Communication & Collaboration During Times of Change

An introduction to institutional change and approaches to help break down organizational silos

Nothing brings out internal strife quite like change. Large-scale institutional change like branch optimization and transformation often evokes organizational challenges, shining a light on the cracks and gaps between business units that a company may not even know existed before change came knocking. Given the work we do in helping usher in institutional change, particularly in the financial services sector, we get an up-close look at the process of stakeholder communication and collaboration among key business units like marketing and facilities and how they work together (or don’t).

Rest assured, turf wars and “political” infighting are natural outgrowths of change, especially for those employees who crave the comfort of the knowable and stable. But let’s face it, organizational change is a moving target. Things can change on a dime, and key stakeholders have to try to catch up both with each other and the decisions needing to be made. With network transformation in bank branches and retail stores, there are modifications to physical structures taking place at the same time that brand and market elements are being implemented.

Right Brain/Left Brain

When organizations want to institute system-wide change, often one of their first acts is to bring together different and distinct stakeholders who will bring their proficiency to the endeavor. While this instinct is a good one since you want to benefit from the experience and expertise of the best thought leaders within your organization, what you may not expect is that these diverse groups may have wildly divergent views on what’s important and what to do next. In network transformation efforts, these key influencers are often facilities managers and marketing/brand managers.

Adrenaline’s CXO Gina Bleedorn talks about how these influencers see the world differently. She says, “Facilities people are looking at very functional things like the paint peeling on the wall, whereas a marketing person doesn't necessarily notice facility conditions like peeling paint, but looks at the poster on the wall and notices the content in it. The facilities person doesn’t really care about the content in that poster. It’s like a right brain/left brain divide.” In short, facilities people are factual and analytical in their approach and the marketing people are more synthetical, incorporating creative elements.

Bridging the Gap

Now, it may seem these two groups are like oil and water, but there are approaches to help get them on the same page. While there are no shortcuts to communication and collaboration, successfully bringing together these two different world-views will define the success of the transformation. Because let’s face it, there will be both paint on the wall and a brand elements like a poster, and those key stakeholders have to validate each other’s spheres of influence. In our experience, the first step toward coordinating better collaboration is understanding that these two groups speak in different languages.

In other arenas where people are literally speaking different languages, organizations bring in intermediaries who are well-versed in both languages. Beyond translators, these emissaries are fluent in both language and cultural elements that inform and influence the communication between two groups. This same type of approach also works when people are figuratively speaking different languages like we’ve described with facilities and marketing people. This type of intermediary promotes organizational harmony by providing platforms for productive conversations, critical thinking and decision-making.

Given that dialogue is key to better decision-making, it would seem obvious that all organizations would kick-off their change initiatives with strategic planning that involves an intermediary to facilitate internal collaboration. However, since most organizations have never gone through such a large-scale institutional challenge before, developing a structure for cooperation is not something organizations are necessarily well-versed in. In our next article on change communications and collaboration, we will discuss the strategic planning necessary to develop a comprehensive framework for change.
To speak with one of our experts about transformation within your organization, contact us at info@adrenalineagency.com.


Artist Marie Hines Cowan Explores Greek Mythology

Updated: Oct 10, 2018

Painting by Marie Hines Cowan

While currently working on her NY Muse art project, Artist Marie Hines Cowan has put together several small exhibits as parts of the project development. The larger exhibit will eventually become an installation of her paintings and poetry, or as Hines Cowan describes it "A sort of room sized graphic novel".

A figurative oil painter marrying mythology with colloquial culture, Hines Cowan's work is narrative, life-sized, and representational, though unconstrained by realism. Her bold, colorful work is graphic and illustrative, making it a pleasure for any quality art seeking eye.

Hines Cowan unique talent and artistic style for bringing together past, present, and future from ordinary life moments into timeless space, has earned her vast amount of artistic expression and international recognition. She has been named ‘2018's Artist of the Year’ by the Barron Art Center. I recently had the chance to chat with her on what is inspiring her work.

Your art practice is driven by fusion of Greek Mythology and current culture, can you share a bit about this creative process and how it influences the end outcome through the work?

Hines Cowan: Well, I would say my work has three core concepts. The first of these concepts is the continuation and relevance of ancient archetypes and personifications of philosophies and ideas. I paint a lot women, and sometimes men, as characters from Greek mythology and I see them as relevant, current and as prevalent in today’s average person on the street as they were in the ancient world. With this in mind, though I picture the people I paint in specific places, I paint them into an abstract space on the canvas because what they are doing or experiencing could happen today, yesterday, 10 thousand years ago, or sometime in the future and here or anywhere else.

The second is the word ekphrasis. Ekphrasis is a Greek word meaning picture phrase, a description of a pictorial scene like Hesiod’s description of the Shield of Heracles. I came across it when I was studying Greek mythology at NYU and it resonated with me. My work has always been narrative and I see it as a flipping of the ekphrasis definition to a picture that tells a story. When I was thinking about grad school my painting was criticized for being so narrative, and learning this word, somehow for me, completed my understanding of what I was trying to accomplish with my painting. It also gave me another connection with Greek mythology. In Greek mythology it is the gods and the muses who give the artist inspiration who “sing the story” the artist is telling. O sing muse, or some version of that starts every translation of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. The artist is the tool or the instrument that allows the listeners or the viewers to understand the story. I have always felt that my art, the stories I depict come from somewhere outside myself, my muses perhaps.

The Fortune Teller - Painting by Hines Cowan

The third core concept in my work is serendipity. When the muses give me an idea for a painting I look around for a model I feel personifies what I want to depict. When I find that person I have them to the studio for a modeling session. Modeling for me is kind of like being an actor. I tell my model about the character, about their back-story, the emotions of the character and then I let them run with it as I take photos. Sometimes it all works out as I expected it to but many times other things happen and I get unexpected poses and results. That’s where serendipity jumps in. I find this to be the most satisfying and magical thing about my work.

So much of western culture and the things that surround us come to us from ancient Greek culture. Just being in New York City I am constantly inspired to think of bits of Greek mythology, like the statue of Nike, public works project, that stands in a Bronx park, or the lions of the main branch of the New York Public Library that make me think of the lion bodied woman the sphinx.

Painting by Marie Hines Cowan at Lord & Andra Gallery

Poetry plays a key part in your practice, do you rely mostly on classic poetry or is it also contemporary?

I am very influenced by classical poetry, but generally the poetry that is associated with my paintings, in the form of installations along side the work or actually painted into the work, is modern and most often my own writing.

You have been exhibiting since the late 70s, how do you see the art world changing, and what is the biggest change you experienced in your career throughout the years?

This is such a difficult question. I find it very hard to see any huge changes. I guess first because I only pay attention to what I am interested in and secondly because whatever I am doing, or however I am showing my work it is in the manner in which I am able to handle at the moment in which I am doing it and so doesn’t feel like a change from something else, it is just how I am doing it right now. I guess another reason why I don’t see any huge changes is because I have never followed any particular trends in art making. My work doesn’t fall into any particular style or group. I just keep creating what comes from my gut and needs to be expressed. Also, I am not terribly social and I tend to spend much more time in my studio and very little in the gallery scene so I don’t see the art world from the point of view of someone on the interior of it.

Artist Marie Hines Cowan

As a figurative painter, which artists would you say carry a big influence on your style and technique?

Chronologically I have to start with the Greek potters. The next important group would be the mannerist of the Italian renaissance, Parmigianino, Michelangelo. But others like Caravaggio, Rembrandt and Durer from the early and late renaissance also influenced me. The Art Nouveau movement was also very influential to my work, Alphonse Mucha in particular. His commercial work is pretty wonderful, but it is his dramatic mural of Slavic history that I find really inspirational. And then there are the Secessionist artists. When the 1900 Vienna exhibit came to New York I went to see it, like probably every other artist in Manhattan and it really moved me. I was and still am in awe of Klimt, Kokoschka and Schiele.

This introduction and interview was curated by Shally Zucker for Artqol.

© Artqol 2020 All rights reserved.


Drupal Howtos

A how-to is a short description of how to accomplish a specific task. This is a compilation of Drupal related howto's which I provided to friends or which I applied myself. Targeting the Drupal beginner they provide simple and detailed step-by-step descriptions with pictures.

How to disable a particular part in the source code of CSS?

Sometimes you want to disable a part of the CSS code without deleting it. To do so you can put "/*" and "*/" around the code you want to disable. You can use the same method to add headings and comments to your CSS files.

css code

How to remove the preview button on a Drupal 8 contact form

Option 1. Use hook_form_alter()

One proposal is to utilize hook_form_alter() to strip out the preview button form element in any form. We did not test this solution, but according to the feedbacks on https://drupal.stackexchange.com it seem to work.

Drupal 8 work

How to disable the breadcrumb or menu trail using Drupal?

Breadcrumbs, breadcrumb trail or menu trail is a navigation aid used in user interfaces. It allows users to keep track of their locations within programs or documents.

How to copy a Drupal site within 10 minutes

There are many often complex and time consuming ways to copy a Drupal website from one webhosting company to another-one. This howto offers you instructions how to do it the easy way. It is based on the following assumptions: You have the same Drupal versions on both sides and Drupal is already installed at the destination.

