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The beyond- delightful Piccola Cucina is exactly that. A tiny little jewelbox of a place, this restaurant that's open <|fim_middle|> first night..... ok fine, we'll save you a bite. But just one. | 7 days a week, for lunch and dinner as well as aperitivo of salumi, cheeses, wine, between 4 and 6 is from chef/owner Philip Guardione, whose experience at Milan's Four Seasons Hotel, and Paris at Il Carpaccio and Taillevent, shows. The food is spectacular with standouts being an arancini di riso and a filet mignon napoleon with mozzarella, tomato, bread and zucchini. We can't wait to return to try the spaghetti al pomodoro fresco with sweet onions and basil, the cotoletta di vitello alla Milanese con rucola e pomodorini and the broiled branzino with grape tomatoes and white asparagus but you'll have to fight us for space. Because while better decorated than most NY apartments, with white Carrera marble topped tables and bar counter accented by cafe- coloured touches from architect and interiors designer Giampiero Panepinto through white and mocca woodwork and mirrors, this spot is also smaller than most NY apartments! It seats just 22 (plus 4 at the bar). p.s. you won't win the fight with us though for the nearly- frozen panna cotta with Bellini sauce from pastry chef Angelo Sacca. It's to die for. We had two pieces the | 275 |
When a young artist arrives on the scene with claims to defy categories, the declaration often rings like a hollow cliché. But pianist Hiromi Uehara makes good on the promise. Another Mind, her debut album on Telarc, conjures an alchemy of jazz, pop, classical, avant-garde and various other musical shades and dimensions into a compelling whole that stretches convention to its limit and dares listeners to straitjacket her with hackneyed labels.
Born in Shizuoka, Japan, in 1979, Hiromi took her first piano lessons at age six. She learned from her earliest teacher to tap into the intuitive as well as the technical aspects of music.
"Her energy was always so high, and she was so emotional," Hiromi says of her first piano teacher. "When she wanted me to play with a certain kind of dynamics, she wouldn't say it with technical terms. If the piece was something passionate, she would say, 'Play red.' Or if it was something mellow, she would say, 'Play blue.' I could really play from my heart that way, and not just from my ears."
Hiromi took that intuitive approach a step further when she enrolled in the Yamaha School of Music less then a year after her first piano lessons. By age 12, she was performing in public, sometimes with very high-profile orchestras. "When I was 14, I went to Czechoslovakia and played with the Czech Philharmonic," she says. "That was a great experience, to play with such a professional orchestra."
Further into her teens, her tastes expanded to include jazz as well as classical music. A chance meeting with Chick Corea when she was 17 led to a performance with the well-known jazz pianist the very next day.
"It was in Tokyo," Hiromi recalls. "He was doing something at Yamaha, and I was visiting Tokyo at the time to take some lessons. I talked to some teachers and said that I really wanted to see him. I sat down with him, and he said 'Play something.' So I played something, and then he said, 'Can you improvise?' I told him I could, and we did some two-piano improvisations. Then he asked me if I was free the next day. I told him I was, and he said, 'Well, I have a concert tomorrow. Why don't you come?' So I went there, and he called my name at the end of the concert, and we did some improvisations together."
After a couple years of writing advertising<|fim_middle|> friend and collaborator Ahmad Jamal, who has also taken a personal interest in Hiromi's artistic development. "She is nothing short of amazing," says Jamal. "Her music, together with her overwhelming charm and spirit, causes her to soar to unimaginable musical heights."
At 23, Hiromi stands at the threshold of limitless possibility, constantly drawing inspiration from virtually everyone and everything around her. Her list of influences, like her music itself, is boundless. "I love Bach, I love Oscar Peterson, I love Franz Liszt, I love Ahmad Jamal," she says. "I also love people like Sly and the Family Stone, Dream Theatre and King Crimson. Also, I'm so much inspired by sports players like Carl Lewis and Michael Jordan. Basically, I'm inspired by anyone who has big, big energy. They really come straight to my heart."
But she won't, as a matter of principle, put labels on her music. She'll continue to follow whatever moves her, and leave the definitions to others.
"I don't want to put a name on my music," she says. "Other people can put a name on what I do. It's just the union of what I've been listening to and what I've been learning. It has some elements of classical music, it has some rock, it has some jazz, but I don't want to give it a name."
To listen is to understand. Hear what's happening inside Another Mind. | jingles for Nissan and a few other high-profile Japanese companies, Hiromi came to the United States in 1999 to study at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, where she's scheduled to graduate in May 2003. For as open as her musical sensibilities had already been when she came to the U.S., the Berklee experience has pushed her envelope even further.
"It's expanded so much the way I see music," she says. "Some people dig jazz, some people dig classical music, some people dig rock. Everyone is so concerned about who they like. They always say, 'This guy is the best,' 'No, this guy is the best.' But I think everyone is great. I really don't have barriers to any type of music. I could listen to everything from metal to classical music to anything else."
Among her mentors at Berklee is veteran jazz bassist Richard Evans, who teaches arranging and orchestration. Evans co-produced Another Mind with longtime | 204 |
It finally happened. After almost 2 years of part-time work, hand-wringing, and online moping, I am now, once again, a FULL TIME LIBRARIAN!
On Wednesday, July 6, I started my first day on the job as a tenure-track reference and instruction librarian at the St. Mary's College of Maryland Library. To say I am excited would be an understatement. Although it is the summer, and<|fim_middle|> Andrea, and Pete 🙂 I'm excited to be here! | most students and faculty are gone, I am spending my days getting settled into my new routine. Although I've worked part-time, on-and-0ff, and this library in circulation and reference for the past 2 years, there are lots of librarian-specific things I have to learn, not to mention brushing up on my teaching and collection management skills.
This is the first job I've started where I'm not completely "green." It's definitely a strange feeling, and I need to keep reminding myself to ask questions of people when I have them. I don't know everything, nor should I.
Oh, and in case you're interested in more details of this job, I'll be the library liaison to the psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science departments, as well as being responsible for updating/maintaining the library's website. I will also be doing a lot of teaching.
Congratulations, Veronica! St. Mary's is lucky to have you.
Thanks, Miranda, | 198 |
king bed and box spring Puffy Mattress is a distinguished vendor and also seller of memory foam mattresses. Under this promotional deal, customers are allowed to take the mattress house for a 101 evening long FREE test. As the trial duration ends dissatisfied consumers will be able to return their cushion for a complete return.
Apart from being excellent in quality, cushions from Puffy are shipped free to your door. The Puffy is<|fim_middle|> authentic handmade bed mattress, as well as that is why we believe Puffy is a great choice. The feature-rich handmade mattresses they are offering had tremendous benefits and a definite side over various other cushions which are manufactured via automated processes.
The Puffy Mattress is made to do its job despite its host surface area. Talking you think about anything like flat structures, box springs, flexible structures, slats or even the floor. Your mattress is mosting likely to produce very same results up until as well as unless you will not make a decision to come up with something from regimens like gardens or open rooms.
One more terrific attribute of their products is the unification of that company core support as well as cooling down cloud which makes the mattress qualified for adapting each point of your body perfectly, letting you neglect you believe that you are on a cushion. As much as the cooling mechanism of Puffy' s bed mattress is concerned, they have their own patented technology known as the cooling cloud( tm).
Puffy cases that their mattress has some unique features which keep sleepers spine aligned while taking care of the pressure factors by eliminating them. It is an issue of the reality that much better and sound sleep could bring a very positive influence on your general emotional and physiological health and wellness and also health and wellbeing.
Another interesting feature of Puffy, deserving to be discussed right here is that life time warranty they are using. As a matter of fact, it is not similar to the other basic service warranties being supplied these days. The bears ensure for their bed mattress as long as a customer has it. Well, Puffy' s we could rule out it just as good as an orthopedic mattress yet still, it often tends to assist you to handle stress factor associated concerns and excessive discomforts.
Just like several other services the Puffy is operating with a very well designed CSR task. Therefore, favoring Puffy while looking for a budget mattress can make you join a really worthy cause.
Believe it or not, purchasing puffy is as simple as sending an e-mail. Log on to their internet site, pick a cushion dimension, pay online and also that's all. The process of getting a mattress is not that straightforward on numerous other on the internet stores. In truth, they have assimilation with mostly all the substantial economic instruments for settlement handling.
Puffy is a self-adjusting mattress, and it will get accustomed to your demands within an hour or two – this showcases it a superb choice for customers from various backgrounds and age teams.
The Puffy have a solid group of experts hectic in r & d activities. Perhaps this is the reason behind that steep discovering contour this mattress manufacturer is adhering to.
king bed and box spring Puffy Mattress is a renowned vendor and seller of memory foam bed mattress. Under this promotional deal, consumers are allowed to take the cushion residence for a 101 evening long FREE test. As the test duration expires dissatisfied consumers will be able to return their mattress for a complete return.
Apart from being excellent in top quality, bed mattress from Puffy are delivered cost-free to your door. The Puffy is a web based store, and also that is why their products come at an affordable cost. Purchasing a Puffy Mattress is as straightforward as sending an email.
The Puffy as its stated on their website is providing handmade bed mattress. Well, in this age of automation it is fairly hard to discover genuine hand-crafted cushions, which is why our team believe Puffy is an excellent option. The feature-rich handmade bed mattress they are offering had tremendous benefits as well as a guaranteed edge over various other mattresses which are produced through automated processes.
The Puffy Mattress is made to do its job no matter of its host surface area. Speaking you think about anything like flat structures, box springs, flexible structures, slats or even the flooring. Your bed mattress is going to generate exact same results till and also unless you won't determine to find up with something from regimens like yards or open areas.
An additional great function of their products is the consolidation of that company core assistance and cooling down cloud which makes the cushion capable for adjusting each factor of your body perfectly, allowing you neglect you think that you are on a bed mattress. As much as the air conditioning system of Puffy' s cushions is worried, they have their own patented modern technology understood as the air conditioning cloud( tm).
Puffy insurance claims that their cushion has some unique features which keep sleepers spinal column aligned while taking care of the stress factors by removing them. It is a matter of the reality that far better and audio rest can bring a very favorable influence on your total psychological and also physical health and also health and wellbeing.
An additional interesting aspect of Puffy, deserving to be stated below is that lifetime guarantee they are offering. It is not similar to the other conventional warranties being provided these days. The bears guarantee for their bed mattress as long as a consumer owns it. Well, Puffy' s we could rule out it as good as an orthopedic mattress however still, it has the tendency to help you to handle stress point relevant issues and unnecessary pains.
Just like several various other companies the Puffy is operating with a really well made CSR job. Thus, liking Puffy while looking for a spending plan mattress can make you sign up with a very honorable reason.
Think it or otherwise, buying puffy is as very easy as sending out an email. Visit to their site, select a mattress size, pay online which's all. The process of buying a cushion is not that simple on various other online stores. Actually, they have combination with mostly all the substantial financial instruments for repayment handling.
Puffy is a self-adjusting cushion, as well as it will get accustomed to your needs within an hour or two – this showcases it an exceptional option for consumers from numerous backgrounds as well as age teams.
The Puffy have a strong team of experts busy in r & d tasks. Possibly this is the factor behind that high learning curve this cushion manufacturer is following. | a net based shop, and that is why their products come at a sensible rate. Acquiring a Puffy Mattress is as easy as sending out an email.
The Puffy as its discussed on their web site is providing handcrafted mattresses. Well, in this age of automation it is quite hard to find genuine handcrafted mattresses, which is why our team believe Puffy is an excellent choice. The feature-rich handmade bed mattress they are offering had incredible advantages and also a certain edge over other mattresses which are produced with automated processes.
The Puffy Mattress is created to do its task regardless of its host surface area. Speaking you take into consideration anything like flat frameworks, box springs, adjustable frameworks, slats and even the floor. Your cushion is going to produce very same outcomes until as well as unless you won't choose to find up with something from regimens like gardens or open spaces.
An additional fantastic attribute of their products is the consolidation of that firm core assistance and cooling cloud which makes the bed mattress qualified for adapting each point of your body perfectly, letting you forget you believe that you are on a bed mattress. As much as the air conditioning mechanism of Puffy' s cushions is concerned, they have their very own patented innovation called the cooling cloud( tm). The cooling cloud works especially. On the one hand, it pushes heat from your cushion while on the various other hand, its cloud gel layer assists you in maintaining your body temperature level at an ideal level.
Puffy insurance claims that their bed mattress has some one-of-a-kind attributes which maintain sleepers spine aligned while dealing with the pressure points by removing them. It is an issue of that far better as well as audio rest can bring a very positive influence on your total mental as well as physical wellness as well as wellbeing.
The bears assure for their mattress as long as a consumer has it. Well, Puffy' s we can not consider it as great as an orthopedic mattress but still, it tends to aid you to deal with pressure factor related problems as well as unnecessary pains.
Just like numerous various other companies the Puffy is operating with an extremely well designed CSR job. Each year the company invests a certain share of its revenue to get beds for the children in requirement. They, do it by donating to a number of youngsters shelters. Therefore, liking Puffy while looking for a budget bed mattress can make you join a really worthy cause.
Believe it or otherwise, purchasing puffy is as very easy as sending an email. Browse through to their website, pick a cushion dimension, pay online as well as that's all. The procedure of purchasing a mattress is not that easy on different other online stores. In reality, they have assimilation with mostly all the substantial monetary tools for payment handling.
Puffy is a self-adjusting mattress, as well as it will get accustomed to your needs within an hour or two – this showcases it an outstanding selection for customers from numerous histories and age teams.
The Puffy have a solid team of experts active in research and also advancement activities. Maybe this is the factor behind that high learning curve this cushion manufacturer is adhering to.
king bed and box spring Puffy Mattress is a prominent vendor and also vendor of memory foam mattresses. The Puffy is an USA-based business, and also all of their items are produced here. Whereas, the foam which they utilize in their items is licensed by CertiPUR-US. Those who are not ready to acquire and afterwards try could go with Puffy' s FREE 101 NIGHT SLEEP TRIAL. Under this promotional deal, consumers are allowed to take the cushion home for a 101 evening long FREE test. As the trial period ends dissatisfied customers will certainly be able to return their bed mattress for a complete return.
Apart from exceling in quality, mattresses from Puffy are delivered cost-free to your door. Therefore, you will be able to save a significant quantity of money by getting their products directly. The Puffy is an internet based shop, which is why their products come at an affordable price. The lack of 3rd parties, stores, suppliers, etc. gives them with excellent margins which they show their customers. Purchasing a Puffy Mattress is as simple as sending an email. Open their internet site and there, you will have the ability to acquire by providing three clicks or so.
The Puffy as its discussed on their web site is using handmade bed mattress. Well, in this age of automation it is fairly difficult to find | 916 |
At almost every ghost hunting event<|fim_middle|> | I attend, long-time fans of Ghost Hunters always ask me why Grant Wilson left the Ghost Hunters TV show.
On the show and at the TAPS website, Grant explained why he left the Ghost Hunters show.
It wasn't a sudden decision. It wasn't related to interpersonal relations with fellow cast members.
From what I saw, Grant got along fine with everyone on the investigation team. Nothing was inappropriate or hostile, on either side.
His decision did not surprise me. Grant has always been an excellent paranormal investigator. However, I believe that his talents are greater in music and the visual arts.
Several years ago at New Hampshire's Spalding Inn (which Grant and Jason and their families owned), a few of us were relaxing on the hotel's porch.
I was completing a landscape painting on the hotel's porch.
I wasn't sure if he was simply agreeing with me, or if what I said resonated with him. For many of us involved in paranormal research and the arts, it's difficult to balance paranormal research and our creative interests.
Ghost hunting, like many other interests, can be a fascinating hobby. That hobby can evolve to the professional level.
However, whether you're a professional or hobbyist, your interests may change. Many ghost hunters find the answers that brought them into ghost hunting, in the first place.
Others conclude that there are no real answers. At that point, the person may quit ghost hunting or continue with renewed interest.
I haven't a clue if that was a factor in Grant's decision.
Nevertheless, I applaud Grant's decision. He was ready to re-prioritize. Many people – in any field, not just TV – reach that point when their careers become too demanding.
That's especially true when you want more time with your spouse and family.
And, life in "the industry" (in this case, the world of TV and public events) can skew anyone's perspective on life and importances.
Yes, Grant Wilson left Ghost Hunters. That was a professional decision, and I wasn't surprised by it.
Grant hasn't vanished from ghost hunting. He still appears at some ghost-related events and conference. He's just reorganized his time to have more time for what he loves most.
I think that was a smart decision. Having known Grant for over 10 years, I was uneasy about how unhappy he seemed, and how bitter – albeit quietly bitter – he seemed to become, the longer he was on the show.
Even away from the camera, he said and did things that didn't seem like the Grant I knew & liked.
So, I'm glad he paused and re-evaluated how much he loved being on the show – and meeting fans – and what it was doing to his personal life, and the pursuit of what he loves most.
It's wonderful that Grant's fans remained so enthusiastic about his work on the show and his personal well-being.
To find out where you can meet Grant at ghost hunting events, here's his events website: Senterstage.com.
If you'd like to follow his career — as a ghost hunter, author, artist, musician, or game designer — see his website, GrantSWilson.com.
There's no mystery and no scandal in his decision. Grant Wilson left Ghost Hunters because it was the right time to do so.
Of course, he was missed on the show, but I'm glad he made a decision that works for him.
Certainly do miss ghosthunters. One of the best in the genre. Most people watched this show because of experiences they have had. There are no answers. We keep looking. Miss the program and hope to have it return somewhere.
I also miss this show. Now i watch ghost adventurers with Zach Baggins. It's great but I miss the ghost hunter crew!
I loved this show, I know I'm late to show, but I real need a real show that debunk stuff & realizes not everything is evil or dark. Some spirts just need to have there story told. I love Amy & Adam's new show they r looking for truth. Make a new show not always looking for the dark side, just finding the scientific facts. If U look for dark side it will find U. Miss ya but looking forward to seeing U on Josh Gate show w/ Adam & Amy. Stat your own real show dont let producers change the show. Please thank about it!
I'm so glad that it was a simple answer, and Grant is happier now.
It's sad when the media go spreading wild rumors.
I was just in the parking lot to the old Taps office today.What a sad feeling I had while looking at the windows as an end to a show I followed devotedly.I hope to see the TAPS crew again in the near future.
I also liked the show. It seems other shows spend so much time screaming instead of looking for answers.
Previous Previous post: Why do some ghost hunters lock themselves inside haunted places?
Next Next post: How do I contact Ghost Hunters' TV show? | 1,017 |
The biases men have towards women at work not only impact workplace culture but our society and economy as a whole. In this article we explore how men can recognize their biases and work on addressing them.
Recently someone pointed out to me that it's easy for me to find success as a marketer.
In addition to my skillset and experience, being a white male allows me to shamelessly promote myself and generate a quasi-noisy level of buzz. My skills are an extension of my brand.
There isn't anything fundamentally wrong with this.
On the flip side, consider women in marketing. When I try to think of successful women in my industry who are gaining traction and getting the same level of attention as say, Noah Kagan or Neil Patel, I'm hard pressed to generate a long list of contenders.
The top-ranking 2014 list of '29 Expert Marketers You Should Follow on LinkedIn and Twitter' includes seven women. The upcoming GrowthHackers conference has three women speakers. Marketing may just be the next industry to be called out on the popular 'Congrats! You have an all male panel' tumblr.
It isn't that marketers and PR strategists who happen to be women are not doing impressive work. Take Selena Soo, Joanna Wiebe, Kristina Halvorson and many others who have built world-renowned content and brand strategy companies. I'm noticing that these women have a totally different approach to marketing than the guys I'm most familiar with. It's not about them. Or maybe it is but it's less obvious? That's precisely why we're all most familiar<|fim_middle|> ahead in professions that continue to carry decades of exclusion. What have you experiences have you faced in regards to unconscious bias and microagressions at work? How have you handled situations that people generally avoid due to our natural aversion to uncomfortable situations? | with these guys – not to mention the fact that our cultural expectations around how men and women should work, conduct themselves professionally, and demonstrate capabilities tend to favor us males.
How much of the barriers for women in marketing are due to men simply being able to approach their work with an assumption that others perceive them as successful? How many of these barriers for women are because of our media, our policies, our cultural norms?
Every day we make countless decisions under the influence of our assumptions, beliefs, social stereotypes, and interpretations – or biases – without realizing them. This is how we operate with unconscious bias.
In business, this tends to color our hiring as well as strategy decisions. This costs US companies billions in employee turnover and creates countless workplace tensions. It's also what makes it so easy for us guys to promote ourselves and each other.
"We all have the power to participate and contribute. The ability to be visible and be heard often only goes as far as the receiving party's biases, unfortunately" says Corey McAveeney. Being part of Customer Success at the startup Culture Amp, an employee feedback and analytics platform, McAveeney sees the impact of raising awareness around issues related to culture, most notably efforts around diversity and inclusion. "Once we're aware of our biases we start to make changes to our behavior" notes McAveeney.
If you're skeptical that biases are so prevalent, consider the Yale University study where participants rated men higher than women in terms of competence and employability – even when they had identical qualifications. This is one of many such studies out there.
Our assumptions and beliefs are also a reflection of the current norms and increase the number of obstacles leading to progress. With relatively fewer women seen headlining marketing and PR (when there are so many women in the industry in general), women's unconscious beliefs about career advancement could be holding them back from "promoting" themselves as being the best in their game. This has been an active discussion that has spurred many initiatives across various industries but I never thought of marketing as suffering from this as well.
We live in a culture where women in general and specifically in tech (not just marketing) are discriminated and marginalized. As a result, our economy, our society, and many other aspects of our lives suffer from it.
Are you still thinking "Nope. I don't have biases."? You'll be surprised to learn just how implicit our biases are. Check out Harvard University's online Implicit Association Test (IAT) that reveals some of our biases towards people and ideas.
The Atlantic covered this topic in Why Is Silicon Valley So Awful To Women mentioning that unconscious bias training has emerged as a ubiquitous fix for Silicon Valley's diversity deficit. It's also viewed as quite controversial, as the outcomes can backfire. Joelle Emerson, Founder and CEO of Paradigm recommends taking a closer look at your training program in this Harvard Business Review article, Don't Give Up on Unconscious Bias Training – Make it Better.
Evaluate your internal conversation – Review your personal story and analyze who you trust in the workplace and why. We often fabricate a story based on our perspective about others but having empathy can help us develop a more positive approach to understanding other's experiences.
Think inclusion – When hiring or promoting, look beyond those who look like you in terms of age, gender, ethnicity or academic credentials. Create a step-by-step process when making decisions that will make you more accountable.
Look for shared goals – This works on biases motivated by our hidden negativity towards those who seem different–like women in male-dominated tech companies. Break it by focusing on similarities or shared goals.
Textio uses data and machine learning to scan job postings and flag words or phrases that are likely to repel women.
GapJumpers hides résumés and other identifying information, including gender, until job applicants take a test to assess their skills.
Blendoor lets candidates see how a company rates on diversity; while recruiters can see a person's skills, education, and work history, but not his or her race, age, and gender.
If you have a brain, you will be biased – towards your own capabilities and that of others. For many people it is more difficult to get | 851 |
County puts plans in place for extreme heat
Elle Meyers Sat, Jul. 13, 2019 0 0
ROCKVILLE—Montgomery County has a plan in place in the event of extreme summer heat when the risk of hyperthermia is greatest.
Hyperthermia, or when your body is dangerously overheated, is usually attributed to overexposure to hot, humid weather.
Montgomery County puts its extreme-heat plan in place when outdoor temperatures are expected to rise above 95 degrees. The county also puts out Heat Emergency Alerts when county-wide temperatures are expected to rise to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or other conditions are met. Conditions can include the possibility of extreme heat longer than two days or other weather threats determined by the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
"July and August are generally the county's hottest months, and<|fim_middle|> hyperthermia latest news libraries local Local News map google Marianne Souders Maryland MoCo moco news montgomery county montgomery county news National Institutes of Health news news headlines news of the day news today newspaper newspaper article newspaper paper NIH Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security politics recreation and senior center search stories swimming pools world news
Elle Meyers
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Harry Lichtman 4 days ago | it can be expected that hyperthermia alerts on extreme heat days will continue throughout the summer," according to county officials in a statement.
Montgomery County officials have plans in place in the event of extreme summer heat when the risk of hyperthermia is greatest. Cooling centers are available and alerts on weather changes will be sent out to residents. Officials stress the importance of drinking water and to seek shelter during peak hours. (Courtesy Photo)
In Montgomery County, during episodes of excessive heat, homeless shelters operate as cooling centers during the day, allowing residents of the shelters to return after work or daytime activities to cool off. County buildings such as libraries, swimming pools, recreation and senior centers are all designated locations for people to cool off during normal business hours, according to the county.
High temperatures are especially concerning for older residents, sick individuals and pets. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hyperthermia is caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms the body usually employs. In other words, hyperthermia occurs when sweat is not getting the job done and blood vessels have done all they can.
Hyperthermia can result in heat fatigue and heat stroke.
"Heat fatigue, or heat syncope (can cause) sudden dizziness after prolonged exposure to heat, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are commonly known forms of hyperthermia," the NIH wrote. "Risk for these conditions can increase with the combination of outside temperature, general health and individual lifestyle."
The NIH outlines lifestyle factors that can lead to hyperthermia, such as not drinking enough liquids, which makes it harder to sweat. Other factors include living in housing without air conditioning, lack of mobility and lack of access to safe transportation.
Older individuals, especially those dealing with chronic medical conditions, are at a higher risk for heat fatigue and heat stroke.
Hotter temperatures also increase the number of days with high levels of air pollution, which is especially bad for asthma sufferers or those with chronic breathing issues.
Heat stroke is more dangerous than heat fatigue and can be life-threatening. According to the NIH, heat stroke occurs when the body reaches a temperature at or above 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Marianne Souders serves as the planning division chief of the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security in Montgomery County. She explained that for student-athletes participating in summer training, it's important to remain hydrated to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
"Heat stroke is a life-threatening form of hyperthermia. It occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and is unable to control its temperature," the NIH wrote. "Heat stroke occurs when someone's body temperature increases significantly and has symptoms such as mental status changes like confusion or combativeness, strong rapid pulse, lack of sweating, dry flushed skin, faintness, staggering or coma."
The NIH recommends urging a person struggling with heat stroke outdoors to lie down in a shady area and to cool off with a shower, bath or sponge bath.
"Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin. These are places where blood passes close to the surface of the skin, and the cold cloths can help cool the blood," NIH wrote.
Souders also suggested that people who work out outdoors should avoid strenuous activity during the hottest times of the day. Instead, she recommended working out early in the morning or in the late evening (with proper reflective gear) to beat the heat.
Souders explained that it is her office's main priority to alert the county when high temperatures are expected to linger or in the winter when people are in danger of hypothermia.
"(When temperatures reach extreme levels) we always send an alert out to help; they outline the temperatures and resources and where to go," she said. "It was done in conjunction with many different agencies like the Red Cross, the Health and Human Services Department, police and Animal Control, because we include the interest of animals as well."
Souders explains that in preparation for dangerous temperatures, officials will hold a conference call to decide how long cooling shelters should remain open and what resources should be made available if there is a power outage.
The alert comes from a system called Alert Montgomery, which residents can opt-into by adding their contact information. Souders explained that participants can get a text message, an email or a phone call from Alert Montgomery, or all three if they choose.
"We also have everything we do on social media like Twitter and Facebook, (so those) who have not signed up, we hope will still see alerts," she said.
According to the county, residents can also reach out to the new Homeless Hotline to express concern for a homeless individual. The hotline can be reached at 240-907-2688.
Tags articles breaking news dangerously overheated excessive heat extreme summer general knowledge Google google map google search headlines Heat Emergency Alerts heat-regulating mechanisms homeless shelters hot hottest months humid weather | 1,006 |
When taking a first look at the Parable of the Sower, it is easy to look at the soils and quickly point fingers at people whom we feel could fall into these categories. Let me start by saying this: Jesus did not teach on this to point fingers, and it is not why I am touching on this either<|fim_middle|> later was scorched by the sun due to the lack of a root. Seeds are placed in this person's life, and they take in some of the truth about who Jesus is and profess they know him. However, because there is no depth, their heart has not changed and their faith disappears.
3. The seed fell among the thorns. The plant grew but was killed by the thorns.
This person appears to have received the truth of Jesus, but sin (i.e. sexual sin, greed, lust, etc.) distracts and takes them away from a life with Jesus.
4. The seed fell on good soil. The seed produced crop that multiplied. The person HEARS AND RECEIVES THE WORD OF GOD and their life is for Jesus. This person will have heart and life change and are living vessels for Jesus.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them… Likewise, good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit… Thus by their fruit you will recognize them."
Here, Jesus explains how a man's heart must be in ample condition to receive His word.
I challenge you to take time to reflect on your life. If your soil is not in the correct condition to receive the goodness of Jesus, God can till it. He tells us to turn away from sin and He will be there with open arms. I pray that if something is holding you back, or if you are bluntly living in opposition of what you know is right, God will break down those walls and barriers. No matter how big the issue seems or how hard your situation is, it takes the faith of a mustard seed to move mountains with Jesus.
Read more from this Darling Devotional series on The Parables. | . Jesus taught this parable to have us each take a deeper look into our lives and to open up our ears to truly hear what he is saying. I think some people may have experienced multiple types of soil in their life, while for others that may not be the case. However, what is important is that you understand the value in where your seed is placed. I personally think that this parable must be important considering it appears in Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:2-9 and Luke 8:11-15.
Jesus used four different scenarios to get this point across.
1. The seed fell among rocky places. The birds ate the seed up quickly. Seeds are not planted in this person's life. They "listen" to the truth of Jesus without allowing and accepting Jesus. The hard ground the seed is on doesn't allow the seed to grow. This happens when someone is engulfed in deeply-rooted sin and allows the sin to take over.
2. The seed was placed in rocky places without much soil. The seed sprang up quickly, but | 224 |
Special<|fim_middle|> information. | rates and packages are offered to help our guests make the very most of their Mesa Windemere Hotel & Conference Center experience no matter when you visit. Holidays, golf, the arts, wine appreciation, gardening, and live jazz are just some of the themes around which our packages are based. Virtually all feature significant added value, special events and reduced room rates.
Our professional staff at Mesa Windemere Hotel will see to it that your Deluxe room is ready for your arrival. And, if available, you may choose to upgrade to a Jacuzzi room. Each guest room is fully appointed with a refrigerator, microwave oven, coffee maker with coffee provided daily, a hair dryer, an ironing board and iron, a closet.
Spacious well-appointed rooms at our Mesa Hotel offer a patio or balcony that overlooks the courtyard with our sparkling resort style pool and spa. We also include, at no extra charge, our delicious Full Hot Breakfast Bar, Free Wifi, USA Today newspaper, local phone calls, voice mail, cable TV and movies. On-site conveniences include dry cleaning/laundry services, rollaway beds and a guest lounge.
Rates are based on double occupancy. Children 17 and younger stay free. Current room tax is 12.02%. We love pets and will accept them with a $10 per pet/ per night non-refundable deposit. We welcome up to 2 of your four-legged friends. We do have breed and size restrictions, so please call our hotel for more | 306 |
Q: If I don't need persistent storage, what's the best practice for storing data in a database-like fashion? NSMutableArray? Typically I use Core Data in my applications, but for my current project I don't need data to persist launch<|fim_middle|> | to launch.
Because of that, I'm wondering how I should store my data. It's not going to be tens of thousands of items or anything, hundreds at the high end most likely.
I'm still going to create an NSObject subclass to represent each "entry" in the database, but what should I store that in? A simple NSMutableArray that's a property? Should I have a distinct model class? Should I still be using Core Data somehow?
What's the accepted/best practice for a situation like this?
A: The persistence aspect is only one part of core data. The fetch requests, object graph maintenance and entity modeller are arguably just as important.
If you don't want to persist your data, use the in-memory store type when creating your core data stack.
A: I would say that if you are familiar with Core Data why dont use it?
But alternatively of course you can stick with NSUserDefault. Atm i'm using the NSCache class.
Good explanation of NSCache and how to use it
Apple's Doc
I would give it a shot if you dont like to use CD for your current Project..
A: Since you're not worried about persistence, it seems simplest to just use a wrapper around an NSMutableArray (or NSMutableDictionary if indexing is more important that ordering) Since you can apply NSPredicates to arrays you've still got the ability to do very dynamic database style sorting and searching without some of the drawbacks of core data.
Use a wrapper instead of just using an array because that gives you a convenient place to put sorting and searching options, as well as possibly giving you better access to KVO operations.
| 337 |
Politics & the Novel - POL00027H
Department: Politics
Module co-ordinator: Dr. Kieran Durkin
Credit level: H
A Autumn Term 2018-19
Politics and the Novel aims to bridge the study of literature and politics through a close reading of selected texts that deal with political experiences, ideas and challenges. While the particular region, period or problem in focus varies from year to year, we examine the fictional treatment of these political-historical contexts, its political sentiments and their translation into socio-political ideas. By the end of the module students should be able to show detailed knowledge of the major political and philosophical themes studied, alongside an understanding of how these themes are worked upon to a critical effect in novels. They should have developed their research, writing and<|fim_middle|> to formulate viable research questions that bring together the two academic disciplines of English and Politics.
By the end of the module, students will be expected to demonstrate:
? A thorough knowledge of the body of texts under consideration;
? A strong awareness of the cultural and political history of the period/contexts studied;
? Awareness of critical debates shaping the reception of the writings under study;
? Insight into the complexity of the ways in which political contexts influence literary writing, and how, in turn, literary writing can play a role in political thought.
Essay - 3000 words N/A 100
Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor?s feedback and guidance hours.
Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 20 working days after submission; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor?s regular feedback and guidance hours.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: the Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, London: Abacus, 1995. | presentational skills and be able | 6 |
Devoted readers will know of my dislike of, nay prejudice against microwaves. Darn things, I can never work out how to set them. Just as I think I've got it sorted, all the watts and the times and the little pictures of a trussed chicken or a dead fish are manipulated to pinpoint accuracy, I press 'Start' and the whole lot's cancelled. It's not natural all this microwaving business nor in<|fim_middle|> But the TV signal, internet connection, phone even, for all of that we have microwaving – that frequently turns out to be micro-drowning as the waves are erratic, and obviously tidal. So, for the somewhat erratic frequency of blog posts, blame the microwaves. Oh, and that little slip I made on the public – private thing, that didn't help either.
Tide is in tonight though – so I'll maybe get onto another one. | the least intuitive. The one at home came with Jim's dowry and, in those early days of the amorous, glamorous, rapturous starry-eyed-ness of love's middle-aged dream, I agreed to admit it to the Arlington kitchen. Hardly ever used it despite his best efforts to teach me – an occasional exception was shoving a bag of spinach in to wilt – very basic setting required and wilts wonderfully – the spinach that is, not Jim! It sits on top of the fridge with its plug inaccessible behind, but alas, on the last attempt at wilting the fuse blew and, well, it would be such a palaver to replace it would it not…..?
Here in these parts, virtually everything is beamed in/ by/ through/ on /with microwave. Having no idea how that works I have struggled with the choice of preposition – take your choice. | 182 |
EllisLab (<|fim_middle|>8 in Powered by . . . | formerly pMachine) is a privately-held technology company, founded by Rick Ellis, that develops web publishing software.
The first developed tool was a publishing app called pMachine, which was released in 2001. pMachine is no longer under development, but is now freely available and continues to find a large audience.
The next-generation publishing system, ExpressionEngine, was released in February of 2004, and was initially available with paid-only licenses.
* EE Core (free): Limited features, no tech support, for personal (non-commercial) or non-profit use only.
* EE Personal (paid): All features and tech support, for personal or non-profit use only.
* EE Commercial (paid): All features and tech support, for commercial use.
ExpressionEngine is a PHP and MySQL application. To determine if your hosting environment can support EE, a simple wizard is available for download on the ExpressionEngine website.
Number | 189 |
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About Antigua and Barbuda
365 Beautiful Beaches. Fascinating History. Sailing and Stingrays.
Antigua (pronounced an-TEE-ga) and Barbuda are the main islands, among a bevy of smaller ones including uninhabitable Redonda (the rugged, rock remnant of a volcanic caldera) that comprise a sovereign state lying between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. This multi-island nation is situated slightly south of midway in the Leeward Island chain and part of the Lesser Antilles. Antigua and Barbuda is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government, headed by a prime minister. Antigua, with a population of just under 100,000, is home to the capital of St. John's which serves as the country's largest port. The destination's motto is "Sun, Sea and Safety".
With its shallow, crystal-clear water, Antigua is a popular sailing and yachting destination, and the ideal Caribbean retreat for those appreciating a more luxurious experience. As such, Antigua is a popular choice when it comes to selecting the perfect villa destination as there are many exceptional properties that are either part of a resort with top-shelf services or stand-alone private residences and estates.
Barbuda is a great place<|fim_middle|>ETING IN MOTION (518) 303-1310 USA.
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www.vhrww.com | for day-tripping (there are tours) to meander along the virgin beaches (such as Princess Diana Beach, Pink Sand Beach, Coco Point and 17-Mile Beach), snorkel in the Palaster Reef Marine Reserve which has old shipwrecks in addition to reefs, explore caves and - most popular - bird watching at the Frigate Bird Sanctuary (a photographer's delight!).
A little history and geography ...
Antigua was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 whereby he named the island for the Church of Santa Maria La Antigua. Antigua was colonized by Britain in 1632. British influence holds a strong presence throughout the island. Antigua's 108 square miles features an irregular coastline that is peppered with beaches (365 - one for every day of the year), some quite spectacular with pristine white sand, hidden bays, and offshore reefs and shoals making for excellent swimming, snorkeling, and diving conditions. Several inlets - including the world-famous English Harbour (favorite of sailors and yachtsmen) and Parham - provide anchorage. St. John's has a deepwater harbor which can accommodate cruise ships. Unlike other Leeward Islands, Antigua has an absence of mountains and forests; there are no rivers, and with an average rainfall of about 40", the island is quite arid.
Barbuda, a 62 square-mile, flat and well-wooded, coral island - whose largest town is Codrington (the island's only settlement) - was first colonized in 1678. It is even dryer than Antigua, with less rainfall and no streams or lakes, with a climate similar to Antigua.
Redonda - valued for its wealth of phosphate found in the plethora of bird guano that covered the rock- was first landed in 1687. Mining of the guano began in the 1860s, and in 1869, Redondo was annexed to Antigua thus becoming a dependency.
Antigua (including Redonda) and Barbuda became part of the West Indies Federation in 1958 and, with the dissolution of the federation, became one of the West Indies Associated States in 1967.
Currently, there are no direct flights to Beef Island Airport on Tortola, the main international port of entry, so you must pass through another Caribbean island airport. Depending on where you are coming from, these include Antigua, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and St. Maarten. From there, visitors have a choice of utilizing a network of private charter flights (plus some helicopter flights) or water taxis (called ferries) to transfer to the islands. Flight times to Beef Island International Airport are as follows:
2 hours from Miami
3 hours from New York
8 hours from London
Overall, the BVIs are known for their magnificent, calm, azure sea which provides the perfect conditions for sailing and yachting. Steeped in the history of the British Navy, the islands are ringed by shipwrecks; the most famous of these - The RMS Rhone - is now a national marine park, and a favorite scuba diving point. Outside of the country's capital, Road Town, and save for a few upscale hotels on Virgin Gorda, the islands are quiet ... an early to bed, early to rise, play by day kind of destination ... with, perhaps, the rare exception of the Full Moon Party at the Bomba Shack on Tortola - not to be missed if you are staying in the area.
There is water taxi service from Road Town and Trellis Bay on Beef Island (right around the corner from the airport) to the other islands, making it convenient to visit several of the islands during your stay.
Tortola, the largest of the four main islands, is home to the low-key capital, Road Town (where you will find a wide variety of restaurants, shops and markets), Sage Mountain National Park, a verdant rainforest and the destination's only major airport: the international Beef Island Airport (EIS), which is on Tortola's adjoining Beef Island.
Main Street in Road Town features everything from local spices, jams, rums and soaps to handcrafted jewelry, silk-screened fabrics and local art. The destination's rich cultural mix (as outlined in the information above about the BVI's history) offers up some of the most interesting cuisine to be found in the Caribbean, including fresh lobster, conch, goat curries, Johnny Cakes and West Indian roti.
Apple Bay Beach is known for having some of the best surfing conditions in the Caribbean. Brewer's Bay Beach is home to some spectacular ruins, and has some of the best snorkeling on the island. Beautiful Elizabeth Beach (Lambert Bay) has soft white sand and sheltering palm groves. The western end of Long Bay offers peaceful solitude and ideal swimming. At the western-most end of Tortola, Smuggler's Cove - while hard to reach - is secluded, sheltered and serene. Accessible by an unpaved yet passable road, those "in the know" are drawn to its warm, clear water, adventurous snorkeling, and sea turtle sightings.
The history buff will be delighted with a full menu of cultural and historical attractions, including the 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum, Fort Burt, Mount Healthy WIndmill, Callwood's Rum Distillers, J.R. O'Neil Botanical Gardens, and Old Government House Museum.
Jost Van Dyke is named for an early Dutch settler and former pirate. Rugged scenery and colorful folklore make up Jost Van Dyke. With fewer than 300 inhabitants, it measures just four miles by three, with the highest point at 1,054 feet and has been home to Arawak Indians, Caribs, Dutch, Africans and the British. Notable inhabitants have included William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol Building, and John Lettsome, founder of the London Medical Society.
As a point of interest, William Thornton was born on
May 20, 1759 on Jost Van Dyke and died on March 28, 1828 in Washington, D.C.. He was educated in Scotland as a physician, but rarely practiced his profession. As an architect, Thornton was self-taught. He also was a painter, and an inventor. William Thornton's plantation on Tortola was located in the Pleasant Valley area near Nanny Cay. A few entrepreneurs named a party ship - the William Thornton or Willy-T - after him and, if you enjoy the scene, a visit to the Willy-T (off Norman Island) is a heck of a lot of fun.
Virgin Gorda attracts travelers with its protected harbor and anchorages, quiet coves, luxury resorts and villas. The Baths (a labyrinth of boulders on the water's edge) on Virgin Gorda - the third largest island in the BVI chain - is one of the most photographed places in the Caribbean. This eight and a half square mile island is home to a bevy of beautiful unspoiled beaches - such as Savannah Bay, Pond Bay, Devil's Bay, Maho Bay and Spring Bay - for swimming, snorkeling and enjoying spectacular sunsets.
Virgin Gorda's indigenous flora are well displayed on trails, in nature sanctuaries and Gorda Peak, a 260-acre national park donated by Lawrence Rockefellar in 1974. Other points of interest include Devil's Bay National Park; Spring Bay National Park (great for families - has a picnic area and swings); Little Fort National Park with its Spanish ruins; Valey Trunk Bay (for turtle watching); and The Baths, a collection of massive granite boulders as large as 40 feet in diameter, with white sand beaches and mysterious rock pools - not to be missed!
Also on Virgin Gorda is the Copper Mine, which has an intriguing history starting with the AmerIndians who used the metal to devise tools, and the Cornish laborers and their 1800s settlement.
Anegada's claim to fame is the lobster caught off the island's shores, said to be the best in the Caribbean. Named Anegada or the "Drowned Land" by the Spanish, Anegada is the only coral island in the Virgin Islands's volcanic chain. Measuring 11 miles by three, its highest point is just 28 feet above sea level. Striking coral reefs surround the island, including the Eastern Caribbean's third largest continuous reef, Horseshoe Reef. Secluded, white sandy beaches protected by the sheltering reef make for ideal swimming conditions and include: Cow Wreck Beach, Flash of Beauty, Bones Bight and Windlass Bight.
Snorkelers and scuba divers will delight in the reef's mazes, tunnels and dropoffs, which are rich in needle fish, mojarra, stingrays, parrot fish and other marine life, while those with sea legs will enjoy watersports, sport fishing and bonefishing. You can also explore the wreckages of numerous Spanish galleons, American privateers and British warships.
Discover the island's history through a maze of stone walls that surround the Main Town's Settlement, or through the Arawak's ancient conch burial mounds in the East End.
Anegada can be reached via the ferry or charter aircraft.
Enjoy protected anchorages and unspoiled beaches shaded with coconut palms and seagrape trees at Great Harbour, Little Harbour and White Bay. Indulge in Jost Van Dyke's favored cuisine, such as barbecues, West Indian rotis, flying fish sandwiches, grilled fresh fish and lobster. Club Paradise is famous for its conch stew and barbecued ribs, while the Caribbean's most famous cocktail, "The Painkiller," was invented at The Soggy Dollar Bar. Great Harbour is world-famous for its yacht-filled parties on Halloween and New Year's Eve.
What You Won't Find
There are no high-rise hotels, fast food restaurants, pushy beach peddlers, aggressive shopkeepers, timeshares or gambling.
Take full advantage of the water taxis (ferries) that run among the islands, or charter a captained boat (we can help you) and do a private tour. Have lunch at a different place each day, or pack a picnic lunch (cheese, bread, fruit and champagne or wine) and explore any of the beautiful beaches (as mentioned above) that the destination boasts. Whether swimming from shore or a boat, the snorkeling is amazing in some of the clearest water in the Caribbean.
Why People Come Here
The beauty of the BVIs draws a wide sweep of visitors. Honeymooners desiring privacy and seclusion. Families wanting to explore the culture and history of the island to augment their beach time. Snorkelers and scuba divers attracted by the abundant reefs and numerous wrecks. Over-stressed friends bent on having a fun-filled, active vacation that includes hitting some of the most interesting bars in the Caribbean. Because these islands benefit from a healthy economy, you won't find the same amount of poverty that you might in other Caribbean destinations.
Other BVIs Norman Island is one of several islands in the BVI that reputedly inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island. Norman Island has so many caves, hidden bays and wrecks that explorers still hope to find treasure. Cooper Island lies adjacent to 'wreck alley' where vessels have been deliberately sunk to create dive sites. This is a popular spot for divers who can also rent tanks and equipment from a local store. Peter Island, Necker Island and Guana Island are among the few remaining privately-owned islands. Guana Island boasts powder-soft, sandy white beaches, acres of tropical forest, hills and valleys and reputedly more flora and fauna than any island of its size in the Caribbean and possibly the world.
VHR, WORLDWIDE has been offering a selection of the finest private homes, villa resorts and private islands in the BVIs for more than three decades. We know the destination well because we have worked for hotels and private islands there - and we travel to the island regularly. We are personally acquainted with a sizable selection of lovely vacation homes and villa resorts throughout the islands, some of which may be found on this site.
VHR, WORLDWIDE's properties are generally staffed with a housekeeper. While a few villas have a cook, most do not but with ample advance notice we may be able to arrange the services of a chef or cook for you. Arrangements for services not provided can be made upon request, at extra cost, including a car rental which is a must on Tortola and Virgin Gorda to take in all that these islands have to offer.
"Our honeymoon could not have been nicer or more romantic. The villa was perfect! Thank you for
making our special trip a memorable experience. We will book with you again, and have already
recommended you to friends who are planning their family reunion in the Caribbean!"
- Cathy and Steve
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Kjerag or Kiragg is a mountain in the Sandnes municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The tall mountain sits on the southern shore of Lysefjorden, just southwest of the village of Lysebotn. Its northern side is a massive cliff, plunging almost straight down to the fjord; a sight which attracts many visitors each year. Another tourist attraction, the Kjeragbolten, is a stone wedged between two rocks is located on the mountain. The Kjeragfossen waterfall plunges off the mountain down to the fjord. It is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world.
Kjerag is a popular hiking destination. Some go there because Preikestolen has become too crowded, some to jump onto Kjeragbolten and some BASE jumpers from all over the world go there to jump off the high cliffs. Kjerag is also a popular climbing destination, with many difficult routes going up its steep faces. The easiest ascent starts from the visitor center Øygardsstølen, with a 2.5-3-hour walk each way. From Stavanger, it is roughly a 2-hour drive (closed in winter season). One can also take the tourist ferry from Lauvvik to Lysebotn in summer. The best season for walking is considered late June to September depending on snow conditions.
Kjeragbolten
Kjeragbolten is a boulder wedged in a mountain crevice by the edge of the Kjerag mountain (). It is possible to walk onto the rock without any equipment, but there is a direct drop below and then another gradient down to the Lysefjorden. The name means "Kjerag Boulder" or "Kjerag Bolt".
BASE jumping
Kjerag has become a popular BASE jumping destination. Since 1994, when Stein Edvartsen made the first officially registered jump, until 2016, a total number of jumps have been registered. During this time period 131 accidents have been registered, 44 of which required the use of rescue helicopter, and 10 cases where jumpers were rescued by other professional rescue climbers. According to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation there have been 11 fatal accidents involving BASE jumpers alone. A list of jumpers who perished at Kjerag is provided below:
Sebastian Dectot (24, from France), August 16, 1996
Ulla-Stina Östberg (46, from Sweden), July 29, 1997
Thor Alex Kappfjell (32, from Norway), July 6, 1999
Kirill Goretov (29, from Russia), August 15, 1999
Terry Forrestal (52, from the United Kingdom), June 10, 2000
Valentino Venturi (30, from Italy), August 5<|fim_middle|> Knestyapin (25, from Russia), July 25, 2010
Michael Leming (53, from the United States), June 25, 2016
In the Norwegian documentary film Loop, Kristen Reagan climbs up the drop before BASE jumping off the same cliff.
Rock Climbing
Kjerag was first climbed in the spring of 1985 by Pat Littlejohn, Steve Jones, Dick Renshaw and Lyndsey Foulkes, who abseiled in without sighting the wall from below, and chose their route from photographs in the public domain. Pete Whittaker having performed a roped solo of Free-Rider on El Capitan in autumn 2016, free-soloed the Renshaw-Foulkes climb in summer 2020.
Name
The name is possibly a compound of kje which means 'kid' and ragg which means 'goat's hair, shag'. The rough surface of the mountainside has been compared with the shaggy hair of a kid goat.
In popular culture
A movie song called Amali thumali (from 01:33m to 1:35m and from 04:19m to 04:21m ) from the 2011 blockbuster Tamil language movie Ko (film) features the lead couples dancing on the top of the boulder at Kjeragbolten.
Gallery
See also
Kjeragbolten
Preikestolen
References
External links
Kjeragbolten - 360* Panoramic Pictures - Virtual Norge
Flickr Kjerabolten Images
Ryfylke - Kjerag
Sandnes
Cliffs of Norway
Mountains of Rogaland
Landforms of Rogaland | , 2000
Lori Barr (37, from the United States), July 23, 2002
Rob Tompkins (30, from the United States), September 12, 2002
Darcy Zoitsas (nickname: "Peter Pan") (39, from Australia), July 19, 2005
Anton | 84 |
Home / Shop / Poetry / The Examined Life – Publishing on 21st April 2021 – pre order your copy now
The Examined Life –<|fim_middle|> a microcosm of life itself.
James Harpur. Paperback, 210 x 135 mm, 108 pages, April 2021.
James Harpur has had six poetry collections published by Carcanet and Anvil Press and is a member of Aosdána, the Irish academy of arts. He has won a number of awards for his poetry, including the Vincent Buckley Prize, a Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship, and the UK National Poetry Competition. His books include The White Silhouette (2018) an Irish Times Book of the Year; Angels and Harvesters (2012) a PBS Recommendation and shortlisted for the 2013 Irish Times Award; and The Dark Age (2007), winner of the Michael Hartnett Poetry Prize.
James regularly broadcasts his work on radio and gives readings and talks about poetry, inspiration and the imagination in schools and universities and at literary festivals. www.jamesharpur.com
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'A quite marvellous work…an Odyssey, a Ulysses shaken up in the snow-dome of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.' —From the foreword by STEPHEN FRY
The Examined Life – Publishing on 21st April 2021 – pre order your copy now quantity
SKU: 9781909747876 Categories: Complete catalogue, Poetry Tag: poetry
James Harpur entered a boy's boarding school in the 1970s and survived to tell the tale. His sequence of poems is a searingly honest and compelling account of his five-year journey, from leaving home for the first time and sleeping in a dormitory in which enemies appear like shadows, to his sadness at his parents' separation and the death of a father figure from a bomb. For as well as Prog Rock, flared trousers and industrial strikes, this was the era of the Troubles.
An introvert in an extraverted world, Harpur took refuge in Homer and the magical world of Troy, and found that school could be a haven, and even fun: a sex education lesson that backfired; a rare sighting of girls at a dance; a scary ride on his brother's illegal motorbike; a surreal trip to Covent Garden. Powerful, poignant and humorous, The Examined Life re-creates a 'vale of soul-making' that, with its tragedy and comedy, heroes and villains, is like | 327 |
Maria Panaritis, standing left, talks with old Beverly Hills Middle School metal shop teacher Jim Doyle.
Imagine you are at lunch with 19 of your former middle school teachers. One shows up with a 1984 grade book with your test scores in it. Another, who helped you make bullets in metal shop, talks about how he used to prank that social studies teacher now holding your grades. The science teacher who made batteries from salt water and tin foil sits genially among them all. It is loud. Orders are flying for French onion soup, chicken dumplings, french fries, apple sauce. Your head is spinning.
Are you dreaming? Are you dead?
I party-crashed a lunch of teachers from Beverly Hills Middle School.
What would they remember of me? Remember of any of the easily 50,000 or more kids they'd taught over decades in one of suburban Philly's grittiest towns, Upper Darby? I knew only this: In the 1980s they had somehow managed to glue together Greek immigrant kids, Vietnamese refugees, kids of Catholic and Protestant-American parents, and sent us off as a hormonal mass of humanity to another grit factory, Upper Darby High.
Retired math teacher Bill Elder shows Inquirer columnist Maria Panaritis photos of her eighth-grade self. Former Beverly Hills Middle School principal Mel Brodsky is to her right. Seated is former social studies teacher Bill Coren.
They did so at a place that was so NOT Hollywood: Beverly Hills was a monster of a building. Had a musty auditorium. Faced noisy trolley tracks and drew kids from row houses and twins crammed along the West Philadelphia border.
