What are flight socks?

Socks designed for flight are long, graduated compression socks. When you travel, they help keep your legs and feet comfortable. The tight fit helps increase circulation to your legs.

Are blankets allowed on planes?
Thankfully, blankets are not considered personal items or carry-ons. Blankets are not considered personal items like purses. In that case, put the blanket in your bag. Alternatively, you can carry it under your arm like a jacket, and the airline will see no difference.

Minecraft: Introduction to mods and textures

Minecraft is a game with little narrative and no set goals, developed by Markus Persson in 2009. Players are put in a randomly generated world with square tiles composed of different materials such as wood, dirt, stone, etc. Where these tiles meet new ones will generate depending on the material below them which can allow for interesting natural structures to be formed. These structures are procedurally generated, which means that they are formed based on rules stored into the game that determine how they are built.

These structures often have realistic foundations composed of stone, dirt or other materials found at ground level in real life. Dirt is one of the most commonly used materials because it’s available almost everywhere and is easy to work with.

Players can break and remove blocks they aren’t standing on and these blocks will disappear and drop anything they might contain. Tools, food and weapons can be crafted from raw materials like wood found in the environment. These tools allow for faster mining and better harvesting of resources when used correctly. It’s possible to play alone but it’s usually more fun to play with friends on multiplayer mode.

This game has no pre-defined goals or objectives, players decide how they want to play the game; do they want to build majestic castles, create new cities or discover hidden treasures? A lot of time can be spent mining underground looking for diamonds and other rare gems while avoiding enemies like zombies and Creepers. There is also an adventure mode where it’s possible to play without the need of any type of shelter but this game mode has enemies that will attack on sight.

Minecraft also features completely destructible environments, allowing players to dig through materials like stone and dirt just as easily as sand if they have the right tools. If not then they might need to find a different way around. There is also an option of breaking the surface and entering the underground world which is composed of more unique materials such as granite, dirt or ores like copper deposits.

Minecraft features an interesting setting which is depicted as having many “biomes” some of which reaches temperatures too excruciatingly hot for normal players to survive in from all the lava.

There are some interesting natural structures that can be found underground, a couple of which have proved a point of interest for players. One of these is a room inside a mountain with a large table and chairs made entirely out of stone bricks just as if they were crafted by human hands. This structure has been theorized as being a hidden room from the original developers who left a secret present for players to find.

Another one is a library filled with empty bookshelves found inside a deep cave, it’s possible that this was used as a test for lighting and environment generation but the result looked too cool not to share with players.

There are some really impressive things built since the release of this game back in 2009. One example is a 1:1 scale model of the Death Star from Star Wars, another one is a near perfect replica of Game of Thrones’ city “Kings Landing”.

The most recent was a huge recreation of the Legend of Zelda’s Hyrule.

Minecraft has sold over 20 million copies and is available on almost every gaming platform. The game has received great reviews from critics and fans, it manages to keep its massive player base entertained with constant updates adding new items, blocks and options for players to use in the game.

One of Minecraft’s most interesting features has been its cross-platform capability; it was announced at E3 2013 that Minecraft was coming to the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One.

This game has just about everything you could want in a sandbox game, it’s really fun and can be played alone or with friends. It comes available on almost every major gaming platform so everyone gets to enjoy it no matter what system they use. If you haven’t tried this game yet, I highly recommend it.

I reccomend you get this game on PC so you can do alot more stuff with mods and texture packs. Here’s also a link that leads to a site on which you can find a list of minecraft servers: https://minebrowse.com/

Where to find all first 15 ramps in GTA V?

  1. You will be able to drive off a small dirt ramp at the construction site in Paleto Bay. You will need to land in the parking lot after jumping.
  2. You will find a small path to the west along the shore. The wooden bridge that is broken near the parachutist pier is on the north or south side of the road. Vehicles can simply cross.
  3.  This ramp can be made the easiest when doing the “Mr. Philips” mission. The left turn will be indicated when you are driving. When you turn left, you will make this jump.
  4. The 4 parachute spots are located south of Raton Canyon. Drive up the mountain path until you reach them. When you are in that area, make sure you have your bike with you and look for the ramp pictured. To cross the gap and land on the other side of the trail, drive down the trail and hit the left side of the ramp.
  5. Before you get too close to the lighthouse, you will see a large house. You can take any vehicle you want and drive along the right side of the house, smashing through the barrier. Land beside the lighthouse after you jump off the cliff.
  6. You’ll have to jump over the Sandy Shores motel to make this jump. Almost immediately north of the motel, you’ll have to ride a motorbike down a ramp. Once you’ve cleared the motel, go to the pool to clear.
  7. Stop at the top of the road leading to the small building just south of Sandy Shore Airport. You can then turn around and drive down the ramp and over the white rock en route to the south.
  8. Drive to the cliff overlooking the prison to the south of the prison. Deploy inside the prison after driving off the ramp.
  9. You can take the upper route if you head south on the Senora Freeway. Turn right onto a dirt road on the left. You will land just below the overpass.
  10. At the wind farm facing west, drive to the dead end. The windmill is at the end of a ramp. You should turn left and drive over the train, landing on the freeway below.
  11. Jump over the steep hill north of the road to land safely below and drive down the steep hill north of the road.
  12. The house with the barriers is on the right side of Mad Wayne Thunder Dr. in Vinewood Hills.
  13. You can find the bridge at the south east corner of the Los Santos Golf Course. Use a golf cart to cross the bridge.
  14. You can get a subway entry from Rockford Hills. Navigate over the subway entrance by driving up the ramp marked “entrance”. Continue to the other side of the street.
  15. There is a large building with very narrow entrance on the corner of Milton Road and Boulevard Del Perro. After driving through and landing on the other side of the street, you’ll be able to complete the jump. If you have a motorcycle, you’ll be able to complete this jump much more easily.

To make everything more easier, you can use gta 5 money generator, that way you can afford to avoid doing most missions while still having enough cash to buy things.

How Blockchain Technology will Impact the World

It is the concept of decentralization that is responsible for blockchain change. Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudo-creator, developed bitcoin currency which led to just the finding of technology for Blockchain. When you see the timeline, you can see right around the last world financial crisis, decentralized Blockchain generated and given even more priority to this discovery.

The transition has, in reality, already started. Many organizations already have their own blockchain version in place. But no one could forecast this technology’s potential. You will see the potential consequences as we examine how Blockchain will transform the future.

Blockchain Technology Characteristics

Let us now have a look at the five main characters of blockchain technology as we consider the development from centralized networks to decentralized systems as well as centralized databases. These core features are the most described technology blockchain.

P2P Network

Blockchain technology is indeed a peer-to-peer network that can include while becoming part of the existing computers. The P2P network will also allow computers around a network to operate together and provide the whole network with shared computing resources.

Cryptographic Hash Feature

The use of a modern cryptographic hash function is yet another key aspect of blockchain technology. The hash feature receives an entry and then gives a value that would then be related to the next hash feature. It is indeed a one-way feature, which prevents hackers from estimating the value. It ensures the best possible protection of records. The hash function is also available to legitimate users who own the details or assets.

Distributed Ledgers

The distributed ledger functionality has been one of the best features of Blockchain. It allows people to get a copy of the booklet. Advanced methods are being used to ensure consensus is kept and within the network to ensure they do not get a download of the whole database. It also allows peers to verify data without relying on a single body easily. In addition, it guarantees that there is no theft.

Finally, the encryption hash, distributed ledger and other functionality make sure the data cannot be modified until saved without the consent of the original user.

The points indicate clearly which Blockchain changes the world.

Advantages of Using Blockchain Technology

Faster Transactions

For both businesses and also for personal purposes, it is normal practice for people to send money. It takes a few days to complete almost all of the services which encourage payment. If you really need to give money to an ambulance, it could lead to problems.

When you make an international transition, the procedure takes longer. Banks normally keep the payment for a few days before transferring funds using the SWIFT messaging scheme. Banks do so because of rigorous guidelines on movements of foreign currency. But because of the various intermediaries, the wait time still rises more.

Blockchain seems to be the solution. Without having to wait days to receive payment, you could even send money.

Banks are now looking forward to digital tokens for large amounts of transfers. It usually assists them to settle banks more quickly and securely. Blockchain technology will also transform the future by providing a quicker transaction.

Better System for Healthcare

In developed countries, health conditions are very general. People are also treated by physicians. That is very popular. In certain cases, the doctor or healthcare provider may be moved to another level.

It also involves dealing with records not saved in a centralized room. Maintaining a complete medical record is often difficult for patients, and their medical history may last years or even physicians with varying treatment methods. In summary, people need a great deal of diligence in managing their health conditions.

The management of health issues will totally alter through Blockchain. It allows the decentralized keeping of medical records that the jurisdiction of the hospital may control.

In addition, it would allow healthcare professionals to consider the case of the patient better and ensure that they are treated as quickly as possible. Also, it accelerates and helps diagnosis better. Last but not least, the use of fraudulent medicines via Blockchain has limited.

