Bouncing back and forth between narrative and abstraction seems to be the norm for me. Right now I'm fully invested in my narrative project but sometimes I have to take a break and just get a little weird. Through The Pandemic Fog And Still At A Loss For Words, HD 3:40 will premiere at the 47th Annual Members Show at Hallwalls, opening July 16th and running through August 27th. Below are a few stills from the piece. It's definitely a divergence from my past work but feels oddly good and right too.

0 views0 comments

So here we go again, another brief exploration of small discoveries while wading through the detritus of the creative process.

I had a second dream of floods ravishing my surroundings, just as real as my last one, but this one quickly faded before I could write it all down. I remember seeing what started as a small trickle flowing by me turning into a roaring wall of fast-moving water higher than my head, but I can no longer recall anything more. I’ve decided to interpret this as a need to move more quickly. Of course, I haven’t been moving quickly, no surprise there, you’re probably expecting this familiar declaration somewhere in my post. My last posting for the project was back in March, the set walls constructed and primed in January left me with the puzzle of a door that must not look like a door while also being closed from the inside. I’m happy to say this problem was solved, but the walls remained white until June. They waited patiently to become something else, to come alive with color and texture to become a character within the film, a re-enforcer of implied truths. That’s likely too much expectation to put on some walls, but not these particular ones. They have a job to do.

I enjoy telling stories that are grounded in a given truth and believability, even if that story is of a fantastical nature, and I have always enjoyed the very physical and hands-on process of world building including the construction of environments where this truth can unfold. My fear (and that is a bit of hyperbole) is that if I don’t get it right then the story I am telling will be hampered by the amateurishness of the production and design. This is a concern to be sure, but its’ not unique to me. It’s a concern of all who create in some fashion, especially those trying something new or exploring unfamiliar ideas. Do I have the skills I need to make my vision a reality? Yes, great then get to work. No, OK what am I going to do about it? Maybe, then the only way to know is to try. That’s the step off the precipice, and sometimes every step on this project feels like a precipice.

The interesting thing is, that gut punch of taking the next step into the unknown, which makes the process scary, can also be what makes it so much fun and rich with opportunities to learn something new. This coming academic year will be my seventeenth year teaching and I see many students wrestle with similar feelings as they begin production on a project or as they enter into the editing phase. This is one of the reasons why I've been posting about my process. That empty timeline waiting for the first shot to be placed can be a difficult thing to look at, like a painter's blank canvas. It can cause acute anxiety for some, especially those who don’t have a lot of experience with the medium, and that’s OK because it provides a learning experience and challenge to face and learn from. Like a painter using a ground to help make that first brushstroke easier, sometimes it helps to simply lay down some footage. I’m not talking about a string-out, all your shots or a set of given shots all laid down in a sequence, this can work to help make that first step but I find putting together a few shots that I know will not be part of the beginning of the film a good way to begin, more like a sketch of an edit, knowing full well that ultimately those edits may not survive, the scene may not even survive but if I can begin to process the images as some semblance of the story I want to tell, then some of that doubt is alleviated and the process can go forward. I did this on Soulmaker. I picked a closeup shot of the Soulmaker’s eyes, the nautilus shell reflected in his glasses. Bob Roberts’ eyes blinked during this one particular take, a quick double flutter of his eyelids. As I watched this take, I grabbed a random audio field recording, something that I assumed would eventually be part of the atmospheric sound design for this scene and placed the sound under the video. By pure coincidence it lined up perfectly. The sound had a quick double percussive beat creating a moment much like when a child’s eyes blink each time a hammer strikes its target. It's a subtle moment that I believe most people do not notice but it is a precious moment for me. I got lucky, but that luck wouldn’t have manifested if I had not been able to simply take that step.

Too many students are paralyzed by taking that step. There are many reasons why they might struggle with this, each dragging their personal history along for the creative adventure, sometimes with amazing results, but for those who internalize those doubts and fears it can be a painful experience. This is why I try to provide that assurance when taking that first step. It doesn’t matter what it looks like, it just matters that you do it. Nothing is set in stone, and even things set in stone can be changed, worn down, chiselled away or even simply tossed out. There are plenty of stones to etch our ideas upon. Sometimes the best thing that can happen for a student is that they lose their project entirely. It might become corrupted or they haven’t backed it up properly or more than likely they just haven’t practiced good and proper file organization which is so important to maintaining a working project. At that point they are forced to start over. They often agonize over this, thinking of all the work that they have done and the time that it took, but when they start to rebuild they realize how much easier it is. They start to understand that they’ve been building a collection of decisions and thought processes along the way while also developing their technical skills. They are often emboldened by how quickly they can get back to where they were before they lost everything and the work is often stronger for it.

And that leads me back to my white walls. Finally with some time and my own small leap of faith I started painting the walls. The first coat was an ugly brown. I knew it was just a ground, a base that would be covered but it was still a bit concerning. It was flat, dark and dull, but sometimes you have to make something ugly before it can be beautiful, which of course is in the eye of the beholder. I began tentatively adding texture, testing different weathering techniques and that’s where two things happened, my wife found just the right critical but helpful thing to say to jump start the process and then the lesson of my dream came clear - move quickly. Moving quickly was the best way to make this next step work. Building layers, scrapping layers off, adding textures, scrubbing them off, pushing and pulling the surface. Not worrying about the minutia. Get in, step back, evaluate and press on. The process continues. What is posted here is still very much a work in progress, but it is progress.

A lot of makers, SPFX artists, builders of worlds, model makers, cosplay enthusiasts will tell you that the concept of weathering is their favorite part of their process. It is certainly one of the most exciting parts for me too. Coaxing out of nothing a history, backstory and psychological underpinning of the spaces and objects in a created space is a fantastic experience. Successfully creating a believable truth through illusionary tactics is what the filmmaking process is about, and I have a feeling there will be more to say on verisimilitude in future posts.

I know I have to remind myself this regularly, but the precipice that we are so afraid to step off of is often not really a precipice at all. It's simply a step, and most likely there will be another step to catch you as you fall. It's called a stairway and the cool thing about a stairway is that it typically leads you to where you want to go.

If faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, then it seems that neither can be had without action on our part, of taking that first leap (or step) of faith. The creative process is all about faith. Have a little and by having a little, do a little who knows where it will take you.

0 views0 comments

Lately I've been stuck. Stuck on a detail that is no small thing and yet, is certainly less consequential than I probably think it is. How do I close the exit of my set from the inside? I'm trying to box myself in, to seal the set's doorless room from within while making sure that the illusion of a room with no egress is complete, I want no sign of the outside world seeping through possible cracks. This would be easy to accomplish from the outside or at least easier, but I need to be on the set, in the room to make this film.

I think I've figured it out. It seemed like a throwaway concern at the beginning and it would have never been a concern at all if the set was created in a more "normal" or traditional manner but that's now this project is going. I'm happy with my solution in theory and putting that theory to test has revealed something.

Tolerance is an important consideration but exact tolerances can sometimes lead to more harm than good. I've built this portion of the set, the alcove with some fairly tight tolerances. The slotting mechanism I've created to slide and pull the alcove walls into the rest of the set are tight enough to hold the walls firmly but not without struggle and now it seems to the impediment of bringing the parts together and even more so in taking them back out when it is time return to the "normal" world. So now I find myself considering how much is too much, how little it too little. I'm finding that if I had loosened my tolerance just a bit maybe it would have worked more smoothly from the beginning. Now I find myself trying to lessen wall thicknesses without removing too much - too much and it does not stay in place, Too little and it doesn't move easily enough. My walls have a Goldilocks problem. I'm trying to find the just right.

In the real world there isn't much that is just right. Life is more of a pendulum, with the sway from good to bad and easy to difficult. The funny thing is that these swings from one side to another are never evenly balanced. Often it feels like the stretch of momentum that moves towards or away from those negative experiences seems to be moving through a thick morass while those swings in the positive side of the arc seem to be aided by a slipstream moving us at unexpected speeds, and it is only when the pendulum begins to draw towards the middle are we even able to see what lies behind us and before us. Only then does the force of the swing lessen enough for us to truly see and appreciate all sides of the experience.

