Bruce Springsteen - January 27, 2014

For going on two weeks now, the American Treasure Tour blog has been running at full speed with our "Faces of the Tour" series, highlighting the exceptional women whose photographs hang prominently on the walls in the Toy Box.  After literally thousands* of questions from blog fans inquiring into the men on the tour, we have decided to branch out a little.  (*The phrase "literally thousands" is used quite liberally.  The words "literally" and "thousands" may be a slight exaggeration.  And the word "slight" may also be an exaggeration.  Thank you.)

Today, we are going to look at someone a man with a plaque, hanging off a column in the Toy Box (look for it the next time you take the tour!).  Bruce Springsteen is a songwriter, singer and guitarist out of the mean streets of working-class New Jersey.  He has nurtured a passionate and devoted fan base over the past four decades writing songs about life in the heartland of the country.  Inspired by watching the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1962, the young Springsteen got his first guitar as a teenager and has been playing ever since.  The first album he recorded, 1973's Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., received critical acclaim despite slow sales.  Since then, he his blend of blues, folk and rock music has helped him to become one of the most successful musicians the country has ever had.  He has won twenty Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and continues to record and perform!

What was the name of the movie for which Bruce Springsteen won the Academy Award for Original Song in 1994?

a)  Pulp Fiction

b)  Philadelphia

c)  True Lies

d)  Stargate

e)  Four Weddings And A Funeral

Answer Below

This day in 1888, a group of Washington, D.C.'s elite social leaders organized "a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge," eventually known as the National Geographic Society.  The interests of the society include geography, archaeology, natural and social sciences, history, and the study of world cultures.  It has since become one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world, with excellent periodicals, documentaries, and photographic essays to its credit.

The march of progress has affected virtually every person and company in the world, both positively and negatively (hopefully, we hope, mostly positively).  On this day in 2006, Western Union discontinued its telegram service, a now-obsolete form of communication.  When it was begun in 1851, it was a revelation for passing along information.  The main reason telegraph service ended:  the development of the internet and e-mail.

On January 27th, 1919, there entered into the world a baby named Rostom Sipan "Ross" Bagdasarian.  A singer-songwriter, Bagdasarian was also an aspiring actor.  In one of his 'bigger' roles, he was cast in Alfred Hitchcock's film Rear Window.  He was the pianist across the courtyard from the apartment lived in by Jimmy Stewart's Jeff Jeffries.  He also wrote the song "Come On-A My House," which became something of a hit for Rosemary Clooney (George's aunt) in 1951.  But he made his biggest impact in the entertainment world as the creator of novelty music under the moniker Dave Seville.  First he sang the popular song "Witch Doctor," then he created the singing trio, The Chipmunks - Simon, Theodore, and of course Alvin.  Bagdasarian made a number of popular songs with the Chipmunks, most notably an album of Christmas music that kids played over and over again often to their parents' chagrin.  After his unexpected death from a heart attack at the age of 53, his son took over for him and continues to reach children of all ages with the wacky critters through records, television, and popular movies.

Adult life is dealing with an enormous amount of questions that don't have answers.  So I let the mystery settle into my music.  I don't deny anything.  I don't advocate anything.  I just live with it.  - Bruce Springsteen

Answer:  b)  Philadelphia - the song was "Streets of Philadelphia."


 Belmont Kodokan Judo Club

Sankaku Jime - Triangle Choke (Rear Facing Forward)

Shime Waza #12b
  Sankaku Jime, when applied properly is a blood choke which works by stopping the flow of blood to and from the brain. This can cause the loss of consciousness in as fast as 3 seconds while allowing Uke to breathe normally during the choke.

  Begin with Uke kneeling on hands and knees in a high turtle position.  Place your right leg along Uke's right ribs so that your right foot is on the mat immediately behind Uke's right hand.  With your left leg step over Uke's left shoulder so that the back of your left knee is resting against the top of Uke's left shoulder.

With Uke on his hands and knees and you nearly sitting on his back, lift your left foot and move it across Uke's chest towards your right knee. This should remove any extra space that existed between your legs and Uke's neck and shoulder. Reach down and grab the arm that is between your legs. In this scenario, it will be Uke's right arm. Once you have lifted the arm from the mat, you can either roll forward towards Uke's right front corner or towards Uke's left side.

Since the video demonstrates this technique by falling towards Uke's left, we will use this direction in our scenario. As you fall, try to keep your legs tight and bring your left ankle behind your right knee. If this is not possible, reach up and grab your foot with your hand and pull it into place. As your left ankle moves behind your right knee, bend your knee to trap the ankle. Now you and Uke are laying on your backs and you are ready to apply the technique.

  To apply the choke, pull Uke's right arm across his face and squeeze your legs together. If needed, reach up and push Uke's head straight away from behind. This will cause his face to sink into his arm and will help constrict the flow of blood to the brain.

Hold onto Uke's arm and do not allow Uke to break the piece of the triangle formed by your right knee and left ankle. As Uke rolls from side to side, retain your grip and continue to apply the choke until Uke taps.

  First off, don't give up your back as you have very little you can defend with.  Since you are in this position, you have to look at what you have to work with. Start by reaching up and try pushing Uke's right leg straight so that it doesn't have such a solid lock on Uke's left ankle.  Unlock the ankle from behind the knee if possible.

If Uke's legs are very strong, and you can't straighten the leg, pull the right ankle up to the left knee. While it is not a joint lock, you are able to create leverage against some of the weaker muscles of the hip. The motion is very much like Ude Garami but against the leg (knee at a right angle) instead of the arm. This will create space behind the knee and allow movement at the ankle and you may be able to unlock this part of the triangle.

Finally, you can try to pry your right arm away from your neck to create some space. Then try to roll to your knees and stand up. If you are able to start standing up, try to step on one of Uke's arms to create leverage for your escape.  If you are not able to stand, try forcing your free arm between your neck and Tori's legs to create more resistance and protection.
Sankaku Jime Rear - PDF Sankaku Jime Rear - WMV Sankaku Jime - Audio


Wednesday, November 23, 2016

What is the real objective of ESTA visa?

Thursday, November 10, 2016

What VWP travelers need knowing about ESTA visa?

US government started Visa Waiver Program to make traveling to US a hassle free affair but only for short visits of up to 90 days. It included some countries in the program and the selection of countries was made according to US security guidelines. Today travelers from VWP participating countries enjoy traveling to US with ESTA visa.

Why electronic permission is called a visa when it is only permission? Visa is the general word and also the permission is also like a visa. When you get permission to visit the US, you say that you have got a visa. But electronic authorization is different from the regular visa in technical terms. A regular visa could be for a long time like one year but the electronic authorization is valid only for 90 days.

Obtaining electronic authorization is easier than getting a regular visa. For ESTA visa online, travelers only need filling an online form and submitting it to the US government along with a fee of $14. The travelers also take advantage of third party sites that are also authorized to take ESTA applications from the travelers. But these sites levy a service charge to the visa fee. If you are comfortable in filling the form on a government website then you should save money while filing your ESTA application.

You need some education on electronic authorization before you start filling your application form. You can’t apply for electronic permission before 72 hours but you shouldn’t wait to get permission. Apply as soon as you start preparing for the travel. Chances are that your application will be reviewed and permission granted within an hour but the Department of Homeland Security that deals with ESTA can turn down your application without giving any reason.
ESTA visa application can be rejected if any of the information provided is found to be wrong or ambiguous. It is for this reason that applicants are advised to remain cautious while applying for electronic permission to enter the US territory. The permission is valid for two years but stands cancel, in case the traveler gets a new passport or changes his name or the government change eligibility for electronic application.

If you are traveling to US for one month and you are from a country included in the VWP then you have an opportunity to take the shortcut to US that is through electronic permission. Visit a government website and file your application for ESTA along with the fee that is $14 or you can take help of a third-party site that could provide real help in filling the application. But these sites charge an additional fee for their services.

Whether you fill your ESTA application through a US government website or you take help of a third-party site, you have to very clear and straightforward with your ESTA. There should be no mistake in entering details in the application and the application should be filed well before your traveling schedule that is 72 hours before your flight.

for more info about esta services visit


The Straits Times

China ratings house says US defaulting
The Straits Times

The US government will run out of room to spend more on August 2 unless Congress bumps up the borrowing limit beyond US$14.29 trillion (S$17.57 trillion) – but Republicans are refusing to support such a move until a deficit cutting deal is reached.

A downgrade could sharply raise US borrowing costs, worsening the country’s already dire fiscal position, and send shock waves through the financial world, which has long considered US debt a benchmark among safe-haven investments.


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Los Angeles, CA 90057

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Encino, CA 91436

Nutritional Wellness: Eat Your Greens!
The human body evolved to consume a diet high in fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contain a number of plant compounds that your body needs in order to operate correctly. If you don’t consume enough of these plant compounds, your energy level will suffer along with your overall health.

Everyone knows that they should eat more fruit and vegetables in their diet, but most people don’t do it. Why? Because of the easy availability of fast foods and snack foods, we have lost our taste for fruits and vegetables. It is not uncommon for many people to go for weeks without consuming a single serving of fresh vegetables. This is not good.

Chiropractic Care Can Help…
Our goal is to adjust the spine and help stimulate your body’s natural healing process.