I knew at least one teacher remembered me: Joyce Ash (now Hurt) from seventh grade science. She had emailed after recognizing my name in an Inquirer column. She told me about the lunch. I began begging to spy on the monthly reunion bash. The rest is history.
A sixth grade class outside Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, 1981-82. Inquirer columnist Maria Panaritis is fourth from left, middle row.
>> READ MORE: Yo, Suburbs! All the way from Upper Darby, I'm your new columnist.
On Tuesday afternoon, I drove to Charlotte's Restaurant in Newtown Square, walked inside with sweaty palms, and it began: a march into madness.
Inquirer columnist Maria Panaritis, center, in a seventh grade music class picture at Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, Pa., 1982-83 school year.
A man approached with wire-rimmed glasses and a familiar cherubic smile. My brain sorted through a tangle of Air Supply and J. Geils Band lyrics before locating the spot in the cerebral cortex where this person's name had resided, untouched, since 1982.
Beverly Hills Middle School print shop teacher Dave Schramm ran the school newspaper.
Print shop. He taught 11-year-olds to make business cards, notepads, and the monthly school newspaper, the Junior Post. I once partied over franks and beans at Schramm's house. Won a game of Clue against all the other Junior Post nerds.
VINTAGE! An original November 1981 edition of the Junior Post student newspaper, minted in industrial arts teacher David Schramm's print shop classroom at Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, Pa., and later sold for a dime in the hallways.
Lunch organizer and retired foreign language teacher Gay Marshall had warned everyone I was coming.
"How old are you?" I asked Mr. Schramm.
Dave Schramm, print shop teacher and leader of the Junior Post student newspaper at Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, Pa., from a 1983-84 yearbook.
As a student who would steer clear of both detention and income growth in the decades ahead, I knew Mr. Frederick only from a distance.
He surprised me, though, with this: He'd been the one who launched a weekend Poconos camping trip that gave us poorer kids our first experience with the woods at night. I gave him a high five. That trip killed.
Retired Beverly Hills Middle School assistant principal Bob Frederick taught in the 1980s.
Teachers were howling as they circled two banquet tables. I tried to identify them, one by one, but it was like staring at a strobe light. I locked eyes with one across a table.
Me: "Are ... you … ALGEBRA?"
We were shouting like chimpanzees. She told me she has pictures of me at home. That I was a math sleuth who helped run the make-pretend school bank. This was news to me.
Karen Balawender and Bob Keller greet.
A boisterous baritone rolled through the room. I turned and there he was: Same grasshopper-like build, same dark hair, brown eyes, wiry energy, and dark-rimmed glasses he wore in class 35 years ago.
Mr. Coren. Eighth-grade social studies. I loved this guy.
Social studies teacher Bill Coren in "Roaring Twenties-theme-week" garb in the 1981-82 school year at Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, Pa.
Former Beverly Hills Middle School social studies teacher Bill Coren arrives with Panaritis' grade book.
The spiral-bound grade book that retired teacher Bill Coren has kept of his eighth-grade social studies class from Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, Pa.
Me: "THAT IS SO GROSS."
Bill Coren plopped down a red, spiral-bound grade book. Told me he has all but two from the 35 years he taught at BHMS, starting in 1972.
He flipped it open as I tried not to faint.
Bill Coren's grade book with grades Panaritis received in his class in 1984.
"You got a 100 on your test in the second quarter and you led," he said with the same rapid-fire cadence I remembered. "You got the only hundred on the test. Second quarter – oh. Whoa! Is that you? YES. That's a late assignment right there. ... Let's see over here. (Page flips.) Panaritis. ..."
Bill Coren talks to his former student Maria while, to his right, former science teacher Joyce Ash (now Hurt), who made this happen by reaching out to Maria after reading one of her columns, talks with math teacher Barbara Mendell.
So these were the old teachers. This was why they have stuck to the brain, even if only as fuzzy memories.
They loved each other,<|fim_middle|> where we'd come into school in costume: The Roaring Twenties, Mesopotamia, the Civil War. Coren once commandeered the public address system to prank Brodsky - and he didn't get fired for it. Metal shop teacher Jim Doyle and the other shop teachers would torment Coren during parent-teacher meetings. And on and on.
"You wouldn't believe the stuff we did," Doyle said.
Kids made bullets and rings in Jim Doyle's Beverly Hills Middle School metal shop class in the 1980s.
I believe. And I can't say thank you enough.
For any readers interested in sending a remembrance to Maria or digitally through the Google form embedded in this story, she'll be happy to forward them to your old teacher. Here are names of all from Beverly Hills Middle School who gathered for the reunion lunch: Bob Keller, Bob Frederick, Lee Urwiler, Mark Graboyes, Phil Over, Gay Marshall, Dave Schramm, Jim Doyle, Wayne Burns, Barbara Shafer, Karen Balawender, Dan Houck, Bill Elder, Mel Brodsky, Merle Horowitz, Beverly Nicholas, Barbara Mendell, Joyce Ash (Hurt), Bill Coren. | I realized. They loved us just as much, "lower-middle-class kids who came from loving families, mostly," as Miss Ash (now Joyce Hurt) so gingerly put it to me. Our diversity forced them to be extra creative in class. They were fearless.
Principal Mel Brodsky (also at the lunch) had their back. He let them design theme-based weeks | 76 |
Spring is here, and we all know what that means. "Spring cleaning." That dreadful term we hear every year<|fim_middle|> either of these Spring Specials, you can either purchase online, or give us a call. And if your spring cleaning efforts require a strategy change or another piece of crowd control equipment, our crowd engineers can be reached at any time. Just call 888.404.7892 and ask for Ben. | around this very time. It starts to invade our thoughts, draining the fun from the season. Oftentimes, it means money and time spent toward renovating or updating our facilities. Well, if crowd control is on your list of things to purchase as part of your spring cleaning efforts, we have two awesome deals for you that should relieve of a bit of stress.
Our first Spring Special is the TensionLine retractable belt stanchion by Visiontron. Most Visiontron products are made and assembled in the USA, with advanced braking technology that ensures slow and safe belt retraction.
The TensionLine post comes with a sleek black finish, and a 10-foot belt available in over 20 different colors and patterns. With that many options, you're sure to find a stanchion that will serve its purpose without impeding on your atmosphere. The TensionLine stanchion is available for $49.95 all Spring.
Our second Spring Special is the QueueWay retractable belt stanchion. The QueueWay post, like the TensionLine, is designed with an advanced braking mechanism and a belt lock to prevent accidental release. This feature is especially important if you have children entering your lines who might play with the stanchions. An accidental release can cause bodily harm, and in some cases, result in legal action, but with the belt lock, you can be sure this won't happen.
With a shorter belt, measuring at 7-feet, 6-inches, the QueueWay post is available in black or polished stainless steel with 4 belt colors and patterns, for just $39.95.
Although both the TensionLine and QueueWay posts are classified as "economy" products, they don't fit the bill of a typical economy stanchion. For each of these brands, the term simply signals a quality product at a price you can afford.
If you're interested in | 393 |
House Passes the<|fim_middle|> Oregon → | SAFE Banking Act
Accounting, News, The Biz
Great news! In a pretty historic moment, the House of Representatives officially voted to pass the SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 1595). We've extensively covered the Act's progress in past posts (the latest can be found here and here), but just as a reminder, the Act would finally allow the cannabis industry to access banking and financial services. It's gained a lot of support over time, and it passed in the House yesterday by a vote of 321 to 103. All but one Democrat (Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)) was in favor, and almost half of the Republic caucus was as well.
Though the fight is far from over, yesterday's vote is a major win and milestone sign of progress for so many: cannabis retailers, banks, credit unions, and more. While it doesn't do anything in terms of the larger fight for decriminalization, it does shield banks and insurers from penalties if they choose to serve state-legal cannabis industries. Under the Act, a federal financial regulator won't be able to terminate or limit the depository or share insurance of a depository institution. It won't be able to prohibit or penalize financial institutions from providing services to cannabis businesses. And, the Act provides protections for ancillary businesses in transactions with cannabis-related businesses.
As co-sponsor of the bill, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said on the House floor right before the vote: "It's an invitation to theft, it's an invitation to money laundering already, it's an invitation to tax evasion, and it stifles the opportunities of this business." Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) agreed: "I think you can be against marijuana and still understand that if it's going to be a legalized product, we need to be able to control it through our banking system." While the focus has been on the bill being a banking bill, Rep. Perlmutter also expressed his hope that passage of the SAFE Banking Act would eventually lead to Congress' acknowledgment of the reality that 33 states (and counting) have now legalized marijuana in some form. "If someone wants to oppose legalization of marijuana, that's their prerogative. But American voters have spoken and continue to speak, and the fact is you can't put the genie back in the bottle," Rep. Perlmutter. "Prohibition is over."
Most Republicans opposed the bill for the same reason that Rep. Perlmutter hopes will come to fruition. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) argued that Congress should be facing the "underlying issue" of whether or not cannabis should be a Schedule I drug. "We do not fully understand the sweeping implications of this legislation. We do not yet know what the resulting regulatory regime will look like, nor do we have any assurance it will not expose the current financial system to illicit activity." "This bill doesn't change the fact that cannabis remains a prohibited Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. To that end, if we seek to give financial institutions certainty, we should deal with the listing of cannabis as a Schedule I substance, not debating a partial solution for financial institutions to what is a much larger problem and a larger societal issue that we must wrestle with."
In any event, it's important to note that the final version of the Act definitely included some additions specifically so that the legislation would be more appealing to certain Republican senators. To entice Senator Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, a well-known advocate of hemp legalization, certain protections for hemp were added (because of hemp's association with cannabis, hemp industry players have also had difficulties accessing banking services despite the fact that industrial hemp farming was nationally legalized in 2018). Similarly, the legislation includes another provision that would restrict bank regulators from pressing lenders to cut ties with customers based on their "reputational risk." This was aimed to appease Republicans who are against an Obama-era program that discouraged banks from serving payday lenders and gun retailers, known as Operation Choke Point. It's believed that this second provision specifically had Sen. Crapo in mind.
Of course, the companion bill in the Senate, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) back in April, has yet to be voted on by the Senate Banking Committee. There have been some positive signs for the legislation, most notably coming from Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and a lack of apparent opposition from President Donald Trump. The Senate is currently in recess but returns this Tuesday, October 8.
Posted in Accounting, News, The Biz
← Transporting Hemp-CBD: Kentucky
New Cannabis Regulations in | 972 |
<|fim_middle|> installation of subway maintenance equipment throughout the storage yard, including bridge cranes and car hoists.
Designed by RK&K of Baltimore, the facility's six buildings are composed of concrete, masonry and structural steel with brick façades, curtain wall and skylights.
WBC Craftsmanship Award - Electrical
Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks and Wet Weather Equalization Facilities Improvements
Naval Station Great Lakes - Energy Services Performance Contract Phase II
Great Lakes, IL
Brentwood Postal Facility
Building 264 New Distribution Facility
Washington Post Press Facility | RK&K
With storage capacity for 178 rail cars, the six-building Branch Avenue Storage Yard complex serves as the storage and maintenance facility for Metro's Green Line trains. Clark served as the general contractor on the facility, which was also the first turnkey delivery project for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Located on a 39-acre site outside Washington, D.C., the yard is adjacent to the Branch Avenue Metro Station. The project required the Clark team to clear 20 acres, move 700,000 cubic yards of earthwork, lay 18,000 feet of track, and install 50,000 feet of site utility lines. In addition, Clark provided system integration services for the project, which include the installation of train control, communications and traction power systems, compatible with existing WMATA facilities. Clark also was responsible for the | 186 |
Rosa Parks and the Hard Cost of Activism
Civil rights activist Rosa Parks' seemingly simple decision to keep her seat on the bus took on a life of its own. But it also largely overtook her life... and her health.
https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Rosa-Parks.jpg 2000 1315 Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31Rosa Parks and the Hard Cost of Activism
Chronic medical issues--including a genetic mutation which gave her her showstopper eyes--impacted much of Elizabeth Taylor's life, but never defined it.
https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/4362237-elizabeth-taylor-wallpapers.jpg 1920 1200 Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31"You Might As Well Live"
Are Doctors And Patients From Different Planets?
Sometimes it seems like doctors and patients speak two different languages. In her new book, Dr. Danielle Ofri aims to help bridge the language gap.
Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:<|fim_middle|> San Francisco pizzeria has an inventive business model, and an even more inventive menu.
https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/download-1.jpeg 1500 1000 Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31Slice Of The Pie
The Late President of Protest
Folk singer-songwriter Phil Ochs gave voice to the righteously rebellious 1960s, while trying to keep his depression in check.
https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/phil-liberty.jpg 1276 774 Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31The Late President of Protest
How This Nose-First Designer Got Use Of Her Arms Back
Sometimes the nose doesn't know.
https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/michelle-1.jpg 585 390 Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31How This Nose-First Designer Got Use Of Her Arms Back
The Left Foot Of The Fastest Woman Alive
Although her leg was deformed by polio as a child, Wilma Rudolph didn't let her illness stop her from reaching Olympic gold.
https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/wilma-rudolph-P.jpeg 1038 539 Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31The Left Foot Of The Fastest Woman Alive | 31Are Doctors And Patients From Different Planets?
How Migraines Drove Me Out Of The Office, And Into My Dream Job
Self-employment was the perfect solution for my problem with chronic headaches, but it shouldn't have been my only option.
Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31How Migraines Drove Me Out Of The Office, And Into My Dream Job
Humanizing The White Coat
A Moth-style storytelling series for physicians aims to show that doctors are just as human as their patients.
Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31Humanizing The White Coat
The Neurologist Poet Who Helps Heal Combat Vets
"Physical and emotional pain defy language, defeat it," says Dawn McGuire. Her work helps vets suffering from brain injury and PTSD fight back.
Brittany Shoot https://folks.pillpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/folks-pillpack-logo.png Brittany Shoot2017-01-11 09:00:552017-01-26 14:19:31The Neurologist Poet Who Helps Heal Combat Vets
Slice Of The Pie
This deaf-owned | 377 |
Irwin hoping to retain North West 200 Superbike title
Glenn Irwin in action at the International North West 200 on Thursday. Picture: Pacemaker Belfast.
By Aaron O'Neill
aaron.oneill@thechronicle.uk.com
Friday 17 May 2019 17:55
REIGNING International North West 200 Superbike<|fim_middle|> the 90th-anniversary celebrations.
Irwin has already set the tone for what may be a sign of things to come tomorrow as he unofficially smashed Michael Dunlop's Superbike time from 2016. The Carrickfergus rider lapped the 8.9 mile circuit in 4min 21.767sec, 0.328 sec faster than Dunlop's flyer from three years ago.
The Quattro Plant/Wicked Coatings Kawasaki rider continued his rich vein of form in Thursday's Superstock race as he finished in second spot behind Peter Hickman in what was Irwin's debut in the Superstock class
Speaking to Chronicle Sport, a relaxed Irwin said: "I would obviously love to win the race but it will not be easy.
"If I do win the feature Superbike race I am dragging the team back to the Anchor Bar for a night out just to make sure they all have a hangover on Sunday," joked the 29-year-old.
"The Superbike race is the one I want to win but don't get me wrong, I want to win every race I am in but the Superbike race is special," he admitted.
The quality on the grid at this year's event suggests that Irwin will not have it all his own way as Peter Hickman, Alastair Seeley, Dean Harrison, Michael Dunlop and co. Will all be vying to get their hands on Irwin's title.
After a tough start to race week, Irwin highlighted that he has grown in confidence as race week progressed.
"After Tuesday's session, it's nice to be on pole position," he said.
"We made a breakthrough with the bike which has helped us move in the right direction.
"The team have worked really hard to put a good package underneath me.
"One thing I have learned is that if you want to win at the North West 200 you can't ride at eighty percent.
"You have to give it your all because that is when you enjoy riding here," added Irwin.
Bumper crowds are expected to travel to the north Coast in what is hoped to be a truly memorable year for the International North West 200.
Spectators are reminded that roads will close around the circuit at 9:15am before racing gets underway. There is yet another action packed race day schedule with two Superbike races as well as Superstock, Supertwin and Supersport races. | champion Glenn Irwin has said that retaining his crown at the Triangle circuit would be a "fantastic" end to | 23 |
Q: Set of homomorphisms between two structures is a closed set in the set of all functions between the domains I read that, if we work with a language $L$ which only has function symbols and if we consider two $L$-structures $\mathbb{A}$ and $\mathbb{B}$ (with domains $A$ and $\lbrace 0,1 \rbrace$ respectively), the set of all hom<|fim_middle|>A$ rather the functions, it hasn't helped much, the open sets still are quite complicated, and I remain stuck at that point.
Any kind of help would really be appreciated,
Thank you!
A: If $\varphi:A\to\{0,1\}$ is not a homomorphism, there is is a function symbol $f\in L$ such that $\varphi$ doesn't interact properly with $f$. If $f$ is $n$-ary, this means that there are $a_1,\ldots,a_n\in A$ such that
$$\varphi\big(f^{\Bbb A}(a_1,\ldots,a_n)\big)\ne f^{\Bbb B}\big(\varphi(a_1),\ldots,\varphi(a_n)\big)\;.$$
Let $a_0=f^{\Bbb A}(a_1,\ldots,a_n)\in A$, and let
$$U=\left\{\psi\in\{0,1\}^A:\psi(a_k)=\varphi(a_k)\text{ for }k=0,\ldots,n\right\}\;;$$
then $U$ is an open nbhd of $\varphi$ in $\{0,1\}^A$, and
$$\psi\big(f^{\Bbb A}(a_1,\ldots,a_n)\big)\ne f^{\Bbb B}\big(\psi(a_1),\ldots,\psi(a_n)\big)$$
for each $\psi\in U$, so no member of $U$ is a homomorphism from $\Bbb A$ to $\Bbb B$.
| omorphisms (functions from $A$ to $\lbrace 0,1 \rbrace$ which interract as we'd expect with the functions in both structures) from $\mathbb{A}$ to $\mathbb{B}$ is a closed set of $\lbrace 0,1 \rbrace ^A$ (with the product topology).
My question is: does this result have any direct applications in the domain of model theory? But also... I can't prove this, and I think this is mainly because I cannot see how I would prove anything is closed in that topology...
I have tried to look at the power set of $ | 129 |
Being in hospital can be boring, but it doesn't have to be if you treat it as a chance to work on your master plan!
When you are staying in hospital you will probably have time to focus on some seriously creative projects. Here are some suggestions that will keep you busy.
Perhaps you want to have a go at being the next J.K. Rowling or writing the best book since Roald Dahl invented Fantastic Mr Fox. Writing gives you the chance to escape into yourimagination– and who knows where that will take you?
A play – choose some characters, think about what will happen, and how it might look if people were performing it. You might even end up showing it to your friends and family some time.
A TV show – lots of the programmes on television are based on scripts, so you could try writing a scene for you're a soap you like – what would your favourite characters say to each other and what would happen?
A story – stories don't have to be long, and you can choose to write about whatever you like. It might be a scary ghost story, an adventure or a funny story about a group of friends.
Poems – they don't have to be serious. You might have read some of Roald Dahl's revolting rhymes – perhaps you could try writing your own one? Some poets also write about how they are feeling.
A diary – if anything funny happens you might want to write it down to make you smile later, and it can help to write your feelings down when you are sad too.
Collages are when<|fim_middle|> ghost town.
You can create your own rule cards and set booby traps for the players. It might take some time, but when it's done you will be games master!
If you are going to be having a long stay in hospital, remember that there will probably be fun things happening for you to get involved with.
"Many hospitals have clubs for children who are staying. They might be art clubs, play clubs, or even scouts and guides.
"If you know you are going to be staying in hospital for a while, ask your parent or guardian to find out what activities are on that you can join in with.
"There should also be staff on hand to ask about what's happening. The clubs are there for you to enjoy - make the most of them!" | you take lots of different pictures, shapes and materials and stick them altogether to make a wicked piece of art. You can stick anything on there as long as you think it looks cool. When you put the last piece on it will be really satisfying to see what you have created.
Keep all the magazines and newspapers people bring in for you – you can then cut out pictures from them to stick on your collage.
There will probably be a play room you can use in the hospital – ask a member of staff if there are any materials stored in there that you can use.
It doesn't have to be pictures on your collage – you can stick different types of material in colours that you like.
It can take time to make things – whether its jewellery or model cars. So hospital can be a good time to do things like this.
Set yourself a challenge to make presents for your friends or family, or a new model to display in your bedroom.
Bring your beads with you for your hospital stay and make bracelets or necklaces – try something a bit more complicated so it fills up the time.
A model set, like a car or spaceship. With most model sets you can build them a bit at a time, so you don't have to do it all at once. When it's done you should feel very proud of what you have made.
Lego is fun to build, and once you have done it one way, you can take it apart and try something completely different!
If you are into Games Workshop, you might want to have a go at painting some of your more fiddly figures – with your full attention you will be able to get them perfect, down to the eyelashes and fingernails!
Board games are a fun way to get you playing with a whole group of people, and designing your own is a great project.
You can choose the layout of the board, decide on your own rules, and then get making. Your board could resemble the swamps of the Amazon, or a mysterious | 404 |
What Your Doctor May Consider if COVID-19 Symptoms Worsen
The name of the virus that causes COVID-19 disease is SARS/CoV-2.
SARS/CoV-2 stands for:
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/Corona Virus-2
This name refers to the clinical syndrome that may occur with this novel coronavirus to include severe damage to the lungs.
Most patients at the time of this writing appear to incur so-called "mild" or "moderate" COVID-19 disease which includes asymptomatic individuals.
COVID-19 patients that worsen to "severe" or "critical" stages are sometimes encountering multi-system organ damage.
This damage occurs in the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and other organs. It is being recognized as a consequence of prolonged hospital stays, especially those who require significant time on a mechanical ventilator.
An intriguing and important unanswered question at the time of this writing is whether the multi-system damage some patients suffer is due to one or all the following:
Direct injury inflicted by the SARS/CoV-2 virus
Pro-inflammatory cytokines (Cytokine Storm Syndrome)
Hypercoagulation of blood in blood vessels and lungs
Prolonged hospitalization, especially those on ventilator support
Our objective is to convey findings that may reduce the progression of COVID-19 to "severe" or "critical" stages that cause patients to require mechanical ventilator life support.
Too many COVID-19 patients placed on mechanical ventilators are not surviving.
Misinformation About Ventilator Efficacy
The government, media, and most medical professions have touted the need for more respiratory ventilators to spare the lives of COVID-19 patients.
As it relates to COVID-19, however, emerging data suggest that 65% or more of patients requiring long term invasive mechanical ventilation in the ICU die from pneumonia, sepsis, and/or multi-organ failure.[1]
While the shortage of ventilators has been a major talking point, the reality is that invasive mechanical ventilation is far less a solution and more a temporary measure that prolongs life rather than providing curative treatment for most patients.
Avoiding ICU invasive mechanical ventilation and worsening clinical status are critical for any patient with progression to severe COVID-19 disease.
Need for Early Interventions
The medical advice at the time of this writing from the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) is to ask patients with "mild" COVID-19 symptoms to isolate themselves at home, use over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen to reduce fever, and report any worsening symptoms, especially difficulty breathing.
If clinical symptoms worsen, the symptomatic patient is often rushed to a crowded hospital ER and assessed.
There is no consistent data at the time of this writing to effectively gauge surrogate blood markers that may place a COVID-19 patient at greater risk of deteriorating into a "severe or critical" stages of the disease where invasive ventilator support is required.
Findings from some recent studies suggest more can potentially be done to identify the subgroup of people with worsening COVID-19 disease, and those patients at risk for progressing to advanced stages.
These studies provide an experimental rationale for using existing drugs to suppress interleukin-6 and other pro-inflammatory factors responsible for the cytokine release syndrome.
Often called the "cytokine storm", this hyper-inflammatory state may be a significant cause of tissue damage and death from severe COVID-19 disease.
Today's Treatment Dilemma
Heroic physicians, nurses, respiratory technicians, and other healthcare workers are on the front lines in "hot zone" COVID-19 regions of the country.
These medical staffs are overwhelmed by a lack of personal protective equipment as well as a lack of well-validated treatment options to prevent progression of COVID-19 to severe disease requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.
At the time of this writing, there has been a large volume of hastily published medical literature on COVID-19 and frequent pre-prints of observational data that has not been peer-reviewed. This has collectively created confusion about the "best" available option for desperate patients and medical professionals struggling to treat them effectively.
Symptomatic people today often wait weeks to either slowly recover or worsen to the point of needing hospitalization.
Once in the hospital, many COVID-19 patients deteriorate and require ICU/ventilator support with most not surviving at the time of this writing.
There is no consistent medical protocol as to what COVID-19-symptomatic persons can and should do during infection, especially those unfortunate patients that evolve to severe stages of COVID-19/ SARS-CoV-2.
Some recent studies hint at potential benefits if blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are measured in COVID-19 patients to identify those at risk of progressing to severe disease.
The authors of some of these studies suggest IL-6 blocking drugs be carefully used to suppress the cytokine release syndrome that can manifest in severe disease.
A Report of Inflammatory Blood
Markers in COVID-19 Patients
A prepublication released on April 1, 2020 reported on a small number of COVID-19 patients whose inflammatory blood markers were measured.[2]
The paper opens by describing how the substantial number of COVID-19 patients with severe disease have strained intensive care capacities to an unprecedented level.
The study authors point out the highly variable course of COVID-19 and lack of reliable predictors for patient deterioration.
The objective of their pilot study was to identify variables that allow physicians to predict which patients are at a high risk of respiratory failure and need of mechanical ventilation.
The study evaluated baseline clinical and laboratory findings of 40 patients with PCR-proven symptomatic COVID-19 infection hospitalized from February 29 to March 27, 2020.
The study doctors found that elevated blood levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) was strongly associated with the need for mechanical ventilation.
In this small study group, patients with IL-6 blood levels over 80 pg/ml were at 22 times higher risk of respiratory failure compared to patients with lower IL-6 levels.
The doctors also noted high baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), troponin T (a marker of cardiac damage) and other markers of infectious inflammation in these newly hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
This finding suggests newly hospitalized COVID-19 patients are already in a pro-inflammatory state with possible organ damage.
Another bit of data from this pilot study was that once IL-6 elevates over 80 pg/mL, respiratory failure developed on average of only 1.5 days (range of 0-4 days). This indicates a need for rapid decision making as it relates to consideration of drugs that block IL-6.
The study concluded with the doctors stating:
"Our study shows that IL-6 is an effective marker that might be able to predict upcoming respiratory failure with high accuracy and help physicians correctly allocate patients at an early stage."
To put this 80 pg/mL of IL-6 into context, Life Extension® added IL-6 to a special Age Management Blood Test Panel in 2019-2020. Test results of 474 blood samples had a median result for IL-6 of only 1.7 pg/mL. The highest reading was 24.7 pg/mL with a handful over 10 pg/mL.
From what we've been able to review, COVID-19 patients who progress to the point of needing to go to the hospital are already in a significant pro-inflammatory condition.
A critical question is whether this inflammation is needed to fight the virus or is the inflammation an over-reaction by the immune system that is inflicting needless damage to healthy tissues.
And to throw in one more variable, different laboratories often use different testing methods which often produce different numbers. This is a huge problem when trying to compare numbers from multiple studies.
Researchers struggle with this issue, especially when pooling data from several studies, which is what I am attempting to do here as it relates to elevated IL-6 (and other cytokines) and their association with worsening COVID-19 disease.
Recent Clinical Observations May Reveal a Game Plan
Preliminary clinical (human) research reports offer intriguing support that may lay the groundwork for symptomatic COVID-19 patients to utilize pro-inflammatory cytokine blood tests as a means of identifying their risk of progression to severe disease.
If pro-inflammatory biomarkers are elevated, consideration can then be made by the treating physician to prescribe IL-6 blocking drugs like tocilizumab (Actemra®).
In the first of these studies I report on, COVID-19 disease severity was found to be statistically significantly associated with age and specific blood markers
The authors of this study advocate for considering the use of IL-6 suppressing drug therapy in COVID-19 patients with elevated pro-inflammatory blood levels.
An extensive array of immune functions and pro-inflammatory factors were measured in this study that when elevated can create a deadly "cytokine storm".
Below is the list of blood tests used to in this study to identify the inflammatory status of COVID-19 patients:
Interleukin-2 receptor (IL2R)
Iinterleukin-6 (IL-6)
Interleukin-8 (IL-8)
Interleukin-10 (IL-10)
Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)
Ferroprotein
Procalcitonin
White cell counts (WBC)
Lymphocyte counts
Neutrophil count
Eosinophil counts
The authors of this study concluded:
"Inflammation is closely related to severity of COVID-19, and IL-6, TNFα and IL-8 might be promising therapeutic targets."
The name of this study that measured this broad spectrum of immune and inflammatory blood markers is:
"Correlation Analysis Between Disease Severity and Inflammation-
related Parameters in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia"3
This study emphasized the role that inflammation has on disease progression based on previously published research.
The authors of this study then analyzed blood inflammation indicators among mild, severe, and critical COVID-19 patients to "identify severe or critical patients early".
This study consisted of 100 COVID-19 patients, 34 patients in the mild group, 34 were severe, and 32 were critical stage.
As it related to interleukin-2 receptor (IL2R) blood levels, there were significant differences amongst these COVID-19 patients as follows:
Patient Group IL2R Inflammatory Marker
Mild 486.44 U/mL
Severe 885.09 U/mL
Critical 1317.31 U/mL
Interleukin-2 is usually viewed as a beneficial immune cytokine because it activates natural killer (NK) cells.
NK cells are the body's first line of defense against viral (and other) infections.
A plausible problem with some COVID-19 patients developing severe disease appears to be over-activation of a host of immune/inflammatory factors as the disease worsens.
Some interpret this data as indicating that activating IL-2 and other acute phase immune responses such as Type 1 interferons before one is fully infected with the COVID-19 virus may prevent infection from taking hold.
Once more advanced or severe COVID-19 infection sets in, however, the IL-2 receptor (and other immune components) can become over-activated and cause the deadly "cytokine storm".
As you will read next, the primary "cytokine storm" culprit appears to be interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Potential Deadly Role of Elevated
IL-6 in Severe COVID-19 Disease
The authors found that "mild" COVID-19 patients had IL-6 blood levels under 100 pg/mL and those with more advanced illness were significantly higher.
Recall the initial study I reported on in this editorial found that hospitalized patients with IL-6 blood levels over 80 pg/mL were 22 times more likely to progress to respiratory failure.
Update: One of our advisors suggested that ICU/ER physicians consider an IL-6 blood level over 50 pg/mL as a tentative indicator for IL-6 antagonist therapy with Actemra® or other cytokine suppressing drugs to be initiated.
As people age, a pathological process of immune senescence sets in that is partially characterized by over-activation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling.4,5,6
This manifests in older people as a chronic inflammatory state that underlies common diseases of aging. People who live to age 100 typically express low levels of IL-6. 7
Anti-aging advocacy groups have sought for many years to target excess IL-6 to delay the onset of degenerative aging.
As it relates to COVID-19, a sharp spike in IL-6 signaling may be a primary causative factor behind the deadly "cytokine storm".
The study I am relaying here found that IL-6 blood levels were significantly different among mild, severe, and critical Covid-19 groups.
Assuming the testing methodologies are roughly equivalent (and this is an assumption at this point), these studies appear to corroborate each other as it relates to higher IL-6 being associated with worsening COVID-19 disease.
Rationale to Test IL-6 Blood Levels if Symptomatic
Some of our supporters have their IL-6 blood levels checked because they understand the toxic impact that elevated IL-6 inflicts during normal aging.
Based on recent findings, a person with "mild" COVID-19 symptoms might want to have an IL-6 blood test to ascertain their baseline in the "mild" phase of the disease. This can help evaluate their risk of worsening to advanced stages. It also provides knowledge of one's baseline IL-6 to compare it to future tests that may show IL-6 spiking higher in response to COVID-19 progression.
Obese individuals are likely to have higher IL-6. When infected with the COVID-19 virus, IL-6 may skyrocket to lethal levels in those with underlying inflammatory disorders.
This might partially explain why obese and type II diabetics succumb to COVID-19 more frequently as their pro-inflammatory levels are high to begin with.
Knowing one's IL-6 history provides a clue to the physician to determine if an IL-6 signaling blocker drug called tocilizumab (Actemra®) should be prescribed.
Current thinking amongst some physicians is to target elevated IL-6 with tocilizumab (Actemra®).
A concern might be raised about over-suppression of certain immune functions needed for fight off the SARS/CoV2 virus. Therefore, use of these cytokine-suppressing drugs should be viewed as experimental.
As it relates to other inflammatory markers, blood levels of C-reactive protein, TNF-a and procalcitonin were elevated based on mild, severe and critical COVID-19 status in the study I am describing.
Immune Cell Count levels in COVID-19 Patients
The response to infectious disease severity can often be seen by elevated immune cell counts.
In the study I continue to describe, a white blood cell called a neutrophil was found to be elevated as COVID-19 status worsened as follows:
Patient Status Neutrophil Count
Mild 3.53
Severe 5.47
Critical 10.80
There were significant differences in total white blood cell counts, lymphocyte counts, and other immune markers that may provide surrogate measures of underlying disease status.
This can be of immense value to a treating physician and an empowered patient who pays attention to their blood test<|fim_middle|>] Level of IL-6 predicts respiratory failure in hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Available at:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.01.20047381v2. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[iii] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.25.20025643v1. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[iv] IL-6-STAT3 signaling and premature senescence. Available at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3876432/. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[v] Cellular senescence or EGFR signaling induces Interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor expression controlled by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Available at:
[vi] Interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein, successful aging, and mortality: the PolSenior study. Available at:
https://immunityageing.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12979-016-0076-x. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[vii] Storci G, De Carolis S, Papi A, et al. Genomic stability, anti-inflammatory phenotype, and up-regulation of the RNAseH2 in cells from centenarians. Cell Death Differ. 2019 26(9):1845‐1858.
[viii] Can we use interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockade for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced cytokine release syndrome (CRS)? Available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896841120300676#bib37. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[ix] Interleukin-6 blockade for severe COVID-19. Available at: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.20.20061861v1. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[x] Into the Eye of the Cytokine Storm. Available at:
[xi] What Is The Cytokine Storm And Why Is It So Deadly For Coronavirus Patients? Available at:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/claryestes/2020/04/16/what-is-the-cytokine-storm-and-why-is-it-so-deadly-for-covid-19-patients/#52c3e224460f. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[xii] Chousterman BG, Swirski FK, Weber GF. Cytokine storm and sepsis disease pathogenesis. Semin Immunopathol. 2017 39(5):517‐528.
[xiii] Mohty M, Blaise D, Faucher C, et al. Inflammatory cytokines and acute graft-versus-host disease after reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Blood. 2005;106(13):4407‐4411.
[xiv] COVID-19 infection and rheumatoid arthritis: Faraway, so close! Available at:
[xv] Controversies about COVID-19 and anticancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Available at:
https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/imt-2020-0067. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[xvi] How does coronavirus kill? Clinicians trace a ferocious rampage through the body, from brain to toes. Available at:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[xvii] Coronavirus damages kidneys and hearts as well as lungs, US doctors find. Available at:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-symptoms-lung-kidney-heart-covid-19-us-doctors-a9466701.html. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[xviii] Tocilizumab for Treatment of Severe or Life-Threatening Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell-Induced Cytokine Release Syndrome—FDA Approval Summary. Available at:
https://www.bbmt.org/article/S1083-8791(17)30993-X/fulltext. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[xix] The cytokine release syndrome (CRS) of severe COVID-19 and Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) antagonist Tocilizumab may be the key to reduce the mortality. Available at:
[xx] Interleukin-6 blockade for severe COVID-19. Available at: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.20.20061861v1. Accessed May 1, 2020.
This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice. | results.
Discussion of this Study's Findings
As dozens of experimental therapies are being tested on thousands of COVID-19 patients, having the prognostic ability of surrogate blood markers is of considerable potential value.
These readily available blood tests may better identify critical COVID-19 patients and help with clinical decision-making.
The study I am reporting on corroborates previously published research showing increased IL-6 and other inflammatory factors to be associated with the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia.
TNFα, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were correlated with disease severity, which is analogous to findings from another published study. Additional inflammatory indicators were also related to the disease severity.
IL-6 levels in mild patients were lower than 100 pg/mL.
When IL-6 exceeded 100 pg/mL, the study authors postulate this might represent the emergence of an "inflammatory storm". (This is also referred to as "cytokine release syndrome" or "cytokine storm".)
The following blood markers were found to indicate progression to critical COVID-19 illness:
Blood Marker Danger Zone
White Blood Cell count Over 9.5
Neutrophil count Over 7.30
C-reactive protein (CRP) Over 30.7ng/mL
Interleukin-2 receptor Over 793.5U/mL,
Ferroprotein Over 2252 ug/L
Testing as many of these inflammatory markers as is feasible may play a role in identifying the potential for progression from "mild" to "severe" and "critical" disease earlier in COVID-19/ SARS-CoV-2 infection.
This provides an earlier opportunity to suppress elevated IL-6 and possibly other pro-inflammatory cytokines to potentially improve the recovery rate and reduce organ damage and mortality in patients who evolve to severe COVID-19 disease.
What we don't know is what impact prematurely suppressing IL-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines will have on the patient's ability to bring the viral infection under control. I suspect it will require a delicate balance with highly experienced ICU physicians. More guidance on this is provided later in this article.
Interleukin-6 Blocking Drug Therapy
The next study I describe is titled:
"Can we use interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockade for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced cytokine release syndrome (CRS)?"8
The conclusion of the study authors is:
"We propose to utilize interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockade to manage COVID-19-induced CRS (cytokine release syndrome) and discuss several factors that should be taken into consideration for its clinical application."
So far I've reported on findings showing that IL-6 blood levels over 80 pg/mL can enable emergency room and ICU physicians to predict which COVID-19 patients will worsen and require ventilator support.
The purpose of this study was not to consider using an IL-6 suppressing drug, but to better manage patients in crowded emergency rooms and intensive care units (ICU).
I next reviewed an elaborate study that identified elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19 patients and suggested that IL-6 drug suppressing therapies be considered as a method to reduce morbidity and mortality.
In the study I report on now, the authors make a stronger case for considering IL-6 blockade in the treatment of COVID-19 disease.9
The authors of this study observed that people suffer COVID-19 symptoms 9.5 to 12 days before requiring intensive (ICU) care.
The authors further state that in addition to acute respiratory distress (pneumonia) necessitating ventilator support (67% of patients), multi-day progression leads to acute kidney injury (29%), acute cardiac injury (23%), and liver dysfunction (29%).
This delay from onset of initial symptoms to severe or critical COVID-19 disease, the study authors submit, provides a window to test symptomatic patients for increased proinflammatory cytokines and perhaps initiate anti-cytokine treatment if blood markers and patient symptomology indicates likelihood of disease progression.
The authors of the study I am describing report death rates of critically ill patients as high as 49.0–61.5% and cite evidence suggesting that the "cytokine storm" might play a major role in severe COVID-19.
They note that a host of inflammatory factors including interleukin-6 are significantly elevated in COVID-19 patients, and some are more commonly seen in severe patients than in non-severe patients.
The authors go on to relate autopsy findings in COVID-19 patients with elevated inflammatory cytokines that reveal tissue death and abnormal immune cell infiltrations in the lung, heart and gastrointestinal mucosa. These findings suggest dysregulated immune responses.
Cytokine Storms not unique to COVID-19
Some in the media are now discussing the proinflammatory "cytokine storm", but this is not a new phenomenon.
Cytokine storms relate to over-active immune systems. They are causative or contributing underlying pathologies in those who contract sepsis, suffer the effects of immune-based cancer drugs, develop graft-versus-host disease, and rheumatoid disorders.10,11,12,12,14,15
It is because of "cytokine storm" related disorders that FDA-approved drugs are available now like tocilizumab (Actemra®) that impede IL-6 signaling, which is a major pro-inflammatory cytokine.
Balancing Immune Responses
Previous studies have shown that severe respiratory distress (pneumonia) occurs in some patients infected with coronaviruses despite a diminishing viral load.
This implies that antiviral therapy alone may be inadequate to protect tissues throughout the body from acute and permanent inflammatory damage. This includes the heart, liver, brain and kidneys, where reports of COVID-19 patients requiring kidney dialysis are manifesting in hospital ICUs.16,17
Corticosteroid anti-inflammatory agents were initially widely prescribed in treating COVID-19 patients in the ICU setting. The problem with steroid drugs like prednisone is that they systemically shut down critical immune functions, as opposed to targeting one cytokine like IL-6 that is a major factor involved in the cytokine storm.
Other therapies aiming to dampen excessive serum inflammatory mediators are being developed, but COVID-19 patients may benefit now from drugs like Actemra® that target IL-6 signaling.
The authors of the study I am reporting on propose that reducing the detrimental over-active immune response with targeted drugs that block cytokines like IL-6 may be a beneficial addition to antiviral therapy.
Please know that at the time of this writing, it is not clear whether the SARS/Cov2 virus itself or the pro-inflammatory cytokine storm is the major causative factor in multi-organ damage. It might be a combination of the two, which is why effective antiviral therapy is urgently needed.
Sidebar--------
Fighting off Viruses Before Severe Disease Manifests
In theory, if one could detect initial infection with the SARS/Cov2 virus and mount an immediate type 1 interferon response, then the virus could be eradicated by activated natural killer cells before serious COVID-19 disease manifested.
The delayed interferon response can be a factor that enables viruses to infect many cells and replicate out of control before the body's adaptive immune system can mount an effective response.
This dampened type I interferon response in nasal, airway and alveolar lung cells can result in rapid coronavirus viral replication.
Said differently, coronaviruses can initially evade pathogen immune recognition, which enables viruses to gain a foothold in the body before an effective immune response can be mounted.
Once systemic viral infection sets in, then excessive production of interferons may contribute to the "cytokine storm" while simultaneously turning down critical antiviral responses (such as inducing premature apoptosis of T-cells and depleting vital lymphocytes).
That's why tamping down the excessive inflammatory responses by targeting specific factors like IL-6 may be so important once COVID-19 progresses.
A study published on May 15, 2020, however, indicated that administration of the interferon-alpha drug in nebulized form (inhaled into the lungs) along with an anti-viral drug called (arbidol) reduced the duration of detectable SARS/Cov-2 (virus) in the upper respiratory tract with a concomitant reduction in IL-6 and C-reactive protein inflammatory markers.
The full text to this is open label study of 77 hospitalized patients in Wuhan can be reviewed at:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01061/full
A study published in The Lancet on May 8 2020 found a triple drug combination of interferon-alpha, ribavirin, and lopinavir-rotonavir was more in alleviating symptoms and shortening the duration of viral shedding and hospital stay in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 than lopinavir-rotonavir alone. Here is link to full text article:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31042-4/fulltext
The New England Journal of Medicine picked up on this research and wrote the following summary on May 16 2020:
"A combination of three antivirals — Kaletra (which is lopinavir plus ritonavir) and ribavirin — when given early and with interferon significantly reduces viral shedding, disease symptoms, and hospital stay in patients with COVID-19 when compared with a control regimen of Kaletra alone. The drugs are active against other coronaviruses, but the key factors seem to be interferon and promptness of treatment.
When the triple-drug combo was administered without interferon 7 days or more after the onset of symptoms, the results were no better than with Kaletra alone. Prof. Ivan Hung, the lead author on the report, explains that the researchers were afraid of prompting a cytokine "storm" if interferon was given after 6 days of symptoms — they're not sure that that reluctance was well founded now. In any case, no patients died in either group.
The study was conducted in Hong Kong and has just been published in The Lancet. (An earlier study by another group published in the New England Journal of Medicine found no special benefit from Kaletra alone — a result seemingly confirmed by this study in The Lancet.)
We were able to interview Prof. Hung over ZOOM from Hong Kong, where he was about to enjoy a Mother's Day lunch with his mom. It was very generous of him.
Here is a link to the podcast:
https://podcasts.jwatch.org/index.php/podcast-266-interferon-and-early-treatment-in-covid-19-bring-good-outcomes/2020/05/10/?query=C19
End sidebar-------------
Preventing Systemic Cytokine Storms
In the lungs of many COVID-19 patients, there is a raging battle as the immune system seeks to eradicate the viral infection. This results in overwhelming "collateral damage" to lung tissues.
While the immediate clinical concern is protecting against pneumonia, the proinflammatory cytokines and COVID-19 viruses may also leak from the lungs into systemic circulation, leading to complications like dysregulated coagulation and multi-organ failure.
All this points to the critical need of identifying effective antiviral therapies and suppressing over-production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6.
Deadly role of IL-6 in Normal Aged Persons
Long after COVID-19 infections are brought under control, elevated interleukin-6 levels can inflict systemic inflammatory damage in the elderly, along with obese individuals, type II diabetics, and those inflicted with rheumatoid disorders.
Among the excessive pro-inflammatory factors produced in the body, IL-6 is one of the key cytokines.
Elevated IL-6 levels have been observed in corona patients and correlate with disease severity.
Excessive IL-6 signaling leads to a myriad of pathologic effects that contribute to organ damage and reduction of beneficial immune functions.
As the authors of the study I am reporting on note, elevated cytokine levels may be responsible for the lethal complications of COVID-19.
While the immediate focus is saving COVID-19 victims from IL-6 induced cytokine storms, long term strategies to suppress inflammatory factors (like elevated IL-6) should be implemented by those seeking healthy longevity.
Focusing on IL-6 Suppression
There are several potential inflammatory cytokine blockade therapies that may be effective for COVID-19.
The authors of the study I am reporting on believe IL-6 blockade may be the most promising strategy to combat the COVID-19 induced "cytokine storm".
They note that elevated IL-6 levels were consistently reported in several studies of COVID-19 and might serve as a predictive biomarker for disease severity.8
The researchers reference a large retrospective cohort study showing that IL-6 levels were correlated with mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Based on a preponderance of published data, the authors state that:
"targeting IL-6 may be effective for COVID-19-induced cytokine release syndrome."
Clinical use of an IL-6 signaling blocking drug
Actemra® (tocilizumab) is an anti-IL‐6 receptor drug.
It binds to IL-6 receptors to inhibit IL‐6‐induced inflammatory signaling.
Actemra® is approved by the FDA for the treatment of severe cancer treatment induced "cytokine storms"/cytokine release syndrome in cancer patients.
IL-6 is a central intermediary of toxicity in cytokine release syndromes, meaning that suppressing IL-6 can offset the adverse impact of other inflammatory factors such as elevated TNF-a and interferons.
Actemra® has shown promising efficacy in severe "cytokine storm" syndromes.
A group of cancer patients suffering from "cytokine storm" side effects from immunotherapy were evaluated. After one or two Actemra® doses, 69% of patients responded within 14 days. Fever and hypotension resolved within hours, and life supporting drugs could be weaned in several days.18
The effect of Actemra® has also been reported in suppressing "cytokine storms" related to other conditions including sepsis.19
As the authors of the study I am reporting on state, Actemra® has significant safety data with the most common serious adverse effect being infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, in which chronic Actemra® therapy was maintained. (Prophylactic antibiotics therapy can mitigate this risk.)
Other known side effects of Actemra® include hypertension, liver impairment and mucosal/skin rashes. These are manageable conditions and largely pale in comparison to the systemic damage inflicted by a chronic "cytokine storm".
Repurposing Actemra® to treat COVID-19
Based on the efficacy of Actemra® in suppressing the cytokine storm in other disease conditions, the authors of the study I am reporting on propose to "repurpose Actemra® to treat severe cases of COVID-19."
They also propose early diagnosis of a developing cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients and prompt initiation of IL-6 suppressing therapy if warranted.
The open question is exactly when anti-IL-6 drug therapy should be initiated.
As it relates to cancer treatment using immune boosting CAR-T cell therapy, prematurely turning down the cytokine storm can negate the anti-cancer immune benefits. This can translate into treatment failure as not enough cancer cells are killed by the immune boosting CAR-T therapy.
The authors of the study I am reporting on state that this principle is not shared in viral infections such as COVID-19, in which "timely intervention in mild or moderate patients may prevent progression." (This remains controversial at the time of this writing and it is not known if premature shutdown of IL-6 immune signaling may enable COVID-19 to worsen.)
The authors of this study note immune suppressing corticosteroid drugs may delay viral clearance but suggest that combining targeted IL-6 suppressing drug therapy with antiviral agents may add further benefit.
The study authors acknowledge uncertainties as to when anti-IL-6 drugs like Actemra® should be administered to COVID-19 patients.
They suggest close monitoring of blood levels of IL-6, C-reactive protein and other markers to ascertain patient's inflammatory status and risk of progressing to advanced COVID-19 disease. They point to most studies find that elevated CRP levels are associated with severe COVID-19, with a few exceptions
They note the risk of secondary infections associated with immune modulators (like Actemra®) and suggest prophylactic antibiotic treatment may be indicated.
Update from Cleveland Clinic Doctors
More recent clinical findings from the Cleveland Clinic help corroborate the potential benefits of blocking excess interleukin-2 (using IL-6 receptor targeted drug therapy).
The Cleveland Clinic physicians noted that in the short term after an IL-6 blocking drug (like Actemra®) is administered, IL-6 blood levels increase because their target receptors are blocked by the drug.
So in monitoring the anti-inflammatory response to the IL-6 blocking drug, in lieu of testing blood levels for IL-6, these doctors recommend the following other blood markers of inflammation and coagulation risk:
1. C-reactive protein
2. Ferritin
3. D-dimer
Emerging data indicates that hospitalized COVID-19 patients should have coagulation markers (like D-dimer) checked. If elevated, then the administration of low-molecular-weight heparin and possibly aspirin may prevent the vascular blood clotting (hyper-coagulation and thrombosis) that adversely impacts many advanced disease cases.
As you'll read towards the end of this article, some doctors are suggesting specific anti-coagulant and anti-thrombotic prophylaxis for appropriate hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Reference: Cleveland Clinic website:
https://www.ccjm.org/content/early/2020/05/12/ccjm.87a.ccc018
Preliminary Report on IL-6 Blockade in Severe COVID-19
A clinical report released on April 20, 2020 provides further guidance as to when IL-6 blockade may be initiated in COVID-19 disease patients.20
The authors of this study acknowledge the data I've relayed so far that suggests physicians screen patients with severe COVID-19 for hyper-inflammation and investigate immunomodulatory drugs in this setting.
This authors then relay their "short-term, yet promising experience" regarding IL6 blockade with Actemra® in 30 COVID-19 pneumonia patients with the following criteria:
Less than 80 years of age
Over 5 days of prior disease duration
Severe (requiring over 6L/min of oxygen therapy)
Rapidly deteriorating (increase by more than 3L/min of oxygen flow within the previous 12 hours)
COVID-19-related pneumonia.
They compared these thirty COVID-19 pneumonia patients treated with the IL-6 blocking drug Actemra® with a control group of patients (matched for age, gender and disease severity) that did not receive Actemra®.
The authors demonstrate that in these highly selected COVID-19 patients, IL6 blockade could:
Curb the "cytokine storm"
Prevent ICU admission
Prevent the requirement for mechanical ventilation
While acknowledging the shortcomings of this retrospective small sample-size study, the authors conclude:
"…we believe that these preliminary findings support the fostering of research efforts in the fight against COVID-19-induced inflammation, especially before patients require admission to the ICU."
Actemra® Dosing for COVID-19
At the time I was writing this review of recent studies, dozens of clinical trials are planned to study the effects of drugs like Actemra® to suppress the cytokine storm suffered by COVID-19 victims.
This makes it impossible to relate what the proper dosing protocol might be. With so many human lives being lost to COVID-19 each day, some educated conjecture is needed for those who want to go beyond "standard care".
In treating severe or life-threatening cytokine release syndrome due to CAR-T immune cancer therapy, the dose of Actemra® (tocilizumab) is 8 mg per kilogram of body weight administered intravenously. It may be administered alone or in combination with corticosteroids.
If no clinical improvement in the signs and symptoms of cytokine release syndrome occurs after initial dose, Actemra® may be administered up to 3 additional doses but must allow 8-hour interval between consecutive doses.
For experimental use in COVID-19 patients, the core hypothesis in the planned and/or on-going experimental studies is that Actemra® may be effective in:
"…decreasing signs, symptoms, and laboratory evidence of COVID-19 pneumonitis in hospitalized, non-critically ill patients with clinical risk factors for clinical decompensation, intensive care utilization, and death."
Various dosing Actemra® regimens are being utilized in clinical practice and clinical trials. There is no established dose regimen in treating COVID-19 patients so there is no "best" dose regimen to recommend currently.
However, the most "common" experimental dosing regimen at the time of this writing with Actemra® (tocilizumab) seems to be 8 mg/kg intravenous (IV) up to a maximum of 800 mg with repetition of the same dosage after 12 hours if no clinical improvement (two doses total) is observed.
Problems with PCR Viral and SARS/Cov2 Antibody Tests
You might have noticed that we are not emphasizing at the time of this writing the need to test for the presence of the virus (SARS/CoV2) that causes COVID-19 or the antibodies (IgM and IgG) that indicate existing disease (IgM) or recovery from disease (IgG).
The reasons we view these as optional at the time of the writing of this editorial is that there are open questions as to accuracy of these tests, without well-documented evidence of consistent reliability and accuracy. This includes too many false negatives (with PCR tests).
A false negative on a PCR screening test means a person that has the virus that causes COVID-19 is told they don't have the infection.
PCR is a reliable technology, but in the context of COVID-19/ SARS-CoV-2 infection there remains a concern of inadequate collection specimens, with a subsequent increase in the rate of false negative test results, which may run as high as 30%
There remain accuracy concerns with antibody blood tests despite some of them being given emergency FDA approvals.
Since there are many strains of coronaviruses, there may be false positive IgG results, which imply a person has recovered from COVID-19 and thus immune from future infections.
The problem is it is too early to know if a positive IgG (SARS/Cov-2) test confers long term protection against relapse or if the person is still open to infection.
As we eagerly wait for fully validated testing methods, we advise treating the patient, and not treating a test result, especially in the context of PCR screening tests.