Export of Drupal database using phpMyAdmin

How to make the embed Youtube player responsive using Drupal

Many Drupal modules such as Media: YouTube or Video Embed Field offer a very easy way to integrate the embed Youtube player as field. In a time where responsive design has become a must, it is quite surprising that they all don't offer any responsiveness. Furthermore most of the free and paid themes who integrate Youtube/Vimeo apparently also don't consider this aspect.

Use the Drupal module "Node clone" to easily clone webforms

Drupal module node clone

How to display search results as views

Drupal themes to be compared


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Erik Trautman

“Everything you can imagine is real.”
-- Pablo Picasso

A Practical Framework for Identifying Opportunities in Artificial Intelligence

What it Means to be AI-Driven

AI Assisted, Enabled or Driven stick figures by Erik Trautman

The conversation about Artificial Intelligence has become so muddy lately that it is important to be very clear about what we mean when we say an organization is "using AI" or is "AI driven". This post will clear up those definitions and some of the implications of each classification.

There are three levels at which an organization can adopt artificial intelligence:

  1. AI-Assisted: AI is a technical bolt-on to existing processes, usually through the use of AI-created tools, for example AI assisted sales or team management tools.
  2. AI-Enabled / AI-Augmented: AI is applied to existing processes or product data to make the product or service better or more useful, for example the recommendation engines behind Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, etc. This is often in the form of one or more AI-driven features or products.
  3. AI-Driven: AI is literally the lifesblood of the company or initiative, for example self-driving technologies and the companies providing tools to AI-Assisted companies. This is truly an AI-Driven company.

Each of these cases has different implications from the perspective of the implementing organization.

How Artificial Intelligence is Closing the Loop with Better Predictions

Much of the hype around Artificial Intelligence centers on some vague sense that it continuously learns from the world around it so it gets ever-better at performing tasks. In reality, it's important to understand that the core truth underlying this is much simpler and more powerful: AI technologies allow us to make better predictions than we could before.

Despite the simplicity of that fact, it is an enormously powerful building block which enables automation on a scale we've never seen before by disrupting task loops across the information and physical worlds. Understanding it will allow you to better appreciate the kinds of change it can and will drive.

The semiconductor represents a useful analogy for this reduction. Semiconductor technology obviously changed the world but these empires were built on top of a single simple truth: it reduced the cost of arithmetic. That most fundamental use case forms the basis of computing and, at sufficient scale, allows us to do everything we can today.

When you trust memes

The Entropy of Trust

I'm always amazed that people seem shocked when something they've trusted is usurped for commercial gain. Somehow, in a world that's incredibly dynamic and built on Darwinian evolutions at all levels from single cell organisms up to commercial entities, we still hold onto this naive view that our trust in systems is somehow static.

This is probably because we build our relationship with trust based on our relationships with close friends and family. In most (healthy) cases, this one-to-one trust grows slowly or remains constant over time. A fairly static model for trust is reasonable in this microscopic system.

Unfortunately, we tend to implicitly model the trust we place in third parties and macroscopic communities along similar lines and that simply doesn't reflect reality.


embroidery business in honolulu hawaii

We Make Fashion A Snap With Our Idea

Lots of people are terrified about the concept of what is stylish. They see people using elaborate clothes and get the concept that they might never look like that. embroidery business in honolulu hawaii

Sheer clothes adds a little bit of allure, but beware of how sheer and what’s showing. Wearing transparent products that are sheer in private areas can make you appear trashy instead of elegant.

One valuable piece of fashion guidance is to ensure you’re constantly look for new patterns and modifications. They generally share the new patterns.

Just pick a few types of makeup products you use the a lot of. Believe about what you will use to work and what you will need from the town.

If you have to purchase online, make sure you study the sizing charts on the site. Look for if you can return policy.

If you are petite, use soft and soft patterns that are fitted at the waist to increase the look of your general length. If your shape is that of a pear, use light colors on leading with dark bottoms.

Use a moisturizer that has shea butter to moisturize cuticles and nails every day. You are going to desire to believe about utilizing shea butter on your hands then don a pair of cotton gloves while sleeping.

You can stay on top of style by being eccentric. Wear your hair a little unpleasant, unbutton your shirt, or even two textures.

When it comes to fashion.You will never know how it looks until you attempt, you don’t have to adhere to the status quo. You will look marvelous and produce excellent appearances by putting specific pieces together.

You might want to employ somebody who is a style expert to go shopping occasionally. This will help you to stay stylish with work and family.

If your look includes shorts, you require to ensure that you do not use socks that show up. This is more common practice for youngsters in kindergarten. Keep your socks cut to the ankle and your shorts.

Your hairdo states a lot about who you are. Your hair needs to represent your distinct character. For example, if you work in an expert environment, pick something traditional and lovely, classic bob or another sophisticated design. Nevertheless, if you are a very hectic mama, choosing a style that is simpler and simpler to manage will work best.

Just make certain that you could risk yellowing your clothing products up and bleach the wrong clothing on accident.

Attempt using a pair of suspenders if you’re not into belts.

Stock up your wardrobe with anti-wrinkle or easy to care for pieces if you travel regularly for work. A lot of hotels have ironing supplies available, you shouldn’t waste time ironing when you don’t have to. Don’t forget to hang great clothes must be put on wall mounts as soon as possible to keep them looking fresh and gowns.

Lots of people neglect glasses as a standard part of their wardrobe but overlook their eyeglasses.You can show your look. Try on various frames till you find the pair you’ll enjoy to wear that emphasize your facial features and add to your individual design.

You just need to take a bit of time so you know what is stylish each season.

Develop a budget for clothing and style accessories. You can buy a lot of clothing with a budget as long as you go shopping wisely.

Try to integrate both conventional and trendy.Classic things will last for several years and you can alter the look by equipping. Wear a belt with a set of fundamental black pants.You can make your traditional shirt a little classy by accenting it with a scarf to a strong colored t-shirt.

Slim jeans are very popular at the most recent jean trend.You don’t need to be skinny to use them. They will flatter the majority of body shapes due to the fact that they smooth and flatten the bottom half of the body.

Use bronzer on the bottom of your cheekbones to make them to appear greater. High cheek bones complement your clothing and keep you looking fashionable.

It is very crucial to have an excellent swimwear. The match must fit the shape of your body precisely. It is essential that you use a top that fits you if your bust is smaller.

Do not forget the little things in your entire look.Travel with good travel luggage, nice baggage and never go out with scruffy umbrellas or outerwear.

You require flexible pieces that works in daytime and night. If you’re a female that is really hectic, this will be especially handy.

Do not use square heels if you have shorter legs.

When you desire people to focus on your skirt, reveal it off more by using a plain t-shirt with it.

Now that you have read this article, you may now see that it can be easy to look stylish. Don’t hesitate of fashion anymore. As you get comfy putting pieces together, you must have the ability to develop flattering and trendy appearances that will impress everybody. Put your newly discovered knowledge to excellent use!

They see people using elaborate clothes and get the concept that they might never look like that. Think about what you will use to work and what you will require from the town. If your shape is that of a pear, wear light colors on leading with dark bottoms.

If your appearance consists of shorts, you need to make sure that you do not wear socks that are visible. If your bust is smaller sized, then it is essential that you wear a top that fits you.


Fahrenheit 451 Feminist Analysis

1817 Words8 Pages
Women in Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 are dystopian novels written by Aldous Huxley and Ray Bradbury. In Brave New World, science has developed to the point where babies are “decanted” from bottles in laboratories, and are conditioned according to the society’s caste system which ranges from Alphas to Epsilons. Through manipulating embryos, conditioning children in their sleep, and keeping the adults happy with a drug called “soma”, peace is maintained. The main character, Bernard Marx, is and “Alpha” by his conditioning and inferior to other Alphas physically. He is insecure and lonely, compared to the rest of the society, because he feels that he does not belong. He is forced to contemplate about the…show more content…
This paper will talk about the women in both novels; how they are developed throughout, what they serve in the plot, and how the authors reflect their views about women through their works. Both Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World show a future where women are inferior to men. Also, the authors have misogynistic views about women. But Fahrenheit 451 is heaps better than Brave New World, because it actually has more intriguing women, and is not reeking of total sexism like BNW. In Fahrenheit 451 Clarisse is the novel’s catalyst. She is affects Montag in such a way, he starts to question his society and whether he’s happy. One thing I did not like about women characters in both Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 is that they are too shallow, they are not three dimensional and they do not come to life on the pages as the male characters do. They serve as plot devices and as a way to make the men of the novel grow, contemplate and learn about themselves. They are easily discarded by the authors; Bradbury kills Clarisse before she gets a chance to develop as a character to speed up Montag’s recognition of the world around him, and Huxley reads like he was trying too hard to make the readers uncomfortable by the promiscuity of women and
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Guided tours

The bizarrely named Smoo Cave in Cape Wrath has seen human habitation for over 5,000 years. From the Norse word, "smjugg," meaning hole or hiding place, the deep and well-hidden Smoo Cave is almost invisible from nearly all approaches. You don’t really notice it until you descend into it. On the surface, the only noticeable feature is the sudden hole in the middle of a field disappearing into the dark. Legends abound of murderous bandits throwing their victims down into the pool below.

The earliest archaeological evidence suggest Stone Age inhabitants, with packed shells from the Iron Age found as well. Multiple Norse artifacts have been recovered at the site that researchers believe suggest Smoo Cave was used for repairing longboats and launching raids down the coast.

Today, there are several wooden platforms that make access to the cave easy and interesting.