LCGC North America July 2015

July 2015 | Volume 33, Issue 7
App of the Month
By LCGC Editors
The CEToolbox app is designed as a calculator for capillary electrophoresis.
The Essentials
Here, we concentrate on one particularly useful equation that allows us to make changes to an analytical system to improve throughput or efficiency, while retaining the selectivity of the original method.
LC Troubleshooting
We consider the potential causes of peak distortion for the first two peaks in the chromatogram.
Sample Prep Perspectives
With response surface methodology, one can screen and optimize several extraction methods simultaneously. Here’s how.
GC Connections
FID continues to play a crucial role for all types of gas chromatography, so it is important to understand how to use it effectively.
Biotechnology Today
An overview of best practices for assessing protein aggregation, including the importance of using a multimethod approach
Peer-Reviewed Article
Some insights into the principles and practice of implementing and improving on methods to quantitate cyanide at trace concentration levels in human blood.
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Addison Ice Arena

  • 37304886

Less than 2 miles from the Comfort Suites Lombard

Ki's Steak and Seafood, is located in Glendale Heights, IL.  The restaurant is local favorite and has been in business for over 70 years.  Opened in 1934, the restaurant was originally a gas station with an eatery for those stopping by on North Ave looking for something to eat and fill up the gas in their car.  Over the years, Ki's grew from a small eatery to large restaurant within DuPage County that has kept it's promise of serving great food at a great price.

The restaurant serves ceritified, hand-cut steaks and gets fresh seafood delivered daily.  You can view their dinner menu by following the link here.  Ki's overlooks six acres of farm land that includes a flower garden, scenic ponds, and a rustic barn that includes a variety of animals including: peacocks, swans, sheep, turkeys, rabbits, and ducks.  For more information about the farm, you can follow the link provide right here.   The view creates a truly unique dinning experience that compliments the ambiance of the restaurant.  There is a private dinning room in the restaurant that can accomdate up to 35 guests and is a perfect place for any type of event, such as a company meeting and private party. Ki Steak and Seafood offers party room packages and catering as well. They also offer an award-winning Sunday brunch with Champagne.

Ki's is favorite among the Comfort Suites Lombard - Addison Hotel staff.  Located less than 2 miles from the hotel, Ki's in Glendale Heights is the neighboring town next to Lombard, IL.

For location detail please click here!


  All Pitches...Even Fastballs...Have an Arc
PitchSoftball HomeMore for AdvancedBeginning Pitchers1st-2nd Yr. PitchersCoaches & ParentsRecent QuestionsSite MapProducts & WebsitesSearch by KeywordsE-Mail Us

by Gerald Warner, Softball Pitching Instructor
pitch softball logo 2.png

No pitch...not even the fastest thrown on an absolutely level line.   ALL pitches, regardless of how fast they are thrown, have an "arc" in them.   And, change-ups and other off-speed pitches can have quite a dramatic arc.

It's gravity that pulls the ball toward the ground no matter how fast they are thrown forward.   If you are a student of physics you might know that the up and down curved path that the ball takes is called a "parabolic arc".   Since gravity's downward pull remains constant, the height of this arc depends largely on:   (1) the speed (velocity) that the ball is thrown,  (2) the distance that the ball will travel, (3) the angle at which the ball is release,  and (4) wind resistance.

Although these factors are meaningful for EVERY pitch, the three pitches that are most directly affected by this arc are:

FAST BALL - As you can see below, even though a 60 mph fastball seems like it is coming in on a pretty level line, it goes up...then much as 8 inches in the time that it takes to get from the pitcher's hand to the plate.

RISE BALL - We mentioned in another section of this website that a rise ball needs to be thrown in the low to mid-50's before the backwards spin can have enough effect to actually make the ball go UP.    In the diagram below, you can see that a rise, even thrown at 60 mph has to has enough spin to overcome an 8-inch gravity-induced arc...JUST TO LEVEL OUT!    The release and speed of the spin has to be even better to make it hop over the bat.

CHANGE-UP - We have seen a majority of pitchers throwing their change-up too fast, because they (or their coach) wanted the ball to come in on a level line.   Obviously, we do NOT advocate a huge arc on a change-up (that's what slow-pitch softball pitching is all about).    As we mentioned in another part of this website, we work with pitchers to (1) make the change-up LOOK deceptive, and (2) to come in at a speed 25% to 35% slower than their fastball.    That means that a younger pitcher with a 50 mph fastball would want a change-up of about 35 mph or so.   A 55 to 58 mph fastballer works well with a 40 mph change-up.

In the example shown below, a pitcher wanting to throw a 35 mph change-up should try to throw it so the highest point of the pitch is about equal to the level of her shoulders.

A pitcher with a 40 mph change would see the top of the arc about chest high.

arc of a thrown softball - 3-speed comparison.jpg

Since wind resistance is a factor, remember that if the wind is coming in from the pitcher's back (blowing toward home plate) the ball will be more level than is shown in the above diagrams .   If the wind is blowing in from the catcher's back, the ball has to be thrown faster or needs a higher arc to reach the target.

The article above can be downloaded and printed from Microsoft Word

If you have questions or need more information
E-mail us,
  or call Pitching Instructor Gerald Warner in Colorado at (720) 200-4575

PitchSoftball Home Page | About Us | Beginning Pitchers | 1st & 2nd Year Pitchers | Advanced Pitchers | Coaches and Parents
Recent Questions and Recommendations | Site Map | Search by Keywords


Pedometer program effective in motivating people to move more

Updated: Jun 01, 2013, 09:25 AM IST

Washington: Researchers including an Indian scientist have found that a simple program that uses pedometers to monitor how much people move throughout the day is helping them decrease their sitting time and increase physical activity.

Saurabh S. Thosar, an associate instructor at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington and one of the study`s researchers, said that even if somebody works out 30 minutes a day, the fact that they are sitting and not moving for long periods of time for the rest of the day is in and of itself detrimental to their health and well-being, physiologically.

For the study, four men and 22 women in the age group of 40 and 66 completed a 12-week program in which participants wore a pedometer every day and received emails twice a week offering nutritional and exercise tips.

The pedometer, called an Omron, monitors physical activity, which accounts for any type of movement involving the lower legs.

The pedometer, which costs about $30 and can be carried in a backpack, also allows people to hook it up to a computer and look at a graph of the amount of steps taken as a function of time.

The participants were also encouraged to be active during the hours for which they had zero steps, such as when they watched TV or worked at a desk, and to download the data from the pedometers once a week.

The researchers found a significant decrease in sitting time and a significant increase in physical activity as a result of the program. The mean weight of participants dropped by almost 2.5 lbs.


U.S. Markets closed

InterGroup board announces 100,000 increase in share repurchase program

The InterGroup Corporation announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the company to purchase up to an additional 100,000 shares of the company's common stock under its existing stock repurchase program. That action increased the total remaining number of shares authorized for repurchase to approximately 100,700 shares. The purchases will be made, in the discretion of management, from time to time, in the open market or through privately negotiated third party transactions depending on market conditions and other factors.


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We are a contemporary ballet company that incorporates ballet, modern, and jazz into its repertoire. Janelle Gilchrist, choreographer and founder, creates pieces that highlight classical and contemporary dance forms showcasing patterns, line, form, and arm fluidity. Gilchrist’s choreography is also shaped by music themes, storylines, and relationships. The company has performed in the Boston area at the following venues: the Strand Theatre, Green Street Studios, Mills Art gallery, Somerville Arts Festival, Dance for World Community, and Spring Step.


How Long Do Loons Live? –> 31 Years and Counting!

The question that I have been asked the second most often during my research (after “Do loons mate for life?”) is,”How long do loons live?”. On its face, this would seem an easy question to answer; one merely marks a loon and tracks it until death. For two reasons, the question is not so easy. First, loons live a long time, so a researcher must have considerable staying power to follow a loon throughout its life. Second, loons’ lifespans, like those of humans, are variable. Many loons die in their first year or at a young age. In order to determine maximum lifespan of a loon — which is truly what folks mean when they ask how long loons live — you need to track a large number of birds for a lengthy period.

Of course, we have studied hundreds of marked loons for over two decades, so we have learned a lot about survival patterns of the species. For example, we have learned that male loons have a higher rate of mortality than do females, and we have also determined statistically that loons senesce. In addition, as a consequence of capture efforts that began in 1991 and tireless monitoring since then, we now have a large set of study animals that are in their mid to late 20s. These ancient birds are listed below, the oldest at present being a male marked on Little Bearskin Lake in 1991, who is therefore at least 28 years old. (No male has held a territory and bred at less than 4 years of age.) Despite senescence, there seems a good chance that one or more of the loons listed in the table will cross the 30-year threshold in the next several years. However, most

Screen Shot 2015-08-20 at 1.20.25 PM

individuals die well before they reach 20 years of age from disease, predation, or entanglement in fishing tackle. So….kudos to the senior loons listed in the table, which have survived all threats nature and humans have thrown at them to push towards the known age limit of the species!