Surrogate blood markers such as C-reactive protein, IL-6, immune cell counts, and other tests described in this article can help assess symptomatic patients at risk for progressing to severe or critical stage disease.
We are not suggesting that PCR or antibody tests be avoided by symptomatic individuals and their physicians. We are only questioning testing accuracy at this time.
Heparin's Multi-faceted Benefits
In reviewing Cleveland Clinic's helpful web series (https://www.ccjm.org/cc/covid-19-curbside-consults), the institution has provided an excellent coagulopathy algorithm that can be very helpful in management considerations of COVID-19 patients.
Coagulopathy is rapidly being recognized as a major problem with severe COVID-19, whereby small and large clots develop inside blood vessels causing a myriad of tissue and organ damage. These clots are appear in the lungs and interfere with breathing, and in arteries where they cause strokes, heart attacks and kidney impairments.
Here is what the Cleveland Clinic initiailly disseminated on May 14 2020:
Heparin anti-coagulation seems to be the obvious response to such a hyper-coagulable process.
In addition to its anti-thrombotic effect, heparin may have anti-inflammatory, anti-complement, and direct antiviral effects that may be beneficial in COVID-19.
Heparin inhibits neutrophil activation, binds inflammatory cytokines, and reduces endothelial activation.
Experimental models have also shown that heparin directly binds to SARS-CoV spike-protein1, which acts as the viral anchor site for SARS-CoV–ACE2 interaction, and thereby blocks cell entry.
While promising, these effects have yet to be demonstrated in clinical practice, and specific data on the management of CAC are extremely limited.
One study of 449 patients with severe COVID-19 showed no overall mortality difference (29.7% vs 30.3%, P = .910) between patients who did not and those who did receive heparin (94 patients on low-molecular-weight heparin, 5 patients on unfractionated heparin; prophylactic doses).
There was, however, a significant difference in mortality rates (32.8% vs 52.4%, P = .017) in the subgroup of patients with a D-dimer more than 6 times the upper limit of normal (> 3 μg/mL). The authors concluded that heparin improves mortality rates in patients with severe COVID-19 and cited a Chinese consensus statement as recommending anti-coagulation in severe COVID-19. It must be emphasized that this study retrospectively compared heparin prophylaxis vs no prophylaxis. It remains unclear if therapeutic anti-coagulation would provide additional benefit.
Thrombolysis in patients that deteriorate despite anti-coagulation has also been suggested. A small case series of patients with persistent severe hypoxia and markedly elevated D-dimer showed improvement in oxygenation after low-dose tissue plasminogen activator. Despite initial improvement and no reported adverse effects, the ultimate outcome in this series was poor.
Given this lack of evidence, the ASH (American Society of Hematology) and ISTH (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis) currently do not recommend treatment above and beyond standard prophylaxis unless there is an established indication.
Both societies strongly recommend DVT prophylaxis in all patients on admission using low-molecular-weight heparin (unfractionated heparin in renal failure, fondaparinux in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia) and stress that prophylaxis should be continued even in the setting of thrombocytopenia (platelet count > 25 × 109/L).
Reference link: https://www.ccjm.org/content/early/2020/05/12/ccjm.87a.ccc024
The purpose of this website is to openly disseminate information that offers an opportunity to save lives, especially as it relates to re-purposing already approved drugs, along with reports of efficacy of newer medications.
These re-purposed drugs have known side effect risks that can assist prescribing physicians in estimating an experimental dose and when it might be most appropriate to initiate therapies such as Actemra®.
The purpose of this article is to disseminate research findings that provide preliminary data about potentially effective treatments for COVID-19 patients who deteriorate from mild/moderate disease to severe and critical stages requiring hospitalization.
This article was initiated in early April 2020 and mostly finalized around April 24, 2020. Tremendous efforts were made to ensure accuracy of the reporting of the experimental studies.
As new studies pour in, our group will attempt to post abstracts and links that can help keep you and your physician updated.
Direct links to many of the articles discussed in this review article can be accessed in the References section below.
To view additional abstracts and articles on these topics, click here or the Cytokine Storm button on bar at the top of this website.
For longer life,
William Faloon, Volunteer
Age Reversal Network
Given the rapid and evolving nature of medical/scientific data on COVID-19/ SARS-CoV-2, some or most of the information in this article and/or website may be rendered obsolete, or worse, incorrect at any future time.
Much more validated data is likely to be discovered over the next several months.
The reports contained herein are based largely on pre-publication reports and evidence from previous published studies.
If you contemplate initiating any of the suggestions discussed on this website, please remember that these are all still in experimental stages and not subject to rigorous clinical trial design, execution or peer review.
Data pertaining to experimental treatment options are disseminated for public education purposes.
COVID-19 patients and their families may choose to share this information with treating physicians for experimental considerations.
[i] Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Critical care issues. Available at:
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-critical-care-issues. Accessed May 1, 2020.
[ii | 6,241 |
The original Lucky Catch is a 37 ft. Maine built fiberglass lobster boat designed to be smooth and stable on ocean waters. Built-in 1983 for the sole purpose of commercial lobstering, the Lucky Catch didn't carry her first paying customers until 1997. Now operating from the first weekend of May through the last weekend of October she is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed vessel equipped to carry 2<|fim_middle|> interactive and educational lobstering excursion for everyone onboard.
The St. Croix, also built by SW Boatworks, was launched in 2003 and is the same 40' Maine built hull as the new Lucky Catch. The St. Croix initially operated in Bar Harbor before arriving in Casco Bay and joined Lucky Catch Cruises in 2014. In addition to lobstering excursions and private charters, this boat also serves as a ferry in the summer. It offers the most cover for inclement weather and carries sixteen passengers for lobstering. | 2 passengers comfortably and safely around Casco Bay. To ensure an unforgettable and personal lobstering experience each excursion is limited to just fourteen passengers.
SW Boatworks near Bar Harbor, Maine. The new boat carries passengers from June through September and will lobster commercially the remainder of the year. Even with greater capacity, this boat is limited to twenty passengers to provide an | 71 |
adidas x Alexander Wang Run Mid Black | AC6846 is the latest crep to be coming from the German sportswear giants and New York designers FW17 collection. Having collaborated earlier in the 2017 to much critical acclaim, they are returning for much more of the same this season.
The Run silhouette was by far the most popular shoe from the original release. With a full boost midsole and<|fim_middle|> Black | AC6846 will be available from select retailers in extremely limited quantities from October 7th. Keep it locked to The Sole Supplier for all of the best news and releases from the sneaker community. | an unusual construction on the upper. The silhouette appealed to the mass audience whilst still sticking true to each brands aesthetic.
This latest iteration of the Run has been changed up due to it coming in a mid. With a knit, sock like upper coming in black. This is contrasted by the neon yellow tubing that sits just above the midsole. The shoe is topped off with a high quality leather on the tongue and a multitude of colours on the midsole for an extra pop of colour.
The adidas x Alexander Wang Run Mid | 105 |
Interviews, by nature, can be stressful. However, if you really want this new job then be sure to put your best foot forward with these time-honored successful tips. While many of these tips appear to be common sense, you might be surprised at just how many qualified candidates fail their interview by ignoring basic decorum and professionalism.
The internet is an amazing tool. Check the web for what is being said about the company, what accolades they have received, changes in leadership and articles concerning growth/expansion. By all means, know their vision, products/services, and a few talking points which indicate you did some research.
Your arrival time is one of the first steps to prove not only your interest but your overall level of professionalism. Map out the location before the interview and plan to arrive 10 minutes early. Arriving with adequate time allows you to organize your thoughts and review your prepared notes. If something happens and you must be late, phone the office as soon as you know that you are running late. Be polite and cordial to everyone you meet; you never know whose opinion will count.
Bring all requested paperwork with you to the interview including your resume, an application, references, identification, etc. Be sure to practice answers to common interview questions, but don't memorize<|fim_middle|> this company and position is really the right fit for you just as much as the company is determining if you are the right fit for them. Take time after your interview to determine if you still really want the job with the company. | speeches or your answers won't sound genuine. Also, write down some notes during and after your interview so that you don't forget any details of what was discussed.
You want to convey your skills, achievements, and talent in such a way that it shows you are qualified for the job, but that you can blend with the team and supervisors. Be sure to offer a firm handshake and make eye contact when meeting someone. Give detailed, yet honest answers to questions with examples and explain how you would go about tackling the assignments and challenges of the position.
Approach the interview with enthusiasm about the job and the company by asking appropriately prepared questions. However, don't bring up salary expectations until the interviewer does, but be prepared to answer such questions. Close the interview by asking about next steps and potential timeline for a decision. Finally, make sure you have a business card from the interviewers, so you can write a "Thank You" note within 24 hours.
Remember, this interview is your opportunity to determine if | 204 |
More on Taiwan
The aftereffects of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visit to Taiwan continue to reverberate throughout the island and the region, further exposing the truer nature of not only Taiwan-China cross-strait relations, but also U.S.-Sino relations as well. The...
Posted On Aug 15 2022 06:06
, By Rick Arriola Perez
'Mafnas' expertise is needed at the Department of Commerce'
Finance Secretary David Atalig claims that the decision to reassign Division of Customs director Jose Mafnas to the Department of Commerce was not politically or maliciously motivated; instead, it's because he believes that the Department of Commerce<|fim_middle|>...
Jinie, Savita to compete in Jr. World Champs
For the first time in its history, the Northern Marianas Swimming Federation will be sending swimmers to the World Junior Swimming Championships. Two swimmers will represent the CNMI in the 8th World Junior Swimming Championships to be held in Lima, Peru from Aug. 30 until Sept....
Questions that need to be asked
According to your Aug. 12 edition, the governor has allotted close to $2 million for a contract to clean up toxic materials stored in the Tinian Department of lands and Natural Resources compound. Would you please ask your reporter to find out exactly what toxic wastes were...
, By Don A. Farrell
//August 15, 2022 | needs his expertise. In his | 6 |
What is Bikers Against Bullies USA?
Who we are: Bikers Against Bullies USA (BAB USA) is a national not-for-profit organization created by bikers to raise awareness and empower<|fim_middle|> our mutual respect will create a new role model for others, and through our actions enable others to have the confidence to emulate this behavior and reiterate its positive message to others.
Find out about our charity, mission, rides, and the results of our decade of advocacy.
Ready to take the next step? You can become a contributor and partner to our cause, or participate yourself. | the community to fight the terrible effects of bullying on young people through education, community outreach and fundraising.
Mission Statement: BAB USA is a not-for-profit group created by bikers -- but not limited to bikers -- that is committed to creating awareness and educating both children and adults on the benefits of living in a society of respect for each other combined with self empowerment. We strive to create a society in which | 81 |
NAB released its third-quarter trading update and delivered strong unaudited cash earnings of $1.65bn, down 3% on the quarterly average for the first half but ahead of the run rate inferred by Ord Minnett's second-half earnings estimate of $3.2bn. Bad debts were slightly better than expected, while revenue growth of 1% was ahead of<|fim_middle|> our FY18 cash EPS forecast by 1.4% to reflect one-off compliance provisions. Our target price has lifted to $32.20 from $30.00. The stock is trading on an FY20E P/E multiple of just 11.4x, so we maintain our Accumulate recommendation and retain NAB as our preferred stock in the sector. | our flat forecast for the second half and expense growth was slightly lower at 2%.
The net interest margin (NIM) appeared relatively resilient, down only slightly despite funding cost headwinds. Capital was also a little softer, but we expect risk-weighted asset growth to normalise at a lower level in the fourth quarter given the third quarter is typically strong for business lending. NAB's common equity tier-one ratio of 9.7% was weak, reflecting the 2% growth in risk-weighted assets.
NAB also flagged provisions for compliance programs, although the amount was not identified. These will be on top of the expected 5–8% underlying cost growth in FY18 – we have penciled in $150m.
Some concerns remain about execution risk surrounding NAB's investment program. Despite this, and the further regulatory costs that have been flagged, we are encouraged by the better revenue trends, and we continue to believe NAB's positioning in the small-to-medium enterprise segment suggests strong revenue growth prospects.
Our underlying cash EPS forecasts have increased by less than 1% over the FY19–20 period on an assumed better second-half NIM. However, we have reduced | 247 |
Without a formalized CAPA plan, you won't know where to begin when a systemic issue or defect is found. Get ahead of the issue by building an effective CAPA plan now.
A CAPA plan is a corrective and preventive action plan. It's a quality management strategy used often in the manufacturing and production industries to identify and rectify systematic defects and ensure they aren't repeated.
If your organization is involved in manufacturing, product design, testing, distribution or related activities, you probably need a CAPA plan.
You<|fim_middle|> recommend implementing a CAPA system simply for the maintenance and upkeep of your own company. For example, Current Good Manufacturing Practices, the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points approach and many ISO standards recommend implementing a CAPA process.
For a company's CAPA procedure to be considered adequate, the FDA is looking for a robust, effective and useful process that will systematically address defects.
The entire plan should be precise with assigned owners and timelines. It should be clear and written for the reader. Who is the audience? How much do they know?
Simply stating that personnel should "evaluate the severity and impact of the issue" is not robust or effective, and it will not be useful to a person handling an issue.
So, let's get into the specifics of each step.
In this first phase, you've just received a complaint and you're trying to collect more information about the issue.
An issue is identified when someone notices a nonconformance or defect in a product or in the process of making the product. Complaints are made through internal or external systems such as a customer complaint line, the management review process, a staff suggestion box or an audit.
So this first phase is trying to provide some context around the issue. If your review and complaint processes are comprehensive and consistent, a significant amount of this information should already be documented and available.
Explain what is involved. Is it a product, equipment or a process that is having the issue?
Explain what happened and what should have happened.
Explain where the event was observed. In what room or business unit did the issue occur?
Explain when the event occurred. At what time or on what day was the issue discovered?
In phase two, your main objective is to decide if the issue requires a CAPA plan to resolve, or if a milder strategy is appropriate.
This step is key because over- and under-escalating issues to CAPA are equally ineffective. Treating every issue as CAPA-worthy will make you overwhelmed and under-resourced, whereas escalating zero issues runs the risk of warning letters, fines and extensive harm to staff or customers.
This decision is best made by evaluating the severity, harm and complexity of the issue. This evaluation will determine if a simple change could keep the issue under control or if the following CAPA steps are necessary.
CAPA is typically reserved for systemic issues in which the same complaint is reported continuously. And while there's no right threshold for when an issue becomes CAPA-worthy, the amount of time between complaints or the circumstances around them must be considered.
A single complaint rarely requires a CAPA response, unless real danger is present. For example, if a customer is seriously injured, it's important to take the complaint seriously for the safety of the public.
Quantity and severity are the two key factors to determine CAPA's necessity. A severe issue that's only reported one time, and a minor issue that's reported often may be held to similar standards.
So, what questions should you ask to ensure a best possible complaint evaluation?
Has customer or employee safety been affected?
Has this event occurred before? If yes, how many times?
Does this impact product design or performance?
Does this impact regulatory documents?
Your answers to these questions will make it easier to categorize the event as low, medium or high risk. If you determine that an event is low risk and a CAPA system is not needed, continue to monitor the issue using another system. If you determine the event is medium or high risk, follow the next step of CAPA.
In this third phase, the objective is to investigate the issue and determine its root cause.
The root cause is the source of the identified problems or risks, and it's a crucial bit of information in the battle to prevent their occurrence or reoccurrence.
Don't point fingers without a proper investigation, even if the cause and effect appears to be obvious. Regulators are wary of unverified and unproven root causes, and it's frustrating to waste your time resolving a false cause.
Identifying root causes can be intimidating because a) there could be many potential causes and b) it's tough to be certain that any one cause is more responsible than another. Thankfully, experts have developed a few systematic methods for root cause analysis.
The first technique is the 5 Whys. The logic behind this method is simple: identify root causes by exhausting the question "why?". Brainstorm answers to questions like why did the event occur? Why were the conditions as such? Drill down further to sub-causes, ask why they occurred too.
The logic is that you'll make your way through all of the potential causes and end up identifying the one that doesn't have a proper answer to why?
Another technique is the Fishbone Diagram.
Start by drawing a fish. Where the head would be, write out the problem or defect. Then, the bones will be labeled using the major categories of potential causes.
For manufacturing industries, bones may be labeled as one of the 6 M's: machines, methods, materials, measurements, Mother Nature (environment) and Manpower (people). For service industries, bones may be labeled as one of the 4 P's: policies, procedures, people and plant/technology.
Under each bone, brainstorm all the possible causes of the problem relating to that category. Continue on and drill down, getting more and more specific until you uncover the root cause.
It's a deductive diagram used to determine sequences of failures and errors that may cause an incident. The top of the "tree" has the issue, defect or nonconformance. Underneath that, use your own judgement to list some of the potential causes. Below each potential cause, break it down further to create a logic diagram.
In the fourth phase, the goal is to use the information gathered from steps one, two and three to develop a plan to resolve the issue and root cause.
There are three categories of actions to fix an incident: a correction, a corrective action or a preventive action.
A correction is a "Band-Aid fix". Its main purpose is to quickly resolve a problem that arises.
Corrective actions are fixes to the root cause to prevent the reoccurrence of a problem.
Preventive action is a form of risk management—it seeks to prevent the occurrence of a problem.
Phases five and six are all about implementing your resolution plan, whether that consists of corrective actions, preventive actions or both.
If you're looking to implement corrective actions, you will have first already identified systemic issues plaguing your company, service or product. Corrective actions can be knee jerk at times but a quick and reactionary measure is an important step in correcting and containing an issue.
In HR, corrective actions are measures related to disciplinary behavior. Written warnings, verbal warnings, leave with or without pay, demotion or similar. In the manufacturing realm, corrective actions include alarms, redesigns, instrument calibration or modifying handling processes.
Corrective actions need to be immediate. Keep this Employee Disciplinary Action Form on hand in case warnings or other disciplinary actions are required.
Whichever corrective actions you take, it's important that they are carried out promptly and entirely. Remember they may not be a permanent solution to the issue.
Preventive actions, as we know, are prediction-based, proactive measures that seek to prevent or monitor potential risks before they escalate into major, potentially harmful issues.
The next step of your procedure is monitoring and documenting the effectiveness of the corrective or preventive actions you've implemented.
This effectiveness check is the most important step as it ensures the action is not only appropriate, but that it will actually resolve the issue and stop it from occurring (or recurring). There are many ways to report on effectiveness, depending on the measures you chose to implement.
For example: analyzing trends of human error, testing errors and deviations both before and after you implemented the corrective action can help to determine if it's working.
Surprise audits are another great option for efficiency checks. The audit will ensure that all machinery, people and processes are acting according to the prescribed corrective action.
Also track the effectiveness of the plan itself. After its first use, ask: was it easy to understand and follow? Effective technical writing is critical to your CAPA process, it will ensure your plan and reports are clear, impartial, easy-to-understand and complete.
Or, even better, hold training sessions on the draft version of your CAPA procedure. Based on the feedback, revise the procedure and clarify specific steps that were found to be difficult, confusing or vague.
This involvement will not only make sure those involved feel a sense of ownership, they will now have the tools to carryout the procedure right the first time. | 'll also need a form to document and record your CAPA plan. Get started with this customizable CAPA Form Template.
This guide will teach you how to build an effective CAPA process that's easy to implement and easy to follow, so you can spend less time dealing with defects and less money on penalties.
Imagine you suddenly get a flurry of customer complaints regarding a defective product. You do everything right at the beginning, making sure to follow Best Practices for Handling Complaints.
And when it's time to address the real issue, where do you begin? If you don't have a formalized CAPA plan, how will you identify the root cause or fix the issue? If you do have a formalized CAPA plan, all of your next steps will be laid out so you can make your way back to compliance as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Legally, companies that specialize in medical device manufacturing and pharmaceuticals must have "adequate" CAPA procedures. The FDA reviews CAPA systems during inspections, premarket approval applications and recalls. In 2016 alone, the FDA issued more than 300 citations to medical device manufacturers for inadequate CAPA procedures.
Logically, experts and guidelines in most countries | 247 |
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
AllMusic Apple Bandcamp<|fim_middle|>97, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music. After releasing material under his own name, he adopted the Bonnie "Prince" Billy name for the majority of his output since 1998.
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
Bonnie Prince Billy - Live at Maida Vale 1999
from Vibracobra23
Bonnie Prince Billy - Peel Session 1999
Will Oldham - Peel Session 2002
Peel Session Tracks
Bonnie Prince Billy - Another Day Full of Dread (Peel Session)
Bonnie Prince Billy - O Let It Be (Peel Session)
Bonnie Prince Billy - Stablemate (Peel Session)
Bonnie Prince Billy - What's Wrong With A Zoo (Peel Session) | Discogs Spotify Wikipedia YouTube
Discogs YouTube
AllMusic Apple Bandcamp Spotify YouTube
AllMusic Bandcamp Discogs Wikipedia YouTube
Chavez Björk Boxhead Ensemble Emmett Kelly Faun Fables Joan Shelley Matt Sweeney Mick Turner Scout Niblett Silver Jews Slint Tortoise Trembling Bells
folk 11
folk rock 7
singer-songwriter 19
Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970), better known by the stage name Bonnie "Prince" Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 19 | 129 |
Sally was working with the University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team as part of a training programme led by Results CIC when she found out about the opportunity and was intrigued.
Sally says, "As I found out more about DaDaFest and its history as a pioneering disability and D/deaf arts organisation, the more I was certain I wanted to get involved.
I have recently gone through a process of understanding my own deafness and seeing how I can make something positive happen because of it.
It's an exciting time for DaDa<|fim_middle|> thrilled to welcome Sally to the DaDaFest team and look forward to her working with us to deliver our mission to inspire, develop and celebrate talent and excellence in disability and D/deaf arts. | Fest. Last year we successfully secured significant new funding from Big Lottery, Children in Need, Youth Music, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
These investments provide us with the resources to support an integrated 3-year programme of artistic development, including provision of commissioning opportunities for the young people and artists we work with on the programme.
With our new Chair on board, we are in a fantastic place to build on this highly successful Artist Development programme and provide even more opportunities for young disabled artists.
We are | 108 |
The inspiring tale of how the coffeehouse<|fim_middle|>. | pioneer changed the world.
Original Starbucks store. Source: Starbucks.
No matter where you are, it's hard to go far without seeing a Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) selling coffee to large crowds, with lines running outside buildings during peak times. Yet like every other big business in America, Starbucks rose from modest roots, with the company going from a single store location near Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1971 to building up a global empire of more than 21,000 stores in over 65 countries around the world.
The story of Starbucks' growth mimics the experience that many other American businesses have seen, with a combination of entrepreneurial effort, smart marketing, and plain old good luck helping to lift the coffeehouse giant to its leadership position in the $80 billion coffee industry. Let's take a closer look at some of the key elements that made Starbucks what it is today.
For the first decade of its existence, Starbucks didn't look much like it does today. For the most part, Starbucks focused on treating coffee as a commodity, selling high-quality coffee beans. But when Howard Schultz joined the company, he quickly saw the potential of having customers not just take their beans home for their own coffee-making purposes, but also enjoy specialty coffee on the spot. In essence, Schultz wanted to duplicate the Italian coffeehouse experience, building a comfortable environment for coffee lovers to savor their beverages in a way that would make them want to come back for more.
Schultz was so moved by that prospect that he opened his own Il Giornale line of coffeehouses that used Starbucks as a supplier. Yet just a couple years later, Schultz made the deal that would start the next phase of Starbucks' evolution, buying out the company and beginning an expansion that would eventually take the coffee giant to unprecedented heights.
The pace of Starbucks' growth has been impressive, with the company's 1992 initial public offering helping to finance the rapid expansion of the chain throughout the decade. From 1990 to 2000, Starbucks went from 84 stores to more than 3,500 locations, fleshing out its U.S. coffeehouse network and also opening stores in Japan, England, China, Australia, and more than a dozen other countries across the globe.
Yet Starbucks didn't just grow in terms of its store footprint. The company also sought to diversify its offerings into other beverages and food items. The acquisition of Tazo in 1999 started a trend of adding companies, which would later include Ethos Water, juice-maker Evolution Fresh, bakery company La Boulange, and tea giant Teavana in 2012, acquisitions which have redoubled Starbucks' efforts to give customers every opportunity to enjoy the company's restaurant atmosphere even if they don't like coffee.
Along the way, Starbucks has carefully crafted its strategy to keep as many options open as possible. For instance, many investors believed that when the company came out with its Verismo single-cup espresso machine concept, it meant that Starbucks would go head-to-head against Keurig Green Mountain (UNKNOWN:GMCR.DL) and its rival Keurig brewing system. Yet it came as a surprise to many investors when Starbucks announced a partnership with Keurig Green Mountain, ensuring that Starbucks would continue to have access to Keurig users through its K-Cup system while still offering Verismo as an alternative to interested customers.
The growth of Starbucks' popularity has depended on customer loyalty, but the efforts that the company made to treat its workforce well have also generated positive attention. In 1988, Starbucks offered full health-insurance benefits -- and not just to full-time employees, but also to eligible part-time workers as well -- standing out from a crowd of stingier companies that considered the costs of making benefits available to such a wide employee base prohibitive.
Moreover, Starbucks gave its part-time workers a chance to participate in the stratospheric rise of the company's stock. As early as 1991 -- before the company went public -- part-time Starbucks employees were able to participate in a corporate stock-option program. Given that the stock rose 20-fold between its 1992 IPO and 2000, employees who took advantage of the program built up impressive riches. And unlike their Seattle peers in the Internet industry, those employees saw their Starbucks stakes keep climbing well beyond the tech bust, with only the financial crisis in 2008 bringing the shares' upward trajectory to a temporary halt. That's consistent with the vision that Schultz had for the company, noting his desire for "employees to have authorship and integrity in their accomplishments as well as sharing in the financial rewards" of their work.
With 182,000 employees as of its most recent annual report, Starbucks has plenty of people relying on its success. Fortunately, the coffee giant has fired on all cylinders lately, and appears poised for continued growth and expansion in the years to come.
What's to come for Starbucks?
Starbucks still has a world of expansion opportunities available. Even though it has done a good job gaining a presence in many key locations around the world, Starbucks still has well over 100 countries to consider as future targets for growth. Moreover, even in the U.S., Starbucks hasn't yet reached its saturation point.
Countless companies, from Dunkin' Brands (NASDAQ:DNKN) to American icons like McDonald's (NYSE:MCD), have seen the success of Starbucks as a chance to try to ride its coattails and take advantage of the sea change in American attitudes that the company's history has inspired. Nevertheless, Starbucks still has the loyalty of millions of customers, and investors should be confident in Starbucks' continued ability to keep moving forward aggressively and in a manner that's consistent with the company's values and past history | 1,199 |
Sometimes it's easy to lose your way in an unfamiliar wood. Here are a few of our top tips for what to pack in your survival kit to get you through a tough situation.
Carrying a compass and maps of the general area that you will be hunting in can help in the event that you get lost. Carry a flashlight with extra batteries in case you get caught out after dark. There are also flashlights on the market now that operate by just a shake, eliminating the need for batteries. Matches in a waterproof case are essential and a sharp knife is good to have as well. A traditional Bowie or a Swiss Army knife both serves the purpose.
Some granola, candy bars, or<|fim_middle|> fruit are a good idea to bring along if you are not skilled at finding food in the wild. Never eat any plants or berries unless you are familiar with what types are poisonous. If you are unsure of the safety of a plant or its fruit, donít eat it. Risking an illness while stranded in the wild is not preferable to an empty stomach. A bottle or two of drinking water is necessary also. Humans can survive for weeks without food but only three days without water. You will not want to drink any water found on the land without boiling it for several minutes first to kill off any bacteria or parasites.
Most hunters carry six to eight feet of rope to help drag their game back to the truck or haul equipment up into a tree stand. This rope can be used in many ways if you are stranded in the woods for an extended period of time. You can use a rope for first aid purposes, to help build a shelter, or to secure equipment during your hike. You can even string up a makeshift clothesline to dry wet clothing should you fall into standing water. Be sure to keep your rope with you and not in the truck.
It is also a good idea to wear a belt when out hunting. A belt can be used as a tourniquet in an emergency, as well to help secure a splint to a limb if necessary. A belt is one first aid item that you donít have to cart around either.
It's important to follow usual camp safety guidelines when starting a fire under any conditions in the wild. Always triple check to make sure a fire is completely out before leaving the area to prevent flare-ups ups and a potential forest fire. Choose an area away from trees and shrubs, and line your pit with small boulders or stones to help contain the embers. | dried | 1 |
Home » South Africa expects higher tax revenues buoyed by technology
South Africa expects higher tax revenues buoyed by technology
By Albert Nangara on October 29, 2022 Industry and Trade
SARS is changing course and coming after these taxpayers in South Africa. (Photo/ Business Tech)
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has committed to achieving higher revenue estimates, underpinned by data science and technology.
This comes after South Africa's Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has accepted the challenge the minister of finance put forward in his latest Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement to collect even more taxes.
Gross tax revenues are expected to exceed the estimates presented at the time of the 2022 Budget by R83.5 billion in 2022/23, of which corporate income tax is expected to account for R62.8 billion.
The Minister's policy message focused on strengthening South Africa's fiscal integrity over the medium term by managing the country's finances with prudence.
Delivering the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), the Minister increased the revenue collection estimate that SARS must collect to R1.682 trillion from R1.598 trillion.
SARS is central to tax revenue collections in the country and allows for adequate fiscal space to attend to social and investment spending priorities while keeping an eye on debt service costs. It provides about 90 per cent of all government revenue, which makes this increase in the revenue to be collected by SARS very significant.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwa's emphasis on ensuring that government finances are spent in an equitable, efficient and flexible manner to support South Africa's<|fim_middle|>. We are equally committed to countering criminal and illicit activity.
"SARS has largely implemented the Nugent Commission recommendations, while outstanding recommendations are currently being aligned with those of the Zondo Commission on state capture," SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said.
Revenue collections over the first half of 2022/23 were 9 per cent higher than last year's. The positive impact of high commodity prices continued, and while dissipating, a more broad-based corporate tax recovery improved the near-term revenue outlook. Compared to the 2022 Budget, the gross tax revenue estimate for 2022/23 is projected to be R83.5 billion higher.
VAT refund payments by SARS are expected to exceed pre-COVID levels significantly, while import and domestic VAT collections are projected to perform better than the 2022 budget.
Fuel levy collections are expected to be below 2022 Budget estimates due to the tax relief provided between April and July 2022.
Downside economic risks to the revenue projections are significant and could lead to lower-than-projected outcomes should they materialise.
Gross tax revenue estimates compared to the 2022 Budget. (Photo/ National Treasury)
SARS said stronger personal income tax collections are expected to bring in an additional R8.2 billion relative to the 2022 Budget Review projections.
South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 1.9 per cent in 2022 from 4.9 per cent in 2021. Revenue collections, as at September 30, 2022, amounted to R784.8 billion, yielding growth of R64.7 billion (9.0 per cent) against prior year collections of R751.0 billion.
"All collections against the previous year showed an upward trend except for the fuel levy, which recorded a contraction of R9.1 billion (-20.9 per cent). The year-to-date growth was partially offset by the total refunds paid out, which were R32.5 billion (20.9 per cent) higher than the previous year, with VAT refunds R26.2 billion (21.0 per cent) higher in the first half of the year.
"At budget in February 2022, tax revenues were expected to grow by 3.3 per cent (R1547 billion to R1598 billion). SARS is continuing to improve the efficiency in tax revenue administration through targeted strategic compliance and enforcement interventions to achieve higher taxpayer compliance ratios."
Kieswetter added that while the performance of the economy is important for revenue collection, "SARS initiatives have counterbalanced the negative impact of the local and global economy".
"SARS compliance efforts have contributed 12 per cent to the net revenues collected. This is in line with our revenue management philosophy, which has seen our efforts result in an additional R92.5 billion that has been added to the total revenue of R784 billion collected to date.
"Included in the compliance efforts are areas that relate to debt cash collections, curbing impermissible and fraudulent refunds claims, voluntary disclosure management, countering syndicated tax and customs crimes as well as valuation fraud and Customs seizures."
Customs valuation fraud, excise under-declaration, and syndicated tax crimes, including illicit activities and interventions linked to cases relating to state capture, will remain major areas of focus.
As an illustration to the point, the Commissioner said that SARS' administrative efforts undertaken in the current financial year to drive compliance revenue include:
831 797 debt cases and 186 691 final demands being issued and successfully pursued, resulting in R 35.2 billion being collected. SARS also prevented the processing of R28 billion of impermissible and fraudulent refund claims.
The setting up of specialised teams that assessed the accuracy of provisional tax payments resulted in R8.4 billion being collected. Over 2,675 Customs interventions resulted in R1.2 billion being collected. SARS' work in the areas of syndicated tax and Customs crimes is gaining traction, resulting in R1.9 billion being collected. One preservation order was obtained for the value of R150 million.
The estimated value of assets under preservation orders is about R2.9 billion. The liquidation and sequestration of assets to the value of about R2.3 billion has been carried out. SARS also conducted 478 illicit trade interventions, resulting in 403 detentions and 252 seizures.
SARS encouraged taxpayers to use the voluntary disclosure programme to regularise their tax affairs. However, taxpayers must voluntarily disclose any irregularities to SARS, as the programme will not be available once SARS discovers on its own such non-compliance.
Read: TRA posts impressive collections
Medium Term Budget Policy Statement revenue estimates SARS South Africa Tax
Albert Nangara
Albert is a Chemical Technologist and Author. He is passionate about mining, stock market investing, Fintech and Edutech.
Kenya eyes India in tourism recovery, growth plan
Cost of Living to Remain High in East Africa in 2023 | development objectives.
"As SARS, we accept the challenge of the revised higher revenue estimate. While the revised revenue estimate is steep, we are committed to acting according to what is permissible in law to meet this challenge.
"The rebuilding of SARS is evident in improved revenue collection. We are laying a firm foundation for this new environment, which is the synthesis of data-driven insights, enabling information and technology infrastructure and employing skilled staff, which are indispensable for this modernisation journey's success | 95 |
Bay Meadows Wins Big!
Bay Meadows SVBJ Crowns Bay Meadows Best Mixed-Use Project! Read more below.
Bay Meadows spurs big demand
By Nathan Donato-Weinstein
Even though the plan to redevelop the historic Bay Meadows racetrack into a mixed-use neighborhood has been in the works for decades, its basic bullet points still pack a punch: 83 blank-slate acres; adjacent to one the region's blue chip mass transit systems, Caltrain; and smack-dab between the job powerhouses of San Francisco and Silicon Valley. When complete, the neighborhood will be one of California's largest transit-oriented developments.
All of this made it even more important that developers got the San Mateo project's second phase — the one with the bulk of residential and office development — right.
The market's response is one vote of confidence.<|fim_middle|> of uses: The Nueva School is under construction on an elite high school campus. Two city parks are built. And Wilson Meany has started work on the first apartment project, called Field House.
So far, TRI Pointe Homes and Shea Homes have bought off housing development sites.
Wilson Meany is maintaining a cautious pace for future land sales so as not to flood the market.
"We believe in the concept of a mixed-use community," Thacher said. "People feel like this is their project." | Demand for the project's first units has been so strong, builders are using a lottery system to satisfy demand. Activity on the shovel-ready office component also has been brisk.
"It's a vision we believed in strongly, and if you talk to the homebuyers out there, people are really excited to be part of the community," said Janice Thacher, a partner with developer Wilson Meany. "It's more than just buying a house. They really believe in what we're doing."
What they're doing didn't happen overnight, and comes with plenty of twists and turns.
An epic, seven-year entitlement process culminated in the 2008 approval to tear down the longtime Bay Meadows horse racetrack and build roughly 1,200 housing units, 750,000 square feet of office and 90,000 square feet of retail there.
But that coincided with the economic catastrophe, putting plans for speedy vertical construction on hold. Wilson Meany and its partner, Stockbridge Capital, held on. Infrastructure work started in 2010. As it happened, that put the project in an enviable position when the economy started on its recovery.
"At the depth of (the) recession, we were building those so we'd have finished land pads when the market was back," Thacher said. "It was a strategic business decision."
The city of San Mateo also stands to gain: On tap are utility enhancements and additional tax revenues.
For instance, city estimates peg annual property taxes at full build-out in 2025 at about $1.5 million – up from $167,000 during the racetrack's final year of operation. Additional tax revenue from other sources related to Bay Meadows will double that haul.
"We think the project has spurred a lot of interest to live in San Mateo, as demonstrated by the housing demand for the project," said city economic development manager Marcus Clarke.
Bay Meadows came close to landing its first office tenant — Shutterfly — earlier this year, but that tech user ended up staying put in Redwood City.
Experts say it's only a matter of time before a user looking for a big chunk of space signs on, allowing construction to commence.
"We'll built the office buildings when we get the tenants," Thacher said. "It's a matter of when the right tenant comes along."
Bay Meadows already features a mix | 497 |
Home » Auto Repair » What<|fim_middle|> part of the repair process, you could end up causing some serious damage to the rest of the truck. This will end up hindering the trip even more and will result in even more expensive repairs. Generally, most people will rely on a reputable mechanic such as Sindall Truck Service to take care of their truck transmission repair needs when they arise. | Should You Know About Truck Transmission Repair in Westchester, PA?
What Should You Know About Truck Transmission Repair in Westchester, PA?
Of course, every part of a vehicle is crucial and integral to the vehicle itself. Most cars and trucks are designed in such a way that if one part is having trouble, the rest of the vehicle won't run as it should. This can be a major issue for cars as most people drive their cars to and from work. However, this problem is doubled when it comes to trucks as most trucks are carrying some form of cargo. If they break down because one part of the truck isn't working as it should, it can delay the entire trip. Nobody wants this to happen. Thankfully, there are some places that offer truck transmission repair for your truck.
When you are looking for a reliable mechanic to handle your truck transmission repair in Westchester, PA, there's a good chance that you will be looking at the other services that a mechanic can offer. Generally, it is best to get repairs done at the same time so that problems with your truck will not catch you by surprise. Aside from handling your truck transmission repair needs, most mechanics will be able to handle a variety of issues that range from flywheel resurfacing to aligning the wheels of the truck. Before you know it, your truck will be road-ready once again.
Why Should You Visit a Mechanic?
Attempting to take care of your truck's issues on your own is something that you will never want to do, especially in the middle of a long trip. Because everything inside a truck is so interconnected, if you manage to mess up one | 331 |
(Credit: Paul Holloway)
Glastonbury lawyer says 2021 festival is still set to go-ahead
Joe Taysom<|fim_middle|> life. Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar were booked in to headline the Pyramid Stage in 2020 but it is yet to be confirmed whether they will still headline the rescheduled event. |
@josephtaysom
Tue 27th Oct 2020 14.30 GMT
Glastonbury Festival's General Counsel Ben Challis has said that plans are going ahead for the festival to be staged in June 2021 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has meant that many people are unsure whether or not the date is too optimistic.
The entertainment lawyer has represented the festival for 26 years and has said that work on the Worthy Farm event will begin in March. "For 2021 we will have to start building in March, or the end of March because its a big festival and it takes a lot to build, and no one wants to do a 'light Glastonbury'," he told Behind The Noise Podcast's Marc Farquhar.
Challis added: "The plan would be to rebook the 2020 bill, it will move everything, including our 50th-anniversary celebration to 2021". The lawyer was then asked whether there were many people requesting a refund after this year's event was cancelled in March, Challis said: "It was literally a handful, it was extraordinary. No one wanted a refund."
His words were in a similar vein to Emily Eavis' comments back in August when she said: "For those who have been asking, we have no plans to move next year's Glastonbury to September 2021 – we're still very much aiming for June."
However, Eavis and Challis' comments both differ from when her father Michael Eavis recently cast doubt over whether next year's event will go ahead. "500 people is ok isn't it," Michael Eavis told ITV News West Country in August about the current issues surrounding the social distancing guidelines. "But my job, 250,000 altogether is too many people I suppose isn't it really."
He added: "I'm still hoping I'm going to be running next year and I'm going to be moving heaven and earth to make sure that we do. But that doesn't mean it will necessarily happen. That is just wishful thinking really."
Despite the uncertainty of the festival's immediate future, Eavis remained confident that Glastonbury will still be able to come back stronger from this current setback. "No I do not worry at all, I am so confident that it will survive. The only certainty I think is the year after, 2022, to be perfectly candid. So we might have to wait for two years maybe," he said.
Fingers crossed the biggest event in the British music calendar will be able to return next year and things will start to return to something that resembles normal social | 566 |
The Christmas Ghost We All Know | Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.
Poor Ebenezer Scrooge. What a miserable Christmas Eve! Trying to sleep, with three ghosts showing up to haunt you. Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
There's one of those we all know all too well. The Ghost of Christmas past. Our past continues to haunt us, not as a ghost, but in memories we wish we could forget. The brokenness. The people<|fim_middle|>IM or ChatAboutJesus.com it feels so good to be clean - inside. | we've hurt. The regrets. The things we've done that we thought we'd never do. The dark stuff we've hidden.
But that past does not have to follow you into your future. Because Jesus came. When He was born, angels announced, "A Savior has been born to you" (Luke 2:11). A rescuer. Who came, the Bible says, "to save His people form their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
As Jesus was laying down His life on the cross to pay for our sins against God He said, "Father, forgive them." That's what He wants to do with every sin of your life - forgive it. Erase it from God's book forever. Give you a new beginning.
If that's what you want, contact us at 888-NEED-H | 173 |
Plantwise wins the 2017 St Andrews Prize for the Environment
28 April 2017 – Plantwise, a global programme led by the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) which provides smallholder farmers across the world with the knowledge they need to lose less of what they grow to pests and diseases, has won this year's St Andrews Prize for the Environment, worth $100,000 USD.
The Prize is a joint environmental initiative by the University of St Andrews and ConocoPhillips which recognises significant contributions to environmental conservation. Since its launch in 1998, the Prize has attracted 5,200 entries from around the world and donated $1.67 million to environmental initiatives on a wide range of diverse topics including biodiversity, sustainable development, urban re-generation, recycling, health, water and waste issues, renewable energy and community development.
Plantwise helps increase food security and improve rural livelihoods by reducing crop losses<|fim_middle|> scale up our ICT innovations.'
As pictured above from left to right: Terri King (ConocoPhillips), Dr Washington Otieno (CABI Plantwise), Lord Alec Broers (Chairman of the Prize), and Professor Sally Mapstone (University of St Andrews)
For more information on the award, click here. | . It achieves this by establishing networks of local plant clinics, run by trained plant doctors, where farmers can find practical plant health advice. Plant clinics are reinforced by the Plantwise Knowledge Bank, a gateway to online and offline plant health information, including diagnostic resources, pest management advice and front-line data about the spread of pests. By applying the principles of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management, Plantwise helps farmers adapt to be more resilient to the effects of climate change and mitigate agriculture's negative impact on the environment.
Plantwise has reached over 9.8 million farmers in 34 countries to date. With plans to roll out tablets and other ICT innovations in multiple countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plantwise is aiming to improve the quality of recommendations given to farmers, as well as the speed of data collection, allowing countries to track outbreaks of pests in real time.
Lord Alec Broers, Chairman of the St Andrews Prize for the Environment Trustees says: 'We are delighted to award this year's St Andrews Prize for the Environment to Plantwise. The investment from the Prize into each of our finalist projects will make a real difference to their work and we are confident that they will continue to achieve great things in years to come. This year's Prize attracted over 800 entries.Our Screening Committee and Trustees had an extremely difficult task to select the three finalists. The range of challenges faced across the world remains diverse and complex. Hearing from our three finalists and learning about the incredible work that is taking place to confront these challenges is very humbling. In recent years, we have seen a rise in sustainability projects coming forward and, we hope, by supporting such projects we can help tackle these challenges together.'
Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews says:'The University of St Andrews is home to world-leading research on environmental issues and is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our own activities. Our ongoing partnership with ConocoPhillips in the St Andrews Prize for the Environment helps us to bring these strengths to bear at community and grass-roots level. Over nearly twenty years the St Andrews Prize for the Environment has selected, rewarded and publicised some of the very best ideas and projects dedicated to enabling communities, tackling environmental problems and creating a more sustainable way of life. I wholeheartedly congratulate this year's winners and look forward to following their progress.'
Terri King, President, UK for ConocoPhillips says: 'ConocoPhillips recognises biodiversity as a vital factor in human well-being and we understand its importance for maintaining ecosystem health. With an increasing number of species considered to be at-risk or threatened, and an increasing number of protected areas established to conserve habitats, evaluation and mitigation of our potential impact on biodiversity is one of our priorities. Our sponsorship of the St Andrews Prize for the Environment lets us engage externally through collaboration with academia and non-government organisations, helping us to develop insights into issues faced by remote communities around the globe including an increased knowledge of sustainable land use.'
Dr Washington Otieno, Plantwise Programme Executive says: 'It's a privilege and an honour to win the 2017 St Andrews Prize for the Environment. The prize money will help scale up the use of our ICT tools and applications, enabling plant doctors to make better diagnoses and recommendations, as well as improving the speed of data collection. As a result, more countries will be able to respond to emerging crop pests more promptly. We are grateful to our existing donors, whose support has enabled us to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through sustainable agricultural practices on a global scale and the St Andrews Prize represents an exciting opportunity to | 737 |
How much does it cost to park at Orlando Airport for a week?
*Est. weekly parking rates based on the cheapest parking options (e.g. self park, uncovered) from the top comparison reservation websites and are subject to change. Click the link to reserve directly with the parking lot -<|fim_middle|> natural beauty and theme parks, the city has something to offer for everyone! | or compare with parkingaccess.com to ensure you don't miss out on any discounted rates offered.
Are there coupons offered for parking lots near Orlando MCO Airport?
Our team of experts searched the internet to find the best Orlando Airport Parking Coupons for you to easily take advantage of.
Orlando Int'l Airport accept both E-Pass and SunPass. If you require free parking head to the North or South Cell Phone lots, depicted in the Orlando Airport Parking Map above.
"Used to be much more efficient. Customer service has gone down too. Explained to them on t..."
"Always fast check-in and pick-up. Will continue to always use them line these past 4 years..."
Orlando is centrally located in the state of Florida, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. With over two million people, Orlando is the state's third-largest metropolis. For thrill seekers, and parents wanting to spend quality time with their kids, Orlando means just one thing: action! It is the place where imaginations run wild. Each year over 50 million tourists escape to the sunny city for a fun-packed holiday in a world of make-believe. Sure, there are some beautiful sculpture gardens, botanic gardens, art museums, and inner city attractions in Orlando, but most people come here to visit theme parks! They are scream provoking, laughter inspiring and surprisingly educational. They make you want to stay all day and go again tomorrow. They have so much to offer that you wonder how you can fit it all in in one visit. The Orlando Theme Parks are the ride of your life! The most famous local attraction and perhaps the most magical of all is Walt Disney World. The place to see all the cartoon characters of your childhood come to life and introduce them to your children.
Cuddles are also free at the Universal Resort, and so is dancing! You don't have to be a kid to love Wet 'n Wild, one of the oldest and most popular water parks in the country. Whether you bring your friends, your family, or come by yourself, you can splash around all day without getting bored. Dive into SeaWorld for more thrilling rides. For a break from all the excitement, opt for the calming experience of seeing manta rays up close. They live in perfect harmony with other big marine creatures in the enormous aquarium. Don't miss the dolphin show - it's really spectacular! Jump in to join these smart marine mammals - an encounter you'll never forget! Prepare to get your senses tricked at WonderWorks. The upside-down building is full of daring experiences that you shouldn't try at home. Legoland, down south in the Winter Haven area, is a supersized display of what can be achieved if you had thousands of the plastic building blocks we all grew up with. Imagine building a whole city! Zoom around in a tiny car, watch a Lego theater show and admire the miniature replicas of big Florida highlights such as The Kennedy Space Center. The actual Space Centre is to the east of the city on Merritt Island. Go and check out giant rockets and meet an astronaut. It's the only place in the world where you can tour the launch areas of space shuttles. To learn about the local wildlife, step inside Gatorland. It's your chance to see these large reptiles up close and personal, including these extremely rare white alligators. Watch a nerve-wrecking crocodile wrestling show, or - See you later alligator! check out the less dangerous species in the wildlife reserve. Whiz kids will be drawn to the Science Center where they can discover the inner workings of magnetism, electricity and gravity.
There's a lot to learn here! Florida is the Sunshine State and Orlando offers year-round outdoor entertainment. The summers are steamy and temperatures hardly ever drop to freezing point in winter. Yet, there is no cooler place than The Universal Studios where The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the incredible super heroes of your comic books come to life. At night the Universal Orlando Resort lights up with neon signs that will point you to the many restaurants and live shows. Come to Orlando for the family vacation of a lifetime. With all its | 850 |
When it comes to purchasing a Mac, we've got the lowdown on each model to help you make a buying decision.
If you're reading this article, chances are you're thinking about buying a new Mac and may be in need of a little guidance. Fortunately, we're quite familiar with Apple's Macs, and we're happy to help you choose the right Mac for you.
This buying guide provides an overview of all the Mac models available, and what each model is best suited for. To get more details, you can read the full review by clicking the product name in the product boxes that have mouse ratings.
Models for sale were originally released October 2018.
What is it? The MacBook Air is Apple's affordable line of laptops. Apple currently offers three 13-inch models.
Who's it for? The MacBook Air is ideal for the budget conscious<|fim_middle|> there are any 2018 laptops available.
Apple tests and certifies all products in the Refurbished store. Supply is limited, so Apple could run out of refurb stock, and you'll have to check back if you missed your opportunity to buy. But once Apple receives your payment, the company guarantees your purchase.
Refurb products come with a one-year warranty. | . It's also for anyone who is always on the go, doesn't want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop, and needs a computer that's more versatile than an iPad.
What are the specifications? Two of the MacBook Air models have the same 1.6GHz dual-core Core i5 (eighth-generation) processor and 8GB of RAM. All MacBook Air models come with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 617 technology. Apple claims 12 hours of battery life for both wireless web and 13 hours iTunes movie playback.
The main difference between the laptops is storage. The $1,199 model has 128GB of flash storage, while the $1,399 model has 256GB.
The $999 MacBook Air has a 1.8GHz dual-core Core i5 (fifth-generation) processor, 8GB of RAM, and integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000. Apple claims 12 hours of battery life for both wireless web and iTunes movie playback.
How do I connect stuff? The MacBook Air has built-in Wi-Fi for connecting to a network. It also provides built-in Bluetooth for wirelessly connecting a mouse or other peripheral. If you want to connect to an ethernet network, you'll need an adapter.
The $1,199 and $1,399 Models have only a pair of Thunderbolt 3/USB-C connectors. If you want to connect USB-A devices, you need either a USB-C to USB adapter, like Apple's $19 one, or a USB-C hub that has USB-A ports.
On the $999 MacBook Air, Thunderbolt 2 is the MacBook Air's high-speed connector. This laptop also has a pair of USB 3.0 ports, which can work with devices that use USB 2.0. If you have a FireWire 800 drive, you'll need to buy a Thunderbolt-to-FireWire Adapter ($29 on the Apple Store).
How fast is it? The MacBook Air is quite capable of handling everyday tasks, such as sending and receiving email, browsing the web, and using office applications. You can even use it for editing short videos, or for working with JPEGs from your iPhone or point-and-shoot camera.
Macworld's buying advice: The MacBook Air is a great affordable laptop for someone who does general-purpose work and moves around a lot, such as a student or a self-employed person. You can't easily upgrade the storage after purchase, so you should buy the model with the largest amount of storage you can afford.
Models for sale were originally released June 2017.
What is it? The MacBook is Apple's entry in the ultra-portable laptop market. It's actually lighter and smaller than the 13-inch MacBook Air.
Who's it for? The MacBook is made for users who prioritize mobility over everything else, including features and performance.
What are the specifications? The MacBook comes in only one size: a 12-inch model available in rose gold, space gray, gold, or silver.
There are two models of the MacBook. The $1,299 model has a 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core m3 (Kaby Lake) processor and 256GB of flash storage. The $1,599 model has a 1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Kaby Lake) processor and 512GB of flash storage. Both models include 8GB of memory and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 615 processor.
The MacBook has a Retina display, which means it has an ultra-high resolution screen that's capable of showing crisper images than on the MacBook Air, which has a standard display. The MacBook has a native resolution of 2304x1440 and offers scaled resolutions of 1024x640, 1280x800, and 1440x900.
How do I connect stuff? The MacBook has Wi-Fi for connecting to a network and Bluetooth for your devices.
There's only one USB-C port for connecting storage devices, printers, external displays, power adapters, or anything else. If you have older USB peripherals, you need to use a USB-C to USB Adapter ($19 on the Apple Store) that will allow you to connect USB 3 and USB 2 devices to the MacBook. Want to connect to ethernet? You need the USB-C to USB Adapter and the USB ethernet Adapter ($29 on the Apple Store). If you want to connect an HDMI display and USB devices, you need to get the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter ($69 on the Apple Store). Or if you want to connect a VGA display, you need the USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter ($49 on the Apple Store).
How fast is it? The processors in the MacBook are made to be efficient and cool. They're not a top-performers, though we've found that the MacBook outpaces the MacBook Air.
Compared to previous MacBook generations, the current version provides a much-needed performance boost. The MacBook is a better value than it has been, thanks to the Kaby Lake processor.
That being said, it can handle everything your typical user does on a daily basis. It can even handle some high-end, professional production tasks. It just won't be the fastest to the finish line.
Macworld's buying advice: The MacBook is for anyone who's constantly on the go and seldom needs to connect devices—be prepared to carry a bunch of adapters if you have to make connections.
Models without Touch Bar were originally released June 2017. Touch Bar models were released July 2018.
What is it? The MacBook Pro features a high-density display with so many pixels that images and text look especially smooth and clean. At normal viewing distances, you can't discern individual pixels.
Who's it for? The MacBook Pro is for the demanding user who wants a portable computer that also performs well. MacBook Pro models sit at the top of the performance chart of Mac laptops.
What are the specifications? The MacBook Pro is available in screen sizes of 13 inches and 15 inches.