Lately I've had my share of the morass, we all have, but I've also had my fun in the slipstream as well. The old adage "it was so close I could almost reach out and touch it" comes to mind. I've been close on a lot of goals and desires recently. That joy while short lived always invigorates me. This project is another great example. There are times when I walk through the set everyday only because I have to do so to get to other things that need my attention. It is an in-my-face reminder of what still needs to be done, but there are other days where I'm riding the slipstream, where things are coming together where a skeleton of one-by's becomes an old plaster and lathe wall. Where a floor comes to life in its stillness below my feet. I hardly realize these moments and experiences though until I reach the center of the pendulum swing. It's at that point that I write. With perspective and insight. Much like today.

No pictures of the alcove in this post. No examinations of the too tight tolerances to share, but peace knowing that the pendulum will continue to swing between the extremes, and that where ever we find ourselves on the big arc we're still moving and there's always good that can come from that.

0 views0 comments


With God in Russia

10-24-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

Well known for his heroic story of surviving 24 years in Russian prison camps, this film about the great Jesuit Fr. Walter Ciszek traces his incredible endurance and struggle for survival. It highlights his tremendous faith in God, and the remarkable impact his life has had on the resurgence of Catholicism in Russia, as seen with on location footage from around the world.

St. John Paul the Great by Jason Evert

10-17-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

Discover the five great loves of Pope Saint John Paul II as Jason Evert, renowned Catholic speaker and author, shares remarkable stories about this saint's life from those who knew him, including bishops, students whom he taught, and Swiss Guards who interacted with him daily. Jason presents a wealth of insights about this holy man who promoted devotion to Divine Mercy and Marian consecration, helped defeat communism in Europe, wrote the Theology of the Body, and embraced young people like no other.

John XXIII: The Pope of Peace / Saint Teresa of Avila: A true Reformer

10-10-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

John XXIII: The Pope of Peace

This movie tells the whole life story of John XXIII from his youth through his young priesthood, episcopacy, life as a cardinal, and eventually his life as Pope. Elected supposedly as an "interim Pope" who would just keep the status quo and listen to the advisers around him, John XXIII proved to be his own man when he surprised the Church and wolrd by calling for the Second Vatican Council

Saint Teresa of Avila: A True Reformer by Christopher Blum

Dr. Christopher Blum unfolds the inspiring life of St. Teresa and her important role in the Catholic Reformation. After having already been a nun for twenty years, she had a radical transformation in her own life and then became one of the most powerful forces for bringing about conversion and positive change in the history of the Church. Listen and learn about this Mystic, Doctor of the Church, and True Reformer.

Clare and Francis

10-03-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

This outstanding movie is unique among films about St. Francis because of the historical accuracy of the story and its authentic spirit of joy and piety so characteristic of Francis, as well as the major role played by Clare, who is given equal stature with him. Both found major religious orders, and together they inspire many to follow their radical call to live the Gospel. Their impact has reached across the centuries to change the world.

The Sacrament of Penance

09-19-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

Speaking on reconciliation, Fr. William Casey, Superior General of the Fathers of Mercy, reminds us that confession, the forgotten Sacrament, is the ordinary means for the forgiveness of mortal sins after baptism and a veritable treasury of graces and spiritual strength for us in our daily struggles against temptation and sin. Discover how this Sacrament can transform your life if you allow it!

The Saints and Heroes Collection - For the Kids!

09-12-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

Who do your children look up to? Give them some real heroes with The Saints and Heroes Collection. The Stories of real-life Saints and Christian Heroes all come to life in CCC of America's award-winning animated film series. Featuring authentic role models today's child can truly believe in.

Loving and Serving the Poor

09-05-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

How do we view those less fortunate than us? How do we love them, serve them, and help them encounter Christ? These questions are challenging, and honestly, much easier to avoid by dropping a few dollars into a special collection for the poor. While this act is generous, Christ calls us to so much more: a life fully alive in service to others.

Let Franciscan friar Fr. Mark Mary Ames, CFR be your guide to clarity around this challenging topic with stories, ideas, strategies, and challenges for Catholics of every background. His course will truly transform your mind, heart, and life as a disciple on mission and as a Christian in service to others.

Restless Heart

08-22-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

Filmed in Europe, this first full-length feature movie on St. Augustine uses a historic backdrop to tell the true story of one of the Church's most beloved and well-known saints. Its message of sin, conversion, and redemption is as timely today as it was in the fifth century. It is the story of a gifted man who pursues fame and fortune without a moral compass—and the dramatic changes that occur in his soul when challenging events lead him to see the light of truth. It also chronicles the collapse of the Roman world and how Augustine laid the intellectual foundations of what would later become Europe. Alongside Augustine, the stories of two other great saints, Monica and Ambrose, are also portrayed.

The Wealth of Poverty

08-15-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

What is the true meaning of "to be rich?"

This mini-documentary created from interviews and footage, examines the question of where true wealth lies and celebrates the life St. Francis of Assisi and his dedication to the poor.

The Early Christians

08-08-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

How did the religion of Love survive paganism and barbarianism? The Empire persecuted the Christians and was eventually converted. The Barbarians sacked Rome, but were converted too. How did the religion of Love manage to survive against paganism and barbarianism? How did the first Christians live? Who were their most terrible enemies: idols, lions, Jews... or heretics? How did they defend their faith? How did they propagate it? The blood of the martyrs was the seed for new Christians. But after the persecutions of the Romans and the barbarian invasions came another grave danger for the new religion: heresies... They would not be lethal. On the contrary, they provided the opportunity to define the essential truths of Christian faith, consolidating the roots of a millennial Church. This in-depth new film series produced in Europe explores this amazing story of the witness of the early Christians and the spread of Christianity.

Solanus Casey: Priest, Porter, Prophet

08-01-2021Formed Suggestion of the Week

This extraordinary film explores the heroic life of a remarkable, modern-day mystic, Father Solanus Casey, who was relegated to doing little more than being a simple doorman in his monastery. But God would transform the role his superiors assigned him, appointing it a far greater significance to be continued even beyond his earthly life: that of prophet, healer, and intercessor.


Team travel policy

Team Travel Policy for Maryland Suburban Swim Club

Purpose: Athletes are most vulnerable to misconduct during travel, particularly overnight stays. This includes a high risk of athlete-to-athlete misconduct. During travel, athletes are often away from their families and support networks, and the setting – new changing areas, locker rooms, workout facilities, automobiles and hotel rooms – is less structured and less familiar.

Team Travel is defined as overnight travel to a swim meet or other team activity that is planned and supervised by the club or LSC.

Section 1 - USA Swimming Required Policies

Club and LSC travel policies must include these policies. These items are Code of Conduct stipulations in the USA Swimming Rulebook.

  1. Club travel policies must be signed and agreed to by all athletes, parents, coaches and other adults traveling with the club. (305.5.D)
  2. Team managers and chaperones must be members of USA Swimming and have successfully passed a USA Swimming-administered criminal background check. (305.5.B)
  3. Regardless of gender, a coach shall not share a hotel room or other sleeping

arrangement with an athlete (unless the coach is the parent, guardian, sibling, or spouse of that particular athlete). (305.5.A)

  1. When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, the athlete must have his/her parents’ (or legal guardian’s) written permission in advance to travel alone with the coach. (305.5C)

Section 2 - Recommended Policies

  1. During team travel, when doing room checks, attending team meetings and/or other activities, two-deep leadership and open and observable environments should be maintained.
  2. Athletes should not ride in a coach’s vehicle without another adult present who is the same gender as the athlete, unless prior parental permission is obtained.
  3. During overnight team travel, if athletes are paired with other athletes they shall be of the same gender and should be a similar age. Where athletes are age 13 & over, chaperones and/or team managers would ideally stay in nearby rooms. When athletes are age 12 & under, chaperones and/or team managers may stay with athletes. Where chaperones/team managers are staying in a room with athletes, they should be the same gender as the athlete and written consent should be given by athlete’s parents (or legal guardian).
  4. When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, at the competition the coach and athlete should attempt to establish a “buddy” club to associate with during the competition and when away from the venue.
  5. To ensure the propriety of the athletes and to protect the staff, there will be no male athletes in female athlete’s rooms and no female athletes in male athlete’s rooms (unless the other athlete is a sibling or spouse of that particular athlete).
  6. A copy of the Club Code of Conduct must be signed by the athlete and his/her parent or legal guardian.
  7. Team or LSC officials should obtain a signed Liability Release and/or Indemnification Form for each athlete.
  8. Team or LSC officials should carry a signed Medical Consent or Authorization to Treat Form for each athlete.
  9. Curfews shall be established by the team or LSC staff each day of the trip.
  10. Team members and staff traveling with the team will attend all team functions including meetings, practices, meals, meet sessions, etc. unless otherwise excused or instructed by the head coach or his/her designee.
  11. The directions & decisions of coaches/chaperones are final.
  12. Swimmers are expected to remain with the team at all times during the trip. Swimmers are not to leave the competition venue, the hotel, a restaurant, or any other place at which the team has gathered without the permission/knowledge of the coach or chaperone.
  13. When visiting public places such as shopping malls, movie theatres, etc. swimmers will stay in groups of no less than three persons. 12 & Under athletes will be accompanied by a chaperone.
  14. The Head Coach or his/her designee shall make a written report of travel policy or code of conduct violations to the appropriate club or LSC leadership and the parent or legal guardian of any affected minor athlete.