While the table summarizes the oldest cohort of loons in the LP study area, it is the Bird Banding Laboratory in Patuxent, Maryland that maintains the official longevity records for all North American species, including loons. This makes sense, because the BBL provides metal bands that we place on birds’ legs and also receives many reports of banded birds that have been recovered or resighted, which can therefore provide information on age. If you scroll down to “common loon” in the BBL longevity database, you can see that age estimates follow a ratcheting process. That is, each year that passes permits known marked individuals to survive (or not) for another year. Therefore each year in which we have an oldest known loon that is still alive gives us a chance to extend the known longevity record by another year. If you scrutinize the BBL records for common loons, you see that we have been pushing the known lifespan of the species upwards for the past quarter century. In 1990, when almost no marking of loons had been done, the maximum known lifespan was 9 years; by 2000, the record had been extended to 14 years. Recently, the record listed by the BBL was listed at 25 years, based on the Little Bearskin male that I mentioned above.

But the longevity record listed by the BBL excludes data from a small cluster of lakes at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, where loons were first marked in 1987, four years before our first birds were banded. It is on these lakes, not in our study area, where the oldest known loons live. At present the record for longevity is 31 years, held by a female banded at Seney as a territorial adult in 1989, at which point she was at least 5 years old. (No female has been observed to settle at an age of less than 5 years.) In addition, a male at Seney holds the distinction of being the oldest common loon whose age is known precisely. He was banded as a chick in 1987. Thus, he is exactly 28 years old. These are extremely old individuals. But since the age limit of common loons creeps upwards each year, it will be another 5-10 years before we have an accurate estimate of the maximum lifespan of the species.


When Should We Replace $5 Bills With $3 Bills?

Almost all currencies in the world have denominations that start with 1, 5, or 0 and the main difference among them is whether $2, $20, $200, etc. bills are used. But prevalence does not prove efficiency. In this post, I will compare the efficiency of different bill denomination systems.

An efficient currency minimizes the cost of transaction. To simplify, we assume that the cost of transaction is proportional to the time spent on it. The cost of transaction can be dichotomized into time spent by the customer (while the cashier waits) and time spent by the cashier (while the customer waits). Each component further divides into the following categories denoted by a, b, and c:

  • Fixed transaction cost (a): time spent on taking out the wallet, opening the cash register, thinking about which bills to use (while doing nothing else), and handing and receiving the money. Avoid double counting if these jobs overlap in time or if the other party is not waiting but doing some other necessary work, such as printing the receipt.
  • Fixed cost for using bills in each denomination (b): time spent on moving the hand to reach a specific slot in the cash register; time spent on finding the place for a specific denomination in the wallet and putting all bills of this denomination on the other hand or the counter before moving on to work on the next denomination.
  • Cost for counting a bill (c).

We acknowledge that cost a can be substantially lower if no change is required from the cashier, which saves the time of passing the changes back to the customer. However, most transactions involve taxes and multiple items that lead to the usage of coins (in the US). Most of the time the customer does not have the exact amount of coins or does not want to pay any coins. Secondly, for the same reason, charges are usually not psychologically convenient numbers (e.g. $5, $20). Nice numbers can make buying decisions easier but they don’t show up in the payment. Therefore we can assume that there are always changes involved and a is constant and can be entirely dropped from this analysis.

Continue reading “When Should We Replace $5 Bills With $3 Bills?”

The Five Goals of Lawmaking and Three Approaches of Combining Them

Goals of lawmaking

1. Change future behavior of criminals

2. Compensate the victims

3. Deter people from committing crimes

4. Improve the perceived fairness of society

5. Make the criminals better people

Continue reading “The Five Goals of Lawmaking and Three Approaches of Combining Them”

The Paradoxical Optimal Voting Strategy for the Presidential Election of 2016

Most people agree that when you vote in an election, to maximize your utility, the best voting strategy is to vote for your better preferred candidate of the two most popular candidates assuming  simple plurality is used. This was not the case in 2016’s US presidential election. Both major candidates were deemed so incapable that they could be defeated by any typical candidate in the opposing party. As a result, expecting that the winner’s will run for reelection and lose in 2020, the best strategy becomes voting for the party you like the least, as the current short loss would trade for a longer victory in the future. This assumes that Trump and Hillary each represent their party well and attract voters who usually vote for their party.

Created by Christopher Wang. First published on November 8, 2016 on 9gag.com.

Welfare Economics of Labor Migration

Should the United States allow immigrants and to what extent? This is a topic of hot debate because both the economics behind it is unintuitive and everybody’s goal or preference is different.

Are low skill immigrants taking our jobs away?

This is only true for a small portion of the population, the unskilled citizens, or citizens worse skilled than the average low skill immigrants. When low skill immigrants come, the wage in low skill occupations decreases as the labor supply increases (proportionally more than the increase in the size of the economy). Low skill citizens suffer and employers (the producer) benefit from a lower cost of labor. From standard welfare analysis, we know the gain for the producers is definitely greater than the loss of the low skill citizens, resulting in a higher social welfare.

Assume that our country has an excess of higher skill labors, meaning some skilled workers accepted a lower skill job because the high skill job market is saturated or because the low skill job’s salary is attractive. But wait, could a free market be saturated? Because for each high skill job, there has to exist some low skill job to complement it. For example, each company needs customer service (a low skill occupation). If few low skill workers are available, wage will increase, attracting some high skill workers. The customer service will still exist but rather small. This assumption of excess high skill labor is reflected in the high wage of low skill jobs that attracts immigrants.

After the influx of immigrants, many high skilled citizens in low skill occupations will switch to high skill jobs as the wage in low skill jobs decreases (relative to high skill jobs). High skill jobs of course mean higher productivity. When the citizens shift to a higher skilled worker makeup, the country’s GNP (only counting citizens) is bound to increase since the total productivity increases. This resonates with the increasing social surplus I mentioned earlier. A higher productivity benefits both producer and consumer, including low skilled citizens who are worker under a lower wage.

Conclusions: if we allow low skill immigrants

  1. Low skill citizens can be better off or worse off depending on the situation.
  2. High skill citizens are better off
  3. Citizens become richer, on average.

Continue reading “Welfare Economics of Labor Migration”

What does It Really Cost to Buy Any Tangible Goods?

What does it cost when you buy a 300-page paperback from Amazon? The price of the book is only the initial cost. When you store it on your bookshelf, it takes space and renting a space costs money. The price of the book might be only $10; the storage cost for 15 years is probably higher than $5.5.

A 1000 square feet apartment costs around $2100/month in the US. Roughly $300 of the cost is fixed cost independent of the size of usable area, including the cost of transaction, management cost, stairs, mechanical rooms, and partly the costs of outdoor areas, utility bills, and property tax. The rest of the rent should grow linearly with area. This leaves $1800/month for 1000 sq ft, or $1.8/month/sq ft, or $0.0125/month/sq inches.

In the short run, buying a book will not increase your rent, but in the long run you are mobile and you will pick a house that’s about the right size by equating your marginal benefit per sq ft per month to around $1.8.

Assume that a book is 8’’ × 5.5’’ × 1’’, and your bookshelf is 29’’ × 12’’ × 72’’ with 6 shelves plus the top. To calculate the minimal needed space, we squeeze as many bookshelves as possible in a library pattern, with aisles that are only 24’’ wide. Half of the area will be bookshelves and half will be aisles since 2 × bookshelf depth = aisle width. A book would cost 1’’ (width) × 12’’ (depth) of space on one of seven shelves (including the top) and an equal share of aisle space. Therefore, one book occupies 1” × 12” ÷ 7 shelves × 2 = 3.42 square inches of space.

Now the cost of storing one book a month is 0.0125 × 3.42 = $0.04286; or $0.5143 a year. Fifteen years? Let’s use a realistic annual discount rate of 4.5% to calculate the present value: $0.5143 / 0.045 × (1 – 1 / 0.045^15) = $ 5.5232. To store a book forever, the cost is: $0.5143 / 0.045 = $11.4286. Next time you bring home a free book from library, beware that you are signing a contract to pay 51 cents each year (adjust for inflation) until you get rid of the book.

Continue reading “What does It Really Cost to Buy Any Tangible Goods?”


One of the hardest parts of developing characters is deciding exactly how many of them you need. There’s a solid middle ground between sprawling casts and skeleton crews, but it’s contingent on the needs to the story and stylistic choice. Here are a few tips for writing both small and large casts, and for deciding which your story needs.

Too many characters: New characters appear left and right. Most of them have names, and we hardly ever see the same person twice. Each minor character has their own family and friends who either enter the mix, or who are constantly being mentioned  even if they never appear. Too many characters makes it difficult for readers to remember who each character is, and often leads to trouble keeping track of names. It can also open up the story to continuity errors unless you’re very well organized.

Too few characters: This is a world in which everything is done by a handful of people. The main character’s only friends are plot relevant. They have no family and they associate with no one who isn’t vital to the story. This also tends to mean that everyone who’s anyone knows everyone else, and that if any of the characters do have families, half of the cast ends up being secretly related.

Just me and sixty thousand of my closest friends.

A general tip:

  • Consider the scope. The ideal cast size depends on the scope of the story and the size of the world. If it’s a small, closed setting—five teenagers chilling in a beach house—a small cast makes sense. If it’s a fully realized world where international politics play a big part, it’s unlikely that you can bet by on five characters. By the same token, too many characters in a small world feels cluttered.

