question stringlengths 14 1.69M | answer stringlengths 1 40.5k | meat_tokens int64 1 8.18k |
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A motorcyclist who was photographed riding along a motorway with a barbecue strapped to his body<|fim_middle|> at the time and poverty.
"It turned out the barbecue was a dud and did not work, and that's probably why it was at the side of the road," Mr McClure said.
"This is stupid behaviour and nobody should do it."
"I'm trying to think of a word to describe it," he said.
"Ridiculous. That will do," agreed the magistrate.
"I felt it was right to accept some responsibility," he said.
Asked if he now owned a barbecue, he said: "I'm better off without one." | has been fined in an Australian court for careless driving.
Michael Wiles, 29, was seen on Melbourne's busy Eastern Freeway effectively "wearing" the barbecue as he carried it home after finding it by the side of the road.
He had inserted his body through the wooden frame and was peering through a protruding steel grate to see his way as he drove along at speeds of up to 46mph.
Paul McClure, his defence lawyer, said Mr Wiles's excuse was "lack of thought processes" | 109 |
What Is Rock Paper Scissors Called?
The Rock Paper Scissor game is also known as Roshambo or Rochambeau. It is a two-player game that involves making hand gestures and interpreting the gestures to decide the winner. The game has existed for a long time and has been widely recognized as one of the oldest games. Apart from the game's popularity, it also has some complexities that make it unique and distinct from most games. For instance, apart from the mastery of hand gestures, the game highly requires the use of psychology. This and a few other features are what make up the game. This article will seek to briefly explain what the Rock Paper Scissors game is, its origins, and the essential elements that are present in the game. Understanding these three things about the game is a good start to mastering the game. It will undoubtedly help you in your bid to become a professional RPS player.
The Origins Of Rock Paper Scissors
History has been fair on the Rock Paper Scissors game. There is a detailed and traceable origin that the RPS game enjoys. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the game has continued to exist as one of the old games in history. The RPS game has a rich history, and learning the game has become easier and more interesting as a result of the accessible information provided as the origin of the game.
The first ever place on record that the game was mentioned or referenced was in a book called Wuzazu. The book was written by Xie Zhaozhi, a popular Chinese writer<|fim_middle|> without having difficulty in proving how good one is.
The RPS game is often played by two players facing each other. The deal is to extend one hand each to make a sign that represents any of the three characters. This is called a throw. There are three throws mentioned above, but each player is allowed to make just one at a time. When the two players make their throws, the game is then calculated to decide who wins and who loses. For there to be a winner, the throws to be calculated must be different. In the case where the players extend the same throws at a call, it will be a tie, and a rethrow will be called.
The calculation of the throws is easy, and one should be aware of the connection that they have. The simple illustration of the connection is that one character beats one of the other two while he falls at the mercy of the second. See the application in the following practical explanation:
Rock crushes Scissors but is suffocated by Paper.
Scissors cuts Paper but is crushed by Rock.
Paper suffocates Rock but is destroyed by Scissors.
The Official History of Rock Paper Scissors
January 8th, 2021| 0 Comments
The Official Rules of Rock Paper Scissors | who lived during the Ming dynasty. According to the writer, the game dates back to the time of the Chinese Han dynasty between 206 BCE and 220 CE. In the book, the game was referenced as Shoushiling. In the Note of Liuyanzhai, a book written by Li Rihua, there are references to the game as Shoushiling. This validates the first record and therefore, can be held as a fact of origin.
Following the history of the game right from the Chinese records, there was another narrative given by the Japanese. The narrative as to the origin or nature of the game given by the Japanese was adapted from the Chinese. Therefore, there is no contrary claim as to the origin of the game. It is from the Chinese. The Japanese history records that the game is called sansukumi-ken. The game describes that "there are three who are afraid of one another." In the interpretation, A beats B, B beats C, and C beats A. so, according to history, the game was originally created in China, and the Japanese adopted it later.
It was not until the early 20th century that the game was imported to the western world. This even was as a result of the frequent contact between the Asians and the native English people. Anyways, the game began to develop, gaining popularity and creating interest in people of different cultures and geographical locations.
The Game Characters
The Rock Paper Scissors game has characters peculiar to the game. The characters make up the essential elements of the game because there would be no Rock Paper Scissors game without them. Some have even opined that the game characters are the ingredients of the game. Generally, there are three accepted characters of the RPS game. Although, over the years, there have been different t moves to either remove or substitute the characters. However, none has been successful due to the firm resolve of the authorities to preserve the true and original nature of the game. Also, there are different variants of the game that have surfaced over the years. The widely accepted variation is the English Rock Paper Scissors adapted from the Japanese Jan Ken, which is the original form of the game.
In the Rock Paper Scissors game, the three characters that are used possess their distinct features and interpretations. What makes it interesting is the fact that people can easily relate to all of these characters. The three characters and their descriptions are as follows:
Rock, like the mountain one, can see around, is one of the characters in the RPS game. A closed fist represents it. It is perhaps the most popular throw among beginners and is also easy to throw.
Paper is another throw that is extended by an open palm. It is more like the thrower is requesting a handshake. Most times, the gesture is used to denote peace and friendliness.
Everyone knows what a scissors look like. The gesture is represented adequately by forming a "V" shape with the index and middle fingers. The gesture often connotes victory.
The Gameplay And Calculations
The Rock Paper Scissors, like every other game, has its processes and procedures of play. The gameplay of the RPS fame is particularly unique as the characters tend to form a trinity relationship. The gameplay is simple in some way but, at the same time, possesses some complexities. However, learning them will help one understand the game | 688 |
Long before your startup hits the market, you must begin laying the foundation for its eventual success. This is by no means the most attractive part of founding your own company. But if you want to survive past the development process, then you'll need to earmark a good chunk, if not the majority, of your time to researching and securing the distribution channels that will best reach your target audience.
Whether it be social media campaigns, a solid organic growth strategy (including app store optimization), or carefully picked influencers, finding the right distribution channels is basically a lot of trial and error. This can be boring and frustrating, but this is your product's lifeline and needs to be constantly nourished.
It's tempting, especially for those who are new to the startup scene, to focus 100% of your efforts on developing a minimum viable product (MVP) and worry about nailing down distribution channels later.
Instead, follow the strategy laid out by Eric Ries in The Lean Startup, which postulates that the path to a successful startup is a 50-<|fim_middle|> down the toilet. | 50 split: You need to spend an equal amount of time on MVP development and distribution.
If you follow this advice, your chances of failure will decrease significantly. Yet, as the CEO of a web and mobile app company, I have seen many first-time entrepreneurs blatantly and recklessly disregard Ries's 50-50 rule with dire consequences -- including me.
A few years ago, when we were was still a relatively young and small company, we started working on a multifaceted dating app, The Game. Tinder had not yet launched, and the market was burning up with dating apps targeting every type of segment.
We wanted a piece of the action. We essentially wanted to be Tinder before Tinder existed. We likely could have achieved that goal, had we not spent six months in development and almost zero time on marketing. We had done a little PR before the launch, but certainly not nearly as much as was needed. The Game failed. In the long run, we sold the app to a longtime client.
If I were to do it over again, I would cut development to two months and focus primarily on distribution. You can always make improvements to your product later; what's most important is getting it into the hands of the users.
Users will give you the feedback you need, but you have to reach out to them first. This is harder than you might think. Everyone – including the marketing team – is excited and full of ideas about how to make the app stand out, which features to add, and which color buttons to use.
This is where things can go terribly wrong. You won't know ahead of time which distribution channels are going to be useful, so you need to start plotting a course of action in tandem with development. Sadly, there is no way to fast-track this process, nor is there a magic manual that's going to tell you exactly what you need to do to promote your product. Marketing centers around trial and error; it also requires a lot of patience.
You will likely have either time or money limitations. If you have a budget for 10 months of life, then consider releasing your MVP after just one month of development. You aren't going to get everything right the first time around. In fact, you'll likely have to make a lot of changes once user feedback starts to roll in. You might even have to start from scratch.
Here's the good news: By releasing your MVP after just one month on a 10-month budget, you are essentially buying yourself nine more months of trial and error. Put another way, you'll have nine more months to get to know your user base more intimately.
Don't lose sight of the 50-50 rule during this critical timeframe. Fixing the bugs is no doubt important, but so are your distribution channels. An early MVP release to the general market will help you zero in on your target audience and give you a better idea of how to craft your Facebook, Twitter and Youtube campaigns.
After wiping out with The Game, we did not give up. We learned many valuable lessons from that app that we applied while developing a gay dating and social networking platform, which was released after just two months of development.
Dating apps were – and still are – a dime a dozen. What really sets them apart is their content; the product is the users themselves, which makes distribution doubly important. We struggled at the beginning with marketing and nearly pulled the plug on this one, too.
But then we discovered the power of Twitter campaigns and app store optimization, which helped us optimize our app through keywords in its title and description, boosting its app store search result rankings and ultimately leading to more downloads. After our user base grew, we added a YouTube influencer to our distribution channels, which lead to more than 15,000 downloads.
It takes more than tech know-how, cash and enthusiasm to pull off a successful startup. I like to tell clients that you are only as good as your marketing team. You can have the best idea in the world, but if you don't invest in distribution, then you might as well flush it | 835 |
Ch 24 The Age Of Nationalism
Rachel K.
How did Napoleon III seek to reconcile popular and conservative forces in an authoritarian nation-state>
Elected president of France in 1848 and then named emperor in 1852, Napoleon III combined authoritarian rule with economic growth and positive measures for the poor. Believing that representative government got in the way of reform and progress, Napoleon III aimed to serve the people directly. He also maintained widespread support by allowing his regime to evolve in a democratic direction, staying in power until France was defeated in Prussia in 1870.
How did the process of unification in Italy and Germany create conservative nation-states?
In Italy, Cavour joined traditional diplomacy and war against Austria with nationalist uprisings in central Italy to expand the constitutional monarchy of Sardinia-Piedmont. Cavour then called on Garibaldi's revolutionary patriotism to kindle peasant revolt in southern Italy and succeeded in merging the south and north together in a conservative nation state under Victor Emmanuel. In Prussia Bismark also combined traditional statecraft with a national feeling. Ruling without the consent of parliament and reorganizing the army, Bismark succeeded in making Prussia the dominant German state and in driving Austria out of German affairs in 1866. War with France completed the unification process, expanding the power of Prussia and its king in a new German<|fim_middle|>Why after 1871 did ordinary citizens feel a growing loyalty to their governments?
After 1871 nationalism- the commitment to the nation state- became the general European creed, nurtured in large by patriotic education and fueled by foreign wars and increasingly advanced militaries. In addition, most states enacted universal male suffrage and electoral politics, providing citizens with a greater sense of belonging. Representative governments also produced specific social and economic improvements, such as state-sponsored pensions, protective tariffs, and a rising standard of living, that benefited ordinary citizens,
Why did the socialist movement grow, and how revolutionary was it?
The socialist movement grew because it became the champion of working-class interests in the emerging urban society and in domestic politics. Socialist leaders in many countries also supported international revolutionary Marxism in theory, but in practice they usually concentrated on bread-and-butter gains for union members. Thus pre-1914 socialism was militantly moderate and not very revolutionary.
ch 14 reformations and religious wars
ch 16 absolutism and constitutionalism
chapter 13: european society in the age of the renaissance
ch 15 european exploration and conquest
ch 18 the expansion of europe
ch 25 the west and the world
ch 17 toward a new worldview
ap world history study guide (2015-16 empress colston)
ch 27 the age of anxiety
ch 23 life in the emerging urban society
chapter 12: the crisis of the later middle ages
for the next century, blues would become the underground __________ that would feed all streams of popular music, including jazz.
mary has a sense of meaning and direction in her life and a relationship to a higher being. she has a high level of ______________ wellness.
which of the following procedures will not save (nor give you an option to save) your excel workbook? | empire, and instilling in all Germans a strong sense of national pride.
In what ways did the United States experience nation building?
The question of slavery divided the early Northern and Southern U.S. states for both economic and political reasons. With westward expansion in the mid-nineteenth century, debates over slavery came to the fore, causing the Southern states to secede and leading to a civil war. The Northern states prevailed, and the Union was preserved. The postwar years saw unique national characteristics arise and seemed to confirm America's destiny as a great world power.
What steps did Russia and the Ottoman Turks take toward modernization, and how successful were they?
In autocratic Russia, defeat in the Crimean War posed a regime-threatening crisis, which led to the emancipation of the serfs and economic modernization that featured railroad building, military improvements, and industrialization. Political reform was limited, however, and even after the revolution of 1905 led to a popularly elected Duma, the tsar retained very great power. The Ottoman empire also sought to modernize the state, but it was considerably less successful. Faced with resistance by Christian nationalists and conservative Muslims, and economically hindered by Western Imperialism, the modernization efforts failed to salvage the Ottoman sultan's progressive regime.
| 265 |
What is Your Business Worth? Different Factors Affecting Business Valuations | Just Elementary, Inc.
There are a lot of commonly used profit multipliers to determine the value of a business. You may have heard of 2 times the profit, or three times the profit, but do they apply to your business?
The short answer is no, a Business Valuation is affected by non discrete factors, including the following.
The first variable is type of industry. Different industries command different multiples. So while your friend's business may have sold for one and half times multiple of the profit, yours might be worth a 3 times multiplier of the profit.
What about the machinery & equipment that your business owns and needs to operate successfully? How are those factored into<|fim_middle|> how many hats is the owner wearing? An owner wearing more hats, leads to downward pressure on the multiplier, which reduces the Business Valuation. Conversely, redundancy in staffing obviously reduces profits, but can be viewed as a positive for valuations since payroll reductions can be adjusted and accounted for. However, accounting for projected, hypothetical changes comes with the caveat that it isn't based on actual present day numbers, which means that these hypothetical projections get discounted. | the business valuation formulas and multipliers? Generally speaking they are accounted for the valuation multipliers, but can require a separate examination depending on the industry and the level or revenue and profit.
A third variable is going to be the employee structure of the business. In short, | 54 |
Abstract : In this<|fim_middle|> must respect and not violate at each moment the kinematic constraint of the manipulation system. Seconde and more importantly, the augmented manipulation system (the closed chain : manipulators-object) is nonlinear and complex system, then the observer design is very difficult, which motivate us to develop a new approach to design a multi models-based observer which we call hysteresis hybrid observer. | paper, we focus on one of the central problem of observers design and control of general manipulation systems. The tasks performed by manipulators involve physical interaction with their environment. This naturally gives rise to interactive forces between each manipulator and the object. The mechanical compliance introduced by the cooperation between the manipulators and their interactions with load is complex. First, the control must be designed in this case in order to realize the object trajectory and/or external forces tracking. But, the controller action | 95 |
With Much Ado has Digital Theatre come of age?
We<|fim_middle|>.
Originally published by Whatsonstage.com on 1 February 2012. | get fleeting glimpses of quality plays, critically-acclaimed musicals which close before their time, and all-star casts engaged for 12-week West End seasons.
This has always bothered me, living in a world surrounded by screens and recorded media - DVDs, CDs, Blu-ray discs - why were the great shows of the West End (which were a long away when I was growing up in an admittedly culture rich Edinburgh or studying in Liverpool) not recorded for posterity and distributed to a broader audience?
I was brought up on frequent weekend viewings of the Les Miserables tenth anniversary concert, filmed at the Royal Albert Hall, and an increasingly worn VHS copy of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1998 recording of Cats. They probably played a formative part in the person I am now. So I was aware that capturing the magic of the stage for the screen was not impossible, just not often done.
That same question, "can you really capture live theatre for the screen?" and a step further, "can you apply the language of film to the theatre?" also occupied Digital Theatre co-founders Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw. At the time the pair were working for Amnesty International, bringing Monty Python and friends in The Secret Policeman's Ball to just such a broader audience on the big and small screen. They went on to establish Digital Theatre in 2009.
One of the major technological advances which has made Digital Theatre possible are the video cameras available. Far from the days of invading an auditorium with an army of camera men and their rigs, Digital Theatre films productions without taking any seats off sale, using remotely controlled cameras which are distributed throughout the auditorium.
"I think there's something very unique about not taking physical cameras into space," Delamere tells me, "Not taking seats out, or having technical staff, camera men and women in a theatre auditorium.
And here we encounter one of the most common objections theatregoers have watching theatre on screen, large or small: when you use a camera to capture the traffic of the stage, it stops being theatre and starts being something else entirely. That's something Digital Theatre work to conquer by engaging with production's original creatives.
Which brings my conversation with Delamere round to how he has gone about signing up Digital Theatre's raft of theatre partners. Common consensus within the commercial theatre industry says that if audiences had the opportunity to see shows without having to go to the theatre, then that viewing would cannibalise potential theatregoers.
So how have these arguments gone over with commercial and subsidised theatre producers? "At the beginning, we call it the 'belief hurdle'," Delamere tells me. But then things changed. "Something happened in the middle of last year when we worked with Stephen Sondheim on Into The Woods and Kim Poster, who was our first commercial producer, on All My Sons.
Digital Theatre worked with another commercial producer, Sonia Friedman, last summer to capture Josie Rourke's sell-out staging of Much Ado About Nothing, reuniting Dr Who David Tennant and his assistant Catherine Tate at the Wyndham's.
The Digital Theatre recording of Much Ado was released just before Christmas (Why the lack of warning? "We couldn't really announce it," Delamere advises, "until we had completed our work.") and by the CEO's own admission it's had a "transformative" effect on the organisation.
Having first met Robert Delamere to conduct this interview, I was lucky enough to join Digital Theatre four months later and work as their Sales and Marketing Manager for two years to May 2014.
It was during that time that I commissioned and project managed the creation of the 90-second Digital Theatre sizzle reel embedded above | 766 |
Here's a photograph of<|fim_middle|>. | a narrow barklouse (Graphopsocus cruciatus) with a clutch of eggs. It was December 18th and cold, but apparently this group of insects (Stenopsocidae) are known to be active in winter.
Narrow barklouse (Graphopsocus cruciatus) with clutch of eggs. Domed object is spider egg case. Tinicum, PA.
Here's a closeup of the eggs so you can see the silk that holds them down. I watched her apply this webbing (from labial silk glands) for about 15 minutes. Some species in this group are gregarious and can cover an entire tree in webbing.
Narrow barklouse (Graphopsocus cruciatus) eggs.
I don't think the larvae will eat the egg case (a spider's, I think). Barklice are reported to eat fungi, algae, lichens, plant tissue, and pollen, but there doesn't seem to be much published on the species' natural history or diet preferences.
Many thanks to Ross Hill (Meford, Oregon) for identification, and to Edward Mockford (University of Illinois) for helpful references on the species.
This entry was posted in Biology, Photography and tagged barklice, barklouse, egg, Graphopsocus, Graphopsocus cruciatus, insect, Psocodea, silk, Stenopsocidae, web on December 21, 2016 by Colin Purrington | 308 |
**Now with Windows Live OneDrive back up and restore, a double-sided Live Tile, pop-up reminders, and a calendar page** If you are like me, you already use a full-featured money management program on your computer, and you don't want to re-enter all of your financial information into a separate application on your phone or rely<|fim_middle|>. If you would prefer the free, ad-supported version of Bill Reminder, use this link - http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=29ce6173-269c-e011-986b-78e7d1fa76f8 Note: Bill reminders are not stored or shared by the developers of Bill Reminder or Microsoft.
Version 2.4 Update: - Added an error message to prevent creating a back up with 0 reminders. Version 2.3 Updates: - Fixed the back up and restore OneDrive login issue caused by Microsoft disabling an older software development kit (SDK) access. - Changed SkyDrive references to OneDrive. - Re-enabled the 30 day pivot page. If you had all or calendar set as the default page on start, you will need to reset it in the app's settings.
Great app but needs to show upcoming due dates on tile. You have to enter the app to see what is coming up if it's due later than today.
I like this app. Love the live tiles. The security requirements are pretty decent. That said it could use some improvements. It uses a lot of screen space to show each entry. I get five on a screen. It takes a lot to check tasks as complete. It uses the "right-click" hold to do this. Alarms, which are an option, never trigger on my phone. I set them for 1 PM. I would actually like them to work. The live tile doesn't seem to update often. Today I had tasks due. It showed as "green" and without a number of due tasks. It did show when the "next" task was due (which had the correct date) so one I viewed the app, it updated the tile correctly. That sounds like a lot of faults- and may be- but it still is a good app. Worth my purchase.
Is exactly what I was looking for. Works as expected. Thank you for a no frills functional recurring reminder app.
Great program for keeping track of your bills. Developer has recently fixed OneDrive backup/restore problem-now works very well.
app is great, except for some reason i can't log in to my OneDrive to connect to a backup...keeps telling me 'not signed in' i've contacted the publisher 3 times with no response...frustrated!
I seriously would die without this app!! (well I guess I wouldn't die but none of my bills would be paid! Lol) LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
I love this app! Because of the app I have not forgotten to pay anymore bills! Unfortunately my Windows Phone quit working and I had to break down and get another phone.I chose Android because it's compatible with Windows. I wish the developer would make this wonderful app for Android too. | on email reminders to know when your bills are due. Bill Reminder was written with those problems in mind. It gives you convenient, color-coded, reminders to quickly see when your bills are due; red for past due, yellow for due today, and green for not due yet. No account numbers or amounts are required. Just enter a name, frequency, and next occurrence date, and Bill Reminder color codes and sorts your bills into the correct lists. Mark a bill as paid, and Bill Reminder automatically updates the next occurrence date, color code, and reminder lists. Version 2.4 Update: - Added an error message to prevent creating a back up with 0 reminders. Version 2.3 Updates: - Fixed the back up and restore OneDrive login issue caused by Microsoft disabling an older software development kit (SDK) access. - Changed SkyDrive references to OneDrive. - Re-enabled the 30 day pivot page. If you had all or calendar set as the default page on start, you will need to reset it in the app's settings. Version 2.2 Updates: - Fixed a bug where the Live Tile image was missing. - Removed the opening splash screen to make the app load faster. Version 2.1 Update: - Fixed a bug where the calendar page was not updating the Live Tile. Version 2.0 Updates: - Added a calendar page, which can be set as the default page in the app's settings. - Added the day of the week to the due date display. Version 1.9 Updates: - Added support for using a comma as a decimal separator for countries that do not use a period. - Updated the contact email. - Updated the Live Tiles. Please feel free to submit feedback and suggestions | 355 |
The Banker's House stands proudly at 319 North Lafayette Street just a<|fim_middle|> and private parties to corporate events and bridal showers. | few blocks from the main Court square (now the Earl Scruggs Museum) in uptown Shelby. Designed by prominent architect G.S. H. Applegate in 1874, the Banker's house has been the home of prominent members of the banking profession since its construction. The home always included a barn that stabled horses that were used for transportation to and from town by previous owners. First National Bank President George Blanton and his wife, Nancy Blanton, resided in the home from 1937 until 2006. It's here they raised three daughters: Nancy Dicks Blanton Siegel (1940-76), Catherine Wood Blanton Freedberg (1942-) and Lydia Lee Blanton Matthews (1948-) who were avid equestrians and have special memories of the barn and its renovation.
The barn and stables, reconstructed in 1911 due to a fire in the barn, served the avid equestrians of the Blanton family well. Today, they stand as a modern venue for parties – from rehearsal dinners | 228 |
Fall Racing Heats Up
Doug Hansen Sailboat Racing November 5, 2019 Like
Doug Hansen
Words: Doug Hansen // Photos: Neil Parker
The start of the true fall racing season is marked by Corinthian Yacht Club of Edmonds' annual Foulweather Bluff Race. Standing for nearly four decades as the autumn season opener of keel boat racing, the race attracts an impressive array of boats with sailors prepared to suit up for everything Pacific Northwest weather could offer.
The racecourse has stayed the same for as long as I<|fim_middle|> America and Europe, he has returned to Seattle to complete a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is an active participant in the Seattle racing community and enjoys sailing on all types of boats.
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September 18, 2019 247 Like | can remember; leave Edmonds, sail up to the Scatchet Head buoy off Whidbey Island's southern tip, up to the Foulweather Bluff buoy, and then back to Edmonds. Short course options are available depending on the wind, and with this year's forecast, it was a no-brainer to send the fleet on the abridged version of the race.
Seventy boats showed up for the one-day race and the fleets were stacked with both regular competitors as well as new faces. The ORC fleet was well represented with two TP52s and the RP55 Crossfire, and the other boats with shorter masts grew envious in the shifting light breeze.
Currents ripped as the water funneled around Point No Point and made for some complicated tactical calls as getting on the wrong side of a swirl spelled disaster and a one-way ticket to last place. The breeze off the start was steady but hardly anything to write home about, however, it allowed the fleets to get underway and clear out down the course.
A reverse start was used that allowed the smaller boats to get racing before the big boats sent off, and hopefully, got everyone to get to the bar around the same time. Reaching the shortened course, turning the mark off Scatchet Head was more like a game of musical chairs than a sailboat race with boats taking multiple approach attempts only to end up where they started as they got flushed backwards by the current. Once around, it was a bit less dramatic, and the fleet could reach across the Sound to a turning mark off Pilot Point and then back to Edmonds.
All but a handful of boats finished the course, and it was an absolutely perfect opportunity for skippers and crews to shake off the dust and prepare for the busy fall racing season ahead. Next year makes the 40th running of this historic race, so be sure to put it on the 2020 fall schedule as it will be an event to remember.
Right on the heels of the season opener, the keel boat fleets were thrown into the mix with the first short course buoy racing regatta of autumn. Puget Sound Sailing Championship is hosted annually by Corinthian Yacht of Seattle and boats of all shapes and sizes were invited out on the water for two days of racing in Shilshole Bay. Both one design and time correction fleets were signed up and ready to race on Saturday morning, with a forecast for light winds from the north.
Top:The fleet fans out for the Foulweather Bluff Race hosted by Corinthian Yacht Club of Edmonds. Bottom Left: Low, shifty winds made for a shortened Foulweather Bluff Race course this year. Bottom Right: Race crews of the Foulweather Bluff Race used every trick in the book to eek performance out of their boats.
Things got going underway on time and it must've been smiles all around for the event organizers to watch two courses full of nine fleets sail into the start box. The one design world is on track to take over Puget Sound with strong fleets of Melges 24, San Juan 24, J/80, J/105, and a new level PHRF 72 fleet lining up. Meanwhile in the handicap world, the TP52s put four boats on the line with more crew than you can shake a carbon fiber stick at. Three more fleets represented everything from the quick and nimble 40-footers in Class 2 to the beautifully maintained Madame Pele and J/29 Slick in Class 7.
On the water, conditions were perfect with light air in the morning and a small building breeze in the forecast as the day continued. The first race began after a slight delay while the course got set up and dialed in. Soon everyone was off to the races. It was close racing in the TP52 fleet as all four boats had spent most of the summer racing against one another and three boat overlaps at the weather mark were common through the day.
As the day went on, the breeze continued to build eventually settling into a steady 10 to 15 knots northerly, beating out the forecast and making for some great racing on both courses. On the south course, the J/80 fleet was in fine form as they competed for their West Coast championship. Incumbent champion Bryan Rhodes defended his title and was able to put his name on the trophy again.
The wind lasted well into that afternoon, allowing the big boats on the north course to get off four races while several fleets on the south course racked up an impressive six races. Unfortunately, the wind gods did not cooperate on Sunday, and the fleet spent the day at the dock watching the Seahawks game next to a glassy flat Puget Sound.
With a solid kickoff to the fall racing season under our belt, things are just getting rolling with more events on the near horizon. Seattle Yacht Club's Grand Prix is up next and many of the same boats are ready for a rematch during three more days of short course racing. With many big boats looking towards Point Roberts Race Week next summer, all the practice going around the short course is sure to pay off. Stay tuned to this space for future updates on upcoming racing throughout the Northwest.
Written by Doug Hansen
Doug Hansen is a Seattle native and grew up cruising and racing in the Northwest. After spending several years taking care of boats and competing in regattas throughout North | 1,113 |
Neighborhood Learns Facts about 2019 Flood Season at Meeting
On Wednesday evening at Hawthorne School residents in the Orchard Homes area met with various county and other governmental officials to<|fim_middle|> taken care of during a flood event. The Sheriff's Department was also there to discuss possible evacuations. | hear about the 2019 flood season.
Director of the Missoula County Office of Emergency Management, Adriane Beck, said residents primarily in the Kehrwald and Tower Streets area are the most in danger of high water from the Clark Fork River.
"We talked about some of the programs that the county has been asked to participate in following the 2018 flooding," said Beck. "In the winter months we were able to engage the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey, as well as the national Weather Service to being a survey that is grant funded that will give us what is called an 'inundation model' that will help to better enable us to predict where water will go in a flood event."
Beck said after many discussions with the national Weather Service and the Army Corps of Engineers, they are predicting what they're calling an average flood season for 2019.
"To put it in perspective, last year the flood gauge we're most concerned about registered a flood level of just under 14 feet," she said. "This year, we're expecting maybe a nine foot surge at some point. We're finding that the current 7.5 foot flood level is extremely accurate. Over the Easter weekend we did find that 7.5 foot level reached, and indeed that is when we started to see water flowing on the Kehrwald Drive area."
Beck said there were representatives from the county health department to answer questions about wells and septic systems and what people can do to ensure their drinking water and sanitation is being | 322 |
A girl's private love letters, written to former crushes, are suddenly sent out to the boys they're addressed to, revealing her past feelings all at once. The girl in question is Lara Jean Covey, the protagonist of "To All the Boys I've Loved Before." Anyone who has experienced an intense crush worthy of a love letter will be captivated and completely committed to watching Lara Jean navigate these waters as the<|fim_middle|>, "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" sees Lara Jean (Lana Condor) deal with the aftermath of her private love letters being sent out. There are five letters in total, including one addressed to the boy next door, Josh Sanderson (Israel Broussard), who also happens to be her sister's boyfriend. In order to cover up her feelings for Josh, Lara Jean agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), another receiver of a past love letter, who wants to make his ex-girlfriend jealous.
The plot is full of well-known romantic comedy and teen tropes, from the fake-turned-real relationship to the pairing of a jock with a brainiac. Instead of feeling trite, "To All The Boys I've Loved Before," directed by Susan Johnson and written by Sofia Alvarez, uses tradition to its advantage and adds new layers of complexity that make those old tropes all the more interesting.
To begin with, the lead of the film is an Asian-American teenage girl, which is a noticeable change from the long list of teen rom-coms, including the ones that Lara Jean references throughout the film (e.g. John Hughes' "Sixteen Candles"), led by white stars. Instead, with Lara Jean, many viewers get to root for a heroine who looks like them. It is a diversity completely new to the teen rom-com and a step in the right direction toward accurate representation in media. And, as refreshing as it is to see a person of color play the romantic lead in a film, Lara Jean is in no way defined by this.
The film's plot has nothing to do with her ethnicity, but, instead, is about a girl, who happens to be Asian, navigating her life as a teenager. Lara Jean is intricately layered. She is a caring and gracious person, with an affinity for romance stories and a tendency to live out fantasies in her head. She is the essence of the rom-com heroine that everybody wants to root for: humble yet confident, charming and wholly relatable. Candor expertly takes on this role, exerting each of Lara Jean's qualities through careful line delivery and cogent facial expressions that express not only what Lara Jean is saying, but also what she is feeling.
Lara Jean's love interest, Peter, is just as much a complex character. Miles away from the stereotypical jock, Peter is thoughtful, attentive and kind. He continuously makes moves outside of expectations — of both Lara Jean's and the viewer's — from offering to write her daily love notes to opening up to Lara Jean about his father abandoning him. Centineo also fully encapsulates all layers of this character. Stepping into Peter, he is entirely charming and alluring. He often doesn't need to say anything at all to be just as expressive as when he is delivering dialogue; the way he looks at Lara Jean expresses all emotions, starting with curiosity and evolving into genuine affection.
Candor and Centineo's chemistry is electric and utterly enthralling to witness. It's showcased aptly through each of their scenes together. From negotiating the terms of their fake relationship to opening up to each other about their relative experiences losing a parent, the scenes are never rushed. The pacing is slowed down — but not slow-moving — giving time for viewers to truly become immersed in the developing relationship between Lara Jean and Peter.
In between the effectively played out romance of the two leads, the plot is even more intricate, including themes of family and personal growth. All of these intricacies seamlessly fit together to make this mesmerizing film. "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" is everything a rom-com sets out to be, while simultaneously looking into the future to show what the genre may soon become: more complex, more diverse and even more heartwarming. | plot of the film unfolds. What follows is a heartwarming and charming film about teenage love and family that revitalizes and refreshes traditional rom-com tropes.
Based off of the best-selling novel of the same name by Jenny Han | 47 |
The Truth Behind Joe<|fim_middle|>, per Far Out Magazine: "Stay true to your heart, believe in yourself, and work hard." | Cocker's Unique Singing Style
Icon And Image/Getty Images
By Anna Robinson/Dec. 12, 2022 12:13 pm EST
Rock 'n' roll singer Joe Cocker rose to fame in the 1960s. Though he released multiple albums and had some original songs, his versions of songs by other artists helped him gain fame. He received a stamp of approval from Paul McCartney when he unveiled his version of "With a Little Help from My Friends" at Woodstock in 1969 (per Cheatsheet). Cocker's version is memorable because of his signature raspy voice and bombastic movements that were a part of all of his performances. It was under the mentorship of Ray Charles that he created this unique singing and performing style (per The Washington Post).
As is the case for many other famous celebrities, people imitated Cocker's voice and movements. John Belushi did a well-known impersonation of Cocker on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1970s. Cocker even joined Belushi on the show for a duet. He found the impression "amusing," per Ultimate Classic Rock. The movements and vocal skills that Belushi imitated came about in a surprising way.
Joe Cocker once explained his onstage movements
Central Press/Getty Images
In Broward-Palm Beach New TImes in 2012, Joe Cocker explained the origins of his jerky flailing onstage, how they changed over time, and people's perceptions of him. "I never played organ or piano or guitar, so it was more out of frustration and me just trying to impersonate in a way," Cocker explained. "I did it subconsciously. People mistook for me being ill, like I had palsy. I'm not nearly so demonstrative now, but I still have my own way of feeling the rhythm." He was not trying to act strangely, but perhaps him doing so contributed to the success of his live album and concert film in the early 1970s (per KTLA).
His physicality may have been accidental, but his vocal talents were not. Ray Charles believed that Cocker was among the greatest soul signers in the world. According to The Washington Post, critic Steven X. Rea once said, "Few singers are as readily identifiable; fewer interpreters are as adept at making outside material sound like their own creation."
He seemingly followed his own advice when performing
Michael Putland/Getty Images
Joe Cocker is not the only famous music artist whose onstage antics were uncalculated. Elvis Presley's infamous hip and leg shaking came about due to stage fright. According to Women's World, Presley's legs shook from nerves at his first paid gig. The crowd loved it, even though many criticized him for being vulgar as he gained more fame. In Oprah Winfrey's interview with Michael Jackson, she asked him why he often grabbed his nether regions onstage. "It happens subliminally," Jackson replied.
Cocker was not criticized for vulgarity as much as Presley and Jackson, but shocked crowds nonetheless. Cocker clearly did not care about what others thought of him, as shown by his willingness to perform alongside John Belushi after seeing Belushi's impersonation of him. Cocker followed his own advice | 688 |
Walls of Jericho, Part Eight
Mandy and I had been with Jackie most of the day, and decided it would be best to get out of the room for a while. We hadn't really spent much time together that wasn't completely wrapped up in being at the hospital, and her condition wasn't changing, so we slipped out when a small crowd was there after lunch. We had a nice day out, walking around New Castle while the day was warm and sunny, slipping into a couple shops here and there. We decided to check in with John after he got out of work and ask if he'd found anything yet, then maybe do dinner with him on our way back to the hospital.
What we actually found when I opened the door was John and another man actively fighting. The living room was completely torn apart, the recliner was knocked over, the television was broken, the couch cushions and almost every decoration in the room was knocked down or strewn about the place. I could only just barely see that the dining room hadn't fared much better, but my sight in that direction was caught up with seeing the man get a hold of John by the neck and slam him against the wall. I called out, instinctively, and that drew the man's attention. He threw John aside and came at Mandy and me, and I barely had time to process what was happening before he was just gone. I didn't see what happened to him, he was there one moment, and then not there the next. John came limping toward us as a book appeared on the floor in front of me, and John insisted we needed to go immediately and asked me to bring the book.
"Is someone going to tell me what's going on!?" Mandy demanded as she started the car to head back to the hospital.
"Jackie's under a spell," John said, trying to catch his breath. "It was put on her by Jeremiah to get my attention."
"You said this was your grandpa? What the fuck is going on with your family?"
"That would take longer to answer than we have right now."
"His grandfather Jeremiah is the son of a river god, he turned evil over some daddy issues, John's dad couldn't stop him, so he raised John as a weapon to use against Jeremiah, and apparently Jeremiah has now come for him," I said.
"Uh…yeah, that's the gist of it."
"Okay so what are we doing at the hospital?" Mandy asked.
"Not we," John answered, "Alice."
"What can I do?" I turned to John and held up the book. "You know I can't cast any of these!"
"You don't need to cast anything. You just need to manipulate a spell that's already there."
"And how do I do that?"
"Does the book explain? Check the section it was open to?"
"Where'd the book come from!?" Mandy yelled as I started reading the pages.
"My library. There's a Brownie at the house now doing research—"
"You have a Girl Scout at your house?!?"
"No, the spirit. A Brownie is a house spirit from Scotland. I don't know why he's here and right now I don't care. He apparently found what we need to deal with the spell on Jackie."
"Why don't you just, you know," Mandy asked, waving her hand in a circle, "just unmagic it away?"
"It'll kill her."
"The spell is a combination of different spells that are all connected and set up with a trap. The trap is that the whole thing will collapse and kill her if you don't unravel the spell the right way."
"No pressure or anything," I muttered.
John placed his hand on my chin and turned my face to look into his eyes. "You can do this, Alice," he said, softly. "I believe in you, and Jackie trusts you."
"I don't know how."
"You just need some guidance. Read the book, think about what it's telling you to do, and we can walk through it together when we get there. Okay?"
I nodded, slowly. He smiled, and I returned to the book.
"So we're rushing to the hospital to fix this?" Mandy asked.
"To fix it before Jeremiah gets there," John answered. "I threw him deep into the Deeper Realms, it'll take him a while to make his way back and be a threat to her, but I don't know how long."
"I am literally incapable of navigating the Deeper Realms. It takes magic to go there."
"Or whatever it is you do."
"Or whatever it is I do to spirits, yeah. But the point is, it may take him twenty minutes or twenty years to make his way back, I really have no way of knowing. So we can't take any chances." He sat back in his seat and rubbed his side and Mandy turned her focus to the road. I thought about all the effort Jackie had put in trying to teach me magic, and threw everything I had at understanding what I was reading.
Walls of Jericho, Part Six
The hospital room had a steady stream of visitors that started within an hour of my arrival, and around lunch it got a bit crowded so I slipped out to find the cafeteria. I was picking at my food, alone at a table in the corner, when Mandy slipped into the seat opposite me.
"You don't look like you're enjoying that sandwich," she offered, pulling a bag of chips open.
"It's…not quite what I was hoping."
"Like, in terms of quality, or your emotional state?"
"I don't know. Probably both." I set the sandwich down and tested a french fry.
"You know, as long as I've known you, I don't think I can recall ever seeing you eat something that wasn't made by a chef."
"I've gone to restaurants with line cooks, thank you very much." I offered a smile, but it didn't last. "But yeah, I don't think I'd ever had fast food until John hit a drive thru with me in the car."
"What's going on with the two of you, anyway?"
"I don't know. I haven't decided."
"Does he get a vote in this?"
"He said it was my decision, but if I wanted to work out what was going on with us, he was up for it."
"And do you?"
I slid the tray aside and rested my elbows on the table and my head in my hands. "Yes. And no. Am I overreacting?"
"That depends. You're gonna have to give me more to work with here."
"I don't think any of this is his fault, you know."
"But this world he lives in, it's dangerous."
"You live in it, too."
"Not like they do."
"No, I mean, exactly like he does. You don't think these things only happen to people who get involved in it, do you?"
"I mean, doesn't it?"
"Were you poking around with ghosts before your house got haunted?"
"Well, no."
"Listen. If even half the stuff they believe in is real, it's real for all of us. We're all stuck with it, we all have the chance of running into some terrible monster or alien or something."
"Is this meant to be comforting?"
"It's meant to be realistic." She set her food aside and leaned in. "The only difference between people like us and people like them is that they know what they're dealing with when it shows up. Or," she leaned back and crossed her arms, "they're just crazy and it's all made up and not relevant to our lives with or without them."
"They're not crazy."
"Then they're prepared."
"Fat lot of good that's done them! Go upstairs and look at Jackie and tell me how that's helped her!"
"She's still here."
I buried my face in my hands and felt the weight of her words. "I'm sorry, Mandy, I didn't mean—"
"You told me what happened to Rick. About this cult. He knew what he was up against, and he made a decision based on that information." She leaned forward and jammed her finger into the tabletop. "Can you tell me he was wrong? Can you tell me it wasn't the right call, in that moment?"
"No. I don't suppose I can."
"And if he hadn't known? If he hadn't thought they were bad enough to take that risk? What would've happened?"
"I…I don't know."
"Would it have been better, Alice?"
"No. I don't think it would have."
"Look. Maybe people who look into this stuff, like you and Jackie, find him, and maybe you don't. And maybe no one else ever really knows the truth. But you're alive, and Jackie's alive, and Matteson's alive, and God knows how many other people can go about their day with no idea about this<|fim_middle|> books and papers, and when he finally sat down we discussed how today was going to go. I expected we were going to the hospital and doing what we could for Jackie, but he'd identified the spot she would have been when she was found. It turns out she'd been trying to reach through the Hedge to find Rick, and John was convinced something magical had happened to her there that caused her current condition. He was hoping to visit Jackie for a bit in the morning, and then go investigating the site to see if there was any sign of what happened to her. God, I almost forgot how much I loved watching him work through something like this, explaining and jumping from one piece of evidence to another, with no care for how crazy it all must sound to someone who didn't know the spiritual reality like he did. He invited me to come along, if I wanted. I declined, told him to take me with him to the hospital and I would just stay there with her until he was done and came back. Thankfully, Mandy was there by the time he left, so I had her to talk to while we stood vigil over Jackie.
"So, how do you like being back in the states?" she asked, after we'd sat in silence for a while.
"It's alright. It was a good idea to come back, thanks."
"Of course. Have you figured anything out yet?"
I sighed. "No, not really."
"Listen, I know some of her friends from work and the theater are coming by later, so I better ask this now before they get here." She turned and took my hands in hers and looked me in the eye. "Is this thing happening to her magical? Is that why Matteson rushed out of here?"
"He…" I looked around, then leaned in and whispered, "he thinks so, yeah."
"Then why didn't he just break it?"
"I don't know. I didn't even think to ask!"
"Why does he think it's magic?"
"She was looking for Rick."
She squeezed my hands briefly and took a deep breath. "I see." She let go and turned back in her chair to face Jackie. "I take it she didn't find anything."
"I don't think we'll know until she's awake," I answered, turning to face the bed as well. "But if there's anything still at the site, I bet John will find it."
Hey everyone, today is my anniversary! My wife has been my best friend and biggest supporter for the last 11 years, and not only would this story not exist without her encouragement, but I would be a far worse person without her than I am today. If you enjoy my work, whether it's this story or my twitch channel or really any of my projects, please take this opportunity to show her some love for the incredible impact she's had on making all of this happen. She's in the Discord server if you use that.
Carol, my love, my partner, my inspiration, and one of the most clever people I know, I just want to say thank you; I'm so excited to see where the road takes us in this second decade of our marriage.
Walls of Jericho, Part One
On the flight to Pittsburgh, Mandy asked what was going on between John and me. She said she'd been by to see him a couple times, and he didn't seem willing to talk about it. So I told her the truth, which is simply that I don't know. And now that I'm back home, I've had to seriously confront that question. People here make a point to ask about him, after they've asked me about my trip and how I'm holding up, and I can only dodge that question for so long. I just haven't been sure what I want the answer to be.
Don't get me wrong. I love him, and I want us to work this out. On the one hand, though, the life he leads is dangerous, and I don't know how much more I'm really willing to risk…or lose. I fear that one of these days the real weight of that danger is going to catch up to him, or me, and I'm not sure I can ever be comfortable with that thought. But it isn't his fault, not really. He didn't choose to be an Anchor, and he's trying to forge a new path instead of just being the weapon his dad tried to make him, and he did warn me. Right from the beginning, he told me the risks, and so did Roderick. Can I really hold it against him that things are exactly how he said they may be?
I need to figure this out. I need to know if I can look at him and not just see what happened to Rick, if I can be by his side without wondering when it will happen to me. I'm going over there today. We're just going to talk, nothing more, but. I need to see how I handle it, and make a decision about whether or not we have a future.
Back (Alice)
Back (M & J)
Results had been disappointing so far. It wasn't particularly difficult to find spells to do what she wanted, but they didn't seem to get me anywhere. Michael had even managed to open a portal into the Deeper Realms, and the two of us spent a week there with tracking spells and a relic that all just led us in circles. Roderick believed that Rick had either been unmade or was being actively hidden from us; I refused to believe the former, and Michael believed we could muster up enough power between us to punch through whatever was doing the latter. There was little evidence to date to suggest he was right.
Melinda was concerned. A few days after we returned from the Deeper Realms, she took me out for a spa day and refused to let me talk about Rick or magic while we were out. I didn't realize until I was halfway through a massage how obsessed I'd been recently over the matter. Not that it didn't warrant dedication, but maybe Melinda was right when she insisted I couldn't let this become my whole life. So I started taking more breaks, and seeing my other cousins, and putting the work aside to get some sleep with more frequency. And the less time I spent obsessing over a solution, the more time I found myself mourning him as if he was never coming back. I needed to find some distractions. I started browsing the library more, and found there was a considerable fiction collection I hadn't even thought to explore when I was last here. I was on my fourth period romance before I realized that I had narrowed onto a specific subject, but I really didn't have time to think about why that would be right now.
"A visitor for you, ma'am," Hendricks said.
I blinked in surprise and turned my attention to him. I hadn't even heard him enter the parlor, and now wondered how long he'd been standing there. "For me?"
"Yes, ma'am. An Amanda Stow. Shall I send her in?"
"Mandy's here!?" I set Jane Eyre down and stood, straightening out my skirt. "Yes, yes, definitely send her in!"
He nodded and slipped out of the room, and after a few moments he returned to hold the door open as Mandy walked in. I ran over and gave her a hug, thanked Hendricks, and then showed her to the chairs.
"This place is so much nicer than I was expecting!" she said, softly, as if it was a secret. I chuckled.
"Yes, well. That's what being a lord will get you."
"Well. If that cousin of yours is single…" We both laughed as Hendricks returned and set a platter with two cups of tea and a small plate of cookies on the table between us. We both thanked him again, and he was gone.
"Why did you come all the way to England? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
She sighed and picked up a cookie, looking at it absently. "I'm worried about you."
"That could have been a text, Mandy." I added a bit of sugar to one of the teas and laid back in my chair while I stirred. "Why are you here?"
"To bring you back." She took a bite from her cookie and relaxed into the chair. "And maybe some of these cookies, too."
"I can't go back right now. There's so much work to do on this."
"Hm, yeah," she said, leaning forward and picking up the book and turning it over in her hand, "looks very important."
"Everyone needs a break sometimes."
"Yes, but that's my point, Alice." She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. "You have shut yourself off from friends and family who care about you to go chasing after some solution to Rick's disappearance. Which is fine, for a little while, but there needs to be a point where you come home and let people be there for you."
"It's not so simple—"
"Of course it isn't. Nothing ever is. He's my cousin, I promise, I understand."
"No, there's so much more than that to it."
"Is it magic?"
She leaned back in her chair and we were silent for a minute. "The official report is that he was taken by a cult. How accurate is that?"
"He…threw himself and their leader into a portal to stop them summoning something terrible."
"And have you made any progress on finding him?"
"No. I haven't."
"Then come home."
"Look. I get why you guys didn't say all that to the police. I get why you didn't tell me right away. But if this is really a magic problem, and a month of magic research hasn't yielded any results, then maybe it's time to do something else. And you're going to need a support network to get through that."
"I can't. I can't just…" I paused and set my tea down.
"You can't just accept that he's gone." A tear ran down her cheek.
"There has to be a way."
"And maybe there is. I hope there is. But if there aren't answers here, then why stay, except to isolate yourself?"
I nodded, and wiped a tear away. Mandy got up from the chair and walked over, offering me her hand. I accepted and stood, and we held each other for a long while as we both started to cry. "I saw it," I choked out, eventually. "I saw him go and couldn't do anything to help him."
"That's not your fault."
"I brought them there. I ran when we were confronted by the cult. I—"
"It's not your fault, Alice."
My legs went out from under me, and we ended up on the floor, crying into each other's shoulders. I had tried so hard for the last month to bury these feelings, and now nothing was able to stop them coming out. I don't know how long we stayed there, but we managed to get calmed down and cleaned up in time for dinner. We went into town that evening, and she spent the night in one of the rooms in the wing where I was staying, and in the morning, Melinda saw us both to the airport to fly back to the States.
Tree of Life, Part Two
It was a few more days before Rick and Mandy could come down. They probably would have come faster, but I didn't want to sound crazy over the phone and decided to hold back on explaining the situation until they got here. They were excited to see the new house, and we had arranged for them to stay the night with movies and snacks like when we were teens, before she moved north. I had expressed some interest in meeting Rick's girlfriend, who Mandy said was a witch, but she wasn't available.
I gave them the tour of the house when they arrived, since they hadn't seen it yet, and we talked about the layout and the beautiful tub upstairs and the railing on the stairs. I explained that it had been built sometime early in the 1900s, on the site of a previous house that had been torn down or something. The records were kind of murky once we were looking that far back. I had ordered delivery, and when it arrived we all gathered around the living room and caught up on what's been new with them and how school was going, and it was a really nice time that I wasn't sure whether or not to interrupt. But I knew Rick liked talking about this stuff, so I slipped in a question about whether or not he had seen anything weird lately. He turned off most of the lights and told some extravagant story about a place called The Devil's Church where he insisted he and a couple of his friends nearly died. Mandy rolled her eyes every time he said that, which made me laugh, which made him insist that we had no idea how lucky we really were to have him still around.
"Well," I said once he was done, "what's it like being such a fearless expert of the unknown?" Mandy shoved me and laughed, but he took a heroic pose.
"It's all part of the job, ladies." We threw fries at him until he sat down.
"Okay, okay, so tell me honestly. If there was a ghost here, for instance, how would you find out?"
"Ah, well, about that—"
"He wouldn't!" Mandy cried out. "Don't let my cousin fool you, he's just along for the ride. It's that Matteson that's supposed to see ghosts."
"Oh, really?" I asked. "You never mentioned that!"
"Well, I did say he was there, you know," Rick offered.
"There, he says. It was Matteson's idea. Well, that night, anyway, Tony convinced us to try going before," Mandy said.
"Us? Did you go to this Devil's Church?" I asked, turning to her.
"Well of course I did. I was with Matteson when Rick called to invite him." Rick cleared his throat and Mandy rolled her eyes again. "Rick doesn't like me talking about that. But we went to the Devil's Church, and someone freaked out, and we left. Nothing happened. Maybe nothing happened when they went back, either, who knows?"
"I know," Rick said, "and it definitely was not that nothing happened."
"So why haven't I heard more about this guy in your stories?" I needled, reaching over to poke at Rick's stomach. He swatted me away with a laugh.
"He doesn't like not being the center of the story," Mandy said, "you know how he is. But oh! You should meet Matteson. I think you two would get along great, he's a bookworm like you. But he's in my band, too."
"At any rate, I'm always excited to meet your friends, even if it does sound like you just made him up based on the town I moved into."
"His name's John," Rick explained, "his ex started calling him Matteson, that's his last name, because it set him apart from the other Johns in town, and I guess it just stuck."
"Why are you asking so much about ghost stories anyway, Alice?" Mandy leaned forward, staring into my eyes. "You don't normally ask about ghost stories."
"Oh, no," I waved the question off, "no reason, really."
"Is it this old house?" She gasped in mock drama. "Are there ghosts in this old house?"
"Now, Mandy, come on, I just—" She jumped up and walked into the hall between the living room and the stairs, calling for the ghosts. I started to shake, and Rick must have noticed because he sidled over and rested his hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, Alice, you alright?" he asked. I nodded and gave him a fake smile, and then we heard that scream again. It was like a man in agony, echoing from somewhere far away, but loud. Loud like it was inside the house. Mandy screamed, too, and ran back into the living room. We all huddled on the couch, peeking over the back of it for something to follow her into the room, but the sound ended and nothing new happened.
"Shit," Mandy whispered. "There are ghosts in this old house."
"I'll get you Matteson's number." I nodded, and we all resumed watching for a little while, before they started asking me about it. I confessed that there was no evidence I was in actual danger, but I certainly wasn't comfortable with this going on, and we decided to turn some comedies to calm down. | cult, because he knew. And he acted. And I respect that."
I lifted my face enough to look into her eyes. "Okay. I guess you're right, but…I'm not sure how this is part of the same conversation."
"I don't think either of us can really run away from this stuff. Not anymore. If you don't want to be with Matteson, that's fine, it happens. But don't make the mistake of thinking you don't belong to the same world as he does, that you're somehow separate from all of it. Don't think you can just turn it off when you don't want to deal with it. We're all surrounded by the same ghosts—he just can't pretend he isn't. And maybe we shouldn't, either." She picked her chips up again and slumped into her seat. "Lord knows I won't. I can't"
I thought about that for a little while as we ate. "I'm sorry, Mandy. And you're probably right. I hadn't really thought about it like that."
"It's okay. Those of us without magic have to learn to think of it that way, I guess."
"Or discover we do have magic."
"I…can I tell you later?"
"Yeah, sure. We should get back upstairs, anyway." We gathered what food we had left to bring upstairs, cleaned up the rest, and headed to the room.
Walls of Jericho, Part Four
I found John this morning passed out in his library among a pile of opened books and scattered notes. He'd definitely been drinking, there were a couple plates and cups and some empty snack packaging, and on the pile of snuffed Newport butts was the remains of a cigarette that had burned down to ash, which I recognized as signs he'd been up studying until he passed out, likely around dawn. I left him to sleep while I cleaned up the mess and started a pot of coffee, which I enjoyed in quiet while I walked around the house to take it all in. It occurred to me that I'd never really taken the time to just walk around, look at how John and Jackie kept their home, what it said about both of them. I'd usually been busy while here, or focused entirely on one person or another, and never just considering where I was.
There was a lot of evidence of John's drinking and smoking, and a few signs there'd been weed smoked recently. Admittedly, he likely engaged in all of them more than usual while he was laying around recovering, but still. It was a concerning amount, and if we were ever getting back together—and I wasn't yet sure if I was ready to entertain the idea—I would need some kind of assurance that he would cut back on all the substances.
I sat on the edge of his bed and looked around, picking out the things of Henry's he still hadn't touched since moving into the master bedroom. I looked through pictures of us that were still out on the dresser and nightstand, and picked up a scarf still hanging on one of the hooks outside the closet, buried under hats but still visible. He'd told me about it, once, when we were laying in the bed and I asked after noticing it. He'd confessed it belonged to Lori, she'd left it here the last time she'd been by before Alethea made herself known. He'd told me she'd left it hanging there by accident, and he meant to return it after everything happened, but she came when he wasn't around and then vanished. I was pretty sure he'd hung it up himself after he couldn't return it, or wouldn't return it, or whatever happened. He was sentimental, in his way. Little pieces of everything left laying around, keeping trinkets as a quiet backdrop to whatever life he was living. There was a toy from a childhood friend, a little bauble his grandmother had carried when she was alive, the necklace of sand he never took off except to shower. I found it tolerable when it came to Lori, if only just, and it was cute otherwise. But it was a quiet backdrop; he didn't talk about any of these people, not really, unless he was pressed. I felt a pang in my heart when I considered the possibility of being just another trinket, another set of stories, another name that would live on in his mind but rarely grace his lips.
I poured myself a second cup of coffee, prepared a tea for him, and went down to the basement to wake him. We each drank our mugs in silence while he picked up the | 942 |
Entity Changes for iSafe Program
Service Excellence Consulting's assessment services in the areas of Privacy and Safety Services are being adopted by Certex International Pty Ltd. This is a change that will have no noticeable change for our clients except a new name of entity.
Our growing iSafe Program will become part of the upcoming iSuite Risk Management model in Certex along with some potential new additions our services in the areas of privacy, right to work and employment practices.
Safety or privacy services already in motion will not be affected in this ownership transition, and SEC will continue to provide professional consulting services across safety, privacy and quality.
Certex International, as a certified accreditation body, will be well aligned to manage the assessment program with their certification framework. It will also be a great opportunity to refresh and rebrand the iSafe Program.
For iSafe Program participants, the only noticeable changes will be a newly designed front cover for the reports.
If any technical issues are experienced during this transition, Certex will be available via info@certex.com.au , or you can call 03 9555 3855 weekdays to reach the head office.
SEC clients of safety and privacy services that had subscribed to receive the SEC newsletter will seamlessly be transitioned to receive the Certex Newsletter instead. If you would like to be unsubscribed from either of the newsletters, there is an unsubscribe option at the bottom of each newsletter you receive, or you are welcome to email us at info@certex.com.au.
The Certex International newsletter is also accessible from the www.certex.com.au.
Certex International is extremely excited to adopt these services, and will provide quality support and information to Service Excellence Consulting clients who are included in these changes.
Largest Data Breach in Australian History?
It is NSW law that aged care patient documentation be destroyed after 10 years. So the recent privacy breach of medical records in the abandoned Garrawarra Centre for Aged Care has broken records of potentially the largest data breach of its kind in Australian History.
Inside the Ages Care Centre were dumped photo albums and medical records of more than 400 patients from 1992 to 2002. The local who stumbled upon the mess of soiled documents with cigarette butts, graffiti and drug paraphernalia, demanded the families of those whose records had been neglected should be contacted by NSW Health and formally apologised to.
Aged Care facilities harbour information for hundreds of patients, which includes personal and confidential details about their illnesses, medical condition, families, even personalities, which if not properly managed could have devastating effects.