Section 3 - Other Policies to Consider

The following, organized by topic, is a bullet-point list of additional travel policies to consider. Teams and LSCs may want to utilize some of these policies based on their individual preferences and needs.

  1. Additional guidelines to be established as needed by the coaches;
  2. Supervised team room provided for relaxation and recreation;
  3. Respect the privacy of each other;
  4. Only use hotel rooms with interior entrances; and
  5. Must wear seat belts and remain seated in vehicles;

  1. Be quiet and respect the rights of teammates and others in hotel;
  2. Be prompt and on time;
  3. Develop cell phone usage guidelines;
  4. Develop computer use guidelines including social media;
  5. Respect travel vehicles;
  6. Establish travel dress code;
  7. Use appropriate behavior in public facilities;
  8. Establish two different curfews – in own rooms and lights out;
  9. Must stay in assigned hotel room; and
  10. Needs and wellbeing of the team come first.

  1. No room service without permission;
  2. Swimmers responsible for all incidental charges;
  3. Swimmers responsible for any damages or thievery at hotel;
  4. Must participate in contracted group meals; and
  5. Communicate travel reimbursement information and policies.

  1. Establish fair trip eligibility requirements;
  2. Establish age guidelines for travel trips;
  3. Parent(s) responsible for getting swimmer(s) to stated departure point; and
  4. Requirements for families to attend "Team Travel Meets."

Code of Conduct / Honor Code

The Club Development Committee strongly encourages teams and LSCs to create a Code of Conduct or Honor Code as a companion document to the team travel policies.

All team members, team staff, and parents of minors are apprised in writing of this Code of Conduct and the attached USA Swimming Code of Conduct. A signature on this document constitutes unconditional agreement to comply with the stipulations of both documents.

  1. Team members will display proper respect and sportsmanship toward coaches, officials, administrators, teammates, fellow competitors and the public at all times.
  2. Team members and staff will refrain from any illegal or inappropriate behavior that would detract from a positive image of the team or be detrimental to its performance objectives.
  3. The possession or use of alcohol or tobacco products by any athlete is prohibited.
  4. The possession, use, or sale/distribution of any controlled or illegal substance or any form of weapon is strictly forbidden.
  5. No “deck changes” are permitted. Athletes are expected to use available change facilities.
  6. Team members are reminded that when competing in meets, traveling on trips, and attending other meet-related functions, they are representing both themselves and the Maryland Suburban Swim Club.  Athlete behavior must positively reflect the high standards of the club and PVS.
  7. Failure to comply with the Honor Code as set forth in this document may result in disciplinary action.

Such discipline may include, but may not be limited to:

  1. Dismissal from the trip and immediate return home at the athlete’s expense;
  2. Disqualification from one or more events, or all events of competition;
  3. Disqualification from future team travel meets;
  4. Financial penalties;
  5. Dismissal from the team; and/or
  6. Proceedings for a LSC or USA Swimming National Board of Review.

  1. Swimmers are to refrain from inappropriate physical contact at team activities and events.
  2. Swimmers are to refrain from use of inappropriate language.

The purpose of a code of conduct for athletes is to establish a consistent expectation for athletes’ behavior. By signing this code of conduct, I agree to the following statements:

❏ I will respect and show courtesy to my teammates and coaches at all times.

❏ I will demonstrate good sportsmanship at all practices and meets.

❏ I will set a good example of behavior and work ethic for my younger teammates.

❏ I will be respectful of my teammates’ feelings and personal space. Swimmers who exhibit sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise inappropriate behavior will be faced with consequences.

❏ I will attend all team meetings and training sessions, unless I am excused by my coach.

❏ I will show respect for all facilities and other property (including locker rooms) used during practices, competitions, and team activities.

❏ I will refrain from foul language, violence, behavior deemed dishonest, offensive, or illegal.

❏ If I disagree with an official’s call, I will talk with my coach and not approach the official directly.

❏ I will obey all of USA Swimming’s rules and codes of conduct.

I understand that if I violate this code of conduct, I will be subject to disciplinary action determined by my coaches and the swim team Manager.

_________________________________ _____________________

Swimmer’s signature                             Date

_________________________________ _____________________

Parent’s signature                                 Date

Rev. 7-3-19


Government Funding for First Nations: How it can be tracked and managed easier (with better results) in tech

Whether First Nations are living on or off reserves, they are eligible for Government Funding for education, health & social services, roads, housing, water and waste management. While Government Funding is quite important, it also requires meticulous management of details and processes.

Without a unified system in place, managing Government Funding can quickly become both time consuming and difficult, when it doesn’t have to be. Having the appropriate software to manage Government Funding, such as a Customer Resource Management (CRM) solution, can make it seamless & easy, and having a dependable solution is essential as many First Nations bands depend on Government Funding as a key source of revenue.

Value of a Centralized System

First Nations frequently run multiple systems for managing their accounting and other data, which makes maintaining all of the information they need to qualify for funding challenging. They are increasingly starting to use Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions, such as Sage Intacct or Sage 300, so they have one unified system for all of their data, whether it’s accounting data, member information or data from organizations and businesses.

ERP software is extremely beneficial because it provides one centralized system for data, which in turn offers First Nations more visibility and insight into their information than they could ever have using disconnected systems. With everything from financials to applications to maintenance reports all in one place, First Nations have the tools to do comprehensive analysis and reporting on their information for whatever they need. ERP’s also offer a number of different software modules that can be added to personalize the solutions to meet unique requirements and for First Nations, integrating a Customer Resource Management solution, such as Sage CRM, with their ERP is one of the easiest and most effective ways to manage and simplify Government Funding.

Streamline Government Funding Tracking with Sage CRM

In Sage CRM, Government Funding is treated as revenue, so it’s handled through the same process that you would handle sales opportunities. You can create an ‘Opportunity Pipeline’ to track the stages involved in Government Funding with a process flow outlining all the actions that you need to take to get the funding.

You would start by setting up all of the Government branches you’re involved with as ‘Customers’, so you can move them through your Opportunity Pipeline as you progress in the funding process. Next, you set up each step or hurdle in the funding process as a stage in the pipeline. For example, determining the requirements for eligibility of the funding can be stage one and determining if you meet those requirements can be stage two and so on.

Once you’ve defined the different stages for funding in your Opportunity Pipeline, you can map a workflow (example in image below) to catch any processes that might need to be repeated, or the sequence in which steps have to be completed. For example, you can specify in your steps that an application for funding can’t be submitted before all funding requirements have been met. Having a workflow in place for both funding and grants will help improve the reliability of applications being submitted and promote easy & efficient processes surrounding funding.

The Value of Reporting

Sage CRM offers an abundance of reporting templates that can be modified to suit your specific needs. Applications for Government Funding and grants often require detailed data about the First Nations bands and members to illustrate that they meet the set requirements. The use of Sage CRM, particularly when it is integrated with an ERP, means that all of the information required for Government Funding is tracked in one place, and through the use of templates, reports can be created for that information both quickly and easily. Similarly, after funding is received First Nations can use the reporting tools to measure and track the impact of the funding.

Wide Range of Helpful Features

The benefits of Sage CRM aren’t limited to tracking funding. It gives First Nations a single source for all of their contacts, communications and data. With all of your communication in one place, you build a collaborative environment in which everyone can work together, thereby greatly reducing the amount of double work, as well as improving consistency in how funding and other information is tracked & requested. A CRM solution helps eliminate the need for unreliable and time consuming paperwork, helps identify good processes vs bad ones, and allows you to create and use dashboards to track information such as funding status and activities tied to the funding request.