For larger casts:

  • Pace your introductions accordingly. It’s much harder for readers to keep track of characters if they all appear at once, especially if there’s a large cast. It helps to introduce the main characters slowly and to make sure that each one gets their own entrance.

  • Make sure that you have a hierarchy in place. It’s especially difficult to keep track of lots of characters when they are all equally important. Identify who your main characters are, who the secondary characters are, and who is ancillary. Allocate their screen time accordingly. It’s okay to favor some characters with more page space, because this helps readers figure out who they should be emotionally invested in.

    I’d like to introduce you to my main characters. All of them.
  • Don’t count on the reader to remember everyone. If there are two hundred named characters, acknowledge that readers aren’t going to keep track of them all, and be prepared to remind us of who they are.
  • Employ conservation of detail. Giving effective descriptions of important characters early on not only helps readers identify who matters, but also makes them easier to remember later on. It is, on the other hand, perfectly okay to skimp on descriptions of characters who only appear once or twice. Likewise, one-offs probably don’t need names.

For smaller casts:

  • Consider logistics. Does it require the villain to be in three places at once? Does it mean that your heroes need to be hyper-competent, since they don’t have any reinforcements to fall back on? Think about what your characters are doing, and make sure that it makes sense with the size of your cast. Likewise, remember that actually-the-same-person reveals make your cast even smaller.

    Wait, I thought this was your place.
  • Mention people who don’t appear. If we go back to the five-teens-in-a-beach-house example, it’s unlikely that none of them have other friends or family. Adding a few throwaway references to teachers, other kids, or to the family member who owns the beach house reminds the reader that the beach house is part of a larger world.
  • Don’t forget ancillary characters. These are the characters who show up for one scene and then disappear. They might be cashiers, joggers, or fellow commuters on the bus. These, like references to absent characters, make the world feel less empty and more complete. Even if your characters are the most important people in your story, ancillary characters make it so that they aren’t the only

Writing like a boss: Make a list of your characters and ask yourself what each one does any why they’re important to the story. If you have a small cast, this will help identify characters who can be split into multiple people. If you have a large cast, it will show which ones can be merged or, at the very least, will help you keep track of all the names. If you get to the main character and realize that, were they removed, nothing would change, you have a bigger problem.


Henry Gouk's Home Page

I am a PhD student in the Machine Learning group at the University of Waikato. I am investigating how Deep Learning can be used create more robust visual SLAM systems. I am also interested in metric learning and various applications of it.

Gouk is a Scottish name, and is pronounced Gowk.

Software I have written can be found on my github profile. Most notable will be dopt, a numerical optimisation and deep learning library for the D programming language.


There is / There are
Elementary level

In this lesson, students will learn correct use of "there is / there are" supported with the meaning, form and pronunciation. Additionally, the Sts will also learn the difference between "any / some" with the use of TL. Prepositions such as "in, on, under, behind, next to" will be revised. Drills will provide them accuracy and also fluency with the use of the language.

Abc Back-up study sheets, A3 Flashcard of bedroom, kitchen and living room pictures, gap-fill sheet

Main Aims

  • To provide review and practice of "There is / There are" in the context of the things that are present at home or at school. Also to clarify form, meaning and pronunciation with the TL as well as provide additional information about how to use "a/an, some, any" with the TL.

Subsidiary Aims

  • To provide clarification, review and practice with the TL. Also provide additional vocabulary (related to home furniture) and prepositions.

Warm-Up Questions (1 minutes) • To set lesson context and engage students.

The T asks: -"Is there a television in your living room?" (Yes/No) answers are expected but the T will encourage them to elicit the sentence form like "Yes, there is / No, there isn't" Another question: "Is there any bed in your bathroom?" this question is to include some humour to get the Sts attention.

Lead-in/Exposure (8-10 minutes) • To provide context for the TL through a sentences that are wrong in form.

T previously writes down the sentences on the white board: - There is a white board in this classroom. - There is a lot of students in this classroom. - There is some chairs in my living room. - There is a couple of books on my table. - There aren't any television next to the window in this classroom. - There is women and men in this classroom. The aim in this "Exposure" stage is to elicit students the correct form of the target language and to point out the right use of it. They will be asked to point out the mistakes in pairs in 1-2 mins. After highlighting the form and meaning, the T writes: - "There is a/an" is to talk about _______ things that are present in a room or any place ('singular' will be elicited). - "There are + some" for ______things in positive sentences ('plural' elicited). - There isn't / aren't any" for ______ / _______ things in negative statements ('singular / plural' elicited). Afterwards, they will be asked to make sentences in question form verbally. Then, T provides back-up sheets including all the example sentences, form & meaning as well as the question forms and possible answers to the question forms, so that they can revise the topic at home. After clarifying the form and meaning, T writes a sentence on the board: - There is a pencil on the table. - There are some pencils on the table. - There is not any pencil on the table. With these sentences, T asks for drills and also explains that there is a link and also gives info about the stress in the sentence. (Note: While eliciting the correct use of the TL during the first stage, the T also elicits the meanings of prepositions).

Controlled Practice / Follow-Up (2-4 minutes) • To concept check and prepare Sts for more meaningful practice.

T gives study sheets which is about gap-fill. - Individual work (2 mins) - Peer-check - Whole class answer check - "Any questions?" says the teacher after this activity.

Follow-up / Practice (8-20 minutes) • To concept check and prepare the students for further activities.

T shows a colourful flashcard (bedroom) and models the following activity by asking one student to join her: - There is a bed next to the wardrobe. - Is there a carpet on the floor? - There are 2 chairs in the bedroom The student either responds in positive and negative form. T provides relevant vocabulary that are assumed to be unfamiliar to them such as: armchair, sofa, pillow, curtain, candle holder, cupboard, scales, kettle, (sauce) pan" so that they will not have trouble with the activity. After the vocabulary support and modelling: - Instruction for the activity: "You are going to work in pairs. Here is a picture of ? (T shows the picture and elicits) and you will have a look at the picture for 1 minute and you give the picture to your friend and tell what you remember or ask if "there is any..."" - ICQ: "So, are you going to work individually? (No). Are you going to look at the picture during the whole activity? (No). What are you going to do?" Afterwards; - Instruction:"Now other person in you pair looks at anohter room picture which is ? (they elicit looking at the picture) and the same activity will continue with different picture and other partner." - ICQ: "Is the same person going to have a look at the picture of the living room? (No)." - Follow-up Activity Instructions:"Now, I'd like you to describe the living room in your houses (miming). You have 4-5 minutes to write down the description individually." - Mingling: "Now, please put your notes away and stand up (miming), find different people and describe your living room without looking at your notes." ICQ: "Are you goind to take your notes with you? (No)" (Note: The T monitors and takes notes about the errors Sts make as well as she helps the sts to discover who are in need of help during the activity). ***The T writes down "how many, where" on the board to help the Sts with their description of their living rooms.

Intonation/Stress (3-9 minutes) • To provide Sts with the correct pronunciation and intonation of the TL.

T has already written sentences on the board during the previous activity, asks them about the intonation. After some guesses, she lets them listen to the recording in chunks and repeat after each track. After the second sentence, T asks them if they can remember which words are usually stressed. (Note: T informs them that information words such as "nouns, verbs, adj.."; and grammar words such as "there, is, are, on.." are the words usually stressed.) (Note: If time allows, T asks them to work on intonation in pairs after the recording to provide more drills).

Error Correction (2-3 minutes) • To correct the Sts mistakes which are made during the activities.

Without mentioning the name of the student, the T writes down sentences in error and ask them to correct the form or meaning or pronunciation. (Note: This section may be reversed as immediate feedback during the lesson depending on the time constraint.)

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Valuing a Decedent’s Closely Held Stock.

Valuing a Decedent’s Closely Held Stock

A contentious issue in estate taxation is the valuation of stock in a closely held corporation. The fair value of such stock at the valuation date may be difficult to determine since no market quotations are available. Treasury regulations section 20.2031-2(f) and revenue ruling 59-60 (1959-1 CB 237) lists factors CPAs can consider in determining the value for estate tax purposes. Generally, the value would be what a willing buyer would pay to receive the economic benefits attached to that amount of stock.

J.R. Simplot Co. is a family-owned corporation that processes and sells frozen food, fertilizer and cattle. The company also owns stock in Micron Technology, Inc. Simplot has two classes of common stock, A and B, which are held by family members, family trusts and an employee-stock-ownership plan. Although only class A stock has voting rights, both classes have the dividend rights (none has ever been declared), and class B stock has a slight liquidation advantage. Class A stock has a transfer restriction of 180 days during which the company may buy the stock and another 180 days in which other class A stockholders may purchase the stock before a shareholder can sell it to an outsider.

At the time of his death in 1993, Richard R. Simplot owned 23.55% of the 76.445 shares of class A stock and 2.79% of the 141,288.584 shares of class B stock. His estate hired Morgan Stanley & Co. to ascertain the stock’s value for estate tax purposes. Morgan Stanley determined a value of $2,650 per share. Because the decedent held only a minority interest in class A stock, it was assigned the same per-share value as the class B stock. The IRS determined a value of $801,994 per share of class A stock and $3,585 per share of class B stock and assessed a tax deficiency of $17,662,886 and penalties of $7,057,554. The estate petitioned the Tax Court for review.

