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It is my honor and privilege to serve you and your neighbors as the city councilman for District 8. You've placed a lot<|fim_middle|> worship. It's where I have invested all of my time and energy and it is where I have chosen to fight for you, your families, your neighborhoods, your streets, your parks, and your well-being. I offer you my continued community service and I hope that you accept my invitation to join our team and work to make District 8 the best it can be. | of trust in my team and me and we've worked tirelessly to earn that trust and bring lasting solutions to the challenges facing all of us. But I can't do this alone. It's your continued support that makes it possible for us to continue bringing home the wins you expect.
While we all know that District 8 is a great place to live, the challenges we face are very real. Did you know that San Antonio is the fastest growing city in the U.S.? We need to prepare for the 1.1 million people predicted to move here in the next two decades. My focus is on our infrastructure, public safety, natural resources, and economic development opportunities -- all of which, will be challenged by a population growth that is outpacing the national average. With the experience and expertise in executing solutions to these challenges, my aim is to keep us on the right track as we grow.
District 8 is home. This is where my family and I live, work, play, and | 201 |
How Jukin Media Built a Viral-Video Empire
https://nyti.ms/2hpeuJS
Kaitlin Clark, office assistant at Jukin Media.Credit...Holly Andres for The New York Times
All the company needed were content-hungry millennials and an algorithm.
By Jamie Lauren Keiles
The Jukin Media headquarters, in Culver City, Calif., checks off all the clichés of the modern millennial workplace. The floor plan is cubicle-free and open, with skateboards — well, longboards — leaned insouciantly against more than a few desks. There is a Ping-Pong table, and the kitchen, of course, offers up a bottomless supply of Monster Energy drinks; a selfie stick hangs near a peanut-allergy warning near a fridge stocked with all manner of alternative milks and Greek yogurts. And yes, as you would expect, there is a keg of craft beer, which employees may drink from whenever they please, even at 10 in the morning — though I've been assured this has never happened, not even once in roughly seven years of operation. Jukin Media is, after all, a place of business, and as at any other business, there is work to be done.
On a Tuesday in April, a team of Jukin researchers gathered in one of several fishbowl conference rooms, away from the pop-music hum of the main floor. Each arrived with a handful of links to YouTube videos he or she had found. A paused clip was projected against the wall as they waited for the procession of pitches to begin. Presiding over the meeting was Dan Trunfio, 54, an experienced TV producer and one of the more senior members of the Jukin staff. On this day he would rule on which of the 64 videos might have the potential to be the next viral hit. A researcher at the head of the table pressed play, and a hatchback subcompact drove into the frame. Its driver swiftly ran the car into a ditch, causing several people in the room to chuckle. Trunfio, looking pleased, assigned the clip a B.
Pitch 2 was an anemic office prank: a woman surprised by a screen saver of a camel. Nobody really laughed; Trunfio moved along. In the third video, a drone demonstration terminated in flames, and in the fourth, a man took a tumble from a unicycle while chugging a beer. B and B, Trunfio declared, and the researcher presenting the clips looked relieved. Pitch 5 was a classic soccer ball to the face. Next, a man dressed as a ninja set out to break a board with his forehead — unsuccessfully. The meeting devolved into laughter on cue, then pivoted quickly back to focus, with an agile restraint known perhaps only to those who laugh for a paycheck.
Trunfio moved along: "O.K., good." There were 58 videos still on the docket.
Founded in 2009, Jukin is a market leader in a strange new industry that is organizing and monetizing the entropy of web video. A decade ago, when viral phenomena were still opaque and full of mystery, we gazed awe-struck as "Charlie Bit My Finger" rose to fame. Jukin, since then, has systematized the riddle by acquiring clips that meet viral criteria and serving them to YouTube channels and other media outlets that might help induce a spread. The process I was watching was the same one that delivered us Pizza Rat, the video of a rodent dragging a slice down the subway stairs that went viral in 2015. Jukin researchers also discovered Peanut Butter Baby (a toddler covered head to toe in peanut butter) and the "Christopher Columbus of Brooklyn" (a white guy yelling at another white person about gentrification). If you've seen a funny clip on a late-night show, or "Good Morning America," or the 11-o'-clock news, there are pretty good odds Jukin dug it up.
In order to meet this demand for fresh content — a demand created by the process that supplies it — Jukin scales idle browsing to industrial proportions. A researcher, on average, watches 200 clips daily. That's a thousand videos each week, or 50,000 per year, give or take. The company's research is aided by proprietary software called Riff, which generates feeds based on niche viral keywords. Maybe you've seen 15 or 20 good videos of babies tasting lemons for the first time, or troops surprising mothers at Christmas, or dogs and parakeets becoming unlikely friends. A Jukin researcher has seen these, too, plus all the duds that never made it to your feed.
Ricardo Marquez, audience-development director of Jukin Media.Credit...Holly Andres for The New York Times
Of those 200 reviewed on a typical day, perhaps three or four may be good enough to license, generally for a fee between $50 and $5,000, and often a revenue split. Researchers contact clip owners by any means necessary — usually through YouTube or Facebook but occasionally over dating sites, or wherever else they can be found. In all, the company has paid out more than $10 million in royalties to video owners.
Back in the conference room, Pitch 11 was underway. A woman onscreen was bucked from a horse, and Trunfio, not quite satisfied, assigned the clip a C. I had asked across the table about grading criteria and was told it boiled down to three factors: content, length and "just how funny it is, more or less." Though Riff might dig up the clips, only a human can assess their potential for virality. It's a collaborative process — algorithm and millennial, hand in hand — that may offer a preview of what's to come for the creative class. The work is novel less for its output than for the peculiar skill set demanded to produce it: deftness at trawling the depths of the internet on one hand, and an acute understanding of contemporary tastes on the other. If this work doesn't sound like real work, that's only because, in so many ways, it blurs the line between leisure and labor — whether spatially, with perks like Ping-Pong and kegs, or productively, with tasks that mimic procrastination. Workers like these do for a living what the rest of us do to avoid our work<|fim_middle|> robust data, doubted their own ability to script a viral hit. What happened to Phillips was lightning-strikes-twice rare.
After some negotiation, Toomes offered a cash payout for the rights, plus a 70-30 split of any proceeds in Phillips's favor. In the end, the video was featured on "Ellen," on which Phillips and his family won a trip to Mexico. The prank appeared on CBS, ABC, USA Today and nearly every major outlet that treats viral content like news. The clip drew thousands of dollars in revenue for Jukin and Phillips and drove more viewers to the upload on YouTube, where more revenue was earned by running ads against the clip. The video, to date, has more than 22 million views. Phillips declined to disclose his exact windfall, but he said it will go toward college for Millicent, his sister and the obliging victim of the zombie attack.
What's novel about businesses like Jukin, those that thrive inside the cycles of social media, is that they're built atop products created by amateurs. Without a guy to film himself falling down the stairs, it's very unlikely we would have clip-research jobs, Jukin or even YouTube. But Jukin's existence performs a strange sort of alchemy, retroactively transforming these pratfalls into some kind of labor. Stranger still is the fact that the process itself — watching YouTube for hours on end — hardly looks like labor at all.
But this process, multiplied over roughly 150 videos per week, is how Jukin has taken virality — a formerly random and far-reaching process — and channeled it into a closed network of its own making. Clips are acquired based on reliable parameters, then pushed out for licensing to websites and broadcasters — far-reaching vectors that drive a controlled spread. Viral, in the Jukin sense, is less a result of an organic process than a replicable formula, defined only by tropes and a looming expiration date. Toomes said Phillips's clip was a definite hall-of-famer, putting it alongside Pizza Rat and Peanut Butter Baby.
"It probably lasted around two weeks," he said. "Which is actually quite long compared to viral videos these days."
On top of all the researcher workstations at Jukin, there are silver-mirrored call bells like those you'd find at a concierge. When a hot clip comes in and the license is secured, a researcher is encouraged to ring his or her bell, in the hope that the whole office will share in the momentum. It's an old sales-office tradition, appropriated for a new era — much like the Jukin licensing scheme itself. Away from the chiming, in another glass fishbowl, I sat down with the directors Kyle Peters and Dustin Pagliughi. "It's a huge rush," Peters said of the process. "I've sometimes equated it to the stock market in terms of: 'We have got to buy, buy, buy. Let's get this now, now, now.' "
"Everybody gets excited," Pagliughi added. "You see people perk up."
Pagliughi, director of special projects, has been with Jukin for about two and a half years. He has a background in television production, which allowed him to enter the company as a manager. But even clip researchers right out of college often level up from scrolling and watching clips to managing their own teams of scrollers and watchers. In an industry that works in tandem with the algorithmic whims of Facebook and YouTube, however, who can say what such progress might be worth in the long-term scheme of a career?
While some at Jukin compare the frenetic, acquisitive energy there to that of Wall Street, that doesn't fully capture the persistence of digital media: The N.Y.S.E. closes at 4 p.m., but the trading floor at Jukin is technically always open — a fact of many new jobs tied to online sharing. Old structures like business hours and the workweek seem laughable in light of the always-on cycle of social media. Jukin has managed to create a sense of purpose in what might otherwise resemble a digital myth of Sisyphus. Retention rates at the company are high, and management tends to promote from within.
Pagliughi, in the conference room, seemed energized by the pace of the job. The excitement of finding new content still satisfied him.
"I find myself, even when I go home, looking at clips," he told me. Outside the fishbowl, his co-workers scrolled on, working their way through infinite feeds.
"You're not burned out on it?" I asked.
"It's part of my life," he said. | , and they do it so that we might keep avoiding work. Every time you tweet, click a link or share a meme, you play some small part in making jobs like this real.
As I pondered the stakes of this new kind of labor, the conference room groaned, interrupting the daydream. A gymnast onscreen had smashed his face on a balance beam. Trunfio allowed himself a smile.
At 33, Jukin Media's founder and chief executive, Jonathan Skogmo, is among the older employees of his company, but the origin of Jukin is a story of youth. In 2005, Skogmo was just out of college, a film-school grad who moved to Los Angeles and ended up temping, eating ramen and working odd jobs. On days off he mowed lawns and tended house for Sandi Spreckman, a producer and co-creator of "Judge Judy." Through Spreckman, Skogmo landed his first real gig in the industry, a research job on a pilot for the clip show "Country Fried Home Videos." Even into the mid-aughts, after the arrival of broadband, clip shows sourced content almost exclusively via videocassette, through a method popularized by Vin Di Bona, creator of the ur-clip show "America's Funniest Home Videos." With the Di Bona method, clips were solicited mainly via onscreen calls to action, which pleaded with viewers to mail in Handycam footage. Skogmo's job on "Country Fried" was to haul the tapes and DVDs from the P.O. box and hunt through them for actually funny material. Some producers there were around twice his age. As they sat at their desks "waiting for the mail," he took to the internet, looking for clips.
If this seems like an obvious move, then you're misremembering the internet of 2005. In the era when Skogmo was opening padded mailers at "Country Fried," MySpace was still three years from peaking, and Facebook wasn't open to nonstudent users. Video streaming was an imperfect technology. Total lack of industry standardization left consumers juggling a mishmash of fickle protocols like RealMedia and Macromedia Flash. Early viral hits like "Star Wars Kid" (2003) were downloaded from peer-to-peer networks like Kazaa. This could take hours and often felt seedy. When Skogmo found anything that was suitable for broadcast, he was faced with the issue of tracking down an owner. Content, in those days, seemed to come from nowhere.
This all changed for Skogmo in 2006, when he found YouTube, which was created a year earlier. He was impressed by the trove of family-friendly content, but even more so by the ease with which he could contact creators directly and negotiate the contracts that "Country Fried" required. Soon he became the online licensing whiz kid. When the Writers Guild of America went on strike in 2007, he says, demand increased for unscripted programs, including clip shows. By 2009, Skogmo had started what would become Jukin from his apartment.
Today at Jukin's headquarters, spread across 18,000 square feet, researchers sit arranged in long rows, plugged into headphones, scrolling through feeds. The factory-farm comparison is hard to resist — young workers pumped not for their milk but for their discerning taste in content. Before coming to Jukin, the researchers studied English, or media production, or double-majored in playwriting and mass communications. After graduation, they worked in television production, or for start-ups, or as editorial fellows at The Huffington Post. Like other jobs tied to the cycles of social media — say, tweeting for brands or aggregating tweets for BuzzFeed — clip research involves skills that are less taught through training than osmosed as a consequence of youth. An eye for picking the next viral hit demands not just fluency in the tastes of the day but also the ability to intuit the ever-evolving zeitgeist as it warps and flows across social media. I asked Nate Granzow, manager of targeted acquisitions, which type of experience best qualifies a researcher.
"We have hired people who've done that archival research stuff, and that tends to be something that helps," he said. "But generally they just need to be good at" — he paused for a moment — "they have to be sitting on Facebook all the time."
Jukin has clip researchers on two continents and in three time zones. The Los Angeles headquarters runs three staggered shifts, so that if a clip picks up speed in the middle of the night, Jukin can acquire it before it's viral in the morning. Jukin also owns YouTube channels, which it uses to promote its licensed clips to subscribers, and if you include the views from the company's Facebook pages, these draw around two billion views each month.
Its most successful clips tend to fall into one of three genres: "cute," "fail" and "win." "Cute" is dancing toddlers, puppies and clumsy kittens, anything involving that optimal eye-size-to-head-size ratio. "Fail" is whatever tenses the shoulders in empathy — wipeouts, face plants, schemes gone awry. I'm told the best fails are those that fail in unexpected ways, denying Chekhov's gun — e.g., the skateboarder doesn't eat it on the ramp, but then a guy in the background is kicked in the nuts. "Win" is whatever affirms faith in humanity, so women giving birth in cars and on airplanes, and also people catching marshmallows in their mouths from far away. As Skogmo puts it, viral clips have global appeal because they're "language agnostic" and don't demand a common tongue. They are a wordless lingua franca built on dirt-bike accidents and things exploding in microwaves.
Runaway hits often hybridize these tropes, combining and expanding on what makes them successful. When "Brothers Convince Little Sister of Zombie Apocalypse" came through Riff on Monday, April 11, Ryan Toomes, Jukin's director of acquisitions, knew it could go the distance. The clip had it all: a zombie prank, a hidden dash cam and a victim loopy from dental anesthetic. It was uploaded to YouTube at 2 p.m. E.S.T., and Jukin owned the rights by the close of the California workday.
It wasn't hard for Toomes to track down the creator. Cabot Phillips had already licensed another clip to Jukin, a prank involving a fake proposal gone wrong. This type of repeat business is uncommon to say the least. Virality tends to favor the accidental and organic. A hit is rarely just funny; it must also be funny in a way that's distinct and surprising. Self-conscious attempts at reverse engineering are almost always an embarrassing flop. Brands try constantly to manufacture virality, but viewers don't give shares to copycats or fakers. Even the researchers themselves, armed with countless hours of screen time and troves of | 1,484 |
TT: Up to a point, Lord Copper
Says Instapundit:
I don't think most bloggers are blogging away in the expectation of getting rich. Some will, and some larger (but still small) number will be comfortably well off, or at least<|fim_middle|>. Happy happy joy joy.
P.S. Oh, yes, one more thing: don't forget to buy copies of All in the Dances: A Brief Life of George Balanchine and A Terry Teachout Reader for the as-yet-ungifted on your Christmas list!
Now I'm done. Finally. Really. | make enough money to pay the hosting fees. But people blog so that they can express themselves–to be producers, not consumers–and we see this impulse across the world of new and alternative media. But it's not really new. Lots of musicians play music in spite of the fact that most of them won't get rich….They do it because they like to play, and they want their music heard. I think the same kind of thing drives most bloggers, too. It's certainly what's driven me. And while some people will drop out after a while (heck, most people will drop out after a while) the blogosphere will remain.
All absolutely true, as far as it goes, and I'd even venture to say that "citizen journalism" in its countless varieties will prove over time to be the most significant part of blogging. But one of the reasons why I started blogging was in the long-range expectation that to do so would ultimately provide me with an additional source of income, one that might someday compensate for the mainstream media's steadily declining interest in the arts. Note the multiple temporal qualifiers with which that sentence is studded! I've discovered (not to my surprise) that I love blogging for its own sake, and I expect to go on doing it for some time to come, regardless of whether or not it ever becomes profitable. Nevertheless, my oft-repeated prophecy about the blogosphere–that it is the place to which serious commentary about the arts is destined to migrate–will not come true until and unless it becomes possible for serious, committed artbloggers to make a reasonable amount of money from their blogs.
One thing that compensates to some degree for the continuing unprofitability of artblogging is the fact that the blogosphere is now "hot," meaning that some of the best bloggers are starting to attract mainstream media attention simply by virtue of the fact that they're working in a brand-new medium. This allows them to leverage their small-scale celebrity into print-media gigs of various kinds. I couldn't be happier about this development, since it means that the blogosphere is now providing talented unknowns with a new and better way to become known. (Not coincidentally, all my blogger friends are writers of whom I'd never heard until they started blogging.)
My own situation is, of course, different, and I think this difference may explain why so comparatively few established professional writers have embraced blogging: they can't see what's in it for them. Having done it for a year and a half, I know what's in it for me. Not only do I relish the direct contact with readers that it makes possible, but my imagination is stimulated by blogging, which lets me try out ideas in public that very often find their way into my print-media pieces. Even when I don't end up doing anything with these ideas, they quite often set me to thinking in unforeseen ways that lead me in more productive directions. I can already see that this speculative, experimental aspect of blogging, coupled with the immediacy and lack of editorial interference, is what makes the medium so addictive. (It also gives me another way to flog my books.) But be that as it may, I am a professional writer, meaning that I earn my living by selling my words, and I sincerely hope the day comes when I can earn some part of that living by blogging–especially since it's so much fun.
Don't worry: Our Girl and I aren't planning to ask you to subscribe, at least not any time soon! We would, however, be greatly obliged if you'd tell your friends about "About Last Night." Our readership has been growing, slowly but steadily, ever since we went live in the summer of 2003. The steady part we like, but we wouldn't mind seeing our numbers grow a bit faster. So if you like what you see here, spread the word.
TT: The bard of discomfort
It's drama-column time! I reviewed three plays in today's Wall Street Journal: Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals, and Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz.
To my absolute amazement, I really liked Fat Pig:
I'm sure I'm not the only theatergoer who's had trouble making up his mind about Neil LaBute, whose powerful new play, "Fat Pig," opened Wednesday at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. No one is better than Mr. LaBute at sketching the outlines of a relationship: A few quick strokes of casual-sounding dialogue and it's right there in front of you. Nor has he any rivals at the dark art of making an audience anxious: Time and again his characters say and do things so disturbing, and so unexpected, that you all but break out in a sweat of discomfort as you watch them warily circling one another, looking for a chance to shove in the blade. Yet his work is also blighted by a coarse didacticism that too often manifests itself in here's-what-it-all-means speeches as blatant as an episode of "Dragnet," and I've never felt inclined to write in unmixed praise of anything he's done–until now.
Why is "Fat Pig" different? Partly, I think, because the point of this hard-edged little fable, produced by MCC Theater and running through Jan. 15, is so self-evident that Mr. LaBute feels no need to harp on it. As the lights go up, we see Helen (Ashlie Atkinson), a bright, funny, seriously overweight young woman, eating to excess in a cafeteria. Tom (Jeremy Piven), a somewhat less bright, reasonably good-looking white-collar gent, sits down at her table. They strike up a conversation, and Tom discovers, to his obvious surprise, that he finds her appealing. No sooner does she give him her phone number (a typically LaButeian touch) than we meet Tom's friend Carter (Andrew McCarthy), a viciously callous yuppie who regards his interest in Helen with contemptuous pity, and Jeannie (Keri Russell, formerly of TV's "Felicity"), Tom's alarmingly thin semi-girlfriend, who is reduced to a frenzy of self-loathing at the thought that he might prefer a "fat bitch" to her. With that, the game's afoot, and you know somebody's going to get hurt–badly.
Can love really conquer all? It's to Mr. LaBute's credit that he stares down this tough question without blinking, seconded by the performances of his four-person cast and the taut staging of Jo Bonney ("Living Out"). In Ms. Bonney's knowing hands, each scene is screwed up to the highest possible degree ot tension without slopping over into sadistic excess, and none of the characters is ever permitted to overplay his or her hand….
Not so The Rivals, which I loved and expected to:
It's been a long time between drinks for Richard Brinsley Sheridan's "The Rivals," written in 1775 and last seen on Broadway in 1942. Now Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater is putting on a sumptuous new production of Sheridan's classic comedy that isn't even slightly musty.
Directed at a brisk canter by Mark Lamos ("Big Bill"), this delightfully noisy tale of two young couples and their discontents offers its good-sized cast of scene-stealers plenty of prime opportunities to strut their stuff. Who comes out on top? That's an impossible call, though Dana Ivey has more than her share of the best lines as the linguistically challenged Mrs. Malaprop ("Female punctuation forbids me to say more!"). You'll revel in the lewd, gravelly basso of Brian Murray as Sir Lucius O'Trigger; you'll be touched by the unforced warmth and sincerity of Carrie Preston as Julia Melville; you'll be thrilled by the infallible comic authority of Richard Easton as Sir Anthony Absolute. As for John Lee Beatty's too-good-to-be-true set, which depicts a block of townhouses in Bath, it'll knock you out even before you've gotten settled in your seat….
Nor was I much surprised by my strong negative response to The Baltimore Waltz, since Paula Vogel's been disappointing me for quite some time now:
Paula Vogel's "The Baltimore Waltz," playing through Jan. 9 at the Signature Theatre Company's Peter Norton Space, is a nauseatingly coy black comedy about AIDS. Written in 1989, it's being revived as part of the Signature's season-long series of productions of Ms. Vogel's plays. Her brother died of AIDS not long before she started writing the play, and I trust that it helped ease her sorrow, but that doesn't make the results any more artful.
The only good thing about "The Baltimore Waltz" is the ever-wondrous Kristen Johnston, cast in what I take to be the semi-autobiographical role of a woman who, upon learning that her brother (David Marshall Grant) is dying of AIDS, dreams that she has been infected by a deadly virus caught from unclean toilet seats and known as Acquired Toilet Disease, or ATD ("It seems to be an affliction, so far, of single schoolteachers"). This, I fear, is Ms. Vogel's sensible-shoes version of Swiftian irony, and it is a tribute to Ms. Johnston's powers as a comedienne that she actually contrives to squash a few laughs out of it….
No link. To read the whole thing, buy today's Journal, or go here and follow orders.
TT: Rainbow connections
I mentioned the other day that Dvorak's String Sextet was written in "A major, that most divinely innocent of keys." Now a reader writes to ask:
Is there something intrinsic to the key of A major that makes it more innocent than any other? Is it innocent only when strings are playing in it? What about a piano? If it's a brass sextet playing, is A major more or less innocent than B-flat major? Does the emotion a key conveys depend partly, mainly or entirely on what instrument(s) is (are) playing? Were you being whimsical?
I heard Billy Joel say once (1985) that he hated E major. I couldn't imagine having a feeling about a particular key. I still can't.
Any help in assuaging this bafflement would be welcome.
Wonderful questions all, and fearsomely difficult to answer–impossible, really, though I'll do what I can.
To begin with, I was being perfectly serious about the key of A major. I think most musicians feel that certain keys have "characters" or "personalities," though I suspect they feel this way because they have come to associate those keys with specific pieces of music. For instance, I associate A major with a cluster of celebrated compositions whose expressive content I would describe as somehow suggestive of innocence. In addition to the Dvorak Sextet and Schubert's "Trout" Quintet and A Major Rondo for piano duet, Mozart wrote a great many such pieces, most famously the the A Major Piano Concerto, K. 488, and the Clarinet Quintet. D minor, by contrast, is widely thought to be a "demonic" key, threatening and unstable, whereas G major strikes most musicians as warm, friendly, and down to earth. (I once told Nancy LaMott that she was "a real G-major kind of girl," and I didn't have to explain to her what I meant.)
All this, of course, begs my reader's question: are there intrinsic, non-arbitrary reasons why so many composers have tended to choose specific keys in which to make certain kinds of music? Donald Tovey, the great English musicologist, believed that all such key-related associations had to do with the relative "distance" of a given key from C major. (The larger the number of sharps or flats in the key signature, the greater the distance, and the farther the key is removed from the fundamental stability and repose of C major, the "home key" of Western music.) In addition, most musical instruments have perceptibly different tonal qualities when played in particular keys or key families.
Alas, none of this really explains what makes A major sound innocent, so in an attempt to shed more light on the matter, I looked up "key" in the second edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and found this paragraph:
Keys are often said to possess characteristics associated with various extra-musical emotional states. While there has never been a consensus on these associations, the material basis for these attributions was at one time quite real: because of inequalities in actual temperament, each mode acquired a unique intonation and thus its own distinctive "tone," and the sense that each mode had its own musical characteristics was strong enough to persist even in circumstances in which equal temperament was abstractly assumed. Though highly specific with respect to different repertories and listeners, these expressive qualties fall into two basic categories, which conform to the basic difference–often asserted as an opposition–between major and minor: major is heard to be brighter and more cheerful than minor, which in comparison is darker and sadder.
You have to know quite a bit about music to make sense of the middle part of this "explanation," but it's worth noting that according to the author, the "expressive qualities" of given keys are often "highly specific" with respect to individual listeners. Since I experience the expressive qualities of keys as something like a cross between a color and an emotion, "hating" the key of E minor would be like hating, say, dark blue-green, a notion that strikes me as alien but not altogether absurd (one might well speak of "hating" fear, just as you might hate the taste of cauliflower). In any case, other musicians have had prejudices similar to that of Billy Joel: Sviatoslav Richter, the great Russian pianist, mentioned more than once in his diary that he disliked the key of F minor.
It's probably worth mentioning that I had perfect pitch when I was a working musician, but that I lost it when I stopped playing an instrument regularly and fell out of touch with the physical materials of music-making. I still have perfect relative pitch, but my mental key center has sagged a half-step. Ask me to sing an A and I'll sing an A-flat (unless I stop to think about it, in which case I'll remember to transpose the note I hear in my head up a half-step to compensate). Nevertheless, the Dvorak String Sextet still sounds innocent to me.
I sometimes wonder whether lay listeners who lack this kind of perceptual sensitivity might possibly experience music in more or less the same way that an achromatically color-blind person (that is, someone who sees the world in black and white) experiences visual stimuli, at least when compared to someone like me. To be sure, I'm not a synaesthete: I don't see specific colors when I hear specific sounds. I do, however, experience key signatures and harmonies in a way I take to be analogous to the perception of color, and because I have perfect relative pitch, this also means that I always "know where I am" when listening to a piece of tonal music.
Let me try to explain myself a bit more impressionistically, though I don't know whether it'll help. When I listen to a piece of tonal music, be it a symphonic movement or a three-minute song, I feel as though I'm listening to a short story or novel being read aloud rather than looking at a painting. On the other hand, I experience this musical "story" as a kind of perceptual space through which I move at a rate of speed determined by the composer, in rather the same way that one might envision the "world" of a novel in pictorial terms. And though this space is abstract–I don't "see" anything when I listen–I'm definitely in a "place" where significant events are unfolding in a meaningful order, even though their meaning cannot be expressed in words or represented by colors and shapes.
That makes sense, doesn't it? No? Well, I'll try one last comparison: if you've ever seen a plotless ballet by George Balanchine, that will give you a very rough idea of what I'm experiencing when I listen to music.
UPDATE: Sarah writes to remind me of those wonderful lines from Cole Porter's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye": "There's no love song finer/But how strange the change from major to minor/Ev'ry time we say goodbye." (Here's the best recording of that perfect song.) She also passes on this great one-liner:
My favorite quote about keys was attributed to the klezmer clarinetist Sid Beckerman, though he probably stole it from someone else: "D minor: it's not just a key, it's a living!"
That's a musician's joke.
"Stephen admired his learning, his skill in diagnosis, and his wonderful handing of his lunatics; Choate could often bring comfort to those who seemed so deeply sunk in their own private hell as to be beyond all communication, and although he had some dangerous patients he had never been attacked. Choate's ideas on war, slavery, and the exploitation of the Indians were eminently sound; his way of spending his considerable private means on others was wholly admirable; and sometimes, when Stephen was talking to Choate he would consider that earnest face with its unusually large, dark, kindly eyes and wonder whether he was not looking at a saint: at other times a spirit of contradiction would rise, and although he could not really defend poverty, war, or injustice he would feel inclined to find excuses for slavery. He would feel that there was too much indignation mingled with the benevolence, even though the indignation was undeniably righteous; that Dr. Choate indulged in goodness as some indulged in evil; and that he was so enamoured of his role that he would make any sacrifice to sustain it. Choate had no humour, or he would never have linked drink and tobacco to issues so very much more important–Stephen liked his glass of wine and his cigar–and he was certainly guilty of deliberate meekness on occasion. Perhaps there was some silliness there: might it be that silliness and love of one's fellow men were inseparable?"
Patrick O'Brian, The Fortune of War
TT: That'll have to hold you (revised version)
That's soooo it for me. And yes, I know I said that earlier today, but this time I really mean it. I'm hitting the road first thing Saturday morning, not to resettle in Smalltown, U.S.A., until some time on Sunday (I'm going straight from the St. Louis airport to a wedding in the middle of Missouri, then turning around and heading for points southeast). I won't be blogging again until Monday at the earliest.
I do, however, plan to report from Smalltown with reasonable if not excessive regularity, just like I did last year. Even when I'm not posting, I'll be thinking of you. And I'll also be updating the right-hand column from time to time, starting with the three brand-new Top Fives I just posted. "About Last Night" never sleeps!
Which reminds me: did I tell you that Our Girl in Chicago will be coming to New York shortly after Christmas? I'm planning to show her off to all my blogfriends on New Year's Eve, and certain selected luminaries may even be allowed to see her without the mask. She'll be posting from here, so keep your eyes peeled for staggering revelations.
So long for now | 4,110 |
The event - co-hosted by the APA, Contagious and the IPA - provided a whistle-stop tour of the most important trends and technologies affecting our industry, with top agency bods on hand to provide case study examples and explain the most profound shifts in their business models.
Suitably caffeined-up, the audience was then treated to a campaign case study from Tribal DDB creative director Simon Richings, who talked through the agency's immersive - not to mention devilishly useful - 'True Life Costs' website, built for Volkswagen. He explained the rich and carefully constructed site, saying: 'Consumers often equate the quality of the online experience with the quality of the product that's being talked about.' He was followed by Tom Thirlwall, CEO of production company Bigballs and founder/director Luke Taylor who introduced their stunning new interactive football game, I AM PLAYR, which plunges the player into the life of a fictional footballer - sordid affairs and air rifle accidents included... They believe that the premise of building a social game is that 'you are building a service, not a product'.
The penultimate speaker was VCCP head of strategy and innovation, Amelia Torode. She brought to the audience's attention a beautiful analogy by comparing Detroit - a city which failed by working towards one end product with an out-dated model - to the advertising industry, emphasising the importance of growth, change and innovation. Her 'four pillars' to consider are People, Data, Value and Attitude. Things were then wrapped up in a whirlwind fashion by Contagious Insider director Jess Greenwood, who working<|fim_middle|> with a gaggle of truly knock-out case study examples. | against the clock, whipped through the most exciting trends and future-facing marketing strategies identified by Contagious in the last six months - illustrated | 27 |
Minnesota North re-elects Fondow
At the LCMS Minnesota North District convention, meeting April 16-18 in Alexandria, Minn., delegates re-elected on the first ballot the Rev. Dr. Donald J. Fondow of Park Rapids, Minn., as district president.
Fondow, 58, was re-elected to his fourth three-year term.
Delegates also re-elected three vice-presidents; heard presentations from Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Greg Seltz and LCMS Executive Director of Pastoral Education Rev. Dr. Glen Thomas; welcomed two special guests from The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia; and took action on 36 resolutions.
Vice-presidents re-elected were:
the Rev. Paul E. Cloeter, senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Sauk Rapids, Minn., first vice-president.
the Rev. Kirk E. Lee, senior pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Parkers Prairie, Minn., second vice-president.
the Rev. Dan C. Abrahams, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dent, Minn., third vice-president.
District officers were installed during the convention, which met at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria.
Delegates unanimously adopted two separate resolutions affirming the sanctity of marriage and the sanctity of life.
One of those urges members of district congregations to support a proposed Marriage Protection Amendment coming to a statewide public vote on Nov. 6. That amendment to the Minnesota constitution defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
The other resolution memorializes the 2013 Synod convention to direct Concordia Plan Services (CPS) to reimburse enrolled church workers for the funeral expenses of their children who die before birth. Delegates speaking for the resolution stat ed that it speaks for the pro-life, sanctity of life stance of the Synod.
Other significant resolutions adopted by Minnesota North delegates:
approve "Project 24" — a partnership initiative with the LCMS North Dakota District that aims to build 24 "rescue centers" in Kenya to serve orphaned children. North Dakota convention delegates also approved the project at that district's convention in January.
As stated in the Minnesota North convention's April 16 online daily digest, "the primary goal of each rescue mission is to bring the Gospel to the children and to provide hope, love and mercy, while providing an elementary education and meeting their daily physical needs of food, clothing and shelter." The resolution encourages Minnesota North District congregations to hold a "Project 24 Sunday" each year for the next three years to<|fim_middle|>" in all Synod publications.
"One of the arguments for this resolution was that the opposite of 'closed' is 'open' and hence 'closed' accurately expresses our practice," the digest states. "One of the counter points was that the word 'closed' may have a negative impact on a person before they have had a chance to consider why the LCMS practices this doctrine. This resolution elicited a tremendous amount of debate, but passed by a significant margin."
encourage harmony in worship throughout the district by urging congregations to "offer public worship services exclusively according to the rites and services of the Synod's hymnbooks, agenda and other worship resources prepared or approved by the Synod's Commission on Worship," as stated in the action.
The online digest notes that similar resolutions "have been defeated or tabled at previous conventions."
authorize the district to continue to call two full-time mission and ministry facilitators.
This resolution reportedly drew considerable debate. Those speaking against it, according to the digest, "were concerned with costs and the stewardship of district funds. Pro speakers addressed the need of two facilitators to accomplish the necessary work of the district."
Catholic bishop 'overwhelmed' by Lutheran support
Sattgast re-elected in South Dakota | raise funds for building the rescue centers.
memorialize the 2013 Synod convention to adopt a resolution calling for use of the term "closed communion | 33 |
I sat outside at the house Saturday morning drinking my coffee looking at the incredibly calm, overcast skies thinking, "man I wish I was on the lake fishing topwater". So I hopped in the car and headed for the lake. By the time I made the 20 mile drive it was about 12:30 and I had bluebird skies and a constant 15-20 mph south wind. The perfect overcast topwater day was gone.
First I went south and worked a few main lake points with a deep diving crankbait and a Rat-L-Trap. No luck. So I headed north of the 515 bridge and worked the same point that produced the small schooling fish last week and got nothing. I was hungry and it windy to comfortably fish the places I needed to be fishing, so I went back to camp and took a break.
I went back out about 6:30 and went to the point where I found the schooling fish last week and caught one decent bass, about 2 pounds I would guess. I missed three others, all of them very, very small. I have switched to a medium heavy 7′ rod for cranks and such and what happens with the smaller fish is that you end up actually pulling them out of the water before they get to the boat and they are able to shake loose because their body isn't heavy enough to allow for a good hook set. I guess it's just the same, they get away unharmed and I keep fishing. These points hold bigger fish. I just need to find them. Next time out I will work it with a Carolina rig in hopes<|fim_middle|> worked the grassline, worked the deep timber but still had a pretty good time catching the smaller schooling fish.
We headed out to the lake on Friday and got all set up around 7 pm. I hit the topwater bite in the evening for just a little while and caught two small bass in the same grassy cove where I have been fishing the evening bite.
We had the two dogs so we had a motorhome full and lots of walking and peace-keeping to do as well. It was overall a very nice weekend. Fishing time was cut a little short as you will see in the video. I spent much of Sunday afternoon riding around White Oak Branch and marking creek beds and structure on my GPS. The bites I got Saturday and Sunday were on a Rogue. I prefer the non-suspending version. I was working it and keeping it no more than a foot deep. I generally like to work a Rogue where I can always at least see the flash of it. Cloudy conditions change this of course and you have to pay closer attention at that point. In this instance, I was working the Rogue over grass in about 18 feet of water. The grass seemed to come up about 8 to 10 feet high, so the fish were no doubt coming out of the grass after it. I also fished a Carolina worm and a wacky worm through the grass but the Rogue was all I could get them to bite.
All of my topwater bites were all on Yellow Magic. I caught a few Friday evening and a few Sunday evening as well, all on the same lure.
I hope you enjoy the video. I will be out later this week and hope to have more fishing tales and videos for you.
We went to the camp late yesterday and stayed the night. I fished the evening with topwater and caught only two, both about 2 pounds. The mosquitos were so bad, even with Deet, that I had to come in. They were worse than I have ever seen them here. My guess is all of the rain we have had recently is to blame.
I went back out this morning at 5:45, just before sunrise and caught 3 more on topwater (Yellow Magic) by about 7 but I lost them after that. I tried deep, I tried shallow, I tried soft plastics, I tried a spinnerbait… They just seemed to shut off.
Over the next few trips, I am going to do a fair amount of graphing and plotting. I am not real familiar with the summer patterns on Lake Fork as this is my first summer to fish it. I believe the fish on this lake tend to be deeper that I am used to. I need to find those grass lines and structure in 20-30′ of water and work those. I will spend some time finding them using my trusty Lake Fork map and setting those points on my GPS.
The lake was absolutely beautiful this morning pre-dawn. The western sky had an orange glow and the water was like glass. Even though the fish weren't biting real good, what a beautiful way to start a day!
I have no videos to show you for this trip. I bought a new camera and the wide angle just doesn't work on the boat, it is not a wide enough shot and the videos looked terrible. It is a very nice camera, a JVC Everio that I got a GREAT deal on at Vanns, but my trusty Sony Cybershot will be the fishing camera. | of better fish.
I hate to say never, but fishing on a Saturday at Fork is just crazy. There are two to three boats on every point and a frenzy of activity. I much prefer to fish during the week but it hasn't worked out that way lately. If you can, I suggest fishing Fork during the week. There is a big difference in the boat traffic and fishing pressure and number of people in general on the weekend. I saw two different boats pulling a tuber in the boat row. Other boats are passing and there are big stumps to the right. I have to admit I have never seen that. It might be allowed but it seems dangerous to me.
I went out Friday and fished major points. I tried a Carolina rig, medium and deep diving crankbaits, a wacky worm and everything else I had, but I was unable to get a good bite.
What I did find were a lot of schooling bass about 10-12″ long. All fish I caught were on a Rat-L-Trap. In the morning I used the 1/4 ounce chrome with a blue back and in the afternoon, since it was cloudy, I tied on a chartreuse 1/2 ounce model with an orange belly and a black back. I probably have not fished that color in 10 years, but it seemed to be what I needed.
In the morning, on my very first cast with a Rat-L-Trap I caught a small bass in about 25′ of water off of a point and on the first cast of the afternoon session (after the morning storm had passed) I caught a fish on the very first cast with the chartreuse color. Everywhere I went, I tried to get the larger fish down deeper to bite, but they would not. I ended up catching 10 or so on the Rat-L-Traps but none of any size larger than about 14″.
The morning session was cloudy and ended with a strong storm coming through. I got out of the way of it just in time. The afternoon was cloudy until about 7 when the sun came out just before it went down, creating a beautiful sunset on Lake Fork.
At least I caught some fish. I would rather have gotten the better fish to bite but it was not to be. I threw everything I had at them at all depths, | 484 |
101st Engineer Battalion Sendoff
In tearful send-off, Mass. Guard unit mobilizes for Iraq
Friends, family say goodbye to 101st Engineer Battalion
By Nandini Jayakrishna
Globe Correspondent / June 14, 2009
Waving flags and holding red and blue balloons, proud friends and family members bade farewell yesterday to a Massachusetts National Guard unit preparing for deployment to Iraq.
"It's exciting to be part of history," Captain Paul A. Barnett, 38, a chaplain in the 101st Engineer Battalion, said before the unit's send-off ceremony on a dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard.
"We are doing something not only for our generation but for the generations to come, and not only for our country but for the world."
With the USS Constitution, the Navy's storied frigate, as a backdrop, Major General Joseph C. Carter, the Guard's adjutant general, told the 180 soldiers to continue their battalion's legacy of devotion and sacrifice.
"Always place the mission first," he said. "Never accept defeat. Never surrender. And never, never, never leave an American serviceman behind."
Specialist Kristen L. Cunha, 28, said that she will miss her 9-year-old son, Tyler, and 6-year-old daughter, Kayla, as she follows her lifelong dream of serving in the Army, but that she knows her husband supports her decision and will do his best to care for the family in her absence.
Failing to control his tears, Cunha's husband, Adalto, 4<|fim_middle|> Too Busy To Pay Attention | 0, a truck driver, said he was extremely proud of his wife and looked forward to hearing from her. When Tyler and Kayla cry for their mother, he said, he will do his best to console them.
"I'll tell them, 'Your mom has not gone just for herself, but for all of us,' " he said.
One of the oldest units in the Army, the 101st has fought in six major conflicts, from the Revolution to the current war on terrorism. Eight of its soldiers have received the Medal of Honor, the country's highest military decoration.
Governor Deval Patrick also lauded the soldiers, who have been training for several months for their deployment, for their devotion to the country and asked them to draw inspiration from the Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world.
"What a glorious morning to recognize and acknowledge glorious service," Patrick said in his brief remarks. "Take inspiration from this ship, as we do from you."
Barnett, who hails from Wareham and fought in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, said leaving his family is the hardest part of his job.
But he said that soldiers develop strong bonds that allow them to get through adversity together.
"We laugh, we joke, we play music," he said. "Just like kids in the candy store, we find something to keep us laughing."
His mother, Rita J. Barnett, said seeing her son ship out a second time is just as difficult as it was 18 years ago.
"I'm feeling weak, numb," she said. "Don't make me cry."
"I have my Kleenex right here," she added, laughing and patting her blouse.
Barnett's sister said she was proud of her brother but worried about him.
"I want him to come back, mind, body, soul," said Robin L. Barnett, 34.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than half of the state's 8,000 guardsmen have been deployed overseas to countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait.
The exact date and time of the unit's departure for Operation Iraqi Freedom were not disclosed by officials.
Watch out for each other and come home safely.
Navy Week - Day 2 Wednesday, July 1st
Navy Week Boston!!!!!
The Coast Guard Loves Me!!!!
One Of The Many Reasons We Say....
I Miss You Too!
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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
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Godspeed VADM James Calvert
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For Bob Carbone........
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A Great Behind The Scenes of BOM Commemoration
#DDay65 on Twitter
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IT. WAS. FABULOUS!
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Everyone Is | 1,002 |
De geologie van de Ardennen en de Eifel zoals die tegenwoordig te zien is, is het gevolg van tektonische, sedimentaire en vulkanische gebeurtenissen en processen die over een tijdspanne van miljoenen jaren plaatsvonden. Het laaggebergte dat het huidige resultaat is van deze gebeurtenissen en processen wordt het Rijnlands leisteenplateau genoemd. De westelijke helft hiervan ligt in België, de oostelijke in Duitsland. Kleinere stukken vallen onder Frankrijk, Nederland en Luxemburg.
De Ardennen en de Eifel zijn een geologisch massief, een door tektonische opheffing omhoog gekomen gebied waar gesteenten uit het diepere sokkel van West-Europa dagzomen (aan het oppervlak komen). De kern van dit massief bestaat uit Paleozoïsche gesteentelagen (het Paleozoïcum is een geologisch tijdvak van 542 tot 251 Ma geleden). Deze gesteenten zijn gedeformeerd tijdens de Hercynische gebergtevorming (390 tot 300 Ma), als gevolg daarvan worden ze doorsneden door een uitgebreid stelsel van breuken en plooien.
Dankzij tektonische opheffing tijdens de Alpiene orogenese (30 Ma tot heden) is het huidige laaggebergte ontstaan. Daarbij houden tektonische opheffing en erosie elkaar ongeveer in evenwicht. Het gebied wordt gekenmerkt door diep ingesleten rivierdalen, terwijl het reliëf buiten deze dalen vrij vlak blijft. Ook tegenwoordig vindt tektonische opheffing nog steeds plaats: de Ardennen bewegen bijvoorbeeld ten opzichte van Antwerpen met een centimeter per jaar omhoog.
Geologische begrenzing
Naar het noorden toe verdwijnen de Paleozoïsche gesteenten onder Mesozoïsche en Tertiaire sedimentaire gesteenten. De noordelijke helft van België en Nederland (en een groot deel van Noord-Duitsland) worden overdekt met nog veel jongere, voornamelijk Kwartaire sedimenten. Deze gebieden zijn te beschouwen als de zuidkant van het Noordzeebekken.
Ten zuiden van de Ardennen ligt de noordflank van het Bekken van Parijs, verder in het zuiden komt men eerst Jurassische en daarna steeds jongere gesteenten tegen.
De Eifel wordt in het oosten begrensd door de Rijn, aan de andere kant van de Rijn liggen aansluitende laaggebergtes als de Taunus en het Sauerland. Deze zijn geologisch gezien allemaal onderdeel van hetzelfde plateau/laaggebergte: het Rijnlands leisteenplateau.
Gesteenten
De gesteenten in Ardennen en Eifel zijn bijna altijd oorspronkelijk sedimentair, zoals kalksteen, siltsteen en zandsteen. De gesteenten ouder dan de Hercynische gebergtevorming zijn vaak licht metamorf, dit zijn schisten, leien, fyllieten en kwartsieten.
Er komen ook vulkanische gesteenten voor, met name in de Eifel waar door recente (kwartaire) vulkanische activiteit soms honderden meters dikke lagen pyroclastisch gesteente (zoals tufsteen van vulkanische as en scoria) voorkomen.
Vroeg Paleozoïcum
De oudste gesteenten in de Ardennen zijn zandsteen (soms omgevormd tot kwartsiet), schisten en leisteen uit het Cambrium (542 - 488 Ma geleden). Op sommige plaatsen zijn turbidieten te vinden in deze gesteenten, wat erop wijst dat ze op de rand van een continentaal plat zijn afgezet. Het Ordovicium en Siluur laten vergelijkbare gesteenten zien. In het Siluur komen soms vulkanische aslaagjes voor. In de vroeg-Paleozoïsche gesteenten van de Ardennen en Eifel worden soms fossielen als graptolieten en trilobieten gevonden.
Devoon
Op de discordantie van de Caledonische gebergtevorming worden gesteenten gevonden uit het Onder Devoon. Deze gesteenten laten een transgressieve opeenvolging van grofkorrelig naar fijnkorrelig zien: van conglomeraten (ontstaan uit grind) naar zandsteen (zand) naar leien en schisten (klei en silt).
Later in het Devoon komen voornamelijk kalkstenen voor, afgezet in niet al te diep, rustig water. Deze gesteenten bevatten veel fossielen zoals crinoïden, stromatoporen, tabulata en andere koralen. In sommige lagen komen brachiopoden voor.
Carboon
In het Tournaisien (359 – 345 Ma) werden fossielrijke kalken gevormd waaronder grote koraalriffen. Fossielen uit deze gesteenten zijn bijvoorbeeld koralen, brachiopoden, crinoïden en schelpdieren.
Tijdens het Viséen (345 – 326 Ma) zijn onder andere de zogenaamde zwarte marmers afgezet, dit zijn eigenlijk geen marmers maar donkere kalkstenen. Ze bevatten weinig fossielen en veel zwavel. Dit zijn vrij diep mariene gesteenten. Ook komen in deze periode turbidieten voor. Soms is de kalk gedolomitiseerd. Aan het einde van het Viséen komen veel kalk-breccies en evaporieten voor.
Het Namurien (326 – 313 Ma) van de Ardennen kan beschouwd worden als equivalent aan flysch en molasse: het bevat afwisselend lagen leisteen, zandsteen en conglomeraat.
Daarop volgen landafzettingen uit het Westfalien (313 – 304 Ma): zandstenen afgewisseld met laagjes steenkool. Soms komen mariene laagjes voor die bentonieten kunnen bevatten.
Perm en Trias
Gesteenten van deze ouderdom komen op het Rijnlands leisteenplateau nauwelijks voor. Wel zijn ze te vinden aan de beide flanken: in Lotharingen en in de Nederlandse ondergrond zijn dikke formaties van conglomeraten en evaporieten te vinden.
Jura
Uit het Jura komen alleen ten zuiden van de Ardennen gesteenten voor: aan de rand van het Bekken van Parijs, in Lotharingen en het groothertogdom Luxemburg, dagzomen Jurassische kalksteen en zandsteen.
Krijt
In het Krijt zijn voornamelijk kalkrijke sedimenten afgezet. Deze sedimenten zijn vooral te vinden aan de noordelijke rand van de Ardennen, zoals in de ENCI-groeve bij Maastricht. In Limburg wordt dit gesteente mergel genoemd, hoewel het eigenlijk bijna pure kalk is. Deze sedimenten zijn in de centrale gedeelten van de Ardennen afgeërodeerd, hoewel op een aantal plekken nog een restant te vinden is.
Vulkanische gesteenten uit de Eifel
Het vulkanisme in de Eifel heeft vooral veel pyroclastische gesteenten voortgebracht. Dit zijn voornamelijk lagen uit as opgebouwde tufsteen, soms nog niet geconsolideerd. Dichter bij de vulkanen komen ook basalten voor, in de Vulkaaneifel worden deze basalten gewonnen als bouwmateriaal.
Tektonische opbouw
Van noordwest naar zuidoost komt men de volgende tektonische eenheden tegen:
Het Massief van Brabant ten noorden van de Faille du Midi. De Paleozoïsche sokkel-gesteenten zijn hier meestal overdekt met sedimentaire gesteenten van na de Hercynische gebergtevorming. Naar het noorden toe liggen deze sedimenten in een grote noordwaarts dippende monocline, die tot in Nederland doorloopt. Dit wil zeggen dat de sedimenten aan het oppervlak in Noord-België naar het noorden toe jonger worden.
Het synclinorium van Namen, dat een nauwe band door het landschap vormt. Dit bevat Carbonische en Devonische gesteenten (waaronder steenkoollagen). Ze zijn langs de Faille du Midi over het Massief van Brabant geschoven.
Het synclinorium van Dinant, dat ook Devonische en Carbonische gesteenten bevat, maar minder nauw geplooid is.
Ten zuidoosten hiervan ligt een grote anticline, die de Anticline van de Ardennen wordt genoemd. Een aantal massieven dagzomen hier: het Massief van Rocroi en het Massief van Givonne in het uiterste zuiden van België en in Frankrijk, het Massief van Stavelot dat bij de Hoge Venen dagzoomt en het Massief van Serpont. Ze bevatten Vroeg Paleozoïsche (Laat-Cambrium, Ordovicium en Siluur) metamorfe gesteenten.
Op deze anticline volgt weer een syncline, de Syncline van Neufchâteau, deze loopt door het Groothertogdom Luxemburg en de Eifel, en heeft een wat minder nauw karakter. Er liggen hier vooral Vroeg-Devonische gesteenten aan het oppervlak.
Geologische geschiedenis
Vroeg Paleozoïcum
De Caledonische gebergtevorming (rond 400 Ma) is ter hoogte van de Ardennen niet erg belangrijk geweest. Er is wel een discordantie te zien tussen gesteenten ouder en jonger dan deze gebergtevorming. Soms zijn gesteenten licht gemetamorfoseerd tijdens de Caledonische fase. Voor deze gebergtevorming waren Nederland, België en aangrenzend Duitsland een deel van het microcontinent Avalonia. Na afloop lag de regio aan de zuidelijke rand van het nieuw ontstane continent Laurazië (het Old Red Sandstone-continent). Vanuit het zuiden subduceerde oceanische korst onder deze zuidelijke rand. In het gebied ont<|fim_middle|> de kraters van inactieve vulkanen.
Ten zuiden van de Ardense massieven komt de zandsteen en kalksteen van het Bekken van Parijs in de bodem voor. Hier is wel weer enige landbouw mogelijk, die zich vooral concentreert in de dalen. Tot deze zone kunnen het Gutland, Lotharingen gerekend worden. Het landschap is glooiend en minder hoog dan op het Ardense plateau. Rivierdalen zoals van de Moezel zijn vaak diep ingesleten. De kalkhoudende zandsteen is een goede bodem voor wijnteelt.
Geologie van Duitsland
Geologie van Wallonië
Eifel | stond daardoor een backarc basin waar korstextensie plaatsvond. Dit wordt het Rhenohercynisch Bekken genoemd.
De eerste gesteenten in het bekken zijn landafzettingen uit het Onder Devoon. Het zijn afbraakproducten van het Caledonische gebergte in het noorden. Het bekken werd steeds dieper, waardoor het afzettingsmilieu steeds verder onder de zeespiegel kwam te liggen.
Hercynische orogenese
De Hercynische orogenese heeft op een groot deel van het Europese continent zijn sporen achtergelaten. Deze fase van gebergtevorming was het gevolg van continent-continent collisie tussen de paleocontinenten Laurazië (onder andere het huidige Europa) en Gondwana. Gondwana bewoog vanuit het zuiden naar Laurazië toe, waarbij de Rheïsche Oceaan sloot. De gebergtevorming was geen doorlopend proces maar een stapsgewijze opeenvolging van fases. De Paleozoïsche gesteenten die nu in de Eifel en Ardennen dagzomen lagen destijds in de noordelijke uitlopers van het gebergte.
In het Vroeg Carboon vond gebergtevorming zuidelijker plaats (dekbladen zijn bijvoorbeeld in het Centraal Massief en Armoricaans Massief te vinden) als gevolg van de subductie van Gondwana onder Laurazië. In het Rhenohercynisch Bekken vond nog steeds extensie plaats als gevolg van de flexuur, vergelijkbaar met een voorlandbekken. Er ontstond een diepe binnenzee. In het Dinantien (359 – 326 Ma) werd donkere anoxische kalksteen afgezet (de zwarte marmer). Na verdere subsidentie werd in het Namurien (326 – 313 Ma) flysch (een trog afzetting) afgezet.
De plooifronten schoven gedurende het Carboon op naar het noorden en bereikten het Rhenohercynisch bekken. Aan het einde van het Carboon (circa 310 Ma) sloot het Rhenohercynisch bekken zich daarom langzaam, eerst in het westen, daarna ook in het oosten. Dit ging gepaard met de ontwikkeling van grote opschuivingen, zoals de Condroz overschuiving waarlangs het toekomstige synclinorium van Dinant over dat van Namen schoof. De gesteenten uit het Westfalien (313 – 304 Ma en Stephanien (304 – 299 Ma) zijn veel ondieper, het zijn aan de kust en in delta's afgezette zandstenen, afgewisseld met moerasafzettingen (vergelijkbaar met veen).
Mesozoïcum
In het Perm (286 – 251 Ma) vond snelle erosie van het ontstane gebergte plaats. Daarbij werd erosiemateriaal naar het noorden afgevoerd, waar het werd afgezet in een bekken dat ongeveer lag op de plek van de huidige Noordzee en Noord-Duitsland. Deze afzettingen zijn de rode zandstenen van het Rotliegendes. In het Mesozoïcum (251 – 64 Ma) werd met het verdwijnen van het gebergte de erosiesnelheid ook steeds lager. Gedurende het Trias en Jura stond het Ardens plateau echter boven water, zodat geen sedimenten uit deze periodes zijn afgezet. Ten tijde van het Krijt (einde van het Mesozoïcum) was op de plek van de huidige Ardennen een binnenzee ontstaan, de Krijtzee.
Tertiaire opheffing
Gelijk met het ontstaan van de Alpen zuidelijker op het Europese continent begon het Rijnleisteenmassief omhoog te komen ten opzichte van het Noordzeebekken in het noorden. Nadat het gebied weer boven water kwam te liggen kon het door erosie worden afgevlakt tot de huidige schiervlakte. De insnijding van rivierdalen van rivieren als de Maas, Rijn, Moezel, Ourthe, Semois en Samber in het landschap vond pas plaats in het Pleistoceen.
Geomorfologie en landschap
De Ardennen en Eifel bestaan uit een aantal duidelijk verschillende geologische zones, waar verschillende gesteenten dagzomen. Deze zones hebben ongeveer een OZO - WNW richting. Van noord naar zuid zijn de voorkomende lithologieën:
In Noord- en Midden-Limburg en Zuid-Brabant, ten noorden van de Samber en de Maas, dagzoomt eolische löss en leem, afgezet tijdens de laatste glaciaal. De löss is gelijktijdig afgezet met het Nederlandse dekzand verder naar het noorden. Beide waren afkomstig uit de droogstaande Noordzee, waar zich een poolwoestijn bevond en de wind vrij spel had. De grovere deeltjes werden minder ver naar het zuiden geblazen en kwamen als dekzand in Midden-Nederland terecht, de fijnere deeltjes als löss in Zuid-Nederland en Midden-België. Löss en leem vormen zeer vruchtbare bodems, zodat in dit gebied veel akkerbouw en fruitteelt voorkomt.
Verder naar het zuiden, waar de Carbonische en Devonische gesteenten dagzomen, komt afwisselend kalksteen en zandsteen aan het oppervlak. Dit zorgt voor een gevarieerd landschap en begroeiing: sommige plekken zijn geschikt voor landbouw, op andere groeit bos. Deze zone omvat onder andere de Condroz, de Famenne, het Land van Herve en de Ösling. In de kalksteen is vaak karsterosie opgetreden, waarvan het beste voorbeeld de Grotten van Han zijn. In Duitsland loopt deze zone verder door, maar wordt hier Kalkeifel genoemd.
De plaatsen waar de grote massieven dagzomen (het zogenaamde Ardens plateau) worden voor het grootste gedeelte bedekt met naaldbos. De kwartsieten en schisten van deze massieven vormen een onvruchtbare, weinig doorlatende bodem. In deze zone komen ook vennen en heidevelden voor (zoals in de Hoge Venen). Grote delen van het Groothertogdom Luxemburg en de Belgische provincie Luxemburg vallen in deze zone. In Duitsland heet deze zone de Schiefereifel.
Waar de vulkanische activiteit in de Eifel het landschap bepaalt, noemt men dit de Vulkaan-Eifel. De vulkanische aslagen vormen zeer vruchtbare grond. Hier komen ook de maren voor, ronde meren in | 1,712 |
J.Stephen Brantley
Latest News on J.Stephen Brantley:
Interview: Bart DeLorenzo on Directing Richard Eyre's Adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's GHOSTS
(Sep 7, 2022)
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble to Present L.A. Premiere of Richard Eyre's Adapt<|fim_middle|> Company is presenting MURDER IN THE FIRST, written by Dan Gordon and directed by Michael Parva. MURDER IN THE FIRST began performances on May 25 for a limited engagement through July 1, and celebrated an official opening night on June 6. BroadwayWorld has just recevieved production highlights and brings you an exclusive look below! | ation of Ibsen's GHOSTS in September
(Jul 26, 2022)
Diversionary Theatre Has Announced Their WELCOME TO LA MISA, BABY 2020 D-Tours Performance
Latest News on J.Stephen Brantley
STEPHEN MICHAEL SPENCER, CARLTON BYRD, BILL BROCHTRUP and J.STEPHEN BRANTLEY
From: Photo Flash: Ensemble Theatre Company Presents THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA McBRIDE
Barry Childs, J.Stephen Brantley and Kathleen Warnock
From: Photo Flash: TOSOS Celebrates Upcoming Season with Benefit at Norwood Club
From: Photo Flash: Seth Numrich, Kathryn Erbe and More in SPARKHAMPTON
Bertie Michaels, Melody Bates, and J.Stephen Brantley
From: Photo Flash: In Rehearsal with Horse Trade's EIGHTYTHREE DOWN
Brian Miskell, Bertie Michaels, Melody Bates, J.Stephen Brantley, and Bryan Kaplan
Alex Mark, Bertie Michaels, Evan Caccioppoli, J.Stephen Brantley, Brian Miskell and Ian Holcomb
Evan Caccioppoli and J.Stephen Brantley
Evan Caccioppoli, Bertie Michaels, and J.Stephen Brantley
J.Stephen Brantley and Melody Bates
J.Stephen Brantley News
by Shari Barrett - Sep 7, 2022
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble is presenting the Los Angeles premiere of what may be Henrik Ibsen's most controversial play, Ghosts, adapted by acclaimed British director Richard Eyre and directed by Bart DeLorenzo, a Los Angeles-based theater director and producer who is the founding artistic director of the Evidence Room theater, a 17-year-old company renowned in Los Angeles for contemporary theater productions. I decided to speak with Bart about what led him to direct this new adaptation at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 26, 2022
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble will present the Los Angeles premiere of an electrifying adaptation, by acclaimed British director Richard Eyre, of what may be Henrik Ibsen's most controversial play. Directed by Bart DeLorenzo, Ghosts will kick off with two public previews on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 9, 2020
Diversionary has announced their 2020 D-Tours production of WELCOME TO LA MISA, BABY which will tour the San Diego Unified School District as part of the Arts Education and Outreach programming.
Luna Stage to Present Benefit Performance of Ami Brabson's Cabaret A CHANGE IS GONNA COME
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 22, 2019
Luna Stage will present a benefit performance of Ami Brabson's newest cabaret A Change is Gonna Come on Saturday, December 14th. Doors open at 6:30 PM for wine and mingling. Brabson's performance at 7:30 will be followed by live music, dessert, drinks, and coffee.
Arendt Center Founder, Playwright, Slated to Speak at MRS. STERN WANDERS THE PRUSSIAN STATE LIBRARY
by Rebecca Russo - Oct 16, 2019
Luna Stage's World Premiere production of Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library opens this Saturday, October 19, at 8pm. Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities Roger Berkowitz, playwright Jenny Lyn Bader, director Ari Laura Kreith, and assistant director Chris Kuiken will join the audience for post-show conversations during the first two weekends of Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library at Luna Stage. A discussion about the graphic novel The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt: A Tyranny of Truth by Ken Krimstein will also precede one performance.
WET PAINT New Play Festival Announced At New Ohio Theatre
In only it's second year, the Wet Paint - New Play Festival has managed to round up B'way veterans (Johanna Leister, Layan Elwazani), TV stars (Christopher Shyer, Rachel Handler), & Amazon Best-Selling authors (Edward Medina) to participate in a barebones development series of short-performances. This year's festival has a theme: Walls, and with that theme, Point-Blank Theatre Co. received a unique submission. William Hobbs, a member of Voices Inside, an inmate writing/theatre program at Northpoint Training Center in KY, submitted his play, A Spider's Web and was accepted among dozens of NYC playwright applicants.
Luna Stage Announces 2019-2020 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 7, 2019
Luna Stage has announced its 2019-2020 Season, featuring two World Premieres as well as the 2019 Lucille Lortel-winner for Best New Play. This year also marks the launch of the newly-renovated Luna2, which will allow the West Orange professional theatre to offer six shows in the coming season.
Luna Stage Features Plays That Explore What It Means To Be 'American'
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 8, 2019
Luna Stage's 2019-2020 Season features bold new plays that examine the power of independence, the value of freedom, and what it means to be 'American.' Season Passes are now on sale for six-play season, which features two World Premieres, the 2019 Lucille Lortel Award-winner for Best New Play, and the launch of Luna's new American Voices Series.
Casting Announced For Opera House Arts' 20th Anniversary Season
Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House in Maine announced today the complete casts and creative teams for the company's 20th Anniversary Season, which includes Shakespeare in Love (July 18-28), based on the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, adapted for the stage by Lee Hall as well as Avalon (August 15-25), a world-premiere by Melody Bates.
J.Stephen Brantley Videos
STAGE TUBE: Promo for THEATERSPEAK's WRITE OUT FRONT - J. Stephen Brantley Writes a Play
by Stage Tube - Aug 4, 2012
THEATERSPEAK will present an installation of more than 70 award-winning and emerging playwrights writing new plays in the storefront window of the Drama Book Shop during store hours, August 13th - September 1st, In each two-hour time slot, a different playwright will write their play on a laptop, while the screen shot of their computer is visible to the street, opening their process up to the passerby on the street. Below, check out a video promo for the event, featuring J.Stephen Brantley of Hard Sparks writing a play
BWW TV EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Chad Kimball in MURDER IN THE FIRST!
by BroadwayWorld TV - Jun 11, 2012
59E59 Theaters, with The Directors Company, in association with Chase Mishkin, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, and Invictus Theater | 1,593 |
Eilidh Patterson and Ruth Trimble each bring their gorgeous voices to original songs. Crossing the boundaries of folk, country and pop, this pairing is a match made in heaven!
Eil<|fim_middle|> songs that cut straight to the heart, delightfully accurate guitar playing and crystal clear vocals, Eilidh immediately connects with audiences everywhere. In recent years, she has performed in the States, the UK and in Europe. Eilidh is currently touring across NI celebrating the release of her third studio album, Sunshine. Recorded in Glasgow earlier this year, this record pulses with positivity featuring life affirming new songs, showcasing Eilidh's continued growth and maturity as a writer and singer.
Northern Ireland's Ruth Trimble has toured the UK in support of Clannad, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Olivia Newton John, also performing regularly as a multi-instrumental side musician to Beth. With plays on BBC Radio2 behind her and an endorsement deal with Yamaha Music, she is finally taking the time to promote her own third album 'Before The Rain'. | idh (pronounced I-Lee) is a warm, engaging performer of startling clarity. With | 20 |
This is a popular kayaking route very suitable for beginners. With less boat traffic early in the morning, it is the best time of the day to go for a kayak tour around Torødstranda.
From Torødstranda, the route heads north along the shoreline within the narrow strait, Årøysundet. Along this idyllic route, you will be paddling by cabins, other kay<|fim_middle|> Årøysundet straight back to the starting at Torødstranda. | akers and boats. In the straight, boats have to keep a very slow speed so it is a perfect area to paddle.
After passing Nordre Årøy island, you will approach Bjerkøy island and head west into the straight, Bjerkøysundet. Here, there can be lot of boat traffic, so paddling along the shoreline is recommended. Continue following the shoreline of the island around the northern point where you come to a nice beach, perfect to stretch your legs and enjoy a break.
The route continues down to the southern tip of Bjerkøy island until you return to Bjerkøysundet strait. Cross over the strait, but remember to be cautious of boat traffic.Then follow | 145 |
With centrifugal fans one has a choice to control the flow using dampers.
On the inlet side we can use Variable Inlet Vanes (VIVs) or Inlet Louver Dampers (ILDs). Variable inlet vanes offers the highest efficiency of damper control of a centrifugal fan. VIVs can work inside an inlet box or be directly in the duct.
They are more expensive than the ILD as the manufacturing process is more complex and the components tend to be more expensive. The benefit is improved control and savings of energy at reduced flows.
The blades are angled such that they introduce a swirl into the fan and set up optimum streamlines for the air flow into the fan inlet.
Inlet Louver Dampers are a parallel bladed louver damper used on the inlet of centrifugal fan. As with VIVs the orientation and positioning is important in order to introduce a pre-swirl to the flow as it enters the eye of the impeller of the fan.
Often the fan may be a double inlet double width fan in which case two inlet louvers are required to work in tandem.<|fim_middle|> throttle the flow back but at the full fan pressure. The ILD or VIV actually reduces flow by essentially drawing a new curve. All the various curves are called a "family of curves". See below for one family.
Outlet louver dampers may be used in conjunction with inlet louver dampers. In this way they can hit a wide variety of points within the envelope of the fully open or unthrottled fan curve (the area under the 100% curve). | One actuator can be used to control the two ILDs in tandem. Specify EFFOX Flextor brand Inlet Louver Dampers to your fan vendor.
Outlet louver dampers go on the outlet, or discharge, of a centrifugal fan. The efficiency in this area is less than either the Inlet louver or Variable Inlet Vane Dampers. Mainly because they simply work to | 84 |
Teacher of the Year says helping students means being 'bold enough' to make changes
Dani Charbonneau, a teacher at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, called the Teacher of the Year award "a great combination" of excitement and responsibliity.
Waking up every day at 4 a.m. to get ready to teach high school is something many educators are familiar with — but the commute doesn't usually involve stepping onto a ferry.
For Dani Charbonneau, an English teacher at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, that is what it takes to get to her classroom. Her students are the reason she's crossing Vineyard Sound early each morning.
"What kind of job could get me up at 4 a.m.? It's simply the best job I have ever had," Charbonneau said. "It's a job that doesn't exist everywhere." Charbonneau was named the new Massachusetts Teacher of the Year on Sept. 27 during a ceremony in the high school auditorium with an audience that included students, colleagues, state and local education officials, and her family members.
"This is definitely as close as I'll ever get to winning an Oscar," Charbonneau said, thanking her wife, Ellen, their two sons, and her mother.
"Teachers — even great teachers — aren't promised moments like this so this is for all the teachers," she said. "The people I have to thank the most are right here: my students."
"The people I have to thank the most are right here: my students."
Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Dani Charbonneau
As the 61st recipient of the state teaching award, Charbonneau is a candidate to become the next National Teacher of the Year.
At Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Charbonneau runs an embedded alternative education program called Project Vine. She helped restructure the program with the goal of increasing student engagement in school and reducing chronic absenteeism and dropout rates. Because of the program's success, there is a waiting list for acceptance.
Charbonneau hopes the program can be replicated across other districts.
"I hope that people hear about what we're doing here and they go, 'Hey, our school should have that choice. We should do something like that,'" Charbonneau said.
In her documentation for the award, Charbonneau said public education has "immeasurable value" but needs to remain dynamic<|fim_middle|> not offer such programs and there is a misperception that they are expensive.
"It's not expensive. It's invaluable," Charbonneau said. "This is a community that really supports alternative education and that's why I'm here.
"I would not be able to do this job without my union."
Dani Charbonneau
"I would not be able to do this job without my union," she added. "It's really easy to take advantage of people who want to spend all of their time and energy with their students and doing things for them." | to be relevant.
"We need to look closely at how to best help this very precarious generation, be honest with ourselves about what is working and what just preserves the status quo, and be bold enough to make the changes that need to happen in our classrooms and in our schools," Charbonneau wrote.
The award is historic: This is the first time a Martha's Vineyard teacher has been the recipient.
"It's an absolute honor, and I think it's a great combination of both excitement and a huge responsibility," Charbonneau told MTA Today in an interview following the ceremony. She hopes to use the award to spur new conversations about alternative education pathways across the Commonwealth.
Cheri Cluff, co-president of the Martha's Vineyard Educators Association, shares a moment with Dani Charbonneau.
Charbonneau also recognized her local union, the Martha's Vineyard Educators Association, which was in a contract struggle at the time she was named 2023 Teacher of the Year. The MVEA reached agreements on contracts for both teachers and Education Support Professionals the following month.
"I have to say, we are in the middle of some pretty tense working conditions," she said in September 2022. "We haven't been able to come up with a contract — so our teachers are working without a contract."
"We are thrilled that Dani was selected as the 2023 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year — but not surprised."
Martha's Vineyard Educators Association Co-President Cheri Cluff
Cheri Cluff, co-president of the MVEA, described Charbonneau as "an extraordinary educator, a dedicated unionist and an inspiration to others."
"We are thrilled that Dani was selected as the 2023 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year — but not surprised," Cluff said. "Dani has brought alternative education, through Project Vine, to the forefront and has cultivated an amazing and inclusive rapport with students and families. From her involvement in the high school's Gender Sexuality Alliance to helping create lesson plans as part of the school's Race- Equity and Cultural Proficiency Group, Dani is very deserving of this award, and we could not be more proud of her accomplishments."
MTA President Max Page said Charbonneau is a strong advocate for her students and her community.
"Dani is a shining example of how our members are transforming the lives of their students every day inside and outside the classroom," Page said. "On behalf of the MTA's more than 115,000 members we congratulate Dani for her excellent teaching, her innovative ideas and creativity, and her ability to connect with students."
Project Vine integrates students into the school community with the same curriculum and hours, along with out-of-classroom experiences.
This story originally appeared in the Fall 2022 edition of MTA Today.
