powers, useful in uncertain times.
4. DONGDAEMUN DESIGN PLAZA in Seoul by Zaha Hadid. I have all kinds of difficulty with Hadid and co., not least the vacuousness of their theory of 'parametricism'. However this building is a complete triumph, because for once the formal ambition is matched by the ability of the (genius) builders. A swooping, bulging, genre-defying thing, it's both architecture and landscape.
5. WHY THIS OPTIMIST IS VOTING NO. The referendum on Scottish independence was inescapable in 2014. The vast majority of friends voted in favour, and I could see perfectly well why they might. But after a struggle, I felt I couldn't join them. The reasons are best explained by Carol Craig in an essay for the Scottish Review. A sensitive, beautifully written essay, it was one of the few interventions in the referendum to address its psychological complexity.
6.ALBERT SPEER: HIS BATTLE WITH TRUTH by Gitta Sereny. Published in 1995, it took me 19 years to read it after several attempts. A vast, rangy book, full of digression and repetition. Once I realised it was basically Moby Dick for the Third Reich, I was hooked. What I experienced as faults first time around now seemed necessary to express the moral complexity of the subject.
7.SUBARU IMPREZA I needed a cheap car quickly towards the end of the year and found myself with an '07 Impreza with 85k on the clock. By comparison with modern cars, it's tinny, unrefined, and pumps out far more Co2 than it should. It's not even very fast. But it's built to last decades, and has an engineering integrity that few designed objects have these days. In other words it is almost the exact opposite of Apple's i-phone, which has the feel of integrity that it, in reality, lacks. (The car, needless to say, has no USB socket).
8. ARE YOU LOCATIONALIZED? by Joanne Tatham and Tom O'Sullivan. A two-part art installation in Portree, Skye and Lochmaddy, North Uist which turned public buildings into giant cartoon characters Part of the experience was getting there, of course, but this was also robust, funny work of real quality. The Lochmaddy part was a wall painted with a cosmic scene, babbling poetry through a trumpet-like beak. 'Look' said a beaming O'Sullivan, when he showed it to me, 'it's the Master of the Universe.'
9. THE LEGO MOVIE. Overlong, flabby and the closing live action is a mistake. The opening 15 minutes is however complete genius. The theme song is 'Everything is Awesome' by the Canadian duo Tegan and Sara. With the accompanying scene setting in the Lego City, the sequence is simultaneously completely stupid and totally profound. I showed it to awestruck students at every available opportunity.
10. HAWKWIND PLAY THE SPACE RITUAL. A one-off benefit gig at the Shepherd's Bush Empire for badgers (yes, badgers). An average age of 68, the band played for over three hours. According to the Guardian's Ed Vulliamy who was also there, somehow during the night they lost all the money they raised. If you know Hawkwind, you'll know this sort of disaster goes with the territory. But it was a magnificent occasion, every bit as convincing as the '73 original, and only £20.
Posted in architecture, art, city | Tagged Adventure Time, Architecture, city, creative industries, Edinburgh, Studio Ghibli, Subaru, Zaha Hadid | Leave a reply
Are You A NEW METROPOLITAN?
Life has been a bit quiet in these parts because we have been busy with thenewmetropolitan.com A new web magazine about cities and citizenship, it brings together people from across the University of Edinburgh as well as half a dozen European institutions. It's finding its way, but the hope is we develop a distinctive, but independent voice. Above all, we hope it looks good. Tell us what you think, the good and the bad. And if you want to contribute, just say. We're all ears.
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I'm waiting for Media Hopper to do its thing in case you're wondering 3 hours ago
@StaceyHunterEdi @msclairebiddles this is a very old one, but the lab coat/WW1 flying goggles combo (Hawkwind) 3 hours ago
Avalanche warning.....in the PENTLANDS twitter.com/edinspotlight/… 3 hours ago
Ancient light from a far distant star https://t.co/xah05fPabG 7 hours ago
@ShelaghLtd woah 1 day ago | it may be unintentional, but no less affecting. My introduction to LA noir came through one of these unintentional products, a building, the Kings Rd house by Rudolf Schindler, a Viennese, who collaborated with the better known Richard Neutra Built in 1922, it is, you could say, emblematic of a set of typically Californian desires: to be modern, to suck up influences from anywhere, and most of all, to be outdoors. It consists of two interlocking, L-shaped pavilions. The structure is cast concrete, the walls and roof wood. It's more than a little Japanese.
What struck me about it when I first saw it ten years ago was was the architecture, than its sexuality. Built for two couples, the Schindlers and the Chaces, it built on the memory of camping trips the two couples had taken together, and although nowhere it is suggested they shared sexual partners, the house nevertheless alludes to their sexual frankness (Schindler's sexual appetites were well known. A notorious womaniser, no Southern Californian woman was safe). So the house is largely open to the elements. The living room is really an open patio with a fireplace, and the bedrooms are two sleeping platforms on the roof. You get the idea – everything is open to everything else, everything can be seen and heard. There is no privacy.
So why mention the house in the context of the 1940s? Well – it's at this point that the sexual dream of the house well and truly soured. It never worked anyway: the Chaces moved out after only a few months, and then the Schindlers split, Pauline Schindler moving out of town. And then, having separated, she came back to live in the house in the 40s. The now divorced couple lived in separate parts of the house, communicating only through their respective lawyers. It was an appalling sexual standoff that lasted the whole decade and beyond, until Schindler's death from lung cancer in 1953.
To me this story says it all about LA in the 40s. A utopian dream soured, light turned to darkness, sex gone bad. Of course it's one house and one story in a vast city, but it is the kind of story that became increasingly popular with writers and film-makers. In Hollywood it became arguably the dominant trope.
ADORNO/HORKHEIMER
Noir LA was also the subtext to a notorious, or celebrated (depending on your point of view) piece of cultural theory by the exiled Germans Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, 'The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception'. It's relevant because it was published bang in the middle of the decade (1944) and its authors were resident just a few miles from Schindler's house. Cultural studies people love this essay. I'm never quite sure why, because it is possibly the angriest piece of writing you are every likely to come across, outside of a Daily Mail editorial (to which it bears a passing resemblance). All aspects of popular culture are dismissed: mass-produced trash, popular culture is also they write, borderline propaganda that makes independent thought impossible. Their LA is by inference as controlling as Nazi Germany.
It all seems a little unfair given their comfortable duplex in Brentwood (to be fair they were under effective house arrest). And their critique, dismayingly, shows no evidence of their actually having consumed any of the things that make them so angry. So they write if the whole of Hollywood, despite the fact that at precisely the same moment it was producing film after film in a highly critical vein. Why let facts get in the way of a good story? Most depressingly they dismiss jazz, all of it. And worst of all, Donald Duck.
But the piece is nevertheless interesting for its psychosexual dimension, a running theme through 1940s culture. Sex, they write is everywhere in popular culture, citing the way it suffuses the movies. It's perhaps the only topic in the movies. But while it's everywhere, it's also compromised: it only ever appears as promise, never actuality, for to let it be, as it were, would be to satisfy desire, and satisfaction of course curtails consumption. The culture industry, they write, must never satisfy desire; it must inflame it, but always leave its customers wanting more. Precisely how culture might deal with sexual desire more authentically isn't made clear. They weren't looking at pornography, which is a pity: that might have challenged their views of popular culture. But what is interesting is how they understand the field of sexuality in 1940s LA as fundamentally perverse. The desire is there, but it can never be satisfied; it's always compromised and corrupted; always bad.
Well there's certainly some truth in that. By the1940s, this perverse view of sex has starts to become a major topic in cinema. There remains an open question about its ethics: for Adorno, perverse sex was represented to moral ends. In other words, bad behaviour gets punished, typically female bad behaviour. But I think this is too simplistic. In the films I'm going to describe, the protagonists are perverse in terms of what they do. They have sex for pleasure, often with multiple partners. They care little for family. Their sexual activities often get them into trouble. And sex and death are inescapably connected. That said the characters in these films are among the most attractive in cinematic history, and through that attractiveness, and our identification with them, we have – in the best films – a sense of the complexity of human existence.
'Noir' is a slippery term, one that didn't appear in usage until sometime after its key films were made, and it was used in the first instance (1946) by A French critic, Nino Frank who to some extent projected his desires onto what he saw. There wasn't a consumer category of 'noir' in 1940s LA: you didn't, for example, set out deliberately to see a 'noir' in the same way as you would choose to see a romance.
Nevertheless a distinct style of film-making emerged at the time. Amomg the many definitions of noir, the most useful I've found is Paul Schrader's from 1972. He says (I paraphrase) the following: (1) it's always night; (2) horizontal lines are out; oblige angles are in; (3) the actors and their settings are of equal importance; (4) 'compositional tension is preferred to physical action' (i.e. no explosions); (5) 'there is an almost Freudian attachment to water'; (6) there is an attraction to hopeless romantic scenarios, temps perdus etc; (7) chronologies are messed up. Almost all of these are relevant to the perverse LA that emerges in the 1940s. This is, in popular culture at least, a city that is made to resist the story of progress.