After hearing from valuation experts for both the IRS commissioner and the estate, the Tax Court reached its own value determination, adding a premium to the class A stock equal to 3% of the equity value ($830 million) of the company. The court based its decision on the presumption that class A stock, as voting stock, had the potential to influence and control the company. The court then allocated the total premium equally to all class A shares, resulting in a per-share value of $331,595.70, subject to a 35% discount for lack of marketability. The court created several specific scenarios to support the idea that a willing buyer might pay such a premium to obtain the decedent’s 18 shares of class A stock. The Tax Court waived penalties, but assessed a deficiency of $2,162,052. The estate appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Result. For the taxpayer. According to the Ninth Circuit, the Tax Court committed three errors in reaching its decision.

The Tax Court correctly stated the property valuation law: “The standard is objective, using a purely hypothetical willing buyer and willing seller…. The hypothetical persons are not specific individuals or entities.” However, the Tax Court violated that law by creating scenarios involving particular purchasers, their likely combinations with other family members and their probable patience in waiting for a return on their investment.

After determining the class A stock should receive a premium of 3% of equity value based on the above scenarios, the Tax Court allocated that premium equally to each class A share. The court erred in valuing all class A stock as a controlling block. The asset to be valued was the 18 shares of class A stock (not a controlling interest) Simplot owned at his death. According to Treasury regulations section 20.2031-1(b), the value of each unit of property is to be determined; in the case of stock, a unit is a share of stock.

The Tax Court’s third error was attributing any premium to the class A stock. Stock should not be valued at a premium for estate tax purposes unless the commissioner can prove a purchaser would be able to use the stock to obtain an economic benefit sufficient to justify such a premium.

The Ninth Circuit concluded that a minority interest in class A stock was worth the same as class B stock. Justice Fletcher wrote a lengthy dissent stating that the Tax Court was correct in its application of the law and the resulting decision.

This case reaffirms the idea that fair value should be based on the amount a buyer is willing to pay for the economic benefits attached to the property as of the valuation date. In this decision, the Ninth Circuit brought the Tax Court back to reality.

Estate of Richard R. Simplot, 87 AFTR2d 2001-2165, 5/14/01.

Prepared by Karyn Bybee Friske, CPA, PhD, assistant professor of accounting and Darlene Pulliam Smith, CPA, PhD, professor of accounting, both of the T. Boone Pickens College of Business, West Texas A&M University, Canyon.

6 key areas of change for accountants and auditors

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If you are seeking seamless clothing for adults or children with sensory issues, we have found has excellent materials. Therafirm products are comfortable and seamless. Judy McCarter knows first hand how difficult in can be for parents and teachers to understand children withJudy McCarter sensory challenges. Her earliest memories center around too itchy clothes, sicken smells and turbulent car rides. Now an Occupational Therapist  in private practice in Tulsa, OK, McCarter provides solutions to children who face similar issues. As an associate of Behavior Doctor Seminars, McCarter provides functional occupational performance through student initiated motivation and interests, developing adaptive life skills, encouraging health and wellness, facilitating transactional  social  engagement opportunities with peers, staff and others in the community, and improving quality of life through self- advocacy and self- awareness. Her book, written for educators who work with children with sensory processing disorder, is tabbed below in a convenient format for those who deal with sensory challenges. Contact Judy McCarter at
I would like to introduce myself as an associate of Dr. Riffel’s.  My name is Judy McCarter and I have chosen the professional of occupational therapy because of my search for answers resulting from my own sensory processing disorder.  When I was a child, teenager and young adult I used to think I was crazy because the way I processed and interpreted sensory information was different from my family, friends and peers.  READ MORE
Sensory processing challenges can occur as we interpret sensory information either externally from our environment or internally from our bodies. Responses or reactions to our sensory input are a snapshot of how we perceive what our brain has interpreted from the sensory information. READ MORE
What does our proprioceptive system do?

Proprioception gives us information about our body in space.  When you have difficulty interpreting proprioceptive input you often feel disconnected from your body and the environment around you.  Proprioceptive information comes from the information provided when your muscle tendons are stretched.  Proprioception provides us with a sense of force and the direction of movement our bodies is going in. READ MORE

What does our tactile system do?

Our tactile system provides us with information from sensory input that occurs through the skin, muscle, joints and organs.

What can individuals with a tactile challenge look like? READ MORE

What does our vestibular system do?

It provides us with awareness of our body’s relative position to gravity.

What do individuals with vestibular challenges look like?  Individuals with vestibular challenges can appear somewhat off balance.  Sometimes they will lean, hold their body in a rigid position or an unusual position in an attempt to maintain postural alignment or prevent head movement.  They can also seek out movement in an attempt to help obtain information to feel more balanced and calm. READ MORE

What does the visual system do?

It provides us with oculomotor control, eye movements, visual acuity, binocular vision, convergence, divergence and helps with orientation in space.  Our visual system also works with our brains to help with attention, memory, discrimmination, recognition, categorizaton, form constancey, figure ground, visual closure and higher levels skills such as visual imagery and spatial perception. READ MORE

What does the auditory system do?
The auditory system helps to localize sound, lateralize sound, and provide auditory discrimination and auditory pattern recognition. It also works with the visual system to help with spatial mapping.
What do individuals with auditory challenges look like? READ MORE
What does the olfactory system do?
It provides us with the sense of smell and indicates if what we smell is a good smell or a dangerous smell. Our sense of smell is one of most primitive systems and is connected to our memory. It really acts as an early warning detection system to us to warn us against things such as smoke coming from fire, burning hoses in our car, soured milk, and pesticides on our foods and backed up sewage systems.READ MORE
What does the gustatory system do?
It helps us to discriminate our food by taste and not smell. When we are getting accurate gustatory feedback we are able to discriminate between different types or the same textured food such as grape or cherry applesauce. Our gustatory system also acts as a warning system to let us know when our food has gone bad such as milk or meat. READ MORE
What is oral propriocetive input?
Oral proprioceptive input are foods and other items which provide heavy input orally.
What does someone with oral proprioceptive challenges look like?READ MORE
What are fine motor skills?
Fine motor skills are precision skills performed by the muscles in the fingers, toes, eyes and tongue. An example of fine motor hand skills would be buttoning a button or picking up a penny off of the floor. Fine motor skills can be done with the toes making adjustments and keeping balance or equilibrium during walking or dancing. READ MORE
A visual cue was provided just by placing two small door rug/mats in front of the Librarian’s desk. This provides a boundary for the kids to be aware of how close to get to the desk when checking out books.READ MORE
What are activities of daily living (ADL) ?
They are the activities which occur on a daily basis that are required to take care of ourselves. These activities can also be referred to as basic activities or daily living or personal activities of daily living.
What are Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)?READ MORE
What does relating to others mean?
Relating to others is the ability to stay engaged or focused on the interactive communication process with others. Interactions occur when communication goes back and forth between the parties. It can be verbal or nonverbal.
What does someone with relating challenges look like?READ MORE
What are quiet spaces?
Quiet spaces are whatever space is determined by the individual to provide a safe, calm and organizing environment for them.
When do individuals use these spaces?READ MORE
What are Therapy Rooms?
Therapy Rooms are rooms which encourage interactive sensori-motor opportunities. They should be as much fun as possible to motivate learning and participation. I want to work in a room that is as much fun for me to work in as in is for the kids. The room sets the mood for therapy sessions and the interactive opportunities.
Who uses therapy rooms?READ MORE
This page is based on ideas that I have enjoyed doing or being a part of.
I hope you enjoy looking as much I have enjoyed doing!!! READ MORE
Awesome Ideas are ideas that I have used with students or patients that have been very effective so I want to share them with you because maybe they can be the solution to some of your problems. I have not found any of these things for sale and have developed them myself. All are made from very inexpensive materials.READ MORE<[/tab]
What are Fidgets?
Fidgets are anything that helps a person to relieve stress, boredom, anger and increase calming, focusing and attending. Look in the other domain areas for additional fidgets. READ MORE
This monster pouch is a great organizational tool and was purchased at Staples. It unzips all the way around and becomes a straight line. It is a fun tool to use since the monster can eat the pencils or your favorite positive behavior support “gotcha” READ MORE[
Do List and Good Things Lists came from Staples. READ MORE


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How to Write a Haiku Poetry

From BluWiki

Writing Quality Haiku's

Poetry of any kind is a challenge to write, regardless of where it originates and the form of the poem. Though the haiku is technically a short and simple poem, it will require time to properly compose your thoughts into the appropriate form. Before it is possible to compose the poem, anyone writing the poem must first understand what a haiku is and how it differs in English and Japanese.

Japanese Haiku

The haiku originates in Japan and while it has changed over the years since it was first created, two main elements of the poem remain: it has 17 syllables and the content is about nature.

Understanding the history of the haiku is an important part to understanding the formation of the poem. Without the history of how the poems began and where the haiku deviates from the traditional Japanese poetry before it started is vital to creating a poem that suits the form and style of a haiku.

Before the haiku became a stand-alone poem, it was originally the introduction to a longer poem called the hokku, or starting verse. As such, originally the haiku was the important first element of a poem that was meant to build into a full poem by adding the haika, or the remaining long chain of words.

Though the hokku was originally only the introduction or first verse of a poem, it was given great importance in Japan to the poem’s composition and sometimes the poet wrote only the hokku while leaving off the haika.