But they're not the only ones at risk. Think of what sensitive information your business collects and how you manage it. You need to ensure you're collecting, storing and destroying sensitive information properly.
Data Breach is no joke, and any business is vulnerable to attack.
For more information on how you can improve your privacy and data security click here.
Privacy: A Unified Health Service, but at What Cost?
My Health Record is a new scheme by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) whereby all Australians (unless they opt out) will have a digital profile, where their medical information is kept centrally.
Doctors, hospital and other health providers will be able to login to see your medical history in accordance with access controls. This includes medicines you are taking, allergies you may have and treatments you have received.
"This year, you will get a My Health Record unless you tell us you don't want one" cites the My Health Record website. After October 15th 2018, every person with a Medicare or Department of Veterans' Affairs card will automatically be registered to have a My Health Record – unless you opt out.
Better healthcare service.
Currently most records made by healthcare providers are paper based. This means being posted, faxed or insecurely emailed. The My Health Record "offers health professionals secure digital access to a patient's record at the point of care, wherever that may be" as the ADHA's website states.
ADHA cites that the biggest benefits are from the clarity of centrally stored information. This would result in:
• Avoided hospital admissions
• Fewer adverse drug events
• Reduced duplication in diagnostic tests
• And better care for people seeing multiple healthcare providers
What does this mean for you and your privacy?
Will the records mean healthcare providers can see my full history?
Not necessarily. As the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) states: "The My Health Record system contains an online summary of a patient's key health information; not a complete record of their clinical history".
How will the information be used?
Registered healthcare provider organisations will be able to access, collect use and disclose your health record for the purpose of providing healthcare. They can upload any of your health records and information to the MHR without your express consent.
Can information be taken from the My Health Record?
Information in a patient's My Health Record can be downloaded onto the healthcare provider's local IT Server. This means that it leaves the confines of the MHR system and can sit on the servers of your local doctor or physio.
They will then be bound by the normal privacy laws that govern all businesses. However, this then puts the information in their management and depends on them having the proper privacy and data controls to manage that information securely.
"Healthcare provider organisations are authorised to upload information about a third party to a patient's My Health Record" as the OAIC states. This means that if a healthcare provider believes it's important to note your family member's medical history in relation to your own, they can record it on the My Health Record without consent from your family members.
It is up to individuals to manage their MHR and ensure it is current and accurate. If you don't choose to opt out during this period and cancel your account later, the government will keep your documents for 30 years after your death.
To opt out, visit the My Health Record Website: https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/
More information from the OAIC: https://www.oaic.gov.au/resources/agencies-and-organisations/business-resources/privacy-business-resource-23-handling-personal-information-in-the-my-health-record-system.pdf
https://www.oaic.gov.au/individuals/privacy-fact-sheets/health-and-digital-health/privacy-fact-sheet-15-ten-tips-for-protecting-the-personal-information-in-your-my-health-record
Labour Hire Licensing - Victoria to join SA and QLD
Two weeks ago, the Labour Hire Licensing Bill 2017 was passed by the Victorian State Parliament. Following South Australia and Queensland, Victoria will be the latest state to adopt the proposed scheme.
The Labour Hire Licensing Scheme was originally suggested as a way to regulate the labour hire industry following a series of exposes on exploited workforces. These included the likes of fruit pickers in the Goulburn Valley and other farming industries.
Most labour hire agencies would have started or completed their applications for licenses in SA and QLD and many will know to apply for Victoria when the time comes. However, non-agencies also need to be aware of these changes as substantial civil financial penalties will apply to both providers who operate without a license and hosts engaging them. These penalties can be up to $391,560 or may include 3 years imprisonment.
Queensland's deadline for application of license has already passed. Entities which have not submitted a license application before 15 June 2018 are forced to cease operation in Queensland. South Australia has extended their deadline for agencies to successfully obtain a License before 1 February 2019. Information is yet to be released about how and when the latest regulations in Victoria will be implemented.
Hosts are able to check which labour hire agencies are licensed via a register on the government website.
If you would like assistance preparing for labour hire applications or to find out more contact us at info@certex.com.au
https://economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/inquiry-into-the-lab<|fim_middle|> we take of the environment, the fewer hazards will be present to reduce in future to keep our workers safe.
The latest OHS Standard (OHSAS 45001: 2018) demonstrates this as it increases awareness and harmonization with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Standards.
On this Earth Day, let's take a moment to reflect what small acts we can take to reduce our impact on the environment and be more mindful of our futures.
Click the link below to find out more about this year's Earth Day Campaign: End Plastic Pollution.
https://www.earthday.org/
Go Away Pies! (and not just the Collingwood Football Club)
Collingwood is the team that everyone "loves to hate". It's not just the team that can really stir up some trouble but their mascot too.
Earlier this month, I was cutting through a suburban park to get to a client site when all of a suddenly a black blur was in my periphery. I only just managed to duck out of the way of one such dreaded bird. It took me a moment to figure out what had happened… but by then then another one was coming at me! What a day! I panicked and took off like my life depended on it, tearing across the park as fast as I could in heels (I can report that heels are not ideal shoes for escaping birds that are out with a vengeance).
I had gone a solid distance, then paused to reassess the situation and looked for what other devilish birds might come my way when… oh no my ankle! A bull ant must have been kicked up from the dirt in the flurry and was making its presence very well known. Next thing you know I'm kicking my feet around like a lunatic in a park in the suburbs, I'm sure people in the cars nearby watched and laughed. But it doesn't stop there. Next (and you guessed it) – my shoe goes flying.
Frazzled, I made it to the client site eventually and had quite a story to tell.
This event, coming off the back of a more public case at Kiama Shopping Centre earlier this year, serves as a pertinent reminder of the importance of evaluating risks within the 3 Concentric Circles of Site Risk.
The iSafe Program's 3 Concentric Circles of Risk
1. The work activities - What are the risks of the nature of work conducted?
2. The work site - What are the risks of the site where work is undertaken?
3. The external environment - What are the risks of the outside environment and how they might affect workers?
The case at Kiama Shopping Centre involved a supermarket worker, on their way to work, being injured quite badly by a magpie. The resulting expense to the supermarket chain was $17,000 in lost wages to the injured worker.
The risk of wildlife to workers in the two outer concentric circles are important to consider as these risks change with season, weather conditions and other factors. Regular assessment of the risks in and around the worksite is important and once identified, steps should be taken to control them. For example: at this same client site, they occasionally had snakes enter their work site from the parkland. First Aiders were trained to effectively treat snake bites and the general workforce were often reminded of the steps to take when such an event occurs.
But it's not enough to identify a risk and then leave it be. Regular reassessment and revaluation of the risks and whether the conditions have changed is just as crucial. After all, just like magpies, risks can come out of nowhere and leave you with a bump on your forehead.
iSafe - Working in Heat
Working in Heat
Privacy Potholes
Potholes. | our-hire-industry
https://ols.oir.qld.gov.au/licence-register/
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/licensing/labour-hire/labour-hire-licence
Industrial Manslaughter Laws Proposed for Victoria
As of May 2018, Industrial Manslaughter laws have been proposed in Victoria. Made as an election promise for the November state election, Victoria could be closely following Queensland in implementing these new laws.
The proposed changes bring safety to the forefront of businesses as the stakes are raised. Employers whose negligence leads to death would be facing up to 20 years in jail and be criminally charges with workplace manslaughter. Businesses could be fined up to $16 million.
Unlike the Queensland laws, the regulations proposed by Premier Andrews would apply to not only workers but will "cover a visiting supplier…a routine maintenance worker or three innocent people walking down a busy street".
Mr Andrews says that the aim of the proposed laws is to change the way businesses view their safety responsibilities. It's important that with these proposed changes, businesses assess themselves to determine whether they are adequately controlling the risks present.
From our experience in safety, we have seen that those who take safety seriously are constantly looking to improve and stay up to date on their obligations. If you're not 100% sure that you're ready for the proposed manslaughter charges, you need to assess your business again.
Contact us for more information about how we can help you do a gap-analysis to identify your risk areas.
Don't Wait for Hindsight, See with iSafe
How the iSafe Program is helping you get a Labour Hire License
As of this month, the Queensland Government is accepting participation in the iSafe Program as supporting documentation for Labour Hire License applications. This is one way that we are assisting the industry to achieve their labour hire licenses. Participation in the iSafe Risk Management Program demonstrates commitment to work health and safety which is an important requirement of an on-hire license.
In the last weeks we have been sending out certificates of participation to our subscriber and licensed iSafe members. Thank you for your contribution to the Program! As a reminder, QLD license applications need to be submitted within 60 days of the 16th April. South Australian labour hire agencies are required to have obtained a license by September 1st 2018.
Labour Hire Licensing – Free Live Q&A Broadcast
Are you ready for Labour Hire Licensing? Our MD, Dianne Gibert, will be hosting a Free Live Q&A Broadcast all about Labour Hire Licensing. Get your questions ready to join the interactive YouTube Live session!
To ensure your questions are answered on the day, submit your queries in advance on our website:
https://www.isafe.net.au/news
Follow this link on 10th May at 10am to tune into the broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBeBc6NQwNyOz7IzxTs14oA
World Earth Day!
As we focus on workplace health and safety, it's important to be mindful of the environment. The iSafe approach to risk management uses 3 Concentric Circles of Risk. The outer circle is the external environment and our focus in this circle is: to what extent can we reduce risk?
While many of us don't consider environmental management a part of WHS, it has a roundabout way of being a key part of managing long term hazards. The better care | 705 |
Since our inception, we have offered all of our programs free of charge: no school has been charged for an in-school residency, no artists or teachers have paid to attend our professional developments, no audience member been given a ticket price. We are committed to creating truly accessible theater programs. We believe that any school who wants to offer drama programs to kids should be able<|fim_middle|> community, that we are now planning our 7th season. It is because of your support that we are able to continue to develop new programming and to produce new pieces. And sure, donations are always appreciated, but even more it is your presence in our audiences, your attendance of our workshops, and the ways you spread the world about Adaptive that allows us to keep doing this work.
We ask for your continued support as we work to raise awareness through theater.
We are now in the planning stages for our 2016-2017 season, which is proving to be our most ambitious yet. This season will mark a huge expansion for us as we begin our next devised production, develop new partnerships with local theaters and community organizations, and return to the classroom! | to. We believe that any theater artist or organization that wants to learn about development programs for individuals with disabilities should have the opportunity.
Because of this, it is directly thanks to you, our amazing | 39 |
Jets' Darnold prepared for 'tough' environment in Buffalo
Jets' Sam Darnold<|fim_middle|> has completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 1,748 yards and 12 touchdowns over those seven games, and as head coach Adam Gase said, "he's building."
The Bills are currently 10-5 and have already clinched the AFC's No. 5 seed for the playoffs, though head coach Sean McDermott announced that most of the starters will play against the Jets in Week 17.
"Whoever they put out there is who they put out there," Darnold said. "We're ready for their scheme, and how they're going to run things."
After beating the Pittsburgh Steelers and their No. 4 ranked defense in Week 16, the Jets go up against the Bills' No. 3 defense in total yards allowed per game.
Sam Darnold on playing in Buffalo:
"It's tough. I mean, Buffalo fans are crazy in the best way" pic.twitter.com/3FIvwAJhTu
- Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 26, 2019 | prepared for 'tough' environment vs. Bills on road
"Buffalo fans are crazy in the best way"
By Colin Martin | Dec 26, 2019 | 3:40PM
Dec 22, 2019; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta)
On Sunday, the Jets will travel to New Era Field in Orchard Park, N.Y., to face the Buffalo Bills in their last game of the season.
Jets quarterback Sam Darnold spoke to media after practice on Thursday, and seemed prepared to deal with the Buffalo environment as a road team.
"It's tough," Darnold said. "I mean, Buffalo fans are crazy in the best way. They get it rocking in there."
In Week 1, the Jets fell to the Bills 17-16 at home -- blowing a 16-point lead in the second half. Darnold threw for 175 yards and a touchdown in the loss, but then missed the team's following three games as he battled mononucleosis.
"I think our offense has come a long way since then," Darnold said. "I feel like I've come a long way. Just as a whole, we've gotten better. We've learned from our mistakes that we've made. That's what it's about, it's about continuing to get better. Obviously, there's a lot we need to continue to improve every single week. And this game is just another step, I think, in the right direction towards improvement."
It hasn't been the season that Darnold and the Jets envisioned during his second year in the league, but after a 1-7 start, the team has won five of their past seven games. Darnold | 412 |
21SL55 is a precontact Native American archaeological site in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota, United States. It was occupied by<|fim_middle|> rice, a staple food in the region.
As of the site's 1988 National Register nomination, only 2.5% of its area had been excavated, and no radiocarbon or thermoluminescence dating had been conducted, so its dating to the late Woodland period derived only from the surface treatment of the ceramic sherds, a projectile point, and the suggestion of intensive wild rice use.
Use
It is uncertain whether Blackduck people occupied 21SL55 seasonally or year-round, but the thick cultural layer suggests use over many years. Only a small number of people could have dwelt there at a time given the size of the island. They left behind artifacts such as chipped stone tools, lithic debris, and ceramics. Faunal remains consist of beaver, lynx or bobcat, and moose bones. The moose were likely taken by hunting parties, while the other species were likely caught with traps or snares. These mammals comprise the majority of the faunal remains, but the inhabitants also left behind bones from double-crested cormorants. As these birds migrate away in the cold season, 21SL55 cannot have been exclusively a winter camp. The site may have been a hunting and trapping camp, as projectile points are proportionally more common here than most other precontact archaeological sites in Voyageurs National Park, but this remains speculative pending further research.
Significance
Many archaeological sites contain remains from multiple periods, leaving a complex puzzle for modern researchers, so 21SL55 is valuable as a site containing a clean record from just one period. This is particularly valuable as the late Woodland period is poorly understood in the Boundary Waters. 21SL55's location emphasizes that even very small islands played a role in the region's pattern of human settlement. Finally, as archaeological sites are compromised or destroyed by modern development, sites like 21SL55 within national parks form a critical reserve of intact windows on the past.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Louis County, Minnesota
References
Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota
Geography of St. Louis County, Minnesota
Late Woodland period
National Register of Historic Places in St. Louis County, Minnesota
Native American history of Minnesota
National Register of Historic Places in Voyageurs National Park | the Blackduck culture of the late Woodland period sometime between 700 and 1500 C.E. Located on a small island in what is now Voyageurs National Park, the site is known only by its Smithsonian trinomial. It contains well-preserved faunal remains, a possible ricing jig, and other subsurface features.
The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 under the name Archeological Site 21SL55 for its local significance in the theme of prehistoric archaeology. As an island site occupied exclusively during one cultural period in what is now a protected area, 21SL55 was nominated for its potential to illuminate regional subsistence patterns of the late Woodland period.
Description
The site is on a small island in Namakan Lake. The artifact assemblage covers only about . The cultural occupation layer is a sandy loam between thick under of humus. Artifact density at the site is relatively low. Artifacts documented at the site consist of ceramics, stone tools including a hammerstone, lithic debitage, and animal bones.
A distinctive feature left behind by the occupants is a pit across and deep lined with a silty clay not found anywhere else at the site. Archaeologists have tentatively identified this as a jig for processing wild | 284 |
Goa is a multifaceted state, with everything from beaches and parties to gorgeous interior jungles and waterfalls, not to mention Portuguese colonial architecture. With three days in the state, here's what you can see and do.
Day 1: Portuguese Goa
Goa was a Portuguese colony until 1961, and the state retains much of its Portuguese heritage to this day. The two best places to see Goa's Portuguese architectural legacy are Old Goa (Velha Goa), which was the capital of Goa until the bubonic plague caused the population to flee to Panaji (Panjim) to set up a new capital, and Panaji itself. Old Goa is best-known for its churches, notably the Basilica of Bom Jesus, where the patron saint of Goa, Francis Xavier, is interred. Nearby, St. Catherine's Cathedral (Sé Cathedral) attracts visitors with centuries of art and religious artifacts. Not far from Old Goa, the capital city of Panaji has two noteworthy Portuguese neighborhoods: Fontainhas and Sao Tome, adjacent districts full of colorful old houses and public buildings.
Day 2: Quintessential Goa: Beaches and Nightlife
Beach time is on the itineraries of most visitors to Goa, and no wonder—this coastal state features mile upon mile of beautiful shoreline, from red sandy beaches up north to beaches that take on a whiter hue, such as Palolem, down south. Popular options include Anjuna, Morjim, and Arambol, all of which have more of a hippie vibe, while Candolim and Sinquerim are quiet and close to Calangute, the busy hub of touristy north Goa. When you're ready for some activity, get out on the water with a cruise. Options include dolphin-spotting adventures, kayak river trips, and sunset river cruises complete with live music and dance performances. In the evening, to experience Goa's famous nightlife, head to the popular nightclub Tito's on Baga Beach for Bollywood sounds or clubs in the northern villages of Anjuna and Vagator for homegrown trance music.
Day 3: Day Trip to Dudhsagar Falls and a Spice Plantation
On your final day in Goa, experience the natural beauty of the state's interior. First, head inland to Dudhsagar Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in the country at 1,017 feet (310 meters). Its name means "sea of milk," appropriate given the opaque white hue of its waters, and many visitors opt to hike to the top for great views. Just remember to pack a swimsuit: The pool at the base of the falls is the perfect spot for cooling off. Most travelers visit the falls as part of a group tour, some of which also stop at a local spice plantation in the village of Ponda<|fim_middle|>'s most popular outdoor destinations during this Spike's River Goa kayaking trip. Navigate the thick mangroves and keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers, osprey and sea eagles. Cruise past rural villages, historical churches and ancient temples on this water sport adventure that blends equal parts history, nature and culture, too. | for lunch and spice shopping. Take a guided walk around the plantation to learn about the history of spices in India and see what kitchen favorites such as cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, and cinnamon actually look like when they're growing. Return to Panaji and end your trip with a traditional Goan or Portuguese dinner of fresh seafood at the local restaurant of your choice.
Day Trip to Mollem National Park Including Dudhsagar Falls and Jeep Safari from Goa
Travel through Mollem National Park for an exhilarating off-road adventure. This private day trip includes transport by Jeep to Dudhsagar Falls, one of India's tallest waterfalls. Your personal guide leads the way across the rock-strewn rivers and forests of the Western Ghats. Refresh with a picnic and a swim plus panoramic views at the top of the 4-tiered cascade. Then learn about the cultivation of herbs, tropical fruits and spices at a local plantation. Feast on a buffet lunch of Goan cuisine before return hotel transport to Goa.
Goa Kayaking Sal Backwaters Mangroves Magic!
Goa is one of India's top attractions, but getting to the most interesting sights takes local knowledge. During this off-the-beaten-track kayaking tour, you'll get an insider's peek at the laid-back beach state's picturesque waterways and diverse wildlife as you glide through lotus ponds and mango groves. It's also a popular migratory spot for birds, so keep an eye out for the famous Kingfisher.
Goa at Night - Sightseeing, Cruise and Dinner in Local Restaurant
Get personalized attention on a private sightseeing tour of Goa, then embark on a cruise on the Mandovi River during this half-day tour. With a guide, you'll follow a curated itinerary to make sure you don't miss a single thing on your tour; stops include the Maruti Temple, Conception Church, and Altinho Hill. Step aboard the cruise to take in sights along shore and listen to musical entertainment, then finish up with an included dinner at a local restaurant.
Goa Kayaking in Spike's River
Experience the thrill and the beauty of kayaking in one of Goa | 437 |
Ear, Nose and Throat of Los Gatos offers all services under one roof (exams, procedures, audiology, hearing aid services, CT scan). With a full range of ENT related services, diagnostic tools, audiology, hearing aid dispensing, VNG, mini CT scanner, videostrob<|fim_middle|> neurotology. Our staff is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The physicians and staff truly care about their patients.
University HealthCare Alliance ("UHA") operates the Ear, Nose and Throat of Los Gatos practice. UHA is a medical foundation affiliated with Stanford Health Care and Stanford Medicine. UHA contracts with University Medical Partners to provide the medical care in the practice. Neither UHA, Stanford Health Care, nor Stanford University employ the physicians in the practice and do not exercise control over the professional services provided by University Medical Partners. | oscopy, you will have access to an all-encompassing range of cutting edge providers, services and facilities.
Our physicians offer all general ENT services with special areas of expertise in endoscopic sinus surgery, pediatric laryngology and | 47 |
With the boom of Silicon Valley (and the ensuing Silicon Alley, Silicon Fen, Silicon Roundabout, Silicon Glen, et al.), innovation is a hot topic for the business-minded. Programmes to boost your know-how in this area include innovation<|fim_middle|> they aim for.
Experts explain everything you need to know about disruption, including what it is, how it happens and how leaders and companies can become disruptors instead of victims of disruption. | leadership, design thinking and creating an innovative workplace.
On the Executive Education Navigator, you can browse innovation programmes by location, date and school. Click 'browse courses' to filter results by price, duration and more.
Read about innovation on our blog.
Innovation matters to all companies, and many grow or wither by their ability to bring transformational products and services to market quickly enough. Yet an astonishingly high number of organisations fail to achieve the R&D speed | 93 |
On Saturday, 29th April 201<|fim_middle|> for the project of Peshawar and Faisalabad School. The dinner was held at Himalaya Function Centre Granville Sydney.There was also exhibition of the beautiful artworks the women and children of the Peshawar community. These artworks previously went on exhibition at PwC in Canberra, where the ACT Minister for Education and Women was Chief Guest.
This event was highlight the beautiful citizen-to-citizen links between Pakistan and Australia. The Consul of Pakistan Consulate Sydney Bushra Salam was Chief Guest of the function and MP of Lakemba, Former Principal of Punchbowl School Sydney Hon. Jihad Dib MP, Shadow Minister for Education in the NSW Parliament was guest speaker. Mr Jihad Dib appreciated community work and request for donation to project because this is a grassroots effort, and relies on community support to survive. | 7, Mr Francis Ventura, Coordinator The Peshawar School for Peace hosted a Fundraising dinner | 20 |
3/03/2017 0
Architecture, undistracted
Naomi Stead, Monash University
Last week it was White Night in Melbourne. I'm embarrassed to say I was tucked up asleep in bed (it had been a long week!). But my Instagram feed attests that the architectural community, along with several hundred thousand of their friends, were<|fim_middle|> mutable, fast, current, of the moment.
Buildings are (temporarily) changed from being seemingly timeless objects, to being timely, staged, theatrical performances, flickering and glimmering in the night.
Naomi Stead, Professor, Monash University | out all night prowling the streets, marvelling at the spectacle of a city shown in literally a new light.
Since then, I've been thinking about it, and it strikes me that it's not just the city recast by White Night, there's something interesting about how architecture is "brought to life" by this event, and other similar ones – the Vivid Festival in Sydney is an obvious example, but I think the phenomenon also includes the various Open House events around the country. These kinds of events have the curious effect of making people look at buildings: specifically, directly, intently, and in a way that is very different from what they do in the everyday.
Of course, White Night is about more than just projections onto buildings: it includes all manner of "installations, lighting, exhibitions, street performances, film, music, dance and interactive events". But to my eye the projections are the main game: the most spectacular, the most transformative, and they're certainly the most interesting in terms of how they reframe an audience's relationship to architecture.
Apart from architects, it's usually only tourists who pay particular, close attention to buildings, as a category of objects. When visiting a strange city, it's not unusual for regular people (that is, non-architects) to visit a "blockbuster" museum building, or a cathedral, for the sake of the architecture alone.
In unfamiliar cities, we walk through the old town and marvel at the crooked walls, the patinated doorways, the wobbly glass in the windows – we actually look at buildings, as objects or subjects in themselves. But for people who live in that city, familiarity means its buildings have usually sunk beneath notice – taken for granted, they become simply part of the urban furniture.
The distinction between these two viewpoints was famously articulated by the theorist Walter Benjamin. He wrote that architecture represents an art form whose reception "is consummated by a collectivity in a state of distraction", where buildings are apprehended "much less through rapt attention than by noticing the object in incidental fashion".
Benjamin's argument goes like this. Buildings are understood and "appropriated" by people "in a twofold manner: by use and by perception – or rather, by touch and sight". So, people use buildings, and, along with other people, they wander within and amongst them, and most of all they integrate buildings into their lives, making them habitual. But in that process, they no longer see them.
Such a "tactile" familiarity with buildings is thus the polar opposite of the "attentive concentration of a tourist before a famous building", as Benjamin puts it. Someone who deliberately looks at buildings is quite the opposite to someone so familiar with a building that they no longer notice it is there.
It is this latter group whom Benjamin describes – admiringly, it should be said – as apprehending buildings in a state of distraction. He sees this as the "prototype" for the "absent-minded" reception of other works of art – particularly film – after the decline of art's "aura", in an age of mass consumption and mechanical reproduction.
Vivid Sydney 2015. Photography by Nigel Howe
There is much more to Benjamin's essay, and his argument, but for my purposes here the concept of distraction is the key one: White Night, and the other events and festivals of its ilk, transform those people who have already habituated and "absorbed" the buildings of the city, back into an active audience. No longer "distracted" in Benjamin's sense, they have the "rapt attention" of tourists, whether they live locally or not.
And all this is what makes the trend towards the so-called "festivalisation" or "eventification" of cities so interesting: it constitutes (if only temporarily) an attentive audience for architecture. It's not a new idea that as tourists and residents alike, we are now all agog at the staged urban theatre of the experience economy, that we are consuming the city as a place, at the same time as consuming its experiences and commodities and images.
But when the city becomes an event, it also (temporarily) changes the temporality of buildings: it shifts them from the slow, long duration that is their usual state, and makes them | 887 |
Mathematics is<|fim_middle|> on interesting math topics and learn the subject in a fun and easy way. | one of the most interesting subjects. But most students fear this subject as they fail to understand the basic concepts of maths. Understanding maths is like learning to read letters. If the basic concepts of a learner are not strong, he/she will face lots of difficulties in their future. Students should always be motivated to learn maths because if they lose interest, they will have trouble understanding harder concepts and problems. Some strategies to improve maths skills are given below.
All the concepts are interlinked with each other. Getting maths concepts cleared is mandatory for every student. For example, if a student is not clear with a maths concept of Class 5 he or she will face a lot of difficulties to understand Class 6 concepts and so on. Therefore, students must understand each and every concept clearly from its basic level to create a stronghold on the subject.
When it comes to mathematics, one of the best and most effective ways to improve the subject is by practicing. Students practice questions from different books to improve their math skills. They can also take help from solved examples to know the steps and learn the techniques. Solving math problems helps in building confidence in a student and takes the math fear away from students. Students are requested to solve the maximum number of problems and sums after completing various math topics like vectors, probability, calculus, geometry, algebra, etc.
Maths is all about concentration. Students having less concentration makes silly mistakes and loose casual marks in their examination. Students should focus on each problem and repeat each sum if possible. While self-studying, they should try to find a quiet place at their home so that they can focus on the subject and work quickly and effectively.
Mathematics is a subject that requires regular attention and daily practice. Students must prepare a well-planned timetable for practicing maths and follow it strictly. Following a proper timetable on a regular basis helps to boost the confidence level of students. They should try to start practicing math problems early in the morning with a fresh and firm mind. This can develop their math skills, which will help them to score well in their exam.
Students failing to be interested in maths and want to have a stronghold on the subject can follow the above-mentioned steps to improve their math skills. Visit Mathematics Discussion Forum and join the online education discussion forum to get involved in the open discussion on various interesting mathematics topics. Subscribe to BYJU'S YouTube Channel to watch interactive video lessons | 483 |
The Hurry Up: Julian Fleming Cancels Georgia Visit, Greg Penn Receives Long-awaited<|fim_middle|> Tosh Baker (Notre Dame), Jimmy Christ (Virginia), John Young (Kentucky) and Josh Priebe (Northwestern).
Ohio State isn't lacking in numbers at offensive line for the 2020 class. It still has the commitment of top offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., and tackles Trey Leroux and Jakob James, as well as No. 1 center Luke Wypler all remain committed.
Five Things: Looking Back to Press Forward | Ohio State Offer
By Taylor Lehman on May 17, 2019 at 6:30 pm @taylorrlehman
Julian Fleming
OSU Football Recruiting
The Hurry Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.
Greg Penn's long-time relationship with Larry Johnson pays off
Maryland 2021 linebacker Greg Penn met Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson when he was in seventh grade. The DeMatha Catholic linebacker paid a visit to Columbus and began a very fresh and infant relationship with Johnson, and when it came time to recruit, the two connected again.
On Wednesday, Penn finally saw that relationship pay off in a big way, receiving an Ohio State offer from Johnson and the Buckeyes.
"He just wanted me to keep improving," Penn said about Johnson and an Ohio State offer. "I first met coach when I was in seventh grade on a visit with a friend, and he told me then that I would have the opportunity to come to Ohio State."
The linebacker position will likely be a point of emphasis for Ohio State in the Class of 2021, as Jaheim Thomas and Kourt Williams are classified as linebackers but likely wouldn't play the position – Thomas to defensive end, Williams to safety – if they signed with the Buckeyes. Three-star linebacker Mitchell Melton has become a focus at the position for 2020.
Penn could fit into that scope for the next class, though. He is rated by 247Sports as the No. 11 inside linebacker in the class and the No. 256 player overall, but those ratings will likely rise when composite ratings are released.
Honored To Receive An Offer From The Ohio State University! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/HQ0zeZUpAU
— Greg Penn III (@3golivee_) May 15, 2019
DeMatha Catholic is typically known for its ability to churn out basketball prospects, as 2020 five-star center Hunter Dickinson will be a senior next year. But five-star running back MarShawn Lloyd, who was being recruited by Ohio State in the 2020 class is leaning toward Georgia.
But Johnson has strong roots in Maryland, so him following up with a recruit he met as a seventh grader is not surprising.
"It feels great," Penn said about the offer. "Ohio State has always been one of my dream schools."
Sparking a relationship with a recruit in middle school isn't necessarily uncommon, but with the strength of Johnson as a recruiter combined with the fact that linebackers coach Al Washington will surely be part of Penn's recruitment eventually creates a positive outlook on Penn's future regarding Ohio State.
Julian Fleming cancels Georgia official
No. 1 2020 wide receiver Julian Fleming will not make his official visit to Georgia on May 31, Lettermen Row reported Thursday. That cancellation essentially narrows the field to four teams – Ohio State, Penn State, Clemson and Alabama.
Fleming recently announced that he will be committing on May 31, which is a couple months ahead of when he was originally expected to commit. It would've been unlikely for Fleming to go on the visit and commit to another school the same day, but Georgia had never been a top player within Fleming's recruitment.
The Pennsylvania wideout made his Alabama official visit in mid-April but does not have officials planned for Ohio State, Penn State or Clemson yet, though it wouldn't be surprising if he scheduled at least a visit with Ohio State. His relationship with Brian Hartline has grown throughout recent months, particularly after his March 23 visit to Columbus.
At this point, the race for Fleming's commitment seems to be between Ohio State and Penn State, where Fleming had been expected to commit in the beginning of his recruitment. Now, more crystal balls continue to lean Ohio State's way, and – I can't believe I'm writing this – Fleming and his girlfriend, who attends Penn State, have ended their relationship, as reported by Cleveland.com.
He also told Cleveland.com that he has made his decision already and has told trusted family members. The only visit he's made since his March 23 visit to Columbus was his official to Alabama.
Offensive tackles continue to erase themselves from Ohio State's radar
Another 2020 offensive tackle target has committed away from Ohio State – this one in the form of Massachusetts tackle Zak Zinter.
Zinter announced Thursday that he has committed to Michigan, representing the second Ohio State target to choose the Wolverines in the last week, after 2021 quarterback J.J. McCarthy committed there as well.
COMMITTED!
I am excited to announce that I will be furthering my academic and athletic career at the University of Michigan!
Go Blue! pic.twitter.com/eTaJ6BOy4h
— Zak Zinter (@zak_zinter) May 16, 2019
At 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, Zinter provides a lot of versatility to Michigan, and after his visit to Ohio State in March, he explained how his decision wasn't easy, as he made a tour of visits including Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State and Notre Dame again.
As the number of targets at offensive tackle continues to reduce, Zinter was one of the top guys left on the board for the Buckeyes. Some other targets left are No. 12 offensive tackle Michael Carmody, No. 14 offensive tackle – and South Carolina commit – Issiah Walker, No. 17 offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten and Grant Toutant, who is committed to Penn State. At other offensive line spots, Ohio State is still in with St. Thomas Aquinas three-star guard Marlon Martinez and No. 6 center Josh Fryar. A commitment from No. 7 center Reece Atteberry is nearly expected at this point as well.
Offensive tackles that had 2020 offers from Ohio State and committed recently are as follows – Turner Corcoran (Nebraska), | 1,274 |
1986 Fleer Update Tony Walker the Beginning of a Good Thing?
filename tony-walker.eBay.txt
ebay slug : tony-walker
Every baseball team has its share of unsung heroes, guys who work to fill in the gaps when the stars are sick or injured or just not as starry as everyone thinks … or when they're human.
You know … guys like Dan Driessen with the Big Red Machine and Grant Jackson for the "We Are Family" Pirates in 1979.
Guys like … Tony Walker for the 1986 Houston Astros.
What, you were expecting Bert Pena?
Nah, Walker was the man here.
In fact, Walker was the man at center field for the 'Stros on Opening Day in 1986, not only breaking camp with the team that would eventually take the National League West by ten games before stumbling against the eventual World Series champion New York Mets in the National League Championship series, but taking the starter's job<|fim_middle|>81 Topps Keith MacWhorter Wore the Uniform
1965 Topps Tony Kubek Marked the End
1960 MacGregor Bill Mazeroski … Only the Bat Was Missing
1976 SSPC Harmon Killebrew a "Pure" Career Capper | in center.
Find Tony Walker cards on eBay (affiliate link)
Find Tony Walker cards on Amazon (affiliate link)
Truth is, though, it was about as surprising to see Walker in that role back then as it is to stumble across the history now.
See, Walker originally signed with the Reds as an amateur free agent in 1981 and spent a couple of so-so seasons in their minor league system — lots of speed but not a ton else.
Then, Cincy traded Walker along with Billy Dawley to the Astros in March of 1983 in exchange for catcher Alan Knicely, who became one of the symbols of a woeful Reds offense in the next couple of seasons.
Meanwhile, Walker gained a bit of traction in the Houston system and even showed a little pop (12 home runs) with the Double-A Columbus Astros in 1985.
Still, who could have expected him to make the jump to the Majors the next spring. Probably only the man himself.
But there he was, starting in center field for the Houston Astros against the Giants on Opening Day in the Astrodome … his first Big League game … and just a couple months shy of his 27th birthday.
Walker went 1-for-3 with a double in the Astros' 8-3 loss, but he wasn't done. Though he spent some time in Triple-A, he mostly stuck in the Bigs all season and ended up playing in 84 games, 18 of them starts. He also got plenty of looks as a pinch runner.
In all, Walker hit .222 with two homers and 11 steals, and played all the way through Houson's second-to-last regular season game on October 4.
Alas, the "young" speedster never made it into an NLCS game that fall … and he never made it back to the Majors. After a 1987 season split between the Astros and Pirates minor league systems, Walker took his talents to Mexico in 1988, and then was done in pro ball.
But his long run with the 1986 Astros landed Walker a card in the 1986 Fleer Update set, and then another in their 1987 base set.
And, while the Astros didn't fancy a return engagement with Walker, Fleer apparently wanted to see more of the same. Like almost exactly the same, judging by the photos on their two Walker cards.
Hey, when you find a good thing, you stick with it. Or at least try to.
1987 TOPPS Baseball Cards. # 1-250. You Pick to Complete Your Set.
1986 Fleer Baseball Cards (1-660, Updates & Inserts) - Pick the Cards You Need
Minnesota Twins Baseball Cards Pick & Choose Puckett / Walker / Sano
1987 Fleer Baseball Cards Complete Your Set U-Pick (#'s 1-220) Nm-Mint
1987 Topps Baseball Cards Complete Your Set U-Pick (#'s 1-200) Nm-Mint
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19 | 694 |
The ideas in this blog show you how to close your school room and leave it ready for school in the fall.
Confirm all academic classes needed for fall.
Go through all of this year's books and papers.
Clean. Re-shelve. Sharpen. Wipe all surfaces. Make list of needed items.
Sort out purposeful reading for this summer.
Touch everything in your school room. Ask what you love. What can you throw away or donate?
Arrange room for summer activities.
Let's flesh out these ideas.
One of the best things a mom can do when coming to the end of any school year is to include her children in the process of cleaning. Whether in the spring or sometime in the summer, gather your students (i.e.kids) and work together on some of the uncluttering and cleaning up. Look through the following ideas to see where they can help. Each child can contribute based on their age and abilities. Older children pitch in by going through the notebooks from the year and tossing out uninportant papers. One of the children might be able to sort and clean supplies. Look for ways they can play a part. This saves you time and provides ownership for them.
Early in the spring moms are thinking through the classes needed for the upcoming fall. If accessing a tutorial, sign-ups for classes occur in the spring, begin working through the school materials in the fall. Put away, donate or sell all that you will not need again.
As students are working on a regular school day, begin working your way through your space. Perhaps pull several boxes out for donations, trash and selling. Ask yourself if the school books or items you are sorting are truly going to be used. Last year I pulled about eight boxes out of my school room. Ask hard questions. Go through your games and supplies as well. Share with younger homeschool moms when appropriate. Hand-me-downs can save money and bless the giver too.
3. Confirm all academic classes needed for fall.
Each of your students must meet required classes. Sort these out in early spring so that you will know what tutorial classes you need. Also decide on what classes your student will work on at home. Make a thorough list of all books and supplies needed. Starting with a detailed need list will help you search for used books and ones you might be able to borrow.
Some of the best classes fill up quickly. When being intentional about a particular class or tutor, contact them early to request a hold a spot for your student. When sorting out the classes that each of your children need for the next semester, sometimes you run into questions. I certainly do. Sometimes the questions involve which class to select? Or which class to do next? Or which curriculum to use? Or which style to mimic? Or what not to do? Starting early provides time to ask around or network for just the best answer.
Once your list of needs is complete, the shopping begins. Determine which books need to be new, borrowed or purchased used. For example, this year our Chemistry books are going to be newly published. So, we will order them new. Amazon Prime and our local used book sale are my other first places for required books.
Shopping for books and supplies early allows me to create stacks for each child for the upcoming year. Once completed, double check for any missing needs. Sometimes the hunt takes longer than anticipated. Be sure to take time to list your used items for sale. Often I have money in my pocket once I have sold all of my books and bargain shopped for the fall.
5. Go through all of this year's books and papers.
This is really the hardest part of cleaning up from a year of school. Due to my sentimental personality, I feel pained to part with handwritten papers. Organizing a student's completed school work is such a detailed effort that it likely warrants a whole blog. While discussing this dilemma with a friend recently, we concluded that identifying the right questions for each season of a student's growth helps tremendously.
When a student is younger, art and handwriting crowd their notebooks and desks. As they advance, students at my house write weekly papers. These are some of my treasures. Projects, speeches and debate cases fill up space in the older years. Limit your student's saved work to their favorite and your best-liked work. Remind yourself that you cannot save everything.
Although this is a critical step for cleaning up from the school year, I would gather up the notebooks and papers and sort them by student. Complete all other cleaning before beginning this arduous task. It takes time and emotion.
6. Gather up all supplies.
Hunting down all of the calculators, pencils, Expo markers, loose paper and other various stock items would be a fabulous job for an eager younger child. We empty all of our backpacks, hunt through vehicles, the kitchen pencil drawer, all pen holders and anywhere we might imagine they might be hiding. All pens are tested. Dried or resistant ones are thrown out. Calculators are tested for<|fim_middle|> deem worth retaining. Leave the room ready for summer fun.
Create a clean, easy-to-love homeschool room that will welcome you back to a fresh new start in the fall. | batteries. All covers and parts for the high school calculators are shelved in the math area. (I don't want to hunt these down later when we need them urgently.) Pencils are sharpened or tossed. In general, all is assessed for usefulness in the future and placed in the supply area of our school room ready to grab in the fall as we prepare for a new school year.
Wipe all surfaces. Make list of needed items.
Let's be honest, cleaning the school room seems to be such a time-consuming job. Taking purposeful time to go through materials, books, supplies, used notebooks and all random things will be worth the struggle. Take time to dust, windex and vacuum. In the very least relocate the children's desks. Pull out all of the pencil boxes. Throw out notebooks and items that are just worn out. Re-sharpen pencils. Wipe all surfaces well. It's surprising how much dirt accumulates in a school room in a few short months.
When all things have been accessed, compile a specific list of items that need to be replaced. List items that are missing. Itemize supplies that could be purchased in the back-to-school sales. Taking inventory as you clean through your school room will ensure clarity as you shop for the new school year and look for used items.
Once you close down the school room for the summer, its time to create a checklist for items needed for the fall. Since we have a range of ages doing school, I start with the oldest first. Those are classes we have not done, so the list of needed books is usually longer. Each child after that often uses some hand-me-down materials. Once a textbook is purchased, each student following can use it. This works great unless a new edition becomes necessary. Purchasing new textbooks in high school can be very expensive since many of them range $50-$100 new. Buying used should always be a consideration to keep costs low.
8. Sort out purposeful reading for this summer.
As the cleaning is happening, be sure to think of summer as a great reading time. Set aside a basket or box for each student. Ask them to pull books they would like to read over the summer. Add books that you did not complete during the school year. Add books that cover a part of history that you haven't read. Add books from their suggestions.
Once you have the box or basket of selected book, think through your schedule. Set aside time to read. Plan reading intentionally.
9. Touch everything in your school room.
Ask what do you love? What can you throw away or donate?
While this seems impossible, you can do it. Touch EVERYTHING in your room. Ask yourself important questions. Ask when did you last use this item? Ask when do you imagine using these books? Have your students outgrown this resource? It might be time to share these items with a mom who has younger children. Has this curriculum been updated? Will you need to buy the updated version? Or use the older one? Look at your entire inventory of school materials. Think how you could simplify or minimize.
In the same way you would sort through other areas of your home, work to donate, trash and resale. Ask yourself if you love the item. Are you holding onto it just because you think you might use it in the future? Ask hard questions. Only keep what is practical!!
10. Arrange room for summer activities.
Why leave your school space inactive for the whole summer? Put away all school if your furniture is collapsible. Our school room stores a full-sized folding ping-pong table. This table is up a good bit of the time anyway. Extra floor space lends itself to train building for young ones. Nothing is more fun than more room to play. School room clean up clears way for more indoor fun on super hot summer days.
So when you prepare to clean through your school room and set up for the fall, consider some of these tips. Add some of your best ideas. Grab the kids and start early. Plan classes for the next season. Touch everything and clean out. Classify and re-group your books and supplies. Clean, sharpen and throw away. Be purposeful. Keep only what you | 862 |
Is new North and South Korea deal a significant step toward denuclearization?
JUDY WOODRUFF: There are new signs today of
a potential path to peace on the Korean Peninsula. The leaders of both the North and South agreed
to what they say are concrete steps toward denuclearization. Yamiche Alcindor reports. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Applause, handshakes and
smiles, that marked the signing of a joint agreement between the two leaders and their
most significant progress to date. After days of celebrations and carefully choreographed
events, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in pledged a new era for the Koreas. It could mean one without nuclear weapons
someday. MOON JAE-IN, South Korean President (through
translator): Today, Chairman Kim Jong-un and I agreed on specific measures to remove the
fear of war and possibility of armed clash. Also, we promised to keep our land permanently
free from nuclear threats<|fim_middle|> look at Pompeo's statement
this evening, there are things in there that seem to indicate he thinks that North Korea
actually committed to closing down Yongbyon. But the wording of the agreement, it doesn't
actually say that. It says it's willing to do things like that
if the U.S. continues to play their part as well. And so I think this is where we really run
into problems as to, do we have matching expectations of what's been committed? Do we have matching expectations of how do
we even evaluate and measure progress over time? And I don't think we do. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: We have 30 seconds, last
one I'm going to ask you really quickly. The U.S. wants to not — to not lift sanctions
unless there's a full denuclearization. South Korea wants to have incentives that
are economic. What do both of you think? You can go first, Bruce. What do both of you think about that idea
of these two countries being out of sync? Could it hurt the U.S. and South Korea alliance? BRUCE KLINGNER: I'm hearing from U.S. officials
there's — there's a dissatisfaction with how quickly the Moon Jae-in administration
is moving forward, without demanding commensurate progress in denuclearization. So there are already some strains. And that could get worse. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: And Jenny? JENNY TOWN: Yes, I agree. I think it is causing tensions in the U.S.-Korea
alliance. And — but for Moon, Moon really needs this
to work, and he's bet a lot on North Korea now. And so they're going to have to find a way
to make this compromise, or President Moon is going to have to make a very difficult
decisions. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Great. Well, thank you to both of you for joining
me, Bruce Klingner and Jenny Town. BRUCE KLINGNER: Thank you.
Related tags : a new era and Bruce Klingner dismantle missile testing site Jenny Town joint agreement signed Kim Jong Un Moon Jae-in North Korea peace progress South Korea that the Yamiche Alcindor
John Akomfrah: Precarity
McCain Institute Attracting Former Clinton Foundation Donors | and war and pass it down to our descendants. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Kim agreed to dismantle
his main Dongchang-ri missile testing site. He also said he would allow experts from relevant
countries to be present. Satellite images, though, show work was already
under way to decommission the site. Kim also committed to permanently dismantling
his main nuclear weapons complex, but he said he would only do so if the U.S. takes unspecified
corresponding measures. The U.S. has said it will ease economic sanctions
only in exchange for complete denuclearization. But, in Washington, President Trump sounded
upbeat. DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:
Very importantly, no missile testing, no nuclear testing. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: So far, North Korea has
refused to list its nuclear sites, as well the timeline for dismantling them. Last month, Mr. Trump canceled a trip by Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang. The president cited the North's lack of progress
on giving up its nuclear weapons. Today, he cited improvement of a different
kind. DONALD TRUMP: The relationships, I have to
tell you, at least on a personal basis, they're very good. It's very much calmed down. In the meantime, we're talking. It's very calm. He's calm. I'm calm. So we will see what happens. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Pompeo said today he has
invited the North's top diplomat to meet next week. He said he expects nuclear talks to be finished
by January 2021. Back in Pyongyang, the Moon-Kim talks produced
several achievements for North-South relations, including military cooperation. KIM JONG-UN, North Korean Leader (through
translator): We adopted a military pact to end the history of brutal and tragic confrontation
and hostility, and agreed to make efforts to turn the Korean Peninsula into a land of
peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: The two countries also agreed
to make a joint bid for the 2032 Olympic Games and work on reunifying more families separated
after the Korean War. Kim also agreed to travel to South Korea,
something no North Korean leader has ever done. How significant are these steps, and how should
the United States respond? We get two views. Bruce Klingner had a 20-year career in the
U.S. intelligence community, where he focused on North Korea. He's now a senior research fellow at the Heritage
Foundation. And Jenny Town is the managing editor and
producer of 38 North, an online policy journal that focuses on North Korea. Thank you, both of you, for being here. Bruce, I'm going to start with you. What's your reaction to the meeting yesterday
and these agreements that have been announced? BRUCE KLINGNER, Former CIA Intelligence Analyst:
I think we have to measure it two different ways. On inter-Korean relations and reducing the
potential for military conflict, at least at a tactical level, I think it was successful. On the denuclearization, which is of greater
concern to the United States, we didn't make any real progress. And we need to put more meat to the bones
of this agreement, as well as the Singapore agreement that President Trump had. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Bruce is talking about possibly
there being not a lot of change there. What do you think about that, Jenny? JENNY TOWN, Managing Editor/Producer, 38 North:
Well, I tend to agree. I mean, they did offer a confidence-building
measure, in terms of actually destroying also the launch pad at the Dongchang-ri at Sohae,
as well as this engine test stand, which they had already agreed to. But they reiterated that this is not a unilateral
process. And I think expectations were too high to
begin with of what President Moon would be able to accomplish on the denuclearization
front, because it really is much more of U.S.-DPRK discussion. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Now, these leaders announced
several different agreements. One of them, Jenny, is that the North Koreans
are going to allow international inspectors in to a key missile testing facility to confirm
whether or not Kim Jong-un is permanently dismantling that. How important is that? JENNY TOWN: Well, first to clarify, it's actually
not a missile testing facility. It is what they consider to be their civilian
space launch — satellite launch program. So there is an engine test stand there where
they have been building and testing liquid fuel engines that could be used either for
rockets or for missiles. But the launch pad has only been used for
satellite launches. I think it is significant, because this is
an area where there has been disagreement in the past over this distinction between
civilian programs and military programs. And it has derailed agreements in the passage,
such as the Leap Day agreement in 2012. So this does help close that loophole. And if they allow actual experts in, and not
just media, to actually observe the dismantlement, I think it is a very positive move, but it's
still a confidence-building measure. It's not meant to be unilateral denuclearization. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Jenny is looking at this
as a positive development. What do you think about that, Bruce? BRUCE KLINGNER: I would say this, along with
many other aspects of the — or the Pyongyang declaration are good, but then, in many cases,
they're outweighed by the "however, comma" aspect. So, North Korean has said they don't need
a nuclear test site, they don't need a rocket engine test site because their ICBM and their
nuclear weapons programs are over. So it's less important than it would have
been during the development of these programs. And also the missiles that we are worried
about, including their ICBM, are mobile. So they wouldn't be launched from a gantry
like this facility. So we're more worried about the mobile missiles
than any fixed-launch facility. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: And staying with you, Bruce,
the North Korean leader says that he's willing to close the Yongbyon nuclear complex if and
only if the United States takes corresponding measures. What's your reaction to that? Should the United States take these corresponding
measures? And what can the United States do, other than
lift sanctions? BRUCE KLINGNER: Right. Well, North Korea is putting a lot of conditionality
on things that they are required to do under 11 U.N. resolutions. And, in fact, they had promised to abandon
this facility back in 1994. So we're trying to get back to the — back
to the future. When North Korea has put a heavy conditionality
of it appropriate measures, they didn't define what that is. We think it might be a peace declaration,
which they have said is very important. There are a number of really sort of serious
ramifications for where a peace declaration could go. And unless we get something specifically as
a quid pro quo, I don't think we should go down that path. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: And, Jenny, what do you
think of this idea of corresponding measures? JENNY TOWN: Well, that's always been the case. And that's always been the expectation by
North Korea. And if you look at Singapore summit declaration,
there's a lot of room, though, for what the U.S. could do, other than just lifting sanctions,
because the way that the North Koreans are looking at this is really the road to denuclearization
is paved with a fundamentally different political relationship with the United States. And so you have the — the number one point
is looking U.S.-DPRK relations. The number two point is looking at this peace
regime. And there's a lot you can do within that to
offer to improve relations, to create liaison offices, to live the travel ban, to even admit
— or commit to not imposing new sanctions along the way, without lifting sanctions,
until you have more specific measures. But, certainly, the U.S. is going to have
to do some of these things if we want North Korea to continue down this road also. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: Bruce, before yesterday's
meeting, the president of South Korea said one of the main objectives was to get the
U.S. and North Korean talks back on track. They have been stalled. What do you make of that? And has what you have learned in the last
24 hours made you feel as though these talks are back on track? BRUCE KLINGNER: Well, I think they will be,
because the president very quickly and very positively reacted to this communique. So I think, for him, that's enough to justify
having a second summit, as he has accepted an invitation from Kim Jong-un. But I think experts will say that nothing
really has changed, so when he canceled Pompeo's trip, nothing has changed, except receiving
a very nice letter from Kim Jong-un and then this positive, though not really any action
on denuclearization. So I think the president will agree to it,
but I think a number of people are concerned that there's not sufficient preparation for
the summit, because, in many cases, we're going into these things, we don't know what
North Korea needs. Well, we need to find that out. We always negotiate with ourselves. We think this is what North Korea wants, so
let's do that. And they either pocket the concession and
then move on to the next demand. YAMICHE ALCINDOR: And I want to ask you, what
do you make of that? And what do you think of this idea? JENNY TOWN: Well, I think — I agree that
the president obviously responded to it very positively. I think my biggest concern, too, is, how are
they actually interpreting the agreement, because, if you | 2,170 |
The worlds of fashion and film have always been deeply intertwined,<|fim_middle|> the weekend, and more than a few backdrops to snap a selfie.
Every year, some of the world's most acclaimed screen stars descend on the capital for the BFI London Film Festival, the capital's most impressive showcase of international film. Screening a considered selection of cinematic highlights from Cannes and other major ceremonies, this year's opening red carpet will be given to 'Breathe,' the directorial debut of Andy Serkis featuring Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield. As well as special presentations, competitions and high-profile galas, the event also celebrates the magic of film as a medium of art. Watch some of Britain's earliest Victorian films in IMAX and discover the power of feature films and documentaries. | no more so than in the early 1900s when screen stars became as noted for their on-screen talent as their style choices. Taking a trip down memory lane, the Fashion and Textile Museum is hosting an exhibition that explores the 1930s in all their glory while deciphering the evolution of the flapper girl – especially in film and photography. Covering a spectrum of wears from the period (think everything from beaded mini dresses to ornate outerwear), Night and Day: 1930s Fashion and Photographs sheds a light on the sartorial and social changes that shaped this fascinating decade.
If you've ever fancied yourself as a wannabe Tom Cruise in Cocktail, clear your diary from the 1st to 7th of the month for a masterclass in all things mixology (minus the cheesy soundtrack.) For alcohol aficionados and speciality-cocktail lovers alike, this 7-day celebration of the nation's favourite tipples features over 300 high-profile bars so you're more than spoilt for choice. Opt for the VIP package if you're feeling the buzz post payday and head to the appealingly-named Cocktail Village to beat the crowds. Want to get in on the action? You can also pick up a tip or two as masters of the craft reveal their tricks to the perfect Martini, Bellini and more in open-to-all classes.
Unlike a quintessential gallery experience that can be quite one-note, Frieze London brings together critically-acclaimed works from over 160 of the world's leading art names, housing them in the spacious grounds of Regent's Park. Collectors can shop for outstanding pieces from over 1,000 global artists, promising something to suit every taste and medium. If you're happier to browse rather than buy, take in the exceptional talent with the fair's interactive programme of film, music and talks. Featuring a new performance and participation space, there's plenty of highlights to take in throughout | 410 |
Library Home Page & News
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Historical issues of local newspapers are housed in our Innisfail and Tully branches and are available on microfilm in our Innisfail branch. Local newspapers up until the end of 1954 have been digitised through the National Library of Australia and are available on Trove.
Current & Historic Newspapers of the Cassowary Coast
Approximately 7000+ photographic images depicting the people and places of our region over the last 120 years. These images are in the process of being digitised and are gradually being made available through our online catalogue. When using the catalogue, click on the Local History Images shortcut and enter your search term.
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Books, documents, memorabilia and information specifically relating the natural and built environments, people, cultures, events and history of the Cassowary Coast Region.
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Microfilm and Microfiche copies of assorted local history resources such as Bailliere's Queensland Gazetteer, Port Curtis Almanac, Slater's Queensland Almanac, births, deaths and marriage indexes, Post Office Indexes etc. Available upon request at the Innisfail branch.
A small collection of recordings and interview transcripts about individuals, families, important events and everyday life relating to our region.
A small cartographic collection of topographic and thematic maps of the Cassowary Coast.
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Upload - file size max 40MB, .jpeg .png. pdf. doc. docx | ary Coast Libraries actively collects and preserves our region's rich history. Our heritage collections contain primary and secondary resources to help with researching local and family history.
The Innisfail Heritage Collection covers the history of the former Johnstone Shire area and is housed in the Innisfail branch. The Dorothy Jones Heritage Collection covers the history of the former Cardwell Shire area and is housed in the Tully branch. Items are available for use in the library upon request, and are not available for loan.
Our Librarian can assist with finding resources for your research, and arrange displays or associated talks and workshops for schools and other groups. Donations of photos and documents are always welcome, and we offer a number of options for contributing to our region's history | 150 |
Going to Turkey took us 22 hours in the air not including 10 hours in transit between Auckland-<|fim_middle|> April-November after the cyclone season. | Sydney-Dubai and Istanbul (Turkey) and same again on the way back. We left Auckland on the 6th July and arrived back in Auckland on the 20th July.
We were met at the Istanbul airport by some of the organizers who took us with other teams arriving at the same time to our hotel accommodation (Atakoy Marina Hotel) for our entire stay. The 8th July was the Official arrival day and Registration day. You get your allocated boat and you fit it with all the blocks and lines, etc ready to sail the next day. Team Leaders had a meeting late that afternoon to meet the on the water officials and go through the programme for the next 10 days.
Day 2 was scheduled for Training day and then Opening Ceremony later at 6pm. Everyone was ready to hit the water at 11am, the winds were good, average 15-18 knots with very strong current and very wet but warm 28 degrees Celcius. Eroni was out for 2 hours and had a good sail, got to meet some of his competitors out on the water, the waters in Istanbul was very dirty and full of rubbish.The Sailing Area for the Lasers course from the ramp was 3.2nm and 50m deep, it took 30-50min to get to the race area depending on the wind and current. Last minute change to the venue for the Opening Ceremony was because of the wet and windy conditions, so instead of the boat trip to the Golden Horn and then a march around a historical park in Istanbul, it was all inside a Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel which was a very colourful and noisy gathering.
Day 3 was scheduled for Practice Race Day and everyone had another chance to test the waters and their competitors again. The wind was not as strong as the previous day but still around 10-12knots was good for sailing.
Day 4 was the 1st day of the Championship, Team Leaders met early to hear the weather forecast and programme for the day and any changes before the sailors get in the water. Sadly the wind was even less than yesterday 5-6knots, sailors launched at 10.30am with 1st race scheduled for 12pm, it took nearly an hour for the boats to get to race area, race 1 was delayed until 12.45 and it took 1hr and 15min to complete the 1st race, the 2nd race was the same but the wind was even less. The 3rd race was on hold to see if more wind was coming, we waited around till 5.30 then the race officer called it the day with wind dying making it a long day.