Double Indemnity, directed by the Austrian émigré Billy Wilder. The script was originally a James Cain novel, adapted by a grumpy Raymond Chandler (Chandler thought Cain was rubbish). It's a great noir film, perhaps the greatest – and also a great LA film. It tells the story of an insurance salesman Walter Neff (played by Fred MacMurray) who finds himself entangled with an amoral, psychopathic housewife, Phyllis Dietrichson (played by Barbara Stanwyck), who is bent on murdering her alcoholic husband for the payout. Neff, a cynical tough guy, calls on Dietrichson in response to her request for a quote. When it transpires she's out for the money, Neff backs off – only to become ensnared when she calls on him later and seduces him into complicity. Out of a feral attraction to her, and (one senses) his own boredom, he takes on the task with relish, embellishing the murder to ensure it takes place on a train – that unusual site of death results, he points out, carries a double indemnity, meaning a double payout. They carry out the task, and subsequently, through an increasingly anxious narrative it becomes clear Dietrichson has no feelings for Neff; in the penultimate scene she shoots him, only to be shot herself in by her lover. The final scene has Neff expire in the arms of his boss, Barton Keyes (played by Edward G Robinson) as he dictates his version of the story to tape.
There is a striking visual quality to the whole film, that is true of noir in general, but well advanced here. It's always dark, for starters: a city of more or less perpetual sunshine appears in the movie in more or less perpetual darkness. Daylight, where it appears at all, refracts though venetian blinds, or rain. It rains far more in the movies than in reality: LA is technically a desert city, under constant threat of drought, then as now.
As well as dark, it's always inside. The sunnier accounts of LA, for example Reyner Banham's amazing book on the subject I mentioned earlier, portray a city constantly out of doors, never far from contact with nature: Banham's TV film Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles depicts a city of the beach, of the freeways and of expansive views from the Holywood Hills: the sense of light and space and nature is infectious and seductive. Double Indemnity's action invariably takes place at close quarters. Interiors are dark, stuffy and claustrophobic. You never get a view out. The city dissolves into a set of dark fragments.
This perversion of atmospheres, this making the familiar uncanny occurs repeatedly, turning ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones. Nothing – in the great cliché – is as it seems. Perhaps the most imaginative example of this defamiliarisation occurs in the supermarket. Its role in Double Indemnity is to provide, post-murder, the safe space for Neff and Dietrichson to meet. Their encounters are excruciating: avoiding each other's gaze, they hiss through pursed lips, distractedly pawing cans of baked beans, trying (but failing) to avoid engagement with the other customers. The safe space of the supermarket becomes an ever more anxiety laden one, the space where they come to talk about things that cannot in reality be talked about; the abundance of groceries, meant by the store to represent a benign freedom of choice, comes to be just overwhelming. A middle aged woman's request to Neff for a package of baby food is not, as it ought to be, an opportunity for kindness; it is the last straw.
That perversion of the city leads us to the question of sex, for this is a film that is motivated by pursuing and having sex, but ultimately to its perversion. Neff first meets Dietrichson at her home, where he first catches sight of her as she emerges from a bath (exploiting the sense of her recent nakedness for all it is worth). That is a straightforward sense of sex. More perverse is what happens next, as she descends a spiral staircase, revealing her ankle bracelet as she does; the camera (and by implication Neff's gaze) fixates on this piece of jewellery, which by the time she has reached ground level, has become, without doubt a Freudian fetish object – which is to say a stand-in for sexual experience, an object that is associated with a particular sexual experience and can produce feelings of arousal because of that association, to the point at which it displaces the real sexual experience altogether.
I think Billy Wilder knew his Freud well enough. He was a Viennese after all. I wonder if he knew Freud's essay 'Jensen's Gradiva', an account of a bizarre Danish novella in which the protagonist, a male archeologist becomes obsessed with the exposed ankle of a Roman girl, illustrated on a Pompeian mosaic. The girl's ankle becomes an obsession, a fetish – to the horrifying extent that the archaeologist finds the girl come to life. Nothing so bizarre happens to Neff, but in a way, his fetish has more terrible consequences. It is his memory of Deitrichson's ankle bracelet that softens his resolve; his palpable arousal leads him to murder.
Well, the Neff/Dietrichson relationship winds its perverse course through the rest of the film. Each moment that contains the potential for resolution finds subversion instead; as the pair remove obstacles to their being together, they find themselves paradoxically further alienated from each other; what should be moments of intimacy are moments of shocking estrangement. We slowly come to realise that the only true moment of intimacy, the seduction scene in Neff's stuffy apartment, is in fact the pretext for the murder conspiracy – and Dietrichson turns out to be a sexual double agent, responsible ultimately for Neff's murder. So it goes – towards the end of the film, it becomes clear that the only true relationship is in fact a homosexual one, between Neff and his boss, the tenacious, neurotic Keyes 'I love you too' ne says to Keys more than once, a piece of banter exchanged at moments of routine stress. But the final scene turns it – almost – into a reality: Keys cradles a sweating Neff as he sinks into death; they look like, and effectively are, lovers.
Wilder went on to refine these themes in Sunset Boulevard (1950) a tale of perverse love affair between a failing young scriptwriter and a forgotten screen actress (William Holden/Gloria Swanson), set in a semi-derelict mansion on the upper reaches of Sunset Boulvard: like Double Indemnity it portrays a city of interiors, or perpetual night and sexual perversity in which desire and death are never very far from each other, and no-one ever really gets what they want. These films also describe a precarious and anxious city, full of transients pitching for opportunities, and rarely getting them. The forties are arguably the decade this perverse culture crystallises as part of the city's culture, and I would argue, makes the city all the better. Great cities sustain complexity and contradiction, and it's striking to anyone who knows LA how contradiction is a part of the city's everyday culture: it's both/and, not either /or and all the better for it. LA's 40s are a terrible decade, you might say, but also a beautiful one.
Posted in architecture, art | Tagged Architecture, city, cultural studies, film noir, Los Angeles, Sex | Leave a reply
Research: choices and consequences
St. Jerome in His Study
A colleague recently asked me to speak on research 'evidence', which I interpreted as the forms of publication I'd chosen to disseminate my research. I've realised over the years that the choices I made have been distinctive ones, with advantages and disadvantages, and consequences.
I started out on a fairly conventional route in the late 1990s with publications in mainstream art history journals and with academic presses (MUP and Routledge). As my work became more interdisciplinary in the early 2000s, I started to make different decisions, choosing to work with a lively and inventive publisher (Reaktion) who straddle academic and trade markets. I've published two books with them, with a third on the way. As well as work with Reaktion, I invested a lot of time in non-academic venues, writing for a range of architectural and design magazines in the early 2000s, and then more recently the Times Higher, for whom I'm the (very) unofficial architecture correspondent. I've often been quoted or published in the mainstream media too: my thinking about Edinburgh's urban landscape has been covered by the US political journal Foreign Policy, BBC R4, The Guardian, The Herald, as well as the local Edinburgh press. I take social media seriously, and spend a lot of time on twitter.
So what's been good about this strategy? Well, it's been good for volume: Reaktion are responsive and fast, and the other venues have similarly been good for getting a large volume of material out quickly. It's been good profile-wise, too: 'Sex and Buildings', the last Reaktion book (2013) got a lot of media attention, which continues.
The bad? Well, it's not easy to categorise what I do, which means I'm probably now unemployable anywhere else. And because I've avoided the mainstream academic venues, it's hard for some to evaluate it (someone at a rival institution described my work as 'light'. It's not at all – but I can see how you might think that).
These are real consequences, and I'm too far into my career now – 20+ years – to make much of a change, even if I wanted to. But I'd argue my path is more fun in the end, however uncomfortable it may be sometimes. And like quite a few academics I know, I simply prefer to speak to broader audiences rather than strictly academic ones. My approach has been a way of doing it.
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Edinburgh. Toys. Pram. Etc.
Posted on September 15, 2015 by Richard J Williams
The 'Turd', a.k.a. the proposed St James's hotel by Jestico and Whiles
Well, it's been an interesting couple of days, you might say. An early morning start on Radio 4's Today on 12th September, where along with the urbane Adam Wilkinson of Edinburgh World Heritage, we debated the city's UNESCO World Heritage status. That status is perceived by some in the heritage business of being under threat, from the city council's negligence on the one hand, and development on the other. Adam and I agree on a good deal, as it happens, and the atmosphere in the studio was amiable. I suggested, playfully, that losing UNESCO's approval wouldn't greatly matter: most tourists came for the comedy at the Fringe Festival (I'm sure this is statistically true, but no matter). I also said, again playfully, that I thought Edinburgh's attitude to its built environment was 'neurotic.' Those who speak for it tend to see threats where none exist; their stock-in-trade is the catastrophe; as I've discovered to my cost in the past, they react on a hair trigger.
Sure enough, my few seconds of airtime produced a reaction, on social media, via email, and most spectacularly in the Herald newspaper. The rage expressed in all these media illustrated precisely why I used the word 'neurotic', and it's this peculiar group psychology of Edinburgh's towards the built environment that was my concern, rather than its buildings per se.
I've explored this attitude in the past for the journal Foreign Policy, again to controversial effect. And more recently I explored it length in Chris Breward and Fiona Fisher's anthology British Design, where I traced it back to Lord Cockburn's famous/notorious 1849 letter to the then Lord Provost, on the 'Best Ways to Spoil the Beauties of Edinburgh'. This psychology is primitive, lower-brain stuff, and as a result it can give my remarks a primitive-seeming quality too. One of my most powerful critics over the weekend, a local architect (whom, as it happens, I greatly admire) accused me of being simplistic. Why was I reiterating this tired old idea, Edinburgh's progress being held up by a fusty establishment, resistant to change? Well – I reiterated this tedious idea precisely because it is so strongly there. There is no getting away from it – as the Herald article, and many others show. Unlike other cities, there is no shared understanding, however basic, of what the city should look like. And consequently, change seems threatening.