$1,299 model: 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Kaby Lake) processor, 8GB of memory, 128GB SSD, Intel Iris Graphics 640 integrated graphics, and no Touch Bar.
$1,499 model: 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Kaby Lake) processor, 8GB of memory, 246GB SSD, Intel Iris Graphics 640 integrated graphics, and no Touch Bar.
$1,799 model: 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 (Coffee Lake) processor, 8GB of memory, 256GB SSD, Intel Iris Graphics 655 integrated graphics, and the Touch Bar.
$1,999 model: 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 (Coffee Lake) processor, 8GB of memory, 512GB SSD, Intel Iris Graphics 655 integrated graphics, and the Touch Bar.
$2,399 model: 2.2GHz six-core Intel Core i7 (Coffee Lake) processor, 16GB of memory, 256GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, 4GB Radeon Pro 555X discrete graphics, and the Touch Bar.
$2,799 model: 2.6GHz six-core Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, 512GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 630 integrated graphics, 4GB Radeon Pro 560X discrete graphics, and the Touch Bar.
The 13-inch Retina display has a native resolution of 2560x1600, and OS X offers a scaled resolution up to 1680x1050. The 15-inch Retina display has a native resolution of 2880x1800, and OS X's highest scaled resolution on those laptops is 1920x1200. These high-scale resolutions can accommodate the workspace of a larger-screen standard Mac laptop on a smaller Retina MacBook Pro if you can tolerate the smaller icons, text, and other graphics on the screen. If you use a third-party app such as QuickRes, you can set the Retina screen to use resolutions higher than the scaled settings OS X offers, including the native resolution.
The MacBook Pro does not have a SuperDrive, so if you need one, you'll have to buy an external USB optical drive.
What is the Touch Bar that's mentioned in the specs above? The Touch Bar is a new input device. It sits on top of the keyboard, and it's basically a narrow touchscreen. The button and controls available on the Touch Bar change depending on the software you are using. Learn more about the Touch Bar.
Important: The Touch Bar is not available on the $1,299 and $1,499 13-inch MacBook Pro. Those models have the traditional function keys.
How do I connect stuff? No need to worry about wireless connectivity: The MacBook Pro has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
It's the wired connectivity you need to be concerned with. The MacBook Pro has only Thunderbolt 3 ports, which are compatible with USB-C. The $1,299 and $1,499 13-inch MacBook Pro models have two ports, while every other MacBook model has four.
If you have a Thunderbolt 3 device, you can plug it directly into the laptop. The same goes for any USB-C device. However, if you have wired devices that aren't USB-C or Thunderbolt 3, you'll need an adapter. We have a separate MacBook Pro Thunderbolt 3 adapter guide to help you decide which ones you'll need. Unfortunately, be prepared to shell out a good amount of extra cash.
How fast is it? The MacBook Pro models are, to no surprise, the fastest laptops Apple has ever released. If it's processing power you seek, it's the MacBook Pro you want.
Macworld's buying advice: For the most demanding mobile Mac user—someone whose work requires a lot of processing power—the MacBook Pro is the ticket. If you're looking at a 13-inch model, the $1,799 Retina MacBook Pro hits a sweet spot for price and performance. The money that separates the two 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro models is a hefty chunk of change; the $2,799 MacBook Pro is the top-of-the-line Mac laptop, offering the strongest performance. If your work mostly involves internet access and other productivity tasks, however, go for a MacBook Air.
Apple has refurbished MacBook Pro models available in the company's Refurbished and Clearance Store. Refurbs offer a modest savings over new models, though the inventory for 2018 refurbs runs out quickly. You may find only older models, so check back at a later date to see if | 2,332 |
I just really want you all to know that: one, you need to be<|fim_middle|> to talk to close friends or even not to talk about it; sometimes it is best to not talk about the disaster.
This leads into my second point that it's ok to go on with your daily life.
I know that sometimes you might feel like you just need to do something to help out or need to talk about the event but, sometimes it really is best to do something normal. No matter how you are feeling or what is going on with the recovery process it can always help to feel a little normalcy.
For those of you that maybe didn't lose anything: the most important thing to do is to be there for your friends and family. Although you might not always be talking to them about the disaster, always be available for them to talk to you.
You can be that normalcy in their lives if you are not always pushing and asking about the disaster. I did this for my friends during the Slave Lake fire and I know they really appreciated it.
All in all, keep positive.
Things can get hard and very emotional. It's okay to feel sad. Remember that. It is okay to show emotion and it is also okay if you don't. Everyone deals with things in their own way. You need to process the disaster your own way and allow others to do the same. | there for each other and two, it's ok to continue with regular life. It's hard being a youth in a disaster.
Adults all have their roles: fixing the house, dealing with insurance, making sure children are all looked after and that they are okay.
Being a youth is difficult because you might feel like you are left out since no one is looking after you or giving you jobs to help with. I think the most important job for youth is to be there for each other.
Even if you aren't dealing with the exact same thing, youth who went through disasters have a way of understanding other youth.
Everyone can feel a little lost and it is best to be able | 137 |
Minicamp ended with Patriots players receiving AFC championship rings
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The rings Robert Kraft presented to his players on Thursday weren't the ones he wanted to hand out, but he applauded the Patriots' efforts all the same. AP Photo/Steven Senne
Mike ReissESPN Staff Writer
Covered Patriots since 1997
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. The Patriots capped off their mandatory three-day minicamp on Thursday by presenting returning players their 2017 AFC championship rings inside the team auditorium, according to multiple members of the roster. The ceremony is naturally different from the raucous party that owner Robert Kraft has hosted at his home to hand out Super Bowl rings in the past, as it is much more understated. But one similarity is that Kraft addresses the team (and makes a significant financial commitment with the rings), and players said the essence of his message was that while it wasn't the ring that he hoped to present them, the only thing worse than losing a Super Bowl is not being in the Super Bowl at all. Kraft pointed out that it took the franchise 25 years to win its first AFC championship and that he never wants to take conference championships<|fim_middle|> any joint practices come to fruition, a more formal announcement would come in the next week or so. | for granted. In contrast, the Patriots have won nine conference championships in the last 25 years. Players said Kraft applauded their work ethic and relayed that a big part of his success is surrounding himself with good people and that he has had the good fortune of being surrounded by some of the greatest coaches, players and teams in NFL history.
2. Picture what it would be like for tight end Rob Gronkowski to receive his AFC championship ring Thursday and share some poignant emotions of the way last season ended with ownership, the coaching staff and his teammates, and then to have rumors swirl out of control on social media less than 24 hours later about whether he could be traded. Gronkowski told reporters at a local football camp on Saturday that he viewed it as "fake news" and his comments highlight one of the most common gripes players and coaches have relayed when discussing today's media culture: The divide between what is often being talked about and speculated upon, and what is actually taking place inside the team's facility, has arguably never been wider. Specific to Gronkowski, here's what I believe to be closest to the truth: Once he visited with Bill Belichick on April 24 to open the lines of communication and declare his intentions to play in 2018, the team was fully committed to him, as he was to the team.
3a. Trent Brown and first-round draft choice Isaiah Wynn teamed up as the top left tackle and left guard, respectively, in the Patriots' mandatory minicamp. They've developed a quick bond off the field as well, in part because Brown was told by former 49ers teammate Louis Murphy -- who like Wynn hails from St. Petersburg, Florida -- to take care of him. "That's my guy, he's a good kid," Brown said of Wynn.
3b. On the field, Brown and Wynn took a verbal lashing from offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia on the second day of camp for a missed assignment in a run-blocking drill, with Scarnecchia pulling them out of the drill and having them watch from the sideline. Mount Scarnecchia was erupting, his voice booming across the practice fields. Brown said he's all for hard coaching, pointing out that his father was his coach growing up, and "I've heard a lot worse from him. You take it [like] a building block and try to grow from it."
3c. One area in which Scarnecchia has been working closely with the 6-foot-8, 355-pound Brown in spring practices is hand placement in pass protection. Brown relayed that Scarnecchia reviewed his tape with him, pointing out that his hands would sometimes be down by his waist, leaving him vulnerable and in a defenseless position instead of being the aggressor and more ready to strike. It's things like that that make Brown feel he's "definitely going to be a better player by the time the season gets here."
4. When I caught up with third-year wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell at one of his offseason reading events, he mentioned how his primary goal was to be ready for organized team activities this spring and put the 2017 season behind him after missing it with a knee injury. But Mitchell was still working on the rehab field by the end of mandatory camp, which had to be a disappointment to him. The way I now view Mitchell's standing on the roster is similar to Danny Amendola in recent years: The club needs to take extra caution with him and almost plan to carry an extra receiver as insurance.
5. Veteran defensive end Adrian Clayborn, the Patriots' most significant unrestricted free-agent signing (two-year deal, base value of $10 million), seemed amused when I asked him why he always seemed to be the first player on the field for practices this spring. "I've done it the last couple years. As I've gotten older, I need to warm my body up a little bit. Nothing else to it," said Clayborn, who turns 30 on July 6. Clayborn said he also likes to use the time to go through the team's practice plan for the day, which is the type of "quiet leadership" that earned him widespread respect in Atlanta the past three seasons.
Julian Edelman's potential absence during the first four games of the season comes with a silver lining for the Patriots roster. Steven Senne/AP Photo
6. If Julian Edelman's four-game suspension is upheld, the Patriots won't have to count him on their initial 53-man roster, so they'll essentially get to keep an extra player they otherwise wouldn't have. While the Patriots would obviously prefer to have Edelman, that's not a bad silver lining when considering their cuts have been desired targets around the NFL. Last year, for example, the club saw four players claimed on waivers by other teams (receiver Austin Carr, tight end James O'Shaughnessy, offensive tackle Conor McDermott, cornerback Kenny Moore II), which was a league high. In 2016, they lost three players on waivers (linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc and cornerback Darryl Roberts), all of whom have carved out solid roles with their new teams.
7. Who is undrafted Maryland cornerback J.C. Jackson? That was one of the top questions of Patriots mandatory minicamp, as Jackson took extended repetitions opposite Stephon Gilmore and seemed to be competitive against top personnel. Here are five things to know about Jackson:
Projected as a midround pick, he slipped out of the draft completely, which might have been tied to off-field issues he had early in his college career at Florida.
He spent 2015 at Riverside Community College (California) before enrolling at Maryland and playing there for two seasons. He entered the draft after his junior season.
Jackson had 17 pass deflections and four interceptions over two seasons at Maryland.
The Patriots guaranteed him $60,000, the third-highest total of any undrafted player on the team.
He measured 5-foot-9¾ and 201 pounds in the pre-draft process, running a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash.
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8. Jackson's extended opportunity is a result, in part, of seventh-round pick Keion Crossen being slowed by an undisclosed injury. Crossen flashed potential in the first OTA open to reporters with an impressive end zone interception but had been working with rehabilitating players in the next four practices open to reporters. Likewise, receiver Braxton Berrios (sixth round, Miami) has also been with the rehab group. The key for Crossen and Berrios will be that they're ready for training camp, because rookies, in general, are already facing an uphill climb to catch up with the rest of the team.
9. From the hypothetical-question department: If the Patriots had been forced to cancel an offseason camp in 2010 for violating offseason workout rules, and then lost three days of organized team activities in 2016 for the same violation, and then another two OTAs in 2017 for the same infraction, what would the media reaction be? That came to mind because it's what happened to the Ravens this past week, and it seemed hardly anyone even paid attention to it. One takeaway: Because of the Patriots' success, they often seem to be held to a higher standard.
10. When I asked him Thursday about the possibility of holding joint practices during training camp, Belichick wasn't interested in previewing his plans, saying he was focused only on the short term (the team has four more OTAs scheduled for this week, with Thursday's session open to reporters). But obviously, those are the types of plans that would have to be mapped out well in advance, and the most likely possibilities would be leading into the first two preseason games at home -- against Washington and Philadelphia. Word out of Washington is that, barring an unexpected turn, there are no plans in the works, which would leave the Eagles as the most likely scenario. The Patriots and Eagles getting together again after Super Bowl LII, if it happens, could set a training camp attendance record. If | 1,751 |
Agriculture is the cultivation of land and breeding of animals and plants to provide food, fiber, medicinal plants and other products to sustain and enhance life. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The study of agriculture is known as agricultural science. The history of agriculture dates back thousands of years; people gathered wild grains at least 105,000 years ago, and began to plant them around 11,500 years ago, before they became domesticated. Pigs, sheep, and cattle were domesticated over 10,00<|fim_middle|> the past century become the dominant agricultural method.
Biology is the natural science that involves the study of life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical composition, function, development and evolution. Modern biology is a vast field, composed of many branches. Despite the broad scope and the complexity of the science, there are certain unifying concepts that consolidate it into a single, coherent field. Biology recognizes the cell as the basic unit of life, genes as the basic unit of heredity, and evolution as the engine that propels the creation of new species. Living organisms are open systems that survive by transforming energy and decreasing their local entropy to maintain a stable and vital condition defined as homeostasis. See glossary of biology.
Vladimir Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 28, pp. 180–182. | 0 years ago. Crops originate from at least 11 regions of the world. Industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture has in | 28 |
Jack and Marie Van Deventer retired in Canmore a decade ago, but their ties to the community go back further. Both born and raised in Calgary, the couple lived in the city and owned a business in the Bow Valley, where they visited every weekend.
"We always had ties to the community… and to the hospital," said Jack, who is on his sixth year of a 10-year term as Chair of the Canmore and Area Health Care Foundation.
While Jack's role with the foundation allows him to contribute to the hospital in a very hands-on way, as business owners, he and Marie were regular corporate donors and supported the golf tournament, even while living in Calgary.
"We had a business here, we worked here – it's time to give back," said Marie.
When Jack joined the CAHCF board, he didn't know that just a year into his time there he would become a regular patient at the hospital.
Jack receives his treatment in the cancer wing, which was renovated and improved with funding from the hospital foundation.
"When we initially built the cancer wing I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be there in one of those chairs for four hours," said Jack.
It's an experience that has driven home just how important the quality of care is for the community: something the couple always valued, but that has now become personal, too.
As Jack's wife, Marie gets emotional support she doesn't think is possible in a larger, city hospital where staff interacts with more patients and care is more anonymous.
As the Canmore General Hospital cares for a growing number of patients, the CAHCF works hard to grow its contributions to facilitate programming buy equipment and fund renovations.
"For the next four or five years we have some big plans," said Jack.
Already, the foundation is in the middle of fundraising $1.5 million to make major improvements to Golden Eagle View, the long-term care facility that hasn't been updated since the 1980s.
Jack and Marie see opportunity for everyone to get involved in the effort: whether it's a small, individual donation, a large contribution from a local business, or simply volunteering at the golf tournament in June, there's a way for everyone to give back.
"This is a community-driven foundation and we need everybody's support," said Jack.
Many of the major projects the foundation gets involved in are backed by large donations from business owners. From Jack's perspective, the best way to encourage any donation is to find a way to connect to individuals.
"There's usually something that clicks with people," said Jack, who adds that it's up to him, the foundation board and the executive director to identify what that thing is when they reach out to companies for contributions.
A decade into retirement, Jack and Marie show no signs of slowing down.
Seeing fundraised dollars turn into hospital programs, equipment purchases and renovations fuels their passion further.
"That, too, drives you, you go, 'ok so what can we take on next?'" said Marie.
With Jack's remaining four years on the<|fim_middle|> continue to work with the team to raise money for Golden Eagle View, then turn to the next big project: updating the emergency ward.
Jack and Marie Van Deventer are long-time supporters of the Canmore General Hospital. As a board member of the CAHCF, Jack Van Deventer has brought on many significant foundation donors. | board, he'll | 4 |
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Welcome to the White House, everybody. Please have a seat. This is one of my favorite days because it gives us a chance to acknowledge some folks who so often are giving so much and, let's face it, aren't always getting a lot in return. Every day, the teachers behind me, they give their students their all -- their knowledge, their creativity, their<|fim_middle|>30 students are taking the AP English IV exam. Before Shanna arrived, the number was exactly zero.
She often uses the tale of Hansel and Gretel to finish the school year. It's a story, she says, of how we can be our own heroes -- find our way out of the forest. Shanna's students have gone on to the Ivy League. They've won prestigious scholarships. But more importantly, many have just found their way out of the forest into new and better chapters of their lives. They've figured out a way to carve a path for themselves, in large part because of her.
Now, obviously Shanna is exceptional, but we could have told a similar story about every single one of the teachers standing here behind me. (Applause.) They are not just teaching formulas or phonetics -- they're selling hope, sparking imagination, opening up minds, giving people -- young people -- a sense of their own power. They teach students to challenge themselves and dream beyond their circumstances, and imagine different futures. And then they work as hard as they can to help those young people make their dreams real.
So at the end of the school year, the children aren't just smarter, they're stronger and more confident, and more resilient, and more inspired. And maybe, if they've tripped, they've been able to get up and dust themselves off. And that's going to make them that much better in the future because they'll probably trip a little more.
And with that, I want to present Shanna with her crystal apple. (Applause.) Here we go. Let's get a good picture of that. (Applause.) Fantastic. | focused attention, their love. They empty the tanks for their kids. Then they get up the next morning and they do it all over again.
And today is our chance to say thank you. To let these educators know that we see how hard they work, we know the difference they make in their students' lives and they are, at the same time, making an incredible difference in the life of our country. Today is a chance to reaffirm how important teachers are to our nation -- not just these teachers, but all teachers.
And we are joined by somebody who is as passionate about our teachers and our students as anybody I know -- and that is our outstanding Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. (Applause.) I want to thank all the school leaders who are here today, because it takes leadership at every level -- from principal all the way up to superintendent -- to give our students the best chance to succeed.
Because of teachers like these, our classrooms are full of future doctors learning how muscle groups and organs work, and future poets discovering Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson, future scientists who are tinkering with microscopes and circuit boards. Future entrepreneurs are getting the hang of collaboration and problem-solving. Future leaders are learning what it means to be a citizen, and how the ideals of freedom and justice made our country what we are today.
So America's future is written in our classrooms. We all depend on our teachers, whether we have kids in the schools or not. They deserve our support and our appreciation. And they also probably deserve higher salaries. (Laughter and applause.) I thought I'd editorialize a little bit. (Laughter.) Ad lib. That's what today is all about.
Here with us are 55 of America's top teachers, from as far away as Alaska and American Samoa, and as close as Maryland and Washington, D.C. They teach everything from math and science to art and journalism. Some have taught for decades; others are still pretty new. A few of them look like they're still in middle school. (Laughter.) But all of them share a passion for helping their kids develop their talents. All of them know the thrill of introducing students to something new and exciting. All of them are really, really, really good at their jobs.
So Shanna teaches English at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo. Many of her students face challenges that would overwhelm adults, let alone kids. About 85 percent are considered economically disadvantaged. Many are refugees from places like Iraq and Somalia. Many of them have known trauma and violence in their lives, and borne burdens that no kid should have to bear. Sometimes just showing up to school is hard. But Shanna's classroom provides them a safe haven. And in Shanna, they find somebody who protects them fiercely and believes in them deeply, and sets high expectations and is confident that they're going to do amazing things.
Now, according to Shanna, she wasn't always a teacher. In fact, she tried everything else she could before she finally accepted her destiny. She was a DJ -- (laughter) -- I want to hear more about that. (Laughter.) She was a medical assistant. She was a journalist, a professional pet sitter. (Laughter.) Finally, she realized what she was always meant to do -- and that's helping young people discover the joy and power of words.
As somebody who grew up in a violent home, writing and books meant everything to Shanna. They were an escape and a comfort, a never-ending source of inspiration, a way to provide meaning to life at difficult times. One special teacher, she says, Mrs. Belton, helped Shanna develop her passion. As Shanna puts it, "She taught me that it was possible to read and write my way into another life." That's a pretty good description of education in general.
Today, Ms. Peeples passes that same lesson on to her teachers -- on to her students. In their writing circles, students pour their personal stories onto the page. And she tells them, "Everyone has a voice, everyone has a story worth sharing." They discover that their experiences aren't so singular -- that whether they're an Ethiopian refugee or they've never set foot out of Texas, they're not so different and they're not so alone, as a consequence.
Shanna works hard to earn and keep their trust, and help them find new ways to grow -- academically and emotionally -- to rise above their present and to reach for their future. "In a sense, I sell hope," she says. I love that line. (Laughter.) "In a sense, I sell hope." And her students are hungry for hope. Most kids are hungry for hope. Since Shanna arrived at Palo Duro five years ago, the number of kids taking the AP English III exam has doubled. This year, | 996 |
Visiting Europe
Venice; A Brief History of a Unique City, and the First Impressions of a Visiting Tourist
Updated on October 6, 2015
Greensleeves Hubs
The author has travelled extensively and writes illustrated articles about his experiences, with advice on must-see sights.
San Marco, Venice, featuring the Campanile (Bell Tower) and the Doge's Palace | Source
This article is a collection of thoughts, impressions and sights experienced during a first time visit to the City of Venice in Itay, intended for those who come here for just a few days. A brief overview of the fascinating history is included, but it is not a detailed study of all things Venetian - there are many other excellent websites where one can explore every aspect of the city.
This city is, by any criterion, quite unique. There is no other place in the world quite like it. If ever there was a candidate for a vibrant modern day city to be included as one of the seven wonders of the world, Venice is surely that city. How then to make the most of a short visit?
Four Articles About Four Days in the City of Venice:
This is the first of four articles I have written about Venice and the surrounding islands; The four pages are:
A Brief History of a Unique City, and the First Impressions by a Visiting Tourist
Cruising Down the Grand Canal
Venice: The Islands in the Lagoon - San Giorgio Maggiore, San Michele, Murano, Burano, and Torcello
Venice: The Island of Murano
The City of Venice is steeped in long history and most unusual geography, and although this article is a guide to getting the most out of a tourist visit, that history and geography are key to the reason why so many flock here every year. Therefore, some mention should be made of these aspects to help explain why this extraordinary and most beautiful city exists. See 'Venice - The City on an Island'.
However, if you wish to read only about present day tourist attractions and tourist advice, then jump to the section 'Accommodation'.
Venice - The City on an Island
The origins of Venice are ancient; the first settlements on the islands of the sheltered Venetian lagoon probably date at least to the final days of the Roman Empire, although fishermen had been gaining a livelihood here a long time before that. By the 5th to 6th centuries AD successive waves of Germanic tribes - the Huns, the Goths and then the Lombards - were raiding the lands of Northern Italy and many refugees were fleeing before them. The Venice lagoon offered a sheltered haven from the maurauders who lacked boats of their own, and so the arrival of refugees quickly expanded the population here. Effectively this is when Venice was founded.
As settlements on the islands grew, location would prove all important to their future survival and prosperity. By the 6th century the focus of Roman power had long since shifted from Rome itself to the eastern city of Constantinople in modern day Turkey, and this great distance from the protective authority of the Empire (now referred to by historians as the 'Byzantine Empire' to distinguish it from the previous Rome based Empire) meant that inhabitants of the islands largely had to rely on the surrounding waters and their own resources to protect themeselves from the mainland tribes. It meant that the whole region from its earliest days was obliged to practice a degree of self-government. And it was not long before the settlements began to unite into a new city. Constantinople appointed its first leader - the first duke or 'Doge' of Venice, but by 726 AD Venetians had taken this duty upon themselves.
As well as helping to shield Venice from invading tribes, and obliging a degree of autonomy from Constantinople, the fortuitous island setting gave other advantages over the following centuries. The sheltered position on the Adriatic Sea between the northern and western cultures of Europe and the southern and eastern cultures of the Middle East and the Islamic world, placed the site at the heart of the international trade routes. Venice rapidly grew from a fishing community into a burgeoning trading centre, as commercial buildings and shipping docks were built. And in time, Venice developed not merely as a city, but as a 'city state' whose boundaries would extend beyond the lagoon to embrace settlements along the Dalmatian Coast, and mainland towns such as Verona and Padua. In so doing, Venice was securing its borders and trade routes both by sea and on land. In 1082 full independence from the Byzantine Empire was finally achieved, and soon Venice was profiting still further from the first of a series of crusades against the Muslims in the Middle East, refitting ships and acting as a stop over for knights on their way to battle.
Venice flourished. The Doge was gradually reduced to a figurehead position as a carefully selected council took control of affairs, and almost every aspect of their administration was geared towards profit. Relative freedom from papal interference, a combination of sometimes shrewd and sometimes underhand trade negotiations, and successful military campaigns against other city states like Genoa meant that by the mid 15th century Venice had reached a zenith of trading and military power - the richest, most powerful city in all of Europe, with 36,000 sailors operating 3,300 ships, and territories as far afield as Crete and Cyprus, and across much of northern Italy.
Yet even as Venice was reaching its zenith of international power, the seeds of its eventual decline were being sown. In the early 15th century the rise of the Ottoman Turkish Empire as a rival power led to conflict, and ultimately Venice lost control of much of its eastern territory to the Ottomans. With this, went some of Venice's eastern trade. Then the discovery of America and the establishment of trade routes to the east around the South African Cape meant that much power shifted to the new western empires of Spain and Portugal and later Britain, and their ocean going ships. Venice's traditional oared galleys - fine for the Mediterranean - were no longer state of the art. And even within the Venetian mainland, problems were building. Rome increasingly regarded Venice's power as a serious threat to papal authority, and other city states such as Milan and Naples united to challenge Venice. In 1509 many of its mainland terrritories were finally lost, though the historic city survived intact.
Over the next few centuries, Venice gradually lost all international power, yet within its own city borders remained vibrant and entered a new phase in its history. In the 16th century, Venice was at the forefront of architectural design, and leading families vied with each other to build the grandest palaces. The city led the world in other industrial fields too such as printing and glass manufacture. And with the loss of power, Venice found new prestige as a centre of the arts and culture. Musicians such as Monteverdi and Vivaldi, and artists such as Canaletto, made Venice their home. It developed a reputation as the most elegant and refined city in the world. And the city's most infamous resident, Casanova, became almost synonymous in perpetuity (perhaps to the chagrin of Venetian officials) with the flamboyant lifestyle the city was now developing.
In 1797 Venice finally lost its independence, when the city fell to Napoleon's armies. Then after the French Emperor's downfall, the expansive Austrian Empire assumed control of the city over the next few decades. In the 1850s Venice was once again free from foreign interference, but aspirations of reinstated independence were short lived. In 1866, a new united Kingdom of Italy was finally established, and Venice was incorporated into it. Since then, Venice's fortunes have been mixed. A conurbation has developed on the mainland, but the historic island city has suffered in the 20th century, from a declining population, from pollution, and from a gradual sinking of the foundations into the Venice lagoon, and consequent severe problems with flooding. Vast sums of money are today required for Italy to maintain the old city. But maintain it they must, because Venice's unique history has made it arguably the world's most beautiful city and one of the world's most attractive tourist destinations for visitors from around the world.
Venice - around every corner there is a photographic opportunity | Source
The Uniqueness of Venice
So what makes Venice unique. Why are there so many canals and no roads? Venice is not built on solid land. This entire area was never solid ground but rather marshy muddy mounds in the lagoon. And Venice was not built on just a single mound or island, but on 117 islands. Wood pilings driven deep into the clay below support layers of stone and wooden planks, and buildings were constructed on top of this foundation. It may seem to be a very insubtantial foundation but vast numbers of local trees on the once forested mainland provided the wood - 12,000 trunks were used just for the Rialto Bridge and the Campanile Bell Tower is said to rest on 100,000 posts.
Space being at a premium, footpaths between the buildings were narrow, and transport has always been by the much easier option of canals - largely natural waterways between the islands, but excavated as necessary to make them navigable. In total there are about 25 miles of waterways and 177 separate canals within the city. Today the old city is reputed to be<|fim_middle|> - A gondola stuffed with books in the famous Venetian book store | Source
Getting Lost in Venice
Some reviewers say get a good map to avoid getting lost in Venice. Others say that the very best thing you can possibly do is get lost in Venice! I think that unless on a very tight time schedule, I would be in this second camp. Wandering aimlessly round the narrow streets and over canal bridges so low the gondoliers have to stoop, leads one to discover unexpected little gems of cafes, bars and shops.
The book store on Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa is one such hidden gem. Regularly appearing on Internet lists of the most interesting / beautiful / unique book shops in the world, the Libreria Acqua Alta features books stuffed into gondolas, books stuffed into a bathtub, and books just piled on top of each other, frequently with one of many household cats perched on top! There's even a staircase made up of stacked books. And the rear exit to the store, of course, backs on to a canal. It is certainly one of the more unusual retail outlets of the world!
In truth, many of the tiny streets in Venice are not labelled on most maps and so one can easily 'get lost' in the sense of not knowing where one is, but there are regular big yellow signs with arrows guiding towards San Marco or Rialto, and in the various districts there are also signs leading to the main vaporetto stations and piazzas. And on a small island, its not like you're going to be lost for very long! It really is the best thing to do in Venice to get a real feel for the place away from the hordes of tourists.
Fine lace from the island of Burano is a popular souvenir of a visit to Venice | Source
Quality glassware from the island of Murano | Source
Venice is geared up to receiving tourists from all over the world, so there's no difficulty finding places to eat. Most restaurants are unsurprisingly Italian, and other international cuisines are not so well catered for - though of course good quality hotels cater for all tastes. Many will want to eat in the romantic settings of St Marks Square, and along the banks of the Grand Canal, but Venice isn't cheap, and one tip would be to move a few streets back from the main tourist sites where prices may be less. And one great idea to try are the bacaros. These are small bars dotted around the city. One of the services they often provide are cicchetti - the Italian version of tapas - small dishes of finger foods such as calamari, olives, cheese, meatballs, potato, shrimp, salami etc, each costing just a few euros.
Souvenir Shopping and Window Shopping in Venice
It's not necessary to get lost in order to shop in Venice, but wandering the back streets and canals will bring you to a wide range of retail outlets, some of which will be selling typical tourist trash, but others will offer traditional Venetian arts and crafts of genuine appeal. And the prices may well be much cheaper than in shops closer to St Mark's or the Rialto Bridge. And even if you don't want to buy, these shops are great for window shopping, and some have displays the like of which you'd not see in any other city.
Traditional gifts and souvenirs include glassware from the nearby island of Murano and lacework from the island of Burano. However, as in most cities famous for traditional merchandise, beware of cheap imitations imported from elsewhere. Jewellery, leather and fashion are also popular. Possibly the most intriguing shops are those which sell carnival masks. Although carnival is obviously seasonal, it is a major festival in Venice, and shops which are devoted to the festival and which sell the masquerade masks, are open all year round for the tourists, and are fascinating to wander around.
Even if you don't intend to buy, carnival masks have great photographic potential, so look out for these when visiting, and take a few pictures | Source
The island of Burano | Source
The Other Islands
This article is about Venice, but to get the most out of a visit to this region, one should also find time to spend a day cruising to one or two of the other islands in the Venice lagoon, some of which have a history at least as long as Venice's, and many of which offer a very different experience to enjoy.
Murano, which is renouned for its glass blowing factories, and Burano, famous for picturesque, multicoloured cottages, are probably the two most popular destinations, but several other islands may also be worth a visit. These are featured in another article in this series, but a recommendation would be to allow time to travel further afield than the City of Venice itself.
The domed church of La Salute - one of Venice's most famous landmarks - photographed from the bell tower on one of the other islands in the lagoon, San Giorgio Maggiore | Source
Venice - Wonder of the World
This page has only covered my first impressions of the city of Venice, gathered over two days walking the streets and riding the vaporetti. Nonetheless, first impressions do count when it comes to Venice. What you see is what you get. There's not a huge amount of nightlife to be discovered, be it seedy or exciting, there's no dark quarters where tourists shouldn't tread, no poor district or rich district or commercial shopping centre to seek out - instead there are canals and gondolas, historic buildings, culture, and tourist outlets. It actually doesn't take very long to get a feel for what Venice is all about, which is just as well as most will only spend a few days visiting here.
In my introduction I described Venice as a candidate for 'Wonder of the World' status. I really do mean that. The fact that it is a city rather than an individual building, is not truly relevant - Petra and Machu Picchu are both 'cities', albeit ruined - and they were voted to be included among the recently updated list of Seven Wonders. Venice is a miracle of medieval engineering. To construct the buildings of the city on islands of unstable ground, surrounded and infiltrated by sea water which laps at the very foundations, was a great technical feat at that time, and ever since Venice's heyday, those buildings have been under constant threat of subsidence and flooding, and remain so today. And yet they still stand, not one or two or even a few dozen, but thousands - 200 along the Grand Canal alone - almost all of which date to Medieval, Renaissance or pre-19th century times. They still stand relatively unchanged where the great majority of buildings of comparable age built on much firmer foundations in other cities have long since perished naturally or been demolished to make way for modern office blocks, hypermarkets and multi-story car parks.
That is the reason I suggest that Venice is a wonder of the world. Whether you agree or disagree, it is surely a city to be visited by everyone with a feel for history and culture, and I hope that my page helps in some way to make a first time visit more fulfilling and more enjoyable.
The Rialto Bridge and the quintessential image of Venice - a gondola on the Grand Canal. Looking at this photo, one wonders why there aren't more boating accidents on the canal? | Source
A few references which I found useful before or during my visit
City of Venice - Official website of the Municipality of Venice
Venice - Wikipedia
How to get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice - bdegiulio
Venice's Alilaguna Airport Boats - Venice for Visitors
Venice travel guide - Wikitravel
Top 10 Things to do in Venice, Italy - bdegiulio
Top 10 Things to Do in Venice - whyGo (Jessica)
Top 10 free things to see in Venice - The Guardian
Cicchetti - Reidsitaly.com
All My Travel Pages ...
Travel Guide Links
It's a common saying that travel broadens the mind - but it's so true. Travel also provides some of the greatest experiences one can have in life. This page is the home page of my travel articles
Please feel free to quote limited text from this article on condition that an active link to this page is included
All photos for this article were taken by the author in September 2014
Top Tips from other Authors
My suggestions are based largely on my own experiences. I hope my guide helps visitors to make the most of their time, but also included below are a few pieces of advice from others who know Venice well:
Visit the market by the Rialto. Most famous for its fish and fresh fruits and vegetables, the historic market is recommended for the quality of the produce and for the photo opportunities it presents.
Take the 'Secret Itineraries' tour of the Doges Palace, enabling the visitor to see parts of the Palace off limits to the main tour.
Arrive at St Mark's before 9.00 am to avoid the crowds.
And stay for the evening. Many reviewers suggest that St Mark's is at its most serene and beautiful when the day trippers have gone.
Visit the outer districts, notably the ghetto in the north. This is the original 'ghetto', once home to Venice's Jews, now possessed of a distinctive villagy feel, rather different from the main city.
Venice isn't noticed for green spaces, but the Giardini Pubblici in the Castello District is a public park with gardens, and swings and climbing frames for children.
And if greenery is in short supply, so are beaches. But the Venice Lido and the Lido di Jesolo are only a boat ride away (most of the beaches are owned by hotels, but some are free to use).
My thanks to Sue Levy for guide books and information provided and used during my visit to Venice and during the writing of these articles
Selected Sites Mentioned In This Article
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Santa Lucia Station Venice:
Venezia S.Lucia, 30121 Venezia, Italy
The Rialto Bridge:
Rialto Bridge, Sestiere San Polo, 30125 Venezia, Italy
The Bridge of Sighs:
Bridge of Sighs, Piazza San Marco, 1, 30122 Venezia, Italy
St Mark's Square:
St. Mark's Square, Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia, Italy
Scala del Bolovo:
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, San Marco, 4299, 30124 Venezia, Italy
Calle Varisco - The Narrowest Street:
Calle Varisco, 30121 Venezia, Italy
Libreria Acqua Alta:
Parrocchia Santa Maria Formosa, Castello, 5263, 30122 Venezia, Italy
The Jewish Ghetto:
Campo di Ghetto Nuovo, 30121 Venezia, Italy
Guardini Pubblici :
Viale Giardini Pubblici, 30122 Venezia, Italy
© 2014 Greensleeves Hubs
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I'd Love to Hear Your Comments. Thanks, Alun
2 years ago from Essex, UK
Stephen Barnes; Thanks Stephen. It should be a great trip - the climate, the lifestyle, the scenery, and of course the history and architecture must make it one of the best countries in the world to visit.
I only spent two complete days in the city of Venice, plus one and a half days on the islands close to Venice. In two days you could see most of the great sights in the city, though the other islands are also interesting. Trouble is, there's just too much in Italy to see, so I guess you're going to have to plan carefully to make the best use of your time :) Alun
2 years ago from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Great article. My wife and I are looking at taking a trip to Italy within the next year or so and had planned to spend a couple of days in Venice. The information you have provided here will certainly prove helpful, though having read this I don't think that two days will be enough.
Alex Djain; Thank you very much Alex. It's an amazing city and the history - together with the water - is what makes it so unique.
Can I say welcome to HubPages? I see you have only recently joined, so I hope your experience of writing on this site proves to be a happy and enjoyable one for you. Alun
Alex Djain
Fantastic article, it was great to see the overall history of Venice. It can be so easy to get lost in the history of different aspects of Venice rather than get the bigger picture.
EsJam; Hopefully one day Essie, you'll get there! Thanks for your comment; it's much appreciated, Alun
peachpurple; Apologies for not replying sooner Peachy. It is a very attractive city, and particularly when viewed from the sea. Thanks.
Trish_M; Thanks, and apologies for not replying sooner. Many do visit Venice as part of an excursion, or a cruise around the Mediterranean. And arriving by boat affords the most memorable and never to be forgotten of views. Alun
4 years ago from Southern California
I don't know when I will ever make it there, but wonderful to visit via photos/story. Wonderful photos and informative for anyone visiting!
5 years ago from Home Sweet Home
venice is a beautiful country to visit, I would love to view by sailing the boat
Tricia Mason
5 years ago from The English Midlands
We visited Venice just for one day on an excursion from - then - Jugoslavia. Arriving by boat was magical. Indeed the whole thing was magical. You are right; Venice is unique. It is an amazing place :)
chef-de-jour; That's a really nice comment Andrew which I truly appreciate. So glad you liked it. Thanks very much for the votes and sharing. Alun. :)
stuff4kids; What can I say, except thank you very much for that lovely comment, which I'll treasure. So nice of you.
Writing the hub did involve a lot of work. But of course it didn't really feel like work, because it was so interesting researching Venice's remarkable history, and then so pleasureable imparting information which hopefully will help visitors to enjoy their first experience of Venice even more.
Thanks again for the comment and for the shares. Best wishes, Alun :)
Andrew Spacey
5 years ago from Near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire,UK
Excellent information, great photos and a personal angle on the pros and cons of visiting this incredible city. Your hard work and neat presentation appeal - history, culture, architecture - it's all here. Super job.
Votes and a share.
Amanda Littlejohn
Oh Alun, this is surely a masterpiece. You've put such a lot of work into this and it shines through in every word and such wonderful photographs to accompany the faultless and fascinating text. I hope this is widely read - I feel as if I have been to Venice already just after reading this.
And to think that the great city of Venice as we now know it was once more or less a refugee camp!
There are so many things I could mention but there is an embarrassment of riches here - better to simply thank you and encourage others to read it, too. So, I've shared this with my followers and on my Twitter feed.
Oh, and I'm glad you had such a marvellous time in Venezia and that ylu thought to share it with us.
MsDora; Dora, as ever, it's always a real pleasure to hear from you. Appreciate your comment. :) Thanks, Alun
Dora Weithers
5 years ago from The Caribbean
The history, art and architecture makes Venice seem so inviting. So glad I could view a piece of it through your pictures. Thanks for an interesting article!
My Bell; Thanks very much Marcelle, and I hope you get those articles published soon! There's certainly more than enough material for plenty of articles about the cities - Rome, Florence, Genoa, Verona, Pisa, Bologna, Siena etc etc - let alone the countryside of Italy. Great country to visit for anyone who loves history, culture or rural landscapes.
My gratitude for your comments, Marcelle.
Marcelle Bell
Well done hub! I just got back from two weeks in Italy but only traveled through Tuscany and Rome. I've published an article already on visiting the Vatican but haven't yet got around to my others but your article here has inspired me to get writing. I took great notes so now it's just carving out the time. I now want to go to Venice!
bdegiulio; My thanks for your generous remarks. For the benefit of anyone else who reads this comment, I can repeat what I have previously said to you elsewhere. Your article referenced above was one which I printed to take with me to Venice, and which I found useful. Most who visit Venice are only there for 2 or 3 days at most, so it really is valuable to have a quick guide to the key sights and experiences to make the best use of one's time, and your hubpage provided that. Even so, there were still quite a few sights I didn't get to see! I guess I'll have to plan another visit :-) Thanks Bill.
Bill De Giulio
5 years ago from Massachusetts
Hi Alun. What a complete and comprehensive review of Venice. I'm so glad you had the opportunity to visit. What a magical place Venice is, certainly like no other place that I have been to. Great job adding the historical aspect of Venice and many thanks for the plug. Looking forward to your other Venice hubs that you are working on.
Ericdierker; Thanks for that nice comment, particularly the mention of the history section. I was in two minds about whether to include that section in what was already becoming a rather long 'first impressions' article. But I felt that an understanding of how such a unique city came into being helps one to appreciate the buildings and the whole character of the city. It really is a quite remarkable place isn't it? Very much appreciated Eric. Cheers, Alun :)
Eric Dierker
5 years ago from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A.
Wonderful travel log. I thought your history section was just great. Thanks for bringing back the memories. | the largest car-free urban area in Europe and it is the only entirely car-free city in the world.
Today of course the lagoon and the canals which made Venice such a rich and powerful state in centuries gone by, remain the veins and arteries of the city, the water its lifeblood. They are the way for all to get around. And indeed on the island of the old city itself there are no cars - just canals and narrow streets. So bearing that in mind, for anyone contemplating a short visit to Venice, it is important to get transport and accommodation arrangements right.
One can stay on the mainland and travel to Venice each day, or one can stay on an outlying islands or the Venice Lido - a sandbar stretch of hotels and beaches. If spending more than a few days in the area, then a mainland location may be preferred for the advantage of car hire to travel further afield. And these options may be cheaper and less crowded than staying in the historic city itself.
But of course these options are less convenient for those who only have a day or two in Venice and who want to really experience the fuill flavour of this amazing city both day and night. For those people, staying in the old city is the solution. In Venice itself, hotel prices are generally high, so bed and breakfast or rental accommodation may be preferred by some. If staying full or half board, hotels of comparable standard will unsurprisingly be cheaper the further one moves from the main attractions of St Marks Square or the Grand Canal, though equally of course these hotels are less accessible on an island without automobiles. Space is at a premium here, so most hotels are small and may be more spartan than many tourists would expect. But that's not so bad if one is only staying for a few days - hotels in Venice after all are not a holiday experience in their own right - they are only a base from which to explore the city.
In the Venice lagoon, even trucks and mechanical diggers travel on boats | Source
Transport from the Airport to the City of Venice
Some who visit Venice will arrive by cruise ship, but those will have their own travel and accommodation arrangements. Most however, will come by air. Those who travel this way may arrive at Treviso Airport to the north, from which a land transfer to Venice will be required. More commonly, tourists will arrive at Marco Polo Airport. Some will have bus or train transfers to their destination. And there are of course taxi cabs too. All these are fine if your chosen accommodation is on the mainland, but if you are staying on the island of Venice, or anywhere else in the lagoon, then it is important to bear in mind that the only transport on the islands is by boat.
Today, one can actually get to the old city from the airport by train or car - a rail link across the lagoon was constructed in 1846, and a road link was added in 1933. But both the road and rail connections terminate soon after arrival in the north east of the historic city. From there on, all travel - including finding your way to your hotel - will be on foot or by boat. Therefore, it will be useful (particularly if arriving at night) to know exactly how to find your accommodation in Venice.
For most who come by air, the more convenient way to get close to your island accommodation is by boat. The boat piers are just a short walking distance from the airport terminals, and are signposted, though it may be as well to learn the system before travelling in order to avoid delays on arrival. Boat tickets can be bought on online, at the airport or at the piers. Two options exist - private water taxis can be hired to take you direct to your destination, though these are extremely expensive. The Alilaguna water bus is the better bet for most of us. There are several Alilaguna routes which stop at various stations around Venice and these are distinguished by colour (eg: the Blue Line, Orange Line etc). Ensure the correct water bus is caught, to save delays or a long walk to your hotel.
The vaporetto water bus - the lifeblood of Venice and the surrounding islands | Source
Transport within Venice - The Vaporetti
Once in the island City of Venice, the most practical water-borne transport is the vaporetto water bus. Vaporetti (plural) provide a frequent and regular service along the Grand Canal of Venice, and between the islands of the lagoon. And in Venice you are never too far away from a vaporetto station. A three day pass is economical and very convenient, and can be bought at any of the manned ticket offices around Venice. Once you've paid, it can be used almost like a free pass - just hop on and hop off at different water bus stations whenever you please and wherever something catches your interest.
A gondolier plies his trade, navigating the canals of Venice just as his predecessors have done for hundreds of years | Source
Transport within Venice - The Gondola Rides
What is Venice most famous for? Not any single piece of architecture, but rather the canals which criss cross the city and the distinctive long black boats which ferry tourists along those canals. These are the gondolas.
Today most locals use the city's water buses (vaporetti) or their own private boats for transport, and the gondolas are predominantly the preserve of the tourist trade. But it hasn't always been that way. About 400 gondolas are now to be found in Venice, but 300 years ago, there were as many as 10,000. They were the staple means of getting around the waterways, the long thin gondola shapes perfect for negotiating the narrower canals. Gondolas adhere to strict regulations regarding their size and appearance; all are about 10.7 metres in length, and all are black in colour. The gondoliers also wear traditional uniforms - blue and white or red and white striped T-shirts with straw boater hats to match.
Should one opt for a gondola ride? Many reviewers dismiss the gondolas in Venice, stating that they are too expensive. They are very expensive. But a gondola ride is the thing you are supposed to do in this city, and for many, the Venice experience just wouldn't be complete without a ride in one of the long black boats. Perhaps these days the gondola ride is not quite as romantic as it once was, with thousands of tourists eyeing you as you float serenly past. Not all of the gondoliers wear the straw boaters for which they are famous, and I only saw one serenaded party, and even then it wasn't the gondolier who was doing the serenading, but an entertainer. Nonetheless his voice was good, and he brought a smile to everyone who watched as that particular gondola passed by. I would say that for general transportation, the vaporetto is quicker and cheaper, and walking the streets is a more interesting and much cheaper option. But for those on a romantic break who can afford it, a gondola ride is a must-do activity in Venice, never to be forgotten. You'll probably regret it if you don't experience it on a once in a lifetime trip.
The Venetian gondola. The first recorded mention of gondolas dates to the 11th century - 1000 years ago. Much about the design is steeped in symbolism, and nothing about this city is more traditional and more romantic than a gondola ride | Source
Ca' d'Oro is one of the oldest buildings on the Venetian Grand Canal, dating to 1430 - just one of nearly 200 opulent and impressive buildings along the banks of the canal | Source
Whatever method of water transport around Venice one opts for, the Grand Canal is certain to feature high on the itinerary. Most of Venice's canals are narrow little waterways barely wide enough for two gondolas to pass each other, but the Grand Canal is different. 4 kilometres long, and up to 90 metres wide, this is the main artery of the city, ferrying cargo and passengers on an assortment of boat types from the car parks and the railway terminus in the north west to St Marks Square in the southeast. And lining the canal are nearly 200 of the most ornate, historic and best preserved medieval and renaissance buildings anywhere on Earth. Cruising down the Grand Canal is a must-do experience for any visitor to Venice and the sights to be seen here are featured in another article in this series.
Boats on the water and historic buildings along the banks of the Grand Canal | Source
The Bridge of Sighs. On the left are the old law courts - part of the Doge's Palace in San Marco. On the right are the old prison cells. | Source
The Bridges of Venice
If you have a city built on 117 islands, then the most important architectural constructions are bridges There are more than 400 bridges in the old city, providing crossing points over the network of canals. Most bridges are small and relatively obscure, but all are picturesque and all have seen a lot of history. Usually they are of brick or stone structure, and arched to allow gondolas to pass underneath.
Only four bridges traverse the wide expanse of the Grand Canal, and only one of these dates to before the 19th century. The Rialto Bridge was built between 1588 and 1591 and is the most famous and celebrated of all Venice's bridges. The ornate design makes the Rialto Bridge one of the iconic sights of Venice.
Of all the bridges over the lesser canals, The Bridge of Sighs has almost legendary status. Built in 1614, it once connected law courts on one side with prison cells on the other. Its real name is Ponte dei Sospiri, but it was given its English epithet by Lord Byron, who imagined the sighs as prisoners made their way to the cells after learning of their fate in the courts.
St Mark's and the City of Venice | Source
The St Mark's Campanile | Source
St Mark's Square - Piazza San Marco and Piazzetta San Marco
There are actually two piazzas or plazas here. The Piazza San Marco is set a little back from the shoreline, surrounded by colonnaded buildings and fronted by the Basilica. The Campanile also stands here. Between the Piazza San Marco and the shoreline is a smaller square called the Piazzetta San Marco, which is bordered on one side by the Doge's Palace and on the other by a complex of museums and libraries. In practice, the Piazza and the Piazzetta merge into each other to form one of the largest open spaces in Venice.
St Mark's Square - Palazzo Ducale and the Campanile
The Grand Canal opens out into the Venice Lagoon close to the site of the greatest architectural attractions in the city of Venice - St Mark's Square.
Even though there are interesting sights and buildings of great historic interest almost everywhere in the city, undoubtedly the focal point for most tourists is St Mark's. Vaporetto stops near the Square are the busiest arrival and departure points on the island, and mega-sized cruise ships harbour nearby to disgorge the day trippers in their thousands. St Marks is the site of three major attractions, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile or bell tower and the Basilica.
The Palazzo Ducale or Doge's Palace is the first of these buildings to be reached if one arrives at St Mark's from the sea. As the name suggests, this was home to the Doge of Venice for many centuries, but also to the political Council of Venice. The current building replaced an earlier one, and largely dates to the late 15th century, though extensive refurbishments have occurred since then. An entrance fee and a tour will take one around many of the glitteringly decorated palace rooms including the Great Hall, where the council once convened. In addition to paintings of 76 Doges, the Hall also includes Tintoretto's 'Paradiso', which is reputed to be the largest classical oil painting in the world. Tours also take in the old law courts once housed here, and entrance to the Doge's Palace is the only way one can get to walk through the famous Bridge of Sighs.
The Campanile or bell tower, also replaces an earlier structure which sadly collapsed on 14th July 1902. However the new tower which in appearance is an exact replica, was constructed, the building completed on 25th April 1912. At 100 m (330 ft) the Campanile is the tallest building in Venice, and an entry fee allows one to take an elevator to the top for the best views of St Mark's.
The Doge's Palace - The pale peach and white brickwork makes this arguably the most attractive facade in the whole of Venice. Note the column and the winged lion statue on the right, which is mentioned in another section on this page | Source
The Basilica - at the time of writing much of the church was being restored which limited the photographic potential. Nonetheless, this remains a building well worth seeing
A detail from the Palo d'Or which contains 1,927 precious jewels including pearls, sapphires, rubies and emeralds.
The four bronze horses. A replica of this statue stands outside the Basilica, but this is the genuine original in the mseum
One of the mosaics in the museum | Source
The Basilica of St Marks
Of all the great buildings of Venice, none is more reverred than St Mark's Basilica. The original building dates from c832 AD, but this largely wooden structure was lost in a fire, and its replacement was built between 1063 and 1094. That is the church, with some modifications, which graces St Mark's Square today.
The reason for the conception of the original Basilica was as a tomb for the remains of the evangelist and patron saint of Venice, St Mark. By legend his bones had been smuggled out of Alexandria in 828 AD and brought to Venice by two merchants (hidden in a consignment of pork to discourage Muslim officials from searching it).
As the new Basilica arose in the 11th century, the significance of the new church could not be overstated. Aside from providing a tomb for one of the four writers of the gospels (in itself a matter of great importance to the city), there was perhaps symbolic value in the design of the church, because the Byzantine architecture of the facade (and the treasures inside) are Venice's most obvious link to the Empire which had once ruled it, and a statement of Venice's greatness as a successor to the power of Constantinople. For a long time the Basilica acted as the Doge's private chapel, but today it is recognised as the cathedral of Venice.
I cannot go into details in this short piece, but the exterior of the Basilica is a sumptuous extravagance of five great arches and five domes, ornate spires and columns, and adorned with rich mosaic images, some dating to the 11th century, others added over the next three centuries of Venetian power. And the interior is likewise spectacular, with gold leaf mosaics on the floors, the walls and ceilings, and festooned with treasures variously traded, or frankly looted, most notably during the fourth crusade of 1204, when Constantinople was ransacked to the benefit of Venice.
As a church, most of the Basilica is free to enter, but there are exhibits which one must pay to see. These include the Pala d'Oro and the Treasury and Museo di San Marco. The Pala d'Oro is a fabulously gaudy gold leaf and jewel encrusted altar piece with Biblical scenes, first created in the 10th century in Constantinople and expanded to its current form by 1345, and now installed behind the altar. Museo di San Marco - the museum - can be found at the top of a flight of stairs to the right of the entrance, and it is worth a visit. The elevated position allows good views over the church's interior and the Piazza below, as well as having many historic items on display. The most treasured is the Cavalli di San Marco, brought from Constantinople in 1204. This is a unique example of an ancient quadriga (four horses abreast, as used in chariot racing). The statue is thought to date to about 200 AD, and may once have been set at the top of Trajan's Arch in Rome.
Long queues can form to enter the Basilica (and other buildings in the Square), and a nominal charge can be paid online to jump these queues, but usually the queue moves quickly and the wait to enter is not usually as long as one might imagine.
Just part of the detail from the glittering mosaics which adorn the facade of the Basilica | Source
The winged lion or 'chimera' atop one of the two columns in the Piazzetta San Marco
Feeding pigeons in the Piazza San Marco - not approved of by the council who want to clean up the Square, but still it goes on | Source
Things to see and do Around St Mark's Square
One could easily spend a day just in the vicinity of St Marks, because it is not just the three buildings described above which draw the crowds. The Square is surrounded by other historic buildings and monuments, each with their own tale to tell. And there are more modern attractions too.