Obtaining and managing Government Funding is an ongoing process for First Nations and without the appropriate solution to manage this process, it is exceedingly difficult. Sage CRM gives First Nations groups the tools they need to effortlessly track and manage both funding and grant processes from start to finish. Travis Taylor, Strategic Account Manager at Sage and Sage CRM expert explains, “Sage CRM is what every First Nations group needs to stay on top of and effectively track all initiatives and funding programs they are working on.  It is intuitive, easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere”.


What is UI Design? A complete introductory guide

What is user interface (UI) design, and how is it different from UX? What is the UI design process? Learn everything you need to know about UI design here.

what is UI design blog header image

User interface (UI) design is the process of designing the look, feel, and interactivity of a digital product. It’s important to note that UI design is not the same as UX—although the two regularly go hand-in-hand.

In this guide, you’ll find a thorough introduction to the topic of UI design, covering:

  • What is user interface (UI) design? A definition
  • What’s the difference between UX and UI?
  • An overview of the UI design process
  • 6 Fundamental UI design principles
  • An introduction to UI design tools and software
  • What are the most important UI design skills?

UI design is a vast and broad field, so we recommend using this guide as a starting point for further research.

What is user interface (UI) design? A definition

A user interface is the point of interaction between humans and computers. User interface design is the process of designing how these interfaces look and behave.

Imagine you’re using an app on your smartphone to book flights. The screens you navigate, the buttons you tap and the forms you fill out are all part of the user interface.

A user interface is made up of the following elements:

  • Input controls: These are interactive elements that enable a user to enter information. Input controls include things like checkboxes, buttons, text fields and dropdown lists.
  • Navigational elements: These help the user to navigate an interface in order to complete their desired task. Navigational components include things like search fields, sliders and hamburger menus.
  • Informational components: These communicate useful information to the user, for example through message boxes, notifications and progress bars.
  • Containers: Containers are used to group content into meaningful sections. A container holds various elements, keeping them to a reasonable maximum width based on the user’s screen size. An example of a container in UI design is the accordion menu—a vertically stacked list of headers that can be clicked to hide or show content.

UI design considers all of these elements and how they work together to create interfaces that are both easy to navigate and visually pleasing. As such, UI design covers:

  • Interactivity—how the user interface and its various elements behave and function. For example, what happens when a user clicks on a particular button.
  • Visual design—how the interface looks, considering things like colour, typography, imagery and graphics, logos, icon design and spacing.
  • Information architecture—how the content within the user interface is organised and labelled.

A well-designed user interface is crucial to ensuring a good user experience. Now we have a basic definition of UI design, let’s consider the difference between UX and UI design and how they work together.

What’s the difference between UX and UI design?

User experience (UX) design and user interface (UI) design go hand in hand but they are two distinct disciplines.

Colman Walsh, CEO of the UX Design Institute, likens UX and UI design to architecture and interior design:

As Colman explains: if you were tasked with building a new 5-star hotel, you’d need an architect to design the overall structure of the hotel. Before designing anything, they’d consider key questions such as what are we building? Why are we building it? Who are we building it for?

The architect would then plan out the structure of the hotel, considering the layout of all the different rooms and how the guests will move around the hotel.

With the hotel blueprint mapped out, the interior designer steps in to consider all the visual aspects of the hotel. They consider things like lighting, furnishing and materials to create a certain look and feel.

In the context of product design, UX designers are the architects and UI designers are the interior designers.

UX design considers the entire user experience from A to Z, always keeping the target users’ needs, goals and pain-points in mind. The goal of UX design is to create products and experiences that are easy, efficient, enjoyable and rewarding for the end user.

While UX considers the overall user experience, UI focuses on the visual and interactive elements a person uses to interact with a digital product. What does the user see when they use a digital product and what touchpoints do they encounter? How does the visual appearance of the interface help them to navigate and complete certain tasks? Which elements should go where? Does the product’s aesthetic capture and reflect the brand?

A key difference between UX and UI is that while UI design relates solely to digital interfaces, UX design can be applied to anything, not just websites and apps. Anything that can be experienced can be designed, whether it’s the experience of going into your local bank to open an account, ordering something online or getting directions from your Sat Nav.

UX and UI call upon different skills, tools and processes but both are concerned with usability, accessibility and creating a great experience for the user. You can learn more about the differences between UX and UI design in this guide.

An overview of the UI design process

Just like the interior designers in our hotel analogy, UI designers come in at the later stages of the product design process. Some key steps in the UI design process include:

Understanding the context

You can’t design the user interface for a product without knowing who will be using it and what they’ll be using it for. The UI designer will start by getting familiar with the project brief in order to understand the target audience they’re designing for and the purpose of the product.

Conducting competitor analysis

UI designers might conduct competitor analysis to see what other brands operating in the same space are doing. This helps you to understand what your users expect when interacting with certain products, allowing you to design interfaces that feel familiar and are therefore easier to use.

Designing screens and UI elements

Of course, a substantial part of the UI design process focuses on design. UI designers will design all the individual screens that make up the user journey and the different elements that feature on these screens. This includes designing icons and buttons, selecting or creating imagery, making decisions about colours and typography and designing any animations and interactions.

Creating wireframes and prototypes

Throughout the UI design process, UI designers will create wireframes and prototypes. In the early stages, low-fidelity wireframes can be used to map out the position of different elements on the screen. As initial ideas progress to concrete design decisions, high-fidelity, clickable prototypes are used to model the final look and feel of the product. With high-fidelity prototypes, UI designers can communicate not only what the product UI should look like but also how it should behave when the user interacts with it.

Handing off to developers

Once the product UI has been finalised, it’s over to the developers to turn the UI designer’s prototypes into a real, working product. It’s important to be aware that moving from high-fidelity prototypes to development might not always be straightforward as developers and other stakeholders may have feedback, requiring you to iterate on your designs.

6 Fundamental UI design principles

There are certain guiding principles that inform the UI design process. These include:

The most delightful, user-friendly interfaces are those that are consistent. UI designers should strive for visual consistency—keeping fonts, colours, buttons and icons uniform throughout the product—and functional consistency, ensuring that certain elements represent the same function or action in all contexts. The more consistent the UI, the easier it will be for a user to get to grips with.

Familiarity and predictability

This relates to how a user expects a particular interface to function. Based on our experience with similar websites and apps, we learn to associate certain UI elements with certain actions. We also expect things to be in certain places (for example, when browsing a website, we’d usually head to the top of the page to find the menu). UI designers should leverage familiarity and predictability to create comfortable, user-friendly interfaces.

As the user moves through an interface, it’s essential to provide them with feedback. This guides them towards their goal, letting them know if they’ve successfully completed a certain action or informing them if something’s gone wrong. Feedback can be provided visually — like a tick appearing on the screen to let the user know their desired action is complete — or through clear, concise messaging.

When designing an interface, it’s important to provide flexibility in terms of how users can complete certain tasks.  Ultimately, your user interface should be consistent while simultaneously allowing for some degree of customisation depending on the user.

While new users might require more guidance, experienced users should have access to shortcuts and accelerators which enable them to speed up frequently-performed actions.

UI designers have a responsibility to create interfaces that are accessible for all users. This includes providing sufficient contrast between text and the background it’s placed on, ensuring that interactive elements such as links and buttons are easy to identify, leaving enough space around buttons and touchpoints and creating designs for different sized viewports. You can learn more about designing for web accessibility here.

An introduction to UI design tools and software

UI designers use various tools and software to help them create delightful, interactive interfaces. Some of the most popular UI design tools include:

  • Sketch: A vector graphics editor used for drawing, wireframing, prototyping and design handoff. Sketch is considered an industry-standard design tool, used by both UX and UI designers.
  • Adobe XD: Another all-encompassing vector-based UI tool, Adobe XD is used for early ideation and low-fidelity designs, right through to animations and high-fidelity, interactive prototypes.
  • Figma: A web-based interface design tool built for fast and collaborative design. Just like Sketch and Adobe XD, Figma is a vector graphics editor that will take you from early-stage ideation through to interactive prototyping.