Day 5 was 2nd day of competition and again Team Leaders met early to get the days forecast and programme, The wind was very light but they decided to send the sailors out anyway. They couldn't start any races with wind dying, AP flag flying on the water with everyone waiting around to see what happens next. At around 3pm they decided to send everyone in to shore and wait there. Boats were pulled up the ramp and parked up, the sailors and organizers were getting frustrated with very little wind.( not normal) At 5pm the sailors were launching boats again for the race areas. We managed to get one short race in in very light conditions and back to shore by 8pm. Six races were scheduled for the first 2 days but we only got 3 races completed by the end of 2nd day.
Day 6 was a Lay Day, the Host Nation organized a boat trip for around 400 people to the Bosphorus waters, Istanbul city is divided at the Bosphorus waters with one side Europe and the other is Asia joined only by 2 long bridges, very interesting place with its architecture and culture, very warm at the moment similar to Samoas weather.
Day 7 was 3rd day of regatta and again the wind didn't come, everyone rigged up and no where to go so the AP flag flying on shore with everyone waiting for 2hourly updates. At 4.30pm they decided to send everyone out to the course areas. The light winds allowed the Laser boys to complete one race and the Laser girls race got abandoned and that was end of day three of the championship.
Day 8 was 4th day of regatta and finally we got some breeze around 10-12knots with a strong current, still scheduled for 3 races, it took a while to get started with first race 12.30pm but 3 short races were completed and back on the shore by 6.30pm.
His results were 34,43,38,39,(44),30,36,29 with 50 countries competing in the Laser Radial Boys, it was the biggest fleet there.
On behalf of Eroni, I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Samoa Sailing Association and the Apia Yacht Club for the opportunity and the selection of Eroni to represent Samoa to this prestigious World Sailing Championship, Special thank you to Raema for her time in helping put together the application and all the other forms.
"Malo lava" to you both, Thank you Willie for assisting in the capacity of Team Manager at this event. It is very important that our sailors have this support and encouragement especially at these International events which at the best of times can be very daunting for the competitors!
A special "Congratulations" to you Eroni for all your training, effort & energy that went into preparing for this event. I know you trained hard for this event and I am sure you felt allot more confident competing in this, your second Worlds Championship, as you were better prepared- well done!
We watched your "live" interview on the opening day and we were very proud that you were representing Samoa and carrying our flag at this prestigious event.
and 3 support boats arrived into Samoa Waters on Saturday 12th June.
First landing Point was Sinalei Resort before mooring at the Apia Marina.
AYC held a BBQ Night on Tuesday 15th.
Photos and links below to learn more about their adventure.
Samoa Sailing Association was allocated a leg of Queens Batons Run.
This was taken up by one a AYCs Laser Sailors Olivia Hogarth.
Dedicated to Sailing in Samoa, we offer a range of social sailing & Traning from Optimists, Lasers & Hobie 16ft classes.
The Club is located 2 Minutes away from Apia Central, Capital of Samoa. Along the Mulinuu strip on the East Coast of Upolu Island.
Sailing is currently held within the reef in a dept of 1-3 Meters mostly on weekends.
Since 1994 when Apia Yacht Club first received several Optimists, which had been kindly sponsored by Epiglass through the passionate efforts of Jim Stephens of New Zealand.
After the 2007 South Pacific Games a large fleet of new Lasers become available and opened the up our Laser classes.
2009 Sailing season started with a goal to promote Hobie Cat sailing to take advantage of the equiment made avaiable by the South PAcific Games 2007.
Sailing Season is usually from | 1,546 |
One of the hardest parts of being a survivor's wife is living in a world of what-ifs. What if the swollen lymph nodes are not because of strep throat? What if that rash isn't just poison ivy? What if the cancer comes back? I worry every day that we won't recognize the symptoms. I am constantly on alert.
Even in my heightened sense of awareness, there are certain times of the year that trigger what I would consider to be a near panic. One of those times is the couple of weeks leading up to a routine oncology appointment. When the office starts calling to remind my survivor about CAT scans and blood work , my anxiety begins to build. As the date of the appointment grows closer, my stress level climbs like a thermometer in August. What if the CAT scan comes back inconclusive and we have to wait for PET scan results? What if the blood work shows elevated levels?
Even harder than worrying is trying not to let it show. I'm supposed to be the strong one. I got us through three years of what-ifs. I should be able to handle waiting for a little appointment with our favorite doctor. For the<|fim_middle|> that our family was given a second chance at life. I don't recognize the life we had 7 years ago, but that's ok. I love our life as it is now and I will love our life as it evolves into something new tomorrow.
Now that school is back in session, our weekends are usually filled with errand-running and other busy activities that give us very little time to just relax and spend time together. Today, we decided that puttering around the house was a great idea.
Our 12-year-old daughter's idea of relaxing is baking. She definitely did not inherit this talent from me. I loathe baking. All of that measuring and waiting just drives me crazy. I am a much more organic cook – a little of this, a pinch of that, a smidge of this.
Today she decided that she would relax by making sugar cookies from scratch. I love baking when all I have to do is put the dough on the pizza stone and take it off. Unfortunately for my healthy initiative, they turned out great!!!
Sift flour, baking soda and baking powder into a bowl. In a separate bowl, cream the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla using a mixer. Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until completely incorporated. Roll into golf ball sized balls and bake for 8-12 minutes.
Tips: If you don't know how your oven runs, cook one cookie first to determine timing. This way you won't ruin a whole batch.
Also you can definitely bake these on a cookie sheet, but we prefer the texture created by cooking them on a pizza stone. Not only does the stone pre-heat in the oven for more even cooking, the bottoms are a little crispy and the rest of the cookie is nice and soft.
After they are baked, you can definitely get creative! Dip 1/2 in tempered chocolate or frost them with your favorite icing. The possibilities are endless.
Enjoy your cookies and the weekend with your families! | most part, I think I'm being successful in managing it all, but then I find myself sleeping less at night and being more short-tempered with the kids. I have to remind myself that they don't understand – they have no idea what is going on. They also survived such a difficult time in our lives, I owe it to them to protect them from the worry. Sometimes, I just have to take a step back, breathe and enjoy a nice glass of Riesling, all while refocusing my energies on what's important.
I am a big believer in giving back. There are millions of causes out there, and it's hard to know which ones really invest in the causes you are passionate about. There are regular Facebook posts and news reports related to the shady activities of charities that claim to raise money for worthwhile causes. Some of those reports are more disappointing than others. I am always disappointed when I see reports of funds being mismanaged by organizations claiming to support veterans and children. I wonder how people can exploit the suffering of others and still sleep at night. I sure couldn't!
Of course, over the past few years, I have been much more aware of charities that support cancer research and families who have been plagued by the disease. I support several of my friends and family members when they participate in various Relay for Life events. can see how these funds are invested back into local communities and supporting them has been very rewarding.
Lately, I have been searching for my own cause to support and have finally found one that not only aligns with my personal mission to help eradicate cancer, but also encourages me to continue my quest toward being more fit in my 41st year than I was in my 31st year. The Great Cycle Challenge raises money toward ending childhood cancers. It challenges riders to commit to riding a set number of sponsored miles in the month of June.
Right now I have committed to riding 100 miles, which is still a little scary to see in print. Mother Nature is not being very cooperative in helping me to get outside to ride, so for now I will have to begin my training indoors on a stationary bike. I'm hoping, if my training goes well, to increase that number to 150 miles by June 1st.
To learn more about the Great Cycle Challenge or to support me with a donation, please visit https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/CameronGrant. Even the smallest donation can help to save a life.
When I originally started this blog, I was proud of being the strong one. I was the spouse who had held it together while our family turned upside down. I worked full time, was pregnant with our second child, sat in on countless doctor appointments, tucked in our child and never missed a school event. I substituted for dad during hospital stays and times when getting out of bed was just not possible for him. I did it all with an unwavering faith that our time as a family was not up. I KNEW we would beat cancer! There was no other option.
Several months ago, I came to the realization that I was very capable of being the strong one, but much less capable of dealing with the actual sadness that accompanies illness. One night, after positive results from my husband's fabulous oncologist, I realized that the only time I cried about everything we have been through is the moment we received his diagnosis. From that day forward, I put on a brave face and soldiered on. No matter what happened, I never waivered. Not once did I let myself believe that we would not win the war the war with cancer. I never broke down. I never let myself feel.
Fair warning to all of the strong ones, being the rock eventually catches up with you. For me, the moment of truth came from a friend's innocent Facebook share. A country music fan, she share the story of Joey+Rory, a duo who were also married. Joey, the wife, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had gone home to pass peacefully with her family. Her husband started a blog to document their journey (http://thislifeilive.com/). I couldn't stop myself from following. I read about her slow decline from perfect health and viewed pictures of her bonding with their young daughter. As the posts became more somber and it was clear the end was near, the amount of anguish I felt for this family and my own continued to grow. I couldn't help but think that this could have been us. I could have been the one sitting next to that bed. Our children came frighteningly close to having to say goodbye to their father. I recognized myself in Rory – he is the strong one.
Joey Feek passed away this afternoon, at the age of 40. When the blog updated and Facebook flooded with the news, I felt such an overwhelming wave of sadness and loss – for someone I didn't even know. Their story of love and heartache rang so true and real and so much resembled the bond that Dan and I share that for a moment, I was unable to separate the two. All of my fears, all of the thoughts I never allowed myself to have flooded my conscious. The tears that I never allowed to fall were unstoppable.
I had forgotten how cleansing a good crying jag could be. This superwoman just remembered that she is human.
I am still thankful every day | 1,099 |
Mariela Alfonzo and I just released a Brookings Institution study that measures values of commercial and residential real estate in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, which includes the surrounding suburbs in Virginia and Maryland. Our research shows that real estate values increase as neighborhoods became more walkable, where everyday needs, including working, can be met by walking, transit or biking. There is a five-step "ladder" of walkability, from least to most walkable. On average, each step up the walkability ladder adds $9 per square foot to annual office rents, $7 per square foot to retail rents, more than $300 per month to apartment rents and nearly $82 per square foot to home values.
A midwestern grain farmer said that he and his friends are<|fim_middle|>ill pays them every year for corn or soy or whatever.
They pay Monsanto every year for seeds and fertilizer.
There are barriers in our society erected by a false dichotomy between practical work and theoretical reflection. If someone develops early on a skill at repairing cars, she may falsely assume that she will not be adept at literary analysis or theorem proving. This robs not only her of opportunities but also society of a potentially important contributor to literary analysis or mathematics. The reward structure of society also assumes it, reflected in both the pay and the cost of pursuing what are thought of as the theoretical pursuits. The supposed distinction also operates on an everyday level. If one spends one's time repairing cars, one may think that one does not have the appropriate capacities to evaluate the arguments of economic "experts" on television. One might then feel alienated from such discussions and find one's sense of alienation reflected in the angry rhetoric of propagandists.
The distinction between the practical and the theoretical is used to warehouse society into groups. It alienates and divides. It is fortunate, then, that it is nothing more than a fiction.
On the one hand, its public policy agenda is essentially a defense of existing arrangements no matter their effectiveness or sustainability, apparently premised on the assumption that American women can't make cost-benefit calculations or indeed do basic math. In addition to ignoring the taxes that will be required of its businesswoman heroine across her working life, "The Life of Julia" hails a program (Head Start) that may not work at all, touts education spending that hasn't done much for high school test scores or cut college costs, and never mentions that on the Obama administration's own budget trajectory, neither Medicare nor Social Security will be able to make good on its promises once today's 20-something Julias retire.
At the same time, the slide show's vision of the individual's relationship to the state seems designed to vindicate every conservative critique of the Obama-era Democratic Party. The liberalism of "the Life of Julia" doesn't envision government spending the way an older liberalism did -- as a backstop for otherwise self-sufficient working families, providing insurance against job loss, decrepitude and catastrophic illness. It offers a more sweeping vision of government's place in society, in which the individual depends on the state at every stage of life, and no decision -- personal, educational, entrepreneurial, sexual -- can be contemplated without the promise that it will be somehow subsidized by Washington.
"Most people in the financial world," a top Obama donor later told me, "do not understand how most of America feels about them." But they think they understand how the president's inner circle feels about them. "This administration has a more contemptuous view of big money and of Wall Street than any administration in 40 years," the donor said. "And it shows."
Even if they didn't agree with Obama on everything in 2008, many in the financial industry looked at him then and saw a reflection of their imagined best selves: brainy, self-made, above the mewlings and histrionics of partisan politics. He seemed like the kind of Democrat even white-shoe Republican bankers and libertarian hedge-funders could get behind, and many of them did. "There is a growing belief on Wall Street that Barack Obama has the capacity to lead us out of this wilderness," Jim Cramer, the financial journalist, wrote several weeks before Election Day.
Obama far outraised his Republican rival, John McCain, on Wall Street -- around $16 million to $9 million -- and Goldman Sachs executives sent Obama more money than employees of any other company in the world. But four years, one recession and a host of battles -- over financial regulation and the nomination of Elizabeth Warren, over Dodd-Frank and the Buffett Rule -- have taken their toll. Some on Wall Street are apoplectic. One former supporter, Dan Loeb, compared Obama to Nero; the president's enemies insinuated worse. In 2010, Stephen A. Schwarzman, a founder of Blackstone, said that an Obama proposal to raise taxes on "carried interest" -- the main source of income for most private-equity managers -- reminded him of "when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939."
Messina traveled to New York again to meet with 30 or so Obama supporters at the Core Club, a members-only establishment in Midtown that caters to the hedge-fund crowd. In a brief presentation, Messina thanked those who had been supportive, described the campaign's plans for 2012 and offered his impressions of the president's likely opponent, Romney. According to several people in the room, he closed with an appeal to the executives for help, asking them to consider signing on as hosts for the small dinner, now scheduled for March 1 (they had just locked in that date). "We want it to be a big success," Messina told the room.
Mindich, the former Goldman whiz kid, had a question. If Romney were the nominee, Mindich asked, how would the Obama campaign go after him? Would it attack his record at Bain Capital? Would it attack the private-equity industry?
Near him sat Blackstone's James, who, just a few weeks earlier, had called attacks on private equity "vicious . . . inaccurate and unfair." Mindich and James are friends, and some in the room speculated that Mindich's question was for James's benefit. | nothing more than the pipeline by which money flows from Cargill to Monsanto.
Carg | 18 |
By Julie Wrinn
Robert Stokes (Physics BS '64) came of age in the 1960s as part of a generation of American astrophysicists who were energized by the Soviet launch of the Sputnik satellite. He grew up in Ravenna, Kentucky, a tiny city in Estill County built up by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1915.
His father, a dispatcher for the railroad, passed away when Stokes was 16. Although his parents did not have much formal education, they had always hoped he would be able to<|fim_middle|> for me," he said. "I feel very grateful to UK."&
‹ Celebrating Excellence: Hall of Fame 20 Year Anniversary up STEMCATs Program Bears Fruit › | go to college, and thanks to his mother's dedication and a lot of help and encouragement from the close-knit community, Stokes managed to stay on track for college.
"I had a lot of people who really cared about me," Stokes said. "I had 'extra' parents, scoutmasters, and teachers who had an enormously positive impact on my life. During my junior and senior years in high school, I used to get up very early in the morning to watch Continental Classroom presentations about chemistry and physics on TV. My chemistry teacher often asked to go through what I had learned earlier that day for my class at school—a terrific reinforcement opportunity."
Thanks to scholarships, Stokes enrolled at the University of Kentucky in the fall of 1960. He was fortunate to be part of the first Honors Program group at the school. This group of 30 students participated in a colloquium that exposed them to a wide range of liberal arts subjects. Readings included Plato's "Timaeus," C. P. Snow's "Two Cultures" and "The Copernican Revolution." Stokes said the program broadened his outlook and connected him with lifelong friends who shared an interest in academic excellence.
With interests in math, physics and chemistry, Stokes originally leaned toward an engineering major, but when confronted with the upfront costs of drafting equipment and other supplies, he decided on physics as a major. During his professional career he managed large engineering organizations and was presented with an "Honorary Engineer" plaque from coworkers.
"One of the wonderful side benefits of the Honors Program resulted from Director Steve Diachun's frequent dinner parties at this home, where I was introduced to Professor Wendell DeMarcus of the Physics Department," he said. "This initiated a long and fruitful personal and professional relationship that was very important to my physics career development and success in applying to graduate school."
Other significant mentors to Stokes during his time at UK were Fletcher Gabbard, Wasley Krogdahl, math professor Vincent Cowling and Wimberly Royster. Another important undergraduate mentor was Arnold Blackburn, an organ professor in the UK School of Music.
"I played piano and took organ lessons," Stokes said. "I eagerly anticipated my weekly practice sessions on the beautiful Holtkamp organ in Memorial Hall.
"At the end of my junior year at UK, I was selected to be part of one of the first Goddard Institute summer study courses in space science at Columbia University, organized by Robert Jastrow," he said. "After an intense summer of focusing on planetary astrophysics, our group was treated to a memorable tour of several U.S. space science facilities, traveling aboard a chartered DC-6 aircraft. The tour included visits to the NSF astronomical observatory at Kitt Peak, Arizona; the Marshall Space Flight Center at Huntsville, Alabama (the tour conducted by none other than Werner Von Braun); the NASA launch facility at Cape Canaveral, Florida; and NASA headquarters at Washington, D.C. As a result, my interest in space science was greatly intensified, and when presented with the opportunity to attend graduate school at Princeton, a focus on space science was a foregone conclusion."
At Princeton, Stokes quickly joined the graduate student cadre led by Professors Robert Dicke and John Wheeler and their junior colleagues Peter Roll, Jim Peebles, Dave Wilkinson, Mark Goldenberg, Kip Thorne and Bruce Partridge. Both Kip Thorne and Jim Peebles have recently been recipients of the Nobel Prize for their work associated with this group.
"My Ph.D. research was part of an early attempt to confirm the theoretical prediction of observable microwave radiation originating from the Big Bang that marked the beginning of the universe."
"Much of the theoretical work was done by Dicke and Peebles, but there was a need to confirm the detailed spectral characteristics of the cosmic microwave background radiation to discriminate from the competing prediction of a steady state universe model," Stokes said. "Part of my work entailed the construction of a microwave radiometer and making observations at high altitude."
The second observational experiment was conducted at an altitude of 11,300 feet in the Colorado Rockies, as shown in the photograph on page 6.
"My subsequent career choices have taken me away from space science to energy technology associated with nuclear and renewable energy and to coal and natural gas conversion technologies. My most recent work involved development of ceramic fuel cell technology ideally suited for creating clean electrical energy from natural gas," he said.
Stokes retired in 2013 and lives with his family in Golden, Colorado. He stays engaged with the UK Department of Physics and the College of Arts & Sciences and attended the College's 20th anniversary Hall of Fame festivities in October 2019.
"I was so fortunate to have support from my community as a teenager and the wonderful mentors and opportunities at the University of Kentucky that opened up the world of scientific research and development | 997 |
Sands Academy Holds Graduation for Emerge Graduates in Las Vegas
Sands Academy concluded its Emerge Series in December with an official graduation for its 30 graduates. Emerge is Sands Academy's program designed to introduce high-potenetial non-supervisory Team Members to the various theories and practices of leadership, personal growth and career development. The immersive 10-week course was designed to give Team Members the opportunity to grow personally, professionally, discover leadership potentials, and pave the way for future leadership roles within the company.
"Where I started, I didn't where I was heading," said Ian Balido, newly promoted Housekeeping Manager. "In the middle of the program, we were asked to map out what career we wanted and all signs were pointing to housekeeping. I was the VIP Services coordinator at the time and had always had an interest in housekeeping. After our goal mapping, I went back to work and my director called me in and said that the housekeeping position had opened and I applied and I got it. Without that exercise that<|fim_middle|>'t have been so willing to apply for that position."
The goals of the program were to recognize and retain high-potential talent within the company, immerse the talent into the company's leadership culture, and motivate and help them develop quality career goals. A total of 100 Team Members were nominated to take part in Emerge by their department supervisors. The selection process began in August 2018 where managers nominated their selected Team Member and by October, the highest rated Team Members were invited to participate in the course. The program consisted of one full day session, followed by nine weeks of half-day sessions during working hours.
"This company has made me grow so much," Balido said. "They allow you to do great things and never hold you down. The company has been amazing to me. They love what you do and push you to learn more. The classes are free and provide so much for Team Members to advance. I would love for everyone to be nominated and go through Emerge. It allowed me to find my compass and my managers guided me there."
Las Vegas Sands has strongly supported Team Member enrichment through Sands Academy in Las Vegas as well as other programs in Singapore and Macao. The company is committed to helping Team Members thrive in the hospitality industry by providing educational partnerships, grants, support programs and development training to help shape the future of the industry. | day, I wouldn | 4 |
I<|fim_middle|>Mo Booth? | am über excited to unveil this video and launch a brand new product for your celebration: *drumroll please* may I present the SlowMo Booth by The Adventures Of!
There is no better way to get the party moving! These wedding guests got crazy and creative, and when you take that action down to one-tenth the speed, things get really awesome. Why limit your guests to a photo booth when you can have a unique slow-motion music video to remember the celebration?
Boardner's in Hollywood provided the perfect setting, full of mystery and Old Hollywood glamour. We loved taking over the courtyard stage for slow-motion fun! Thanks to Adrienne's imagination and the fabulous planning efforts of Rebel Belle Weddings, this was a breathtaking Hollywood bash!
In addition to the SlowMo Booth, this wedding had so many amazing, unique, personal touches, and I can't wait to share it all with you. Keep an eye on the blog for Adrienne and Chris's full wedding film, coming soon!
Want to crank up the awesome at your party with a SlowMo Booth? Send us an email!
Leave a comment: What stunts would you like to try in our Slow | 236 |
The song that kept Cate Campbell in Olympic tune
Steve Larkin
Jul 30, 2021 – 4.27pm
Tokyo | Cate Campbell sang I Am<|fim_middle|> the village and getting something to eat," she said.
"I have still got races to do. I haven't really thought beyond what I need to do to get myself in the best position to perform again.
"But having a really good result in the 100m and being really happy with my performance definitely brings a lot of enjoyment.
"And I have always said I will only swim as long as I enjoy it."
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Most Viewed In Companies | Woman on repeat to keep her demons at bay.
The Australian swimming stalwart knew the thoughts were coming, of her self-described choke five years ago at the Rio Olympics.
So, on the morning of her 100-metre freestyle final in Tokyo, she was prepared.
"In terms of how I kept the memories at bay, I have pretty much had I Am Woman on repeat in my head," Campbell said.
Cate Campbell: "I am a person first and swimmer second." Getty
"Because the lyrics are just about the most perfect thing that I have heard coming into this meet."
Five years ago, Campbell entered the Rio final as world record holder, only to wobble on the blocks before finishing sixth.
On Friday in Tokyo, she took bronze behind gold medallist Emma McKeon to put an end-point on a period of self-flagellation over Rio.
I am incredibly proud of the person who I am outside of the swimming pool.
— Cate Campbell, Olympic swimmer
"It takes a lot of discipline to keep those nagging doubts at bay," she said.
"When you're in a position where you have had a bad experience, and then you wilfully go and put yourself in that position again, understandably your body is saying 'what are you doing to me?'
"I have done a lot of work in the past five years, a lot of processing.
"And for me there are many things that have changed. I am incredibly proud of the person who I am outside of the swimming pool.
"I am a person first and swimmer second. And sometimes that gets lost in the constant desire to keep performing and to keep winning. It can get all-consuming and you become an all-or-nothing kind of person."
Campbell is among the favourites for the 50m freestyle sprint, with heats on Friday night.
Beyond that? Perhaps a fifth Olympics in Paris in 2024?
"To be honest I am only thinking about going and doing my doping [test] and then going back to | 412 |
Shopping in the Buffalo suburbs for dorm bedding<|fim_middle|> housewares and home goods you'll find a diverse selection of gifts for family and friends; use the gift registry to create or shop a baby registry, birthday registry, housewarming registry, anniversary registry or custom occasion registry. Stop in today to see the latest home décor trends. | to use at University at Buffalo, Medaille College, Bryant & Stratton College or Daemen College? Get college bedding, storage solutions, kitchenware, home décor ideas and so much more at the Bed Bath & Beyond store near you; it's just off I-290 on Highway 62. Whether you live, learn, work or play in Amherst, it's easy to get everything you need for your home and shop all the brands you love at the nearby Bed Bath & Beyond located at 1583 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Buffalo, NY 14228; (716) 835-0956.
friendly and knowledgeable associates are available to assist you during store hours. Getting married? Our experienced personal wedding consultants will help you create the perfect wedding registry. Visit this store to buy pillows, rugs and curtains; stock up on cleaning supplies and household essentials; shop seasonal goods, clearance merchandise and so much more. In addition to | 202 |
This fruit added to your fruit smoothie, makes a great improvement. Try in smoothies and desserts.
The Maqui berry is a black brilliant berry of about 4-6mm of diameter. It is edible and used widely by the locals (the Mapuche indians). This berry is found in Patagonia in South America and has become known as the ''Patagonia Super Fruit,'' because of its rich color and taste. This bears similar properties to Acai or Mangosteen. The flavor is very nice and goes great in smoothies, much preferred over Acai or hydro-extracted Mangosteen.
History: The nineteenth century French naturalist and botanist Claudio Gay was one of the first occidentals who described the uses of this little and marvelous fruit.
It is considered one of the three sacred plants of the Mapuche people, together with the winter's bark or canelo (<|fim_middle|> altar, during the Mapuche festivities. | Drimys winteri), and the chilean laurel (Laurelia sempervirens).The maqui schrub means benevolence and peaceful intention, and it is therefore used to ornament the rehue, the ceremonial | 48 |
Another summer in the books. Rylee graduated from Arkansas. Arkansas Razorbacks all summer long she was a sweet Southern shirt to more golf.
Another summer in the books. Rylee graduated from Arkansas. Arkansas Razorbacks all summer long she was a sweet Southern shirt to more golf tournaments that I can count. We had a Peruvian golfer and a Razorback golfer live with us all summer. As well as a worship intern from church lives with us for 10 weeks. His fiance was here with us for about 3 of those weeks. We hosted a rehearsal dinner here, several dinner parties and our typical who is<|fim_middle|>, Simon and I will head to Mexico for 5 days. Relaxing gear will be hard to shift into. Just the two of us. Keep in mind at one time we had 10 people living in our home this summer. We will have walks on the beach and watch the sun fall into the ocean. | coming for dinner tonight, the door was open. But the fun and games of summer coming to a close. What a great busy filled summer, looking back. Monday, Reagan starts her junior year at Arkansas.
With a new boyfriend and Arkansas Razorbacks all summer long she was a sweet Southern shirt to be a phlebotomist, to gain patient care hours to eventually apply to a Physician Assistant program. He has learned to handle adversity and did so with integrity and honor. His happiness and exciting beginnings will trump any sadness I selfishly feel that he will no longer be in my backyard. So we finished this summer with a full calendar and full heart. I wouldn't have it any other way. On Monday | 143 |
Image by Niklas Hall'en/Getty Images, © All Rights Reserved.
Bearing Witness: How To Help When Feeling Helpless After a Disaster
Marion A. Osieyo
The Grenfell Tower fire found me on the morning of June 14, preoccupied with the inconsequential details of life: how to close my conversation with this barista with the same grace she has shown me; how to carry my bag, my coffee, and this lady's pram with the grace that my dress can offer.
The fire waited for me to sit and then it hit me with all its horror. As I later watched the video of the firefighters arriving at the scene, one of them asking, "How is this even possible?" I<|fim_middle|> can you use this anger to constantly bear witness? What actions will you take in six months, one year, or even five years' time at the General Election, to make sure change is happening that is meaningful to the affected communities? Injustice is a process which means social change must also be a process.
Marion A. Osieyo Born in Nairobi, Kenya and raised in London, UK, Marion Osieyo is a development practitioner, writer and adviser, specializing in global governance and development policy.
She has advised government administrations and international organizations on development policy including the UK Department for International Development, BOND, British Council and the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation. She has also worked with civil society organizations to promote social and economic development in Southeast Asia, West Africa, and Europe.
In 2015, Marion was selected by the European Commission as a "Future Leader" of International Co-operation and Development and was selected by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a Prime Minister's Global Fellow.
Share your reflection
Community, grief, healing, loneliness, loss, Social Justice, terror, tragedy, violence
Love and Fire
by Apricot Irving
What is it that we are to do with grief? We can turn it inward, making prisoners of our own bodies. We can turn it against others. I want to believe that we can also be transformed by loss. | thought of all the decisions and small compromises we make about the value of life, in public life.
Whitney Iles' blog resonated with me when all the small blessings of community did not feel enough. Donations, acts of service, community organizing, being there, holding the despair of people still searching for their loved ones… these actions felt small. Hope felt really, really small. How do we help when one is feeling helpless? How do we hope when one is feeling hopeless?
The political philosopher Hannah Arendt once referred to totalitarianism as organized loneliness. In today's public narratives, a terror is a public act of violence and it is remembered as an act against the state. It becomes a moment of unification where community and bureaucracy sit tidily next to each other. Grenfell Tower is a tragedy, a public act of violence, that has dismembered our social orders.
Community and bureaucracy no longer sit next to each other. The state finds itself simultaneously pacifying the anger against it, deflecting whatever traces of culpability remain, and performing the rites of mourning that are to be done. What do we make of hope when our grandest social experiments, community, and bureaucracy sit in tense opposition to each other? A tragedy like the Grenfell Tower fire is disorganized loneliness because it throws out in the open the messiness of social order — the contradictions in our public commitments of responsibility to each other and our private responses to one another.
Whitney Iles suggests one avenue to try:
"If you want to help create peace, we need to find balance between action and thinking. My belief is true action requires thinking through. Solutions require observation, analysis, and participation before strategies can be developed.
So today I say the same to you as I say each week to my students: If you want to help with long-term solutions, rather than reacting to crisis, learn to sit with your feelings."
Learning to sit with your feelings of helplessness, that is, acknowledging the feeling of powerlessness, is the first step towards power. It reminds me of the first step of the Alcoholics Anonymous treatment program, where members admit their powerlessness over their addictions. It also reminds me of the practice of Dadirri by the Aboriginal people of Australia. Dadirri is the practice of "deep listening and still awareness" and it has been used as a communal ritual to heal trauma. Through Dadirri, a public space is created where people share their stories of trauma and are listened to with acceptance.
Sitting with your feelings, the First Step of the Alcoholic Anonymous program, the practice of Dadirri — these all require the power of witness for change to happen. To bear witness is to give meaning by acknowledging the legitimacy of the truth being proposed. In court, for example, a witness gives legitimacy to the facts and logic (truth) being offered.
In reading Whitney's words and reflecting on these communal forms of healing, I realize our power as citizens is to bear witness to the communities affected by the fire — and not to the fire itself. In addition to learning to sit with our feelings, we bear witness by learning to sit with the injustice and learning to sit with the process.
If donating and acts of service feel small, it isn't that these actions are insignificant, but that they are not enough to deal with what has happened. Grenfell Tower is not an accidental event; it's a system of power with intentional choices taken by people, legitimized by people, and executed by people. Learning to sit with injustice is to ask tough questions beyond who is to blame. Kate Schick refers to this as "working through," a "politics of mourning that refuses to gloss over past and present pain, but that sits with suffering and allows it to challenge our deeply held assumptions about social and political arrangements."
The answers to these tough questions won't be about cladding. They will be about inequality, political accountability, the politics of austerity, our disregard for working class people. They will necessarily yield these answers if we want to move from powerlessness to power and they will require us to locate ourselves within the systems of injustice.
Activism is to remain firmly angry about an injustice and to use that anger to focus on the possibility of change, not on the probabilities of the past. To be a witness to the communities affected by the Grenfell Tower fire is to acknowledge the trauma with anger but to move forward with it in hope because the communities affected are moving on. And, if you want to be a witness to them, you move with them too.
This means questioning the regenerative nature of your actions. Donating may not feel like enough because it moves with the victims up to a certain point. How | 957 |
Frasier: You've been seeing a man?
Daphne: Only when I close my eyes and concentrate.
Frasier: A German narcissist - there's an appealing combination.
Roz: I can't stay - the fleet is in!
Tom: That's a hell of a view.
Frasier: Even better from the bedroom.
Martin: I usually go to a place called Dukes - great food, lot of young cops.
Tom: I sensed you had a problem with me dating your brother.
Niles: Well actually........ I'm sorry, what was the question.
Frasier: I didn't invite Tom over to spend all night in the kitchen - there are others who<|fim_middle|>.
Frasier: That's impossible - Tom's not gay.
Niles: Well, he seems to be under that impression.
Tom: So this Maris guy he kept mentioning is a woman?
This episode is my all-time favourite, and an undoubted classic episode of 'Frasier'. What works so brilliantly is the script by Joe Keenan, because the lines that Frasier comes out with where he believes he's getting Tom closer to Daphne, is in fact making Frasier all the more attractive to Tom. This works all the way through the dinner party scene and never once descends into innuendo. Although a bunch of gay cliches is used (opera, theatre, fashion, cops), the episode would not work without them because it is precisely these things that are so present in Frasier's life and so normal that to think anything else of them is absurd. For example, only in 'Frasier' could Daphne tell that Tom's break up involved a dispute over opera recordings, and Frasier not give a moments thought to it. A simply wonderful episode from beginning to end.
I couldn't help but rewind bits of this episode and play it back! When Marty asks Niles if he thinks Daphne and Tom will....and Niles smiles and shakes his head slowly as to say noooo way...then you hear Marty laughing in the kitchen when Niles drops the bomb...I LOVE this part! | would like to have a crack at him.
Niles [to Frasier]: There's something I have to tell you. Dad wanted to, but I won the coin toss | 35 |
For the vast majority of families, our day-to-day lives fly by mostly according to plan. Parents go to work, kids to school and we take the dog for a leisurely after dinner stroll. It's easy to get set in our routines and take our family's safety for granted.
Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragedy, like the devastation caused by the earthquakes in Mexico to remind us that dangers of all types can strike at will and there's little-to-nothing we can do to prevent them. But while preventing a catastrophe isn't an option to keep our families safe, preparedness is, and in many cases, having a plan is the best bastion from danger.
It's also important to understand that a plan is only the one part of the equation to keep one step ahead of life-changing events. The other is a reliable form of communication; after all, if you're unable to contact your family, how are you supposed to execute your established safety plan?
<|fim_middle|>'re in a business meeting or participating in an activity where we would place a cell phone in a bag, suitcase or locker. In these cases, if your loved one has an emergency, it's going to be extremely difficult to reach you.
In-telligent thought of this as well by creating their Personal Community feature. With a Personal Community, you have the ability to send a message that overrides a recipient's silent or do not disturb setting, ensuring your message is seen. The alerts have different volumes and tones based on the level of emergency, the loudest of which can easily be heard through crowd noise, pockets, or other places your phone may be stowed away.
Now that we've established the best way to communicate your plan, let's iron out the best way to create one.
FEMA has compiled a pretty comprehensive checklist for creating a emergency communication plan, and we fully support 99% of it with one major change. They claim that "text is best" when it comes to communicating during an emergency, but as we just discovered, there's no substitute for In-telligent. We've distilled the main points below, or you can take a look at the full list here if you're so inclined.
● Collect – Digital communication is the latest and greatest, but it's always good to have a failsafe, so be sure create a paper copy of your family's contact information and other important people/offices, such as medical facilities, doctors, schools, or service providers.
● Share – In addition to requiring your family to have a copy of the plan on their phones, make sure everyone carries that hard copy of your list in his or her backpack, purse, or wallet. If you complete your Family Emergency Communication Plan online at ready.gov/make-a-plan , you can print it onto a wallet-sized card. You should also post a copy in a central location in your home, such as your refrigerator or family bulletin board.
● Practice – It makes perfect. And in case of an emergency every second counts. That's why you should be sure tohave regular household meetings to review and practice your plan.
Download the In-telligent app and set up a Personal Community between you and your loved ones, ensuring you can communicate even if cell signals are congested or the recipient's phone is on silent.
As we look back at the historic natural disasters that continue to rage across the globe, we owe it to ourselves and loved ones to look back and learn. Only then can we look forward to the future and declare: When it comes to safety, we'll no longer take it for granted, instead we we'll take initiative.
In-telligent is excited to be featured in the Travel section of the The Telegraph as one of the best ski apps to download this winter. | Think of any time you've been in a large crowd – at a concert, festival or ballgame; your texts won't go through because of all the data being exchanged in the area. This same obstacle often occurs during emergency situations as people are scrambling to contact loved ones and find information online. And while spotty network performance is typically a mild annoyance, in the event of an emergency it could be the difference between life and death.
In-telligent's notification system was designed to better deal with cellular congestion by operating on a special frequency different from where the vast majority data is sent.
Cellular congestion isn't the only inherent obstacle when attempting to communicate with cell phones via text or voice call.
These days, it's common cell phone etiquette to keep phones on silent throughout the day. This is particularly an issue if we | 164 |
From My Perspective – Convocation 2004
Debbie Jabbour
Once again, I had the privilege of attending Athabasca University's crown jewel performance – Convocation 2004. The university catch phrase most often heard regarding convocation is "this is why we are here," and you truly get a sense that convocation is the highlight of the year, the reason why the university exists. Every time I attend convocation I am struck anew by the honour bestowed by the university on its students, the unique way that Athabasca University graduates are individually acknowledged in this ceremony, cherished and valued. Last year I had the ultimate honour of attending my own convocation, and it was an unforgettable experience.
Certainly there may be many valid reasons why a student may choose not to attend their convocation, particularly if they are graduating from a traditional university where students are quickly herded across the stage and granted their diploma as just one more faceless student in an indifferent crowd of thousands. Not so Athabasca University students. The AU ceremony properly recognizes the hard work and accomplishment our degree represents to us, and each graduate is respectfully acknowledged. A student who skips their AU convocation is missing out on an experience of a lifetime.
This year I participated in convocation as a member of Governing Council once again, and it allowed me to see the process from yet another perspective. Last year I was on stage, receiving my degree. This year I was in the front row watching my fellow students receive theirs – but now it was different. This year I knew exactly how it felt to cross the stage, to kneel and receive my hood, to hear the words spoken by the VP Academic that made each graduate a real person. This year I proudly wore my own hood over my governing council gown, as I joined the other academics in welcoming the newly graduated.
I also was thrilled to have an old friend on stage graduating. We had lost touch some years ago, only to find each other again when he became an AU student and discovered me on the AUSU website. Over the last year we've compared student experiences. He told me that he had been wavering, unsure whether he would actually attend convocation, but after reading my report of my own convocation last year, he realized that this was something he could not miss.
There were a few changes to the ceremonies from previous years. They switched the undergraduate degrees to Friday and the graduate to Saturday, and moved the starting time to noon instead of 1 PM. This was done to accommodate a very special graduate event on Saturday evening – the celebration of the 10 year anniversary of the MBA program. Because of the earlier start, no AUSU breakfast was held. Instead, a delicious AUSU-sponsored brunch was hosted inside the university, and a separate, equally delicious, "Taste of Athabasca" brunch was set up under tents in an area away from the university.
This was the one disappointment for me this year. For the first time, graduands were separated from their families. Upon entering the university, they would register, and family members were given a hand stamp. Graduands stayed inside the university and enjoyed the AUSU brunch, but family members were sent over to the tents outside for the Taste of Athabasca. The rationale was to reduce congestion inside the university, and this system also allowed the alumni table and the AU merchandise table to be set up in the front area instead of in the back robing area where they had been in previous years. Unfortunately, for me, it reduced some of the excitement of the event and marred the occasion. The hallways inside the university were strangely empty, right up to the moment the procession was scheduled to begin. Instead of being surrounded by excited family members who were proudly sharing the thrill of the occasion with their graduate-to-be, graduands wandered alone around the university looking somewhat lost; or sat by themselves on chairs, eating a solitary lunch while they waited for the signal to go don their robes. There was no buzz. No proud parents, spouses, children with cameras. No excited chatter. No sense of anticipation of the very special moment that was imminent. It felt anticlimactic, like nothing out of the ordinary was really happening. It felt wrong, somehow.
I remember working at the welcoming table one year, bemused by how every member of the family would answer "yes!" when I asked an individual if they were graduating. Families are key to the uniqueness of the Athabasca University experience – indeed, many said in their bios that they felt their spouses should receive honourary degrees, and almost all credited their families with giving them the strength and motivation to succeed in this achievement. To separate the families from the graduands diminished the day. The inconvenience of a crowded hallway for an hour is a small price to pay when compared with letting families share the moment with their loved one. I<|fim_middle|> even the best speaker system.
As we lined up for the procession on Friday in our blue robes, I felt the familiar excitement start to build. Over to my right was a sea of black-gowned graduands, some restlessly pacing back and forth, some standing in contemplative thought, others smiling for the ubiquitous cameras. You could feel an underlying electric current energizing the whole area. Gilbert Perras, Registrar, stood in counterpoint to both lines, the ceremonial mace over his shoulder, ready to give the signal for the piper to start. This year marked the debut of a new piper, young Leif Anderson. Leif is second-generation Athabasca University. His father, Dr. Terry Anderson, is a professor of Distance Education, who holds one of AU's Canada Research Chairs. Dr. Anderson also had the privilege of introducing the honorary degree recipient, Dr. Tony Bates.
As one of the shortest people on Governing Council, I was at the front of the line. Gilbert Perras turned to advise us that since everything was so well-organized we were a few minutes ahead of schedule. With a deep breath, the piper stepped forward and played the first few notes, and the graduands were off! (As a side note, I finally learned last year why AU uses the term "graduands." It comes from the British tradition and means "one about to graduate").
We followed the black-robed graduands down the red carpet into the tent, surrounded by cameras and smiling faces. Behind us came the colourful procession of academics. Many wore the mark of their own graduation – a particular robe, a hood of a certain colour, a hat, a tassel. Each of these symbols represents an achievement, an acceptance into the world of academia. I was proud to wear my own hood, to be able to announce to the world that I, too, was an Athabasca University graduate!
We all reached our seats, and "Oh Canada" began. I got all choked up last year and could barely sing, and this year was no different. Avowing our loyalty as Canadians while awaiting our induction as graduates, seems to reinforce the ability we now have to really make a difference, to improve society as a whole through education.
Once we were all seated, convocation began. I thought it was rather odd that David Burnett, the newly-appointed Chair of Governing Council, was dressed in his suit, not robed. It didn't dawn on me that this was part of the official ceremony until MLA Thomas Lukaszuk was introduced. Lukaszuk's role was to introduce David Burnett and appoint him officially as the new Chair, at which point he was robed. David Burnett then addressed the crowd, followed by Dr. Abrioux, then the conferring of the degrees began.
Watching the faces and the body language of the new graduates tells quite the story. Because of AU's very special individual acknowledgement of each graduate with a short bio, there is time to get to know a little bit about each individual, what they have gone through to graduate, and what this diploma means to them. Many gave credit to their families, sharing the diploma with those loved ones who had been so patient, supportive and sacrificing. As I listened, I knew the feelings and emotions that they were experiencing, and I watched them hold back tears when family members would shout out a "yeah mom" or a "go dad." Some would search the audience as they walked towards centre stage, then smile broadly when they located their family in the crowd. Others seemed to be concentrating very hard on not losing their composure.
This year marked the first time the new VP Academic, Judith Hughes, had the task of introducing the graduates and reading their bios. She did an amazing job of pronouncing all the names correctly, using the same techniques Dr. Alan Davis used in his term as VP Academic – practice the names, talk to the graduand in advance, and write it down phonetically. This attention to detail really highlights the respectful way graduates are treated at AU.
Once all the graduates had received their degrees, the recipient of this year's Governor General's Silver Medal addressed the graduates. Her words reflected the shared experience of all. Then Dr. Terry Anderson introduced Dr. Tony Bates as the honorary degree recipient. Dr. Bates has a close connection to distance learning, having worked for 20 years at the British Open University, five years with the Open Learning Agency in B.C. and most recently the University of British Columbia as the Director of Distance Education and Technology, Continuing Studies. Dr. Anderson introduced him as "my hero," in acknowledgement of the great contribution Dr. Bates has made to the mission of Athabasca University and the advancement of distance education.
In his discourse, Dr. Bates spoke directly to the graduates in one of the most relevant commentaries I've ever heard. It is reproduced on the AU website in its entirety, and it makes for inspirational reading. He really does "get it." One of his comments in particular was very enlightening. He said that research conducted by the British Open University found that employers were far more likely to hire Open University graduates because their experience was that individuals who achieve their degree by distance learning had greater work experience and exhibited a much higher degree of determination and self-discipline. He encouraged graduates to keep their options open in this knowledge-based economy, since success will depend on life-long learning. Read his address at: http://www.athabascau.ca/frontpage/articles/batesaddress.htm
Finally the ceremony concluded with the recession. All remained standing, and the graduates remained on stage until the platform party, governing council and the academics all followed the piper back down the red carpet. We lined the sides of the red carpet to form an honour guard, a measure of respect and acceptance for the new graduates. As the first of the graduates reached the edge of the red carpet, we all burst into sustained applause until they had all left the tent, and no one could stop smiling!
The following day the process was repeated with the conferring of the master's degrees. The ceremony is very similar in many ways, but there are differences. The graduates themselves tend to be, in the case of the MBA's at least, business people who are already following a career path. One of the members of governing council commented to me that the participants in the undergrad ceremony were a picture of diversity – a snapshot of Canada itself. The graduate students, however, seemed somewhat older and more confident. In contrast to the undergrads where many did not come in person to receive their degrees, almost all the master's students were in attendance. This particular group also seemed highly charged, far more energetic and excited. Perhaps this was partly due to the fact that this was the tenth anniversary of the MBA program (which represents the majority of the graduates). This year also saw the first graduate from the Master of Science – Information Systems, and two of the graduates were Athabasca University staff. The graduate ceremony was attended by representatives from Red Deer College and the University of Lethbridge. The latter's brother was one of the MBA graduates, and he was extremely impressed with AU's graduation, commenting that this year he had attended almost every ceremony across the province on behalf of his university and that AU's was superior to all of them in the special way graduates were treated.
The stories of the struggles, however, were the same for both undergraduates and graduates. Both had put their lives and families on hold, working for their degree, and both gave credit to their loved ones for support and sacrifice. Both afternoons were filled with shared experience, humour, joy, and excitement.
The introduction of the Governor General's Gold Medal recipient, Cynthia Marie Fediuk-Mombourquette (Master of Health Studies) brought an impromptu standing ovation from her fellow graduates on stage. The address by graduate, however, was given by another student, Gerrianne Martha Clare, since the graduate faculties rotate this honour. Dr. Anne Nothof then introduced the honorary degree recipient, Pamela Wallin. Ms. Wallin is well-known to many as a broadcast journalist, most recently appointed as Canadian Consul General to the U.S. Her address was well-spoken and thought-provoking. She spoke about the importance of the moment, how each would forever remember their graduation, and look back years from now with pride over what they will have accomplished. Ms. Wallin stated that "this degree is a tool to help you make different choices" because learning is about "knowing we can make a difference." She exhorted grads to always make it matter. In commenting about her upbringing, one line in particular stayed with me. She said she was thankful to have grown up in a home where her mother taught her to speak her mind – but only when that mind was informed. Her concluding comment left me with food for thought, as she quoted the words of Sydney Harris, "regret for the things we do can be tempered by time. It is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." Ms. Wallin's address is also reproduced on the AU website at: http://www.athabascau.ca/frontpage/articles/wallinaddress.htm
There was one odd happening during the midpoint of the ceremonies. A bird flew into the tent and became trapped, unable to find the exit. For an hour the poor little thing flew up and down, back and forth, flying up to the centre of the tent in a futile attempt to escape. I kept wondering if the bird would fly too low and set an unsuspecting audience member into a panic. Just before the end of the ceremony, the bird disappeared, apparently having finally found the way out. There was something highly symbolic about the whole event, as if the new graduates had been held back previously but would now be able to fly free as they exercised all the new opportunities afforded by their degree.
The second convocation concluded with the same procession and honour guard, and once again we celebrated the achievement of these graduates as they made their way back out of the tent across the red carpet. In all, over 300 students attended the two ceremonies, and everyone I spoke with agreed that it was the highlight of their experience at AU!
Photos, from top:
1-2) Graduation ceremony, view of the stage
3) The procession of academics makes its way to the tent
4) Tents in the trees house the Taste of Athabasca brunch for graduand's families
5) Procession of graduates approaches the tent
6) Led by the piper, registrar Gilbert Perras carries the ceremonial mace.
All photos, Carla Benavides.
Debbie is a native Edmontonian, and a single parent with four daughters. She has worked as a professional musician for most of her life, and has enjoyed a rich variety of life experiences – with many more to come! Debbie is working towards an eventual doctorate in psychology.
Convocation Celebration!
Barbara Lehtiniemi
We Love to Hear From You – Convocation Letters
Don't Miss Convocation!
Janine Menard | hope the university will re-think this arrangement and keep families and graduands together again next year.
Last year the heat was sweltering, and I confess I was hoping for an overcast day, knowing how uncomfortable it can be to wear those robes on stage for three hours when the temperature goes up. Fortunately both days were overcast and cool. Rain threatened, but held off for the most part, except for a few minutes during Saturday's event. Because convocation is held in a giant "circus" tent, rain can be problematic, since the pounding of water on canvas can drown out | 121 |
The beginning of dating is like a wildlife safari. By your third expedition (date), you're probably on the lookout for the rare sighting that is an indication that bae actually likes you as a human woman, and not just a person to play "Hide The Salami" with.
When you are crushing on the guy you're seeing, of course you want to know if he's into you, too. It's smart to invest your feels wisely. If you're wondering, "Does he like me?" know that there are some things guys who are actually into you will do differently.
It can be hard to tell, and the reality is that everyone shows their feelings differently. If I really dig someone, I will walk the other way if I see them on the street. (Very counterproductive; not recommended.) The rare prize — a guy who's truly into you — might show his interest in some very tiny ways.
As always, the men of Reddit had some honest input on the matter. Elite Daily also spoke to dating expert Eric Resnick for some additional tips. Here are 11 tiny things guys who are actually into you will do differently.
When you like someone, you want to spend as much time with them as possible, right? Guys are exactly the same. Even commitment phobes will eventually make an effort to spend more than one day in a row with you if they really like you.
Resnick explains that a guy who likes you will be more interested in seeing you again than getting you in bed that night. Maybe he goes old school and leaves his watch at your place, or maybe he mentions he's "in the neighborhood tomorrow for a dentist appointment."
If he's texting you once a week and that's it? He's probably just not that into you.
Being a gentleman takes work, you know? In my experience, the dudes who took the seven seconds to check in to make sure I got home safe post-date were the ones who stuck around for a while.
If you arrive home to a concise, adorable "home safe?" text, he cares about you and wants to be sure you didn't get murdered. He's a keeper.
Middle school flirting lives. Take note<|fim_middle|>'s going to steal one of the crew on Saturdays (which, obviously, are for the boys). If he's introducing you to his pals, he likes you.
"This means that he wants his friends' opinion on you, which is a solid indicator that he's really interested," says Resnick.
Some men are open and share all of their family history and feelings off the bat; others are more guarded with those things. Either way, if your dude is dropping his swag and letting you in, he likes you.
"Unfortunately, a lot of guys start off trying to seem a little elusive at first. It's one part power play and one part fear of looking too needy," says Resnick. "When he actually likes you, he'll drop that wall. He'll usually respond to texts faster, and he'll show more interest in your life and being a part of it."
The little hints that mean the guy you are dating is really into you might look different than what I listed above. My biggest advice is: Don't overanalyze. If a guy likes you, you'll know.
All of this adorableness really makes me want to find a new crush and feel all of the butterflies, so I'm going to go do that. Keep crushing it, ladies. | .
Resnick says that a major sign that a guy is actually into you is that he will simply put his phone down and focus on you. Even if he's a secret agent for the CIA, if he's into you, he wants to look at you, talk to you, and connect with you more than he wants to connect with his suggested connections on LinkedIn.
When a guy keeps his phone down and doesn't whip it out the second he goes to the bathroom, he's into you.
Being offered that lone piece of salmon sashimi left on our sushi boat is my favorite kind of gentlemanly gesture.
Early on in dating, if he offers you the last bite, he's a guy with nice manners who might just want to F you. On date 15 though, when you are more comfortable with each other and he still gives you dibs, he cares about seeing you smile. He's into it, and you should be, too.
This is very real. If a guy is into you, when he cracks a joke or mentions a cool new job he is interviewing for and then immediately looks to see what your reaction is, he cares about your opinion of him.
If a guy cares about your opinion of him, he probably likes and respects you. Watch his eyeline (but not in a creepy way).
When you get a "like" notification from "aturner94" on a Hefe-filtered photo with approximately 12 likes from before you even knew how to use Instagram, and then you check and it's disappeared, he was checking you out. This is not creepy — let's face it, we've all done it — but it's definitely a sign that he wants to learn more about you.
Don't call him out on this super cute "oopsie." He'll be mortified.
I'm not suggesting your date needs to start speaking in tongues at dinner, or lose his balance on the way to the bathroom, but if you notice some shy, nervous, rapid-fire question asking on his part, he might just be feeling all of the feels. Adorable AF.
I do this, too. Crushes turn us into little kids, and it makes my heart melt like an ice cream cone in August.
OK, so this isn't necessarily a tiny thing, but it's a surefire sign that bae is actually into you. Bro-cults are very sacred, and cannot be broken up by a female sorceress who | 504 |
We can't always be at Piazza San Marco, so every year the Veneto Club celebrates by creating a slice of Venice at the Club. This year enjoy delicious northern Italian cuisine, live entertainment and activities for the kids. Best of all it is free entry, so please come along and enjoy the festivities!
Joe Piastrino not only looks like the greats but he sounds like the greats! In April he is bringing his incredibly authentic tribute show to the Veneto Club, a fantastic trip down rock & roll memory lane. Be entertained as Joe brings back to life Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.
The Ven<|fim_middle|> tribute so good you'll think you are back in 1977 watching the real thing. Come along and enjoy dinner and show or just the show by itself.
Come to the Veneto Club and experience one of the best Elvis tribute acts in the country - you'll feel like you are in Vegas witnessing the King himself! Backed by an amazing band it is going to be a show not to be missed! | eto Club and De Bortoli's Chief Winemaker Steve Webber are hosting a very special wine and food dinner called "Innovations in Winemaking" - on Friday May 10th at 7pm.
Steve has won several major awards including Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year in 2007 and the Jimmy Watson Trophy in 1997. Over the last 25 years, he has been a Wine-show judge and was instrumental in some of the recent changes to the Melbourne Wine Show. Steve's down to earth character and storytelling skills means it promises to be a very enjoyable night out.
Come along and enjoy a delicious 4 course meal with 6 paired wines, whilst Steve imparts his broad knowledge of everything wine…. covering the recent wine changes at De Bortoli, regional Victorian wineries and more.
Treat your mum to a special day out with a mouth watering buffet at the Veneto Club on Sunday 12 May!
Lunch is from 12pm and dinner is from 5.30pm.
The Beatlez have spent over 10 years building a professional, visually and sonically accurate Beatles experience, making them Australia's most entertaining Beatles tribute band. Check out the promo video below – or better yet – come to the show and see for yourself!
If you are a fan of one of the 20th century's greatest pop bands then you can't afford to miss out on BABBA - a | 303 |
Proposed Savings Accounts: Economic and Budgetary Effects
Proposed Savings Accounts:
Economic and Budgetary Effects
Jane G. Gravelle
Senior Specialist in Economic Policy
Maxim Shvedov
Analyst in Public Sector Economics
In various budget proposals, the President proposed to substitute for the current
system of tax-favored individual retirement accounts (IRAs) two new accounts: life-
time savings accounts (LSAs) and retirement savings accounts (RSAs). Senator
Craig Thomas of the Finance Committee and Representative Sam Johnson of the
Ways and Means Committee have introduced identical bills (S. 545/H.R. 1163 and
S. 546/H.R. 1162) to create LSAs and RSAs. Expanded savings accounts also were
a part of the final recommendations of the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax
These proposals differ from the current system of IRAs in several important
ways, including the required use of a back-loaded method now used for Roth but not
traditional IRAs (in back-loaded accounts contributions are not deductible but
withdrawals are not taxable), higher contribution limits in some cases, introduction
of LSAs with no penalties for withdrawal, and elimination of income phaseouts.
Shifting to a mandatory back-loaded method, including the ability to roll over
current deductible IRAs into the new system, along with some other features, has
important consequences for the path of revenue loss. The Treasury projects the plans
to either raise revenue or have little revenue effect in the first 10 years. CRS
projections of long-run revenue costs (in the steady state beyond 2015) suggest a 10-
year loss in the neighborhood of $300 to $500 billion. While it is difficult to estimate
the cost precisely, the large limits and lack of strings attached suggest that a very
large fraction of interest, dividends, and capital gains could be tax exempt.
Neither theory nor empirical evidence seems to present much of a case for a
significant (or even positive) effect on private savings resulting from these provisions
— particularly the back-loaded form. The change would tend to redistribute after-
tax income on both a relative and absolute basis from lower- to higher-income groups
in part because lower- and moderate-income individuals tend to have little or no
savings — although benefits to the highest-income individuals would be constrained
by the contributions limit.
The provision of tax favored savings accounts with high limits could have some
consequences for certain activities and sectors of the economy. It could reduce the
fraction of small businesses with pension plans, as owners elect to save in their
private accounts rather than through accounts set up in their businesses. The
provisions would also make a variety of currently favored investments less attractive,
including tax exempt state and local bonds, life insurance products such as deferred
annuities, and direct investments in owner-occupied housing. Some of these effects
should increase economic efficiency. The change would discourage equity
investment in unincorporated businesses and rental housing and favor investment in
debt. It would have uncertain effects on the most heavily taxed investment, corporate
equity. This report will not be updated.