A day after winning the honor, Charbonneau brought her students on a three-day trip to Penikese Island, which is state-owned and uninhabited, so they could take part in an annual technology-free retreat. Project Vine brings its own supplies and has a guide from the former Penikese Island School. With no electricity, indoor plumbing, phones or tablets, students work together through team-building activities.
Charbonneau noted that most schools in the U.S. do | 673 |
I grew up with Be Delicious by DKNY. My mum was totally obsessed and it became a bit of a saturday night scent in my house. It reminds me of evenings sitting in her room and helping her pick what jewellery to wear while she got ready to go out for dinner with my dad or friends.
Be Delicious was released in 2004 (over 10 years ago!!) and on the 14th October 2015 DNKY<|fim_middle|> of orange oil combined with tart blackcurrant and dewy violet leaves. Iced grapefruit teases the senses with a vivacious energy. Exotic elements bring a succulent texture to the bouquet of jasmine sambac and turkish rose. Precious woody notes of cedarwood and vibrant amber wood"
Again in their iconic apple bottle and again very fruity. It still smells very fresh and green like the original but just a bit different, a bit updated I guess - the grapefruit seems to come through quite strongly which is lovely. I've been wearing it everyday and I just love the freshness of it.
I love DKNY scents, that bottle is so pretty too!
There are additionally wholesome Anjelica Huston Face Cream enhancements outfitted towards keeping up solid skin and hair. | release their new addition to the collection - BE DESIRED.
"With a sparkle | 16 |
A table and chairs by Floyd.
From a growing set of companies currently aiming to eliminate the middle man, to a group of young designers finding inspiration in Ettore Sottsass's Memphis Group and the curvilinear forms of the 1960s, now is as fertile of a time as any to look around and buy American-made furniture.
This may feel like a small act of patriotism. But discerning exactly which of these companies manufacture their products in the U.S.—in addition to dreaming them up Stateside—is a tricky business. Herman Miller helped set the model, and brands like Rejuvenation continue to carry the torch. But who else is out there, and why is it that they're committed to keeping things local?
That isn't to say that all such designers operate this way. "Amigo Modern has a hybrid structure," explains Eric Trine of his own studio. "We outsource to local manufacturers, but also keep a lot of our work in-house. We've saved a lot of money by manufacturing locally, and we can get a new design up and running in weeks. Compared to large furniture companies, we are really small—but we've found that we can still be highly profitable<|fim_middle|>. While Emeco keeps creating contemporary, often hand-crafted designs, all of their seats have one important thing in common: Emeco uses sustainable materials—think recycled aluminum, natural cork, and "eco-" concrete—to build its products. And what's more, this Pennsylvania-based company makes all their chairs in the U.S.
The potter's wheel is generally associated with, well, pots. But Eny Lee Parker regularly uses the age-old device to throw beautiful components of furniture. In Parker's coffee tables, for example, glass surfaces sit atop terracotta vases so that their forms can truly shine through. Parker works with local fabricators, and has a studio in Brooklyn.
From this company's lead fabricator to its in-house sculptor, Fernando Mastrangelo makes it clear who exactly creates their products. And that's not even counting the experienced employees who handle the metal, wood, casting, and finishing that goes into each and every piece. So what exactly does this furniture look like? Think cool geometric designs that recall foggy mountainsides and sparkly geodes.
If you're interested in design disruptors, Floyd is a name to know. The direct-to-consumer company has been celebrated for its bed-frame, which is likely to appeal to the same millennial-customer who already owns a Casper mattress and a set of Parachute sheets. But this isn't to say that Floyd's business model is limited to a singular item. The company, which operates out of Detroit, Michigan, also sells sleek tables and table legs.
Michaele Simmering studied at Brown University, while Johann Pauwen earned a degree in industrial design from the Rhode Island School of Art, and the husband-wife team's company marries their passions perfectly. Kalon, which is Greek for "beauty," specializes in sustainable furniture. And while the company's studio operates out of L.A., the couple works with Pennsylvanian craftspeople who utilize traditional techniques.
In the sea of millennial pink pieces inspired by Memphis Group and 1960s decor at this year's Sight Unseen Offsite design showcase, Moving Mountains stood out. The studio is based in Brooklyn, and is careful to work with local fabricators and craftspeople. However the name of the company is decidedly un-East Coast. Moving Mountains is a reference a geological phenomenon currently taking place in founder Syrette Lew's home state of Hawaii.
The Inside is the answer to many design-savvy people's prayers. The company, which was founded by Christiane Lemieux, founder of DwellStudio, offers affordable yet customizable furniture. The cherry on top? The Inside is fashion-oriented, and has featured partnerships with brands such as Maisonette and Peter Som, while domestically producing its pieces throughout the Midwest.
Ever wonder exactly why materials like marble and terrazzo tile are so in right now? In part, it's because of stylish brands like Slash Objects. And now, the Brooklyn-based studio is partnering with In The Pursuit to spread its gilded stone look.
Another brand currently partnering with In The Pursuit, Volk gets its name from founder Brian Volk-Zimmerman. Volk-Zimmerman, who works out of a Red Hook studio, has harbored a love of wooden furniture since childhood. And these days, it's clear that that passion has come to full fruition.
Katrina Vonnegut and Brian Kraft are committed to using regional materials. They also make each and every piece in their own Sunset Park, Brooklyn, workshop. Yet another veteran of Site Unseen, Voggegut/Kraft's sculptural furniture designs are as hefty in size as they are in forethought.
Yield, a Florida-based company known for its bags, jewelry, and home decor, doesn't claim to produce every item in the U.S. However, all of its wooden furniture is made in St. Augustine, Florida, thanks to the company's own on-site wood-shop. The welding is done locally as well. | ."
Trine, like so many of his peers, isn't only incentivized by his bottom line. "My dad traveled a lot for work," Trine explains. "He worked for companies that manufactured overseas, and he would be gone for two to four weeks at a time. Now that I have two young daughters, I want to be home as much as possible."
Eric Trine of Amigo Modern specializes in bringing the spirit of American modernism into the 21st century. Like Trine's former eponymous brand, Amigo Modern hits a current sweet spot by mixing pale pinks with earth tones and natural hues. Trine has a studio in Long Beach, California, and manufactures all of his furniture within a 30-mile radius.
Chubby furniture meets a 1980s aesthetic in Leah Ring's designs. And now, some of her items of furniture are available at Urban Outfitters. Another Human manufactures all their products in L.A.
You may not have heard of Emeco, but you've definitely seen the company's iconic and oft-copied Navy Chair | 224 |
Set in 36 acres of beautiful countryside on the edge of the North York Mo<|fim_middle|> in England.
The leisure lake offers a variety of different activities including an inflatable AquaPark, stand up paddle boarding, sailing, wind surfing and kayaking.
St Helens in the Park is in the centre of Wykeham village which offers a variety of amenities. The Downe Arms Country Inn serves bar snacks and a la carte meals should you wish to eat out and Wykeham tea rooms is only a short walk away.
Situated on the 3000 acre family owned Dawnay Estate, St Helens in the Park features a beautiful country park, perfect for walking and relaxing. There are even alpacas and donkeys to look at along the way. | ors National Park, St Helens offers first class facilities.
We have a superb children's play area close by to one of the camping fields. There is also a designated field for ball games.
Our Shop and Cafe provide a range of everyday grocery essentials as well as serving a wide range of hot and cold food including Sarah's famous steak pie and chips. However we do operate limited opening hours out of main season so please ask for details.
The popular North Yorkshire Water Park is only a short walk away from the campsite. With four fresh water lakes, it is an ideal place for trout fishing and a variety of course fishing. The Lakes are home to the largest Pike | 134 |
The Cambridge<|fim_middle|>.
References
Quality of life
Pulmonary heart disease and diseases of pulmonary circulation | Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR) is a disease specific patient-reported outcome measure which assesses quality of life of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). It was the first pulmonary hypertension specific questionnaire for assessing patient reported symptoms, quality of life and functioning.
History
The CAMPHOR questionnaire was developed by Galen Research in 2006 to allow for cost-utility analyses for treatments of PH. The theoretical basis for the CAMPHOR is the needs-based model of quality of life, which states that quality of life is highest when an individual has the ability and capacity to satisfy their own needs.
Properties
The CAMPHOR is made up of 3 main dimensions which assess symptoms, functioning and quality of life (QoL). The symptom dimension is made up of 25 symptoms and is broken up into 3 subscales: energy, breathlessness and mood. The QoL scale has 25 items which focus on socialization, role, acceptance, self-esteem, independence, and security. The activity scale has 15 items. Response options include true and not true. Scores for QoL and symptoms range from 0–25, with higher scores indicating worse quality of life. Activity scores range from 0–30, with higher scores indicating more physical limitations.
Language Adaptations and Validations
Since the development of the CAMPHOR, it has been translated and validated into fourteen different languages, including Australian and New Zealand English, German and Swedish.
Use in Clinical Trials
The Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review has been a useful tool in clinical trials as it allows researchers to assess whether new medication or therapy is effective. The CAMPHOR has been utilized in clinical trials which investigate the effects of treprostinil, as well as trials which investigate sildenafil | 372 |
EnergyLogic is a manufacturer, seller, and innovator of environmentally friendly heating and cooling products, providing thoughtful, customized solutions geared to the individual needs of independent garages and car dealerships, as well as a variety of industrial, commercial, and agricultural companies. We combine best-in-class waste oil heating and big HVLS fan products with in-house support and a national network of experts, providing customers with the equipment and custom solutions they need to harness onsite energy and reduce costs and dependency on conventional energy. To us "warmth" and "comfort" are not just words to describe the benefits of our products, but also the qualities we bring to every transaction and every relationship.
In 1984, environmental attorney Wayne Robertson turned a passion for<|fim_middle|>, we'll continue to look for greener, smarter ways to meet it. | engineering into a product that would safely and efficiently heat with used oil. With six design patents and a proprietary technology an innovative, new waste oil heater with a new brand—Black Gold—was born. In 2002, we bought Black Gold and became EnergyLogic.
Today, our waste oil heaters and boilers continue to lead in technology, reliability and cost of ownership. We remain committed to providing the industry's best environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient used oil furnaces and boilers. All EnergyLogic waste oil furnaces and boilers are EPA-approved and UL-listed. These onsite recycling systems provide an environmentally-friendly manner for recycling used oil onsite. As part of our commitment to reducing our customers' energy expenses, we broadened our product line to include high volume, low speed fans. Partnering with MacroAir, the innovators of the highly efficient, six-blade HVLS fan, we are able to provide fully integrated heating and cooling solutions that reduce year-round energy expenses and make the workplace feel good.
We've joined forces with groups like the National Oil Recyclers Association (NORA) and the Used Oil Management Association (UOMA). And after being at the forefront of technology for more than 26 years, we're just getting started. We're constantly looking for new ways to harness alternative energy sources and give clients greener, more affordable options. As long as there's a need for energy | 284 |
Flood Protection Case Study
Set on the banks of the Brest-Nantes canal in central Brittany, this millhouse had been subject to extreme flooding<|fim_middle|> installed, they were tested for water tightness. The slates have been removed and kept bundled together ready to install if a flood warning is issued. Although the vertical side rails are removable, the owners have decided to leave these in place.
Find out more about our flood restoration services.
Project: Flood Protection, Central Brittany, France
Key Features: Wetaway WaterStop Barriers | during bad weather. The owners, the Hunter family wanted a robust means of preventing the water from entering the property through doorways and low windows during future flooding, so contacted ProTen Services for advice. ProTen Services specified the Wetaway WaterStop barriers; a stainless steel modular barrier engineered in Germany.
Works Carried Out
ProTen Services sent a two-man team to Brittany who installed the barriers to seven door and window openings. The barriers are fully removable and consist of vertical rails, a floor seal and a number of individual slats to give a barrier approximately 900mm high.
Before installing the barriers, the stone surfaces and mortar joints had to be prepared and leveled-out, and fixing holes were drilled into the bricks.
Once each of the barriers had been | 154 |
Tag Archives: britney
Five December talking points that aren't Kate Middleton's uterus
At the moment you can't move on Twitter for people talking about Kate Middleton's pregnancy and even more people talking about not wanting to talk about Kate Middleton's pregnancy. So here are five alternative conversation starters to get you through the month.
On 13th December Pantone will announce their latest Color Of The Year. That's right, just one nail-biting week until we finally find out if African Violet can piss all over Tender Shoots or if Linen will beat off Grayed Jade. The Citrus Sarcophagus's sights are firmly set on Lemon Zest or Nectarine, but there's some rather more considered analysis over at Re-Do it Design.
On 15th December if you're in the Houston, TX or Philadelphia, PA areas you could go and audition for NBC's new singing gameshow "The Winner Is". I like the name, and the convoluted phrases it'll lead to host Nick Lachey having to say.
"And the winner of The Winner Is is…"
"Sorry, the The Winner Is winner isn't you."
"The The Winner Is winner Ida Winner wins Winona Ryder's rider!"
19th December will be the first anniversary of our hearing the Krankies' revelations about their "any time, anywhere" sex lives, tourbus shenanigans and swinging sessions. Oh it seemed shocking at the time, but against the increasingly unpleasant reports about other children's entertainers this year, perhaps we can just celebrate the consensual joy of it all now. My favourite detail remains Janette's fling with the leopard tamer and Ian's wry comment that he knew what she'd been up to when she came home smelling of leopards. Brilliant.
21st December is, of course, the end of the world. But let's not let that get us down. Britney's shown that we can dance right through it and Jay Sean's said it might not happen at all. And as it marks the winter solstice it's also the traditional day for an annual viewing of K9 and Company (see last post). I don't know about you but if we're facing apocalypse I'm going out with an unexpected karate chop and a "Put THAT in your leader, Mr Tobias!" too.
On 31st December Joey from New Kids On The Block will celebrate his 40th birthday. I know! The passage of time, there. Why not use the last day of the year to think about YOUR lost youth, abandoned dreams, inevitable mortality and roads generally not taken? And don't have nightmares, readers; on the night itself – in a special government initiative – Olympic songstress Emeli Sandé will visit every British citizen's bedside to aid restful sleep with a soothing dirge. Happy 2013!
Posted in Ramblings
Tagged britney, death, emeli sandé, end of the world, jay sean, joey mcintyre, john barrowman, k9 and company, kate middleton, leopards, new kids on the block, nick lachey, olympics, pantone, sex, the krankies, the winner is
20. Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
19. Lupe Fiasco – Lasers
18. Lady Gaga – Born This Way
17. Rihanna – Talk That Talk
16. Theophilus London – Timez Are Weird These Days
15. Drake – Take Care
14. Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
13. Jamie Woon – Mirrorwriting
12. Lil B – I'm Gay (I'm Happy)
11. Selena Gomez & The Scene – When The Sun Goes Down
10. CocknBullKid – Adulthood
9. araabMUZIK – Electronic Dream
8. Cher Lloyd – Sticks + Stones
7. Riz MC – MICroscope
6. Beyoncé – 4
5. The Sound of Arrows – Voyage
4. Toddla T – Watch Me Dance
3. Britney Spears – Femme Fatale
Britney's people have told her that every song on her album Femme Fatale is inspired by a different femme fatale from history, myth or fiction. Poor Britney just can't work it out though! Can YOU match the lyrics from the album to the foxy ladies in question? Answers below.
2. The Weeknd – House of Balloons
Poor Abel Tesfaye has just got the artwork for his epically miserable comedown album back from the designers, but it looks like they've strayed from his original vision! Can YOU spot the five subtle differences hidden in the new cover?
If you are having trouble spotting all five differences here are some hints!
I wonder who else was at those debauched parties he sings about?
There's a subtle theme running through the album but we've "inflated" it
"Well doesn't that put the cherry on top"
Track titles 'MAY' not 'ALWAYS' be correct!
A dog's face
1. Katy B – On A Mission
Here are Katy's missions explained track-by-track:
POWER ON ME
Attributes: Slowly unfolding; sweeping musical vista; quite long. Mission: 1986 film THE MISSION. (From the IMDB plot synopsis: "Initially, the Guarani warriors prepare to kill him, but after Gabriel plays an unforgettable solo on his oboe, they allow him to live". And we've all had days like that.)
KATY ON A MISSION
Attributes: Bold, purposeful, brill. Mission: KATY'S MISSION STATEMENT
WHY YOU ALWAYS HERE
Attributes: Elegant; structured; accomplished. Mission: MISSION REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE.
Attributes: Startling; Bleepy; Full of twists and turns that leave you feeling dislocated. Mission: Doctor Who's 1965 MISSION TO THE UNKNOWN episode with its imagination-gone-mad monsters and lack of regular cast.
Attributes: Propulsive; No nonsense; Designed to make you move. Mission: A SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSION.
Attributes: Dignified; Luxurious; Satisfying. Mission: The DIPLOMATIC MISSION where the Ferrero Rocher-stuffed Ambassador's Receptions are held.
Attributes: Solid; A bit old-fashioned; Cheery. Mission: THE GLAD TIDINGS MISSION FROM 60s CORONATION STREET, over which Ena Sharples presided; a handy refuge in case of a gas leak on the Street.
Attributes: Bright; Bouncy; Pretty. Mission: MISSION BELL (the flower, stupid.)
LIGHTS ON (FEAT. MS. DYNAMITE)
Attributes: Passing the torch from one generation of singer to the next; Shiny; Confident. Mission: THE CONTINUING MISSION of Star Trek: The Next Generation's Enterprise-D.
EASY PLEASE ME
Attributes: Fun; In your face; Sassy with the fanfares. Mission: The original series of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE.
PERFECT STRANGER (WITH MAGNETIC MAN)
Attributes: Romantic; Irresistible; Destined to help Magnetic Man be warmly remembered even though most people shrugged at their album proper. Mission: A RESCUE MISSION.
HARD TO GET
Attributes: Charming; Laidback; Basking in the glow of all that's come before. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Posted in Best of 2011, Reviews
Tagged adverts, alien, anna calvi, araabmuzik, beyoncé, blake's 7, books, britney, cher lloyd, cherries, cocknbullkid, corrie, doctor who, dogs, donkey kong, drake, ena sharples, ferrero rocher, films, gaming, ghostpoet, howard's way, jamie woon, katy b, lady gaga, lil b, lupe fiasco, mission impossible, monsters, music, rihanna, riz mc, selena gomez, simon<|fim_middle|> squeakily in the skirting boards, I hope.
Tagged britney, dogs, drake, films, friday night dinner, mice, music, telly, the weeknd, tinie tempah
What happened with the babysitter and the bad sherbert and the bad dream
By Bert, aged 3.9
My babysitter is called Britney. I look forward to when she comes round because she is very exciting and I never know what will happen. But sometimes this is a bit scary as well.
This week she came round and she was very happy because she was going on a vacation as soon as my mum got home. I asked her where she was going to go on her vacation and she laughed and she said to paradise. She was putting on lots of make-up as usual and I noticed she had some sherbert in her handbag and when she went to the toilet I had some of the sherbert but it did not taste very nice and I had to have a lie down.
Then there was something wrong with the lights and I could not see Britney properly but she looked strange. I was scared and I remembered when Britney took me to the barbers and about the haircut that made my mum angry and some other things that I was supposed to have forgotten.
Britney and I were on a spaceship and she was going to get married but some paint came out of her hands and she could not stop it and it spoiled her dress and she was crying but she was laughing as well and I did not know what was happening.
Then there were two Britneys and they had a big fight and the music was strange I had not heard any music like it before. I could not tell whether one of the Britneys was good and one of the Britneys was bad, I am not sure that either of them was sure of that either.
But I do not think that either of the Britneys won the fight. Then a big comet came and blew us all up and we died but then I woke up and it had all been a dream.
If I had thought about it I would have known that it was a dream because when Britney fought another Britney it was like what happened with my Auntie Nicki and one of her sisters at Halloween and when all the paint went everywhere it was like what my arch-enemy Willow Smith did at pre-school.
I was happy that all the bad things were just in a dream and I went to tell Britney about it. But she was asleep as well with her face on the kitchen table and there was lots of sherbert everywhere all around her. Her face looked nice when she was asleep because usually she is either very happy or very sad and when she was asleep she just looked like Britney. But I do not think the sherbert was good sherbert and I felt sorry for Britney because I know she wanted to go to paradise but I think it was too late.
Posted in little bert
Tagged britney, childhood, music
@baradar85 Omg I love it 2 hours ago
@stevenperkins So good 2 days ago
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Pasta a la Clara >>> Paris Lasagna (CW: The Paris Lasagna video is physically painful to watch) twitter.com/baradar85/stat… 3 days ago
I JUST GOT IMPEACHED FOR MAKING A PERFECT PHONE CALL! https://t.co/CMfCGlSVc0 4 days ago
Follow @BertieFox | may, star trek, telly, the krankies, the sound of arrows, the weeknd, theophilus london, toddla t
Janet Jackson's Homes & Gardens
Posted on July 3, 2011 | 1 comment
Janet Jackson's video for Control opens with a scene in which she argues with her parents about leaving home. She's seen a real cute apartment in Westwood, she says, but her dad's having none of it and insists she shouldn't be living by herself. Spurning her mum's hot cooking, Janet flounces out. In many of her subsequent videos, we get to see where she's living. But was she right to ignore her parents' advice? How's her housekeeping? Let's find out…
Let's Wait Awhile: Never mind Westwood CA, the next time we see Janet she's in an expensive-looking apartment in New York. We get to see a bit of it when she's not too busy protesting her virginity, and it looks nice and clean. But can she keep up the standard?
The Pleasure Principle: Janet's moved into an enormous, ridiculous duplex warehouse conversion. There are four cars in her lounge! When she kicks over a chair and strides upstairs to the mezzanine floor we see, instead of a bed, a large sculpted arch, perhaps representing her own 'pleasure principle'. And famously, her mirror is in shreds. Her mother would be disappointed.
2300 Jackson Street: Has Janet admitted defeat? Here she is back at home with her family. Although confusingly they're her real parents and siblings, not the ones from the Control video. I'm going to have to discount this as improbable on the grounds of not being fictional enough.
Miss You Much: No fixed abode (she's in rehearsals).
(I like the Wikipedia description for this one: "Jackson enters the room and her dancers look at her. One dancer asks Jackson what she has been up to. She calls them nosey, and then demonstrates her love through song and dance.")
Rhythm Nation: No fixed abode (breaking into factories).
Escapade: No fixed abode (hanging around at a Mardi Gras).
Alright: In a shock twist at the end of this video, we see that Janet has become homeless and is sleeping on a bench, dreaming of the 1930s. Were her parents right after all? :-(
Come Back To Me: Seeking her fortune elsewhere, Janet's now skulking around an apartment in Paris of all places. Open the drapes and the windows a bit love, it's a nice day! I mean I know she's depressed, wallowing in memories of her boyfriend and all, but even in the flashbacks they're eating off the floor! One word: FURNITURE.
Black Cat: No fixed abode (she's in performance).
Love Will Never Do Without You: No fixed abode (frolicking on a beach).
That's The Way Love Goes: Back in a spacious American home, either Janet's living in a commune or she's throwing some sort of stoner party. I'd clear those people out, Janet, they're helping themselves to your stuff and wearing your sofa leather out. And keep an eye on that J-Lo.
If: No fixed abode (pervy nightclub).
Again: Appropriately for perhaps Janet's loveliest song, it's her nicest home yet. All sundrenched with adobe walls, wicker furniture, white linen and an adorable boyfriend. The only moment that briefly startles us from the reverie is when he pulls a necklace out of her crotch.
Because of Love: No fixed abode (tour montage).
Any Time, Any Place: Janet's back in an apartment block, playing at peephole voyeurism with the fella in the opposite flat, letting herself in and having it off in a red chair. If that weren't debauched enough, she's back to her old bad habits of eating off the floor.
You Want This: Perhaps thrown out of the last apartment for obvious reasons, Janet's now living out of a suitcase in a motel, with a girl gang. They pass the time by driving around the desert in sports cars terrorising men. She has quite literally lost all sense of right or wrong.
Whoops Now: No fixed abode (boating in Anguilla).
Scream: Janet's parents have clearly stepped in by this point. "It's just gone too far, hasn't it Janet? Time you moved in with your brother." But what with Michael Jackson being a bonkers popstar too, they end up living on a spaceship. Despite its futuristic charms — anti-grav Zen garden, interactive sculptures, room full of guitars and all — neither of them seem happy and it's no time at all before Janet's trying to break the toilet by jumping on it and Michael's smashing all the vases.
Runaway: Back in New York in a modest, happy apartment (there's a bike by the window and a cute dog), Janet's still in thrall to her wild urges and jumps out of the window, having developed some sort of superpower of leaping between continents. Is it time we accepted she's not a natural homemaker?
Twenty Foreplay: No fixed abode (swanning about in Hollywood).
Got 'til it's Gone: No fixed abode (putting things to rights in South Africa).
Together Again (Deeper Remix): Janet's in a particularly lavish and beautiful apartment complex now. Well, lavish and beautiful as long as you don't mind caterpillars crawling around everywhere.
I Get Lonely: No fixed abode. Wind tunnel & black bra.
Go Deep: What is Janet thinking?! She barges into a h0me-alone teenage boy's house and holds a party! Disappointingly it turns out that she's only done this in his dream, after he fell asleep fantasising about her. In this context the scene in which she and the lad both get covered in foam is most amusing. She's like Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2.
Every Time: Hard to see the rest of the house, but she's got a massive bath. Hopefully she won't drown in it as Britney did in her own bath-based video for a song of the same name.
Doesn't Really Matter: No fixed abode (getting freaky in Tokyo, although she sends a postcard home which we see going unread and trampled on).
All For You: No fixed abode (cartoon world with what appears to be a branch of Morrison's in it).
Someone To Call My Lover: No fixed abode (on the road).
Son of a Gun: No fixed abode (on a voodoo rampage with Missy Elliott).
I Want You: No fixed abode (wandering through neighborhood).
All Nite (Don't Stop): Further than ever from her mother's dreams, Janet is seen living in a dirty squat with her new friends. They've got a good soundsystem, a lone sofa and a glitterball, but that's about it.
Call on Me: No fixed abode (quinquereme with Nelly)
So Excited: Still living in a dirty squat, still kicking chairs over, and now Khia's moved in too — her influence on Janet is all too clear, as she wanders around topless and has sex by a filthy urinal.
And that's it. No subsequent Janet videos show us where she's living. It's 25 years since she turned her back on her parents, and this is where she ends up. Let's remind ourselves of that fateful initial conversation, and let's have a little think about our own life choices at the same time.
Posted in Videographies
Tagged britney, j-lo, janet jackson, khia, michael jackson, missy elliott, music, nelly
Oops Idris It Again
Fans of the TARDIS console room through the years have been spoiled rotten in Doctor Who recently. The Silence/Lodger version! The return of Christopher Eccleston's and David Tennant's one! The special Blue Peter one that reminded us of the old days!
But we've all forgotten where the inspiration for these new TARDIS control rooms came from, in the long years between 1989 and 2005. NO I'm not talking about the TV Movie! Imagine. I'm talking about Britney's video for Oops!… I Did It Again in 2000. Have you forgotten? Just watch…
Tagged britney, david tennant, doctor who, tardis, telly
If popstars were… the apocalypse
So many ways for the world to end. It's almost impossible to choose the best one. But some of our most interesting popstars have had a stab, and Britney's only the most recent…
Jonathan King – Everyone's Gone To The Moon
I'm scared, hold me! Where better to start our end times tour than with Jonathan King? Sure, this song's been covered by everyone from Nina Simone to the Flaming Lips, but the desolate lyrics have a special resonance coming out of the wonky mouth of their author, the future convicted sex offender and satirically self-proclaimed 'Vile Pervert'.
What sort of apocalypse is this? It's a very 60s sort of Armageddon, with overtones of an ecological crisis but a sense that the worst thing that could happen would be everyone not loving each other any more and just going away. Jonathan wanders the streets of an abandoned earth, rambling oddly about mouths full of chocolate covered cream and arms that can only lift a spoon. No I'm not sure what it means either. Perhaps there are clues in his later work.
Does it sound like the end of all things? Yes it sounds terrible.
Black Box Recorder – It's Only The End of the World
I'm scared, hold me! Well yes I have skipped straight to the late 90s without including Pet Shop Boys' End of the World. It's beautiful and devastating but it's about the world NOT ending. Think of Black Box Recorder's song as a bleaker response along similar lines if you like.
What sort of apocalypse is this? I'd say it's the natural destruction of the earth as a consequence of the sun's expansion – seen in an especially soporific, bored way, of course. The earth's rotation slows, satellites break up in the atmosphere and our ashes are scattered in space. Meanwhile the narrator's thoughts turn to the tatty fairground rides at a departed circus, and the dissipation of love.
Does it sound like the end of all things? Yes, if the end of all things is like going to sleep under anaesthetic in a 50s hospital while a posh, disinterested nurse talks you down. It's exquisite.
Muse – Apocalypse Please
I'm scared, hold me! It's no surprise to find these fellas on the list. They're Britain's favourite doomsday combo, after all. "It's time for something biblical!" declares Matt Bellamy with glee as thunderous piano chords and DRUMS OF DEATH smash all around him.
What sort of apocalypse is this? You only need to look at the album cover: it's the Christian Rapture, and some poor fella's got stuck on earth. Speaking of which, I discovered today that there's — oh yes — a video game version of Left Behind, that histrionic series of post-Rapture potboilers that's popular in Christian bookshops. "If you can't convert them, you might have to kill them!" players will tell themselves as they struggle to bring God's love to a world awaiting Tribulation. Amusingly for uptight evangelicals everywhere, you can also play as the Antichrist's forces.
Does it sound like the end of all things? Yes it bloody does.
U2 – Last Night On Earth
I'm scared, hold me! You can't blame U2, with their roots in a charismatic Dublin fellowship, for being a bit obsessed with the end times. They'd even already had a dry run with Until the End of the World, a few years before this one.
So, apparently they had to put this song together in a terrible rush on their last studio day before going on tour. Poor Bono had to stay up all night to finish the lyrics! It doesn't show, Bono. My favourite bit is "She's not waiting on a saviour to come, she's at a bus-stop with the News of the World and the Sun." Given a choice of how to spend the last few hours of existence, I wouldn't bother with the tabloids I don't think. Especially not when, as logic tells us, one of them is at least a day out of date, whichever day of the week it is.
What sort of apocalypse is this? Hands on the clock are sticking and slipping (temporal distortion?), the ground's giving way, and the girl in the song has got to 'give it away'. It's all a bit vague (THAT'S NOT LIKE YOU BONO), and Dublin was a long time ago, so let's plump for something nice and Buddhist involving an advanced perception of time and the cycle of destruction and recreation.
Does it sound like the end of all things? No, it sounds like milky tea.
Britney Spears – Till The World Ends
I'm scared, hold me! Well it was only a matter of time before Britney turned her attention from self-destruction to the destruction of all things. Her sugar-coated catastrophe takes the form of a doom-laden dance-off. It's that unique feeling when you find a partner on the dancefloor who's so good you want to grind to the beat until the flesh melts off your bones.
What sort of apocalypse is this? Britney's assertion that the world's end will be within her lifetime rules out the dispensational premillennialism you might expect from her Southern Baptist upbringing. I'd tag her as a progressive amillennialist, or even a partial preterist, although with her determined adherence to hedonism in this song, it's possible she doesn't see herself as one of the saved.
Does it sound like the end of all things? No-one expected a disco! But there's that thrilling moment when the end of the world is depicted sonically by a decaying 8-bit crunch. And then it comes back! Of course, if you watch the video, Britney does appear to have actually averted the apocalypse by dancing. The sun shines out of her arse at 3:10 and all! And as it's set on "December 21, 2012", she seems to have lumped herself in with the Mayan calendar view of things, so I might just have to rethink my interpretation of her eschatological leanings. But I'll let Wikipedia have the last word. They've got a very important, and amazing, distinction to make.
Tagged black box recorder, britney, death, end of the world, jonathan king, muse, music, pet shop boys, u2
Tied up with string: March
SOME TELLY:
I suddenly realised, when there was no new episode of Friday Night Dinner on Comic Relief night, that it had become my tv highlight of the week. And quite right too; it's very funny with a gently surreal tinge that anyone from a family of eccentric weirdos will recognise as THE TRUTH straight away.
SOME ALBUMS:
Oh god The Weeknd's House of Balloons has absolutely killed me. It picks up ultra-slow, claustrophobic R&B from where Drake left it last year, but it's bleaker and harder and sadder. Desire and despair and devastation. I love it. AND IT IS FREE.
Britney's Femme Fatale is pretty much flawless too – just the right mix of phoned-in robo-vocals, off-kilter production and the occasional nod to the rest of what's going on in the charts. And good songs, more importantly. Excellent.
SOME FILMS:
Wake Wood made me very happy indeed. Hammer are back! And it's like they've never been away, what with a couple moving to a new home, trouble with the car on country lanes, creepy children, implacably menacing animals… In particular this film could be twinned with the Hammer House of Horror episode Growing Pains: HE works with animals, THEY've lost a child, SHE suspects supernatural goings-on, THAT PET DOG should probably have an eye kept on it etc, etc. Really thrilling and topped off with some lovely evocative music. WATCH OUT FOR THE SCARY ABACUS.
I'm sticking my neck out for Anuvahood too, especially after seeing a slew of reviews looking down on it for being crude and juvenile. There's nothing wrong with crude and juvenile! I get the impression half the reviewers are just upset that they didn't understand most of the slang. We laughed all the way through, especially when the magnificent Jocelyn Jee Essien charged in and took the film over for the duration of her cameo.
A MUSIC VIDEO:
The Six Million Dollar Man homage in Tinie Tempah's Wonderman is perfect, and nicely tongue-in-cheek (It's not an especially new song, but the video's been doing the rounds in the last month). Let's think of my posting it here as a public service – I suspect I have a number of readers who love a bit of cheesy 70s telefantasy but don't often hang around the pop video channels. This is for you!
ANIMAL OF THE MONTH:
We're over-run with mice at work at the moment. Droppings have been found in drawers, unattended food left nibbled through, and on one notable if implausible occasion, mouse-wee was detected on someone's desk. A succession of hard-faced pest removal men have stomped through the office, but more often than not they come to shake out the traps into their mousebuckets only to find them empty. While cheese and wine parties continue | 3,775 |
Discover a spirit of adventure that stretches from the cobbled colonial towns of Quebec to<|fim_middle|> This evening, perhaps embark on an optional dining excursion and experience 'Montreal by Night' – a scenic trip out on the town to one of the city's best known Greek restaurants. Overnight in Montreal. Continental breakfast included.
Today's route takes us back to Toronto, where you will have time to explore colourful neighbourhoods and to sample some of the city's great restaurants and wonderful entertainment. In Rockport you have an option of enjoying an entertaining and relaxing cruise through the beautiful 1000 islands. Overnight in Toronto. Continental breakfast included.
A transfer brings us to Toronto's Pearson International Airport for a flight over the prairie grainfields of central Canada to Calgary. Upon arrival in Calgary, we make our way to our downtown hotel. Overnight in Calgary. Buffet breakfast included.
We set out early this morning to tour the sights of Calgary. We admire such modern and historic landmarks as the Calgary Tower, Fort Calgary and the skyscrapers of the commercial district. Leaving Calgary behind we set our sights on the Rocky Mountains, which can already be seen, far off in the distance. Experience the majesty of the mountains as we first travel through the foothills and then enter Banff National Park. We tour the region around Banff amidst snow-capped peaks, sparkling glaciers and emerald green lakes and see landmark Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. Overnight in Canmore. Full Canadian breakfast included.
The entire day is at leisure to tour Banff and browse through the many boutiques and specialty shops along Banff Avenue. An optional full-day tour is offered to the Columbia Icefield. The tour starts with a visit to the turquoise waters and spectacular glacier of Lake Louise, the jewel of the Rockies. From the unsurpassed beauty of Lake Louise we enter a rugged wilderness as we travel up the world famous Icefields Parkway. You may also take an optional helicopter tour of the world famous Three Sisters mountains. At the spectacular Columbia Icefield we board a Ice Explorer that will take us onto the surface of the ancient Athabasca Glacier. We return to Banff late in the afternoon. Overnight in Canmore. Continental breakfast included.
Our drive today is on the famed Trans-Canada Highway, following a route charted by the railroad engineers and fur traders of the mid 1800s. We continue our tour of the Canadian parks system as we cross the jagged Kicking Horse Pass into British Columbia's Yoho National Park. From the highway, we are treated to a dazzling display of vast icefields, deep canyons, dense forests and glacier-fed streams. One awe-inspiring landscape follows another en route to Glacier National Park. We continue through the Monashee and Selkirk mountain ranges to the rugged interior town of Kamloops. Overnight in Kamloops. Continental breakfast included.
We can expect a day of dramatic scenery changes when we drive through the ranch lands and head for the coastal mountains. An optional Floatplane Sightseeing Tour over Garibaldi Park gives you an inspiring view of a natural preserve of volcanic peaks, alpine lakes and meadows. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Whistler. Continental breakfast included.
We drive south along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway through a dramatic landscape of jagged fjords and glaciated mountain peaks. We leave the countryside behind and explore the metropolis of Vancouver on a sightseeing tour. Highlights include Stanley Park, Prospect Point, English Bay, historic Gastown, bustling Chinatown and much more. The afternoon is free to discover more of this coastal gem. Overnight in Vancouver. Continental breakfast included.
The Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains form the backdrop to your day at leisure in Vancouver. You might want to do some shopping down on Robson Street, relax in Vancouver's playground Stanley Park or stroll through the markets of Granville Island. If you prefer to explore the outdoors, take a gondola ride to the summit of Grouse Mountain. You can also go on an optional full-day tour to Victoria, the charming provincial capital that is proud of her maritime heritage. See the beautiful 19th century landmarks and enjoy its lively atmosphere. Before taking the ferry back to Vancouver, you will visit Butchart Gardens, one of the world's great floral displays set in a reclaimed stone quarry. Overnight in Vancouver. Full Canadian breakfast included.
The time has come for some last minute shopping and to say farewell to Canada. Individual transfer to Vancouver's International Airport in time to check in for your return flight. Full Canadian breakfast included.
Optional activities may be booked on site with our tour director. Prices will be competitive with locally available sightseeing tours. Passengers must pay the tour director directly. Cash, travellers cheques or creditcards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) are accepted.
(19+ Pax) $177 Â - subject to minimum uptake. | the unspoiled frontiers of British Columbia's Pacific coast. You'll journey through snow-fringed mountains, rolling ranchland and dramatic fjords to experience truly special Canadian moments. Become a cultural explorer in vibrant cities and encounter romance on far frontiers where native tribesmen hunted and cowboys, trappers and prospectors forged new lives. You'll find wilderness adventures at the foot of Niagara Falls and on the back of glacial ice fields. Unique excursions, unrivalled attractions and unforgettable memories all beckon.
Arrive at Toronto's Pearson International Airport and transfer independently to your downtown hotel. After checking in with your tour director, the remainder of the day is free to explore the streets of this dynamic city. Discover the delights of Toronto's colourful neighbourhoods, take a ride to the top of the CN Tower, experience the lively theatre district and indulge in one of the numerous restaurants. Overnight in Toronto.
This morning we meet our fellow travellers at breakfast before setting out to discover the many identities of the Canada's most cosmopolitan city. After seeing the provincial parliament buildings, the waterfront, the imposing CN Tower and lively Chinatown, we leave the city and head for the Niagara Peninsula. We pass through the enchanting Victorian town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and follow the scenic Niagara Parkway to Niagara Falls. Time is allocated to admire the falls and take part in some of Niagara Falls numerous activities. Don't forget your camera to capture the spectacular views! Overnight in Toronto. Buffet breakfast included.
We leave the Toronto skyline behind and drive east towards Ottawa. Our route then winds through rolling farmland, following the rivers and lakes of the Rideau Waterway. Upon arrival in Ottawa, we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the national capital. Defined by the Rideau Canal (designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site) and the government buildings on Parliament Hill, the city offers many great sights including the public gardens, the Byward Market and City Hall. Overnight in Ottawa. Buffet breakfast included.
This morning we travel along the scenic Ottawa River to the French-speaking province of Quebec. We skirt the magnificent Laurentians and follow the Chemin du Roy past Quebecois villages and historic shrines. Today's journey ends in Quebec's cultural heartland, Quebec City. We tour within the walls of the old city and view the ornate city gates, Lower Town, the Citadel and Battlefields Park. Overnight in Quebec City. Continental breakfast included.
The day is at your leisure to further explore the sights of this charming World Heritage Site. You can enjoy an optional full day excursion to Tadoussac including 3‑hours of whalewatching on the St. Lawrence River at the mouth of the Saguenay River. Step aboard a regular boat and go in search of the world's largest mammals. You will also visit the spectacular Montmorency Falls that are 30 metres higher than the world-famous Niagara Falls. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore this historic French-Canadian city with narrow streets and unique boutiques. Overnight in Quebec City. Continental breakfast included.
Departing from Quebec City we drive along the St.‑Lawrence River in the footsteps of the early settlers. Upon arrival in Montreal, we tour the second-largest French-speaking city in the world. The dynamic city of Montreal encapsulates the two founding cultures of Canada and boasts a curious blend of history and modernity. Touring the downtown area we view the Olympic Complex, charming Old Montreal, McGill University, the residential streets of Mount Royal and the bustling shopping streets. | 718 |
AI has been a tremendous game-changer since its rise in the technology world. Further, the expansion of AI/ML has opened up new doors such as speech recognition, decision management, and deep learning platforms. Cognitive technologies are making a great impact on financial services and bringing in the promise of digital efficiency. Picture an enterprise that has all these technologies combined into one single platform, which elevates the status of a finance department by performing specialized tasks and guides the management to focus on core business processes. One such solution provider is, Emagia that aims at amplifying the efficiency and productivity of financial organizations. In a recent interview with Veena Gundavelli, CEO of Emagia, we discuss how their solutions advance global finance departments, shared services, customer financial services and how it is impacting the industry.
Emagia is one of the fastest growing AI solution providers in the fintech and enterprise finance area addressing digital finance and digital treasury operations using the most innovative technologies around AI/ML, big data, robotic process automation (RPA) and cognitive computing. Emagia's mission is to maximize the financial performance of its customers by driving efficiency, precision and intelligence in finance operations with next generation technologies.
Delivering predictive and prescriptive analytic-driven automation to simplify customers financial operations is our main aim. Most recently Emagia introduced Gia, an enterprise digital finance assistant, a comprehensive and a secure AI platform, aimed to assist finance executives, finance operations staff in areas of credit, order entry, receivables, payables and treasury. Over the past decade, Emagia has been delivering a highly innovative order-to-cash (O2C) automation platform for global finance and F&A shared services. Emagia Enterprise Receivables Management Suite automates credit, receivables, collections, deductions, cash flow forecasting, cash application and billing, and payments for large global companies. With a proven track record as the receivables and payments platform of choice to various financial organizations around the world, Emagia has now established itself as a new generation AI-powered order-to-cash solutions company.
The advent of AI and related digital innovations is transforming the way corporations are competing with each other and how they interact internally and externally. These changes are creating a demand for digital innovation and disruption in the enterprise finance world. Emagia's products bring out a whole new approach and innovation to the age-old finance operations problem with a unique and powerful combination of three components—human-like digital cognitive finance skilled assistants, human-in-the-loop digital process automation platform and advanced analytics hub with valuable insights guiding every step of the way to accelerate the customer-to-cash cycle exponentially. Emagia brings the power of digital and cognitive technologies to the finance departments, shared services and customer financial services to leapfrog them into the digital era. By using AI: cash application cycles can be reduced drastically; receiv<|fim_middle|> from start to finish delaying business decisions and revenues. With, Gia, the coordination between all the tasks and the decision-making processes becomes much faster and simpler. Similarly, for our other customers, Gia reaches out to their clients presenting invoices, collecting promises on payments and processing credit card payments online while engaging the customer in a digital experience.
Inspired by self-driving cars, we envision finance operations to be self-driven with intelligent bots and touchless transactions. Empowering our customers with the power of AI to transform to scalable and smart financial services to create an exponential impact on their businesses is our agenda. We aim to amplify the financial performance of our customers—global finance AR and treasury departments, shared services and BPOs, trade receivables and treasury services in banks— by driving productivity, accuracy and intelligence into their finance operations. We are striving hard toward bringing these novel digital solutions to corporate credit and receivables management. For the near future, we plan to grow our solutions for trade receivables in corporates, banking and treasury services in many industries and across the globe. | ables and collections can be precisely targeted to individual customers; cash flow forecasting can be accurate in real time. The ability to read documents, perform tasks, and communicate to staff and customers with AI creates super-human efficiency leaving the humans to perform strategic tasks.
With the help of AI, Emagia mines the data collected from inside as well as outside the enterprise and uses cognitive insights to help CFOs, controllers, and treasury departments to predict customer behavior and its impact on the overall cash flow. Lastly, we enhance digital customer engagement with the help of conversational AI that has the ability to converse like a human—a salesperson or customer service representative and interact with customers and internal stakeholders, helping them make quick decisions.
Gia is a cognitive machine equipped with human-like conversational skills and trained especially with finance operations knowledge that is available 24 X 7. Gia is like Apple's Siri or Amazon's Alexa but purpose-built for global finance organizations. Gia is currently shipping with skills needed for assisting finance executives such as CFOs, controllers, treasurers, shared services managers, vendors and sales personnel. Gia can perform order to cash operations such as credit, accounts receivables, collections, deductions, cash application and customer financial services. She is constantly updating her knowledge base through advanced machine and deep learning to provide enterprises with faster time to value. Customizing Gia according to the needs of the client is our key feature. Empowering the bot with the highest value skills first and then adding other elements to make assistance more efficient is how we keep Gia on a par with the industry needs. Today, Gia has internal enterprise skills as well as external ones such as sending e-mails, setting up reminders, and presenting news. It can present comprehensive conversational capabilities and reports from sources such as Experian and D&B. While integrating with the client's existing yet disparate systems, we leverage the API and then exchange information. The future of finance is a coexistence of both humans as well as cognitive assistants that can help perform financial operations in a faster way.
For one of our customers, a vineyard that sells wine to businesses across the globe, the onboarding of new customers involves several checks—validating credit information, business license, alcohol beverage license, third party credit report check, trade and bank reference checks. Calculating the credit score and taking the credit limit to approval cycle is a tedious task. This process typically takes days or sometimes weeks | 495 |
Keeping on top of the news has never been easier, thanks to the advent of RSS readers. Here are some excellent open source choices.
Five open source RSS readers to simplify news gathering
by Jack Wallen in Software
on July 25, 2012, 9:56 PM PDT
News junkies unite! The Internet has made the collection of news easy, and one of the best tools for getting your news is the RSS reader. It makes keeping tabs on what you want to know fast and simple. RSS readers are generally single-minded tools and don't have too many bells and whistles to get in the way of doing exactly what it is you want: Keep up to date on<|fim_middle|> members.
Jack Wallen
Published: July 25, 2012, 9:56 PM PDT Modified: July 25, 2012, 9:56 PM PDT See more Software
Share: Five open source RSS readers to simplify news gathering
By Jack Wallen
Jack Wallen is an award-winning writer for TechRepublic, The New Stack, and Linux New Media. He's covered a variety of topics for over twenty years and is an avid promoter of open source. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen.com.
Contact Jack Wallen
See all of Jack's content | your favorite feeds.
But out of the hundreds upon hundreds of readers out there, which ones are the best? And out of the best, which are open source? Let's take a look at five outstanding open source RSS readers, so you can start collecting feeds immediately.
Note: This list is also available as a photo gallery.
1: Thunderbird
Thunderbird (Figure A) is not only one of the best mail clients available, it also has built-in support for aggregating RSS feeds. Having these feeds at close range to your inbox makes reading news far simpler than having to open yet another application. And what's best, Thunderbird allows you to view the RSS feeds the same way you view your email.
Figure A
2: RSSOwl
RSSOwl (Figure B) may well be the single most powerful feed reader available. And the fact that it's cross-platform makes it all the better. Although RSSOwl is a Java-based application, it is still one of the top contenders in the RSS space. Its power is unmatched by most newsreaders and the ability to search and find new feeds is just short of incredible. What many new users will really appreciate about RSSOwl is that the default feed set is quite large, and with powerful filtering, it's easy to find exactly what you're looking for.
Figure B
RSSOwl
3: Liferea
For many users, Liferea (Figure C) is the go-to RSS reader for the Linux desktop. This handy RSS aggregator can collect RSS feeds, podcasts, and weblogs. It has a simple-to-use interface, supports Google Reader, can permanently save headlines in news bins, and can also read news offline. If you're looking for the de facto standard stand-alone RSS reader for the open source desktop, look no further than Liferea.
Figure C
Liferea
4: QuiteRSS
QuiteRSS (Figure D) is a cross-platform feed reader, written in Qt, available for Windows and Linux. It supports all the standard feed types and it offers news filters, its own embedded browser (based on Webkit), keyboard shortcuts, audio notification of feed updates, auto update, a versatile UI, and much more. For the Windows platform, there is also a portable version of this lightweight feed reader.
Figure D
QuiteRSS
5: Akregator
Akregator (Figure E) was once a stand-alone feed reader for KDE. When KDE evolved into the 4.x series, Akregator was seamlessly meshed with Kontact to consolidate news, mail, contacts, and much more. Akregator offers a number of views so that you can read your news exactly how you like it. By clicking on the Complete Story link, a new tab will open in Kontact to view the full story.
Figure E
Akregator
Good options
RSS feeds provide one of the best means of keeping up to date on the news you want to read. And any one of these open source readers will get the job done and do it well. Give one (or more) of these a try. I'm sure you'll wind up with an RSS reader to perfectly suit your needs.
Other picks?
What RSS readers would you add to this list? Share your recommendations with fellow TechRepublic | 667 |
Now 1hp=33,000ftlb/min so could I simply say HP=v*mass ? That does not seem correct at all, but the units work.
If I do F=MA, I get units of lb*ft/min^<|fim_middle|>alogs" You must log in or register to reply here. | 2 which is definitely not correct. Basically I'm confused and any help would be appreciated it.
Energy is the product of Force applied over a distance.
Power = rate of energy (produced/consumed) = product of Force and speed.
Actually energy and power would be found by integrals, but I am assuming in this case that the force and speed are constant to simply the problem.
Torque is a product of force and moment arm.
The drag puts a force on the car. The tires must provide the force in balance, and in the opposite direction (assuming constant speed and not accounting for friction).
The driving axle must provide the torque, and the engine provides a torque to the driving axle (hence the gear ratio).
"Diameter(inches)= Rim+ 2(tirecross section * Aspect Ratio/100)/25.4"
Could some explain this equation please? How does the tire cross section come into play and what is aspect ratio in this case? And 25.4?
"Calculating engine torque/horse power from dat | 216 |
Manufacturers in the transportation sector can take advantage of our standard programmable conveyors that have the ability to make decisions based on particular conditions.
Programmable conveyors have the ability to make decisions based on particular conditions. As the conveyor function is changed based on each condition, the system is able to optimize throughput, reduce waste and integrate future changes easier.
We have integrated many programmable conveyors into our systems, including Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), monorail and powered roller systems like the ATS850™ clean room conveyor. Several companies include intelligence on<|fim_middle|> for assembly. | their conveyors—but none match the ATS SupertrakTM conveyor on flexibility and control.
In a simple yet powerful way, a programmable indexing conveyor can add value to our solutions. Part fixtures on a belt are indexed in a queue to act as a buffer linking separate cells. Often, this solution links feeders with processing, improving feed rate consistency or access to the cells.
Programmable indexer conveyors can also provide component transport between pre-inspection station and a part load station. If any reject is detected, the conveyor can rapidly advance to present the next good part | 114 |
This ancient enigma keeps everyone inquiring what truth lies in those huge stones and luckily you have come upon a site that will help you realize everything about Stonehenge.
You have wound upon an educational articles not as old as Stonehenge, but sure one of the oldest and very likely the first covering all<|fim_middle|> softer of the sandstone blocks, and also for excavating the chalk into which the uprights were set. About thirty hammer-stones suitable for holding in the hand were found. These were doubtless used for dressing the surface of the blocks. Most remarkable of all were the 'mauls,' large boulders weighing from 36 to 64 pounds, used for smashing blocks and also for removing large chips from the surfaces. Several antlers of deer were found, one of which had been worn down by use as a pickaxe.
More Overmuch nine hundred stone rings subsist in the British Isles. Of these, Stonehenge is the most best known.
The megalithic monuments of Britain and Europe pre-history those of the oriental Mediterranean, Egyptian, Mycenaean and Greek civilization.
The Druids had nothing to do with the building of the stone rings. Druids are known to have taken their ritual activities generally in sacred forest woodlet. | faces of this mystical monolithic construction.
There was an outer circle of about thirty worked upright stones of square section (picture 2). On each pair of these rested a horizontal block, but only five now remain in position. These 'lintels' probably formed a continuous architrave (Pl. I). The diameter of this outer circle is about 97½ feet, inner measurement. The stones used are sarsens or blocks of sandstone, such as are to be found lying about in many parts of the district round Stonehenge.
Picture 2. Plan of Stonehenge in 1901. (After Archæologia.) The dotted stones are of porphyritic diabase.
Well within this circle stood the five huge trilithons (a-e), arranged in the form of a horseshoe with its open side to the north-east. Each trilithon, as the name implies, consists of three stones, two of which are uprights, the third being laid horizontally across the top. The height of the trilithons varies from 16 to 21½ feet, the lowest being the two that stand at the open end of the horseshoe, and the highest that which is at the apex. Here again all the stones are sarsens and all are carefully worked. On the top end of each upright of the trilithons is an accurately cut tenon which dovetails into two mortices cut one at each end of the lower surface of the horizontal block. Each upright of the outer circle had a double tenon, and the lintels, besides being morticed to take these tenons, were also dovetailed each into its two neighbours.
Within the horseshoe and close up to it stand the famous blue-stones, now twelve in number, but originally perhaps more. These stones are not so high as the trilithons, the tallest reaching only 7½ feet. They are nearly all of porphyritic diabase. It has often been asserted that these blue-stones must have been brought to Stonehenge from a distance, as they do not occur anywhere in the district. Some have suggested that they came from Wales or Cornwall, or even by sea from Ireland. Now, the recent excavations have shown that the blue-stones were brought to Stonehenge in a rough state, and that all the trimming was done on the spot where they were erected. It seems unlikely that if they had been brought from a distance the rough trimming should not have been done on the spot where they were found, in order to decrease their weight for transport. It is therefore possible that the stones were erratic blocks found near Stonehenge.
Within the horseshoe, and near its apex, lies the famous "Altar Stone" (A), a block measuring about 16 feet by 4. Between the horseshoe and the outer circle another circle of diabase stones is sometimes said to have existed, but very little of it now remains.
The whole building is surrounded by a rampart of earth several feet high, forming a circle about 300 feet in diameter. An avenue still 1200 feet in length, bordered by two walls of earth, leads up to the rampart from the north-east. On the axis of this avenue and nearly at its extremity stands the upright stone known as the Friar's Heel.
In 1901, in the course of repairing the central trilithon, careful excavations were carried out over a small area at Stonehenge. More than a hundred stone implements were found, of which the majority were flint axes, probably used for dressing the | 757 |
On Friday, November 9, 2018, the first, five-day synchrotron school co-organized by SOLARIS ended. The HERCULES school was co-organized in cooperation with the Université Grenoble Alpes and ESRF synchrotron, and financed by the European Union.
Lectures for Polish, Czech and Slovakian participants of the school were delivered by scientists<|fim_middle|> be performing their experiments.
Hercules Regional School was co-financed by the European Union. | from all over the Europe. Students took part in workshops as well. The workshops were hosted not only by SOLARIS but also by Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science of the Jagiellonian University, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the AGH Academic Centre for Materials and Nanotechnology, and the Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Lectures and practicals covered mainly techniques available in the synchrotron facilities, including spectroscopy and absorption, powder diffraction, imaging techniques, ARPES and XPEEM. During a poster session young scientists presented their scientific achievements.
We hope that we will soon meet the participants at SOLARIS beamlines where they will | 153 |
Tell anyone who knows me and my husband that we'll be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this month, and they'll likely chime in with, 'Well, that was fast!' I concur. The years have passed by so quickly, and here we are, married for ten years, with two amazing children. Our love story is one of fairytales... you know the kind of story that either makes you swoon or makes you want to throw up.
We met when we were kids- in high school, really, and became fast friends... best friends. We went our separate ways to college, and then the universe brought us back together again. We decided to take a chance and give a real relationship a shot, and we've never looked back. We've been friends for nearly 20 years, and after that amount of time, you get to know a person pretty well.
Dating was fun, and easy, especially since we'd already been friends for a number of years. When we married in 2007, we were broke and had big dreams for the future. Having no money didn't scare us- we were more interested in living out an adventurous life together, and following our passions. We took a couple of years to live in Maryland while Sacha pursued his DMA at UMD. Looking back at that time, it was special, because it was just the two of us, off on our own with no family around, and no kids. I'm glad that we had that time together.
When we were about to become parents, we moved back to our hometown to be closer to family and to raise our son in the community of faith that we loved so well. We've stuck around for seven years- through lots of ups and downs, job changes, financial challenges, and stress.
We've had tough years, and we've had to work at our marriage. From the outside looking in, others would probably never guess that our relationship has been through the ringer a few times. Through depression, hardships, distance, there's always been<|fim_middle|> husband who always puts his family first, and who loves my family as his own. I'm thankful that he tolerates my most unattractive qualities and helps me to recognize my flaws without being critical of them. He helps me to be more laid back encourages me to ride the crazy roller coaster of life, taking chances, instead of running along beside it, trying to keep up.
We're in another stressful season of life right now, but that's what it is- a season, and we know it won't last forever. Our love and hand-in-hand partnership keeps us walking life's path together... even when there are pebbles and boulders set in front of us. There's no one I'd rather navigate that bumpy path with. | a heaping amount of unwavering love between us. For all the years that have been tough, we've also had some wonderful years which were richly filled with laughter, amazing experiences, and of course, the joys that our children bring to us.
As we hit the ten-year mark, I can say that I am proud that we've stuck it out. We've had many friends marry and divorce over the past ten years. We were the first out of many friends to get married, and the first to have kids. We wanted to be married- we couldn't imagine spending life apart from one another, and that's even truer today than it was 10 years ago. We wanted children- more than anything... even if it meant making sacrifices and putting personal plans for career or otherwise on hold. God has blessed us with the most precious and amazing gifts- I still can't believe that those two sweet miracles of life are ours.
I thank God that I'm married to a passionate man who loves God, loves his church, believes in serving the Lord by giving back time and talents, and sees the value in taking his place as the next generation of leadership. I thank God for sending me a patient, loving | 248 |
We hope the hunting season has been prosperous for all, and that you got to spend as much time as you wanted doing the type of hunting you like to do.
The Archery Shack is offering<|fim_middle|> be part of it.
Our goal is to attract as many seniors as possible to form either a morning or afternoon league between other facilities or among friends from the same facility.
We also have a grill that we will offer a lunch special for our seniors at a reduced price.
Please pass this on to your residents and let's see if we can add some great fun and entertainment to their daily lives. | all of the general membership of this organization a new benefit that cost your club nothing, nada, zilch. That's right the cost is "ZERO". This benefit will save you money. All right enough of of the hype.
If you would be so kind, would you please publish this information in your next newsletter so that this may benefit all of the members not just those that attend the meetings.
We certainly appreciate your business and the effort you put forth to keep people involved in the shooting sports. So please accept our invitation to use these discounts throughout the year.
This letter is to let you that we are here to offer you great form of recreation and exercise. This can be done indoors out of the cold and in surroundings similar to your living room. This is a good time to meet new friends, to break out competitive mentality, or just have a good time. You ask, what can this great alternative to playing card be ? Well if you haven't figured it out by the logo on top of the page, it is archery.
We at The Archery Shack are offering some special times and cost for our seniors to try the sport of archery. This is not just for the men it is also for the women. Archery is not just about bow hunting, the sport of target archery is growing fast and you can | 269 |
14459 River Beach Drive Unit 112 is a $95,000, <|fim_middle|>,150 square foot, 2 bedroom, 2.0 bath home on a 0.03 acre lot located in Port Charlotte, FL.
FURNISHED 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom TARPON BAY condo in complex located on the Myakka River. Open and split bedroom floor plan, sliders from Great Room and Master bedroom to the screened lanai with sliding glass exterior doors and two storage closets. Inside laundry. Guest bathroom has a shower and access from bedroom and living room. Master bathroom has a tub/shower combo and large vanity. *Furniture currently in the unit conveys with the sale* Under building parking. Heated community pool, fishing pier, outdoor grill, day dockage. Short drive to golf, Gulf beaches, shopping, dining, entertainment, Charlotte County Sports Park. Great year round home, winter retreat or investment.
I am interested in 14459 River Beach Drive Unit 112, Port Charlotte, FL 33953. | 1 | 1 |
In order to guarantee you are matched with the best employees to fit your specific needs, 3 Little Birds adheres to a general process that's been proven successful. The first question we pose to the employer is "What exactly are you looking for in an employee" From there we begin searching for the perfect candidate. We use social<|fim_middle|> with and focuses on creating a great fit for both sides of the transaction. I would definitely recommend and use her services again."
"Arikka is wonderful and I could not have landed at such a fantastic company without her! Her professionalism, connections in the industry, and strong work ethic make her THE choice for online marketing recruiting needs. She is simply the best!" | media sites like Facebook and Linkedin as well as recruiter websites in order to get the word out. 3 Little Birds also has an active database of job-seekers and some "sleepers" who may be employees but like to keep their ears open for new and exciting opportunities! There's usually a ton of interest for the jobs we advertise, but by us filtering out all the people who you might consider "time-wasters"; under-qualified, wrong type of experience, bad reputations, etc., we save you a lot of time and headache! Once we have a few qualified resumes, we'll send them your way for feedback.
We modify our subsequent searches based on your comments and we can work at your pace. Best of all, we only charge you when you hire one of our candidates. If you choose to go with another agency's candidate, that's fine too! We just ask that you let us know.
"Arikka is a pleasure to work | 194 |
House Republicans quit for the day after McCarthy loses sixth speaker vote
The California Republican and his allies met Wednesday night with conservatives who have continued to deny him the speaker's gavel. They did not appear to reach an agreement.
Kevin McCarthy's speaker bid blocked for sixth time
Jan. 4, 2023, 12:00 PM UTC / Updated Jan. 5, 2023, 1:43 AM UTC
By Scott Wong and Alex Seitz-Wald
WASHINGTON — For a second consecutive day, a band of 20 ultraconservative rebels blocked GOP leader Kevin McCarthy from winning the speaker's gavel, just hours after former President Donald Trump called on House Republicans to back him and "close the deal."
Over Tuesday and Wednesday, six votes were held on the House floor to choose a speaker; each time, the rebels stuck together and voted for someone else, denying McCarthy, R-Calif., the 218 votes he needed to win.
With both McCarthy allies and foes deeply dug in, it ensures that chaos will reign in the House for the foreseeable future under the new GOP majority.
The House voted 216-214 to adjourn just before 8:30 p.m., setting up a seventh speaker vote for Thursday. Four of McCarthy's opponents joined Democrats in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the House in session Wednesday night: Andy Biggs and Eli Crane of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Matt Gaetz of Florida.
Leaving the floor after the sixth failed vote, McCarthy said that he was "very confident" the fight will work out in his favor and that his plan was "to work through it, get everybody together and solve our problems."
McCarthy then huddled behind closed doors in the Capitol with some of his closest allies and members of the opposition to try to hammer out an agreement.<|fim_middle|> multiple ballots.
"Sure, it looks messy," Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., said on the floor as he rose to nominate McCarthy for the fourth ballot, "but democracy is messy by design."
McCarthy's opponents, informally dubbed the Never Kevins, have indicated they're in for the long haul.
"This is a good thing for democracy," Norman, one of the Never Kevins, said Wednesday of the chaos on the floor. "And I don't care what the press says. ... I don't care who endorses McCarthy. Us 20 want changes. And we're gonna stay here until we get it or something happens."
Still, McCarthy has argued that he won his party's nomination for speaker in November, that he has the support of 9 out of 10 Republicans in his conference and that the number of his detractors hasn't grown much.
McCarthy's allies have vowed to hold roll call votes until the opposition caves.
"You can't accommodate a small group that essentially has you hostage, and that's what's going on here — we're not going to do it," moderate Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said after Tuesday's vote series.
One Democrat suggested she might even support McCarthy to end the standoff.
"I was thinking today, 'Gosh, Kevin McCarthy was only short a few votes.' I wish I could be part of some kind of a unity caucus that would yield him the votes," Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, told a reporter for Spectrum News. "I was going around talking to some of my Republican colleagues about that."
McCarthy allies expressed frustration at the conservative rabble-rousers for exposing internal GOP divisions at the very moment Republicans are taking control of the House after four years in the minority. Without a speaker, House lawmakers can't be sworn in, committees can't be formed, and GOP investigations into the Biden administration can't begin.
Essentially, there is no functioning House of Representatives until a speaker is chosen.
"Everybody's just annoyed, agitated. The people that are doing this, which I count a lot of them as my good friends, need to know when [to] accept the win," Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., said about concessions the conservatives had extracted from McCarthy.
"So take most of the win and go with it and build on it for later."
In the third and final vote Tuesday, the 20 GOP defectors all cast their votes for Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a founding member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, even though he has endorsed McCarthy and he delivered a nominating speech for him. Jordan later told reporters he wanted only to become chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the new Congress.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who is close with Jordan and has endorsed McCarthy, said it was inconsiderate and appalling that the defectors were trying to push Jordan into the speaker's office.
"Jim Jordan says, 'I am supporting Kevin McCarthy,' and he goes out there on the House floor, says it and votes for him repeatedly," Greene told reporters. "Twenty Republicans don't even respect Jim Jordan enough to respect what he wants to do."
The remarkable floor fight has pitted Trump loyalists against one another as Trump makes another bid for the White House. McCarthy, Jordan and Greene have been some of Trump's biggest allies on Capitol Hill, but they're now facing off against Trump supporters like Gaetz and newer leaders of the Trump-aligned Freedom Caucus, Biggs and Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania.
Trump endorsed McCarthy for speaker and had been making calls on his behalf.
After he spoke with McCarthy, Trump gave a full-throated endorsement Wednesday morning and called on House Republicans to rally behind him.
"[I]t's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Wednesday morning that also disparaged former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
"REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB — JUST WATCH!"
McCarthy has explored alternative paths to victory that would require fewer votes, such as getting some critics to abstain, which would lower the overall number needed to win.
"I think we'll find our way to get there. This is a healthy debate," McCarthy told reporters. "It might not happen on the day we want, but it's going to happen. ... I think at the end of the day, we'll get everybody."
Bacon warned that if conservatives dig in on their opposition to McCarthy, delaying House business, moderates will need to reach across the aisle to try to reach a deal with Democrats on a consensus speaker.
"You can have some folks you can work with, but I think in the end you just go to the top one or two people in the Democratic Party and start making a deal," Bacon told reporters.
"If they prove to themselves that they can't function as part of a team, then we're going to make that decision. But we're not there. I think Kevin still has lots of runway."
Scott Wong
Scott Wong is a senior congressional reporter for NBC News.
Haley Talbot, Frank Thorp V, Garrett Haake, Kyle Stewart, Gary Grumbach , Kate Santaliz, Ali Vitali, Julie Tsirkin and Liz Brown-Kaiser contributed. | But after hours of discussions, the two sides appeared no closer to a deal.
"I'm just saying we listened. You know the devil's in the details," Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a vocal McCarthy critic, said as he left the meeting.
McCarthy told reporters he did not want to move forward with another vote Wednesday night to keep talks going. "I think it's probably best to let people work through some more. I don't think a vote tonight does any difference, but I think vote in the future will," he said after the huddle.
During the fourth, fifth and sixth ballots Wednesday, McCarthy — who has served in leadership for the past 14 years — received support from more than 90% of the 222 GOP members. Earlier in the day, he was nominated by Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, who warned his fellow conservatives that their opposition will end up hurting their cause.
"We're on the precipice of such a destructive argument today. I plead with all — all of my Republican colleagues, let cooler, more rational heads prevail. Let us unite as Republicans to elect the next speaker of the House," Davidson said.
But the McCarthy foes showed no signs of backing down. In the three votes Wednesday, they rallied behind Rep. Byron Donalds, a Black Florida conservative who won his second term in November.
Boebert nominated Donalds, her Freedom Caucus colleague, saying she was not swayed after Trump — "my favorite president" — called her to tell her to "knock this off."
"The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that 'sir, you do not have the votes and it's time to withdraw,'" Boebert said to scattered boos.
Reps. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., left, and Tom Emmer, R-Minn., right, speak with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the House chamber on Wednesday.Alex Brandon / AP
Democrats united behind their candidate, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, first nominated Donalds as the right-wing alternative to McCarthy on the fourth ballot, evoking Jeffries' history-making role. "For the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed into the nomination for speaker of the House," Roy said.
Members on both sides of the aisle responded with a standing ovation.
The roll calls barely changed on each successive ballot. Donalds defected from McCarthy after having voted for him twice, and Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., who had backed McCarthy in three votes Tuesday, voted present Wednesday.
"We have a constitutional duty to elect the Speaker of the House, but we have to deliberate further as a Republican conference until we have enough votes and stop wasting everyone's time," Spartz said in a statement. "None of the Republican candidates have this number yet. That's why I voted present after all votes were cast."
It is the first time in 100 years that a vote for House speaker has gone to | 632 |
Humility is one of the most powerful tools of transformation available to humanity at this time. This concept marries the qualities of receptivity and equality. In equality, we leave behind the notion that any aspect of our personal story elevates one above another; just the same as one is never lower. After the step into equality is taken, we enter into humility when we open ourselves to the ongoing feedback loop between our inner and outer worlds. With receptivity we no longer disregard perspectives shared with us. Compassion arises with the loving curiosity to know another as deeply as we are able through the open transparency of humility. With an open mind, open heart, and open ears, we begin to receive valuable information by observing our story as it unfolds, moment by moment.
The quality of humility has helped me to hear/see/feel wisdom teachings from nearly everyone I encounter. Where this ally has proven most effective is in the realm of intimate relationships, lovers, and partners. When you open yourself deeply to another, the opening will always be reflected to the same degree as it is shown. These type of relationships are clear mirrors to our current state of being, and humility is the lens through which one can see this truth. This can be a challenging idea for those who are still in the state of projecting blame onto the other because it means taking responsibility for one's current life situation. We attract/choose specific people for our intimate relationships in order to help us remember our humility and dissolve destructive patterns by healing their associated wounds. Over time, this process brings us into greater remembrance of our Selves.
The process of remembering begins with humility and is accelerated with detachment, transparency, and self-acceptance. To be detached is to be in a state of observance of one's life situation, including passing thoughts and emotions. It empowers one with the capacity to not take anything personally; to act – not react. In detachment we find the courage to give and receive complete and honest truth with one another. This willingness to share truth is called transparency. We recognize the immeasurable value available to all parties involved when truth is communicated openly. Transparency engul<|fim_middle|> loving ourselves enough to acknowledge a disconnected relationship, we choose to endlessly seek improvement within ourselves and our partners in order to force a fit. The awareness of love's abundance through self-acceptance empowers us to have the wisdom to know when our heart changes direction, and the courage to listen. Love cannot be forced – it requires space to ignite and burn within.
Viewing life as a struggle to attain some virtuous self-improvement goal, or as a constant battle to overcome one's desires, creates experiences to match such an expectation. Once the seed has been planted that life is not meant to be a battle, that an abundance of intimacy and love is accessible at all times, and that a world exists where an inspired ease flows through every moment – we begin to weaken the stories of compromise and sacrifice. As these stories weaken and we align with our most fulfilling expression of Self through self-acceptance, transparency, detachment, and humility – our embodiment, attraction, and rooting of new paradigm relationship begins.
To read about seeding the new paradigm relationship from Her perspective, click here. | fs us into an experience of deep connection between individuals through the shared vessel of vulnerability. Taking this leap into connective vulnerability requires the courage found in detachment and the love uncovered in self-acceptance.
