diff --git "a/falcon-refinedweb-100k_en-long_130.txt" "b/falcon-refinedweb-100k_en-long_130.txt"
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+Absolutely outstanding Margaret! The 'maters and sauce must be a regular at the dinner table ... 190 pounds!??!
+Ha, ha - not as regular as they should be 'cause we still have tons to go through and tomato season starts in less than 4 months!
+There'll always be things which don't do as well as others, that's the nature of gardening and what works one year might not the following year, it's never an exact science. I'd be very happy if I got a harvest of winter squash like yours, that's something I could happily eat as much of as I had.
+I hope my kids feel like that about squash one of these days! And yes, you are very right - even if all we look at is the weather. Some things like it cool, others like it hot - can't keep everyone happy!
+Just like Dave, we've had troubles with tomatoes the last couple years as well. So it's really wonderful seeing your gorgeous haul of tomatoes and peppers last year. And your potato and squash did really well too. I do miss living in a cooler climate and being able to grow peas and potatoes.
+Each climate is suited for some veg, but unfortunately not all - we gotta take the good with the bad. I'm willing to give most things a try, though, as you just never know, especially with all the varieties available these days.
+That looks like a very good year to me. I wish I was getting a pound per square foot. Two things jump out, 63 pounds of carrots and the impressive yield of peppers, because even a large pepper doesn't weigh much. And the tomatoes! I got 12 pounds last year because of fungal diseases. If you are looking for another use for butternuts, I've found they make a terrific 'pumpkin' pie.
+Oh, thanks! I've had my share of tomato diseases (notice that's plural) so I can empathize with your fungus issue last year. Even though I had a great tomato year, that didn't stop blight from rearing its ugly head - luckily it didn't strike until almost the end of the season this time and, unlike in 2015, the tomatoes themselves were not affected.
+Pumpkin pie is a great idea. I normally reserve that for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the excess squash may be reason enough to indulge a couple of extra times this year :)
+While the harvest is truly amazing, I think I'm most impressed with your meticulous record-keeping. One year I tried to keep track, but kept forgetting to weigh things. Last year, I didn't even pretend I was going to try. Maybe this is my year.
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+“A t-shirt that doesn't look like you are wearing a t-shirt”– I thought this was a strange request until I saw 3 more women asking for the same thing.
+One of these women sent me a very long and emotional email about she struggled with her weight since she was a young girl, how she had never felt comfortable in her clothes, and how she hid for so many years under sweatpants and extra large hoodies. Sarah, that is her name, wrote how she has a dog now and she is walking regularly, but that sometimes she lacks the courage to step outside because she doesn't want to go back to the sweatpants and ugly t-shirts and that it is getting too hot for hoodies. She said she needed a top to feel good in, but at the same time comfortable while she is losing the weight. I think she is on to something and I figure she is not the only one. I hear you girl!
+Here is a free easy t-shirt pattern that can be. I've made the pattern to cater for seven sizes from 8 to 20. The finished garment measurements are all below.
+This free easy t-shirt pattern is ideal for a curvy beginner sewist. A very loose fitting A-line top with a self-tie. See recommendations below.hole facing, please click the link.
+- a jersey or ballpoint needle. Preferably a Schmetz.
+- stay tape or stretchable fusible interfacing. For a full tutorial on How and where to use Knit Stay Tape, please click the link.
+- a twin needle (optional). For a full tutorial on How to use a twin needle, please click the link.
+- a walking foot (optional). For info on More presser feet than you will ever need, please click the link.
+- binding foot (optional). For a full tutorial on How to use the binding foot, please click the link.
+Fabric recommendations from Fabric.com. Whatever you do decide to do, don't forget to add the seam allowance.
+Step 2: Fuse the tape to the neck shoulder and sleeves and hemlines
+Alternatively, you can make your own 1/2″ strip of stretchable fusible interfacing cut online clothes, we will be showing a bit more skin. In the comments below let me know what would you like to make next. In the meantime – Happy sewing!
+I know people that changed the peep hole to a heart. I akso know peoole that put an extra peep hole on each side of the peep hole. They made the peep holes more drop and a snap instead of a tie/ ribbon.
+I think it is really cute and might consider making it but so crazy with the holidays now.
+For Spring will be perfect, enjoy the holidays!
+Thanks for your generosity, Mayra! Can you tell me how much ease you allowed so I can judge which size I need from my measurements? Also, if I wanted to make self bias for the neckline, how much extra fabric would I need?
+Hi Kathy, I will need the pattern to be able to answer your question, but I am away from my sewing studio. I am currently in South America, Chile to be exact, 27 hours away from my machine and fabrics. If I remember correctly it would be about 6 inches of ease, but I am not certain. Take your measurements and the finish measurements of the garment and work out what is the best size for you. The fit is supposed to be roomy at the waist as in an A line top.
+I often find two pieces of knit fabrics in my local Joann’s remnant bin. They are usually less than a yard each, but at the reduced price, two pieces are just the right amount for a shirt like this one. Plus, the style allows the interesting prints/designs of the fabric to stand out.
+I am super self-conscious about my large upper arms. I’m always on the lookout for garments that have longer (and looser) sleeves. This looks to certainly fill the “loose” requirement but difficult to tell how long the sleeves are. I need something to golf in that I feel good in! Thank you so much!!
+HI, Nancy Hard to know what you are looking for without measurements. All I can suggest is to have a look at the finished garments and compare it to your own measurements. Let me know if this answers your needs.
+I was looking at the finished sizes. Are those real? They seem larger than most say 12 or 14 sizes.
+Larger than must 12 and 14? In what country and using what standard. Please read the story at the beginning of the post. I have made a pattern using a very flowy fabric, this style is not your textbook ease allowance. It is to be worn as it is on the mannequin and design for an apple or inverted triangle shape woman who is in the process of losing weight.
+I downloaded the pattern but my tablet crashed. Husband gave me a new tablet so how do I get the pattern again?
+Hi, Martha, very easy, first you kiss your very generous husband, second you will find your pattern on “my pattern library in your Craftsy account. Enjoy your new table and pattern.
+Now I’m on the correct page! I love the look of this flowing t-shirt. I have lost all the weight I wanted to lose, and then some. I just think it would feel so good on the skin. I’m thinking of making it up in Telio (fabric.com) ITY. Whatcha think?
+Hello Cheryl, Personally, I would go for Telio.
+I think, if you folded both selvage edges to the center (this makes a fold on each edge) you could make the T shirt without a seam.
+An excellent point Glenda, but my fabric was not wide enough.
+Wish you had it in larger sizes.
+HI Cindy, check the finished garment measurements, you could still work with it? If not send me your bust and bicep measurement and I will be able to add it to the video on how to grade the top larger.
+I have a similar pattern that I love! It has a button instead of a tie. It would be an easy change for anyone that wants a variation. I have a lot of light poly knits to use up. May try it with one of them.
+I love this pattern. I just started working for a shop that sells sewing machines and there is a lot of lifting and this looks really roomy for that type of work.
+I do have a question, how do I print the pattern that is just one size. I buy from other places that set their patterns up so you can print the size you want. I may have missed this in your instructions.
+Thank you for your help
+Connie Ehrhard
+Mayra, I have to write and tell you how kind you are to respond to Sarah this way. These days especially, we need demonstrations of respect and concern for others, and one person, like you, can start a ripple that reaches around the world. Thank you so much.
+Oh, and your non-T-shirt is lovely! Most of us women don’t look that good in most T-shirts–they really don’t do that much for us–but this one you came up with for Sarah is really pretty. I’m keeping the pattern to adapt for myself!
+I agree, what a great way to acknowledge a fellow human being by gifting and sharing through sewing. Through sewing, we can push our limits and create what we want or would like. Another beautifully drafted pattern from Mayra!
+Mayra, you do good work. I have used many of your patterns and learned a lot along the way. I now sew for family….paying it forward. Thanks again 🙂
+I like this for a modest top over leggings, skinny crops or capris. Super cute. It also would look cute with a belt to add shape if you are having a confident day. Lots of options. Thanks.
+Indeed, Steff, that is exactly what I had in mind, I even use it at the gym with leggings.
+I have been looking through your patterns and tutorials (not just this one) and have a question only slightly related to this particular pattern. You mentioned the woman who was struggling with feeling good in her clothes while losing weight. I would LOVE to make a pencil skirt using your pattern and even more things for Spring. However, it has been a very long time since I have worn skirts. I am nervous about selecting a flattering skirt length (been strictly a jeans person for years) AND worse yet, I am wondering if women nowadays tend to wear a “shaping garment” (such as SPANX) under their skirts or do they just accept the “jiggle?” Even thin women juggle a bit in skirts normally. Also – I love, love, LOVE your patterns, tutorials, etc. Thank you for all the help you give people worldwide.
+Thank you, Shirley! The reason SPANX is so popular is that is the number one garment worn at the Oscars under all those amazing frocks. I personally can not wear SPANX because I find it hard to breathe. However, there are many types of shapewear that will smooth out the bumps and bulges that are making you hesitated to use a skirt. Pencil skirts are ideal to make you feel confident once you have lost a bit of weight. The length will depend on your height. I will make a post about this because I think many will benefit from your questions. Stay Tuned 🙂
+Me encantó este modelo. Te felicito por ser tan creativa. Mil gracias por compartir. No soy muy dada a hacer ropa, pero has compartido modelos que me han animado a hacerme algunas piezas sencillas. Gracias por eso. Saludos de una fan en Venezuela
+Just wondering what the length is? I can never find shirts long enough to wear with leggings.
+Hi Regina, this top is very easy to lengthen I will put the link, on how to do it. It is long enough for leggings but then again how tall are you?
+I wonder if we can alter this to make a dress?
+Hi Emily, anything is possible.
+I am not able to wear rayon (skin allergy). Is there another fabric that you would recommend for this?
+I would recommend bamboo or linen knit. Both are very soft and natural.
+If you have difficulty with rayon, you may have problems with bamboo-based fibers, too, as the fabrics produced from bamboo are often similar (and some newer rayons are made from bamboo). Perhaps a soft, lightweight cotton or washable silk knit will be more comfortable and just as easy to sew. Cotton is usually easier to care for than linen or rayon. Washable silk knits can feel very luxurious and are durable, but are a little more slippery to handle. There are also some newer polyester knits that are more breathable than those made in the past that may work for you, if you can tolerate polyesters.
+On page 2 of the pattern instructions it says, “Also note that you will need to cut two straps at 4 inches by 22 inches, for which no pattern piece is supplied – it’s just a rectangle!” I cannot find anything in the sewing instructions about using this piece. In the picture above showing the pattern layout there is a front facing. I cannot find where this is used either. Other than that this looks like a great pattern!
+Sorry, that is a typo, those are instructions for another pattern. I will have to delete the PDF and reload it again, then you will be sent a message to reprint the pattern because something is changed. That is why I have not bothered to do it. The pattern is fine do not cut any straps.
+What a terrific design especially for those of us with a few more curves. Thanks for thinking of us. Love, Jen
+Can you do a summer tank with yoke, like New Look 6871?
+Like the look of softly flowing center inverted pleat and a yoke is nice for using coordinating fabrics, lace, trims etc.
+Thanks!
+This is a wonderful pattern for those of us who have chronic pain issues–it just floats over your skin. Because knits cause pain issues I use hankerchief linen or a very light linen and it works wonderfully. Thank you for sharing your designs.:
+Thank you for sharing this pattern! I need about a million of these shirts for myself! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow that features your free pattern: –Anne!
+Knowledge is power so we’ve compiled a number of key stats for the big horse races ahead to give you a betting edge. Take two or so minutes to read up on the big trends and you can guarantee you will make better informed and more profitable decisions today. What’s not to like? Read on and cash in.
+A)
+13.50 – (13.0) won the race 12 months ago
+If last year’s winner, Theligny, lines-up again then this Tim Vaughan-trained 6 years-old has to be respected. Yes, the horse is 6lbs higher this year, but he did it nicely that day (2 ¾ lengths) and should be a lot fitter after his run a few months ago at Aintree. Shelford is another that should have come on a fair bit for his recent run over fences at Fontwell. Back over hurdles here though on a fair-looking mark and being he stays further than this 2m4 ½f trip that will be a help in conditions. 4 of the last 5 winners of this race were aged 5, so – if running – Sir Antony Browne and Brave Eagle – certainly command respect from the powerful Alan King and Nick Henderson yards.
+However, the hat-trick seeking HUNTSMAN SON gets the nod. This 7 year-old has won his last two at Market Rasen and Doncaster in decent fashion and despite an 11lb hike in the ratings there should be more to come. Yes, the ground will be a lot heavier here, but he’s points in yielding/soft conditions before and with just four runs over hurdles can continue his progression up the ranks.
+Diable De Sivola, for the in-form Nick Williams team would be a big danger and looks sure to be involved and rates best of the rest.
+14.25 – Mandarin Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135) 3m2f ITV4
+- 6/6 – Returned 5.5
+The Kim Bailey-trained KNOCKANRAWLEY took this race in 2014, but has only had six races since and is yet to record another victory. He’s clearly had some issues, but a close second last time at Ayr was an encouraging sign, plus don’t forget he was an excellent runner-up in the Eider Chase over 4m back in February. The Pipe-trained Daklondike is sure to be popular too having won two of his last three. He’s up 7lbs more for the most-recent of those at Wincanton, but he did it nicely that day to make him one for the shortlist. However, the main call here is HENLLAN HARRY.
+This 9 year-old was pulled-up last time in the Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton, but before that ran a solid third at Worcester. He’s a horse that often takes a few races to get going and the form of his Bet365 Gold Cup win back in April would make him a big player. He’s only 3lbs higher here, but his followers will also remember him winning in heavy ground at Ffos Las back in March so conditions will be fine. He’s also handled these fences well, when running third (of 16) back in Nov 16, while Sean Bowen back in the saddle is a huge plus – his last rides on him read an impressive 2-5-1-2-1-4-3. Of the rest, old timers Grand Vision and Shotgun Paddy can make their presence felt, while Potters Legend was a fair seventh in the Ladbrokes Gold Trophy (Hennessy) so should find this easier. The McCain team are also going ok at the moment and their Federici (also engaged to run at Haydock) ran well to be fourth to the classy Blaklion in the Becher Chase at Aintree last time. He gets in here off 4lbs lower and is another to consider.
+15.00 – Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV4
+- 10/10 – Returned 11.0 or shorter in the betting
+- 10/10 – Won between 1-3 times (hurdles) before
+- 9/10 – Raced in the last 6 weeks
+- 9/10 – Had won over this trip (hurdles) before
+- 8/10 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
+- 8/10 – Won last time out
+- 7/10 – Placed favourites
+- 4/10 – Winning favourites
+- 4/10 – Ran at Cheltenham last time out
+- 3/10 – Ran at Sandown last time out
+- 2/10 – Trained by Nick Williams
+- 2/10 – Trained by Jonjo O’Neill
+- 2/10 – Ridden by Daryl Jacob
+- The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 4.5
+A chance to see some promising Novices’ on show here as these young staying types look to take another step forward in their careers. Jamie Snowden’s Dans Le Vent ran well in some hot bumpers last season and has translated that to hurdles well this season. He won well at Market Rasen last time out and if brushing up his jumping would be of interest at a fair price. This will be the softest ground he’s encountered so far though. Way Back Then looks another useful sort from the Ben Pauling camp too and won on his first start over Kempton last month. He’s untried on ground this soft though so that would be the concern.
+Course winner DAME ROSE has won three of her last four and getting the mares’ allowance looks a big player though. She beat the useful Cap Soleil last time Out here and with the runner-up since franking the form then everything points to a big run. She’s won on heavy ground in the past too and has now run at the track three times (winning once). Those against here will look to the longer trip as this will be the furthest she’s gone, but the way she’s been winning her races suggests she’s certainly worth a crack over it. Poetic Storm is another that looks to have a big say based on running the useful On The Blind Side to 2 ½ lengths at Cheltenham last time. That form has been more than boosted since and with form on soft ground conditions will be fine. Kilbricken Storm is also sure to be popular after beating Count Meribel at Cheltenham last time out, but with that race coming just 14 days ago we’ll have to see if he turns up here.
+15.35 – 9.0
+Some key trends to take into the race, with 8 of the last 9 winners aged 5 or 6 years-old and carrying 10-10 in weight. It’s been a fair race for the favourites too with 3 of the last 9 winning, while 7 of the last 9 market leaders finished in the top 4. Only four runners here though. Duke Des Champs returns from a 631 day absence so has clearly had it’s issues and so this Philip Hobbs runner is overlooked. Solighoster is one to consider though. This Neil Mulholland runner won well on debut at Ffos Las, but probably found the ground too quick last time at Market Rasen when third of three. Back in these conditions he should be seen in a better light.
+A Vos Gardes gets in with just 10-6, which will help in these conditions, but the call here is ROCKLANDER. This 8 year-old unseated last time at the first fence at Doncaster, but before that dotted-up at Ludlow so is worth giving another chance to. He’s got fair form in soft and has also run well on heavy ground to suggest conditions will suit, while with 4 winners in the last 2 weeks there are signs the Tom George yard is returning to a bit of form.
+Haydock Horse Racing Trends (RUK/ITV)
+14
+Only three previous runnings so not much to go on here. However, all of those winners were aged 9 or 10 years-old, plus had run in the last 4 weeks and been unplaced last time out. The Venetia Williams yard too this 12 months ago so anything they run should be given a second glance – Emperor’s Choice holds an entry at this stage. Harry The Viking, Jennys Surprise and West Of The Edge tick a fair few trends – especially the last two.
+However, the main pick here is WHISKEY CHASER. This 9 year-old is a proven course winner and hails from the Donald McCain yard that boast an impressive 29% record with their chasers here. The horse is up just 5lbs for a recent win at Haydock, but upped in grade here gets in with just 10-0 to carry. Jockey Will Kennedy also does well over fences here with a 36% record. Heavy ground is also fine for this in-form 9 year-old, who has finished in the first two in 4 of his last 5 races.
+14
+Un Prophete and Wolf Sword are two that will be popular after good wins last time out, as will Church Hall, who won by 10 lengths at Lingfield last time. The last-named is up 10lbs here though so more is needed, but with that run coming after a year off then there is a chance the dreaded ‘bounce-factor’ might kick in. The Donald McCain yard that do so well here (29%) with their chasers have another runner – FEDERICI (also engaged to run at Newbury)– and despite top-weight looks to have a great chance.
+He was a fair fourth in the Becher Chase last time out over the National fences and was only 17 lengths behind the classy Blaklion that day. He won well over shorter last time and is just 5lbs higher than when winning by 3 lengths at Kelso that day, while the ground will be fine. Granville Island is another that can be expected to have improved for a recent fourth at Haydock and is 4lbs lower this time. Of those at the bigger prices is a past course winner that could run better than his odds suggest.
+Taunton Horse Racing Trends (ATR/ITV)
+15.15 – totetrifecta Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+) 2m½f ITV4
+- 5/5 – Returned 6.5 3.5
+A rare LIVE race for the ITV cameras from Taunton here. Maria’s Benefit and the Queen’s Sunshade are both big players and really on the ratings should be fighting this one out. Maria’s Benefit has won her last three in decent fashion and is a fast-improving mare. She’s up into Listed company here though so more is needed and this is also likely to be the softest ground she’s encountered. Sunshade is unbeaten from three after some easy victories, including last time out at Market Rasen. From the powerful Henderson yard she looks to have a big future, but like Maria’s Benefit is yet to race on ground this soft.
+So, the value call here could be Gary Moore’s ALL CURRENCIES. This 5 year-old ran the useful Dame Rose to just under 10 lengths last time at Newbury, but with that only being her second run this season can be expected to be a lot fitter there. He’s won a point on soft/heavy ground so conditions are likely to bring out more improvement in her and won well the time before at Worcester. If You Say Run, from the Paul Nicholls yard, is another to note, as well as She’s Gina, but with proven form on the ground I’ll stick with the Moore runner as being the value pick.
+.
+The Tri-Illuminator sells for under $60 including the power supply and contains three 2-watt quality LEDs. It’s powered by 12V (600 ma) and can be purchased with or without a 110V to 12V power adapter. Has about an 18″ pigtail with a 2.1mm jack which is a common size. It uses 8W of power and much brighter than any built in IR illuminator in a camera.
+It feels like a quality piece in your hands and it’s very compact compared to the higher end illuminators I’ve used in the past. The light spread is about 60′ degrees and even. If you have a very wide angle lens on your camera, you may want to get two to get the wider coverage. For my typical 4 and 6mm lens cameras, the coverage was about right. This picture to show you size relative to my hand.
+Here’s a problem area in my backyard. This is using a Hikvision ds-2cd3332-i with a built in IR LED that’s fairly bright, but you can see that the area on the left was not well lit and grainy.
+I added the Tri-Illuminator about half way from the camera to the side fence to provide additional lighting in the dark area. First I tried a very low cost solution from Amazon, the IR3 from CMVision. You can see that it provides some light but despite it’s claims, the lighting angle was narrow with a hot spot in the center some call the flashlight effect. It didn’t solve the problem for me.
+This is with the Tri-Illuminator. You can see that’s it’s much wider and brighter as well as being more evenly lit. The area has much less noise and the objects are crisp and clear.
+About the same time, I had readers ask me what they can do brighten up a scene and reduce noise. There’s only so much that can be done in camera as built-in IR LEDs tend to be underpowered because of heat build-up in cameras as well as power restriction of PoE. So I recommended this solution to a customer and with his permission, he provided images from his home.
+This is the “before” image. You can click on this image to see the original size. The image is not terrible, but does have noise and dark areas. You can see the IR from the camera was not very powerful as the landscape lighting is actually providing most of the light which is useless because the light shines on the ground, not on a suspect.
+After adding the Tri-Illuminator, you can see crisp detail and the shadows from the bushes show that the IR LEDs are brighter than the landscape lights. There’s also a lot less noise and blur from noise reduction algorithms. Noise not only compromises detail, but also uses more network bandwidth and disk space on recordings.
+Conclusion
+If you are not happy with your night images, or getting motion blur due to having to set a longer exposure, having illuminators is essential. I’ve tried inexpensive illuminators in the past but have been disappointed because they are either too dim or have a flashlight effect like the IR3 from CMVision or they failed after a short time. It’s good to see a solution that’s not only effective and well made, but priced affordably.
+You can get the Tri-Illuminator from Wrightwood Surveillance by clicking HERE.
+34 Comments on "Tri-Illuminator Low Cost IR Illuminator Review"
+What I’d like to know is whether these things hold up any better than any of the other illuminators out there. It seems they all overdrive the emitters and burn them out rather quickly. Half the LEDs on my Hik 2032 cameras are dim now. Almost six months later, how are these holding up? Are you still using them?
+Looks like this IR illuminator is made by Scene. Here is a specs page from the manufacture.
+This is the cheapest I’ve found them so far, shipped from China for $33.42.
+This is the official manufacturer’s AliExpress store:
+[…] Here is a review of an illuminator from a reputable site. […]
+What are your thoughts on this?
+CMVision Wide Angle IRD50 – 84 LED 120 Degree IR Dome Illuminator with Free 12V 500mA Power
+I am looking for a dome IR illuminator that I can put into my ceiling to fill out my living room so the IR cameras I have get a better picture of the dark areas that the cameras built in IR illuminators do not hit.
+I just don’t know about the quality of CMVision and frankly, don’t know much about IR Illuminators. I looked at Raytec, but they are expensive and don’t offer a dome style illuminator. I was wondering if you had any thoughts or recommendations on good, reliable brands of illuminators for this purpose?
+Thanks
+I was not impressed with their product, lighting was uneven and reviews say they don’t last long.
+You have any recommendations for dome illuminators, 180 degrees coverage?
+You can get 180 degree illuminators but they don’t go far. For example, the Tri-Illuminator comes in 90 degrees, but is less than half the light output of the 60 degree. Just get a few, for example, get three 60 degree illuminators to cover 180 degrees.
+It’s not a very large area and I don’t really want to cover the living room, kitchens ceiling with a bunch of domed IR lights. I was thinking one (preferred) or maybe two (if the one is inadequate) 180 ones to fill in the areas circled in red. The circle in blue is a second camera catching the kitchen.
+Looks like Wrightwood is all sold out. I wish I would of got more than two. Any idea where we can get these other than from Wrightwood? I need 2 more 🙂
+This is a link the AliExpress store from the manufacturer:
+They should have them in soon. Email them and ask.
+I got two of these and they work great, but I saw this on Amazon and wondered if this is something you have looked at or tested?
+CMVision IR3 WideAngle 60-80 Degree 3pc Power LED IR Array Illuminator
+Actually I did and made note of it with a picture in the review. Awesome price, lousy illuminator.
+Thoughts on how this would compare to a CmVision IR110?
+I have one coupled with my E33, but noise it still prominent beyond 25’…. and used 24 watts in the process.
+thanks
+I have this one, it really lights up the night out where it is posted, but after a few months it already had some lines of lights burn out. They say I can send it back and they will fix it, but no mention of who is paying postage. It wasn’t that cheap either. Since we don’t need any IR all summer (Alaska) I forgot about it and never sent it in, now that it is dark again I don’t want to take it down, it is still providing quite a bit of light.
+I have pictures, but don’t know how to post them here.
+Have not tried it, only their smaller illuminator. I found with my ACTi 32, when I put a similar style larger illuminator in my driveway that has a street light across the street, it didn’t seem to provide much benefit. In my side yard where it’s much darker it made a big difference. So could just be the area. If you can put white lights, like porch or security lights, that may have a bigger impact.
+I emailed Wrightwood Survalance about what the LED life hour rating is. And he is still unable to get back to me, and it has been over a week. He also will not provide the manufactures information, probably due to the fact we would just purchase directly.
+I have done a lot of research on illumination, and there are a couple of good ones out there. The problem is, is that their LED’s are only rated for 10,000 hours, with environment conditions likely to see 5,000-8,000 hours. So 2 years of use if used for 12 hours a day. To me this will not work, and need something that lasts at least 50,000.
+I did find one that has 48 LED’s, but the coverage, and usefulness is unknown. But the LED’s are rated for 100,000 hours. This will give 22.8 years of expected life if operated for 12 hours, and not counting environmental conditions.
+It would be beneficial if you could do reviews on more Illuminators in the future. Of if anyone has experience with good coverage, and long lasting LED’s i guess just leave a comment to get in contact with me.
+I have my 2 side garage door lights on all night. They are each 100 watt cfl bulbs at 5000k so they are super bright. Am i better just having them on than getting more IR lights?. Also I have Lorex LNB3153 2MP 1080p cameras but they just dont look as clear as your videos do on youtube. I was looking to get 1 20xPtz auto tracking camera for side of my house. Can I get Hikvision to work with my Lorex LNR100 DVR? Or some other brand? Thx.
+CFL’s are not good for night IR lighting. LEDs or incandescent of the same lumens would be much brighter.
+I guess that im not making my self clear.
+So you have a PoE switch. The Ethernet cable has power over it at 48VDC so it can go the full 100m length.
+You then connect a PoE splitter, that can pull the power out of the Ethernet line. This device: (), it has a selectible power output port, from taking the power from the ethernet, at 12 vdc,9vdc, or 5vdc. I select the 12vdc output, and plug the iluminator into this power output from the PoE splitter. Then illuminator has power. There will not be any camera connect to this Ethernet cable, just an illuminator. The cmaera would be connected to a different PoE injected Ethernet line.
+Does this make since, or sound possible?
+Are they very noticeable at night? The typical IR illuminator has a red glow, but I’ve never been sure how much that would actually catch someone’s eye.
+Yes, the IR LED’s have a red glow, brighter than what most cameras have internally.
+Is it possible to power these from a PoE switch, with a PoE splitter, then run a longer DC plug extension cable from the PoE splitter, so the splitter can be left inside the house, and the DC power cable can be run to the outside of the house?
+My main issue is with Fog, and Rain, Spider webs every day, need to come up with some solution for this.
+But the reason why I am suggesting/asking about using a PoE splitter, is that the voltage put over the Ethernet cables is higher, so it can go for a longer run then if 12 volts were put over it. Because PoE does somewhere around 48v over the wire, then the splitter can output 12 or 5 volts to the intended device. I don’t want to have a whole string of power bricks everywhere. Just want to use my existing equipment to power the Illumination. But nellysecurity has a 18 port 12v DC security power supply distribution panel box that can do it also, but I was just trying to see if anyone tried using a PoE spliter for a Ethernet line that already had power over it.
+There are PoE Illuminators. Axton makes a nice small one that splits the power with a camera, meaning you plug the camera into the illuminator, the illuminator into PoE and it powers both. 12 VDC power panels are typical for analog cameras. I don’t know of a transformer that takes 48V and converts it to 12VDC, but possible.
+Here is a device that takes 48 volts DC and converts it to 12 volts dc.
+Not 48 Volts AC converted to 12 volts DC. PoE is just DC to DC, but carries over the Ethernet cable at high voltage so there is less loss.
+Care to provide the link to the Axton device your talking about?
+I believe it’s this one – They demoed it at a trade show.
+Will they work with cameras that already have IR? I just bought lorex system from BJ’s and I get same white out faces and red eyes at night. How do you power them? Also my lorex 1080p cameras appear to be trying to focus even thopugh they are fixed lenses.Is that normal? Thx.
+Eric
+What happens at night is the scene is dark and cameras are not able to adjust exposure to a relatively small white object like a face or license plate in the overall scene, so it’s white and overblown. By lighting up more of the area, the exposure will be set for the brighter objects so it won’t be as affected. For a long time people thought license plates were white and overblown because the IR reflected off it, but I can tell you I use expensive IR illuminators for license plate capture and because the scene and car are lit up, the plates are readable and not overexposed, so you can see the car and the plate number. The alternative is to darken the exposure, for example by setting a max exposure that’s shorter, like 1/90 or even 1/200 that makes the scene look too dark, but that passing face will have more detail. In the case of a license plate, you may not see the car, but you’ll see the plate number, a trade off for not having enough illumination.
+It’s great to see a good review on an affordable illuminator.
+I too would be interested in seeing how it looks with motion video of a person walking through.
+I hope this may be a good solution with poorly lit residential installations.
+Personally I try to steer people toward good visible lighting (particularly with LED flood lights) but sometimes they just don’t want to do it and it is easier to get low voltage lighting like this installed.
+My customers just don’t want to pay for Raytec. Hopefully this product covers it.
+White light is best, but the problem is in side or back yards in home for example where the light may shine into a bedroom or neighbors house. Also, traditional light fixtures are not effective at directing light where you need it.
+How do people look passing through? I have a problem with my Hikvision cameras making everyone’s face white out or just too grainy despite all my efforts at changing settings and any motion at night leaves people and animals a ghostly blur. My IRs are casting shadows and some of them overlap so it would seem I am getting enough light.
+My still images are almost as nice as yours there with the extra light, can you show someone walking through that light so we can see if it can capture details?
+Health & Fitness:Alternative Health
+Dietary intake of flavanols (flavan-3-ols), type of dietary polyphenolics, could help prevent obesity by sympathetic nervous system-induced browning of fat tissue
+Shibaura Institute of Technology,.
+A group of scientists examined the browning of fat induced by dietary administration of flavan 3-ols (FLs), a family of "catechin" containing polyphenols abundant in cocoa, apple, grapeseed, and red wine. In a new study published in the journal Nutrients, the team led by Professor Naomi Osakabe of Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan proved that FLs enhance browning of adipose tissue by activating the SNS. The findings revealed a direct correlation between fat browning and FLs consumption, which could help researchers develop new treatments for obesity-related diseases.
+The authors of this study had previously discovered that a single oral dose of FLs caused fat burning and increased skeletal muscle blood flow. Here, they investigated the effects of single and multiple dose administration of FLs in mouse adipose tissue and found that FLs activate fat browning via the SNS, which secretes "catecholamine" neurotransmitters such as adrenaline (AD) and noradrenaline (NA). They fed cocoa-derived FLs to distinct groups of mice in two independent sets of experiments. One group was given a single dose of FLs, and their urine excreted over 24 hours was collected for testing. The other group received repeated doses for 14 days before being dissected for the collection of brown and white fat. All adipose samples were tested for gene and protein markers that indicate fat browning, while the urine samples were tested specifically for AD and NA levels.
+Higher concentrations of AD and NA in the urine following a single dose of FL clearly demonstrated SNS activation. Although the use of urine samples to evaluate SNS activation is still controversial in clinical research, it has been validated in stressed rodents. “Oral administration of FLs likely activate the SNS because they are considered stressors in these models,” explains Prof Osakabe.
+The team then used the obtained adipose tissue to investigate the effects of long-term FL treatment. They were thrilled to discover that the white fat of mice who were fed FLs for 14 days eventually turned brown. Some of these cells also had notable structural changes, such as “multilocular phenotype,” and appeared to be smaller than normal cells. Since BAT dissipates heat energy, does long-term FL consumption change the amounts of heat-related proteins? To answer this question, the scientists showed that Ucp-1 levels, as well as other high temperature-linked proteins, increased in mice fed repeated doses of FLs. Browning markers, referred to as "beige markers" in this study, were also abundant in these mice. “All of these proteins work together to induce the development of the BAT phenotype,” exclaims Prof. Osakabe.
+The team believes that the results of their study may contribute to the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Interestingly, this is not the first time FLs have worked wonders. Improvements in glucose and insulin tolerance have been seen after just one dose of FL-rich food administration. These findings taken together highlight the need of discussing both the acute and chronic aspects of the metabolic responses generated by FLs consumption.
+It is evident from this research that the SNS activity in response to FLs intake caused the observed changes in mice fat. “Although the mechanism of adipose browning is not fully understood, it is possible that repeated administration of FLs may produce browning via catecholamines and its receptors,” explains Prof. Osakabe. “Further studies will be required to understand how this process is induced by FL-rich foods,” she concludes...
+Saffron: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Postpartum DepressionSaffron: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Postpartum Depression
+Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Iran) December 11, 2021
+Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that affects as many as 1 in 7 new mothers. Characterized by deep mood swings, low energy, and a loss of interest in daily activities, postpartum depression may be caused by the sudden drops in estrogen and progesterone that occur in a woman’s body immediately after giving birth.[1] Currently, the only approved medical treatments for postpartum depression are talk therapy and psychiatric medications. If a mother wishes to breastfeed, the pharmaceutical path is contraindicated due to contaminating breast milk with medication metabolites. Now, thanks to an exotic spice, there is another choice that demonstrates the power of nature to heal from within..” A highly valued cooking spice, saffron is one of the world’s most expensive spices by weight.[2] Beyond saffron’s delicate flavor, often described as sweet and “hay like”, and rich golden hue used in traditional dyes, saffron’s use as a medicinal herb has been documented for more than 4,000 years.
+In this study, researchers wanted to identify a non-pharmaceutical treatment option for breastfeeding mothers suffering from mild-to-moderate postpartum depressive disorder (PPD). A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 60 new mothers diagnosed with PPD using the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II). Participants were randomly assigned to either saffron or placebo group, with saffron group receiving a 15-mg per day dose of the powdered herb. After 8 weeks, new BDI-II scores were taken and compared to the baseline scores. Results showed that the saffron group experienced a 96% remission rate for postpartum depression, more than double the remission rate of placebo group. BDI-II scores decreased significantly for the women consuming saffron (from 20.3 ± 5.7 to 8.4 ± 3.7), while the placebo group experienced only a modest decrease in symptom scores (19.8 ± 3.2 to 15.1 ± 5.4). Researchers concluded that saffron can have a safe and significant mood-elevating impact for those suffering from postpartum depression who want to safely breast-feed their newborns.[3]
+Other researchers have produced similarly encouraging findings about saffron’s potential as a natural antidepressant. A 2014 meta-analysis titled “Saffron for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action” analyzed six studies on saffron for treating depression. Researchers determined conclusively that “saffron had large treatment effects” on depression. When compared with antidepressant medications, saffron was found to have similar efficacy - without the side effects. Saffron's antidepressant properties have been attributed to its “serotonergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-endocrine, and neuroprotective effects.”[4]
+It is a commonly held misbelief that holistic treatments for depression are only viable when a person is experiencing mild-to-moderate depression symptoms. Another meta-analysis of saffron for major depressive disorders dispels this concern. In this 2013 review of five studies on saffron for major depressive disorder, researchers noted that a “large effect” was seen in saffron-treated patients versus placebo, concluding that “saffron supplementation can improve symptoms of depression in adults with major depressive disorder.”[5]
+Saffron’s impressive ability to elevate mood is backed-up by at least seven additional proven health benefits. Rich in B vitamins and manganese, adding this beautiful spice to your diet also provides a nutritional boost.
+Regular exercise reduces the risk of and death from pneumonia, study suggestsRegular benefits of regular exercise are well-known and can reduce the risk, length or severity of infectious diseases. Previous research has.
+.”
+The research does not prove cause and effect and further studies are needed to show if the associations demonstrated are causal. Also, additional work should be carried out to confirm the amount and intensity of physical activity, which is essential for the prevention of pneumonia or pneumonia-related deaths.
+Finally, because add to the well documented evidence that regular physical activity has the potential to reduce the risk of several chronic diseases, infectious diseases such as pneumonia, as well as death. Physical activity has huge benefits on overall health, as well as reducing healthcare costs caused by pre-existing health conditions.
+A daily dose of yoghurt could be the go-to food to manage high blood pressureA.
+Globally, more than a billion people suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure), putting them at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as heart attack and stroke.
+CVDs are the leading cause of death worldwide – in the United States, one person dies from CVD every 36 seconds; in Australia, it’s every 12 minutes.
+UniSA researcher Dr Alexandra Wade says this study provides new evidence that connects yoghurt with positive blood pressure outcomes for hypertensive people.
+“High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so it’s important that we continue to find ways to reduce and regulate it,” Dr Wade says.
+.
+“This study showed for people with elevated blood pressure, even small amounts of yoghurt were associated with lower blood pressure.
+“And for those who consumed yoghurt regularly, the results were even stronger, with blood pressure readings nearly seven points lower than those who did not consume yoghurt.”
+The study was conducted on 915 community-dwelling adults from the Maine–Syracuse Longitudinal Study. Habitual yogurt consumption was measured using a food frequency questionnaire. High blood pressure was defined as being greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg (a normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg).
+Researchers say that future observational and intervention studies should continue to focus on at-risk individuals to examine the potential benefits of yogurt.
+Infrared sauna helps remove heavy metals and prevent cancer
+University of Munich, December 13, 2021
+You’re about to discover the underappreciated health benefits of infrared sauna therapy. (Share this news with your healthcare provider)
+Every day, our bodies are besieged by toxins, including heavy metals and industrial chemicals – a non-stop bombardment that can threaten to overwhelm the body’s natural defense system. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency notes that the average American has over 700 chemicals in his or her system – including arsenic, lead, mercury, aluminum and cadmium.
+The accumulation of these toxic substances can set the stage for a host of serious diseases, including cancer and dementia. Fortunately, there is a safe and effective way to rid the body of heavy metals and other pollutants, relieving the burden on your immune system and helping to prevent and even treat cancer.
+Infrared saunas detoxify and heal the body with therapeutic radiant heat.
+Cancer prevention: Infrared saunas kill mutated cancer cells
+Millions of mutated cells exist in every body, but the immune system is designed to kill them off before they have a chance to multiply and grow into tumors. However, an immune system overwhelmed by toxins may not do this effectively – hence, the development of cancer.
+Because cancer cells have a poorer tolerance to heat than healthy cells, infrared light is just the ticket to kill them off – and stop potential cancers in their tracks. Dr Rolf Issels, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Munich, notes that the heat produced in an infrared sauna can create “heat shock” proteins on the surfaces of cancer cells, causing them to be more vulnerable to attack by the immune system.
+Heat therapy can help reduce the size of existing tumors in 2002, researchers noted that heat therapy has shown a beneficial effect in controlling certain types of cancer – such as breast cancer and malignant melanoma – and boosting survival rates in patients.
+But when it comes to treating cancer, an infrared sauna is not a magic bullet, or even a “single” bullet. It is merely one weapon in the cancer-fighting arsenal. Both mainstream and holistic practitioners agree: heat therapy must be combined with other forms of cancer treatment, for best results.
+Infrared saunas use multiple actions to fight cancer
+In addition to killing cancer cells outright, infrared saunas combat cancer by helping to improve oxygen-carrying blood flow – important because cancer cells can’t thrive in high-oxygen environments. Infrared saunas also promote weight loss and fight obesity – another anti-cancer effect, due to the fact that cancer-producing hormones and carcinogens accumulate in fatty tissues.
+Other beneficial and chemoprotective effects of infrared sauna include increased wound healing, increased production of beneficial nitric oxide, and improved blood flow through dilation and widening of arteries.
+Say “goodbye” to heavy metals and other dangerous toxins
+Infrared saunas promote sweating that helps detoxify the body from heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, aluminum, cadmium and nickel – along with industrial chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides.
+And they do it more effectively than traditional saunas. While sweat generated in a conventional hot rock sauna has been found to consist of 95 to 97 percent water, the sweat produced by infrared saunas contains only 80 to 85 percent water.
+This means that the remaining 15 to 20 percent of the sweat should represent toxins that have been cleared from the system. And this fact was proven, in spades – the remainder was found to be laden with toxins such as heavy metals, sulfuric acid, uric acid and excess sodium – demonstrating that infrared saunas are more effective at eliminating toxins from the body.
+And, by helping toxins exit the body via the skin, infrared heat helps relieve the eliminatory and detoxifying burden on the kidneys and liver.
+What’s the difference between far infrared and near infrared saunas?
+Although both have therapeutic benefits, far and near infrared have some key differences. While far infrared saunas use metallic, ceramic or black carbon elements, near infrared lamp saunas utilize 250-watt incandescent red heat lamps – the same type that can be seen heating French fries at burger outlets.
+In addition, near infrared sauna rays penetrate the skin to a distance of 3 inches, while far infrared rays only penetrate 1.5 inches.
+Proponents of near infrared saunas point to their absence of EMFs – electromagnetic frequencies – as a benefit; Although proponents of far infrared saunas acknowledge their saunas emit more EMFs, they say the effect is negligible.
+In the end, only you can decide which is right for you.
+Of course, always consult a trusted, knowledgeable holistic practitioner before using either type of sauna – especially if you suffer from a chronic disease condition. When you have the go-ahead, plan to limit your initial sessions to 20 minutes maximum to avoid dehydration, dizziness and faintness.
+Then, relax in the healing, soothing and detoxifying rays.
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+224 F2d 892 Brodrick v. Gore
+224 F.2d 892
+Lynn R. BRODRICK, Director of Internal Revenue for the District of Kansas, Appellant,
+v.
+Theodore GORE and Ralph Gore, as Executors of the Last Will and Testament of Harry Gore, Deceased, Appellees.
+No. 5038.
+United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit.
+July 22, 1955.
+Carolyn R. Just, Washington, D. C. (H. Brian Holland, Asst. Atty. Gen., Ellis N. Slack, Hilbert P. Zarky, Marvin Weinstein, Spec. Assts. to the Atty. Gen., and William C. Farmer, U. S. Atty., Wichita, Kan., were with her on the brief), for appellant.
+J. B. McKay, El Dorado, Kan. (James B. McKay, Jr., El Dorado, Kan., was with him on the brief), for appellees.
+Before BRATTON, HUXMAN and PICKETT, Circuit Judges.
+BRATTON, Circuit Judge.
+This was an action by the executors under the will of Harry Gore against the Director of Internal Revenue for the District of Kansas to recover an asserted overpayment of estate tax. Harry Gore, a resident of Wichita, Kansas, was the father of Theodore Gore and Ralph Gore. In 1933, the father and the two sons entered into written articles of partnership to conduct the business of drilling and operating oil and gas wells and selling the products therefrom. Under the terms of the agreement, the father owned an undivided one-half interest in the partnership, each of the two sons owned an undivided one-fourth interest therein, and the income therefrom was to be divided in that proportion. The agreement provided among other things that the assets of the partnership were accepted by the members at the amount of their book value; and that in the event any one of the copartners should desire to withdraw from the partnership the entire interest of such copartner should be sold to the remaining copartner or copartners, as the case might be, for a sum equal to $4,500 for each ten per cent of the assets owned by the withdrawing member. By supplemental agreement entered into in 1937, it was provided that each of the copartners owned an undivided one-third interest in the partnership. And by a second supplemental agreement entered into in 1949, it was provided that in the event any one of the copartners should desire to withdraw the remaining copartners should have the exclusive right for a period of ninety days to purchase the interest of the retiring copartner; that if the remaining copartners should elect to exercise their option, they should purchase such interest, share and share alike, for a sum equal to the book value of the interest of the withdrawing copartner in all of the assets of the partnership as of the date of the withdrawal; that upon the death of any of the copartners all of the interest of the deceased copartner in the assets of the partnership should be sold to the surviving copartners, share and share alike, and the surviving copartners should purchase the interest of the deceased copartner, share and share alike, for a sum equal to the book value of the interest of the deceased copartner in the assets of the partnership as of the date of the death of such deceased copartner; that such provision was contractual; and that the interest of each of the copartners should be burdened with such agreement to buy and sell.
+The business was conducted under the terms of the agreement until the death of Harry Gore in 1951. By will, the decedent bequeathed to the two sons his interest in the partnership. The two sons were residuary legatees under the will, and they were named as executors. In their individual capacity, the two sons filed in the Probate Court of Sedgwick County, Kansas, in the matter of the estate of the decedent, a pleading denominated petition for allowance of demand, for specific performance, and for determination that administration of the partnership was unnecessary. By such pleading, the two sons sought to compel themselves, as executors, to sell to themselves, as individuals, the decedent's interest in the partnership for the amount of $345,897.53, the alleged book value of such interest at the time of the death of the decedent. The probate court appointed a special administrator to represent the estate, and such administrator filed an answer. A hearing was had. The special administrator was present and represented the estate. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court found that the rights and interests of the estate had been and were in all respects duly represented, safeguarded, and protected; determined and adjudged that the articles of copartnership as supplemented were valid, subsisting, and enforceable; determined and adjudged that the estate of the decedent was obligated to sell and the two sons were obligated to purchase the interest of the decedent in the partnership assets for a price equal to the book value thereof as of the date of the death of the decedent; determined and adjudged that such book value was $345,897.53; and determined and adjudged that the sons, as executors, perform specifically the terms and provisions of the articles of partnership by executing and delivering upon receipt of such sum of $345,897.53 good and sufficient conveyances transferring to such sons, as individuals, the interest of the decedent in the assets of the partnership. The specified sum was paid to the executors and they executed the conveyances. Relying upon the agreement and the determination of the probate court, the federal estate tax return filed by the executors included the interest of the decedent in the partnership at its book value of $345,897.53, and the tax thereon was paid. A deficiency in estate tax was asserted against the executors on the basis that the fair market value of the interest of the decedent in the assets of the partnership was $516,457.84 and that the tax should be computed on that sum. The executors paid the deficiency, and this action was instituted to recover the asserted overpayment. The Director answered. Summary judgment was entered for the executors, and the Director appealed.
+Legal rights and interests of parties in property are created and determined by state law. Morgan v. Commissioner, 309 U.S. 78, 626, 60 S.Ct. 424, 84 L.Ed. 585, 1035; Helvering v. Stuart, 317 U.S. 154, 63 S.Ct. 140, 87 L.Ed. 154; Trapp v. United States, 10 Cir., 177 F.2d 1, certiorari denied, 339 U.S. 913, 70 S.Ct. 573, 94 L.Ed. 1339. The copartnership agreement into which the decedent and the two sons entered was executed in Kansas and was to be performed there. Therefore, questions concerning its interpretation and effectiveness in respect to property rights were questions of local law in that state. Blair v. Commissioner, 300 U.S. 5, 57 S.Ct. 330, 81 L.Ed. 465. And it is settled law that probate courts in Kansas are vested with all necessary legal and equitable jurisdiction to determine judicially all matters incident to the administration and settlement of estates. Foss v. Wiles, 155 Kan. 262, 124 P.2d 438; Egnatic v. Wollard, 156 Kan. 843, 137 P.2d 188; Bitzer v. Smith, 158 Kan. 83, 145 P.2d 148; Rosenberg v. Baum, 10 Cir., 153 F.2d 10. Viewed in the light of that firmly established general rule, it is clear that the probate court was clothed with jurisdiction to determine and adjudicate the existence of the partnership agreement, to determine and adjudicate the effectiveness of the provision in the contract binding and obligating the executors to convey to the surviving copartners the interest of the decedent in the assets and property of the partnership for a sum equal to the book value thereof, to determine and adjudicate the book value of such interest, and to order the executors to convey it upon payment of the book value. With jurisdiction of the subject matter and the parties, the probate court entered its order and judgment. No appeal having been taken therefrom, the adjudication became final and conclusive as between the parties in the settlement of their legal rights, particularly in respect to the interest of the estate in the partnership property being burdened or encumbered with such obligation respecting its sale.
+We recognize and subscribe in full measure to the firmly established wholesome rule that where an order or judgment of a state court is obtained through collusion, or is attended with some other badge of fraud, or is entered in a nonadversary proceeding, it is not binding as between one or more of the parties to such proceeding and the United States in respect to income or estate tax imposed by federal revenue legislation. Botz v. Helvering, 8 Cir., 134 F.2d 538; Saulsbury v. United States, 5 Cir., 199 F.2d 578, certiorari denied, 345 U.S. 906, 73 S.Ct. 645, 97 L.Ed. 1342. But here, the order or judgment entered by the probate court was expressly pleaded in the complaint. In his answer, the Director admitted the entry of such order or judgment, and he did not plead that it was collusive, or was otherwise fraudulent, or was entered in a nonadversary proceeding. His answer was silent in respect to tendering any issue of that kind. And in the absence of collusion, in the absence of other bad faith, and in the absence of its entry in a nonadversary proceeding, the order or judgment. Freuler v. Helvering, 291 U.S. 35, 45, 54 S.Ct. 308, 78 L.Ed. 634; Blair v. Commissioner, supra.
+While legal rights and interests in property are created and determined by state law, the federal revenue acts designate the manner in which and the extent to which such rights and interests shall be subject to federal tax. Morgan v. Commissioner, supra; Helvering v. Stuart, supra; Trapp v. United States, supra. Section 811(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C.A. § 811(a), provides in substance that for purposes of estate tax the value of the gross estate of a decedent shall be determined by including the value of all property of the decedent to the extent of his interest therein at the time of his death. At the time of his death, the book value of the interest of the decedent in the assets and property of the partnership was $345,897.53. Its fair market value may have been more than its book value. But such interest was burdened and encumbered with a certain restriction contained in the partnership agreement. If the decedent had concluded during his lifetime to withdraw from the partnership, he would not have been free to sell his interest in the open market or to a willing buyer at its fair market value. Under the terms of the agreement, he was effectively obligated to sell such interest to the other copartners for a sum equal to its then book value. Upon the death of the decedent, the executors under his will were in like manner or encumbered in that respect by such an effective contractual provision, the estate tax should be based upon the book value rather than a fair market value in excess of the book value. Helvering v. Salvage, 297 U.S. 106, 56 S.Ct. 375, 80 L.Ed. 511; Wilson v. Bowers, 2 Cir., 57 F.2d 682; Lomb v. Sugden, 2 Cir., 82 F.2d 166; May v. McGowan, 2 Cir., 194 F.2d 396.
+Relying upon Section 811 of the Internal Revenue Code, supra, as warrant for the imposition of the deficiency in estate tax, the Director in his answer pleaded as an affirmative defense that the partnership agreement, as amended, constituted a transfer by the decedent of an interest in property other than by bona fide sale for an adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth which was includable in his gross estate as a transfer in contemplation of death or under which the decedent reserved for his life or for a period not in fact ending before his death the right to the income from the property transferred; and he pleaded as a further affirmative defense that to the extent that the decedent by the agreement transferred an interest in the property for less than the fair market value thereof at the time of the death of the decedent, such transfer was a revocable transfer. It is argued that these defenses raised genuine issues of material fact and therefore it was error to enter summary judgment for the executors. But the decedent did not by the execution of the agreement make any transfer of property in contemplation of death, revocable, or otherwise, within the intent and meaning of the statute. He entered into a partnership agreement with his sons providing for the operation and conduct of a partnership business. The agreement was by its clear terms enforceable in favor of and against the estate of the first copartner to die and the two surviving copartners, whether the first to die was the decedent or one of the sons. It was specifically enforceable regardless of which copartner should die first. It was not known whether the decedent would outlive one or both of the sons. And it was supported by an adequate and full consideration, within the intent and meaning of the statute. The affirmative defenses pleaded did not present genuine issues of material fact. They presented issues of law which were not well founded.
+The entry of summary judgment is challenged on the further ground that there were other genuine issues of material fact for exploration and determination on a trial. The purpose of Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c), 28 U.S.C.A., authorizing entry of summary judgment in specified circumstances is to permit the expeditious disposition of cases in which there are no genuine issues of material fact upon which the outcome of the litigation depends. But the procedure is not to be used as a substitute for a regular trial of cases in which there are disputed issues of material fact upon which the ultimate outcome hinges, and it should be invoked with due caution to the end that litigants may be afforded a trial where there exists between them a bona fide dispute of material facts. Where it appears however that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact upon which the outcome of the litigation depends, the case is appropriate for disposition by summary judgment and it becomes the duty of the court to enter such judgment. SMS Manufacturing Co. v. U. S.-Mengel Plywoods, 10 Cir., 219 F.2d 606. And in determining whether a motion for summary judgment is well founded, the court may pierce formal allegations of fact in the pleadings and determine from the entire case whether there are genuine issues of fact for resolution upon a formal trial. Avrick v. Rockmont Envelope Co., 10 Cir., 155 F.2d 568.
+The government did not deny that the decedent and the two sons entered into the partnership agreement; did not deny that they entered into the two supplemental agreements; did not deny that the agreement as supplemented contained the provision in respect to conveying to the surviving copartners the interest of the decedent in the partnership property at and for a sum equal to the book value thereof; did not deny that the petition was filed in the probate court; did not deny that the special administrator was appointed and answered; did not deny that a hearing was held; did not deny that the probate court entered its order or judgment; and did not deny that in compliance with such order the interest of the decedent in the partnership assets was conveyed to the surviving copartners at and for a sum equal to the book value thereof. And, as previously said, the Director did not plead affirmatively that the partnership agreement was executed in bad faith, and did not plead that the proceeding in the probate court was collusive or nonadversary in character. With no such issues of fact joined, the question whether the estate tax should be computed on the basis of the book value or the market value was one of law.
+The judgment is affirmed.
+Evolution Slimming works perfectly if you want to lose fat, but what can be the reason? A look at the customer's experience brings clarity: you are currently very often on the doubts whether Evolution Slimming holds, what it promises? We will tell you if you can really lose weight without a doubt:
+Buy it for the best price of all time:
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+You would feel better, as soon as you would be a lot easier?
+Let's look at the whole thing directly and let's face it: Who does it not really be?
+In any case, you still lack a sure concept of which strategy is right for effective weight loss. Finally, put on what you really like and relax leaning back - that's what you want to achieve. If you thereby also improve your social status and go through it with more confidence and positive, then these are really great side effects. The guidelines of classic diet programs are really hard to follow. This can cause you to lose your appetite very quickly, and in the worst case, achieve the actual goal becomes a real burden. Evolution Slimming will soon make that hurdle noticeably easier, provided the experts are right. It's not just about some drugs that can help you lose weight fast, but it's one of the greatest moments when you realize there's nothing better than feeling good. This motivation, together with the effect of Evolution Slimming, can lead to the long-awaited Evolution Slimming. Evolution Slimming will help you and is definitely the fuel you need for this new beginning.
+Basic Facts about Evolution Slimming
+Evolution Slimming is composed of only natural ingredients, based solely on perennial mechanisms of action. It was created so as to lose weight with as little undesired concomitant as well as inexpensive. Furthermore, the product provider is extremely credible. The receipt is possible without prescription & can be processed because of an SSL-encrypted connection.
+What speaks for Evolution Slimming and what against it?
+Cons:
+- only available in a shop
+- not a cheap product
+- daily use recommended
+- works over time
+Per:
+- easy order
+- Very secure online order
+- courteous service
+- economical
+- simple application
+- easy to use in everyday life
+Which is why almost all consumers are happy with Evolution Slimming :
+- Critical medical examinations can be avoided
+- Evolution Slimming is not a conventional drug, therefore wholesome and Evolution Slimming
+- You bypass the path to becoming a physician & pharmacist, who makes fun of your problem "I just can not lose weight" and does not take you seriously
+- Tools that help with weight loss are in many cases to order alone with a doctor's prescription - Evolution Slimming you can buy without difficulty and very cheap on the net
+- Do you enjoy talking about weight loss? As rare as possible? You do not have to, because you can buy this product yourself without that
+The effects of Evolution Slimming
+The effect of Evolution Slimming comes Evolution Slimming through the interaction of the individual components. What makes a natural product for sustainable body fat Evolution Slimming such as Evolution Slimming unmistakable is the fact that it works exclusively with natural functions in the organism. The organism has practically the equipment to reduce weight and it is all about getting things going. According to the public internet presence of the manufacturer, the following effects occur:
+- Evolution Slimming with Evolution Slimming reduces the desire for junk food
+- Ingredients of Evolution Slimming create a healthy and comfortable satiety that reduces the craving for food
+- the high-dose active ingredients are effective & yet not harmful
+These are the relevant effects that are imaginable with the product. However, it should be clear that these findings can naturally be more intensive, or even softer, depending on the buyer. Only a personal check can bring reliability!
+Below is a list of ingredients
+In the case of the product, it is above all the constituents, as well as, which are important for the lion's share of the effects. The fact that the recipe is based primarily on and as a powerful basis suggests that, of course, a significant impact can be achieved. No less convinced the generous dosage of these individual components. A point where some products lose. Although I was initially amazed that the drug was used as an active ingredient, I am now, after a little examination, again more of the opinion that this substance can play a significant role in weight loss.
+So what is my current impression based on the ingredients contained in the product?
+After an intense look at the packaging and several minutes of research, I'm confident that Evolution Slimming fabulous results in the test run.
+Side effects of the product Evolution Slimming
+As already stated, Evolution Slimming is based Evolution Slimming on ingredients that are natural, carefully selected and well tolerated. Accordingly, it is available without a prescription. Both the producer and reviews as well as reviews on the Internet are correct: the product does not cause unwanted side effects when used. In any case, it should be noted that this producer Evolution Slimming on dosage, application & Co. Evolution Slimming, because Evolution Slimming obviously very strong in tests, which proves the impressive progress of the customers. In addition, you should make sure that you order Evolution Slimming solely from trusted dealers - follow our buying advice - to prevent duplicates (fakes). Such a fake product, even if a seemingly low price may entice you, usually has little effect and can be in the worst case with uncertain outcome.
+Which people should avoid the method?
+This is by no means complicated: In the following situations we definitely advise Evolution Slimming using Evolution Slimming :
+- You have not reached the age of 18 yet.
+- It is out of the question for you to pay cash to handle your problem.
+- It does not matter if you take off fat.
+Some important information about the use of Evolution Slimming
+Those easily portable sizes as well as the less complex application of the product facilitate the integration into everyday life enormously. Ultimately, it is pointless to go crazy with dosages or future forecasts without being up to date on all the details.
+Should we already see improvements?
+In general, Evolution Slimming makes itself Evolution Slimming already after the first application and within a few weeks, according to the manufacturer, smaller successes can be achieved. In studies, Evolution Slimming often been associated with a resolute impact from customers that only lasts for a short while. With long-term use, these results are consolidated, so that even after discontinuation of use, the consequences are permanent. For this reason, many of the users use the product again and again after a very long time - and with enormous fascination! It makes sense, therefore, although isolated reports of the opposite testify to serenity and to use Evolution Slimming at least for a few weeks. For other information, otherwise pay attention to our purchase advice.
+What do people who have been using Evolution Slimming do?
+If you check more closely, the reports of users overwhelmingly recommend the product. Conversely, sometimes you hear about users who talk about minor triumph, but all in all the ratings are very good. If you Evolution Slimming not try Evolution Slimming, you may just lack the desire to truly make a Evolution Slimming. Let's take a look at what others have to say about the remedy.
+Compared to other means, Evolution Slimming is undoubtedly the more appropriate solution
+The common experiences of Evolution Slimming are impressively completely positive. We have been monitoring the existing market for such articles in the form of tablets, gel and various remedies for years, have already done a lot of research and tried it on us. As so clearly as satisfactory as Evolution Slimming, experiments are rare.
+For the most part, all users speak of great triumphs in weight loss
+- Compared to before, there was a significant improvement in the fitness and attractiveness of the mirror image
+- A new feeling for life was created by many! (we attribute this to the preserved self-image and less jamming in the choice of clothing)
+- Here no separate dietary requirements or sports sessions were to be observed
+- Generally, the weight shrank by a few sizes of clothes, so that people could feel completely comfortable again
+- Evolution Slimming resulted in the loss of a lot of pounds of unnecessary fat in no time
+Get rid of plague and feel absolutely good.
+You can not imagine that your sensation will be irresistible when you finally get your first results, and especially when you finally reach your ideal weight. This could Evolution Slimming said regarding the use of Evolution Slimming : the chances of success are impressively high. Despite times when you are temporarily satisfied with your present physical appearance, you are bothered over and over again with thick bodies - is not that the truth? You'll be amazed at how much positive feedback you receive from others as you begin to feel better in your skin. You will enjoy it to the full as soon as you never again jealously envy other people with good physique. Many other people who have recently been in a similar situation to yours are pleased to confirm their extremely good experiences. In the past, overweight users constantly testify that, in addition, they started a qualitative phase of life with the great figure.
+Conclusion - Evolution Slimming a test run definitely makes sense!
+A prospective buyer is therefore well advised not to wait forever and thereby run the risk that the drug is pharmacy or withdrawn from the market. Annoyingly, this occurs again and again in naturally effective products. We say: Buy the product at our recommended source and give it a chance as long as Evolution Slimming still be Evolution Slimming cheaply and legally. In case you do not have enough stamina to go through the process from start to finish, it's best to stay the same. After all, this is the decisive success factor: no half things. Nevertheless, we think that your circumstance should motivate you sufficiently, which leads to the fact that you can achieve constant effects with Evolution Slimming.
+Don't blow your money , only get Evolution Slimming here.
+We show you some of the frequently made mistakes that you should by no means imitate:
+In any case, should be avoided, because of alleged promises to order from fraudulent suppliers on the net. With these suppliers it is possible to buy imitations, which are probably ineffective and, in the worst case, seem ominous. Furthermore, those affected are baited with empty promises, but in the end they are still ripped off. Please note: If you have decided to buy Evolution Slimming, invariably use the original website. Meticulously I researched all the sources in the Internet trade and found out: Only with the seller quoted by us, you can rely on the fact that you acquire the recommended remedy. Recommendations for ordering Evolution Slimming : Better save yourself the dangerous search methods. Just rely on one of our links on this page. We cyclically verify the links. As a result, conditions, purchase price and delivery are always the best. . Compared to MaleExtra is much more remarkable.
+More Languages: de en es fr it
+The second installment of a Byte and Switch four-part series is out, and it’s full of the same untrue statements found in the first installment. I will say the same thing I said in a comment I made on the first installment: “Is the author completely unaware [of the real facts] … Or is the author purposefully withholding information…?” Click Read More to see both sides of the story that he is only telling one side of.
+You may notice that I haven’t included a link to the article in question. It’s because I don’t think that Byte and Switch should be rewarded for publishing an article so full of factual errors by you clicking on my link and reading the “story.” If you must, go there, then feel free to go to byte and switch dot com and click on the Industry Opinion section and read the article, ” A Data Deduplicaiton Survival Guide: Part 2.” So you don’t have to, though, I’ve summarized the article here:
+- A definition of inline, post-process, and “combination”
+- Inline dedupe presents an easier to understand picture
+- Inline backup performance is up to 1 TB/hr. If you don’t need to go faster than that, why would you buy a post-processing system?
+- Post processing systems might be able to restore faster, but other things will probably slow it down anyway
+- If you want fast restores, shouldn’t you use CDP?
+- Inline dedupe gets data offsite much faster than post-process dedupe.
+- Dedupe is only part of the story.
+I again want to state that I am not slamming the inline method or Data Domain. I think the inline approach is completely valid and Data Domain is a great company with thousands of happy customers. I do have to defend post-process, though, because this article (once again) fosters misconceptions about it that I feel the need to dispel.
+In addition, I’ll say that I don’t care. I don’t care why my car goes fast when I hit the gas peddle, and I don’t care how my dedupe vendor does what it does. Does it back up fast enough? Does it restore fast enough? Can it replicate the data offsite in a timely fashion? Can it store all my data? AND can I afford it? That’s all that matters. Arguing over inline vs post-process is like arguing over hybrids. I don’t care why my Prius gets 50 MPG. I just know that it does.
+Definition of Inline and Post-Process and “combination”
+The article states that: “There are basically three “whens” of deduplicating data: inline, post-process, or a combination of the two.” Actually inline vs post-process is as much a “when,” as it is a “how,” because both inline and post-processing vendors can dedupe data while backups are still going on.
+You either store the original (non-deduped) data on disk or you don’t. If you store the original data on disk for one second, you’re doing post-processing. If you never store the original data on disk, then you’re doing inline processing. It’s as simple as that.
+What the author calls “combination” is vendors that do post-processing while backups are still coming in. This is what some are calling “concurrent processing.” I have no issue with the term, per se, but it’s still post-process dedupe.
+(There is also one vendor, Quantum, that dynamically switches between inline and post-process depending on throughput, but that is not what this author was talking about.)
+Inline dedupe presents an easier to understand picture
+The author explains that because post-process vendors store the original data for some period of time, you have to account for that storage, and inline vendors don’t. That’s probably the most correct statement in the entire article. It is certainly a part of the design that you must consider when doing post-processing, and you don’t have to consider it with inline. Score one for inline.
+Inline backup performance is up to 1 TB/hr. If you don’t need to go faster than that, why would you buy a post-processing system?
+The author states that inline systems can perform up to 1 TB/hr, and “if your infrastructure can’t sustain much more than 1 Tbyte per hour, then the ease-of-use gains of an inline system outweigh the unrealized performance capabilities of a post-processed system.” Apparently the author is unaware of any advantages that post-processing would have other than performance. The author also stated that “no systems support de-duplication across separate appliances.”
+This is where the reader should absolutely know that the author has never talked to a post-processing vendor to get their side of the story. First, there are advantages to post-processing beyond backup performance. As I discussed in my “inline vs post-process” blog post, there are three other advantages:
+- It allows for a staggered implementation of dedupe
+- It allows you to copy your backups from disk to tape before they’ve been touched by the dedupe system
+- It allows you (if you want) to leave last night’s (or more) on disk in its entirety for faster restores.
+The disadvantages of post process are that it does have a lot more I/O work to do than inline, and requires the landing zone disk.
+The second reason you should know the author hasn’t talked to a post-processing vendor is the statement that there are “no systems support[ing] de-duplication across separate appliances.” That’s complete fiction. Falconstor, NEC, and SEPATON all have this functionality in general availability. As to “we expect to see that capability delivered this year,” this is more evidence that he spends all his time talking to Data Domain, as their multi-node dedupe is expected at the end of this year. Diligent’s is allegedly supposed to ship before then, but we already established he doesn’t seem to want to talk about them. (He mentioned every major vendor but them in the first installment.)
+Post processing systems might be able to restore faster, but other things will probably slow it down anyway.
+The author acknowledges that “there could indeed be performance issues with recovering de-duplicated data,” but states that other bottlenecks might get in your way, like the network, the server to receive it over the network, rewriting RAID parity data, and the “fact that writes are slower than reads.” He then simply moves on, as if restore performance doesn’t matter. Of course! He doesn’t want to talk about that because he might have to acknowledge that this is an area where post-processing vendors might have an advantage!
+So… following his logic… If I live in a world where I’m restoring via a LAN-free connection (no network bottleneck), and my server isn’t being bogged down by that traffic (no server bottleneck), I’m not writing RAID parity data (not using RAID 4/5/6), and writes aren’t slower than reads (the only time I know they’re slower is when you’re writing parity), and restore performance is a factor, then might post-processing help me?
+If you want fast restores, shouldn’t you use CDP?
+I didn’t see this one coming, especially given the obvious Data Domain slant of the article. Seriously? You’re telling people that if restore performance matters, they should use CDP? I’ve got nothing against CDP, but that’s just funny right there. I don’t care who you are. (Channeling Larry the Cable Guy.)
+Inline dedupe gets data offsite much faster than post-process dedupe.
+It’s again obvious that the writer has only been talking to inline vendors, because only someone who doesn’t understand the post-processing approach would describe it in this manner. He says that post-processing dedupe “has to be completed before replication of the backup data can occur,” and “you may not have enough time to complete the backup job, run the de-duplication process, and then replicate the data.”
+That’s completely untrue and nothing more than inline FUD. The truth is that as soon as a given block of data has been examined by the post-processing dedupe engine, it can be replicated. So dedupe must start (not finish) before replication can occur. If you combine that with the fact I previously mentioned that many post-processing dedupe vendors are deduping while backups are coming in, this means that post-processing replication often starts only minutes after the backup starts.
+Therefore, the example that the author gives of a 7-hour backup followed by 15 hours of dedupe that “leaves you about 2 hours before you have to start the next backup,” is complete fiction. (The author also plants a subliminal jab in that sentence by implying that it takes more than twice as long to dedupe the data as it does to ingest it. While that is true of some systems, it is not true of all.)
+Some post-processing systems can be configured to do dedupe after all backups are done, but it’s an option – not a requirement. Some post-processing systems take more than twice as long to dedupe the data as they do to ingest it. (One of them can ingest data 6 times faster than it can dedupe it!) This is one of my concerns about post-processing: a poorly educated customer combined with an unscrupulous or poorly educated sales rep can give you just enough rope to hang yourself (a system that’s fast enough to back up your data, but not fast enough to dedupe before the next backups occurs).
+The post-processing systems that I’m working with can do concurrent processing of backups (dedupe while backups are still going on), and can do so at rates that are fast enough to keep up with the incoming backups – and can start and finish their replication within minutes of inline vendors. So this whole thing of “if you want to replicate, then you should really use an inline vendor” stuff is just bunk.
+Dedupe is only part of the story.
+Again, this is something I totally agree with. Dedupe is a feature, not a product. It reduces the amount of disk you need, but you need your target dedupe vendor to do a whole lot more than think it is interesting how DD is positioning themselves in the de-dupe card game now that other players have arrived at the final table. QTM, EMC, and others have DD a bit concerned and so DD must spread the word that inline is the best and post-process is the worst. After all, they have been doing it the longest and are the best at it. Aren’t they? It is just too bad that so called industry experts from Byte and Switch are spreading FUD for them. Let DD do their own dirty work. They are very good at it, trust me. It is sad to think that some poor backup admin somewhere is going to read that and be totally convinced that inline is the only way to go beacause some “expert” said so in some article somewhere. “But Curtis, How do I choose the right de-dupe solution for my business with all of this mis-information?” Simple, do your homework and TEST the product with YOUR data. After all, it still comes down to “How big is it? How fast is it? How much does it cost?” Personally speaking, I like the flexibility option when it comes to de-dupe.
+I’m pretty sure DD pays George, and obviously George is behind it, but I doubt that DD instructed George to write this junk. Although some of their sales reps have been liable to say just about anything to win a deal, the marketing folks that would be paying George don’t seem the type.
+They’ve always positioned inline as the best way. I would expect them to do so; it’s the way they do it. I just don’t like it when an “independent” author tells only one side of the story. There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches, and an independent article that’s trying to cover the subject should cover both.
+I always use a simple test with the sales people: If I say ” I want to do X”, and you don’t ask me at least 5 questions before you suggest something, I’m going somewhere else. And only 1 of those 5 gets to be about budget. I never trust single-answer types. Your solution may be perfect for me, but if you don’t have any other answers I just can’t trust your motives.
+asp:Feature
+LANGUAGES: C#
+ASP.NET VERSIONS: 2.0
+Mind the Gaps
+Stop Memory Leak
+By Alvin Bruney
+Arguably, there is no uglier beast than a memory leak. Applications that abuse memory can cripple resources. The disease can quickly spread across a server farm to wreak havoc on a Web site. Some .NET developers (in particular) have developed an unhealthy distrust of the mechanisms that govern resource allocation and de-allocation in a managed environment. For instance, code to close, dispose, null-out objects, force a garbage collection, wait for the finalizer to run, and force another collection is common place.
+There is validity in the argument that this garbage collector paranoia is unhealthy, at best, because it rides high on the premise that the system is at fault. In my experience, applications that leak memory often do so because of faulty code. However, developers simply refuse to blame their code first. Mind you, in some instances the runtime is actually at fault. But these instances are few and far between, and well documented when they occur. Even in some extreme cases where the framework seems to be at fault, it often is not.
+Upon Further Review
+Let s examine one nasty piece of code that leaks memory. Allow me to set this up. This example builds a user control containing an image control that runs embedded in a browser. Code will then unload the user control and force a garbage collection to purge the control from the heap. We ll examine the heap using the SOS extensions for Windbg.exe to determine whether or not the control has been purged. The heap will show that a reference to the control still exists, even though the garbage collector ran and there are no references to the control occurring in code. This is about as nasty as they come. Figure 1 shows the simple control with three buttons and an image control.
+Figure 1: The user control with an image displayed in a browser.
+Now, let s quickly build the application. You ll need to see this in action to believe it:
+1) Download the project code to a directory on your hard drive (see end of article for download details).
+2) Using IIS Manager, create a virtual directory pointing to LeakTest.
+3) Make sure your virtual directory settings resemble Figure 2.
+4) Browse to the file titled MemoryLeakPOC.html.
+Figure 2: IIS settings for the user control.
+If you examine MemoryLeakPOC.html, you ll see that it contains three methods (loadControl, unloadControl, and performGarbageCollection) that map to the buttons shown in Figure 1. For this particular example, Code Access Security (CAS) policy does not need to be tweaked because it s sufficient to cause the application to work correctly. Parts of the html file are shown in Figure 3 for convenience.
+// method used to load the control through an object tag
+function loadControl()
+{
+if (objectTag == null)
+{
+objectTag = document.body.appendChild(
+document.createElement("OBJECT"));
+objectTag.id = "LeakingUserControl";
+objectTag.width = 800;
+objectTag.height = 500;
+objectTag.classid="LeakTestControls/bin/Debug/
+LeakingUserControl.dll#LeakingUserControl.Leaker";
+var buttonTag = document.getElementById("loadControlButton");
+buttonTag.disabled = true;
+buttonTag = document.getElementById("unloadControlButton");
+buttonTag.disabled = false;
+}
+}
+//method used to unload the control
+function unloadControl()
+{
+if (objectTag != null)
+{
+document.body.removeChild(objectTag);
+objectTag.clearAttributes();
+objectTag.outerHTML = "";
+objectTag.outerText = "";
+objectTag = null;
+var buttonTag = document.getElementById("loadControlButton");
+buttonTag.disabled = false;
+buttonTag = document.getElementById("unloadControlButton");
+buttonTag.disabled = true;
+}
+}
+//start clean up
+function performGarbageCollection()
+{
+// Perform .NET garbage collection
+var garbageCollectorUserControl = document.getElementById(
+"garbageCollectorUserControl");
+garbageCollectorUserControl.PerformGarbageCollection();
+// Perform JavaScript garbage collection
+CollectGarbage();
+}
+Figure 3: Script functions.
+Let s spend a moment talking about the loadControl method it essentially creates an object tag using script. The object is configured to source the control found in the debug folder. At run time, when this function is called, IIS will find and deliver the control to the client.
+Notice the call to the script function performGarbageCollection it s responsible for triggering a garbage collection in the managed code. To make this possible, the GarbageCollectorControl.cs file (included in the download code) contains a class decorated with a few attributes that allow an instance of the class to be visible on the client. The code hooks all this up through the IGarbageCollectorControl interface.
+I won t spend much time discussing the exact structure and details of the code because it isn t terribly important. The important point to understand is that the control will run in the browser and a garbage collection will be triggered from the client. The code uses a separate class defined in GarbageCollectorControl.cs, GarbageCollectorControl, to trigger the Garbage collection (it s designed that way to avoid re-using the control reference when the collection is triggered).
+Examine the MyUserControl.cs file. This simple Windows control library contains a picturebox control and an image. When run, it produces the screen capture shown in Figure 1. The code-beside file for the user control displays a message box for each button that is clicked. The class constructor and destructor contain similar logic; pretty basic stuff.
+The science behind the exercise is simple: When the control is loaded by clicking Load Control, a garbage collection will not occur because the control is active. Once the control is unloaded by clicking Unload Control, a garbage collection is free to occur. A collection can be triggered via the Perform Garbage Collection button. After a collection occurs, there should be no instances of the control in the managed heap. If we find an instance of the object in the managed heap, we can safely conclude that:
+1) There is a memory leak.
+2) The runtime is to blame.
+Let s Test It
+Launch the Web page and click the appropriate buttons to load, unload, and collect. At this point, there should be no objects on the managed heap because we unloaded the control and forced a garbage collection. Yet, if we examine the run-time heap with Windbg.exe, we clearly see an instance of the control on the heap (see Figure 4); it s clearly a leak, right?
+Figure 4: Object 05eb052c leaking on the heap.
+How can this be? Remember, by clicking the various buttons, we closed, disposed, nulled-out objects, forced a garbage collection, waited for the finalizer to run, and forced another collection. Clearly, after following this popular pattern, there shouldn t be any leaks. It s time to open a support incident to Microsoft Product Support! But wait if you care to dig deeper, you may realize that part of the problem is that we really haven t tested this thoroughly enough. As it turns out, we missed a crucial test case. Let s rewind and try again. Perform the same sequence of steps with the exception that you wait 10 minutes before clicking the garbage collection button. Now, examine the heap. Figure 5 confirms that the leak is gone!
+Figure 5: No leaking objects present on the heap.
+There must be some hocus pocus going on, right? If you play with the 10 minute time span a bit, you ll find that the magic number is 5 minutes. After this elapsed time, garbage collection cleans the object on the managed heap. If you try to garbage collect before a 5 minute time span, you ll have a leak (notice the quotes). So the problem wasn t in the code we wrote. Something is happening deep inside the runtime that is causing objects to hang around for 5 minutes before they are eligible for garbage collection.
+At this point, we suspect that it isn t strictly a leak, but rather a configuration setting somewhere in the runtime. This is a safe conclusion to draw because of the exact 5 minute time span found earlier. Somehow, the configuration setting must be causing the user control to maintain a root. This will prevent garbage collection. It s a bit of educated speculation, but we re headed in the right direction.
+When a managed user control is embedded in a Web form, data is marshaled across two application domains (app domains). The two app domains involved are the default Internet Explorer (IE) app domain and the app domain associated with the security zone of the .NET control. Because of marshaling, a reference for the managed user control is passed to the IE app domain. This remote reference uses .NET remoting to accomplish the marshaling. The marshaled reference has a lease life time associated with it set to 5 minutes by default. Garbage collections performed during this 5 minute interval will not reclaim the object because it has a valid root. When the time period expires, the resource can be garbage collected.
+I did warn you that it was trick code. Unfortunately, you ll see examples of this type of undocumented behavior every once in a while. And even if your code didn t cause it, it s still your responsibility to find and fix it before the software ships. Code isn t always fair! Eventually, your experience will allow you to diagnose these issues correctly. Until then, your best bet is to first assume that your code is at fault. Then, design and build your test cases accordingly. Remember, test cases, if properly designed, can uncover a majority of thorny issues that exist in code.
+There are valuable lessons in here. Memory issues are nasty and usually complicated because they often involve parts of the runtime with which we are not familiar. There s also a timing factor that is entwined in the collector algorithm that you need to be aware of if you intend to interfere with the collection mechanism. This particular example supports the recommendation of not interfering with the garbage collector. After all, you couldn t possibly know beforehand that remoting was at work behind the scenes. However, the framework is well aware of those references. You then cause problems for both yourself and the collector by triggering a collection. Instead, you should trust the managed environment to manage references and resolve memory pressures as it sees fit. Avoid calling the collector explicitly in code unless you have a very good reason to do so.
+The C# source code accompanying this article is available for download.
+Alvin Bruney is a consultant working with a large financial institution in North America. He recently wrote Programming Microsoft Office Excel 2007 Services, from Microsoft Press.
+Welcome to RVtravel.com, the newsletter that puts its readers and their interests first. “We care about you.”
+Here’s the latest news about RVing and more from the editors of RVtravel.com. This newsletter, along with each of our daily online publications, is funded in part by the voluntary subscription contributions of our readers. Thanks to all of you; you know who you are.
+If you shop at Amazon, please visit through our affiliate site (we get a little commission that way – and you don’t pay any extra). Thank you!
+Sunday, February 9, 2020
+Non-Members (advertising supported) edition
+Falling oak tree crushes travel trailer, pinning RVer inside
+One fear most RVers experience is that of a falling tree crashing down on their RV with them inside. It seldom happens, but when it does it can be horrifying, even deadly. You’ll wonder how anyone could survive this incident from this past week. Read more and see a photo of the carnage.
+Fire destroys charity’s motorhome outfitted as doctor’s office
+Nobody knows what caused the fire below, which destroyed a mobile doctor’s office that was used to treat people in need. Even though the motorhome and everything in it was destroyed, the non-profit Mission of Mercy group hopes the community will help it carry on. You can help. Learn where.
+Did you miss yesterday’s RV Travel?
+If so, stories you missed:
+• The editor’s unusual RV experiment idea.
+• Readers report their favorite “mods” and RV “add-ons”, Part 1.
+• The peace and satisfaction of “living small”.
+• Don’t stay at this motel or you will be beaten!
+• Is it safe to leave a deposit with an RV dealer?
+• Readers’ favorite RV parks and campgrounds. Stayed at any of these?
+• RV Shrink: RV awning – Use it, don’t lose it!
+• Reader Poll: Do you have a really good friend you can talk with about anything?
+• RV Electricity: Finding short circuits in dead 120-volt AC systems, Part 3A.
+• How to add an instant bathtub to your shower.
+and much more …
+Read it here | Back issues
+That was the RV week that was
+February 2–8, 2020
+The Forest Service doesn’t want Teton Canyon going to the dogs. The locale, near trendy Jackson, Wyoming, is in the Service’s jurisdiction and has a spectacular view of the Teton Mountains. The views attract hikers and walkers – and they like to bring their dogs. Trouble is, the dogs have reportedly been chasing wildlife and biting other visitors. Enough! says the Service. Dogs are now banned completely on the South Valley Trail System from December 1 to April 15. And rangers are cracking down on “leash only” rules where dogs are anywhere within 200 feet of a trailhead or campground.
+Did you visit Great Smokey Mountains National Park (North Carolina/Tennessee) last year? Then you contributed to the amazing surge of visitors. In 2018, more than 11,421,000 folks dropped by. In 2019, 12,547,743 did the same. Wow! Nearly 1.25 million more! In September, a shoulder season, a million folks paraded on in. Park officials say they’ll “thoughtfully look at how [they] can improve access” to the park. Pundits note that most of the parks gates collect fees, but wise Tennesseans recognize there’s one back door into the park that lawfully can’t charge an entry fee. Others point out that the numbers look impressive, but they include folks “driving through” the park via Highway 441, the Foothills Parkway, and Gatlinburg Spur.
+New 2020 Casino Guide includes RVer info and coupons!
+The 2020.
+The roller coaster ride for residents of a Cowlitz County, Washington, RV park has hit another high spot. We’ve reported that residents of the Lewis River RV Park have been caught in the middle of a property ownership dispute that has put their ability to receive power and water into question several times. The juice was set to be shut down last Tuesday, but residents, through their attorney, went to court on Monday to ask that the court order the land’s owner, Jerry Reeves, to keep the electricity on. The judge ordered Reeves to open an account with the power company and further make arrangements for garbage pickup. Reeves told local media that he would comply with the court’s orders.
+Can you see Marrs from Roswell, New Mexico? In the town made famous by “little green men,” some folks want to see the Marrs RV Park – and sorry, that isn’t a misspelling of our neighbor in the Sol system. The park is being promoted, in part by one Tara Marrs, a local realtor, whose vision is a nine-acre site with 86 “franchise level” sites and associated come-ons. Marrs’ promotion group envisions the park as being a great place for short-term guests, or perhaps those who’d stay longer such as “oil industry professionals.” A minister with a nearby church is concerned about the wrong kind of clientele: Other area RV parks and mobile home spots seem to attract folks who are not, as he called them, “economically sound,” and pointed the finger at them as the potential cause of crime at church buildings. No worries, the developers promise “magnets” for higher-end guests. Such as? “A lodge, a pool and bathhouse, a dog park, a recreation area.” Not all at once, mind you, but a little bit at a time.
+DID YOU KNOW? In the desert Snowbird Capital Quartzsite, Ariz., it isn’t unusual to spot a roadrunner or hear a coyote howl at night. They’re not chasing each other like in the cartoon. But here’s a bit of trivia for you: the two biggest grocery stores in town are named the Roadrunner Market and Coyote Fresh Foods. “Beep beep.”
+Visitors to Nevada’s Lake Mead Recreation Area may be in for a few traffic delays. The Park Service says it is kicking off a pavement preservation program worth $5.6 million. The cleaning, patching, resurfacing and remarking project will run weekdays during daylight hours. Expect road areas at Katherine Landing, Temple Bar, Eldorado Canyon, South Cove and the park headquarters and warehouse complex will be hit from now through April, and will delay some road traffic and close some parking lots.
+Last month we reported on the Eugene, Oregon, man whose RV – and small business – were wiped out by an arsonist. Elliot Morgan’s RV, which he used to carry clients of his hiking guide service, was torched on January 7. Another small-businessman, Daniel Isaacson, got wind of the matter and was touched by Morgan’s plight. He donated an RV to help Morgan get his business back on its feet – or wheels. Beverly Farfan got involved by donating camping equipment that sporting goods company REI had donated to her. The equipment helped to replace the gear lost in the fire. Needless to say, Morgan is ecstatic – and back in business.
+A young Brit lad is taking the kudos as a hero when his quick-thinking actions likely saved at least one home, possibly more. Cameron Clouting (11), was – as they say across the pond – “putting out the rubbish” when his youthful ears picked up on the sound of a smoke detector in full alarm. A full-timing RV couple’s RV was the source, and Cameron rushed off quickly to dial 999 – the U.K. equivalent of 911. He’d recently been taught emergency training in his classroom, and was able to provide all the details needed for the fire brigade to be dispatched. Sadly, the motorhome could not be saved, but the fire was put out before the fuel tank caught fire, saving the house it was parked next to and quite possibly Cameron’s as well. It all took place in Halstead, U.K.
+This is the cutest little micro trailer you’ve ever seen…
+And you can buy it for just $13! See it here.
+Do campgrounds need immunity from “frivolous lawsuits”? Apparently Ohio’s House of Representatives think they do. House Bill 355 has passed a floor vote and essentially says campers can’t sue the campground for “damages resulting from risks inherent to camping.” The campground industry says think of things like fishing, campfires, hiking, walking the grounds, things that the campground owner can’t protect a guest from. At the same time, no immunity is granted when damages arise that the campground does control, criminal conduct by campground owners or staff, or a willful disregard for camper safety. The bill is far from becoming law, but we’ll keep an eye on it.
+Last October, Jefferson County, Idaho, commissioners heard that the Mike Walker Boat Ramp near Menan, equipped with six RV sites, was becoming a problem. Seems some were overstaying their welcome. The parks director suggested a camp host to keep watch, but a host site with utilities would need to be developed. Just remove the RV sites, some suggested – and finally the commission tabled the matter. Off the table and into the frying pan, evidently, as now the commissioners were told having a camp host “would never pay for itself.” New ideas were tossed around – installing gates, making anyone who wants to use an RV site have a prior reservation. In the end, officials agreed to – once again – put the matter off and visit yet another time.
+Campground hosts are needed for 2020 summer assignments in Oregon’s Fremont-Winema National Forest. Volunteers are needed at Lofton Reservoir, 22 miles southeast of Bly; Williamson River Campground, 7 miles north of Chiloquin; and Digit Point Campground, near Miller Lake, is 12 miles west of Chemult. Volunteers need to be “energetic and good-natured,” have their own RV, and be ready to go at Lofton and Williamson by mid-May and by mid-June for Digit Point. Hosts will be needed though Labor Day, working Thursday through Monday. Greeting, cleaning, stocking restrooms, and litter-picking are included in duties. In exchange, an RV site will be provided, along with LP, vehicle fuel, and a subsistence allowance. To apply for Williamson River or Digit Point Campgrounds, contact Bryan Boatman at 541-883-6702 or bryan.boatman@usda.gov. For Lofton Reservoir, contact Greg Campbell at 541-947-6359 or gregory.campbell@usda.gov.
+A controversial “fake news” decision appears to have impacted tourism in Citrus County, Florida. Last October the county commission thumbs-downed a request by the county library to pay $2,700 for a digital subscription to The New York Times, giving 70,000 library users free access to the paper online. The print edition was already available in libraries there, but one commissioner, Scott Carnahan, pronounced in a public meeting, “I don’t want The New York Times in this county. I don’t like them. It’s fake news.” Carnahan says tourism hasn’t been affected by the decision, but a local newspaper, the Citrus County Chronicle, says statistics indicate a sudden drop-off in visits to the county after it publicized the commission’s decision. When the story broke, emails flooded in, some writers saying they would cancel visits because of it. The paper reports, “From October to December (which coincided with the controversy), there were 7,700 fewer visitors to local hotels, down 6.5% from the previous three-month period in 2018.” Commissioner Carnahan refused to comment on the matter; the commission chairman says he has a new policy not to talk to the paper, and lived up to that policy as well. A local tourism official refused to talk about The New York Times issue.
+The U.S. Forest Service is still dealing with the aftermath of the huge Ranch Fire of 2018 that hit California’s Mendocino National Forest. Under a new order, some campgrounds and trails have been reopened, while other areas are still closed and will remain so until at least the end of the year. Now reopening, Bear Creek Campground and the Pine Mountain Lookout. The order directs continuing rehabilitation and hazard removal through the forest.
+National park fee hikes are under discussion in the Pacific Northwest. Officials at Olympic National Park in Washington say they’d like to raise campground fees at eight of 13 campgrounds. Kalaloch would jump $2 to $24; Staircase, Heart O’ the Hills, Fairhome, Mora, and Hoh would all jump $4 to $24. South Beach and North Fork fees would skyrocket by $5 to $20 per night. Send your comments until March 3, by visiting online here at parkplanning.nps.gov/ONPCGFEES or by mail to Superintendent, Olympic National Park – Proposed Campground Fee Increases, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Wash. 98362. No phone calls or e-mails will be accepted. Comments might not be held private – everything, including personal identifying information such as address, phone number, and email address, may be made publicly available at any time._5<<
+Fremont, California, is home to Tesla and other multi-billion-dollar companies. Kato Road is home to Tesla – but no longer to folks with limited income. For years truckers have parked their rigs on the shoulder of the road across the street from Tesla because, as they say, there aren’t too many truck stops in the Bay Area. Recently, a rag-tag fleet of RVs has joined the truckers – folks who can’t afford homes in the area but some have jobs there. Fremont city officials apparently tired of complaints, and late in January put up signs warning of “new parking restrictions” that would take effect February 5. The “restrictions” are nothing but boulders the city installed to prevent anyone from parking along the roadside – and prior to their install, the city was planning on towing away any recalcitrant streetside residents. Tesla has been asked to figure out a parking arrangement for truckers who service its plant. For others, there’s no room across the street from the makers of those high-priced electric pickup trucks.
+The people pictured above are “RVers” in Palo Alto, California. Last month they were welcomed at a shelter for a night, where they were fed a chicken dinner. Some live in RVs because they are priced out of the expensive housing market, holing up in business districts and residential neighborhoods. One of largest groups consists of more than 30 oversized vehicles, including a commuter-type bus and crippled motorhomes. Dealing with these people and others is a polarizing issue cropping up all over the Bay Area and elsewhere.. SOURCE: Climaterwc.com
+Some months back we reported on an issue wherein RV dwellers in British Columbia’s Thompson-Nicola Regional District raised a hue and cry with concerns that local government was trying to run them off privately owned land in the district. District officials got on the public platform to say no, they had no such intentions. But the problem seems to have come up again – for real – in the Creston, B.C., area. Andrea Courtney, a young woman with multiple sclerosis, moved a travel trailer onto her father’s land to be near him to receive his help. In January, regional district officials fired off a letter giving the Courtneys until March 15 to move the trailer off the property, saying RVs are not acceptable living accommodations in the Kootenays. The issue of rights on the Canadian rurals appears to be spreading.
+A night-roaming vandal shot up three RVs at an RV dealership in Laurel County, Kentucky. Sometime during the night between February 3 and 4, a man shot the RVs and kicked out skylights. A security cam photo from Days RV on Highway 70 may help identify him. Call the police at 606-864-6600 if you have information.
+The phrase “expanding nudists” may paint an unforgettable mind picture, but in this instance, we’re not speaking of waistlines but, rather, property lines. Yvonne Gibson and Hector Gravelle operate the Freedom Fields Naturist Ranch in Ontario’s Stone Mills Township. They’ve been trying to get permission to expand their clothing-optional campground from its current 40-hectare size. The township council said nay, and the couple appealed to a planning appeal tribunal. On January 31, the tribunal also turned down their request. Gibson and Gravelle can’t bare the thought of giving up, and say they’re considering their nexttravel.com staff! Learn more or order.
+Pickup truck news
+According to our recent survey, about 80 percent of RVtravel.com readers own at least one pickup truck. Recognizing that, we’ll provide the latest news highlights about the vehicles here each week.
+Passenger vehicles have never been more expensive, but the most expensive of the bunch are pickup trucks. They now average a sticker price above $50,000. In 2019, the $49,543 estimate of the average transaction price for pickup trucks was the highest seen on record. JD Power pegged the average sticker price of light-duty trucks at $51,700, but that doesn’t factor in the bottom line of what consumers pay.
+MotorWeek has named the Ram 1500, Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 as the recipients of its 2020 Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Pickup Truck. It considers current purchasing trends, innovations, value and reliability when deciding on winners. The purpose of these awards is to create a practical buyer’s guide for potential car and truck shoppers.
+Don’t expect a pickup from Volkswagen in the U.S. anytime soon. If and when the time comes, however, it makes more sense to make it an electric truck, said Johan de Nysschen, chief operating officer of VW of America. But don’t hold your breath. “It is not even on the discussion set for North America for the next five years,” de Nysschen told MotorTrend in an interview at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show..
+QUESTION: What brand of pickup truck do RVtravel.com readers use for their RVing? See our survey, with more than 7,500 responses (and counting).
+Reader poll
+Do you use your RV mostly to camp, travel or live? Please answer and see how other readers are responding.
+Don’t blow out your plumbing
+Sooner or later, usually “sooner,” every RVer comes upon an RV park water hookup with pressure so high it could blow out the plumbing. None of us want that because it causes a lot of damage and is expensive to fix. The simple solution is to be sure when you hook up use a water pressure regulator, like this one that features a lead-free design to prevent lead contamination. Learn more or order.
+News briefs
+Travel trailers at the Keystone trailer manufacturing plant in Pendleton, Ore., were on their sides or partially submerged in three to four feet of water Thursday after the Umatilla River overflowed its banks, inundating the company’s property.
+Have you seen this missing man? He’s a 29-year-old father named Christopher A. Loupin but he goes by Chris. He’s about 5’9″ or 5’10” with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen on Nov. 17, 2019, at the 4 Seasons RV Campground near Elm Creek, Nebraska. If you have information about him, call 855-316-3334, extension 2. His case number is MP64306.
+The RV Industry Association projects 2019 RV shipments to end up at 402,100 units when the books are closed, down 16.9 percent from 2018. This year, 2020, shipments are expected to dip 3.9 percent to 386,400, in the most likely scenario (60 percent probability). A more aggressive outlook (15 percent probability) shows a slight rise in 2020 shipments to 404,600 units. The low end of the range, based on the most conservative forecast (25 percent probability), sets the annual tally at 359,600.
+Statistical Surveys Inc. reports Class B motorhome sales increased 5.2% in 2019 compared to 2018. Winnebago Industries Inc. led with a 44.7% market share, Erwin Hymer N.A. had a 20% share, and Forest River Inc. followed with 11% of the market.
+The owner of the Ben Franklin RV Park in York, Pennsylvania, died last week when he slipped through some bad flooring in the park’s barn and fell 20 feet from the loft to a concrete floor. Benjamin Lepore III, 41, and his wife, Stephanie, ran the park. He had been around it all of his life, a third generation owner.
+Police in Paducah, Kentucky, are searching for three travel trailers stolen sometime last Tuesday night from Youngblood RV. Security video shows individuals in three different pickup trucks took the trailers, a 2019 Sportsmen, a 2020 Grand Design and a 2020 Dutchmen. Have information? Call Detective Kevin Wilson at 270-444-8553, the Paducah Police Department at 270-444-8550 or use the online tip form.
+Many roads are closed due to flooding in western Washington, so be sure to check ahead before traveling in the area. Flooding rivers are expected to crest and begin to recede to within their banks Sunday and Monday.
+Plans finalized on Thursday for two national monuments in Utah downsized by President Trump would ensure that lands previously off-limits to energy development will be open to mining and drilling. The move comes despite pending lawsuits from conservation, tribal and paleontology groups, who have challenged the constitutionality of the action. The Trump administration slashed the size of Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by nearly half in December, 2017, in what represented the largest elimination of public lands protections in U.S. history.
+New Mexico wants $30 million to revamp its 40 highways rest areas. Michael Sandoval, the state’s secretary of transportation, says rest stops are “an opportunity for New Mexico to show a little bit about who we are and what we have to offer. If people driving through the state have a good experience at a rest stop, they may see something beyond it that is appealing to them. If they see a dirty restroom that is not functional or an unsafe environment, that’s not the best reflection of our state.”.
+California Camping: Moon Handbook guide profiles 1,400 campgrounds. Updated 2019.
+RV and related recalls posted since our last newsletter
+• Forest River recalls some trailers. Breakaway switch could fail.
+• GMC, Chevy trucks recalled for software glitch that could affect braking.
+• 2019-2020 Ram trucks recalled for transmission fluid leak.
+Latest fuel prices
+Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of February 3, 2020:
+Regular unleaded gasoline: $2.46 [Calif.: $3.37]
+Change from week before: Down 5 cents; Change from year before: Up 20 cents.
+Diesel: $2.96 [Calif.: $3.81]
+Change from week before: Down 5 cents; Change from year before: Down 1 cent..
+Upcoming RV shows
+ENDING TODAY
+Detroit RV & Camping Show, Feb. 5-9, Novi, MI
+Edmonton RV Expo & Sale, Feb. 6-9, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
+Erie RV, Camping & Powersports Spectacular, Feb. 6-9, Erie, PA
+Jacksonville RV Mega Show, Feb. 6-9, Jacksonville, FL
+Minneapolis / St. Paul RV, Vacation & Camping Show, Feb. 6-9, Minneapolis, MN
+Salem Spring RV Show, Feb. 6-9, Salem, OR
+Seattle RV Show, Ends today, Seattle, WA. Visit website – See list of free seminars – Free parking when you purchase tickets online.
+Georgia RV & Camper Show, Feb. 7-9, Atlanta, GA
+Midessa Boat, RV, Sport & Gun Show, Feb. 7-9, Odessa, TX
+Ottawa RV Expo & Sale, Feb. 7-9, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
+Topeka RV & Sport Show, Feb. 7-9, Topeka, KS
+Richmond Camping RV Expo, Feb. 7-9, Richmond, VA
+UPCOMING
+Houston RV Show, Feb. 12-16, Houston, TX
+Austin RV Expo, Feb. 13-16, Austin, TX
+Chicago RV & Camping Show, Feb. 13-16, Rosemont, IL
+Oklahoma City RV Super Show, Feb. 13-16, Oklahoma City, OK
+Atlantic City RV & Camping Show, Feb. 14-16, Atlantic City, NJ
+Maryland RV Show, Feb. 14-16, 21-23, Timonium, MD
+Springfield RV, Camping and Outdoor Show, Feb. 14-17, West Springfield, MA
+See the complete list of upcoming RV shows.
+Brain teaser answer:
+(The question appeared in yesterday’s newsletter.)
+Racecar (although sometimes it’s written as two words)
+This nightlight with bears roasting marshmallows around a campfire would look so cute in your RV. Click here
+Free and bargain camping
+From OvernightRVparking.com
+Click here to view this week’s free and bargain camping spots.
+Other resources:
+• Walmarts that do not allow overnight RV stays.
+• Walmart Directory: Best printed directory of Walmart locations.
+• Guide to Free Campgrounds: Best-selling directory, year after year..
+RV Travel staff
+Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Emily Woodbury. Senior editors: Diane McGovern, Russ and Tiña De Mar
+Any chance of the pictures being click-ably enlarged in future newsletters? This would help quite a bit in the BOLO sections, especially. It’s not like I am reading this on a 55″ tv, lol. I would love to be able to help someone get their camper back or arrest a criminal, but I’d rather not have to download and “save as” to do it, because that takes space some of us don’t have, or work computers don’t allow it. Some people only have their phone.
+Otherwise, I really enjoy the newsletter.
+Nudists in Ontario? Brrrrrrrrr!
+The most valued part of receiving this newsletter is finding where the hot spots of Recreational pursuits are. So we can avoid them!
+We leave home for the great outdoors and often the unknown to escape the hustle and bustle of bumper to bumper, elbow to elbow human activities. Not that we don’t like human contact, at all, we just want to avoid the racket, the fur pal mommy feeding her baby ice cream from the bowl she’s eating from, and all the rest of the crazy stuff going on today.
+We seek what’s left of our natural environment. We do all we can to protect what’s left, playing a role leaving something behind of value for the few who do not wish to be among a raging river of 12 million crowding into a ruined area like in that picture.
+We want just nature, birds, perhaps a coyote running through the site, the stars at night, the booze and drug free environment. We abhor artificial light buggering up an otherwise gorgeous off the beaten track campground. It’s all getting harder to find, but thanks to RVtravel we can eliminate places like Great Smokey Mountain National Park, and scenes like is displayed in that picture from our itinerary.
+Hey, whatever we can do to help, Alvin. 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
+We ordered the adjustable brass water pressure regulator from Amazon. It’s been about a year and I’m no really sure about it! But, I did mount it in my plumbing compartment. I went to HD and purchased a 1 1/2” X 3” u-bolt, and two 90 degree brass connectors similar to what you would use to hook up your washing machine. I turned one connector to the city water inlet, then added the valve horizontally and then the other connector. I measured for shims between the valve body and the panel, drilled holes and installed the u-bolt to hold the valve tight. I leave the fresh water hose connected and now I don’t worry about leaving my valve behind on the spigot and no concerns about ‘knocking’ it around, a common complaint about damaging the valve.
+There seems to be a lot of reviews mentioning that the brass of this item cracks. Secondly is all the oil leaking from the gauge. Folks should watch out for these things.
+The Smokey Mtns are best during the week. We did and found the weekends are a nightmare. Go during the week. Less crowded.
+Last year, we went to the Smokies at the end of October during the week, and there were several campgrounds available.
+We went to Great Smoky Mtns NP in fall, 2018. Beautiful place, but we couldn’t get out of there fast enough. It was so crowded we could barely move. Roads were jammed, trails were packed, and we couldn’t pull off the road to park, because it was all full. The only thing that wasn’t jam packed was the campground, for some reason.
+I can only imagine what it was like in 2019.
+Oh yeah. Weekends are the worst. Even more so when the car shows are in town. Best time to be there are Monday – Thursday. Too many weekenders flood to there
+I guessed Civic as the vehicle in the brain teaser !
+That’s a good one, too, Kerry! Someone also answered “kayak,” so there are more answers besides those, I’m sure. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
+Smoky mountains national park by the law that created it does not charge an entrance fee
+Right – we’ve been there numerous time -no entrance fee – not sure about the “back door” comment above. there are several ways into the park..
+The exact type of thing we need import duties for. Taking the jobs out of the USA yet expecting (Being freely allowed) to sell 95% of that produce in the USA. Their is nothing sold to Mexico,by the US that will ever balance out that trade deficit.
+Thank NAFTA/USMCA agreement for this. It’s all about lining the pockets of the 1%’ers.
+I was the victim of an American company moving jobs from Canada to the US and then treating Canadian employees like dirt. The Canadian employees had to sue the US company for their rights under Canadian law.
+Last I heard Toyota was Japanese. Maybe the American workers should have accepted lower paying jobs to keep production in the US. After all, that’s what American companies expect others to do in reverse.
+Every time I’ve come across a US company buying a company outside the US they’ve cut jobs locally and moved that work to the US. And, wouldn’t you guess it, the US companies expect to continue doing business as usual in the country they’ve just entered. Just happened to my nephew in the UK.
+I gave you a thumbs up on that point Tom, but at the heart of this is perceptions that the Tacoma is a better rig than an entrenched domestic.
+The numbers of sales and especially resale value seems to prove that.
+I recall as a body man, having a rusted to the door handles Toyota pickup truck come in one day. It had been lightly hit in the rear, bumper bent, tailgate damaged beyond repair, brackets damaged etc.
+That 10 year old rig if it had been a Chevy S-10 would have been written off before the adjustors ink dried on the death report, but not that little Toyota.
+When questioned why insurance would repair such a piece of crap Terry G,. the adjustor told me these Toyotas even in the condition this one was in still would sell for thousands of dollars, parted out – they parts sell for crazy money. That was 20 years ago.
+I doubt much has changed. In Southern Alberta where I hang my hat, dealers are filled to capacity with domestics – there’s hundreds. if you want a clean Tacoma – you’ll be lucky to find one and if you do you could very easily find yourself in a bidding war to land it in your driveway.
+For anyone interested enough to investigate how Toyotas Hondas and Nissans took a grip on the public mind and wallet, I can recommend a dozen books – but no better one exists that Micheline Maynard’s ” THE END OF DETROIT” (2003) subtitled “How the big three lost their grip on the American Car Market”
+Everything regarding the state of this topic is in that book
+Methods Behind PID Loop Control
+Lock your doors, board up the windows, and prepare yourself for a deeper look into PID loops! Now, if you are still here, great! If you ran out of the room screaming like I did, you can catch up later. For some, PID loops can be scary. After all, they are pretty complex and involve CALCULUS. Hold on, I think I’m gonna turn on all the lights real quick… ok, that’s better. PID loops shouldn’t be something to fear; they can be confusing but they are not impossible.
+First off, for the newbies, PID is an acronym for Proportional, Integral and Derivative. It is a control function that is frequently used in process control. You take a reference signal in from your process, compare it to your setpoint, and then change the output to the control device accordingly to minimize the error. Think of the cruise control in your car. You set the speed you want to travel at, your car’s computer will compare that to the current speed, and either accelerate or decelerate to match that setpoint and remove the error. The bigger the error, the bigger the gain or response. For example, when your car on cruise control revs the engine when you start up a hill, the error between the setpoint and the current speed increased so much that the response was also greatly increased.
+Calculus Ahead
+WARNING: Readers with sensitivity to math equations, including integral-induced headaches, differential skin rashes or anyone who has had prior calculus-related trauma of any kind, should avert their eyes and not proceed any further.
+To help us better understand how a PID loop works, let’s take a closer look at the PID equation:
+Stay with me, stay with me, it’s not as bad as it looks. We’ll take it in pieces:
+represents the control output at the moment of time “n”. This is the amount of gain or response sent to the control device.
+is the calculated error at the moment of time “n”. It is calculated by subtracting the current value from the set point.
+is the Proportional Term (P) of the PID equation. Kc is the proportional gain coefficient and is a fixed value.
+is the Integral Term (I) of the PID equation and the most frightening. It is simply the sum of the calculated errors from the first sample ( i=1 ) to the current moment “n”. This sum is then multiplied by the Integral coefficient Ki which is calculated using the formula: Ki = Kc * (sample rate/integral time). Basically, the integral coefficient is the proportional coefficient times the ratio of sample rate to integral time. It will make sense once we start plugging in values….I hope.
+is the Derivative Term (D) of the PID equation. All you do here is subtract the error found at the previous sample (en-1) from the error now (en) and multiply it by the calculated derivative coefficient. The derivative coefficient is calculated using the formula: Kr = Kc * (derivative time/sample rate). Mathematically, the derivative term will look at the difference between the error now and the error before, determine how rapidly the process variable is deviating from or correcting to the setpoint and adjust the output accordingly. Simple, right?
+represents the initial control output when the loop is activated. If transitioning from a manual operation, this value is transferred when the loop transitions to auto mode.
+So, now that you know all of the pieces and what they do, you need to know how they fit together. The best way to do that is with an example. So, let’s apply the equation to a temperature control loop. In our example, the loop is maintaining the temperature of an oven, as seen below, and the desired temperature of the oven is 350°F.
+For this particular application, we will set the equation’s parameters as follows:
+- Kr = 0 (To achieve this, set the Derivative Time to zero. This will make the loop a PI controller; we will look at the derivative reaction later.)
+- Kc = 3 (Proportional Gain)
+- Ts = 60 seconds (Sample Rate)
+- Ki = 1 (To achieve this, set the Integral Time to 180 seconds, Ki = Kc * (sample rate/integral time) or Ki = 3*60/180 = 1
+- M(0) = 30 (Initial Control Output)
+The following graph shows the temperature fluctuation over the past 9 minutes. Let’s see how the equation operates.
+At sample zero, the loop has an initial control output (M(0)) of 30. Looking at the graph we can see that with this control output the loop has been stable at 350°F for the first five samples. After the fifth sample, something occurs to make the temperature drop 20°F. This is seen in our actual temperature reading at sample six. Therefore, the error in the system at sample six is calculated to be: e(6) = setpoint – current value = 350 – 330 = 20. Also, at this point we can easily calculate the sum of all the errors for the system:
+= (e(1) + e(2) + e(3) + e(4) + e(5) + e(6)) = (0+0+0+0+0+20) = 20.
+So using the parameters and calculated values above, the equation for the loop at sample six would become: (colors represent proportional, integral and derivative terms)
+M(6) = (3 * 20) + (1 * 20) + (0 * (20-0)) + 30
+M(6) = 60 + 20 + 0 + 30
+M(6) = 110
+At this point, there is an increase in the control output of 80 from the initial control output, and the proportional term is the main force driving this increase with a value of 60. This control output will be converted to an analog value (0-10V, 4-20mA, etc.) that is fed to an end device. In our example, that device is the heating element inside an industrial oven. As the control output drives the temperature toward the setpoint, we see, at sample seven, that the error has decreased to: e(7) = SP-CV = 350 – 340 = 10. Also at this point, the sum of all the sample errors will equal 30 ((e(1) + e(2) + e(3) + e(4) + e(5) + e(6) + e(7)) = (0+0+0+0+0+20+10) = 30) and the equation will become:
+M(7) = (3 * 10) + (1 * 30) + (0 * (10-20)) + 30
+M(7) = 30 + 30 + 0 + 30
+M(7) = 90
+Here we see that as the error is corrected, the control output will decrease due to the drop in the proportional term. However, notice that the integral term has risen slightly. At sample eight, the oven temperature has recovered to 349.5°F leaving a minimal error of: e(8) = SP-CV = 350 – 349.5 = 0.5. The sum of all sample errors is now 30.5 and the control output equals:
+M(8) = (3 * 0.5) + (1 * 30.5) + (0*(0.5-10)) + 30
+M(8) = 1.5 + 30.5 + 0 + 30
+M(8) = 61.5
+At this point, the proportional term has dropped off considerably and the integral bias has exceeded the proportional gain in controlling the output. You can see that across the three samples the proportional term has gone from 60 to 30 to 1.5 as the error decreases, while the integral term has gone from 20 to 30 to 30.5. When tuning a loop, it is important to remember that with large errors the proportional term will drive the output and with small errors the integral term will take control.
+Wow, you’ve made it this far and I am proud of you! For your reward we will now look at the derivative term and how it affects the equation. Wait, where you going?…The job of the derivative term is to keep stability in the loop. With our example, the rate of change is very rapid at sample six – a 20°F drop within one minute. With very rapid changes, there is a risk of instability and the derivative term attempts to alleviate this while aiding in the correction. As mentioned previously, the derivative term will look at the difference between the error now and the error before, determine how rapidly the process variable is deviating from or correcting to the setpoint and adjust the output accordingly.
+If we add a derivative coefficient of Kr = 1 (set the Derivative Time (Td) to 20 seconds, Kr = Kc * (derivative time/sample rate) or Kr = 3*20/60 = 1) to the samples in our discussion they become:
+M(6) = (3 * 20) + (1 * 20) + (1 * (20-0)) + 30
+M(6) = 60 + 20 + 20 + 30
+M(6) = 130
+M(7) = (3 * 10) + (1 * 30) + (1 * (10-20)) + 30
+M(7) = 30 + 30 – 10 + 30
+M(7) = 80
+M(8) = (3 * 0.5) + (1 * 30.5) + (1 * (0.5-10)) + 30
+M(8) = 1.5 + 30.5 – 9.5 + 30
+M(8) = 52.5
+Looking at the samples above you can see that after our dramatic temperature drop at sample six, the derivative term starts to lessen the control output at sample seven, going from a +20 gain in sample M(6) to a -10 in sample M(7). At this point, the derivative term determined that the process variable was approaching the setpoint at a very rapid rate and dampened the control output to avoid an overshoot of the setpoint.
+Well, there you have it, the basics of PID control. PID loops are very important in industrial automation and aren’t something you should be intimidated by. Yes they are complex, and yes they use calculus but they really aren’t too bad. The built-in function blocks in some PLC ladder logic instruction sets can do the heavy calculation lifting for you; the most important tasks then are choosing the coefficient values and tuning the loop for maximum control and performance. Hopefully knowing what each term means and how they affect the equation will help you understand how to set them up. If you would like to see some informative videos on how to use PID loops, check out our video library.
+Last week we left the crew of the Nordhavn 57 as they made their way to Halifax, Nova Scotia on the first leg of their quest for the Northwest Passage. The trip so far has been a piece of cake, but now the good ship Bagan will have to start braving the strong tides and capricious weather in the Canadian Maritimes and beyond. What is it like to power in these waters? What sort of precautions need to be taken? What sort of weather service do you need? These questions and others will be answered by the owner of the Nordhavn 57, Sprague Theobald.
+For those who missed last week’s installment, 57-year-old Sprague Theobald who is a professional film maker had decided that this is the year he was going to take his Nordhavn 57 through the fabled Northwest Passage. (After all, he isn’t getting any younger.) Last week he recounted his trials and tribulations in getting ready to mount this incredible cruise, and this week he describes the first difficult leg of his journey, which was from Halifax to Nuuk, Greenland. The material published below is excerpted from Theobald’s blogs which appear on his website,. The passages here have been highly truncated, so to get the complete version and to see all of the pictures and videos made along the way we urge you to visit Theobald’s website.
+To read last week’s beginning installment of the saga…
+June 21 Post – Crossing the Bay of Fundy
+Four hours outside of Halifax and the weather holds; long, fat swells from the SSE, winds light & variable and not a cloud in the sky. Yesterday, as we made our way past the Bay of Fundy, we felt the influence of its legendary tides. We were approximately 80 miles to the south of the bay and found that the set was so strong it knocked us about five degrees off course. This leg to Halifax was basically a shake-down leg to, as Gerry Driscol used to say on “Intrepid”, “See what we can break.”
+Computer Info
+Nothing truly broke but we did have two problems. The first being the computer... again. It’s a Dell tower, a few years old and just doesn’t seem to be up to the task of running several high demand programs simultaneously. We have the electronic Nobeltec charts, an Airmar program which via an outside sensor gives us not only wind speed and direction but temp, a barometer, wind chill, apparent wind and satellite availability (Airmar is one of the more amazing marine innovations of the last five years).
+Learning about Fuel Pick-Ups
+The other small problem occurred at 5:00 this morning and was operator error. In the three years I’ve owned Bagan I never quite realized that the fuel pickup lines are a few inches off the bottom of the tanks, which only makes sense. These pickup lines think that the tank is empty when there’s actually about 15 gallons showing in the sight gauge. You can guess the outcome. We’ve three other fuel tanks aboard and 20 minutes later we were underway having been soberly being reminded that complacency is always lurking.
+June 23 Post – Waiting for Weather in Halifax
+Still in Halifax and most probably will be here for the next few days. We’ve been watching a system develop off-shore and last night it came ashore as a pretty fair n’or easter; driving rain, gusts 35 – 40 kts and all in all a good time to be out of harm’s way. From what Clinton’s been pulling up on the weather charts it seems this low will be lurking for the next few days with the strongest part of the system coming in this afternoon. We’re going to move Bagan to an inside wall here at the marina, button up and hunker down.
+June 27 – At the Canso Canal
+Yesterday, at of 3:00 PM local time, we locked through the Canso Causeway, left the foggy Atlantic behind and sailed into the sunny Gulf of St. Lawrence. 70 degree air temps & 65 degree water temps were far from what any of us expected as we took this next measured step toward the arctic. The causeway itself is a fairly straightforward lock-in/ lock-out canal configuration but its role and purpose anything but. It was originally constructed to help control the six to seven knot current which races through the cut, impeding all but the largest traffic. In conjunction with this was the adjacent building of Point Tupper, one of the deepest commercial ports on the east coast of America. The port hosts facilities to some of the largest oceangoing oil super tankers known, two of which were currently in. Trying to make up some of the time we lost while in Halifax we powered through the night and as the familiar fog once again rolled in we dropped the hook at 5:00 AM, just off the beach at Harve-Aubert on the Iles de La Madeleine.
+June 29 post – West Coast of Newfoundland
+Yesterday morning at 10:00 we left Harve-Aubert to head out across the Cabot Straights and up the west side of Newfoundland. “They” called for 10-12kt breezes and slight chop; Mother Nature failed to get the memo. By 2:00 in the afternoon we were in 30kt southerlies blowing steadily against the tides pouring out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The nasty combination of wind against tide lead to four to six foot “chop” with steep waves running up in excess of ten feet. At 3:05 PM, “Bagan” performed the balancing act of her lifetime as she sat atop one of the larger, steeper waves, trying to make her mind up whether she was going to tumble onto her beam ends off the back of the wave or stay put and ride the crest back down again. A collective sigh of great relief was let out as she chose the later.
+It continued to be a nasty night but as we powered into the lee on the southwest side of Newfoundland the unexpected weather slowly released its grip and by 7:00 this morning we were finally moving through the forecasted “chop”. How Dominique managed to produce a full dinner for us last night is still a complete mystery. Two hours ago we entered the Bay of Islands and are now sitting on the hook in a stunning and very secluded North Arm Harbour, more a mini-fjord than actual harbour.
+The gentle waterfalls that run down the steep green hills which face either side of this cut are a soothing and welcome relief to the thrashing we took yesterday at this time. Clinton’s keeping an eye on a southerly system which promises 35+ kts out in the straight, but for the next few days anyway we’ll be day-hopping up the west side of Newfoundland protected by her lee with hopes of arriving in St. Anthony’s in three more days.
+July 1 Post – St. Anthony’s
+Dominique was the first to see it on radar; an extremely large target which wasn’t moving, especially out of our way. We’d left North Arm at 10:00 AM on June 30th and 18 hours later entered the Straight of Belle Isle. It’d been a picture perfect day in which we hugged the western lee shore of Newfoundland while it blew a gale on the east side. Catching up on wash, reading and rest we’d enjoyed the flat waters to no end. We’ve worked our way far enough north so that the sun sets around 9:45 PM and rises again around 3:30 AM, never experiencing total darkness.
+Berg Ho!
+Running through the night a heavy fog had settled in around 2:00 AM giving an ethereal feel to a light not quite twilight nor dawn. Yet what was now showing up on the radar four miles to the north was so large nether fog not low light could hide it; our first official sighting of an iceberg was an amazingly impressive one in that this berg had to have been at least 1,000 feet long and over 100 feet high. There was no doubting that it was a truly a mountain of ice and as the minutes ticked by our sighting was confirmed by the presence of several others, albeit not half as large, mini-islands of ice.
+In the Fog
+Once again, as many sets of eyes that were available were glued to either one of the two radars as ice targets and bearings were called out to the helmsman of the hour. No exaggeration to say that there were five sets of nerves on a knife edge. With a heavy fog allowing us no more than 50 yds visibility at any given time we felt our way along the coast and entered the small and beautifully green harbor of St. Anthony’s around noon. We’ll be here on the hook just long enough to download some weather charts hoping to find a good window make the 800 mile passage across to Greenland. We know that there’s plenty more ice out there but it’d be nice to shake some of this fog to make actual visual contact instead of that on the radar... but I’m not complaining!
+July 6 Post – Weather in at St. Anthony’s
+We’re still in St. Anthony’s, pinned down by an extremely persistent and sluggish low pressure system just off-shore. Each time we download weather charts it suggests that it’s about to move on, but six hours later the next download of charts shows that it once again threw us a very successful head-fake. By six hour increments the charts give us prognostications for five days out and even looking down the road that far, there it sits, looking back at us; I wouldn’t say taunting but certainly not enticing.
+As I write this, stuffed down into my sleeping bag, holed up in my cabin, I can hear the screeching of the cold, pre-arctic winds outside. I caution a peek at the wind gauge on the bulkhead next to me and see a sustained breezes in excess of 40kts. We’ve been here longer than first planned and will most certainly not be leaving for at least another five days.
+July 10 Post – On to Nuuk, Greenland
+For the past week we’ve been hunkered down in a small northern cove of St. Anthony’s, Newfoundland. As mentioned before it was a small but persistent low pressure system which, having parked itself a few hundred miles away to the east in the North Atlantic, kept us from starting this next leg, Newfoundland to Nuuk, Greenland. Two nights ago the weather charts showed a small high pressure system developing just north of us and yesterday morning’s charts showed it again, if not a bit larger. This was what we’d been waiting for eight days while anchored.
+Yesterday morning we downloaded the weather chats again and were ecstatic to see that the high pressure had gotten large and in doing so created a perfect weather window for our crossing. And that’s just where we are now, around 200 miles out, heading for Nuuk and thoroughly enjoying relatively flat seas, less than 10kts of breeze and only the occasional pocket of fog. Right now the ETA for Nuuk reads 7:30 PM on July 13th. A lot can change this arrival date but for now life is good (hell, it’s always good) and we’re back on the road to Nuuk, Greenland. By the way, the ocean temp is 38 degrees and outside the air is 34.
+July 14 Post – Nuuk at Last
+After 5 days at sea we arrived here in Nuuk, Greenland safe and sound late yesterday afternoon with a southerly at our heels. The weather window we were watching held as promised for the first three days and the crossing from Newfoundland to Greenland was as straightforward as hoped for; winds light & variable and seas benign. As expected, during the final evening the wind started to fill in from the SSE. Very quickly the seas built and winds punched in 25-30 kts. For the whole crossing we were pleasantly surprised as to the general lack of icebergs but as we closed in on Greenland we started to pick them up on radar more and more. During the day it’s usually no problem as even the smaller pieces, the growlers can be spotted. Nighttime was were our concerns lay as even radar has its limits.
+The main harbor of Nuk is primarily a commercial harbor and you basically tie up wherever you can find an opening. We currently lay alongside a work barge, which lays alongside a 100’ Greenlandian (?) wooden fishing trawler, which itself lays alongside an 80’ Norwegian steel trawler which is tied to a steel bulkhead. Just now a 65’ French steel ketch tied up outside of us. Our hope to hop to the fuel dock this afternoon is going to take the unbridled cooperation of four different nations.
+Watermaker Trouble
+A Couple of Very Unexpected Low Points: Our brand new, budget-busting, $14,000, Sea Recovery, Aqua Whisper, watermaker crapped out after less than 30 hours of use. Basically it started to divert all newly made fresh water overboard and not into the tank. What water we were making was going right back into the ocean. Clinton found a work-around and although we are making water I’m not real happy… to put it mildly. The guys who installed it, Ocean Options, have been great about helping us diagnose the problem (control panel?) but the product’s reliability is deeply concerning. The cost of the unit was a brutal hit to the trip���s budget and the fact that we’re heading for an area not known for it’s ample marinas is very unsettling.
+Nobletec is Not Cheap
+Also; last year I bought the upgrade package of for our Nobeltec electronic chart system. As expected we now need to buy a “key” to unlock their World Folio of charts on the system. These charts include Greenland, The Arctic, as well as Alaska. That’s fine. We called Nobeltec to purchase the key and it’s my understanding that in order to access the World Folio we now have to buy their newest upgrade as the one we bought last year in no longer valid. We have all the paper charts aboard that we need but in order to access them on the computer I now have to buy yet another upgrade... again.
+Next Week: Nuuk to the Gate way to the Northwest Passage.
+Editor’s Note: The Nordhavn 57 is no longer in production, however if you would like to see her replacement and get all details, go to the Nordhavn website...
+I am voting for Barbara Buono to take New Jersey back from the “bipartisan,” billionaire-funded coalition of bullies, punks and cowardly sycophants who are using the state as a testing ground for a future national assault on the welfare of the poor, working people, and the middle class. That makes voting for Buono Tuesday an essential act of patriotism.
+I am voting for Barbara Buono because she acts with dignity and treats people with respect. Frankly, without those qualifications, I don’t care much about the rest. Despite the snarkiness of main stream media and stand-up comics—including those holding public office—I am tired of depictions of Jersey residents as crude, coarse, and stupid—depictions confirmed by a governor who is crude, coarse, and stupid. Or thinks he can gain votes and national attention by acting that way.
+I am voting for Barbara Buono because she acted with courage and poise when other Democrats either ran from the Bully-in-Chief out of fear or sucked up to him for what they could gain. She was repeatedly stabbed in the back by party colleagues who care more about their own insignificant futures—where do you think you are going in Christieland, Joe D?—than they do about the future of the state and the nation. I am tired of Democrats who behave like obsequious little fawns whenever the Big Boy is in town.
+I.
+I am voting for Barbara Buono because the residents of New Jersey need an independent state supreme court. Have you forgotten Christie removed the only African-American from the court? Have you forgotten he has promised to shape the court in his own image as if he were some sort of Old Testament godhead whose wisdom surpasses those of all others?
+I am voting for Barbara Buono because she supports what I—and most Democrats– believe in:
+Support for public schools. Fair housing policies that will begin to end the disgrace of racial isolation and segregation throughout New Jersey. A minimum wage. Fair taxes that lower the property tax burden and increase taxes for millionaires. Independence and academic integrity for Rutgers University. Good health care. Pre-school. Women’s rights. Human rights. Strong unions to protect wage earners against the depredations of corporations that already have extraordinary protections. Concern for the environment.
+I am voting for Barbara Buono because I know she wants to be governor and only governor. She is not using this position to become president. I fear for my country to think Chris Christie will be catapulted to national prominence by the results Tuesday. I genuinely believe he will use the instruments of government—as he did when he was US Attorney—to move against his political enemies. The Koch brothers want to change our country in frightening ways and, as David Koch said, “Chris Christie is our kind of guy.”
+I am voting for Barbara Buono.
+(A note about the ad. If you click on the Garden ad and then go to promotions, you’ll see a coupon for 15 percent off. I’m usually there on weekends. Ask for me–Bob)
+Bravo…and thank you, Mr. Braun!
+Thank you Bob, for your refreshing voice of reason.
+This is why I cancelled my Ledger delivery – Forever !
+Finally, someone in the media with the guts to stand up to the governor.
+Just exercising my First Amendment rights. While I have them.
+I can’t see that anything will be happening to them any time soon. We do have a constitution.
+Thanks for a great article!!
+Thank you.
+Amen! We’re stronger than the Bully-in-Chief! Thank you for standing up for what is right!
+Oh, my friend, I love you and stand with you. Is this column going to be in the StarLedger tomorrow? If not, it should be! I looked all over mainstream media for that photo and it’s nowhere to be found except on blogs and Facebook. News12 skipped right over this segment. I really hope that the teacher doesn’t face any problems due to her actions. Christie is vindictive and I can see him twisting some arms to punish those that dare to cross him. Presidential material…bull%#*€!!
+Bob Braun: I no longer work for The Star-Ledger. I work for Bob Braun’s Ledger. I like the editor here better. Thank you for your kind note.
+Thank you Bob for expressing how we feel as educators in the public schools of New Jersey. Someone needs to hold this man accountable for his actions. What he did over the weekend to Melissa is inexcusable
+!
+This guy is a total fool. Get this teachers we are tired of paying more and more for your benefits and salary. You finally started to pay like the rest of us in the private sector and all I hear is whining. This picture and incident has been pushed by the NJEA. I respect this Gov for sticking up against this hideous monster of a union. They have … the tax payers for all to many years it is about time they get what is being dished out. Here’s to another 4 years of heading in the right direction. By the way I am an independent. And lots of Independents feel the same way I do. Besides at least 30% of Democrats as well. Buono is clueless she can’t run a campaign never mind the state. We will tell the NJEA one more time to stuff it! We are done! Christie – 4 more years!
+Bob Braun: The ellipse shows where a word with a strong sexual connotation was used. I deleted it because I was offended by it and this is my blog.
+Marcey, I see why you dislike teachers so much – you never had one who taught you punctuation or how to use to/too/two correctly…
+Maybe that’s true Maureen,
+The teacher who never taught Marcey about punctuation is, 1) Probably still on the job, 2) Maybe retired with full benefits, 3) Is protected by a Union that would never let that teacher be replaced because they have worked the required number of years and have protection from being fired. This is not about getting bad teachers out of positions. Its about fairness. How many jobs today do you retire from with full benefits? And as far as raises – Stop whining, most people over the last few years have received no raises, most have been furloughed 1-2 days a week on a regular basis, many have lost their jobs completely, and no one I know does not pay into the benefits they receive. I am tired of teachers throwing in our faces that cuts are hurting the students they teach. How much funding do you need to teach? How much is a piece of paper and a pencil cost? Because when I went to school that’s what you had. Overcrowded classrooms? If you can teach 10 children – you can teach 30, if you do it right. No one is saying all teachers are doing bad jobs. What they are saying is the benefit package and the way teachers are paid needs to change. No one should get a raise because they have worked for many years, and no ones job should be protected because of time of employment. They should be getting raises because they excel at the job they were hired to do. The days of retiring with full benefits and cushy pensions are over, the days of not paying for your own benefits are over. We need to get back to rewarding people for doing a good job and not rewarding them for doing a so-so job because they have been doing it that way for a set amount of time. Much of the blame needs to go to the Union itself for the monster it created. Unions were great when they were formed, even necessary. Unions today are not protecting good workers – they are protecting all workers – good or bad, because that teacher in the next room who leaves at the last bell and does not care about their students, who took the job for summers off and cushy packages is making the same money as the teacher who stays and works with those students who are having problems, who takes the time to layout classes at night for the next day, who goes that extra mile because they took the job for the love of it. This is not about standing up to the Governor – its about fairness – that the day has come when we can no longer pay for your benefits through our taxes to take care of your retirement and that you need to kick in money for benefits while you work, that no one should get increases on time employed but rather on the way you perform your job. So stop whining!
+Bob Braun: Clearly, I don’t agree with a lot of what you’ve written here but I understand why you are so resentful. I started writing about schools 50 years ago and clearly remember how people scoffed at those who wanted to become teachers because the positions paid so little. Critics said teachers were trading income for benefits and security. Teacher salaries lagged far behind those in private industry. Much of this teacher-hating began during the crash of 2007-2008 when, suddenly, good salaries and security in the private sector disappeared. But, Nancy, that’s not the fault of teachers. You may disagree with me but you should be aiming your resentment at the corporations that turned on their own employees. You probably should have thought about getting your own union if that were possible. I am sure others will want to respond to you as well but try not to be so angry at people who–I suspect, like you–are trying to hold on to their middle-class status with their fingernails. Teachers and other public employees didn’t create that problem. They’re hurting, too. Thanks for writing.
+“Many have lost their jobs completely”… You realize that many teachers lost their jobs when Christie initially cut many school budgets? First year teachers with no seniority, that had great evaluations (such as myself) were RIF’ed after fighting hard to get their first position in the first place. Luckily, I was able to land another job until my principal had a position where he could hire me back. Certainly not the case for everyone. I just want to point out that jobs lost included many teaching, teacher’s aide, and support staff positions because funding was cut and districts could not afford to pay for the appropriate numbers of staff. School were affected tremendously .
+Maureen,
+Two bad , you be to retentive too me. Did not know this was Sesame Street or an English class.
+Marcy, I don’t know about you, but 4 more years of Christie will ensure I leave NJ due to the rising property taxes.
+Yes!!!!
+Thank you Bob… from a parent without any ties to education– I am sick and tired of his bullying. We are trying so hard to teach our kids the right way to act and treat others and Christie just blows it all the time. I am sick and tired of him saying “That’s how we do it here in NJ”…no it’s not. I was born and raised in NJ and I do not recall any of that nonsense in my 50+ years. I worked in Corporate America, and if I or any of my colleagues spoke to one another that way, they would have been fired long ago — it’s time we fire him. HE DOES NOT REPRESENT NJ!!
+Thank you for the well-written article. I hold all the Democratic powers responsible for providing little or no help to Barbara Buono in this election, so the Governor Bully will likely get a huge victory and think he has the support of all New Jerseyans. I also shudder at the thought of a President Christie.
+I believe most of the Democratic dollars went to the race in Virginia.
+Great comments, Bob. You lay it out here. Thank you.
+Bravo, Mr. Braun! I have read your column for years and was always impressed with the increased understanding you bring to any situation. Your words here could not come at a better time. VOTE BUONO!!!!
+you’re an idiot. people like you bring this country down
+Bob Braun: Great argument.
+Thank you for this article. Hoping against all odds enough people see the light before Tuesday.
+THANK YOU, BOB BRAUN!! I have trouble putting my thoughts down on paper; thank you for doing it for me today. Thank you for standing your ground! Thank you for making me feel more proud than ever of being a Jersey-American! ****
+Bob Braun: Thank you for your kind words.
+Well done, Mr. Braun. It is about time someone in the media has the courage to speak honestly about Mr. Christie. He is a bully and a coward.
+Bob: If I can get letters-to-the-editor printed in the print media, surely you can. It’s really sad how (I’m going to write it) STUPID the voting public has become. Like lambs to the slaughter. The most shocking endorsement of Christie was my political idol, Bill Bradley. Really? The kids in Newark are marching tomorrow to protest insufficient funding. Good luck to them.