So if I'd had more time, I'd have said this: (1) EDINBURGH'S TOUGH. The reaction by the heritage lobby is suggestive of a delicate place, in need of constant protection. I don | 4,219 |
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Highlights various successes of both individuals and teams in the National Football League. Additional features include a Fast Facts spread, critical thinking questions, primary source quotes and accompanying source notes, a phonetic glossary, resources for further study, and an index.
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Highlights various successes of both individuals and teams in Olympic history. Additional features include a Fast Facts spread, critical thinking questions, primary source quotes and accompanying source notes, a phonetic glossary, resources for further study, and an index.
Learn about the key players and big wins that have made the Orlando Magic one of the most exciting and successful teams in the NBA. Readers will get a glimpse into the team's history, its home court, its fans, and the team's most memorable moments. Additional features to enhance comprehension include informative captions, an introduction to the author, a phonetic glossary of key words and phrases, sources for further research including websites, a look at the parts of a basketball court, a section on common uniforms for the team, a section of career records and stats, and an index.
Learn about the key players and big wins that have made the Philadelphia 76ers one of the most exciting and successful teams in the NBA. Readers will get a glimpse into the team's history, its home court, its fans, and the team's most memorable moments. Additional features to enhance comprehension include informative captions, an introduction to the author, a phonetic glossary of key words and phrases, sources for further research including websites, a look at the parts of a basketball court, a section on common uniforms for the team, a section of career records and stats, and an index.
Learn about the key players and big wins that have made the Houston Rockets one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Readers will get a glimpse into the team's history, its home court, its fans, and the team's most memorable moments. Additional features to enhance comprehension include informative captions, an introduction to the author, a phonetic glossary of key words and phrases, sources for further research including websites, a look at the parts of a basketball court, a section on common uniforms for the team, a section of career records and stats, and an index.
Learn about the key players and big wins that have made the Indiana Pacers one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Readers will get a glimpse into the team's history, its home court, its fans, and the team's most memorable moments. Additional features to enhance comprehension include informative captions, an introduction to the author, a phonetic glossary of key words and phrases, sources for further research including websites, a look at the parts of a basketball court, a section on common uniforms for the team, a section of career records and stats, and an index.
Travel to the Big Apple to watch the New York Yankees take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Yankees expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Conor Buckley (author)
Visit the beautiful Bay Area to watch the Oakland Athletics take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become an Athletics expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Visit the home of the Liberty Bell to watch the Philadelphia Phillies take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Phillies expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Head to Steel City to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Pirates expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Head to sunny Southern California to watch the San Diego Padres take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Padres expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
See the Golden Gate Bridge when you travel to watch the San Francisco Giants take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Giants expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Check out the beautiful Pacific Northwest when you watch the Seattle Mariners take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Mariners expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Take a trip to the Motor City to watch the Detroit Tigers take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Tigers expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Visit the home of America's space race to watch the Houston Astros take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become an Astros expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Kansas City, here we come...to watch the Kansas City Royals take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Royals expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Visit Southern California to watch the Los Angeles Angels take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become an Angels expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Visit the home of the Hollywood stars to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Dodgers expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Head to sunny Florida to watch the Miami Marlins take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Marlins expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home field, a section on basic gear, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, and information about the author.
Grab a tasty German sausage and watch the Milwaukee Brewers take on Major League Baseball's best. Meet the top players, read stories of past and present, and check out all the key stats. Root, root, root for the home team as you become a Brewers expert! Additional features include a table of contents, informative captions, a diagram of the home | 2,396 |
By the time you are holding this issue of Snowbird & RV Travelers, we hope that spring has arrived. For many people across North America, the 2019 winter was extreme — with record snowfalls and severely low temperatures. By the time the warmer temperatures and sunnier skies arrive, we will all be more than ready to get out on the road. It's time to go RVing.
Before you leave be sure to read our 10 Things to Know Before You Hit the Road to make sure you and your RV are ready (page 44). Our Product Showcase (page 10) will also help you start the season right — with products you might not even know you needed. Another great product to check out is our RV Tech: Get a Boost with WeBoost article (page 50). We provide you with 7 simple steps to installing the<|fim_middle|> tips and tricks to make sure you and Fido both have a great time while travelling together. We also have suggestions for some of the best parks to go to with your pet.
to getting out in April and May, such as smaller crowds, less expensive fees, and a better chance of securing that great booking.
As always, we have some sunnier destination stories, if you are not convinced Canada is where you want to be this spring. Arizona, California and South Carolina all make for great journeys. | Connect RV65 so you can stay better connected while away from home.
Have you ever taken your dog with you RVing?
RVing is for the Dogs (page 12) will give you all the | 43 |
Order online at all Amazon and B & N bookstores. Local stores can order.
Good leaders anticipate; poor leaders react. Great leaders orchestrate change to generate extraordinary momentum, and to never stall.
This book serves you, the leader, in better orchestrating change and achieving momentum for your business, while creating a great workplace.
"In The Pivot, Lori Michele Leavitt introduces a profoundly important new construct for getting everyone in your organization moving forward toward your strategic objectives. She calls it Aligned Momentum, and it's how the most successful leaders enable their organizations, at all levels, to initiate change and become more nimble, flexible, and adaptable, and speed miles ahead of their competition. The Pivot is full of compelling stories and examples of how successful organizations have used Aligned Momentum, as well as practical applications that you can put to immediate use. Mastering The Pivot is not optional. It is absolutely essential in a world where misalignment is costing businesses their talent, their competitive advantage, and their customer's trust."
"Lori Michele Leavitt provides a fresh perspective on a well-worn term: pivot. She introduces the concept of Aligned Momentum and shows how to achieve it in order to execute the type of transformation that every business must undertake if it wants to survive today's challenging and ever-changing environment. Read The Pivot to learn from Leavitt's extensive experience helping companies thrive and grow through organizational momentum and culture change."
"Reading The Pivot will remind you what most of the business world has forgotten—long term success is almost never based on a big budget, headline-worthy strokes of strategic genius, but rather of small, seemingly infinitesimal, but ultimately highly significant, small steps. It's the turns we don't take, it turns out, that can take even long established businesses down. Lori Michele Leavitt offers up a new and insightful look at a multitude of ways in which the world's most progressive business leaders are changing their companies, their markets and their own mindsets. One page, one Pivot, one positive insight at a time, Lori's new work lays out a plethora of small, practical, meaningful tips that can take you and your organization to the next level! Take careful notes—the Pivot that might make or break your business is probably somewhere in its pages."
"Lori Michele Leavitt's book, The Pivot, presents an effective methodology for anyone aspiring to be a powerful leader in this unprecedented twenty first century global economic reality. As an MBA, management consultant, and executive coach, Lori ("The Pivot Catalyst"), is intimately aware of the rapid and unpredictable changes, growing complexities — as evidenced by multiple industry disruptors and accelerating, exponential growth.. not to mention<|fim_middle|> applications.. highly recommended reading!"
Lori Michele Leavitt, also known as The Pivot Catalyst, will guide you with this book to your best next steps toward extraordinary business momentum. Just as she coaches leaders around the world, with this book she will coach you. Learn more about Lori and LML Services at www.lorimicheleleavitt.com.
Lori Michele Leavitt is founder and President of Abrige Corp. Her leadership services are delivered through business and performance coaching, leading peer groups, and consulting for M&A due diligence and turnarounds. Abrige software, branded as Aligned MomentumTM, has catalyzed momentum for organizations with thousands of employees.
Her remote monitoring company was the first to enable cashless water vending in Africa. She speaks globally, to groups from 10 to 2000 on performance momentum and culture change. Lori holds an MBA and certifications in speaking, coaching, facilitation, and financial management. Her favorite role is as Emily's Mom. | major political disruptions, demographic dislocations and even major changes with Earth's climates. In this book you will find that Lori shares her wisdom and actionable methods with great clarity. She has captured the essence of pivoting and its practical | 45 |
Yang Xian (born 31 August 1962) is a Chinese FIDE Master chess player.
He was a member of the Chinese national chess team. He was part of the national team at the Chess Olympiad once in 1986, and twice for the Hong Kong team 1992-1994. He played a total of 33 games scoring 14 wins, 15 draws and 4 losses.
His current (inactive) Elo rating is 2415 according to FIDE.
Yang Xian (simplified Chinese: 杨宪; traditional Chinese: 楊憲; pinyin: Yáng Xiàn; 1330–1370) was a Chinese official who lived in the early Ming dynasty. He served as the Governor of Yangzhou from 1368–70 and later became the Chief of the Central Secretariat in 1370 during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor.
Yang Xian was born in Taiyuan, Shaanxi province on<|fim_middle|>. He served as the eight rank official in the early Ming dynasty.