Will Blockchain Technology Succeed?

It’s no easy way to meet everyone around the world and make Blockchain universal. Like some other new technologies out there, Blockchain looks promising. Whenever the internet arrived there, it sparked riots and was the only invention that was most innovative. The way we are connected has changed, but evolving and improving has taken time.

Often praised as next-generation technology, Artificial Intelligence will transform the future. My argument is that nearly every new invention is promising, and in one way or another, they are different from that of the previous. Only time may explain the effect of Blockchain on culture. All are on the same page for now. Buy youtube subscribers. One thing that is clear, though, the Blockchain is really exciting and will transform the future around us.

So what direction Blockchain would lead firmly is really hard to predict. Its implications were already seen in many use situations, but there are still difficulties with the acceptance rates.

Final Words

You’re not alone if you don’t believe the Blockchain doesn’t affect the planet. Many analysts think that the course of operation of this universe isn’t sufficient to change Blockchain. Nevertheless, the latest results expect the success of Blockchain.

5 Reasons to Hire a Cybersecurity Expert for your Business or Company

Today, companies are becoming more digital and more aggressive than ever before. The majority of sales are now online and favoured over journals, pens and emails.

Thanks to globalization, enterprises are now digitized as well as a related landscape respires – challenges are likewise. Because of the digitized and intertwined ecosystem, businesses are more susceptible to cyber breaches, making cyber defence a key component. Let’s go on to look at the top five advantages of hiring cybersecurity experts.

Benefits Of Hiring a Cybersecurity Expert

Predict Online Threats

When companies evolve from documents and plumbings to machines, new challenges in defence are opened up. With an effective, manageable cyber protection service, businesses may obtain comprehensive insight into cyber risks, like personal data, digital records, and intellectual property, that can affect businesses’ assets. The businesses have foresight with the assistance of cybersecurity professionals to forecast the future challenge and save consumer data from hacking. In the event of cyber-threats, the company should protect any knowledge that can automatically interfere with its activities.

Prevent Cyber Attacks

With the assistance of good cryptography, the cyber team prevents all of the cyber attacks from breaking into your IT database. The main technique for cybercriminals with the use of spoofing. The fake emails from everybody’s reputation and send emails to the financial divisions of the company to receive details like financials, budgets, revenue forecast, etc. On June 18, the German Federal Bureau of Enquiry published a warning to more than 78000 companies around the world, estimating more than $12 billion in cyber risks.

Detect & Deter Cyberthreats

Predictive cybersecurity mechanisms like viruses are not effective enough to prevent sophisticated cybercriminals from protecting the system. Attackers get much more imaginative day by day. You will import malicious files for your antivirus as just a system file for your workers. The technological giant, Tesla, was not spared, and her systems were used for crypto-monetary mining. By recruiting a cybersecurity team who might have mitigated this, Tesla might have spared the humiliation. Businesses are able to quickly spot disruptive cyber-attacks with an efficient cybersecurity strategy with experts.

Compared to the company’s possible losses, plus the reputation factor, the price of cyber defence services would be lower. Imagine you are indeed a bank and store thousands of dollars in information and use a basic firewall or antivirus device. Even an IT student will reach your server within a few seconds and pass all information and assets. Typically, the majority of SMEs and start-ups wouldn’t accept that their enterprise has cyber protection. Their only limitation is the budget.

Most attackers are targeting the growing business, knowing they have such good potential, as well as the business owners are willing to shell cash to save themselves. Unless the ransom is not charged, all data is revested or deleted by attackers and has been sold to rivals much of the time.

High-Class Technology to Protect Cyber Crimes

Most businesses use hit and test techniques for cybersecurity. Cybersecurity firms provide you with an advantage over old ways by regulated cybersecurity services. Three operated cybersecurity services are available:

References to utilities on the spot. CyberSecurity shares our customer’s offices and keeps an eye on advanced hardware and software solutions constantly.

Cloud Support

Run by cloud console as well as tools, smooth hardware-free integration.

All is maintained by Managed Service Providers.

Help in the Time of Crisis

Your data security company will know precisely what else to do if but when an attack occurs. For instance, during every DDOS attack, they would use solutions like Comodo. In case of a continuing data violation in your business, they will move swiftly to settle the matter so that the bleeding is stabilized.

As you will see, your company can be done through a data protection contractor. The real benefit of working with a cybersecurity firm is that it helps your company prosper by ensuring business continuity and fostering a work-safe climate for staff. A safe working environment plus maintaining your reputation can ensure the long-term success of your business.

Final Words

So these are some of the best advantages of hiring a cybersecurity expert. So if you are an emerging business, then it is essential to hire a cybersecurity expert.

Applications of Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is indeed an encrypted distributed database that stores data or is just a digital directory of all transactions, contracts – which must be registered independently. One of the main advantages of Blockchain is that it would be available over many hundred thousand computers and not just in one location. It is this infrastructure that underpins the digital money – bitcoin trade that has already begun to shake the financial services market.

The participants will communicate directly only with technologies of Blockchain throughout the financial sector and transact across the Internet without third-party intervention. Such Blockchain transfers would not exchange sensitive details about the players yet build a database of transactions by encrypting the identifying data. Blockchain’s most promising aspect is that the opportunities for data breaches are significantly reduced. Unlike typical processes, there are several sharing versions of the same database in Blockchain that make it difficult to perform a data violation attack or cyber attack. Blockchain technology offsets all of the fraud proof qualities, which will revolutionize different segments of the company and make operations smarter, safer than conventional business processes, transparent and much more effective.

Blockchain Technology Benefits

  • Increased time efficiency by purchases in real-time
  • Overhead and intermediary fees reduce direct transactions
  • Reduced cybercrimes, theft and manipulation risks
  • Clearer procedures to create and track records properly
  • Stable Blockchain protocols because of cryptographic and decentralized mechanisms.

Blockchain Technology Applications

In a variety of sectors, like finance, government, health, travel & hospitality, retail, and CPG, Blockchain may be used.

Financial Services

Blockchain technology has been applied in a number of creative forms throughout the financial services industry. By offering an integrated trading life cycle where all of the parties can have access to exact similar transaction information, blockchain technology simplifies as well as streamlines the whole process associated with asset management and payments. This eliminates its need for intermediaries or traders and promotes accountability and efficient transactional data management.

Through improving the protection, safety and interoperability of healthcare data, Blockchain will play a leading role throughout the health sector. It has the potential to solve many barriers to interoperability within the sector and also to allow for stable data exchange among the different organizations and people involved in the process. It excludes a third party’s intrusion and thus prevents labor expenses. Through encrypting and enforcing digital signatures to ensure anonymity and validity, Blockchains could store the health record in distributed databases.

The technology of Blockchain has the strength, operations and services of government transformation. It will play an important role in strengthening the transactional data issues in the already siloing government sector. The correct connection and exchange of data with Blockchain allow for improved data storage between various departments. It increases accountability and improves monitoring and auditing of transactions.

CPG & Retail

Blockchain technology can be implemented throughout the retail industry with a massive incentive. It involves protecting the authenticity, illegal sales, prevention, location of stolen goods, virtual warranty management, reward points and rationalization of supply chain businesses. This includes all aspects.

Travel & Hospitality

The use of Blockchain will fundamentally transform the tourism and entertainment industry. It can be implemented in money transfers, store important documents such as visas, reservations as well as travel insurance, membership and incentives. It is possible to store important documents.

Key Challenges of Blockchain Technology

The lack of knowledge and comprehension of Blockchain and how it operates are the main barriers to the use of Blockchain in non-financial service sectors. The problems associated with the current legacy architecture of organizations are significant obstacles to the mass implementation of Blockchain and a lack of sufficient technological understanding. Adopting Blockchain often requires a cultural change from conventional ways of doing things since the entire procedure requires a big shift. The implementation of the Blockchain also contributes to the main roadblocks in compliance with current rules and ensures that data protection and security only for shared databases are needed.

Final Words

The field of enterprise has yet to discover the complexities of the Blockchain concept fully. Even so, we feel that only the business world would shortly realize the huge potential of the technology, and it will fuel a new wave of decentralized applications with ongoing research and explorations in this area.


red and white heart balloons

Your Love Should Lift Someone Up, Not Drag Them Down

We meet many people throughout our lives. For instance, there is our family, our friends, and the people we fall in love with. A good number of them impact our hearts and lives in one way or another. Through each person we meet and form a bond with, we learn a few things about ourselves, as well as the person we are dealing with. We get acquainted with how we show our love and care and the many different ways people show it to us in return.

Some people show you how much they care about you through how angry they get at you when you fail them. Some show it to you through consistent acts of service. Some show it through sweet words of affirmation and encouragement. Some show it by getting you gifts. Every person has their own love language. And while love and care are essentially beautiful things in all their possible ways of expression, people often forget that love is supposed to essentially lift you up and not drag you down.