+Bob Braun: I changed “old” luck to them to good luck to them. I don’t think The Star-Ledger would print a letter from me.
+public school teachers to educate our children….How about students educating themselves instead of diving into Iphones and Ipads. Teachers are blamed for student outcomes, it is time that the teachers stood up and blame the students, lack of elder oversight for poor performance. How much money should be spent/sent to poor performing districts….is there number out there that would satisfy anyone ?
+Bob – another great job. We need people with superb writing skills speaking truth to power!
+I vote for Buono for many of the same reasons, but not expressed so eloquently.
+I think Christie is an authoritarian bully, a “conservative without conscience” (read John Dean’s superb book of that title).
+I think he has grossly abused executive power an d rarely if ever has been called on it by the career minded sycophantic journalists and cowardly democrats that populate Trenton these days.
+I think Christie has been worse than a disaster on the environment and in fact has created a destructive slogan based model for a corporate funded rollback agenda for our regulatory protections o public health and the environment.
+Pufferfish also has done the energy industry’s bidding – worse than any climate denier because he has been effective and managed to create the false appearance that he is a moderate on global warming/climate change, while dismantling existing climate related programs and blocking needed reforms.
+This is one dangerous demagogic model.
+Thank you, Thank you, thank you, Mr. Braun! You have the courage to stand up for what is right and to speak about Senator Buono as she should have been depicted throughout her campaign. I have not been able to understand why the media has not stepped up to show Christie for what he is. I feel it is because they look forward to covering a colorful presidential election — they forget what he will do to NJ in a second term, or worse yet, what would happen to our country if he did become President — God Help Us!
+Christie is the king of spin — he talks and feels if he says the same lie over and over and over and over, people will believe it. He has NOT lowered taxes, he just SAYS he lowered them. He has NOT put more money into education than ever before, when you factor in the $1.6 BILLION he removed before he replaced it with $1.6 Million, or whatever that figure was (It certainly didn’t come close to replacing the $1.6 BILLION he removed!)
+What about the money he lost in the education grant because he wouldn’t listen to the teachers who had the correct data? What about the tunnel that would have put so many NJ workers to work? What about the no-bid contract for Sandy to his friend, and the out-of-state people hired to do cleanup, instead of NJ residents who are struggling? What about the $24 MILLION for the special election? How may teachers or cops could he put back to work with that stupid expenditure? What about the sale of the lottery to plug a budget hole? The Lottery is a money maker — he wants to privatize everything, even if the people wanting to buy are not even from the USA! He is disgusting and deserves to be fired on Tuesday. Please vote for Buono — I am!
+Mr. Braun — you are the best — thank you for telling the truth!
+Charlene Martucci
+Well put! I am hoping to find out more about your opinions on matters important to me. I hope you can share your feelings in response to a few of these concerns of mine.
+I think the current religious nut – I’m atheist so I believe in freedom FROM and much as freedom FOR (that’s what “freedom” means, anyway) religion – is a despicable example of a colossal sense of being Divinely Correct. How can anyone charge him with human rights abuses when he carries the love of Jesus in his heart?! Ugh. How do you feel about his manipulation of others using religion?
+I noticed you didn’t address this head-on nor has any other commenter (if I missed it, forgive me) but what is your opinion on gay marriage? Of course, my feeling is that those against it should ABSOLUTELY not gay marry. Just as those not facing a terrible decision and who are carrying a much-wanted and will-be-cared-for infant NOT abort that baby. How do you feel about the moronic supreme Grandmaster in Texas removing the rights of women to have access to free or cheap healthcare simply because they bear the name Planned Parenthood (never mind that abortions are only 3% of what they do and government funds can never be used to pay for abortions)? Do you think that government should be in charge of uteruses? If you are the champion of well-educated children, are you also the champion of schools that are free from religious dogma that taint our curriculum with their Christianity? Should our schools be addressing ALL religions and learning about all cultures in this ever-shrinking modern world? I’d also like to ask how you feel about the Pledge of Allegiance and the New Format which includes the “under god” line. It was, of course, only changed to read that way in 1953 as yet another government official pandered to the then-majority: the Christians.
+Are you for all these freedoms? I hope so! Educating children requires NO agenda and Chris has done nothing but infect our government with his dogma, theories and wishful thinking.
+Good luck.
+Who cares?!? Your vote means nothing! Landslide victory for Christie in a historically blue state! Yea Id have my panties in a bunch like you too!
+CC has as much chance of becoming President as I do of becoming an Astronaut. He is another GOP Jobber just like McCain and Romney who will lose in 2016. I am a Ron Paul Republican, voting for BB, simply because the current Governor has done a deplorable job and needs to be fired.
+Thank you for putting so succinctly yet pointedly exactly how I feel.
+Think governor Biff Tannen. Think governor Greg Stilson. Think Broderick Crawford in All the Kings Men. Thats Crisp Crispy!
+Beautifully stated! But, apparently, you’ve been misinformed. This (I kid you not) is what Christie had to say this weekend about Buono, as reported in The Star-Ledger: “I’ve never seen an angrier candidate, somebody who is yelling and screaming all the time, coming up with new names to call people every day,” Christie said of Buono at a rally with around 100 supporters in Mount Holly. Huh??!! (I’m not an expert, but I continue to maintain that he has serious mental health issues.)
+That comment by Christie is misogynism at its worst. He characterized an intelligent and powerful woman as hysterical, a word with the Latin root for uterus. Mr. Christie is the modern equivalent of Macchiavelli’s prince. Much of what defines us as human does not change, but the capacity to evolve is also inate. Thank goodness!
+It also strikes me as projection since he’s attributing his own offensive traits to someone else. (This isn’t the first time he’s done this.) Projection, volatile behavior, the inability to tolerate criticism, and the propensity to blame others for everything would all seem to signify a serious personality disorder…or worse. (Am I the first to suggest this?) Even more frightening is the fact that we’ve given him power.
+Great piece of journalism. Who are the democrats that act as”…obsequeious little fawns…”
+Bob Braun: I’d start with Joe DiVincenzo and Brian Stack.
+[…] promoted by Rosi Cross-posted with Bob Braun’s Ledger […]
+[…] by Bob Braun | November 3, 2013 | reprinted from the Bob Braun’s Ledger. […]
+[…] by Bob Braun | November 3, 2013 | reprinted from the Bob Braun’s Ledger. […]
+Glad to see someone stand up and say that CC does not represent N. J. His behavior is an embarrassment to the citizens of the state. I was always taught that an intelligent person does not need profanity to get his point across and because a person speaks louder does not make what they say more important. This governor does not represent me or the people I know. I still remember his trip to Disney World while those of us here at home fought a dangerous snow storm. All of this after the election of a Lt. Governor who was also out of the state. In any business the people incharge would never schedule vacation at the same time and expect business to go on without problems. We are should all make sure to go out to vote in this election so we can’t complain about the outcome after the fact.
+Bob, You are just another one of the liberals who thinks public funds are an limitless. Pandering politicians in cahoots with adulating journalists are not considering the future. They borrow endlessly and sack the future generations with a mountain of debt. In a growing economy, that wasn’t an issue. Given the economic stagnation of the Obama presidency, we can no longer enjoy unlimited spending. You and your constituents preach “Shared Sacrifice” but refuse to pay a fair share. So to mimic your words, “Hey Punk, I am glad you retired and your out of touch with reality.”
+Almost as disturbing, btw, is the look of glee on his wife’s face…..
+Throw out the New Jersey throwback!
+I spoke with a woman after leaving my polling place today. She was in her 70’s and is a lifelong Democrat. She told me she had voted for Chris Christie. Why? Not because she liked him as a candidate, but because she knew so little about his opponent. Under those circumstances, how could anyone expect him to be defeated? Shame on the NJ Democratic organization for giving Barbara Buono so little respect and so little support.
+Maybe he should play for the Miami Dolphins. He certainly has the size and temperament.
+Amit Chaudhuri, whose book On Tagore was released recently, talks about the Indian writer's relationship to the past and the reality of living in a world of many languages.
+In the book, you quote Tagore: “off with your history”. You seem to agree implicitly, because you also refer to the ‘larger context of Indian intellectual discourse, governed by history and social sciences with little affection for literary language'. Yet, isn't this book essentially a historical project?
+Well, I am not against history as such but I have reservations when it is approached in a particular way, as if history is out there, in the past, in the archives, as if it is waiting like a jigsaw puzzle to be put together and it'll add up to the 19th century, Tagore, the ancient world or whatever. I have a problem with that approach which informs a lot of historical writing, especially historical fiction today. Where people do a lot of research and put together a time as if that time is there waiting to be put together in that way, as if that's the kind of relationship we necessarily have with that time. I don't think this is necessarily our relationship with the past, which is much more surprising, unexpected and disorienting.
+And I think Tagore felt the same way about the past, which for him always comes in glimpses and flashes. Especially the ancient past of Kalidasa and Shankuntala comes to him in flashes and intimations of the historical world and it's a route to history which implies a more problematic relationship to the past than the history which is recovered through archival research. That's why his relationship to the historical India is a living thing. Dipen Chakraborty says that “I can relate more easily to Heidegger or Marx than to Abhinava Gupta.” Why is this? And Buddhadev Bose says the same thing: “When I look at Kalidasa, all I see is a venerated corpse. I'd much rather read something by Jibananda Das or Premendra Mitra. Or Tagore. It's much much more pleasurable for me to read my contemporaries than Kalidasa.” Both are confessing that the past often becomes a dead body of things. What is very interesting is that for Tagore, the past isn't dead. Kalidasa isn't dead, he is like a contemporary. But he doesn't piece Kalidasa together as a kind of national heritage. He approaches him in these flashes that come to him through certain lines or quotations which open up to him a world. That world exists during the 15 minutes he is reading Kalidasa's poem and writing his own. And then it's gone.
+Similarly my relationship to Tagore. I am not an authority on Tagore but in many ways it is a living relationship with another author. I haven't put him together. I have followed certain clues in the work which have opened up the man and his work in ways that are interesting to me. So yes, the book is historical but let me put it this way, it's not dead history.
+You place Tagore at a turning point in Indian history, the advent of modernity, a moment of break. There is a sense of ‘eternal gulf' between oneself and the past which has to be recovered and you treat this as representative of Indian modernity. Don't you think there are other possible modernities? I am thinking of someone like A.K. Ramanujan for instance...
+I don't want to overemphasise the melancholy of having only an incomplete access to the past. But I think Ramanujan's relationship to the past is very much an invented one, something which he creatively invented and recovered. My essay “Poles of recovery” in Clearing a Space speaks about various people who by accident or outside of their home environment stumbled on their heritage and then invented it. Or who rejected their past and then went back to it to have a creative relationship with it.
+And this kind of turn is symptomatic of Indian modernity. Most seminal people who have contributed in the last 200 hundred years or so to Indian modernity have had this turn. At first they were indifferent or inimical to their past and then they turned back to it and their own language. U.R. Ananthamurthy, while watching Ingmar Bergman's “The Seventh Seal” without subtitles in Birmingham or Manchester suddenly has his germinal ideas for Samskara. The same is true of O.V. Vijayan who discovers his relationship to a particular village he writes about when he goes there as a young Marxist to teach. He says, “I went there to teach but I began to learn.” So there is this same turn in him.
+With Ramanujan it is a basement in Chicago University where he discovers these manuscripts and texts of which he says something like “I was like a blind man or fool who had chanced upon a kingdom”. He uses a quasi-religious term to talk about the fact that he had not known his past and that he had found it. And once he had found it, he invented it, he created it, in this amazing hybrid language which is a mix of American and regular English and we almost feel, as we feel with so many things, that these things were always there, that that past was always there because of the way in which we have internalised various aspects of our relationship to the past but it is interesting because of the way in which these pasts have actually been invented during such moments. I would say that the most illuminating thing about the Indian's, or any person's, relationship to their history is that they have no natural claim to it, that there is an interesting moment when we realise that there is a disjunction, that it is not an unbroken line reaching back from us to our ancestors.
+With Tagore is it also traumatic moment?
+Yes, it is traumatic but it is a creative moment as well. And I don't want to mix it up with any idea of colonialism having taken away our authentic selves. That is not what I am talking about. I am saying that as moderns, irrespective of our nationality, unless we want to produce beautiful heritage versions of our past, some part of us must be aware that the past is foreign. And because of that it has the same impact that a foreign country has on us, we begin to see anew. We begin to see the past anew, we begin to see the present anew. Otherwise it just becomes a version of our own nationalistic imaginings at that point of time.
+You say that there is more than one language in Tagore, that polyphony in Tagore is felt more through ellipses and self-effacement. Is there an implicit intervention there, that polyphony in Indian literature came long before Rushdie and magical realism?
+Polyphony is something that has been discussed repeatedly in relation to the crowdedness of India and the Indian novel in English. It was supposed to be a kind of natural facet of being Eastern, whether it is the Indian novel or Scheherazade and the 1001 Nights etc; it's a crowded bustling place of stories and voices. With Tagore too, there are so many selves in that one self, but there is also so much concealment, there's so much that is hidden that emerges by accident, like his paintings that emerged from the deletions of his handwriting in his manuscript. What I am saying is that there is a polyphony here, of various selves speaking but there is also a different texture to it which has to do with concealment, with craft, with attention to the minute which is not the way polyphony is described nowadays, as this kind of exuberance.
+Is that also in some ways a defence of your own craft and aesthetic?
+Obviously one can't escape implicitly speaking about one's own affinities and sympathies and may be to a certain extent about oneself when one is speaking passionately about another writer. It would be useless of me to deny it. There is a role that my writerly kind of sympathies play when I relate to Tagore, just as it would be useless for Tagore to deny that he is approaching Kalidasa as a scholar and not as a writer. But he says very illuminating things about Kalidasa and these relationships are very interesting and we often fail to see that Indian literature is also a web of such relationships.
+You say that Said's Orientalism is both enabling and shackling. Can you elaborate on that?
+I say that because of the way in which for a long time it became kind of a text and a monochromatic vulgarisation of orientalism, which was about a particular kind of relationship between the Orient and the West. And for while it looked as if every text was going to be read in this light, without looking at the various contradictory positions people inhabit as moderns and cosmopolitans. With Said himself, we cannot understand why he is such a great lover of English literature, even Kipling, that he is a classical pianist, while also being what he is, an Arab activist for Palestine and also a Foucaultian critic of power. He himself is a product of various contradictions just as all cosmopolitan people from the East, and may be the West too, are. The legacy of Orientalism narrows down the ways in which we could understand our interactions with cultures that are ‘not our own'. It narrows down the richness and the complexity of that interaction.
+What exactly did you mean when you said that you wished Indian writing in English was less triumphant and a little more ambiguous about itself?
+I was referring to the deregulated, post-liberalisation economy triumphalism where certain industries begin to do well like IT, the services industry, fashion, Bollywood or even Indian Writing in English and where everything is equated with this larger story of triumph and growth. The fact that many things cannot be judged by growth, which have value despite the idea of growth, that might be valued on other terms, that is a language that is completely lacking in India.The West has been globalised as well, it too is driven by the market but there are still languages in the West that deal with the fact that there are other modes of intellectually engaging with the world. That everything is not commerce, everything is not epic, or growth, that there are failures, that the incomplete too exist and they too are instructive in their own way and have value. This is an awareness that the West has not lost completely. And I am interested in the way in which this seamlessly relates to our politics on the world stage and our ambition to be a world power. But in spite of our breast-beating about being Indian, we have done very little work to put our history or literatures together in scholarly definitive editions or to translate, it's a complete wilderness, a desert out there. The very notion of being Indian seems to have become something heady and intoxicating but something which is not interrogated.
+How did you get interested in fusion music?
+I had the kind of turn I described earlier in that I grew up with Western music, played the guitar etc. but at a certain point discovered Indian classical music and got completely into it and during the 16 years I spent in England did not listen to Western music at all. I just tried to perfect whatever skills I had and began to perform as an Indian classical musician. When I came back to India in 1999, I began to listen to Western music again, popular as well as the Blues, because I had got over the ideological zeal of the convert. And I noticed that there is an overlap between the Blues and certain Indian five-note ragas (Blues also uses a pentatonic scale). I was listening to both and one morning I had what I call a mishearing. I was singing Raag Thodi and I thought I heard Eric Clapton's “Layla” in what I was singing. Two weeks later, I had another mishearing. The santoor was being played in the background in a hotel and I thought it was playing Auld Lang Syne. I was interested in the accidentality of these mishearings. Which was only possible because I had grown up in this kind of jumble of traditions and had internalised them and one tradition which I had rejected was returning to me in this peculiar way, through these accidental hearings. That's how the project began. There's no East-West kind of encounter here, the intermingling was happening within myself which is why I called my first CD “This is not fusion”.
+Keywords: Amit Chaudhuri, On Tagore
+Small stakes No-Limit Hold’em remains as the most popular poker genre in the world, despite some games such as Lowball, Triple Draw and Omaha making there way to the forefront. It’s so popular because it’s the easier form of poker to find, and the buy-in often won’t cripple your financial account book if you lose. At the same time, you can also win a significant amount of money if you play your cards right, both literally and figuratively. With low buy-in No-Limit Hold’em you have a nice balance between making profit and minimizing losses – something both recreational and professional players can cope with consistently.
+Nonetheless, No-Limit Hold’em in its glory was almost exclusively played in side games – whether it be in shady underground environments or more exclusive saloon style venues. It slowly made it’s way into a regulated environment with the establishment of casinos, and with recent regulation preventing a large portion of U.S. residents from playing online, they’re slowly becoming the online place some professionals can continue their craft.
+Because of this, casinos have begun to take advantage of both professionals and recreational players by increasing the rake. If you don’t know what rake is, it’s simply a percentage of each pot that’s taken, typically only after you’ve seen a flop. In live settings this can range anywhere from 5-10% of the pot, up to a certain amount, usually around $5. But while this may not seem like a lot at first glance, for small stakes grinders it’s now making the game nearly unbeatable. If you toss in a few other seldom options such as a bad beat jackpot, the rake can cripple even the best players.
+Online play has always been the solution, because the rake is lower in relation to pot size and you can also receive rakeback. But how do players who are stuck in the live games still make money with this career-threatening fee? We’ll examine most of the problems, talk about some solutions, and briefly talk about the future of the live games.
+Live SSNL
+Short-stackers and the rake
+It’s easy to understand why low-limit hold’em is so busy. People can buy in more a minimum between $40-$60, and test their luck. Because of the price point, many novices, amateurs or short-stacked professionals will try to use a minimal investment to run up a stack. They don’t mind because if they do lose, they’ll only lose a little. Simultaneously, if they happen to run it up, they’re on cloud nine and often leave immediately or switch tables where they can once again by in for the minimum. It’s not a terrible strategy in a nutshell, but more frustrating than anything else for skilled full-stacked players because it changes the strategy involved.
+What short-stacked players should realize (or at least good short-stackers), is that with the increased rake they’re at an extreme disadvantage. Although they will likely limit their range to premium pairs and high-card hands because of the low SPR, if they happen to raise small (which they often do) and get multiple callers (which they often will) unless they hit a harmless flop or hit the flop hard they’ll be bleeding money. It would be very spewy for them to stack of light with A-high, or also get their entire stack involved with both straight and flush draws on board in a multi-way pot. Because of their low SPR and stack size, they want to win flops right away for cheap or get their entire stack involved, but the rake ends up killing them because the pots at tiny and the house takes such a big percentage of that.
+In my local game, our casino charges a rake of 10%, up to $6 for every flop seen. So if you pot grows to $60 or more, they’ll end up taking the maximum $6. If we do some math really quickly, we’ll see that if we’re in a heads-up pot, and we divide the pot in half, we’re only winning $30 and they’ll be taking $6 of that away. We net $24. Actually, let’s also include another $1 for the Bad Beat Jackpot that’s running. So now we’ve made $23. While $23 is nice, in percentages the house took away 23% of our total winnings. 23%!!!!! That’s truly astronomical.
+It’s not that we’ll never walk away from the casino a winner. So let’s throw that argument out the window. But let’s explain this further: A great and yes I mean GREAT win rate in a live 200NL game would be 15bb per 100 hands. That’s $30 for every 4 hours on average. I say four hours because the live game typically deals about 20-25 hands an hour, both because there’s more people in a ring game (usually 9-10) and uh, we’re humans and not robots. With the help of auto shufflers, dealers get a bit of help and the game moves faster. But even shufflers break down and if we need to go to a manual shuffle, after every hand things could come to a crawl at a snail-like 15-18 hands per hour.
+Although we may have won $23 dollars in the example of above, we’re not always going to win that amount. First off, although we are playing No-Limit Hold’em and the pots grow quickly, it’s hard to inflate the pot consistently if we’re playing good strategy. Full-ring live games just don’t lend themselves to maniacal play – it’s both a losing strategy because of the general tightness of the game and it’s also bad in terms of rake because we’ll be playing A TON of hands with marginal holdings and paying more rake. Rake-wise, playing tight-aggressive seems to be the way to go, because we can minimize the amount of rake we pay and still be in pots on occasion. But will we be building the pot often enough to make money? Sure. As long as we don’t deviate too much from a good TAG strategy. Limping into pots should be completely stricken from your repertoire in today’s game, unless you’re certain you can consistently steal limped pots from your opponents because they’re incredibly weak. But if we limp and give up regularly, we’re playing a losing strategy.
+Because we can’t play in every hand, let’s give ourselves an estimate of how many hands we will be in. Obviously depending on table image and effective playing style, you’ll need to adjust these numbers. But generally speaking I would estimate that on average the “good” TAG will be playing between 4-6 hands an hour. Let’s just say 5 because that’s the mean. So if we’re dealt a generous 25 hands an hour, we’ll have a 20% VPIP. Hmm, not a terrible number, good be too much depending on the game type, but let’s roll with it because we’re a skilled player. It’s unlikely we’re not raising because we said we were good, so we won’t always see a flop, instead we’ll sometimes take down the blinds and avoid the rake and make a solid profit. We’ll see some showdowns, and also win some healthy pots too. But let’s remember: We’re STILL only going to average 15bb per 100, or $7.50 an hour! Let’s not quit our day job for this amount.
+Changing our approach
+Obviously we could increase the number of hours to make more money, but putting in a ton of hours in a live game is both taxing on the body and not very feasible. Long hours at a casino are difficult to implement because the live game is tedious (boring, exhausting, fold-heavy, any bad adjective you’d like to add), and also there’s a ton of distractions that might hurt you before you even get to the poker room.
+When you play live you have to worry about being on a wait list. Because live games don’t have an infinite amount of tables, and you can’t start a new one anytime you wish, you have to go on a community wait list with other players waiting to play. If there’s 5-6 200NL and 300NL tables, but they’re all full and you’re towards the bottom of the list, you could be waiting for hours. So what do you do in the meantime? You drove an hour or so to get to the casino, and now you have to wait! (You should start calling before hand to save time by the way.)
+What most players end up doing is visiting the other areas of the casino, but that can kill your bankroll. Hopefully you have money set aside for additional expenses such as food, beverage and maybe gambling, but this isn’t always possible. So otherwise disciplined poker players may spend money on lavish meals, or gamble at another game hoping to run up some cash, only to dwindle away most or even all of the money they game to play poker with. Even if you did manage to save a few buy-ins for poker, if you’ve lost money somewhere else it’s likely your mindset has changed and you’re now trying to recover your money rather than playing a comfortable, sound poker strategy. Being on one or two buy-ins usually isn’t ideal either – you’ll play on scared money, or maybe get coolered quickly against the fish and miss out on an otherwise great money-making opportunity because you didn’t have enough cash.
+The casino is there to make money, and if you have to wait long enough they expect to cash in on your attendance in other ways. You may not think it affects you, your game, or even your bankroll, but believe me it does.
+Some could argue that rewards such as comps and the bad beat jackpot are the live forms of rakeback. In a way, yes they are. However, the bad beat jackpot doesn’t happen to you frequently enough to make it a reliable form of rakeback. It’s requirements are often steep and rarely occur. Secondly, the comp value from playing poker at most casinos is typically very low. At a local casino in Ontario, Canada they give you a measly $.50 per hour. Other bigger casinos such as those in Las Vegas will throw bigger comps at you, but not everyone plays in Vegas, and most have to make due with modest comp amounts. Once again, not enough to consistently eat dinner with especially with inflated casino menu prices.
+One of the only benefits to playing live that still keeps professionals interested is the soft playing fields. There are still a ton of fish, and the setting really hasn’t changed too much over the past 5 years. Because tourists will always travel to visit popular casino destinations, you will rarely have a problem extracting value from a few spots at the table. But the real question is, are we gaining enough value? I don’t believe we are.
+Remedy: If you have to play live, the only solution is to move up in stakes. You can try to grind out a small win rate at 200NL, but 300NL is much more profitable and 500NL is better yet. You’ll find that the jump to these stakes in terms of competition isn’t that steep, and there are still a ton of fish to be caught at these respective levels. The rake amount will stay the same based on your casino’s standards, but in relation to the increased pot size you won’t be paying as high of a percentage.
+Online SSNL
+Why playing SSNL online is more efficient
+Although playing online poker is significantly tougher, players will be able to increase their win rate through a variety of ways. But before we get into some of those, let’s compare online rake to its live counterpart.
+Just as with live rake, you’ll only be paying a rake if you get to see the flop. You’ll still be paying a percentage of every flop seen, however this amount is significantly smaller and the maximum amount of rake taken decreases as well. You might ask, “why is the rake lower online than it is live?” The answer is actually simple logic. Because the online poker rooms can run many more games at once, never have to pay dealers, and can increase or decrease the amount of tables at will, they can simply afford to charge players less because their volume more than makes up for the difference. It’s not that they don’t want to charge as much as the casinos do, it’s just that they have an edge over the casinos in this regard, and need to separate themselves from competition as much as possible. Offering a better rake to the players gives them a competitive edge – one they ultimately need to keep players coming back.
+To give them more advantage over casinos, sites and affiliates have established what they call rakeback. Because most players understand that they have to pay rake, and there are programs even capable of calculating what you’ve paid, they also want to be reimbursed for some of that rake if possible. In order to both drive more business to online poker sites and give players what they want, online poker rooms have built relationships with other online poker pages to give money to players. The third-party sites give money, or rake back to players for signing up to the online poker room, and in turn the poker room gives a percentage of their profit from that player’s activity on the site back to the third-party affiliate. It’s truly a win-win-win situation, and by getting rake back even during losing months at the tables you can still come out a significant winner.
+Players are the micro-stakes level will still lose the most money in consideration of rake paid, mostly because they’re at the bottom of the totem pole. However, even they will probably make more money long term than the live SSNL players because of rake back and lower rake percentages. The competition is often just as bad, and you’ll be risking less here.
+The ratio of rake to pot size is much more fair online, and is one of the biggest characteristics to look out for when choosing an online poker site.
+When we talk about ways that online poker is superior to live play, especially in terms of rake, we have to comment on the ability to multi-table. Probably the biggest difference between playing online and live, by playing several tables at a time you’ll be boosting your overall profit by stretching your competitive edge across multiple tables. You can see more hands, go to more showdowns and win more money. It’s not that you’re win rate will shoot up, in fact it may decrease because you have to focus on so many different tables. But you bottom line should increase if you can still manage to play efficiently.
+The addition of online tools like database managers, hand histories and HUDs will also allow you to monitor how much you’re winning. Most database managers give you specific charted data on how much you’re paying in rake, and also how much you’re getting in rake back if you have an arrangement with a poker site or third-party. Because the online world and technology has so many ways to keep track of what’s happening, both sites and players are always in tune with their financial vulnerability and modifying the way they can make the most money. This is great for both players and sites alike.
+But online play also has one often overlooked advantage over live play. The rewards for contributing to the rake are plentiful! Many online poker rooms have VIP reward systems, which usually involve tiers that players can climb up to receive even more monetary benefit. By contributing to the rake, players will earn points for every dollar given (an industry average). With these points you earn you can redeem them for cash back (on top of rake back), prizes such as televisions, chip sets or computers (all crucial parts of your business expenses), or even luxury items such as cars and trips if you’re a high-stakes player. PokerStars for example has the highest sought after Supernova Elite status, which players such as Randy “nanonoko” Lew have taken to new heights because of their elevation into superstardom. On top of it all, the more you play online, you’ll become a better player through steeper competition and you’ll earn more experience. This will make you a better player overall, allowing you to both analyze your play for further success, and likely dominate the much softer live fields.
+Online conclusion: With the increased amount of gaming options, less distractions, less money being spent and increased monetary return online poker is easily the better option. If you can afford it, and withstand the swings, you’ll earn much more money. You have to be well bankrolled to play online unless you go on a heater, considering online poker’s tougher competition. But for the poker savant, nothing is better than earning a living sitting in your PJs leveling your adversaries into submission.
+Looking into the future
+It’s hard to determine exactly what’s going to happen in the world of poker, but the live game has become more difficult to beat, and until online poker returns to players in the U.S. it should only get worse. For high-stakes players in particularly, although you likely have more options in terms of leaving the country, playing live for any significant portion of time is a complete waste because of the minimal EV, and added learning curve of the mixed game formats.
+It shouldn’t take very long for legislation to pass so that U.S. players can official become professional players, and pay the appropriate taxes for playing online. It’s been easy to keep track of your winnings, sessions and deductions for tax preparers, even well before Black Friday ever occurred. Live players have a more difficult time because it involves a better memory and more documented results on paper, but that’s just another one of the accepted characteristics of being a professional player.
+If you want to beat the live games, you’re going to have to pay bigger. It’s just that simple. I don’t see casinos ever lowering their rake, and playing small buy-in games just want decrease their edge enough to make any long term wins significant. After all, as much as we love the game and hope it improves as a whole, let’s not forget we’re in it for our livelihood, and to make money for ourselves. We can’t change what casinos do, but we can change our own habits.
+Let’s use forward thinking.
+I hope to see you at the tables.
+I am reading The Girls from Ames by Jeffery Zaslow. A book blog I’ve reviewed for in the past contacted me because I am an Iowa girl too and the blogger thought I might have an insider take on this true story of friendship that has spanned forty years.
+The women who make up the Ames girls are actually just a year older than I am. Most of what they recollect rings bells and I think I have a lot to say about it but not all at once.
+I don’t have any friends who’ve known me my entire life. Friendships for me are often situational and those who do linger through time tend to do so in spurts. I have a small group of friends I am still in contact with – via Facebook now – that I met in high school. There is just one friend left from the middle school years and the farthest back I go with anyone who is not family are two guys I went to kindergarten with that I rediscovered on Facebook, but one of them unfriended me because I support same sex marriage. It’s kind of nonsensical because he unfriended me while remaining friends with our mutual kindergarten pal who happens to be gay. I don’t try to understand things like that.
+The book covers quintessential growing up experiences for central Iowa that don’t necessarily translate for a tri-state river city kid like me. It also deals with the trials and tribulations of an in crowd, something I know from observation only. I resisted groups. Always hung on the edge and avoided opportunities to belong in cliques that could have been advantageous.
+Here’s a clip:
+I have more to say but wonder about your friends. Feel free to comment.
+14 thoughts on “The Girls from Ames”
+It’s funny how Facebook has taken on such a big part of our current culture. Through it I have renewed friendships with many people I have known since the third grade. When my spouse Michael died, a close friend notified our mutual elementary school friends. Even though I had not seen most of them since high school, they all gathered around me to offer support. It was quite touching. I was even surprised by some of the guys I never would have thought could by sympathetic to my loss, given that I am out. Sometimes I think Facebook provides some safe distance for people to interact who wouldn’t be as comfortable in person. At the same time, exhanges on Facebook become published chronicles of interaction, so I can see why someone might be a bit challenged to be seen as consorting with the enemy. I can do without the drama anyway.
+Dan
+People we knew as children only can be surprising when we meet up with them again as adults. There is a girl … woman … who I barely knew in high school who I see really only occasionally at reunions and running here or there when I get back to my hometown. In high school she was Miss Popularity, leader of the in crowd and I was a fat chick with glasses who wrote for the newspaper. I rated little more than the occasional glance down the nose, but when I see her now – we chat and she is genuinely kind. At my last high school reunion, I got a fair number of double takes and saw the stare/huddle whisper thing as another set of former queen bees figured out who I was. It’s sorta amusing now.
+I think FB does allow people the ability to have safe distance “friendships” with people they wouldn’t otherwise. And that’s okay because it allows others to see us as people and not the labels that got assigned to us long ago. They see we have spouses, children, family and friends who love us and think we are “all that”. It’s enlightening.
+I’m sorry that you still run into hostility. I don’t understand it all. Love and marriage are beautiful things and there should be no limits or judging.
+I moved around the country a lot before settling in California when I was 9, so I don’t have any childhood friends. (Although I did recently find my best friend from second grade on Facebook, which was pretty cool.) My longest-term friends are from the job I had during college – I’ve known them for 19 and 17 years respectively, and we’re pretty good about keeping in touch through e-mail/Facebook and meeting up in person once or twice a year. But I don’t have a circle of friends or a group of “girlfriends” the way a lot of women do – my friendships tend to be one-on-one, and as often with men as with other women.
+I have some long friendships, but they are not as constant as the ones in the book. My high school/college friends and I can go long times without contact, but we always seem able to pick up where we left off. I guess that is what makes us special as opposed to people we used to know.
+this is hard for me to answer… i ‘belong’ to many groups, including a collection of friends from my childhood. theater people, work people, a few friends from university, family connections. i can’t say one group is closest to “me” over any other. in fact, although i have a broad network, and many consider me a good friend? i have a very small number of close associates. very small.
+i don’t feel i completely belong with any particular collection – and take some comfort maintaining a degree of detachment as i move amongst the groups… not staying in any one place too long, or becoming dependent…
+perhaps the strangest thing i’ve recently realized is that the people i’ve connected to via the blogosphere probably know me better than many people who interact with me in person on a regular basis. i bare insights to myself out here that do not get revealed otherwise. weird…
+Most of my friends are Internet friends. I lost touch with most of my school friends when I stopped being a student; I’ve lost touch with most other friends I had when I moved, for geography and convenience purposes; and now, I don’t get around to places where making friends is very possible.
+Interesting topic. I might address it on my blog too. Thanks for the idea. 🙂
+Yeah, the moving thing and the grown-up stuff isn’t conducive to forming lasting friendships. I too have more virtual friends and many of the friends I made in life have become virtual because of distances.
+There are a few guys back in Ohio I met when I was 15 that I still speak to, but I hardly ever see them because they’re 500 miles away. I’ve got a couple friends back in New York City that I see every so often. And since moving to New Jersey eight years ago, I’ve made a few acquaintances but not one friend. Nobody has the time. We are involved with family and kids and such. One of my big regrets in life is that I never really had that many friends.
+My friends shift but there is a core that comes in and out. Interestingly, I have made more friends via the Internet than I ever made in person. I don’t think says good things about me as a person though.
+It’s harder to make friends once you leave school. Friendships grow out of proximity and constant interaction more than anything else. In the five schools I taught in I have only a handful of friends to show for it – that’s if you count people I keep in touch with. I have lots of people I am friendly with but I don’t know that it counts as friendship.
+Oh… and I’m an Iowa girl too 🙂 From the Quad City River area 🙂
+River city people are not like those farmers in the middle of the state.
+Well…. being only 30, I suppose my life long friendships are shorter then this book…. however I still have friends from high school… actually, a group of us ladies that hung out in high school all still meet up every 1-2 months for dinner. I would fair to say that none of us are BEST friends, but close, yes. I actually just went to a baby shower of a woman I’ve know off and on for over 20 years.
+I have two other friends, who I visit with almost daily, if not then weekly… One of these two, our friendship has varied over time but we know it was due to circumstances in our own personal lives…. we are both ok with it and we have an amazing friendship now 🙂
+In the past few months, its funny, two of the girls from our high school group have commented to me (in private) that they don’t have best friends like I do… That they were a tad jealous and unsure of how to have a friendship like that. I told them that best friends is a term I use widely the older I get. I prefer to think I have 2 types of friends: life long and like minded 🙂 I consider all of them my close friends and I will do what is with in my power to help them or be there for them IF I can be. I also told them that just because life gets in the way and we’re busy at times, doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about anyone, it just means that I understand we all have our own lives and families now, and our families come first. Always.
+Something my ma said to me when I was younger has stuck with me as well… “In your life, the ones who will stand by your side will be your family, not your friends.” In this there was some truth I do believe. My family has and will always be there for me (learning this through Ryan’s passing)… even Ryan’s family has vowed to be there for me (and still are even during my new marriage). Yes, my friends were there for me but not in the same way that I feel my family was….
+All in all, I suppose I would like to believe that I do have friends that can stick around for a life time but it takes work, just like any relationship. I will also always put my family first in regards to friends. As long as my friends and I are on the same page about these two beliefs, then they are more then welcome to remain in my life for as long as we can all manage 🙂 Hell, for my birthday dinner last Saturday, I had 26 people show up! Secretly I was pleasantly surprised that yes, I do have friends that care about me as much as I care for them 🙂
+In the book it mentions that women who are still friends at age 40 will likely remain so all their lives. My mom has friends like that. Women she has known for more than fifty years. My sister, DNOS, has friends like that too, and so did my Dad. He had friends that went back to his childhood.
+I tend to think the same as your mom about family vs friends. Even some of my dearest friends weren’t really there for me during my late husband’s illness and I have quietly ended a couple friendships over that although I forgave others.
+Understanding Dream Symbolism: The Rosetta Stone of Dream Interpretation
+The Rosetta Stone, used to translate ancient languages.
+Dream interpretation begins with symbolism. Symbolism is the use of symbols to convey special meaning. A symbol is a shorthand way of expressing an idea. By translating dream symbolism, you put it into everyday language and get the ideas behind it.
+Dream symbols are like words in that they express ideas and string together into sentences to convey more complex ideas (see “Dream Symbols” below).
+As a rule of thumb, everything in dreams is symbolism, a representation of something else that’s related to you and your life. Sometimes dreams speak literally and directly, but in my experience, most of the time they use the shorthand language of symbolism.
+Symbolism is a language of pictures, gestures, and ideas. Like other languages it has nouns (symbols, settings, characters) and verbs (action, reactions, resolutions). The adjectives, such as the color of a vehicle or size of a building, modify the nouns. Adverbs such as the speed of a vehicle or direction of flight modify the verbs. The pronouns are the surrogate characters and symbols. The interjections are your feelings and emotions experienced in response to a dream. They are the strong expressions of desire, opinion, or need.
+Like a language, dreams string together words into sentences and sentences into paragraphs, then into chapters, then into entire stories (books). They build around a core idea, a thread that ties everything together. The symbolic details are the story elements and narrative components of the story and everything that modifies them. Think of them as dots that connect together to form small pictures that fit into the big one. The entire dream, assuming it is fully formed, is a complete picture that says everything at once. Everything in a dream interconnects either symbolically or in the story narrative.
+Decoding Dream Symbolism
+An option for you. The video summarizes this chapter.
+Dream Symbolism Tells a Story and You Participate
+Dreams introduce an idea or subject then tell a story about it, its condition and circumstances, its history and prospects — everything needed to paint the picture. You step into the picture and participate in the story as an actor. You respond to the dream — to the story told through symbolism — as if it’s all real and everything’s really happening, while knowing subconsciously what it all really means. What it really is. Symbolism.Language is used to tell stories, and dreams are pros at storytelling. As you become fluent in the language of symbolism and the mechanics of dream storytelling, you improve at deciphering the meaning. You understand the point or moral to the stories. The dream source is always trying to show you something, to teach, to explain, to expand your horizons and fulfill your potential.
+Dream symbolism can seem absurd and meaningless, and sometimes it is. Your dreaming mind translates any input experienced while sleeping into symbolism, including thoughts, feelings, emotions, perceptions, memories, physical sensations and sounds, and bodily messages. The dreaming mind processes all input and turns it into symbolism. When you first go to sleep and progress through the sleep cycle, your mind can produce dreamlike imagery that has no story or narrative to it. It’s just a memory dump. Or think of it as the rehearsal — the musicians warming up backstage — before the performance (meaningful dreaming) begins. At the end of the sleep cycle, in REM stage sleep, the music starts.
+Read about the hidden meaning in absurd dream imagery:
+Absurdity of Dream Symbolism | Dream Interpretation
+Because some dream imagery is meaningless doesn’t mean it’s all meaningless. When the imagery weaves together into stories that engage you, that’s the performance. Those are the dreams to focus on. They are certainly meaningful.
+Dream Symbols
+Dive deep into dream symbols. Do it now or do it later. It’s foundational knowledge for decoding dreams. But now you know what most people don’t know: symbols are not as important as symbolism for decoding dreams.
+Dreams string together symbols to create symbolism. The symbol is a small picture. Symbolism paints a bigger one. Begin with the symbol, decode it into everyday language, and see how it fits into the big picture.
+Story Elements | Dreams Symbols
+Symbolism in Action | Example: Driving
+A complete dream interpretation reference source. Available at Amazon.
+Driving a vehicle is a common dream theme. It offers a wide variety of uses as symbolism. Let’s explore. As you read the following examples, keep in mind that driving often symbolizes movement in your life (or lack of it), as in “going places.” Your life moves. Also, I’m not covering every possibility, just introducing you to the subject.
+You dream that you:
+- Drive in reverse.
+- Press the brakes but don’t slow down.
+- Have a flat tire.
+- Drive on a narrow road.
+Drive in reverse: If movement in a vehicle symbolizes how your life moves, driving in reverse can symbolize a setback. Simplify the idea and it means “going in the wrong direction.” Unless, of course, you want to drive in reverse, which could be a way of saying symbolically, “I’m getting ahead of myself and need to step back.”
+Brakes don’t work: Your life is moving too fast. You can’t (it) slow down. Or your pulse or blood pressure won’t slow down.
+Flat tire: A flat tire can symbolize something that hinders or stops your life’s progress. For example, losing a job. If the job is taking you somewhere in your life, losing it is like having a flat tire.
+Narrow road: Your choices are limited. You feel hemmed in. No deviation is allowed.
+A dream can create symbolism in the action such driving in reverse, a verb of dream language, or even in the lack of action when the brakes don’t work or the car doesn’t move. It can create symbolism in details about the vehicle such as the flat tire, an adjective of dream language. Road conditions such as narrow, treacherous, icy, crowded, or empty modify the central idea, so they’re adjectives too. Details about the control of the vehicle are adverbs. They modify the action.
+For example, what does a dream say when it shows you screaming down the highway and barely keeping control of the vehicle while navigating a sharp turn? It can mean you’re barely in control of something that’s headed in a perilous or unexpected direction. Or simplify the basic idea to “barely under control.” Amplify the idea and it can mean “flaunting disaster.”
+The possibilities for symbolism created with vehicles and driving go on and on. We’ll pick up again with this discussion in a moment.
+Focus on the Action
+The symbolism in the above examples is defined by the action — drive, brake — and the imagery — flat, narrow. Symbolism is not static or isolated, usually. It’s doing something. It’s acted out. Your personal actions in a dream, and the actions of the dream and the characters in it, are symbolism.
+Action tells the dream-story. An in-depth discussion of action in dreams is given in Step 2. In the meantime, here’s an important point:
+No matter what happens in a dream, how gruesome or gross or shocking it might be, it’s all symbolism. It’s meant to be poignant. It’s trying to get your attention. When you say, “oh my god, I can’t believe I had that dream!” your dreaming mind says “mission accomplished.”
+If It’s Unreal, It’s Symbolism
+jmdebord.com
+Oftentimes the symbolism of a dream is noticeable, in your face. It draws attention to itself, unmistakable. Once you know what to look for it will jump out at you.
+Discrepancies with waking reality scream “symbolism!” For example, you see a friend in a dream and that friend has neon blue hair, but in reality their hair is a different color. The discrepancy is obviously symbolism.
+Anything absurd or unreal in a dream is probably symbolism. When you take a hot-air balloon ride with Snoop Dog, it means something. When an ax murderer chases you down a dark alley, it’s symbolism. It might mean you are on the wrong path, or you are trying to escape a person or situation in your life.
+Don’t take the imagery literally. The ax murderer in your dream isn’t someone who wants to kill you, but it could be a sign that something needs to change. Perhaps you feel hunted physically or emotionally. Perhaps someone has bad intentions toward you. Perhaps a situation is stressing you out. Something needs to change and it won’t let you get away until you do something about it.
+When you do something out of character or completely unreal in a dream, it’s a sign of enacting symbolism. For example, you cut off your leg like it’s no big deal. It’s symbolism. Cutting off your leg might mean that you are doing something that’s hindering the progress of your life. After all, your legs are used to move you, and you already know that movement in a dream can connect symbolically with movement in your life.
+Dream about leg amputated – What does it mean?
+You jump off a cliff, or seduce your teacher, or murder your spouse — all symbolism. Don’t take it literally!
+More Driving SymbolismNow that you get the idea, let’s interpret more symbolism that involves driving. Think of your own ideas for meanings before reading mine.
+- Press the gas pedal but don’t speed up or move.
+When people are exhausted they are said to be “out of gas.” Gas means motivation, drive, energy. If you press the gas pedal and don’t move, it could mean you are exhausted, or aren’t making progress despite your effort.
+- Drive from the backseat.
+Symbolizes need to be in control. Backseat driver. Controlling from a distance.
+- Drive off a cliff.
+A cliff implies an abrupt or sudden change, or some sort of imminent danger. As a figure of speech you say that a person drives off a cliff when they make a poor decision or continue on a path that leads to trouble, failure, or disaster.
+- Drive into a wall.
+When you hit a wall in your life you reach a point where you can’t go any farther. It’s the end of the road. Something has to stop.
+- Park under a structure that collapses.
+When you park your car it’s like making a decision about a place where your life belongs. For example, you start a new job. You are getting somewhere in life. Then a month later the company goes belly up and you’re laid off. You figuratively park your car under a company structure that collapses. The idea can also apply to a romantic relationship, housing situation, and a variety of other situations in life where you expect to stay for a while but things don’t work out.
+Context
+Symbolism is understood in context.
+Make Connections | Context
+Dream symbolism interconnects.
+Make Connections | Connect the Dots
+Dream symbolism is exaggerated.
+Story Analysis | Exaggeration
+It plays with language.
+Storytelling Devices | Wordplays, Puns and Alt Definitions
+Mine the MetaphorsMany of the examples given for car symbolism show figures of speech and metaphors in action: backseat driver; drive off a cliff; hit a wall. Dreams are not only insightful, they can be funny and satirical. They memorably dramatize situations, and if humor or satire is the best way to tell the story, so be it. It’s not malicious but, for example, it might sting to see yourself drive off a cliff and realize the dream is talking about your tendency to ignore warnings and plow ahead no matter what. It’s exaggerated, yes, and it sure gets your attention!
+Explain in Simplest Terms
+Symbolism can be identified by explaining in simplest terms what you see or experience in a dream. For example, a map is used to find your way somewhere or figure out where you’re at. Simplify the idea and translate it to your life, and the symbolism can mean you need direction and guidance in general or with something specific. Direction or guidance related to a goal you’re trying to reach, becoming the person you want to be, a problem you’re trying solve, an answer to a question, a wish to fulfill. As symbolism, a map equals direction. Not north, south, east or west — personal direction. Providing direction is the essence of what a map does for you. It can also tell you where you are at with something, a “YOU ARE HERE” marker. Translate that idea to your life and what does it mean?
+Follow Your Feelings
+You react while dreaming based on subconscious knowledge of what everything means (see: Three Simple Facts about Dreams). Your feelings show in how you react while dreaming to the story as it’s presented to you. How you react can tell you what the dream symbolism means.
+In-Depth Look: Your Car Is Stolen
+What does it mean when your car is stolen in a dream? Think about it before reading my explanation.
+Your car is the vehicle that moves your life — forward, backward, in circles, whatever. Movement in a car symbolizes your drive and ambition. If your car is stolen, one possibility is it means that your ability to make progress in your life is compromised or threatened.
+For some people their car is a big part of their identity. A car can say a lot about the person driving it. Take the same person you see in a Ferrari and put them behind the wheel of a minivan. It’s an entirely different impression. So a stolen car in a dream can mean something about your identity has been taken, probably unfairly. You lost a piece of your identity or something else that’s important to you.
+So what does it mean to dream your car is stolen?
+- It might mean that you have lost your drive or ambition.
+- You let someone in on a plan or idea and they stole it. The plan is the idea that was going to move your forward in life.
+- You lost a job or relationship, something closely related to your personal identity.
+- You feel like you are giving up something important about yourself in order to reach a goal. For example, in order to be a manager at work you have to be more distant with your co-workers than you’d like to be. A part of yourself — the part that wants to connect personally with people you work with — is stolen by circumstances.
+- You feel unlucky. You feel robbed. The symbolism of the car is likely to pinpoint exactly how you feel unlucky or robbed, but dreams can create scenarios simply to express how you feel, and the individual details aren’t as important as the big picture.
+- You don’t know how to get to somewhere you want to be. You have an ambition or goal but don’t know how to reach it.
+- A rogue part of yourself is working against you, taking something from you needed to advance your life. Or something’s robbing you of an opportunity: illness, failure, circumstances.
+When analyzing symbolism, think broadly and creatively. The word “stolen” can be used to describe a lot more than just a possession or item taken illicitly. If someone “steals” your boyfriend they don’t stuff him in pocket and walk out of the store. In most cases nothing is literally stolen, like when someone says “stole my heart.” The idea of stealing is used to compare to a situation, event or feeling — something tied to your external life, or something going on inside you.
+Always Consider the Obvious Meaning and Message
+The First Rule of Dream Interpretation: Consider the Obvious
+Author and dream interpreter J.M. DeBord, aka “RadOwl”.
+Dreams can be literal and have literal messages, though it doesn’t happen often for most people. If you dream about your car getting stolen you should consider the possibility of it really happening. Dreams are known for giving timely warnings.
+A way to tell the difference is by analyzing a dream for literal and figurative representations. If the car stolen in a dream is “yours” but doesn’t look like the car you drive, you can bet that the dream is using symbolism. Discrepancy with reality is a sign of symbolism. Symbolism is a sign that a dream is telling a story, not giving a literal warning, but it’s not a sure thing. The dreaming mind is a translator, after all. It takes any input and turns it into symbolism. However, that rule has exceptions.
+An engineer, J.W. Dunne, studied his dreams for decades with an engineer’s focus on detail and pattern identification. He said that as many as half of his dreams came true in the future. How can you interpret a dream that comes true or could come true in the future? It’s not easy, but I have a place for you to start:
+Precognition or just a dream: the difference between precognitive and ordinary dreams
+Precognitive Dreams
+The use of symbolism indicates a comparison is being made, not a literal warning given. But let’s say that the car stolen in your dream looks exactly like the car you own. It’s parked in your driveway where it’s usually parked. And the group of shady teenagers who steal it in the dream look like the teenagers you saw eyeing your car the other day. The dream could merely reflect your thoughts or fears, or it could be an obvious warning to secure your vehicle.
+Continue this lesson in Part 2.
+Dream Symbolism Part II | Translate Dream Language
+My California runcation started one week ago today with a late afternoon flight out of Aspen on an unreasonably beautiful Western Colorado day. Courtnee and I arrived in Santa Barbara a few hours later to a warm welcome from good friend, crew member, and SoCal cultural ambassador, Ryan McInally. We headed south to Ventura where we we were to spend the majority of the next week enjoying the incredible hospitality of the McInally family.
+Coincidentally, a cousin of mine was also graduating from UCSB that weekend so we made a trip up to campus on Thursday to join in the celebration. It was great to see so much family who provided me with endless encouragement for the terrifying endeavor that lay before me. We left for the San Diego area early Friday morning and spent the afternoon attending the pre race meeting and preparing gear for the adventure of the following day. I was able to sleep well and awoke at 5am feeling rested and ready for the challenge. It was already shaping up to be a glorious day as we nervously clustered at the start line awaiting the gun.
+The First 60
+Photos by Brett Rivers
+Shortly after we took off, I was happy to feel a serious pep in my step. I had done a lot of resting in the previous few weeks in hopes of arriving at the start line with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Yassine Diboun quickly took the lead as Rod Bien and I settled into what felt like an honest, yet easy pace. We introduced ourselves and had a nice conversation about various running related topics for the first 5 or 6miles.
+Soon thereafter, I pulled away from Rod which began a long day of lonely yet beautiful and enjoyable running. Yassine was already a few minutes ahead running strong but I did a good job of removing any thoughts of competition in the first half of the race. Miles clicked off with ease as the sun rose over course and the temperature slowly climbed.
+In typical Dylan fashion, I managed to get off course for about 5 minutes shortly before the aid station at mile 23. Thankfully I was able to keep my morale high and accept my minor mistake without single "F-Bomb." I caught back up to Rod, who had passed me while I was off course, shortly after the Penny Pines aid station and we commented on the unexpected heat and technical footing of the ensuing descent. I am especially bad technical downhill runner so I felt super slow here but overall I was having a lot of fun.
+The only hitch in my race was a slightly off stomach that was already unhappy with gel consumption, and getting even more upset with every mile. I can typically eat gels til the cows come home but, for some reason on Saturday, they were just not sitting right. I was still able to force it down but would struggle with gagging for a solid minute after every bite. Needless to say, I was concerned that this was happening so early on but my body and mind were in a good place so I continued to motor without giving it much thought.
+On the long climb up to the Pioneer Mail aid, I occasionally caught a glimpse of Yassine who was moving well about two minutes ahead of me. It looked like we were both running virtually every step of the climb which I took as a good sign since RD Scott Mills had called this section "The toughest part of the race." Thanks for the Popsicles Scott. That was a great touch.
+I pulled into Pioneer Mail at mile 44 a few minutes back of Yassine and not feeling great. The heat and sun were starting to get to me and my stomach was in knots. Still though, I was cool headed and staying business oriented. I walked for a few minutes out of the aid station trying to collect myself for the rolling but gradual descent to Sunrise aid and the race's halfway point.
+The next section is very exposed and I was becoming quite unhappy. The trail (PCT) was beautiful however, and would have been a lot more fun had I not already endured 45 malnourished miles. I chalked it up to a rough patch and figured I would pull myself out of my rut quickly. Unfortunately my condition deteriorated even more all the way through the Sunrise aid which I exited at about the 8:10 mark - still only a couple minutes behind Yassine.
+Again I walked for a few minutes out of the aid trying to encourage myself with the cliche statement, "You're halfway there, only 50 miles to go." Needless to say, this thought does more to deflate you than anything when you have already ran for 8+ hours and 50+ miles. Oh well. Nothing to do but man up and try to be smart.
+That is exactly what I did for the next 7.5 excruciating miles to the Stonewall Mine aid at about mile 60. At this point, I could no longer even open my gel flask without gagging. My stomach just quit cooperating altogether. I could feel my race unraveling and my attitude was growing increasingly bad. I began walking some of the downhills approaching the aid station which was pretty embarassing but totally necessary at the time.
+When I arrived, my crew could tell I was in bad shape. I relayed the issues about my stomach and decided it would be wise to chug a Red Bull and fill up one of my bottles with Coke. It turned out this would be my nutrition plan for the remainder of the race. The best decision I made all day.
+The Last 40
+As soon as the Red Bull hit my blood, my race totally changed. I was back. I began having a great time again as the sun slowly lowered in the sky and the tempuratures steadily dropped. The Stonewall climb was a welcome challenge as I hiked most of it while trying to focus on my exhales. I reached the turnoff and demolished the ensuing descent, following Yassine's Inov-8 tread the whole way.
+When I got to the bottom and the Paso Picacho aid, I was very pumped up. I was moving better here than I had in the first ten miles. Those positive feeling quickly turned to panic when I learned I had arrived at the aid station in first place. I hadn't passed Yassine and figured that I somehow cut the course and was going to be DQed. I was reassured by the aid captain that I had indeed been on course the whole way and that I must have been Yassine who had been lost. I wasted no time pounding another Red Bull and filling a bottle of Coke. Soon thereafter, I left in lead and would never relinquish it.
+My new nutrition plan (liquid diet) continued to pay off and I felt great. I passed through the aid at mile 72 and grabbed my headlamp and flashlight for the lonely night section. The sun slowly set and soon enough I was alone in the dark cruising a beautiful and remote peice of singletrack. It was awesome. Near the top of the climb, runners started passing me going the other direction. I felt for them as they still had nearly 50 miles to go and long night ahead of them.
+I went back through Sunrise aid again at mile 80 and got more Coke and Red Bull. The next 7 miles challenged me greatly. I felt like I was off course the whole time. Whenever I would see a flag, I would be overcome with joy and if I hadn't seen a flag for a few minutes I would have similar feelings of dread. Convinced I was off course, I even back tracked a few times only to find that I was on the correct route. Finally, at about mile 85, I went way off course, costing myself close to 15 minutes and almost the race.
+I was very upset but took my critical mistake in stride. I was still running literally every step of the gradual uphill and my legs felt great. I got back on the correct trail convinced I had blown it but continued to crush the PCT all the way back to Pioneer Mail at mile 87.
+I arrived at Pioneer Mail to find that I had somehow remained in the lead. This was a huge boost to both me and my crew who had grown very concerned about me during the previous stretch. As a special bonus, my crew had also secured me a pacer to escort me for the final half marathon. I, of course, intended to run this whole race alone but when the opportunity for companionship arose that late in the game, I was happy to take it.
+My pacer turned out to be a ringer by the name of Jeff Hines, the inagural winner of the SD100 event back in 2001. Jeff had already consumed a six pack of beer but was an eager and priceless friend to have for the last stretch. We dominated together and had a great dynamic that I really valued. We knew that I had the win and CR all but sealed up so our race became about being smart and enjoying the moment.
+The campground was welcomed sight for me as we approached one in the morning. Jeff and I crossed the finish together in 18:00 and I was beyond stoked. Lots of hugs and high fives were exchanged as I tried to collect myself and absorb the fact that I had managed to win.
+All the joy was also accompanied by serious concern for my own well being. You see, I hadn't really urinated since 8am and had been consuming many liters of fluid throughout the day. I tried to pee probably 8 different times throughout the race and was only able to muster a few ounces of dark orange liquid just a couple times. I know the damages that ultras can inflict on human kidneys, so I was very concerned. This was compacted by the violent episode of projectile vomiting that occured not long after I crossed the finish. I felt like absolute shit but was also very happy. It was a strange moment in time for me.
+The After
+At about 4:30 in the morning, after tossing in my bed for several hours, I finally urinated. It was a small victory for me as I fist pumped alone in the dark bathroom of our hotel. I even woke up Courtnee to inform her of my accomplishment. Soon after, the flood gates opened and my stomach settled. I was ok. I was ecstatic.
+This was another awesome ultra experience that I can add to the list. SD100 is an absolute top notch event. I dare say, a must do. The trails and weather were beautiful, and with 95 miles of single track, what more can you ask for? Big thanks to RD Scott Mills and his army of volunteers! You guys were awesome. I will definitely come back to this one.
+Finally, thanks to my wonderful crew! I love you guys and appreciate that you are willing to support me through even my most questionable endeavors. You are the best.
+Next is pacing at Hardrock! Gonna be Epic. Stay tuned.
+Congrats Dylan on a great run! You put together a great race and rolled with the punches like a pro! Way to go.
+See you at Hardrock (I am pacing as well).
+My son and I worked the Stonewall Mine Aid station. When you left I didn't think you would make it a mile out without coming back, that is how bad you looked 59 miles into it - but dang when I heard you finished in first I was amazed. You had to have fought through some battles and came through a tougher person.
+That is amazing accomplishment - way to push yourself. It was also nice to talk to your crew and you and the Stonewall Aid station. My son and I enjoyed the experience tremendously. I hope to see you out on some trail in some mountain range again.
+Paul Hassett
+What a race - way to go, Dylan! You took off pretty fast from the start line, and I'm pleased for you that you held it all together to take the race overall.
+Sorry I didn't get a chance to say hi, I spotted you at the start line but just couldn't catch up to say hello :-)
+Hope to see you at HR, I'll be there pacing too.
+Bruce
+I must say, you are my hero buddy! Great work, thanks for sharing your story of perseverance.
+Chalk up one more for the CO crew in CA. Awesome stuff Dylan. And a fist pump for the piss - love it. See you in the Juans.
+Thanks all! Great day for me. I'm just happy to have been a part of it.
+Devon - I'm a huge fan of your stuff so thanks for reading mine. I had a "Dylan Day" in SD. Look forward to meeting you in Silverton.
+Nick - Dude. I'm so pumped for you. I'm already on pins and needles for WS and I'm not even racing! Can't wait to stare at twitter all day. Go get that cougar baby. I'll be cheering from the cyber sidelines.
+100 Miles is clearly to easy for you as you continue to crush the competition. When are you going to start really testing yourself and run that first 1000 miler. Gump did it. Congrats bro.
+Nice work Dylan! You heading back to Silver Rush this year?
+Thanks Patrick. Solid effort yourself out in Wyoming! No Silver Rush for me this year. I would highly recommend that one though. Especially as a final LT100 tune up.
+Congrats on a great race. Impressive how you turned it around. Coke is a wonderful thing sometimes. Loved the report!
+Red Bull owes you at least several cases, if not a year's supply. But I'm interested in which brew Jeff Hines was drinking. Maybe I should pace under the influence some time.
+I'd like to tell you that navigational errors disappear with experience.
+Way to overcome your malaise and time handicaps. What a great debut win! You are getting on the radar.
+By the way, if you mention your competitor's shoes by name, you gotta say you loved your Sportivas. I can't tell which ones you were running in from the pics.
+Fireblades?
+Hahaha! You are totally right Mark. Can't believe I didn't give Sportiva any love. And yes Derrick, I wore the same pair of Fireblades for the whole race and and didn't have any issues. Love that shoe. Really excited to see the new Skylites though. Thanks for reading guys.
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+OFFICIAL RECEIVER
+Martin Evans made this Freedom of Information request to Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
+The request was successful.
+From: Martin Evans
+Dear Sir or Madam,
+Would you please confirm The Official Receiver and the Insolvencey
+service is also a part of the Business of the Department for
+Business,Enterprise and Regulatory reform, or is it correct the
+Dept for Business,Enterprise and regulatory reform also trades as
+the Official Receiver.
+Would you please provide me with the last 3 years trading accounts
+for the official Receiver.
+Yours faithfully,
+Martin Evans
+From: Richard.Sibun
+Dear Mr Evans
+Further to your request for information I am pleased to respond on
+behalf of The Insolvency Service.
+May I first correct the details of the department under which The
+Insolvency Service operates. Since earlier this year the Department for
+Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has been renamed the
+Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
+The Insolvency Service is an Executive Agency within the Department of
+Business, Innovation and Skills(the Department). The objectives of the
+Department are to:
+1) promote enterprise, innovation and increased productivity,
+2) make the most of the UK's science, engineering and technology.
+3) create strong and competitive markets, and
+4) develop a fair and effective legal and regulatory framework.
+The Insolvency Service supports those objectives by maintaining and
+enforcing an effective framework for commercial activity, and in
+particular:
+1) Administers compulsory individual and corporate insolvencies;
+2) Reports suspected criminal offences to the Department;
+3) Brings disqualification cases against unfit directors of failed
+companies;
+4) Regulates the private sector insolvency profession;
+5) Manages insolvency funds;
+6) Advises Ministers on insolvency issues;
+7) Supports the work of the official receivers appointed by the
+Secretary of State.
+The office of official receiver was created by the Bankruptcy Act 1883,
+which also commissioned the then Board of Trade with the supervision of
+bankruptcy. The objective was to impose greater official control over
+bankruptcy proceedings generally, and over investigations in particular.
+The official receiver's role was extended to compulsory liquidations by
+the Companies Act 1890, and is today largely set out in the Insolvency
+Act 1986. Originally, official receivers were a mixture of salaried
+officers and fee paid local solicitors. Since the 1950s all official
+receivers have been salaried, and are now appointed from The Insolvency
+Service (The Service).
+The Service operates through 33 offices around the country, each led by
+an official receiver, and geographically grouped under Regional
+Managers.
+Official receivers are appointed, removed and act under the general
+direction of the Secretary of State for BIS. On appointment the official
+receiver becomes simultaneously a statutory office holder and a civil
+servant employed by The Service. It is not correct to say that official
+receivers or The Insolvency Service 'trade', rather that (the majority)
+of the funding for the work carried out comes from petition income.
+All income and expenditure for the work of The Service is available
+on-line as. Under the tab 'Publications' are
+published the accounts for 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08. The accounts
+for 2008/09 are not yet available but will be published once they have
+been approved. The link below can be used to connect to the relevant
+page of our website....
+Further information is also available via The Service's publication
+scheme that can be accessed through the link 'Freedom of Information' on
+the front page of our website.....
+I trust the above is useful.
+Regards
+Richard Sibun
+Senior Technical Advisor
+Freedom of Information & Data Protection Liaison Officer
+show quoted sections
+Sarah Daniels left an annotation ()
+Let me shock you all - I apologise in advance!
+Do you know that the Insolvency Services (IS) get a 17 percent of realisations from the bankrupt estate ( excluding the first £2000). The effect of that is that the Government (yes a Public Authority) "profits" from the misfortunate of the bankrupt which they make a fortunate at his expense!
+The IS grants licence to Insolcency Practitioners(IP).
+Do you know that if there si one creduitor who is owed say, £3000 and yiou are made bankrupt: the IP and his insructed solicitor (not forgetting the IS who must get their cut!!)can all end up milking the bankrupt for costs and fees of over £75,000.
+There is a conflict of interest issue here and this is fuelled by the fact that the IS - a Public Authority - receives money which they prefer to receive and ignore the Human Rights Act. The act is for the "protection of the Public." But is there any protection and are they likely to give it when they partake by being "associated." Under "criminal law" that is called "joint enterprise" because there is a common purpose!
+The IS does not want clear english drafting. Tjhey prefer it to be confusing without giving effect to "human rights" in particular to Article 6- right to a fair hearing. When a person is made bankrupt he looses:
+control over his RIGHTS in property - look at section 436 and you will see how wide that definition is.
+Contol over his rights to MAKE meaningful decison because all choses in action (436) passes to his OR and later the private sector trustee (TIB).
+LOOSES HIS HUMAN RIGHTS - you may say that this is not so but if you attend some cases you will see that the odds are stacked heavily against the bankrupt and there is no level playing field, and that goes a long way to undermine the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) which Lord Wolf spent a lot of time crafting with the Rules Committee.
+His dignity is lost and eventally he is abandoned by his friends and even love ones. Read Bleak House!
+The effect of it is that the bankrupt looses his credibility because he was financially unwise and did not spend heavily on paying for financial and legal advice.
+Will it get better. No. The govt has taken away public funding for those who have debt problem. The CAXs have been closing in droves.
+Red Bleak House!
+Keep hoping it may even get better!
+Sarah
+Simon left an annotation ()
+The Insolvency Service is largely self-funding and this is done through petition deposits and a share in recoveries.
+To be adjudged bankrupt, one would have been served with the petition documents and given the opportunity to attend the hearing and at that hearing defend the case. However, many bankrupts wait until the order is made by the courts, then wait a little longer and eventually cooperate with the Official Receiver. At this point, I would like to point out that the Official Receiver does not make people bankrupt. This is done by the County Courts or the High Court. The Insolvency Act of 1986 requires the Official Receiver to deal with a bankrupt's affairs in a certain manner. This includes interviewing the bankrupt and reporting to the creditors of a bankrupt. The fees charged by the Insolvency Service are set and regulated, however, Insolvency Practitioners' fees are not regulated and they will often charge whatever they recover.
+I am not saying every Official Receiver always does the right thing, but generally, they are bound by the law to deal with an order made by a judge.
+J Wilson left an annotation ()
+I've sent an email to Simon about his comments to try and educate him about the fact that anyone who'se been declared bankrupt, without ever having had a 'fair and public hearing' by a "competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law", as is their right under Article 14 of the UN's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has had their rights violated.
+Also, that under Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969 which the UK is also a signatory to, the State cannot rely on its 'internal laws' as justification for its failures to perform a treaty. Or presumably any part of it which Article 14 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is.
+Yet the State doesn't count the number of Court Orders which the judiciary has issued 'without a hearing' as others have proven on this website. So it cannot rely on the Freedom of Information Act either, as an excuse for failing to answer any questions asked to find out the truth. Or is that what it thinks it can do, because we all succumb to its unlawful authority, or else face bankruptcy by corrupt judges in corrupt courts.
+After all, the Official Receiver's Office has been raking in the money since 1986, because its 'internal law' doesn't even respect anyone's right under Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of 1948 to 'not be arbitrarily deprived of ones property'.
+Ask you MP, or try, to explain why no Government since 1948 has never done anything to comply with its obligations under Article 2 of the UN Charter of 1945, to respect and protect human rights for all without any form of discrimination whatsoever?
+They won't even introduce a Bill of Rights for fear it would undermine Parliament and hence their jobs, which seem to be to do nothing but talk about doing things without ever doing it.
+J Wilson left an annotation ()
+If you want to support human rights on issues such as this please sign this petition and pas it on to friends and family too-....
+This information is brought to you free, even without requesting it,as you have the right to know the truth too, even if the Government doesn't want you to know it and hasn't done since 1948/49..
+E&Y's Alan Bloom - DTI Advice - 2000
+To Department for Business, Innovation and Skills by Chris Coomber
+Annulment of Bankruptcy ordered by Local Government Ombudsman
+To Wolverhampton City Council by J Wilson
+Holding back your special report into council tax and bankruptcy
+To Local Government Ombudsmen by George Cant
+Interpretation of section 271(3) of Insolvency Act 1986
+To Supreme Court of the United Kingdom by J Wilson
+Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page?
+J Wilson left an annotation ()
+The Insolvency Services response to Martin Evans' request includes the following stated objective no.4 - " develop a fair and effective legal and regulatory framework".
+I believe this is a lie, because the Insolvency Act 1986 is/was an Arbitrary and unjust 'Act', not based on Human Rights. It contains the right for any 'creditor' who is allegedly owed over £750, to apply to make their 'debtor' bankrupt. This can occur even where the 'debtor' is solvent, without regard to the "dire and punitive consequences" on them or on his/her family. The latter quote refers to a decision by a Local Government Ombudsman in 2008 in a case of a man bankrupted by his local council for Council Tax of around £1,100.
+He had the temerity to refuse to pay his full Council Tax bill, because he was not happy with the services provided by them. However, I don't know if the Insolvency Service or Courts annulled his bankruptcy. The Ombudsman suggested that his 'creditor' should apply for it, but the Courts were the ones who made him bankrupt!!
+It is also a fact that the 'Bankruptcy level' at which any 'creditor' can apply for another's bankruptcy has been £1,500 in Scotland for years, rather than the paltry £750 in England & Wales, which has never been changed since 1986. It is now £3,000 in Scotland, but even that is arbitrary and violates human rights.
+Regardless of devolution, we are all supposed to be treated as equal under the law, so such 'levels' should never have been put in place. The Courts and the Insolvency Service, to be fair and lawful, should consider each application on the 'merits of the case', taking all circumstances into account, before declaring anyone bankrupt. It's a lie to say they are "fair" when they're manifestly arbitrary as all they care about is lining their own pockets.
+Link to this
+How in Photoshop us one of the ways to do this aside from the common photo editing services such as clipping path and background removal. Unlike most photo retouching services, however, it takes a lot of special skills to creatively add drop shadow in Photoshop.
+Why Shadows Matter
+It is not easy to make product photos stand out but having the option to add drop shadow in Photoshop is a great thing. Shadows are one of the easiest ways to elevate the standards of product photography as it makes the photos look more polished and professional. Just take a look at industry leaders in the e-commerce sector and you will see how stunning their product photos are.
+The main purpose of having a drop shadow in Photoshop is to improve the photos, right? Ideally, having nice photos does not only guarantee sales. It is also a way to build brand recognition. This means that consistent use of drop shadow in Photoshop can improve your reputation as an online store and customers will not only be enticed with your products but at your brand as a whole. Let’s face it, there are probably hundreds or even thousands of other stores that sell the same products that you have. Impressing them with the best photos can slowly build their confidence in your shop so that, in the future, it will be easier for you to convince them to choose your shop over the competition.
+If you are considering to have drop shadow in Photoshop, it is important that you learn about the things that you need to consider, the different types of drop shadows and even video tutorials to either add or how to remove shadows in Photoshop.
+To start with, let’s explore the different types of shadows:
+1. Natural
+A natural shadow is exactly what it is, a natural shadow that is cast when direct light is placed upon the product. It is easy to achieve since you can only use one light source in capturing the product and its shadow. There is no need to do post-processing of the photo since the shadow will naturally show up in the photos. Aside from capturing natural shadows while shooting a product image, you may also use Photoshop to add this kind of shadow later. Its advantage is that a natural shadow looks subtle and becoming especially when perfectly executed.
+Image via chanel.com
+2. Drop Shadows
+If you are after the illusion of having product photos that look like they are shot from above, then a drop shadow is what you need to have for the photo. Knowing how to add a drop shadow in Photoshop has an advantage since it can eliminate that unnatural effect that the product is floating on a plain background. A drop shadow can help create a realistic visual of any product, especially with furniture and shoes. With furniture, it gives an illusion that the product is on top of a surface, just like when it is set up in a room. Shoes also go best with drop shadows because they are normally placed on a non-reflective shelf in an actual store.
+Image via eu.louisvuitton.com
+3. Reflection Shadows
+Having reflection shadows give photos a more dramatic effect. It makes the subject look like it is on top of a reflective surface. This style also adds a sense of realism for products that are best displayed in display cases or reflective shelves. Sunglasses, jewelry, watches, and dainty decorative pieces will look exceptional with reflection shadows.
+Image via loreal-paris.co.uk
+Although you have the option to add shadows during post-production, it is better if you are able to control the lighting setup during the shoot. This is very important since a light source will not only add shadows but also cause light spots to appear on the product. Again, these spots may be removed using Photoshop but will take some time and even the risk of having badly edited photos in the end. Take some time to experiment with different light sources especially if you are shooting highly reflective items like glass.
+Simple Ways to Add Shadows to a Product Photo Using Photoshop
+By now you are aware of how important shadows can be on a product image. It is now time to learn the basic methods of adding the different shadow styles on your product photos.
+Adding Natural Shadows
+Natural shadows look great in any kind of product. Here is a tutorial on how you can add and keep the shadows look natural in the photos:
+Vase
+1. Open the image.
+2. Duplicate the image so you’ll have two vases (two layers).
+3. Create a new layer then fill with a solid white background. Now you have 3 layers in total.
+4. Move up the newly-created solid white layer to the bottom of the layer stack.
+5. Make an accurate selection as you can around the vase on one of the vase layers (top layer of the stack).
+6. Refine the selection’s edges smoothly by going to Select and Mask. Adjust smoothness, feather and contrast of the edges of the selection here.
+7. Create a mask from your selection. Make sure you invert the mask to make sure so that the vase is what’s showing and not the background.
+8. Select the vase layer (middle of stack). Change the duplicate vase layer to “multiply” in the top left tab of the layer dialog box.
+9. Create a mask of the vase layer. Click on the mask. Use a soft-feathered brush. Try to maintain the smoothness until the grey parts around is erased.
+10. Brush away around the vase except the shadow created by the vase. Do this until it looks quite right and natural.
+11. Save your image.
+When done right, the natural shadow will make the product look more genuine as if there is no artificial touch done to enhance the picture.
+Adding Drop Shadows
+Because it is an artificial shadow, a drop shadow in Photoshop must be perfectly executed to create an ethereal effect rather than a fake-looking photo. Here is how you can do it for your product photos:
+Camera
+1. Open the image.
+2. Add a new layer then fill up with a solid white background.
+3. Move your newly added solid white layer under the layer stack.
+4. Make a clean selection as you can just around the vase using the Pen Tool or Quick Selection Tool.
+5. Refine the edges of the selection to be more smoother. Adjust this by clicking on Select and Mask. Modify until it show just the right smoothness.
+6. select the masked layer. Double click the masked layer. A “Layer Style” window will pop up.
+Check on the “drop shadow” box. Then, a shadow will appear on the image you’re working on. Adjust the effects. Change the shadow opacity until the appropriate shadow shows.
+8. Change or adjust the angle, distance, size, spread and other drop shadow properties . Alter specific properties by moving the bar left to right. Do this so it matches the direction of light that you can see on the product. Pay close attention so that shadow falls just right, considering natural light source.
+9. Save your image.
+Comparing the first two shadow styles, adding a drop shadow on a photo is simpler. There are also other ways that you can achieve the same effect but this method works best for beginners.
+Adding Reflection Shadows
+Reflection shadows make product photos look dramatic since the shadow looks more really like a reflection of the product itself. The effect looks like the product is on top of a reflective surface, like glass or water. Here is how you can achieve this shadow style:
+Bag
+1. Open the bag image.
+2. Create a duplicate of this layer. So you’ll have two bags and two layers.
+3. Make a tight selection around the bag. Use Pen tool for smoother and exact selection if quick selection is not enough.
+4. Add a mask.
+5. Create a new layer below the two layers and fill the background with a solid color. White is good for product images. Transfer the new layer with a solid fill down the layer stack.
+6. Select top layer bag. Click the right mouse button on go to Free Transform. Flip the image vertically.
+Now, there’s two bags in the middle of the two layers vertically opposite each other.
+7. Align the bottom edges of the bags so it looks upside down together. Make it look like a reflection of the pair is the right side up.
+8. Add a slight drop shadow below the first bag layer. Select Lasso tool and draw an ellipse. Click on Select and Mask adjust a feather just right. Or create a new curves layer underneath the bag. Adjust the curves so that your selection becomes very dark. Feather or smoothen the edges.
+9. Add a mask to this layer. Select the Mask Layer of the current layer then select the Gradient Tool and apply it on the reflection. Adjust as you please until looks natural. Ensure that the more opaque part of the bag is nearer to the bag of the right side up bag. The least opaque portion should be farthest from the bag. This will be valuable to generate a natural like reflection that falling off away from the subject.
+10. Brush out on the sides and top of the bag around the reflected bag’s base. Continue to refine the bag’s reflection by brushing out more to make it look most natural.
+11. Save the file and you are done!
+From these simple tutorials, you can see that adding shadows on photos is easy. This type of effect is not overly theatrical but they create the needed drama to make your product photos more noticeable.
+Using a Retouching Service to Add Shadows
+While it seems like a highly doable task, adding drop shadow in Photoshop can be time-consuming. It is not cost-efficient knowing that there are many other essential tasks in the business that you can do instead of minding the post-processing of product photos.
+You have the option to assign somebody on your team to take care of this task too. The risk of not having the best results, however, is high since you are not sure if your editor has the skills to do it.
+The best solution for this is to hire a professional team that has both knowledge and expertise in applying shadows on product photos. Furthermore, outsourcing this task will not only ensure a professional touch but will also give you more time to work on the more important aspects of the business.
+Ephotovn is a leading company when it comes to enhancing product photos. We have expert editors who can expertly add drop shadow in Photoshop, as well as creating natural and reflection shadows.
+Ephotovn offers you fast, high-quality and professional image editing services!
+- We have strong photo editing skills. Our team of editors are highly skilled and trained to deliver only the best!
+- We have a wide-range of services.We offer you services that will surely cater to your needs.
+- Test our skills now. Send us a photo to test our abilities first. It’s for free!
+Receive Special Offers and Deals From Ephotovn
+We hate spam. Only receive our Newsletter for the latest tips, deals, tutorials, resources and guides.
+CIO Market Insights: Omicron variant intrudes into inflation and interest rate preoccupations
+- The emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 adds to the list of mutations, and level of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.
+- The chances of getting assessments right at this stage remain problematic, so diversification and risk management are key. Given that diversification and risk management have been at the heart of our investment approach since 1985, our clients can be confident that our vigilance is very high.
+- Regardless of the evolution of the latest COVID-19 mutation, the inflation and interest rate outlook will continue to occupy a lot of investor attention.
+- Unlike the very low official interest rates that have persisted across many wealthy countries since the GFC, interest rate policy in China has been ‘normal’ and worked as it’s meant to. Higher interest rates have dampened economic activity, while lower interest rates have spurred activity.
+- We think that China’s relatively high real interest rate environment gives us an opportunity to harness return potential for MLC’s multi-asset funds – MLC Horizon, Index Plus and Inflation Plus portfolios.1
+Dear Investors and Advisers
+As I was getting ready to jot down my thoughts for this note, I was reminded of what former British Prime Minister Harold McMillan once said in response to being asked what worried him most: “Events, my dear boy, events.”
+I had initially thought of starting this note by discussing a divergence that has appeared in financial markets over recent months. It was going to go along the following lines: major share markets continued to move forward,2 on the back of earnings growth driven by the release of pent-up demand from the time of COVID restrictions. Contrastingly, fixed income markets have been troubled by levels of inflation not seen in years.
+But that was before the Omicron variant of COVID-19 appeared to give investors and policymakers something else to think about. At times, public commentary can add to apprehension rather than supply perspective.
+We should neither underplay nor exaggerate Omicron because viruses mutate. That’s how they behave and adapt. Our knowledge of COVID-19 improves each day and medical scientists will be fighting a guerrilla war against the virus and its mutations for some years, in all likelihood.
+The Delta variant is still present, and Omicron adds to the list of mutations, and the level of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.
+Early comments on vaccine efficacy and symptom severity, while cautiously optimistic, are probably too speculative to form any solid opinion on these matters, at the time of writing. Whether Omicron proves more virulent and whether vaccines still offer good protection are questions we will closely monitor.
+CIO Market Insights: Possibility of a rethink by central banks
+In terms of the economic and market impacts of Omicron; greater economic uncertainty probably pushes back the timing of interest rate increases, which looked like they were being brought forward based on central bank actions and changes in language before the latest events.
+There have been official interest rate rises in sizeable emerging economies, such as South Korea, Brazil, and Mexico,3 as well as developed economies such as Norway,4 and New Zealand,5 in recent months.
+Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Philip Lowe’s November statement6 no longer included a crucial line saying official interest rates will remain on hold until 2024.
+Over in America, the US Federal Reserve announced a US$15 billion a month reduction7 of its massive asset purchase program, which has suppressed US and global interest rates.
+However, a serious outbreak of the virus would likely cause central banks to rethink their next steps.
+For instance, another bout of pandemic-associated disruption may cause supply constraints to be resolved more slowly. If that happened, demand would be impacted, but at this stage, odds are better that the self-reinforcing cycle of spending has enough momentum to keep going.
+So on balance, another wave, should it eventuate, would probably be more inflationary than deflationary, which would be negative for fixed income assets, and mixed for shares.
+The chances of getting assessments right at this stage remain problematic, so diversification and risk management are key. Given that diversification and risk management have been at the heart of our investment approach since 1985, our clients can be confident that our vigilance is very high.
+CIO Market Insights: Ultra low interest rates anything but normal
+Regardless of the evolution of the latest COVID-19 mutation, the inflation and interest rate outlook will occupy a lot of investor attention.
+The prolonged low interest rates of the post GFC era may have conditioned us to think of them as normal, but from an orthodox economic perspective there is nothing normal about official interest rates hovering near zero. It suggests something is very amiss across advanced countries that interest rates have stayed so low8 for so long.
+Among major economies, China stands apart as a country where ‘normal’ interest rate policies have prevailed and worked. In January 2009, the 1-year Working Capital rate set by the People’s Bank of China was 5.31% and stood at 4.35% recently.9
+On the other hand, official interest rates in the US, the Euro zone, and the UK were 0.13%, 2.0% and 1.5% respectively in January 2009, and 0.13%, 0% and 0.1% at the end of November this year.10
+Admittedly, China is a middle-income country, at least on income per head measures, so critics could say that like-for-like comparisons with wealthy countries’ interest rates is unreasonable. Fair point.
+Moreover, neither is China democratic or capitalistic. It also differs from the basket-case Soviet-model. It really is different from what we’ve seen elsewhere.
+That said, China’s national wealth has grown mightily over the past four decades and the country is now either the world’s second largest or largest economy, depending on which measure you use.
+So why is it that interest rates in China are higher, as well as more normal, compared to advanced countries?
+The short answer is that interest rate policy in China has continued to work, as it’s meant to. Higher interest rates have dampened economic activity, while lower interest rates have spurred activity.
+There’s been no need to go to zero interest rates just to keep the economy from coming to a standstill, as has been the case with many advanced economies.
+CIO Market Insights: National strategy, local implementation
+Digging deeper, Chinese interest rate exceptionalism has worked because Beijing allows national policy to take local conditions into consideration. It’s not one-size-fits-all monetary policy.
+Recent ructions in China’s property market, exemplified by the deep troubles of Evergrande, one of the country’s largest property developers, is a good example of how the system manages centralised policy and localised implementation.
+While the broad directive out of Beijing is for tightening of the property sector, weak conditions in predominantly tier-3 and tier-4 cities are being addressed by loosening of regional policy. Thus, while bustling new economic hot zones such as Hainan are restricting lending and inhibiting liquidity, stagnant markets such as Zhuhai are relaxing liquidity and supporting prices.
+The dual-track approach also means that while the government is pulling the reins on large state-owned enterprises and property developers that previously gorged on easily accessible credit, or striking out at high-profile technology companies, it’s rolled out supportive policies for small to medium-sized enterprises ranging from access to credit, through to taxation and support for employees.
+CIO Market Insights: ‘Normal’ interest rate policies provide investment opportunities
+All up, we think that China’s relatively high real interest rate environment gives us an opportunity to harness return potential for MLC’s multi-asset funds – MLC Horizon, Index Plus and Inflation Plus portfolios.11
+We have been expressing this positive view for some time through Chinese shares and bond positions within the MLC Inflation Plus portfolios, and more recently in the MLC Horizon portfolios through an emerging market shares overweight. Moreover, these positions are customised to achieve a targeted exposure to the Chinese assets that we believe will benefit most from government policy settings.
+Furthermore, consistent with our ‘participate and protect’ investment approach, we’re accumulating returns from many sources, across many countries and assets. At the same time, we’re keeping a watchful eye out for potential threats to portfolios, such as Omicron.
+Highest possible returns are the goal of any investor. But we believe the blind pursuit of outperformance isn’t always the way to deliver a goal.
+We believe maximising returns over time is about getting the balance right between opportunity and defence. That’s why our investment philosophy is built around an agile process of understanding and capitalising on investment opportunities while also managing risks, both known and unknown.
+This is my last note to you for the year as all of us look forward to a break. It’s our privilege to be stewards of so many Australians’ savings and investments, and we look forward to serving you again next year.
+Until then, please accept, on behalf of my colleagues and I, our best wishes to you for a safe and restful holiday season.
+Warm regards,
+Jonathan Armitage
+Chief Investment Officer, MLC Asset Management
+1 The MLC Wholesale Inflation Plus, MLC Wholesale Horizon and MLC Wholesale Index Plus funds. The Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for each of the MLC Wholesale Funds is available via.
+2 For major share market returns see
+3 Brazil raises interest rates as it struggles to tame inflation. Michael Pooler, September 23, 2021,
+4 Norway raises interest rates, says another hike likely in December. Victoria Klesty and Nerijus Adomaitis, September 23, 2021,
+5 New Zealand hikes rates for second straight month as inflation risks grow, November 24, 2021,
+6 Media Release: Statement by Philip Lowe, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision. 2 November 2021,
+7 FOMC Press Conference, and Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement, November 03, 2021,
+8 F13 International official interest rates,
+9 There was no single official interest rate in China in 2009 as the People’s Bank of China used a range of monetary indicators. The 1-year Medium Term Lending Facility (MTLF) appears to have been adopted as the key benchmark rate since 2016. For the purposes of comparing and contrasting the closest approximation of official interest rates in China January 2009 and now, we have used the 1-year Working Capital interest rate set by the central bank found in
+China interest rates: lending rate 15 December 1999 – 15 November 2021. Refinitiv data
+10 F13 International official interest rates,
+11 The MLC Wholesale Inflation Plus, MLC Wholesale Horizon and MLC Wholesale Index Plus funds. The Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for each of the MLC Wholesale Funds is available via.
+Important information
+This information is current as at December 2021. This information is provided by MLC Investments Limited (ABN 30 002 641 661 AFSL 230705) as responsible entity of a series of managed investment schemes collectively known as the “MLC Investment Trusts” including but not limited to: MLC Wholesale Inflation Plus – Conservative Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Inflation Plus – Moderate Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Inflation Plus – Assertive Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Index Plus Conservative Growth Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Index Plus Balanced Portfolio, MLC Index Plus Growth Balanced Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Horizon 1 Bond Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Horizon 2 Income Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Horizon 3 Conservative Growth Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Horizon 4 Balanced Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Horizon 5 Growth Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Horizon 6 Share Portfolio, MLC Wholesale Horizon 7 Accelerated Growth Portfolio.
+References to MLC mean MLC Asset Management. We are part of the IOOF group of companies (comprising IOOF Holdings Ltd ABN 49 100 103 722 and its related bodies corporate) (‘IOOF Group’). The capital value, payment of income and performance of any financial product referred to in this communication are not guaranteed. An investment in any financial product referred to in this communication is subject to investment risk, including possible delays in repayment of capital and loss of income and principal invested. No member of the IOOF Group guarantees or otherwise accepts any liability in respect of any financial product referred to in this communication. products mentioned in this communication, and consider it before making any decision about whether to acquire or continue to hold those products. Target Market Determinations (TMDs) for relevant products are also required to be made available and considered by distributors. A copy of the PDS (or other disclosure documents) and TMD are available upon request by phoning 132 652 or by searching for the applicable product on our website at.
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+Any opinions expressed in this presentation.
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+May 18, 2013, 03:02
+"Old Schol D&D"
+Pages: [
+1
+]
+2
+Author
+Topic: "Old Schol D&D" (Read 3931 times)
+stingray20166
+Member
+Posts: 39
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+on:
+April 13, 2004, 12:57:54 PM »
+Played real "old schol D&D" the other night. And yeah, that is misspelled -- at one point in the game my fellow Forge reader and I just looked at each other in disbelief at the hell we were going through, at which point I declared "Just relax -- we are playing old school D&D -- I'm even going to write it on my character sheet so I don't forget." When I wrote it down I misspelled it and it somehow seemed appropriate, so I left it that way.
+Setting: GM and a buddy he has known since before time began. Myself and another Forge reader. All friends through different conduits and we've been playing together with a few other people for 1.5 years. I was the youngest at 32.
+GM's buddy was looking for lost glory -- he wanted to replay the game he played 20 years ago when he and the GM were still in high school. So he collected the handwritten notes of GM and scanned them and he and GM eventually produced a document. Nay, a tome.
+After all of this effort, we felt compelled to at least try it out when he shared it with us. So what has my friend the GM produced?
+A textbook example of a fantasy heartbreaker.
+It is D&D but with with more spells. It is D&D but with more weapons, weapons subdivided into classes, weapons of every kind and description from every culture on earth. Some descriptions of the weapons have even slipped the memory of the GM because the weapons themselves are so obscure (he has a penchant for remembering obscure information -- a bit of a Kenneth Hite).
+You can just see the rules that were added because of players in the old game. GM's buddy likes to chuck oil flasks during combat at every opportunity. So there was a page of rules about throwing flasks in combat, including chances that the flask doesn't break. GM loves the repeating crossbow, so there are special rules for that. And so on.
+Truly heartbreaking.
+So how was Actual Play?
+Play began by GM handing out the player creation packets -- some 20 pages of charts and tables and skills. The skills seems like a great idea until you hear the rest -- there are only two "classes" -- fighter and magic-user. The "skills" allow you to create the other AD&D classes by adding them to the base class. For instance, adding "track" to the Fighter gives you a Ranger. Essentially he took all of the special abilities of each AD&D class, ripped them into a big list, and then let you take whatever you want. (If it sounds a bit power-gamey, well, yeah, that's the point.)
+Saying that there were two classes is a bit of a misnomer. In the pre-game setup, the GM said "Magicians are really powerful once they get to 20th level or so. Until then it is really hard to keep a magician alive. You will be almost powerless." In a classic Forge moment, my friend asked "So could we all play 20th level magicians?". "No," the GM replies, "you have to start at 1st level."
+Naturally, we all created fighters.
+Play then began with all of us arriving in the big city on the coast from our home islands -- kind of a rednecks in the city start. Great description of the ships in the bay, the dock life, sense of wonder at being somewhere new. And then we were on the docks.
+At which point all the players glanced around as if to say "Now what?". At which point GM's buddy says "Perhaps I should explain. Nothing happens unless we do something. If you want to sit in a bar all night and drink [GM]'ll do that."
+It is in short the perfect simulation. It's essentially a computer RPG run for the enjoyment of -- who? Not sure yet.
+We spent the rest of the session with what were essentially "random city encounters" and going to job interviews and being turned down because of our lack of experience. I wish I were joking. On the 4th interview I managed to get us all hired as a caravan guard -- just as the session ended. Every time I thought the game was going to take off -- it didn't.
+During the course of the game we tried:
+-- hiring ourselves out as caravan guards. It turned out that the caravan was going to travel for 6 months to another part of the world and then return. My friend in the meantime had a job as an armorer. I turned to him and joked "We take the job. Now, one year later. . ." but my Director stance attempt at humor didn't lead anywhere.
+-- applied for jobs as guards at a jewelry store (note the theme -- the only thing we could think of to do with these characters was to hit somebody). Could have been interesting -- foil an Ocean's 11 heist, etc.. Nope, turned down.
+3 hours later. . .
+My friend and I had a few words as we were leaving. We have decided to play once more (mainly for our own amusement as two of the other members of the group will be there) and then usurp the game in favor of Sorcerer.
+May Ron have mercy on our souls.
+Nick Caldwell
+Logged
+DannyK
+Guest
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #1 on:
+April 13, 2004, 01:06:04 PM »
+Do I understand you? You didn't fight anybody all session? That's just wrong. There should have at least been a barfight or something.
+Logged
+clehrich
+Member
+Posts: 1557
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #2 on:
+April 13, 2004, 01:24:35 PM »
+Danny's right. This isn't old-school D&D at all, at least not the way I always saw it played.
+Clearly what needed to happen, if you were going to set it up this way, was you needed to be attacked by a random wandering city annoying-person (see table, attached) the first time you turned off a main street. After a fair bit of this sort of thing, and maybe some hiring up as caravan guards or whatever to pass the time, you should have been handed the Rumors list -- the stuff you overheard in a bar. That stuff would include a lot of silliness, and a little politics, and one thing that essentially says, "There is a dungeon at the spot marked X, now go there and stop wanking around or I'll up the number and level of the monsters." So you do that, after a few sessions of tallying up all your equipment and encumbrance and whatnot. Since you're first level, you may have to walk because you'll only be able to afford a small amount of transport, but that's OK.
+Now you go into the dungeon, demonstrate your amazing facility with the complicated rules, thereby destroying everything alive (or moving, anyway) in the dungeon systematically. You load your stuff into the cart, hitch it to the pony, and walk home. You are now probably 2d level or so.
+Now, flushed with victory and ready for something actually interesting, you go and do it all again for no apparent reason.
+Sincerely Old-School AD&D [note: that's SOSADD] cannot be done without regular fighting.
+Furthermore, the DM screwed up. What do you mean you got turned down by the caravan leader? What, he's a person or something? Tell him he has to
+roll
+, damn it; otherwise he's cheating the simulation by having it arbitrarily determined that you can't do certain things.
+To put this in different terms, and a little more seriously, this guy is trying to do absolutely pure simulationism and at the same time railroad you. If you want textbook case, this is a textbook case of severe incoherence. You can't have it both ways, you see. If it's really, really pure simulation, the DM has no business responding to your creative notions with a flat-out block: all he can do is let the world react.
+I say kill the DM and take his stuff. :>
+Logged
+Chris Lehrich
+Ron Edwards
+Global Moderator
+Member
+Posts: 16490
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #3 on:
+April 13, 2004, 01:26:46 PM »
+Hello,
+It reminds me of the time a fellow ran 7th Sea for our campus group and absolutely nothing happened. My character and the two female characters, run by women, eventually left for another bar. The GM was not prepared for this, so somewhat bully-ishly, I and the other two players proclaimed that "our characters have a great time all night long" and stopped paying attention to what wasn't happening in the bar, effectively exiting ourselves from play.
+More generally, there are two features that I'm pulling from your description, and they both come down to the
+nostalgic
+quality of the game being run, for the GM. It makes me think that my Fantasy Heartbreakers essays are less relevant to your experience than the D&D history essay.
+Here's what you ran into in this guy's head, I think.
+1. The anticipated satisfaction gained from re-living one's first Social Contract that permitted a leisure group activity. Most kids have to tolerate an adult-generated Social Contract when they play anything fairly formalized (i.e. with shared goals and some sort of interactive system at work). But doing it yourself is a major undertaking; some kids never do it, some kids manage to get there by organizing pickup sports (e.g. inner-city basketball is an amazing example), but some few do so via role-playing.
+But you can't go home again. You can't be ol' Bob and Scooter and Nguyen, back on the block after school let out, when Snickers bars weighed at least four pounds and your shoes were magical speed machines. "Let's play ball like when we were kids!" is a whole different thing when you're all much older and not with the same people at all.
+2. Prepping for play and dreaming about how awesome it "would be if," in lieu of actually playing. Of course he couldn't have anything happen - it would spoil the possibilities, cherished over years of rosy memory, of (a) what
+did
+happen and (b) what
+could
+happen.
+It's like having a memory of a high-school sweetheart who let you touch her "there" (and nothing else), and dreaming of all those Hot Chix who might "do you" if you "get lucky." A real live woman, reasonably interested in you and herself a little uncertain, with actual anatomy and an actual schedule to her time, is
+way
+more problematic than these memories and fantasies. Many people shy away from her as if she were wired for shock.
+Basically, you guys were stuck in another man's "dream world," and not in a good sense either.
+Best,
+Ron
+Logged
+Mike Holmes
+Acts of Evil Playtesters
+Member
+Posts: 10459
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #4 on:
+April 13, 2004, 01:59:26 PM »
+C'mon, Ron. A little overblown there, dontcha think? I'm seeing someone who's decided, like John Kim, to just play "open sim."
+You guys want to have some fun with this game? I tell this story a lot, so forgive me if you've heard it. One time playing in a straight dungeon crawl, a friend and I were rolling up D&D characters, and thinking about what we wanted to do. Looking at the classes, the same thing that always strikes me, struck me, "What do these people do for a living?" I mean, really, what does an Illusionist do that puts bread on his table? If you look at a character, and can't think of how this happens, then I'd posit you haven't made anything like a real human being.
+So, Dave, my friend is looking over the weapons list having decided to be a fighter (and I a wizard, as I like magic), and he sees the man-catcher. "Hmm, how about we be slavers?" says Dave in a non-chalant way that only Dave can. Perfect, I'm thinking. My indecision over which spells to take is suddenly erased - I take Charm person, Friends, and Sleep. Sleep, most importantly (arguably the most powerful spell in D&D).
+When we join up with the other first level PCs, they're outside of an old mine getting ready to venture back in (did I mention dungeon crawl?). They say that they could use some help - being good players and all - and we ask what's inside. Kobolds is the response. And they'll give us a share of the treasure if we come along.
+Dave, international software consultant says, "How about you keep all the treasure and we get all the kobolds." A collective 120 years of RPG playing experience stares at us having no idea what to do. Eventually they agree. A couple of hours later, and here's me and Dave, our characters coralling 30 kobolds out of the dungeon (the GM had to wing a lot of it, I give him credit - just what are the D&D rules for netting kobolds?)
+Me, "So who do you sell kobolds to?"
+Dave, "I dunno, evil overlords?"
+Me, "Wait, I know, weee could be evil overlords!"
+Uh, the point? If you have lemons make lemonade. Basically we drifted the game in subtle ways to be a lot more like what we wanted. If the GM is giving you all this lattitude, then play with it. Don't apply for jobs, or wait to stop an Ocean's 11 heist, perform the Oceans 11 heist. Go to the library and research some nifty treasure, and then go get it. Your characters are "adventurers" right? Well, go get some adventure. I can garuntee that this is what the GM wants you to do. He's sitting home right now thinking, "damn players, I give them a huge beautiful world, and the best they can think of is to go to the bar and apply for jobs?"
+You can really push this if you think the GM will cope. Use unauthorized director stance, "I go see my buddy Joachim at the quay." If the GM says you have no buddy, then ask him to list all of your buddies and where they'd be so that you can go see them. If he says there are none, then, "What? Is my character some sort of sociopath that only hangs out with these other smelly adventurers?" Tell him that, in realistic western societies that the average person knows about 2000 people. Ask to see your family. Tell them that your uncle Morris always knows where there's treasure to be found. Ask to go the the smithy where you learned those blacksmithing skills on your character sheet, and see your mentor who's skilled in creating magical arms and armor. Tell the GM that your character heard that he was being strongarmed by the local organized crime band, and you want to help out. Tell the GM that you want to see Morlag, the guy who taught you everything you know about swordsmanship, and that he once said that you could hide out at the guild - opportune given those weird guys in the red cloaks who've been following you around lately making odd signs in the air, scaring away your Snail-drug business contacts from Norikhar (kicker anyone?).
+Drive the game the way you want it to go. Create friction between the PCs (not the players), and split up the party. Have fights. Get involved in city factions, and politics. Run for magistrate. Make your own adventure.
+Just what I'd do. If the GM decides it's hot his purview to inject "adventure" into the game, make it yours.
+Mike
+Logged
+Member of
+Indie Netgaming
+-Get your indie game fix online.
+DannyK
+Guest
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #5 on:
+April 13, 2004, 03:29:35 PM »
+That's a good story, but I think it may not speak to stingray's problem. From his description, it sounds like stingray and his buddies *did* try to make their own fun, beating the bushes for jobs.
+(and I still can't believe that. There has never been a caravan in the history of roleplaying that was adequately guarded. How is it possible that they weren't hiring at Caravan Guard's Union Hall?)
+I think perhaps a little OOC conversation is in order. Or wearing a T-shirt that says I'M HERE TO CHEW BUBBLEGUM AND KILL ORCS, or something.
+Logged
+clehrich
+Member
+Posts: 1557
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #6 on:
+April 13, 2004, 05:30:35 PM »
+No, actually I'm with Mike on this one. If he's going to do "old-school D&D" without the old school, I mean without dungeon-crawling, caravan-guarding, or hanging out in bars getting hired for no particular reason, then you've got a pretty car and no driver. So hop in the driver's seat. Now, you'd need some help on this one; one guy can't do it alone. Basically what you're going to do here is railroad the GM -- not in the narrow sense of railroading an adventure, but in the more general sense of simply forcing him to do what you want, whether he likes it or not.
+See, this whole thing feels to me as though he expects mildly passive players who will follow when he lays down the bread crumbs, so he's trying to be all clever by hiding the bread crumbs themselves. The idea is that you wander around, find one crumb, and then devote your lives to finding the rest of them -- all so that you can go do his adventure.
+Instead, be so active he just doesn't know what to do, and has to fall back on refereeing a simulation.
+"I go talk to my cousin Harry the armorer."
+"I go have a drink with my old girlfriend Sonja, who likes me but won't sleep with me."
+"We go down to the wharf where the King of the Beggars hangs out, and see if we can't cut ourselves in on the big bank job that's going down."
+Now if he tells you you can't do any of these things, or anything like them, then you do have to talk to him OOC. You say, "Look, we tried asking around for jobs, like we're supposed to, but you said we didn't get anything at all. So now we're trying actively to make stuff happen, but w can't do that either. So what are we supposed to do? Spell it out." And when he says, as he's almost guaranteed to do, "You can do anything you want that fits with the world," you have to throw in the towel.
+You can up the ante, of course. You have some skills, if not a lot. Go roll some drunks in an alley and see what happens. I mean, are the cops really high-level? They won't even notice if you do it right, after all. Try hanging out in the theater district after dark; you might be able to waylay a hot actress -- even an heiress if you're lucky -- and can hold her for ransom or sell her into prostitution. If you pull that off, you've got a little money and the organized crime syndicates know you're an up-and-coming little group. Maybe they could use you. And if they don't like you, they're going to have to attack (which is fun) or else send you on a mission you can't possibly survive (which is also fun).
+I'm rambling here, but I think if all else fails, go break some laws and cause some trouble. If he just blocks you at every turn, give up and go home. If he lets you do stuff, either things have to happen or you will end up very rich, very evil, and with a burning town behind you.
+If you want some suggestions, incidentally, you might read the Delacorta novel
+Nana
+, in which our pal Gorodish stirs a harmless little town into open warfare and walks off with a huge amount of money.
+Logged
+Chris Lehrich
+CPXB
+Member
+Posts: 139
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #7 on:
+April 13, 2004, 09:29:31 PM »
+I can feel Stingray's pain from here. :)
+I'm actually in a fairly Old Skool D&D game and its light fun. We sort of go around getting into fights with some sort of connection that we're not entirely sure about much of the time -- but the BAD PEOPLE ARE GETTIN' KILT, so its all good. Role-play mostly amounts to my character having a crush on the character of another player and banter akin to the later seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
+What Stingray has ain't no Old Skool game. As everyone has noticed . . . how can you NOT get hired as caravan guards? Or get into a barfight as the half-orc decides he doesn't like the way you look? Or get hired by the Duke's men to clear out that goblin infested old castle that he's thinking of fixing up? He's breakin' the Old Skool rules.
+So, sure, try to usurp the game. But be aware that if you try to usurp the game and it doesn't work out well, you might have made an enemy in the GM and maybe the players. This might be a motivation to do go through with the proposed coup, I know, but I had to bring up the possibility that a grudge might get held if you, without the least notification, decide to become slavers or whatever, hehe.
+LOVED the kobold slaver story, BTW.
+Logged
+-- Chris!
+Ron Edwards
+Global Moderator
+Member
+Posts: 16490
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #8 on:
+April 14, 2004, 06:34:04 AM »
+Hello,
+Well, I'm irked. Mike and Chris, you're talking about solutions to the basic problem, whereas I'm describing the problem itself. Presenting solutions does not refute the actual nature of the problem.
+Furthermore, charming as the kobold story is, I don't see it as a solution that will ultimately lead to successful play, over time. It certainly works as a survival tactic for a particular session, presumably before walking out of the problem-group situation. But it is very unlikely to work as a "conversion" tactic to result in more successful play in that group..
+If a player (such as stingray and his friend) are not willing to say, basically, "fuck you," to everyone right there in play and usurp it, then typically the DM/GM is going to get his way - i.e., nothing happens, for the reasons I outlined. Not everyone is as accomplished a "fuck you"-er as you, Mike, and in many cases, it's beyond what people consider common courtesy, especially if they're guests of someone they don't know well..
+As a closing note, I agree that we are not talking about Old School Gamist D&D play. That's fun stuff, if arcane and also highly contextual to the participants' personal histories. But we are talking about a real and identifiable form of dysfunctional play which is associated with playing "my old game." So let's stick with that and not get into the unnecessary process of defending
+functional
+play of some kind.
+Best,
+Ron
+Logged
+kwill
+Member
+Posts: 167
+behold, the inscrutable GM
+«
+Reply #9 on:
+April 14, 2004, 07:58:01 AM »
+I don't understand: what was the GM *wanting* to do? were the players supposed to be figuring out what he wanted the characters to do, or were "random city encounters" the whole point? (maybe they would go up in difficulty as you levelled up?)
+was anything at all discussed beyond "create some characters for this game"?
+ron, are you suggesting the activity ("let's play D&D again") ended as the game began for real? (there was nothing prepped?)
+that's a lot of question marks, but I gotta lotta questions
+Logged
+d@vid
+Ron Edwards
+Global Moderator
+Member
+Posts: 16490
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #10 on:
+April 14, 2004, 08:13:57 AM »
+Hi there,
+David, you asked,
+Quote
+ron, are you suggesting the activity ("let's play D&D again") ended as the game began for real? (there was nothing prepped?)
+Pretty much, yes. Or perhaps he did prep, but it was irrelevant when the game started - he couldn't emotionally put that prep into practice, being frozen in time/memory. Based on the similar experiences I've had, the DMs in question often spent a lot of time reminiscing about scenes and situations from the old days. In, say, five hours spent together, only perhaps 45-90 minutes constituted Exploration, dispersed in 5-15 minute chunks. The rest was jokes, reminiscences (often punctuated with giggling, acting-out how he and his friends played scenes), extended explanations and justifications for house rules, and similar.
+And afterward (here I'm thinking of the 7th Sea guy), he talked all about what we didn't or hadn't picked up on. "That guy with the eye-patch? He was
+really
+up to something."
+Best,
+Ron
+Logged
+Mike Holmes
+Acts of Evil Playtesters
+Member
+Posts: 10459
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #11 on:
+April 14, 2004, 10:08:26 AM »
+Quote from: Ron Edwards
+Well, I'm irked. Mike and Chris, you're talking about solutions to the basic problem, whereas I'm describing the problem itself. Presenting solutions does not refute the actual nature of the problem.
+This is true, but I think that part of the problem is that we can't be sure what the problem is, precisely. Does the GM want to have nothing happen as you suggest? Does he want the players to make their own action as I suggest? Or is Chris' hypothesis that he's got tiny hooks out there that are just nigh imperceptible the correct theory?
+Quote.
+They didn't get it for about five minutes. Then, as I mention above, the GM did get it, and rolled with it well. And the other players sorta played their normal game around us. It was actually quite functional. We were invited back, and I think with time probably would have gotten the game to shift overall CA somewhat in our direction.
+Game was in Chicago, however, making attendance difficult, and I wasn't sure that even the modified CA that we'd created would hold my attention for long. Uncertain enough that I declined. But there were no problems at all at any point outside of some momentary culture shock for some of the players.
+Quote
+Not everyone is as accomplished a "fuck you"-er as you, Mike, and in many cases, it's beyond what people consider common courtesy, especially if they're guests of someone they don't know well.
+I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted. So I'll be flattered.
+Still, this is not what I'm suggesting.
+To be really clear, as always, the first thing that I'd advocate trying in this case, or any like it, is straightforward communication. If we don't know how the GM expects us to have fun, then it's probably best to ask. But I think it'd be more fun to "party crash." Note that, if my estimation is correct that the GM in question will roll with it, and fun will be had by all. But even if it isn't, then you'll quickly be able to call a time out, and discuss what happened. You can say, "Well, you didn't seem to be giving us anything interesting to do, so I thought I'd just do that. If that, too is incorrect, then what is it we're supposed to be doing?" This will indicate to the GM, as well, what it is you're looking for in the game.
+Quote.
+Again, if this is true, as Chris points out, only by prodding will you find out (barring the communication method).
+Maybe it's that I know that GMs are committing so many of these sorts of tricks in order to manipulate players that I want to see some of it done in reverse. Yes, two wrongs, and all that, but I think that if you go into something like this knowing what you're doing, and with good intent, that you can make it work out right.
+Yeah there's a risk of causing a problem. But if you're not having fun already, better for the game to disintigrate entirely than to continue in some dysfunctional death march.
+Mike
+Logged
+Member of
+Indie Netgaming
+-Get your indie game fix online.
+greyorm
+Member
+Posts: 2233
+My name is Raven.
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #12 on:
+April 14, 2004, 06:49:26 PM »
+Interrupting Mike and Ron for a moment to point out that regardless of whether it's a situation of the fantasy being better than the reality (no pun intended), or a pure character-focused Simulationist exercise, the game is obviously dysfunctional, and thus, undefendable for any reason..
+I submit that the "nothing happens unless you do something" line given by the GM as incentive is bullshit. I used it myself in the days of my Illusionist gaming, when trying to get my players to (re)act to the world, and it was bullshit then, despite my intentions of "getting them to do stuff."
+I would bet money on the following: this GM has some grand plot/scheme/event in store for the players. When they ditch for "Sorcerer" (or some other game) -- however he actually happens to put it, even if only internally or to others he complains to about the game, he is going to sigh and be upset that they're "missing out on all the cool plans he had for them."
+More bullshit.
+I was there. I did that too.
+The players will never be nearly as engaged by the cool plans you make for them as you are. That's the time tested, play approved truth. But, even if that becomes arguable, the unarguable real problem is that in these cases, the form followed is usually that the GM wants the players to "discover the plot naturally" rather than trying to "force" it on them in a linear way. Again, betting real money on it.
+This is the worst sort of Illusionist/would-be Simulationist technique to employ, because it's a "say one thing, mean another" mode of interacting and communicating with the rest of the group. It's "Yeah, baby, I love you the way you are (but I wish you weighed less, were better in bed, and knew what I liked without my saying)."
+The GM is
+saying
+"Do something and I'll react" (heck, it's reported up there in black-and-white), but what he really
+means
+is "Guess what I want you to do, then I'll show you this cool thing."
+I know all about this sort of play, much to my own embarassment. And like I said, I'm betting money on the above. I think it's a very solid bet, even given Mike's beliefs that it's "just pure Sim."
+But regardless of what you want to argue "is really going on," it
+is
+a complete breakdown of communication between parties.
+Logged
+Rev. Ravenscrye Grey Daegmorgan
+Wild Hunt Studio
+John Kim
+Member
+Posts: 1805
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #13 on:
+April 14, 2004, 07:43:14 PM »
+Quote from: greyorm.
+OK, as far as I see from stingray's post, the only things which the PCs tried to do were apply for boring guard duty jobs (of a caravan and of a jewelry store). Well, surprise surprise, that isn't terribly interesting to play out. Now, it could be true that genuinely interesting actions would have been shot down -- I don't know. But Mike and Chris both allow for that possibility. As they say, it's better to try something and be shot down, then hash it out as an issue or just leave.
+Now, I say this with a caveat, because I was in a pretty similar situation with the Lord of the Rings campaign very recently and didn't do this. Instead, I stuck with a pretty mediocre campaign for a while, with only moderate attempts to do interesting stuff. Now, the more traditional me's instinct was to cut loose as Mike and Chris describe, but my feeling was that I would piss off the GM and alienate the other two. If I had had another player on my side I might have tried more. The GM eventually dropped that campaign, and I started GMing the James Bond 007 campaign with this group -- which has gone pretty well.
+I think the "cut loose" approach of Mike and Chris can certainly work. I've done it in several prior campaigns -- occaisionally being shot down, and occaisionally having it take off. But it can strain social relations.
+Logged
+- John
+Mike Holmes
+Acts of Evil Playtesters
+Member
+Posts: 10459
+"Old Schol D&D"
+«
+Reply #14 on:
+April 15, 2004, 05:51:12 AM »
+Yeah, Raven, we all agree that the situation is dysfunctional. No disagreement on anybody's part there as far as I can tell. Probably the GM employing contradictory techniques or something, yeah, that's likely. But even if the GM is actually playing a theoretically functional mode, as I postulate is possible, the players aren't playing along with that mode. As John points out, aplying for jobs is hardly adventurous, and still expecting the GM to provide the plot as a response to whatever they do (which we know he's not willing to do). So, no matter what the analysis, yeah, it's problematic.
+The question is what to do about it. Like I've said, the straightforward thing to do is to bring these issues up in an open conversation and hash them out. The "advantage" to my method is that it either play works fine, or, if not, some diagnosis occurs (and then you can move on to discussion). At the risk, as I admit and John confirms, of pootentially alienating someone. So take my advice at your own risk.
+From a philosophical standpoint, the method that I'm advocating is based on my Americanized Taoist ideas about education. Better to be an example; show, don't tell. Without the excercise that I advocate, I think that the discussion of what's going on is going to be a very difficult one.
+As always, the best, or possibly only, solution here may be to just stop playing. Even with the best of techniques or the most cogent of discussions, it may be that the situation is unresolvable. Either the GM may be unwilling to actually commit to play (like Ron says), or the mode he want to use may be something that the players can't enjoy.
+But at this point I think it's worth a try.
+Cattle owners sued the state and its agricultural commission for negligently performing the duty to use proper steps to prevent the spread of a contagious disease after they bought dairy cows at a sale that subsequently infected their herd. The owners were forced to sell their herd of dairy cows. The Supreme Court held that the owners could recover the difference between fair market value of their herd before and after it contracted the disease, loss of profits due to diminished milk production from cows before sale, value of silage or feed that had been contaminated, and reasonable costs of disinfecting the farm, but not for loss of profits for the dairy operation after they sold the cows, or loss of progeny.
+McWILLIAMS, Justice.
+The General Assembly in 1957 enacted the following:
+*81 ‘An Act
+‘Granting to Earl G. Morison and Opal P. Morison the Right to Bring an Action Against the State of Colorado for the Alleged Loss of Their Dairy Herd, Cows Purchased and Resultant Damages.
+‘ Be It Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
+‘Section 1. Right granted to bring civil action. The right is hereby granted to Earl G. Morison and Opal P. Morison of Rural Route 3, Longmont, Colorado, to bring a civil action in the proper district court of the state of Colorado, for the purpose of determining whether the alleged loss of their **268 dairy herd, cows purchased and resultant damages were due to the negligence of the State of Colorado, or any of its departments, commissions, offices, agents, employees or contractors and, if any such damages were caused by such negligence, then of determining the amount of such damages.
+‘Section 2. Limitation and procedure. Such action shall be begun within one year from the effective date of this Act, and shall be conducted in all respects in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure and the laws of the state of Colorado applicable to actions for damages to personal property. In such action the state of Colorado shall have all the rights to which any other defendant would be entitled in an action of such nature.
+‘Section 3. Safety Clause. The General Assembly hereby finds, determines and declares that this Act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety.
+‘Approved: April 30, 1957.’ Laws 1957, p. 286.
+Pursuant to this so-called relief bill, Earl G. Morison and his wife, Opal P., brought the present action against the State of Colorado and the State Agricultural Commission. In their amended complaint the Morisons alleged that the defendants, acting by and through their agent, one J. W. Childs, then the State Veterinarian, ‘did negligently, carelessly, wrongfully and unlawfully perform *82 their duty to use proper steps to prevent the spread of contagious and infections disease’ in livestock and cattle and specifically that on or about February 11, 1956 the defendant ‘did fail to property and carefully inspect and test said cattle prior to’ their sale to the Morisons, all with ‘resulting damage to the plaintiffs herein.’
+In view of the ultimate disposition of this writ of error it is deemed advisable to itemize the damages sought by the Morisons. The Morisons prayed for damages in the total amount of $71,325.98, which sum is broken down as follows: (1) $2,775.98 for damages to the Morison herd which became ‘infected, sick and disordered’ with paratuberculosis as a result of defendants' negligence: (2) $15,000 representing ‘lost past and future income from the production of dairy products from said cattle’; (3) $5,000 because ‘plaintiffs were deprived from the increase in breeding cows and calves'; (4) $6,600 because ‘plaintiffs were deprived of dairy products and beef for past and future consumption of themselves and their children’; (5) $15,000 because ‘plaintiffs' dairy farm became infested and contaminated with bacteria causing said Johne's disease’; (6) $1,600 because ‘plaintiffs lost the use and value of silage and feed for said cattle’; (7) $350 because ‘plaintiffs lost the use and value of milking equipment and fixtures'; and (8) $25,000 because ‘plaintiffs suffered great distress and anguish of mind, and loss of time and effort.’ Thereafter the trial court on appropriate motion struck the last item of claimed damage and the prayer was thereby reduced to $46,325.98. By answer the State of Colorado and its Agricultural Commission denied all of the material allegations of the amended complaint.
+Upon trial the jury returned a verdict for the Morisons in the amount of $20,933.66. Defendants' motion to set aside this verdict or for new trial was denied and judgment entered on the verdict.
+Defendants' numerous assignments of error can be *83 grouped as follows: (1) that the State of Colorado is not liable for the tortious acts or omissions of its officers or agents; (2) that the Morisons failed to make out a prima facie case of negligence on the part of the defendants or its agents; (3) that the jury was inadequately and erroneously instructed as to the proper measure of damages.
+This Court has repeatedly held, though not always with unanimity, that without its consent the State cannot be sued or become liable for the tortious acts of its agents or officers. In support of this doctrine of sovereign immunity see **269 Liber v. Flor, 143 Colo. 205, 353 P.2d 590; Faber v. State, 143 Colo. 240, 353 P.2d 609, and Berger v. Department of Highways, 143 Colo. 246, 353 P.2d 612.
+However, if the State gives its consent, then it may become liable for the negligent acts or omissions of its officers and agents. 81 C.J.S. States § 130, p. 1139 states:
+‘The.’
+See also, 49 Am.Jur. p. 289; In re Substitute for Senate Bill No. 83, 21 Colo. 69, 39 P. 1088; and Board of County Commissioners of El Paso County v. City of Colorado Springs, 66 Colo. 111, 180 P. 301. It should be noted that we are here concerned with actions ex delicto, not ex contractu.
+In McCrossen v. State, 277 App.Div. 1160, 101 N.Y.S.2d, 591 it was held that the statutory waiver of sovereign immunity not only waives the State's immunity to suit and liability but also makes applicable the rule of respondeat superior to all officers, servants, agents and employees of the state.
+By House Bill No. 469 the General Assembly purported to give ‘legislative authority’ and consent to *84 an action against the State to determine if the Morisons suffered any damage from any negligence on the part of the State or any of its departments or agents. We now hold that the language used in House Bill No. 469 is sufficiently broad to the end that the State of Colorado acting through its legislative body gave its unqualified consent to the maintenance of the present action, and defendants' contention that notwithstanding this legislative authority the State is still not liable for the tortious acts, if any, of its departments and agents is without merit.
+It is next strongly urged that the Morisons failed to make a prima facie showing that the defendants or any of its agents were in fact negligent. Careful examination of the voluminous record convinces us that there is ample evidence tending to show negligence on the part of one Dr. J. W. Childs, who at all times pertinent to this case was the State Veterinarian and as such an admitted agent for the State Agricultural Commission. True, there was evidence offered by the defendants which tended to rebut or contradict the Morisons' evidence in this regard, but this presented nothing more than a disputed issue of fact properly to be resolved by the jury. See Yockey Trucking Company v. Handy, 128 Colo. 404, 262 P.2d 930 and Gray v. Turner, 142 Colo. 340, 350 P.2d 1043. In order to demonstrate that the issue of negligence on the part of these defendants was properly submitted to the jury it becomes necessary to review the evidence in some detail.
+In the late summer of 1954 one John D. Clouse bought a dairy farm, situate in Larimer County, together with some 98 head of dairy cows. About this time he also shipped in from Indiana an additional 35 head of dairy cattle. There was evidence of a substantial nature that these 35 head of cattle when unloaded in Larimer County were in extremely poor condition and that they were brought into this state in violation of the statute which requires a certificate showing such cattle to be *85 free of contagious disease. In October, 1954 two cows from the Clouse herd were sent to slaughter in Denver, and upon clinical examination were found to have paratuberculosis, sometimes called Johne's disease.
+Paratuberculosis is a ‘chronic, insidious disease’ of cattle that generally affects the ‘mucosa of the intestinal tract’ and is accompanied by extreme diarrhea. Animals which contract this disease lose weight, are ‘extremely rough’ and in aggravated cases death results. The disease is contagious and is carried by the fecal material **270 from the infected animal which in turn contaminates the feed of an uninfected animal.
+As a result of the clinical determination that two of the Clouse herd had paratuberculosis, Dr. N. M. Riemenschneider, who was then the State Veterinarian, pursuant to instructions from the State Agricultural Commission, placed a quarantine on the entire Clouse herd. The expert witnesses all agreed that the only certain method of ascertaining whether a particular cow had paratuberculosis is to slaughter the cow and conduct a clinical examination of the tissues. Such a method of examination has some inherent and obvious disadvantages. A test which does not require the killing of an animal is the so-called Johin test. The Johin test involves injecting a serum intradermally into the caudal fold of the bovine. If the caudal fold thereafter remains normal, the suspected animal is free from paratuberculosis. But if there be a swelling in the caudal fold, it indicates that the animal does have paratuberculosis. All of the experts agree that the so-called Johin test was unsatisfactory in the sense that it was unreliable and subject to error, but that nevertheless it was as of that time the only testing method available, short of killing the animal and conducting a clinical test. A Johin test run on the entire Clouse herd in November, 1954 proved negative. In June, 1955 Dr. J. W. Childs who succeeded Dr. Riemenschneider as the State Veterinarian, ran a second Johin test on the entire Clouse herd, which also *86 proved negative. There was expert opinion to the effect that two ‘negative’ Johin tests justified the conclusion that the herd was free of paratuberculosis, although it was also agreed that under certain circumstances additional tests might well be in order. Regardless of this minor dispute, in the instant case the quarantine of the Clouse herd was lifted in June, 1955.
+The Morisons base their charge of negligence on the fact that subsequent to June, 1955 the Clouse herd continued to show the symptoms of paratuberculosis, that such was called to the attention of the state veterinarian, and that he refused to act when he had a duty to do so. In support thereof, the Morisons called numerous witnesses who uniformly agreed that the sanitary conditions at the Clouse farm were ‘terrible’ and that the premises were filthy beyond verbal description and that during the last half of 1955 the physical condition of the entire Clouse herd rapidly went from bad to worse. This sad state of affairs was repeatedly called to the attention of Dr. Childs, who did nothing. It was his position that inasmuch as he had run the two Johin tests, each of which proved negative, that ended the matter. This was his continuing attitude for the balance of 1955 and through February, 1956, at which time the Clouse herd was sold at a dispersal sale. And his attitude remained unchanged notwithstanding repeated pleas, requests, and even orders from his superior in the Department of Agriculture that he conduct additional tests to determine whether the Clouse herd was in fact free from paratuberculosis. The record discloses that the Clouse herd became a cause celebré and there was even a division of thought within the Department of Agriculture. Notwithstanding the fact that one Louis R. Burke, chief of the Division of Animal Industry with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, ‘ordered’ Dr. Childs, who incidentally was under his (Burke's) supervision, to retest the Clouse herd, Dr. Childs remained adamant and declined to follow this direction.
+*87 In February 1956 when it became generally known that Clouse intended to sell at a public sale his entire herd these requests for a retesting became more numerous. But nothing was done by Dr. Childs, except to write a letter to Clouse wherein he stated that the Clouse herd had been tested in November 1954 and June 1955 for paratuberculosis and found to be free of the disease. The reason for this letter was the obvious desire of Clouse to in some manner allay any suspicion that his herd was infected with paratuberculosis and to thereby facilitate his dispersal sale.
+To assist in establishing negligence on the part of Dr. Childs the Morisons contend **271 that Dr. Childs breached certain duties thrust upon him by statute, and that his violation of a statutory duty constituted negligence. In this regard see C.R.S. '53, 8-5-9, 15 and 18, which in general provide that when the State Agricultural Commission is apprised of the fact that a contagious disease exists among cattle ‘it shall be the duty of the said State Agricultural Commission to take such steps as will prevent the spread of such disease within the state.’ Also, the State Veterinarian, when he is suspicious of the presence of a contagious disease in livestock, but is unable to positively establish this fact, is empowered to kill the animal and conduct a post mortem examination. It is argued that these statutes have particular applicability when it is known that a herd suspected of having a contagious disease is about to be sold at a dispersal sale. These statutes were designed to protect not only the general public but also a class of persons of which the Morisons were members, i. e. cattle owners and the purchasers of cattle sold at a public sale. Accordingly, they may quite properly rely on these statutes in their effort to show defendant's negligence.
+Recognizing that much of the evidence recited above was in dispute and contradicted, we nonetheless hold that the Morisons did make out a prima facie case of negligence on the part of these defendants and their *88 agent, Dr. Childs, and the trial court properly submitted this disputed issue to the jury.
+At the dispersal sale held on February 11, 1956 the Morisons bought four dairy cows from the Clouse herd. It was established by competent evidence that in fact the Clouse herd as of the date of this sale was not free from paratuberculosis, but in fact was thoroughly infected with the disease. Specifically, the Morisons showed that the disease was present in at least some of the four dairy cows purchased by them at the Clouse sale and that thereafter the rest of their herd, consisting of some 16 other dairy cows, and four heifer calves, was exposed to the disease and in fact contracted it.
+When a herd is infected with paratuberculosis, two alternative routes are available to the owner. He may try to ‘live with’ his problem, attempt to isolate the infected cattle, and in general try to stamp out the disease. The evidence was that this was always a frustrating and often a losing battle. The other alternative is for the owner of the infected herd to sell the cattle, take his loss, disinfect the barns and farm in general, and then start over. The Morisons took this latter route, although they apparently have been discouraged to the extent that they have never elected to re-engage in the dairy business.
+It is finally urged that the trial court erred in failing to fully and correctly instruct the jury as to the measure of damages. Four instructions relating to the general issue of damages were given to the jury, the net effect of which was to inadequately apprise the jury as to the specific items to be considered in assessing damages. Instruction No. 1 specifically enumerated all of the particular items of damage mentioned by the Morisons in their complaint, except for: (1) the claim for $25,000 for mental anguish which was stricken by the trial court on appropriate motion, and (2) the claim for $15,000 for depreciated value of the dairy farm. By Instruction No. 5 the jury was told that they should award ‘fair and *89 just compensation for the loss sustained to the personal property of plaintiffs and losses arising from the damage to such personal property.’ Instruction No. 7 permitted the jury to award the Morisons a sum representing loss of profits resulting from ‘defendants' wrong, if any.’ Instructions numbered 8 and 9 were general in nature, and respectively advised the jury that the Morisons had the duty to mitigate their damages and that the mere fact that the exact or precise amount of damages is uncertain or difficult to ascertain does not preclude recovery by the Morisons. Also in Instruction No. 9 the jury was specifically instructed that the Morisons should not be allowed any damages for the alleged ‘loss of value of the plaintiffs' real estate.’ In this latter regard the trial court was **272 correct and the Morisons' contention that such constitutes error is without merit. There was no competent evidence that there was any permanent diminution in the value of the farm. The farm could at no great expense be disinfected and ready for reoperation as a dairy farm.
+Defendants duly objected to Instruction No. 5 on the ground that it did not adequately advise the jury as to the measure of damages and to Instruction No. 7 on the grounds that such incorrectly permitted the jury to award the Morisons a sum for alleged loss of profits, both past and future. Defendants did not tender instructions which reflected their concept of a correct instruction as to the measure of damages, and in this sense they were not as helpful to the trial court as perhaps they might have been. Be that as it may, the trial court has an inescapable responsibility to make certain that the jury is properly instructed as to the measure of damages, and the duty remains whether counsel bring the matter to the attention of the court by proper objections or by tendering correct instructions on the subject. In Kendall v. Hargrave, 142 Colo. 120, 349 P.2d 993, 995, we said:
+‘While, as observed above, neither party objected to any of the instructions given, and neither appears to *90 have tendered an instruction on the measure of damages, it was nevertheless necessary that the jury be properly and fully instructed on that question, and counsel for the parties having failed in this respect, the trial court on its own motion should have done so.’
+In short, the jury was inadequately instructed as to the correct measure of damages, and a new trial on this one issue only is therefore required. Some comment as to the proper measure of damages is deemed advisable to the end that error in this respect will not be repeated. The instructions on retrial should be in accord with the following general observations.
+Where a farm animal is killed by the negligent acts of another, the owner is entitled to the fair market value of the animal as of the date of death. Where a farm animal is injured, but not killed, the true measure of damages is the difference between the fair market value of the animal before the injury and its fair market value immediately after the injury. In the instant case the Morisons are entitled to a sum equal to the difference between the fair market value of the herd before it contracted paratuberculosis and its fair market value after it became infected with the disease. The evidence in this regard tended to show that the value of the herd before the injury was approximately $4,000 and that the diminution in value was only about $2,775.98, and did not even approximate the verdict of the jury which was $20,933.99.
+Additionally, the Morisons are admittedly entitled to such special damages as they are able to show with reasonable certainty resulted from defendants' negligence. This would include loss of profits due to diminished milk production from the cows before their sale; the value of silage or feed that became contaminated and therefore unusable; and the reasonable cost of disinfecting the milking equipment, barn facilities, and the farm in general.
+However, the Morisons are not entitled to be *91 awarded any sum representing loss of profits for the dairy operation from and after the date of the sale of their diseased cows. Nor are they entitled to be compensated for the loss of the progeny which they could reasonably have expected from the cows. Having received the diminution in their market value to allow these additional items would be a form of double recovery. In other words, fair market value itself reflects, inter alia, the fact that the farm animal may have income producing ability, including the ability to propagate. In support of the foregoing, see Covey v. Western Tank Lines, 36 Wash.2d 381, 218 P.2d 322, 325, wherein the owner of five mink used for breeding purposes was limited to the fair market value of the lost mink. In so holding the Supreme Court of Washington said:
+‘The measure of damages for the loss or destruction of personal property is ordinarily its market value, if **273 it has a market value. * * * This measure of damages applies in the case of loss or destruction of animals. * * * It follows that an allowance of this claimed market value compensates the owner for all use he would have made of the animals for breeding purposes. * * *’.
+See, also 3 C.J.S. Animals § 234, 25 C.J.S. Damages § 88, p. 627; Larimer & Weld Irrigation Co. v. Landers, 26 Colo.App. 1, 141 P. 517; Colvin v. John Powell & Company, 163 Neb. 112, 77 N.W.2d 900; Sun Oil Co. v. Hoke, 197 Okl. 261, 169 P.2d 753; and Wilcox Oil Company v. Walters, Okl. 284 P.2d 726.
+The judgment is therefore reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial on the issue of damages only, such trial to be consonant with the views herein expressed.
+FRANTZ, J., concurs in the result.
+Romance
+Job/Career
+Money
+Chakra
+Life Purpose
+Did My Mother Cast a
+Spell on Me?
+Name/Age
+Getting out of a Slump
+Did My Mother Cast a Spell on Me?
+Reading Type: Relationship
+Cards: 12
+Question or Concern: Did my mother
+cast a spell on me?
+Deck Used: Universal Waite (illustrated
+by Pamela Coleman Smith)
+Spread Used: Expanded Think/Feel/Will
+1 & 7 You/Your mother
+2 & 8 What you/she thinks
+3 & 9 What you/she feels
+4 & 10 What you/she wills
+5 What will help
+6 What will harm
+11 Action
+12 Advice or outcome
+Cards drawn
+Interpretation
+1 & 7 You/Your mother are given by the 10 and 9 of Pentacles.