In 1368, the first year of Ming dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor launched a northern inspection. He was accompanied by Liu Bowen and Yang Xian. When they reached Yangzhou, the emperor saw Yangzhou was in ruins as a result of long term war during the transition from the Yuan dynasty to the Ming dynasty. Liu Bowen recommended Yang Xian to the Hongwu Emperor, saying that Yang Xian was the right person to rebuild Yangzhou city. The emperor agreed and appointed Yang Xian as the Governor of Yangzhou and promoted him to the third rank of Officials. Yang Xian refused the third rank officials promotion and promised to rebuild Yangzhou prosperity in five years as eight rank officials. The Hongwu Emperor was very pleased and returned to the capital with Liu Bowen. | 1330. He was a scholar from Hanlin Academy and a student of Liu Bowen | 20 |
Q Holding Company's Qure Medical to Merge with Degania Silicone Ltd.
Q Holding announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase Degania Silicone Ltd. ("Degania"), a leading international manufacturer of medical catheters.
Degania represents a transformative acquisition for Q Holding, creating a market-leading medical device and component manufacturer offering complete flexible technology solutions for healthcare applications. Degania produces critical end products that<|fim_middle|> and one in the UK and Mexico), selling products in more than 50 countries. Q Holding goes to market in the life sciences as Qure Medical and in electrical management as Quality Synthetic Rubber (QSR).
QSR Establishes Mexican Operation Zack Beier Featured in Rubber & Plastics News Under 40 Class Issue | are used on a daily basis in healthcare settings in applications such as cardiology, general surgery and drug delivery. Degania employs c. 1,700 globally and has R&D and manufacturing facilities in Israel, India, France and Slovakia.
Degania goes to market through three brands: Degania, a premier developer and manufacturer of medical catheters for global medical device OEMs; Arthesys, a cardiovascular and peripheral vascular catheter designer and manufacturer specializing in catheters for stent delivery; and Biometrix, a manufacturer and provider of catheter-related kits for hospitals and health care distributors. Across these segments Degania partners with a wide base of global medical device OEM customers that are market leaders in their respective product categories.
Together, Q Holding and Degania will offer an unprecedented suite of development and manufacturing services, material technologies, analytical tools and industry expertise. The combined business will also offer complete product lifecycle management with assembly, packaging and 510K management for customers' outsourcing needs with a network of operations that can bring the supply chain close to the consumption point.
Randy Ross, Chief Executive of Q Holding, commented: "We are delighted to have reached this agreement to purchase Degania. The businesses are highly complementary and the acquisition represents a critical milestone in diversifying and internationalizing the business. It will significantly enhance the value we can deliver to our global customer base thanks to Degania's strong R&D capabilities in Israel and France and state‐of‐the‐art facilities in Israel, France, India and Slovakia."
Rami Zajicek, CEO of Degania, added "We are proud of the company that our employees and investors have developed and we see joining forces with Q Holding as the natural next step for Degania to build upon this growth. The alignment of Degania, Q Holding and Qure Medical will benefit customers by providing a greater global network of development and manufacturing resources."
Richard Relyea, Managing Director 3i North America, commented: "3i is pleased to support Q Holding in this transformative acquisition of Degania. This combination creates a leader in precision elastomeric medical device components and assemblies and advances our goal of building the premier global supplier of engineered elastomeric products for the high growth healthcare and electrical management markets."
Q Holding Company is a leading global manufacturer of highly-engineered precision-molded elastomeric components used in a broad range of medical, pharmaceutical and electrical management applications. Q Holding is vertically integrated with in-house Quadra Tooling & Automation, enabling rapid turnaround and the largest selection of proprietary tooling capabilities in the industry. With over 1,300 employees, the company has an international footprint (five manufacturing locations in the U.S., two manufacturing facilities in China | 554 |
I love it when my first meal of a trip is great. We landed in a snowy Boston, Massachusetts after circling for two hours. My husband and I were hungry but did not<|fim_middle|> dinner or romantic meal, their dining room is the way to go. The intimate setting is very warm and perfect for deep conversations. Given the easy location near multiple hotels in the Back Bay area, we're definitely returning when we come to Boston again. | want to venture far from our hotel. We stayed at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers, and decided to head across the street to Davio's.
Given our casual attire and they were closing in less than an hour, we skipped the dining room and grabbed a seat at the bar, ordering off that menu. All of the dishes we ate were out of this world. The friendly bartender took our order and since we were sharing, even offered to split all of our orders free of charge. Nice.
We started with Steamed Wellfleet Littleneck Clams, with Bruschetta and some of the best Crispy Chicken Livers, in a reduced Port Wine, with Toasted Pine Nuts. Wow. Both of these starters were $8 each and their flavors complimented each other well. The clams were hot in a nice light broth while the livers were savory and rich – both went well with the warm bread they served us.
Our Caesar Salad, with Homemade Croutons and White Anchovy was delicious. Creamy and cheesy, with just enough salty anchovies for my taste. With jet lag approaching, we were glad we skipped the hyped Philly Cheese Steak Spring Rolls, with Spicy Homemade Ketchup and Spicy Mayo.
The big finale was the $15 River Rock Natural Grilled "Steak House" Burger, served on a Brioche bun. Yum and yum! So tasty and again by splitting it we were satisfied without being too full, something we were thinking about after our long flight from San Francisco.
Davio's has an amazing bar menu but if you want to have a very nice business | 333 |
Guest Post: Cole McMahon and Cuba's only SABRmetrician
Posted on September 11, 2016 by Bob Moffitt Leave a comment
EDITOR'S NOTE: This summer, my friend Cole McMahon accompanied his father to Miami for the annual gathering of members of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR). Cole was along for the ride, hoping to enjoy Miami and take in a Marlins game. But at the convention, he became fast friends with Cuban baseball blogger and SABR member Reynaldo Cruz Diaz. Cole asked us to post his story and we're only too happy to do that. Here it is.
Reynaldo Cruz Diaz is a man of the future, disguised as a 70's era war photographer. He routinely wears a fedora, a khaki cargo vest and two large cameras. I met him at the Society for American Baseball Research's annual conference this summer in Miami. Reynaldo requested a roommate for the conference because he makes $17 a month as a<|fim_middle|>éisbol (http://universobeisbol.mlblogs.com), reports on baseball outside of Cuba, and how Cuban players are faring in the major leagues.
In a place where outside information is hard to come by, his work takes a special blend of research, analytical skills and patience. Like other baseball bloggers, he's particularly obsessive, printing statistics during the day for analysis at night. "Internet access isn't very good where I live. When I write online, the words appear ten seconds after I type them. It's an arduous process."
He got his blogging start after he ran across a source of Japanese baseball reports.
"No one in Cuba knew anything about the Japanese League," he says. "I emailed the translations to friends and colleagues, and added my comments. Some coworkers told me I should have a blog."
The only member of SABR living in Cuba, Rey is introducing advanced analytics to his nation's baseball fans. "I found SABR because I am always digging up everything I can find on the internet about baseball," he says. "I'm a baseball nerd, and I found out that SABR is exactly the place I should be, surrounded by other baseball nerds."
Two years ago, Reynaldo read a SABR journal article about players around the world who have hit four home runs in a game. He noticed something and emailed the authors a note. "One of the three Cubans on the list did it in a year when they used aluminum bats," he recalls. "They posted my revision the next day. It is very nice to work with people who are so humble that they will use information that they don't have."
As a blogger in Cuba, Reynaldo thinks he has more freedom than other writers in his country to express opinions. "The authorities are so reluctant to give credit where credit is due. They overlook the Cuban players in America, but they have nothing but praise for Miguel Cabrera, because he's from Venezuela," a Cuban ally.
Rey doesn't have to jockey for access and approval like the writers in the traditional media outlets. Still, he says, "You shouldn't be a rebel with no cause. Don't criticize without a point. What I do differently is I never say something compromising without factual evidence. And when I'm wrong, I admit it.
"For instance, I wrote that Yoenis Cespedes was not going to be effective in the major leagues. Basically, he was a clutch choker. In the 2010 World Games in Tokyo, he hit 4 home runs in the round robin, then went dry against Indonesia and the US. He set a single season HR record in Cuba. But that year he didn't get a home run hitting against any pitcher on the national team. He never got a home run in the last three innings! When the competition increases, he goes down.
"First game in the major leagues, he drives in the winning run. I thought he was going to be a complete failure, but now he's the best Cuban player in the major leagues. I wrote about this before his first season, but I couldn't stay quiet, so was like, 'Dude, Cespedes has just had the best season of his baseball career, inside or outside of Cuba.'"
While my trip to the SABR conference was filial lark, I got the feeling Reynaldo was on an extended audition, like a hopeful actor just off the bus in Hollywood. When you live in Cuba, attending a SABR convention is a big deal. He created pretext after pretext to be in the U.S. because his visa was approved too quickly. "I applied several months in advance, so I would have it in time. The U.S. Embassy in Havana must really want me to visit America." The visa was approved in two days, causing him to scramble for pretexts to visit and places to stay. By his arrival in Miami on July 27, Reynaldo had covered the Cuban Under-15 team's goodwill tour and the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and visited ballparks and SABR members in ten cities.
While I was optimistic about political change, Reynaldo was almost wistful. "What you were taught about Cuba and what I was taught about America…things are more complicated than the way we see them." This extends to baseball. "There's a deep and dark back-story. As Peter Bjarkman writes in Cuba's Baseball Defectors, Cuban players in America experience human trafficking to get here, and extortion once they sign contracts… sometimes they seem like bad teammates, but baseball players don't know about psychology. There's trauma, stress you cannot take away."