Long Run Revenue Cost............................................2
The Long Run Cost Projected From Short Run Official Estimates:
An Illustration............................................2
Direct Estimates of the Steady State Cost...........................5
Projections from Current Costs of IRAs............................9
Summing Up the Evidence for Long-Run Costs......................9
Economic Effects: Savings, Distributional Effects and Interaction
with Other Tax Favored Savings.................................10
Effects on Savings............................................10
Distributional Effects..........................................14
Effects on Other Types of Tax Favored Savings.....................17
Employer Pension Plans...................................18
Individual Retirement Accounts and Life Insurance Products.......19
Education Savings Accounts................................20
Tax Exempt Bonds........................................20
Owner Occupied Housing, Debt and Business Equity.............20
Simplification ....................................................20
Appendix A.....................................................22
Table 1. Accrued Earnings on Investments of $5,000 per Year..............6
Table 3. Revenue Impact Under Assumed Thresholds in a Steady State.......8
Table 4. Revenue Impact and Contributions Limits in a Steady State,
Excluding Sales of Capital Assets................................13
Table 5. Revenue Impact and Contribution Limits in a Steady State,
Including Sales of Capital Assets.................................14
Table 6. Illustrative Distributional Effects of the Proposal Under
Assumed Thresholds in a Steady State, Excluding Gains on Sales
of Capital Assets.............................................15
Table 7. Illustrative Distributional Effects of the Proposal
Under Assumed Thresholds in a Steady State With Capital Gains.......16
Table 8. Number of Returns by Income Class..........................17
In several recent budget proposals, the President proposed to substitute for the
current system of individual retirement accounts (IRAs) two new arrangements: life-
time savings accounts (LSAs) and retirement savings accounts (RSAs).1 The
contribution limit for each of the new accounts was $5,000 in FY2005 — FY2007,
down from $7,500 in FY2004. In FY2008 the LSA accounts were restricted to
$2,000. In 2005 Senator Craig Thomas of the Finance Committee and
Representative Sam Johnson of the Ways and Means Committee introduced
identical bills to create LSAs (S. 545 / H.R. 1163) and RSAs (S. 546/H.R. 1162). A
year earlier the same legislators sponsored similar bills (S. 2263/H.R. 4078, and H.R.
4714). The President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform proposed similar
accounts, called Save for Family and Save for Retirement accounts, with $10,000
annual limits, as a part of its final recommendations.
These proposals differ from the current system of individual retirement accounts
in several important ways. First, unlike the current system, no choice is allowed
between a traditional or front-loaded account (where individuals deduct
contributions, pay no tax on earnings, but pay tax on withdrawals, much like a
pension plan) and Roth or back-loaded accounts adopted in 1997 (where no
contributions are deducted and no earnings or withdrawals are taxed, as with a tax
exempt bond). The new system requires all accounts to be in the back-loaded form.
While both back-loaded and front-loaded accounts effectively result in a tax rate on
earnings of zero (assuming constant tax rates in the case of front-loaded accounts) the
revenue paths of front-loaded and back-loaded accounts are quite different — the
costs of front-loaded accounts occur much more quickly than the costs of a back-
loaded account.2 Moreover, the projected revenue effect would also reflect both the
involuntary substitution of back-loaded for front-loaded accounts (because the latter
would no longer be allowed) and voluntary shifts of present asset balances or
contributions to employer plans with discretion, such as 401(k) plans. The form of
the account also has some important implications for private savings responses.
1 There are other specialized tax-favored forms, such as medical savings accounts and
educational savings accounts; the proposal allows a rollover of education accounts into
LSAs. The President's proposal also includes a tax credit to sponsors of savings plans for
lower income individuals, a much smaller and temporary provision, which is not considered
in this analysis. The analysis also does not address proposals for simplifying and
coordinating employer pension plans.
2 The two approaches differ in several other ways. For a more complete discussion see CRS
Report RL30255, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs): Issues and Proposed Expansion,
by Thomas L. Hungerford and Jane G. Gravelle.
Secondly, the limits of the new accounts are higher than current accounts,
amounting to contributions of $10,000 ($5,000 for each account) for the FY2007
proposal and Advisory Panel Proposal, and $7,000 for the FY2008 proposal. Married
couples filing jointly would have twice the limits. The 2004 proposals supported by
Senator Thomas and Representative Johnson were $15,000 ($7,500 for each
account). The contribution levels of IRAs were $2,000 before the recent tax cuts and
would have reverted back to this cap after 2010, but the benefits were made
permanent and the new amounts were set at $5,000.3 These higher limits also have
important economic implications.
Thirdly, the LSA account is to be allowed with no penalties for withdrawal
before retirement age. This feature makes this type of account, unlike the current
IRA, a virtually perfect substitute for ordinary savings — and one would expect
financial institutions to quickly set up simple types of accounts that would be eligible
for the tax benefit. RSAs have penalties for withdrawing before age 58 (slightly
below the current 59½ age) but like current Roth IRAs have no required minimum
distribution after age 70½ (as do traditional, or front-loaded, IRAs).
Finally, the proposal eliminates all income limits on the accounts; very-high-
income individuals are not currently eligible for the benefit, but would become so
under the proposal.
Long Run Revenue Cost
The projected revenue effects of these proposals show either a small revenue
gain or a small loss. The magnitude of these effects is no more than a few billion
dollars over 10 years for the budget horizon, but these intermediate-term revenue
effects greatly understate the eventual cost of the program beyond the budget
window. This section explores a variety of approaches to estimating the long run
cost that would occur after the cost has settled into a steady state, which would
probably be in the tens of billions per year, and several hundred billion over a 10-year
period (within the steady state, perhaps after the second or third decade). Even
though the annual contribution caps differed from proposal to proposal, the revenue
loss pattern is similar in every case and many conclusions remain unaffected by the
difference.
The Long Run Cost Projected From
Short Run Official Estimates: An Illustration
The near term revenue effects of the FY2004 LSA/RSA proposal (with the
$7,500 ceiling) as projected by either the Treasury or the Joint Committee on
Taxation (JCT), were very small. The President's 2004 budget proposal showed a
gain of $14.8 billion in the first five years and a gain of $2 billion in the first 10
3 The Economic Growth and Recovery Act of 2001 increased the IRA limit to $3,000 in
2002-2004, $4,000 from 2005-2007, and $5,000 in 2008 (with indexation for inflation
thereafter; the provisions sunset after 2010.
years.4 The JCT found a similar pattern (gains, then losses), but projected quite
different numbers, with a loss of $4.9 billion in 2013, an overall gain of $12 billion
in the first five years, and a loss of $5 billion over the 10-year period.5 For the
FY2007 proposals, with the lower $5,000 ceiling, both Treasury and JCT project
small 10-year losses of $122 million (Treasury) to $275 million (JCT).6
The comparable Treasury 10-year estimates for FY2006 and FY2005 proposals
were $1.5 billion and $5.6 billion gains, respectively.7 JCT's estimates of the
measures were $2.4 billion and $0.9 billion losses over the 10-year period,
respectively.8 Both sets of estimates show a similar pattern of revenue gains in the
first years reversing into the losses in the remainder of the period.9
These near-term estimates (for the next 10 years) show positive or small
negative effects for three reasons. First, for any new normally taxable savings that
are now funneled into these tax free accounts, the cost rises very rapidly over time
compared to most tax reductions (which tend to rise at the nominal growth rate of the
economy, perhaps around 5%). For example, suppose $7,500 were put into an
account in each year and the interest rate is 10%. In the first year the reduction in
taxable income is $750 (10% of $7,500). In the next year, the previous year's
4 Beginning with FY2003, the proposal had an annual gain in revenue in the first four years:
$1.4 billion, $10.6 billion, $4.8 billion, $1.9 billion. Revenue losses then occurred through
FY2013: $0.6 billion, $1.8 billion, $1.9 billion, $2.45 billion, $2.7 billion, $2.9 billion, and
$2.9 billion, according to the Treasury Department, General Explanation of the
Administration's 2004 Revenue Proposals, Feb. 2003.
5 See Joint Committee on Taxation, Estimated Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions
Contained in the President's Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Proposal, Fiscal Years 2003-2013,
JCX-15-03, March 4, 2003. The estimate showed revenue gains from FY2003-FY2007 of
$1.7 billion, $3.2 billion, $3.1 billion, $2.8 billion, and $1.4 billion. Losses occurred from
FY2008-FY2013 in the amount of $0.2 billion, $1.6 billion, $2.6 billion, $3.5 billion, $4.4
billion, and $4.9 billion.
6 Department of the Treasury, General Explanations of the Administration's Fiscal Year
2007 Revenue Proposals, Feb. 2006, pp. 10; Joint Committee on Taxation, Estimated
Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions Contained in the President's Fiscal Year 2007
Budget Proposal, Fiscal Years 2006-2016 in Description Of Revenue Provisions Contained
In The President's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Proposal, JCS-1-06, March 2006, p. 314.
2006 Revenue Proposals, Feb. 2005, pp. 10, 159; Department of the Treasury, General
Explanation of the Administration's 2005 Revenue Proposals, Feb. 2004, pp. 12, 191.
8 Joint Committee on Taxation, Estimated Budget Effects of the Revenue Provisions
JCX-14-04 R, March 3, 2004, p. 1; Joint Committee on Taxation, Estimated Budget Effects
of the Revenue Provisions Contained in the President's Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Proposal,
Fiscal Years 2005-2015, JCX-10-05, March 9, 2005, p. 1.
9 For example, beginning with FY2005, the proposal had an annual gain in revenue in the
first five years: $3.9 billion, $8.2 billion, $5.5 billion, $2.8 billion and $0.7 billion (there
were no effects in FY2004). Revenue losses then occurred through FY2014: $0.7 billion,
$2.1 billion, $3.8 billion, $4.3 billion, and $4.7 billion, according to the Treasury
investment is now worth $8,250 ($7,500X1.10) and adding a current investment, the
total in the account is now $15,750. The second year's reduction in taxable income
is $1,575, or 2.1 times the first year — a growth rate of 110%. In the third year the
cost is 3.31 times the first year. Based on the model shown in the appendix which
allows for contributions and withdrawals which relates each year to its eventual long-
term steady state, the first year's cost (expressed in current income levels) is about
3% of the steady state cost, the fifth year's cost is about 18% and the tenth year's cost
is about 41%. Overall, the first five years' cost is about 11% of a steady-state five-
year cost, and the first 10 years' cost is about 20%. Thus, these losses are only a
fraction of their long run losses.
Secondly, there would be a temporary revenue gain because repeal of traditional
IRA provisions would reduce the cost of up-front deductions. In order to determine
the loss from the expanded limits, we need to eliminate this revenue, to measure the
loss, and then use the revenue pattern discussed above to project from the short term
to the long term. Using this approach, we project the cost with the $7,500 limit to
be at least $18 billion per year ($180 billion over 10 years with constant income
levels) using the Treasury estimates. The annual cost would be slightly over $20
billion with the JCT estimates. The cost with the $5,000 limit (Treasury estimates)
is about $17 billion.10 Again, these are conservative measures.
Thirdly, individuals are allowed to roll over existing accounts into back-loaded
accounts and pay for the cost over four years. Since these effects are in the first four
years, we can extrapolate from a single year past that point where the cost is expected
to be about 18% of the steady state. Those calculations suggest an annual cost of
closer to $40 billion with relatively little difference between the $5,000 and $7,500
ceiling.11 The projections from the Joint Tax Committee's estimates would,
10 In the short run, this offsetting gain would include the tax benefit of traditional IRA
contributions, which were about $7 billion in 2000; at a 20% tax rate, worth $1.4 billion.
Over 10 years, therefore, the current limits would be at least $14 billion even without
accounting for growth, and would probably be considerably larger because of the rapid
growth of the income limits. While the dollar limit of contributions is fixed at $2,000,
temporary provisions in the 2001 tax cut allow increases in the dollar amounts to be
contributed to IRAs, and the income limit will increase substantially over the period. The
temporary provisions have been estimated to increase revenues by about $25 billion over
10 years. If we use the conservative $14 billion number and add the $25 billion, there are
temporary 10-year gains of $39 billion embedded in the estimates and without those
temporary gains, the gain of $2 billion for the $7,500 limit would be a loss of $37 billion.
Based on the projections discussed above, the long-run steady-state cost would be five times
as large or $185 billion, leading to an annual loss of about $18.5 billion. With the higher
revenues reported for the FY2005 estimates (with the lower ceiling) the $39 billion would
be offset by about $6 billion, for a loss of $33 billion — suggesting a total of $177 billion
over 10 years, or an annual about $17 billion. Note that this analysis assumes that additional
accounts would be diverted from existing accounts, and not associated with additional
private savings. See the section on savings effects for a justification of this assumption.
11 For the FY2004 Administration estimates, the appropriate year would be 2008, where the
revenue cost is estimated at $1.8 billion. However, this $1.8 billion is the net of a positive
gain from substitutions for front-loaded IRAs and the loss from additional back-loaded
however, have been smaller (about $28 billion, for the $7,500 cap). These estimates
would be affected by recent legislation that allows a one-time rollover of IRAs into
Roth IRAs with no income limit in 2010.
Fourthly, the revenue estimates may also include some gain from the possibility
of shifting some of the amounts currently contributed to 401(k) and similar plans to
individual accounts (at least for amounts without an employer match), given there are
no strings attached. These choices have the same types of effects as prospective
future IRAs and further expand the scope for additional revenue loss.
Finally, the long run revenue cost will be slightly larger (although the effect will
probably be small12) by the replacement of front-loaded by back-loaded accounts.
The implication from this extrapolation exercise is that the long-run steady-state
revenue cost of the plans will be in the tens of billions of dollars per year, and even
without accounting for all of the contributions to cost, could amount to as much $40
billion per year or $400 billion over 10 years, while the short run effect, at least
according to the administration estimates, is a gain of several billion over 10 years
— a dramatic contrast.
Direct Estimates of the Steady State Cost
The previous numbers extrapolated from the presumed use of these savings
accounts by the Treasury and JCT revenue estimators. Another approach is to
examine the total revenue collected from passive forms of investment and to estimate
what fraction of that revenue will become tax exempt under the proposed plan. Since
the LSA accounts have no strings attached, individuals should prefer to place all of
their savings up to the limit in these accounts, including non-retirement savings. The
$5,000 or $7,000 limit (and even the $2,000 limit) for each of these plans is so great
that the plans could allow all savings of moderate income individuals to be contained
in the account over a period of time, particularly for married couples whose LSA
annual amounts would be twice as large and combined LSA and RSA amounts would
IRAs. The cost for the 2001 increases for that year was projected at $3.4 billion, and if we
use a $1.4 billion cost for current IRAs, the results imply a loss of $6.6 billion — which
would translate into an annual loss of $37 billion ($6.6 billion divided by 0.18) per year
($370 billion over 10 years). This estimate fixes the existing loss of front loaded IRAs at
only $1.4 billion; if it were raised to $2 billion, the cost would $40 billion
(($2+$3.4+$1.8)X0.1/0.18. Applying the same methods to the new 2005 estimates with the
lower limit results but using 2010 (the 2005 proposal is made a year later and delays the
effective date by another year), the proposal loses $0.7 billion. However, the gain from the
temporary limit increase is $4.4 billion, implying a loss after backing out the temporary
revenue gain of $6.5 billion, which would lead to a cost of $36 billion, also close to $40
billion if the value of current IRAs was increased.
12 In the steady state the loss from back-loaded accounts is the interest rate times the asset
balance. The loss for a front-loaded account includes this forgone interest but it is reduced
by the gain from tax on withdrawals less the loss from the tax benefit of the deductions. See
Jane G. Gravelle, "Estimating the Long-Run Revenue Effects of Tax Law Changes,"
Eastern Economics Journal, vol. 19, fall 1993, pp. 481-494.
be $20,000 or $30,000. Over 10 years, savings could cumulate to as much as
$300,000, an amount much greater than the typical liquid savings of most families.
Thus, these families would not be expected to be constrained by the limit.
In 2000, according to the Internal Revenue Service Statistics of Income
(Individual returns) dividends and interest on taxable returns were $186 billion and
$140 billion, respectively. There were also capital gains distributions of $61 billion,
and net gain from sales of capital assets of $623 billion. The $623 billion would
include non-passive investments such as real estate and would be highly concentrated
among high income individuals. Just considering interest, dividends, and capital
gains distributions, the total is $387 billion, which, at a 20% marginal tax rate, would
yield $77 billion in revenue, implying a potential loss from the LSA/RSA plan in that
vicinity (or greater, since it excludes sales of capital assets) if virtually all assets were
eventually to be placed in these plans.
The actual revenue loss would be smaller than this amount for two reasons.
First, the amount already excluded from individual retirement accounts under
permanent rules could change because of rising income limits (although comparisons
of tax expenditure projections suggest this effect is only a few billion dollars). More
importantly, some share of this amount is in high income brackets where a substantial
portion of individuals might exceed the limit ($133 billion of the $387 billion is in
the $100,000 and over income class). And even among more moderate income
classes, some individuals will exceed the dollar limits.
To explore how much this revenue cost might be reduced by individuals saving
more than the maximum amount, we first determine how much would be earned
from accounts assuming the maximum had been saved and reinvested every year.
The formulas for calculating these effects are shown in the appendix; in Tables 1
and 2, we show the dollar amount of earnings, depending on the real interest rate and
the period of time that the asset is accumulating, for limits of $5,000 and $7,500,
respectively. Note that these are the amounts accrued by a single taxpayer; a married
couple would be able to save twice as much. They are also the amounts for the LSA
rather than the combined IRA/LSA accounts.
Table 1. Accrued Earnings on Investments of $5,000 per Year
Real rate of return on asset
Years held3%4%5%6%
10 $2,915 $3,688 $4,451 $5,480
20$6,850$9,191$12,027 $15,467
30 $12,163 $17,400 $36,557 $50,496
Source: CRS calculations; see text. The inflation rate is assumed to be 2%.
40 $29,001 $44,471 $67,085 $100,231
The exact amount of exempt relevant passive income would vary for every
taxpayer depending on such factors as the amount of individual annual contributions
and withdrawals, years of participation in the program, and the rate of return on a
person's investments. Modeling each of these parameters is not possible without
detailed data, particularly data that reflect age (which is not provided on tax returns).
In order to estimate the magnitude of the impact, we consider several scenarios and
combine them with the historic tax return data.
Sources of the relevant passive income were limited to taxable interest,
dividends, and capital gains distributions in one scenario. There are several other
sources of income, in particular capital gains on sales of capital assets, and much of
these gains (largely representing capital gains on stock sales) is also passive income.
We provide a second scenario that includes these gains as well. The 1999 income
amounts were not adjusted for inflation, although that is unlikely to have a significant
influence on the results.
We ignore expansions in the regular individual retirement accounts, which
would increase the maximum amount that could be sheltered in the savings plans, but
whose use is more difficult to predict. Ignoring RSAs would also understate the cost,
particularly keeping in mind a higher contribution limit of $5,000 under the proposal.
We also ignore the offsetting effect of interest earned on checking accounts, where
LSA treatment would not be feasible.
As shown in Table 3, three illustrative annual tax-exempt LSA income
threshold values of $5,000, $15,000 and $35,000 per person are selected. Thus,
married filers would effectively face caps of $10,000, $30,000, and $70,000
correspondingly. The estimation process applies these assumed thresholds to a13
sample of historic 1999 individual income tax returns supplied by the IRS.
13 Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income Division, Individual Statistics Branch, 1999
Public Use Tax File, Jan. 28, 2003. The data in this file are blurred (actual returns are
averaged and some other changes are made) in order to protect taxpayer confidentiality.
These data are the most recent available. We also use the tax rates in force in 1999, which
are different from the current rates, but consistent with permanent rates.
Table 3. Revenue Impact Under Assumed Thresholds
in a Steady State
Revenue impact, withoutRevenue impact,
Assumed threshold value,sales of capital assets, with sales of capital
$$ billionsassets, $ billions
5,00026.731.4
15,00043.255
35,00054.175.4
Source: CRS calculations; see text.
For example, consider two single taxpayers' returns in the case of a $5,000
threshold: the first one with the sum of interest, dividends, and capital gains
distributions in 1999 of $3,000 and the second one with $11,000. Under the $5,000
assumption, the first taxpayer would be able to exempt all of the relevant passive
income, since it is less than $5,000. The second one would be able to exclude just
the first $5,000 of $11,000, and pay the tax on the remaining $6,000. Under $15,000
or $35,000 cap scenarios, both of them would be exempt on all of their relevant
passive income. Therefore, the sum of these taxpayers' deductions in the first case
of $8,000 would increase to $14,000 in the second case, because of the higher income
taxpayer's increased LSA deduction.
As the cap value increases, the impact grows larger, because higher income
taxpayers could exempt larger shares of their relevant passive income and each dollar
deducted by taxpayers in higher marginal tax brackets would be costlier than the one
deducted by taxpayers in lower marginal tax rate brackets. The revenue cost
increases much more slowly, proportionally, than does the cap. A tripling of the cap
increases costs by 60%; a seven-fold increase doubles the cost.
The results are sensitive to the limits chosen, but even the very modest $5,000
limit indicates a cost of $27 billion per year. Since close to half of all capital gains14
is typically associated with sales of stock, if we take the intermediate limit of
$15,000 (associated with a savings period of around 25 years at a 4% to 5% return
with a $5,000 limit) and average the last two columns, the estimate is around $50
billion. The general magnitude of effects is consistent with a study last year by
Burman, Gale, and Orzag, who used a similar approach to estimate the FY2004
revenue loss, which they project to be in the neighborhood of $50 billion at current15
(2003) income levels. (Given the modest increase in revenue cost with an increase
14 See Jane G. Gravelle, The Economic Effects of Taxing Capital Income, Cambridge, MIT
Press, 1994, p. 130; Leonard E. Burman, The Labyrinth of Capital Gains Tax Policy,
Washington, D.C., The Brookings Institution, 1999, p.25; Janette Wilson, "Sales of Capital
Assets Reported on Individual Income Tax Returns, 1999, Internal Revenue Service,
Statistics of Income Bulletin, summer 2003, pp. 132-154.
15 Leonard E. Burman, William G. Gale, and Peter Orszag, "The Administration's Savings
in limits at this level, there is probably not a lot of difference between the $5,000 and
$7,500 limit).
One revenue cost that is not included in this analysis is the loss arising from
arbitrage. For example, individuals who actually have smaller savings than that
eligible for IRAs could potentially borrow from a home equity line of credit and
reinvest in IRAs creating an artificial tax saving. This artificial tax saving would be
constrained by the spread between the rate charged on loans and the rate earned on
investments, but it is possible that markets will develop to take account of such
arbitrage possibilities.
Projections from Current Costs of IRAs
A final way of gaining some notion of the magnitude of long run revenue cost
is to consider the tax expenditure estimate for the current IRA provision, which is
$20 billion, according to the tax expenditure compendium for 2008, the last year for
which estimates have been made.16 Some provisions have been in the law a long
time, others since 1997, and the most recent changes were made in 2003 (and
reflecting a limit of $5,000), so the provision is below its steady-state level. If one
just recognized that the dollar limits will be tripled (in comparison to the $5,000 cap),
if everyone tripled the size of the assets in their accounts, the cost would be an
additional $40 billion. This estimate is overstated because all individuals will not be
at the ceiling, so that one could not simply add $40 billion to account for this effect.
However, the income limits will be completely removed, which would add to the
cost, and the cost is not at its steady-state level. The cost would also be larger if
compared to a $2,000 limit. But, in general, since current IRA provisions are
relatively costly (i.e. $20 billion), it should not be surprising that such a dramatic
expansion is also quite costly and could, again, easily be in the tens of billions of
dollars.
Summing Up the Evidence for Long-Run Costs
While it is not possible to place a precise price tag on the long run cost of these
proposals, they are clearly much more costly than is suggested by the near-term
revenue estimates. An estimate of $300 to $500 billion, or even more, over a 10-year
period does not seem unreasonable — a significant contrast to the $2 billion revenue
gain in the short run projected by the Treasury for its FY2004 proposal, the $4 billion
loss projected by the Joint Committee on Taxation for that same plan, or the $5.5
billion gain projected by the Treasury for the FY2005 proposal.17 This huge
Proposals: Preliminary Analysis," Tax Notes, March 3, 2003, pp. 1423-1446.
16 Joint Committee on Taxation, "Estimates of Federal Tax Expenditures for Fiscal Years
2004-2008," December 22, 2003.
17 A recent CBO working paper, "A Steady-state Analysis of Proposals to Reduce the Tax
on Saving," by Paul Burnham, February 2006, estimated a loss of $17 billion per year in a
steady state, well above the official annual cost estimates of the first ten years of the
discrepancy occurs for two reasons: the losses from additional savings in tax favored
forms are small in the short run relative to the long run, and the temporary short- run
revenue gains from the substitution of back-loaded for front-loaded plans and
rollovers is large enough to more or less offset these losses.
Economic Effects: Savings, Distributional Effects
and Interaction with Other Tax Favored Savings
Several important economic issues arise with respect to expanding savings
incentives. The focus of the Administration and perhaps of other supporters of the
plan is to increase savings and economic growth. Critics are often concerned about
distributional effects; savings incentives tend to favor higher income individuals.
The ceilings on contributions, however, limits the benefit available to high income
individuals. The expansion of tax preferred savings vehicles, particularly a general
one, will have consequences for other tax favored forms including pensions,
individual retirement accounts directed at pensions, tax favored educational savings
accounts, and other forms of tax preferred investment income including tax exempt
bonds and life insurance annuities. This section discusses these economic effects.
Effects on Savings
There has been extensive debate about the effect of individual retirement18
accounts on savings. This debate has addressed both theoretical and empirical
program. The estimate appears to reflect an assumption that only 20% of corporate stocks
can be shifted into these accounts. The author gives no rationale behind this assumption,
and due to a very non-restrictive nature of the proposed accounts, it may be conservative.
18 For a more complete discussion of the savings literature, see Jane G. Gravelle, The
Economic Effects of Taxing Capital Income (Cambridge, MA., MIT Press, 1994), p. 27 for
a discussion of the general empirical literature on savings and pp. 193-197 for a discussion
of the empirical studies of IRAs. Subsequent to this survey, a paper by Orazio P. Attanasio
and Thomas C. DeLeire, "The Effect of Individual Retirement Accounts on Household
Consumption and National Savings," Economic Journal, vol.112, July 2002, pp. 504-538,
was published. That study found little evidence that IRAs increased savings. For additional
surveys see the three articles published in the fall 1996 Journal of Economic Perspectives,
vol. 10: R. Glenn Hubbard and Jonathan Skinner, "Assessing the Effectiveness of Savings
Incentives," (pp. 73-90); James M. Poterba, Steven F. Venti and David A. Wise, "How
Retirement Savings Programs Increase Saving," (pp. 91-113); Eric M. Engen, William G.
Gale, and John Karl Scholz, "The Illusory Effects of Savings Incentives on Saving," (pp.
113-138). An International Monetary Fund working paper by Alun Thomas and Christopher
Towe, "U.S. Private Saving and the Tax Treatment of IRA/401(k)s: A Re-examination
Using Household Saving Data," Aug. 1996, found that IRAs did not increase private
household saving. A study by Eric M. Engen, Federal Reserve Board, and William G. Gale,
Brookings Institution, found that 401(k) plans, which are similar to IRAs in some ways, did
not have much effect on savings. See "Debt, Taxes, and the Effects of 401(k) Plans on
Household Wealth Accumulation," May 1997. A recent simulation study in the American
Economic Review, while not based on direct empirical evidence, suggests only a small
evidence on savings incentives in general, and on the particular effects of individual
retirement accounts, which were made available to all individuals in the period 1981-
If one begins with overall evidence on savings with incentives without caps or
strings attached, even this evidence does not necessarily suggest private savings
would increase. The effect of a tax reduction on savings is theoretically ambiguous
because of offsetting income and substitution effects. The increased rate of return
may cause individuals to substitute future for current consumption and save more (a
substitution effect), but, at the same time, the higher rate of return will allow
individuals to save less and still obtain a larger target amount (an income effect).
The overall consequence for savings depends on the relative magnitude of these two
Empirical evidence on the relationship of the rate of return to the saving rate is
mixed, indicating mostly small effects of uncertain direction. Thus, individual
contributions to IRAs may have resulted from a shifting of existing assets into IRAs
or a diversion of savings that would otherwise have occurred into IRAs. A more
stark illustration of the uncertainty of increasing savings with a higher rate of return
is the juxtaposition of high returns in the stock market with a dramatic reduction in
the personal savings rate — suggesting that income or wealth effects dominated
behavior. This fall in the savings rate in the face of high returns provides some
additional evidence that expanded IRAs may not be successful in increasing savings
IRAs are even less likely to increase savings because they are subject to
contribution limits. For those who have saving in excess of the limit, there is no
marginal incentive. In this case, only the income effect dominates.
There is one caveat about this theoretical point — in the case of front-loaded (or
traditional) IRAs, there is some reason to expect that the tax cut itself would be saved
or largely saved. That is because the savings plan has a future tax liability attached
to it (when withdrawn) so that even if an individual were not affected by the savings
incentives in the normal way, he or she would wish to save the tax cut to pay the
future tax. (This choice would keep consumption fixed.) This analysis applies,
however, only to front-loaded IRAs, and not to the back-loaded forms in the
Administration proposal.
Note that despite this conventional analysis of IRAs and savings, some
economists have argued that IRA contributions were largely new savings. The
theoretical argument has been made that the IRAs increase savings because of
psychological, "mental account," or advertising reasons. Individuals may need the
attraction of a large initial tax break; they may need to set aside funds in accounts that
fraction of IRA contributions represent net savings. See Ayse Imrohoroglu, Selahattin
Imrohoroglu, and Douglas H. Joines, "The Effect of Tax-Favored Accounts on Capital
Accumulation," vol. 88, Sept. 1998, pp. 749-768.
are restricted to discipline themselves to maintain retirement funds; or they may need
the impetus of an advertising campaign to remind them to save.
There has also been some empirical evidence presented to suggest that IRAs
increase savings. This evidence includes both some simple observations that
individuals who invested in IRAs did not reduce their non-IRA assets and a variety
of statistical studies, especially estimates by Venti and Wise, that showed that IRA
contributions were primarily new savings.19
However, the fact that individuals with IRAs do not decrease their other assets
does not prove that IRA contributions were new savings; it may simply mean that
individuals who were planning to save in any case chose the tax-favored IRA
mechanism. The Venti and Wise estimate has been criticized on theoretical grounds
and another study by Gale and Scholz using similar data found no evidence of a
savings effect.20 A study by Manegold and Joines comparing savings behavior of
those newly eligible for IRAs and those already eligible for IRAs found no evidence
of an overall effect on savings, although increases were found for some individuals
and decreases for others; a study by Attanasio and DeLeire also using this approach
found little evidence of an overall savings effect.21 And, while one must be careful
in making observations from a single episode, there was no overall increase in the
savings rate during the period that IRAs were universally available, despite large
contributions to IRAs. Similarly, the household savings rate continued (and actually
accelerated) its decline after expansion of IRAs in 1997.22
An important issue for evaluating the Administration proposal is that, in any
case, the argument regarding private savings of the up front benefit and the debate
on the psychological effects of IRAs on savings concerned the effects of front-loaded,
or deductible, IRAs. These arguments do not apply to back-loaded IRAs. If the
objective of the plan were to encourage private savings, the front-loaded form would
have been more appropriate. Indeed, by repealing the front-loaded form and
requiring back-loaded approaches, there should be a direct reduction in savings from
this effect, even if savings incentives otherwise have no effect on savings.
Individuals who now effectively "prepay" their taxes (which gives the government
its revenue gain) should reduce their savings by an equal amount.
19 This material has been presented by Steve Venti and David Wise in several papers; see,
for example, "Have IRAs Increased U.S. Savings?," Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol.
105, Aug. 1990, pp. 661-698.
20 See William G. Gale and John Karl Scholz, "IRAs and Household Savings," American
Economic Review, Dec. 1994, pp. 1233-1260. A detailed explanation of the modeling
problem with the Venti and Wise study is presented in Jane G. Gravelle, "Do Individual
Retirement Accounts Increase Savings?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 5, spring
21 See Douglas H. Joines and James G. Manegold, "IRAs and Savings: Evidence from a
Panel of Taxpayers," University of Southern California; Orazio P. Attanasio and Thomas
C. DeLeire, "IRA's and Household Saving Revisited: Some New Evidence," National
Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper 4900, October 1994.
22 See CRS Report RS20224, The Collapse of Household Savings: Why Has It Happened
and What Are Its Implications?, By Brian Cashell and Gail Makinen.
Of course, the effectiveness of an expansion of IRAs is also affected by
contribution limits, since anyone contributing at the limit would not be affected at the
margin. For some individuals, there is currently no marginal effect but would now
be one which would tend to induce savings; for other new contributors who are still
at the limit, there would be no marginal effect and the income effects will reduce
savings. Higher contribution limits increase the fraction of revenue loss that is
associated with marginal investment. Nevertheless as shown in Tables 4 and 5,
under our simulations, a significant amount of revenue goes to individuals who are
at the maximum limit (excluding sales of capital assets, 56% at the lower limit and
24% at the higher limit).
This discussion relates only to private savings. If the deficit increases in the
long run, then national savings could fall even if private savings did rise.
Most of the evidence presented here suggests that the proposal is unlikely to
increase savings, or if it does increase savings, the effects would be small. However,
one point is clear: by choosing a form of subsidy that reduces short-run revenue
costs, the Administration is also choosing a form that is least likely to increase
private savings and most likely to reduce them.
Table 4. Revenue Impact and Contributions Limits in a Steady
State, Excluding Sales of Capital Assets
Revenue impact from returns with
AssumedTotal
thresholdrevenuePassive income belowPassive income over
value impact threshold threshold
$$ million$ million%$ million%
5,000 26,698 11,802 44.2 14,896 55.8
15,000 43,106 26,576 61.7 16,530 38.3
Source: CRS calculations.
Table 5. Revenue Impact and Contribution Limits in a Steady
State, Including Sales of Capital Assets
5,000 31,408 16,579 52.8% 14,829 47.2%
15,000 55,020 38,399 69.8% 16,620 30.2%
Distributional Effects
Tax proposals vary in the extent to which they benefit high income versus low
income individuals. Savings subsidies typically benefit higher income individuals,
who are far more likely to have significant savings. The benefits of IRAs are
somewhat constrained for high income individuals compared to other savings
subsidies, however, because of the dollar ceilings and, in the case of current IRAs,
the income limits, which are particularly severe for traditional individual retirement
accounts. This proposal raises the contribution limits and ends the income limits.
To examine the distributional effects, we return to the assumptions used to
assess the general magnitude of the long run revenue estimates. Tables 6 and 7
show for every assumed threshold what share of the total tax savings is attributable
to every income class, average tax savings per return, and share of these savings in
adjusted gross income (AGI) of the income class. In Table 6, for example, in the
case of a $15,000 cap, taxpayers with AGI between $50,000 and $75,000 would
receive 15.77% of the total tax savings received by all filers in all income classes.
On average, each return in the group would see $394 in tax savings, which represents
0.65% of AGI.
CRS-15
e Distributional Effects of the Proposal Under Assumed Thresholds in a Steady State, Excluding
Gains on Sales of Capital Assets
Assumed
threshold $5,000 $15,000 $35,000
Share ofAverageReductionShare ofAverageReductionShare ofAverageReduction as
AGI rangeliabilityreduction peras a shareliabilityreduction peras a share ofliabilityreduction pera share of
($000s)reductionreturn, $of AGIreductionreturn, $AGIreductionreturn, $AGI
0 10 1.22% 12 0.40% 0.78% 12 0.41% 0.62% 12 0.41%
20 4.96% 54 0.36% 3.71% 65 0.44% 2.94% 65 0.44%
30 6.10% 87 0.35% 5.06% 116 0.47% 4.10% 119 0.48%
iki/CRS-RL3222840 6.41% 127 0.37% 5.56% 178 0.51% 4.73% 192 0.55%
g/w50 6.81% 179 0.40% 6.37% 269 0.60% 5.79% 309 0.69%
s.or75 16.93% 263 0.43% 15.77% 394 0.65% 14.44% 457 0.75%
leak100 14.92% 500 0.58% 14.21% 766 0.89% 13.33% 909 1.06%
://wiki200 22.88% 846 0.64% 23.01% 1,369 1.04% 22.85% 1,720 1.30%
http500 13.34% 1,857 0.64% 15.84% 3,547 1.23% 17.80% 5,039 1.74%
1000 3.88% 2,904 0.43% 5.47% 6,593 0.97% 6.95% 10,587 1.56%
NA 2.54% 3,234 0.10% 4.22% 8,664 0.28% 6.44% 16,717 0.53%
100.00% 206 0.45% 100.00% 331 0.72% 100.00% 418 0.91%
CRS calculations.
e Distributional Effects of the Proposal Under Assumed Thresholds in a Steady State With Capital
Share ofAverageReductionShare ofAverageReductionShare ofAverageReduction
liabilityreduction peras a share ofliabilityreduction peras a share ofliabilityreduction peras a share of
I range ($000s)reductionreturn, $AGIreductionreturn, $AGIreductionreturn, $AGI
10 20 4.60% 60 0.40% 3.37% 77 0.52% 2.49% 78 0.52%
20 30 5.68% 97 0.39% 4.52% 136 0.55% 3.47% 143 0.58%
iki/CRS-RL3222830 40 6.12% 146 0.42% 5.10% 214 0.61% 4.13% 237 0.68%
g/w40 50 6.58% 208 0.46% 5.97% 330 0.74% 5.14% 389 0.87%
s.or50 75 16.99% 317 0.52% 15.39% 504 0.82% 13.52% 606 0.99%
leak75 100 15.45% 622 0.72% 14.58% 1,029 1.20% 13.28% 1,283 1.49%
://wiki100 200 24.27% 1,079 0.82% 25.46% 1,982 1.50% 26.01% 2,775 2.11%
http200 500 13.08% 2,188 0.76% 16.16% 4,736 1.64% 19.26% 7,730 2.67%
500 1000 3.46% 3,111 0.46% 4.97% 7,834 1.16% 6.66% 14,386 2.13%
1000 NA 2.17% 3,327 0.11% 3.49% 9,360 0.30% 5.31% 19,544 0.62%
Current IRA provisions are designed to limit the benefits to high income
individuals both through ceilings and income limits. However, a significant benefit
accrues to the highest income taxpayers for this proposal. Comparing Table 6 with
Table 8, which contains a distribution of the population, we see, for example, that
in the case of the $15,000/$30,000 assumed cap, the bottom 40% of the population
gets 4% of the tax cut, the top 15 % gets about 60%, and the top 2% gets a quarter.
The dollar benefit per return rises rapidly across the income classes because higher
income individuals save much more that lower income ones, and, to a lesser extent,
because of higher marginal tax rates.
Table 8. Number of Returns by Income Class
AGI RangeReturns
($000s) Number Share
0 10 27,456,833 21.6%
10 20 24,076,129 18.9%
40 50 9,955,658 7.8%
75 100 7,798,113 6.1%
100 200 7,066,359 5.6%
200 500 1877722 1.5%
500 1,000 349,122 0.3%
1,000 NA 204,920 0.2%
Total 127,075,187 100.0%
When examining absolute tax savings or the distribution of tax benefits, high
income individuals tend to have larger benefits (absent restrictions on availability
through caps or exclusions) because they have much higher incomes. Almost any
general tax cut would exhibit some degree of this pattern. There is a case for using,
instead, a relative measure of redistribution. A way to measure the relative
distribution is to examine the tax savings as a percent of income (ideally as a percent
of after-tax income). This relative distribution measure still indicates a shift in
relative income from lower incomes to higher incomes through most of the income
distribution. Where the peak is reached depends on the cap used and the inclusion of
full capital gains; however, in both Table 6 and Table 7, the peak generally is
reached in either the $100,000 to $200,000 income class or the $200,000 to $500,000
class, suggesting that the relative benefit rises through 90% to 95% of the income
distribution. Thus, except for the very wealthiest income classes (that is, the top 5%
or 10% of the population), the provision increases the relative share of disposable
income for higher income people — that is, redistributes income shares to the well-
Effects on Other Types of Tax Favored Savings
The final economic consequence of a new savings account proposal, particularly
one with no strings attached, is that it would reduce participation in alternative tax
favored savings, as a new substitute becomes available. There are several types of
tax favored uses that might be reduced, including employer pensions, standard
individual retirement accounts, insurance plans, tax favored education savings
accounts, tax exempt bonds, owner occupied housing, and tax favored capital gains
and dividends. The displacement of tax favored accounts may be a desirable or an
undesirable outcome for purposes of efficiency gains. For example, the current tax
rules favor investment in owner-occupied housing, and diverting funds out of
housing and into other types of investments may be desirable. The shift into passive
forms of investment also favors debt finance, disfavors equity investments in
unincorporated businesses, and has mixed effects on corporate equity. Encouraging
employer pensions through tax benefits has some potential benefits but may also
involve some distortions.
Following the release of the FY2004 proposals, much attention was focused on
the effect of employer plans in discussion, and most attention will be devoted to that
issue. This possible effect is cited as one of the reasons for scaling down the limits
from $7,500 to $5,000.
Employer Pension Plans. Actually, the Administration proposal also
proposes to simplify employer plans, including substituting Employee Retirement
Savings Accounts for existing employer plans such as 401(k)s and allowing after tax
(back-loaded style) employee contributions. The objective is to simplify these plans
for employers (although the switch to back-loaded plans could reduce private savings
and affect revenue patterns just as in the case of LSAs and RSAs).
While it is possible that the simplifications in the proposal could increase
employer coverage, much more attention has been devoted to the possible effects of
the individual plans on employer pension plans, particularly in the case of LSAs.
Since LSAs have no strings attached, individuals might find it more attractive to
reduce their voluntary 401(k) or similar contributions not matched by employer
contributions and put such money instead into LSAs. Because these plans could be
easily tapped for non-retirement uses, the LSAs could actually reduce retirement
savings.
An even more serious issue arises with small business plans, and relates not only
to the LSAs but also to the linking of benefits of highly paid employees and rank-
and-file employees. Many small-business owners find setting up a plan complicated,
but may still do it to make their own retirement plans (and plans of their highly
compensated workers) more tax-favored. Qualification for tax purposes requires a
plan to cover rank and file employees as well as owners and top officers. The basic
argument made in many of these discussions is that small-business owners, finding
individual retirement plans with high ceilings and, in the case of LSAs, no strings
attached, will now prefer to save through individual accounts rather than by setting
up retirement plans within their firms for themselves and their employees. With a
$7,500 ceiling in each account (LSA and RSA), a married couple could save $30,000
per year (and save additional amounts in children's accounts).
These views have been expressed by a number of different groups and
organizations. For example, the executive director of the American Society of
Pension Actuaries (ASPA) stated: "It is an understatement to suggest that the impact
of these proposals on small business retirement plan coverage will be anything less
than devastating."23 Similarly, the president of the Profit-Sharing 401k Council of
America (PSCA) stated: "The proposed changes significantly erode the tax code
incentives that encourage employers to accept the fiduciary obligation and expense
that come with offering a retirement plan ... The current approach links the
availability of tax benefits for decision makers and better off workers with the
retirement savings of lower paid employees. This linkage requires that employers
incentivize lower paid workers to save for retirement by using expensive matching
contributions as well as conducting aggressive educational campaigns."24 Jack
VanDerhei, a business professor associated with the Employee Benefit Research
Institute, when commenting on the benefits of LSAs and RSAs, stated, "That's
probably enough for most small employers, who could jettison doing anything for
their employees and still get enough of a tax break."25 Many other groups have made
similar arguments.26 There are also arguments that even larger employers might
abandon plans because of the availability of individual tax deferred savings for their
employees.
While there is no way to know for certain the effects of the proposal on
employer plans, it does seem possible — and, according to the groups quoted above,
likely — that the individual savings accounts, despite simplification for employer
plans, ultimately reduce the coverage of employer pensions.
Individual Retirement Accounts and Life Insurance Products.
Individual retirement accounts for individuals not at the limit of their combined
savings could be displaced by the LSAs, which have no penalties for early
withdrawal or other strings attached. Under the latest Administration proposal such
conversion becomes mandatory.
Any life insurance product that has a savings elements involves a tax subsidy
in the form of deferred taxes on earnings. Even term life policies if they have level
premiums involve an accumulation of earnings tax free, and whole life policies
explicitly provide inside buildup. Finally, life insurance companies offer plans that
are particularly aimed at achieving tax benefits in the form of annuities.
23 "ASPA Opposes Bush Administration Savings Initiative," ASPA Press Release, February
2, 2003.
24 "President's Proposals Will Reduce the Appeal of Employer Plans," PSCA Press Release,
February 5, 2003.
25 This statement is quoted in Aaron Bernstein, "Bush's Retirement Rx is Bad Medicine,"
Business Week Online, February 18, 2003,
[ h t t p : / / www.b u s i n e s s w e e k . c o m/ c a r e e r s / c o n t e n t / f e b2003/ ca20030218_8886_ca030.ht m] ,
visited December 31, 2003.
26 Criticisms have also been made by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
(AICPA) Tax Section (whose letter was the subject of a September 2, 2003 response from
the Treasury Department). See also the comments reported in CRS Report RS21541,
Retirement Savings Accounts: The President's Budget Proposal for 2004, by Patrick Purcell.
Since the tax exemption benefit for LSAs and RSAs is greater than the deferral
benefit, the attractiveness of these products, particularly in cases where tax reduction
is a principal objective, could fall substantially.
These shifts may not involve efficiency costs — and may involve gains — but
they would be disruptive for the life insurance industry.
Education Savings Accounts.<|fim_middle|> determining
the interest amounts in Table 1.
To estimate the pattern, we assumed that each year money is put into an account
where it grows for 15 years and then is withdrawn as a level annuity for the next 10
years. We assumed that contributions in each case are a constant share of output.
While variations in holding periods and withdrawal patterns will affect the results,
this example illustrates the general pattern.
Because of the time path of a Roth IRA, the cost is very small in the beginning
but grows rapidly.28 For example, in the first year, earnings from a Roth IRA that are
exempt from tax per dollar of contributions is r, where r is the interest rate, assuming
an annual interest payment. In the second year, the value is r(1+r) +r, or slightly
more than double (the first term is interest on the original first year contribution,
while the second is the interest on the second year contribution).
Based on calculations assuming a 7% interest rate and a 3% growth rate (g), and
keeping all measures constant relative to GDP, in the first year assets in the accounts
(and revenue costs) are 3% the size of their steady-state value. By the fifth year, they
are 18% of the value of the steady state size relative to GDP (which is reached in 25
years). By the 10th year, they are 41% of the size. On average, over the five-year
period, the cost is 11% of the steady state cost; over a 10-year period, the cost is only
one-fifth of the steady-state value relative to GDP.
A Roth-type IRA's costs are directly related to the interest rate, since they
involve forgoing tax on interest. If interest rates are relatively low during the
estimating period, as there is some reason to believe to be the case, the revenue loss
will be even further below the steady-state values. This effect does not occur with
traditional deductible IRAs, whose costs in the short run are related only to
contribution levels.
Mathematically, to perform the calculations, designate the period the IRA grows
prior to withdrawal as and the entire period the IRA exists as . To measure the′TT
revenue cost for the Roth IRA, we estimate the cumulated value of assets in the fund.
For t years in the future, t less than , for each value of a dollar invested currently,′T
there are e-gt dollars invested that have grown at rate r, so the value of that vintage of(r-g)t
accounts is e. Integrating the value of assets yields a value at time t of:
27 The pattern of both forms is estimated in Jane G. Gravelle, "Estimating Long run Revenue
Effects of Tax Law Changes," Eastern Economic Journal, vol. 19, Fall 1993, pp. 481-494.
28 This revenue cost assumes that Roth IRAs displace other investments, a finding consistent
with empirical evidence and with economic theory (which suggest that these provisions can
either decrease or increase savings). In any case, the relative pattern of costs should be
similar as long as some cost occurs.
(1) Cumulative value at time:
t(e 1)/(rg)(r g ) t=−−−
For t greater than T' but less than T, one must take account of the value of funds
that have been partially withdrawn. An annuity for a dollar that grows at rate r for(rT')-r(T-T')
T' years and then is withdrawn over (T - T') years is e r/(1-e). The
remaining value in the asset account is:
()()eerT r T t−⎛ ⎞′−−1
(2) ()()VtrTT=⎜⎜⎟⎟−−′
e−⎝ ⎠1
when t reaches T, the numerator becomes zero.
To cumulate these amounts over time, recognize that the value in (2) is
multiplied by , and integrate from to t, to obtain:egt−′T
(3) Cumulative value of (2) at time t =
t (r g) T'−− −−−
[e rT' /( 1 e r(T t') )]{e gT' -e-g t /g - e-r T (e (r g) e )/(r g)}− − −
For period t, t greater than but less than T, the total asset value is (1) plus (3),′T
with t set at in (1). For t greater than T, substitute T for t in (3) and obtain the′T
steady state (relative to GDP) results by adding (1) and (3). If we set the second first
term in the curly brackets (the one divided by r-g) to zero and multiply the result by
the interest rate, the formula gives us the cumulative value of withdrawals at time t,
which are relevant to traditional IRA revenue losses.
For present value calculation each year's revenue loss is discounted at rate r-g.
For a constant relative to GDP cost, the share of the cost allocable to the first t years
is .()1−−−erg
To determine the ceilings in Table 1, assuming that contributions are indexed
to inflation levels, note that a contribution made t years ago grows by the nominal
interest r and thus has grown to a value that is times the original contribution. Atert
the same time; each contribution t years ago is for each dollar today, where B iset−π
the inflation rate. Integrating over all the investments, we obtain:
t−
(4) Cumulative value at time t(e1)/(rp)(rp)=−−
and the current earnings are:
(5) Current earnings at time tr(e 1)/(rp)(rp)=−−
Earnings are therefore a function of the nominal interest rate, the inflation rate, and
the period of time the asset has been accumulating. | Tax benefits are provided for a variety of
educational savings accounts, whose tax-favored benefits depend on using the funds
for educational purposes. Under the Administration's FY2007 proposals, LSAs
would either displace these accounts or include them as a kind of sub-account.
Although certain types of education plans could be retained, for example due to state-
provided tax benefits, the attractiveness of a no-strings-attached LSA should lead to
the displacement of many of the educational accounts for those who are not saving
at the limit. Qualified tuition plans are more likely to remain concentrated among
high income individuals, where the incentive probably matters least, and less likely
to apply to moderate income individuals where the relative benefits may actually
influence decisions on how much to spend on education.
Tax Exempt Bonds. Tax exempt bonds carry lower interest rates than
equivalent taxable bonds. With favorable tax treatment for many other investments,
the demand for tax exempt bonds should contract which would raise financing costs
for state and local governments. Many analysts have criticized the tax subsidy for
state and local bond finance, which is largely an accident of history and of
constitutional interpretation, and might support this displacement. But it will place
an additional burden on the States and localities.
Owner Occupied Housing, Debt and Business Equity. The tax
exemption would shift investment into passive forms and out of equity investments
in owner occupied housing and unincorporated business including rental housing).
In general, the shift out of owner-occupied housing should increase economic
efficiency because this type of investment is favored. The shift out of unincorporated
business equity may decrease efficiency. The effects on corporate equity, the most
heavily taxed type of investment, is uncertain: while the changes favor corporate
equity relative to investments in other types of equity, the savings proposals also
favor interest more than dividends and capital gains (which are subject to lower rates)
— and thus shifts assets into debt.
The Administration justifies its proposal on the grounds of simplification as
well as incentives to save. For most taxpayers, the current choice is either a back-
loaded or a front-loaded retirement, education, health, or other account, with
restrictions more limited on back-loaded plans and income limits differing.
(Individuals whose incomes exceed the ceilings can invest in a non-deductible tax-
deferred account.) The proposal would replace these choices with two plans that
individuals could invest in simultaneously, the RSA and the LSA. The proposal may
simplify rules by eliminating disparities among currently existing tax-preferred
accounts. It is important to keep in mind, though, that the substantial long-run costs
of the proposal may make this simplification effort a very costly one.
Although simplification may serve as an impetus for this change, it is unclear
how much simpler the resulting system would be. There would still remain a
disparity between RSAs and LSAs. The LSA rules are less restrictive than those of
RSA because they do not have age-based withdrawal penalties.
Furthermore, some disparities do not disappear under the FY2007 proposal but
rather become less conspicuous. For example, it retains some qualified tuition plans
as sub-accounts within LSAs. The funds within RSAs may be treated differently
depending on their origin: rollovers from some existing accounts may be subject to
various additional requirements compared to the new contributions. The FY2007
proposal would also retain limited traditional IRAs. Finally, at this point the
Administration's proposal is just a conceptual framework, free of all the intricate
details that ultimately determine the complexity or simplicity of the whole system.
If simplification were the principal goal, it would be much easier to permit a
certain dollar amount of passive income to be excluded, without requiring the
complications of keeping accounts, at least for LSAs. This approach would,
however, cost more in the short run because the growth of the accounts limits the
initial revenue cost.
This appendix presents the method of estimating the growth pattern of a back-27
loaded tax favored savings account for projecting revenue, and also for | 855 |
Following my visit to the David Davies, I left Jim and Pauline Meads late that afternoon and made my way through Newtown up to Knighton where the following morning the Huntsman of the Teme Valley, David Savage had very kindly agreed to show me his hounds. It was early June and the scars of winter were still very plain to see. The wooded valleys were weeks behind and far away from<|fim_middle|>, the floodgates opened and this is something I will quite frankly never forget.
Teme Valley Hounds
The Teme Valley Hunt like so many, have a solid relationship with their local community and are an example to us all. In 1978 David's father Roy, was appointed as huntsman. A Worcestershire man by birth, hunting a pack of hounds in the heart of the Welsh Marches was quite something in itself at the time. However the success he made of it became obvious. He, his hounds and their supporters were as much a part of the town and local area as the Vicar the Church and his congregation. Roy died in 2011 and his funeral had taken place in the town, and purely by chance, I just happened to be staying at the pub where the family had arranged his wake. Like so many of the great fell huntsmen they become a household name in their local area and it would appear Roy was no different. He was hugely respected as someone who had hunted these hounds for over thirty years and knew every nook and cranny of his hunting country. However, more importantly he would have known every farmer and shepherd who lived and worked there. This was born out by the landlady, who told me that they had never before had to cater for as many people for a funeral as they did for Roy Savage. It was an enormous compliment to an Englishman, when that day, the Welsh burst in to song, nearly lifting the roof off this well known inn!
David demonstrating the rapport he has with his hounds.
To have been given the chance to see the Teme Valley Hounds in kennels having heard so much about their popularity, was indeed, a privilege and Roy would have been so proud of them. They are in safe hands with David and whilst it must be hard taking them on after such a legend as his father, he is doing a cracking job. As you will see from the few photos I have put up, the hounds have taken to him in a way that can only bring continued success. There is Welsh blood here but there is also a large amount of fell, which should help considerably in hunting the open hill. It is a place where much of the time they have to hunt alone and work a line out without any help and guidance from their huntsman. It is here, that I can imagine Roy lighting up a fag and letting them get on with it, if for whatever reason he could not get to them! Such is the trust that evolves from that golden thread.
As this is being written hunting will be well underway and I can see those Teme Valley Hounds giving it their best for their young huntsman. There is no doubt, he has everything about him to make a real success of the job in hand. I am sure his father will be watching him very carefully, however that seal of approval seemed to come to David in a way which he and the family are unlikely ever to forget.
The last chapter of Roy's life was spent within earshot of his beloved hounds at Knighton Hospital, having been brought back from Shrewsbury to more comfortable surroundings. On Roy's final morning, David, having been with his father throughout the night, came home at eight o'clock to do the hounds and ensure all was well. David described that as he went into the kennels hounds suddenly "burst into song" in a way that he had never known before, and it was at that exact moment he received the call to say his father had peacefully passed away.
A few days later, when Roy was to be buried, the family gathered at the kennels waiting for him to come home before setting out on his final journey. In his honour David had put all the hunting hounds out on the yard nearest to the drive. As the hearse arrived the hounds fell completely silent and just stood there very still, but with their noses in the air, almost as though they had winded a fox in a patch of gorse bushes.
If ever there was a country where hunting was totally engrained in the local community it was here in the Teme Valley. To hear about and witness this was quite remarkable. However, if this is the case here in a quiet part of Wales, I just wonder how many more examples there are across the United Kingdom. Is this something, if we are not careful, we could just take for granted? I sincerely hope not.
I would like to pay tribute to David Savage for not only showing me his hounds but sharing his most moving experiences with me. It was a joy to spend time with him. His father would be a very proud man.
Bringing hounds to the Boxing Day Meet at Knighton. | coming into full leaf. The bracken appeared to be taking a complete year off, there was no sign of it smothering the hillsides as usual. It has been an extraordinary year to date and the sting in winter's tail bit very late into spring. A considerable amount of ewes and lambs were lost in this part of the world making what was already a very tight situation for the Hill Farmer even worse.
Driving through this truly beautiful country, I began to think that this looked as though it must be a very interesting place to go hunting and how right this was proved to be. Not only was the landscape special but the people were fascinating.
Arriving at Knighton shortly after eight I needed to find a good place for an evening meal and to rest my head and by luck I found the Horse and Jockey Inn, right in the middle of town. A comfortable billet and just what was needed for the night. Whilst sitting at the bar I happened to ask the landlady directions to the Teme Valley Kennels which I knew were just on the edge of town. Instructions were kindly given and on asking if she would happened to know the Savage Family | 237 |
CKN Chatter: Canadian Champ Callum Baxter talks about his FWT Rok Cup debut – CKN | CanadianKartingNews.com | Because Karting is a way of Life!
Over the past few seasons, we haven't seen too many drivers transition from the very popular Briggs 206 program upwards to two-cycle competition, whether it be Rotax Max or the new Rok Cup engines. It just seems that most drivers decide early on which direction they want to go and as the years go by, they stick to.
This cannot be said about Nova Scotia's Callum Baxter. A two-time ASN Canadian National Champion, first in Briggs Cadet (2017) and then in Briggs Junior Lite (2018), Baxter has progressed up the karting ladder over the past few seasons, and over the winter he has<|fim_middle|> Moncton, New Brunswick, along with a full season of out-of-province races. In Ontario he will keep his focus on his Briggs kart, moving up to Briggs Junior, while in Quebec he will compete in Rotax Max Junior and Briggs Junior. It will all lead up to the ASN Canadian Karting Championships, held at Mosport Kartways in Ontario where he has his eyes on a third straight Canadian title. He will once again team up with Gerald Caseley Racing with support from PSL Karting at select events.
In our latest edition of CKN Chatter, we tracked down Callum to ask a few questions about his Rok Cup debut, his 2019 season and the support he has received from PSL Karting.
After racing Briggs at the first round of the FWT, what motivated you to come back and race the Rok Junior for the first time in round 2?