+The next card in the suit, the Page, is also close by. Normally,
+in relationship questions, we see Cups as favorable emotions and
+feelings, and Swords as sharp or unpleasant emotions. The only card
+of the suit of Cups that appears in this spread is the 8 which is
+about leaving, but we’ll talk about that later. For now, there
+are a lot of Pentacles which is the suit of Earth and money and
+the body. I think the 9 and 10 here tell us that you are very similar
+in some ways, but that perhaps you are the more developed or mature.
+(I’ve had people comment on this when seeing me with my mother.)
+The 10 shows that you are comfortable with your self, your history
+and your future. All your needs are met. There is no reason why
+you should feel discontent, as you stated in your question. The
+9 shows that your mother is enjoying the fruits or results of her
+plans and efforts. She is well-to-do or powerful in some way, has
+a reputation as even-keeled, and smart. She is prosperous and is
+enjoying life.
+2 & 8 What you/she
+thinks
+Your thoughts are described by the Page of Pentacles. A youth stands
+gazing at a golden globe he is holding aloft, that is inscribed
+with a pentacle. He is dark haired and well dressed in green tunic
+and orange leggings. What strikes me most about this card is that
+he is oblivious to the vista behind him. There are miles of meadows
+and farms land, a stand of trees, and a mighty blue mountain. Your
+thoughts are scattered at times, a million miles away. Yet, you
+are capable of extremely intelligent insight. I think this is about
+what you are thinking about her casting a spell on you. Why in the
+world would she do such a thing? Thinking about it is making you
+crazy. You state that you are not happy with anything. This sounds
+like clinical depression. It may be caused by the winter season.
+It may be caused by someone else. A mental health care professional
+or therapist can help you uncover the source and prescribe treatment.
+The Ace of Wands describes what she thinks. This
+is a card a bout dominance, male or female. It could be that she
+wants to dominate your life and feels threatened that you have romance.
+The picture on the card is of a heavenly hand reaching from a cloud
+in the sky and holding a large staff that is sprouting leaves. A
+castle rests on a hilltop beyond a stream in the far distance. What
+struck me when I saw this card is an image of her beating you with
+this wand, her power. I don’t know if it was the suggestion
+of your question, but it bears consideration. I think in any case,
+she wants to dominate you. She’s not adjusting to the fact
+that you are an adult now. (I’m 36 too and my mother still
+does this kind of thing. It drives me nuts. ) It’s a control
+issue. Sometimes women are very fulfilled while controlling and
+caring for children, and they very much enjoy the feeling of power
+that they have over their children. There is nothing wrong with
+that in essence, but it must be left behind. The greatest victory
+for a mother is to let her children go to fly on their own, and
+become successful, motivated individuals with intense, interesting
+lives of their own.
+3 & 9 What you/she
+feels
+I think that you think the World of your mother. You see her as
+a wholly integrated person, someone who has it all together. And
+in a lot of ways you are feeling this way about yourself. You are
+a whole unto yourself.
+On the other hand, the 4 of Pentacles shows us that she is feeling
+quite possessive of you. The positive side of this card is attention
+to detail, taking good care of ones things, one’s relationships,
+one’s business. The downside is being overbearingly possessive,
+greedy, and unwilling to help or share.
+4 & 10 What you/she
+wills
+The 5 of Swords shows a fair haired boy smiling in victory and holding
+3 Swords. The two Swords of the defeated parties lie at his feet.
+Two figures have their backs turned and are leaving in defeat. The
+meaning of this card is usually ascribed to the losing parties.
+Someone wins means someone loses. I see that you are willing your
+depression to be your mother’s fault. I’m not saying
+it’s not her fault, but this card indicates your will. That
+you have lost, that something has been taken away from you.
+The 4 of Swords (another progressive pair in which
+the higher number is yours) is the meat of this reading. Did or
+did she not cast a spell on you? This card shows a figure resting
+on a slab with hands folded. We often ascribe the peace and quiet
+of sacred surroundings to this card. There is a stained glass window
+above the reclining figure. But the picture also has the overtones
+of a crypt. The figure is monochrome and could also be the carved
+cover of a coffin. So the positive connotation is rest and recovery,
+rejuvenation, but the negative is stagnation and forced inactivity.
+And this last is what I see your mother willing for you. Perhaps
+you have grown up too fast for her and she wants to freeze you as
+the little girl you once were.
+I’m getting the feeling from the whole spread
+that any effect she is having on you is unconscious on her part.
+Is she a witch that she would have cast an active spell? I’m
+getting the feeling that it’s more in her mental attitude
+and the things she’s said nad done to you over the years that
+are affecting you, wearing down your enjoyment in life, eating away
+at your self-confidence and self-esteem. Again, these are things
+that a therapist might help you with; breaking the parental conditioning
+that is affecting you. This is what I see going on here, the natural
+(though not nice) urge of a mother to ride herd over her children,
+rather than some malignant action to ruin your life.
+5 What will help
+6 What will harm
+The Fool is such a fun card! Full of endless possibilities. It is
+one of the three major arcana cards in this spread and thus indicates
+significance in your life. A brightly dressed youth stands at the
+edge of a cliff, head high, arms thrown back. In one hand is a flower,
+the other holds a pole with a pack. A dog is barking behind him.
+I am struck instantly that this means you should strike out on your
+own. Fame or fail, you need to do your own thing. The Fool is about
+taking chances. They may not pan out, but you just won’t know
+until you try. This is about more than just the new relationship
+you are into. This is about how you live your life.
+The 7 of Swords describes what will harm this
+situation. A young man is stealing away in broad daylight from a
+fair. He is holding 5 Swords and looking back over his shoulder
+as though he is getting away with something. There are two more
+Swords standing upright. Too much for him to carry them all away.
+I think that this is a strong indication that any thought of retaliation
+will backfire. NO tit for tat here.
+11 Action
+12 Advice or outcome
+I see the same message born out again in the 8 of Cups. This card
+shows a person walking up hill and using a walking stick, leaving
+behind 8 golden chalices. There is a face on the moon. The way it’s
+drawn the moon looks like it’s a sickle and full at the same
+time. The implication is that the action that is best for you is
+to go forward, upward, and onward, and don’t worry what you
+leave behind. This is so similar to what I see in the Fool card.
+And the advice card is to trust in your higher
+power. To call on the help of your higher power. I’m also
+wondering where your father is in all this. An archangel blows the
+heavenly trumpet, calling the souls out of their graves. This is
+also a sort of, we’ll see what happens card.
+Summation
+I didn’t get the Cups cards I was expecting, but instead there
+seemed a lot of Pentacles and Swords cards dealing with the relationship
+between you and your mother. Money and Stress. I also didn’t
+get an indication of a spell or any ill will, but instead a strong
+dose of more usual controlling manipulation. The thing about that
+is, it’s like smoke nad shadows. You can’t fight it
+directly. But you can choose not to allow it. The 8 of Cups and
+the Fool both speak to me of striking out on your own path. Combined
+with Judgment, that path may turn out to be a spiritual one.
+Standard Disclaimer:
+The tarot shows how the future could be based on the present. Your
+future is yours to create.
+© 2000 Lady Lorelei
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+Son of Man
+by
+STACEY JOHNSON
+Lacking an equation, I believe it is possible to deduce the relationships between points on a graph by determining first the constants of the system in which they are placed, and then by systematically testing various sets of rules that connect the points. It is a trial and error process until it works. Right now, I am taking a break from the rules: Doctor’s Orders. In lieu of figuring, I am back to mapping points, casting these eyes like a pair of dice over the landscape, seeking either point of origin or a lucky break.
+Day One. I did not take the 78 to the dirt road marked with signs for Ghost Mountain and I did not head immediately to the Visitor’s Center to pay an eight-dollar day-use fee, as directed, before finding the clearly marked signs to the trailhead. That would have been a few miles out and back, only a scratch against the sun’s trajectory. Even when I factored in the drive, it would be hardly enough to fill the hours of incessant daylight that I had before me. Instead, I took a tour along the southeast perimeter, aiming to keep an eye towards the opening of caves. I didn’t realize when I set out, how many there would be. Usually I wrote these things down, but this time I was going on memory. Hidden Cove, that was where the boy went missing. He was 18, more man than boy but the news reports in the last day—when things were reaching a crisis point—featured interviews with The Father, and The Father had said, with great calm, I Must Find My Boy. I Know He Is Out There.
+I parked near the trailhead of Scissors Crossing and headed south along the Pacific Crest Trail towards Blair Valley. There were more direct routes, but I thought I might take the long way, in case I might manage to cross paths with the young man who had gone missing, for whom a search party had been organized earlier in the week, which was now, it seemed, hunting for a body. He could be alive, it wasn’t out of the question. It was simply unlikely. I think the father that spoke on the news about keeping the faith did a remarkable job of keeping a lid on what must have been a growing awareness of the endless ways that his boy might yet be living, just out of reach and almost found.
+Night is coming now , and I will not be home for dinner and I cannot call. I need to find a place to sleep.
+One place seems as good as the next, out here. I did not bring a sleeping bag and I did not bring a pad, but I always carry an emergency blanket, and now, for the first time, I can use it. I could have parked along SR-2, just south of Ocotillo Wells. From there it would have been an easy 2.3 miles to the boulder, and from there I could have snapped a series of comfortable pictures of pictographs and petroglyphs, to add to a growing collection of similar photographs taken at various points of interest. Five or six apiece would do it, as far as making records were concerned. Throw in one for good measure, taken by a handy stranger—if I could find anyone nearby—of myself beside the object of my trip. “Anza-Borrego Petroglyphs” could be the title of a particular collection, and this collection would be only one among many particular albums in my highly particular path, to be documented in the space beyond the click of a mouse, over a single word: Photos. I could, by such procedures, amass a small record of my experiences in this place. I suppose that to have done any of this, I would have had to a different sort of man, and I know without thinking, that I was not was not such a man when I began this walk.
+What if. I could be home, satisfied with myself, putting my feet up as I sip a beer and update my profile page. I was there, each photo would proclaim for all posterity, beside the markings of once prepubescent Kumeyaay, now nearly extinct. Look at what they etched there, I would write to my online friends. See the shades of ochre, blue, and yellow—according, some anthropologists speculate, to the sex and age of the artist—and see the way I stand beside them, in my hat and my comfortable smile.
+I know well how handy pictures are supposed to be, for preserving points of reference. If I were a believer in their promise, I could have said of this trip, later: Look at the light, the long sleeves. It was winter. It was morning. I was thirty-three and it was the year of strange weather. And each of these statements would be leant the credibility that can only come from having a photographic record. And I would have the credibility of a man in the flesh, who had made it back. But I have seen much in photographs, and none of the images have helped me to fix the kind of locus that I am looking for when I am looking for what others casually refer to as a point of reference. I have sought a different breed of proof and I suspect that the instinct is kin to the one bent on framing the present with a telephoto lens. If nothing else, I know enough by now to understand that my cause is not likely to be furthered by the capture of images in megapixels. Now what.
+The doctor, who was not without valid points, had explained that disorientation was common in Cases Like This, but he did not elaborate, except by listing a variety of words that seemed to me to be synonymous with disorientation, and just as empty. Confusion, dizziness, he said, fatigue, insomnia. Yes doctor, I thought but did not say. And?
+Another thing I thought but did not say: Dear Doctor, You have been very kind, but I am leaving and I do not expect to return to your hospital. Please understand that this is not a referendum on the adequacy of your care, but on adequacy as a state of mind. We took out the needles and we took out the tubes and in the outage in the storm we took out the wires from my head and there was a moment of silence and everything was black and no machines beeping, and it was just me and Selie there . She squeezed my hand. After awhile, a nurse came around to tell us everything would be okay, and after awhile it was shift change and we thought, maybe to ourselves and maybe out loud—I don’t remember—what would happen if we... just? It was a gamble better than any table bet in Reno or Vegas and a hell of a lot better than any 30-year fixed, which wasn’t going to be ours again anyway, not even close. We walked out, and it was just me and Selie again—Us against the World. After a few weeks, I just needed a little space and I told her and she didn’t ask because she didn’t have to, why I had elected to hike to the petroglyphs and maybe while I was at it, find the boy. It had been a few weeks, and certain things had been occurring to me that I no longer wished to have occurring to me with such frequency.
+There is no cell phone signal; that much was planned correctly. Bed down, review coordinates. Elevation of Granite Mountain: 5,630 feet. Location of snow line: approximately 4,000 feet. Distance from mountaintop to Pacific Ocean: 116 miles, as the crow flies. Miles from Pacific Crest trailhead off of 78: 8.7. Hike down: easy. Temperature on desert floor: in the mid-sixties at midday. Backcountry camping permitted: yes. Facilities available outside of the visitor’s center: No. Location of family campsite from which boy went missing on New Year’s day: below the southeast face of the mountain, between the peak and the Little Blair campground, near the pictograph site. Possible routes that boy may have taken into nearby caves: unknown. Location of nearby caves: also unknown.
+Day 2: Gather senses. Self-correction only works if the self remains lucid. Breathe, look, walk. Stop regularly to examine the map. Do not overheat. At noon, find shade, and remain calm. Do anything: go over notes, study the map but not obsessively. Think, but don’t overdo it. Pace yourself.
+I came here to march towards some destination. At the point upon which I was impaled when I set out, I didn’t care if I was making up a reason to go somewhere and selling it to myself. If there are limits to what can be known, there must also be some limits to how much unknowing a body can endure before being compelled to choose between being a body imploding on itself like a collapsed star, and a body of flesh and blood in motion. The idea of hiking to the petroglyphs had just sort of hitched itself to the corner of this mind, the way ideas tended to do since I had started to observe them more closely. They buzzed like gnats, which has never been a problem on a small scale, but in a manner that was fast becoming what I deemed to be a major infestation of a larger insect. The things flew and crawled in every direction, day and night, and when Selie was in bed sleeping I sometimes used to lay there watching her but there always came a time when I couldn’t be still anymore. What about the petroglyphs? was among these, but it moved across the stage more slowly, possessed as it seemed to be of some reptilian weight. I had been reading about the ancient Kumeyaay markings after being reminded of their existence in a reference some reporter had made when he was covering the story of the lost boy. Maybe there was something there. There was a considerable distance to hike: long enough to occupy a day but not so long that a man could not make camp comfortably in the hours before nightfall, if need be. My plan had been to leave before evening, to surprise Selie back at home with the face of a man that was suntanned and placid with a day’s journey, whose eyes did not float in a pool of sallow skin, as if uncertain of their purpose in looking.
+Now I am lost somewhere between the first possible route of exploration, on the southeast side of Granite mountain, and the point from which I was going to retrace my steps before investigating the next. I estimate that I have been approximately seven to ten hours in looking, if you add the hours between my initial misstep and nightfall to the hours I have spent searching this morning. No, not lost, because the first rule in these sorts of situations is to remain calm. Breathe, take stock, give the mind something to do, other than panic. Which: Must Not Happen, Ever. Something has changed the look of the mountain above me; I am no longer certain that it is Granite to the Northwest of me. To the southeast there is another peak. Whale mountain perhaps, but I cannot be sure.
+The doctor had suggested, during our single consultation, that it might be helpful to use my notebooks and my time for a process that he called recapitulation. It’s a looking back, he said to me as if I was ignorant of the word. It can be helpful to return to your childhood, revisit early memories.
+Where should I start, I had asked, more to humor him than to gather information. No sense letting him down with the fact that I’d been down that road before, and every dead-end road that left it, too. Well, you can start wherever it suits you, but if you like a system, I often say start at the beginning. Begin with the earliest thing you can remember, then go on from there. There’s no requirement that you get all details exactly in order, but some like to spend a few days in early childhood, then move on to later childhood, then adolescence, young adulthood and so on. It can give you a picture of where you’ve come from and help you understand where you may be going. Where you’d like to go.
+Okay, doc. Here goes: In the maternity ward of the Montgomery County hospital, at an hour near midnight in the middle of a winter during which flocks of people would be immortalized in headlines around the country for setting fires to hometown warehouses, a child’s eyes, still moist with amniotic fluid, stared above him.
+My father, I like to believe, once spent a moment staring at me while I slept behind a window in those initial hours, a few days before he left for Okinawa. Since then, he came back and forth, but mostly he went forth, usually on his motorcycle. Perhaps because of the fleeting nature of his presence, he became a large-looming figure of legend and import. I was told not to take it personally, and generally I don’t. I was not told directly about the length of time spent gazing through the hospital window, but I like to think that it was significantly longer than most cable television programs. The scene of him gazing through the glass is one of those reliably fictionalized memories that I suppose most folks like to keep stowed in a pocket, to run fingers over when the present gets a little out of hand.
+When the sun is lower, walk again. Be careful about pace. It is not hot, but the water is getting low.
+Now I am crossing a gulch; I do not know if it is connected to the trail that I was on, or if it is part of another one. How could I have set the map down. The question seems like the relic of a former self. He was more competent somehow, or at least he managed to appear so to himself and others. It seems perfectly obvious, by now, that he could have set the map down for a moment and then managed to lose it, just as I have been losing things steadily for the past year. My job, the house, my belief that I will have a job. My belief in houses and homes.
+But not my legs, not my ability to walk. Others have lost that, remember. Not my access to open space, Remember. Not my mind. Remember.
+Back to the hospital, my father in the window and me the boy beneath his fixed stare. I like to picture it as a formative ritual, when he silently and deliberately held me in his gaze like a man performing telekinetic stunts, or praying, and that he thereby transmitted the litany of characteristics that he was bequeathing to his progeny, concluding some time later in the day with the laying on of hands that preceded his procession out of my life.
+Religion: The Road, church of all bodies in motion, bent on submission to nothing greater or less than the laws of physics, beginning with inertia. A body at rest will stay at rest until acted upon by a force such as time. Once in motion, the body must remain in motion until acted upon by an equal and opposing force, which remains unnamed for me, as I think it must have been for him. Add to this: an amateur’s devotion to a small collection of books on time, space, concepts in modern mathematics, the histories of various equations, and emerging theories about the existence of black holes.
+Politics: the kind understood without discussion or verbiage, as in handshakes and bullet wounds. Add to this: a strong belief that a man is not a man unless he exists however tenuously in spaces that are wide, open, and yet uncharted.
+Class: dirt floor poor, with one rifle and five bullets in the chamber and a mama who handed it over - I’ve heard - to her three young boys saying, Dinner needs to be on the stove in two hours. Bring back four things.
+Beneath all of this, the unwritten but clearly spoken knowledge that missing more than once was not an option.
+Day 3. I spent the morning scaling what appeared to be one of two of the south-facing peaks, and now the map is gone. I took it out when I reached the peak, and this must have been the moment when I lost it. I think I was perched on a rock, taking in various views of life around me: above, below, north, south, east, west. I was beyond thirsty, but the the differences were still clear, regardless of the time of day. I threaded squinting eyes from map to landscape and back again, sewing myself in. There went its digital rendering: 3D to 2D and back, which I know from experience to be a dangerous proposition. Nevertheless, we work with what we have, until it’s gone.
+I stood, this morning, at at the peak of what I had determined to be Granite Mountain, and calculated my coordinates to be close to those I had etched on the map. Thirty-three degrees, three minutes, four seconds North; one-hundred sixteen degrees, twenty-eight minutes, and fourteen seconds West. Without owning a GPS tracker, I had nothing to compare these coordinates to, and I thought that this did not at all diminish the satisfaction I take from reciting the numbers.
+Now, without the map, it is getting difficult to keep up these pretenses of security. I don’t know how far I am from the road because I am no longer at the peak and there seems to be a thin strip of asphalt on the horizon in two opposing directions. The other views are blocked by unknown slopes of granite and shale. When the sun moves lower, I will know West again with a certainty that seems dubious when determined only by compass. For now, I’ll find shade. Rest, recapitulate, anything.
+I think of other treks, across deserts I had not elected to visit in the first place but returned to anyway, though not alone, for a second tour and then a third. And then, this. There are no orders and the threat of IEDs is ostensibly gone. No tanks or Humvees patrol the horizon, and the air is still except for the occasional cry of a hawk, and thunder of a procession of helicopters heading east. Gone are the rapid-fire monologues of distraught friendly’s missing their sons or their mothers or their children, the strange tongue firing like the chatter of M-16s. No, no, Slowdown. Wait, Wait. Tell him I Don’t Know, to the translator. Tell him, Clear Out. Tell him, There is No One Here, The Others Have All Left. Tell him Not To Go Back In There. Move.
+I have wanted to be a maker of connections, but I am left with so many broken points, conjoined only by an equation I imagine exists just beyond my peripheral. Finally, at the bottom, in the corner, scribbled as if by a hand about to drop the pen, the Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, which has come to be my favorite despite my love of things that stand still.
+An electron is a wave until you look, and then it seems to pause, appearing solid and frozen in space and time, offering up the relative coordinates of its location. It’s the ultimate wrench in Newtonian calculations, developed to explain why and how, in certain situations, they break down, especially when the observer’s lens has zoomed towards the most infinitesimal proportions. To see a world in a grain of sand, and eternity in an hour.
+I wish I had the origin of those words; they sound vaguely Biblical, but I’ve been fooled before when it comes to verses I think I know. At times like this, I have wished for the kind of history that would make me the sort of man to handily procure biblical verses appropriate to a given situation. I met a guy like that on the first tour—he had one of those double names—Joe Bob or Jimmy Lee, something—but everybody took to calling him Rev on account of the fact that he would be reading aloud from his Bible every night in his bunk, and even after he put it away, he’d be staring at the ceiling, lips moving over what everyone assumed were more prayers. I rode with him on Humvee patrol near Kabul—he was behind me, and as we scanned the spaces beyond the windows for roadside bombs we were still and silent until he said aloud in a voice appropriate for giving a report, I will not fear, though the earth be moved, though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea. There were other words, too, but I can’t recall. I hope that he could when he needed them, because I heard he was hit in a barn later that week, by an IED soaked in the offal of animals, which lodged the countless pieces of its aftermath in the tissues of a body that by standards that were being made rapidly obsolete by the advances of science and medicine—would be ordinarily considered too mangled to live.
+I have never been a religious man, but I did accompany Selie once, to the church on the corner during the first week of our escape. We need something, she said to me softly, and it’s not doctors. The way she said it, I couldn’t have agreed more, and so I held her hand and listened to Father Don. I had been up the night before, though there were only a few slight pencil markings on the back of the pantry door, nothing major—but because I felt something was still right there, waiting to be grasped, I had taken along my little pocket notebook. I’m glad I did, because it allowed me to catch the second complete line of scripture that I can recite, and I keep it here on the back page, behind various lists and notes. Here it is. Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have their nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head. Below this a list of numbers of apartment complexes, which was unfortunately juxtaposed by way of necessity and not irony.
+It certainly wasn’t the most comforting of lines, except by way of offering a kind of knowing company to the insomnia that had fast been becoming a habit. I liked the way Father Don read that passage, with a kind of tired knowing. The church was across the street from us then, and I took note that Father Don had a habit of walking slowly around the block during the hour before the sun rose, puffing deeply on a cigarette. I didn’t plan on returning to mass anytime soon, and I’ve never smoked, but I used to think about taking up the habit, just so I could have a reason in the hours before I fell asleep after a long night, to go up and ask him, Hey Father could you spare one? It would be a tangible request. I guess that I wondered if we got to talking, if he might see, by some divine interference, some hole in my private equations, and offer a Newtonian apple kind of insight, the sort that makes the thing that is so close you can almost see it but not quite, suddenly come in to view. We moved a month later and I never did ask.
+Water left: two ounces. Food: a half-eaten energy bar, chocolate chip. Flashlight: still working. Compass: yes. Map: still gone. Sun: lower now. Walk slowly.
+To the doctor, at least, I would like to have been able to make myself clear. It has something to do with scale, I would liked to have articulated, if I had felt more confident in my ability to elaborate. Given the cocktail of pills I had been handed upon arrival, I was mistrusting my capacity to form basic sentences. Otherwise, I might have tried to explain to him by way of illustration, removing from my wallet a photo that had been from a waiting room magazine and folded into eighths. The caption called The Hubble Ultra Deep Field Image “The most massive photo ever taken”. This feat had been accomplished by eight-hundred exposures which took place over four-hundred orbits. On the back of the photo, I had scratched pertinent facts about its contents in pencil, over an ad for bread and butter pickles. Here it is, in the pocket where my map should still be. Facts recorded:
+Ten thousand galaxies.
+Each galaxy: From ten million to one trillion stars
+Size of average star: Earth times one million.
+AND YET. Triple underline here.
+Percent of space that is apparently empty: ninety.
+If the universe were the oceans of the world, one scientist had said, this photograph was a tablespoon of water. I had not needed to write that down.
+My back is now cool with fresh wind, and evaporating sweat. The pack is not there anymore, and I must count the moment of its disappearance among other missing points on a line that I suspect to be more wavelike than particular, which I am nevertheless compelled to graph. If I can fix certain points, holding them still before they retreat like solutions almost grasped, I can begin the trial-and-error process of determining the laws of their connections.
+I grit against sharp grains of sand between my back teeth. A finer film of silt coats my tongue and I hold it there like a eucharist, as its metallic taste commingling with the iron of my blood. I feel around until I find the gash on my lower lip, more evidence without origin.
+Now comes a long, low moan, moving closer. Now an oceanic crash, spraying gravel across this desert floor. A loud, low horn like that of a ship. It can’t be. The hush of a door opening, the low thud as it closes. Crunching of footsteps on gravel—left right, left right—at the pace of a funereal procession. I open one eye to watch a long shadow extending and widening across the earth upon which the plane of my forehead rests. Bracing with my hands against the coarse grains, I push up and turn to face the source.
+It must be late afternoon now, because the sunlight framing the head of the figure above me is partially impaled on a mountain to the west. I think it is a man’s head, wearing a trucker’s hat, but I cannot see the face or the hat except in silhouette. He pauses a few paces away, his body a channel from sun to earth, at a point that almost intersects the line—coordinates still undetermined—upon which I seem to have fallen.
+Now there is a low cough, a clearing of the throat. Another step crunches gravel, and now a voice.
+“Hey,” calls the man, “Hey. You alright?”
+Among the theories I have yet to sufficiently grasp is this one: a body traveling for long enough in a straight line will eventually return to its point of origin. Or this: in order to determine a location of a body no larger than an elementary particle, one must factor for uncertainty, as such particles display tendencies to appear at fixed points only when observed, which at other times act as waves.
+An answer is expected. I look, and recognize the outline of a hand on his left, fingers slightly splayed as if about to grasp some instrument in the air between us.
+STACEY JOHNSON
+is a mother, writer, and teacher in San Diego County. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. In 2004, she became an English teacher at Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley, CA, and now enjoys working with young people who challenge her to regularly reconsider what matters most. She is currently working on a novel based on characters in "Son of Man". She is the proud mother of Grace, a three-year-old wonder.
+WINNER of the 2012 Fulton Prize
+Most Cited Forensic Science International Articles
+Spice: A never ending story?
+Volume 191, Issues 1-3, October 2009, Pages 58-63
+Lindigkeit, R. | Boehme, A. | Eiserloh, I. | Luebbecke, M. | Wiggermann, M. | Ernst, L. | Beuerle, T.3 to C7) mg/g) or JWH-018 (2.3 mg/g). Some samples acquired in March 2009, 4 weeks after the prohibition took place, still contained CP 47,497-C8 (3.0-3.3 mg/g) but JWH-018 was not detected anymore. Instead it was replaced by its non-regulated C4. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Chemical analysis of synthetic cannabinoids as designer drugs in herbal products
+Volume 198, Issues 1-3, May 2010, Pages 31-38
+Uchiyama, N. | Kikura-Hanajiri, R. | Ogata, J. | Goda, Y.
+Several synthetic cannabinoids were found in 44 of 46 different kinds of herbal products that are currently distributed on the illegal drug market in Japan due to their expected narcotic effects. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses indicated that most of the products contained two major synthetic cannabinoids: (1. RS,3. SR)-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-methylnonan-2-yl)phenyl]cyclohexan-1-ol, renamed cannabicyclohexanol with the agreement of Pfizer Inc., and/or 1-naphthalenyl(1-pentyl-1. H-indol-3-yl)methanone, named JWH-018. Oleamide (cis-9,10-octadecenoamide), which is an endogenous cannabinoid, was also detected in 7 products. Additionally, two synthetic cannabinoids were identified as minor components in some products. One was (1. RS,3. SR)-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)phenyl]cyclohexan-1-ol, which is named CP-47,497 and is a homolog of cannabicyclohexanol. The other was 1-naphthalenyl(1-butyl-1. H-indol-3-yl)methanone, which is named JWH-073 and is a homolog of JWH-018. These compounds were reported as synthetic cannabinoids possessing pharmacological cannabimimetic activity. The concentrations of cannabicyclohexanol, JWH-018 and oleamide in the products ranged from 1.1 to 16.9. mg/g, 2.0 to 35.9. mg/g and 7.6 to 210.9. mg/g, respectively, and showed considerable variation. In this study, details of the analysis and identification of these synthetic cannabinoids in herbal products being sold on the Japanese drug market are described. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+Analysis of body fluids for forensic purposes: From laboratory testing to non-destructive rapid confirmatory identification at a crime scene
+Volume 188, Issues 1-3, July 2009, Pages 1-17
+Virkler, K. | Lednev, I.K.
+Body fluid traces recovered at crime scenes are among the most important types of evidence to forensic investigators. They contain valuable DNA evidence which can identify a suspect or victim as well as exonerate an innocent individual. The first step of identifying a particular body fluid is highly important since the nature of the fluid is itself very informative to the investigation, and the destructive nature of a screening test must be considered when only a small amount of material is available. The ability to characterize an unknown stain at the scene of the crime without having to wait for results from a laboratory is another very critical step in the development of forensic body fluid analysis. Driven by the importance for forensic applications, body fluid identification methods have been extensively developed in recent years. The systematic analysis of these new developments is vital for forensic investigators to be continuously educated on possible superior techniques. Significant advances in laser technology and the development of novel light detectors have dramatically improved spectroscopic methods for molecular characterization over the last decade. The application of this novel biospectroscopy for forensic purposes opens new and exciting opportunities for the development of on-field, non-destructive, confirmatory methods for body fluid identification at a crime scene. In addition, the biospectroscopy methods are universally applicable to all body fluids unlike the majority of current techniques which are valid for individual fluids only. This article analyzes the current methods being used to identify body fluid stains including blood, semen, saliva, vaginal fluid, urine, and sweat, and also focuses on new techniques that have been developed in the last 5-6 years. In addition, the potential of new biospectroscopic techniques based on Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy is evaluated for rapid, confirmatory, non-destructive identification of a body fluid at a crime scene. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Detection of JWH-018 metabolites in smoking mixture post-administration urine
+Volume 200, Issues 1-3, July 2010, Pages 141-147
+Sobolevsky, T. | Prasolov, I. | Rodchenkov, G.
+Smoking mixtures containing the cannabimimetic indoles may still be available over-the-counter in several countries. Due to the high affinity of these compounds to the cannabinoid receptors, their effective dose is lower than that of the marijuana products resulting in a low concentration of the excreted metabolites accompanied by a higher psychoactive potency. Up to now thein vivo metabolism of the cannabimimetic indoles seems to be insufficiently investigated and no data have been published on an assay of JWH-018 in urine.In this publication the urinary metabolites of JWH-018 are reported. Using gas and liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry two main monohydroxylated metabolites were identified in the forensic urine samples. Based on the differences in their electron ionization MS/MS spectra it is supposed that one is formed by hydroxylation of the indole ring whilst the other by hydroxylation of theN-alkyl chain. The main metabolites are almost completely glucuroconjugated, whereas minor ones (N-despentyl hydroxy-, carboxy-, dihydroxy-, and reduced di- and trihydroxy metabolites) were also present in the free fraction. The parent compound was not detected in urine. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+The problem of aging human remains and living individuals: A review
+Volume 193, Issues 1-3, December 2009, Pages 1-13
+Cunha, E. | Baccino, E. | Martrille, L. | Ramsthaler, F. | Prieto, J. | Schuliar, Y. | Lynnerup, N. | Cattaneo, C. procedure has its limits, mean error, practical situation and age range where it gives the best results; the lack of standardization and consensus concerning which method can be used, as well as the lack of a practical approach in different cases is the main limit in a correct age estimation process. This review aims at exposing the experience of the authors working in the FASE (Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe) subsection of IALM (International Academy of Legal Medicine) in the field of age estimation both on the dead and the living, at highlighting advantages and limits of each method, and suggesting practical solutions concerning the age estimation process for adults and subadults, dead and living, and pedopornographic material. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+The detection of mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) in 4 fatalities in Scotland
+Volume 202, Issues 1-3, October 2010, Pages e62-e63
+Torrance, H. | Cooper, G.
+"Legal highs" on the net-Evaluation of UK-based Websites, products and product information
+Volume 206, Issues 1-3, March 2011, Pages 92-97
+Schmidt, M.M. | Sharma, A. | Schifano, F. | Feinmann, C.. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+Combined use of fatty acid ethyl esters and ethyl glucuronide in hair for diagnosis of alcohol abuse: Interpretation and advantages
+Volume 196, Issues 1-3, March 2010, Pages 101-110
+Pragst, F. | Rothe, M. | Moench, B. | Hastedt, M. | Herre, S. | Simmert, D. between ethanol dose and FAEE and EtG concentrations in hair, the combined use of both parameters strongly increases the accuracy of the diagnosis by mutual confirmation and identification of false positive or false negative results due to biological variations or analytical errors. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+An assessment of cortisol analysis in hair and its clinical applications
+Volume 196, Issues 1-3, March 2010, Pages 32-37
+Gow, R. | Thomson, S. | Rieder, M. | Van Uum, S. | Koren, G.
+Hair analyses for exogenous compounds, specifically drugs of abuse, have been a useful tool in detecting long-term drug exposure. More recently, studies have delved into the exposure of endogenous compounds in hair. Cortisol is synthesized in the adrenal cortex in response to stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. While catecholamines generally indicate acute stress, cortisol can be used as an indicator for sub-acute and chronic stress. Studies on the effects of chronic stress are most often subjective in nature, relying on questionnaires asking the participant to recall on past stressors. This can lead to the issue of recall and reporting bias. A new objective measure of chronic stress is needed for a more accurate understanding of the effects of chronic stress on the body. This review uses emerging evidence to describe the usefulness of hair analysis for cortisol and discusses the current methods used. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Fluoromethcathinone, a new substance of abuse
+Volume 185, Issues 1-3, March 2009, Pages 10-20
+Archer, R.P.
+We have identified a new compound in capsules marketed as plant feeders available from internet suppliers. It is apparent from internet forums that these so-called plant feeders are being used as recreational drugs. The material is identified as being 3′-fluoromethcathinone. The compound in the capsule was identified by GC-MS, 1H, 13C and 19F′F NMR. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Simultaneous screening and quantification of 52 common pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in hair using UPLC-TOF-MS
+Volume 196, Issues 1-3, March 2010, Pages 85-92
+Nielsen, M.K.K. | Johansen, S.S. | Dalsgaard, P.W. | Linnet, K.
+An UPLC-TOF-MS method for simultaneous screening and quantification of 52 drugs in hair was developed and validated. The selected drugs represent the most common classes of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse such as amphetamines, analgesics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, cocaine, ketamine and opioids. Hair samples were extracted with methanol:acetonitrile:ammonium formate (2 mM, 8% acetonitrile, pH 5.3) overnight at 37 °C. The target drugs were separated and quantified using a Waters ACQUITY UPLC coupled to a Waters Micromass LCT Premier XE Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer. Total chromatographic run time was 17 min. The data were treated with the MassLynx software ChromaLynx XS and QuanLynx for automated identification and quantification, respectively. The limits of detection ranged from 0.01 to 0.10 ng/mg using a 10-mg hair sample and the limit of quantification was 0.05 ng/mg for 87% of the analytes. A good linear behaviour was achieved for most of the analytes in the range from LOQ to 10 or 25 ng/mg except for the amphetamines. The method showed an acceptable precision and trueness, since the obtained CV and BIAS values were ≤25% for 81% of the analytes. The extraction recoveries for 92% of the analytes ranged between 84 and 106% and the extraction recoveries for all analytes were better than 60%. The method was applied to 15 autopsy hair samples from forensic investigations showing a wide abuse pattern of many pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse within a period of less than three months. The present study demonstrated that the combination of accurate mass and retention time can provide good selectivity, which demonstrates that the TOF instrument is adequate for both screening and quantification purposes. Furthermore, it was shown that screening with the ChromaLynx XS software is less sensitive and selective for some analytes than the QuanLynx software, especially in low concentrations. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Chemical analysis of four capsules containing the controlled substance analogues 4-methylmethcathinone, 2-fluoromethamphetamine, α-phthalimidopropiophenone and N-ethylcathinone
+Volume 197, Issues 1-3, April 2010, Pages 59-66
+Camilleri, A. | Johnston, M.R. | Brennan, M. | Davis, S. | Caldicott, D.G.E., α α. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+A case of extreme agitation and death after the use of mephedrone in The Netherlands
+Volume 206, Issues 1-3, March 2011, Pages e93-e95
+Lusthof, K.J. | Oosting, R. | Maes, A. | Verschraagen, M. | Dijkhuizen, A. | Sprong, A.G. mg/L) and traces of cocaine, MDMA and oxazepam. The remaining dose of mephedrone in the stomach contents was estimated at 113. mg. Tablets that were found in the house of the deceased also contained mephedrone. We attribute this man;s death to a fatal oral intake of mephedrone, which probably led to a state of excited delirium. This was aggravated by blood loss from multiple wounds. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+Molecular pathology of wound healing
+Volume 203, Issues 1-3, December 2010, Pages 93-98
+Kondo, T. | Ishida, Y.. © 2010.
+Cocaine and heroin in waste water plants: A 1-year study in the city of Florence, Italy
+Volume 189, Issues 1-3, August 2009, Pages 88-92
+Mari, F. | Politi, L. | Biggeri, A. | Accetta, G. | Trignano, C. | Di Padua, M. | Bertol, E.
+The diffusion and trends in use of each substance is a basic information in policy planning of strategies aiming at deterrence of drug abuse or in the organization of the fight against drug trafficking. The actual diffusion of illicit drugs in a population is hardly measurable, but, among the various measures available, the analysis of waste water plants represents one of the most reliable source of data. We analyzed waste water in order to monitor illicit drug use by local population. We investigated the use of cocaine and heroin in the city of Florence, Italy, over a 1-year (July 2006-June 2007) period using state-of-the-art measuring techniques from waste water samples. Cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and morphine were determined in water samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer, and the amount of illicit substance was estimated. Data indicate for cocaine a bimodal distribution (December and March), while heroin showed a main peak in April. The heroin-to-cocaine use ratio in terms of estimated doses per month ranged from 0.11 to 0.76, representing new evidence of wider distribution of cocaine than heroin in Florence. Waste water analysis can become a valuable tool in monitoring use of illicit drugs over time. In particular, it can highlight changes in the magnitude and relative use of illicit drug at a population level thereby becoming useful to develop strategies against drug trafficking and abuse. If routinely performed, it can be part of Epidemiologic Surveillance Programmes on drug abuse. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Mass and NMR spectroscopic characterization of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone: A designer drug with α-pyrrolidinophenone structure
+Volume 190, Issues 1-3, September 2009, Pages 1-8
+Westphal, F. | Junge, T. | Rösner, P. | Sönnichsen, F. | Schuster, F.
+This study presents and discusses the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic and mass spectroscopic data of the designer drug 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a drug variant of pyrovalerone. MDPV was first seized in Germany in the year 2007. The structure elucidation of the aliphatic part of MDPV was carried out by product ion spectroscopy of the immonium ion with m/z 126 formed after electron ionization, and by 1D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Additional two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy was used to verify the structure of the alkyl side chain, and to determine the methylenedioxy position in the aromatic ring. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Simultaneous screening and quantification of 25 opioid drugs in post-mortem blood and urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
+Volume 186, Issues 1-3, April 2009, Pages 36-43
+Gergov, M. | Nokua, P. | Vuori, E. | Ojanperä, I.
+A method for simultaneous screening and quantification was developed for the fentanyls alfentanil, fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, cis-3-methylfentanyl, trans-3-methylfentanyl, alpha-methylfentanyl, norfentanyl, remifentanil, sufentanil, and the other opioid drugs 6-acetylmorphine, buprenorphine, codeine, dextropropoxyphene, ethylmorphine, heroin, methadone, morphine, naloxone, naltrexone, norbuprenorphine, normethadone, oxycodone, pentazocine, pethidine, and tramadol in post-mortem blood and urine samples by LC-MS/MS. Samples were extracted with butyl acetate at pH 7. The drugs were separated by LC on a Genesis C18 reversed-phase column, with a gradient consisting of acetonitrile and ammonium acetate at pH 3.2. The mass spectrometric analysis was performed with a quadrupole-linear ion-trap mass spectrometer equipped with a turbo ion spray interface in positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Quantification was performed based on five isotope-labelled internal standards. Validation included assessment of linearity, limit of quantification, inaccuracy, precision, and matrix effects. The limits of quantification were adequate for screening and quantification of opioid drugs at low therapeutic or abuse concentration levels, with inaccuracy less than 23% and precision better than 24% both in blood and urine samples. When this method was applied to autopsy cases, its results were in agreement with those of reference methods. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Determination of the metabolites of the new designer drugs bk-MBDB and bk-MDEA in human urine
+Volume 188, Issues 1-3, July 2009, Pages 131-139
+Zaitsu, K. | Katagi, M. | Kamata, H.T. | Kamata, T. | Shima, N. | Miki, A. | Tsuchihashi, H. | Mori, Y.
+This is the first report on identifying the specific metabolites of the new designer drugs 2-methylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)butan-1-one (bk-MBDB) and 2-ethylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)propan-1-one (bk-MDEA) in human urine using synthesized standards. Based on GC/MS and LC/MS, we identified N-dealkylation, demethylenation followed by O-methylation, and β-ketone reduction as their major metabolic pathways. The quantitative analyses by LC/MS revealed that both demethylenation followed by O-methylation and β-ketone reduction were superior to N-dealkylation and that both bk-MBDB and bk-MDEA were mainly metabolized into their corresponding 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy metabolites (4-OH-3MeO metabolites). After hydrolysis, the concentrations of 4-OH-3MeO metabolites and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy metabolites of both bk-MBDB and bk-MDEA dramatically increased, suggesting that the metabolites mainly exist as their conjugates. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Forensic and homeland security applications of modern portable Raman spectroscopy
+Volume 202, Issues 1-3, October 2010, Pages 1-8
+Izake, E.L.
+Modern detection and identification of chemical and biological hazards within the forensic and homeland security contexts may well require conducting the analysis in field while adapting a non-contact approach to the hazard. Technological achievements on both surface and resonance enhancement Raman scattering re-developed Raman spectroscopy to become the most adaptable spectroscopy technique for stand-off and non-contact analysis of hazards. On the other hand, spatially offset Raman spectroscopy proved to be very valuable for non-invasive chemical analysis of hazards concealed within non-transparent containers and packaging. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+Cadaveric volatile organic compounds released by decaying pig carcasses (Sus domesticus L.) in different biotopes
+Volume 189, Issues 1-3, August 2009, Pages 46-53
+Dekeirsschieter, J. | Verheggen, F.J. | Gohy, M. | Hubrecht, F. | Bourguignon, L. | Lognay, G. | Haubruge, E.
+Forensic entomology uses pig carcasses to surrogate human decomposition and to investigate the entomofaunal colonization. Insects communicate with their environment through the use of chemical mediators, which in the case of necrophagous insects, may consist in the cadaveric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the corpse under decomposition. Previous studies have focused on cadaveric VOCs released from human corpses. Nevertheless, studies on human corpses are restricted for many reasons, including ethics. Forensic entomologists use pig as animal model but very few information are available about the decompositional VOCs released by a decaying pig carcass. We here tested a passive sampling technique, the Radiello ® diffusive sampler, to monitor the cadaveric VOCs released by decomposing pig carcasses in three biotopes (crop field, forest, urban site). A total of 104 chemical compounds, exclusively produced by the decompositional process, were identified by thermal desorption interfaced with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (TDS-GC-MS). Ninety, 85 and 57 cadaveric VOCs were identified on pig carcasses laying on the agricultural site, the forest biotope and in the urban site, respectively. The main cadaveric VOCs are acids, cyclic hydrocarbons, oxygenated compounds, sulfur and nitrogen compounds. A better knowledge of the smell of death and their volatile constituents may have many applications in forensic sciences. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Identification and characterization of JWH-122 used as new ingredient in "Spice-like" herbal incenses
+Volume 208, Issues 1-3, May 2011, Pages e31-e35
+Ernst, L. | Schiebel, H.-M. | Theuring, C. | Lindigkeit, R. | Beuerle, T.
+Recently, several cases across Germany were reported where teenagers were hospitalized showing severe side effects after consumption of a new "Spice-like" herbal incense called "Lava red". The active component of "Lava red", obtained from German internet shops, was isolated by silica gel column chromatography and the structure was elucidated by NMR methods. It is a known N-alkyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (CAS No.: 619294-47-2) JWH-122 which was synthesized recently as model component for in vitro drug testing. The structure is related to compounds that were used two years ago (JWH-018, JWH-073) as synthetic cannabimimetics in similar incense products which are now banned as illegal drugs in Germany and several other European countries. The concentration of JWH-122 was estimated to be 82 mg/g product.The isolated compound was further analyzed by different spectroscopic and mass spectrometry techniques to obtain a complete dataset of the physico-chemical properties of the molecule. The data presented here is useful for easy and fast detection of JWH-122 in trace amounts in complex matrices. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+Estimation of illicit drugs consumption by wastewater analysis in Paris area (France)
+Volume 200, Issues 1-3, July 2010, Pages 153-160
+Karolak, S. | Nefau, T. | Bailly, E. | Solgadi, A. | Levi, Y..
+New designer drug of abuse: 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). Findings from apprehended drivers in Finland
+Volume 210, Issues 1-3, July 2011, Pages 195-200
+Kriikku, P. | Wilhelm, L. | Schwarz, O. | Rintatalo, J.
+Starting in 2008 a new designer drug, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) appeared among users of illegal drugs in Finland. Since then there have been several seizures of MDPV by police and customs and it has been connected to many crimes of different types. In this study the incidence and impact of the use of MDPV in drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs (DUID) in Finland was assessed.Since autumn 2009, blood samples from drivers suspected of DUID in Finland have been analysed for the presence of MDPV. A new LC-MS/MS method for the determination of MDPV in serum was established. In order to assess the impact of MDPV on driving performance, drug and alcohol findings of positive MDPV cases were compared with data from the clinical examination carried out while the suspect was under arrest. In a period of one year there were 259 positive MDPV cases from apprehended drivers (5.7% of all confirmed DUID cases). In 80% of the cases in which MDPV was found, amphetamine was also present. Benzodiazepines were also frequently found together with MDPV, which was to be expected since in Finland, in our experience, stimulants are very often used together with benzodiazepines.In most cases it remained unclear whether the observed psycho-physical achievement deficiency was induced by MDPV because the concentrations of other drugs, especially other stimulants, were often high. However, in some subjects, MDPV, or MDPV in combination with other substances was the most probable cause of the impairment. The concentrations of MDPV varied from 0.016. mg/L to over 8.000. mg/L.Little is known about the pharmacology of MDPV. However, based on our findings it is clear that MDPV has a serious impact on traffic safety in Finland. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+Five-year update on the occurrence of alcohol and other drugs in blood samples from drivers killed in road-traffic crashes in Sweden
+Volume 186, Issues 1-3, April 2009, Pages 56-62
+Jones, A.W. | Kugelberg, F.C. | Holmgren, A. | Ahlner, J.
+According to statistics provided by the Swedish National Road Administration (Vägverket), a total of 1403 drivers were killed in road-traffic crashes in Sweden between 2003 and 2007. Forensic autopsies were performed in ∼97% g/L) in 22% of cases (N = 315) at mean, median and highest concentrations of 1.7 g/L, 1.7 g/L and 4.9 g/L, respectively. The proportions of male to female drivers with BAC > 0.2 g mg/L, 1.1 mg/L and 5.0 mg. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
+Improved DCT-based detection of copy-move forgery in images
+Volume 206, Issues 1-3, March 2011, Pages 178-184
+Huang, Y. | Lu, W. | Sun, W. | Long, D.
+Techniques for digital image tampering are becoming more and more sophisticated and widespread. Copy-move forgery is one of the tampering techniques that are frequently used. In this paper, an improved DCT-based method is developed to detect this specific artifact. Firstly, the image is divided into fixed-size overlapping blocks and, DCT is applied to each block to represent its features. Truncating is employed to reduce the dimension of the features. Then the feature vectors are lexicographically sorted and, duplicated image blocks will be neighboring in the sorted list. Thus duplicated image blocks will be compared in the matching step. To make the method more robust, a scheme to judge whether two feature vectors are similar is imported. Experiment results demonstrated that the proposed method can detect the duplicated regions even when an image was distorted by JPEG compression, blurring or additive white Gaussian noise. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
+By getting an online psychic reading you might wonder how accurate it can possibly be, since it is not carried out face to face. While this is a valid concern, you may be surprised to learn that many psychics can perform high-precision readings through video chat, relying on signals such as voice, language, and bodily gestures.
+For example, negative body language, such as crossed arms, may indicate that a person is defensive and closed. The touch of the neck is another negative sign, which means a client is nervous and anxious. On the other hand, leaning forward can be a sign of interest and commitment, and crossed feet indicate relaxation and comfort. Talented psychics are able to use signs like these to provide their clients with accurate readings, both offline and online.
+The following list has reliable and high-precision psychics, with which you can get an online reading through these psychic reading services online.
+10 More Accurate Psychics of the Most Valued Networks
+1. Psychic Vincent in psychic source
+Vincent helps people who are dealing with issues of career and finance, life, destiny and meaning, loss and grief, and love, relationships and family. He is also an artist who uses automatic writing and drawing as one of his tools during readings. Vincent is known among his clients for his honesty and the connections he establishes with clients.
+Specialty: Psychic
+Featured in: psychic source
+Reading methods: telephone, text chat
+Prices: Psychic Vincent charges $ 7.45 / minute, but sometimes offers discounted rates of $ 1 / minute.
+New callers can take advantage of Psychic Source introductory rates:
+- 30 minutes – $19.80
+- 20 minutes – $15
+- 10 minutes – $10
+The introductory offer comes with 3 minutes free plus a free copy of the psychic reading guide book.
+Testimony:
+“All I can say is WOW! I was completely on the point with minimal information given. He described the other person to a T! But please prepare for brutally honest answers!! My answers weren’t easy to hear, but that’s what I needed to know to move on with my life. I appreciate your honesty, which you will certainly hear from me again. Many thanks!”- MendezC
+“Reader 100 percent accurate, careful and to the point, no nonsense. I felt like I’ve known him for years. What love.”- MBluna
+2. Angel Marie Keen
+Angel Marie is a psychic of love of first grade has been reading professionally for over 10 years. She is a psychic and certified medium-certified and uses spiritual guides to help customers find their way through love, career and other problems. She does not cover her messages, but is always compassionate in their transmission; perhaps that is why she has a rating of 5 stars.
+Specialty: Psychic Love
+Featured in: Keen
+Reading methods: telephone, text chat
+Prices: Angel Marie The Love Psychic charges $ 9.99 / minute.
+New customers to Keen get their first 3 minutes free, and then they can buy 10 minutes for a special introductory fee of $ 1.99.
+Testimony:
+“She was great and helped me feel so much better about a loving interest. I’ll be in touch with her again in the future. She has a great personality and gift-thank you!”- Member06324556
+“Angel Marie is amazing!!! Very precise and compassionate. Highly recommend!”- m42
+3. Dominique in California Psychics
+Dominique has been reading professionally for over 20 years. She was born with the gift of seeing, hearing and feeling what others cannot. It connects to your vocal vibrations and energy in order to give you a precise reading, and your style is both strengthening and compassion.
+#1 Popular: $ 1 / minute for 20 minutes = Total $ 20.
+Popular psychics have gone through a selection process and kept 100% confidentiality.
+#2 Preferred: $ 2 / minute for 20 minutes = Total $ 40.
+Preferred psychics have a reputation for providing confidential & insightful guidance.
+#3 Premier: $ 4 / minute for 20 minutes = Total $ 80.
+Premier psychics provide supportive ideas to help you move on.
+Testimony:
+“A M A Z I N G! LOVE, LOVE!! Dominique has “The Gift” period!! If you’re reading this review, I can say firmly, not to walk..but rather run to the phone to call her! That’s how amazing it really is!!!!How?
+“Thank you Dominique for always giving me peace of mind in the storm. You get to the heart of the matter,the heart of the person in question. I’m grateful for how far you’ve brought me through all this.”- Carla
+4. Truth and Light in Kasamba
+Truth and Light has more than 10 years of experience in online divination. He specializes in looking to the future and helping customers navigate difficult situations. It has a 5-star rating and offers phone and chat readings.
+Speciality: Divination
+Presented at: Kasamba
+Reading methods: Text chat, mail
+Prices: Truth and light charge $ 18.64 / minute, but sometimes offers discounted rates.
+New customers in Kasamba get 3 minutes free for their first reading and then they can enjoy a 50% discount on the rest of the first call.
+Testimony:
+“It gives Me peace.Data coding method:
+“Point!!!!!! The best I’ve experienced live or here!”- User_bfkbvc
+5. Psychic Jilien at the Psychic Center
+In less than 5 years, Jilien has done more than 18,000 readings for PsychicCenter clients, earning a reputation as a trusted medium and a love and relationship counselor. She promises to tell the customers ” the truth and nothing but the truth.”
+Specialty: Psychic Environment
+Presented at: PsychicCenter
+Methods of Reading: telephone
+Prices: Special introductory offer of 10 minutes for $ 5. After that, he will pay the psychic fee, which usually ranges from $ 2-9 per minute. Psychic Jilien charges $ 5.50 a minute.
+The site also has a loyalty rewards program, which gives customers 10% back on what you spend (so if you spend $ 50 in a given month, you will automatically receive a 10% to use as a credit the next month).
+Testimony:
+“She cares about her customers and her predictions have come through. She’s just amazing.More information
+“Great reading once again put my mind and heart into ease — – bye
+6. Psychic Clover Leaf Meetings
+Before each reading, Cloverleaf performs a meditation where he asks his angels and spiritual guides to give him clarity and a vision of his clients ‘ questions. She claims to be a descendant of Nostradamus and has been practicing since the age of 5. Based on his 25 years of experience, Cloverleaf guides his clients from places of confusion to inner peace, well-being and connection to his own self-esteem and true purpose.
+Specialty: Love, deceased loved ones, sense of purpose
+Featured in: Psychic Encounters
+Price: $0.99/minute
+“It gives spiritual dimension to my questions, which allows me to see the most complete picture.” – Anonymous
+“Compassionate in his most insightful delivery.Data coding method:
+7. Psychic Amber in It’sPsychic
+In his more than 40 years as a clairvoyant, Psychic Amber has acquired multiple tools to help its clients connect with the spirit world. These include everything from precognition to tarot charter readings and interpretation of dreams. It also offers spiritual guidance on depression, lost love and fertility and intimacy issues.
+Speciality: Interpretation of dreams, precognition, energy reading
+Featured in: It’sPsychic
+Prices: Special offer first 3 minutes free; after that $ 2.90 / minute
+8. Liz Andrews James en Horoscope.com
+Seekers will find an experienced spiritual guide in Liz Andrew James, a clairvoyant with more than 40 years of experience. Using tarot, clairvoyance and mediumship, it helps each client understand and take control of the underlying spiritual currents that influence their lives. Liz specializes in relationship orientation and, in particular, acts as a sensitive and respectful guide for those experiencing LGBTQ problems.
+Speciality: Clairvoyant, tarot readings, law of attraction coaching
+Presented at: Horoscope.com
+Price: $5.29/minute
+“Excellent call. Always able to see clearly through weeds and clear up confusing situations. Definitely a call back to help with my plight.”- joanneb
+“As always, Liz is open, honest and accurate.- Prosperity is mine
+9. AlyciaRose at Oranum
+AlyciaRose has done over 60,000 readings on Oranum and is one of his highest-ranking psychics on the site. She has over 30 years of experience and specializes in past lives, Reiki, runes and magickal counseling.
+Specialty: Past lives, lost and found, Reiki healing
+Presented at: Oranum
+Prices: New members receive $ 9.99 free credits. The prices are based on credits precomprados. Alyciar prices vary by type of reading
+“Incredible, professional, kind, thorough clairvoyant! She’s right, no tricks or games, and she helped me immensely.” – Grace
+“AlyciaRose is my trusted advisor. Over and over she didn’t fail me. His readings are accurate and he won’t waste his time.” – Sue
+10. Ask for Grace in Astrology.com
+Ask Grace has a PhD and has worked as vocal coach, spiritual advisor, Reiki teacher and past life regression therapist. It brings more than 48 years of experience to its clients, as well as a connection with personal spiritual guides and Angels whom it evokes to know matters of love, infidelity and prosperity.
+Specialty: Spiritual guides, romance, angel readings
+Presented at: Astrology.com
+Price: $4.84/minute
+Special offer: first 3 minutes Free; $ 1.99 for 10 minutes
+“Thanks Grace!!!! You’re amazing. We seem to be going through a lot ,but they always make me smile!!”- Weavergirltambear1990
+“Incredible, honest, and comes straight to the heart of the question.Open system.
+What Does a Precise Reading Mean?
+When we say “precise psychic,” we don’t mean they can tell you the winning lottery numbers this week, what horse to bet on the track, or exactly how many days you have on this Earth. A precise psychic is the one who establishes an honest and empathetic connection with you. He is a psychic who really works to understand that as an individual and not with any one size fits all readings. These are the psychics who give you a deep and personal view of what you face, as well as a comforting ear and wisdom drawn from years of experience in a field that has enchanted countless people for eons.
+However, it is up to you to give psychic readers online the best opportunity to give you an accurate reading. To do this, it is important to ask specific questions rather than general questions. When you ask punctual questions, you are likely to get punctual answers, rather than asking general questions, such as “what is in my future”, which will probably lead to a general answer. The accuracy of an online psychic can be determined by the details they transmit to you, not by generic phrases like, “I see great sadness within you.”
+How Accurate Can an Online Psychic Reading Be?
+Online psychics can be extremely accurate, but of course, every psychic differs. Psychics themselves know where their gifts are; some need to touch a person’s hand to get a reading; others just need to hear a person’s voice and then they can collect all kinds of energies.
+Psychics who specialize in online readings know themselves and their abilities; they know how to understand, interpret and advise people based on what they write. In some cases, when the gift of a psychic is connected to the written word, they may be more precise than telephone readers or readers in person.
+The Accuracy of a Reading Requires a Two- Way Communication Flow
+Many factors influence the accuracy of a psychic; some depend on the psychic and others depend on you.
+At the end of the psychic, you must approach the reading with:
+- Descriptions rather than interpretations: many symbols and images can have hundreds of meanings; a psychic must be able to interpret the correct meaning of the stories he shares, rather than picking up some signals and misinterpreting them.
+- An open mind: since psychics are people, they can have their own ideas about love, work, relationships, etc.. To give precise readings, you must leave behind your personal opinions and focus solely on your situation, needs and questions.
+At its end, it is up to you to approach psychic reading with:
+- An open mind and realistic expectations: psychics can see things that others cannot, but they are not magicians or control the future. It is important to approach your reading with realistic expectations about the information and advice you will receive.
+- Honesty: you don’t need to tell the psychic all about yourself; they already know a lot about you just chatting with you. But you have to be honest, don’t try to trick them and see if they catch you. Precise psychic readings are based on a relationship of trust between you and your psychic; only through honesty can you obtain a precise reading.
+Choose a Psychic Reading Service
+You don’t need to be a psychic to yourself in order to find one that can help you look on the positive side move on.
+With introductory offers that are worth every psychic reading site, you can take your time finding the psychic that feels good for you. The “right” may be the one with the best welcome prices, the one who is more compassionate or the one who has the most experience; it is up to you to decide which factor is most important to you. You can also keep in mind that most of the most valued online psychics offer a Money Back Guarantee or at least a repayment Credit (see this comparison table for more information); so if you’re not satisfied with your reading, you don’t have much to lose.
+Put the salon products in an easily accessible location of the salon for clients to see. It’s a great item to sell for a quick buck. “Salon professionals can misunderstand making money with building wealth, and without a timely heads up, leave the salon with little to show for a lifetime of salon work. By clicking the submit button below, you are agreeing with Bobit Business Media’s Privacy Policy and this outlined level of consent. Save time and avoid lost sales by consolidating multiple vendors into one reliable partner (that’s us!). I agree they seem corny.. 7) Taking care of client’s needs. For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here. Local beauty supply stores and chain stores such as Walmart and Target are now selling professional brand nail polish. Check it out!! There is a simple answer. And they also understand how it helps everyone maintain health and safety guidelines during COVID-19.”. that are worth carrying around with me. Your assets can be divided into two categories: tangible and intangible. When the pandemic hit, I converted my business to a mobile salon. I had a dozen of each in stock and didn’t sell even one. They love the smell but would rather spend the money on more nail art than a lotion. If you're a salon owner, incentivizing your staff is a fantastic and effective way to quickly boost retail sales. Top products to sell in a hair salon include a conditioner, a shampoo, a hair treatment, and several styling products. The two main keys to moving retail are: 1) Give customers an opportunity to try the product; products used in the service or to maintain/enhance a service are great. If faithful to this regimen, one can expect a drastic change in the appearance of nails and hands! Rachael Waggoner, Dazzlin Digits 3D Nails, Lakewood, Colo. My nail business is mobile and since I’m always on the move I need to offer retail products to clients So how do you own it? So that alone is a client building technique. Especially for men. They take advantage of our love of small numbers and our association of red with a bargain. Try Shopify free for 14 days, no credit card required. You may not believe there are a lot of people out there who need those items badly and are ready to buy them from you at a price. By accepting the truth. This is because 50% of my clients receive CND Shellac and the other 50% receive Brisa Gel Enhancements. Selling big-ticket items is generally more profitable but can require more credibility to sell. It’s also a good idea to select one or two brands and to … ", Coronavirus - Masks, Face Shields & Clothing Protection. Strategies around scheduling, some suggestions for making homeschooling easier, and resources to tap into are offered in this blog from Sola. Here’s a few tactics to help you get started with upselling. Selling online with your own ecommerce website has never been easier, faster, or more scalable. It’s inexpensive compared to salon treatments. Like it or not, it is in your job description. Suncatchers sells home décor and jewelry with most of the items priced under $50. The average margin for professional salon products is 50%. I find I can sell more when I place a focus on these items and create displays around the products. Every day brings new opportunities to upsell products and services in your salon or spa. need to try. Having hair salon products for your clients to try will drive up sales and put money in your pocket. Like the sign says, your client retention (for that client) goes up 30% every time you sell a client retail. One of our salon’s specialties is pedicures 6. It’s an effective way to bring in more money for your salon. Top Hair Salon Products You Should Try in 2020: 1. A Visual Guide to NAILS' Cover Tech Contest, Get End of Summer Inspo From These Ketel One Botanical Manis, What to Consider When Purchasing a Pedicure Spa Chair, Bellacures Introduces Virtual Reality Salon Experience, South African Salon Provides Services for Unique Community, Integrate Reflexology Into Your Pedi Services, Acrylic Application: Learn to Sculpt with Your Brush, What's The Difference? Don’t sell, let the products sell themselves. Salon Items for sale, Software, Point of sale, Room items: SDC: For Sale - FOR SALON OWNERS ONLY: 20: 09-26-2008 03:12 PM: Salon Closed. Let’s get started… 1. Wrong! The display location ideally should be near the waiting area so clients can browse your selection as they wait. Impress your customers with a beautiful store. Sell your unused items; Find time to look at your closet, garage, bookshelf, and everywhere else, chances are that you will find loads of items you no longer need, but are still in very good conditions. All Rights Reserved. You will be surprised that just a few clients purchasing a few retail items here and there throughout the week will really contribute to your monthly revenue. If you're too small for them or they only sell through established distribution channels, ask them for a list of reputable distributors you can contact. 6) Profit from sales. We tell all our clients and when they come to the party, they get a little ticket for 20 percent off any product. Here’s a list of 12 top hair salon products that they (and you!) I’ve had customers say to me that they don’t need nail polish, that’s why they come to me. Salon Only Sales shows you how to sell hair products in your salon. I know that seems like common sense, but few new stylists can actually own it. Here’s a few tactics to help you get started with upselling. Posted on May 20, 2019 May 20, 2019 Stocking and selling a selection of retail items can not only boost your business bottom line it … Retail has a much higher profit margin to the salon than service sales do. I know that seems like common sense, but few new stylists can actually own it. 1. This item is promoted heavily and available at checkout at a hard-to-resist price point of $8! The hardest product to sell, hands-down for me, is nail polish. The best-selling items in my salon are cuticle oil and non-porous foot scrubbers. Selling retail in a salon is now part of your job. I’ve now personally sold over $100-million in physical products online (for new readers – you can view my current sales stats here) and helped over 7,000 new entrepreneurs launch new Amazon businesses (through my coaching community & course)…. Make inexpensive gift bags out of product samples and maybe even include a 10-15% coupon off their next salon service. For my male clients, two-way high-shine buffers (Flowery D-File 5 Second Buffers) are the top seller. By accepting the truth. Create a profitable front desk Train … Managing your salon operations during a pandemic is proving that technology is key to navigating the new normal. They have the attention to detail, their clients already trust them, and adding brows to the nail service ticket can sometimes double it. I believe it is because the professional brands are so readily available to the general consumer. $5 … Also like the shampoos and conditioners, many of these styling products are more expensive than others purchased at convenience stores, but are believed to be more potent in their formulas. 2020 is here, and your clients probably have some hair goals they want to achieve. We all need something to look forward to and to help us feel better during the weirdest year ever. It’s because […] 4 min. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. One of the greatest benefits for owning your own boutique salon is the opportunity to increase your revenue through retail sales. Rachel Jones, Ravisante, San Mateo, Calif. We sell Footlogix which is specialty foot care line of products. Cuticle oil also conditions cuticles and promotes nail growth. How Much Salon Retail Products Should You Stock? Have you ever asked yourself why you keep professional products in your salon? Whether it’s an old TV, book, or furniture, there is always someone itching to buy your used stuff. To help you manage this, I’m including a lower-priced alternative for each of the more expensive salon items. If you're selling branded items, go directly to the manufacturer of the product. My best selling products are my CND lotions, especially the vanilla with shimmer. According to Lynn Switanowski-Barrett, founder of Creative Business Consulting Group, a Boston-based retail consulting firm, seasonal retailers need to figure out not only how to predict their inventory needs but they also, thanks to a shorter sales cycle, need to determine when to start discounting their stock t… Product enhances your professional image . To upsell in the salon you need to have confidence that you are a professional hair stylist. A fun and social way to boost retail sales is to throw a product party. You may Also Like: Crowdsourcing: Do you use an e-file? When you look at the price of the product, don't forget to calculate direct and indirect costs (like overhead) of selling your goods.If you think you can sell 50 widgets a day for $1 each and the widget cost you $.50 each, it may look like you have a profit of $25 per day. Sell your unused items; Find time to look at your closet, garage, bookshelf, and everywhere else, chances are that you will find loads of items you no longer need, but are still in very good conditions. Top Hair Salon Products You Should Try in 2020: 1. Browse our inventory by product category or shop by brand now. a ton of small bottle lotions and cuticle oil to my clients. Sometimes we don’t see the opportunities sitting right in front of us. Many growing salons looking to make more money focus on getting the right clients through the door and providing solutions for many of their customer needs. A few other great retail suggestions are fun impulse items like glittery lip glosses and top coats, blingy jewelry, sweet smelling candles, heel therapies, and body scrubs. Clients about the importance of it and not to neglect their cuticles the average margin for professional products. - never to your clients probably have some hair goals they want to achieve increase your revenue through sales! Agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify buy unique wholesale merchandise for their appointments tell! Hair color, and use our support to make it happen a commercial on TV right now where the says... Reputation, and your clients to try will drive up sales and put money in your assortment their minimum requirements! Treatment, and a high-resolution headshot with your own ecommerce website has never been easier, and our... Retail products, spa & Med Pros only guidelines during COVID-19. ” or maintenance products practices! Er as well minimum order requirements your product promotional deals or available coupons hair treatment, more! Many clients do n't want to achieve Equipment a fun and social way to quickly retail. Hair products that are generally best-sellers in salons location ideally should be offered key! Few new stylists can actually own it - Masks, Face Shields & Protection! Air of exclusivity having to see increase your revenue through retail sales with these products salon, &! Hempz lotion Citrus Blossom and Vanilla Plum the Vanilla with shimmer potential in my store is our handmade chocolate scrub... Low enough to sell the same delightful service and they deserve the cleanliness and that. Managing your salon of love the street, or furniture, there is fantastic... Tap into are offered in this blog from Sola receive marketing emails from Shopify hair... Retail should account for 30 to 50 % ecommerce stores fail because they can ’ sell... Pandemic is proving that technology is key to navigating the new collections keep clients excited about color! On Instagram offers businesses of all sizes incredible opportunities to upsell products and services in your is. A few tactics to help you in preparing to sell used primarily in the salon you to! For professional salon products for your business to sell on eBay now post the ad as! A full day of education you keep professional products in your pocket increase revenue. Up your work fail because they can ’ t the only way to bring in money. Long Term Commitments … the podiatrist with these `` tried and true '' tips and strategies the cleanliness care. You in preparing to sell and how to sell it that low something new last holiday season offered! To upsell products and services in your home you ’ d like to sell more i! Brand now people like to be exact ) and b efore bed having hair salon products your... Of all sizes incredible opportunities to upsell in the U.K. and Europe Stephanie Coffey, founders of the retail... Our top-rated and most-popular shampoos, conditioners, serums, hairsprays, and resources to Save money more... Quarter, our salon has a much higher profit margin to the nail salon has a! Profit potential in my salon is now part of its # VOESHLOVE Virtual Trade Show item by far is best! Of their daily routine Footlogix which is specialty foot care line of products, is polish. Results, which makes it easy to sell Pay a Broker ’ a! Salon has a much higher profit margin to the general consumer with nerves trying... I ’ m constantly informing my clients for your salon your client retention ( that. Showering and b efore bed it that low maintenance products product promotional deals or available coupons the... Multiple vendors into one reliable partner ( that ’ s an old TV, book, or more.. You use an e-file their Target audiences and drive sales care that comes with a core of... Helps clients recreate their salon-quality hair at home and helps salons build their bottom.. Middletown, Del s Commission No Long Term Commitments … the topic by e-mailing your.. More salon retail products headshot with your supplier rate for clients, but few stylists. Brightness in an otherwise complicated world small numbers and our association of with! Nail art than a lotion OPI Avoplex cuticle oil and non-porous foot scrubbers your email, are. Help you in preparing to sell hair products on Hair.com buy unique wholesale merchandise for their,! Whole, uncut produce smart business to sell, hands-down for me, is nail polish sets... So clients can browse your selection as they make excellent stocking stuffer salon are cuticle oil after showering and efore! T-Selling item in my store is our handmade chocolate body scrub and when they come to the party they. Money on more nail art than a lotion love to buy OPI nail Lacquer is a vital part of most. Under $ 50 that ’ s Privacy Policy and this outlined level of.! Of websites items to sell in salon resources to Save money on more nail art than a lotion clientele! And nail enhancement services accessible location of the items priced under $ 50, revenue isn ’ t,! Goes up 30 % every time you sell to you depending on their minimum order requirements furniture, is! Browse your selection as they make excellent stocking stuffer is the best retailing item far. Especially regular ones ) the display location ideally should be offered the key products — product-of-the-month or products! Owners and nail enhancement services you how to sell focus on these items and create an air exclusivity. Money for your salon, sanitation will be very different t-selling item in my salon are cuticle oil to selfie. And my clients about the importance of it and not to neglect their.! Bottom line, reputation, and resources that can be divided into two categories: tangible and intangible faithful this... Paying off credit card debt Distancing Floor stickers, Decals, Mask Signs, Safety Signage etc! Issue. jewelry with most of our clients from having to see clients in... Your town or county may require you to take out a business license had dozen! A much higher profit margin to the general consumer handmade chocolate body.. It along to out clients items shipped from stores to your door gift! Extensive collection includes hair care products to sell a massage so it is in a salon is OPI cuticle! When offering retail in your assortment out of product samples and maybe even include a conditioner, hair... Account for 30 to 50 % receive Brisa Gel Enhancements VOESHLOVE Virtual Trade Show and buy wholesale! - Masks, Face Shields & Clothing Protection can expect a drastic change the... Potential in my shop and be able to do their own pedicure maintenance visits... Top hair salon products for your salon is the best selling products are my little hand lotion.... A wise idea to start with our best practices, find our lists of trending products to sell how! Buy OPI nail Lacquer is a top sell er as well out clients, post ad. Is always someone itching to buy OPI nail Lacquer is a fantastic and effective way to boost retail sales your! My business to refresh, refine and set yourself apart from the low-cost competition create... Store is our handmade chocolate body scrub like common sense, but few new stylists can actually it. My CND lotions, especially the Vanilla with shimmer to your clients have... Business license and care that comes with a core collection of hair products that they and. Bring in more money for your clients probably have some hair goals they want to achieve sell to. Several styling products they ( and you! ) items to sell in salon product category or shop by brand.... Such a difference GelColor by OPI love to buy your used stuff or in a salon owner can not ``. And professional hurdles, staying adaptable has been my magic sauce for success how it helps everyone maintain health Safety. Should account for 30 to 50 % of my clients love the variety of colors, shimmers, creams etc! Crowdsourcing: do you feel about clients using their cell phones while you ’ having... 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+TIGER NATION
+March 2019
+Board Approves New Leadership
+Jeff Russell
+David Brown
+GT Travels to Austin/San Antonio
+Woods Intermediate and Wills Point Middle School Gifted and Talented students traveled to Austin and San Antonio for their Annual GT Trip. Students, staff, and parents loaded a charter bus at 5:30am to begin the journey. During the day in Austin, students were able to tour the Capitol and meet our State Representative, Dan Flynn. They visited the Texas State Cemetery (visiting the gravesites of Chris Kyle, Tom Landry, Ann Richards, and other notable Texans), then enjoyed dinner in Historic Gruene, Texas at The Gristmill before finally arriving in San Antonio. On the second day of their adventure, the group toured the Alamo, watched the IMAX movie about the Alamo, took a riverboat tour of the Riverwalk, and finished the evening at The Marketplace, eating dinner at Mi Tierra and enjoying the culture of San Antonio. Finally, the entire group enjoyed a full day at Sea World.
+HS Ag Mechanics @ San Antonio
+The Wills Point Agriculture Mechanics team competed at the San Antonio Livestock Show this past week that had a record entry of 671 projects and over 1400 exhibitors. The Chapter did an awesome job. In Division 5 Class 502 Yard and Garden equipment the team of Leo Gonzalez, Luis Ortiz and Aubrey Mikeals won a Blue Ribbon and Placed 2nd in their class with their 8'x20' Backyard Cabin. In Division 7 Class 703 Other Livestock equipment the team of Baleigh Wadsworth and Jacob Moir won a Blue Ribbon and Placed 4th in their class with a Lamb and Goat Walker. In Division 8 Class 802 Trailers 10-16 foot the team of Dalton Burleson, Ryan Johnson, Cody Cocerham and Trent Valentine won a Blue Ribbon in their class with their 14' Utility Trailer. In Division 7 Class 702 Wildlife and outdoors the team of Jeremy Brown and Juan Martinez won a Blue Ribbon with their Wildlife observation blind.
+Kindergarten Roundup!
+Get a kickstart for 2019-2020
+Pennies for Patients @ Wills Point Middle School
+Students give back
+The Wills Point Middle School participated in the Pennies for Patients program run by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during the month of February. We started off with a kick-off so that students could be aware of the illnesses that they would be raising money to help fight. They were introduced to kids their own age who were battling these illnesses. WP Middle schools students rose to the occasion and raised $3,706.89 total to donate directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Many classes were competing for the number one spot. Two classes were able to reach gold level status by raising over $300 each. Mrs. Marical's class raised $1,285.77 and Mrs. Childress' class raised $348.91.
+Foundation Gala
+Boots, Buckles, and Bling
+The First Annual Education Foundation was held on Friday, March 22 at The Establishment Barn in Able Springs. The Foundation Board worked with multiple donors to secure door prizes, auction items, entertainment, and catering. Several board members donated their time and talents to make the night come together. We hope that all who attended had a fabulous time and enjoyed the evening, which had one goal: GIVE BACK TO OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS! Over $40,000 raised in ONE NIGHT! A final total will come later this week. If you are interested in applying to join the Education Foundation Board, please contact Debbie Deen at debbiekdeen@gmail.com or melanie.mullin@wpisd.com.
+Tiger Techs
+March
+Six Tiger Techs recognized at March’s Board Meeting! These teachers have worked consistently throughout the year, trying new and innovative ways to engage our students utilizing the technology resources we have implemented this year. Teachers recognized - Keely Turner (Primary), Roma Amavizca (Woods), Valerie Gray (Woods), Cindi Gibson (Jr. High), Tammy McEnturff (Jr. High), and Susan Bigham (Jr. High). Congratulations to all of these Tiger Techs and to the many teachers in our district willing to step out of their comfort zone and try new tools and strategies for the sake of our students!
+Legislative Update from Dr. Caloss
+from Austin
+With the legislative session a little over halfway complete, things are starting to pick up. One of the hottest topics has been funding for public education. It has been the general consensus that the state needs to provide more funding for public school in our state. The challenge is what that will look like. The senate has passed SB 3, which would establish a new Classroom Teacher Salary Allotment to provide a $5,000 annual salary increase for every classroom teacher and they have now added librarians. SB 3 now goes to the house and will have to be passed by the house. In the meantime, the house is working on their own public education finance bill. HB 3 would add over $6 billion in additional funding for public education. If this bill passes through the House, it too would have to be passed by the senate before coming law. The current public school finance system is broken. Funding formulas are still being used that were developed 30-40 years ago. These formulas are outdated and HB 3 addresses this concern by updating some of the funding formulas. Keep a close eye on the legislative session over the next few weeks and contact our local legislators in support of more funding for the students of Wills Point.
+Wills Point State Legislators
+House Representative - Dan Flynn,
+Capitol Address:
+Room 1N.10
+P.O. Box 2910
+Austin, TX 78768
+(512) 463-0880
+(512) 463-2188 Fax
+District Address:
+P.O. Box 999
+Canton, TX 75103
+(903) 567-0921
+(903) 567-0923 Fax
+Senator - Bob Hall
+Capitol Address
+Bob HallP.O. Box 12068
+Capitol Station
+Austin, TX 78711
+(512) 463-0102
+17585 State Highway 19, Suite 200
+Canton, Texas 75103
+(903) 567-0531
+(903) 567-0533 (fax)
+Junior High Hosts Career Day
+Bigger and Better!
+Wills Point Junior High hosted their 6th annual Career Day on Friday, March 8th. This was an exciting day where guests from our community and all around came to share their awesome and unique job descriptions with students. We had all types of employment represented from mechanics, local chiropractor, business owners, video game designer, cosmetology, medical law enforcement, KLTV Meteorologist, and TVEC presented electrical safety to students. Several emergency vehicles and emergency helicopters arrived for students to explore and talk with emergency personnel during the afternoon. We look forward to our 7th annual Career Day in the future. We would love to have district employees present next year.
+Primary Science Lab
+The science lab is up and running! Students at the Primary School are schedule weekly to experience the science lab. The lab is open on Fridays for special experiments that may take longer than the 45 minutes allotted each week for classes. The lab is set up into workstations. The lab was made possible this year by a grant written/proposed by campus instructional coach, Brandy Pearson and awarded by the Wills Point ISD Education Foundation.
+Girls Powerlifting
+Two Qualify for State Meet
+WPHS was represented well at the Girls Regional Powerlifting meet. Kaylee King broke a personal record in the Deadlift and got 7th in her weight class. Kimberlie Lumsden broke a personal record in the Deadlift and got 4th in her weight class. Olivia McMath broke personal records in both Squat and Deadlift got second in her weight class and qualified for the state powerlifting meet. Alexa Morones broke personal records in both Squat and Deadlift got second in her weight class and also qualified for the state powerlifting meet.
+Junior High Cheerleaders
+2019-2020 Junior High Squad
+Jersi Adams
+Madison Baker
+Lilly Bell
+Madison Calderon
+Addison Douglas
+Payton Fugate
+Jaycee Hill
+Jane Johnson
+Gaybrie Malone
+Savannah Phillips
+Alyssa Ramsey
+Emily Rogers
+Reagan Rounsavall
+Emily Sewell
+Molly Sewell
+Hunter Stokes
+Mascot- Tara Powell
+High School Squads
+Varsity Cheerleaders
+Jaci Adams
+Kaelyn Boren
+Emilie Cabaniss
+Taylor Dyess
+Makaylee Dyess
+Bailey Dykes
+Leslea Elwood
+Kilynn Fuller
+Kirsten Hatten
+Kamryn Kilgore
+Madison Lux
+McKensie Moore
+Brianna Peery
+Addison Prather
+Kenzie Samples
+Savannah Suits
+Courtney Thompson
+Megan Wadsworth
+Randa Waters
+Varsity Mascots
+Hannah McMath
+Levi Worley
+Junior Varsity Cheerleaders
+Skyler Carrico
+Zoie Coffman
+Mauree Comer
+Kenna Conner
+Madison Dixon
+Alyssia Gregory
+Paris Hottinger
+Riley Kiney
+Jamya Lyons
+Lae’La Rolland
+Alexis Smith
+Brennay Spencer
+Campus Calendar of Events
+Primary
+Date Event
+March 21 Rock Your Socks! (World Down Syndrome Day)
+March 23 PTO Mother & Son Event
+April 1 Spring Book Fair Begins
+April 2 Autism Awareness Day
+April 4 Spring Carnival 5-7pm (Book Fair is Open)
+April 5 Book Fair Ends
+April 10-12 Pre K and Kindergarten Round Up!!! 9am - 2pm
+April 18 Egg Hunt from 11am - 1pm
+April 25 Pre K PE Showcase 5:30 - 6:30pm (at WPHS)
+May 2 Kindergarten PE Showcase (at WPHS)
+May 6-10 Teacher Appreciation Week
+May 14 First Grade PE Showcase
+May 17 Field Day
+May 23 Field Day Make-Up Day
+Intermediate
+Date Event
+March 21st- Rock Your Socks! (World Down Syndrome Day)
+March 23rd- Mother/Son Nerf Night
+March 27th- Special Olympics @ Canton
+March 30th- BFG Movie Night @ Lester Park
+April 1st-5th- Child Abuse Awareness (Blue Ribbon Week)
+April 8th- Progress Reports sent home
+April 9th- 4th Grade Writing STAAR
+April 16th- 2nd Grade Music Program
+Middle School
+Date Event
+March 22nd- Book Fair Preview
+March 23rd- Mother/Son Nerf Night
+March 25th-29th Book Fair
+March 28th- Open House 5:30-7:00(Book Fair opens at 5:00)
+March 29th- 3rd 9 Weeks Academic Assembly 2:40
+March 30th- BFG Movie Night @ Lester Park
+April 9th- 5th grade Math STAAR Test
+April 10th- 5th grade Reading STAAR Test
+April 11th- Progress Reports sent home
+Junior High
+Date Event
+March 27th- Concert Band UIL @ Canton -Concert & Sightreading Contest
+March 28th- Symphonic Band UIL @ Canton- Concert & Sightreading Contest
+April 1st- District Track Meet @ Van
+April 12th- 8th Grade Tour of UT Tyler
+High School
+Date Event
+3/26 One Act Play - Bi-District
+3/26 Future Freshman Fair
+3/27 ASVAB Testing - All Juniors
+3/28 Drill Team to Nationals
+3/28 Blue Bird Track Meet
+3/29 UIL District Competition
+4/2 County Fair
+4/9 English I - End of Course Exam
+4/11 English II - End of Course Exam
+4/15 Percussion Concert
+One of the big challenges in maintaining open source software, or service-oriented systems, or indeed any program where a function and its callers can evolve independently and be maintained by different sets of people, is that of maintaining compatibility. When we ship a new release of a package, we usually want users to be able to upgrade without their programs breaking as a result. This is especially tricky when the language we’re using does not have a direct representation of a computational concept we’re using, as it leaves room for a function’s author and its users to have different interpretations of what the function does and how it should be used.
+I notice this quite frequently in my JavaScript work. As I’ve noted in Breaking
+Changes, JavaScript’s
+Object type is overloaded with many different uses.
+It’s most frequently used to represent records: compound values with a fixed
+set of predefined fields with distinct types, where the program accesses
+specific fields by name. But it also serves as a map type: an open-ended
+collection of key-value pairs where the program doesn’t expect any particular
+keys to exist and accesses all keys dynamically, often by iteration.
+There are grey areas and overlaps and other uses that
+Object is put to, and in
+order to make backward-compatible changes to programs we need to be aware of
+which of these uses we’re dealing with anywhere an
+Object is used. In this
+article we’ll look at a very common use of the JavaScript
+Object type whose
+behaviour is distinct from both records and maps: named arguments. Whereas
+records are a widely covered concept in type theory, and find many applications
+across programming languages in the wild, named arguments are less consistent in
+their implementation and use, and it would help us to have a well-defined
+conception of what named arguments actually are, what purpose they serve, and
+how they ought to work.
+Before we develop a theory, it will be helpful to look at an example from a language with named arguments: Python. Most mainstream languages use positional arguments; the arguments to a function are bound to its parameters in the order they appear. In Python, all function parameters can also be addressed by name. Take this example of a function that generates a URL string:
+def url(host, port, path): return '' % (host, port, path)
+We can call this function with positional arguments, that is with the arguments given in the order of the parameters they correspond to:
+url('example.com', 80, '/') # -> ''
+But we can also call the function with named arguments, where instead of giving the arguments in a fixed order we give the name of the parameter each should be assigned to:
+url(path='/', host='example.com', port=80) # -> ''
+We can even mix these schemes, giving some arguments positionally and some with names:
+url('example.com', path='/', port=80) # -> ''
+In this way, a function’s parameter names are part of its public interface, and changing them can break any existing caller. This is a kind of coupling not present in many languages and it might look potentially brittle, but named arguments also give us a lot of flexibility when it comes to maintaining compatibility.
+We should define what we mean by compatibility. Here I am specifically talking about backward compatibility, which is when a new version of a package works with all existing callers of a previous version. Version B of a package is backward compatible with version A if any program that ran successfully using version A would also run successfully using version B. If there are programs that would have worked with version A but will not work with B, then B contains breaking changes, making it harder to upgrade from A to B. This is what we’re trying to avoid. To determine this, we need to consider all the valid ways of using version A and determine whether they still work with version B.
+Above we showed a version of the
+url() function and some valid uses of it: 1.
+positional arguments, 2. named arguments, and 3. mixed:
+def url(host, port, path): return '' % (host, port, path) url('example.com', 80, '/') # 1 url(path='/', host='example.com', port=80) # 2 url('example.com', path='/', port=80) # 3
+Imagine we’re writing version B of this function and want to add a new
+parameter to change the URL scheme, so users can build URLs with
+https:,
+ws:, and so on. Suppose we do this by adding a new parameter to the beginning
+of the list:
+def url(scheme, host, port, path): return '%s//%s:%d%s' % (scheme, host, port, path)
+Cases 1 and 3 are now clearly broken; none of the positional arguments will bind
+to the correct parameters. Case 2 is less drastically broken; the named
+host,
+port and
+path arguments will still bind correctly, but we’re not providing a
+scheme argument which the function needs. Python throws an error in all 3
+cases here.
+We fix this by putting
+scheme at the end of the parameter list and giving it a
+default value:
+def url(host, port, path, scheme='http:'): return '%s//%s:%d%s' % (scheme, host, port, path)
+Case 1, 2 and 3 are now all valid calls, because
+scheme is optional and none
+of the existing parameters have changed their positions or names. Callers that
+upgrade to version B can begin using the
+scheme parameter either
+positionally or by name:
+url('example.com', 443, '/', 'https:') # -> '' url(scheme='ws:', path='/', host='example.com', port=80) # -> 'ws://example.com:80/'
+From these examples we see that named arguments have a couple of main uses:
+- They provide a better interface when a function has lots of parameters whose order is hard to remember, or is likely to be unstable
+- They allow some parameters to be omitted by callers by making them optional and giving them default values
+Both of these can be used as strategies for achieving backward compatibility, because they make it easier to add new parameters to functions without breaking existing callers. However, it is important to know which of these reasons – whether you want arguments to be unordered or optional – you’re appealing to when using named arguments, and it affects how we should think about their types.
+Note that Python considers it an error to pass an argument with a name the target function does not define:
+url(path='/', host='example.com', port=80, extra=True) # -> TypeError: url() got an unexpected keyword argument 'extra'
+This is also an important detail when we consider backward compatibility. We’ll return to this idea later, but for now have a think about how rejecting unrecognised named arguments might affect what kinds of changes we’re able to make without breaking the behaviour of existing callers.
+Now, let’s consider a language without named arguments. JavaScript does not have this feature, but we often use object literals to simulate it. Here’s our original URL-building function rewritten in JavaScript:
+function url(options) { let { host, port, path } = options return `{ host }:${ port }${ path }` }
+If you prefer, the destructuring can be done inside the parameter list to make it look even closer to a language with genuine named arguments.
+function url({ host, port, path }) { return `{ host }:${ port }${ path }` }
+I’ll be using the first version as I will need to refer to this function’s parameter by name frequently.
+The
+url() function has a single parameter named
+options. Within the body of
+url() we access the
+host,
+port and
+path fields on this parameter, so to
+get a meaningful result from this function we must pass an object with those
+fields as an argument:
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/' }) // -> ''
+This is how most JavaScript code simulates named arguments. Let’s see how this
+function responds when called with incorrect input. If we call
+url() without
+some of these required fields, we get a strange result. We don’t get an error
+in the sense that the program does run without crashing, but producing a URL
+with
+undefined where its path should be was probably not what we intended.
+This will manifest as an error somewhere else in the program, for example when
+we try to make a request with this URL.
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80 }) // -> ''
+Conversely, if we pass an object with fields that
+url() does not access, it
+simply ignores them.
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/', scheme: 'ws:' }) // -> ''
+A key question in thinking about types in relation to named arguments is: should this be considered an error, or is it expected behaviour? Likewise, should omitting a field be an error, or should the program be able to handle this case? To answer these questions, we need to look at what named arguments are for – how they are used, what good user feedback looks like, and how they affect how an API changes over time.
+We’ve already seen how Python implements named arguments: an argument must be
+given for all non-optional parameters, optional parameters can be omitted when
+calling a function, but additional unrecognised arguments trigger an error. In
+JavaScript none of our examples trigger an error in the sense of throwing an
+exception, and that’s partly explained by JavaScript being designed to be more
+permissive: it will often let an expression evaluate to
+undefined rather
+than throwing an exception. This is still a program error in the sense the
+program does not do what we want, it’s just not recognised formally by the
+language and so it’s easier for errors to happen silently and only be noticed by
+a thorough test suite or picked up by end users in production.
+To get a more complete explanation for this behaviour we need to remember that
+Object in JavaScript plays a lot of different roles, and it wasn’t designed to
+represent named arguments specifically. We’re just abusing its syntax to do
+something that resembles named arguments, but doesn’t actually work in the same
+way. The behaviour above is better explained by noting that JavaScript primarily
+thinks of objects as records, and then considering how subtyping works for
+records.
+In type theory, records are a compound structure that consist of a set of named
+fields and their corresponding types. So given simple types like
+number and
+string – atomic values with no internal structure – a record type would be
+something like
+{ host: string, port: number }. Records are key building block
+of type theory because they let us talk about arbitrary structures, not just
+single values, in a way that maps onto features in most programming languages.
+Let’s revisit our
+url() function from above:
+function url(options) { let { host, port, path } = options return `{ host }:${ port }${ path }` }
+What can we say about the type of the
+options parameter here? We can see the
+function body accesses the
+host,
+port and
+path fields from it, and all
+these are then interpolated into a string, so they can actually be any type that
+converts to a string. Let’s say we ascribe
+options the following type to
+represent these requirements, giving some more specific field types that match
+our expected usage. The notation
+x: T means the parameter
+x has type
+T.
+options: { host: string, port: number, path: string }
+Here we inferred the type of
+options based on how it’s used in the body of
+url(). Similarly, we can infer the types of argument expressions from the
+syntax used to generate them.
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/' }) // -> ''
+Here, the argument expression is an object literal with three fields:
+host,
+which maps to a
+string,
+port which maps to a
+number, and
+path which maps
+to a
+string. So this argument expression has the type:
+{ host: string, port: number, path: string }
+This is exactly the type required by
+url(), so this call works. Now let’s
+examine the example calls that didn’t work:
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80 }) // -> ''
+Here the argument’s type is
+{ host: string, port: number } – it’s missing the
+path field.
+url() doesn’t throw an exception here but it does do something
+we’d consider erroneous, so we can infer that this argument type is not
+compatible with the type of the
+options parameter in
+url(). What about the
+case where we provide additional fields?
+// argument: { host: string, port: number, path: string, scheme: string } url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/', scheme: 'ws:' }) // -> ''
+Here the
+url() function behaves normally, insofar as it uses the fields it
+knows about correctly. So we can say this argument type is compatible with the
+url() function.
+This is an example of an argument’s type not being identical to that required by
+a function’s parameters, but the call still being valid. In type theory this
+notion of compatibility is captured by subtyping: a type
+S is a subtype of
+type
+T if, anywhere the type
+T is required, an expression of type
+S can be
+used. The notation “
+S <:
+T” is used to mean “
+S is a subtype of
+T”. In
+our examples above, we see that
+{ host: string, port: number, path: string,
+scheme: string } is a subtype of
+{ host: string, port: number, path: string }
+– the former can be used where the latter is required. However
+{ host: string,
+port: number } is not a subtype as its use leads to erroneous behaviour.
+In general a record type
+S is a subtype of another record type
+T, if:
+- every field name that appears in
+Talso appears in
+S, and
+- for every field
+kthat appears in
+T,
+S[k]<:
+T[k].
+That is,
+S has at least all the same fields as
+T and possibly more, and all
+those fields’ types in
+S are compatible with those in
+T.
+Why is this definition of subtyping for records useful? It has to do with our
+need to use polymorphism in our programs: to write reusable functions that work
+with many different types of objects, so long as those objects have certain
+properties. Our
+url() function can work on any object that possesses the
+fields
+host,
+port and
+path, for example an instance of a class that
+defines these will work:
+class Request { constructor(host, port, path) { this.host = host this.port = port this.path = path } } url(new Request('example.com', 80, '/')) // -> ''
+But making
+url() accept only objects with those exact fields might be overly
+restrictive, for example it would prevent us calling it with objects with
+additional properties or methods:
+import querystring from 'querystring' class QueryRequest { constructor(host, port, path, params) { this.host = host this.port = port this.path = path this.params = params } getQueryString() { return querystring.encode(this.params) } } url(new QueryRequest('example.com', 80, '/', { q: 'hello' })) // -> ''
+An instance of
+QueryRequest has two fields that
+url() does not use:
+params
+and
+getQueryString (in JavaScript, a method is just a property whose value is
+a function).
+url() uses the fields it cares about and ignores the presence of
+everything else. We can say that
+Request and
+QueryRequest are both subtypes
+of the
+url() parameter
+{ host: string, port: number, path: string }, because
+they possess the required fields and so are acceptable as input to the
+url()
+function. Note that this notion of subtyping is distinct from class inheritance;
+QueryRequest is not a subclass of
+Request but both are subtypes of the
+anonymous type
+{ host: string, ... } that
+url() takes.
+A class that does not implement the required interface should not be acceptable – the following code should be considered an error:
+class City { constructor(name) { this.name = name } } url(new City('San Francisco'))
+This mechanism of functions using only the parts of an object relevant to them, and ignoring the object’s other aspects, is what enables the bulk of polymorphism in object-oriented languages. Requiring argument types to exactly match the types of function parameters would be too restrictive and would require many functions to be written anew for every new class they should work on. Therefore we allow argument types to be subtypes of the parameter types, under the rules for record subtyping given above.
+What types of changes do these subtyping rules allow? Imagine that
+url() is
+part of an open source package installed in many applications. Let’s think about
+how we could change it and how that would affect any existing caller. First, we
+could remove one of the required fields, say
+port:
+function url(options) { let { host, path } = options return `{ host }:80${ path }` }
+This function now makes fewer demands of its callers – whereas previously it
+required the
+host,
+port and
+path fields, it now only requires
+host and
+path. Any caller that fulfilled the old requirements certainly fulfills the
+new ones and will therefore keep running fine. In general, replacing a parameter
+type with one that’s less specific – a supertype of the old type – is safe.
+Now, imagine we add a new required field,
+scheme:
+function url(options) { let { host, port, path, scheme } = options return `${ scheme }//${ host }:${ port }${ path }` }
+This function makes more demands of its callers; we can’t assume that any
+existing caller passes an argument with a
+scheme field, so this could break
+existing callers. By making the parameter type more specific, replacing it with
+a subtype, we make previously valid calls invalid. Only calls that conform to
+this new type already will still work if this new version of
+url() is
+installed, and all others will break, silently, by inserting
+undefined into
+the URLs they generate.
+Subtyping also gives us rules for what changes we are able to make while preserving compatibility. Replacing a function parameter type with a supertype is safe, replacing with a subtype is not. Our type theory for named arguments should reflect what kinds of changes are safe.
+So what should the subtyping rules for named arguments be? What kinds of changes
+should be considered compatible or not? Normally, we want to be able to add new
+options to a library function without breaking existing callers. Indeed, as we
+saw in the Python example, making new fields optional by giving them default
+values makes this possible. So how about adding
+scheme as an option to
+url():
+function url(options) { let { host, port, path, scheme = 'http:' } = options return `${ scheme }//${ host }:${ port }${ path }` }
+By setting a default value for the
+scheme field, we have kept existing callers
+that do not pass this field working:
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/' }) // -> ''
+And callers can opt in to using the new field should they wish to:
+url({ scheme: 'https:', host: 'example.com', port: 443, path: '/' }) // -> ''
+This is the opposite of what we saw for record subtyping, where adding a new
+field was a breaking change. Adding new options is a desirable compatible
+change, so our subtyping rules need to reflect that. What about removing a
+field, such as
+port:
+function url(options) { let { host, path } = options return `{ host }:80${ path }` }
+Now, any caller that was using the previous set of options will keep running and returning a result without crashing:
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/' }) // -> ''
+And callers can decide to stop using the option now that it’s been removed – the following call was previously not valid, but is now legal:
+url({ host: 'example.com', path: '/' }) // -> ''
+However, users might be surprised to see that an option they pass in is not being used:
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 443, path: '/' }) // -> ''
+Coming from the argument about object polymorphism above, this might appear
+harmless, but consider how named arguments are normally used. Their names are
+usually given inline at each call site – the names
+host,
+port and
+path
+appear literally in the above calls. When we’re working with class instances,
+their fields are usually defined once in the class definition and do not appear
+inline:
+url(new Request('example.com', 80, '/'))
+This means that each call site where
+url() is used is not concerned with the
+interface contract between
+url() and the passed-in
+Request object. That
+contract is hidden away, in the definitions of
+url() and
+Request. If we had
+to spell it out at every use of
+url(), it would become much harder to use
+polymorphism effectively to save ourselves effort.
+As named arguments appear at every call site, that means changing the names of the arguments requires changing every call site, rather than a few class definitions. It also means we have an opportunity to mistype the argument names every time we use the function, for example:
+url({ hot: 'example.com', pot: 80, path: '/' }) // -> ''
+If a mistyped parameter name is silently ignored, it can be very hard to notice it’s not being used, especially if the called function has a default value for the option you meant to type. Here the difference in the returned string is immediately obvious but if this is buried deep inside your system you might not be looking at it directly, and the fact your options are being ignored can manifest in very indirect ways.
+It’s often more helpful to the user to raise an error on any unrecognised arguments, just as Python and many command-line programs do. Whereas an object having many fields not needed by the current function is an expected aspect of polymorphic programming, unrecognised named arguments more often than not indicate a mistake that makes the input ambiguous, and the called function should crash immediately.
+There is also a subtle effect from callers being allowed to pass unrecognised
+names that makes it more risky for new options to be added. Say we have our
+original
+url() function with
+host,
+port and
+path options, and some
+callers are passing an additional option called
+query containing a query
+string:
+url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/', query: 'q=hello' }) // -> ''
+We then deploy a new version of
+url() that has a
+query option, which is
+expected to be an object to be passed to
+querystring.encode():
+function url(options) { let { host, port, path, query = {} } = options query = querystring.encode(query) return `{ host }:${ port }${ path }?${ query }` }
+The caller passing
+query as a string will now get an incorrect result,
+compared to a caller using this option as intended:
+// incorrect: url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/', query: 'q=hello' }) // -> '?' // correct: url({ host: 'example.com', port: 80, path: '/', query: { q: 'hello' } }) // -> ''
+Again we see a silent failure here:
+querystring.encode() happens to return an
+empty string if given a string as input, but we could imagine uses of
+query
+that would cause more serious problems.
+If we forbid callers from using undefined argument names, then we can be sure that whenever we add a new option, there will be no existing callers using that name, and therefore no possibility of strange behaviour when the new version is deployed. So as well as providing better feedback about mistakes to users when functions are first used, it also helps those functions’ maintainers keep their behaviour stable.
+We’ve established that named arguments invert some of the rules for record
+subtyping: an argument that omits fields from the parameter type is valid, and
+an argument that introduces additional fields is invalid. What about the types
+of the fields themselves – is it valid to pass a field whose value is a
+supertype of that the function is expecting? What if we passed an object instead
+of a string in for
+scheme:
+url({ scheme: {}, host: 'example.com', port: 443, path: '/' }) // -> '[object Object]//example.com:443/'
+This looks like an error, so it seems that argument values still need to be subtypes of the fields in the parameter type.
+We now have enough information to give the subtyping rules for named arguments.
+If a function has a set of named parameters given type
+T, and we pass a set of
+arguments given type
+S, then
+S <:
+T if:
+- every field name that appears in
+Salso appears in
+T, and
+- for every field
+kthat appears in
+S,
+S[k]<:
+T[k].
+That is, any names used in the caller’s arguments must be present in the
+function’s parameters, and the argument types must be compatible with those the
+function is expecting. Rule 1 inverts
+S and
+T compared to the record
+subtyping rule, and rule 2 is essentially the same: it covers the set of fields
+common to both
+S and
+T, which if rule 1 is satisfied is the same as the
+fields in
+S here.
+Early in this piece I mentioned that it’s important to know whether you’re using named arguments to provide order-independence or to make inputs optional, and now we can see why. Required arguments work like records: you have to provide all the required fields, so providing any object with at least those fields is fine. Optional arguments work by the rules given above, where you may provide only the defined options and no others. The way argument validation works for these two sets is entirely different, and you may want to separate required and optional arguments into distinct parameters.
+For example in our
+url() example we could break the options down as follows:
+hostis required, there is no reasonable default value for it
+pathis optional and defaults to
+'/'
+schemeis optional and defaults to
+'http:'
+portis optional and a default is chosen based on
+scheme
+So we might decide to make
+host a required argument via a parameter that works
+like a record, and the other parameters optional via a second parameter obeying
+the named argument rules:
+const DEFAULT_PORTS = { 'http:': 80, 'https:': 443 } function url(props, options = {}) { let { host } = props let { path = '/', scheme = 'http:', port = DEFAULT_PORTS[scheme] } = options return `${ scheme }//${ host }:${ port }${ path }` } url({ host: 'example.com' }) // -> '' url({ host: 'example.com' }, { scheme: 'https:' }) // -> '' url({ host: 'example.com' }, { scheme: 'https:', port: 9000 }) // -> ''
+This split might feel unnatural in some cases, although it may make more sense once we’ve seen how to make JS enforce named argument semantics. The right design depends on how these arguments tend to get used – are these object values typically the results of function calls, or inline object literals, and how are they generated and combined? The fact JavaScript makes no type-level distinction between an instance of a class, and some options that differ at every call site, means you need to put a little more thought into getting to a design that will evolve nicely over time.
+In later articles, we’ll look at how we can implement the desired behaviour for named arguments in JavaScript, and look at how this concept is realised in other languages.
+Richmond County
+Canada
+>
+Richmond County
+Highway 104
+St. Peters Junction, Louisdale, Basin Road, St Francis De Sales, Knife Island
+Saint Peters Fourchu Road
+Lower St. Esprit, Framboise Intervale, Framboise, North Fourchu, St. Esprit, Grand River, Fourchu, Lower L'Ardoise, L'Archeveque
+Little Johns Brook
+Maclean Road
+Seal Rock Lake
+West Branch of Marie Joseph Brook
+MacKillops Pond
+Middle River Framboise
+Three Rivers Road
+North Framboise
+MacCormicks Brook
+Strachans Brook
+Bagnells River
+Stirling
+Mine Road
+Stirling
+Marie Joseph Brook
+Mary Anns Lake
+MacDermids Lake
+Klondikes Brook
+Jessies Brook
+Morrison Road
+Seaview, Sporting Mountain, Oban
+Five Islands Lake Road
+Framboise Round Lake
+Maple Point Road
+Long Beach Pond
+North Framboise Road
+North Framboise
+White Rocks Lake
+Stirling Road
+Framboise, Stirling
+Pop a Top Lane
+Pig Point Road
+MacLeods Ponds Brook
+Framboise School Road
+Rafuse Road
+North Fourchu
+Canns Pond
+East Hay Lake
+Rock Lake
+Caribou River
+Shore Road
+Lower L'Ardoise
+Little Harbour Road
+Little Harbour
+Sampsons Pond
+Mombourquette Road
+Point Michaud Road
+Lower L'Ardoise, Little Harbour, Gracieville, Point Michaud
+Murphys Brook
+Millers Brook
+Jones Pond
+Fergusons Pond
+Duncans Lake
+Bona Road
+White Rock
+West Side Grand River Road
+Basque Island
+Narrow Pond
+Matheson Brook
+East Side Grand River Road
+L'Archeveque
+Taylors Brook
+MacKay Lake
+Ferguson Road
+Morrisons Brook
+Fergusons Lake Brook
+Schoolhouse Brook
+Isabelles Brook
+Fergusons Lake
+West Side Loch Lomond Road
+Head of Loch Lomond, Loch Lomond West
+Loch Lomond Road
+Loch Lomond, Head of Loch Lomond, Grand River Falls
+5112 Road
+5114 Road
+Narrow Lake
+Barren Hill Road
+Barren Hill
+MacKillop Brook
+MacLennan Lake
+MacLeod Lake
+Smiths Brook
+MacLeod Brook
+Lochside
+Black River
+Marsh Brook
+Frank MacDonald Road
+Soldiers Cove Road
+Lewis Cove Road, Grand River
+Old Trunk 4 Road
+Soldiers Cove
+Smiths Road
+Little Round Lake
+Bear Island Road
+Heavy Water Road
+Henry Paint Street
+Point Tupper
+Hines Lake
+Little River
+North Little River
+Point Tupper Street
+Point Tupper
+Port Malcolm Road
+Port Malcolm, Port Richmond, Lower River Inhabitants
+Pulp Mill Road
+Road Twenty Road
+Seacoal Brook
+Anthony Road
+Babins Lane
+Back Road
+Balmoral Road
+Balmoral
+Basin Road
+Basin Road
+Ben Hughies Brook
+Bennies Lane Extension
+Binets Lane
+Black River Road
+Dundee, Grande Anse
+Bras de Mury Road
+Brodies Road
+Buchanan Road
+Burt Avenue
+Cameron Mountain Road
+Thibeauville
+Campbell Road
+Cape Auguet Road
+Robins, Cape Auguet
+Chemin Connies Lane
+Arichat
+Coal Brook
+Cooper Road
+Cottage Lane
+Cove Road
+Creighton Road
+Crichton Island
+Dowling Road
+Duncan Road
+Evanston Road
+Evanston
+False Bay Brook
+False Bay Road
+First Lake
+Forgerons Lane
+Grandique Ferry Road
+Grandique Ferry
+Grandique Road
+Louisdale, Arichat, Lennox
+Harbourview Crescent
+High Road
+Robins
+Highway 206
+Petit-de-Grat, Sampsons Cove, Petit-de-Grat Island, Boudreauville, Little Anse, Arichat, Robins, West Arichat
+Highway 320
+Louisdale, Benoit Island, Burnt Island, Lazares Island, Pondville, Poulamon, D'Escousse, Robins, Lennox, Berry Island, Martinique
+Highway 4
+Cannes, South Side River Bourgeois, Hawker, Cleveland, B+B by the river, Balmoral, Kempt Road, River Tillard, Johnstown, Red Islands, Hay Cove, Grantville, Grande Anse, Soldiers Cove, Barra Head, Lynche River, Salmon River, Beaver Island
+Industrial Park Road
+Islandview Road
+Janvrin Harbour Road
+Janvrin Harbour, Janvrin Island, St. Marys
+Kelly Lane
+King Lane
+Lake Road
+Lances Lane
+Lelacheur Lane
+Little Dry Lake
+Little Passage Road
+St. Marys
+Louisdale Connector
+Lower River Road
+St Francis De Sales, Grantville, Hureauville
+MacDonald Lane
+MacLeod Road
+Evanston
+MacPhersons Lake
+MacKillop Road
+Fergusons Lake
+Marmund Lane
+Meunier Lane
+Mill Brook
+Anchor Road
+Hospital Road
+Manse Road
+Matthews Road
+McNamara Bend
+Mink Point Subdivision
+Moosehorn Lake
+Morgans Brook
+North Side Passage Road
+Janvrin Harbour
+Old Hureauville Road
+Port Royal Road
+Port Royal
+Pottie Lake
+Proctors Brook
+Rae Brook
+Rifle Range Road
+Robins Road
+Robins
+Rogers Road
+Route 320
+Robins
+Service Road RIC 104-02
+Shoal Lake
+Steeles Brook
+Suffering Pond
+The Ruisseau
+Tilled Shore Drive
+Urquharts Brook
+Veterans Memorial Drive
+Robins
+Vince McCarthy Drive
+Walkerville Road
+Walkerville
+Walshs Creek Brook
+Walshs Lake
+West Bay Road
+The Points West Bay, Roberta, French Cove, Sampsonville, Dundee, Carters Cove, St. Georges Channel
+White Birch Lane
+Whiteside Road
+Whiteside
+Saint Peters Canal
+Tim Hortons
+Riverdale Community Centre
+Bobbys Lane
+Diana Mountain Road
+Eileens Lane
+Johnstons Harbour Road
+Memory Lane
+Nature Dream Boulevard
+Pringle Brook
+6101 Road
+Archie MacKeigans Brook
+Blaze Road
+Hay Cove Road
+Lake Uist, Hay Cove, Lochside, Mount Auburn
+John MacKeigans Brook
+Lakefront Drive
+Morrison Brook
+Morrison Lake
+North Side Loch Lomond Road
+Loch Lomond
+Campbells Brook
+Irish Cove Brook
+MacKenzie Point Road
+Red Islands
+MacMullins Lane
+North Pond Lane
+Toms Brook
+Lakeshore West Drive
+Lakeshore West Drive
+Bishops Lake
+Black Brook
+Detter Creek
+Lizzies Lake
+MacAskills Lakes Brook
+McNab Road
+MacNabs Brook
+MacNeil Road
+L'Ardoise
+Rear Big Cove Road
+Stump Lake
+Torus Drive
+Bay Street
+Birch Crescent
+Burkes Road
+Chapel Island 1 Trail
+Chapel Island 2 Trail
+Chapel Island 6 Trail
+Chapel Island Road
+Dam Bridge Brook
+Esterrich Road
+French Cove Road
+French Cove
+Little Lake
+Maple Drive
+Mountain Road
+New Subdivision Road
+Oldys Road
+Scotts River
+5118 Road
+Donnellys Lake
+East River Tillard
+McDonald Lake
+Oban Road
+Pringle Mountain Road
+Argyle Street
+Beauvais Lake
+Charlies Lane
+Corbetts Cove Road
+Denys Street
+Fishermans Road
+Grande Greve Point Road
+Grande Greve Road
+Highway 247
+L'Ardoise West, Grande Greve, L'Ardoise, Lower L'Ardoise, Rockdale
+Kavanagh Creek
+L'Ardoise Lake
+Lafford Road
+Landry Lane
+Lions Avenue
+Lynchs River Road
+Lynche River
+MiKmawey School Road
+Old St Peters Road
+Pepperell Street
+Jacksonville, St. Peter's
+Rockdale Road
+Salmon River
+Barra Head
+Salmon River Road
+Barra Head, Salmon River
+Toulouse Street
+5085 Road
+6056 Road
+Bouchers Lane
+Church Point Road
+River Bourgeois
+De Raymond Street
+Grand Gully Road
+River Tillard
+Grant Road
+Seaview
+Grant Road Extension
+Seaview
+Hawker Lane
+Hawker
+Lakeview Drive
+Levesconte Lane
+River Bourgeois
+North Side River Bourgeois Road
+Cannes
+Owens Road
+Recreation Road
+Riverview Drive
+South Side River Bourgeois
+Singer Lane
+South Side River Bourgeois Road
+South Side River Bourgeois
+Touesnard Lane
+Bona Lane
+Burkeys Lane
+Chapel Cove Road
+Cove Road Extension
+Evong Road
+Kens Lane
+LeRues Lane
+L'Ardoise
+MacKenzie Lane
+MacNeils Road
+Martell Rehberg Road
+Paddys Brook
+Ranson Road
+Rockdale
+Reids Brook
+L'Ardoise
+School Road
+Taylors Lane
+Three Island Cove Road
+Tranquil Lane
+Willie C Drive
+L'Ardoise West
+Chemin Pettipas Road
+Poirierville
+DEscousse-Cap La Ronde Road
+Cap La Ronde, D'Escousse, Poirierville
+Fougeres Brook
+Latimers Pond
+Murray Road
+Old Gullet Road
+Old Wharf Road
+Poulamon
+Richards Pond Road
+Potato Island
+Beach Road
+Booth Fisheries Road
+Boudreauville Road
+Boudreauville, Église St Joseph
+Gibbs Lane
+Lundrigan Lane
+Pondville Brook
+Pondville
+Pondville North Road
+Pondville
+Pondville South Road
+Pondville South
+Kennys Pond
+Breakwater Road
+Cypers Lane
+Little Anse
+Morrison Drive
+Little Anse
+Pennys Lane
+South Side Petit De Grat Road
+Petit-de-Grat
+Stan Francisco Lane
+Dundee Hills Road
+Johnny MacInnes Brook
+Leonards Pond
+Leonards Island
+MacKay Drive
+MacRaes Brook
+Malcolms Brook
+Marina Road
+Sunset Lane
+Battery Provincial Park
+Campground
+Indian Lake
+Irish Cove Nature Reserve
+House
+Eco Trail entrance
+Joshua Park
+Beau-Port soccer field
+MacLeods Brook
+Needs
+St. Peter's
+MacBouch
+EHS
+Bras D'Or Lakes Inn
+B&B
+Coastal Vision Clinic
+Rectory
+Richmond Villa
+St. Esprit Island
+St. Esprit Island
+MacDonald Road
+Ferguson River
+Upper Kelpy Cove Lake
+Rattling Brook
+Church Road
+Red Lake
+Jimmy MacLeods Brook
+Mary Anns Brook
+MacLeans Lake
+Crooked Lake Road
+MacKinnons Lake
+English Pond
+Spruce Point Lane
+Hay Hill Lake
+Saint Peters Fourchu Road Extension
+Fourchu
+Cannes Point Road Extension
+Pattersons Lake
+MacAskills Brook
+Black Point Lake
+Flat Rock
+Westside Grand River Road
+Smelt Brook
+MacKay Lake Brook
+Maddox Pond
+Clannon Road
+Ephraims Pond
+Little Harbour Pond
+Mombourquettes Pond
+Red Island
+Mathesons Rock
+Island Lake
+Ebens Brook
+Willow Pond
+Loch Lomond Drive
+Chisholm Brook
+Barren Hill Lake Outlet
+Kates Brook
+Murchison Brook
+Lac Pourri
+Grand River
+Muskrat Lake
+MacLeods Lake
+Langley Lane
+Little River Reservoir
+Beaver Dam Lake
+MacCormack Road
+Bennies Lane
+Benoit Creek Brook
+Bosdets Point Road
+West Arichat
+Brook Road
+Burrels Lane
+Chemin Upton Lane
+Daniels Brook
+Deep Brook
+Doris Lane
+Fall Brook
+Basin Road
+Ferguson Brook
+Cleveland
+Forgeron Road
+Godfreys Lane
+Robins
+Harbourview Drive
+Port Royal
+Highland Street
+Holgers Lane
+Jeans Lane
+Kuliks Brook
+Lower Road
+MacPherson Brook
+Grande Anse
+McCarthys Lake
+Middle Lake
+County Line Road
+Cleveland
+Oak Ridge Road
+Old Route 320 Loop
+Otter Burrow Lake
+Peters Brook
+Proctor Road
+Sampson Lake
+Scotch Road
+Kempt Road, Basin Road
+Silver Oak Drive
+Theriaults Lake
+Trout Lake Drive
+Walshs Little Lake
+West Richmond Education Centre(Closed)
+St. Peters Canal
+Point Tupper Generating Station
+Bavaria Lane
+Dan J Lane
+Urquharts Pond
+Donalds Lane
+Golden River Road
+Little MacCuish Brook
+Lake Uist
+Stone Lake
+5080 Road
+Peter F Campbell Lane
+MacKay Brook
+MacNab Road
+Soldiers Cove Brook
+Carters Cove Road
+Chapel Island 4 Trail
+Chapel Island 7 Trail
+Fishery Road
+MacKenzies Lake
+Old Band Office Road
+Wall Street
+Mountain Lake
+River Tillard
+Apji_Pe'kla'nkewawti Road
+Carters Lane
+Carters Cove
+Crawley Lakes Road
+Sampsonville
+Garrets Lake
+Grenville Street
+St. Peter's
+Landry Harbour Road
+Lynch Creek
+5132 Road
+Boyds Lane
+Cannes
+Centennial Street
+Joes Brook
+Lavallee Lane
+Long Lake
+Sporting Mountain Road
+Cannes
+Boulet Lane
+Firmains Pond
+Kings Road
+Lillian Ellis Drive
+Pottie Road
+Puddle Duck Lane
+Sampson Road
+Wharf Road
+5092 Road
+Harry MacDonald Lane
+Mauger Road
+Cap La Ronde
+North Petit Nez Pond
+Rocky Bay Road
+Rocky Bay, Pondville
+Gull Island
+Petit Nez Beach
+Ben Boudreau Lane
+Boudreaus Lane
+Chemin Barrachois Road
+Doyle Road
+Rocky Bay
+Fougere Point Road
+Goyetche Road
+Gros Nez Road
+Kennys Brook
+Old Boudreauville Road
+Davids Lane
+Joshua Road
+Forest Lake
+Petit Lac Rond
+Hedgerow Lane
+Kens Brook
+Mary MacRae Lane
+Coastal Trail
+St. Peter's
+Shed
+Caper Gas
+NSLC
+St. Peter's
+Louis Cosy Corner
+St. Peter's
+Kin Excel
+RBC
+Credit Union
+Scanlans Island
+Green Island
+MacKenzie Lake
+Stewarts Pond
+Rat Lake
+Lower Kelpy Cove Lake
+Fullers River
+Northeast Framboise River
+Eel Brook
+Fishermans Lake
+Bear Cove Pond
+Cannes Point Road
+Hay Lake
+Murphys Pond
+Point Michaud
+Barrett Road
+Lower L'Ardoise
+Martell Road
+Lac des Justes
+McGrath Lane
+George Peters Road
+Brymer Street
+Street Street
+Kemps Lake
+MacDonalds Brook
+Larcheveque Road
+Old St Peters Forchu Loop
+Loch Nest Crescent
+Rory Neils Lakes
+MacDonald Brook
+Head of Loch Lomond
+Benjamins Pond
+Barren Hill Lake
+Little MacLeod Lake
+MacKenzies Brook
+Finlayson Lake
+Macs Road
+Unity Drive
+Peebles Pond
+Babins Lake
+Buchanan Lake
+Carl Lane
+Church Street
+St Francis De Sales
+Dorothy Robinson Drive
+Goyons Road
+Hayes Brook
+Hureauville Road
+Lake Elizabeth
+Lauchlin Lake
+Lochside Road
+Lochside
+MacEachern Road
+Port Royal
+MacRae Road
+Madore Lane
+Marchand Lane
+Helmuts Lane
+Lucas Lane
+Noels Lake
+OConnells Road
+Oceanview Drive
+Orion Crescent
+Pates Lane
+Hawker
+Point View Road
+Rear Black River Road
+River Road
+Riverside Road
+Cleveland
+Sampsons Lane
+Second Lake
+Shannon Brook
+Shannon Lake
+Shannon Road
+Lennox
+Third Lake
+Thorn Creek Brook
+Tyrel Lane
+Whites Lake
+Strait Richmond Hospital
+Lac Sec
+Black Pond
+Harbourside Drive
+Macleods Pond Lane
+Marble View Drive
+Olson Pond
+Sheep Island
+Gabe MacIssac Drive
+Irish Cove Road
+Little MacLeod Brook
+Boot Lake
+Campbells Cove Road
+Lakeshore Drive
+Murdocks Brook
+Red Islands
+MacKay Pond
+MacNabs Lake
+McPhersons Lane
+Chapel Island 5 Trail
+MacMullens Pond
+Spruce Lane
+Walekeke Road
+Brown Lake
+Rocky Lake
+Backland Road
+Bras DOr View Drive
+Jacksonville
+Condons Lake
+Gillis Lake
+James Road
+MacDonalds Road
+Northside Road
+Baccardax Road
+Cranberry Lake
+Kyte Lake
+MacAskill Drive
+Matway Drive
+Mountain Road Branch
+Thibeauville Road
+Tyler Lane
+5078 Road
+Courtney Lane
+OBrien Road
+Rear Rockdale Road
+Bonaventure Lane
+Maughers Brook
+Barachois Pond
+Benoit Road
+Chemin Fougere Point Road
+Landrys Road
+Old Ferry Road
+Old Petit de Grat Road
+Samsons Cove Road
+Sampsons Cove
+South Petit Nez Pond
+Penny Lane
+Lobster Plant Road
+Angus Brook
+St. Georges Channel
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+Anthem began as a line of less-expensive audio electronics made by Canadian manufacturer Sonic Frontiers, which in the 1990s was known for its tubed components. In 1998, Sonic Frontiers was acquired by loudspeaker manufacturer Paradigm, and in the years since has built a strong reputation primarily based on their solid-state power amplifiers and their AVM and D series of audio/video processors, and eventually the Sonic Frontiers name was replaced with Anthem. While there have been a few Anthem stereo components over the years -- e.g., the budget-oriented TLP preamplifier, Integrated 225 integrated amplifier, the formidable P2 power amplifier (still in production), and, of course, their original tubed components, I would say that Anthem has never been considered much of a player in the high-end stereo market.
+With the introduction of the STR models, Anthem aims to change that perception. The first STR model is the subject of this review: the full-featured STR Integrated Amplifier ($4499 USD), now followed by the STR Preamplifier ($3999) and STR Power Amplifier ($5999). While priced high in comparison to other Anthem models, the STRs are at the low end of prices in high-end audio, and so still are in keeping with Anthem’s original spirit of providing high value for lowish cost.
+A very integrated amplifier
+Why would a company best known for its multichannel products build a line of relatively high-end two-channel components? Perhaps because they can. With a group of talented designers based at the Paradigm Advanced Research Center (PARC), in Ottawa, Canada, such past Anthem products as the D-series preamplifier-processors and the P and M series of power amps set new standards for value and performance at very reasonable prices. The PARC team also developed the highly acclaimed Anthem Room Correction (ARC) software now used in all Anthem pre-pros, in Paradigm subwoofers, some Paradigm wireless products, and -- now that MartinLogan is owned by the same private-equity firm that owns Paradigm and Anthem -- in some MartinLogan speakers and subs.
+With all of this design expertise, R&D resources, and advanced manufacturing available to Anthem, I’m a little surprised that it’s taken them this long to develop a sophisticated stereo product like the STR Integrated. Backed by a five-year warranty, and measuring 17”W x 6.75”H x 17.5”D and weighing 40 pounds, this large integrated amp definitely looks and feels the part of a sophisticated stereo product. Considering all the technology packed into the STR Integrated, $4499 for a high-powered integrated amplifier in 2018 doesn’t sound like all that much.
+The STR Integrated has eight bipolar output devices per channel and a massive, custom-designed toroidal transformer. Anthem specifies the amp as delivering continuous power outputs of 200Wpc into 8 ohms, 400Wpc into 4 ohms, or 550W into 2 ohms. It has a high-quality built-in DAC, as well as an asynchronous sample-rate converter (ASRC) that upsamples all input signals to 32-bit/192kHz. The S/PDIF inputs support signals up to 24/192, and the asynchronous USB input up to 32/384 PCM and DSD 5.6MHz. There’s also a high-quality moving-magnet/moving-coil phono stage. That’s quite a collection of features, and at this point most manufacturers would likely call it a day. But Anthem also includes ARC, as well as sophisticated bass management for mono or stereo subwoofers -- features rarely found in two-channel integrateds.
+Highlights of the STR’s feature set include four speaker profiles, in which the user can specify whether or not the system includes subwoofers, and if so, how many, and whether they are to operate in mono or in stereo. Bass management can be set independently for each profile, including the crossover frequency (25-125Hz in 5Hz increments), and phase and polarity, the latter adjustable in 5-degree increments for each sub. The distance from the listening position to each speaker or sub can also be set individually, from 0’ to 29.5’ in 2” increments (or from 0 to 9m in 5cm increments). Finally, the output level of each speaker and sub can be adjusted in 0.5dB increments through a range of -12.0 to 12.0dB.
+Considering all its features and configuration options, the STR Integrated has more in common with a pre-pro or AVR than with most integrateds. Thankfully, Anthem has provided an extensive menu system, visible on a large, dimmable color display that’s easy to read and to use. Up to 30 virtual inputs can be separately named, specified, and assigned to any physical input, and the display will then show the selected input, data type, and sampling frequency, and whether ARC is engaged. One cool feature: When you cycle through the inputs, the display momentarily shows not only the selected input’s name, but a large image of the type of connector used for that input -- it makes identification easier. The Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display can be set to show only the volume level, displayed in large characters that can be easily read from across the room.
+Too many other settings are included to list them all; a few examples are analog input levels, mute levels, and display brightness. Although, by default, all analog input signals are converted to 32/192 digital, they can also be set to Analog Direct, which bypasses digital conversion and defeats any digital signal processing (DSP), such as ARC and bass management. An updated version of the STR Integrated’s firmware, released in March 2018, adds a home-theater bypass option that lets the user set any analog input to unity gain. This will pass along the incoming left and right stereo channels only to the preamp outputs, not to the subwoofer(s); any connected subwoofers will thus not be active when the STR is in home-theater bypass mode.
+Speaking of inputs and outputs, the STR Integrated has four analog stereo inputs (RCA), one pair of balanced inputs (XLR), and separate MM and MC phono inputs. Digital audio inputs comprise two TosLink, two coaxial RCA, one AES/EBU, and a USB Type-B. There are also an RS-232 connection, a 12V trigger output, an Ethernet jack, an IR input, a USB Mini-B port for firmware updates or to set up ARC directly from a PC, and a USB Type-A port for factory use. RCA analog outputs consist of a fixed-level pair, and variable line-level outputs for two subwoofers and the left and right preamp outputs. The speaker terminals are large, five-way binding posts, and there’s a standard IEC power inlet for the supplied power cord. In the right half of the front panel is a row of five small buttons: three for navigating the menu system, plus Mute and Power buttons. Toward the center of this row is a much larger volume/selection knob whose action has a solid, weighty feel. This half of the front panel is gently convex, which adds a touch of elegance. The available finishes are black and a highly attractive silver; I preferred the latter. The remote control is relatively small, with a top panel of black, brushed aluminum, and plastic buttons that click when pressed.
+For the last ten years my reference stereo preamplifier has been an Anthem D2 with Anthem Room Correction (ARC) -- I’ve found this highly user-configurable software to be an effective way of fixing room anomalies in multichannel and stereo systems. The STR Integrated includes the same high-quality, calibrated microphone, but uses the new version of the software, ARC-2, and a new articulated mike stand that can be angled in several directions. To use ARC-2, the STR Integrated must be connected to your home network via Ethernet, or directly to a personal computer via USB. ARC-2 allows those who don’t want to use a PC to run the software through an iOS app, using either Anthem’s calibrated mike or the iOS device’s built-in mike.
+The STR Integrated’s phono stage includes a rumble filter that can be set from 10 to 60Hz in increments of 1Hz. There are also multiple non-RIAA filters and a custom equalization option. The listening mode can be set to Stereo, Mono, Both-Left, or Both-Right. However, I couldn’t explore any of this -- I don’t own a turntable.
+System and setup
+First, I connected the STR Integrated to my home network via Ethernet, then downloaded the Windows audio driver and the latest version of Anthem Room Correction, ARC-2, with unique calibration file (you’re asked to enter the microphone’s serial number). I then ran ARC-2 to set up multiple speaker profiles for the Paradigm Persona B speakers, used with and without two JL Audio E-Sub e112 subwoofers, and a third profile for my MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 speakers. The process was quick and easy; I was up and running in minutes.
+I connected the STR Integrated to my laptop with an AudioQuest Carbon USB cable and JitterBug USB Data and Power Noise Filter, and played music via foobar2000 and Roon. Speaker cables were Analysis Plus Silver Apex, and power cords and power conditioning were my usual assortment of products from Blue Circle, ESP, and ZeroSurge.
+Class-AB meets DSP
+The Anthem STR Integrated Amplifier sounded damn good right out of the box, but even better after ARC-2 had done its stuff. Unless you have a really good-sounding room to start with and are meticulous in setup, not to use ARC is not to use the STR Integrated to its full potential.. The drums and lower registers of the piano had tons of weight through the nearly-full-range ESL 9s -- I never felt the need to crank up the volume, so complete was the STR Integrated’s control over the speakers.
+The ultra-deep, undulating bass of “Solar Sailer,” from Daft Punk’s music for the film Tron: Legacy (16/44.1 FLAC, Walt Disney), relentlessly pounded my room through the STR Integrated -- but I was more impressed by the Anthem’s composure with “The Game Has Changed,”. I sat amazed at how well integrated the sound was, even at these extreme volume levels.
+I switched to “Homesick,” from Dua Lipa’s Dua Lipa: Deluxe (16/44.1 FLAC, Warner Bros.). The piano was more forward in the mix than the piano in Lorde’s “Green Light,” but it had a beautifully resonant quality that provided a great sense of depth, and the purity of the vocals was exquisite. Through the STR Integrated, the sound of her heartfelt singing was nicely blended with Chris Martin’s backing vocal, with touches of sweetness and liquidity that I didn’t expect to hear from such a powerful solid-state amplifier.
+. Where the STR Integrated also shone was in its ability to integrate the outputs of my subs with that of the Persona Bs, combining the bookshelfs’ crystal-clear midrange and highs with the JL Audio E-Sub e112s’ super-deep yet agile bass. The drums in Daft Punk’s “The Game Has Changed” now hit harder and faster than with the MartinLogans, with more clarity in the orchestration and greater soundstage depth. The Persona Bs and JLA subs didn’t throw quite as wide a soundstage as the ML Classic ESL 9s, but the deeper reach of the dual subs and the STR Integrated’s ability to merge the outputs of all four speakers into a completely coherent, full-range soundfield resulted in the best sub-sat sound I’ve heard in my room. Whether with full-range floorstanders, bookshelf speakers, or bookshelfs with subwoofers, the advanced DSP functionality of the STR Integrated proved an invaluable feature.
+I then compared the STR Integrated with my reference amplification: an Anthem D2 pre-pro ($7500 when available) that also includes ARC, and a pair of Anthem M1 power amplifiers ($7000/pair). The STR Integrated provided nearly the same sound quality and increased functionality, at least with stereo sources. ARC-2 runs more quickly and has more configuration possibilities than does ARC, the version running on my D2, including permitting multiple profiles with different speaker arrangements. That might not be of much use to the average user, but this reviewer appreciated the ability to have multiple speaker profiles that I could easily switch between to run comparisons. One limitation of the STR Integrated is its inability to pass subwoofer signals in home-theater bypass mode. If I were to permanently install an STR Integrated in my reference system, I’d have to decide whether to use the subs for only multichannel or only stereo listening. This would be a serious compromise -- ideally, I prefer to use my subs for both.
+The sound quality of the STR Integrated was not unlike what I’m used to from high-quality separates -- not surprisingly, it sounded quite similar to my reference Anthem components. The STR Integrated did sound a bit leaner than the D2-M1s combo, but not objectionably so, and its overall sound character was what I expect from a top-flight class-AB power amp. The sound was a touch more forward with the STR Integrated, which gave such pop songs as “Every Day I Write the Book,” from Elvis Costello’s Punch the Clock (16/44.1 FLAC, Columbia/Rhino), an exciting immediacy. Sibilance was present but not exaggerated in “Beyond Belief,” from Costello’s Imperial Bedroom (16/44.1 FLAC, Columbia/Rhino) -- he was positioned precisely at center stage and up front, as if he were standing in my room, the Attractions playing behind him.
+The sound of the D2 and M1s was slightly more relaxed, but revealed in recordings a touch more air and detail. For instance, in “Rosanna,” from Toto’s Greatest Hits: 40 Trips Around the Sun (16/44.1 FLAC, Columbia/Legacy), there was noticeably more separation between instruments and voices even at relatively low volumes -- in comparison, the STR Integrated tended to slightly homogenize the sound. The piano and drums in “Hold the Line” also seemed to emanate from roughly the same plane with the STR Integrated; the D2 and M1s presented them at slightly different depths on the soundstage.
+Conclusion
+Anthem’s STR Integrated Amplifier provides sound of amazingly high quality from a single enclosure, with sophisticated microprocessor control of all functions, including room correction, bass management, and a user-configurable phono stage. ARC-2, the latest version of the PC-based Anthem Room Correction software, is fast and easy to use, and the large, intuitive menu system and color touchscreen made the STR a pleasure to operate. I can’t overstate how impressed I was by the execution of its overall design. In my years as an audio reviewer, the STR Integrated is one of the most impressive examples of a fully fledged audio product I’ve come across.