By some accounts, Cuban-American negotiations are creeping along, and baseball may not provide the hoped-for diplomatic boost. "Cuban kids play soccer. Cuban baseball is going through the same talent drain that permanently damaged the Negro Leagues. Fans are losing interest in Cuban baseball, and the leagues may collapse." Reynaldo often quotes Bjarkman, for whom he translated A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864-2006. 'Will Cuba become like the Dominican Republic—a one-way talent pipeline – or will MLB create a pathway that will help relations between the two nations?'"
It is an awkward thing to watch someone else experiencing a seismic change that doesn't affect you all that much. Whatever happens with the thaw between nations, my livelihood will remain the same, but Reynaldo is trying to get ahead of a tsunami.
Hopefully, with his integrity, humor and insight, Reynaldo can ride that wave.
tagged with Cuba, SABR
Guest Post: Cole McMahon | photojournalist and interpreter for Periodico ¡AHORA!, a newspaper in Holguín, 700 km east of Havana, Cuba.
Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
Reynaldo is a bridge to the world outside Cuba. His blog and online magazine, Universo B | 57 |
Apple is great - they make products people want to buy, like their very cool and very portable 2010 MacBook Air that comes with an 11" or<|fim_middle|> right way.
More choice is always a good thing for consumers; the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD adds a viable option compared to the stock SSD found in the current generation of the Apple MacBook Air. Even though it's the only alternative out there, the performance gains are much better than advertised in our real world traces. If you can bite the bullet on price, the Express SSD does more than promised while giving users access to more capacity options. | 13.3" display. Apple also puts in the latest tech features, like an elongated stick of gum shaped SSD. Apple is also not so great - because an SSD shaped like a stick of gum with its own specialized interface connector, isn't readily available as a replacement should you need to replace it. While Apple likes to control their computing environments the best they can, MacBook Air owners at least now have an option when it comes to replacing or upgrading their SSDs, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express.
While saying OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express several times in a row is certain to lead to a tired tongue, MacBook Air owners should be excited about two things. First, the OWC MAPE (is that any better?) uses a SandForce SF-1200 processor to deliver speeds that are purportedly 22% faster than the stock SSD. While not a tremendous difference, the second reason to buy is that the Mercury Aura Pro Express comes in capacities of 180GB, 240GB and 360GB, whlie the current MacBook Air SSD offerings top out at 256GB.
Being on the cutting edge has a price though, OWC's MacBook Air SSDs carry a premium. The 180GB, 240GB and 360GB drives run $499.99, $579.99 and $1179.99 respectively, making them $2.77, $2.41 and $3.28 per gigabyte. Part of the premium is the cost of being unique. OWC had to create an entirely new form factor to suit the MacBook Air and is limited by the number of NAND chips they could use (maximum of eight). That means for the 360GB model for instance, OWC has to use 64GB NAND, where a standard 2.5" drive would use smaller capacity (and cheaper) NAND.
You also have to consider this product is also geared toward a niche audience, where there are few alternatives. Toshiba, whose X-Blade Gale SSDs are what live inside a new MacBook Air, announced the slim SSDs would be available to other manufacturers. But so far they remain an OEM product only, leaving MacBook Air owners with few self-help options. PhotoFast announced a replacement SSD too, but never got the product to market, likely due to intellectual property infringement.
So MacBook Air owners are pretty much limited to buying whatever Apple has to sell them - or now they can consider the Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD. And in considering OWC's drive buyers will balance the capacity options, ease of upgrade and of course performance. OWC calls for a 22% boost in performance, but does that hold true? Let's dig into the data to find out.
The Aura Express SSD has a very basic "skin and bones" appearance. Similar to how the Intel SSD 310 is designed, the Express SSD has no case or external features besides the circuit board its made up of. The design itself is very compact down to the PCB itself, which is extremely thin. This SSD was designed with one goal in mind... making it as small and compact as possible to slot easily into the MacBook Air.
The connector on the Aura Express SSD looks very similar to the mSATA interface until you realize it's about 2/3 as wide. The connector also makes this drive very difficult to benchmark through our standard methods, since at the time of this review no adapter readily existed to convert the connection to standard SATA.
Buyers interested in this SSD don't have to worry about tracking down the proper tools for the job. OWC is kind enough to include the custom screwdrivers needed to dismantle the Apple MacBook Air. The screws are of custom Apple design, which are similar to Torx but not compatible with Torx screwdrivers.
Two sizes of these screwdrivers are needed; the smaller one for the ten bottom cover screws, and the larger one for a single screw that holds in the SSD.
After removing the screws, the bottom cover lifts off revealing the neatly laid-out interior of the Macbook Air. Note the custom battery and soldered on memory. The SSD is actually the only user-serviceable part inside this notebook that can even be upgraded.
With the single screw holding the SSD in place removed, we carefully took out the stock SSD and popped the Aura Express SSD into its place. The hardware upgrade took us probably five minutes of work. OWC offers an upgrade video as well, should the task appear daunting. Reinstalling the operating system took up about 95% of the time required for this job. With no external sled, you need to start completely fresh after installing this drive. With a little prep-work before the upgrade - backing up all your data to either a network Time Machine or a USB hard drive - the system can be restored after you reinstall Mac OS 10.6. This might also be the time to go and dig out the USB flash-based recovery drive Apple included with the MacBook Air, since it has no on-board optical drive.
We didn't really have to do much to be able to inspect the circuit board on the Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD. From the moment you open the anti-static baggie the drive ships in you get to see all the components outside of maybe the SandForce controller with a thermal pad stuck to the top of it. This drive makes use of the same SF-1200 controller as other mainstream SandForce-driven models paired up with eight 32GB Hynix H27UEG8YEAYR NAND ICs.
As we mentioned above, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD is very unique. The drive works in a limited number of computers (two) and has no known external adapters yet. OWC plans to offer a USB enclosure, but it hasn't made it to market yet. Normally all of our tests are with the drive being reviewed acting as a slave in our test bed. Obviously this couldn't be the case for this review without any adapter to hook it up to our system.
To work around this we made use of Xbench for testing the drive inside Mac OS 10.6 and CrystalDiskMark as well as StorageMark 2010 and PCMark05 inside Windows 7 (Bootcamp). Besides running inside a low-power mobile platform, these benchmarks were performed on a working system and can't really be used to compare against previous drives we have reviewed. With that said, these benchmarks are still great for comparing performance differences between two drives side by side.
Before we start off, one downside of this product related to its very unique form-factor is the limited number of flash chips that can be physically placed on the SSD. Most SandForce-based SSDs make use of 16 flash chips to fill all available channels into the controller. Lesser capacity models will sometimes get only 8, dropping the write speeds. Some of this plays into the overall performance of the Aura Express SSD, although it does have a huge strength of the SandForce SF-1200 controller up its sleeve.
The first benchmark to start off with, given that this is a drive targeted entirely at MacBook Air users, is Xbench. This benchmark covers overall system performance inside Mac OS 10.6, but we are looking just at the drive's performance numbers.
In seqential transfers, the stock SSD has an edge in many areas. The OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD either ties or falls behind in every area. As you can see in the following test, looking at the random transfer speeds, the Aura Express comes back swinging.
While its speeds might have been weaker in sequential file transfers, it had no problem getting a huge lead in random transfers. Looking at random 4K write speeds alone, it over three times faster. The one area it couldn't surpass the stock SSD in this case was the 256K random write transfers.
For the remaining benchmarks in this review, we turned to Windows 7 through Boot Camp. The first up is an overall system performance benchmark called PCMark05. While the Aura Express didn't completely knock our socks off, it did manage to lead by roughly 6%.
Using CrystalDiskMark with the data pattern set to random, the SandForce-based Aura Express slipped behind the stock Toshiba SSD. If the SF-1222 controller wasn't limited by having only half the available channels filled, it might have been able to narrow the gap.
While the synthetic benchmarks showed some improvements in random read/write performance, they don't really show you much of a difference between each of these drives. Before you start to reconsider your upgrade, take a look at what we found in our real-world benchmarks.
In the HTPC trace the Aura Express saw its largest gains in real-world performance with a 70% lead over the stock 128GB Apple MacBook Air SSD.
Our second real-life test covers disk activity in a productivity scenario. For all intents and purposes this test shows drive performance under normal daily activity for most users. This test includes: a three hour period operating in an office productivity environment with 32-bit Vista running Outlook 2007 connected to an Exchange server, web browsing using Chrome and IE8, editing files within Office 2007, viewing PDFs in Adobe Reader, and an hour of local music playback with two hours of additional online music via Pandora. In this trace we recorded 4,830MB being written to the drive and 2,758MB being read.
Under standard everyday-usage in the Productivity trace, the performance advantage dropped to a still impressive 47% compared to the stock SSD. The boost in speed does come at a steep pricetag though.
Our third real-life test covers disk activity in a gaming environment. Unlike the HTPC or Productivity trace, this one relies heavily on the read performance of a drive. To give a simple breakdown of read/write percentages, the HTPC test is 64% write, 36% read, the Productivity test is 59% write and 41% read, while the gaming trace is 6% write and 94% read. The test consists of a Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit system pre-configured with Steam, with Grand Theft Auto 4, Left 4 Dead 2, and Mass Effect 2 already downloaded and installed. The trace captures the heavy read activity of each game loading from the start, as well as textures as the game progresses. In this trace we recorded 426MB being written to the drive and 7,235MB being read.