You can discover more tools in our complete UI design tools guide.

What skills do you need to be a UI designer?

If you’re interested in UI design as a potential career path, you might be wondering: What are the most important skills for a UI designer to have?

The most important job-specific UI design skills are:

  • Wireframing and prototyping
  • Knowledge of basic design principles such as typography and colour theory
  • Familiarity with industry-specific tools such as Sketch, Adobe XD and Figma
  • An understanding of UX design
  • Knowledge of interaction design principles
  • Knowledge and understanding of information architecture

In addition to those hard skills, UI designers will also need to demonstrate:

  • Creativity and an eye for detail
  • Empathy and an interest in accessible, inclusive design
  • A collaborative spirit and excellent communication
  • An aptitude for problem-solving

If you’d like to learn these skills and become an expert UI designer, consider a professional UI design course. The Professional Certificate in UI Design offered by the UX Design Institute covers all the core principles and practical techniques you’ll need to design high-quality user interfaces, plus a project and portfolio module.

You can learn more about the course and request further information here

Professional Diploma in UX Design

Build your UX career with a globally recognised, industry-approved qualification. Get the mindset, the confidence and the skills that make UX designers so valuable.

Course starts

5 September 2022

Course price

View course details


Delays to trains in and out of Leeds due to signal failure

Commuters are facing delays to their services of up to an hour due to a signalling problem.

Leeds City Station
Leeds City Station

A routine signalling problem is affecting services between Doncaster and Leeds, with some trains being diverted to York.

In addition Northern Rail services will not run between Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate. Buses have been requested to run between these stations and will be available from approximately 16:20.

The disruption is due to be cleared by 6pm.


Headaches - cluster

What Are Cluster Headaches?

Cluster headaches are one of the most painful types of headache. They are marked by excruciating, stabbing, and penetrating pain, which is usually centered around the eye. Cluster headache attacks occur very suddenly and without warning, with the pain peaking within 15 minutes.

Symptoms of Cluster Headache Attacks

In addition to pain, symptoms of cluster headaches may include:

Who Gets Cluster Headaches?

Treatment of cluster headaches focuses on relieving pain when attacks occur, and on preventive strategies to reduce attack duration and frequency. Oxygen therapy and injections of sumatriptan (Imitrex, generic) are the most effective treatments for acute attacks. Verapamil (Calan, generic), a drug for high blood pressure, is typically the first choice of medication used for long-term prevention. A new injectable drug (galcanezumab, Emgality) has recently been approved by the FDA for episodic cluster headache prevention.

Behavioral treatments can be a helpful supplement to drug therapy. These treatments include relaxation therapy, biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and stress management. People should also identify and avoid any triggers, such as alcohol use and cigarette smoking, which may provoke cluster headache attacks.

Cluster Headache Survey

Results from the US Cluster Headache Survey, the largest study of Americans with cluster headache, reveal:

Typical Cluster Cycles

Timing of an Attack

Cluster headache attacks tend to occur with great regularity at the same time of day. (For this reason, cluster headaches are sometimes referred to as "alarm clock" headaches.) Most attacks occur during the night or within a few hours after falling asleep, with peak time of midnight to 3 a.m.

Duration of an Attack

A single cluster attack is usually brief but extremely painful. The pain peaks in about 5 to 15 minutes and then lingers for 15 to 180 minutes if left untreated.

Number of Attacks Per Day

Duration of Cycles

Attack cycles typically last 6 to 12 weeks with remissions lasting up to 1 year. In the chronic form, attacks are ongoing, and there is little remission. Many people experience initially 1 to 2 attack periods a year. The attack cycles then tend to occur seasonally, most often in the spring and autumn.

Headaches That Resemble Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are a type of primary headache. A headache is considered primary when it is not caused by another disease or medical condition. The most common types of primary headaches are migraine and tension-type. Cluster headaches are considered a rare type of primary headache.

Cluster headache belongs to a group of primary headaches called trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs). TACs share certain characteristics such as pain on one side of the head, eye watering, nasal congestion, and short duration of symptoms.

Other TACs that resemble cluster headache include:

The cause of cluster headaches is unknown. They are likely due to an interaction of abnormalities in the blood vessels, nerves, and chemicals that affect regions in the face.

Abnormalities in the Hypothalamus

Click on the icon to see an image of the hypothalamus.

Circadian Abnormalities

Cluster attacks often occur during specific sleep stages. They also often follow the seasonal increase in warmth and light. Many people report an increase in attacks when daylight savings time changes occur in the fall and spring. Researchers have focused attention on circadian rhythms, and in particular small clusters of nerves in the hypothalamus that act like biologic clocks. The hormone melatonin is also involved in the body's biologic rhythms.

Trigeminal Nerve Pathway

The trigeminal nerve carries sensations from the face to the brain along a nerve pathway. Activation of the trigeminal nerve causes the eye pain associated with cluster headaches. The parasympathetic autonomic system regulates non-voluntary actions in the body, such as secretions, heart rate, and blood vessel activity. When the trigeminal nerve stimulates the autonomic system it causes cluster headache symptoms such as eye tearing and nasal congestion.

Dilation of Blood Vessels

Cause of headaches

The pain of cluster headaches can be intolerable. Fortunately, as people age, the attacks tend to cease, although no one can predict when they will end.

Effects on Mental and Emotional Functioning

Anxiety and depression are common among people with cluster headaches, which can affect functioning and quality of life. The pain can be so intense that some people consider, or attempt, suicide.

Effects on Sleep

Nighttime attacks can interfere with sleep and lead to sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep can increase the risk for depression, and other physical and emotional problems.

Auras and Stroke

Some people with cluster headaches experience migraine-like aura. Research suggests that headaches that are accompanied by aura may increase the risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIA symptoms are similar to those of stroke, but last only briefly. However, people who have had a TIA are at increased risk for later having a stroke. People with cluster headaches may have risk factors for stroke, such as smoking. However, there currently is no data that indicates a cluster headache increases the risk of stroke.

Risk Factors

Cluster headaches can affect all ages, from children to older people, but are most common from young adulthood through middle age. In men, the typical age of onset is in the 30s. In women, cluster headaches usually develop in the 60s.

Men are 3 to 4 times more likely to have cluster headaches than women, especially for chronic cluster. Unlike with migraines, fluctuations in estrogen and other female hormones do not appear to play a role in cluster headaches.

Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle factors play a role in cluster headaches. They include:

Seasonal Changes

Cluster headache attacks often coincide with times of seasonal change, such as in spring or autumn. Changes associated with daylight savings during these times of year may alter the normal sleep-wake cycle and trigger attacks.

Family History and Genetic Factors

Cluster headaches tend to run in families, suggesting that a genetic component may be involved. Cluster headache may occur more commonly in people with a "type A" personality.

History of Migraine

About half of people with cluster headache have a personal or family history of migraine. It is possible for people to have both kinds of headache.

Head Injury

Sleep Disorders

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which a person temporarily stops breathing during the night, perhaps hundreds of times. In some people, OSA may trigger a cluster headache during the first few hours of sleep, making them susceptible to follow-up attacks during the following midday to afternoon periods.

Cluster Headache Triggers

The following conditions and substances may trigger cluster attacks:

Cluster headaches cause intense excruciating pain. The pain is located in, behind, or around the eye and is described as deep, constant, boring, stabbing, piercing, or burning. The pain may then spread to the forehead, temple, cheek, nose, and jaw.

The pain generally reaches very severe levels within 15 minutes with the attack lasting for 45 minutes to 3 hours (if left untreated). People may feel agitated or restless during an attack and often want to isolate themselves and then move around. This is different than migraine headaches, in which people tend to want to lie down in a quiet room. Gastrointestinal symptoms are not very common.

Cluster headaches usually strike suddenly and without warning. Some people experience a sensation of pressure in the affected side before an attack. Although rare, some people have a migraine-type aura before the attack.

The pain and other facial symptoms of cluster headache always occur on one side of the head. In addition to pain, other typical symptoms include:

Pain of cluster headache

Cluster headaches are diagnosed on the basis of signs and symptoms. Many people report a delay of more than 5 years in the diagnosis of their cluster headaches.

Migraine-like symptoms (light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting) are major reasons for frequent misdiagnosis. In some cases, people are inappropriately treated for other types of headaches (like migraine) or health conditions (like sinusitis).