Callum Baxter: I had so much fun racing Briggs at the first FWT race in January that I wanted to come back for the second race in February. After all, I have no other racing in the winter and I miss it. But, I knew there was no Briggs in the second round. When I watched Rok Junior the first round it looked like fun with all the karts and the fast speed. I wanted to do that. So I asked my Dad if I could go back and race Rok, and I am glad he said yes.
Describe your feelings in Miami at FWT2. How comfortable were you in the Rok? How was the speed adjustment after previously racing a Briggs?
Callum Baxter: There is a big difference between driving Briggs and driving ROK. The first couple sessions in the Rok I had to get used to it but I got more comfortable as the day went on. I enjoyed it more than Briggs because of all the karts and it was way faster. The Rok is faster and more tiring to drive than Briggs. I like racing both.
What are your plans for the remainder of 2019? Will you be racing Briggs, Rok, Rotax?
Callum Baxter: In Ontario, I will be racing Briggs Junior for CRFKC and some club races there. I will race Briggs and Moncton and both Rotax and Briggs in Coupe de Montreal in Quebec. I plan to race Rotax at the Canadian Open this year as well and of course, the Canadian Championships at Mosport in Briggs Junior.
Looking at the Canadian Championships this summer, you have a chance to win three titles in a row. What would you prefer more, the Briggs Junior title or the Rok Junior title?
Callum Baxter: I would probably prefer to win the Briggs Junior title because it would be cool to have won the Briggs Cadet Championship, moved up and won the Briggs Junior Lite Championship and then move up again to Briggs Junior and win that. Also, there is a lot more Briggs Juniors at the Canadian Karting Championship usually so that would be challenging and fun. Rok Junior would be awesome too, maybe in time, I can win both.
Finally, what can you say about the support you've received from PSL Karting?
Callum Baxter: The support from PSL Karting is amazing because I would not be able to do a lot of the races that I do if they didn't let me under their tent and supply parts. Kevin King was awesome to help me learn the Rok and just coach me that whole weekend.
CKN will be trackside at Ocala Gran Prix this week for the final stop of the 2019 Florida Winter Tour. Tune in often for Live Timing, daily reports and our fan-favourite photo galleries. | taken the next step in his motorsports journey.
Baxter recently competed in the first two rounds of Rok Cup Florida Winter Tour, both in Miami. First, he competed in the Briggs 206 showcase at round one and when the class wasn't offered for round two, he chose to make his debut in Rok Junior on the challenging temporary circuit laid out in the parking lot of the Hard Rock Stadium.
Baxter made his two-cycle debut in the Montreal Cup season finale last fall in Mont-Tremblant with a Rotax Max powerplant, but he drove in Miami like he's been there many times before, on a temporary circuit no less. While he was in the middle portion of the grid, Baxter kept his PSL Karting prepared BirelART kart out of the barriers and spent the entire weekend learning, competing and passing on a track that punished mistakes. By no means did he look like he was driving at massively increased speeds for only the second time in his life.
This week Baxter will be back in Florida to compete in the third and final round of the Florida Winter Tour and he will be back in Briggs Junior at Ocala Gran Prix, a short and racy race track in North Florida. With the winter months nearly over, Baxter is using this opportunity to stay sharp and work on his skill set in anticipation of the 2019 Canadian karting season, in which he will be a very busy karter.
He will once again compete at his home kart club, East Coast Karting in | 310 |
For being all instrumental, Pavlo's Mediterranean music speaks for itself.<|fim_middle|>15's Guitarradas with Remigio Pereira, and 2009's Trifecta with fellow guitar masters Rik Emmett and Oscar Lopez. Born in Toronto to Greek parents, Pavlo has made a name for himself by offering a musical amalgam he simply calls "Mediterranean music" – a blend of Greek, flamenco, Latin, and even Balkan flavours, wrapped in contemporary pop. His music has taken him all around the world. Along the way he's performed for royalty in the likes of Prince Charles and worked and toured with artists such as José Feliciano, Jon Secada, Olivia Newton-John and The Tenors. It has never been more convincing, Pavlo is a TRUE WORLD artist, and has become famous for bringing every audience to their feet. Pavlo is currently on tour promoting his second PBS special "Live in Kastoria" Greece which will air locally on WGBY-PBS Springfield as part of their pledge drive. | Over the span of his 20-year career, Pavlo, the internationally renowned, award-winning recording artist, performer and songwriter, has released 11 albums of his own music, plus two collaborative projects, including 20 | 47 |
We remember watching in awe as the seniors dressed up in costumes, each day's get-ups more elaborate than the last, all culminating in a flurry of school pride at the end of the week. We remember listening to the seniors screaming their graduation years in the halls, their voices piercing through the usual buzz, and we couldn<|fim_middle|> into reality | 't help but get excited for our turn.
In our freshman year we began counting the days until our senior spirit week would happen. And then it didn't.
For most students, going to Lane Tech is a crucial part of our identity, and Homecoming, the week-long party where we can celebrate this identity, has been cut short.
When the Chicago Teachers Union went on strike, it caused district-wide scheduling fiascos. For our Lane community, that meant an Oktoberfest in November, if at all, and most significantly, a seemingly constantly shifting Homecoming and a shortened Spirit Week.
While other CPS and suburban schools had their homecoming in mid-September, Lane students will bundle up and brave the snow in order to show their school spirit in mid-November.
We understand that administration and Student Council did their best to accommodate a Homecoming week after the strike, but we question why we had to schedule Homecoming for after the strike in the first place.
It's not like the administration didn't know there was going to be a strike, and there were plenty of football games and warm fall days in early October.
Additionally, the games for the past two years have been scheduled for Saturdays, with a claim that they are "easier" for everyone to attend, particularly alumni and family.
However, moving games to Saturday has done nothing but inconvenience students and honestly, it makes no sense.
What is the point of having a pep rally on Friday during the school day when the game itself is on a Saturday? The whole point of a pep rally is to get everyone "pepped" for the game, which would occur that same day.
Staying at school late on the night of the game and going bowling at Waveland or picking up pizza from Pi-Hi to pass time are some of the best parts of Homecoming.
But now that the games are on a Saturday, attending them is entirely out of the question for some students, because there are prior weekend commitments, finalized work schedules and a lack of transportation.
Additionally, the shortened Spirit Week is one of the most significant issues with this Homecoming schedule.
The original Spirit Week was set for four days, leaving students with a celebration cut one day short. Seniors were initially upset about this because they wanted their full five days, but because of the strike and no-school November, Spirit Week was cut down to three days.
Thus, the senior Spirit Week tradition, which is meant to be within a span of a week, was crammed into just two days: Toga Tuesday and Hawaiian Wednesday.
While we are upset about the way Spirit Week has turned out, we want to recognize the student representatives for the Student Council and Executive Board, who were given the task of organizing a Spirit Week that they likely did not want or agree with.
There were no simple solutions to the Homecoming conundrum and we appreciate that administration and Student Council did the best they can to make everybody happy.
Nothing can be done to change the fact that Homecoming is now in November and that, at this point, we have to just take what is given.
But that doesn't mean that we don't have a right to be disappointed. Our senior class was robbed of a rich Lane tradition that gives students a sense of belonging to their class.
While we can't do anything but make the best out of our shortened Spirit Week, we would like to propose an additional senior Spirit Week during the week leading up to Decision Day, in which seniors are able to celebrate their high achievement through a full week of themed dress-up days.
Current students and their ideas should be taken into consideration above all else. There is no high school do-over.
Staff Editorials represent the majority view of The Warrior's Editorial Board.
Editorial Board,
Techno horror: When the digital world bleeds | 768 |
Dr. Nicholas Liverpool Highway Officially Commissioned
"On this the First day of November 2014, the year of or Lord, it gives me great pleasure to name the highway from Pond Case to the Douglas-Charles Airport the Dr. Nicholas Liverpool Highway."
This is how the Hon Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced the official naming and commissioning of the Dr. Nicholas Liverpool Highway last Saturday, November 1st, 2014.
The highway was named after Dr. Liverpool who served as the 7th President of Dominica from 2003 to 2012.
Significant amount<|fim_middle|>," said Dr. Liverpool.
A sign was also unveiled by Verna Liverpool, wife of Dr. Liverpool. | of financial resources have been invested by the ruling DLP Administration into the rehabilitation of the highway.
Emile Lancelot, Acting Chief Technical Officer in the Ministry of Public Works detailed, "The final cost of the road works is EC $74.3M and the bridges EC $9.3M exclusive of VAT."
Taxi driver, Paul Carlton has applauded the Roosevelt Skerrit-led Administration for the improvement to the highway saying, "It's a road on which you save time and problems; a road that the visitors that I drive are well-pleased with. One man said to me that to get investors here, we need good roads. And clap hands for those who see the need to bring good roads."
Hon Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit defended his Administration's decision to commission the highway in the name of Dr. Liverpool.
He stated, "We… rename this stretch of road from where we stand to the Douglas-Charles Airport after a distinguished son of the soil: a true patriot who through his brilliant and outstanding work in academia - in particular the law -and his loyal and dignified service to our country has earned himself regional and international acclaim. His work has caused the world to take a closer at Dominica."
H.E the President of Dominica Charles A. Savarin presented a plaque and scroll to dr. Nicholas Liverpool who then addressed the ceremony.
"On behalf of all members of my family, I must say how grateful we all are for this honour bestowed today | 300 |
The Best Wedding<|fim_middle|>. | Photographer category attracted over 3,000 votes. Among the nominees were some familiar names from the 2016 campaign, notably Fran Boloni, Dagmara Bojenko, Magdalena Martin and Krystal Kenney. There were also some newcomers to the campaign, including Anna Moskal and Anastasia Abramova. However, it was 2016 winner, Sławomir Janicki who ultimately reclaimed his title. This former Polish soldier, who took up photography during his final tour of Afghanistan, has proven once again to have a very strong following, amassing 900 of the votes.
During his final tour of Afghanistan in 2013, Master Sergeant Slawomir Janicki was presented with a career-changing opportunity. The Polish army was looking for volunteers to take official photos of his unit. Having a passing interest in photography, he put his name forward and ended up swapping his Beryllium 5.56mm assault rifle for a Nikon D300 camera. The images he saw through his newly adopted viewfinder would change his life. Read his full story here | 233 |
apartment, 2 - 4 people, 2 room/s, 1 bedroom/s, 1 bathroom/s, approx. <|fim_middle|> km. | 50 m², 1 floor/s, apartment on floor 1, restored, separate access to the property, via external stairs. Please note: Non-smoking house. Owner lives in the souterrain. Feature: Property on a manor (8 units in total). agricultural estate. Please note: Non-smoking house. Furnishing: holiday standard, rustic, cotto floor. Equipment: internet access Wi-Fi (included); gas central heating. Room layout: Living room/bed room: double sofa bed. Dining area: in the living room. Kitchenette: in the living room. Kitchen/ cooking equipment: 4 gas rings, refrigerator, coffee machine. Bedroom 1: 2 x single bed (0.80 m wide) it is allowed to put together the beds. Sanitary 1: shower, WC.
Electricity according to consumption approx. € 0,40/kWh. Gas according to consumption approx. € 5/cubic meter. Holiday resort tax. Linen/towels must be brought along. Bed linen and towels available on loan, € 8 per person/change (on order). Deposit € 150 (in cash). Cot 3x available, free of charge (on request). Pet not allowed.
Situation: detached position, rural, panoramic view. Access/parking: gravel road, approx. 1.1 km. parking on the estate. Estate (shared use with the owner and holiday guests): approx. 10 ha, open plot, grapevines, fruit trees, olive trees. Garden maintenance by the owner. Outdoor facilities(shared use): barbecue. Pool (shared use): 12.0 x 6.0 m, 1.20 - 1.60 m deep, 04.05.19-21.09.19. Pool area: tiled, deck chairs, sunshades, external shower. Sports facilities/ leisure time: shared use (free of charge): table tennis table. Infrastructure: washing machine (shared use, payment). Sale of own produce (depending on availability). Exterior (private use): Plot description: terrace 30 m², furnishing provided, sunshade. ● Distances: Center Rignano sull'Arno in approx. 2.5 km. Firenze in approx. 20 km. Next supermarket (Rignano sull'Arno) in approx. 2 km. Train station Rignano sull'Arno in approx. 3 km. Airport Firenze in approx. 25 | 541 |
The Tufts Graduate School, never<|fim_middle|> degree. | very large in proportion to the undergraduate schools, was even further reduced in size after the First World War. There were only ten students enrolled in 1919-20, of whom half were in the Department of History. Five years later the number was twelve, registered in six departments; only seven were first-year students. The abandonment of the Ph.D. program in 1907 had been one factor, and the failure of the school to be known outside the walls of the College had been another.There was only one recorded instance during Cousens' administration when the re-offering of the Ph.D. was considered. The idea was voted down by the graduate school faculty before it could even be referred to a committee for consideration. A decision was made in the fall of 1921 to grant no more Master's degrees in absentia, and this was expected by some to be a further deterrent. The long-standing privilege open to alumni of obtaining a professional engineering degree (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, or Chemical Engineer) after four or five years in the field, the presentation of a thesis, and an oral examination was therefore withdrawn.
Professor Fay, then dean of the graduate school, was so unhappy at this decision, which had been made by a bare majority of the graduate faculty, that he resigned. He was replaced in 1924 by Professor Herbert V. Neal of the Biology Department.68 Fay argued that, aside from depriving qualified alumni in engineering of an opportunity to obtain a professional degree, the residence requirement automatically put an extra burden on the faculty, who supervised graduate work as an additional duty anyway. He believed that if the Master's degree in absentia were not restored, the graduate school would have to be eliminated. His fears proved groundless, for graduate enrollment held its own and in fact increased slightly in the next decade.In the fall of 1926 there were nineteen graduate students in residence, registered in five of the fifteen departments which then offered graduate work.
Opinion was unanimous that the presence of the Braker and other graduate fellows, beginning in 1925-26, redounded to the great benefit of both the College and the graduate school.The Braker Fellowship program is discussed in the next chapter. The great majority of candidates for the Master of Arts degree in the 1930's intended to enter the teaching profession; in fact, such a high proportion became secondary school teachers that candidates were encouraged as a matter of course to take at least one semester's work in educational psychology. To accommodate even further such prospective candidates, including those handicapped by an eighteen-hour limit on education courses for undergraduates, the graduate faculty (with Trustee approval) began to offer the new degree of Master of Education in 1933-34. Thirty semester hours in the Department of Education and allied departments were required, twenty of which had to be earned in residence. Students had to attain a minimum grade of "B" in all courses to meet the degree requirements. Both a thesis and an oral examination were required, the thesis to be part of the thirty-credit requirement. A reading knowledge of one or more modern foreign languages was expected if necessary to develop thesis problems.Admission to the graduate school in any department required "an average of 'C' or better during their whole college course and an average higher than 'C' during the last two years." No applicant could have considered this an unreasonably high expectation in view of the minimum grade requirement of "B" in all courses counted toward any of the three Master's degrees being offered by the mid-1930's. The graduate faculty had voted in 1923 that "no work shall be accepted for the Master's degree for which a grade lower than 'B' has been attained."68 At the same time, the appointment of members of the graduate school faculty was assumed by the Trustees; this practice lasted through the Cousens administration. The number of graduate faculty in the 1930's averaged twenty- five, including the president and deans; all members had either Ph.D.'s or some degree of professorial rank, or both.
The Trustees helped to counteract the effects of financial depression in the 1930's by allowing recent graduates of the College unable to secure employment to continue their education in the graduate school without payment of tuition, provided they were in residence. Tuition for other graduate students was raised from $250 to $300, effective in 1935-36. The graduate faculty also liberalized its entrance requirements in 1931-32 by admitting candidates of high quality from any institution on the "accepted" list of the Association of American Universities rather than imposing conditions because the applicant's undergraduate courses did not include precisely the subjects required for the first degree at Tufts. It had been customary up to 1933 to admit without conditions only graduates of liberal arts colleges.Some local exceptions were provided. Beginning in 1920, holders of the S.T.B. from the Crane School could become candidates for the M.A. degree. At the same time, it was provided that holders of the Tufts B.S. degree could be admitted on the same basis as A.B. degree holders. With the introduction of the Master of Education degree, arrangements were made for graduates of the Tufts Engineering School who had not acquired competency in a foreign language to become candidates for the new degree.
Enrollment in the graduate school remained at a satisfactory level even during the 1930's, but the whole development of the school represented a somewhat artificial situation. It was not so much strong and growing in itself as propped up by special arrangements of various sorts. The Teaching Fellows in the Economics, English, and History Departments added significantly to the numbers in the graduate school, but when these programs were curtailed, the school would have virtually disappeared if the Trustees had not provided free tuition to all unemployed graduates who wished more formal education, and if a high proportion of the registrants had not been secondary school teachers who received tuition readjustments because their schools provided practice teaching facilities for Tufts students. Of the fifty-five students enrolled in the graduate school in 1934-35, only seven paid any tuition, and nine were special students who were not candidates for a degree.Many of these special students were college graduates who had failed to be admitted to medical school and hoped that additional study would enhance their opportunities for eventual admission. Dean Neal was firmly opposed to allowing the graduate school to function as this kind of preparatory agency. No extra financial burden was imposed on the College because of this, for the faculty merely absorbed the graduate students as an extra teaching load, without extra compensation. At the same time the graduate faculty, with a view toward raising standards, voted to grant credit only for work done in a graduate school, except by special vote of the faculty, and to allow no academic credit toward a graduate degree for work done by special students. This sharply reduced the number of special students (non-degree candidates), who in effect had been placed in that category because they could not meet the regular entrance requirements.These votes of 1935 and 1936 also brought to an effective end the combined Bachelor's-Master's program that had been adopted in the late nineteenth century, but for which there had been no candidates for several years. Prior to 1934 it had been customary to allow students who had accumulated more credits than were required for the Bachelor's degree to use the extra credits toward the second degree.
Dr. Herbert V. Neal resigned as dean of the graduate school in 1935 and was replaced by Dr. Charles Gott, Fletcher Professor of English Literature and chairman of the Department of English. Dean Gott was as firmly convinced as his predecessor that the standards of the graduate school had to be raised as well as maintained, and was as disturbed as President Cousens about another trend that had become noticeable by 1935-36. A large number of the candidates for the Master of Education degree were teachers in service, many of whom were provisionally admitted and were discovered after further investigation not to be able to meet regular admission requirements. Twenty-five of the forty-five graduate students were enrolled in the Department of Education, and Cousens feared that such numbers from this department would overwhelm the graduate school. The eventual solution, as he saw it, was to establish a separate graduate department for the training of teachers, for in no other way could satisfactory standards be maintained in the regular graduate school. At the same time, such a step would create another dilemma by decreasing graduate enrollment below a "reasonable minimum." There seemed to be no easy solution at hand.
The Tufts Graduate School, never very large in proportion to the undergraduate schools, was even further reduced in size after the First World War. There were only ten students enrolled in 1919-20, of whom half were in the Department of History. Five years later the number was twelve, registered in six departments; only seven were first-year students. The abandonment of the Ph.D. program in 1907 had been one factor, and the failure of the school to be known outside the walls of the College had been another. A decision was made in the fall of 1921 to grant no more Master's degrees in absentia, and this was expected by some to be a further deterrent. The long-standing privilege open to alumni of obtaining a professional engineering degree (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, or Chemical Engineer) after four or five years in the field, the presentation of a thesis, and an oral examination was therefore withdrawn.
unhappy at this decision, which had been made by a bare majority of the graduate faculty, that he resigned. He was replaced in 1924 by Professor Herbert V. Neal of the Biology Department.68 Fay argued that, aside from depriving qualified alumni in engineering of an opportunity to obtain a professional degree, the residence requirement automatically put an extra burden on the faculty, who supervised graduate work as an additional duty anyway. He believed that if the Master's degree in absentia were not restored, the graduate school would have to be eliminated. His fears proved groundless, for graduate enrollment held its own and in fact increased slightly in the next decade.
Opinion was unanimous that the presence of the Braker and other graduate fellows, beginning in 1925-26, redounded to the great benefit of both the College and the graduate school. The great majority of candidates for the Master of Arts degree in the 1930's intended to enter the teaching profession; in fact, such a high proportion became secondary school teachers that candidates were encouraged as a matter of course to take at least one semester's work in educational psychology. To accommodate even further such prospective candidates, including those handicapped by an eighteen-hour limit on education courses for undergraduates, the graduate faculty (with Trustee approval) began to offer the new degree of Master of Education in 1933-34. Thirty semester hours in the Department of Education and allied departments were required, twenty of which had to be earned in residence. Students had to attain a minimum grade of "B" in all courses to meet the degree requirements. Both a thesis and an oral examination were required, the thesis to be part of the thirty-credit requirement. A reading knowledge of one or more modern foreign languages was expected if necessary to develop thesis problems. 68 At the same time, the appointment of members of the graduate school faculty was assumed by the Trustees; this practice lasted through the Cousens administration. The number of graduate faculty in the 1930's averaged twenty- five, including the president and deans; all members had either Ph.D.'s or some degree of professorial rank, or both.
The Trustees helped to counteract the effects of financial depression in the 1930's by allowing recent graduates of the College unable to secure employment to continue their education in the graduate school without payment of tuition, provided they were in residence. Tuition for other graduate students was raised from $250 to $300, effective in 1935-36. The graduate faculty also liberalized its entrance requirements in 1931-32 by admitting candidates of high quality from any institution on the "accepted" list of the Association of American Universities rather than imposing conditions because the applicant's undergraduate courses did not include precisely the subjects required for the first degree at Tufts. It had been customary up to 1933 to admit without conditions only graduates of liberal arts colleges.
nine were special students who were not candidates for a degree. No extra financial burden was imposed on the College because of this, for the faculty merely absorbed the graduate students as an extra teaching load, without extra compensation. At the same time the graduate faculty, with a view toward raising standards, voted to grant credit only for work done in a graduate school, except by special vote of the faculty, and to allow no academic credit toward a graduate degree for work done by special students. This sharply reduced the number of special students (non-degree candidates), who in effect had been placed in that category because they could not meet the regular entrance requirements.
dilemma by decreasing graduate enrollment below a "reasonable minimum." There seemed to be no easy solution at hand.
There was only one recorded instance during Cousens' administration when the re-offering of the Ph.D. was considered. The idea was voted down by the graduate school faculty before it could even be referred to a committee for consideration.
In the fall of 1926 there were nineteen graduate students in residence, registered in five of the fifteen departments which then offered graduate work.
The Braker Fellowship program is discussed in the next chapter.
Admission to the graduate school in any department required "an average of 'C' or better during their whole college course and an average higher than 'C' during the last two years." No applicant could have considered this an unreasonably high expectation in view of the minimum grade requirement of "B" in all courses counted toward any of the three Master's degrees being offered by the mid-1930's. The graduate faculty had voted in 1923 that "no work shall be accepted for the Master's degree for which a grade lower than 'B' has been attained."
Some local exceptions were provided. Beginning in 1920, holders of the S.T.B. from the Crane School could become candidates for the M.A. degree. At the same time, it was provided that holders of the Tufts B.S. degree could be admitted on the same basis as A.B. degree holders. With the introduction of the Master of Education degree, arrangements were made for graduates of the Tufts Engineering School who had not acquired competency in a foreign language to become candidates for the new degree.
Many of these special students were college graduates who had failed to be admitted to medical school and hoped that additional study would enhance their opportunities for eventual admission. Dean Neal was firmly opposed to allowing the graduate school to function as this kind of preparatory agency.
These votes of 1935 and 1936 also brought to an effective end the combined Bachelor's-Master's program that had been adopted in the late nineteenth century, but for which there had been no candidates for several years. Prior to 1934 it had been customary to allow students who had accumulated more credits than were required for the Bachelor's degree to use the extra credits toward the second | 3,197 |
Coming Soon... An interview with Glen Macnow.
The Eagles improve their record to 2-0, first time since the 1993 season. Defeat Vikings 27-16.
It was hyped all week. It was fueled by the TO and Moss verbal jibes. If it were the 1999 draft again , who would you pick Daunte vs McNabb? Would they score over a 100 points between them? And on and on it went. MNF loves this kind of intrigue for their games. We didn't get a barn burner but we certaintly got any entertaining game filed with plots and sub plots.
The Eagle fans were packed into Lincoln Financial Field. All 74,000 of them. And they were loud and into the game. So much so, that Al Michaels and John Madden took a couple minutes from the action to talk about the fans. No not in the negative way we are used to being treated but in a positive, upbeat way. Things were said like, "These fans are passionate. They know football . They get it". WHAT? No snowball thrown at Santa references? Maybe our image is changing. Whatever it is , it was refreshing to hear it.
There are so many game points that need to be mentioned.
The Eagles first drive are a beauty, 11 plays and 72 yds . Capped off with TD pass to LJ Smith.
The goal line stance to hold the Vikings to just 3 points. Always one of my favorite things to watch. On second down, Trotter goes airborne to disrupt the running play. On 3rd down, Dawkins and Lewis stop Culpepper on the one yard line. Trotter needs to play more in my opinion. He has showed me he still has what it takes. I think it will happen in the coming weeks.
Nate Wayne strips Culpepper of the ball on the 1 inch line. Close call. Great play.
Donovan with another magical day, going 19-28 yards, no picks, 2 passing TD's and one running TD. Did you see his Moon walk after the run? What can I say that I haven't already said about him. Simply a great QB.
The strong play of Kearse. The Freak was all over the field. I really liked when Jimmie Johnson had him spying on Culpepper.
The strong play of the 2 young corner backs. They had nice games. Maybe some respect<|fim_middle|> TO had a big TD late on the game to cap off the win. He then flashed us a Gold smile. What a character this guy is. I love him.
A couple of emerging players that need credit... McDougle--he put pressure on Daunte all night long. LJ Smith--- showing he will be a force to be reckoned with. Sheldon Brown, late sack, key tackles, he is all over the field. JR Reed, just a rookie but wow very exciting.
The time of possesion was heavily in the favor of the Viking last night. It made it seem like the defense was on the field forever. Jimmie Johnson had a good game plan and deserves some credit too.
The Eagles are now 2-0 to start to season. As good as they have been during the Reid era, we have not started off well. You have to go back to 1993 under Richie Kotite to find our last 2-0 start. The K man finished 8-8 that season. Look for the Birds to go 13-3 season this year. The names Kotite and Reid shouldn't be used in the same sentence. Sorry about that. No comparison. Just a tidbit. Next up Detriot. | will start to be given to them instead of hearing of Bobby (riding the pine now) and Vincent.
TO vs Moss... neither had great games. Moss was controlled for most of the game with short route passes. Jimmie Johnson 's plan with help over the top really worked well. | 58 |
A sprain is an injury in which the fibers of one or more ligaments are torn, usually caused by either trauma or a body joint being taken beyond its functional range of motion. These tears can range from minor (partially torn) to major (complete rupture). Sprains can happen in any joint of the body, but most often occur in the ankle<|fim_middle|> Centers can diagnose the severity of the sprain and get it treated properly to minimize the risk of re-injury or recurring issues. | , knee, and wrist.
Symptoms of sprains include pain, swelling, bruising, and decreased mobility and effectiveness of the injured limb — generally, the worse your symptoms, the worse the severity of the sprain. While minor sprains can be treated through rest, ice, compression, and elevation, more severe ones should be examined by a doctor to ensure there is no fracture or soft-tissue damage.
We know how bothersome, and even disruptive, a sprain can be, so whether you sprained something playing basketball or stepping off a curb, PrimaCare Medical | 117 |
Your choice of a performance at 7:30pm (Tu, We, Th, Fr,<|fim_middle|> are invited to enjoy a "Winter Wonderland" event in The Playhouse's Engemann Family Courtyard, complete with holiday carolers, crafts, activities, games, Santa Claus and photo opportunities.
GOLDEN TICKETS are available as an add-on to any child's ticket for an additional $50.00 each (limit of 10 Golden Tickets available per performance). A Golden Ticket provides the ticketholder (children only) with a special onstage sing-a-long experience during the production, a gift bag with special surprises, a SLEEPING BEAUTY collectible poster, and one free photo with Santa! | or Sa) or 12:00pm (Sa or Su) or 4:00pm (Sa or Su or 12/23 and 12/24), excluding 12/11.
Tickets courtesy of The Lythgoe Family Productions.
The production runs December 10, 2014 through January 4, 2015.
of Disney's "I Didn't Do It"
of Broadway's "La Cage Aux Folles"
of CW's "Hart of Dixie"
An updated version of the classic Grimm fairytale, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, SLEEPING BEAUTY and Her Winter Knight is a singing and soaring winter adventure that features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with "So You Think You Can Dance" alumni), a live pony, interaction with the audience and contemporary music from Jessie J's "Domino" to John Legend's "All Of Me," Pharrell Williams "Happy" to Survivor's "Eye of The Tiger" and more. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to everyone from ages 2 – 102! "Those who have never been to a panto will have a glorious introduction to the forum." – Los Angeles Times.
Before every performance, guests and their families | 281 |
During the year a number of seminars are available to attend.
These are all within the three counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire and are designed to provide you, the business owener with pratical, sound and unbiased advice on How to grow your business.
They typically last between 90 - 120 minutes and usually are early evening allowing you to come just after<|fim_middle|>, if you wish to view them please follow the following links.
Marketing ? your're havin a laugh! | the working day.
I am sure you have been to many seminars/workshops where you are obliged to sit through 10-15 minutes of a sales pitch and sometimes are asked to introduce yourself to everyone thats there.
If you are like me, this is extremely irritating and a waste of vaulable time.
I gaurantee you that this does not happen at any of my events.
We are there to talk about the subject, people are encouraged to ask questions during the presentations if they so wish.
The objective is for you gain an insight, a bit more knowledge and something that you can do the very next day to increase your business.
After each seminar, it is posted on Authorstream | 141 |
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Neural Technology
This article is part of the Research Topic
Nanomaterials for Communicating with the Brain View all 5 Articles
Ulrich G. Hofmann
University of Freiburg Medical Center, Germany
University of Delaware, United States
Elisa Castagnola
University of Pittsburgh, United States
Advantages of Carbon-Based Microfiber Electrodes
Carbon-Based Microfibers for Neural Interfacing
Fabrication of Microfiber-Structured Electrode Arrays
Remaining Challenges and Future Direction
Front. Neurosci., 12 April 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.658703
Advances in Carbon-Based Microfiber Electrodes for Neural Interfacing
Maryam Hejazi1, Wei Tong1,2*, Michael R. Ibbotson2,3, Steven Prawer1 and David J. Garrett1,4
1School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
2National Vision Research Institute, The Australian College of Optometry, Carlton, VIC, Australia
3Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
4School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Neural interfacing devices using penetrating microelectrode arrays have emerged as an important tool in both neuroscience research and medical applications. These implantable microelectrode arrays enable communication between man-made devices and the nervous system by detecting and/or evoking neuronal activities. Recent years have seen rapid development of electrodes fabricated using flexible, ultrathin carbon-based microfibers. Compared to electrodes fabricated using rigid materials and larger cross-sections, these microfiber electrodes have been shown to reduce foreign body responses after implantation, with improved signal-to-noise ratio for neural recording and enhanced resolution for neural stimulation. Here, we review recent progress of carbon-based microfiber electrodes in terms of material composition and fabrication technology. The remaining challenges and future directions for development of these arrays will also be discussed. Overall, these microfiber electrodes are expected to improve the longevity and reliability of neural interfacing devices.
Neural interfaces based on microelectrode arrays (MEA) have broadened our understanding of the brain and have shown promise for treating neurological disorders due to diseases and injuries (McCarthy et al., 2011). Some examples include the cardiac pacemaker, cochlear implant, retinal prothesis, spinal cord stimulator for pain control and deep brain stimulator for epilepsy and Parkinson's disease (Hu et al., 2016; Agarwal et al., 2017; Mulpuru et al., 2017; Naples and Ruckenstein, 2020; Tong et al., 2020). To interface with neurons, microelectrodes are implanted in the nervous system to monitor and/or modulate neural activity (Kita and Wightman, 2008; Jacobs et al., 2014; Thompson et al., 2016). Compared to non-penetrating surface electrodes, such as in electrocorticography (ECoG) and electroencephalogram (EEG), penetrating microelectrodes can communicate with neurons with higher spatial and temporal resolution due to the closer distance between the electrodes and target neural tissue (Wang et al., 2017; Konerding et al., 2018).
Over the past few decades, various types of penetrating microelectrodes have been developed. Microelectrodes fabricated using metal wires were the first used in neural recording (Hubel, 1957; Hubel and Wiesel, 1962; Wise et al., 1970; McNaughton et al., 1983; Campbell et al., 1990). These electrodes are normally based on insulated 10–200 μm diameter metal wires with an uninsulated tip used to capture the biopotential from neurons in the vicinity of the tip (Szostak et al., 2017). Different metal wires have been used, including tungsten (W) (Shuang et al., 2020), platinum (Pt) (Rose and Robblee, 1990; Wei et al., 2015), platinum/iridium (PtIr) (Zheng, 2017; Obaid et al., 2020) and titanium (Ti) (McCarthy et al., 2011). Tungsten electrodes enabled the first recording of electrical activity from individual neurons in cat brain, which later led to Nobel Prize winning work expanding our understanding of the visual cortex (Hubel and Wiesel, 1962). One limitation of metal wire electrodes is the difficulty involved in assembly into electrode arrays for simultaneous stimulation or recording from multiple regions (Pei and Chen, 2018). This fabrication challenge has been addressed by the development of silicon-based electrodes, such as the Utah (Blackrock/Cyberkinetics) (Campbell et al., 1990) and Michigan (NeuroNexus) arrays (Wise et al., 1970). A standard Utah array consists of up to 100 conical needle shaped electrodes (Choi et al., 2018), which are rigid and have diameters of 80 μm at the base tapering to a tip. Utah arrays are primarily used in large animals, especially non-human primates (Choi et al., 2018), and remain a common choice for obtaining high dimensionality recording of spiking neural activity in clinical and basic neuroscience research (Cody et al., 2018). Compared to Utah arrays, NeuroNexus probes are thinner and have more flexible silicon shanks. Each shank has multiple iridium electrode sites positioned along it (Wise et al., 1970; Takmakov et al., 2015; Ferguson et al., 2019). NeuroNexus probes are more often used in small animals (e.g., rodents and cats). NeuroNexus probes are longer than those in the Utah array (2–15 mm vs. 0.5–1.5 mm) (Choi et al., 2018), therefore they are more suitable for capturing recordings from deeper regions (Choi et al., 2018; Almasi et al., 2020).
Although all the electrodes mentioned above are suitable for acute studies, they exhibit limited lifetimes after implantation, which restrict their chronic and clinical applications (Leber et al., 2017). There are at least two major reasons that may account for device failure. First, the implantation of the electrodes has been found to evoke inflammatory tissue response in the host body. The inflammatory tissue response is initiated by insertion damage and persists due to the mismatch of chemical and physical properties between the electrodes and the surrounding tissues. An inflammatory tissue response leads to neuronal death and glial scar formation, which reduces the strength of neural signals and also leads to changes in electrode properties (Gulino et al., 2019). Second, the lifetime of the implanted devices is limited by material instability. For example, cracking and delamination has previously been observed near the electrode sites in NeuroNexus probes after long-term implantation (Kozai et al., 2015). The electrochemical properties of electrode materials have also been found to change following repetitive stimulation (Kozai et al., 2015). Other factors that contribute to the longer term instability of electrode performance include electrode site corrosion, as in tungsten electrodes (Sankar et al., 2014), and electrode material degradation, as in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) (Cameron and Skabara, 2020). One strategy to overcome the issue of the inflammatory tissue responses is to use thin polymeric materials, such as polyimide (Castagnola et al., 2013, 2014), Parylene-C (Agorelius et al., 2015) and SU-8 (Xie et al., 2015; Luan et al., 2017; Liu, 2018; Zhao et al., 2019) as the substrate for flexible MEAs to match the soft nature of the brain and minimize perpetual machinal trauma and inflammation. These flexible probes have been demonstrated to better integrate with the neural tissue, with potential to record single unit neural signals for months.
In addition to improved longevity, the next generation of neural interfaces require the use of electrodes with enhanced functionality. In these devices, the electrodes should support closed-loop operation by providing reliable and comprehensive information via recording, and also use the recorded information as the feedback to inform and precisely modulate neural stimulation. Real-time feedback signals from such a bi-directional system can improve the performance of neural interfaces in two ways: by allowing real-time correction of errors and by activating a learning process in the areas involved in the loop (Angotzi et al., 2014). Therefore, these closed-loop interfaces will enable a higher-level understanding of neural functions and advance the development of novel therapies (Zhou et al., 2019). The trend of device miniaturization makes it highly desirable that the same electrodes are capable of both neural stimulation and recording. This is a significant material sciences challenge as the electrode materials need to possess a wide range of electrochemical properties if they are to be used for both recording and stimulation. Examples of clinical applications that may benefit from the use of closed-loop system include epilepsy prediction and treatment via electrical stimulation of spinal cord (Berenyi et al., 2012; Pais-Vieira et al., 2016), deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's diseases treatment (Fleming et al., 2020) and tremor suppression (Opri et al., 2020). In these applications, the use of closed-loop system has been shown with similar or even better clinical efficacy compared to the use of open-loop system, while having a consistent reduction in energy requirement (Fleming et al., 2020; Opri et al., 2020).
An alternative to existing metal or silicon-based microelectrodes is microfiber electrodes, which are mostly fabricated from carbon-based materials such as carbon fibers (CFs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene. These carbon-based microfibers, with low micron dimensions, softer surfaces, improved flexibility, and adjustable electrochemical properties, can solve a lot of challenges associated with other electrode designs. Overall, these microfiber electrodes have been shown to remain viable for longer periods in chronic applications due to minimal tissue responses as a result of reduced electrode sizes and better compliance with the surrounding tissue (Stice et al., 2007; Guitchounts et al., 2013; Karumbaiah et al., 2013). With proper surface modifications, many of these microfiber electrodes can enable closed-loop function as they exhibit appropriate properties for high precision neural recording and stimulation. They have also been demonstrated with better stability when used for neural interfacing (Vomero et al., 2017; Nimbalkar et al., 2018; Vahidi et al., 2020). Among them, CF microelectrodes with small cross sections have been used for detection of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotine for over three decades in the brain using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (Robinson et al., 2003; Dankoski and Wightman, 2013; Taylor et al., 2015; Castagnola et al., 2020). However, only recently they have been used for neural recording (Kozai et al., 2012, 2016; Patel et al., 2015, 2016). Most of these research uses CF microelectrodes in the form of single fibers (Kozai et al., 2012; Apollo et al., 2015; Vitale et al., 2015), but the techniques for assembling these fibers into high-density microelectrode arrays are also under development (Guitchounts et al., 2013; Patel et al., 2015, 2016, 2020; Gillis et al., 2018; Massey et al., 2019; Guitchounts and Cox, 2020).
This review focuses on recent progress in developing carbon-based microfiber electrodes for neural stimulation and recording. We will first discuss in detail the advantages of using carbon-based microfibers for neural interfacing. We will then summarize the electrode materials that have been used so far and review current technologies for integrating individual microfibers into high density arrays. Finally, remaining challenges and future trends will be discussed.
Compared to conventional microelectrodes fabricated using metal wires and silicon technologies, carbon-based microfiber electrodes share some common characteristics. They have smaller cross-sections, exhibit better mechanical properties, and enhanced electrochemical characteristics. Overall, these features contribute to the improved longevity and functionality of the electrodes, as a result of their reduced adverse tissue response and better performance in neural stimulation and recording. Figure 1 illustrates the advantages of carbon-based microfiber electrodes over conventional implantable microelectrodes.
Figure 1. A comparison between a conventional implantable electrode (A) and a carbon-based microfiber electrode (B). Schematic A shows that the implantation of a conventional implantable electrode can lead to severe tissue responses and glial scar formation around the electrodes, which account for the device's instability and even failure. The conventional electrodes communicate with neurons with low spatial accuracy because of the large electric field, which encompasses a large number of neurons. These conventional electrodes mostly function in one way, either neural stimulation or recording, and therefore are not suitable for closed-loop operation. In contrast, Schematic B shows that the use of carbon-based microfiber electrodes reduces adverse tissue responses by eliminating glial scar formation, targets single neurons due to the localized electric field (red circle), provides higher charge injection capacity (CIC) for electrical stimulation, and leads to a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during neural recording.
Minimal Tissue Response
The first and foremost challenge associated with micro MEA development is their inconsistent performance during long-term applications, mostly due to the adverse tissue response after electrode implantation (Ghane-Motlagh and Sawan, 2013). The adverse tissue response begins at electrode insertion, which causes physical trauma as the electrode displaces and damages the blood–brain barrier (BBB), neural cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) on its path to the intended target (Sommakia et al., 2014). In weeks following implantation, a fibrous envelope gradually forms around the electrodes, mostly composed of activated microglia and astrocytes (Figure 1A). This is commonly referred to as the glial scar (Harris and Tyler, 2013; Sridharan et al., 2013). The mismatch of the chemical and physical properties between the electrode and brain tissue results in sustained inflammation and neural degeneration (Kotzar et al., 2002; Polikov et al., 2005; Spearman et al., 2017). The inflammatory process hinders stimulation and recording of neuronal cells and contributes to device failure as a result of electrode degradation (Geddes and Roeder, 2003). In this section, we will focus our discussion on the advantages of using carbon-based microfibers as the electrode materials. However, it is often required to assemble these microfibers into high-density MEAs for many applications. The design of MEA, such as the choice of substrate materials, can also have an impact on the tissue response, which will be discussed in see section "Electrode Alignment and Assembling."
Carbon-based microfibers have several merits that help to avoid device failure by minimizing tissue response. First, their small cross-sections enable a significant reduction in footprint that minimizes insertion damage. As shown in Table 1, most carbon-based microfibers have cylindrical shapes with a diameter below 30 μm. In comparison, although metal wire electrodes and Utah arrays have small tips, they have a conical shape with the diameters of the base much larger, up to 200 μm (Szostak et al., 2017) and 80 μm (Choi et al., 2018), respectively. A standard NeuroNexus probe has a cross-section as large as 1,845 μm2 with a thickness of 15 μm and a width at the base of 123 μm (Deku et al., 2018a). The rupture of the BBB is known as the first and one of the most critical events occurring during electrode insertion (Bennett et al., 2018). Previous research has shown that BBB rupture is heavily involved in the triggering of biochemical pathways responsible for neuronal degeneration and glial activation (Bennett et al., 2018). Plasma proteins released from the BBB can also accumulate at the injury site and be adsorbed at the electrode surface which alter electrode properties and impair performance. The smaller feature size of carbon-based microfiber electrodes has therefore been suggested as a key factor to minimize tissue response by reducing damage to the BBB (Kozai et al., 2012).
Table 1. Commonly used materials and carbon-based microfibers for neural stimulation and recording.
Many carbon-based microfibers have been confirmed as biocompatible and biostable, both in vitro and in vivo (Smart et al., 2006; Chang et al., 2011; Kim et al., 2013; Guo et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2019; Hejazi et al., 2020b). Biocompatibility refers to biological "harmlessness," or, alternatively, how well a living organism tolerates and survives the implant without triggering unacceptable reactions or changes (Gunter et al., 2019). Biostability means that the implant is not susceptible to degradation due to the action of biological fluids, proteases, macrophages or any substances of metabolism (Marin and Fernandez, 2010). The use of biocompatible and biostable materials is expected to improve neuronal and device survival and reduce glial activation around the electrodes (Wang et al., 2018; Park et al., 2019). To assess the biocompatibility and biostability of electrode materials, in vitro tests use cultured cells to study their impact on cell survival, reproduction and morphologies. Commonly used models for assessing neural electrodes include primary cultures using cortical (Fan et al., 2020) and hippocampal neurons (Beach et al., 2020), and neuroblastoma cell lines such as N2a (Kim et al., 2012), PC12 (Carnicer-Lombarte et al., 2017), and SH-SY5Y (Yoon et al., 2020). Studies have focused on their impact on neuronal survival, neurite outgrowth and neurite network function (Gulino et al., 2019). As glial cells play important roles in adverse tissue response, many recent studies also investigate the effect of electrode materials on glial cells using cultures containing microglia and astrocytes (Park et al., 2001; Watson et al., 2017; Goshi et al., 2020). In vivo studies are normally performed by chronically implanting the electrodes in the brain. These studies can be divided into passive (no stimulation) and active (stimulation) studies. Passive studies evaluate electrode insertion trauma, electrode biocompatibility and the micromotion effects on both implant and tissue, which is relevant to the mechanical properties discussed in the next paragraph. Chronic active studies are designed to evaluate the safety and function of the electrodes which reflect both material biocompatibility and biostability (Shepherd et al., 2018; Gunter et al., 2019).
Carbon-based microfibers possess favorable mechanical properties over many conventional electrode materials, contributing to minimal tissue response after implantation. The mechanical properties of carbon-based microfibers and other electrode materials are summarized in Table 1. While the Young's modulus of brain tissue is below 15 kPa, silicon-based arrays and metal electrodes show much larger Young's modulus which are in the range of 107–390 GPa (Woeppel et al., 2017). The mechanical mismatch between the electrodes and brain tissue leads to stress at the electrode/tissue interface and induces the chronic inflammatory response (Shuang et al., 2020). In contrast, many carbon-based materials are softer, with smaller Young's modulus, such as 11.2 GPa in liquid crystal graphene oxide (LCGO) fibers (Xu and Gao, 2015). Another characteristic of carbon-based microfibers is that they normally exhibit reduced bending stiffness and better flexibility. Bending stiffness, also known as flexural rigidity, depends upon both the geometry and material composition (Deku et al., 2018a). The bending stiffness D is calculated by multiplying Young's modulus E and moment of inertia I (Deku et al., 2018a) as shown in Eq. 1:
D = E I (1)
A fiber structured electrode can be modeled as a core-shell cylindrical probe, and therefore its bending stiffness D can be calculated according to the Eq. 2 (Lu et al., 2019):
D = E c o r e π d i 4 64 + E s h e l l π d 0 4 64 [ 1 - ( d i d 0 ) 4 ] (2)
where Ecore is the Young's modulus of the conductive fiber, Eshell is the Young's modulus of the insulated coating layer, di represents the diameter of the conductive fiber, do represents the total diameter (including the insulation layer) of the core-shell cylindrical microelectrodes. According to Eq. 2, fibers with smaller cross section tend to have a smaller bending stiffness. Therefore, it is possible to create flexible neural implants using materials with high Young's modulus if the geometric cross-section is greatly reduced. Flexible implants cause less micromotion-induced damage because of their shock absorption and vibration dampening properties (Gillis et al., 2018). A drawback of flexible electrodes is that the electrode insertion may be difficult. To address this challenge, different strategies have been developed to facilitate the insertion of flexible electrodes. One example is to temporarily improve the electrode stiffness by coating the flexible fibers with materials such as silk and sucrose, which dissolve into the surrounding tissue after electrode insertion (Tien et al., 2013; Apollo et al., 2015). The insertion techniques will be discussed further in Section "Insertion Techniques".
High Precision Neural Stimulation and Recording
The next generation of neural interfaces requires closed-loop operation, in which the same electrodes are expected to talk to the nervous system in both directions by performing electrical stimulation and recording. During neural stimulation and recording, it is also desired that the electrodes can communicate with single or a small group of neurons with high spatiotemporal resolution. Small electrodes with cellular dimensions, such as carbon-based microfibers, have advantages for high precision neural stimulation and recording as the electric fields become more localized when electrode sizes are reduced (Figure 1). Electrochemical properties are important parameters to consider when designing microelectrodes. The great potential for surface modification of carbon materials makes it possible to fabricate electrodes with different electrochemical properties capable of fulfilling the design of bi-directional neural interfacing.
Neural Stimulation
During neural stimulation, electrode materials are required to inject sufficient charge into the neural tissue to evoke neural activities without damaging the electrodes or the surrounding tissue. Charge injection capacity (CIC) is a figure of merit used in neural stimulation research to describe the maximum amount of charge that can be safely injected during a single stimulation pulse before the water-window is exceeded (Cogan, 2008). Water window refers to the safe potential range in which the electrode is stable (Cogan, 2008). Water windows can be measured using cyclic voltammetry with a three-electrode setup in saline solution and they differ between different materials (Table 1).
There are several methods of measuring CIC. The most commonly used technique is voltage transient measurement, in which the voltage transients are measured while constant current stimulation pulses are applied on the electrodes (Cogan, 2008). The voltage transients are analyzed to determine the maximum charge that can be injected when both the most negative (Emc) and most positive (Ema) potentials across the electrode-electrolyte interface are within the water window (Cogan, 2008). Normally, CIC is dependent on the pulse duration and it increases when longer pulses are used. Recent research also shows the relationship between CIC and the geometric surface area (GSA) of the electrode that CIC increases with GSA size (Ganji et al., 2017). Som publications also report CIC estimated by measuring the double layer capacitance at the electrode/solution interface (Garrett et al., 2012; Hejazi et al., 2020a, b). Here, CIC is calculated according to Eq. 3,
C I C = ( C d l × V m ) / G S A (3)
where Cdl is the specific electrochemical capacitance, Vm is the voltage threshold for electrolysis of water and GSA is the geometric surface area of the electrode exposed to the solution (Garrett et al., 2012). Cdl can be estimated either from cyclic voltammetry or by fitting an equivalent electrical circuit model to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data (Apollo et al., 2015; Hejazi et al., 2020a).
In addition to CIC, many publications also use charge storage capacity (CSC) for comparing stimulation electrode performance (Ganji et al., 2017). CSC is calculated according to Eq. 4:
C S C = Q s t o r a g e / G S A (4)
where Q storage is cathodic or anodic charge storage calculated from the time integral of the cathodic (negative) or anodic (positive) current in cyclic voltammetry at a specific sweep rate over a potential range within the water window (Ganji et al., 2017). Compared to CIC, CSC is measured using lower voltage scanning rates, and the value of CSC from one material is normally larger than that of CIC. Carbon-based microfibers typically show higher CIC and CSC values due to their higher conductivity and larger effective surface area than many other electrode materials (Table 1).
Long-term neural stimulation requires the electrode to exhibit stable properties during repetitive stimulation. There are several methods for evaluating the stability of the stimulation electrodes. The first method is to monitor the electrode properties during and after continuous stimulation with biphasic pulses (Hejazi et al., 2020b). The properties that are compared before and after several million pulses include CIC values, electrode impedances and the electrode surface morphology. Voltage cycling tests provide another method for studying the electrode stability, in which both CSC values and surface morphologies are compared after thousands (1,000–17,000) of repetitive CV cycles (Peixoto et al., 2009; Venkatraman et al., 2011; Hejazi et al., 2020b). Many carbon-based microfibers have been shown to exhibit good stability after repetitive stimulation (Bennet et al., 2016; Hejazi et al., 2020b).
Neural Recording
Neural signals recorded extracellularly using implanted electrodes can be analyzed to extract at least two different types of voltage signals: local field potentials (LFPs) and single-unit (SU) action potentials. LFPs reflect collective transmembrane currents from multiple neurons and therefore the activity of a local neural network (Burns et al., 2010; Herreras, 2016). LFP signals are normally stable over time, but at the expense of decreased spatiotemporal resolution. SU action potentials represent the activity from individual neurons adjacent to the recording electrode tips. They provide better spatiotemporal resolution than LFPs and are important for understanding the inner working of the brain (Sharma et al., 2015).
To obtain high-quality SU action potentials, the electrodes are required to record with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and detect very small amplitudes of action potentials against a noisy background. The most commonly used parameter for comparing different recording electrodes is their electrochemical impedance at 1 kHz, which can be measured using EIS. Low impedance allows for low noise, implicating an improved SNR (Nick et al., 2012; Kim et al., 2017). Ideally the impedance for a recording electrode should be less than hundreds of kΩ for low thermal noise and a high SNR of neural signals (Kim et al., 2017). The SNR can also be influenced by the GSA of the electrodes and smaller recording sites have been shown to enhance the sensitivity and spatial selectivity of recording (Castagnola et al., 2014). It was found that recording amplitude of SU decreases rapidly for electrode surface areas larger than 100 μm2, therefore electrodes smaller than 100 μm2 are ideal for detecting SU activities (Hill et al., 2018). However, electrode impedance increases when the electrode size decreases. Furthermore, for electrodes smaller than 10 μm, the noise and signal attenuation depend more on the electrode impedance than on electrode size (Viswam et al., 2019). One commonly used strategy to lower the impedance of electrodes is to use materials with large effective surface areas. Carbon-based microfibers, with cross-sectional diameters smaller than 30 μm and large effective surface areas, have lower electrochemical impedance than many other materials, and therefore have been found to record with higher SNRs (Table 1).
The quality of electrode recording can be assessed using both ex vivo and in vivo biological models. Ex vivo models include explanted rat retina and brain slices. The retina, which processes visual information and sends it to the brain, is an excellent model for studying neural circuitry (Hong et al., 2018). In this model, the electrodes are normally placed in direct contact with the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the retina. Since the retina is light sensitive, a light source is switched on and off to elicit neural activity for recording (Sim et al., 2014; Hejazi et al., 2020a). Brain slice preparations have been used to study the electrical behavior of individual neurons and the function of neural systems (Suter et al., 1999), as the neurons in this model can reflect both electrophysiological and pharmacological responses similar to those in the intact nervous system (Suter et al., 1999). Both thick (∼500 μm) and thin (∼150–350 μm) slices have been developed for ex vivo recording. In the thick slice preparation, many local connections between neurons are maintained, making it useful for examining intrinsic membrane properties and drug effects in relatively intact cells and for studying local synaptic circuits. Thin slice preparations allow neurons to be visualized at high magnification under a compound microscope for patch-clamp recordings (Suter et al., 1999). In vivo models include either acute or chronic recording from cortex and hippocampus, whose neurons are involved in physiological central nervous system (CNS) processes such as learning and memory (Yin et al., 2016). In those models, the electrodes are implanted in the cortex or hippocampus regions of the brain of either anesthetized or awake animals, and spiking activities are collected during a short term of several minutes or hours, or for a longer period from several weeks up to months or years.
Carbon-based microfibers fabricated into electrodes for neural stimulation and recording come mainly in three forms: carbon fibers, CNT-based fibers and graphene-based fibers. The materials and their properties are summarized in Table 1, with some examples shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Examples of carbon-based microfibers for neural interfacing. (A) B-CNW coated CF. (Ai) SEM image of a B-CNW coated CF single-fiber electrode. (Aii) B-CNW coated CFs show good stability after repeated biphasic stimulation and the CIC of a B-CNW coated electrode (solid line) remains significantly higher than that of a bare CF electrode (dash line). (Aiii) B-CNW coated electrodes elicit localized response from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the explanted rat retina. (Aiv) In vivo acute recording from wallaby visual cortex shows a high SNR Reproduced from Hejazi et al. (2020b) with permission from the copyright holder. (B) CNT fiber. (Bi) SEM images of two-channel CNT fiber microelectrodes show the fibers with good flexibility. (Bii) CNT fiber electrodes show comparable efficacy with PtIr electrodes in deep brain stimulation of Parkinsonian rats. The average normalized rotation rates of rats implanted with CNT fiber microelectrodes are similar with that implanted with PtIr electrodes. (Biii) Time evolution of the SNR over the 2 weeks of recording sessions using CNT fibers and NiCr-Au control electrodes. After initial fluctuations caused by inflammatory response to the electrode implant, SNR reaches stable values of ∼6 SD, which confirms that CNT fibers are suitable for chronic recordings. (Biv,v) Fluorescence images of tissue response after 6 weeks of implant with a CNT fiber, compared to a PtIr electrode implanted contralaterally. Panels show tissue labeled for astrocytes and microglia and Fluorescence intensity profiles at increasing lateral distance x from electrode midline: astrocytes and microglia. GFAP is abbreviation of rabbit antiglial fibrillary acidic protein and IBa1 stands for mouse anti-ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1. Reproducedfrom Vitale et al. (2015) with permission from the copyright holder. (C) Liquid crystal graphene oxide (LCGO) fiber. (Ci) Low and high magnification SEM images of a LCGO brush electrode after laser treatment. (Cii) LCGO fibers demonstrate flexibility and elastic deformation. (Ciii) To facilitate electrode insertion, a LCGO fiber electrode is coated in a rigid sucrose carrier needle and implanted into the feline brain, then removed from brain after 15 min of recording; sugar needle is completely dissolved. (Civ) LCGO electrodes can record neural activity with a high SNR. Reproduced from Apollo et al. (2015) with permission from the copyright holder.
Carbon Fibers (CF)
Carbon fiber is one of the most commonly used carbon-based microfiber electrodes (Chen et al., 2020), which were first developed in the late 1970's (Santos et al., 2008). They have low cost, and can be prepared with porous structures, therefore with large surface areas (Roeser et al., 2013). The majority of CFs are produced by heat treatment of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based precursors (Hung et al., 2017), which can result in fibers with moduli stiffer and stronger than steel, whilst still retaining good flexibility (Petersen, 2016; Cetinkaya et al., 2018). Microelectrodes fabricated using CFs normally have diameters between 4 and 10 μm, available with different stiffness and surface smoothness. Those CFs with extremely small size (cross-section of 60 μm2) need to be temporarily stiffened to assist with brain insertion. For instance, Schwerdt et al. (2018) stiffened CFs using polyethylene glycol (PEG) shuttle (0.5–1 mm thick). The PEG shuttle was incrementally dissolved just above the brain surface, so as to suspend small lengths of the probes as they were progressively lowered without deflection into the tissue. CFs have been used for neural recording both in vitro and in vivo (Kozai et al., 2012; Gillis et al., 2018; Massey et al., 2019; Guitchounts and Cox, 2020; Hejazi et al., 2020a). Due to their small dimension, CF electrodes have been found to trigger negligible immune response upon implantation, therefore they are suitable for chronic in vivo applications. For example (Guitchounts et al., 2013) reported the use of a CF electrode array with 16 channels for in vivo recording in HVC, a song motor nucleus, in singing zebra finches for up to 107 days after implantation.
Although CFs are suitable for neural recording, additional coatings are normally required to improve their CICs for neural stimulation (Deku et al., 2018b; Gillis et al., 2018; Vara and Collazos-Castro, 2019; Hejazi et al., 2020a, b). Such coatings also often lead to smaller electrochemical impedances, which therefore improve the quality of recording from the electrodes. The coating materials that have been developed include conductive polymers, iridium oxide and other carbon-based materials such as carbon nanowalls and conductive diamond.