To accept one's self as absolutely complete, balanced, and whole – As Is – a perfect symphony of vibrational expressions in complete harmony – is to embody self-acceptance. It is to relinquish the quest for personal improvement and to relax into wholeness in the present moment. A society that bombards its brothers and sisters with messages of inadequacy and images of a more highly valued personal expression (whether in body, mind, material items, morals, or life path) creates a people bent on self-improvement. One of life's paradoxes is that real, lasting change cannot be forced through an act of will – it must be allowed to naturally emerge through the art of relaxing into change. This is where the seeking for improvement comes full circle with the realization of already being absolutely and totally complete in every way.
It is in the space of loving, self-acceptance, that one is able to attract a mirror who will accept one in equal totality. Can you believe that there are people who are attracted to the very qualities you believe you must change about yourself? With the perceptual fear of scarcity, so rarely do we dare entertain the possibility of a depth of love and acceptance we have yet to experience. Instead of | 292 |
Review of Edmund Fawcett's "Liberalism: The Life of an Idea"
tags: liberalism
by Walter G. Moss
Walter G. Moss is a professor emeritus of history at Eastern Michigan University and Contributing Editor of HNN. For a list of his recent books and online publications, click here. His most recent book is "An Age of Progress? Clashing Twentieth-Century Global Forces" (Anthem Press, 2008).
What do we mean when we call ourselves or someone else a "liberal"? In his Political Dictionary (1978 ed.) columnist and former Nixon speechwriter William Safire wrote, "Currently one who believes in more government action to meet individual needs; originally one who resisted government encroachment on individual liberties." A typical modern-day U. S. liberal would embrace both goals, especially government help for those most in need and, a la the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), defending civil liberties against various intrusions including government spy agencies like the National Security Council.
But Safire is correct in indicating that the meanings of liberal and liberalism have changed over the past few centuries. The great value of Edmund Fawcett's Liberalism: The Life of an Idea is that it enables us to understand the meaning of liberalism in its historical context, both in the Europe and the United States.
A key question, however, is whether today, we wish to use the narrower evolved definition that Safire suggests or the broader, more inclusive one Fawcett maintains. Although this reviewer prefers the former—referring to Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan as liberals, as Fawcett does, just seems wrong—I'll grant the logical consistency of his treatment.
His inclusive view emphasizes four ideas that have characterized liberalism: "acknowledgment of inescapable ethical and material conflict within society, distrust of power, faith in human progress, and respect for people whatever they think and whoever they are." These four ideas "distinguish the liberal outlook from those of its nineteenth-century rivals, conservatism and socialism, as well as from its twentieth-century competitors, fascism and communism, and from present-day contenders, notably competitive authoritarianism, national populism, and Islamic theocracy."
Fawcett recognizes that not all liberals share an equal enthusiasm for all four ideas and that some liberals are more liberal than others. He also does not place much credence in what parties (or sometimes even individuals) call themselves. He mentions, for example, that in 1985, the French Socialist Party "dropped the last remnants of socialism."
By his criteria then, as he succinctly states in a 2014 essay, "Viewed historically, liberalism was always a big tent. It made room for right and left, radicals and traditionalists, free-marketeers and social democrats: for Hayek and Keynes, Hoover and Roosevelt, Reagan and Kohl, but also for Johnson and Brandt. It is not uniquely American or peculiarly European. No anglophone monopoly, it had shining traditions in France, Germany and continental Europe."
Most of the individuals Fawcett includes as liberals (more than fifty are mentioned in the Table of Contents) would please most U. S. liberals. They include: John Stuart Mill, Abraham Lincoln, John Maynard Keynes, ACLU founder Roger Baldwin, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, Franklin Roosevelt, George Orwell, Albert Camus, Walter Lippmann, John Rawls, Lyndon Johnson, and Willy Brandt—note that they are taken from the four countries that Fawcett sure-handedly limits his study to: France, Britain, Germany, and the United States.
But most modern-day U. S. liberals would not agree with his inclusion of not only Thatcher and Reagan, but also of others such as Friedrich Hayek, Herbert Hoover, and the New York neoconservatives Fawcett mentions. Still others, like Britain's Joseph Chamberlin and other "liberal imperialists," today's liberals may wish to disown as they might a reprobate grandfather, but by the author's benchmarks they are part of the diverse liberal family.
Knowing that the Englishman Fawcett was for decades a journalist for The Economist, including being its chief correspondent in Paris, Berlin, and Washington also helps explain his approach and expertise. In a 2013 blog essay, the British publication founded in 1843, claims that its "liberalism . . .reconciles the left's impatience at an unsatisfactory status quo with the right's scepticism about grandiose redistributive schemes," that it "opposes all undue curtailment of an individual's economic or personal freedom," that it has endorsed "the candidate or party most likely to pursue classically liberal policies," and these have included some "on the right, like Margaret Thatcher, and on the left, like Barack Obama." Obviously the liberalism of The Economist and of Fawcett is more complex than proponents and critics of U. S. liberalism are likely to acknowledge.
He declares that "liberalism has a history, practitioners, and an outlook to guide them," and his book is an attempt to tell the "story of all three." In his Preface and Introduction, he introduces us to the outlook and sets out his time frame. The remaining chapters tell the history, mixing appropriately thinkers and politicians.
He sees liberalism as emerging after the first Industrial Revolution had begun<|fim_middle|> of some items I would have liked to have seen given more space.
● In treating the important thinker Isaiah Berlin, mention that he greatly admired Franklin Roosevelt and, according to a friend, was passionately against Thatcherism.
● How liberals address environmental concerns. This is certainly one of today's greatest problems, but there is almost no mention of it except occasional references such as "a counterliberal left lived on [in France] in . . . radical Greens."
● More treatment of liberals' reaction to consumerism, globalization, foreign affairs, and war.
● Some consideration of how non-Western thinkers and politicians regard liberalism.
Despite this criticism, however, Liberalism is an important and worthwhile book. The writer Wendell Berry once wrote about fellow writer Edward Abbey: "For me, part of the experience of reading him has always been, at certain points, that of arguing with him." One does not have to agree with all the points of an author to benefit from his/her book. Although I may not include Reagan and Thatcher in my list of liberals, Fawcett is right to insist that liberalism remains important even if we limit it to recognizing perennial conflict within society, distrust of power, faith in human progress, and respect for people. He realizes that the conflict of ideas and interests, as well as respect for others, necessitates tolerance and compromise. For some liberals, as he acknowledges, this may not be enough. We know, for example, that they may (or may not) also burn with a passion for justice, helping the poor, or a hatred of war. But such virtues as tolerance remain vitally important. Horrors like the Holocaust and more recent reminders like the HBO documentary Hunted: The War Against Gays in Russia should never let us forget this.
In his final paragraph Fawcett refers to Chekhov, which reminds one of how he disliked being labeled, as he said, by those "determined to regard me either as a liberal or as a conservative." In the end, it remains less important how we label ourselves than how humanely we behave toward others, individually and collectively. This was true in the era of the great Russian writer and humanist, and it remains so today. | in Great Britain and been followed by the American and French Revolutions and Napoleon. "It arose as a practice of politics in the years after 1815 across the Euro-Atlantic world, but nowhere significantly before. Liberalism responded to a novel condition of society energized by capitalism and shaken by revolution in which for better or worse material and ethical change now appeared ceaseless. In that unfamiliar setting the first liberals sought fresh terms for the conduct of political life that would serve their aims and honor their ideals."
He divides the history of liberalism into four periods: 1) 1830 to 1880, "a time of youthful self-definition . . . and large successes"; 2) 1880 to 1945, which witnessed liberalism's compromise with democracy and the emergence of liberal democracy; 3) 1945 to 1989, which began with the collapse of liberalism's enemy to the right, fascism, and ended with "the final surrender of liberal democracy's twentieth-century rival to the left, Soviet Communism" (the process was actually not completed until late 1991 with the disintegration of the USSR); and 4) a post-1989 period, which "notes a return of self-doubt as to what liberalism is and how long it may last."
Although the history of ideas or intellectual history sometimes appeals only to a small reading audience, Fawcett's book should have a broader readership because he mixes well the biographical with the theoretical, and politicians with less down-to-earth thinkers. We learn all sorts of fascinating details about individuals like the British Prime Minister William Gladstone and the French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau. The former reputedly read some twenty-one thousand books, including the Iliad in Greek three dozen times. The latter, who many think of as only an old man who frustrated Woodrow Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, had earlier spent three years in America, had an American wife, fought several duels, and was "habitually unfaithful."
Fawcett's biographical details not only enliven his book, but help us understand better the popularity of some of Fawcett's "liberals." We learn, for example, that economist Milton Friedman had a TV show on public television (actually a 10-part 1980 series) and, for 18 years, a Newsweek column. Biographical information also helps flesh out a thinker's abstract ideas, grounding them in concrete reality. It is certainly relevant, for example, to know whether or not a person's professed liberalism was adhered to or violated in his or her personal life.
After Fawcett informs us that the influential John Rawls—16 pages are devoted to him and his critics—was "universally admired, even loved," that "colleagues remember his kindness and wry humor," and that he thought the atomic bombing of Japan was immoral, we have a more rounded picture of the man whose A Theory of Justice (1971) influenced so many liberals, including a young Barack Obama.
Fawcett also provides numerous colorful details and quotes. On Rawls' honeymoon, he and wife "found time to index a commentary on Nietzsche." After describing President Lyndon Johnson's many liberal accomplishments and his personality—"he had to be the center of attention and dominate every encounter, whether that took charm, bullying, profanity, crudity, cornering, lapel grabbing, elbow pawing, or shin kicking" —Fawcett quotes him on former Democratic presidential contender Adlai Stephenson: "a nice man with too much lace on his drawers."
Reviewers often criticize, fairly and unfairly, books for what they do not include. So here is my brief list | 794 |
Belgrade, NYU, the US Army, Chicago, New Hampshire, a black cat: what do all these things have in common? Give up? Prize-winning poet and immigrant Charles Simic. I recently read a good book of short stories by Wells Tower, which reminded me of nothing other than being young and mad, and I've since shouted about it to anyone who reads. A friend read it and told me the last story (which involves Vikings, roughly speaking) reminded her of a poem by Charles Simic, which she then described in some detail. I couldn't find that poem but I found this one, which, well, is perfect for today. Aside from the fact that I'm on a sunny lake, not a coast, this poem presents a most accurate picture of my POV today. It's Monday. Feels like Sunday.
I know so many people love fall, but do they love, too, the sense of impending death, which Simic doesn't hesitate to remind us of here? Each stanza has a nice interplay between the quotidian and the grand, the natural and the personal. Remember WB Yeats?: "the whole rant is a mirror of my mood?" Only here, no rant–just a lot of flat vowels.
Enjoy fall. I could use it 20 degrees warmer… -ed.
Monday's Verse; Sept 21, 2009.
Something a little different today. Every once in a while we read an essay, some poetic prose, literary criticism, or an anti-war polemic. Today's brief "appreciation" is not by<|fim_middle|> thick wilderness of, say, late Ashbery can wrangle with the narrowness of competition.
The 8th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks came and went last Friday, and I was very moved to hear former U.S. poet laureate Robert Haas read this poem aloud on NPR. It is by Nobel Prize-winning Polish poet Czeslaw Milosz (1911-2004), and it was first published in the New Yorker magazine on Sept. 17, 2001. I'll be the first to admit that I can't identify all these seemingly biblical-historical name allusions. Or maybe they are just names on headstones. Any help? -ed.
I wouldn't think of them, who are like myself half broken inside.
To get rid of my self-pity.
Is going to express them? Their mumblings, weepings, hopes, tears of humiliation?
And eternity close by. Improper. Indecent.
An elephant trampling a beetle, an ocean drowning an island.
For the sobriety of last things.
Nor do I grasp it, yet what can I do?
Completely different from what I was.
Thus we go down into the earth, my fellow parishioners.
With the hope that the trumpet of judgement will call us by our names.
Instead of eternity, greenness and the movement of clouds.
May we all be so foolish.
Here's a poem from probably his most famous collection, What Work Is (1991). Rather than valorizing work though, this selection seems to want to run away from it–just the way a 15-year-old might. Wait, the way a 15-year-old might? I spent the long weekend with people in their 30's, all of us* dreading Tuesday and the return of work. The way we all do, then. I kninda appreciate the way this poem defines work. How do you see it?
*Wait, I don't have a job. | a scholar, a poet, or an essayist; it's by an outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. Fernando Perez graduated from Columbia with a degree in American Studies and creative writing.
It's late September, and fans of the American game naturally wax poetic as they cheer the odds–or bemoan the fates–of their hometown favorites. With my equal and abiding love of both Red Sox and Mets, and given my new hometown of Pittsburgh, paean or dirge would suit me about now. I like Perez's reflection, though: the way poetry clearly DOES something for him, but it is difficult for him to say WHAT. He doesn't need it to comment on or enrich his main field of endeavor, but the two pastimes complement each other in some ineffable way.
And have a darn good week. -ed.
Robert Creeley in the outfield.
Long ago Robert Creeley confirmed my suspicion that words strung even sparingly together can be as aurally powerful as anything else we have. He has been my most important poet, because I can take him anywhere, like oranges—even reduced to nothing in both physical and mental exhaustion, nauseous and half asleep bussing from a red-eye.
One of my first managers always preached separation from the game for the sake of our own health, and for the sake of our performance. The game can be maddening, and we ought to corner ourselves in this trade only so far. I'm in love with baseball, but eventually my prime will end, and she'll slowly break my heart. Baseball has remained remarkably impervious to modernity, but is, like any modern industry, highly alienating. I turn to poetry because it is less susceptible to circumstance. I'm not especially touched when a poet deals with a ball game; I'm not especially interested in having one world endear itself to the other. Right now I need them apart, right now I'm after displacement, contrast. The | 399 |
Austin Studios' New Multi-Media Complex Jumpstarts 709-Acre Airport Redevelopment
AUSTIN-The stars are shining on a 20-acre tract of the 709-acre former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. Austin Studios has sealed a 10-year lease with the city, just months after the filming of Sandra Bullock's "Miss Congeniality" at the developing multi-media complex.
By Jackie Isaly | November 15, 2000 at 01:01 AM
AUSTIN-An Austin film group has signed a lease with the city to use 20 acres of the vacated Robert Mueller Municipal Airport for a new multi-media studio and production complex.
"In Austin, with the skyrocketing cost of real estate, these large, empty spaces are non-existent," Suzanne Quinn, director of Austin Studios, told GlobeSt.com. The center will use six hangars and one existing office building at the 709-acre Mueller Airport to house production and post<|fim_middle|>," since opening the studio doors Nov. 1. "We were able to hit the ground running," says Quinn.
Last summer, Austin Studios had been negotiating the lease with the city while actress Sandra Bullock had used the site for the filming of "Miss Congeniality," a film she produced.
Quinn says Austin Studios is seeking partners to share the space. The goal is to provide a complex where filmmakers can come and find all of the elements of production available to them.
"We're putting out calls to local companies and companies in LA and New York," says Quinn. And, she is in the midst of negotiating on a "couple of films" to bring to the new studio.
The multi-media complex also will serve as a vehicle for internships and apprenticeships to high school and college students interested in film industry careers. Quinn says the paid internships will enable more students to participate and ultimately become part of the skilled local workforce. Austin Studios is planning fundraisers to support paid apprenticeships that could begin as early as January 2001, according to Quinn.
Meanwhile, the city is developing a master plan to determine the best use for the remaining 689 acres at the former municipal airport, says David Matustik, the city public information manager. He says the possibilities include seeking a developer or setting up a city-run redevelopment for the mixed-use site.
7700 Parmer Calls for Transformation to a Mixed-Use Destination
Lisa Brown | December 23, 2020
Situated adjacent to Apple's future $1 billion campus, which will initially house 5,000 employees, the 129-acre 7700 Parmer site is currently home to a wide range of tech companies. | -production space and AFS offices. Austin Studios: Soundstages & Media Center is a nonprofit venture of the Austin Film Society.
The airport is situated in central Austin near East 51st Street. "The city leased this to us, as is," says Quinn. "It is extremely functional and we didn't have to make the initial investment."
The agreement outlines a 10-year lease with a five-year option. Quinn explains that the lease allows Austin Studios to manage the space on the city's behalf and to act as an agent to attract production companies and various disciplines of the film industry. Meanwhile, the city is the owner.
"The most unique aspect of this is the public-private partnership," Quinn says. "It shows that the city recognizes the economic impact of the film industry in Austin."
Austin Studios has already completed one commercial and has begun production with Sony Pictures on a feature film, "The New Guy | 184 |
History is full of examples of people who took too narrow a view of a problem they faced. The French defensive Maginot Line along the border with Hitler's Germany was bypassed when the German army swept through Belgium.
Another example: the 2000 Millennium exhibition was doomed to financial failure before it opened by the design of the Dome (in contrast to the Great Exhibition of 1851, guaranteed a profit before it opened, in part due to the cunning design of its central building – the Crystal Palace).
On a far more modest scale it is important to think in large enough wholes when considering library processes. An obvious example in a public library context is local demographics where an area with a large young immigrant population has needs and communication preferences that are different from an area of mostly older people.
There are more subtle traps though. For example, concerns about Interloan<|fim_middle|> acquisition handling need to be considered too. Even if you are not in a position to think big, at least you can think broad. | (ILL) processing have arisen on a number of occasions in Process Reviews that we have supported. ILLs are just one way of fulfilling a request from a borrower. This request might indeed be met by an ILL, but a suitable item might alternatively be found in the local catalogue, or specially purchased.
ILL processing should not therefore be thought of merely as a self-contained process. The wider context of borrower needs and | 84 |
The Otto Bremer Trust supported Summit Academy OIC's capital campaign with a program-related investment of $300,000. The investment will help the academy better support students on the path to self-reliance by ensuring an optimal learning environment, safeguarding the structural integrity of its facility, and supporting the growth of new programs.
"I tell my kids I build houses," says Tamir Raheem. "I make homes for families." At 33, Tamir just earned his GED at Summit Academy and is a few weeks away from finishing the construction training program. Today, he is leading a team of students who are building a small house in the school's construction yard. Outfitted in an orange hard hat and safety glasses, Tamir crouches down with a power drill to install a metal stud. Tamir has five boys back in Spokane. He moved to Minneapolis to reconnect with his dad and make a fresh start. It's hard for him to be away from his family, but he's confident he'll come out of Summit Academy with a bright future.
The construction yard is filled with the sounds of sawing and drilling as students get hands-on training. Each week, it's something different: metal studs and sheetrock, floors and walls, wood framing, tile layout, roofing, concrete formwork. In the adjacent wood shop, where sawdust hangs in the air and coats the floor, students focus on finish work.
Tamir Raheem's humility and dedication show as he talks about his kids and his ultimate goals.
Six months ago, Tamir was sitting on his couch after work, watching TV<|fim_middle|> he enrolled in the program.
(Bottom) Tamir studies in an empty classroom for an upcoming final exam during his lunch hour. Tamir's hardhat rests on a rung of a ladder in the construction yard (top left). Tamir, right, works with his fellow students on their team's structure.
Only yesterday did Tamir's team start drawing up plans for the house. By the end of the week, they will have installed a ceiling and a window and hung drywall. Later, the whole thing will be torn down because, as their teacher explains, the students learn as much from demolition as from construction.
After Tamir finishes the program, he plans to join the Carpenters Union and find a job. Summit Academy will have given him all the training he needs.
With support from the Otto Bremer Trust, Summit Academy OIC helps people like Tamir find stability while completing short-term, no-cost, accredited education and job training programs. The Programs give students opportunities to earn a GED and gain the skills they need to establish careers with living wages.
Noor Edward used to be afraid of the dentist. Now she dreams of becoming a dental assistant.
At 33, Tamir just earned his GED at Summit Academy and is a few weeks away from finishing the construction training program. | , when he saw a commercial for Summit Academy. He picked up the phone. A week later, he attended an information session. A week after that, | 31 |
Powerscourt House was built in 1741 and is located on the Powercourt Estate in Enniskerry, co.Wicklow. It was designed by the famous German architect Richard Cassels (whose other works include Russborough House, Westport House and Carton House) for the 1st Viscount of Powerscourt. The south face, shown here, is designed in the formal classical temple style while the north face is in the Palladian style. This is regarded as one of Ireland's finest mansions and it's gardens were also recently voted No.3 in the World's Top Ten Gardens by National Geographic. The Gardens stretch over 47 acre under the watch of Sugar loaf Mountain. This was originally the site of a 13th century castle owned by the 'le Poer' family who were Anglo-Norman and gave their name to the estate. Three sides of the original castle are still within the walls of this house. Powerful Irish families including the O'Tooles and the Fitz-Geralds have fought for it's possession over the centuries. Queen Elizabeth I however granted it to Richard Wingfield in 1603 for his military achievements<|fim_middle|> 350 years. In 1974, the house was almost totally gutted by a fire but has since been lovingly restored. It is now a visitor attraction and one of the country's top design outlets. | . His descendants remained and improved the house and entire estate for the next | 14 |
When our clients read Jane Gadd's article in The Globe and Mail about Sustainable's healthy and accessible Wellington County Farmhouse, it took them over a year to reach out to us. Having very specific needs and desires required thorough research and inward searching for them. But once they had decided on rebuilding an existing split level into a new, highly energy-efficient, light-filled, and spacious home, they knew the task required an architect like Sustainable.
Our experience<|fim_middle|> fully-accessible ground floor, that will meet the family's needs well into the future. | with healthy and accessible building allowed us to guide them through a design process where a home was generated that would be passed down through the generations. The house had to appeal to the kids too. A grand living, dining, and kitchen space was designed for all generations of family to entertain, play, and spend quality time together.
Sustainable features include: high clerestory windows that spill light into the 2-storey central hallway; in-floor radiant heating throughout the house; a highly-insulated building shell; and a | 104 |
"A heritage steeped in art"
3rd Prize, Julien Bruere's Tassy Farm.
<|fim_middle|> a small event it has graduated through many stages of growth in a range of venues including schools, halls and Mechanics Institute. For many years it was staged in a large marquee on the banks of the Yarra.
Rotary International is a worldwide organisation of business, professional and community leaders, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The Rotary Club of Warrandyte Donvale is one of four clubs in the Manningham Cluster. This cluster is in Rotary District 9810 which comprises the Rotary Clubs of Doncaster, Manningham and Templestowe.
We meet each Tuesday evening.
Rotary Club of Warrandyte Donvale Inc. | Best Emerging Artist, Charlotte Stewart, Don't Turn Your Back.
"A unique experience for artists and visitors alike"
The Rotary Warrandyte Art Show has grown over the 3 decades to where up to 600 works are exhibited . From | 50 |
Join Dr. Pedram Shojai, Founder of Well.Org, producer of the movie "Vitality", and author of "Rise and Shine" in a no-nonsense virtual conference about life, vitality, energy, having purpose, clean living, and things that really matter.
Vitality<|fim_middle|> going to explore vitality from all angles to really help unlock what's been stifling so many people – the inability to live life fully.
Join me, along with 20+ experts in this engaging dialog that will blow the lid off of conventional drudgery and stoke the fire of a whole new way of looking at health and well-being.
My talk, "The Art of ChiRunning," will be on Sunday, June 1st at 5pm Eastern Time.
The Vitality conference starts streaming May 28 – sign up to tune in for FREE here. | is the energy of life that emerges from within, it makes us radiant, glowing and passionate – so how do we cultivate what we've got and get more of it?
Dr. Pedram Shojai has created a 3-day virtual conference to pierce through the mystery and get real life-changing, step-by-step guidance from the biggest names in health, nutrition and wellness. We're | 78 |
Get Tom Anderson essential facts below. View Videos or join the Tom Anderson discussion. Add Tom Anderson to your PopFlock.com topic list for future reference or share this resource on social media.
American internet entrepreneur
Thomas Anderson
(1970-11-08) November 8, 1970 (age 48)
San Diego, California, U.S.[1]
Los Angeles[2]
University of California, Berkeley (B.A., English, 1997)
University of California, Los Angeles (M.A., Film, 2000)[1]
internet entrepreneur
Co-founder of Myspace
Escondido, California, U.S.[3]
Thomas Anderson (born November 8, 1970)[4] is an American co-founder of the social networking website Myspace, which he founded in 2003 with Chris DeWolfe.[5] He was later president of Myspace and a strategic adviser for the company until he left in 2009.[3][6] Anderson is popularly known as "Tom from Myspace" because until 2010 he would automatically be assigned as the first "friend" of new Myspace users upon the creation of their profiles.
Anderson's father was an entrepreneur.[7] As a teenager at San Pasqual High in Escondido, California,<|fim_middle|>6-person Los Angeles-based company, which created a Facebook app.[13] However, in a September 2014 interview, Anderson did not mention any advisory roles in his life at the time, while his Twitter blurb as of November 2018 reads, in part: "Enjoying being retired."[17] He explained in the interview that he is not interested in returning to his previous vocation, but concluded: "I'll never say 'never' because, more than anything, I like the idea that anything can happen. I don't know exactly where my life will lead. Adventure and the unknown has always been appealing to me."[18]
Anderson made a cameo appearance in the 2009 American comedy-drama film Funny People starring Adam Sandler.[19]
Anderson is active on other social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter (with over 241,000 followers as of March 2018), and Google+ (6.5 million followers as of March 2016).
Following an experience with photography at the 2011 Burning Man festival, Anderson's interest in his own photography was piqued. In a September 2014 ABC News interview, Anderson credited friend and photographer Trey Ratcliff for facilitating his skill development and explained: "I'm not necessarily trying to represent nature exactly. I'm trying to make something beautiful like a painter would." Anderson travels globally with friends to locations such as Thailand and Myanmar, where he primarily focuses upon landscape images.[18]
Anderson also explained in September 2014 that his personal interests have always been diverse:
If you knew me before Myspace, you'd probably thought I'd have been a scholar teaching philosophy in a university my whole life. If you met me before college, you'd probably have thought I'd be a musician for my entire life ... I like change.[18]
^ a b "Entry: Tom Anderson", NNDB
^ "Tom (Tom Anderson)". Retrieved 2012.
^ a b Angwin, Julia (March 29, 2009). "Putting Your Best Faces Forward". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2010.
^ Bennett, Jessica (October 27, 2007). "Is Age Just a Number?". The Daily Beast. Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved 2011.
^ a b c d Gibson, Owen (June 23, 2008). "200 million friends and counting". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010.
^ Rosenbush, Steve (July 29, 2005). "MySpace: WhoseSpace?". BusinessWeek. Retrieved 2010.
^ a b c d Sellers, Patricia (August 29, 2006). "MySpace cowboys". Fortune. Retrieved 2011.
^ Arrington, Michael (August 30, 2008). "MySpace Cofounder Tom Anderson Was A Real Life "WarGames" Hacker in 1980s". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2011.
^ Gorman, Tom (December 11, 1986). "A Hacker Vanishes : Computer Whiz, Missing Since September, a Source of Mystery". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011.
^ a b c Penenberg, Adam (2010). Viral Loop: The Power of Pass-It-On. Hachette UK. pp. 108-110. ISBN 1-84894-524-8.
^ Krantz, Matt (February 12, 2006). "The guys behind MySpace.com". USA Today. Retrieved 2011.
^ Agger, Michael (April 16, 2009). "Dude, Murdoch Friended Us!". New York Times. Retrieved 2011.
^ a b Chapman, Lizette (May 23, 2012). "MySpace Co-Founder Tom Anderson Leaps To RocketFrog As Adviser". Venture Capital Dispatch Blog. wsj.com. Retrieved 2012.
^ Adegoke, Yinka (April 7, 2011). "Special report: How News Corp got lost in Myspace". Reuters. Retrieved 2018.
^ Angwin, Julia; Emily Steel (April 23, 2009). "Founders Step Aside at MySpace". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011.
^ Nakashima, Ryan (March 10, 2010). "MySpace outlines makeover after exec shake up". Associated Press. Retrieved 2012.
^ "Tom Anderson". Tom Anderson on Twitter. Twitter. October 21, 2014. Retrieved 2014.
^ a b c Jared T. Miller (September 9, 2014). "Myspace Co-Founder Tom Anderson's New Life as a Landscape Photographer". Retrieved 2014.
^ Errett, Joshua (August 19, 2009). "MySpace walks into a bar..." Now Toronto. Retrieved 2011.
Tom Anderson's Guest DJ Project on KCRW
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Tom_Anderson | Anderson was a computer hacker under the pseudonym "Lord Flathead" (friends with Bill Landreth), and prompted a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raid after he cracked the security of Chase Manhattan Bank. He was not arrested because of his young age (14).[8][9]
Anderson studied English and Rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley, prior to becoming the lead singer of a band called "Swank."[7] Anderson then lived in Taiwan for some time, before returning to the United States to study for a degree in Critical Film Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.[5][10]
Anderson was a product tester and copywriter at XDrive, a digital storage company in 2000, where he first met DeWolfe.[10] He initially joined XDrive as a product tester after answering a flyer advertisement, while still at film school and looking to earn extra money.[11] After XDrive went bankrupt in 2001, he and DeWolfe founded the direct marketing company ResponseBase.[5][10] They sold ResponseBase to Brad Greenspan's eUniverse in late 2002.[7]
With other eUniverse employees, Anderson set up the first pages of Myspace in August 2003. He founded the site partly as a reaction to Friendster, and its policy of blocking accounts that did not use real names.[12]Intermix Media was then founded as the successor of eUniverse, and it was under Intermix that Myspace garnered the level of popularity for which it is notable. When Intermix Media and Myspace were sold to News Corp, Anderson became president of the company.[5]
Myspace was sold to News Corp in 2005 for $580 million.[13] Following the News Corp acquisition, Anderson said: "Before [the acquisition], I could do whatever I wanted. Now it takes more time to get people to agree on things. All the budget reviews and processes. That can be a pain. But it's not stopping us."[7] Reuters quoted an unnamed News Corp executive as saying: "Tom [Anderson] was responsible for the product but ended up being a complete bottleneck on getting things done."[14] Anderson was replaced as president in April 2009 by News Corp;[15] by 2010, he was no longer the default friend on Myspace and was replaced by a profile called "Today On MySpace," or "T.O.M."[16]
In late May 2012, Anderson announced that he would be joining RocketFrog Interactive as an adviser to the 1 | 564 |
Home Z- ARCHIVED CATEGORIES - DO NOT USE 125th Anniversary Belmont Unveils State-of-the-Art $8<|fim_middle|>AID
Nicole Jones - September 17, 2020
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Belmont Unveils State-of-the-Art $87 Million Academic and Dining Complex
April Hefner
New R. Milton and Denice Johnson Center to house Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, media studies program, new 950-seat cafeteria
Johnson Center Ribbon Cutting
Following a ceremony that began at 1:25 p.m., Belmont University officially cut the ribbon today to celebrate the grand opening of a new multi-functional complex to serve its growing student body. Named in honor of longtime trustee and Bridges to Belmont Endowed Scholarship creators, the new R. Milton and Denice Johnson Center will house the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, the media studies program and a vibrant new 950-seat cafeteria. The 1:25 start time marked the beginning of the University's 125th Anniversary celebration during the 2015-16 academic year.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, "From top to bottom, this building reflects innovation, excellence and a strong commitment to setting our students up for success. Our Curb College and media studies majors will be privileged to work with equipment and in settings that meet or exceed industry standards, preparing them to not simply achieve their career goals but to lead their respective industries. It's only appropriate that we should name this building in honor of a man who is at the forefront of his industry and a couple who generously support education with their time, energy and resources."
Milton and Denice Johnson
HCA Chairman and CEO Milton Johnson, who also serves as a Belmont Trustee, said, "Belmont is a world-class learning environment experiencing tremendous growth, and it is a privilege for Denice and me to be a part of the school's tradition of excellence. This new center will help Belmont provide its students with the technology and other resources needed to become the best in their fields, while also enhancing campus life for all students. As longtime supporters of the University, we look forward to seeing continued growth and success at Belmont."
With a total cost of $87 million, the 134,000 square foot Johnson Center boasts $3.6 million in technology resources and specialized equipment to serve students majoring in entertainment industry studies (EIS), music business, audio engineering technology (AET), songwriting, motion pictures and media studies. With multi-functional spaces offering classroom, lab, performance, production and research options, the new building is designed for interdisciplinary collaborations among the programs.
Moreover, the second floor of the Johnson Center is devoted to a new 950-seat cafeteria to serve the entire campus, a facility that nearly triples the seating capacity of the former dining hall. The seating space is segmented into three distinctively themed areas to provide student diners a variety of experiences—formal, BBQ/casual and urban contemporary—each with their own décor, furniture and lighting, as well as the Kaye and Ron Knox Balcony that overlooks the beautiful Lawn.
Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns noted, "The Johnson Center is a perfect reflection of Belmont's Vision 2020 principle to put our students at the center of all we do. From the addition of 1,000 underground parking spaces to a cafeteria largely influenced by student focus groups to academic areas that can compete with any professional production house, this building is designed to enrich campus life and provide a superior educational environment."
Large Screening Theater
Belmont's motion pictures majors will particularly benefit from the technology in the Johnson Center. Students will learn and be able to render their projects for Digital Cinema Package (DCP) compatible large-format screens. In addition to giving students a valuable skills edge in the industry, this capability means they can create and submit works that meet industry standards for film festivals and production companies. In addition, Dolby Corp. was so impressed by the educational potential of the Johnson Center that the company has provided a Dolby Atmos Rendering Unit (Dolby RMU) that will allow faculty to teach the process of creating and compiling movies in full Dolby Digital, 7.1 and the Atmos DCP formats. This makes Belmont Motion Pictures the first and only university-based film program capable of not only showing commercial films, but also teaching the process of developing and producing theater-ready films in the Atmos format. The Johnson Center's large screening theater is also the only theater in Nashville capable of showing films in the Atmos format.
Additional building highlights include:
A TV Production Control Room that will allow for the control of multiple sources of audio and video signals
Motion Capture Space/Anechoic Chamber
Motion Capture Space to create live-action computer-generated imagery, allowing for 3D animation, digital compositing and motion graphics for any production.
A large (250 seat) and a small (50 seat) Screening/Mixing Theaters to serve as a screening room for motion pictures, a mix theater for audio mixing for motion pictures and a lecture theater
Client Edit/Color Correction suite to perform color grading and correction of video elements
Multipurpose Media Focus Lab/Entertainment Industry Research Center to study audience reaction, interaction with media technologies and consumer consumption. Area includes one-way windows for observation and media control.
2,500 square foot Sound Stage for making single- and multiple- camera motion pictures adjoined by equally large warehouse space for set storage and construction
20 individual and four small group Student Edit Bays in which students can view, process, synchronize, edit and mix video and audio program material
Foley/ADR Suite to capture sound effects and atmospherics for replacing and enhancing sounds in audio, video and film productions
TV Production Studio
TV Production Studio for producing and capturing student newscasts, commentators, product shots and small interview productions. It will house a semi-permanent news set, Chroma key backgrounds and cyclorama curtains so cameras can capture video and audio of multiple actors.
Music History Display Caseswhich will initially house a selection from Dr. T.B. Boyd's private guitar collection, "Breaking Boundaries: R.H. Boyd Publishing and the Influence of African American Music." The collection represents more than 50 years of African American music with instruments signed by such legends as Dr. Bobby Jones, CeCe Winans and Isaac Hayes.
Harvey Room with white boards to allow for free thought and creativity when creating storyboard ideas
Dining hall that features numerous options and stations, including:
Vegan/vegetarian serving line
Brick oven pizza bar with in-house, fresh made dough
Weekly homemade pasta bar
360 degree grill in the international station
Two salad bars
Deli station offering custom-made sandwiches as well as Grab 'N Go sandwich selections
Simple Servings allergy free station with individualized cooking to order to ensure against cross-contamination
Full bakery
Waffle bar
Simply to Go meals
Traditional entrée and vegetable serving line
Grill station
The Granary with a large selection of self-service breads and cereals
The Kaye and Ron Knox Balcony providing outdoor seating for up to 45
As part of Belmont's Conservation Covenant, the University is seeking LEED Gold certification for the new building. These efforts are supported by the geothermal heating and cooling system installed beneath the Lawn, which the Environmental Protection Agency recognizes as an environmentally-friendly heating and cooling system because it uses the earth itself as the source to transfer temperatures, reducing energy costs and carbon pollution. In addition, the five-level underground garage limits the building's footprint, and in combination with the building's four areas of extensive green roof, reduces the heat island effect. One of the most intriguing "green" components of the Johnson Center can be found in the five dehydrators located in the service area. The dehydrating system can reduce 450 lbs. of food and cardboard waste to approximately 35 lbs. of enriched soil additives in 24 hours, reducing overall waste from food operations by 45 percent.
Belmont Students Collaborate to Promote Red Bull Soundclash Event Featuring Belmont Alumni
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For his latest documentary, Austria's Nikolaus Geyrhalter quite justifiably could have borrowed the title of Chinua Achebe's best-known novel: Things Fall Apart. But the fact that a ninety-minute film completely devoid of human presence is called Homo Sapiens is hardly coincidental. As the deconstructionists might say, human beings are the structuring absence in this film. From Russia and Japan, through the U.S. and across Europe, the film surveys various ways that we have intervened in the landscape: shopping malls, hospitals, prisons, agriculture, and a great deal more. The common denominator is that every site, every<|fim_middle|> there are many concrete, in-the-present reasons for this advanced decay.
non-scapes — a collapsing mall cinema; some overgrown railroad tracks; a dry, fallow field — tell the more prosaic tale of shifting economic fortunes, post-industrial/pre-tech-sector malaise, boats not lifted by the rising tide of neoliberal capital.
replete with our strangest dreams. But above all, Geyrhalter discovers that the places we built to learn, to make, to eat, to sleep, look like the art of Anselm Kiefer when reclaimed by fire, water, air, and earth. Instead of uncovering artifacts from long ago, Homo Sapiens shows us our own relics in the making. | building is in catastrophic disrepair, being reclaimed by the natural forces that human industry once overcame.
exploration of the restricted zone around Chernobyl. Other key works include Our Daily Bread (a mosaic on contemporary food production), 7915 Km (which traces the route of the Dakar Rally), and Abendland (an impressionist study of night labor across Europe). If Geyrhalter's work isn't as well-known as it should be, it's probably because his films fall somewhere between the "slow cinema" of fellow countryman Ulrich Seidl and the observational avant-garde of James Benning. With their fixed-frame camerawork, meticulous composition, and patient, nonjudgmental gaze, these films stake out a territory all their own: clearly documentary, but in no sense expository.
metaphor, as | 174 |
Welcome to our first Team L.I. Blog Hop! It is great to have you here, especially if you are new to my blog – for the hop, you will have come from Roxie Nitti, you are in the right place. This is our first Hop, and our theme for this month is April Showers.
My take on this theme is a little different – April Showers is usually a spring theme, whereas here in New Zealand we are going into winter. It has been such a beautiful summer, and so dry that some places in New Zealand have been declared a drought zone! The farmers are all hoping for April Showers. Living in Marlborough, it has been a fantastic summer for grapes, they have developed flavour and ripened so well. But not all the grapes are safely in the wineries yet, so we need the April Showers to hold off until the juice is in the tanks, turning in to wine.
I had some photos and accessories of a Baby Shower that I hosted three years<|fim_middle|>0th to enter. A winner will be announced on May 1st here on my blog so come back and see if you won. Winner will have one week to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.
Thanks for hopping here! Now hop on over to Lisa Tyndall to see what beautiful project she created for you!
Very pretty. Love the colors. Can't go wrong with pink!
Very cute layout. Love the little brads. I am following you by e-mail. I wanted to follow you by Google+ but the button is a share button so I couldn't follow you that way.
Gorgeous layout!! Thank you for sharing!
the black sure makes it stand out. great job!
Nice layout. Good idea about tracing the letters in black – really makes it pop.
Love your layout and how you suggested to trace the letters.
what a great way to make a title! the outline in black is perfect! | ago (time goes so fast!), and this seemed like the perfect oppotunity to scrap them.
And I used my Cuttlebug to cut out the title from the same paper range. I did feel that this blended into the background a little, so I traced around each letter with a black pen.
I was really pleased with the result, another layout to add to my album. For those of you who are here for the first time, while I love to scrapbook, I also do a lot of other papercrafts, so check out some of my other posts.
For the competition, you have until April 3 | 127 |
This position supports the Division of Structural Cardiology through activities associated with the conduct of investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored research studies. Basic responsibilities include: study design assistance,<|fim_middle|> and/or pharmaceutical terminology strongly desired. Strong organization and communication skills required. Able to work with multiple interruptions and to perform multiple tasks at any given time.
Shift Details: Daytime with occasional need for evening and/or weekend. Occasional travel. | regulatory submission and maintenance, research subject visit management, and any other research-related duties, as necessary. Under the supervision of Research and Development and the Division of Structural Cardiology within the Department of Medicine, this position is charged with maintaining compliance with study protocols, guidelines set by governing agencies, and institutional policy.
Candidate may be hired at level II or higher depending on experience and qualifications.
Other Minimum Qualifications: Excellent computer skills; strong knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and internet environment. Knowledge of medical | 103 |
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When comparing Leadpages vs Clickfunnels, as a tool, Clickfunnels undoubtedly offer you more as you can clearly see. Leadpages, nonetheless, is more concentrated and delivers exactly what they assure. If you desire a basic landing page that converts your leads, Leadpages is<|fim_middle|> to do by producing the channel. Following level is consumer retention or keeping them pleased with your item or the purchase, so they end up being return customers. | an excellent choice for you. If you want a much more intricate as well as exact procedure that will strategically approach all your site visitors and also produce a high operating sales funnel that will certainly carry out long-lasting to obtain you the most effective earnings, Clickfunnels is certainly the way to go.
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Click Funnels have been developed by sales and also marketer with numerous years of experience in really making sales. They operate under the slogan, "Take the power back from the tech men", since during the past years approximately the development of sites has been fully dominated by programmers and designers without an appropriate expertise of making a sale. Click Funnels make sure that the cash which you invest in the layout as well as growth of the website is not fruitless. This is why Click Funnels Pricing is a lot more crucial because you are not only paying for a simple web site yet a completely operating online shop that aids you transform every single client right into a sale. Adhering to are several of the pre-designed sales funnels that you can pick at the Click Funnels.
You can select these funnels according to the market you are operating in, the sort of services that you supply and also exactly what kind of a sales procedure that you want your possible consumers to experience. There are examples of all these funnels that you can have a step by step appearance at and also experience the same channeling process that your visitors will certainly experience as soon as you make use of that funnel.
All the layouts as well as sales funnels that you enter the Click Funnels service are significantly customizable. You can use your very own shade styles, pictures as well as texts taking into consideration the suggestions that Click Funnels use to obtain the most effective results. The customizing and modifying procedure is a straightforward drag as well as decline method making anybody, also without any kind of web layout experience, to develop the type of site that you always dreamed to have for your business.
A sales funnel favorably impacts the mind of your site visitors to earn the decision to go forward with your purpose. This is essentially giving that little press a sales representative would certainly give in a physical shop to lastly compose the mindset to go on with a purchase.
An internet site resembles a virtual store, as well as the objective of placing a huge investment into creating a web site is to ultimately help enhance the profits of your company. A lot of individuals, specifically the startups as well as the entrepreneurs that are new to the online company globe focus way too much on the appearances of the design to consider whether it works sufficient to really make a sale.
You may invest a great deal of money to employ the very best internet developers and also designers, and also they might also supply a terrific looking web site to you, but if you need to believe about the sales process within the web site, your financial investment will only cost you money without a return. This is why you require to buy Click Funnels. A site developed via that service is laser-focused to deliver excellent advertising and also sales results from the starting to the end. Following are the four main points that a well picked as well as positioned sales funnels do.
Bring in brand-new visitors to the site is the first as well as one of the most important jobs that a sales funnel does. This is the mouth of the channel. This phase is narrower and in the following step of the channel as well as need to be well maintained given that they are likely to make an acquisition how to prevent anyone from logging into clickfunnels membership site in the following couple of stages as long as you keep them pleased.
Closing is the final phase of a funnel where a lead ends up being a customer. They actively make the order as well as purchase your product, register for your e-newsletter or generally do just what you planned them | 1,063 |
Dirty Facts About Milwaukee Bucks Unveiled
The undesirable news for fans is that the typical ticket price has jumped by $144 and rates continue to rise. For subsequent season, the average cost for the 7,875 seats in the lower bowl of the Bradley Center is about $one hundred per game. That will grow to $118 in the following year at the new arena, where there will be ten,400 seats downstairs.
If not for an injury to Khris Middleton, it is rather most likely the Bucks would have had the chance to defend their 2021 NBA title against the Golden State Warriors. Portis' contribution was a large boost for the Bucks, as he found various methods to add worth. He also pitched in with some defensive work, recording two steals and two blocks. Portis' outburst further outlines the depth of the Bucks' roster.
The Bucks want to come across a group willing to take on the last year of his deal. Bleacher Report appears to think the Memphis Grizzlies would be interested in Hill. Hill may well hold some value primarily based on him being on an expiring contract and veteran savvy. Losing Middleton in the playoffs also showed the Milwaukee Bucks need to come across a handful of far more veterans who can shoot and defend.
But to me, the team has the prospective to be drastically various and considerably greater. Like Brook didn't play with Grayson the whole year, so obtaining these combinations will help. With most of the team's most significant moves total for the offseason, Horst chatted exclusively with The Athletic at Desert Oasis High School in Las Vegas on Sat., July 9 as the organization's summer season-league squad wrapped up practice. The shorthanded Bucks will rely on Giannis Antetokounmpo far more than ever.
Bucks basic manager Jon Horst pointed to this upcoming January as<|fim_middle|> ought to not be taken for granted. This trade would also save the Jazz $2.three million in cap space with out obtaining to accept a giant expiring contract. Grayson Allen turns 27 in October and could either be part of bridging the gap to a rebuild or flipped to a different contender at the trade deadline and enable the Jazz acquire even extra draft capital or prospects.
BOSTON — To effectively defend their NBA championship, the Milwaukee Bucks knew they needed a mixture of robust player performances, health and, probably, a little bit of luck. At least a single practice will be open, and the team will be involved in many outreach and public relations events. Getty ImagesThere are really couple of internal question marks on the Milwaukee Bucks with most of its roster returning from final try this site season. Nevertheless, they have a couple of questions to answer relating to their depth. Be positive to verify out David Aldridge's team offseason rankings with the Bucks clocking in at No. 24. Even although the team has larger targets in mind this season, it was still able to appreciate pulling off a feat no Bucks group has performed in 56 seasons.
DeRozan, who finished with 18 points in 43 minutes, mentioned he was pleased with most of the shots he took. "It just wasn't me. All of us. I guarantee, me, Zach and Vooch are not going to miss that quite a few shots once again. We just got to hold what we did defensively up and try to take that to one more level." He is the team's No. 2 scoring option, he has helped deliver the team a championship and he has the very same amount of All-Star appearances in his career as Beal, 1 a lot more appearance than LaVine. That said, we're glad basketball is back and with that, let's get some takeaways from the Bucks preseason finale. The Lakers, buoyed by stars Jerry West, Gail Goodrich and Wilt Chamberlain, wound up losing four of six but then went on to finish and went on to win the 1972 championship.
Meanwhile, the Hawks are coming off a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, getting outplayed from the get started, and they will be hoping to keep away from a repeat of the last game. In the preceding matchup in between the Hawks and the Bucks, Trae Young was out, but tonight DeJounte Murray will have his backcourt mate in the lineup. The Bucks started hot, hitting their five three-point attempts.
The Milwaukee Bucks held a lead late in the game but the lead slipped away thanks to a 41 point fourth quarter by the Grizzlies. The Milwaukee Bucks had been playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Wesley Matthews. Also, on the subject of the starters, Grayson Allen has changed numbers from 7 to 12. The Bucks spent the offseason attempting to find a replacement for P.J. Tucker from last year's playoff roster, but they might have found their answer in a player who was sitting at household for the initial two months of the season.
Though it would increase the Bucks' defensive efforts, the swap could hurt the group on offense. Adding Crowder would quickly make the Bucks stronger defensively. The 6-foot-six Crowder can defend multiple positions at the highest level, bringing extra tenacity and toughness to that side of the floor. Crowder would give the Bucks one more wonderful defender to take on these tough defensive assignments nightly. In mop-up duty final season, he flashed some exciting playmaking in the open court and hit his teammates with nifty passing. Regrettably, that didn't translate to the Summer League exactly where he had a horrific performance.
Regardless of getting a bump into the starting line up, Tim Hardaway Jr.'s basketball woes continued. Even though he shot a respectable two-of-6 from 3, he's now 35-of-119 (29%) on the year and just 127-of-423 (32%) in the Jason Kidd era. It appears that his two years of shooting with former Dallas coach Rick Carlisle had been outlier years. But against the Bucks and Celtics, arguably two of the finest teams in the league, they got torched from beyond the arc.
Losing Khris Middleton early who had to exit with a left ankle injury that he tried to come back in the game and shake off hurt the Bucks. Soon after the game Bucks Coach Mike Budenholzer was quoted saying "He ought to be fine. Hopefully he'll be fine." via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
This entry was posted in totosite and tagged sports on December 17, 2022 by totosite.link.
← Everything You Don't Find Out About Cleveland Cavaliers La Liga Tips & Guide → | a realistic timeline for his possible return. Middleton was in a position to play through the wrist injury, but a sprained MCL suffered in Game 2 of the 1st round of the NBA Playoffs proved to be also significantly to play through. Here is all the things we know about his injury and when he can return to the floor for the Bucks. Take a appear at the clip embedded below to hear what the two former Celtics had to say about how the league's Eastern Conference is shaking out, and what they believe about Boston's suspended coach. The other series with an average list price of $600+ is the Celtics and Nets series, which is number two on the list with an average value of$636.Prices for the series are also on the rise, and have gone up17%considering that game 1. The Milwaukee Bucks, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin wellness network and the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin are teaming up to host the Bucks Blood Drive at Fiserv Forum on Friday, Sept. two.
"The start of the third quarter stands out to me…I'm certain Grayson could be far better, but as a group, it's actually on all of us to be superior coming out of the 3rd quarter." He has scored just five original site points in the series, and his defense has not been up to his standards. Giannis Antetokounmpo did his part to give the Milwaukee Bucks a shot at moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals. Giannis had 44 points, 20 rebounds, and knocked down two three-pointers.
Lopez makes a huge difference for the Bucks and | 346 |
Off With Their Heads
From The Bottom
Written by: PP on 15/12/2008 15:24:4<|fim_middle|> full-of-feeling party-inducing voice, think halfway point between The Dropkick Murphys and The Briggs here. With the production being as rough as it is, the end result is a fun, vibrant sound of an underground scene that demands to be heard - why this type of music isn't "the next big thing" for major labels yet is a complete mystery to me.
The lyrics are heartfelt, dealing mostly with the shitty lives of the band members like in "I Am You" and "Keep Falling Down", but they are sung so cheerfully that it's difficult not to have a smile on your face over how optimistically these guys look at it. Every now and then political commentary sneaks in too, such as on the shortie "Terrorist Attack?" where the band are at their catchiest: "Don't fucking believe everything that you read, don't trust everything that you see in TV, subscriptions and ratings are all that they need, yeah!", and it's moments like these where the band is at their most enjoyable.
But most importantly, Off With Their Heads are just plain fun to listen to, nothing more, nothing less. They are one of those bands that just sounds freaking happy without having to flirt with pop almost at all.. if you find bands like Dropkick Murphys always a fun listen, then be sure not to miss "From The Bottom", a great debut album of a band which, by the sounds of it, will become a cult classic in no time.
Download: Terrorist Attack?, I Am You, 1612 Havenhurst
For the fans of: Dropkick Murphys, Street Dogs, The Briggs, Dillinger Four
Listen: Myspace
No Idea Records
Related Items | How we score? | 9
I'm only about six months late with the review of Off With Their Heads' debut album "From The Bottom", but better late than never, especially when it comes to awesome feel good punk rock that's as good for inciting a riotous party as it is for dancing frantically around your room no matter what the mood. This is 'street punk' at its best, no-frills, uncompromising, straight forward punk rock in the vein of The Briggs, Street Dogs and the like, 'working class punk' as some like to call it, all about the old school singalongs and ridiculously good bass lines.
Forget about stupid technicalities or anything else than three-chord punk, there's simply no need for it here. The guitars are straight forward and rough around the edges, and where that'd sometimes leave a longing for something more in a sound, their raspy, gritty vocalist more than fills that void with his | 191 |
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ahCoAf Or your friendly local game store!
Game Play: Crossing is a simple game with the premise of collecting as many stones as you can before they run out. The game mechanic is pointing at the pile of stones you want to take. If someone else points at the same pile, nobody gets that pile<|fim_middle|> like a book, which is fitting for this fairy tale game. The small details in the pictures also give little surprises to those that look close. And the color details make for a attractive looking game.
Classroom: This game is perfect for younger children just learning how to game. Since children like to point at things, they already have the most important part of the game done! Counting the gems may be a little hard, but players can just count the gems they have. If you have older children, you can also alter the counting system to make it harder to keep them challenged.
Recommendation: I cannot recommend this game enough for both families and classrooms. Because the game mechanic is simple, it is easy to teach for even the most new of teachers or parents into gaming. Add this to your rainy day boxes for a fun and fitting event to spend the day! | . If you point at a pile that nobody else had pointed at, you get to keep that pile. Things get interesting because you must bank your gems or risk having them stolen. Once all the gems are gone, you then count them up using the system they provide.
The game is super simple to play, making it a game that is good for all ages. Younger children will have fun pointing at mushrooms to gain gems. Older players may enjoy the part of the game where you can negotiate with other players.
Visual Appeal: The game pieces have beautiful art and use heavy cardboard to make it durable. The game box even looks | 126 |
For the University of California, Office of the President, MOB Media researched, scripted, shot and produced 19 various student health videos and PSAs. The campaign seeks to promote the use of mental health services and reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health in part through the use of these videos. MOB Media has spearheaded production, design and the overall look of the 19 videos.
This series of video content concentrated primarily on the subject matter of student mental health. MOB Media was charged with all production aspects, including concept development, scripting, location scouting, casting, interviewing, etc. Our process involves close association with UC<|fim_middle|> on campus cannot be underestimated. We produced videos that we expect will help improve lives, shape opinions and create unity. | System representatives, mental health professionals, campus representatives, students, professors, and administration ensuring that the proper message and tone were set for all constituents. The outcomes of this work have been amazingly creative and focused on each subject matter's core purpose. A challenging task considering the number of individuals and groups that participated. But the entire team was focused and set on achieving UCOP's goals. A final reward came from our Suicide Prevention PSA winning a Telly Award in the category of Social Marketing.
Our process for successfully delivering video production projects began with our conversations of PHDs and other mental health workers. A committee was formed from all campuses and meetings were set to clarify and confirm goals, deadlines and deliverables. After overall agreement reached per project, MOB Media would develop a concept of each subject matter, written schedule for all parties on the delivery of the finished product. In addition to establishing the timeline for all activities, the schedule sequentially lays out the services to be provided, logistics, permits, approvals, and identifies the MOB Media team members that are responsible, and indicates milestones that require client approval.
This has been a successful and rewarding, while demanding project. The sensitivity of the much of the subject matter and the importance these issues play in the lives of students, faculty and staff | 255 |
William John Jones (6 March 1876 – 25 September 1959) was an England international footballer who played as a right half. Jones made over 180 Football League appearances prior to the First World War.
Career<|fim_middle|> 3 March 1900. The following season Bristol City were runners up again in the Southern League with Jones making 28 appearances and scoring 1 goal. When Bristol City made their Football League debut in the Second Division on 7 September 1901 Jones played right half. Jones was ever present with 35 appearances in 1901–02. Jones made 32 appearances scoring 2 goals missing only 2 matches as "the Babes" rose to 4th place in 1902–03. City repeated the 4th-place finish in the following season when Jones made 32 appearances scoring 4 goals from the right half position. Jones made 32 appearances scoring 3 goals as City completed a trio of 4th-place finishes in 1904–05. When Bristol City won the Second Division championship in 1905–06 the injury prone Jones made 18 appearances playing in all of the record sequence of 14 successive wins early in the season. Jones moved to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 1906. Jones moved to Swindon Town in the summer of 1907.
After retiring from football Jones was landlord of the "Barley Mow" in Bedminster and died in 1959 at Snowdon Road Hospital, Bristol.
References
External links
1876 births
1959 deaths
Footballers from Brighton
English footballers
England international footballers
Association football wing halves
Long Eaton Rangers F.C. players
Loughborough F.C. players
Bristol City F.C. players
Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
Swindon Town F.C. players
English Football League players
Southern Football League players |
Jones was born in Brighton and earned one cap for England in a 3–0 win v Ireland at the Dell on 9 March 1901. while playing professionally for Bristol City.
Jones began his football career with Long Eaton Rangers before joining Wellington Athletic. He moved into the Second Division of the Football League when he joined Loughborough and was top scorer in 1896–97. Jones was the first player signed for Bristol City by new manager Sam Hollis in 1897. Jones made 8 appearances scoring 2 goals in 1897–98 when Bristol City finished runners up in the Southern Football League, he also made 9 appearances and scored 6 goals in the Western League championship winning side. Jones scored 4 goals in the 14–1 win v Eastleigh on 26 January 1898. Jones was the regular right half in 1898–99 making 23 appearances when City again finished as runners up in the Southern League. Jones missed only one match in 1899–1900, he began as right half but moved to centre forward when Alex Caie was transferred to Millwall. Jones made 31 appearances and scored 15 goals including 4 goals in the 5–1 win v Sheppey United on | 281 |
"Jeté" is the new and fascinating EP by Raven.[EP Review]
"Jeté" is the title of Raven's EP, released on October 25th, and "U Should Have Told Me" is the first single that introduced us to his sound, experimental and beat-oriented universe.
A piece that comes from an experimentation on his Wurlitzer, and that slowly, with a serendipity, finds its own form, acquiring an abstract garment that gives fascination to your listening.
A sample taken from an old folk record leads us into a spiral where the beat is the only handhold, a natural evolution that gives emphasis on physicality, on body movement.
<|fim_middle|>, Kwes and Bullion are some of the artists with whom Raven collaborated during his career, and his music takes great inspiration from dance as a physical and psychic discipline, as an experience and a contact with the world.
"I find people really inspiring, it's amazing what can happen after a good conversation, it can give you a different perspective on things. I guess I'm always trying to get a new perspective in one way or another, I find that really creative" Raven claims, and from this openness to the world could only originate the warm and enveloping sounds that we find in these four tracks, an arty but intense house music, a mélange of sound in which everything is in its place, realized through a humanized technology and aimed mainly to emotions.
The second single released in October is "Floss", kick drum and a Middle Eastern phrasing that adds exotic nuances and a reference to a wide-ranging and transglobal world-music, synthetic and vibrant sounds constitute an exquisite music structure. There is also "DRM" in which ethno-techno suggestions predominate over an electronic scenario with more geometric lines, and there is also the space for the percussions of "Mifami" that unfolds in a minimal crescendo with an elegant and compact, introspective design, as seductive as the entire EP.
Nando Dorelassi
Episode 13 – Hourglvss
Grace Lightman's songwriting has many faces, all fascinating.[Album Review]
by Alessandro Doni | Kate Tempest, Paul Weller, Mica Levi | 11 |
Laura and I decided that to get a good idea of what a city has to offer, we should try at least three different types of restaurant in each area. We decided to start with Seekonk, so last week we went Mexican (Laura's favorite cuisine) and ate at Tito's Cantina (see review here). This week, I got my chance with my favorite cuisine (Italian) and we visited DiParma Italian Table. It's located in the old Darling's building at the Ramada and brought back a lot of pleasant memories of that now gone favorite.
We arrived on a chilly afternoon at around 3:10 p.m. A few tables were occupied but it was mostly quiet. We were seated immediately and approached by our server, Michael. He asked if we were there for lunch and we said yes. Now here's where Laura and I disagreed. I assumed we could only order from the lunch menu because it was before 4 p.m. But Laura figured because the menu also included the dinner choices, we could have ordered those selections. I probably would have gone dinner if I'd thought it was an option, but I chose from lunch. SIGH.
Anyway, Michael took our drink order - two Diet Pepsis - and returned with a basket of rolls. We were still deciding on our lunches and Michael explained how the lunch portions were smaller and came with different options than the dinner selections. This also convinced me I had to choose from the lunch menu (I later found out I was wrong when Laura actually called to find out). SIGH again. We were all hyped up to order their homemade potato chips as an appetizer. We saw them listed on their online menu. We were very disappointed to see them no where on the house menu, so we just stuck with the rolls.
There was more than one, but we'd already eaten them.
Laura finally decided to get the individual Hawaiian Spice pizza. It contained applewood smoked bacon, roasted pineapple, and jalapenos. When it was placed in front of us, you could smell it before Michael put it down. Laura declared it spicy and delicious. She even loved the crust, which she usually doesn't finish.
I decided to start with a bowl of soup, which was offered with lunch entrees for only $1.99. I got my favorite minestrone and the bowl was substantial and the soup was fantastic. It came with little oyster crackers which I happily floated on top. What a great start to my meal.
For my entree I ordered cheese tortelloni with marinara sauce. I originally was going to order the bolognaise sauce but Michael said a mistake on the menu didn't show that the meat sauce was $3 extra. I didn't think it worth it so I stuck with the marinara. I was glad I did. It was so light, fresh, and delicious. The tortelloni pasta was amazing. Freshly-made sure makes a difference from the boxed or frozen we're used to. They were filled with ricotta cheese and not at all watery when cut. This is when I wished I'd ordered the dinner portion. I wanted more, lol. As it<|fim_middle|> a dessert menu. The whole Seekonk menu is online here.
You might want to be careful though. We found a few differences between their house menu and online menu (remember, no chips). But don't worry, their menu is extensive and I know you'll have no trouble finding something tasty. Actually, the problem will be narrowing down what you want.
With 20% tip, we left $33 for Michael. Although he was very attentive throughout the whole meal, he seemed to have forgotten about us at the end. However, we were able to catch his eye when we stood up and started putting on our coats.
DiParma has been in business for over three decades and has its original location down the Cape. Besides serving the public for lunch and dinner, DiParma is also available for weddings, functions and events. The DiParma in Seekonk is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to midnight (lunch is served until 4 p.m., dinner is served until 10 p.m., and pizza and appetizers are served until midnight).
Don't forget to check out MenuJoy.com for great area restaurant menus! | were, I had about six large tortelloni, a small salad, and a slice of garlic toast. The whole meal was terrific. Everything was so well prepared.
DiParma has everything you'd want from a fine Italian restaurant. Pizzas, pastas, beef, seafood, and poultry dishes. They also carry soups, sandwiches, and salads and offer | 74 |
Up, down, up down, up down. The terrain is forested in places, over hills and down to rivers. Beautiful walking, but very hard. It's overcast and windy. There are lots of people on the trail, many of them Sunday day hikers. We see Aspen Judy again, with her van set up to serve her hikers morning snacks. We arrive in the town of Villava at 1:00 PM. This is a suburb of Pamplona. There are crowds of people everywhere. A major celebration? We duck into a church and are surprised to be part of a packed audience listening to an orchestra performing a variety of classical and Spanish music, even some opera. Wonderful!<|fim_middle|> Finally, beside ourselves we wander in the direction someone has pointed to and see the giant four stars on top of the building. Hurray! And whew!! It is now 3:00 and fortunately, lunch is served from 1-4. More whew!!! The Spanish stretch their mid-day meal out much longer than the French and then dine much later at night, typically sitting down to dinner well after 8:30. Big learning curve here in Spain's food department. The hotel offers an elaborate buffet for the first course – tons of food – and then the entree. We eat way too much: stuffed eggplant, stuffed piquenos, pasta with sauce, salads, duck comfit for my main course and steak for Nick's, finally flan for dessert. Stuffed us!!! I've never been so uncomfortable in my life. We toddle to our room and are in bed by 6:00. Sleep through with a little midnight reading. The room is very comfortable, a good thing since we are here a second night. | The church has standing room only and very little of that. The audience gives the program their rapt attention. I believe these are Basque musicians… all wear the red bandana favored by their culture. Back on the street with throngs of revelers (and growing piles of trash), we now start a daunting search for our hotel. We ask for directions and cannot understand answers. We call the hotel and cannot follow their directions. | 87 |
Home » Blogs » Think Tank » There Is No Magic Number for Demand Forecasting
There Is No Magic Number for Demand Forecasting
Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain
If only that were possible - or even desirable. The notion of one-number forecasting has been bandied about for a number of years, as the key to managing global supply chains. A simple answer to a complex problem: irresistible. But is it really an answer? Or just a trendy concept with imperfect application to the real world?
Without question, companies need to align their various departments to ensure that all are working from some kind of consensus-based plan. The effort falters, however, when they attempt to impose one invariable demand forecast across sales, marketing, finance, procurement, manufacturing and logistics. Each area is likely to tweak that number to square with its own expectations. Often a departmental calculation will deliberately veer from reality, in order to maximize resources or incentivize a sales force. The result: too much product chasing too little demand. And a carefully crafted forecast that nobody takes seriously.
Still, companies need to have some kind of a starting point. That's what sales and operations planning (S&OP) is all about. It incorporates input from multiple disciplines as a means of synchronizing and unifying the organization.
Nestle USA spent three and a half years implementing S&OP, an effort that successfully drove it from a six-number plan to a consensus figure, according to Geoffrey Fisher, director of demand and supply planning. Still, when it came time to execute against that number, there was a certain amount of "wink-wink" behavior among the supply team.
"There's a lot of value to using one number as a battle cry, but don't forget the actual work [that's required] to get it done," Fisher said at a recent conference of the Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning in Scottsdale, Ariz.
IBF panelist Patrick Bower, senior director of corporate planning and customer service with Combe Inc., called the one-number concept "a bit of a misnomer. You need to have one agreed-upon plan as a baseline ... for supply planning and budget. But it's kind of defined poorly."
What companies ought to be doing, Bower said, is "banding" around a consensus number, with high and low parameters that acknowledge the uncertainties of customer demand.
Jonathon P. Karelse, president of Syncro Distribution Inc., agreed. The debate over one-number planning gets caught up in semantics, he said. What's more, companies need to realize that any number they devise is going to be wrong.
"The important thing is that there's a confidence interval around that number," Karelse said. "You need to plan appropriately for the high side and the low side." Companies can allow sales and marketing to assume the best possible scenario, he added, as long as they "allow for the worst and are prepared."
Coming up with some magic number is an attractive idea, said Bower, but the effort has to be "reality-based." If sales and marketing is setting a "stretch objective," there needs to be a means of determining how the sales plan will dovetail with actual production runs. For better or worse, the real world trumps business objectives every time.
Randy Wilp, leader of global commercial forecasting with Merck & Co., Inc., sounded even more existential. "In my mind, there is no one version of the truth," he said, dashing the hopes of supply chain executives the world over.
At one point, Merck tried the one-number approach to forecasting. "Luckily," said Wilp, "that's been abandoned." Today, the company runs its operation on forecasts, but it works hard to understand the varying demand signals within its own organization, as well as among its supply-chain partners.
The trick lies in achieving "complete transparency" between functional units of a company, said panel moderator Seema Phull of North Find Partners. Lack of that essential element "is what creates the multiple versions of misaligned plans."
So what are the key metrics that a company can use to drive change and coherence in its forecasting efforts? And how can it ensure that it's getting the most valuable input from each function? When Karelse headed up the consumer products division of Yokohama Tire (Canada), he<|fim_middle|> analyzing the net benefit of each contributor's input, "so we could identify whose time we were wasting, and what was causing degradation of the plan."
What Karelse was doing, without knowing its formal name, was engaging in forecast value-add (FVA) analysis, a means of identifying waste in the forecasting process. The lesson was clear: "when you begin measuring it, you can improve it."
The initiative known as Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) is widely considered to be a valuable tool for gauging customer demand in retail promotions and other special marketing efforts. But FVA allows a company to scrutinize "the maturity levels of the people you're engaging with downstream, and measure forecasting horizons," said Karelse. "If you just starting rolling in customer forecasts because the customer "˜knows,' it's going to cost you a lot of money."
One fixed number for forecasting? Forget about it. But companies can still achieve internal and external alignment of the planning process through proper measuring, and an understanding of the natural biases that each function holds. As Fisher put it, "You replace one number with one plan."
Next: What companies are looking for in a demand planner.
Keywords: supply chain, supply chain management, inventory management, inventory control, logistics management, supply chain planning, supply chain forecasting, retail supply chain, sourcing solutions, supply chain risk management
Reverse Logistics Product Lifecycle Management Sales & Operations Planning Forecasting & Demand Planning Supply Chain Finance & Revenue Management Supply Chain Planning & Optimization Supply Chain Visibility Global Supply Chain Management Quality & Metrics Supply Chain Security & Risk Mgmt Retail | helped launch a company-wide planning effort that included the formation of a Forecast Council. Dream met cold reality when Karelse realized that most of the people on the council didn't want to be there. He began | 42 |
In a time when the company was still fully owned by Deutsche Telekom, Scout24 was the umbrella brand for a number of digital marketplaces, the result of organic growth as well as a few acquisitions.
Initially, digital marketplaces functioned almost like the digitized version of newspapers' classified sections: topics were organized by searchable categories, with little additional functionality or intelligence. These marketplaces had built<|fim_middle|> the introduction of clear top-level decision guidelines, Scout 24 had a clear roadmap for brand and sub-brand expansion and a plan for a radical digital business transformation.
Marc has more than 15 years of international experience in the field of transformation & change management, driving our Outside-In approach with his specialization in customer-centricity and customer-centered organizations. | individual systems and Scout24 wanted to integrate them into a common platform through digital transformation in order to better align their service offerings to specific customer needs. In addition to creating greater clarity for customers, such an organization would allow the company to detect high-value opportunities for future growth in the e-commerce industry, and so Scout24 approached Vivaldi.
We identified the strategic levers for Scout24 that would increase customer relevance across their verticals. This way we supported Europe's largest group of online marketplaces to continue their profitable growth.
We started by conducting consumer research with our proprietary outside-in, DemandFirst™ methodology. By exploring digital consumer behavior, we were able to identify new strategic growth platforms and opportunities for business transformation. Specifically, we identified seven opportunity platforms at the intersection of different consumer needs and offering features. Most of Scout24's vertical brands, we found, were positioned on the consumer needs "control and support / security" by offering "efficient problem solutions". Scout24's brands were overlapping each other by targeting similar consumer needs, all within the two opportunity platforms we had named "Effective and Efficient Finding" and "Security Through Partnerships".
We pulled apart the subbrands to give each one its own role in the portfolio, and defined the overarching Scout24's brand identity as "Simply Found," which resonated strongly with internal audiences. It made clear the brand's functional and emotional core benefits as well as its character and expression.
Building up from our initial customer insights, brand analysis, and brand strategy definition, we finally defined the strategic vision. Here, the challenge was to adapt the business model. Customers' needs were becoming increasingly sophisticated and the explosion of competing offerings hampered the ability of Scout24 to claim to be a complete "online marketplace".
Instead of trying to connect the individual sub-brands with its customers at separate touchpoints, we recommended that Scout24 connect the dots into a holistic customer journey accompanied by its various vertical sub-brands. The goal was to achieve a broader relevance within customers' life contexts and accompany them "from cradle to grave". The database was expanded using a flexible, adaptive matching technology that understood customer needs and found or created a suitable solution for them.
Additional products and services were created to address customer needs from a broader set of opportunity platforms including "Enable Access" thus being constantly available, "Enrich the Core" of Scout24 through added services, and "Engage in Relationships with Customers". With that, we laid the foundation for Scout24 to evolve from an online marketplace to a "best match" across all offerings, from a product perspective to value-added services, from pull to push & pull, and from a unilateral relationship to a bilateral multiple connection across different needs and offerings.
The big added value of Vivaldi was that they got us digitally prepared. Thanks to this transformation, we were placed well ahead of any competitor.