Even when arriving at the Square as many do from the vaporetto stops of San Marco or San Zaccharia, before entering past the Doge's Palace into the Piazetta San Marco, visitors will pass between two tall columns often without giving them a second glance. But these two columns are worthy of note. The date of erection is uncertain but they have been in place at least siince the 13th century. And they act as pedestals for two very different statues. One is a composite sculpture of St Theodore, former patron saint of Venice, with a crocodile - representing a dragon he is said to have slain. This can be seen in the photo below. The other column displays a very ancient winged lion - a symbol of St Mark, who replaced St Theodore as patron saint - but this statue is believed to date to the 3rd-4th century BC, and originally stood at Tarsus in southern Turkey. And the columns hold one other, slightly gruesome, fascination. Between these columns public executions once took place.
When standing in the Piazza San Marco, all eyes will be on the Basilica, but look to the left and a most unusual clock dominates one of the buildings.The building is the Torre dell' Orologio or Clock Tower. It dates to the end of the 15th century, and the bell and much of the facade including the clock face are original. The clock features both Roman and Arabic numerals and also Zodiacal signs, and remarkably on this ancient tower there is also a digital time display - Roman numerals spell out the time, changing in 5 minute intervals. The archway underneath opens into the Mercerie, a main street of the city which leads to the Rialto Bridge.
But most Venice aficionados agree that looking at the buildings in St Mark's and then leaving, is not good enough. The thing to do here is stay a while to just soak up the atmosphere, perhaps to attend one of the concerts occaisionally held in the Square (featuring world famous names) or sit in one of the open air restaurants (if the price warning mentioned earlier does not deter), listening to the musicians and watching the people go by and the flocks of pigeons fly by.
The Biblioteca Marciana stands opposite the Doge's Palace. Designed in the 16th century, renouned contemporary Venetian architect Andrea Palladio called the Library 'the most magnificent and ornate structure built since ancient times'. | Source
Santa Maria Formosa - a church in the Castello District of Venice. Built in 1492, the beautiful bell tower can only be discovered by those who choose to venture away from the Grand Canal or St Mark's Square
Two gondoliers take a break from work | Source
Other Sights to Seek Out: Buildings, Culture, Events and the Local People
Many tourists will cruise along the Grand Canal and visit the attractions of St Mark's. That's it. But Venice is much more than this and there are historic and cultural sights worth seeing throughout the city. Churches in particular are unsurprisingly well represented, and many have a history and a state of preservation which would make them a national treasure in any other country.
And Venice's long history as a cultural centre means that there is much more to see than just physical bricks and mortar. Theatres and opera houses such as the Teatro La Fenice remain as world class venues for high culture, and art galleries like the Accademia (classical art) and Peggy Guggenheim Collection (modern art) are among the most popular attractions in the city.
And when one is done with viewing the historic buiildings and Venetian culture, then there are always local people going about their business, in some cases plying the same trades as they have done for centuries - market traders, street entertainers, gondoliers and the like. All can offer interesting viewing and great photos.
If there is one time of the year when Venice comes into its own, and high culture and common people unite, then it must be Carnival time. Venice is synonymous with carnival, and the many concerts, masquerade balls and processions associated with it. I have not experienced these events, but all accounts suggest that this is the time to be in Venice, when its history really comes alive and the people re-enact age-old festivities. Go there in carnival season if you can, but really at all times of the year and whatever one's interests, there are sights to be seen throughout Venice.
Carnival masks - the Moon and the Sun | Source
The external staircase of Scala del Bovolo, part of the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo | Source
Venice's Best Hidden Secret
Perhaps Venice's best concealed architectural wonder is hidden away in a tiny little courtyard not far from San Marco. It is the spiral staircase of Scala del Bovolo. This will pass many tourists by, either because they're not aware of it, or because they just can't find it and give up, thinking it's not worth the effort. It IS worth the effort.
The small square of Campo Manin can be found on most reasonably detailed maps of Venice. Once there you have to look carefully around the walls of the square. On one of them is a very small sign with the name of the 'Scala' and an arrow pointing down a short narrow street. A couple of twists and turns from there and another sign brings you to the staircase courtyard. It's not easy to get photos because the courtyard is tiny, while the staircase is tall with five ornate spirals and an upper platform, but it's a beautiful 500 year old building well worth seeking out.
Scala del Bovolo, and the palace it serves. The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo was built in the 15th century, and its beautiful staircase was added in 1499. 'Bovolo' means snail-shell, referring to the spiral shape and appearance of the staircase | Source
Not all canals in Venice are like the Grand Canal. This is much more typical. | Source
The Narrow Streets and the Tiny Creeks of Venice
So far we have concentrated on the big and the spectacular. But there is much more to Venice than luxurious palaces and churches, and the Grand Canal, and all the galleries, theatres and museums. So what lies away from the main tourist attractions?
Land space is at a premium in Venice, so there's no space for wide avenues. Who needs them anyway without any cars? What's more, the streets have never provided the main entrance into buildings which front on to the canals; the streets effectively are just a space between houses and a way of getting from one canal to another. As a result some of the streets in Venice are quite extraordinarily narrow. The narrowest of all is called Calle Varisco at just 52 cm (20 inches) wide. I never found that, but the pathway shown below is sufficiently narrow that two reasonable sized people cannot pass without getting quite intimate!
Likewise, when it comes to waterways the Grand Canal is the exception, not the rule. There are 177 canals in Venice, and there is only one like the Grand Canal. All the rest are more like the little creek featured here. No vaporetti pass down these canals, just gondolas and small boats which serve the local people who live here, and the businesses they run. Take away the two motor boats from the photo of the canal above, and this could be a scene from the 16th century.
Just one of the many narrow streets in Venice - but some are only half this width! | Source
Libreria Acqua Alta | 5,333 |
Dr. Maarten Boudry: Dr. Boudry is a philosopher and Doctoral Researcher at Ghent University in Belgium. I first became aware of Dr. Boudry late last year during the extended back and forth between Jerry Coyne, PZ Myers, Sean Carroll and others on the question of whether there could ever be convincing evidence for the existence of God. Dr. Boudry's work was cited and discussed and made quite an impression. His doctoral dissertation, Here Be Dragons (pdf), recently came across my radar, the reading of which gave me no less of a reason to be impressed. He joined us to talk about whether science can say anything about the supernatural, "irreducible complexity", and the demarcation between science vs. pseudoscience.
He makes some good points, including the notion that many pseudosciences—and not just religion depend on "supernatural" explanations, and he highlights the problem of defining what is "supernatural." It's well worth listening to, especially if you haven't read Boudry's papers.
This entry was written by whyevolutionistrue and posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:40 am and filed under atheism, radio. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
Jerry, can you remind us of your definition of what the "supernatural" is?
Every definition I've ever come across reduces either to what I like to call the "paranormal," that which is unlikely but not impossible, and the logically absurd — married bachelors, if you will.
Telepathy would be an example of the paranormal. Indeed, one would expect real telepathy to be invented, through the help of technology, in the not-so-distant future. Humans (or another species) could have evolved with a mechanism to support it, and did evolve with mechanisms supporting a very weak form of it (the ability to model the internal mental state of another based on verbal and non-verbal cues).
A married bachelor, on the other hand, doesn't even make sense in the first place.
Richard Carrier has a post somewhere with an interesting definition: "supernatural" refers to something with a mind or mental effect that is not reducible to natural processes. He then goes on to talk about why this doesn't suffer from unfalsifiability and different possible evidence that could occur.
That could more precisely be stated as defining the supernatural as a violation of the Church-Turing Thesis.
While Church-Turing hasn't yet been proven, it would be unwise at this point to bet that it will ever be falsified. I'm pretty sure that any violation of Church-Turing could be exploited to create a perpetual motion machine, and the laws of conservation are about as unshakable as things get in science.
Also, how does a Church-Turing violation lead to a perpetual motion machine?
Richard might not have meant that, but it's what it reduces to.
An immaterial mind could act as Maxwell's Demon and know precisely when to open and close the gates without using any energy to do so. Le voilà, entropy reversal.
This is trivially supported by observing that all proposed "hyper-Turing" mechanisms require infinite resources of some form or another — infinite time, infinite energy, an infinite number of computations in a finite amount of time, that sort of thing. The only way you could power something like that is with the aid of a perpetual motion machine.
As IANAPh, "immaterial" or "not reducible to natural processes" things that still do things just make me blank out for a while.
Isn't doing something material the same thing as being something material? Isn't it the case that I'm something material BY doing something material?
And what does "energy" mean if moving things around doesn't necessarily relate to it?
Does that mean that if the Christian god resides in our present universe, the Christian god is not "supernatural"?
I think that anciently the Christian (and Jewish) god was considered to be part of our universe, if not "of the Earth", but as science advanced and found no evidence of god in the natural world, he was recast as a supernatural entity, (supposedly) beyond the bounds of scientific inquiry.
Of course, as Jerry has pointed out repeatedly, if god is supernatural but still intercedes in the real world, there would be evidence of such intercession.
If it's interfering with our material world, that's taking place in our spatiotemporal universe. At most, you can invoke Flatland-style extra dimensions, but I hardly think that should qualify as somehow supernatural.
Is that which is beyond our Hubble horizon supernatural?
But one could also reasonably argue that Marconi was the first human telepath.
Everything that exists is natural, not supernatural. If ghosts were proven to be real, they would be natural, as contradictory as that sounds. Therefore, anything truly supernatural is untestable — and also nonexistent. You could test for specific things, to see if they are natural instead of supernatural. You can never, however, prove something supernatural exists, because then it would be natural.
But if there is evidence for it, it ceases to be supernatural and just becomes natural -?
Not at all, that would be the start of a new world view.
Because the claim is that we have a dualism (say matter vs souls), and instead of that we today have overwhelming evidence to the contrary one may well discover a dualist sector one day.
Totally agree – end of debate. I've commented on several of these "evidence of the supernatural" threads and I still have no idea what Jerry is talking about – not that that's a discredit to him, of course. I've yet to see a coherent definition of "supernatural".
Yup. If the supernatural can be seen, smelled, heard, felt, etc., it can be measured and, once measured, becomes part of the natural world. Ergo, the supernatural is an oxymoron.
1) It isn't explicable in terms of natural laws and other empirically-derived explanatory relationships.
2) It's beyond our ken: we can't understand or predict it according to *any* set of laws.
3) It's causally privileged over the natural: it controls or has power over the natural but is not itself at the effect of the natural.
Can we categorically rule out the possibility of there ever being observational evidence of something that meets these criteria?
Since we can't a priori know what laws we will empirically derive in future, this doesn't really rule out anything.
Again, how can we possibly know whether something adheres to any possible set of laws that we might discover in future?
This just begs the question — the issue is precisely whether something is natural, and one can't determine that by saying that it is privileged over the natural in general. Again, at best we can say that something seems to have causal priority over what we currently understand to be the natural, but by that criterion, there was a time that magnetism would have counted as "supernatural".
That's why it's provisional. Right, now we are provisional methodological naturalists. Maybe we later discover a phenomenon that fits Tom Clark's three conditions, then we would provisionally accept the supernatural. If we then discover that a way of understanding this being in natural terms, then we would go back to being provisional methodological naturalists. The only mistake would be if we encountered something that seemed supernatural and gave up on inquiry.
But you missed my point, which is that we can never determine whether Tom's criteria are met.
Or, alternately, if we argue that the critera are relative to our understanding at a given time, magnetism really was "supernatural" prior to our understanding of electromagnetism — not that it seemed to be, but, according to the criteria, really was. That alternative seems…problematic.
No, magnetism was never supernatural. The actual fact of the matter is independent of our beliefs on the subject, although Kuhnians and other Social Constructivists make that mistake. All of this only has to do with the question of what we should provisionally believe. We would never and should never reject provisional naturalism lightly, just as we wouldn't overturn relativity theory on the basis of one very complicated and ambiguous neutrino measurement, but adequate, persistent evidence meeting Tom Clark's criteria should lead us to be provisional supernaturalists. But as I said, that isn't an excuse to stop inquiry.
Maybe the point is that the belief that something is supernatural would be so corrosive to inquiry that it is self-defeating. It is better for me to believe that something is natural and that I just don't understand it because that is a belief that is more consistent with inquiry. I just don't see the problem there. I think it's possible to simultaneously believe that something is supernatural and believe that I might be wrong and should therefore continue my inquiry.
Right, but we can never know if our beliefs are fully concordant with reality or not — there is always more to find out epistemically. Which is why basing criteria for the supernatural on our current understanding is problematic, as I suggested above.
Agreed, it's always a matter of further inquiry to see whether a particular phenomenon eventually falls to naturalization. Seems to me neither the naturalist or supernaturalist can say with absolute certainty that their worldview is *necessarily* true, no matter what observations might come along. However, if you stick with empiricism as your way of deciding what's the case, at the moment all the evidence is on the side of the naturalist and there's no reason I know of to suppose this will change.
>>>if you stick with empiricism as your way of deciding what's the case, at the moment all the evidence is on the side of the naturalist and there's no reason I know of to suppose this will change.
if our brains are made up of matter and our higher order thinking (deliberative capability) therefor is the property of matter why would we bother with something that points to the substance we _know_ is outside of our operational domain?
Tom, your criterion #3 would seem to imply that any hypothetical<|fim_middle|> described Mercury's orbit as supernatural (aside from the usual kookery suspects, of course), and nobody today would describe neutrinos as supernatural (again, same caveat), yet both fit your definition.
No, prior to Einstein, Mercury's orbit was not supernatural (by DV's definition). It was anomalous, but it didn't violate Newtonian gravitation. Explanations of the anomaly were quite natural; for example, that there was another, as-yet-unobserved planet (Vulcan) closer to the Sun that was perturbing Mercury's orbit.
I think we need to take care to distinguish between what cannot be explained by current scientific models/theories/laws – that is, putative new natural phenomena (such as general relativity) — and what truly violates those models/theories/laws – putative supernatural phenomena.
In the first comment, Ben, you said, "Every definition I've ever come across reduces … to what I like to call the 'paranormal,' that which is unlikely but not impossible, …" But what do your preferences have to do with it? 😉 Someone else might say, "Every definition of 'paranormal' I've every come across reduces … to what I'd like to call the 'supernatural'…"!
Is there a really meaningful or useful distinction between the two?
Hmm… perhaps a real difference lies in that "paranormal" things are testable and falsifiable — that is, which can be tested scientifically — whereas (other) "supernatural" things aren't… That would give you a much narrower definition of the (non-paranormal) supernatural — things which are not necessarily logically impossible — and a fairly broad definition of paranormal that would include many things that most people would call supernatural.
No, prior to Einstein, Mercury's orbit was not supernatural (by DV's definition). It was anomalous, but it didn't violate Newtonian gravitation.
How is "anomalous" not synonymous with a violation of the associated principle?
Is a human walking on water a mere anomaly or does it violate the principle of the relative strengths of surface tension and gravity?
You know that there's a clear difference between something that's an anomaly (oddity, peculiarity, abnormality, irregularity, inconsistency, incongruity, aberration, quirk, rarity) and something that violates (contravenes, breaches, infringes, breaks, transgresses, oversteps, disobeys, defies, flouts; disregards, ignores, tramples on) something.
We know that scientific laws/models/theories are continually refined, so a small anomaly – like the perihelion precession of Mercury (a 0.86% discrepancy) or, say, horizontal gene transfer – doesn't violate the theory – Mercury still orbits the Sun in a way that's consistent with the principles of Newtonian gravitation, organisms showing HGT are still subject to evolution by natural selection.
Had Mercury shown a gross difference from the behaviour expected of a planet – a rectilinear orbit? – that would have been a violation evincing something supernatural.
Your definition comes down to one of degree, but such a distinction is meaningless. What if, instead of walking on water, you can wade through the ocean, never getting more than waist-deep? Would that be paranormal as opposed to supernatural? How about if you can't wade, but you can keep your depth to no more than 20 feet, and you've got a 30-foot pipe you can breath through? Does that then become paranormal?
With Newton but without Relativity, the 0.86% discrepancy in Mercury's orbit is as shocking as a square one. If MIT developed a new substance that, when dropped in a vacuum chamber, fell at 99.14% the speed it should have, that would revolutionize physics as much as if it developed one that flew upwards. Once you encounter something unexplainable, it doesn't matter how similar it is to something you've encountered before — it still remains unexplainable.
Well, no, it isn't just a matter of degree.
And I'm not arguing paranormal v. supernatural, but natural v. supernatural.
Re Mercury, that small discrepancy is nowhere near as shocking as a square one (funnily, I was imagining a triangular one earlier). You can imagine a correction to Newton, a refinement, that explains it. As, indeed, Einstein did. But its elliptical orbit is still largely consistent with Newton. A square (or triangular) orbit, with gravitational forces acting on the planet only at the vertices (or some arbitrary force neutralising gravity except at the vertices) and then in a way that provides instantaneous deceleration in one direction and instantaneous acceleration in a perpendicular (or obtuse) direction (that is, infinite forces). And in a way that doesn't distort other planetary motion in the solar system (beyond the perturbations of Mercury's odd orbit.) That is truly a violation of Newton (and more!) and with a vanishingly small chance of having a natural explanation.
Let me try a different tact.
A phenomenon can be explainable or not. Our model of the phenomenon can be precise or not.
It is the overwhelming conclusion of human experience that all phenomena are explainable. As Sean Carroll has observed, the laws underlying the physics of everyday life are completely understood.
If there were to be a reproducible observation of something that does not fit into that understanding (or of the expanded version that includes quantum and relativistic phenomena), that would be cause to revise our understandings — it would not be cause to slap the "supernatural" label on it.
And that's the real difference between both the natural and the supernatural and science and religion.
Ant Allan, are *you* serious? An irregularity in the orbit of a planet or a material that is repelled by gravity, rather than attracted by it, is *not* supernatural, but a material that "flew sideways" would be supernatural? I have to agree with Ben Goren on this one.
I take it you're not suggesting that an irregularity in the orbit of a planet or a material that is repelled by gravity, rather than attracted by it, cannot be natural…?
But a material that "flew sideways" under the influence of gravity (and no other forces; e.g., no superconducting magnet to wrench an iron mass towards it) … could that be natural?
Well, yes, I"m familiar with Sean's article. But, if, indeed, the laws underlying the physics of everyday life are completely understood, the corollary is that we know, with a high degree of certainty, what cannot happen … according to the laws underlying the physics of everyday life.
… Is the claim plausible according to the standard model of particle physics, the principle of relativity, the theory of gravitation, and the rest of verified knowledge? For example, does a proposed machine require the expenditure of energy without an energy source? Then it cannot happen. Does ESP require that information travels faster than the speed of light? Then it cannot happen. Does a UFO defy gravity and hang suspended high in the air with no visible means of support? Then it cannot happen.
But, if something that cannot happen (naturally) nevertheless does happen — and thus violates the regular and general laws of nature that have been established — then it can only be supernatural.
… consider that there are at least eleven ways of writing equations describing the motion of a baseball or a planet. (Hamilton's equations, Lagrange's equations, Maupertuis' law of least action, etc.) These equations are all equivalent to Newton's second law of motion, but each is different in structure from the others. However, there is only one reality that these several equations describe.
If there were to be a reproducible observation of something that does not fit the description of reality provided by our scientific laws, theories, and models, then, yes, that would be cause to revise and expand that description, by refining, modifying or enlarging those laws. And of course, that's exactly what happens. Mercury's anomalous orbit required a change to the Newtonian model, which Einstein's general relativity provided.
The Newtonian model wasn't discarded, but kept as a first approximation to general relativity that's more than good enough for everyday life (ignoring GPS). The Newton model wasn't violated. Nor could it be, by anything natural, as the reality it describes is still the reality it describes and the description remains valid for certain scales and masses. It remains unsafe to take small children onto the roofs of tall buildings (as Labi Siffre once reminded me).
It's not clear what laws would be violated by a 700-foot-tall Space Jesus, but restoring the limbs of amputees… well, that depends how it's done. See my response to jose, below.
What there won't be [in the next 1000 years] is some dramatic paradigm shift that says "Oops, sorry about those electrons and protons and neutrons, we found that they don't really exist. Now it's zylbots all the way down." Nor will we have discovered new fundamental particles and forces that are crucial to telling the story of everyday phenomena. If those existed, we would have found them by now. The view of electrons and protons and neutrons interacting through the Standard Model and gravity will stay with us forever — added to and better understood, but never replaced or drastically modified.
So, if we see something that violates this model — some everyday object or substance that is comprised only of zylbots, say – then I think that'd be a pretty good reason to slap the "supernatural" label on it.
So, Ant, is your proposed definition of supernatural "that which cannot happen but nevertheless does happen"? I'll stand by my original assertaion that I have not yet seen a coherent definition of "supernatural".
Not quite… Rather (and I pretty musch say this verbatim above), "that which cannot happen (naturally) but nevertheless does happen".
I think that that (or any equivalent statement) is the only possible coherent definition.
For a philosophical naturalist, the implication is clear, I think.
To the extent that this definition is at all meaningful, which I don't think it is, I can't imagine any standard of evidence and evaluation thereof that could reliably differentiate between the "natural" and the "not".
Separately, I don't think I understand what you meant by "For a philosophical naturalist, the implication is clear, I think." Are you simply saying that, for a philosophical naturalist like me, the supernatural is, *by definition*, "a perfect synonym for impossible"?
Yes, I think I can agree with that.
From a PN pov, everything that exists is natural and, as above, the supernatural is impossible. Essentially, this is the definition of PN!
So, to accept that there can be something distinct to which the label supernatural applies, we have to suspend PN, and allow that things that are not natural can nevertheless exist.
If it exists we can perceive its existence, then we must be able to evaluate evidence for it. (The notion that being able to evaluate evidence means that something is natural is grounded in PN, but we've suspended that by allowing that there can something labelled supernatural.) If there is some quotidian terrestrial material composed of zylbots, we must have a means to determine that it isn't composed of protons, neutrons and electrons.
With, PN suspended, natural means everything that fits within the laws, theories, and models that have been established by science (broadly defined) or contiguous extensions of them (as GR extended Newtonian gravitation), and supernatural means anything which violates, contradicts, or is otherwise runs counter to those laws, theories, and models.
So, this is a philosophical thought experiment of the kinds that Al West might like. I think the conceptual problems one might have with it stem from PN intuitions (which are right, of course, but which you have to let go of as soon as you allow the possibility of the supernatural).
The mulitverse (if there is one) would be supernatural , would it not? Whatever existed out there would not be constrained by naturalism.
NB, I am NOT suggesting that "God" exists out there in the multiverse. We're just doing definitions here.
The various flavours of multiverse (which might be contiguous), while highly speculative, are grounded in naturalistic physics and cosmology. Arguably, the hypotheses are not entirely falsifiable or empirically distinguishable, so they might not be properly scientific. But they're still "natural"!
To flesh this out, the popular sci fi trope of "alternate dimensions" often involves realms beyond this world in which supernatural stuff like ghosts or magic.
This is contrasted with a few different esoteric physical theories: (1) the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, (2) the inflationary multiverse model advocated by, e.g., physicist Sean Carroll, and (3) various string theories and quantum field theories that involve either extra dimensions that are too curled up to be relevant at macro scale or involve the whole universe being embedded in a larger, higher-dimensional universe that might itself contain other universes besides ours (so a sort of multiverse).
Under (1), all the alternate worlds have identical laws of physics but indeterminate quantum events have different outcomes in different universes: there is one universe in which slightly more than half of your radioactive sample decayed in one half-life and one in which slightly less than half decayed in one half-life. Under (2), the basic outlines of the laws of nature would be consistent from universe to universe — they'd probably all have gravity and electromagnetism — but the fundamental constants might differ, so gravity might be stronger in one universe than in another. I'm not as sure about (3), but I think it would be similar to (2) in which the same basic laws apply but perhaps with different weights than for us.
Real physicists or amateurs more committed than myself, please correct as needed.
I think (1) and (2) are the only "real" multiverses — and might actually be different views of the same underlying physics.
(3) is how our universe is and is likely a subset of (2). There's no other universe within those curled-up dimensions — they give rise to gravity, electroweak and strong forces. But in other universes within (2), the dimensions may curl up in different ways, actually giving rise to different sets of forces – as Sean says (in the link above), "they can have different particles, different forces, even different numbers of dimensions" — so, actually, we needn't expect those universes to have gravity and electromagnetism at all!
Hmm… manifestations rather than views.
I suppose we could keep calling something "supernatural" even after we flesh it out. But I don't think I would be inclined to do so.
Everything that happens in nature is natural. Duh. If it violates the laws of physics, it just means we had to adjust the laws of physics. People seem to forget we invented those laws to describe stuff. They were not given to us as eternal presents by the Elders of the Universe or anything. Newton looked at the planets and came up with a formula. If tomorrow I throw a stone and it doesn't fall but keeps flying around, we'll need another formula, that's all.
If tomorrow a paralyzed person with cancer and no arms and no legs goes to a church and prays and suddenly he's fine, no cancer, no paralysis, yes arms and legs, science can't say it was a supernatural event. All science can say is "I have no idea how this happened and I can't figure this problem out for now". Saying God Did It is religion, not science. If those things start to happen regularly, then it will be time to accept religion as a method that works and abandon science, since we could just ask the Creator instead of bothering researching stuff that might turn out to be supernatural as well.
The moment you consider something as a miracle, you're admitting the issue doesn't admit explanation and the only thing left to do is to thank God for his gifts and pray.
For what it's worth, a few years ago I wrote a paper on this topic which broadly agrees with Dr. Boudry's thesis. The paper was originally published in a special issue of the journal Science & Education and later as a chapter in the book Science, Worldviews, and Education (Springer). Tom Clark has kindly made it available at his website.
Can Science Test Supernatural Worldviews?
If tomorrow a paralyzed person with cancer and no arms and no legs goes to a church and prays and suddenly he's fine, no cancer, no paralysis, yes arms and legs, science can't say it was a supernatural event.
Well, let's think about those arms and legs. Suddenly yes, arms and legs. Where did they come from? How were all internal structures formed? How did they mesh with the person's body? How do they survive the trauma? (It seems reasonable to think that suddenly having limbs would be as traumatic as suddenly losing them.) More fundamentally, where did the matter come from?
But to have the limbs appear fully formed, instantaneously. No. The chances of a natural explanation for that are vanishingly small.
Yes, we invented scientific laws/theories/models to describe stuff; nature behaves as it behaves. As I've said often before, no electron solves Schrödinger's equation. And as we find new evidence and encounter new phenomena, those models will undoubtedly be modified or turn out to be a special case of another more general model (as Newtonian gravity is still a perfectly useful approximation of general relativity for most quotidian purposes — GPS being the oft-cited exception). But the likelihood that something acts contrary to those models in the regime where those models have been well established is remote in the extreme and can be rationally discounted, such that if it does happen it's a pretty good candidate for the supernatural.
As PZ Myers has said, for example, the theory of evolution is so well established that any new discovery would result only in "evolution+": thus, something that overturned everything we know about evolution and what it predicts would likely be supernatural. Pre-Cambrian kittehs, for example.
Flying stones? Why not? But flying stones that accelerate without the action of a force… ? It's not going to happen. Naturally. | supernatural agents must by definition remain forever ignorant of the existence of the natural world, since no natural cause can impinge on them in any way.
I have to say this doesn't sound like any conception of the supernatural I've ever heard of; in particular, while it's conceivable that a supernatural god of this sort might unwittingly create a natural universe as an unintended side effect of its supernatural activity, such a god could by definition have no awareness of or interest in the fate of that natural universe or its inhabitants. So I'm not sure on what basis you characterize this as "a commonsense understanding of supernatural".
If there is to be genuine interaction and mutual awareness between the natural and the supernatural, then causality must run both ways, which would seem to erase the distinction you're trying to establish.
Good point, I should have been clearer about what I meant by saying that the supernatural is not at the effect of the natural. I think it's part of the commonsense definition of the supernatural (at least of supernatural agents) that they have powers over the natural world that merely natural agents can't exert in response. So although there might be causal interaction both ways as you point out, there's an asymmetry in exerting control.
I'm not sure I see the distinction between "control" and "causal interaction". If prayers are heard and answered, if souls can retain memories of their embodied lives, then natural processes exert some degree of control over supernatural entities.
If you mean simply that supernatural agents are thought to be more powerful than natural agents, in the sense of wielding greater energies or more subtle physical effects, see Clarke's Law.
I have powers over bisquits that they can't exert in response.
I actually think that simple definitions like "a supernatural event is one which violates of the laws of thermodynamics" work extremely well. E.g., if your explanation violate the conservation of mass/energy, it's a supernatural explanation. If you violate conservation of mass/energy, it literally becomes true that 1 + 1 does not necessarily equal 2, when you are talking about objects instead of abstract math.
I suppose it is possible that a creative philosopher can imagine some highly contrived counterfactual situation in which mass/energy conservation violations are routine and they then get taken as natural law, but I'm dubious about this entire philosophical procedure of winning arguments by imagining highly contrived counterfactuals. I suspect you could "prove" *anything* what way. E.g. "Imagine if logic didn't work." "Imagine if evidence always pointed to the wrong explanation". Blah blah blah, this sort of argument doesn't really clarify anything.
No need to get exotic.
At a human scale, doubling the force of your rocket engine doubles the acceleration. But if you're going a significant fraction of the speed of light, doubling the force of your engine doesn't make you go anywhere near twice as fast.
Lacking the "highly contrived counterfactual" knowledge Einstein gave us of that situation, you'd have every right to call that a violation of the law of conservation and declare particle accelerators to be supernatural, possibly invoking an angry Jesus blowing hard the opposite direction on your accelerator as the requisite supernatural explanation.
The laws of conservation are essentially an expression of the symmetric nature of the universe. One can easily imagine asymmetric universes in which conservation isn't applicable. Indeed, life on Earth is itself a perfect example, what with that bright yellow thing overhead asymmetrically suppling us with all that's necessary to turn a tiny seed into a giant redwood.
One can question where an all-encompassing definition of "universe" (such as Sagan's Cosmos) can logically be asymmetric, but one can also use the same logic that Turing used to prove the Halting Problem to prove that we can never know whether what we perceive as the all of everything really is, or if there's still something more outside.
In addition to the fact that a supernatural event that is measurable in the real world would then cease existing as supernatural we would now no longer be obligated to pray and sacrifice our virgins to its creator.
What he said. It's simple. If you can demonstrate it, it's natural.
I think that is the dilemma. Evidence of supernaturalism produced as evidence for 'God' (the traditional God) could simply be evidence of a superior technology.
As several others have pointed out, there can't be evidence of supernaturalism. Once there's evidence, I would assume a natural cause, then a superior technology, before I would assume God. I'm agreeing with you, it's just that the whole language thing becomes tricky.
I assume this will be a book at some point, quite the tome!
I don't see naturalism as a limitation. For the supernatural to exist, as far as we are concerned, it would have to interact with us somehow. Apparitions, visions, voices, moving objects, a "feeling", are all forms of interaction, and should, therefore, be testable and ultimately explainable. Just because we can't immediately provide an explanation does not mean that the phenomenon does not have a natural cause, even something previously considered to be in the realm of the supernatural. The nanosecond something interacts with the natural world, it becomes, by definition, a natural phenomenon, and subject to scientific inquiry. If you wish to entertain the notion that all kinds of supernatural things could exist without interacting with the natural world, well, that's just irrelevant.
Agreed. Supernaturalism is a defeasible hypothesis about the world, if one is an empiricist.
Supernatural agents are often thought to interact with the natural world, but to be causally privileged over it, so I'm not sure that interaction with the natural world by definition makes something natural. But of course we can try to investigate any observed phenomenon using the methods of science and see if we can naturalize it. So far, naturalization has been the fate of all supposedly supernatural phenomena.
And I'm not sure that you can say anything regarding causal privilege for the supernatural that isn't pure speculation.
If it interacts with the natural world, the interaction has a natural component, and can be measured. Maybe I overstepped a tiny bit, but the point still stands. How about "almost by definition"?
Yes I agree. I'm not at all sure if there can be any evidence for the supernatural because by definition, once it can be demonstrated then we have evidence for whatever it is and it is natural.
This does highlight what is specifically wrong with religious dogma and faith. It's not that religious dogma and faith are beliefs. Beliefs are a totally normal part of being a human or any other agent. Atheists, naturalists and scientists have beliefs. That doesn't make atheism or naturalism "faiths" or "another religion". The problem with religious dogma is that it is incorrigible rather than provisional. The problems with faith are two-fold in that it is incorrigible and it deliberately violates the epistemic obligation that a belief have evidence.
Boudry's thesis looks extremely interesting. I only leafed through the main part (so far), and would especially recommend to readers the conclusion of roughly ten pages, which I did read a couple of times. In particular, one initially gets the impression of Boudry supporting Larry Laudan's dismissal of the reality of the so-called demarcation problem between science and pseudoscience (especially the example of intelligent design in this thesis). However, the conclusion makes it clear that the opposite, if anything, is the case (and that is more congenial to my, admittedly somewhat superficial, attitude.
The definition of 'natural' seems somewhat of a tautology with whatever is detected by the senses. Therefore, whatever is detected is natural, including supernatural events that are detected by the senses.
The definition of 'natural' seems required beforehand before practicing methodological naturalism, unless we prefer the term scientific scepticism. Again, then whatever is discovered by science must be natural.
Thus, if the definition 'supernaturalism' means outside of the natural, then it must be also outside of science.
So I can't see how supernaturalism can ever be resolved by science, unless we change the meaning of science. Supernaturalism must fall outside of science, by definition.
The problem with "Supernaturalism must fall outside of science, by definition" is that it is a theological claim of NOMA. Good for agnostics or philosophers, not so useful for atheists or empiricists.
We must look at the empiricism here instead, as dragging in "science" implies.
First, there is nothing tautological in physics. What we can observe, but didn't have to, is that it is a physicalist monism.
Second, the claim that there is a supernatural sector is ultimately a claim that there is a qualitative difference that constitutes a dualism (creator agents, miracles, souls, et cetera). For instance, none of those obey physicalist energy conservation, instead they break it.
So observable, and by now invalid.
I don't believe NOMA is theological, but epistemological. It's the difference between objectivity and subjectivity. What I disagree about NOMA is the silly idea that religion has anything to do with morality.
NOMA can be understood philosophically as the difference between 'is' and 'ought' in the case of ethical judgments, but can also apply to the difference between all concepts or values and objective facts. Naturalism is limited to the world of facts and objectivity.
Philosophy or scepticism are not limited by this separation, and so philosophy still has plenty of life left.
It seems to me there's a point when it's fine to simply shrug off imaginary nonsense without reference to detailed philosophical reasoning. Common sense can work wonders. A rule of thumb like "there's no mind without a physical substrate" lets you rule out gods, demons, angels, fairies, ghosts, spirits, souls, and a whole host of other imaginary invisible intelligences.
Humans are capable of imagining all sorts of wonderful stuff. We should take delight in it and enjoy it thoroughly, and not need to investigate every bump in the night to see if it's an alien kidnapper.
A rule of thumb like "there's no mind without a physical substrate" lets you rule out gods, demons, angels, fairies, ghosts, spirits, souls, and a whole host of other imaginary invisible intelligences.
While I would most certainly agree with you that there are no non-corporeal minds, I would vigorously object to the notion that that's something we should simply take for granted.
Indeed, not taking it for granted is what's led to some of the most fascinating work in information theory, especially the work of Claude Shannon. Alan Turing's most brilliant insights only could have come about by imagining what would happen were it not the case and extrapolating the consequences. Even thermodynamics gets into the act — Maxwell's Demon is a wonderful example of how one could build a perpetual motion machine out of an immaterial mind.
Had we simply adopted a "rule of thumb" such as you describe, none of that would be anywhere near as well understood as it is today.
supernatural is anything that violates known natural laws. this must be a provisional definition. if the set of natural laws eventually include an explanation of the phenomenon, then it ceases to be supernatural. This means of course that we can't be absolutely certain that something that looks supernatural now may not turn out to be natural in the future. However this doesn't render all supernatural claims valid. We can still rule out claims of supernatural phenomenon by probability or by logical inconsistency. As Dawkins has argued, our inability to absolutely rule-out the existence of God, doesn't mean its probability of existence is on par with its probability of non-existence.
That's not a very useful definition, I'm afraid. Prior to Einstein, Mercury's orbit was supernatural. If the CERN superluminal neutrino experiment can be repeated, superluminal neutrinos will be superluminal, but only until we figure out what's going on (if we ever do).
I don't think anybody in the 19th century would have | 2,508 |
Harold<|fim_middle|> first name of Arthur D. Was he related to Harold?
Photographer: H. Tarr. 1397 Broadway. N.Y.
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 17th, 2015 at 4:15 pm and tagged with 1910s, army, Harold H Richmond, New York, soldier, USA, WWI and posted in Cabinet Photos, Military. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
He must have been successful in some type of business to own two properties, heh!
Lol how did you come up with that?
I'll refrain from commenting any further lol!
Interesting information, I'm glad he did well in his life! The map and photo are an unusual size indeed! | H. Richmond. WWI U.S. soldier. Private Collection.
I love finding vintage photos in formats less commonly found. This picture is 3″ x 8″, tucked in a folder with flaps. This young man is IDed on the back as Harold H. Richmond. A note below the name in the same handwriting says World War.
On this picture private Harold is in his early twenties, standing straight and proud in his uniform. He was born in 1892 in Connecticut and he's of the lucky ones who survived the Great War; his name isn't listed on the lists of casualties from either New York or Connecticut, and he appears on a census from 1940.
He married a lady named Marian and did well for himself owning two listed residences; one in Winchester N.Y and another in Fairfield Connecticut.
Another Richmond from Waterbury (CT) did die during the war. He was a private with the | 192 |
Alt Sugar Developer Bonumose Partnering With Hershey on $28M Virginia Expansion
Bonumose will move into a former State Farm building to expand production capabilities and relocate its existing R&D lab from North Fork, VA.
Virginia Economic Development Association
CHARLOTTESVILLE—Governor Ralph North<|fim_middle|> have been affiliated with the University of Virginia. The Commonwealth's leading research universities, thriving food production industry, natural beauty, and quality of life in Central Virginia are second-to-none. We are blessed with a skilled workforce in this region and can also recruit talented individuals from anywhere in the world. Access to the world-class Port of Virginia was a consideration, too. Due to Bonumose's business partners in other states and other countries, we have had opportunities to grow outside Virginia, but we are happy with our choice to deepen our roots here at home."
"The new Bonumose facility represents a big next step in our commitment to providing consumers better-for-you confection that is both affordable and accessible," said The Hershey Company Chief Development Officer Kris Meulen. "By bringing together the necessary expertise, capabilities, and resources all under one roof, scaling transformative uses of rare sugar alternatives will become a reality–helping to create new jobs and to reach new consumers."
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Albemarle County and the Central Virginia Partnership to secure the project. Governor Northam approved a $256,000 grant from the Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund to assist Albemarle County with the project. Governor Northam also approved a performance-based grant of $300,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant. The performance grant is an incentive for existing Virginia companies to continue capital investment. Bonumose is eligible to receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program. Funding and services to support the company's employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
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Weber went public in August 2021. | am today announced that Bonumose, Inc. will partner with Hershey to research and develop reduced or zero sugar chocolate products. The company will invest $27.7 million to expand in Albemarle County.
Bonumose will move into 36,000 square feet of the former State Farm building to expand production capabilities and relocate its existing research and development lab from North Fork—a University of Virginia Discovery Park. Virginia successfully competed with Florida, Idaho, and North Dakota for the project, which will create 64 new jobs.
"We are thrilled to celebrate the growth of Bonumose as it expands production and collaborates with other valued partners in the Commonwealth," said Governor Northam. "This innovative company continues to advance our food and beverage processing industries. We look forward to a long and productive partnership with the company."
Bonumose developed and patented the methods for continuous production of high-purity rare sugars, such as tagatose and allulose. These sugars come from plant-based feedstock, specifically starch. Earlier this year, The Hershey Company announced it would grow its confections offerings using Bonumose's products.
Bonumose, Inc. was founded in 2016 in Charlottesville. It is supported by investors and collaborators across the globe. Its cost-effective process makes the use of rare sugars possible. Bonumose uses the starch byproduct left over from its supply chain partners' food production to develop the sugar. The company is also developing enzyme solutions for dietary supplements, crop protection, animal nutrition, and other industries.
"Virginia businesses continue to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies, and we are proud that Bonumose has chosen to deepen its roots in Albemarle County and take advantage of its supportive business environment and robust talent pipeline," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. "The company will return a shuttered facility to productive use and create 64 new jobs in Central Virginia, which is exciting news for the region.
"Virginia, and more specifically, Albemarle County, has been important to Bonumose's growth to date," said Bonumose Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Ed Rogers. "Several of our employees | 448 |
Lock in a great price for ZEN Premium Kampong Glam – rated 8.4 by recent guests!
Rooms are small but still feel very noce. The bed is very confortable and also the pillows. Very close to two stations of the TRM metro. Breakfast was ok for a few days. They give this Handy cellphone to take on your trips around the city with free calls and internet, even international calls.
Customer service is excellent and all staff very friendly and helpful!
staff went out of their way to help me . I arrived unexpectedly with a friend. they managed to change my reservation and get us a double<|fim_middle|> was a bit small, but hey, I'm a big guy!
Excellent facilities with lots of 'surprise and delight' features. The hotel breakfast was good. At first glance the evening eating opportunities don't look great, but walk around the block to the Mosque and it teems with great pavement restaurants, fantastic atmosphere, good deals and great food. The stop for the BigBusTours is less than 5 minutes walk away.
We did have an early start, and breakfast was not available until 7.30am. This was not a big problem, because we had something to eat at the airport, but perhaps a 7am breakfast would be great.
Lovely staff, super comfortable bed and linens. Convenient location to food outlet, and 15 to 20 minute taxi ride to airport. ($15-$20) Lovely quiet rooms. | room. Only $12 more. Did on their own initiative.
The bed was comfy. The shampoo, hair-con, shower gel scent is from Soak, so refreshing, natural, not artificial like most of other brands. The hotel is located in a nice quiet neighborhood with easy access to bus and MRT.
A lot of storage for clothing, big closets and drawers.
It was so much better than I had expected from the pictures in the site. Walking distance from the metro station and market.
Location! There were restaurants, sights, and plenty to do around the hotel.
ZEN Premium Kampong Glam This rating is a reflection of how the property compares to the industry standard when it comes to price, facilities and services available. It's based on a self-evaluation by the property. Use this rating to help choose your stay!
One of our best sellers in Singapore! A 14-minute walk from Bugis Street, ZEN Premium Kampong Glam is located in Singapore and has a garden and free WiFi. Popular points of interest around the property include Mustafa Center and Raffles City. The in-house restaurant serves American cuisine.
All rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hair dryer.
Staff at ZEN Premium Kampong Glam are always available to provide guidance at the reception.
St Andrew's Cathedral is 1.2 miles from the accommodation.
When would you like to stay at ZEN Premium Kampong Glam?
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Room is on the ground floor and because our room was facing the street and it's like a sliding door that separated us and the street, we can hear the sound of cars and buses on the street. Plus because it's an old building we can hear people walking on the above floor, so that really is a downside because I'm sensitive to sound when I'm sleeping. Plus the wifi signal is poor from our room so that needs to be improved too.
The bed is comfy and clean so that's a plus (and an important aspect). Bathroom is nice, we loved the toiletries and shampoos and shower gel! Excellent location!!
The double bed was against a wall so you had to climb over the other person to get in or out. Minor point and we did select the cheapest room.
The location was convenient for City sightseeing and getting around. Staff were very helpful and happy. The bed was comfortable, bathroom well equipped with a good shower, breakfast was good.
Very small room but comfortable.
Great service at the front desk and at breakfast. Very comfortable beds.
Cleanliness of room and staff are nice.
The complimentary breakfast was great and the guy working in the restaurant made my day!
I could not get hot water for shower.
It is a very good hotel in an interesting neighborhood. Nicely renovated.
To be really nitpicking, the bathroom | 624 |
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Arif Al Zafeen and Mohammed Al Marri produced a command performance to win race 1 of the Skydive Dubai and Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix and clinch the UIM Class 1 Middle East Championship.
The Victory 3 crew were simply in a class of their own and led the 12 lap, 56.20Nm race from start-to-finish to win by over a minute and put themselves right back into contention in the fight for the World title having wrapped up the Middle East title.
Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini, who earlier in the day lifted the Edox Pole Position Championship, simply had no answer to the pace and performance of Victory 3 and could only watch as they disappeared into the distance, but today's second place their fifth podium of the year has moved them into the lead in the overall standings.
Giorgio Manuzzi and Pal Virik Nilsen produced one of the best outings of the afternoon to finish on the podium in Victory 7, a boat they are competing in for the first time, and after qualifying in fifth place.
There was bitter disappointment and frustration for Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis who started the penultimate race of the year leading<|fim_middle|> Al Zafeen and Mohammed Al Marri produced another faultless display to win race 2 of the Skydive Dubai and Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix and clinch the 2011 UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.
In what has been a difficult week for the Dubai team the scratch pairing of Al Zafeen and Al Marri, racing together for the first time, responded in the best way possible to complete a hat-trick of wins in their home Grand Prix, their double race win clinching an eleventh World title for Victory Team.
Today's result also gave Al Zafeen the clean sweep in the Middle East Championship taking maximum points, winning twice in Abu Dhabi with the now suspended Nadir Bin Hendi, and twice with Al Marri.
The turn of events of the last two days had thrown up an unexpected winner-takes-all title showdown between Victory and the twin attack of Spirit of Qatar, but the hoped for fight on the water for the title never happened.
An engine problem for Spirit of Qatar 95 as they left the wet pits before the race, ended Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini's title hopes, joining the race three laps down and coming home in eighth place. A recurrence of yesterday's steering problem hampered Spirit of Qatar 96's drive up from tenth to third, eventually finishing in fourth, to cap a disappointing and frustrating day for the Qatar Team.
In what was almost a repeat of yesterday's extraordinary drive, the Victory 3 duo again made their intentions clear at the start and led from the flag, extending their lead lap-by-lap and going on to complete the 16-lap, 75.40Nm in 45m 31.71s and win by over 55 seconds.
Team Abu Dhabi's Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori produced their best performance since teaming-up in Norway in July, and celebrated the return to racing of Al Tayer, after breaking his ankle in a Jet Ski competition, with an untroubled second place to give them the runners-up slot in the Middle East Championship and complete a very good day for the United Arab Emirates.
There were also celebrations in the Norwegian-Turkish camp with Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski producing an outstanding drive to take their first podium together.
Starting from the outside of the start line down in eighth place the Relketa crew adopted a smart long lap strategy and by lap seven were up to fifth place. They passed the ailing Spirit of Qatar 96 and yesterday's podium finishers, Giorgio Manuzzi and Pal Virik Nilsen, in Victory 7 on lap 13 and held on to take a well-deserved third place, Zabo Racing's first podium appearance since Abu Dhabi 2010.
Bjorge Jackobsen and Kurt Olsen gave another steady performance in Welmax, moving up from tenth place at the end of lap one to take their second top six finish of the weekend and finish ahead of Fendi Racing, in what has been a rather disappointing weekend for Italians Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella.
A dramatic moment for Guido Cappellini and Giampaolo Montavoci, spinning out and all but turning over Poliform inside Palm Island, ended their race on lap three. FA.RO ACCIAI going out three laps later with technical problems. | the World Championship by 12 points from their teammates, but an electrical problem on lap 7 ended their hopes of a podium finish, dropping them from third place with the Spirit of Qatar 96 pairing eventually limping across the finish line in tenth place to pick up a solitary point.
Team Abu Dhabi's Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori marked their return to racing together with a solid fourth place to finish ahead of Guido Cappellini and Giampaolo Montavoci in Poliform, who were unable to match their impressive fourth place in qualifying due to an electrical problem that temporarily shut down one engine.
An electrical problem also blighted Relekta's race dropping Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski from fifth place to finish in eighth behind Welmax and Fendi Racing, with FA.RO ACCIAI finishing ninth.
Today's result sets up a tantalising final race of the season for the coveted World title with just seven points separating the top three.
Arif | 205 |
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Home » News » Magenta Security aims for success at London Business Awards
Magenta Security aims for success at London Business Awards
Following our success in various industry related and business awards, Magenta Security has been nominated in four categories at the London Business Awards. The 2014 London Business Awards has been developed and organised by Prospects Services<|fim_middle|>, your business strategy/entrepreneurship and your focus on sustainability and CSR independent of industry.
We're delighted to have been nominated as it once again reflects our commitment to CSR, our consumers and investing in our most valuable asset – our people.
The winners will be announced at a gala in London on 17th June and we hope to be amongst them as it would be great recognition for the work we do to provide our customers with the highest levels of service.
If you'd like to work with an award winning security provider contact our team today on 0800 772 3786 and book your free no-obligation security risk assessment. | to reward and celebrate the many dynamic and innovative businesses across London.
We've been nominated for the following awards: Best Green Business, Best Medium Sized Business, Best Training and Development and Best Business for Customer Service.
But what's special about these awards and why does it mean so much to us? Well, aside from any award nomination being an honour, it's that they aren't industry specific – they come from the wider business community. It's one thing to be recognised by your peers within your industry – after all, they have the relevant, specialist knowledge and see the unique contributions you may have made to your field that those outside the industry may miss. However, it's quite another thing to be recognised by the wider business community – people who understand and appreciate your business acumen, consumer-orientation | 160 |
News Friday, December 13, 2019 Thursday, December 12, 2019 7:50 PM - Thursday, December 12, 2019 7:50 PM
Former Shriners Hospitals for Children — Salt Lake City patient starts medical school
As Stephen Santora, M.D., retires, his influence continues with the next generation of doctors
When Skyler was 2 years old, he fractured his tibia after falling off a stage. After recovering from the injury, he continued to limp and complain of pain in his leg and knee. His worried parents sought answers. A specialist at St. Mark's hospital in Salt Lake City, Stephen Santora, M.D., soon diagnosed him with Perthes disease, a form of avascular necrosis, where the head of the femur has lost critical blood supply, which typically causes significant hip pain and affects mobility. A couple of years later, after various check-up appointments, Dr. Santora moved to Shriners Hospitals for Children — Salt Lake City and Skyler followed him.
A new Shriners Hospitals for Children patient
Skyler describes his experience at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Salt Lake City as amazing. "Every time I would go up for an appointment, I remember the faculty and staff being incredibly friendly and helpful in the whole process," said Skyler. "I always felt cared for by the doctors and nurses, and looked forward to my appointments in the hospital<|fim_middle|> more of the whole person who has come around and turned out to be a good dude. And if he says that part of it's my interaction with him, then that's awesome." | ." As Skyler grew older, he looked forward to the appointments because he wanted to learn more about his condition and its implications. He also knew he had a team of doctors who were invested in his success. He looked forward to showing the doctors his recent achievements, and they were always excited to hear about them.
Skyler always felt welcome and comfortable going to the Salt Lake City Shriners Hospital for his appointments. He also appreciated that Dr. Santora knew the importance of helping him stay motivated and encouraged him to pursue his goals. Notably, he appreciated that Dr. Santora had the expertise and foresight to know that the right choice was to not operate on him. "Other doctors may have seen the limb length discrepancy and operated at the first possible opportunity," Skyler said. "Dr. Santora helped me to understand my body's limits and to know when to rest or when to take a break." Dr. Santora gave Skyler exercises to do throughout his life which helped him maintain range of motion in his hip and to stay physically fit. "This guidance truly helped me to succeed athletically and to minimize the pain and discomfort that was associated with my diagnoses – both physical and emotional," said Skyler.
Pursuing his dreams
Skyler didn't let Perthes stop him from pursuing his love of sports. While growing up he played many sports and chose to focus on football and baseball in junior high school. During high school, one observant physical education teacher noticed his skill for throwing and encouraged him to pursue the javelin. Though Skyler wasn't sure what that meant, he trusted in the teacher, left baseball behind and joined the track team.
Skyler became a high-performing athlete in high school and college. Among his achievements are: three-time Big Sky Conference All-Academic, a two-time NCAA Division I All-Academic, two-time Big Sky Conference First Team All-Conference, one-time NCAA Division I All-American and the 2019 Big Sky Conference Champion in the javelin. He also holds the school record at Southern Utah University in the javelin.
The man who made the biggest impact
Dr. Santora said he always felt invested in Skyler's future. Getting updates about Skyler's progress was always a delight. "I feel that way about all my kids," said Dr. Santora. "I'm almost like a second parent, or maybe a grandparent," he laughed.
Of all the doctors Skyler met through his journey in the health care system, the one who made the biggest impact on Skyler's experience at the hospital and his life was the one who had been with him since his diagnosis, Dr. Santora. "He helped me to feel like I could overcome the issues that came with Perthes," said Skyler. "He was always making the funniest jokes, and keeping the environment happy and optimistic."
Taking the experience of a patient into medical school
Dr. Santora inspired Skyler to pursue a career in medicine. "More specifically," said Skyler, "is my experience at Shriners Hospitals for Children. Dr. Santora sparked my interest in medicine and in the human body. He was always willing to explain to me why different things were going on and helped me to better understand my diagnosis. He made learning fun and helped me to become a more curious person overall."
As an undergraduate, Skyler shadowed Dr. Santora, who even wrote him a letter of recommendation for medical school. "He was always very willing to let me tag along and learn from his encounters with other patients," said Skyler. "I was able to see what an amazing person he is and it gave me a lot of motivation to pursue this career, as well as a lot of goals that I have in regards to my interactions with future patients." Skyler sees Dr. Santora as a role model, saying that if it weren't for him and Shriners Hospitals for Children, he wouldn't be in medical school, and he wouldn't have had the success he has had in athletics throughout high school, college and beyond.