Conductive polymers are the most widely used coating materials for CF microelectrodes. They have been developed as neural interfacing materials due to several advantages such as small Young's modulus, high conductivity, large CIC and low electrochemical impedance (Yang et al., 2005; Pranti et al., 2017; Watanabe et al., 2017; Kim et al., 2019; Seo et al., 2019). To coat carbon fibers, PEDOT and their blends can be deposited onto the carbon fiber electrodes using electroplating. Different doped PEDOT coatings have been reported including PEDOT:PSS, PEDOT:pTS, and PEDOT:TFB (Kozai et al., 2012; Patel et al., 2015; Vara and Collazos-Castro, 2019). Kozai et al. (2012) reported that CF with a coating of PEDOT:PSS can largely decrease the impedance of the electrodes while increasing their CSC. The implanted electrodes were able to record both SU action potentials and LFPs chronically in mouse visual cortex for 5 weeks. Compared to the NeuroNexus probes, the recordings using PEDOT:PSS coated CFs showed higher SNRs and signal amplitudes, while lower levels of glial scarring were detected as indicated from histology. It was suggested that the reduced tissue response might be attributed to the smaller insertion footprint of the coated CF electrodes. In this study, microelectrodes were also coated with anti-biofouling materials, improving chronic electrode performance. The instability of conductive polymers has been suggested as one limitation for conducting polymer modified CF electrodes in chronic applications (Mandal et al., 2015; Cameron and Skabara, 2020). Patel et al. (2016) compared the stability of PEDOT:pTS and PEDOT:PSS coatings using accelerated soaking tests and measured the change of impedance over time. From their results, PEDOT:pTS showed better stability than PEDOT:PSS coating, and they subsequently used PEDOT:pTS coated CFs for chronic recording in rat motor cortex up to 154 days (Patel et al., 2016). It has also been reported that PEDOT:TFB functionalized CFs are capable of recording both spontaneous and visual stimulus evoked activities from the visual cortex of freely moving rats for 55 days (Guitchounts and Cox, 2020).
The electrodeposited iridium oxide film (EIROF) is another coating that has been used on CFs to boost their electrochemical properties (Deku et al., 2018b; Gillis et al., 2018). Electrode coatings with EIROF or sputtered iridium oxide films (SIROF) have been proposed for stable chronic neural interfaces for neural stimulation due to their large injection capacity and relatively high stability following repetitive stimulation (Cogan et al., 2009; Deku et al., 2018b; Gillis et al., 2018). Such coatings have been also previously proved biocompatible in vitro as they could support neural cell attachment and neurite outgrowth (Chen et al., 2019). By electrodepositing a thin layer of EIROFs, the electrode impedance of CFs was reduced by a factor of 10 and the CIC increased to more than 17 mC/cm2 with appropriate biasing. The coated electrodes were able to record acute SU spontaneous activities from the tracheosyringeal nerve of zebra finches and evoke responses via electrical stimulation (Gillis et al., 2018). However, iridium oxide coatings have been previously reported with poor adhesion to underlying substrates, and they may degrade under chronic aggressive stimulations due to its low structural and chemical stability (Mailley et al., 2002; Cogan et al., 2004).
The Melbourne group have demonstrated two types of carbon-based coatings to improve the performance of CF electrodes for neural interfacing, viz., nitrogen included ultrananocyrslline diamond (N-UNCD) (Hejazi et al., 2020a) and boron-doped carbon nanowalls (B-CNW) (Hejazi et al., 2020b). N-UNCD is biocompatible due to its chemical and biochemical inertness, and has previously been used as the electrode material for neural stimulation in a retinal prosthetic device for restoring vision (Garrett et al., 2012; Hadjinicolaou et al., 2012; Ganesan et al., 2014; Tong et al., 2016; Ahnood et al., 2017). It is chemically non-cytotoxic (inert) when in contact with neural tissue (Garrett et al., 2016a, b; Tong et al., 2016), and it is highly resistant to surface biofouling and chemical degradation (Bennet et al., 2013; Yang et al., 2019). We showed that after coating the CFs with N-UNCD, CIC increased 238-fold and impedance decreased by 25%. The coated electrodes were also shown to successfully evoke neural activity in explanted retina and record SU activities from visual cortex (Hejazi et al., 2020a). B-CNW coatings were also developed (Figure 2Ai), which showed similar CIC and impedance to the N-UNCD coated materials due to its large effective surface area. The B-CNW coating was demonstrated to be biocompatible, supporting the growth of cortical neurons in vitro. When used for neural stimulation, the B-CNW coated electrodes showed excellent stability after a repetitive pulsing test (Figure 2Aii). They were also found to result in high resolution RGC stimulation (Figure 2Aiii), and a higher SNR from in vivo recording (Figure 2Aiv) compared to the N-UNCD coated electrodes (Hejazi et al., 2020b). Furthermore, while N-UNCD coatings were found to delaminate and break following fiber bending, the B-CNW was firmly attached to the CF surface and survived a bending test without cracking, indicating better flexibility and mechanical stability. Therefore, B-CNW coated CFs are more suitable for building long-term closed-loop neural interfaces.
Carbon Nanotube (CNT)-Based Fibers
Carbon nanotubes have attracted much attention since their emergence in the field of bioengineering due to their biocompatibility, and outstanding mechanical, electrical, chemical properties (Zestos et al., 2014; Vitale et al., 2015). It has been reported that both pristine and chemically functionalized CNT have a positive impact on neuronal growth (Smart et al., 2006). Due to their large effective surface areas and high conductivity, CNTs have been applied as coatings for improving electrode performance for neural stimulation and recording (Keefer et al., 2008; Motlagh et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2017).
Carbon nanotubes can be fabricated into microfibers or yarns via continuous spinning (Lee J. et al., 2019). CNT fibers fabricated via both wet and dry spinning have been applied as electrode materials for neural interfacing (Vitale et al., 2015). The diameters of the synthesized fibers are normally in a range between 5 and 50 μm, depending on the spinning parameters. CNT fibers typically exhibit excellent electrochemical properties for neural stimulation and recording. For example, Vitale et al. (2015) demonstrated the capability of CNT fibers fabricated by wet spinning for in vivo chronic neural stimulation and recording for 3 weeks (Figure 2Bi). In this work, they showed the successful use of CNT fiber electrodes with a diameter of 43 μm for deep brain stimulation in a Parkinson rat model (Figure 2Bii). The CNT fiber microelectrodes are suitable for chronic recording with no evidence of degradation of recording quality as observed from analysis of the temporal evolution of SNR (Figure 2Biii). After 6 weeks implantation, a four-fold reduction in the accumulation of astrocytes and a two-fold reduction in the expression of general microglia at the CNT fiber microelectrode site were measured. Expression of activated macrophages was found to be confined within approximately 50 μm from CNT fiber microelectrodes and to be more than two times less than at the PtIr site, where the region of activation extended to more than 150 μm (Figure 2Biv). CNT fibers were also demonstrated as more stable than PEDOT coatings after 97M vs. 43M cycles of pulsing tests and no significant biofouling was observed on the electrode surface after explantation (Vitale et al., 2015). In another work, Lu et al. (2019) used dry spun CNT fibers with a diameter between 5 and 20 μm. Their 20 μm fibers showed impedance of 279.96 ± 32.08 KΩ, which decreased to 41.95 ± 3.62 KΩ after nitric acid treatment. CIC also increased from 3.52 ± 0.15 to 5.04 ± 0.22 mC/cm2 after nitric acid treatment. Their fiber electrodes could record spontaneous activities from rat ventral posteromedial (VPm) nucleus of the thalamus and primary somatosensory cortex up to 5 months, and the tissue response was found much smaller than the PtIr controls. In this work, they showed that the CNT fibers are compatible with functional MRI, which allow the studies of the entire brain with simultaneous electrophysiology and MRI imaging.
Carbon nanotube fibers exhibit higher flexibility than CFs, which contributes to the minimal tissue response in chronic applications but introduces additional challenges during implantation. Several methods have been used to facilitate the implantation of CNTs. Vitale et al. (2015) used a polyimide shuttle and water soluble poly(ethylene oxide) coating to facilitate the electrode insertion. However, the stiffening shuttler increased the footprint during insertion, which was suggested to result in an enhanced neuronal loss around the CNT fiber microelectrodes observed from histology (Vitale et al., 2015). Lu et al. (2019) used a tungsten wire shuttle device to facilitate implantation, which has the same drawback of an increased insertion footprint. The authors then suggested the use of CFs as an alternative shuttle device as a means to reduce the insertion footprint. In a more recent study reported by Tang et al. (2020), the authors functionalized CNT fibers with a layer of calcium ion crosslinked sodium alginate. The functionalized fiber electrodes are rigid before implantation but become softer after insertion. A critical drawback of their design is that the diameter of the functionalized fibers increased from ∼36 to ∼190 μm after implantation. The significant swelling of the fibers could limit the application of this technology. The above shuttle methods and the use of stiffening agents can temporarily increase the electrode size and stiffness thus aggravating neural damage during implantation. To solve this issue, Vitale et al. (2018) inserted CNT fibers using a specially designed microfluidic device, which can apply a tension force onto the fibers that prevents the bending of electrodes without increasing the thickness or stiffness of the electrodes. Their method also allows the precise actuation of the electrode position with micro-scale accuracy.
Graphene-Based Fibers
Graphene is another widely studied carbon-based material. In graphene, carbon atoms form hexagonal lattices in a 2-dimension plane and has a large effective surface area (Si and Song, 2018; Zeng et al., 2019). Many studies have indicated that graphene-based materials are biocompatible. For example, graphene produced by chemical vapor deposition with nanoscale dimensions has been shown to be friendly to several types of cells, viz., they enhance fibroblast adhesion and promote human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) differentiation into bone cell (Kim et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2019). Mendonca et al. (2016) used healthy male Wistar rats for evaluating the nanotoxicity of reduced graphene oxide. In this study, the reduced graphene oxide produced minimal toxicological effects up to 7 days following tail vein injection. In another study, Rauti et al. (2016) investigated the effect of graphene oxide nanosheet on the synaptic signaling of cultured hippocampal neurons using patch clamp and fluorescence imaging. They showed the introduction of graphene oxide nanosheets down-regulated neuronal signaling but had no impact on cell viability.
Graphene-based materials can be applied for neural interfacing as a coating. Zhao et al. (2016) developed a graphene encapsulated copper microelectrode by CVD depositing a thin layer of graphene on 100 μm-diameter copper microwires. The coating largely eliminates the toxicity of copper, as indicated from both in vitro cell tests and in vivo histology studies. The extent of the gliosis from the graphene coated copper microwires was found comparable to that from the Pt microwires of the same diameter in terms of the upregulation level and zone size of activated microglia and astrocytes. However, for the graphene coated microwires, microglial and astrocytes tend to diffuse and distribute in a larger area away from the implant, which was suggested to be due to the antifouling surface of graphene. The coated electrodes have an impedance about 100 kΩ at 1 kHz and were used for both acute and chronic in vivo recording in rat hippocampus. Both LFPs and SU spikes could be recorded with the graphene coated electrodes for at least 4 weeks, and the performance was found comparable with conventional metal microwires. In this work, they also demonstrate the compatibility of these electrodes for use together with functional MRI.
The Melbourne group reported the fabrication of liquid crystal graphene oxide (LCGO) fibers for neural stimulation and recording (Figure 2Ci; Apollo et al., 2015). Such fibers are fabricated by first wet spinning liquid crystalline dispersion of graphene oxide into continuous fibers and then treating the fibers with hydroiodic acid. With a cylinder diameter of 50 μm, these LCGO fiber electrodes exhibit a CIC as large as 46 mC/cm2 and were shown to evoke neural activities in the explanted retinas. In this work, we also demonstrated SU recording in an acute study from feline visual cortex (Apollo et al., 2015; Figure 2Civ). Later, we compared the performance of electrodes fabricated using graphene fibers, CNT fibers and PtIr for chronic recording in an epilepsy rat model for 22 days. We showed that the graphene fibers outperformed all the other electrode materials, exhibiting the largest seizure SNR and only modest changes in impedance (Apollo et al., 2018). To further improve the electrode performance, Wang et al. (2019) suggested the use of a thin Pt coating as the current collector on the LCGO fibers, which decreases the fiber resistivity. The Pt coating was shown to improve both the CIC and CSC of the electrodes and decrease the electrochemical impedance. The maximum CIC reached 10.5 mC/cm2 for Pt coated graphene fiber electrodes with a diameter of 20 μm. The authors also demonstrated the stability of their electrodes after repetitive pulsing and cycling tests. Using a four-channel electrode array, they were able to record SU spikes with high SNRs in an acute study from rat motor cortex.
Zhao et al. (2020) used graphene fibers fabricated with a different technique for neural stimulation. In this work, their fibers were prepared through a one-step dimensionally confined hydrothermal process using suspensions of graphene oxide. The final diameter of their fibers is about 75 μm. The electrodes fabricated with the graphene fibers exhibit a CIC of 10.1 ± 2.25 mC/cm2 and were successfully used for deep brain stimulation in a behaving Parkinson rat model. As the graphene electrodes created little-to-no MRI artifact, they could study the activation pattern of stimulation using functional MRI imaging.
Park et al. (2017) developed a custom conductive polymer composite comprised of conductive polyethylene (CPE) and 5 wt% graphite for chronic in vivo recording and optical stimulation from cortex and hippocampus regions of mouse brain. This composite reduced electrode dimension and impedance, allowing for the integration of high density electrophysiology (6 electrodes), optical stimulation (a waveguide) and fluid delivery (two channels) within probes with diameters less than 200 μm, which are comparable to or smaller than those of silica fibers used for optogenetics. The flexibility and miniature footprint also enhanced the biocompatibility of the probes as indicated by stable long-term recordings of isolated SU action potentials as well as reduced glial response and BBB breach 3 months after implantation.
As with CNT fibers, graphene-based fibers exhibit superior flexibility (Figure 2Cii), which may create difficulties for electrode insertion. The Melbourne group developed a method to coat the 50 μm LCGO fibers with water-soluble sucrose microneedles to facilitate the electrode insertion (Figure 2Ciii). This method is also applicable to other flexible electrodes, such as CNT fibers. The damage from the sugar needle was found to heal over a 3-week duration and no sustained inflammatory response was observed (Apollo et al., 2018). However, both Wang et al. (2019) and Zhao et al. (2020) found that their graphene-based microfiber electrodes have sufficient mechanical robustness and sharpness to be inserted without any additional aid. Further research is required to study the chronic performance of graphene-based microfiber electrodes.
A single microelectrode can only communicate with a single neuron or a small group of neurons. However, in both neuroscience research and clinical applications, simultaneous and precise communication with a larger population of neurons over a large area is often required (Obien et al., 2014). Therefore, MEAs with high channel counts and high densities are highly desirable. This section summarizes the techniques that have been developed to integrate individual carbon-based fiber electrodes into MEAs. The fabrication normally involves two procedures: (1) electrode insulation of the shank and exposure of the tip, and (2) electrode alignement and assembly. Figure 3 summarizes the methods used for insulation, tip exposure and fiber assembling. We also introduce the techniques for inserting arrays in this section.
Figure 3. Schematic illustration of carbon-based microfiber electrode array fabrication. (A) The most common methods for insulating carbon-based fiber electrodes use either (Ai) fused silica capillary or (Bii) Parylene-C coating. (B) Methods for exposing the electrode tips include (Bi) fire-sharpening and (Bii) laser or mechanical cutting. (C) Four different techniques have been used to assemble single fibers into electrode arrays. (Ci) A 64-channel carbon fiber array fabricated using a 3D-printed block (gray) for aligning the microfibers. Reproduced from Guitchounts and Cox (2020) with permission from the copyright holder. (Cii) An electrode array with 16 CFs, 8 on each side. The CFs are attached on a PCB board using silver epoxy and the PCB board is soldered onto an Omnetics connector. Reproduced from Patel et al. (2020). (Ciii) of a threaded device during assembly. An alignment substrate separated from the device substrate is used to parallelize the 2.5 mm-long fibers. Reproduced from Massey et al. (2019) (Civ) Fibers are aligned using a harp-like structure fabricated by 3D printing and laser writing. Reproduced from Gillis et al. (2018). (D) Three different insertion methods for inserting CF arrays. (Di) A poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) coating can facilitate the insertion of CF arrays by temporarily stiffening the fibers. PEG dissolves after application of sterile Ringer's solution (Patel et al., 2015). (Dii) A silicon support structure with shanks and CFs secured within the shanks (Patel et al., 2015). (Diii) CF electrode arrays with tungsten supports and silk supports. Reproduced from Lee Y. et al. (2019).
Electrode Insulation and Exposure
During fabrication, the microfibers are firstly insulated and then just the very tips are exposed for neural recording and stimulation. This is essential in order to reduce cross talk between electrodes and to maintain high spatial resolution.
There are several methods that have been used for electrode insulation. A common method is to insulate the fibers in a fused silica capillary (Figure 3Ai). However, the silica shaft normally has a diameter over 90 μm, which limits the chronic application of the electrodes due to the large implant footprints (Schwerdt et al., 2018). Therefore, thinner polymer coatings have been developed for insulation to reduce the overall diameter of the electrodes. Among different polymer materials, the most commonly used insulation is Parylene-C coating, which can be deposited on the electrode surface using a Parylene-C coater with thickness as thin as 1 μm (Figure 3Aii; Guitchounts et al., 2013; Guitchounts and Cox, 2020). Parylene-C is pinhole-free and chemically inert. It resists swelling in aqueous solutions and retains the flexibility of the microfibers (Tan and Craighead, 2010). Other polymer coatings that have been used for insulating carbon-based microfibers include Parylene-N, polystyrene-polybutadiene, poly(oxyphenylene), polyacrylonitrile, and polyethylacrylate (Jerome et al., 2001; Budai et al., 2007).
There are several different methods that have been used to expose the fiber tip. Fire sharpening is one commonly used method applied on fibers with Parylene-C coating (Figure 3Bi). In the process of fire sharpening, the fibers are firstly dipped into water with the other ends left exposed. Then, a flaming torch is passed over the water/air interface, removing the insulation whilst the sharpened fibers remain in the water (Guitchounts et al., 2013; Lee Y. et al., 2019; Guitchounts and Cox, 2020). The sharpening leads to the fiber tips having a cone shape, and it can produce a low electrode impedance to an acceptable range (around 1 MΩ for CFs) for extracellular recording (Guitchounts et al., 2013).
Different cutting methods have also been attempted and compared to expose carbon-based microfiber electrodes (Figure 3Bii). For example, both surgical scissors and razor blades were used to expose CF coated Parylene-C for neural recording. However, such mechanical cutting results in electrodes with varying impedances, often as high as 4 MΩ, which is unsuitable for neural recording (Guitchounts et al., 2013). Electrodes exposed using laser cutting exhibit a clean tip and excellent sidewall quality (Niino et al., 2016). Patel et al. (2020) reported that the arrays fabricated using laser cutting could lead to better chronic recording stability than those fabricated using blade cutting. The improved performance was suggested to be due to a better control and cleaner exposed tip surface with laser cutting. The Melbourne group has used laser cutting to expose the LCGO fiber electrodes coated with Parylene-C (Figure 2Di; Apollo et al., 2015). Our results showed that the laser cutting led to a brush-shape tip end, with enhanced effective surface area and surface oxidation, both of which contribute to the improved electrochemical properties of the electrodes (Apollo et al., 2015). Another cutting method to expose the ends uses cryo-sectioning (Massey et al., 2019). In this method, the electrodes are first embedded in a block of Tissue-Tek 4583 embedding compound and frozen to −80°C. The electrodes are then mounted into the cryotome held at −50°C and progressively shaved in 10 μm slices with a TiN-coated blade until the tips of fibers are exposed. The embedding compound is then thawed and thoroughly rinsed in deionized water.
Electrode Alignment and Assembling
An ideal alignment and assembling method should be time-efficient and involve minimal manual handling. This method should allow the deposition of insulating materials onto individual fibers and enable electrode assembly with adjustable pitch and high electrode counts. Furthermore, the design of MEA can have an impact on the tissue response after implantation. Therefore, it is desired to assemble the microfibers on a smaller, lighter and softer substrate. These substrate materials are also required to be biocompatible and stable. Four fabrication examples are shown in Figure 3C. In all the examples, the positioning and alignment of the fibers are performed using molds, which have grooves or channels for constraining the movement of the individual fibers.
The first example of an assembling method for CF array fabrication was developed by Guitchounts et al. (2013) and Guitchounts and Cox (2020), in which they were able to fabricate CF arrays with up to 64 channels for chronic electrophysiology (Figure 3Ci). Briefly, the authors threaded the CFs through a 3D-printed plastic block, coated the fibers with Parylene-C, exposed them using fire sharpening and finally functionalized the fibers with PEDOT:TFB for chronic in vivo recording (Guitchounts et al., 2013; Guitchounts and Cox, 2020).
Figure 3Cii shows another design developed by Patel et al. (2015, 2020, 2016). They built a 16-channel CF array which is mounted on a PCB, with a connector soldered on the top of the array. The fibers from both sides of the array were attached using silver epoxy, which was then oven cured. In this device, fibers are spaced at a pitch of 132 μm. CFs were first cut to 1 mm long and then coated with approximately 800 nm thick of Parylene-C. After coating, the CFs were cut down to 500 μm in length and the tips were re-exposed using laser ablation. They demonstrated chronic neural recording and dopamine sensing by implanting the arrays in rat nucleus accumbens for 1 month. Additionally, electrodes were left in the tissue, sliced in place during histology and showed minimal tissue damage (Patel et al., 2020). Similarly, Schwerdt et al. (2017, 2018) aligned ten CF with individual lengths of 5.5 mm on a PCB using a glass substrate with trenches (250 μm pitch). The fibers were connected to the PCB using silver epoxy, which was later cured on a hot plate. The CF (50–200 μm long) were subsequently masked with photoresist. The fibers were finally insulated with Parylene-C deposition followed by lifting-off of photoresist masks with acetone to expose the CF tips.
A third example was developed by Massey et al. (2019), in which they fabricated 32 channel CF arrays using Si microfabrication and micro-assembling (Figure 3Ciii). In this device, fibers are spaced at a pitch of 38 μm, the smallest pitch reported so far for carbon-based fiber arrays (Massey et al., 2019). The authors suggest that the fabrication technique is scalable to a larger number of electrodes and allows for the potential future integration of microelectronics. They demonstrated acute recording using the arrays in rats.
Figure 3Civ shows the last example of a mold for fiber assembly, which was fabricated by 3D printing and laser writing (Gillis et al., 2018). Using this mold, CFs were placed in the harp-like structure to improve positioning and handling during subsequent steps. In this design, the alignment clips are 150 μm apart, therefore the density of the electrodes after assembling is relatively low. Another limitation is the number of channels, which is only four. To connect the arrays to other electronics, a polyimide lead was custom designed to serve as an interconnector between the electrodes and an Omnetics connector (Gillis et al., 2018). The connector was soldered to one end of the lead using a reflow oven, which is used primarily for the reflow soldering of surface mount electronic components to PCB. The other end of the lead was prepared for electrode bonding by rinsing it with isopropanol and spraying off the excess with nitrogen gas (Gillis et al., 2018). In this array, the electrodes were insulated using Parylene-C and exposed with fire sharpening. The authors also functionalized CFs with EIROF to improve the electrode properties. The arrays were then demonstrated for both acute stimulation and recording in the right-side tracheosyringeal nerve in zebra finches.
To summarize, the harp-structure assembling method (Figure 3Civ) resulted in a low-density electrode array (Gillis et al., 2018) while the device designed by Patel et al. (2015, 2020) (Figure 3Cii) has a higher channel count (16 channels). Both types of fabrication lead to arrays with pitch size above 132 μm. In comparison, the arrays developed by Guitchounts and Cox (2020) (Figure 3Ci) and (Massey et al., 2019; Figure 3Ciii) have higher electrode counts (32 or 64 channels), and the Massey array has lowest pitch size of 38 μm. The entire fabrication of the arrays by Guitchounts and Cox (2020) (Figure 3Ci) and the harp-structure assembly method (Gillis et al., 2018) takes about 2 h, but (Patel et al., 2020) and Massey et al. (2019) did not mention the fabrication time required. However, all designs involve manual steps. Techniques that can position and align the fibers automatically to facilitate the assembly process should be developed.
Insertion Techniques
Insertion method is an important factor to be considered when fabricating high-density CF arrays. The use of additional supports for CF insertion was found to strongly depend on the fiber length (Patel et al., 2015; Massey et al., 2019). To determine the optimal length for reliable insertion, Massey et al. (2019) inserted CFs arrays into 0.6 w/w% agar gel which mimics many mechanical properties of the brain. The results showed that the longest fibers (3.5 mm in length) could not insert, while the fibers shorter than 3.5 mm could insert successfully. Those lengths could be variable once implanted in vivo as agar is not a perfect model for cortical tissue. Therefore, the authors suggested a practical upper bound of 2.5–3 mm for devices. CFs of longer lengths therefore require additional support which can provide them with sufficient mechanical stiffness and facilitate the insertion into deeper brain regions (Patel et al., 2015; Schwerdt et al., 2018; Lee Y. et al., 2019).
An ideal insertion technique should allow the insertion of CF arrays with high channel count without introducing acute or chronic tissue responses due to insertion damage. Patel et al. (2015) and Schwerdt et al. (2018) temporarily stiffened CFs tips using poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) coating, which later dissolved with sterile ringer's solution just above the brain surface (Figure 3Di). Patel et al. (2015) suggested that this method was suitable for insertion of arrays with only one or two rows of fibers, but difficult for inserting arrays with three or more rows (Patel et al., 2015). Patel et al. (2015) also demonstrated a second method, in which they used a silicon support structure consisting of small grooves for holding individual fibers (Figure 3Dii). The use of silicon support enabled insertion of arrays with three or more rows (Patel et al., 2015). In another work (Lee Y. et al., 2019), CF arrays were embedded within two different supporting materials, biodegradable silk fibroin coatings and non-degradable tungsten wires, to facilitate the insertion of CF into deeper brain regions (Figure 3Diii). The silk support structure dissolved approximately 2 days after implantation. Their result showed that electrodes with silk supports induced less reactive glial responses than that with tungsten supports.
Carbon-based microfiber electrodes provide advantages of minimal tissue response and improved resolution for neural stimulation and recording, compared to conventional electrodes fabricated using metal wires or silicon technologies. However, there are several remaining challenges that need to be addressed for their future wide use in both neuroscience research and medical applications.
The first urgent challenge is to construct MEAs using these fiber materials with high electrode count and density. The fabrication must be highly controllable, with high successful yield, minimal manual procedures and therefore minimal fabrication time. Although optical methods for recording neural activities have already made important contributions to studying neural activities, the existing imaging techniques are limited in terms of temporal resolution (Rector et al., 2009). The scattering of light in the brain and thermal sensitivity of brain tissue also limit the application of imaging techniques and many of them require the use of florescent proteins that create barriers in clinical translation (Hillman, 2007; Park et al., 2018). Compared with imaging, electrical recording can provide much higher temporal resolution (He et al., 2011). It is also possible to record deep from the brain using penetrating electrodes and the clinical translation is relatively easy (Im and Seo, 2017). However, to record from large populations of neurons and large brain areas, it is necessary to develop arrays with large electrode counts and densities. The highest electrode count from arrays fabricated using carbon-based fiber electrodes so far is only 64, which is smaller than many other electrode arrays. For example, the most widely used Utah arrays have 100 microelectrodes. One recently reported recording system, the Argo, is constructed with 65,536 recording channels (Obaid et al., 2020), which is suitable for in vivo research (Sahasrabuddhe et al., 2020). It is therefore important to develop novel technologies to scale-up the fabrication of carbon-based microfiber arrays. Most of the studies that have investigated inflammatory tissue responses from carbon-based microfibers were performed using single or very small numbers of electrodes. The influence of electrode count and density on the tissue response to array implantation also needs to be considered.
Second, there is a demand to improve the insertion technique to facilitate the implantation of these flexible fiber electrodes. Existing studies for inserting flexible carbon-based microfibers use either bio-dissolvable coatings (Apollo et al., 2015) or thick shuttle devices (Lee Y. et al., 2019). Both approaches increase the insertion footprints, which may lead to adverse tissue responses and therefore limit the chronic application of the fibers (Weltman et al., 2016). Many other insertion techniques that have been developed for other flexible implants may also be applicable to carbon-based microfibers. For example, a "sewing machine" has been developed and used to implant arrays with 64 shanks for minimal invasive neural recording (Hanson et al., 2019). The design of this insertion tool can minimize the overall insertion footprint, vasculature disruption and maximize the number and anatomically distribution of targeted electrodes (Hanson et al., 2019).
Last, future neural interfaces will require the devices to perform multiple functions to obtain the most detailed and comprehensive information from the nervous system, while having the capacity to simultaneously modulate neural activities with the greatest precision and control. Compared to electrical modalities, to stimulate and record from neurons optically or chemically can provide additional information and flexibility (Hong and Lieber, 2019). For instance, the integration of optical fiber electrodes, which bi-directionally transmit light between separate sites (even at a distance of several micrometers), will enable simultaneous electrophysiology and optical imaging or neural stimulation via optogenetics (Miyamoto and Murayama, 2016). The use of optogenetic manipulation will make it possible to control neural activity with cell-type and projection selectivity, which will advance our understanding of specific circuit activity and behaviors (Miyamoto and Murayama, 2016). Chemically, neurotransmitter measurements and stimulation can be another useful add-on function in neural interfaces (Sung et al., 2020). Neurotransmitters play an important role in neural communications (Niyonambaza et al., 2019). They are involved in psychological processes such as learning and memory, and their pathologies are correlated with many psychiatric or neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease (Si and Song, 2018). Many of these carbon-based microfibers have been demonstrated to sense neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and glutamine (Fang et al., 2017). However, many of these developments are still in the primary stages.
Despite all of these challenges, carbon-based microfiber electrodes hold the promise for next generation neural interfaces. With minimal tissue response and the capacity for high-resolution neural stimulation and recording, carbon-based microfibers are expected to serve as the core technologies in the closed-loop devices that can communicate reliably and efficiently with neurons for an adequately long period. The developed technologies will benefit both basic neuroscience and medical research by deepening our understanding of neural functions and advancing novel therapy development, which will ultimately improve our quality of living.
All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.
This research was funded by a Project Grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (GNT1101717) and a Linkage Grant from the Australian Research Council (LP180100638). WT was supported by a University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher Grant (2021ECR091). DG was supported by a Future Fellowships from The Australian Research Council (FT190100215).
SP is a shareholder in iBIONICS, a company developing a diamond based retinal implant. SP and DG are shareholders and public officers of Carbon Cybernetics Pty Ltd., a company developing diamond and carbon-based medical device components.
The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Keywords: neural interface, carbon-based microfiber, stimulation, recording, fabrication
Citation: Hejazi M, Tong W, Ibbotson MR, Prawer S and Garrett DJ (2021) Advances in Carbon-Based Microfiber Electrodes for Neural Interfacing. Front. Neurosci. 15:658703. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.658703
Received: 26 January 2021; Accepted: 22 March 2021;
Published: 12 April 2021.
Ulrich G. Hofmann, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany
Elisa Castagnola, University of Pittsburgh, United States
David Martin, University of Delaware, United States
Copyright © 2021 Hejazi, Tong, Ibbotson, Prawer and Garrett. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
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Rector, D. M., Yao, X., Harper, R. M., and George, J. S. (2009). "In vivo observations of rapid scattered light changes associated with neurophysiological activity," in In Vivo Optical Imaging of Brain Function, ed. R. D. Frostig (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press).
Robinson, D. L., Venton, B. J., Heien, M. L., and Wightman, R. M. (2003). Detecting subsecond dopamine release with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in vivo. Clin. Chem. 49, 1763–1773. doi: 10.1373/49.10.1763
Roeser, J., Alting, N. F. A., Permentier, H. P., Bruins, A. P., and Bischoff, R. (2013). Boron-doped diamond electrodes for the electrochemical oxidation and cleavage of peptides. Anal. Chem. 85, 6626–6632. doi: 10.1021/ac303795c
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Santos, R. M., Lourenco, C. F., Piedade, A. P., Andrews, R., Pomerleau, F., Huettl, P., et al. (2008). A comparative study of carbon fiber-based microelectrodes for the measurement of nitric oxide in brain tissue. Biosens. Bioelectron. 24, 704–709. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2008.06.034
Schwerdt, H. N., Kim, M. J., Amemori, S., Homma, D., Yoshida, T., Shimazu, H., et al. (2017). Subcellular probes for neurochemical recording from multiple brain sites. Lab Chip 17, 1104–1115. doi: 10.1039/c6lc01398h
Schwerdt, H. N., Zhang, E., Kim, M. J., Yoshida, T., Stanwicks, L., Amemori, S., et al. (2018). Cellular-scale probes enable stable chronic subsecond monitoring of dopamine neurochemicals in a rodent model. Commun. Biol. 1:144.
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Shuang, F., Deng, H., Shafique, A. B., Marsh, S., Treiman, D., Tsakalis, K., et al. (2020). A first study on nanoporous tungsten recording electrodes for deep brain stimulation. Mater. Lett. 260:126885. doi: 10.1016/j.matlet.2019.126885
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Szostak, K. M., Grand, L., and Constandinou, T. G. (2017). Neural interfaces for intracortical recording: requirements, fabrication methods, and characteristics. Front. Neurosci. 11:665. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00665
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Sean OKelly and his Web Design Shop LLC made very positive first impression with their superior work ethic and prompt email responses. They were the only bidder who followed through and provided the website mockup as promised. I would highly recommend Web Design Shop LLC to other individuals and businesses who need knowledgeable | 362 |
CIC bioGUNE Bilbao | About us | Research in Biosciences
CIC bioGUNE, member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), is a key research center within the national and international scientific landscape and has emerged as a knowledge source in the area of health science.<|fim_middle|>, which allow it to compete with the main European research institutes. These include advanced equipment for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, as well as different core technology platforms where genomes, proteomes and metabolomes can be analyzed.
José M Mato
CIC bioGUNE and CIC biomaGUNE
Precision Medicine and Metabolism Lab
Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
Chemical Glycobiology Lab
+General purchasing terms and conditions
Technology Offers | The cutting-edge scientific activity of CIC bioGUNE researchers explores the interface between Chemistry, Structural, Molecular and Cell Biology, with the aim of developing a more Precise Medicine for the future. link
Two research programmes - "Molecular Recognition and Host-Pathogen Interactions" and "Metabolism and Cell Signaling in Disease" – are made up of more than a hundred scientists and technicians who concentrate on the molecular bases and mechanisms of disease to create new diagnostic methods and promote development of advanced therapies.
Located in the Science and Technology Park of Bizkaia (Derio, Bilbao), the activity of CIC bioGUNE includes generation of both fundamental and oriented knowledge (publications, patents, lectures in institutions and congresses), training of research talent, and collaboration-building with local, national and international institutions. The center always places their technical advances, infrastructure, and scientific personnel at the service of society, health and business networks, and the global scientific community.
CIC bioGUNE has modern scientific infrastructures, led by prestigious scientists | 211 |
Is there a way to reset the starting weight; as opposed to it being logged as a new weight entry for the day?
You can backdate a starting weight<|fim_middle|> diary to keep track of your progress over time. | by enter that in the past date you started with Cronometer. When you log a weight for a day, that will be used for many calculations and charts. Is that what you are looking for?
Hi Frank - I entered the wrong weight earlier this morning when setting up the acct. When I attempted to correct it later in the day - it logged it as a new entry - rather than overriding the previous entry - thereby, reporting it as a 'loss' when in fact it isn't. My intent is just to adjust the initial weight so that it is correct and doesn't artificially read as a loss.
In the diary, use the calendar in the sidebar to navigate to the date of the first weight you logged and you should see it in the diary. Click on the value and it will become editable so that you can correct it.
I just started back up again on 6/21 after quite an absence. I entered my meals and then yesterday yesterday 6/22 I went into my profile and changed my weight from 170 lbs to 177 pounds. I just realized that that changes my graphs on weigh loss, so of course, now it looks like I've gained 7 lbs in 2 days! lol ( I never realized you could update your weight changes on an as wanted basis.) How do I reset my starting weight for 6/21 from 170 to 175?
You can add a weight biometric to your diary on 6/21. Click the green date bar to expand the calendar, then select June 21 to open that date in your diary page. Click Add Biometric, select weight from the drop down list, then add 175 lbs and add the measurement to your diary. You can record your weight in your | 369 |
Richard L. Haley, II Named Executive Assistant Director<|fim_middle|> | of the Information and Technology Branch
Director Christopher Wray has named Richard L. Haley, II as the executive assistant director of the FBI's Information and Technology Branch. He most recently served as the assistant director of the Finance and Facilities Division.
As executive assistant director of the Information and Technology Branch, Mr. Haley will be in charge of three divisions that meet and support the FBI's IT needs. About 1,800 federal employees and contractors work in the branch, providing support and services to the FBI around the world.
Mr. Haley joined the FBI in 2005 as the deputy chief financial officer. Three years later, he was promoted to chief financial officer, in charge of the FBI's budget, procurement, and financial operations. In 2014, the FBI combined its Finance Division and its Facilities and Logistics Services Division under Mr. Haley's leadership. The unified division oversees the FBI's finances, facilities, and logistics functions.
Before he joined the FBI, Mr. Haley was the deputy budget director at the U.S. Department of Justice. He was later the director of the Business Management Fund at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and worked for a time at the former Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Before working as a federal civilian employee, Mr. Haley served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. military. He earned a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in political science and economics. He received the FBI Director's Award for Excellence in Management in 2007 and Distinguished Presidential Rank Awards in 2008 and 2019. | 327 |
Slime-san
Slimy action and fantastic music make this indie platformer a goopy delight.
Written by: Cory Galliher | April 17, 2017
Publisher: Headup Games
ESRB Rating: NR
Metadata by Giant Bomb
In the beginning there were no indie games, and it was…well, I don't know about "good," and I also don't really know if there were no indie games or if<|fim_middle|> Slime-san. Everyone else, well…if they can muster up a little patience for the inevitable million deaths they'll face, then they'll probably have a good time with it as well. This is a game with heart, and there's always something to be said for that.
About the Author: Cory Galliher
Journalist, writer, and gamer extraordinaire, Senior Games Editor Cory aims to be king of the universe and all he surveys. His credits include AOL, The Cumberland Times-News, and The Well-Read Mage.
Rigid Force Redux
by Trent McGee
9th Dawn III
by Sebastian Stoddard
Don't Die, Minerva!
by Cory Galliher
Hero Defense
by Evelyn Fewster
Bridge Constructor Portal
by Nia Bothwell
SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell | EVERY game was an indie game in the beginning. Look, let's start over: once upon a time someone made Super Meat Boy and it sold a ton of copies and everyone else decided to make Super Meat Boy Clones and also around this time you weren't really allowed to criticize indie games so there was no way to turn off the faucet and a lot of these clones came out and it was a tough time for us all. Whew.
Anyway, in The Year Of Our Lord 2017 there aren't quite as many frustration platformers and it's a little less taboo to say something bad about a game made by a single dude or whatever. This is the setting for Fabraz's Slime-san leaping onto the scene…er, sliming onto the scene, I suppose. Sanitary concerns aside, it's still a pretty good game, so let's talk about it a bit.
Slime-san's been eaten! Such is the fate of a slime, I suppose. That doesn't mean that his slimy adventures are over, though; Slime-San's not ready to be digested yet! It's time to race through the innards of the worm avoiding stomach acid, spikes and all manner of other obstacles in the process.
Slime-san is a slime, so he's not exactly endowed with a wide variety of moves. He's able to slime about, including sliming up walls, he can dash, and he's able to "morph." This allows Slime-san to pass through green slime surfaces as well as slowing the action to let you get your bearings. It's a simple set of maneuvers but you'll need to be quick and accurate with them.
Much of the game's challenge comes from combining precision jumps and dashes with morphing in and out at just the right time. There's plenty of instant-death red stuff around to take you out, so you'll need to be quick; in true frustration platformer style, Slime-san's durability is a little lacking and you can expect to spend a lot of time dead. Along with avoiding the bad, you'll want to seek out the good, like delicious green apples scattered throughout the game that can be exchanged for costumes and new play styles.
Those costumes and play styles really cut to the heart of Slime-san, since it's not just about the platforming, it's about scouring the game for all it's worth. On top of collecting new accessories and such, you've also got a selection of arcade games to check out using collectible coins. You'll find these in an expansive hub town that's worth exploring in and of itself. The point is that there's a lot of love here and it's worth your while to take your time with this one…well, not so much that you get drowned in stomach acid, but you get the idea.
The Super Meat Boy-styled gameplay is combined with a classic retro style. Yes, I know I said "classic retro style" and it made your stomach turn a little, but it's not too bad here! As far as I can tell, Slime-san's going a little bit past the 8-bit era to the days of computers that existed before my time, so it's not the usual sort of aesthetic we've come to expect from every other indie game. It's all pretty coherent and the game runs at a nice, solid clip. There's also the music, which is flat out amazing. Seriously, it's good stuff. Buy game, listen to music, enjoy.
Indie game fans who miss the halcyon days of frustration platformers five or six years ago are bound to love | 741 |
DJ GOZZI
New York City Native, Gozzi, a Two Time Remix Award Winner during Miami Music Week. Awarded for Remix of the Year (Radio Airplay) for "High Hopes" by Panic! At the Disco. Gozzi is an award winning producer, DJ and remixer and versatile percussionist and all around Musician. Regarded as a dynamic musical entrepreneur, he has worked with some of the industry's most innovative artists and producers. Gozzi's love for music began to develop from the early age of 6, when he received his first drum set. According to Gozzi, "my drum instructors always pushed me to do better and helped me realize my potential was greater than I believed." A graduate of the prestigious Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Gozzi furthered his education by receiving a bachelor's degree in music from Five Towns College in New York. From performing in various bands to operating as a professional audio engineer, his unique ear for sound and musicality eventually led him to DJ'ing at some of the hottest nightclubs across the United States. Recordings aren't the only tools Gozzi uses while spinning, as he also incorporates drumming and percussion to enhance the overall experience for his audiences. As a remixer for various Major labels & Independent Major Singers & Producers, one of Gozzi's remixes "High Hopes" by Panic! At The Disco was full rotation on 103.5 FM WKTU NYC and was iHeart Radio's most played remix nationwide in 2018 into 2019. Not to mention full rotation on Pitbull's Globalization (Sirius/XM). Many of his well-known achievements include "Car Radio" by Twenty One Pilots (the official remix used by the act on their live Japan tour), "Ciao Adios" by Anne Marie, "Nothing to Lose" by Vassy and "Never Be The Same" by Camila Cabello, which stayed at #1 for four weeks in a row as the most played remix in North America. He has also worked, constantly, with new and familiar artists/producers on his continuously growing resume, including K-Pop artist Jackson Wang, legendary Trance female Vocalist/DJ, JES, Mainstream Singer<|fim_middle|> works alongside legendary and National Radio Hall of Famer, Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton, on the Remix Top 30 Countdown. Gozzi is one of only 12 resident DJs on over 150 radio stations heard every weekend on the Premiere Radio Network. As well as garnering radio mix show credentials from both past & present, Gozzi has performed on many different stations/podcast streams, that include Long Island's WPTY Party 105.3 FM, California's own KRYC-LP Rhythm 105.9 FM, Miami's Hit Music Station Y100, West Palm Beach's Power 107.4 FM, Chicago's Dance Factory, Mix93FM, Miami Mike Radio, Vizion Mixshow, Dash Radio & many more. Gozzi has also achieved his own weekly podcast mixshow, infamously known as, "The Blast Mix", compiled with the hottest Top 40/Mainstream/EDM music, and featuring the globes most talented Artists & Remixers/Editors that Gozzi showcases on his show. Throughout his hard work and dedication towards his career, Gozzi's acknowledgement in the music industry has achieved him award winning nominations, for 'Best Syndicated Mixshow DJ' & 'Best Remixer' on one of the biggest musical promotions labels, the Promo Only Summer Sessions 2018 and nominated & won in 2019's "Remix Awards", led by the Remix Top 30 & Digital Music Pool, for 'Rising Remix Producer of the Year', 'Remix of the Year – Radio Airplay' for several remixes and 'Best Mixshow DJ'. Devoted to his family, music, and fans, GOZZI continues to pin the map with music that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Let Him Go (DJ Gozzi Extended Remix)
JES, DJ Gozzi
InToneNation Records
Aho (Vocal Version - Solarstone Retouch)
Solarstone, DJ Gozzi, New Ordinance
Black Hole Recordings
Feelings for you (DJ Gozzi Remix)
Fenix, Chris Willis, DJ Gozzi
Say Wow Records
Like A Band (DJ Gozzi Remix) (Original Mix)
DJ Gozzi, JAGMAC
Unitas Entertainment LLC
Beautiful Life feat. Jaclyn Walker (Lodato Remix)
The Extraordinary Gentlemen, Lodato, DJ Gozzi
Overdrive Productions
Solarstone presents Pure Trance Vol. 8
Activa, Julie Thompson, Super-Frog Saves Tokyo, Liz Cirelli, Stoby & Coulter, DJ Gozzi, New Ordinance, Allende, Claudiu Adam, Oliver Imseng, Solarstone, Orkidea, Dinny Ward, Men-D, gardenstate, Obie Fernandez, Sam Mitcham, Elizabeth Fields, Ehren Stowers, The Blizzard, Future Disciple, Tony Anderson, Way Out West, Stephens & Green, Sector7, Solar Movement, Robert Nickson, Jamieson & Lamb, Starpicker, Dan Stone, James Kitcher, Adam Taylor, Simon McLeod, Factoria, Niko Zografos, G&M Project, Solarstone, Robert Nickson, RNX, Solar Movement, Stephens & Green, Factor B, Jaron Inc., Activa
Black Hole Recordings | 2019-11-29
Feelings for you (Remixes)
Fenix, Chris Willis, DJ Gozzi, Kue, The Scene Kings
Say Wow Records | 2019-11-22
Let Him Go (Gozzi Remix)
InToneNation Records | 2019-07-26
Like A Band The Remixes
JAGMAC, Kue, BOOSTEDKIDS, DJ Gozzi, Manny Martinez
Unitas Entertainment LLC | 2019-06-14
One in a Million (DJ Gozzi Remix)
DJ Gozzi, New Ordinance
Expedition Music | 2017-10-26
Say It Loud (feat. Abri) [The Remixes]
DJ Gozzi, KrowdKontrollers, Angelo Scalici, Dark Intensity
Vizion Music Group | 2017-10-13
The Extraordinary Gentlemen, DJ Gozzi, Lodato
Overdrive Productions | 2016-07-22 | & Artist, Austin Mahone, and one of the most listened to Producers & DJs, Diplo, and his group Major Lazer, to name a few. Gozzi's original single, "Say it Loud," was the 2017 theme song for the American Cancer Society's Breast Cancer Walk across NYC, and his original tracks, "Beyond Gravity" & "Aho", which were songwritten, produced and mastered by Gozzi & New Ordinance, were and are continued to be supported on the biggest radio stations/podcasts in the globe, including the infamous "A State Of Trance" by legendary DJ/Producer Armin Van Buuren, and on two "Pure Trance" Compilations in a row mixed by Prog House/Prog Trance legend, Rich Solarstone. Gozzi is also a credited producer and editor for Crooklyn Clan, one of the largest DJ music sources in the world, providing the newest and exclusive up-to-date music, mashups, remixes & edits in the Global DJ market. Gozzi also | 220 |
Welcome to issue 59 of the electrical digest Editor's newsletter featuring the latest news and featured products<|fim_middle|> 607 385 for more information.
► Can You Afford Not To Have An Energy Audit?
The first step towards reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency is to carry out an energy audit.
► Are You Specifying The Right Electricity Meter Boxes?
The newly published BS 8567 specifies requirements for outdoor electricity meter boxes/cupboards.
The Protecta Putty Pad has been designed to maintain the fire resistance of gypsum walls where these are breached by electical switches and sockets.
C-TEC has announced the appointment of an additional Northern Technical Account Manager to strengthen its UK sales team.
Thomas & Betts will be exhibiting the Emergi-Lite portfolio of market leading emergency lighting and fire detection products at the forthcoming LuxLive Exhibition at Earls Court, London, UK from 6 - 7 November 2012.
It contains wiring devices from MK Electric's best-selling Logic Plus range – made from a high grade thermoset material which has an inherent antimicrobial property – as well as the Sentry range of circuit protection consumer units and Prestige 3D cable management.
Trina Solar Limited has annonced the launch of its live Roadshow across the UK. Between 2nd and 10th October, a Trina Solar event truck will tour the country, engaging the UK's solar PV installer community with a live and interactive experience. | from the industry. For more of the latest stories and product information read them on our website – www.electricaldigest.co.uk or read the latest issue of our magazine using the link above.
The electrical digest Product Launch promotion package includes leaderboard (700x90 pixel) banner, front cover of the electrical digest magazine and A4 advert. Please call 01785 | 79 |
LeBron James Went To Movies By Himself To 'Get Everything Right' (Photos)
<|fim_middle|> in 35 points — his second-highest total of the playoffs — and 10 rebounds to lead the Heat to a series-evening, 98-96 win Sunday night in Game 2.
Photo via Deadspin
Powerade Responds To Gatorade After LeBron James Leads Heat To Game 2 Win | by Zack Cox on Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 2:27PM
After cramping and crumbling during Game 1 of the NBA Finals, LeBron James took a different approach in his preparation for Game 2.
Here's an overview of LeBron's weekend, courtesy of Associated Press basketball writer Tim Reynolds:
"Without anyone else with him — no security, no friends, nobody, and that almost never happens — James quietly showed up at a theater a couple miles from where the Miami Heat were staying for a 5:40 p.m. showing Saturday of 'Maleficent.' And it's also why he and his regular massage therapist joined two strangers for a yoga class at 8 a.m. Sunday, where he focused on his breathing."
We know what #Lebron is doing right now. It's a Lebron selfie!! http://t.co/ZbA0xaWBiI
Jeremy Baker (@JBWeather) June 07, 2014
The Heat star told the AP that his unorthodox routine was a way for him to "get everything right" — both physically and mentally — after being confined to the bench for the final minutes of Miami's 110-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs last Thursday.
It must have done the trick. James poured | 273 |
Danny Ainge on Gordon Hayward's foot injury: 'Nobody knows exactly what the issue is'
Ashish Mathur
Boston Celtics small forward Gordon Hayward is dealing with a left foot injury, an ailment Celtics president Danny Ainge admits "nobody knows exactly what the<|fim_middle|>Danny AingeGordon Hayward
VIDEO: Bucks' Brook Lopez throws Shaqtin' lob even Tacko Fall with 40-inch vert won't catch | issue is."
The Celtics are listing Hayward as day to day. The swingman is expected to undergo an MRI on Thursday. The left foot is the same foot Hayward suffered that gruesome ankle injury against the Cleveland Cavaliers on opening night back in 2017.
"He was doing a lot of training and being able to work and he just has a toe/foot — it's right there, right where your toe connects with your foot," Ainge said on 98.5 The Sports Hub with Toucher and Rich, via the Boston Sports Journal.
"It's just some pain and we're trying to figure out what it is. He had a cortisone shot, hoping that would make it better, but it actually made it worse. So we're trying to figure all that out. Nobody knows exactly what the issue is."
Hayward has played in just 11 games this season. He missed time due to a broken hand. The 29-year-old is averaging 17.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Celtics while shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from beyond the arc and 78.3 percent from the free-throw line.
The Celtics, after defeating the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, are now 18-7 on the season. They are in second place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Hayward is making $32,700,690 this season. He has a player option worth $34,187,085 for next season. The veteran will likely pick that option up and remain with the Celtics since he has a injury history now.
JUST IN: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh headline possible 2020 Naismith Hall of Fame candidates
Related TopicsCeltics | 384 |
Romantic. Also known as "The Neapolitan Song."
Baroque. Christmas. Piano score & parts.
21st Century (2008). Contemporary setting of the hymn tune by Joseph Barnby. Score & parts.
20th Century. Atonal work for standard brass quintet and piano.
A medley including "Just a Closer Walk with Thee and "Trust and Obey". For 2 trumpets, horn in F or trumpet 3, trombone 1, trombone 2 and/or tuba and piano.
For brass quintet & piano.
Christmas. Arrangement of European carols into a new work for standard brass quintet and piano.
Traditional Christian. Setting for quintet and piano of the old hymn tune Crusader's Hymn (1842).
Trumpets 1 & 2, horn in F or Trumpet 3, Trombone 1, Trombone 2 and<|fim_middle|>ally with synthesizer, piano or organ). Standard 211.01 brass quintet. Trombone employs tenor clef.
Traditional Christian hymn. Based on the Coronation tune by Oliver Holden. Score & parts.
Folk. Traditional Irish (County Derry) folk tune also known as "O Danny Boy."
For 2 trumpets, horn in f or trumpet 3, trombone 1, trombone 2 and/or tuba and piano.
Christian. Old African-American Spiritual hymn tune "Balm in Gilead" here arranged for brass quintet & piano. | /or Tuba, and Piano.
Christmas. Medley of Ding Dong Merrily on High; Waltham; and Ukranian Bell Carol.
Christmas. For 2 trumpets, horn or trumpet 3, trombone 1, trombone 2 or tuba and piano. This expertly crafted tapestry of Christmas favorites by Larry Shackley is sure to inspire listeners in yuletide worship and concert settings alike! This arrangement exudes energy and joy as it blends four beloved carol melodies. The supportive accompaniment and accessible brass parts ensure a strong and confident presentation of this dynamic Christmas medley.
Contemporary setting based on tunes by Handel and Elvey. Score & parts.
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks/Angels, From the Realms of Glory. Trumpet 1 & 2, Horn in F or Trumpet 3, Trombone 1, Trombone 2 and/or Tuba, and Piano.
Original composition based on melodies of Elvey and Cruger.
Romantic. Tchaikowsky's popular Dance from his famous Nutcracker is here set for brass quintet with celeste (option | 237 |
Home page Services In-Situ IFV Evaluation network
IFV (Improved Forest Varieties) Evaluation network
Partners: INRAE, ONF, CNPF
Coordination : INRAE, 45290 Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France.
Experimental sites located in metropolitan France.
Network description
The State seed orchards (financed by the Ministry in Charge of Forests), plantations in the network composed of genotypes selected for traits of economic interest are intended to produce genetically improved seeds for reforestation. Seed performance is assessed on their progeny in comparative multi-site tetst to guide the choice of forest owners and managers.
INRAE, ONF and CNPF evaluate these State seed orchards. The experimental network, which covers 82 ha, has 76 plots where the products of 8 Douglas fir orchards, 2 hybrid larch orchards, 1 European larch orchard and 3 Laricio pine orchards are evaluated (tests evaluating a common spruce orchard may be added to the list at a later date). The varieties are compared with each other and with one or more control provenances, as well as with foreign varieties in the case of larch.
The 76 plots were planted from 1995 to 2016 in varying patterns (single-tree in plots of different sizes) to reconcile the scientific objectives - obtaining reliable results at different time steps - and the demonstration plots for certain trials to optimize the transfer of knowledge to managers.
The Douglas-fir and larch networks cover a large area characterized by varied site conditions. Thus, the 38 plots of the recently created Douglas partnership network (from 2009 to 2016) were voluntarily installed in various pedoclimatic contexts in order to study genotype environment interactions. The experimental sites are divided into three main categories according to the presumed impact of climate change: negligible (major current production basins in the northern zone), unfavourable (southern and eastern fringes of the Massif Central) or, on the contrary, favourable (high-altitude sites). In addition, a recent extension of the network makes it possible to better explore the ecological gradients for a potential Douglas fir<|fim_middle|> taken regularly during the trial period activity. After a close follow-up in the first years, the measurement campaigns are spaced out to every 3-5 years on average. The characteristics taken into account vary according to species and plot age; in general, they concern adaptation to the environment (survival, budburst phenology, biotic and abiotic damage), growth (height, circumference), shape (branch density and insertion angle, trunk straightness, basal curvature, forking), the status of the trees in the case of thinning and the taxon for certain larch trials (hybrid/non hybrid).
The test data are managed by the research institutions. In addition, for Douglas Fir Partnership Network, sites are pooled to allow multi-site analyses and a metadata base is under construction.
In addition, the research and development organisms involved in the evaluation of the improved forest varieties actively participate in the transfer of the knowledge they acquire to professionals in the forest sector, including seed suppliers, nursery growers, forest owners and managers. This transfer takes on a variety of forms: information meetings, technical articles, and updating the advice sheets on the use of forest reproductive material available on the site of the Ministry in Charge of Forests. Data from the evaluation network are also valorised in scientific articles, although this is not the primary objective.
The Douglas Partnership Network is managed by a steering committee, with one or more representatives from each partner organization, which meets at least once a year. This Committee takes all the necessary decisions concerning the network (number and type of trials in each type of environment, distribution among the organisations, choice of land, seed collection, plant breeding), the measurements (targetted characteristics, frequency, experimental protocols) and the use of the results obtained. Coordination is ensured by INRAE Nogent-sur-Vernisson.
The other trials are managed directly by the organisms that installed them, in more or less close collaboration with the partners working on the same species.
In all cases, the data remain the exclusive property of the organisations responsible for the experiments that generated the data.
The group evaluating varieties from State orchards allocates 2 full time equivalent (FTE) engineers and 2 FTE assistant engineers/technicians annually to these actions, and receives regular financial support from the Ministry in Charge of Forests.
Work description and access modalities
Composed of common genetic units located in various pedoclimatic situations, the network represents a very rich capital that can generate knowledge in fields other than forest genetics. The managing institutions will consider any requests by other research institutes for access to the data or the experimental sites, while insisting on their willingness to be involved as much as possible in the projects carried out by the users.
The conditions of access to the data or experimental sites of the Douglas Partnership Network will be governed by a charter, currently under construction, similar to that of the GIS Coop data.
Access unit and cost
There is no set fee; the cost will depend on the nature of the request.
Temperature sensors and rain gauges for two sites in the Douglas network.