As a result, we optimized the company's demand-driven digital services offerings to ensure future growth and relevance. With | 607 |
Maybe you've come across one of these "new bar code things" on an advertisement, brochure or business card. You may have even heard of QR codes but didn't connect the dots between the term and what you've been seeing. If you're still figuring out what QR codes are and why they matter, then "connecting the<|fim_middle|> if you are just starting to consider using QR codes in a marketing program. You will likely recognize some of the do's and don'ts identified here, and you may find other helpful ideas that you can utilize as well.
For QR codes to bring value to B2B audiences, marketers must create a user-friendly experience. Using compatible code formats and optimizing messages and content are critical for meeting the demands of a tech-savvy audience. As more marketers use QR codes well, these little squares will become more valuable to B2B audiences. | dots" is a good place to start — it's fundamental to how QR codes work, too.
"QR" stands for "Quick Response." The pixilated-looking dots that make up a QR code are scanned by a mobile device equipped with a camera and a code-reader application, such as a smartphone or a tablet computer. This unlocks the content stored in the code, which, when used in marketing, is often a URL that leads to a Web page. QR codes are a natural fit for mobile devices because these devices typically come equipped with cameras, provide access to code-reader software and include Internet applications.
The technology is still relatively new to B2B marketing, but awareness will likely increase as mobile devices continue to gain popularity. In the meantime, remedying some common misuses of QR codes will help encourage their longer-term adoption and give B2B marketers a useful tool in the process.
Understanding that QR codes are indeed a tool — and not some magical marcomm elixir — is especially important. Many uses of QR codes seem focused on associating the company or product with this emerging technology and show little concern for the user's experience when the code is accessed. The QR code experience should not only be rewarding to the user, but be unique to how users consume content on mobile devices.
1. Use compatible codes – Not all QR codes are created equal. Microsoft's Tag codes require a separate code-reader application, an annoyance for mobile device users who prefer fewer, multifunctional applications. Marketers are better off sticking with the traditional QR code format that is compatible with most code-reader applications.
2.Focus your message – The top two B2B marketing messages are "product" and "company," but what, specifically, do you want to say about your product or company? Linking a QR code to your company home page provides more information than can be easily viewed on most mobile devices. Using a more specific message will make it easier to share your content in a less-cluttered setting.
3. Enhance or extend your message – Linking to repetitive content provides little value. A QR code should enhance or extend what you've just shown on paper. Video can take a message shared in pictures and words and show how it works in a live setting. Providing more detailed product information can be helpful when targeting highly technical audiences, such as engineers.
4. Optimize content – Creating a mobile-optimized website to link your QR code to is one of the best ways to ensure your content is easy to see and navigate on a mobile device. Video is a convenient alternative because many devices come equipped with a YouTube application and video software.
5. Explain your offer – Early in their inception, part of the fun in scanning a QR code was to see where it takes you. However, as more and more QR codes lead to undesirable destinations, that novelty is starting wear off. Tell your audience where your code will lead them, and they'll be more likely to scan your QR offer.
In fact, scan a few for yourself | 608 |
Report: Australian digital advertising spend rebounds in Q3, 2020
Latest IAB Australia figures show online ad spend across general display, search and classified all up against a COVID-hit Q2
The latest Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Australia digital advertising figures show ad spending is rebounding, with an 11.3 per cent increase between Q2 and Q3, 2020.
According to the latest quarterly IAB Australia Online Advertising Expenditure Report, digital<|fim_middle|> challenging year, but the growth this quarter in terms of digital formats signals the industry is bouncing back," commented IAG Australia CEO, Gai Le Roy. "We are now entering what is traditional considered the industry's strongest quarter and we anticipate continuation of the growth through to the end of the year."
In terms of sectors, IAB found retail reflected 10.3 per cent of Q3 2020 general display spend, up nearly a full per cent year-on-year, while automotive, which represented 14.1 per cent, was down from 22.4 per cent in Q3, 2019. Finance was another increased spender, up to 9.5 per cent of share in Q3, 2020, compared to 6.6 per cent in Q3, 2019.
According to IAB's Q2, 2020 report, Australia's online advertising revenue across the April – June quarter declined by 12 per cent year-on-year, a reflection of the COVBID-19 impact on marketing spend nationally. The biggest area to be hit was classifieds, down 22. 7 per cent over the period.
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What heightened social platform scrutiny means for brands in 2021 | advertising chalked up 11.3 per cent growth in the three months to 30 September 2020 to reach $2.26 billion. The report found all advertising categories to have achieved growth against Q2, which was hit by the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis on advertising overall.
The largest share of spend in Q3 was search and directories, representing 45 per cent of all expenditure or $1 billion in spend over the quarter. This was followed by general display at 38 per cent and worth $871m, then classifieds (17 per cent and $386m). Year-on-year, general display was up 0.9 per cent, while search and directories and classified sectors were both down by -6.9 per cent and -11.5 per cent respectively.
IAB said all general display formats including video, standard display and infeed/native advertising, experienced double-digit growth at 11 per cent, 10 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. Mobile represented two-thirds of general display advertising and 63 per cent of search and directories.
Video advertising was also seen to be shifting towards pre-pandemic results with CTV inventory rising the highest growth across digital screens.
"It's been a | 267 |
Last Sunday we took a wander through the Alameda Gardens and Eldest realised it was the fourth consecutive Sunday that he'd done this… we're nothing if not predictable!
Gibraltar had its lanterns out this week in honour of the Chinese New Year. There was a proper celebration with a Chinese dragon dance in town on the big day.
On Tuesday evening a nasty bug struck Littlest Postcard. The rest of the week, I was pretty much housebound. We have had some lovely sunny days, so one afternoon I snuck out onto the balcony for a cup of tea in the sun and found myself mesmerized by the bees buzzing around our money tree.
Is that a tortoise I see?
On walking past the register office garden in town yesterday, I spied something on the grass… a tortoise! What a lovely spot for him/her to wander at will!
I got the fright of my life yesterday while out for a walk. I heard some seagulls overhead making a right racket above me. Then suddenly I heard a plop on the road in front of me. It was a outside round of a loaf of bread – dropped from a great height!!! It gave me the fright of my life… imagine getting hit on the head by that!!
And on that wholemeal note, I shall end Sunday Sevens. I'm pleased to say Littlest is fully recovered from his illness, and so far (touch wood) the rest of us have managed to dodge it.
Those of you who have been following my blog for a while may remember that 2 years ago, I undertook some guerrilla crochet and yarnbombed the Alameda Gardens for it's 200th anniversary. You can read all about in this post from International Yarnbombing Day 2016.
Well it turns out, today is International Yarnbombing Day 2018 and I fancied getting my yarnbombs out of storage to see the light of day again. This time though, it was a bit less guerrilla (I actually had permission this time – must be getting old and more responsible!).
My mini blanket is now hanging up alongside the fundraising plaques for the Alameda BioDome.
This time it has some little crocheted butterflies holding it in place.
And last of all, vines of little crocheted flowers have wound themselves around the railings too.
If you would like to go and see them for yourself, they should hopefully be there until Wednesday.
For more information about the Alameda BioDome Project, why not check out their blog?
And relax… feeling a little achey after the Med Steps 5 Challenge last Saturday, our first barbecue of the year, my new book and a cold beer were just what the Dr ordered!
Two Little Postcards had an<|fim_middle|> school children. It's a very exciting project and has already garnered a lot of support, but there is still a way to go to raise all the cash needed to build it. For more information about the Alameda BioDome, you can read about it here.
My Sandy Bay blanket made it to Sandy Bay on Friday morning. It was gloriously sunny between the wispy clouds skudding across the sky but the breeze was rather brisk. I had to kneel on my blanket to take the photo to prevent it blowing into the sea! Thank goodness I went while the Little Postcards were at school – they would have well and truly disowned me as I clambered over the rocks to try and get a decent photo!!
That's all from Sunday Sevens for this week, I hope you have had a great weekend. I'm linking with Natalie from Threads and Bobbins for this weekly blog series. | in service day on Monday. We headed down to Camp Bay for a bit of a kick around and ice cream. What with bank holidays and extra days off school at the moment, there doesn't seem to be a 'normal' week at the moment – perhaps that's why it feels like time is whizzing by!
I had a trip up to the Great Siege Tunnels this week as a parent helper on a school trip. We got a bird's eye view of the tunnel being built at the end of the runway, can you see it? There are two tunnels with what looks like a spine and ribs over the top. It was the first time I'd been to the Siege Tunnels with a guide (well a teacher who knew all about it) and I learned quite a few new things. Which reminds me, I went there with the Little Postcards a few months ago during a school holiday and I was meaning to write a post all about it…. one day!
I love the colour of Jacaranda blossom. This tree sits on Main Street and you could easily miss it as you go about your business. Sometimes it's a good idea to look up!
On Thursday I was invited to a special reception in the Alameda Botanical Gardens. A community group I used to be involved with has sponsored a plaque to raise funds for a bio dome and learning facility for | 279 |
The PRWIRE Press Releases https:// 2016-03-22T06:18:01Z SAP Malaysia recognises NTT DATA Business Solutions Malaysia Sdn Bhd's Cloud Achievements 2016-03-22T06:18:01Z sap-malaysia-recognises-ntt-data-business-solutions-malaysia-sdn-bhd-s-cloud-achievements PRESS RELEASE Malaysia, March 2015- NTT DATA Business Solutions Malaysia Sdn Bhd was presented the SAP Partner Excellence award for Cloud Solutions category at the recently held SAP PKOM Summit in Malaysia. The Awards were given to top-performing partners that excelled in their partnership with SAP and helped customers run better and simpler with SAP solutions. Daire O'Mochain, Regional Manager, SAP Cloud Solutions accepted the award on behalf of NTT DATA Business Solutions Malaysia team. "Accepting the award for Cloud Partner of the Year in Malaysia on behalf of our Malaysia team is a great honour. It confirms our commitment to providing innovative solutions to our customers' business needs across the complete SAP suite whether that be on-premise, Saas or a combination of both. Add to that our ability to provide application hosting locally in Cyberjaya and we offer a unique proposition to local and regional businesses," he explains. O' Mochain further attributes the success of the team in 2015 by a rapidly growing acceptance of Cloud solutions by HCM leadership teams in Malaysia and South East Asia. The SAP SuccessFactors suite is an acknowledged leader in Cloud HCM and the team have built a highly experienced team in Malaysia to ensure that NDBS is a partner providing solution expertise with regional delivery experience. O'Mochain commented that "This is increasingly important as we see more and more customers demanding a solution that supports expansion into and across APAC as well as a partner who has a regional and global presence to match their own. It also helps to be a customer ourselves using a number of Cloud products including SuccessFactors and Concur." "It is an exciting time to be in the SAP Cloud space and we look forward to building on our regional and global successes in this space through 2016 and beyond with some exciting innovations of offer to our APAC customers in coming months across SuccessFactors, Business ByDesign and Analytics," he added. SAP recognised NDBS' expertise in innovation and extended value support to ensure results and solutions to run SAP more simply in the Cloud. Please go to www.nttdatasolutions.com<|fim_middle|>ane Porquier, NDBS Consulting Manager (Business Intelligence) facilitate the talks during the workshop. Porquier has more than 11 years of experience in the Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing solutions with the last 9 years in a project management capacity and has implemented 10 successful BI or Data Warehouse solutions. He shares how attendees can make use of their business data to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty with SAP Lumira. "Customers can now access and acquire data for all business workstream easily without any scripting. This includes deTariff, Underwriting or Claims. Lumira integrates and transforms both enterprise and personal data sources in a repeatable and self-service way, giving the customers better capability to visualize the changes immediately with remarkable graphics and visualizations," according to Keith Chen, NTT DATA Business Solutions Sales Manager. About SAP Lumira SAP Lumira is a data visualisation software that provides Business Intelligence analysis via interactive and intuitive dashboards. Lumira can help create stunning visualisations that tell great visual data stories. Now even greater with NTT DATA Business Solutions' prebuilt insurance analytics together with the team's collective experience in engaging with insurance clients across the region. About NTT DATA Business Solutions NTT DATA provides solutions to fast track and streamline the implementation of SAP Lumira for insurance and banking companies. NTT DATA Business Solutions designs, implements, supports, and hosts SAP-centric business solutions for organisations of all sizes. The unified Solutions Group forms the largest global reseller of SAP license and focuses on end-to-end solutions across the entire SAP portfolio of applications and sixteen industry domains. NTT DATA Business Solutions provides services to over 5,000 SAP customers and operates ten dedicated SAP Hosting Centres globally. # # # Contact: Chonaisa Q. Simbulan Campaign Manager, NTT DATA chonaisa.simbulan@nttdata.com + 07 55123 837 NTT DATA Singapore wins prize in Healthcare Supplier Awards 2015 2015-10-26T08:54:54Z ntt-data-singapore-wins-prize-in-healthcare-supplier-awards-2015 Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, 19 October 2015 --NTT DATA Business Solutions (NDBS) Singapore is a proud participant and winner in the recently concluded Healthcare Supplier Awards 2015. NDBS Singapore bagged 2nd prize under the Innovation Award Category which recognises Suppliers for commendable innovation in introducing new approaches, products, services or technology in NHG, NUH, KTPH and or AIC in business systems. The event was organized by the National Healthcare Group and supported by National University Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Agency for Integrated Care. The award aims to encourage innovative ideas between suppliers and participating hospitals and institutes leading to better patient care, reduced operational risk and improved overall efficiency and productivity. Healthcare Supplier Awards 2015 was held with 25 other companies who participated in this event. "We would like to extend our sincere thanks to TTSH & IHIS team to your nomination for the Innovation Award for Healthcare Supplier of the Year 2015. There were numerous challenges in the HI project but all stakeholders worked very hard together to deliver the project successfully. Our team appreciates this award and TTSH's recognition of our efforts," said Mr. Heng Puay Hiong, Managing Director of NTT DATA Business Solutions Singapore. This year's Awards featured 3 categories Operational Excellence Award. This is awarded to Suppliers who represent the best in performance consistency, quality, patient safety and customer satisfaction in NHG and/or NUH and/or KTPH and/ or AIC. Innovation Award. Recognizes suppliers who pioneer a new approach or service design or technology within NHG and/ or participating Institutions in the areas of processes, service performances and/ or quality of products. Continuous Improvement Award. This is given to organisations who are steadfast and committed in ensuring constant improvement and foster positive outcomes throughout systems in NHG and/ or participating Institutions in the areas of processes, service performances and/ or quality of products. About NTT DATA Singapore NTT DATA Singapore is a business unit of NTT DATA Corporation -- a top 10 global IT services company founded in 1967 as Data Communication Headquarter of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation. NTT DATA Business Solutions operates in 35 countries and offers a powerful, unified combination of businesses delivering full-service solutions globally, providing premier professional services from consulting, system development to business IT outsourcing. We help clients explore new ways to respond to market dynamics with flexibility and speed, reduce costs with less risk, and increase productivity to enable growth. # # # Contact: Chonaisa Q. Simbulan Marketing Campaign Manager NTT DATA Business Solutions T: + 07 55123 837 E: chonaisa.simbulan@nttdata.com W: www.nttdatasolutions.com.au Australia | http://www.solutions.nttdata.com Global NTT DATA Business Solutions Sponsors Panel in Questex Media's Healthcare Innovation Solutions Day Series 2015 2015-10-08T02:18:02Z ntt-data-business-solutions-sponsors-panel-in-questex-media-s-healthcare-innovation-solutions-day-series-2015 MANILA,PHILIPPINES & KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA; OCTOBER 2015 -- NTT DATA Business Solutions is a proud sponsor of this year's Healthcare Innovation Solutions Day Series organized by Questex Media Singapore. The event is a regional healthcare innovation conference that examines the value of technology in improving healthcare provision and the efficiencies it brings to healthcare systems. Leaders such as department heads and senior management are invited to join the healthcare I.T. conference to network and exchange strategies with their peers. The Healthcare Innovation Manila and Kuala Lumpur Series would take place on the 27th of October at the Dusit Thani Hotel, and the 3rd of November at Renaissance Hotel respectively. Participants will be exposed to new technologies that can help transform business strategies into quantifiable and measureable business outcomes. Trend Spotting for Healthcare Industries NTT DATA Solutions' Human Capital Management Practice Lead for Australia, Mark Wade, will be part of the Panel that will discuss "The Future of Healthcare in Philippines and Malaysia." He has 13 years business experience in human resource, payroll administration and payroll/compensation & benefits management across a variety of roles and industries. He has also architected NTT DATA's Talent Management for Healthcare solutions. The talk aims to showcase Cloud applications for Healthcare including Procurement and Human Resources. Among the pressing issues affecting healthcare talent management are the often fast-paced impacts of technological change in the digital age; the expanding scope of global demand and dependencies; the ageing population and the role of increased urbanisation to patient care and workforce acquisition and retention. "The healthcare digital landscape is quickly changing in South East Asia. The era of digitised medicine is upon us. The implementation of electronic medical records in many hospitals will simplify healthcare delivery, remote diagnostics and other advanced technologies will increase the quality of healthcare. A study by Deloitte states that regulatory compliance and patient safety continues to emerge with enforcement in some countries still is an issue," according to Wade. He adds that, "this disruptive innovation will have a profound effect on our most important healthcare resource – the talented people that make up our workforce. Our often forgotten HR systems and processes also have to adapt to this changing landscape – through the whole of organisation. In a competing regional healthcare sector, failure to address this will result not only in a financial bottom line impact, but more importantly add risk to patient safety, quality and workforce related regulatory compliance." NTT DATA Fast-track Solutions NTT DATA's Panel Sponsorship in the Healthcare Innovation Solutions Day Series allows NTT DATA Business Solutions to impart industry expertise on technological innovations on the healthcare industry. HCM innovation processes are made easier through NTT DATA Business Solutions' services packages that enable companies to get up and running on SuccessFactors in weeks rather than months. Want more information on our SuccessFactors business solutions or to request a system demonstration? Please contact an NTT DATA Business Solutions expert today at contact_apac@nttdata.com. # # # Contact: Chonaisa Q. Simbulan Campaign Manager, Marketing NTT DATA Business Solutions T: + 07 55123 837 E: chonaisa.simbulan@nttdata.com W: www.nttdatasolutions.com.au Australia | http://www.solutions.nttdata.com Global NTT DATA & SAP Co-Sponsor HR Excellence Awards 2015, Malaysia 2015-09-18T03:56:48Z ntt-data-amp-sap-co-sponsor-hr-excellence-awards-2015-malaysia KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 17th September 2015 -- NTTDATA Business Solutions, Malaysia and SAP co-sponsored the "Innovative Use of HR Technology" category in the recently-held HR Excellence Awards, organised by Human Resources magazine. Returning for the 3rd year, the prestigious awards ceremony brought together industry leaders in Asia and recognised exceptional work among HR practitioners at the individual, team, and company level, highlighting their outstanding achievements in the human resources management sphere. "We celebrate the ones who have done this the best [including] all of the big winners who have proven their calibre in demonstrating excellence in HR practices," says Aditi Sharma Kalra, Regional Editor, HR online magazine. Sime Darby Holdings Berhad bags the gold in Excellence in Innovative Use of HR Technology Sime Darby Holdings faced stiff competition and outranked them in the Excellence in Innovative Use of HR Technology category. "At Sime Darby, our employees are our greatest asset and we prioritise investing in sustainable leadership development to drive operational excellence [and] affirms our unwavering determination and aspiration to develop high performing leaders," Sime Darby president and group chief executive Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh said in a statement. In the last five years, Sime Darby has strategically implemented a human resources transformation plan aiming to advance strong individual and organisational performance; talent and leadership development; and, effectively identify, attract and retain talent. The efforts are apparent. Other winners of the category include IHS Global Malaysia (Bronze Award) and British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Berhad (Silver Award). The grand prize winner for 2015 is Media Prima Berhad -- a strong and consistent awardee in most categories in the previous HR Excellence galas. It is no wonder that this year, they have yet again set the bar for implementing effective Human Resource management practices that lead to growth of the business, its employees and the industry. Check out the winners of all categories here. NTT DATA and SAP are proud to acknowledge the best of the best in talent management practices and strategy and continue to support outstanding achievements in the industry, offering a myriad of HR solutions to support this. Perks of Participating Being nominated for the awarding event benefited brands and participants in various ways, including: First, they get the chance to be reviewed by Asia Pacific's HR leaders. Among the panel of judges were Yeoh Sai Yew, Group Head of Rewards and People Services at AirAsia; Fiona Geddes, Nora Abd Manaf, Group Chief Human Capital Officer at Maybank; Chuah Chan Hoon, Head of Human Resources at DHL; and, Andrew Ng, Human Resources Director at Sanofi. Recognition for winning or being listed as a nominee was not the sole benefit of participating this event, it also gave teams and individuals the chance to hobnob among the 75 most respected HR executives and peers in Asia. Second, they get to establish their company profile as a leader in HR management and employer of choice. The major and category winners of the event inspire other HR practitioners in Asia with their innovative campaigns and best practices, and establish them as industry leaders. Lastly, the recognition of their inspiration and hard work by industry peers and leaders provides ongoing motivation to continue to strive for excellence and to inspire others to follow their example. Screening Process and Categories Participants of the awards ceremony must have implemented a program, campaign, initiative, or a system that should have demonstrated results within the company in the past year. All categories were open to all HR companies based in Malaysia and were allowed to submit entries for multiple categories. Submitted documents contained the company's vision or goal and the details in the implementation and the impacts of the efforts for continual improvement. After the thorough evaluation process, the winners were finally announced last 23rd August 2015. The event awarded 23 categories: SME Employer of the Year Award, HR Team of the Year, HR Grand Winner 2015, HR Young Talent of the Year (Individual Award), HR Professional of the Year (Individual Award), Innovative Use of HR Technology, Excellence in HR Strategic Plan, Compensation & Benefits Strategy, Training, Learning & Development Programmes, Cross-Border HR Programmes, CSR Practices, Employee Development, Employee Engagement, Employee Diversity & Inclusion Strategies, Employee Work-Life Balance, Employer Branding, Graduate Development, HR Social Media, Leadership Development, Mature Workforce Practices, Recruitment & Retention Strategy, Talent Management, and Workplace Well-Being. NTT DATA Business Solutions and SAP collaboration NTT DATA Business Solutions, Malaysia is part of the largest SAP Global channel partner providing premier SAP professional services. In line with SAP's transformation to a cloud company, NTT DATA has been an early adopter of the new SaaS direction and the opportunities afforded HCM practitioners to drive business outcomes through the adoption of innovative solutions such as SuccessFactors, Fieldglass and Concur. Established in 1972, SAP is presently the world's largest inter-enterprise software company and fourth-largest independent software supplier. It services more than 130 countries and 282,000 customers around the world, becoming the global market leader in enterprise application software. Co-sponsoring the "Innovative Use of HR Technology" award together for the first time in 2015 allows SAP and NTT DATA Business Solutions to recognise HCM practitioners who deliver business results -- part of the shared vision of both companies for their customers. Please visit www.nttdatasolutions.com.my for more information and insight on HCM solutions for your organisation. # # # Contact: Daire O'Mochain Regional Manager, SAP Cloud Solutions NTT DATA Business Solutions | APAC T: +60 11 2339 7779 E: daire.omochain@nttdata.com NTT DATA Business Solutions becomes specialist partner for Concur 2015-08-10T06:23:29Z ntt-data-business-solutions-becomes-specialist-partner-for-concur Brisbane, Australia, July 2015 -- NTT DATA Business Solutions, global Gold Channel Partner, has become a Platinum Advisor partner of Concur, the leading provider of travel and expense management solutions. As a Platinum member of the Concur Advisor Program in APAC, NTT DATA Business Solutions can provide customers with Concur's cloud-based travel and expense management applications at a competitive price. NTT DATA Business Solutions regional CEO, Max White, said, "NTT DATA Business Solutions are closely aligned with SAP's evolution to the cloud. We see growing demand for solutions that have short implementation timeframes and low ownership costs, especially within our existing SAP install base where the ability to expand to SaaS within the same overall ERP suite of products represents a low risk, commercially attractive option. We have seen the value of Concur first hand, having recently implemented in our own business, where we also run SAP FICO and HCM, so we can advise our customers from both the system integrator and customer perspective." With Concur you can automate, manage and simplify your travel and expense process in one integrated system. The Concur solution covers travel planning and bookings, expense claim recording, processing and reimbursement. The technology provides insightful analytics and a mobile-ready, user-friendly interface. The free Concur mobile app also means employees can manage their business travel expenses anywhere, anytime. Matt Goss, Managing Director ANZ, Concur, said, "Concur is pleased to appoint NTT DATA as a Platinum Advisor partner. The partnership means NTT DATA customers can work with an experienced SAP integrator who understands their needs regarding company spend visibility. Because NTT DATA uses the Concur solution in-house, its team understands firsthand how Concur technology delivers that visibility. "Automating expenses transforms business operations by significantly reducing the time it takes to process invoices. By removing the need to keep and process receipts, companies can improve employee productivity, monitor outgoing costs and reduce the number of write-offs. All of these factors can increase a company's bottom-line. "Concur looks forward to working with NTT DATA and growing the relationship further." About Concur Concur is a cloud-based service that updates and upgrades automatically. On the web, on a smartphone or on a tablet, we provide a complete suite of tools for you and your employees. Get the most out of business travel and get back all the time used to make expense reports. Contact: Daire O'Mochain Regional Manager, SAP Cloud Solutions NTT DATA Business Solutions | APAC T: +60 11 2339 7779 E: daire.omochain@nttdata.com NTT DATA Business Solutions expand partnership with SpinifexIT in SEA 2015-08-10T05:38:44Z ntt-data-business-solutions-expand-partnership-with-spinifexit-in-sea Brisbane, Australia, July 2015 – NTT DATA Business Solutions, a leading SAP and SuccessFactors partner, and SpinifexIT, a company that provides software solutions that make running SAP HR/Payroll faster and easier for companies all over the globe, today announced that they have expanded their existing partnership into the Asia-Pacific region following growth experienced by both companies in SEA. Daire O'Mochain, Regional Manager Cloud Solutions for NTT DATA Business Solutions, said that the partnership with SpinifexIT provides market-leading solutions to round out NTTDATA's SAP HCM offerings. "NTT DATA has partnered with Spinifex IT in Australia for many years and continue to be impressed with the expansion and innovation of their solution offerings," he explained. "To have adapted innovatively in parallel to SAP's transformation to a Cloud business is particularly relevant to NTT DATA as we see growing adoption of both SaaS and Hybrid deployment options in the APAC region. As a result, and with SpinifexIT and NTT DATA both experiencing growth here, it made sense to expand our existing partnership into this region." Aju Murjani, SpinifexIT Managing Partner, APJ commented that "Based on our long and successful relationship with NTT DATA Business Solutions, we feel that this partnership provides our customers in the region with the unique ability to leverage the best practice solutions offered by NTT's local business expertise and SpinifexIT's robust solutions for SAP and SuccessFactors HCM." About SpinifexIT With a global headquarters in Melbourne, Australia and regional offices in Singapore, Manila, London and Atlanta, SpinifexIT produces software solutions for SAP and SuccessFactors HCM for companies of all sizes and industries. With a focus on business process improvement and efficiency, SpinifexIT offers software that is easy to use and can be installed in hours. Learn more about SpinifexIT's innovative solutions for HCM and Payroll at www.spinifexit.com. Contact: Daire O'Mochain Regional Manager, SAP Cloud Solutions NTT DATA Business Solutions | APAC T: +60 11 2339 7779 E: daire.omochain@nttdata.com SAP partner NTT DATA Business Solutions expands Asia Pacific coverage to include the Philippines 2015-06-25T06:15:23Z sap-partner-ntt-data-business-solutions-expands-asia-pacific-coverage-to-include-the-philippines Brisbane, June 23, 2015 – NTT DATA Business Solutions Asia Pacific (APAC) has expanded its South East Asian footprint with the opening of new offices in Manila, Philippines. "The Philippines is a high growth market for SAP and it was a natural next step for NTT DATA to extend its position as a leading SAP solution provider in the Asian region, Norbert Rotter, Global CFO & board member of itelligence AG and for NTT DATA Business Solutions APAC. With a remit to service the growing number of Japanese Multinationals (JMNCs) within the region especially in the industries where we have proven track records such as Auto, Mining & Resources, Retail & CPG, we are on well on the way to becoming the market makers across Asia Pacific – the fastest growing region, " Max White, CEO, NTT DATA Business Solutions APAC. NTT DATA Business Solutions employees over 400 SAP specialists across Asia Pacific with subsidiaries in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Specializing in Industry & cloud solutions – NTT DATA has an end to end capability including hosting, AMS and offshore labour augmentation – available for deployment to customers across the Asian region. NTT DATA Business Solutions and Australian Health Services Group Launch Talent Management for Healthcare Solution 2015-03-10T00:33:14Z ntt-data-business-solutions-and-australian-health-services-group-launch-talent-management-for-healthcare-solution Sydney / Kuala Lumpur / Singapore –10 March, 2015 – NTT DATA Business Solutions, a leading SAP and SuccessFactors partner, and Australian Health Services Group (AHSG), a specialist health services consulting group, today announced they have entered into a strategic partnership to provide healthcare organisations with an industry specific, talent management solution. The Talent Management for Healthcare solution is designed to improve quality of care and operational effectiveness, as well as drive financial performance for healthcare operators throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. Mark Wade, National HCM Practice Lead, NTT DATA Business Solutions, said that the partnership with AHSG will deliver substantial benefits to customers. "The healthcare sector has a critical dependence on meeting externally mandated standards for the quality of care. This in turn places immense importance on having adequate talent management processes in place to enable staff to meet those standards", he explained. "AHSG has an excellent industry track record from both a clinical and line management perspective. They provided insights to the responsibilities and challenges of the various departments, from the ward to the financial controller, and how each can benefit from a talent management approach designed to fit those unique challenges - from ensuring the optimal mix of clinical staff on ward on a night shift to being able to demonstrate compliance on an audit to an insurance company to protect and grow revenue. NTT DATA Business Solutions has mapped these insights to our global expertise in implementing SuccessFactors, the leading cloud talent management solution available today." With industry specific healthcare content pre-loaded, organisations can achieve easier employee adoption, with improved workforce alignment and engagement around quality, safety and risk management that will generate bottom line return on investment. "Customers will also benefit from being able to access AHSG's extensive consulting experience if they require additional support to adopt and bed down the processes built into the delivered content. AHSG can help them to prepare strategically and operationally, whilst NTT DATA Business Solutions will enable and accelerate the technical aspects of the solution deployment. We see this as an element of the partnership that will grow in importance as we deliver the solution throughout South East Asia countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, where the healthcare industry continues to expand and evolve as those economies scale", added Wade. Ian MacDonald, Managing Director, AHSG, commented that "bringing out the best in your people is essential to the delivery of top quality healthcare, and effectively managing your HR expense is essential to financial viability. Our partnership with NTT DATA Business Solutions provides a Human Capital Management solution that has delivered impressive results for many organisations around the world, and I look forward to it benefitting healthcare providers across Australasia." ### About NTT DATA Business Solutions NTT DATA Business Solutions is a leading provider of SAP and SuccessFactors solutions and services. We enable our customers to solve their complex business challenges through innovative, value-adding, and proven deployments of SAP, SuccessFactors and complementary solutions. As part of the NTT DATA Group we leverage our global strength and capability while delivering localised service and flexibility. We provide services to over 3,500 SAP customers and operate twelve dedicated SAP Hosting Centres globally. Over 8,600 SAP consultants are employed by the global NTT DATA Group, which was rated as a 'Challenger' in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for SAP Implementation Service Providers, Worldwide (July 2014) and ranked fourth in the 'Winner's Circle' of HfS Blueprint Report: SAP Services (September 2014). Visit www.nttdatasolutions.com.au to learn how our consultants, projects, managed services and outsourcing engagements deliver value for a range of businesses and government agencies. Connect with NTT DATA Business Solutions on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Follow NTT DATA Business Solutions Blog. About Australian Health Services Group AHSG is a specialist health services and business management consulting group. With over 100 healthcare clients, they undertake assignments across all sectors of the health industry and work with other business enterprises to improve organisational and operational outcomes and bottom-line performance. The AHSG management team all have significant executive and line management experience. AHSG delivers practical and innovative approaches to its client's needs that are based on strong leadership, employee ownership, and client satisfaction while achieving key performance targets of the service, business or new development. NTT DATA Becomes SAP Global Services Partner to Drive Business Innovation 2014-12-17T03:05:32Z ntt-data-becomes-sap-global-services-partner-to-drive-business-innovation Sydney / Kuala Lumpur / Singapore – 17 December, 2014 – NTT DATA today announced an expansion of its alliance with SAP SE to demonstrate its ambition to drive business innovation on behalf of customers globally. NTT DATA joins a select group of the market's largest consultancies to now become an SAP global services partner.NTT DATA and SAP will leverage their respective strengths and provide on-premise and cloud-based end-to-end solutions built on SAP's next generation platform technology. Through this new agreement, it is anticipated that customers will benefit from increased implementation services, enhanced solution delivery, increased global reach and improved pricing options in support of SAP® applications.With $1.4 billion revenue in SAP software-related services globally, NTT DATA offers a comprehensive lifecycle of services for SAP solutions, helping clients around the world work more effectively, gaining business insight through services that span consulting, upgrades and implementations, and through applications management and hosting. This portfolio includes significant investments in proprietary frameworks, tools, and accelerators to facilitate an increase in speed to market, improve quality and to provide innovative client solutions. NTT DATA continues to invest in solutions and expertise in technologies such as the SAP HANA® platform, cloud and more than 20 industry-specific solutions built on the SAP ERP application designed precisely for clients in the middle market.Eiji Yamada, Senior Executive Vice President, NTT DATA, said: "NTT DATA has rapidly expanded its global business in the past few years and SAP is a fundamental part of our growth strategy. The close cooperation with SAP helps us fulfill our global capability, and local and global clients have the same access to our highest standards of IT innovation and experience in order to manage their future challenges.""Our global partners play a fundamental role in supporting SAP's growth pillars, which are critical to our and our customers' success: Cloud, the SAP HANA platform as well as applications," said Rodolpho Cardenuto, President Global Partner Operations, SAP. "SAP global services partners demonstrate repeated implementation success, along with a commitment to invest in a worldwide presence while supporting SAP's vision. NTT DATA exemplifies this commitment, and we look forward to working together on future customer collaborations." The strong partnership between NTT DATA and SAP is designed to enable companies of all sizes to access the business benefits of NTT DATA's global geographical presence, strong domain expertise and broad IT services portfolio, combined with SAP's next generation platform technology to release clients' business potential.###About NTT DATANTT DATA is a leading IT services provider and global innovation partner headquartered in Tokyo, with business operations in over 40 countries. Our emphasis is on long-term commitment, combining global reach with local intimacy to provide premier professional services varying from consulting and systems development to outsourcing.Visit www.nttdata.com to learn how our consultants, projects, managed services, and outsourcing engagements deliver value for a range of businesses and government agencies.SAP, SAP HANA and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE (or an SAP affiliate company) in Germany and other countries. See http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx for additional trademark information and notices.All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.SAP Forward-looking StatementAny statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. NTT DATA Joins the Winner's Circle in the HfS SAP Services Blueprint Report 2014 2014-10-20T02:38:26Z ntt-data-joins-the-winner-s-circle-in-the-hfs-sap-services-blueprint-report-2014 Sydney / Kuala Lumpur / Singapore –20 October, 2014 - TodayNTT DATA, a global IT services provider and a worldwide leader in SAP implementations, announced its selection as a member of the Winner's Circle in the 2014 SAP Services Blueprint Report by leading industry analyst and research firmHfS Research. In the report, HfS Research assessed leading providers across a number of criteria under the categories of innovation and execution in providing services to companies running SAP® software. In the report, HfS Research mentions that: · NTT DATA can satisfy almost all clients' SAP needs throughout the whole lifecycle, enabled by a global delivery Centre of Excellence and NTT DATA "One Method". · While NTT DATA has been a good partner in Asia and North America for a long time, today NTT DATA has grown a solid global SAP practice with acquisitions in Latin America and Europe. The company has a good track record for SAP upgrades and consolidations. · NTT DATA is now one of the best positioned global companies offering industry-specific All-In-One solutions. · With innovation labs in the US and India, and with one of the world's largest annual R&D expenditures through parent company NTT Group, NTT DATA brings clients turnkey SAP innovation. SAP service providers in the HfS Research Winner's Circle demonstrate excellence in both execution and innovation. Execution demonstrates the service providers' ability to develop strong relationships with clients, accomplish services beyond the scope of agreement, and be highly flexible when meeting clients' needs. Innovation demonstrates the service providers' strong vision and concrete plans to invest in future capabilities. Additionally, these providers possess a healthy cross-section of vertical capabilities and demonstrate a strong ability to leverage external drivers to increase value for their clients. "NTT DATA was the big surprise in the Winner's Circle this year. A long-hidden secret for SAP services, the firm finally gets the recognition it deserves." said Dr Thomas Mendel, SVP IT Services Research, HfS. With $1.4 billion in SAP® software-related services and over 8,500 SAP professionals around the world, NTT DATA offers a complete lifecycle of services for SAP solutions, helping clients work more effectively, and gain business insight through services that span consulting, upgrades and implementations, and applications management and hosting. This portfolio includes significant investments in proprietary frameworks, tools, and accelerators that increase speed to market, deliver high quality and provide innovative client solutions. NTT DATA continues to invest in solutions and expertise in emerging technologies such as SAP HANA® software, Cloud and more than 20 industry-specific solutions built on the SAP ERP application designed specifically for clients in the middle market. ### About NTT DATA NTT DATA is a leading IT services provider and global innovation partner headquartered in Tokyo, with business operations in over 40 countries. Our emphasis is on long-term commitment, combining global reach with local intimacy to provide premier professional services varying from consulting and systems development to outsourcing. Visit www.nttdata.com to learn how our consultants, projects, managed services, and outsourcing engagements deliver value for a range of businesses and government agencies. About HfS HfS Research is the leading independent global analyst authority and knowledge community for the business and IT services industry. HfS serves the research and strategy needs of business and IT operations leaders across finance, supply chain, human resources, marketing, customer management, and core industry functions. HfS provides detailed and thoughtful analyst coverage of the various areas that impact successful business outcomes, namely, process automation and outsourcing, global business services frameworks, mobility, analytics, and social collaboration. HfS also focuses heavily on talent acquisition, development, and motivation strategies. HfS applies its acclaimed crowd sourced Blueprint Methodology™ to evaluate the performance of service providers in terms of innovating and then executing against those business outcomes. To learn more about HfS Research, please email research@HfSResearch.com. NTT DATA Corporation Reaches $1 Billion in SAP® Software Related Annualised Revenues 2013-02-27T14:57:34Z -9 Sydney / Kuala Lumpur / Singapore - 28 February, 2013 – NTT DATA Corporation, a leading global IT services provider, with the completion of its fiscal third quarter, announced today that it has reached $1 billion in SAP® software related services globally. NTT DATA has experienced continued growth in its mid to large enterprise market focus. A cohesive Global ONE strategy aligning capabilities and client services in support of SAP solutions provides the foundation for double digit growth in mature markets in North America and Europe, and emerging markets in Asia. Offering a complete lifecycle of services for SAP solutions, NTT DATA helps clients around the world work more effectively and gain business insight through services that span consulting, upgrades and implementations, and applications management and hosting. This portfolio includes significant investments in proprietary frameworks, tools, and accelerators to increase speed to market, improve quality and provide innovative client solutions. NTT DATA also continues to invest in solutions and expertise in emerging technologies such as SAP HANA® software, Cloud and 16 industry-specific solutions built on the SAP ERP application designed specifically for clients in the middle market. "Our clients want a partner that not only has advanced expertise and success in implementing SAP solutions, but depth and knowledge in their industry," stated Kaz Nishihata, Executive Vice President Global Business Sector NTT DATA Corporation. "Supporting SAP solutions globally is important to us. We will continue to invest in building value-added intellectual property and innovative solutions designed to drive growth, improve ROI, and lower risks for our clients." NTT DATA has over two decades of experience implementing, managing, testing, and optimizing enterprise applications. With more than 6,000 consultants worldwide with expertise in SAP solutions and as an award-winning SAP partner providing support across the globe, clients gain access to a deep bench of expertise across the services lifecycle of SAP solutions. Through our Global ONE strategy, we have extended our portfolio of offerings for SAP solutions to be able to support clients as they enter new markets around the world. "The tremendous growth NTT DATA is experiencing demonstrates the level of investments clients are making around the world in SAP solutions," said Robert Enslin, president of Global Customer Operations and member of Global Managing Board, SAP. "SAP's platform is growing and evolving to meet the advanced and competitive needs of customers in real-time. Working closely with our leading ecosystem of partners, we are delivering game-changing innovation to customers. NTT DATA is a key example of what makes our ecosystem such a success. They are truly delivering added value to customers, empowering them to achieve business efficiencies and to run better than ever." NTT DATA currently supports 2,500 mid and large-sized clients across multiple verticals including Allied Mills, Alvimedica, Aydinli Group, Cheminova, Haverhill Chemicals, Hitachi America, Honeywell, Palo Alto Networks, Pearson Technology, Smurfit Kappa, Ticketmaster, T-Mobile USA and Unilever. About NTT DATA NTT DATA is your Innovation Partner anywhere around the world, with operations in more than 35 countries. NTT DATA emphasises long-term commitment and combines global reach and local intimacy to provide premier professional services from consulting, application services, business process and IT outsourcing to cloud-based solutions. Visit www.nttdata.com to learn how our consultants, projects, managed services, and outsourcing engagements deliver value for a range of businesses and government agencies. NTT DATA Business Solutions Acquires Innogence 2012-12-12T00:56:50Z ntt-data-business-solutions-acquires-innogence Sydney, Australia, 12 December, 2012 – NTT DATA Business Solutions APAC, an SAP Gold Channel Partner, announced today that it has it has reached an agreement to acquire Innogence, a specialist SAP Business Analytics and SAP HANA consulting firm, creating the largest SAP Business Analytics and SAP Database and Technology practice in Asia Pacific. Innogence was formed in 2005 by four founders Gerrie Aldag, Ian Markram, Andrew Small and Hernus Carelsen, and employs over 100 staff focusing entirely on Business Intelligence. It is a certified Premier Partner in both SAP Services and Business Objects, offering specialised consulting services in both SAP Business Analytics and SAP HANA to deliver successful business transformation and improvements. Herbert Vogel, CEO of itelligence AG, is responsible for NTT DATA Business Solutions worldwide: "The acquisition of Innogence is, for NTT DATA Business Solutions, an important step in the technological direction and market leadership in key areas such as SAP Business Intelligence and HANA, not only throughout Australia but also Asia. This underpins our further expansion and thus continues our growth, faster than the market." NTT DATA Business Solutions delivers full service SAP solutions, including Applications, Analytics, Database and Technology, Cloud, Mobile, AMS and hosting, to organisations across Australia and this investment is part of its systematic growth strategy focusing on further expansion of its Database and Technology and Business Analytics solution portfolio. NTT DATA will integrate Innogence into its Australian state based delivery model under the newly formed Enterprise Information Division, headed by Phil Cameron, former CEO of Innogence. NTT DATA Business Solutions Enterprise Applications Division will be led by NTT DATA's Chris Treston, current Territory Head of Consulting - North Central West. Max White, CEO Asia Pacific, NTT DATA Business Solutions, commented, "I am delighted to welcome Innogence to the NTT DATA family and am excited by the enormous synergies of the two organisations and the benefits it will deliver to our customers. Having now grown to 400 strong across the APAC region and with 55 certified HANA practitioners, NTT DATA Business Solutions is a genuine alternative for organisations which have previously looked to tier one integrators. We are committed to assisting our customers to unleash the newest and greatest of the SAP technology stack and gain faster return on their SAP investment." "The addition of Innogence's strong Canberra based office, matched with NTT DATA Business Solutions proven ERP capability allows us to provide a full SAP portfolio to large enterprise and industry located in ACT", added White. Phil Cameron, former CEO, Innogence says "It is exciting to join the NTT DATA family. Both our staff and customers will greatly benefit from Innogence being acquired by one of the world's largest IT organisations which understands the real value of long term employee and customer relationships. Importantly, we also retain our identity becoming a 140 Australian based employee division solely focused on SAP Business Analytics and SAP Database and Technology. This is a game changer for the Australian SAP ecosystem." Hernus Carelsen, former Chairman of Innogence, added "It was important for the founders of Innogence that the cultural fit between the organisations was strong. Right from the start of discussions, NTT DATA Business Solutions passion for both people and data was obvious. I believe NTT DATA Business Solutions is now uniquely positioned to lead the Big Data market in Australia." "Our goal is clear – 40% of our software revenue will come from our ecosystem by 2015. We will achieve this goal by establishing a clear go-to-market strategy - ensuring the best market coverage and serving our customers by offering the best specialised expertise from our partners", said Andrew Barkla, President and CEO, SAP Australia and New Zealand. "Both, NTT DATA Business Solutions and Innogence have been critical to our success over a number of years. NTT DATA Business Solutions application, hosting and industry focused capabilities will combine seamlessly with Innogence's analytical and HANA skills. We look forward to the new organisation adding significant value to our customers", added Barkla. ### For further information contact: Nikki Van Winden National Marketing Manager NTT DATA Business Solutions T: +61 2 8908 4203 M: +61 417 310 678 (12-13 December) / + 61 419 970 872 (14 December onwards) E: nikki.vanwinden@nttdata.com About NTT DATA Business Solutions NTT DATA Business Solutions designs, implements, supports, and hosts SAP centric business solutions for organisations of all sizes. The unified Solutions Group (including itelligence AG and the companies formerly known as Extend Technologies, Business Formula and Cornerstone Asia) forms the largest global reseller of SAP license and focuses on end-to-end solutions across the entire SAP portfolio of applications and fourteen industry domains. NTT DATA Business Solutions provides services to over 4,000 SAP customers and operates ten dedicated SAP Hosting Centres globally. Over 3,000 SAP consultants are employed by NTT DATA Business Solutions. In 2012, NTT DATA Business Solutions Australia was awarded an SAP ANZ Customer Excellence Award and was also the winner of the 2012 SAP Business All in One Partner of the Year Award in Australia/New Zealand.www.solutions.nttdata.comFollow on Twitter @NTTDATASolnAPAC Follow on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/ntt-data-business-solutions About Innogence Innogence is an Australian owned company formed in 2005 by four founders, focused entirely on Business Intelligence. Innogence is a certified Premier Partner in both SAP Services and Business Objects, and offers specialised consulting services in SAP Business Analytics and SAP HANA in order to deliver business insights to large organisations to assist with successful business improvements. The company has over 100 employees throughout Australia with branches in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane. Innogence has most recently been recognised in the 2011 BRW Fast 100 Companies and was the winner of two awards at the 2012 SAP ANZ Customer Awards of Excellence. Innogence was also awarded the 2012 SAP Business Intelligence Partner of the Year Award in Australia/New Zealand www.innogence.com.au Extend Technologies Signs New Partnership to Deliver SuccessFactors Next Generation Business Execution Suite 2012-06-28T03:58:32Z extend-technologies-signs-new-partnership-to-deliver-successfactors-next-generation-business-execution-suite Sydney, Australia 28 June 2012 – Extend Technologies, an SAP gold channel partner, announced that it has signed a SuccessSales partner agreement with SuccessFactors, an SAP company, to resell, implement and support SuccessFactors Business Execution (BizX) suite. This partnership enables the company to provide both standalone hosted human capital management (HCM) solutions as well as a comprehensive hybrid offering of SuccessFactors cloud and SAP on-premise solutions to the Asia Pacific market. As the global competition for talent continues, organisations are constantly seeking solutions that will deliver a sustainable competitive advantage. The SuccessFactors BizX suite drives real business results by ensuring organisational alignment, optimising people performance, and building competitive advantage with greater workforce insights. "Extend's partnership with SuccessFactors will help our customers accelerate business execution," said Daire O'Mochain, head of the Human Capital Management Group, Extend Technologies. "Our HCM practice comprises consultants from HR and payroll management, organisational psychology and IT backgrounds. As part of the NTT DATA Business Solutions Group, which provides backing by 5,000 consultants worldwide, we can deliver projects that scale from dozens to thousands of employees in Australia and New Zealand, Asia Pacific/Japan and beyond. For companies that currently use SAP solutions within their HRIS landscapes, we offer skill sets in support of SAP solutions. Our specialists, with knowledge of SAP solutions in the HCM and payroll areas, can also advise organisations on how they can benefit further from the use of SuccessFactors solutions." "SAP's acquisition of SuccessFactors is particularly exciting for the HCM Practice at Extend Technologies," adds O'Mochain. "We are now in a position to service customers that are not using the SAP ERP application, but still want to take advantage of a market-leading HCM solution. For customers that are already using SAP solutions, we can now offer the cloud based solution that they previously could only adopt by engaging with a new vendor ... something that many customers did not necessarily want to do." "Partners are a core element to SuccessFactors' growth strategy in Asia Pacific," said Mercedes Ellison, vice president, global alliances and channels, SuccessFactors. "We are very excited to have Extend Technologies as part of the SuccessFactors ecosystem for the Australia and New Zealand marketplace. As an experienced SAP partner, Extend Technologies will bring a depth of expertise in HCM along with their close relationship with SAP." For further information contact: Nikki Van Winden National Marketing Manager Extend Technologies T: +61 2 8908 4203M: +61 419 970 872E:nikki_vanwinden@extendtec.com.auAbout Extend Technologies: Extend Technologies – an NTT DATA Business Solutions Group Company - is an SAP channel and services partner and a leading provider of SAP solutions and services for large and medium organisations in the public and private sectors. Extend enables its customers to solve complex business challenges through innovative, value-added, and proven deployments of SAP software and complementary solutions. As part of the NTT DATA Group, Extend Technologies leverages its global strength and capabilities while delivering localised service and flexibility. For more information: www.extendtechnologies.com.au Read Extend Technologies blogs: http://blog.extendtechnologies.com.au/Follow us on Twitter @ExtendTechn # # # SAP and all SAP logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. | .my for more information and insight on SAP Cloud solutions for your organisation. # # # Contact: Daire O'Mochain Regional Manager, SAP Cloud Solutions NTT DATA Business Solutions | APAC T: +60 11 2339 7779 E: daire.omochain@nttdata.com NTT DATA Business Solutions Sponsors HR Summit 2016, Australia 2016-03-18T06:02:56Z ntt-data-business-solutions-sponsors-hr-summit-2016-australia Brisbane Australia, March 2016- NTT DATA Business Solutions are a proud sponsor of the HR Summit 2016 organized by marcus evans Group. The event will take place at RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from 21-23 March, 2016. The 12th annual HR Summit gathers HR executives and service and solutions providers in a unique and exclusive forum. The summit is an invitation-only event that offers an intimate and focused environment for both buyers and sellers for discussions on the key drivers shaping corporate priorities and HR strategies today. Solutions for HR Transformation NTT DATA Business Solutions will share their industry expertise in technology and human capital management at the HR Summit. Mark Wade, NTT DATA Business Solutions Lead together with the NDBS Australia team, will be part of the exclusive consultations available on-site for chief HR practitioners. "Our solutions support your HR transformation journey, providing simplification, modernisation, actionable insights, employee engagement and process efficiencies to drive better business outcomes," he explained. "We provide the most comprehensive world class HCM and Payroll solutions deployed using SAP SuccessFactors, fastest time to value and TCO with modern, consumer grade user experience. Our Talent Management solutions are user-friendly, have modern interfaces and include over 19,500 HR content elements." The solutions also allow employees to connect, collaborate, find experts and share knowledge anytime anywhere on the device of their choice. About NTT DATA Business Solutions NTT DATA Business Solutions designs, implements, supports, and hosts SAP- centric business solutions for organisations of all sizes. The unified Solutions Group forms the largest global reseller of SAP licenses and focuses on end-to-end solutions across the entire SAP portfolio of applications and sixteen industry domains. They provide services to over 4,000 SAP customers and operates ten dedicated SAP Hosting Centres globally. Over 8,000 SAP consultants are employed by NTT DATA globally. Please visit www.nttdatasolutions.com.au for more information and insight on HCM solutions for your organisation. Want to book a one-on-one session with one of our experts? Contact us at contact_apac@nttdata.com. # # # Contact: Mark Wade NTT DATA Business Solutions E: contact_apac@nttdata.com Mastering Analytics: NDBS Malaysia holds SAP Lumira for General Insurance Analytics monthly workshops 2016-02-05T01:53:40Z mastering-analytics-ndbs-malaysia-holds-sap-lumira-for-general-insurance-analytics-monthly-workshops-2 February and March 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- NTT DATA Business Solutions Malaysia (NDBS MY) is holding free SAP Lumira for General Insurance workshops in their office at Wisma Consplant 2, Subang Jaya. The first two of the monthly workshops will be held on Thursday, 25 February; and, Wednesday, 09 March 2016. These free training sessions are intended to aid attendees to gain greater insights on their business data across their organisations' sales & marketing, underwriting, claims, reinsurance and finance. Register to the free SAP Lumira Training Workshop here. Steph | 797 |
BusyBox Sign Goes Viral With Comical Twist on Private Time
<|fim_middle|> minimize interruptions. It's never been easier to make an interruption-free zone inside your four walls.
Vanessa O'Brien
ChicExecs PR | The status sign company takes on new territory in a hilarious TikTok and YouTube video that proves sometimes it's best to follow instructions.
BusyBox makes "smart" products for the Smart Home/Smart Office market.
"The video is gaining traction and we're thrilled to be a part of it," said BusyBox Sign co-founder Steve Skillings. "Riley is truly hilarious and life is serious enough, so we love to see our product's many uses in households, including in brilliant satire such as this!"
WHITINSVILLE, Mass. (PRWEB) November 01, 2022
BusyBox Sign, makers of the first wireless smart status signs, have found themselves going viral with influencer Riley Lemon, who's taken a humorous jab at his parents on social platforms with the video "My Parents Sneak Into Their Bedroom For 2 Minutes Everyday & I Finally Figured Out Why." The video currently has 2.5 million views on TikTok and 8.8 million on YouTube Shorts.
Set to the music of "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes" by Edison Lighthouse, Lemon's retired parents use a BusyBox Sign to note why they need privacy in their bedroom. They put different signs in the box to prevent Lemon from interrupting them, from "busy" to "meeting" and "studying." The video culminates with a suspicious Lemon checking on them only to find his innocent parents actually reading and studying.
"Any adult child living with their parents can relate to this funny scenario," said BusyBox Sign co-founder Steve Skillings. "The video is gaining traction and we're thrilled to be a part of it. Riley is truly hilarious with his comical gestures and his parents are totally in on the deception. Life is serious enough, so we love to see our product's many uses in households, including in brilliant satire such as this!"
Skillings was like many who were frustrated with productivity and constant interruptions while working from home during the early days of the pandemic. He played in a band and liked the idea of "on-air" signs and thought the concept could be adapted to help his work/home situation. Using his engineering skills and a 3D printer, Skillings created a prototype in three days, then reached out to his software engineer friend to make it "smart."
After a successful crowdsourcing campaign, the result is wireless signs intelligently designed to improve home, office or classroom workspaces. Two models are currently offered, including one with a digital screen to craft a message with plenty of room for creativity, and multiple accessories, too.
For more information, visit http://www.busyboxsign.com. Available on Amazon, too!
About BusyBoxSign:
The BusyBox wireless status sign allows you to create a space inside your home to think, produce or work, designed intentionally to | 576 |
This section has links to related sites on the Internet that may be of interest to insulator collectors.
Recreation : Collecting : Insulators : at the Open<|fim_middle|> Trail Preservation Society promotes the historical significance and preservation of this historic site by restoring, maintaining and promoting the Trail for recreational use. A section of trail, now over 60 miles in length has been located and restored in northern British Columbia.
A Pennsylvania Railroad - PRR - Home Page - Information about the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Marvin's Kansas City Southern Railway Page - A page devoted to the history of the KCS railway. | Directory Project. Another excellent list of insulator references.
Insulator Web Ring - A Web Ring of dozens of insulator sites.
myinsulators.com - The on-line community of insulator collectors pages.
Antique-Bottles.net - This website is a Forum for Bottle Collectors and anybody with an interest in old bottles. It is provided as a free service to the Antique Bottle collecting community.
Antique Bottle Collectors Haven - This web page contains a wealth of information that will help collectors on the Internet to further their hobby of Antique Bottle Collecting.
FruitJars.com - Your home for Antique Fruit Jars on the Web.
The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors - A starting point for the bottle collector.
Antique Telephone Collectors Association - The official web page of the ATCA.
Telephone Collectors International - TCI has a monthly newsletter devoted to antique telephones and telephone history. They also sponsor two antique telephone shows a year.
Telephone History Web Site - The pages on this site will provide links to the history of the telephone and the histories of a number of current telephone companies.
The Telegraph Trail Preservation Society - The Telegraph | 229 |
Seven Eight Warning Signs of Junk Science
I've written before about scientific error cascades and the pernicious things that happen when junk science becomes the focus or rationale of a political crusade.
The worst example of this sort of thing in my lifetime, and arguably in the entire history of science, has been the AGW (anthropogenic global warming) panic. Now that the wheels are falling off that juggernaut, I'm starting to hear ordinary people around me wonder how I knew it was bullshit and hot air so much in advance…
Some of the answer to that is complicated and not easily replicable. I happened to have the right sort of knowledge base to know that, for example, specific AGW-panicker claims about historical climate were impossible to reconcile with primary evidence – wine grapes grown at 59 degrees north around the year 1000, that sort of thing. This motivated me to dig for other problems with their narrative well before they were really on the public's radar.
But a lot of it was more general. I've seen a lot of "scientific" panics ginned up from nonexistent or scanty evidence over the last several decades. There's a pattern to these episodes, a characteristic stench that becomes recognizable after a while. I'll describe some of the indicia, which I've culled from episodes like the Alar scare, the ozone-hole brouhaha, the AIDS panic (are you old enough to remember when it was predicted to become endemic among heterosexuals in the U.S.?), acid rain, and even the great global cooling flap of 1975.
So. Here is a non-exclusive list of seven eight symptoms to watch out for:
Science by press release. It's never, ever a good sign when 'scientists' announce dramatic results before publishing in a peer-reviewed journal. When this happens, we generally find out later that they were either self-deluded or functioning as political animals rather than scientists. This generalizes a bit; one should also be suspicious of, for example, science first broadcast by congressional testimony or talk-show circuit.
Rhetoric that mixes science with the tropes of eschatological panic. When the argument for theory X slides from "theory X is supported by evidence" to "a terrible catastrophe looms over us if theory X is true, therefore we cannot risk disbelieving it", you can be pretty sure that X is junk science. Consciously or unconsciously, advocates who say these sorts of things are trying to panic the herd into stampeding rather than focusing on the quality of the evidence for theory X.
Rhetoric that mixes science with the tropes of moral panic. When the argument for theory X slides from "theory X is supported by evidence" to "only bad/sinful/uncaring people disbelieve theory X", you can be even more sure that theory X is junk science. Consciously or unconsciously, advocates who say these sorts of things are trying to induce a state of preference falsification in which people are peer-pressured to publicly affirm a belief in theory X in spite of private doubts.
Consignment of failed predictions to the memory hole. It's a sign of sound science when advocates for theory X publicly acknowledge failed predictions and explain why they think they can now make better ones. Conversely, it's a sign of junk science when they try to bury failed predictions and deny they ever made them.
Over-reliance on computer models replete with bugger factors that aren't causally justified.. No, this is not unique to climatology; you see it a lot in epidemiology and economics, just to name two fields that start with 'e'. The key point here is that simply fitting historical data is not causal justification; there are lots of ways to dishonestly make that happen, or honestly fool yourself about it. If you don't have a generative account of why your formulas and coupling constants look the way they do (a generative account which itself makes falsifiable predictions), you're not doing science – you're doing numerology.
If a 'scientific' theory seems tailor-made for the needs of politicians or advocacy organizations, it probably has been. Real scientific results have a cross-grained tendency not to fit transient political categories. Accordingly, if you think theory X stinks of political construction, you're probably right. This is one of the simplest but most difficult lessons in junk-science spotting! The most difficult case is recognizing that this is happening even when you agree with the cause.
Past purveyers of junk science do not change their spots. One of the earliest indicators in many outbreaks of junk science is enthusiastic endorsements by people and advocacy organizations associated with past outbreaks. This one is particularly useful in spotting environmental junk science, because unreliable environmental-advocacy organizations tend to have long public pedigrees including frequent episodes of apocalyptic yelling. It is pardonable to be taken in by this the first time, but foolish by the fourth and fifth.
Refusal to make primary data sets available for inspection. When people doing sound science are challenged to produce the observational and experimental data their theories are supposed to be based on, they do it. (There are a couple of principled exceptions here; particle physicists can't save the unreduced data from particle collisions, there are too many terabytes per second of it.) It is a strong sign of junk science when a 'scientist' claims to have retained raw data sets but refuses to release them to critics.
It would be way, way too easy to list the ways these symptoms have manifested with respect to the AGW panic. It's a more useful exercise for the reader to think back and try to recognize them in previous junk-science flaps. Go and learn. And don't get fooled again.
This entry was posted in Politics, Science and tagged AGW by esr. Bookmark the permalink.
430 thoughts on "Seven Eight Warning Signs of Junk Science"
ewb on 2011-11-27 at 23:18:22 said:
Excellent. Another:
Extraordinary efforts by "scientists" to prevent dissemination of their supporting data to the public. Including data bought and paid for by the public. Can there be any greater indication of perfidy than fear of public scrutiny?
ESR says: I saw this just after adding that very point as an eighth sign
Campbell on 2011-11-27 at 23:27:28 said:
I was wondering what do the signs and banners on your blog stand for? What organisations do they belong to?
>I was wondering what do the signs and banners on your blog stand for? What organisations do they belong to?
Clues: The Eric Conspiracy, the Anti-Idiotarian Manifesto, and the Hacker Emblem.
Patrick Maupin on 2011-11-27 at 23:37:53 said:
Past purveyers of junk science do not change their spots. One of the earliest indicators in many outbreaks of junk science is enthusiastic endorsements by people and advocacy organizations associated with past outbreaks.
Sure, but as soon as you bring this into the discussion, someone will correctly (and often viciously) point out that it is an ad hominem attack, and things will rapidly go downhill from there, like when I was excoriated roundly on this very blog when I observed out that the first I had heard about AGW being problematic was in the early-to-mid 90s from the same think tanks that were heavily pushing a creationist/intelligent design agenda.
>someone will correctly (and often viciously) point out that it is an ad hominem attack
But it isn't. There is an important difference between saying "I think person X is lying about global warming because person X has often been caught lying before in similar circumstances" and saying "I think person X is lying about global warming because he likes to bugger sheep." In the latter case, the claim that X likes to bugger sheep is probably irrelevant to X's truthfulness about global warming; in the former, the specific claim about a pattern of lying is relevant. The latter is ad hominem; the latter is not.
Andrew_M_Garland on 2011-11-27 at 23:54:59 said:
The late Particle Physicist Richard Feynman explained what a true scientist does. Everything else is opinion or manipulation, wearing the cloak of science without the integrity that produces true results.
( http://www.lhup.edu/~DSIMANEK/cargocul.htm )
=== ===
Feynman: [edited] Details that could throw doubt on your interpretation must be given, if you know them. You must do the best you can to explain them, if you know anything at all wrong or possibly wrong.
If you make a theory, for example, and advertise it, or put it out, then you must also put down all the facts that disagree with it, as well as those that agree with it. There is also a more subtle problem.
When you have put a lot of ideas together to make an elaborate theory, you want to make sure, when explaining what it fits, that those things it fits are not just the things that gave you the idea
for the theory; but that the finished theory makes something else come out right, in addition.
Prediction is everything, and it must work more than once. Explaining everything after the fact is merely making up complicated stories.
>but that the finished theory makes something else come out right, in addition.
Yes. Feynman articulated here what is formally captured by the concept of "generative" (as opposed to merely "descriptive") theory.
Contemplationist on 2011-11-27 at 23:56:57 said:
This is a great list, but I think the argument is much, much simpler. I was a believer (how funny that sounds!)
but I was absolutely floored by the non-stop stream of failed predictions followed by more of the same without any acknowledgement whatsoever of the failure of previous predictions. A lay man need not know anything about a scientific field to intelligently evaluate it other than whether the humility (or lack thereof) of the practitioners of the field calibrate with the success (or failure) of their models' predictions. In AGW, the record is so stupendously awful, that I get angry just thinking about it
You will never go wrong betting against Paul Ehrlich. I knew AGW was bullshit when he jumped on the bandwagon.
He is the only man in the world to get rich by never, ever being right.
>You will never go wrong betting against Paul Ehrlich.
Indeed. In fact he was one of two individuals (rather than organizations) whom I had in mind when I listed that point.
I would add that something is junk science if its proponents go out of their way to villify challengers. Real science *wants* to be challenged, retested, verified, confirmed. No self-respecting scientist would ever utter a phrase like "the science is settled" or try to demonize dissenters. Real scientists welcome an alternative point of view and will hopefully integrate it into a more thoroughly researched conclusion.
ajh on 2011-11-28 at 00:40:28 said:
Climate models come in two forms: Based on scientific numbers entirely (albedo, energy influx, available biomass etc.) and based on historical information. It's not nearly as bad as economics, which is entirely bogus data since it's a self-feeding model with billions of humans acting mostly irrational to begin with. Epidemiology is probably a mix at best best. All in all, I don't think you can push all the climate models on one huge pile, this portrays climatology as something as scientific as economics, while, in fact, the better models are of far better quality and ignore the garbage data you're pointing at. There is a lot of junk (political motivated) climatology going on, but, a lot of better universities and research studies outside of the USA take pride in good computer models.
Apart from that, the point obviously stands – nice article.
Rick T on 2011-11-28 at 00:40:58 said:
I think #5 "Over-reliance on computer models" should be bumped to #1 with "Failed predictions down the Memory Hole" right behind it. If you go back to the Club of Rome models in the early 70s you would see many of the same error cascade problems. They also qualify as "Past Purveyors of Junk"
Another sign has to be moving the goalposts… As soon as AGW mutated to Anthropogenic Climate Change the whole show should have been laughed off the stage and all the players terminated (tenured or not).
>Another sign has to be moving the goalposts
In draft, I actually had "Moving the goalposts" as an item. It changed to the memory-hole one.
Aaron Davies on 2011-11-28 at 01:32:18 said:
> >someone will correctly (and often viciously) point out that it is an ad hominem attack
> But it isn't. There is an important difference between saying "I think person X is lying about global warming because person X has often been caught lying before in similar circumstances" and saying "I think person X is lying about global warming because he likes to bugger sheep." In the latter case, the claim that X likes to bugger sheep is probably irrelevant to X's truthfulness about global warming; in the former, the specific claim about a pattern of lying is relevant. The latter is ad hominem; the latter is not.
yes, precisely. similarly, appeal to authority is only invalid if the authority is irrelevant to the subject. "i believe in relativity because of einstein" is reasonable, "i believe in pacifism because of einstein" isn't.
ADL on 2011-11-28 at 03:18:53 said:
Compare & contrast how real scientists do it properly: "This looks wierd. Our neutrinos seem to be going too fast. We think we're probably making some kind of measurement error but we haven't been able to find it. Help".
I was looking at this example of "blaming your opponent for your own flaws". The list in the parent post perfectly fits AGW-denialist's pseudo-science. So I pondered whether I could respond effectively.
Then I remembered who wrote it. Over two decades of intensive biomedical research still have not squelched the doubts of the author about HIV causing AIDS:
But I strongly suspect that Duesberg was onto something and there are other things producing immune-system collapse that have been mistakenly attributed to HIV, especially in Africa where HIV infection is co-morbid with several rather vicious tropical diseases.
http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=3894#comment-336361
Furthermore, the author never even suggests he reads any primary literature on the subjects he discusses (be it the climate or AIDS). So how the author gets so sure there is no real science behind it is a mystery to me. Or it must be that ignorance breeds confidence.
So what kind of research could convince the author that AGW was real? (or HIV is thecause of AIDS) None I could think of. Certainly none published by scientists in a peer reviewed journal as you read in his original post.
Then I thought of all the times commenters on this blog even argued against smoking causing cancer. So to expect them to just believe scientific studies and arguments would be quite a stretch.
Finally, I remembered the "Better Dead than Red" mentality of the USA Libertarian movement towards solving global problems by coordinated international actions, or even towards accepting state intervening to get required medical treatment to their compatriots. Eric proclaims to be a libertarian (as far as I can distinguish all its different sects) and I suspect he shares far to much of this mentality to accept mere scientific proof that does not fit his believe in the efficiency of markets.
So I decided to leave it at that and go do more productive work.
steg on 2011-11-28 at 04:44:06 said:
Focusing on stuff like "If a 'scientific' theory seems tailor-made for the needs of politicians or advocacy organizations, it probably has been." and not taking into account the current retreat of glaciers or changes in ecosystems that are pretty measurable seems like a self-reassuring discourse to me. Don't get me wrong, I really wish that the global warming didn't occur, but I do not feel competent enough to pretend I debunked a scientific consensus after a few blog posts.
Besides, the examples esr used for comparison are interesting: the growth of the ozone hole which was (and still is) very real and measurable has been slowed down. If nothing had been done, it would certainly have become bigger (the correlation between the hole and its evolution and ozone-depleting emissions is… well, striking). As for AIDS, if nothing had been done it could have infected much more people and become more or less endemic, as it is in Africa today.
All that being said, there's one junk science sign on this post that is much stronger than others because it has nothing to do with subjectivity: not making available primary data sets, which amounts to denying repeatability. I just can't get why these data sets weren't released and IMHO it would have been nice if the "official excuse" when it comes to global warming was stated here.
Pat on 2011-11-28 at 05:46:34 said:
ESR wrote: "The latter is ad hominem; the latter is not."
Shouldn't one of those latters be a former?
Last big chill suggests lower climate impact of carbon on Arstechnica — nice example of Bayesian approach to fitting historical data.
BioBob on 2011-11-28 at 06:00:18 said:
@ esr
I am not seeing the reason why you have included "Acid Rain" on your list of pseudoscience.
While the headlines have often exaggerated the issue, there is no doubt that human emissions DO acidify precipitation and that the acidified precipitation DOES have some deleterious effects. The more widespread biological effects are, however, mostly limited to areas with poor soil buffering capacity. The power plant SO2 scrubbers and auto catalytic converters mitigated the worst effects of the problem at minimal / acceptable cost to society for maximal gains in air quality, imo.
Certainly the permanent loss of sensitive species in some areas of the Adirondacks, in the NE US, Canada, and Scandinavia is undeniable and worth some concern, even if minor in scale.
Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I don't know too many people who want to see the return of excessive pollution or irresponsible stewardship of the land, even if the watermelons always try to push the envelope.
Steg wrote: "Don't get me wrong, I really wish that the global warming didn't occur . . ."
Steg needs to reread ESR's post. It is not about "global warming". It is specifically about "the AGW (anthropogenic global warming) panic." The tenets of that panic include the following:
– "Global climate is changing." (True, but unremarkable. Climate has undergone continual change during all of history.)
– "Today's climate change is unlike any that has ever occurred before." (False, as ESR alluded to with his reference to "wine grapes grown at 59 degrees north around the year 1000".)
– "The effects of the change will be catastrophic, even apocalyptic." (That's symptom #2 on ESR's list: Rhetoric that mixes science with the tropes of eschatological panic.)
– "Humans caused the change, and have the power to reverse it." (Symptom #3: Rhetoric that mixes science with the tropes of moral panic.)
– "The apocalypse can only be averted through drastic policy changes at the national or international level." (Symptom #6: A "scientific" theory that seems tailor-made for the needs of politicians or advocacy organizations.)
– "Anyone who opposes these policy changes is evil." (Symptom #3 again: Rhetoric that mixes science with the tropes of moral panic.)