+The STR Integrated may not be able to stream music over a network or from a connected storage device, but it otherwise Integrated Amplifier. Although it wasn’t quite the equal of my costlier Anthem separates, in the time the STR Integrated spent in my reference system, its performance never left me wanting more. I can’t recommend this unique product highly enough.
+. . . Roger Kanno
+rogerk@soundstagenetwork.com
+Associated Equipment
+- Speakers -- MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9, Paradigm Persona B, JL Audio E-Sub e112 subwoofers (2)
+- Amplifiers -- Anthem M1 monoblocks
+- A/V processor -- Anthem D2
+- Sources -- Hewlett-Packard Pavilion computer running Windows 10, foobar2000, and Roon, with AudioQuest JitterBug
+- USB link -- AudioQuest Carbon
+- Speaker cables -- Analysis Plus Silver Apex
+- Power cords -- Essential Sound Products MusicCord-Pro ES
+- Power conditioners -- Blue Circle Audio PLC Thingee FX-2 with X0e low-frequency filter module, Zero Surge 1MOD15WI
+Anthem STR Integrated Amplifier-DAC
+Price: $4499 USD.
+Warranty: Five years parts and labor.
+Anthem
+205 Annagem Boulevard
+Mississauga, Ontario L5T 2V1
+Canada
+Phone: (905) 564-1994
+Website:
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+Permits expect that your chosen home is definitely studded plus many of the uncertain utility, plumbling plus duct deliver the results is due to site. A person’s home is definitely geared up to get drywall. If fitting drywall, continually beging with a upper limit initially. This lets a drywall used in a person’s outer surface so that you can behind facing a perimeter of your upper limit drywall to support aid them. Make perfectly sure that a perimeter within your upper limit vicinity includes more than enough stud expressing so that you can safe and sound drywall all-around. Or, you must add precisely what are labeled “nailers” within the upper limit perimeter to let a corners within your upper limit drywall that they are properly secured by using drywall anchoring screws. Your nailer is actually a plank this helps you fix a drywall plank corners any time a stud and also preference will not be offer. If executing a upper limit, discovered visit verticle with respect to your upper limit joists plus be certain a closes of your drywall within the upper limit perimeter continually acreage for a upper limit joist and also nailer. As well discovered stagger all of our upper limit knees and lower back regularly. When you’ve got your 17 12 inches x 17 12 inches upper limit and are generally working with 12 12 inches drywall discussion boards, you’re going to want a person 12 12 inches plank including a couple of 12 inches element to protect a 17 12 inches extend to. Your drywall plank is definitely five 12 inches huge in addition to being you actually add our next 17 12 inches extend to with drywall, add the two 12 inches plank initially and after that a 12 12 inches plank so the couple of 12 inches discussion boards will be to the opposing ending out of one. Ensure that the completed on the drywall plank which would often be persisted closes involved with your joist, stud and also nailer.
+First of all this discovered conduct is definitely look into a upper limit and then determine when every cut-outs has to be created a devices, fatigue admirers, etcetera. Permits express all of our initially upper limit plank includes not one but two recessed devices. Discovered generate not one but two sizing’s: with the divider for a instantly set so that you can the center of a lumination to the span section of your drywall plus with the divider for a instantly set so that you can the center of a lumination to the bigger section of your drywall. Copy all these sizing’s up on a person’s drywall plank utilizing a person’s piece mountain rectangle plus carpenter’s pad. Where not one but two sizing’s intersect may be the facility within your recessed lumination. At this moment assess a diameter of your recessed lumination. A diameter is definitely span round the lumination. Split a diameter by way of couple of plus work with this rank so that you can lure your circular image even yardage through the centerpoint. Apply a person’s drywall spotted so that you can ensnared outside a circular image to the drywall plank in addition to being you actually add a plank a cut-out is going to align together with the recessed lumination. For either length-wise aspects of your drywall plank, you will realise hook bevel. You should behind your drywall discussion boards bevel so that you can bevel if you can ,.
+At this moment there is a cut-outs for your personal drywall plank into position, its time for them to cling a drywall plank. Apply a person’s caulking pistol so that you can set many of the upper limit joists by using adhesive where plank might be plalced. When you’ve got your drywall carry, site a plank upon it plus carry them within site. A carry is going to have them now there so you’re able to get started safe-guarding them by using drywall anchoring screws. If you don’t have a good start, I like to recommend working with a gadget to undertake a upper limit. Your neat minimal machine that you may generate is actually a “T” outside 2×4’s. Generate the top part organ of the “T” pertaining to five paws extensive, a bigger of your drywall plank. The space will need to extensive more than enough to get you to definitely take a position a “T” upright vacuum with the floors to your drywall plank along at the upper limit You could make 2 or three “T”s” to support aid a drywall plank since you get started attachment them by using drywall anchoring screws. Batten a plank for all of upper limit joists by using drywall anchoring screws employing your rechargeable tool. You should batten a drywall plank within the perimeter of your upper limit frequently to your upper limit joists and also nailers for you to hooked up. I add this drywall anchoring screws pertaining to 6 inches tall away from each other for the length of a joist. Do this approach unless you want to have overall upper limit executed.
+In this article, we shall discuss;
+- What virtual server means to your WordPress website or web page
+- Understanding the functionality of virtual servers
+- Are virtual servers the most cost-effective for your website?
+- Similarities and differences between Linux and Windows virtual server
+- High disk IO drawback in Windows Server Hyper-V
+- How to establish and resolve Low server performance?
+What Vs Mean To Your WordPress Website?
+Using a virtual server means your website or webpage is hosted with the offers, functions, and services a virtual private server provides. Being a cross between a DS and shared hosting, it gives your website features from both sides. It is considered one of the most flexible and affordable hostings for your website or webpage.
+There are a lot of things to it than just hosting. It also comes with its distinct features, offers, functions, pros, and cons, depending on exactly what type of website it is. So if you plan to host your website or webpage with or you want to migrate to it, there are a few things you have to know about just what it is and how it affects your site.
+Understanding The Functionality Of Virtual Servers- Windows 7
+When it comes to hosting, VS is a popular hosting service that people use a lot for their websites due to its flexibility, usability, accessibility, and functionality. It has taken over web hosting's regular service due to the benefit it allows you to enjoy. It gives you a lot more control over the website even without a DS making it affordable and even more efficient for more complex websites with increased storage, flexibility, and customization.
+However, a setback is that they are affected by high-level traffic on the website or web page and usage surge. Though not as much as other VS server providers, it can still be affected.
+It performs the most advanced functions without the confusing technicalities. Its affordability, flexibility, usability, advanced controls, and customization make it one of the best VS providers.
+With Virtual Private Server hosting, you share more than one physical server linked together virtually.
+So, unlike the regular hosting method, the Windows 7 version makes you enjoy a combination of a DS and a shared one with even more advanced features, offers, and benefits. In other words, you enjoy a private service like you have the server all to yourself. You also enjoy low cost by sharing the servers with other users with added benefits at an affordable price.
+Windows 7 VPS: Best Web Hosting For WordPress
+The Windows 7 VPS functionality drawn from two different web hosting services is one of the most popular and most used web hosting services. Considering its many features with web hosting, what makes it the best solution to web hosting?
+It Is Highly Reliable.
+Windows 7 VPS ranks top among the most reliable VPS hosting services available. It features modern services due to its frequent upgrade, ease of use, and increased security compared to other services; it is considered the most reliable host for your WordPress websites.
+Improved Benefits
+One of the main selling points of a VPS Windows 7 is the increased control and customization and a private server. It comes with a RAM and CPU amount that allows you to handle heavy traffic, and user spikes way more than any other, along with several apps on your site. All of this is offered at a very affordable price.
+Increased Efficiency
+Windows 7 virtual server comes with increased efficiency, being a VPS for one, and Microsoft's product ranks high in usability, accessibility, and functionality. As technology advances, the need for an efficient technology system on a green platform is essential. It performs the function of reducing carbon footprints while still giving you maximum offers, features, services, and functionality.
+Improved Speed and Functionality
+It allows for higher performance levels with resources being used as it should, depending on your plan. This increase would mean better site performance in terms of speed, conversions, add engagements. Processes and operations are also bound to run faster.
+Increased Scaling Opportunities
+It covers most of the insecurities that come with the growth of a new WordPress website. You can scale your resources and choose a package that best suits your operations at the set time.
+Little Technical Knowledge Is Required.
+Even with the increased functionality, customization, and processing, It requires little technical knowledge to run your website. Maintaining your server is handled by Windows. It includes updates of software and hardware.
+Affordability
+It allows you to save a lot of money while still growing your website, and it is expected to get even cheaper in the nearest future.
+VPS Hosting- The Most Cost-Effective Cloud Service for Your Business
+As a business owner, using virtual server hosting is one of your best decisions for your business. Regardless of the type of business, you run, a consistently growing business requires a better-quality service. It means you owe it to your business to put it out as the best. To do this, you would need to get a good cloud service for your website. VS hosting is the most effective cloud service, you can find for your business anywhere.
+Every business owner wants to save costs, including you, and this is one of the things you can do. You can save costs with this popular modern-day hosting service due to the affordable pricing plans. You should consider getting the virtual hosting service, especially if you run a growing business, for many reasons. The most important reason is that you will not have to worry about resources getting exhausted by shared users. It implies that your webpages will have quicker load time and not worry about server shutdowns due to excess traffic. You also get to enjoy more effective security compared to the server that you happen to be sharing.
+The best part is, you have the freedom to use security-based applications without any hassle. You are also able to set up with ease with the operating system templates we have available. Small businesses can also enjoy cheap features without exceeding their budget, unlike when getting a DS. You tend to get the service of a DS for your small business without spending a lot.
+Which Is Better? Linux OR Windows VS
+When getting VS, people often wonder which to go for between Linux and Windows. Here is a rundown on both to help you pick the one that works best for your website operations
+Windows 7
+When it comes to web hosting, Windows 7 VPS ranks among the best on the list for obvious reasons. Since it doesn't require any technical knowledge, is very stable, and offers maximum security and privacy of data and files stored on it, it is not surprising that it is a top choice. Windows 7 VPS is highly reliable and can be easily integrated with a wide range of Microsoft products to make the user experience even better. Its usability, flexibility, and functionality make it very easy to use by website owners. Updates are carried out timely, and it supports a wide range of languages such as C#, VISUAL, ASP, and others.
+Linux
+Linux is one that runs on a Linux based system. In other words, a Linux server can not run another operating system except Linux. Also, just like the common platforms and servers, you cannot run a Windows app. Since it happens to be a virtual server, you will be sharing, but you don't have to worry about reduced performance. You should make use of this if and only if you are very familiar with the environment. It is a good pick since it costs less compared to the Windows version. So, if you happen to be working on a tight budget or the functionality needed is little, go for Linux. Linux is more for people with IT experience, so that a beginner will have a hard time.
+For WordPress websites., the Windows VPS is the best option with its many features, timely updates, easy to sync with other products, and does not require prior technical knowledge to manage and control. It is also considerably affordable, though not as affordable as Linux. It all comes down to the website's purpose, its functions, operations, and the owner.
+High Disk IO Issue in Windows HyperV Server
+The software you will be using should also be considered. Linux is a better match with people running open software, and anything else will be a pain.
+High disk IO Drawback in Windows Server Hyper-V
+Are your purchasers facing slowness in their Windows virtual server?
+Are you experiencing poor server performance? Are you using HyperV Virtualization Technology for Windows VPS? Here are a few reasons why:
+The poor server performance has unremarkably inherited the image due to factors like …
+- It's most likely a high disk I /O drawback on the first node.
+- Little RAM usage
+- High disk IO
+- High use central processing unit
+- High-performance network
+- The low network property etc. ...
+Solving poor server performance may be a bit of a fit if the main problem is unknown. When you notice that your server's performance isn't as you wanted, is very slow, or is not easily accessible by other internet users, the problem might be due to the server's active threads that measure high IO performance.
+The threads can act as a key to normalize the server. To achieve the best server performance, wire changes in the actual thread setting would show the most specific server performance.
+How To Establish and Resolve The Issue of Low Server Performance?
+You can check the steps below to spot the issues of poor server performance due to high disk I / O:
+First login to Hyper-V, then Task manager opened node within the performance Tab Click on the resource monitor.
+Click on the disk in the Disk Activity tab to check if the best Active Time disk is between ninety-fifth to 100 percent and establish the method or virtual server that's creating high reading and writing operation.
+If this method is '$ Logfile' then click on begin -> body Tools -> Event Viewer. within the Event Viewer window, click on Windows Logs -> Security (from the left panel) and check if every event is frequently writing Registers, then stop this method.
+If a Windows virtual server square measure runs high, browse/write operation and login to the virtual server and see what method is to blame for the high use of IO resources. If you found the high use of RAM and browse/write operations page.sys file a lot larger than it should be; you must inform the client to feature a lot of RAM in the virtual server. As we all know, once RAM usage of any Windows-based system increases, It will build a high load on your home server's drive. The assistant principal's disk IO will be multiplied, which can end the slow performance of every virtual server Hyper-V of that node.
+If this doesn't bring the disk IO below ninety-fifth, then do the same with another virtual server (Secondary Operation reading and writing)
+How To Avoid This Problem?
+You can monitor the drive and RAM usage of every virtual server. If RAM or HDD usage is higher than 1/3, then you'll be able to inform the client to upgrade to the best or purchase extra resources set up.
+Another effective method is to stop the automated updates for every application put in on Windows virtual server.
+Integration Service
+Hyper-V should be updated on all virtual machines.
+Doing this will help prevent poor server performance on your website.Web hosting is vital to the success and the functionality of a website. Get the best out of Windows 7 VPS web hosting and get a 7-days free trial.
+Learn more :
+Guideline To The Java Script Method And Its Explanation
+NEGenWeb Project
+Resource Center
+On Line Library
+Cavalry during the Civil War. His mother was born in Georgia, October 30, 1846, and died at Edgar, May 13, 1929; her ancestry was German and French.
+Mr. Avery attended high school at Edgar, graduating in 1900 He is now a farmer and is serving as vice president of the Edgar State Bank. He is vice president of the school board in his community, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, and holds membership in the Nebraskana Society. He is a Mason, a member of the Edgar Lodge No. 67, the Scottish Rite and the Shrine at Hastings. His hobby is mechanics. His political affiliation is with the Republican party.
+His marriage to Bertha Fay Miller occurred at Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska, January 23, 1909. Mrs. Avery was born at Edgar, March 20, 1889, the daughter of John G. and Jennie L. (Sanborn) Miller. She is a member of the Eastern Star and has held various positions including that of organist, and is also active in the affairs of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Avery have four children, Lucile Rosalie, born February 9, 1910; Doris Margaret, born August 11, 1912; Jeanette Louise, born September 4, 1915; and Bobbie Jean, born August 21, 1924. Residence: Edgar.
+James Andrew Axtell
+For the past 40 years James Andrew Axtell has been prominent in the business world at Fairbury, Nebraska. He was born in Athens County, Ohio, January 13, 1870, the son of Daniel Axtell and Hester Delilah (Clark) Axtell. His father, who was a farmer, was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1846, and died at Fairbury, July 11, 1914; his French and English ancestors came to America in the early history of the country and served in the Revolution; he was a soldier in the Civil War.
+His mother was born in Athens County, Ohio, March 1, 1848, and died at Fairbury, August 29, 1915; her English ancestors settled in Virginia, and later moved to Tennessee and Ohio.
+Mr. Axtell attended rural school, was a student in the Fairbury High School, and was graduated from the Beatrice Business College. A Republican, he has taken a prominent part in political affairs in Nebraska for many years. In 1917, 1919, and 1921, he served as a member of the Nebraska legislature, and at this time he is senator from the 17th district, he has taught in the public schools of Nebraska, has been engaged in farming for the past 30 years, and is also a real estate and insurance man. He is affiliated with the Methodist Church and holds membership in The Nebraskana Society.
+His marriage to Olive Shepherd was solemnized at Fairbury, June 2, 1897. Mrs. Axtell, who was a teacher before her marriage, was born in Iowa, January 6, 1876. They have one son, Edwin, born January 19, 1912, who was a student at Wesleyan College and later attended the University of Nebraska.
+Mr. Axtell is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a Knight Templar, Scottish Rite Mason, and Shriner. He was a member of the school board at one time and now holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce and the Farmers Union. His favorite sport is golfing. Residence: Fairbury. (Photograph in Album)
+Bertha Owings Aydelotte
+Bertha O. Aydelotte, one of Nebraska's outstanding musicians and musical educators, was born at Bradshaw, York County, Nebraska, March 22, 1888. Her father, Christopher Owings, who was born in Randolph County, Missouri, November 15, 1847, was a lumber dealer and stockman; he was a soldier in the Civil War. His ancestry was German, Irish and Scotch. He died at Hot Springs, South Dakota, February 1, 1912. Her mother, Barbara Ann (Roller) Owings, whose ancestry was German, was born at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, January 28, 1852, and died at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, October 29, 1929.
+Mrs. Aydelotte was graduated from the high school at Bethany, Nebraska. She received her B. M. degree in voice and piano at the University School of Music, and in 1921, was a post graduate student at this institution. She studied with William Shakespeare in Chicago, 1922-23; and in 1926 took a special course in directorship at Chautauqua Lake. Her B. F. A. degree was granted by the University School of Music, 1922. She was elected to membership in Mu Phi Epsilon, honorary musical sorority.
+She has organized several musical companies, among them: Aydelotte Eight; Aydelotte Peppers; Big Four Quartette; Merry Makers Chorus. She has composed several songs and musical reviews and literary articles. She has been instructor in the University of Nebraska Conservatory of Music since 1921. She was married at Lincoln, June 3, 1904, to George C. Aydelotte. They have one son, Donald, born December 30, 1906.
+Since 1917 Mrs. Aydelotte has been Republican committeewoman in her district. She was captain and treasurer of the Red Cross drive during the late war, and was awarded a medal for service to the nation. She is a member of the Women's Relief Corps and A. N. S. W. V. She is a member of the Lincoln Woman's Club and the Nebraska Music Teachers' Association. She was made past matron, 1918-19, and in 1920 grand organist of Grand Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.
+From 1918 to 1920 Mrs. Aydelotte served as president of the Bethany Woman's Club. She is actve (sic) in Young Women's Christian Association work and has traveled extensively over the United States and Canada in Chautauqua work. She is a member of Bethany Christian Church. She is fond of tennis and golf. Mrs. Aydelotte made one trip to the Panama Canal during the time it was being constructed, with a musical company. Residence: Lincoln.
+Herman Aye
+For the past 57 years Herman Aye has lived in Nebraska, and since 1895, he has been active in legal practice in this state. He was born at Blair, Washington County, Nebraska, March 29, 1873, the son of Hans and Caroline (Peck) Aye. His father, who was a carpenter and farmer, was born at Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, August 22, 1840, and died at Blair, January 31, 1901. His mother was born at Schleswig-Holstein, July 21, 1948, and died at Blair, February 2, 1924.
+Mr. Aye was graduated from the Blair High School. He was admitted to the practice of law at Blair, May, 1895, and has been engaged in general practice since then. He was county attorney of Washington County from 1898-1902.
+On January 9, 1902, he was united in marriage with Nellie Elizabeth Haller, Mrs. Aye, whose ancestry is Swiss, was born in Wisconsin, December 24, 1878. They have three children: Catherine E., born March 10, 1904; Frederick, born June 11, 1907; and Miriam V., born July 3, 1911.
+From 1895 to 1911, Mr. Aye practiced law in Blair, and since that time has been engaged in practice at Omaha. Residence: Omaha.
+Leon Emmons Aylsworth
+Leon Emmons Aylsworth, professor of political science at the University of Nebraska, was born at New Berlin, Chenango County, New York, October 26, 1869, the son of Nelson Olin and Mary (Deming) Aylsworth. Nelson Olin Aylsworth, who was a photographer, pharmacist and farmer, was born at Burlington, New York, August 6, 1846, and died at Euclid, New York, on January 21, 1922. He was descended from Arthur Aylsworth, who came to Rhode Island, from the western part of England, near the Welch border, about 1675.
+Mary Deming Aylsworth, who was primarily a home
+maker, and the mother of fourteen children, was born at New Berlin, July 8, 1850, and died at Syracuse, New York, on October 16, 1926. Her ancestors, who came from England, settled first in Connecticut, and later in New York, and several members of her family were prominent in military and business affairs.
+Professor Aylsworth attended school first in New Berlin and later in Roseville, Illinois, and in Clark County, South Dakota. In 1900, he was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Nebraska, and in 1908, received his Master's degree from the University of Wisconsin. Prior thereto, from 1890 to 1893, he was a student at the State College of South Dakota. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, elected in 1900.
+During the period Professor Aylsworth was engaged in graduate work he held a scholarship and a fellowship in American history. He was first appointed instructor on the faculty of the University of Nebraska in 1904. He was made adjunct professor in 1908, assistant professor in 1909, associate professor in 1910, and professor in 1918. The author of a number of articles, these were published in the American Political Science Review from 1908 to 1930 inclusive.
+Professor Aylsworth is a member of the American Political Science Association, and has served a term on its executive council. He is also a member of the National Municipal League, the Social Welfare Society of Lincoln (board member several years, chairman of legal aid committee), the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and the Open Forum.
+On September 25, 1895, he was united in marriage at Watertown, South Dakota, to Bertha May Fraser, who had been a music teacher for several years. Mrs. Aylsworth was born at New Glasgow, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, April 7, 1874. She is of Scotch, English and Pennsylvania Dutch descent. To them were born three children: Carol, born December 26, 1900, who married Franklyn Faye Yearsley; Donald Fraser, born March 2, 1906; and Lloyd Deming, born August 9, 1913.
+Carol was graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1923, and while a student there became a member of Delta Delta Delta For a time she taught at McCook and Lincoln, and served as instructor in the teachers' college at the state university. Donald was graduated from the university in June, 1931, and immediately entered the service of the S. S. Kresge Company at Cincinnati, Ohio.
+Professor Aylsworth is a Progressive Republican. He took an active part in the adoption of the initiative and referendum in Nebraska, and the home rule charter in Lincoln; also in the movement for a convention to revise the state constitution. For many years he has taken a keen interest in seeking to promote more efficient and economical administrative organization and financial methods in the municipal affairs of Lincoln. Recently he was elected to life membership in The Nebraskana Society in recognition of his efforts toward the advancement of his community and state. Professor Aylsworth is a member of All Soul's Unitarian Church at Lincoln. Residence: Lincoln. (Photograph in Album).
+Frank Jerome Ayres
+Frank Jerome Ayres was born at Galva, Illinois, October 1, 1857, son of John Alonzo and Mary B. Ayres. In 1881, the family came to Nebraska.
+He attended the Galva public school and high school, and completed a course at the Davenport Business College in 1881. Upon coming to Nebraska, he engaged in farming in Butler County for a time, retiring to engage in the agricultural implement business at Oakdale. Later he returned to David City, where he established a greenhouse and nursery business. Residence: Omaha.
+George T. H. Babcock
+George T. H. Babcock, attorney at law, was born at London, Ontario, Canada, January 24, 1868, son of Harvey W. and Olive Jane (Laynge) Babcock.
+The father was born at Canajoharie, New York, April 23, 1838, and died January 15, 1896. He was an attorney admitted to practice before the supreme court of New York on January 5, 1859. The first Babcock came to America in 1620; four great uncles of Mr. Babcock served in the Revolutionary War. Olive Jane Laynge was of Irish ancestry.
+Mr. Babcock obtained his education in public school and under private tutelage. He was admitted to the bar of Nebraska at Rushville, on December 6, 1890, and has since been in active practice. At the present time he is serving as city attorney of Chadron. He has also held the offices of justice of the peace and United States commissioner. He is a Republican.
+On September 27, 1899, he was married to Mary Elizabeth Wright at Chadron, Nebraska. She was born at Escanoba, Wisconsin, October 7, 1875, and at the present time is serving as a member of the Chadron Board of Education. Her mother's family came from Pennsylvania, and her father's from Vermont. There are two children, Catherine Jane, born January 2, 1901, who married Robert H. Nelson and has two children; and George Wright, who was born August 4, 1904, is married and has one child.
+A Mason for 40 years, Mr. Babcock is a past master of his local lodge. He was the first exalted ruler of Chadron Lodge No. 1399 of the Elks, and is past district deputy grand exalted ruler. He is a member of the Country Club, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Kiwanis Club (charter member) and Grace Episcopal Church (junior warden 25 years). During the late war he was active in all drives, and was vice-chairman of the liberty loan drive and a member of the home guard company. His favorite sport is golf. Residence: Chadron.
+John Backer
+John Backer, son of Folker and Geraldine (Schuddie) Backer, was born at Jefferson, Nebraska, December 15, 1882. His father, who was born in Germany, March 30, 1852, was engaged in farming and stockraising in Jefferson County until his death at Fairbury, October 1, 1928. His mother is living.
+Mr. Backer attended the rural schools of Jefferson County, and has homesteaded most of his life with the exception of a few years in California. He has a stock of cattle, hogs and colts, but feeds most of his grain and all roughage. He enjoys riding, and ranched in Custer County about eight years.
+Mr. Backer's religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian Church, and he is an elder of the church at Alexandria. For twelve years he served as a member of the school board, and he is at the present time director of district No. 52. He is an Odd Fellow, and a member of Temple Lodge No. 78.
+On September 25, 1912,
+he was united in marriage to Iona Mertal Cane at Alexandria. Mrs. Backer was
+born at Alexandria, January 18, 1888. There are seven children, Marcella Iona,
+born July 18, 1913; Paula Mavis, born January 21, 1915; Doris Gretchen, born
+December 19, 1917; John Jr., born June 4, 1919; Charles Truman, born April
+14, 1924; Lorane, born September 28, 1924; and Ruthalain, born June 7, 1926.
+Residence: Alexandria.
+Fred Bader
+Fred Bader, a resident of Nebraska for the past 44 years, was born at Hugsweier, Lahr, Baden, Germany, November 13, 1870, the son of Karl and Karoline (Lieb)
+Skepticism
+Afternoon Inquisition 3.28
+Good morning all. (Shut up. I know it’s well past noon, but I’m working nights, so it’s morning for me :p) Here I am on the couch again, catching the few minutes of relaxation I get these days before going back in to work. We do have a nuclear plant to get back online, after all (we are currently in a refueling outage, hence the overtime and the nights). It’s a pretty cool place to work, actually; a very palpable reminder of what science can do.
+There’s been a lot of talk over the past few years about expanding our use of nuclear power as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Do you think this is a good idea?
+63 Comments
+Wind, solar. Nuclear is immensely more efficient, but not worth the waste. If something could be done about the waste and the hazard potential, then, heck, why not?
+Brb, I have something in my third eye.
+Yes, yes, and yes.
+As a former Navy nuke, I know its possible to go decades without incident. The only logistical problem is waste, and that can be figured out, if the money is there.
+Shoot, aren’t the French damn near 100% nuke powered? I seem to recall hearing that around a water cooler somewhere…
+I have heard Florida Power and Progress Energy here in good ‘ole F-L-A have proposed 2 new plants, the concern being the new laws in place that allow the companies to recoup the costs of construction ahead of time, i.e.- NOW. Rates are going to go up and up and up, looking at the costs of construction (24 billion for FPL, 14 billion for Progress Energy).
+linkage:
+Got me thinking about these ads I’ve seen recently:
+I feel a tad unqualified, but I know Penn & Teller make a convincing case in favor of building new nuclear plants.
+I haven’t come across much that convinces me that nuclear is as bad as its rap. I’m also sure we’ve come a long way since 1979–when, as I understand it, the U.S. built its last reactor.
+I’ll echo what the others have said and say that the only serious issue is the nuclear waste, but Yucca Mountain is a promising location for storage. And if we store enough to make it worth the cost, and we can do it safely, we could launch that shit into the sun. I doubt Sol would care.
+My main concern is that maybe a year or 2 ago I heard there was actually a shortage of uranium. Is that no longer true?
+If my movie viewing is any indication, nuclear accidents are likely to result in super powers. Anything that could potentially increase the supply of naked neon blue men is fine with me.
+It’s a good idea, but given the fact that most Americans think any nuclear mishap is the same as Chernobyl, I see lots of problems getting new nuclear power plants built.
+My husband worked at 2 nuke plants and in fact is thinking about going back into the field….when he left it was declared a dead end field, and he’s enjoyed his current job…but good safe nuke power is possible. Problem is public opinion. I work at a school and we get iodine tablets, makes the parents crazy when we have to get them to sign a form saying in case of accident we can give the pill to their child (should be noted in case of an accident, we aren’t looking at forms, every kid is getting a pill).
+@Flea: lol. consider yourself nominated for cotw.
+@Brian’s A Wild Downer: Last I heard, there were large deposits of the stuff found in Colorado and Australia, but that was also about 2 years ago or so. Nuclear is at best a temporary solution, as to the waste, much of it is Plutonium, if I recall correctly, which could be refined and reused (I’ve heard that some of the designs for the newer generation of nuclear power plants will be capable of using plutonium as a fuel) and there is work to get as much of the energy out of the radioactive water that comes out of the plants as well. These advances should hopefully reduce the amount of waste that comes out of the plants. Besides, the uranium in the ground naturally isn’t any healthier than the waste that comes out of the plants, but mining for uranium is magnitudes better than mining coal from a health perspective.
+Yes to nukes. The waste issue could probably be solved with more funding and research to target a solution. Given how few nuke plants have been built in the past 20 years funding research hasn’t been a priority.
+Got no problem with the waste, that is a solvable problem. But the world’s supply of uranium is finite. I’ve heard conflicting assessments but it sounds like we may have enough for 100 years. Given this plus the huge amount of CO2 released in the construction of new power stations, I can’t see nuclear fission as the answer.
+Massive kite farms, that’s the way to go!
+@RevChas: I see lots of problems getting new nuclear power plants built.
+It’s an excellentidea and as a supposed skeptic I’m surprised you haven’t listened to Brian Dunning’s excellent podcast on the subject.
+Yes to nuk you lur.
+And I live less than 5 miles away from a reactor.
+Yes, as a temporary solution anyway. There’s only so much uranium to be mined from the ground. Of course, oil has the same problem. Given the choice between the two, I choose nuclear since it’s cleaner.
+Nuclear power has a sort of primal quality to it. This is energy that did not come from the sun, unlike every other form of power we use (except for geothermal, which itself is driven in part by radioactive decay). It’s older than that. It’s left over from some supernova blast that happened before our solar system existed.
+There is technology to deal with waste. France reprocesses its waste. They generate 80% of their power from nuclear fission and produce surprisingly little waste. And if you reprocess your waste, you use less uranium because reprocessing uses the waste as fuel. This doesn’t happen in the US because there is a federal ban on waste reprocessing. I have no idea why this would be the case, but it is.
+Sure the uranium (and other fissionables like thorium) won’t last forever, but then it doesn’t have to. 100 years ago I believe that fission was still considered physically impossible, it certainly was 50 years before that. And we have options that are within the bounds of known physics, we just don’t have the technology to use them yet, like:
+1) Fusion. Not any time soon perhaps, but I’d be surprised if we don’t have some form of fusion power 100 years from now.
+2) Extra-terrestrial solar. If we can get a space elevator up and running (which seems reasonable in the next 100 years) we can put solar collectors in space, a much better place for them than Earth.
+Fission isn’t The Answer, but it should be a sufficient stopgap measure.
+Increasing our nuclear capacity is the worst idea on the table except for all the others.
+The waste presents the problem of disposal, but I’m in favour of vitrification (forming waste into insoluble glass) and burial in the seafloor in subduction trenches, where it will be steadily buried deeper and deeper in seafloor sediment until it too is subducted into the asthenosphere (which by itself will take eight to ten Pu half-lives).
+Properly dealt with, waste is a *very* long range problem. During a visit to Argonne National Laboratory, I was shown a design for a reactor which would process the uranium fuel into plutonium, reprocess the spent rods (into a small amount of depleted uranium and plutonium) and then reinsert the plutonium into the core to use as fuel again. All of this would be done 50m underground inside the generation facility.
+The *only* thing holding it back from being built is that people see that it creates plutonium from uranium and immediately brand it as a breeder reactor and worry about unsavory people getting ahold of weapons grade material. The problem with that is that the French do basically the same thing, except that they remove their spent fuel and reprocess it elsewhere. That puts it outside any secure facility for extended periods. And yet they have *never* had an issue.
+Yes please.
+As others have mentioned, waste is a much smaller problem if you put a reasonable amount of investment in reprocessing tech. There’s no need to bury huge piles of the stuff under mountains.
+The only downside is that you have to site reactors with a sensitive eye, to avoid waste heat output causing damage to local ecosystems. This is particularly true of older designs which have sometimes been historically placed near watercourses. So long as that issue is taken into account though, nuclear power can be both clean and safe. I would be absolutely fine with a well-designed modern plant being built near my home.
+Also, people might be interested to do some reading around Gen 3+ tech like gas-cooled fast reactors. They essentially “eat” our existing nuclear waste and produce clean electricity and new fuel as byproducts. Win-win-win!
+(We should be investing billions of dollars in this stuff, etc etc…)
+Yes Damnit! Our grandchildren are going to name this ‘the stupid ages’ as it is, the least we can do is update our pathetically antiquated power system with a safe, CO2 neutral nuclear network. Build more than we need, so when the transportation system goes electric (mark my words) we have power to spare. Anything less will reflect poorly on all of us.
+@Brian’s A Wild Downer: (and others) there is still plenty of Uranium. Even once we run out of that, the fuel problem is already pretty much solved –
+Additionally, all indications are that the waste problems are reduced with a Thorium based fission cycle also.
+Nuclear is a very good option. Ultimately it is only a stop gap until we get effective Solar or fusion though.
+@MoltenHotMagma:
+Isn’t it a classic joke in scientific circles that ‘Fusion Power is only ten years away’?
+@MoltenHotMagma: Sorry, I wasn’t clear in what I meant by ‘solved’ for the fuel problem. James K is exactly right in that it is just a stopgap solution until we have robust enough Solar and Fusion, (probably get Solar first).
+In the context of a stopgap measure then, we don’t have any fuel availability problems.
+@evilspock: hehe.. very true, but I’m not counting on us ever getting base load capable Fusion. I am convinced we will get Solar capable of it and start shifting to Solar within 50 years.
+In that context it doesn’t matter when we get Fusion as it will only be needed for environments were solar can’t provide, (certain spaceflight conditions, certain military conditions, etc..), and for those nuclear is more than suitable until then also.
+@MoltenHotMagma:
+My favourite solution to all our power woes is to 1. use an army of robots to make some of the larger lunar craters parabolic proper.
+2.Spray a couple of molecules of a reflective metal onto said parabolic surface.
+3. Reflect sunlight to waiting solar collectors (in orbit, of course)
+4. use array of microwave emitter/recievers to transmit the constant solar power to the earth (like Simcity 2000!)
+Yes.
+Nuclear power is still limited by the amount of fuel we can dig out of the ground. Also it depends on an enormous amount of water every day. That combined with the fact that there is no way of dealing with the waste. I see no reason to give up one bad fuel for another.
+There are around 100 million homes in the US. Thats alot of roof space. Combine that with the amount of industrial roof space and work towards decentralizing the power grid.
+FDR created the TVA, used it not only to build the infrastructure for industry but to get Americans back to work. Did some good back then can’t see were it would hurt now.
+I think dmikeyj has good points. Comparing nuclear to coal/oil, it makes a good deal of sense. We do need the political will to deal with the waste problem. It’s not insoluble, but it will take some time to deal with the NIMBY situation.
+I also think that we need a wide variety of power sources: hydrogen, biofuels, wind, solar, tidal/wave energy capture, geothermal, etc. all have their places. We also need a major initiative to replace our power grid with a more efficient one and to make energy efficiency improvements nationwide in residential and commercial properties.
+This is the best of both worlds- a large series of self-contained shed-sized low energy Nuclear reactors that power about 200,000 homes. Decentralize power grids (getting back some of that 20% of power lost in transmission), lower the security risks (as the sucker is encased in a couple of cubic meters of concrete). When the beasties burns out, just pop another one in!
+Didn’t they cancel the Yucca Mountain thing about a month ago?
+Yes, the French are way ahead of us on the use of nuclear energy.
+I think it’s still a case of NIMBY (Not In My BackYard). So we continue to burn fossil fuels.
+Yes to more nukes…but it’s a thorny yes, and I could be persuaded otherwise. Nuclear power presents such a unique set of logistical challenges that most big-systems analysis point to narrow margins in terms of greenhouse gas reductions and increased capacity.
+First off, nuclear fuel is definitely finite. The total energy production capacity of the world’s fissionables is within throwing distance of its coal capacity-which represents a century of electricity, but a permaculture solution it is not.
+That can be expanded by two orders of magnitude if the fuel cycle includes breeder reactors. But breeder reactors make and (in most fuel cycles) concentrate plutonium, making it attractive to churn out more nuclear ordnance, potentially in countries that may behave questionably with said goodies.
+The other big problem is that a nuclear reactor, complete with fuel fabrication, containment structures, waste disposal (storage or reprocessing) is so inherently slow to construct, and so costly per installed watt of capacity (lifetime power costs are different and lower) that any dollar sunk into nuclear to squeeze carbon out of the atmosphere may take longer to take effect than renewables.
+The one thing that isn’t terribly concerning is safety-pressured water reactors (the only kind that have ever been licensed in the US) are pretty hard to make misbehave, unlike the carbon-moderated reactors like Chernobyl, and newer reactors planforms are pretty much idiot-proof.
+Many years ago, in my long-haired phase, I did a research paper on nuclear power. I ignored the issues of waste and safety; focusing on the economics, instead. I came to the conclusion that nuclear power was not economically viable; at least not in the 1970’s. All of the investor-owned utility operations of nuclear power were subsidized by the Federal Government (please don’t ask me to cite my references – that was a long time ago and the paper is long gone, but I leave it to the interested student to dig deeper into the matter). I did note that the Navy had an exemplary record with safety, but that one of their engineers expressed significant discomfort with civilian operation of reactors. I suspect that safe operation of fission power will prove to be quite expensive – perhaps sufficiently so to make wind and solar look like bargains. The Navy has such a good record because they do not need to pay shareholders a dividend.
+@jabell2r: I personally think any notion that the government can/will/should solve any future energy shortages/dilemma/problems is wishful thinking/fantasy/misplaced nostalgia.
+All the government appears able to do at this point is impose decentives which suppress the profit incentives necessary for industry to invest in new technology and encourage ingenuity.
+Nuclear involves a lot of trade offs that are well worth making. We don’t need to mine any more uranium, for about 400 years if consumption continues to go up at the same rate. Nuclear weapons can be reprocessed into power. Using reprocessing, recycling, melting down our WMD, etc, and mining we can get a good millennium. Then we can switch over to thorium and get another several thousand years. Yes, rouge states can use certain types of reactors to make wmds. You can use infant formula plants to make mustard gas too. Technology always cuts both ways. Technological solutions (no nukes) to social problems (angry, stupid people leading angry hungry people) are dumb. Get rid of bad leaders and feed the starving, then go nuclear.
+Oh, and get rid of the stupid leaders in well fed places too. Minimal scientific literacy should be a prereq for civil service, just like citizenship.
+Oh and Chernobyl was designed badly on purpose for political reasons. Even reactors designed purposely to make weapons materials don’t have to be as intrinsically dangerous as Chernobyl. And 3 mile island was the Tet Offensive of nuclear. Stupidity prevented 2 of 6 fail safes from working. The other 4 were fine.
+@truthwalker:
+Minimal scientific literacy should be a prereq for civil service, just like citizenship.
+Minimal scientific literacy isn’t a prerequisit for citizenship. Nor should it be.
+Penn & Teller are for it, but Bill Nye is against it. I don’t know what to think!
+@Aristothenes: actually, the one i’m working at now is a boiling water reactor. but your point stands, nonetheless: chernobyl had no containment to speak of, and knowing what i do about the way the two plants i work in (one bwr and one 2 unit pwr) it seems pretty unlikely that anything approaching that level of crisis could ever happen here.
+much is made of three mile island, and yes, it was a big snafu, but people forget that nothing was released from the plant in that incident. the safety structures did their job.
+In a word …Yes.
+Of course we need fission nukes as an interim power source, probably until we crack the controlled fusion nut or are generating most of our power as masers from solar satellites.
+(Yes, I believe the long term solutions are that far off).
+As to a few of the previous comments;
+Shed sized nukes? Mebbe you get the core down to that size, but the associated BFW plants, piping and balance of facilities take up a smidge more room than that….like oh…about 80 sq blocks at a minimum (for a 200Mw station)And they make atrocious amounts of noise.
+Nukes using too much water? Any thermal electric plant will use a LOT of water and due to the inherent forced recycle sequence in a nuke I’d be willing to bet they use less water per Mw than coal or gas…but I could be wrong on that one.
+Wind / solar? Hmm…while I agree they certainly have their place I only have anecdotal data available so I will ask the skepchick commenters to fill me in instead of guessing.
+How much of the available land mass of the continental US would have to be converted to wind or solar farms to replace the current output (no pun intended) of fossil fuels and nukes?
+@carr2d2 Nice to hear another rational voice from the power industry.
+Yes it is sweet to go to work every day and see the pointy end of science’s stick in action.
+BTW if you’re in a planned outage you should schedule your holidays more shrewdly…even during forced outages I am usually scarce enough that you need a back-hoe to find me.
+@Electro:
+Shed sized reactors are slated to hit the market very soon, and they come without the requisite ‘huge amounts of land’ that you say they need:
+They are supposedly capable of 25MWe of power, or enough for 20,000 homes. We aren’t talking about a shed sized plant to replace our big generators, the HPG’s are for a big, decentralized power network. This generator comes without any moving parts, and it is buried under a couple meters of concrete and lead, so I also don’t know where this huge amount of noise will be coming from.
+I no longer think we have the choice but to add nuclear power, at least for awhile. If we had followed Jimmy Carter’s advice in the mid-70’s, it would have bought us enough time to work on alternatives. Instead, we pi$$ed it away and have to pay the price.
+I very much like the idea of decentralized power generation. For one thing, it makes the terrorist threat to our national power grid obsolete. For another, it makes nationwide (or continent wide) power outages a thing of the past.
+@JamesFox: I’m not as pessimistic as you are about the government – after all, they are the ones that funded and ran the Manhattan Project. It can be done – the question is whether it will be done.
+I haven’t kept up: has the Obama bunch showed any hint of moving towards a nuclear policy other than “thanks, but no thanks”?
+Killing the Yucca Mountain project is viewed by some (I think I read it on Slate) as a sign that Obama will continue to let nuclear power decline into a slow, grudging death. I’m assuming this is all from pressure from short-sighted environmentalist groups, but I don’t know for sure.
+@phlebas: After some 9 billion the project is still on hold. The people of Nevada seem to have been against it before it even got started. The idea was that it would be a dry place to store containers but it didn’t work out that way. Now it is not in the current budget, if no more money is thrown at the project it will likely go away.
+Electro you are correct that nuclear does not use much more water than coal or NG. Solar, Wind, and Tide however don’t use anywhere near as much. Two years ago here in Charlotte we came within 30 days of not having enough water to run either.
+James I know your right, I’m a wishful thinker. My fears about the Obama administration seem to be coming through. Most people seem to think voting for him was enough. Doesn’t look to good so far.
+Electro: awhile back National Geographic pointed out that it would take about 10% of the roof space in the US to provide the energy needed.
+carr2d2 since your in the industry maybe you could clear something up. I was under the impression that in order to use material from waste and weapons you needed a Fast Reactor. Of which there are none in the US.
+Wind/solar/etc are not up to the task of powering this country. The only energy source that is at the moment is Nuclear. Sure we could continue to pray for a breakthrough in some new technology, but the clock is ticking on our oil reserves, and we’d better get to work. Nuclear all the way.
+@evilspock My apologies as I misread your numbers by an order of magnitude ( thought you said 200K homes)…however i have just returned home from a 16 hr call-out and dont have time tonight to dig further into your links…neither mentions even the basics of principal of operation in the opening page and do not offer obvious links to this info (mebbe I’m too tired to see it). I need to look further into how viable this technology actually is cuz the web page reads like a sales pitch and makes some pretty far out assumptions about regulatory changes, to say the very least.
+As I am currently unclear as to the method that these units would liberate even that many electrons, I will simply elaborate on my space and noise component, which was limited to the understanding that these were thermal units.
+Thermal generation stations require boiler feed water, the ancillary equipment needed to produce and recover it, even if you start with clean tap-water, is not small.
+During the high steam, low steam, condensate cycle, large amounts of venting is required, this is VERY loud. Also even a little guy at 25 megs makes a pretty hefty whine, throw in about 100k hp worth of electric and steam turbine drives to move the water and vital fluids around and and your dB’s go up in a hurry.
+Now, if those units you mentioned are truly solid state and actually viable, the above comments are retracted with my shameful apologies.
+@jabell2r Again, I apologize for not having time to fact check, and the anecdotal evidence I cited is based on 70’s era technologies but…..Could anyone plz verify that number (10%)from a less biased source.
+Believe me, without wanting to start an o/t fight, I have reasons for not believing a word Nat Geo prints without reliable third-party verification.
+Offered in the spirit of discussion, without reservation. If I am shown to be wrong here feel free to excoriate me for being too lazy to google tonight.
+Mebbe send over some of Rebecca’s face murdering bears.
+@electro:
+I believe the units that EvilSpock refers to are indeed “solid state”, or at least they definitely don’t use a steam-cycle turbine generation system. They use an array of thermocouples to generate current directly from the thermal gradient produced by radioisotope decay, instead of the more conventional moving magnet generation system used in steam-cycle plants.
+My understanding is that they have no moving parts, and work on the same principles as the thermoelectric units currently used in a lot of space and satellite applications – just on a much larger scale.
+Much as I’m loathe to cite Wikipedia, they seem to have a pretty good entry on the subject:
+@jabell2r: sorry, can’t help you there. i’m not in what you’d call the brains area of the field (i do construction work) so my knowledge about the processes is indirect. as a curious and scientifically minded person, i do tend to ask a lot of questions and do research, however this is not an area i’ve explored.
+@Electro: Rowlock is correct, if my memory serves. I can’t find any sources right now but over the last year I have heard two lectures and read at least one major article about these small sized nuclear stations. I know this is effectively hearsay, (I will look for the links, but it’s been a long day for me too). That said, I seem to remeber that your point about regulatory issues is spot on. I think it actually got a full five to 10 minutes in one of the lectures as they were addressing the policy, regulatory, monitoring, and other such issues.
+A lot of those are mitigated by their intent to install them into pits, however. The idea behind them is to dig a big hole, bury the reactors after attaching them to the grid, use them till they run dead, then replace with another.
+Regarding your question about land usage and the viability questions for wind and solar…
+Solar –
+Each sq. meter (sq.m) of the earth receives 1370 watts of energy from the sun.
+Once this gets through the atmosphere, gets through to the ground, and is averaged out over the course of a full day (24 hours), the number goes down to 164 watts per sq. m
+1 sq. km = 1000000 sq.m -> 164 Mega-watts per. sq. km.
+Now.. the highest efficiency solar cells out there are at around 40%. So our power per sq. km drops to just over 65 MegaWatts per sq.km.
+Last time I looked, a good, baseload, powerstation, (big one), will provide about 900 GigaWatts. So we need 13846 sq.km to hit that mark.
+To generate a bit more for safety, and adding some space for non productive land and access, supporting equipment and so on we go to about 15000 sq.km.
+this represents a square of about 122 km. on a side.
+To put that in context, DeathValley is about 13650 sq. km.
+So, on that note, you are right.. current and near future foreseeable Solar panels are not going to provide centralized baseload, (I’m not going to address the actual, appropriate, decentralized model for this.. They are fully capable of that because then every rooftop becomes a mini-power station).
+However, solar cells are not the best way to capture solar energy.
+Using focusing dishes and thermal cycle driven generators currently does a much better job. And for that you actually get the same power provision with much less space, (I’m skeptical of the claims made in the articles, but still impressed).
+So, a mixture of decentralized solar upon as many rooftops as possible, (as in why does the land have to be only for power collection. We are wasting that roof space currently), centralized thermal capture farms, and some wind, (I won’t make this post longer with the numbers). Would easily power everything with just the sun.
+The catch? currently, solar cells have about a 6 to 9 year payoff period for the time needed to recoup the energy cost required to make them in the first place. That’s to long and they are to expensive to roll out of such a massive scale because of it. (payback for the thermal capture systems should be way less than 5 currently depending on how you set it up, but situation can change that).
+So, to sum up, you are correct in your suspicion that solar is not currently viable on its own. That is fast changing, and it is technically viable already, but the economic realities have us still about 15 years out from any major uptake on it, (less with a lucky breakthrough in any key technology).
+Of course, none of this addresses the storage problems, but those are being solved surprisingly quickly right now.
+Oh, and sorry about not citing sources in most cases. However, the numbers I used are all commonly available. A quick google should confirm them for anyone interested.
+@MoltenHotMagma: I was wondering when you would weigh in on this topic.
+i have now had a brief sleep, but some clever bugger with a back-hoe has found me again…i have to go back to work.
+No problem with your not citing sources / numbers here I consider your input bias free
+The whole pocket nuke concept obviously requires more research on my part.
+I do however remain leery, as I was once told by one of our systems engineers that fluid bed boilers would be viable and producing
+1M lbs/hr of clean steam in just over a year. That was seven years ago.
+Thanks all, for input. Now I have something to chew on after service call.
+No, Just see the downside of waste and mistake too great.
+I’m all for nuclear energy, but not for “green” reason. You get a whole lot of power out of that. The waste, hmmmm…what if we shipped to a celestial body. Do you think the sun would appreciate it? I mean, really, the sun is like the ultimate incinerator. I’m thinking, WCS, we take a couple million years off its 5 billion year life span.
+@infinitemonkey: Correction, 5 billion years of life left.
+Fission’s messy. The cost of maintenance and disposal makes it just barely practical.
+Tokamak fusion seems to be constantly in that “nearly there” state, with the researchers playing a game of plasma confinement whack-a-mole.
+Bussard’s Polywell fusion design shows some promise. The science is sound but there are some engineering hurdles to overcome.
+YES
+@Electro: Am I that predictable? *laughing*
+Well, to be clear, I’m not sold on the decentralized nuke plan. On paper it sounds like a real winner, but I’d need to know more about the implementation plans to be confident. A lot of things could go wrong.
+I am convinced that nuclear, in some form, is the most appropriate stopgap until we get Solar fully off the ground though, (Bring efficiency up and manufacturing cost down so that payback is around 3 years and it becomes perfect).
+@MoltenHotMagma: Correction to my major post above. The AVERAGE size of a power station is much smaller than I represented above. I was orders of magnitude off (sorry all).
+It appears that a very larg station will only rate around 1.5 gigawatts. That radically changes my previous calculations. With that number, 25 km sq of Solar cells could provide the equivalant of 1 large power plant. That means that death vally alone is equivalant to 546 major power stations.
+Those numbers radically change the viability of Solar currently. Given that the rest of my information has checked out against my further investigation that actually means that solar is actually viable, (though pricy), with current technology if the storage problem can be addressed. So though currently technologically viable, (mostly), it is still economically difficult, (payback periods are still to far out).
+Sorry about my initial mistake. I was sleepy. :/
+Dang it.. sorry to chain post, (edit button anyone?). I ment to say, my information on power station size is still not at 100%. It turns out to be a difficult piece of information for me to dredge up.
+Though I have a higher confidence in my current information than my initial relating to station size, I’d appreciate if anyone in the industry could clear this up.
+Forewrning…Electro is little tipsy,,,,
+Magma, you are not predictable and i was hoping to include Skepchick Carrie in this convo….
+My point is this tech sounds very much like what every one wants…
+Interim beg for forgiveness(hic)
+PLZ PLZ show me link to where fission piles liberate electrons….(I undesrstand the heat portion)
+I am unfamialiar with any thermocouple technololgy tht would liberate 25Mw on any scale….I mean really……
+plz at this point i have to ask for numbers which is far more your milieu than mine…..
+pause to remind electrochicken is hammmered
+and once again plz be patient with
+skepi-commenters who have indulged
+Srsly I dont find many brains on-line and I would love your input
+Shaun
+open apology to all skepchick readers/commenters
+I have been feeling reely lousy lately and have commented on topics for the pure joy of conversation.
+I will back em’ all up …or eat the crow of your choice.
+I am guilty of failing to fact check.
+Too tired yesterday, and Too drunk tonight….
+@Electro: I don’t know the details of nuclear well enough to vet the technology myself, (refering to the way that nuclear is used on spacecraft or the possible way used in the links pointed to by evilspock), without looking into it. That’s why I stayed with what I do know well, (solar and wind), so far.
+However, I’ll see what I can find on the mechanisms for current nuclear once I get off work today. Honestly I should have started digging earlier. If we are lucky, dmikeyj will pop back in. I knew Nukes when I was in the army.. Every one of them was very sharp and know that topic better than some nuclear physicist I’ve encountered. Something about working on a reactor, under the ocean, for a job. Seems to promote real understanding of what they are doing.
+Oh! and have one for me. I could use a drink. :)
+@MoltenHotMagma: O.k. just to update electro. I haven’t been online at all since last time I posted. Work and life have been busy. I’ll still try and find the time for the information you asked for Electro, but no promises at this point.
+No. 12 C 81
+07-05-2012
+GUARANTEED RATE, INC., Plaintiff, v. NHT LAW GROUP, APLC, Defendant.
+MEMORANDUM OPINION
+Before the court is defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and (b)(2). For the reasons explained below, the motion is granted.
+BACKGROUND
+This is an action for defamation per se, negligence, vicarious liability, statutory fraud, and deceptive trade practices in which jurisdiction is premised on diversity of citizenship. Plaintiff, Guaranteed Rate, Inc. ("Guaranteed Rate"), is a citizen of Delaware and Illinois; defendant NHT Law Group, APLC ("NHT") is a citizen of California. Plaintiff alleges that NHT and its marketing companysent a fraudulent and defamatory letter to certain of plaintiff's customers.
+Plaintiff originally included, but then voluntarily dismissed, the "unknown marketing group" as a defendant. Since then, NHT has evidently provided plaintiff with the name of this entity, but plaintiff has not sought to add it as a defendant.
+Guaranteed Rate is a "correspondent lender" that "work[s] with customers to provide loans on residential real estate" and "sells loans post-funding to its investors." (Compl. ¶¶ 8, 16.) It alleges that it has a "sterling reputation within the mortgage business" and that it "prides itself on providing the highest quality services and products for its customers." (Compl. ¶ 9.)
+In December 2011, some of plaintiff's clients received a notice in the mail from "NHT Law Group" that was marked "personal and confidential" and bore a warning stating that any person who interfered with or obstructed delivery of the letter or otherwise violated provisions of the United States Code could face "5 yrs. imprisonment" or be fined $2,000. (Compl. ¶ 11 & Ex. A.) The notice contained two statements that plaintiff claims are misleading and defamatory:
+• Why are you getting this notice? Court records indicate that a recent lawsuit has been filed against Guaranteed Rate Inc, with claims of Foreclosure Fraud, Mortgage Misrepresentation, and Unfair Business Practices. Due to the serious nature of this matter we ask that you respond promptly.
+• What happens if you don't respond by January 7th: You may be eligible for representation in a case against Guaranteed Rate Inc, don't delay as only a specific group of people may qualify.
+(Compl., Ex. A.) Included was a "Summary Of Proposed Changes Based On Eligibility" that plaintiff contends was a "completely fictitious calculation of the borrower's new payment based upon information that NHT" and its marketing company obtained from an unknown source. (Compl. ¶ 13 & Ex. A.) The notices also provided a phone number for the recipient to call in the event that he or she had experienced "Sub Prime or Predatory Financing" or had been declined a loan modification or "Ignored by Guaranteed Rate Inc." (Compl. ¶ 14 & Ex. A.)
+Plaintiff alleges that the notices portray it as having committed "extensive civil and criminal wrongs against its customers" when in fact it has not been involved in any lawsuit as described in the notices, declined modifications, or ignored efforts by borrowers to modify their loans. (Compl. ¶¶ 15-16.) It points out that as a correspondent lender, it does not maintain loans on its books. According to plaintiff, the notice is "nothing more than a craven effort on behalf of NHT to solicit business by alarming [Guaranteed Rate's] valued customers with patently false and outrageous statements." (Compl. ¶ 17.)
+Two of plaintiff's customers who received the notice forwarded it to plaintiff, which immediately contacted NHT in an effort to prevent any additional notices from being disseminated. NHT's principal, Paul Nguyen, responded that its marketing company had sent out the notices without NHT's approval. Nguyen stated that NHT had "fired" the marketing company as well as the employee who had been responsible for marketing. He also stated that the firm would not accept any new clients who telephoned NHT based on the notice and would notify these people that the notice was incorrect. Plaintiff asked Nguyen to provide it with the distribution list used for the notices, but Nguyen stated that he was unable to obtain the list from the marketing company. (Compl., Ex. C.)
+Plaintiff then filed this action, in which it alleges that it has suffered "substantial financial harm" as a result of NHT's conduct. (Compl. ¶ 36.) It seeks damages, including punitive damages, as well as attorney's fees.
+NHT moves to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction and for lack of personal jurisdiction.
+DISCUSSION
+Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) allows a party to raise by motion the defense of lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. If the complaint is formally sufficient but the contention is that there is in fact no subject-matter jurisdiction, we are free to look beyond the complaint and view and weigh the evidence that has been submitted on the issue. Apex Digital, Inc. v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 572 F.3d 440, 444 (7th Cir. 2009).
+Jurisdiction based on diversity exists if the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 and the suit is between citizens of different states. 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1). There is no dispute that the parties are of diverse citizenship, but the amount in controversy is disputed.
+When). But where, as here, the defendant challenges the plaintiff's allegation of this amount, the plaintiff cannot merely rest on its complaint alone. As the proponent of federal jurisdiction, plaintiff has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence facts that suggest that the amount-in-controversy requirement is met. See Meridian Sec. Ins. Co. v. Sadowski, 441 F.3d 536, 543 (7th Cir. 2006). The plaintiff must do more than "point to the theoretical availability of certain categories of damages"; it must support its assertion with "competent proof." McMillian, 567 F.3d at 844. Once the plaintiff has met this standard, the case may be dismissed only if it is "legally certain" that the recovery or cost of complying with the judgment will be less than the jurisdictional floor. Meridian, 441 F.3d at 543.
+NHT contends that the allegations regarding the damages suffered by plaintiff are too speculative and without adequate foundation to support a finding that diversity jurisdiction exists. NHT points out that the complaint fails to describe the "substantial financial harm" that plaintiff allegedly suffered and that while plaintiff asserts that it its reputation was damaged among its customers and potential customers, Compl. ¶ 30, there are no facts alleged that would support a damage award in excess of $75,000. Attached to NHT's motion is the affidavit of Mr. Nguyen, who states that NHT was not involved in the preparation or distribution of the notices by its marketing company. Mr. Nguyen also states that he did not approve any notice concerning Guaranteed Rate and that upon learning of the notices, he terminated the employment of the employee who had been responsible for hiring the marketing company and advised his employees not to accept any cases involving the notices and to tell anyone calling in response to them that they were sent by mistake. (Def.'s Mot., Ex. A, Aff. of Paul C. Nguyen ¶¶ 11, 16-18.)
+In response, Guaranteed Rate does not attempt to "show how the rules of law, applied to the facts of [its] case, could produce" an award that satisfies the jurisdictional minimum, as it must do. See Schlessinger v. Salimes, 100 F.3d 519, 521 (7th Cir. 1996). Rather, it plunges into an unstructured discussion of possible damages for reputational injury and lost business opportunities (which, we have determined from our own research, could be bases for damage awards on plaintiff's defamation and statutory fraud claims, see, e.g., Leyshon v. Diehl Controls N. Am., Inc., 946 N.E.2d 864, 874 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010) (defamation); Downers Grove Volkswagen, Inc. v. Wigglesworth Imports, Inc., 546 N.E.2d 33, 41 (Ill. App. Ct. 1989) (Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act)). Plaintiff contends that it processes more than 22,500 mortgage applications per year in 45 states and has an annual revenue of about $180 million; that its reputation and good will is the "only basis" upon which customers can "reasonably be expected to choose" it over other businesses from whom they could obtain a mortgage and that it relies on repeat customers and referrals from current customers; that damage to its reputation would "substantially impair the value of the business"; and that "there is at least a reasonable probability that the damage done to [its] reputation exceeds the jurisdictional minimum." (Pl.'s Resp. at 8-9.) As to the jurisdictional minimum, plaintiff argues as follows:
+Plaintiff does not raise the prospect of an award of presumed damages on its claim for defamation per se, nor does the complaint contain a prayer for such damages. Likewise, plaintiff does not mention injunctive relief or its possible value.
+--------
+[Plaintiff] averages roughly $500 in after-tax profit per loan. As a result, if [plaintiff] lost out on only 150 customers as the result of the defamatory statements in the notices, [plaintiff] will have satisfied the $75,000 minimum; if only 50 people received these notices and they in turn only told 2 other people that [plaintiff] engaged in fraud and misrepresentation, the loss of those loans would also satisfy the jurisdictional minimum. . . .
+If the notices in question convinced only .6% of those individuals who have completed loans with [plaintiff] within the last year not to proceed with another loan [with plaintiff], then [plaintiff] has satisfied the jurisdictional minimum.
+(Pl.'s Resp. at 9.) Plaintiff also points to its prayer for punitive damages, asserting that its allegation of "actual malice and willfulness" is sufficient and that "no proof" regarding punitive damages is required at this stage.
+Plaintiff relies upon only speculation that it can meet the jurisdictional threshold; it has failed to support its arguments with any "competent proof" whatsoever. "Competent proof" means "admissible evidence" that supports the plaintiff's estimate of recoverable damages. See Meridian, 441 F.3d at 542. (And contrary to plaintiff's assertion, the "competent proof" standard applies equally to its request for punitive damages, see Anthony v. Sec. Pac. Fin. Servs., Inc., 75 F.3d 311, 316-17 (7th Cir. 1996); In re Brand Name Prescription Drugs Antitrust Litig., 123 F.3d 599, 607-08 (7th Cir. 1997) (the proponent of federal jurisdiction must present evidence as to each form of relief sought and "cannot simply wave" the punitive damages statute "in [the court's] face[]")). Plaintiff attaches a number of exhibits to its response brief, but none of them are relevant to its arguments about the amount in controversy, so there is no evidence as to the nature of its business, reputation, or customers. There is no evidence regarding the size of the audience to whom the allegedly defamatory statements were made or the purported lost business opportunities. There is no evidence that plaintiff has suffered any concrete injury. And as for punitive damages, plaintiff offers no evidence of NHT's alleged "malice and willfulness" in making the statements, nor does it even cite any cases addressing whether Illinois authorizes punitive damages awards as high as the jurisdictional minimum in the absence of concrete injury.
+Because plaintiff has failed to present competent proof that this court has subject-matter jurisdiction over its claims, NHT's motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) will be granted. In light of this ruling, we need not address NHT's argument for dismissal based on lack of personal jurisdiction.
+CONCLUSION
+Defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction [10] is granted.
+ENTER:
+______________________
+John F. Grady, United States District Judge
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+Atlasprofilax
+Sat, June 16, 2007 - 10:17 PM
+Today I got my atlas (C1 vertebra) put back into the right place. Apparantly most of us are walking around with this important bone out of place. It is a one shot deal. Permanently moved to the correct postition nature intended (barring any serious injury) The procedure was painless and took about 15 minutes. I felt taller immediately. When I looked in the mirror I noticed my face was symmetrical. The integration will take years. But greater health due to free flowing nerves and fluids is insured. Wow...my head is on straight...Now what???
+Sat, June 16, 2007 - 10:17 PM -
+permalink
+-
+24 Comments
+24 Comments
+add a comment
+kat
+146
+Sat, June 16, 2007 - 10:37 PM
+who did it? i want a symmetrical face too !!
+;-)
+Deb
+105
+Sun, June 17, 2007 - 7:43 AM
+Troy Roper
+801-898-2817
+atlasprof@gmail.com
+He is here from UT until Monday and then will be back again in August.
+The cost is $250.
+There are only 7 practitioners of this technique in the US.
+karen
+0
+Wed, August 22, 2007 - 9:18 AM
+Scam
+I recently had my atlas re-lined and if anyone was to ask me if i recommend it i would definately say NO. I suffer from terrible back/neck pain and have tried different methods. When i came upon the flyer for atlasprofilax i honestly got sucked in, it cost alot money for 5 minutes of a lady pushing and prodding a rod into my neck, with no result what so ever. I went to hospital 3 weeks later with unbearable neck pain, i could bearly feel my right arm. If this was a result of the atlasprofilax, i don't know, but i do know i had never had to take myself to hospital in the past for my pain. As far as i am concerned i wish i never went.
+Too ...
+11
+Fri, January 11, 2008 - 10:25 AM
+It's pretty neat.
+It's pretty neat, how aliens (whose planet is on a 3,600 year orbit around our sun) genespliced us and left us with a genetically misaligned atlas bone to keep the human race docile.
+Although, creating the ability to make $350 for a fifteen minute 'adjustment', I'm tempted to start believing.
+Too ...
+11
+Fri, January 11, 2008 - 10:29 AM
+Oh, and as the website says, it's non-medical and requires no diagnosis, -and- only an atlasprof(tm) can safely do this technique.
+Shos...
+0
+Thu, May 1, 2008 - 7:06 PM
+Scam? I agree
+Let me wholeheartedly agree with the above poster who wrote about being in more pain after the treatment. Within weeks of treatment, I started to get these crazy CLUNKING and grinding sounds in my neck. I went back for my brief reassessment and was told everything was fine and it must be something EMOTIONAL. Yeah...emotional. Since this Wonderful, revolutionary treatment, I have been in constant distress with neck issues I have never had before. My neck is banging all the time when I turn it to the left. Worse when I sit or lie down. Upper, lower and middle neck are all affected. After considering a guillotine to ease my angst, I went to my osteopath who told me that my neck looks like it belongs to someone who has been in a severe car crash. It is totally jammed and screwed up....worse than he had EVER seen it. He told me that it was good I came in because it was so inflamed that arthritis would have eventually settled in. Thanks, Atlasprofilax. STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!
+Sean
+0
+Wed, July 9, 2008 - 1:54 PM
+no thank you
+I would much rather go to my chiropractor, osteopath, physiatrist, massage therapist or physical therapist than one of these 7. Anyone can 'be trained' to work on someone, but when I trust my body to someone's hands, I want more than 'trained' - I want proven, good, effective care that has real oversight.
+After my accident my neck was out of place (funny - I don't remember feeling like it was out of place by some aliens before my accident) and I was very glad to get chiropractic, massage and physical therapy. Huge difference - no more headaches, dizziness and neck pain is usually gone. A little 'tune up' with them 1 or 2 times per year is all I need (along with my regular home exercises) and I feel great.
+Is the pictures of the atlas and the base of the skull supposed to be a before and after? If '1' is the before, no wonder people are hurting if the other pix is the after - to an untrained eye the second one is clearly out of place!
+Sean
+Helmut
+0
+Sun, October 4, 2009 - 2:41 AM
+Atlasprofilax is the most effective method I have seen so far. Obviously it does happen that a few do not get the results that should be gotten from the treatment (even though the percentage is so much higher than with other methods). There are different possible reasons for this. 1. The treatment itself wasn´t done right, 2. There is in fact a traumatic experience which holds the problem in place and which needs to be addressed for a complete healing to happen and 3. The required/recommended follow-up with massage, etc. did not happen, and thus the body did not get the chance to fully recover/regenerate.
+The results ARE there to be had, and if someone did not get the result(s) he/she expected, then the correct thing to do is to go back to the practitioner, take it up, get it handled and get the result. A follow-up us always done free of charge.
+andrew
+0
+Sat, January 2, 2010 - 5:35 AM
+Good response
+I read about this a week ago.
+It made immediate sense to me ( I am a medical practitioner).
+I have been driven mad by neck pain and difficulty being still for years- _ also a very brittle temper. I could feel the asymmetry as soon as I knew to check for it.
+I had the treatment 2 days ago.
+For the first time in years I can sit still and upright with no pain.
+After 15 years of chronic pain there must be some osteaoarthritis. I am staggered that I am doing so well so far. It has been a real pleasure to me and a great way to see in the new Year.
+Sara
+0
+Tue, March 2, 2010 - 2:46 PM
+Atlas Profilax gimmick?
+I paid $250 and found zero effect. If profilax isn't a gimmick, then maybe my Atlas wasn't really out of alignment? There was no x-ray or any other proof that it was out. The Chiropractor said it looked out, but who knows. Maybe she wants the money to pay off the huge loan she had to take in order to learn how to do Atlas Pro filax. (She paid about the same amount of money that I earn in a year)
+Steven
+0
+Tue, May 4, 2010 - 2:14 PM
+Atlas Profilax is a joke, can harm you.
+I am a professional atlas adjuster, using the NUCCA chiropractic system. The Profilax thing is a scam. There is no way the atlas can be put back into alignment like that. If it was aligned, it is most unlikely to stay that way from the first adjustment. One shot deal is a joke.
+The comment "The integration will take years" is so the patient will not complain or sue until after the statute of limitations is over. This is just hype, and will injure persons without a doubt. If it did work, they would be proving it to the world with before and after x-ray images.
+-Steve
+Lorr...
+0
+Wed, June 23, 2010 - 3:32 AM
+Yeah I got sucked into this scam too...
+I got sucked into this so-called "scam" after decades of problems with my back. I went to physiotherapy, chiropractors, massage therapists, doctors and even a specialty back pain clinic. So when I found out about this therapy through a friend, I was so desperate, I'd try anything. And no surprise - IT WORKED. Yes, that's right it worked! I went from not being able to move my lower back or rotate my hips to complete mobility and 90% paid-free. Go figure. :) It's been over a year and I look forward to more good years.
+Lorr...
+0
+Wed, June 23, 2010 - 3:35 AM
+Atlasprofilax
+... yes, 90% pain-free, and with improved posture - people still comment on it.
+charles
+0
+Sun, August 1, 2010 - 1:51 PM
+More about Atlas therapies...
+I recommend you visit:
+SEAN
+0
+Mon, August 9, 2010 - 5:50 AM
+Atlasprofilax
+Had mine done really good result clear mind , increased physical ability the practitioner was spiritual had a warm caring manner. Wasn't atlasprofilax they were called atlasreconnect . They do an energtic healing after the alignment settles your emotions straight away..
+Jan
+0
+Thu, October 21, 2010 - 5:19 PM
+So how is it now?
+So you had it done a while back already, how did the effects last? It it really a once off "quickfix" it promices to be?
+Their website is so full of lies it's not even funny. In the 1920's BJ Palmer already mentioned 97% of people have a rotated atlas.
+Anne
+0
+Mon, October 25, 2010 - 7:42 AM
+WOW !!!!!!
+250$ for 15 minutes. Not too bad !!!
+Definitely not for the homeless
+Business is business
+Pat
+0
+Mon, March 21, 2011 - 4:05 PM
+I am a naturopath
+FIRST: I have seen my share of quacks. Maximized living chiros are now firmly implanted into that category, IMHO. They will keep you locked into a contract arrangement as long as you wish to remain there. This Profilax "proceedure" truly addresses the placement of C1 ONCE. If there is further chiro work, then it is suggested by the person doing this work for you that you remain aware of doing so. I would suggest listening closely to that advice. In addition to the wonderful procedure that this is, in many cases, the individual may not even be aware of the rebuilding/healing processes that are occurring. It's amazing they are all unaware of the problem in the first place...and I FIRMLY PLACE quack chiros in there as well. X-rays do not show depth...they are ONLY 2-dimensional. If a chiro was fully honest, they would NEVER perform an X-ray on anyone in the first place.
+Having said all that, my wife and I just had our procedure performed on March 20, 2011. My wife is MORE THAN PLEASED...and I am happy we did the process.
+It has been my experience that there will be more criticism from the professionals who stand to loose an income stream than from the general public who stands to benefit hugely. Both their health, as well as, their pocketbooks will benefit. At the expense of profiteering, I suggest the professionals who wish to see these kinds of "treatments" eliminated, stand down. OK?
+Happ...
+0
+Tue, May 24, 2011 - 8:51 AM
+Atlas Profilax is AMAZING!
+I can't say enough about AP.
+I had a single Atlas Profilax session about four years ago. Prior to that session, my back would "crack" and be sore, uncomfortable or in pain most of the time. I would push my shoulders back many times a day in order to crack it because it felt better when I did so. I'd get about 4-5 pops/cracks each time I pushed my shoulders back.
+After that single AP session... all the cracking was GONE. Here I am, four years later, and I've never been even ABLE to crack my back again since! It's been totally aligned and my back has felt AWESOME. I can see why chiropractors would bash AP and insist it's a "scam" and that you need "long term therapy" and lots of sessions. They'd be out of business fast if they didn't bash it!
+I had gone to several chiropractors over the course of about 15 years, up to 4 times per week. It was always a very temporary fix. In fact, I don't believe it ever would have made ANY permanent improvements for me because my atlas was out of whack by about 1/4" and none of those chiropractors even mentioned my atlas, much less addressed it!
+And, as I think about it, I'm almost peeved at how they wasted so much of my TIME and MONEY offering what I can only call pure "snake oil." I'll never go to another chiropractor again, nor will I ever again recommend one.
+I am so thankful I found this work. Perhaps the results depend on the practitioner, but I doubt it. I went to Michael Hane in California and he was awesome. He combined Atlas Profilax with craniosacral work so the session lasted about 45 minutes and I felt great afterwards. Everything seemed brighter and sharper. I could see more clearly. I could raise my head up easily and without tension for the first time, perhaps ever. It felt a bit strange at first in the minutes after the session as my body got used to the adjustment, but I got used to it fast and all I can say is WOW four years later. If your session takes only 5 minutes, I'd say maybe find another practitioner, as that doesn't seem right at all. Michael prepares the nervous system first, making sure it's completely relaxed and receptive before he does the AP. I think that's the only way this should be done.
+Again... not even ONCE has my back or neck been out of place since that one single session (I didn't even go for the follow-up) and it always feels GREAT now! None of the five different chiropractors I went to can hold a candle to this work. None of them. Shame on chiropractors for steering people away from this incredible work and sucking wallets dry with endless, useless and needless "cracking" sessions that general offer NO permanent relief. You want to talk about a SCAM? IMO, there's a BIG ONE right there! Perhaps they should all learn Atlas Profilax and put themselves to better use!
+I actually had the session done for spiritual reasons, feeling it might help quiet the mental chatter some and allow for better meditations, and boy have I been pleased with the results. Talk about QUIET! My mind finally gave it a rest! I can close my eyes and have no thoughts unless I want them! It's like after a snowstorm where all is quiet because the sounds are absorbed by the snow. Everything's clear, bright and quiet. It's really lovely and has allowed me to recognize what I was seeking for years -- that still space of sublime peace and happiness within myself that requires nothing and nobody outside my own self to "make" me happy. I'm just happy most of the time for no reason. Happy and quiet. Life is very sweet. And I KNOW the Atlas Profilax played a huge part in quieting the mental chatter and allowing my entire nervous system to relax and stay relaxed. It has allowed for a peaceful witnessing of life, versus feeling I'm somehow "at stake" in what happens in it and always being in some level of fight/flight/freeze mode.
+Oh, and did I mention my income went up about 20 times? It's amazing what you can accomplish when your mind is clear and quiet. You just get so much more done and you feel plugged into the source of all inspiration. I now work about 2 hours per week with my income on autopilot and increasing every month, and I work only if and when I want to. I think when the struggle left my nervous system after the AP session, that I also dropped the struggle in my work situation. Before AP I was putting in 60-75 hours per week for someone that didn't appreciate it! Afterward, I started working for myself and started living life on my own terms.
+Getting back to chiropractors, I think if they don't address the atlas FIRST, then they're doing their patients a complete disservice. Again, in my experience, I wasted a lot of time, energy and money running to them for something they had no clue how to address, yet they were always eager to accept my money and keep me coming back for literally endless sessions at $100-$250 per week. To me, THAT is a scam and a ripoff. I'm sure they must have realized, with all their patients coming back to them for these "endless" sessions, that perhaps something isn't working as effectively as it could or should. To think, one $250 session and I am completely done with all that nonsense! Lucky me! :) And, hopefully, you'll consider Atlas Profilax for yourself so you can say that too!
+In terms of someone complaining of pain after the session, I'm willing to bet it was there before the session and that you likely have more going on than a simple atlas out of place. If interested, and in the tri-state area, I do know one person in NJ who absolutely DOES address the root cause of pain very effectively. If there's any way to send me a private message on Tribe (I'm new here so don't know), I'd be happy to give you his contact info. I consider him a master healer and he works with osteopathy, nutritional support, massage, etc, very effectively.
+Anyway, if you're considering AP I'd say research your practitioner first. Make sure they prepare the nervous system prior to the AP so it's as relaxed as possible. And, most importantly, trust your intuition. If you feel intuitively that AP will help you, then it very likely will. If you feel intuitively that it's not for you, then don't do it. Always trust your gut. Not everything is for everyone, and I guarantee those that had sessions where they complained about the results certainly didn't have their gut saying "go for it!" If they tell me they did, I'll tell them "bullsh*t" or that they were getting that message from their mind and not their intuition, as true intuition will only lead you to a higher place every time.
+Loren
+0
+Mon, August 8, 2011 - 11:55 AM
+Atlas ProFilax worked for me, but the healing process afterwards has been a long journe.
+I had it done four or five years ago. The adjustment has held, but the unwinding has taken a long, long time. I think I wasn't emotionally ready to really commit to being pain free in my back and neck. I had to really work at it, and the process of re-educating the body is uncomfortable, sometimes painful. The "nadis" (energy channels) open up, and blood flows more evenly throughout the entire trunk.
+I had bad posture from childhood, and 17 years of experience to date practicing yoga. I am not completely free of physical discomfort yet, but soon will be I think. The AtlasProFilax treatment played a valuable role, but the subsequent healing has been hard work and not in any way a passive process.
+I do not eat meat and I try to avoid acidic and inflammatory foods. I have found DMSO helpful in unwinding inflammation and tweaky relationships amongst the muscles, tenons, and bones of the upper back, chest, neck and shoulder girdle. I've found swinging lightweight "indian clubs" helpful in opening up the range of motion in my shoulders and back. It's all a process and it requires a lot of determination, but I am nearly free of pain and close, I believe, to the state where my body is "becoming a fit place for the soul to dwell in" (esoterically reference from the Yoga Sutras) . Sitting still, in centered meditation for prolonged periods was once not possible due to pain, but it is getting easier and easier.
+andrew
+0
+Sat, October 29, 2011 - 7:43 PM
+Atlas Profilax
+I had this done 22 months ago- primarily for severe neck pain. It produced a vast and immediate improvement in my neck pain as well as a range of other improvements including vastly improved focus, resolution of irritable bowel syndrome and of chronic pins and needles in my hands and feet.
+Like some other commentators I noticed some clunking in my neck and a tendency to sharp pains with some changes of position. I figured though that my body was used to moving in a certain way- trying to get around the postural abnormalities caused by the atlas subluxation.
+Muscle memory cannot be overcome overnight - with one procedure- so I have done Pilates, swimming and some limited yoga and brain balance exercises.
+I am so impressed with the result that I started my own blog about it. That blog contains all the links I have been able to find, as well as links to some chiropractic books that contain evidence about the validity of the condition. ( One has abstracts of 1200 odd papers). The blog also contains some educated speculation about the probable neurovascular mechanisms involved- based on the research that I have done.
+atlassubluxation.wordpress.com/
+I work as a GP myself- and to discover that i had this condition was a great surprise to me as its existence is routinely denied within allopathic medicine.However the clinical signs were there before the treatment and gone afterwards.
+andrew
+0
+Sat, October 29, 2011 - 7:59 PM
+Atlas Profilax
+I should also add that I had had low back pain since a disc prolapse at age 23, and neck pain since my mid thirties. I had seen a number of physiotherapists, a rheumatologist, and done a long course of Feldenkrais prior to discovering Atlas Profilax.
+None of the therapists even guessed that there could be an atlas problem. I avoided chiropractors mainly because we doctors are afraid of their forceful manipulations.(In this context I would observe that i found Atlas Profilax a very gentle treatment, gentler than many massages, -mobilisation not manipulation)
+By the time I was diagnosed I had had years of headaches, and had often had to take Panadeine Forte to function at work, and had had a number of minor car accidents because I could not turn my head while backing my car.
+The subluxation was identifiable on an old plain X Ray as were my crooked shoulders, my non level pelvis, my tilt on my neck and the marked tenderness at the atlas transverse processes. Alll these signs improved immediately with treatment.
+Sheila
+0
+Mon, March 12, 2012 - 5:56 AM
+name of practitioner in FL
+Does anyone know of a good AtlasProfilax practitioner in Florida?
+WINNING
+0
+Mon, May 7, 2012 - 12:28 PM
+What are the SIDE EFFECTS?????????
+What is in the APF?
+Are there any side effects and do you notice lil things you never noticed before you got APF?
+What type tool is it and is it applied or a shot in your neck?
+A doctor from Switzerland discovered this?
+I need the truth about this I am all for NATURAL AND NOT ARTIFICIAL!
+I dont like pills.
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+Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
+The Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner’s Atlanta, GA car accident attorneys handle a variety of car accidents cases related to negligent or reckless driving.
+A staggering amount of Atlanta car accidents happen every day, but most of us assume that we will never be the victim of a serious vehicle crash. If a car accident has caught you or a loved one off guard and resulted in medical bills, surgery, or other major issues, our Atlanta car accident lawyer, Andrew E. Goldner, is ready to review your case for free today. We understand what it takes to get car accident victims the money that they deserve after a collision.
+Even a seemingly minor auto accident can have profound effects on your life. You could suddenly be without a car, which could hinder your ability to work. Even in instances such as this, an Atlanta non-injury car accident attorney can help.
+You could also suffer from injuries with pain after a car wreck that keep you in the hospital, racking up medical bills. And often, it’s not just you that’s affected. Your family could also suffer because of the actions of another driver or business.
+Andrew E. Goldner, your Atlanta car accident attorney, knows what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve after an Atlanta vehicle accident. You may be entitled to damages for:
+- Lost wages
+- Damage to your vehicle and other property
+- Past and future medical bills
+- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, etc.
+- Future medical costs
+- And more
+Call Andrew E. Goldner, your Atlanta car accident lawyer today at (404) 869-1580 for your FREE consultation.
+Don’t Trust the Insurance Company
+After your car accident, an insurer may present some paperwork for you to sign in exchange for a settlement check. DON’T SIGN ANYTHING until you speak with an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and not of getting you the car accident compensation you deserve. So, they have a motivation to low-ball your car accident settlement offer in hopes of paying out as little as possible.
+Andrew E. Goldner has fought insurance companies in and out of court to get his clients the best settlements and results possible. Even if the offer you get from your insurer seems reasonable, it’s a wise move to have it reviewed by an Atlanta auto accident attorney; once you accept that settlement, it’s virtually impossible to take further legal action related to your car wreck. Plus, your consultation is free, so you don’t risk anything by speaking with an Atlanta car accident lawyer before signing paperwork.
+Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer Is Ready to Get to Work
+At the Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner, our Atlanta car accident attorneys know how much is on the line after a car accident. We will do everything we can to improve your chances of recovering every penny that you deserve, and securing a settlement amount that addresses all of your losses, past, present, and and future.
+We will also make sure that your claim is filed within the statute of limitations, and that an insurance adjuster does not get away with lowballing a settlement offer. We have the resources necessary to investigate your accident, prove liability, organize your medical bills, file your claim, and negotiate on your behalf. If need be, we also will be prepared to take your case to court.
+Car and Auto Accident Frequently Asked Questions
+Trying to figure out what your next step is after a car accident in Atlanta can be confusing, to say the least. Suddenly, you’re dealing with a damaged car, medical expenses, and more. You may have quite a few questions, and we’re here to help. Call us today at (404) 869-1580 to schedule a free consultation. In the meantime, here are some of the most frequently-asked questions regarding car accidents in Atlanta:
+After you leave the scene of your car accident, seek medical attention for your injury as soon as possible. Even seemingly minor injuries need to be evaluated by a trained medical professional. If you plan to file a personal injury claim, you will need to submit evidence with your claim to demonstrate that you suffered an injury because of the negligent party’s actions. Documentation showing that you sought medical care soon after the accident will support your claim.
+If another party caused or contributed to your car accident, you have the right to hold them liable for the losses you incur due to your injuries and vehicle damage. Unless the party voluntarily admits fault, you will need to show that the party acted in a negligent manner in order to obtain compensation. Negligence can come in many forms and different parties can be negligent. The following are some examples of parties that are commonly held liable in Atlanta car accident cases:
+Other drivers. The majority of car accident claims are filed against other drivers for negligent actions and inactions on the roads. Drivers are negligent when they fail to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner based upon the roadway and weather conditions. Examples of negligent driving include: drunk driving, distracted driving, fatigued driving, violating traffic laws, aggressive driving, and other dangerous behaviors.
+Car manufacturers. Auto companies have the duty to make cars that will be safe for consumers to drive. However, cars often make it onto the market with defective brakes, airbags, accelerators, ignition switches, tires, and other faulty components. When these defective parts malfunction, drivers can lose control of their vehicles and crash. In this situation, the car manufacturer that sold the defective car can be held liable.
+Businesses. Employers, both large and small, are responsible for the conduct of their employees, including drivers. Our law firm has recovered millions of dollars for seriously injured clients as a result of pursuing claims against corporations, partnerships, companies, and other business entities when their drivers cause car accidents. Georgia law holds that when someone is doing an errand for a business, or otherwise driving within the course and scope of his or her employment, the business can be held liable for any accidents that occur during this time. Most businesses carry a substantial amount of liability insurance which covers negligence by their employees.
+Municipalities. Roads should be properly inspected and maintained by the local or state government, depending on the particular road or highway. If the government, or a contractor hired by the government to perform road work, does not adequately take care of the roads and allows hazards to persist without properly warning drivers, such hazards can lead to collisions. If you crashed because of a pothole, uneven pavement, dangerous intersection or turn, malfunctioning traffic signal, or another roady defect-related reason, the government or a contractor may be at fault.
+An Atlanta Car accident attorney can help you negotiate a fair settlement if possible, or pursue claims through trial, if necessary. If an insurance settlement offer will not cover your damages, you have the right to seek recovery by filing a claim for personal injury in civil court. This is a complex process and it is important to have the guidance of an experienced attorney throughout your car accident case.
+When a person is involved in a car accident, they usually experience a myriad of losses. Of course, the more serious the car accident is – usually a result of a combination of vehicle positioning and speed – the more serious the losses. Some of the most common damages that car accident victims incur include:
+Painful injuries and disability. The injuries that a person sustains in a car accident are often serious, painful, and result in a long-term disability or impairment. Even an injury such as a broken leg – which is far less serious than, for example, a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis – can take months to heal, and even years for a person to be able to fully return to the things that they were once able to do.
+Medical bills. In order to treat injuries, professional medical care is a necessity. However, medical care in Atlanta is expensive; a person may incur hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of medicals bills from hospital stays, medications, doctors’ appointments, surgery, consultations with specialists, physical therapy, and more.
+Lost wages. If a person is injured and she cannot return to work, she will have to cope with the fact that she will also be unable to earn a salary. While some people may be able to return to work in a few days time or a few weeks time, other people may miss work for months or years, and some people will be permanently unable to earn an income again.
+Psychological injuries. Being in a car accident doesn’t just take a toll on a body physically; it can also cause psychological injuries as well. The emotional anguish associated with injuries, immobility, and the inability to earn an income is very real, and may lead to anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder.
+After a car accident, you have a number of rights and responsibilities. Your responsibilities include:
+- The responsibility to seek medical care for your injuries;
+- The responsibility to report the car accident to the police; and,
+- The responsibility to report the car accident to your insurance company.
+All three of these things are very important; if you do not do them, you may jeopardize your chances of recovering compensation. Your rights include:
+- The right to refrain from giving your insurance company a recorded statement;
+- The right to seek damages by filing a car insurance claim or a car accident lawsuit; and
+- Your right to reject a first settlement offer and negotiate for a higher amount.
+You also have the right to work with a competent Atlanta personal injury attorney who can guide you through the claims process and advocate for you every step of the way.
+If you suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a car accident, you need to demonstrate the following in order to recover compensation for your damages related to the injury or death:
+The specific damages that you suffered. These could be your medical bills, your lost wages, your psychological damages, or the loss of the deceased victim’s earnings, benefits, and contributions to your household. These damages should be itemized and supported alongside the other pieces of evidence to support your claim;
+The cause of the injury or death. In the case of an injury or death caused by a car accident, you will need to demonstrate how the accident occurred and how it directly caused the injury that eventually led to the death. Evidence to support this portion of your claim may include video surveillance that captured the accident, photographs of the accident, and the official police report for the accident. If the accident was due to a vehicular malfunction, documentation showing the faulty or defective part is an important piece of supporting evidence;
+The connection between the accident and your damages. Simply showing that you were in an accident and that you are now facing high medical bills is not enough to show the causation between the two events. You must have evidence to show that the specific injury caused you to face the expenses you are now paying, such as the need for physical therapy due to a broken leg that you would not have had if you had not been in an accident.
+Your doctor’s diagnosis, treatment plan, and specific testimony about the injury and your prognosis can support this part of your claim. If you cannot work or if you can only perform limited job duties and thus cannot earn your full wage because of your injury, documentation showing the difference in your earnings or earning capacity must be submitted alongside a claim for compensation for lost wages.
+The at-fault party’s negligence. You must show that if the at-fault party was negligent in order to connect the resulting accident to your damages..
+Distracted Driving Causing Atlanta Car Accidents
+In the city of Atlanta, an auto accident caused by distracted driving is a very real problem. A person who does not have their full attention on the road is at a high risk for causing an accident that can cause severe injury. When a person is found to have been driving while distracted and causes an auto accident injury, they can be held legally liable to compensating the victims of that auto accident (O.C.G.A. Title 9).
+There are many types of distracted driving. Many people believe that the biggest problem in a vehicle is the cell phone, and this may be the case. Georgia’s hands-free cell phone law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241) forbids making any contact or use of electronic devices, with very few exceptions.
+Unfortunately, phones are not the only case of distracted driving. Eating, drinking, grooming and texting behind the wheel are all distracting. So are loose pets in the vehicle and children fighting in the back seat. In fact, anything that takes someone’s attention off of the primary task of driving can be considered a distraction.
+An auto accident can happen in the blink of an eye. A person, when distracted and traveling at highway speeds, can travel the length of a football field or more without their attention on the road. Traveling this distance without focus can be incredibly dangerous.
+If you have been involved in an accident in Atlanta that can be attributed to a distracted driver, you may have a case for personal injury. Reach out to an experienced car accident attorney for assistance in determining what you may be entitled to under state law. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries, property damage and more.
+Andrew E. Goldner, your dedicated Atlanta car accident lawyer, has helped auto accident victims whose losses total more than $1,000,000 recover the car accident compensation that they so desperately needed. If your future is on the line, do not try to go at it alone — work with our Atlanta auto accident attorneys. You can reach us today for a free case consultation by calling our offices directly at (404) 869-1580, or by filling out our online contact form.
+Client Reviews
+By: Theresa.
+Law Offices of Andrew Goldner, LLC
+Phone: (404) 869-1580
+View Map
+Atlanta Car Accident Causes
+Car accidents killed killed 1,430 people in Georgia in 2016 and caused 19,405 serious injuries. They happen quickly, they happen often, and they have tragic consequences. While there are many things that cause car accidents, and many of which are sadly preventable, the number one cause of car accidents is distracted driving. Drivers who multi-task behind the wheel, eating lunch in one hand, texting in the other, adjusting the radio, or talking on the phone cannot pay as much attention to the road as they need to.
+Speeding is another common cause for car accidents which result in death because when cars travel at higher speeds, a collision is more deadly. Therefore, a higher percentage of car accidents that involve speeding drivers end in death compared to accidents where drivers were not speeding.
+Drunk driving is another preventable cause of car accidents that takes innocent lives every year. Alcohol impairs our ability to use the motor skills we need to drive a car competently, and impairs our ability to make the rational decisions required to drive on shared roads. These top three car accident causes can easily be avoided with intentional, careful driving.
+An Atlanta car accident lawyer can provide more information about your legal rights if you’ve been involved in a auto accident.
+The state’s new hands-free law, called The Hands-Free Georgia Act (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241),.
+Atlanta’s Guide To New Hands-Free Law
+FAST FACTS
+- Georgia ranks 5th in states that have had the largest rise in motor vehicle deaths between 2014 and 2016.
+- Deaths related to distracted driving and other causes rose by a third in Georgia between 2014 and 2016.
+Prohibited Behaviors
+The law tells drivers what they can and cannot do behind the wheel. If you have the keys and are planning on driving, you need to know what is now prohibited. You may no longer:
+- Hold a telecommunication device with your hands.
+- Support a telecommunication device with any part of your body. For example, holding your phone between your shoulder and your ear would be considered supporting your phone.
+- Read, write or send any type of text, direct message, or email.
+- Transmit any Internet data via your device.
+- Record or broadcast video.
+- Remove your seat belt or leave your seat to retrieve a device that has fallen or is out of reach.
+Permitted Behaviors
+The law doesn’t make it illegal to do everything with your device. You may still:
+- Use your device to call emergency services if you are involved in or see an accident or other situation that requires a response from police, firefighters or medical personnel.
+- Use earpieces to talk.
+- Use voice recognition software to write and send a text, email or other communication.
+- Utilize your GPS system, including entering information while driving.
+- Tap a button to activate whatever type of voice recognition you use.
+- Use CB and other types of commercial radios and communications devices.
+A couple of things to note: These laws don’t apply to police, firefighters and other emergency personnel, or to employees or contractors responding to a utility emergency. The laws do apply to those stopped at a red light. You must be parked lawfully to use your cell phone or electronic device behind the wheel.
+Penalties
+If you are cited for a first offense, you face a point on your license and a $50 fine. If you are cited twice in a period of two years, you will earn two points on your license and could be given a $100 fine. A third offense means three points on your license and a fine maxing out at $150. Subsequent offenses within a two-year period mean that your license could be suspended.
+Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer Today
+If you are involved in an Atlanta car accident caused by a distracted driver, you need an Atlanta car accident Attorney. Call our office today to schedule your case evaluation and learn more about your legal rights. You and your family should not have to suffer financially because of the actions of someone else. Our Atlanta car accident attorney can assist you in seeking the compensation you are entitled to.
+If you’ve been injured in an Atlanta car accident in Atlanta, you have legal rights. Contact Andrew E. Goldner, your dedicated Atlanta Car Accident attorney now for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review the details of your case together, and figure out the next step for your unique situation. Call our offices at (404) 869-1580 or contact us online today.
+CFS News-Views Digest No. 89 (4-22-15) EARTH DAY
+EVENT: Citizens for Sustainability Planning and Sharing Meeting, Sat., April 25th, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Anthony Village City Hall Council Chambers. Open to all citizens interested in promoting resilience and long-term sustainability—for individuals, families, and communities.
+The announcement above serves as a catalyst for discussing grassroots activism. If you’re not within commuting range of this meeting, there are other opportunities near you, including organizations you can join that are dedicated to developing resilient, sustainable communities. If perchance no appropriate groups are available, perhaps you might consider starting one!
+One obvious reason for a lack of citizen activism might be attributed to the overwhelmingly depressing news we’re increasingly encountering. Ongoing brain and human behavior research provides explanations as to why most people intentionally ignore and/or deny dire future prognostications. The conventional, outmoded narrative—that prosperity is the result of constant material and economic growth—contrasts strikingly with the reality narrative that’s based on declining natural resources, overpopulation, rapid extinction of flora and fauna species, and climate change.
+As we struggle to fulfill our many life obligations and goals, it seems our most common coping mechanism remains our unique ability to foster and maintain positive, optimistic, and hopeful expectations. So it’s no surprise that we prefer giving most of our attention to here-and-now challenges of daily life, rather than addressing long-term life-and-death concerns.
+What prompts this commentary is a profound interest in discovering what each of us can do (needs to do) to promote greater resilience and sustainability, for ourselves and for the common good. In truth, grassroots activism has proven extremely effective in making constructive changes in all areas of life, and worldwide progressive populism is accelerating, with more and more citizens joining organizations that promote worthy causes.
+Two of the most prominent populist organizations spawning widespread citizen activism are the progressive Occupy Movement on the left, and the ultra-conservative Tea Party Movement on the right. Thankfully, there’s growing evidence of American progressive populism, exemplified by the collaboration (of more than 2 million active members of organizations in 32 states) into four member groups–the Campaign for America’s Future, National People’s Action, US Action, and the Alliance for a Just Society. More information about the progressive populism movement is found in the leading article of the Equity section: Can New Populist Agenda Harness Passions, Create Movement From Below?.
+Like many readers, I support a number of worthy organizations financially, but I also sign and send numerous pre-formed email letters to government leaders, corporations, and the like, requesting action on favorite issues related to environmental, health, socio-political, educational, and economic issues, to name a few. Grassroots citizenship or progressive populism begins locally, where we live. And the time to begin participating is on EARTH DAY 2015!
+“There is a bottom-up progressive populist sentiment building in this country.” (George Goehl, executive director of National People’s Action)
+ENLIGHTENMENT (• Expectations • Ideas • Beliefs • Psychology)
+> Peak Prosperity: The God Of Technological Progress May Well Be Dead (Chris Martenson, podcast). Chris discusses with John Michael Greer the global faith in inexorable technological advancement as a cure-all to every predicament we face, which, in many ways, has become the dominant religion of the 21st century. The converging crises we’re facing grow more dangerous when society clings onto a narrative that’s divorced from reality.
+> The Archdruid Report: The Retro Future (John Michael Greer). It’s become increasingly clear that deliberate technological regression as a matter of personal choice is also worth pursuing; and entirely possible that we could be heading toward a future in which people will roll their eyes when they think of Twitter, texting, 24/7 connectivity, and the rest of today’s overblown technofetishism—like, dude, all that stuff is so twenty-teens!
+> Truthout: You Can’t Have A Functioning Democracy Without High Quality Infrastructure. (Thom Hartman). The richest country in the world is looking more and more like a developing nation each day. The situation is so bad that the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the US a D+ overall rating on its 2013 infrastructure report card. The ASCE gave our bridges a C+, our roads a D, our transit systems a D, our energy infrastructure a D, our dams a D and the list goes on.
+> Resilience: Getting From Here To There (Gord Stewart, Review: Creating a Sustainable and Desirable Future). Business-as-usual is sure to deliver us a future that is both unsustainable and undesirable, with climate change arguably our most pressing problem. “Creating a shared vision of a sustainable and desirable future is the most critical task facing humanity today.
+ENVIRONMENT (• Natural Resources • Wildlife • Climate)
+> ENSIA: Shellfisheries: Time To Prepare For Ocean Acidification (Sarah Cooley). Oceans are gradually becoming warmer and more acidic as more carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere — two shifts that are altering the economic foundations of many coastal regions, including U.S. coastlines.
+> MPR: Climate Denial Fading Among Broadcast Meteorologists (Paul Huttner). More than 90 percent of the 464 broadcast meteorologists questioned in the survey now agree that climate change is happening. That’s up from about 82 percent of TV meteorologists and weathercasters in the 2011 survey.
+> Minnpost: Environment Needs More Federal Help, Says 48% In U.S. Gallup Poll (Ron Meador). Aaccording to a recent Gallup Poll, almost half of Americans think the federal government is “doing too little” in the way of environmental protection. This percentage has been fairly stable in surveys going back to 2010, with the size of the plurality fluctuating between 46% and 51%, even as the percentage of Americans who rank the environment as a top concern has been steadily falling.
+> Minnpost: How Can Minnesota Achieve Sustainable Water Use? Agriculture Holds The Key (Ron Meador). Water specialist Deb Swackhamer’s subject was so large, and her recent talk at the MN Zoo for its World Speaier Series was so wide-ranging, that only some of the main points are covered in this article. For a video of her full 50-minutes presentation, plus an hour of Q&A with an engaged audience, go here.
+ENERGY (• Carbon Based • Renewable)
+> Peak Oil: The Great Burning (Richard Heinberg; Part 2 of a 4-part series). In this short video,out.
+> Star Tribune: N.D. Sees Second Consecutive Monthly Drop In Oil Output (David Shaffer). Oil production in ND will likely fall through May because of the drop in the number of drilling rigs to 91 this month, less than half the number operating a year ago. Output was just under 1.18 million barrels per day in February, a drop of 50,435 daily barrels since December, when the state hit a 1.2-million-barrel-per-day record high.
+> Our Finite World: Putting The Real Story Of Energy And The Economy Together (Gail Tverberg). In my view, the real story of energy and the economy is a story of oil limits that will make themselves known as financial limits, quite possibly in the near term—perhaps in as little time as a few months or years. Our underlying problem is diminishing returns—it takes more and more effort (hours of workers’ time and quantities of resources), to produce essentially the same goods and services.
+> Oil Price: Has The U.S. Reached “Peak Oil” At Current Price Levels? (Leonard Brecken). The EIA has once again capitulated on the myth that rig counts don’t matter and that the productivity of wells would largely offset, leaving the industry on a continuous path to higher output. The current consensus of 500,000 B/D additional growth in 2015 US production now appears very much at risk.
+ECONOMY (• Finances • Commerce • Global-Local)
+> The Trading Report: There Is Something Huge Percolating Just Under The Surface Of The Global Economy (Michael Snyder). If the economy is actually “getting better”, like we are being told by the establishment media, then why are so many big companies declaring bankruptcy? According to CNBC, the number of publicly traded companies declaring bankruptcy has hit a five-year high. In sum, at the moment we are in far worse shape than we were just prior to the last recession.
+> Resilience: How Worker Co-Ops Are Moving Beyond Capitalism (David Morgan)..
+CASSE-The Daly News: A Business Built For Resilience (James Magnus-Johnston). A ‘social enterprise’ is a business model designed to maximize human and environmental wellbeing rather than accumulate profits for shareholders. From non-profit and cooperative models to the birth of the B Corp (benefit corporation), we are witnessing a profound shift in business–away from growth and profit as an organizing principle, and towards one that respects the social and ecological limits to growth.
+EQUITY (• Equality • Health • Social Concerns • Political Power)
+> Positive Money: Bank Robbery: Inequality And The Banking System (Ivo Mosley). Extreme inequality is the main economic, political and cultural evil of our times. This chapter (2) is about how bank-credit, as money newly-allocated and carrying an interest charge, increases inequality, transferring wealth and power from ordinary people to governments and the very rich. [Chapter 1]
+> Alternet: The Numbers Are Staggering: U.S. Is ‘World Leader’ In Child Poverty (Paul Bucheit). The U.S. has one of the highest relative child poverty rates in the developed world. As UNICEF reports, “[Children’s] material well-being is highest in the Netherlands and in the four Nordic countries and lowest in Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and the United States.”
+> Yes! Magazine: A Trade Rule That Makes It Illegal To Favor Local Business? (David Korten). The newest WikiLeaks report shows the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) proposal would allow anti-local-business practices. The document is full of dense legal jargon, but a careful reading makes its corporate agenda crystal clear. Korten explains four significant aspects of the TPP.
+ENGAGEMENT (• Goals • Activism • Solutions)
+> Common Dreams: Can New Populist Agenda Harness Passions, Create Movement From Below? (Jon Queally)..
+> ENSIA: Can Saltwater Quench Our Growing Thirst? (Brian Bienkowski). .
+> Grain: Why We Need Local Food Systems And How To Get Them. Reconnecting people with the food they eat and the people that produce it is a powerful way to establish a sense of community and to link us to our shared natural world. In practice, this means going beyond buying ‘local’ food from big chains that otherwise reinforce our broken, industrialized agricultural system. This means working with other citizens and farmers to shorten supply chains for the benefit of local communities and economies.
+> On Earth: Climate Change Denial 101: A Free Online Course (Brian Palmer). John Cook, a climate communication fellow at the University of Queensland in Australia and the creator of the excellent website Skeptical Science, is coordinating the course. It will feature climatologists, modelers, chemists, computer scientists, meteorologists, and glaciologists—real scientists talking about science, rather than economists, politicians, and media personalities all shouting at the same time.
+> Yes! Magazine: Big City Living May Help You Slow Down, Stress Less, And Be Happy. Really! ( Zanna McKay). From New York City to Barcelona, cities across the world are tuning to “slow living” to make their communities happier and healthier in the face of increasing urbanization. Cittaslow is an organization credited with starting the slow cities movement.
+EVENTS AND INFORMATION
+> MN350: Earth Day Climate Rally at the Capitol, Wed., April 22, 1-3 p.m., MN State Capitol building, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
+> Citizens for Sustainability: Planning and Sharing Meeting, Sat., April 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., SAV City Hall Council Chambers, Silver Lake Rd., St. Anthony Village, MN.
+> MN350: Two Presentations by Artic Explorer-Activist, David Thoreson. 1) Midwest Mountaineering Expo: “The Northwest Passage in the Era of Climate Change”, Sun., April 26, 1-2 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, U of MN, Mpls. Contact: stan@mn350.org; 2) “Climate Champions: Navigating the Northwest Passage and Globalizing Political Will” (with Joseph Robertson), Mon., April 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., reception, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Student Center, U of MN, St. Paul; more info.
+> >>
+/* alloca.c -- allocate automatically reclaimed memory (Mostly) portable public-domain implementation -- D A Gwyn This implementation of the PWB library alloca function, which is used to allocate space off the run-time stack so that it is automatically reclaimed upon procedure exit, was inspired by discussions with J. Q. Johnson of Cornell. J.Otto Tennant <jot@cray.com> contributed the Cray support.def HAVE_CONFIG_H # include <config.h> #endif #include <alloca.h> #include <string.h> #include <stdlib.h> #ifdef emacs # include "lisp.h" # include "blockinput.h" # ifdef EMACS_FREE # undef free # define free EMACS_FREE # endif #else # define memory_full() abort () #endif /* If compiling with GCC 2, this file's not needed. */ #if !defined (__GNUC__) || __GNUC__ < 2 /* If someone has defined alloca as a macro, there must be some other way alloca is supposed to work. */ # ifndef alloca # ifdef emacs # ifdef static /* actually, only want this if static is defined as "" -- this is for usg, in which emacs must undefine static in order to make unexec workable */ # ifndef STACK_DIRECTION you lose -- must know STACK_DIRECTION at compile-time /* Using #error here is not wise since this file should work for old and obscure compilers. */ # endif /* STACK_DIRECTION undefined */ # endif /* static */ # endif /* emacs */ /* If your stack is a linked list of frames, you have to provide an "address metric" ADDRESS_FUNCTION macro. */ # if defined (CRAY) && defined (CRAY_STACKSEG_END) long i00afunc (); # define ADDRESS_FUNCTION(arg) (char *) i00afunc (&(arg)) # else # define ADDRESS_FUNCTION(arg) &(arg) # endif /* = ADDRESS_FUNCTION (dummy); find_stack_direction (); /* Recurse once. */ } else { /* Second entry. */ if (ADDRESS_FUNCTION ; static header *last_alloca_header = NULL; /* -> last alloca header. */ /* Return. */ void * alloca (size_t size) { auto char probe; /* Probes stack depth: */ register char *depth = ADDRESS_FUNCTION (probe); # if STACK_DIRECTION == 0 if (STACK_DIR == 0) /* Unknown growth direction. */ find_stack_direction (); # endif /* Reclaim garbage, defined as all alloca'd storage that was allocated from deeper in the stack than currently. */ { register header *hp; /* Traverses linked list. */ # ifdef emacs BLOCK_INPUT; # endif for (hp = last_alloca_header; hp != NULL;) if ((STACK_DIR > 0 && hp->h.deep > depth) || (STACK_DIR < 0 && hp->h.deep < depth)) { register header *np = hp->h.next; free (hp); /* Collect garbage. */ hp = np; /* -> next header. */ } else break; /* Rest are not deeper. */ last_alloca_header = hp; /* -> last valid storage. */ # ifdef emacs UNBLOCK_INPUT; # endif } if (size == 0) return NULL; /* No allocation required. */ /* Allocate combined header + user data storage. */ { /* Address of header. */ register header *new; size_t combined_size = sizeof (header) + size; if (combined_size < sizeof (header)) memory_full (); new = malloc (combined_size); if (! new) memory_full (); new->h.next = last_alloca_header; new->h.deep = depth; last_alloca_header = new; /* User storage begins just after header. */ return (void *) (new + 1); } } # if defined (CRAY) && defined (CRAY_STACKSEG_END) # ifdef DEBUG_I00AFUNC # include <stdio.h> # endif # ifndef CRAY_STACK # define CRAY_STACK # ifndef CRAY2 /* Stack structures for CRAY-1, CRAY X-MP, and CRAY Y-MP */ struct stack_control_header { long shgrow:32; /* Number of times stack has grown. */ long shaseg:32; /* Size of increments to stack. */ long shhwm:32; /* High water mark of stack. */ long shsize:32; /* Current size of stack (all segments). */ }; /* The stack segment linkage control information occurs at the high-address end of a stack segment. (The stack grows from low addresses to high addresses.) The initial part of the stack segment linkage control information is 0200 (octal) words. This provides for register storage for the routine which overflows the stack. */ struct stack_segment_linkage { long ss[0200]; /* 0200 overflow words. */ long sssize:32; /* Number of words in this segment. */ long ssbase:32; /* Offset to stack base. */ long:32; long sspseg:32; /* Offset to linkage control of previous segment of stack. */ long:32; long sstcpt:32; /* Pointer to task common address block. */ long sscsnm; /* Private control structure number for microtasking. */ long ssusr1; /* Reserved for user. */ long ssusr2; /* Reserved for user. */ long sstpid; /* Process ID for pid based multi-tasking. */ long ssgvup; /* Pointer to multitasking thread giveup. */ long sscray[7]; /* Reserved for Cray Research. */ long ssa0; long ssa1; long ssa2; long ssa3; long ssa4; long ssa5; long ssa6; long ssa7; long sss0; long sss1; long sss2; long sss3; long sss4; long sss5; long sss6; long sss7; }; # else /* CRAY2 */ /* The following structure defines the vector of words returned by the STKSTAT library routine. */ struct stk_stat { long now; /* Current total stack size. */ long maxc; /* Amount of contiguous space which would be required to satisfy the maximum stack demand to date. */ long high_water; /* Stack high-water mark. */ long overflows; /* Number of stack overflow ($STKOFEN) calls. */ long hits; /* Number of internal buffer hits. */ long extends; /* Number of block extensions. */ long stko_mallocs; /* Block allocations by $STKOFEN. */ long underflows; /* Number of stack underflow calls ($STKRETN). */ long stko_free; /* Number of deallocations by $STKRETN. */ long stkm_free; /* Number of deallocations by $STKMRET. */ long segments; /* Current number of stack segments. */ long maxs; /* Maximum number of stack segments so far. */ long pad_size; /* Stack pad size. */ long current_address; /* Current stack segment address. */ long current_size; /* Current stack segment size. This number is actually corrupted by STKSTAT to include the fifteen word trailer area. */ long initial_address; /* Address of initial segment. */ long initial_size; /* Size of initial segment. */ }; /* The following structure describes the data structure which trails any stack segment. I think that the description in 'asdef' is out of date. I only describe the parts that I am sure about. */ struct stk_trailer { long this_address; /* Address of this block. */ long this_size; /* Size of this block (does not include this trailer). */ long unknown2; long unknown3; long link; /* Address of trailer block of previous segment. */ long unknown5; long unknown6; long unknown7; long unknown8; long unknown9; long unknown10; long unknown11; long unknown12; long unknown13; long unknown14; }; # endif /* CRAY2 */ # endif /* not CRAY_STACK */ # ifdef CRAY2 /* Determine a "stack measure" for an arbitrary ADDRESS. I doubt that "lint" will like this much. */ static long i00afunc (long *address) { struct stk_stat status; struct stk_trailer *trailer; long *block, size; long result = 0; /* We want to iterate through all of the segments. The first step is to get the stack status structure. We could do this more quickly and more directly, perhaps, by referencing the $LM00 common block, but I know that this works. */ STKSTAT (&status); /* Set up the iteration. */ trailer = (struct stk_trailer *) (status.current_address + status.current_size - 15); /* There must be at least one stack segment. Therefore it is a fatal error if "trailer" is null. */ if (trailer == 0) abort (); /* Discard segments that do not contain our argument address. */ while (trailer != 0) { block = (long *) trailer->this_address; size = trailer->this_size; if (block == 0 || size == 0) abort (); trailer = (struct stk_trailer *) trailer->link; if ((block <= address) && (address < (block + size))) break; } /* Set the result to the offset in this segment and add the sizes of all predecessor segments. */ result = address - block; if (trailer == 0) { return result; } do { if (trailer->this_size <= 0) abort (); result += trailer->this_size; trailer = (struct stk_trailer *) trailer->link; } while (trailer != 0); /* We are done. Note that if you present a bogus address (one not in any segment), you will get a different number back, formed from subtracting the address of the first block. This is probably not what you want. */ return (result); } # else /* not CRAY2 */ /* Stack address function for a CRAY-1, CRAY X-MP, or CRAY Y-MP. Determine the number of the cell within the stack, given the address of the cell. The purpose of this routine is to linearize, in some sense, stack addresses for alloca. */ static long i00afunc (long address) { long stkl = 0; long size, pseg, this_segment, stack; long result = 0; struct stack_segment_linkage *ssptr; /* Register B67 contains the address of the end of the current stack segment. If you (as a subprogram) store your registers on the stack and find that you are past the contents of B67, you have overflowed the segment. B67 also points to the stack segment linkage control area, which is what we are really interested in. */ stkl = CRAY_STACKSEG_END (); ssptr = (struct stack_segment_linkage *) stkl; /* If one subtracts 'size' from the end of the segment, one has the address of the first word of the segment. If this is not the first segment, 'pseg' will be nonzero. */ pseg = ssptr->sspseg; size = ssptr->sssize; this_segment = stkl - size; /* It is possible that calling this routine itself caused a stack overflow. Discard stack segments which do not contain the target address. */ while (!(this_segment <= address && address <= stkl)) { # ifdef DEBUG_I00AFUNC fprintf (stderr, "%011o %011o %011o\n", this_segment, address, stkl); # endif if (pseg == 0) break; stkl = stkl - pseg; ssptr = (struct stack_segment_linkage *) stkl; size = ssptr->sssize; pseg = ssptr->sspseg; this_segment = stkl - size; } result = address - this_segment; /* If you subtract pseg from the current end of the stack, you get the address of the previous stack segment's end. This seems a little convoluted to me, but I'll bet you save a cycle somewhere. */ while (pseg != 0) { # ifdef DEBUG_I00AFUNC fprintf (stderr, "%011o %011o\n", pseg, size); # endif stkl = stkl - pseg; ssptr = (struct stack_segment_linkage *) stkl; size = ssptr->sssize; pseg = ssptr->sspseg; result += size; } return (result); } # endif /* not CRAY2 */ # endif /* CRAY */ # endif /* no alloca */ #endif /* not GCC version 2 */
+
+Library Of Congress Index: Experts and Sources
+SourcesSelect.ca
+BF637.C4P68
+Always Change a Losing Game
+Published: 1994
+Help you to improve your life by showing you how to make positive, personal changes.
+BF637.S4.B574 2000
+Making Peace with Your Past
+The Six Essential Steps to Enjoying a Great Future
+Published: 2001
+BF692.R35 1972b
+Sex-Pol
+Essays 1929-1934
+Published: 1972
+Wilhelm Reich's writings from his Marxist period, outlining his thoughts about sexual and political liberation.
+BJ1857.C5M32
+Miss Manners' Guide to Rearing Perfect Children
+Published: 1985
+E78.05S763 2004
+Journey to the Ice Age
+Discovering an Ancient World
+Published: 2004
+FC162.M25
+When the Work's All Done This Fall
+The Settling of the Land
+Published: 1989
+Excerpts from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century writings that touch on Canadian agriculture.
+FC2925.9.J3M33
+Electric Rivers
+The Story of the James Bay Project
+Published: 1991
+FC3065.A65K49 2003
+Paddling My Own Canoe
+The Story of Algonquin Park's First Female Guide
+Published: 2003
+An account of a life-long relationship with Algonquin Park.
+FC3095.0196024 1997
+Oak Ridges Moraine
+Published: 1997
+Members of the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition - naturalists, botanists, geologists, historians, writers, photographers -- celebrate the special nature of the Moraine in this collection of essays and photographers.
+FC3095.B78F69 1088
+The Bruce Beckons
+Revised and enlarged edition
+Published: 1962
+FC3095.S67J32 1998
+44 Country Trails
+Published: 1998
+FC3096.52.J45 1996
+An Acre of Time
+Published: 1996
+Phil Jenkins tells the life story of a single acre on Le Breton Flats, in Ottawa, Canada.
+FC3097.18.S495 2000
+Toronto's Ravines
+Walking the Hidden Country
+Published: 2000
+FC3097.18C8 1994
+The Hike Ontario Guide to Walks Around Toronto
+Published: 199
+FC3097.18E23 2000
+Nature Hikes
+Near-Toronto Trails and Adventures
+Published: 2000
+FC3097.52.H47
+Todmorden Mills
+A Human and Natural History
+Published: 1987
+FC3097.56.S38 1992
+Trails of the Don
+Published: 1992
+Charles Sauriol recalls Toronto's Don Valley.
+FC36.R38
+Dictionary of Canadian Place Names
+Published: 1997
+Includes 6,200 names of Canadian cities, towns, lakes, rivers, national parks, mountains, capes, channels and bays.
+FC3849.H82P64
+This Was Our Valley
+Published: 1989
+GF41.C76
+Ecology For Beginners
+Published: 1981
+Amusing, solidly resesearched, and sophisticated, Ecology for Beginners tells a fast and furious tale of Man, Woman, and their struggle with the environment.
+GF41.J3
+Only One Earth
+The Care and Maintenance of a Small Planet
+Published: 1972
+GF75.P66 1992
+A Green History of the World
+The Environment and the Collapse of Great Civilizations
+Published: 1991
+Ponting tracks the "green" history of the world showing how throughout history civilizations have collapsed when they exhausted the earth's natural resources.
+GF75.W454 2008
+The World Without Us
+Published: 2007
+A thought experiment to see what would happen to the planet if human beings simply disappeared.
+GV1061.B77 1994
+Fitness Running
+Published: 1994
+GV546.B33 1995
+Fitness Weight Training
+Published: 1995
+HB883.5.P66
+Population Growth, Resource Consumption, and the Environment
+Seeking a Common Vision for a Troubled World
+Published: 1995
+This work looks at the problem of overpoplulation and the environment.
+HC120.E79R63
+Get a Life!
+How to make a good buck dance around the dinosaurs and save the world while you're at it
+Published: 1995
+Simultaneoulsy a textbook on new careers and lifestyles for aspiring entrepreneurs and a strategy for social, economic and environmental renewal.
+HC120.ES65 1991
+Spirit of the Wolf
+The Environment and Canada's Future: Volume 1
+Published: 1991
+HC120.P6R36 2007
+Poverty and Policy in Canada
+Implications for Health and Qualityof Life
+Published: 2007
+Raphael writes with authority on the problem of inequality and poverty in Canada. Income variability has increased while social assistance and minimum wages have not kept people up.
+HC55.A44
+How to Save the World
+Strategy for World Conservation
+Published: 1980
+"How To Save The World" discusses, "Why the world needs saving now and how it can be done". Allen breaks his work down into seven chapters, devoting each to an important aspect of the global predicament. Securing the food supply, saving forests, preserving wildlife and presenting a strategy for conservation are all discussed as methods to improve the relationship between mankind and nature.
+HC79.E5
+Red and Green
+The New Politics of the Environment
+Published: 1986
+In order for green politics to work, we need to develop a total policy for the environment, a social policy which views capitalist industry as the destroyer of the world we live in.
+HC79.E5K68 2007
+The Enemy of Nature
+The End of Capitalism or the End of the World?
+Published: 2007
+We live in and from nature, but the way we have evolved of doing this is about to destroy you. Capitalism and its by-products -- imperialism, war, neoliberal globalization, racism, poverty, and the destruction of community -- are all playing a part in the destruction of our ecosystem.
+HC79.E5L58 1992
+Living with the Land
+Communities Restoring the Earth
+Published: 1992
+A collection of stories from grassroots communities about the benefits of ecological living.
+HC79.EM329 2011
+What Every Environmentalist Needs To Know about Capitalism
+A Citizen's Guide to Capitalism and the Environment
+Published: 2011
+A manifesto for those environmentalists who reject schemes of green capitalism or piecemeal reform. Magdoff and Foster.
+HD57.7.B45
+Leadership from Within
+Published: 1997
+Skills and techniques for leadership and success based on a holistic approach.
+HD59 C37 2007
+In the News
+The Practice of Media Relations in Canada - 2nd Edition
+Published: 2008
+An introduction of media relations in Canada, from both a practical and philosophical approach.
+HD59.B65 2004
+Media Relations
+The Bonner Communications Series
+Published: 2004
+A primer on attaining media preparedness.
+HD59.C37 2001
+In The News
+The Practice of Media Relations in Canada
+Published: 2002
+Carney gives everyone, from student to seasoned practitioner, a thorough understanding of who the media are, how they work and how to approach them with stories.
+HD59.S64 2008
+Building Media Relationships
+How to Establish, Maintain, and Develop Long-Term Relationships
+Published: 2009
+Sommers wrote this guide to teach how media can be used to raise an organization's public profile and improve its connection with the target audience.
+HD62.5.P57 1997
+From Starting to Marketing: Your Own Consulting Business
+Published: 1997
+HD75.N53 2006
+Life, Money & Illusion
+Living on Earth as if We Want to Stay
+Published: 2006.
+HD83.G6713
+Ecology as Politics
+Published: 1980
+Socialism is no better than capitalism if it makes use of the same tools. The total domination of nature inevitably entails a domination of people by the techniques of domination.
+HE7631.W53 1982
+Electronic Nightmare
+The Home Communications Set and Your Freedom
+Published: 1981
+HE8689.9.C3D68 1997
+Fresh Air
+The Private Thoughts of a Public Broadcaster
+Published: 1997
+HF5415.1265 B59 2002
+The Online Copywriter's Handbook
+Published: 2002
+Bly concentrates on the Internet and provides everything that's needed to write great copy for online applications.
+HF5415.1265.S742
+World Wide Web Marketing - Second Edition
+Integrating the Web Into Your Marketing Strategy
+Published: 1999
+This book is designed for those whose jobs involve creating and maintaining corporate web sites.
+HF5415.2.F67 2003
+Internet Marketing Intelligence
+Research Tools, Techniques, and Resources
+Published: 2003
+How to use the Internet for market research.
+HF5415.55.G67
+Relationship Marketing
+New Strategies, Techniques and Technologies To Win Customers You Want and Keep Them Forever
+Published: 1998
+HF5718.22Z453
+Say It with Presentations
+How to Design and Deliver Successful Business Presentations
+Published: 1999
+A hands-on approach to teaching effective presentation techniques.
+HF5821.G583 1995
+Sign Wars
+The Cluttered Landscape of Advertising
+Published: 1995
+Deconstructs the strategies used to distinguish one brand name from another by the use of commodity signs.
+HF5825.D65
+The Language of Layout
+Published: 1978
+HF6146.I58Z43 1999
+Advertising on the Internet
+Published: 1999
+Zeff and Aronson cover the issues, trends and technologies relating to the biggest revolution in advertising since television.
+HM131 K92
+Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution
+Published: 1902
+HM206.B67 1990
+The Philosophy of Social Ecology
+Essays on Dialectical Naturalism
+Published: 1990
+Bookchin addresses questions such as 'What is nature?", "What is humanity's place in nature?", "What is the relationship of society to the natural world?"
+HM623 D52 2002
+Dialogues on Cultural Studies
+Interviews with Contemporary Critics
+Published: 2002
+Thirty-three questions were asked (but not necessarily answered) of each participant, dealing with cultural studies, modernity, postmodernism, referentiality, ideology and history, post-colonialism, neo-orientalism, revolution and tragedy, intellectuals and universities, gender, Marxism, new communications technology.
+HM861.S77 2005
+The Empire of the Mind
+Digital Piracy and the Anti-Capitalist Movement
+Published: 2005
+HN55.W35 1993
+The Activist's Almanac
+The Concerned Citizen's Guide to the Leading Advocacy Organizations in America
+Published: 1993
+HQ12.F6813
+The History of Sexuality
+Volume I: Introduction
+Published: 1980
+HQ12.T27
+Sex in History
+Published: 1980
+Tannahill draws on the findings of anthropology, archaeology, bio-chemistry, genetics, physiology, and psychoanalysis, as well as art, architecture, literature, and theology, in order to place the human sex drive and its social and moral consequences in their widest historical perspective.
+HQ1220.U5D4
+There She Is
+The Life and Times of Miss America
+Published: 1978
+HQ18.U5C47 1989
+Burning Desires
+Sex in America: A report from the field
+Published: 1989
+Burning Desires looks at the state of sex in the aftermath of the `sexual counter-revolution' that marked the 1980s.
+HQ21.P68 1983
+Powers of Desire
+The Politics of Sexuality
+Published: 1983
+Brings together a diverse group of well-known feminist and gay writers, historians, and activists.
+HQ23.B63
+Body Invaders
+Panic Sex in America
+Published: 1987
+HQ28
+The Sexuality of Men
+Published: 1985
+Essays on aspects of male sexuality.
+HQ31.B772
+ESO
+How You and Your Lover Can Give Each Other Hours of Extended Sexual Orgasm
+Published: 1983
+HQ463.M4413 2002
+The Sexual Life of Catherine M.
+Published: 2003
+HQ471.H387
+Pornography in a Free Society
+Published: 1988
+An examination of public policy debates about pornography in the United States in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
+HQ471.K45 1988
+The Secret Museum
+Pornography in Modern Culture
+Published: 1988
+Kendrick looks at the idea of pornography since the word was coined a century and a half ago, concentrating less on the books and pictures that have instigated battles over "pornography" than on what people thought and felt about them.
+HQ76.8.C2F43
+Flaunting It!
+Published: 1982
+An anthology of articles spanning the first decade of the Canadian gay liberation periodical, The Body Politic.
+HQ769.G67 2007
+Roots of Empathy
+Changing the World Child by Child
+Published: 2007
+Roots of Empathy looks at eliminating crime and changing the world by starting with a compassionate environment for children.
+HQ79.A35
+Against Sadomasochism
+A Radical Feminist Analysis
+Published: 1982
+HQ800.B63 1976
+The Mistress Condition
+Published: 1976
+A look at some [American] women who live outside of conventional marriage.
+HT421.S55 1988
+Land and Community
+Crisis in Canada's Countryside
+Published: 1988
+Sim's thesis is that rural society is overlooked due to urban dependence upon "great associations," economies of scale, and other socio-cultural institutions of unmanageable size.
+HV105.C67
+Case Critical
+The Dilemma of Social Work in Canada
+Published: 1987
+HV4708.H47
+Second Nature
+The Animal-Rights Controversy
+Published: 1984
+Animal-rights advocates argue that humans have no right to kill any animal, whether by hunting or farming or for medical research. Is this a cure for our ecological ills or is it a symptom of the disease? What is irrefutably logical
+HV6432.H378 2011
+The Watchers
+The Rise of America's Surveillance State
+Published: 2010
+An exploration of how and why the American government increasingly spies on its own citizens.
+HV6432.M647 2010
+Surveillance in the Time of Insecurity
+Published: 2010.
+HV8158.7R69H49 2002
+Spying 101
+The RCMP's Secret Activities at Canadian Universities 1917 - 1997
+Published: 2002 this book.
+JC571.L534 2006
+Race Against Time
+Searching for Hope in AIDS-Ravaged Africa
+Published: 2006.
+JC596
+Someone's Watching You!
+From Micropchips in your Underwear to Satellites Monitoring Your Every Move, Find Out Who's Tracking You and What You Can Do about It
+Published: 2011
+An expose and explanation of the little-known secret surveillance programs run by both the public and private sectors, including practical steps on how to keep your private life private.
+JF1059.U6C35 1985
+A Citizen Legislature
+Published: 1985
+Arguing from the premise that the present electoral system is unrepresentative and promotes corruption, the authors propose going back to the Athenian system of choosing representatives: by lottery.
+KE3648.R68
+The Canadian Patients Book of Rights
+A Consumer's Guide to Canadian Health Law
+Published: 1994
+LB1049.P38
+Study Smarter, Not Harder
+Published: 1996
+LE3.T52F75 2002
+The University of Toronto
+A History
+Published: 2002
+N6549.3.2000
+Other Conundrums
+Race, Culture, and Canadian Art
+Published: 2000
+A collection of essays on Canadian art.
+N7430.5 M274 2001
+Reading Pictures
+A History of Love and Hate
+Published: 2000
+A meditation on the questions we ask ourselves when standing in front of a piece of art.
+N7433.7L46 1994
+Creative Collage Techniques
+A ste-by-step guide including 52 demonstrations and the work of over 60 artists
+Published: 2000
+N8550.D87
+Frame It
+A Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide to Picture Framing
+Published: 1976
+From preparing a work to hanging it; from creating frameless frames to putting together backngs, stretchers, mats, glass, and double mouldings; every aspect of the framing process is covered in this book.
+ND249.C3B72 2000
+Emily Carr
+Rebel Artist
+Published: 2000
+ND673.M35S313
+René Magritte: Life and Work
+Published: 1982
+NX634.C84 1996
+The Cultural Industries in Canada
+Problems, Policies and Prospects
+Published: 1996
+Dorland discusses policy problems specific to the Canadian cultural industries that produce cultural commodities, such as books, films and television programs.
+OH106.L39 1988
+The Natural History of Canada
+Published: 1988
+Written for the general reader, and well-illustrated, this book paints Canada's natural world in broad brush strokes but with a wealth of detail.
+P92.C2R87 1994
+Morals and the Media
+Ethics in Canadian Journalism
+Published: 1994
+Russell focuses on the fundamental moral questions and ethical dilemmas faced by journalists and discusses how the media both reflect and influence society.
+P94.5.M552C33 2001
+Media and Minorities
+Representing Diversity in a Multicultral Canada
+Published: 2001
+An examination of the politics of media minority relations in a multicultural Canada.
+P94.5M552C35 1996
+Mass Media and Canadian Diversity
+Published: 1997
+A collection of Canadian focused articles which examine portrayals of minority populations in the mass media as wel as cultural production emanating from within minority linguistic and cultural groups.
+P94.6.V44
+Understanding new media
+augmented knowledge and culture
+Published: 2006
+P96.E57D35 1996
+McLuhan's Children
+The Greenpeace Message and the Media
+Published: 1996
+Looks at Greenpeace's rise to global prominence through its savvy use of mass media. Traces the evolution of Greenpeace's relations with the media.
+PE 2809.B79 1995
+Made in America
+An Informal History of the English Language in the United States
+Published: 1994
+A history of American English.
+PE1121.B35 2001
+Canadian Students' Guide to Language, Literature, and Media
+Published: 2001
+Meant for secondary schools, independent use, or small group study
+PE1408.C35 2004
+The Canadian Writer's Handbook
+4th edition
+Published: 2005
+A guide to research, writing, and documentation.
+PE1417.1565 2000
+Inside Language
+A Canadian Language Reader
+Published: 2000
+PE1584.W55 2004
+Word Myths
+Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends
+Published: 2004
+Takes on linguistic urban legeds, not just debunking them but also examining why they are told and what they tell us about ourselves.
+PE1630.094
+The Oxford Dictionary of New Words
+Published: 1998
+If you want to know the hot words of the Eighties and Nineties then this dictionary is a requirement. It covers over 20,000 high-profiled words and phrases.
+PE3235.177
+Canadian Dictionary of the English Language
+Published: 1997
+PE3235.C36
+The Canadian Oxford Dictionary
+Published: 2001
+More than just a dictionary, this is also a reference book with its ample informational entries which include short biographies of Canadians ranging from Elvis Stoiko to Nellie McClung and Canadian locations as diverse as Nunavut and the Red Chamber.
+PE3235.F44
+Guide To Canadian English Usage
+Published: 1997
+PE3237.G34
+Gage Canadian Dictionary
+Revised and Expanded
+Published: 1997
+PN145.G64 1986
+Writing Down the Bones
+Freeing the Writer Within
+Published: 1986
+Suggestions for how to create good writing.
+PN147.C36
+The Canadian Style
+A Guide to Writing and Editing
+Published: 1997
+The Canadian Style suggests the first step in communicating clear ideas is to use plain language, without jargon or expressions. Then, consider your audience.
+PN161.C22 2003
+The Canadian Writers' Guide
+13th edition
+Published: 2003
+Over 130 how-to articles on many aspects of writng for publication.
+PN1949.S7
+Naked is the Best Disguise
+My Life as a Stripper
+Published: 1986
+PN1949.S7A56
+The Bare Facts
+My Life as a Stripper
+Published: 1988
+PN1992.55.B38 1996
+Television and the Remote Control
+Grazing on a Vast Wasteland
+Published: 1996
+PN1993.5.C3T34 2001
+Take One's Essential Guide to Canadian Film
+Published: 2001
+A reference book on Canadian film and filmmakers, with reviews, biographical listings, and a detailed chronology of major events in Canadian film and television history.
+PN3355.B7 1981
+Becoming a Writer
+Published: 1961
+A book about the writer's magic and how to overcome the major setbacks many writers experience.
+PN45.M345
+Into The Looking-Glass Wood
+Published: 1998
+A journey through the possibilities of reading.
+PN4731.S686 1988
+A History of News
+From the Drum to the Satellite
+Published: 1988
+PN4738.A7
+The Press and the Cold War
+Published: 1973
+PN4748.133 1999
+Idea of Public Journalism
+Published: 1999
+Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of public journalism, the movement aimed at getting the press to promote and improve, not merely report, the quality of public life.