Signs and Symptoms

Cluster headache is diagnosed by the pattern of recurrent attacks, and by typical symptoms (pain on one side of head, swollen eyelid, watery eye, and runny nose).

Keeping a headache diary to record a description of attacks can help your health care provider make an accurate diagnosis. You should describe to your provider:

Medical History and Physical Examination

The provider will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam that will include looking at your head, neck, and eyes. The provider may perform a neurologic examination, which includes a series of simple exercises to test strength, reflexes, coordination, and sensation. Bringing pictures of you taken during a headache may help your provider.

Imaging Tests

In some cases, the provider may order an imaging test to check for brain abnormalities that may be causing the headaches. For imaging tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are preferred over computed tomography (CT) scans because MRIs do not expose people to radiation.

Ruling Out Other Headaches and Medical Conditions

As part of the diagnosis, the provider should rule out other headaches and disorders.

Cluster headaches are often misdiagnosed as migraines but they are quite different based on:

Nevertheless, both cluster headaches and migraine cause sensitivity to light and noise, which can make it difficult to distinguish between these two headaches.

Other Headaches

Other headaches that resemble cluster headaches include SUNCT (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing) and paroxysmal hemicranias. Cluster headache may also resemble some secondary headaches notably trigeminal neuralgia, temporal arteritis, and sinus headaches. Cluster headache symptoms are usually precise enough to rule out these other types of headaches.

Tear in the Carotid Artery

A tear in the carotid artery (carotid artery dissection) can also lead to a droopy eye and small pupil. Dissection can interrupt blood flow to the brain and can lead to stroke. Risk factors for carotid dissection include trauma or connective tissue disorders.

Orbital Myositis

An unusual condition called orbital myositis, which produces swelling of the muscles around the eye, may mimic symptoms of a cluster headache. This condition should be considered in people who have unusual symptoms such as protrusion of the eyeball, painful eye movements, or pain that does not dissipate within 3 hours.

Headache Symptoms that Could Indicate Serious Underlying Disorders

Headaches indicating a serious underlying problem, such as cerebrovascular disorder or malignant hypertension, are uncommon. (A headache without other neurological symptoms is not a common symptom of a brain tumor.) People with existing long-term (chronic) headaches may, however, miss a more serious condition believing it to be one of their usual headaches.

You should contact your provider if the quality of a headache or accompanying symptoms has changed. Be sure to call 911 or your local emergency number, your provider, or go to an emergency room for any of the following symptoms:

Managing Cluster Headaches

Management of cluster headaches focuses on:

Treating Attacks

Relief can occur in 5 to 10 minutes. Oxygen and sumatriptan injection are sometimes given together.

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is also used to treat acute episodic attacks.

Preventing Attacks

Cluster headache attacks are usually short, lasting from 15 minutes to 3 hours. The excruciating pain may have subsided by the time the person reaches a medical office or emergency room.

Because it can be difficult to treat attacks when they occur, treatment efforts focus on the prevention of attacks during cluster cycles. Although certain drugs are standard, preventive therapy needs to be individually tailored. Your provider may prescribe a combination of drugs.

Verapamil (Calan, generic), a calcium-channel blocker drug, is the mainstay preventive treatment for cluster headaches. However, it can take 2 to 3 weeks for this drug to take effect. During this period, corticosteroids (typically prednisone) may be used as an initial transitional therapy. For long-term treatment of chronic cluster headaches, lithium may be used as an alternative to verapamil.

Galcanezumab (Emgality), a calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) antagonist, is a recently approved preventive treatment for episodic cluster headache. It is given as a monthly subcutaneous injection that can be self-administered.

Although they are not FDA-approved for cluster headache, anti-seizure drugs such as divalproex sodium (Depakote, generic) valproate sodium (Depacon, generic), valproic acid (Depakene, generic), topiramate (Topamax, generic), and gabapentin (Neurontin, generic) are sometimes used for preventive treatment.

Behavioral Treatments and Lifestyle Changes

Behavioral Treatments

Behavioral therapies are a helpful accompaniment to drug treatment. These approaches can help with pain management and enable people to feel more in control of their condition.

Behavioral approaches include:

Lifestyle Changes

People should avoid the following triggers that may provoke cluster headache attacks:

Treatment for Acute Attacks

Oxygen Therapy

Breathing pure oxygen (by face mask, for 15 minutes or less) is one of the most effective and safest treatments for cluster headache attacks. It is often the first choice treatment. Inhalation of oxygen raises blood oxygen levels, therefore relaxing narrowed blood vessels. Appropriate patients may benefit from having a portable oxygen tank in their home.

In some people, oxygen treatment only delays the attack by minutes or hours. In this case, oxygen therapy should be avoided, as it may actually increase the frequency of attacks.

Triptans are drugs that are usually used to treat migraine headaches. They can also help stop a cluster headache attack.

The nasal spray form may also be effective for some people, and generally provides relief within 30 minutes. The spray seems to work best for attacks that last at least 45 minutes, although some people find it does not work as well as the injectable form.

Side Effects

Side effects of sumatriptan and other triptans may include:

Complications and Contraindications of Triptans

The following are some potentially serious problems with triptans:

Injections of the ergotamine-derived drug dihydroergotamine (DHE, Migranal) can often stop cluster attacks within 5 minutes, offering benefits similar to injectable sumatriptan. Ergotamine is also available in the form of a nasal spray, rectal suppositories, and tablets.

Ergotamine can have dangerous drug interactions with many medications, including sumatriptan. All ergotamine products approved by the FDA contain a "black box" warning in the prescription label explaining these drug interactions. Because ergotamine constricts blood vessels, people with peripheral vascular disease should not use this drug.

Local Anesthetic

Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, is applied to the affected nostril in nasal spray or nasal-drop form. It usually takes effect within a few minutes and can help temporarily stop pain by numbing part of the trigeminal nerve.

Capsaicin is a compound derived from hot pepper. Some people who have not found relief through other medications use it to treat or prevent cluster headaches by applying it intranasally. There have been few studies to confirm its effectiveness. It can cause an intense burning sensation.

Preventive Medications

Calcium-Channel Blockers

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) Antagonists

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) causes blood vessel relaxation and is involved in sensing of pain. CGRP antagonists have long been investigated as potential treatments for migraine and recently three drugs targeting CGRP have been approved by the FDA for prevention of migraine. Of them, galcanezumab (Emgality) has also been approved as a preventive treatment for episodic cluster headache. Galcanezumab reduces the frequency of attacks in people with cluster headache. It is given as a monthly subcutaneous injection that can be self-administered.

Corticosteroid (steroid) drugs are very useful as transitional drugs for stabilizing people after an attack until a maintenance drug, such as verapamil, begins to take effect. Prednisone (generic) and dexamethasone (Decadron, generic) are the standard steroid drugs used for short-term transitional treatment.

These drugs are typically taken for a week and then gradually tapered off. If headaches return, the person may start taking the steroid again. Unfortunately, long-term use of oral steroids can lead to serious side effects so they cannot be taken for on-going prevention. Serious side effects, such as avascular necrosis of the joints, may occur even with limited use of steroids. Other short term side effects include restlessness/irritability, elevation in blood sugar or blood pressure, low potassium (hypokalemia) and gastric irritation.

Steroid injections may also provide short-term relief. Some people are helped by an occipital nerve block in which an anesthetic and a corticosteroid are injected into the occipital nerve in the back of the head. Researchers are also investigating suboccipital injections where a steroid is injected into the base of the skull on the same side as the headache attack.

Anti-Seizure Drugs

These drugs can have significant side effects. Some anti-seizure drugs, particularly valproate products, can increase the risk for birth defects and should not be taken by pregnant women. All women of child-bearing potential should take special precautions due to increased risk of birth defects, should they become pregnant while taking any anti-seizure drug. All anti-seizure drugs can increase the risks of suicidal thoughts and behavior (suicidality).

Investigational Drugs or Treatments

Botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections are typically used to reduce abnormal muscle contractions, such as may be seen in spasticity, various movement disorders (dystonia, blepharospasm) and to treat abnormal sweating, in addition to smooth wrinkles. Botulinum toxin is also being studied for treatment of headaches, and is approved for prevention of chronic migraine. Research on its use for cluster headache prevention is still preliminary, and there is little evidence to support its effectiveness.