The haiku became a separate type of poem due to the efforts of Masaoka Shiki. Masaoka Shiki started working on reforming Japanese poetry during the 1880s and finally saw his efforts form a new type of poem, the haiku, in 189Mr. Shiki made the haiku an independent poem that stood on its own with a single verse and minimal syllables.

Haiku History

Since the haiku was not actually formed until the late 19th century, the great Japanese poetry masters of the past like Basho or Yosa Buson were actually writing a hokku instead, though in modern eras the hokku is now considered a haiku.

The modern Japanese haiku has one more influence that differs from the original ideas of Masaoka Shiki. Kawahigashi Hekigoto worked to take the reform further and make the poetry fresher.

In his proposal, the poem should not contain a center of interest, or the attention getter, that other poems require. It was Mr. Hekigoto’s idea that having the center of interest in the haiku would detract from the reality of the poem and since the poem is not followed by further details in a long poem, this attention grabber is not necessary.

The second part of Kawahigashi Hekigoto’s proposal was the poem should use the poet’s first impression of subjects in daily life, colors or nature as it is rather than editing those impressions.

Haiku Influence

Due to the influence of Masaoka Shiki and Kawahigashi Hekigoto, the Japanese haiku developed into a short poem that lacks an attention grabber, but contains the first impression of the poet about the nature of the world around him or her.

The key feature that makes a haiku different from other poetry is the next step in creating the haiku. The Japanese version of the haiku has a very strict pattern and a reference to nature.

The main key feature of the Japanese haiku is the strict adherence to the syllables: five, seven and five syllable pattern forms the poem. It is also written on a single line so that a reader can see all of the parts of the poem together.

Understanding the history of the haiku and the form in Japan is only one part of understanding the method of writing the poem. For English speakers, you must also understand the ways that haiku differ between English and Japanese.

Haiku in English

The English language and the Japanese language are very different and as such the haiku looks and sounds different when written by an English speaking American than it would when written by the Japanese speaking individual.

The first key difference between English and Japanese that affects the haiku is the number of syllables it takes to form a word. In the Japanese language, one word is often changed into different forms and by making a small change the number of syllables can increase or decrease.

For example, if the Japanese poet were thinking of putting the word meaning “to eat” in his poem, he could use “tabemasu” or “taberu” and shorten the number of syllables while maintaining the integrity and meaning of the word. In English, changing the number of syllables in a word requires either changing the tense, which might ruin the poem, or changing the word.

Due to the ability of the Japanese language to adapt words, many times the Japanese version of a haiku will have more words put into the poem than the English version can manage.

The syllables used in the haiku in Japan are always strict and follow the pattern as closely as possible. In the English, sometimes the haiku will deviate slightly from this strict adherence to pattern.

English Interpretation

In English, the strict observance to the number of syllables might not be possible depending on the message the poet is trying to convey. In Japanese, the use of a five, seven and five pattern that forms a haiku is easier due to the language differences. A haiku in English, particularly American English, might not work out as well with the exact syllable pattern.

According to Jack Kerouac, it is not always necessary in an American haiku to adhere to the exact syllable pattern because the language differences make it difficult. If the poet is inspired in English to write the short, three-lined haiku based on something he or she sees, English might not allow enough syllables to convey the thoughts or more syllables might be necessary.

In fact, if the Japanese haiku are translated into English, many end up not adhering to the syllable rules because the words in Japanese and English do not translate perfectly.

The last key difference between an American English haiku and the Japanese haiku is the use of nature. In Japanese, a nature word called kigo is a major element of the poem. Haiku were originally an observation of something found in nature and thus it is a major part of the poem. Even an observation about a family, child or non-nature related object will use a seasonal association to give a feeling of nature.

The Japanese poets will generally look up words in a seasonal almanac to find a word that will bring nature into a poem that is not actually about nature.

In American English, many poets do not understand the use of kigo and might not put it into the poem. This is partly due to misunderstandings about the purpose of the seasonal words, or saijiki, in the poem. As such, English haiku do not necessarily strictly observe the rule about the observation of nature.

When you plan to write a haiku, understanding the differences between the two languages and the method of making the poem is a key component to writing a great poem.

Writing the Poem

Understanding the haiku’s history and the differences between the English and Japanese versions of the poem is a key component to writing the poems. Unfortunately, it is not the only factor involved in forming a great poem. Anyone planning to write a haiku should expect the poem to take time and that it might require some editing before it is finished.

Before starting any writing and after understanding the key historical facts and differences between English and Japanese haiku, taking the time to read the haiku written by others will go a long way in helping you learn to form your own haiku.

Pick up a book of poetry that contains haiku from the library or bookstore and spend some time reading the haiku. Notice the form and shape of the poem. In general, most English writers split the poem into three lines and usually will try maintaining the five, seven and five pattern.

Notice the topics of the poem and the style of writing. If the poem does not follow the strict five, seven and five pattern, notice the differences and look for the reason it uses a different syllable pattern. For example, if the poem would not make sense with another added or if taking a word out would compromise the meaning of the poem, the poet might end up altering the poem’s pattern.

Language Differences

The poems written by someone from Japan might not split up the poem or the translation might not have the appropriate syllables. When reading a translation from Japanese poets, note the use of seasonal or nature words that form the haiku. This will help provide you with a greater understanding of the use of season and nature in the poem.

Taking the time to read other haiku gives a better understanding of the form and shape of the poem.

Observation a key component of writing any haiku. A haiku is an observation of nature or something around you. In fact, the observation often lends inspiration for the poem to form. Without seeing something and making a note of it, the poem will end up stilted and poorly written.

Before writing anything down to form a poem, taking a walk, sitting in a park or even going fishing is beneficial. Take a notebook with you during the walk or in the park and look around at everything that surrounds you. For example, if you are in the park you might notice children playing, a dog being walked by his owner or spring flowers just starting to bloom.

Write down the observations in the notebook. So, if you are sitting on a bench in the park you might write down phrases or sentences like “the sun is bright, the flowers are starting to bloom and children are playing a game of tag.”

Record any sight, sound, smell or action that you notice while sitting in the park or walking around town. It can be anything striking or even something usually overlooked, like the tiny yellow flowers that are almost hidden by the grass.

The observations recorded in the notebook should always have something related to the nature around you, even if it just a note that the day is sunny, snowing, raining or overcast.

Writing Out Words

Writing out nature words makes it easier to form the poem later. Once you have the observations in place, you are ready to start working on forming the poem. Since nature or seasonal words are a necessary part of the haiku, a good place to start is with the nature word.

For example, if you noted during the observation that the day was overcast and gloomy and you know the season is summer, you might write words like summer, storm, gloomy, overcast, humidity, angry clouds, warm rain or any other word that somehow brings the weather together with the season.

The haiku does not need to have an obvious seasonal or nature word, such as using a summer sport to convey the season rather than saying “it is summer,” but the audience should innately know the season based on the words you select. In Japan, a poet might use words like sakura for cherry blossoms or umi for ocean to give the audience a mental image of the season. In English, you might use words like daffodils or baseball to give a mental image of a specific season.

Pick out two or three words you liked best from the list as potential options for your haiku.

Five Senses and Haiku's

The five senses play a crucial role in the formation of a haiku. All real haiku discuss something that anyone might see, hear, taste, touch or smell. While it might show a different perspective on the observation, it will only provide information that others might also experience. In the poem, a poet should only mention something that is observable.

The haiku must be something that any reader will relate to. For example, the feeling of warm rain is something a reader can imagine. The poet should not try putting a metaphor or special meaning on the five senses. If the rain is warm, it is warm and does not require analysis.

A poet who takes the observation and tries to put an analysis or meaning to the observation is not properly forming the haiku. The reader cannot see, hear, taste, touch or smell an analysis of the observation that forms the idea. As such, adding an analysis makes the poem too complex and thus ruins the integrity of the poem.

Comparison and contrast is another key feature of the haiku. In general, one line of the haiku will bring something to mind while the other two contrast or create a comparison with the other line.

This is perhaps one of the hardest parts of writing a haiku. Fortunately, writing down the observations makes it easier to find something that creates a comparison or contrast.

Contrasting and Comparing

For example, if you were taking a walk and the day was a clear and sunny summer morning, a contrast to that cheerfulness might be the observation of a nervous young mother watching her child at play. The contrast between cheerful weather and the young mother might form a poem that shows the essence of new parents: nervousness despite good circumstances.

In this type of situation, you might start the poem with the image of a bright, sunny day. Such as writing the first line stating “a summer morning” and then follow through with the two lines about the mother and her child, such as “the young mother gazes at her playing children.”

The haiku formed from the observation of a mother watching her children on a cheerful day is thus:

A summer morning, The young mother gazes at Her playing children.

By taking the two contrasting ideas of cheerful weather with a nervous parent, the poem becomes much easier. The poem is thus a type of summary of the surroundings that you see in nature or throughout your normal day.

Being Spontaneous

Spontaneity is perhaps the greatest part of a real haiku. Real haiku will always capture a moment in time or an observation in its most spontaneous form.

In some cases, this might mean that the poem will not work if it is broken down into the pattern of a Japanese haiku. This is particularly true in the case of a haiku written in English, where the words and syllables might not always read the same, depending on the dialect and individual.