We’ve all probably met someone who’s way of love gave us the opposite feeling of a warm hug. They slowly start treating you in ways that feel foreign, in ways you feel love isn’t supposed to look like, but they keep convincing you that this is how it is supposed to be. It slowly becomes more about them and what they can take from you than about giving you the best pieces of themselves.

Love can sometimes take the shape of possessiveness, entitlement, a lack of effort, guilt ripping and an overall cycle of toxicity. It starts slowly until one day you start questioning whether they care about you or their own needs for constant validation and sense of control.

I have never understood why someone who truly loves you would fail to give you the space to exist in the way that makes you feel the most empowered and content as long as you do not do not do anything to harm those around you. I never understood why love could give someone the permission to feel like they own you, like their word is top priority, and mask it in the name of love. I never understood how someone can claim they love you but treat you so poorly.

What I do know is that any relationship in your life that makes you happy ultimately adds value to your life. Sure, any two people can face hurdles, but it should never make you feel sadder, misunderstood, and trapped with it than without it. If you would weigh the pros and cons of your relationships, the pros should be more than the cons. It shouldn’t feel like a dark space where light seeps in every few months.

Everybody’s definition of love is different, but we should always ask ourselves: Is my way of love considerate and does it set the person free or does it suffocate them? Am I being selfish? Do I add to their happiness or do I create more discomfort?

Let’s give those we love what they need instead of getting too caught up on who we want them to be.

About the author

Follow Amira on Instagram or read more articles from Amira on Thought Catalog. Learn more about Thought Catalog and our writers on our about page.


Headhunters are an invaluable part of the recruitment process

Lazy, costly and positively harmful. Why on earth would a university consider using headhunters to fill a senior position?

As a human resources director who regularly uses headhunters to help fill senior academic and managerial positions (“administrative”? Please, we are not in the 1970s), I can think of several reasons why.

The “Heineken effect”. Headhunters really can reach the parts that other recruitment methods can’t. They will target not just those who are actively looking for roles but also good candidates who need persuading to apply, perhaps because they are not actively looking or are overseas, in another sector, or the job needs selling to them. Try doing that with just a print or online advert.

Diversity is no less important. It is now common for institutions to tell headhunters to look positively for candidates from under-represented groups for the university to consider, whether female or black or minority ethnic. The proportions of under-represented groups in senior academic and managerial roles are gradually improving from a low base, but headhunters – the Heineken effect again – can play a big role here by bringing to the table good candidates from under-represented groups who might not have thought themselves suitable or ready.

Most institutions make diversity a key part of the headhunter’s job, and there are good people in academic and managerial jobs now who might not have been there without that encouragement from an insightful headhunter.

Which leads to “the marriage broker”.

Any firm working for universities in the UK markets who behaved like the “lazy headhunters” would find work drying up overnight. The work is much more than just providing the long- and shortlists. A good headhunter will also help the university to define a marketable job description and a realistic package – the “proposition”.

Firms that bring candidates to organisations, nurse them through the uncertainties of the recruitment process (and believe me, some senior academic candidates do need careful courting) and work with both sides to achieve a happy match – both before and after appointment, and for months afterwards – add real value to the process.

Perhaps it’s worth raising the veil on the shortlisting process a little.

Headhunters typically produce “A”, “B” and “C” lists for the client. A-lists contain the most suitable candidates, based on recommendations gathered from peers and colleagues, CVs (by the miracles of LinkedIn and university web pages, these are normally freely available) and the headhunters’ knowledge of the sector, built up over years of handling jobs and building key contacts. The B-lists contain those who are potentially suitable but weaker for some reason. The C-lists are everyone else, and can stretch into hundreds.

It’s through this process – building the ABC lists, repeated conversations with key contacts, reviewing CVs, handling job after job across the sector and beyond – that headhunters build up the broad and deep knowledge of the market and potential candidates that appointment committees value so very much. If it were as simple as a Google search, we’d all be doing it.

So who exactly is in charge of the appointment process? It’s certainly not the headhunter. Of course they act as the trusted adviser to the university and how they construct their ABC lists is influential, but I’ve personally often moved people from one list to another, and this careful scrutiny of the lists is exactly what the client should do; unless of course they are a lazy client. There are some out there.

So why this bad reputation? It’s certainly true that a recruitment process is only as good as the university with the vacancy. Lazy appointment committees get lazy processes. But it’s worth pausing and looking at the candidate here. After all, the whole point is to find the best candidate, and to treat the others with respect and care.

Today’s unsuccessful candidate is tomorrow’s appointee, and one day might be on the appointment committee themselves. Headhunters who ignore that simple fact will find the phone calls from potential clients drying up very quickly, and candidates won’t answer their calls. Could it be that the bad reputation at least in some part exists because some unsuccessful candidates find adverse feedback, inevitably funnelled through the headhunter, hard to take?

Shooting the messenger? Now that would be lazy.

Author Bio: Kim Frost is outgoing chair of the Universities HR association, and director of HR at the University of London.


I self-publish some of my scores using Hal Leonard's ArrangeMe service, which makes them available on Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus.

In the case of scores that require parts, I have only published the full scores. If you want the parts, please contact me through my contact form and, if I have them ready, I'll send them to you directly or, if not, I'll prepare them as soon as possible and send them to you. All parts are offered free of charge.

Note: I'm not a professional publisher, so my scores may occasionally have some minor errors. If you have questions about a passage or suspect an error, please contact me through my contact form. I'll ask you for proof of purchase and if there are any errors I will correct them and send you a new PDF free of charge.

Drifting (2022)

Single-movement work for string trio

I've been practicing meditation for several years and if I had to choose a particular word to describe what I experience, that word would be "drifting". After relaxing, my mind begins to wander. Fragments of images, thoughts and sounds flash through my mind, like fast zapping on a TV. Everything is blurry, but every now and then an image takes shape and for a moment I see all kinds of things: people, landscapes, animals, etc.; sometimes I hear a voice that speaks to me; I've even listened to music, like tuning in to a radio station for a few seconds (and when I say listen I mean it; it's not like remembering a song, it's exactly like listening to it). This is known in neuroscience as the "hypnagogic state", in which hallucinations often occur.

I decided to draw on this kind of experience to write Drifting. It's organized in three sections, with no break between them: relaxing, flowing and being.

Duration: c.a. 7 min 40 sec

Dear Diary (2022)

Mini-opera for soprano, tenor and piano

I've wanted to write a piece based on Twain's Diaries of Adam and Eve ever since I read it. I always thought that the story had great potential to write a little opera buffa, and when I came across it by chance while tidying up a bookshelf, the idea came back to me and this time I finally decided to make it a reality.

I have used only a few sentences from Twain's book and arranged them in such a way as to produce a workable libretto. For the most part, I've kept everything intact, except for a few words that I've taken the liberty of contract (for example, it's instead of it is; that's instead of that is). Also, in Eve's last entry, I changed "every wife" to "everyone", as I want her words to refer to all human beings and not just women.

Duration: c.a. 15 min

Symphony for Piano Quintet (2022)

Five-movement work for piano quintet

Ever since I had the idea of writing a symphony, many years ago, I always knew that I wanted it to be about my childhood memories. I spent much of my childhood in the house of my paternal grandparents and both the house, its inhabitants and the occasional guests we had, appear from time to time in my dreams.

One day I asked myself the following question: can I write a symphony for a set of instruments other than an orchestra? Is it a requirement that a symphony be performed by an orchestra? What is a symphony? How is it defined in modern times? I know some people will find the title of my piece inappropriate and argue that I could simply have called it a piano quintet and dispensed with the word symphony in its name. However, I think that the work conveys a certain symphonic character and, therefore, it is, in my opinion, a symphony, a symphony for piano quintet.

Duration: c.a. 24 min

Eulogy (2020)

Three-movement work for soprano, clarinet and piano

Eulogy is a piece dedicated to the memory of my dear friend Rafael Salazar. I met Rafael in 1994, when I was invited to take the position of guest pianist (I was already an alumnus) in my high school orchestra, where he played the violin. I was seven years his senior, but that didn't stop us from forging a great friendship. He played my music in many other occasions. He grew up and matured, became a loving husband, father, and successful attorney. He was always available, always ready to lend a hand, genuinely concerned for the well-being of other people and for the future of our country. He was always there for me and for all his friends and I have lost count of all the times he offered me his help, without expecting anything in return. In November 2019, at age 39, he was diagnosed with cancer. Despite all our hopes and his great will to live, he passed away on April 18, 2020. He now visits me in my dreams and sometimes, when I realize that I'm dreaming, I give him a big hug. Rest in peace my friend. I'll miss you a lot.

Duration: c.a. 12 min

Pregón (2020)

Single-movement work for flute, clarinet, 2 violins and cello

“Pregón” is a Spanish word that refers to the cries of the street vendors, known as “pregoneros”, to announce their arrival. They toured the streets of Lima until the first half of the 20th century. Their cries used to be short songs that described the products they sold. There were pregoneros for all kinds of goods, from fruit to potatoes, to drinks of all types.