The cave is massive. As you come down the stairs and onto the beach, you will cross a bridge giving you the first look into the wide-open mouth. The cave is nearly 20 meters wide and 15 meters high, the largest sea cave entrance in Great Britain. The main chamber is expansive and impressive with the namesake hole high in the cieling. At the back there is a wooden platform that gives you a viewpoint into the spectacular second chamber. A waterfall pours through the top of this beautiful limestone chamber. The wooden platform gives you a descent view. Mood lighting adds a slightly artificial atmosphere, but it doesn’t detract from the beauty.

If you fancy exploring further, there is a tour that you can join for £6 that takes you across the Lake Chamber to a passageway exploring the back tunnel of the cave. It is well worth it. Tours are run by Smoo Cave Tours March through to October.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Parking Pass

Stunning. Historically fascinating.

Very wet in the cave. Busy. Very managed.

Pets allowed

Allowed with Restrictions

Family friendly
Guided tours
Picnic tables
Flushing toilets
Native artifacts
Historically significant
Big vistas
Geologically significant
Whale watching
Bird watching

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Science Technology & Society

Physics is the branch of science pertaining to the study of different forms of matter, their properties, interactions, and transformations, etc. With a changing society came new approaches to the study of natural history, physics, mathematics, medicine, and public health. Students wishing to pursue a minor in Science, Technology, and Society must develop a specific plan for its completion in consultation with the program’s designated advisor.

It is therefore critical to understand how we may be able to best realize the potential of science and technology in improving the human condition, underpinning economic and social development, supporting human endeavors, and promoting international relations, being cognizant of and addressing societal concerns that often accompany such advances.

College Of Science, Technology, And Health

Wood Science And Technology

science technology engineering and mathematics jobs, science technology news, science technology and society, science technology engineering arts and math academy at la presa

Astronomy Articles

Oceanography, one of the important four branches of Earth Science , is the study of the oceans. Environmental technology employs economically viable and eco-friendly technologies, to apply sustainable development as a solution to environmental issues, by finding ways to save and protect the environment, and inflict minimal harm to natural resources.

Science And Technology Research News Articles

There are gender differences in learning styles specific to science, math, engineering and technology (STEM) that teachers of these subjects should keep in mind when developing lesson plans and teaching in the classroom. Drawn from a variety of disciplines, including anthropology , history , political science , and sociology , scholars in these programs created undergraduate curricula devoted to exploring the issues raised by science and technology Unlike scholars in science studies , history of technology, or the history and philosophy of science, they were and are more likely to see themselves as activists working for change rather than dispassionate, ” ivory tower ” researchers citation needed As an example of the activist impulse, feminist scholars in this and other emerging STS areas addressed themselves to the exclusion of women from science and engineering.

science technology engineering arts and mathematics at legacy high school complex, science technology engineering and mathematics career cluster, science technology and society major jobs
Science and technology are forms of knowledge utilized for different purposes within society. Majors take four core classes in STS: philosophy, history, and either public policy or anthropology of science and technology. Without society then there would be no science and technology and that is why the invention of certain tools and equipment have helped achieve big things.


JoelFurchesWe are joined by the behavioural psychologist and Christian thinker Joel Furches for a conversation on his ongoing research into the contemporary phenomenon of deconversion from Christianity to Atheism.

Drawing upon his background in psychology, sociology and education, Joel shares with us patterns he is finding in case-study data that may help to explain why some people abandon Christianity and turn to Atheism. Observing various commonalities in such people's backgrounds—such as "wooden" notions of biblical inerrancy, legalism and isolationism—Joel argues that cultural factors like these may well play significant parts in fuelling "deconstruction" of belief and lead to equally dogmatic unbelief.

We also talk about Christian apologetics more generally, including the term itself, and consider which approaches—evidentialist or presuppositionalist—best suit different situations.

(Download Podcast HQ 128 kbps)

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[apologetics, evidentialism, presuppositionalism, Christianity, Atheism, psychology, guilt, dogmatism, inerrancy, creationism, legalism, literalism, fundamentalism, evangelicalism, sexuality, isolationism, Bart Ehrman, Joshua Harris, Derek Webb, Ryan J Bell, deconstruction]

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In Slavic tradition "spiders" (павук) were traditional New Year's and Christmas ornaments. Before the Christmas holidays girls always had many tasks to complete. Besides getting ready for Malanka they also had to clean, cook and make various home decorations, like the ‘didukh’, ‘spiders’ and ‘hedgehogs’. The decorations were typically made on January 2. Girls would gather in secret, to make sure there were no men with them, and start cutting straw, stringing it on a thread and forming squares and triangles of different size.

On Christmas Eve 'spiders' were hung from the central beam of the ceiling. Suspended on a thread made from horse hair the decoration kept constantly spinning and moving, making the impression of a living being.

Apart from the ‘spiders’ people also made ‘hedgehogs’ – these were made of clay or dough with rye ears used to made the creature’s needles. Nonetheless, the "spiders" were always the favorite decorations. Their diamond-shaped toys actually resemble a spider's web, and the centre piece - a spider, protecting the house.

Spiders have always been considered desirable in people’s dwellings, because the world was believed to have been created by a spider. There’s a belief that those who kill a spider will bring misfortune upon themsevles.

Another belief stated that if there was a spider beside you, you were to expect news! In addition to that, in folk tradition spiders are the embodiment of persistence and hard work. All the elements put together, with spiders considered hard workers and news bearers there’s no wonder they were used as a means of letting everyone know that Christmas was coming.

There’s also a legend, that after Jesus’ birth, when Herod the Great ordered his soldiers to find and murder every baby around, a spider came down and made an incredible web to cover up the entrance to Mary’s hide out, this way saving them both from death.

#funfacts #christmas

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Why do we work with the eyes in Esoteric Yoga?

Why do we work with the eyes in Esoteric Yoga?

Why do we work with the eyes in Esoteric Yoga?

A part of the Esoteric Yoga template is dedicated to the eyes – from a supine position on the mat, participants move to a seated position with the legs out in front (or slightly bent to support ease of posture) and then bring their awareness to the eyes themselves, and the area around the eyes.

And there is much to be felt here – tension or relative ease; their differing positions in the eye sockets, as in one sitting more forward or higher; the eyeballs themselves feeling distended or hard; a relative numbness around that part of the face, of our anatomy.

And yet, our eyes work overtime. As humans, we mainly tend to piece our world view together from what we gather through our sense of sight, at the expense of the other physical senses and at the expense of whole-body presence.

We direct our eyes, albeit unconsciously, to grab what we have determined we need to have confirmed of what we think we already know or want to know. And in that sense, the adage “seeing is believing” reveals its treachery – we see everything but do not want to see everything and as such, believing what we see has us depend on a narrow window into the all that is available to us to be seen.

We see what we want to see – and we don’t see what we don’t want to see.

As an example, we see but then ‘turn a blind eye’ to the distress of a son/daughter or to the lovelessness of a partner – until it is too late, and we are left to pick up the pieces. At the time, it did not suit us to acknowledge the whole picture and we dismissed and explained away what was presented.

In truth, our physical eyes are there to confirm what we have already felt; the latter, our clairsentience, providing a much vaster and all-encompassing sense of what is really going on and has been going on. We can all relate to a situation when we walked into a room and clearly felt that we could ‘cut the air with a knife’, it was that thick.

“We are energetic beings. This means that we are energy well before we are the physical, dense or material matter we appear to be to the current form we make of the images our eyes receive. Let us not forget that we are assembling what we receive into an image that conforms to our ideals, beliefs and concepts and not that we ‘see’ and make real all that we actually receive to see and make real.”

Serge Benhayon Esoteric Teachings & Revelations Volume III, ed 1, p 18

In Esoteric Yoga, we gently open and close our eyes three times, re-imprinting an otherwise automatic if not robotic movement, executed thousands of times each day. It is said that we spend 10% of our waking time with our eyes closed – this is astounding, is it not? Especially when we are unaware of the fact. And as such, the detail that can be felt when we bring our awareness to such fine and tiny movements of the eyes by opening and closing them in the session allows us the opportunity to deepen our presence and therefore our awareness.

When we bring awareness to opening and closing the eyes, we keep the mind with the body and don’t let it escape into an otherwise presence, whether that be the past or the future. We put a stop to this split and the exhaustive mind-full practice of entertaining two planes of existence; one that is dominated by the mind and its meanderings if not aberrations, and one that the physical body moves in. In other words, we practise true yoga = union.

There is much to be gained from bringing that level of care and attention to our eyes and the movement of our eyelids across the eyeballs. We get to feel the warmth and protection that the lids provide (can you imagine for a moment what it would feel like and how painful it would be to not have eyelids?); we get to feel the spherical shape of the eyeballs (give or take variations for myopia, astigmatism, etc.); we learn to appreciate and love the delicateness of the movement and the harmony of the interconnectedness.

This part of the Esoteric Yoga template allows for greater appreciation and the expansion into a much vaster context, into our multi-dimensionality while being in a human body.

How truly sensitive and delicate can we allow ourselves to be?

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Conscious presenceBody awarenessYogaClairsentience

  • By Gabriele Conrad, Editor

  • Photography: Michelle Foulser, Photographer BA Hons

    Michelle is a talented professional photographer working mainly in natural light. Her work is fresh and contemporary and focuses on capturing energetic quality as it unfolds and reflecting the depth and true beauty of her subject in a still Photograph.