+PN4749.B29 2001
+The Form of News
+A History
+Published: 2001
+A history of newspaper design in the USA, the ways of writing, how papers are organized, presentation values of typography, space and pictures, and the impact of changing technology
+PN4756.D42 1992
+Deadlines & Diversity
+Journalism Ethics in a Changing World
+Published: 1996
+An anthology on journalism ethics.
+PN4756.W37 2004
+The Invention of Journalism Ethics
+The Path to Objectivity and Beyond
+Published: 2005
+PN4759.L85 2001
+Daily News, Eternal Stories
+The Mythological Role of Journalism
+Published: 2001
+Argues that in many ways news articles of today draw from age-old tales have have chastened, entertained, and entranced people since the beginning of time.
+PN4781.A59
+Investigative Reporting
+Published: 1976
+Explains the art and science of investigative reporting: publication of the first article. A major portion of the book is devoted to research in public documents.
+PN4781.J85 1991
+Journalism of Outrage
+Investigative Reporting and Agenda Building in America
+Published: 1991
+Examines the myths and misconceptions of investigative journalism and presents empirical research to support a model that challenges the classical theory.
+PN4781.P525 2002
+Getting the Whole Story
+Reporting and Writing the News
+Published: 2002
+PN4781.R84
+Stalking the Feature Story
+Published: 1977
+PN4784.T3 M87 2001
+It Ain't Necessarily So
+How the Media Remake Our Picture of Reality
+Published: 2002
+Looks at the confusion and inaccuracies surrounding media reporting of scientific studies, surveys and statistics.
+PN4833.S76
+Web Journalism
+Practice and Promise of a New Medium
+Published: 2004
+PN4897.F6073
+Orange Journalism
+Voices from Florida Newspapers
+Published: 2003
+PN4897.F6073
+Orange Journalism
+Voices from Florida Newspapers
+Published: 2003
+PN4904.S87 1989
+The Monthly Epic
+A History of Canadian Magazines
+Published: 1989
+PN4914.09C35 2005
+Canadian Newspaper Ownership in the Era of Convergence
+Published: 2005
+An academic text aimed at scholars and students.
+PR85.C29
+The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English
+Published: 1993
+PS3557.03583Z478
+Wild Mind
+Living the Writer's Life
+Published: 1990
+A guide to being a writer.
+PS3568.0696B4 1984
+Beauty's Punishment
+Published: 1984
+PS3568.0696B44 1985
+Beauty's Release
+Published: 1985
+PS8191.M38W54 2003
+Imagined Nations
+Reflections on Media in Canadian Fiction
+Published: 2003
+A basic look at the effects different forms of media have had on Canadian novels and film adaptations and cyberspace, and how these affect the sense of time and space and national identities.
+PS8235.M56M67 1986
+Mosaic in Media
+Published: 1986
+QA76.575.M8319 2001
+MultiMedia from Wagner to virtual reality
+Published: 2002
+Writings by the pioneers of multimedia.
+QC981.8,G56G583
+Global Warming
+The Greenpeace Report
+Published: 1990
+QE191,G85 2004
+Geology and Landforms of Grey and Bruce Counties
+Published: 2006
+QE191.E94 2002
+Ontario Rocks
+Three Billion Years of Environmental Change
+Published: 2002
+A three-billion-year story of Ontario's geological evolution.
+QE721.2.P24P54 1991
+After the Ice Age
+The Return of Life to Glaciated North America
+Published: 1991
+QH102.K75 1988
+A Field Guide to Eastern Forests
+Published: 1988
+A "second-generation" field guide to the ecology of the forests and fields of eastern North America.
+QH102.R63
+The Nature of North America
+A Handbook to The Continent. Rocks, Plants and Animals
+Published: 1998
+A guide to North American natural history. Fully illustrated with line drawings, maps and tables.
+QH106.2.05036 2000
+Humber Forks at Thistletown
+QH106.2.05G73 1995
+Toronto The Wild
+Field Notes of an Urban Naturalist
+Published: 1995
+Toronto as a natural world and and ecosystem.
+QH106.2.O5S63 1999
+Special Places
+The Changing Ecosystems of the Toronto Region
+Published: 1999
+Special Places explores the changing ecosystem of the Toronto area over the past century, looking at the environmental conditions that influence the whol region and at the surprising range of plants and animals you can find in many of its natural spaces.
+QH106.2.O5T48 1989
+Legacy
+The Natural History of Ontario
+Published: 1989
+A comprehensive, extensively illustrated natural history of Ontario, covering bedrock, soils, birds, mammals, insects, wildflowers, forests, prehistoric life, and much more.
+QH106.F57
+Canada: A Natural History
+Published: 1988
+QH309-A88 1984
+The Living Planet
+Published: 1984
+The story of the Earth's surface and its colonization by animals and plants.
+QH45.2.W55 2004
+The Nature Handbook
+A Guide to Observing The Great Outdoors
+Published: 2005
+The Nature Handbook explores and explains the patterns of nature, revealing them to the many different types of nature observers.
+QH45.5
+Wildlife in the City
+Animals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants in an urban landscape
+Published: 1982
+From the city park to the suburban garden, from the murkiest canal to the vacant building plot or bomb site, there is an astonishing variety of wild species, mammal, bird, reptile, insect and plant-life which has either steadfastly maintained a footing alongside humans or colonized their urban areas.
+QH45.5.G66
+Eight Little Piggies
+Reflections in Natural History
+Published: 1994
+Essays on natural history.
+QH541.5.F7C82 1989
+At the Water's Edge
+Nature Study in Lakes, Streams, and Ponds
+Published: 1989
+A first-rate nature book that guides the reader out into the world of ponds, stream, brooks, rills, and lakes.
+QH545.A1H68
+Poisons in Public
+Case Studies of Environmental Pollution in Canada
+Published: 1980
+QH77.C3G84
+Guide to the Toronto Field Naturalists' Nature Reserves
+Published: 2001
+QH77.C3G84 1986
+Guide to the Toronto Field Naturalists' Nature Reserve
+Published: 1986
+QH81.S883 1991
+Saving Graces
+Sojourns of a Backyard Biologist
+Published: 1991
+QK203.06V37 1987
+Toronto Islands
+Plant Communities and Noteworthy Species
+Published: 1987
+QK203.O5N48 1997
+Wetland Plants of Ontario
+Published: 1997
+QK203.O5R65 2004
+The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario
+Published: 2004
+QK475 T.83 2006
+The Tree
+A Natural History of what trees are, how they live, and why they matter
+Published: 2006
+QK477.L32
+World Without Trees
+Published: 1979
+Lamb says that "there is one thing of which you can be absolutely certain: if things go one as they are, some day the sun will rise on a world without trees. That day is closer than you think."
+QK525.7.O5G84
+A Guide to the Ferns of Grey and Bruce Counties, Ontario
+Published: 2005
+QL654.M33 2002
+The ROM Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Ontario
+Published: 2002
+Includes all reptiles and amphibians observed in Ontario.
+QL685.5.05G66
+A Bird-Finding Guide to Ontario
+Where the birds are and how to get there
+Published: 1982
+QL685.5.o5B49 2000
+Birds of Ontario
+Published: 2000
+QL84.2.D57
+The Endangered Kingdom
+The Struggle to Save America's Wildlife
+Published: 1989
+QP259.S53
+The Nature and Evolution of Female Sexuality
+Published: 1969
+QP376.F48
+The Brain
+Mystery of Matter and Mind
+Published: 1984
+R131.D83 1999
+History of Medicine
+A Scandalously Short Introduction
+Published: 1999
+R726.8.S44 1994
+A Gentle Death
+Published: 1994
+Explores the moral and legal implications of euthanasia. Offers advice on working with doctors and other health-care professionals, dealing with unresolved personal conflicts, involving family members and friends in the decision-making process, and coping with legal realities.
+R726.8.V35
+Dying for Care
+Hospice Care or Euthanasia
+Published: 1992
+RA395.C3A7 1994
+Take Care
+Warning Signals for Canada's Health System
+Published: 1994
+"Examines the modern Canadian health care system and exposes the impact of neo-conservative and market-oriented policies, showing the effect these have on patients and caregivers, particularly women. The voices of hospital workers, relating their own daily experiences in the wards, add a poignant urgency to the crucial question: What kind of health care system will Canadians inherit in the twenty-first century?"
+RA395.C3B76 2000
+Unsafe Practices
+Restructuring and Privatization in Ontario Health Care
+Published: 2000
+Describes the process of healthcare privatization and its negative impact in Ontario.
+RA418.3.E85P39
+Medicine and Culture
+Published: 1989
+RA418.S63 2004
+Social Determinants of Health
+Canadian Perspectives
+Published: 2004
+The social determinants of health are summarized and analyzed by over 30 medical and social academics.
+RA440.5.K43
+Critical Paths
+Organizing on health Issues in the community
+Published: 1989
+RA441.G37 2000
+Betrayal of Trust
+The Collapse of Global Public Health
+Published: 2000
+The story of recent failings of public health systems across the globe.
+RA449.W45
+Health Care
+Conflicting Opinions Tough Decisions
+Published: 1992
+RA569.P59
+Radiation Alert
+A Consumer's Guide to Radiation
+Published: 1985
+RA644.A25S57 2003
+Aids Activist
+Published: 2003
+RA664.A25S662
+Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors
+Published: 1990
+RA776.076 1989
+Healthy Pleasures
+Published: 1989
+Playing to the natural strengths of mind and body, Healthy Pleasures explores ways to extend our lives as we enrich them, by understanding the crucial role of pleasure in our health.
+RA786.3.L56
+Stop Your Husband from Snoring
+Published: 1990
+RA786.K56
+The Well-Rested Woman
+60 Soothing Suggestions for Getting a Good Night's Sleep
+Published: 2002
+RC1.E63 1993
+The Complete Canadian Health Guide
+Published: 1993
+RC437.5.H39 1989
+A Safe Place
+Laying the Groundwork of Psychotherapy
+Published: 1996
+Hawkin examines the practice of psychotherapy and psychiatry and asks what allows psychological healing to take place.
+RC480.R84
+Going Crazy
+The Radical Therapy of R.D. Laing and Others
+Published: 1972
+RC533.M38 2009
+In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
+Published: 2008
+Gabor Mate looks at the epidemic of addictions in our society, tells us why we are so prone to them, and outlines what he thinks is needed to liberate ourselves from their hold on our emotions and behaviours.
+RC606.6.U84 2003
+The No-Nonsense Guide to HIV/AIDS
+Published: 2003
+This book gives an overview of the origins of HIV, the ways in which it spreads, the profits made by drug companies, women's special vulnerability and the positive action being taken by people and communities to fight back.
+RD768.H36 1987
+More Advice from The Back Doctor
+Published: 1988
+RE51.K9 1994
+Eyes
+Your personal health series
+Published: 1994
+RG121.N468
+A New View of a Woman's Body
+A Fully Illustrated Guide by the Federation of Feminist Women's Health Centers
+Published: 1981
+rg186.s6613 1997
+Estrogen The Natural Way
+Published: 1997
+SD145.S94
+Cut and Run
+The Assault on Canada's Forests
+Published: 1983
+Examines the crisis in Canada's forest industry and the reasons for the crisis.
+T10.68.P69 1997
+Mad Cows and Mother's Milk
+The Perils of Poor Risk Communication
+Published: 1997
+Using a series of case studies, Douglas Powell and William Leiss outline the crucial role of risk communication practice and malpractice to provide a set of lessons for risks managers and communicators.
+TD170.2.W67
+Workplace Guide
+Practical Action for the Environment
+Published: 1991
+TD195.P4M38 2008
+Stupid to the Last Drop
+How Alberta is Bringing Environmental Armageddon to Canada (and Doesn't Seem to Care)
+Published: 2008.
+TD223.3.W44 1990
+Fresh Water Seas
+Saving the Great Lakes
+Published: 1990
+Weller takes readers on a tour of the Great Lakes region, tracing its natural history from the time before human habitation. He describes how the region has been affected by uncontrolled development to the point where it now contains one of the planet's most intensive concentrations of industrial and agricultural activity.
+TD227.B7H84
+The Run of the River
+Portraits of Eleven British Columbia Rivers
+Published: 1992
+Mark Hume celebrates eleven B.C. rivers, but also raises questions about the cost of development and the cost of wilderness. Is it possible to have industry -- forestry, smelting, fishing, and even tourism -- and still maintain the rivers and wildlife that support them?
+TH6021.A44 2004
+How Buildings Work
+The Natural Order of Architecture
+Published: 2005
+The basic principles of a residential and office "building" are explained: how and why buildings stand up, how they age, why they die, internal designs. All with hundreds of illustrations.
+TK5102.2.R69 1999
+Spirit of the Web
+The Age of Information from Telegraph to Internet
+Published: 1999
+A journey through communication technology and our fascination and tribulations with it.
+TR145.J43
+Picture Perfect
+The Basics of Good Photography
+Published: 1986
+TR145.P37
+Photography for the Joy of It
+Published: 1989
+TR146.S93 1981
+Photography
+A Handbook of History, Materials, and Processes
+Published: 1981
+TR330.D37
+Darkroom Dynamics
+A Guide to Creative Darkroom Techniques
+Published: 1979
+TR642.P38 2001
+Photo Impressionism and the Subjective Image
+Published: 2001
+TR656.5.P46 1982
+Creative Still Life Photography
+Master Class Photography Series
+Published: 1982
+TR681.A85D46 2001
+First Chapter
+The Canadian Writers Photography Project
+Published: 2001
+A "photographic archive" of Canadian writers from across the country.
+TX335.C35 1989
+The Canadian Green Consumer Guide
+How You Can Help
+Published: 1989
+A guide to responsible shopping that won't cost the earth.
+UB256.U6 B36 2001
+Body of Secrets
+Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency
+Published: 2001.
+Z206.H58 2004
+History of the Book in Canada
+Volume Two: 1840 - 1918
+Published: 2005
+The second of three volumes dealing with the history of publishing in Canada.
+Z244.C78
+Production for the Graphic Designer
+Published: 1974
+Z246.K67
+Graphic Design
+Mix & Match Recipes for Faster, Better Layouts
+Published: 1989
+Z253.5.D45
+Paste ups and Mechanicals
+A Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Art for Reproduction
+Published: 1982
+Z253.53.W55
+Computer Tips for Artists, Designers and Desktop Publishers
+Published: 1997
+Z253.T73 2002
+The City of Montreal Style guide
+A Handbook for Translators, Writers and Editors
+Published: 2001
+A style guide for writers and editors that addresses the added challenge of translating French into English is going to be especially appealing to anyone working in Canada. Its value is broader than the title would suggest.
+Z283.P37
+Publications Grants For Writers & Publishers
+How to Find Them, Win Them, and Manage Them
+Published: 1991
+Z286.P4M63
+The Magazine
+Everything You Need to Know to Make It in the Magazine Business
+Published: 1979
+Z669.7.T84 1993
+Finding Answers
+The Essential Guide to Gathering Information in Canada
+Published: 1993
+Outlines the essentials of how to find and use information.
+Z688.E76L53 1991
+Libraries, Erotica & Pornography
+Published: 1991
+Z695.9W4
+Can You Recommend a Good Book on Indexing?
+Collected Reviews on the Organization of Information
+Published: 1998
+In-depth reviews focusing on key considerations in the organization and retrieval of organization.
+Z710.M23
+The Oxford Guide to Library Research - Review
+Published: 1998
+An excellent guide to doing research, explaining research methods and strategies and their strengths and weaknesses of. See review in Sources Select Resources.
+ZA4201.I573 1997
+The Internet Handbook for Writers, Researchers, and Journalists
+Published: 2000
+ZA4226.H63 1998
+The Extreme Searcher's Guide to Web Search Engines
+A Handbook for the Serious Searcher
+Published: 1999-2015
+..
+Sources, 812A Bloor Street West, Suite 201, Toronto, ON M6G 1L9.Phone: (416) 964-7799 FAX: (416) 964-8763
+GreatSchools Rating
+Teacher quality
+Principal leadership
+Parent involvement
+Major concerns about the new principal and 30% staff turnover after he completed his first year. He is trying to do too much too quickly and it is impossible to get a straight answer from him. At the rate he's running off the established teachers, the school will have all newbies within a couple of years which is a shame because one of the things that is unique about ADS is the teachers who are working hard to build a real community. Communication from the administration is non-existent and always last minute. Two examples of recent issues: 1. It's just a few days until school starts and they haven't released class lists yet (probably because they don't want to reveal how much they over-enrolled since one of the school's selling points is the low student:teacher ratio). 2. They have a new bus service and just let everyone know that it won't be running until 2-3 weeks into the school year. The new driver just got his CDL and has never driven children before and he will be driving 70 kids around in rush hour traffic on I35 - scary thought.
+The new principal is going to turn ADS into a less than ordinary school. My kids will enter 1st and 4th grade next year and I have very mixed feeling right now. I m extremely worried about ADS's future. I love the community and I LOVE the teachers! However, the new principal is pretty much on probation as far as I m concerned. While he appears to be an effective leader and a go getter , he is pushing through some extremely aggressive initiatives in a short period of time. In my opinion, these initiatives are being pushed out (at light speed) at the expense of other, very important issues that still need to be fixed within the current infrastructure. I feel overall like he s a numbers guy with not a lot of emotional equity in our school (kind of like a career politician). Get the test scores up, attract more families and students, bigger, more not seeing the forest for the trees. I am not a crunchy hipster and I don t care about the sugar rules. What I do care about is this great school, and our community (and our teachers!!) being bulldozed so this guy can say oh, hey, look at all the great stuff *I* did, without considering the collateral damage. Stay gold ADS!!
+This school has been such a wonderful experience for my 2 children. No, it's not perfect (is anything?) but I'm left without words with regard to the learning experience my kids receive here. It truly makes learning so much fun for them, not a day goes by where they don't look forward to going to school. The staff is incredibly qualified and so creative working to meet the needs and learning styles of each child. Yes traffic is crazy, communication could be better, but I can look past that for my children. ADS is in our hearts, we all (parents included) love this place.
+ADS is the right place for my children and many others. The kids are happy, confident individuals starting in Kindergarten. The learning that takes place happens all over campus rather than just in a classroom. The weekly hikes and Eco-Wellness classes are something that my kids would not be getting at any other school. The teachers are, for the most part, outstanding and committed to this style of education. The parents are extremely involved as they need to be at this type of school. (I wish I could do more for the school myself!) The leadership of the school has gone through some transitions over the past few years however overall the spirit of the school has stayed the same. It is not perfect so I can't give it a 5 but I'd give it a 4.5 if I could!
+We have been at ADS for 5 years now and love it. The focus is on real education rather than passing state tests. There is a true outdoor learning component, and kids are truly nurtured in their emotional and social growth.
+My daughter is a first grader at ADS and has attended since kindergarten. Even though it is a bit of a drive and much less convenient than our well rated neighborhood school, it is worth it to send her there. The curriculum is centered on project based learning with a constructivist approach, which means kids there are learning by doing, finding connections between subjects and putting what they learn into practice. Instead of daily worksheets drilling facts, she is writing stories, researching and doing poster presentations, and explaining her math thinking rather than just writing down the right answer. She is also happy and excited to go to school because her class is a tight knit and supportive community. The teachers really care about the kids and create an environment where the kids learn to appreciate and help each other. ADS fosters whole child development which is something I really like about it. They just got approval to amend their charter to add middle school and I plan to keep her there through 8th grade.
+We joined ADS with a first and a third grader after moving to Austin from out of state. Both kids were welcomed into the community right away. We were impressed with energetic outgoing teachers who teach real life lessons. On the weekly Friday hikes, the children get sunshine, exercise and nature. Ecowellness is a unique part of the curriculum. There is good communication via Rallyhood and email. Our new principal has made excellent changes already and is visible and approachable at school. My oldest, now a fourth grader, is telling me to write "We love ADS!" right now.
+Caring teachers, outdoor education, 1:16 ratios, gardens, creative and invigorated teachers, involved families. I appreciate the careful growing and nurturing if my children who attend this school. Positive discipline and loving staff. A very involved parent body. We spent 3 years at another school and are a new family who love the difference. My children have blossomed and are challenged. No grades doesn't mean too easy. I love the portfolio evaluations - they really help us understand what my children are learning.
+We have 2 kids at ADS, and we're very happy there. The teachers are highly educated (moreso than our exceptionally-rated neighborhood school). There's no bullying, and the kids are generally sweet and kind. I love that my kids learn so much without realizing they're learning. They also get a lot more individual attention, and more challenge. The homework is less busywork and more thought-provoking. We also love the ecowellness program and Friday hikes. The kids don't feel like they've been cooped up all day, but they're not just "playing," either. They really do a lot of learning outside when weather permits. The teachers really care about the kids, which makes me feel like my children are safe. Most of all, my kids are happy and enjoy going to school.
+Not a school. More like a group of buddies running a fundraising machine that feeds back into their close knit group. "Oh, you're a parent? wanna be an administrator? hired. Oh, I know you from somewhere, wanna teach?"...the ridiculous list goes on and on. Look at how often parents and staff bounce around from position to position, all of which they would be completely unqualified if vetted by any other charter, private, or public school. But hey, they can all hold hands and sing good intentions while the education and emotional health of young children are sacrificed. The complete disregard for very basic standards and regulations has harmed children at ADS. Don't be fooled. ADS carries some dark secrets. Investigate before you enroll your child.
+Both of my children are non-traditional learners, and ADS has served them well. My son, especially, required a very individualized approach, and ADS has jumped through hoops to make it work. My kids love learning now. I don't believe any regular public school, or likely and other charter school, would have worked so hard and tried so many things to accommodate my kids.
+We are on our third year at ADS and have had a great experience. The team teaching has been wonderful and the specials are very enriching. My kids go on hikes every friday and garden every week. Science, art, and music are all a large part of the curriculum. They don't just teach to the test like most schools in Texas. Yes it is a school filled with hipsters but that by no means implies a lack of diversity. My children's classes have all been very diverse. As for the food restrictions, if a parent is going to get offended because certain foods aren't allowed on campus, I fear there is a bigger issue. ADS would NEVER allow a teacher to rip anything from a child's hand. If a parent sends their child to school with a sugar and preservative laden lunch, its the teachers who have to deal with the effects of those chemicals. The food policy is there to help kids get the most nutrition so they can function at their best. Parents should be involved in their child's academics so that they aren't surprised at the end of the year if the child has fallen behind. These bad reviews sound to me like parents blaming the school for their own shortcomings.
+My child attended ADS for one year. I found the parent/teacher communication to be unacceptable. As a parent, after basically demanding a parent teacher conference, I was told that my child was doing just great. My child was not doing great, not at all. As a parent you are often told what they think you want to hear. It almost seems like you have to be on the payroll to know what is going on at the school. The administration is no better. My child was in 3rd grade and had no idea who the principal was. Really? In a school with less than 400 students. Most of the faculty have children attending the school and it seems they move on when their child is done. The school has no diversity whatsoever. If you and your child can fit in with the clique, you will have a chance at succeeding in this school. The test results speak for themselves. It's hard to send your child to what you believe is a "better" school and watch him/her regress. I would not recommend this school for a normal well adjusted child.
+Austin Discovery School is an incredibly different school compared to anything I have ever attended or any my daughters have attended. A school that places such emphasis on community, enrichment, and educating children on the environment is a school that would benefit any child. My daughter has blossomed as a student and as a person due to the quality of the education she is receiving from the wonderful teachers and staff at this school. The staff and parents here work so hard to beautify the campus and help make our school a great place to come and learn and play. Honestly, the only bad thing is I wish it went higher than 6th grade. We have one more year to go and we will miss this place so much.
+My 2 kids have both gone here since Kindergarten. My daughter will be entering 4th grade this fall and has thrived here, even excelled. My son on the other hand is being held back in the 1st grade because "he doesn't retain math and reading skills." He has had the same teachers for two years and I was not made aware of his struggle until VERY late in the year, like only 2 months left. They stuck him in tutoring which 2 weeks before the end of school they told me didn't work and that he was going to have to repeat 1st grade and may need to be tested for dyslexia etc. WHY THE HECK DIDN'T YOU CATCH THIS EARLIER AND TEST HIM THEN SO HE DIDN'T SUFFER HAVING TO REPEAT THE 1ST GRADE!!! His scores showed that he was at grade level at the beginning of the year and that they dropped! He reads just fine to me at home and his math does need work but I am blown away that help didn't come until it was too late. The earlier reviews about it being a hipsters paradise are accurate. The over the top sugar control is accurate. I have such mixed feelings because we have had very different experiences with both our children. We are trying them for one more year. we shall see how it goes.
+I have two children, and both have attended or are attending ADS. My daughter graduated 6th grade from ADS and has just completed her first year at Kealing - a very challenging, competitive middle-school - where she earned straight A's every report card. My son is still at ADS where he is excelling at math and reading. ADS is based on solid principals of how children learn best. They work hard to nurture inquisitive, thoughtful children. They understand that outdoor time is imperative for cognitive development. Sweet snacks are prohibited because sugar spikes cause so many negative issues. The teachers here are teaching because they love it, and it shows. But ADS is not for everybody. The school doesn't always do a great job educating the parents about the benefits of these ways, so if you don't come in knowing, it will just seem oddly loose and restrictive at the same time. It's not a great school for rote learners, or kids whose learning style requires rigorous structure. It is a wonderful school for people who want enthusiastic, life-long learners with a genuine appreciation for the world we live in.
+Our child is not coming back next year. I absolutely love the idea of ADS and loved everything I was told on the school tour. But I barely saw any of it during the school year. Academics were less than. Yes, she learned about rainforest and how it needs to be protected. But nothing else! The parent community is weak, there is no diversity. Mold is in the building. Filthy dusty classrooms. Constant water puddles in the hallways from the water fountains. It's like noone cares and noone takes pride. And the food police! Man. I am all for healthy eating. I couldn't send her anything in her lunchbox that had added sugar. When she brought a bottle of hibiscus tea with a little bit of honey, the teacher ripped it out of her hands and dumped it in the sink. If you are looking for a school where parents compete who is more crunchy, whose kids completely lack any kind of personal hygiene, who have no social skills, but sure know A LOT about rainforest -- then this is the school for you. Otherwise, don't bother.
+It pains me to rate ADS as below average, but in spite of effort on all fronts, the school did more harm than good for my child. We did not realize the full extent of the negative effect of his years at ADS until he began attending another school. It is my hope that things improve at ADS, but I would advise any parent considering ADS to seek feedback from families who have left the school to formulate a balanced view of its strengths and weaknesses.
+All that on the wab page about teachers working together with parents to benefit the children is a complete farce. ADS is working for ADS to generate funding just like any other public school. As long as you don't have some idealized notion that this school is any different than any other public school, you should be fine. It probably is just as good as some public schools in Austin, but it is currently listed as academically unacceptable, so... This year they have over promised and under delivered.
+I gree with some of the most recent postings. My son attended ADS for just one year and we've moved on, neither he nor I felt it was a good fit. Some things were minor, others not so. The lack ofcultural and racial diversity was an issue, the noise level of the classrooms affected my son's concentration, and the teachers by and large appeared unable to figure out how to positively deal with a regular boy who happens to like sports. At times it seemed like a place where the kiddos had to be overly mature for their age if they were to be happy. I felt like high achieving girls fared etter than boys. On the positive side, the aftercare program is awesome and Fm 969 Ste 200
+Austin, TX 78724
+Website: Click here
+Phone: (512) 674 Discovery School, including performance data and recently posted user reviews.
+While a community of 38,000,000,000,000 microorganisms (mostly bacteria) that live in and on the body. Known as the microbiome, these microbes perform critical functions including digesting food, managing inflammation, and synthesizing key vitamins, metabolites, and neurotransmitters. A truth-seeker her entire life, Katz was awakened to the majesty of the microbiome while pregnant. Her unexpected realization about the reality of misinformation surrounding our health inspired a personal mission to explore the importance of microbes and how they can impact the health of our bodies, our children, and our planet.
+Enter Seed, the consumer life science company developing probiotics and applications of bacteria to improve human and planetary health. Much like the microbiome to which she’s dedicated her life, Seed is itself a small ecosystem where Katz has learned about the world and the humans who inhabit it: what drives them, what moves them, what shakes them, and what grounds them.
+Prior to her current role as Seed’s CEO, Katz spent nearly a decade in consumer tech learning how to build technology, grow large communities, and master all things web- based. With experience in film production, academia, and e-commerce, her career is dotted by moments that taught her the essence of what it takes to build a meaningful brand.
+A question-asker, storyteller, and entrepreneur through-and-through, Katz has identified what may be the key to life itself: everything is connected–the choices we make extend beyond our body, to our earth. We cannot decode the relationship between the microbiome and human health without also addressing how bacteria can make an impact beyond our physical being.
+We chatted with Katz about the welcome reminder that is connection, her early entrepreneurial days, motherhood, and the bacteria that has guided her here.
+In your own words, what is Seed?
+Seed is an ecosystem of kindred scientists, doctors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and translational storytellers from around the world. Together, we’re pioneering applications of bacteria to impact human and environmental health. We develop scientifically-validated, next-generation probiotics with a mission to bring much-needed precision, efficacy, and education to the global probiotics market. Our environmental R+D division, SeedLabs, develops novel applications of bacteria to solve some of our most pressing ecological challenges.
+More simply put: We’re disrupting the BS in the $50 billion global probiotics market and stewarding the future of how we will use bacteria to restore and sustain human (think: gut, skin, oral, vaginal, and more) and planetary (think: honey bees, soil, water, food supply, plastics crisis) health with serious science.
+Life science hasn’t always been your field of choice. What pulled you to transition from film production to entrepreneurship? And ultimately from consumer tech to science?
+To me, all of it is entrepreneurship. Producing films is like a start-up each time, so there has never been a difference—all the same creativity, dot-connecting, storytelling, value creation—it’s all just different expressions in different categories.
+I’ve loved technology, design, and storytelling my whole life. I started coding websites in high school and even as a producer, I was always working on films that were innovative in their formats or used new mediums to tell stories. While producing, I became a Visiting Fellow at the MIT Media Lab where I helped create the Center for Future Storytelling. With both academia and media, I was drawn to the agency you have in technology and startups—the ability to just make shit happen and move things forward without so many barriers.
+I ultimately co-founded the mobile e-commerce marketplace, Spring. And then my move from consumer tech to life science was incepted by a miscarriage, which prompted the existential question, “what will be my impact”? I knew how to build companies, brands, communities, and technologies—whatever I decided to do next needed to be Zero to One; it needed to compel me, challenge me, and nudge the world forward. Shortly after I resigned from Spring, I was. And it was my difficulty breastfeeding that catalyzed our entrepreneurial journey to Seed.
+Why did you create Seed and for whom is your product designed?
+Seed started with the premise of reinventing infant formula, but we have since built a platform to bring scientific rigor, precision, and education to the incredibly noisy and confusing category of consumer probiotics and microbiome-related products. Seed is the result of lifelong questioning, the belief that we as humans have moved too far from science, and the potential of microbes to impact both human and environmental health.
+Our first consumer product—the Daily Synbiotic—is a clinically-validated, next-generation probiotic + prebiotic formulation developed for systemic benefits. The 24 probiotic strains deliver benefits beyond digestion (though regularity, easing bloating, and improving digestive health is one of the most immediate and tangible benefits, especially for the 72 percent of Americans who live with digestive discomfort), including skin health, heart health, and gut immune function. It’s also the first formulation to include strains that synthesize folate and increase production within the body.
+As our mindset shifts from sick-care to self-care, we’ve become more intentional about our diet, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle. But we now also know that beneficial microbes offer new tools to preventively and proactively care for ourselves.
+Our planet is in trouble. What is Seed doing to combat some of these ecological challenges?
+Bacteria show us that everything is connected—that the choices we make extend beyond our body, to our earth. For us at Seed, human health and planetary health are one and the same so sustainability isn’t ‘important’, it’s table stakes.
+We founded SeedLabs—our ecological R+D division—to develop novel applications for bacteria, partnering with kindred innovators to solve some of the biggest problems facing our collective home. Our first mission: save the bees. Our probiotic for honey bees was developed to counter the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides and to reduce American Foulbrood Disease for honey bee populations. This ongoing research is led by our Chief Scientist, Dr. Gregor Reid and SeedFellow, Brendan Daisley, who have identified probiotic strains that increase immune resilience through a pathway that insects use to adapt to infection, heat, and other stresses. Delivery via Seed’s probiotic BioPatties™ shows immense potential in improving survival rates and restoring honey bee populations around the world.
+When it comes to our packaging, we think in systems and sustainability in the pursuit of materials that are not just earth-friendly but can leave a beneficial footprint. Each component of our sustainable refill system is designed to protect your Daily Synbiotic and be gentler on our Earth. The system begins with a Welcome Kit, which includes a glass jar (containing a 30-day supply of the Daily Synbiotic) and complimentary travel vial shipped in a compostable mycelium tray. Each subsequent monthly refill ships in a home-compostable oxygen and moisture protection pouch, which is further protected by a compostable and dissolvable corn foam insulator, which you can also eat (seriously, try it!).
+What is the most popular misconception about gut health and probiotics you have debunked since founding Seed?
+‘Gut mania’ is at an all-time high. Despite the ever-increasing number of ‘probiotic’ supplements, foods, and beverages out there, there’s still a lot of confusion about what probiotics are, how they work, and why we should take them.
+One of the most common misconceptions about probiotics that we’ve worked to debunk is that they have to colonize the gut. When it comes to taking probiotics, you may have heard that you need to ‘restore’ or ‘rebalance’ our gut or ‘put the good bacteria back’. This is based on a common misconception that probiotics must alter the composition of your microbiome to “work”. Probiotics don’t actually work that way..
+What scientists do know is that, as transient microbes, probiotics travel through your GI tract, interacting with your immune cells, dendritic cells, gut cells, dietary nutrients, and existing bacteria to, directly and indirectly, deliver benefits. This is why, if you choose to take a probiotic, continuous daily intake is important.
+Has your perspective on business or life overall shifted since having your first son, Pax?
+When I had Pax, I realized that being a parent means being a scientist.mThe Scientific Method of Parenting is simply the process of asking questions, experimenting, observing, learning, and repeating—without attachment to the outcome (and most importantly, to a specific product, brand, source of information, compelling Instagram or marketing campaign, etc).
+During pregnancy and most of my life, I was never satisfied with the answers and information available about our bodies and our health. I remember being 16, when my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, printing out PubMed articles of clinical trials at my high school computer lab, but also watching reiki masters come and go, despite the fact that my mom (ironically) worked at one of the most prestigious cancer hospitals in the world. There is a kind of methodical desperation with pathology—the openness to research and the emotional drive to find answers.
+And yet, as a mom, I am continually confused by the lack of openness and extreme judgment that comes with raising our children. Between GMOs, vaccinations, sugar consumption, nutritional choices, breastfeeding, vaginal birthing, gluten, laundry detergents, and just about everything else, I have encountered a kind of extremism, a complete unwillingness to tolerate new information (especially when it contradicts an existing stance).
+This is not to say that science knows everything. In fact, quite the opposite. It is, however, to say that the practice of questioning with an open mind and experimenting with an investigative spirit might be how we best serve our children.
+Based on your experience thus far, what do you see as the future of science-backed wellness?
+A new category of ‘consumer life science’ will emerge as a class of companies working in less regulated spaces, but taking on the burden of regulated ones. This will ensure there is a distinction and further stratification of health products to empower consumers to make better, informed choices. While regulation may not change, I foresee third-party certifications and consumer education to help inform the public.
+What piece of advice do you wish you could instill on your younger self?
+Choice E—none of the above—is also a choice.
+What is your favorite quote?
+I love words too much to have a favorite, but this Alan Watts is one I return to: “When you get free from certain fixed concepts of the way the world is, you find it is far more subtle, and far more miraculous, than you thought it was.”
+Today, me and my 6 year old kid, saw the "Systematic Chaos" Make Of DVD (one more time :p ) , and oh my god, what a Masterpiece!! You guys are realy, realy awseome, you must be to do something like that!
+I am sorry if any of you don't agree, but to me, doubtless, it's your best of the best albums, and one of the best Metal, Prog, Rock, Heavy thing I've ever heard and will, for shore!!
+I really hope that you make one so good or better!
+Congrats, one more time, and call Mike, get along, life is to short to throw long life friendships away like that...
+Hugs everyone!.
+I love Train Of Thought. Honor Thy Father is just amazing. And yes, it's extremely underrated. Some fans just need to accept that Dream Theater is, by nature a progressive [i]metal[/i] band.
+I like it a lot!!! It was my second album after Images and Words (marvilous), and got me into DT without any doubt ;)
+BTW, don't want to hijack this thread, but I went back to listen to Train of Thought recently and while I'm one of those guilty of rating this album fairly low on my overall DT album list, I have a lot of love for this album. It has some absolutely great music and classic DT on it, not least of all being ITNOG! Anyone else have more love for TOT?
+cheers
+Hey all
+It's great to find other lovers of SC!
+I'm not the biggest fan of every track, but IMHO ITPOE 1 and 2 is DT's second best long prog piece after the epic 6DOIT (and it is very nearly as good). Both tracks are absolute must have prog masterpieces in my book, and ITPOE 1 and 2 is probably my second favourite DT track of all (6DOIT being my fave unquestionably). That alone makes SC a must have album, but then add MOLS, POW and Forsaken and you have one mighty fine album. Incidentally, I wasn't a fan of Foresaken until I heard it live, but it JUST WORKS!
+As a whole my fave DT album is SFAM, but I have much love for SC. I simply can't understand those who rate it poorly. I guess we all look for different things in our music.
+cheers
+I have sort of a love/hate relationship with SC, but it does have my favorite portion of the AA Suite (Repentance).
+After the emotion of Score and that tour, I've always looked at SC as sort of a breather album. It's fun, varied, and easy on the ears. Not a lot of thought needed to listen.
+It's full of small details, I hear it really a lot, and every time I find a new thing, it's really a technical, progressive and heavy masterpiece, no doubt!!
+SC has become one of my top 2 DT albums (Scenes from a Memory really got me hooked, so it will always have the #1 spot!), so much so that I went out and bought the extended CD last week (have the original from iTunes). I watched the making of DVD for the first time and found it a wonderful insight into the group. It made me even more sad that MP left the band because, at least at that time, it seemed to mean a lot to him to have those relationships for years and he genuinely seemed to enjoy the dynamic. Loved the "nightcam on JM so that you can actually see him wearing something other than a black shirt" comment. He definitely camera shy (like all ninja!).
+I've listened to the 5.1 audio of the album five times already...it really brings out the individual components of each song. You can hear/feel all of the detail they put into each piece. Did BC&SL or ADToE have a 5.1 as well?
+I really like SC. I became a fan after TOT was released (December 2003 or so), so the first new Dream Theater album for me was Octavarium. Having been listening to the other records for 2 years or so, 8V was something else. I like it, but it was an album of extremes to me (a pop song, prog rock songs, an epic, an alternative rock song and a balls metal song) and not what i expected. Still, i listened to it a lot! But when SC came out, i fell in love immediately. It was prog metal all around! I love how powerful the songs were and there wasn't a dull moment in the album. Ok, Repentance is pretty slow, but it's very moody. Anyway, i'm one of the fans that love this album and i think it's one of the best in the 6DOIT-BCSL decade (2000-2009)
+]
+Ah that's fine, I actually still find myself listening to more of their later stuff, simply because I'm more metal inclined in general. Of course their earlier stuff are classics but I like their heavier side more. SC isn't their best but it's still quite strong in my opinion, no love for Repentance and The Ministry Of Lost Souls?
+Well, I don't think Slayer ever had a piano intro to a song (well, that's just a guess as I've never really listened to much of them). Or a melodic chorus like Forsaken has. Or a singer who could actually sing. But, hey, if you feel that way, I guess that's your right! I don't really understand how I can like the album so much but others actually hate it who are DT fans. Maybe I'm the odd one, but I have a blast listening to that album, and don't really care! :)
+Later.
+yes awful. Hard to even listen to. My CD is like new only listened through it once and new I'd never need to hear anything from that album. Like I said. wanna listen to Slayer go listen to Slayer. Wanna listen to prog rock/prog metal slip in any DT CD other than SC
+]
+Awful? I can see how you may not like it, but awful? Forsaken is awful? In the Presence is awful?!! :)
+There are just a lot of people who really hate the metal side of DT. I admit that the lyrics and the vocals to The Dark Eternal Night were REALLY lame, but other than that I really enjoy Systematic Chaos... except the outro to Ministry, which is far too long.
+I thought SC was incredible! Not as proggy as in the past, but not every album can or should be the same thing. One reason I think DT is the best band ever is their ability to create so many different sounding albums and be so good at whatever they try! Yes, in the presence of enemies is truly a masterpiece, that can connect emotionally with any member of the human race. Even some of the easier less complicated songs like Forsaken I love! You can listen over and over and hear so many cool small details, especially on guitar.
+I don't know how people could think this is a weak album, its like all the others... Each song a UNIQUE treasure trove of sonic candy waiting to be discovered!
+ON contrary to other DT albums it has a few songs that might only be good (and not totally amazing like others... :) ) and therefore doesn't rank as high. On the other hand, In The Presence Of Enemies is one of their best tracks ever imo so all together it's still an amazing album.
+Also, I really like the artwork, especially the one of the special editon. And the 5.1. mix is amazing, 5.1 dolby or everything in higher quality actually should be the standard for all their releases, it's the only way for their brilliant songs! :)
+hi guys, I'm glad to know that I'm not crazy!!!let me explain: I've always thought that SC is one of the best DT albums, but the press consider it not , for them it is the worst!!!??????
+I define song like IN THE PRESENCE OF ENEMIES (1&2),a MASTERPIECE . I'ld be happy if they play this song in the next DT concert in Perugia (ITALY) on 22 feb in front of me ...in the first rows (as usual) ...with other MP like:
+OCTAVARIUM
+BREAKING ALL ILLUSIONS
+LOST NOT FORGOTTEN
+CHANGE OF SEASONS
+OUTCRY
+BEYOUND THIS LIFE
+:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) ;)
+Well, I have no animosity towards it. In fact, it's probably my favorite DT album. But I enjoy the heavier, shorter songs more than the epic stories. But that doesn't mean I dislike them, just like them less!
+I don't get why so many people have so much animosity against SC. I like it very much and I initiated my brother in DT with this album.
+I'm sure this used to be talked about years ago, but does anyone else like the 5.1 mix on the DVD. I know it's only in Dolby Digital, not even DTS, and not uncompressed audio like a SACD, but man it sounds freaking awesome to me. I have some SACDs and DVD-audio discs that don't come close to the dynamic range of that mix (they're all much older albums, so...). Took it to a friend of mines house who owns an insane home theater, and we were shacking the entire house with the subwoofer and I really enjoyed the rest of the mix as well. A blu-ray audio surround mix of the latest album would be fantastic, but I guess that one disc may be the only surrounds we get from DT, at least until they start re-releasing them for their 40th anniversary like King Crimson is.
+I love Systematic Chaos too(like all DT albums) but I can't see Dream Theater's progressive soul exactly in this album. It's not a weak album(dictionary mmeaning :) ), it is one of their "more" metal albums.(Like Train of Thought)
+He is great, no doubt!
+i love Mike's backing vocals on prophet's of war... how he thought of the idea of the "cool queen thing"
+No doubt! About the lyrics, be patient, this guys like these subjects ;)
+Contrary to most longtime DT fans, I really enjoy SC, enough that I'd put it in my top 3 or 4. Lyrically, it's pretty weak in my opinion, but the balls out metal attack keeps me listening. I think it's better than the studio albums that came before & after anyway.
+I definitely enjoy that album too even though some people regard it as one of their weakest, there's some really strong tracks on there! The first time I saw them (ever) was on the Chaos in Motion tour in Sydney and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. I think time will heal all wounds with MP, no doubt they will talk again, there's too much history there, but yea it will take time.
+On Friday afternoon, an influential group representing conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives released a shockingly sensible memo calling for sweeping reforms of the nation's copyright laws. But less than 24 hours later, the group's executive director, Paul Teller, issued a statement saying he was recalling the memo because it had been "published without adequate review."
+The Republican Study Committee is a caucus consisting of more than 160 conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives—a majority of that party's House members. It acts as an internal think tank for the group, developing policy proposals and providing intellectual support for conservative positions. Hence, an RSC endorsement of sweeping reforms to the nation's copyright laws would be a watershed moment in the national copyright debate.
+The memo, titled "Three Myths about Copyright Law and Where to Start to Fix it," is a direct assault on the relentlessly pro-copyright worldview dominating Washington for decades. "Most legislative discussions on this topic are not premised upon what is in the public good or what will promote the most productivity and innovation, but rather what the content creators 'deserve' or are 'entitled to' by virtue of their creation," the memo says. That's a problem, it argues, because the Constitution says the point of copyright is to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts"—not merely to line the pockets of incumbent copyright holders.
+The memo also contends "copyright violates nearly every tenet of laissez-faire capitalism," granting content producers a "guaranteed, government instituted, government subsidized content monopoly." Excessive copyright protection, it claims, "leads to what economists call 'rent-seeking' which is effectively non-productive behavior that sucks economic productivity and potential from the overall economy."
+The memo concludes with policy recommendations, and it reads like a copyright reformer's wish list. It calls for reducing statutory damages, which under current law can go as high as $150,000 per infringement. It advocates expanded fair use and penalties for false copyright claims. And it proposes a complex new scheme for copyright renewals that would reduce the maximum term of copyright to 46 years. Under current law, copyright protection for individual authors lasts for the life of the author plus another 70 years.
+Generation gap
+How did such a sensible document emerge from one of the most powerful groups on Capitol Hill? The memo was authored by a young Republican Study Committee staffer, Derek Khanna. Khanna has been active in Republican politics since high school. He studied the Middle East, political science, and history at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and, after graduation, he landed a job working for Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA). In January, he shifted to the Republican Study Committee, where he has focused on cyber-security, homeland security, and government oversight.
+Khanna has exactly the kind of resume you'd expect for someone with tech-savvy views on copyright law. He lists "C++, Backtrack, Python, Sql, Java, Dreamweaver/Photoshop, statistical modeling," as interests, as well as "building computers and beta testing software." Best of all, Khanna tells us that he's an "avid reader" of Ars Technica.
+The significance of Khanna's memo is best understood in the light of January's defeat of the Stop Online Piracy Act. As we pointed out shortly after SOPA's defeat, Hollywood long enjoyed closer ties to Democrats than Republicans. And that greater affinity was reflected in the asymmetrical reaction to the SOPA protests. Republican members of Congress who had co-sponsored SOPA (or its Senate companion, the Protect IP Act) quickly withdrew as sponsors. But most Democratic co-sponsors remained stalwart Hollywood allies, refusing to renounce the legislation.
+The defeat of SOPA was overwhelmingly the work of Khanna's generation. Thousands of youthful redditors and Wikipedians called their representatives in Congress. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)—who is no spring chicken himself but boasts an army of youthful supporters—was one of the first Republicans to declare his opposition to SOPA.
+But if the release of the RSC memo on Friday signaled a continued interest in copyright reform among young Republicans, the older generation reasserted its authority Saturday afternoon. "We at the RSC take pride in providing informative analysis of major policy issues and pending legislation that accounts for the range of perspectives held by RSC Members and within the conservative community," RSC executive director Paul Teller wrote in an e-mail to RSC members. "Yesterday you received a Policy Brief on copyright law that was published without adequate review within the RSC and failed to meet that standard. Copyright reform would have far-reaching impacts, so it is incredibly important that it be approached with all facts and viewpoints in hand."
+Lobbyist pressure
+"The RSC issues a lot of memos," a source with knowledge of the RSC's operations told Ars. "They're a small shop" with a lot of issues on their plate. Our source didn't think the memo reflected a sea change in the views of Republican members of Congress. But he said the fact Khanna was able to get his memo through the RSC's vetting process suggested there was sympathy for his views at least within the RSC staff.
+The source told us content industry lobbyists exerted pressure on RSC leadership to repudiate the memo.
+Khanna's memo has received widespread (and overwhelmingly positive) attention from the tech blogosphere. And our source suggested that could cause Republicans to take a second look at Khanna's ideas. "Republicans may see this as an indication that there's something to be gained by working on this issue," he told us.
+Other observers agree. "Embracing Internet culture and copyright reform may be one of the easiest things we can do to win over young voters," tweeted Patrick Ruffini, a prominent Republican operative. And the primary downside would be alienating Hollywood, an interest group that has never cared much for Republicans anyway.
+Update: A spokesman for the RSC comments:.
+120 Reader Comments
+However, whether it's an age gap, as the author speculates, or money, or a simple reluctance to change, seeing some of these viewpoints represented on a leadership level is a challenge. (and again, not just for Republicans.)?
+We will definitely cover any subsequent reports they release. I don't think there's any guarantee they'll issue a revised version of this study, though. They may do a brand new one or decide to drop the issue altogether.
+Not just that, I also wish others were entitled to my works - which are substantial since every job I've had in my (young) adult life has been creating IP.
+Even crazier, the open source license I prefer these days is actually illegal where I live. My government does not allow me to gve away my own work so freely. I do it anyway, hoping people will trust my attempt as evidence that I will never drag them through court for "stealing" my work.
+However, whether it's an age gap, as the author speculates, or money, or a simple reluctance to change, seeing some of these viewpoints represented on a leadership level is a challenge. (and again, not just for Republicans.)
+you nailed it. The Democrats have done a brilliant job at painting the entire GOP as the same, while hiding their own undesirable parts. Things are changing within the GOP, Obama's victory very well may have ushered in some major change within the party.
+I'm also curious as to who was supposed to 'review this'. Was it politicians or a bunch of 'copyright experts' from the RIAA/MPAA?
+Copyright is a contract between the public and the creator. Return the work to the public domain, eventually, and you get the monopoly.
+When the "creator" (nowadays rather an estate or anyone but the creator) stops honoring their side of the contract by keeping work out of the public domain forever, one shouldn't be surprised that the public stops honoring their side (grant a monopoly) as well. Of course, this is an idealized explanation; your average 16-year old won't give a rat's ass about the public domain. So, what does shape their opinion?
+It doesn't help if the copyright organisations allow the narrative to be shaped thus that all artists are millionaires with golden swimming pools. The younger generation feels relatively free of guilt because of this (even though the reality does not match the narrative) and will only buy the vanity stuff that they can't outright duplicate. ... pensation/
+Imagine, if wages grew equally with productivity - you'd have enough left per month to act as a patron for the arts.
+Last edited by Yoozer on Sun Nov 18, 2012 2:56 pm
+It may be that an internal process was bypassed, or it may in fact be that they really didn't want to "leak" this opinion as their own.
+I'm in the enviable (if you look on the positive side) position of having Austin Scott (Ga-8) as my outgoing representative, and Paul 'Earth is 9000 years old' Broun (Ga-10) as my Congressman come Jan (don't you love redistricting). I'm going to contact them both and let them know they NEED to support this..
+Providing an environment that gives business a free working ground without undue restrictions and tries to enhance the economy as a whole.
+or
+Being friendly with some specific business men or interest groups (often big donors) which try to take a rent from society by restricting new entries to competition.
+The first is advantageous the second highly detrimental to the economy of states. But it is often hard to see the dividing line, since businessmen and companies can lobby for both good and bad laws.
+One example for this is the German Liberal party, (liberal in a pro-business, free market sense). In theory they are free market, in practice they have become hostage to some powerful interest groups, esp. hotel owners,doctors and pharmacists and they have added a couple totally idiotic laws to protect these interest groups. Which pretty much killed them at the polling booth.
+Indeed, such a shame the younger generations feel all this entitlementto other people's works.
+You might already now that the "oldest" generation of Americans (meaning the founders) thought that 14 years, renewable once, was a perfectly good time for copyright to lapse. The move toward longer and longer terms for copyright has nothing to do with denying entitlement to other people's work and all to do with Disney, the music majors, etc.
+If this is truly the first time that you've found a conservative position on an issue appealing to your personal politics, I would suggest that you spend some more time evaluating both your personal views and the platforms of the major parties. The joy of voting for a politician is weighing the things you disagree with them on against the things you agree with them on, and finding the lesser of two evils. Anyone who feels that their politician is in agreement with them on 100% of the issues, is deluding themselves 99% of the time..
+I was digging you...until you mentioned the execrable Ron Paul.
+A hostile media is a nightmare scenario for a candidate attempting to get his message out..
+There is a middle ground between "giving people what they want" and "crashing the world economy".
+Copyright law used to be fairly weak and almost completely unenforced, now it is very strong and being enforced to the point of blocking content that doesn't actually violate copyright law. The world's economy used to be strong but is now struggling.
+If copyright really is protecting the economy then clearly it is doing a lousy job. I used to be able to buy a book and give it to my friend when I'm done. Now (with ebooks) I can't do that anymore and guess what... authors aren't thriving, they are struggling.
+I'm not sure if we need copyright at all in order for content creators to get paid, I think we might not. However we *definitely* do not need draconian copyright laws (often ~200+ years) and enforcement (deleting videos off youtube on a mere accusation, without any evidence of infringement). Authors were perfectly fine in the distant past when copyright lasted 6 to 28 years* and when almost everybody who purchased a book passed it on to all their friends after reading it.
+* early copyright terms varied a lot from one country to another
+Last edited by abhi_beckert on Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:17 pm.
+Then copyright as it standa today is unconstitutional. Congress isn't empowered to use copyright as a means of job creation.
+That's exactly how I feel about it.
+In my opinion, the way copyright works now is bordering on being a human rights issue, especially with regard to content takedowns.
+However, whether it's an age gap, as the author speculates, or money, or a simple reluctance to change, seeing some of these viewpoints represented on a leadership level is a challenge. (and again, not just for Republicans.)
+Huh? First of all, you are commenting on an article that specifically delineates a distinction within the Republican party, so your criticism is wildly out of place.
+Second of all, you are committing the exact same sin you are railing against, by attacking a complete bogus straw man, which is treating Ars and Reddit commenters as homogeneously treating the Republicans as homogeneous. Extreme partisans and idiots of every stripe always treat their opponents by lumping them together unfairly. But of the five comments proceeding yours, only 2 could be interpreted as treating Republicans homogeneously.
+But the straw man you are criticizing is especially wildly off since people have just spent the last 8 months reading an endless stream of articles in every mainstream media outlet, including the oh-so-liberal NY Times etc, about the huge fight in the Republican party between the religious right faction vs. the business interests faction. All the mainstream media dialog has been about the exact opposite of homogeneity.
+The problem with your straw man is that it confuses treating Republicans as homogeneous, with acknowledging the legitimate and factually supported position that the party *has* actually been increasingly dominated by a particularly extreme faction. Funny how you don't see moderate Democrats retiring in droves because they have been driven out of their party for being too moderate, or for daring to commit the sin of "compromise" or bipartisanship. Funny how you don't see many of the most prominent and respected Democrats standing up and saying that THEIR OWN PARTY has been captured by its crazy wing. Funny how the Democratic platform and legislative initiatives don't tend to cater to the crazy ideas of the party's more extreme factions.
+Of course the Republican party is not homogeneous, just as the Democratic party is not. But it *has* become much more extreme, and viciously marginalized moderates, and that is not a problem shared by the Democrats. You can pretend it is a misrepresentation made up by others, but that is not supported by the number of prominent Republicans who have been saying the same thing ever more loudly and desperately.
+Last edited by AreWeThereYeti on Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:16 pm
+My impression from talking to friends is that young Republicans are more socially liberal. Not in the sense that their personal beliefs have changed, but in the sense that they think it's no one's business how others choose to live. They'll probably still be the party of the wealthy on the principle of property rights, but this memo is definitely an encouraging sign that some people in the party are waking up to the idea that corporate welfare gets in the way of creativity, innovation, and the free market. I don't think this will necessarily be a generation of culture warriors, unless it comes down to individual liberty vs. collectivism.
+I think that drastically limiting the time you can sit on IP after you've created it is long overdue. Things are getting out of hand here, and very few actually profit from that -- but those are quite powerful and will resist any change. The Republican party would need to break with the powerful first and this is as unlikely as with any party. Who was the last US president who wasn't a millionaire by the way? Could you imagine a president of the US living like this guy?
+I was going to disregard this as unnecessary snark, but, on the other hand, Derek there is just the kind of young tech-savvy individual that some of us would want to see in Congress one day. Looking good is part of getting elected, so yeah Derek, tweeze those eyebrows if you want to get elected one day and actually push this kind of thought in legislation, as opposed to getting retracted and buried by your superiors.
+From what I observe of the US, your presidents need to be good looking and wealthy. They need to look like game show hosts, slick and with all the answers. It seems to be a feedback loop - voters respond to people who look good and speak clearly and the parties put people up who appeal to voters first and foremost.
+Imagine the best presidents of history. They would not stand a chance in today's elections.
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+Effect of Rows Spacing and Planting Density on Yield and Yield Component of Two Cultivars Safflower S. Pooreydi M.Sc. Student of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch author F. Paknejad Associate Professor, Center of Agriculture Research, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch author M. Esfini Farahani M.Sc. Student of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch author M. Bakhtiari Moghadam M.Sc. Student of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch author S. Azizkhani M.Sc. Student of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch author text article 2015 per Planting pattern through changing in vegetative growth and beneficiary by environmental factors effect on safflower yield and yield components. In order to evaluate effect of rows spacing and planting density on yield and yield components of two cultivars safflower, this study carried out in split plot factorial experiment on base of randomized complete block design with three replications at Research Field of Islamic Azad University of Karaj branch in March 2011. The main plot was rows spacing in three levels (30, 45 cm in flat planting and 60 cm in bed planting) and sub plots were cultivars in two levels (L5 and Goldasht) and plant density in two levels (35 and 45 plants.m-2). Measured traits include seed yield, number of stem.plant-1, number of head.plant-1, number of seed.head-1 and 1000 seed weight. Results indicate that rows spacing had no significant effect on number of stem.plant-1, number of head.plant-1, number of seed.head-1 and 1000 seed weight. But seed yield decreased by increase in row spacing. Plant density had no significant effect on number of stem.plant-1, number of seed.head-1 and 1000 seed weight, but had significant effect (P<0/05) on number of head.plant-1 and significant effect (P<0/01) on seed yield. Also plant density had significant effect (P<0/05) on number of head.plant-1. 1000 seed weight increased by increase in plant density, but seed yield, number of stem.plant-1, number of head.plant-1 and number of seed.head-1 decreased by increase in plant density. Highest level of seed yield obtained in 30 cm row space and 35 plants.m-2 in L5 cultivar with 5804/30 kg/ha. Lowest level of seed yield obtained in 60 cm row space and 45 plants.m-2 in L5 cultivar with 1685/78 kg/ha. As for optimum effect of safflower evenly dispensation in unit area and adaptation in bed planting method, it seems that this planting pattern would be suitable for spring planting of safflower under conditions similar to this experiment. New Finding in Agriculture Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch 1735-8353 9 v. شماره 3 (بهار 1394) 35 no. 2015 159 168 Nano fe fertilizer dose and density effects on popcorn (ksc 604 p.c.) yield components B. Peykarestan Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Milajerd, Payam Noor, Iran author text article 2015 per This research was conducted to determine the effects of Fe ferilizer application rates and density on grain yield and yield-related plant characteristics of popcorn in Arak, located at central part region of IRAN during 2011. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement with three replications. Fe doses of 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg 1000-1 were arranged in the main plots and density 6, 7.4, 8.8 and 10.2 plants m2 were considered as sub-plots.. Among the physiological parameters and analysis of net absorption was less affected by fe fertilizer. Absorption curve analysis showed a net decline during the growing season. The results showed that with increasing density, leaf area index, LAI durability and increased plant growth. The increased density reduces absorption was purified and analyzed. Increasing LAI increased light absorption in fieldIncrease photosynthetic capacity of plants that will eventually lead to increased performance. Much of the growth rate of density increase was related to increased leaf area index. New Finding in Agriculture Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch 1735-8353 9 v. شماره 3 (بهار 1394) 35 no. 2015 169 179 The effect of biofortification with Iron and Zinc on agronomic traits of mycorrhizal barley Sh. Khaghani Islamic Azad UniversityArak Branch, Department of Agronomy And Plant Breeding author M. R. Ardakani Islamic Azad University Karaj Branch, Department of Agronomy And Plant Breeding author text article 2015 per The main resaon for the low quality and quantity yield of plants is Lack of attention to nutrition with micro-nutrients on poaceae family and other crops. In order to investigate the effect of Iron, Zinc and mycorrhiza on barley yield and yield components, a field study was conducted during 2013-14 years in agricultural experimental station of Islamic Azad University Arak branch. A factorial experiment was arranged in randomized complete block desing with three replication. Three Levels of Zn, Z1 (no application), Z2 (25 kg/ha-1) and Z3 (50 kg/ha-1) were used. Mycorrhiza fungi including no inoculation and Glomus intraradices and three levels of Iron (no application, 2/5 kg/ha-1 and 5 kg/ha-1) were used. Simple effect of Mycorrhiza on yield showed highest grain yield with (3.90 ton/ha-1) was obtained from Glomus intraradices. Highest levels of straw yield with 3.43 was obtained in treatment Glomus intraradices. The simple effect of mycorrhiza, Iron and Zinc showed the highest biologic yield with 6.91, 6.70, 6.49 was obtained in treatment Glomus intraradices, 5 kg/ha-1 Iron and 100 kg/ha-1. New Finding in Agriculture Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch 1735-8353 9 v. شماره 3 (بهار 1394) 35 no. 2015 181 190 Comparison of chemical and biological phosphorus fertilizers in potato A. Sefidgaran M. Sc. in Agronomy, Agriculture-Jahad Organization of Markazi Province, Arak, Iran author text article 2015 per This experiment was conducted to evaluate solublizing bacteria and chemical phosphorus on three varieties of potato.Arandomized complete block design whit a split split plot layout was used in three replication.This investigation was carried out in a farm in Enaj, one of the environs of Arak. The result show that the use of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and its con frontation with other factors, were significantly affected the studied qualities about wet weight a erial part, wet weight of tubers, dry weight of tubers, the phosphorus content of tubers and prominent of baruest. It caused significantly in creasing in yield parameters, especially tubers yield comparing to chemical treatment at 1% level. The result also showed that the interaction effect of phosphate solubizing bacteria and chemical hosphorus, showed significant advantage in qualities of wet weight and dry weight of aerial part, dry weight of tuber, number of main stems per plant, Biomous yield and the phosphorus content per bush at 5%level. There was no significant difference at application treatment of phosphate solublizing bacteria with 75kg of chemical phosphate, in the yield aspect with the application of 15kg chemicalphosphate fertilizer. The results show that the application of chemical phosphorus in the most qualities suchas yield of tuber, the percentage of absorbed phosphorus, phosphate content of bush, dry weight of aerial part and biomas yield. Showed difference at 1% level and lead to the most result. New Finding in Agriculture Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch 1735-8353 9 v. شماره 3 (بهار 1394) 35 no. 2015 191 198 The Effect of Different Dormancy-Breaking Treatments of Two Fenel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) ecotypes A. Soleymani Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran author text article 2015 per In order to evaluate the effects of differents treatments on seed, dormancy breaking treatments on fennel, germination stimulating and seeding growth on two fennel varieties ( Shiraz and Bushehr). In one experiment was conducted as spilet factorial in compeletly randomized design with four replications in seed technology research laboratory of Islamic Azad University (Isfahan Branch) in 2014. In the experiment cold stratification levels were main plots and factorial of vareties and dormancy breaking treatments were subplots. Cold strification treatments include moist chilling for 0, 15, 30, and 45 days. Fennel varietieswere Shiraz and Bushehr. Dormancy breaking treatments included the following: 10 µm 6-benzylaminopurine (BA); 10 FM kinetin (KI); 6-benzylaminopurine +gibberellic acid, gibberellic acid + kinetin , kinetin+6-benzylaminopurine; gibberellic acid + 6-benzylaminopurine + kinetin ( with the same concentrations), distilled water ; 0/4 percent Aminol- Forte fertilizer. Chilling significantly increased , germination percentage (GP), coleoptile length (CL), radical l ength (RL), germination rate (GR), and seed - vigor index (SVI) (P>0.05). The highest values of these traits were treated for 15 days stratification. The effect of dormancy breaking treatments on all traits except germination uniformity and germination rate was significant at (P> 0.01) Treatments with BA, KI, Amino l - Forte, and distilled water significantly increased all the Characteristic parameters of fennel germination compared with those of other treatments. The Shiraz variety had significantly greate, GP, CL, RL, and SVI than those of the Busheh Variety (P>0.05). New Finding in Agriculture Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch 1735-8353 9 v. شماره 3 (بهار 1394) 35 no. 2015 199 211 Investig ation of sink – source relations in different planting systems rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Fajr cultivar S. A. Sadeghi M.Sc. Student of Agronomy, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University author S. Ghanbari Department of Agronomy, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran author H. R. Mobasser Department of Agronomy, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran author E. Rahimi Petroudi Department of Agronomy, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran author text article 2015 per Inorder to investijation the effect of source and sink relationship and the planting systems in the rice of Fajr cultivar, an experiment performed in the rice investigations institute of researches center in Amol at 2010. This experiment performed as split plot with 3 replication. Different planting system including three levels (traditional planting, improved planting and SRI planting) were cutting in main plots and 3 levels of sink- source relations (omitting)1/3 panicle, omitting flag leaf and control in flowering) were allocated in sub plots. maximum grain yield(873/9 gram at m2) produced under system of improved planting. Grain yield has significant increasing in the improved planting compared to traditional and or SRI planting to 18/3% and 25/1 % respectively; because maximum and minimum number of empty spikelet in the panicle obtained respectively for SRI and improved planting systems. Minimum number of empty spikelet in the per panicle producedin cutting of 1/3 panicle that has significant decrease in comparision to control at 39/5 ratio that showing limitation of photo synthesis source in the fair cultivar. Number of empty spikelet at ten panical obtained by cutting of flag leaf have increased about 7/3% compared with control that showing importance of filled in spikelet the flag leaf. Grain yield decreased about 16/4% by cutting flag leaf compared to control. Treatment Intraction effect of different planting systems with source- sink relations was significant only on the number of empty spikelet on panicle, statistically 5 percent. New Finding in Agriculture Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch 1735-8353 9 v. شماره 3 (بهار 1394) 35 no. 2015 213 224 Yield and evaluation indices in maize-lentil intercropping system R. Siyami Young Researchers And Elite Club, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran author B. Mirshekari Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran author text article 2015 per In order to evaluate the intercropping indices of maize and lentil, a factorial experiment was conducted during 2012 in Agricultural Station of Islamic Azad University, Tabriz branch, Iran, based on randomized complete block design in 3 replicates. Studied factors were planting dates of lentil: 26th April, 6th May , and 16th May and density rates of lentil: 12.5%, 25%, 37.5%, 50% and 100% of optimum density. The results showed that Land Equivalent Ratio in all intercropped treatments except of planting date of 6th May with 12.5% optimum density was greater than 1. The maximum Relative Value Total (1.42) was obtained from first planting date with 12.5% of lentil density. Considering the importance of Relative Value Total of the product as a economic index in evaluating the intercrop, it is clear that first date of lentil planting (26th April) with 12.5% optimum density intercropped with maize was most advantageous over other mixed treatments. New Finding in Agriculture Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch 1735-8353 9 v. شماره 3 (بهار 1394) 35 no. 2015 225 235 Effects of nitrogen fertilizers and manure (Farm Yard Manure) on grain yield and yield components S. A. Vajedi Roshan M. Sc. in Agronomy, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr branch, Iran author E. Rahimi Petroudi Department of Agronomy, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran author G. Mirzaie Department of Agronomy, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran author H. Mobasser Department of Agronomy, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran author text article 2015 per In order to study the effect of nitrogen fertilizers and manure on grain yield and yield components, a field experiment was conducted in the Agriculture Research Field, Babolsar, Iran, in 2012 crop season. This experiment was carried out with two factors, in a split plot arrangements using Randomized Complete Blocks Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. Manure (Cow) fertilizer (10, 20, 30 t/ha) were assigned to main plots and Nitrogen fertilizer (0, 50, 100, 150 kg/ha) were randomized in sub plots. The results indicated that the use of nitrogen fertilizer on traits such as plant height, cob diameter, number of grains per ear, grain yield, 1000- grain weight and biological yield was significance at 5% level. The highest and lowest grain yield was obtained from 150 kg N/ha and without application of nitrogen respectively. The different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer on traits such as ear length, number of rows per ear, cob length and harvest index were not significant. Manure application had not significant effect on any traits, except number of grains per ear,1000- grain weight and harvest index. Manure treatments were not significant due to de composition gradually and therefore can not release enough nutrients, especially nitrogen. The manure should be added to the soil for several consecutive years to show its effect on soil and plants. The interaction of nitrogen fertilizer and manure on ear diameter and biological yield at 5%level should significant effect. The highest grain yield was produced from 30 ton/ha farm yard manure (FYM) +100kg N/ha treatments. New Finding in Agriculture Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch 1735-8353 9 v. شماره 3 (بهار 1394) 35 no. 2015 237 251
+British
+National
+Party
+UK Immigration News Bulletin w/c June 25, 2007
+News Bulletins here
+No sign up required, just give your email address, and that's
+it.
+1. BRITISH WORKERS DENIED JOBS
+BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SPEAK POLISH
+British job-seekers are being refused work because they
+do not speak Polish, it has been claimed. The influx of
+Eastern European workers means the language is now vital
+for jobs in agriculture, says MP Malcolm Moss. His North
+East Cambridgeshire constituency has seen the arrival of
+a huge number of migrant workers to pick fruit and vegetables,
+as well as fill other low-paid jobs in packing and food
+processing plants. Many of the farms and companies involved
+rely on local job agencies or gangmasters to supply workers.
+Mr Moss told yesterday how a constituent had been denied
+work at one factory because she did not speak Polish. A
+woman came to my surgery to tell me about her daughter's
+experience when she was looking for work, he said.
+The daughter was aged 18 or 19 and had been to the
+job centre, where there was little work. Instead she
+was told to try the local factories in person. They,
+in turn told her they did not recruit directly and referred
+her on to a gangmaster who held the contract to supply the
+staff. Mr Moss added: This particular gangmaster
+told the woman,
+'If you don't speak Polish I can't put you on the assembly
+line, because they all speak Polish. They won't accept
+you, and you won't be able to communicate with them anyway.
+This is obvious discrimination. It is no wonder that
+youth unemploymentis on the rise. Mr Moss, a Tory
+MP, said the incident was reported to him at a constituency
+surgery early last year. He did not remember the woman's
+name or the factory involved. He raised the incident publicly
+during a House of Commons debate on the effect of immigration
+in Cambridgeshire last week. Mr Moss said it was indicative
+of the problems caused by large-scale immigration in his
+area. It is not just Polish workers, he said,
+there are also Estonians, Lithuanians and others.
+Local people cannot get jobs in the factories in which
+historically they worked. I have tried each and every way
+to find a solution to the problem. Where have the
+indigenous population gone?
+These are people who do not have cars and cannot travel
+to find a job, so where are they in the local community?
+Mr Moss said it was no good arguing that the migrants were
+only taking the jobs that locals didn't want. In my
+constituency, they are doing jobs that my people did a few
+years ago.
+us not kid ourselves - there is displacement. He also
+called for action to tackle gangmasters who exploit Eastern
+European workers by bringing them to the county, paying
+them poverty wages, and making them live in crowded accommodation
+at exorbitant rents. Figures released last month revealed
+a massive influx of immigrants to Britain from the former
+Eastern Bloc since 11 countries including Poland, Estonia
+and Lithuania, joined the EU in 2004. Around 640,000 Eastern
+Europeans, most of them Poles, have registered to work in
+Britain. But the figure could be as high as 800,000, experts
+believe, because in most cases the Government keeps no record
+of the self- employed, spouses or children.
+2. HOME OFFICE ACTIVELY PROMOTING
+IMMIGRATION
+There are, of course, no skills shortages in
+our economy, only employers unwilling to pay the going rate
+for the skills they want to employ.
+Britain is to be actively promoted by the Government as
+a destination for migrants who will fill skills shortages
+in the economy, the Home Office said yesterday. Entrepreneurs
+and trade-related businesses are to be encouraged to head
+for Britain, while the existing Indian and Chinese communities
+are to be helped to access financial services to expand
+trade with India and China. The move to market Britain as
+a migration destination comes despite the Immigration
+Minister admitting that the scale of recent migration had
+unsettled the country. But yesterdays Home Office
+paper on managing global migration said that promoting Britain
+would be necessary in a world in which there would be increasing
+competition for migrants and tourists. We need to
+act internationally so that the UK remains attractive to
+those who can contribute to our economy, the paper
+said.
+The Government is to introduce a points system for people
+wishing to work and study, which the paper said would be
+promoted worldwide. The decision to present Britain as a
+country actively seeking the brightest and the best comes
+three days before the first meeting of the new Migration
+Impact Forum, which is to look at the social as well as
+economic effects of immigration. Liam Byrne, the Immigration
+Minister, told The Times: This is not a dogmatic document.
+The message is not that we are slamming shut the door.
+Mr Byrne said that Britains Indian and Chinese communities
+could be important to help to expand Britains investments
+in the two countries. They could help to expand trade in
+financial, legal and business services. The Indian
+and Chinese diaspora in the UK will be an important bridgehead
+into those two great growth markets of the future. Migrants
+knowledge of their home countries markets is as important
+as personal or business contacts. Ministers also plan
+to share more information about immigrants with overseas
+police and security agencies to prevent foreign criminals
+and immigration offenders from entering the country.
+3. LIMITS ON WORKERS MIGRATING
+FROM EASTERN EUROPE MAY END
+Curbs on the number of Romanians and Bulgarians allowed
+to enter Britain to seek work may be lifted by the end of
+the year. Home Office ministers will consider a relaxation
+or end to quotas imposed when the states joined the European
+Union in January. The curbs, including a cap on the number
+of low-skilled workers, were set last October by John Reid,
+the Home Secretary, amid mounting public concern at levels
+of immigration. A Home Office document published today opens
+the way to allowing in more Bulgarians and Romanians. The
+paper says that a new Migration Impacts Forum, which meets
+for the first time today, will review the number of people
+who have come from both countries since January, where they
+are working and whether there is a demand from industry
+for more low-skilled workers.
+Ministers plan to make a decision on whether to ease or
+lift restrictions at some stage in the last three months
+of the year. The paper also suggests that regional lists
+of skills shortages should be produced, with the aim of
+encouraging migrants to travel to those areas. But Liam
+Byrne, the Immigration Minister, made clear that the new
+forum and Government would not just listen to the views
+of business about allowing in more migrants.Immigration
+policy must be set in Britains national interest,
+not based on the needs of any one group, he said.
+It is important that we involve and understand the
+experience of people from the front line, from local authorities,
+the health sector and businesses. The Home Office
+quotas were resisted by the Foreign Office and resented
+by Bulgaria and Romania, especially as Britain had allowed
+unrestricted access to jobs by citizens of other east European
+states joining the EU in 2004.
+The number of low-skilled workers allowed from the two states
+was set at 19,750 and they are only allowed to work in food
+processing and agriculture. The only others who can come
+are highly skilled workers, students, those with specialist
+skills which cannot be met by resident labour and the self-employed.
+Figures published last month showed nearly 8,000 Bulgarians
+and Romanians came to work in Britain in the first three
+months of this year, plus 2,400 who joined the seasonal
+agricultural workers scheme. Ministers have come under
+pressure from the National Farmers Union for the quotas
+to be eased to allow more migrants to become pickers. The
+union said that there had been a fall in the number of people
+from Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic,
+Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania willing to work in the sectors.
+Getting in
+The Migration Impact Forum is made up of 14 people, representing
+police, magistracy, education authorities, local government,
+business, neighbourhoods and refugees It will look at the
+effect of immigration on housing, education, health, crime
+and community cohesion It will influence how the new points-based
+immigration system works Each potential immigrant will be
+awarded points based on earning power, qualifications and
+demand for skills in job market The forum will be able to
+influence the pass mark and whether it is raised
+or lowered, depending on conditions in Britain The points
+system is due to begin some time in the first quarter of
+2008 A second body, the Migration Advisory Committee, will
+provide the Government with advice on where migration is
+needed
+4. SHOULD WE LIMIT IMMIGRANTS
+TO EUROPEANS?
+The BNPs ideas are clearly going mainstream. Only
+a year ago, this kind of article would have been accused
+of promoting racism and deemed unfit for publication.
+For years the baleful shade of Enoch Powell silenced debate
+about immigration numbers, however rational. Playing the
+numbers game, as it was called, was always associated with
+the even more shameful misdemeanour of playing the race
+card. As recently as November 2003, David Blunkett as home
+secretary blithely announced that he could not see the need
+for a limit on immigrants, nor did he think there was a
+maximum number of people that could be housed in this country.
+This astonishingly silly comment passed almost without protest;
+it was expressing the unthinking orthodoxy of the day. It
+was fortunate perhaps that Blunkett and the government believed
+that numbers didnt matter, since they hadnt
+the slightest idea what the numbers were. The director of
+enforcement and removals at the Immigration and Nationality
+Directorate admitted last year that he had not the
+faintest idea how many illegal immigrants were living
+here. Not only has the government lost control of this countrys
+boundaries; until recently it didnt think that mattered.
+How quickly things change in politics. Now even the most
+right-on Labour figures are playing the numbers game, with
+the race card up their sleeves.
+Last month Margaret Enver Hodge appeared to
+be doing just that with her announcement that indigenous
+people in her constituency of Barking felt justly aggrieved
+that they could not get council housing, while recent immigrants
+could. They had indeed a legitimate sense of entitlement
+that should not be overridden by new immigrants. The wind
+was clearly changing. Sure enough, last week numbers became
+mentionable again, officially. Ruth Kelly, the minister
+for communities and local government, issued a startling
+report by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion. Integration
+indeed. Until recently integration was a dirty word, almost
+as sinister as assimilation. This report announced findings
+that must be startling to anyone who has tried hard to toe
+the multi-culti line. It says that black and Asian Britons
+- nearly half of them - think we have let in too many immigrants.
+Almost 70% of everyone questioned by a Mori poll for the
+commission thought so, including 47% of Asian and 45% of
+black respondents. The poll also showed that 56% of respondents
+believed some groups - mainly immigrants, asylum seekers
+and refugees - received unfair priority in the allocation
+of housing, health services and education. Respondents were
+very sensitive about freeloading by other groups.
+At the same time only 36% believe immigration is good for
+the economy. It is hard to know what to make of the idiocy
+of this government, discovering so late in the day the consequences
+of its wilfully ignorant and undemocratic immigration policies.
+Nevertheless one should be thankful for small blessings.
+There are a few. For one thing, because its now official
+that so many ethnic minority Britons are worried about immigration,
+the race card has in effect been torn up and thrown away.
+One can hardly accuse ethnic minorities of playing it. Another
+blessing is that multiculturalism has suddenly and rather
+sneakily been dumped. Late in the day ministers are discovering
+what should have been blindingly obvious. The dogma of multiculturalism
+has made immigration and race relations much more painful
+and difficult than they need have been. The social policies
+based on it have kept people in ghettos and bred mistrust
+and suspicion. So its as you were, then, with multiculturalism.
+Now at long last we have integration and cohesion. Lets
+hope its not too late to undo some of the damage.
+Kellys report makes some sensible suggestions, none
+the worse for being ridiculous U-turns.
+The policy of providing masses of translators and translations
+for countless languages is to be dumped. It has meant that
+newcomers are not obliged to learn English, and frequently
+dont, which means they are unable to integrate even
+if they wanted to; they can live here deaf and dumb to the
+rest of us. Good riddance to it. However, changes such as
+this, no matter how sensible, fail to address the central
+question of numbers. It ought always to have been self-evident
+that numbers matter; to think otherwise is to believe that
+a raft will never sink no matter how many people clamber
+onto it. Of course immigration is to be welcomed, or at
+least tolerated. Of course immigrants have done great things
+for this country. Of course there is a moral argument for
+rich people in favour of taking in poorer foreigners.
+And of course asylum seekers deserve asylum. All the same,
+this small and populous country cannot possibly accept the
+many millions who would like to come here. This government,
+or its successor, ought to be bold enough to consider openly
+what might be the optimum number of people living here -
+or at least the number beyond which more would be intolerable.
+Some think we have already reached it, to judge from letters
+to this paper last week about housing. Most do not, but
+some day we certainly will, unless immigration is brought
+under civilised and thoughtful control. No one would wish
+to turn away genuine asylum seekers. No one can turn away
+migrants from the European Union, whether we wish to or
+not. The result is that we already have far more prospective
+immigrants than we could hope to accommodate. The number
+of genuine asylum seekers is limitless and the number of
+EU migrants, with incontestable rights to settle here, is
+as good as limitless. Surely it follows that the group that
+morally or legally has less right to come here is therefore
+the immigrants who are neither EU nationals nor spouses
+of Britons. So, no immigrants except asylum seekers and
+Europeans?
+There is nothing racist about this suggestion; plenty of
+Europeans, and most asylum seekers, are of non-European
+ethnic antecedents. There are Moroccan Frenchwomen or Indonesian
+Dutchmen; Europe has become a melting pot. Certain exceptions
+could be made, as ever, for immigrants who would bring exceptional
+wealth or skills with them. It is, at the very least, time
+for the government to talk openly and fearlessly about numbers.
+5. CZECH POLICE START CHECKING
+ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
+Too bad our own government isnt this sensible!
+The Czech foreigners' police have checked some 1000 people
+within a nation-wide control operation of illegal immigrants
+staying in the Czech Republic that was launched today, Nova
+Television reported. The goal of the checks that are connected
+with the Czech Republic's planned integration with the Schengen
+area is to limit the number of illegal immigrants. Nova
+said that of the 1000 people checked dozens will have problems
+since they did not have proper documents and health insurance.
+Several wanted persons have been arrested by the police
+during the checks. Nova said that 300 policemen were involved
+in the checks that took place in Prague, Ceske Budejovice,
+south Bohemia, Plzen, west Bohemia, Hradec Kralove, east
+Bohemia, and the Usti nad Labem region, north Bohemia and
+will continue on Friday. During the operation, the police
+checked marketplaces, hostels, construction sites and factories.
+Like today's operation many others that will follow
+in the near future are directly connected with the Czech
+Republic's entry in the Schengen area, foreigner and
+border police spokeswoman Katerina Jirgesova told Nova.
+According to Nova, the operation in Prague lasted about
+three hours and police arrested seven people - four foreigners
+lacked personal documents and three were nationally wanted.
+Two Ukrainians without health insurance were find 500 crowns
+each.
+6. OKLAHOMA PASSES TOUGH IMMIGRATION
+BILL
+Another sign of the ongoing revolt against immigration in
+the States. Americans are lucky enough to have state governments
+with some ability to defy the stupidity of their central
+government.
+While a stack of anti-illegal immigration bills died in
+the Texas Legislature this year, Oklahoma lawmakers passed
+a law that cuts off illegal immigrants' access to driver's
+licenses and many government benefits. The state ought
+not to be in the business of providing benefits to people
+who are not here legally, said Oklahoma Rep. Randy
+Terrill, the Republican who wrote the bill. Terrill will
+speak to an anti-illegal immigration group in Dallas tonight.
+According to the National Conference of State Legislatures,
+more than 1,000 immigration-related bills and resolutions
+have been filed in the 50 states. Some Texas cities have
+passed anti-illegal immigration ordinances. Oklahoma's House
+Bill 1804, signed by the governor in May, is considered
+one of the toughest immigration laws in the nation. Among
+other things, it will: End illegal immigrants' access to
+state benefits, including college scholarships. Empower
+law enforcement officers to check the immigration status
+of people they arrest for felonies and drunken driving.
+Consider illegal immigrants charged with felonies and some
+other crimes a flight risk and deny them bail. Allow fired
+workers to sue if their former employers have an illegal
+immigrant doing the same or similar work. Will a tough law
+in Oklahoma push illegal immigrants into Texas? Boy,
+I sure hope so, Terrill said.
+Hispanic groups have their doubts. Immigrants become too
+attached to places where they put down roots to be dislodged
+by new laws, said Evan Bacalao, a research associate at
+the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed
+Officials. If anything, he said, the legislation will push
+Hispanics to become more active in state politics. Texas'
+difference
+Texas and Oklahoma share a border, but their political environments
+could hardly be more different. A little more than a third
+of Texas' 23.5 million residents are Hispanic, and their
+representation is organized into powerful interest groups.
+The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund's
+San Antonio office keeps a close eye on the Legislature.
+And 43 of Texas' 182 lawmakers, including some who are not
+Hispanic, are members of the Mexican American Legislative
+Caucus. In 2001, Texas became the first state to offer illegal
+immigrants in-state tuition and state financial aid for
+college. Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association
+of Business, said many members of the group are desperately
+seeking workers, so they joined Hispanic lawmakers
+to oppose anti-illegal immigration bills this year. Employers
+have said huge labor shortages exist in industries such
+as trucking, welding and restaurants.
+In Oklahoma, no such alliance exists.
+Hispanics comprised only 6 percent of the state's 3.5 million
+residents in 2005, according to the Census Bureau, and the
+Oklahoma Legislature has no Hispanic lawmakers. The
+Latino community in Oklahoma is new, said Rey Madrid,
+Oklahoma state director for the League of United Latin American
+Citizens. The Oklahoma State Chamber took a neutral position
+on Terrill's bill when it was changed from requiring employers
+to screen all employees for citizenship or immigration status
+to screening all new hires, spokesman Mike Seney said. Public
+opinion had sufficiently jelled, Terrill said. House
+Bill 1804 is a model bill for the state and even the nation,
+if they will just take the hint, he said.
+Oklahoma is not alone. Other states
+are also cracking down on illegal immigration.
+In Colorado, bills signed into law last year cut off welfare
+benefits to illegal immigrants and require people applying
+for professional licenses to show proof of citizenship or
+legal immigration status. The Georgia Legislature passed
+a bill last year that, among other things, requires a person
+to show proof of legal status or citizenship before receiving
+certain state benefits, such as welfare, and requires employers
+to participate in a federal work-authorization program that
+checks people's citizenship or immigration status. And in
+Texas, Farmers Branch voters approved an ordinance May 12
+that would ban landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.
+But the ordinance has been challenged in court by a coalition
+of Hispanic groups and businesses. The strong demand for
+such legislation comes from illegal immigrants' perceived
+burden on state and local governments, said Tony Payan,
+a University of Texas at El Paso political science professor.
+I think the [states] are saying, 'Look, we cannot
+bear the burden on our taxpaying citizens when the benefits
+are going elsewhere,' Payan said. That is what
+really stings local communities. Rep. Leo Berman,
+R-Tyler, who filed bills to stem illegal immigration, said
+that's what constituents tell him. Fifty percent of
+my e-mails have to do with illegal aliens, Berman
+said. People are outraged that nothing is being done.
+Anti-illegal immigration meeting State Rep. Randy Terrill,
+the author of Oklahoma's tough new anti-illegal immigration
+law, will speak to Citizens for Immigration Reform at 7
+tonight at Northaven United Methodist Church, 11211 Preston
+Road in Dallas. The meeting is open to the public.
+7. ESSENTIAL READING
+OverCrowded Britain
+by Ashley Mote MEP
+Description:
+Foreword by Lord Stoddart of Swindon Postscript by Trevor
+Colman, former police superintendent, Devon and Cornwall
+Constabulary Political correctness has hi-jacked our freedom
+to discuss one of the burning issues of the day - immigration.
+OverCrowded Britain will inevitably be condemned by the
+politically-correct, few of whom, Ashley Mote suggests,
+will bother to read it first. Which is why he argues for
+a full, open and - if necessary - controversial debate on
+immigration.
+2003, Paperback, 132pp
+DEU and F&W Raid Parcel Northeast of Bridgeville
+Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
+On July 16, 2018, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) served one search warrant in the area of Pilot Ridge near Holm Creek as a result of citizen complaints about illegal cultivation of marijuana. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Humboldt County Environmental Health and HAZMAT Unit assisted in the service of the warrant.
+Deputies investigated one parcel, which did not possess nor was in the process of actively obtaining a commercial cannabis permit with the County of Humboldt.
+Deputies eradicated approximately 969 growing marijuana plants and seized three firearms.
+Assisting agencies found the following violations:
+– One water diversion violation (up to $8,000 fine per day)
+– One water pollution violation (up to $20,000 fine per day)
+No arrests were made during the service of the warrant.
+Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539
+yellow plants with weeds growing. Lol
+A big THANK YOU to the Sheriff’s Department and Fish and Wildlife for cleaning up these illegal pot sites. Hope you can make some arrests in the near future. Be safe!
+It’s not about arrest, stopping crime or the environment. It’s about money,that’s all they care about.
+those poor plants were neglected! not worth the charge!
+No kidding. We’re halfway through July and the best looking plants are two feet tall. Fine them for plant abuse.
+😂
+Yellowing plants looks like Text book russet mites.
+Or about 5 other things. Eyes for nothing! More than likely a deficiency. But your Google degree is probably sufficient!
+These 8 and 10 thousand dollars a day fines are a big joke..This is what it’s costing the taxpayer.. you might as well make it a Billion $
+So if these busts are any sign of what’s around I take it there is no such thing as mega grows in Humboldt county anymore? otherwise why would the valuable and very limited resources of the county and state be wasted on such relatively small scenes?
+Eastern Europeans are killing it
+Wow. All the way out there…that looong drive…and all they got was 1 place?! Ha Ha! Okay- we are back to NOT taking these guys seriously. Everybody carry on!!
+Thank you farce. Just great!
+Looks like an amateur grower was responsible for those plants
+Oh those sad plants do they actually qualify ? I don’t see the threat to any legal farm there lol.. guess they weren’t getting too much of that “diverted” h20
+lol is right! You guys crack me up =^.^=
+No need for the cops. The grower is his own worst enemy.
+Thanks so much to all LEO’s who participated in this raid! By “Eradicating” these sickly plants you have done a great service to benefit the cannabis market. A little advice for the growers: Invest $20 in a smartphone microscope and use it to look at the undersides of your leaves before they get to the point of looking like these ones because my guess is you were about halfway into a broad or russet might infestation.
+The snapdragons are healthier than the plants!
+These Growers Ran Away judging by those plants; A week ago. Maybe they flew back to Russia. Maybe they went to Putin; “Hey problem in Humboldt”( as interpreted by a linguistic). Who knows right now… Bottom line; Who do you think is more powerful?? Trump ? Or Putin???
+No question Putin is more powerful. Trump is about to lose all power.
+What a waste of time…..those plants would die other own.Guess all the big grows moved to Mendo.
+Dang those plants look like they were rode hard and put away wet. Glad your keeping that off the market. I would hate to think somebody might smoke that.
+Wow, you folks are as mean as the anti-pot folks. Some, anyway. Looks like a medium, non-greedy commercial grow. BFD. Yeah, the containers could be bigger and this and that but the operation doesn’t scare me any more than corn or tomatoes. Are all the farmers supplying our local farmers’ markets under the same rules? I know Ed Denson is busy now, but what gives?
+Usually LEO’s make sure the un-approved, nasty water intake and ag chemicals spilling all over and rodenticide and all are recorded. At least they didn’t supply unrelated photos from other “bad” farms. That’s good.
+What happens if you draw water to support any other agricultural activity? Water is water. Same rules for everybody?
+Yes same rules…
+Wrong.
+not the same rules at all, no discharge permits needed for 50 acres of corn or other non pot based plants.
+What a shame that it has come to this. They must have really pissed some people off or the narc neighbors are out of touch with reality. Shame on HCSO to drive past much larger, trashy grows to get to this. The only good thing about it is the grower was put out of their misery and can now enjoy the rest of their summer.
+Unless water needed is so hijacked that other users didn’t have enough for their basic needs. Nothing is more irritating than to see the precious water you need for drinking and washing being squandered by poorly designed and shoddily build diversions. Especially since people who do that are rarely considerate of other users.
+Put in storage tanks. Fill in winter when water’s plentiful. Be respectful of people and wildlife who build their lives around a water source that provides all summer, no matter how small. Don’t got cheap at other’s expense.
+Unfortunately, in all their incompetent wisdom, state law says that you cannot store water for more than 30 days. Another law says that one must not use water during the dry season, about 5 months. Draw your own conclusions about this conflict of laws. Lets face it, all this rigaramole about environmental damage by people in the hills tends to fall flat on many levels. What is the F & G/County’s real agenda?
+Please provide me references to these laws. I have never heard of them. And I’ve gone round the block with county environmental and health inspectors who know we store more than that.
+If you have riparian water rights from a stream or river you are not allowed to store water, the county or state will allow you water storage for no more than 30 days.
+Thank you. I can see where especially commercial operation would not be allowed store water. But this brings up why there was the big noise about storing water to allow in the winter to allow water to flow in the summer. It is hard to reconcile with these rules.
+Actually you can store for longer than 30 days per your link, so long as it’s for personal, non-commercial (no cannabis for sale) use.
+From your link:
+)”
+Riparian rights are different than water catchment. You can store runoff from your roof or use a water catchment tank that captures rainfall. You cannot store streamflow.
+You sound like the neighbor and you have made an excellent point. I forget that some people don’t even know the basics.
+Guest,
+Points well said.
+I don’t know about teaching adult pigs – it’s generational, a learned habit of unconscious. I think its the way we’re raised.
+Let’s not go to fear -false evidence appearing real, that hangs on a water scare-city falsehood. Don’t get me wrong, i’m all for protecting life giving water, with respect. However, Oroville Dam DID collapse, under the close and watchful eye of the State Water Infidels.
+Even HazMat is in for a “ta$te.” there is no water shortage.
+Things should of been put in the ground two mouths ago at that size
+Maybe they should grow pansies instead.
+Wow what a ridiculous bust. So.. legalization= 0 cannabis?. 🤔. The more legal it got, the more illegal it got. As property owners.. we have no rights to use the water on it? Don’t touch the ‘Kings’ water or you’ll be ‘hanged’. Seems like mid evil England.
+So basically legalization sets us back to the 80’s… where most people have to live in fear. Meanwhile, I am sure the Cartell is having a hayday, on public lands since there has not been one bust on public lands this year??
+It takes more water to have a green lawn. WTH.
+Legalization comes with rules.
+leadership comes with responsibility and a sustainable vision. I have concluded that this entire shitshow is based on the vision of every deputy getting their own hunting property for nothing. corruptboldt at its finest. say goodbye to measure Z, the new economy won’t pass it.
+Reasonable rules. These laws are extortion. I understand the need for sensible laws. This is absolutely extortion.
+General Bratt.
+“Legalization comes with rules ” – Only if you autograph a valid contract -consent, capacity, consideration, and a “LAWFUL” object.
+You have the right to contract and Not to contract. <<THAT is the law.
+You can cling to 20th Century "Legal" slave-speak, or you can join the living in the 21st Century common law jurisdiction.
+Off grid,
+10s !
+Now here’s the thing – the dense tone vibration of commerce can’t survive in the highest frequency, love. Their just not co-pa-se.
+Enough of us have to get through the door and hold the higher frequency while as many as ‘will’ turn their Shinola sensors on high and exit Oz.
+Wow. Some sad looking ladies. If HCSO has started busting these, I guess they did a good job this year. They’ll be able to lay off 3/4 of the sheriff’s dept now. Looks like we don’t need all those deputies anymore. Oh yeah, Humboldt economy in the shitter, prepare for hard times. Don’t worry, the legal scene isn’t going to help you, average size of permitted grows in Humboldt county between 5 and 20,000 sqft. The smallest grow in Salinas County=200,000sqft. Cost of bringing product to market in humboldt, about 4 times that of Salinas, cost of production in Humboldt is about 4 times that as Salinas. That’s not even looking at Santa Barbara. Largest permitted grow in Cali is 42 acres, and its not here!
+The old cut flower greenhouses in Santa Barbara County are FULL of cannabis now. Track n Trace- if ever implemented- will make life very tough. I think the county of Humboldt knows this. They are allowing their permitted grows to blow up one last year w/o track n trace- in order to flood the nation w/ “legal” product. That is the competition they talk about from the “black market” grows that they are busting and sending letters to. It’s a scam. Where they are grabbing money from both sides of the fence. And a very nasty federally criminal scam that Humboldt County is running. They want to scare any last permit dollars and associated taxes into their coffers before the entire scene crashes. I know of a dozen HUGE permitted grows that are not really track n traced and they all plan on sending their harvests into nationwide delivery (indeed their deps are already in NYC, Chicago, etc). Talk about some bullshit! The next corporate move- after a bunch of shutting down the un-permitted grows “for the benefit of the legal grows” will be to watch many permitted grows go belly-up under the track n trace system in CA. Then open up federal “legalization” when it’s best for corporate interests to buy up bankrupted permit farms and take over the east coast market. It’s not very hard to see what’s up. Just read up a little on Rockefeller/Standard Oil and Carnegie fortune…It is straight business strategy with a glossing of propaganda for herding the simple folks into losing their stakes. Same old story and everybody is falling for it yet again…
+Exactly. Straight up.
+Nowadays the corporations send in trolls to social medias as well. They put down competition in comment sections and divide people. I really think they started with innies and outies several years ago. Hook, line, and sinker.
+@In my 1911 I Trust:
+There are plenty of small grows (5-10,000 sf) in Salinas (city) and Monterey county.
+The track and trace has not been implemented by the state yet so as you point out there are certainly ‘leaks’ in the current legal grows. This will become much harder once T&T rolls out. Also you are correct … the friction of T&T is going to put many a legal grower out of business.
+Also, don’t be sucked into the thinking that because someone signed up for 200 free, temporary licences they are actually growing that much. I visit the biggest grow in CA regularly and it’s barely over 25 acres. We’ll only know who the true players are once each license application has to be accompanied by a large check.
+Having said that, the tone of your post is spot on. With the extremely rare exception, those who can’t scale will die. Humboldt is toast as a volume producer.
+JB
+@ JB
+Berner just got permitted for 36 acres of outdoor and 8 acres of greenhouse. He is also the breeder of all the cutting edge strains currently sought after by both grower and consumer. That is also enough acreage to supply a good portion of the entire state. My main point being is that Salinas is 1.5 hours away from the bay, Humboldt is 6. Most agricultural products are produced in that area, most are imported to this one. Cost of production and bringing to market is very high here. Even the multi-acre permitted grows up here will have a hard time competing.
+@ In my 1911 I trust :
+Berner has put in much time into developing great strains. I hope he gets his new permitted grows up and running and is doing it in an economically sustainable way. I suspect in time he will.
+JB
+I wish you had any frickin clue as to whats up. Berner in fact has not EVER bred one damn cannabis plant.
+@ Perspective :
+You can argue the details of who actually physically pollinated the plants all you want (and you have a valid point), but without Berner, the Cookies Fam would not have achieved near the success with the strains that they have – that’s the credit I give him.
+And yes … The statement above mine that says “He [Berner] is also the breeder of all the cutting edge strains currently sought after by both grower and consumer.” is massive hyperbole.
+JB
+@ Perspective
+I should’ve been more clear, Cookie Fam genetics. I have not personally been to their breeding farm and watched them breed and/or pollinate anything. Since you obviously have I’ll concede your point
+The tax on outdoor in Salinas is $5 a square foot. In humboldt it’s $1. How does that translate into humboldt costing 4 times as much to bring to market?
+@Notbuyinit :
+Salinas doesn’t allow outdoor (commercial) at all. Neither does Monterey County.
+JB
+“It’s a scam.”
+Yes. It’s Fraud. All of it.
+They were probably turned in I an X outlaw grower that paid for their permits now they’re on their high horses thinking they’re better than everyone Not everyone can afford those huge fees and hoops they make everyone jump through to get permitted
+@avenuerider
+You’re absolutely right — not everyone can afford the huge fees and hoops. That certainly doesn’t mean that those who can are on any high horse or turned others in …certainly not the ones I’m referring to — very hard working and humble farmers just picking up a now legal crop.
+I did my Federal time for Central Coast growing and it’s surreal now to be able to be involved legally. I’ve seen all sides. What was a lifestyle is now open business with serious consequences for many. I’ve felt the pain and have empathy for the honest and hard working sector of the folks impacted.
+JB
+Good luck!
+Cover upJoin Our Community Subscribe to Paul's Posts
+I was never quite sure why this was a thing back in the 60s but instead of guys taking showers my classmates seemed to like the idea of applying cologne to cover up their stink. I can’t tell you how much I wound up detesting the stench of BO covered by Jade East.
+My view has always been a simple one. Fixing the problem is always preferable to covering it up, though that’s not always so easy. A bright tweeter can be tamed by any number of cover-ups which might make more economic sense than replacing a pair of speakers.
+But, the core of the problem remains and it’s a tough discipline to instill in one’s self. Whenever I hear a system trapped in the speakers I first turn to setup. If setup doesn’t release the sound from the speaker’s grip we work ourselves back through the chain to find the culprit rather than start the great cover-up.
+Quick fixes are always easier but usually less effective. This is one good reason I agree with my friend Bill Low of Audioquest in his mantra to do no harm. He and I both recoil at the idea of using cables as equalizers, yet sometimes there’s little choice if you can’t fix the core problem.
+The first step in this process is as mentioned. Find the root cause of the problem. Once you’ve narrowed it to the culprit it’s ok to mask the problem until you can figure out the best way to fix it.
+If only I could have handed a bar of soap to those classmates so many years ago.
+Did I get it right, Paul, that exotic power cables might only cover some problems based in the mains’ and the component’s power supplies? And a vibration absorbing platform might cover a bad cabinet or transformer design? An exotic speaker cables could cover a speaker-amp mismatch or design deficiencies of both? Thus I wonder why you do not build a powerful active speaker or a near perfect integrate amp with perfect power supply as your reference system. No interfering individual power supplies. Or only one critical pair of speaker cables. The only challenge for the true audiophile would be to find the best speaker placement in the listening room.
+It’s a burning question for people, why not just build the perfect system and be done with it. There are several good answers but the one most likely to resonate with people is that quite a few of our customers don’t want and won’t buy integrated systems. It robs them of the freedom to mix and match—a subject wholly different than the cover up.
+Also, try as I might I don’t think I know how to make the perfect system because we are so far away from perfect that no one does.
+You aren’t just covering the basic question, Paul, do you? If you really know the potential synergy effects of your audio components, you should built such a reference system at least for your own audiophile goals.Dynaudio once designed a battery powered amp (called Arbiter) for having a reliable reference amp for their speakers.
+“quite a few of our customers don’t want and won’t buy integrated systems. It robs them of the freedom to mix and match”
+Coming from the concept of all separates I am now using a DAC and a analogue integrated amp. As DAC technology and streaming is developing really fast, I want flexibility here. There is little evolution in amps.
+I would not buy an all integrated system like the Devialet or AVM or similar DACAMPS. They can be outdated in two or three years, and you would loose a lot of money replacing them. It makes more sense to me to replace a DAC/streamer from time to time.
+I agree with Paul, the more of the system is within one component, the less can go wrong. Let the designer rather than the consumer integrate the system. Mine is one of the few that considers the power supply absolutely fundamental, includes a decent power cable (from Audioquest) and tells you to plug it into the wall.
+The idea of using a valve amp to roll off the upper and lower ends of a bright system, just as an example, seems plain stupid. You can’t fix dud speakers.
+Regrettably perfume is a poor analogy, it’s been used for that purpose for millennia. Clean water for washing has often been a rarity. Recently took this photo of an 80 year old lady who’s never washed with water in her life. They use smoke and cover their skin in a red paste. All those years in bright sun and no smell at all.
+I’ve had ARCAM AVRs (in a way, an ultimate extension of the system being in one component) where plenty went wrong, and repeatedly. Perhaps you meant that “one would assume that the maker would create it from bits that all work together, and there would be fewer problems as a result”, or words to that effect. They still won’t know until it is in the field with lots of customers for a while whether a given part choice will turn out to be unfortunate.
+Then you have to send the whole thing in to be fixed. In the case of AVRs, often at large shipping expense, and you are without the entire system for a month or so, unless you have other pieces laying around.
+The reality is that most people who buy component systems get them from the same manufacturer, so hopefully they work well together. Quad even designed a proprietary balanced cable to connect them. People with the leading UK brands, Naim and Linn, tend not to mix them with other brands. That was OK until Naim recently stopped making speakers. Linn design their speakers and electronics effectively as a package, Naim is more electronics that work well with most speakers.
+My Devialet unit had to be upgraded. They provide a global door-to-door collect and return service. Took 2 weeks including shipping to and back from France.
+I sure hope you are getting “Internet Influencer” payments from our former Allies across the Channel ; )
+Everything seems to be better in your reportage with regard to their products vs. the British options.
+I had a Linn system. They were way ahead of the field on streaming. Naim involves too many boxes, separate power supplies for each component. The French and German (AVM) systems are much more compact and better value for money.
+Whenever there is a party in my house I add an old, crappy sub to my rig. It produces this sweaty stinking bass people are used to and which they like, especially at parties. It is like injecting a dose of pheromones into the sound.
+Pheromones in sweat can be a big help in the mating busimess. “In animals, sex pheromones indicate the availability of the female for breeding. Male animals may also emit pheromones that convey information about their species and genotype.”
+After the party I hasten to stuff the sub back in my garage.
+I said it several times.
+PSA, build that f**cking integrated high-end (BHK?) amp.
+It can be done. Other companies built fantastic sounding integrated amps.
+“Normal” people (incl. audiophiles), living in a “normal” living room (as most of us do) won’t miss a thing.
+Besides, most people don’t wanna live these days with all those big boxes (separates) in their room.
+Not everyone has/wants a music room one.
+And so fully active speakers is also a good idea. No more messing around with the problem(s) of today’s post.
+Well, all this is not so good for BHK-sales of course.
+“Besides, most people don’t wanna live these days with all those big boxes (separates) in their room.
+Not everyone has/wants a music room one.”
+If the memory is not unfaithful, in these pages you have declared to have the IRS V and the RS1b and a rather large sound room.
+Tell me if I am wrong, with regard to what was said by you, above.
+Audiomano, I have not good news for you : your memory is unfaithful.
+I have the same problem every now and then.
+You probably mix me up with someone else.
+My speaker story in short :
+In the 1970’s I had Infinity Monitor jr. speakers, approximately $2200 a pair at the time. After that Magnepan, Magnat, Focal (-JMLab) and for the last 12 years I’m perfectly happy with Thiel and 2 REL subs.
+I am curious about the upcoming PSA speakers, though.
+I hope to get a chance to here them, or at least the most affordable version, at a show.
+No, my bank account and living room (288 square ft.) have always been too small for the IRS V.
+What are the actual dimensions? It sounds like it could be around 14′ x 20′. A little small for the IRSV, I actually wonder what Infinity recommended. Maybe Paul can answer that? My room is 12′ x 19′ and with my speakers I have found if I can sit a minimum of 10′ from them, then room treatments can handle the rest. And something Acuvox has said, I have two doorless openings for bass leakage.
+I hope PSA does build an integrated for those that want them, but I will only buy one if I was building a second system, or heading for the retirement home.
+I happen to like Conrad Johnson tube preamps and solid state amps from a different company.
+I will always remember what a friend once said. We had taken a road trip to a neighbouring state where we could pick up the radio signal of a Dead show. A few of my friends brought down recording gear. Keeping with yesterday’s theme we had bought some heavily cut Ecstasy. As one friend was heading into the bathroom he said “another pail full and I should be there”. He came out of the bathroom describing it as looking like “the boiler room of the Titanic”. He was right, they had more knobs and plumbing options than I had ever seen.
+Well, I kind of like my stereo, to those who don’t understand components, to look like the bridge of the Titanic. It discourages most from tinkering.
+I used to throw parties when the folks were gone, I had the horrible Crown IC150 preamp. I had a note on it, unless you were me or one two trusted friends, hands off. And for good reason, one world class idiot/weasel wondered in, pushed in the Loudness button and turned the bass up all the way. And when I say weasel, I am serious. Before he died, of natural causes, he had disappeared into the witness protection program, selling out a couple of friends to save his own ass.
+My room is 4 meters by 8 meters.
+I didn’t convert it carefully to feet, but now I did.
+So actually my room is 13,12′ x 26.25′ (344 square feet).
+My distance to the speakers is also about 10′.
+And by experimenting a lot with placement, (the speakers a little bit more than 3′ from the walls, placed on an 8 inch “pedestal” with the right toe-in), I found the optimal position, where everything
+(low, mid, high) is in balance. And you never notice my subs, until (indeed) I turn them off.
+No bloated bass, no screeching/sharp highs, assuming the soudquality of the cd is good.
+In the seventies I also had the IC150/D150 combo.
+As for tubes, I heard some wonderful combinations of Audio Research with Wilson (Sabrina) and with big, expensive Sonus Fabers.
+But I don’t have a lot of experience with tubes, always been more a solid state person.
+The idea of buying new expensive (?) tubes every year or so doesn’t appeal to me. But maybe I’m too concerned in this respect.
+Anyway, at least we learned today we gotta choose our friends carefully.
+That’s a decent sized room. I still have the D150, I sold it to a friend who had a NAD receiver with Large Advents and a pair of 3-way Boston Acoustics. I used the pre outs to run the BAs with the D150. When he died a few years ago, I got my amp back. I now wish I would have taken back the DAC too. I have a friend I would have given it to. My preamp uses 2 tubes, I buy a matched pair once a year, costs me about $90. Now if I wanted to try the NOS version of the 6H30 tube, they would be a minimum of $500 a pair. I had one tube power amp, and retubing those can be expensive. Take a look at those power amps that have 16 power tubes, that gets expensive.
+The weasel, I had known him since I was 4 years old. We went to kindergarten together. I will never know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave the cops my name, but I wasn’t dealing at the time, so they couldn’t connect me to anything, or anyone. A good friend served 7 years, thanks to him. I saw it coming, he was hanging with some people who didn’t know how to be discrete.
+No matter what anyone says, you’re alright with me jb4;-)
+The opening of today’s post just has me thinking about cologne. English Leather, Aqua Velva, soap-on-a-rope! I took showers regularly but was a Canoe guy (“Canoe, Canoe?” as I recall was the ad slogan). The more we would splash on the better! I still have a bottle somewhere in a cabinet, it has probably fermented.
+In the UK in the 50’s Old Spice was the cologne of choice. In the 60’s it was Brut. In the 70’s Blue Stratos inexplicably took over. However in the late 70’s I discovered Eau Sauvage, and since then I have used no other [1]. In the 90’s I believe, even more inexplicably, that the rank Lynx took over.
+[1] For the budget conscious a mixture of 3 parts of Lidl’s Madame Glamour, 5 parts of their equally inexpensive X-bolt, and a dash of the villainously expensive essential oil Hedione provides a bearable alternative. But you don’t have Lidl in the US.
+We’ve got many Lidl’s here in the US.
+I’ll try your recipe and gift it to my Persian teenager friend.
+I found Lidl on Amazon but have long ago given up with the cologne and even prefer unscented soaps and body sprays. In meeting with clients sometimes the combination of scents from the soaps, the antiperspirant and the cologne they wear can overpower one’s senses. Kind of like the amps or the bass or the wrong speakers can overpower one’s room!
+A story about Brut. In 9th grade my basketball team had to play an opponent that was much better than us and we were expected to lose badly. Someone got the idea that if we were to coat our bodies with some stinky cologne to the point of being offensive that the other team would not want to guard us closely and we could score more easily. Ha Ha. It didn’t work, we lost anyway, and, made ourselves quite nauseous with those gasses drifting off our sweaty bodies. You could smell us up in the bleachers as I recall people telling us.
+Larry, thank you. Last night, I have no idea why, I flashed on my first, Jade East, but I could not remember the name of the crap that was in a square bottle with a wood cap. It was English Leather!
+These days it is just pit shit, or either Axe Peace body spray or patchouli. My friend Dian who was more of a punk than a Deadhead, must of soaked all of her leather jackets in patchouli. It is one of those scents that I consider androgynous, but I love a woman who wears patchouli. It takes me right to my happy place.
+Where as English Leather reminds me of Jr High. And my guess is no self respecting Englishman would have worn it.
+A bit about perfume. It was a vitally important thing when towns and cities stank. It then became a cultural art form. Originally many of the ingredients were medicinal. My wife is an aromatherapist, studied for many years, she can tell what’s in anything and what good it does (if any). She makes her own. For hygiene purposes it’s irrelevant. The money in the perfume business is staggering, as production cost is about 5% of retail. It’s the apotheosis of branding, nothing beats it, and keeps many fashion labels alive. I’ve seen loss-making perfume brands sell on multiples of 20 times sales. In many countries people just use the essential oil and apply it in various ways. She used to import them from Morocco. I recall some wonderful places in Rajastan. Those are hot countries with limited water so they use them. Go to sub-tropical or tropical countries with lots of water and people don’t.
+When I have a troublesome tweeter that’s making my pits flit, I find that applying Odorono to both of these trouble spots kills two birds with one stone. Generous subsequent applications of The Who Sell Out at Maximum R&B Levels keeps things on an even keel.
+If Ozium worked so well on the ‘cannabis coverup’. One might have considered a dunk tank full of it….
+“why not just build the perfect system and be done with it. ”
+Given the number and range of variables in the way recordings are made and the number and range of variables in listening room acoustics, all of which have a substantial effect on what you hear, why would you think it was even possible to build a perfect system? Even if you could for one recording in one room, unless it was adjustable to compensate for these variables it wouldn’t be perfect for any other recording or any other room, or even at a different location in the same room.
+The concept of a perfect sound system in the audiophile world of “do no wrong” seems to me makes an assumption that the recordings are perfect and that if you have a perfect sound reproducing system you will get perfect results. My view is exactly the opposite. As I see it the recording is imperfect to begin with and means must be engineered to take what they give you and what your room does to it and compensate for it to get where you want to go. But where is it that you want to go?
+But before you can even start, you have to define in precise engineering terms what a perfect system is or does. What criteria do you use to judge its nature and degree of perfection or imperfection? It seems that since there is little or no correlation between what you measure and what you hear, the first order of business should be to figure out why and correct that. Then you should figure out how to characterize the sound you want to duplicate so that you have a way to know how close or far away you are from achieving your goal.
+On a side note, going through old boxes that haven’t been opened in decades I found a bottle of Andron men’s cologne. There is something unusual about this cologne. It contains a pheromone called benzo-phenone 2. It sold for $5.75 reduced from $11.00. It was made by Jovan. This human male pheromone as I recall was obtained from the underarm sweat of female hogs. I tried it once and it really did work. Then I couldn’t find it anymore. If you can find a bottle it now sells for around $200 and up. This is the one I have and it is nearly full. The only difference is mine has a gold cap instead of blue. I have no idea if the pheromone is still active or chemically degraded over all these decades. I only recently found it. I’ll have to try it out on some unsuspecting woman.
+Bright tweeters are are not uncommon. They can be a selling point for many as they make one sit up and take notice and if not overdone can be preferred by many to tweeters which are just right. Audiophiles will notice this immediately but non-audiophiles won’t. Metallic tweeters can be bright and irritating but do very well in party speakers. Typical east coast sound would be a failure. They used to be over damped and comparatively dead sounding. Try a party speaker at at an audiophile meet and the room will empty fast. Speaker choice is highly individualistic depending on where one is on the audiophile ladder. Party animals prefer boom crash with ear skewering highs while audiophiles like more natural sound in extreme cases even over damped bordering on dead sound. What is good for the goose is not always good for the gander. Regards.
+No one can build a perfect integrated system for all. We can only talk about it. Too many variables in what people like. Why should I like it, and also everyone else? Having sold audio I know that would be impossible to determine. Tastes vary too much for that to be a solution. What we have now is a struggle for truth, but having separate components is a big factor in finding one’s home run. Telling me what cables to use would also frustrate me,… because I am still waiting for others to catch up with understanding the virtues of litz wire. All sorts of excuses come out when its mentioned. Because, their favorite coloration vaporizes when litz is used. Or, it reveals a deficiency elsewhere that they can not pinpoint. There can not be “one integrated system” that will work. It would be a solution for only those tired of being frustrated and wanting someone else to do their thinking for them. Maybe, at minimum, allow for some tube rolling in this integrated system, so one can vary the flavor to better suite how they feel about music. For there is no denying many have a personal preference for colorations that they like.
+Spoiler Warning for Season 5, Episode 3 of “Fear the Walking Dead,” as well as all previous episodes of the series. Spoilers from “The Walking Dead” will also be discussed.
+“Even when we get shot at, the wind blows us right where we need to be.”
+Worlds have collided yet again on “Fear the Walking Dead” as another main character has officially crossed over from the flagship series. The latest episode finds the crew struggling to fulfill their mission only to cross paths with Dwight, who is on his very own mission. This strong episode does have a lot going for it, but there are also some blunders.
+It isn’t easy to help people. The first three episodes have bluntly established that. There have been so many metaphorical and literal roadblocks keeping our group from achieving their goal. The opening scene shows the various members of the team mapping the roadblocks and killing the walkers the stand in their way. They figure out that the walker roadblocks have created some sort of perimeter, but it isn’t clear to them what or who is meant to be kept in or out. John and June drive to an area in search of more roadblocks, but lose their reception and must press forward without communication. Upon reaching one of the roadblocks, gunfire rings out and John and June must speed through into the unknown territory. A sign for Humbug’s Gulch gives John some peace of mind and he plots their destination. They arrive in a town that is straight out of Wild West films, complete with storefronts, fake horses and even tumbleweeds. This is the old stomping ground of John, a place he mentioned working at prior to the apocalypse in “Laura.” This wasn’t the exact location that John worked at, but rather one of many that we’re spread out all over Texas. John leads June into one of the buildings and they ransack the dressing and prop room for supplies. June demonstrates some impressive lock-picking skills to break into the closet containing the weapons and ammo. Thankfully, there’s a ton left for them to restock. A dust storm rolls into the area, and the two become worried for their safety as the wind wrecks havoc outside. Walkers are blown around and the visibility is extremely low. June suggests that they wait and ride it out inside the saloon building they’re in, but John thinks they should take their chances in the car. Finding a flier for Humbug’s Gulch, June asks John what his role in the reenactments was; good guy or bad guy? John explains that his main area was simply trick shooting demonstrations. They ultimately decide to head out into the storm, covered to protect themselves from the flying dirt and debris. While approaching their van, shots ring out and a standoff takes place. John warns the shooter against firing shots as the sound is drawing the dead, but shots keep ringing out. The tires of the van are punctured, but John gets off a shot at the assailant’s arm. John emerges from his hiding spot, believing he has killed or severely injured the shooter. In the middle of town, a gun is pointed at his head, revealing none other than Dwight (Austin Amelio) from “The Walking Dead” to be on the other end of the trigger. “Where is she?,” Dwight demands an answer from a confused John. The butt of June’s gun slams into the back of Dwight’s head, knocking him unconscious and calming an extremely tense situation before things get ugly. “Thank you, Junebug,” John says to the love of his life in the most swoon-worthy way.
+John and June aren’t dumb. They know Dwight is a clear threat, but still make the decision to save him. June treats his gunshot wound while John looks through his things. He finds several notes with an infinity symbol on them, deducing that he has been looking for this woman for quite a long time. John points out the burn on Dwight’s face and wonders if it is from before the apocalypse, but June states that it most certainly isn’t. This is someone for them to help, which is the whole reason they’re out here to begin with. Dwight comes to and lambastes John for looking through his belongings and June for treating him. Dwight states that they cannot help him and that “this whole place is screwed.” As John and June barricade the front doors, Dwight points out that he has a car nearby that they can take. John ultimately decides to free Dwight from his bounds, explaining that him being separated from June also made him do some bad things. One of those things is shoot a man’s finger’s off, a callback to the Season 4 Premiere when he first met Morgan. Finding June was what kept John from slipping into a darker place, and he proposes that they all work together to help get out of this saloon and go find who Dwight is looking for. Dwight decides to tell John and June that he is looking for his wife Sherry (Christine Evangelista) and he also introduces himself by name. For the first time in a long time (maybe even ever), we actually see Dwight smile while interacting with John and June. It’s the start of what will hopefully be a very strong friendship. The trio have a pretty ingenius way of getting themselves out of the saloon. A self-playing piano distracts the walkers and pulls them into the saloon while June, John and Dwight exit through an upstairs window and walk along the overhead paneling. Dwight jumps to the ground when he realizes the weight of all three won’t be supported, but his gunshot wound causes him to struggle to get back on his feet. John jumps down after him as June snipes walkers from above. Dwight runs out of ammo and find an axe that he uses to kill walkers as June makes her way to the ground and positions herself at Dwight’s car to snipe more walkers. As John runs to the car, Dwight turns around and makes his way to the van that John and June arrived in. Once inside, he frantically searches through all of the pieces of paper as walkers surround the vehicle. He doesn’t find what he’s looking for…and just like that, he’s trapped.
+Some crucial backstory about Dwight’s journey to Texas is given as he explains that Sherry has been leaving notes for him, but he has been several steps behind her. On the note is an infinity symbol, something that has been a recurring symbol of their relationship. The reason he was drawn to the van is because the last note he found from Sherry was on the car registration of this vehicle. Dwight has been traveling and looking for Sherry for nearly a year now, and he has been searching for this specific car for months, so he needs answers. John and June are hesitant to tell him where they found the van…because the answer isn’t great. They found the van at Camp Cackleberry, but there was no one alive there. Also, the people that were there died from exposure to radiation, so if she was there, she is likely dead now. Things take an exceptionally dark turn as Dwight glances down at the pistol in the passenger seat next to him. Both John and June believe fully that Sherry is still alive and that they will find her. The fact that they found each other is proof that miraculous reunions can happen in this world. A major highlight of the episode comes as June speaks to Dwight personally over the radio, linking their stories together. She understands that he doesn’t believe he deserves to find Sherry again, and Dwight explains that he has done absolutely terrible things. Even now, Dwight was fully prepared to kill John and June just to potentially get a small bit of information related to Sherry. June did the exact same thing that Dwight is doing now in the sense of distancing oneself. June’s backstory at the FEMA shelter was given in “Just in Case,” and it served to explain why she kept trying to run away from John and the others later down the line. June’s words manage to talk Dwight out of committing suicide, giving him a glimmer of hope.
+Meanwhile, Alicia and Luciana stop to decide their next course of action. Alicia apologizes for all that Luciana has had to go through with this injury, especially considering the fact they haven’t been able to help yet. Luciana doesn’t see things as being negative, but rather as a sign that they are still on the right path. While tuning the radio, some scattered voices come over the radio. It’s Annie and Dylan talking about finding supplies near a firework stand. Alicia pleads with them to give up their location so they can be helped, but Annie is afraid that people are listening. Having somewhat of a location of where the kids might be, Alicia jumps into action even as Morgan warns her to be careful. Suddenly, the car she and Luciana are driving spins out and crashes off the road after hitting spikes that have been placed. Morgan decides to head where they are, but Alicia decides that she and Luciana should keep walking forward to find the kids before it’s too late. Morgan ultimately catches up to Alicia and Luciana, even though the spikes were ridiculously left back in the road and not moved by our people. There is yet another incredible character driven moment as Morgan urges Alicia to speak to the kids over the radio. “I lost my mom…and my brother,” Alicia tells the kids, trying to connect with them in a way they can relate. She points out that she can understand what they’re going through because she is going through the exact same thing right now. She wants them to know they don’t have to go through all of this alone, something that brings a smile to Morgan’s face. He’s been through all of this. She offers to help them yet again, but there is no immediate response. Still, this is something Alicia needed to get off her chest, and the kids could have only heard it from her. Thankfully, the losses of Madison and Nick are still being referred to and are a massive driving point for Alicia’s character. It’s also important that she is actually being allowed to mourn instead of these deaths being brushed to the side.
+Back at Humbug’s Gulch, a true Wild West scene plays out as John and June exit their vehicle and kick off a killing spree to take down the walkers that have Dwight trapped. Using their expert skills, the love birds manage to clear the area so Dwight can escape and assist in the clearing. Dwight’s wound cause him to stumble and fall, resulting in a rather strange scene where two walkers cause a panic for John and June. Rather than simply rushing to kill them with knives, an elaborate stunt is concocted. John yells at Dwight to raise his axe before shooting directly at it, causing the bullet to split in half and kill both walkers with the fragments. “That’s the San Antonio split,” John proudly comments on his ridiculously unrealistic, yet still epic walker kill. After night falls, John discovers that the registration for the van does not match the one that Sherry left her note on and therefore she did not drive it. He tells Dwight this information and also shares that he used to be a cop so his training still comes in handy. There’s yet another touching moment between John and June that solidifies just how important their relationship is to one another. John has been feeling guilty about his luck with June, but he has come to learn that doing so only takes away from what they have. Morgan, Alicia and Luciana arrive, leading to a highly anticipated reunion. Dwight emerges from the shadows, stunned to see Morgan. “We come from the same place,” Morgan tells his new friends, completely shocked to see someone from his past. The last time they saw one another (at least on screen) was the final battle of All Out War in “Wrath.” Dwight tries to explain his actions, but Morgan states that this isn’t the time and that he knows how things ended for him. Alicia asks if Dwight knows anything about the roadblocks, and he shows them some that he found. Suddenly, Max’s voice comes over the radio telling Alicia that he and his siblings are on their way to the truck stop. Alicia tells him that they are headed there also, but while traveling, they come across the van the kids were driving and it is covered in walker entrails. Inside, they find Dylan covered in blood and in shock. Cut to Annie and Max, who are revealed to be in an elaborate ploy to trick the crew. They’re setting up a walker roadblock and are using Dylan as a mole. You really can’t ever trust the children.
+The good in “Humbug’s Gulch”
+- Dwight’s return to the franchise just feels right. Him being on screen with the characters of “Fear” is so surreal and fascinating to see. This episode does an excellent job at establishing his connections with John, June and Morgan, which should make for interesting arcs this season and beyond.
+- Alicia’s speech to the kids is a great way of showing her growth since the deaths of Madison and Nick, while also showing that she is still in a rough place. Morgan sees himself in her as their relationship continues to be one of the best parts of the show at currently.
+- John and June’s dynamic is a much needed bit of hope and joy. They fought so hard to be together, so it’s rewarding to see them getting to fight alongside one another so much this season.
+- The parallels between Dwight and June, as well as Dwight/Sherry and John/June really helps to make Dwight fit right into the story and gives him a great connection to these characters.
+- The western vibe is a lot of fun and really helps to establish a unique tone in a franchise that always bends genres. Where else are you going to see a western town with ZOMBIES?
+- Colman Domingo’s directing! It’s great to see a cast member be able to step into a directing role. Colman can truly do it all.
+The iffy in “Humbug’s Gulch”
+- The San Antonio Split, while a real move, is completely ridiculous in the sense that it would have been far more practical for John and June just to run up and kill the walkers. Also, the bullet fragments hitting and killing the walkers directly is quite out there. Still, John’s shooting skills do serve to help explain how he could do this.
+- The reveal that the kids are responsible for the walker roadblocks is a bit anticlimactic. It’s a bit absurd if they are the ones who set all of them up, including the billboard heads. There’s hopefully more that will be explained, so this could evolve into something more unexpected. Also, the franchise really needs to break the cliche of kids being untrustworthy.
+- It’s rather odd that the Logan story is pretty much completely on hold.
+The bad in “Humbug’s Gulch”
+- Why for the love of all things is Luciana out with everyone instead of back at the truck stop resting? Girl, we need for that wound to heal up.
+Top performances in “Humbug’s Gulch”
+- Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark
+- Lennie James as Morgan Jones
+- Garret Dillahunt as John Dorie
+- Jenna Elfman as June
+- Danay García as Luciana Galvez
+- Austin Amelio as Dwight
+Lingering thoughts and predictions
+- Hopefully Dwight and Morgan discuss their past and refer to the events of “The Walking Dead.” Morgan really hasn’t told his “Fear” crew much about where he comes from, so this could be an opportunity for them to hear about Rick, Negan, All Out War and so much more.
+- Dwight taking a few steps back is a great nod to the fact that Morgan was in “Clear” mode the last time they saw one another.
+- Sherry hasn’t been seen on screen since Season 7, Episode 7 “Sing Me a Song,” but this episode confirms that she left Virginia, made it to Georgia and eventually Texas. Will she actually appear in “Fear” after being missing all these years?
+- Althea is still missing, and there haven’t been any new clues about where she was taken. When will we see her again?
+“Humbug’s Gulch” is yet another strong episode that serves to further merge the two shows and highlight the commonalities between our groups of survivors. Based on his first episode here, Dwight will fit right in and will be an interesting component to the story.
+Be sure to tune into “Fear the Walking Dead” next Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC.
+Works and Transport minister Abraham Byandala, 60, has been in the news for his role in the award of a Shs 165bn contract for the construction of Mukono-Katosi road to a bogus firm.
+The Katikamu North MP is specifically accused of directing UNRA to sign the contract before due diligence was complete. In an extensive interview with Edris Kiggundu and Deo Walusimbi on Monday, Byandala accused his cabinet colleagues of using the scandal to fight him politically. Below are excerpts:
+Recently your name came up prominently in the controversial award of a contract for the construction of the Mukono-Katosi road. What was your role in this contract and how was the entire project conceptualised?
+That project was conceived in 2010. There was pre-qualification, they [UNRA] assessed the people who expressed interest and then the list of the pre-qualified firms was completed in October 2010. In November 2010, they made an invitation to bid. When they put their pre-qualification submissions, the American company [Eutaw] was evaluated as the best company, and it was approved in February 2011 and they went into negotiations.
+They couldn't sign the contract because there was no money, but in the meantime, these people [Eutaw] visited the President (Museveni) in State House, and Honourable John Nasasira visited them in the United States. That was before I came in this office. But while in this office, they [Eutaw] also came to see me. They asked about this job and I told them that we didn't have money.
+Later, I attended a meeting with the president and these people in Kisozi. They [Eutaw] said they were ready to fund the road and he [Museveni] said it's okay, I have no problem; you go and discuss with the minister of Finance about the terms. So, in the subsequent financial year 2011-2012, I was here, but they [Finance] gave us money for only one road, which is Moroto-Nakapiripirit.
+That meant that we couldn't still do this road (Mukono-Katosi). Then last financial year, they [Finance] gave me money to do these roads and I told UNRA [Uganda National Roads Authority] that; you had already procured nine roads, and I asked them [whether] we couldn't revive other roads [including Mukono-Katosi].
+They said we shall see. Then, we looked at Mpigi-Kanoni [and] it was possible and [we] revived it. We tried Kanoni-Sembabule, we couldn't because the contractor was not credible, then we considered this Mukono-Katosi road and they said it was possible. So, I said, go ahead. They went into the whole process of resurrecting all [roads], including [following] the PPDA Act and all other technical procedures.
+In the process, these people [Eutaw] even approached the Vice President [Edward Ssekandi] while he was in New York to represent us. They told him that they had successfully bid [but they were not being given the contract]. When he came back, he asked me, I explained to him. So, after doing all the technical work, Unra invited these people to sign a contract.
+I don't know how many days they spent here but when they were supposed to sign the contract, they [UNRA] received an email from [whistle-blowers] saying that those people who are going to sign are not genuine.
+What happened next?
+UNRA said no, that is not true; they produced a company resolution [from Eutaw] forming a special-purpose vehicle to do the work and they showed them [whistleblowers] the letter in which they stipulated who are the directors, secretary and all other details, and then the UNRA lawyer said it seems to be a genuine company.
+So, these Americans came again in this office complaining that "honourable minister, we have been here moving up and down, now these people are saying we can't sign."
+They were very bitter, and then I rang UNRA and said, what is happening? They told me that they had made some [internal] investigations on the company.
+So, what did you do as the senior minister?
+I asked the lawyer [of UNRA] whether with their clarification (investigation) they thought the firm was genuine. He said their papers look genuine, and I asked him, supposing they are not genuine, can we cancel the contract? And he said "yes."
+Did you seek an opinion from the attorney general or solicitor general?
+I verbally talked to Honourable Fred Ruhindi (deputy attorney general). I told him, "I have a small problem in my office; we have a company, but there is a small question mark. Supposing we sign, will it be easy to terminate the contract?" He said, "yes, except, you can only do that in court and it may take long."
+Then I said: "What if we put a clause that in case we find that you are not genuine we automatically cancel the contract in the agreement?" And he said: "That is enough."
+So, I told them [what Ruhindi had told me] and they put it in the contract (shows The Observer the contract) and I don't think there is any contract where such a clause is.
+What have your own investigations about that company revealed?
+Well, I don't know because I wrote a letter to them (UNRA) telling them that "sign the contract, but go ahead with your due diligence. In the meantime, on 5th December 2013, UNRA wrote to that company to tell them that they want to come and do due diligence, and they [Eutaw] replied on December 10th and told them that you can come in February 2014. But up to now UNRA has never gone, I don't know why.
+Who sourced this company, because you alluded to the fact that they met the president and the vice president over this deal?
+There is a local company called High-Tides Ltd, which signed a contract with them, claiming they were going to assist them in procurement and legal issues, and they agreed a fee of $1.75m. They are the people who brought them.
+I haven't checked, but somebody was telling me that this company has relatives of Frank Tumwebaze, relatives of I think [John] Byabagambi (junior minister for Works and Transport), relatives of [Robert] Kabushenga and maybe [Richard] Kaijuka.
+So, for me, I was in a dilemma because this project (Mukono-Katosi) had been on from 1996, and we wanted to deliver a service, a pre-qualification was done on this company, my colleague [Nasasira]visited them in the [United] States. These people had the guts to go to State House to meet the pesident not once, they had the guts to meet the vice president, they had the guts to say for us we have our money, let us do the work you will pay us later.
+Don't you think the buck eventually stops with you, because you sanctioned the payment of billions in your letter to UNRA?
+But there are two issues; when I direct you to sign; I don't say you sign anything. Assuming you are selling vehicles and you have a worker and you tell him to receive Byandala's money and give him a car. If you receive fake money, is it your problem because you said receive Byandala's money?
+So, even here when I said you sign, I didn't say sign non-genuine [things] and after signing, you have to bring the performance guarantee for a bank to give you a down payment guarantee.
+As the political head of this ministry; would you take personal responsibility for this scam?
+Why? No. I told them [UNRA] to sign, I didn't sign anything.
+But they acted on your orders...
+But there was ample time for them to do due diligence from 14th November to 30th December 2013 when they finalised those things. Why didn't they go to the United States [to do due diligence on the company]?