One of the most remembered pregones is the one that advertised a type of sweet roll known as "hot revolution", made of sugar, cloves and cinnamon. This piece is based on this tune, mixed with some Peruvian rhythms, like the Marinera and the Peruvian Waltz. In a broader sense, a pregón is an announcement, a proclamation of something good that is coming. Therefore, it seemed very appropriate to me in these times of global pandemic. I hope its light, dance-like character invites people to think of better times to come.

Duration: c.a. 1 min

The Spirits of Cahuachi (2020)

Single-movement work for 10 musicians

This piece is inspired by the reading of the book 'Behind the Silence: Music in the Nasca Culture', by the Polish scientist Anna Gruszczyńska-Ziółkowska, which describes the discovery, in 1994, of several antaras (Andean pan flutes) made of clay in a temple in the city of Cahuachi, the political and cultural center of the Nasca culture. The book includes tables with the exact tones that each tube is capable of producing. The Spirits of Cahuachi uses these tones, i.e. their approximate counterpart in our modern tuning system, treating them in different ways, sometimes as chords, sometimes as scales, sometimes as pitch-class sets, fragmenting the sets, and then overlapping the resulting groups, etc. Of course, there is no intention to produce something that resembles the music of the ancient Nasca inhabitants. We don't know anything about their music. None of it has survived with the exception of these tones, these 'spirits' contained in the pipes of the antaras discovered in Cahuachi.

Duration: c.a. 6 min

Northern Landscapes (2020)

Single-movement work for string quartet

Northern Landscapes is a piece inspired by a trip I made in December 2019 to Mancora, a city and also a well-known beach resort in the Piura region, in northwestern Peru.

There are no direct flights to Mancora and the trip by land from the nearest airport takes about an hour, crossing a desert landscape of beautiful yellow, orange and brown shades, which extend through endless valleys and majestic canyons. It is this part of my journey to Mancora that inspired me to write Northern Landscapes, whose objective is simply to capture the essence of that sensation of going at great speed through a colorful scenery.

Duration: c.a. 4 min 20 sec

Kindred Hearts (2015)

Four songs for male voice and piano

In 2011, deeply impressed by the work of Bryan Borland, I asked him if he would agree to write a few poems that I could set to music.

From the beginning, I decided I wanted a very intimate sound and thought that the technique of popular singing was the best way to properly convey my concept of the piece. This decision influenced the style of the music, which lies somewhere in between classical and popular, and even jazz.

The first version of Kindred Hearts called for piano and string quintet (with double bass) but aware of the difficulty in securing such instrumentation in the context of art song recitals, I decided to make this version for voice and piano accompaniment.

Duration: c.a. 22 min 30 sec

Alchimia (2014)

Five-movement work for seven female voices (3 sopranos, 3 mezzos, 2 altos) and ensemble (flute, oboe, clarinet, percussion, piano, viola, cello, double bass)

In August 2013 Peruvian choir director Paloma Bascones asked me to compose a cantata for the Josep Soler Music Festival. I then assembled various texts from different sources, cultures, and languages (Latin, Ancient Greek, Ancient Egyptian, Sanskrit, Sumerian, Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian, Navajo, Cherokee, Nahuatl, Quechua, Spanish, German, English) and created five texts with excerpts of them, each text focused on a particular element: wind, fire, water, earth and the quintessence. A specific request from Ms. Bascones was that the work be related to a collection of medieval music pieces that she referred me to. For this reason, Alchimia makes use of some harmonic and melodic features of that style, combined with modern forms and techniques, as well as some special effects made from everyday items, and deals with all of these in a way that conveys the sense of a kind of magical ritual, a ritual to call the five elements of antiquity and bring part of their essence to our time.

Duration: c.a. 19 min

Letters From Canada (2006)

Twenty-six-movement work for violin, guitar, piano and electronic keyboard

In November 2006, a montage of the work “The trees die standing still” by Alejandro Casona was held in Lima in the San Isidro Municipal Library Auditorium. The production was in charge of ex-members of the “Appendix” theater group under the direction of Manuel Lassus. For this montage, I wrote the music that appears in this volume, composed of a series of short themes that are distributed throughout the work, through repetitions with or without variations.

This new version of the score contains slight modifications with respect to the original 2006 version that required, among other things, the use of a recorder in some numbers, an instrument that has been deleted here.

Some pieces included in this edition make up the album “Letters from Canada”, which is available through digital platforms.

Duration: c.a. 32 min

Portrait (2004)

Single-movement work for piano quintet

Portrait is a piece I wrote in August 2004 as a gift to Adolf Sobrevilla, to whom it is dedicated. As the title suggests, it is a portrait, an attempt to describe a person—not physically, but emotionally—through music.

The original version called for a string orchestra and piano, but I was never completely satisfied with that solution and kept constantly revising the score over the years. In 2016 I was close to a definitive solution after realizing that, due to the virtuosity required of the strings, it was better to reduce them to a solo quintet. Finally, in 2022, I thought it would be better to rewrite the piece for a piano quintet, being a more standard formation.

Duration: c.a. 5 min 15 sec

A-nir (2002)

Single-movement work for a cappella choir

I started composing A-nir in April 2002, for my composition class at the National Conservatory of Music. The title means "lamentation" in the Sumerian language and the text corresponds to the first twenty-one lines of "The Lament for Sumer and Urim", written between 2600 and 1700 BC. The transliteration (i.e. a conversion to the Latin alphabet) of the original cuneiform version was done by the Oriental Institute of the University of Oxford and published online in the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature. An analysis of the text presents a three-part structure, with the first and third sections closely related.

In 2004, A-nir won the Vanguard Premieres Choral Composition Contest, sponsored by the Michigan-based choir Vanguard Voices, in the category of emerging composers, and premiered on June 5, 2005 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Dearborn, Michigan.

Duration: c.a. 6 min

El Sereno (2001)

Single-movement work for baritone and piano

Back in 1999, after my grandfather passed away, I was told by my mother that he used to write poems and that there was a notebook where my grandmother had saved some. By 2001, I already had a copy of it and, when I was asked to write a song with piano accompaniment, I immediately saw my grandfather's poems as very good candidates.

I chose the poem "El Sereno", which makes reference to the people who once lit the lamps and guarded the streets at night in Madrid. However, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure this poem belongs to my grandfather, as he also used to write down poems by other authors in his notebook. However, I've searched all over the Internet and I haven't even been able to find a poem that even resembles this one. I have to conclude then, not having any proof otherwise, that this poem was written by my grandfather, and will continue to include his name in the score, at least until someone comes forth with proof it belongs to a different author.

Duration: c.a. 3 min 30 sec


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November 1, 2018
Vol. 76
No. 3

Escape from the Zero-Learning Zone

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Why educators frequently turn away from opportunities to learn, and what we can do about it.
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Credit: marvinh
Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.—John Cotton Dana
The world is rich with learning opportunities, especially for educators. Teachers can learn from video recordings of their lessons, instructional coaching, conversations with their principals and peers, formative assessment and other data, and student feedback. Similarly, principals can learn from 360-degree feedback; video recordings of meetings they lead or presentations they give; conversations with teachers and students; and data on achievement, school climate, or teacher satisfaction, such as from Gallup's Q12 Engagement Survey (Gallup, 2016).
We know that learning is essential for professional success, self-efficacy, healthy relationships, and well-being. However, when opportunities to learn present themselves, we frequently turn away. Offered the chance to learn, we choose instead to move into what I call the Zero-Learning Zone.

What is the Zero-Learning Zone?