Wind farm shut down following discovery of red kite cadavers

The Weiler wind farm in the municipality of Wincrange has been suspended following the discovery of red kite cadavers near the wind turbines.

© natur&ëmwelt

On Thursday morning, the Natur an Ëmwelt (nature and environment) association published a press release reacting to the news. The association queried whether energy produced from wind turbines is being done so to the detriment of the surrounding nature. To further demonstrate its concern, the association attached images of dead red kites found near the wind turbines.

Red kites are one of the most most widespread species of breeding birds in central Europe and are especially numerous in Wincrange, having sets there. The association argued that the construction of wind farms should not be authorised in areas considered critical natural protection areas, notably where certain bird species nest.

The Ministry of the Environment immediately reacted to the news and requested a detailed report from the ornithological centre. In the meantime, the wind turbines have been suspended. The ministry added that the facility’s operation follows strict constraints in order to protect red kites.

Zwee “Rotmilane” an der Fleegestatioun fir wëll Déieren zu Diddeleng

PDF: natur&ëmwelt press release in German


Brunner syndrome

Brunner syndrome is a rare genetic disorder associated with a mutation in the MAOA gene. It is characterized by lower than average IQ (typically about 85), problematic impulsive behavior (such as pyromania, hypersexuality and violence), sleep disorders and mood swings.[1][2] It was identified in fourteen males from one family in 1993.[1][3] It has since been discovered in two additional families.[4]

Brunner syndrome
Other namesMonoamine oxidase A deficiency
This condition is inherited via X-linked recessive manner

Brunner syndrome is caused by a monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) deficiency, which leads to an excess of monoamines in the brain, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). In both mice and humans, a mutation was located on the eighth exon of the MAO-A gene, which created a dysfunctional MAO-A gene.[5][6] The regular function of MAO-A, breaking down monoamines, is disrupted, and monoamines build up within the brain. Mice that lacked a functional MAO-A gene displayed higher levels of aggression, in comparison to mice with a functional MAO-A gene.[6]

Progesterone & Rauwolfia Serpentina (containing Reserpine) are a possible treatment as they both increase MAO-A activity.

Brunner Syndrome was described in 1993 by H.G. Brunner and his colleagues upon the discovery of a particular genetic defect in male members of a large Dutch family.[5] Brunner found that all of the male family members with this defect reacted aggressively when angry, fearful, or frustrated. The defect discovered was later found to be a mutation in the gene that codes for monoamine oxidase A (MAOA gene).[5] Brunner said that an "MAO-A deficiency is associated with a recognizable behavioural phenotype that included disturbed regulation of impulsive aggression".[5]

A letter published by Hebebrand and Klug (1995)[7] criticized Brunner's findings for not using strict DSM criteria.

Society and culture

Brunner's findings have been used to argue that genetics, rather than decision-making processes, can cause criminal activity.[8] Evidence supporting the genetic defense stems from both Brunner's findings and a series of studies on mice.[9] To prove the correlation between MAO-A deficiency and aggression in courts, it is often contended that individuals cannot be held accountable for their genes, and as a result, should not be held responsible for their dispositions and resulting actions.[8][9]

  1. Hunter P (September 2010). "The psycho gene". EMBO Rep. 11 (9): 667–9. doi:10.1038/embor.2010.122. PMC 2933872. PMID 20805840.
  2. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) 300615
  3. Brunner HG; Nelen MR; van Zandvoort P; Abeling NGGM; van Gennip AH; Wolters EC; Kuiper MA; Ropers HH; van Oost BA (June 1993). "X-linked borderline mental retardation with prominent behavioral disturbance: phenotype, genetic localization, and evidence for disturbed monoamine metabolism". Am. J. Hum. Genet. 52 (6): 1032–9. PMC 1682278. PMID 8503438.
  4. Piton A, Redin C, Mandel JL (August 2013). "XLID-causing mutations and associated genes challenged in light of data from large-scale human exome sequencing". Am. J. Hum. Genet. 93 (2): 368–83. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2013.06.013. PMC 3738825. PMID 23871722.
  5. Brunner HG, Nelen M, Breakefield XO, Ropers HH, van Oost BA (October 1993). "Abnormal behavior associated with a point mutation in the structural gene for monoamine oxidase A". Science. 262 (5133): 578–80. Bibcode:1993Sci...262..578B. doi:10.1126/science.8211186. PMID 8211186.
  6. Scott, AL; Bortolato, M; Chen, K; Shih, JC (2008-05-07). "Novel monoamine oxidase A knock out mice with human-like spontaneous mutation". NeuroReport. 19 (7): 739–43. doi:10.1097/WNR.0b013e3282fd6e88. PMC 3435113. PMID 18418249.
  7. Hebebrand J, Klug B (September 1995). "Specification of the phenotype required for men with monoamine oxidase type A deficiency". Hum. Genet. 96 (3): 372–6. doi:10.1007/BF00210430. PMID 7649563.
  8. Halwani S, Krupp DB (2004). "The genetic defence: the impact of genetics on the concept of criminal responsibility". Health Law J. 12: 35–70. PMID 16539076.
  9. Baker LA, Bezdjian S, Raine A (2006). "Behavioral genetics: the science of antisocial behavior". Law Contemp Probl. 69 (1–2): 7–46. PMC 2174903. PMID 18176636.
External resources


Input surface

The surface of the resonator that receives energy from the mating resonator.

By this definition, a transducer does not technically have an input surface. However, the back, non-contacting surface may be considered as the input surface (by analogy to a horn or booster).

Also see —
Stud surface
Output surface


So everyone should be aware. I got good reviewers from the audience saying that I did well. Then I try it and train many times. The truth should be to the contrary: Nevertheless, we, the young, have to challenge them. She attended the first and second grades in Sahel. So in order to prevent a girl from becoming sexually wild, we need to cultivate her mind attitude and not cut a part of her body. I do try some writing.

But through the hard work of the writer, director and all the others, we completed the work successfully. Most of the crimes committed in our country are done by the youth. For example, our sensitization focuses on prostitutes, men who travel a lot due to their work and people who engage in sex much. The old public or traditional rationale for this act is: But some women fail to report the rape to the police because of shame, fear or risk of alienation. What is the percentage of youth in crime?

Hareg (haregyazew) on Pinterest

I especially like the part about Tekhle and his mother. What is the reason? Mainly I want to thank eitrean public, young and old, for supporting me for my modest contribution and encouraging me. Some people say that the film was ended suddenly and it should have been continued. A short interview with Feruz follows. What is the relationship and cooperation among you actors?

I also want to take part in singing and dancing. They learned their lesson from their mistakes. What kind of character do you like to play? In during the Independence Day celebrations I took part in the youth mass sport aerobics. So the message or theme in the songs lyrics needs to be constructive. And eriteran the younger artists, I admire: Another matter, there need to come a change of behavior. I do try some writing. After that I sang a song in the Rritrean language about the unity of the Somali people.

I like other works of art dealing with the youth in general. Stay updated via RSS.

In our films, there are not many female screenwriters or directors. In addition to sports she studies Italian and French hxreg. The film opened my acting career for me. I started acting as a reserve with a second actress. The film was educational. I want to continue and grow in this profession of acting. It was hard for me to work with great artists like Moive Menges.

If we add self-confidence to this we, women can achieve our goals.

When you were young, what did you want to become? So they must get enough protection and cooperation from their families and employers.

New Eritrean Comedy 2017 [{ ግርጭት }] new eritrean comedy 2017 Grcht

Generally the concerned authorities must work hard to educate the public about the law. I read books and watch many films local and foreign. Even the children can benefit better when the woman is educated.

I think it was quite good. So I wanted movke study law. Does a female actress face any challenges in particular? What should a woman do if she faces the risk of rape? She can manage her family life better and she is more productive economically. The truth should be to the contrary:


The induction of the master erythroid transcription factor, GATA1 during early erythropoiesis is critical for efficient red blood cell production. However, GATA1 is expressed at low levels in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and is moderately induced at both the common myeloid progenitor (CMP) and megakaryocyte/erythroid progenitor (MEP) stages prior to lineage commitment.

Diamond Blackfan Anemia is a rare disease, usually associated with ribosomal gene mutations, leading to significant decrease in GATA1 expression and block in early committed erythroid differentiation. Mild defects in other myeloid lineages are also observed, with limited clinical relevance. The importance of GATA1 downregulation in disease pathogenesis is manifested by rare patients with DBA carrying GATA1 mutations. To understand signaling pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis DBA, we perform RNA-seq with mRNA from human CD34+ fetal liver cells and found that the chromatin organizer, Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 (SATB1) was prematurely downregulated. Our results further demonstrated that sustained SATB1 expression is critical to maintain required levels of GATA1 protein at both the CMP and MEP stages of differentiation, but not in committed erythroid progenitors.

In mice, SATB1 is modestly expressed in HSCs and upregulated during lymphopoiesis. SATB1 is downregulated during myeloid and erythroid differentiation and antagonizes myeloid and erythroid expansion. However, in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), SATB1 is required for efficient expansion of these lineages. SATB1 maintains 78% expression in human MEPs, but is undetectable in early committed erythroid progenitors. In RPS19-insufficient human HSPCs, SATB1 was downregulated to 22% in MEPs (p=0.02). Re-expression of SATB1 corrected a significant subset of deregulated mRNAs, including GATA1 regulators.