In our Gaming scenario the different in speed dropped again, but this time the Aura Express was still 41% faster overall. Very impressive given the original claims by OWC that this drive only gave a 22% performance improvement over stock!
OWC offers a three year warranty for the Express SSD, which is standard. As an aside, if you end up sending in a MacBook Air for depot service though, make sure you have it noted that an upgraded drive is installed. It would be heartbreaking to send the notebook in for repair, only to lose the Aura Express through the repair process.
OWC claims a 22% performance improvement with the Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD over the stock Toshiba-controlled SSD in the MacBook Air (Late 2010). While we saw it slip behind in a few areas, the drive was generally fast through the synthetic benchmarks, and much faster in our real world traces. Much faster means a performance gain of 40-70%, depending on the usage profile. That's due in large part to greater random read and write performance of the SandForce controller. The other upside is MacBook Air owners can now have a higher capacity SSD too, on the high side, 360GB vs Apple's largest offering of 256GB, a 70% gain.
The capacity and performance boost come with a cost though...there's a hefty price premium on these drives. And while it would be easy to gripe about the prices, to a large extent, buyers get it - the form factor and high capacity NAND lead to higher unit costs. This is really an enthusiast product anyway, and enthusiasts tend to be a little more forgiving on price, when they find a product that fills a need in just the | 2,558 |
Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem Slated for December 30th in Las Vegas
The UFC is notorious for hosting spectacular New Year's weekend bashes, and this annual will certainly be no different. According to the LATimes, former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (Pictured) will welcome former Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem to the Octagon on December 30th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Brock is a big name, a dangerous guy, and this is a dream matchup," Overeem stated. "Brock's a big guy, an exciting wrestler with his takedowns.
"I want to see this fight myself. Overall, I'm a different fighter. A striker, athletic, big. These are going to be two big trucks going at it on a collision course."
Overeem inked a contract to join the UFC on Tuesday morning.
The 265-pound scrap will serve as a top contender bout, with the victor advancing to meet the winner of the November 12th UFC on FOX title fight between UFC king Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.
After coaching on "The Ultimate Fighter 13," Lesnar was scheduled to headline UFC 131 opposite dos Santos this past June. Unfortunately for the controversial wrestler, his case of diverticulitis returned and he was forced to withdraw from<|fim_middle|> Garden Arena will host the extravaganza. The show takes place on Friday because New Year's Eve falls on a Saturday this year. | the top contender contest at the 11th hour.
Last month, Lesnar released a video announcing his return to MMA after undergoing a life-changing operation.
Lesnar was last seen getting mauled by Velasquez for his heavyweight title at UFC 121 in October of 2010. He holds a 5-2 MMA record, but four of his scraps have been of the championship variety.
Overeem owns an impressive 35-11 (1 NC) resume and was last seen posting a unanimous decision victory over Fabricio Werdum in June. "The Demolition Man" was engaged in exclusive and separate 120-day negotiation and matching periods with Zuffa after he declined his Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals scrap against Antonio Silva, which happened to be the last bout on his Strikeforce contract.
Since Overeem shunned the contest, Zuffa executed clauses in the contract that allowed them to remove the final fight from his deal – in essence, making him a restricted free agent.
"This is the fight the fans want," UFC president Dana White said. "Both of these guys are monsters. Can Lesnar take Overeem down?"
The MGM Grand | 248 |
UPDATE: Daytona Man On Probation Under Investigation In DeBary Stalking Incident; Detectives Looking for More Victims
By Joe Mcdermott On Nov 30, 2021
According to authorities, this morning, November 30, deputies conducted a traffic stop in DeBary and arrested Jonathan Buchanan, 31, on a minor criminal traffic violation of failure to update his address and a violation of probation charge. The arrest followed a report received Monday from a 25-year-old female victim who told deputies that a man followed her in his car while she was out jogging in DeBary.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL – Sheriff's detectives are asking for the public's help with an investigation into reports of stalking activity in DeBary involving a suspect with a prior conviction of an attempted kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl.
The incident reportedly occurred the previous Monday morning in the area of Community Drive and South Shell Road. The victim said she was out running around 7:30 a.m. when a silver Dodge Caliber passed her twice, including once very closely from behind, on the wrong side of the road. The car passed her two more times and then followed her to a dead end before she was able to run to a group of construction workers for help.
Before the suspect vehicle drove away, the victim was able to capture a video clip on her phone, which included the tag number: QWYR78. That tag came<|fim_middle|>" from State and Federal Statutes Saying Terms Are "Dehumanizing And Derogatory"
EXECUTION: Man Shot Four To Five Times; Once Victim Fell From Shot In The Head, Suspect Shot Him Three More Times, Two In The Face | back to Buchanan, whose registered address is in South Daytona, but who has been living in DeBary without updating his address, a violation of his probation.
Buchanan was previously arrested in 2017 and later convicted in the attempted kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl on the way to her bus stop in Ponce Inlet. In that case, Buchanan got out of his vehicle, approached the victim, tried to start a conversation with her and then put his hand over her mouth attempting to force her into his vehicle. She bit him and escaped, and Buchanan fled, but Ponce Inlet police later found him in his vehicle with his pants unbuttoned and a stuffed animal in the front seat.
While Buchanan's vehicle tag and personal description match the victim's report in the DeBary case, detectives are asking for any additional victims or witnesses to come forward with information. Social media activity suggests there may be other victims in DeBary or elsewhere who might have information that would assist in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Ryan Mills at rmills@vcso.us or 386-668-3830. Additional charges against Buchanan are pending further investigation.
UPDATE DEC 1, 2021, 3:25 PM: Jonathan Buchanan has been charged with stalking after another jogger who saw yesterday's news release came forward to report he followed her in DeBary in October. Buchanan, who was already in custody following his arrest yesterday is now also charged with simple stalking and an additional violation of probation. The victim in the new case, a 31-year-old DeBary woman, contacted the Sheriff's Office yesterday afternoon after seeing the Facebook post on Buchanan's arrest. She met with detectives today and detailed how she noticed Buchanan's silver Dodge Caliber followed her on her jog, stopping when she stopped to drink water. She said when she saw the photo of Buchanan and his vehicle she immediately recognized him as the one who followed her. Detectives determined Buchanan moved into his DeBary apartment on September 1 as the only tenant, and is the only one his landlord has ever seen driving his Dodge Caliber. Any additional victims are still encouraged to come forward if they have experienced similar incidents. Contact Sgt. Ryan Mills at RMills@vcso.us or 386-668-3830.
Volusia Sheriff's Office
UPDATE DEC 2, 2021, 5:02 PM: Today, a third potential victim came forward reporting yet another similar incident, which may prompt an additional charge in the near future. Detectives are continuing to ask for potential victims to come forward with information. Contact Sgt. Ryan Mills RMills@vcso.us or 386-668-3830.
UPDATE DEC 3, 2021, 11:56 AM: According to authorities, a third stalking charge has been filed against Jonathan Buchanan based on information received from a third victim who came forward yesterday. The third victim, a 40-year-old DeBary woman, contacted the Sheriff's Office after seeing the news. She reported she immediately recognized Buchanan as the person who followed her in his vehicle while she was on a walk in DeBary in early November. She explained that Buchanan was so persistent in following her that she hid in some bushes twice to try and lose him. She said the vehicle passed by several times as she hid, and she felt as if the suspect was looking for her. In addition to the new stalking charge, Buchanan was also charged with an additional count of violation of probation. He is still in custody at the Volusia County Branch Jail on all his charges.
Joe Mcdermott
Joe Mcdermott is our daily investigative journalist and staff reporter who keeps his eyes peeled for interesting Local, US and World News exclusively for The Published Reporter®. Mcdermott, one of our first and thus veteran reporters, is also a data analyst for select independent news and media organizations in the United States.
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Dems Begin Movement to Ban "Illegal Alien | 870 |
Tag: content audit
Audit, Rework, Edit, Do ALL THE THINGS
Get Ready image courtesy of "How to Win in Pacman" https://www.wikihow.com/Win-in-Pac-Man
There's nothing that makes the web team tetchier than when a client says: "We need a complete website redesign." Want to know why? It's 'cause there are so many possible meanings rolled up into that phrase. We need a few more specifics.
Are you talking about actual design—colors, fonts, images? Or do you mean you want to rework content? Are you concerned about navigation? Is there a feature you think everyone would use that doesn't currently exist?
I often find that people have a hard time identifying what's not working; they just have an idea about how it's "supposed" to work and they want it "fixed" yesterday.
To help you all with that, we've come up with an outline of our ideal website audit and rework process, because it involves multiple things. While you can break some of these down into smaller projects themselves, if you don't keep the first step in mind, you are losing the trees for the weeds.
STEP 1: DISCOVER/DEFINE
Pac Man and a few fellows: ghosts, food, surely some accessories will come along as well…
The discovery process helps us define what we want to accomplish as well as who our users are and what they need. Most major flaws in website design and structure occur because this first initial step is skipped. You also need to focus on your largest audience.
What is the purpose of the site, desired outcomes, or success measures?
Who are our audiences? Who is our largest audience?
What are our audiences' top tasks? When they visit the site, what are the most important things they are hoping to do?
What is the overall timeline?
Once again, it's easy to become overly focused on tactics—replacing images, adding content, moving widgets—as opposed to actually defining what the measure of success is for your website.