Steg's error is in focusing entirely on whether global climate is changing. That, by itself, is not the issue. The issue is whether the change is unprecedented, anthropogenic, catastrophic, and reversible by human action. Merely pointing to retreating glaciers and measurable changes in ecosystems is insufficient. Have those things happened before? Did humans cause them, or are they natural phenomena? Are they really harbingers of global catastrophe, or is that just hype? Do we actually have the power to reverse any of it? These are all relevant questions.
Legitimate science welcomes such questions and does its best to address them. It does not smear the questioners as "deniers", and it does not attempt to intimidate and silence them.
i believe in relativity
I have an issue to raise with this wording. I don't "believe" in facts, I acknowledge them as having been proven. Relativity is a model which fits repeatable, demonstrable phenomena, and has successfully predicted phenomena which have been observed in experiment. It's a scientific model; a framework for understanding what we observe, as opposed to the computer projections which people have taken to calling "models".
I propose that we quit calling these climate programs "models" at all, and call them "digital Ouija board emulators" instead.
Steg, there are retreating glaciers. There are also advancing glaciers. http://www.iceagenow.com/List_of_Expanding_Glaciers.htm
Can you point us to a census of global glacial advance and retreat, that comes from someone whose funding doesn't depend on their findings supporting a political agenda?
David Claughton on 2011-11-28 at 06:31:02 said:
It's certainly true that AGW is a highly politically charged subject and I can well believe that there are many studies which are (consciously and unconsciously) slanted to push politicians in one direction or another. This is unfortunately the sort of thing that happens when you mix science and politics.
For me there are two basic aspects for AGW that I understand are well supported by actual peer-reviewed studies and that haven't been seriously refuted :
1. Large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere have the effect of trapping heat and causing average global temperatures to rise.
2. The human race has been throwing unprecedented amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere over the last century or so.
Yes, there are all sorts of other details around how much CO2 is needed for what rise in temperature, how quickly it will happen, what the effects will be on the various ecosystems around the world etc. etc. and I can well believe that the science in these areas is far from settled – but until the above basic points are addressed by the skeptics and deniers, I'm inclined to accept that AGW is a real effect and continued research in the area is justified.
esr> It's never, ever a good sign when 'scientists' announce dramatic results before publishing in a peer-reviewed journal.
This is not right. Scientists not only may but should court some forms of publicity before the peer review process is finished, since it can take over a year for journals to give their opinion, and journals quite frequently reject good science. E.g., http://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/lynn-margulis-1938-2011/
What corrupts is not seeking an audience, but being driven by what non-experts will make of your results. So when Andrew Wiles explained his (wrong) proof of Fermat's Last Theorem over a year before he submitted anything to any journals, he was doing nothing, wrong, nor is there anything corrupt about the practice of distributing preprints. The kind of peer review done by journals is not central to science in quite the way this point suggests.
It might seem that I am really only objecting to the word "journal" here, but it is not clear to me how to fix this warning sign to be something with sharp teeth.
esr> Consignment of failed predictions to the memory hole.
Do any professional scientists actually do this with journal-published predictions? I guess you would not make this point if there were no examples, but I think this is a red herring.
I do agree about the dangers of corruption of science, and that we have many examples of science that have either become junk or had their value undermined. But there is another danger, one related to the applicability of science. Sciences that care only about their own homegrown explanatory goals, construct grand frameworks that come to constitute their discipline and insulate themselves from applications are in an equally unhealthy state, though one that is not so dramatic. It is hard to make your science be driven by the outside world without tailoring yourself to it in some degree. And it is not true that all shaping is corruption: the history of science shows many fruitful examples of this.
eric: on your earlier comment
"The latter is ad hominem; the latter is not." One of those is the former.
>When you have put a lot of ideas together to make an elaborate theory, you want to make sure, when explaining what it fits, that those things it fits are not just the things that gave you the idea
Hmmm… which reminds me of that part of Unix philosophy that a good piece of software ought to have many other originally unintended uses. Is the similarity merely accidental or is there a principle that connects the two ideas?
>Is the similarity merely accidental or is there a principle that connects the two ideas?
I think the connection is real, and goes through the concept of compressive learning.
Greg on 2011-11-28 at 07:49:48 said:
I wonder if it's worth adding "Science that requires rewriting/erasing history" to the list. Like http://jer-skepticscorner.blogspot.com/2009/12/wikipedias-climate-doctor.html
Science by press release. I think good anti-example here is "cold fusion" stuff.
The latter is ad hominem; the latter is not.
If anything's happened to that cat, all I can say is Schrödinger's a dick.
gamma ray on 2011-11-28 at 09:04:49 said:
"Do any professional scientists actually do this with journal-published predictions?"
In the medical field there are two active and long standing examples: 1. vaccination safety and efficacy, and 2. the cholesterol heart disease myth replete with glaring omissions, confounding variables, and pleiotropic effects of statins that are never given the light of day in the mainstream media and rarely within the medical-industrial complex.
Acid rain as a global problem was a complete fraud. It was a real, but fairly minor, problem immediately downwind of major sulfur sources.
The "ozone hole" is a naturally occurring result of atmospheric dynamics over Antarctica. Mainly the result of lack of sunlight in winter (remember ozone is made from O2 by UV light). The reason it was worse and has gotten smaller is that the scare was during the eruption of an antarctic volcano that was blasting enormous amounts of chlorine into the upper atmosphere. CFCs had nothing to do with it, being so stable and dense that little, if any, ever made it into the upper atmosphere. In fact, chlorides from wind-driven salt spray are a far larger constituent of atmospheric chlorine than CFCs ever were. Also, over the US where much of the CFCs were being released the amount of UV reaching the ground was decreasing during the same period (as the "ozone hole" was being fear-mongered). [from memory mostly from The Holes in the Ozone Scare that I read in 1995]
James M on 2011-11-28 at 09:37:54 said:
Other warning signs (the first of them corresponding with yours):
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/signs.html
>Other warning signs (the first of them corresponding with yours):
Right, the author was focusing on a different sense of "junk science". There's yet a third sense having to do with 'scientific' testimony in courtrooms' my wife the attorney has dealt with that version a lot.
TomM on 2011-11-28 at 09:40:02 said:
It would probably be rude to ask where channelling Pan or healing by the laying on of hands fits in the junk science spectrum, wouldn't it?
(wait, did I say that out loud?)
>It would probably be rude to ask where channelling Pan or healing by the laying on of hands fits in the junk science spectrum, wouldn't it?
No, actually, it wouldn't. You see, I do try to think like a scientist, even about my mystical experiences. You would do well to reread Dancing With The Gods.
Computer science is, well, science, right? Look at all the uses for just the simple 'wc' utility:
The longest filename in the directory:
ls -a | wc -L
The number of files in a directory, excluding . and ..
If you didn't have the du command, you could do this:
find . -xdev -type f -exec cat \{\} \; | wc -c
to get the size of all the files in a directory. (A little slow, but it works.)
I have a question for those here who<|fim_middle|> Ahmanson funded a lot of research and advocacy. There is no doubt that a lot of the people reporting on these things have an axe to grind, but if you have contradictory data on these assertions, I'd love to see it.
As far as I can tell, Dr. Spencer has done a good job managing the UAH temperature data,
That may well be, and he may well be a fine upstanding scientist, but his higher reasoning skills are obviously clouded by religion in some instances.
Andy Freeman on 2011-11-28 at 13:18:19 said:
> The human race has been throwing unprecedented amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere over the last century or so.
That isn't particularly relevant unless you think that that "man made" CO2 is different.
If you think that "man made" CO2 is just like "natural" CO2, the relevant issues have to do with CO2 levels, regardless of source.
I mention that because CO2 levels have been higher in the past, when men didn't produce any CO2. Unless you're claiming that climate physics was different then, that's surely relevant.
@Patrick
but his higher reasoning skills are obviously clouded by religion in some instances
Cite the papers where you have detected this flaw.
The first part is acknowledged; the second claim is equivocating. Large amounts of CO2 would cause temperatures to rise if all else were equal. The world is a complicated place with numerous feedback mechanisms. One of the core criticisms of climate models is that they're handwaving the effects of clouds, oceans, plant growth, and other factors.
if all else were equal
If all else were equal, the temperature rise would be 1.5C per CO2 doubling, not something to be worried about. The models have to build in positive feedback in order to achieve the catastrophic predictions. Doing so is speculative at best and the failure of the model predictions becomes more significant in that context.
Ken Burnside on 2011-11-28 at 13:59:26 said:
@Andy Freeman:
Actually, it is different – it's got a higher ratio of Carbon-14 to Carbon-12. Not that this is climatologically significant…but that is the way that we can tell what percentage of the change of carbon in the atmosphere is human-released.
karrde Says:
>There was a series of stories about recovery-of-repressed-memories, linked to accusations of child-abuse, during the 1980s.
This was more a failure of the courts to be overly reliant on testimony or dubious reliability. The scientists were probably quacks, and the court system was gullible in the extreme.
>(Bonus question: does either psychiatry or psychology rise to the level of science?)
I think it worth saying that science is about a methodology. There is much science that is in its infancy, but a lack of knowledge does not delegitimize a scientific discipline. Rather it is an illegitimate approach and an unrealistic, unfounded optimism about the accuracy and precision of results.
The mind is certainly not well understood, however, as with much of medicine, there is a known statistical correspondence between certain inputs and certain outputs. If you are bipolar and the doc gives you a certain drug, there is a probability distributed expectation of result. If you are OCD and the doc gives you appropriate aversion therapy, there is a distribution of results. If you have a headache, and the doc gives you an aspirin, there is a certain probability of results.
Of course if you have an unknown allergy to aspirin and you die that is not a success. But that doesn't make it junk science. It just means that the error in the known models is not zero. In the case of medicine, the error rate is often quite well known and measured.
To put it another way, the wise know the limits of their knowledge, and there is nothing so foolish as a fool who thinks he is wise.
Here's an article:
http://www.ideasinactiontv.com/tcs_daily/2005/08/faith-based-evolution.html
Which has nothing to do with climate research, but everything to do with being a good scientist.
@karrde:
In addition to the points Jessica made, bear in mind that if you think psychology doesn't rise to the level of science, but that economics does, you get to explain Daniel Kahneman…
everything to do with being a good scientist.
Really? What about Knuth? What about Francis Collings? For an older example, what about Eyring? What about scientists who are Marxist? I don't see how you can claim Spencer isn't a good scientist without extending that claim to his climate research. So which of his climate papers show a failure to be a good scientist?
I'm atheist myself, but outside the narrow bounds of their discipline I find many academics and scientists who are also atheist to believe things I think are nonsense. Faith of one sort or another creeps in, for who wants to admit that their life is by rational measure pointless? Or that the destruction of the earth would be a cosmic micro-blib of no consequence?
@Patrick Maupin,
Interesting challenge.
However, I would put psychology into the realm of science before I would put economics there.
Or as an old aphorism goes:
He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool; avoid him.
He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student; teach him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep; wake him.
He who knows and knows that he knows is a wise man; follow him.
And then James Hogan added the following (from Endgame Enigma):
He who knows not whether he knows or knows not anything at all is a politician. Get rid of him!
More interestingly (in the realm of junk science) is the field of eugenics.
Especially as theorized and practiced between the 1880s and 1930s.
(Obligatory reference to US jurisprudence on the subject at Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_v._Bell )
> What about Knuth?
Show me anything that says Knuth believed in creationism or ID.
> What about Francis Collings?
I don't know him.
> What about Eyring?
This Eyring? http://markii.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/henry-eyring-mormon-scientist-and-supporter-of-evolution/
> What about scientists who are Marxist?
What about them?
> I'm atheist myself, but outside the narrow bounds of their discipline …
What does atheism or any other unfalsifiable personal belief have to do with people who (a) theoretically understand the scientific method; and (b) claim that ID follows the scientific method and explains the world as we know it better than evolution?
> I don't see how you can claim Spencer isn't a good scientist without extending that claim to his climate research.
That's my entire point. It's very difficult to see someone who purports to understand science yet proves that they really don't in one area, and then take their word for how things work in another area. I have to say, though, that where I work, there are a lot of religious engineers, to the extent that I think that engineering and religion go together better than science and engineering. And, for example, caretaking of a dataset is something that a competent engineer can usually do quite well on his own.
@Partick
Eyring believed in intelligent design. Knuth has speculated about the role of randomness in God's design. Francis Collins was one of the leaders of the human genome project and believes in theistic evolution, which I think is close to what Knuth believes in. Marxists believe in the inevitable fall of capitalism due to internal contradictions, something that has yet to happen. I suspect they would have been better off basing a philosophy of historical necessity on ordinary corruption.
The point is, you need to discredit the scientific work in itself. It doesn't serve to point out that the scientist is gay, or Christian, or left wing, or a believer in Gaia, or beats his wife, or whatever other smear that avoids the fundamental question: is the work sound and are the results honest.
Certainly, I don't agree with Creationism or its stalking horse Intelligent Design. And that Roy Spencer believes in at least the latter is unfortunate. But that does not undermine the fact that the bizarre behavior of Remote Sensing journal editor with respect to one of his peer reviewed papers shows the politicalization of the AGW topic and the pernicious attempts at controlling what gets published on the topic.
> More interestingly (in the realm of junk science) is the field of eugenics.
In principle eugenics is not junk science at all. On the contrary, without a doubt controlling the breeding population can make for a stronger population overall. We do it all the time with animals and plants.
Eugenics is of course utterly repugnant, and a gross violation of the most basic rights of humans, and an example of the core reasons I favor gelding governments rather than the people they rule.
Nonetheless, science is amoral. Unless you expand the definition of "junk science" from "bad science" to include "evil science", I don't think it, or its many equally evil cousins can be labeled junk.
Finally, someone else that thinks O3 molecules swooning at freon 50 miles below is nonsense.
However I should say I'm equally sceptical of the age of the earth/solar system, and the darwinian pictures showing complete human beings from three bone fragments fou d i a cave (when it isn't piltdown man). There is also no chemical/physical mechanism to produce complexity – where the information gap is too large.
Not that I can't be convinced, and biochemistry, physiology, etc. are science, but there is so much extrapolation from so little data concerning rocks, fossils, and computer models of DNA mutation that I prefer to say "I don't know".
Yet if it is true, except for C S Lewis argument in "the abolition of man", (online for free) why not? There can be no moral issue with bags of chemicals, or if there is, then many traditional views might be wiser even if they say debauchery is shameful.
Eyring believed in intelligent design.
Are we talking about the same Eyring? I just pointed you at an article that says that at least one Eyring _didn't_ believe in ID.
Knuth has speculated about the role of randomness in God's design. Francis Collins was one of the leaders of the human genome project and believes in theistic evolution, which I think is close to what Knuth believes in. Marxists believe in the inevitable fall of capitalism due to internal contradictions, something that has yet to happen. I suspect they would have been better off basing a philosophy of historical necessity on ordinary corruption.
We're talking past each other. Lots of people hold unfalsifiable beliefs which don't get in the way of their science. But ID purports to be a scientific falsifiable belief that explains the real world better than evolution.
The point is, you need to discredit the scientific work in itself.
Lots of people much smarter than me have discredited ID; I don't think I can do a better job. As far as the climate science goes, I thought I made it clear that I was addressing esr's point that people who have been wrong before on science (not faith, science) tend to be wrong again. In general I agree with this because scientific reasoning is scientific reasoning, but I thought I made it pretty clear that it doesn't always follow. In essence, if you claim that Spencer's climate research is impeccable, you are making my point for me.
It doesn't serve to point out that the scientist is gay, or Christian, or left wing, or a believer in Gaia, or beats his wife, or whatever other smear that avoids the fundamental question:
or, in esr's words, that he buggers sheep.
is the work sound and are the results honest.
Sure, but if the scientist has been caught doing fake science (e.g. ID), then you just need to look extra hard to make sure he's not doing it again.
@spqr:
But that does not undermine the fact that the bizarre behavior of Remote Sensing journal editor with respect to one of his peer reviewed papers shows the politicalization of the AGW topic and the pernicious attempts at controlling what gets published on the topic.
Sorry, don't know anything about that contretemps. I was just using Spencer as an example of someone who apparently does both good and bad science.
In addition to unfalsifiable beliefs, I think most of us hold some relatively unexamined beliefs. Most of these are harmless; like classical mechanics, they mesh with the real world well enough.
But Spencer claims that he has examined his belief in ID in earnest, and that the evidence favors it over evolution. This is not a casual instance of just going to church every day because that's what you've done all your life, or being a Marxist because you sympathize with the downtrodden. This is as close as a scientist gets to what an engineer does when he puts his stamp on a drawing — putting his professional reputation on the line.
Of course, this is just my opinion and you are certainly free to disagree, but I really don't understand why you don't seem to think that it's reasonable that this behavior might be deemed somewhat questionable by the casual observer. When I see a resume, it might have lots of fancy things on it that I don't know about. I might ask a few questions about those, but I will probably spend a lot of time on what the job candidate claims he knows that I know something about. That way, I can tell if he's inclined to blow smoke up my dress. Well, guess what? I've seen a lot of ID stuff, and I've seen Spencer blowing smoke up my dress. Is he acting that way on climate science? Beats me. It's too much of a mess for me to wade in and figure out what's what.
kn on 2011-11-28 at 17:47:29 said:
Having read quite a lot of the (anti-)AGW comments on this blog and then reading this post, I couldn't help but thinking ..
Let's say I 'm "green" in the way Bennet describes here : http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=3954#comment-343335
Obviously, I've heard about global warming. I wasn't aware of any strong opposition against theories on [A]GM until I came across esr's posts and commenters.
I understand the anti-AGW theories on this blog and its comments aren't science, or scientific theory. Still, what if I used esr's checklist as a quick litmus test to see if there's something of value in those "AGW is a scam" claims :
>- Science by press release. … announce dramatic results before publishing in a peer-reviewed journal
-> blog posts, emails, no sign of publications in peer-reviewed jpurnals
>- eschatological panic. "a terrible catastrophe looms over us if theory X is true … "
The looming catastrophe of more big government, more power to corrupt and incompetent politicians, more tax, the end to our economy and our way of life …
>- "only bad/sinful/uncaring people disbelieve theory X", .. trying to induce a state of preference falsification …
"green is the new red", and people who don't see this AGW is a scam are ignorant followers, "sheep", … or profiteers, cowards looking to save their jobs and their funding, …
>-seems tailor-made for the needs of politicians or advocacy organizations
the anti-AGW discourse and the libertarian agenda appear to be made for each other
4 out of 8, and since the theories expressed on this blog aren't real science, some of the tests don't match well with the proposed checklist (computer models, data sets, …).
That's enough for me to take this anti-AGW campaign with a grain of salt.
aaron davies said:yes, precisely. similarly, appeal to authority is only invalid if the authority is irrelevant to the subject. "i believe in relativity because of einstein" is reasonable, "i believe in pacifism because of einstein" isn't.
That's a valid enough heuristic for laymen, certainly. (Where "laymen" are "anyone so outside of the field in question that they are thus unable to usefully evaluate claims themselves".) But even then it's only a heuristic, and shouldn't be taken too far – for every Einstein, who revolutionized a field and despite being wrong about some things (his dismissal of quantum mechanics) was Pretty Much Right, there's at least one Chomsky, who revolutionized a field despite being pretty much entirely wrong. Fame and authority can't always be trusted.
For scientists actually dealing with relativity, it's still and lastingly invalid; relativity can be demonstrated, and that's why they/we believe in it, not because Einstein was famous and won a Nobel prize.
At best, for scientists, ones who personally knew Einstein and knew him to be a rigorous thinker and Very Smart Man Of Physics could be forgiven for thinking "it's probably right, because he's not sloppy and is very unlikely to have gotten it wrong".
But that's not really argument by authority, then…
kn –
However you're missing one serious point –
None of us have ever had to falsify or deny the existence of data to support our position. The AGW alarmist crowd, however, cannot predict the past accurately with their models.
When reality does not match your predictions, it is not reality that is flawed.
SkipKent on 2011-11-28 at 18:35:42 said:
I would add something along the lines of, "Religious admonitions cast forth in the guise of Accepted Scientific Fact."
Many times, in threads arguing AGW, I have seen AGW proponents speak along the lines of, "Yeah but what if it IS true? Better safe than sorry." Granted, these aren't the scientists themselves, usually, but are rather the devoted followers, receiving the 'wisdom' and making up nasty names for those who reject it.
A lot of people have said the same thing about Hell. "Sure, you say you don't believe in Hell, but what if there really is one? Better to become a (believer) while you can, than be sorry for all Eternity."
I'm sure others could come up with many other aspects of AGW that have been stated and argued in terms much more religious than scientific. The whole idea of Armageddon itself has roots in religions as does the idea of an enlightened few carrying the seeds of Salvation. The whole proselyting aspect of AGW is astounding, and the righteous fervor of the proselytizers themselves.
>Yeah but what if it IS true? Better safe than sorry."
That's point two, "Rhetoric that mixes science with the tropes of eschatological panic."
I just pointed you at an article that says that at least one Eyring _didn't_ believe in ID.
The article pointed out that he believed in evolution. On the other hand, he was quite fond of Paley's watchmaker analogy. In other word, he thought that evolution would be God's way to achieve a larger purpose, a teleological point of view, and that science was an attempt to understand God's creation and purpose. I suppose that isn't strictly intelligent design, but it is a sort of creationism.
Re Spencer: "Is he acting that way on climate science?"
That's the question, no? I don't think you have actually looked at any of his climate stuff, so I believe you when you say you don't know. Now if Spencer didn't come with a lengthy positive resume of accomplishments I might agree that his belief in intelligent design raised questions, but he does possess such a record and to dismiss him out of hand for ancillary beliefs isn't justified. One might as well dismiss Godel because of his conviction that his food was poisoned.
Sometimes politics and religion does affect the science. Steven Jay Gould would be an example of that, dismissing the accuracy of Morton's measurements of cranial capacities without actually checking if they were correct. I suspect his explanation of the differential achievement of men and women in such things as mathematics is of the same sort. But that doesn't mean he did no useful research in paleontology and evolution as long as he stayed away from politics.
Joel C. Salomon on 2011-11-28 at 19:28:27 said:
Also, "better safe than sorry" breaks down when the cost of "safe" (dismantling our technological civilization) is so close in cost to the purported "sorry".
Hunt Johnsen on 2011-11-28 at 19:32:24 said:
Kn,
Here's a real-life reason to take the AGW bullshit with more than a grain of salt – in January incandescent light bulbs will no longer be legal to buy or sell in this country. Bad science along with crony capitalism screws us again, all in the name of "settled science".
I read the paper here: http://www.ideasinactiontv.com/tcs_daily/2005/08/faith-based-evolution.html
At first glance I see nothing wrong with the reasoning in it. It makes claims that are not controversial, using reasoning that is not problematical, and most importantly requires no faith. That you cite it without explaining why you find the reasoning either faulty or faith based says to me that you are the one not doing any reasoning.
I skimmed too much. The premises are not controversial and the reasoning is reasonable, but the final conclusion, that evolution is a matter of faith is certainly controversial. Evolutionists always claim that creationists and intelligent designers are evoking a "God of the gaps". Well, they are evoking an "evolution of the gaps". The form of the argument is the same.
kn: When emails reveal that scientists are fudging data and trying to influence peer review to suppress critics, you don't need to publish a peer-reviewed paper to call shenanigans.
As for the fact that creationists were prominent in early AGW skepticism, the old saying applies: "Just because an idiot says the sky is blue doesn't make it another color."
Roger Phillips on 2011-11-28 at 21:09:58 said:
Evolutionists always claim that creationists and intelligent designers are evoking a "God of the gaps". Well, they are evoking an "evolution of the gaps". The form of the argument is the same.
Evolution is a fact, observed directly. Natural selection is part of the theory that attempts to explain that fact. Intelligent design is a _purely_ ad-hoc adjustment to traditional creationism to make it fit the facts. The author of the article is horribly confused.
Furthermore, intelligent design has been thoroughly refuted. The basic ideas are flawed (look up "irreducible complexity" if you want a good laugh).
Out And About 11/28/2011 » All Things Expounded
Roger Phillips,
> Evolution is a fact, observed directly.
Really? With a new kind of being as an end result? As someone who believes in evolution I would really like to see the evidence. Now you are skimming. The article points out that we have observed plenty of evolution within, for example, moths. But no moths to flies, for example.
> Intelligent design is a _purely_ ad-hoc adjustment to traditional creationism to make it fit the facts.
You are _purely_ mind reading and I _purely_ don't believe you.
> Furthermore, intelligent design has been thoroughly refuted.
Yeah right. Pull the other one.
>Really? With a new kind of being as an end result?
Tell me what you mean by "new kind of being" and I'll answer that. But be aware that you're wading into some serious definitional hoohaw here – all map, no territory.
It is the case that all the processes required for speciation have been observed in the laboratory and in the wild.
> But be aware that you're wading into some serious definitional hoohaw here – all map, no territory.
I know. Our inability to rigorously define biological groups makes my head hurt. I don't think I am alone in this.
> It is the case that all the processes required for speciation have been observed in the laboratory and in the wild.
I really would like to see this. It doesn't seem to have made it to the level of popular science.
>I really would like to see this. It doesn't seem to have made it to the level of popular science.
It's not even difficult! It's high-school science-project stuff if you have an organism with sufficiently short generations. This is why biologists love E. Coli and fruit flies so much – you can put them under weird selective pressures and watch them do the Darwinian thing in real time.
From the National Review article -> The Dog Ate My Global Warming Data
Phil Jones and Tom Wigley authored the first comprehensive history of surface temperature, in the early 1980's. They worked at the United Kingdom's University of East Anglia, Climate Research Unit. Their paper served as the primary reference for the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) until 2007. It supported the IPCC claim of a "discernible human influence on global climate", a warming of 0.6° ± 0.2°C in the 20th century.
Jones and Wigley used data from ground weather stations not designed to monitor long term trends. Many stations were placed near trees, in parking lots, and near heat vents. Changing urban settings surely biased readings. They modified the temperature data before using it in climate models. But, Jones and Wigley did not report their original data or how thay had modified it.
The Australian scientist Warwick Hughes wondered where the error estimate of "± 0.2°" came from. He wrote Phil Jones in early 2005, politely asking for the original data.
Jones responded "We have 25 years or so invested in the work. Why should I make the data available to you, when your aim is to try and find something wrong with it?"
More about Global Warming
@SkipKent:
The whole proselyting aspect of AGW is astounding, and the righteous fervor of the proselytizers themselves.
As esr said, this is addressed by one of his points. I would like to add, though, that you have hit upon the reason why IDers were at the forefront of the anti-AGW movement. An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming (which Roy Spencer signed) makes it abundantly clear that the evangelicals view anti-AGW as a competing religion that must be stamped out at all costs.
>An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming (which Roy Spencer signed) makes it abundantly clear that the evangelicals view anti-AGW as a competing religion that must be stamped out at all costs.
I think you typoed; they view AGW as a competing religion. The pro-AGW commenters around here demonstrate this almost daily.
JonCB on 2011-11-28 at 23:41:15 said:
I can't vouch for it's heritage, but http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-speciation.html lists some examples of Observed Speciation.
My daughter is enrolled in an MD/PhD program, and IIRC, one of her major personal criteria for her PhD subject matter was that it be based on a microorganism, for the simple reason that using mammals such as mice could easily extend the time to complete her PhD by a couple of years.
If you don't have a generative account of why your formulas and coupling constants look the way they do (a generative account which itself makes falsifiable predictions), you're not doing science – you're doing numerology.
I don't agree with this entirely. If you gather data and find formulae that seem to relate the variables to one another to some reasonable level of confidence, even if you don't have the generative account, the fact that the model works justifies telling everyone "hey, this model works, but I don't know why" so that they can try to figure out that generative account, or show that another model works nearly as well and does have a generative account.
Let's take the development of the periodic table of elements as an example. Chemists noticed that different elements had behaviors that could be grouped together long before quantum mechanics produced the generative account for electron shells, orbitals, and spin. It really is OK to say "there's a correlation here that deserves further study". Just so you do actually say that, not "the science is settled".
> I think you typoed; they view AGW as a competing religion. The pro-AGW commenters around here demonstrate this almost daily.
Yes. Exactly. There are religious nuts on both sides. There are unprincipled partisans with oxes to gore on both sides. And there are, I think, earnest, well-meaning individuals on both sides. It really makes it hard for the casual observer to separate the heat from the light. Obviously, tools like your warning signs list are helpful here.
Answering a particular statement by saying that it was made by a liar is an ad hominem argument. It does not prove the statement false; even the boy who cried "wolf" was right once.
But ESR did not say that the previous record of lying by the speaker proves the statement is false; he only cited it as a warning sign of probable falsehood.
I have a question for believers in CAGW driven by carbon dioxide emissions.
China burns coal for most of its energy, and burns more coal every year. China is either the largest producer of carbon dioxide, or is on track to be so very soon. Chinese emissions alone are (I estimate) sufficient to exceed the limits on CO2 emissions which CAGW advocates claim must be met to avert CAGW.
China's increasing coal consumption is necessary to China's continued economic progress out of grinding poverty. There are no alternative sources of sufficient energy to support non-poor life for China's population.
Suppose China persists in burning these large amounts of coal, rather than accept continued poverty for its population, so that Chinese CO2 emissions exceed the CAGW limit…
Would you, CAGW advocate, support a war against China to stop the coal burning? Leave aside economic sanctions and other non-violent means. Such measures cannot force China to stop burning coal. China might decide that enough domestic energy production for its people to live well is more important than foreign trade.
Note that such a war would of necessity be a nuclear war, as China has nuclear weapons. Indeed the only rational way to begin such a war is with a pre-emptive nuclear attack on China's nuclear weapons and nuclear weapon delivery systems.
If you had to choose between a pre-emptive nuclear attack on China, or exceeding the IPCC's recommended limit on global CO2 emissions, which would you pick?
(A similar question arises with India.)
> "Why should I make the data available to you, when your aim is to try and find something wrong with it?"
One thought about Hansen. Obviously, he was in a position to figure out he was being targeted by religious zealots a long time ago — probably well before most of us would have noticed the nascent debate.
This doesn't excuse his behavior in the slightest, but it might go a long way towards explaining the data hiding and the apparent doubling down on bad models.
@Rich Rostrom:
I agree with all that, and thought I made that clear. Unfortunately, we have that warning sign in abundance on both sides of this debate.
s/Hansen/Jones/
/me goes to bed
> Obviously, he was in a position to figure out he was being targeted by religious zealots a long time ago — probably well before most of us would have noticed the nascent debate.
> This doesn't excuse his behavior in the slightest, but it might go a long way towards explaining the data hiding and the apparent doubling down on bad models.
It only explains the data hiding if he also thinks that every person trying to replicate his results is a religious zealot, which is also known as paranoia.
As to explaining the "doubling down", "the ignorant people tricked me into bad science" isn't much of an explanation.
> On the contrary, without a doubt controlling the breeding population can make for a stronger population overall.
Umm, no. Controlling the breeding population can make for a population more adapted to the controls. Said population is "stronger" wrt that situation, but weaker wrt others.
Really? The overall benefits of having more people with hereditary illnesses like Tay-Sachs disease or cystic fibrosis might be equal or greater than the overall benefits of having more people without those conditions? This is not an argument for involuntary eugenics, but there are obvious benefits to eugenics.
This is a (somewhat) oldie, but a goodie, that helps to inform in a way somewhat complementary way esr's list:
http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/lying.htm
excerpt (by John Brignell, retired mathematician):
"How we know they know they are lying
That a lie which is all a lie may be met and fought with outright,
But a lie which is part a truth is a harder matter to fight.
Tennyson – The Grandmother.
It is to some extent forgivable when people adopt extreme positions out of misapprehension or delusion. It is quite another matter if they mislead others by deliberate falsehood. Politicians, of course, treat the lie as part of their professional equipment. Indeed, in some circumstances they are obliged to use it (when, for example, telling the truth about the economy would cause a run on the currency). In science, up to recent times, there is no circumstance in which a deliberate falsehood is justifiable. It requires at a minimum being drummed out of one's learned society.
All that has changed with the rise of authoritarian government. In Britain this took the form of nationalisation of the universities, begun under Thatcher and completed under Blair. In the USA it took the form of new state-funded bureaucracies, such as the EPA, who maintained control by the monopoly of funding. The global warming religion changed everything.
There is a contrast in the behaviour of people who speak from conviction and those who speak from convenience. This enables us to uncover those who are lying deliberately and distinguish them from the merely deluded. As M. Maigret once remarked "It is always the clever ones who leave a clue."
He goes on to describe, in detail, several symptoms, or "clues":
Rewriting the past
Ratchet reporting
Avoidance of debate
Hidden agenda
Professor John Brignell's "Number Watch" site (www.numberwatch.co.uk) has been one of my favorites for many years. Sadly, he's starting to suffer ill health, but when he posts, he still manages to do it with a certain cheer that brightens my day, even when the topics are gloomy.
Don't waste my time by nitpicking my use of emphasis. Intelligent design is an obvious attempt a sneaking creationism, which is the result of wishful thinking on the part of religious people, back into the realm of credibility. If you can't see the difference between the kinds of laughable nonsense being spouted by the ID folks and the genuine-but-flawed work that goes into real biology, then I really feel sorry for you.
What? Is this a serious comment? Have you bothered to look into this at all? It's about as discredited as Nazism.
Grantham on 2011-11-29 at 03:41:11 said:
This is a good list. Another early warning signal is the direct or indirect invocation of Marxist memes, such as you saw with Earlich's work, obviously with Lysenkoism, and now within the AGW policy movement. All depend upon a kind of magical economic thinking very much in tune with Marx, whereupon the portions of the energy gap that can't be filled in are discarded as unimportant, even if they are vast.
Junk science certainly isn't purely a product of the Left (just look at ID on the Right), but, given the direction academic funding normally flows, it does seem to dovetail more smoothly with it. And since Leftists in general tend to be both less religious and less philosophical than the population as a whole, it seems many of them are desperate to find a moral mirror to preen themselves in, and a secular heroic cause to fight. This is also most likely the explanation for why the religious Right sided with the skeptics so quickly. Those people undoubtedly saw right away that this was less a true science than a competing "humanist religion," and religions famously hate competition.
Oops. I missed part of my post, which was to point out that (as Eric has pointed out) speciation has been observed directly. How about instead of mindlessly parroting hideously misinformed randoms from the Internet you go and read some real books for once?
Don't be a sophist; ID has no credibility. Actually read what these people think. Taking this to the level of arguing that technically I can't know if it's 100% purely ad-hoc reveals that you're only interested in playing games (even if that game is to play the iconoclast).
>I think the connection is real, and goes through the concept of compressive learning.
Googled compressive learning, didn't become wiser… I think if there is a connection, it is due to the isolation of problems. As the same problem can appear in many different sets of problems, if it is properly isolated and solved, the same solution can be reused in different sets.
When reading comment threads such as this I am often minded to recall that there is evidence that more than 50% of the population of the US are young-Earth creationists.
Increased scientific literacy is a pressing need.
esr>>> Consignment of failed predictions to the memory hole.
charles>> Do any professional scientists actually do this with journal-published predictions?
gamma ray> In the medical field there are two active and long standing examples: 1. vaccination safety and efficacy, and 2. the cholesterol heart disease myth replete with glaring omissions, confounding variables, and pleiotropic effects of statins that are never given the light of day in the mainstream media and rarely within the medical-industrial complex.
I guess either I'm confused as to what Eric meant here or you are. I was thinking along the lines of there being particular scientists who have published claims that have been publicly refuted and brought to their attention, and then published further claims that presuppose their original claim. Glaring omissions is not the same kind of thing, and occurs in normal science because good scientists are still fallible and professionalism does not eliminate the possibility of such omissions. The other two points are methodological and so not relevant to this symptom.
TomM: Be careful what you ask for. You may get it. Increased scientific literacy would have doomed AGW alarmism a long time ago.
The problem with the argument from "authority" today is there is little integrity or honor, even if they aren't lying outright to preserve their status, they are negligent or careless.
It used to be there were some that when they made an assertion, it was because they personally checked and rechecked and verified results. So it is "someone credible says he has verified X". Today they often repeat hearsay.
Read the opening to CS Lewis The Abolition of Man about 'the green book' if you wish to know where the change is coming from.
TomM Says:
> Increased scientific literacy is a pressing need.
I agree that that is true. However, the plain fact is that belief in a young earth and special creation has close to zero impact on most people's lives. They make very few choices based on this information, and so, in a sense, it doesn't make much difference to their lives what they believe.
AFAIK, pretty much all of American scientists believe in "old earth" and evolution, and make all their decisions based on that.
Which is to say, when it matters, people are not young earthers.
Believing in young earth allows one to be part of a church and religious community that offers many direct benefits easily offsetting any negative costs associated with young earth faith. So, in a sense, believing in young earth is a rational choice for many people. Most people's life goal is to be happy, not to be scientifically correct.
I know a girl who is currently a Biology PhD student at a very prestigious University. She is spectacularly smart. She is also a very fundamentalist, Bible believing Christian. Somehow she manages to compartmentalize the two entirely contradictory beliefs — her certainty about the veracity of Genesis and the need to recognize and practice in accordance with evolution in her work.
The human mind is a remarkable thing.
He actually doesn't need to think that. He just needs to think that if he gives the data to anybody else, he has lost control of it and the religious zealots will get it.
C'mon. We've all seen, or even been, relatively smart people doubling down on bad arguments. The psychology is in us. Persecution makes religious faith stronger, for an example. The drive/want/necessity to be right has powered many a scientist through rough patches. Barry Marshall is a good example of this. Unfortunately, when you combine this tendency with external forces (money raining down, lots of other researchers depending on you, etc.) it provides a temptation to take shortcuts to tide you over until you get better data (a time that may not come).
Again, I'm definitely not excusing his behavior. Merely trying to explain it. Viewed from the cool objectivity of your favorite desk chair, the whole thing looks stupid. But then so do a lot of schemes cooked up by people.
Michael Tobis on 2011-11-29 at 11:11:33 said:
Sigh. I agree with most of the generalizations. Then you turn around and clumsily apply it to my field, buying into a whole slew of common and commonly propagated misunderstandings and errors. Ouch.
There could be weeks of work untangling the confusion about climate science in the offing; unfortunately this comes right on top of our busy season (AGU meeting in SF). But I'll be back.
Mike Swanson on 2011-11-29 at 11:21:03 said:
Mike Swanson Says:
> Ignorance is strength
Not really, but for oftentimes ignorance is bliss.
@TomM: "When reading comment threads such as this I am often minded to recall that there is evidence that more than 50% of the population of the US are young-Earth creationists."
Do you have a source for this? I know that there are many YEC in the U.S., but I have trouble believing it's as high as 50%. Since nearly all YEC are likely to vote Republican, a simple union of the YEC and the business community would imply over 50% Republican votes in every national election.
Of course there are regional differences (lots of YEC in the South), and some outlier groups (e.g., most black YEC probably vote Democrat), but still…
From today's WSJ:
"As with religion, [the global warming religion] is presided over by a caste of spectacularly unattractive people pretending to an obscure form of knowledge that promises to make the seas retreat and the winds abate. As with religion, it comes with an elaborate list of virtues, vices and indulgences. As with religion, its claims are often non-falsifiable, hence the convenience of the term 'climate change' when thermometers don't oblige the expected trend lines. As with religion, it is harsh toward skeptics, heretics and other 'deniers.' And as with religion, it is susceptible to the earthly temptations of money, power, politics, arrogance and deceit."
— from "The Great Global Warming Fizzle", by Bret Stephens
> The overall benefits of having more people with hereditary illnesses like Tay-Sachs disease or cystic fibrosis might be equal or greater than the overall benefits of having more people without those conditions?
We know that one copy of the sickle-cell anemia gene offers some help with malaria, so I wouldn't be surprised if other genetic traits don't have some advantage in some situation. After all, if something causes even 1% less "fitness" in every situation, it has a lot of trouble surviving many generations. (Do the simulations.)
Also, there is no way to target those traits and nothing else.
> Since nearly all YEC are likely to vote Republican
It takes a lot of ignorance of American politics to write that.
> the business community
Likewise. Even if you assume that biz always votes its pocket, you've failed to account for the fact that Dems run a far more lucrative biz-patronage scheme than Repubs do. Surely you've heard of Wall Street, Hollywood, and GE?
>>As to explaining the "doubling down", "the ignorant people tricked me into bad science" isn't much of an explanation.
> C'mon. We've all seen, or even been, relatively smart people doubling down on bad arguments.
I didn't intend to imply that it wasn't understandable. I was trying to point out that it isn't acceptable as an excuse, that it isn't a "good". It's actually a bad.
When the pressure is on is when it's most important to get things right.
> It takes a lot of ignorance of American politics to write that.
Probably partly sampling bias, based on where she lives. OTOH, YEC are more visible in the Republican party for the simple fact that they are welcome there. Just like gays are more visible in the Democratic party. Seems like a bad miscalculation on the part of the Democrats, since there are a lot more YEC than gays.
http://scienceblogs.com/strangerfruit/2008/06/latest_gallup_poll_on_evolutio.php
> When the pressure is on is when it's most important to get things right.
And also when it's hardest.
I found a later version of that gallup poll. If gallup is to be believed, the percentage of Americans who believe in YEC dropped from 44% to 40% in two short years, and the percentage of Republicans believing same dropped from 60% to 52% in the same timeframe:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/145286/four-americans-believe-strict-creationism.aspx
This is exactly what is behind Freeman Dyson's thoughts on AGW. He believes that it is already too late to head it off; the developing world will not accept limitations on their economic progress; the only thing for all of us to do is to adapt ourselves to a warmer world.
Dyson is a genius and I have the greatest respect for him. My only objection is the fact that the CO2 we generate is going into the oceans. The acidification it causes is measurable. It is real. It is unlikely that the oceanic biota can adapt to this relatively rapid change as quickly as we humans can. If we trigger some sort of oceanic die-off, it can cut off a large percentage of the world's food supply, at a time when the world's population is at an all-time high. This is NOT A Good Thing.
All this blather and we still have people who believe in the greenhouse theory. The greenhouse theory has been well and truly refuted because reality stubbornly refuses to follow along.
If you can come up with a theory of human-induced climate change that does not involve CO2 and the greenhouse theory, then by all means share it with us. Until you can, then the entire thing is consigned to the realm of conjecture and needs more work.
The Great Filter is a-comin'…
Long Thanksgiving Weekend Wrap-Up « Countenance Blog
This whole post and thread is devoted to the idea of spotting junk science. One thing not prominently listed in the 'great eight' is simple common sense – 'Is what they are saying reasonable?' (It doesn't always work, I know; relativity and quantum mechanics don't make sense, at first.) There's no great theory needed for the idea that doubling or tripling the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere ought to bring about changes in our climate. Don't you think that the atmosphere figures into the climate, somehow? Even if the scientists' models are wrong, isn't it reasonable to expect some effect, expecially with such a chaotic system as the earth's weather?
Another thing. Political motivations were mentioned in esr's eight. The greatest motivations that I see in the anti-AGW rants are political at the personal level. There are many whose lives would be disrupted by all those AGW mitigation schemes; they would emerge poorer. It's all too easy to believe, in these hard economic times, that if we just drill and pump and burn, the good times will come back. Economics is driving them, not science. Most of the junk science is squarely on the anti-AGW side.
Libertarian mindset 101: If you do intellectual work which seems to suggest the need for policy controls on human activity, then you are — wittingly or not — a purveyor of a pernicious viral meme complex instigated by the KGB to undermine the American political and economic system. Honest intellectual work — by definition — supports and reinforces the libertarian dogma.
(It certainly can't be because the libertarian is a purveyor of a pernicious viral meme complex instigated by the propertied elite to perpetuate the status quo and secure and consolidate their power base…)
There's no great theory needed for the idea that doubling or tripling the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere ought to bring about changes in our climate. Don't you think that the atmosphere figures into the climate, somehow? Even if the scientists' models are wrong, isn't it reasonable to expect some effect, expecially with such a chaotic system as the earth's weather?
What's reasonable to expect is one thing. What's measurable and provable is another. The AGW alarmists want us to completely upend civilization as we know it based upon a conjecture.
This is no different than the "precautionary principle", in that unless something can be proven to do no harm it ought not be done. Since you cannot prove a negative, the precautionary principle is merely cover for neo-Luddism. So it is with AGW alarmism.
There is no evidence that proves, or even suggests, that CO2 is a driving force in climate change. Every single theory that starts from CO2 and ends with climate change has been proven wrong by 20 years of measurements.
Another thing. Political motivations were mentioned in esr's eight. The greatest motivations that I see in the anti-AGW rants are political at the personal level. There are many whose lives would be disrupted by all those AGW mitigation schemes; they would emerge poorer. It's all too easy to believe, in these hard economic times, that if we just drill and pump and burn, the good times will come back.
Straw men. All of it. It's not at the personal level, it's at the level of entire civilizations. A not insignificant number of AGW alarmists literally want to turn out the lights, as though going back to some agrarian civilization will magically cure all ills.
None of us on the side of reality (i.e. there is no AGW) are advocating for unlimited pollution. We are saying that rushing to dismantle the energy sources that allowed us to grow to where we are is a bad idea, and that we should find alternatives in a sensible way, not one driven by political considerations (Solyndra, anyone?) or alarmism (Corn ethanol?).
Economics is driving them, not science. Most of the junk science is squarely on the anti-AGW side.
Bull. We haven't had to "Hide the decline" or deny the existence of recorded history to make models work. We've simply relied upon the fact that the last time this particular group of socialists made up an enviro scare (remember the coming ice age from 1977?) they were wrong. They've come up with another one, and the solution is, miraculously, the same! Socialism, central planning, and a permanently lowered standard of living for the plebes.
I am curious to see if East Anglia will race to integrate CERN's recent findings on cloud radiation into their climate models. It would represent a big step towards repairing their tarnished reputations, and might actually advance the field of climate science and increase our knowledge of the natural world.
I sincerely doubt this will happen, though; they have traveled too far down this sad road, and a good deal of their life's work will have to be tossed into the furnace. The shame is that there might have been some useful observation and analysis lost in the blizzard of apocalyptic fudge factors, but thanks to the chicanery and the outright lies coming from the Team (Lonnie Thompson's public whopper about Kilamanjaro sublimation springs to mind).
… but thanks to the chicanery and the outright lies coming from the Team (Lonnie Thompson's public whopper about Kilamanjaro sublimation springs to mind), it will take decades or longer to untangle the primary research from the political spin. Unfortunately, by then we will all be drowned by boiling seas.
ConceptJ on 2011-11-29 at 14:39:08 said:
@brian:
I'm not sure what you mean by the "greenhouse theory" because the greenhouse _effect_ is real, and explains why Venus is hotter than Mercury despite being twice as far from the Sun.
With respect to AGW, the theory that human CO2 emissions cause warming due to the greenhouse effect is, I would agree, dubious at best, but your choice of words was overly imprecise.
@Jessica Boxer
Sorry for the long-delayed reply.
> Nonetheless, science is amoral. Unless you expand the definition of "junk science" from "bad science" to include "evil science", I don't think it, or its many equally evil cousins can be labeled junk.
In specifically calling eugenics as practiced in the US between the 1880s an d the 1930s, I'm calling out the assumption that (a) crime is often caused by low intelligence, (b) said low intelligence is a inheritable trait, and (c) forcible eugenics should be done to reverse that in society.
While definitely 'evil science', I would assume that at part (b) is junk science, and part (a) may be also.
I don't dispute that selective breeding can be successful. However, I am not accustomed to calling it eugenics–which may be a misunderstanding on my part.
>While definitely 'evil science', I would assume that at part (b) is junk science, and part (a) may be also.
As to (b), estimates of the heritability of intelligence from range from 50% to 83%; the better-controlled ones (such as separated-twin studies) show outcomes that cluster nearer the high end of that range than the low.
As to (a), the claim that low intelligence "causes" crime oversimplifies the eugenicists' actual argument, which was more that many people of subnormal intelligence become criminals because they can't handle the cognitive demands of non-criminal ways of making a living. This is not a controversial theory among criminologists.
The eugenicists' error was in premise (c). They diagnosed a real problem, then opted for a "solution" that went wrong in the entirely predictable ways that forcible intervention by the state usually goes wrong.
Even so, eugenics might have remained respectable (there are certainly enough people willing to defend equally tragic botches today, like the "War On Drugs") – but then Naziism happened, and eugenics became "what the Nazis did".
@ConceptJ
OK, let me be more precise then.
The greenhouse theory of climate change as presently expressed requires several things that just plain do not occur in nature. The greenhouse effect is something that is measurable and shown in existing systems.
To get from our present atmosphere to one where the greenhouse effect becomes dominant requires something that does not ever occur in nature – a positive feedback loop. Since the "greenhouse theory" relies upon CO2 forcing (well, actually uses CO2 as a proxy for water vapor forcing) to drive a positive feedback loop, it is bogus just from looking at it.
But then after 20 years of actual life, there's still no evidence of a direct relationship between CO2 and temperature, then there's something seriously wrong with the theory, and it needs to be reworked.
Instead, we get told "the models never showed that temperature wouldn't drop", which is an outright lie.
>something that does not ever occur in nature – a positive feedback loop.
Sigh… Positive feedback loops aren't at all uncommon in nature. AGW is bogus because this specific one is bogus, not because the general phenomenon is nonexistent.
When you talk nonsense like this, you give credence to the AGW-alarmist claim that "deniers" are scientifically-illiterate yahoos.
Now that this ball of fluff is finally coming apart at the seams, I am struck by the most humorous projections of the AGW Team, and wonder if there might also be signals for junk science buried in them. For instance, do any of you recall the interview Hansen gave to Salon in the late eighties, and his predictions that the Hudson River would overflow and cover the West Side Highway in the early 21st century? It just occurred to me that it was a brilliant stroke of marketing genius on Hansen's part, targeting his apocalyptic claim on the ethno-tribal center of the deep-pocketed, neurotic American Left. And in Salon, no less!
Perhaps another signal of junk is when an extrapolation of theory X is when the panic being ginned up intersects perfectly with a specific demographic or ethno-tribal conduit of funding. It calls to mind Ehrlich saying that he "would take even money that England will not exist in the year 2000," and rattling off his astral coefficients to abortion rights advocacy groups.
@Grantham –
I made this observation years ago. Whenever you ask one of these alarmists why we can't just adapt to slightly higher seas, they always start crying about New York City and Los Angeles.
We're talking about a theory that predicts destroying the mansions of the bi-coastal leftist elite, here!
esr Says:
> Even so, eugenics might have remained respectable (there are certainly enough people willing
In Freakonomics the argument is made that the recent decrease in crime in America has been partly due to the very high rate of abortions in the black community subsequent to Roe vs Wade (a court decision legalizing abortion in the USA.) This argument has scary parallels to the eugenics argument. One might well conclude that it is evidence that points a) and b) have some validity.
Thankfully, it has the one positive quality that the eugenics was performed voluntarily. (Well, the mom's actions were voluntary, I imagine the potential baby might not be quite so cooperative given the choice.)
Nigel on 2011-11-29 at 16:27:14 said:
The irony is hilarious. Decrying a straw man of unlimited pollution in one breath and producing another that AGW alarmists "literally want to turn out the lights".
Despite the fact that one of the biggest proponents is sitting in a huge mansion and unlikely to give up his creature comforts.
None of us on the side of reality (i.e. there is no AGW) are advocating for unlimited pollution. We are saying that rushing to dismantle the energy sources that allowed us to grow to where we are is a bad idea, and that we should find alternatives in a sensible way, not one driven by political considerations (Solyndra, anyone?) or alarmism (Corn ethanol?).[/quote]
Nobody is rushing to dismantle anything. However, spending money on alternative energy IS a good idea despite Solyndra. Reducing dependence on middle-east oil will also do wonders for world security.
From a strategic standpoint limiting drilling in the US is a smart move. We're going to want that oil in the future. If OPEC is willing to sell to us at current rates until they peak, just fine whether that's 10 years, 20 years or 100 years. We're going to really need oil when that happens so I'd just as soon leave it in the ground until then.
Conservation is a great thing too. Contrary to belief we are capable of conservation AND maintaining our lifestyle. It requires giving a shit though and spending a little more money to do so.
Jessica Boxer>> I know a girl who is currently a Biology PhD student at a very prestigious University. She is spectacularly smart. She is also a very fundamentalist, Bible believing Christian. Somehow she manages to compartmentalize the two entirely contradictory beliefs — her certainty about the veracity of Genesis and the need to recognize and practice in accordance with evolution in her work.
The human mind is a remarkable thing. <<
I'm not religious myself, but I don't see it as so remarkable. The beliefs are contradictory only in the theoretical realm. There is no practical (industrial) application of 'believing the veracity of Genesis', but there is a demonstrable application of the science she is learning. All it takes to resolve the two and get on with the business of living (and working and doing science) is for her to answer the question "How can they both be true?" with "I don't know". She can believe in her heart of hearts that somehow, somewhere there is a way to resolve the two but she just hasn't found it yet. She can say, "God knows," and simply leave it at that.
She can happily continue to enjoy what she likely feels to be the nurturing of her soul with her religion, and making a living and contributing to the world's knowledge of itself with her practice as a Scientist. This ability to quickly and with great finality 'resolve' inner conflicts is one of the great strengths, in my opinion, of religions.
What separates your friend from the AGW alarmists, and makes her much their superior, in my opinion, is the fact that she seems to know instinctively to separate the two realms. She is not applying her science to salve an inner emotional turmoil at the expense of others. AGW alarmists, on the other hand, willingly blur their eyes at anything that contradicts the thought that the changes they seek are just, righteous and must be applied in the physical realm at virtually any cost. They wage jihad against any and all who they see as impeding them.
Bull. We haven't had to "Hide the decline" or deny the existence of recorded history to make models work. We've simply relied upon the fact that the last time this particular group of socialists made up an enviro scare (remember the coming ice age from 1977?) they were wrong.
The global cooling scare of the 1970s was completely made up by the media in order to generate ratings and readership. It did not have a strong basis in published science from reputable journals. AGW does.
Socialism, central planning, and a permanently lowered standard of living for the plebes.
Look around you, man! "The plebes" are squatting in tents in New York, Boston, LA, and elsewhere because they're pissed off and fed up with their lowered standard of living, but uh — it ain't socialism they're demonstrating against!
I wonder what the next great pseudo-science will be? Anti-vax seems to have mostly burned itself out in the first world, with even a whisper of it tanking Michelle Bachmann's political career. For a while, I thought it might be Avian Flu or a similar overzealous adventure in epidemiology, but that balloon was busted years ago (not before the political class got a few miles out of it, though).
Nutritional science has many laughable, "science-y" junk salesman with tentacles the consumer sphere, many of which the political class explores for potential revenues and power grabs (sin taxes, regulatory bodies, etc), so it's conceivable that a new mass movement on dietary regulation could emerge, claiming to increase efficiencies in the looming socialized medicine regime.
>a new mass movement on dietary regulation could emerge, claiming to increase efficiencies in the looming socialized medicine regime.
Yes, very plausible.
phlinn on 2011-11-29 at 17:25:25 said:
This seems semi relevant, as so much of climate science depends on the predictive ability of models.
TLDR version: Given a perfect model (it generated the data), when attempting to determine coefficients (the form of the equation was left alone) by data fitting, there were numerous local optimums. When the data had artificially induced error added, the correct coefficients looked worse than some of the false sets when fitting, although only the proper coefficients were effective at predicting additional data.
No, no, no. This is completely wrong.
The science behind CFC-caused ocean depletion is there if you would but look. Unfortunately your stubbornness has precluded you from doing so.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=chlorofluorocarbons-cfcs says:
Much can be learned about the atmospheric fate of compounds from the measured changes in concentration versus altitude. For example, the two gases carbon tetrafluoride (CF4, produced mainly as a by-product of the manufacture of aluminum) and CFC-11 (CCl3F, used in a variety of human activities) are both much heavier than air. Carbon tetrafluoride is completely unreactive in the lower 99.9 percent of the atmosphere, and measurements show it to be nearly uniformly distributed throughout the atmosphere as shown in the figure. There have also been measurements over the past two decades of several other completely unreactive gases, one lighter than air (neon) and some heavier than air (argon, krypton), which show that they also mix upward uniformly through the stratosphere regardless of their weight, just as observed with carbon tetrafluoride. CFC-11 is unreactive in the lower atmosphere (below about 15 kilometers) and is similarly uniformly mixed there, as shown. The abundance of CFC-11 decreases as the gas reaches higher altitudes, where it is broken down by high energy solar ultraviolet radiation. Chlorine released from this breakdown of CFC-11 and other CFCs remains in the stratosphere for several years, where it destroys many thousands of molecules of ozone.
If you want some actual science I suggest you start with "Stratospheric sink for chlorofluoromethanes: chlorine atom-catalysed destruction of ozone" by Molina and Rowland; and "Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal ClOx/NOx interaction" by Farman, Gardiner, and Shanklin. They shouldn't be hard to google for.
But I honestly can't blame you for your science-denial. The CFC ban was a phenomenal success, achieving what the market couldn't: the destruction of ozone by CFCs is slowing and may even be reversing. This conflicts strongly with the libertarian dogma that the free market finds optimal solutions and we're all worse off for having government regulate aspects of our economic activity. Libertarians are therefore forced to deny the science in order for their ideology to hold up. Rather like young-earth creationists, actually.
>Chlorine released from this breakdown of CFC-11 and other CFCs remains in the stratosphere for several years, where it destroys many thousands of molecules of ozone.
Yeah. But incident solar UV creates ozone at a rate that varies inversely with the ozone content in the air. So when CFCs destroy ozone, they speed up the rate of ozone formation. It's a pretty classic hysteresis situation.
This was one of the sillier ones, for sure. I truly don't know how the CFC-ozone scare took in anybody who passed high-school chemistry. I found the whole flap inexplicable until years later, when I learned that Freon was about to go off-patent at the time and DuPont wanted to lock in a market for refrigerants that it still owned. It was just like the incandescent-light ban – regulatory capture for profit masquerading as greenness.
@Nigel – Don't say that nobody's talking about dismantling anything, people like Gore (with the aforementioned mansion) has said repeatedly that we will have to learn to live with less to save the planet from destruction.
And spending money on alternative energy that is always net negative or has other massive negative effects (like food shortages) is a bad idea. Looking for alternate energy transmission methods might be worthwhile. Hydrogen, for instance, is a massive net negative, but if we build enough nuclear power plants then the electricity needed for hydrogen production becomes cheap enough to not care.
@esr – Chalk it up to the inefficiency of the English language. The whole of Anthropogenic Global Warming relies upon the existence of a positive feedback loop that never triggers a limit switch, ergo causing a runaway increase in temperature. Granted, I'm not a climate scientist (I'm a computer engineer that started as an EE) but I know of no system with a runaway positive feedback loop that's long term stable. Even oscillators have limits to keep them from turning to smoke.
Granted, I'm not a climate scientist (I'm a computer engineer that started as an EE) but I know of no system with a runaway positive feedback loop that's long term stable. Even oscillators have limits to keep them from turning to smoke.
It's kinda like how markets can remain irrational longer than you can stay solvent. Runaway feedback loops can persist longer than human life on Earth at present scales.
where it destroys many thousands of molecules of ozone
IIRC, the initial reaction rates used to compute the chlorine catalysed destruction of ozone were off by a factor somewhere between 10 and 100, 70 comes to mind. So the race was on to discover substitute reactions, which I believe is where fluorine came in. But that wasn't sufficient either, so reactions on the surface of ice crystals were brought in. A couple of years ago another critical reaction rate was remeasured and I think was off by a factor of about 10, so we are now back to GO but someone definitely collected $200 on the way. Stratospheric ozone is still not understood after all these years.
Now I'm not complaining about the reaction rates, they are difficult to measure at such low concentrations and pressures, what with diffusion to container walls and such. But the continual updates required to maintain the conclusion don't look like disinterested scientific research in retrospect.
I found the whole flap inexplicable until years later, when I learned that Freon was about to go off-patent at the time and DuPont wanted to lock in a market for refrigerants that it still owned.
This is also wrong, and blatant unfounded conspiracy-theory mongering at that.
Freon was first patented in 1928. Du Pont had a 1966 patent on a manufacturing process for the stuff, but by the 1970s several firms were already producing it — and paying no royalties to Du Pont. They were by no means the driving force behind the Montreal Protocol; they fought against scientific and public opposition to CFCs for years before having a change of heart in 1986 (once they had developed a profitable Freon alternative they could sell). Kinda like oil companies with green energy and AGW: launching a PR campaign against the science which threatens their cash cow until it becomes accepted in the minds of the general public, then doing a complete about face when they see it's a losing battle and trying to figure out quickly how to make money in the new regime. Fairly typical big-corp behavior.
@Grantham:
"I wonder what the next great pseudo-science will be? Anti-vax seems to have mostly burned itself out in the first world, with even a whisper of it tanking Michelle Bachmann's political career."
Sadly, not true. It's nothing like a majority, but it's high enough to put a lot of kids at risk.
More Parents Skip Childhood Vaccines (NY Times)
"Health officials have struggled for years to reassure parents that childhood vaccinations are safe, but the number of parents who skip the shots continues to grow, according to a new analysis by The Associated Press.
"In more than half of the states, the number of parents opting to skip some or all childhood vaccines is rising, according to The Associated Press report. And in eight states, more than 1 in 20 public school children do not get the vaccines that are required for kindergarten attendance.
Health officials have not identified an exemption threshold that would likely lead to outbreaks. But they worry when some states have exemption rates climbing beyond 5 percent. The average state exemption rate has been estimated at less than half that.
Even more troubling are pockets in some states where exemption rates are much higher. In some rural counties in northeast Washington, for example, vaccination exemption rates in recent years have been above 20 percent and even as high as 50 percent."
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/more-parents-skip-childhood-vaccines/
Probably the most frightening possibility is that a "politically useful" junk science will emerge from a serious field, such as genetics, perhaps as a sort of neo-Larmarckism. Gene mapping already has seeded plenty of hucksterism and quackery out in the popular culture (for laughs, look up an outfit called "African DNA"), but I'm sure there is a wily villain out there who can exploit our current gaps in understanding to enhance the centralized authority of the state… or at least make a quick buck off of suckers.
@Cathy
Well, I suppose it's mildly troubling, but 2.5% national is nothing compared to the rates in Asia Minor, particularly when the data suggests the highest concentrations of the U.S. exemptions are endemic to, forgive me for saying so, East Bumblefuck rather than in highly concentrated urban centers where risk of outbreak is high. I mean, lets cross reference that data with other factors, like average novel human contacts, or health checkups. Northern Washington is pretty widely known as the locus of this particular cargo cult in the U.S., so it doesn't surprise me that they continue to add acolytes there, but it seems to be largely contained in the U.S. as opposed to the Philippines or India.
Regarding inheritability of intelligence, Jerry Pournelle has posted this seeming paradox on his web site:
Some Teachers Unions have pointed out that the average grade and high school performances in Wisconsin, which has teachers unions, are higher than the corresponding averages in Texas, which is a right to work state. This is true. The average student performance in Wisconsin is higher than the average student performance in Texas.
It is also true that the average black student performance in Texas is higher than black student performance in Wisconsin. The average Hispanic student performance in Texas is higher than the average Hispanic student performance in Wisconsin. The average white (non-Latino) student performance in Texas is higher than the average white (non-Latino) student performance in Wisconsin. The three classes are collectively exhaustive.
These facts are true, and they are not contradictory although they may appear to be.
http://jerrypournelle.com/chaosmanor/?p=3694
Not really. The market will never, for instance, go into an exponential growth loop towards infinity – at some point it runs into a limit switch and heads the other way.
Greenhouse theory said that there would be a "tipping point" reached after which rapid temperature increase was inevitable. This was always nonsense on stilts.
Grantham,
Leave it to the Pacific bloody Northwest to be the major holdout for a form of hippy-dippy-dom that's long been debunked and considered harmful.
> wine grapes grown at 59 degrees north around the year 1000, that sort of thing.
I live at 60 degrees north and it currently happens to be +6 C here. The internets tell me that its +5 C in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, in one of their prime wine growing areas in the Rhine valley. No wine grapes growing around here yet, but I'm certainly not opposed to the concept. This November has been extremely warm and I'm a fan, apart from the storm we just had that killed a couple of people in Norway and knocked out electricity for tens of thousands in Finland.
The example of the medieval warm period that people cite around here is oak trees growing in the Oulu region at 65 degrees north, which quite evident in the pollen record. Currently they only grow in the wild in the southernmost coastal areas of Finland at 59-60 degrees.
>Leave it to the Pacific bloody Northwest to be the major holdout for a form of hippy-dippy-dom that's long been debunked and considered harmful.
Interesting. From some of your comments here, I just assumed you were a major proponent of "hippy-dippy-dom."
I never much thought of Anti-vax as a product of the Left or the Right, but rather a psychographic phenomenon, drawing in the most paranoid subjects regardless of political alignment. Maybe that's why it still hasn't quite caught fire in the West; neither ideology could figure out a good way to exploit it for cash and power grabs. ID has a definite Rightward tilt, but it's effect is mostly benign (for instance, I also had to learn "Home Economics" in public school; useless subjects in public education do not begin and end with ID).
The big problem with CAGW was that it very conveniently and obviously lent a teleological component to international Marxism that it was sorely lacking. It quickly became the doctrinal well for a cultural movement, complete with a secular Eschaton that the Left could use as a rally point. During their first attempt at world domination, the communists were too quick to murder God without first inventing something desirable to take his place, but CAGW (or CACC, heh) provided a perfect framework for secular spiritualism required to complete their project.
Jacob Hallén on 2011-11-29 at 19:41:36 said:
There is rather compelling evidence that the Earth has had much higher concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere than we currently have. (Millions of years ago.) If there was a positive feedback loop, This planet would be uninhabitally hot, and it isn't.
The most reasonable mechanism that introduces negative feedback is that when the CO2 level in the atmosphere rises, the amount of carbon bound by photosynthesis is increased. This happens both on land, in plants, and in the sea, mostly in algae. Given enough time and temperatures that are not too hot for survival, photosynthesis will bring the CO2 levels down. There is some equilibrium point where CO2 concentration is so low that only a few hardy species survive, but we have never been close to that point in the history of the Earth. Animals evolved, introducimg a positive element in the feedback loop. This produced oscillation in CO2 levels as animal populations grew and shrunk. Human intervention has released a bunch of CO2 that was previously bound into the atmosphere. The capacity for binding the carbon again is a far cry away from balancing the CO2 emissions, but in a longer perspective, this matters little. Humans will stop burning fossil fuel sooner or later, either by exhausting the supplies or by becoming extinct. Smarter species will evolve, given enough time.
Jeff Read: Hippy-dippy-dom?
I mean, yes, vaccine-avoidance is that.
But look at the places they single out in the report, for the Northwest – counties in rural northeast Washington.
There aren't a lot of hippies out there… where are they "concentrated"? Tonasket? Almira? Colville?
(Now, Ashland, where two of the idiots the AP quotes are from, and one of the people in their picture? Hippies. So many hippies.
I was wondering why all the hippie-quotes were from Ashland, then I saw that the reporter is from Grant's Pass, half an hour up the Interstate… so Ashland was the nearest hippie concentration.)
Scientific American leans extremely far to the left. I quit subscribing in the 1980s because of their regular anti-US stance. And if your quoted section is indeed from them, they still don't let reality (or science) get in the way of their biases.
>some heavier than air (argon, krypton)
Argon is lighter than air, much lighter than nitrogen, and half the density of oxygen, and krypton is the same density as oxygen, though admittedly denser than nitrogen. And the rest of the thing, since it gives no numbers to the amount of decrease with altitude, which it admits to, could support my previous knowledge at least as well as it does your claim.
>There is rather compelling evidence that the Earth has had much higher concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere than we currently have. (Millions of years ago.) If there was a positive feedback loop, This planet would be uninhabitally hot, and it isn't.
And if it acidified the ocean as much as some people (including Eric in an earlier post) fear, there would have been at least some evidence of that, which I have never even heard any mention of.
Argon is lighter than air, much lighter than nitrogen, and half the density of oxygen
Umm, no. Look at a periodic table. For given pressure and temperature, the density of an ideal gas is proportional to the atomic mass of the particles. Nitrogen has an atomic mass of ~14, the atomic mass of a nitrogen molecule of about 28. Argon's atomic mass is ~40.
@Joel C. Salomon:
Regarding inheritability of intelligence, Jerry Pournelle has posted this seeming paradox on his web site…
Anybody with a smattering of algebra or a smattering of programming could understand how to construct a scenario that would match those facts. Anybody who already knows that whites are no longer in the majority in Texas could probably reason it out without resorting to variables. And it's certainly not a paradox that a union would use flawed statistical reasoning to get its message across. So, the only real paradox here is how someone could apparently think that those facts by themselves say anything about IQ heritability.
I can also tell you that at least one of those "facts" is dead wrong — being a right-to-work state does not preclude having teacher's unions. The unions theoretically cannot engage in collective bargaining, but you know how that goes. But that is incidental to your main point.
http://www.utwatch.org/archives/workingstiff/vol2no9_educationaustin.html
What about scientists who are Marxist?
Like this guy?
A marxist, by definition, is either an idiot or a thug. Neither are traits conducive to clear thinking.
Learning to live with less isn't learning to live with nothing. First, I think that was Obama and not Gore and second, it's like driving a more efficient car vs driving a huge SUV unless you're regularly towing a boat and not like walking vs driving. If you need to haul a gaggle of kids around then switching to a more efficient 4 or 6 cyl station wagon or mini van vs a V8 SUV. If you need to haul a boat around, then by all means, keep a big V8 to tow the sucker. But you know what? I won't cry if you have to pay more for a luxury gas guzzler.
If you care about your kids/grandkids then you might be inclined to consume somewhat less while keeping your current standard of living regardless of whether AGW is true or not. The fact of the matter is that we CAN voluntarily reduce oil consumption without ending up living in caves. How do I KNOW this? Because we dropped from peak oil usage in 2005 of 20.8M bbd to 18.7M bbd in 2009. We saved more oil per year than any new domestic fields would ever produce.
http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_cons_psup_dc_nus_mbblpd_a.htm
We rolled back 10 years worth of increased oil usage. If we can get back to 1983 (15M bbd) level of oil usage through electric and hybrid vehicles that would be fantastic.
That's living with less comfortably while maintaining our current lifestyle (more or less). Keeping the thermostat a couple degrees cooler is somewhat less comfortable but wearing a sweater in the winter vs shorts doesn't really impact standard of living.
It's cheaper to conserve energy than to build new plants or drill for more oil. And while solar may not be dollar for dollar more cost effective vs coal but there's a lot to be said for designing your home to be energy efficient enough that solar meets a large percentage of your electrical needs. There are advantages to getting off the grid beyond pure $ savings. That doesn't mean no AC or no large HDTV. It does mean energy efficient appliances, increased insulation and improved thermal design. From just a cost perspective it's a negative. From an independence perspective (individually and as a nation) it buys you quite a bit.
China is going to need more oil than they do now. As someone noted above they are going to insist on using their share of the petroleum energy pie because they need to. They will spend blood and treasure to make that happen.
In that scenario, is it better if many/most folks are driving a EV and living in an energy efficient home augmented by solar or is it better with the current status quo?
Is it worth a trillion or two to make that happen? Would be better of strategically with fewer carrier battle groups and a smaller military overall but a more energy independent nation? As a big hawk and with my salary dependent on a big military (specifically Navy) I'm still inclined to think yes, we would be better off.
That we'd also be producing less pollution is a nice side benefit…AGW or no AGW.
The global cooling scare of the 1970s was completely made up by the media in order to generate ratings and readership.
Yeah, they didn't figure out a way to make it benefit power-seekers. That's why it fizzled out so quickly.
@Nigel –
I never said anything against any of that.
However, when the 10 year TCO of a Honda Fit is less than that of a Prius, it doesn't say much for the value of hybrids in the long run. And if you add in the environmental impact of the batteries, forget it.
And PV Solar is a non starter here in the Northeast. And even in the places that it CAN work, it still can't be done without subsidies.