In the absence of SATB1, one such GATA1 regulator, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), failed to be induced in ribosome-competent human MEPs, reducing GATA1 protein expression by 35.7% (p= 0.026). Concurrently, MEP expansion was inhibited by 64.5% (p=0.023), reducing erythroid and megakaryocyte expansion by 18.2% (p=0.024) and 20.4% (p=0.183) respectively. SATB1 facilitated the formation of chromatin loops linking together an enhancer element with HSP70 promoters required for HSP70 induction in early differentiation.

Although GATA1 is significantly upregulated in committed erythroid progenitors, RPS19-insufficient human CD235+ erythrocytes express GATA1 28.4% of controls (p= 0.011). SATB1 re-expression increased GATA1 expression to 31.4% (p=0.089). Similarly, SATB1 re-expression increased CD235+ expansion from 13.9% to 39.5% (p=0.02) compared to controls. Our data indicate that premature SATB1 downregulation contributes to erythroid failure in DBA by reducing MEP expansion, but aberrant GATA1 expression observed in more mature erythrocytes is predominantly SATB1-independent. However, SATB1-re-expression improved CD11b+ myeloid expansion from 81.2% to 90.4% (p=0.045) and CD41a+ megakaryocyte expansion from 76.7% to 214.7% (p=0.038) respectively. Our results demonstrate that SATB1 plays an important role in human hematopoiesis and is an important regulator of GATA1.

Glader:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy.

Author notes

Asterisk with author names denotes non-ASH members.


Creating Positive Math Experiences for Learners

A recent article described how anxiety toward math can hinder mathematical progress. As parents and educators, how can we reduce or eliminate math anxiety through creating positive math experiences for learners? We’ve come up with some ideas.

1. Focus on math as a process rather than math as a single answer.
Many students view math as finding a single answer, where getting the right answer is good but getting the wrong answer is bad. When learners feel concerned with finding a single correct answer, they can develop anxiety toward math. In reality, math is a process that requires making conjectures, finding examples or counterexamples, trying new ideas, and collaborating. One way to help learners view math as a process is to ask learners questions such as “how do you know?” or “can you prove that?” rather than immediately confirming whether an answer is correct. Praise learners for their ability to explain their mathematical thinking, even if an answer is incorrect.

2. Ensure learners have material with an appropriate level of challenge.
If material is too difficult for learners, it can cause learners to feel anxious or discouraged. Choose problems with multiple entry points and provide learners with various tools to help solve such as manipulatives, graph paper, or colored pencils. Knowing a learner’s Quantile measure can also help educators choose materials with an appropriate level of challenge.

3. Avoid using math as a punishment.
Many of us have probably had a teacher who assigned extra math problems when the class was misbehaving or a parent who made us do schoolwork when we didn’t complete a chore. When math is used as a punishment, it leads learners to associate negative feelings with doing math rather than feelings of accomplishment, intellectual curiosity, and joy. Find creative ways to use math as a reward instead of a punishment, for example by spending one-on-one time playing a math game with a learner or allowing a learner to use special technology such as a tablet for the purpose of doing math.

4. Remain calm.
Parents and educators may feel anxious themselves about math, and learners can sense this feeling and replicate math anxiety from adults in their lives. If you feel math anxiety as an adult, try to remain calm when working with learners. It may help to review materials on your own first, prior to working with students, to give you a chance to review concepts before explaining those concepts to a learner.

What are some ways you create positive math experiences with learners in your life?

New Partnerships Increase Use of Quantile Measures

A series of new partnerships have greatly expanded the reach of the Quantile Framework for Mathematics. In the last year, Quantile measures have been added to Pearson’s aimswebPlus and Istation’s ISIP Math. Quantile measures have also become available through state assessments in Kansas and to the 15 member states of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. These new partnerships are in addition to the numerous state level assessments and assessment products that already report student mathematical ability in Quantile measures, including Kentucky’s K-PREP, North Carolina’s NC READY, Curriculum Associates i-Ready, HMH Math Inventory and Imagine Math. Also this year, new materials and textbooks from Pearson, McGraw-Hill, Origo Publishing and Big Ideas Learning have been calibrated to the Quantile scale, adding to the dozens already featuring Quantile skill or concept measures.

Quantile measures accurately match students with instructional materials by measuring both mathematical capability and the complexity of mathematical skills and concepts on the same developmental scale. There are two types of Quantile measures: a measure for students and a measure for mathematical skills and concepts. The Quantile student measure describes what the student is prepared to learn next. The Quantile skill or concept measure describes the difficulty, or demand, in learning that skill or concept. Both measures are represented as a number followed by the letter Q (e.g., 640Q) on the Quantile scale. Quantile measures can improve mathematics teaching and learning by helping educators target instruction and determine if students are on track to pass year-end assessments and succeed in college and careers. Visit for more information about the Quantile Framework.

Celebrate Pi Day with Rich Math Tasks!

Every year Pi Day is celebrated in classrooms across the nation. This year we are offering examples of rich math tasks on the topic of pi that have been calibrated to the Quantile Framework. Use these tasks in your Pi Day celebrations to help students make meaningful connections to the concept of pi. Visit to access our Pi Day resources!

And with the roll-out of this new resource, we’re giving away a pie! What do you need to do to be eligible to win a free pie? Simply “Like” our Quantile Framework Facebook page by April 14th and you’ll be entered to win*.

*Pie giveaway for residents of the United States only. Winner will be contacted via Facebook.

Literature That Will Enrich Mathematics

Embracing literature to enhance mathematics instruction in the classroom or at home benefits students by providing a richer and more meaningful perspective of mathematics. Connecting children’s literature with mathematics is an effective avenue for promoting problem solving, communicating in mathematics, and make connections between the mathematics needed in multiple disciplines. The paper “Using Children’s Literature to Teach Mathematics” presented on The Quantile® Framework for Mathematics site offers teachers and parents helpful suggestions for identifying literature that will support mathematics instruction and engage students.

An appropriate book to enhance an effective mathematics lesson should have an authentic context that includes real-life experiences, multi-cultural components, and enjoyable plots that unite mathematics and literacy. A report titled “Making Informed Choices: Selecting Children’s Trade Books for Mathematics Instruction” by S. J. Hellwig, Eula E. Monroe, and James S. Jacobs (2000) offers suggestions for identifying books that will support instruction and create meaningful and explicit connections to engage students. The article offers pointers for choosing appropriate children’s literature with mathematics topics. An appropriate book should:

  • represent mathematics and other information accurately and depict mathematics relationships correctly.
  • presents factual information, uses terminology appropriately, and portrays mathematical principles accurately.
  • includes a format and presentation that are visually and verbally appealing.
  • offers interest and pleasure without overpowering the text with mathematical processes and terminology.
  • provides a context for learners to make meaningful connections between mathematics and personal experiences.
  • easily connects the mathematical process or experience to the resolution of the story.
  • presents concepts in a way that appeals to a range of audiences and abilities.
  • appeals to a variety of interests, cultures, and/or experiences.
  • offers layers of richness beyond the predictable or expected and presents exciting new views or ideas.
  • engages students with a story that layers the unexpected with original insights or surprising events.

The study of mathematics is not just about learning mathematical processes and memorizing facts and algorithms. Mathematics becomes more visible in everyday life when students discuss the uses and advantages of applying math in various situations and recognize the necessity of mathematics in careers, personal budgets, traveling, and even games. What better way to promote those discussions when so many children’s books are available to add fun and interest to topics in mathematics?

Math Circles Help Develop Students’ Problem Solving Skills

At MetaMetrics, we get excited when we see enthusiastic students and educators in our community! Just down the street from our offices is exactly what you can find on Saturday mornings: students, parents, and educators working together to solve challenging math problems as part of the Chapel Hill Math Circle headquartered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

What is a math circle? A math circle is a group of students of any grade level coming together to share their passion for math through exploring challenging math problems or special topics. Math circles benefit students by providing the chance for them to solve unfamiliar problems in unique ways. In traditional math classrooms, students often learn a new skill and then immediately apply that skill to a set of practice problems. This process does not give students the opportunity to determine which mathematical concept or solution strategy should be applied to a given problem. In math circles, students see problems out of context from classroom instruction, which helps them develop the ability to solve problem, make arguments, critique others’ reasoning, and persevere through difficult tasks.

In the Chapel Hill Math Circle’s beginning group, students in first- through third-grade solve problems such as this one:

A male parrot and a female parrot are talking. The one with a yellow tail says, “I’m a boy.” The one with a blue tail says, “I’m a girl.” If at least one of them is lying, who is who? Explain your answer.

This is an example of the type of problems the advanced group of high school students would solve:

A polyhedron is made up of pentagons and hexagons. How many pentagons must there be? Prove that no other number of pentagons is possible.

These problems are designed to solicit deep thinking and require students to try multiple solution strategies, collaborate, propose and test conjectures, and communicate ideas using valid mathematical arguments. At the end of the school year, the math circle concludes with a Julia Robinson Math Festival, a full day of problem solving, games, and prizes, all related to math!