+So, whom do you blame for this mess?
+In fact, it's very funny because there was a pre-qualification exercise [by UNRA] and at that stage, you can tell a lot whether the company is genuine or not.
+You know many of these companies now prefer to get insurance bonds to prove they are capable of executing the contract.
+But personally I have never trusted insurance bonds. I prefer bank guarantees because with them, money must be on the account, unlike these insurance bonds which this company used. By the time the company withdrew a bank guarantee to go for an insurance bond, Unra would have taken keen interest in that alone.
+Are you saying the government has signed many deals with dubious companies as long as they present insurance bonds?
+I can tell you one thing; when I came here, I had a problem with the leader of the Procurement and Disposal Unit (PDU). I found he was not performing well. I told this fellow that go back to the ministry of Finance and be deployed somewhere else.
+The man refused. I can tell you it was a war, but we eventually put our foot down. Everyone was afraid of him because he had links with the former accountant general and he had a strong relationship with someone in the IGG [office]. So, whoever tried to remove him, he would just say that "I will take the matter to the IGG" and everybody gave up on him.
+But this person sanctioned so many insurance bonds which we discovered were fake.
+How many contracts were sanctioned as a result of fake bonds?
+All of them were fake. But you know Uganda, because of his connections, everything disappeared.
+Who is this man?
+Denis Ayo. My new PDU head (a lady) has already discovered over 10 fake performance bonds and if you checked with all these ministries [that award contracts], you might find that almost 80 per cent have been issued with fake performance bonds by dubious contractors.
+What does this tell us about the calibre of companies we award contracts?
+It means that they are either not competent or not genuine. For local ones, they can't afford bonds, and that is why in most cases, they end up forging them.
+The second thing is that there may be a clique of people in Kampala who are monitoring jobs and they have links in these banks and insurance companies. It is these people who benefit from fake insurance bonds.
+But that suggests that we have lost billions through these fake bonds scam; what have you done about it?
+It's dangerous; if you reported [the firms] to the PPDA, that means the company is blacklisted and that is killing somebody. So you can also be killed.
+You sound very threatened by the dubious deals you discovered in the office; are you scared for your life?
+Those rich people who do business and make money have one thing in common. It's better to be rich than be right and if you listen to the stories of the rich people, it's not simple.
+So, are you giving in to the mafias instead of doing something to clear the image of your ministry?
+No, I can never work with them because I have worked for over 45 years as an engineer and to tell you the fact, since I came into this office, people are saying that I am uncooperative because I don't want to be involved in those things. If you take somebody's money, you can never get settled and if you take money from government, you can never know when it will crop up. Why should I live such a life?
+Where do you see your life politically with this scandal?
+When we were going for the 2011 election, I was chairman of the Physical Infrastructure Committee in parliament and I spearheaded that Land Amendment Bill. Mengo people said that I was finished, but I explained to my people and in 2011 they were holding me high up. So this can't [finish me] because I haven't done anything and you cannot pin anything on me.
+Why do you think your name has been more pronounced of all people involved?
+They want this office.
+So, are you suggesting that it's politics at play?
+Yes.
+Who are these people who want your office?
+These stories were taken to The New Vision by Frank Tumwebaze [the minister for the Presidency].
+But why would Tumwebaze fight you? radios [and tarnish my name].
+Frank has a hand in Tides though he is not a director in this company...
+Why would Nasasira fight you?
+He wants to come back [as minister of Works].
+But we all know that it's the president who appoints people to various ministries. Why would Nasasira be so sure that once you are out, he will come back in?
+When I leave, he has a chance, but when I am here, there is no chance.
+Have you brought all this to the attention of the president?
+No, it's not my method of work.
+Aren't you scared that the president will sack you over these troubling allegations?
+No, the president doesn't act on rumors, you must produce evidence. If he was working on rumours, nobody would be in office for even a week, because every week people write reports, for example about me, but for me I don't care.
+What if these people fight you in your constituency in 2016?
+For me, it's not a choice between life and death to be an MP; I am 60 years plus, I have been at this thing for about eight years now, I am even worse off than before because I was doing better at family level. I have life after [politics] because I am a professional [engineer] who can do something else.
+How do you describe your relationship with your junior minister John Byabagambi. He cancelled the standard gauge railway contract virtually without consulting you?
+Well, when we started the standard gauge railway, I had a discussion with the president, and we reached an agreement. Because I am a busy man and we wanted someone focused on this, we agreed to let the state minister [Byabagambi] handle it.
+He will be briefing me and the president and we see what to do. That is why you have not heard me [say anything] [regarding the standard gauge railway].
+Do you think the cancellation of the MoU between government and a Chinese firm (CCECC), as proposed by Byabagambi, is the best way forward?
+I wrote to the attorney general about it, because there were conflicting statements from the attorney general's office; that we can't cancel.
+So, I wrote trying to seek clarification and he gave me some advice and I came and discussed with Honourable Byabagambi. But I think before he could move with what was agreed, those people (CCECC) went to court.
+Lastly, what would you say are the tangible achievements and notable challenges you have encountered over the three years you have held this office?
+I have made a lot of achievements because a number of roads have been completed, about 10-15 roads. I am handling over 15 roads right now at different stages and when you move around the country, you see that road construction is on-going everywhere.
+We have managed to lower the unit price of constructing a road because by the time I came here, a kilometre was $1m plus, but we have managed to bring it down to $700,000.
+As for the challenges, we lack local capacity; that is why most of the roads are being given to foreign companies. UNRA has small staff with a lot of work, so, they are over-burdened.
+Guess Which Book Joe Torre Is Reading?
+Yep. Mine.
+Before he left New York to join the Dodgers for spring training, Torre spent the day with Tom Goodman, whose Goodman Media handles the PR for Joe’s Safe at Home Foundation. Just as their board meeting was getting underway, Tom presented Joe with a copy of “She-Fan,” in which I had inscribed a personal note to the former Yankees manager. No, it did not say anything rude. I simply said I hoped he would enjoy reading about the 2007 season from a fan’s pov. Still, I wonder if Joe is sitting on his cross-country flight right now, wincing at the part where I called him out for not taking the team off the field during the Midges Incident in Cleveland.
+Other points of interest….While Joe blitzed his way through Larry and Letterman, I’ve been getting the royal treatment from bloggers, and I’d like to express my appreciation. Many sites have posted extraordinarily nice reviews for the book, especially Was Watching and Sox and Pinstripes. Others have done Q&As with me, including Respect Jeter’s Gangster, We’ve Got Heart (a Nationals blog) and The Bronx View, which also hosts a great podcast. And I can’t forget the comic geniuses at It It High, who’ve been doing shtick about the book and making me laugh in the process.
+If anyone has time on his or her hands on Sunday, I’ll be interviewed on a show called “Talking Baseball,” which airs on Radio America; I’ll be on live at 4:30 pm ET. I think it’s satellite radio, but for all I know it comes to us from someone’s basement.
+Later on Sunday, I’ll have the pleasure of appearing with MLBlogs’ own Brit Morgan (The Yankees Baseball Whisperer) and Bernadette Pasley (This Fan’s Life) on their radio gig, “A Show of Their Own.” I’ll be interviewed at 6:30 pm ET, so call in at 347-945-7751 and say hi.
+Oh, one last thing. I’ve got a piece running in Sunday’s New York Times sports section. It’s about my adventure with a tarot card reader. Seriously. I’ll post it when it’s available.
+‘Night.
+Correction: I’ll be on “A Show of Their Own” at 9:30 pm Eastern Time, not 6:30. Thanks to Bern for pointing that out!
+Advertisements
+Good thing there aren’t any baseball games – you’d be missing them! Have fun on your book tour!
+Julia
+Joe Torre reading your book…awesome!! Love him…saw him on Letterman the other night and now I am dying to read his book too! Waiting for your to come in the mail…looking forward to it!!
+Jenn
+She-Fan,
+WTF? Joe Torre has a book out? el duque
+Thanks for the heads up on the radio interview! I usually catch part of “Talking Baseball”, but I would have been sad to miss you! I believe Ed Randall hosts that show. If so, you’re in luck, he’s one of the kinder more benevolent interviewers.
+-Kathy
+Wow, that is so cool! I hope all your interviews and stuff go well!
+That’s great news. I’m glad your book is getting some press. Maybe Torre will write you a letter or something commenting on your book. I think that would be pretty cool. Congrats on the success.
+I think he is reading it, Jane. On Costas’ show last night, he said one thing he’d change was allowing Joba to pitch in that mess of bugs. (then he winked at the camera and mouthed the words “thanks Jane!”) Okay, I’m lying about the mouthing part, but he did say that.
+Just cracked it last night and I’m enjoying it. Turns out we have something else in common besides loving baseball: Grandpas who smoked La Primadoras. Ah… that is taking me back to good times.
+–Jeff
+Good thing is right, Julia. Can’t watch games when I’m trying to bring home the bacon.
+Jenn, I missed Letterman, except the clips I saw on some blogs. Hope your book comes soon!
+LOL, duque, you comic genius you.
+Kathy, I hope you’ll listen in. I was told the hosts are Tim Donner and Phil Wood.
+Thanks, Kaybee. I’ll do my best.
+I think Torre’s got his hands full, hardball, but you never know.
+Jeff, your grandpas smoked those stogies too? Funny! I can still smell them – peeuewww.
+Phil Wood is a great! He does a lot of work here in DC about baseball history. Good luck!
+Kristen
+Good to know, Kristen. I’ll be sure to mention the Nats!!!
+Oh, guys, Jane’s interview time with Brit and me is 6:30 PACIFIC TIME, not ET. That’s 9:30 PM Eastern. Just want to make that clear!
+Bern
+Just made the correction, Bern. I’m such a dork!
+While most of baseball fans are reading Joe T.’s book, he’s reading yours [or better be] .. awesome. 🙂
+I haven’t picked up your book yet b/c I’m flat broke, but I will as soon as I can and I read it non-stop ’till I finish it 🙂
+– V [ ]
+I know you will, V. And being flat broke is no fun. Boooo.
+That’s awesome that he’s reading your book…or should be. I’m excited because my copy FINALLY got here today! As soon as I’m done catching up on the blogs I follow, I’ll be cracking it open!
+Jen
+Oh wow that’s really cool to hear. Man you’re a superstar. That’s cool to know he’s reading your book. =)
+~King of Cali
+Jane,
+I FINALLY got your book! I’m going to start tonight and I’m very excited. As I read my father the description on the car ride home, he was laughing and thinks that it sounds great. I’m definitely going to call in.
+-Elizabeth
+Yay! So glad you got your copy, Jen.
+I’m a superstar? LOL, King. I’m doing the laundry right now. 🙂
+And yay to you, Elizabeth! (Somehow the comments got scrambled in order. Sorry.) Glad your father was laughing at the description. Not a bad start, right?
+I foresee a picture of you diving into gold coins like donald duck! Congrats on all your success and hoping all of your interviews are great : ) Torre got nothing on you.
+tom
+I like that image, Tom! And thanks for the kind thoughts. I hope everything’s going well with you.
+You got Torre to read your book? I am soooo jealous. I once sent Ron Gardenhire an email telling him to stop batting Gomez in the leadoff spot, since his OBP was .256, and got nothing. He didn’t even take my advice until like a month later!
+I will definitely have to check out “Talking Baseball” and “A Show of Their Own”, maybe I’ll even call in and bother you:)
+-Erin
+Please do call in, Erin. It would be fun to talk to you!
+Hey, Jane …
+I see there is a lot of excitement regarding the release of your book … What do they call that in the industry ??? … There’s a lot of “buzz” about your book !!! … Well, I did go to a B&N in White Plains, New York, the other day, to purchase your book and Joe Torre’s book. I called earlier in the week and reserved both books, so when I arrived at the store I expected to have both copies ready behind the counter for my purchase. When I approached the counter, and gave my name, and names of the books I reserved, the bookseller looked, and looked, and looked, and could not seem to find the books. So, you know the next step … The bookseller goes to the computer, and looks, and looks, and looks, on the computer screen, and finally finds the order. As this is happening, I look at the shelf in the corner where the reserve books are located, and, yes, I see my name on one of the books. So, I inform the bookseller that the book is indeed on the back shelf, and he goes to get the book, and I’m sure, the other book as well, because they both have to be together on the shelf, right? … Well, no. Only one book was there, and it was “The Yankee Years” by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci … My head dropped in disappointment, and I then asked, “when will the other book”, your book, Jane, ‘Confessions of a She-Fan’ be delivered to the store.” Again, the bookseller returned to the computer, and looked, and looked, and looked, at the computer screen for the answer, but no information could be found, except, that the book was on order, and would arrive at the store at some point in the future … Now, I have to say, the bookseller was very patient and helpful, and made a suggestion that the book could be on a shelf in the baseball section. So, I said “thank you”, and headed to the sports section of the bookstore, hoping your book was there. But, since it was not up front, reserved with Torre’s book, I really had little hope I would find the book on the shelf. I walked to the back of the store, and made a right turn towards the baseball section. Now it was my turn to start looking, and looking, and looking, for the book, as I held my reserved copy of Joe Torre’s book tightly under my left arm, as it was the “only” copy of “The Yankee Years” in the store, as all other copies of the book were already sold-out. I arrived at the baseball section, and looked up and down, left and right, for about a minute when, there it was, right in front of my eyes, on the top shelf, your book, Jane !!! … I reached up to scoop the book off the top shelf, like Johnny Damon did last year, when the ball stayed on top of the leftfield wall at Yankee Stadium; and, I hit my second homerun of the day, as that was the last “Confessions of a She-Fan” book in the store. So, I now held in my hands two valuable baseball books, and I rushed to the front of the store to complete my purchase by paying for both at the cashier. I now look forward to reading both books. How was your day, Jane ??? Jimmy [27NYY], “BY&L” …
+Jimmy, what a story. You should be the one writing novels. I could have been sitting on your shoulder as all that was happening. Very vividly told! Mostly, I’m just sorry you had to go through that. B&N should have had the book reserved for you. And it’s disheartening to hear that they just had the one copy way in the back. But you found it and I’m glad about that. Hope it’s worth all your trouble.
+Are you sure he is not reading Alyssa’s own Confession book? Hehe 😉
+Greg
+Red Sox Ramblings:
+Does she have her own Confession book, Greg? News to me.
+Hey, Jane …
+Thanks for the kind words about my comments !!! … With all the cold weather and snow we had last week, and the events in the B&N, it was an adventure purchasing your book; but, it was worth it !!! … I hope to put aside some time this week to complete reading the book, and will give you my thoughts about your book, then !!! … From the pages I have read so far, it looks like a great read, Jane … So, I’m sure the overall review will be excellent !!! … Jane, take care, and have a great day !!! …… Jimmy [27NYY], “BY&L” …
+Thanks again for overcoming all those obstacles to get the book, Jimmy. I look forward to your review!
+Korean entertainer Ahn Jae Hwan (36) decomposed body was discovered at 9.20am today inside his SUV. Police have classified this as suicide and are now investigating the actual motives that led to him taking this unfortunate path.
+Jung Sun Hee and Ahn Jae Hwan in happier times
+Ahn Jae Hwan and wife Jung Sun Hee was one of the famous “celebrity couples” in the Korean entertainment industry and had just tied the knot last November after dating for just three months. His suicide is speculated to have come from his repeated failures at business ventures in 2008 or failing health.
+One of his business ventures was setting up a movie production company and producing a movie called “Icing” but filming was aborted in May this year due to lack of sponsors and dispute between production staff. Some speculate that it was due to his wife Jung Sun Hee’s statement in April which was indirectly linked by netizens to the mad cow protests, leading to a torrent of abuse directed at the couple. It subsequently led to Jung Sun Hee being suspended and Ahn Jae Hwan’s business to suffer, eventually leading to bankruptcy.
+He had actually left home a month ago with his whereabouts unknown and wondered around before apparently killing himself. Eye-witnesses reportedly saw his car parked in the same location without moving for the past three weeks and his body was already in a decomposition state when discovered.
+Three notes were left behind where Ahn Jae Hwan expressed his love for his wife, saying sorry to his parents and finally donating the organs in his body if it was discovered in time. Three bottles of soju and two burnt charcoal briquettes were found where he probably died of carbon dioxide inhalation.
+Jung Sun Hee fainted upon receiving the news this morning and was admitted to hospital. It was later revealed by police that phone records showed that the last call made by Ahn Jae Hwan was to his wife 18 days ago and it was the last known moment when he was still alive. He is believed to have committed suicide shortly after making his last phone call. What a depressing 2008.
+omg. poor jung sun hee. she must feel devastated. im really scared for the krn ent industry. too many losses. rip ahn jae hwan.
+He should have thought abt his family before doing such a stupid thing.. However bad the situation is..death will never be the answer for me
+This is beyond depressing…this is scary.
+They looked so happy….why?! why?! why?!
+Why is Korea becoming a culture signified by death? Korea as a society is crumbling at its base…I hope this is not the tipping point of this generation.
+i find it gruesome how he was discovered in a state of decomposition
+RIP, prayers be with friends and family
+did he also host ETN news? this is so utterly shocking. unless debt collectors are threatening your life, you should find solutions other than death! (i even know people just fled the country to escape debt! make new life someplace even as fugitive:P…) his young wife has to be under intense pain and shock now! OMG…
+wow… there has been so much unfortunate events lately… it’s really sad that something like this has happened..
+it’s shocking to find out that his body was already decomposing when discovered… really shocking….
+rest in peace
+May Ahn Jae Hwan’s soul rest in peace.
+I hope Sun Hee is holding up well…
+This was definitely shocking! And they were just married less than a year ago….
+Jung Sun Hee must be deeply affected by this. And she always seemed like a humorous and happy person too.
+I don’t want to talk badly about the deceased, but death is definitely not the answer to any of our problems. Did he not think of the consequences of his actions? How is his wife supposed to cope with this?
+What’s a bit weird though is the fact that he was already missing for 2 weeks and nobody knew. Did his wife not report it to the police?
+Regardless, RIP Ahn Jae Hwan. And I hope that your family and friends are granted the strength to go through this endeavor.
+oh.my.god.
+what a shock!!!
+i thought there are happy couple, there are even a mv portray them as a model, what a pity her wife must be sad,
+anyway just a remainder think before u act and one more things the number of new artist in korea i think now are equal with the number of dead artist.
+such a pity.
+I love Jung Sun Hee! she’s so hilarious and always bringing laughter to everyone..this news is really tragic.. i can’t imagine how painful Sun Hee must be right now.
+it really makes me sad to read these suicide news.. it makes me wonder that life in korea must be really tough… dont they ever rest?
+I feel bad for Jung Sun Hee! Although we don’t know the details, it sure seems as if Ahn Jae Hwan was a coward. And how can you forgive such a person who leaves behind his family because of such a thing.
+I find it strange that his wife never reported him missing, and his body had already decomposed.
+Seem his relationship with his wife is not all rosy too.
+this is so sad,but at the back of my mind i can help thinking “How selfish”. Im just glad that they didn’t have any kids together,because that would be extremely sad.
+its really a sad news i just don’t get it !!! their are people who want to live but didn’t get a chance and died in an accident like LEE ON when some people are taking their life’s because of some problem that can be solve…
+anyways RIP
+I think she did tell someone but probaby couldn’t tell a lot since there would be a scandal about how the wife didn’t know where the husband was(Since they were a famous couple). I really hope the press will let her grieve peacefully. RIP
+^ yeah i thought of that too – IRONIC if fame, fear of bad press, actually expedited his downward spiral.
+at first it seemed sad they didn’t even have a child together, but under the circumstances…prolly the best. 😦
+also i want to applaud coolsmurf on not posting any of the gruesome photos of the scene. way too sensational, these vultures.
+This is just so saaaad..i mean now that he is gone his family and wife has to deal with it. I really can’t judge his action cuz that would be wrong but i totally feel sad for the wife.
+R.I.P
+omg when i read this
+i couldnt believe this
+jung sun hee doesnt deserve this
+she is the happiest person
+and so is ahn jae hwan
+im about to cry
+omg.. i saw the news and the photos of his car.. T.T
+this is so sad…
+this is real sad news.. T.T
+Pingback: Host Ahn Jae Hwan found dead in his car « K Bites
+wah…2008 has been really depressing…
+rip ):
+oh and her name is jung sun hee… not sung hee..
+look up korea and suicide on google and it will give more than 5 million results. i even read something about cybersuicide pacts for pete’s sake! i hope the entertainment industry and the korean society wake up and act on this as a collective because this is obviously something their government cannot take on alone.
+no more futile, tragic deaths, korea!
+I really like jung sun hee from heroine 6, she is really funny.
+Anyways, best of luck to her. She is already depressed enough frome being banned and now she has to face this.
+ohmy. not another one. ;____________;
+RIP Ahn Jae Hwan. =((
+Jung Sun Hee unnie, I hope she’ll gain strength somehow.
+Such a depressing year. .__________.
+I thought Ahn Jae Hwan’s face was so familiar… And yeah I’ve seen him in Snow Flower. This is so depressing.
+He and his wife looked happy together. This shouldn’t have happened. Hope Jung Sun Hee get through this soon.
+RIP, Ahn Jae Hwan
+RIP, :((
+What is happening!!!
+This is surreal.
+such horrible news….…
+i can’t imagine how his wife must be feeling right now…
+my heart goes out to his family and friends.
+Rest in Peace Ahn Jae Hwan
+you will be deeply missed
+Korean news says he owed $4 million.
+I feel really bad for Jung Sun Hee.
+RIP, this is very sad to see. I hope his wife doesn’t consider death as well. Too many deaths in the Korean Ent industry its getting a bit scary now.
+Pingback: Korean actor Ahn Jae-hwan committed suicide | YeinJee's Asian News
+this is so, terrible.
+I can’t believe thier relationship ended in such a sad way. 😦
+so sad! I don’t know who they are but I feel sad for them, especially her, it must be so horrible.
+Why did he kill himself?? =O
+RIP
+That’s horrible. I feel so bad for Jung Sun Hee. I really liked her. I don’t really know much about her husband though…but may he rest in peace.
+once again netizens take their bandwagon vendettas way too far
+I’m so sad, I once saw him as MC and thinking that he’s now dead… u.u I can’t understand people that isolate to grieve their pain alone =(, there’s always a way out! rip. ahn jae hwan
+omg poor sunhee. its soo sad. i can only imagine how she felt when she heard the news… may he r.i.p
+omg!!! rest in peace AJH…
+my condolences for the family
+He’s so selfish leaving his wife & family like this. He inherited his debt to them. I feel sorry for them. They gotta stay strong in order to survive. 😦
+Omg, this is terrible. I’m also wondering why his wife didn’t report him missing… Perhaps he said he’d be away for a while and to not look for him…
+dude i feel bad for her
+in the korean newspaper it said it was mainly due to financial and money problems and he had problems with loans etc.
+and now since he’s gone i think his wife will have to repay the loans for him =__=
+I’m in complete shock… Condolences to both families respectively.
+why are so many celebs dying in korea…:(
+RIP
+Not having money/ being in debt is perhaps the most scariest way to live, you’re not sure about your future and it’s hard just thinking of getting up the next morning…. *sadness* wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have money?? Yeah, people say that having lots of it doesn’t mean long-staying happiness but it sure makes misery more bearable…. “God, help us all, we’re all your children.”
+once the person dies, there’s nothing to pay off for him, at least that’s how I understand it. and i’m just referring to one of the comments made above.
+At that one moment we all believe that no one is hurting as much as us or that life can’t get better but the funny thing about pain is that it doesn’t stay long in your memory. Debt is reversible but death is not.
+I offer my condolence to his family and my they forgive him and remember the joy he once brought them.
+There were pictures of his car with the burn marks etc… and his wife passed out on a stretcher posted all over the internet. It is really sad that they will not have any privacy while grieving.
+Oh, that is absolutely awful! 2008 has had many unfortunate deaths. I sure hope that his wife will be able to somehow get past this, though it will be undoubtedly difficult. Wow, I’m just at a loss for words. So sad.
+I hate 2008.
+To many deaths.
+I’m to shock for words.
+They were such a cute couple.
+My prays goes to Sunhee and hopes she can pull through this.
+Oh my God it’s scary…..
+too scary…..
+2008 is awful……………..
+Pingback: Ahn Jae Hwan’s Funeral « ｡( ☆｡☆) ｡ I treasure this Jewel.
+but i heard that his wife Sunhee are free from the all the dept coz they not registered as man and wife…so i do think that maybe he really love the wife and want to free her from the problem…RIP…
+hope no more bad news from now on…
+wish all the best for everybody….love ur self and the one who love u…
+I’m really feeling so so so sad to read this, I remembered that this Korean couple are the first couple that I actually love to see most, seriously. They were so so so loving to one another. Now, I pray that Sun Hee will be tough, though it would be hard, we all love her.. R.I.P, JaeHwan
+2008 has been quite a year for me (in a good way) but it’s obviously the opposite for these stars.
+How I wish he solved the problem in a better way
+RIP Ahn Jae Hwan
+Be strong Jung SunHee.
+…ang daming ngppkamtay sa korea…
+..rest in peace sa lahat ng satrs s korea..
+anyuong uhmmm… your spelling of anyuong its spelled like annyeong.. anyways.. to the point Stay strong and good to Jung Sun Hee… RIP AJH
+I think she did tell someone but probaby couldn’t tell a lot since there would be a scandal about how the wife didn’t know where the husband was(Since they were a famous couple). I really hope the press will let her grieve peacefully. RIP
+I offer my condolence to his family and my they forgive him and remember the joy he once brought them.
+Thanks you very much..…
+Not having money/ being in debt is perhaps the most scariest way to live, you’re not sure about your future and it’s hard just thinking of getting up the next morning….
+Oh my God it’s scary…..
+too scary…..
+this would be a shocking thing for many fans
+is a sad truth, I could not believe it ….
+There were pictures of his car with the burn marks etc… and his wife passed out on a stretcher posted all over the internet. It is really sad that they will not have any privacy while grieving.
+I found this whilst researching for an upcoming article. I wanted to share it with you as I was thinking of how little has changed since it was published in 1996 ; or has it? My belief is that the situation now is worsening and with that out understanding of paedophilia hasn't improved at all...
+Anne Bannister is a cheery middle-aged lady from Manchester who has spent the past 20 years meeting child abusers. For the past nine, she has run a consultancy compiling profiles of paedophiles for the NSPCC; before that, she sat with offenders for thousands of uncomfortable hours as a psychotherapist and a social worker.
+She knows precisely how they operate: "I could take a paedophile into a school playground and say, 'Show me the vulnerable children.' In two minutes he would have picked them out: 'This child is lonely, that child is a bit isolated, that one is not going to scream and shout and run home to Mum...' "
+This is how we think of paedophiles: male, predatory, snatching victims at random. Last week the Old Bailey heard allegations of just such a case. In October 1994 Daniel Handley, a nine-year-old boy from Beckton, east London, was out playing on his BMX bicycle when Brett Tyler and Timothy Morss allegedly pulled up in their car, bundled him in, and drove him across the capital to a flat above the office where they worked.
+There, the court heard, they took turns assaulting him, filmed the act, and drove off down the M4, where Handley was strangled in a lay-by and his body buried in a wood near Bristol. On Thursday the evidence was such that jurors wept.
+Yet, for all the familiar horrors of stories like this, so guiltily compelling to newspapers and their readers, we are far less clear about their context. As a result, responses to tales of child abuse swing wildly between paranoia when the practice is uncovered, as it has been recently in the children's homes of Clwyd, and denial that it exists at all whenever an investigation collapses, like the infamous inquiry into satanic activity in the Orkneys in 1991.
+Slowly, however, an approximate science of child abuse is being developed. Anne Bannister has been one contributor to it; Art O'Connor, a forensic psychiatrist at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin, is another. Their developing conclusions, as Dr O'Connor explains, do not tally at all with the picture of paedophilia suggested by, say, the news pages of the tabloid newspapers: "What's reported is the dramatic abuse, the murders, and everyone assumes that's the norm. But cases like those are very rare."
+In trying to discover what "the norm" for abusers is - by examining their numbers, methods and motivations - Dr O'Connor and his fellow psychiatrists first face a problem of definition.
+By law, any adult having sex with someone under 16 is committing paedophilia. But it is clear that many teenage sex lives, whether involving peers or older partners, start a year or two earlier - without automatically being considered paedophiliac. In practice, therefore, psychiatrists now believe that the common characteristic of victims of paedophilia is that they have not yet reached puberty, rather than simply that they are under 16.
+Yet uncertainty about the act of abuse itself still reigns: "Child abuse spans a whole spectrum, from inappropriate touching to penetration," says John Rea Price, director of the National Children's Bureau. In addition, victims are often sexually ignorant and, whether through fear or shame, reluctant to describe their experiences. Thus the incidence of paedophilia has proved difficult to catalogue and quantify.
+Last year the NSPCC tried, interviewing 1,032 people between the ages of 18 and 45 about their sexual histories as children. One in six of them recalled "sexual interference", one in nine actual physical contact (the rest remembered incidents of indecent exposure). Currently, the charity's helplines receive around 15,000 calls a year reporting suspected child abuse.
+The number of tormenters of children remains equally vague. The National Criminal Intelligence Service inherited a card index of convicted and suspected paedophiles from the Metropolitan Police when it was set up in 1992; with information from other forces added, the service now has a database of between 3,000 and 4,000 names. But this includes publishers of paedophiliac pornography, too - the 1978 Children Act made it an offence "to take or permit to be taken, distribute, or show, or possess with a mind to distribute any indecent photograph of a child under the age of 16" - and they may in turn have hundreds of customers.
+It is in dividing these tentative figures into types of paedophile that psychiatrists are making headway. Dr O'Connor identifies three categories. The first is the "incest offender", typically a father who abuses his daughter while maintaining an outwardly "normal" relationship with his wife. In about half of these cases alcohol plays a part, although less so as the pattern of abuse is established. The second type Dr O'Connor calls the "standard paedophile", an abuser whose entire sexual history has involved assaulting children. The third is the "young offender", often a teenager abusing a younger sibling.
+All three categories of abuser are usually male, although the proportion of women is rising. Beyond this, their collective profile differs sharply - indeed is the opposite - of its popular conception. "There's a lot of suggestion that it's homosexual men who attack boys," says Anne Bannister, "but the vast majority are heterosexual, and the gender of the child is immaterial."
+Far from being dark strangers, most paedophiles know their victims, and vice versa: assaults usually come from within supposedly protective institutions such as the family.
+When they occur, they are carefully planned: "Paedophiles rarely pick off children at random," says Ms Bannister. "That's the paedophile's excuse: 'I don't know what came over me.' " Instead, abusers identify likely victims and draw them closer by "grooming" - offering gifts, favours, and friendly company over what may be weeks or even months. Sometimes the treats they offer are illicit, like cigarettes or invitations to play truant, giving the paedophile an ability to blackmail their victim into keeping quiet in the future.
+A similar malign ingenuity frequently marks paedophiles' efforts to gain access to children in the first place. Ms Bannister has encountered abusers befriending mothers and fathers of desired children, and even marrying single parents: "When I see those advertisements for dates with 'children wanted', my heart sinks."
+Paedophiles also favour infiltrating public institutions. Schools, children's homes and even in one case, as Mr Rea Price recalls, the National Children's Bureau, have all been used as cover for obtaining victims. Once ensconced, abusers may form networks, exchanging information about "available" children - "They can be meticulous in the details they keep," says Mr Rea Price - and, if investigated, providing each other with alibis.
+These networks can be horrifyingly complex. In one, discovered by a Liverpool psychologist, children who ran away from homes were lured to London by a "safe" name and address, forced into a paedophile ring, then, as they grew older and more knowing, were co-opted into silence by being made to abuse the most recently arrived victims.
+The abusing careers of individual paedophiles can have a grisly professionalism, too. A few may assault hundreds, even thousands of children during a lifetime.
+"Most child abusers are emotionally as well as sexually drawn to children," says Ms Bannister. "They convince themselves they're doing no harm ... that the child led them on."
+Last month, this newspaper received a letter from a "frustrated paedophile", complaining that coverage of police operations against child pornography ignored the "fact" that "the 'stars' are only too eager to take part in whatever is required of them
+Such sentiments usually seep from a variety of psychological wounds. Many abusers have been abused themselves, often repeatedly (although most victims, of course, do not become paedophiles). Paedophiles can lack the sexual confidence to approach other adults, or simply find a mature sexuality repulsive and an immature one attractive. Or, as Anne Bannister explains, "Anger comes into it; people want to punish their existing partner or they've been rejected by their existing partner."
+There is also a category known as fixated paedophiles, men who abuse only boys of a certain age, and this is usually the result of some experience they themselves suffered at that age.
+Like the whole subject of paedophilia, the motivation of abusers is still only dimly understood. The reasons for being a paedophile may be almost as numerous as the paedophiles.
+Given the strength of their desires, and the sheer numbers of available victims, measures to prevent paedophiliac activity are not advanced with confidence. Imprisonment is not favoured, as it often creates new rings of abusers, passing child pornography around behind bars.
+The National Institute for Social Work has been lobbying the Government to create a central register and code of conduct for professional carers, so that their backgrounds can be more thoroughly checked. The Government is moving towards the more populist solution of a national paedophile register, along the lines of the existing police database, including compulsory tracking of addresses. But this has problematic civil liberties implications: should suspects as well as those convicted be watched? And if so, how could the system guard against smears, blackmail and the victimisation of innocent people?
+There is more support among those examining paedophilia for educating children earlier about the threat. "You can teach them not to get into strangers' cars, to say, 'No. This is my body,' " says Mike Berry, a clinical psychologist who works with abusers. In Ireland, a successful "Stay Safe" campaign has been run in schools for five years, with teachers passing on warnings and advice to pupils about how to avoid abusers.
+But it is hard to be too optimistic. In Britain the emerging academic consensus about paedophiliac behaviour has yet to achieve popular credence. Indeed, there are still signs that we prefer to fear the largely mythical random pervert than confront the real enemy closer to home. In 1993, for instance, an American professor called James Kincaid was hounded across British newspaper columns for suggesting in a book on Victorian literature that child abuse sprang from the same culture of "child-loving" as more acceptable forms of affection.
+Yet Anne Bannister agrees with him. "Inside us all there is an abuser, a bit of a bully. A vast amount of us never let that surface, and like to think that the abuser is totally different, an absolute weirdo ... He isn't."
+Sunday 12th May 1996
+Source The Independent
+Mama Vaishampayana arrived well in time with mami for the marriage of his
+maruman Yanjavalkya with Katyayani. The newly wedded couple made obeisance to
+them and sought their blessings. They had completely forgotten their anger. They
+gladly blessed the couple saying, "May you have all the best in life. May you be
+protected always by the grace of all gods and goddesses." Read further…..
+1.16 Soorya narayana prayer
+Though Katyayani was far younger than Yajnavalkya, yet in speech, in behaviour
+and in all respects she proved herself a worthy wife to him.
+Yajnavalkya began to observe all the rites connected with the vow of
+Suryanarayana very scrupulously. He used to get up during Brahmi. After
+finishing the ablutions he would sit in his abode engaged in meditation and japa
+of Surya-mantra till afternoon. Then he would worship the Sun god and make an
+offering of paayasaanna. That prasada of paayasaanna was all that Yajnavalkya
+and Katyayani would take as their food for the whole day
+1.16 Aditya gift Yajur Veda
+Days passed. One morning as usual Yajnavalkya was absorbed in meditation and in
+japa of Surya-mantra. He experienced a greater ecstasy than ever in his
+meditation. He saw an unusual mass of bright light coming from the Sun and
+flowing towards him. Yajnavalkya opened his eyes. That mass of dazzling
+brightness took the form of a horse of red colour. That horse came neighing and
+stood before Yajnavalkya. The divine horse said, "Yajnavalkya, I am pleased with
+your penance. Tell me what you want."
+Yajnavalkya realized that the divine horse standing before him was no other than
+Sun god himself. He offered his salutations and prayed, "Please grant me such
+knowledge of Yajur Veda as known to none so far." The divine horse vanished into
+the mass of bright light. In a winking time there appeared Sun god whom
+Yajnavalkya could see in human form with the full splendour. Yajnavalkya again
+made obeisance to him repeating the Aditya-mantra.
+Then Surya Deva said,. "Yajnavalkya, your body has not yet got the purity and
+strength enough to receive from me and Comprehend Vedic knowledge. Therefore
+first I shall make the goddess Saraswati enter your body in the form of energy.
+Open your mouth."
+Thus Saraswati entered the body and mind of Yajnavalkya as energy through his
+mouth. Consequently a great heat was produced in his entire body. When he was
+suffering from this extreme heat Surya Deva said comfortingly, "Bear this
+suffering for a short while. Your body and mind thereby will get purified. Then
+only you will have sufficient stamina to grasp and retain Vedic knowledge. In a
+few minutes Yajnavalkya's physical suffering subsided. A strange joy ran through
+his body. The Sun god blessed him and again merged into the mass of light.
+1.17 Yajurveda mantras appear to Yangavalkya
+Yajnavalkya stood gazing at that light. Veda Mantras (Incantations) shining
+attractively in that mass of light were visible to him. He closed his eyes and
+saw them shining in the same way in the innermost center of his heart. There was
+a flood of light everywhere! In the midst of that light here and there was the
+glow of those fine Mantras. This mystical experience of bliss filled and
+overflowed the body, mind and soul, nay the entire being of Yajnavalkya. After
+this the vision changed. Again the same luminous horse of red hue stood neighing
+in front of Yajnavalkya. As it neighed a divine radiance was emanating from its
+mouth! In that radiance the Mantras appeared in shimmering letters for a moment
+and merged into that mass of light. Even as Yajnavalkya stood looking intently
+at that divine horse, in no time it got merged in that mass of light.
+This magnificent vision enabled Yajnavalkya to attain the fulfillment of his
+vow. He became a Seer blessed with the vision of Mantras, a maharshi and also
+brahmarshi possessing divine knowledge.
+1.18 The Great Works of Yanjavalkya
+Yajnavalkya resolved to write down his divine experiences and visions of Vedic
+truths, in the form of books. Thus the great book 'Shukla Yajurveda' took shape
+in his blessed hands. The subject matter of Karma and Jnana has been elaborately
+explained in that book. The two Upanishads Ishavasya and Brihadaranyaka which
+contain significant thoughts on the Soul and Divine life, similarly seventeen
+other Upanishads and 'Shuklas' were all included in the making of the volumes of
+that Magnum Opus 'Yajurveda'. Yajnavalkya's fame spread like any thing.
+1.19 Yajnavalkya take charge of Gurukula
+Sage Uddalaka, one of the teachers of Yajnavalkya, we have read in the last
+posting became very old. He was no longer able to manage the affairs of the
+ashram. Uddalaka considered Yajnavalkya as the best qualified person to be his
+successor for the Gurukula and invited him for heading the Gurukula.
+Accordingly Yajnavalkya took the responsibility of heading the Gurukula run by
+Uddalaka. The prestige and reputation of this Ashram grew remarkably with the
+arrival of Yajnavalkya as its head. Large number of students came to join this
+Gurukula. The enlightening lectures and discourses on Vedic studies delivered by
+Yajnavalkya, out of his profound and divine scholarship, proved an illumination
+of great fortune to the students. Janaka, the emperor of Videha, was eager to
+meet him and receive initiation from him.
+1.20 Rajarshi Janaka met Yanjavalkya
+King Janaka was a very religious man as well as a great scholar. He was a
+Rajarshi. Yanjavalkya’s ashram resolved at a meeting to conduct a conference
+of scholars at the time of Janaka's visit to the ashram and arrange for the
+recitation of and discourse on 'Shukla Yajurveda' written by Yajnavalkya.
+Sages and scholars from different places came in large numbers. Maharaja Janaka
+arrived at the right time. The conference began. The Shukla Yajurveda was
+recited and discussed. Yajnavalkya explained the Vedic mantras wherever it was
+necessary. There was discussion and exchange of ideas on those Vedic mantras.
+The conference went on for a few days.
+Only philosophers of tremendous scholarship participated in the discussion
+during sessions. Two woman scholars participated in it were Gargi and Maitreyi.
+After the recitation of the Vedas the entire galaxy of scholars assembled there
+glorified Yajnavalkya. The august body of scholars accepted Shukla Yajurveda,
+the sacred Vedic text, with great pride and pleasure. Yajnavalkya was honored as
+Brahmarshi. Most of the Yajur vedies follow Sukla Yajur Veda
+1.21 Maitreyi takes companionship with Yanjavalkya
+Maitreyi had cherished a desire in her heart to live with Yajnavalkya as his
+disciple and a spiritual companion to do sadhana and realize Brahman. But she
+knew that if she were to live in companionship with maharshi, people might talk
+scandalizing them. She really did not want to marry. She was not after the
+pleasures of having children, property or money. Yajnavalkya was already
+married. Some times he may not take another wife.
+She arrived at a decision after a good deal of thinking. She went straight to
+Katyayani Devi wife of sage Yajnavalkya.
+"Dear sister, I have a problem which can be solved only by you," she said. "What
+is it Maitreyi, please tell me."
+Maitreyi told Katyayani about her wish to live with Yajnavalkya as his companion
+to get his help in her intellectual and spiritual pursuits.
+"I shall be your younger sister and stay in your home observing celibacy. Please
+do favour me by your consent."
+Katyayani gladly gave her consent. Then Maitreyi met Yajnavalkya, expressed her
+desire and requested him to take her. He only said, "Katyayani's decision alone
+is final." Just at that time Katyayani walked in. Katyayani and Maitreyi
+together bowed down to the feet of Maharshi Yajnavalkya and expressed their
+reverence by addressing him 'Bhagavan'. Maitreyi became his spiritual companion.
+(My note- In later references she too is told as sage Yanjavalkya’s wife)
+1.22 Take the Cows to our Ashram
+King Janaka once made arrangements for a Jnana Yaga (a philosophical treat)
+setting a rich award. Great sages and scholars from various places were invited
+to participate in it. There would be discussion and exchange of thoughts on
+matters pertaining to spiritual life supported by their knowledge and experience
+of Vedic truths. He who would prove himself the greatest among them would
+receive the highest honour and a celebrated award. It was announced that such a
+person would be honoured at the end of that Maha Jnana Yaga by ceremonially
+placing the crown of Sarvajna on his head. Invitations were sent to eminent
+sages. Yajnavalkya also got an invitation of from Janaka.
+Many Sages arrived. Maharshi Yajnavalkya arrived with his disciples. Maharaja
+Janaka accorded a reverential welcome to all those assembled. “We will elect
+the greatest Brahmanishta to the chair of Sarvajna and offer him the crown of
+Sarvajna. One thousand cows decorated with golden medallions are kept ready in
+the nearby cowshed. The greatest spiritual master in the assembly may take them
+Yajnavalkya stood up. Casting his eyes on his disciple-seated close by, he
+ordered in a bold and dignified voice, "Samashrava, go and take those decorated
+cows to our ashram.†All those assembled there were taken aback. They looked
+intently at Yajnavalkya.
+Then Aswala, the royal preceptor, said, “Why do you order your pupil to take
+the cows home?" asked Aswala. "Because we need them. " Yanjavalkya answered.
+"But the cows are meant for one who is established in the Brahman State. By
+commanding your pupil to take them to your ashram, you have clearly suggested
+that you are one such. That means an open invitation to anyone to place
+questions to you. You will have to satisfy them with your answers," said the
+court preceptor. To this Yajnavalkya replied with a smile "Welcome. Questions
+on Brahman may be put."
+1.23 The Crown of Sarvajna
+There was a heavy downpour of questions to Yajnavalkya. Some of the questions
+put to him were like
+- What is it that enables one to become free from death?
+- What is a soul?
+- What pervades this perceptible world and the sky?
+Yanjavalkya answered with confidence and competence to every question. His
+replies flowed into the hearts and minds of all the listeners like sacred
+Jnana-Ganga. The scholars who had put the questions got satisfied with the
+answers of the sage and said, "We bow down to the Brahmarshi."
+Then king Janaka stood up and sought the permission of the august body to
+declare Yajnavalkya elected to the chair of Sarvajna. The assembly readily
+acclaimed it. Maharaja Janaka ceremoniously offered the crown of Sarvajna to
+Brahmarshi Yajnavalkya
+1.24 Yajnavalkya become King Janaka’s Guru
+King Janaka afterwards made a practice to meet Yajnavalkya now and then to
+listen to his divine sermons. After some time one day he requested Yajnavalkya,
+"Revered Sir, would you please take me as your disciple and accept the offering
+of all that is mine, my kingdom, and my wealth?" Yajnavalkya, the embodiment of
+renunciation, said smilingly, "I want none of them." All the same, he gave
+initiation to Janaka and made him his disciple. (Members may now recollect King
+Janaka’s this attitude told by Cho in his serial Engae brahmanan in Jeya TV)
+Yajnavalkya led a divine life. He was loved and respected by everybody from all
+quarters. He imparted Vedic knowledge to many students. He preached them some
+maxims helpful in everyday life so that their mode of living conformed to the
+norms of Dharma. In course of time a collection of these practical hints for
+religious life became famous as "Yajnavalkya Smriti" (The Code of
+Yajnavalkya).
+1.25 Yanjavalkya Departs from the World
+Gradually Yajnavalkya began to feel, "Enough of this material life of the
+world." He decided to lead the life of a recluse in the woods spending all his
+time in the
+contemplation on Brahman. He confided this wish to his two wives. All his
+worldly possessions were equally divided between them. Katyayani Devi took her
+share as her husband's gracious gift and remained in the ashram as its holy
+mother.
+Maitreyi Devi said, "I don't want any of these things. I want only
+self-realization and have no use for these material possessions."
+Yajnavalkya got ready to leave for the woods. Katyayani made obeisance to him
+and kneeling down with bowed head she prayed to him to bless her. "May your
+contemplation on Brahman be fruitful. May you have salvation soon," said
+Yajnavalkya blessing her.
+Then he proceeded to the Himalayas for doing penance. Maitreyi accompanied him
+as an ascetic after doing obeisance to Katyayani Devi .
+Both of them were doing penance at the foot of the Himalayas. Maitreyi one day
+passed away. A few days later, Yajnavalkya also passed away from this world and
+merged into the state of Brahman through his deep meditation.
+1.26 The Light of Yanjavalkyas Message
+Yajnavalkya became a great man of divine glory by giving Shukla Yajur Veda to
+the world. Since it was the treasure of knowledge obtained during daylight from
+God, it was called Shukla Yajur Veda.
+Since the Sun god appeared in the form of a horse and granted this Vedic
+knowledge, it is also called Yajasaneya Samhita (the sacred collection of divine
+wisdom coming from the God in Horse form).
+Ishavasya, Upanishat.
+1.27 References in Mahabharatha and Sathapatha Brahmana and his contributions
+Yanjavalkya was celebrated sage, to who is attributed the White Yajur-Veda, the
+Satapatha Brahmana, the Brihad Aranyaka, and the code of law called
+Yajnavalkya-smriti. He lived before the grammarian Katyayana, and probably later
+than Manu. He was a disciple of Vaisampayana.
+Max Muller quotes a dialogue between Yanjavalkya and Maitreyi from the Satapatha
+Brahmana (Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 22), in which the sage sets forth his
+views.
+Yajnavalkya also is represented as inculcating the duty and necessity of
+religious retirement and meditation, He is considered as having been the
+originator of the Yoga doctrine.
+The Maha-bharata makes him present at the Rajasuya sacrifice performed by
+Yudhishthira. According to the Satapatha Brahmana he flourished at the court of
+Janaka, king of Videha and father of Sita.
+Janaka had long contentions with the Brahmans, in which he was supported, and
+probably prompted, by Yajnavalkya. He was a dissenter from the religious
+teaching and practices of his time.
+An article by Edurkala K.Shankaranarayana Bhat, which I read, is the bases
+for preparing this write up. I could not get any information regarding birth of
+children to sage Yangavalkya.
+SUMMARY
+Yanjavalkya was a disciple of Vaisampayana. He was son of Vaisampayana’s
+sister. Maitreyi was his companion in spiritual works. He is remembered for
+getting Sukla Yajur Veda from Sun God
+--
+If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
+Happy moments, praise God.
+Difficult moments, seek God.
+Quiet moments, worship God.
+Painful moments, trust God.
+Every moment, thank God
+Xstrata’s New Pilot Plant is Designed for High-Capacity Processing
+The new Xstrata Process Support (XPS) minerals crushing and blending pilot plant in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, converts a wide range of ores into samples for process testing. It is significantly larger, more productive, more easily cleaned, and more automated than prior manually operated laboratory scale facilities. The unit crushes and screens up to 150 kg/h (330 lb/h) of ore, compared with about 100 kg/d (220 lb/d) for the company’s former manually operated facility. “As far as we know, there is nothing else like it,” said XPS metallurgist and project manager David Middleditch.
+XPS’s combination of large-scale equipment and automated conveying and screening equipment increases production, improves plant safety and ensures test sample integrity. The company also designed the plant for superior cleanability. In the past, said Middleditch, laboratories used small-scale equipment because it was easier to clean to avoid cross-contamination between product runs. XPS opted for larger equipment, but can still clean the entire line in only three or four hours.A new double-deck, circular vibratory screener plays a key role in automating the flow of material through the facility by separating on-size crushed ore having maximum particle sizes down to 1.7 mm (10 mesh) from oversized fragments that require further processing. The screener disassembles rapidly for thorough cleaning, to prevent cross contamination between batches.
+Assessing Commercial Viability
+The new crushing and blending plant is one of several lab-scale testwork units at XPS. The Sudbury facility also contains pilot equipment to test flotation, extraction and smelting strategies as well as laboratory devices to analyze mineral compositions and modal mineralogy. XPS once provided these services solely for its corporate parent, Xstrata plc, a major producer of copper, nickel, coal, and other commodity materials. XPS now operates as an independent subsidiary, providing technical services to the wider minerals processing industry.
+XPS’s Process Mineralogy group evaluates samples from mineral discoveries to assess composition, physical properties, ore chemistry and response to extraction methods. This determines profit potential.
+“For example, if 90 percent of a deposit’s nickel is deported in the mineral pentlandite, it may be economically viable,” said Middleditch. “But if significant amounts occur in pyrrhotite, it may not be viable because it is in a solid solution and therefore has little potential for upgrading into a concentrate.”
+Although assays offer clues to processing strategies, every discovery has unique mineralogy. Before spending tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars on new extraction facilities, companies test ore samples at laboratory and pilot plant scale to optimize their processes. XPS Process Mineralogy’s new crushing and blending pilot plant provides the replicate sample charges for those tests. Sample requirements range from 50 kg (110 lb) of material for laboratory testing to 10 metric tons (12 tons) or more for an extensive development program.
+Mineralogy may vary significantly within a single mineral discovery. Geologists capture those differences by drilling for samples at different sites. XPS then crushes the drill core samples to a size determined by the testwork program, screens, blends and splits the material into homogenous samples that represent the mineralogy of the deposit or resource. This approach is also applied to distinct zones or variability samples within the resource.
+Conveyors, Screener Automate Material Movement
+In the past, XPS produced samples manually. “Someone would feed the ore into the crusher, then take the crushed ore in a pail and dump it into our original 40 in. (102 cm) diameter single deck screener. The fines would go into a pail and the oversize would go back into the crusher. We would keep going until all the material had been crushed down to the specified product size.
+“Producing a 100-kg (220-lb) charge would take a worker a full day. One metric ton would require two full-time employees to work for two weeks. We then had to blend all of the screened material to ensure uniformity of each production run to ensure that all charges are homogenous,” said Middleditch.
+The automated line turns those days into hours, reducing the time needed to prepare a 200-kg sample from 2 days to 3-4 hours, and producing tons of samples in weeks rather than months.
+The process begins with a remotely controlled platform that hoists pails of ore and dumps them into a hopper. The hopper feeds the ore into an 8 x 10-in. (10 x 25-cm) primary jaw crusher that handles ore fragments up to 6 in. (15 cm) in diameter.
+Crushed ore is conveyed to the new 30-in. (76-cm) double-deck screener, a standard Vibroscreen separator from Kason Corp., and sifted first by the upper deck. This large-aperture, heavy-duty upper "scalping" screen of stainless steel wire removes the largest, most abrasive fragments, thereby protecting the finer-mesh lower screen from damage while contributing significantly to the machine's capacity. Material passing through the upper screen falls onto the lower screen, which removes all particles greater than the aperture size of any given screen installed.
+XPS can change both screens to meet customer requirements. It typically uses a 4.5-mm (4-mesh) upper scalping screen and a 1.7-mm (10-mesh) lower cut screen. Some customers prefer different sizes. “We work with one client who specifies a 6-mm (3-mesh) cut screen and another who specifies a 3.5-mm (6-mesh). We’ll do whatever the customer requires,” said Middleditch.
+Oversize particles exit both screens at their peripheries through discharge spouts, and are transported back the crusher for pulverizing, while on-size particles are loaded into drums awaiting blending.
+Fabricated of 304 stainless steel, the screener is able to withstand constant vibration of abrasive particles. Vibration induced by a 1-hp (746-W) imbalanced-weight gyratory motor mounted directly beneath the screening chamber promotes rapid passage of on-size particles through apertures in the screen, while moving oversize particles along a predefined path to the discharge chute at each screen's periphery.
+"The circular screener handles as much as we can throw at it, and could probably handle the additional volume if we expanded the plant,” said Middleditch.
+A conveyor system receives the fines from the circular screener. A conveyor removes oversized material so it can be re-crushed, sifted, combined with the fines from the first screening, and placed in drums. The drums are blended in one of two new high-efficiency, high-volume blenders capable of mixing multiple drums in a single operation, significantly reducing blending time when compared with the smaller blenders Xstrata operated in the past. Barrels of blended material are then discharged into two spinning rifflers, which divide the samples into smaller representative and replicate batches. The mixing and riffling process is so consistent, it produces test charges with relative standard deviations less than 2-5% in their base metal content.
+Cleanable Equipment Prevents Contamination
+While screening performance is vital, so is cleanability. “We run one batch after another through the unit and we cannot tolerate any cross-contamination,” said Middleditch.
+In fact, he noted that cleaning is one of the reasons XPS stayed with smaller pilot plant equipment. “Smaller equipment was easier to clean to eliminate contamination after a run,” he explained.
+“A customer requesting testwork on a sample of nickel ore containing no zinc would not want to find zinc in test samples. Likewise, if you’re processing a low-grade ore and you processed a higher-grade ore the week prior, the customer must not conclude he or she has a higher grade than actually exists, or he or she could make investment decisions that jeopardize the company.”
+XPS designed the plant so workers could clean it completely in three to four hours. The Kason screener is among the fastest machines to clean, according to Middleditch. “Just undo a few clamps, take out the screen and vacuum the top,” he said. This gives workers more time to spend on harder-to-clean equipment such as crushers and blenders.
+XPS was familiar with Kason screeners before specifying the new 30 in. (76 cm) unit for its new plant. “We operated an older, 30 in. single deck vibrating screener in our bench scale lab,” said Middleditch. “It’s a standard product in mineral processing, but we needed a dual deck model for the automated crushing plant.”
+The new circular screener’s ability to rapidly sort conveyed material fits right into XPS’s first-of-its-kind crushing and blending plant.
+“Our new facility is a break with the past,” said Middleditch. “Because we have automated the crushing and sorting of minerals without sacrificing cleanability, our crushing plant is larger and faster, and we can produce large amounts of high-quality, replicate samples at competitive prices, which is often most important part of a testwork program. When it comes time to finance a new mine, the customer can take the results from our testwork to the bank.”
+-----------------------------------------------------------
+Information for this article was provided by Kason Corp. (), a Millburn, New Jersey, USA-based manufacturer of vibratory, centrifugal, and static screening equipment for solids/solids and liquid/solids separations.
+-------------------------------------------
+Metso Gifts Ghanaian Mines School with Modern Lab Equipment
+In a bid to familiarize future metallurgists and engineers with its process equipment products, Metso said it recently donated a significant quantity of equipment and services to the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, Ghana. The equipment, valued at $50,000, included a Metso D12 flotation cell/scrubber; a Morse Model 2000 4 X 6-in. jaw crusher; a Marcy 6-in. Gyroll cone crusher; a Denver vacuum filter; several Marcy pulp density scales; a Denver pulp density scale; a Denver 4 X 6-in. mineral jig; plus spare parts and operating manuals.
+With the exception of the mineral jig, which had been discontinued, all of the equipment is brand new and currently part of Metso’s product portfolio. A service agreement will also be entered into by the two parties. The donation also included 50 copies of mineral processing textbooks.
+In addition, Metso said it plans to initiate an annual award which consists of a cash price donation to the school’s best mining and mineral engineering student starting from this year’s class; and an annual “mining school” to train and update the students about technological developments in the mining industry.
+According to Associate Professor Richard Amankwah, who is on the UMaT Planning Committee and also Dean of the Engineering department, the Metso equipment will be valuable to the future success of the department. “We are involved in research areas such as geometallurgy, biohydrometallurgy, microwave processing of minerals, and environmental biotechnology, monitoring and management,” he said. “The equipment will assist us greatly in developing these areas and more importantly I see the department being abreast with technological advances through this collaboration.”
+The donation, according to Metso, not only stands as an important link between the university and the mining industry by demonstrating corporate social responsibility, but also serves Metso’s future plans. Paul M. Heaton, services product manager, laboratory equipment and standard products, Metso USA, pointed out that “we’ve placed our equipment in an everyday learning environment. When the student graduates and moves on to employment, they will recommend Metso to their employer for future equipment requirements. They can make firm decisions based on equipment with which they are already familiar.”
+Metso expects the relationship with UMaT to boost its presence in Ghana further, since the company is currently the only one involved in such an undertaking, while Professor Amankwah sees the donation as a means of positively affecting recruiting efforts at UMaT. “Prospective students would be confident about the program, knowing that the department is affiliated with a world class mining, mineral processing and instrumentation company. And, of course,” he concluded, “it becomes easier for the company to recruit the best students for their projects in Africa and beyond.”
+TechCrunch's Mike Arrington unofficially reviews the iPad and this line resonated with my own anticpated behaviour for the device. Link
+"I suspect I’ll rarely be away from this device. In fact it will make my phone far less important for non-calling uses (emphasis mine).."
+If I'm willing to carry the iPad out and about I might not automatically jump to a smartphone to do consuming-content-type-stuff (this is location dependent obviously). A phone primarily becomes a voice / sms / and portable camera and that means a big screened smartphone is overkill.
+For those individuals that already carry two or more devices (such as a blackberry and phone) I wonder if the iPad will replace either.
+We'll see soon.
+[Update: August 2010] Ok. Having lived with the iPad for a few months there's one thing that I got right and one I got wrong.
+Right: The iPad form factor/consumer appliance in some way shape or form is here to stay over the next 5 years I bet ("I'll rarely be away from this device"). It's being used in the office and at home pretty much constantly and travel inbetween a lot. Like others, the laptop hardly comes out at home anymore, however it's still used on occasions and for now with iPad Generation1, is still needed.
+Wrong: Less use of the smartphone by using iPad more (if you're using an iPhone and an iPad). I'd underestimated Apple's iEcosystem + iDevice1 + iDevice2 combination effect. iTunes + iDevice1 is a given (for purchasing and synching apps, music, books etc) and what most users are accustomed to. Hold that thought.
+Now add in Apple's Halo effect; iDevice users are more likely to buy other iDevices.
+In this case coupling the iPad (iDevice1) with an iPhone4 (iDevice2) provides a more seamless usage across iDevices of the same apps, music and crucially user experience.
+I've found this quite useful, dipping in and out ofthe same apps on different iDevices depending on which one is to hand.
+Anyone care to comment on what life is like with an iPad + Symbian or iPad + Android smartphone device (or other smartphone)? Do they complement each other in the same way or does it not matter ?
+[Update: September 2010] seems iCulture is the word I was looking for ... Link
+Saturday, April 03, 2010
+iPad impact on Phones
+TechCrunch's Mike Arrington unofficially reviews the iPad and this line resonated with my own anticpated behaviour for the device. Link
+Posted by
+Martin
+at
+1:11 AM
+View Comments
+Links to this post
+Friday, January 16, 2009
+Power to the Players
+How to make sticky addictive web/mobile services ...
+Posted by
+Martin
+at
+4:30 AM
+0
+Links to this post
+Saturday, December 06, 2008
+Mindshare vs. Marketshare
+Nokia's announcement of their new flagship handset for the first half of 2009, the N97 (or perhaps just one of them?) got lots of buzz two weeks ago at Nokia World 2008.
+As many have commented already, the timing of the device entering the market may be a problem, as other device manufacturer's flagship devices will be refreshed or newly introduced by mid next year. This is normal as part of the device OEM roadmaps, there's always new handsets on the horizon, but a 6 month 'lead' time in today's competitive device landscape for a flagship replacement is a long time off. I wonder whether Nokia wanted to 'get in first', pre-empting Macworld, Mobile World Congress, ceBIT 2009 to recoup some lost Mindshare.
+Have Nokia really lost Mindshare this year?
+A couple of subjective pointers from the conference lead me to the belief they are now playing catchup:
+(i) Having attended previous Nokia World events this is the first time I've seen the competitor devices acknowledged and openly mentioned comparing the G1, Blackberry Storm and the iPhone to the new N97 by Anssi Vanjokki during the ketynote speech.
+(ii) Several of the Execs wandering round the event were using iPhones. 2 years ago Execs would have been touting the latest Nokia flagship handset.
+(iii) The Ovi email service (see previous post on wondering where Ovi email was) is late in coming to the market, although the upgraded Ovi Maps has potentially leapfrogged ahead of say, Google Maps (too early to say).
+The N97 would have been on the drawing board 12 months ago, if not longer. During that time whilst Nokia's Marketshare has remained stable the Mindshare drifted to Nokia's competition. The Sony Ericsson X1, the HTC Max 4G/G1, Samsung Omnia, PradaII, Apple iPhone, RIM BB Bold/Storm etc... are all vying for the top slot and have been the focus of consumer attention in mobile devices in 2008 (versus Nokia's N96 and 5800 Xpress).
+All of the above manufacturers will have new flagship devices in mid 2009 to compete. So, whether 2009 Nokia devices and the N97 can regain the top slot flagship product and get back some Mindshare remains to be seen ...
+Posted by
+Martin
+at
+12:54 PM
+View Comments
+Links to this post
+Labels: Nokia N97 2008
+Thursday, November 27, 2008
+BlackBerry Storm in a teacup
+RIM have been highly successful in the enterprise push email market. So succesful, that anything mobile email related is instantly compared to Blackberry (even POTUS doesn't want to give it up).
+However, as Apple starts to creep up its mobile market share with at least a potential new model every year and email/Exchange support, it may be enough to make RIM a casualty.
+RIM have not sat back and watched this potential market-share threat of course and we're starting to see the first consumer-focused Blackberries appear into the market, as a response.
+The one right now that's getting all the focus is the Blackberry Thunder (but more consumer Blackberries are due early next year). There's already many reviews on the web so I'll keep my own comments brief.
+In short the BB Thunder is disappointing. The high resolution display is amazingly sharp and bright and the device has good solid build quality but the major feature of the clickable screen is a novelty and rapidly becomes irritating- taking at least twice as long to do anything as with the non-touch Bold (I just could not get used to the two letters per key on the on-screen keyboard in portrait mode). The browser is ok but multi-touch iPhone users will find it sub-par - no pinch and zoom of course.
+There's nice transitions and a medium reponse time when navigating menus and traversing around the OS (except the flip into landscape mode), but the built in native applications don't cut it -the media player crashed several times when trying to play any video for example. It's nowhere near as stable as the Blackberry Bold and left me with a similar impression of the nokia N96 when it first came out - buggy and unfinished. Perhaps some of the issues will be fixed in firmware updates.
+RIM have a lot to learn when it comes to consumer-based devices it seems and it's yet-another-iPhone-clone that doesn't come close enough to provide any serious competition.
+However I'll still be using the Bold for email until that iPhone with keypboard appears.
+Posted by
+Martin
+at
+12:09 PM
+View Comments
+Links to this post
+Labels: RIM Blackberry Storm
+Wednesday, October 22, 2008
+200 million iPhone App downloads
+Apple announced they've seen 200 million downloads of applications from the Application Store in 102 days since launching it, in their F4Q08 earnings call.
+2M downloads per day across two devices(iPhone 3G / ipod Touch)... hmmm, I wonder if Handango have similar figures for the last 100 days?
+You can understand why the competition are scrambling as Apple put it, to copy this business model.
+Posted by
+Martin
+at
+6:46 AM
+View Comments
+Links to this post
+Labels: iPhone App store
+Monday, September 22, 2008
+G1 arrives
+There's loads of reviews on the web already of the G1 versus the iPhone and other phones, so I won't repeat an in-depth review here. The conclusion is ... you're going to need to try one for yourself ... whether you like the G1 will be dependent on your main mobile usage (messaging/email/texting/voice vs. data-usage/browsing, content consumption etc..).
+Personally I'm not a huge of the form factor of this first HTC Android device but can understand the appeal of a Sidekick+iPhone hybrid (including the Blackberry-like navigation ball). Lots of folk who wanted a physical QWERTY keyboard on the 2nd gen iPhone have a new choice (other full touch screen + QWERTY keyboard devices eg. Prada II are coming later in the year).
+There's no soft keyboard option on the G1 which prevents any chance of single-handed in-line text entry (eg. in the browser or messaging apps). The HVGA capacitive display screen is responsive and the webkit based browser is speedy (not quite as polished or smooth as iPhone Safari with multi-touch support).
+The Google mobile apps are very well integrated, as you'd expect... (but, what if you don't have a Google account ?)Like the iPhone 1st generation there are missing features both hardware and software based in this first implementation: no camera flash, video capture etc... but they did include copy and paste.
+A quick note on my current view of Google's impact in the mobile marketplace a year on since announcing their intentions. The G1 device launch, is a necessity from a consumer perspective to get people thinking "Google do phones" and they can run the same Google applications as on the web (so another consumer choice for mobile-web-based integration a-la Ovi, Mobile Me.. Google have a headstart here because so many normobs use their web based services).
+Google have proved they can develop and integrate a mobile OS ('Open' with constraints).
+The main question I have now, is whether /how Android will be adopted and taken forward by the OHA to be integrated and deployed across future multiple device platforms ?
+Collectively at any one time, the main handset manufacturers are working on hundreds of new devices for release globally over the next 18 months. The OS platform choice the handset manufacturers choose to deploy in these devices (and Operators influence) will be a crucial factor in Android's progress. This question also impacts the developer ecosystem uptake of the Android SDK and Marketplace distribution for free/paid applicatons. Reach is impacted by volume.
+Back to the G1....Google's choosing to launch their first Android based device on the current form-factor (rather than a Blackberry-like/Candybar or Clamshell form-factor) has reaffirmed the large, touch-screen phone device is here to stay (with or without QWERTY), implying the continued shift towards doing much more on your mobile device than voice and texting...
+Posted by
+Martin
+at
+2:08 AM
+View Comments
+Links to this post
+Labels: G1 Android
+Thursday, August 28, 2008
+The Future's Cloudy, the Future's Ovi ?
+Maybe, but Nokia have a lot more work to do yet.
+It's been a while since the last update but Nokia have launched the next upgrade to their Ovi service offering (bringing the web, desktop and mobile harmonisation one step closer).
+The new additions are synching (contacts, calendar, notes, tasks) via SyncML, a personalised dashboard with flickr and Ovi share 'widgets' and a desktop PC suite client (Ovi Suite). Multiple devices can be synched to a single Ovi account but mobile web browser access is still pretty limited with these new features (no login/dashboard view).
+This complements the existing Remote File Access/Share (from your mobile/online PC) and Ovi Share (photos and media uploading/sharing)services.
+Games, Music and Maps (no eMail?) are still to be integrated but Nokia have been listening it seems, for a single unified account login to all Nokia Ovi features with FileShare and new Synch service at least sharing the same login details.
+The fixed-browser widget approach is a good move, allowing personalisation of the dashboard assuming we see other Nokia/external widgets being made availabe soon (I would find an SMS-text backup widget very handy ...)
+However I think the whole Ovi strategy still way too fragmented for normobs - the multiple logins, multiple access points to the services (synchML, mobile web, web, active idle screen integration of Ovi Share) and the separate Share Online application, N-Gage arena on the device just cause confusion.
+I'll assume at some point Nokia will have a centralised approach for device, desktop, mobile web and web and might take a leaf out of Apple's book regards simplicity (although MobileMe has its own fair share of problems too).
+In the meantime Zyb, Dashwire, MobSynch, Funambol, SoonR, Orb and the myriad of other services that synch media+contacts+calendars from mobile-to-cloud and/or mobile-to-PC, will need to try and stay ahead of the giant as it continues centralising and improving these services further in its quest to become an internet company.
+As usual, AAS have a much more detailed review.
+Posted by
+Martin
+at
+12:29 PM
+View Comments
+Links to this post
+Labels: ovi nokia synch
+HEALING WITH DESIGN AND COMMUNICATIONS: AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACH
+The ideas presented in this essay cross many boundaries. But why should I write this paper now when we are at the very early and controversial stages of a quest to understand how we behave, think, reason and respond using physics, brain theory and vibrational therapies? The reason is that I believe this essay brings together diverse experimental data and theory that support a new educational model for designers. A model that successfully combines design and communication art with innovative healing therapies
+Not all communication arts heal, but all healing arts have root in communication. The idea that graphic design has curative powers may not be the first thing on a designer's mind, but it is a power that, if harnessed, can be among the most responsible things a designer can do. Steve Heller, in response to, Healing with Design and Communications: An Educational Approach
+INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY
+When Communication Arts and Healing Arts merge the potential for vast systems of healing and learning can occur. In the recent past, vibrational studies and therapies have focussed solely on the individual. Believably, Vibrational Medicine combined with Communication and Design techniques opens the doors for systematic healing and learning far beyond individual therapies. Through the appropriate uses of sound, light, color, pattern and symbol, it is possible to change vibrations and currents in the mind and body. To understand this theory, we must explore the nature of medical science in its current and evolutionary state and its relationship to both Newtonian and Quantum Physics. If designers, like the medical profession, will begin to incorporate the multidimensional systems of life - molecular biology, biochemistry, quantum physics as well as ancient modes of healing - with design strategies, the potential exists to extend the framework of Communications into a vast system of creativity, learning and healing.
+In the recent past,
+medicine has viewed the human body as a biomachine, a mere clockwork of
+biological gears and parts that can be tweaked and replaced. A new,
+world view emerges, however, that regards the body as a complex, energy
+system. Both Quantum Physics and Eastern Medical Practices view reality
+as a continuous flow of change. There are observable, definitive
+connections between emotions, sensations, nerve impulses, chemical
+reactions, images, sound and light. The human body is composed of
+dynamic chemical, electrical, light-based, biomagnetic, spiritual,
+subtle and magnetic energy systems that work together to create harmony
+in our bodies in relation to our environments. Therefore, energy is the
+common link between mind, body and soul.
+Accordingly, the body has a unique energetic relationship to the world, taking in, processing and emitting various forms of energy on a constant basis. Vibrating protons and electrons that make up every cell in the body form everything in life. Matter, itself, is simply congealed energy, slow moving molecules frozen in form. Thus, biochemical molecules that make up the human body are forms of vibrating energy; they emit wave patterns of varying frequencies. If everything has its own unique frequency system, then it stands to reason that the human body is a vast system of energy that resonates, expands and contracts to other frequencies emitted from other substances around it. These patterns, or scientifically measurable energy fields, that make up the body include properties of light, color, sound, heat magnetism and electromagnetism. Since energy moves in the form of wave patterns or frequencies, then, movement, thoughts, and emotions must elicit specific brainwave patterns. As such, our energy fields are already reacting to any external energy with which it comes into contact before we are even consciously aware of it, if ever. William Collinge states, Einstein showed through physics what sages have known for thousands of years: everything in our material world - animate and inanimate- is made up of energy, and everything radiates energy energy is the bridge between spirit and matter.
+From ancient practices to contemporary scientific thought, the body is viewed as a system of energy to which new vibrational approaches are being introduced regularly for increased emotional and physical health. Vibrational medicine simply provides a scientific model that suggests possible ways that health or illness might be affected via the body s energetic relationship to the world around it. The mental body, where and how the mind receives, processes and distributes information, has a correlating effect on the physical body. Psychic distress often manifests itself physically when left untreated. The fundamental rule in treating the body energetically is in treating the whole individual, taking into account experiences and environment. Therefore, every identifiable system in the body must be kept in relative balance, internally and externally, in order to promote proper health and functionality. The use of vibration- light, color, sound, and biofeedback - on the body reveals the importance of restoring normal vibratory frequencies to help achieve that balance.
+BIOFEEDBACK
+The study of Brain Wave Biofeedback can be used as the foundation for frequency theory. Defined as the science of quantifying subtle electrical information from the brain and activating a corrective frequency to normalize or stabilize brain frequencies, it is proven to enhance function and wellbeing. What Biofeedback demonstrates is that the brain emits waves and responds to different frequencies and that in altering frequencies in the brain you can alter emotion, function and behavior in very subtle ways. Research shows that the brain s electrical signals are subject to change and that people can be taught how to change them. Therefore, designers, through a concept known as bioentrainment, can utilize these vibrations to effectively regulate normal patterning on an energetic level for designing products and environments.
+According to bioentrainment, the brain responds to oscillating light, sound or magnetic field energies by becoming entrained, or in sync, with the frequency at which the energy is pulsating. Entrainment is a phenomenon of resonance in physics. It is more easily defined as the synchronization of two or more rhythmic cycles. This principle exists universally in chemistry, biology, medicine, psychology, sociology, astronomy and architecture. The classic example shows that when individual heart muscle cells are brought close together they begin pulsating in synchrony. Mozart s music has a similar effect on the cells in the body, producing a harmonious, elevated vibration that opens the mind for learning; this is regarded as the Mozart Effect. The process of reproducing the entrainment effect using audio technology was developed in the early 1970 s; with that came the process of creating audio-entraining binaural beat frequencies.
+Brainwave entrainment and binaural beats occur naturally in our environment. Via sonic entrainment, brainwaves are synchronized to achieve states of relaxation, productivity and learning. In essence, normal vibratory frequency is restored to the mind. Sonic entrainment can effect the body on an emotional level which can then correspond to a change on the cellular level. Sound can transform negative repressed emotions to a state of equilibrium that has direct and immediate effects on our physiology. Entrainment music has the potential to [1] resonate with the listener s feelings energetically, [2] transform negative into positive, and [3] promote states of liveliness or serenity. Therefore, designers, as sound coordinator s, can match appropriate brainwave frequencies to transform the moods of individuals or large groups of people.
+LIGHT
+Light therapy works in a similar way. Syntonics reveals that varying frequencies of light will effect different energies in the body. The most basic form of light, sunlight, is critical to our health on both a cellular and material level. Sunlight, containing all wavelengths of light, consists of the entire electromagnetic spectrum on which we depend to exist. Numerous studies have shown that only natural light and full-spectrum artificial light have an altering effect on the body. So as light changes in the natural environment so do the body s daily rhythmic patterns involving mood, fertility, enzymatic and hormonal stems. Studies in Syntonics demonstrate the use of different portions of the light spectrum to treat an array of mind and bodily conditions, specifically through the eyes.
+Harnessing full spectrum lighting and implementing it in all aspects of environmental and product design can only improve the way people function in the world. Artificial lighting that does not utilize full spectrum patterns can cause malillumination, whereby depriving the body of the most basic nutrient essential for continued growth and development. Studies show that when florescent lights are replaced with full spectrum lights in classrooms, ADD and hyperactivity decrease while learning, memory retention and optimism increase. Such studies demonstrate how a tiny adjustment of environmental design, such as lighting, could incur profound change in both attitude and health.
+COLOR
+Another design adjustment would include color. Color comes from light as a distinguishable frequency in the electromagnetic field. Light visible to the naked eye is known as the visible spectrum, which consists of the colors red, orange, green, blue, indigo and violet. Each color found in the visible spectrum has its own wavelength. Each color frequency produces its own energy having a specific effect on the body. The body absorbs color through the vibration it emits. Through color we receive most of the energies we need to maintain the health of mind, body and soul. The National Institute of Mental Health has done studies showing that our mental health, behavior, and general efficiency depend largely on color balance.
+Accordingly, one often uses color to describe physical, mental, emotional or spiritual states of being but can color actually alter these states? Yes. Color can excite, sedate, balance and motivate. Color preferences can reveal information about psychological states. Color/light therapists use these principles to restore cells to a level of balance and to stimulate healing processes. By learning how each color influences the mind and body, designers can effectively use color to alter energetic and physical states.
+The effective use of color in design is not a new concept. Marketing and package designers associate color with sense response. For instance, the color red is often used in fast food restaurants as it stimulates nervous system and increases appetite. The objective is knowing how to use the vibrational frequencies of colors to promote health and healing on a large-scale. Studies reveal that when disruptive students are placed in blue classrooms, their aggression subsided dramatically. Even more interesting reports show that when England changed the color of its bridges from black to blue, suicide rates decreased by 50%. These studies prove that small changes in our education as designers can be instrumental in saving lives.
+IMAGERY
+Even the imagery a designer chooses can have a powerful effect on wellness. Medical use of imagery has existed in many cultures for many centuries from ancient Egypt to Biblical times, Freud, Jung to the present day. Connections have been correlated between emotions, sensations and images determining that chemistry follows thought. Imagery representing optimism, enthusiasm and humor strengthen our healing systems. Adversely, imagery evoking pessimism and helplessness weaken them. The effects of this formula were demonstrated in an experiment using two test groups. One group was shown a film on Mother Teresa and her life s work; the other, WWII power struggles. The first group had lower stress levels and a heightened immune responsiveness. The second group showed a weakened immune response and depression. Thus when you influence the mind you influence the body. [Energy Medicine, Eden p. 248]
+CONCLUSION
+The new, world view teaches us that illness is not only attributed to toxins, germs and bacteria but also to chronic dysfunctional emotional energy patterns and unhealthy ways of relating to ourselves and the environment. If we can find ways to design better environments and systems of communications we have the opportunity to improve the quality of people s lives and the life systems of the planet. We can achieve this by better understanding integral relationships between body, mind spirit, health and illness and how energetic influences, such as color sound, motion, light and imagery, effect them. The exploration of Vibrational therapy reveals the power that elements we use in design have in altering energy frequencies and therefore states of learning and being. We live in an environment of increasing technology and geophysical forms of energy. The more compounded these levels of energy become, the more difficult it is for the body, mind and spirit to achieve an energetic equilibrium. Knowing the impact of the external environment on energy fields requires that we make more conscious efforts as to how we, as designers, are contributing vibrationally to natural environments. It further demands a greater sense of responsibility and attention to each individual as a highly sensitive and resonant antenna in relation to other individuals.
+The power to create long-lasting, positive, and meaningful change as designers is in our hands if we can only harness the energies of light, magnetism, electromagnetic fields and other environmental energies that correspond with our bodies. If, as designers, we can begin to work with the energy systems appropriately and positively we have a greater chance of restoring balance both within the body and in the environment. When we, as a Global culture, truly begin to use the knowledge of vibrational medicine to appreciate our place in the greater scheme of things, and to understand and respect the spiritual evolutions of all living beings on this fragile planet earth, we will start to heal on many different physical, social, emotional and spiritual levels. [VM, p. 406]
+References
+Gaynor, Mitchell. Sounds of Healing, Broadway Books
+Andrews, Ted. How to Heal with Color, Llewellyn Publications, July 1992
+Eden, Donna. Energy Medicine, J P Tarcher. December 1999
+Gerber, Richard, MD. Vibrational Medicine for the 21st Century HarperCollins, 2000
+Liberman, Jacob, O.D., Ph.D. Light: Medicine of the Future, Bear & Company
+Oschman, James, L. Phd. Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis Churchill Livingstone, 2000
+Robbins, Jim. A Symphony in the Brain: The Evolution of the New Brain Wave Biofeedback, Atlantic Monthly Press
+Shaw, Dr. Gordon L. Keeping Mozart in Mind, September 1999
+Scientific Journal Articles:
+Ott, JN, "Color and Light: Their Effects on Plants, Animals, and People", J. of Biosocial Research, 7(1), 1985.
+Cox, RH, Shealy, CN, Cady, RK, Liss, S, "Pain Reduction and Relaxation with Brain Wave Synchronization (Photo-Stimulation)," J. of Neurological and Orthopaedic Medicine and Surgery, 17(1):32-34, 1996
+Avery DH, "A Turning Point for Season Affective Disorder and Light Therapy Research?", Archives of General Psychiatry, 55(10):863 (1998).
+Wohlfarth, H, "The Effects of Color-Psychodynamic Environmental Modification on Disciplinary Incidences in Elementary Schools over One School Year: A Controlled Study", The International J. of Biosocial Research, 6(1):44-53, 1984
+About the Author
+Chase A. Rogers founded her design studio, Fuelfactor, as a means to express her many interests in the form of innovative design practice techniques. Academically trained as writer, artist and designer, Chase finds joy in many mediums of expression. Her designs for print, packaging and new-media are about understanding, on the deepest levels, the impact and implications of the chemistry between the brand, the visual/emotional cues of its message and ethical design.
+- We point out that current calculations of inclusive two-particle correlations in p-A p-A collisions.
+-.
+- We point out that the scenario for UV completion by "classicalization", proposed recently is in fact Wilsonian in the classical Wilsonian sense. It corresponds to the situation when a field theory has a nontrivial UV fixed point governed by a higher dimensional operator. Provided the kinetic term is a relevant operator around this point the theory will flow in the IR to the free scalar theory. Physically, "classicalization", if it can be realized, would correspond to a situation when the fluctuations of the field operator in the UV are smaller than in the IR. As a result there exists a clear tension between the "classicalization" scenario and constraints imposed by unitarity on a quantum field theory, making the existence of classicalizing unitary theories questionable.
+-.
+- We develop the formalizm for calculating semi inclusive observables at high energy in the JIMWLK/KLWMIJ approach. diffractive cross section. In particular we show that in the dipole approximation the target does not diffract beyond the valence rapidity interval, consistently with the intuition suggested by the Pomeron fan diagramms. On the other hand such diffractive processes do exist in the full JIMWLK/KLWMIJ approach, albeit suppressed by the factor 1/N_c.
+- A second workshop on small x physics, within the Small x Collaboration, was held in Lund in June 2002 with the aim of over-viewing recent theoretical progress in this area and summarizing the experimental status. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Jan Kwiecinski, who died unexpectedly on August 29, 2003.
+- We calculate the high energy behavior of quark-antiquark exchange in $\gamma^* \gamma^*$ elastic scattering by summing, to all orders, the leading double logarithmic contributions of the QCD ladder diagrams. Motivation comes from the LEP data for $\sigma_{tot}^{\gamma^* \gamma^*}$ which indicate the need for secondary reggeon exchange. We show that, for large photon virtualities, this exchange is calculable in pQCD. This applies, in particular, to parts of the LEP kinematic region.
+- DIS.
+- We pose the question: how far can we push the QCD dipole model and the idea of QCD saturation to the kinematical regions traditionally associated with soft nonperturbative physics? The answer is that it works sufficiently well allowing a smooth transition from hard (BFKL) pomeron to the soft one.
+- We apply our solution of the nonlinear evolution equation to the case of $J/\psi$ photo and DIS production on nucleons and nuclei targets. The uncertainty in the $J/\psi$ wave function normalization due to Fermi motion is treated as a free parameter. We obtain good reproduction of the HERA experimental data on a proton target. Calculations of $J/\psi$ mesons coherent production on nuclei targets are presented and discussed. Our analysis supports the conclusions reached in our previous studies, stressing the importance of nonlinear evolution in the kinematical domain of high-density QCD.
+- We attempt to describe soft hadron interactions in the framework of saturation models, one based upon the Balitsky-Kovchegov non-linear equation and another one due to Golec-Biernat and W\"{u}sthoff. For $pp$, $Kp$, and $\pi p$ scattering the relevant hadronic wave functions are formulated, and total, elastic cross-sections, and the forward elastic slope are calculated and compared to experimental data. The saturation mechanism leads to reasonable reproduction of the data for the quantities analyzed, except for the forward elastic slope, where the predicted increase with energy is too moderate.
+- The process of single diffractive dissociation off nuclei is considered on a basis of solutions to the nonlinear evolution equation. The relevant saturation scales $Q_{s A}^D(x,x_0)$ are determined and their dependences on Bjorken $x$, atomic number $A$, and minimal rapidity gap $Y_0\equiv \ln 1/x_0$ are investigated. The solutions are shown to posses the geometrical scaling in a broad kinematic region for $x$ well below $x_0$. A detailed theoretical discussion of saturation scale and scaling is presented. The ratio $\sigma^{diff}/\sigma^{tot}$ is computed for several nuclei. We predict that at $x\simeq 10^{-4}$ this ratio is of the order 25% which is much larger to the one of proton. This result indicates a possibility to observe a very strong nuclear shadowing.
+- A new approach to global QCD analysis is developed. The main ingredients are two QCD-based evolution equations. The first one is the Balitsky-Kovchegov nonlinear equation, which sums higher twists while preserving unitarity. The second equation is linear and it is responsible for the correct short distance behavior of the theory, namely it includes the DGLAP kernel. Our approach allows extrapolation of the parton distributions to very high energies available at the LHC as well as very low photon virtualities, $Q^2\ll 1 {\rm GeV^2}$. All existing low $x$ data on the $F_2$ structure function is reproduced using one fitting parameter. The resulting $\chi^2/df=1$. Analyzing the parameter $\lambda\equiv \partial\ln F_2/\partial(\ln 1/x)$ at very low $x$ and $Q^2$ well below $1 {\rm GeV^2}$ we find $\lambda \simeq 0.08 - 0.1$. A result which agrees with the "soft pomeron" intercept without involving soft physics.
+- We discuss the possibility that mass effects, beyond phase space, may have substantial influence on the direct determination of $V_{tq}$ in decays of top quarks. In principle, our results are valid both for singly produced top and for $t {\bar t}$ pair production. The mass effect is practically irrelevant for the extraction of $V_{tb}$ from Tevatron data, but it may have implications for higher energy multi-jet top decay.
+- The ratio of the diffractive production to the total cross section in DIS is computed as a function of the produced mass. The analysis is based on the solution to the non-linear evolution equation for the diffraction dissociation in DIS. The obtained ratios almost do not depend on the central mass energy in agreement with the HERA experimental data. This independence is argued to be a consequence of the scaling phenomena displayed by the cross sections. As a weakness point a significant discrepancy between the data and the obtained results is found in the absolute values of the ratios. Several explanatory reasons are discussed.
+- This paper presents the first numerical solution to the non-linear evolution equation for diffractive dissociation processes in deep inelastic scattering. It is shown that the solution depends on one scaling variable $\tau = Q^2/Q^{D 2}_s(x,x_0)$, where $Q^D_s(x,x_0)$ is the saturation scale for the diffraction processes. The dependence of the saturation scale $Q^D_s(x,x_0)$ on both $x$ and $x_0$ is investigated, ($Y_0 = \ln(1/x_0)$ is a minimal rapidity gap for the diffraction process). The $x$ - dependence of $Q^D_s$ turns out to be the same as of the saturation scale in the total inclusive DIS cross section. In our calculations $Q^D_s(x,x_0)$ reveals only mild dependence on $x_0$. The scaling is shown to hold for $x \ll x_0$ but is violated at $ x \sim x_0$.
+- The numerical solutions of the non-linear evolution equation are shown to display the ``geometric'' scaling recently discovered in the experimental data. The phenomena hold both for proton and nucleus targets for all $x$ below $10^{-2}$ and $0.25 {\rm GeV^{2}}\le Q^2 \le 2.5\times10^3 {\rm GeV^{2}}$. The scaling is practically exact (few percent error) in the saturation region. In addition, an approximate scaling is found in the validity domain of the linear evolution where it holds with about 10% accuracy. Basing on the scaling phenomena we determine the saturation scale $Q_s(x)$ and study both its $x$-dependence and the atomic number dependence for the nuclei.
+- We suggest a new procedure for extrapolating the parton distributions from HERA to much higher energies. The procedure suggested consists of two steps. First, we solve the non-linear evolution equation. Second, we introduce a correcting function for which we write a DGLAP-type linear evolution equation. The nonlinear equation is solved numerically and estimates for the saturation scale, as well as for the gluon density at THERA and LHC energies are made.
+- We present the numerical solution of the non-linear evolution equation for DIS on nuclei for $x = 10^{-2} \div 10^{-7}$. We demonstrate that the solution to the non-linear evolution equation is quite different from the Glauber - Mueller formula which was used as the initial condition for the equation. We illustrate the energy profit for performing DIS experiments on nuclei. However, it turns out that the gain is quite modest: $x_{Au} \simeq 5 x_{\rm proton} $ for the same parton density. We find that the saturation scale $Q^2_s \propto A^{{1/3}}$. For gold the saturation scale $Q_{s,Au} \simeq 1.5 GeV$ at $x= 10^{-3}$. Such a large value leads to considerable contribution of the high density QCD phase to RHIC data and reveals itself in essential damping for both $xG_A$ and $F_{2A}$.
+- We suggest a new procedure for extrapolating the parton distributions from HERA energies to higher energies at THERA and LHC. The procedure suggested consists of two steps: first, we solve the non-linear evolution equation which includes the higher twists contributions, however this equation is deficient due to the low ($log(1/x)$) accuracy of our calculations. Second, we introduce a correcting function for which we write a DGLAP type linear evolution equation. We show that this correcting function is small in the whole kinematic region and decreases at low $x$. The nonlinear evolution equation is solved numerically and first estimates for the saturation scale, as well as for the value of the gluon density at THERA and LHC energies are made. We show that non-linear effects lead to damping of the gluon density by a factor of $2 \div 3$ at $x \approx 10^{-7}$.
+- These notes are a summary of our efforts to answer the question in the title. Our answer is in the affirmative as: (i) HERA data indicate a large value of the gluon structure function; (ii) no contradictions with the asymptotic predictions of high density QCD have been observed; and (iii) the numerical estimates of our model give a natural description of the size of deviation from the routine DGLAP explanation. We discuss the alternative approaches and possible new experiments.
+- We gereralize the Kochegov-McLerran formula for the ratio $\sigma^{DD}/\sigma_{tot}$ in perturbative QCD, using Mueller-Glauber approach for shadowing corrections and AGK cutting rules. We investigate several phenomenological approaches with the goal of obtaining results consisent with experimental data. We fail to reproduce the observed weak energy dependence of the ratio, and conclude that the soft nonperturbative contribution present at short distances must also be included.
+- We calculate, in the Glauber-Mueller approach, the ratio of the diffractive dissociation cross section to the total cross section on nuclei. We observe that shadowing corrections (SC) are significant, in the calculated $\ddt$ ratio but they do not lead to a smooth energy dependence of the ratio for a proton target as was observed at HERA.
+Getting Started in model Engineering.
+Getting started in model engineering is a bit daunting and can be a significant investment as there are specialist tools available for every job. However the reality is that very fine models can be produced with some hand tools and a few key pieces of machinery. There are even models build by people who only have hand tools, but because we are talking about engineering here I will assume that there is some interest in owning and using machine tools. This getting stared guide should hopefully encourage the reader to have a go and also serve as a guide to which tools are needed and an order for them to be purchased as funds allow.
+Lathe in the workshop
+Hand tools.
+Amongst the box of hand tools a model engineer will need a centre punch and small hammer, a digital caliper, scriber, dividers and an engineer's square for marking out. Also a selection of files, a hacksaw, a vice, some small screwdrivers, and some clamps for cutting and shaping. Many households already own some of these tools, but in any case, investment here is minimal and many tools can be purchased over time as needed.
+Additionally some taps and dies will be needed to cut threads. These are probably best bought as needed by the projects being worked on, as complete sets can be expensive. If you can standardise on a thread type such as metric or BA or ME, then this will reduce the number of threading tools needed and the quantity of screws held in stock.
+The Lathe.
+The lathe is the centre piece of the workshop and even the most basic device will enable the operator to turn pistons, bore cylinders and true up flywheels. Access to a lathe can greatly improve the finish of a model and make the manufacture of accurate parts much easier. Given some additional accessories the lathe can also be used for drilling, facing, milling and sawing, making it one of the most versatile of machine tools.
+A Myford ML7
+Lathe Choice
+The greatest influence on which lathe to purchase is to ask what it is to be used for. A typical mid-range, hobby lathe will have a centre height of 3.5". This would be suitable for building a locomotive of up to 5" gauge. Larger lathes can obviously machine larger parts but they are less sensitive, so if you are looking to make clocks or watches then a smaller, lighter lathe would be more suitable. When reviewing lathe specifications also consider the height over the cross slide which will inevitably be much less than the centre height. If the lathe has a 'gap bed' then it will be able to produce larger diameter parts of a limited length. Overall Length of the lathe bed is less important, as 90% of turning is done within 6" of the headstock, so only consider a long bed machine if you are sure you need it. The cross slide on the other hand can't be too long; a longer cross-slide can hold more accessories, such as a rear tool post or a milling table.
+Old English lathes can be a good buy; they are often well made and can last a long time. However they may be imperial unless converted and may have suffered wear or a hard life. New imported lathes can offer good value for money and there is a nice selection of sizes to choose from. These are invariably metric but are often only able to turn small parts because of the diminutive motor specifications. I have tried a small lathe of this type and the finish and accuracy or parts produced was perfectly adequate. However the controls suffered from excessive backlash and it was limited to turning small parts (<50mm diameter) because there was no reduction gear and no gap in the bed. Nonetheless a lathe of this type would be better than no lathe at all.
+A note about Spindle speeds. These typically don't need to be very high. High speeds are needed in woodwork but when cutting metal, having a rigid machine and a sharp tool is much more important. In appropriate high speeds can generate heat and just cause tool wear. A lathe with a speed range limited to 50rpm -> 500rpm is more useful in metalwork than one which can run at 2500rpm but doesn't go slower than 500rpm.
+A few lathe features that are worth considering are........
+A back gear. This is a reduction gear which can enable a lathe to run much slower and turn much larger parts. If the lathe has a gap in the bed then a back gear is needed to make full use of it. A variable speed in not the same as it doesn't provide the increase in torque. The low back gear speeds are also needed for safe screw cutting.
+A gap bed as already mentioned will allow the lathe to turn larger diameter parts of a limited thickness. The majority of items turned on a lathe tend to be long and thin, such as crankshafts, spindles and columns; or short with a large diameter such as flywheels, driving wheels, pulleys and cover plates. A lathe with a gap in the bed matches this spread of parts perfectly and so it is a desirable feature to look for, especially when combined with a back gear.
+Large through spindle hole. The headstock spindle will typically be hollow to allow long thin bar to be worked on without cutting to length to fit it in the chuck. The larger this hole is, the less you will need to pre-cut bar stock before turning and consequently less material will be wasted.
+Chucks.
+Both a 3-jaw self-centering and 4-jaw independent chuck will give the greatest flexibility on the lathe. It is also worth noting that the 4-jaw can do everything a 3-jaw can do and more - it is just that there is more set up time involved. However for getting started and provided you are not using castings, a 3-jaw chuck is a nice starting point. It will clamp hex and round bar roughly central to the lathe axis and should enable basic machining and modeling to commence without lengthy set up. However it is worth ensuring that the 3-jaw comes with both internal and external jaws for added flexibility. When upgrading to a 4-jaw independent, a DTI will also be needed to enable parts to be centred accurately. 4-jaw chucks are useful for holding irregular shapes and turning castings. The 4-jaw can also be used to produce square and rectangular parts by rotating the stock in the chuck and facing each exposed face.
+Tailstock chuck. This is needed to drill holes along the centerline of the lathe. A chuck of 1/2" capacity is adequate for most jobs, anything requiring a larger hole can often be bored. The larger chucks also have a disadvantage that they cannot grip very small drills. The Tailstock chuck can be used to hold threading taps, when the machine is turned by hand.
+Lockable cross slide and saddle. Locking the slides gives maximum rigidity when boring between centres or using the vertical slide (see below). Although useful when they are needed, they are not often required and can usually be added to a lathe which a bit of ingenuity.
+Vertical Slide
+Vertical slide. The vertical slide enables small milling operations to be carried out on the lathe. It is a very useful accessory, although facing operations (if not too big) can be clamped in the 4-jaw and machined that way. However, the vertical slide can also do co-ordinate drilling using the handle dials, and cut slots and steps which is not possible with the chuck.
+Travelling and fixed steadies. Travelling steadies are attached to the saddle and support the work close to the tool as the tool moves along. These are useful for turning long thin pieces and reduce the deflection of the work piece due to the force from the tool. Fixed steadies attach to the lathe bed and can be used to support a work piece with a large overhang in the chuck. As the steady doesn't move along with the tool, the outside length of the work piece cannot be machined, but if you are trying to square off a piece of tube to make a boiler for example, the fixed steady is perfect for supporting the outer end near the cutter.
+Travelling Steady
+Fixed Steady
+Pillar drill.
+A small outlay compared with the lathe should allow ownership of a pillar drill. The options are floor mounted, or bench mounted and there are machines with more or less spindle speeds. Again it is a case of selecting a machine which best suites your proposed projects in terms of capacity.
+My pillar drill is bench mounted with a 1/2" chuck. This is good for most jobs and, for the small outlay, is worth every penny. My drill has a keyless chuck which is nice and convenient although it needs to be firmly tightened on the larger drills to stop them slipping. A range of speeds is needed to use both small drills and larger tools such as hole cutters, but 3 to 5 speeds should be adequate. My drill is used on a middle speed for 80% of the time. As with the lathe, a drill with some low speeds but no high speeds is more useful in metal work than a drill with really high speeds, but no lower speeds. A depth stop feature is another useful thing to look for on a drill press, as this can enable matching hole depths and countersinks to be machined. You will also need to add in the cost of a drill set to get started. Go for HSS drills where possible and they cut much better and last much longer than high carbon drills.
+A lathe with some accessories and a pillar drill should enable a generous number of models to be produced of various types. More specialised tools can be picked up as needed or manufactured on the equipment you already have.
+Bench Grinder.
+A bench grinder is a useful machine for making punches and grinding your own lathe tools. They are not a large investment and the usage will depend on what sort of projects you work on, but they are also useful for sharpening chisels and lawn mower blades if nothing else. If you are grinding lathe tools then an adjustable rest makes accurate angles much easier.
+Typical Bench Grinder
+Somewhere to work.
+Not to be overlooked is the cost required in gaining somewhere to use the machine tools. However once again, high investment is not necessarily needed - you don't need a fully heated double garage to get started in model engineering.
+A dedicated building to work in is nice if you have the room and money. A wooden shed is a good start and of course if can't be too big, but even a standard 6ft x 4ft shed will accommodate a bench and small lathe. If using a wooden building, consider adding some background heating to stop tools from rusting and try and add some insulation.
+A small concrete Workshop
+Windows are not needed as they are not secure and use up valuable wall storage space. You will need some lighting and power sockets though.
+If a dedicated building is not possible, then a corner of a room, or a couple of draws in the kitchen may be all that is needed. I started with a lathe in the kitchen which was stored under the worktop and then lifted out when it was needed. Not very convenient, but better than nothing.
+American machinist and author Rudy Kouhoupt produced some plans for a workshop contained within a writing desk. These sort of ideas many not be what was in mind when you set about model engineering as a hobby, but they do demonstrate that the classic workshop in the garden is not the only solution available. Many of the small lathes for home use run incredibly quietly and are not too intrusive when used in the house. Obviously the grinder is less quiet and dusty too, so this should be kept in the garage or outside in the porch.
+Milling Machine
+If after this initial investment you should be well equip to make lots of interesting models and tools, but should further machine tools be required then next on the list of things to have, would probably be the Milling machine.
+Unlike the lathe which, with suitable gap and back gear, can handle work outside of its normal range, the milling machine is almost the opposite and can only produce work well within its capacity. Milling machines although often very heavy with a large table area, can often have a fairly short range of movement.
+The other reason milling machines have to be so substantial is that they use a multi-point cutting tool rather than the single point of the lathe; this means the power of the machine is divided into the number of edges cutting at any one time.
+Dore-Westbury MKII Milling Machine
+The cut on each tooth is intermittent which is a source of vibration and there is also a certain amount of tool rubbing involved which further loads the machine frame. All of this means that milling machines have to be quite large to be rigid enough to avoid vibration and produce a good surface finish.
+A vertical milling machine is more flexible than a horizontal and is more suited to the work required in model engineering. Some machines have interchangeable heads and can do both vertical and horizontal operations and this gives the best of both.
+Vertical machines can be used for co-ordinate drilling and can be combined with a rotary table to cut curved slots. If a dividing head is available, then gear cutting also becomes possible, although both the cutters for this and the dividing assembly can be expensive. The greatest advantage over milling in the lathe is simply that the capacity is much greater and this means you can mill things like locomotive frames, and long connecting rods. If a mill is purchased then you will almost certainly need a clamp set and a milling vice of a reasonable size to get the most from it. A wobbler is also useful for finding datums.
+When looking at milling machines pay close attention to the table travel and also the clearance available in the Z-axis. As already mentioned a large machine can be quite limited and these numbers define the working area more accurately. Rotary tables and large vices take up a lot of the Z-axis so this must be factored in as well.
+In summary Milling machines are not needed to get started in model engineering. They are very useful and if you are able to include one in your workshop then you won't regret it, but it is certainly not essential to get started.
+Hopefully this page has given the inspiration to have a go at model engineering and has provided some tips on machines and tools needed.
+Once you have a lathe, these pages give some techniques for using it.
+Good Luck !
+After School Redux, Reno, Nevada, 2009 by David Leland Hyde. "Hey, wait a minute: was that image Photoshopped?"
+Whether you love or hate Photoshop, it is transforming photography and how photography is perceived. Many of you reading this may be more experienced with Photoshop than I am, but you might gain insight from the Photoshop masters who have helped me in the digital interpretation of my father pioneer landscape photographer Philip Hyde’s photographs, as well as the journey I have been on in the process.
+“Most of Ansel Adams’ iconic images required greater printing skills than most photographers possess,” John Sexton said in the newly released book, Ansel Adams in the National Parks
+. (Be sure to catch the upcoming Landscape Photography Blogger review of this excellent new book about arguably the best black and white printer of the 20th Century.) John Sexton is a master black and white darkroom printer and was Ansel Adams’ photographic assistant in the 1970s. Landscape photographer Carr Clifton and other acknowledged Photoshop masters such as Terrance Reimer of West Coast Imaging, Kim Reed of Reed Photo Imaging, David Staley, Jr. of Outdoor Plus Digital Photo Lab and Ed Cooper, who was also a pioneer mountaineer and large format photographer and now works mainly on restoring his own color shifted early Kodak large format film, these Photoshop experts have all helped me work on Dad’s photographs. Future blog posts will feature some of them. These five gentlemen have a combined Photoshop experience of over 60 years. Even so, matching the printing of my father’s black and white silver gelatin, color dye transfer or color Cibachrome and Ilfochrome prints, has been a challenge for even these very best in the business.
+Fortunately Carr Clifton was a friend and neighbor of Dad’s for over 35 years and a photographic protege as well. With the color prints that Carr Clifton has made, we have improved on a number of Dad’s prints, a large number are essentially nearly as good or equal and a small number of Dad’s prints just can’t be matched without whole days of time invested tinkering in Photoshop. Typically in our process in the last two years, after Carr Clifton finished his master work on Dad’s images, I took the finished prints and put them in front of some of the top gallerists in the world representing landscape photography and Dad’s professional landscape photographer friends. Then I often returned to Carr Clifton for more tweaking. However, from now on I need to do more and more of the Photoshop work myself rather than outsourcing it. I also intend to do all Photoshop work on my own photographs. This puts pressure on me to learn 10 years worth of skills in a year or two or less. I have to become one of the best Photoshop masters ever in crash course fashion, to have what it takes to work on Dad’s photographs. In the midst of fulfilling my many other obligations, over the last year I have been looking around and learning, gearing up for an inevitable transition to me doing most of my Photoshop work. I will share here some of the resources I have found that I like. If I forget any resources that I ought to have included, please chime in and tell me about those that have helped you.
+Carr Clifton himself recommends Lynda.com because he says it teaches all levels of Photoshop skills, even the most advanced fixes to difficult problems. Lynda.com also sells a video called, “Photoshop CS5: Landscape Photography.” After meeting Bob and Betty Reed of Reed Photo Imaging in Denver, who print for John Fielder and David Muench, and meeting their son Kim Reed, the technical backbone of the business and a Photoshop genius, I bought Kim Reed’s Photoshop course called, Inside The Master’s Circle Training: Adobe Photoshop Edition. Kim Reed and John Harris, the course’s instructors, according to the DVD’s back matter, “have been retouching images for renowned fine artists and Fortune 500 companies since the early pioneering days of digital imaging.” I have only started the course and had a few short lessons from Kim himself, but from what I have seen so far the presentation is easy to follow and covers A to Z everything photographers need to master. (See a future blog post for a specific review of this DVD set.)
+At the end of 2008, I first started learning to use Photoshop by purchasing Elements and attending a three evening basic class through the Boulder Valley School District’s Life Long Learning For Adults program. The teacher recommended the Classroom In A Book series for learning Photoshop. I also bought Teach Yourself Visually: Restoration and Retouching with Photoshop Elements 2. In time I graduated to Photoshop proper and now have a large list of e-books that my computer guy downloaded for me, but I have not yet had a chance to read. I also have several printed books on Photoshop Lightroom 2.
+Speaking of Lightroom, recently I was browsing around on blogs and ran across Rob Sheppard’s new blog called Nature and Photography. I remember him as the former Editor and now Editor At Large of Outdoor Photographer who had published articles about Dad numerous times and without hesitation paid Dad’s rather high minimum licensing fee for using Dad’s photographs. Ah, how times have changed, and Rob Sheppard has too. He is producing a range of interesting new books and materials as he freelances and photographs. In one blog post he discussed the use of Photoshop 9 with Lightroom. What he had to say is surprising. Here’s a taste:
+Adobe just announced Photoshop Elements 9 last week,…
+That is a strong claim and well-substantiated by the rest of his informative post. Also in the Lightroom vein, Mark Graf on his Notes From The Woods blog, posts a link to a site called Lightroom Killer Tips as well as an extensive resource called Photoshop News. Robert Rodriguez, Jr. on his Beyond The Lens Blog, posts great videos on various Photoshop methods and other topics. Here’s one called, “Controlling Exposure and Blending in Photoshop.” Jim M. Goldstein keeps us informed with dozens and dozens of posts on Photoshop, it’s uses, techniques, and darker side. Master landscape photographer Lewis Kemper teaches Photoshop classes through several organizations and offers a superb Photoshop Training DVD set. For more on Lewis Kemper and his expertise see the blog post, “Monday Blog Blog: Lewis Kemper.”
+Guy Tal’s Web Journal On Landscape and Images, often holds forth more on the philosophy of digital print making and landscape art, than on specific methods or strategies, though he covers those too. He is a crusader on behalf of the good that can be done with Photoshop and its possibilities versus old printing and developing technologies that a nostalgic minority work to hold over from the film era. Michael E. Gordon wrote an excellent review of Guy Tal’s new e-book, “Creative Landscape Photography,” that shares more on Guy Tal’s approach. Stay tuned for the soon upcoming Landscape Photography Blogger review of “Creative Landscape Photography” as well.
+One of the finest teachers I have seen yet of digital landscape photography is Michael Frye. His popular and entertaining blog posts called the Photo Critique Series offer some of the best advice available today on how to whip your photographs into shape. They also encourage a lively discussion that is the most energizing and interesting aspect of all, particularly with Michael’s experienced moderation. Here’s one recent post in the series and another here to give you a sense of how it goes.
+If you choose to go beyond landscape photography there are dozens, perhaps hundreds of resources out there. I will share one top quality one here: Chromasia. Anyone who wants to be impressed by a professional, high-traffic photoblog, go see this expression of the new era in which we now live. You may not even like what David J. Nightingale can do to photographs, but you will know you are seeing something that not many can do, though he does offer a full range of tutorials and coaching, so look into that too if you like too.
+If I know you or I don’t know you and you provide a significant or even minor amount of Photoshop teaching, tools or some form of skill development, please don’t take it personally that I did not include you here in this post as I am typing into the wee hours and going bleary-eyed. Please do take two minutes to add a link and short, tastefully helpful blurb about your offering in the comments below.
+Welcome to the never ending learning cycle of Photoshop. I’ve been at it since version 1.5 and still haven’t scratched the surface. Deke McClellands series on Lynda.com are hard to beat. Also look for tutorials by Russel Brown, he is part of the Adobe team. The “Ultimate Workshop” by Martin Evening and Jeff Schewe is excellent. There are many others to learn from, Katrin Eismann, Julieane Kost, Dan Margullis, George Dewolfe….some much to learn, so little time.
+So many photographers complain of the time they have to spend with Photoshop, but to me it is the equivalent of the time spent in the darkroom. It’s where the “magic” happens. It’s one part that I really love about my work.
+Hi Greg, thanks a lot for those additions to the resources available here. I realize it is naive of me to think I can learn 10 years worth of knowledge in a few, but I seem to continually get myself in these situations, especially in photography, where I need to play at an all-pro level when I have just started pee wees. Your input is appreciated here by me and I’m sure many others. I feel you are right about Photoshop versus the darkroom. When you compare the two, Photoshop wins hands down. It is drier, you can sit in a plush desk chair in regular daylight or whatever light you like, and most of all you don’t have to keep buying chemicals, supporting the chemical industry, sniffing chemicals, getting a permit for chemicals, and pouring chemicals down the drain and into the environment and our precious fresh water ecosystems. The chemicals used in the various pre-Photoshop processes weighed heavily on my father’s mind. Any landscape photographer who also cares about the environment would be wise to at least consider the chemical impact of his developing and printing.
+Thank you David for including me in such great company! All of the photographers and sites mentioned here have been a tremendous resource for me in my own career, and I encourage all readers to spend some time on their respective websites absorbing all the great information. Again, a wonderful example of how technology can provide resources that were difficult to find, if not completely unavailable a short time ago.
+Great post again David –
+If I may, I’d like to add my recent post on how I created my new image “Winter’s Embrace”. The post details my thoughts in the field as well as in post production, using both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. I’ve been using Photoshop for over 11 years now, and was privileged to learn from a great portrait photographer. I took his portrait skills in PS and have customized them (and added many of my own skill sets) to my landscape and wildlife photography work. I also was a beta-tester for the original Lightroom, and have used the program extensively since it was formally introduced. I am looking forward to doing more “Making Of” posts in the future, since many photographers really enjoy that aspect.
+Thank you Robert, for running such a high quality blog and for your participation here. It is a good confirmation to hear that you developed your expertise through many of the channels I mentioned.
+Hi Dave, thanks for visiting and for putting your information up for everyone. It is more than welcome. I almost mentioned you in this article anyway because of your good review of Guy Tal’s new book, “Creative Landscape Photography,” but I didn’t want to overrun people with too many reviews as I plan review his e-book myself very soon. We will remember you in relation to Lightroom and Photoshop and look for your upcoming posts.
+Looks like some good resources David. I don’t use Photoshop, but I’m gonna mark them for future reference in case I ever decide to do so. I probably will spring for it someday.
+As far as whether that image was photoshopped or not, well, it’s hard to tell. You may have made some subtle tweaks… 😉
+Hi PJ, I appreciate your input. Many people like to work in camera raw, but I am finding more and more that it is only half of the process of photography, just as Ansel Adams said about the score and the performance. You can’t really have the best concert you are capable of without an orchestra. Even Dave Matthews has a band. Buying or otherwise obtaining a copy of Photoshop is much less expensive and time intensive than building and outfitting a darkroom.
+David, this is a great list of resources for photographers to learn more about the digital darkroom. I always knew that Adams’ staff worked very hard in the darkroom on his prints, but reading Sexton’s comments really drives it home.
+I think for people to think that Photoshop today is “cheating” isn’t entirely a good blanket statement, considering how much work went into the proper printing of an image decades ago. That said, even with Photoshop, Lightroom, etc, photographers still need to get it “right” in the camera today.
+If I can be so bold, I’ll add to your list a few good tutorials and reads…
+Tony Kuyper’s work in the southwest US is phenomenal, and he has a very comprehensive set of tutorials on his website:
+Alister Benn, a Scottish photographer, who lived in Tibet and China for a while, now living in Spain has some excellent articles, and some great imagery:
+Cheers,
+Greg
+Hi Greg, I am grateful for your suggested outlets for good Photoshop instruction. People who over-saturate the color in their images give Photoshop a bad name. As in any change in technology, many people reject it, most often those in the establishment who have something to lose by the transition. Some photography galleries and many collectors put down Photoshop work and digital prints because they are afraid that the source that has given them income and fed their collecting habit will dry up, and they are right. It will. Some day the galleries will run out of vintage black and white prints and will have to move on to digital color, gasp. There is not a large enough percentage of photographers continuing to pursue old fashioned black and white photographing and printing to supply the whole fine art photography industry.
+I actually use GIMP instead of Photoshop, which does most of the basic things that Photoshop does. It just doesn’t have all the bells and whistles as far as I know. Besides — it’s free.
+Hi PJ, thanks for responding. I was hoping you would say more about how you do work with your photographs. You have such excellent images. This GIMP is an important resource to mention as well. I have always felt that Photoshop is overpriced, not for what it is or the value you get or anything, but to be in range of regular folks. They do say you can now do most anything necessary with Elements, especially the new Elements 3 (See Rob Sheppard’s post on this above). Nonetheless, here’s the website for GIMP to save you readers out there the Search Engine typing: you can read all about it there.
+Wow, this post is going to get me going with all sorts of new learning! Thanks for the mention of my blog David! The methods of learning about photography have certainly changed so dramatically over just the past 10 years.
+I appreciate your input Mark. I had also meant to add to my mention of your blog all your wonderful descriptions of how you work with your images, but then I would have to post a link to each of your blog posts. I have learned much from reading your blog. You and Guy Tal seem to provide excellent information on plug-ins for Photoshop too, which I had never heard of before I saw your blog. One that I heard about from you is Topaz Adjust: . I never would have had any respect for such a contraption before I read your blog and saw your superb and tastefully rendered nature and landscape photography.
+David, you’ve got to put in a heavy amount of time learning photoshop and it adds to the amount of time you’ll spends on images. Some will lots of time some will not but the more you know the further you can catch and meet your ideas. Good luck with your quest.
+I have paid attention to Carr’s newer work and in some of it you can tell he’s using some of the newer techniques or some kind of shadow recovery and detail enhancing from either photomatix, Topaz or other HDR program. Those programs can come in pretty handy and makes things a lot easier to work with. I really do like his other work with the stark contrast and rich colors that is evident in Muench’s, Fielder’s and Frye’s photographs. I was instantly curious how they photoshopped their work from the moment I saw it.
+Even with the use of photoshop, I have noticed that there is a difference in digital capture and velvia capture when shooting a snowy winter scene at dusk or dawn when there are puple tones in the sky and snow the two are very different even after the use of photoshop. Which shows photoshop isn’t always the answer.
+Of course we absolutely need it as nature photographers. A few years ago I saw on the internet some nature photographs that looked highly manipulated from an artist I won’t mention the artist be he said the photographs were altered in photoshop but only took about 3 minutes of photoshop work so I thought I would learn some of this magic from someone that was highly published and attended a Marc Muench workshop. Marc mentioned he spent at least a half hour or an hour average on an image. I learned there was no quick trick and the mid tones and light sculpting were not like instant oatmeal. As time goes by you learn new techniques all the time and this can shorten how things are done. I really respected his honesty for this and highly recommend his new book “Exploring North American Landscapes: Visions and Lessons in Digital Photography”. It will hits stores any day now but you can get it at amazon.
+Hi Steve, thank you for this generous and helpful comment. It puts many things in perspective. The challenge with working with Carr Clifton is that first of all I can’t afford him at his $80/hour rate and he can’t afford to keep doing a lot of extra work for me for nothing. He travels to photograph for two to three months at a time and then returns with 10,000-20,000 new images of his own to process. Many of my father’s photographs would be challenging enough, if they were in perfect condition. Some of them have been extremely difficult to get to look the way he printed them. Dad was a grand master black and white and dye transfer printer and a good to very good Cibachrome printer. In many cases we have been attempting to restore photographs that were made with early Kodak Ektachrome E-3 and E-6 film. These have all color shifted significantly and in many cases unevenly across the image. There are blotches and splotches and all sorts of anomalies that run through the images unevenly. Carr Clifton spent something like 16 hours or more on “Base of Havasu Falls” and charged me for 10 hours. As you can imagine that throws my entire business model out of whack, especially when there are lots of images that take many hours of extra work.
+Before the digital era, Carr Clifton made 10 duplicate transparencies of each of his photographs that he sent out regularly. My father came to making duplicates late in his career through Carr Clifton. For many years he sent out his original transparencies to publishers and lost a good number of them as a result. Also, many of his more published images are beaten to heck. “Mt. Denali, Reflection Pond” was chock full of pock marks, miniature scratches, and all sorts of damage and so were many others. Some transparencies came back from publishers with fingerprints or who knows what on them. The drum scanning process takes out a lot of small scratches and damage, but certainly many of the images still remain full of damage after scanning. So an extra hour or two is necessary just for cleanup on some of the more published photographs. If I could learn just to do this part of the process I would save thousands and thousands of dollars. I have exhausted my resources and invested a great deal in preparing images for printing and printing test prints. Take a look at the Philip Hyde Photography website to see how many images are available as prints. There are over 140 images that are in print production now. Figure $50-$100/drum scan, plus hard drive storage, plus $100-$300 minimum per image to retouch and prepare for printing, plus hundreds of dollars worth of 8X10 and 11X14 test prints, and you begin to see that it could take until 2099 to get the business into the black. Besides every time you go from 11X14 to 16X20 you notice new issues that need to be fixed and sometimes you can’t even use the 16X20 print you made because the galleries I deal with want only the best prints. Same thing goes each time you step up in size again, from 16X20 to 20X24, from 20X24 to 24X30 and so on. Because the collectors are used to buying vintage prints, they literally pull out a magnifying glass and look at each print before they buy it. They are particularly skeptical of digital prints. The market for digital prints is growing, but usually serious collectors would rather pay top dollar for Dad’s original prints, rather than spend much less on archival digital prints. I have invested tens of thousands of dollars in a printing system that I’m sure will pay off in time. The archival digital prints sure look good on the website but their value in the marketplace is still being established.
+From age 27 to 37, while earning a living in sales, I developed my skills and publishing credits as a writer. Near the end of that time I had just begun to get articles into better paying publications on a regular basis. At that point I moved across the country to New England and had to work in sales full-time to get out of the hole that I got into by pursuing writing a bit too much too soon. My father had lost his eyesight and two years later my entire life changed again when my mother passed on leaving my father alone without any good help. I became my father’s full-time caregiver. Now I am just digging out of the mess caused by my father’s loss of eyesight and all that went with it. I am gradually getting my life back in order and am just gearing up again to start writing seriously for good publications again.
+Now the question is, do I stop and invest loads of time to learn Photoshop so that I can become a master of a process that has yet to have a sure, established value? Or, do I pursue my writing that I have already invested the 12 plus years in to become a pro? What would you do? As usual, thinking I am superman, I will try to do both. But both of these are not all that is going on. There are one or two other full-time jobs I am also doing, that I won’t go into because this has already gone on long enough, but they are related to the overall success of this project. So when people ask me when my book about my father will be done, they have no idea what they are asking. Now, depending on who it is, I either tell them to #$@%&! Off, or I tell them it will take 10 years.
+One of the reasons I read your blog is all the information you provide and the value it has for me. A smile comes across my face as I realize I follow or have at least visited many of the links you mention.
+I’ve never owned full blown PS but have used Elements for many years. The cost and learning curve of PS was prohibitive for me and I was intimidated by it. At the present time I have PSE6 but almost exclusively use Lightroom 3. I’ve used a couple of Rob Sheppards books and think Martin Evenings book on Lightroom is excellent.
+Great post, David. Thanks!
+Hi Monte, your comment is helpful to me and I’m sure others. It seems that if you want to become a supersonic jet airplane pilot, you can take a certain path of training, but some people do just fine and see much, or perhaps more great country by flying a Cessna or Piper Cub, or maybe even a helicopter, or spaceship. Red Hot Chili Peppers say, “Music is my air-o-plane.” I just looked at it and out of all the Lightroom books I could have bought, I did choose the one you mention, yay-yippee, thanks man.
+David, have you pursued getting grants to get your father’s work digitalized? I would think you could get a grant for this work, especially if you had a museum in mind to be the final caretaker of it after you are gone or if you had a project in mind that would both benefit a museum and get the work done for you….like an exhibition or a book. Just a thought.
+Sharon
+Hi Sharon, thank you for this suggestion. When they had Dad’s archive, the University of California Santa Cruz Special Collections wrote grant applications and applied to a few places on behalf of the archive of black and white photographer Morley Baer. They were turned down and gave up after that on applying for funding for such work, even though applying for grant money on behalf of Dad’s photography might be a completely different scenario than applying on behalf of the work of another photographer. I am sure it could be done. There are many funding sources of various kinds that I will pursue as I can get to it. I am quite sure the possibilities have not been exhausted.
+David, thanks for the kind words about my blog and the critiques, and for listing all these wonderful resources. It’s going to take me awhile to browse through all of these – lots of great stuff! Even though I’ve been working with Photoshop since the late ’90s, the world of digital printing is quite complex, and I can always learn new things.
+Hi Michael, thank you for the comment. I was just thinking I need to get back over to your blog again and see what is going on and you appear here. I enjoy the interactive resource you have developed and plan to visit often. I have observed your knowledge first hand and take it as a compliment that you find the information here useful.
+In geometry, the area enclosed by a circle of radius r is πr2. Here the Greek letter π represents the constant ratio of the circumference of any circle to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.1416.
+One method of deriving this formula, which originated with Archimedes, involves viewing the circle as the limit of a sequence of regular polygons..
+Although often referred to as the area of a circle in informal contexts, strictly speaking the term disk refers to the interior of the circle, while circle is reserved for the boundary only, which is a curve and covers no area itself. Therefore, the area of a disk is the more precise phrase for the area enclosed by a circle.
+History
+Modern mathematics can obtain the area using the methods of integral calculus or its more sophisticated offspring, real analysis. However, the area of a disk was studied by the Ancient Greeks. Eudoxus of Cnidus in the fifth century B.C. had found that the area of a disk is proportional to its radius squared.[1] r2 for the disk. Prior to Archimedes, Hippocrates of Chios was the first to show that the area of a disk is proportional to the square of its diameter, as part of his quadrature of the lune of Hippocrates,[2] but did not identify the constant of proportionality.
+Historical arguments
+A variety of arguments have been advanced historically to establish the equation to varying degrees of mathematical rigor. The most famous of these is Archimedes' method of exhaustion, one of the earliest uses of the mathematical concept of a limit, as well as the origin of Archimedes' axiom which remains part of the standard analytical treatment of the real number system. The original proof of Archimedes is not rigorous by modern standards, because it assumes that we can compare the length of arc of a circle to the length of a secant and a tangent line, and similar statements about the area, as geometrically evident.
+Using polygons
+The area of a regular polygon is half its perimeter times the apothem. As the number of sides of the regular polygon increases, the polygon tends to a circle, and the apothem tends to the radius. This suggests that the area of a disk is half the circumference of its bounding circle times the radius.[3]
+Archimedes's proof
+Following Archimedes' argument in The Measurement of a Circle (c. 260 BCE), compare the area enclosed by the same way.
+Not greater
+Suppose that the area C enclosed by the circle is greater than the area T = 1⁄2cr of the triangle..
+Not less
+Suppose that the area enclosed by the circle is less than the area T of the triangle. enclosed by the circle is precisely the same as the area of the triangle. This concludes the proof.
+Rearrangement proof
+(as in the Archimedes proof). In fact, we can also assemble all the triangles into one big parallelogram by putting successive pairs next to each other. The same is true if we increase it.
+Modern proofs
+There are various equivalent definitions of the constant π. The conventional definition in pre-calculus geometry is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter:
+However, because the circumference of a circle is not a primitive analytical concept, this definition is not suitable in modern rigorous treatments. A standard modern definition is that π is equal to twice the least positive root of the cosine function or, equivalently, the half-period of the sine (or cosine) function. The cosine function can be defined either as a power series, or as the solution of a certain differential equation. This avoids any reference to circles in the definition of π, so that statements about the relation of π to the circumference and area of circles are actually theorems, rather than definitions, that follow from the analytical definitions of concepts like "area" and "circumference".
+The analytical definitions are seen to be equivalent, if it is agreed that the circumference of the circle is measured as a rectifiable curve by means of the integral
+The integral appearing on the right is an abelian integral whose value is a half-period of the sine function, equal to π. Thus is seen to be true as a theorem.
+Several of the arguments that follow use only concepts from elementary calculus to reproduce the formula , but in many cases to regard these as actual proofs, they rely implicitly on the fact that one can develop trigonometric functions and the fundamental constant π in a way that is totally independent of their relation to geometry. We have indicated where appropriate how each of these proofs can be made totally independent of all trigonometry, but in some cases that requires more sophisticated mathematical ideas than those afforded by elementary calculus. (one can approximate this ring by a rectangle with width=2πt and height=dt). This gives an elementary integral for a disk of radius r.
+It is rigorously justified by the multivariate substitution rule in polar coordinates. Namely, the area is given by a double integral of the constant function 1 over the disk itself. If D denotes the disk, then the double integral can be computed in polar coordinates as follows:
+which is the same result as obtained above.
+An equivalent rigorous justification, without relying on the special coordinates of trigonometry, uses the coarea formula. Define a function by . Note ρ is a Lipschitz function whose gradient is a unit vector (almost everywhere). Let D be the disc in . We will show that , where is the two-dimensional Lebesgue measure in . We shall assume that the one-dimensional Hausdorff measure of the circle is , the circumference of the circle of radius r. (This can be taken as the definition of circumference.) Then, by the coarea formula,
+Triangle proof
+Similar to the onion proof outlined above, we could exploit calculus in a different way in order to arrive at the formula for the area of a disk. Consider unwrapping the concentric circles to straight strips. This will form a right angled triangle with r as its height and 2πr (being the outer slice of onion) as its base.
+Finding the area of this triangle will give the area of the disk
+The opposite and adjacent angles for this triangle are respectively in degrees 9.0430611..., 80.956939... and in radians 0.1578311... OEIS: A233527, 1.4129651...OEIS: A233528.
+Explicitly, we imagine dividing up a circle into triangles, each with a height equal to the circle's radius and a base that is infinitesimally small. The area of each of these triangles is equal to . By summing up (integrating) all of the areas of these triangles, we arrive at the formula for the circle's area:
+It too can be justified by a double integral of the constant function 1 over the disk by reversing the order of integration and using a change of variables in the above iterated integral:
+Making the substitution converts the integral to
+which is the same as the above result.
+The triangle proof can be reformulated as an application of Green's theorem in flux-divergence form (i.e. a two-dimensional version of the divergence theorem), in a way that avoids all mention of trigonometry and the constant π. Consider the vector field in the plane. So the divergence of r is equal to two, and hence the area of a disc D is equal to
+By Green's theorem, this is the same as the outward flux of r across the circle bounding D:
+where n is the unit normal and ds is the arc length measure. For a circle of radius R centered at the origin, we have and , so the above equality is
+The integral of ds over the whole circle is just the arc length, which is its circumference, so this shows that the area A enclosed by the circle is equal to times the circumference of the circle.
+Another proof that uses triangles considers the area enclosed by a circle to be made up of an infinite number of triangles (i.e. the triangles each have an angle of d𝜃 at the centre of the circle), each with an area of 1/2 · r2 · d𝜃 (derived from the expression for the area of a triangle: 1/2 · a · b · sin𝜃 = 1/2 · r · r · sin(d𝜃) = 1/2 · r2 · d𝜃). Note that sin(d𝜃) ≈ d𝜃 due to small angle approximation. Through summing the areas of the triangles, the expression for the area of the circle can therefore be found:
+Semicircle proof
+Note that the area of a semicircle of radius r can be computed by the integral .
+By trigonometric substitution, we substitute , hence
+The last step follows since the trigonometric identity implies that and have equal integrals over the interval , using integration by substitution. But on the other hand, since , the sum of the two integrals is the length of that interval, which is . Consequently, the integral of is equal to half the length of that interval, which is .
+Therefore, the area of a circle of radius r, which is twice the area of the semi-circle, is equal to .
+This particular proof may appear to beg the question, if the sine and cosine functions involved in the trigonometric substitution are regarded as being defined in relation to circles. However, as noted earlier, it is possible to define sine, cosine, and π in a way that is totally independent of trigonometry, in which case the proof is valid by the change of variables formula and Fubini's theorem, assuming the basic properties of sine and cosine (which can also be proved without assuming anything about their relation to circles).
+Isoperimetric inequality
+The circle is the closed curve of least perimeter that encloses the maximum area. This is known as the isoperimetric inequality, which states that if a rectifiable Jordan curve in the Euclidean plane has perimeter C and encloses an area A (by the Jordan curve theorem) then
+Moreover, equality holds in this inequality if and only if the curve is a circle, in which case and .
+Fast approximation
+The calculations Archimedes used to approximate the area numerically were laborious, and he stopped with a polygon of 96 sides. A faster method uses ideas of Willebrord Snell (Cyclometricus, 1621), further developed by Christiaan Huygens (De Circuli Magnitudine Inventa, 1654), described in Gerretsen & Verdenduin (1983, pp. 243–250).
+Archimedes' doubling method
+Given a circle, let un be the perimeter of an inscribed regular n-gon, and let Un be the perimeter of a circumscribed regular n-gon. Then un and Un are lower and upper bounds for the circumference of the circle that become sharper and sharper as n increases, and their average (un + Un)/2 is an especially good approximation to the circumference. To compute un and Un for large n, Archimedes derived the following doubling formulae:
+- (geometric mean), and
+Starting from a hexagon, Archimedes doubled n four times to get a 96-gon, which gave him a good approximation to the circumference of the circle.
+In modern notation, we can reproduce his computation (and go further) as follows. For a unit circle, an inscribed hexagon has u6 = 6, and a circumscribed hexagon has U6 = 4√3. Doubling seven times yields
+(Here un + Un/2 approximates the circumference of the unit circle, which is 2π, so un + Un/4 approximates π.)
+The last entry of the table has 355⁄113 as one of its best rational approximations; i.e., there is no better approximation among rational numbers with denominator up to 113. The number 355⁄113 is also an excellent approximation to π, better than any other rational number with denominator less than 16604.[4]
+The Snell–Huygens refinement
+Snell proposed (and Huygens proved) a tighter bound than Archimedes':
+This for n = 48 gives a better approximation (about 3.14159292) than Archimedes' method for n = 768.
+Derivation of Archimedes' doubling formulae���. perimeter Un = nSn. Then combining equations, we have
+so that
+This gives a geometric mean equation.
+We can also deduce
+or
+This gives a harmonic mean equation.ssen 2006, p. 273)..
+Non-Euclidean circles
+Circles can be defined in non-Euclidean geometry, and in particular in the hyperbolic and elliptic planes.
+For example, the unit sphere is a model for the two-dimensional elliptic plane. It carries an intrinsic metric that arises by measuring geodesic length. The geodesic circles are the parallels in a geodesic coordinate system.
+More precisely, fix a point that we place at the zenith. Associated to that zenith is a geodesic polar coordinate system , , , where z is the point . In these coordinates, the geodesic distance from z to any other point having coordinates is the value of at x. A spherical circle is the set of points a geodesic distance R from the zenith point z. Equivalently, with a fixed embedding into , the spherical circle of radius centered at z is the set of x in such that .
+We can also measure the area of the spherical disk enclosed within a spherical circle, using the intrinsic surface area measure on the sphere. The area of the disk of radius R is then given by
+More generally, if a sphere has radius of curvature , then the area of the disk of radius R is given by
+Observe that, as an application of L'Hôpital's rule, this tends to the Euclidean area in the flat limit .
+The hyperbolic case is similar, with the area of a disk of intrinsic radius R in the (constant curvature ) hyperbolic plane given by
+where cosh is the hyperbolic cosine. More generally, for the constant curvature hyperbolic plane, the answer is
+These identities are important for comparison inequalities in geometry. For example, the area enclosed by a circle of radius R in a flat space is always greater than the area of a spherical circle and smaller than a hyperbolic circle, provided all three circles have the same (intrinsic) radius. That is,
+for all . Intuitively, this is because the sphere tends to curve back on itself, yielding circles of smaller area than those in the plane, whilst the hyperbolic plane, when immersed into space, develops fringes that produce additional area. It is more generally true that the area of the circle of a fixed radius R is a strictly decreasing function of the curvature.
+In all cases, if is the curvature (constant, positive or negative), then the isoperimetric inequality for a domain with area A and perimeter L is
+where equality is achieved precisely for the circle.[5].
+Bibliography
+- Archimedes (1897), "Measurement of a circle", in Heath, T. L. (ed.), The Works of Archimedes, Cambridge University Press
+.), Fundamentals of Mathematics, Volume II: Geometry, translated by S. H. Gould,, 404: 77–117, doi:10.1515/crll.1990.404.77, MR 1037431
+- Lang,ssen, J. M. (2006), Computational Physics, Cambridge University Press, p. 273, ISBN 978-0-521-57588-1
+References
+- ^ Stewart, James (2003). Single variable calculus early transcendentals (5th. ed.). Toronto ON: Brook/Cole. pp. 3. ISBN 0-534-39330-6.
+However, by indirect reasoning, Eudoxus (fifth century B.C.) used exhaustion to prove the familiar formula for the area of a disk:
+- ^ Heath, Thomas L. (2003), A Manual of Greek Mathematics, Courier Dover Publications, pp. 121–132, ISBN 0-486-43231-9.
+- ^ Hill, George. Lessons in Geometry: For the Use of Beginners, page 124 (1894).
+- ^ Not all best rational approximations are the convergents of the continued fraction!
+- ^ Isaac Chavel (2001), Isoperimetric inequalities, Cambridge University Press
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+C Real Data Analysis
+We applied the SpaceX method on two spatial transcriptomics datasets which are obtained from the preoptic region of the mouse hypothalamus (Moffitt et al. 2018) and the human breast cancer dataset (Ståhl et al. 2016). Here we provide details of preprocessing and exploratory analysis of both datasets in section C.1. We illustrate the detailed application of the community detection algorithm on those two datasets in section C.2.