Melatonin is a brain hormone that helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle and adjust the body's internal clock. Some research suggests that melatonin supplements may help prevent episodic or chronic cluster headaches. Supplements are made from a synthetic chemical melatonin that is produced in a lab. Melatonin supplements are sold in health food stores, but as with most natural remedies, the quality of different preparations varies. More studies are needed to confirm effectiveness and dosage.

Hyperbaric oxygen

Only a few small studies have evaluated hyperbaric oxygen for treatment of an acute cluster headache. In addition to limited availability and expense, there currently is no evidence to show hyperbaric oxygen is more effective than traditional oxygen.

Octreotide (Sandostatin) and somatostatin

These related drugs have weak supporting evidence to support their use.

Surgery may be considered as a last resort for chronic cluster headaches that do not respond to other treatments. People whose headaches have not gone into remission for at least a year may also be candidates for surgery.

Most surgical approaches for cluster headaches are still considered experimental, having been tested on only a relatively small number of people. In general, surgery for cluster headaches has limited success and can have distressing side effects. However, some surgical techniques, such as deep brain electrical stimulation, are showing promise.

A number of implantable electrical stimulation devices are being studied as treatments for chronic cluster headaches that do not improve with drug treatment. These work on specific nerve tissues, such as peripheral nerves, the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), occipital nerve, or high cervical spinal cord. Preliminary results are encouraging, but larger studies are necessary for most of these devices.

Deep Brain Electrical Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (also called neurostimulation) may relieve chronic cluster headaches that do not respond to drug therapy. A similar technique is approved for treating the tremors associated with Parkinson disease. The surgeon implants a tiny wire in a specific part of the hypothalamus. The wire receives electrical pulses from a small generator implanted under the collarbone.

Although only a small number of people have been treated, results to date are promising. Some people have remained completely free of pain for an average of more than 7 months when the device is switched on. When the device is turned off, headaches reappear within days to weeks. The procedure is reversible and appears to be generally safe, although a few cases of fatal cerebral hemorrhage have occurred. There are other risks of this surgery, such as infection. Patients with these implanted wires and stimulator may be at great risk of injury if subjected to an MRI scan.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

In very preliminary research, spinal cord stimulators have shown promising results in patients with cluster headache. As these devices are prone to complications, they are not recommended for routine use until more research can be done.

Occipital Nerve Stimulation

Occipital nerve stimulation is being investigated as a less invasive and less risky alternative to deep brain hypothalamus stimulation. Recent studies have reported promising results in a small number of people with cluster headaches. Some subjects became pain-free, while others had reduced frequency of headache attacks.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

The vagus nerve runs between the brain and the abdomen. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is approved by the FDA to treat episodic cluster headache.  Electrodes provide electrical impulses to the vagal nerve through the skin.

Sphenopalantine ganglion stimulation

Nerve fibers in the sphenopalatine area (deep between the nose and the skull) transmit signals that may contribute to cluster headache pain. Very early research has shown that electrical stimulation of these nerve endings can reduce frequency of attacks in many patients. More studies are necessary.

Procedures to Block or Remove Facial Nerves That Cause Pain

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Retrogasserian Rhizotomy (PRFR)

PRFR generates heat to destroy pain-carrying nerve fibers in the face. Unfortunately, complications are common and may include numbness, weakness during chewing, changes in tearing and salivation, and facial pain. In severe, but rare, cases, complications include damage to the cornea and vision loss.

Percutaneous Retrogasserian Glycerol Rhizolysis (PRGR)

Microvascular Decompression of the Trigeminal Nerve

Microvascular decompression frees the trigeminal nerve from any blood vessels that are pressing against it. The procedure is risky, and possible complications include nerve and blood vessel injury and spinal fluid leakage. This can be helpful for treating trigeminal neuralgia, but there is reasonably good evidence that it is not effective for treatment of cluster headaches.

Ashina H, Newman L, Ashina S. Calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonism and cluster headache: an emerging new treatment. Neurol Sci. 2017;38(12):2089-2093. PMID: 28856479 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28856479.

Bennett MH, French C, Schnabel A, Wasiak J, Kranke P, Weibel S. Normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment and prevention of migraine and cluster headache. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(12):CD005219. PMID: 26709672 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26709672.

D'Ostilio K, Magis D. Invasive and non-invasive electrical pericranial nerve stimulation for the treatment of chronic primary headaches. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2016;20(11):61. PMID: 27678260 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27678260.

Fischera M, Marziniak M, Gralow I, Evers S. The incidence and prevalence of cluster headache: a meta-analysis of population-based studies. Cephalalgia. 2008;28(6):614-8. PMID: 18422717 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18422717.

Gelfand AA, Goadsby PJ. The role of melatonin in the treatment of primary headache disorders. Headache. 2016;56(8):1257-1266. PMID: 27316772 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27316772.

Goodfriend SD, Tadi P, Koury R. Carotid Artery Dissection. [Updated 2020 Mar 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430835/

Hoffmann J, May A. Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of cluster headache. Lancet Neurol. 2018;17(1):75-83. PMID:29174963 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29174963.

Holle-Lee D, Gaul C. Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation in the management of cluster headache: clinical evidence and practical experience. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2016;9(3):230–234. PMID: 27134678 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27134678.

Khan S, Olesen A, Ashina M. CGRP, a target for preventive therapy in migraine and cluster headache: systematic review of clinical data. Cephalalgia. 2017:333102417741297. PMID: 29110503 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29110503.

Láinez MJ, Guillamón E. Cluster headache and other TACs: pathophysiology and neurostimulation options. Headache. 2017;57(2):327-335. PMID: 28128461 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28128461.

May A, Schwedt TJ, Magis D, et al. Cluster headache. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4:18006. PMID: 29493566 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29493566.

Muñoz I, Hernández MS, Santos S. Personality traits in patients with cluster headache: a comparison with migraine patients. J Headache Pain. 2016;17:25. PMID: 26975362 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26975362.

Rizzoli P, Mullally WJ. Headache. Am J Med. 2018;131(1):17-24. PMID: 28939471 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28939471.

Robbins MS, Starling AJ, Pringsheim TM, Becker WJ, Schwedt TJ. Treatment of cluster headache: the American Headache Society evidence-based guidelines. Headache. 2016;56(7):1093-1106. PMID: 27432623 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27432623.

Schuster NM, Rapoport AM. New strategies for the treatment and prevention of primary headache disorders. Nat Rev Neurol. 2016;12(11):635-650. PMID: 27786243 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27786243.

Vyas DB, Ho AL, Dadey DY. Deep Brain Stimulation for Chronic Cluster Headache: A Review. Neuromodulation. 2019;22(4):388-397. PMID: 30303584 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30303584.

Yuan H, Spare NM, Silberstein SD. Targeting CGRP for the Prevention of Migraine and Cluster Headache: A Narrative Review. Headache. 2019;59 Suppl 2:20-32. PMID: 31291020 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31291020.

Review Date: 3/31/2020
© 1997- adam.comAll rights reserved.


Message from the Angels

Website designed by Jody Howard.
Dearest Ones, it is our greatest desire that you discover the truth of who you are.
You are an Infinite Being, a wise soul, and you have a specific reason for being in human form at this time.  If you could see yourself as we do, you would know the great soul you are and why you have decided to come to Earth at this time.

We understand how difficult and challenging life can feel.  We see your sorrows, your heartache and your struggles.   Please remember that we are with you at all times, even though you cannot see us.  There is no space and time between us.  If you talk to us we hear you.  If you ask for our assistance, we are honored and delighted to give it to you.   We will answer you in a variety of creative ways.  Sometimes we will send you messages through music or signs.  Other times we will send messages to you through other people or animals.  Often you are hearing us, but our voice sounds much like your own inner voice so it is difficult to discern whether it’s your own thoughts and ideas, or ours.   You have the ability to hear us and know it is us.   Psychic abilities are not a gift for a select few, they are a God given gift for everyone!   It just requires your awareness and practice to become fluent with these gifts.  When we give you a message it will feel light, joyful and exciting deep within you.  If you are listening to the chatter of your mind it often feels heavy, negative or more fearful.  We talk to you all day, every day.  You’ve been hearing us all your life.  Now it is time to realize it’s us.