For more information about math circles, including how to find a math circle near you or how to start your own math circle, visit the National Association of Math Circles at For more information specifically about the Chapel Hill Math Circle and the corresponding Triangle Math Teachers’ Circle that provides professional development for local teachers, visit For more information on the Julia Robinson Math Festival, visit

Photo Courtesy of the Chapel Hill Math Circle

Celebrate Storytelling in Mathematics

September 25th is Math Storytelling Day! MetaMetrics® offers Lexile “Find a Book” so that educators and families can use student Lexile® measures to make informed decisions about reading materials that both interest children and are at reading levels appropriate for them to understand the material. Likewise, on MetaMetrics offers Math Literature Guides that accompany children’s books so that teachers and parents can use student Quantile® measures to engage children with appropriate topics in mathematics. Because this is the week of storytelling in mathematics, we want to share some Math Literature Guides that serve as samples for a variety of mathematics skills and concepts.

A simple topic for the early mathematics learner is working with ordinal numbers, such as first, second, third, and fourth. A fun book to read is Trouble on the T-Ball Team by Eve Bunting. The Math Literature Guide for this book offers ideas for using ordinal numbers at sports events (third quarter of a football game), in routine events of the day, or when losing the first tooth. In the Math Literature Guide, notice the blue title of the book. This means that when you click the title, you will be taken to the Lexile “Find a Book” page for that book.  On that page in the right-hand column is a drop-down menu called “Find This Book.” Select “World Cat” in that drop-down list to see libraries near your home where you might find the book. You can also select “Barnes & Noble” or “Amazon” to purchase the book.

For children a little older, another more challenging math topic is counting to a million, the subject of the book, A Million Dots by Andrew Clements.  Dots are everywhere in the book and the challenge is to find the dot that is indicated by the number on the page. The Math Literature Guide for this book offers ideas for questions that will encourage children to think critically when comparing such large numbers.

Geometry topics are the subject of many children’s books. One example is Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland by Cindy Neuschwander. This book includes some plays on words about angles and circles. By fifth grade, students are learning about right angles, acute angles, and obtuse angles. So the Math Literature Guide for the book offers ideas for finding different types of angles in the book and for thinking about where angles are found in architecture, design, and nature.

Mathematics is everywhere in our world but can seem to be invisible unless we take the time to point it out. Reading children’s books that accentuate the uses of mathematics offers insight and appreciation for the role of mathematics in our lives. Talking about the books we read makes reading more fun as well.  Sunday, September 25, is Math Storytelling Day, so take a trip to the library where you will find books that reveal mathematics in unexpected places to kick off a week of pleasure in reading books about mathematics. Read and enjoy!

Story Telling in Mathematics

Many people have fond memories of mom or dad putting them to bed with favorite bedtime stories. I recall the precious memory of a parent reading a fun story just before I snuggled into bed for the night. I also have a special memory of the bedtime hour when my dad was home to tuck me in. He did not read stories to me. He gave me “algebra” problems. From the time I was in third grade and up, he would ask, “A number plus 8 is 15. What is the number?” Now as a grandmother, I play “Mystery Number” with my grandchildren at bedtime. They never fail to follow their answer with “Give me another one, Grandma!”

My bedtime memories were a good combination of mathematics and literacy. The benefits of reading to our children are enduring. Through books, children appreciate experiences of others that often relate to their own experiences, expectations, and dreams. Children’s books can also help to teach the concepts and uses of mathematics.

Math Storytelling Day is coming up! According to their website, September 25 is set aside every year to celebrate the many ways that mathematics is used in our daily lives. “Math Storytelling Day is a great opportunity to get children excited about math through stories and games. Math stories can include logic, patterns, puzzles and numbers.”

A great place to find mathematical resources, such as games, activities, websites, tutorials, and videos is Parents and teachers can access resources that are targeted to a child’s mathematical ability level based on The Quantile® Framework for Mathematics.  This learning community for teachers, parents, and students also includes helpful articles such as “The Quantile Framework for Mathematics in the Home.” As well as those ideas listed in the article, another simple convenient way to encourage a strong appreciation for the mathematics people use every day is to read books about math topics that inspire children to appreciate and enjoy mathematics.

The website lists children’s books that teach mathematics and offers Math Literature Guides that detail specifics about how to connect mathematics and literature. Each Math Literature Guide includes a series of questions and activities that promote ways for parent to talk about mathematics with their children. One example is the Math Literature Guide for the book Keep Your Distance, a fun and humorous book about measuring lengths with inches, feet, and miles by Gail Herman.

To celebrate Math Storytelling Day this year, the Quantile Team at MetaMetrics will share more book titles and Math Literature Guides about various topics in mathematics. Math storytelling can be an enjoyable experience for parents, teachers, and students as they focus on the ways mathematics is used daily. Stay tuned!

Gold in Math Olympiad

The 2016 Rio Olympic Games finished almost a month ago with the U.S. winning a total of 121 medals, which is almost double that of Britain in second place.  While we are still celebrating our nation’s athletic prowess, we should also be touting our academic success — the U.S recently won its second consecutive gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). The IMO is an annual competition for high school students held each year in a different country. The two-day competition requires students to complete 3 problems each day in 4 ½ hours. Here is an example problem:

“In Lineland there are n ≥ 1 towns, arranged along a road running from left to right. Each town has a left bulldozer (put to the left of the town and facing left) and a right bulldozer (put to the right of the town and facing right). The sizes of the 2n bulldozers are distinct. Every time when a right and a left bulldozer confront each other, the larger bulldozer pushes the smaller one off the road. On the other hand, the bulldozers are quite unprotected at their rears; so, if a bulldozer reaches the rear-end of another one, the first one pushes the second one off the road, regardless of their sizes. Let A and B be two towns, with B being to the right of A. We say that town A can sweep town B away if the right bulldozer of A can move over to B pushing off all bulldozers it meets. Similarly, B can sweep A away if the left bulldozer of B can move to A pushing off all bulldozers of all towns on its way. Prove that there is exactly one town which cannot be swept away by any other one. (Estonia)”

In the podcast “Count One More Gold for The U.S. — In MathJody Avirgan interviews Po-Shen Loh, the U.S. team coach. Loh, once a team member and now a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, thinks that just as the U.S. Olympics inspires young athletes, the IMO can likewise encourage students to be interested in mathematics. “I think that mathematics is similar to sports in the sense that if you do more practice, you actually get significantly better,” states Loh. “And the big question then becomes, ‘How do we convince people that doing that practice in mathematics is a fun, fruitful, exciting thing to do?’”

Good question, Professor Loh. One way we can encourage fun mathematics practice is through the use of math games. A quick internet search yields hundreds of math game sites. For a more precise approach to finding math games, teachers and parents can use the free resources available on  At the site, click “Use the Quantile Framework” at the top of home page. Then select “Math Skills Database” and “Keyword Search.” Enter a keyword such as “Operations.”  A list of Quantile Skill and Concepts (QSCs) targeted to the topic will appear. Suppose you want to practice “Order of Operations.” Click the QSC “Use order of operations including parentheses and other grouping symbols to simplify numerical expressions.” Then click” Show 18 Resources” to view the free resources calibrated to that skill. There are several math games listed to help students practice math AND have fun.

Productive Failure

  1. Go to
  3. Select “Math Skills Database.”

Teaching Math with Storybooks

By reading and discussing stories with children, you can gain some insight to how they think. Herbert Ginsburg, a professor of psychology and education at Teachers College Columbia University suggests that reading and discussing math storybooks with your child can help set the stage for meaningful mathematical achievements in school.

Certain books, such as counting and shape books are centered on learning math. However, there are also many books that have embedded mathematical ideas in the stories. For example, when Goldilocks sees Baby Bear’s bed and realizes it is too small, she compares the size of the beds to the bears. By doing this, she then realizes that there is a simple correlation between the two: the smaller or larger the bear, the smaller or larger the bed.

Storybooks deal with mathematical information informally with patterns, spatial relations, measurements, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. When reading books with your child ask questions about what’s happening in the story, make predictions of what will happen next, and try to find the embedded mathematical skills.

The following ideas may promote your child’s math learning:

  • Read books that you both find interesting.
  • Talk with your child about what is happening in the story.
  • Use mathematical language to describe and explain events in the book, (this square has four sides and they are all the same length, this is the biggest, which weighs the most) this should also keep your child engaged.
  • Think about your own math experiences and if they are negative, try not to transmit those feelings.

Reading stories is a wonderful way to help your child understand new mathematical skills. To help you along, we have math literature guides on that can be used to introduce new mathematical skills. Literature guides are provided as a resource for the Quantile Skill and Concept (QSC) they are associated with.

Ginsburg, H. P. (2016, February 2). Finding the Math in Storybooks for Young Children. KQED News. Retrieved from


Image: Arnold Böcklin - *The Homecoming* - 1887

Rachmaninov — Prélude in C sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2, 10 Préludes, Op. 23, 13 Préludes, Op. 32

On 31 July 1910, Rachmaninov wrote a letter to his old student friend, Nikita Morozov, telling him about his compositional achievements over the summer. After confiding that he had ‘only completed the Liturgy’ (the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, Op. 31), Rachmaninov half-seriously complained ‘that was it. Then it’s all intentions and well-meaning wishes. But the worst going is with the small piano pieces. I dislike this occupation and it’s heavy going for me. Neither beauty nor joy in it.’ Within six weeks, however, he had composed 13 such short piano pieces in rapid succession, finishing them in under three weeks. These pieces were to become his 13 Préludes Op. 32 and would complete his cycle of 24 préludes for the piano.