We step into the Zero-Learning Zone whenever we act, consciously or unconsciously, in ways that block our own learning. For example, we might be shy about how we appear on camera and therefore turn down the chance to learn from video recordings of a lesson. We might say no to an opportunity to work with a coach; dismiss feedback from a colleague, principal, or student; adopt beliefs that isolate us from new ideas; blame others; or make excuses that shift responsibility away from ourselves and onto someone else. There are many reasons why we take a pass on an opportunity to learn, but before we explore how to get out of the Zero-Learning Zone, we have to take a look how we get there in the first place.
Blindspots. We often miss the chance to learn because we do not see that we need to learn. James Prochaska, an expert on the personal experience of change, and colleagues identified the first stage of change as pre-contemplation—not realizing we need to learn so that we can change our situations (Prochaska, Norcross, & DiClimente, 1994). Because of perceptual errors such as confirmation bias, habituation, stereotypes, primacy effect, and recency effect, we don't see reality clearly. As researcher and social psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson has written in No One Understands You and What to Do About It (2015), "The uncomfortable truth is that most of us … can't see ourselves truly objectively" (p. 4). A principal, for example, might not see how much time he wastes on unimportant issues during staff meetings until he watches a video recording of a meeting.
We don't think the learning is worth it. Two factors need to be in place for us to grow and change (Patterson et. al, 2008). First, we need to believe we can do what we are considering. Second, we need to believe that what we are considering is worth the effort. If either factor is missing, we are much less likely to embrace the opportunity to learn or change. Teachers who are introduced to new teaching practices may forgo implementation because they can't see the practice as working or because they can't see themselves mastering the new strategy.
Identity. Our deepest learning experiences usually challenge us to re-think "the stories we tell ourselves about who we are" (Stone & Heen, 2015, p. 23) and reconsider what kind of people we are, our efficacy, ethics, and overall place in the world. But we are resistant to any experience that causes us to re-evaluate what we think to be true about ourselves. It's much easier to just say no. "Learning about ourselves can be painful—sometimes brutally so," write Stone and Heen, "and the feedback is often delivered with a forehead-slapping lack of awareness for what makes people tick. It can feel less like a 'gift of learning' and more like a colonoscopy" (p. 7).
Hope (or, more precisely, its absence). Gallup Senior Researcher Shane Lopez (2013) summarizes a three-part process for hope, first identified by University of Kansas researcher Rick Snyder. To have hope we need goals, "pictures of the future [that] identify an idea of where we want to go, what we want to accomplish, who we want to be" (p. 24). Second, hope involves agency, our belief that we have control over our lives and that we can meet our goals. Finally, we need to have multiple ways of getting to the goal. Lopez suggests that when we lose hope, it is often because we lack one or more of these three factors. And when people do not have hope, the easiest place to go is the Zero-Learning Zone.
Fear. When I discussed the Zero-Learning Zone with colleagues, a word I heard frequently was fear. We might be afraid that we are going to embarrass ourselves or fail. This emotion also overlaps with the other Zero-Learning Zone factors. For example, we may fear the unknown impact that learning might have on our identity. A loss of self-efficacy. Confronting our own hopelessness and blind spots. You get the idea.
A well-known education researcher told me that he believes fear blocks learning when people embrace a partial answer to a challenge or problem, creating the illusion of a comprehensive solution. That "solution" can become so entwined with our identity that we seek out proof that our ideas work, rather than information that would help us learn. A partial, if flawed, solution can feel better than risk or uncertainty. But real learning only occurs when we confront our fears and move forward.

Getting Past Zero

Given the complexity of learning and our own flawed perceptions of ourselves, we shouldn't be surprised if we find ourselves in the Zero-Learning Zone. Ron Heifetz captured our predicament well in his book (with Marty Linsky) Leadership on the Line (2002) when he wrote about adaptive change, a particular form of deep learning:
Adaptive change stimulates resistance because it challenges people's habits, beliefs, and values. It asks them to take a loss, experience uncertainty, and even express disloyalty to people and cultures. Because adaptive change forces people to question and perhaps redefine aspects of their identity, it also challenges their sense of competence. Loss, disloyalty, and feeling incompetent: That's a lot to ask. No wonder people resist. (p. 30)
But while learning is challenging, perhaps even threatening, it is also essential. To live truly fulfilling lives, we need to be curious. Choosing not to learn is choosing intellectual impoverishment, something teachers cannot afford. Teaching is a learning profession, in part because each individual child is a unique learning opportunity, and also because to ensure students receive the learning they need and deserve, we need to keep striving to be better. What's more, if we expect our students to learn, we need to show that that we are learning.
Fortunately, there are many things we can do to move out of the Zero-Learning Zone. Here are a few:
Flip your perspective. One way to move forward as a learner is to gain a different perspective on how you lead and teach, or how your students learn. The easiest way to do this is to video record yourself doing something important, such as teaching a lesson. If you're not ready for video, try the audio record function on your phone. Interview students to hear their perspectives on your teaching. This will force you to see or hear things outside of your own perspective and, yes, learn.
When we act to get a different perspective on our actions, by looking at video or interviewing students, for example, we are intentionally stepping outside the Zero-Learning Zone. It takes courage to choose to learn, and real learning requires a real picture of reality that comes from flipping our perspective.
Create specific goals. Well-crafted goals can provide guideposts that nudge you out of your comfort zone. As Heidi Grant Halvorson (2012) says, "Taking the time to get specific and spell out exactly what you want to achieve removes the possibility of settling for less—of telling yourself that what you've done is good enough. It also makes the course of action you need to take much clearer" (p. 6). Our research on coaching at the Kansas Coaching Project at the University of Kansas identified five variables that make for effective goals. We summarize these variables as PEERS goals: Powerful, Easy to Achieve, Emotionally Compelling, Reachable and Student-Focused. Most frequently, the PEERS goals that teachers set are achievement-related (students can write a well-organized paragraph), engagement goals (students demonstrate that they have hope on weekly quick, informal assessments of their attitude), or behavior goals (transition time takes up less than 5 percent of class time).
Utilize design thinking. Design thinking is a methodology for creating and problem solving that applies the strategies of design to real-world challenges and opportunities. A teacher who applies design thinking to achieve a goal in her classroom might, for example, decide that she wants a higher level of engaged conversation during classroom dialogue. Taking the stance of a designer, she might identify the goal to be that 75 percent of students contribute high-level comments during classroom dialogue; try out and adapt various approaches to facilitating discussion, such as encouraging more active listening, using different questions or more provocative and relevant thinking prompts, providing more affirmation of students, or establishing clearly defined academic-discussion norms; gather data each time she tries out a different approach; make modifications based on the data; and continue to test and adapt until the goal is met.
One of the advantages of design thinking is that it reduces the stress and anxiety of attempting change without a framework, and therefore helps to push teachers out of the Zero-Learning Zone. Rather than trying to get things perfect the first time, teachers taking the design approach experiment, gather data (possibly through video), try again, and repeat, learning all the time.
Conduct a hope audit. As mentioned earlier, the three factors that are essential for hope are agency, goals, and pathways to the goals (Lopez, 2013). If we feel that we may be losing hope, we may find it useful to conduct an audit to see if we are coming up empty in one of those three areas. Ask yourself: Do I have a clear, specific goal? Do I have strategies I can use to hit the goal? Do I believe I can hit the goal? If your answer to any of these questions is "no," then you need to identify resources that can help you find hope and reach that goal.
A teacher who is starting to lose hope that all of his students will learn to write a well-organized paragraph can conduct a hope audit by first considering the goal: Has he clearly stated what a well-organized paragraph looks like? If not, perhaps he could create a checklist for what an effective paragraph should look like. Next, he could look at pathways: What strategies could he use to increase student success? Maybe he could have students self-assess their writing, work with partners, or look at more examples. Or the teacher could do more modeling or provide better feedback. Finally, he must consider agency: After implementing these changes, does he believe his students can improve? If not, what different strategies or goal adjustments need to change?
Keep it simple and targeted. Learning may seem overwhelming if we try to accomplish too much all at once. Choose one learning target and stick with it until it is accomplished. An excellent example of targeted learning was described on the now-defunct Teach TV web site in the United Kingdom. The video showed an elementary teacher explaining how each Friday she made a list of all the students in her class. For the students whose names she forgot or had to struggle to remember, she made notes about their unique strengths. The next week she took special care to think about the students she'd forgotten and reminded them and herself of their strengths so that she didn't forget those students the next Friday.
Treat yourself with compassion. Teachers are often harder on themselves than anyone else would ever be, and certainly harder on themselves than they would ever consider being with a friend. I believe educators need to be more compassionate toward themselves. Daniel Pink (2018) offers a simple way for doing that. He suggests that when we are disappointed by something we've done, we should write ourselves an email expressing compassion or understanding, imagining "what someone one who cares about you might say" (p. 143). When we step out of the Zero-Learning Zone we will have times when we screw up or experience fear. To keep learning, we need to adopt what Pink refers to as a "the converse corollary of the Golden Rule: … to treat [ourselves] as [we] would others" (p. 143).

Leading Our Own Learning

Teacher-led learning has great potential because we can influence and inspire students when we model our own learning. When we improve, we have greater impact on students' achievement and well-being. Additionally, when we lead our own learning, when we see more and learn how to act more effectively, our lives improve. Learning is our lifeblood, and we live better when we learn more.
To experience that learning, however, we need to step outside of the Zero-Learning Zone. We need to demonstrate the courage it takes to watch ourselves on video, interview students, experiment with prototypes and iterations, stay hopeful, draw on the resources that already exist, and forgive ourselves when things don't work out. What matters is that we intentionally keep learning. When we do, our children's lives will be better, and so will our own.

Guiding Questions

› Have you ever found yourself in the Zero-Learning Zone? What do you think was the cause of your stalled learning?

› What is one topic or subject that you'd like to learn more about? What steps can you take today to find out more about it?

› What opportunities can you and your colleagues take advantage of to see yourself and your teaching from a different perspective?

Gallup. (2016). First break all the rules. What the world's greatest managers do differently. New York: Gallup Press.

Halvorson, H. G. (2012). 9 things successful people do differently. Watertown, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.

Halvorson, H. G. (2015). No one understands you and what to do about it. Watertown, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.