STEP 2: RESEARCH
All the Pac Man characters you may encounter in the game; image courtesy of common domain; find original on http://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Ghosts_(Pac-Man)
Now you figure out how people are interacting with your current site, more specific behaviors your users have, and maybe some dirt on your competitors. Some of these steps can be streamlined however. Use your time judiciously!
Do some user/UX testing to see how your current site is performing. This can help you identify problem areas.
Review existing analytics to see what users are doing on your site and what pages they consider most important.
Review existing web content, including a content audit. We are happy to assist with this.
Create some user stories/jobs-to-be-done. Think through what a user needs to accomplish when they come to your website. Try to pick a few different users/tasks to represent your audience/s.
OPTIONAL: Review your biggest competitors.*
OPTIONAL: Review what sets you apart from your competitors.*
Keep this other thing in mind as well: Just because someone else is doing it, doesn't mean it's working for their users.
People often want what they like and have to have what they think is best. That's nice and all, but this site isn't about us; it's about our users. (I know—it's depressing. It's like film actors and screenwriters, whose favorite scenes end up on the cutting room floor, or writers, whose best bits get edited out of the action.)
STEP 3: OUTLINE
Multiple different versions or levels of the Pac Man game; image courtesy of common domain masonicGITpacman game https://github.com/masonicGIT/pacman
This step complements the research you have previously done and helps you create a true map of user flows, content hierarchy, and priorities.
Do some card sorting or tree testing or other types of testing to explore terminology, labeling, and the best navigation structure. It doesn't have to be really fancy actually, you can do some on-the-fly testing with friends and neighbors that will tell you a lot, just by watching them complete some tasks.
Define goals for each website page type (examples include education, about, news, and the like).
Determine what content needs to be pruned out and archived.
Determine what additional content is needed. Once again, USE CAUTION. It's best to get a product out quickly even if it's minimal and then add onto it.
Build a sitemap with appropriate content hierarchies. This sounds difficult, but it's about prioritizing what content is the most important for your users and featuring it up front or highest up in folder<|fim_middle|>, especially when working on a timed roll-out plan with a live site.)
Get sign-offs from stakeholders on changes/website pages in the test environment. (If you have a test environment open only to certain users. If not, no sweat!)
Schedule redirects from pages to be archived to newly structured folders/pages. Using redirects tells Google where you have moved content on your site relevant to your users. It helps you retain link equity that previous content has earned (SEO optimization tool).
Publish live!! And throw a party!
Run spell checks and broken link checks.
CONGRATS!!! But—it doesn't actually end here. Just FYI. There's maintenance, content guidelines and editorial processes to determine (governance), workflows to figure out, and so much more. It gets out of hand so quickly! Like a child with a set of permanent markers or a cat who finds where you hid the treat bag…
Here's wishing you the best of luck!
*This process can be very time consuming and can take precedence over everything else. Do NOT let it overwhelm what you need to accomplish.
**Extra byline for Mike Rockwood here who threw his hands up and said "I'll outline it for you!" at least, metaphorically.
^Initially published on University of Utah Health's intranet Pulse
Format QuotePosted on July 8, 2018 Categories Content, StrategyTags content audit, website optimization2 Comments on Website Redesign
The Art of the Content Audit
Originally published on Pulse, University of Utah Health's intranet, June 12, 2017, this is a case study about a content audit for the Women's Health Services website at University of Utah Health.
Content, if you haven't noticed, is a complex beast. For example, we spend a lot of time focusing on good content, what it is, where we get it from, and how we deploy it. But we spend less time than we ought on considering the outcome we want from the content we curate and post.
A content audit is a tool that allows us to review the content we have and take its pulse. It's a great benchmarking tool with which to craft and test which content pieces are performing the best and where there might be gaps in the content. If there is important content missing that would benefit our users, a content audit is likely to reveal this.
Goals
For our content audits [at University of Utah Health], we have identified these specific goals:
Reduce number of website pages with thin or low-performing content
Combine pages with thin content OR flesh these pages out, depending on website goals
Archive pages that are out of date, no longer applicable, or very low performing
Identify areas where we might want to add content
An audit can be as in depth or concise as the site necessitates. You can also tailor the information you collect in the audit to fit your overall site goals. The typical content audit might include these items:
Time on page
SEO factors
Meta title & length
Meta description & length
Subtitles: additional use?
Content type (video, form, text, etc.)
Type of image
Image alt text
Affiliated documents
We determined to add in these additional audit points as particularly applicable to our patient-facing sites:
Referring physician link included?
Specialist list included?
Related MBM specialty?
Affiliated service line
Affiliated marketing campaign
Affiliated research or other programs
Any additional content
Patient experience story included?
Health Feed/Scope inclusion? [U of U Health blog and podcast respectively]
Related tags to Health Feed/Scope
Clinical trials inclusion?
Patient education?
Vendor library content included?
Once you have outlined what you would like to inventory, you can begin to collect the data.* Take a look at the content inventory for our women's health services website:
What the full content audit looks like for women's health services; please forgive the omission of analytics data!
Now that we've inventoried the content (rather exhaustively), we can examine how each piece is performing and make some assumptions as to whether the page should be kept, revised, or removed.
Example: Content About Midwives
Previously, we had two website pages about midwives on our women's health services site. The page /what-is-a-certified-nurse-midwife.php receives far fewer page views than the /midwives.php page. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, particularly as the time on page is over 1 minute. That's a lot of time in our virtual 'verse. So the content is important to those who are looking at it, even though the page doesn't receive a lot of traffic.
In this case rather than get rid of the content, we are going to optimize it by moving it onto a page with more visibility, in this case /midwives.php. This should increase the main midwife page's value while indicating to Google that we have both updated our site and checked our content for accuracy. (When search engines crawl websites they look for a number of factors that might tell the importance of the webpage. One of these factors is the date the page was last modified.)
Webpage featuring content about midwifery (or midwives) on University of Utah Health's women's services website
The sticky navigation (a navigation bar stays with you as you scroll down the page) allows readers to access all the content about midwives and our services without leaving this page for another. Thus we've consolidated a low-performing, but important, page into the content with which it fits, letting the search engine know that we've updated the content by modifying the page, while keeping content that is clearly valuable for our readers.
End Objective: Increase Quality of Page Visits
This is just one page treatment out of many options that we might use when it comes to structuring content. All of the content audit goals lead to the most important objective of our content strategy: increase not just traffic to the website, but the quality of the traffic; namely, we want this content to show up for the right people at the right time in the right place.
Where Do We Go Next?
What happens after an audit? We look at the recommendations we've made after reviewing each page and determine who is responsible for whatever action needs to be taken. We also track the progress of the content updates.
Ideally, we apply this process to all our websites on a regular basis, ensuring that our content remains up to date and within best practices.
And that, my friends, is the short of it (the long is all wrapped up in all that data and detail gathering). In the next few months, we'll keep checking in on this content to see how the website data analytics change (usually we must allow about six months to get a relatively accurate picture of how the content is performing—performance has leveled out by then after the significant changes have been made to the site by then).
*I'm afraid I've had to redact the data here; I'm sure you understand!.
Posted on March 7, 2018 March 9, 2018 Categories Content, StrategyTags content audit, healthcare, U of U HealthLeave a comment on The Art of the Content Audit | structure.
Priorities are SO WICKED IMPORTANT. If your site is perfect when you publish it, it's too late. Everyone else will either have moved on or that thing you spent hours and hours perfecting will be out of date by the time you publish.
Cross stitched by yours truly. I may have to make some more…
The pitfalls in this step mainly involve coddling the perfectionists. You will be most successful if you emphasize the need to produce a minimum viable product or, in other words, get the simplest version out there right away and add to it (iterate). This way you won't be held up by others' caveats.
Assign writers to write/rewrite/edit content.
Rework page structures. (Carefully! There are some pitfalls to this | 157 |
Crown Point Jail John Dillinger Escaped From
MG-6703-Crown-<|fim_middle|> in Northwest Indiana with a population of over 37,000. Crown Point and Lake County are about 50 miles from Chicago and are considered part of the "Chicagoland" area. Crown Point has a traditional small town America feel with a main street consisting of the old Lake County Courthouse surrounded by numerous small businesses, known as "the square", including a theater, ice cream shop, antique stores, and restaurants.
Copyright © 2010 Paul Velgos. All rights reserved.
Crown Point, John Dillinger, Lake County, Lake County Sheriff's Home and Jail, Public Enemies, building, color image, filming location, home, horizontal, indiana, jail, movie, no people, photo, summer | Point-Jail-John-Dillinger.jpg
Lake County jail at 232 S. Main St. in Crown Point Indiana. In 1934 John Dillinger escaped from the Lake County Jail in this building. In 2008 Universal Studios filmed parts of the movie Public Enemies with Johnny Depp. The jail is open to the public for tours and goes past Dillinger's cell and also where filming was done. Crown Point is located | 96 |
You are here: Home / Blog / Kermit Weeks / Benoist
Posted by Kermit Weeks on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Filed in: Benoist, Fantasy of Flight, Kermit Weeks
Benoist and Roberts Engine Update!
After many months of research and thought, both the airframe and engine of<|fim_middle|> Once we get this research part done the fun part begins: building!
Posted by Kermit Weeks on Sunday, March 7, 2010
Filed in: Benoist, Events, Fantasy of Flight, Kermit Weeks
100th Year Anniversary of first Commercial Aviation Flight!