In this, he was following in the footsteps of Chopin, Scriabin, Bach and others who had written a series of piano miniatures in all 24 major and minor keys. He was also completing a personal journey of 18 years, which started with the composition of the immensely popular C sharp minor prélude, Op. 3, No. 2, in 1892, shortly after the 19-year-old composer graduated from the Moscow Conservatory. The cycle’s next building block, the 10 Préludes, Op. 23, wasn’t completed until eleven years later, and seven more years passed before the composition of the 13 Préludes, Op. 32. Rachmaninov’s préludes differed in size and scope from Chopin’s and Scriabin’s examples, which often were vignettes, allusions, hints of worlds; Rachmaninov’s préludes were fully developed, standalone small worlds, complete within themselves.

With so many years between the first and last prélude, the cycle became a mirror and a record of Rachmaninov’s development as an artist and a composer. In contrast to the full-hearted Romanticism of the first eleven pieces, the 13 Préludes, Op. 32 present a musical world which is much more angular, muscular and edgy. Their underlying spirit is more modern too, with only two préludes possessing the unashamed, unselfconscious Romanticism of Rachmaninov’s earlier works: the G major prélude, Op. 32, No. 5, which is pure and gentle as a summer’s morning, and the G sharp minor prélude, Op. 32, No. 12—wintry, heartfelt and personal in its mood. The divide between the two worlds is particularly striking at the transition between Op. 23 and Op. 32. The opening phrase of the C major prélude, Op. 32, No. 1, with its dense chromaticism and visceral drive, immediately shatters the complex, delicate dream woven by the G flat major prélude, Op. 23, No. 10, like the herald of a new era.

Despite this rift, the 24 préludes were clearly conceived by Rachmaninov as a single cycle, evident in the careful planning of tonalities in the two blocks of Préludes, Opp. 23 and 32. Moreover, he used an ingenious framing device, linking the very last prélude, Op. 32, No. 13 in D flat major with the very first one in C sharp minor through the use of motifs. The chromatic descending theme of the middle section in both préludes is identical but even more significant is the descending three-note motif, perhaps one of the most famous opening gestures in piano literature (a point certainly not lost on Rachmaninov, who was in effect forced by audiences to play the C sharp minor prélude as an encore after every concert). Rachmaninov uses this motif (transposed into the major) multiple times throughout the last prélude, right from the first bar, culminating in a triumphant fortissimo (track 24 3:52), lending a strong sense of closure and fulfilment.

Looking at the individual préludes, the cycle shows an incredible variety of character, colour, texture and mood. No two préludes are fully alike; even between seemingly similar ones, like the D major, Op. 23, No. 4, the E flat major, Op. 23, No. 6, and the G major, Op. 32, No. 5 (all of which feature singing, lyrical melodies over a calmly flowing accompaniment), a careful differentiation of tempo, mood and register ensures that each prélude’s character is clearly defined. I already spoke about the gentle atmosphere of the G major prélude, not dissimilar to Rachmaninov’s song Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5; the D major prélude is richer and less fragile, with a bigger climax, followed by the melody returning in splendour one last time, as if a very wide horizon has opened up before us. The E flat major prélude is the most heartfelt of the three, the most caring and loving—and also the most inwardly excited, with a freshness to it, an awakening, a breath of fresh air. This prélude reminds me of the many great female protagonists of Russian literature, Tatyana, Natasha and others, with their tenderness and inner strength. The real inspiration, however, lay closer to Rachmaninov’s heart: ‘it really just poured out of me all at once on the day my daughter was born (19 May 1903).’

As a more literal source of inspiration, Rachmaninov said that the B minor prélude, Op. 32, No. 10 was inspired by the painting The Return or The Homecoming by the Swiss symbolist painter Arnold Böcklin. The painting depicts a man, sitting on the edge of a pond with his back to us, looking down the hill at a small house with a single lit window. The colours are autumnal, auburns, reds, and browns, with an overcast, dusky sky above russet trees. Rachmaninov’s music is the most personal interpretation of the painting imaginable. The opening mood is sombre, solemn, subdued, with the measured alternation between the melody above and the short chords below creating an almost hypnotic effect. Later comes a tremendous buildup of repeated chords supporting a heavy melody, leading to an almost unbearably painful climax. Out of its aftermath appears a dreary, lifeless, desolate landscape. Later the opening theme is reprised and leads into a coda with the sound of steps receding into the distance. The final chord is at first in a major key, only to turn to minor at the last moment.

How to relate the music and the painting? The painting itself, of course, is very ambiguous—the scene doesn’t show a happy reunion, but just the protagonist, looking down at a house, not quite approaching. The title is like a cleverly chosen catalyst, driving our imagination to explode with possible interpretations. And I think that Rachmaninov’s prélude is one such interpretation. I see it as a masterful musical portrayal of the inner world of a man, to whom the homecoming is anything but simple and obvious. We can imagine any background story we wish, but it’s obvious that the present scene evokes very painful memories or raises painful thoughts—both the tumult of chords in the middle section and the sparse barrenness afterwards seem to speak of great inner turmoil and anguish. And the coda, if indeed those are steps receding into the distance, is just as ambiguous: whether the man takes those steps to approach the house or to turn away from it, is left for each one of us to imagine, as with the meaning of the bittersweet majorminor chord in the end.

Even if we don’t know the stories behind the other préludes, their character is often clear. Elements of nature seem to be present in a few of them. The prélude in B flat major, Op. 23, No. 2, is reminiscent of Rachmaninov’s song Spring torrents, Op. 14, No. 11, which is very similar in mood and texture. The song talks about the exuberant coming of Spring and the boisterous rivers and brooks who are its messengers and forerunners. The prélude of course has no vocal part, but the middle section more than makes up for it: a melody in the tenor line is surrounded by a fully independent bass and soprano, making the piano sound like two instruments at once, in Rachmaninov’s inimitable way. Contrasting with it is the prélude in C minor, Op. 23, No. 7, which seems to depict a winter storm; mostly quiet and subdued, but flaring up to passionate climaxes. And as always with Rachmaninov, it’s never only a depiction of nature: a strong emotional undercurrent suffuses the music, giving the storm and its outbursts a very personal character.

We can also find elements of the exotic—the Scheherazade-like middle section of the G minor prélude, Op. 23, No. 5, the rhythms and melodic inflections of the B flat minor prélude, Op. 32, No. 2, which are reminiscent of the Alhambra, or the slightly bizarre harmonies of the F major prélude, Op. 32, No. 7, which is in fact written in the uncommon Lydian mode. Russian elements are there too; though rarely a folksy composer, Rachmaninov could capture the feel of a Russian fair to perfection, as in the last movement of the Suite for two pianos No. 1, in the later Étude-tableau, Op. 33, No. 6, and here in the E major prélude, Op. 32, No. 3, with its happy tumult and many bells.

Bells, an all-time favourite sound for Rachmaninov, are also the main feature of the C sharp minor prélude, so much so that it was nicknamed The Bells of Moscow by Western audiences. A special moment comes towards the very end when, over a series of gradually receding tolls in the bottom part of the keyboard, there appears a melody inside the right-hand chords: the first notes of the medieval chant Dies irae, which was to become a recurring motif for Rachmaninov, appearing in many of his compositions.

And though not at all folksy in character, the D minor prélude, Op. 23, No. 3 is for me a Russian folk or fairy tale, of the dark and earnest kind. Rachmaninov marked it ‘in minuet tempo’, and while it is certainly in 3/4 time, the character—so warm, personal, with a strong sense of narrative that reaches an almost epic breadth in the culmination—is far away from any kind of stylised dance. It’s exquisitely constructed: relatively complex in structure, but completely unified through the extensive use of the prélude’s opening five-note motif, which appears everywhere throughout the piece, whether in the melodic voice, accompaniment, or as counterpoint. It also contains an exceptional moment, when time seems to stand still, and over a long-held note in the bass there’s a series of reminiscing phrases—the selfsame opening motif repeated several times, with a strong sense of loss and grief. This passes with a return to the fairy-tale character in the coda, which ends the story.

Apart from The Return, the 13 Préludes, Op. 32 contain two other larger-scale préludes—that in E minor, Op. 32, No. 4, and the last one, Op. 32, No. 13. The E minor prélude is a war ballad, epic in mood, reminiscent of old Russian poems, such as The Lay of the Host of Igor (or of The Lord of the Rings, if one prefers). The last, the prélude in D flat major is a magnificently constructed valedictory gesture. From its quietly proud opening chords, through a mysterious middle section to the tremendous roar of the reprise and an extended coda, it is broad, victorious and life-affirming—a wonderful close not just for this prélude or for Op. 32, but for the complete cycle.

I would like to dedicate this album to the memory of my grandma, Genrietta Milman. A gifted pianist, she was one of my earliest musical inspirations, and it was under her hands that I had first heard the E flat major and G major préludes. — Boris Giltburg


Category: Animal Stories

Sadly too many men live like a lion

The lion is said to be the king of the jungle. The big cat is a symbol of raw power, courage and nobility. The lion’s formidable strength and nomadic independence inspire us. The figure of the lion emblazons coats of arms, escutcheons, everything from auto symbolism to beer or whatever.