Patterson, K., Grenny, J., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2008). Influencer: The power to change anything. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Pink, D. H. (2018). When: The scientific secrets of perfect timing. New York: Penguin.

Prochaska, J. O., Norcross, J. C., & DiClemente, C. C. (1994). Changing for good. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Stone, D., & Heen, S. (2015). Thanks for the feedback: The science and art of receiving feedback well. New York: Penguin.

Jim Knight is a founding senior partner of the Instructional Coaching Group (ICG) and a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. He has spent more than two decades studying professional learning, effective teaching, and instructional coaching.

Knight has written several books and his articles on instructional coaching have been included in publications such as The Journal of Staff Development, Principal Leadership, The School Administrator, and Teachers Teaching Teachers.

He directs Pathways to Success, a comprehensive, district-wide school reform project in the Topeka, Kansas, School District and leads the Intensive Instructional Coaching Institutes and the Teaching Learning Coaching annual conference.

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Individualized Education Plan

Here's How the COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Will Affect Education

Late this morning the U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act. The total tab is $2 trillion and includes direct payments to Americans, an expansion of unemployment insurance and billions in aid to large and small businesses. It also includes $13.5 billion for schools and lots of waiver power for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

According to Education Week, “the $13.5 billion earmarked for K-12 schools is included in the bill's Education Stabilization Fund, which also contains $14.25 billion for higher education and $3 billion for governors to use at their discretion to assist K-12 and higher education as they deal with the fallout from the virus.”

Here’s what you need to know about how CARES affects K-12 education.

Q: Is there any other money allocated for children?

A: Yes. The bill also includes:

  • $15.5 billion for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.
  • $8.8 billion for Child Nutrition Programs to help ensure students receive meals when school is not in session.
  • $3.5 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grants, which provide child-care subsidies to low-income families and can be used to augment state and local systems.
  • $750 million for Head Start early-education programs.
  • $100 million in Project SERV grants to help clean and disinfect schools, and provide support for mental health services and distance learning.
  • $69 million for schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education.
  • $5 million for health departments to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfecting schools and day-care facilities.

Q: What can the $13.5 billion—the money earmarked for K-12 education—be used for?

A: States can choose to use the money to provide students with one-on-one devices and internet connectivity, although the bill doesn’t include what advocates had urged, a $2 billion expansion of a funding stream called “E-Rate”  to ensure all students have access to online instruction.

Q: What’s up with the new waiver power bestowed on Betsy DeVos, which she has to respond to within 30 days?

A: The waivers already exercised by Secretary Devos have caused consternation from some, applause from others. For example, all states can apply to skip this year’s round of standardized testing, mandated by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and indeed they have.

Q: What other potential waivers are up for grabs?

A: There are three main categories: Accountability requirements outlined in ESSA, funding requirements, and special education waivers embedded in IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Regarding accountability, states (as well as the District of Columbia and Native American tribes) can ask for waivers for publicly reporting progress towards achievement goals, including high school graduation rates and academic growth for traditionally-marginalized students: Students with disabilities, low-income students, Black and Hispanic students, English Language Learners. As part of ESSA, schools are identified as “in need of improvement” if they don’t reach certain benchmarks. Now states can request waivers to freeze the status of individual schools for school year 2020-2021. If they do get the waivers, schools currently on the list would stay there and no new ones would be added.

Regarding mandated funding, states can get waivers to loosen restrictions on how they spend federal money streams, including tapping into federal funds that would normally be covered by state revenues. In addition, oversight of Title 1 schools (those with high concentrations of low-income students) would be loosened. States can ask for a waiver from the way they use Title IV funds, which prohibits spending more than 15% of this funding stream on technology and for adhering to ESSA’s mandates on teachers’ professional development.

Q: What’s going to be different with special education?

DeVos has far less leeway in providing waivers for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The first guidance issued on dealing with students with disabilities was confusing and contradictory. For example

If an LEA [Local Education Agency, i.e., school district] closes its schools to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19 and does not provide any educational services to the general student population, then an LEA would not be required to provide services to students with disabilities during that same period of time.

Some schools, fearful of litigation from parents charging non-compliance with IEP’s, decided to halt all instruction, including online learning, in order to avoid liability. But Devos then clarified the guidance with a do-over:

[The Office for Civil Rights] and [the Office for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services] must address a serious misunderstanding that has recently circulated within the educational community. As school districts nationwide take necessary steps to protect the health and safety of their students, many are moving to virtual or online education (distance instruction). Some educators, however, have been reluctant to provide any distance instruction because they believe that federal disability law presents insurmountable barriers to remote education. This is simply not true. We remind schools they should not opt to close or decline to provide distance instruction, at the expense of students, to address matters pertaining to services for students with disabilities. Rather, school systems must make local decisions that take into consideration the health, safety and well-being of all their students and staff.

What does all this verbiage mean? In short, districts have to do the best they can given circumstances that preclude physical, speech and occupational therapists providing in-person therapies or one-on-one aides sitting by a student’s side. Yet districts have to try their hardest to comply with IEP’s (Individualized Education Plans) while having the latitude to make changes in student programming, and they have to ensure that online learning tools are compatible with, say, augmented communication devices. (For more detail, see this excellent summary from jdsupra. Also, see this free webinar from the National Association of School Psychologists called “Wading through a Sea of Ambiguity: Charting a Course for Special Education Services During a Pandemic.”)

In addition, districts may have to provide compensatory services once schools reopen, although whether they will do so remains unclear (and, like much in special education, will depend on parent advocacy.

Parents and advocates of children with special needs have expressed concerns about these looser rules. The National Center for Youth Law just issued this statement

NCYL remains concerned about the provision tucked into the bill that grants US Education Secretary DeVos the power to recommend which civil rights for children with disabilities should be undermined, and for how long. We fear for the harm to children with disabilities that would result from waivers of their legal right to a free appropriate public education based on their individual needs. No waivers were needed when schools were closed due to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. The reality is: states and districts around the country are finding innovative ways to make education happen for all their students, including children with disabilities as best as possible under the circumstances. DeVos should not recommend, and Congress should not adopt, any waivers that would disincentivize this innovation by lessening schools’ obligations to serve all students, including students with disabilities.

Lindsay Jones, executive director of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, expressed concern about DeVos’ ability to waive portions of IDEA: “We're talking about waiving people's rights. These are rights that are in place because of the history of discrimination."

Yet, I suppose it could have been worse:

Be grateful for small favors and stay healthy!

Laura Waters

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Trump administration confirms climate change but won't act on it | Opinion

Joyce Wasserman
Guest columnist
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Lost among all the controversy swirling around the Kavanaugh confirmation was a story that would have gotten much more attention in a normal news cycle.

A 500-page environmental impact statement issued by the Trump administration concluded climate change will endanger our health, our homes, our food production, our coasts, our drinking water and more. The document stated that  “human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.”

The report affirmed that greenhouse gases such as CO2 (from coal) and methane (from natural gas) are prime contributors to global warming. The white paper predicted a seven-degree Fahrenheit rise in global temperatures by 2100.

Why is this important? Previously, Trump dismissed global warming. Now for the first time his administration has acknowledged that climate change will endanger our homes, our drinking water, our security and our food supply.

Taking cues from this report, voters and members of Congress from across the political spectrum should be on the same page. Everyone, Republicans and Democrats, should be concerned and looking for solutions to this dire threat.

We have a right to expect  the government to find solutions that will protect our welfare. None is forthcoming from the Trump administration. Rather, Trump has set in policies which will only worsen the problem.

Joyce Wasserman

He has encouraged the use of coal for generating power.  He has rolled back support for the development of clean energy. He has reversed rules that would have increased auto efficiency and reduced pollutants.  The Trump administration sees no hope in changing the trajectory of climate change and uses this as a reason to encourage even more greenhouse gas emissions. He thinks we do not have and cannot develop the technology to move away from bad fuels. He does not have faith in our leadership or our businesses to solve problems. The energy policies of this administration can be equated to a doctor telling a patient with emphysema to keep smoking, its not going to harm you.

Fortunately, others see solutions. Citizens Climate Lobby and the Climate Leadership Council know there are ways to reverse the current trend. Both of these groups lobby for passage of legislation with three parts.

First, put a gradually increasing fee on carbon payed for by the producers of fossil fuels. Next, return that money to every American household. This will grow the economy, put money in peoples pockets and send a price signal to business that they will give them the incentive to invest in research, and development of new technologies. Lastly there needs to be a border tariff on any foreign goods that come into the country from countries that do not have a price on carbon.

How fast we turn the situation around depends what price we add to carbon. For instance a fee of $15 a year, with $10 increases per year, would reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 52 percent below 1990 levels within 20 years. When returned to American households it would grow the economy and put money in voters' pockets.

Canada has already put in place legislation that taxes CO2 at the mine and the wellhead and rebates the money collected to its citizens and local governments.

Climate change is a big challenge. Solving it will require bold, broad and impactful solutions. We met big challenges before. We undid tyranny when we fought for our independence. We undid evil and fascism when we fought in World War II. We did the impossible when we put people on the moon. We have built a great nation. We can undo climate change if we work together and with a sense of urgency.