Redaction : Gwenaël PHILIPPE
Creation date : 03 October 2018 | reforestation area, including in particular sites on limestone. In the case of larch, some French sites are part of various European-scale networks, which adds to the diversity of the test sites.
Organisationally, the IFV Evaluation Network is not managed as a single entity. While the majority of Douglas fir's evaluation trials are part of a structured partnership network with its own steering committee, the remaining trials are monitored and measured individually by the different member institutions with a lesser degree of integration.
Services offer
The network installs experimental plots to fill knowledge gaps and produce data from measurements | 116 |
Anniversaries, Cover Stories, Editorials,
Interviews, Lists, and Comprehensive Rankings
Anthony Fantano Wants to Turn You On
The Needle Drop mastermind explains his success in music criticism.
by Michael Madden
on October 09, 2014, 1:45pm
There seems to be an unspoken agreement within the music industry that Anthony Fantano, the founder of the YouTube channel The Needle Drop, is one of the most engaging critics online. His main advantage is that, by appearing on video for anyone and everyone to see, he sidesteps the stereotype that music reviewing is impersonal and boring. He gets excited and disappointed by albums and songs just like the rest of us, but his<|fim_middle|> is that I'm pleased with it, and I guess what makes me pleased with it is that I feel that I have, on some level, adequately described the sound, style, and aesthetic of the record, and a little bit of the context and whether or not I enjoy it, and the specific characteristics of the record that make me enjoy it or not enjoy it. Those are my focuses and goals for every review. I could say a review would be successful if the new Busdriver album sold 100,000 copies just because I reviewed it. That would be a fantasy sign of success for me.
After I make a video as well as I could make it, I can't pick how it will be received, unfortunately. There are some times when I'd much rather the reception not be, "Oh, Anthony, you're wrong, I fuckin' hate you," or "This isn't really that good." But there are some times when it's like, "Hey man, this is the most amazing thing I've ever heard in my life." That's really awesome to have that kind of influence on people's record collections.
What are the pros of reviewing on video?
At the end of the day, video is just a medium. I don't consider myself to be as much a writer as I am a talker, and some people don't consider themselves to be talkers. In terms of the pros for me, I feel it's easier to get my point across, and I think it's easier to come off more personable because there are some things I will write and I'll think, "Man, that's the most asshole thing ever." But when I say it, I can take a tone with it so it seems less damning.
When I read [music writing], I tend to read things that are super mean-spirited or snarky, and maybe that's how people view music criticism in general. It's hard to get past that bias sometimes. I feel like it's easier to break past some of those stereotypes when you pull back the curtain and realize the person writing the review is just a really nerdy music fan, and that's it. [With video], I find it's easier to connect with the viewer on a personal level.
What would make today's music writing more engaging and useful?
If I had that answer, I probably would've just stuck to written reviews. [laughs.] There's nothing necessarily wrong with written reviews. I feel like written reviews are in the same state that rock music is in right now: It's tried, it's true, it's tested, it's trusty. What reviews boil down to, no matter what the medium is, is voice and personality. I have a certain tone and a certain voice and a certain personality in my reviews. Websites like Pitchfork and The Quietus have a certain tone and a voice and a personality in their reviews. People go to those sites expecting that voice because they personally identify with it or connect with it in a significant way.
I still wish Carles of Hipster Runoff was still doing what he was doing in 2009 or 2010. Even though [his writing] was ridiculous and satirical, he had a certain sense of humor that people really connected with and thought was smart and witty. During the time Hipster Runoff was at its most successful, Carles had a voice that people could identify and pull out of a crowd: He'd use the two letters "bb" instead of "baby."
In addition to reviews, you do lists and thinkpiece-style videos. What are your favorite videos to make?
Definitely the reviews, especially reviews of shit that I love, and even negative reviews when there's a lot to talk about. There's nothing more unrewarding than doing a middle-of-the-road review, like, "Oh, it's not so bad, but it's not so good." Those reviews are a little daunting to write.
Lists are my least favorite videos to make. I hate making lists. It's my job to make searching for and finding new music easier for people, and doing a list is convenient. Personally, there are some lists I'd find particularly useful, but they'd have to be super specific, like "The Best East Coast Hip-Hop of the '90s." Maybe there's a hardcore hip-hop anomaly that no one's heard of and you think is "best." The purpose of lists is to guide people through some of the more established names and give people the ability to establish a rubric and a background for artists and genres, so that somebody can listen to Wu-Tang or Biggie and listen to an artist like Joey Bada$$ or Action Bronson and know where they're coming from stylistically.
Anthony Fantano
Miguel previews new song "Coffee" — listen
Royale share new song "Out of Season" — listen | opinions tend to be clearer than the average listener's, and that's due to his medium: video, which he says enables him to better organize his ideas and come across as a genuine dude.
What started as "just a podcast" through Connecticut Public Radio in 2007 has become a channel with over 350,000 subscribers. Fantano had an inkling that he could take the channel seriously when it hit 1,000 subscribers. In 2010, his review of Flying Lotus' Cosmogramma started popping up in the Featured Videos section of other Flying Lotus clips, which struck him as another "hint" that he should continue to pursue the channel. He eventually partnered with YouTube after reaching around 1,500 subscribers and began working on TND full-time in late 2011.
Over the years, Fantano has had a number of collaborators, most notably his clueless, mustachioed alter ego Cal Chuchesta. However, it's his striking individuality that has led to the success of the channel. He's professional yet also hilarious and unafraid to express his toughest opinions. There's also value in his knack for describing music that might be off-putting on the surface. So, read on for more about the growth of The Needle Drop, Fantano's approach to reviewing, and his vision for expanding the channel. If you're in town, be sure to catch him tonight at the Littlefield in Brooklyn, NY. Tickets are available here.
What keeps you and the channel going?
When I got around 1,000 subscribers and I was making videos on a regular basis, I could see some of the same user names in [comments sections] every day, and there was good conversation going on. While I liked [that], at the end of the day my goal is to turn people on to music, to reach people. If I'm not doing that, then I'm kind of failing. While I love music and I love listening to music, I don't need to talk about it. I can just listen to it by myself and think what I think. But the fact that I feel like I have this ability now to turn people on to some alternative stuff, to some interesting stuff, to some great stuff — that keeps me going.
What are your immediate plans for expanding The Needle Drop?
I have a dude named Juan [Larrazabal] who has done logo art for me, and he also does website design. I'm basically working with him to get [TheNeedleDrop.com] redesigned and more efficient. I really need to get together a good archive for all the reviews I've done. I think that's one of the major shortcomings of the website right now. In the world of music journalism, if you want to call it that, I'm a figure that people know about, but I don't have a website that competes with a lot of [other outlets].
Up until this point, the website has always functioned on an incredibly shoestring budget, and with this web designer I've been working with, this is the most money, time, and effort I've ever poured into the design and functionality of the website. I need it to be a place where people can effectively move through my hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of reviews by genre, by year, by score, alphabetical order — so on and so forth.
Apart from view counts and other stats, how do you judge the success of one of your reviews?
What makes me put out a review at the end of the day | 738 |
Ideal for a family or two couples - the latest addition to our villa portfolio is a fabulous property situated in the pretty village of Kokkino Chorio.
Villa Skye is a charming two bedroom villa occupying an elevated position on the hillside - think stunning mountain and sea views, glorious sunsets and plenty of privacy. This property boasts a wide variety of features including a private pool, BBQ, full air conditioning and internet - meaning that you can stay fully connected to the outside world (should you wish!) and have the ability to research possible day trips and local restaurants from the comfort of your sun lounger!
The accommodation is thoughtfully arranged to ensure that two couples travelling together can enjoy a high degree of personal space. Situated on a large plot of approximately one acre, Villa Skye has two bedrooms which each have patio doors opening onto a private terrace. Both rooms have a spacious wardrobe and plenty of drawer storage allowing guests to enjoy that "home away from home" feeling as they unpack.
Large patio doors from the kitchen and lounge areas open onto an extensive terrace around the pool area so the designated chef for<|fim_middle|>0% deposit! We have also dropped all credit card surcharges meaning that you can reserve and pay in full for your villa at no extra cost when using this form of payment.
Don't forget that many of our villas offer low occupancy discounts for non-peak bookings meaning that customers can enjoy the luxury of a much larger property (including the pool, gardens and all facilities) at a reduced cost. Find out more about our tempting low occupancy policy here. Many people are surprised to learn that the lovely months of April, May, June, September and October are all considered to be non-peak and a wonderful time to visit the stunning island of Crete.
Why not browse our full range of villas here and call us on 0330 111 0061 should you have any questions - we will be delighted to help! | the night can still enjoy the views and chatter of the evening!
Kokkino Chorio is a beautiful village that not only affords incredible views and sunsets, but also great proximity to the picturesque seaside resort of Almyrida. Less than a ten minute drive from Villa Skye, Almyrida is the perfect place to enjoy a mouth watering lunch or dinner - with the majority of restaurants being located just feet from the stunning beach.
Almyrida beach is a long stretch of soft golden sand with invitingly clear waters. Here you can enjoy a huge variety of watersports including windsurfing, snorkelling and even diving. The Omega Divers Centre offers many popular snorkelling and diving excursions - perfect for beginners as well as the more adventurous!
There are a variety of excellent shops in Almyrida selling everything from food and drink to pretty trinkets, clothing, lilos and every beach essential imaginable!
As we approach 2018, many holidaymakers will begin their search for the perfect villa so it is essential that you reserve your property before the best ones go! At Crete Escapes, we make this process as simple as possible. Not only with intuitive search functions and a helpful "shortlist" facililty on our website, but also the ability to book your villa with just a 1 | 272 |
Q: Haskell/XMonad: What is the natural type for expressing that something must be done after a sequence of actions? I have a sequence of X() actions during which certain buttons might be grabbed (and not released afterwards). In order to prevent buttons from ending up grabbed, I therefore have to ungrab every button at the end, for example:
action1 >> action2 >> action3 >> ungrabAllButtons
I wish to encode this requirement as a type, so that action1, action2, action3<|fim_middle|> actions. So just to be explicit: this isn't security-oriented safety, just preventing people from accidentally forgetting the cleanup.
A: You might want to create your own version of bracket. Bracket works in the IO monad, but based on a quick peek at the source code, I suspect you could make your own version that runs in the X monad. Bracket will ensure that any finalisation (e.g. ungrabbing all buttons) occurs, even if an exception is raised.
| can only be used if the buttons are ungrabbed afterwards. That is, even though action1, action2, are really X() actions, I would like them not to be usable as such unless they are wrapped in something like the following (borrowing Python's with keyword):
withGrabbedButtons :: ??? -> X()
withGrabbedButtons action =
action >> ungrabAllButtons
-- correct ; complete_action does not leave the mouse grabbed
complete_action :: X()
complete_action = withGrabbedButtons (action1 >> action2 >> action3)
-- type error!
erroneous_single_action :: X()
erroneous_single_action = action1
-- type error!
erroneous_action :: X()
erroneous_action = action1 >> action2 >> action3
This is so that people do not accidentally use action1, action2, action3 as X() actions, while forgetting to ungrab the buttons afterwards.
Is this possible with Haskell's type system? Thanks beforehand.
A: What you will want to do is make a newtype wrapper for X, using GeneralizedNewtypeDeriving to get a free Monad instance:
{-# LANGUAGE GeneralizedNewtypeDeriving #-}
newtype XNeedsCleanup a = FromX { toX :: X a }
deriving (Functor, Applicative, Monad)
Because XNeedsCleanup is a monad, you can bind multiple XNeedsCleanup together, as in your action1 >> action2 >> action3 example; this will bind all of their wrapped X actions together inside the FromX wrapper. But you won't be able to bind the resulting action with an X action; that's where your withGrabbedButtons comes in:
withGrabbedButtons :: XNeedsCleanup () -> X ()
withGrabbedButtons action = toX action >> ungrabAllButtons
If you don't export the toX unwrapper, your clients won't be able to use an XNeedsCleanup value without going through withGrabbedButtons. But if they have the ability to use arbitrary X actions, then presumably they can import whatever you use to define your various actions and could reimplement them as "raw" X | 441 |
St Albans Brass<|fim_middle|> works by composers who were writing 100 years ago; Elgar, Vaughan Williams, George Butterworth along with some brass band marches of the period. It is profoundly moving to be able to commemorate this centenary with music of the time."
The concert starts at 6.30pm and proceeds will go to Help For Heroes. To book go to https://helmtickets.com/events/2207/world-war-one-centenary-concert | Band to mark 100 years since First World War
St Albans Brass Band is putting on a WWI centenary concert. Picture: Kenny Durbin
A concert is being held at a church in St Albans to make the centenary of the First World War.
St Albans Brass Band and children from the Parmiter's School brass group will perform in the concert at Dagnall Street Baptist Church in Cross Street on Saturday, October 20.
Front of house support will be provided by St Albans Sea Cadets and military historian Peter Hart will give a talk about the experiences of soldiers.
Brass band musical director John Campbell said: "We will be playing | 139 |
Austin - Palmer Bus<|fim_middle|> shows up to work every day with a smile on her face which brightens everyone's day; you can definitely tell she LOVES her job! | Service, Inc.
Palmer Bus Service has been serving the Austin community by safely transporting students since 2010. We safely transport about 3,500 students each school day in Austin.
Austin School District #492 consists of Austin High School, Ellis Middle School, IJ Holton Intermediate School, Woodson Kindergarten Center and four Elementaries: Banfield, Neveln, Southgate and Sumner.
Austin is the county seat for Mower County and is about 100 miles south of St. Paul. It is the only Minnesota city outside of the Twin Cities metro area that has a Fortune 500 Company.
Mark Enright manages the Palmer Bus Terminal in Austin, MN. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. Mark likes going to sporting events or watching sports, golfing, or taking day trips to see a different things or different areas. He enjoys that everyday it's something different and has learned to react to the unexpected.
Of all the uses on Minnesota's 135,000 miles of roads and highways, one set of drivers carry the most precious of all cargo in every city, community and county statewide: School Bus Drivers.
The State of Minnesota will celebrate the third annual School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 to highlight the dedication and integrity of these professional drivers.
School bus drivers carry some 760,000 students twice a day on just about every road type throughout Minnesota, according to the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association (MSBOA). Mankato-based Palmer Bus Services is proud of the part we play in transporting students in 22 different school districts in Minnesota as part of this operation.
In their press release, the MSBOA states, "We encourage Minnesotans to organize appreciation activities for school bus drivers across the state to celebrate this important profession. The theme for this year's event is "760,000 reasons why." Since school bus drivers safely transport more than 760,000 students to and from school each day in Minnesota, we think this theme is fitting."
According to Palmer Bus Service in Austin, Palmer transports 3,390 pre-K through 12th grade students each day. They are our "3,390 reasons why." Like other bus services, Palmer stresses to drivers to watch for and obey school bus laws to help keep our kids safe on their way to and from school!
School bus drivers really care about their kids. There is no such thing as "just" a bus driver; they are vital parts of students' daily lives, and in some cases one of the few smiling, friendly faces the kids see every day. Hearing bus drivers talk, you would think these kids were their own grandchildren or children. They know the students' names, habits, parents, and individual personalities.
Drivers laugh and smile as they recount anecdotes and happenings from their morning or afternoon routes. They also convey concern when they talk about the sadness they see in the eyes of some of the children.
They hear stories about trips, visits from relatives, sporting events, lost teeth, as well as laughs about their pets, friends, siblings, and classmates.
School bus drivers have hearts of gold, nerves of steel, and responsibilities far greater than most. Please take the time to thank a bus driver on February 27th and consider joining our team to help serve your community by safely transporting students!
Katy is an amazing van driver, she is willing to do extra without even being asked, like if something comes up that she knows about she will do it! She would take the shirt off her back to help anyone out! She has bought back packs for kiddos because they didn't have one and the parents couldn't afford one..she drives sped van.
Diane is an amazing lady as well! She drives special ed bus, she | 809 |
Apple's decision to sell the Mac OS X Lion upgrade through its own Mac App Store won't hurt the company's bottom line but will certainly impact traditional retailers, a market analyst said.
Apple's decision to sell the Mac OS<|fim_middle|> said Baker, referring to Apple's well known fondness for holding tight to the reins of business, from hardware and software design to retail with its own chain of stores. "For them, controlling the user experience [of purchasing and upgrading] is more important than the money."
Baker expects that Lion will do well, but cautioned that even in the best circumstances, revenue generated by the upgrade will be "just a footnote" to its total income.
Apple may be taking an unprecedented sales step with its desktop operating system, but the company's not only following an existing trend but will be tailed by others, including Microsoft, said Baker.
"There's no [retail] upgrade cycle for tablets or smartphones," Baker observed, adding that Lion's use of the Mac App Store is just an extension of those models.
"And it's clear that Microsoft will on some level go to an app store in Windows 8," Baker continued. "The question is whether their app store is a controlled environment, or whether they'll work with their OEM and channel partners. I think there will always be ways for retailers and OEMs to participate in software sales. Microsoft is fundamentally a good channel partner."
While Microsoft showed some parts of Windows 8 on June 2, it has said nothing about integrating an application store in the new operating system. Earlier, however, several Windows bloggers reported finding signs of one in leaked previews of the OS. | X Lion upgrade through its own Mac App Store won't hurt the company's bottom line but will certainly impact traditional retailers, a market analyst said Friday.
"The Best Buys, the Staples, the PC Connections, they all still have a decent Mac software business," said Stephen Baker of retail research firm NPD Group. "This will have an impact on all those guys. [The release of an OS upgrade] is always a good opportunity for them to connect to customers, get them into the store and thinking about upgrading their devices."
And with Apple pushing Lion only through its download Mac App Store, those retailers will be out of luck this time around. This we likely be forever, said Baker.
"The software business is in the throes of significant changes, and [Apple's move] is a part of that," said Baker. "The whole business is clearly changing how operating system developers deliver upgrades."
On Monday, Apple announced that it would start selling Lion on the Mac App Store some time next month for £20.99.
Baker declined to estimate the impact of Apple's decision on US retailers, saying it was impossible to gauge because NPD has no insights into how much revenue the Mac App Store was generating or how customers will react to Lion. But he said that Apple would easily make more money on Lion than it did on the predecessor, 2009's Snow Leopard.
That upgrade cost more, but because it was a traditional DVD-based boxed product, Apple didn't bring in as much per unit as it will with Lion as a download-only title.
Two years ago, NPD said its data showed Snow Leopard had sold twice as many copies in its first two weeks of availability than the 2007 upgrade to Mac OS X 10.5, aka Leopard.
Baker wasn't surprised that Apple will use its Mac App Store to sell Lion. "The software guys always resented the retail distribution and its physical costs," said Baker. "They're used to selling bits and bytes."
During the keynote at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Philip Schiller, the company's head of marketing, claimed that the Mac App Store was the world's largest seller of personal computer software, and was beating Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Office Depot in that arena.
But other factors beyond cutting out the middleman were probably more important to Apple.
"This affords them an additional level of control," | 490 |
Rouse rushing attack shines in win over Connally
The Raiders combined to go for more than 35<|fim_middle|>Round Rock finishes strong at state 7-on-7 tournament
Vista Ridge advances to championship bracket at 7-on-7 tournament for second straight year
Texans' Clowney won't report to mandatory minicamp
D'Onta Foreman feeling good ahead of third season in Houston | 0 yards and four touchdowns on the ground
Rouse Raiders senior Tavian Tate (6) carries the ball after a tackle attempt by Connally Cougars junior Harrison McKinley (16) jarred his helmet loose during a high school football game between Rouse High School and Connally High School at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Texas on Oct. 26, 2018.
Scott W. Coleman
Rouse Raiders senior quarterback Ethan Moore (18) runs down the sideline during a high school football game between Rouse High School and Connally High School at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Texas on Oct. 26, 2018.
Rouse Raiders junior running back Mylan Mitchell (22) carries the ball during a high school football game between Rouse High School and Connally High School at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Texas on Oct. 26, 2018.
Posted Friday, October 26, 2018 10:30 pm
By ZACH SMITH, HCN Sports Editor
It's been a while since Rouse won a game at Gupton Stadium.
Not for lack of talent, but the Raiders have called Bible Stadium home for long enough that the school district replaced the flags that fly at one end of the field. One member of the field staff kept the original Maroon and Gold flag to give back to head coach Josh Mann when Rouse returned to Gupton and won.
They got it back Friday night.
The potent Rouse ground game combined to rush for more than 350 yards and four touchdowns as the Raiders earned their first District 11-5A Division I win by beating Connally 29-14 on Friday night.
"Going into halftime they just told me to be physical," senior ruling back Tavian Tate said. "We've been consistently moving the ball, we just haven't been able to finish the drive. In the second half, that's exactly what we did. We've just got to stay confident."
Senior quarterback Ethan Moore led the group with 168 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns while also throwing for 116 yards. Tate had 114 yards and two touchdowns and junior Mylan Mitchell had 85 yards on the ground for the Raiders.
"We got healthy in this game and that brought the energy level up," Mann said. "If the offensive line gels, the offense can get going."
Rouse welcomed back a few key players following its bye week, including a healthy offensive line, the return of defensive lineman Derek Galloway, who played for the first time this year, linebacker Lane Bresnehen and defensive back Isaiah Cash, who made an interception.
The Raiders held the Cougars to under 100 yards on the ground, and one of the touchdowns they gave up came on the heels of mistakes in the first half.
"Defensively, we were where we needed to be all night," Mann said. "We haven't won since week two or three and we had the bye week. So I think some of it was just rust coming off."
Connally scored on its first drive of the game, but Tate evened things up with a 5-yard run on the third play of the second quarter.
Rouse turned the ball over deep in the red zone late in the first half, and Connally needed just one play, an 89-yard pass from Darius McGraw to Diamante Francios.
But Moore sprinted for a 63-yard touchdown on the first play oft he ensuing drive and continued his string rushing performance with another score in the third quarter. Tate rushed for his second touchdowns late in the second quarter and Braden Skinner hit a 29-yard field goal in the fourth.
Rouse has two games left in the regular season, a trip to face off with Georgetown next Friday night at Birkelbach Field and a home game against district-leading Hutto in the regular season finale.
"Attention to detail and effort and intensity," Mann said. "In defensive football, you can make mistakes and make up for them with effort. That Manor game (on Oct. 12) was probably our worst performance we've ever had on defense. We challenged them this last week and I'm proud of how they responded."
Follow @ByZachSmith and @HCNSports on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news on all local and regional sports.
Email: sports@hillcountrynews.com
| 927 |
Why did Donald Trump order the construction of these statues of musical figures?
Whisky + Billy Joel explains the history of Scotch in 4 minutes
Let's check on Canadian music sales and streaming for this week
Ongoing History of New Music Daily: The Smiths' not-so-terrorist attack
Coming soon: A TV comedy series about the music scene in Hamilton
Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things
Filtering what is happening in music to save you time, money and effort.
TechTO Entertainment
A new three-day summer music festival comes to Ontario: Introducing Roxodus
November 30, 2018 November 30, 2018 Alan Cross 1 Comment Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Edenvale, Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Music Festival, Nickelback, Peter Frampton, Roxodus, Staynor
For the most populous province in Confederation, Ontario, should have more choice when it comes to multi-day outdoor music festivals. We have Field Trip in Toronto, but it's quite compact and is designed to be a city-friendly experience. There's Blues Fest in Ottawa, but it's again a city thing without opportunities like camping. Music fans looking for a big field experience have had to go to Osheaga or Festival d'été (both in Quebec), American events like Coachella or Bonnaroo or something in Europe like Glastonbury or Roskilde.
Part of the issue has been land. With the loss of Molson Park in Barrie (what a fantastic place that was!) and the continuing logistical issues of Downsview Park in Toronto (YOU try organizing a multi-day festival on a property owned by three levels of government and an airline manufacturer), and the logistical nightmare of the Toronto Islands (been there, done that), southern and central Ontario has placed all its faith in Burl's Creek north of Barrie. And while that venue has hosted several multi-date festivals like Boots and Hearts, promoters have had their challenges.
Enter Roxodus.
This is a brand new three-day festival organized by people outside the usual Live Nation/AEG nexus. The site is the Edenvale Airport in Stayner, Simcoe County, an old air force base turned civilian facility with acres and acres of space. Located about 130 km from Toronto (or, to put it another way, about 30 km northwest of Barrie) on the way to the tourist area of Wasaga Beach, the airport is accessible from two major highways and is big enough to accommodate tens of thousands of music fans–even those who want to camp.
Running July 11-13 (a Thursday through Saturday), Roxodus will feature two main stages. Kid Rock, Nickelback, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Frampton, Saga, Honeymoon Suite, Lita Ford, Lee Aaron, Prism, Streetheart and a bunch more acts to be named in the coming months. There will also be an opportunity for emerging artists to get involved. (Details TBA.)
There will be charity angles to the festival, too. For example, the Thursday will honour the work of members of the Canadian military and their families, both veterans and active duty personnel. Discounted tickets will also be offered to the military community.
And this won't be another let's-go-stand-in-a-field-for-three-days-thing, either. Organizers studied Coachella's Desert Trip for ideas that will cater to all manner of audience needs: Single-day admission, a selection of weekend-long camping packages, VIP experiences, and Platinum VIP options that include private car service, chartered helicopters and float planes as potential means of transportation.
Tickets are on sale now, which include payment plans–handy for this time of year, no? Details here.
Here's a CTV/Barrie report on the festival.
[Full disclosure on this one: I'm the festivals Minister of Information/Chief Media Mouthpiece.]
← The Ongoing History of New Music, episode 837: Radiohead, A History, Part 2
Random music news for Saturday, December 1, 2018 →
Alan Cross
is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 30+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He's also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.
What Were the Top Karaoke Songs of 2014?
December 20, 2014 December 19, 2014 Alan Cross 1
Critics? Eminem don't care about any stinkin' critics
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Random Music News for Tuesday, September 27, 2016
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Mike Milner
There is always the Mariposa Folk Festival up in Orillia. One of Canada's best!
Ongoing History of New Music Podcast
Each week, the podcast looks at something from the alt-rock universe, from artist profiles to various thematic explorations. Whatever the episode, you're definitely going to learn something that you might not find anywhere else. Trust us on this.
Podcast – The Backstage Project
The Backstage Project Podcast with Mark Silver focuses on the stories behind the biggest and best entertainment products, events, and companies. We go behind the scenes with amazing people who have done or are doing extraordinary things to entertain you, the audience. From sporting events to concerts, from cable tv to music apps; if it's made an impact on the entertainment world, we cover it.
Tired of this on Remember last week's nipply cover of Metallica's "Enter Sandman?" Well, here's another.
R on You Have to Take Care of Yourself
Whisky + Billy Joel explains the history of Scotch in 4 minutes - A Journal of Musical Things - WhiskyNetWhiskyNet on Whisky + Billy Joel explains the history of Scotch in 4 minutes
Ongoing History of New Music Daily: The Smiths' not-so-terrorist attack - Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things on Ongoing History of New Music Daily: The longest music video
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The Speaker Representation Business – Martin Perelmuter in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 018 January 18, 2021
It is a lot harder to become a paid speaker than you might imagine. While you may think that publishing a book is a surefire way to become sought after, there's a lot more to it, actually! Sure, there are many authors, politicians and academics that companies pay big bucks to keynote events. There are […]
Mark Silver
Born into the Beautiful Game – James Easton in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 017 January 13, 2021
The Easton family has played a vital role in shaping the North American soccer landscape for almost 50 years. In the early 70's, Jim Easton Sr. uprooted his family from Scotland to take the job as the inaugural head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Over his time in the role, Jim and his family fell […]
In Search of a Digital Media Business Model – Chris Skinner in conversation with TBP Podcast EP 016 December 26, 2020
Traditional media businesses have long struggled to<|fim_middle|> thanks to Netflix, is that people will pay for good content, which is really […]
Copyright © 2021 Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things. All rights reserved. | realize the opportunity with digital. Giving away free ad-supported content has backfired with Facebook and Google now controlling the relationship with the audience and all their associated behavioural data and preferences. What has emerged, | 40 |
Proportionalnavigation (abgekürzt auch PN oder Pro-Nav) ist ein Lenkverfahren, das bei den meisten modernen Lenkflugkörpern zum Einsatz kommt. Es macht sich die Tatsache zunutze, dass zwei Gegenstände, die sich linear mit konstanter Geschwindigkeit bewegen, genau dann auf Kollisionskurs sind, wenn sich die Peilung nicht ändert.
Der Kurs muss also derart korrigiert werden, dass das Ziel bezogen auf den eigenen Flugkörper immer in derselben<|fim_middle|>)
Lenkflugkörper | Richtung zu sehen ist (α und β im Bild rechts konstant). Hierfür muss sich der Geschwindigkeitsvektor proportional zur Drehgeschwindigkeit der Verbindungslinie zwischen Flugkörper und Ziel ändern.
Dabei ist die Beschleunigung senkrecht zum Geschwindigkeitsvektor des Flugkörpers, ist eine dimensionslose Proportionalitätskonstante, ist die Drehgeschwindigkeit der Verbindungslinie und ist die Geschwindigkeit des Flugkörpers.
In Vektornotation kann die Beschleunigung wie folgt berechnet werden:
mit der Drehgeschwindigkeit der Verbindungslinie :
Dieses einfache Prinzip wurde in Lenkwaffen der ersten Generation, z. B. in der AIM-9 Sidewinder, noch in Analogtechnik implementiert. Moderne Flugkörper erweitern dieses Verfahren um Algorithmen zur Vorhersage der Flugbahn des Zieles.
Einzelnachweise
Navigation
Flugsteuerung
Fachsprache (Waffentechnik | 247 |
Sibos Retail banking Payments Wholesale banking
Financial messaging
D+H Rebrands financial messaging platform
Source: D+H
DH Corporation ("D+H") (TSX: DH), a leading provider of technology solutions to financial institutions globally, today announced it has rebranded its flagship financial messaging platform as Total Messaging.
Previously known as Global Messaging Plus, Total Messaging is the technology gateway for D+H's financial messaging service bureaus. D+H's financial messaging platform was originally launched in 2013 and helps banks and corporations improve performance and reduce costs while meeting the highest standards of reliability and security. Today, D+H processes over 33 million messages are processed each month in secure data centers.
Total Messaging provides banks and corporations with a cost-efficient, secure and reliable platform to initiate, process and support electronic payment messages across a wide range of settlement systems, including SWIFT, SEPA, SIC, euroSIC, SECOM, CLS, CREST, FED and Chips. Total Messaging supplies the latest formatting standards and includes the connectors, integration and plug-ins required for conversion, compliance and reconciliation, ensuring a client's technology investment is future-proofed. It accelerates iteration cycles, increases efficiency, and reduces costs by improving straight-through processing rates through a combination of rapid on-boarding tools and message transformation capabilities.
D+H continues to add new functionality, including:
• Payment order management, which enables banks and corporations to transform incoming message files into the standard formats required by the receiving systems;
• SEPA payments for financial institutions in non-Euro countries that are part of the SEPA agreement; and
• Sanction list filtering, which allows banks and corporations to reduce the number of costly "false positives" associated with anti-money laundering compliance by having messages automatically filter through the appropriate lists according to a customer-selected degree of specificity.
The solution is delivered as a customized on premise solution or through a service bureau hosted model, delivered through service bureaus in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
"Banks and corporations need a technology that can simplify payment messaging, eliminating manual intervention, reducing risk, ensuring security and improving efficiency," said Per Trifunovic, Global Head of Financial Messaging at<|fim_middle|> leading technology, both now and in the future."
Sponsored: [Webinar] Transforming banking channels for a digital world - Register now!
[White Paper] How To Reduce Mobile Fraud & Protect Revenue | D+H. "We have experienced a great demand for our financial messaging platform and continue to make investments to ensure that our customers benefit from innovative, | 30 |
Visually appealing, comfortable to play and capable of great sounds, the Esprit I has much to offer the most discerning of bass players, and even comes with a deluxe gigbag.
Overall design and great build quality. The pickup and Vari-coil control.
With this pickup and a price £100 cheaper than the previous Blue Label version, it's hard to fault.
This latest model in the Fret-King bass portfolio, the Espirit I, would surely have appealed to John<|fim_middle|> agathis body. The surface-mounted controls, chrome-finished WBBC bridge and open-gear tuners all contribute to this stylishly vintage-like persona.
"The pickup is basically a Music Man-style coil added to a Jazz-style, coupled together as a humbucker and wired down as a Vari-coil," Trevor tells us.
"Turn the Vari-coil back and the MM factor is lost into a Jazz sound, but when it's wound back up as a humbucker it takes on the aspects of the Music Man: fat but focused."
With controls for volume, tone and Vari-coil, the pickup works like a dream, producing distinct aspects of both basses: clean and jazzy when wound back but full and punchy when humbucking, giving a unique sound. | Entwistle - it's not a million miles away from his infamous Fenderbird amalgamations!
"The pickup works like a dream: clean and jazzy when wound back, full and punchy when humbucking"
It sports a great offset look, and an oversized scratchplate that takes the eye directly to the heart of this bass: the stunning new WJM pickup, designed, of course, by Mr Wilkinson.
This is a fabulous-looking instrument, and it's medium weight with a keenly contoured and honed satin-feel maple neck bolted onto an | 116 |
110 Marathons in 110 Days
Marathon Man, Gary McKee is to do it all again, with another huge effort for charity. Gary has announced that he is to run 110 Marathons over 110 days.
The 110 day epic, which translates into 9<|fim_middle|>ons starting on 1st February and finishing on 21st May.
"Hospice at Home West Cumbria are a local charity who deliver palliative and end of life care to people in their own homes.
"All funds raised will be shared equally between the two charities.
"If anyone would like to sponsor a vest please get in touch or if anyone can support in any way please don't hesitate to contact me."
> Sponsor Gary Here.
Cleator Moor | Cumbria: Little Ireland: 110 Marathons in 110 Days
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h4g2qAQ2-GQ/X97wDKotd0I/AAAAAAAAd7I/7WFRLtk5Mi8wCM6IlOGY-wH5iWkHyRIbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1608445967144055-0.png
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h4g2qAQ2-GQ/X97wDKotd0I/AAAAAAAAd7I/7WFRLtk5Mi8wCM6IlOGY-wH5iWkHyRIbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s72-c/1608445967144055-0.png
https://www.littleireland.co.uk/2020/12/110-marathons-in-110-days.html | ,504,000 seconds, 158,400 minutes or 2640 hours is to begin on 1st February.
In 2017, Gary ran 100 Marathons in 100 Days, and raised over £100,000. He's hoping to raise more this time round, for two charities which are close to his heart.
You Can Sponsor Gary Here.
On his 2,884.09 mile fundraiser, Gary said: "Covid-19 has had a major impact on all of us and in recognition of that I am raising much needed funds for two charities that are close to me.
"I've been a fundraiser for Macmillan for 16 years, they celebrate their 110th year next year.
"This gave me the idea to run 110 marath | 188 |
In today's world, doctors offices are often run by management companies and patients don't always get the personalized care they deserve and expect. In those types of practices, the focus is on office efficiency and profitability instead of patient care.
At Optilife, we work hard to keep our "patient first" focus. There is no professional management company telling us how to treat and charge our patients.
We offer<|fim_middle|>.
We are a family friendly office. Dr. Amanda specializes in pre-natal and pediatric patients and Dr. Danielle loves to treat athletes, accident injuries and family members of any age. Many families count on her to keep them healthy and in top shape to support their active lifestyle.
Our office is equipped with state of the art digital Xray equipment, so there is no need to make a separate costly appointment with a radiologist. We'll take Xrays on the first visit and will go over a detailed report of finding on the second visit. You can expect to be treated with an adjustment and appropriate therapy on the first visit if medically appropriate. Most patients walk out of our office feeling relief after their initial visit.
After the first visit, we will make a recommendation for return visits based on how you are feeling and the severity of your issues.
Tired of medical billing nightmares? Our friendly staff will work to bill your insurance company timely and correctly. We also have affordable family VIP discounts for cash patients.
Come meet Cooper, Kendall, or Brandy our golden retriever support dogs. One of them is usually around to give out loves to kids and adults alike. But don't worry if you are allergic or afraid of dogs. Our staff will make sure they'll stay in the back office and not get in the way.
Call 813 926-9500 to make your first appointment. | same day appoints. Call in the morning and we can often get you in the same day on the first appointment, We know you are hurting and don't want you to wait any longer than is needed.
If you are an existing patient, we can always fit you in. Our patients often stop by while on the run for an adjustment or therapy treatment.
We offer Saturday morning appointments for our patients convenience.
Unless they are warranted by an accident or injury, we don't insist on long term treatment plans. Dr. Danielle or Dr. Amanda will get you feeling better and then suggest you come see us as needed for continual maintenance care. However, we do recommend monthly adjustments to keep you in tip top shape | 142 |
How to stream on Twitch, YouTube, and more
<|fim_middle|> that more people than ever before are either spending time playing their favourite games online or watching others. It's an incredible community to be a part of but don't be fooled into thinking it's a walk in the park. Like anything new, there's a lot you need to learn, a lot you need to get your hands on, and a lot you should know before you jump feet first and broadcast your gameplay to the world.
If you want to be taken seriously online, you'll need to make some hard decisions and invest time and money into your setups. So, without further ado, here is everything you need to know about streaming, from picking the right platform to downloading the right streaming program.
what do i need to stream on twitch?
Well, a good computer is a start. To have a quality stream, Twitch recommends that you invest some hard-earned cash into some hardware to make you more appealing to the millions of people who browse streams every day.
Of course, you can stream directly from your console or stream without a webcam or mic, but you probably won't see many people dropping by during the course of your stream. You wouldn't watch someone without a camera or a microphone, so don't expect the same from others.
Firstly, if you're using a PC to stream, you should have a decent processor and a fairly recent graphics card. Streaming puts a relatively high strain on your computer given that you're playing and broadcasting at the same time, so make sure your system can handle that first before investing in things like cameras, microphones, and green screens. To put this into perspective, some professionals even use two computers – one for gaming and one for streaming – so don't underestimate the requirements no matter what platform you stream on.
In terms of peripherals, it's tempting to jump into the deep end and buy all of the high-end equipment. But if you're just starting out, we'd recommend picking up a decent webcam, a stand alone microphone or a modmic, and a second screen (a phone or an tablet works too!) If you're a console gamer looking to organise things on PC, then a capture card is a must. Things like the Elgato Stream Deck, audio mixers, and green screens are optional extras and should only be purchased if you're going to commit to regular, scheduled streams.
The best webcams for streaming
The best microphones for streaming:
the best capture cards for streaming:
If you're in the market for upgrades, it's worth taking a look at some of the biggest streamers setups. The likes of Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins, Guy 'Dr DisRespect' Beahm, and Michael 'shroud' Grzesiek have the best streaming setups out there, but each have been tailored to fit their streaming needs and partnerships.
In addition to that, make sure you've got a decent internet connection. Twitch's broadcasting guidelines say your internet will need to deliver about 4,500 to 6,000 kilobits per second to ensure 1080p at 60 frames per second.
What do i need to irl stream?
Not everyone who broadcasts on Twitch streams gameplay. There is an ever-growing collection of streamers who regularly appear in the Just Chatting Section to share parts of their daily life with viewers. There are other sections too that allow people to share their hobbies, such as painting, cooking, and travelling, and it's dubbed IRL streaming.
Most IRL streams can be set up using a phone and a selfie stick, but more serious streamers have something called a Gunrun backpack, filled with a computer and modems to better serve the stream in busier areas.
If you're just getting started though, we'd recommend using your phone for now. Just make sure you have a good data plan and a good internet connection before you go live.
what program should i use to stream?
There are a lot of programs out there to help you get your stream on Twitch, YouTube etc. Some are built for newcomers and others are built for streaming pros. One of the best free programs out there is StreamLabs. It's is one of the most popular tools for newcomers, housing tutorials, layouts, and editing tools under in an easy-to-navigate interface. It's also available on Apple and Android phones.
There's also Twitch Studio that's been created with new streamers in mind. It's in beta right now, so it's not as well established as other programs, but it's an option if you want to stream on Twitch and really get to grips with the platform's features.
If you're streaming directly from your console, don't worry about any of these programs – unless of course you're using a capture card.
Where should I stream?
Thanks to the ongoing streaming wars, there are a lot of platforms out there to stream your top-notch gameplay on. Twitch is, of course, the biggest platform out there, but it can be increasingly saturated for new streamers. However, it can lead to big growth spurts with the right host or follow.
Ultimately though, the decision on where to stream is up to you. Each platform has different pros and cons, so do a bit of reading and commit to the one that stands out or open multiple accounts and multi-stream to expand your reach.
What else do i need to know about streaming?
Streaming is great, but don't expect to become a star overnight. It's a long and drawn out process, but you'll get by as long as you have fun, interact with your viewers, and enjoy the process. It'll also take time to find your niche in the streaming world, so don't be afraid to experiment with different genres, games, and categories.
More importantly though, be yourself. Streaming is better when you're authentic and show off your true personality. Your community will love you for being you, and invest their time watching you play games or talk about life. It's a pretty special relationship to foster with strangers over the internet, so be patient, be kind, and show off your skills online.
Ludwig is making the next big Twitch game show for xQc
Twitch bans AriGamePlays for sexually suggestive content
Indie studio reveals Gamer Girl - an FMV where you play as a streamer's moderator
Amouranth invests $350k in Twitch content, is retiring from OnlyFans
Twitch adds new perks for Tier 2 and Tier 3 subscribers
CallMeCarson turns down date with porn star Mia Malkova
When Jess isn't playing competitive FPS games, she's updating our guides to the best Valorant crosshair, CS:GO ranks, upcoming PS5 games, or writing Escape From Tarkov news.
Who are the biggest Twitch streamers?
The best IRL streamers and channels on Twitch
Who is Pokimane? Net worth, earnings, streaming setup, and more | There's a lot to learn about streaming, but this handy guide will teach you the basics and get you online in no time
Jess Wells
If you possess supernatural gaming powers, have an infectious personality, or a content creation focused brain, you've probably considered streaming on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube before. The streaming life isn't for everyone, but for those who enjoy it, it's a dream come true.
There's something so alluring about watching others play games on the internet. The rise of streaming platforms such as Twitch suggests | 108 |
NY governor says tolls for new bridge are too high
WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas
Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to scale back his administration<|fim_middle|> that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a "morning personality" at WABY in Albany.
See stories by Dave Lucas | 's proposal to nearly triple the toll on the Tappan Zee Bridge. WAMC's Dave Lucas reports.
In a letter to the state Thruway Authority, the governor calls for a task force to find ways to reduce the increase by 2017, when the bridge is expected to be finished.
The current toll is $5.
Cuomo's top staffers presented a plan last week to raise the toll to $14 to pay for a $5.2 billion replacement of the aging bridge. Many regular users reacted unhappily.
In Friday's letter, the governor says the task force should find ways to maximize federal support and to lower the cost of borrowing.
He also suggests expanded discount programs for residents of Rockland and Westchester counties, which are connected by the bridge.
© 2012 ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dave Lucas is WAMC's Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he's been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to | 232 |
Preparing for the MR3<|fim_middle|>40. […] | 40, the World's Longest Nonstop Paddle Race
The MR340 is the world's longest nonstop paddle race. Each summer, competitors from around the globe gather at Mile Marker 367.5 on the Missouri River in Kansas City to take the 340-mile course downstream to Mile Marker 29 in St. Charles, Missouri. This past summer, racers Dr. David Crane and Scott Croom completed the endurance race in a pedal-powered Hobie Tandem Island kayak in 77 hours. We spoke with them about the experience and asked what advice they have for would-be participants.
How did you prepare physically for the MR340?
"The effects of an endurance race like this are so significant on the body that their impact can be apparent for months. Which is why, typically, you can't train to the extent of the actual race. You do have to have a certain physical base. Then, you won't sustain long-term recovery problems," Dr. Crane said.
Beginning in March, the pair got together and trained together eight times before the race. Because Croom is in Columbia and Crane is in St. Louis, they typically met halfway in between. The longest training session they did at any one time was 15 hours — paddling and pedaling straight from Jefferson City to Washington, Missouri.
On their own, Crane and Croom worked to stay as sport specific as possible in their training, paddling and either biking or stepping in order to mimic the pedaling motion of the kayak. For Crane, a typical training session included a two-hour paddle and then a short run or bike ride.
The two trained during the heat of the day. Critical to a successful summertime race is getting acclimated to the daytime high temperatures, said Crane. The MR340 has a high drop rate, and Crane suspects this is because racers don't prepare for the extreme heat they may experience, which greatly impacts hydration and nutrition.
And what about the mental side of training?
"The first time you go into a long event, you think, 'this is crazy.' You really worry if you're going to be able to cut the mustard. You have to be alert not to be undermined by fear, uncertainty and doubt," Crane said. (He calls these "FUD bombs.")
"It's the FUD bombs that make you wonder about your sanity when you are about to start a big endeavor, or when you focus on how much more you still have to go," he said. "When the FUD bombs bombard you, you need to get back to either noticing what you're doing at that moment, checking your body systems or both."
When he trains, Crane checks his systems and watches for his limits. His goal is to find the limit and just peek over the edge. "The physical training is the base that allows a person to understand what he or she can do, and as long as we pay attention to those body systems, we can almost always do more than we think we can," he said.
What was your goal for this event?
Back when he was 28, Crane said he wanted to win, be the strongest and fastest, and have everybody know it. But at 45, having had brushes with mortality, he's more humble and finds himself simply looking for poignant moments.
"What I really want to experience is joy amidst these long events. So often, it's when you're tired, sore and nauseated that those really poignant moments appear in your life and mean so much. Even eating a Jolly Rancher can become a really momentous thing," Crane said.
Even though some people might not think the Missouri River is not prettiest place to paddle, "after a long night of paddling and feeling incredible fatigue, when that warm glow appears in the east, the sunrise can be one of those momentous times."
When did you start to feel fatigue?
"For the first 14 hours, typically, everyone is jazzed," Crane said. "Then, you start to get what I call 'hangry,' which is hungry and angry, and things start to hurt.
"Because of the training we'd done, I didn't start to hurt physically until after 48 hours," he said. "But, after 14 hours, I felt the mental stress and started to wonder, 'Why am I doing this?' It's at that time that you've got to make the mental switch to the 'lizard brain.'"
Pardon me, but could you define that?
"I'd describe 'lizard brain' as the time when your body is working independently of emotion, so the whole system can survive," Crane said. "When things start to hurt or don't go the way you expected, you get mad. You have to let go of the anger or fear and make that mental switch."
And how do you make the switch to lizard brain?
"It just happens, but you can't resist it. You have to let it happen. That's why you train so much, so that the physical pain is nothing new. The training lets you know that you can get through it, so that you don't have to buy into the FUD bombs when they start."
Beside the physical and mental foundation, how else did you prepare?
Crane said he modified his kayak for the race by shedding the craft's sail and outriggers and adding a bimini top to protect he and Croom against the summer sun.
Along the length of the bimini top, he ran plastic tubing to carry water for misting. The person in the rear seat had to reach back and pump the garden sprayer to fill it up with river water. Five to six pumps allowed them 20 minutes of mist.
For safety, they also had to rig the boat with running lights. Finally, Crane also outfitted their kayak with a Lowrance fishfinder and loaded a GPS program. The unit showed depth, speed and marked the main channel, which helped them to avoid the wing dykes. Crane said this proved particularly helpful for nighttime navigation. In fact, at night, he found they were able help other boats that didn't have nav systems on board.
What did you learn on the river?
"I have a new appreciation for life on the river," he said. "From the water, I saw human and ecological systems that I never saw on land, even though I grew up in Washington, Missouri, a river town.
"I saw the anglers and hunters that use the river, how the river towns are situated to the river, how animals come down for water and cooling, and the barge traffic moving goods further inland. I saw how completely integrated life is with our water."
What was the hardest part of the trip?
"One of the hardest times was waking up after just two or three hours of sleep in the van," Crane said. "My brother, John, drove a small RV that gave us a place to crash and kept us supplied. After working almost non-stop for 20 hours, we came ashore. Despite the fatigue, we had to plan the next section of our trip, chart our course and get resupplied with food and water. Then, we would crawl into our air-conditioned bunks and slide into those cool sheets.
"The next thing we knew, John was waking us up. It was still dark outside. I woke up with cottonmouth, my breath stunk — and I really stunk. And the worst part was, when I woke up, my 'lizard brain' was off and all those FUD bombs came back. I had to force my body back into that boat. Fortunately, once I got down to the riverfront and saw other guys and gals taking off, I thought, 'They're ahead of us. We gotta catch up!'"
In contrast, what was the best part of the trip?
"Paddling at night with the other kayakers was one of the best parts. All you could see were the trees silhouetted against the night sky and the stars above. Because you were in the dark, you had to rely on your other senses. People got subdued, the competitiveness dissipated for those hours," said Crane. "And those kayakers that didn't have GPS, they depended on others to help them navigate and stay in the channel. We came together in support of each other."
The sense of community must have been intense. What is your overall favorite memory of the MR340?
"It was the third day of the race. We'd just pulled out of Columbia, Missouri. We'd slept for a couple of hours, woke up at 3 a.m. and had a quick breakfast. There were still a couple of hours to paddle before morning light. Just before dawn, there was stillness on the water. It was palpable. Then, the sky burst into full color, and that's when we knew. We knew we could finish the race. In the quiet of dawn, I had this depth of perception that offered me profound perspective. Those are the moments I wait for."
The MR340 will take place this year from July 23 to 26, 2013. Follow the race on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/StLouisSailandPaddle.
Author: Amy Narishkin is the owner of St. Louis Sail & Paddle.
By editor|2019-08-26T13:54:00-05:00January 29th, 2014|Paddling|1 Comment
Conquering the Missouri River 340 - Terrain Magazine September 5, 2019 at 10:20 am - Reply
[…] Learn more about how Crane recommends participants prepare physically and mentally for the MR3 | 2,019 |
Place your palms on the floor and lift your buttocks away from the floor.
Bend your L knee and sit on your L foot. Then bend your R knee and cross your R thigh over your L thigh. Touch your ankles and heels together. Use<|fim_middle|>yengar, but I have otherwise followed all the same instructions.
Iyengar's steps for crossing the legs here are rather difficult and confusing for most students. I recommend setting up the legs for this pose by starting in a Tabletop (all fours) position, then crossing one thigh behind the other. Bring your ankles together, then sit back and lift your torso upright. For my students, this entrance is easier to understand and yields a deeper, richer, more stable posture. | your hands to help move your legs into position as needed. Keep your toes pointed back.
Raise your L arm beside your ear. Bend your elbow and touch your fingers to your upper back beneath the nape of your neck. Bend your R elbow behind your back and clasp your hands between your shoulder blades.
Maintain this position for 30-60 seconds with normal breathing. Keep your head up and gaze straight ahead.
Iyengar and I perform this pose very similarly. However, his bottom arm (extended and internally-rotated shoulder) is more mobile than mine. Also note that I am demonstrating the side opposite I | 129 |
Home • Atlanta • Press Releases • 2013 • Two Arraigned in Identity Theft Scheme Targeting Emory Students
Two Arraigned in Identity Theft Scheme Targeting Emory Students
U.S. Attorney's Office December 13, 2013
Northern District of Georgia (404) 581-6000
ATL<|fim_middle|> at USAGAN.Pressemails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division is http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/.
This content has been reproduced from its original source.
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Wanted by the FBI - Atlanta | ANTA—Maario Coleman and Angela Russell have been arraigned for operating a scheme to obtain thousands of dollars by stealing the identities of Emory University law and medical students and using them to apply for loans.
"The alleged actions of these two defendants demonstrates how every member of our community is vulnerable to identity theft and computer intrusions," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. "The potential for causing damage to Emory students' financial and professional futures cannot be overstated. We continue to work aggressively to combat this problem."
Ricky Maxwell, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated, "This case illustrates the need for the law enforcement community to work together in order to stay ahead of today's very capable and tech savvy individuals that are able to do much harm to many unsuspecting victims. The FBI's Atlanta Cyber Task Force applauds the quick response of the Emory University Police Department and its continued assistance throughout this investigation."
"The teamwork of Emory Police investigators, Emory's University Technology Services, and school officials allowed Emory to respond quickly to reports, initiate an investigation, and take steps to prevent further fraud against our graduates," says Emory Police Chief Craig Watson. "On behalf of the Emory Police Department, I greatly appreciate the productive partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that has led to the arrest of these two individuals."
According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: Coleman obtained lists of students graduating in the class of 2013 by checking university websites and attending graduation ceremonies. Coleman and Russell used that information to obtain the students' dates of birth and Social Security numbers from online databases. The defendants then used those personal identifiers to apply for post-graduate "bar loans" and "residency loans" at Discover Bank. Bar loans are designed to pay for living expenses and exam preparation while law school graduates study for the bar exam. Similarly, residency loans assist medical school graduates with the costs of residency, relocation, and board exam review courses.
In many instances, Discover required school transcripts before it would approve and fund the loans. To satisfy this requirement, Coleman and others used the personal identifiers of the victims to obtain passwords to access Emory's online portal and order the victims' transcripts. The transcripts were mailed to other participants in the scheme, and Coleman then coordinated sending the transcripts to Discover. He also arranged for the loan proceeds to be deposited into bank accounts fraudulently opened in the victims' names. After the loans were funded, other participants in the scheme obtained the funds via ATM withdrawals.
The investigation showed that the scheme began as early as May 2013 and continued until at least November 6, 2013. On that date, law enforcement officers, including federal agents, interviewed Russell regarding the scheme. Following the interview, the agents went to a second location and then returned to Russell's residence. When they arrived, agents became alarmed by a large volume of smoke they saw rising from Russell's apartment. After entering the apartment, the agents found Coleman and Russell inside, with fire and smoke coming from the fireplace. The agents put out the fire with an extinguisher and discovered documents and computer equipment, including hard drives and at least one laptop, all either burned in the fire, dismantled, or gouged.
To date, investigators have identified over $200,000 in false loan applications. In addition, over 100 students at Emory and other Georgia universities have had their personal information compromised. The fraud was discovered when several Emory students contacted the Emory Police Department after realizing that their personal information had been compromised. The investigation is ongoing.
The indictment charges Coleman, 27, of Decatur, Georgia, with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of computer fraud, and one count of tampering with computers and documents. Russell, 42, of Dunwoody, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of tampering with computers and documents. Both appeared before Linda T. Walker, United States Magistrate Judge.
The bank fraud conspiracy and tampering charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The computer fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The aggravated identity theft charges carry at least one mandatory two-year consecutive sentence, in addition to any other sentence imposed. In addition, the bank fraud count carries a fine of up to $1,000,000, and the computer fraud and tampering counts each carry a fine of up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Emory University Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Shanya Dingle is prosecuting the case.
Today's announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF), which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys' offices, and state and local partners, it is the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory, and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions, and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants, including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.
If you are a victim of identity theft, change the passwords to your online banking and other financial accounts because your information may have been stolen or acquired over the Internet.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office | 1,321 |
So it came as a surprise to me this spring when my advisees, who know me pretty well as far as students go, asked why I hadn't yet given a chapel speech.
And so that brings me to my main thought of today, particularly for those of you with flexible scheduling who depend on teachers to invite you into their classes for co-taught units. Many people harbor a stereotype of a silent librarian, but are we all, secretly, theatre people? At least in one way, my answer is assuredly yes. I follow improv's "rule of yes" whenever I can. With both students and teachers, I think it's important to think about why you're saying no.
But for many questions, consciously thinking about learning goals rather than tradition might move a no to a yes or at least a let's think about how this could work.
"I know it's not really history, but I don't understand Brexit, and I want to know if it's really about refugees. Can I research it?" YES.
"I know you want us to have a website, but I found this really interesting podcast and it's led by doctors. Can I use it? YES.
"I have to read a fantasy book and this one takes place in the real world except that ghosts are real. My friend recommended it, and I want to know if it can count for the assignment." YES.
"I want to include an appendix with a picture of "Guernica" so my readers can see it for themselves." WHY NOT?
Along with this idea, when I'm collaborating I try to focus on the things within my control. This includes my interactions with my school community and my management of my library. For many of us, we can't control our colleagues, their assignments, the work ethic of the students, or delays due to weather, illness or alternate schedules that pop up out of nowhere. I attend classes at the invitation of the teacher. They know their class dynamics and they are the ones creating and grading assignments. Since I ultimately want to provide support to the teacher, I try to think carefully before "correcting" a teacher, particularly in front of students. Not every project is going to meet both my research goals and the classroom teacher's subject-specific goals. That said, it's often possible to start tweaking a project to improve it for next year even as you're assisting with the current version. I've found a variety of ideas can<|fim_middle|> hiccups.
So many things I love and appreciate about this, Christina!
– thank you for reminding me of the value in the writing of notes (even if the notes aren't revisited); I was sorting through my filing cabinet and berating myself for the amount of notes from PD that have gathered dust. My system of targeting 3 action items from each conference is working just fine, so thanks for giving me permission to use notes as process alone!
Permission granted! It's fun to see what I thought was important at the time and what actually changed as a result. | help as I try to link these projects to the learning goals I'd like the students to attain. Take the long view and suggest some "adaptations" for next time. Or ask if a project can be used to help you "test a database's effectiveness." Offer to grade the annotated bibliographies you fought so hard to include. I've found this comes easier the longer one's tenure at a school. So breathe easy, continually do your best in promoting your library's resources and leave your feedback below.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged communication, curriculum, Research by Christina Pommer. Bookmark the permalink.
So much goodness in this post! I'm pretty sure that "infobese" is going to to be my new favorite word for at least the next year-and-a-half!
I love it too! I didn't make it up, and there are some awesome images and infographics you can find online…but they all disappear when you are looking for items you can freely share. Got to model what I preach!
I feel like librarians are all performers, but some are more built for Readers' Theatre while others are more built for Broadway.
I LOVE "Can you help me test a database's effectiveness?" Who doesn't want to see themselves as helpful? I'll definitely put that question in my bag of tricks. Thanks for the great advice.
I just finished several presentations this morning on Rogerian techniques. When you and your partners are working towards the same goals, it's easier to get over the little | 306 |
HomeFeaturedRangers sweep the O's!
Rangers sweep the O's!