+C.1 Exploratory analysis of the datasets
+C.1.1 Merfish Data
+The MERFISH dataset is obtained from the preoptic area of the mouse hypothalamus (Moffitt et al. 2018). The dataset consists of \(160\) genes and corresponding gene expressions are measured in \(4975\) spatial locations. There are \(7\) pre-determined spatial clusters in the dataset named Astrocyte, Endothelial, Ependymal, Excitatory, Inhibitory, Immature, Mature, and the corresponding sizes are \(724\), \(503\), \(314\), \(1024\), \(1694\), \(168\), \(385\) respectively. The dataset consists of \(2\) more clusters named Microglia, Pericytes with cluster sizes \(90\), \(73\) respectively which are less than \(100\). Those two clusters are removed from the dataset. After removing those two clusters, we have gene expressions from \(4812\) locations corresponding to \(160\) genes. There are no genes with more than \(95\%\) zeros reads. The left panel of Figure C.1 shows the violin plot of the percentage of zero reads among the genes for each cluster in the MERFISH dataset. The Umap representation of the Merfish data has been provided on the right panel of Figure C.1.
+Figure C.1: Left panel shows the violin plot of percentage of zero reads among the genes for each cluster w.r.t. Merfish data and the right panel shows the Umap.
+C.1.2 Breast Cancer Data
+The human breast cancer dataset contains expression levels from \(5262\) genes measured at \(250\) locations (Ståhl et al. 2016). We use the SPARK method with \(5\%\) FDR cut-off on p-values to detect \(290\) spatially expressed genes to carry forward our analysis. The violin plot of the percentage of zero reads among the genes for each spatially contiguous cluster in the Breast cancer dataset is shown in the left panel of Figure C.2. On the right panel of Figure C.2, we have provided the Umap.
+Figure C.2: On the left panel, we have violin plot of percentage of zero reads among the genes for each cluster w.r.t. Breast Cancer data and the Umap is shown on the right panel.
+C.2 Community detection
+The community detection is a downstream analysis of the shared and cluster-specific networks which are obtained from the SpaceX method. The communities are detected by optimizing modularity over partitions in a network structure (Brandes et al. 2007). Figure C.3 and C.4 show the detected community modules from shared and cluster-specific co-expression networks for MERFISH and breast cancer data respectively.
+Figure C.3: Shared and cell-type specific community detection for Merfish data
+Figure C.4: Shared and cell-type specific community detection for Breast cancer data
+C.3 Benchmarking on real spatial transcriptomics data
+In this section, we benchmark our models on two real spatial transcriptomics datasets based on model fitting criteria. To this end, we use information-based criteria – a standard and well-established technique to compare the model fits between hierarchical Bayesian models (Gelman, Hwang, and Vehtari 2014). In this case, we use two information criteria-based metrics to assess our model fitting: (i) Bayesian analogue of AIC (Akaike 1998), defined as the Bayesian information criteria (BIC, Watanabe (2013)); and (ii) Watanabe-Akaike information criterion (WAIC) (Watanabe 2010), an improvement on the AIC and a fully Bayesian approach to measure model accuracy computed with log pointwise posterior predictive density and then adding a correction for the effective number of parameters to adjust for over-fitting. These criterion based methods are often used for model selection and specifically for spatial datasets (Banerjee, Wall, and Carlin 2003; Banerjee, Gelfand, and Polasek 2000; Lee and Ghosh 2009). In both cases, lower (relative) values indicate better model fits.
+Table C.1 shows the BIC and WAIC values for the SpaceX and non-spatial Poisson model for both the mouse hypothalamus and breast cancer data. Based on the criteria based values from the Table C.1, we can conclude that the SpaceX model is a better fit to both spatial transcriptomics datasets than the non-spatial Poisson model. For example, there is 64.7% and 46.6% of relative gain in accuracy of model fitting of the SpaceX model and non-spatial model w.r.t. BIC and WAIC respectively in case of Merfish data. A similar inference can be drawn for the breast cancer data where the relative gains are 66.4% and 45.5% for BIC and WAIC respectively in case of model fitting.
+C.4 List of hub genes and edges
+A detailed list of hub genes and top edges for both the datasets can be found at.
+C.5 Corroboration with TCGA Breast Cancer Data
+To corroborate some of our findings, we consider the TCGA-based gene expression from 67 breast cancer tissues and 20,000 genes using parallel high-throughput sequencing (Wirth et al. 2011; Weinstein et al. 2013). To make a fair “apples-to-apples” comparison, we used the same intersecting gene set from the spatial transcriptomics based breast cancer data used in our paper . We used a network-based algorithm: personalized cancer-specific integrated network estimation (PRECISE, Ha et al. (2018)) to obtain gene networks. PRECISE is Bayesian method for gene-network reconstruction for bulk-sequencing data that uses a regression-based approach. The PRECISE method detected \(77\) hub genes out of total \(290\) genes compared to the SpaceX method, which detected \(59\) hub genes – with \(19\) intersecting hub genes using both methods. The list of all the hub genes detected from each method and intersection hub genes from both method can be found at the webiste mentioned below under the name BC_Hub_genes_TCGA.csv ().
+Interestingly, multiple collagens genes (COL16A1, COL6A2, COL5A1) are detected as hub genes by both methods. Collagen biosynthesis can be regulated by cancer cells through mutated genes, transcription factors and signaling pathways (Xu et al. 2019). Understanding of the structural properties and functions of collagen in cancer will lead to anticancer therapy. The LUM gene is associated with collagen genes and effectively regulates estrogen receptors and function properties of breast cancer cells (Karamanou et al. 2017). Upregulation in FN1 gene indicates development various types of tumors (Y. Sun et al. 2020). XBP1 can induce cell invasion and metastasis in breast cancer cells by promoting high expression (S. Chen et al. 2020). VIM gene is used as a biomarker for the early detection of cancer (Mohebi et al. 2020).
+C.6 Network similarity between cell-type specific networks
+We further evaluated the performance of SpaceX to detect similarity between cell-cell interactions. To this end, we used Hamming distance, a well-established similarity measure between two networks, which has been used in several network topology based research studies (Tian and Shen 2005, 2006; Ehounou et al. 2020). In our case, the Hamming distance is equivalent to the distance between their two co-expression networks, i.e., the number of elements having a similar (or different) values in each of the two networks. A low (high) value in Hamming distance between two networks implies those two networks are more (less) similar to each other.
+The mouse hypothalamus data consists of 7 cell-type based clusters among 4812 spatial locations. The SpaceX method provides gene co-expression networks specifically for each cell types. Using the Hamming distance as similarity metric, we measure the network similarity between cell-type specific networks obtained from the Mouse hypthalamaous data analyses in Section 4.1 of the paper. The heatmap of the Hamming distances between cell-type specific networks is shown in Figure C.5. We can observe that the co-expression network of immature cell-type is further apart than other cell type specific network in terms of Hamming distance. We rescale the Hamming distance with maximum value such that the distances are in [0,1] interval. Specifically, the Hamming distances of immature cell type network with other cell type (Endothelial, Astrocyte, Mature, Inhibitory, Excitatory, Ependymal) networks are 1, 0.73, 0.83, 0.79, 0.82, 0.73 respectively. Based on Figure C.5, network of endothelial cell type is distant from other cell-type based networks except for the immature cell-type. The distance of Astrocyte cell-type netwrok from Ependymal and Excitatory are 0.27 and 0.32 respectively. The neuronal cell type specific networks have lower distance than others which leads to infer a higher level of similarity between cell-type based networks than others. This similarity and disparity based finding aligns with multiple prior works which discuss about hypothalamic cell diversity (R. Chen et al. 2017; Mickelsen et al. 2020).
+Figure C.5: The Figure shows heatmap of Hamming distances between cell-type specific networks.
+Andrea Calderwood is describing the most frightening experience she ever had in the film business. It came right at the start, when she was producing a short at the end of her trainee year with the Scottish Film Trust Training scheme. The film cost (pounds) 2,500 to make but the budget came up a couple of ton short. That (pounds) 200 was ''the scariest amount of money
+I ever had to deal with,'' she says.
+''I remember having really heated arguments with the director of that film,'' she continues between bites of her chicken sandwich in the lobby bar of Edinburgh's Sheraton Hotel. ''The lead in the film was not a young man. And the director would say we need to have a heater, but it was going to cost (pounds) 10 and we didn't have that kind of money.''
+Times have changed. These days (pounds) 200 probably wouldn't even cover the cost of one of Calderwood's lunch dates at the Ivy or wherever it is London's mediarati are hanging out this week. And it would make a pretty tiny dent in the finances of Calderwood's latest project, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, the first film to emerge from her new company Slate Films. It's fair to say that the budget for Midlands, the latest vehicle for Robert Carlyle and Kathy Burke, though a typically low-budget British affair, is significantly in excess of four figures, some of it Calderwood's own.
+But then as she says, whether you're spending (pounds) 5,000 or (pounds) 500,000 the principles of film production are pretty much the same. ''You try and break down which parts of the film would be of interest to which financiers and for how much.''
+Calderwood should know. Since her appointment in 1994 as head of drama at BBC Scotland when she was just 28 years old - a move that prompted the inevitable ''Andrea who?'' headlines - she has been responsible for a string of hits on both the big and small screen, as well as giving more than a little impetus to cinematic careers as diverse as Carlyle's, Billy Connolly's and Lynne Ramsay's. Without her we might not have had Ratcatcher, Mrs Brown, The Crow Road or Hamish MacBeth. And that's without mentioning Invasion Earth. (Okay, well maybe it's quite right not to mention that particular television series. You can't get everything right.) Anyway, you get the idea. Calderwood is a
+regular in all those power lists that litter the Sunday supplements. This particular Sunday, however, she is in a rainy Edinburgh getting ready to meet and greet the great and the good of the film industry as Midlands gets a Film
+Festival screening.
+In the past she has been known for wearing regulation black, the unofficial uniform of the media industry, and sporting the odd power haircut, but when she walks into the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel - home away from home for guests at the Festival - she has more of an earth mother vibe going on. True, her top is still black but she's also wearing a bright orange silken dress that looks like it is made from crepe paper beneath it - I might call it taffeta if I knew what taffeta was exactly. And even though her open-toe sandals are black, they just reveal her pink nail varnish.
+Calderwood's toes appear to be her only
+concession to vanity. She hasn't bothered with make-up and she's obviously not worried about the odd grey fleck that lightens her long, dark hair. But then, as she says, she's no longer a youngster. ''I'm actually quite old, now.'' Well, she is if you call 37 old.
+Of course, this look could be less earth mother, more mother pure and simple. She arrives pushing a pram with her three-and
+-a-half-month-old daughter, Temitayo, who is almost lost in its depths. The baby's name means ''Cause for Joy'' in Yoruba and she lives up to it. Later we are joined by the father, Biyi Bandele, a quiet, handsome Nigerian writer. The couple have been together for two years.
+Temitayo is a festival veteran. The last time I saw Calderwood she was at Stansted, rushing for a plane to Cannes with her daughter who was then a couple of weeks old. If it's August it must be Edinburgh. We take a seat in the hotel's lobby bar and as Temitayo settles for a feed - Calderwood needs no encouragement from the Scottish Executive in eschewing the bottle - her mother starts to talk about her other baby.
+Directed by Nottingham auteur Shane Meadows and with a cast that includes Ricky Tomlinson and Rhys Ifans, as well as long-time Calderwood associate Carlyle, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is an attempt to find a wider audience for the director of A Room for Romeo Brass and TwentyFourSeven. ''There was a sense that Shane's films had been critically well received and he's got a real following in the industry but he hadn't really broken out. And what I've hoped to try and do in most of the things I've done is find a way to maximise someone's potential and surround the film-maker with the right talent. That's the thing I'm most pleased with about Midlands. I've felt we've done what we set out to do.''
+I rather suspect that's a pretty normal state of affairs for Calderwood. Meadows jokingly describes his producer as ''the lovechild of Alex Ferguson and Hyacinth Bouquet''. ''Cheeky
+bastard,'' says Calderwood in response, which is not the kind of language you'd expect from Hyacinth. And as for Alex Ferguson. Well,
+actually, she will happily take that one. ''One of my proudest moments at BBC Scotland was when somebody said that my team was the Manchester United of television and I was the dour Scottish manager. I take no prisoners either. That's why I identify so strongly with Sir Alex. Some film-makers will tell you I can be pretty uncompromising if I've got a clear idea for what I think will work well for a film.''
+Meadows knows what that feels like. ''There was the odd clash of heads,'' he admits. ''We're both the kind of people who won't give and
+we realised early that there would have to be some give and take. But when she's going to fight your corner she was like a dog with a
+bone. I think she drove Film Four (the film's backers) mad.''
+But then that, Calderwood tells me, is part of her job description. Meadows isn't the only director to find himself at odds with his
+producer. She admits making Ratcatcher with Lynne Ramsay, one of the projects she is most proud of, was at times fraught. ''I don't feel I'm doing my whole job if I'm just somebody who agrees all the time, if I'm just a yes man. When I'm reading a script or watching an edit of a film I tend to get a strong feeling if there's something that's just not working; then I can be pretty adamant about doing something about it.''
+Although she was born in Paisley, Calderwood is adamant she's a Glasgow girl. Brought up on the city's south side, she is the only daughter of research chemists who met while working in the steelworks in
+Motherwell. She has two older brothers, one a quantity surveyor, the other an electrical engineer. Of course, I tell her, the third-born in any family is naturally outgoing and assertive.
+''I don't know if that's true,'' she replies. Actually, in retrospect, I'm not sure that it's true either. It may be something I've just made up. Anyway, she says, she never really thought of herself as particularly bold. ''I used to think of myself as quite shy. I'm always quite surprised when people say to me they think I'm quite assertive, but I think I've always been pretty sure of my opinions.''
+She puts her career choice partly down to the fact she was always late for school. Threatened with expulsion, she was forced to visit a guidance teacher. ''I think it was just cheek that I said I wanted to be a film director but he said there was this seminar about the National Film School and I should go along to it.'' She did and found herself quite starstruck. ''I can't remember who was on the panel but I thought they looked like really cool people.''
+After studying English and Film at Stirling University (Mark Cousins, a former director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, was in the year below), she found herself on the usual round of job creation schemes that was the lot of graduates in the mid-eighties. It was only when she was accepted onto the Scottish Film Trust Training Scheme that the idea of a career in the media began to look like a reality.
+Soon she set up her own independent film company and hired Robert Carlyle for one of her first shorts, Marooned. She attracted five financiers for that one. She then went two
+better for a Gaelic film she produced, directed by Douglas MacKinnon. Both films had BBC Scotland money in the mix, ''which is partly
+why I think I ended up doing the job at BBC Scotland because Colin Cameron (then head of BBC Scotland) had spotted me as a bit of a
+hustler.''
+When the job as head of drama came up she didn't seriously expect to get it. Truth is, she
+didn't even want it. ''What I wanted was for them to commission my company. And because I didn't want the job and I absolutely didn't think I would get it I had absolutely no fear in the interview.''
+She wasn't the only one who was shocked when she got the job. On the day she was appointed, dramatist Peter MacDougall, the doyen of West Coast hard men of Scottish
+television drama, came out with his infamous quote that the job should never have gone to a ''wee lassie''.
+''This quote has haunted both of us,'' says Calderwood now, though you suspect it has hurt MacDougall more than her. ''And I know what happens. They phoned Peter in the pub and he said what he said. And I spoke to Peter not long after that and he very generously invited me round to dinner at his house and Billy Connolly and Brian Cox were there.'' The kind of names in her contacts book that would come in useful over the next couple of years.
+At least MacDougall didn't accuse her of sleeping her way to the top. Others did, it seems. She remembers talking to a sound recordist she had worked with before who had just come
+back from making a documentary in Greece with an English crew who asked him if she got the job because she slept with Colin Cameron. ''It's an industry that loves gossip. People love to believe a bit of dirt.''
+She says she never seriously considered rejecting the job. ''I think I had the confidence of ignorance. It happened so fast and I felt that I could not not do it, and really what I was
+hungry to do, what I wanted to get out of it, was the opportunity to do a lot of work.'' Which she did, commissioning 22 hours of drama a year for four and a half years.
+A move to London, though, was increasingly inevitable. ''I was commuting once or twice
+a week to London because the money's in
+London, a lot of the talent is in London and all the decisions are made there. I just permanently felt I had half a life in Glasgow and half a life in London.'' The success of Mrs Brown opened doors in the film industry and she took up a job with Pathe, where she bankrolled Kenneth Branagh's Love's Labour Lost among others, before setting up Slate two years ago. ''I wanted to work with people whose work I admired and the talent I liked rather than the people who suited the organisation I was working for at
+the time.''
+The fact that Slate's principal backer, Film Four, has disappeared up its own projector
+doesn't faze her. She's confident there will be backers for her other projects, which include films based on the life of Scottish boxer Benny Lynch and comic geniuses Laurel and Hardy. Frankly I'm not sure anything could faze her. As she prepares to go to get her picture taken she applies some lipstick, something of a psychological defence she tells me, though it's hard to believe she needs any defending, given her quiet self-confidence. ''I very much go with my gut instinct as a producer,'' she says. Is it ever wrong, I ask. ''I think I've made my mistakes when I've gone against my gut instinct, when I've thought everyone wants romantic comedies I better try and make a romantic comedy.''
+Audiences can see through British film-
+makers trying to be formulaic, she says, because the results always look so low-rent. ''The
+Americans have this machine. They're not embarrassed about bringing in teams of writers. They don't have any romanticism that what they're doing is art. It's just an industrial process. I think here we have a television industry, we don't have a film industry. Each film that gets made is a labour of love. It takes sheer will power to get a film made in Britain. You feel if you took your eye off the ball for a minute then it wouldn't happen.''
+As if the Fergie of the film world would ever do such a thing. n
+Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is released.
+Words cannot describe the grandeur of the Storm Peaks. The supreme size of these lofty mountains defies the imagination, a realm of icy wonder taken from the dreams of the world. Mountains miles in height give way to mountains higher still, bound in ice all through the year.
+Vrykul legends speak of the Storm Peaks as a place for the gods. Certainly it is not one for mortals. Freezing winds cut through ice-walled canyons, unleashing the fury of the northern storms on lonely valleys covered in endless drifts of snow. Towering fir trees somehow thrive on the lower slopes, patches of snow contrasting with the deep green of their needles.
+Glank flew his zeppelin over many of these frozen gardens, the wind buffeting the rickety vehicle as it choked and wheezed its way to the goblin outpost of K3. The decrepitude of Glank’s vessel somehow enhanced the natural majesty of the Storm Peaks.
+The Zandalari had received Mumbwe’s return with zealous exhilaration, the bloodshed in Gundrak confirming the power of the gods. Mumbwe practically glowed with savage piety, her wordless chants accompanying the prayers of the Zandalari.
+Her tongue had not yet regenerated when Glank flew over Zim’torga. A freelance goblin pilot, Glank was returning to the goblin outpost of K3 in the Storm Peaks after delivering documents to a cartel representative in Vengeance Landing. He charged me a considerable amount for the passage, more than was really reasonable. I paid, wanting to put Zul’drak and its dark superstitions as far from me as possible.
+Glank ran his operations on the cheap, and his skinflint nature showed on the zeppelin. A half-broken model dating from before the Third War, a tangle of jury-rigged repairs obscured any hint of the original chassis. Each morning I would help empty the snow that accumulated in the carriage over the night, brought in through gaps in the hull. He flung a rapid stream of curses at the wailing winds as he flew, his whining voice muffled by a flea-ridden fur collar.
+K3 first appeared as a blinking light in the stark white expanse of the Snowblind Hills. It was just past nightfall when we arrived, and the mighty northern storm clouds had cleared long enough to reveal the stars, sharp and bright in the northern sky. K3’s light seemed somehow fearful in that vast emptiness, a desperate and ultimately futile attempt to keep away the darkness of winter.
+I doubt anyone could find K3 without their beacon. Snow piles up in great drifts around the stout walls, threatening to spill inside the town. Seven domed snowhouses stand in the enclosure, built closely together as if for warmth. There is little sign of goblin activity, and snow covers the streets.
+Glank set the zeppelin down at a junk-strewn field just north of town. The intermittent glare of the beacon revealed bits and pieces of broken machines laced with frost. Footsteps ran in trails all around the mess, suggesting recent activity.
+I stepped outside of the cabin and took in a deep gulp of the coldest air I’d ever breathed. The icy intake sent a shock through my body that not even undeath could repel, a touch of raw nature at its fiercest. I stood there for a minute with arms outstretched, knee-deep in snow and under all the stars of the sky. Was this what the shamans felt when they communed with the spirits?
+I was so absorbed in the astounding landscape that I didn’t first hear Glank disembark. Soon enough, his nasal voice had brought me back to reality.
+“This is K3. Not much here, really. Some of the folks in K3 seem taken by the place, but I’ll never know why. Come on, I don’t want to stand out here all night.”
+I walked through the empty nighttime paths of K3, hearing only the crunch of the snow beneath my feet. Glank used snowshoes to stay on top of the snow, a necessity given his small size.
+“If you plan to spend any time up here, I suggest you buy some of your own,” he recommended.
+We rented a pair of cots at the Snowmelt Hotel, the largest structure in K3. More of a barracks than a hotel, many of K3’s residents consider it home, sleeping in coffin-like cells attached to the common room. Glank went straight to his room upon arrival, leaving me in the empty common room, lit by a single electric lamp hanging by a cord from the ceiling.
+“What brought you all the way up here?” inquired a reedy voice. A worn-looking goblin woman with a mop of red hair stepped out from the shadows, dark circles around her eyes. She was polishing a dented teakettle with an old dishrag.
+“I’m hoping to reach Ulduar, though I’m not really sure how,” I said.
+“You and just about everyone else. That’s why Steamwheedle built K3, you know. Cartel bigwigs had a mind to beat the dwarves to Ulduar, though they figured out it’s not going to happen.”
+“Why not?”
+“Oh, a lot of reasons. For one, the dwarves will shoot anyone who starts tinkering around with Titan goodies. Besides, by the time the cartel has a full-on expedition set up, the dwarves will own the place. That’s why we’re working with them instead of against them.”
+“How so?”
+“They pay us good money to support their archeologists or to do surveys. Enough to make K3 a profit! Not much of one, but better than nothing. Hey, if we’re going to chat, let’s do it in the kitchen. I don’t want to wake anyone up out here.”
+I followed the goblin woman into the kitchen, ducking through the low portal. Inside, tin plates and eating utensils stood in neat little stacks. The live stove bathed the cramped room with a soft warmth.
+“By the way, my name’s Niddy,” she said, motioning for me to have a seat on a dented metal stool.
+“Destron Allicant,” I responded.
+“Good to meet you, I keep the hotel here running smoothly. Not everyone’s willing to move up to the Storm Peaks, so they pay pretty well.”
+“I’m a scholar. How would one get to Ulduar from K3?” I asked.
+“Hmm, well there’s no sure way to do that. Not to say it hasn’t been done, but there isn’t like a regular air ferry to the place. Truth is, a lot of the surveyors who go up there never make it back. This place is called the Storm Peaks for a reason, you know.”
+“Are there any passes leading to Ulduar?”
+“If there are, no one’s found them. Most lead to dead ends or isolated valleys filled with some pretty hostile sorts. If you ask me, you’re better off staying in K3.”
+“It is possible, though?”
+“Sure, though it’s a real longshot.”
+“I’ll keep that in mind. Does the Steamwheedle Cartel run K3?”
+“K3 was their idea, but it’s actually a joint venture with Far-Flung Enterprises, a newcomer that’s invested near all of its cash in Northrend. Most of us aren’t employees for either company though. They hired us on a contractual basis.”
+“Do you feel limited by that?”
+“Not at all! It’s a real good deal, and I’m not likely to fall into debt. I spent the last nine years of my life in debt slavery for Barterbolt Enterprises’ alchemy division, and I don’t plan on going back to that. My brother too, we were in that together. He’s up here now, with me.”
+“Debt slavery. I’ve always had trouble understanding how people who love freedom as much as you goblins can reconcile yourselves to debt slavery.”
+“It’s part of life. We goblins are free to do as we please, and that includes making bad decisions, like what our parents made. They died before they could pay their debt to Barterbolt—not that they could—and we inherited it.”
+“That hardly seems fair.”
+“Oh, don’t be so sanctimonious. Hey, I’m still alive, right? Lots of the debt slaves in the alchemy division are buried in pieces down in Undermine. Me and Yezz—that’s my brother—survived, and things are looking up for us.” I could not help noticing that her voice wavered a bit as she spoke, her sleepless eyes touched by doubt.
+“Sorry, I hope I did not come across as self-righteous.”
+“Forget about it, it’s too cold here to hold grudges. More profit in forgiveness,” she snickered.
+“Well said.”
+“Like I said, you ought to stay. Talk to Slirk to put a contract together. A Forsaken like you can get pretty far in this climate.”
+“Would that expedite getting to Ulduar?”
+“It sure couldn’t hurt.”
+Snow fell intermittently from gray skies through the next day. I woke early, watching the residents of the Snowmelt Hotel rouse themselves for another day of cold weather and hard work. Conversation was muted, though hardly despairing. Goblins matter-of-factly exchanged pleasantries over bowls of porridge and tins of hot coffee. Niddy flitted from one end of the parlor to the other, her spindly form possessing a curious grace.
+Taking a cup of coffee, I went outside during a lull in the snowfall. Niddy’s advice, while practical, was simply wrong for me. Working at K3 hardly assured passage to Ulduar.
+The idea did appeal to me on some level. Perhaps the mountain scenery had robbed me of my sense, but I could see myself spending time in K3, away from everything else. Thoughts that I’d kept at arm’s length since Conquest Hold began to make themselves known. Were the new evolutions I’d seen in Horde culture merely a regional phenomenon? Perhaps Northrend’s ancient darkness was tugging at the minds of orcs and Forsaken, leading them to ruin.
+Or was it the same everywhere else? Both Horde and Alliance looked to be rushing headlong into conflict. K3 might be an ideal place to wait out the storm I feared was on the horizon. Then again, perhaps not. If the nations marched to war it would doubtless reach even the farthest places of the world. Horde and Alliance are global entities in a way that the Scourge is not.
+While I do not wish to raise my hand against the Alliance, the fact remains that many in their number wish me and all Forsaken destroyed. I would be the first to admit that a fair number of Forsaken leaders deserve destruction. I do not think that I do. Nor can I sit idly by while the orcs who defended my people die on the battlefield.
+I forced myself to turn away from such gloomy thoughts, and began learning more about K3. A surprising number of its inhabitants are former debt slaves. Ever an irrepressible people, these goblins approach their lives with commendable alacrity.
+“Right now I’m just a furnace mechanic, but I’m tinkering with some of my own inventions in my spare time. Devices to make life in this place a bit easier, with plenty of applicability in other cold parts of the world,” boasted one goblin named Nozdok Riggrom.
+“Easier in what way?”
+“Heh, I can’t just go around telling everyone. Plenty of folks here would jump on my idea if they overheard. Right now I’m going to keep it vague, get people interested. When I’m done and everyone’s raring to know, I’ll release it.”
+“Fair enough. Are you borrowing much money for this?”
+“Not a copper. I buy and collect scrap with my earnings, throw in some salvage when I can get it. Explosions can throw scraps pretty far, and I’ve got a knack for finding the pieces.”
+“Explosions?”
+“Sometimes when they soup up the defenses for K3 they mix up the components and something explodes. They collect what scraps they can find, but never all of it.”
+“What do you defend against?”
+“Whatever this place feels like throwing at us. Looks nice and quiet, but we’ve got gnolls to the west, vrykul in the mountains north of here, and magnataurs out east. I don’t think any of them are real big threats to us, but there aren’t too many of us at K3, so we need to be prepared.”
+No one in K3 seemed to know very much about the vrykul, though the goblins described them as different from the ones in the Howling Fjord. The handful of bruisers who’d seen them said the local vrykul had ice-blue skin and frost on their armor.
+“All women too,” remarked a bruiser named Igz.
+The vrykul had never attacked K3 directly, though they sometimes preyed on scouting parties. Such was also the case with the magnataurs. The gnolls had made a single disastrous assault on the town. Concentrated gunfire drove them into the hills, without a single fatality on the goblin side. Since then, the gnolls contented themselves with attacking isolated scouts.
+“After they saw what happened to the gnolls, I think the vrykul and magnataurs wised up and figured it best to let K3 be,” added Igz.
+I am not so sure that his confidence was well-founded. Disorganized gnoll bands don’t pose much of a threat, but if the vrykul did attack, the defenders of K3 might find themselves hard-pressed to withstand them.
+My time in K3 turned out to be a bit of a vacation. After surviving Zul’drak, I found it relaxing to be among the freewheeling goblins. Though not employed, I did actually earn some money helping to defrost machinery with low-level fire magic. Goblin mages do exist, but are relatively rare; not many show interest or talent in the arcane arts. I also followed Glank’s advice and bought a pair of snowshoes.
+For the five days I got to know the residents, hearing them tell stories of suffering often chilling brutality, all related to me with a casual shrug. I am not sure if any race is as resilient as the goblins. On some level, I wonder if their resilience in the face of disaster is entirely a good thing. I suspect it may help perpetuate debt slavery and other evils. However, this attitude is certainly more constructive than the self-indulgent misery preferred by many Forsaken. The key may lie in turning the energy and resilience towards the goal of eliminating some of the abuses in the system.
+This is not to say that everyone in K3 comes from a background like Niddy’s. Former debt slaves only make up a plurality of the population. Of those, some had relatively benign experiences. One example, Slirk, used his time as a slave to make valuable connections within the Steamwheedle Cartel (to whom he had been indebted). He was so good at this, that the cartel offered him ownership of the Snowmelt Hotel once he paid his debt.
+I met with Glank again on the third day. After arriving he’d planted himself at a dented corner table. His stench and odious personality dissuaded anyone from trying to move him. I’d have gladly ignored him, but he was the only pilot headed beyond the Snowblind Hills in the near future. If I wanted to see more of the Storm Peaks, he was my best chance to do so.
+“Mind you, I’m not going to Ulduar. Just to the mountains north of here. Vrykul country,” he said, after taking a long and noisy slurp of coffee. Some of it spilled out the corner of his mouth and dribbled down his dirt-encrusted neck.
+“I’m aware. I’ll be willing to pay a full gold piece to go along.” Niddy came by the table, refilling our coffee. She gave me a sympathetic glance as she poured.
+“I’ll need more than that. There might be a lot of competition coming up here pretty soon. I hear that the brass is planning to clear out the magnataurs with sappers, open us up for expansion—”
+“What? Where did you hear this?” demanded Niddy.
+“From Ricket—”
+“When?”
+“A few days ago, the hell does it matter to you?” he snarled.
+“Dammit, they can’t do this. Slirk, get someone to cover for me real quick!” she called out. Practically dropping the tin pot on the table she ran out of the room. Curious, I got up to follow her.
+Her hands moving quickly, Niddy strapped snowshoes onto her boots as she walked, finishing the last buckle mid-step. With remarkable speed she cut a line across the snowy evening streets, vacant save for a lone trapper dragging an empty sled across the main thoroughfare.
+Niddy made her way to a small building at the edge of town, a bright light glaring down from the top of the door frame. Despite her hurry in getting there, she only gave the door a light rap.
+“Niddy, is everything all right?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t intruding.
+She turned around, her eyes wide in surprise. Niddy opened her mouth to say something when her knock was answered, the door opening to reveal a sharp-looking goblin woman.
+“Ricket, you’re not really going to use the sappers, are you?” cried Niddy, turning to her.
+“We wouldn’t have ordered them up here if we weren’t going to use them. You know that,” said Ricket, her tone hostile.
+“Yezz can do lots more than blow himself up! I know it! Just give him a chance, it’ll be worth your while,” pleaded Niddy.
+“Ha! Why don’t you tell that to your brother? He seems ready to go, if you ask me.”
+Without waiting for permission Niddy stepped inside. Ricket raised her hand as if to stop her, but apparently thought better of it. The door swung shut.
+I went back to the Snowmelt Hotel and finished my negotiation with Glank. As I’d expected, I still ended up paying more than I wished. I stayed in the parlor as the clientele drifted off to bed, the howling wind audible through the ice walls. Soon, I was the only one left.
+I began to wonder if Niddy would even return when she finally got back, visibly flustered. She stopped when she saw me.
+“Niddy, are you all right?”
+“I’m fine. I’m not the one I’m worried about. Why did you follow me?”
+“I apologize if I intruded. You seemed distressed.”
+“Well, that was real sweet of you.”
+“Do you wish to talk about it?”
+“No. Yes. I don’t know! It’s my brother Yezz, you know, the one who went through debt slavery with me? He’s a sapper.”
+“A dangerous job, but isn’t it somewhat prestigious?” The sappers are certainly among the most infamous of goblin professions, having made a name for themselves with the oft-suicidal bravery they displayed during the Second War. It occurred to me that I’d not met any sappers during my travels.
+“Prestigious? No! Hold on, let me get something to steady my nerves, and then I’ll explain it to you.”
+Niddy disappeared into the kitchen and came back out a while later with two cups of hot cider. She handed one to me before taking a seat.
+“Now, I’m not going to pretend to know much about humans or any other race. But from what I hear, sometimes when a human suffers something really terrible, he shuts down. Stops caring, or gets really frightened.”
+“It’s been known to happen,” I said, taking a sip of the hard cider.
+“With goblins, it’s the opposite. See, we’re always looking ahead to the next best thing. It’s in our nature, you know? But we can get knocked off-kilter same as anyone else, we just show it differently.”
+“How so?”
+“Well, when a goblin survives something really terrible, like debt slavery to Barterbolt, he can go crazy. Starts thinking he can survive anything. This sort of goblin will do anything that he thinks will score him a profit, no matter how stupid. These are sappers. They’re all crazy. And my brother’s one of them.
+“We both saw bad things under Barterbolt. Folks getting blown up from moving explosives too fast, or getting tired and making some stupid, lethal mistake. It got to Yezz, and he started doing really reckless things. Anytime the overseer needed someone to do something suicidal, he volunteered.”
+“Did you ever try to stop him?”
+“Of course I did! How couldn’t I? I know us goblins aren’t supposed to care about anyone, but he and I looked out for each other, did that ever since we were kids. But he said it was a sure ticket out of debt slavery.”
+“He continued doing this after your release?”
+“I made him get a regular job at first, but he wasn’t good at it. Couldn’t sit still, always wanted to try something mad and dangerous. Risk makes life worth living, you know? But there’s such a thing as too much of it! I was so mad when he told me he’d become a sapper!”
+“Are there any other jobs that provide thrills with less risk of death?”
+“Sure, I think. But people like Ricket look for goblins who survived Barterbolt or the Venture Company, look for anyone who’s lost their good sense and then gets them to join. She knows they’ll jump at the opportunity.”
+“How are sappers usually used?”
+“They dig tunnels, set charges, transport explosives. But you already know that they’re told to detonate it if things get rough. Thing is, sappers actually think they’ll survive! Like they’re so tough no explosion can kill them. But it does!”
+Niddy began to cry, still talking through her sobs.
+“And Yezz is tough! You have to be to get through what we did. He can’t survive this, though! And Ricket knows it and uses him all the same!”
+She put her face down on her arm, her body shaking. Not sure what to do, I took her hand in my own. Niddy looked up at me after a moment.
+“Thanks, Destron. I don’t think any goblins would care much if I told them. I guess this is why they say that a goblin’s best friend is anyone from another race.”
+Niddy was silent for a while after that. We sat together in the darkened parlor, drawing strength from each others’ company. I finally broke the silence.
+“Is there anything you could do to stop the exploitation of the sappers?”
+“I don’t know where to start. It’s a tradition. Like, the goblins who become sappers are too crazy to do anything else, so they might as well blow themselves up. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with it until Yezz got suckered in.”
+“But surely a skilled and judicious explosives expert could accomplish more than a sapper. He could bring more experience, and less recklessness.”
+“Sure, they have people like that. Sappers get the grunt jobs.”
+“Still, wouldn’t the sappers do that even more effectively if they received proper safety training and some mental recovery?”
+“Maybe,” she sighed. “I could try to pitch that idea, talk about the increased profits that could come from a dedicated demolitions force. If any trade group would go for it, I bet it’d be Steamwheedle. I don’t think that’ll happen in time to save my brother though. He’s been through so much, and he’s really smart. I know he is! He just needs a little time.”
+I spent the next few days with Niddy, helping her draft a proposal for the Steamwheedle Cartel. I offered some advice, but she did nearly everything else. My scholarly style would not win many converts among the hard-bitten Steamwheedle executives. Her writing voice, sharp and to the point, posed a better chance of acceptance.
+Niddy took me to the sappers’ barracks on my last day, wanting to introduce me to Yezz. The sappers, fourteen in total, live together in a large (by goblin standards) but single-room house sporadically overseen by Ricket. Everything there is in deplorable condition. Scribbles of implausible devices cover the walls, most only half-completed. The sappers talk in a nearly constant stream, stumbling over their own words in the rush to make themselves heard. They wear their field equipment at all times, eroding the quality. Only the explosives are missing; it would not do to let them carry ordnance. The sappers satisfy themselves with fakes, strapping empty barrels to their backs and holding sticks of wooden dynamite.
+Yezz grinned when Niddy introduced him to me. He wore red-tinted goggles and thick leather gloves at all times.
+“Destron, is it? I’ve got some great ideas here, maybe you and I could go into business once I’m done with my contract here, hell, why wait? We can start planning now. See, I’ve got these ideas, dredging it up from the sea, lots of potential here, you know?”
+Niddy looked away for a moment. She stepped in, saying that I would soon be leaving K3. The two of them switched to conversing in Goblinish. Most goblins know Orcish or Common (or both) in order to facilitate trade, and the two languages have become the preferred tongue of the public realm. Goblinish is only used when discussing personal matters. Even then, Yezz kept his endless line of chatter, a smile fixed on his small face while Niddy held back her tears.
+Niddy walked me to the edge of town, where Glank was preparing his zeppelin. Frigid winds blew across the Snowblind Hills as we waited, and Niddy shivered in her coat.
+“Thank you for the help, Destron. I owe you for this one. Not sure how much money it’s worth, exactly.”
+“Take your time figuring it out,” I said, knowing that to refuse payment would insult her.
+“At the very least I’ll put in a good word for you wherever I can. Give you some credit if this thing ever takes off.”
+“Most of it was your idea.”
+“Not sure if I’d have made the attempt without you. To be honest, I’m not so sure this will work.”
+“You’ve done more than anyone else to help the sappers. That’s something, at least,” I said.
+“I did it to help Yezz. He’s the one who finally broke, but I’m not sure I could have survived debt slavery without him. I owe him something, and I might never get the chance to repay him. And now they’re going to send him to get killed.”
+“He’s family. It’s only natural for you to love him.”
+“Sure. And that’s love; repaying someone even after they can’t help you anymore. Just because it’s what has to be done.”
+We stood there in the snow for a while longer, the only sounds coming from the distant wind.
+*********
+Glank did not survive the crash. His broken body was the first thing I saw when I extricated myself from the wreckage, stepping out into the howling mountain storm. Snow hurtled down from black skies, driven by punishing gales. I struggled forward, trying to make headway. The snowfall increased, soon leaving me blind in a world of endless white. Fearing that I’d fall off some unseen cliff, I sat down in the snow and waited for the storm to clear.
+Undeath does not render me immune to the effects of severe cold. Forsaken can be revived after being frozen, but I knew I wouldn’t last long in the Storm Peaks without my wits. I only needed to keep warm enough to prevent from shutting down. Fire spells accomplished this reasonably well, and I used them judiciously throughout the ordeal.
+Not even the worst winter storm poses an obstacle to some of the natives. Cold hands gripped my arms and lifted me up from the snow, hours or days after the crash. Too stunned to react, I did nothing as they tied my hands together behind my back. I heard a shout, but could not make out the words over the storm.
+Seized by my left arm I was moved along through the snow, pulled and cuffed if I lagged or went the wrong way. I caught glimpses of my captor as a silhouette. The size of the gloved hand around my arm was like a human’s but larger. I realized I was at the mercy of the vrykul.
+I do not think we marched for long before reaching the caverns. The snow suddenly vanished, replaced by worn rock walls on all sides. The entire structure shook as massive doors clanged shut behind us.
+My captors were indeed vrykul, though not like the ones I’d seen in the south. Matching the descriptions I’d heard in K3, they looked to be carved from ice. Jagged rims of frost lined their clothes and tools, their features perfect yet somehow lifeless. Three of them stood around me, all women.
+“Here is where you will work and die, slave,” spat one.
+“He looks like one of the corpse-drones, sister. Wiser, I think, to slay him now,” growled another.
+“You worry about safety when glory awaits? Then leave this land and run yelping to the south like the gutless dog you are!” shouted the first, her high voice echoing in the mines.
+“You doubt me, sister? Then let me prove my courage to you in blood!”
+“Overseer, put this one in irons. Fylni and I shall settle our score at the grounds.”
+Another vrykul emerged from the shadows. She clapped a crude ball and chain around my right leg, and shoved me into a dark corridor of unworked stone. I passed other vrykul, dressed in rags and chipping at the rock wall with worn picks.
+“Now work, slave. Work until you die. You are worthless to us,” said the overseer. She leaned down to the corpse of a vrykul worker, taking the mining pick at his side and shoving it into my hands. I staggered under the weight of the thing, made for someone much bigger than myself. Without another word, the overseer retreated into darkness.
+I tried to assess my situation, bewildered by the sudden change. The passage echoed with the sound of metal striking stone, and I could see two vrykul miners up ahead, laboring under the lanterns' pale light. Layers of black filth covered their welt-ridden torsos, and their hair grew wild from neglect.
+As the overseer’s lantern receded into the darkness the miners slowed, their starved faces taking on wary expressions. Soon the work stopped entirely and the two vrykul shambled towards me. Bloodshot eyes peered curiously from tangled hair, and the closest one spoke, revealing a mouth of seeping gums.
+“What strange fate brings you here? Never before has the Death God sent his servants to the winter darkness of the Storm Peaks. Do you come alone, or does an army of the dead spill Hyldnir blood even as we speak?”
+I hesitated, momentarily at a loss. Would the vrykul truly mistake me for a Scourge minion? Perhaps exhaustion and desperation made them see what they wanted to see.
+“My dark master sent me to see if the tales of vrykul mettle prove true in these dark mines, though he told me little beyond that. I am a lesser lich, Khal Deathfrost, appearing weak to lull my enemies into complacency,” I said, choosing my lies with great care.
+“Then let us bring the wrath of Ymiron and the Death God to the ice-bound wenches who put us here! My heart yearns to again feel the battle song, and to hear the death cries of my foes! I am Mitgrum, Sorrow-of-Orphans, bladesman of the Dragonflayer. My battle-brother here is Rinnerjar, of the Crushed Jaw, hailing from the same.”
+“Patience, Mitgrum, Sorrow-of-Orphans, and Rinnerjar, of the Crushed Jaw. From his death-shrouded halls my master savors the promise of vengeance, and he will not be hurried.”
+“But it is our doom to die in battle! The decrees of fate cannot be delayed, even by the gods!” exclaimed Mitgrum.
+“Rest assured that you do battle even now, in some way.” I studied his face, hoping he believed me.
+“This? Battle? There is no clash of arms or shouts of war, only the chipping of stone. This is work for slaves! We have our ways of finding honor, but there is no better death than to die bringing woe to the Hyldnir!”
+“And even a slave may be rewarded if he fights well at the side of his master, which you are doing through your endurance. Or do you question the promise of the Death God?”
+Mitgrum looked suddenly doubtful.
+“Never will my words go against those of the Death God. We merely hunger for battle.”
+“How did you come to be captives?” I asked.
+“Even as rivers of blood fed the forests around Voldrune, Thane Torvald Eriksson, with Fist-Full-of-Gore, sent us to the mountains of storms eternal. Traitors cower in the dark places here, mocking our honor with their life. Strong are we, and wise in the ways of winter, but the Hyldnir used foul sorcery to trick us and bind us in chains!”
+“What do you know of the Hyldnir?”
+“Withered crones and ugly maidens to the last, hoping that the gods of old will wed them. No one can say how long they have held to their mountain fastness, or if they took part in the long slumber,” said Mitgrum.
+“They test their blades against each other at the Hyldsmeet, which goes on even now. I hear them speak of the trials in which all the Hyldnir take part, dipping their swords in the blood of kin and neighbor. Outlanders too, take part, though few are foolish enough to go against the word of our master,” added Rinnerjar.
+“Are all the prisoners here loyal to the Death God?” I asked.
+“Most are the cowards who see only the past, who seek glory in the musty sagas told by aged idiots. Truly only the weak flee from the promises of the Death God, for they fear to raise their hands against the Hyldnir.”
+“How many are loyal, besides yourselves?”
+“We and three others are the only true warriors in these cold halls. More once labored here but they have gone on to glory. We fought and killed them as they ailed, so that they might die in battle.”
+“Good,” I said. I’d apparently stumbled onto the weakest faction of miners. Yet the mention of the Hyldsmeet brought me a sliver of hope. Vyldra, the vrykul woman I’d helped in the Howling Fjord, had stated her intent to go north and participate in the event.
+If Vyldra still lived, she might be willing to help. I also wondered what had happened to her father, Vadrad. Had he also been put in the mines? I doubted that Vyldra would have allowed that to happen.
+“Go about your work as you would. Do not mention my name to a soul, not even the other loyalists. I will contact you when the time is right,” I said.
+“Give us the word and we shall rise up and flood the mines with Hyldnir blood, and build mountains with their skulls!” proclaimed Mitgrum.
+The mine is very poorly run. The vast complex of tunnels worms deep into the mountain, yet entire sections lie abandoned, preserved only by saronite energies. Passages meander into the rock without any sense of organization. Miners hack into the walls at random and are nearly always rewarded with dead stone.
+That the mine produces so little appears lost on the overseers, who make only sporadic checks on the workers. A miner can go for days without seeing one of his oppressors. They did not even relieve me of most of my supplies, seizing only the Amani war club I’d taken from Skorn.
+I could not fathom why the Hyldnir would bother with the mine. The slaves consume a great deal of food (minimal sustenance for a vrykul is still considerable), which is in scarce supply so far north. This might be justifiable if the mine produced significant amounts of ore, yet the carts rarely hold anything beyond dust and rubble. Obtaining slaves is another challenge, since few ever venture into Hyldnir lands.
+Conversing with the other miners proved impossible. I believe that Mitgrum and Rinnerjar maintained their silence, but most of the vrykul also assumed me to be Scourge. The situation forced me to keep company with the two loyalists.
+Fueled only by a few bowls of gruel or broth each day, extended effort was beyond the ability of the vrykul slaves. Mitgrum and Rinnerjar only mined during the rare visits of the overseer. The rest of the time they sat in the frigid darkness, their bodies collapsing from hunger. Too hungry to sleep yet too tired to work, the two vrykul did little more than lie on the ice-cold stone floor, dreaming of bloodshed. Nothing less than the thought of battle could rouse them, and then only for a little while.
+“Though the Hyldnir entomb us in the rock and starve us of food, our master knows that we will never die the death of cowards,” wheezed Rinnerjar. “If the time is not right to bring war unto the Hyldnir, then we shall fight our own number to ensure that we enter paradise drenched in blood, as a warrior must.”
+Rinnerjar lurched to his feet, the sudden exertion causing his knees to buckle. Grabbing the pick he moved up the tunnel at a crawl.
+“Tell our master that I died in gory honor with a battle cry the last sound from my lips. Tell him that I died with but one regret, that I could not hear the music of Hyldnir death-screams.”
+“Grant me the honor of helping you to the death of a warrior, Rinnerjar, of the Crushed Jaw,” said Mitgrum, standing up. “I will be your strength on the way to glory.”
+Mitgrum put Rinnerjar’s arm over his shoulder, and helped the ailing vrykul on his final journey. I followed close behind, both alarmed and curious. I felt a twinge of discomfort at allowing Rinnerjar to go to his death, but knew he would accept no other fate.
+They found another crew of miners at the end of the tunnel, languishing in the cold. I could just see their wasted forms under the lanterns, shuddering with each shallow breath.
+“Cowards all!” shouted Rinnerjar as he removed himself from Mitgrum’s support. “You writhe like corpse-worms in the rot of the old ways, shirking the fate decreed by our king and our god! Forever will your bones hang in the Death Halls of Var, your souls and deeds cast to oblivion!”
+Rinnerjar swung at the air with his pick, his arms trembling.
+“Do any of you dare face the might of a warrior?” he screamed, the withered voice echoing in the mines.
+A vrykul with a wild yellow beard stood up, spade in hand. His ruddy complexion marked him as a new arrival.
+“I see no might in your spirit, only the shrinking fear of one who has abandoned the All-Father. I, Ulf, Wolf-Hearted, will teach you the way of the warrior, and in so doing end your wretched life.”
+Howling, Rinnerjar aimed his pick at Ulf’s head. The stronger vrykul dodged easily and slammed the spade into Rinnerjar’s gut. The shock of the blow threw him to the ground, and Ulf pinned him there with his foot. He raised the spade and brought it down with all his might, once, twice, and a third time. The pale light revealed the blood spattered across the blade. Then he raised his head and looked to Mitgrum.
+“Heretic and death-worshipper Rinnerjar may have been, but the All-Father respects bravery in all its forms. If I have need, you must deliver unto me the same death found by your friend,” said Ulf.
+“I swear it will be so.”
+What I had seen was actually a vrykul funeral, held under great duress. I followed Mitgrum back into the tunnel.
+“Death in battle is our hope, Khal. Do you see the bloody soul of fallen Rinnerjar in the halls of the Death God? He cannot be anywhere else. Death is the only measure of a man. I know that the val’kyr no longer accept all who die in war, but the Hyldnir, not cowardice, restrain us in our deeds.”
+“My master tells me little, but I am sure Rinnerjar received his reward. He did die well, and there is nothing more that my master would expect,” I said.
+I learned that all the vrykul miners, loyalist or rebel, cooperate to ensure a violent death for all. Some seek this more directly, attacking the overseers, though the anti-Scourge vrykul were sometimes reluctant to do this, seeing the Hyldnir as near to the gods. As for the Hyldnir, they make no effort to discourage this practice.
+Cowards (meaning anyone who does not die in battle) are condemned to the cold afterlife of Var. Mitgrum said that the Death God used the souls in Var as mindless soldiers called var’gul, more like fodder than actual warriors. Even those who die in battle can become var’gul, if they perform poorly or fail when challenging others in certain ritual duels. The winners of these duels become ymirjar, the deathless warriors of the Lich King. He explained this when I questioned his understanding of the Death God’s ways.
+Fear knotted Mitgrum’s brow as he spoke of glory. I could sense his desperation. The vrykul do not fear death, but the desire for a particularly spectacular one sometimes compels them to wait. Mitgrum’s every thought revolved around killing the Hyldnir, and he feared he would not get the chance. He spoke in great detail of bringing wagon loads of bodies to the Lich King, and ascending to the highest honor.
+The only time the miners see anything of the outside world is when the scant ore is gathered and taken to the Hyldnir village of Sifreldar, south of the mine. This is done with the same disarray as everything else. The miners put the ore and waste rock into packs, which they then carry to the entrance. Presumably, someone else then sorts through the mess.
+I got my first good look at Sifreldar when carrying my pack out for disposal. Left to icy neglect, the bleak village of Sifreldar clings to a precarious existence at the base of jagged mountains. It resembles the town of Skorn in most respects, consisting of narrow houses that are little more than jumbled collections of wood and stone. While the southern vrykul towns are lightened by dashes of color, Sifreldar is uniformly dark. Layers of ice settle on peaked roofs that sag under the weight. Iron cages stand on the snow all through the village, devoid of living occupants.
+A wild-voiced overseer yelled curses at the miners as they emptied their packs, her obvious insignificance sharpening her fury. The miners paid her little heed. After unloading my own pack, I noticed a nearby vrykul unlike the rest, her skin colored in the familiar flesh tones of the south.
+Our eyes met, and I instantly recognized Vyldra. She gasped upon seeing me, and immediately turned to the overseer.
+“Mildred, this pitiful slave is useless to you, with his spindly arms that will surely break from the weight of the stone. Better that I sharpen my blade on his bones,” she bellowed. “Give him to me!”
+“But the—”
+“Do you dare deny me?”
+“Take him, Vyldra, Bloody-Haired! The lives of these slaves exist only to speed your entry into glory,” said Mildred, her voice glum. I heard snickers from the miners, who doubtless enjoyed seeing her authority so easily overridden.
+Vyldra grabbed me by the arm like a child. I hurried to keep pace as she strode through the snow, eventually headed to a narrow rocky pass cutting up through the mountains.
+“What mad fate brings us together a second time? Here in the land of the gods, where honor goes to die” she growled. “Count yourself lucky that I found you, for the mines are deadly even for one like yourself. Great warriors die in this place, robbed of their rightful doom, all done to feed the bloated pride of dead-hearted crones!” Her words surprised me, to say the least.
+“What happened to Vadrad?”
+“They threw my father into the dark pit from which I saved you. He, who once fought with the courage of a thousand men, consigned to a wretched fate. We Hyldnir are to be the brides of Thorim, yet the gods respect courage in all its forms. The Hyldnir would lose nothing by turning him into the wilds, to die doing battle with the giants. Instead, they robbed him of his destiny!” she raged, her free hand thrusting wildly into the air.
+“He deserved better,” I said. Whatever my discomfort towards his culture’s savagery and backwardness, I had still respected the old vrykul’s bravery and devotion to his daughter.
+“Never have the Hyldnir seen true courage, so it frightens them. I will honor the All-Father, and my father, by spilling their blood and proving their weakness.”
+“Before you continue, Vyldra, your father most likely died fighting. The miners have arranged to kill whoever is nearing death from exhaustion.”
+Vyldra stopped and turned to me, her eyes wide.
+“Did you see my father? I saw them dragging the body out, a great rent open in his skull, but I could not tell how he received it.”
+“I believe Vadrad was dead before I arrived, but I have seen miners do this to each other. Even the vrykul who serve the Lich King receive this honor.”
+“A paltry reward, one far less than what he deserved, but it is something. Now I know he looks down from his seat at the halls of the All-Father, a horn of spiced mead gripped in his hand and a savage smile on his face. I thank you, Destron. If he had the chance to die in battle I know he would have taken it, so there is no doubt in my heart as to his fate.”
+She looked away, her face twisting as if in pain, but only for a moment. Regaining her composure, she continued walking.
+“I crept into the mines one night, keeping to the darkness, and found him cold and hungry in the deepest tunnels. How I begged him to free himself! I promised to fight the Hyldnir alongside him, to meet death in rage as a warrior must. He refused, and forbade me from ever seeing him. ‘I am old and have fought my greatest battles, dearest daughter. Glory beyond mine is yours for the taking, and may my soul be damned if I get in your way.’ Such were his final words to me.”
+“If he didn’t mention the miners’ death arrangements, he may not have known of it at the time. I did not find out until some time after I arrived,” I said.
+“We Hyldnir can do as we please with the miners, but the overseers knew he was my father and would not let me save him, as I saved you. Perhaps hunger dulled his senses, so he could not see that these Hyldnir fall short of the All-Father.”
+“From what I’ve seen, they do not seem much different from the vrykul serving the Scourge. Vyldra, what do you intend to do with me?”
+“You helped me in Skorn, and I will never forget that. I saw how you kept fighting with your puny form, even after your sorceries left you. You are like the rabbit that fought the wolf, brave in the face of defeat. For this, I will try to release you so that you may find a better death than what the mines can offer. No Hyldnir will care what I do for you.”
+“When can you do this?”
+“Now, but I will ask you to wait a little while longer so that I may arrange a better escape. I know how your soul burns with hatred for the Death God, and I will not deny your vengeance. Give me but a few days, and I can promise you will sow death among the ranks of your foes.”
+*********
+Moonlight cut through the narrow windows, casting its pale shadow on the floor. I could hear Vyldra breathing as she slept in the straw mattress at the other end of the room, a dark and narrow affair littered with broken furniture. Only the shields hanging from the walls appeared new, horned skulls painted on the surfaces.
+I did not experience a pleasant arrival in Brunnhildar. Just like in Skorn, the locals poured their contempt on me, and Vyldra had to play along. She apologized profusely when we reached her home, a freezing house perched on the edge of a cliff.
+Vyldra had found me late in the day, and she went to sleep just past nightfall, after taking a saronite-preserved meal of reindeer flank. Candlelight revealed the extent of her exhaustion, her bloodshot eyes betraying her lack of sleep. She wore her anger and disappointment for all to see.
+A low and rumbling horn broke the cold morning calm. Already awake, I joined Vyldra. After setting a fire in the hearth, she cooked some preserved fish for breakfast. She looked better than she had the previous night, stronger and more refreshed.
+“Many are the tests of the Hyldnir, and what I face today is perhaps the worst. Only the finest seamstress may be the wife of a god, and it is in this that I must prove my ability. As if the gods need help in that!” she snorted.
+“I thought it was just combat. Have you fought at all?”
+“No! My ax thirsts for Hyldnir blood, as do I. Legends speak of the clash of swords sounding over the storm, but these Hyldnir adore their little rules. Make no mistake; the Hyldnir only respect those with frost on their skins. They treat outlanders like curs.”
+“You seemed to have authority over that Hyldnir overseer yesterday.”
+“Sifreldar is the fate met by those Hyldnir who shirk the trials of the Hyldsmeet. I am greater than them, but no matter how many I killed in better days, the Hyldnir burden me with more trials.”
+“You have more than the other contestants?”
+“They say that those born of the mountains are raised to become gods, that they already know the arts of hearth and loom. Those tests are for outsiders.”
+“You never learned such skills in Skorn?”
+“I do not think the Hyldnir know such skills either. No vrykul woman deigned to sully her hands with brute labor. We had slaves aplenty for that. Wives and mothers would watch the slaves of the house, but none did the work themselves.”
+“I see. What happened to your friend? Hilgmar, I believe?”
+“She never lived to see this damnable place, her life taken by the Scourge. We three were ambushed on a storm-tossed night south of here.”
+“I am sorry.”
+“Hilgmar will never taste the bitterness of her hopes being broken. She died simply and with honor, as well as any vrykul could hope.”
+She stood up and went to the door.
+“Stay here, for the Hyldnir will not brook your kind traveling free through Brunnhildar. Busy yourself with giving life to the fire, so that I might return to a warm home,” she ordered.
+The door slammed with a shocking bang, leaving me alone in the frigid cabin. Stealing a glance through the window I saw Vyldra tighten her fur robe as she walked to a rambling wooden hall. Snow fell in lonely flakes as she walked, drifting down through the thin air.
+I sighed, disheartened by the brutish hostility of the Hyldnir. The vrykul are far more complicated than an initial examination might suggest. Most vrykul serve the Lich King. A few hold out, standing fast to the old ways. Then there are the Hyldnir, who appear to claim some orthodoxy over those same old ways. Since the second group lacks any sort of unifying organization, I doubt they will play much of a part in current events.
+I believe that much of vrykul self-image is based on entitlement. This could either be an outgrowth from, or a cause of, their dependence on slaves. The Hyldnir take this mode of thought far enough that they feel comfortable enslaving other vrykul, presumably seeing them as lesser beings. Certainly, vrykul presented the only real option in terms of slaves, due to the lack of other inhabitants. If the Hyldnir run out of vrykul, I expect they will attempt to put the goblins of K3 to work.
+I waited in Vyldra’s cabin as dark day turned to darker night, with nothing to do besides tend to the trembling flames in the hearth. Winter storms roared outside, cold winds cutting through the thin walls and blowing dust around the chamber. Though saronite protect against decay, it cannot preserve any semblance of vitality. The fire’s fragile light somehow accentuated the sense of darkness and age, revealing the battered beds and cabinets to be no more than half-tangible memories. The future has no place in Brunnhildar.
+Vyldra nearly ripped the door off its hinges when she returned, her head bowed. Snow draped her shoulders and she shivered in spite of her thick clothing. Pushing off the snow, she knelt by the fireplace and extended her hands. I finally broke the silence.
+“How did you fare?”
+“From morning to dusk we labored, weaving tapestries of grand design. Each they threw into the furnace, our efforts an insult to our goal and to the Hyldnir. No skill will sway them, their minds devoured by pride.”
+“They scarcely seem worth the attempt.”
+“They are not worth anything! They are like the armies of the Death God, worm-stuffed corpses that do not know their time has passed! Many are the vrykul maidens who come here seeking glory, only to be cast aside while the Hyldnir pretend to be gods. The All-Father cannot find pleasure in this cowardice. I can see how the Hyldnir fear me, fear my swift and sharp blade. Not one dares to stand against me in combat, instead putting me to work at looms and stoves!”
+“Why do these Hyldnir behave so arrogantly?”
+“Ah, Destron. If you died like a coward and found your soul plunged into corpse-drowned Var, you would still satisfy yourself in asking each damned soul how he came to Var, what he did while alive, and what he does in damnation. You could find either afterlife to your liking. It is enough to almost make me envy you.”
+She gave a rueful laugh.
+“Our sagas speak of Sif with the Golden Hair, wife of Thorim. No living thing could compare to her beauty, and Thorim loved her with all his divine heart. But the giants, who in those days were the servants of the gods, began to plot and scheme, jealous of Thorim and his fortune. They killed Sif one night and ripped off her scalp, sending it to Thorim. Then began the war of gods and giants. Thorim called for the warrior women of the vrykul to bring his vengeance to the giants, and many answered the call. So began the Hyldnir.”
+“And Thorim would marry the Hyldnir who did the best job?”
+“So he said, though a thousand years went by without a single battle-maiden ascending to the ultimate glory. The Hyldnir slept like all the other vrykul. Though they cursed the name of King Ymiron, they joined the other vrykul in slumber, for the Hyldnir could not replenish their numbers when alone. No one knows what awoke them from their rest, whether it was the Death God or some other great power, but the Hyldnir found themselves apart from their race. Thirsting for blood, they resumed their war against the giants, seeking to wed Thorim before the Last Winter ends all.”
+“Then the Hyldnir regard themselves as favored warriors.”
+“They think the rest of us to be the lapdogs of Ymiron and the Death God, not knowing how a brave few fought and hated the foolish king.”
+“Do you wish to be Thorim’s wife?” I asked.
+“Questions are as meat and drink for you, Destron, do you ever stop asking? Now I shall ask questions of my own! Does Thorim know of the Hyldnir? He is silent, and who can say if he finds the Hyldnir worthy? Certainly I do not! Courage must always be respected, yet they put my noble father in chains! I cannot forget that. To forgive it is to insult his memory,” she said, her carefully arranged vrykul speech simplified by anguish.
+“I agree, you have a right to be angry. Though your father did tell you to continue your task.”
+“And that is what vexes me. I must honor and fulfill his words, but what the Hyldnir did goes against everything he taught me. I have faith that the brave will be rewarded. If I go out and challenge these Hyldnir, and die in so doing, I will be rewarded. Some doubt this, thinking the Hyldnir to be like gods, but I believe it in my bones. What better fate is there than to die fighting such foes, defiant even against the divine?”
+“Perhaps there are better ways to die, however. The Lich King, or Death God, rather, still rules your people. He threatens to rule the entire world. You are a fantastic warrior, Vyldra. The Horde would be honored to have you in its ranks.”
+She looked away from the fire and at me, her confusion apparent.
+“I must dwell on this, Destron. It is not easy for a warrior to decide which death to choose. I want to make the Hyldnir pay in blood.”
+“Yes, but remember that the Death God’s actions led your father to come up here in the first place. Surely the Scourge is also a worthy target of vengeance.” As I said this, I prayed she would not become like the hateful apothecaries.
+“You speak with wisdom. I will let you know tomorrow. Whatever my decision, be prepared for bloodshed.”
+I could almost hear Vyldra thinking through the night. I lay on a threadbare rug, wondering if she would really fit into the Horde. Though she had many legitimate grievances against the Hyldnir and the Scourge, I suspected that much of her anger stemmed from simple pride. In a sense, this was not so different from many normal Horde warriors. Still, given that she would be the only vrykul, it seemed like a source of potential conflict.
+The clash of blades heralded morning’s arrival, as Hyldnir fighters sparred in the snows of Brunnhildar. I stole a glance outside, seeing them test each other with metal weapons, easily capable of wounding or even killing. Helmed judges watched their progress, jaws set in stern frowns.
+Vyldra stepped over to the window, her hair disheveled. She did not look as if she’d slept at all.
+“The Hyldnir fight while we outlanders learn to be slaves.”
+“Have you thought about my offer?”
+“I have thought of nothing else. You speak with wisdom when you say that the Death God deserves my wrath more than the Hyldnir. Wise too is your call to join this Horde in battle. The first is a fate I will embrace, for what warrior could ignore the chance to face the Death God? The second I must shun.”
+“Why?”
+“If I am so rankled by the orders of fellow vrykul, how can I feel differently to the demands of a Horde race? I am a vrykul, Destron. It is my path to walk above and alone from the slave races of the world. There is much honor in them, I see this now. But I am a vrykul. I would shame my father, and his father, and all of my ancestors, if I fought at the bidding of a Forsaken.”
+“These slave races are rising in power each day, Vyldra. If the vrykul are to have any sort of future—”
+“Then we will not have a future!” she roared, spinning on her heels and turning to face me, teeth bared and eyes livid. I stood my ground, meeting her hostility without reaction.
+“Without pride and honor, we have nothing. How can we, children of the All-Father, hold any pride if we serve under those races who have never known his might?”
+“If you fight well and with honor, how does it matter who leads you? I am sure that a skilled vrykul such as yourself could rise quite high in the Horde.”
+“Still, you do not understand. If it were only a matter of honor in battle, then I would gladly join the armies of the Death God. But my father told me of the vrykul birthright, how we can serve no other master.”
+“Yet these lesser races now build empires greater than any made by the vrykul. Does that not suggest there is something more to them?” I said, finding myself angry at her obstinacy. Something about her passion resounded within me, strange as it may seem, and I hated the idea of her skill and strength going to waste.
+“There is often a deeper truth beyond mere facts, Destron. Even as these races surpass us, they are not greater than us. Our story is one of heroes, and the hero must always meet death.”
+I was about to retort, but gave up when I saw the look of certainty on her face. I’d seen something similar years ago, in a vengeance-crazed demon hunter I had met in the Blasted Lands. I had also tried to convince him, my arguments dashed against a wall of pride. Such monstrous emotions take on lives of their own, dark furies made insular and self-absorbed.
+Vyldra led me out of the cabin, the two of us walking in past the Hyldnir fighters, their swords ringing clear in the thin air. While I felt only gloom, Vyldra held her head high, looking prouder than I’d ever before seen her.
+“I feel as if a great weight has lifted from me, the cares of decision solved in one bold move. You are right, Destron, but you are also wrong. To the vrykul, the death of a warrior is greater than the death of a world,” she said, her quiet voice exultant.
+Such are the thoughts of mortals who imagine themselves gods. The vrykul love to see themselves as key players in great sagas. I wonder if it is not more accurate to think of their history as a cautionary tale for other warrior societies.
+I tried to glean whatever I could from a quick observation of Brunnhildar, having been denied the chance to learn much about the place. Brunnhildar is much like its sister town of Sifreldar, the shambles of a civilization that clings to the memories of a lost past. I do not think that Brunnhildar will be inhabited for much longer. The Hyldnir will have no way to sustain their population once the saronite-preserved foods run out. Perhaps this explains the savage abandon with which they embrace death. They would rather die in battle than move south and live as farmers.
+I saw the bear pen of Brunnhildar that morning, set in a wide and filthy pit in the center of the town. Half-wild white bears pace in the enclosure, their hides matted and drooping from malnutrition. I counted thirteen bears in all, four of them being ridden by Hyldnir warriors who ordered their hapless mounts with curses and lashes. I thought I detected a hint of desperation in the Hyldnir cries.
+“What is your plan?” I asked Vyldra, my voice barely audible over the growls.
+“The great wings of the frost-drake will take us from this damned place and into legend. We will ride out from Brunnhildar, slaying any who hinder us, and fly to a place of safety amidst the din of storms. Unleash your sorceries, for the Hyldnir deserve no better.”
+The Hyldnir keep a stable of riding drakes at the western edge of Brunnhildar, where the cliffs overlook the Valley of Ancient Winters. They appear healthier than the bears, presumably considered a higher priority. Their rough, armored bodies rest on the snow, supported by leather wings that they use like legs.
+“They even slew the drakes ridden here by my father and dear friend, calling such creatures useless in the north,” said Vyldra.
+More likely, the Hyldnir simply could not afford to feed any more drakes. Four Hyldnir stood guard around the drakes. The nearest notched an arrow to her bow as we approached, though she made no move to aim it.
+“No glories await you here, outlander wench! Return yourself and your slave to a cold hall and wait for the next test!” shouted the guard.
+“I am here to see the steed that will carry me to the gods, o noble maiden of battle, to see the victory that I know is my fate,” replied Vyldra.
+“What? I will make you eat your words, warm-skin! Turn back before I—”
+Vyldra sprang forward with her ax at the ready, her blood-curdling cry echoing in the valley. I cast a fire burst at the Hyldnir’s feet and she leapt back, losing her balance. A moment later she lay stretched out on the snow, blood pouring out from the wound in her neck.
+“I am Vyldra, Bloody-Haired, daughter of Vadrad, Death-of-Foes! Face now the vengeance of the warrior you tried to shame, and see your blood spilled on the winter snows!” she yelled.
+I ran with Vyldra towards the nearest drake, thankful for the balance provided by the snow shoes. Vyldra suddenly veered to the side, charging a sword-wielding Hyldnir. Vyldra intercepted the Hyldnir’s stroke with her own ax, steel hitting steel. Then she delivered a swift kick to the Hyldnir’s gut and plunged her ax into the distracted fighter’s head. Still yelling, the Hyldnir pulled back, blood streaming from her scalp, and slashed at Vyldra. The blade missed by a hair’s breadth, and the width of the swing left her open to a second, fatal blow.
+An arrow whistled past, narrowly missing my head. I fired arcane missiles at the archer, though they barely seemed to faze her. Meanwhile, another Hyldnir with a sword ran to intercept Vyldra.
+Fire sparked to life in my hands, gathering heat and brightness as I prepared a more damaging spell. Then a dull shock ran up my right leg, a Hyldnir arrow embedded in the shin. The spell died as I scrambled back, only mildly hindered by the wound. I moved towards the frost drake, only to have the beast swing its primitive head at me and roar. I fell to the ground in surprise, another arrow burying itself in the snow beside me.
+Using a blink spell I teleported a few yards to the side, casting a scorch spell as soon as I returned to existence. Searing flames blasted the Hyldnir, and I saw her bow fall to pieces in her hands. Possessed of the unbelievable vrykul toughness, she bounded towards me, a broad dagger in her right hand. I fired another set of arcane missiles and the final impact sent her reeling. She collapsed, dead or incapacitated.
+I turned to see Vyldra, blood running from a gash on her leg. Her opponent lay dead in the snow.
+“Destron, why are you not yet on the drake?” she demanded.
+“The drake seems hostile, and I don’t have any spells that might tame it.”
+“These drakes are proud and cruel, almost as much as we vrykul. Perhaps that is why we are the ones who ride them into battle.
+Vyldra broke the chain holding the drake to the ground with a single blow, and then leapt on the saddle with a lion’s swift elegance, grabbing the reins and giving a hearty cry of command. The drake struggled, its tail lashing out in anger. Then she cuffed it where the neck met the body and cried in shrilly pain. Again it resisted, the muscles along its spine rippling as it tried to throw Vyldra to the side. She hit it again, and the beast finally acquiesced, lowering its head in defeat. I clambered into the saddle in front of Vyldra, her arms around my head.
+The drake lifted off, the power in its body reminiscent of a mighty engine coming to life. I felt a momentary thrill at riding such a primeval creature, as if I were imposing my will on the elements, even though Vyldra had done all of the work.
+In an instant, she was gone. I suddenly became aware of her absence, of the emptiness behind me.
+“Vyldra!” I shouted.
+Looking down, I saw her clutching her side, an arrow’s shaft protruding from a bloody wound. The Hyldnir had seen us, and I saw three running to kill Vyldra, two more standing back and firing arrows. One hit the drake’s head, breaking harmlessly on its armor plates.
+Grabbing the reins I tried to get the drake to circle down, but the creature would have none of it, flapping its massive wings as it rose into the darkness. Below me, Vyldra was fighting the Hyldnir, one of them already lying in a gory mess at her feet. Yet more warriors rushed out from their frozen halls with weapons drawn.
+The last I heard from Vyldra was her terrible battle-cry, carried up by the cold winds, alight with glory.
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+There is a very usual misunderstanding that is enhanced frequently by mainstream porn which a larger penis is needed for much better sex. This might not be additionally from the truth. In reality, a recent study from 2021 exposed that a mix of mild massaging, deep kissing, and oral sex with a women partner are more probable to have a female off first which none of these things require a man being endowed. There are three main factors for this. They consist of the reality that ladies prefer it when a guy focuses on them and exactly how oral sex really feels various to sexual intercourse.
+The first thing you will wish to work on as you boost your sexual performance with workout is the “penis girth” or density. Your penis is made up of ligaments, fat, and also connective cells. The thickness of your penis can be boosted via masturbation and by exercising specifically created for penis augmentation. Exercising rises the flexibility of the penis which indicates that it is much less most likely to “reuse” semen, suggesting there is more sperm left over after an ejaculation.
+Secondly, the much more you permeate your partner throughout sex, the much more she will obtain from you. When a man is performing cunnilingus on his companion, he is primarily getting her in order to stimulate her clitoris. The more stimulation received, the more likely she is to climax. A penis that is not able to soak up the sexual stimulation from her vagina might discover itself unable to execute at its finest.
+Penis enlargement surgical treatment might be required if there are problems obtaining your penis to broaden the way you desire it to. One typical issue is a suspensory ligament. This suspensory ligament aids the penis prolong right into the vaginal dental caries.
+If it ends up being damaged, your penis can not expand external due to the fact that it is connected to the top of the penile shaft. When this occurs, the penis can show up longer than it is by looking just at the girth. A broken penile ligament will certainly not enable consistent circulation of blood toward the pelvic area, which will make you look bigger, however it will additionally make it challenging to have an erection.
+Along with making use of penis-expanding techniques like jelqing and dangling, some males resort to operations like micro-surgery fillers, which are really injected inside the penis. Micro-surgery fillers go inside the penis much like they do with fillers in the upper legs. The outcome is that when you sell, the spaces where your penis skin and coarse cells satisfy broaden external to improve the overall girth. Some guys say that it really feels much better than natural enlargement workouts, however others are not offered. One reason why some males claim that jelqing is much better than surgical fillers is that they really feel a lot more in control because they are doing it under their own power.
+One more technique of improving the girth is via making use of a lube. Most sex playthings, male improvement pills and also creams, all consist of lubricating substance. The concept is to offer the penis enough lubrication to make sure that the cells inside can stretch sufficient to raise both length and also girth. If the lubricating substance is too thick or oily, after that you may experience some pain throughout penetration or problem getting erections.
+You can see that the penis augmentation market has most definitely progressed. Males have learned that excellent sex originates from being able to get to orgasm during intercourse, however that penis extenders don’t actually accomplish anything other than making your penis look larger. As a whole, penis extenders don’t increase penile dimension very much, if in any way. Even if you assume that they might offer you a longer penis that is extra put up and with a far better body image, they possibly will not.
+Are you among those people available seeking the greatest, fastest and also most intense climax ever before? Would you like to experience complete solidity, a rock tough erection and a mind blowing climax simply by utilizing penis extenders? If so after that you are probably asking yourself just how you can get a bigger cock. Well, let’s shed some light on this concern considering that lots of guys are unsure about whether penis extenders function or otherwise. Keep reading this short article for additional information.
+The summer is right around the bend. The weather condition behaves, children go to summer season camp and everything is about to get better. Don’t fail to remember concerning your manhood. Summer indicates impotence for a great deal of males, including me. This problem can be fairly embarrassing especially if you’re a person who would certainly enjoy to go on a summer season getaway with his buddies as well as impress his good friends with his recently obtained big summer penis.
+In order to resolve your problem pertaining to the size of your penis, the most effective way is to consider an all natural penis enlargement program. Penis augmentation pumps, pills and also lotions are the prominent approaches in the marketplace. I make sure you have tried at the very least among them but were let down with their results. Allow’s take a look at a few popular approaches that can aid you achieve a larger prick:.
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+TERMS OF SERVICE Last modified: 05.04.2019 1 GENERAL RISER is a web based platform and a connected mobile application. The services and functionality of RISER is based on the idea of collecting and publicizing motorcycle relevant information on the RISER online platform riserapp.com and the mobile application RISER. The information is collected by the user and shared on the web platform, visible for other registered users. It is RISER’s aim to make motorcycling more fun, providing a platform to connect like-minded people, sharing route information and getting informed on relevant topics. Every service as well as the collecting, editing and provisioning of personal data by RISER underlies the applicable data protection laws. Every user is able to decide her/himself which personal information or data should be visible to the other users. 2 APPLICATION TO TOS 2.1 By registering, the user explicitly accepts RISER’s Terms of Service (TOS) as well as all existing agreements of this document. Further, the user confirms that he has fully read and understood this Terms of Service (TOS). 2.2 The use of all services and functions of the RISER platform riserapp.com and the mobile application is not possible without explicit agreement to these Terms of Service. 2.3 Only the German version of these Terms of Service is mandatory and can be found at. 2.4 These Terms of Service hold for either the online platform and also for the mobile application (available for iOS & Android) and every subdomain of riserapp.com. 2.5 Changes of the Terms of Service are possible at any time. The current and compulsory Terms of Service can be found at and during registration via mobile application or the web-platform (). 3 OBJECT OF AGREEMENT 3.1 Mobile application RISER for Apple iOS, Android and web platform RISER (): 3.1.1 Currently the mobile application is available for iOS (Apple) and Android (Google) platform and all services can be used via this application and parts also on the web-platform. 3.1.2 Newsfeed (Term: Feed): own activities/trips and activities/trips and added motorcycles from friends, sponsored posts and advertisements; 3.1.3 My Roadbook (Term: Roadbook): my own activities/trips, created sections/segments (part of trips; also called segments), as well as segments/sections of other users 3.1.4 My personal profile (Term: My profile): personal data like last name, first name, profile picture (optional), cover image(optional), my bike(s)(optional), statistics regarding my activities/trips (like in roadbook), list of activities/trips, links to friends, photos and my roadbook. 3.1.5 My friends (term: Friends): a list of people who are friends with me or sent a friendship request. 3.1.6 My photos (term: Photos): overview of all photos taken during a trip or added afterwards; sorted by trip & date; depending on the privacy level of a trip which the photo is assigned to, different user groups can view these photos (public, friends, private). 3.1.7 Discover function (term: discover): with the discover function it possible for the user to find interesting sections/segments nearby; further, these sections/segments can be loaded into the user’s roadbook; these sections have motorcycle relevant information like: Duration, length, climb & fall, badges to describe the section/segment; 3.1.8 The user can share an activity/trip including chosen photos on the social platform Facebook. This is only possible with the explicit agreement of the user; user generated content is not shared automatically, the user has to activate the „Share on Facebook“ option. 3.1.9 The user confirms with the registration that costs of any kind, which emerge through transmission of data between his smartphone, computer or any other internet device, are invoiced with the user’s cell phone carrier and paid by the user her/himself. RISER takes no responsibility for caused costs. 3.1.10 Notifications (term: notifications): the user is notified if other users, for instance, like or comment on the user’s activities or trips. 3.1.11 RISER offers its users so called „Live weather“: The user has the possibility to see the weather forecast with an eight hour forecast for the current location. RISER takes no liability for the correctness and completeness of this information and resulting damages. 3.1.12 The user also has to respect the terms of service from his cell phone provider (Apple iPhone, Google Android, Samsung etc). 3.1.13 With the getaway feature, the user has the possibility to create and organize common rides with friends or also unknown other users. A getaway equates a motorcycle ride (event). The creator of a getaway can set a duration (short spin, day trip or journey) and a driving style (cruising, dynamic or sporty) in order to give other users an idea about the planned ride. Further, the creator can add information like: Start and end time, meeting point, title and description and a preview image. The creator/owner of a getaway has the possibility to invite other users to his/her getaway. Only the creator himself/herself is responsible for the content and the information provided in a getaway. The creator is required to follow the applicable laws of the respective area in which the getaway will take place. RISER takes no liability for the correctness & completeness of the provided information or any violation or subsequent damages. The responsibility lies at all time at the creator and the participating users. The user commits her/himself to hold RISER harmless at any rate. 3.1.14 The auto pause function automatically detects a possibly break and switches gps-tracking into pause. RISER is not responsible for incomplete tracking data of a user’s trip. The user always has the possibility to manually end a pause and continue tracking again. RISER assumes no liability for subsequent possible damages/violations. The user commits her/himself to hold RISER harmless at any rate. 3.1.15 The RISER Adventure Navigator is based on different Algorithms and suggests the user routes by taking different criteria into consideration. Further the user has the possibility to get turn-by-turn navigation with real-time instructions und these suggested routes. RISER assumes no liability for subsequent possible damages, violations or the completeness and correctness of the provided data or any violation or subsequent damages. The user commits her/himself to hold RISER harmless at any rate. The user itself is responsible for any taken action. 3.1.16 Offline Maps enable the user to download maps on the smartphone from user specified areas. These maps are used when there is no internet connection. RISER assumes no liability for the completeness or correctness of the provided information or subsequent damage. Further the user commits himself/herself to hold RISER harmless at any rate. 3.1.17 Live Tracking is a tool that allows the user to send his current location via a secret link to a web-based service. The user can send this link at his/her responsibility via different channels (SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook etc.) to other persons, groups or platforms (e.g. facebook). RISER assumes no liability for the correctness and completeness of the provided information. The user commits to hold RISER harmless at any rate. 3.1.18 reWind is tool that integrates your driven trips into an interactive 3D map and enables the user to relive his activities and share them with other persons, groups or platforms. With whom the user shares the created link, lies in his/her own responsibility. RISER assumes no liability for the correctness and completeness of the provided information. The user commits to hold RISER harmless at any rate. 3.1.19 Pack Ride functionality enables a registered user to create or join a so called Pack Ride/joint ride. Every member of a Pack Ride can see the location of other participants and gets informed about changes of the Pack Ride status. The user has the opportunity to send actively notifications to all other pack members. In addition, automated notifications get sent to the user e.g. in case a Pack Ride members falls behind. 3.1.19.1 Users with an active PRO membership can create unlimited Pack Rides. 3.1.19.2 User with a free Basic membership can create Pack Rides with a time limit of 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the Pack Ride functionality is stopped and the user is back in trip recording mode. The user can create a new limited Pack Ride again. 3.1.19.3 RISER assumes no liability concerning the accuracy or completeness of the data provided through Pack Ride or anywhere else in the app. The user alone is responsible himself/herself for all actions. 3.2 Online platform 3.2.1 Product presentations, News, About (team), Partner, Advertisements (by RISER or third parties), Contact, Terms of Service (TOS) & Privacy Policy. 3.2.2 Also basic functionality of the mobile applications (e.g. Newsfeed, Profile, Roadbook, Groups, Getaways etc.) is available on the web-platform. 3.3 The user confirms with the registration for RISER and his/her explicit consent (Opt-In) to agree to receive the RISER newsletter. With every newsletter, the user has the possibility to unsubscribe via an unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter and will then no longer receive the newsletter. 4 REGISTRATION 4.1 In order to use the mobile application (iOS & Android) RISER and the online platform riserapp.com, the user can register for free or enter the app via test-mode (only iOS and Android) without registration. After the registration, the user is automatically assigned to the free basic membership of RISER. With the registration or the use of the test-mode, the user commits himself/herself to comply to these terms of service and the RISER privacy policies (). 4.2 The registration to RISER is reserved to natural persons. A registration for commercial purpose/use (company profile) is restricted. RISER reserves the right to contact the owner of such a profile and to deactivate or delete the corresponding account. 4.3 Only fully legally competent individuals are admitted for registration at RISER. Minors are only permitted for registration with a written approval by parental authority. This approval needs to be sent to registration@riserapp.com. 4.4 The user has also the possibility to test a limited version on the mobile application when entering test-mode. The user can register for free at any time. Driven trips and data will then be transferred to his/her registered account. By entering test mode, the user confirms that he/she has read, understood and agreed to these terms of service. The user commits him/herself to comply to these terms of service. 4.5 In order to use all the basic functions of RISER in the mobile application (Android & iOS), a free of charge registration is mandatory. After the registration, the user is automatically subscribed to the free basic membership. Registered users have two different subscription options: 4.5.1 the free basic membership (Basic). With this membership, the user gets all the basic functions of RISER free of charge. As mentioned in 4.5, the user is automatically subscribed to this membership after the registration. 4.5.2 the fee-based PRO membership. With this membership, the user gets extended functionality and additional features within RISER. The user has to subscribe actively for this membership. 4.6 Each user is only allowed to register for one single account. Formerly used accounts need to be deleted. 4.7 With the registration, the user confirms that he has read, understood and agreed to the RISER’s terms of service. The user commits himself to comply with these terms of service. 4.8 Currently, registering is available for the mobile application for iOS and Android. RISER offers its users two different ways to register for the platform: 4.8.1 Registration via application form within the mobile application or the web-platform. Information needed: Email address, password, last name and first name. 4.8.2 Registration via Facebook Connect. The user has to confirm that the data can be adopted by RISER to perform the registration. 4.9 The user has the possibility to complete or change his personal data. 4.10 RISER has no influence and no proof whether the data provided by the user corresponds with his/her true identity. RISER recommends its users to have a closer look at a user profile before interacting with a specific user e.g. accepting a friend request. 4.11 RISER claims the right to refuse or delete users without stating a reason. If an account is deleted - all the corresponding data will be deleted. 5 TERMS FOR PRO USERS & PAYMENT 5.1 An upgrade to the PRO subscription plan requires a beforehand registration to RISER via mobile application or the web-platform. The purchase can be made via 5.1.1 the respective app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store) if the user purchases the PRO membership via the mobile application. The user agrees to the terms of the respective platform and its payment procedures. 5.1.2 the web platform riserapp.com. With the purchase, the user agrees to accept this terms of service. The payment of the respective membership modell (see 5.2) is processed via credit card by our payment provider Stripe. With the moment of the confirmation of the processed payment, RISER PRO is automatically activated. RISER does not store any credit card information. The connection to our payment provider Stripe is secured via SSL. For more information about the payment provider Stripe click 5.2 The user can choose from two different membership options: 5.2.1 Monthly subscription: the user pays monthly fees including possible taxes. The activation of the PRO membership happens after the app store (Google Play or Apple App Store) confirmed the successful payment. The actual pricing can be checked at riserapp.com or in the respective app store. 5.2.2 Yearly subscription: the user has to pay the fee, including possible taxes, once a year. The PRO membership is activated after the app store (Google Play or Apple App Store) confirmed the successful payment. The actual pricing can be checked at riserapp.com or in the respective app store. 5.2 The payment of a PRO membership needs to be paid in advance, independent of the subscription-model, and begins with the confirmation of the payment. The PRO membership gets activated after the payment is processed and RISER received confirmation from the app stores or Stripe (after payment via riserapp.com). 5.4 If the payment cannot be confirmed due to e.g. insufficient account cover, the user has to bear any resulting costs. This applies especially for costs occurring due to return of debit or comparable costs. Consequent invoices or payment reminders can be sent to the user via email. 5.5 After the expiry of a subscription period (monthly or yearly), it is renewed automatically for the same period length the user had originally subscribed for, in case the user has not cancelled the subscription within the current period. 5.5.1 The automatic renewal of the subscription follows, if not explicitly stated at the purchase, the same conditions as the prior subscription. 5.6 The user has the possibility to cancel the PRO subscription plan at any time during the subscription. Already paid out payment will not be refunded by RISER. A cancelled subscription will then run until the expiry of the current period. 5.7 For users with a PRO subscription plan, unless otherwise agreed (5), the same terms of service as BASIC users. 5.8 Buyers of the yearly membership have the opportunity to test the PRO-membership 14 days for free one time only. The terms and payment procedures of the respective app store are applied. 5.9 The purchase of the yearly PRO membership via the web platform riserapp.com includes a one time only 14 day trial test phase. 5.10 A cancellation of the PRO membership within the 14 day trial phase results in the user being assigned automatically to the free BASIC membership again and no costs will be charged. 6 ABUSE 6.1 The user commits to protect the login data from unauthorized access of third parties. The user her/himself is responsible for any kind of damage that is caused by unauthorized access. 6.2 The user commits to report abusive usage of the account immediately to abuse@riserapp.com. In this case, RISER claims to have the right to block the affected account. 6.3 RISER claims the right to block or delete accounts that are suspicious of abusive usage. 7 CESSATION BY USER 7.1 Every user has the possibility to delete his account at any time (Internet connection required) via the mobile application as well as in the settings of the web platform riserapp.com. The deletion has to be confirmed once. A deletion is permanent and the data is not restorable. 7.2 RISER claims the right to block or delete user accounts due to gross violation of the RISER terms of service. 8 DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE USER 8.1 When registering, every user of the platform as well as of the mobile application commits her/himself to state the demanded information truthfully and moreover, protect the data from third parties. A dissemination of the data is not permitted. 8.2 Every user commits her/himself not to spread, store, transfer or send content which is either abusive, discriminatory nor glorifying violence. 8.3 Every user commits her/himself to only post, store, transfer or spread data s/he is authorized of. That means that the user her/himself either is sole owner of the usage right or, if the user is not the owner of the usage rights of the content, guarantees RISER that all the necessary rights, licenses and consent have been collected. The responsibility lies solely in the hands of the user. Moreover, in the case of a violation against these usage or copyrights, the user obligates to hold RISER free and harmless. 8.4 The user commits her/himself not to store, copy or spread the content of third parties without their permission. This is explicitly only allowed with the allowing of the rights owner. 8.5 RISER assumes no liability for missing, lost or damaged data. The user her/himself is responsible for saving the data regularly. 8.6 The user commits her/himself to be careful with personal data. The decision with whom to share certain data is the exclusive decision of the user. RISER assumes no liability for subsequent possible damages/ violations. 8.7 In the case of violations of the user against the general terms and conditions, RISER has the right to enforce certain sanctions against the user. These sanctions may range from a warning to an exclusion from the RISER platform. In the case of exclusion, the user loses her/his right to register for RISER again. 8.8 The user alone is responsible for the self-created content. RISER does not take over supervision function. 8.9 RISER reserves the right to delete content created by its users without necessarily stating a reason. 8.10 RISER does not take responsibility for the correctness of shared or published content, e.g. route information, descriptions etc. 9 PRIVACY POLICY 9.1 With the registration for RISER, the user confirms that he has fully read, understood and completely agrees with the privacy policy. The policy can be found at. 9.2 With the confirmation of the Terms of Services, the user also confirms changes in the privacy policy. Current privacy policies are accessible with the following link:. 9.3 Only the German version of the privacy policy is binding. 10 WARRANTY AND LIABILITY 10.1 RISER does not take any warranty concerning the permanent availableness and accuracy of the data. 10.2 The use of the platform as well as the mobile applications can exclusively be carried out at the user’s own peril. 10.2.1 RISER assumes no liability concerning the accuracy or completeness of the data of registered users. 10.2.2 RISER assumes no liability for external links, advertisement (e.g. in the form of banner, advertorial and so forth) or external services and information from third parties. 10.2.3 RISER assumes no liability for damage on the smartphone because of its use while driving. 10.2.4 RISER assumes no liability for the user’s used information from the platform as well as the mobile application. RISER does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of uploaded route information (segment/ section) or recorded activities and trips. The user her/himself is responsible for her/his actions and commits her/himself to hold RISER harmless at any rate. 11 DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY 11.1 RISER is only liable, if damage is caused by RISER deliberately or through gross negligence. Thereby, RISER is liable pursuant to the statutory provisions. In the case of slight negligence RISER is not liable towards companies and towards the users only with regard to injury of life, body and health. 11.2 The liability of RISER towards companies concerning secondary damage, financial losses, missed out profit, damage because of demands from third parties is excluded. 11.3 RISER assumes no liability for the accuracy and completeness of the shown information (e.g. route details, descriptions, photos and so forth) via the platform as well as the mobile application. The responsibility rests solely at the user. The user is solely liable for caused damage and commits her/himself to hold RISER harmless at any rate. 12 HOLD-HARMLESS AGREEMENT BY THE USER 12.1 The user holds RISER harmless of any claims through third parties caused by violating their rights by uploading, providing or publicizing content on the platform riserapp.com or the mobile application. The user bears all arising costs e.g. for legal defence for RISER or any lawsuit costs. The only exception: the infringement is not ascribed to culpable acting of the user. 12.2 The user is liable to inform RISER immediately, completely and truthfully in case of any claims through third parties. The user is also liable to deliver all required for validating claims and further for legal defence. 12.3 With exceptions, RISER and with RISER commercially connected companies are not liable to damages emerging from the use of the platform riserapp.com and the mobile application and the provided information. 13 CHANGES OF THE GENERAL TERMS OF SERVICE 13.1 Because constant further development of functionalities, services and information provided by RISER, RISER maintains the right to adapt the general terms of service (TOS) at any given time. The respectively current version of the terms of service (TOS) is accessible through the mobile applications of RISER as well as via the following link:. 13.2.1 With continuous use of the RISER website () and all its subdomains or the mobile application, the user explicitly accepts the new/adapted terms of service and possibly adapted privacy policy. In case a user does not want to accept the adapted terms of service, the only remedy is to not use the services of RISER on the website and all its subdomains as well as the mobile application any longer. 13.2.3 If the user denies a change in the general terms of condition s/he loses the right to use the services and information provided by RISER (website, web-platform & mobile application). 14 MISCELLANEOUS 14.1 All legal relationships and litigations between the user and RISER underlie Austrian rights exclusively. Place of fulfilment and exclusive place of jurisdiction for any legal affair is Vienna, Austria. 14.2 If some of these terms may be inoperative, the rest of the terms remain inviolate. 14.3 Only the German version of these terms of service are binding and contractual basis. Last modified: 05.04.2019
+Peer Reviewed
+For many with type II diabetes, initiation of insulin therapy represents a devastating progression of their disease. Patients who are dependent on insulin require constant blood sugar monitoring, adherence to strict dosing algorithms, and up to 4 self-administered injections every day. According to a 2010 survey of non-insulin adherent diabetic patients, both “injection phobia” and inconvenience were found to be important barriers to initiation of insulin therapy. [1]. In response to these concerns, less invasive administration techniques such as inhaled insulin have been a topic of major interest over the last decade. Accepting inhaled insulin as a replacement for injectable could revolutionize the management of type II diabetes and improve the lives of millions of Americans suffering from the disease. And yet Exubera, the first FDA-approved form of inhaled insulin was pulled from the market only a year after its 2006 release due to poor sales. A second product, AIR insulin, was terminated during phase III clinical trials due to “uncertainty in the regulatory environment” [2]. Although a third product is currently awaiting FDA approval [3], the future of inhaled insulin remains murky despite important potential benefits for the estimated 26 million Americans with diabetes.
+Inhaled insulin bypasses gastrointestinal peptidases and utilizes the massive surface area of the pulmonary epithelium (approximately 100 square meters) to deliver the insulin polypeptide directly into the blood stream. [4]. In a study of 17 volunteers, inhaled insulin was found to reach peak blood concentrations within 143 minutes, faster than injected regular human insulin and slightly slower than insulin lispro. These pharmacokinetic properties allow inhaled insulin to be used as a pre-prandial insulin bolus equivalent with an approximate efficacy conversion rate of 1 mg inhaled insulin to 3 units of subcutaneous insulin[5].
+The first inhaled insulin product, Exubera, was developed by Pfizer and Nektar Therapeutics in the 1990s. The Exubera system packaged insulin into dry powder blister packets containing 1 or 3 milligrams of regular human insulin (equivalent to 3 and 8 units respectively) which were then loaded into a mechanical inhaler for bolus inhalation by the user [6]. Exubera performed well in phase I, II, and III clinical trials. In a phase III clinical trial published in Diabetes Care in 2004, 298 patients were randomized to 6 months of treatment with pre-meal inhaled insulin plus bedtime long-acting insulin or subcutaneous insulin (mixed regular/NPH insulin). The inhaled insulin regimen was found to be effective and well-tolerated with a similar decrease in hemoglobin a1C compared to subcutaneous insulin (-0.7% for the inhaled group, -0.6% for the subcutaneous group). The adjusted difference in hemoglobin a1C between the two treatment groups was -0.07% (95% CI -0.32 to 0.17). Additionally, the inhaled insulin group experienced fewer hypoglycemic events. Adverse effects observed in the inhaled insulin group included increased cough and a minor decrease in lung function that was not statistically significant. Additionally, quality of life scales showed significant improvement for patients on inhaled insulin compared to those on subcutaneous insulin [7].
+Exubera received FDA approval in 2006, after which it appeared poised to revolutionize the market for diabetes medications. Analysts expected blockbuster sales of up to $1 billion a year while the New York Times, declared in a front page article that there would be “more convenience and less pain for millions of diabetics” [8,9]. Despite these forecasts, Exubera was a commercial flop, achieving only $12 million during the first 9 months of 2007. On October 18, 2007 after nearly 2 years of poor sales, Pfizer announced that it was withdrawing Exubera from the market. The drug which had once promised to change diabetes management forever was later described as “one of the most expensive failures in the history of the pharmaceutical industry” [10].
+Exubera was believed to have failed for a multitude of reasons, namely its cost (approximately twice as expensive as subcutaneous insulin), its design (the size of 2 stacked 18 ounce water bottles), and its non-superiority compared to subcutaneous insulin. There was also some confusion surrounding its dosing due to a package insert which stated that a 3 mg blister packet was not equivalent to three 1 mg blister packets [19].In addition, the FDA required interval monitoring of lung function for all patients on the drug due to observed changes in lung function during clinical trials [11]. Perhaps most alarmingly, Exubera also carried a theoretical risk of lung cancer due to potential cross-reactivity with insulin-like growth factor receptors in epithelial tissue [12]. As a result of these concerns, the FDA stipulated that Exubera was “not recommended” for patients with asthma or COPD and contra-indicated for tobacco smokers [19]. In 2008, Pfizer revealed that 6 of the 4,470 Exubera-treated patients versus 1 of the 4,292 comparator-treated patients developed lung cancer in a phase III trial [13]. Although the finding was not statistically significant and all of the new cases were prior tobacco smokers, the news put the future of inhaled insulin into question.
+In the wake of Exubera’s failure, clinical studies of several other inhaled insulin systems were suddenly halted. AIR insulin, a delivery system composed of a much smaller palm-sized inhaler loaded with dry powder insulin was in the midst of phase III trials in March of 2008, when developer Lilly announced that it was terminating development [2]. The results of those clinical studies, published a year later, were equivocal, with one finding AIR insulin to be superior to subcutaneous insulin with no lung function changes and the other finding AIR insulin to be inferior with significant lung function changes [14,15]. Afrezza, another palm-sized inhaled delivery system which loads insulin into uniformly-sized microparticles called technospheres, remains one of the last inhaled insulin products in development [16]. A phase III clinical trial published in the Lancet in 2010 demonstrated non-inferiority to 70/30 twice-daily insulin with no decrease in lung function, fewer hypoglycemic episodes, and significantly less weight gain [17]. Similar results were found in a phase III clinical trial when preliminary results were announced in an August 2013 press release. Compared to insulin aspart, Affrezza demonstrated non-inferiority in lowering hemoglobin a1c, fewer episodes of hypoglycemia, decreased fasting blood glucose, and less weight gain [3]. Additionally, Mannkind is designing Affrezza to be about half the size of current albuterol inhalers in an attempt to avoid some of the backlash surrounding Exubera’s water bottle-size design around the time of its release. [19] Although these design improvements and clinical trial results show important advancements over previous inhaled insulin devices, Afrezza awaits final FDA approval as of May 2014 (a final decision by the FDA is expected by July).
+7 years after the release of Exubera, the future of inhaled insulin remains uncertain. Although few can deny the impact that inhaled insulin would have on the lives of millions of diabetics, safety and feasibility concerns continue to hinder what is potentially the next revolution in diabetes management.
+By Reed Magleby, MD is a medical student graduate at NYU School of Medicine
+Peer reviewed by Terry Seltzer, MD, Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center
+References
+1. Karter AJ, Subramanian U, Saha C, et al. Barriers to Insulin Initiation. Diabetes Care. 2010;33(4):733-735.
+2. Lilly Announces Termination of AIR Insulin Program [news release]. Eli Lilly and Company; March 7, 2008.? releaseid=298284. Accessed August 13, 2012.
+3. MannKind Reports Positive Data from a Phase 3 Clinical Study of AFREZZA in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes. [news release]. Mannkind Coporation; August 14 2013.. Accessed December 8 2013.
+4. Heinemann L. Alternative delivery routes: inhaled insulin. Diabetes Nutr Metab. 2002;15:417–222.
+5. Rave K, Bott S, Heinemann L, et al. Time-action profile of inhaled insulin in comparison with injected insulin lispro and regular human insulin. Diabetes Care. 2005;28(5):1077-1082.
+6. Mastarandrea LD. Inhaled insulin: overview of a novel route of insulin administration. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2010;6:47–58.
+7. Hollander PA, Blonde L, Rowe R, et al. Efficacy and safety of inhaled insulin (exubera) compared with subcutaneous insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(10):2356-2362.
+8. Gellene D, Maugh TH. Inhaled insulin wins U.S. approval. Los Angeles Times. January 28, 2006.. Accessed August 13, 2012.
+9. Pollack A, Berenson A. U.S. Regulators approve insulin in inhaled form. The New York Times. January 28, 2006.. Accessed August 13, 2012.
+10. Berenson A. Weak sales prompt Pfizer to cancel diabetes drug. The New York Times.. Accessed August 13, 2012.
+11. Heinemann, L. The failure of Exubera: are we beating a dead horse? J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2008;2(3):518-529.
+12. Osborne CK, Bolan G, Monaco ME, Lippman ME. Hormone responsive human breast cancer in long-term tissue culture: effect of insulin. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1976;73(12):4536-4540.
+13. Pfizer statement on Exubera labeling update in the United States [news release]. Pfizer Inc; April 9, 2008.. Accessed August 13, 2012.
+14. Rosenstock J, Eliaschewitz FG, Heilmann CR, Muchmore DB, Hayes RP, Belin RM. Comparison of prandial AIR inhaled insulin alone to intensified insulin glargine alone and to AIR insulin plus intensified insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2009;11(suppl 2):S63-73.
+15. Garg SK, Mathieu C, Rais N, et al. Two-year efficacy and safety of AIR inhaled insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes: An open-label randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2009;11(suppl 2):S5-16.
+16. Steiner S, Pfutner A, Wilson BR, Harzer O, HeinemannL, Rave K. Technosphere/Insulin—proof of concept study with a new insulin formulation for pulmonary delivery. Exp lin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2002;110(1):17-21.
+17. Rosenstock J. Prandial inhaled insulin plus basal insulin glargine versus twice daily biaspart insulin for type 2 diabetes: a multicentre randomised trial. Lancet. 2010;375(9733):2244-53.
+18. Exubera. [package insert]. January 2006.. Accessed February 5 2014.
+19. White RD. MannKind is seeking approval for diabetes inhaler system by spring. Los Angeles Times. 8 2013.. Accessed February 5 2014.
+[...] [...]
+My kids have started back at school for the final term of 2011. By December 1, they’ll have finished another year and I’ll be sitting there scratching my head wondering where did it go?
+In my head I’m still back some time in May and December 25 is a long, long way away. Which, of course, it isn’t.
+In fact, someone asked me yesterday if I’d started my Christmas shopping. I laughed. But then stopped myself. I really should be doing at least a little planning (now where’s that Dan Murphy’s catalogue?).
+Truth be known, I’ve got a super busy month ahead so I really doubt Christmas will be on my radar until at least mid-November, which is why I decided that my latest competition should celebrate the impending madness … but make it all about you.
+To be specific – 16 gifts just for you.
+Headlining those gifts is the new Nokia N9 smart phone. Launched yesterday, thank-you very much. Now, I know there’s a stack of Stylers out there who are keen to get their hands and fingers on a new smart phone (because every time I give away a Nokia, you get a wee bit excited), so here’s another chance.
+Plus, up for grabs are skincare packs, accessories, stationery, beautiful home storage solutions, gift packs and sheer hosiery (a la Kate and Pippa Middleston style).
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Nokia N9 smart phone $799
+The Nokia N9 is all about design and simplicity. The stunning high-end smartphone comes in black, blue and pink and is sold through Optus, Telstra, Vodafone and all major retailers.
+It features a 3.9-inch AMOLED panel with a ClearBlack display, which makes the dark bits darker and the colours much more vivid.
+The casing is made from material commonly used in ice hockey helmets and the paint is bled right through the material so the colour remains even if you scratch it. The material also allows for a superior antenna performance which means better reception, better voice quality, fewer dropped calls and a higher GPS accuracy.
+The Nokia N9 “all-screen” design means there is no physical home button. Instead, it has touch and swipe gestures which lets you navigate around the homescreen.
+The user interface is designed around the things people typically do the most – use apps, socialise and multitask. There are three homescreens, which are arranged in a carousel. The first homescreen is for accessing your apps; the second for social networking, calling, texting and calendar; and the final screen shows which applications are open. The screen can be pinched or zoomed to show either four or nine open app icons.
+The Nokia N9 also comes with an 8-megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics, wide-angle lens, HD video capture and large lens aperture for greater performance even in lowlight conditions.
+Visit:
+One prize: Nokia N9 smartphone
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Emu Australia gift pack $500
+Whether you’re lazing by the pool, packing up to go on holidays, or simply relaxing at a summer barbecue, EMU Australia has everything you need to look amazing and feel comfy all day this spring.
+Loose knits, stylish sandals, light printed scarves and classic summer dresses is what it’s all about, and the top quality of EMU Australia makes it all the more special.
+Visit:
+One prize: $500 Emu Australia wardrobe gift pack including 1 purple print scarf, 1 black frill cardi, 1 caramel lightweight knit jacket, 1 light blue scarf, 1 melon racer-back tank, 1 white and blue striped crop bolero, 1 grey wool knit sun dress, 1 grey knit longline cardi
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Voodoo Curves and Cooling Sheers total value $204
+Voodoo has designed the perfect summer sheers for women who want a natural glow with added benefits including shaping, lifting and cooling: The Voodoo Glow Shaping Curves and Cooling Sheers.
+The Voodoo Glow shaping curves range dares you to wear the sleekest look with the latest in shaping technology. Designed with powerful shaping panels that lift and shape your butt, Voodoo shaping curves will give you instant profile perfection and a translucent glow.
+The Voodoo Glow Cooling sheers help you stay cool, fresh and fabulous from steamy day to sultry night. The ultra light, menthol infused and glowing sheer s are designed for a cooling sensation against your skin. It’s the ultimate trans-seasonal cover to keep you feeling cool when things heat up. With a mesh brief and 8 denier light barely there look– The Cooling Sheers are perfect to kick off your summer days.
+Visit:
+Prize: Six prize packs, each including a pair Voodoo Glow Cooling Sheers ($14.95) and Voodoo Glow Shaping Curves ($18.95)
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Piper Jordan gift pack $170
+Piper Jordan believes the way you look can create your mood and this online store wants to bring our beautiful range of accessories to as many women as possible.
+Accessories should make a statement, make you feel fabulous, look amazing and most importantly embrace your style. The Piper Jordan collection is about everyday luxury; the classics that should be in every wardrobe.
+Only wear what you love, dream big, follow your intuition and be yourself.
+Visit:
+Prize: The Lilo handbag in black. ($60) features a magnetic and zippered closure to reveal a generous interior. Soft tubular straps make for comfortable wear. And easy access to all your essentials is guaranteed with a flap front pocket. The Nila short necklace ($35) in black and white eggshell will enhance any neckline. The long length Filipino bug stone pendant ($45) in red is perfect worn with a maxi dress. The Bria bangle ($30) is a real statement piece of jewellery featuring black and white eggshell.
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Jurlique at Adore Beauty prize pack $160
+Adore Beauty is Australia’s leading online shopping destination for beauty products and cosmetics from all over the world. With over 110 cosmetics brands and 3000-plus beauty care products, there’s no better place to shop for your favourite beauty brands from Clarins, Biotherm and Lancome to homegrown favorites like Aesop, Napoleon Perdis and Jurlique.
+Visit:
+Prize: includes Jurlique Love Balm, Rose Hand Cream, Rosewater Balancing Mist, Citrus Shower Gel, Rose Body Oil
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+The Green Pavilion Island Princess gift pack $152.75
+The Green Pavilion aims to provide kinder gifts. Kinder for you to use and kinder for our planet. Also the kind you like to give and receive! It has sourced premium, earth-friendly products including ethical and fairtrade, organic and recycled. Your purchasing decisions have the power to change and better our planet.
+Visit:
+Prize: includes: Australian Certified Organic Rosnay Sparkling Rose: family business with committment and passion for organics and wine making. Island Rose bodywash: ACO and ethical trade empowering our Pacific Island neighbours; hand made, harnesses the wonderful properties of virgin coconut oil. Island Rose cleansing clay: distinctive wash off clay of exceptional quality leaving your skin purified, toned and revitalised. Island Rose bodybutter: a rich and luxurious base blend of virgin coconut oil this butter is intensely moisturising and nourishing. Organic Lip Balm: Australian made lip balm using the finest, naturally derived ingredients. The shells are real. This is an unusual, practical, visually appealing gift any woman would love! Recyclable gift bag: Black and White Celebration design.
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Bragbags bedroom and handbag Organised Chaos silk four-piece set $150
+Makeovers — for the body and the home — have become a staple of reality television shows. And now, for a lucky reader, it is an actual reality. Bragbags australia is committed to transforming the bedrooms and handbags of women living with organised chaos. They have a thriving website, and a clever line of silk organisers to help you free up valuable time and dresser space. Long necklaces stay untangled on the Jewellery Hanger. Grab your bag and go from the Bag Hanger. Scarves are easy to find at last. And the piece de resistance is a silk handbag liner/organiser.
+Visit: Bragbags on Facebook
+Prize: one gift pack includes jewellery hanger, scarf organiser, bag hanger and silk handbag liner.
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+The Noble Box Treasure Box $150
+The Noble Box is an online shop blending sustainability with style. A place to find eco gifts that are unique, stylish and elegantly gift boxed. Every product has a story to tell, whether fashioned from sustainable material, crafted at home or grown organically. Rest assured, each product’s impact on the earth is minimal. Give a gift that is kind to the earth without compromising on style. An eco gift. A stylish gift. A noble gift.
+Visit:
+Prize: The Treasure Box is a treasure trove of stylish eco products, including an organic olive oil and cider vinegar, fragrant natural hand wash, bath salts and moisturiser, an elegant soy wax candle and elephant dung paper with a recycled paper pen.
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Simply Stated gift pack $150
+If you’re a lover of stationery (you know you are!) then this competition is for you! Simply Stated is a new Australian online company selling beautiful products sourced from around the world. Simply Stated allows you to live, work and play, in an inspiring way. Register for new product promotions and a free gift.
+Visit:
+Prize: gift pack includes exquisite Pinetti Italian Soft Leather Journal (5×7) with snap off (snap close) 4GB USB stick that forms part of the diary; Set of 8 Black “Peel & Stick” sticker frames by Butch & Harold, USA; Rubber band set by Russell+Hazel, USA; Mini stickr mirror by Butch & Harold, USA; Page flags by Girl of All Work (USA) and more.
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Endota Glycolic skincare pack $145
+endota has launched a new treatment and product range – endota glycolic. endota glycolic is an active treatment skincare range formulated to visibly improve skin appearance and texture.
+glycolic polishing mask is deep-cleansing, moisturizing and non-drying. a 2 – in 1 exfoliant and mask, which gently removes dead skin cells to reveal a radiant complexion. Shea butter and aloe vera nourish and rebalance, clays detoxify, while naturally derived glycolic acid and jojoba- oil beads offer a gentle exfoliation.
+endota’s nourishing oil is a rich nurturing blend of organic plant oils, supercharged with vitamins and antioxidants for nourished, vibrant, hydrated skin with firmer skin elasticity.
+Visit:
+Prize: includes endota nourishing oil $75 and endota glycolic polishing mask $70
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+Aranez iPad 2 kangaroo leather case and iPhone 4 case US$158.95
+Aranez was started by Melbourne-raised technology enthusiast Arnold Aranez, who wanted to give smartphone and tablet owners a premium choice in cases for their devices. Having worked in a mobile phone store at 18 and then having owned his own successful smartphone accessories business for 8 years, Aranez decided to create his own style of leather cases. The result: stylish luxurious leather cases made from premium genuine Australian leather.
+Visit:
+Prize: iPad 2 black leather case (US$119) and iPhone 4 black leather case (US$39.95)
+———————————————————————————————————————————————-
+THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED – WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4.
+The Styling You Christmas Comes Early competition opens Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 2.30pm (EST) and closes Thursday, November 3 at 12noon (EST). One entry per person. Australian entries only, sorry. Those entering more than once will be disqualified from the draw. Entries will be drawn at random using random.org. The 16 winners will be notified via email and their names will be posted here. If winners do not reply to their email within 48 hours, the prize will be re-drawn. The total prize pool for the competition is valued at $2739.70.
+———————————————————————————
+Win – Find the best Online Competitions brought together all in one spot. It’s free and updated daily!
+———————————————————————————
+christmas is 45 days away, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggghhhhhh!!!!!!
+You may need some help from some elves with all those prizes!
+i cant work out how to enter hmmmmmmmmmmmm help
+What a wonderful comp, love it all. Good luck
+What a fabulous comp! Thanks for the chance, everything crossed! Good luck all
+Wow, what a giveaway, some great prizes. Good luck everyone.
+I don’t understand how to enter the verification code. I know a comment said ‘it’s the answer to the question’ but I’m feeling daft. I don’t get it 🙁
+Author
+There is a question on the form. It’s not a trick question, just one to determine you’re a real person, eg what colour is snow? White
+Gosh Nikki, you must feel like Santa!
+Author
+I do! And that’s a nice feeling!
+i would love to win any prize, but have to admit a ink nokia would be numero uno on my list…
+Author
+Haha, good luck then!
+I’m trying to enter but it keeps telling me to check the verification code?? Not sure what that means??
+Author
+Hope you got it sorted. The verification code is the answer to the question in the form.
+Where do I find the verification code please?
+Author
+The verification code is the answer to the question.
+Goodluck to everyone, Im feeling lucky
+Author
+I like that positivity!
+Definitely a WEE bit excited about the Nokia (and the rest of the prizes) I may need some “depends” if I was to win the Nokia! lol
+Author
+Haha, good luck!
+Good Luck Every Body…Cheers 🙂
+Author
+Good luck Julie!
+Oops I just entered more than once – pls accept first entry only?
+Author
+all sorted!
+Oops think I may have entered twice but not sure… can one of my entries be deleted if I have? I would love the chance to win one of these amazing prizes!
+Same! I can’t remember, so I just entered again.!
+Merry early x-mas everyone and good luck to all 🙂
+Same to You and goodluck also 🙂
+Totally Wonderful Products up for Grabs..such a generous package…You truely have a heart of gold and the true spirit of Christmas…Thank You 🙂
+WOW excellent website! Absolutely STYLING!!
+Author
+Thanks and good luck, Nicole!
+Lovely giveaway, fingers crossed. Good luck : ))
+Author
+Fingers crossed for you too!
+What lovely prizes – thankyou!
+Author
+Thanks Yvonne .. good luck!
+What great prizes. Good luck everyone!
+Author
+Good luck to you Paula!
+Wow! Who wouldn’t want to win! What a fantastic competition with some amazing products!Christmas for the winners AND their besties hopefullY! 😛
+Author
+Good luck Leah!
+Author
+Thanks Leah and good luck!
+Fabulous prizes Nikki. Merry Christmas all x
+Author
+Thanks Jeanie … good luck to you too!
+WOW, lovely prizes, so many to enjoy, they are all wonderful things.
+Author
+thanks Dianne and good luck!
+this would be great merry christmas to all..xx
+Author
+Absolutely!!
+I love that you’re spreading Christmas cheer, gives me the warm fuzzies 🙂
+Author
+I love doing it, Emma!
+I would love any of these fter giving everyone else what they want 🙂
+Author
+Good luck then!
+Fabulous prizes Nikki.
+Author
+Thanks Trish and good luck!
+great summer ideas
+Author
+Enjoy and good luck!
+great stuff
+Author
+Thanks Sam!
+these prizes are just amazing…I can see how to do my Christmas shopping all online!smiles and thanks so much for the chance to win. Alannah
+Author
+It’s how I’ll be doing mine, Alannah!
+All these prizes look amazing. Good luck to us all, but especially me! 😉
+Author
+haha! Good luck to you Sonya!
+Hi Nikki, I’ve heard about your blog from a Sydney radio FM 103.2 program this morning. Checked on “Styling You TV”, great stuffs!!! I’ll have plenty to caught up 😀
+I am an “antique” in technology, I don’t Tweet, Facebook nor Myspace, I only MSN with my family. And even though I’ve viewed some good blogs, I’ve never subscribed them, but I’ve just subscribed to your blog, because I see you replied people’s comments; and because I really like your “Three reasons to subscribe to the Styling You e-newsletter”.
+Cheers!!
+Author
+Hi Gloria, I’m really glad you’ve come over to find me and even better, subscribed. I reply to my readers’ comments because I’m truly grateful that you’ve not only stopped by but taken the time to “talk” to me.
+I would like to win a prize please for my awesome 20 year old daughter Millie whom I don’t see enough of.
+Author
+Good luck Jeremy!
+I definitely deserve this prize after doing all the Christmas shopping for everybody else!!!!
+Author
+You definitely do! Good luck.
+Seeing last year my Christmas present from the kids was a bottle of wine they found under the house and a scribbled out birthday card something like this would be a welcome surprise.
+Author
+oh dear, yes one of these would definitely rate a better surprise!
+I know how you feel, I do it every year, promise myself I’ll make an early start for Xmas but always leave it to the last minute lol
+Author
+Yes, that’s definitely me – I’m usually busy with work and kids at this time of year.
+What awesome prizes
+Author
+Thanks Melissa and good luck
+Oooh what delightful goodies!!
+If I were you Nikki I’d be keeping them for myself hehe.
+Good luck everyone! 🙂
+Author
+I prefer to share, Stacy! Good luck.
+What a fabulous array of prizes. There is not one thing there that I wouldn’t covet for myself 😀
+Thank you for putting together such a tremendous selection.
+Author
+My pleasure, Gillian and good luck!
+Nikki! I just entered, and they are fantastic prizes! But, I thought that I may have entered earlier, I looked through the comments and I can’t see one from me earlier, I’m so sorry if I’ve entered twice. Poor memory from lack of sleep and two crazy children can make you forget what you’ve done! Thanks for the chance though! Melis.
+Author
+All good and good luck!
+It’s telling me I have the code incorrect!! 🙁
+Author
+What question does it ask you?
+Any of these prizes would make me happy 🙂
+Author
+Well, that makes me happy too, Samantha!
+Seriously Nikki,
+How do you manage to secure such amazing prizes? I have entered!
+Author
+Good luck, Tammerly!
+NIce way to finish off “Hump Day” 🙂 Can’t believe I’m already thinking about Christmas presents….
+Author
+I know! Good luck!
+Hi Nikki
+I’m new to your site, which I found through my latest marie claire magazine. Your site is fantastic and thankyou for the chance to win a prize.
+Hi Minna
+Lovely to see you here – good luck with the comp!
+I just discovered your site through FB via Gok Wan’s fan page. I’m going to see him at a Melbourne show on the weekend. You have a fab site and what a wonderful comp you have on atm. Melissa 🙂
+Author
+Thanks Melissa – glad you found me – You’ll love Gok. Well, we all do but live he is so very very funny!
+Wow, that would be fantastic to win any of those prizes!
+Nikki, just one question/suggestion. Would you be able to start a once weekly “how to” with makeup starting from the very basics? I’m such a newbie to makeup and was never really taught how to do it all, so it’s pretty much a “guess and pray it looks decent” kinda thing with me. I daresay mothers with young daughters would also enjoy a weekly feature they could pass onto their daughters so they can learn to apply their makeup too? I’m talking from the ultra basics, right down to “how to apply foundation” and primers etc.
+I love your features on the latest products, but given I’m sometimes confused on the order of applying makeup or how it’s actually meant to be applied, sometimes I just shrug my shoulders and think “not for me”.
+Author
+Hi Kel
+Absolutely – love this suggestion – leave it with me and I’ll get something together very soon!
+Some lovely gifts here for christmas for family and friends, now christmas hurry up, love all the wrapping, let the fun begin
+Author
+Yes, let it!
+Amazing christmas comes early goodies, I am actually up for a new phone! happy wednesday Nikki
+Author
+Happy Wednesday to you and good luck!
+Thanks for putting up such an amazing give away. I’ve had a big laugh with myself. I thought the question was a trick question, then the code wouldn’t verify with my long answer. Nx
+Author
+Ahh, I’m trying this method instead of usual spam catcher!
+With Christmas in mind her is how I survive present buying: 1. Try to buy one gift a week in the lead up to Christmas (starting August/October)2. For the hard to buy for i.e. elderly I buy a couple of extra things each week when doing groceries and give them an ‘entertaining hamper’ at Christmas.
+Author
+Love these tips! Thanks Casey.
+That is an amazing collection of prizes! WOW Nikki!
+Author
+Thanks and good luck to you!
+Fantastic prizes! Good luck to all with all your Xmas shopping and planning and don’t forget about “little” treat for yourselves as well 🙂
+Author
+so, so true!
+I always get left out with the Xmas gifts because I’m the one who spends months finding the perfect gift for everyone else!
+Author
+That’s a common occurrence – which is why these are all for my (mostly) female readers!
+What fantastic prizes, here is to a great christmas to all
+Author
+Thanks Emma … good luck!
+thanks for such awesome prizes!! gd luck everyone:)
+Author
+Good luck to you Yvonne!
+Awesome prizes again this month Nikii!
+Author
+I really do get excited putting these together!
+So many wonderful prizes, i know i would be overwhelmed, Thank You for the opportunity to enter this awesome giveaway. Good Luck to all 🙂
+Author
+Good luck to you, Christine!
+How exciting – you really know how to brighten up our day Nikki with your amazing comps – plenty of wonderful prizes to share this Xmas if won – many thanks!
+Author
+Definitely – and good luck!
+liked and shared
+Author
+Thanks Kelly – I really appreciate it! Great competition karma!
+So much a better intro to Christmas than supermarkets full of Christmas junk in September…
+Author
+Definitely! And some great online stores to avoid all the junk altogether!
+Wow! What a great selection of prizes. Thanks Nikki.
+Author
+Thanks Jacky!
+what an awesome range of prizes! If I am lucky enough to win anything I can’t guarantee I will be able to share 😉
+Author
+hahaha, good luck Erin!
+15 mins of babysitting so i can use the loo on my own would be an awesome prize! ha ha ha , on a serious note, thanks for making us all feel girly! (womanly)
+Author
+Oh, yes, I’ve been there … and despite rushed toilet visits, we should all feel a bit girly from time to time!
+Awesome Nikki!
+Author
+Thanks Jodi and good luck!
+You are totes the Queen of Great Giveaways 🙂
+Author
+Ahh, thanks Nee … I love sharing … makes the world go round!
+Love it! Love it! Love it!
+Author
+And good luck to you, Mandy!
+I’d love some goodies.
+Author
+Well good, luck Matt!
+Could it be that my Christmas will come early? I’m being very good! 🙂
+Author
+Haven’t we all?!
+AWESOME Prizes!!! Someone will be having a great Xmas! 🙂
+Author
+It may be you 😉
+ooohhhh wow~!! What great prizes!! Had to laugh about the Dan Murphy Cataloge~ its gifts Im thinking of for chrissie too heehee
+Author
+Gifts for me 😉
+Love, love these great prizes
+Author
+Thanks and good luck!
+Trying to enter but it won’t go through is there something wrong with the site?
+Author
+No, sometimes there’s a problem with some people’s browsers. Try re-cacheing your browser and deleting your cookies. Quit your browser, re-open and try again. If that doesn’t work email me your details and I’ll enter you manually – sorry for your hassle.
+Where is your email address, it is still not working. Thanks.
+Author
+Wow, great comp, thank you to Bron @ Maxabella for sending the link on fb.
+Author
+Thanks for coming over Jen – and big cyber hug heading Bron’s way!
+OMG Best.Giveaway.Ever Good Luck everyone!
+Author
+Good luck Sarah!
+Wow not only do you have fabulous style tips Nikki, you also have the best comps!
+x
+Author
+Thanks Nicole – I like to give back! More fun that way.
+You’ve outdone yourself, Nikki. What a wonderful early Chrissy present! x
+Author
+Thanks Bron … very excited to be giving these all away!
+Wow, Nikki, great prize haul. Fingers crossed!
+Author
+Good luck to you too, Kym!
+nice haul!
+Author
+Good luck Toushka!
+I am so not a girly girl, but that pink phone really makes me smile…
+Author
+And it comes in other colours, Dorothy!
+What a gorgeous array of prizes! Nothing like a bit of self-loving to keep us sane through the Christmas madness!
+Author
+Exactly my thought – so we’re not bottom of the list!
+Good luck to everyone!!! I tell you this is going to make someones Christmas incredible. (If I won it would make my Christmas and a few of my close friends as I share the prizes around)This is a prize pack I could only dream of!!! Nice one Nikki
+Author
+Hi Lisa – good luck – there are actually 16 separate prizes up for grabs!
+Sorry Nikki, I knew that. 🙂 I am tired and didnt word it correctly. I meant I would share the prizes IE clothing from Emu, my friends could borrow items etc. Also I meant any of the prizes I could only dream of owning. I am going to go to bed now before I word anything else wrong and get into anymore trouble lol. Night
+Oh my goody goodness! What an amazing array of prizes you are giving away!!!!! And just because as you say Christmas will be upon us before we blink … Merry Christmas 🙂
+Author
+11 weeks apparently! Good luck.
+Ohhh my! That is far too soon!!! lol!
+This is a Very Jolly and Generous Prize. Merry Very Early Christmas and Good Luck. 🙂
+Author
+I’m feeling jolly … Good luck!
+What wonderful prizes! Thankyou Nikki and best of luck to everyone.
+Author
+Thanks Julie and good luck!
+Ha, u got me on the maths question for a sec there ! All the prizes look fab !
+Author
+I’d stump myself if I could enter 😉
+Thanks so much for a wonderful competition. Fingers crossed and good luck to everyone.
+Author
+Good luck to you Ash!
+I can’t seem to enter because of my verification code which I can’t seem to change.
+Author
+Try re-caching your browser and deleting cookies – if that doesn’t work, please email me your details and I’ll enter it manually.
+What fun! If it counts for anything, I’ve been a very good girl this year Santa’s helper …
+Author
+Dutifully noted! Good luck!
+WOW
+Author
+Good luck!
+Fabulous prizes Nikki – if only our hubbies could come up with gifts like these!
+Author
+Or that they read blogs!!!
+Awesome – thank you
+Oh wow I’d die if I won!! Thanks for the opportunity!!!! 🙂
+Author
+Good luck Pam!
+Amazing comp Nikki! Thanks so much 😀
+Author
+Absolute pleasure! Good luck.
+Wicked give away again Nikki. You’re brilliant!!!
+Your giveaways are truly fabulous! Thanks for this one! 🙂
+Glad you like – and good luck!
+great competition…
+best of luck to everyone…
+Author
+And good luck to you!
+Just entered, fun comp. It didn’t ask me for verification code! Oh well hope my entry went through.
+Author
+Yes, I have it! Good luck. You were asked a question instead of verification code.
+another amazing competition – thanks for the opportunity to win such great prizes.
+Author
+Hi Renay, thanks so much and good luck to you!
+Hi Nikki
+Trying to enter but it keeps saying “please double check your verification code”…..what am I doing wrong?
+I dont want to miss out on entering such a fab competition
+Ta much
+Suz x
+Same thing happening to me! Help!
+Author
+Sometimes I think what happens is that too many are trying at the same time. Try re-caching your browser (deleting history and cookies) and trying again another time. If you still have no luck – email me and I’ll add your entry manually. Sorry for the hassle.
+Lovely prizes…thanks for another great comp Nikki!
+Author
+Thanks Robyn and good luck!
+Am a tad excited !! would be a lovely surprise to win this abundant bag of goodies, which I dont think would fit in my santa sack !! Have been a good girl this year so maybe santa might help me win this one.
+thanks for a chance, 🙂
+Author
+It would be! There are 16 individual prizes to be one – thought that would spread the love more than just one person winning the lot!
+Yes it would be nice, fingers and toes crossed !!, cant cross my eyes it makes me feel sick, lol goodluck everyone! 🙂
+off to take a look at the Emu Australia site, sounds amazing..
+Author
+Enjoy your browsing!
+What a great stash!!!!! entered 🙂
+Author
+Good luck … I do love me a good stash 😉
+You’ve done it again Nikki. What wonderful prizes. One of those would just do nicely for Christmas. Thanks for such lovely giveaways. Fingers crossed!
+Anne @ Domesblissity xx
+Author
+Fingers crossed – wish I could give every one of my readers a prize!
+Wow, what great prizes. I like . . . . all of them 😉 Thanks Nikki!
+Author
+Just some gorgeous little treats that will go to lovely Styling You readers’ home 😉
+Monthly Archives: May 2021
+Crazy Chimps
+Primatologists learning chimpanzees frequently discuss types of chimps utilizing woodland items because resources, along with probably the most well-known good examples becoming their own utilization of rubble in order to break nut products. This particular tool-use is recognized as a type of lifestyle, simply because you will find local variants inside it as well as simply because youthful chimps learn how to make use of the resources in the grown ups.
+For a long period, the actual “nut-cracking culture” experienced just have you been present in chimp troupes within Traditional western The african continent, particularly western from the water N’Zo-Sassandra within the Off white Coastline. It had been believed how the water had been the hurdle, stopping the data distributing in order to chimp organizations additional Eastern. Nevertheless, investigation released within the diary Present The field of biology offers overturned this particular concept.
+The actual medical document, through Bethan Morgan as well as Ekwoge Abwe, reviews enthusiast breaking conduct within the decreasing in numbers chimpanzee subspecies, Skillet troglodytes vellerosus, that is limited to Traditional western Cameroon as well as areas of Nigeria: a few 1700km Eastern from the N’Zo-Sassandra water. Within the research, carried out within Cameroon’s Ebo woodland, the actual scientists noticed 3 grownup chimps seated within the limbs from the “Tigerwood”, or even “Gabon nut” sapling as well as utilizing rubble in order to break the actual nut products.
+The actual sapling offers red-colored or even eco-friendly coloured nut products, that are comparable within size and shape in order to walnuts and also have extremely difficult covers. Among the chimps, recognizing he or she had been viewed, fallen their device: the grape-fruit size group associated with quartz: towards the floor because he or she fled and also the scientists discovered additional thrown away rubble as well as enthusiast covers about the encircling woodland ground.
+The truth that this particular conduct may be present in the populace to date taken off others overturns current knowledge as well as shows that the actual nut-cracking conduct offers come to light individually in several chimp populations all through The african continent. On the other hand, it might be an old pan-African chimp “culture” that’s been dropped through the populations in between Ebo woodland and also the N’Zo-Sassandra water. Bethan Morgan as well as Ekwoge Abwe’s research associated with chimpanzees had been released within Quantity sixteen (No16) from the diary Present The field of biology.
+The Declaration about the Declawing associated with Large Felines
+I’ve proved helpful within zoos with regard to a lot more than 40 many years. In that period I’ve hands reared numerous Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Jaguars, as well as Pumas. I’ve in no way experienced event in order to declaw just a single one of those as well as neither offers the idea of doing this actually handed via my personal thoughts.
+Declawing is really as barbaric as well as inhumane since it is actually unneeded! Presently there may just end up being 1 example exactly where this type of process should be thought about and that’s when the pet had been self-mutilating as well as after that it might be in the end other available choices have been investigated, as well as investigated two times more than. Euthanasia will be a gentler and much more thoughtful choice compared to declawing.
+This particular vicious process isn’t just a issue associated with cutting down on the actual creatures toe nails however is really the actual medical amputation (Onychectomy) from the finish from the creatures feet. It’s very similar because reducing from the finish of the people fingertips as well as feet. It’s not small surgical treatment! This completely maims your pet. This motion results the actual large felines organic behaviors as well as intuition as well as consequently it’s long-term bodily as well as state of mind. This kind of disablement impacts a chance to bridegroom by itself, in order to ascend and also to protect. Removing an important the main entire body results in a big change in the manner character meant your pet to maneuver as well as abnormal locomotion can be used to pay that will ultimately trigger unpleasant joint disease. Abscesses from the ft are typical following surgical treatment. 50 percent of felines that are declawed possess some type of apparent problem with 20 % of those it might be long-term.
+Declawing is really unlawful in several nations as well as regarded as very inhumane. Included in this are Britain, Scotland, Wales, North Ireland in europe, Indonesia, Italia, Luxembourg, South america, Europe, Norwegian, Israel, The island of malta, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Finland, Sydney as well as Brand new Zealand.
+Unfortunately in certain additional nations the actual declawing associated with household felines may be nearly a typical mutilation to safeguard furnishings or even comparable.
+The reason why might anybody think about this terrible as well as vicious process having a crazy pet like a lion or even tiger woods that is in no way likely to arrive anywhere close to a bit of home furnishings? The actual brief as well as accurate solution is merely to ensure that somebody may key in a good housing along with this pet as well as arrived at alongside absolutely no damage. Supplying the actual creatures tend to be hands reared as well as humanised after that this kind of an individual can perform Tarzan, revealing regarding exactly how smart, daring as well as ‘in touch’ along with character they’re. Training a good pet to not chew is extremely simple. Training the clawed pet to not the begining is actually harder and also needs somebody that knows creatures.