In the sunset of a long, respected career
After close to 30 years of providing pediatric orthopaedic care for thousands of children in the Intermountain West, Dr. Santora is retiring this month. Seeing patients like Skyler thrive means everything to him. Skyler started medical school at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in August, and Dr. Santora feels honored to have been part of his journey. "It really is one of the best things to see someone have a problem, get through it, participate in sports, go to college, then want to give back to a community – medically or some other way," said Dr. Santora. "That's what success is to me. Someone may say, 'oh you did a lot of surgeries!' It's like, yeah, I did surgery, but that's like carpentry. This is | 1,012 |
Animals, plants and other multicellular organisms develop their distinctive three-dimensional shapes as they grow. This process—called morphogenesis—is influenced by many genes and involves communication between cells to control the ability of individual cells to divide and grow. The precise timing and location of events in particular cells is very important in determining the final shape of the organism.
Common techniques for studying morphogenesis use microscopes to take 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) time-lapse videos of living cells. Fluorescent tags allow scientists to observe specific proteins, cell boundaries, and interactions between individual cells. These imaging techniques can produce large sets of data that need to be analyzed using a computer and incorporated into computer simulations that predict how a tissue or organ within an organism grows to form its final shape.
Currently, most computational models of morphogenesis work on 2D templates and focus on how tissues and organs form. However, many patterning events occur on surfaces that are curved or folded, so 2D models may lose important details. Developing 3D models would provide a more accurate picture, but these models are expensive and technically challenging to make.
To address this problem, Barbier de Reuille, Routier-Kierzkowska et al. present an open-source, customizable software platform called MorphoGraphX. This software extracts images from 3D data to recreate curved 2D surfaces. Barbier de Reuille, Routier-Kierkowska et al. have also developed algorithms to help analyze growth and gene activity in these curved images, and the data can be exported and used in computer simulations.
Several scientists have already used this software in their studies, but Barbier de Reuille, Routier-Kierzkowska et al. have now made the software more widely available and have provided a full explanation of how it works. How scientists can extend and customize MorphoGraphX to answer their own unique research questions is also described. It is anticipated that MorphoGraphX will become a popular platform for the open sharing of computational tools to study morphogenesis.
Morphogenesis of multicellular organisms occurs through multiscale interactions of genetic networks, cell-to-cell signaling, growth and cell division. Because of the complexity of temporal and spatial interactions involved, computer simulations are becoming widely used (Dumais and Steele, 2000; Jönsson et al., 2006; Sick et al., 2006; Lecuit and Lenne, 2007; Merks et al., 2007; Stoma et al., 2008; Kondo and Miura, 2010; Varner et al., 2010; Kennaway et al., 2011; Santuari et al., 2011; Aegerter-Wilmsen et al., 2012; Kierzkowski et al., 2012; Bassel et al., 2014; Milde et al., 2014; Sampathkumar et al., 2014; Yoshida et al., 2014) in what is now being called Computational Morphodynamics (Chickarmane et al., 2010). Key to this methodology is the combination of time-lapse microscopy to quantify changes in cell geometry and gene expression with dynamic spatial modeling (Jönsson et al., 2012). Confocal microscopy is frequently the tool of choice for data collection, as the proliferation of fluorescence markers and variations in the method make it possible to visualize proteins, organelles, cell boundaries, and even protein–protein interaction and protein movement in vivo. Other technologies such as serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Denk and Horstmann, 2004) make it possible to study sub-cellular structures at a much higher resolution on fixed samples. However, despite the rapid advancement of 3D imaging technologies, there is a lack of methods and software to process and quantify these data and to integrate them within simulation environments.
Most simulation models of morphogenesis operate on 2D templates (Dumais and Steele, 2000; Jönsson et al., 2006; Sick et al., 2006; Merks et al., 2007; Stoma et al., 2008; Kondo and Miura, 2010; Varner et al., 2010; Kennaway et al., 2011; Santuari et al., 2011; Aegerter-Wilmsen et al., 2012; Kierzkowski et al., 2012; Sampathkumar et al., 2014). This is not surprising since many key biological processes occur on surfaces, for example in epithelial layers (Lecuit and Lenne, 2007; Savaldi-Goldstein et al., 2007; Heller et al., 2014). Morphogenesis involves complex 3D deformation, such as folding during gastrulation in animal systems or bulging out of new lateral organs in plants, causing significant curvature in the tissues controlling these events. It is therefore essential to be able to quantify cell shapes and fluorescence-based reporters on curved surface layers of cells. The simplest method to achieve this is to take several image slices and project them onto a single plane (Butler et al., 2009; Chickarmane et al., 2010; Kuchen et al., 2012). However, when trying to quantify cell shape change, division orientations, or growth, distortions due to the projection quickly become too large as the angle between the surface and the projection plane increases. Even small amounts of tissue curvature can hinder the accurate imaging of a single cell layer over an entire sample. To alleviate some of these issues, methods have been developed to determine the 3D position of cell junctions on the surface, while the segmentation into cells is still performed on flat 2D images (Dumais and Kwiatkowska, 2002; de Reuille et al., 2005; Routier-Kierzkowska and Kwiatkowska, 2008). However these approaches are labor intensive, limited to tissues that can be visualized as a flat 2D image, and are not accurate when the angle of the tissue with the projection plane becomes too large. Furthermore, methods based on tissue casts combined with stereo reconstruction of SEM images (Dumais and Kwiatkowska, 2002; Routier-Kierzkowska and Kwiatkowska, 2008) need to be combined with methods using fluorescent markers (Uyttewaal et al., 2012) if gene expression is to be monitored.
Here we present a method and the open-source software MorphoGraphX (www.MorphoGraphX.org, Box 1) to quantify the temporal evolution of cellular geometry and fluorescence signal on curved 2D surface layers of cells over multiple time points in both plants and animals. In addition to 2D curved surfaces, MorphoGraphX also possesses a rich set of tools for full 3D image processing and cell segmentation, and can be used to easily transfer realistic cell geometries and fluorescent marker data into computational modeling environments. MorphoGraphX is built from a collection of loadable modules (shared libraries), centered around an interactive visualization core that exploits the latest features of modern Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). This design allows the software to be easily adapted to changing research needs, and facilitates the integration of algorithms from other open-source imaging processing libraries into a custom work flow. The software is the first of its kind specialized to process curved surface layers of cells, and here we demonstrate its capabilities both in plant and animal systems.
All resources for MorphoGraphX, including the user manual, the latest software downloads and the source code, can be found on www.MorphoGraphX.org.
The latest version of the documentation is also distributed with MorphoGraphX itself, and is available from the 'Help' menu (see also Supplementary file 1). We encourage users to develop their own plugins to extend MorphoGraphX for new research tasks. If you develop a plugin you think would be of general use, please contact us so that we can include it in the next release of MorphoGraphX. Contact information along with example plugins is provided on the 'Community' tab on the MorphoGraphX website www.MorphoGraphX.org.
Modern imaging technologies today provide us with an abundance of data from a variety of sources: Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and block-face SEM all provide full 3D volumetric data that can be rendered in MorphoGraphX (Figure 1, Video 1). Our software can also process surfaces, which can be imported from 3D scanners, reconstructions from Stereo-SEM images (Routier-Kierzkowska and Kwiatkowska, 2008), focus stacking microscopes and scanning probe methods such as Cellular Force Microscopy (Routier-Kierzkowska et al., 2012) (CFM), or extracted within MorphoGraphX from full 3D data sets (Figure 1). MorphoGraphX contains a highly optimized rendering engine that is capable of accurate rendering of both semi-transparent surfaces and volumetric data simultaneously. Surfaces are represented by an oriented triangular mesh, which is typically extracted from the surface of an object, and thus represents the outermost tissue layer (Figure 1A,C,D), or the boundaries of individual 3D objects (e.g., cells) in the case of full 3D segmentation (Figure 1B). Once processed, surfaces and associated data can be exported in a variety of file formats suitable for loading into modeling or analysis softwares, allowing the direct use of sample geometry in computer simulations (Santuari et al., 2011; Kierzkowski et al., 2012; Bassel et al., 2014; Sampathkumar et al., 2014; Yoshida et al., 2014).
MorphoGraphX renderings of 3D image data and surfaces.
(A) Extraction of a brain surface (gray, semi-transparent surface colored by signal intensity) from a Magnetic Resonance Angiography scan of an adult patient (IXI dataset, http://www.brain-development.org/). Surrounding skull and skin (green) have been digitally removed prior to segmentation. Voxels from the brain blood vessels are colored in purple. (B) Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of mouse neocortex (Whole Brain Catalog, http://ccdb.ucsd.edu/index.shtm, microscopy product ID: 8244). Cutaway view (gray) shows segmented blood vessels (dark purple) and five pyramidal neurons colored according to cell label number. (C) Topographic scan of onion epidermal cells using Cellular Force Microscopy (Routier-Kierzkowska et al., 2012), colored by height. (D) 3D reconstruction of Arabidopsis thaliana leaf from stereoscopic SEM images (Routier-Kierzkowska and Kwiatkowska, 2008), colored by cell size. Scale bars: (A) 2 cm, (B and C) 20 μm, (D) 30 μm.
User interface and rendering in MorphoGraphX.
A key strength of MorphoGraphX is the ability to summarize 3D data as a curved surface image. After extracting the shape of an organ, 3D data just below the surface can be projected onto it, creating a curved image of the outer layer of cells (Figure 2). This enables the extraction of precise cell outlines without the distortions associated with a flat 2D projection (Figure 2—figure supplement 1). We have found that many algorithms designed for 2 and 3D image processing can be adapted to our curved surface images. Feature extraction in MorphoGraphX typically follows a pattern: (i) volumetric data (often a cell outline marker) is pre-processed to remove noise or obstructions; (ii) the object of interest is turned into a mask (binary image); (iii) the object is extracted as a surface mesh; (iv) volumetric data is projected onto the surface; (v) the projection is used for segmentation of the surface into cells (Figure 2, Video 2). The segmentation can be fully automatic (Video 3) or directed by manually placed seeds. Steps (i–iii) can be repeated as surfaces of interest will often be used to help pre-processing the volumetric data. For example, surfaces can be used to trim the 3D image (Figure 2—figure supplement 2), or to select regions of interest for data analysis.
Feature extraction and 3D editing of confocal image stacks.
A sample workflow from raw data to segmented cells is presented for an A. thaliana flower (A–F). (A and B) After removing noise with 3D filters, the stack (green) is converted into a mask using edge detection (yellow). (C) A coarse representation of the surface is extracted with marching cubes, then smoothed and subdivided. (D) After subdivision, a thin band of signal representing the epidermal layer (purple) is projected onto the mesh, giving a clear outline of the cells. Note that the projection is perpendicular to the curved surface and its depth is user-defined (in this case, from 2 to 5 μm). (E) The surface is<|fim_middle|> connections between neighbor cells (Figure 4—figure supplement 1). Plant cells do not slide with respect to each other, therefore the junction between cell walls can be used as landmarks to track tissue deformation over time series (Green et al., 1991). Combined with the cell lineage information, the simplified cellular mesh (Figure 4—figure supplement 1) is used to find the correspondence between cell junctions in meshes extracted from different time points (Figure 4—figure supplement 2). After identifying pairs of junctions conserved in both meshes using the lineage information, we project for each cell the junctions on the average cell plane and compute a best fit of the 2D transformation (translation, rotation, anisotropic scaling) that will minimize the squared distance between pairs of junctions (Goodall and Green, 1986; Routier-Kierzkowska and Kwiatkowska, 2008). Decomposing the transformation into singular vectors and values gives the PDGs and associated scaling values (PDGmax, PDGmin), that describe anisotropic growth. Anisotropy values used in (Figure 4 and Figure 4—figure supplements 2, 3) were computed according to the following definition: anisotropy = PDGmax/PDGmin.
The cellular mesh can also be used to compute other quantities, such as the tissue curvature (Figure 3—figure supplement 1 and Figure 4—figure supplement 3). In that case the vertices belonging to the cell outline are used to compute the principal curvatures for each cell center, within a given periphery. Color maps resulting from the computation of growth, curvature, signal quantification, etc. can be written to a spreadsheet giving easy access for further processing. Similarly, cell axis vectors can also be exported to be either re-rendered in MorphoGraphX or loaded for further analysis using other software, such as Matlab or Python.
The ITK (Yoo et al., 2002) auto-seeded watershed segmentation algorithm implemented in MorphoGraphX was used to segment the cells in 3D in Figures 5, 6D. After segmentation the cell surface is extracted using marching cubes and labeled. In some cases individual cells can also be segmented using a custom edge detect function from multiple angles (Figure 1B, Video 1). MorphoGraphX also provides the possibility to stitch stacks or combine multi angle stacks in 3D. However, this is not a pre-requisite for 3D segmentation in MorphoGraphX.
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Thank you for sending your work entitled "MorphoGraphX: A platform for quantifying morphogenesis in 4D" for consideration at eLife. Your article has been favorably evaluated by Detlef Weigel (Senior editor) and two reviewers, one of whom is a member of our Board of Reviewing Editors.
Overall, there was considerable enthusiasm for the MorphographX resource, but it was felt that its broad utility as a resource is dependent on making several additions, modifications and consolidations to the existing manuscript and accompanying software and documentation.
These additions include detailed technical specifications about how to use MorphoGraphX, its flexibility with other software packages, importing and exporting data analyses, and community-based resources to accommodate the heavy usage, additional resources/packages/libraries, and software updates that will undoubtedly ensue for what will very likely be a popular and useful resource.
1) Production of a "user manual" with sufficient detail that a new user could install and use the software for the applications described in this manuscript. MorphographX should be described in sufficient detail to be used by developmental biologists without extensive computational backgrounds. The manual could be modeled upon the protocol currently published (and behind a pay-wall) in the recent paper in Plant Cell Morphogenesis Methods and Protocols (2014). All reviewers consider it essential that the "operating instructions" for something touted as open-source software also be made freely available.
1A) The integration into a complete experimental pipeline should be laid out. For example, the manuscript mentions the possibility to export data to other software for modeling or statistical analysis. However the workflow for such a transition is not described. How can data derived from MorphoGraphX be exported and processed with existing software (e.g. R, Excel, modeling software)? Buried in the Materials and Methods is the mention that "Most data analysis processes import/export their data as CSV files…", but how to do this is never explained in the manuscript. What variables or statistics should the user expect to be exported, how much control does the user have in the types of data exported or how processed it is? Additionally, can this be done through the GUI, or will it be done through the terminal? Maybe an interesting way to demonstrate this is for some of the example data analyzed in this manuscript, provide .csv/.txt example outputs as supplemental information.
1B) On the other end of the pipeline, what kind of data structure is needed as input (are there "ideal" settings for z-steps, fluorescence intensities, time intervals).
2) Access to software, updates for software and the manual must be accessible in the same place. These could be hosted on the eLife site or on a third party site, but stable user access must be possible. Readers should know where to go to download the software, manual, and other resources. www.MorphoGraphX.org needs to be mentioned more than once, more prominently in the eLife article; creating a box in the eLife manuscript with this information prominently highlighted would be one approach.
Currently, if one visits www.MorphoGraphX.org, there are references to publications, to a "protocol" paper, and notes from courses on MorphoGraphX, but no consolidated resource. Having a single resource/manual (rather than several scattered ones) is very important. Having a single resource directs users to one set of instructions, and offers a single starting place for beginners. Additionally, if manual versions are tied to software updates, then documentation is traceable, and over time dedicated users will be able to pinpoint changes quickly that have accumulated since the last version. It may be that the internal documentation for the software is extensive, but a separate document is important still.
The online resource with the actual software to download and manual will be critical. The current hosting at Max Planck is fine (likely to be stable), but have the authors considered someplace like GitHub or other widely used version control websites to keep their software and updates? This may make access more robust in the long term.
Related to documentation: do the authors anticipate that the community will write their own plug-ins, modules, libraries, and code for MorphoGraphX that will be shared? Will it become like ImageJ where the community contributes as much as the software platform? If so, maybe this should be built into MorphoGraphX.org as well.
One way to consider providing documentation follows an example from Hadley Wickham's ggplot2. In addition to the "manual" which is cut and dry about the functions to use, there is a book and also an excellent self-published online resource. Many other R folks also publish on top of this all in the Journal of Statistical Software, or a "vignette", to give examples of how to use packages (the eLife MorphoGraphX article is probably closest to a vignette).
3) There should be extensions/additions to the capabilities beyond what was published previously by the authors and others. Several of these applications have been hinted at in the text (for example semi-automated segmentation, extraction of 3D data from complex cell shapes (like lobed cells), tracking of subcellular elements). The detailed explanation of how to do one or two of these other analyses should be provided in the revised version.
3A) Quantification of differential fluorescence levels within a cell (starting third paragraph of the subsection headed "Signal quantification" about PIN1-XFP fluorescence). Such a tool would likely be of general use. Some things to consider: Is it possible to obtain a percentage of membrane area that is occupied by PIN1-XFP compared to the whole cell? How does the software distinguish which of two neighboring cells expresses the signal? Can the software determine the overall orientation of the PIN1-XFP signal, as compared to the general tissue orientation (e.g. can it determine whether PIN1-XFP in root elongation zones always faces tipwards)?
3B) The opportunity for subcellular analysis was hinted at, but more details are needed. For example, quantification of microtubule orientation is an important feature (Figure 3), but it is not explained clearly here. How is this algorithm better than the published or commercially available ones (e.g. Hamant et al. 2008)? Is it possible to get the standard deviation of the orientation (e.g. the anisotropy of MT orientation) mapped onto a tissue? How might this tool be used to determine microtubule growth/shrinkage rates? Is it adaptable to track particles like vesicles or Golgi stacks? Has the software been used with data that features things moving at high velocities (e.g. captured with spinning disc confocal microscopy)? Where are the limitations of the software in this regard?
User guide: We developed a user manual that explains the use of MorphoGraphX in sufficient detail that a novice in image processing should be able to reproduce the results in the manuscript. It is written in a tutorial style, and we have provided some sample datasets to go with it. At the end is a reference section that also includes installation instructions, information to get started with plugin development, and instructions on how to compile from source code.
CSV files: The user guide also includes a detailed description of the format of .csv files that are produced as results of data analyses.
Data exchange file formats: The user guide lists the file formats native to other softwares (i.e. STL, OBJ, ply, tiff, etc.) that are available to export/import data into MorphoGraphX. The guide also explains where to find documentation for the custom file formats used by MorphoGraphX (.mgxm, mgxs) in the online programmer (doxygen) documentation.
On-line programmer documentation: Reference documentation for programming plugins has been created using Doxygen, and is distributed with MorphoGraphX. This information is accessible from the Help menu from within MorphoGraphX.
The user manual has been uploaded with the submission, however it will also be available on the website and distributed with MorphoGraphX and (under the help menu).
A section describing optimal confocal settings and collection methods is contained in the new user manual.
We have added a link towww.MorphoGraphX.org in the Abstract and a box to highlight this information in the article.
We have integrated all the documentation into a comprehensive user manual. In addition to being available on www.MorphoGraphX.org, the user manual is also distributed with the software and is accessible from the "Help" menu. This ensures that users will always have access to the correct version of the documentation for their version of the software.
We have registered the domain namewww.MorphoGraphX.org for this purpose. Internally we are using the "subversion" (SVN) source code control system, and versions of the software are identified by their SVN release number. We will put the matching source archives for all releases on www.MorphoGraphX.org.
We encourage users to write their own plugins, and we hope to follow a model like Fiji, where the most useful and well tested contributions from the community are bundled in later releases of MorphoGraphX itself. We have added several example plugins for users to easily get started, and the Doxygen documentation for the plugin interface has been added to the "Help" menu inside MorphoGraphX. This is now mentioned in the box about www.MorphoGraphX.org.
We have added a reference manual for all the functions (processes) in MorphoGraphX, and their parameters. When writing processes (plugins), programmers are required to provide long descriptions for the process themselves as well as all parameters. These are available within MorphoGraphX as tooltips when the mouse hovers over a process or parameter. In addition, a manual is generated onthefly from this information, available from the "Help" menu. This ensures that it is never out of date, and provides a way for documentation to automatically accompany plugins that come from other sources. After a plugin is installed in the plugins folder, its documentation will immediately appear in the reference manual. We have included this process documentation at the end of the user manual for the current version of MorphoGraphX.
We added a supplementary figure to Figure 3 showing the quantification membrane signal and internalization of PIN1 protein, with an explanation of the quantification and its limitations.
3B) The opportunity for subcellular analysis was hinted at, but more details are needed. For example, quantification of microtubule orientation is an important feature (Figure 3), but it is not explained clearly here. How is this algorithm better than the published or commercially available ones (e.g. Hamant et al. 2008)? Is it possible to get the standard deviation of the orientation (e.g. the anisotropy of MT orientation) mapped onto a tissue?
The algorithm used in MorphoGraphX was translated directly from Boudaoud et al. 2014 (Nature Protocols) by one of the coauthors. The original algorithm has been improved in that the surface of cells no longer needs to be flat, it works on segmented cells, and the border is computed automatically (no additional clicking). This greatly enhances the throughput and range of datasets that the tool can be applied to.
We have added a supplementary figure to Figure 3 explaining how the microtubule orientation are computed and a discussion of the advantages of including such a process in MorphoGraphX. In addition we show how to map the anisotropy of orientation onto a tissue as the reviewer suggests.
How might this tool be used to determine microtubule growth/shrinkage rates? Is it adaptable to track particles like vesicles or Golgi stacks? Has the software been used with data that features things moving at high velocities (e.g. captured with spinning disc confocal microscopy)? Where are the limitations of the software in this regard?
It would be straightforward to add processes to MorphoGraphX to look at subcellular processes like MT extension or vesicles, or to handle other particle tracking problems in 2.5 or 3D. MorphoGraphX would be especially useful for this in cases where the tracking must be done on curved surface layers of cells.
This work was funded by the SystemsX.ch RTDs Plant Growth 1 & 2 (RSS and CK), the SystemsX.ch RTD WingX (PK and KB), the SystemsX.ch RTD SyBIT (IX), the Swiss National Science Foundation interdisciplinary project grants CR32I3_132586 and CR32I3_143833 (RSS), the Swiss National Science Foundation international short research visit (AB and RSS), Human Frontier Science Program grant RGP0008/2013 (AHKR and RSS), European Research Council Advanced grant (PK), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council grant BB/L010232/1 (GWB), University of Birmingham Research Fellowship (GWB), Forschungskredit of UZH (TA-W), the Polish National Science Centre MAESTRO research grant No 2011/02/A/NZ3/00079 (DK), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant SFB 680 (MT), Human Frontier Science Program grant RGY0087/2011 (AH), and Max Planck Society W2 Minerva program grant (AH).
© 2015, Barbier de Reuille et al. | then segmented with the watershed algorithm, which we adapted to work on unstructured triangular meshes. (F) Closeup of adaptive subdivision, with finer resolution near cell boundaries. A similar process flow was used to segment shoot apical meristem in tomato (Kierzkowski et al., 2012; Nakayama et al., 2012) and A. thaliana (Kierzkowski et al., 2013), as well as Cardamine hirsuta leaves (Vlad et al., 2014). (G) 3D editing tools can be used to expose internal cell layers prior to surface extraction. Cell shapes extracted from the curved pouch of a Drosophila melanogaster wing disc, after removing signal from the overlying peripodial membrane (Aegerter-Wilmsen et al., 2012). Alternatively, the stack can be cleaned by removing voxel data above an extracted mesh or conserving only the signal at a defined distance from the mesh, as shown in purple in (D) and Figure 2—figure supplement 2. (H) MorphoGraphX also provides tools to project signal on arbitrary curved surfaces defined interactively by moving control points (red). A Bezier surface is highly bent to cut through the cortical cells of a mature A. thaliana embryo. Scale bars: 2 μm in (F), 20 μm in all other panels.
Manual segmentation of a tomato shoot apex.
Automatic segmentation of a tomato shoot apex.
MorphoGraphX allows user-defined surfaces to interact with volumetric data both for visualization and feature extraction. The researcher can interactively define Bezier surfaces to visualize curved slices through an object. By manipulating the Bezier control points it is possible to fit almost any shape to a surface of interest within the sample. An extreme example of this is shown in Figure 2H where the surface has been shaped to display the cortical cells of a mature Arabidopsis embryo. The Bezier surface can be converted to a triangular mesh, and segmented into cells with the same procedure used for Figure 2A–E. The extracted tissue geometry can be then used, for example, as template for simulations (Santuari et al., 2011).
Once a surface is segmented into cells, data collected simultaneously on a different channel, such as a GFP fusion to a protein of interest, can then be projected onto the segmented surface (Figure 3). This allows the quantification of genetic expression and protein localization at the cellular, or sub-cellular scale. As with the cell outlines, the projection creates a curved image of the data that can be processed in a similar way as a planar 2D image. Many tools commonly used for the analysis of flat images (for example in softwares such as Adobe Photoshop, Gimp and ImageJ) have been adapted for use on curved surfaces in MorphoGraphX. This includes Gaussian blur, erosion, dilation, morphological closing, local minima detection, normalization, etc. The flexibility of this approach is demonstrated by our implementation of more complex algorithms, such as the watershed transform for cell segmentation and our adaptation of an algorithm based on signal gradients to compute the orientation of microtubules (Figure 3A, Figure 3—figure supplement 3) that was previously implemented in 2D (Boudaoud et al., 2014).
Quantification of signal projected on the mesh surface.
(A) Microtubule orientation (red line) determined in epidermal cells of C. hirsuta fruits. Signal for TUA6-GFP (green) at a maximal depth of 1.5 μm was projected on the curved surface and processed with a modified version of a 2D image analysis algorithm (Boudaoud et al., 2014) to compute fiber orientation. Line length indicates strength of orientation. (B) Quantification of vestigial (left) and wingless (right) transcription in the wing disc of D. melanogaster at 0–20 μm depth. Data from (Aegerter-Wilmsen et al., 2012). (C and D) Quantification of PIN1::GFP signal in Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem at different depths. A projection between 0 and 6 μm away from the surface corresponds to the epidermal (L1) layer (C), while a depth of 6–12 μm reflects the sub-epidermal (L2) layer. (E) Sub-cellular localization of PINFORMED1 (PIN1) in the L1 is assessed by quantification of the projected signal for each cell wall, as in (Nakayama et al., 2012). The projected PIN1 signal can be compared with other markers of organ initiation, such as the curvature. While projected PIN1 signal from the L1 (C and E) shows a clear accumulation of signal at the incipient primordium (star), there is no sign of up-regulation in the deeper layer (D) nor visible bulge yet (see Figure 3—figure supplement 1). (C–E) Data from (Kierzkowski et al., 2013). Scale bars: 20 μm.
Signal coming from different tissue layers can be visualized and quantified by adjusting the depth of projection (Figure 3B–E). This is particularly useful to distinguish protein expression levels at different depths within an organ. As an illustration, in the shoot apical meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana we can observe that the auxin efflux carrier PINFORMED1 (PIN1) is first upregulated in the epidermis at the site of incipient primordium initiation before being activated in deeper layers (Bayer et al., 2009; Kierzkowski et al., 2013) (Figure 3C,D and Figure 3—figure supplement 1).
Quantification can also be performed at the sub-cellular scale (Pound et al., 2012). The amount of fluorescence signal projected onto the triangle mesh can be divided into a membrane localized portion and a cell interior portion (Figure 3E and Figure 3—figure supplement 2). This is accomplished by summing all the signal within a fixed distance from a cell border and considering it as being associated with the membrane, while all the signal further away from the cell outline is called internal. The process can be used to quantify what portion of a tagged protein, for example, the auxin efflux carrier PIN1, is localized to the plasma membrane or internalized (Nakayama et al., 2012).
Projection of the signal on the surface allows to summarize essential information from several channels of a large confocal data set into a very compact form. For example, the global shape of the sample can be extracted from an autofluorescence signal, while the cell wall or membrane marker collected in another channel is used to segment cells and obtain their geometry. The expression level of a protein from a third channel may then be quantified at the cellular level based on the segmentation. Finally, several samples in a time lapse experiment can be compared to obtain information about the temporal evolution of shape and gene expression.
In addition to data from single image stacks, MorphoGraphX is able to process and compare multiple time points. This enables the analysis of stacks before and after experimental treatments, or time-lapse data. This capability relies on an efficient method to co-segment samples from two time points. One approach is to segment both stacks separately and then to use an automated algorithm to match the points (Fernandez et al., 2010). However, automatic segmentation and matching can be prone to errors that have to be checked and corrected by hand, which can be very time-consuming depending on the error rate. For this we have developed a user-friendly interface in MorphoGraphX to manually identify cell lineages on curved surfaces representing the tissue at different time points (Video 4). Errors in lineage are detected automatically by comparing the neighborhoods of daughter cells and their parents. Once the co-segmentation is complete, changes in cell area or gene expression over the interval between two time points can be computed and visualized as a heatmap (Figure 4). Cell proliferation can also be visualized as a colormap (Vlad et al., 2014), along with marking of the new walls (Figure 4). Pairwise correspondence between time points can be combined in longer time series (Figure 4—figure supplement 3), for example to perform clonal analysis over several days (Vlad et al., 2014). The data can be output in various formats for further processing, such as the comparison of growth rates with protein expression levels or microtubule orientations.
Lineage tracking and growth analysis of time lapse data on tomato shoot apex.
Growth in the tomato shoot apex over 22 hr.
(A) Expression of the auxin activity reporter pDR5::VENUS visualized underneath the semi-transparent mesh. (B) Average curvature (μm−1) for a neighborhood of 20 μm, with positive values in red, and negative values in blue. (C) Shoot apex surface colored by cell proliferation rate as in (Vlad et al., 2014). New cell walls are indicated in dark red. (D) Top and side views of the heat map of areal expansion over the first 11 hr interval. Principal directions of growth (PDGs) are indicated for cells displaying an anisotropy above 15%, with expansion in white and shrinkage in red. Note the rapid anisotropic expansion of the developing primordium P1 and of the peripheral zone close to the incipient primordium I1, while cells in the boundary between P1 and the meristem contract in one direction (red lines). Arrows indicate the correspondence between top and side views. Raw confocal data from (Kierzkowski et al., 2012). Scale bars 50 μm.
In addition to extracting areal growth rates from time-lapse data, MorphoGraphX can also be used to quantify growth directions and anisotropy. The cell junctions (Figure 4—figure supplement 1) are used as landmarks to compute the two dimensional Principal Directions of Growth (PDGs) of the surface associated with each cell (Dumais and Kwiatkowska, 2002; Kwiatkowska and Dumais, 2003; Routier-Kierzkowska and Kwiatkowska, 2008). The cell lineage information is used to account for cell division and identify only the junctions that are conserved in between time points (Figure 4—figure supplement 2). Principal growth directions and their associated magnitudes can be displayed on the surface of the simplified mesh used for the computation, or stored to be later displayed on the original mesh. The growth anisotropy is computed from the magnitudes of the growth directions (Figure 4—figure supplement 2). For visual clarity, growth directions can optionally be displayed only in cells in which the anisotropy is above a user-defined threshold (Figure 4D).
Other directional quantities can also be computed, stored and displayed in MorphoGraphX on a cellular basis. For example, the local tissue curvature (Goldfeather and Interrante, 2004) can be calculated based on the position of the neighbors closer than a given radius and displayed in a manner similar to the growth directions (Figure 4B and Figure 4—figure supplement 3), making it a convenient tool for precise staging of fast growing organs such at the shoot apical meristem (Kwiatkowska and Dumais, 2003; Kwiatkowska, 2004).
We demonstrate the capabilities of MorphoGraphX by quantifying growth of the stem cell niche and surrounding tissue in the shoot apex of tomato with time lapse imaging over several days (Kierzkowski et al., 2012) (Figure 4 and Figure 4—figure supplement 3). The shoot apex is the source of all the aerial structure of the plant. At the summit, a slow growing central zone harbors the stem cell niche, surrounded by a fast growing peripheral zone where organ initiation occurs (Steeves and Sussex, 1989; Dumais and Kwiatkowska, 2002). The analysis in MorphoGraphX starts with surface extraction followed by manual or automatic segmentation (Videos 2, 3), and lineage matching (Video 4) of all of the time points in the series. We observed similar patterns of growth, cell proliferation and organ geometry in the tomato shoot apex as those reported in other species (Kwiatkowska and Dumais, 2003; Grandjean et al., 2004; Kwiatkowska, 2004; Reddy et al., 2004; Kwiatkowska and Routier-Kierzkowska, 2009). The first geometrical indicator of primordium initiation we noted was a slightly elevated curvature at the corner of the meristem (Kwiatkowska and Dumais, 2003; Kwiatkowska, 2004). This early change in shape coincided with increased growth in the peripheral zone. The peripheral zone itself displayed differential growth dependent on the dynamics of primordium initiation. Regions adjacent to older primordia exhibited fast, highly anisotropic expansion (Figure 4 and Figure 4—figure supplement 3). In contrast, the part of the meristem closest to the newly separated primordium (P1 in Figure 4) was not distinguishable based on growth rates. As previously observed in Anagallis arvensis (Kwiatkowska and Dumais, 2003; Kwiatkowska and Routier-Kierzkowska, 2009), this accelerating growth of the peripheral zone progressively pushed away newly formed organs as they differentiated, making more space available on the meristem for further initiation and suggesting a possible feedback between lateral organ growth and meristem expansion.
In addition to changes in geometry and growth, we used an activity reporter of the growth hormone auxin, pDR5::3xVENUS-N7 (Heisler et al., 2005), to follow primordium development. Interestingly, while auxin activity is already visible at the first sign of primordium initiation, DR5 expression does not strictly correlate with growth. In particular, no DR5 signal is detected in the fast expanding regions close to older primordia. We also found that DR5 expression is present in the crease separating young primordia from the meristem, an area where the cells exhibited a slight decrease in surface area (Figure 4D). As shown in previous studies (Kwiatkowska and Dumais, 2003; Kwiatkowska, 2004; Kwiatkowska and Routier-Kierzkowska, 2009), the quantification of growth anisotropy shows that cells in the boundary displayed a small increase in length only in the direction parallel to the border between meristem and primordium, suggesting compression by the growing organ (Hamant et al., 2008) (Figure 4D and Figure 4—figure supplements 2, 3).
The extraction of cellular 3D shape is of paramount importance for different purposes, such as to study volumetric deformation, quantify fluorescence expression in 3D, or generate cellular templates for 3D simulation models (Bassel et al., 2014; Yoshida et al., 2014) (Figure 5D). However, volumetric segmentation requires very high quality of signals, since the cell outlines must be visible from all angles. For plant tissues, which often display autofluorescence, 3D segmentation of cells from confocal images is therefore mainly used in the case of cleared, fixed samples (Bassel et al., 2014; Yoshida et al., 2014) (Figure 5B–D) or limited to the outermost layers of cells (Figures 5A, 6D). The penetration of confocal images for 3D segmentation of live samples could be improved by using multi-photon confocal microscopy. Another possibility is to combine confocal stacks acquired from different angles (Fernandez et al., 2010). Currently it is possible to assemble data from multiple angle acquisition within MorphoGraphX.
3D segmentation for growth tracking and modeling templates.
(A) Volume segmentation of trichomes from time-lapse confocal imaging in Capsella rubella leaf colored by cell label number. (B) Full 3D segmentation of developing Arabidopsis embryos, colored by cell label number. Data from (Yoshida et al., 2014). (C) False colored projection of the average growth rate along the main axis of an Arabidopsis embryo. Data from (Bassel et al., 2014). (D) Mechanical model of embryo based on a 3D mesh showing cell wall expansion due to turgor pressure, as published in (Bassel et al., 2014). Scale bars: 20 μm.
(A and B) Control for viewing angle. (A) A shoot apex imaged from different directions. A first image stack (in red) was acquired before tilting the Z axis (dashed lines) by approximately 30° and acquiring a second stack (in green). Cells were then segmented on both stacks and their areas compared (B). Note that the pairwise cell size differences are random, with no obvious trend related to the viewing angle. Average error per cell is less than 2%. Colorbar: relative surface area increase in percent. Panels (A) and (B) adapted from Figure 5 of Kierzkowski et al. (2012). (C and D) Comparison between projected areas and actual 3D volumes. (C) The epidermal cells of the apex were projected on the surface and segmented. Heatmap shows percent increase in area over 11 hr of growth. (D) The same data was segmented in 3D. Heatmap shows the percent increase in volume of cells, same color scale as in (C). Note the close correspondence in cell expansion extracted from surface and volumetric segmentations. (E) Difference in size between automatically and manually segmented cells on a tomato shoot apex. Cells fused by auto-segmentation are in bright red, split cells are in dark blue. (F) Cell sizes (in μm2) from manual (top) and automatic (bottom) segmentation on a fragment of Drosophila wing disc. Scale bars: 40 μm.
MorphoGraphX uses the auto-seeded, morphological watershed algorithm available in the Insight Segmentation and Registration Toolkit (Yoo et al., 2002) (ITK) for 3D segmentation. We have developed a collection of user-friendly 3D voxel editing tools allowing the researcher to correct segmentation errors. Alternatively, cells and other objects which are not in contact with each other can be segmented by extracting the surface of the individual objects (Figure 1B, Video1). As with 2D surfaces of cells, geometrical properties (surface area, wall length, volume) and fluorescent signal (e.g., total signal per cell, membrane localization) of the 3D cells can be quantified (Figure 5) and exported to spreadsheet files for further analysis (Bassel et al., 2014). Cells segmented in 3D can also be exported for use in simulation models, where highly realistic geometries are required (Figure 5D).
When projecting data onto surface meshes several sources of error should be considered. Since the Z dimension in confocal images is typically considerably lower in resolution than in XY, it is possible that the view angle affects the results. To estimate the error introduced by this effect, we imaged the same sample twice from different angles (Kierzkowski et al., 2012). Co-segmentation with approximately 30° difference in view angle lead to small segmentation differences, averaging to less than 2% (Figure 6A,B). Note that there is no obvious bias from the view angle.
Another potential source of error comes from representing 3D cells as a 2D surface. To estimate the error introduced by this abstraction, we co-segmented two time points of growth in the same tomato shoot apex as that shown in Figure 4. The cells were segmented on the curved 2D surface, and the process was repeated from the same sample by segmenting the surface layer of cells in full 3D. The heat maps of volume increase in 3D show the same areas of slow and fast growth as the surface segmentation. In cases when the tissue thickness is preserved over growth, as in the epidermal layer of the shoot apex, tracking cell expansion on the surface is therefore a reasonable approximation for volumetric cell expansion (Figure 6C,D).
MorphoGraphX offers the possibility to segment cells automatically (Video 3) or to place the seeds for watershed segmentation manually (Video 2). While automatic segmentation is faster in the case of high quality data, manual seeding is recommended in regions where part of the signal is too faint or blurry, partially masking the cell outline. To estimate the error in our auto-segmentation method, we compared the number of cells segmented automatically vs manually on the same region of two high quality samples. For a tomato shoot apex sample, the auto-segmentation error rate was about 2%, with only 12 cells under-segmented (fused) and 1 cell over-segmented (split) over a total of 576 cells (Figure 6E). Once detected, segmentation errors can be easily fixed by the researcher (Video 3). Automatic seeding considerably shortens the time needed to segment large samples, such as a Drosophila wing disc (Figure 6F). The total number of cells varied by about 3% (6304 autosegmented vs 6510 manually seeded cells).
A key strength of our MorphoGraphX software is the ability to accurately extract curved surface meshes from 3D volumetric data and perform image processing on the resulting curved (2.5D) surface images. This has wide application, since many biological processes happen on surfaces, and the method has been proven in both animal (Aegerter-Wilmsen et al., 2012) and plant (Santuari et al., 2011; Chitwood et al., 2012; Kierzkowski et al., 2012; Nakayama et al., 2012; De Rybel et al., 2013; Kierzkowski et al., 2013; Wabnik et al., 2013; Sampathkumar et al., 2014; Vlad et al., 2014; Yoshida et al., 2014) systems, in embryonic as well as mature tissues. The method is especially powerful for time-lapse confocal imaging, where laser exposure has to be kept to a minimum, limiting penetration to the outermost layers of the sample. In addition to curved surface image processing, MorphoGraphX provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface for the visualization and editing of 3D volumetric data, making it possible to digitally remove obstructing objects from the surface of interest, such as the peripodial membrane overlying the Drosophila wing disc (Aegerter-Wilmsen et al., 2012). We have also included a range of standard 3D image processing tools, similar to those available in many other softwares (Fernandez et al., 2010; Peng et al., 2010; Sommer et al., 2011; Federici et al., 2012; Mosaliganti et al., 2012; Schmidt et al., 2014). These can be used for 3D segmentation (De Rybel et al., 2013; Bassel et al., 2014; Yoshida et al., 2014), or to pre-process data before surface extraction.
The modular design of MorphoGraphX allows the integration of existing libraries and the creation of custom processing 'pipelines', going from the raw microscopy image to feature extraction and fluorescence quantification. MorphoGraphX is implemented as a collection of shared libraries, and new libraries can be added or removed without recompiling MorphoGraphX. This combines the functionality of plugins with the computational efficiency of C++. The most common operations for 3D visualization, filtering and editing have been written to exploit the massively parallel architecture of modern graphics cards, which can have thousands of processing cores. As a result, 3D operations that would normally be very slow to run on a common PC take seconds to perform, making use of the computational power of inexpensive consumer graphics cards. Many of the more complex operations use the multi-core capabilities of the CPU. This makes most operations interactive and user-friendly, allowing the researcher to easily experiment with new work flows, algorithms and parameters. The flexibility of MorphoGraphX also simplifies the development of modules to import 3D voxel data and cellular or surfaces meshes from other custom imaging platforms. Such bridges have been created to import data from recently published growth tracking softwares including the MARS-ALT multi angle reconstruction pipeline (Fernandez et al., 2010), and the stereo SEM reconstruction software (Routier-Kierzkowska and Kwiatkowska, 2008).
MorphoGraphX has been used to quantify cell size (Aegerter-Wilmsen et al., 2012), growth and proliferation (Kierzkowski et al., 2012; Vlad et al., 2014), mechanical properties (Kierzkowski et al., 2012) and protein localization (Nakayama et al., 2012; Kierzkowski et al., 2013), as well as 3D cell geometry (De Rybel et al., 2013; Bassel et al., 2014; Yoshida et al., 2014). In addition to quantification, a current challenge in understanding development is to integrate these new data with computational models. Cellular geometry extracted from biological samples can be easily exchanged with modeling tools, such as Organism (Sampathkumar et al., 2014) and VVe (Bassel et al., 2014). Meshes extracted in MorphoGraphX can be used directly for realistic simulation templates (Bassel et al., 2014), or simplified depending on modeling requirements (Santuari et al., 2011; Wabnik et al., 2013; Sampathkumar et al., 2014). Examples include simulation models of hormone transport (Santuari et al., 2011; De Rybel et al., 2013; Wabnik et al., 2013), cell division plane analysis (Yoshida et al., 2014) and 3D cellular models of tissue mechanics (Bassel et al., 2014; Sampathkumar et al., 2014).
MorphoGraphX was developed by researchers and designed to be easily adaptable to new research requirements. Its user interface was built in close collaboration with experimentalists, with features and techniques added to address research problems and bottlenecks in work flows as they have arisen. Fully automatic tools are complemented with intuitive methods for interactive correction (Peng et al., 2011) and validation, greatly increasing the utility of new and existing algorithms.
Streamlined data exchange with modeling tools allows cell geometry and gene expression data to be used as model inputs, and facilitates the validation of simulation results. These features combine to make MorphoGraphX a significant step towards an interdisciplinary computational morphodynamics platform to study the interactions between growth, mechanics and gene expression.
Live confocal time-lapse series of developing flower of A. thaliana Col-0 (Figure 2A–F and Figure 2—figure supplement 2), shoot apical meristem of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) DR5 reporter line (Shani et al., 2010) (Figure 4—figure supplement 3) and leaf trichomes of Capsella rubella (Figure 5A) were acquired using SP8 or SP5 Leica confocal microscopes, as described previously (Kierzkowski et al., 2012; Vlad et al., 2014). After dissection samples were stained with 0.1% propidium iodide (PI) and grown in vitro on medium (Bayer et al., 2009). Confocal imaging was performed with a 63× long distance water immersion objective and an argon laser emitting at the wavelength of 488 nm. PI signal was collected at 600–665 nm. In the case of tomato shoot apex, pDR5::3xVENUS-N7 signal was also collected, at 505–545 nm. Distance between stacks was 0.5 μm. Time intervals were 11 hr for tomato and 24 hr for A. thaliana and C. rubella time lapse series.
Mature A. thaliana embryos (Figure 2H) were fixed and stained as previously described (Bassel et al., 2014) and imaged using a Zeiss LSM710 confocal microscope with a 25× oil immersion lens. Confocal stacks of microtubule marker line TUA6-GFP (Ueda et al., 1999) in live Cardamine hirsuta fruits (Figure 3A) were acquired using a SP2 Leica microscope, with a 40× long working distance water immersion objective and an argon laser emitting at 488 nm. GFP signal was collected at 495–545 nm. The z step between stack slices was 0.2 μm.
The sequential replica method (Williams and Green, 1988) was used to acquire a stereopair of SEM images from an Arabidospsis leaf surface (Figure 1D) as described in (Elsner et al., 2012). Stereoscopic reconstruction (Routier-Kierzkowska and Kwiatkowska, 2008) was then performed for the stereo pair and converted into a triangular mesh using a custom MorphoGraphX module. All other data presented in this manuscript were acquired for previously published work or available through on-line catalogs.
MorphoGraphX is written in C++ and has been developed on GNU/Linux. For GPU processing, MorphoGraphX uses CUDA (https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-zone) via the Thrust template library (http://thrust.github.io). Multi-threaded host processing is done using OpenMP (http://openmp.org/wp/). CUDA requires a compatible nVidia (http://www.nvidia.com) graphics card. The user interface is designed in Qt4 (http://qt-project.org/), and OpenGL is used for 3D rendering (http://www.opengl.org).
MorphoGraphX can be extended using either C++ modules or Python scripts. C++ modules can be loaded at the start of MorphoGraphX through a plug-in system, inspired by the shared library loading architecture of Lpfg in VLab (Federl and Prusinkiewicz, 1999). C++ processes can access all the internal data structures used in MorphoGraphX and modify them as needed. They can also call other processes or query for their existence, and get parameter values in a uniform way from the graphical user interface. The last parameter values used for each process are stored in the project (.mgxv) file for future reference. All process calls and their parameters are logged to a re-playable python script log file created in the current directory. Each process is represented as a light C++ object defining the name, parameters and code of the process and is bundled in shared libraries for easy distribution. The shared library is placed into a system or user process folder, and the processes it contains are loaded upon startup.
Python scripts can also be written and executed within MorphoGraphX using the Python Script process. This option offers a more limited interaction with MorphoGraphX as a script is only able to launch other processes and not directly interact with the data structure. However, it allows use of the wealth of modules existing for Python 2.7 for file interactions and data analysis. Most data analysis processes import/export their data as CSV files to facilitate the writing of Python modules for complex or ad-hoc data analysis.
Surfaces are represented by vertex–vertex systems (Smith et al., 2004), which implement graph rotation systems. Properties can be stored in the mesh, such as the label attributed to an individual vertex, the normal associated to it or a value for the projected signal. The rendering uses a modified front-to-back depth peeling technique (Everitt, 2001) interweaving the volumetric rendering between peels of translucent surfaces. The volumetric rendering itself is done using volume ray casting (Levoy, 1990), using the depth of the successive pair of peels to limit the ray casting to the region currently being rendered. This method allows for correct polygon–polygon and polygon-volume intersections. Combined with occlusion detection, we implemented early ray termination when the total opacity of the current fragment becomes too high for subsequent peels to be visible.
MorphoGraphX can be easily extended to import and export voxel and triangle mesh data in various formats. For voxel data, MorphoGraphX can read and write the tiff format compatible with ImageJ or Fiji (Schindelin et al., 2012). 3D data can also be loaded from series of 2D images using any of the various image formats supported by the C++ Template Image Processing Toolkit (CImg) (Tschumperlé, 2012). The Visualization Toolkit (VTK) (Wills, 2012) is used to import and export VTK triangle meshes. Various other formats, such as the Stanford Polygon File format (.ply), Wavefront's Object format (.obj) or 3D Systems StereoLithography format (.stl), are also supported directly. For many of the mesh imports, polygons with be converted to triangles upon loading by generating a center point and making a triangle fan.
The first step in processing the data stacks is to remove noise and then identify the which voxels belong inside of the organ (Figure 2A,B). 3D image processing filters for noise reduction are followed by edge detection combined with feature filling. Once the inside of the organ is identified it is represented as a binary image (Figure 2B). Next the surface is extracted using a variant of the marching cubes algorithm (Bloomenthal, 1988). Fairly large cubes are used, creating a relatively coarse mesh and avoiding the extraction of very small features due to surface noise (Figure 2C). Once a coarse surface mesh is extracted, it is uniformly subdivided. The resolution of this initial mesh has to be sufficient for a first segmentation, which can be subsequently refined.
After the surface is extracted and subdivided, a column of signal normal to the surface is projected onto the mesh at every vertex, creating a 2D curved image of the cell outlines on the surface layer (see Figure 2D, Video 2). The image is segmented into cells using a seeded watershed segmentation algorithm. After blurring the image, auto-seeding is performed by finding local minima of signal within a given radius. Seeds are then propagated with watershed. Depending on the radius used for detecting the local minima, several seeds can be placed within a single cell, resulting in over-segmentation. The cells are later merged, based on the relative strength of signal on the walls separating them (Video 3). Normalization of the signal with a radius greater than that of the largest cell typically improves merging results. For convenience, the processes are chained together in a single auto-segmentation process. The final segmentation is then manually corrected. The amount of manual correction required can vary depending on signal quality, and in some cases it can be more efficient to perform some or all of the seeding manually.
We have placed emphasis on designing the user interface for MorphoGraphX to streamline the process of manual seeding and segmentation correction (Videos 2, 3).
After the initial segmentation, the edges of the cells will often look rough, as there are not enough points to describe them correctly. To extract the geometry more precisely, the mesh can be subdivided specifically at the interfaces between cells (Figure 2F) or in areas of high signal intensity. After subdivision the signal is re-projected, and the surface segmented again. The seeds are retained during this process so that re-seeding is not required. Several steps of subdivision and re-segmentation can be applied until the desired precision is achieved (Video 2). The resulting mesh will be dense around the areas of interest (e.g., the interface between cells), while keeping the areas of low interest (the inside of cells) coarse, thus limiting the total size of the mesh file.
Once the cells have been segmented from two different time points, the cells and their progeny can be identified manually. Each mesh is loaded in a separate channel and roughly aligned manually so that the cells outlines match. For each cell in the second time point, the user identify a mother cell with a mouse click (Video 4). The lineage information is then used to compare cell size (areal growth) or the projected signal intensity in the original cells and their daughters.
A segmented mesh contains information about the cells neighborhood, that is, which are the cell walls shared by two cells and where do the cell walls intersect. The mesh can be simplified to contain only vertices necessary to describe each cell contour and the | 8,104 |
In the first of our psychedelic culture series, Brief Trips on Psychedelia, Nikki Hall muses on Hermann Hesse's novel, Steppenwolf.
The problem with our curious youth and mature intelligentsia is the luxury of self-examination<|fim_middle|> to look within and not outward for contentment.
Hesse wanted Steppenwolf to be read by those like him. Not necessarily male, but those who were older. Revealed in the author's note, written in 1961, 36 years after first publication, Hesse writes: "Written when I was fifty years old an dealing, as it does, with the problems of that age, often fell into the hands of very young readers." Yet his most autobiographical novel is more suitable for rebellious, progressive youth who are frustrated by the conservative – sometimes misunderstood – values of the previous generation. Hesse also echoes Theodore Roszak. Roszak, who published his influential 'Making of Counterculture' in 1968, wrote with caustic truth: "There is nothing whatever in common between between a man of Huxley's experience and intellectual discipline sampling mescaline and a fifteen-year-old tripper whiffing airplane glue until his brain turns to oatmeal." Note: Hesse, himself, never took any hallucinogens. He was just sharp.
How could a German shape American culture so much? Because the text is ageless. Haller is a man in a nondescript place, experiencing life's complete spectrum from love to hate, rebirth to death. It speaks to the disaffected in middle America to the cultural capitalist coastal states. Today, it is for those who are relentless in the self-improvement via ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru; or those entering the "magical theatre" of the web, where you can shatter yourself into a million personas. For Hesse's prefered fifty pluses, who are lost and disillusioned by our ever advancing technological age, where is there hope of transformation? I straddle somewhere between the two. Despite my increasing Ludditism – too much knowledge, not enough depth – I never will lose my optimism for our tech bounty which will somehow help to liberate our spiritual selves: free, pirate copies of Ram Dass' Be Here Now and online self help seminars led by Eckhart Tolle, anyone? Unfortunately because of this, I predict Steppenwolf will remain largely unread– and misunderstood by most that do. | . For example, I cannot remember the first time I read Steppenwolf. Perhaps I never did. But I did spend the past two decades in deep solipsism aided by university, a creative life, and the Internet. For those reading Hesse's oft-misunderstood 1927 novel today, beware of having your own solipsistic tendencies exposed. The book's premise for its time is prophetically psychedelic: psychedelic" meaning (derived from ancient Greek) "soul manifestation or revealing". Steppenwolf aka Harry Haller -a literal Freudian Wolf Man - drifts through life in an intellectual, anti-bourgeoisie haze where his intense dissatisfaction with reality is tested by a treatise and a Magic Theatre intended FOR MADMEN ONLY. Prophetically, after the conventional, white picket fenced 1950s, Steppenwolf became a spiritual handbook of sorts for 60s and 70s counterculture America.
The last part Leary is referring to Haller/Steppenwolf's closing carnivalesque descent into supreme madness similar to schizophrenia. The spectacle – a creative form of soul manifestation – encourages us to self-examine and transform through carefreeness and humor rather than darkness and despair ("You must apprehend the humour of life, its gallows-humour") and to accept the multiplicity of our personas ("all the hundred pieces of life's game were in my pocket"). However, to an inexperienced reader – in acid trips, breakdowns, or literature, the overarching message of healing through transformation gets lost.