Heroic War Pigeons

World War One, and to some extent, the Second World War, was a strange blend of archaic and modern technology. The First World War, in particular, saw many technological innovations such as machine guns, grenades, submarines, warplanes and tanks, and despite the advances in radio and communications technology, many field commanders preferred to use carrier pigeons to convey important messages. Radio sets were too heavy to carry into battle, and field telephone lines snapped easily. With a homing pigeon, one could write a message on a piece of paper, place it inside a small canister and attach it to the pigeon’s leg. Once the pigeon was released, it would invariably try to fly back home and deliver the message.

He rescued Sadie from a shelter, then she saved his life

Last September, Brian Myers walked into a New Jersey animal shelter and rescued Sadie, a German shepherd, giving her another chance at life. Four months later, Sadie would do the same for him. Heather Centrella, the office manager at Ramapo Bergen Animal Refuge, said she got a call from Myers last week. It wasn’t to return Sadie to the shelter in Oakland, New Jersey, but rather to tell her what Sadie did.


WHAT? Biden Adviser Blames TRUMP for Paycheck Protection Program Running Out of Cash

(FreedomJournal.Org)- Symone Sanders, a senior campaign adviser for Joe Biden who appears regularly in the national media, made the shocking claim recently that President Donald Trump is responsible for the Paycheck Protection Program running out of money – even though the Democrats are the ones who blocked moves taken by Congressional Republicans to refund it.

The Paycheck Protection Program was set up under the CARES Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation designed to aid businesses across the United States during this unprecedented time of economic uncertainty. It quickly ran out of money, however.

In a virtual town hall event, Sanders took aim at the poor “management” of the PPP, presumably to deflect blame from congressional Democrats and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who proudly blocked additional funding for the program.

“So this is truly about management,” Sanders said. “Right, because Congress went and di their job. Congress’ job was to pass the bill to allocate the funds and it is the administration’s job to administer these funds.”

Sanders failed to explain, however, how she expected the administration to deliver a limited amount of money to businesses all over the country who needed more than what was provided.

Then, in a push for Biden, she implies the presumptive Democratic nominee would have handled it better.

“Hoe Biden has done this before, Okay?” she said.

Except, he actually hasn’t. He may have overseen some similar programs, but no American president or vice president has overseen an economic decline of this exact nature before or been required to spend so much government money to keep the economy moving.

Sanders said the Trump administration has “failed” at allocating those funds and that it is “unconscionable” that the money has run out.

In reality, it’s just basic math.

The average loan size given to businesses, according to Brewbound, was $206,000. That is $20,600 every week in payroll. Roughly three-quarters of all loans handed out by the government were less than $150,000, which accounted for more than $58 billion. In less than two weeks, 1.6 million loans were given through 4,900 lenders.

The simple truth is…it needs more money, and American businesses need access to these funds. But the Democrats are blocking it.


How Hurt Renewal Can Stop H2o Transmission

click here now from water is the term for a variety of distinctive prospective losses the result of the liquid infiltrating something or procedure, which can permit harmful to your home functions like corrode progress, ageing of metal, mildew progress, microbial increase, imprinted of timber, etching of amalgamated components, and so forth. Deterioration refurbishment expert services are necessary to restore a variety of damaged, low-corrodante elements with their initial state, whenever they have been exposed to waters.

H2o may be classified as outlined by its qualities. Some examples consist of: loss from pipes or taps, leaks in warmth, and dripping pipes, in addition to dampness in attics or cellars .. Should the property or home has all of these, the first main concern is to detect and remove the method of obtaining the drip your second main concern would be to restoration destruction to the ingredient or devices impacted your third main concern would be to tail off the humidity and submit an application safety films for the substance in order to avoid further more wreckage. click through the next document are, even though several different methods may be used to dry out drinking water: steaming, air con, and evaporative drying out.

Once the damage has become determined, the destruction repair method begins. try this out of specialists look at the foremost piece of this action for the reason that getting ready of your surface area part of the afflicted material. This phase includes: , 101 finish, and filling with glue.

If your surface area continues to be cleaned out, sanding, or set up, it is prepared for level.sanding and cleansing This can be the last action of the procedure, and it also commonly consists of filling up the affected region with resins that can hold up against the stress with the mineral water. Mineral water, nevertheless, should not be stopped from going through confirmed element right into a materials. Thus, stop the resins from taking it in.

Wetting the top the specific issue with various kinds of merchandise, although it is crucial to train on a substance that has the ability to take away the normal water. mouse click the following internet site -proof ingredients are really hefty. Consequently, when drinking water permeates the top of the ingredients, it will cause excessive excess fat on top, which often can at some point caused the merchandise to rot away, bend, or stop working absolutely. special info to this problem is the employment of an adhesive material, which seals the finish in opposition to normal water and avoids additionally break down.

Other parts of hurt which may demand restoration perform consist of cracks inside the walls, doors and windowsroofs and entrances, as well as other products, which include windows 7, which are eventually left untouched for several days. If you have a big ditch within the roof structure that’s been not treated, vehicle repairs will need to be produced, either by caulking or the use of a water-resistant liner, once the hurt is severe, a mixture of deterioration repair is essential.

By way of example. Though repairs may be required for the problems for the structure in addition to the problems for the outside of the property, it might not be actually possible to fully cease all the drinking water puncture. Mineral water vaginal penetration is still developing, and the only option is to fix the harm that may be happening, or replace the destroyed elements of the structure, even if for instance, there can be areas on the town which are still left secure. In such cases, the harm mend specialized will recommend the use of a tissue layer or perhaps a memory wax to stop normal water from permeating from the tissue layer.

Another thing destruction refurbishment services can do is to make certain that the structure and outdoor of the house is really as safe as they can. In House Flood , surfaces are getting to be weakened due to the existence of water, leading to constitutionnel injury. Sometimes, a wax is used to mend the splits and deterioration that happen to be happening.


Question: Is Echo Still Alive?

What episode 5s dies?

Fives death (season 6, episode 4) Fives was a member of the 501st Legion along with Rex.

General Krell had ordered him to death during the Battle of Umbara, but Fives was spared once Krell was arrested and then executed..

What happens to echo after Narcissus rejects her?

What happens to Echo after Narcissus rejects her? … He mistreats Echo. He falls in love with his own reflection. He wanders away from his friends.

What will the bad batch be about?

Who are the members of the bad batch Star Wars?

The new official trailer re-introduces each member of the group — Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, Hunter, and Echo — all voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. The series also teases the return of Ming Na-Wen’s elite mercenary Fennec Shand, who first appeared in the flagship Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian.

Did echo survive?

FALL OF THE REPUBLIC He survived a Separatist attack on the Rishi Moon listening post, was decorated for bravery, and inducted into the 501st Legion. Echo and his fellow Domino, Fives, later helped defend Kamino against a Separatist invasion, and were promoted to ARC troopers after the Separatists retreated.

Does Echo survive Order 66?

The last fans saw of them, they rescued Echo, which took away the Separatists’ secret weapon. They successfully finished the mission, and Rex was all for Echo rejoining him and his brothers.

Who are the bad batch clones?

Clone Force 99, informally known as “The Bad Batch,” was a clone commando special forces squad that was active during the Clone Wars. The squad initially consisted of four clone commandos that were designed with genetic mutations and led by Clone Sergeant “Hunter,” a clone with enhanced sensory abilities.

What happened to Echo in Echo and Narcissus?

Echo eagerly stepped out of the trees and repeated the words. … Nemesis caused him to fall in love with his own reflection he saw in a pool near the cave where Echo had died. Narcissus refused to leave the reflection of himself and, like Echo, starvation was going to claim him.

Why did echo join the bad batch?

Echo, formerly a “regular” clone, joined in part because he felt he would fit in better with the outliers after being forcefully enhanced with cybernetic parts by the Separatists.

When did echo die?

The revelation stirred a profound sense of regret inside Rex. The last time he or we saw him, Echo was consumed in the blast of a shuttle explosion while attempting the rescue of Jedi Master Even Piell (“Counterattack,” Episode 19 of Season 3).

Is echo in the bad batch?

The Bad Batch were the primary new characters introduced in the final season of Clone Wars episodes that premiered this past February. One Clone, Echo — previously thought dead, but rescued from Separatist forces — was granted permission to join the rowdy, weapon-heavy group on their never-ending mission of resistance.

What episode does echo die in Star Wars?

CounterattackEcho was seemingly killed by a deadly commando droid in season 3 episode Counterattack, but Rex suspects he’s alive due to the nature of Separatists’ counterattacks.

How long is the bad batch arc?

70-minuteThe 70-minute series premiere of Star Wars: The Bad Batch is quickly approaching. Soon, on May 4, we’ll see Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Echo, and Crosshair back in action, trying to flee from a post-Order 66 world.

How does echo die?

Why is clone 99 so old?

99 suffered from genetic and physical defects due to errors when he was being cloned.

Did Rex know about Anakin and Padme?

Does Echo die in the 100 season 7?

Queen Nia visited them and on a certain point forced the real Echo to kill Ash or Queen Nia would let them both get killed. Ash then killed the real Echo in self-defense. … In Season Seven, Echo joins a mission to rescue Bellamy, Octavia and Charmaine Diyoza from the Disciples.

Did the bad batch kill Echo?

The series stars Clone Force 99, aka the Bad Batch, an elite group of Clone Troopers who were born with “desirable” defects. … The Bad Batch made their debut in The Clone Wars season 7, and they were essentially portrayed as the Clone Army’s superheroes.