But if you listen to the leftists that push the AGW hype, they want us to go back to not having the lifestyle we have now. Some of them want us to go back to a subsistence lifestyle, some only back to the standard of living of the 1950s, with 1 car and 1 TV per family.
I reject all of that out of hand, and it infuriates me that the left is using lies to convince people that somehow there is virtue in living like a pauper.
In the immortal words of Glenn Reynolds: I'll believe it's a crisis when the people who tell me it's a crisis start acting like it's a crisis.
I use less energy in a year than Algore does in a month. I win.
In case it isn't obvious, I'm neutral on AGW, not having studied the data in any detail. Frankly, I couldn't care less…reduced energy dependence on oil is a big enough win on it's own merits regardless of any environmental impact.
I also think that AGW opponents are guilty of their own fear mongering.
The probability that our political system will drive any significant change based on environmental impact without actual flooding of coastal cities or other painfully visible stimulus (like lake eire catching fire…actually the cuyahoga river) approaches zero. The most you'll see is some governmental lip service coupled with some watered down laws that will get even more watered down after big business lobbyists get done.
And you know what, I even like the Federal Clean Water Act. It beats the hell out of the "free market" that resulted in rivers that caught fire.
> If you care about your kids/grandkids then you might be inclined to consume somewhat less while keeping your current standard of living regardless of whether AGW is true or not.
Hey, I think we have a winner on warning signal #3:
Rhetoric that mixes science with the tropes of moral panic.
In all seriousness, there is nothing inherently wrong with conservationism. In fact, I think that's probably why Eric included the line, "The most difficult case is recognizing that this is happening even when you agree with the cause," in his sixth signal. Many critics of the carbon catastrophe crowd are longtime naturalists and conservationists, myself included. But pseudo-science needs to be exposed to sunlight and fraud needs to be punished, even if some of the professed ends are desirable. Otherwise, we are headed for another Medieval Period, whether it is warm or not.
Nigel, any sentence that begins with "you don't need" is invalid in a free society. It's not anyone's place to tell me what I need or don't need. I drive the vehicle that fits what my needs are, and nobody else gets a say in the matter.
The same comment applies to hybrids. 95% of my driving is at 70-75 MPH in cruise on the highway, where a hybrid gains me exactly nothing in return for the greater weight and higher expense, both initial and ongoing. Electrics are not even to the point where I *can* consider them: my mission profile has me hauling a midsize (Blazer/Explorer/Highlander-class) SUV load of people and/or stuff 300 miles at 70 MPH, and being ready to do it all over again in 15 minutes, indefinitely. No electric vehicle is anywhere close to meeting that mission.
Sure, there are pie-in-the-sky plans. When the pie goes splat onto my driveway, then maybe I'll consider it. Until then, aerial pie is inedible.
However, when the 10 year TCO of a Honda Fit is less than that of a Prius, it doesn't say much for the value of hybrids in the long run.
Why are you comparing those two cars? Why not compare the Honda Insight against the Honda Fit?
I'm an engineer. Efficiency is my lifeblood.
And I get it, I really do. The problem we're discussing here isn't one of conservation or not, it's whether or not it is acceptable to pervert science and lie to the public to achieve some "higher goal". Especially when the goal is of dubious height.
I support using less oil for fuel because it's so useful for all kinds of other stuff. If I thought electric vehicles were viable, I'd be all for them. But battery-making material is scarcer than oil is, and our power grid would collapse if even 5% of the cars on the road were battery-electrics.
As far s political decisions being made, in 32 days it will no longer be legal to buy, sell, or make available incandescent light bulbs of 100 watts or greater output. And those laws came about BECAUSE of big business lobbying. Decisions are being made for us without our consent, and we're being lied to about it. Doesn't that bother you even a little?
I drive a little car that gets 31 mpg on the highway, I've got a little house that uses less than 500 gallons of oil to heat it all winter long.
I'm waiting for someone to buck the green trend and build a little turbine-electric that runs on CNG and you could fill up at your house. Hell, if I had the time and money, I'd try to retrofit one myself. How hard can it be?
@brian if you prefer a Honda Fit over a Prius I think that's just fine. I don't care how the cat is skinned. And PV subsidies is just fine with me because the TCO for oil once you factor in military expense is too high, and I'm not talking just $$$.
Plus, given the widespread power outages (from storms) these last couple years I'm inclined to install solar just because PEPCO sucks, subsidy or no subsidy.
AGW leftists are extremists that should be rightly ridiculed (heh)…but find me a mainstream democrat that would push 1 car and 1 TV per household. Political suicide. Not even a Prius driving treehugger is going to go for that. For one thing if you bought a Prius you already have indicated you're not willing to trade comfort for the environment beyond a certain point.
More infuriating to me are folks in my party without the foresight of a gnat prattling on about drilling for more oil in the US. Crude is going for $99/bbl today. Wanna bet that it's going to be worth a lot more than that in a couple decades? You really want to burn that in your SUV today vs conserving a little more and reserving it for future needs?
You really ought not include the cost of the military in the price of oil. Our military would not shrink one iota if we were to stop using oil tomorrow. The world is a dangerous place, oil or not.
Subsidies are not fine with me, because I don't like having my money stolen from me at gunpoint to be given to someone else to chase after unicorn farts.
I do know that there are things we can do, now that will lower the price of oil (and things that can reduce the price of energy, full stop). I also know that the greens are opposed to all of them because their goal is a world with less of us in it.
@brian I think we're largely in agreement except I don't feel all that incensed about AGW. It's political now which pretty much means everyone is lying and spinning to their own advantage. Any eco-nazi pro-AGW spin, IMHO is likely offset by big oil anti-AGW spin. The truth is likely where it normally is. Somewhere in the middle.
Scientists are political and they always have been. Scientists are human first with all the normal foibles. And they aren't any better at far reaching global conspiracies than anyone else so I disbelieve some grandiose green orchestration as much as I disbelieve that Bush orchestrated 9/11.
@grantham It might be true if I was a AGW proponent. I'm a IDRGAS (I don't really give a shit) proponent with respect to global warming.
I care about oil supplies, environment, etc on the same level that I care about the deficit. At some point the bill comes due. I'll likely be dead by then but I can see my kids being very much alive. If I can push the problem out another 50 years I dunno that I really care that it goes to hell in a handbasket at that point. Too far removed from me emotionally to really care all that much.
> If I can push the problem out another 50 years I dunno that I really care that it goes to hell in a handbasket at that point. Too far removed from me emotionally to really care all that much.
I know what you mean, in a way. Of course, both the lefties and the righties would probably consider you a nihilist for saying it, but it's not that extreme. It might even be the best strategy: always keep Armageddon a comfortable brace of years in the future, so we don't have to worry aboutour grandkids reenacting Mad Max. But solar, wind and hydroelectric won't forestall that kind of future, and neither will a West weakened by carbon regs. Fracking, off-shore, coal and nuclear are our best bets for the next 50 years.
If you need to haul a gaggle of kids around then switching to a more efficient 4 or 6 cyl station wagon or mini van vs a V8 SUV.
You mean the station wagons that have been largely phased out in the United States because of CAFE standards—and replaced with SUVs?
@brian Given where the military spent the last decade I disagree. If Iraq had no oil we'd have left it to its own sad devices just like a bunch of other petty dictatorships. Oil drives policy and it has since Jan 1980 when Carter baldly stated it in his state of the union and further expanded by Reagan. The US will use military force to defend our national interests in the persian gulf.
I can't disagree with that sentiment. That's what the military is for, to defend our national interests, otherwise why bother.
But oil money enriches our enemies and our dependence on oil is a significant strategic weakness that requires huge amounts of force projection capability to offset. Far beyond what we need otherwise even as a superpower.
I have a picture in my office of several destroyers and cruisers in formation. Very pretty, flags whipping, white water at the bows, steaming at speed.
For us, it's a not particularly important surface action group. One of many we can field and not really of note given there's no carrier attached.
For any other navy, except for very very few, it represents more tonnage and firepower than everything they have combined. We can't just beat any two navies out there. We could probably beat them all. So why have that much overkill? IMHO Carter Doctrine and the Reagan Corollary. Push comes to shove we can take the resources we need from pretty much anyone if it comes down to it.
But that has come with a cost as it always does.
I can live with spending treasure inefficiently. Spending blood inefficiently not so much.
Christopher: Not only that, but the myth of the more efficient minivan is just that, a myth. I've driven more than a few minivans in my travels as rental vehicles, and I've never had a single one produce better than 20 MPG.
@christopher No, SUVs are a result in a CAFE loophole. Note that you're seeing a lot more station wagons around these days.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byclass/Minivan2012.shtml
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byclass/Sport_Utility_Vehicle2012.shtml
SUVs tend to seat 2 fewer (5 vs 7) than Minivans and tend to have lower MPG (both real world and spec'd). That's the difference between a V6 and V8. Given that there are 4 cyl SUVs it's not true across the board but on average you can haul more kids around town in a minivan and burn a little bit less gas in the process than you can in a SUV.
Sure, you can get a Durango that can seat 8 but the mileage on that is really low.
Of course that's today. Back when I was growing up we'd throw a bunch of kids into the back of a full sized van without seats much less seat belts. Throw 8-10 kids in the back and the fuel/kid ratio gets a lot better.
> Oil drives policy and it has since Jan 1980 when Carter baldly stated it in his state of the union and further expanded by Reagan. The US will use military force to defend our national interests in the persian gulf.
It's not really energy necessity that drives oil policy in the Gulf, but rather a nexus of private financial interests and the allure of "regional stability" (i.e. keeping the Gulf nations in the thrall of an undiversified ecomony run by occasionally disloyal but micro-manageable monarchs). The U.S. gets about 35% of it's oil from domestic sources. Our biggest imports come from the Middle Eastern Gulf State of… Canada, at 21%, more than all of the Gulf States combined. It's true that OPEC and Russia supply much of the rest, but OPEC is hardly confined to the Persian Gulf (Angola, Nigeria, Libya, Venezuela, Ecuador).
Anyway, we probably should achieve some degree of energy independence, regardless of whether we want to continue to prop up Middle Eastern world powder-kegs or not. But that's not what the Greens are after. I think they are trying to cripple the West's economic engine to a degree that the average citizen will accept collectivism as an alternative to a pauper's death.
Nigel says: "It's cheaper to conserve energy than to build new plants or drill for more oil."
James Lovelock (the Gaia guy) says: "We can't drill our way out of our energy problems, and we can't conserve our way out of them, either. Diets don't work."
We're just going to have to muddle through by doing a lot of different things. Do them. Don't talk, do.
I really like Glenn Reynolds' dry wit, but the reason people aren't acting like it's a crisis, is that it's not a crisis – yet. When it gets to be a crisis, it will be much too late. We need to take steps now to avert a global trainwreck, of which AGW is only a small part.
1. The world is warming. Whether it's the CO2 or not, rising seas will have to be dealt with. Millions of people in places like The Netherlands and Bangladesh will be threatened.
2. Developing nations will not stop their development. We will need to do what we can to help them because the more prosperous people are, the fewer children they produce, and the strain on the earth's resources will be reduced.
3. If we can get 2. (above) going, we'll have another problem where fewer workers are supporting a larger cohort of the elderly, which leads to
4. The world of work is changing rapidly. It's not clear if there will be jobs enough for all, and a large body of idle people makes 3. (above) worse.
5. Add here the additional nuisances of tin-pot nations hell-bent on aquiring nuclear weapons, religious nuts blowing people up in the name of God, the sovereign debt crisis, etc.
The list above is not exhaustive, of course, and the solutions will be expensive, but there is no help for it. Namecalling and denial are not helpful. There are so many people on the planet now that we're all tied together. Libertarians don't like it. All these things add to the sneaking suspicion in the back of their minds that their libertarian beliefs simply are untenable in the real world. That suspicion is correct.
@christopher No, SUVs are a result in a CAFE loophole.
That's essentially what I said. The tightening of the CAFE standards caused manufacturers to quit making station-wagon models and to make "light-truck" SUVs instead. This is a classic and readily foreseeable unintended consequence.
Note that you're seeing a lot more station wagons around these days.
I'm not. I don't even know where to buy one. The "hatchback" versions of cars like the Jetta aren't big enough to take the role of the station wagons I grew up riding around in.
Missing-Anything Al Gore promotes
Nancy Lebovitz on 2011-11-30 at 02:05:55 said:
In re eugenics– it's certainly possible to breed plants and animals for specific traits, and to breed healthy plants and animals for specific traits if you're careful. (Insert rant about show cats and dogs.)
However, I don't know of any examples of selective breeding producing organisms which can outcompete the wild strains.
As for the argument about abortion lowering the crime rate, it wasn't that those women had such bad genes that their children were more apt to be criminals, it was that if they had children when they (the women) thought they had adequate resources to raise them, those children were less apt to be criminals.
@ LS you need to recheck your facts and assumptions
1) the world as a whole is NOT warming – regions of the world warm or cool and regional climates change in a chaotic manner controlled by the vagaries of a global heat engine driven by solar and endogenous heat inputs. Most of the purported warming of the last century has been centered on Arctic and northern hemisphere temperate regions while Antarctic (etc) regions have cooled. But in fact, the suspect HADCrut data shows NO SIGNIFICANT GLOBAL WARMING at all for more than the last decade even with it's built in warming bias. The observed increased global anomaly reported for the last century up to 1998-99 was point 8 degrees C . For example, most of the USA has cooled from it's 90's peak in the current decade by much more than the observed global anomaly.
Sea level change prediction reported by some reputable scientists is 10 cm per century plus or minus 10 centimeters (less than half a foot). This is a non-issue atm. Low lying areas of the globe are ALWAYS threatened by storm surge and flooding caused by chaotic and black swan events that have nothing whatever to do with AGW or even GW.
2) developing nations will have to primarily help themselves simply because all the developed nations are broke. That's the reality.
3) demographics is destiny. AGW has nothing to do with it, and all the malthusian predictions of the past turned out to be garbage just as your concern is theoretically laudable but practically absurd.
4) this is something new ? take the last 1000 years, rinse, repeat as required.
5) see 4
Libertarianism in it's manifold forms is doing fine, tyvm for your concern and go away. I raise your pitiful suspicion with a market crash and a global ponzi scheme.
just by the way, numerous estimate calculations have shown that CO2 concentrations will peak at ~ 480 – 600 ppm even after ALL known reserves of fossil fuel have been consumed. [ex Pieter Tans (2009) (Oceanography Vol. 22, No.4)
ocean acidification is an absurd non-issue — carbonic acid is a trivial hydrogen donor that barely manages to change the pH from 8.4 to 8.3 and photosynthesis regularly changes the local pH from 8.3 to ~10. Organism's EAT the CO2 and its carbonic acid equilibrium by products like candy. In any case, the ocean is massively buffered and huge while CO2 is weak and less than point 03 percent of the atmosphere.
Nigel, every SUV in the class I'm interested in has three-row seating available. They also have nice powerful V6s as well as V8s. No, I don't need a Durango with a Hemi; it won't fit in my garage anyway. Neither will a Tahoe.
My last eight vehicles have been midsize SUVs: a 1987 S-10 Blazer, a 1992 Explorer (ugh!), a 1996 RAV4, a 2001 RX300, a 2007 RX350 (damn, I loved that one), a 1989 Bronco II, a 1995 Blazer, and now a 2000 Subaru Outback Limited wagon (which might as well be an SUV). Everything from the RAV4 on has been 4WD. I know damn well what works for me, and what it's capable of. The RX350 was quite pleasant to drive. The Outback is underpowered, because it has a 4 in it. 160 HP just isn't enough.
Out of that entire crop, you know which one got the best gas mileage? The RX350. The Outback is a close second; it does fine empty, but drops fast when I load it up.
I've never once had a minivan give me even as good gas mileage as the RX300. Never. Not once. Hell, the 1995 Blazer beat most of them, and it's not known for being especially thrifty.
Sorry, but the minivan myth just doesn't hold up. Those who slam SUVs just don't know the facts.
I screwed up. I not only confused atomic weights and numbers, I mixed them together within the same comparison, and misremembered the actual numbers.
Getting back to CFCs though (and this time checking my numbers), even the lightest halocarbon, fluoromethane (CF4, aka carbon tetrafluoride), has a molecular weight of 160, almost twice krypton's (83) and four times argon's (40).
gollum on 2011-11-30 at 07:58:07 said:
Uh.. Nutrition unscience COULD be the next zealot fad? What planet are you on, they have been pushing "healthy" PUFA oils and low-fat, low-salt diets for decades, and there is more (the idea is if it tastes good, it is sinful). Go read the Fathead blog, they are snooping through children's lunch boxes to make sure they can dump their grain gruel, fructose bombs and low-nutrition-density vegetables in school kids. (then, they can be "educated" about the great danger of obesiteee)
Whatever wine you want to grow, the Rhine valley is located in the extreme SW of the German federal state, and has exceptional mild climate due to various factors. Other than that, they grow quite some wine in Germany, but generally it's too cold to compete with the Andes or California.
Germany has had no rain for literally a month, and quite some of that under depressing fog and grey flat cloud filaments that always seemed to form out of the nothing. Wonder if that is still natural.
>Uh.. Nutrition unscience COULD be the next zealot fad?
No, I don't just mean the obvious zealotry/demagoguery they've been kicking around the porch. I mean a well organized and coordinated political "they", where a single nutritional theory can catch fire in the monoculture and drive strict and sweeping dietary regulation for adults… or maybe even a "cholesterol credits" regime, or something. I can see a lot of political capital in that neck of the woods, and certainly a healthy portion of moral panic: "Look at the greedy fatso wasting our collective health insurance! One neck good, two necks bad!"
tmoney on 2011-11-30 at 09:24:44 said:
>The most you'll see is some governmental lip service coupled with some watered down laws that
>will get even more watered down after big business lobbyists get done.
It's fascinating to me that people don't see the inherent danger in something like this. Almost every single awful, egregious law that you can think of started with or was justified by a watered down law passed previously. Camels, noses and tents.
The coal we mine and burn is what remains of the great forests that covered the land during the Carboniferous Period. Wikipedia has a good article on this. The era ended rather abruptly with an interval of glaciation (an 'ice age') where the climate cooled considerably during a time period of only a thousand years or so. While you might want to postulate an asteroid strike, volcanos popping up all over the place or space aliens, it's more reasonable to think that all that CO2 removed from the atmosphere and stored in the plants had something to do with it.
Now we are burning the coal, and returning that stored carbon to the atmosphere. That amount of carbon might well be enough to trigger a change in climate, even if it's as little as 480 ppm. That's three times the concentration observed ca. 1850. We should not be mucking around with the air. It's too important.
2003 Lexus RX 300 AWD: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=mpgData&vehicleID=18808&browser=true&details=on
2003 Toyota Sienna 2WD: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=mpgData&vehicleID=19011&browser=true&details=on
Just furthering your point — minivans don't get better gas mileage than SUVs on average. That is correct.
"The era ended rather abruptly with an interval of glaciation (an 'ice age') where the climate cooled considerably during a time period of only a thousand years or so. While you might want to postulate an asteroid strike, volcanos popping up all over the place or space aliens, it's more reasonable to think that all that CO2 removed from the atmosphere and stored in the plants had something to do with it."
No, it is not "more reasonable" at all. The explanations for the cycles of glaciation are still not fully understood but center around longer term cycles unrelated to CO2 concentrations. I do hope that your comment is not supposed to be an example of "good" science thought.
Morgan: Yup, and the Sienna and RX300 have the same 3 liter 1MZ-FE V6 engine – though it's rated at 220 HP in the Lexus and 210 in the Sienna for some reason.
@LS: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
A good oped in two parts:
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/11/28/peter-foster-the-moral-climate/
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/11/29/peter-foster-leftist-moralizing/
@morgan You didn't disprove my point but made it: The RX300 seats 5. The sienna seats 7.
http://www.autobytel.com/lexus/rx-300/pictures/
http://www.autobytel.com/toyota/sienna/2003/
The RAV4 is classified as a compact crossover SUV built on the corolla platform. The '96 did not have a 3rd row. The RAV4 didn't get that until 2005. You better put SMALL kids in those seats.
The RX300 and RX350 doesn't offer 3rd rows and is one of the cons in comparison to larger competitors. It's another cross-over SUV and built on top of Lexus ES platform.
"As impressive as the 2012 Lexus RX 350 is, it faces worthy rivals. The Buick Enclave, Lincoln MKT and Mercedes-Benz R-Class are all larger and offer a third-row seat for those with bigger broods. "
http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/rx-350/2012/
The Subaru Outback Wagon is a wagon like it says and seats 5. My ex had one of those. If there was a 7 person option on either the forester or outback I'd have gotten one over a minivan.
The Ford Bronco II is a compact SUV. It sure as hell didn't have a 3rd row option. My buddy had one of those, it's short.
Pretty much you listed either 4WD crossovers based on passenger vehicles or small SUVs. Most have decent gas mileage in comparison to mid-sized SUVs and few seat 7. There's a fuel economy cost for 4WD and a interior room cost for the SUV layout. Most minivans seat 7 with a few like the odyssey seating 8 with a 2nd row jumper seat.
@jay in case it's not clear, my opinion is if you need a SUV get one. Whether its for 4WD, towing or whatever. There's no reason NOT to get a SUV if you need one. The ones you've picked are similar to the one I would have.
Whether you should want one is up to you. I prefer to have a SUV over a minivan. It's just that a minivan has been a lot more practical. Perhaps when the current one dies I'll go for the 4WD Sienna.
My opinion is that if you want a Hummer or other big assed SUV just because, that's fine too. But I wont cry if someone slaps you with a luxury tax.
In other auto-news, I hear the Chevy Volts are exploding now. But, hey, at least it costs 41K, has a daily range of 40 miles and is subsidized by the taxpayers. If the Carbon Justice Movement had a nation-state, the Volt would be its Volkswagen.
martinra on 2011-11-30 at 14:08:12 said:
@Nigel, what it takes to get from "peak oil usage in 2005 of 20.8M bbd to 18.7M bbd in 2009" is a massive financial crisis leading to the destruction of trillions of dollars of paper wealth, major increases in unemployment, and the decrease in energy usage implied by increased poverty and lower economic activity. I would argue that the oil consumption falloff was largely involuntary, and that no such decrease could be achieved by voluntary means. Unless you're hoping for a permanent Great Recession, I think I'd have to prefer higher oil consumption to the kind of pain that appears necessary to produce even a 10% drop in that consumption.
@Nigel: What sort of gas mileage do you think you're going to get in that minivan with 7 to 8 adult-sized people crammed into it? Hint: it's not going to be anything close to 20 MPG. Consider that typical usage patterns for SUVs and minivans are that most of the time, there will be no passengers — just the driver. That means the passenger/mpg ratio you keep talking about is essentially meaningless.
Also, SUVs based on passenger cars are currently the most popular option. The best-selling SUV in 2011 is the Ford Escape. If you want to point your irk somewhere, point it at the 3 best-selling vehicles: the Ford F-150, the Ford F-250 and Chevy Silverado.
> I hear the Chevy Volts are exploding now
News flash! Concentrated energy is dangerous when you breach the container. See Ford Pinto.
> has a daily range of 40 miles
That's a bit disingenuous.
> and is subsidized by the taxpayers.
As are the first 'x' hybrids from any manufacturer, and as are all the SUVs that are sold to businesses. What's your point again?
>No.
>As to (b), estimates of the heritability of intelligence from range from 50% to 83%; the better-controlled ones (such as separated-twin studies) show outcomes that cluster nearer the high end of that range than the low.
>As to (a), the claim that low intelligence "causes" crime oversimplifies the eugenicists' actual argument, which was more that many people of subnormal intelligence become criminals because they can't handle the cognitive demands of non-criminal ways of making a living. This is not a controversial theory among criminologists.
Heh. Learn something new every day. (One more item for the 'junk history of science' file…intelligence has an inherited factor after all.)
Maybe I should research the alar scare (I was too young at the time) or the AIDS-for-heteros-in-the-US-scare (I was just old enough to notice that the scare had evaporated).
>(One more item for the 'junk history of science' file…intelligence has an inherited factor after all.)
Yes, it does. The reason you don't know this is that the high heritability of IQ is a severe problem for people whose politics is organized around social-engineering an egalitarian utopia. Therefore they do their best to convince people that IQ doesn't measure anything real, or that the tests are culturally and SES-biased, or that it isn't highly heritable. All three of these claims are false to fact.
In fact, it does seem to be possible to influence IQ with environmental factors – but only downwards. Poor childhood nutrition, anoxia – the brain is a delicate organ, anything that compromises its development or damages it will reduce the general reasoning capacity that IQ measures. But the maximum IQ you can have is probably set by your genes.
David Scott Williams on 2011-11-30 at 14:42:20 said:
Just for curiosity's sake, where can one obtain the raw source data for the CDC's studies on vaccine effectiveness (not surveillance of "covered" vs "uncovered" …
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/default.htm
..actual data that could be used to prove success?
> > and is subsidized by the taxpayers.
> As are the first 'x' hybrids from any manufacturer, and as are all the SUVs that are sold to businesses.
SUVs sold to biz are treated just like every other biz vehicle. Where's the subsidy?
Or, are you claiming that taxation based on net profit instead of revenue is a subsidy?
> > When the pressure is on is when it's most important to get things right.
> And also when it's hardest.
If you can't stand the heat ….
No one forced Hanson et al to chose a position where strength is required. They did so willingly, and so they're responsible for living up to the demands. It is entirely proper, virtuous even, to damn them for failing to do so.
Back on the subject of climate, climate modelling, and junk science:
Does anyone have a database (or even place to start research) on the history of climate modeling? I'm looking for predictions that were made with past climate models, and how the modeler responded to inaccurate predictions.
I'm also looking for a climate model which gave predictions that were modestly accurate 5 years into the future from the date of model publication.
> Now we are burning the coal, and returning that stored carbon to the atmosphere. That amount of carbon might well be enough to trigger a change in climate, even if > it's as little as 480 ppm. That's three times the concentration observed ca. 1850. We should not be mucking around with the air. It's too important.
Might could should ought possibly are not facts. 480/3 = 160 ppm <<—– CO2 atmospheric concentrations have NEVER been documented at that level except due to measurement error. It has been postulated that ALL photosynthesis would shutdown globally at 180 ppm CO2. In any case, accurate measurements of CO2 concentrations as low as that of the atmosphere were problematic at best until the mid-20th century. CO2 is STILL much LESS than 1/2 of 1 percent of the total atmosphere. Just the fact that CO2 is so TRIVIAL in concentration should be enough to ring some alarm bells concerning AGW.
The Carboniferous era was notable in the explosion of lifeforms, giant dragonflies with wingspans of over a yard, and over 35% oxygen concentration of the atmosphere. In fact, most paleo-carbon is currently locked up in carbonate bedrock (limestone, marble, dolomite, etc) which dwarf the tiny amounts found in fossil fuels. You might just as well try to stop plate tectonics and chemical bedrock weathering since those processes mobilizes that carbon.
In any case, earth survived atmospheric CO2 concentrations well over 2000 ppm vs 380 today without turning into a flaming globe. /sarc
These are the definitive symptoms:
* Consignment of failed predictions to the memory hole.
* Refusal to make primary data sets available for inspection.
The others are grounds for suspicion, but by themselves provide only weak evidence of junk science. These two are an indication that the scientific method itself has been discarded.
@ karrde
"Does anyone have a database (or even place to start research) on the history of climate modeling?"
You could always submit a FOI to those generating and using such models. I am virtually certain they would be oh so helpful and provide all formulae, constants, inputs and test run data ! /sarc
Seriously, do a search on the word "modeling" and variants at WUWT http://wattsupwiththat.com/ and you will get a fairly decent breadth of references to work with.
Nigel, the point is that people are always comparing minivans to SUVs and extolling the minivans' virtues – when in reality they're tarring with too broad a brush. Every vehicle on the list is an SUV or can be considered one. (The Outback is listed as a wagon, but is a direct competitor to the SUVs – and that is what's credited as saving Subaru as a maker in the American market. It's functionally identical to an SUV, with similar carrying capacity, appointments, and capabilities.)
Minivans are not the saviors of the American fuel state, no matter how much those who hate SUVs think they may be.
@martinra
"Nigel, what it takes to get from 'peak oil usage in 2005 of 20.8M bbd to 18.7M bbd in 2009' is a massive financial crisis leading to the destruction of trillions of dollars of paper wealth, major increases in unemployment, and the decrease in energy usage implied by increased poverty and lower economic activity. I would argue that the oil consumption falloff was largely involuntary, and that no such decrease could be achieved by voluntary means."
What he said.
This is essentially the mirror image of the point made by Kunstler in "The Long Emergency", that our modern economy depends utterly on the ready availability of energy, and that lack of abundant energy leads to an emergency that won't end.
Of course, Kunstler seems to be one of those dramatists who consider this a good thing, and I'd say he has an unhealthy fascination with visualizing a post-collapse world. As evidence, see his novel "A World Made By Hand," where industrial civilization is replaced by…nothing.
Quite a different view from "$20 a gallon" (Steiner), an interesting, well-thought-out (and very upbeat) non-fiction view of what the world may look like as petroleum-based fuels become scarcer and more expensive (more telecommuting, more trains, higher-density neighborhoods, etc.)
Followers of Kunstler don't have any faith in free minds and free markets, or the ability of a flexible society and economic system to adjust to even major changes. I'm firmly in Steiner's camp.
No, they're not. They are eligible for enhanced section 179 deductions (compared to cars). Granted, not nearly as much as they used to be, but still…
Not at all. But if cars and SUVs are treated differently in the tax code (which they are), then you need a term to distinguish the treatment. "Subsidy" for SUVs, "penalty" for cars… I don't really care what term you use, but there is a difference in tax treatment.
Oh, and before you go claiming that with near-zero percent interest rates, depreciating something or taking a section 179 deduction is a wash, you should consider this: when you sell a piece of capital equipment that you used in your business for at least a year, you have to declare a profit on the sales price minus the basis (which has been reduced by your depreciation or section 179 deduction), but you do not have to pay social security/medicare on that profit.
I started out my very first comment on this issue explaining that I did not excuse the behavior. Do you really think you are arguing against me here?
> The coal we mine and burn is what remains of the great forests that covered the land during the Carboniferous Period. Wikipedia has a good article on this. The era ended rather abruptly with an interval of glaciation (an 'ice age') where the climate cooled considerably during a time period of only a thousand years or so. While you might want to postulate an asteroid strike, volcanos popping up all over the place or space aliens, it's more reasonable to think that all that CO2 removed from the atmosphere and stored in the plants had something to do with it.
Let's test that "reason". The carboniferous period was roughly 50 million years long. How does the CO2 level at the end compare to CO2 levels during?
If you don't know and are about to type "it stands to reason" ….
Steady-state forests are basically carbon neutral. So, if you're going to blame increased forests for a CO2 drop, you get to explain why the "explained" CO2 drop occurred 50 million years before the glaciation.
>As are the first 'x' hybrids from any manufacturer, and as are all the SUVs that are sold to businesses. What's your point again?
I believe my point was that the Chevy Volt is an overpriced, underpowered heap junk, symbolic of the government's power to pour mountains of taxpayer money into a furnace in order to mollify a smattering of deep-pocketed Greenies who fork over the big campaign bucks.
Given the Volt's sales figures, I'm fairly sure I'm not alone in that opinion.
>> SUVs sold to biz are treated just like every other biz vehicle. Where's the subsidy?
> No, they're not. They are eligible for enhanced section 179 deductions (compared to cars)
Note that I wrote "biz vehicle". Cars, like personal computers, are given special treatment. SUVs aren't.
> I started out my very first comment on this issue explaining that I did not excuse the behavior. Do you really think you are arguing against me here?
And ever since that first comment, you've been justifying that behavior.
I agreed with that first comment, the rest, not so much.
Patrick: Be careful. The Section 179 treatment for SUVs is only for the absolute largest, the ones they don't *make* any more like the Excursion and the Hummer H1 and H2. The SUVs I've owned would not qualify. The reason is that they were covered under an exemption for medium heavy trucks. There's a reason they don't make those any more: the tax advantage wasn't enough to offset the costs of running them.
> Note that I wrote "biz vehicle". Cars, like personal computers, are given special treatment. SUVs aren't.
No, personal computers and SUVs are treated better than cars. Look it up.
> And ever since that first comment, you've been justifying that behavior.
No, I haven't. Not at all. I've been trying to understand the behavior by putting it in a reference frame of other behavior that I have seen. As part of that understanding process, I toss out theories to see if anybody has anything useful to say.
> I agreed with that first comment, the rest, not so much.
That's because you're really good at setting up strawmen and knocking them down.
> The SUVs I've owned would not qualify.
Ah. So you've really owned minivans all along, anyway.
So they don't sell any, yet the (tax break * number of vehicles sold) is a huge amount of money? BTW, I bet on a different forum you'd be arguing that a tax break isn't really a subsidy because it's just the government letting you keep a little bit more of your own money…
> So they don't sell any, yet the (tax break * number of vehicles sold) is a huge amount of money?
Actually, I never said anything about the "tax break" (although that somewhat mythical $7500 tax rebate mostly went to dealerships, rather than the end buyer). I was talking about the 400 million that the government pumped directly into design and rollout… of 10,000 vehicles.
Do some basic math for me, Patrick. Here we have a sticker price of 41K with a tax rebate of $7500. That means the buyer is actually paying $33,500 per car. 400 million pumped into R&D for a run 10,000 cars that cost $81,000 per unit to produce and are sold for $33,500. Forget about the maximum profit in this scenario, and tell me what your minimum loss is on this wonderful project?
This is "Green Math" at it's best. Oh well, at least the UAW got a 50 billion dollar bailout in return for cranking out the ultimate emblem of green lunacy. That's got to be worth something, right?
@ Andy Freeman
> Steady-state forests are basically carbon neutral.
The idea of any forest being steady state for 60 million + – 10 million years (the estimated length of the Carboniferous) is of course, absurd. The idea that we have even an order of magnitude knowledge of the CO2 concentration over that period is problematic and the error bars are massive.
In any case, I think the meme goes something like this: plants invaded land for the 1st time during this period and their populations exploded lowering the CO2 concentration and raising the O2 concentration. This is a joke of course since the vast majority of carbon sequestration occurs in oceans as is obvious from simple mass balance concentrations of the earth's crust.
Some of the source data is summarized and linked here and it certainly is worth a look, even if so tentative in nature as to be useless in practical terms. Proxies are of course, merely general indications of a relative nature.
http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/Carboniferous_climate.html
In any case, we know from recent ice cores from both Greenland and Antarctica that proxy temperature rises predate proxy CO2 increases by decades to centuries.
the AIDS panic (are you old enough to remember when it was predicted to become endemic among heterosexuals in the U.S.?)
The AIDS panic is like the Y2K panic: the worst-case scenario was averted precisely because active preventative measures were taken.
The topic of the Volt actually reminds me of a field that is littered with reams of very popular junk science: economics. Happily, it serenely intersects with the junk du jour: the government-backed octopus of carbon-forced climate change alarmism.
If you are really interested in seeing the deepest, chocolaty-est fudge of fudge factors, take a peek into the externalities that are generated by some rascals and charlatans out there in order to claim that fossil fuels are more expensive than a solar/wind grid. Not even that they will be, mind you, but that they are, right now!
Perhaps that's another signal of junk, when familiar junk cottage industries spring up all around the main junk factory, either to carve out a slice of the juicy grant pie or as a bien pensant toadie hired by the political class to gussy up their wealth transfers with a few insane white papers.
> the 400 million that the government pumped directly into design and rollout
I wasn't paying enough attention at the time to notice that. But it's not like this behavior is new, or particularly worse than just about any other government handout designed to encourage the good behavior du jour.
> 400 million pumped into R&D for a run 10,000 cars that cost $81,000 per unit to produce and are sold for $33,500.
The $81, 000 figure is assuming that they only produce that 10K units, and cannot reuse any of the infrastructure (or knowledge gained, for that matter) for subsequent vehicles. Toyota sold Priuses for a loss for a long time, but they are quite profitable now.
The thing is, if you sanely consider any project in isolation at any company, you probably wouldn't do anything. The first sign of decline is when the beancounters are in charge.
take a peek into the externalities that are generated by some rascals and charlatans out there in order to claim that fossil fuels are more expensive than a solar/wind grid.
Sure, but this happens on both sides. I've seen claims that taking a car for a short trip is less energy/carbon intensive than taking a pedicab…
Patrick: At least four of the eight were body-on-frame small truck-derived SUVs, which qualify by anyone's definition – except those who hate SUVs and the consumer choice they represent.
This is an interesting data point
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/30/richard-muller-global-warming_n_1066029.html?ref=tw
Seems to be an honest scientist, who has taken the time to check all the research.
>Seems to be an honest scientist, who has taken the time to check all the research.
False flag. Muller's a true believer who's being presented as a skeptic by the media. Here's some evidence in the form of his own quotes.
"The Huffington Post"?
What, you couldn't take the time to dig up a completely irrelevant link from "Salon", "WaPo", or "The Guardian"?
@ Jacob Hallén
so it would SEEM. Unfortunately, this is not the case, since the article contains factual errors [read: lies and spin]. Mueller is a warmist and always has been. Once he let this cat out of the bag by releasing his preliminary results prior to publication (which has not yet occurred even now) it rapidly became a monster he could not control.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100114292/lying-cheating-climate-scientists-caught-lying-cheating-again/
>The $81, 000 figure is assuming that they only produce that 10K units, and cannot reuse any of the infrastructure (or knowledge gained, for that matter) for subsequent vehicles. Toyota sold Priuses for a loss for a long time, but they are quite profitable now.
Ah, it sounds like you are about to inject some of those infamous unquantifiable "externalities" I was talking about. Please feel free to do so, but do at least attempt to solve the math problem of the minimum loss. I know it hardly matters, since it is other people's money (and in the service of "saving the planet", at that), but it was a fair question. I'll even let you project to the 40,000 vehicle 2013 sales target that Chevy set for itself (hardy har), if it helps your cause. Who knows? Maybe you will even figure out a way to torture the Volt into a net profit?
>The thing is, if you sanely consider any project in isolation at any company, you probably wouldn't do anything.
The thing is, there is a difference between "risk" and "suicide." Happily for the crony capitalists at Chevy, the Volt was neither. So what if the market research showed zero viability? Thanks to the current political moment, they could capitalize the profits and socialize the loss. Just like Fannie and Freddy!
>The first sign of decline is when the beancounters are in charge.
The beancounters are there for a reason: to prevent lunacy like the Volt (except in this case; see above).
I know this isn't an economics thread, but this is all corroborating evidence of signal #6: If a 'scientific' theory seems tailor-made for the needs of politicians or advocacy organizations, it probably has been.
Look, I think there are several very good reasons for expanding our energy options, reducing worldwide pollution and increasing redundancies and efficiencies in our grid. But not if it involves destroying massive amounts of wealth, eliminating the premises for wealth creation, robbing people of their hard-earned cash to fund political boondoggles and disfiguring the scientific method in the process.
> At least four of the eight were body-on-frame small truck-derived SUVs, which qualify by anyone's definition…
Does that mean that my 1996 Ford Aerostar Minivan was a SUV?
> Please feel free to do so, but do at least attempt to solve the math problem of the minimum loss.
Sorry, your minimum loss assumes an $81K/car production figure, which assumes only a particular number of units sold and that there is no reuse.
> Sorry, your minimum loss assumes an $81K/car production figure, which assumes only a particular number of units sold and that there is no reuse.
I gave your the parameters, and you chose to repeat my bit about the 10,000 initial rollout as though I hadn't included it. Are you afraid there's a trick to it? There isn't.
By the way, at this point I would've accepted an answer like "a shitload." But it's not even the amount so much as that it is money that is being pissed directly down the drain, with full knowledge by all parties involved that there was no chance of this making a dime or even of providing a viable sampling for future projects.
I suppose they at least learned that lithium ion batteries are a touch on the unstable side. Of course we already knew that. So, what's the least amount of money that remedial education cost?
The coal seams we mine today are remains of those forests. That's 50 million years of plants growing, taking CO2 out of circulation, and keeping it out by getting buried. This is not a steady-state, carbon neutral situation.
@SPQR: None of those long-cycle glaciation theories have proved to be successful. Maybe in this one case I have a winner? We won't know until we have some way of reading atmospheric CO2 concentrations through the period.
LS, even today, only a small fraction of the carbon cycle involves human activities and not all of the human CO2 generation comes from fossil fuel consumption. There were glaciation periods on the Earth prior to the Carboniferous period and glaciation cycles since.
> I gave your the parameters,
So instead of the royal "we," you have the royal "the."
You gave me your parameters.
You certainly didn't give enough information to differentiate the sunk costs from the per unit cost, or to account for the fact that cost reductions at Chevy are ongoing. BTW, their sales are going up:
http://www.dailytech.com/Chevrolet+Volt+Has+BestEver+Sales+Month+in+October/article23171.htm
> You gave me your parameters.
Well, yes. And then I even gave you room to expand them to include your own (a confession: I love watching propagandists wriggle and squirm and try to get out of admitting, "Okay, fine. It was a terrible idea").
> BTW, their sales are going up…
Oh, goody! So tell me: How much money has the product lost so far?
> I love watching propagandists
How do you figure I'm the propagandist when you're the one who pulls numbers out of your ass and straight from other propagandists? I especially love the "has a daily range of 40 miles" and how I explained this was disingenuous and you never recanted. Go troll elsewhere.
> How do you figure I'm the propagandist when you're the one who pulls numbers out of your ass and straight from other propagandists?
What numbers? The battery doesn't have an operating range of 40 miles daily? Is it 50? I've heard everywhere from 35 to 50 on a nightly charge, so I roughly split the difference. I wonder if I would have been any less of a "troll" if I said 42.5. Oh well.
Speaking as someone who already has multiple vehicles in the family and has contemplated the purchase of a Leaf, but who has zero interest in the Volt, why would somebody buy a car with all the extra complexity of a gasoline engine if they never planned on using it?
By the way, another crystal ball into junk science might be: If the proponents of theory X buy a Chevy Volt, or to think the project was remotely a good business proposition, there's a very good chance they are too dangerously insane to be taken seriously.
The CAGW crowd does its own credibility great harm when they expend energy defending all of the boondoggles and power grabs the political class endeavors in the name of their research. They defend the obviously indefensible, tooth and nail, including a poisoned culture at Hadley CRU that any sane person with an ounce of scientific training would at least find troubling. That's another signal: Not even the slightest admission of fault or error, whether personal, professional or scientific, is ever admitted in public, even when the evidence of it is overwhelming.
Warm fuzzies?
Well that's not going to support your case any.
The Y2K panic was 99% farce. Yes there was a potential issue with Y2K, banks being the one that really comes to mind. And the banks were on top of it long before of the panics truly started (and in fact were on the process long before Y2K was identified, having legacy software that you don't have code for is a business risk whether your dates are going to wrap-around or not). In a world where no-one heard a peep about Y2K, the only ones affected would have been the shammsters doing Y2K readiness checks for individuals.
Compare that to the "worst case scenario" portrayed by mass media (Apparently Y2k is going to make your fridge explode) and i think you'll agree that the "worst case scenario" never existed for anyone.
Expect Smaller Brains with Global Warming Dr. Ellen Weber March 25, 2007
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/03/expect_smaller_brains.html
> Compare that to the "worst case scenario" portrayed by mass media (Apparently Y2k is going to make your fridge explode) and i think you'll agree that the "worst case scenario" never existed for anyone.
I'm pretty sure that Y2K was also going to cause super-Hurricanes, swarms of killer mosquitoes, and coastal flooding (but, apparently only the Upper West Side and parts of Fort Lauderdale – go figure).
Did anyone remember to move the goalposts on that stuff?
> http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/03/expect_smaller_brains.html
Ha ha ha! Thanks for that one, BioBob. Very good.
@David Scott Williams:
> Warm Fuzzies?
On the off-chance that you're serious, I'll note that the Volt apparently has a warning light to tell you that your gasoline is getting old and it's time to use it up, so that particular warm fuzzy comes with some serious constraints, not to mention the other gasoline engine maintenance headaches.
@ Karrde, BioBob
> Does anyone have a database (or even place to start research) on the history of climate modeling? I'm looking for predictions that were made with past climate models, and how the modeler responded to inaccurate predictions.
On the off chance you are (oh be still by beating heart) remotely interested in the actual science, you could start with Chapter 8, WG1 in AR4:
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter8.pdf
Off-topic error cascade:
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/11/water-pump-hack-mystery-solved/
@ TomM
2007 means somewhat dated. There are now 5 more years of actual data (esp satellite / remote sensing) and constructive criticism of this chapter and previous models. In any case, as we have seen, IPCC AR4 has been thoroughly tainted by gatekeeping and sourcing issues a la Climategate 1 & 2.
I stand by my suggestion of WUWT as a place to start but certainly this chapter is worth a look for historical purposes at least.
> Does anyone have a database…
Try sending an FOIA request to Phil Jones at Hadley CRU for the raw station data. Don't let him shine you on about the homogenized HadCRUT3 set, either, or claim that he left it in his other suit, or that his dog ate it, etc. Keep your boot directly on that sly rascal's throat.
@grantham The USG spent $400M on the Volt? Good.
The Japanese have been pouring decades of R&D into hybrids making Japanese car companies far more competitive than US ones. It's not JUST that US car companies were badly run. They were badly run AND their competition was funded by the Japanese government through MITI and subsidies.
I prefer that the US wins. If the game is played this way then lets play the game to win. We're a generation behind and the Volt represents a significant improvement in capability. It'll probably take another couple gens to catch up to the Prius in profitability.
> @grantham The USG spent $400M on the Volt? Good.
Well, they spent/are spending much more than that, and no, it is not good. The Volt was a design disaster and purely a vanity project. There are good hybrids in the marketplace right now, but the Volt is not one of them. They might as well have flushed that money down the can.
The only thing that could have made the Volt worse was if it was a Chrysler.
Yet Another Darren on 2011-11-30 at 21:49:26 said:
Eric was of the view that:
> Muller's a true believer who's being presented as a skeptic by the media.
Then BioBob said:
> Mueller is a warmist and always has been.
Later, BioBob poured out the good oil:
> I stand by my suggestion of WUWT as a place to start
Anthony Watts said in March this year:
> Now contrast Rohde [leader of the BEST project ] with Dr. Muller who has gone on record as saying that he disagrees with some of the methods seen in previous science related to the issue. We have what some would call a "warmist" and a "skeptic" both leading a project.
Maybe the media shouldn't have used WUWT as a place to start…..
> The USG spent $400M on the Volt? Good.
Yay! Wasting stolen money! What fun!
If you want to toss your own money down the drain, that's your business. When it's tax money, it's a problem.
Yes there was a potential issue with Y2K, banks being the one that really comes to mind.
I was working at a bank when that fracas was going on, and truth to tell, it was a great way for us to get the funding for all kinds of work that had been put off for way too long. Y2K wasn't nearly as much of an issue as Euro conversion or Dow 10K, though.
@ Yet Another Darren Says:
my "place to start" referred to
November 30th, 2011 at 2:50 pm request > "Does anyone have a database (or even place to start research) on the history of climate modeling? I'm looking for
> predictions that were made with past climate models, and how the modeler responded to inaccurate predictions."
and bupkis to do with the cant of Muller
I fail to see how WUWT as a source for current information on the state of climate modeling has anything at all to do with Muller's missteps on BEST press releases and errors concerning unpublished papers and science by press release.
Since generally "the media" rarely refers to WUWT, at least as far as the mainstream media, and WUWT IS the media in the blogosphere, I don't quite get what you are trying to impart in your last sentence although it has the whiff of decomposition about it. ;D
Adriano on 2011-12-01 at 07:15:53 said:
@esr " You see, I do try to think like a scientist, even about my mystical experiences."
So you published all the data about the mystical experiences, did some experiments with control groups, and taught us how to consistently reproduce teophany? Must have missed that post.
William Newman on 2011-12-01 at 09:27:36 said:
It seems to me that the IPCC CAGW position belongs at least as
strongly in another category as it does in the stock "pseudoscience"
category. I don't know any standard term for my proposed category: perhaps
"stalking horse" (in the older meaning, not the
synonym-for-trial-balloon meaning that Wikipedia seems to be pushing
in the first paragraph of their current article). It's something that is
supposedly believed, but evidently is not literally believed, because
evidently its logical consequences only apply when they advance an
agenda which was generated by some other process.
It seems to me that this is a fairly characteristic pattern in
fear/anger/envy pseudoscientific beliefs pushed by the modern
left/university/MSM coalition. YMMV on how characteristically modern
leftist it is, though: I grant that the pattern is only a special case
of the category of double standards which I grant is beloved of all
partisan stripes. (E.g., "your terrorist/tyrant, my
freedomfighter/liberator;" or discovering that the Constitution is not
a living document w.r.t. rolling back previous growths, or conversely
discovering that the Constitution isn't to be interpreted as it was
when written when it comes to particular expansions of government
power that one particularly loves.)
Supposedly there is no legitimate use for guns with large magazines,
or guns for personal protection — but then instead of starting with
the easy things of taking large-magazine guns away from duty cops and the
Secret Service and taking carry guns away from off-duty cops and
politicos, the point is to jump straight to how This Is Such A Vital
Social Interest That It Justifies Setting Aside Explicit
Constitutional Protections and disarming ordinary citizens. Supposedly
the obstructionism of IPCC/CAGW critics is so horrendous and
threatening to life that vile Holocaust denier rhetoric is appropriate
— but then somehow the people who spout this vile rhetoric very
consistently avoid targeting their Green movement allies, whose core
anti-nuke and anti-GMO looniness stands in the way of what would be
obvious policy responses if CO2 CAGW were an actual technical problem
instead of a stalking horse for advancing a political coalition.
Supposedly setting aside ordinary measures of individual merit in
favor of discriminating against overperforming groups ("diversity") is
socially beneficial, but instead of using this result to rehabilitate
the reviled private anti-Jewish and anti-Asian discrimination of yore,
we jump straight to how TISAVSITIJSAECP that Asians (but not people of
Jewish ancestry, for no reason that I can see except that we trend so
strongly Democratic) should be discriminated against (Grutter v.
Bollinger, as applied for decades). Supposedly aptitude tests are
somehow perniciously racist, so that any test with disparate racial
impact should face an impossibly high burden of proof to show that the
test is nonetheless a particularly good way to select good employees,
but somehow no such burden of proof should be extended to employers
requiring university degrees (Griggs v. Duke Power Co., as applied for
decades). Various pro-abortion arguments of the "woman's right to
control her body" flavor are also in this category: taken literally
they would be pro-pornography and pro-prostitution and
pro-recreational-drugs (outcomes that as a libertarian I favor) but
it's understood by bien pensants that they are only applicable to the
outcomes favored by the left, first pro-abortion and now
pro-homosexuality as well.
Incidentally, all the examples above are well-known selective
application of supposed beliefs in public debate, but I've also run across
some examples of selective application of supposed beliefs buried
within CAGW tech work. E.g., one of the things Steve McIntyre
periodically points out is how strange it is not to energetically
update the temperature proxies (width of rings in tree core samples,
e.g.) to see how well they continue to track modern changes in
temperature. If one literally believed that the relationship (featured
in the cover graphic of the big IPCC assessment report ca. 2000AD,
taken from the paper that I nominated for Winter's challenge) was
statistically valid and a key to understanding historical
temperatures, it would be natural to update and expand the input
datasets energetically instead of largely coasting on correlations
mined out of old data. This would be good not just for pure scientific
curiosity, but both for vindicating the statistical relationship
discovered and for improving the accuracy of the results which could
be extracted from the relationship. I'd go further and it's strange
not to investigate the strength of the correlation supposedly
discovered global temperature and a few anointed local sites. It's a
strong enough correlation, and an odd enough correlation, that the
people trying to understand global climate should have a technical
interest in figuring out what it is about global climate dynamics that
makes this correlation emerge.
> So you published all the data about the mystical experiences, did some experiments with control groups, …
That is a cheap shot. He said "thought like a scientist", not that he acted like a scientist. Any reasonable person would understand that what he meant was that he was introspective, and gave consideration to the biological, physiological and psychological processes he and his compatriots were going through.
Frankly, I'd like to hear him talk about it. I have always found the mystical religious mind an fascinating thing, and certainly have strong opinions on the aforementioned processes. I'd love to hear an uber smart person like Eric talk about his personal experience with religiosity.
>That is a cheap shot. He said "thought like a scientist", not that he acted like a scientist.
Indeed I did, and you took my meaning correctly.
The difference between me and your ordinary garden-variety mystic isn't that I perform and publish the results of controlled experiments, it's that I'd jump at the chance to do them if I knew how. Also, I don't do the silly shit that many mystics and religious people do, like believing in the "supernatural" (a nonsense word!) or having "faith" (self-induced shutdown of skeptical reasoning).
The television network that I worked at was very heavily dependent on software for its operations. They started preparations LONG before the magic date. On the evening of Dec. 31, 1999 a New Year's party atmosphere prevailed. Everyone was called in. The commissary was open, handing out free food. The head of engineering for the main program switching area handed out noisemakers. They were all used enthusiastically when, at 00:00:00 CUT the proper programs all rolled and switched up properly, and on time….
My take? "That's enough! We will reconvene on December 31, 2999…."
Well…it got a laugh at the time…you had to be there….
@Jessica "That is a cheap shot […] Any reasonable person would understand that…"
I'm not so sure. From context, the original question esr was responding to was about junk science, recognizable not by being introspective, but by not applying the scientific method nor sharing results or data. That's why I snarked, anyway.
"I'd like to hear him talk about [esr's personal experience with religiosity]."
I think he did, with that essay.
@TomM, BobB: thanks for the notes on sources for climate models.
Tom, my main reason for asking is this. (And it's a question I'll still ask, after a skim of the linked paper.) Where is the published data on the models which contains (A) predictions from when the model was made, (B) variations between the model predictions and actual observations, and (C) how the model was fixed.
I notice a nice table of models, but the table doesn't include a column for 'Variance between model and observed data'.
I notice a nice graph of temperature-versus-models, but I don't notice a chart showing predictions past date of publication, with error-bars (or footnotes) explaining how the predictions would vary with CO2 emission or other factors. In case you couldn't tell, what I'm looking for is a model released in '07 with predictions out to '12, or a model released in '10 with predictions out to '15. Even a model released in '75 which predicted global temps between '75 and '80.
I notice a long list of references in the IPCC report…which I assume is where I might find the data I'm looking for. But as BioBob and Grantham said, other people have tried to get model or temperature data through FOI. And failed.
Now, to add fuel to a different fire…
I am seeing indications (in a non-scientific, but also non-scare-mongering blog) that the FDA's position on salt in the diet may be badly sourced, overblown, or not-well-founded. A commenter has already asked about fat/cholesterol in food.
Are either (or both) of those junk science?
>Are either (or both) of those [dietary phobias about salt and fat] junk science?
Yes, absolutely. Next question? :-)
> …other people have tried to get model or temperature data through FOI. And failed.
One of my favourite threads in the second dump is a conversation between Jones and his FOI manager Dave Palmer in reponse to Willis Eschenbach's requests for a simple site list with corresponding data locations. You can read Eschenbach's open letter to Jones here, which he wrote upon discovering that such a list does not exist, and that Hadley CRU does not have a list of sources for their primary data set. The dog ate it, I suppose.
When I can do this with a Leaf (or other EV) I'm getting one.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/nissan-demonstrates-leaf-powered-smart-house-we-go-hands-on/
Seems to be smarter than buying a home generator. Most small residential gensets either suck or are expensive. 6-7 kW is about the size I was thinking of installing. The cheap ones are about $2K but the Generacs are reputed to be very crappy. The GOOD ones run $5-10K.
2 days seems reasonable enough a run time as a backup power supply.
> The Japanese have been pouring decades of R&D into hybrids making Japanese car companies far more competitive than US ones. It's not JUST that US car companies were badly run. They were badly run AND their competition was funded by the Japanese government through MITI and subsidies.
Hold that thought.
> I prefer that the US wins.
> If the game is played this way then lets play the game to win.
Not so fast. While it looks like the Japanese govt is capable of helping its companies with subsidies, that doesn't imply that US govt subsidies are a good idea.
US govt subsidies have a horrible track record of damaging the industries that they were supposedly intended to help. Those industries would have been better off without that "help".
Until that changes, US govt subsidies are a bad idea even if the Japanese benefit from Japanese govt subsidies. And no, it doesn't matter how much better things would be if US govt subsidies worked because they don't.
>> Note that I wrote "biz vehicle". Cars, like personal computers, are given special treatment. SUVs aren't.
> No, personal computers and SUVs are treated better than cars. Look it up.
I did look it up.
As has been pointed out, Maupin has been playing fast and loose with the term "SUV".
Many "SUVs" are treated as cars because that's how they're classified. How is the same "better"?
The SUVs that aren't cars, but are large vehicles are treated mostly like vehicles of the same size (actually weight). Note that I said "mostly" – large SUVs are, in some cases, treated worse than other vehicles of the same size. Larger vehicles are treated better than cars, but "dump trucks get special treatment" or "larger vehicles get special treatment" isn't much of a high-horse.
And then there's the whole bit about biz vs personal use which doesn't distinguish "SUVs" of any definition.
> The coal seams we mine today are remains of those forests.
Yes and no.
> That's 50 million years of plants growing, taking CO2 out of circulation, and keeping it out by getting buried.
Not from the forests. Forests don't continuously take CO2 out of circulation – their carbon stays on/above the surface (modulo roots, and even their carbon is reused). The only way for a forest to contribute to coal is via a "covering" event.
Swamps, on the other hand, can do continuous CO2 removal. See http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/coal.html . Most coal is from swamps, not forests.
However, you still haven't provided any evidence for a connection between CO2 levels and glaciation events. You've merely asserted that there is one.
> As has been pointed out, Maupin has been playing fast and loose with the term "SUV".
Hey, it's not my fault they shrunk both the benefits and the size of the SUVs over the last 5 years or so.
> The SUVs that aren't cars, but are large vehicles are treated mostly like vehicles of the same size (actually weight).
It is sufficient to my point that *some* SUVs receive special tax treatment, which they still do.
This whole sub-thread started when I pointed out that the fact that hybrids are treated differently in the tax code than other vehicles is not unique. There are lots of different provisions in the tax code designed to encourage "good" behavior, some or most of which do quite the opposite. My point still stands. Why should you get different tax treatment for buying a dump truck than an automobile, if that is what your business requires? And why should we whine about the tax benefit for hybrids in particular?
@Nigel:
It might or might not depending on your area. People in New Jersey lost power for more than a week after that October snowstorm. What some people have been doing is using their hybrids as backup power. When you drain the battery of your Prius, the engine automatically starts up and recharges.
Look at the chart and text at the bottom of:
http://www.planetforlife.com/co2history/index.html
They actually don't seem to mark the periods of glaciation on the chart, but they do mention the correlation in the text.
What should be plain in the chart is that the atmosphere is barely stable. It's underdamped and tends to oscillate. Such a system will be sensitive to any perturbation, which is why we shouldn't be pouring more CO2 into it.
Toxicology is another field that is larded with dangerous junk, particularly when it comes to pesticide research. Also, you see some of esr's "Past purveyers" of junk pop up in there, albeit some in novel ways. For instance, Ehrlich was in favor of pesticide reduction, for instance, since it would help with controlling the real, two-legged "pests", i.e. humans.
Morgan Greywolf said: @Nigel: What sort of gas mileage do you think you're going to get in that minivan with 7 to 8 adult-sized people crammed into it? Hint: it's not going to be anything close to 20 MPG. Consider that typical usage patterns for SUVs and minivans are that most of the time, there will be no passengers — just the driver. That means the passenger/mpg ratio you keep talking about is essentially meaningless.
Well, I've driven a Sienna with 900 pounds of historical-recreation camping gear in it (which is, say, equivalent 5 or 6 adults, depending on size), and still got well over 25 mpg.
The extra few hundred pounds to get up to 7 adults heavier than 150 pounds aren't going to drop the mileage under 20.
(Aerodynamics matter far more than anything else at that level, and minivans are very aerodynamic these days…)
My sister owned one. I called it The Wedge.
Then how come every Town & Country or Astro I've ever driven has gotten no better than 18 MPG?
Brian Marshall on 2011-12-01 at 17:22:50 said:
I like smoking and I am interested in lung cancer statistics. I never really pursued the matter until today, when I discovered JunkScience.com, which appears to be a wonderful website, which is now at: http://junksciencearchive.com/
I have never personally known of anyone getting lung cancer and any doctor that I have asked has gotten cagey and never given me any numbers. Today I found:
http://junksciencearchive.com/JSJ_Course/jsjudocourse/12.html
Epidemiology can be a very useful tool in studying disease, especially rare diseases. For example, lung cancer is a rare disease, striking 1 out of 10,000 nonsmokers over the course of a lifetime. But, U.S. smokers have rates of lung cancer 10-20 times greater than nonsmokers–a relatively high rate of a rare disease. However "all cancers combined" aren't easy to assess through epidemiology because it is a relatively common disease.
So, I thought, that explains why doctors don't want to talk about it, it is a rare disease and even if I smoke, I only have one chance in 500 or 1,000 of getting lung cancer.
However, The Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Cancer%20statistics/Stats%20at%20a%20glance/Lung%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en
has a bunch of stats that a person can't really interpret and goes on to say:
"One in 11 men is expected to develop lung cancer during his lifetime and one in 13 will die of it.
One in 15 women is expected to develop lung cancer during her lifetime and one in 17 is expected to die of it."
The American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/LungCancer-SmallCell/OverviewGuide/lung-cancer-small-cell-overview-key-statistics
Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is by far the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Lung cancer is fairly rare in people under the age of 45.
The average lifetime chance that a man will develop lung cancer is about 1 in 13. For a woman it is 1 in 16. These numbers include both smokers and non-smokers. For smokers the risk is much higher, while for non-smokers the risk is lower.
The two cancer societies claim lung cancer is a common disease that one in about 10 to 17 get.
Someone is lying. Who?
> Then how come every Town & Country or Astro I've ever driven has gotten no better than 18 MPG?
Driving style matters,
driving conditions too – long stretches at constant speed in high gear give better mileage than city traffic with lots of stop and go and low gears, plus traffic jams and idling
@Sigivald:
"The extra few hundred pounds to get up to 7 adults heavier than 150 pounds aren't going to drop the mileage under 20. (Aerodynamics matter far more than anything else at that level, and minivans are very aerodynamic these days…)"
In what kind of driving? City or highway? Flat, or in the hills? If you are in stop-and-go traffic, it's the acceleration that is going to use up energy. If you are in the hills, hauling extra weight up them is going to use more energy. If you are cruising down the highway in an aerodynamic vehicle that's properly lubricated, it takes remarkably little power.
1. First of all, why does that strike you as a reasonable expectation? Do you expect that tripling the amount of argon in the atmosphere would also bring about changes in our climate? How about halving it? It might do so, since it is — as you point out — a chaotic system, but I see no particular reason to expect it to do so, or to be surprised if it doesn't.
2. Supposing it can be expected to have an effect of some kind, isn't the effect as likely to be a good one as a bad one or a neutral one? Why would you automatically expect any change to be bad? As it happens, the earth could do with being a degree or so warmer than it is. That would be a wonderful change in the climate, and if we can figure out a way to achieve it I would advocate doing so.
BioBob sallies forth:
> I don't quite get what you are trying to impart in your last sentence although it has the whiff of decomposition about it. ;D
Here's what I was imparting: Watts was among the first to dub Muller a "skeptic" (his jazz hands, not mine). If other folks decide to report Muller as a skeptic, then they're not really so very far off Watts on that score. In other words, you can't really be cross about "the meeja" calling Muller a skeptic unless you are also cross about Watts saying it. Watts (without ever actually saying he was either conned or had made a mistake about Muller) only decided Muller was a lifelong "warmist" *after* Muller failed to follow the Doing Science Proper colouring book and got the wrong answer. Probably the best bit though is where Watts decides that Muller's a bad chap because he broke an embargo about the release of data and techniques that weren't authored by him. Whiff of decomposition? You're not standing close enough, Bio.
I'm Proud of It and I Don't Mind Saying So « TeeJaw Blog
> Watts (without ever actually saying he was either conned or had made a mistake about Muller) only decided Muller was a lifelong "warmist" *after* Muller failed to follow the Doing Science Proper colouring book and got the wrong answer.
Of course Dr. Judith Curry, Muller's colleague and the second listed author of the BEST study, had very similar things to say about Muller's preemptive about-face in an interview with the Daily Mail:
'This is "hide the decline" stuff. Our data show the pause, just as the other sets of data do. Muller is hiding the decline.
'To say this is the end of scepticism is misleading, as is the statement that warming hasn't paused. It is also misleading to say, as he has, that the issue of heat islands has been settled.'
False flag indeed. I suppose that people will fly them for a while longer, though, in the hopes that those cargo planes will eventually land.
> Not only did the idea sound totally wacky, given that just a couple of years earlier it was global cooling they were trying to scare us with, but it also seemed to be a scientific theory eerily tailored to fit a political agenda.
Something very scary has changed (or my perception changed)…
"Global cooling" and "sugar is poison" was popular but (as I remember) wasn't picked up by the government as something about which they should make new laws.
"Global warming" and "fat makes you fat" is more of "the sky is falling – we need more laws". And, of course, government agencies, budgets, penaltie, taxes to create the right incentives, etc.
Oh, yeah…. When I was a kid (45 years ago), I had a book in which Chicken Little ran around screaming that "The sky is falling". At that time, "the sky is falling" was for kooks. Real adults didn't pay attention to such things.
Now, "The sky is falling" means we need a powerful new Falling Sky Agency.
I wish people would stop bandying about "hide the decline" as if it were some sort of smoking gun.
It isn't.
If anything, the "decline" under discussion (the decline of tree-ring growth since 1960) is even more damning of mankind's environmental activity than if there were no decline to hide.
> "Global cooling" and "sugar is poison" was popular but (as I remember) wasn't picked up by the government as something about which they should make new laws.
"Sugar is poison" is still floating around out there, and still has plenty of acolytes, many of whom have explicit political agendas (i.e. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).
There's a special creepiness about first world people who obsess over what is in a neighbor's diet, and enjoy informing them that they are eating "poison" or, even better, "feeding [their] children poison". Despite the hard won gains in public health and longevity that real science has bought the West over the past several centuries, the relative comfort also seems to have bred a sort of madness in the culture. Maybe it is simply aftershocks of the Cold War, but whatever it is, the worst junk messiahs and their flocks seem to thrive on a degree of paranoia and busybodiness that would make Joe Stalin salivate.
>"Sugar is poison" is still floating around out there, and still has plenty of acolytes, many of whom have explicit political agendas (i.e. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).
The reason this one has legs is probably because it's actually true.
But I'll stick with cutting most of the sugar out of my own diet. Those who aim to use sugar toxicity as a pretext for meddling in other people's lives are my enemies as certainly as they would be if sugar were entirely benign.
> I wish people would stop bandying about "hide the decline" as if it were some sort of smoking gun.
"Hide the decline" most certainly is a smoking gun (though not the only one), and the corpse is the Dendrochronology Reconstruction portion of the Carbon Apocalypse theory. Why do you think Mann tried to keep Briffa's work out of journals until he agreed to help downplay the divergence "problem"?
> Maybe it is simply aftershocks of the Cold War, but whatever it is, the worst junk messiahs and their flocks seem to thrive on a degree of paranoia and busybodiness that would make Joe Stalin salivate.
Another aspect is the average person's willingness to consider and express outrageous views, perhaps just to make their lives more interesting.
I was a child in the '60s, brought up by parents just out of the '50s. In the '50s, it was not generally socially acceptable to express outrageous views. When the people who made the '60s what they were finally grew up, got jobs, cut down on the dope, they were still prepared to believe… almost anything.
That idea, that almost anything is acceptable to believe, is very liberating compared to the '50s, but the problem is that they are prepared to believe almost anything. Those people, the "baby boomers" have elected a lot of people to fix almost anything. And, of course, some of them have been the ones who's goals involved the power and/or money involved in (making the laws and spending the money for) fixing
sorry… lost the last line…
And, of course, some of them have been the ones who's goals involved the power and/or money involved in (making the laws and spending the money for) fixing almost anything.
> I was a child in the '60s, brought up by parents just out of the '50s.
Well, yeah that was my point entirely. That generation – the Boomers raised in the shadow of the Cold War, the ones who authored the 60's counter culture and slogged through the 70's malaise – seem to take to junk science like fish to water. I know that voodoo and potions and tonics have been around for as long as humans have, and that a sucker is born every minute, but the Boomers seem to have the ability to immediately internalize and politically weaponize junk science like an old school Lysenkoist or some such other Soviet martinet.
@Milhouse: I posted this link before: http://www.planetforlife.com/co2history/index.html . It's quite readable a tells you about CO2's absorbtion spectrum, which is why it, and not Argon is the subject of this thread. Argon is non-reactive, and its atmospheric concentration doesn't vary like CO2's; more important, we're not pouring Argon out into the biosphere in any great amount.
As to why I'd expect a change to result in A Bad Thing, rather than a Good One, how often do you make a blunder that results in something good? I'm sure that it does happen sometimes, but not most of the time. Most mistakes are just that.
A warmer planet might make you more comfortable, but it might come at the expense of drought and desertification elsewhere. You are not the only person living in this world, you know.
Grantham choruses:
> Of course Dr. Judith Curry, Muller's colleague and the second listed author of the BEST study, had very similar things to say about Muller's preemptive about-face
So you're saying that Curry, who hopped on to BEST because it was a skeptical re-evaluation of the temperature record, didn't pick Muller as a "warmist" either? Put plain: if Muller's a false flag, he's a false flag who managed to suck in not only most of the it's-not-warming/it's-warming-but-not-much/it's-warming-but-who-cares blogoworld, but also other "skeptical" scientists. If Curry and Watts thought he was a crypto-"warmist" prior to the announcement of the BEST results, why didn't they say so?
> "Sugar is poison"
Wasn't that very topic the subject of a post here not too long ago?
Yet Another Darren Says:
> So you're saying that Curry, who hopped on to BEST because it was a skeptical re-evaluation of the temperature record, didn't pick Muller as a "warmist" either?
Not sure if I can properly un-mangle your interpretation there. When you say Georgia Tech chair of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Judith Curry "hopped on to BEST because it was a skeptical re-evaluation of the temperature record" what do you mean by that?
It seems you are labeling Curry a skeptic flunkee of some sort (or perhaps even a "denialist" heh heh). That is highly amusing. Frankly, I think even Gavin Schmidt and the "chorus" at RealClimate would find your views of Dr. Curry amusing, and maybe a little embarrassing.
Grantham stakes his ground:
> Not sure if I can properly un-mangle your interpretation there.
You don't have to. It's not mangled. You're saying Curry thinks that the BEST study shows a pause to the warming trend. In so doing, she also thinks that Muller gets it wrong and reveals himself to be a "warmist" by saying that BEST broadly confirms previous findings of a warming trend. And what I'm saying is that if Muller has "always been a warmist", why did Watts start out by calling him a "skeptic"? Why did Curry say this after her Daily Mail excursion?:
"[Muller] is clearly driven by the science and is very sincere about wanting to make progress on understanding the global temperature record… all in all, I am ok with what is going on in the BEST project".
> You don't have to. It's not mangled.
Sure it is. You are now changing the goalposts, as is the norm with the little Carbon cultists who scurry around the internet.
>You're saying Curry thinks that the BEST study shows a pause to the warming trend.
No, I'm not saying I "think" that. That is what Curry said. I'm just citing it.
> In so doing, she also thinks that Muller gets it wrong and reveals himself to be a "warmist" by saying that BEST broadly confirms previous findings of a warming trend.
No, again, I don't claim to read Dr. Curry's mind. I just reported what she has said of Muller going to the press before their study was even peer-reviewed. She never calls him a "warmist". She very frankly says what she thinks, if you read the article.
Look you said something very embarrassing and revealing when you characterized Curry this way: "Curry, who hopped on to BEST because it was a skeptical re-evaluation of the temperature record…" You were trying to casually paint Curry as a "skeptic" (and, perhaps, a "denialist", or, perhaps in Al Gore's latest lexicon, a "climate racist") because you had no idea who she was, and indeed have no clue what you are talking about. You are simply yammering.