For me, Steppenwolf is not just a thinly-veiled, mystical autobiography, but a profound book. A manifesto for the marginalized, the tortured, the spiritually hopeful for kindred spirits. After recently losing my own kindred spirit to an overdose, Haller's soul twinning with Hermine – a physical manifestation of his feminine soul – reminded me of the significance of finding your soul sibling: "I am a kind of looking-glass for you, because there is something in me that answers you and understands you." This could also be understood as human self-reflection– we are many spiritual multitudes, we just have | 454 |
WASHINGTON In a continued effort to restore the iconic California condor population, the National Park Foundation and the Pinnacles National Park Foundation announced today the donation of much-needed GPS satellite tags to Pinnacles National Park, thanks to a generous equipment donation from Microwave Telemetry, Inc. This effort is part of the National Park Foundation's Centennial Campaign for America's National Parks. To date, this comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of America's treasured national parks has raised<|fim_middle|> to supporting Pinnacles National Park. Since 2006, we have worked to inspire charitable giving towards high priority programs and projects unfunded by park budgets that meet our mission of ensuring excellence in education, resource stewardship, and visitor experiences at Pinnacles National Park. These projects protect and enhance the Park's natural and cultural resources and foster their stewardship in perpetuity.
Originally formed as Pinnacles Partnership, the name Pinnacles National Park Foundation was adopted in mid-2017 to more succinctly express the Foundation's role in light of Pinnacles new status as a National Park. Visit us at www.pinnaclesfoundation.org to find out more and join us in support of Pinnacles National Park. | nearly $500 million in private donations from individuals, foundations, and companies.
The Pinnacles National Park Foundation is the official nonprofit philanthropic partner dedicated | 32 |
Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma, Volume 2
Lori D. Frasier, MD, FAAP
Tanya S. Hinds, MD, FAAP
Francois M. Luyet, MD
Informática, ciencia y técnica
Editorial: STM Learning, Inc. 2016
Formatos: ePub (con DRM de Adobe)
184 pages, 60 images, 21 contributorsThis pocket-sized reference serves as a valuable reference for medical and legal investigations of possible cases of abusive head trauma to ensure that no<|fim_middle|>anya Hinds, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC and a Board Certified Child Abuse Pediatrician. She is also an Attending in Child Abuse Pediatrics at the Child and Adolescent Protection Center at Children's National Medical Center.
Acerca de Francois M. Luyet, MD
Francois Maurice Luyet, a board certified Pediatrician. After graduating from University of Geneva Medical School, he completed his residency at Montreal Children's Hospital in 1975. | possibility is ignored and that children receive appropriate care for their specific circumstance. In cases of abuse, this volume will serve as a guideline for ruling out alternative possibilities and commencing the trial and treatment of child abuse cases.This guide is supplemented by full-color, high-quality radiologic images and photos taken in physical examinations. These photos serve as an illustrative point of reference for investigators.
Acerca de Lori D. Frasier, MD, FAAP
Lori Frasier is the medical director of Medical Assessment at the Center for Safe and Healthy Families at Primary Children's Medical Center and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Acerca de Tanya S. Hinds, MD, FAAP
T | 153 |
SHAKE<|fim_middle|>. | all ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass (preferably block ice). TOP up with beer.
"To create my cocktail, I first asked 'is there anything else' in terms of cocktail ingredients that haven't been used for a Bacardí cocktail, but are related to the Bacardi family? I discovered the wonderful story of Bacardi's own beer 'Hatuey.' In early Twentieth Century Cuba, Bacardi would take ice from their lakes in North America and give their customers an ice block and six-pack of Hatuey beer, then the best selling beer in Cuba. My cocktail celebrates this by marrying the first Cuban rum with the citrus, grapefruit peel and bitter notes of the IPA style beer, balanced with Campari, honey syrup and lemon - easy and super-tasty!"
We say: Zesty lemon, Campari and tangy IPA makes for a zippy, refreshing drink. A characterful IPA and nailing exactly the right amount of amount of honey are key to this drinks success - we preferred two (just on the heaped side of flat) spoons of runny honey stirred into the drink before shaking | 230 |
Передмістя́нська сільська́ ра́да — колишня адміністративно-територіальна одиниця та орган місцевого самоврядування в Чортківському районі Тернопільської області. Адміністративний центр — с. Передмістя.
Загальні відомості
Передмістянська сільська рада утворена 2 березня 1990 року.
Територія ради: 30,63 км²
Населення ради: 843 особи (стан<|fim_middle|>
Рада складається з 16 депутатів та голови.
Голова ради: Таняк Богдан Михайлович
Секретар ради: Дмитренко Наталія Степанівна
Керівний склад попередніх скликань
Примітка: таблиця складена за даними сайту Верховної Ради України
Депутати
За результатами місцевих виборів 2010 року депутатами ради стали:
За суб'єктами висування
За округами
Примітки та джерела
Адміністративний устрій Бучацького району | ом на 2001 рік)
Територією ради протікає річка Вільховець
До 19 липня 2020 р. належала до Бучацького району.
11 грудня 2020 р. увійшла до складу Бучацької міської громади.
Населені пункти
Сільській раді підпорядковані населені пункти:
с. Передмістя
с. Заліщики
Географія
Передмістянська сільська рада межує з:
Палашівською — на сході
Язловецькою — на півдні
Ріпинецькою — на півночі
Склад ради | 229 |
You are here: Wud Records > News > Dark Company: album pages updated at Wud Records
All of the various Dark Company album pages have been updated here at the Wud Records website. This is a task that has been somewhat long-awaited and was done in order to reflect recent events and the current situation of the band. The pages with very little written on them have had a lot of new information added as well.
During the current Brexodus that we are experiencing here at Wud Records, we have had a bit of time here and there to do various odd jobs that have been hanging around for a while, and this was one of them. More news concerning other bands on our label will be forthcoming soon in our News service and on Twitter.
We believe it will be about two more weeks until we have a fully functioning studio complex once again, which is an exciting prospect! Our new premises used to be a bank and the studio itself is located in what used to be the strongroom, so making holes in the walls and ceiling is not particularly easy. This has caused the final stages of the studio set-up to be a bit slower than we initially thought. At least nobody will be able to tunnel their way in very easily!
Once our studio is up and running again, we shall be attempting to make some progress with the unfinished Dark Company material. There is plenty of it and it is our plan to start finishing and releasing it as soon as everything is in<|fim_middle|>! :) | place, including the necessary musicians!
If you would like to listen to Dark Company's albums here at Wud Records whilst reading all of the new details that have been included, please click on their names below to go to the relevant page:
Signmaker
Rage in Heaven
Ghost of the Art
Drifting Stars (& co)
Mind Dance
Old Hands
Benign Inquisition
We plan to raid our vaults again in the near future to repair the remaining broken Dark Company playlists and try to add some more live material. In addition there will soon be further news concerning the secret tracks we have recorded that will make up Dark Company's new triple-CD album, their 12th. Stay tuned | 143 |
The Symphony of Oak Park River Forest
The Orchestra
Jay Friedman
Jay Friedman, Music Director
Jay Friedman has been Principal trombone of the Chicago Symphony since 1965. He is also active as a conductor. Mr. Friedman is music director of the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, which was named orchestra of the year in 2011 by the Illinois Council of Orchestra's. He was music director of the River Cities Philharmonic 1990-1994, resident conductor of the Chicago Chamber Orchestra 1994-96, and principal guest conductor of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University 1995-2010. Mr. Friedman was named Conductor of the Year in 2000 and again in 2011 by the Illinois Council of Orchestras.
In 1996 at the invitation of Daniel Barenboim he conducted the Civic Orchestra of Chicago in Act 1 of Wagner's Die Walkure. The Chicago Sun-times called the concert "perhaps the best Civic orchestra concert in the past 30 years." In March 2006 he conducted the Civic Orchestra in a public master class of Mahler's 5th symphony at Symphony Center, Chicago. In 2010 he conducted the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest in Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand" at Symphony Center. The Chicago Tribune wrote of the concert; "<|fim_middle|> website or blog at WordPress.com | Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand sparkles with 350." In 2012 Mr. Friedman conducted the orchestra in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis at Symphony Center. Laurence Johnson of Chicago Classical Review called Mr. Friedman "a superb conductor."
Mr. Friedman conducted the Orchestra of the Italian Radio (RAI) in 2008 with Daniel Barenboim, soloist. He has also conducted the Santa Cecilia Orchestra, Rome, Sweden's Malmo Symphony, and the donors concerts of the Chicago Symphony. In 1996 he conducted the Hawaii Symphony on a three week tour of the Hawaiian Islands. He has conducted at the Chautauqua Festival in 1995-96, and New York's Mostly Mozart Festival. In 2000 he conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass in his own arrangement of Strauss' Alpine Symphony, which is now commercially available on DVD through KBE Editions. Guest conducting engagements in 2012-13 include the Louisiana Philharmonic, Zurich Opera, Berlin Staatskapelle and National Symphony of Mexico.
The Symphony of Oak Park River Forest, Create a | 241 |
A new, AI-powered analytics platform from Concirrus, called Quest, tracks vessel movements and combines it with insurance details and weather data to help marine insurers monitor<|fim_middle|>, leading to the creation of better products, pricing and profits," he commented. | and manage risk.
The global insurance and reinsurance community is bracing itself as it prepares to receive the final bill relating to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma – and early indications point to massive payouts. Investment bank JP Morgan has estimated insurance damage from Harvey alone at between $10 billion and $20 billion. Other forecasts suggest that Irma may cost insurers up to $65 billion. As always, it won't be until the dust settles and the waters retreat that most insurance companies can fully assess their losses.
With a view to speeding up the process for marine insurance companies, London-based insurtech company Concirrus recently announced the release of a new AI-powered marine insurance analytics platform, Quest. This, the company claims, will enable commercial marine insurers to combine internal data from across their organizations with external, third-party data. In turn, that will enable them to monitor and manage risk behaviour and exposure in real time.
In effect, Quest is able to track the movement of commercial vessels in near real time, combine it with information on sums insured and weather patterns, to assess the likely impact of storms and identify the level of an insured portfolio in affected areas.
The application enables automated alerts to be set for a range of behavioural criteria and contains detailed information from over 200,000 vessels worldwide. This, says Concirrus, enables insurers to select risk more intelligently, create connected policies, actively manage risk and ultimately reduce losses. The data science team at Concirrus, meanwhile, works alongside insurers to facilitate risk discovery, new insights and help them develop new products and services for customers, according to Concirrus CEO Andy Yeoman.
"Quest, supported by our data science team, allows our customers to extract and unlock behavioural insight from their assets | 355 |
Southgate defends Rooney after fans' boos
3yNick Miller
Wayne Rooney defended by England boss Gareth Southgate after fans' jeers
Nick MillerESPN.com writer
LONDON -- England caretaker manager Gareth Southgate defended captain Wayne Rooney after Saturday's 2-0 World Cup qualifier win over Malta.
First-half goals from Dele Alli and Daniel Sturridge were enough to earn the three points for Southgate's side, but after the break England's performance dropped significantly, to the extent that some sections of the crowd booed at the final whistle.
Rooney was singled-out for opprobrium by some of the 81,000 present -- even before the game, his name booed by sections of the crowd when it was announced.
Rooney played in a deep midfield role, and despite bemoaning the slowness of England's passing at times, of which Rooney seemed particularly guilty, Southgate seemed mystified at the treatment of the Manchester United man.
"I don't understand it [the boos], but that seems to be the landscape," Southgate said. "I've got no idea how that's supposed to help him, for sure.
"His experience<|fim_middle|> times it was a bit too slow and at times we played it too long.
"I've played in games like that, when you know it's very unlikely that you'll lose, and as players at times you manage yourself a little bit. We created chances, and if we'd finished a few more of them then clearly the feeling would be a bit different."
Malta manager Pietro Ghedin was satisfied with his team's performance, despite the defeat.
"We stayed in good shape all of the game," he said. "I'm very happy, although we lost the game. We gave everything we can.
"Maybe you are disappointed England didn't score 10 goals," he continued, when asked if his plan was only to frustrate their opponents. "You won the game. You should be happy."
Malta's man of the match was Surrey-born goalkeeper Andrew Hogg, who made a series of fine saves to help keep the score down.
"Thank you to him, because without him they could have scored more," Ghedin said. "Even for me it was a surprise." | and leadership has been crucial throughout this week. It's fascinating to get an insight into his world over the last 10 days. Every debate seems to focus on him.
The onus on him is enormous and the criticism of him is at times unfair. He ploughs on and captains his country with pride."
Southgate, who called up Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs after Ryan Bertrand suffered an injury in the first half, seemed satisfied with the way his team played in the first half, but he admitted that after the break they could have been better.
"Subconsciously in the second half there might have been a feeling that the game was already won," Southgate said. "We didn't bomb forward as we might have done. There's certainly room for improvement, but that's not a bad place for us to be."
Wayne Rooney was the target of some England fans' jeers during Saturday's win. Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images
However, Southgate emphasised how little time he has had to work with the squad, taking the job only 12 days ago after Sam Allardyce was ousted from the role.
"Given the situation we picked up," he said, "we've come a hell of a long way to get everything together to give a performance where we knew we'd be in control of the game. We know we'll get better, and I think the players would recognise that.
"I've seen teams having to work all preseason to get new ideas across, and we've had four days.
"I've got to be realistic about how quickly ideas can take. At times we moved the ball well, at | 339 |
Racism - AAPI
Racism - Black
Racism - Hispanic & Latinx
Racism - Native
"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences."
~Audre Lorde
A Force for Positive Change
Sandwich for All is a non-profit, non-partisan group of volunteers collaborating with our town's government, business, faith, arts, civic, and school communities to make Sandwich a more diverse and welcoming place for those who live, work, and visit here. We facilitate listening sessions and conversations, organize educational and cultural events, and promote changes in public policies-- all to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Sandwich community.
We understand that talking about prejudice, bias, and discrimination is difficult, and it can be challenging for all of us. But at Sandwich for All we also know it needn't be divisive. It's natural for those in any given majority group to feel uncomfortable or defensive when having open and honest conversations that reveal unconscious biases of which they've been unaware. We all have them. Bravely leaning into the discomfort,<|fim_middle|> project of The Cape Cod Foundation and to have their fiscal sponsorship, which provides us non-profit 501(c)(3) status.
"Can anyone of us here still afford to believe that efforts to reclaim the future can be private or individual? Can any one here still afford to believe that the pursuit of liberation can be the sole and particular province of any one particular race, or sex, or age, or religion, or sexuality, or class? We share a common interest, survival, and it cannot be pursued in isolation from others simply because their differences make us uncomfortable."
~Audre Lorde, 1982 | with an understanding that this journey is about "progress not perfection"-- both for ourselves and for others-- promotes understanding, compassion, and stronger community. At Sandwich for All we learn by listening deeply to each other's perspectives. Won't you join us?
Our Mission Statement
Sandwich for All is an inclusive, non-partisan group dedicated to making the Sandwich community welcoming and supportive of all residents, neighbors, and visitors—regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, class, abilities, age, or military/veteran status. We work to be agents of positive change—inspiring action that brings out the best in our town by viewing diversity as an opportunity for all. We are proud to be a | 157 |
<|fim_middle|> | The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas came to an end just over two weeks ago, and as a wealth of professional players departed from the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, many returned to their normal daily online poker grind.
One man who was back on the online streets earlier than the others was former PocketFives Worldwide #1-ranked Chris Moorman. The Brit, who achieved a personal record of 11 WSOP cashes in a single series over the summer, was at his newly purchased home in Las Vegas on Sunday, July 15 when he fired up tournaments on WSOP.com and other online sites.
The evening's grind was going well for the 888poker ambassador. With several cashes already locked up, he contemplated registering in just one more, the $500 $25,000 GTD Weekly Sunday 6-max on WSOP.com. Just a few hours later, Moorman won the tournament for a score of $16,928.75 and in doing so he became the first player to achieve $15m in recorded online cashes.
"I wasn't sure I was even going to play that tournament, as I was approaching the end of my session, but I was still in some other tables, so I jumped in at the last minute with ten big blinds, and within about 90 minutes I was at the final table," he added.
The win for Moorman secured the accolade and his 365th PocketFives gold medal. The 33-year-old became well-known in the online poker world when he achieved the first of his 28 online Triple Crowns in March of 2007 and rose to the top of world rankings by August 2008. Moorman would consistently perform and hold the top spot on-and-off over the next six years, building up an online record others simply couldn't get close to.
Moorman has switched his attention to live poker more over the last few years, while also concentrating on his 888poker ambassador role. Despite that, his online ambition remains high, while admitting that it is harder to achieve now.
"It's getting tougher and tougher to do. Some of the guys, especially the Swedish players, they don't play live often and are at home grinding putting up a ridiculous amount of cashes on the board. And with the weekly high roller tournaments, they can catch up pretty quickly if they want to. So it's nice for me to still put up some numbers online and keep them off my back for the time being." said Moorman.
Moorman went on to say that one of his biggest fans is his dad, who is always keeping an eye on his next targets.
The WSOP can be a grueling experience with a packed schedule for most players. With Moorman cashing in 11 events as well as three outside of the Rio, which included victory in the $1,025 + 75 No Limit Hold'em Wynn Summer Classic for $55,805, the former Essex based player said he was feeling the pace ahead of the Main Event.
"It was long days, and even though it was only Day 5 when I busted the Main Event, I felt quite tired, and this time it was a weird experience for me. My only other deep run in the Main came in 2012 when I finished in 358th place. I made a big mistake to exit, and I had quite a lot of regret about that. Most poker hands you can move on from pretty quickly, but at the time I thought that could have been my shot to win it.
"This time around I didn't have any regrets. However, there was one key hand that was a turning point for me. I had a ten high flush against another U.K. professional, and I raised the river against his overbet and folded to his jam on a paired board.
Despite a new breed of players dominating and dedicating all of their time to online poker, rather than traveling on the live tour, it could be some time before there is a challenger knocking at the door for Moorman's earnings record. Online grinder Sebastian 'p0cket00' Sikorski is his current nearest rival with $11,671,941 in recorded online cashes.
Moorman admitted he has a better life balance now, which includes a reduced online schedule. It serves him to better enjoy his time playing online rather than be controlled by the frustrations it can bring, while also traveling on the live tour.
Moorman will once again be present at his home country event in November as 888poker LIVE bring their tour to London's Aspers Casino. | 975 |
Rage Against The Machine Covers Dylan, Devo, Cypress Hill
archive-Teri-vanHorn<|fim_middle|> Wilk -- are freed up to concentrate on new projects since their planned "Rhyme & Reason" tour with the Beastie Boys has been canceled.
"I'd do it today," Morello said. "We just don't have a consensus among all seven bandmembers to make it happen right now.... The Beastie Boys are ready to go, and Timmy, Brad, and I are ready to go. We're just not all ready to go."
The tour was originally delayed when Beastie Boy Mike
D injured his shoulder in a bicycle accident. A statement from the Beastie Boys' publicists released Wednesday cited the rapper's continuing recovery as well as scheduling problems as reasons for the cancellations.
Rage Against The Machine has not made any alternative tour plans. | 09/22/2000
Rage Against The Machine has recorded "radically different" versions of songs by Cypress Hill, Devo, Bob Dylan, and Minor Threat for a project due in November or December, according to guitarist Tom Morello.
"I hate to call them covers, but we take the lyrics from other songs and write brand new Rage Against The Machine tracks underneath," Morello said. "Dylan's 'Maggie's Farm' sounds maybe more like a Black Sabbath song than a Bob Dylan song, and Devo's 'Beautiful World' sounds more like a Woody Guthrie campfire ballad than new wave."
The tracks, produced by Rick Rubin, will be released along with recently recorded live material. Morello said the band has not decided whether the project will turn out to be one album or a double album featuring one live CD and one studio disc. Rage is working with about 30 songs for the project; about 12 are studio covers and the rest are live.
The covers also include Cypress Hill's "How I Could Just Kill A Man," Minor Threat's
"In My Eyes," and the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man."
"It's really one of the most liberating and exciting creative experiences that I've ever been involved in," Morello said. "Even with Rage Against The Machine, there are precious few rules, but with this, we've completely thrown out any conventions."
The band also will release a DVD called "The Battle Of Mexico City" from a show it played there last year.
The members of Rage Against The Machine -- Morello, vocalist Zack De La Rocha, bassist Timmy C. and drummer Brad | 350 |
Elm Productions presents Zigga and Bentley, rapping is their BIZ
Story and slideshow by HALEE CRAM
Many success stories in today's world start out small. This one began with the idea to turn a pigeon coop into a photo booth.
Elm Productions started in the back of a house in Cottonwood Heights. Chase Reed and Evan Moore knew they wanted to do something big and weren't afraid to use any resources at their disposal. Reed suggested that this photo booth idea evolve into a recording studio.
The two of them worked hard cleaning and reconstructing to create a place where they could follow their dream. The recording studio was finished in a little over a month and that's when the real work began.
"From there we decided we wanted to be a production company," Reed says. "Production to us meant everything from music, to merchandise, to events, to photography. Literally everything. Cut out the middle man."
Reed and Moore put their thoughts into actions and started working with a few artists around the Salt Lake Valley, funding their projects. Their first show was Dec. 4, 2010, at In the Venue. It showcased Cunninglinguists and DL Incognito and was an all-ages concert. The producers' main focus has always been to have all-ages everything.
They believe if they can get the younger crowds to their shows, they will establish audiences for their artists from the roots up and perpetuate their own business. Another core belief for Reed and Moore? No contracts. They have lost money because of this policy, but feel it has helped them filter out artists to find their most worthwhile relationships and projects.
After their first show, Reed and Moore decided to part ways with their current clients. They had no idea what would come next for them. To acquire additional business, they chose to give out free tracks to artists. Anyone could come in and record because Reed wanted to give local, new rappers a chance.
This is when Zane Dennison, "Zigga," showed up in their studio and rapped songs "Rhythm of My Life" and a version of Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y's "How Fly." Reed said he "killed it."
Mmusi Butandu's entrance into the up-and-coming company was just as much of a coincidence. Butandu, "Bentley," met Reed's brother and expressed his ambition to become a rapper. As soon as could be arranged, Bentley was flaunting his skills for Reed and Moore just as Zigga had.
The producers knew instantly that both Zigga and Bentley had "it" and adopted them as the new face for their company. This is when Reed and Moore developed the concept BIZ as a brand and started producing merchandise associated with it and their new artists. Being "about your BIZ" is the "movement of living out your dreams," Reed says. When Zigga and Bentley tell their stories, they make it clear how just they exemplify this.
"It's just my life," Zigga says. "Every song that I write is an inspiration in the moment."
He explains that this is why rap is a harder genre to be involved in. Where many genres of music may express different emotions throughout their songs, rap audiences have a short attention span and an artist has maybe three minutes to get one emotion out.
"That's why a lot of people don't finish their songs. They don't feel the same way the next day," Zigga says.
Zigga has a lot from his past and day-to-day life to draw on. Born in Iowa, he lived in Oakland, Calif., from the ages of 5 to 12. During this period of his life, he played coronet, was in the band at his elementary school and composed poetry. The first<|fim_middle|> moved here, he began to make music and rap. He says rapping was an "easy transition" from poetry. When his father decided to move back to California, Zigga was left here to make a name for himself.
Zigga's inspirations include Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Birdman, who he says has "passed into iconicism or whatever it is."
Zigga's already-released music includes the songs "Napalm" and "Ain't Afraid." In the near future, he will have an album that collaborates with the techno producing company Pretty Lights, called "Pretty Lights and Shifty Nights." It will include his new material over Pretty Lights' original songs.
Bentley's story sounds similar to Zigga's. The rappers agree that they are able to connect as a result of their past and their music.
"I swear I wrote my first rap around [the age of] 9 or 10. It was about 'Why do all the girls love me? Is it the cars, is it the money?' And this is coming from a 9-year-old who knows nothing," Bentley says. His mother thought it was a phase that was funny, but he has proved rap is a lasting part of his life.
At 15, he and his family moved to Utah because his mother got a contract to work as an obstetrician. He says he didn't always live in the best situations or have "a good sense of family" because his mother was always at work or school.
Bentley says he sees Reed, Moore, Zigga and the rest of the Elm crew as his family and appreciates the chance that they have given him. They have helped him to "make it on the stage, on the mic." Bentley is featured on many of Zigga's tracks including "Motivation," which is a remix of the original song by artist Kelly Rowland. He will be releasing more of his own tracks very soon.
Even though Bentley and Zigga are still working on their repertoire, they have already performed on the stage. Reed and Moore produced their first concert with the rappers on June 11, 2011. They opened for the well-known artist the Ying-Yang Twins.
"I was tripping out," Zigga says. "I wasn't nervous, though, that's the thing. It was like winning an award, like an acceptance speech." The show was well-attended and is considered a success by the whole crew.
Working altogether, Zigga and Bentley create music, while Reed and Moore continue to establish their company and brand. Their collective goal? To make it big. All four of them have been working with Capitol Records and have a clear view of what steps they need to take to become the next big names in the hip-hop industry. Because for them, rapping is their BIZ.
This entry was posted in Arts & Entertainment by comm5775. Bookmark the permalink. | song he ever wrote, he recalls, was on Fresno Avenue at his landlord's house. It was called "Falling Down to Earth."
At 12, Zigga moved to Utah with his father. Right when he | 45 |
Walker Papers #1
Joanne Walker has three days to learn to use her shamanic powers and save the world from the unleashed Wild Hunt.
No worries. No pressure. Never mind the lack of sleep, the perplexing new talent for healing herself from fatal wounds, or the cryptic, talking coyote who appears in her dreams.
And if all that's not bad enough, in the three years Joanne's been a cop, she's never seen a dead body—but she's just come across her second in three days.
It's been a bitch of a week.
And it isn't over yet.
Joanne Walker, on her return flight home sees a woman being attacked as the plane descends for landing. Everyone thinks she's crazy, but she immediately rushes to try and help the woman. Long story short, as a result of her aid to this woman, her world as she knows it gets ripped apart. She learns she has immense potential and powers to help "heal" the world. This of course is extremely hard for her to swallow since she doesn't believe in anything mystical at all.
Joanne is a really interesting character. I loved the scene where the entire precinct went nuts when they thought the captain fired her. Its nice to see a character that is truly one of the guys, but is still feminine. I love how fiercely loyal everyone is toward Joanne. I think she deserves it as her morals and ideals are very good. However, I do have one pet peeve. She is so stubbornly adamant about not wanting anything to do with her destiny and spends so much time in denial that she could be learning more about her gift.<|fim_middle|> a little slow at times, typically when Joanne was being overly stubborn about her destiny, but otherwise a very good read. It truly is an urban fantasy, with absolutely no romance, but that didn't detract from it at all.
Buy now at Amazon:
Urban Shaman (The Walker Papers, Book 1)
4 Bfly Adult C.E. Murphy Katie Review
4 Bfly|Adult|C.E. Murphy|Katie|Review| | I understand that it all came as a shock, but at some point she is just going to have to step up and accept it rather than continuing to hide from it. Hopefully future books will show her living up to her potential, but somehow I think her journey towards acceptance will be a very long one.
The male characters in this book are all great characters. The cab driver Gary that quickly became an important part of Joanne's roller coaster ride into the mystical was a very supporting character. I love how he was instantly loyal to her and became someone she could truly count on. The antagonistic relationship between Captain Morrison and Joanne make for some very funny moments. I cannot remember how many times I laughed out loud at something snarky she said to him. However, I have to say my favorite character has to be Billy Holiday, the cross dressing detective that surprisingly has everyone's respect. Any man that can wear dresses and heels yet still be respected deserves my admiration.
I enjoyed this book. It was | 202 |
A pile-up of unresolved investigations. A sharp drop in the number of cases closed. Allegations from at least four employees of a hostile working environment.
These were the findings of a KPCC/LAist investigation published earlier this month into how Ken Bramlett ran the Los Angeles Unified School District's Office of the Inspector General — the powerful internal watchdog unit that polices LAUSD from within for waste, fraud or mismanagement.
For L.A. Unified School Board member Nick Melvoin, KPCC/LAist's reporting reflected doubts he'd harbored about Bramlett.
"My assessment of the prior inspector general," Melvoin said in an interview, "was that no, the work product wasn't up to<|fim_middle|>IG wields its extraordinary powers fairly, and they must do so without applying political pressures that might shut down important inquiries.
On the other hand, board members have also had to push back against critics who would prefer LAUSD's watchdog be kept on a shorter leash.
HOW CAN WE KNOW THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS DOING A GOOD JOB?
In an interview, the new Inspector General William Stern said he hoped the office would be judged by the quality of its work product, not the quantity of investigations.
Stern noted the OIG publishes all of the reports produced by its auditors and makes public "as much as we possibly can" without breaking state law, which keeps all OIG investigations and work product confidential.
Stern also said it's not fair to focus only on the numbers of cases closed, since the counts don't reveal how many of those cases were simple or complex.
Consider: During Bramlett's tenure, the OIG played a role in the district's infamous iPad debacle and first raised red flags about a former LAUSD food service director who recently pled guilty to criminal charges. District officials had also referred to the OIG at least one matter involving ex-LAUSD board member Ref Rodriguez, who resigned last summer. The dip in case closures might mask the importance of this work.
Melvoin, Goldberg and Repenning all agreed that there's only so much the raw numbers of cases open and closed reveal about how good a job the IG's office is doing.
But Melvoin said there are metrics worth tracking. He said he had discussed with Stern possibilities for metrics tracking the OIG's performance, like the ratio of criminal charges to cases brought or the number of personnel actions taken.
Melvoin said they also discussed tracking how much questionable spending the OIG identified — a figure that OIG already publishes in its annual reports, but that the board might look to emphasize.
"You can see a world," Melvoin said, "where [the OIG] is cost-neutral — that it's recouping to pay for itself."
HOW LONG A LEASH SHOULD THIS WATCHDOG GET?
In both 2016 and 2017, charter school advocates made attempts to limit the OIG's role.
As spokesman Richard Garcia said in an email last week, the California Charter Schools Association wants the OIG to more clearly define the scope of an investigation at the outset, with "district roles outlined and details on the nature of each investigation established in plain terms."
"Your piece," Richard Garcia's statement continued, "highlighted a need for such change within the office and the process."
But Goldberg said she believes the charter association simply chafes at the idea of any oversight at all.
"I don't think anyone is exempted from a good look by the IG if there's a reason to believe there's a problem," she said.
Melvoin said the complaints from charter operators reflected broader concerns about how the OIG was handling cases. The first step in addressing those complaints was hiring a new Inspector General, Melvoin said.
"I led the charge in making sure we brought in a more effective IG," Melvoin said, "because we believe in the mission of this office."
Melvoin, Repenning and Goldberg all expressed confidence in Stern, saying it appears he has the credentials to be successful in his job.
Repenning said ensuring the Inspector General lives up to expectations is the board's responsibility.
"The onus is on the board," said Repenning, "to develop a set of measures and mechanisms so that the people running the office know that this is the bottom line expectation for annual work product." | a quality that I would expect."
During a closed-door meeting in June 2018, board members declined to renew Bramlett's contract. Bramlett left LAUSD shortly thereafter. In his interview, Melvoin acknowledged that his concerns about Bramlett's ability to manage the office's culture and caseload played a role in that decision.
Melvoin also noted that the board has already taken action to address those concerns: "We brought in a new inspector general," he said — William Stern, a 20-year FBI veteran, who began at LAUSD in January.
Two candidates running in a special election for an open LAUSD board seat — Heather Repenning and Jackie Goldberg — also said KPCC/LAist's findings raised concerns about the rate at which the Office of the Inspector General was addressing cases.
"I do think Ken Bramlett was kind of disappointing," Goldberg said, though she stressed she didn't have inside knowledge of the OIG's work.
It is very disappointing to see that the person appointed to fight waste and mismanagement at LAUSD isn't showing up in the same way, or barely at all. Closing less than 5% of internal investigations is unacceptable.
In two stories this month, KPCC/LAist reported that at least four OIG employees had filed formal complaints alleging Bramlett — or his top deputy overseeing the investigative unit, Frank Cabibi — fostered a hostile workplace culture.
OIG employees also alleged Cabibi's management style was causing a backlog of unresolved investigations. Sources said Cabibi was eager to open cases, but not to close them. After Cabibi left LAUSD, OIG staffers found at least 25 cases sitting in a credenza in his office, ready to close, according to one document obtained by KPCC/LAist.
To Melvoin, the reporting touched on a critical issue: "Who's watching the watchdogs?"
The Office of the Inspector General, or "OIG," polices more than $9.6 billion in district spending for "waste, fraud and abuse." The office also employs "about a dozen" investigators to ensure LAUSD's 63,000 employees don't misbehave on the public dime. Armed with subpoena powers, the scrutiny of OIG investigators has gotten contracts canceled and employees fired — or even criminally charged.
The OIG reports directly to the LAUSD board, not the superintendent — an arrangement that's supposed to make the office more independent from the district's administrative power structure.
"When issues internally — like to this office — arise, and the board is made aware," president Mónica García said in an interview with KPCC/LAist on March 12, "the board has a responsibility to address them."
García expressed confidence in the new inspector general, but did not speak directly to specific concerns about Bramlett or Cabibi, saying she was prohibited from discussing "personnel-related" matters.
Three other board members declined to comment for this story: Kelly Gonez, Scott Schmerelson and Richard Vladovic. A fourth board member, George McKenna, didn't respond to multiple requests for comment.
In "watching the watchdogs," LAUSD board members must perform a balancing act: they must ensure, on the one hand, that the O | 670 |
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I have a new layout up on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog! The last time I took a turn sharing on "Design Team Wednesday", I shared a layout using photos that the girls had taken of themselves. That layout can be seen HERE. Well, this time is no different. I'm dealing with sassy teen girls, and the last thing they're up for is mom pointing her camera at them. It's a good thing I can rely on their photos from time to time.
Sarah just turned 16 years old this past weekend. She is truly an expert at taking selfies, and has been for years. I just love this photo that she took of herself while we were driving in the car last month. It's a gorgeous photo of my gorgeous girl. So I asked her to send it to me so I could scrap it. It took a few reminders, but she finally emailed it to me.
I have never been one to work from kits, or subscribe to kits, but I did recently pick up a few kits during a big sale at Studio Calico. It has been sitting on the floor since I got it, and I'm glad I ended up looking through it when I started this layout. I found three patterned papers in there that worked so well with what I had in mind.
The pink dotted pattered paper matched the colors in my photo perfectly. I always love a good brown woodgrain patterned paper, and it went well<|fim_middle|> along the white border sticker.
For the top "AM" part of my page, I added a piece of the yellow tone-on-tone diagonal striped paper. Yellow just seems like a morning color, right? I printed two strips of photos, one for AM and one for PM. Each had three 2x2" photos, but you could easily just print three individual photos for each section.
I used the Amorie chipboard alphas for my "AM" and "PM", and also added an assortment of Ciao Chip Elements, like the sun and clouds.
For the bottom "PM" part of my page, I added a piece of the aqua tone-on-tone diagonal striped paper. I was originally going to use navy blue, but it was a little too dark for the page. I think aqua still worked well for an evening color, plus it matched my clouds.
Under each of the photo strips, I added a few small strips of patterned paper. Both the black days of the week paper and the paint splatter paper were 4x6" cards cut from the Daily Details patterned paper. Since my photo strips were wider than the paper strips, I couldn't mat them. So I just cut some thin strips, and tucked them under the top and bottom of each photo strip.
I added some chipboard flowers in coordinating colors, and topped each one with black enamel dots. I had to stick to just one color of enamels for this layout, but you could easily add in more color using a variety of colors of the enamels.
You can download our step-by-step project sheet, complete with a full supply list and detailed instructions, RIGHT HERE. | with the pinks and Sarah's brown hair. And the gold glittered patterned paper added a touch of glam to the page, tying in nicely with the brown woodgrain paper.
I started out with a die cut title, from the gold glittered patterned paper, but it wasn't standing out as much as I would have liked. I also felt like I needed some silver added in, since Sarah's sunglasses had silver rims.
I remembered these silver chipboard alphas that I had bought from the dollar section at Target last year (in full disclosure, I may have bought about 10 packs of them!). I love a good chunky font mixed with a cursive or script font for my titles, so pairing the chipboard alphas with a die cut word ended up working perfectly.
I also die cut a fun circle border from the brown woodgrain patterned paper. It was something I had in my Silhouette library, found in their store. It worked well to cover up the top part of the ruffled paper, since it had an unfinished look to it once I cut it.
One product that immediately came to mind after printing my photo was the ruffled paper from an older Dear Lizzy collection. I have a few sheets of it, and have never gotten around to using it. I always feel oddly accomplished when I finally use a product that I love, but that I've been hoarding for years.
I trimmed off the lighter pink rows of ruffles, which also matched the photo perfectly. I printed my journaling and matted them with the gold glittered patterned paper, to bring in another touch of the gold on the page, and adhered the strips to the page using silver brads.
I know it may appear that my buttons don't actually match each other. I promise you, in real life, they're all the same shade of pink (and a few off white) and match the pinks on the page really well. I also added some tiny silver accent dots around the page, for some subtle touches of silver.
Hey everyone! I've been doing way less scrapbooking these days, so my blogging has suffered. But I do have a new layout up at Kerri Bradford Studio today. With the official start of summer right around the corner, I was itching to create a fun summer layout. So that's what I did.
I dug up some really old photos (taken back in 2007) of a family get together at my brother and sister-in-law's house. Our summer's usually consist of temperatures in the 100's, so most of our gatherings revolve around a swimming pool, to keep everyone cool. To be honest, I have scrapped these photos before. But this layout will definitely take the place of the other layout, since it's way more "me" than the previous one.
Since I had a lot of photos I wanted to include, I pulled up a template from Kerri's Storyboard #3 kit that I felt would work well with my photos. I used this same template twice, once for either side of my two page spread. I just flipped the template for the second page so that it would mirror the template on the first page.
I also printed a few main photos individually to add to the top section of the two pages. I still had a few additional photos that I would have loved to include, but getting 20 photos onto this layout pretty much told the story of the day. I even stuck the one photo of myself on there, even though I hate it.
I knew the top part of my pages would be white cardstock, but I wanted to add something so that it wasn't so plain looking. I decided to use the sun from the This & That: Summertime [just shapes] kit, and cut three different sizes of suns, multiple times.
I layered the suns on the top half of each page, adding adhesive only to the centers of the suns. This added some easy dimension and texture to the page, as they weren't adhered totally flat. I then misted over the top half of each page, using pink, green, and aqua misting sprays.
All of my patterned papers on this spread are from My Mind's Eye. I came across the floral patterned paper, and thought it would work well, so I went searching for a few tone-on-tone papers in pink and aqua to match. I honestly believed that the papers matched well when I started this layout. I was matching that pinkish paper to the small amount of pink you can see in the floral paper (and also matching it to the girls swimsuits). In the end, I think my colors were a little off, but it still works.
For my title, I choose the words "hello" and "pool" from Kerri's Summer Lovin' kit. I knew I wanted a large title along the top of the page, so I sized each word fairly large. I cut each word from patterned paper, as well as black cardstock, and layered them together.
When it comes to buttons, I always thread them. But very rarely do I take the time to hand stitch them to the page anymore. I usually thread them, and then add a glue dot to the back and stick in place. But since I was using clear buttons on a white background, I decided to take the extra time to hand stitch them all in place. Really not that time consuming, but it did take me longer than glue dotting them.
Speaking of 100 degree days of summer, we had one of those earlier this week. And we were all miserable. The air conditioning can't keep up when it gets that hot, so it's just constantly turning on and off, on and off, over and over. At one point, I realized it was 82 degrees in the house, when I had it set at 78. So I turned off the air and gave it a break, knowing it was 102+ degrees outside.
I left to go get a haircut after all the daycare kids left, and when I got home a few hours later, the family informed me that they were dying and it was 87 degrees in the house. No one had even thought to turn the AC back on and cool things back down. Lol. We're looking at 100 degree temps again this weekend, so wish us luck and hope we survive!
Hey everyone! I finally have something new to share with you. We are now revealing our monthly project sheets on the first Monday of the month, over on the Bella Blvd blog. This month, I was asked to feature the Color Chaos collection, along with the Invisibles specialty papers.
I was also asked to use time as the theme to my page, along with a comparison, such as the "AM vs PM" idea I used for this layout. If I was doing this layout idea completely on my own, I would have done something entirely different. Since I create these layouts with the idea that others will be recreating something similar, that usually plays into what I end up making. I was able to pull up some really old photos that I thought would work well for comparing a few things that are different in my mornings and my evenings.
When it came to which Invisible specialty paper I would use, it was an obvious choice. The "A Day At A Time" was perfect, since I was going with a daily routine theme. I knew I was only going to use a portion of it, so I cut it in half before getting started.
I used my finger to roughly add some black acrylic paint around the outside edges of the Invisible and then traced it onto a sheet of white cardstock. Once I had cut that out, I adhered the two pieces together. Adding the white cardstock behind the Invisible just helps it to stand out more, and keeps it from overwhelming the page.
I thought the white and grey star patterned paper would make a great neutral background to lay the Invisible against. Once my other patterned papers were adhered in place, I added the white scalloped border sticker and did my machine stitching. I used the black alphas from the Treasures & Text sticker sheet for my title, and lined it up | 1,694 |
About Our Grange
Agricultural Fair
Grange History
The Grange In Connecticut
, CT, 06035
Membership Cost:
Dues $40.00/year for individuals; $60/year for families
Meetings Held:
2:00 PM - 2nd Sunday of each month unless otherwise noted
For over 155 years, the Grange movement has been part of our American landscape with a Grange Hall in almost every community. Granby Grange #5 last reorganized in 1926 and in 2022 a small group of Grange members undertook an intensive Membership Reinvigoration Campaign. The initial result of this campaign was the record-breaking new member obigation ceremony in January 2023 when 29 new members joined Granby Grange.
Membership is open to all! Anyone interested in our community, enjoys serving others, cares about our agricultural economy, is passionate about environmental conservation, and wants to make a positive impact is invited to join Granby Grange. Anyone 13 1/2 years of age and older is welcome to join and you do not need to live in Granby to be a member. Youth are welcome too in our Junior's program. We have no minimum attendance or service requirements. For more information<|fim_middle|> contact Carol Innes at annabelletheclown@gmail.com or 860-205-0162. | or for a membership application, please | 7 |
Symposium #249
CE Offered: BACB
Bringing ABA to the World: Changes Across Cultures, Borders, and Disciplines
Area: TBA/PCH; Domain: Service Delivery
Chair: Dipti Mudgal (Ball State University)
Discussant: Lina M. Slim-Topdjian (ASAP - A Step Ahead Program, LLC)
CE Instructor: Lina M. Slim-Topdjian, Ph.D.
The world as we know it is changing and, in many ways, there are tremendous signs of growth for humanity. One such sign is the removal of boundaries for service delivery. Behavior analysts are contributing to this process in a remarkable way, for example, by taking advantage of developments in technology that allow us to communicate and collaborate in ways that were previously unthinkable. However, stepping into this new world requires us to notice differences in each other, and to work diligently to build bridges. To expect that the application of behavioral science is devoid of context and cultural norms would not provide desirable outcomes. Hence, several parameters must be considered when planning and implementing global access to behavior analysis. The aim of this symposium is to present two unique and successful collaborations that fostered equality, equity, and inclusion of recipients. Both papers will shed light on different aspects of service delivery and dissemination of applied behavior analysis in the international context.
Instruction Level: Intermediate
Keyword(s): India, International, Speech pathologists, UAE
Providers, program developers, researchers,
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: (1) Explain the FBA workshop changes that were made for Indian SLPs. (2) Explain the changes made in the ABA program for UAE population. (3) List considerations to be made when disseminating ABA services and education in other countries.
Cross-Discipline Training Model for Speech-Language Pathology Students in India to Develop Function-Based Interventions
GEETIKA AGARWAL (Ball State University), Dipti Mudgal (Ball State University)
The awareness, acceptability, and availability of Speech and Hearing programs in India far exceeds the prevalence and awareness of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs. There are over 800,0<|fim_middle|> collaboration of both fields and/or dissemination of behavior analysis technology in India will also be provided.
Student-Faculty Collaboration in Dissemination of Behavior Analysis in the United Arab Emirates
CLODAGH MARY MURRAY (Emirates College for Advanced Education), Michelle P. Kelly (Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE)), Sarah C. Mead Jasperse (Aurora University)
The current paper will describe the establishment of the first graduate level Verified Course Sequence in ABA in the United Arab Emirates in August 2019, and the concomitant challenges and opportunities that arose for the UAE national students and expatriate faculty. With the aim of building local capacity in the provision of ABA services and expanding the reach of behavior analysis beyond the field of ASD intervention in the country, the faculty and students have worked together in a range of interesting and rewarding ways. The paper will discuss cultural competence as an ongoing collaborative effort. The faculty has learned to work in a Middle Eastern culture, understanding the impact of local traditions and customs on teaching and learning. Meanwhile, the students have learned to navigate the world of behavior analysis by analyzing and questioning how the methods and guidelines "fit" with the populations they serve now and into the future, for example in the selection of socially significant target behaviors, in discussing the prevalence of culturally-specific pseudoscientific interventions and in their critical evaluation of ethical codes. The positive student-faculty collaboration fostered in the UAE provides lessons for behavior analysts who work in culturally diverse settings. In particular, this paper will describe our achievements in the dissemination of the science of behavior analysis through community outreach and high-quality student-led projects, supported by faculty. | 00 registered speech therapists (Indian Speech and Hearing Association, 2019), whereas BCBAs, BCaBAs, RBTs together add up to merely 86 (Behavior Analysis Certification Board, 2020). For a country with over 2 billion people, the number of behavior therapists is pittance. While this gap in the number of providers is discouraging, we believe practitioners of applied behavior analysis should find mutual synergy to collaborate and train speech therapists in the science of our field. This collaboration is intuitive given the remarkable overlap in both fields. The purpose of this grant funded project was to disseminate our science by training the students and supervisors of the Department of Speech and Hearing, which was housed within a medical college in South India. We implemented a two-day intense Functional Behavioral Assessment training workshop focusing on most commonly seen challenging behaviors in their speech sessions. This paper aims to cover the model we used for customizing the workshop for speech therapists in India so that it is more relevant and inclusive of their experiences and context. Recommendations for future | 215 |
U.S. Wind Power Shows Strong Growth in 2016 and 2017
S. Patricia Batres-Marquez
Decision Innovation Solutions
11107 Aurora Avenue Urbandale, IA 50322
http://www.decision-innovation.com/
Data from the U.S. Department of Energy indicates by the end of December 2016, U.S. wind electricity capacity was equal to 82.17 gigawatts (GW), compared with 74.47 GW during the same period a year earlier. By June 30, 2017, wind capacity<|fim_middle|> wind power federal policy. The Senate passed its tax reform bill on December 1, 2017. As we finished writing this report (December 4, 2017) the two chambers were expected to go to conference to reconcile the two bills.
Batres-Marquez, S. Patricia. 2017. "U.S. Wind Power Shows Strong Growth in 2016 and 2017." Renewable Energy Report, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University. December.
(1) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allowed wind projects to elect a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) instead of the PTC starting in 2009. This option has been included in all PTC extensions and is subject to the same phase down schedule as the PTC (i.e., the ITC will be reduced in 20 percent increments: from 30 percent (in 2016) to 24 percent (in 2017) to 18 percent (in 2018) to 12 percent (in 2019)).
(2) Both hydropower and non-hydropower sources such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and landfill gas. | was equal to 84.95 GW. Cumulative wind power grew 10.3 percent between 2015 and 2016. Overall, from 2007 to 2016 wind power capacity increased 386 percent.
The development of the U.S. wind industry is the result of several factors, but the main factor is the federal production tax credit (PTC). The PTC for wind was first enacted in 1994 and has expired and been extended several times. This is a 10-year inflation-adjusted per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) tax credit. The current PTC was approved in 2015, with expiration scheduled by 2019. The value of the tax credit is progressively reduced in 20 percent increments for projects commencing construction after 2016 (1) . For calendar year 2016, the tax credit was equal to $0.023 per kWh that was generated. Applying this 20 percent reduction in 2017, 2018, and 2019, the production tax credit is 80, 60, and 40 percent of the PTC value, respectively. There is no tax credit for projects starting construction in 2020 (U.S. Department of Energy).
State-level renewable portfolio standards (RPS) also have played an important role in the development of the wind industry. RPS are policies that mandate electricity suppliers to incorporate in their resource portfolio an amount of electricity from renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass energy. As indicated by the U.S. Department of Energy, RPS direct the location and amount of power development, and as of June 2017, there were 29 states and Washington D.C. with RPS. Texas, for example, established a RPS in 1999 and amended it in 2005 requiring 5,880 MW of renewable energy by 2015. Iowa adopted a RPS in 1983 and required 105 MW of renewable energy by 1999. Oklahoma established a RPS in 2010 requiring 15 percent of total installed generation capacity for operating electric utilities to be renewable by 2015 (AWEA).
Other factors boosting the wind industry include improvements in cost and performance of wind power technologies, which have resulted in lower sales prices for all sectors (utility, corporate, and other purchasers).
In 2016, Texas installed the most wind capacity adding 2.608 GW. Oklahoma and Iowa increased their wind capacity by 1.461 GW and 0.705 GW, respectively. As Figure 1 shows, as of June 30, 2017, 53.8 percent (45.74 GW) of U.S. installed wind power capacity (84.95 GW) was located in five states: Texas (25.3 percent, 21.450 GW), Iowa (8.2 percent, 6.974 GW), Oklahoma (7.8 percent, 6.645 GW), California (6.5 percent, 5.561 GW), and Kansas (6.0 percent, 5.110 GW).
Figure 1. Q3 2017 Installed Wind Power Capacity (MW)
In 2016 the United States generated 226.871 million megawatt-hours, increasing 19 percent year-over-year. The most current data published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates wind power generated about 6.1 percent (163.6 million megawatt-hours) of U.S. power supplies (2.699 billion megawatt-hours) during the January to August 2017 period. Wind power during this period generated 34.4 percent of total electricity from renewable sources (2) (476.3 million megawatt-hours).
Given their large installed capacity, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, and California (see Figure 2) were the states that generated the most electricity from wind during January to August 2017. Texas is the leading state in wind power generation with 27.35 percent (44.753 million megawatt-hours) of U.S. total wind power generated during the first eight months of 2017, followed by Oklahoma with 9.51 percent (15.561 million megawatt-hours). Iowa, Kansas, and California accounted for 8.07 percent (13.199 million megawatt-hours), 7.27 percent (11.891 million megawatt-hours), and 6.04 percent (9.889 million megawatt-hours), respectively, of U.S. total wind power produced during the January to August 2017 period.
Figure 2. Top Five States that Generated the Most Electricity from Win (Million Megawatt-hours)
The leading states in terms of contribution of electricity generated by wind power to total in-state electricity are Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. In 2016, Iowa and South Dakota produced more than 30 percent of their total in-state electricity generated last year. In addition, Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota produced more that 20 percent of their electricity from wind in 2016 (see Figure 3). In 2017 (January to August) Iowa generated 34.5 percent of total electricity from its wind capacity installed, whereas 34.4 percent of Kansas' electricity was supplied by wind power during the same period (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Top Five States with the Largest Share of Their Total Electricity Generated from Wind (%)
The November 7, 2017, Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicated U.S. wind capacity is expected to grow both in 2017 and 2018. U.S. wind capacity is forecast to reach 88 GW by the end of 2017 and 96 GW by the end of 2018.
On November 16, 2017 the U.S. House passed a tax reform bill. Among other provisions, the House bill would retroactively cut federal production tax credits. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the House tax reform bill retroactively would change how businesses qualify for wind energy federal support. If provisions concerning PTC are approved, wind investors would have new rules midway through, and new wind industry investments could be discouraged since a consistent policy is needed to foster investment in the industry. The Senate tax proposal that passed the Finance committee does not affect the | 1,469 |
Trump to renegotiate Paris climate change accord
President Trump returns from his eight-day humiliation tour of the Middle East and Europe to announce he would be pulling out of the Paris environmental treaty
"They won't be laughing now" he said, arguing that earlier global arrangements had taken America as suckers. Not laughing, maybe, but weeping in frustration.
Make the Planet Great Again, Justin Trudeau tweeted.
President Obama was able to overcome political opposition at home in signing up America for the Paris accord. The two countries yet to sign are Syria and Nicaragua.
Donald Trump is sticking to his election pledge to create jobs in the rust-belt states. This may not create the kind of jobs the displaced coal miners voted for. Opponents argue that growth in jobs will come to workers able to retrain for new skills.
China and the EU are seen as moving more closely together on this issue. President Trump's announcement was early justification of Chancellor Merkel's claim this week that the EU could no longer take for granted shared interests with the USA and the UK on climate change.
Timing bad for Theresa May?
More locally, Theresa May, an early ally of President Trump, is regretting the timing of the announcement. She is a week away from a General Election she called, fighting on the basis her strong and stable leadership as she negotiates the UK's departure from the EU. An earlier lead in the polls is shrinking. Attacks on labour leader Jeremy Corbyn seem to have failed to exacerbate his earlier woeful ratings as a future Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister's non-show at a televised debate this week gave opponents the chance to weaken her case further, by describing her as weak and wobbly. Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green party, had a particularly positive impact on the audience.
The Prime Minister called the Trump decision disappointing. She could have been referring to the effect it could have on the final election result.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: Angela Merkel, Caroline Lucas, Climate change, Donald Trump, General Election June 2017, Green party, Justin Trudeau, Nicaragua, Paris accord, Rust belt voters, Syria, Theresa May | Permalink
So, Is President Obama a weak leader?
President Obama has received continued criticism for being a weak leader. His military actions against IS in Iraq and Syria are now being used to demonstrate the contrary argument. I suggest that such assessments need to be made with great care
Popular and political judgements of a leader's competence need to be tested carefully. Too often they are reactions to a single critical incident.