True peace and joy comes only from remembering your true self.   Your truth is your soul.  The body you are living through at this time is temporary.  Consider your body as the vehicle for your soul to experience life as a human being.  Your soul is huge, the size of the universe.  Your soul has no limits, no judgment, and knows only unconditional love.  Your soul is one with God.

It is the human mind and emotions that create limiting beliefs, judgment of others, lack of self love, lack of forgiveness, fear, conditions to the love you give and receive from others, and anything that is not of joy, peace and abundance.

Ask us for help.  We cannot help you if you do not ask.  This is because we cannot interfere with your right to free choice.    You have a specific reason and purpose for this lifetime.  You are very special.  All the struggle and lack you experience in your life is not necessary.  It is not your truth.  It’s just how your mind has decided it should be.  Your mind is controlling your life instead of your heart and soul.  Let us help you rise above that limiting mind and find the life of fulfillment, joy, love and abundance you desire so much.

We love you.


Alma Mater
ISSN 1026-955X
Vestnik Vysshey Shkoly (Higher School Herald)
The best way to learn all about Higher Education

Should upbringing to be “discarded from the ship” of digital education?

N.F. Golovanova
80,00 Р

N.F. Golovanova is Dr.Sci. (Pedagogy), prof. at St. Petersburg State University e-mail:

Researched is the problem of formation of theoretical concept of digital education. The author notes, that upbringing in the context of digital education is being only regarded as choice of means of protecting child from negative influence of informational environment. Moreover, there are tendencies to displace upbringing from education as integral pedagogical process, bringing it down to the socialization. In connection with that, the author emphasizes importance of comprehending the new mission of upbringing under context of digital education. Conclusion is made, that digital education is actualizing problems, that couldn’t  be solved without full value upbringing.

Key words: digital education, upbringing, training, socialization, self-realization, values.

1. Voropaev, M.V. Upbringing in a virtual milieu. Moscow, 2010.

2. Golovanova, N.F., Dermanova, I.B., Anufriyuk, K.Yu. Theoretical definition and research experience of the self-fulfillment of adolescents. Problems of contemporary pedagogical education. Yalta, 2016.

3. Dal, V.V. The explanatory dictionary of live great Russian language: In 4 vols. Vol. 2. Moscow, 1981.

4. Dewey, J. Democracy and education. Moscow, 2000.

5. Kanke, V.A. Theory of education and upbringing. Moscow, 2015.

6. Kutyrev, V.A. The human and others: struggle of worlds. St. Petersburg, 2009.

7. Mamardashvili, M.K. How I understand philosophy. Moscow, 1992.

8. Mudrik, A.V. Upbringing as an integral part of the process of socialization. Bulletin of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanitarian University. 2008. Iss. 10. P. 7–24.

9. Noskova, T.N. Problems of upbringing by means of informational education milieu. Proceedings of A.I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University. 2015. No. 5. P. 61–69.

10. Sidorkin, A.M. Pragmatic liberalism and modernization of upbringing. Problems of education. 2014. No. 2. P. 279–298.

11. Sukhomlinsky, V. A. The school of joy. In: Selected works in pedagogics: In 3 vols. Vol. 1. Moscow, 1979.

12. Beetham, H., Sharpe, R. Rethinking Pedagogy for a Digital Age: Designing and delivering e-learning. London, 2007.

13. Hörner,W., Drinck, B., Jobst, S. Bildung, Erziehung, Sozialisation. Grundbegriffe der Erziehungswissenschaft. Opladen, 2010.

14. Dräger, J., Müller-Eiselt, R. Die digitale Bildungsrevolution: Der radikale Wandel des Lernens und wie wir ihn gestalten können. München, 2015.

15. The New Oxford Dictionary of English. Oxford, 1998. P. 589.


Zeitgeist 2010: дух времени в поисковых запросах

Кения (Kenya)

Kenyans this year showed strong interest in social networking sites and virtual realities, with “2go” topping the fastest rising list, and local superhero “Makmende” coming in second. Meanwhile, the “Commonwealth Games” topped Kenya’s fastest rising sports search, unsurprising given Kenya’s long history of excelling in athletics and this year bringing in 32 medals.


Emails us- Call US

Assignment help 964

Suppose that 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, 2-year, and 3-year OIS rates are 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.2%, 4.5%, and 5%, respectively. The 3-month, 6-month and 12-month OISs involve a single exchange at maturity; the 2-year and 3-year OISs involve quarterly exchanges. The compounding frequencies used for expressing the rates correspond to the frequency of exchanges. Calculate the OIS zero rates using continuous compounding. Interpolate linearly between continuously compounded rates to determine rates between 6 months and 12 months, between 12 months and 2 years, and between 2 years and 3 years. You may find Excel’s Solver useful.

15% off for this assignment.

Why US?

100% Confidentiality

Information about customers is confidential and never disclosed to third parties.

Timely Delivery

Original Writing

Money Back


downloadDownload printPrint

Remember! This is just a sample.

Get custom essay

121 writers online

Download PDF

Technetium-99m is a nuclear isomer of Technetium-99, which is an isotope of Technetium. It is the most used medical radioisotope, used as a radioactive tracer which is traced in the body using gamma cameras. It emits gamma rays without beta rays making it useful as a medical tracer, there is less ionization as the gamma rays are absorbed outside of the body. Technetium-99m’s half-life makes it good to be put into the body, as its half-life is around 6 hours, so after 24 hours the Technetium-99m has almost completely been decayed to Technetium-99.

This means the patients exposure is limited as much as possible. There is enough time to collect the data using Technetium-99m but without causing too much damage to the patient. The isotope Technetium-99m is used as the other isotopes such as Technetium-95m have such longer half-lives, meaning they are unsuitable to be used in the human body as they cause too much exposure. The half-life for Technetium-95m is 61 days, and the half-life for Technetium-97 is years. Technetium-99m is a nuclear isomer of Technetium-99. The differences between the two isotopes are such like Technetium-99 has a half-life of years compared to Technetium-99m which has a half-life of only 6 hours. Also, when Technetium-99 decays into Ruthenium-99, it emits beta particles and no gamma rays, causing more ionization to the human body, so it is therefore more dangerous as a medical tracer.

Technetium-99m is used in diagnostic imaging procedures, by being bound to a pharmaceutical. Depending on the pharmaceutical used Technetium-99m can trace different things, such as infections if white blood cells are labelled. Or it can be used to show blood flowing through the heart and how well it does so. The dangers of using Technetium-99m are radiation exposure to anyone near such as the patients, people walking past and the technicians. The precautions are, keep Technetium-99m in a controlled environment, with signs on the doors preventing people walking into the environment and exposing themselves. Technetium-99m is safer than other isotopes due to its decay being able to be detected by gamma cameras, so less is needed to be used. In addition, Technetium-99m’s short half-life so it is decayed into the less radioactive Technetium-99 quickly, reducing exposure time.

When preparing individual patients doses, how much the Technetium-99m decays needs to be considered. So, if a batch of technetium-99m is prepared and 2 hours later is used, there will not be the original dosage. Therefore, the dosage is calculated by using the radioactivity of each dose and dividing by the concentration of the preparation. Technetium-99m is produced in hospitals due to its short half-life so in order for the hospitals to produce Technetium-99m, Molybdenum-99 is given instead. Molybdenum-99 is produced by bombarding Uranium with neutrons causing fission, to produce Mo-99. The hospitals place the Mo-99 in technetium generators to produce technetium-99m, as Mo-99 decays to form Tc-99m.

Remember: This is just a sample from a fellow student.

delivery Starting from 3 hours delivery

Find Free Essays

We provide you with original essay samples, perfect formatting and styling

Cite this Essay

Technetium-99m. (2019, February 27). GradesFixer. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from
“Technetium-99m.” GradesFixer, 27 Feb. 2019,
Technetium-99m. [online]. Available at: <> [Accessed 6 Aug. 2022].
Technetium-99m [Internet]. GradesFixer. 2019 Feb 27 [cited 2022 Aug 6]. Available from:
copy to clipboard

Where do you want us to send this sample?

    Be careful. This essay is not unique

    Download this Sample

    Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

    Please check your inbox.

    Hi there!

    Are you interested in getting a customized paper?

    Check it out!

    Haven't found the right essay?

    Get an expert to write you the one you need!

    Professional writers and researchers

    Sources and citation are provided

    3 hour delivery