Jeff Read writes: If anything, the "decline" under discussion (the decline of tree-ring growth since 1960) is even more damning of mankind's environmental activity than if there were no decline to hide.
Rather typical of AGW propaganda actually. If X indicates AGW is true, then not(X) also indicates AGW is true. Here Jeff Read, after pointing to a lame and obsolete explanation for the cutting off of tree ring data that recent email disclosures show even the AGW insiders thought weak, basically wants to claim that while large tree rings show warming's effects, so do shrinking tree rings.
The mind boggles. And actual scientific method gets more corrupted.
Well, shoot (as I have taught my parrot to say if I drop somethiing). "Sugar is poison" sounds so stupid…. glucose is the most basic food, fructose is "fruit sugar"… why is it 20 years later that I find out that there is something to this?
I am reading a long blog by Chris Masterjohn at
http://blog.cholesterol-and-health.com/2010/11/sweet-truth-about-liver-and-egg-yolks.html
The idea is that fructose goes right to the liver (whereas glucose is distributed around the body), it gets turned into fat in the liver and that the problem may be not enough Choline, which is necessary to get the fat out of the liver. People used to get more Choline when they used to eat more egg (yolks) and organ meat. Comments?
>The idea is that fructose goes right to the liver (whereas glucose is distributed around the body), it gets turned into fat
There are other toxic effects too, promoting metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure and Type II diabetes. But yeah, the hepatotoxicity of fructose is the bell-ringer. I'm pretty sure it outright killed a gaming buddy of mine last year. Craig Trader will know who I'm thinking of.
>the problem may be not enough Choline, which is necessary to get the fat out of the liver.
Well now that's interesting. I'd like to believe it, because eggs and meat are about my favorite foods. Thus I must be skeptical.
> The reason this one has legs is probably because it's actually true.
Well, I'll admit I haven't poked into this one much in a long while. But the general "sugar is poison" notion has junk signals all over it. One might declare a gin & tonic to be "poisonous" as well, but that doesn't mean I won't enjoy one from time to time, or insist that someone else should not, or that it is an "epidemic" or some sort that must be stopped at all costs.
>Well, I'll admit I haven't poked into this one much in a long while.
You should. This is one case where ignorance is both blissful and dangerous; I didn't get really rattled until I grokked the metabolic pathways in the liver that fructose messes with.
>But the general "sugar is poison" notion has junk signals all over it.
If so, I have escaped noticing them. I mean, I've heard other commenters mutter about gangs of dietary totalitarians seizing on this as a pretext, and I can't say that sounds particularly implausible; I just have no direct evidence.
So, let's take this as a learning opportunity. I suggest you run down my list of indicators. Toss me links to sources you think show a positive for each signal; I'll play devil's advocate. This ought to be fun.
> So, let's take this as a learning opportunity. I suggest you run down my list of indicators. Toss me links to sources you think show a positive for each signal; I'll play devil's advocate. This ought to be fun.
Sure, hah hah! I don't mind questioning my own opinions, unlike the implacable, unerring high priests of Thermageddon Science. It might take me a few days to, uh, digest Lustig's stuff, though.
Gratham goes for it:
> You are simply yammering.
That's a shame. I've called you no names, and I've levelled no accusations about the quality of your discourse. I've expressed no opinion about whether Judith Curry is a "skeptic" or a "denialist" or a "scientist" or any other thing. By implication, and largely because it I think it's true, I've expressed an opinion that Judith Curry was interested in the BEST project largely because it gave itself the job of "skeptically" re-examining temperature records to confirm or deny a stasis in a trend. So you may not be so hot at reading Judith Curry's mind, but it's not stopping you from attempting to read mine.
This is anecdotal, and is more about the public than the science, but I used to hear "White sugar is poison, but brown sugar is sorta OK" a lot 30 years ago. I would think "Yeah, right. Brown sugar is just white sugar covered with molasses."
> I've expressed no opinion about whether Judith Curry is a "skeptic" or a "denialist" or a "scientist" or any other thing.
Just so we are crystal clear about it: Yes, you did, Darren. You are ashamed about it now, but that is exactly what you did, when you said the following balderdash:
So you're saying that Curry, who hopped on to BEST because it was a skeptical re-evaluation of the temperature record, didn't pick Muller as a "warmist" either? Put plain: if Muller's a false flag, he's a false flag who managed to suck in not only most of the it's-not-warming/it's-warming-but-not-much/it's-warming-but-who-cares blogoworld, but also other "skeptical" scientists.
A reasonable person couldn't interpret what you said any other way. But since you are so obstinate, and apparently believe that words have no objective meanings, let's dissect your statement bit by bit:
So you're saying that Curry, who hopped on to BEST because it was a skeptical re-evaluation of the temperature record, didn't pick Muller as a "warmist" either?
You say that Dr. Curry (the 2nd listed author of BEST), "hopped onto BEST because it was a skeptical re-evaluation of the temperature record". Let's leave aside your empty characterization of the study, and focus on the word "because" instead. What you mean is that Curry's motive for "hopping" onto the Berkley Study had something to do with her being a "skeptic". You've tried to wriggle and weasel your way out of this statement since then. I presume this is because you are one of those "Google professsors" with a lack of impulse control, shooting before you bother to load or aim. Don't worry; you are not alone. But you are also dead wrong. Even the people who agree with your religious faith in OMG-Carbon-Dooom-Theory would disagree with you about your breezy dismissal of Curry in that sentence.
Put plain: if Muller's a false flag, he's a false flag who managed to suck in not only most of the it's-not-warming/it's-warming-but-not-much/it's-warming-but-who-cares blogoworld, but also other "skeptical" scientists.
Well, not much is "put plain" about the vitriol here. But the one part that is "plain" is the part you say at the end [emphasis mine]: "but also other skeptical scientists."
"Other." Meaning skeptical scientists "other" than Judith Curry at Georgia Tech. Meaning that Judith Curry is a "skeptic." This is what you typed and almost without a shred of a doubt what you meant. Do not try to worm out of it any longer, or put on a ridiculous Passion Play about "context" like Jones and Schmidt have been doing for a couple of years now. If you are not a person who says what they mean, then there is no use talking to you.
If you are a person who says what they think, than you think that Dr. Judith Curry is a "skeptical scientist," implying that she is a hack, a moron, a mercenary, or all three. Or, perhaps you meant "skeptical" in the old-fashioned, scientific way: the default position of all good scientists.
In either case, it's clear you think "skeptical" is a pretty terrible thing to be. I don't need to read your mind for that; only your words.
Interesting article by a scientist debunking fears about sea levels.
So a bit of wiki-research shows that there could be a word issue here.
There IS a brown sugar that is what you say.
But natural brown sugar (also known as "Raw sugar", "demerara sugar" in the UK or "turbinado sugar" in the US) "is produced by extracting the juice from sugar cane, heating it to evaporate water and crystallise the sugar, then spinning in a centrifuge to remove some impurities and further dry the sugar." reference
There is a meme that i've frequently heard that basically boiled down to "unrefined/unprocessed is healther than refined/processed" which i'd suggest is what the source of what you're talking about is.
BTW, not arguing for or against "sugar is poison" here.
Just suggesting that your experience that 'brown sugar is just white sugar covered with molasses' is not universally correct.
RetiredDave on 2011-12-02 at 06:16:25 said:
ESR – I came to this blog after reading this piece on The Global Warming Policy Foundation website. Obviously you will guess I am a Brit.
Thank you for a very thought provoking blog – I will be back as often as my wife's list of things I have planned with allow.
Thank you for indirectly introducing me to Lazarus Long – only read a few of the quotes so far and they are just wonderful. How can I be 66 years of age and not know the works of Robert Heinlein? I can only express embarrassment at such an omission in my reading. The short-coming will be rectified.
Thanks also to Andrew_M_Garland for the link to the Richard Feynman address on Cargo Cult Science. I had never seen it before. 1974 and it could have been presented yesterday (which in a way is saddening). He was most certainly one of the greatest minds of my parents generation. He gave me, through one of his quotes, a very good piece of everyday advice which because of my techie nature I have struggled to live out.
"Always choose the Chocolate option" – I can't find the exact quote now but his advice was simply to not waste years of your life trying to determine the best car, the best TV, the best lawnmower etc. or even the best desert. He reckoned that if you always choose the Chocolate desert at the end of a meal, they can't do too much wrong with it and you won't have spent time worrying over which to have. Just choose the GMC or the Ford. In all cases what you choose will be at least 95% as good as the very best and you will have saved your time for more important things.
To Americans on here I say bring your production home and buy American – if you can find anything made in the UK (and don't hold your breath) please buy some of that as well.
> which i'd suggest is what the source of what you're talking about is
I'm old enough to have seen that white sugar-brown sugar meme enter mainstream, and my recollection is indeed that originally it was about "white, refined sugar" vs "raw [cane] sugar" – I don't quite remember whether the reasoning was that partially refined cane sugar contains nutrient minerals and traces of vitamins that are absent in refined sugar and is therefore better (or less bad), or if there were actual biochemical reasons that would make raw sugar 'better".
Anyway, his then got dumbed down in people's mind to a simple "white sugar bad, brown sugar good".
If I ever were to write something about "N signs of junk reasoning", argument by sound-bite would probably be somewhere near the top of the list.
@RetiredDave: Minis are still assembled in the UK, I believe. But, sadly, Americans won't stop buying Toyotas and Nissans and Subarus because they foolishly believe that the Japanese produce better or more reliable cars than their homegrown counterparts.
> "white, refined sugar" vs "raw [cane] sugar" to "white sugar bad, brown sugar good"
Part of it seemed to be people twisting themselves up with "highly processed food is bad" [therefore] "white sugar is poison must be true".
I also saw the same sort of logic-dance with "The hole in the ozone layer is bad" [therefore] "The greenhouse effect must be true".
I just checked Google – I am not the first person to think of the word "sillygism".
Another aspect to this (in addition to the ozone thing not being a problem at all) is that I noticed that many people "believed" in global warming (as it was called back then) but didn't realize it was a different problem than the ozone thing.
However this tells us more about how silly people think than about junk science.
>"Raw sugar", "demerara sugar"
There may be differences that I am not aware of, but I was always under the impression that what makes "raw" and "demerara" brown was that each grain of sugar still had a covering of molasses. I always thought that molasses in general was boiled down sugar cane juice with some of the sugar crystallized out. I wasn't aware that they made brown sugar by recombining refined white sugar and molasses – it means that they can make it out of sugar-beet sugar. In any case, there was certainly a lot of "unrefined/unprocessed is healthier than refined/processed" as you suggest.
> If I ever were to write something about "N signs of junk reasoning", argument by sound-bite would probably be somewhere near the top of the list.
I agree, but a lot of people "believe" in units of sound bites. Maybe what we can learn from the "brown sugar meme" is "If it looks like faith and quacks like faith, it might not be science at all."
Morgan, I've purchased 7 new cars in my life. Two GMs weren't too bad, but plagued with weird shit that kept breaking (a 1987 S-10 Blazer had the bracket holding the power steering pump to the engine break five times!, two after being recalled for that exact problem). Two Fords were utter disasters that nearly sent me to the poorhouse and the company refused to stand behind, Three Toyotas were flawless, between them requiring exactly one trip to the mechanic.
Guess what my next new car will be?
Well, maybe a Subaru. I'm pretty impressed with the Outback I'm driving.
And as for "buy American", what's more American, the Corolla built in Fremont, California, the Outback built in Lafayette, Indiana, the Fusion built in Hermosillo, Mexico, or the HHR built in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico?
jsk on 2011-12-02 at 12:11:47 said:
@Morgan
Even though US-designed cars are certainly improving from the awful mire they have been in for so long, for my part at least I simply don't like them. I don't like the interiors, I don't like the steering feel, and I don't like a lot of the underlying designs. Although that last I can apply equally to various Japanese or European cars too.
Seems to me that American cars are still built to sell to a certain mindset, and one that does not mesh with mine. I'll keep to my Subarus and Mazdas, thanks (and my one Honda, but it's Special).
NukemHill on 2011-12-02 at 12:40:59 said:
I don't have sources to site directly right now, but Dr. Curry was actually not quite the skeptic even a couple of years ago. She tried gamely to play the moderate and "properly" skeptical roll in working to get the two camps to actually talk. I remember reading several guest posts at WUWT and ClimateAudit where she some of the more vehement skeptics to task for misrepresenting AGW positions.
She seemed genuinely interested even then, though, in the actual science. Which is why the Climategate scandals have upset her so much. There has clearly been a concerted effort on the part of the AGW proponents to suppress the opposition. The appeals to peer-reviewed literature and the authority of the IPCC (and all documents published by said) fail to impress anymore. She is clearly not under any illusion that the proponents have been playing fair. They've gamed the system, and used sources that are not in any way reliable.
The 2007 report, for example, which is sited as "definitive" by some advocates here, has been pretty much demolished. At least 40% of all of the sources sited by the review are presented by advocacy groups, have been thoroughly refuted, or are simply hearsay. There was a series of guest posts at Roger Pielke, Jr.'s blog that looked at several chapters of AR4 and actually tracked down every single citation. The supposed "settled" science was anything but.
And lastly. I find it interesting that a term that used to actually have cache in the scientific community–skeptic–is now used derogatorily by AGW proponents. Isn't the proper position of any thinking person to first be skeptical? I.e., to not simply take new information on faith, or simply on the word of an "expert"? Yet, if we question the science behind AGW, and try to poke holes in it, and ask for the raw data and methods used to reach the conclusions they're claiming, then our skepticism is suddenly some sort of evil mark.
One of the keys to the success of the Left for the last half-century is a masterful use of language, and the manipulation thereof. This is, in my opinion, a perfect example. Yes, I am a skeptic. Proudly so. In all of the reading and studying of the science, math, and algorithms driving the AGW claims, I have not seen anything in any way compelling enough to have me accept the arguments. And to forestall any "who the hell are you" questions: I have a BS in Physics and Mathematics. I have an MA in Computer Science. I am a computer programmer by vocation. I may not be intimately familiar with all of the math, science, and algorithms involved, but I understand enough to be able to suss out the work being done. I'm not convinced. It's going to take a hell of a lot more to demonstrate conclusively that AGW is a real phenomenon.
And the slight-of-hand performed by "The Team" is unconscionable and, frankly, disqualifying. I think the process needs to be started from the beginning, by an entirely different group. All of the work needs to be completely transparent. The peer review process needs to be, as well. All raw data, code, algorithms, and results need to be posted for public dissemination. Along with all funding.
Until that time, it is all farce.
@Morgan: After my '93 Accord got stolen, I bought a Ford Probe. This was a Mazda MX-6 that Ford reskinned and sold as their own. Every place that Ford touched the car, they cheapened it. The battery failed with two shorted cells (in August!) after one year. (The car had to be towed.) The brake rotors were so shallowly hardened that they had to be replaced after the first brake job. I really hope that Ford has got its act together since then.
> They actually don't seem to mark the periods of glaciation on the chart, but they do mention the correlation in the text.
They don't mark the periods because if they do so, the "cause" happens after the effect.
Also, we have similar data going back much earlier which shows higher CO2, so the supposed "peak" comes from data selection.
> In fact, it does seem to be possible to influence IQ with environmental factors – but only downwards. Poor childhood nutrition, anoxia – the brain is a delicate organ, anything that compromises its development or damages it will reduce the general reasoning capacity that IQ measures.
Eric, you do realize that this very fact means you have to be very careful in interpreting IQ test results, since there are a *lot* of confounding factors due to these environmental influences? It may well be true that the maximum IQ you can have is set by your genes. But that's quite consistent with believing that the primary thing IQ test results are telling us is that most people's actual IQ is nowhere near the maximum IQ they could have, due to environmental factors. The Flynn Effect is, IMO, a huge piece of evidence in favor of the latter proposition.
>The Flynn Effect is, IMO, a huge piece of evidence in favor of the latter proposition.
How annoying, then, than the Flynn effect has stopped. It seems to have stalled out sometime in the late 80s or early 90s, or at least psychometricians in Denmark and (I think) England didn't find it where they were expecting. My interpretation is that the easy ways of helping children reach their genetic IQ potential have been maxed out, at least in the First World. This result has also tended to confirm my conjecture about early childhood nutrition being really, really important.
And the kind of intervention hopeful environmentarians and social engineers really wanted to believe in – better teaching, better parenting, "better" socialization, stuff that wasn't directly messing with brain chemistry – never worked. So while you have a theoretical point, it doesn't buy what people who raise that point generally want it to buy.
A perfect example of the character assassination that took place amongst the AGW intelligentsia. This isn't just "boys will be boys". This is a concerted effort to perform a virtual assassination on someone who doesn't agree with the AGW "consensus". As the Climategate I and II emails clearly demonstrate, the entire process of scientific inquiry, including peer review, has been completely corrupted.
If we are to ever find out if there is any "there" there, the current crop of AGW scientists need to be taken out of the loop, and the process needs to be restarted from scratch.
The word "denier" itself is a warning sign of junk science.
We had a couple of WWII holocaust deniers up here in Alberta a number of years ago. From Wikipedia entry for Terry Long: "1980s and early 1990s, the Aryan Nations' Canadian branch was led by Alberta-based Terry Long". I can't recall if he was actually a "denier" but he was accused of it.
I have never doubted that Hitler et al were responsible for the deaths of a vast number of Jewish people. But when I started to hear talk of how legal action should be taken against "Holocaust Deniers", all of a sudden I felt a red flag go up. When a government has a number and you believe it or you are bad, that is evil.
Freedom of speech is crucial. Freedom of belief is even more crucial. Once the government gets into the business of deciding what I am allowed to believe…
Personally, I liked having a few people like Terry Long around. You don't want them teaching your kids in school, but their existence is a green flag, demonstrating, to some degree, the existence of the most important fundamental liberty.
When I hear people denounced as "deniers" I get really wary.
>> As has been pointed out, Maupin has been playing fast and loose with the term "SUV".
>Hey, it's not my fault they shrunk both the benefits and the size of the SUVs over the last 5 years or so.
Not true. There have always been SUVs that are cars.
>> The SUVs that aren't cars, but are large vehicles are treated mostly like vehicles of the same size (actually weight).
> It is sufficient to my point that *some* SUVs receive special tax treatment, which they still do.
Let's review.
In response to "and is subsidized by the taxpayers.", you wrote "As are the first 'x' hybrids from any manufacturer, and as are all the SUVs that are sold to businesses. What's your point again?"
Some isn't all. Also, SUVs are never treated better than other vehicles of the same weight class and in at least one case are treated worse.
So, are you claiming that trucks are subsidized relative to cars? That's relevant because the supposed subsidy of SOME suvs is the same/worse than the tax treatment of other vehicles of the same weight. Cars don't get that subsidy because vehicles that heavy aren't classified as cars.
Note that the "special treatment" is less than the extra cost. Is Maupin suggesting that companies pay more for no additional benefit? If not, then companies are not substituting SUVs for cars, they're buying heavy SUVs for exactly the same reason they buy trucks of that size – because they need those vehicle characteristics. Which gets us back to "are trucks subsidized?"
And there's still the biz/personal use problem, which voids the special treatment, regardless of weight.
And the S-10 Blazer and Bronco II were always classed as SUVs, ever since their early-80s introduction.
> Some isn't all.
So I mis-wrote based on what I read 5 years ago. That still doesn't obviate the point.
> Note that the "special treatment" is less than the extra cost.
What does that have to do with anything? The special treatment of buying a hybrid is sometimes less than the extra cost of buying a hybrid. It's still preferential treatment by the government. If one business needs a car, and another business needs a dump truck, and the dump truck is fully expensed in the first year and the car isn't, that's a preferential treatment.
> And there's still the biz/personal use problem, which voids the special treatment, regardless of weight.
No, for business use, there are different classes of vehicles with different subsidies. My point that the subsidies for hybrids are no different than a zillion other government subsides stands. Why are you trying to make this contentious?
And, before you nit-pick again, by "no different" I mean the fact that the subsidies are offered is not in any way unusual, not that the details of the subsidy are identical to any other.
Brian Marshall Says:
> The word "denier" itself is a warning sign of junk science.
The use of "denier" should immediately invoke Godwin's law in an internet thread. It is a deliberate allusion to "holocaust denier."
> Personally, I liked having a few people like Terry Long around.
Amen. If idiotic losers can say dumb stuff then it is much more likely that sane, but out of the mainstream people can too. You defend the castle walls so you don't have to defend the King's bedchamber.
> And the S-10 Blazer and Bronco II were always classed as SUVs, ever since their early-80s introduction.
Personally, I always thought that was marketing. Them and the jeep stuff too. But maybe not. In any case, by the definition you gave earlier, it would seem that my 1996 Ford Aerostar Minivan was an SUV, yet it's clearly not. Why is that?
"As the Climategate I and II emails clearly demonstrate, the entire process of scientific inquiry, including peer review, has been completely corrupted.
Uh…no. There's really less than meets the eye. You have a bunch of people looking to discredit the AGW side, so they make a big fuss 'exposing' people being people.
Science being made is messy. It's not like 'the Scientific Method' you saw in your grade-school textbooks. When I was a physics grad student, I saw the same sort of things going on that are being denounced by the outsiders, except there was no email. All that stuff was conducted by telephone. Same sh*t, though…
That's an interesting theory. But it might partly be smoke and mirrors. It turns out the stuff you really need to censor is the stuff that makes a modicum of sense, or at least the stuff that you don't have a ready answer to. If you let the most egregious stuff be spoken, it's easy to counter, and then you're obviously not censoring, so nobody looks to see if you're exerting more subtle pressures elsewhere…
@Patrick Maupin
>IIt turns out the stuff you really need to censor is the stuff that makes a modicum of sense
Um… I hope I am totally misunderstanding you, but… are you suggesting that the government should censor some people? I don't want to look like an idiot, here, but your third sentence….
@Brian Marshall:
> are you suggesting that the government should censor some people?
Not at all. My third sentence was from the point of view of someone attempting to perform censorship. (Hint: it's sometimes, but not usually, the government.) Compare and contrast the amount of time and energy spent shutting up Terry Long against the amount of time and energy spent shutting up Lawrence Summers.
Ah… my apologies.
I shudder to think what would have happened had Al Gore become President.
The Aerostar's a van for the same reason the Econoline's a van: it's not a truck-based body, but a van body. Also, as it happens, the Aerostar was built on an entirely new platform, not the Ranger truck platform, though many components were borrowed from it.
> the amount of time and energy spent shutting up Lawrence Summers..
Have anyone managed to do so yet? Larry seems to keep getting high ranking appointments in the federal government. :-)
Obviously, though, the "shutting up" you're describing is his resignation from Harvard, while under pressure from academics on staff, students, advocacy groups, the usual axe-grinders in the media, etc, etc. The witch hunt was very unfair and unfortunate, but there is a difference between censorship (silenced by authorities who regulate speech through the use of courts boards – even if they are merely laughable kangaroo courts, like what has been going on in Canada) and what happened to Summers. He was shamed, harassed and protested until he finally said, "The Hell with this. I'll take the golden parachute they're offering, and maybe in a couple of years I'll get a nice plum political appointment on a Government Advisory Board of Such-and-So." Turned out to be a pretty good plan, all things considered.
Now, that's not to say I agree with the shrill, reactionary, Kafkaesque and often nonsensical response to Summers' comments that influenced his decision to step down. But, on the other hand, when you look at it a certain way don't those shrill reactionaries have the right to their opinions, too? Shouldn't they have been allowed to express them? What happened to Summers was coercion, deception, scapegoating, and witch hunting of the sort that is, unfortunately, very common in academia. Shameful, yes, but I don't think you could call it censorship.
> Aerostar was built on an entirely new platform, not the Ranger truck platform, though many components were borrowed from it.
Good wikipedia-cite. But that still begs some definitional question. How is it an "entirely new platform" if it borrows so many components from the past?
> The Aerostar's a van for the same reason the Econoline's a van: it's not a truck-based body, but a van body.
That's somewhat circular logic. It's a new platform defined for this vehicle, so this vehicle must be a van. It's also perhaps not entirely correct. I haven't looked in awhile, but I'm almost certain you used to be able to buy Econoline trucks on the same chassis as the Econoline vans.
Also, people don't usually call the Aerostar a "van" — they call it a "minivan" although they call the non-passenger cargo version a "van." It's all very confusing.
Your original statement "At least four of the eight were body-on-frame small truck-derived SUVs" still matches the Aerostar pretty well. If you look under it, it looks a lot more like a truck than it looks like the average passenger vehicle (such as, e.g. the WindStar).
I don't claim to know what is an SUV vs. what isn't, but I will say that from my perspective, it all looks like marketing…
@Patrick –
Not marketing, deliberate classification for the benefit of CAFE standards. Minivans aren't trucks, and the car standards apply. SUV's are, and therefore they call under the less restrictive "light truck" standard.
Obama wants the EPA to change that to a single standard, which will effectively end the SUV since there's no way to hit the CAFE number if you sell any SUVs.
>Hint: it's sometimes, but not usually, the government.
Without government force behind it, it's not censorship. Note that libraries and schools practice censorship because they are government institutions. Nobody calls a church library not having books on atheism censorship.
> Shameful, yes, but I don't think you could call it censorship.
@William B. Swift:
> Without government force behind it, it's not censorship.
No, it's not direct censorship. And it's not (directly) government sponsored censorship. But it does have a chilling effect on the speech of others who don't have Larry Summers' resources to fall back on. Arguably, this is one legitimate function of "society." But my point was that, if you want to control speech, you only need to bother with the speech that you think people might listen to (e.g., it at least sounds reasonable) that you don't like, and they will self-censor.
That was the most immediate example that came to mind about the greater need to shut up the plausible speaker than the obvious nutcase. But you're right that a government example would be better.
I give you Shirley Phelps-Roper: "All federal judges should die." She's a nut-case. The only debate she engenders (not that I want to minimize this) is how to write laws to keep funerals viable solemn affairs without trampling on the first amendment.
I give you Jim Bell. To paraphrase, "here's how we can band together to kill the federal judges who need killing." I could be wrong, but I think the government expended a lot more energy on this guy…
> How annoying, then, than the Flynn effect has stopped. It seems to have stalled out sometime in the late 80s or early 90s, or at least psychometricians in Denmark and (I think) England didn't find it where they were expecting. My interpretation is that the easy ways of helping children reach their genetic IQ potential have been maxed out, at least in the First World. This result has also tended to confirm my conjecture about early childhood nutrition being really, really important.
For "at least in the First World", I would substitute "at least in the *cultural* First World". There are some subcultures in the "First World" that do not place the same weight on helping kids reach their potential as other subcultures do, not just in early childhood nutrition (though that is certainly one aspect).
> And the kind of intervention hopeful environmentarians and social engineers really wanted to believe in – better teaching, better parenting, "better" socialization, stuff that wasn't directly messing with brain chemistry – never worked. So while you have a theoretical point, it doesn't buy what people who raise that point generally want it to buy.
No argument with that last point. I would add, though, that the criteria used by the social engineers to discern "better" teaching, parenting, socialization, etc. were, how shall I put this, not exactly reliable. Not that I think you would disagree with this, just pointing out that even if we do learn how to optimize brain chemistry, the brain still has to have things of substance to think about, and that requires attention to teaching, parenting, socialization, etc. Even if we justifiably fire the social engineers, those things still have to be done somehow.
Right. It's not just academia; you could pick any sampling or subculture and find all kinds of non-authoritarian mechanisms for suppressing dissent within the ranks. Without a board, a tribunal, a court, a committee or even just one tyrant to enforce it, it's not censorship. If I'm the CEO of a multinational, and I say something that gets picked up by the media and pisses off a lot of people, and the board gets together and decides to force me out, that's not censorship either. That's damage control, and businesses have a right to protect themselves.
Still, it's not completely neat and clean, and there are some problem scenarios. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church springs to mind. He was dragged into court for the funeral protests, but to the court's credit they ruled in his favor 8-1. It's only censorship if they actually succeed in shutting you up, so no problem there.
But although Phelps was not prosecuted in a court for subsequently threatening to burn the Koran, he was subjected to direct intimidation from government authorities and military leaders, and in the wake of the whole deal he finds the IRS performing a colonoscopy, his insurance policies cancelled and his mortage called in. All of those things could be coincidental, but there's a certain whiff of authoritative buggery in his case. Sure he is weirdo with lots of dumb ideas and zero class, but that's sort of the point.
> Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church.
Err, sorry. I meant "Terry Jones" not Phelps. Sorry, I sometimes get my psychotic ministers mixed up.
> Fred Phelps … springs to mind.
He should if you really read what I wrote, since I was using his daughter as an example.
In any case, I can't tell whether you are agreeing or disagreeing. Let me try again:
The Westboro church folks are much kookier than Jim Bell, and not apt to be taken seriously by nearly as many people, so the government hasn't persecuted them nearly as much.
Grantham Says:
> Now, that's not to say I agree with the shrill, reactionary, Kafkaesque and often nonsensical response to Summers' comments that influenced his decision to step down.
Perhaps, though it is hard not to have a little schadenfreude when a Prince of political correctness is hoist on his own petard. And it is hard to suppress an ironic chuckle when the nattering nabobs of feminism get the vapors at the very idea that men and women might be different.
I certainly agree that private censorship is perfectly acceptable, my only quibble would be questioning whether our academic system, drunk on the milky teat of government subsidy, really entirely counts as a private institution. However, the solution here is not censorship, it is weaning the suckling.
> I give you Shirley Phelps-Roper: "All federal judges should die."
Had to refamiliarize myself with her (daughter of aforementioned Supreme Court "psycho minister"). I mean, she's obviously either marginally savvy enough not to actually threaten a federal judge, or just deluded enough to think her God will hurl bolts of lightning at the feddies because she hates them. In any case I don't really see the problem with her, though. Just like her dear old dad, she seems like another "funeral greeter" freak. They're both jackasses, but so are the kids at the OWS protests. In fact, at least the OWS kids were sleeping (and canoodling, and defecating) in a private park when they got booted, whereas Phelps did his loony protesting on public streets outside graveyards. I guess he's a somewhat savvy lunatic in that sense too.
> The only debate she engenders (not that I want to minimize this) is how to write laws to keep funerals viable solemn affairs without trampling on the first amendment.
Right. You want to try to protect privacy at the same time you protect public speech. But the court ruling in favor of Phelps was a no brainer, and so would (hopefully) any other U.S. ruling with similar parameters. Not so in Canada or the EU or just about anywhere else these days. If you did what Phelps or OWS did almost anywhere else on the planet, you could expect a show trial filled with hectoring bureaucrats, hefty fines, prison time, or perhaps just a nice, neat public hanging.
> He should if you really read what I wrote, since I was using his daughter as an example.
Oh, I wasn't responding to you in that post. I think we were typing them at the same time.
> The Westboro church folks are much kookier than Jim Bell, and not apt to be taken seriously by nearly as many people, so the government hasn't persecuted them nearly as much.
Are they really "kookier" than Bell? I'm pretty sure that is a matter of opinion. I mean, they are plenty kooky, but as I said, they are either savvy enough to present their views without including physical threats. I mean, Bell is one of those candidates it looks as though he could be guilty of the crimes he was charged with, none of which were "speech crimes." It's just that his writings twigged the feds that he might be a threat, and once he was on their radar, they built an indictment on criminal activity.
Now, that is not to say that there isn't a "whiff" of buggery about that either, maybe similar to the Jones case.
"I mean, they are plenty kooky, but as I said, they are either savvy enough to present their views without including physical threats [edit] or they are too benign to be considered a threat."
Not so in Canada or the EU or just about anywhere else these days. If you did what Phelps or OWS did almost anywhere else on the planet, you could expect a show trial filled with hectoring bureaucrats, hefty fines, prison time, or perhaps just a nice, neat public hanging.
and with that, your credibility is out the door.
> I certainly agree that private censorship is perfectly acceptable, my only quibble would be questioning whether our academic system, drunk on the milky teat of government subsidy, really entirely counts as a private institution.
Yeah, I know what you mean. It's also part of the problem with public research grants and one of the more queasy aspects of the climate debacle. The more the tentacles of government reach into an institutions, the blurrier the censorship issue becomes. When the leaders of a private institutions become financial dependents of the political class, you could see a kind of sockpuppet government suppression arise.
Actually, that sounds a bit like the IPCC, but I still wouldn't necessarily characterize what they are doing as true "censorship." They can keep the research papers they don't like out of their assessment reports, but they can't actually prevent those authors from saying and writing what they think.
> and with that, your credibility is out the door.
Is it? So they don't charge holocaust-deniers in Germany? They don't have something called the Alberta Human Rights Commission in Canada, where they haul in people who make political speech they don't like, or ban their writings from being published? In Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, Asia Minor, there are really a plethora of countries that wouldn't beat, rape torture and execute folks like Phelps protesting military funerals, or groups like OWS crowd who advocated for the overthrow of society?
So they don't charge holocaust-deniers in Germany?
I can't find any references to Phelps or OWS-people ( being accused) of being holocaust deniers.
So if that's what you meant with "what Phelps or OWS did", please provide sources.
If it isn't what you meant, why suddenly bring it up ?
… Canada, … Middle East, the Far East, Asia Minor, …
Don't know Canada et.al. that well , so I won't comment on that. Id o have some experience with protests and such in Europe.
I notice suddenly Europe is missing from this list . For your original claim to be somewhat convincing, I'd have expected numerous examples of a large number of European countries having public hangings of protesters or so.
Your lumping together (almost) every country except the US in the way you did suggests that you see everything outside the US as a homogeneous blur. I consider that a sign of ignorance, hence your credibility going down the drain.
>I consider that a sign of ignorance, hence your credibility going down the drain.
So, what you're saying is you jumped to a stupid conclusion based on your stereotypes about Americans. Right.
Here's a flare-lit clue for you: Someone's credibility was damaged in this exchange, all right, but it wasn't Grantham's.
(I fixed your broken blockquote tags for you.)
Don't know Canada et.al. that well , so I won't comment on that. I do have some experience with protests and such in Europe.
I notice suddenly Europe is missing from this list. For your original claim to be somewhat convincing, I'd have expected numerous examples of a large number of European countries having public hangings of protesters or so.
>So, what you're saying is you jumped to a stupid conclusion based on your stereotypes about Americans. Right.
>Here's a flare-lit clue for you: Someone's credibility was damaged in this exchange, all right, but it wasn't Grantham's.
If being skeptical about blatant over-generalization damaged my credibility, I can live with that.
>(I fixed your broken blockquote tags for you.)
I noticed,
I posted something rather large and if failed to appear. Some of the ideas were brougt up while I was composing it, but I decided to post it any way. Is there a length limit? I will do this in two smaller posts because there really was two topics…
OK, here's a good one: "Hate Crimes". We (US and Canada) have pretty good systems of criminal law, at least formally (I understand that the US has moved from having trials to plea bargaining – I'm not too sure how much that happens here). In any case a crime is a crime. Where does the government get off telling me who I am not legally allowed to hate?
This is actually part of a much broader issue (which I am sure ESR must have blogged about)… "Rights" used to be about our rights in relation to the government. Now, a "Right" is a legal plum presented by the government, generally to some minority.
I believe racism is stupid. To me it is wrong. And it is wrong if it is practiced by the government, which is supposed to treat everyone equally under the law. But it has been turned around into the government making it against the law for me to be racist. That is a violation of my (old-style) rights. People should have the right to hate anything they want, including other races.
Um… is my second post being moderated out, or does it contain some keyword or is it still too long…
kn Says:
> I'd have expected numerous examples of a large number of European countries having public hangings of protesters or so.
What? No, you've completely misunderstood. I didn't lump them together. What I said was [my emphasis added]:
"If you did what Phelps or OWS did almost anywhere else on the planet, you could expect a show trial filled with hectoring bureaucrats, hefty fines, prison time, or perhaps just a nice, neat public hanging."
You "could" expect one of those things to happen or several, depending on where you are in the world. Certainly not "everywhere" and probably not "all at once" For instance, the authorities probably won't give you a show trial, then fine you, then imprison you, and then publicly hang you, all on the same charge. Well, perhaps in North Korea. :-)
The EU nations are far too meek and sclerotic to be shooting rioters in the streets these days, but Germany, France and Austria will lock you up for denying the Holocaust, and – along with Denmark – will also haul you in for committing the ever popular and politically shifting miasma called "hate speech." In Holland, they even drag their own politicians into criminal proceedings if the content of their political speech isn't suitably in line with that of the bien pensants. In Turkey, they subject novelists to show trials, too. In Italy in 2006, Oriana Fallaci was dragged into to court for writing that Islam "brings hate instead of love and slavery instead of freedom," and she was a beloved Italian journalist who had once interviewed both the Shah and Ayotollah Khomeini.
That's not all… and that's just Europe we're talking about!
In Canada "bureaucratic hectorors" recently subjected a stand-up comic in Canada to a show trial for putting down a couple of lesbian hecklers in a tone that wasn't in keeping with their fine standards of state-approved multiculturism. Canada is even more feeble than the EU in terms of strong arm tactics, so no bullets for you and probably no jail either. But it comes to ridiculous, unelected kangaroo courts, enforcing PC speech codes, they put most American university campuses to shame. They will fine you and blacklist you. Mexico is mixed, but it's got the slippery "offends good morals" clause in there, to give the Powers That Be suitable cover whenever they want to lock up people who insult their flag and crap like that. Central and South America is a mixed bag. I hear Brazil is mostly good. Do not try OWS in Venezuela, however. If you are not shot in the streets, you will be thrown into La Sabeneta, which is basically akin to a death sentence.
Africa: Please hand me a list of countries in Africa where freedom of speech is a protected right, so that I may proceed to heartily laugh at it. Perhaps Kenya, now, and South Africa to a small degree. Everywhere else… please do NOT try marching around with signs and yelling epithets at the military funerals for your local tin-pot dictator's personal army.
Middle East… NO! Nowhere is it protected, except in Israel. Even in countries that do not have explicit Sharia Law, they stil have plenty of blasphemy laws and lots of other kinds of speech and assembly laws intended to shut you the Hell up. As for OWS, the Arab Spring certainly did not go down very peaceably or bloodlessly.
China, forget it. That's a quarter of the world right there. The rest of Asia is almost all a wash too except for India, which is a great counter-example and a place I've found very conducive to free speech.
Australia… do they even have free speech on the books?
Anyway, unfortunately this is not a picture of a very free world. It is a picture of a mostly statist, suppressive world full of regimes who fear free speech. The U.S. is far from perfect, and that includes free speech. But it's not at all jingoism to say that the environment for free speech is better here than in most of the rest of the world. It just is.
All of these are analogous to the Phelps crew and the OWS "Marx was right" crowd, in that they
(sorry… truncated for some reason)
All of these examples are analogous to the Phelps crew and the OWS "Marx was right" crowd, in that they in that they would represent challenges to the established social order; whether you agree with the speaker or the order is completely irrelevant. In most places on Earth, governments have legal tools to help them suppress such challenges.
@Grantham – Australia has an essentially euro-flavored consideration of 'free speech'
Dammit…if only you had worked 'context' into that defense, I could have scored you a perfect 10.
> Australia has an essentially euro-flavored consideration of 'free speech'
I've heard that too. I just haven't been there yet, and was pretty sure they didn't have much legal precedent about speech. Also, some of the Aussie PC control boards and whatnot that I've heard about seem so far removed from the free-thinking/speaking Aussies I've known that I wonder how effective their speech police really are.
The Phelps gang are not crazies (well, not just crazies). They have a carefully constructed racket going.
They deliberately cause serious offense and distress to persons to whom the general public is strongly sympathetic. They do it in a manner and context intended to provoke rage in those they harass and their sympathizers, and if possible, a violent response, which will be recorded by them on video. Then they file damage suits against the responders and anyone else who can in theory be held liable – civic authorities, cemetery associations, etc. They are very good at staging the incident as a violent attack on peaceful persons, and often win or settle for substantial damages.
That may be true, but it's an incredibly dangerous way to make a living…
@ Grantham
> was pretty sure they didn't have much legal precedent about speech.
Not quite sure I understand what "legal precedent about speech" is supposed to mean.
That aside, in Australia we have no Bill of Rights or similar and our Constitution is very light on guaranteeing substantive rights to citizens. The High Court has found a very limited implied right to freedom of political communication but there is no general "right" to freedom of expression expressed with binding legal force.
Interestingly, when the left calls for a Bill of Rights its the pseudo-libertarian right that whinges the most.
@Grantham
By "Euro" i think they mean "English".
Australia does not have freedom of speech enshrined in our constitution but it does have an implied right to freedom of speech. Perhaps more importantly we don't have very good laws shielding the press.
Having said that, there are a few things politicians can do that are guaranteed to get the back up of a large majority of Australians. (Note that these are my perspective and i'm sure SOMEONE will argue with me… however)
* Take a knock at the diggers.
While we're probably not the most martial nation in the world we are inordinately proud of what military history we have. You do NOT FSCK with the diggers. That is all. The last politician I heard that did this was put in a closet somewhere and never heard from politically again.
* Tax alcohol
The K.Rudd did one thing that guaranteed his removal from the top job. He organised a tax on alcohol (and the mines… but i reckon the alco-pop tax is what did it)
* Take an aggressive stab at the media
The only time this is not a political death sentence is if it's obvious that the media in question have gone up in hysterical flames and you're just the voice of reason (classic recent example was a comment i think from the PM that she thinks the papers should just "not print crap") . And you have to be careful. Very careful. If you're thinking of going legal you'd better hope that God, reason, the military and the foot of every fricking rabbit killed by the calici virus is on your side.
If theres one thing i know about Aussies, it's that the quickest way to turn the ignorant majority into political pundits is to tell them they can't say something. They'll start screaming it from the rooftops on general principle.
> Not quite sure I understand what "legal precedent about speech" is supposed to mean.
Well, just that they don't seem to have much in the books about it. Not complicated, unless someone is being deliberately obtuse. Like you.
> That aside, in Australia we have no Bill of Rights or similar and our Constitution is very light on guaranteeing substantive rights to citizens.
Oh, okay, there's a good way of saying exactly what I said, in a completely roundabout, redundant and needlessly contrarian way. Thanks for that, TomM. It's good to know that not all Aussies are as direct and plain-spoken as the ones I've known over the years.c :)
JonCB Says:
> By "Euro" i think they mean "English".
It's possible, but probably not the "kn" troll I just mopped up and booted down the garbage chute. There was a certain Continental je ne sais quoi about his/her impotent rage.
> Australia does not have freedom of speech enshrined in our constitution but it does have an implied right to freedom of speech. Perhaps more importantly we don't have very good laws shielding the press.
Yeah, this is what I was talking about when I asked, "on the books?" I just don't know what to think of Australia, in terms of how powerful their version of thought police really are. I almost wonder if their censorship is something more like the private suppression you see in subcultures. They clearly have the ability (guns, courts, etc) to censor, but does the political class they have the need and the will? Are there any Aussie political prisoners of note? I don't think that Australia bans books (though they might have, at some point in their history).
I was trying to be precise rather than obtuse.
Apologies if the subtelty was lost.
Rich Rostrom Says:
> The Phelps gang are not crazies (well, not just crazies). They have a carefully constructed racket going.
> They deliberately cause serious offense and distress to persons to whom the general public is strongly sympathetic.
Yeah, that's a thought I often had back when they were in the news. That's part of the reason I kept using the word "savvy" to describe them. There's just something so symmetrical about it; they go to the funerals of dead soldiers and scream "God hates fags." It almost seems carefully designed and calibrated to piss off the maximum number of people possible.
> That may be true, but it's an incredibly dangerous way to make a living
Yeah, that's the other thought I had, and probably the biggest signal of lunacy for me. Even if it's a scam, they deliberately go to places where military families are having their darkest hour of grief, and insert themselves into the memories of their final goodbyes. I don't know how many of you come from a military family, or know any, but they usually have more than one former or current soldier in the clan, many of who might even pack heat to a funeral. They are mostly extraordinarily disciplined, but in a moment of anger who knows? There's gotta be much safer ways to scam a buck.
George Warburton on 2011-12-03 at 13:05:12 said:
The validity of a proposition can be assessed by looking at the nature of the proponents. An earlier commenter noted that anything Paul Erlich supports can be safely ignored. The same goes for Gore, Gillard, Soros etc
@George Warburton:
> The validity of a proposition can be assessed by looking at the nature of the proponents.
Except there are lunatics on all sides. As I pointed out, the very first time I heard anything about AGW being a crock was IIRC early to mid nineties, and the people who said that were creationists.
Eric, someone commenting on the new post wrote that he had a comment appear and disappear. The same thing happened on this page to someone else's comment.
I made another goof: "Getting back to CFCs though (and this time checking my numbers), even the lightest halocarbon, fluoromethane (CF4, aka carbon tetrafluoride), has a molecular weight of 160, almost twice krypton's (83) and four times argon's (40)."
The lightest halocarbon is fluoromethane, but it is CH3F not CF4, and another commenter pointed that out later that day (Wednesday). When I tried to find that comment again to quote it when submitting my mea culpa, it was gone.
>When I tried to find that comment again to quote it when submitting my mea culpa, it was gone.
Very strange. I don't remember deleting it, and can't imagine a reason I'd have done so. Perhaps the SQL installation I rely on is hiccuping.
We'll have to keep a watchful eye on this and see if there's any pattern to it.
> the "kn" troll I just mopped up and booted down the garbage chute
eh. At least your elaborating on the matter of free speech in "the rest of the world" got me to think there might actually be something to your claim that the US is exceptional in this area.
Don't get fooled again » Cold Fury
My biggest frustration with the Climate Science thing is that they seem unwilling to make any testable predictions — ones that can be measured in a timeline that is useful. So making predictions in 2100 just isn't helpful or realistically testable.
However, in another blog I found a link to this article. Apparently six years ago the UN predicted that 50 million people would be refugees of climate change by 2010. That is clearly a testable prediction, and it is clearly incorrect, on the contrary, population in the relevant areas has risen.
I can't find an original source, but here is an article from that Right Wing NeoCon rag, Der Spiegel:
UN Embarrassed by Forecast on Climate Refugees
Perhaps someone can find an original, though from what I hear the UN is tossing it in the memory hole.
Can any proponents of AGW point to a prediction of doom that has actually come true, or can be measured before I die?
Texan99 on 2011-12-04 at 15:43:41 said:
@Patrick Maupin:
"Unfortunately, just because a scientist sucks, doesn't mean that he's wrong in any particular instance.
True, but it certainly destroys the value of an appeal to that particular scientist's authority. After that, you've got to find some real evidence to point to, or at least an authority who hasn't been discredited.
Yes, I agree. Which is why it is very frustrating to listen to someone preaching a carbon apocalypse to point to the IPCC synthesis reports, which are policy briefs, not the scientific studies themselves. A small group of scientists, selected by unscientific bureaucrats for their political usefulness, act as gatekeepers and editors for those reports. Politicians and bureaucrats love to select trends from nosy signals and make predictions that are frightening enough to get press but remote enough they will never live to reap the professional consequences if the prediction is wrong.
When you think about the wild conjecture about the scope of potential disasters and the panchrestons that arise when certain predictions don't turn out to be true (such as the "super hurricane" theory, or the rate of GAT rise in the 00's), this is really the biggest signal of junk science; this strident "Never Wrong-ism" that becomes so toxic you try to destroy anyone who questions you.
It's true that the culture of research is filled with rancor and massive egos and selfish hoarding of data, but most of that is due to the mad scramble to get grant money for studies that perhaps 0.01% percent of humanity will ever care about, even if your theory is sound. If you break into big application markets, you might even get modestly rich (though you and your research will probably also get somewhat locked away from human sight during your most productive years).
And then there is science on the public teat. Once you hit the jackpot on a theory that a politician thinks he can run to the soapbox with, the stakes for your ego and your pocketbook rise dramatically. Suddenly you've got a few song-and-dance men on your side; high-functioning morons like Al Gore and Newt Gingrich with an uncanny knack for convincing people they are intelligent. They keep reminding you how brilliant and important you are, and it appears to be true because you are chairing departments and U.N. committees and your bank account is swelling and Diane Sawyer wants to interview you and Leonardo DaVinci knows your name.
Heady stuff. So all the normal rancor, egotism and secrecy gets ratcheted up by several orders of magnitude. I feel a little sorry for some of the Team members. Not the truly bellicose villains like Mann, Jones, Trenberth or Wigley, but having read much of the correspondence in both dumps, I find a bit of pity for Briffa. I know he complied and collaborated, and that did and said many things that were dishonest and self-serving. But when you reconstruct his emails chronologically, you can see portrait of a struggling young scientist in a somewhat mundane and thankless field who slowly succumbs to corruption. Mann never had the temperament to be a good scientist, but you can see that Briffa did.
>Mann never had the temperament to be a good scientist, but you can see that Briffa did.
When the Climategate I emails came out, one of the two theories popular among my blog commenters pointed at Briffa as the leaker. I thought it was more likely the programmer on the team (the guy who wrote all those despairing comments about the crap code and data sets) but I agree that of the investigators Briffa is the most likely.
> …one of the two theories popular among my blog commenters pointed at Briffa as the leaker. I thought it was more likely the programmer on the team…
The programmer Ian Harris was what sprung to mind when reading the first dump, and he still does make for a good case as the leaker. Just looking at his commented code, it was obvious he had some disdain for the garbage he was being forced to feed.
I don't think it could possibly be Briffa. Or, rather, if it was him I don't think he would ever confess, and if they could ever pinpoint him they would have done it by now (after all, who better to pin "Climategate" on then the source of the "divergence problem").
It's not "Chinese hackers." That's an idiotic theory, and it points to how many of the acolytes of the CAGW church are not only careless, but they've traded Occam's Razor for his Nuclear Bomb. No nation stands to make out better from the IPCC-backed regulatory scheme than the nuclear, authoritarian, pirate regime of the PRC. They will simply ignore any recommendations, and let the rest of the world commit economic suicide while they cheerfully industrialize.
I might be alone in this, but I always assumed it was an IT admin with the tools and permissions to thoroughly cover his prints. In the case of CRU, maybe it was Mike Salmon. If he was even a bit smart, they could never pin it on him.
@Jessica Boxer: There are no really good, accurate models…yet. The predictions are off the wall. It should occur to the critics of the scientists, however, that if the *experts* are so venal and bumbling, how much less do *you* know? Those that are claiming that there is no AGW are making a prediction, too, and despite BioBob's objections, the world does seem to be warming, even if the amount doesn't match anyone's model. Myself, I look at the atmospheric CO2 curve over the last 400,000 years and see an oscillation that we are greatly enhancing. If you push an oscillator too far, you can go beyond the range of the system's restoring forces, and it can run away on you. This happens in economics and electronics and I'm sure it applies to the climate. In any event, until we have models we can rely on, we need to NOT MESS WITH THE ATMOSPHERE. (My 35 years as an electronic engineer taught me to not mess with a working circuit.)
LS: That's a recipe for not doing anything productive ever. Sure fits in with the Left's goals of making us equal – equally poor.
Come talk to me when the theory holds up and calls for solutions that do not demand total state control of the economy.
@Jay Maynard: I hate and despise the so-called 'precautionary principle' as much as you do. It's just another version of Arthur C. Clarke's, "Nothing shall be done for the first time." BUT I see evidence that we are fooling with something dangerous here. We can do much more to produce useful energy without belching more CO2 into the atmosphere. Building more nuclear power plants would be good. I haven't advocated doing nothing like you think I have.
> I notice suddenly Europe is missing from this list . For your original claim to be somewhat convincing, I'd have expected numerous examples of a large number of European countries having public hangings of protesters or so.
Remind me – what can one say about Muslims in Europe and the UK these days without risking some official investigation? What happens if one says something mildly negative? Say "devout Muslims may not want this job because it involves being near pet dogs".
> > Some isn't all.
> So I mis-wrote based on what I read 5 years ago.
Hmm. So, we should always ask you whether you know what you're writing about. How about you label things as you write them instead?
You're right – that won't work because you insisted that you were correct this time and insisted that I "look it up".
>That still doesn't obviate the point.
Actually it does. "all the SUVs that are sold to businesses. What's your point again?" is wrong in both specifics and in insinuation. It would have been honest to say "larger vehicles", but you wanted to do a smear (or a suck-up – it's not clear which).
Note that argument for different tax treatment for the first x hybrids seems to bes very different from the argument for different tax treatment for large equipment. Do you really think that they're the same?
The objection was to the Volt subsidy which is basically the same as the "first x hybrids" subsidy. It's unclear how repeating that is a defense of the Volt subsidy.
Retired Dave on 2011-12-05 at 12:13:05 said:
@ Morgan Greywolf
Back on November 30th – sorry I have been away from the screen!!! Yes the Mini is made (depending how you define made) in the UK, but designed and owned by BMW. BUT it provides jobs here, as do the similar assembly outfits in the UK, owned by Toyota, Nissan and Honda (plus MG which is Chinese owned). We still have the volume stuff – Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and Land Rover (all foreign owned).
To many others on here who discussed the merits and de-merits of their cars, American or not. You have gone through the same process as we have in the UK. Our cars are crap so we will buy anybody else's we like (mostly Japanese). In the good times, it is comforting to believe that you have done the best for yourself and your family. BUT the USA and the UK are now in the crap and my point to you originally was to start to look seriously at where your best interests are.
I drive a Honda Accord made in Japan, but I will not buy any car now unless that company assembles some vehicles in the UK. Having had numerous Fords, they now only make Transit vans in the UK (they hang by my buying thread).
I read that 3 of your top companies have seen the light already and are bringing manufacture (we are not talking cars here) back to the USA from China because their labour costs are increasing at 16% pa., because you have to ship the stuff across the Pacific, and because companies in China often rip-off your intellectual property rights. AND you need the jobs.
I am not advocating buying sub-standard stuff but I am now a lot more careful about where I put my money. Too many people in the UK are very keen to apply an "I will buy what I want" attitude, but expect others to buy their stuff and keep them in business. Miners and farmers have been in this category in the UK for as long as I can remember.
I am in receipt of a UK government pension, it is paid for by the UK tax-payer. I believe that is my responsibility to support that tax-payer with my purchases.
I guess that many on here, by the nature of the blog, are self-reliant people who like to exercise their rights – I am just saying that we have responsibilities to balance those rights. I am far from left-wing but I do believe that we have to look after each other, or we will sink without trace, and maybe we would deserve to.
So you thorougly research everything you write down before you write it? Good to know. I don't have time to play "gotcha" right now, but I'll be watching.
No, I was just using the common name of the tax break, which must have made it easier for you to look up. Which tax break still exists, just in a much attenuated form. Which you would know if you really did the research you claim.
Yes, they're both designed to encourage good behavior, for someone's definition of good.
No, the objection was to the Volt. The Volt subsidy was given as an example of what is wrong with the Volt. I think it's specious reasoning to take a subsidy that is applicable to all hybrids and use it to show what is wrong with the Volt, as opposed to using it to show what is wrong with all hybrids.
BTW, the quibble you have with my using the term SUV instead of some other term for a tax-advantaged heavier vehicle, really is incidental to the point I was making, and I'm sure if you looked up "SUV tax loophole" you could have easily figured out what I was talking about. But way to pretend like I don't know what my own point is.
The problem is that the common name of the tax break is wrong, and got applied to a legitimate business equipment tax break by unthinking leftists.
I argue against unthinking use of the term SUV because it's almost always associated with criticism of the form "Nobody needs something that big!". I categorically reject the notion that anyone gets to define for anyone else, in our society, what they need. If you mean Excursion/Hummer H1/H2-class SUVs, say so. Just saying SUV is far too broad a brush unless you really mean to lump S-10 Blazers and K-3500 Suburbans together.
>> I notice suddenly Europe is missing from this list . For your original claim to be somewhat convincing, I'd have expected numerous examples of a large number of European countries having public hangings of protesters or so.
>Remind me – what can one say about Muslims in Europe and the UK these days without risking some official investigation? What happens if one says something mildly negative? Say "devout Muslims may not want this job because it involves being near pet dogs".
You must really like these games.
Grantham already responded to that with quite an elaborate list of examples, which I found convincing enough to reconsider my stance, and I said as much.
the list of things one can say about Muslims in Europe without risking official investigation quite long, I think. So long I wouldn't know where to start.
The issue was more about what you can say in the US that you can't in Europe.
"official investigation" is also pretty vague. I believe we were talking about laws and lawsuits. Is that what you mean or are you broadening it to all sorts of investigation by gov officials – say, eavesdropping on electronic communications etc. ?
So, where do you want to go with this today ?
>Grantham already responded to that with quite an elaborate list of examples, which I found convincing enough to reconsider my stance, and I said as much.
I was remiss in not praising you for this. Sooner. Not because of what you changed your stance to, but because you changed it at all. A lot of people, and especially a lot of lefties, would have hunkered down and gone "la-la-la" in response rather than evaluating those facts as facts. Good on you for being more sane. | support the AGW hypothesis, and who advocate a global coordinated response against it:
"I you were to find out today that the world was going to be 6 degrees (centigrade) warmer by the end of the century through entirely natural causes, what would you consider the best course of action".
But it isn't. There is an important difference between saying "I think person X is lying about global warming because person X has often been caught lying before in similar circumstances" and saying "I think person X is lying about global warming because he likes to bugger sheep."
I was responding to what you wrote, not what you were thinking:
This says nothing about requiring deliberate lying, and, in fact "One of the earliest indicators in many outbreaks of junk science is enthusiastic endorsements by people and advocacy organizations associated with past outbreaks" applies quite well to "scientists" like Roy Spencer who think that creationism fits the facts better than evolution. The first rumblings against AGW I ever saw were, I think, around 1993, from people like him, so that was a pretty early indicator on the anti-AGW scene. As I've mentioned before, I have been watching these clowns for awhile, since I live in Texas, and we have to keep chucking them off the school textbook committee.
Personally, I don't think it would be useful to require claims of deliberate lying. It's useful to know and publicize who profits greatly from a given worldview or course of action (e.g. the big-government forces on the AGW side, vs. the Koch brothers and Exxon on the other), but declaring any particular individual to be disingenuous simply because they believe one side or the other is done too often in the wider press, as a tool to blunt the force of real instances of lying.
So, I don't know or care if Roy Spencer likes to bugger sheep, but he claims to be a scientist and he is dead wrong on creationism, and when he says AGW is a crock, I have to take that with a grain of salt. For years all the people who I heard claiming AGW was a crock fell into this category. I don't know how you distinguish this from what you're trying to show here, but you haven't yet done so in a way I find useful.
>So, I don't know or care if Roy Spencer likes to bugger sheep, but he claims to be a scientist and he is dead wrong on creationism, and when he says AGW is a crock, I have to take that with a grain of salt.
I did not know this about him, and you are certainly correct that it justifies some additional skepticism about any scientific claim he makes.
I can't really address your claim that creationists were prominent in early AGW skepticism, because I developed my skepticism on my own and I am certainly not one of them. You could be right and I was simply unaware of what they were doing; on the other hand, beware of sampling bias.
chuck on 2011-11-28 at 10:14:20 said:
heavily pushing a creationist/intelligent design agenda.
Which think tanks were those? Names please, I'm not familiar with any creationist think tanks, although I suspect there are some.
I was suspicious mainly because:
1) The predictions were model based.
2) When the models/reconstructions disagreed with the data an attempt was made to suppress the data.
3) I lived through the ozone scare where the only invariant result was disaster even as the proposed chemistry was changed as various reaction rates failed to live up to requirements.
Patrick Maupin Says:
> Sure, but as soon as you bring this into the discussion, someone will correctly (and often viciously) point out that it is an ad hominem attack
"Ad hominem" is a legitimate response to "appeal to authority".
It is legitimate to respond to "I'm a scientist therefore you should believe me", with "ah but as a scientist, you suck", assuming, of course, that you've got appropriate support for "suck".
Sam Getchell on 2011-11-28 at 11:07:21 said:
Fill me in, wine grapes at 59 north latitude is new? Casual web search results indicate they are grown there today:
http://www.dairyscience.info/science-and-technology-of-wine/124-the-science-and-technology-of-wine-making.html?start=1
"Wine grapes grow almost exclusively between thirty and fifty degrees north or south of the equator. The world's most southerly vineyards are in the South Island of New Zealand near the 45th parallel and the most northerly is in Sweden, just above the 59th parallel. As a rule, grape vines prefer a relatively long growing season of 100 days or more with warm daytime temperatures (not above 95°F/35 °C) and cool nights (a difference of 40°F/23 °C or more)."
And http://dccw.ca/gambo.htm
Whitehorse, Yukon
60° 05′
Brandon, Manitoba
Hallstahammar, Sweden
Vitebsk, Belarus
Laerdal, Norway
>Fill me in, wine grapes at 59 north latitude is new?
It wasn't done for centuries because European grapes weren't sufficiently cold-hardy. As I mentioned in a comment on a previous post, modern grapes have genetic input from North American species that tolerate cold much better than the varieties available in Europe before New World contact.
@chuck:
Google for Howard Ahmanson, Discovery Institute, George C. Marshall Institute.
Wikipedia page on Ahmanson is pretty good. Lots of other material available, but of course, a lot of it is from the other side's psy-ops, so you have to take a lot of that with a grain of salt, as well. Everybody has an agenda.
@Jessica Boxer:
Absolutely. Unfortunately, just because a scientist sucks, doesn't mean that he's wrong in any particular instance.
Chewing through this considered argument against AGW will take me some time…
http://www.middlebury.net/op-ed/global-warming-01.html
With respect to number 7, here's Phil Jones of the Univ of East Anglia responding to a request for data for the HadCRUT data series of temperature:
""Why should I make the data available to you, when your aim is to try and find something wrong with it?"
Because you claim to be a scientist, and that what scientist do: share data so results are reproductible?
Oh, come on, he was just BSing. The real problem was that he didn't have the data, CRU had lost it. These guys got caught out in their incompetence and made excuses, opened 1,279 cans of red herring, and burned down an acre of strawmen rather than admit the simple fact that they screwed up.
Eugene on 2011-11-28 at 12:27:15 said:
In his 1953 colloquium on "Pathological Science," Irving Langmuir distilled his analysis into the "Six Symptoms of Pathological Science":
1. The maximum effect that is observed is produced by a causative agent of barely detectable intensity, and the magnitude of the effect is substantially independent of the intensity of the cause.
2. The effect is of a magnitude that remains close to the limit of detectability; or, many measurements are necessary because of the very low statistical significance of the results.
3. Claims of great accuracy.
4. Fantastic theories contrary to experience.
5. Criticisms are met by ad hoc excuses thought up on the spur of the moment.
6. Ratio of supporters to critics rises up to somewhere near 50 percent and then falls gradually to oblivion.
Here is a transcription of the address: http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~ken/Langmuir/langmuir.htm
karrde on 2011-11-28 at 13:02:36 said:
There was a series of stories about recovery-of-repressed-memories, linked to accusations of child-abuse, during the 1980s.
Does that rise to the level of junk science, or was it just a couple of frauds with good PR?
(Bonus question: does either psychiatry or psychology rise to the level of science?)
I did not know this about him
And now you do? It's right up there with the Koch brothers, creationist think tanks, and Exxon among other ghosts that haunt the demon infested world of the Left. As far as I can tell, Dr. Spencer has done a good job managing the UAH temperature data, which is pretty good agreement with the other satellite data, and the articles of his that I have read seem cogent and well reasoned.
RubeRad on 2011-11-28 at 13:10:05 said:
On a related topic, see also Ten Signs a Claimed Mathematical Breakthrough is Wrong from Scott Aaronson, in response to a recent P=?NP alleged breakthrough.
I can't really address your claim that creationists were prominent in early AGW skepticism, because I developed my skepticism on my own and I am certainly not one of them.
I'm certainly not claiming you're in cahoots with the fundamentalists. Just pointing out that enthusiastic endorsements by advocacy organizations don't make the science right or wrong — in fact, don't fundamentally change the science at all. They merely mean you need to heavily discount those opinions (and, unfortunately, the opinion of anybody they swayed). Basically, the SNR is being severely damaged on both sides.
You could be right and I was simply unaware of what they were doing; on the other hand, beware of sampling bias.
I don't doubt that you were unaware. As I said, the only reason I had to know anything about it was that I was reading up on the creationists/IDers. But back then, that was all I really saw on that side of the debate. So when I saw anti-AGW gaining more public acceptance several years later, my first thought was that those guys were really successful with their PR, because originally, those weren't merely the majority of the samples I knew about — they were the only samples that I knew about.
Yes, I think we do know this about him. And I think we do know that Exxon and the Koch brothers and | 2,215 |
UAEM are an international student movement aiming to combat the access to medicines crisis that claims millions of lives every year. Through concerted organising and campaigning on university campuses and across the world, they aim to create a more equal system for addressing the health needs of those who are denied access to essential medicines and healthcare.
Here's a video made by UAEM on how to fix the Research and Development system:
As committed students from all over the world who passionately believe in social justice and health equity, UAEM seek to improve access to drugs developed through publicly funded research and tackle 'Neglected Diseases' that predominately affect the poor.
UAEM's work is guided at all times by principles of non-partisanship, democracy, transparency, solidarity and respect. They run a variety of projects, from supporting international campaigns and advocacy efforts to holding talks and discussions within their university branches. They meet regularly to discuss plans for action and how best to fight for a world where all people, regardless of income, have access to medicines and other health-related technologies<|fim_middle|> at a university near you or set one up! To find out more, visit their website. | . There is also an opportunity to attend highly subsidised (and fun!) yearly conferences all over the world, from Europe to America.
Look for a branch | 31 |
Mansfield & Green brand diaphragm seals typically comprise a metal, TEFLON or elastomer diaphragm mounted between two housings and sealed to prevent leakage of process gases or fluids. The space on the instrument side of the diaphragm, the connections and the instrument- sensing element, are all completely filled with instrument oil, silicon or other suitable fluid.
When the process line pressure is applied, the diaphragm exerts equal pressure on the instrument side of the seal producing a reading on the gauge or process instrument. Instruments may be attached directly to the diaphragm seal or connected remotely by means of a filled system – typically a length of armored capillary tubing. Mansfield & Green diaphragm seals may be used with pressure or vacuum instruments including gauges, transmitters, and switches that utilize C-type, helical or spiral bourdons, bellows elements, diaphragms or electronic strain gauge sensing elements.
Seal pressure limitations vary according to seal design and their materials of construction<|fim_middle|>m seals (except for Types LB and LG) are ideal for most vacuum instrument applications in ranges from 0 to 29" Hg (0 to 736mm Hg at 0°C).
Type ST Series seals are suitable for vacuum applications from 0 to 29" Hg (0 to 736mm Hg at 0°C). | . Thread attached, non-flow thru seals having a metal process bottom have a maximum working pressure rating from 2500 up to 5000 psig at 100°F (172 to 690 bar at 38°C). Type T TEFLON diaphragm seals have a maximum working pressure of 2500 psig at 100°F (172 bar at 38°C).
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All flange attached seals are sized according to ANSI B16.5. ANSI standard flange attached and In-line Flow Thru seals are available with a maximum working pressure rating equal to the flange class pressure rating.
Seals having a lower housing made of nonmetallic materials should not be used for working pressures in excess of 100 psig at 140°F (7 bar at 60°C). TEFLON threaded connections are limited to pressures of 50 psig at 100°F (3.5 bar at 38ºC).
INSTRONLINE offers special diaphragm seal designs with a maximum working pressure rating of up to 5000 psig (690 bar). Please consult your INSTRONLINE representative for more information.
L Series elastomer diaphrag | 334 |
About me Research Teaching Programs & pictures Other things
My research is about discrete subgroups of semisimple Lie groups, particularly Anosov representations. I wrote a few articles about this:
Gye-Seon Lee, Jaejeong Lee and Florian Stecker, Anosov triangle reflection groups in SL(3,R), arXiv:2106.11349
We wanted to understand what the set of Anosov representations in the character variety looks like, by looking at the simplest example where it's not just a union of connected components. The SL(3,R) character variety of a hyperbolic triangle reflection group is 1-dimensional, so that's a good candidate. It has a lot of connected components, each homeomorphic<|fim_middle|> construction of cocompact domains of discontinuity for Anosov representations in flag manifolds. We noticed that this construction can be extended to "oriented flag manifolds", which are finite covers of the ordinary flag manifold. Somewhat surprisingly, this gives a lot more freedom to find such domains. We give a bunch of examples which are genuinely new in this oriented situation. The simplest one is shown on the left: certain free groups in SL(3,R) act on the 2-sphere with a Cantor set of "half great circles" removed, in a way that the quotient is a compact manifold.
My PhD thesis contained a subset of these results, plus some background.
I was organizing the monthly group meetings of our research group in Heidelberg. I'm also co-organizing the weekly Topology Seminar in Austin. | to the real line, but we ended up showing that only two of them contain Anosov representations: the "Hitchin component", in which every representation is Anosov, and the "Barbot component", in which a representation is Anosov if and only if a certain group element (the "Coxeter element") has distinct real eigenvalues. That means, the Barbot component contains a closed interval of non-Anosov representations, and everything outside of it is Anosov.
Florian Stecker, Balanced ideals and domains of discontinuity of Anosov representations, arXiv:1810.11496
I examined a construction by Kapovich-Leeb-Porti of cocompact domains of discontinuity for Anosov representations in flag manifolds. In this paper, I show a "converse" in the case of Borel Anosov representations: up to some exceptions in small ranks, every domain of discontinuity must be contained in, and every cocompact one must be equal to, one of the KLP examples. In particular, this shows there are only finitely many cocompact domains of discontinuity. For example, the table on the left shows their number in the Grassmannian Gr(k,n) for an SL(n,R) Hitchin representation.
Florian Stecker and Nicolaus Treib, Domains of discontinuity in oriented flag manifolds, arXiv:1806.04459
This project also starts out with Kapovich-Leeb-Porti's | 331 |
Plan ahead for what activities, if any, you'll want to undertake during RRR week.
The Office of the Registrar maintains a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding RRR Week and provides links to relevant campus policy.
Learning goals give you and your students a good idea of what "big" things they should end up knowing or things they should be able to do by the end of the course. This gives you a way to structure at least a portion of a review session. If you have five learning goals, three associated with knowledge students should attain, and two related to something students should be able to do, you might do the following. For the knowledge goals have students form small groups and assign each group a specific goal. Ask the groups to list everything they know in relation to the goal and report their list back to the whole class.<|fim_middle|>, if one of your goals is to have students present an oral argument supported with evidence, give them the chance to practice during the review session. Let the students critique each other and you can offer feedback and suggestions.
In a review session, the first people to respond to students' questions can be other students. Instructors then step in only when answers veer or no one can answer them. If no one can answer them, this should tell the instructor something.
on area(s) on which they have questions at review session(s).
Students can take a first stab at an answer, see the range of responses, then get a quick lesson, and refine their answer.
and arrange to meet with each group to answer their questions.
This is especially relevant for classes with large populations of students new to Berkeley. Discuss how to review the material in your course. Remind them of your goals on the final. Are they to spend their time memorizing? Synthesizing?
Students can have virtual study halls using the forum tool, for instance. You can post occasional tips or reminders, perhaps a "tip of the day" each day during the week. | You can then compare lists and point out gaps or mistakes. If it's an action goal, or something students should be able to do try to give them a chance to actually "do it." For instance | 41 |
Did you know that when there is stress it is usually carried in our bodies somewhere? Not only that but it can create health issues and sometimes these issues can play a role in how we function daily in our lives. These issues can wreak havoc in our minds and our bodies if we let it or we can find ways to release the stress and incorporate these into our daily practice so we can live much more balanced lives.
There are many ways to release stress from the body but I will give you my daily process and a few ways I use as well periodically to release stress and feel good. First of all I will tell you that I have fibromyalgia and I have a process that works for me and I if I get off track which believe me I have gotten off track, I can tell a difference. You will find your own methods that work for you. I am sharing what works for me. This will give you a place to begin to explore way that will work to release your stress.