Critical incidents may not be all that critical
A news story often follows a 'critical incident'. For example, the IS made headlines over brutal videoed execution of an American hostage. President Obama said at a Press Conference that there was no American strategy in place for dealing with the emerging Islamic State. The remark was widely taken to illustrate the President's weakness as a leader.
Was it weak leadership to speak the truth?
A leader is expected to offer reassurance. Obama's sound-bite was uncomfortable to hear. It could be used in Media Training as an example of a remark that might have been better expressed. An example of a weakly-expressed point. But was it weak leadership to speak the truth? Would it have been any better to say "We know exactly what to do, as you will learn very shortly" ?
Was it strong leadership to launch the air campaign against IS?
British politicians appear to be believe so. They debated the issue and voted overwhelmingly in favour of supplying air support in Iraq (where the new regime requested military support against IS) Here is where some careful testing of ideas is required. One view is that a strong leader is decisive and 'sends signals of commitment and willingness to act' unilaterally if necessary.
There seems a wide consensus that the initiative has little chance of a simple successful ending without 'boots on the ground'.
Yet there has been a remarkable level of regional and international support of at least a symbolic kind.
Strong leadership?
And the question of what is strong leadership remains a matter of perspective. If strong is understood as having the power to bring about desired change, President Obama is in a relatively weak position for someone in the role generally perceived as that of the most powerful political leader in the world.
Leave a Comment » | Uncategorized | Tagged: air campaign, Iraq, IS, Leadership, leadership dilemmas, Political leadership, President Obama, Syria | Permalink
The leadership dilemma: On being right and appearing weak
One repeated theme in the desperate series of events taking place in Syria is the dilemma facing leaders embroiled in them. Politically, so often doing what a leader believes to be right risks public perceptions of being a week leader
The struggles are clear if we look at the behaviours in the UK last week [August 24-30th] of Prime Minister Cameron and the leader of the Opposition, David Miliband as well as the impact on those of President Obama.
Early in the week, the bloodshed in Syria escalated in the deaths of hundreds of civilians apparently from a chemical weapons attack. President Obama had indicated earlier that use of chemical weapons would pass a 'red line' resulting in intervention by the USA. After the attack, the White House indicated that some military response would occur.
The House is recalled
Mr Cameron returns from holiday early and recalls MPs to the House for a motion backing direct action against the perpetrators of the chemical attack, and implicitly supporting the imminent US actions. Mr Cameron was at one with many Western commentators that the Syrian regime was responsible and that action to respond to 'discourage and degrade' future use of chemical weapons in Syria. Initially Mr Miliband supported the principle of military involvement. Both leaders also took pains to recognize the intervention in Iraq by Tony Blair was increasingly seen as ill-judged, and the public would need reassuring of the possibility of a limited strike without unintended longer-term consequences. As I write those words it seems inconceivable that Cameron and Miliband believed the military case that such a 'hygienic' strike was possible.
In a few days, the recalled members of Parliament had made it clear to their respective leaders that many of them would not support military action. Both back-pedalled. Miliband found a form of retreat that called for time, which Cameron did not seem to have if the American action were to be supported. Cameron proposes a watered-down motion seeking agreement in principle on military action, and promising further debate before actual action.
Defending the indefensible
Cameron skilfully almost defended the indefensible. Miliband had a bad attack of first night nerves. The subsequent debate was at times muddled. Some speakers seem to have stuck to their original drafts ignoring how the motion had changed. The mood of the house however was of individuals with honourable intentions to support or oppose according to conscience or argument, regardless of leadership intentions. Enough conservatives opposed the motion for it to defeated. Immediately, Cameron said he 'got it'. There would be no UK support for US military action.
The American response
A few days later President Obama indicated that the intended action would be delayed, following a proposal put to his own legislators. It was widely interpreted as a response to the UK political debate
Doing right and appearing weak
What do I mean by 'doing right and appearing weak'? The three leaders changed their positions during the period of a week. Obama had made the commitment to act in Syria if the regime crossed the red line of using chemical weapons. He believed he had the moral right to do so, and the support of the American public. He was risking appearing week by delaying. Now pollsters suggest the public considers him even weaker, although several commentators have recognized that his search for consensus in and outside The US is attempting to avoiding unintended consequences of action. [One defense was made by an earlier politician, 'when events change, I change my mind, what do you do?'. The issue is more how often the leader changes]
Mr Cameron is judged weak when he tried to seek cross-party support for military action by offering a second vote so that in principle he could support any American action.
Mr Miliband quickly learned that he could not deliver opposition support to a military venture. It may have been a cunning plan on his part, but if so he looked thoroughly miserable as he spoke in the house to his new position.
It is rather easy to see how seeking consensus, and changing one's position are seen as signs of a weak leader. Seeing what is the right course of action is altogether trickier.
3 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: Chemical weapons, David Cameron, David Miliband, Dilemmas of leadership, Events, Leadership, Politics, President Obama, Syria | Permalink
Greece Demonstrates, Syria bleeds
In Greece, Political leaders continue to battle for the country's economic survival. The ruling coalition is introducing increasingly unpopular austerity concessions. Refugees from Syria find there is little compassion for their plight. Leadership lessons are hard to find
The political and economic turmoil in Greece continues.
<|fim_middle|> eight mile boat journey.
I watched a BBC Newsnight report last night, which showed desperate Syrian families prepared to spend their life savings in a risky crossing of eight miles, into Greece. Hardly surprisingly, those who arrive find the bitterness of people at their own plight, and a mood of heightened xenophobia against immigrants in general.
Leadership, what leadership?
I would like to draw some instructive leadership lessons from these stories, but they are hard to find. Perhaps there is the paradox to consider of the weakness of strong leaders and the limits to autocratic rule. Maybe we should think about the inter-connectedness of events which make dominant theories of leadership too simplistic to help us understand events and find actions which protect the interests of those most at risk.
2 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: conflict, current-events, Global Issue, Greece, leaderswedeserve, political crisis, Refugees, Syria, Xenophobia | Permalink | Last week [7th November 2012] judges and doctors participated in a general strike. As politicians deliberated, over 80,000 angry protestors including a group of policemen in uniform, demonstrated outside the Parliament buildings.
The Greek dilemma
The Greek dilemma is increasingly seen as misery and decline inside the Economic community, or misery and decline outside it.
If Greece leaves
The most vulnerable members of the Economic community such as Greece, Spain and Portugal all have the most recent history of military dictatorships 'rescuing' the country at its time of need. Is there any evidence of that about to happen? It seems at least a possibility, if Greece leaves the EEC.
Meanwhile, in Syria
Meanwhile the national turmoil has implications for the bloody conflict waging in neighbouring Syria. [14th November 2012]. Even the cold statistics make heart-breaking reading.
The Syrian Red Crescent charity says two and a half million people have been displaced within Syria, and a UN refugee agency considers the estimate on the conservative side. Nearly half a million Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries, the UN says. Figures of more than thirty people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began over the last eighteen months.
Civilians flee in their thousands into camps on the Turkish border.
Life savings for an | 269 |
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Live at McCabe's is a live album released by singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt in 19<|fim_middle|>abash Cannonball" (Traditional) – 4:47
"Marie" – 5:45
Personnel
Townes Van Zandt – vocals, guitar
Kelly Joe Phelps – dobro
Production notes
Produced by Townes Van Zandt
Harold F. Eggers Jr. – executive producer
Olaf Meyer – artwork
References
Townes Van Zandt albums
2001 live albums | 95. It was recorded at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California and is a limited edition. Only 2000 copies were printed.
Van Zandt is joined on stage by slide guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps.
Track listing
All songs written by Townes Van Zandt unless otherwise noted.
"The Hole" – 6:43
"Pueblo Waltz" – 3:41
"Pancho and Lefty" – 5:32
"Short Haired Woman Blues" (Lightnin' Hopkins) – 7:49
"Shrimp Song" (Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper) – 4:14
"Snowin' on Raton" – 7:20
"Katie Belle" – 3:20
"Dollar Bill Blues" – 3:37
"A Song For" – 5:30
"Banks of the Ohio" (Traditional) – 5:25
"W | 215 |
Circa 1795. 5-storey and attic 6-bay tenement with shops to ground floor and flat-arched entrances to pends (Mid<|fim_middle|> stone to left) with circular cans. | and West Entries to James Court) to outer right and in 3rd bay from left. Grey ashlar, painted to ground; rubble to rear. Eaves course. Regularly fenestrated, but floor levels different in 3 bays to left and right. Projecting cills. Modern shop front to left (continuous to Milne's Court); consoled, modillioned cornice and Corinthian pilasters to shop to right. 4 slated piend-roofed dormers to attic. Turnpike stair to flats in pend.
REAR (JAMES COURT) ELEVATIONS: single bay to left, over round-arched entrance to pend. Narrow canted bay (windows lighting stair) in re-entrant angle. Broad projecting bay with tripartite windows to each floor to centre (later harled flat-roofed single storey building adjoining to ground). Narrow bay over pend. 4-storey piend-roofed wing to right: regularly fenestrated; modern timber panelled door in bolection-moulded surround to 17A to N elevation.
12-pane glazing in 3 bays to right, plate glass in 3 bays to left, in timber sash and case windows. Grey slates. Tall corniced stacks (brick to right, | 270 |
London Dining Trends: The Rise of the One-Dish Restaurant
London is an incubator of dining trends, and the city's denizens are used to being at the cutting-edge of the global restaurant scene. So, what's the latest movement that has the capital's foodies in a fuss? Enter: the one-dish restaurant. No longer must a restaurant have an encyclopaedic menu of exotic fare in order to
London is an incubator of dining trends, and the city's denizens are used to being at the cutting-edge of the global restaurant scene. So, what's the latest movement that has the capital's foodies in a fuss? Enter: the one-dish restaurant.
No longer must a restaurant have an encyclopaedic menu of exotic fare in order to attract attention. Nowadays, the mastery of a single dish is enough to propel new eateries into the culinary stratosphere. So before you leave your Red Carnation hotel for dinner, it's best to decide ahead of time: chicken or steak?
Bubbledogs
All right, technically Bubbledogs has two specialities: hot dogs and champagne. Though the combination might strike some as unusual, the eatery has perfected the pairing of haute drinking and casual eating. A traditional "Naked Dog" is on offer, but it's hard to resist the perfect spicy-crunchy-tang of the K-Dawg, which sees a typical dog done up with kimchi, red bean paste, and lettuce. Even harder to resist? The lengthy champagne menu.
Bubbledogs, 70 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QG, 020 7637 7770
Bone Daddies
There's no better, or more restorative, food for cooler weather than a bowl of hearty, piping hot ramen. Bone Daddies serves steaming bowls of 20-hour pork tonkotsu broth, so thick you could almost stand a spoon in it, with heaps of springy noodles, shaved meat, and toppings ranging from boiled eggs to chopped scallions. This Soho-based restaurant serves ramen so moreish that crowds wait hours for the chance to get their chopsticks near it.
Bone Daddies, 31 Peter Street, London W1F 0AR, 020 7287 8581
Honest Burgers
London may be in the midst of a bona fide burger boom, but don't let the flood of competing eateries overwhelm you. Instead, stick to what's tried and true: Honest Burgers is undeniably one of the city's best. Though diners used to have to travel to Brixton to grab a bite, Honest Burgers' new Soho location means it's more accessible than ever before. That's good news for burger fanatics. With perfectly cooked patties (all meat is sourced from The Ginger Pig) squeezed between toasted buns and served with a side of rosemary-salted fries, it might prove hard to stay away.
Honest Burgers, 4A Meard Street, London W1F 0EF, 020 3609 9524,
Flat Iron Steak
In the past, London was accused of being a less-than-ideal steak city – what steaks were on offer were overcooked to oblivion – but Flat Iron Steak is proving the naysayers wrong. The no-reservations Soho steakhouse offers only steak for its main course, which comes with few extra frills (a small side salad, the option to add on chips). Still, simplicity here is a virtue and what the restaurant does it does flawlessly.
Flat Iron Steak, 17 Beak Street, London W1F 9RW, no phone number<|fim_middle|> fries, coleslaw, corn on the cob, or butter lettuce & avocado salad to their orders. The no-fuss menu is perfectly complimented by the rustic-yet-stylish décor – not to mention a healthy portion of apple pie to finish things off.
Chicken Shop, 79 Highgate Road, London NW5 1TL, 020 3310 2020
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Technology is helping people around the world live greener lives, here's how it's applied across our hotels. |
Though it's a bit of a hike into Zone 2, Chicken Shop is essential territory for those who love a perfectly roasted poulet. The free-range, UK-sourced chicken is available by the quarter, half, or whole, can be ordered with hot sauce or smoky BBQ, and diners can choose whether to add crinkle cut | 70 |
Donut Derelicts of Southern California - Hot rod, classic, and muscle car photos from the cruises of Southern California.
Eastern and European Vehicle Owner's Club - A New Zealand based club for owners of older vehicles from Eastern and European countries, especially unusual makes and models.
Basingstoke Classic Car Club - For all classic vehicle enthusiasts in the UK.
British Auto Club of Las Vegas - Promotes British car ownership. Events, forum and classifieds. Non-members welcome.
Valley British Auto Club - Club for British car owners in the Fresno area of the Central San Joaquin Valley, California. Includes activity calendar and photos.
The Staffordshire Classic Car Club - Classic car club for all makes and models.
20th Century Chevy, Inc. Car Club in Washington, Indiana - Club in Southern Indiana catering to all types of vehicles. See members rides.
Rogue Valley Street Rods - Non-profit organization of street rod enthusiasts based in Medford, Oregon. Main event is annual West coast charity benefit rod and custom show, held in February .
Saints Car Club - Custom, classic, trucks, and hot rod car club in Port Orchard, WA. Features photos, events, shows, history and automotive improvements.
The Rodfathers Car Club of Butler PA - Small car club dedicated to promoting classic, custom, and antique vehicles. Car cruises, shows and pictures.
Hilltop Cruisers Classic Car Club - Club in Chester, SC for people who have a passion for classic cars. "Cruise Ins", events and photos.
Lambda Car Club - Detroit Region - Classic car club for gay men and lesbians in Detroit, Michigan. Members participate in local, regional, and international events.
Georgia Classic Rides - Local car club in Dallas, Georgia that raises money to support under privileged children in North West Georgia.
British Made Car Club - Club dedicated to all 50's and 60's British made cars. Local and national club information, technical advice, events and gallery pages.
50s Unlimited Auto Club - Texas car club that caters to those who like to drive their classic cars. Emphasis on cars of the 50s, but open to all.
Traditional Car Club of Doncaster - For enthusiasts of vintage, classic and traditional vehicles.
SoCal Classics - Southern California chapter of the Inliners International. Dedicated to classic cars with inline engines of all types.
American Built Classic Car Club, Inc. - A national car club dedicated to preserving American production built automobiles manufactured between 192<|fim_middle|> known British cars in Canada. Site includes events, articles and membership information.
The Scottish BMC Car Club - Club for commercial vehicles manufactured by BMC and British Leyland.
Brits of the Hudson British Sports Car Club - British sports car club for owners, fans and enthusiasts located in Hudson Valley New York. Events, weekend getaways and antique and classic auto shows.
The Milton Keynes Classic Car Club - Open to everyone irrespective of the make, age or mode of transport. Site includes events, membership and links.
Scottish Vintage Vehicle Federation - Organization for Scottish vintage and classic car clubs. The SVVF schedules and publishes events for the entire Scottish region.
Sparking Clog Classic Sports Car Club - Classic sports car club open to all makes. Based in Bolton, North Manchester, England.
Hants County Cruisers, Nova Scotia - Information and photos about club, its members and various local and regional events.
Manitoba Classic and Antique Auto Club - Open to people interested in all makes of automobiles at least 25 years old.
Nifty 50 Cruisers Car Club - Car club in Northern Minnesota, with members from the Carlton County area. Sponsors a car show in June at the county fairgrounds.
Vintage Sports Car Club of Calgary - Vintage sports car club of Calgary.
Amphicar.net - Where webtoed motorists gather to spawn ideas through free websites and other services for owners of an Amphicar, an amphibious "boatcar" made in the 1960s.
American Auto Club UK - Caters to owners of American vehicles. Members vehicles date from 1911 to 1999.
Checker Taxi Stand - Extensive information on the Checker Cab.
The Peerless and Warwick Register - Dedicated to the preservation and continued use of these classic British sportscars.
Peterborough Classic Car Club - A group of enthusiasts who meet on a regular basis. | 9 and 1979.
The 5 Club - Israeli Classic Car and Motorcycle Club - Club for Israeli collectors and owners of classic cars and motorcycles. Site includes restorations, articles, events and photo album.
The Six Eighty and MO Club - Caters to the Wolseley 6/80 and Morris Oxford series.
Ye Olde Car Club - Collector car club in the Tri-Cities, Washington area. Membership extends throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
Leaders of the Pack Car Club - Club dedicated to community service through benefit shows for high schools in Cleveland. Events, newsletter, and photo album.
Walla Walla Hot Wheels Car Club - Members photos, events and club information.
Past Pleasures Car Club - Family oriented group who enjoy restoring and showing classic vehicles. Photos and rememberances of some of the activities over the years.
Professional Car Society, Northland Chapter - Organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of vehicles such as ambulances, hearses, limousines, and flower cars. Includes online galleries, research center and forum.
Vintage Car Club of Canada - Family oriented club formed in 1958. Has 23 Chapters with 1200 members throughout British Columbia, to Victoria and Dawson Creek. All makes welcome and ownership of auto not required.
American Car Clubs UK - American auto clubs and enthusiasts in the United Kingdom.
Classic Traffic - South coast motoring club for the Adur, Arun and South Hant areas. Includes events and photos.
Rust To Riches Car Club - Club located in Oklahoma that is devoted to classics.
Georgia Military Vehicle Preservation Association - Georgia Affiliate of the International MVPA. Dedicated to the preservation and restoration of historic military vehicles.
Classic Chassis Car Club of Texas - Gay and lesbian classic car club with chapters in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas.
Northern Indiana Cruisers - Car club for all classic car enthusiasts and collectors.
Rods and Rides of Polk County - A working car club, established in October 1998 that helps charities as well well as other car clubs. Includes photo gallery and information.
The Idaho British Car Club Homepage - Located in Southwestern Idaho. Calendar of events, membership details, and listings of club officers.
Lake Erie British Car Club - For enthusiasts of classic British cars. Membership is primarily based in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
Morongo Basin Old Car Club - Antique, vintage, collectible, historic, cars and trucks.
Old English Car Club and Registry - For owners of all makes of British vehicles. Encouraging restoration, preservation and enjoyment. British Columbia.
BrmmBrmm. - For the classic car enthusiast. Features a list of clubs, photo gallery, and forum.
The Mechanical Horse Club - A club dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Scammell three-wheeled mechanical horses and similar four-wheeled classic commercial vintage vehicles. Includes a models section.
Craven Old Wheels Classic Vehicle Club - Caters to all makes, models and ages. Based in Skipton, North Yorkshire.
American Truck Historical Society - Collects and preserves the dynamic history of antique trucks and the trucking industry.
British Saloon Car Club of Canada - Club formed in 1994 to support the owners of lesser | 662 |
Key findings from the Reuters Digital News Report 2021
posted on 07 July, 2021 (public)
Coronavirus pandemic exacerbated digital disruption at the expense of traditional and independent media companies
The tenth edition of the Reuters Digital News Report was published on 23 June 2021. Based on surveys launched last January with over 92.000 online news consumers in 46 markets all over the world, the report continues to explore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and includes, for the first time, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Nigeria, Colombia and Peru.
The pandemic and the technological changes have accelerated the shift towards more digital, social and mobile consumption, damaging the traditional business model of media companies and "forcing a more fundamental rethink about how journalism should operate in the next decade as a business, in terms of technology, but also as a profession".
In general, the report reflects the following trends and impacts:
News consumption:
- The consumption of TV news has increased this year. However, it is likely to be more a temporary consequence of the lockdown situations in<|fim_middle|> distrust and the feeling to be unfairly represented is significantly more pronounced among young people and political partisans who tend to turn to online alternative sources and social media.
- People strongly support the ideals of impartial and objective news with equal time for all sides, even though some of them recognise to tend to be drawn in fact to more partial and less balanced content.
- Concerns about misinformation have slightly increased, especially towards social media and in particular, Facebook. Even though the rate of concern in Europe is the lowest (54%) compared to other continents, false information about Covid-19 was particularly widespread in Central and Eastern Europe.
News business model:
- The fall of printed newspapers has not been compensated by the rise of paywalls and subscription memberships, still slowly progressing as people remain reluctant to pay to access news. Nordic countries are the most successful in this regard, especially when it comes to local and regional news media companies.
- The news business model imposed by the platforms and aggregators, a major gateway to news, remains an unsustainable model for publishers who are required to provide content in exchange of access to audiences in non-profitable terms.
- The report stresses the low levels of public awareness of the challenges faced by news companies and therefore, the low levels of support for government intervention and financial help towards media companies.
This year again, three broadcasting regulatory authorities are partners of the Digital News Report project: the BAI (IE), Ofcom (UK) and the Dutch Media Authority (CvdM - NL). More detailed reports for Ireland and for the Netherlands are available on the Irish and Dutch regulators' websites.
- The Reuters Digital News Report 2021
- BAI: Digital News Report Ireland 2021
- CvdM: Digital News Report: Netherlands 2021 [NL]
Key findings from the Reuters Digital News Report 2020 posted on 22 June, 2020
Reuters Digital News Report 2022: Innovative journalism vs. news fatigue and disconnection posted on 29 June, 2022 | several countries rather than a long-term new trend.
- Media companies have significantly expanded their supply of podcasts but the demand of podcasts is growing slower, discovery and awareness remaining the main problem regarding podcasts' consumption.
News, trust & information disorder:
- In Europe, trusted brands, and especially big commercial and public service news, have improved their online audience and activity, especially in countries where public service media are generally trusted.
- In general, an increase of trust in news is observed, probably linked to the Covid-19 crisis. On the contrary, | 110 |
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FOL Board
Programs FOL Supports
Unusual Finds
FOL History
Library Endowment
Volunteer !
Geocache Quest
Board of Directors - Bainbridge Island Friends of the Library
Linda Meier, President 2020
Long a member of the art community, for 23 years Linda was the owner of Frame it on Broadway/Linda Meier Gallery. She has served previously Bainbridge Friends of the Library Board and is a past President of the Bainbridge Public Library Board. "I have lived on Bainbridge Island since 2001 on a small farm we call Chateau Poulet. We raise chickens, ducks, sheep, a goat and 3 spoiled indoor cats. I grow most of our own vegetables and my husband grows most of our fruits and berries. Linda shares management of the Gardening section in the FOL book room with Becky Donegan. She is also on the Art Committee of the BPL Board and coordinates the monthly art exhibits in the meeting room.
Kathy Bolles, Vice-President
In 2016 Kathy Bolles retired after a 26-year career as a municipal attorney and educator. She returned to the Pacific Northwest to be near her sister who lives on the Island and mother who lived in Poulsbo until her death in 2018.<|fim_middle|> The Board has fiduciary responsibility for the assets of the organization as well as ensuring the organization follows the Articles and By-Laws that have been approved and registered with the State and the IRS. The Board organizes the timing and staffing of our book sales and operations of the book room when receiving donations, sorting, pricing, and shelving.
© 2020 Friends of the Library. All rights reserved. | Site Map | Privacy Policy
P.O. Box 11815, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 | 206-842-4162 | | | Kathy ensures the book sales are fully staffed with coordinators and cashiers, and manages the Vintage Editions section of the book room. Having to say "farewell" to her longtime volunteer positions upon her relocation, Kathy thoroughly enjoys the time she spends working with the Friends as they are all very interesting and engaged people with a dedication to the community and a love of reading.
Charles Browne, Treasurer
After retiring in 2004, Charlie and his wife Barbara moved to Bainbridge Island from Shanghai, China. He has been active in the Bainbridge Island Friends of the Library, volunteering with them since 2005 and serving on the Board in the past as Treasurer and later as President. Charlie is one of the volunteers who checks online prices of donated books and other materials. He also manages the Politics, Current Events, Business, and Personal Finance section in the FOL book room. He and Barbara are amateur gardeners.
Carol Schuyler, Secretary
I am thrilled after a lifetime professionally working in libraries to be able to give again in volunteer position. I got my Master's Degree in Librarianship from the University of Washington. My husband and I with our two young children moved to the Island in 1976. I began my career as a part-time children's librarian with Kitsap Regional Library at Bainbridge Island two years later. It was wonderful to work and grow with the system and it even allowed me to actively volunteer for the Washington Library Association, culminating as its President. I am currently a Director of Bainbridge Public Library and facilitate one of the library's book groups. I am an active reader, gardener and quilter.
Becky Donegan, Director
Becky Donegan is one of our more recent talented FOL volunteers. She manages the Gardening section of the book room and is continually amazed at the number and variety of books on plants and gardening that we receive. Becky has begun managing some of our book sales, and she finds comments from the people who buy our books helpful in guiding any changes we need to make.
Barbara Erickson, Director
Barbara is a relatively new member of FOL, obvious in her inability to resist buying more books. She and her husband, who she met in a college library, retired early from teaching to follow their granddaughters to Gig Harbor in 2005. As often happens, a couple of more moves became necessary, including a stint in Narragansett, RI. Happily the last move was to BI in 2014. Following Roger's death in 2015, Barbara became a volunteer with Friday Tidies. The following year she also joined FOL and has thoroughly enjoyed helping Roz with the History Dept., cleaning up after book sales, eating Carol's cookies and discussing books with this well read, wonderful group.
Willow Follett, Director
Willow owned and operated Wilow's Naturally for 33 years before retiring in 2015. If she had not been in the business of health foods she probably would have owned or worked in a book store. She has volunteered with FOL since retiring and loves being around so many books. Willow is in charge of the Health and Nutrition section in the book room. She has piles of books at home waiting to be read. She enjoys travel and plans to do more in the future.
Loanne Harmeling, Director
Loanne was a life-long teacher here on Bainbridge and in Central Kitsap. After retiring she moved overseas to teach in a variety of International Baccalaureate schools, most recently in Kuwait. She was invited to become a FOL sorter by a friend and found her fellow sorters, the books and the service to the community rewarding enough to keep coming back! She is delighted to be a new board member. In addition to sorting books and participating in book sales, Loanne volunteers for several other worthy cause organizations: Zero Waste, Kitsap Immigration Assistance Center and Bainbridge Tutors. For fun she babysits her grandchildren, swims miles at the pool, kayaks, bikes, runs, plays tennis, needlepoints, gardens, attends the symphony, Seattle Arts and Lectures, travels and reads. Life is good.
Lois Reitz, Director
Lois became involved with the Library in 2008 when she volunteered both at the Library and with the Friends of the Library. She became a Board member of FOL in 2008 and a Board member of BPL in 2009. Lois has been Treasurer of the BPL Board and has served as President of the Friends of the Library Board, most recently 2018-2019. As a voracious reader, Lois has been a life-long supporter of libraries. Today, in addition to the FOL Board, Lois serves on BPL's Legacy Committee. She is one of the volunteers who looks up online prices of books donated to FOL. In addition to reading, she and her husband enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Rebecca Robins, Director
Rebecca has been a volunteer with the Friends of the Library for some years and helps organize and price books in the Children's section of the FOL book room. Rebecca is the author of the kindle book Small Potatoes (2013). The book tells the story of Luc, a young apprentice who works under brutal conditions in 19th century France in order to achieve a certificate that allows him to work as a chef in Paris. Robins, who also writes for the San Jose Mercury News and is a contributor to hogsalt.com as well as the Seattle papers, is a source of laughter in the book room with her quirky sense of humor.
Charlene Selvar, Director
Charlene is another long-time volunteer with the Bainbridge Island Friends of the Library. She has also volunteered in the past at the Library as a Click! volunteer to help library users with their computers and how to get along in the digital world. Charlene is a past Director and Treasurer of the FOL Board and is one of the volunteers who checks online prices for donated books. She also manages the Religion, Ecology, and Nature sections of the FOL book room.
FOL BOARD of DiRectors
Each member of the Board of Directors serves an annual term and can be re-elected within the term limits in the By-Laws. | 1,316 |
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh Details
Martorano's Prime to debut at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh to reopen on Monday
Casino gaming operations suspended in Pennsylvania
New Pittsburgh casino sees $14 million in wagers
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania -- As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "The Rivers Casino generated nearly $1.3 million in revenue on $14 million in wagers in the first 18 hours of its operation, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
"The $1.28 million in gross terminal revenue ranked as the third highest opening day in the state, behind Sands Bethlehem's $1.6 million on May 22 and The Meadows' $1.48 million in April.
"Of the Rivers' $1.28 million in revenue, 55<|fim_middle|> that jammed the North Shore venue Sunday wagered $14 million in all, with $12.6 million of that returned to players in winnings. The numbers represent the wagering and revenue from the time the casino opened at noon yesterday to 6 a.m. today.
"State Gaming Control Board spokesman Richard McGarvey said it is difficult to compare first-day numbers because Pennsylvania stand-alone and racetrack casinos have opened at different times on different days. Sands Bethelehem, for example, opened on a Friday, typically one of the busiest days of the week for a casino..." | percent of that will go to the state in taxes. The crowds | 13 |
A long-awaited decision recently handed down by the New York Court of Appeals expanded the scope of potential liability of manufacturers whose products utilized asbestos components designed and produced by another company. In a single opinion addressing appeals by the Crane Company in<|fim_middle|> produces a product that requires another product to function, the manufacturer naturally opens up a profitable market for that essential component, thereby encouraging the other company to make that related product and place it in the stream of commerce. Thus, the court found that because the manufacturer's product is critical to the dangerous joint use of the two products, it does substantially create a defective condition insofar as both products combine to generate a defective and dangerous condition.
Although this decision will certainly not be viewed favorably by those defending manufacturers in asbestos exposure cases, by adopting the "design, mechanics or economic necessity" test, the Court provides us with a roadmap to success when defending a manufacturer where a particular set of circumstances exist. On behalf of a manufacturer who did not specifically recommend and/or provide an asbestos component for the product in question and the use of such a component would have entirely been the choice of the end user, it can be argued that Dummitt supports the position that such a defendant can rightfully claim that there is no duty to warn. | the matters of Dummitt v. A.W. Chesterton Co., et al. and Suttner v. A.W. Chesterton Co., et al., the Court was tasked with deciding when, if ever, a manufacturer must warn against the danger inherent in using the manufacturer's product together with a product made by another company. Drawing on its reasoning from the precedent-setting case Rastelli v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 79 NY2d 289 (1992), the Court held that the manufacturer of a product does have a duty to warn of danger arising from the known and reasonably foreseeable use of its product in combination with a third-party product which, as a matter of design, mechanics or economic necessity, is necessary to enable the manufacturer's product to function as intended.
In Dummitt, the Court considered facts involving Crane Co.'s sale of valves to the U.S. Navy for use in high-pressure, high-temperature steam pipe systems on Navy ships. The Crane valves were packaged with bonnet gaskets and braided stem packing that contained asbestos. Knowing that the extreme pressure and temperature of the steam systems at issue caused the packaged gaskets and packing to wear out, Crane marketed an asbestos-based sheet material known as "Cranite" that could be used to produce replacements for the original gaskets and packing. Crane also marketed "Cranite" products for use in high-pressure, high-temperature steam systems in its own catalogs between 1923 and 1962. Despite Crane's executive's becoming aware of the dangers of exposure to breathable asbestos in the early 1970s, it admitted that it never provided warnings about the hazards of exposure to asbestos dust resulting from the use of its valves and asbestos-based products, such as gaskets and packing. The decedent, Ronald Dummitt, a former Navy boiler technician from 1960 to 1977, routinely worked with Crane's valves, which were often repaired with asbestos-based gaskets and packing designed and manufactured by companies other than Crane. After being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2010, Dummitt brought suit against Crane and 67 other defendants who manufactured asbestos-based gaskets and packing, alleging in part that Crane had acted negligently in failing to warn Dummitt of the hazards of asbestos exposure from the components used with its valves, and that such negligence was a proximate cause of his illness.
Similarly, in Suttner, Crane sold valves to General Motors (GM) for use in similar high-pressure, high-temperature steam systems in its plants during the 1930s. Crane admitted to having possibly supplied asbestos-based gaskets and packing to GM and Crane's own schematics for the valves specified the use of asbestos-based gaskets and packing. Crane's own catalogs from 1936 and 1955 also recommended the use of "Cranite" on its valves for high-pressure, saturated or superheated steam. The decedent, Gerald Suttner, worked as a pipe fitter at GM's Tonawanda Engine Plant from 1960 to 1979. The plant had a steam pipe system featuring Crane valves with third-party gaskets and packing materials. He too was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2010 and likewise asserted a failure to warn claim against Crane regarding the hazards of the combined use of Crane valves with asbestos-based third-party products.
First noting that a failure-to-warn claim, whether grounded in strict liability or negligence, is functionally equivalent, the Court set out to determine whether an applicable legal duty to warn was owed by Crane. To discern whether a duty existed, the Court looked to settle upon the most reasonable allocation of risks, burdens and costs among the parties and within society, accounting for the economic impact of a duty, pertinent scientific information, the relationship between the parties, the identity of the person or entity best positioned to avoid the harm in question, the public policy served by the presence or absence of a duty and the logical basis of a duty. Finally, the Court looked to the foreseeability of the harm at issue to define the scope of the duty once recognized. Relying heavily on the Court's reasoning and analysis in Rastelli, the Court provided the following rule: the manufacturer of a product has the duty to warn of the danger arising from the known and reasonably foreseeable use of its product in combination with a third-party product which, as a matter of design, mechanics or economic necessity, is necessary to enable the manufacturer's product to function as intended.
In coming to this rule, the Court emphasized the role of the manufacturer's product in creating a market for the third-party made component, stating that where a manufacturer creates a product that cannot be used without another product as a result of the design of the product, the mechanics of the product or the absence of economically feasible alternative means of enabling the product to function as intended, the manufacturer has a substantial, albeit indirect, role in placing the third-party product in the stream of commerce. In other words, when the manufacturer | 1,053 |
It's simple: Recycling means jobs
Cassie McClure and Suzanne Michaels
Green Connections
LAS CRUCES - The recent announcement of W Silver Recycling, Inc., beginning construction on a 120,000-square-foot facility in Santa Teresa is just the type of<|fim_middle|> customers.
According to the New Mexico Recycling Coalition, a general rule of thumb is that for every landfill job there could be 10 recycling jobs for that same amount of material handled. The NMRC's 2013 study showed that the recycling industry is a $236 billion industry compared to the $45 billion waste industry. The same study shows that, in 2010, New Mexicans spent more than $51 million dollars to bury more than $168 million worth of recyclable materials in landfills.
Stay informed. Subscribe to the Las Cruces Sun-News today.
"It's exciting to grow end-market processing capacity in our state. Each time a recycler like W Silver Recycling sets up shop in New Mexico, it puts us one step closer to a local circular economy," said Sarah Pierpont, NMRC executive director. "Aluminum cans recycled on the curb and at drop-off sites throughout New Mexico can now be processed in the state. This means more local jobs, less transportation costs and less extraction of natural resources."
Green Connections is submitted by the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) managing solid waste and recyclable materials for Las Cruces and throughout Doña Ana County. Contact the SCSWA at (575) 528-3800 or visit www.SCSWA.net.
More Green Connections:
Sustainable businesses create positive change; Nominate one today
Green Connections: Making the world go 'round with a circular economy
Gadsden High launches Green Team to reduce waste | news that Patrick Peck, director of the South Central Solid Waste Authority, wants to hear. Why?
"It's simple, more recycling will mean new jobs," he explained. On 60 acres in Santa Teresa, the new recycling distribution and processing plant should be operational by late 2020 and add at least 50 new jobs to the area, estimated to pay an average wage of $14.18 per hour.
Peck sees that this could be the start of a circular economy — where recyclables that originate in our region can be remade into products to be sold and purchased again — right here in our local border economy.
"Transportation costs are the real killer in the sustainability of a recycling program," said Peck. "And we are incredibly far away from most facilities that could take our recycling. The fact that W Silver Recycling decided to give us a chance shows there are companies that see the opportunities to create that market for our area."
Davin Lopez, president and CEO of Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, says there is a growing interest in regional recycling.
"Given our region's logistical advantages, the access to multiple interstates and rail lines, our centralized southwest location, and the potential to consolidate supply chain inputs from two countries," explains Lopez, "we are finding a growing interest from a number of technology firms looking at our area to potentially establish recycling operations for a variety of waste products from plastic to rubberized materials and more."
W Silver Recycling will use the new Santa Teresa facility as a hub for its non-ferrous materials business, which includes aluminum, copper and brass. The recycler will process metals using magnets, machines, compaction and manual labor before sending materials to its | 348 |
these parts and for most of the south.
Preheat your oven and start mixing. This cornbread is slightly sweet and buttery rich. And heating the oiled cornbread pan before pouring in the batter is a must – if you are a crunchy crust lover. We fight over the end pieces because we all love crust. See the recipe HERE.
Round here, I always start off beans by sautéing onions and peppers, so I ransacked the freezer for the roasted sweet Italian peppers that I bought last fall from Mountain Harvest Organic Farm (Julie and Carl sell at the North Asheville and Waynesville Tailgate Markets). I was craving pinto beans, but had to settle for black beans since a trip to the store was out of<|fim_middle|> Steve about the Sourdough Cornmeal Bread that she had eaten tomato sandwiches on all last week. It was so delicious she had been dreaming of a repeat performance. Steve only bakes his Sourdough Cornmeal Bread in July and August just because it pairs so well with tomatoes.
Then I joined in a conversation with Ashley, Elizabeth, and Vanessa. Elizabeth recently returned from an agriculture-based volunteer trip to Tanzania, and Vanessa spent a couple of years in Africa. I discovered that Vanessa has actually climbed Mount Kilimanjaro! Very impressive.
Marc Williams intended to tell the STORY of the salad at One Bowl, the local food dinner given at True Nature Country Fair 2010. Serving dinner to over 60 guests waylaid his intention, but he did manage to display a bit of information about his 'Wild Side' Salad for those diners who were paying attention. With his permission, I stuffed his scraps of paper in my pocket as we cleaned up. The torn bits of paper do tell the story, and Marc filled in a few details for me.
On Saturday morning, Marc swooped down on the North Asheville Tailgate Market and gathered his salad and dressing ingredients. I imagine him conversing with each farmer as he filled his market bags. He arrived at the True Nature Country Fair later in the day with an incredible salad and two delectable dressings.
A little more of the story… Eve Davis had worked her magic by arranging flowers for each table…flowers donated by Meredith McKissick of Sweet Earth Flower Farm. Set in a covered pavilion; candles twinkled on the tables during dinner, a nearby fire blazed, and the sounds of summer rose from the woods. The band of musicians tore themselves away from their music long enough to share this meal.
Patryk Battle created a chunky Lamb Stew and Elizabeth Gibbs is famous for her delicious Candy Roaster Soup ~ both composed of local ingredients. Candy Roasters are an heirloom "squash/pumpkin" that locals swear will make the very best pumpkin pies. The soup was garnished with (my personal favorite) goat cheese. I got in a conversation with two women; one was eating the Lamb Stew and her friend was having candy roaster soup. They tried each other's entrees, and they both liked the one they had initially chosen the best. Wonders never cease.
The Chocolate Lounge made dessert ~ an autumn tart set in swirls of chocolate and garnished with homemade whipped cream. Are you jealous? There were two choices of Buchi; the one I tasted was pink, spicy and addicting. Conversation was lively during dinner, and all the guests took home beautiful bowls that had been handmade by many generous local potters.
I didn't think to whip out my camera during dinner and capture the beauty of the night, or the fabulous fare. I did take a few pictures of some of the action and classes at the Fair. | the question. I was also out of a very essential ingredient for beans – bay leaves, so I added a pinch of cocoa and cinnamon (I only add this to black beans), and some garlic.
Onions and olive oil were the base for the kale too. Gotta have some grease to make it good, right? The beans and greens were vegan by chance, but the grease (olive oil in this case) in both dishes is essential for that satisfied feeling.
At the table we broke open Matt Timmer's pepper vinegar for the greens. SO fantastico! Thank you Matt. Matt grows lots of peppers in his garden, mostly really fiery peppers, and shares a variety of addictive homemade salsa with us at work.
Dinner was a great combo. Plus, guess what we're having for breakfast? Toasted cornbread with maple syrup and yogurt. Uh-huh! Happy snow day people!
some eggs. It was Stephen's birthday (Happy!) and he was already sold completely OUT of eggs. I tried Wally, but he was out of eggs too!
Next stop…cucumbers from Annie Louise of Flying Cloud Farm. They have been so wonderful on my sandwiches every day. You can buy bushels (1/2 bushels?) of beautiful cucumbers from Annie for pickling.
Then I stopped to visit with Luther and his son. Did you know that Luther works outside for about 6 hours every day? He doesn't like winter because there is nothing much to do in winter.
front of us was buying a lot of produce. I suspect he was a chef ~ because he bought all their tiny fairytale eggplant… a huge giant bagful, and a lot of other stuff. Delicate tiny veggies were spotted throughout the market.
At Gaining Ground Farm's stand, I commented to Anne about the purple potatoes. She said they are called Blue Viking and that they are really tasty. Even though about half of my garden is planted in potatoes, I had to buy a couple of those Blue Vikings just to taste them, along with some fat garlic.
Steve Bardwell, of Wake Robin Farm Breads, was also completely sold out. He didn't have one piece of anything! OK, he had about three 1" sample scraps in the bottom of a basket. He had been sold out since 10:15. Farm & Sparrow was on vacation. A lady asked | 490 |
Tim Wakefield helps hide Ortiz' woes
Mike Fine
There aren't many things any of his teammates can do except give him a pat on the shoulder and a kind word, but David Ortiz might have given Tim Wakefield a high five Tuesday night.
Ortiz once again struggled, walking in his first trip, striking out twice and grounding out. The fans cheered him, but the man remains disconsolate. The best thing that happened to him in this game against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, though, was Wakefield.
As he has been accustomed to do so often, Wakefield picked Ortiz up and took the pressure off, throwing a beauty of a 2-1 victory, going eight innings, allowing only one Kevin Millar home run and accounting for a dozen popups and mis-hit knuckleballs.
"He was unbelievable," said one of the game's other heroes, first baseman Jeff Bailey, who knocked in the first run.
"From the side you can't tell what the ball is doing, but when he's getting that many popups, you know he's doing something."
This was the true Tim Wakefield, not the pitcher who in his last outing gave up 11 hits and seven runs in 42/3 innings at Anaheim. This was the Wakefield who has become something of a stopper, compiling a 3-1 record after a loss, stopping three- and two-game losing streaks.
While the starting pitching staff has been struggling to the tune of a<|fim_middle|>ar, who got hold of a high knuckler, sending it into the Green Monster seats in the fifth. Other than that, Wakefield was rarely in trouble, not even when he walked the leadoff batter in the eighth, and when Bailey and Dustin Pedroia allowed an ensuing popup to drop between them with one out.
Wakefield buckled down and got Alex Rios and Vernon Wells on fly outs to left field.
For the record, Wakefield is 108-99, 4.31 over the last decade, but Millar knows he's been incredibly frustrating to opposing batters, especially now that he's one of them.
Wakefield simply goes out and brings it to the best of his ability. "I'm guess I've just been that guy," he said. "It's not like I'm trying any harder. My job as a starter is to go deep in the game. Tonight I had good stuff, and I was able to keep them off balance and get a win."
He did it throwing only 97 pitches.
"He's been playing great," said George Kottaras, who knocked in the decisive run with a sacrifice fly right behind Bailey. "His last outing wasn't comparable. Tonight we got a couple of runs, and he kept us in the game."
In fact, he kept the Sox in the game for all of two hours and 13 minutes, which made it a joy to watch – and play.
"The quick ones are always fun," said Jason Bay, who had a double in four trips, "especially when you win. Wake is one of those get-the-ball-and-go type of guys and as a defensive player he's a blast to play behind. He keeps you involved."
More importantly, Bay and his teammates know what they're getting when he takes the mound. "For the most part he's been our most consistent guy."
Which in a roundabout way brings us back to Ortiz. Three days off were deemed a mental health break for the Boston's onetime slugger, and manager Terry Francona was dreaming about a possible four-hit night. He got nothing of the sort.
"That was the whole idea when we sat him in Seattle, to let him step back," Francona said. "I think it kind of went the way we thought it would. The first day it looked like he didn't sleep much. I think he had a lot on his mind and it was beating him up and he came in and worked in the cage and he hit a bunch the second and third day. He takes the off day (Monday), shows up today ready to go. That's the whole idea."
Ortiz declined to speak, saying instead, "Not today. Maybe in a week when I get a hit." He'd better hope that's not the case.
When Ortiz came to the plate in the first, he received a huge ovation from the Fenway crowd. "It didn't surprise me the way the fans reacted to him," Francona said. "I think that's pretty awesome."
Yet, even Francona had to admit that the rest of the night was a continuing nightmare.
"I thought he had a tough night. He took his walk in the first, which was good. Then they (Brian Tallet started) threw some breaking balls away that he chased. It's a lot better to talk about when we win."
Thank Wakefield for that. He picked Ortiz up. He picked up the team, too, beating the team that held a 31/2 game lead over them in the A.L. East. "This was big for us," Bay said. "We've played well at home, a place we're comfortable with."
So is Wakefield. He's 3-0, 1.71 in three starts this season at Fenway.
Ortiz is batting .234 at home (and 171 on the road). He hasn't been comfortable anywhere.
Reach Mike Fine at mikefine@ledger.com. Read more of his Red Sox coverage in his Dirty Water blog at PatriotLedger.com/sports | league-worst 5.76 ERA, Wakefield dropped to 3.59 with the eight-inning performance that was capped by a 1-2-3 Jonathan Papelbon ninth inning.
"He's the most underrated pitcher in the major leagues in the past decade," said former teammate Mill | 62 |
Todolwen: It Has Been A While ..
it has been a while since I have created one of my favourite things ... namely a pincushion.
So yesterday morning that is exactly what I did. And guess what I used for the embellishment of the pincushion? ... I used one of the seam binding roses I made for my latest tutorial. I almost forgot how much fun I have making these little creations and I am going to make a few more new pincushions in the future.
This one is just so neat.
I thought it would be nice to use lots of different textures for the pincushion and so I used silk noil (raw silk), a little piece of vintage tatting and vintage pearls, seam binding of course and ... leather. I had 'found' my little leather stash in the bottom of a basket in my cupboard over the weekend and I am glad I did because the little leather leaves are perfect to finish this little creations off nicely.
I have taken many photos so you don't miss a thing.
... another tattered and tarnished pincushion.
I hope you have enjoyed my latest creation and I am working on another one as I write this post that I will share with you lovely bloggers soon again.
I love it, Karen! Really pretty!
QUÉ CENTRO MAS L<|fim_middle|> are the perfect thing to combine with the delicacy of the seam binding roses. This is just beautiful!
Beautiful! I love your creativity, Karen!
You have such a way withfabrics and lace and pearls and roses! Alwyas a beautiful casual elegance, shabby chicness! | INDO TE HA QUEDADO.
nobody makes these sweeter than you! love!
Hi Karen, my first thought was "leather leaves??", ummm, but after seeing the pictures my thought soon became "leather leaves!!", yessssss. Your combination of elements is so very complementary. Thanks for sharing your talent with us.
I adore your pincushions. You always have the neatest things to make into pincushions.. and your embellishments are just perfect.
Lovely work! Every detail is so sweet!
gorgeous Karen - just beautiful. I agree with you, that the leather leaves | 130 |
Books could be an reasonably priced strategy to get professional recommendation earlier than beginning<|fim_middle|>ayroll or go to OneStop Business Registry.
The second part should cover your objectives, objectives and any funding that might be required and what it is going to be used for. Once more you will want to enter extra element and explain what your aims are and mention the capital that you're putting up your self. Nice hub on beginning up a SPECIFIC business. Generalization is overdone approach an excessive amount of on right here, thanks!
Taking out an ad within the native newspapers may match to your benefit and get you noticed. Business Improvement Financial institution of Canada – Supplies to help determine whether or not you're ready to embark in a new business initiative exterior of urban areas. In addition they have a self-assessment tool, and helpful business planning tips and templates. | your own business. Take into consideration whether you want a provider who will have the ability to supply you a similar designs for months/years to come back, or whether or not you simply want good packing containers of the correct size/sort that can be sourced from various people. Thank you so much for your time and reply. I certain respect it and need all of these just beginning out, the most effective of luck. It may appear crazy to some, however I am really having fun with it and looking ahead to reaching my goal.
Brad has spent more than twelve years working at the crossroads of business growth, advertising and marketing, and social media. He was featured in Entrepreneur Journal as a young entrepreneur, launching his first profitable business on the age of 15. Up till joining as an internet advertising and marketing manager in 2012, he honed his skills working as a consultant alongside brands large and small, together with LegalZoom, Clear Channel, eSolar, Dickies, and City Outfitters. He has additionally served as an advisor to a number of startups, offering marketing route and strategic advice.
If you are paying salary, wages, bonuses, trip pay or tricks to your workers or offering a benefit to your staff comparable to board and lodging, you must register with the Canada Revenue Company for a payroll deductions account. This account lets you make the required Income Tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance coverage (EI) funds. For more data, visit Canada Income Company/P | 305 |
An interview with Ken Starks.
This entry was posted in Podcast and tagged Interview, KDE, linux by mintCast. Bookmark the permalink.
Great to hear of Ken Starks work … absolute respect and an extended thanks goes out to Ikey Doherty (Solus OS) for going the extra mile in providing a custom distro for Ken.
I have to agree with the ext4 assessment.
IMHO ext4 and xfs are the main contenders. I find ext4 more lightweight so I typically use it on smaller boxes (less than 16 threads). There are a few issues with regards to metadata so it's not good if you plan to use it for setting up glusterfs or Ceph but otherwise it's probably one of/if not the fastest fs for Linux.
The only reason for chosing ext3 over ext4 I can think of are external dependencies i.e. your bootloader doesn't know about ext4 or you want to mount it on some OS that doesn't know ext4.
btrfs is probably also a solid choice but so far it hasn't really made much<|fim_middle|> easily before thanks to a dead battery.
I loved hearing about Reglue and Helios. It reminds me of a group I used to work with here in Beantown, Virtually Wired. They had a public access computer area where people could come in and use VW's computers, but they also did a nice bit of computer education. They also took donations of old hardware and gave them to people who needed them, although I don't recall how they decided who would get hardware. | inroads into the Enterprise as of yet – probably because ext4 and xfs work so well and the additional features solve problems that have already been solved in other ways.
F2FS is a special use case that probably shines when used on flash devices but I see no reason to use it anywhere else.
Hey guys. Sorry to be gone so long, my media player died a while back and my phone went so stupid on me I can't do anything anymore while I listen to podcasts. Luckily I received a new laptop recently (the screen on the old one died on me recently) and now I can fire up the laptop while listening to the 'Cast, something I couldn't do that | 138 |
Although I have been a part of hundreds of fundraisers, these are a few that mean a lot to me as I continue to support these year after year in some way, shape,<|fim_middle|>.
If you'd like to donate to the Warners' Warm Up Program, it runs to November 29.
Click the video player on the right side of the screen to see an interview with Buddy Coy, co-owner of the Pepper Lounge, discuss the coat drive.
Let the bidding begin! Image above from the silent auction for Gabriel's Black and Gold Ball. | or form. I encourage you to visit their sites and support as well!
In 2009, I developed an idea for a long term (4-12 weeks annually) nightclub charity event that has led to the collection of roughly 10,000+/- coats for those less fortunate. The event directly supports Kurt Warner's local St. Louis charity Warner's Warm Up.
I have hosted hundreds more, but these are probably some of the bigger ones to highlight.
St. Louis Blues Captain and 2014 Team USA Olympic hockey player David Backes, his wife Kelly, their team from Five Acres Animal Shelter, and some amazing animals trying to find a home.
KSDK -- A local coat drive got a major boost Wednesday.
The Pepper Lounge collected nearly 3,500 coats during the last eight weeks. The owners of the lounge said it took about two months and the cooperation of a lot of area businesses to bring the final tally.
The coats will all go to the Warners' Warm Up Program | 211 |
<|fim_middle|> where the second LOP intersects the course line. | So when the GPS went "out", what did I do? It was back to the future. I knew pretty much where I was because I made a point of knowing it. I gave the helm to an experienced crewman and said, "Point the boat where I tell you. We're in heavy weather so I want you sounding the whistle no less than every 2 minutes for no less than 4 seconds each time - and any other time you think you need to." Then I took out my parallel rulers and a paper chart and started calculating course headings and distances to the closest port of call. We made it into harbor on the south shore of Long Island. Took the train home and came back the next day to continue our passage.
What "Tricks" Did I Use?
First, I verified what I thought was our position. There are just a handful of ways. First, if you can see land and can draw lines of position back from preferably 3 or more points on your paper charts, you have to be where they intersect. If you don't have a handheld compass which you can use to get bearings to the marks, look over the top of your "desk-mounted" compass and read the bearing. It isn't going to be as accurate but you'll be inside the little triangle, sometimes called a "cocked hat", where the lines intersect.
What if you can't see 3 or more landmarks? If you can see one, you can calculate a "running fix." Get a bearing from your handheld (or "desk-top") compass to the one point you can see. Draw the line of position from you to it - and write down the time. While maintaining course and speed, give yourself some time before taking another bearing to that landmark and draw the new line of position and mark the time. To make the example easy to follow, let's say we made way for 10 minutes at 6 knots on a heading of 270 degrees. As you no doubt know, if you were making 6 knots for 10 minutes, you have traveled 1 nautical mile from your first way-point. So, you are one NM west (270 degrees) of where you were before. Take your dividers, measure 1NM from your latitude marks (the ones that run up and down the edge of your chart – NOT along the top or bottom - those are longitude marks) and draw a line at 270 degrees from first way point - plus some extra room. Now take a bearing back to your landmark and draw that line of position back to your course line. You are | 534 |
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