Undoing climate change will take people in government with a can-do attitude. Has the candidate you are thinking of voting for come out with a strong statement indicating that climate change needs to be addressed? Be a climate concern voter now; protect the future for ourselves and our children.

Joyce Wasserman of Cocoa Beach is co-leader of the Space Coast Chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby.

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The size of the cabinet should be as big as governmental work justifies and as big as the Prime Minister can manage as a team. How far the efficacy of a government then is inversely related to the size of the cabinet? Discuss.

Article 72 of the Constitution of India states that the total number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers must not exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Lok Sabha. Though there is a maximum limit, there is no minimum number of ministers who must be part of the Cabinet.

The size of the Cabinet is dependent on a variety of factors like political compulsions, representation of various factions, mode of functioning of the Prime ministerial candidate, experience and capabilities of ministers etc. In some situations like formation of a coalition government, it is inevitable that the Cabinet be relatively large so that all the parties that form the coalition are represented. While a reasonable sized Cabinet proves effectual due to splitting of and equal sharing of responsibilities, a large Cabinet results in chaos.  There are only a limited number of ministries for the Ministers to oversee, and it would be a classic case of too many cooks spoiling the broth if too many ministers are put in charge of smaller ministries. There would be overlap of duties, and differences between the different ministries, overcoming which will be a challenge in itself. These issues will occur even if there is a very capable Prime Minister, and  hence, must be avoided.

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Basic's of Day Trading

Day trading usually refers to the practice of buying and selling a security during one trading day. This can happen in any market, but mostly in the foreign exchange (forex) and stock markets. Day traders are usually trained and well funded. They use high-volume leverage and short-term trading strategies to take advantage of the small price movements that occur with more liquid stocks than currencies.
Day traders agree to events that cause short market movements. News-based trading is a popular technique. Planned announcements, such as economic statistics, business profits and interest rates, are subject to market expectations and market psychology. Markets react when expectations are not met or exceeded - often by sudden, significant movements - which can benefit daily traders a lot.Day traders use many intraday strategies. These strategies include:-

Scalping: This strategy seeks to make many small profits with small price changes during the day.
Range trading: This strategy primarily uses levels of support and resistance to make decisions and sell.
News-Based Trading: This strategy often takes advantage of trading opportunities with increasing volatility around news events.
High-Frequency Trading (HFT): These strategies use sophisticated algorithms to take advantage of small or short-term market inefficiencies

Sufficient Capital:-

Day traders only use venture capital that they can lose. This will not only protect them from financial damage, but will also help dispel the emotions of their business. A large amount of capital is always needed to make effective use of intraday price movements. Access to sufficient capital is very important, as most day traders use a high level of leverage on margin accounts and rapid market changes can cause major margin challenges.

Short Strategy:-

The trader needs to look into the rest of the market. Day traders use many different strategies, including swing trading, arbitrage and news trading. They refine these strategies until they can achieve consistent profits and effectively reduce losses.
Disintegration strategy
Type Reward for risk
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Arbitrage Low Medium
Business News Medium Medium
Mergers / Acquisitions of Medium High notice

Risks of Daily Trading:-

For the average investor, daily trading can be a daunting task due to the number of risks involved. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) highlights some of the risks of day-to-day trading, which are summarized below:
Be prepared to suffer a great financial loss: Because day traders often suffer severe financial losses in the first months of trading and many of them never make a profit, they only need to risk the money they can lose.
Day trading is extremely stressful and expensive full-time work: Day trading is very tricky when you look at a few quotes and price fluctuations to see the desired market trends and high concentration. Day traders also have high costs, often paying large amounts of commissions, training and computers to their companies.
Day traders rely heavily on borrowing money: Day trading strategies leverage borrowed money to make a profit, so many aders not only lose all their money but also get into debt. Don't believe the quick profit claims: Look for "hot tips" and "expert advice" from newsletters and websites that care for day traders, and keep in mind that training seminars and lessons on day trading can be unintentional.
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Basel, 28 April 2022

CITROFOL® – bio-based solutions for biopolymers

Jungbunzlauer’s CITROFOL® (citric acid esters) types are characterised by their safe toxicological attributes like non-carcinogenic, non-irritating, non-sensitising, GMO-free (genetic modified organisms) and non-VOC (volatile organic compounds).

All CITROFOL® types are colour- and odourless liquids of low viscosity and compatible with various synthetic polymers as well as with biopolymers. They are modifying softness, elasticity or tear strength depending on the used dosage. Appropriate biopolymers in combination with CITROFOL® are polymers derived from cellulose (e.g. nitro cellulose, cellulose diacetate), polylactic acid (PLA), poly hydroxy alcanoate (PHA), thermoplastic starch (TPS), poly butylene succinate (PBS) or blends thereof.

CITROFOL® BII (tributyl o-acetyl citrate) is the most common grade and is traditionally used as replacement for fossil based plasticisers  in synthetic polymers (e.g. polyvinyl chloride, acrylics, polyurethane) for sensitive applications like medical devices, food packaging or toys in the past, but as well in consumer goods like for example wallpaper and flooring nowadays.

The use of CITROFOL® BII in biopolymers is another scope of application, which not just recently has started. Due to its physical liquid state CITROFOL® BII can be blend easily with polymers and improves their processing, as citric acid esters contributes qualities as lubricant. This lead to a better melt flow and improves extrusion and injection moulding processes. Here can be mentioned the processing of PHA, where the difference between melting and decomposition temperature is showing a small gap only. The use of CITROFOL® BII is widening the processing window and is making the processing much more safe and stable, which means reducing or avoiding heat effects like discolouration.

Beside the safe and bio-based attributes CITROFOL® BII shows the inherent property of compostability according to DIN EN 13432 respectively ASTM D6400, it will be decomposed into carbon dioxide and water without contaminating soil or water or causing questionable emissions. This functionality is of high importance for biopolymer applications, where fossil plastic can’t be collected without leaving behind microplastics, like agricultural mulch film, vegetable pots or garbage bags for bio-waste collection.

At Jungbunzlauer we recognise our responsibility for exercising sustainable principles in all our manufacturing operations.  To underline the importance of our aspiration to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Jungbunzlauer has committed to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) and we are in the process of setting ambitious emission reduction goals in line with the Paris Agreement. At Jungbunzlauer we are convinced it is important and mandatory to be aware of our responsibility towards the environment and to work together proactively for a more sustainable future.


Reddit user reverse-engineers what they believe is Apple's solution to flag child sex abuse

Earlier this month, Apple announced that it is introducing new child safety features for its entire ecosystem. As a part of this effort, the Cupertino firm is going to scan the contents of iCloud and the Messages app using on-device machine learning to detect Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Despite clarifications that the app won't be used to violate privacy or be exploited for accessing one's messages and photographs, the announcement drew substantial dissension from the tech world and the public at large. Following the criticism, Apple released a six-page document outlining its modus operandi on combating CSAM with on-device machine learning coupled with an algorithm dubbed NeuralHash.

Apple has further stated that its CSAM-detection module is under development and that it will only scan images that have been flagged as problematic across multiple countries.

Nevertheless, in the latest developments, a curious Reddit user who goes by the tag u/AsuharietYgvar, grokked into Apple's hidden APIs and performed what they believe is a reverse-engineering of the NeuralHash algorithm. Surprisingly, they found that this algorithm existed in the Apple ecosystem as early as iOS 14.3. That might raise some eyebrows since the entire CSAM episode is a relatively recent development, but u/AsuharietYgvar clarified that they have good reason to believe that their findings are legitimate.

Firstly, they discovered that the model's files all have the NeuralHashv3b prefix attached to them. This follows the nomenclature in Apple's six-pager. Secondly, they noticed that uncovered source code used the same procedure for synthesizing hashes as the one that was outlined in Apple's document. Thirdly, Apple claims that their hashing scheme creates hashes nearly independent of the resizing and compression of the image, which is what the Reddit user found in the source code as well, further cementing their belief that they had indeed uncovered NeuralHash hidden deep in the source code.

Three pictures showing the differences between hashes Cropping resizing does not change the hash
Apple's document showing the expected behavior of hashes across an array of images

The Reddit user has released their findings on this GitHub repository. While they did not publicize the exported model's files, they did outline a procedure for extracting the model and converting it to a deployable ONNX runtime format yourself. After exporting the model, they test-ran its inference and gave it a sample image against which the hashes were generated.

Usage of the exported model and produced hashes for an image

As can be seen in the screenshot above, they've provided hashes for the same image on different devices. The hashes are the same across the devices, barring a few bits, which is expected behavior, according to the Reddit user, as NeuralHash would work with floating-point calculations whose accuracy depends heavily on the hardware. It is likely that Apple will accommodate these off-by-a-few-bits differences in their subsequent database-matching algorithm, they added.