To begin the practice of meditation, find a quiet place free of distractions. Set a timer for five minutes or ten minutes or however long you would like to start with and sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair. Then close your eyes and connect with your breath by focusing on your breathing without trying to direct it. Your breath is your anchor to the present moment. When your mind wanders off in thought just bring focus back to your breath.
The meditation above is a mindful meditation practice. You will find what works for you.
This you can do anywhere and anytime. Exhale completely through your mouth, making sure to breathe out completely. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four. Hold your breath for a count of eight. Exhale completely through your mouth, making sure to breathe out completely to a count of eight. Concentrate on only your breathing while doing this exercise. Try to let go of other thoughts that may be spinning around in your brain. You can do this several times a day and from wherever you are and can be five or ten minutes or as long as you want.
Baths are super relaxing for me. Epson salt is super detoxifying and essential oils are very effective in releasing stress energies in the body. A few essential oils you can add to the bath for relaxing would be Lavender, Chamomile, Ylang Ylang<|fim_middle|> your own that you can do daily that will keep the stress down to a minimum. Begin slowly by adding one thing at a time. Experiment with what works for you.
Most of all take time for you. You cannot fully be there for others without taking care of you first. | , Rose and many others. Also Clove oil or Cinnamon oil is very detoxifying. There are many combinations and I have had much success with the oils.
You can walk anywhere indoor or outdoor. It is up to you. You will begin by taking a few breaths, standing still and being aware of your surroundings. You will then begin by walking a normal pace. Keep your mind on your walking. Pay attention to every step and how your body moves. If you catch your mind wandering bring yourself to your breath and count your breaths to bring you back to focus. Be aware of your surroundings. If you are outside it might be the birds or the trees. Also listen to the sounds and smells. Stay aware of everything around you. As you come to an end. Stand still for a moment before ending the practice.
Writing in the journal brings great clarity to me. Hopefully this will be helpful for you as well. For a how to journal go to http://illuminatingselfgrowth.com/journaling/ for an easy outline on what and how to begin journaling.
These are some things I do daily as a practice to keep my body in balance. I also practice yoga a few days a week, I get massages, go out in nature, clear my chakras, Reiki, use crystals at home and my workspace to keep the energy levels up in those areas of my life and more. There are many ways to release stress in your body. The key is to build a practice to where you can keep yourself in balance. This will add clarity to your life and you will begin to feel awesome.
I recommend you create a process of | 336 |
A cover crop is a plant<|fim_middle|>.
A fun article about cover crop seeding helicopters. | grown for the protection and enrichment of the soil. Cover crops can help reduce soil erosion, increase nutrients in your soil, control pests and diseases, as well as numerous other benefits. Check out how planting cover crops can help organic grains production thrive!
A wide collection of information about different cover crops provided by the USDA-ARS. The information is organized by species and includes facts such as designation of cool/warm season crop, crude protein amount, C:N ratio, and more.
The Midwest Cover Crops Council aims to increase cover crop coverage in the Agricultural Midwest. The website caters to the midwestern region with information on planting, equipment, management, and termination. There is a lot of great information specific to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.
This website is part of a project at Cornell University that helps users use a broad range of cover crops to improve soil. It is full of recommendations for growers and other useful information.
A topic brief on Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotation. This is a great overview for beginners.
An extensive database of cover crops for growers, researchers, agricultural extension workers, students and anyone interested in in-depth information on common cover crop species.
The USDA-NRCS website about cover crops and soil health. You will find termination guidelines, national study progress reports, planting guides, and more relevant cover crop information.
A website and blog devoted to reducing tillage in vegetable production and to increasing the use of cover crops in vegetable rotations.
Iowa learning farms provides some case studies about cover crops, as well as links to other insightful publications.
A brief guide to using cover crops on your farm, including personal anecdotes and some simple statistics.
An overview of some of the challenges farmers face with weed management during a transition to organic, and how to address these issues.
Dig around this page for lots of easy to understand fact sheets about the basics of soil health.
This page is full of healthy soil infographics that can easily be printed or shared on your website or newsletters.
Sustainable Farming Association made a one page fact sheet with easy to access information about cover crops.
This webinar explores basic soil health principles, and how to incorporate cover crops on your farm.
The USDA and NRCS Soil Health Division present this webinar on cover crop management in vegetable systems. It will teach you how to include cover crops into vegetable systems and improve your soil health.
A webinar by Penn State extension about the use of cover crop "cocktails" to help achieve multiple goals on the farm.
COVER CROPS: AN IDEA WORTH PLANTING?
"Cover Crops: An Idea Worth Planting?" is a 15 minute TedxMU talk about how cover crops can help make a resilient future for agriculture.
View past webinars from Rodale Institute, including "Growing with Healthy Soil Biology." Also, there is a link to participate in future webinars.
Managing Cover Crops Profitably is a free to download e-book that uses science to explain how cover crops work and how to work them into any farming operation. It covers common species of cover crops, crop rotation, pests, and conservation tillage.
Building Soil for Better Crops is a free to download e-book that provides a breadth of knowledge about sustainable soil management.
This article is about a Wisconsin vegetable grower that has been growing cover crops for over 10 years.
"Approaches to cover cropping and the impact on soils and farming systems" is a research project by New Farming Systems (NFS). They aim to explore ways of reducing the footprint of conventional farming systems, while improving sustainability, stability, and output.
Practical Farmers of Iowa provide a page with links to various research reports on cover crops.
An interesting article in the New York Times about cover crops, their history, and recent resurgence. It follows a family farming practice in Illinois and Indiana and their personal story with cover crops | 778 |
Berwick is the most Northerly town in England, famous for its Elizabethan Walls, three iconic bridges, thriving culture scene, wildlife and beaches.
Berwick-upon-Tweed is just a stone's throw from the Scottish Border. The town changed hands 13 times during 300 years of Border warfare, a vivid history which can be experienced best by walking the Elizabethan Walls.
The Walls completely encircle the town affording spectacular views of the three bridges across the<|fim_middle|> Centre is located in the town centre and offers a wide range of services including; accommodation booking service, local bus and train information, information on attractions and events, bus excursion tickets, parking discs (for short stay parking) and discounted attraction tickets. | River Tweed, the beautiful Georgian buildings on the waterfront and of Bamburgh and Lindisfarne Castles on the distant coast.
Contact the Tourist Information Centre for a programme of events, how to get here and where to stay.
The Tourist Information | 54 |
On Tuesday, the Home Builders Association (HBA) Manatee-Sarasota installed its new officers and directors for 2012-2013 year during an installation ceremony at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
Suzanne Graham, the incoming Florida Home Builder's Association (FHBA) president, presided over the installation, which drew a crowd of more than eighty local builders, HBA members, elected officials and members of the<|fim_middle|> to working with our new officers this year," said HBA Executive Vice President Alan Anderson.
Treasurer, Drew Smith, Two Trails, Inc.
During the ceremony, Bill Smock of Gator Plumbing was presented with the Big Spike award for helping to bring in and retain new members, and Dave Wick of Medallion Home was presented with the "Richard Reynolds Lifetime Achievement Award" for his continued service and dedication to the HBA and the residential construction industry for over the past 15 years.
This honor comes just weeks after Wick received the Life Directorship honor from the Florida Home Builders Association for over 10 years of service to them at the state level. | community.
"I am really pleased with how well-represented our local builders are on our board and I look forward | 23 |
Soulmates don't have to come from the same species.
Barlow, the dog, knows the significance of being and having friends.
A few years ago, Barlow was another homeless and lone dog and was on the brink of death at an animal shelter. That all changed when Liza McKenzie and her family took Barlow into their home, and Barlow soon found his forever home and hoomans.
Liza was amazed at how well he fit into the family.
A few months after Barlow's arrival, the family decided to expand their size again. A teacher at the children's' school had adopted a rat, which was unknowingly pregnant at the time of adoption, and the newborn rodents needed safe homes to<|fim_middle|> During the process, the hairless sibling demonstrated his fearless side.
"Right from the start, I noticed that while Dewey and Mud Truck seem to stay away from Barlow, Chippy would always make a beeline for him," Liza observed.
It seems that Barlow understood that the rats were part of the family now and enjoyed spending time with them as the rats roamed around freely. He also knew when to give them space, which resulted in the growth of a blossoming friendship.
"Chippy was the only one of the rats who wanted to be as close to Barlow as possible whenever he was in the room. Chippy could nibble on Barlow's big claws or poke around his ears and Barlow would just lay there and, quite frankly, seem to bask in the attention." said Liza.
This would have seemed that these two made a unique pair.
The friendly presence of a smaller creature clearly appeased and comforted the dog who was once friendless. In return, he doted on his rat friend's presence.
Liza noted how much time the pair would spend together when she noticed how Barlow would spend so much time licking Chippy "like he was a mother dog and Chippy was his baby. He would even share his treats with Chippy," she said.
Throughout the years after welcoming the rats into their homes, it was only a matter of time before they had to bid farewell forever to the rats due to their short lifespan.
Dewey was the first one to pass on due to old age, and Mud Truck followed soon a few months later. Chippy was the last one of the rodent siblings to leave.
Even though Chippy outlived his siblings, his health began to deter as well. During the rat's slow health declination, Chippy still looked for Barlow as a place of comfort, in which the dog was more than happy to do so.
Despite being a fighter, Chippy still passed on. Even though the McKenzies were all sad, but they knew that Barlow had to understand that his friend would no longer be around anymore. The dog was given his chance to bid his final goodbyes.
Liza thought it would be a good idea to film the scene to preserve the memory.
Barlow then accompanied Liza as Chippy was laid down to rest in his final resting place next to his siblings. After all was said and done, Barlow lingered by the large stone that was marking Chippy's grave. This was not the last act of devotion of the dog towards his friend.
During the upcoming days, the dog could always be seen visiting Chippy every time he was outside.
The bond of love the dog had for the rat not only remained but also changed the dog. Barlow's visits to the grave became more infrequent as time passed on, which perhaps meant that Barlow understood Chippy had gone somewhere else Barlow could not follow.
According to Liza, she thought that by being able to process Chippy's death in a way only Barlow could understand, such as smelling and licking Chippy's body, helped Barlow move through what humans call grief more quickly.
Liza also feels more at peace that Barlow understands where his friend is and what happened to him.
Losing a friend is always difficult, and till this day, the McKenzies' hearts are still healing. But the love that grew during Chippy's short lifespan will always be something that Barlow and his family will carry on in their hearts forever.
Liza said that Chippy was indeed a unique little friend. | live in.
The family decided to take in three male rats, all named Chippy, Dewey, and Mud Truck respectively.
Chippy was the special one among the three as he was born hairless.
It was scary at first as Liza was uncertain whether the rats would accept the dog in the house, and vice versa. So, she ensured that early introductions were made to avoid unwanted trouble. | 82 |
Beats launches Beats Music for iOS today. The music streaming service' launch for iOS had been<|fim_middle|> Music's own mini network to share the music and playlists with your friends. | planned since Q3 2013 but was recently decided to launch on January 21. The service will directly go in comparison with Pandora, Spotify, Google Music and Apple iTunes Radio.
Beats Music internet streaming service, the perfect harmony between the algorithm and human curation is something more than just a music player. It wont just stream music to your iPhone or iPad, it would stream relevant music to your device. Described as a 'mood sensor' Beats effectively plays the right music you need at the time.
The library consists of over 20 million songs that you can stream or listen offline. As reported by AppleInsider, the app provides music "Highlights" that keeps you updated with the most popular and hot music among the Beats community.
The app features track, album and artist search functionality. The most important section is the "Just For You" section which consists of a list of music relevant to your taste and profile.
The "Right Now" section streams a particular music everytime based upon your mood and taste which determines the right music for you based upon your feelings, likings and most favoured genres of music, probably the best section in the app.
The app also allows you download music for offline playback and create custom playlists. You can use the social media networks like Facebook, Twitter and Beats | 266 |
What Can I Do To Get My Ex Boyfriend Back - Even When It Seems Hopeless?
Suppose you have known your boyfriend for about a year and have been getting along well together<|fim_middle|> one instance of that happening. However, you can get him back. Nothing is impossible , and you need to hold on to that fact if you are serious about getting back together.
For more on this topic follow the links below. | . Then one day, unexpectedly, he tells you he is unable to give you the love you deserve. Imagine the hurt and emptiness you would feel if this actually happened to you in real life.
Well it does happen, and even though you want all the answers straight away they do not come to you so quickly. Perhaps you will never get all the answers you want and deserve.
Lets put a bit more detail in the picture. Suppose your boyfriend lives a good distance from you so the you cannot get to see him when you want to. That is only part of the picture. That alone should not be a problem, and could in fact strengthen the relationship, because it means you won't be seeing too much of each other.
It is what has been happening between the two of you during your time together that is important in finding the cause of the relationship breakup. Did you argue frequently? If so, you have to get to the bottom of those arguments and come up with some answers. Not by looking for blame, rather for reasons.
Can you trust your boyfriend? He might have been dating someone else behind your back. If he just tells you he cannot give you the love you deserve without giving any supporting reasons, then his motives for wanting to breakup with you have to be suspect.
Breakups sometimes raise more questions than they answer, and this is | 272 |
The program from the materials section contains all the needed login to display rows and columns of squares on the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 brick and screen.
You can also modify the size of each of the squares. There is a variable called size that you can change and in this way change the size of the squares.
Tasks involve modifying the program in specific ways to learn how it could be used.
This here is the program. Just download it and run it. It's located below the video. And when you run it you'll get a new matrix, a new grid that's 4 rows by 4 cells. And you can change this in the program. It's a<|fim_middle|> is a variable and this variable is called size. And this is actually the size of the side of the square. And it's 25 pixels and we won't get into details about this. Let's first change it to 10. And we'll have the size of the square 10x10 7 rows, 5 columns. Run.
And as you can see now we have our grid, our matrix. It has 7 rows. It has 5 columns. And each cell is 10x10 as a size. What you should do now is check out the tasks for this video. Experiment with them. The magic happens in the program in a block called display and it's DisplayField. So, you can also take a look at that. And we'll now enter into more details about the block and how it works. But whenever you need to display a grid or a matrix on the screen you can use this program and experiment with it and display the grid. | simple program and it just has a few blocks and in these blocks as in the previous programs you can see you have a rows variable and a columns variable. So, let's modify them to see what happens if I modify this to be 7 and I modify this to be 5 I'll have a matrix that's 7 rows by 5 columns. Download and run. I've downloaded. Run. And you can now see that we have a grid, a matrix that's 5 columns - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and it has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 but it must have 7 rows. And probably you can see it here. That the rows continue but there is not enough space on the brick screen. And we've thought about this and you can modify the size of each of the squares. Return back to the program. What we have in the program | 193 |
This residential experiential learning event will present both the contextual underpinning of the Wisdom practice movement as well as a thorough presentation and practice of specific leadership skills for leading Wisdom practice groups. While we will begin with a suggestion of what human Wisdom development might be in this current age and how the Wisdom movement directly addresses this present human challenge, this training will then move directly into the practical demands and realities of contemplative practice and Wisdom group leadership. Not only will we catalogue some of the current expressions of<|fim_middle|> Ruth at laurampruth@gmail.com. In order to hold your place, the following deposit is requested: $50 due by April 1, 2018. | Wisdom groups (e.g., chanting groups, Gospel Thomas groups, book study groups, and, of course, Wisdom Schools), but we will also present, demonstrate, and practice some of the specific group leadership skills that will be demanded in each of these groups. Besides setting forth a unique perspective of the Wisdom "post-holder" as group leader and delving into some of energetic realities subtly present in this work, this training will also suggest a marriage between energetic group leadership and more traditional group dynamics theory.
The Rev. William C. Redfield is an ordained Episcopal priest and a licensed clinical social worker. Although he was ordained in 1976, he spent the first half of his professional career as a group, family, and individual therapist in Maine. Later Bill served Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville for nearly twenty years. During this time he brought his passion for new forms of "Wisdom" spirituality and established "Wisdom House" as an outreach spiritual ministry in the greater community. Having retired from parish work over four years ago, Bill is now engaged in full time Wisdom work mainly in the Northeast.
Information & Registration: Contact Laura | 229 |
Matty Pearson's first goal for the club gave Luton a battling and hard-fought point against League One giants Sunderland at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.
With 23 minutes to go and Town trailing 1-0, the summer signing from Barnsley showed real commitment to win the ball at the far post<|fim_middle|> drive deflected behind for a corner, with the majority of the 10,000 inside the ground starting believe a fight back was on.
Pearson showed real bravery to meet another Sheehan set-piece ahead of keeper Jon McLauglin, but his header flew into the home fans.
Sunderland appeared to have ridden the mini storm and almost doubled their lead on 62 minutes, the impressive Gooch taking aim, his curler bursting through the hands of Stech but luckily for Town's stopper, he got enough to divert it over the bar.
Town then had the leveller they had threatened on 67 minutes, as utilising the corner routine that was first started at Accrington, and served them so well last term, saw it pay dividends once more.
This time, Sheehan and James Collins combined and the captain's dinked cross was won at the back post by Pearson, who steered the ball into the opposite corner for Luton's first goal of the League One campaign.
They did have a major let off moments later, as after cursing the woodwork last week, were hailing t this time, Maguire turning and hammering against the bar from eight yards out.
Town should have been in front with 15 minutes to go though, Stacey finding space and chipping the perfect cross for Hylton, but unmarked, he nodded badly wide of the target.
Sub Lee Cattermole's glancing header wasn't far away for the Black Cats and at the death, Dan Potts connected well with Sheehan's delivery, but once again his radar was off, meaning the spoils were shared.
Hatters: Marek Stech, Jack Stacey, Dan Potts, Alan Sheehan, Matty Pearson, Alan McCormack, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jorge Grant (Harry Cornick 66), Elliot Lee (Jake Jervis 90), James Collins (Glen Rea 86), Danny Hylton.
Subs not used: James Shea, Sonny Bradley, Andrew Shinnie, James Justin.
Pompey: Jon McLaughlin, Adam Matthews, Bryan Oviedo, Glenn Loovens, Chris Maguire, George Honeyman (C), Lynden Gooch (Luke Molyneux 90), Jack Baldwin, Josh Maja (Luke O'Nien 86), Max Power, Bali Mumba (Lee Cattermole 54).
Subs not used: Alim Ozturk, Robbin Ruiter, Elliot Embleton, Denver Hume.
Booked: Matthews 19, McCormack 56, Grant 59, Baldwin 61, Loovens 90. | from Alan Sheehan's corner and then a striker's instinct to divert his effort inside the far corner with the outside of his right foot.
It was no more than the Hatters deserved for their endeavours in the second period as they reacted well to conceding a goal on the stroke of half time to grab a share of the spoils and get their campaign up and running.
Town boss Nathan Jones made two changes to the team who went down 1-0 at Portsmouth, Danny Hylton free from suspension to replace Harry Cornick, while Jack Stacey was preferred to James Justin at right back.
Apart from Alan McCormack's ambitious volley flying well over, the hosts failed to really create anything of note in the opening exchanges.
Neither did Sunderland to be fair though, although they had calls for a penalty when George Honeyman was dragged down, Glen Loovens glancing a header off target too.
You could tell the visitors, relegated from the Championship last term, were a class above anything Luton had to face in League Two, but Jones' side more than matched their opponents during the opening half hour, as both sides cancelled each other out.
However, the Black Cats were a whisker away on the half hour, Lynden Gooch eventually manufacturing a shooting opportunity on his left foot, dragging inches wide from the edge of the box.
From that moment on, Sunderland's little bit extra started to show, as they appeared to have more time on the ball, nullifying Luton's threats and looking dangerous themselves, moving ahead on the stroke of half time.
Gooch was heavily involved once more, as he cut in from the right and fed Josh Maja, who took a touch and then faced with Stech, confidently found the bottom corner.
After the break, the visitors were close to a second, Bryan Oviedo's cross just above the unmarked Chris Maguire.
Town upped the ante though, Lee's touch letting him down at the wrong moment, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's effort blocked and then Dan Potts' low | 425 |
NOWCAST News 9 at 7:30
NH Primary Source: Eddie Edwards beefs up campaign staff for general election push
Updated: 4:44 AM EDT Sep 20, 2018
John DiStaso
Political Reporter
WMUR
Eddie Edwards
SOURCE: WMUR
FOUR NEW STAFFERS. Republican 1st Congressional District nominee Eddie Edwards has moved to build up his campaign staff as he begins his general election campaign.Joining Edwards' campaign team as paid staffers are:-- Beth Varney of Alton, who will assist in operations. She was a grassroots coordinator for President Donald Trump's campaign in Belknap, Carroll and Strafford counties in 2016 and then worked for the state Republican Party.-- Danielle Rieger of Derry, who is now the campaign scheduler. She has been a volunteer and grassroots activist for a decade in local and statewide elections, including serving as Rockingham County Co-chair for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney's women's coalition and as women's coalition director for Marilinda Garcia's campaign for the U.S. House in 2014. She also worked for 2016 presidential candidate Carly Fiorina's Super PAC, Carly for America.-- Alexander Jensen of Windham, as a field representative. He worked on former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown's 201<|fim_middle|> this summer."After our Republican primary victory, the excitement surrounding our campaign has been incredible," Edwards said in a statement. "I strongly believe that in order to win in November, we must continue to take our message to all corners of the 1st District."That will require the hard work of additional individuals who have the experience and dedication necessary to grow our team."
FOUR NEW STAFFERS. Republican 1st Congressional District nominee Eddie Edwards has moved to build up his campaign staff as he begins his general election campaign.
Joining Edwards' campaign team as paid staffers are:
-- Beth Varney of Alton, who will assist in operations. She was a grassroots coordinator for President Donald Trump's campaign in Belknap, Carroll and Strafford counties in 2016 and then worked for the state Republican Party.
-- Danielle Rieger of Derry, who is now the campaign scheduler. She has been a volunteer and grassroots activist for a decade in local and statewide elections, including serving as Rockingham County Co-chair for former presidential candidate Mitt Romney's women's coalition and as women's coalition director for Marilinda Garcia's campaign for the U.S. House in 2014. She also worked for 2016 presidential candidate Carly Fiorina's Super PAC, Carly for America.
-- Alexander Jensen of Windham, as a field representative. He worked on former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown's 2014 U.S. Senate campaign in New Hampshire and for the Republican National Committee in 2016 through earlier this year.
-- Isabelle Daigle, as a field representative. She is a senior at Saint Anselm College and spent the summer of 2017 as an intern at The White House. She interned with the RNC earlier this summer.
"After our Republican primary victory, the excitement surrounding our campaign has been incredible," Edwards said in a statement. "I strongly believe that in order to win in November, we must continue to take our message to all corners of the 1st District.
"That will require the hard work of additional individuals who have the experience and dedication necessary to grow our team." | 4 U.S. Senate campaign in New Hampshire and for the Republican National Committee in 2016 through earlier this year.-- Isabelle Daigle, as a field representative. She is a senior at Saint Anselm College and spent the summer of 2017 as an intern at The White House. She interned with the RNC earlier | 73 |
Disclosure: I received a basic party package in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.
I can't believe that Mason is 3 years old now. He is getting very independent in everything he does and is super active. That's why after our preview play date at Big Air Trampoline Park in Buena Park, I knew it would be the perfect place for his birthday party.
10 jumpers (additional guests see below).
1 hour of jump time.
40 minutes of reserved table time.
2 slices of pizza per jumper.
Commemorative gift for birthday child.
Exclusive session on the climbing wall at the end of your party time.
Everyone was pretty helpful in getting our guests ready for some fun. I set up the party supplies on the designated tables (we were assigned two rows) and the<|fim_middle|> treats. You can also opt to bring in your own food however there is a fee. Our guests were also treated to a fun turtle wrist balloon!
After finishing their meal, your guests are treated to a massive cotton candy which has a super delightful flavor in the traditional Big Air color. You are allowed to bring in your own cake which the helpers will cut and serve.
After the sugar was consumed, it was time for the exclusive session. We opted for the Pit rather than the climbing wall since most of the guests were younger. They definitely had a blast and even I ended up falling in while taking pictures. Crawling out of there took so much energy!
Everyone had such a blast and Mason even scored his very own Big Air tee!
Reserve your Birthday Party Today!
That looks like so much fun for kids!! Wish we had one near us.
What a fun idea! And everything's done for you, which is nice. I'll have to see if there's something like this near where we live.
Oh wow we go to a trampoline place that my kids love but it is not this big. That would be a great birthday party!
Oh this looks like the best place for a birthday ever! The party package sounds perfect. It's good to see the kids had so much fun!
What a fun party! I love parties that allow us all to have fun. This sounds perfect.
That looks like it was such a fun party! I've never been to a place like this before! What a blast!
OMG. That thing is AWESOME!!!! I totally wish we had that here. WOW!
That looks SO fun!! I'd have loved that as a kid! | second row was set up with basic party tableware which was provided by Big Air. After guests checked in, the kids and some parents headed up to the jump area.
I was thoroughly impressed with the size of this trampoline park as it was neatly sectioned off into different areas for various age groups. There is a space for toddlers, Dodgeball, Basketball dunking courts, foam pits, battle beam and more. Even when packed full of guests, you don't feel claustrophobic or dirty - you know the places I'm talking about right? You wouldn't think that such a fantastic place would be in the middle of a shopping mall!
The kids definitely had a blast and even just the one hour of jumping lead to many sweaty but happy faces. After the allotted jump time is over, the kids head over to grub on some tasty pizza! There is a concession stand nearby in case you want to add Icees or other | 188 |
Edwin Samuel Ormsby was in the Civil War and acquired the title of "Colonel." In 1870, he lived at Tecumseh, Mich. And from a newspaper clipping of that town and year, we learn he was a business man and lawyer of the firm of Baxter & Ormsby. He was at that time a U.S. Marshall for the Dist. Of Tecumseh.
From a Clipping of the Emmetsburg, I<|fim_middle|> Geo H. Carr, F. Joyce, J.C. Davies, A.L. Ormsby, Thos. Moncrief, B.E. Kelly, E.S. Ormsby, C.E. Cohoon, T.J. Prouty, J.S. Atkinson, L. Stuehmer, and Thos. Shea, the present mayor.
In August, 1872, that little giant of Methodism, Col. E.S. Ormsby located in the old town, and it did not take him very long to gather that remnant of the tribe of local known as the Methodists and organize a Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday school which have both been flourishing institutions ever since.
From Deerfield, Michigan, Edwin enlisted in the 8th Michigan Infantry as a band member at Fort Wayne, Michigan for 3 years service at the age of 19 on September 23, 1861. He was discharge at Beaufort, SC on March 6, 1862 and re-enlisted in the 1st Michigan Engineers, Company I on December 28, 1863 at Deerfield, Michigan. He was promoted to Sergeant on January 3, 1865. He mustered out on September 22, 1865 at Nahville, Tn. He was in the battles of Murfreesboro, Tn, Duck River, Tn, Stevenson, Al and Atlanta, Georgia. His post war address was Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Alvin, along with his uncle, A.C. Burnham, and his brother Col. E. S.Ormsby, set up a banking and loan business in Emmettsburg. It was called Burnham, Ormsby & Co. A few years later Alvin and Col. E. S. bought out A.C. Burnham's interest in the company. They organized the First National Bank and the American Investment Co. in 1885.
Ormsby, E S Lieut L 1 Mich Eng.
Ormsby, A L Pri L 1 Mich Eng. | a. "Reporter," we learn that Col. Ormsby was a resident of that City in 1904, and was "elected by the largest vote of any man in the State for Elector-at-Large for Roosevelt for President in the campaign of 1904." He was a old Soldier and a life long Republican Party worker, and one of the most popular business men and politicians in the State of Iowa.
He moved to Los Angeles, Calif. and in the L.A. Times of July 4, 1928, there is an account of his 66th Wedding anniversary. The clipping goes on at length telling of all the honors he had held. Then he celebrated his 90th birthday, April 17, 1932, and the newspaper which recorded this event headed the article, "Colonel Ormsby young at 90." He was still living 1934 at 732 Rampart, Los Angeles, Calif. See also; Annals of Iowa Vol. 19, pps 634/5 "Was Lieut. In 8th Mich. Inf." Moved to L.A. about 1905.
In the 1880 U.S. Census, his occupation was listed as Banker.
Emmetsburg was incorporated as a town in 1877 and M.L. Brown was the first mayor-David Grier, Sr, recorder; A.J. Bateman, treasurer; W.B. Stedman, assessor, and R.B. Skinner, marshal. The succeeding mayors were E.J. Harthorn, | 347 |
De Indische dakschildpad (Pangshura tecta) is een schildpad uit de familie Geoemydidae. De soort werd voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door John Edward Gray in 1831. Oorspronkelijk werd de wetenschappelijke naam Emys tecta gebruikt.
De soort behoorde lange tijd tot het niet meer erkende geslacht Kachuga maar wordt tegenwoordig tot het geslacht Batagur ingedeeld.
Uiterlijke kenmerken
De maximale carapaxlengte is ongeveer 25 centimeter, maar de mannetjes worden vaak nog geen tien cm. De naam<|fim_middle|>uspunt en is erg spits, de ogen zijn duidelijk groter dan bij veel andere soorten schildpadden. De buik is geel tot witgeel met vrij grote zwarte vlekken.
Algemeen
De Indische dakschildpad is sterk aan water gebonden en komt er niet graag uit, alleen om eieren af te zetten en om te zonnen, wat het dier altijd vlak langs de waterkant doet. Het verspreidingsgebied beslaat zuidelijk Azië; noordelijk India, Bangladesh en Pakistan, en vermoedelijk in Nepal, waar de soort echter al lange tijd niet meer is waargenomen en misschien wel is uitgestorven. Het voedsel bestaat uit met name plantaardig materiaal als bloemen, sla- en koolsoorten en soms worden kleine waterdieren als insecten en aas gegeten, met name door de juvenielen. Deze soort uit het geslacht Pangshura is de enige die nog redelijk algemeen voorkomt, alle andere zes soorten staan op de rand van uitsterven.
Bronvermelding
Geoemydidae
IUCN-status kwetsbaar | is te danken aan de roodbruine kam-achtige opstaande punten op het schild waaraan de schildpad makkelijk te herkennen is. De rest van het schild is olijfgroen tot bruin met kleine zwarte vlekken. De snuit heeft een zwarte vlek op de ne | 72 |
Scholarship, including research and artistic creation, is inherent in the work of faculty and students and is integrated in mutually supportive ways with instructional activities, regardless of the size or nature of the institution.
Scholarship is systematic study of a chosen subject characterized by a high level of expertise, originality, critical analysis, significance, and demonstrability. Through scholarship, which may entail creation, application, synthesis, or transmission of knowledge, faculty acquire and sustain their expertise, thereby contributing to the validity and vitality of their teaching. Faculty scholarship is necessary to maintain effective instruction in all institutions of higher education. It also provides students the opportunity<|fim_middle|> with institutional mission and goals, faculty are engaged in scholarship, research, and artistic creation.
4.B.5 The nature of the institution's research mission and goals and its commitment to faculty scholarship, research, and artistic creation are reflected in the assignment of faculty responsibilities, the expectation and reward of faculty performance, and opportunities for faculty renewal through sabbatical leaves or other similar programs. | to observe and develop an understanding of scholarly activity.
Research is scholarly activity directed toward constructing and/or revising theories, and creating or applying knowledge. Although not limited to graduate/research institutions, research is an essential and integral part of graduate education where it serves two principal functions: (1) it advances the frontiers of knowledge which, when disseminated, contributes to the welfare of society and ensures the viability of content in an academic discipline; and (2) it educates students in the methods of inquiry and prepares them for careers as scholars, researchers, or practitioners.
Artistic creation is scholarly activity in the visual, performing, and literary arts that expresses original ideas, interpretations, imagination, thoughts, or feelings.
4.B.1 Consistent | 149 |
Notice: Trying to get property of non-object in taxonomy_term_title() (line 1726<|fim_middle|>, hippopotamus and crocodile, as well as an array of antelope species.
The birdlife of Namibia is particularly outstanding and there are various wildlife sanctuaries dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating big cats.
Windhoek, the attractive capital, is the country's only city, but the vibey town of Swakopmund, and nearby Walvis Bay, the major settlements on the Skeleton Coast, offer a host of exciting adventures including dune sports such as quad biking and sandboarding, deep sea fishing, sea kayaking, dolphin cruises as well as skydiving and ballooning.
Andersson's Camp
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
Doro Nawas Camp
Kulala Desert Lodge
Little Ongava
Mowani Mountain Camp
Okahirongo River Camp
Ongava Tented Camp
Onguma Tented Camp
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Wolwedans Boulders Camp
Wolwedans Dune Lodge | of /var/cgtours/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.module).
West Coast & Cederberg
Cederberg
Eastern Cape Game Reserves
Karoo Game Reserves
Elephant Coast
KZN Battlefields
Kruger / Sabi Sands
Sossusvlei-Namibrand
The Kalahari
Linyanati and Savute
Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
Matusadona
Malilangwe
Matobos
Mahale National Park
Selous National Park
Mara Naboisho Conservancy
Bunyaruguru Crater Lake Region
Inhaca Island
Anjajavy Reserve
Nosey Be
Ile Sainte Marie
Think Namibia, and images of red dunes covered with undulating golden grasses probably spring to mind. But the spectacularly striking dune fields of the Namib Desert, from which the country takes its name, is only one facet of this incredibly diverse country, which stretches for 1 500km up the south west coast of Africa – from the Orange River, the country's southern border with South Africa, to the Kunene River, bordering Angola in the north.
The Kalahari Desert dominates eastern Namibia, while in the northeast the lush, riverine Kavango and Zambezi regions (formerly known as the Caprivi Strip) form a narrow corridor that ends at the Zambezi river.
Katima Mulilo, the capital of the Zambezi region, is located at the crossroads of Namibia, Angola, Botswana and Zambia, and is a major gateway to Central Africa.
With a population of around 2.2 million, Namibia has one of the lowest population densities on earth, but it still boasts excellent infrastructure and a good road network. It is easy to travel around in. Although desert temperatures can soar in summer and drop to below freezing in mid-winter, blue skies and sunny days are the norm and, other than in the Kavango and Zambezi regions in the northeast, the country is malaria-free. The ever-changing landscapes, kaleidoscope of colours and huge variety of habitats make any visit to Namibia a photographer's dream.
The southern and western parts of the country are strikingly arid. Here hardy animals make an impossible living in what appears to be a totally hostile setting.
These include the magnificent oryx, desert-adapted elephants and rhino, as well as a myriad of reptiles, beetles and other insects that somehow survive in this inhospitable landscape.
In complete contrast, the country's major attraction, the world famous Etosha National Park in the north, and the game parks of the north-east are home to vast concentrations of big game such as lion, rhino, elephant, giraffe | 574 |
Farnsworth Group's approach to land planning and engineering design is influenced largely by our commitment to provide cost-effective, user-friendly and attractive developments.
This is especially important when considering the rising costs of prime real estate and an increasing number of government regulations. Because<|fim_middle|> a critical factor in our approach to the planning and design of each and every development. Farnsworth Group has an extensive list of repeat clients for land development services who appreciate our comprehensive full-service approach to their unique land development challenges.
We have designed projects that include residential/commercial/industrial, subdivisions, public/municipal facilities, restaurants, shopping centers, college/university facilities, military installations and healthcare facilities, just to name a few. Our full-service approach provides the coordination, experience and expertise needed to maximize success. | time is money, we recognize that expediency is | 11 |
Candlestick charts are an effective way of visualizing price movements and, due to the increased interest in the complex derivatives market, they are being used more and more widely. A combination of a line-chart and a bar-chart, where each bar represents the range of price movement over a given time interval, candlestick charts are most often used in technical analysis of equity and currency<|fim_middle|> Bloomberg Visual Guide to Candlestick Charting presents sometimes confusing concepts in a format that is easy to understand and digest.
Michael C. Thomsett is a financial writer with over sixty books and hundreds of articles to his credit, including the eight editions of Getting Started in Options, as well as Getting Started in Swing Trading, Getting Started in Fundamental Analysis, Getting Started in Property Flipping, and Getting Started in Rental Income. He has been a management consultant in the securities industries and is an active options trader. | price patterns. A guide to the most used charts, The Bloomberg Visual Guide to Candlestick Charting is arranged in an easy-to-use manner, providing a quick reference for those new to the field.
Candlestick charts are formed with the help of the opening, high, low, and closing price of the day—if the opening price is above the closing price then a filled candlestick is drawn, and these charts are visual aids for decision making in forex, stock, commodities, and options trading.
Enhanced eBook editions offer video tutorials, test-yourself quizzes, and full-color/interactive charts and graphs, available for purchase separately.
A practical and concise resource for anyone new to this way of representing derivatives, The | 143 |
Stonehaven Town Partnership (STP) are on the lookout for drivers and storytellers for the popular Stonehaven Land Train.
The land train proved a hit locally and with tourists last year, and STP are now looking to make the service better by adding an additional carriage.
The organisation is looking for sponsors who may want to help sponsor<|fim_middle|> two others who worked weekends, so that we could keep the train running.
"They have expressed an interest in working on the land train again this year but not as regularly. It would be good if we could find an additional couple of drivers, so that we can cover the season as we would like to start the train running this year over the Easter holidays and then on weekends until the summer holidays, when it will operate at least five days a week.
Isabel added that those who worked on the popular attraction had a great experience.
The land train was extended into October last year after a successful initial run starting in August. | the land train and/or donate to a new carriage, which could cost in the region of £25,000.
Isabel Munn, project coordinator for STP, said: "We also need drivers.
''It was difficult to get them last year and we were lucky that one of the drivers was able to do weekdays and we had | 71 |
The Natural History Museum of Utah will host its sixth annual Indian Art Market Oct. 13-14.
<|fim_middle|> on the website on Nov. 6. The jury will then choose one winner and two runners-up will be announced in December. Writers who are interested in participating can create an account and submit a story at short-edition.com/en. | Olive Garden recently announced October is National Pasta Month. The restaurant's Never-Ending Pasta Bowl promotion will be featured all month. Guests will have access to unlimited servings of their favorite pasta combination, homemade soup or salad and freshly baked breadsticks, starting at $10.99. There are more than 100 possible combinations, including seven types of pasta, including gluten-free noodles; seven homemade sauces, including spinach artichoke; and six toppings, including meatballs, crispy chicken and garden veggies. Visit olivegarden.com for more information.
Salsa Queen, a Utah-based company, recently announced the company will now ship salsas throughout the United States. The company, started by Maharba Zapata in 2014 when she was a single mother providing for her children, currently has product in 100 stores, according to a news release. There are five salsa varieties: gourmet pico, red chili, roasted tomatillo, jalapeno and queso chipotle. No sugars or preservatives are added, and the salsas are also gluten-free. The mail-order service will include a variety of five-pack options via two-day FedEx delivery. Visit salsaqueen.com for more information.
Marie Callender's, with locations in Layton and Salt Lake City, recently launched their annual "Whole Pie-To-Go Sale." Through Oct. 31, guests can choose from more than 20 varieties of Marie Callender's pies for $8.99. The sale excludes cheesecakes, seasonal fresh fruit pies and promotional pies. Visit mariecallenders.com for a complete list of pies.
The Public Library Association, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Short Edition recently announced a national writing contest as part of the Fostering Creative Community Connections project. The theme for the FCCC national short story contest is courage, according to a news release. Writers of all ages and backgrounds are invited to submit one short story of a maximum of 8,000 characters in length, spaces included. Through Oct. 30, writers are invited to submit their story at short-edition.com/en. The Short Edition editorial team will choose 40 to 60 finalists that will be announced | 463 |
Waterfront home in Resort style community of Villagewalk<|fim_middle|> all youll enjoy DiVostas poured concrete construction with reinforced steel for that peace of mind. VillageWalk is a well designed resort style community that has a wonderful Town Center with a state of the art fitness center, library, event space along with a catering kitchen, not one but two geo thermal heated pools, 6 lighted har tru tennis courts, restaurant, gift shop, hair salon, gas station and miles of biking/walking paths along our many lakes. Located close to shopping, doctors, hospitals, and the renowned Siesta Key Beach. | . Enjoy your private pool overlooking the fantastic water view. Well maintained 4 bedroom, 3 bath home is ready for its new owners. Many upgrades including granite counter tops , stainless steel appliances, ten and twelve foot ceilings. The master bedroom suite has a walk in closet along with a his and her bath. Spend time on your front porch with friends enjoying the great Florida weather. Best of | 78 |
The Buckeye Valley boys soccer team held a 13-0 edge in shots by halftime, parlaying an early 5-0 lead into a convincing 7-0 win over host Highland Monday night.
Bill Daily had a hat trick by the break. His goal in the 22nd minute made it 2-0 and his second and third, which came five minutes apart later in the half, made it a 5-0 spread.
Anthony Seliskar and Brennan Perrine were also solid, finishing with two goals apiece. The defense did the rest, allowing just two shots on goal.
BV (2-2-0) returns to action Wednesday at Heath.
Hayes<|fim_middle|> for a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win at first doubles; and the duo of Bridget Johnson and Anna England, who posted a thrilling 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) win at second doubles.
The Pacers' other win belonged to Paris Knipp, who earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles.
Orange continued its solid start to the season Monday, handling visiting Gahanna to the tune of a 5-0 non-league win.
Pioneer winners included Erin Storrer (6-1, 6-1 at first singles), Kortney Reed (6-3, 6-3 at second singles), Abby Butler (6-0, 6-0 at third singles), Mary Damko and Izzy Prislusky (6-1, 6-2 at first doubles) and the duo of Livie Mauger and Hannah Logan (6-1, 6-0 at second doubles).
Alex Lowry broke the school record for forced turnovers with 25 as Orange blanked visiting Columbus School for Girls 3-0 Monday in Lewis Center.
She also found the back of the net once, joining Makenzie Cooper and Kendall Baehr in the scoring column.
Orange handled business Monday in Columbus, beating visiting Watterson in three sets.
The Pioneers, who got a team-high 10 kills from Taylor Metzler, won the first set 25-17 before taking the next two by respective scores of 29-27 and 25-17.
Other Orange standouts included Ashlan Riley, who had nine kills; Carrigan O'Reilly, who finished with a team-best 30 assists; and Megan McCollum, who had 17 digs. | and Mount Vernon no longer play in the same division of the OCC, but a win over the Yellow Jackets, even if it's of the non-league variety, always plays well in Delaware.
The Pacers did just that Monday, handling the visiting Jackets 3-2 after sweeping the doubles courts and earning a win at second singles.
Doubles winners included Emily Miklas and Ericka Johnson, who teamed up | 81 |
Merrill's "<|fim_middle|> glow runs and rodeos, they've seen smiles everywhere.
"What we're giving, we're getting right back. And that's the best part about it," Langhoff said.
They have to wait on a few things before they work on the lighting above the surface, but they hope to finish it by the fall.
They also have a lot more acts of kindness scheduled for around the holiday season. To keep up, you can follow their Facebook page for updates.
Copyright 2021 WSAW. All rights reserved. | In the Light" performs 20 acts of kindness for 20 years
By Noah Manderfeld
Published: Jul. 16, 2021 at 9:50 PM CDT
MERRILL, Wis. (WSAW) - Merrill electrical company, In the Light, LLC, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with 20 acts of kindness.
The first one was a long-term project to do the light surrounding the relocated T.B Scott Mansion Tower, owner Dan Langhoff said.
It was the start of a year of giving.
"It's really brought the community even more to us. We kind of get in touch back with the community. Sometimes you lose touch with that," Langhoff said.
That act was part one of a 20 part series dedicated to giving back to the community Langhoff has been a part of his whole life.
"A lot of people have grand openings, re-grand openings. 20 years of this or that. But to match that with giving back to the community was what we thought was great," Langhoff said.
Halfway through the year, they've now completed ten acts. These include donating to the fire department and delivering cookies to nurses at the Marshfield Clinic. Communications Director, Sasha Everett, says the nurses reacted to the cookies with joy.
"With everything the doctors and nurses have done just over this last year plus, just to see them be so thankful for that. It was really a heart-warming moment. And it's really been like that everywhere."
At both the Lincoln and Marathon county human society, | 325 |
Symbols and Scripts
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Symbols and Scripts: The Language of Craft
07 Dec 2017 - 30 Jun 2018
Free admission to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents
Craft objects are a reflection of the society that produced it. Traditionally made as objects of everyday utility, Indian art and craft objects display the influence of historical, geographical and socio-cultural factors. The range of Indian crafting traditions is astounding due to the prolific plurality of the sub-continent's regional and sub-regional communities.
The earliest appearance of scripts and symbols in hand-crafted objects occurred around 5000 years ago in the Indian Subcontinent. Motifs, patterns and symbols embody the culture of the people, acting as a repository of tradition and practice. Composition, form, and aesthetics are combined to express more than sheer beauty by craft artisans, bestowing the objects with deeper meaning and cultural significance. Such craft objects and textiles also attained symbolic value, and were made for use during festive occasions and life cycle rituals.
Language remains an important marker of internal diversity among Indian communities. Hand crafted objects and textiles were designed with the influence of such scripting traditions, pointing to regional influences on craft.
The Indian Heritage Centre's Symbols and<|fim_middle|> and scripts in craft objects and interprets such symbols and scripts both in the Indian tradition as well as in the Singapore Indian context.
Ode to the Unknown : A Commissioned Art Installation by Madhvi Subrahmanian
Madhvi Subrahmanian's work entitled Ode to the Unknown presents a collection of rubber cups created at her studio at Guan Huat Dragon Kiln, one of the locations for the production of the ceramic latex collection cups in the 1900s. The installation comprises multiple cups made with a Singapore clay slip and glazed in bright colours representing the vibrant diversity of Indian culture. Each cup is decorated with spiral motifs inspired by the half spiral system of tapping rubber and is a metaphorical expression of the circle of life.
Ode to the Unknown draws inspiration from the cross-cultural narrative of Chinese and Indian labour in the rubber collection industry whereby the former brought ceramic technology to Singapore to produce latex cups for rubber tapping while the latter provided the labour required to harvest the latex. Through this installation, the artist hopes to pay homage to the unknown makers and users of rubber-tapping cups.
Crafting Indian Scripts Platform
Level 2, Indian Heritage Centre
The Crafting Indian Scripts Platform is designed as a demonstration and interactive space for visitors to observe and engage with contemporary craftspeople from across India. We invite you to observe, learn and engage with the craftspeople while they create unique objects and textiles incorporating Indian scripts.
Special Exhibition Programme
Craft Workshops
Rubber Cup Workshop
Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold
27 March 2021 – 30 January 2022
Last Updated on 22 Sep 2021 | Scripts - The Language of Craft exhibition seeks to showcase the rich and diverse material heritage of the manifold Indian communities. It emphasises the use of symbolism | 29 |
Mangore | Bellucci Guitars - Louis Gaste, "Feelings"
Pivots and Levers are technical resources referring to how certain fingers in the left hand behave in order to help the other fingers in the left hand better and more efficiently find their way around the fingerboard. Both terms are self explanatory and watching the video will make it perfectly clear. The efficient use of both pivots and levers will translate in more fluidity and less mistakes in the left hand.
When guitarists mention the word tired, they usually refer to the left<|fim_middle|> see it as different ways to present the hand and the fingers, simply stopping the correct notes. Presentation is a very used word in South America in circumstances like: "The gardener presents the plant in the place where it will eventually be planted, then, he digs a hole and literally plants it".
San Bernardino, Paraguay, February 16 2015, 1:38 PM, S.D.G. | hand. This is due to the most widespread error of them all: To think fingers when thinking of playing notes. The correct way to see the left hand is to | 33 |
The mission of the Department of Medicine Residency Program is to foster the development of<|fim_middle|>Preparing for the Residency Interview Process" | outstanding internists. Under the guidance of dedicated faculty who value resident autonomy, residents become skilled in the care of patients in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings. Residents learn compassionate team-based care, always mindful of the best evidence to support clinical decisions. Guided by a strong sense of altruism, our residents embrace the concepts of life-long learning and teaching.
The Department of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a distinguished reputation among the top academic departments in the country, leading in research (ranking 7th in the nation for NIH funding), academic scholarship, and patient care. Although many of our faculty have leadership positions in national and international organizations and are broadly recognized for their outstanding accomplishments, they work alongside our residents in the outpatient and inpatient settings to fulfill the primary missions of patient care, research, and education.
Our strengths include a philosophy that resident autonomy grows in a clinically challenging yet supportive environment, an emphasis on producing internists who have a solid general foundation via the breadth of clinical expertise, mentoring, and research opportunities provided by our unique subspecialty training experiences, and a culture of respect for resident opinion and involvement.
Interns and residents are the primary doctors for each patient. Senior residents and faculty are actively involved in patient care and provide a safe and supervised setting. Our residents become outstanding doctors who have exceptional, broad based training and are able to care for any patient, anywhere. We believe that regardless of the field or setting in which you eventually chose to practice, you will be better by being first and foremost an outstanding, well-rounded physician.
Our unique system of subspecialty clinical services allows residents to work closely with nationally recognized faculty who are experts in their chosen fields. This promotes innumerable research and mentoring opportunities, and contributes greatly to the breadth and depth of clinical teaching and education. Resident participation in research is highly encouraged and with significant investment from the Department of Medicine, a new program for future Physician Investigators has been established for residents seeking further training via the ABIM research pathway.
The respect for resident opinion is palpable. Faculty respect the resident role in patient care, as well as the importance of resident opinion, participation, and leadership within the program and healthcare system.
Why do our residents have such an outstanding reputation? Why is our board pass rate consistently above 96%? We provide for resident autonomy so that residents can shape their environment and truly learn by doing. We foster an environment in which residents can learn the right way to care for patients in a safe and high value manner. We provide opportunities for and encourage resident participation in mentored research. We respect our residents and their opinions. And we focus on providing a solid structure of subspecialty and general based training in a clinically challenging and yet supportive environment.
We invite you to learn more about our program and look forward to having you visit!
Find the educational materials here.
Updated 2018 group photo - view here!
VIDEO: "How to Ace a Residency Interview" - panel discussion including Dr. Deb Bynum.
PODCAST: " | 617 |
"The archipelago is<|fim_middle|> issues related to graffiti, animal selfies, and wildlife harassment, this is a model to emulate.
Portions of the author's travel were paid for by TROPIC/Destination Ecuador. Banner photo copyright Jason Goldman.
Twenty thousand years ago, Santarosae Island was an imposing landmass just south of the Santa Barbara coast. Then it disappeared. | a little world within itself," wrote the naturalist Charles Darwin about the world's most scientifically famous cluster of islands. The official mission of the HMS Beagle was to explore and chart the coastlines and islands on the Pacific side of southern South America, but it's perhaps best known for its five-week stop at the Galapagos, an archipelago built from volcanic rock that erupts from the sea some 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador.
A visit to the Galapagos is perhaps the closest thing to a holy pilgrimage for biologists, and for good reason. While it would be quite some time until Darwin's theories regarding evolution and natural selection would germinate, the seeds of the idea were planted here.
But after spending a week exploring the islands looking for flightless seabirds, massive tortoises, seagoing iguanas, and those famous finches, I began to wonder whether there was anything inherently special about the Galapagos in the first place. After all, other archipelagos are home to equally impressive and strange collections of wildlife. Islands are important laboratories for biodiversity, places where natural selection has produced some of our planet's strangest creatures. But the Galapagos? Perhaps their specialness was simply an artifact, an accident, a side effect of the fact that they were on the Beagle's itinerary.
"I never dreamed that islands, about fifty or sixty miles apart, and most of them in sight of each other, formed of precisely the same rocks, placed under a quite similar climate, rising to a nearly equal height, would have been differently tenanted," wrote Darwin of the islands, yet the same could be said about an archipelago that's perhaps more familiar to Angelenos: the Channel Islands, sometimes referred to as "the Galapagos of North America."
"The Channel Islands have their own examples to rival the Galapagos," says USGS biologist Katie Langin. While at Colorado State University, she completed her PhD studying scrub jays on Santa Cruz Island – the one off the coast of Santa Barbara, not the identically named one in the Galapagos. The Island scrub jay is descended from its mainland counterpart, the Western scrub jay, but it's been flitting among the oaks and pines of Santa Cruz island for at least a million years, slowly changing in fits and starts, adapting to its seaside habitat.
If that sounds at least superficially like Darwin's finches, that's no accident. The thirteen types of Galapagos finches, all descended from a mainland finch, are famous for the ways in which their beaks are adapted over the last two million years for the types of foods they eat. Some eat seeds, some eat bugs, and one, the vampire finch, even evolved a beak that pecks holes onto seabirds from which they slurp up the oozing blood.
But the parallels run deeper. "We did not go to the island seeking evolutionary divergence within the species," Langin says. Her fieldwork, at first, was intended to monitor the population and identify what factors may have been contributing to its decline.
But after her first field season, once she was back in Colorado, something was nagging. She knew that mainland scrub jays had evolved slightly different beaks depending on their diets. Those that lived in oak-dominated landscapes had shorter, stouter beaks, perfect for extracting food from inside an acorn. Those that forage among the pinion pines of Utah, Colorado, and elsewhere have slightly longer, narrower beaks, useful for breaking into pinecones.
So on a whim, she decided to see whether the island jays might show a similar pattern. "My jaw dropped," she said. "Even with a small sample size, the differences were apparent."
And these differences don't play out across thousands of miles like they do on the mainland. Santa Cruz island is home to three distinct pine forests, separated by oaks. In some cases, oak trees and pine trees sit just a few yards from each other. And yet, by the time she'd captured and assessed nearly a quarter of the whole species, the pattern was clear. Despite sharing a single island, the birds had evolved slightly different beaks thanks to their different diets. Just like Darwin's finches.
Endemic island skunks show up on two of the Channel Islands, unique deer mice can be found on all eight. Three islands have their own night lizards, another three have endemic fence lizards, four have endemic salamanders, and Santa Cruz boasts its own gopher snake.
Then there are the foxes. Six of the eight Channel Islands are home to a unique type of fox, found nowhere else in the world. The foxes together comprise a single species, separated from its mainland ancestors some ten thousand years ago, but each island is home to its own unique sub-species.
Galapagos iguanas follow a similar pattern. Some mainland iguana rafted over to the islands around 4.5 million years ago, its offspring eventually branching into two groups: the yellow, cactus-eating terrestrial iguanas, of which there are three species, and the dark black, algae-eating marine iguanas. The iguanas have different adaptations to their very different ways of life; each island's iguana population is just a little bit different. The terrestrial iguanas of Isabela Island have a pinkish tint, for example, while the marine iguanas on Floreana have red bellies. Those on Española Island show off reds, greens, and blues, earning them the nickname "Christmas iguanas."
The Channel Islands aren't unique either. The Hawaiian archipelago is home to a staggering variety of endemic birds, plants, insects, spiders, and even two mammals. Instead of finches or jays, the Hawaiian Islands boast an incredible diversity of flycatchers and honeycreepers, each uniquely adapted to its own habitat. The Azores have thirteen plant species found there and nowhere else, plus an endemic bat.
"The Channel Islands, if Darwin had landed there, would have provided their own examples for seeding Darwin's ideas about evolution and natural selection," says Langin. Any of the world's archipelagoes would.
But there is something that's special about the Galapagos, and it's the extreme lengths that the Ecuadorian government takes to protect them while simultaneously encouraging tourists to visit and learn about their unique wildlife and culture.
Visitors are prohibited from entering protected areas without a guide, for example, which helps ensure a positive experience for humans and animals alike. Luggage goes through a rigorous screening process to keep non-native species out, at least to the extent possible. Even when transferring by speedboat from island to island, officials inspect bags and zip-tie bags closed to prevent biological materials from island hopping. All of this despite the more than 200,000 tourists who visit each year.
The Galapagos may not be biologically unique, at least compared to other archipelagoes, but they offer the California Channel Islands, along with the rest of our nation's parks, a model for biodiversity protection paired with a sustainable form of tourism. And in a country whose wild spaces have recently faced | 1,487 |
I am back from vacation and admit I'm not happy about it. I'll refrain from whimpering while you're here but once left alone the heavy sighs will begin. I had a wonderful time with my family. This was the year though that I realized it was fleeting and that I should really enjoy and embrace the sunny days offered. My father at 90 is starting to forget small things and struggles if we do too much. He tries to hide his growing weakness but we are watching like hawks and know. In comparison to others his age, he is robust. We quietly planned the day around naps and even though we were careful, we wore him out.
On the drive up I told Lisa, "Just make sure I don't stay on the Internet too long. I've developed a bad habit of staying up until one in the morning reading blogs and just cruising the Internet." She nodded her head while watching our progress on her IPod. "The left is coming up in a few miles and you should know your way from there." We were headed into Great Barrington and my last really good cup of coffee for the duration<|fim_middle|> with the blogs. Hoping to keep it all balanced for a bit. | of our vacation. I brew my own when up by the lake, which is dismal, compared to a barista created latte. Eventually, I should take lessons.
There is no way Lisa could have monitored my late night activities. We were staying in different rooms with many walls separating us. In the end, the service up there in the woods was so spotty I had just enough service to post annoying captures of fun on my Facebook account from my phone. I read books instead of blogs, which put me to sleep by 11. This in turn with all of the planned nap times, lake swimming and sun soaking helped me unwind a little bit more everyday. Geese calling out to one another as they flew overhead lulled me even further into a state of contentment. After a week, I was a sack of calm pudding playing scrabble in the early evenings. It was exactly what I needed.
Tomorrow, I'm back at work. Remnants of my vacation temperament linger like the light scent of perfume on a party dress days after I wandered home in it. That too will fade by the end of the week. By then, plans for new adventures will be in the works.
This entry was posted in Essay, Father, Uncategorized and tagged vacation. Bookmark the permalink.
I LOVE "a sack of calm pudding"! Perfect sentiment. I hope the lovely memories carry you through the first few days back from vacation. Glad you had such precious time with family (and the lake, the geese, naps, and sun).
Though in hindsight, I'm not sure what a sack of calm pudding is! Enjoy your vacation. You wouldn't be as happy in a cabin as you are on the open road.
The vacation to work ratio is backward! Happy you relaxed. I cannot confirm that you were not on the internet in the wee hours, unless of course, your time stamp is fast!
I agree, the ratio is wrong! Nooo… I wasn't on the computer late though I am having a hard time now behaving!
Sounds like you had exactly the kind of holiday you needed to refresh and recharge. It is always a shame to go back to work and realise your holiday is but a mere memory. Good for you reading books instead of blogs! I have to say I too am guilty of spending far too much time on the internet.
It is a sweet memory! I'm still finishing up my books and… continue | 492 |
Whether you live here or you're vacationing here during Christmas week, it can be overwhelming trying to decide from among all of the fun holiday offerings happening in the Orlando area.
Every year, ICE! at Gaylord Palms picks a new theme for each new holiday season. This year, they chose the classic film, "A Christmas Story," and did an amazing job bringing the movie to life in frozen vignettes.
Whether you live here or you're vacationing here during Christmas week, it can be overwhelming trying to decide from among all of the holiday offerings happening in the Orlando area.
Christmas at Gaylord Palms is in full swing for the 2016 holiday season, and the centerpiece of the celebration is ICE!, which this year tells the story of A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Carved out of more than 2 million pounds of ice by artisans flown in from China, the classic Christmas tale is told in life-sized full-color ice creations.
It may be July, but Gaylord Palms is already planning for their annual Christmas festivities, including ICE!, which this year will feature A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schulz.
Watch Charlie Brown rediscover the true meaning of Christmas as the beloved classic story unfolds through interactive ice sculptures and displays. All hand-carved from 2 million pounds of actual ice by Chinese artisans.
The chefs at Wreckers Sports Bar at the Gaylord Palms have teamed up with the brew masters at Funky Buddha Brewery to craft a one-of-a kind seasonal dining experience on August 21.
Indulge in a locally-sourced five course menu – including a "mystery course" – perfectly paired with a selection of beers from Funky Buddha.
Yesterday we told you about the all-new ICE! that will be coming to the Gaylord Palms Resort this holiday season, now here are the rest of the reasons this year's Christmas at Gaylord Palms will be a must-do.
So, a display of nearly 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice isn't enough for you? Gaylord Palms isn't done yet.
For starters, Alpine Rush Snow Tubing is returning to the resort for the holidays. Once again there will be an 18' 8-lane giant snow hill created with 1.5 million pounds of real Florida snow to slide down. I did this last year and I think I enjoyed it as much as the kids.
Posted in Orlando / Central Florida Lodging, Orlando Holidays - Tagged Christmas at Gaylord Palms, Christmas events, Cirque Dreams, Elf on the Shelf, Gaylord Palms, ICE!
ICE! is one of the best seasonal attractions in Orlando, and Gaylord Palms Resort has announced the theme for this year's event.
After doing cartoon themes in 2012 and 2013, ICE! is going with the classic theme of The Nutcracker. The story of the ballet will be told via 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures created by artisans from Harbin, China. The ice nativity scene will also be returning, as will the ice slides, which are fun for kids of all ages.
Tickets are $29.99 for adults and $16.99 for kids 4-12 at he door, or buy in advance and save. Florida residents use promo code FLR14 to save $4 per ticket.
ICE! featuring The Nutcracker will run at the Gaylord Palms Resort from November 15, 2014, through January 4, 2015. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit christmasatgaylordpalms.com.
Join members of the Orlando Polar Bear Club on Sunday, December 8, and take a waltz through ICE! at the Gaylord Palms in nothing but your swimsuit or summer attire.
Normally a walk through the Holiday attraction requires a parka, hat, and gloves. But on this night, dress like you would on a hot summer day in Florida, and walk through the 9 degree temperatures, enjoying the story of Frosty the Snowman.
The event will take place from 7am-9:30am, and admission is $18.99 (plus tax). I will warn you, any exposed skin may feel a sting once you're done.
To purchase tickets, visit the Gaylord Palms page at Marriott.com.
Friday night we were invited to a media preview of this year's ICE! at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee. After we checked in, we went to the atrium where a stage was set up.
Enroute, we got to have our photos taken with Puss in Boots, which was awesome. Unfortunately, when we went back later to get the photo, we found out the camera card was corrupted and our photo was lost.
Prior to viewing ICE!, were treated to a show called Luminescence, which features a live band with four singers performing classic Holiday songs.
Highlights of the show included the drummer playing a circular kit in the air, and two aerialists performing amazing routines on hoops and ribbons. Luminescence is performed every night following the Christmas tree lighting at 6:15pm, through the end of December.
Posted in Orlando Holidays, Out and About Reviews - Tagged family friendly events, Frosty the Snowman, Gaylord Palms, holiday events, ICE!
We were blessed to be able to get a sneak peek of the Gaylord Palms Resort's Holiday show, ICE!. I am amazed at how cold they can keep those rooms in order to maintain the sculptures.
A slide made out of ice at ICE!
As a parent of 2 small children, ages 7 and 4, I was excited to see their reactions. We love the Madagascar movies by DreamWorks and are familiar with the characters.
The first thing that you notice is the 9 degree temps, and for Florida kids, that is really cold. Once you catch your breath, the vibrant colors are just amazing! The amber of Alex's fur in ice is actually the color of his fur! That always amazes me.
The scenes chosen to be created in ice told the story very well and in a logical order. As we wound our way through the scenes, I felt like a fly on the wall as everything is so large in scale. It was as though we were participating in the story, but not really. Kind of like it is in dreams. I thought it was cool (no pun intended).
The best part, according to my children, was the ice slide area. The 7-yr-old went down them often, and her only complaint was that they were not slippery enough yet and she had to scoot her way down, although that should change with use. They are fun and good for kids of ALL ages! I know because yes, I went down it too, as did my husband and my sister. And we have photos proving we did it.
The slides are about half way through the adventure and by about that time, my 4-yr-old was getting cold and wanted to move on. So we did, after a couple more slides.
Friday night (11/09/12), CitySurfing Orlando was invited to a media preview of this year's ICE! attraction at Gaylord Palms Hotel.
The evening started with food and drinks in the St. Augustine Fort area of the hotel's atrium. There were carved meats, decorate your own gingerbread cookies, and even a special drink created for the event.
Called the ICE-tini, it consisted of cinnamon-infused whiskey, apple cider, and cranberry juice, with a fresh cranberry for a garnish. I have to admit I'm not usually one for whiskey-based drinks, but this was pretty good.
The media then was treated to a preview of the new Luminescence stage show, featuring the vocal harmonies of The Edge Effect singing Christmas carols. The singers and musicians sounded very polished and were very talented.
The show was also enhanced visually by the addition of an aerial acrobat and a drum ring that lowered from the ceiling – as the drummer was playing. Great visuals!
The evening finished up<|fim_middle|> they continued to take photos with guests. There were even Penguin sightings (from Madagascar)!
Ice! is an annual holiday attraction that features over 20,000-sq-ft of hand-carved ice sculptures and slides. This year, it is open from November 10 to January 1, 2013. At the door ticket pricing runs from $25.99 to $29.99 for adults, based on peak seasons (ie: expect to pay more during Christmas week). Seniors and children receive discounts. However, you can save even more on all tickets by buying them in advance at christmasatgaylordpalms.com.
Posted in Orlando / Central Florida Lodging, Orlando Holidays, Out and About Reviews - Tagged Christmas, DreamWorks Animation, Gaylord Palms, holidays, ICE!
Our family blogger, Carol Garreans took her kids to the Gaylord Palms event on July 19 to see the official announcement of this year's holiday events.
She took plenty of photos as the hotel announced that the four Gaylords nationwide were partnering with DreamWorks Animation to produce this year's ICE! and Snow! events.
At the Gaylord Palms, Shrek will be the theme for ICE!, an annual attraction that features custom-carved ice sculptures in a extremely cold tent area.
Shrek, Madagascar and Kung-Foo Panda characters will also be present throughout the hotel via character breakfasts and more.
Following the announcement ceremony, the various DreamWorks characters were available for photos, and Carol made sure her family got in on that.
The hotel also served up a table of sweets and baked goods for the crowd in attendance.
The Gaylord Palms resort in Kissimmee is reaching out to local foodies with a new wine-and-dine membership club.
For $150 per person, or $240 per couple, members in the Cork & Fork Club get priority invitations to select culinary events, and access to a private culinary concierge. Members also enjoy benefits such as a free night's stay, 20% discounts at resort restaurants and lounges, a $50 spa voucher for a 50-minute treatment, and more.
The resort boasts a number of dining experiences including the Old Hickory Steakhouse, Sunset Sam's Fish Camp, South Beach-style sushi at Sora and the Mediterranean-inspired Villa de Flora.
Not sure if membership is for you? The Gaylord Palms will be hosting a launch party for the Cork & Fork Club on September 22, 2010. The resort will be offering samples of food and wine from its restaurants, and the $25 per person fee to attend can be applied towards the membership price.
Call 407-586-0708 for more information. | with a tour through ICE!
ICE! is over 20,000-square-feet of hand-carved ice sculptures, created by a team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China. It is set in a tent kept at a chilly 9 degrees.
The majority of the floor space is an all-new tribute to the DreamWorks Animation TV Christmas special, Merry Madagascar.
Yesterday, Gaylord Palms Resort held their annual Christmas in July event to reveal the theme for this year's Ice! attraction.
In keeping with their partnership with Dreamworks Animation, Merry Madagascar will be the theme. To help with the announcement, characters from the hit Madagascar series of films were on hand, along with a few characters from Shrek.
The event was held around the resort's new Cypress Springs Family Fun Water Park, and I wish I would've known they were allowing kids to try it out. Carol, our family writer, brought her two children and they really wanted to play on the slides and get drenched by the big bucket of water. Heck, if I wasn't wearing jeans, I might of jumped in the pool. It was that hot out.
As we entered the pool area, we were greeted by several Shrek characters. Shrek, Fiona, Puss and Gingy were mingling and taking photos with the guests, which included children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and Give Kids the World.
A quartet of singers serenaded the crowd with holiday songs, while standing in the zero-entry end of the pool. There was also a snack area with drinks and sugary treats like frosted brownies, chocolate-covered ginger cake lollipops and egg nog ice cream push-ups.
Alex (the lion), Gloria (the hippo), King Julien and Mort (the lemurs) took to the stage to help make the announcement for this year's Ice! theme. I love Mort!
After the characters left the stage, a DJ came on in a wall of fog. Then the musical guest took the stage. In keeping with the fact that this event was about Ice! it was a fun surprise to see Vanilla Ice onstage singing, "Ice, Ice, Baby!" Word to your mother.
Following the event, the characters went inside to the resort atrium, where | 464 |
New York Restaurants Guide to New York City to over 10,732 Restaurants
New York Restaurants and<|fim_middle|>ers or gourmet sandwiches and dessert also offer good value.
You can also order online when you feel like ..
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New Yorkers love to eat well, and in the five boroughs there are more than 10,000 restaurants catering to their wishes. City dwellers avidly read restaurant reviews in magazines such as "New York" to ensure that they are seen in the latest fashinable eatery. "In" places and cuisine change with great regularity,while some favorite places simply remain popular. The restaurants cited in our listings have been selected as the best that New York can offer across a wide price range.
Restaurant Menus:
Meals in most of the better restaurants consists of three course: the appetizer(Starter), an entree (the main course) and a dessert.
Virtually all NY restaurants, except fast-food places, serve you bread and better just after you're seated, at no extra charge. In some fine restaurans you may be offered a complimentary appetizer, such as a small dollop of moussse or a tiny triangle of quinche.
To get sense of a restaurant's cuisine visit www.menupages.com, which features the menus of several thousand Manhatten eateries.
You will always find a restaurant in New York to suit your budget. At inexpensive coffee shop, diners and fast-food chains, $10 will buy you a filling meal.
Taxes and Tipping - New York Restaurants:
New York city sales tax of 8.625% will be added to your bill. Service is not usually included. Tipping can run from 10% at a coffee shop to 20% at the fanciest places. with 15% average fair tip. Many people just double the sales tax for a tip.The bill is known as the "check" in the US. The most commonly acccepted cards are VISA, MasterCard and American Express.
Traveller's checks are taken in many restaurants.Diners and coffee shop may accept cash only. In fast-food chains, you order at the counter and pay cash in advance.
Dining on a Budget - New York Restaurants
Despite the tales of $200 business lunches, there are ways to stretch a meal budget in New York.
Order fewer courses than you would normally. American portions are huge, and an appetizer is often big enough for a light main course. You could share one with your companion or choose two appetizers and no entree.
"Specials of the day" may be more expensive than items on the printed menu, so be sure to check prices.
Ask your waiter if there is a prix-fixie menu. Many of the more expensive restaurants offer this at lunch and dinner - in the early evening it may often be called the pre-theater menu. Or try a pre-fixe lunch buffet. These are popular in Indian rataurants and other places and very reasonably priced meals.
Other Options for a quick tasty and restorative meal are the less expensive Chinese, Thai and Mexican restaurants and some Jewish delis. Italian pizzarias and French bistros, as well as the small eateries that serve fish and chips, griddle hamburg | 635 |
Gentle Giant The Walking Dead Daryl and the Wolves Exclusive Statue.
"Shoot Me Again, You Best Pray I'm Dead."
Of all the characters who inhabit the post apocalyptic world of the AMC Series The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon, as portrayed by Norman Reedus, is perhaps the most popular to grace genre television in recent memory.
Reedus himself has embraced his huge following and constantly engages with fans and followers across the world, who have affectionately dubbed the anti hero as The Lone Wolf.
Gentle Giant Ltd. has partnered with Reedus and AMC to create this iconic statue of Daryl Dixon on the hunt, flanked by two wolves<|fim_middle|> embody the spirit of the rebel, the survivor, the lone wolf.
This Limited Edition, Individually Hand Numbered Statue is Rendered in the Highest Quality Polystone and Hand Painted. A True Piece of Quality Craftsmanship.
A Matching Certificate of Authenticity is Included.
This Statue is Designed in 1/8 Inch Scale.
Approximate Dimensions are 10.25 Inches Tall by 9.25 Inches Wide by 7 Inches Deep.
This Statue is a Limited Edition Size of 200 Pieces Produced Worldwide.
The Exclusive Edition Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity Signed by Normal Reedus. | , perfectly at home in their natural element together.
Reedus explains the idea for the statue comes from his fans, who feel the character of Daryl, and Reedus himself, | 37 |
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