In the case that the haiku sounds stilted or odd with the proper pattern, a good haiku poet will adjust the pattern to suit the poem rather than trying to change the observation to fit the pattern.

For the beginner, it is usually best to start with the original pattern while writing the poem. By following the rules it is easier to determine if you are correctly writing the poem. After gaining some experience, poets are able to deviate from the pattern and thus form the poem without the formal pattern and format.

The Pseudo-haiku

Just because a poem follows the appropriate format and style of the haiku, it does not necessarily mean the words are actually a haiku. A pseudo-haiku is any five, seven and five pattern “poem” that does not follow the key elements of the haiku. It might not have anything about seasons or nature or it might not talk about something others are able to observe and see personally.

The pseudo-haiku might follow the same basic syllable count as the original, but it is not a haiku. In fact, it has numerous qualities that make it different from a real haiku.

The main component to the pseudo-haiku that differs from the real haiku is the fact that it does not mention nature or seasons within the poem. A pseudo-haiku might cover any topic, even the most off-the-wall and humorous topics that have nothing to do with nature and cannot relate to nature.

The lack of a seasonal or nature reference automatically disqualifies the poem as a haiku because that is one of the very few components required in making a haiku.

The next factor that might disqualify a haiku is that it is a single sentence. A haiku is not a sentence broken up into three lines based on the number of sentences.

The reason a sentence broken up into three lines does not qualify as a haiku is the fact that it will not convey the appropriate contrasting or comparison ideas that a haiku requires. The example of the mother watching her children during a bright, sunny day shows first the cheerful weather and then a second idea of the mother’s vigilance and care. It gives two distinct ideas and is not a run-on sentence.

Anything that does not provide different ideas that contrast or are compared to each other cannot qualify as a haiku because it is merely a run on sentence.

The use of “mysticism” or making statements that sound silly and like they came off a fortune cookie or out of a movie is not a haiku, regardless of the components of the poem.

Haiku are serious in nature and anything that brings out a feeling that the statement is silly, sounds like something out of a poorly-made movie or conveys a feeling rather than an observation is not a haiku.

It is a type of pseudo-haiku that follows the pattern and style, but misses the key components of the poem.

Another type of supposed haiku is the senryu. A senryu is a type of humorous poem that follows the same type of pattern style as the haiku, but discusses human shortcomings instead.

Senryu is a satirical poem from Japan that is often mistaken for haiku due to the five, seven and five pattern of the poem. Unlike the haiku, it focuses on human nature and humor rather than a nature observation, fact and inspiration.

Like haiku, senryu might have a pseudo-senryu form. Usually, a nonsensical and funny “haiku” is considered a pseudo-senryu due to the fact that it is funny, but doesn’t actually point out a human failing or use satire to convey that humor.

More Tips on Haiku's

Haiku that are formed correctly bring the scene and idea to the mind’s eye. It might be something that you see every day or it might be a sudden observation that took your breath away, but it should always be an observation. Like any type of poetry, writing haiku requires practice before it starts sounding like a master poet. Fortunately, with a little practice and understanding the rules, the haiku you write will start improving.

STL Today: What is a Haiku

Prince Edward Island Department of Education: How to Write Haiku Poetry

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~ English new ~

UPM Raflatac is extending its range of film face materials for the European market with a new white plant-based material that provides a sustainable alternative to fossil-based films for a wide variety of end uses. RafBio PE White performs just like standard PE film, and its excellent flexibility makes it ideal for the squeezable bottles and contoured containers that are widely used in home and personal care applications.

Part of the RafBio family of bio-based labeling solutions, RafBio PE White and Clear are the ideal choices for customers who are looking for a sustainable film face materials that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions during their life cycle, compared to conventional PE, while still keeping products looking their very best. Made from sugarcane ethanol, the films contain more than 80% renewable plant-based raw material and are recyclable within the same recycling streams as fossil-based PE.

RafBio PE films are combined with our RP37 adhesive for multi-purpose labeling applications. Furthermore, UPM Raflatac's RafCycle(TM) program offers significant benefits to label printers and end users by turning waste into valuable resources.

"A bio-future is the logical solution for a circular society and we need more radical innovation to get there. At UPM Raflatac, we are taking steps to develop products that are thinner and lighter, recyclable and biobased. RafBio PE White is the logical choice for printers that want to go beyond eco-box-ticking. It's a game changing packaging solution that helps make the circular economy a reality for leading brand owners," says Robert Taylor, Director, Sustainability, UPM Raflatac.

Artículos relacionados

UPM Raflatac expands offering for industrial chemical labeling
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Minggu, 21 Juli 2013

The Jhpiego Indonesia programs are aimed to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in Indonesia. We are currently implementing EMAS ( Expanding Maternal & Newborn Survival ) program in Indonesia funded by USAID.
In order to reach our goals, we are now recruiting a local based ( Semarang, Central Java ) positionto be part of the Jhpiego Indonesia great team. The successful candidate will enjoy working as part of a dedicated team, with the added satisfaction of working for an organization committed to the Jhpiego’s visions and missions.
Monitoring & Evaluation Officer

M&E officer is responsible for implementing the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) strategy for the EMAS (Expanding Maternal and Neonatal Survival) Program in province and district level. The M&E officer will work closely with National M&E team operate efficient systems of province-district level M&E. The M&E officer will provide timely and relevant information to National M&E team and project stakeholders.

Major Duties:
* With support from the M&E National level, identify the core information needs of the EMAS program at province and district level.
* Prepare and monitor performance indicators using simple data collection and collation tools in line with the program’s performance monitoring plan.
* Track the project inputs, activities, processes, outcomes and impact measures of the program.
* Preparation monthly and quarterly data indicator reports to submit to M&E National.
* Facilitate EMAS province level to prepare M&E program planning.
* Undertake monitoring visits to the various project sites to support implementation of M&E

Primary role & responsibility
* M&E Officers ensure that quality data for the EMAS PMP are collected and reported by specified deadlines.
* Follow the protocols and guidance provided by the EMAS M&E Director and M&E Managers
* Fully understand the EMAS PMP and related documentation and can effectively explain the PMP and its indicators to others, such as:
* Facility Standard Registers & Summary Forms
* EMAS Data Collection Form
* Indicator Reference Sheets
* Proactively support and engage with stakeholders, including facility staff, the district office, and EMAS colleagues, to help them improve their recording, reporting, and use of data
* Planning steps for routine data collection
* Understand EMAS M&E documentation, tools, policies and procedures
* Sensitize stakeholders to relevant data collection tools and procedures
* Identify a point-of-contact at each facility
* Understand and plan how to address challenges specific to your facilities, districts etc.
* Develop a routine data collection schedule for hospitals and puskesmas, which is communicated to all relevant parties for maximum collaboration and efficiency
* Review collected data for completeness, reliability, and integrity
* Ensure timely reporting of your data to Jakarta
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
* S1 or equivalent experience is required, public health background or health experience preferred.
* M&E experience and good knowledge of M&E approaches and tools at district and hospital and Community health Center level.
* Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a strong eye for detail.
* Experience of working in a research environment or information-generating context.
* Strong interpersonal skills.
* Ability to work under pressure, priorities, schedule and balance workloads in the face of conflicting and uneven demands.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills in Bahasa Indonesia; English language skills preferred.
* Strong computer skills; be able to run Pivot table, SPSS, ArcView GIS are preferred.
To apply, please e-mail your cover letter and CV, indicate  the position that you are applying for on the
subject of your email.
Email address  : hr-id@jhpiego.net
Closing date: July 26th       , 2013
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

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Q How do hovercrafts work?

— Will Swisher, Madison, Wis.

A Mike Randall, Wonders of Physics program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison:

Air molecules are so small about 840 billion of them fit inside a ping-pong ball. They’re incredibly tiny, but collectively very powerful. On average those air molecules are zipping around at 1,100 miles an hour and fill up whatever space they’re given.

Think of the end of your thumb as about a square inch. On each square inch of the hoverboard, the air molecules collectively are exerting a force of almost the weight of a bowling ball, about 14.7 pounds per square inch.

That’s an enormous amount of force pushing from one side of the base, and yet nothing happens on its own. That’s because there are just as many air molecules pushing from the other side of the base, so the two forces cancel out.

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The basic components of the hovercraft used in UW-Madison’s Wonders of Physics program are an air blower that blows air underneath the board or platform, an air-tight fabric on the back side with a few holes around it and a plastic disc in the center to hold it together.

With the air blower, additional air molecules can be blown under the board — which means more collisions and more lift force underneath the board — as long as the air is contained.

A hovercraft has what’s called a skirt to contain the air. When the air blower is turned on, this skirt creates a pocket that traps the pressurized air. That pressurized air is what gives the lift to make a hovercraft work.


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Seven billion years of earth's
history at your fingertips.

Animated Prototype

How can we bring the lessons from the textbook to the tablet? From the classroom to the home?

Education conduces innovation, discovery, wealth, and enlightment on both a societal and personal level. However, true education is a life-long process; it exceeds the boundaries of the classroom. How can we bring the lessons from the textbook to the tablet? From the classroom to the home?