The Reddit user believes that this is a good time to poke into the workings of NeuralHash and its corollaries for user privacy. If you are interested in checking it out and exploring the details further, you may refer to this GitHub repository. Prerequisites, compilation, and usage steps are detailed therein.

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What to Expect in Mental Health Therapy

Make the Most of Your Treatment

Do you feel like you just need to talk to someone?

During psychotherapy, sometimes called talk therapy, you can speak with a trained professional in a confidential and protected setting. Your therapist can help you explore and understand feelings, trauma, and other aspects of your emotional and mental health.

Learn how to get started and what to expect to make the most of your therapy.

Find a Fit

If you are unsure where to start in your search for a mental health professional, consult your primary care physician for a potential referral or recommendation. You should always choose an educated and licensed mental health provider. Many professionals meet these qualifications.

  • Psychiatrists are licensed physicians with psychiatric training. They can provide therapy, diagnose mental health conditions, and prescribe and monitor medications.
  • Psychologists hold a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or another applicable specialty. They can make diagnoses, and provide both individual and group therapy.
  • Licensed counselors, clinicians and therapists who hold master's degrees are trained to evaluate your mental health and use therapeutic techniques for treatment.
  • Clinical social workers are trained to evaluate your mental health and use therapeutic techniques based on specific training programs. They are also trained in case management and advocacy services.

No matter which type of professional you end up choosing, you should work with someone you feel comfortable with. It's all about finding the right fit, says Sheehan D. Fisher, PhD, a psychologist at Northwestern Medicine. For example, you might prefer to talk with someone of a certain gender identity, sexuality or race.

If it is not a good fit, move on to someone else.

"Therapy is a place where you can lay out all the cards on the table to help improve your life," he says. "It's important to choose a therapist who you think will help you heal and grow rather than to just serve as a means of encouragement."

In the Room (or on the Screen)

In therapy, you will often work in a conversation format, with the conversation led by your mental health provider. Through this, you will touch on past and current experiences, feelings, thoughts, relationships, problems and more.

Your provider can then make connections and share insights about you, your life and your emotional well-being. Depending on the findings, they might also recommend exploring different therapy options.

Dr. Fisher says that making the most out of each therapy session means you must be vulnerable and honest as well as open to new ways of thinking.

"If you are doubtful of therapy, I ask you to let go of that doubt," he says. "You get out of it what you put in."

It is also important to understand your goals, such as healing from a trauma or practicing a more mindful life, says Dr. Fisher.

After the Session

One of the most important aspects of therapy is what occurs outside of the session.

First, you might experience emotional exhaustion at times. Dr. Fisher says that is not only normal but a sign that you are putting in the right effort.

"It's almost like getting a massage," he explains. "You might be sore, but that means it's working."

Remember that you need to be invested in your well-being at all times, not just when you have a session. Your job is to take what you learn in therapy and bring those insights into your daily life.

If You Need Help Now

Therapy can be a valuable way to regularly support your mental health, but always keep in mind that if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.


Insulator Journeyperson-0903

NSC Technologies is currently hiring a Marine Insulator in Norfolk, Virginia. The ideal candidate must have a minimum of 5- 10 years of experience as a Marine Insulator with knowledge of NAVSRA Standards.

Essential Job Functions:

This position is responsible for performing, with minimal supervision, the installation and removal of insulation of any component onboard ships. A journeyman measures, cuts and fabricates materials for insulation application to bulkheads, overheads, piping, ducts, machinery, and equipment to minimize heat transfer, prevent moisture condensation, and to deaden sound. Wok is accomplished in all phases of ship repair and modernization of maritime vessels including US Naval Vessels, Military Sealift Command, and commercial ships and barges. The position requires a working knowledge of procedures, comprehensive knowledge of the insulation craft and the drive to accomplish quality work on schedule. The qualifications and general capabilities listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability desired by the shipyard.

1. Must be able to comprehend instructions, drawings, and general correspondence.
2. Musty have a comprehensive understanding of ship repair terminology and ship compartment location nomenclature.
3. Must be physically and medically capable of wearing all required personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the job as prescribed under OSHA standards. PPE includes hard hat, safety glasses, steel toe shoes, goggles, respirator, safety harness, safety line, flotation gear, etc.)
4. Must be able to write Condition Found Reports (CFR) describing the material condition of the ship as it pertains to the assigned work item, and provide recommended corrective action.
5. Must be able to effectively confer job related information to the supervisor, improvers, and helper.
6. Must have experience applying hullboard, Armaflex, Cal-sil, ventilation insulation, and insulation pads.
7. Must have experience fabricating insulation pads.
8. Must have experience using hand and power tools associated with the trade in a safe manner.
9. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, and decimals using US customary measurement system.
10. Must possess a basic understanding of the metric system.
11. Six (6) years of related experience, three (3) of which must be in the maritime environment.

1. Must comply with OSHA standards and BAE best safety practices.
2. Must arrive at the designated work site at the assigned time and end the shift as directed by the supervisor.
3. Work shifts and overtime as assigned.
4. Must keeping the work area clean and safe at all times, especially at the end of the shift.
5. Understand relevant work processes, operation of equipment, and complete tasks proficiently.
6. Complete daily work assignments and provide status of unfinished work for shift turnover.
7. Use appropriate sections of NAVSEA, ABS, Coast Guard standards and manufacturers tech manuals required to accomplish the insulation task.
8. Provide guidance to Improvers and Helpers.
9. Provide Objective Quality Evidence (OQE) as required by the work specifications or assigned by the supervisor.
10. Comply with the Companys Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy which expects that all relationships among persons in the workplace will be businesslike and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment.
11. Carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Resolve unexpected events related to your assigned task in a professional manner.
12. Work Tasks Include:
a. Prepare the work area to create a safe work environment.
b. Remove insulation and lagging as required by the specification or as directed by the supervisor.
c. Cut to size and install all types of structural and piping insulation.
d. Direct and monitor the activities of assigned Helpers and Improvers.
e. Remove all insulation and lagging remnants from the ship.
f. Run and remove lines and leads as required to accomplish work and in accordance with OSHA and BAE safety standards.
g. Accomplish Lock-out Tag-out for work being performed.

The working environment in the shipyard varies from a normal office conditions to working outside where precipitation, wind, extreme cold, and extreme heat and high humidity are not unusual. When working inside of vessels the environment may be smoky, hot or cold, and have low levels of illumination may be present.
There are heavy equipment and power tools operating almost at every location. Depending on the type of work available, reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job requirements.
Personnel can expect to work in a variety of spaces from confined areas accessible only by manholes to high platforms accessible only by scaffolding or ladders. Work may also be accomplished using mechanical lifts as working platforms.
The noise level in the shipyard environment is usually loud, especially inside of vessels. The noise encountered in the shop is generally low to moderate. The wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment is mandatory.
There is always the potential of falling objects and personnel are occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts during work. Appropriate PPE must always be worn.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Must be able to tour all vessels, piers, docks and work sites.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and talk or hear.
The employee is occasionally required to sit.

SPECIFIC PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: May be required to demonstrate any or all requirements.
1. Lift/push/pull 50 lbs to 100 lbs on an occasional basis (0-33% of the day).
2. Lift/push/pull up to 20 lbs on a frequent basis (34-66% of the day).
3. Perform prolonged standing (2-3 hours). Bend, squat crouch, crawl and kneel.
4. Climb in a safe manner (climbing, includes stairs, scaffolding, ladders and ramps).
5. Work at a variety of levels and positions (ex. Waist, eye, above head).
6. Good balance while working on uneven surfaces and maneuvering obstacles.
7. Sufficient handgrip and coordination to carry and operate tools and equipment.
8. Access work areas through 18 x 36 openings and work in confined spaces for prolonged periods of time (33-66% of the day).
9. Respond to visual, verbal, and audible sounds/commands.
10. Work at heights above 12 from ladders, scaffolding, and manlifts.
11. Fully extend the arm while reaching overhead, reaching out, reaching to the side and reaching down.
12. Perceive attributes of an object/material such as size, shape, temperature and texture by means of receptors in the hands and fingers.
13. Turn head from side to side and about on the vertical axis. Turn body at the waist from side to side and about the vertical axis.

Company Overview

NSC is an innovative staffing firm specializing in placing qualified, skilled, technical, and professional talent in virtually any market. We are experts in creating custom staffing solutions that fit the needs of any size business. Our meticulous dedication to Quality and Safety is a testament to our success.

NSC Technologies offers :

             Competitive pay

             Direct deposit or Global Cash Card

             Long term job opportunities

             Referral bonus if you qualify

             OSHA Training

NSC Technologies is dedicated to being the most trusted provider of innovative staffing solutions servicing the global Marine, Energy, Commercial and Industrial marketplace. We achieve long-term, meaningful relationships by exceeding customer expectations and enhancing the quality of life for our employees. NSC Technologies is committed to community service and stewardship of customer resources.

NSC Technologies is a drug-free company. NSC is an EOE AA/M/F/V/D