August 31, 2015 Featured, MLB, Texas Rangers
The "Dutch Oven" looks like he's regained his form. Photo Courtesy: Darryl Briggs
By Alex Al-Kazzaz
The Texas Rangers have successfully swept the Baltimore Orioles. With this three-game sweep, they're still alive in the Wild Card playoff watch. Unfortunately, they're still three games under the Houston Astros for the first place position in the A.L West standings. But as long as the Rangers stay ahead of the Los Angeles Angels, the Rangers will finish the season in good terms. After a good sweep at home against Baltimore, the Rangers are sitting with a record of 68-61.
Cole Hamels took the mound for the Rangers in Game 1. Hamels allowed just two hits, surrendered one run, and struck out ten batters in eight innings of pitching. This was Hamels' best performance in a Rangers uniform. The Rangers offense had a solid night recording a combined nine hits and only three strike-outs.
Martin Perez was on the mound<|fim_middle|> Wild Card and to stay on pace on getting first place in the A.L West.
Upcoming Schedule – All Times Central
8/31 @Padres 9:10 pm
9/1 @Padres 9:10 pm
9/4 @Angels 9:05 pm
Colby Lewis
Cole Hamels
Derek Holland
Martin Perez
Will the Cowboys be ready for the Giants?
Sooners OC Unsure How Offense Will Look in 2015
Longtime TCU DC to Retire | in Game 2 for the Rangers. Pitching in 6.1 innings, Perez allowed seven hits, surrendered three runs, and struck out four batters. The Rangers had a 3-0 lead by the fourth inning, but after allowing the Orioles to tie the game in the fifth, the Rangers once again took the lead in the sixth and held it for the rest of the game to take the series win. The Rangers offense looked excellent and finished with night with a combined twelve hits.
Derek Holland was on the mound for the final game of the series. Derek Holland looked better than ever. Holland pitched a full game and allowed three hits, surrendered no runs, and struck out eleven batters. The Rangers offense finished with a combined eleven hits and six strike-outs. With Derek Holland having a performance like he did in this game, he has proved all critics wrong. He has proved that his time is not done, and that he can still play.
The Rangers are now on their way to the Pacific coast for a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. Colby Lewis will take the mound for the Rangers. The Rangers will need to continue winning series to stay in the | 239 |
Influence of available<|fim_middle|>-503. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2389.2006.00796.x | substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis
D. W. Hopkins*, E. T. Webster, E. T. Tilston, C. Halpin
The decomposition in soil of plant material from the stems of uniformly grown tobacco plants with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis was investigated by measuring CO2 production over 74 days. The effect on decomposition of readily available C, N and combined C plus N (as glucose, NH4NO3 and alanine, respectively) were determined by adding these compounds to the soil before the addition of plant materials. The genetic modifications to tobacco were the introduction of partial or antisense transgenes for cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), caffeic acid O-methyl transferase (COMT) and cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR), which are all enzymes that catalyse key steps in the monolignol pathway. In line with previous reports, reduced CCR material decomposed significantly faster than the reduced CAD or reduced COMT materials, which decomposed significantly faster than the unmodified material. All the plant materials had large C-to-N ratios (58, 72, 61 and 52 for the unmodified, reduced CAD, reduced COMT and reduced CCR materials, respectively), but the relationships between C-to-N ratio and decomposition rate were not consistent across all materials. Addition of glucose slowed the decomposition rate of all the materials. This is consistent with the additional C leading to a surplus of C relative to other nutrients at the sites of plant residue decomposition, but the reduction in decomposition rate was directly related to the combined C-to-N ratio of the plant material and soil amendment. In the case of reduced CCR material, addition of N as either NH 4NO3 or alanine led to an increase in decomposition rate, indicating that a constraint on decay of this material was alleviated by N addition. However, addition of N did not increase the decomposition of the unmodified, reduced CAD and reduced COMT materials, which indicates that their decomposition was constrained by factors other than N. We have shown significant effects of targeted lignin modification on decomposition in laboratory studies over a relatively short period (< 74 days). However, longer-term and more detailed field-based investigations are needed before the wider ecological significance of the differences in decomposition can be properly assessed.
European Journal of Soil Science
Print publication - Aug 2006
Dive into the research topics of 'Influence of available substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Materials Agricultural and Biological Sciences 100%
Decomposition Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 85%
Plant Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 42%
Cinnamyl-Alcohol Dehydrogenase Agricultural and Biological Sciences 28%
Cinnamoyl-CoA Reductase Agricultural and Biological Sciences 28%
Caffeic Acid O-Methyltransferase Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 28%
Soil Agricultural and Biological Sciences 21%
Lignin Agricultural and Biological Sciences 21%
Hopkins, D. W., Webster, E. T., Tilston, E. T., & Halpin, C. (2006). Influence of available substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis. European Journal of Soil Science, 57(4), 495-503. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2006.00796.x
Hopkins, D. W. ; Webster, E. T. ; Tilston, E. T. et al. / Influence of available substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis. In: European Journal of Soil Science. 2006 ; Vol. 57, No. 4. pp. 495-503.
@article{31e4cb77164a4279a5034d50c5214979,
title = "Influence of available substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis",
abstract = "The decomposition in soil of plant material from the stems of uniformly grown tobacco plants with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis was investigated by measuring CO2 production over 74 days. The effect on decomposition of readily available C, N and combined C plus N (as glucose, NH4NO3 and alanine, respectively) were determined by adding these compounds to the soil before the addition of plant materials. The genetic modifications to tobacco were the introduction of partial or antisense transgenes for cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), caffeic acid O-methyl transferase (COMT) and cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR), which are all enzymes that catalyse key steps in the monolignol pathway. In line with previous reports, reduced CCR material decomposed significantly faster than the reduced CAD or reduced COMT materials, which decomposed significantly faster than the unmodified material. All the plant materials had large C-to-N ratios (58, 72, 61 and 52 for the unmodified, reduced CAD, reduced COMT and reduced CCR materials, respectively), but the relationships between C-to-N ratio and decomposition rate were not consistent across all materials. Addition of glucose slowed the decomposition rate of all the materials. This is consistent with the additional C leading to a surplus of C relative to other nutrients at the sites of plant residue decomposition, but the reduction in decomposition rate was directly related to the combined C-to-N ratio of the plant material and soil amendment. In the case of reduced CCR material, addition of N as either NH 4NO3 or alanine led to an increase in decomposition rate, indicating that a constraint on decay of this material was alleviated by N addition. However, addition of N did not increase the decomposition of the unmodified, reduced CAD and reduced COMT materials, which indicates that their decomposition was constrained by factors other than N. We have shown significant effects of targeted lignin modification on decomposition in laboratory studies over a relatively short period (< 74 days). However, longer-term and more detailed field-based investigations are needed before the wider ecological significance of the differences in decomposition can be properly assessed.",
author = "Hopkins, {D. W.} and Webster, {E. T.} and Tilston, {E. T.} and C. Halpin",
journal = "Journal of Soil Sciences",
Hopkins, DW, Webster, ET, Tilston, ET & Halpin, C 2006, 'Influence of available substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis', European Journal of Soil Science, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 495-503. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2006.00796.x
Influence of available substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis. / Hopkins, D. W.; Webster, E. T.; Tilston, E. T. et al.
In: European Journal of Soil Science, Vol. 57, No. 4, 08.2006, p. 495-503.
T1 - Influence of available substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis
AU - Hopkins, D. W.
AU - Webster, E. T.
AU - Tilston, E. T.
AU - Halpin, C.
N2 - The decomposition in soil of plant material from the stems of uniformly grown tobacco plants with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis was investigated by measuring CO2 production over 74 days. The effect on decomposition of readily available C, N and combined C plus N (as glucose, NH4NO3 and alanine, respectively) were determined by adding these compounds to the soil before the addition of plant materials. The genetic modifications to tobacco were the introduction of partial or antisense transgenes for cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), caffeic acid O-methyl transferase (COMT) and cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR), which are all enzymes that catalyse key steps in the monolignol pathway. In line with previous reports, reduced CCR material decomposed significantly faster than the reduced CAD or reduced COMT materials, which decomposed significantly faster than the unmodified material. All the plant materials had large C-to-N ratios (58, 72, 61 and 52 for the unmodified, reduced CAD, reduced COMT and reduced CCR materials, respectively), but the relationships between C-to-N ratio and decomposition rate were not consistent across all materials. Addition of glucose slowed the decomposition rate of all the materials. This is consistent with the additional C leading to a surplus of C relative to other nutrients at the sites of plant residue decomposition, but the reduction in decomposition rate was directly related to the combined C-to-N ratio of the plant material and soil amendment. In the case of reduced CCR material, addition of N as either NH 4NO3 or alanine led to an increase in decomposition rate, indicating that a constraint on decay of this material was alleviated by N addition. However, addition of N did not increase the decomposition of the unmodified, reduced CAD and reduced COMT materials, which indicates that their decomposition was constrained by factors other than N. We have shown significant effects of targeted lignin modification on decomposition in laboratory studies over a relatively short period (< 74 days). However, longer-term and more detailed field-based investigations are needed before the wider ecological significance of the differences in decomposition can be properly assessed.
AB - The decomposition in soil of plant material from the stems of uniformly grown tobacco plants with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis was investigated by measuring CO2 production over 74 days. The effect on decomposition of readily available C, N and combined C plus N (as glucose, NH4NO3 and alanine, respectively) were determined by adding these compounds to the soil before the addition of plant materials. The genetic modifications to tobacco were the introduction of partial or antisense transgenes for cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), caffeic acid O-methyl transferase (COMT) and cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR), which are all enzymes that catalyse key steps in the monolignol pathway. In line with previous reports, reduced CCR material decomposed significantly faster than the reduced CAD or reduced COMT materials, which decomposed significantly faster than the unmodified material. All the plant materials had large C-to-N ratios (58, 72, 61 and 52 for the unmodified, reduced CAD, reduced COMT and reduced CCR materials, respectively), but the relationships between C-to-N ratio and decomposition rate were not consistent across all materials. Addition of glucose slowed the decomposition rate of all the materials. This is consistent with the additional C leading to a surplus of C relative to other nutrients at the sites of plant residue decomposition, but the reduction in decomposition rate was directly related to the combined C-to-N ratio of the plant material and soil amendment. In the case of reduced CCR material, addition of N as either NH 4NO3 or alanine led to an increase in decomposition rate, indicating that a constraint on decay of this material was alleviated by N addition. However, addition of N did not increase the decomposition of the unmodified, reduced CAD and reduced COMT materials, which indicates that their decomposition was constrained by factors other than N. We have shown significant effects of targeted lignin modification on decomposition in laboratory studies over a relatively short period (< 74 days). However, longer-term and more detailed field-based investigations are needed before the wider ecological significance of the differences in decomposition can be properly assessed.
JO - Journal of Soil Sciences
JF - Journal of Soil Sciences
Hopkins DW, Webster ET, Tilston ET, Halpin C. Influence of available substrates on the decomposition in soil of plant materials with genetic modifications to lignin biosynthesis. European Journal of Soil Science. 2006 Aug;57(4):495 | 2,630 |
Upon antigen recognition by the T cell receptor, lymphocyte function–associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) physically associates with the leukocyte adhesion molecule CD226 (DNAM-1) and the protein tyrosine kinase Fyn. We show that lentiviral vector-mediated mutant (Y-F322) CD226 transferred into naive CD4+ helper T cells (Ths) inhibited interleukin (IL)-12–independent Th1 development initiated by CD3 and LFA-1 ligations. Moreover, proliferation induced by LFA-1 costimulatory signal was suppressed in mutant (Y-F322) CD226-transduced naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the absence of IL-2. These results suggest that CD226 is involved in LFA-1–mediated costimulatory signals for triggering naive T cell differentiation and proliferation. We also demonstrate that although LFA-1, CD226, and Fyn are polarized at the immunological synapse upon stimulation with anti-CD3 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, lipid rafts are polarized in CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells. Moreover, proliferation initiated by LFA-1 costimulatory signal is suppressed by lipid raft disruption in CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells, suggesting that the LFA-1 costimulatory signal is independent of lipid rafts in CD8+ T cells.
The αLβ2 integrin, LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), is expressed on most leukocytes and mediates cell–cell adhesion upon binding to its ligands, the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 (CD54), ICAM-2 (CD102), ICAM-3 (CD50; reference 1), or JAM-1 (2). Circulating peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes generally express an inactive form of LFA-1. Once leukocytes are activated, for instance through the TCR upon recognition of a peptide antigen or by PMA, intracellular signals (referred to as "inside-out" signals) cause a conformational change in LFA-1, resulting in intercellular binding and effector cell function (1, 3).
Antibody cross-linking of cell surface LFA-1 induces intracellular signals (referred to as "outside-in" signals; 4), suggesting that ligand binding may also affect cellular functions such as apoptosis, cytotoxicity, proliferation, cytokine production, and antigen presentation (1, 5). Studies using mice with disrupted CD11a or CD18 genes have indicated a requirement for LFA-1 in T cell proliferation induced by the TCR–CD3 complex (6, 7). Moreover, recent reports have suggested that LFA-1 might be involved in Th differentiation (8, 9). These observations indicate that LFA-1 not only mediates intercellular binding but may also deliver costimulatory signals in T lymphocytes (4). In contrast with inside-out signaling, however, little is known about the intracellular signals initiated by LFA-1 ligation.
The leukocyte adhesion molecule DNAM-1 (CD226) is constitutively expressed on the majority of T lymphocytes, NK cells, and monocytes (10, 11). We have previously reported that LFA-1 constitutively associates with CD226 in NK cells (12). Moreover, stimulation of PB T cells with either anti-CD3 or PMA induces the physical association of LFA-1 and CD226 (12). Once LFA-1 and CD226 associate, cross-linking LFA-1 with anti-CD18 mAb induced tyrosine phosphorylation of CD226, for which the Fyn protein tyrosine kinase is responsible (12), suggesting that CD226 plays an important role for costimulatory signals initiated by LFA-1 ligation.
Gene transfer techniques are important not only for clinical therapy of various diseases but also for studies of molecular mechanisms of immune responses. In particular, to strictly study gene functions in naive or resting lymphocyte differentiation, proliferation, or activation, an efficient method of gene transfer into these, rather than activated or stimulated, lymphocytes should be required. Although retroviral vectors, derived from Moloney murine leukemia virus, have been successful for gene transfer into various cell types, they are unable to transduce nondividing cells, including resting primary lymphocytes (13, 14). Previously, retroviral vectors have been used for studies of molecular mechanisms of Th differentiation from CD4+ naive T cells, which required stimulation with antigen or anti-CD3 antibody and cytokines such as IL-2 for a few days before gene transduction (15, 16). These prestimulated T cells may lose the naive phenotype and may not be naive T cells anymore according to a rigorous definition, although they may remain in the uncommitted developmental stage. Recent studies have demonstrated that HIV-1–based lentiviral vectors are capable of transducing nondividing and terminally differentiated cells, including neurons, myoblasts, hepatocytes, and hematopoietic stem cells (17–20). Moreover, the infection and propagation of HIV-1 in resting CD4+ T cells isolated from HIV-1–infected individuals have been described (21, 22). However, several reports also showed that resting primary blood cells, including T and B cells and monocytes, are refractory to lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer, unless these cells are stimulated with exogenous cytokines and/or antibodies (23, 24).
In this study, we demonstrate the dramatically improved transduction efficiency of resting lymphocyte subsets, including naive T cells, by lentiviral vectors. Using the lentivirus-mediated gene transfer system, we investigated whether CD226 is involved in LFA-1 costimulatory function in naive T cell differentiation and proliferation.
Anti-Ki67, anti-phosphotyrosine mAb (4G10), and anti-Flag mAb were purchased from DakoCytomation, Upstate Biotechnology, and Sigma-Aldrich, respectively. Anti-CD226 (DX11) mAb and anti-Fyn polyclonal Ab were provided by J. Phillips and J. Bolen (DNAX, Palo Alto, CA). The other mAbs and cytokines used in this study were purchased from BD Biosciences. Anti-CD11a and anti-CD226 were labeled with Alexa 594 by Monoclonal Antibody Labeling Kit (Molecular Probes).
Isolation of Each Blood Cell Subset.
CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, CD3− CD56+ NK cells, and CD14+ monocytes were separated from PB or cord blood (CB; provided by Y. Shiina, Shiina Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan) by positive selection using MACS. The purity of each cell was >95% as analyzed by flow cytometry. CD4+ CD45RA+ CD45RO− naive T cells were obtained by further purifications from PB or CB CD4+ T cells using flow cytometry to achieve >99% purity.
Preparation of Lentiviral and Retroviral Vectors and Transduction of Resting Blood Cells.
For preparation of lentiviral vectors, the packaging construct pMDLg/pRRE, in which all accessory genes (vif, vpr, vpu, and nef) and regulatory genes (tat and rev) have been deleted, was used in this study (25). For expression of EGFP, the self-inactivating (SIN) vector construct pCS-CDF-CG-PRE that contains the EGFP gene under the control of the CMV promoter, the central polypurine tract (cPPT), and the central termination sequence (CTS), and the woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element (WPRE; 26, 27) was used. For expression of WT or Y-F322 CD226 in naive T cells, Flag-tagged WT or Y-F322 (12) CD226 was inserted in the multiple cloning sites of the SIN vector pCSII-CMV-MCS-internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-hrGFP. Lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein were generated as previously described (27). In brief, 293 T cells were transiently cotransfected with appropriate amounts of the SIN vector construct (pCS-CDF-CG-PRE or pCSII-CMV-[Flag-tagged WT or Y-F322 CD226]-IRES-hrGFP), the packaging construct (pMDLg/pRRE), the Rev-expressing construct (pRSV-Rev), and the vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein–expressing construct (pMD.G). The viral supernatants were collected 72 h after transfection and concentrated ∼1,000-fold by ultracentrifugation at 19,400 rpm (SW28; Beckman Coulter) for 2 h and virus precipitates were resuspended by pipetting extensively (usually more than 200 times). For preparation of a retroviral vector, we used the plasmid construct pGCsam-IRES-EGFP as previously described (28). Vector titers were determined by infection of HeLa cells with serial dilutions of the vector stocks, followed by flow cytometry analysis for EGFP or hrGFP expression. For infection, 105 cells isolated from CB or PB were cultured in RPMI medium in the presence or absence of 10% FBS containing lentivirus or retrovirus supernatants at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2, 10, or 100 in 96-well U-bottom plates for 72 h at 37°C in 5% CO2. Total volume of culture medium per well was <100 μl.
Stimulation of Naive CD4+ T Cells.
Naive CD4+ T cells (2.5 × 105 per well) were stimulated with plate-coated anti-CD3 and anti-CD18 mAbs and 10 ng/ml IL-2 in a total volume of 2 ml in 24-well plates. T cells were expanded and maintained in the same culture conditions for 2 wk. For the control of Th1/Th2 differentiation, naive T cells were stimulated with plate-coated anti-CD3, 10 μg/ml soluble anti-CD28, and 10 ng/ml IL-2 in the presence of either 10 ng/ml IL-12 plus 10 μg/ml anti–IL-4 or 10 ng/ml IL-4 plus 10 μg/ml anti–IL-12. For neutralization of IL-12, 40 μg/ml anti–IL-12 mAbs were added in the cultures.
Analysis of Intracellular Cytokines and ELISA.
Intracellular IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-13 syntheses were analyzed by flow cytometry as previously described (29). Concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-13, and IL-2 in culture supernatants were determined using an ELISA kit (Biosource International) according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Cells were stained with Hoechst 33342 and Pyronin Y (both from Sigma-Aldrich) as previously described (30). In brief, naive CD4 T cells were washed once in PBS, incubated in PBS containing 5 μg/ml Hoechst 33342 at 37°C for 75 min, and Pyronin Y was then added to give a final concentration of 5 μg/ml followed by an additional 15-min incubation. For Ki67 staining, cells were fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde in PBS, permeated with 0.1% Triton X-100 (Sigma-Aldrich) in IFA buffer (10 mmol/liter Hepes, pH 7.4, 150 mmol/liter NaCl, 4% FCS, 0.1% NaN3), and then incubated with anti-Ki67 antibody for 30 min. Washes between each step were performed with IFA buffer containing 0.1% Triton X-100. Cells were analyzed on a FACS Vantage™ flow cytometer and were analyzed using CELLQuest™ software.
To examine the tyrosine phosphorylation of CD226, cells were stimulated with plastic-coated mAbs for 2 min or 7 d at 37°C. Cells were lysed with 1% NP-40 lysis buffer, immunoprecipitated with control Ig, anti–DNAM-1 mAbs, or anti-FLAG, and analyzed by immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine 4G10 as previously described (12). To examine association of CD226 with LFA-1, cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 for 5 min at 37°C and lysed with 1% digitonin lysis buffer. Lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-CD18 or control Ig and analyzed by immunoblotting with anti-CD226 as previously described (12).
Receptor clustering and lipid raft aggregation by beads have been described (31). In brief, 6-μm diameter latex beads (Polysciences Inc.) were coated with anti-CD3ε plus either anti-CD28, anti-CD11a, or anti-CD18. Purified human PB T cells were mixed with Ab-coated beads at ratios of 1:2 and 4:3, respectively, and incubated for 30 min at 37°C. T cell–bead complexes were transferred onto poly-l-lysine precoated coverslips to allow attachment for 5 min at 37°C, fixed with 2% formaldehyde, and permeabilized with 0.2% Triton X-100 in PBS. T cells were stained with FITC-conjugated cholera toxin subunit B (Sigma-Aldrich), Alexa 594–conjugated anti-CD11a, and anti-CD226. T cells were also stained with rabbit anti–Fyn polyclonal antibody, followed with Alexa 594–coupled anti–rabbit secondary antibodies (Molecular Probes). Coverslips were mounted with Slow Fade (Molecular Probes) and analyzed by Leica TCS SP2 confocal laser scanning microscopy with a 63X/1.32-0.6 oil objective lens.
CD4+ and CD8+ naive T cells were stimulated with plastic-coated antibodies. 2 d after stimulation, T cell proliferations were measured by ELISA using BrdU Kit (Roche). For the study of involvement of raft in T cell proliferation, CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells were labeled with CFDA-SE (Molecular Probes) and incubated in medium containing methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD; Sigma-Aldrich) at 10 mM for 30 min at 37°C. Cells were washed and then stimulated or not with plastic-coated antibodies in the dark. 3 d after culture, cells were harvested and analyzed by flow cytometry.
Gene Transfer into Resting Blood Cell Subsets by Lentiviral Vectors.
To examine whether lentiviral vectors can efficiently mediate gene transduction into resting blood cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, CD56+ NK cells, and CD11b+ monocytes sorted from PB were infected with a retroviral or lentiviral vector containing the EGFP gene and cultured for 72 h in RPMI medium containing 10% FBS without any exogenous stimuli and cytokines. Consistent with previous reports (32), each subset was refractory for transduction with the retroviral vector at an MOI of 10, although PB CD4+ T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs were efficiently transduced at the same MOI (Fig. 1 A). In contrast, the lentiviral vector efficiently transduced the EGFP gene into all blood cell subsets tested at an MOI of 10 (Fig. 1 A).
Lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer into resting blood cell subsets. (A) Each resting blood cell subset indicated was separated from PB by MACS. CD4+ T cells were stimulated or not with plastic-coated anti-CD3 and soluble anti-CD28 mAbs for 3 d. Each subset indicated was infected with the retroviral or lentiviral vectors containing EGFP at an MOI of 10 without any exogenous stimuli or cytokines. 3 d after infection, EGFP expressions were analyzed by flow cytometry. (B–D) CD4+ CD45RA+ naive T cells were purified from CB using MACS followed by FACS® sorting. Purified cells were infected with the retroviral or lentiviral vector containing EGFP at MOIs indicated (B) or of 10 (C and D) without any exogenous stimuli or cytokines. The naive T cells were stained with anti-CD45RA or anti-CD62L 3 d after infection, or were stained with Hoechst and Pyronin Y or anti-Ki67 before and 3 d after infection (D) and analyzed by flow cytometry. Staining of CD4+ CD45RA+ naive T cells activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 were used as a positive control (D). The naive T cells 3 d after infection were also stimulated with plate-coated anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs and proliferation and cytokine production in culture supernatants were analyzed (C).
Gene Transfer into CD4+ Naive T Cells by Lentiviral Vector.
We further examined whether lentiviral vectors are capable of gene transfer into naive CD4+ Ths. CD4+ CD45RA+ CD45RO− cells were separated from CB or PB by sorting with MACS and then with flow cytometry. We infected these naive CD4+ T cells with the retroviral or lentiviral vector containing the EGFP gene and cultured them for 72 h, as described above. The viability of purified naive CD4+ T cells was >95% after 72 h of culture in the presence (95.9%) and absence (98.9%) of lentiviral vectors, as determined by staining with trypan blue, without any exogenous cytokines. Although the retroviral vector was refractory for transduction of naive CD4+ T cells even at an MOI of 50, the lentiviral vector efficiently transduce these cells at an MOI of 2 and the transduction efficiency was increased in an MOI-dependent manner (Fig. 1 B). Importantly, CD4+ naive T cells maintained the cell surface expressions of CD45RA and CD62L, which are believed to be markers for naive T cell phenotypes, after gene transfer (Fig. 1 B). Moreover, proliferation and cytokine production of CD4+ naive T cells, in response to stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs, were not affected by infection with the lentiviral vector containing the EGFP gene (Fig. 1 C). We also observed that these virus-infected cells could give rise to both polarized Th1 and Th2 cells after culture in the presence of the appropriate cytokines such as IL-12 and IL-4, respectively (unpublished data). Because CB contains a much larger number of naive CD4+ Ths than PB, we basically used CB as a source of naive T cells. However, by using PB-derived naive T cells, we also obtained consistent results with those obtained using CB-derived naive T cells. These results suggest that lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer does not affect functional properties of PB and CB naive CD4+ Ths.
To examine whether CD4+ naive T cells remain in the resting (i.e., nondividing) state after transduction with the lentiviral vector, DNA and RNA contents were analyzed by staining with Hoechst and Pyronin Y, respectively, before and 3 d after transduction. As demonstrated in Fig. 1 D, DNA and RNA contents in CB CD4+ naive T cells did not change 3 d after transduction, indicating that lentiviral vector-mediated transduction does not stimulate nondividing CD4+ naive T cells to enter the cell cycle and synthesize DNA. Moreover, the expression of Ki67, a nuclear antigen present in all cycling cells and absent in G0 cells, did not increase in CB naive T cells after transduction (Fig. 1 D). Taken together, these results suggest that CD4+ naive T cells preserve the functional and phenotypical characteristics after gene transfer by the lentiviral vector.
LFA-1–mediated Signal Induces IL-12–independent Th1 Differentiation from CD4+ Naive T Cells.
Th1 cells develop from naive CD4+ T cells during activation by APC, for which IL-12 secreted from APC plays a crucial role. However, Th1 development is not completely abolished in mice deficient in IL-12 p40 gene (33), suggesting the presence of IL-12–independent signaling pathways for Th1 development. Because CD4+ naive T cells express a variety of costimulatory or adhesion molecules, including CD28, LFA-1, and CD226, we examined whether intercellular binding between naive CD4+ T cells and APC through these adhesion or costimulatory molecules are involved in IL-12–independent Th1 differentiation. CB CD4+ naive T cells were stimulated either with plate-coated anti-CD3 alone or in combination with either mAb against CD28, CD11a (α chain of LFA-1), CD18 (β chain of LFA-1), or CD226, and cultured for 2 wk in IL-2–containing medium. Stimulation with anti-CD11a or anti-CD18 in combination with anti-CD3 mAb significantly drove Th1 development (Fig. 2) . The amount of IFN-γ production from these cells was comparable to that in Th1 cells induced by IL-12 (Fig. 2, B and C). However, Th1 cells were not generated from naive CD4+ T cells by stimulation with anti-CD3 alone (Fig. 2, A–C), suggesting that engagement of LFA-1 delivers a costimulatory signal that drives Th1 polarization. IL-12–producing cells such as APC did not exist in the culture and, moreover, the neutralizing antibody against IL-12 did not affect Th1 development induced by stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD18 (Fig. 2 D). Thus, Th1 development by engagement of CD3 and LFA-1 was triggered by an IL-1<|fim_middle|>Physical Association of LFA-1 with CD226 Is Independent on the Lipid Raft in CD8+ T Cells.
LFA-1 physically associates with CD226 upon cross-linking of CD3 on PB T cells (12). Because CD3 stimulation on T cells polarizes the lipid raft compartment at the site of immunological synapse, in which LFA-1 and the Fyn protein tyrosine kinase are recruited (34, 35), we examined whether CD226 is also recruited in the lipid raft compartment upon stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs. CD4+ and CD8+ PB T cells were cocultured with beads precoated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs. As demonstrated in Fig. 5 A (top), CD226 as well as LFA-1 and the Fyn on PB CD4+ T cells were aggregated in the polarized lipid raft at the contact site with beads. On the contrary, however, these beads did not polarize the lipid raft in CD8+ T cells although all LFA-1, CD226, and the Fyn were aggregated in the contact site. Moreover, although LFA-1 was coimmunoprecipitated with CD226 in PB CD8+ T cells as well as in CD4+ T cells upon stimulation with anti-CD3 mAb (Fig. 5 B, top), lipid raft disruption with MβCD did not inhibit the coimmunoprecipitation of LFA-1 and CD226 in CD8+, but not CD4+, T cells (Fig. 5 B, bottom). Thus, physical association of LFA-1 with CD226 induced by CD3 stimulation is independent on polarization of the lipid raft in CD8+ T cells.
Relationship of LFA-1 signaling molecules with the lipid raft. (A) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were incubated with beads precoated with anti-CD3 plus either anti-CD28, anti-CD11a, or anti-CD18 for 30 min at 37°C and then stained with FITC-conjugated cholela toxin subunit B (GM1), Alexa 594–conjugated anti-CD11a (LFA-1), and anti-CD226 mAbs. T cells were also stained with rabbit anti–Fyn polyclonal antibody, followed with Alexa 594–coupled anti–rabbit secondary antibodies and analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. (B) CD4+ and CD8+ PB T cells were treated or not with MβCD at 10 mM for 30 min at 37°C. Cells were then stimulated with control Ig or anti-CD3 for 5 min and lysed in 1% digitonin buffer. The lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-CD18 or control Ig and analyzed by immunoblotting with anti-CD226. (C and D) CD4+ and CD8+ PB T cells were labeled (C) or not (D) with CFSE and treated or not with MβCD at 10 mM for 30 min at 37°C. Cells were then stimulated or not with plastic-coated mAbs as indicated for 3 d and analyzed for proliferation by flow cytometry (C) or BrdU uptake (D).
LFA-1 Signal for T Cell Proliferation Is Independent on the Lipid Raft in CD8+ T Cells.
To investigate the involvement of the lipid raft in the LFA-1 signaling, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were stimulated with anti–LFA-1 (CD11a or CD18) and anti-CD3–coated beads. As demonstrated in Fig. 5 A (middle and bottom), the stimulation also induced polarization of LFA-1, CD226, and the Fyn at the contact site of both T cell subsets with beads. However, as was observed when stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs, the lipid raft compartment was polarized in CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti–LFA-1 (Fig. 5 A). Furthermore, lipid raft disruption with MβCD suppressed the proliferation of CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells initiated by CD3 and LFA-1 ligations (Fig. 5, C and D). Taken together, these results indicate that although LFA-1 costimulatory signals require CD226 for proliferation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the absence of IL-2 (Fig. 4 B), CD8+ T cells do not depend on polarization of the lipid raft for their proliferation induced by CD3 and LFA-1 ligations.
In this study, we have demonstrated that costimulatory signals initiated by LFA-1 ligation induced IL-12–independent Th1 development from naive CD4+ T cells. This is consistent with previous reports that blocking LFA-1–ICAM-1 or LFA-1–ICAM-2 interactions led to a significant increase of Th2 cytokines in mice (8, 36). Th1 polarization from naive CD4+ T cells induced by LFA-1/ICAM-1 ligation has also been reported more recently (9). Several lines of evidence demonstrated that engagement of LFA-1 facilitates T cell activation by lowering the amounts of antigen necessary for T cell activation (37). In addition, exposure of high antigen doses can lead naive CD4+ T cells to give rise to Th1 polarization (38, 39). These observations suggest that LFA-1 ligation may modulate the TCR signal leading Th1 development. We demonstrated here that CD226 physically associates with LFA-1 upon stimulation of CD3 and is involved in Th1 development induced by LFA-1 engagement. It is unclear at present, however, whether CD226 modulates the TCR signal or delivers the TCR-independent signal leading to Th1 development. It is of note that LFA-1 ligation induces aggregation and activation of focal adhesion kinase at sites of LFA-1–ICAM interaction and activated focal adhesion kinase then binds to the SH2 domain of the Srk family protein tyrosine kinase Fyn (40). Because the Fyn is responsible for CD226 tyrosine phosphorylation induced by LFA-1 signal (12), this kinase may also play an important role for Th1 polarization from CD4+ naive T cells. This idea might be supported by the previous findings that Th2 clones express a low level of Fyn protein in mice (41) and CD4+ naive T cells from the fyn-deficient mice polarize toward the Th2 cells even in the absence of IL-4 and IL-13 (42).
In this study, we have also shown that introduction of mutant (Y-F322) CD226 into naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells suppressed their growth initiated by CD3 and LFA-1 ligations in the absence, but not presence, of IL-2. In contrast, their growth was not affected upon stimulation of CD3 and CD28 by the mutant (Y-F322) CD226 introduction. These results suggested that CD226 functions as a signal transducer of LFA-1 upon triggering T cell activation, in which T cells secrete no or a very low amount of IL-2. Once T cells are activated and produce IL-2 that stimulates themselves in an autocrine fashion, CD226 may not be required for LFA-1 signal for T cell proliferation. Geginat et al. (43) have recently described that both LFA-1– and CD28-mediated costimulations induce IL-2 mRNA stabilization and IL-2 production, resulting in T cell proliferation. However, LFA-1–, but not CD28-, induced IL-2 mRNA stabilization requires the integrity of the actin-based cytoskeleton. In addition, LFA-1 engagement is followed by an increase of the nuclear pool of a transcriptional coactivator Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 that modulates AP-1 activity (44). Future studies should be required for determining the physical and functional relationship between CD226 and these LFA-1 signaling molecules.
Recent evidence supports a model in which lipid rafts play an essential role in immune cell activation (45). Although several studies have shown the involvement of lipid rafts in the regulation of LFA-1 function (46, 47), we demonstrated here that lipid rafts are not involved in CD8+ T cell proliferation induced by costimulatory signals from LFA-1, although LFA-1, CD226, and the Fyn were clustered and seemed to deliver intact costimulatory signals for T cell proliferation. The mechanisms by which these LFA-1 signaling molecules aggregated in CD8+ T cells at the contact area with beads are uncertain at present. However, this is consistent with a recent report that CD8+ T cells do not require the polarization of lipid rafts for activation and proliferation induced by CD3 and CD28 ligations by precoated antibody beads or a specific antigen on APCs (48). In contrast, lipid raft disruption with MβCD suppressed physical association of LFA-1 with CD226 and LFA-1–mediated costimulatory signal for proliferation in CD4+ T cells. It should be noted that these results do not always lead to the conclusion that physical association of LFA-1 with CD226 and LFA-1 costimulatory signaling directly depends on lipid rafts in CD4+ T cells because MβCD also disrupts the CD3-mediated signal (45) that is essentially required for the association of LFA-1 with CD226 (12) and LFA-1 costimulatory signal. Further studies should be required to clarify lipid raft structure and function in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Nonetheless, coclustering of LFA-1, CD226, and the Fyn upon CD3 stimulation might be important for LFA-1 costimulatory function in both T cell subsets.
It has been reported that resting primary T cells appear highly resistant to transduction with lentiviral vectors and efficient transduction requires prestimulation of T cells (23, 24, 49–51). In contrast, we achieved efficient transduction of both resting and activated T cells with lentiviral vectors in this study. The lentiviral vector we used contains cPPT and the CTS, which promote the nuclear import of the viral DNA and improve the transduction efficiency (52, 53), and the WPRE, which enhances the expression of the transgene (54). The cPPT, CTS, and WPRE integrated in our lentivirus vector should be advantageous for efficient gene transduction and expression in resting primary T cells, although there are reports describing controversial results (49, 50, 55). We also consider our modified experimental procedures for lentivirus preparation (i.e., [a] high titer of lentivirus by a concentration >1,000-fold, [b] followed by extensive resuspension of lentivirus by pipetting >200 times, and [c] final volume of medium containing lentivirus for infection <100 μl/well) to be important to improve gene transduction efficiency because we observed much lower transduction efficiency before we developed these procedures. It is of note that our lentiviral vectors can also effectively transduce resting primary B cells, NK cells, and monocytes. Thus, lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer should be a powerful tool for studies of gene functions in a wide range of immune responses.
We thank Yoshihiro Shiina for providing CBs, Lewis Lanier for critical reading of this manuscript, Satoshi Yamazaki, Kensuke Yamazaki, and Yohei Morita for technical assistance, and Yurika Soeda for secretarial assistance.
This research was supported in part by grants provided by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan (to K. Shibuya and A. Shibuya), Special Coordination Funds of the Science and Technology Agency of the Japanese Government (to A. Shibuya), the Uehara Memorial Foundation (to K. Shibuya and A. Shibuya), and Yamashita Taro Memorial Foundation (to K. Shibuya).
H. Nakauchi's present address is Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Experimental Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
Abbreviations used in this paper: CB, cord blood; cPPT, central polypurine tract; CTS, central termination sequence; ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule; IRES, internal ribosome entry site; MβCD, methyl-β-cyclodextrin; MOI, multiplicity of infection; PB, peripheral blood; SIN, self-inactivating; WPRE, woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element.
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Bachmann, M.F., K. McKall-Faienza, R. Schmits, D. Bouchard, J. Beach, D.E. Speiser, T.W. Mak, and P.S. Ohashi. 1997. Distinct roles for LFA-1 and CD28 during activation of naive T cells: adhesion versus costimulation. Immunity. 7:549–557.
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Tamura, T., O. Igarashi, A. Hino, H. Yamane, S. Aizawa, T. Kato, and H. Nariuchi. 2001. Impairment in the expression and activity of Fyn during differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into the Th2 subset. J. Immunol. 167:1962–1969.
Geginat, J., B. Clissi, M. Moro, P. Dellabona, J.R. Bender, and R. Pardi. 2000. CD28 and LFA-1 contribute to cyclosporin A-resistant T cell growth by stabilizing the IL-2 mRNA through distinct signaling pathways. Eur. J. Immunol. 30:1136–1144.
Bianchi, E., S. Denti, A. Granata, G. Bossi, J. Geginat, A. Villa, L. Rogge, and R. Pardi. 2000. Integrin LFA-1 interacts with the transcriptional co-activator JAB1 to modulate AP-1 activity. Nature. 404:617–621.
Cherukuri, A., M. Dykstra, and S.K. Pierce. 2001. Floating the raft hypothesis: lipid rafts play a role in immune cell activation. Immunity. 14:657–660.
Leitinger, B., and N. Hogg. 2002. The involvement of lipid rafts in the regulation of integrin function. J. Cell Sci. 115:963–972.
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Dardalhon, V., B. Herpers, N. Noraz, F. Pflumio, D. Guetard, C. Leveau, A. Dubart-Kupperschmitt, P. Charneau, and N. Taylor. 2001. Lentivirus-mediated gene transfer in primary T cells is enhanced by a central DNA flap. Gene Ther. 8:190–198.
Pierson, T.C., Y. Zhou, T.L. Kieffer, C.T. Ruff, C. Buck, and R.F. Siliciano. 2002. Molecular characterization of preintegration latency in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. J. Virol. 76:8518–8531.
Follenzi, A., L.E. Ailles, S. Bakovic, M. Geuna, and L. Naldini. 2000. Gene transfer by lentiviral vectors is limited by nuclear translocation and rescued by HIV-1 pol sequences. Nat. Genet. 25:217–222.
Zennou, V., C. Petit, D. Guetard, U. Nerhbass, L. Montagnier, and P. Charneau. 2000. HIV-1 genome nuclear import is mediated by a central DNA flap. Cell. 101:173–185.
Zufferey, R., J.E. Donello, D. Trono, and T.J. Hope. 1999. Woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element enhances expression of transgenes delivered by retroviral vectors. J. Virol. 73:2886–2892.
Chinnasamy, D., N. Chinnasamy, M.J. Enriquez, M. Otsu, R.A. Morgan, and F. Candotti. 2000. Lentiviral-mediated gene transfer into human lymphocytes: role of HIV-1 accessory proteins. Blood. 96:1309–1316. | 2–independent, novel signaling pathway.
Stimulation of CD3 and LFA-1 induces Th1 development from naive CD4+ Ths. (A–C) CD4 naive T cells were stimulated with plate-coated anti-CD3 alone or anti-CD3 plus mAbs indicated on days 1 and 8 and cultured for 14 d in IL-2–containing medium. Intracellular IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-13 syntheses were analyzed in these cells by flow cytometry (A and B). Cytokine concentrations in culture supernatants were also analyzed by ELISA (C). (D) CD4+ naive T cells were stimulated with plate-coated anti-CD3 plus either plate-coated anti-CD18 or 10 ng/ml soluble IL-12 on days 1 and 8 and cultured for 14 d in the presence or absence of 40 μg/ml anti–IL-12.
CD226 Is Involved in the LFA-1 Signal for Th1 Development from CD4+ Naive T Cells.
We have previously reported that cross-linking CD3 and LFA-1 with anti-CD3 and anti-CD18 mAbs activated the Fyn protein tyrosine kinase, resulting in the tyrosine phosphorylation of CD226 at the residue 322 in its cytoplasmic region in Jurkat T cells (12). In this study, we examined whether this is also the case in CB naive CD4+ T cells as well. As demonstrated in Fig. 3 A, coligation of both CD3 and CD18 with mAbs induced CD226 tyrosine phosphorylation in naive CD4+ T cells. To determine whether the tyrosine residue 322 of CD226 is phosphorylated, we infected CB naive CD4+ T cells with the lentiviral vectors containing Flag-tagged WT, mutated (Y-F322) CD226, or a mock control vector under the control of the CMV promoter linked to the IRES-hrGFP. More than 80% of naive CD4+ T cells were efficiently transduced as determined by the hrGFP expression 3 d after infection. These transduced cells were then stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD18 mAbs for 2 min and examined for tyrosine phosphorylation of WT and mutant (Y-F322) CD226. As demonstrated in Fig. 3 B, WT, but not mutant (Y-F322), CD226 resulted in the phosphorylation, suggesting that LFA-1–mediated signals phosphorylate the tyrosine at residue 322 of CD226 in naive CD4+ T cells.
CD226 is involved in LFA-1 signal for Th1 development from naive CD4+ T cells. (A) Naive CD4+ T cells were stimulated with plate-coated mAbs as indicated for 2 min and were lysed in 1% NP-40 lysis buffer. The lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-CD226 and analyzed by immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine mAb or anti-CD226. (B–F) Naive CD4+ T cells were infected for 72 h with the lentiviral vector containing Flag-tagged WT, Y-F322 CD226-IRES-hrGFP, or a mock control vector containing hrGFP alone. (B) The naive T cells were then stimulated with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD18 mAbs or control Ig for 2 min and were then lysed in 1% NP-40 lysis buffer. CD226 transduced by lentiviral vector was immunoprecipitated with anti-Flag mAb and immunoblotted with anti-phosphotyrosine mAb or anti-Flag. (C–F) The naive T cells expressing hrGFP after infection were sorted by flow cytometry and stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD18 for 7 d in the presence of IL-2. These stimulated T cells were then lysed, immunoprecipitated with control Ig or anti-CD226, and analyzed by immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine or control Ig (C), or were stained with anti-Flag mAb (D). These T cells were also further stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 h and analyzed for intracellular IFN-γ (E) by flow cytometry. Cytokine concentrations in culture supernatants after 48 h of restimulation were analyzed by ELISA (F).
Next, We purified hrGFP+ naive CD4+ T cells by flow cytometry and stimulated them with anti-CD3 and anti-CD18 mAbs for 7 d. The phosphotyrosine signal of CD226 induced by stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD18 mAbs in T cells transduced with mutant (Y-F322) CD226 was scarcely detected or significantly less than that in T cells transduced with WT CD226 (Fig. 3 C). These results suggest the following possible results induced by the lentivirus-mediated transfer of mutant (Y-F322) CD226: (a) inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous CD226 induced by LFA-1–mediated signals, (b) suppression of endogenous CD226 protein synthesis itself in a dominant-negative fashion, or (c) nothing affected on the tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous CD226. Nonetheless, IFN-γ production was significantly decreased in T cells transduced with mutant (Y-F322) CD226 in response to stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD18 mAbs compared with those in T cells infected with mock control vector or the vector containing WT CD226 gene (Fig. 3, E and F). Moreover, we observed the similar amount of WT and mutant (Y-F322) CD226 expressions on the T cells introduced by the lentiviral vectors, as determined by Flag protein expression (Fig. 3, D and E). Taken together, these results suggest that CD226 is involved in LFA-1–mediated costimulatory signal toward Th1 polarization from CD4+ naive T cells.
CD226 Is Involved in LFA-1 Signal for T Cell Proliferation in the Absence of Exogenous IL-2.
To examine whether CD226 is involved in the LFA-1 costimulatory signal for proliferation of naive T cells, CB naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were transduced with the lentiviral vector containing Flag-tagged WT, mutant (Y-F322) CD226-IRES-hrGFP, or the mock control vector. After infection, >90% of the naive T cells infected with these lentiviruses expressed Flag on the cell surface and/or GFP, demonstrating the similar transduction efficiencies among these lentiviruses (Fig. 4 A). The naive T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb alone or in combination with either mAb against CD11a, CD18, CD226, or CD28 in the presence or absence of IL-2. As shown in Fig. 4 B, introduction of WT CD226 did not affect the proliferation of both CD4+ and CD8+ naive T cells as compared with mock control vector. In contrast, in the absence, but not the presence, of IL-2, the proliferation of both naive T cells transduced with mutant (Y-F322) CD226 was significantly suppressed as compared with those transduced with WT CD226 after stimulation of CD11a or CD18 in combination with CD3 (Fig. 4 B). These results indicate that CD226 is responsible for naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferations initiated by CD3 and LFA-1 ligations in the absence of exogenous IL-2.
CD226 is involved in LFA-1 signal for CD4+ and CD8+ naive T cell proliferation. Naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were infected for 72 h with the lentiviral vector containing Flag-tagged WT, Y-F322 CD226-IRES-hrGFP, or a mock control vector containing hrGFP alone. The naive T cells were stained with anti-Flag mAb and analyzed by flow cytometry (A). The naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after infection were also stimulated with plate-coated mAbs indicated for 48 h in the presence (B) or absence (B and C) of IL-2. Cell proliferations (B) and IL-2 production in culture supernatants (C) were analyzed by BrdU uptake and ELISA, respectively. IL-2 was not detected in culture of CD8+ naive T cells after stimulation with any mAbs (not depicted).
These results also suggested the hypothesis that introduction of mutant (Y-F322) CD226 affects the production of IL-2 that stimulates T cells themselves in an autocrine fashion. To examine this possibility, we measured IL-2 production from CD4+ and CD8+ naive T cells infected with mock control vector, or the vectors containing WT CD226 or mutant (Y-F322) CD226, after stimulation with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD18. As demonstrated in Fig. 4 C, IL-2 production from CD4+ naive T cells infected with the lentivirus-containing mutant (Y-F322) CD226 was significantly suppressed upon stimulation with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD18, but not with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28. These results support the possibility that mutant (Y-F322) CD226 suppressed IL-2 production initiated from LFA-1 costimulatory signal, resulting in suppression of the IL-2–dependent T cell proliferation. However, we observed undetectable levels of IL-2 (<5 pg/ml) from naive CD8+ T cells infected with any lentivirus after stimulation with anti-CD3 plus anti-CD18 or anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 (unpublished data), suggesting that at least in the case of naive CD8+ T cells, suppression of T cell proliferation infected with the lentiviral vector-containing mutant (Y-F322) CD226 was not due to deficiency in IL-2 production.
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DWIRE / News / ICT / Huawei's 'TECH4HER' Scholarship Programme for Female STEM Students Returns
Huawei's 'TECH4HER' Scholarship Programme for Female STEM Students Returns
Amber Denis
. November 30, 2021
Huawei Ireland has announced details of the second year of its 'TECH4HER' Scholarship Programme which offers a total of €90,000 in financial awards broken down across three universities to eligible female students studying STEM subjects.
With Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and University College Dublin (UCD) part of last year's successful inaugural campaign, the second year sees University College Cork (UCC) join the initiative which offers scholarships at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Having handed out 11 scholarships for the 2020/21 academic year, the Huawei 'TECH4HER' programme will be offering a total of<|fim_middle|>SEFS) at University College Cork commented:
"We are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to some of our very talented female STEM students, which will support them in achieving their full potential. Time and time again I am amazed by their achievements and I am quite sure that our new partners will be too."
The second year of the TECH4HER scholarship programme attempts to support change and to tackle the ongoing gender gap in STEM both in Ireland and abroad. Pfizer research in Ireland last year confirmed the gender gap between male (15%) and female (7%) participation in STEM professions, while Engineers Ireland has stated that female engineers represent just 12% of the engineering profession in this country.
ten + nine =
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Copyright © DWIRE 2020 - 2022 All rights reserved | 21 scholarships this year, with 8 for TU Dublin, 3 for UCD and 10 for UCC. Students will be able to avail of financial awards as well as masterclasses and some other opportunities of engaging with outstanding female ambassadors offered from Huawei Ireland. The three universities have identified promising awardees who will soon receive the bursary.
Aimed at inspiring ambitious female STEM students who want to make a real contribution to Irish society, the application process involves candidates providing a personal statement on their passion for STEM, future career hopes, and barriers faced as a woman in this field, as well as an interview with an esteemed university panel. Top-performing students will then be awarded the scholarship, which will be provided for the current academic year.
Speaking at the launch of the second year of the programme, Tony Yangxu, CEO Huawei Ireland, said: "Huawei is committed to empowering women by giving them more opportunities to harness the immense potential of digital technology to transform society. After a successful first year, we are expanding the reach of the TECH4HER scholarship programme after great interest and uptake last year.
Our mission is to support women who want to pursue a career in the exciting areas of ICT and STEM, with this initiative and our Seeds For The Future programme key in this respect. ICT is traditionally a male-dominated area. We hope that our efforts will help close the gender gap in STEM in Ireland and help attract more young women into the ICT industry to drive sustainable and inclusive growth across the country."
Commenting on the programme, President of TU Dublin, Professor David FitzPatrick, said: "Every year, TU Dublin delivers 20% of the national talent pipeline in the economically critical sector of ICT; however, it is an industry where women are traditionally underrepresented. The Huawei Tech4her Scholarship is an excellent example of the initiatives required to encourage more women to consider studying a Computer Science programme and to excel in their studies and careers.
Following the success of the Tech4Her programme, TU Dublin is delighted to have the opportunity to continue to work with Huawei on this EDI initiative and we look forward to introducing eight more TU Dublin students to the Tech4her programme in 2022, where they will be supported to become future leaders in Technology."
Christina Vargka, one of the TECH4HER awardees from last year's programme, expressed her feelings upon receiving the scholarship at Huawei Ireland Innovation Day:
"Being one of the awardees of the Tech4Her scholarship 2020-2021 has been an amazing experience because of the incredible support I've received. The faith that Huawei placed in me by choosing me as one of the awardees has been an incredible boost of morale.
As well as the financial support which allowed me to focus on my studies, the programme provided me with the opportunity to connect with highly skilled professionals through the masterclasses which gave me the opportunity to gain insight into how these women achieved success within their fields and the type of skills I would need to excel."
Dr Anna Kelly, Director of UCD Access & Lifelong Learning, said:
"UCD is delighted to be part of the HUAWEI TECH4HER Scholarships, this initiative supports UCD's ambition to be a University for All, where inclusion is everyone's business, 1/3 of our student population come from diverse backgrounds and up to 25% of our first-year places are ring-fenced for access admission pathways. The HUAWEI TECH4HER Scholarships contribute directly to this ambition."
CJ Clarke, the TECH4HER awardee also expressed her feeling about the programme:
"I am so happy to have been awarded the Huawei Tech4Her Scholarship. This scholarship is an exciting opportunity, as it has provided me with the financial support to cover the cost of my Master's degree. The fact that this scholarship exists shows that we are heading in the right direction in terms of increasing female participation in STEM roles, as the women-only candidacy encourages women to apply for the scholarship, knowing that we will get a fair shot at winning it, not being affected by the sheer number of male STEM students."
University College Cork president, John O'Halloran, whose university joins the scholarship programme this year, added: "We are very pleased to join this extremely worthwhile Huawei initiative. Programmes like this one are crucial to inspiring the next generation of STEM and technical graduates that our increasingly digitalised economy needs, and women must be fundamental to this as part of a diverse, creative, and inclusive workforce.
The STEM area offers endless career opportunities, and our focus as a nation must be on shifting any stereotypical beliefs that young women are maybe not as good at subjects like maths or physics as men are. We need to harness the remarkable academic talent shown by female students annually across the country to encourage more to enter the tech sector and inspire the next generation of female STEM graduates that will help transform Ireland for the better."
Prof Sarah Culloty, Head of College of Science, Engineering and Food Science ( | 1,025 |
Your new Hyundai shopping experience near Holyoke and Chicopee starts here at Gary Rome Hyundai. We're here to help you find the best car at the right price among our large new inventory.
Your first step is to browse our online inventory. Every new vehicle available at<|fim_middle|>. The Ioniq Hybrid blends gas and electric power for optimized efficiency. Daily practicality is a staple of crossovers like the Tucson and Santa Fe Sport. Finally, the Santa Fe itself offers three rows of seating and space for seven passengers. | our dealership is shown here for your convenience -- simply select your preferences for body style, price, model, and more to filter the selection and find what you want. Click on any model of interest and you'll find a wealth of information, from performance specifications to amenities and features.
No matter which model you're interested in, you can count on quality pricing. We make sure to offer drivers from Springfield, Northampton and East Longmeadow some of the best price tags in the area. Our staff prices vehicles competitively according to market values.
Once you have completed your online search, we recommend visiting us in Holyoke. In person, we can help you find the best new Hyundai for your lifestyle and budget. If needed, we can get you behind the wheel for a test drive.
Hyundai's diverse lineup continues to serve a variety of driver needs. Smaller cars like the Accent and Elantra feature modern equipment and impressive efficiency. Move up to the Sonata midsize sedan and you'll experience quality and comfort. The Kona crossover and Veloster hatchback are great choices for drivers looking for fun personality in their next vehicles | 227 |
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For the most current information about the availability of library services, including details about what to expect for the spring semester, please visit library.vassar.edu/spring21.
If you're off campus, you will need to access Vassar's databases and online resources through the proxy server.
Access e-resources and<|fim_middle|> OpenAccess initiatives for newspapers around the world.
Login to HathiTrust to find the fulltext of out-of-copyright books.
Ask a librarian: If you need help finding relevant ebooks or searching in databases, contact us.
If you encounter any problems with online resources, contact researchhelp@vassar.edu for troubleshooting assistance.
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Databases list: Search by database name, subject area, database type (news, journal articles, etc.), or keyword.
Vassar students, faculty, and staff have access to 600+ online databases, including JSTOR, Web of Science, Historical Abstracts, and many others that contain articles, primary sources, streaming video or audio, and more.
How to find ebooks: Students, faculty, and staff also have access to a vast collection of ebooks across all subject areas.
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Digital Library: Access digitized materials selected from Vassar's Archives & Special Collections.
Use the Center for Research Libraries print and digital collections. Our membership gives us access to over 4.5 million print publications and over 1 million digital publications. CRL has also pioneered | 178 |
In this section: FDA In Brief
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FDA in Brief: FDA advances efforts to help modernize oncology drug trials
Sandy Walsh
"As part of our ongoing efforts to advance more efficient ways to develop medical products, the FDA<|fim_middle|> products best suited for consideration for development under a multiple expansion cohort trial; (2) information to include in investigational new drug application submissions to support the design of individual expansion cohorts; (3) when to interact with FDA on planning and conduct of multiple expansion cohort studies; and (4) safeguards to protect patients enrolled in these expansion cohort studies.
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products. | is encouraging pioneering new ways that innovators can modernize the way they conduct clinical trials," said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. "The approach we're describing in new guidance today is to help innovators to evaluate drugs in trials that are potentially lower cost, more efficient, and could enable us to learn more about the safety and efficacy when compared to traditional trial designs. We've outlined how drug developers can use an innovative seamless trial design in early stages of oncology drug development – specifically, the first time they're tested in humans – that compresses the traditional three phases of trials into one continuous trial, called an expansion cohort trial. A lot of the time and cost of clinical development is spent waiting in between the start and end of the phases of trials. Expansion cohort trials can bring efficiency to drug development, potentially reducing development costs and time. These clinical trial improvements can help ensure that innovative new therapies can be advanced efficiently to patients confronting a cancer diagnosis."
The draft guidance for industry, Expansion Cohorts: Use in First-In-Human Clinical Trials to Expedite Development of Oncology Drugs and Biologics, provides advice on designing and conducting adaptive trial designs in which pharmaceutical companies and researchers can assess many different aspects of a drug in development in a single clinical trial while enrolling the minimum number of study participants necessary to obtain this information.
This guidance provides FDA's recommendations regarding: (1) characteristics of drug | 284 |
The main landmarks of Burtons' St Leonards.
Burton Family Tomb
Looking towards the beach from West Hill Road you can see the old burial ground of St Leonards Parish Church. The Burton family tomb in the shape of a small pyramid is positioned in the middle looking out to sea. This is where the architect himself, his wife and several other members of his family lie.
Situated at 57 Marina, the Crown House is one of the most important buildings in Burtons<|fim_middle|>.57 during 1834-35 and after they left the building was renamed Victoria House. As Victoria was crowned queen the house was renamed again as Crown House and remains so today.
Please click a number below for more information. | ' St Leonards.
This property was the first building to be erected in St Leonards and served as James Burton's own villaduring the construction of the town. The timber frame of the building was constructed in London and shipped by sea to St Leonards.
The Duchess of Kent and her daughter Princess Victoria stayed in No | 65 |
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