Much of earth’s most basic history, while enormously important, seems to elude even the educated, first-world demographic. Eon will communicate the most salient aspects of earth’s 4.6 billion year history.

Through highly engaging user interactions, rich graphics and exciting animations, Eon aims to inspire that deeply curious place in all of us, that, for many, has been numbed by dry textbooks, un-engaging lectures, and stressful testing.

Discovery Channel, as part of a hypothetical marketing effort, will sponsor the app! Their branding, which encapsulates their core mission as a company and their visual identity, will be incorporated extensively throughout Eon’s design.

Ideation Sketching

immersive yet intuitive

Through many rounds of sketching, I explore unique, excitingly engaging alternatives to the common timeline. I iterate in pursuit of a balance between fun and immersive but also intuitive, in terms of navigation and clarity of the time scale's hierarchy

Home Page:
Choose an Eon

Basic navigation

All four eons comprising earth’s history are shown, including: title, timing, and illustrated appearance of earth during this time.

Upon tapping an eon, a short description is revealed, accompanied by the “discover” button, which users may tap to learn much more!

Eon Details

User scrubs forwards and backwards through history by sliding their finger right and left (respectively) along the timeline.

Globe reveals geologic progression at rate user scrubs through timeline.

As events occur, they congregate in this list. User may tap the eyeball next to each event to get a more detailed description.

Bottom bar reveals user’s place in time respective to all four eons (i.e. the beginning of the earth to now).

Event Details

Details of each event exists within a scrollable panel.

User may swipe left or right to discover events later or earlier in the eon, respectively.

Tap outside the panels to return to return to the timeline for the given eon.

Visual Inspiration

Dramatic, Theatrical

I aim to capture the mood and visual aesthetic common to many modern scientific motion graphics: particularly those on Discovery Channel! Clean and professional, with a flare of creative artistic craftsmanship.

Final Designs


Tips On How To Effectively Battle Cancer

It is quite daunting to deal with a cancer diagnosis or someone you love having cancer.

Exercise will ensure that the blood throughout the body. Getting your blood pumping will help your treatments can traverse your physical interior faster and with ease.

Depression can have a negative impact on your physical health and increase the likelihood that your cancer will grow. They may entirely give up the disease.

Don’t fear some uncomfortable moments if you have to have a screening for breast cancer. It only lasts for a few short minutes. The end result could be catching cancer in time and saving your breasts and your life, so don’t let that uncomfortable feeling prevent you from getting screened.

Many people know that wild salmon is very healthy and delicious.

Drinking sodas and other unhealthy beverages may increase your risk of getting cancer. The high amount of calories and simple carbohydrates can cause weight gain, and being overweight increases the risk of certain types of cancer.

Value all of the support you get during this difficult time.

Don’t take cancer on. This is a life-or-death situation, you need to stand up to cancer and fight back with everything that you have.

Do not think that alcohol in any way helps to prevent and fight against cancer. Wine could help prevent cancer prevention benefits due to the grapes. Drinking too much alcohol can actually increase the risk of getting cancer.

Help your loved ones who has cancer to find a network of support people they can speak with. The Internet should contain loads of information about cancer support groups in your neighborhood, so they can find someone to talk to. This will give the person who is dealing with cancer a good way to let their emotions out.

Open communication can provide a strong bond that are healthy and your loved ones.

Prior to starting treatment, ask questions about the physical changes that you can expect. This information allows you to make an informed decision about your treatments.If you know that you will be losing your hair, speak to other patients about wigs and makeup to prepare just in case.

Not every article of clothing is going to keep the damaging sun rays from making their way to your skin. If you cannot find any in your local stores, check on the Internet; you are bound to come across some that are just perfect.

The simplest way to beat cancer is to avoid getting it.

There are many therapeutic methods to help you through your treatments for your disease and after. Try getting a massage, using aromatherapy, getting an acupuncture treatment, or aromatherapy to better manage and relieve the stress cancer brings to your life.All of these therapies are designed to help you not be as stressed as you battle this disease that adds tremendous stress to your life.

The best way to attain this lifestyle is to follow proper nutrition guidelines, getting plenty of sleep, and get adequate rest. If you work to keep your body running well, you will have more energy to fight your cancer, and to cope with the often harsh treatments you’ll have to deal with.

Cancer is a very difficult disease to live with. It is a major cause of death around the world, striking fear in the hearts of many who want to avoid it at all costs. In spite of this, there is an abundance of resources available like the tips in this article that can help ease the burden.

Category: Prevent Cancer


Bloomfield driving directions and distance

Bloomfield : Route planner and distance

Location of Bloomfield

Bloomfield is a city located in the middle west of the united states in the county of Davis, and the state of Iowa. Bloomfield lies near cities of Floris, Stiles, Pulaski, Mark, Belknap, and Drakesville. Bloomfield is geographically situated on 40.7516884 latitude and -92.4149074 longitude.carte-plan-Bloomfield


The advice more important for skin under the eyes

The skin under the eyes is considered to be the most delicate skin all over the human body, and hence it certainly requires some of the most caring attitude vibes from the human heart. Instead of running behind the money and losing concerns about the health issues, the person shall deal with issue pretty much earlier before it becomes so much serious for him to lose control over it.

When it comes to analyzing the part of skin under the human eyes, the skin is made up of delicate tissues in order to avoid any irritation in the human eyes due to movement of the eyeball. The movement of the eyeball is also facilitated by the soft and delicate skin under the eyes, and hence it is proved that the part of the skin discussed above is the most delicate.

Delicacy directly responds to the change in the environment and climate where extreme cold or hot conditions can cause the lipids inside the skin to get destroyed, and let the skn turn flaky.

eCellulitis tips

The treatments

eCellulitis resource on dry skin under eyes seems to bring the concepts of human skin delicacy close to the minds of those persons who do not pay attention to its degrading form. The human skin loses its moisture and hence the dryness first causes the tissues to dry and then loose the bonds between them to turn flaky. The non impressive part of the same is that the looks borne by the people who suffer from the flakiness of the skin are really undesirable. The dark circles round the skin in addition to the wrinkles and crow feets destroy the beauty of the face, but flaky skin around eyes advice on eCellulitis seems to provide support to the losing hopes of the humans. Thus, eCellulitis tips on under eye dryness treatment are must to be read.


Username Post: Prima flowers
Tina scraps
Posts: 18098
Joined: 07-05-07
Tina scraps

    In response to Sunfairy

you should try out the "scrap by color" option in the superstore, then it'll help you find products in the specific color you're looking for.


Find Tourist Places in Daman and Diu

There are 29 tourist attractions in Daman and Diu. This is 1% of all tourist attractions listed in India. Top cities in Daman and Diu with popular tourist destinations are Diu, Daman and Jampore. The major types of tourist attractions listed here are landmarks and nature attractions. Then there is also amusement parks listed in Daman and Diu. You may find a list of all categories of Daman and Diu attractions on this page. Click on a category to find all attractions of Daman and Diu of that type.

The Daman and Diu region is a coastal union territory comprising of two areas which are divided by the Arabian sea and are approximately 650 km apart from each other by road. The union territory was earlier a part of Goa until 1987 when it was separated.

The former Portuguese colony is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and pristine environment. The monuments exhibiting Portuguese style of architecture are a sight to behold! These relics of the colonial past still enchant visitors with their haunting beauty and magnificence.

Diu Fort is a reminder of the Portuguese legacy; this fort is certainly worth a visit. Towards the west of the fort is situated the Diu town. The Naida Caves are a network of tunnels that lie on the periphery of the Diu Fort. The caves have natural openings that allow sunlight to light up the caves creating a surreal environment that is indeed a paradise for photographers! The Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple is located on the seashore; the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and houses the Shivalingam that is continuously anointed with the sea waves! The Jalandhar Beach is associated with the Puranic demon Jalandhar; the beautiful beach is a popular tourist destination. The Basilica of Bom Jesus Church is a beautiful Church constructed in the 17th century. The Church is known for its beautiful Portuguese style of architecture, exquisitely decorated interiors, and carved doorway!

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Daman and Diu

Visit the top tourist attractions in Daman and Diu. Click on a tourist attraction bellow to find the detailed information.

Search Tourist Attractions by City

There are 3 cities in Daman and Diu with tourist attractions. Browse through the cities in the following section to explore Daman and Diu tourist attractions.

Related Articles

The following article will provide you with interesting information, useful tips and insights about tourist attractions in Daman and Diu.

Tips for Children's Safety on a Beach

Find in Daman and Diu

We have listed tourist places of Daman and Diu in the following categories. Please click on one of them to find all Daman and Diu attractions of that type.

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• The gastrocnemius  (also gastrocnemius muscle, latin: musculus gastrocnemius) is a superficial muscle of the posterior group of the lower leg muscles.

    The gastrocnemius originates with two heads: the medial and the lateral head. The medial head of the gastrocnemius arises from the medial condyle, while the lateral head originates from the lateral condyle of the femur. The gastrocnemius inserts onto the calcaneal tuberosity of the calcaneus, as its both heads join in the midline of the lower leg in a tendon (Achilles tendon).

    The main function of the gastrocnemius is flexion of the knee. Contraction of the medial head of the gastrocnemius rotates the leg medially (internal rotation of the leg), while contraction of the lateral head rotates the leg laterally (external rotation of the leg).