On January 1st, 2010 I made the announcement that Fantasy of Flight will build a reproduction of the Benoist flying boat which made the first ever commercial flight on January 1st, 1914. It was a two person aircraft that pilot Tony Jannus flew from St. Petersburg across the Bay to Tampa. The flight was flown at between 15 and 50 feet and took twenty-three minutes. After some fanfare, he flew back! Prior to the flight there was an auction and the Mayor of St. Petersburg bid $400 for the honor of being the first ever commercial passenger. The later normal fare was $5 and, in the first year of operation, they made about 1200 successful flights!
While several other reenactments have been made over the years with different airplanes, our intent is to build an airplane as accurate as possible, including using a six-cylinder Roberts 2-cycle engine, which we intend to build as well! Since Fantasy of Flight is all about pushing boundaries, this was a great opportunity for myself and the Aircraft Department to push ours!
Kermit and Tony Jannus in Benoist replica at St. Pete Museum
75 hp Roberts 2-Cycle Engine
Currently, we are doing research on the aircraft and engine and hope to begin construction sometime next year. We hope to have the airplane ready for test-flights by the summer of 2013. Fortunately, we have a lake on site where we can safely begin testing and tweaking. I thought it was interesting the original flight was covered on the front page of the St. Pete Times and our announcement was as well . . . 96 years later! | the Benoist are slowly making progress as we narrow down on the 100th Anniversary of the first scheduled aircraft airline flight we hope to re-create on January 1st, 2014!
Fantasy of Flight restoration specialist Ken Kellett has single-handedly made a number of wooden components including; all 100 laminated ribs, all the interplane struts, all the wing spars, and both control sticks.
He began by building a mock-up of the critical center part of the plane where the pilot, engine, propellor, chain-drive, radiator, fuel tank, and main structure are located. This will give a basic idea of where everything fits in relation to each other.
Mock-up of the center part of the Benoist.
Ken built a jig for construction of the wing panels and currently has the top wing center-section assembled in it and ready for gluing.
Top Wing Center-Section in Wing Jig.
He also began gluing up the ailerons . . .
Aileron in Jig
and is putting the final touches on the two wing floats.
One of the two lower wing floats with a wing rib on top.
Ken has also begun laying out the structure of the fuselage / hull on a large table top jig. He built a six-foot dummy pilot (me actually) for use is making sure everything is somewhat ergonomical!
Dummy Pilot with one of two control sticks! Have I lost my mind?
One of the cool things that happened recently was that many of the Benoist descendants came by for a tour one day. I was out of town but Ken showed them what we were doing, as they are all following with keen interest.
Ken talks to the Benoist family descendants.
Later, after I got back, early engine expert Steve Littin came by for a visit to check on our progress and tell us how he was progressing on the six-cylinder Roberts engine for the project, which he's building from scratch!
Ken, Andy, Steve (kneeling), and myself discussing the issues of airframe and engine.
Many of the smaller machined components have been made including hardware, oilers, and carburetor parts.
Brand new engine oilers!
Some of the larger ones like the crankshaft continue to be whittled down to finished size.
Roberts crankshaft undergoing final touches!
As seen in a previous blog post, most of the casting patterns have been made and some casting has begun. Ideally, we'd like to be assembling the airplane with the engine by the end of this year, as the time is flying by and the Anniversary will be upon us in no time!
We offer a wood shop tour every day at 12:45 pm so come on by Fantasy of Flight and check out the progress!
Posted by Kermit Weeks on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Filed in: Benoist, Curtiss Pusher, Fantasy of Flight, Kermit Weeks
Curtiss Pusher Arrival!
The Curtiss Pusher I purchased earlier this year is now at Fantasy of Flight! Shipped down from Idaho, it made the trip in record time in the back of a semi-trailer. With the help of my guys, we unloaded it and eventually hung the wings on temporarily while we had everyone there.
The precarious part with the help of a forklift!
While in the trailer unloading parts . . . with my three of my guys looking in . . . I couldn't help but have them pose for a picture!
Grease Monkeys?
As mentioned in a previous blog, I think the airplane will make a great trainer for the Benoist Flying Boat we're building.
Hangar Flying!
The airplane has since been completely assembled, inspected, and test run. We now only await paperwork from the FAA.
Posted by Kermit Weeks on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Filed in: Benoist, Events, Kermit Weeks
Progress continues to be made on the Benoist airplane we are building at Fantasy of Flight for the 100th Anniversary of the first scheduled commercial airplane flight on 1/1/2014.
Restoration specialist, Ken Kellett, is heading up the construction of the airframe and has begun making jigs for the fuselage sides, ribs, and a mock-up of the center-section to get an idea of where everything will go.
Most people that reproduce old airplanes only go half the distance to do it right and end up installing a modern engine and don't get near the same performace as the original. This is because of the rpm the engine delivers it's horsepower and turns the propellor. Most modern engines turn at a higher rpm for use with smaller propellors at higher speeds. At the speed realm of the older airplanes, modern engines cannot create the thrust needed like a slow moving large diameter propellor.
That's not the way we like to do things. However, there was a problem . . . we couldn't find an engine to purchase ANYWHERE!
There's a Crankshaft in there somewhere!
I hired Steve Littin of Vintage Auto and Rebuilds in Ohio to scratch build the six-cylinder Roberts engine that we'll need for the project.
An original cylinder and a mold plug
His company currently builds Rolls Royce Silver Ghost car engines from scratch of the same period and is well-qualified to do the job. I was able to purchase two four-cylinder Roberts engines but only know of about six original engines that were in museums and unavailable for purchase.
Cylinder Molds
We were able to borrow a six-cylinder Roberts that had been in a crash from Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome to reverse-engineer. The four-cylinder engines that I have put out 50 hp. The Benoist uses a six-cylinder Roberts that is basically a stretched four-cylinder to produce 75 hp. The cylinders and carburetors are identical and the plan is to build the case molds for both the four and six-cylinder engines.
Roughed in Connecting Rods!
It's an exciting project for everyone. We're living our product by pushing our boundaries. It will be great to see how all this unfolds!
Posted by Kermit Weeks on Friday, July 16, 2010
Filed in: Benoist, Fokker D-7, Fun Travel, Gee Bee Book - All of Life is a School, Kermit Weeks, Notable Friends and Visitors
Benoist Research Trip and Update!
I recently did a research trip for the Benoist Flying Boat we are building for the 100th Anniversary of Flight on January 1st, 2014. Since there are no original drawings of the airframe or existing aircraft in exixtence, employee Ken Kellet and I took off to see what we could find. As mentioned before, the Benoist uses a rare and unavailable 6-cylinder two-cycle Roberts engine of 75hp, which we hope to also recreate.
We first arrived in Washington D.C to visit the National Air and Space Museum and the Hazy Center to look at similar aircraft. We were allowed to go through their historical archives, finding pictures and other bits of information that will help us. They was very accomodating and allowed us to arrive before they opened and inspect a similar Hugo Eckner Flying Boat hanging in one of their galleries with a lift. This aircraft also used the same engine as the Benoist. I took lot's of pictures.
We then took off by car to head up to Hammondsport, NY to visit the Glenn Curtiss Museum where there were two other similar period aircraft. Continuing on we stopped to check the progress of the Fokker D-7 Fred Murrin is building for me. The main structure is basically complete and it's coming along slowly but nicely.
1913 reproduction Curtiss "E" Model Flying Boat at Curtiss Museum
1919 Curtiss "Seagull" at Curtiss Museum
After a day at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidental Library taking pictures of Roberts engine drawings we visited with Steve Littin of Vintage and Auto Rebuilds just outside of Cleveland, OH. He builds early Rolls Royce Silver Ghost car engines from scratch and is willing to help our desire to build a new Roberts engine for the Benoist Flying Boat. Steve recently visited Fantasy of Flight and, after discussing the project, took my 4-cylinder Roberts back to Ohio with him as well as all the drawings and manuals we took pictures of to begin the process of figuring out how we're going to build a new one.
Kermit and Steve Littin with 4-cylinder Roberts engine
I was fortunate to recently acquire a second 4-cylinder Roberts from an auction in England, which just might end up in our 1910 Curtiss Pusher reproduction. I figured since we're going to be Roberts engine experts at some point, why not? I also made an agreement with Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome to borrow their 6-cylinder Roberts, which is currently on display in the St. Pete Museum. It will be sent to Steve for disassembly for reverse engineering purposes and we all look forward to learning about, building, and running this fascinating engine! I can only imagine that it's got to sound like a Harley on steroids!
On a side note, I got a chance to see the original Curtiss Seaplane Schneider Cup winner at the Smithsonian. The land plane version of this with wheels (R3C-1) was the basis for the "Curtiss" character in my illustrated children's book All of Life is a School.
"Curtiss" R3C-2 Schneider Cup Racer at NASM
I also got a chance to see the original "Roscoe" at the Crawford Museum in Cleveland, OH, which is also a character in my book. I was somewhat surprised when I saw it to find it painted gold! When I wrote the book, I must have got it confused with one of Roscoe Turner's later racers, which was silver. Since I was just about to put in the order for another 5000 books, I went to the trouble of changing the color. I guess that makes the next batch the "Gold Edition!"
Original "Roscoe" Turner Racer at the Crawford Museum
I'll post updates on the Benoist and Roberts project as we progress. | 2,161 |
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