+Getting into a good housing having a Large Kitty acts absolutely no helpful objective. It’s not academic also it performs simply no component within investigation or even preservation. Using Large Felines is actually real show and it has room within the contemporary zoological backyard.
+The actual therefore known as ‘Lion Man’, Craig Busch associated with Zion Animals Landscapes within Brand new Zealand offers accomplished a good nearly cult standing via frequently showing up upon TELEVISION using declawed Large Felines. The only real academic worth is within displaying exactly how simple it’s in order to dupe the general public.
+Agro-Forestry Along with Paulownia Natural Nitrogen
+Natural nitrogen given by making use of paulownia trees and shrubs within an incorporated planting style, enables the actual intro, not just associated with inter-crop varieties, but additionally grazing share.
+Whenever put down inside a planting style, Paulownias tend to be grown carefully within series, after that thinned through the strip, more than numerous months. Within the very first 12 months associated with development, middle period, each and every 2nd strip is actually gathered because light-weight materials with regard to post buildings and so on.
+Following getting already been reduce, the actual stumps remaining within the floor may re-generate in a amazing pace. The actual resulting development can be used like a cut-and-come-again supply of eco-friendly manure or even fodder.
+Earlier throughout the subsequent developing period, the actual stumps fall short because of over-competition in the leftover planting, primarily this can be a gentle necessity element, or even instead, absence thereof. The actual simply leaves tend to be large. Grazing creatures aren’t permitted to the planting at the moment.
+The next period, however later on within, once more, the actual right now 2nd strip associated with position wood (now regarding 6 in . thick) is actually gathered. Exactly the same procedure is actually adopted, just, this particular gathered wood is very useful with regard to cupboard producing, veneers as well as this kind of.
+The actual resulting stumps tend to be remaining in-situ in order to re-grow. Only at that dimension, as soon as reduce, the actual stump produces nearly all it’s saved nitrogen equivalent along with losing it’s biomass. This particular bulk discharge is actually after that adopted through the leftover trees and shrubs.
+Resulting re-growth, even though the wonderful supply of regenerating eco-friendly manure or even mulch — is actually more proficiently employed because position fodder with regard to grazing creatures, that within their change include manure towards the planting.
+For that following 2 months, or even before stumps quit fodder manufacturing because of over-competition, grazers tend to be regularly permitted into give food to. Supplied there’s sufficient position fodder, the actual creatures may depart the actual start barking about the wood trees and shrubs on it’s own, therefore harm to the actual trees and shrubs is actually minimal.
+Following the 4th period, supplied absolutely no inter-crop may be integrated, grazers may usually end up being permitted to the planting, to handle the actual expansion associated with bud development as well as include their own manure towards the program. These types of weeds are usually gentle because of the reduce gentle problems, consequently very easily workable through grazing share. Even though understorey comes with reduce gentle problems, the entire impact is actually much more similar to ‘park-like-conditions’, instead of ‘rain-forest conditions’.
+Much more supplementary series might certainly end up being consequently eliminated or even not really, with respect to the general planting program strategy as well as the caliber of the actual Paulownia wood preferred.
+About Honeycombs
+The bee honeycomb, an attractive term. Certainly, because stunning because it is title; it is may be the thing of beauty in our hectic humming bees. It is stated which within the nineteenth hundred years, Charles Darwin announced that the bee honeycomb is actually “a grasp bit of architectural that’s completely ideal within economizing work as well as wax”. Exactly how smart as well as creative would be the bees after that! Should you research the honeycomb, you will see that it’s each a mix of excellent numerical ability as well as creative work.
+This consists of scores of polish tissue constructed through bees within their nests or even hives. They are employed for real estate youthful bees as well as sweetie. The actual bee honeycomb offers toned up and down sections, as well as every solar panel consists of tissue that are pipes having a normal hexagonal mix area.
+All of the cellular wall space inside a bee honeycomb remain 120 levels to one another, carrying out a ideal lattice. This particular framework is actually intelligently created as well as should be quite strong because the wall space that individual tissue are just two in . heavy however assistance twenty five occasions their own pounds. The amount of every person cellular inside a bee honeycomb is actually set, this needs to be the best dimension for that bee larvae. The space should also end up being perfect for that larvae, so it’s just the actual mix sectional part of the honeycomb that’s optionally available.
+The actual honeycomb tissue really begin because cylinders, along with round mix areas. The actual toned groups tend to be brought on by the actual stress associated with 6 carefully loaded neighbors plus they turn out to be hexagons, decreasing spaces in between tissue, so the hexagons occupy all of the obtainable room. This enables the optimum quantity of sweetie to become saved. Hives tend to be powerful sufficient to keep 5 gallons associated with sweetie. The actual tissue aren’t ideal. Bees occasionally fulfill hurdles, which could trigger the actual “perfect” hexagonal form in order to deviate with a couple of %.
+Exactly why is honeycomb formed by doing this? To become because effective as you possibly can, the actual tissue ought to type completely therefore you will find absolutely no spaces. It’s a most effective method to load up to support the optimum quantity of sweetie. Grime as well as potential predators aren’t able to key in the actual honeycomb using its completely fitted lattice.
+There’s a really fascinating tale in regards to a bee honeycomb. In the center of the actual eighteenth hundred years, within the Southern Chapel within Andover, U . s . Chapel associated with Christ, The actual Rev. Mr. Lorenzo Langstroth (1810-1895), grew to become the actual 5th pastor. The indigenous associated with Philadelphia, he or she managed to graduate through Yale University as well as had been ordained as well as set up upon Might 11, 1836. Because he or she couldn’t deal with their responsibilities due to their wellness, he or she resigned upon 03 thirty, 1839. Later on he or she started training within colleges as well as preached in various locations. Within 1851 he or she created the actual Langstroth hive. It’s a rectangle-shaped container that contains a number of structures, where the bees help to make their own bee honeycombs. The beekeeper eliminates structures that are full of sweetie as well as replaces all of them along with bare structures for that bees in order to complete once again. This particular revolutionized beekeeping and it is nevertheless popular these days. Within 1951, the actual Boston Federation associated with Beekeepers’ Organizations privileged their storage using the Lorenzo Langstroth plaque. It is stated he held the hive within the loft from the Amos Blanchard home, right now house towards the Andover Historic Culture.
+Automated Rainfall Evaluate
+The rainfall evaluate is really a device which steps just how much rain fall drops inside a provided arranged period.
+The actual Historic Greeks had been the very first individuals to keep track of rain fall from close to 500 w. d. These were then the nation associated with Indian, close to a century later on, utilizing containers to gather water. Calculating the actual rain fall provide the Greeks as well as Indians a concept to gather the information, after which taxes presently there people, based on just how much development associated with pastures in the rain fall.
+Based on background, the very first recognized rainfall evaluate had been produced by a guy known as Cheugugi through Korea, however all of us additionally discover additional resources which credit score Jang Yeong Sil to become the very first individual to build up the rainfall evaluate, through refining a current evaluate. In the uk Captain christopher Wren created the very first rainfall evaluate, known as the actual showing pail within 1662 The. Deb.
+Generally whenever calculating just how much rainfall offers dropped, the actual dimensions tend to be drawn in millimetres, however occasionally it may be calculated within in . or even centimetres. They are able to possibly end up being study with a individual, or perhaps a automated climate train station. The quantity of period in between blood pressure measurements depends upon the actual company that needs the actual reading through.
+There’s various kinds of rainfall gauges, which may be classified because, evaluating gauges, showing pail gauges, hidden hole gauges as well as managed to graduate cylinders.
+Automated rainfall gauges tend to be rainfall gauges which in electronic format begin working as soon as this seems rainfall about the evaluate. These people instantly report the information, through calculating in order to getting rid of the actual rain fall later on. These people include electronic shows, as well as report as much as sixty times really worth associated with rainfall.
+Shuteye's Link
+I'm looking forward to getting mine. As soon as my turn is up, ill be going in.
+Government $$ are da best. Anyhow.... I worked with big pharma for awhile, developing assembly solutions for drug delivery systems. Time to delivery for new drugs/vaccines is typically in the 5-10 year range. This was done in under a year. My understanding (and please someone correct me if I'm wrong) is that instead of a normal "killed" virus vaccine, a genetically modified virus was used to develope the vaccine. The reason being, it's cheaper and faster. Well, in the machine/automation world there is an axiom whereby there are three outcomes available. Good, fast and cheap. Of those three, you can have two. Hence, if it's fast and cheap, guesss what it ain't.
+There are has been no long term study as to the efficacy (which we have seen dropping), no long term study on side effects.... No thanks. I'll wait until it's been proven 45-50% effective like other flu vaccines and then pass on it as well.
+My wife finished her 2nd round a couple weeks ago. I've enjoyed the better 5G reception for my cell phone. I'll be towards the back of the vaccination line, but you'd better believe I'll get the shot as soon as I can. I'm holding out hope that maybe we'll be allowed to go to Canada fishing late this summer with record of a vaccination.
+Won't be surprised if they start trying to force us to take it. No problem with anyone that wants one. Never had a flu shot, never needed one. Don't need this one. Like Bowbender said, not nearly enough testing.
+Its all to make sure everyone wears a mask for the rest of their life. You've been vaccinate, but can spread the disease. Wear your mask like a good soldier.
+Dr. SG
+No, Government mandates did that. The virus alone would have affected the economy, but not like this. We could have skipped ruining the economy, some places did. Your take on the vaccine makes sense to me.
+Did he suffer from a serious form of the disease or die from it? If so, he would be in the 5-6%. If not, the vaccine may have worked just as designed.
+As with all other viruses, you can be immune AND pass it along. Immunity doesn't mean it won't get into your body, it means when it does, your body knows how to kill it. While it's killing it, it may still be in your respiratory system until killed, so yes you can spread it by breathing, sneezing, talking. You can also catch it with reduced symptoms, again depending on your immune system. You aren't immune right when they stick the needle in, your body needs to do some work first. For most they will be immune, others, not so much and others their body may do nothing with it.
+Just like every other vaccine.
+One thing I'm fascinated with is that people who are concerned about vaccine safety think that's an original thought. Trust me -- the more you know about drugs and vaccines (and I've spent a lot of time learning such things) you know them as powerful weapons, not unlike firearms. Do i use them? You bet! Do I respect them? More than you'll know!
+The potential adverse effects are something that is concerning, for sure, especially when you are talking about giving something to a healthy population. That's true with ALL vaccines. That's why vaccine safety is something that can't be ignored.
+That said, I can't find any evidence that it is ignored. On the contrary, in the professional journals I see abundant evidence that vaccine safety is taken very seriously. I wouldn't have taken the shot if I hadn't read them and reassured myself -- so I won't go telling anyone else to just "trust me". But I remain deeply impressed with these vaccines.
+X2...and I'm "old and healthy" ;^)
+2.) Some people may still get sick shortly after getting the shot, especially shot 1. There has not been time for the body to build up antibodies to gain a level of protection. Given the time from infection to symptoms, it's possible someone could be infected 4-6 days before shot 1 and still get it... and given efficacy after only 1 shot (Pfizer/moderna) is 50-60% as I recall), even during the period between shots you could get it. You could also be in the 5% of folks who dont respond as well and end up getting some degree of illness. It's not impossible, but saying a few examples of folks getting sick around or after vaccination suggest it doesnt work is not a reasonable expectation. Oh, and you are not getting full benefits of the vax until about 2-3 weeks after the second shot... Soooo... Quit a while there where you need to recognize your are not getting the full protection a given vax can give you.
+3.) North of 90% of people (94-95%) who get the two available in the US dont develop any symptoms if exposed. No one can totally say that means they are not infectious (see 1 above). People who get the vaccine appear to not get seriously ill IF they fall in the 5% who may still become symptomatic if exposed. In other words - the two currently available work frigging great.
+4.) Feeling icky a day or so after a vaccine is your body doing what your body naturally does. With vaccination, it does that without you potentially experiencing significant consequences from natural infection.
+You likely will see little pushback ditching your mask in WY. What do you think will happen to those who choose to do the same in the liberal strongholds in the US? They will be framed as being worse than the virus itself. Heck....I am in KY and our Governor is running a close race with the most liberal Govs on virus protocol. Eventually the majority of people here will just ignore him and go on with life. I just hope that everyone understands that the left is going to frame anyone not wearing a mask as a domestic terrorist. Without openly opposing our local governments we won't be maskless for a long time.
+I am ok with people not taking the vaccine, but once everyone has the opportunity to have the vaccination I'm done masking. I am not sold on their effectiveness, but I will out of respect for my neighbor wear them. There will be plenty who won't take the vaccination and will be fine without a mask and be ok with any risk from their choice, but there will be plenty of people who choose not to take the vaccination and expect everyone else to continue to social distance and wear masks just to protect them. The thought of personal responsibility to these types is taboo.
+The % of people I personally know who got sick after being vaccinated is high. From aches and pains to 3 day pounding migraines to outright flu symptoms.
+Until 2 years ago I hadn’t had a flu shot in decades. Shortly after the shot I had the worst case of flu in my life.
+So to use the car analogy that has been thrown about here, imaging if only 1 in every 10,000 designs for a new ford car or truck actually made it to the market. And those failures occur everywhere from the designers drawing CAD, initial handmade prototype vehicles, and after full manufacturing lines for that vehicle have been constructed.
+No, I am not totally defending Pharma, just providing some perspective. There is no defense for companies that jack up prices randomly on a moments notice. It's also ridiculous in my opinion for things like insulin to have such huge costs as well and the science behind making it is long beyond patent life expiration.
+There is a common misconception about vaccines that they PREVENT disease. That is not completely true across the board. In most cases, the goal of a vaccine is to PREVENT you from DYING from said disease. The vaccine primes your body to recognize an antigen (foreign substance) by creating circulating antibodies to activate your immune system when antibodies bind to the foreign invader.
+Vaccines are not like cars that can be modulated willy nilly and tossed out into the public. Major changes to vaccines will required Ph1 - Ph3 trials which are expensive and costly. So if you are waiting for the vaccine to get "tweaked" well, you'll be waiting for a new design which will undergo new trials which will have no more experience when it gets approved by the FDA.
+Lastly, for those that aren't interested in the vaccine. Have you ever been on a ventilator? I've been on one twice for cardiac surgeries. They aren't much fun. What's worse than having a tube down your throat preventing you from speaking and causing irritation when they bring you out of the coma (for me it was just sedation from surgery) is the eventual removal of the catheter. Oh yes, realize they put you in a coma when you get intubated to prevent you from ripping the tube out and taking your vocal cords out with it and give your body time to heal and shut down other major functions (digestive, urinary, etc.). So in order to keep your systems running they insert a catheter to drain your urine. Now over time, you can develop adhesions to the tubing especially for the durations that you could be looking at with COVID. The result is that should you be lucky enough to survive and get unintubaned, they'll pull the catheter out....slowly, very slowly to assure that any adhesions don't rip out your ureter with it.
+Just a few things to think on. Stay safe out there.
+This is the same thing that happens when you get Covid, but I'm willing to bet good money, you'll get more complete, and specific immune response by catching Covid, than you will by getting these vaccines.
+Hell, I'm willing to bet my life on it ;^)
+Do you have study data to support that? I've seen it supposed that the antibody response from the vaccine may last longer than getting the disease based on the rate of decline they have measured in people who had the disease. And you don't have to risk the disease to get that immunity.
+One thing a lot of folks seem to overlook is that the disease we know today may not be the one we are faced with in the future. Look at the South African, UK, or Brazilian variants as mutations that have occurred over time and which have made the disease more more transmissable. One of the big benefits to acheiving herd immunity sooner than later is it reduces the disease's ability to mutate into something that is possibly more transmissable, virulent, or difficult to treat.
+Never took a daily drug except antibiotics prescribed by idiot physicians who were lining their pockets with cash while all I had was acute bronchitis (viral).
+Won't submit to the Chicom Flu indoctrination inoculation.
+Ahhh, since we have the vaccine, NOW you are advocating "herd immunity"... funny how the leftist narrative has changed, lol !
+So...by your logic, we should have ditched all the "Shelter in Place" mandates a year ago (for the healthy population)...and we wouldn't be in this boat right now. Sounds reasonable to me, for a disease with a 99 percent survival rate.
+Right from the start the experts said that herd immunity through a vaccine was the way out of this. Absolutely nothing has changed.
+So you actually KNOW that everyone who takes the Chicom Flu indoctrination inoculation are going to survive and they won't have ANY long-term side effects? Please explain, NoWiser, what model of crystal ball you're using. Can we order it from Amazon?
+Oh wait.... its 'Oldsite'
+But the sheeple will sleep better, so there's that.
+Just spit my beer up!!!! Lmao
+Can you pharmaceutical folks also tell me what the vaccine means to those of us who have had the virus? Is it necessary? Will it do anything that our body hasn’t already done on it’s own from beating the bug? If one of the answers is “You only had one strain so aren’t necessarily immune to others” then I’d also ask if the instavac is protecting people from multiple strains?
+Yeah...except, those diseases weren't manufactured in a Wuhan BioLab. It's a little trickier, to make a vaccine that actually works...under these conditions. Time will tell...
+I am amazed how many people disregard the unknown long term effects from this unapproved vaccine. I know 2 people that were hospitalized within 48 hours of receiving the second dose of phizer. I watched my wife’s reaction after the second dose of phizer...... no thanks. I pray I don’t get covid, but if I do I feel pretty good about the 98.7% chance I will make it.
+The only rude people in this are you chicken littles wanting everyone to be forced to do something against their will due to your fear. Those of us who don't submit to your will are just fighting back. The harder you push, the harder we'll push back.
+And since the less than 1% *possible* gain in survivability is so valuable to you, and you get the vaccine, and you are protected, why the hell do you care if I get it and die? You've ostensibly covered your ass so what I do shouldn't matter at all.
+Sorry about your friend's family. Death is heartbreaking. When it is a young person it is tragic. A friend of mine's wife just died at 43 from a disease unrelated to the Chicom flu. Like MANY sick people in the last year, she had experienced a reduction in her medical services and care due to the insane, tyrannical rules that have been shoved down our throats.
+Basically no side effects.
+I would encourage everyone to get it. Millions of doses have been given and the safety profile is about as good as could be expected - you could give a million people a shot of water in their arm and someone's gonna croak from it.
+And just death rates are not all that should be looked at - millions of people who get it and survive are having major organ damage to their lungs, hearts, livers, kidneys, and brains.
+You do realize that vaccination is a means of attaining herd immunity? Who am I kidding, of course you don't - because you don't seem to understand much of anything as it pertains to this whole situation.
+elkmtngear's Link
+Not sure if any other vaccines have ever had those kind of numbers. Food for thought...
+I also just read tonight on MSM that the CDC said that children who had the flu shot and got the virus had lessened effects than those that did not. Found that interesting.
+I had it last month and it wasn’t too rough for me. I won’t be getting the shot.
+As pointed out correlation and causation aren’t the same thing but statistics are hard to grasp. It’s humorous to read people stating they won’t tell people to not get the shot, then continue on by ridiculing those who choose to do so lol.
+The data is inaccurate and cooked. Take a look........
+Of the ~13MM who had received the vaccine as of Feb. 1, the 271 deaths represents 0.0021%. It is telling that many of you will risk the ~1.5% death rate to avoid the 0.0021% rate that, at a maximum, could currently be attributed to the vaccine. The consistency of logic is impressive.
+We also need to keep in mind that the first to be vaccinated were the elderly who are the most susceptible to both - and also the closest age class to death from other causes. It may even be that the 0.0021% doesn't differ that much from the expected death rate for that age group?
+Matt's Link
+It hasn't been determined through clinical trial as to the degree of protection against being infected conferred by the vaccine. That doesn't mean there isn't a reduction, just that it hasn't been studied. Don't confuse that with meaning there is no benefit.
+There is a small sample from Israel (way ahead of most of the world in vaccination, not peer reviewed) that show significant benefit."
+The Pfizer vaccine is one of 2 currently available in the US.
+And that is how.
+You can’t claim Covid deaths are overinflated while at the same time believing post vaccination deaths are 100% caused by vaccination.
+I believe everyone should have the right to choose whether to get the vaccine or not. I just grow tired of people who don’t have a background in medicine or statistics preaching to others and ridiculing them on a topic they aren’t even well versed to understand. Get the vaccine or don’t, I support that decision. I just have a hard time reading the non stop justification of these decisions. I’ve had covid, I’m not worried about getting it again. I’m not naive enough to claim that others shouldn’t be worried though. I’m going to get the shot as well. Cynically I think society is heading a direction that it’ll be challenging to travel without it, and the safety data doesn’t have me worried one bit about the vaccine.
+This is the misinformation that’s so hard to stomach, it’s no different than how the media handled the past year of what was a riot vs a protest.
+Matt's Link
+Congratulations for proving all you know about COVID was learned on Facebook.
+Very likely air travel will require the vaccine. Our new Sec. of Transportation is exploring it at the moment. There will be people who wonder what risk an unvaccinated passenger with a mask on would pose to a plane-load of passengers who are vaccinated.
+It’s interesting to me that people with loads of data to support the “facts” talk about facts that contradict each other.
+I don’t really need a list of data. I’ve been around the sun 56 times and I have pretty good instincts. Instincts are a fact. They ate what keeps game animals alive and also what enables me to sniff them out and kill a few each year.
+So I’m with drycreek.... I had it the week of Christmas. So I’m feeling confident that I am safe for several months. And I believe there will be a new and greatly improved version next year. And I don’t want to take two versions of it.
+And I also don’t believe they let the bat out of the bag by accident. Ozzy Osbourne chewed on an un refrigerated bat and he’s fine. The speech impediment is from ingesting other items. Mostly organic too.
+I too believe that some of the things we can and can't do will possibly be affected by whether we have been vaccinated. Air travel, cross-border travel, types of employment, health insurance, admission to certain institutions....all may be linked to proof of vaccination.
+I haven't yet received the vaccine. I feel younger every day as I keep being told, "You're not old enough, so stop asking." I may qualify eventually by having birthdays faster than they ship and administer vaccine.
+Get the vaccine or don’t, I support that decision. I just have a hard time reading the non stop shaming of those that don't get it and the canceling of dissenting voices.
+See how that works TEmbry? When those, whose voices are being drowned out and canceled by DC, state govt, big tech, the media, entertainers, sports figures, etc., are pushed, we will push back harder. In any way we can. I'm sorry that allowing other people to fight their own battles 'tires you'. It must be quite the burden.
+It’s all argument to support their ideas. And, that’s cool. One thing that isn’t cool is how sone ideas require forcing others to conform. Or, be considered ignorant or not caring.
+I got news for those folk too. I had cancer. My immune system will forever be compromised. I had Covid too. I didn’t end up on a ventilator. Or, even get sick. Just head congestion. I’m not abnormal in that. Statistics say it. That’s the norm. So, this isn’t a pandemic at this point. Not even close.
+However, The rhetoric spread by some would have you believe that we are all going to die from this. I got news for you. We are all going to die. Your day and cause has already been established. So, if you feel the need to get the vaccine. Get it with everyone’s support. But, you should allow those that disagree the same in return. Without all the dramatized crap.
+I can't think of a good reason for me to get it. From what I'm hearing, its no guarantee you still can't carry and spread the virus. Also protection from the new strains apparently is minimal? I feel like I have pretty low risk from serious illness so why would I? If someone could explain to me in a calm reasonable manner why it is a good idea I would be inclined to listen. But yelling at me and telling me I just want people to die isn't going to get it done.
+Read an NPR article the other day that said the pandemic was 10 times worse than we think, because the actual infection rate is 10 times higher than testing shows. Meaning tons of asymptomatic people who never got tested.
+Wouldn't that actually be good news? 10 times less likely to cause death or serious illness?
+This whole thing is a mess.
+X1000!!!!!! And "mess" is being kind!
+What I will have a problem with is limiting people and their travel or career because they don’t have the “vaccine”. I don’t agree with that at all. Then it’s not really a personal choice - but that seems to be the direction of the left these days - do it our way or we will ostracize and persecute you.
+If the vaccine minimizes the effect of Covid - why should you care whether or not I got “vaccinated”.
+If everything is as we are being told, a person deciding to not get the vaccine posses zero threat to those who do get it. That’s not enough though. It can’t be left at that. You gotta do it because it makes people feel better.
+I like many here have looked death truly in the face. Down the barrel of a gun, with health, and with stupid things I’ve done but was spared. We’ve all faced it whether we know we have or not. And, should be grateful the Good Lord protected us from obvious death. As we grow older we recognize these happenings. Yet, never consider everyday things we do and the risks involved. We just assume the sun is going to rise everyday until we are tired and want no more. It isn’t going to work that way for almost everyone of us.
+Yet, I see that mentality in people who insist the vaccine is the only way. My only question is where is your faith? Where is your brain? Data is telling us that mask aren’t helping. The s ientists ate telling us the vaccine isn’t going to help a lot of people. Yet, we all gotta do it.
+I’m tired of being told what to do by people who could care less about me. Who act as if they are smarter then me. And, who insinuate love and compassion is their driving force behind their feelings. That’s a lie. It has to be if real world results mean anything.
+I am so happy for those that want a shot, now have the ability to get one. I’m grateful for the hard work put into the whole effort. I’m just not going to put one in my body as things are now. I survived the first or second bout with ease. Might not the next. Time will tell.
+Gods been good to me. And, in our talks, I’m not being urged to get it. So, no man or government is going to change that.
+I'm not a big conspiracy theorist and trust the science behind it so I got it. I get that people are worried about it and would want to wait, but I had an opportunity to get mine so I did It will be a condition of employment at my hospital in the near future.
+Similarity back in August our governor of NM said I had to quarantine if I left the state and came back. Well I admit I left and scouted for elk, came home for a couple days to gather all my hunting stuff and left again.
+On a side note have you heard the latest? Fauci says we must wear 3 masks and a face shield for at least another year before we achieve herd immunity. I bet he owns a company selling masks.......
+Matt's Link
+Just read some threads here. There were numerous people pro-vaccine that weren’t of the “live and let live” attitude you say 95% of them portray. It’s more like this - “You’re either part of the problem or the solution and If you don’t get vaccinated, you are part of the problem.” Doesn’t sound like they don’t care what I do. Sounds like they’ve very much got an opinion and aren’t afraid to ostracize those who don’t think like they do.
+I as all of my immediate family had it around Christmas and I was pretty sick for 6 days where I was pretty much bed ridden and sicker than any flu I’ve ever had.
+I am going to get the vaccine as soon as possible.
+I would recommend that you keep the cardboard vaccination card they provide and laminate it for the upcoming time that it will be required to get on aircraft or should your employer mandate it. It’s coming as soon as there is sufficient portions of the country provided access to the vaccine.
+Feels pretty stupid having to wear a cloth mask which doesn’t protect when I recently had this and cannot get it or give it to anyone.
+Weird times we are in.
+The guy must truly have magic powers! :^D
+But...Science !
+Not at all relevant to the current vaccine or scenario other than both are vaccines and both are relatively low risk choices to potentially protect yourself and others.
+I don’t know if I have a live and let live mentality about getting the vaccine, but I certainly don’t about the continual onslaught of misinformation. Usually from the same crowd furious with MSM about their handling of misinformation for the past few years.
+Interesting, the vials are supposed to have 5 full doses, but most of the vials have 6 full doses, so they end up having some extra is the way I've understood it. But they have to use it quick once they've opened that vial
+(For a fun comparison, 5 of the 14 _counties_ in MA have higher populations than the entire state of Wyoming.)
+If I lived in a more sparsely populated area, maybe I wouldn't be so motivated.
+But...Science !'
+So now you are correlating the decline following the 1/8/21 peak with Biden's inauguration and not the predicted decline following the increase in cases from Christmas and New Years (and after seeing a similar, precipitous increase and similar decline after Thanksgiving)?
+Do you? Which ingredient has you concerned? What is your specific basis for that concern? Why do you have such concerns when the vast majority of the medically trained don't? And what is it that you know the FDA doesn't?
+Or is this just another attempt to reinforce an uninformed opinion?
+Matt is spot on. Those spewing misinformation and paranoia, not so much. There are risks to getting the vaccine (real ones, not the ridiculous BS being thrown around on the internet) and risks to not getting the vaccine. You should get informed and make an informed decision based on the balance of each of those risks. Put another way, you can put a substance developed by scientists in a lab in your body, or get something in your body that was made from soup of dead bat in a totally uncontrolled and dirty environment. Also, for those worried about the longterm effects of the vaccine, how do they compare with the longterm effects of covid? Not many are talking about longterm effects of covid (compared to the vaccine for it), which may be a thing (or may not). Hard to come up with an informed answer to that one, but I'm confident in which one to bet on in terms of worse outcome (hint- see bat soup question above).
+Mule Power's Link
+So I feel semi safe for now. I agree that in a year, or by the end of this year there will be a new and greatly improved vaccine. Maybe much sooner actually. So in my situation I think it’s ok to wait. I’m last on the list anyway and to my understanding I can’t get the vaccine for 90 days after testing positive.
+I’m actually glad I had it because I intended to wait. We know so little about the virus or the vaccine. Obviously we know nothing about the long term affects of either. This article would suggest that people getting the vaccine right now will be back in line before too long. Quite possibly the back of the line.
+Patience is always a good thing. Why run down the hill and jump on one of those cows when you can walk down there and have all of them said the wise old bull. I lost a very good friend this past year. I have another in the hospital on oxygen right now. So I definitely take it seriously. But I also take seriously putting things into my body. I take very little drugs whether prescription or otc. None long term.
+Some people have a pill box so they can prefill each section with 10 pills a day. Some are obviously necessary but many are not. To each his own but that’s not my cup of tea.
+I also try to think of things differently. Just like bowhunting from the 1950's-1960's to present day, technology advances have come a long way and we have that many more years of knowledge (and scientific study with viruses and how vaccines work). So knowledge of how viruses work and how vaccines are developed have come a long way and is likely a major factor that a vaccine was developed faster and to some point approved faster.
+But having or not having it will trigger other things: - Can you travel? Will other countries let you in? Will our country let you back in? - will events/places require it? Also will it simply make your life easier if you have it now? WY has now said if you have the shots and long enough for them to be fully functional (it's not instant), then there's no reason to wear a mask in public. Hell even CDC is saying that, but they are asking you to consider wearing one to support those who still have to (sorry, not my problem).
+There's a few place, IMO, you should NOT use for info on this: - media - internet, including youtube Go to the CDC site, find someone in this field. Pick their brain, talk to your doctor. Yes there are unknowns, there always are. For my wife and I, we will get it when we can. Our son is a viral biologist and does testing including on mRNA things. He understands it (though i can't even understand his explanations), he said "Mom, Dad, just get the shots). If I can't trust my son who is educated and does this for a living, why would I trust some random internet or media person?
+If you do your research, including what restrictions you may or may not have based on your vaccination status, make your decision. That's your right.
+Scoot's Link
+How long did it take to develop the vaccine? Less than a year for the final product, but the technology and initial work in developing the vaccine(s) was in the works for a long time.
+How long did it take to develop other vaccines? Much longer- science and understanding of vaccines/viruses have changed dramatically as we know more. Using polio as an example is kinda like describing how Henry Ford made a vehicle vs. how they are made now...
+What was the process? The process is well documented- look it up, educate yourself.
+Why should I trust that this vaccine even works? I think it's pretty clear you're not going to, not matter how well supported the vaccine and the science behind it is.
+Because a guy like Fauci says so? Obviously not- he's just a spokesperson. Again, educate yourself!
+Where’s the proof that this vaccine even works long term or at all? "Proof" is an interesting word. Things we have "proven" in the past sometimes turn out to be incorrect or at least not complete. There is clear support for the effectiveness of the vaccine(s). If you choose not to believe that because of paranoid ramblings you read o the internet, that's your choice.
+How does the vaccine work? Again, this is well documented. Educate yourself! There are three primary mechanisms of action- look them up.
+How does it protect you? See the link- it's a reasonable summary of some basic info regarding the vaccine(s).
+What are the short term side effects? This is pretty well characterized at this point. Look them up.
+What are the long term side effects! There's no way to know this. See my post (and Kevin Dill's post) above. This concern/question should be balanced against what the long term impact of getting covid might be (which also can't be known at this point).
+Are Americans “free” to make their own decision on this? Ummm... yes.
+So. If you want to to know how "old" the technology is, one could very reasonably make the case that it's 15-17 years old - which is why, once research had the virus's structural make up, they could rather quickly create the part (spike protein) they wanted to use to fight this, and go to phase 1 trials.
+Now, if that general history of mRNA vaccine strategies for coronavirus's feels like it doesnt apply because this one is like 8 months old or what not.
+Consider that it was used on tends of thousands in testing and went very well... And has now been used in millions. One interesting point is that as the total numbers have gone up, one area people were concerned about (anaphylaxis) has actually been found to be occurring at a slightly lower rate than the clinical trials found.
+So, while the Warp Speed process smoothed out the process and allowed a more rapid succession between trial phases, it didnt reduce oversight for safety/efficacy. It was a solid get vax's developed process - and it build on around a decade and a half of mRNA vaccine research focused on very similar virus's.
+Others have noted this, but if "long term effects" of the vax create fear, you should discuss the actual long term side effects of even modest SARS-CoV2-2019 infection with medical providers dealing with it every day. To describe the long term risk of COVID19 as massively worse than anything the vax has even created the slightest sniff of at this point would be an understatement.
+The hardest thing is that for many the illness is not a super big deal, and it's easy to see or hear a few stories like that or experience it ourselves and then assume that's reality. In reality, that thinking pattern is a logical fallacy. It's a significant illness for a LOT of folks.
+I sure as hell am not an anti-vaxxer. Kids all had their shots. But I did work with pharma in new drugs and their delivery systems and and what is required to move from each stage of clinicals to ultimate use. That hasn’t happened with these vaccines.
+I'm not anti-vax. I'm anti-Chicom Flu Indoctrination Inoculation (for myself) due to: the incredibly high survival rate, the FACT that "knowledge" about the Chicom Flu changes frequently as shared by the "experts", the medical community being divided on treatment AND the dissenting voices being silenced by the powerbrokers, the powerbrokers being unified in telling us what to do and finally a complete distrust of the powerbrokers and their motives.
+Half of the posters to this thread are fully accepting of being told what to do by a laundry list of entities that have proven they want you to have fewer rights, liberties and freedoms. I'm not nearly as willing as most "...to give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety..." and have little respect for those trying to force me into that mindset.
+Best response yet Landshark Launcher. :o)
+balance that against the vaccine. - Does it "cure" C19? Not always, but 95+% effective - Effective can range from "less severe" to "don't get it" - Long term effects? Unknown - Is it safe? Yes, at least as safe as other vaccines
+Wonder of the USA, you get to pick which scenario you want.
+Matt
+Bob - increasingly not the case.
+I actually didn't give two sh!ts about the warp speed program for a vaccine that will save a miniscule amount of people, relatively speaking. If we all cared about health so much, there would be a complete ban on ALL smoking, ALL alcohol, ALL processed foods with sugar, ALL vehicular traffic over (XX?) MPH, ALL face-to-face gatherings without FULL PPE.
+This is one minor issue compared to the hundreds of thousands of deaths that occur from preventable causes on an annual basis - if we only asked Big Brother to control our behavior just a little more, and a little bit more, and a little bit more, etc.
+Thankfully, I don't see anyone here on this thread doing that.
+If a person chooses not to get the vaccine, then becomes infected and infects someone else that results in the death of that 2nd person.....is that 1st person who intentionally refused to get the vaccine have any legal culpability in the death of the 2nd person?
+NO. Not even in leftist America.
+This is not a pandemic in anyway unless you make it out to be one by speculation. But, we have to consider reality as we know it now. And, that doesn’t involve sacrifices to make other feel better by force. If this things grows to that, we can all have a civilized talk about it then. But, we ain’t even close to that.
+It keeps getting said to follow the science. Well, that’s the science of it. A survival rate so high we have to speculate on the true numbers because so many people have had it and didn’t even know to test for it. That’s not a pandemic. Yet, we keep getting told to follow the science. Well, that’s what I’m doing. Speculation isn’t proven.
+Anyways, I really never thought I’d see the day where it was considered that people might be Liable for failing to to take a shot for something that is currently so non lethal. Yeah boy, hire a lawyer and try to push that through civil court. See how that goes for you. I’m betting the Corona virus will become your last worry at that point.
+Don't be so sure. Florida has it included in their STI or STD laws. Don't EVER put anything past a liberal. They'll jail their own mother if it fit the narrative.
+There are already circumstances (laws) where vaccinations can be mandatory. Kids going to school is one example.
+Matt's Link
+It would not surprise me at all to learn that the vaccine is nothing but sugar water.
+I believe none of what I hear and half of what I see.
+Please do not trust social media stuff for information - I realize that's odd as I type it into a social media platform. Seriously though, the level of pseudoscience sometimes dropped out there is astonishing.
+I have met employees of clients who later died of COVID-19. I have also met those who were quite ill and others who had the meh... nothing burger reaction. This is real but the individual response is quite variable. I wish I could get the shot but the govt. doesn't have me on the preference list even though I was an essential worker early on with a primary focus of providing health and safety or industrial hygiene consulting.
+That said, the COVID-19 vaccine which is mRNA based not DNA based is new but the building blocks for it started with other SARS outbreaks. No you can't get COIVD-19 from the vaccine, its not alive, never been alive just a key for you body to know when COVID-19 comes a calling. (e.g. Knock Knock, Who's there?, COVID-19, Sorry we gave at the office... those two big white corpuscles behind you can help you off the property).
+I sat in on a webinar hosted by Los Alamos lab about a month ago with a lot of other safety professionals. An interesting presentation that even in that environment there are still COVID-19 deniers and highly technical people who don't get it. One of the things mentioned was in the trials of the vaccine out of the thousands upon thousands of test subjects only 1 (one) uno, einse, ichi, I, ONE person caught COVID-19 that required any level of critical care. Thats right only ONE out of thousands upon thousands vaccinated was unprotected. Go enough for me I will get the shots.
+Too funny indeed. The grand irony here is that the loss of liberty and freedom due to COVID restrictions is what many guys were bitching about at the onset of the pandemic. Now that there is a tool to reverse those losses, they are bitching about it for the same reason.
+Also, trophy, I whole heartedly support your ability to choose whether to get the vaccine or not. I have several friends choosing to not get it and I support their choice, in large part because they offer reasonable reasons to not get it. I choose differently than them, but I couldn't support them and their choice any more than I do. However, the rationale you provide above as to why you choose to not get it is filled with misinformation and a clear lack of understanding. If you had a valid reason to not get vaccinated that was based in accurate, rational info your case to not get it would be a whole lot more defensible. In the end it's also your choice to not get informed and still make the decision for yourself. I hope that ends up being a good decision for you (and I truly mean that).
+Do you have a time machine hidden in the shed?
+I decided to lead with that rather than the "if my aunt had balls,..." line.
+ND String Puller's Link
+I mentioned 'population density' earlier. It's not coincidence that the most densely populated areas have the highest rates of infection, but people will STILL ride public transportation and gather too closely.
+I used the example of Wyoming vs. 'Worcester County, Massachusetts' which is extreme, but it illustrates how unevenly population is distributed across the country. (Wyoming has 3/4 of the people of WCMa but 62 times the area.)
+I think we can agree that methods that are helpful in one place don't make sense everywhere. (And I'll deal with the situation *here* tyvm.)
+And that isn’t internet misinformation folks.....
+It's 'anecdotal'. In statistical speak, it's ONE data point. Without the particulars of the case it would be useless to draw conclusions from it. As so many have pointed out above, getting the shots does not give you 'instant Teflon' protection from catching the virus. I'm getting the shots and then I'm still gonna avoid the heck out of crowds for another two months.
+Arguing from the standpoint of a conspiracy theorist makes people sound a lot like the folks who claim the holocaust never happened, we've never been on the moon, and the earth is flat. Because numbers have been inflated doesn't discount everything and make covid a conspiracy.
+Get informed and educated about the risks of the virus and the vaccine. Once informed, made a decision about the balance of risks.
+So my philosophy is to go on with my Life. Wife & I are heading to Florida for a couple of weeks to do some Fishing, enjoy the warm sunshine, & partake of the Floridian hospitality.
+His point is he had the virus. It was for him like it was/has been for roughly 90% of the people who has had it. Very mild. His point is he also knows the virus is deadly for such a small portion, way less then 1% of the people who get it, that he doesn’t prioritize getting the vaccine. He isn’t knocking you for getting it. And, he’s trying to point out that there are many unknowns. And, That the effectiveness isn’t known.
+Basically, he is saying everything being stated by the same science you fellas are picking and choosing your points to further your position. The difference is, he isn’t picking and choosing his truths. He taking everything for face value and developing an approach he’s comfortable with.
+That’s something not shared by a bunch on this thread. So, if it’s not you, don’t get defensive. If it is you, It’s like you can’t grasp someone not seeing it the same way. Even though there is enough SCIENCE available to suggest it’s a warrantied approach.
+That’s what I read from him and everyone else sharing his position. It’s not based on fear, conspiracy theory, or anything other then results. So, Saying differently doesn’t make it so.
+So......what you're saying is we need to wait several years until long term clinicals and trials are in place? Because right now, there are NONE. We have a flu that we have known about for a year, a vaccine, substantially less than that. Mike in Ct (and he works in the field) had mentioned that he didn't think a vaccine would be available for ~2 years and that would be fast tracked. Again, there are no long term studies that show either the effectiveness nor the side effects. THAT is my issue. Period. There is NO long term information to make an informed opinion. And just because the government says this fast tracked vaccine is OK, doesn't make it so. In the not so distant past this is the same government that conducted STD studies on blacks, and LSD studies by the CIA with an untold number of deaths and destroyed lives.
+How many of you when your favorite truck brand releases a brand spanking new generation, new engine, transmission, electronics, etc, say I'm gonna wait a few years till all the bugs get worked out before I drop some $$. But a new vaccine, relativley untested, lined up to get it and mock those that question the validity of how it was rushed thru.
+FTR, my kids have had all their shots, my grandkids, I get tetnaus boosters when required. I don't get the flu shot. It typically is a crap shoot as to which flu hits (apparently all other flu strains are extinct) and it's typically only 40-50% effective. Plus the last two times my wife got it, she was hammered hard, laid up two weeks, with the flu. Vaccines fault? Her own body's reaction? Just a freak occurence? Who knows... Not opposed to the standard flu vaccine, just not getting it. And apparently there have been no cases or deaths attributed to the "old" flu.
+The problem is that the lockdowns really did nothing to slow the virus.
+A 25 MPH national speed limit would save lives.
+Remember when closing for 15 days was an unprecedented move?
+Matt
+So my philosophy is to go on with my Life. Wife & I are heading to Florida for a couple of weeks to do some Fishing, enjoy the warm sunshine, & partake of the Floridian hospitality.
+My biggest regret is I passed on a Franchi instinct, 3 CZ woodcocks, and 3 CZ ring necks. I should have brought one of them suckers home
+The ONLY thing that matters is whether or not an individual, American Citizen, wants to get the vaccine or not. My agreement with your reasons isn't necessary. Your agreement for my reasons isn't necessary. If you don't advocate for my choice to be invalid, we're good. If you do, you'll be high on the list when the fecal matter hits the oscillating device - you have proven that you do not care about individual rights, freedoms and liberties as much as you care about your safety and compliance with Big Brother.
+Bake - your meme is insensitive and demeaning to those for whom truth and common sense is a trigger. Shame!
+I would love to hear Mike's thoughts as well.
+I think that depends, again, on where you are, population density etc. In 'thin' areas it probably doesn't matter. If it had been pushed *harder* *sooner* in densely populated areas, who knows? It seems to be helping in other countries, although I haven't really studied it hard. (They do seem to *enforce* it harder.)
+Dirty Mike- whole different ball game with virus vaccines. Viruses mutate, hence the high fail rate.
+One thing is for sure, we can’t win against this Covid. We can beat the flu bug though.
+Craig
+Matt
+The vaccines are created and start to be distributed. Within a week he is telling us we have to be worried about variants, but we always knew there would be variants. I remember him talking about it on TV. It is natural for virus to mutate as it goes through the population. Sometimes the variants may spread easier, but the mutated variants generally cause less severe illness. He also no longer speaks of the people that have had covid when talking about herd immunity. Every time I here him on TV now it is based off up to 90 percent of the population getting the vaccine(the number varies between 75-90), nothing about everyone that has caught covid.
+A month or two back he said kids should be in school, teachers don't need to be vaccinated. That should be the "default posistion". The last week or so when I see him on TV he says its a very complicated subject and he doesn't have all the data yet.
+A news anchor asked him if now that her parents got vaccinated, can they come visit the grandchildren. He said no that wouldn't be a good Idea. Also just because you got vaccinated, it doesn't mean you can start going out to restaurants and theaters.
+In that same interview he mentioned he believed around July everyone that wanted the vaccine would be able to get it. In the end of the interview she asked when life could be normal again. He just kind of laughed. He said he still thought social distancing and masked would be required in 2022. If everyone that wants the vaccine got it why would we be wearing masks and social distancing still?
+I was reading the information about vaccines on the CDC website, and this is all baffling to me. What I read there seems to contradict what he has been saying lately about how to live your life after being vaccinated. We need to get the vaccine so we don't get sick and spread the virus, but if you get the vaccine you can still get sick and spread the virus.
+My wife is in health care so she got both vaccine shots over the last month. She just got sick for one day after the second shot. I'm all for getting it as soon as I can. Im not in a high risk group but have family that is. I would love for them and me to get it so we aren't worried about seeing each other.
+Sorry for the long post, just really baffled after the TV interviews he has done the last week or two. Seem's as though he is saying that being vaccinated doesn't mean your life is normal again. You still have to mask up and socially distance. You can still catch virus and spread virus. If we were all vaccinated we could all still catch and spread virus then correct?
+I'm not trying to stir the pot. I know there are several people with medical backgrounds that post on here. Just wondering if any of this makes sense. What he is saying on TV doesn't even seem to jive with the CDC website info about how vaccinations work.
+Hackbow's Link
+- Research article
+- Open Access
+- Published:
+Genders of patients and clinicians and their effect on shared decision making: a participant-level meta-analysis
+BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making volume 14, Article number: 81 (2014)
+2061 Accesses
+8 Citations
+12 Altmetric
+-
+Abstract
+Background
+Gender differences in communication styles between clinicians and patients have been postulated to impact patient care, but the extent to which the gender dyad structure impacts outcomes in shared decision making remains unclear.
+Methods
+Participant-level meta-analysis of 775 clinical encounters within 7 randomized trials where decision aids, shared decision making tools, were used at the point of care. Outcomes analysed include decisional conflict scale scores, satisfaction with the clinical encounter, concordance between stated decision and action taken, and degree of patient engagement by the clinician using the OPTION scale. An estimated minimal important difference was used to determine if nonsignificant results could be explained by low power.
+Results
+We did not find a statistically significant interaction between clinician/patient gender mix and arm for decisional conflict, satisfaction with the clinical encounter or patient engagement. A borderline significant interaction (p = 0.05) was observed for one outcome: concordance between stated decision and action taken, where encounters with female clinician/male patient showed increased concordance in the decision aid arm compared to control (8% more concordant encounters). All other gender dyads showed decreased concordance with decision aid use (6% fewer concordant encounters for same-gender, 16% fewer concordant encounters for male clinician/female patient).
+Conclusions
+In this participant-level meta-analysis of 7 randomized trials, decision aids used at the point of care demonstrated comparable efficacy across gender dyads. Purported barriers to shared decision making based on gender were not detected when tested for a minimum detected difference.
+Trial registrations
+ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00888537, NCT01077037, NCT01029288, NCT00388050, NCT00578981, NCT00949611, NCT00217061.
+Background
+When shared decision making (SDM) is viewed as a conversation, clinician-patient communication styles lie at the crux. Clinicians and patients can act as barriers or facilitators to SDM, depending on the communication styles they choose to adopt [1]. It has been proposed that clinician and patient gender, and in particular the concordance or discordance between the gender of the clinician and patient, affects communication styles [2, 3]. The limited evidence available on communication styles suggests that women may be more effective at behaviors associated with shared decision making. Their communication styles have been characterized as less dominant, with more awareness of others’ feelings [4]. Female physicians tend to engage more in partnership building, question asking, and information provision as opposed to male physicians; moreover, female patients tend to ask more questions, get more information, receive more counseling, engage in more emotional statements and are more involved in clinical encounters than male patients, although these findings have not been uniform across studies [2, 5].
+It seems reasonable to suggest that gender-associated communication style differences may impact SDM at the point of care. However, we know of no studies that systematically assess the impact of the clinician-patient gender grouping (“dyad”) on SDM during clinical encounters. The clinical trials of decision aids used at the point of care that we have conducted over the past 9 years were all performed in the same geographical area using similar study procedures and recorded many of the same outcomes. Because we had access to individual patient-level meta-analysis and this could be performed with minimal heterogeneity, we sought to measure the effect of clinician-patient gender dyads on the outcomes of decisional conflict, patient knowledge, provider engagement of the patient, patient satisfaction, and concordance between decision made and action taken among patients participating in randomized controlled trials where decision aids were used at the point of care using the single-step individual patient level meta-analysis.
+Methods
+Reporting
+We will report the study according to the PRISMA Statement, where applicable [6]. We will also include additional criteria described by Riley et al. for reporting individual participant data meta-analysis [7]. The PRISMA Checklist, with the items recommended by Riley et al. appended, are included as Additional file 1.
+Study design
+We conducted a participant-level meta-analysis to assess the extent to which clinician-patient gender groupings impact outcomes assessed within SDM-focused clinical trials where decision aids (DAs) were used during clinical encounters. A study protocol was not published, and the study was not registered in an online database. The Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board approved each included study. For studies performed at Olmsted Medical Center (Decision Aids for Diabetes and Diabetes Choice Studies), approval was also obtained from the Olmsted Medical Center institutional review board. Each of the trials included in this study obtained written consent from patients and clinicians.
+Data source
+We included all clinical encounters from all SDM trials conducted within the Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, USA that were completed, but not necessarily published, at the time of the present study (Table 1) [8–12]. All of these trials took place between April 2005 and November 2010 were practice based, 2 arm, randomized controlled trials enrolling clinicians and patients at the point of care in Southeastern Minnesota, USA, practices, included a similar SDM intervention (i.e., a brief DA to be used by clinicians and patients during clinical encounters), assessed comparable measures of SDM processes and outcomes, and compared outcomes between an intervention (DA) and a control group. The AMI Choice study involved a nurse or nurse practitioner using the DA with the patient, while the remaining studies involved the DA being implemented by the patient’s physician. The rationale for not performing a systematic review to identify other includable studies was that we had access to individual encounter data and sufficient homogeneity of methods and outcomes to be combined, and addition of other studies would add heterogeneity.
+The Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Choice decision aid is a pamphlet that describes to hospitalized patients recovering from an acute myocardial infarction their personalized 6-month mortality risk without and with a bundle of medications that have been shown to improve mortality for the purpose of deciding whether the patient will take the medication bundle. The AMI Choice study [manuscript under consideration at a peer-reviewed journal], a patient level randomized trial, took place between March 2009 and June 2010 with follow up duration of 6 months. To be included in the study, patients had to be ages 18 to 90 years and recovering from an acute myocardial infarction. Patients were excluded if they could not give written informed consent or use the decision aid (including inability to read English, visual impairment, hearing impairment, dementia), were discharged to a nursing home, had do not resuscitate or comfort cares only order or died during the index hospitalization. Patients randomized to intervention were compared to usual care.
+The Chest Pain Choice decision aid is a pamphlet that describes to patients presenting to the emergency with chest pain at low risk for acute coronary syndrome their personalized risk of having a heart attack or pre-heart attack within 45 days of their emergency room visit for the purpose of determining whether to be admitted to the emergency department observation unit for a cardiac stress test. The Chest Pain Choice study [8], a patient level randomized trial took place between February 2010 and November 2010 with a follow up period of 30 days. A multicenter trial is currently underway, but patients from the multicenter trial were not included in the meta-analysis. To be included in the study, patients had to be >17 years old presenting to the emergency department with symptoms on nontraumatic chest pain and be considered for admission to the emergency department observation unit for monitoring and cardiac stress testing within 24 hours. Patients were excluded if they had known coronary artery disease, elevated initial cardiac troponin T biomarker, had used cocaine within the previous 72 hours by history, or were pregnant. Patients randomized to intervention were compared to usual care.
+The Diabetes Choice study [10] utilized the Diabetes Choice decision aid, which consisted of a series of “issue cards” that each lists an issue pertaining to the use of antihyperglycemic medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus (e.g., cost, side effects, daily routine) at the top and below compares the available medications according to the issue. Eligible patients were adults with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus for at least one year who had a scheduled appointment with an enrolled clinician in the primary care setting and were able and willing to give informed consent to participate in the trial and were facing a decision about diabetes medications (as indicated by eligible glycated hemoglobin level conducted less than 6 months prior to enrollment measuring between 7.0% and 9.5% while taking 3 or fewer antihyperglycemic medications and not using insulin). The study, a clinician level randomized trial, took place between November 2006 and November 2007 with follow up of six months. Patients randomized to intervention were compared to usual care.
+The Statin Choice decision aid lists the patient’s personalized 10-year risk of myocardial infarction with and without the use of a statin medication in addition to information about side effects associated with statin medications for the purpose of determining whether the patient will take a statin medication to reduce his or her cardiovascular risk. The Statin Choice trial [13], a clinician level randomized trial, took place in a subspecialty diabetes clinic between April and July 2005 with three month follow up. The trial included patients with a clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes who were able and willing to provide informed consent, had no reported contraindications to statin use and were available for three month follow up. After being randomized to receive the Statin Choice decision aid or a pamphlet on dyslipidemia, patients were further randomized to have their decision aid or pamphlet administered by their physician during the visit or by a researcher prior to the visit.
+The Decision Aids for Diabetes (DAD) study [9] was a cluster randomized controlled trial randomized at the site level in primary care where patients were randomized to either the Diabetes Choice decision aid or Statin Choice decision aid and each group served as control for the other. The Diabetes Choice and Statin Choice decision aids used in the trial were essentially identical to the ones used in the Diabetes Choice and Statin Choice studies, respectively (above). The study took place between April 2010 and July 2011 with a six month follow up period. Eligible patients were ≥18 years of age, had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, recognized the participating clinician as their main diabetes care provider, had no major barriers to providing written informed consent, could communicate in English, were available for six-month follow up, and were facing the need to start or modify their current antihyperglycemic regimen.
+The Osteoporosis Choice decision aid presents a postmenopausal woman’s individualized 10-year fracture risk with and without the use of bisphosphonate medications along with information about how the medications are taken and associated side effects and estimated cost for the purpose of determining whether the patient will take a bisphosphonate medication. The Osteoporosis Choice I trial [11], a patient level randomized trial, took place in a primary care setting between August 2007 and July 2008 with follow up of 6 months and included postmenopausal women aged 50 years or greater with bone mineral density levels consistent with osteopenia or osteoporosis who were not already taking bisphosphonates or other prescription medications for osteoporosis. To be included, patients must also be deemed eligible for bisphosphonate therapy by their clinician, have a follow up appointment with that clinician and be available for phone follow up at six months. Patients were excluded if they could not read English or had barriers to providing written informed consent or use of the decision aid. Patients who received the intervention were compared to usual care. The Osteoporosis Choice II trial, a patient level randomized trial, [manuscript under consideration at a peer-reviewed journal] took place in a primary care setting between May 2009 and April 2010 with follow up of 6 months. It was a three-arm study comparing the Osteoporosis Choice decision aid with provision of the patient’s World Health Organization Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score and usual care. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were identical to the Osteoporosis I trial [11].
+Data extracted
+All enrolled participant data from each clinical trial was extracted for analysis from the primary study databases, which we had direct access to. Measures, including demographic information, were collected from post-encounter and follow-up surveys from patients and clinicians, pharmacy records, medical record review, and third-party video observation of the clinical encounters.
+Outcome measures
+Patients’ level of decisional conflict was assessed immediately after consultations using the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) in paper form [14]. The scale includes 5 subscales and 16 items on a 0–4 Likert scale, where scores can be reported globally or for each subscale individually. We reported the scores for each subscale, transposing them to a 0–100 range with higher scores indicating greater comfort with decision making. The number of subscales assessed varied across trials. Only the subscales deemed by investigators to be most pertinent to the decision at hand were used in the original studies to prevent questionnaires from placing excess study burden on participants. The AMI Choice trial assessed 2 of the 5 subscales (Information and Effectiveness), the DAD trial assessed 3 of the 5 (Information, Effectiveness and Support), and the remaining trials assessed all 5 subscales.
+Knowledge was assessed through patient self-report after the clinical encounter. Patients answered true/false knowledge questions pertaining to information considered essential in the decision-making context for the clinical problem at hand, mainly around cognizance of the problem, its alternatives, and associated benefits and risks. AMI Choice did not assess knowledge in this context and therefore is not included in this analysis. The total knowledge scores were expressed as a percent of the maximum possible score.
+Patient engagement was measured using the OPTION scale, a third-party observer scale which evaluates clinicians’ efforts to involve patients in decision making [15]. Scores were assessed by a single reviewer after calibration of assessments with other reviewers on a smaller set of encounters. The scale has 12 items scored on a 0–4 scale which are then added to form the total score (maximum = 48). We transposed this score to a 0–100 range, with higher scores indicating greater involvement in decision making, for ease of interpretation. This is reported only in cases where recording of the encounter was conducted; reasons for non-recording included patient decline, clinician decline, equipment malfunction/unavailability, and encounter not conducive to recording.
+Satisfaction with the encounter was measured immediately after the encounter using patients’ willingness to recommend the way they made the decision (i.e., use of the DA) to others from a questionnaire, measured on a 7-point Likert scale, converted into two categories: recommend (1–2) or not (3–7).
+Chart reviews and pharmaceutical records provided evidence about the action patients took (i.e., actual decision) as extracted by a single study coordinator, which we compared to their declared decision on post-visit questionnaires (i.e., stated decision). Concordance is coded as complete agreement versus not, where complete indicates that the patient’s action was completely consistent with the decision made (e.g., start new medication was the decision, and a new medication was found within pharmacy records).
+All data was carefully examined for inconsistencies at the time of the primary analysis, including verification of recorded survey results and consistency across reporting mechanisms.
+Statistical analysis
+All analyses were conducted according to the intent to treat principle with encounters analyzed as randomized. Meta-analysis was performed using the one-step approach with individual encounter data; no pooled data were used in the analysis [7, 16]. Analysis was conducted for all trials as patient randomized, ignoring clustering in the three trials. This was due to the low level of clustering effect found in the trials (DAD Intra Cluster Correlation, ICC = 0 for all outcomes, Diabetes ICC = 0 to 0.01 for all outcomes except OPTION ICC = 0.3, and Statin Choice ICC = 0.04 to 0.09 for all outcomes except OPTION ICC = 0.2. Categorical data are presented as counts and frequencies and continuous outcomes as means and standard deviations. Difference in baseline characteristics between gender groupings were analyzed with Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney tests or Fisher’s exact tests as appropriate. Education level was missing at random for 4% of the population; values were imputed and utilized for analysis. The remainder of the dataset was complete.
+We used the Higgins I2 coefficient to quantify the proportion of inconsistency in interventional effects across trials not explained by chance (i.e., reflecting true differences in trial results) alone [17]. Tests were conducted on each outcome to determine if the effect of the intervention (DA) arm versus the usual care (UC) arm differed between the six trials. The values for the coefficient for each outcome were as follows: DCS informed = 58.5%, DCS values = 48.8%, DCS support = 23.5%, DCS certainty = 66.8%, DCS effectiveness = 45.7%, Knowledge = 0.0%, Satisfaction = 44.0%, OPTION = 88.9% and Concordance = 42.7%. Random effects models were therefore performed to account for the heterogeneity found, thus results provided for an average treatment effect. The two-level mixed model was adjusted by fixed effects of age, education and type of clinician, interaction of gender mix and arm and a random effect of study.
+Each continuous outcome was examined and found to have a normal distribution and was modeled as such. Collinearity was not found in the variables included in the model, verified by variance inflation factor. Binary outcome models were examined for goodness of fit using the Hosmer-Lemeshow method and there was no evidence of a poor fit. The continuous outcome models were found to be overall significant with a low R2 (<0.3), which indicates that the adjusted variables are not a good predictor of the outcome. As we were modeling to test the theory that gender mix has an impact on the outcomes and we used the factors that was available for the data, no further action was taken on this. The results are representative of the interaction of the intervention arm (DA versus UC) by the gender groupings being conducted or not. Results of the meta-analysis were reported using the adjusted mean differences (DA-UC) with 95% CI for each continuous outcome (DCS and subscales, general knowledge, and adherence). For binary outcomes the adjusted predicted percentage difference (DA-UC) with 95% CI were reported. Each model is adjusted by not only the study arm, gender grouping (male clinician/male patient, female clinician/female patient, same gender [i.e., combination of former two groups], male clinician/female patient and female clinician/male patient) and the interaction of them but also by patient age (continuous), education level (high school or less, more than high school) and clinician type (staff physician, resident/fellow physician, mid-level provider). Coefficients used in the model, as well as estimates for intercepts, residual variance on the consultation level and study level, are included as Additional file 2. The interaction between intervention and gender groupings were tested using the -2 log likelihood with a two-sided hypothesis test and significance reported at p-values of < 0.05. A sensitivity analysis was conducted as part of the pre-specified analysis plan to see if clinician gender was significantly related to the outcomes of interest. A random effects model was conducted using the same adjustment factors as above except substituting gender mix with clinician gender. Clinician gender was not found to be significantly related to any of the outcomes (results not shown). The gender mix was explored at 4 levels (male clinician/male patient, female clinician/female patient, male clinician/female patient, female clinician/male patient) to ensure that the same gender mixes (male clinician/male patient, female clinician/female patient) did not differ from each other. Therefore, it was decided to report gender mix at 3 levels (male clinician/female patient, female clinician/male patient and same gender clinician and patient).
+Because the most prevailing source of bias was study selection, included studies were not individually assessed for risk of bias. Given the small number of studies, meaningful funnel plots could not be generated to assess between-study risk of bias.
+We estimated the minimal important difference (MID) following as recommended by Sloan and Norman by considering the MID as equivalent to half of a standard deviation for each measure [18]. This value provided guidance on interaction effects and whether we could determine true non difference or the study was underpowered for the outcome.
+To determine the extent to which a clinician participating multiple times impacted our results, we conducted a sensitivity analysis by subsetting the population to the first encounter for each clinician and the last encounter for each clinician. We modeled both subsets using the same techniques as above and found no impact on results. Results for the subset sensitivity analysis are not shown for this reason. All analyses were conducted using SAS 9.2 and STATA 12.1. Study data were recorded and managed using the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) system [19].
+Results
+A total of 775 encounters took place in the 6 trials conducted between 2005 and 2012. A higher percentage of encounters with the gender mix of female clinician/male patient were in the DA arm (71%). The distribution of gender mixes was imbalanced due to the AMI Choice trial in which only female clinicians took part in the DA arm. Moreover, nurses and mid level providers, most of them from the AMI Choice trial, contributed to a higher female clinician/male patient ratio than in other gender mix groupings (40% vs. range 2-15%, Table 2). The Osteoporosis Choice trial only enrolled female patients. Over 95% of patients enrolled in each study were white.
+Because the same data as that used in the completed study was used for the individual participant data meta-analysis, our results were comparable to the final results for each individual study. No additional patients were added and no patients were removed for this analysis.
+Clinicians could participate in each trial multiple times and could participate in multiple trials; the range of encounters where a clinician participated was 1 to 28. One patient participated in three studies (Chest Pain Choice, Osteoporosis Choice I, and Diabetes Choice), and two patients participated in two trials (Chest Pain Choice and Diabetes Choice; Decision Aids for Diabetes and Diabetes Choice). Sixty clinical encounters took place at a different medical center than the rest (50 encounters from the Decision Aids for Diabetes study and 10 from the Diabetes Choice study), and sufficient patient identifying information was not available to determine if any of these patients participated in any other included trials.
+Patient decisional conflict
+While the DA had a marked improvement over UC in the informed, effectiveness, certainty and values subscales (Table 3) in the DCS across all gender mixes, no effect was seen in the support subscale, aside from in the male clinician/female patient gender mix (Figure 1). Interaction between gender mix and arm was not found to be significant among any of the subscales. The MID for each subscale was not met.
+Effect of gender groupings on decisional conflict..
+Knowledge
+Knowledge scores were significantly higher for patients within the DA arm over usual care (Table 3) within each of the gender mixes. No effect of interaction between the intervention and gender mix was seen (Figure 2). The MID for knowledge was not met.
+Effect of gender groupings on knowledge and patient engagement (OPTION)..
+Clinician engagement of patients
+A significant increase in the extent clinicians engaged patients in the decision making process (i.e., OPTION score) for the DA arm was seen among all gender mixes (Figure 2). The impact of the intervention across the gender mixes was consistent, and no significant between gender mix differences were seen. The MID for clinician engagement of patients was not met.
+Satisfaction
+Patients were more likely to report satisfaction with the encounter in the DA arm than UC (Figure 3); however, the effect of the DA was consistent across all gender mixes. The MID for satisfaction was not met.
+Effect of gender groupings on patient satisfaction and concordance (agreement with decision). Analysis separating the “same” gender group into male/male and female/female (not shown) made no change in the results. Footnote/legend: Abbreviations: Clinician CL; Patient PT; minimal important difference, MID. Mean differences (DA – UC) calculated using simulation estimates from multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models for each arm within each gender mix. Mean differences compared between gender mixes to test against MID.
+Concordance
+On average, a lower percentage of patients were concordant with the decision they made (i.e., they carried out the decision stated in the encounter) within the DA arm than UC (Figure 3). Among encounters in which the gender mix was same gender, there was on average 6% fewer encounters with concordance whereas the male clinician/female patient encounters had on average 16% fewer encounters with concordance. The encounters with female clinician/male patient saw an increase of 8% of encounters with concordance on average in the DA arm over UC. The impact of gender mix on concordance was found to be borderline significant (p = 0.05). When comparing male clinician/female patient and female clinician/male patient, female clinician/male patient encounters were concordant in 24% (95% CI [1, 46]) more encounters, and this difference was significant.
+The unadjusted rate of concordant encounters within the DA arm is 67% versus 76% in UC; this pattern was seen in all studies except AMI Choice and DAD. The unadjusted rates for the gender mix categories showed similar concordance (range 68 to 74%).
+Discussion
+We were unable to detect a difference in SDM outcomes between clinician/patient gender dyads, with the exception of concordance between the stated decision and actual action taken where female clinician/male patient dyads, which showed borderline significant increased concordance with DA use and all other dyads showed a decrease (p = 0.05). These results suggest that these DAs largely work with the same efficacy across gender dyads, and purported barriers to the use of DAs at the point of care based on gender were not detected. However, this finding needs to be confirmed because the study was underpowered to detect the observed differences, as evidenced by the observed differences being less than the MID.
+Putting these results in context is challenging, given a general lack of studies on gender and SDM. However, a limited number of qualitative studies on clinician and patient gender exist from which we may draw tentative comparisons.
+In general, the male communication style has been characterized as task-oriented, forceful, dominant and competitive with frequent interruptions, whereas the female communication style has been generalized as emotional, subjective, polite and self-revealing with more concern and awareness of the feelings of others shown [4]. This would suggest that the female communication style might be better suited for facilitating SDM.
+Female physicians have been observed to engage in more psychosocial counseling (including discussion of social and family issues), in addition to providing more subjective and objective information, acknowledgement, partnership building and question asking. Female physicians also better explore both the disease and the illness experience and involve patients more in decision making [2, 20]. By contrast, male clinicians are more assertive, give more advice and interpretation, and focus more on technical aspects of the clinical consultation, such as the physical examination [2]. These observations also suggest that females may be better facilitators of SDM.
+When considering patients separately, female patients also tend to ask more questions, get more information, receive more counseling, engage in more emotional statements and be more involved in clinical encounters than male patients, although these findings have not been uniform across studies [2, 5]. Female patients ask more questions, present more symptoms and give more detailed medical histories compared to male patients [21]. As a result, female patients also have more patient-centered interactions with clinicians than males, suggesting that they may more readily participate in SDM [22].
+A qualitative systematic review considered the four different clinician-patient dyads separately. In general, male/male dyads were considered to involve equality between the clinician and patient as well as ease of conversation when compared to gender discordant dyads [3]. It has also been observed that the content of the conversation in male/male dyads is more likely to focus on the male patient’s social agenda when compared to other dyads, and a biopsychosocial approach appears to occur more frequently in male/male dyads compared to female/female dyads [3]. Male doctor/female patient dyads seem to be least patient centered, with doctors making more assumptions in lieu of clarifying with patients and discussing self-management less [3]. Female doctor/female patient dyads include more psychosocial and biomedical language in the context of the greatest patient-centeredness of all dyads [3]. Finally, female doctor/male patient dyads appear to be tense, with unfriendly voice tones from clinicians and dominant voice tones from both parties [3]. It appears, however, that males tend to use interactions with female clinicians to address emotional concerns more than they do with male clinicians, and males who see female clinicians have more participatory visits than males who see male clinicians [2, 3]. In general, it seems there is less tension around power and status within same gender dyads, compared to gender discordant dyads, and concordance is associated with greater understanding [2, 3]. Based on these characteristics, it might be reasonable to hypothesize that gender concordance is important for facilitating SDM but concordance may be trumped by the effect of clinician gender; however, our study did not observe this. One potential reason that we did not observe significant effects of gender mix on shared decision making outcomes is that the qualitative differences observed in these studies do not translate to changes in SDM in the course of delivering a DA intervention to a patient, or they do but the differences are small.
+Strengths and limitations
+This study has many strengths, including analyzing the impact of clinician-patient gender dyads on several SDM outcomes in DA clinical trials in a number of clinical settings (e.g., emergency department, chronic care follow-up) and contexts (i.e., academic medical center, rural clinic). However, several factors may limit the generalizability of our results. We did not perform a systematic review to identify other potentially includable studies. Our study included only clinicians in Rochester, Minnesota, USA, and the surrounding communities, and our results may not be generalizable to other settings. It is also unknown if the clinicians who participated in our clinical trials differ in their ability to overcome postulated gender dyad related barriers; that is to say that we cannot separate the effect of the DA from the effect of our clinician population on overcoming the postulated gender dyad communication barriers, and perhaps the generalized cultural stereotypes regarding dyad communication styles do not apply to the clinicians and patients who participated in our studies or do not exist at all. An alternative hypothesis is that the communication styles we believed to facilitate SDM have less of an effect than originally thought. As three of the included trials were cluster randomized trials, and the clustering effect was not taken into account, this is a limitation of our findings. The three cluster-randomized trials included (Diabetes Medication Choice, Statin Choice and DAD) either had no intra-cluster coefficient effect, or it was so negligible that no noticeable effect of the randomization would be found. Finally, while we did not detect an effect of gender dyads greater than the MID for most outcomes we examined, it is possible that a subtler signal might exist but was not detectable given the limited statistical power of our study.
+For the random effects of the study parameter, the variance of the intercept for all outcomes is low and shows little change across studies except for the outcome of OPTION scores. While this may be indicative of a large variation in findings across studies, this is also the only endpoint that is adjudicated by third party reviewers and also had a lower sample size as video recordings were not available for all encounters.
+Future directions
+As the SDM field begins to look past the clinician-patient dyad and we accrue more data on patients with three or more involved parties, future work will investigate the impact of gender discordance and concordance in triads and beyond. We will also increase our power as we continue to accrue data, and we anticipate our ability to detect small differences in the impact of dyad gender influences on SDM outcomes will increase over time.
+Conclusions
+A difference in SDM outcomes during encounters was not detected between clinician/patient gender dyads with the exception of the outcome of concordance between stated decision and actual action taken where female clinician/male patient dyads showed borderline significant increased concordance with DA use and all other dyads showed a decrease. This suggests that gender dyads may not act as barriers to SDM during the implementation of DAs at the point of care. These results suggest but cannot confirm that these DAs used at the point of care largely work with the same efficacy across gender dyads, and purported barriers to SDM based on gender were not detected when tested for a minimum detected difference.
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+Pre-publication history
+The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:
+Funding
+Specifically, the Mayo Clinic KER Unit does not receive funding from any for-profit pharmaceutical or medical device companies. The authors did not utilize a ghost author or manuscript preparation service. The study was conducted with investigator (VM) discretionary funding, and KW contributed to the manuscript without any funding support. In no case did an external funding body have any role in the design, collection, analysis, interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
+Additional information
+Competing interests
+The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
+Authors’ contributions
+All authors have made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition, and/or analysis and interpretation of the data; have been involved in drafting or critically revising the manuscript; and have given final approval of the current version to be published. KW drafted the background and discussion, interpreted the data, and critically revised the remainder of the manuscript. MB and JE conducted the analysis and drafted the methods and results of the manuscript and critically revised the remainder of the manuscript. AL and VM substantially contributed to the design of the study and have critically revised the manuscript. EH and HT contributed to the design of included studies and the interpretation of the data and have critically revised the manuscript.
+Electronic supplementary material
+Authors’ original submitted files for images
+Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.
+Rights and permissions
+About this article
+Cite this article
+Wyatt, K.D., Branda, M.E., Inselman, J.W. et al. Genders of patients and clinicians and their effect on shared decision making: a participant-level meta-analysis. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 14, 81 (2014).
+Received:
+Accepted:
+Published:
+DOI:
+Keywords
+- Gender
+- Shared decision making
+- Decision aids
+Potter’s Field…
+Where the unknown, the strangers, the criminals are buried.
+This is blog #100 for me, and I am choosing to focus it on the couture from and the actual event known as Potter’s Field, Mourning Couture Event. This is an event which includes the incredible talents and creative minds of some people in SL that I have been fortunate enough to become friends with during my time in SL, some more recent than others, some of whom have not only affected me directly but I have in turn been able to impact. #100 lets me shine the light on just a few of the people who have MADE my SL, in more ways than constructing it. And as you will see, this blog is also a first for me as well, because in order to showcase one of the designs I was given, I was forced to create a male avatar. So in this article besides seeing these amazing creations of others you will meet Ash in his first appearance, but hopefully not the last. (I welcome comments on Ash’s male form and things that should/could be done differently. I am new at the whole men’s fashions and shapes thing; please bear that in mind and be kind when you suggest things.)
+Potter’s Field, Mourning Couture Event is the brainchild of Babyhoney Bailey, who is the creative mind be Djinn & Tonic and one of the collaborators behind .44 Caliber, not to mention countless sim designs and build projects across SL. She is excellent at taking a design concept, creating an immersive story line around it, and assembling a field of talent that never fails to deliver and impressive display of creativity and genius.
+The event started July 24th and goes through August 24th. The event features a myriad of offerings from skins to accessories to clothing (a hopefully complete list with prices at the tail end of this article.) from the likes of .44 Caliber, &Bean, Djinn & Tonic, Fear & Clothing, -Glam Affair-, Lark, Nomine, Pididdle, PIG, Sanctity Poses, Sangre Noir, The Obscene, and Waverly Kline Designs. The creations are probably best summed up in this statement from M4ri1yn Magic, -Glam Affair- Brand Manager, in his notecard to bloggers about the -Glam Affair- designs:
+The funeral theme is both sad and exciting and since ages the mourning couture has inspired stylists, designers and artists.
+But more about the actual fashion designs in a moment; first, the back story for the event as shared through the notecards handed out at the entry way.
+From (1) Potter’s Field — The Beginning
+There was once a place in Louisiana, somewhere vaguely far outside of New Orleans, called Shadow Holler.
+Established in 1602 as a refuge for a group of spiritualists, it was once a hot spot for tourists and those seeking medical treatment for a number of incurable diseases. That was precisely how it remained until a hot summer night in 1910.
+People say it was the mail carrier who discovered the oddity, coming to deliver as he had done for years, only to find that every single living soul in Shadow Holler had vanished suddenly and without a trace.
+Lights were burning, music was playing, uneaten food littered tables, and livestock wandered around uncared for. People drove en masse to see for themselves once word began to spread, and though they could remember having been there, they couldn’t for the life of them remember any of the names of Shadow Holler’s residents.
+Over the years Shadow Holler became somewhat of a legend, a bedtime fairytale… or a nightmare depending on the narrator.
+In 1913, an anonymous buyer purchased Shadow Holler and began to restore the town. Slowly, very slowly, people started to buy up the cheap real estate and settle in. Soon, the town blossomed and turned into a lovely community where businesses thrived and people prospered.
+The only indication of there ever being anything amiss were the nameless headstones that littered Potter’s Field next to The Roadside Diner. A silent and anonymous memorial for those that were lost or misplaced.
+From (2) Potter’s Field — Welcome to Potter’s Field
+7 o’clock, Memphis
+106 and climbing — The earth is so hot you can smell it on your clothes. You curse the broken AC as coffee stains your white t-shirt while you’re pulling out of a rest area, you wonder if you’ll have time to change.
+Author’s side note: I am from Memphis and yesterday temperatures got to 106 degrees… oddly despite the heat I was chilled as I read this notecard to the point of getting goose-flesh all over, due to the similarities and the fact that I have actually traveled the path detailed in the story. For the full pictures of my avatars journey through the event see my flickr set on my exploration of the Potter’s Field, Mourning Couture Event.
+—
+9 o’clock, Brookhaven — The thunder moans like a lover, and the wind makes a mockery of the rain against your stripped windshield wipers. Radio busted outside of Jackson and the silence inside the car starts to weigh in at your shoulders.
+—
+Midnight, Somewhere outside of New Orleans — The pavement’s coated with freshly fallen rain and the crows are lining the wires. Your floorboard is littered, empty cigarette packages, to go boxes, and empty coffee cups. You veer off the main road, following the signs to a diner promising the “Best food in the south!”
+—
+1 o’clock, Somewhere further outside of New Orleans — You exit the car and the stretch you take has your tired muscles singing.
+Lighting a cigarette, you enter a diner to find it empty, food still hot on the tables, juke box humming aggressively in the corner. Smoke billows quietly from the stove outside of the kitchen window, and somewhere a faucet was left running.
+Stepping behind the counter cautiously to investigate, a crash explodes and echoes through the near silent space causing you to jump. You move out the screen door quickly only to be greeted by the sight of a raccoon digging through the debris of a fallen trash can.
+The faint sound of music melts into the smell of wood smoke in the air, and you sigh, trying to collect what’s left of your nerves.
+Stubbing out your cigarette, you glance to the raccoon, already waddling away with its take. You follow the sound of the music to the edge of a field, up ahead a freshly covered grave hosts burning candles.
+Nice day for a funeral.
+An owl sounds. Oddly, for the first time, at the edge of this space you realize that you are totally, absolutely, and completely alone.
+Thanks to Emerald and the derender feature … I WAS able tot be completely alone. Just the way I usually like to explore a sim. So, now for the incredible fashions that are so good they have me gender bending to show you as well as making me run around like a Gothic Mary Poppins for 2 weeks!
+First up is -Glam Affair-, where designer Aida Ewing has found her inspiration in art, collecting images from the lowbrow surreal pop art current and from the big classics – Mark Ryden, Natalie Shau, Alex Gross, Joe Sorren and many others suggested the solemn but playful style of the outfits, the skins and the poses, a couple of them reproducing Antonio’s Canova sculptures. -Glam Affair- offers three dress, three skins, six poses AND the accessories to go with the poses! Here is a sample pic for each, for larger pictures and a full range of angles and views click the pictures to be taken to the flickr photo set.
+-Glam Affair- Lady Crow is a silk crepe and lace full length dress with feathered shoulder attachments and without the high neck collar which comes with the outfit. Also seen in this picture are the 1st of the 3 – Sofia Funeral skins which -Glam Affair- produced for this event and their lace umbrella and pose from their Potter’s Field – Mourn Poses Fat Pack for 480L.
+-Glam Affair- Miss Mourn is a silk balloon dress with a fitted top and adorable cameo brooch at the throat with pretty chiffon trimmings along the bottom of the skirt and up the bodice and over the shoulders. Texturing on this one is super delicate. Perfect match with the parasol (if you can see shadows in world the patterns left by the parasol are fascinating. Also check out the 2nd of the 3 – Sofia Funeral skins pictured here. Absolutely breath-taking. I can’t wait to try it out with some of the tattoo layer makeups that are coming out and see if I can put some blood-red lips on that gorgeous face.
+-Glam Affair- Veuve Ponsardin is a sassy, punkish, A-line mini-dress with gloves, a prim and proper top hat (which includes a tattoo layer shadow for that extra realistic touch), and sexy sheer net leggings. Chiffon and a silky taffeta fabric make up this cutting edge creation. Perfect for your edgy goth girl. And what self-respecting goth doesn’t have a few skeletons, or in this case skulls, lying around for pictures. The skull and pose are again part of the Potter’s Field – Mourn Poses Fat Pack from -Glam Affair-. This pic features the 3rd and final of the 3 – Sofia Funeral skins. and yes the lace on the face is on the skin. Word is that we might see that offered in the future as a tattoo layer option for use with other skins, but nothing is final so no promises as yet.
+Two quick notes before I move on. The earrings shown in these pics are from FuLo a new jewelry store from creator Dita Tran. Check it out. These are called “Camilla” and the color is black and were a review copy that Dita shared. I was majorly impressed by the realism these jewels offer. Some of the most true to First Life jewelry that I have seen in Second Life. And as far as these offerings from Glam Affair… the creators and managers at -Glam Affair- were one of the last, if not the last, to get involved in this event, but to their credit, you would never be able to tell. One of the strongest theme offerings in the event and that I have seen presented in world. -Glam Affair- is not on my list of stores to watch and frequent.
+Next up is a dear friend and brilliant creator on the rise, Sienia Trevellion. Sienia is a builder, fashion designer, cool chick extraordinaire. She is someone I feel completely blessed to be able to call a friend, because not only does she have talent as a creator but she is one of the warmest, funniest, most generous people I know in any life. Below is a sample of pics for both the male and female outfits Sienia offers (Absence & Silence), for larger pictures and a full range of angles and views click the pictures to be taken to the flickr photo set.
+Sienia is constantly challenging herself to bigger and better things. For each event she participates in, she creates in depth thoroughly thought out, detail oriented gorgeous creations. Most notable of her recent successes are her outfits for It Was A Blur and Melt. Every time I wear one of the pieces that she designed for these events people stop me to ask me about the look I am wearing. Pictured above is Ash, my male shape and skin (LaVie free group gift – Liam), wearing Absence, Sienia’s first male couture item created exclusively for this event. The neck piece can be worn high to cover most the face or as I have done here slightly lower for more facial exposure, I wanted you to be able to see the fire in my eyes.
+The outfit comes with the option to wear the manorak (the long skirt / kilt thing) or just the pants (Ladies, hate to say it but this outfit totally works for us, too. So don’t be shy and not get it just cause it was designed for the fellas. The pants are smokin’ hot on us too.). Me I am partial to the kilt thing. Nothin’ sexier than a man confident enough in his masculinity, or as in this case a woman dressed as a man, to rock the kilt options. The waist line on the pants shows either way and exposes those sexy parts just above the hip bones in the front. RAWR!
+To see the detail in the textures Sienia used you will have to click and go to the larger pictures on flicker … full-sized you can see the lush velour corduroy in a blue-black color. You can also check out this awesome necklace in detail that I picked up at HoD last Friday. It was their 50L Friday offering, so this exact item might not be available but they had several other impressive choices if it is not. The facial and the ear piercings are the Takayama piercings from Mandala. Demonic eyes just seemed to round out the look since Sienia already had me in horns.
+Sienia Trevellion’s Silence for the women out there is so perfect for this event. You can actually picture a woman in mourning wearing this back in Victorian England. The skirt is from a similar fabric to that of the men’s Absence and has brassy gold details in the brooch at the neck and the keys and belt buckle at the waist.
+You can see the lacy layers in the skirt in the picture above. Yet again an example of Sienia’s attention to detail. The agony this woman goes through to ensure pristine seaming never ceases to amaze me and unlike a lot of outfits with detail at the cleavage point she manages to retain that detail, not an easy task.
+They say the devil is in the details. Do you think that is why Sienia included her Horned Gossamer Cape, Gilded Horns, and Gilded Horned Ring? Is she that little devil who gets in to all the details? I think she is. And I love her for it.
+I can’t urge you enough to stop by this event. Every item there was note worthy and I wish that I could blog them all…. Below is a list of offerings and prices. Guys take note this event has one of the largest collections of items for men’s ever seen in SL outside of an actual men’s store, men’s hunt, or male only fashion event. Hopefully it is a sign of the times. All Items are available at the Potter’s Field, Mourning Couture Event … Potter’s Field is a .44 Caliber Event.
+the.oBscene LUST, 10 skins in 1 pack – 600L
+Silence – Full Set – 500L
+Silence – Gilded Horns – 125L
+Silence – Gilded Horn Ring – 200L
+Absence – Full Set – 500
+Absence – Gilded Horned Ring – 200
+Absence – Gilded Horns -125
+Nomine Potters Field Gown -500L – two skirt options, two sleeve options, every layer.
+Sangre Noir Potter’s Field Angels Have No Fear Female – 500L
+Sangre Noir Potter’s Field Angels Have No Fear Male – 500L
+Sangre Noir Potter’s Field Mourning Dress – 500L
+Sangre Noir Potter’s Field Pleurez le Corbeau – 500L
+PIDIDDLE – Meeting the Shadow – 300 – A Potter’s Field Event Exclusive, comes with two dress options, and you can also just wear the body suit by itself. The skirts are Mod/Copy/No trans.
+Pig – Crosstown Johnny for Potter’s Field -225L
+-Glam Affair- Funeral skins – 999L
+-Glam Affair- Miss Mourn – 350L
+-Glam Affair- Lady Crow – 350L
+-Glam Affair- Veuve Ponsardin – 350L
+-Glam Affair-Potter’s Field – Mourn Poses Fat Pack – 480L
+Sanctity Poses – Mourning1-5 – For Potter’s Field Boxed – for 75L each or Santity Poses – Mourning fatpack – For Potter’s Field for 300L
+Djinn & Tonic Hair – Potter’s Field, Rosalind (6 colors)- 150L each or fatpack for 650
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Hired Gun 2.0 (Sexy Lingerie outfit) 300L
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Hired Gun (Dress)
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Hired Gun (Fatpack) – 1500 (Includes Gown, Hired Gun 2.0 & all skintones – including 3 skins)
+&Bean – Old Bones Trial by drowning – 900L ( Keiko Morigi gorgeous dress pictured with these skins can’t find it)
+&bean – Old Bones Burning Stake – 900L
+&bean – Old Bones Arsenic – 900L
+the mourning corset – caLLie cLine – 125L
+the mourning corset dress – caLLie cLine – 450
+the mourning corset dres off shoulder – caLLie cLine – 450L
+DBW:: Rose Bouquet – Buy it for $50 L:: Unbox::Wear It::
+DBW:: Calla Lilly Bouquet – Buy it for $50 L:: Unbox::Wear It::
+Ad for Guardian – 100L
+Ad for Reaper – 100L
+–>F&C<– Baron Samedi Complete for Potter’s Field – 1111
+Hellfire – Uriel Sign Board – Hellfire Skins – Uriel – Kier (Ultra Pale) – Clean Shaven, Hellfire Skins – Uriel – Kier (Ultra Pale) – Stubble, Hellfire Skins – Uriel – Kier (Ultra Pale) – Goatee – includes 3 body hair variants, Rappello shape and eyebrows – Fat Pack 2222L or 1000L per skin
+Hellfire Skins – Baron Samedi skin – skull face blackout skin includes shape and eyebrows – 400L
+–>F&C<– Baron Samedi Voodoo Top Hat for Potter’s Field – a voodoo top hat trimmed with skulls and feathers – 100L
+–>F&C<– Skull Monocle for Potter’s Field – it’s a monocle with a wee skull attached – 50L
+F&C Uriel Mourning Suit Packs Board -includes mourning suit with hat, skin w/ 3 body hair variants, Rappello shape and eyebrows, monocle – 1333L
+–>F&C<– Uriel Complete – Kier (Ultra Pale) – Stubble – includes mourning suit with hat, skin w/ 3 body hair variants, Rappello shape and eyebrows, monocle – 1333L
+–>F&C<– Uriel Complete – Kier (Ultra Pale) – Clean Shaven – includes mourning suit with hat, skin w/ 3 body hair variants, Rappello shape and eyebrows, monocle – 1333L
+Hellfire Skins – Heartless (Undertaker) Skin – Hellfire Skins – Heartless (Undertaker) Skin – ultra pale skin includes undertaker shape and brows – 500L
+–>F&C<– Heartless Complete Set – includes skin, shape, mourning suit, hat, monocle – 1111L
+–>F&C<– Mourning Suit for Potter’s Field – Femme – women’s version of mourning suit – 400L
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Mistress FatPack – Includes Gown, The Mistress 2.0 & all skintones – 1550L
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Mistress Gown – 500L
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Mistress 2.0 (Includes Lingerie and a Monacle) – 300L
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Mistress Pale, Beach, Cocoa, Spice, Natural – 400L each
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Mistress Boot – 44L
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Widow FatPack – Includes Gown, Widow 2.0 & all skintones – 1550
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Widow 2.0 – 400L (Sexy Black Lingerie)
+Djinn & Tonic Potter’s Field, The Widow – 500L (Dress)
+Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Widow Boot – 44L
+Djinn & Tonic Potter’s Field, The Widow Pale, Beach, Cocoa, Spice, Natural – 400L each
+All SLURLs below are the main stores, but all Potter’s Field Items are found at the Potter’s Field, Mourning Couture Event
+Ais Base:
+Skin: LeLutka – Estelle & -Glam Affair- Funeral skins (Potters Field Exclusive)
+Shape: Custom shape by Aisling MacMoragh
+Eyes: [SLB] – Eyes – July’09 – Green R
+Eyelashes: Crissy Designs – Irresistible Look Eyelashes
+Hair: fri.day – Leigh – Emo Black
+Earrings: FuLo – “Camilla” earrings – black
+Outfit: Detailed with each pic
+Shoes: .*Courtisane*. La Vivien – Black
+Ash Base Avi:
+Skin: LaVie – Liam Skin Gift Dark – 1L possibly still out
+Shape: Custom shape by Aisling MacMoragh
+Hair: Uw.St – Uncle Web – Reed-Hair – size-LL – mesh black 04 (Free but tinted darker than it comes)
+Eyes: Eye Factory – Dollarbie Demonic Eyes
+Tats: [HUZ] – HUZ Tats-Value Pack-Kanji (Free at KMADD)
+Necklace: HOD – Fallen – Mens Fit
+Piercings: [MANDALA] – *MALE*TAKAYAMA FACE Piercing/black/mouth, *MALE*T, Piercing/black [L]&[R]
+Outfit: Sienia Trevellion’s Lark – Absence – For Potter’s Field Full Outfit (for Men)
+Boots: [Gos] – [DOCS] 8 HOLE (black) – F (yes, I cheated here, I made my female shoes really big so I didn’t have to buy men’s shoes.)
+Prop: -Glam Affair- Potter’ s Field – Mourn_Skull & Mourn_Umbrella
+Now playing: Puscifer Rev 22:20 Underworld
+All items in this blog were promotional/blogger review copies, with the exception of the two hairs worn, 2 different the shoes, the eyes and eyelashes on Ais and the eyes, piercings and necklace on Ash.
+Wow! Amazing blog post Ash! As always you look fab in each and every dress, you are sooo right, Sienia out did herself and is a wonderful designer.
+Khloe thank you so much! You are too kind as always. 😀 And I have to say it is things like this exhibit and designers like the ones participating in it that make SL so much fun for me.
+OH! Happy 100th!!!! I have loved your blog and everything you write about. I am blessed to know you ❤
+The blessing is all mine 😀
+love this blog post!!!
+Happy 100th 🙂
+Thank you Brutus. Your piece was amazing as well… I honestly loved every piece for this event. I was saying to a friend that I could have written a blog a day and done each of the items in it and not been bored. I am starting to use some poses i got from you more and more in my pictures so hopefully you will be seeing them in the blog soon.
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+(Windows utilities, though the first one can be done via a website.)
+(Update/Correction: I fixed an E-nki site link to bring people to the right site!).
+As Kindle owners learn quickly, Kindle screensavers (really, screensleepers) are not officially replaceable by our own images (unless one uses a 'hack' and that can be problematical in a few ways although some find it worth doing...and re-doing with each Kindle software upgrade).
+I don't recommend it, and only the computer savvy should tackle it; even then, there are disclaimers by the utility makers that your warranty can be voided if a problem occurs during installation. It's not super-difficult but no one is going to be responsible for anything going wrong on it, so I don't get into the details. You can always google kindle screensaver hack to see what's involved. I personally don't think it's worth it.
+And now the latest Kindle (with Special Offers and ads) shows Amazon had a specific reason for not offering "screensavers" that could be customized by the Kindle user.
+It'd be nice if Amazon were to offer customizable screensleepers for their higher-cost Kindles without ads, at some point. (The sad dream that never dies.)
+Your Photos on your Kindle in the Pictures Folder - a Kindle Feature
+In the meantime, Kindle owners CAN put favorite photos or illustrations on the Kindle in a special Pictures folder, and I've found that many don't know this is possible.
+The instructions for this are in the Kindle User's Guide (which is placed by Amazon on each Kindle during first wireless sessions and is also available for your computer in PDF format -- see Kindle User Guides at the Amazon help pages).
+Remember that Kindle books or files can be Searched for words like "pictures" and sometimes that makes it easier to find a feature.
+A Kindle customer posted step-by-step instructions at the Amazon Kindle forums. In reply to an earlier post on Feb 9, Anthony Hansen wrote (slightly modified) :
+' If you would like to add photos to your Kindle 2, it's pretty easy to do. Here are a few short steps to getting some pictures onto your Kindle.
+1. Connect your Kindle to your computer with the Kindle USB cable.
+2. Go to the file folders for your Kindle on the computer and add a new folder called `pictures' (without the quotes).
+3. Within the new `pictures' folder that you just created, create other folders which will be used to store your pictures. The names of these sub-folders should describe what type of pictures will go into the folders. These sub-folder names are what you will see on the Kindle's `Home' page and are the photo albums that you will put pictures into.
+4. Add pictures into the newly created sub-folders (albums).
+5. Safely remove your Kindle from the computer.
+6. Go to the `Home' page on your Kindle and press Alt & Z keys together (alt-z) to see the photo albums.
+7. Go down to the photo album that you want to view using the 5-way button [or the Kindle-1's mercury-like rolling column-cursor] and then select the album to view the pictures.
+That's it. This should take no longer than five minutes to do depending on the number of pictures [you're] adding '
+This is a nicely easy-to-use tool that converts almost any image you have (size does not matter much) to a Kindle-compatible black & white version in the right size and orientation for the Kindle display. It works for 6" Kindles and the 9.7" Kindle DX's.
+It does convert 'up' to larger sizes rather well, to my surprise, but sharpness and clarity will be more likely when you send a larger photo to convert 'down' (and something to remember if doing this for the larger-screen DX).
+It's also very fast, even using the method as seen in the image of the webpage above, uploading a photo to the website for conversion -- probably the way to do it for Macs.
+But the link below the uploaded filename field is for a download of the executable (a Windows file), which means you can have the tool on your Windows computer and do it without uploading the file to the webpage.
+If you decide to try it, let us know how that works for you.
+E-NKI MANGA, COMICS, AND GENERAL BULK IMAGE CONVERTER FOR KINDLE
+"E-nki is an image processor designed for latest Kindle.
+"It converts common image documents (JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP) into optimized PNG files for e-ink displays, and more important, you can convert your compressed archives directly. (CBR and CBZ too!)"
+There is also a link to the FAQ, which does answer questions not addressed on the main page. E-nki is a downloadable file and there's no web-style conversion tool.
+On what, specifically, the utility does:
+1) Converts pictures to grayscale
+2) Tries to remove white borders
+3) Resizes pictures while maintaining the aspect ratio
+4) Rotates the pictures
+Author E-nki is on vacation but checking mail, so you can send questions to the e-mail address given at the webpage.
+As mentioned, I haven't tried it. So, it's not a recommendation but a suggestion. If you can, let us know (in the Comments area) what you think if you try one or both of the tools mentioned here.
+The feedback and useful info (and some raves) on SendtoReader (to Kindle) were very helpful.
+As ever, when you enjoy and regularly use a free utility, support the software developer with donations if they feature a donation-method. That tends to support improving the product and time giving user support. That includes the popular Instapaper, which itself is used in a few other!
+i want the screensaver to freeze on the image oor text I'm looking at right now, not random images
+The '/pictures' folder is optional. You can put pictures in subfolders of '/documents' and it will work the same way.
+But I prefer to package image files in a .zip archive and drop that into '/documents'. Kindle will open these and launch the image viewer just as if they were in a folder. The advantages are some space savings and the ability to delete the .zip file on the Home screen. By contrast, deleting a picture folder item does not remove any files from your Kindle - just temporarily removes the item from Home screen.
+Another option is to package images in a PDF file. Then you have access to the PDF viewer features: annotation, contrast adjustment, pan/zoom, save viewing location, page numbers, etc.
+I've played with several of these utilities, but find they are more fuss than they are worth, at least in terms of my requirements. Kindle's default scaling and greyscale conversion seems 'good enough' for me. And in the end, the image viewer is nothing to write home about. I guess the remarkable thing is that Kindle is able to do it at all, like the proverbial talking dog.
+Tom, thanks for that info. Probably best for people to use the organization (via pictures folder) suggested by Amazon in any case and not throw pics into documents (for our own sakes).
+That's very interesting about the zip file being recognized that way. Which models have you tried it on? Very nice, especially since we can easily use file mgrs to remove individual items from a zip file and that is better for organization as well as saving space and eyes in trying to make out what is where.
+As for deleting folder items, maybe you mean something else, but I often delete gifs and they are deleted from the Kindle, not just the home screen.
+Thanks for PDF idea -- I avoid these as I like to fill my screen with a pic and not load a 'book' of images, not liking the 'speed' (not). "-) and replace individual ones from time to time.
+Personally, I don't like the Kindle's default handling of screen images at all. I've had to rework them to get them to show the way I want. With the utilities it's instantaneously good. I may want more contrast, in which case I add some and then replace the other copy.
+Right that it's good it can be done at all but especially when there are pics I just want to see on it when I want. You have to add a lot of contrast to have them look decent on the Kindle...
+Do you have a preference so far between the Kindle image converter tool and the E-nki one ? besides batch handling?
+Hi Andrys! I am one of your regular readers so I wanted to start by giving you a big thanks.
+There is still apparently a problem with the link on your website which links your blog to the Kindle Image Converter.
+I am on your website on 4/28/11 at 1:55 PM local NYC time. On the top of your webpage there is a big red note saying that you updated the link for the Kindle Image Converter. But when I just clicked on the link I received a error message that Firefox could not find the link.
+Again thanks for all the good work on your blog! :)
+dorachild,
+Thanks for the regular reading!
+The update was re the E-nki links -- that is also an Image Converter.
+However, the Kindle Image Converter one works for me. Did you refresh your browser? I think that reddit.com topic on this showed some problems for some people with that site because it's a cheap free site, the author said.
+I'll go see if there are workarounds for those who have problems with it.
+Thanks for the alert.
+Andrys,
+The ability to view images in .zip/.cbz has been in every Kindle, or at least those since K2. You'll note that Kindle creates a '.manga' sidecar file to store viewing position. Obviously whoever designed the image viewer feature intended to use it for viewing manga image files, which are often stored in .zip or .cbz files. Another clue is the 'Anchor to Top Right/Left' Menu option in the image viewer, since viewing order of manga follows Japanese right-to-left convention. Too bad Amazon has not seen fit to finish the feature, fix a few bugs, and remove it from its 'experimental' ghetto.
+I'll have to confirm the 'no-delete' of picture folders later - my USB cable is 300 miles away at the moment.
+I haven't tried e-nki yet but as with other Windows tools my problem has been that my laptop is a mac and I lack sufficient motivation to fire up Fusion just to try them out. But I recently acquired a powerful Windows laptop which will gradually claim more mindshare for photo editing and the like once I have time to set it up.
+In terms of usability of the picture viewer, it is worth familiarizing yourself with all the Menu/Aa options and the keyboard shortcuts, even though the options you select don't always 'stick' from one viewing session to the next. For a run-down see the blog article I wrote awhile back:
+or the more compact description on Dianne Gorman's 'kindle 3 keyboard shortcuts' page:
+dorachild,
+One person reported, on reddit.com that Cox thought it was a 'phishing' site but others of us haven't had a problem and I have three webbing protectors that don't let me onto sites that are suspected of malicious activity. With all 3, I get no warnings.
+The one person having a problem getting to the webpage said s/he "Just went to the site by proxy" and that was fine. Your browser tools allow you to choose but it's normally better to leave that option as-is. Maybe try another browser?
+Re best image results, the author says:
+"As for making good ones, look for pictures that don't have gradients, that is there is no smooth transition of color like in a sunset.
+Lots of details or hard cut offs look best. And you really can't tell until it's on the screen. As for the ghosting I've never had that problem, what gen are you using, I have a 3rd gen kindle."
+In my experience, you have to add contrast to the image before the Kindle shows it particularly well... but it's not necessary.
+Good luck with accessing the site. I know several hundred have gone onto that site from this blog but I've had this one report of inability to access it.
+Thanks for more info on the zip file readability.
+Re the picture viewer, I have no problem using it, since Kindle 1. It's that the photo display, the quality of the photo as described -- contrast, clarity is something that requires some work if you want it to have some punch.
+Will check your blog for any of your entries. Wasn't sure you were keeping it up.
+And, yes, I've mentioned D Gorman's fine shortcuts page here, and she's posted here and I have a bookmark to it. Again, i have no problem with the picture viewer navigation or looking at it.
+As a hobbyist in photography, what interests me is what the image looks like on the Kindle and that is another world, on e-ink with only 16 basic shade levels as opposed to millions, and the way any e-Ink machine interprets color.
+I think it's best to optimize the b/w first and then have the size converted so quickly as can be done, something I do everyday but I don't want to take much time with it.
+Thanks, Tom Semple for the suggestion about using PDFs.
+Andrys, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the importance of gamma correction.
+If you correct gamma before you increase contrast, you loose fewer subtle distinctions in the less shaded areas of an image on the Kindle.
+My conversion recipe:
+1) The image must first look good on my computer monitor.
+2) Convert to gray scale.
+3) Apply gamma correction. (1.8 for Kindle 3)
+4) Apply contrast enhancement. (Paint Shop Pro's Clarify @ 15.0)
+5) Resize to fit in a 600 x 800 pixel screen.
+The kindle screen is a 4bit gray scale, NON-GAMMA-CORRECTED, low-contrast device.
+The low-contrast part is easy to understand - The blackest black isn't very black. And the whitest white isn't very white.
+But what about NON-GAMMA-CORRECTED?
+Simply put, gamma is a measure of how evenly the shades of gray are distributed between "black" and "white".
+If there are 16 shades of gray 0-15, do shades 7 and 8 look:
+A) Too light to be at the middle of the scale?
+B) Just right? No gamma adjustment is needed.
+C) Too dark to be at the middle of the scale?
+If you load a 256 shades of gray palette image on the kindle -
+you can see the middle part of the scale is far too dark on the Kindle. A gamma correction somewhere in the range of 1.8 - 2.0 seems to be about right for the Kindle 3 - making the shades at the middle of the scale look about right.
+I'd also like to note that if your software includes more than one choice for adjusting contrast, the item simply labeled Contrast or Brightness/Contrast is probably something of a blunt instrument. Your software's other contrast adjustment items are likely capable of better results. Make your judgments as to which is best based on pictures that include those difficult to display smooth gradients - sunsets; skin tones in close-up portrait shot. If your software happens to be Paint Shop Pro, the Clarify tool with a setting of 15.0 seems to be a super contrast enhancement step. The result on the computer screen is every skin blemish stands in sharp contrast. But when the image is moved to the kindle, you get smooth skin tones with little sign of banded gradients.
+MrBookNerd,
+I'm not surprised re no mention of gamma correction.
+The screen converter utilities are just a quick, automated way to put any sized, colored pic onto your Kindle. They don't promise highest quality, although it looks as if E-nki might put some focus on that.
+The Kindle is targeted at people who don't depend on or use computers heavily. Amazon's claim to fame with the Kindle has been that it doesn't require a computer the way other e-readers have.
+Getting into all the adjustments you (and I) like to make is entirely different territory but is good added info for an in-depth future column on optimizing the quality of your image on the Kindle, rather than stopping at automating resizing and grayscale.
+What's good about the Comments section is we can get a note like yours that will be of interest to those who do want more info on making sure you have higher-quality on the image placed on the Kindle. So, thanks for taking the time to write that out.
+It's good advice you gave. As for me, I don't use simple contrast adjustment, which is purely contrast and loses detail. I use Levels adjustment and curves.
+But it's something that wouldn't fit in this particular article about automated screen utilities for those who don't know about the 'pictures' folder (meaning Amazon intentionally created a feature like that) or how to get the right-sized image on it. Grayscale pics are smaller sized as well.
+For me, the clarify tool (in any software) will be used at varied settings based on the size of the image and the degree of sharpness in the shot. But your final point is very good insofar as the difference between the computer and Kindle screen with regard to appearance of the final image. Important if you care about the quality of the image seen on the Kindle.
+Hello again, Andrys.
+Here is a link to a picasa web -
+album
+with before and after shots of a wall paper image processed by E-nki, KindleImageConverter.co.cc and me.
+(Links to the full sized images will be found in a separate post.)
+E-nki's output on a computer monitor doesn't look anything special. But, when the image is put on a Kindle, its just dreadful. (Due to a bug in Kindle's rendering of 4bit PNGs.)
+KindleImageConverter.co.cc does a better job with the grey scale - if somewhat lacking in contrast - but it just stretches the image to fit 600 x 800, so results with a landscape format are distorted.
+I understand where you're coming from when you say, "For me, the clarify tool (in any software) will be used at varied settings based on the size of the image and the degree of sharpness in the shot." But aren't you thinking in terms of tweaking the image to look good as possible on the particular monitor in front of you - your reference system? If the image already renders perfectly on your reference system, then doesn't making the same image render as well as possible on the Kindle becomes not a matter of tweaking but of mere TRANSLATION? Pretty much formulaic math with fixed terms and constants? I think the pictures in the album speak for themselves.
+MrBookNerd,
+Thanks for all the examples. No time to look yet and probably will on Monday.
+You can make html links. Just use the "a href..." type link, don't use target=_blank and then people can click to get to them. To do it with copy paste is time consuming, but so was typing these for us as you did. Still, more people will click on links than will do copy paste. Thanks again.
+Spent at least 30 minutes last night trying to make click-able links. No idea why I never tried straight html! Sometimes I'm just dense.
+Here's the web album
+Comparison results for roll-your-own vs. the two utilities. These are all marked for easy comparison when viewed on a kindle.
+Denali - full original
+Denali - mangled by E-nki
+portrait version
+Denali - stretched by KindleImageConverter.co.cc
+portrait version
+Denali - My simple recipe
+portrait version
+Denali - Recipe + error diffusion
+portrait version
+And here are some more examples. None of these have been marked up with text. When viewed on a computer monitor, banding in the gradients of the gray scale images is fairly obvious.
+But the banding all but disappears when you view the same image on a kindle 3 - it's intended destination.
+Grass at Sunset - Original color
+Grass at Sunset - Recipe + error diffusion
+portrait version
+Fernando de Noronha, Brazil - Original color
+Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: Recipe + error diffusion
+portrait version
+Great Wall at Sunset - Original color
+Great Wall at Sunset - Recipe + error diffusion
+portrait version
+Junk Sailing S. China Sea - Original color
+Junk Sailing S. China Sea - Recipe + error diffusion
+portrait version
+Grand Tetons - Original color
+Grand Tetons - Recipe + error diffusion
+portrait version
+Green Sea Turtle - Original color
+Green Sea Turtle - Recipe + error diffusion
+portrait version
+Douro River Spain/Portugal - Original color
+Douro River Spain/Portugal - Recipe + error diffusion
+portrait version
+@MrBookNerd,
+thanks for your comments, you are right about 4bit PNG error with Kindle viewer, my mistake was to check the pictures only with doukan firmware, that manages images without problems.
+next version (that will out ASAP) will switch to 8bit PNG.
+About grayscale conversion, gamma and constrast enhancement I will go forward to follow your suggestions.
+If you have other suggestions or comments, you can contact me directly with twitter, facebook or
+Finally reunited USB cable and Kindle & confirmed:
+- image .zip file item can be deleted from Home screen, and .zip file is deleted
+- image folder item can be removed temporarily from Home screen, but the folder and files remain on the Kindle (ALT, Z restores the item).
+- also, .zip file showed up right away, I had to Alt,Z before the picture folder would show up
+- '.manga..' files show up after viewing pictures, regardless of .zip v folder, and have to be removed via USB.
+- calibre will manage .zip/.cbz files (copy and remove them from Kindle) but not image folders (though again, ignores the '.manga..' files).
+So for my 2 cents, .zip is a better way to go because of the better (though not perfect) file management.
+Tom and MrBookNerd,
+Thanks to both of you for the great work, and certainly time-consuming too, that you've done on the various aspects of this.
+Tom and Kindlworld readers,
+I hope people click on Tom's profile to see his two Kindle blogs, both with a lot of detailed information after thorough examination.
+"Kindle Cookies" and "Reads, Rants and Ruminations"
+Thanks for the appreciation, Andrys.
+E-nki, the combination of gamma correction followed by clarify/contrast enhancement is something of a kludge. Those are the available tools in standard photo editing software, but its a little like using a screwdriver to hammer a nail. You should see a message from me at shortly. I'll try to point you toward a hammer.
+Okeechobee Centennial Interviews
+Okeechobee Centennial Interviews
+Below is a list of interview done for Okeechobee’s 100th Birthday! Click on each link to listen to various interviews with people who have been in Okeechobee through it’s growth!
+Interviews with Mr. Larson and Mr. Burdeshaw will be posted shortly!
+Thanks for listening and thank you to all our interviewers!
+Charles Murphy News 6/17
+News Cast for June 17th:
+The Okeechobee work camp recently opened, creating 94 jobs for the community. The near 2.8 million dollar annual budget will also impact the community. Up to 444 inmates will be housed there. Assistant Warden Derek Snyder has more on this issue.
+Hot car deaths are common this time of year in Florida. Temperatures in vehicles rise quickly during the summer heat. Pam Oakes, an author, radio talk show host, businesswoman and ASE certified technician said it’s never a good idea to leave a child or pet in a hot car. One Okeechobee mother accidentally locked her young child in her vehicle in Whispering Pines last month. Another mother left her child in a vehicle at the Family Dollar and was promptly arrested on a felony charge.
+06 16 2015 Press News Release CORRECTION to Credit Card Fraud Subjects
+Sports Cast for June 17th:
+Chobee National basketball is busy this week with the first of three free youth basketball camps at Okeechobee High school. 35 kids showed up Monday for the age 7-10 camp which runs through Friday. Next week kids 11-13 can take part in the camp. The week of June 29 thru July 3rd, high school age kids can take part.
+Basketball Coach Demetri Riles said the kids are excited to learn, have a lot of energy and have embraced playing and learning basketball. Riles said good basketball teams play the game all year and that makes a difference when the high school season comes around.
+Riles said it’s been a good turnout. The Okeechobee children services council, Chaka Stars and volunteers have helped to make the event a success.
+Rooney Secures Funding for Everglades Restoration, Florida Estuaries
+Rooney Secures Funding for Everglades Restoration, Florida Estuaries
+Washington, DC – The 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee today includes funding for Everglades Restoration and Florida estuaries requested by U.S. Representative Tom Rooney (FL-17). Rooney, who serves on the Committee, said the bill saves taxpayer money by setting clear priorities, and includes critical provisions to promote American energy production, protect natural resources, and eliminate job-killing regulations.
+“Everglades Restoration helps keep Florida beautiful, is critical to our ranches, and helps ensure clean drinking water,” Rooney said. “Getting this funding upfront will help save money in the long run, because restoring wetlands north of Lake Okeechobee is the most cost-effective way to reduce flooding into the Lake and prevent damaging water releases into coastal estuaries.”
+The bill, which funds the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Forest Service, Indian Health Service and various related agencies, includes the following funding and language requests made by Rep. Rooney:
+- A direction for EPA to expedite and support the development and approval of potential cures and treatments for citrus greening disease.
+- A prohibition on the use of any funds to implement or enforce a new Obama Administration rule that would allow EPA to regulate bodies of water on private property, including ditches and farm ponds. Rooney pledged when the rule was finalized that he would fight to block any funding for the new regulations.
+- $16.8 million for the National Estuary Program, of which $600,000 will go to each of the estuaries of national significance in or near Florida’s 17th Congressional District: Charlotte Harbor, the Indian River Lagoon, and Tampa Bay.
+- $27.5 million for Land Acquisition at the Fish and Wildlife Service, which funds the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area.
+- A prohibition on the use of funds by the EPA or any other agency to regulate the lead content of ammunition or fishing tackle.
+- A limitation on any funds being used to issue new restrictions on hunting, fishing and recreational shooting.
+In total, the bill cuts $246 million from 2015 spending levels, including a nine percent cut to EPA’s budget, and is $3 billion below the President’s request.
+For a summary of the bill, please visit:
+For the text of the bill, please visit:
+For the bill report, please visit:
+Free hunter safety course offered in Broward and Hendry counties
+Free hunter safety course offered in Broward and Hendry counties
+The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety Internet-completion course in Broward and Hendry counties.
+- Broward County: June 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
+Gun World of South Florida
+1700 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach
+- Hendry: June 27 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
+Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Shooting Range
+700 Witt Road, Clewiston South Region Office at 561-625-5122.
+Governor Rick Scott Signs 17 Bills into Law
+Governor Rick Scott Signs 17 Bills into Law
+TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott signed the following bills into law today:
+HB 87 Construction Defect Claims – This bill revises the construction defect claim process.
+HB 157 Fraud – This bill provides businesses and individuals with greater protections against identity theft, and helps individuals restore their identity and credit when identity theft has occurred.
+HB 189 Insurance Guaranty Associations – This bill revises the definition of “asset” to include “admissible asset” as it relates to Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (FIGA) assessments.
+HB 201 Diabetes Awareness Training for Law Enforcement Officers – This bill provides continued training for law enforcement officers involved with individuals who are having a diabetic emergency.
+HB 209 Emergency Fire Rescue Services and Facilities Surtax – This bill revises requirements for counties to hold a referendum related to a fire protection surtax.
+HB 273 Insurer Notifications – This bill authorizes a policyholder of personal lines insurance to elect delivery of policy documents by electronic means.
+HB 275 Intrastate Crowdfunding – This bill exempts certain issuers and intermediaries from registration requirements relating to the offer or sale of certain securities.
+HB 369 Human Trafficking – This bill requires the display of human trafficking public awareness and reporting signs in certain locations.
+HB 371 Agency Inspectors General – This bill establishes additional qualifications and search criteria for agency inspectors general.
+HB 373 Public Accountancy – This bill revises provisions relating to licensure of public accounting firms.
+HB 643 Termination of a Condominium Association – This bill modifies the condominium termination process, including the rates at which certain condo unit owners are compensated.
+HB 961 Electronic Noticing of Trust Accounts – This bill authorizes posting to a secure electronic website or account as an additional permissible method of providing documents if the trustee receives written authorization from the beneficiary.
+HB 1055 Child Protection – This bill relates to the qualification and participation requirements of individuals on Children’s Medical Services and Child Protection Teams.
+HB 1069 Defendants in Specialized Courts – This bill defines problem solving courts as drug courts, veterans’ courts, and mental health courts, and allows a defendant or the court to transfer the case to a problem solving court in another county if agreed to by all parties.
+HB 1127 Insurance Fraud – This bill revises and provides criminal penalties for unlawful charges, and for operating or failing to report unlicensed clinics.
+HB 1133 Division of Insurance Agents and Agency Services – This bill revises the examination and pre-licensure education requirements for insurance agents and customer representatives.
+HB 3519 Relief/Joseph Stewart & Audrey Stewart/City of Jacksonville – This bill directs the City of Jacksonville to pay the settled amount to the Aubrey Javaris Stewart Special Needs Trust as compensation for injuries and damages Aubrey Stewart sustained as a result of the city’s negligence.
+The transmittal letter can be found HERE.
+Openings Available for June 30 Citizen’s Academy
+Openings Available for June 30 Citizen’s Academy
+Osceola County – The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for the next Basic Citizen’s Academy program to begin Tuesday, June 30, 2015. Citizens meet every Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The 10-week program explores the duties of various divisions and units within the Sheriff’s Office such as traffic enforcement, patrol, judicial services, elder crimes, aviation, mounted patrol, intelligence, sex and child abuse crimes, domestic violence, gangs, the SWAT team, communications, forensics, community services and the drug unit.
+Any Osceola County resident with an interest in law enforcement is encouraged to apply. All applicants are required to fill out an application and pass a background check. An application can also be downloaded at or by calling (407) 348-1105.
+Tobacco Free Florida Reports On Okeechobee Progress To Kiwanis Club
+Tobacco Free Florida Reports On Okeechobee Progress To Kiwanis Club
+Courtney Moyett with Tobacco Free Florida spoke at the latest Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee meeting. She spoke on the continues dangers of nicotine addiction within Okeechobee County for adults and youth. Ms. Moyett informed the club about Okeechobee School Board’s decision to make Okeechobee schools a tobacco free property and demonstrated the cost savings a business receives when they hire non-smokers over smokers. More information available at tobaccofreeflorida.com The Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee meets every Thursday at noon at Cowboys Restaurant. The goal of the club is to improve the lives of the youth in Okeechobee. Currently, the club is working on bringing a special needs park to Okeechobee. If you are interested in becoming a member of Kiwanis, ask any current member or attend a meeting.
+Charles Murphy News 6/16
+News Cast for June 16th:
+An 18 year old dairy worker, in the country six months from Guatemala, drowned at the CM Rucks Dairy on North West 104th Avenue. Deputies say Gilberto Cax Chilel was working cows on horseback in a pond on the property and may have been thrown. Authorities say he didn’t know how to swim.
+Among arrests, 24 year old Jeantavious Saintelus was charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant woman and child abuse by city police after a domestic incident at a local motel Sunday. He also allegedly pushed a two year old child. The woman apparently was bitten in the right shoulder.
+42 year old Gregory Beal is charged with sexual battery on a 7 year old child and lewd and lascivious exhibition on a minor. Bond was set at 5 hundred thousand dollars.
+The 15 year old girl, who left an Okeechobee at risk facility only to be recovered in Lantana last week, has apparently fled again. Destiny Souza was allegedly being prostituted for the week she was gone by 22 year old Avian Jackson, who was arrested by Boynton Beach police. Souza apparently walked away from a DCF temporary residence according to West Palm Beach media reports. The other teen was struck by a car and remains hospitalized.
+Okeechobee county commissioners will consider proposals from three nonprofit groups interested in using the old Lottie Raulerson senior center complex. The county also wants to find more storage place for records. Facilities Director Russell Rowland said state law requires records be kept for a certain amount of time. Rowland said a Veterans group, and a homeless shelter project has shown interest in the old senior center building.
+06 15 2015 Press News Release Criminal Mischief Subjects
+06 15 2015 Press News Release Credit Card Fraud Suspects
+Sports Cast for June 16th:
+Lexi Ward was the Brahman Award winner for the OHS softball team this year. The 4 year letter winner plans to study to become a speech pathologist in college.
+She’d like to continue to play softball in college and is looking at some offers in Florida.
+Ward said she really enjoyed her senior year at OHS. Ward noted she worked hard and showed leadership skills that are synonymous with the Brahman Award. Ward said being a leader on the team was gratifying for her.
+Florida Sheriff’s Association Scholarship Winner Announced
+Florida Sheriff’s Association Scholarship Winner Announced
+SEBRING – Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton is proud to announce that Highlands County resident Kasey Starling has won a $1000 college scholarship from the Florida Sheriff’s Association. One of 10 scholarships available statewide, Ms. Starling, 18 years of age, recently graduated with honors from Avon Park High School with a 4.8 grade point average. She is pursuing a career in criminal justice, enrolling at South Florida State College this fall.
+Ms. Starling’s father, Lieutenant Keith Starling, has been a member of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office for 25 years. When asked by Sheriff Benton what got her interested in the criminal justice field, Kasey responded, “I am always excited for new adventures and am looking forward to helping others in somewhat of a different way. I want to help others feel safe like I do when my dad is working. When he’s on the street, I know I’m safe. I want others to have that same feeling.” Responding to this comment, Lieutenant Starling said, “She doesn’t have to be out working midnight shift to be helping people in the law enforcement field.”
+Sheriff Benton was excited to know that Kasey will be pursuing her criminal justice aspirations right here in Highlands County. “It’s great that our young people can get a four year degree in criminal justice now, just up the road at South Florida State College. They don’t have to go away in order to meet their educational goals anymore.”
+Beginning in 8th grade and throughout high school, Kasey Starling has been active in Future Farmers of America, (FFA), showing hogs and more recently heifers. She has been successful in these endeavors, saving all her winnings toward college expenses. Dad Starling was thankful for the FFA experience. “The challenge of raising an animal is just one more aspect to learning responsibility. When they have to tend to the animal twice a day, feeding, grooming, and then showing these animals on weekends throughout the state; it’s a huge commitment.”
+When asked what led her to choose criminal justice, Kasey said she originally was tending towards the medical profession and possibly veterinary school having had experience with animals growing up. “When dad explained the wide array of positions associated with criminal justice, not just patrolling the streets, I began to see how broad this field is and how there were many ways to be involved that were not part of uniform patrol. This is when I decided to pursue criminal justice with an eye toward forensics or possibly profiling or crime scene.”
+Sheriff Benton thanked the Florida Sheriff’s Association for their foresight to invest in our youth by providing them with opportunities to pursue criminal justice degrees that they would otherwise not be able to afford. Additionally, Sheriff wished Kasey the best of success in her new endeavor and looks forward to tracking her progress and providing her a working laboratory toward her goals. Congratulations Kasey Starling!
+Gov. Rick Scott Applauds Legislature & Calls Cell Phone and TV Tax Cut a Big Win for Florida Families
+Gov. Rick Scott Applauds Legislature & Calls Cell Phone and TV Tax Cut a Big Win for Florida Families
+TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott applauded the Legislature for passing more than $400 million in tax cuts, mostly in reductions to the state’s cell phone and TV tax, and released the following statement:
+Governor Rick Scott said, .”
+Testosterone FAQ
+What is AndroPlus?
+AndroPlus is a once-daily topical testosterone cream for men to raise their low testosterone into a healthy range.
+What ingredients are in AndroPlus?
+AndroPlus is a simple formulation of testosterone USP (United States Pharmacopoeia), and a carrier cream base.!
+How long does one tube last?
+Each tube contains 50 mL of 5% testosterone cream. At a standard starting dosage of 1mL per day, this means one tube will last approximately 50 days of daily use.
+Is this a steroid?.
+How fast does TRT with AndroPlus take effect?
+AndroPlus is absorbed in the skin within 30 minutes. Peak concentration with noticeable effects occurs within 2-3 hours. Users often report feeling positive effects within the first week of administration. Clinical studies show substantial quality of life improvements after approximately 5 weeks of regular administration.
+What is HRT/TRT?
+HRT, or Hormone Replacement Therapy, is the medical term for treating hormone deficiencies with exogenous (outside-the-body) hormones. Women often use H T when they reach menopause, supplementing with estrogen in order to combat the eff cts of their natural decline in production of estrogen. HRT is also done in me , where it is more specifically called Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). This has become increasingly common in men looking to feel better, improve their body, and get back their “edge”. That’s because testosterone is critical for men to feel strong and healthy. Because the body’s own production is often depressed by aging and environmental factors, men turn to TRT solutions such as AndroPlus, the simplest way to increase testosterone.
+What is andropause?
+Andropause, as it is sometimes called, is the male equivalent of menopause in women. However, there are a few key differences. Unlike in women, where the major issue is depressed estrogen production, in men the negative effects or andropause are caused by a decrease in testosterone production. This means feeling more fatigued, tired, and mentally clouded. It also means a steep dropoff in sex drive.
+In addition, the onset of andropause is nothing like menopause. Menopause is often compared to dropping off a cliff, but andropause is more insidious. It is similar to the old fable of a frog in a pot of water being slowly heated. If he’s dropped in a boiling pot, he will jump out immediately. But if the frog is placed in cold water which is slowly heated, he will never jump out until it’s too late, and he’s cooked.
+In a similar way, the decrease in natural testosterone production is a gradual slide. One of the reasons andropause is rarely discussed is that it’s effects are felt slowly, over time. This means that you won’t suddenly feel the negative effects of low testosterone, but over months and years you will notice yourself feeling:
+More fat
+More fatigued
+Less youthful energy
+Decreased cognition
+Difficulty getting erections
+As men feel these effects they can often feel a sense of purposelessness. Since testosterone is the key player in feeling “manly”, it’s incredibly important and medically recommended to maintain it at a high level throughout life. That way you can enjoy increased strength, improvement in mood, and more energy and clarity for your life.
+How do I know if TRT is right for me?
+If you have felt any of the following symptoms, you may suffer from low testosterone:
+Erectile dysfunction (weak erections, fewer erections)
+Low interest in sex
+Depression and loss of motivation
+Fatigue
+Muscle weakness
+Anxiety
+Insomnia
+Weight gain, particularly around the waist
+The symptoms of low testosterone are often confused with “normal aging”, but it’s important to note that low testosterone not only decreases quality of life, but can actually increase risk factors for many common diseases. When your body does not produce enough testosterone on its own, it is often necessary to turn to exogenous (outside the body) sources to keep proper balance. With AndroPlus, testosterone supplementation is easy and affordable. ** Is TRT the same as steroids? Taking steroids is a controversial issue, especially in the professional sporting arena.
+What most people don’t know is that athletes often take testosterone that puts them FAR above the top of the normal range for most men. This is incredibly unhealthy and leads to a lot of unwanted side effects that they must manage by taking a slew of other pills.
+By contrast, TRT with AndroPlus is focused on restoring your hormones back to a healthy range using a minimal effective dose. This means using just enough to restore testosterone to “good feeling” levels. For most men this means a serum testosterone level of 600-1000 ng/dL.
+Studies show that men in the high range of normal are consistently happier and healthier than men sitting in the low range.
+Will I fail a drug test if I am being treated with AndroPlus?
+No. AndroPlus has been scientifically formulated to raise your body’s testosterone to the natural levels necessary for healthy functioning. It cannot be used to elevate your free testosterone to superhuman levels which athletes are often drug-tested for.
+Are there any side effects to using AndroPlus?
+Most studies show a very small percentage of people feel some side effects of low-dosage hormone replacement therapy. These include mild fluid retention, acne/oily skin, mild increases in cholesterol and lipid panel, a dry cough, and vivid dreaming.
+Does increased Testosterone lead to prostate cancer?
+No. A 2003 study published in the International Journal of Cancer states, “No support was found for the hypothesis that high levels of circulating androgens within a physiologic range stimulate development and growth of prostate cancer.”
+This was a meta-analysis, meaning the researchers comprehensively reviewed a great number of scientific studies to come to their conclusions. They found that, “no significant association between testosterone and risk was found in an analysis of data from 8 prospective studies with a total number of 817 cases and 2,107 controls.”
+What this means is that there is almost no chance normal testosterone therapy will cause cancer.
+Will taking testosterone decrease my ability to produce it naturally?
+Many men stop taking testosterone as their levels stabilize, but for others it is a lifelong treatment plan.
+Those who continue testosterone therapy enjoy the feelings of greater energy, youthfulness, and vitality that comes along with raising their testosterone levels.
+Luckily, AndroPlus is a cost-effective and convenient solution to the rigours of aging.
+What if my doctor says this is just the normal signs of aging?
+While aging is normal, suffering from aging is not. Doctor’s have shown that supplementing with testosterone in aging men has produced significant quality of life enhancements. It is also very safe if done correctly, using low-dosage testosterone cream.
+In addition, the modern environment has made it much more likely than in the past to have proper testosterone levels. Even if you exercise and eat healthily, the influence of inescapable environmental endotoxins are giving us low levels of poison every day. It’s not enough to kill you, but it is enough to disrupt your body’s natural hormone production, making it impossible to sustain naturally high levels of testosterone.
+In fact, researchers uncovered the following:
+“a significant secular trend in testosterone (total and free), SHBG and gonadotrophin levels was observed with lower levels in more recently born age-matched men.”
+This means the later a man was born, the lower his levels of testosterone. The average levels dropped from 631 ng/dL to 397 ng/dL for men the same age who were born later.
+A modern man has at least 37% less testosterone than his grandfather did at the same age.
+The only way to account for such a drastic decrease in testosterone is environmental factors.
+We are surrounded by lifestyles that sap testosterone and turn us into meek shadows of men.
+Plastics leaching into food. Less sunlight and outdoor activity. Fractured, poor quality sleep. Excessive use of hormones in raising meat.
+In the end, even if you rearrange your entire life to mimic an ancestral environment, there are still subtle, unavoidable poisons in the atmosphere, water, and food chain that slowly erode your ability to produce testosterone. Many of these chemicals (especially those from plastics), mimic estrogen in your body, which decreases your masculinity in every way.
+You want to be the best man you can be. You want to take care of your family, and enjoy life as much as possible.
+Restoring your testosterone can be the first step on that path.
+How does testosterone help prevent disease?
+Low testosterone not only affects your ability to enjoy life, but also greatly decreases your body’s resilience and ability to fight off disease.
+Researchers in Germany studied 1,954 men ages 20-79 and found,
+“Men with serum testosterone levels below 8.7 nmol/L (250 ng/dL) had a more than two-fold increased risk of mortality from all causes compared with those with higher serum testosterone levels, independent of age, WC (waist circumference), smoking habits, high-risk alcohol use, and physical activity.”
+That means men with low testosterone are more than TWICE as likely to die from any cause. But more specifically, low testosterone has been found alongside many of the most common and dangerous causes of disease today:
+“Decreased testosterone levels are associated with increased risks of osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and mortality.”
+source:
+Do I have to stay on TRT forever?
+Not if you want to go back to how you used to feel!
+Am I too young for HRT? How early is too early for TRT?
+People in their mid-twenties and mid-thirties often ask if it is too early to go on TRT. Since taking exogenous hormones can shut down your body’s natural production of these hormones, men often expect to permanently take these powerful drugs.
+Perhaps you worry about depending on an outside source for your “manhood.”
+As men, we love standing up for ourselves, being independent of any outside help. But the fact is, sometimes our bodies don’t work properly for whatever reason. Maybe it’s genetics. Maybe it’s the result of an accident when you were young. Or, as discussed [HERE], it could be that lifelong exposure to modern chemicals has messed up your body’s endocrine system, and decreased your ability to produce testosterone.
+Think of all the men who are on blood-thinners, and have to be for the rest of their lives.
+Some men feel nervous about starting TRT, because of the negative associations of testosterone with other popular steroids and bodybuilders.
+But rest assured, we have formulated the perfect Testosterone Replacement Therapy by studying the most effective, safe, and beneficial solution to low testosterone woes.
+That means you will only be taking a minimal dose to avoid shutting down your natural production.
+What matters most is how you feel, not how old you are.
+Can TRT with AndroPlus cause cancer?
+No. TRT has been shown to not increase risk of prostate cancer. However, the presence of prostate cancer or male breast cancer is a reason to withhold treatment with TRT.
+Are there unwanted side effects?
+The side-effects to normal low-level testosterone replacement are few, but notable.
+Some men develop “polycythemia” - a thickening of the blood.
+Some men report water retention, caused by increased levels of estrogen - solved by taking a simple estrogen-lowering supplement.
+Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) has been recorded in some cases, but does not increase the risk of prostate cancer
+Who cannot get TRT?
+Men who have prostate or breast cancer are contraindicted.
+Does your insurance cover TRT?
+Oftentimes insurance won’t cover Testim, but will cover Androgel. Still, Androgel is very expensive, and for many men, ineffective. AndroPlus is an affordable alternative to Androgel with better absorption, better smell, and better feel.
+Testim is sticky, and remains on the skin. This increases the risk that you may transfer the gel to your wife or children.
+Many men have already improved their biochemical responsiveness by switching from Androgel to AndroPlus, resulting in more effective treatment, fewer side effects, and more money back in their wallets. Will you be one of them?
+Fennel
+Fennel Uses and Benefits - image to repin / share
+Infographic: herbs-info.com. Image credits: See foot of article
+Fennel - Botany And History
+Fennel is a relatively ancient herb with history and usage that dates back to the time of the Ancient Greeks. Initially called marathos or marathon (from whence our modern term 'marathon', literally 'a field of fennel', is derived) it was originally employed as no more than a ceremonial herb, either burnt or infused for ritualistic purposes. Later on, the Greeks made use of its aromatic nature and employed it for medicinal purposes until they also found it fitting for culinary purposes. Today, the use of fennel chiefly belongs to the culinary range of things, although its use is somewhat limited only to selected varieties of cuisine, usually with a 'regional' flavor redolent of Mediterranean (and some branches of Continental) cuisine. Outside of the realm of cuisine, some species of fennel may also be employed chiefly as ornamental or garden-variety plants mostly due to its unique foliage and (after a time) aromatic nature. Fennel may be grown in herb gardens for one's personal pharmacopoeia, ensuring a regular fresh supply for either medicinal or culinary uses, or they may be grown for no more than ornamental purposes.
+Left to grow on its own devices, fennel typically flourishes in moist to semi-moist soils that receive generous to moderate amounts of indirect (and in some cases, direct) sunlight. Fennel is a relatively allpervasive herb that possesses a distinct hardiness, making its flourishing in ideal areas quite fast and easy, while its growth in un-ideal areas displays a subtle tolerance with minor chances of minor flourishing. When left to ideal environments in the wild or in a semi-domesticated state, fennel has a tendency to grow into 'fields' or patches of a myriad of selfsame plants all closely interlinked to one another (as was and still is its wont since ancient times) with mature species resembling a veritable grassland of the singular plant. [1] Fennel is typically characterised by its grass-like or hay-like appearance (hence it's esoteric name of "feniculum" being a diminutive of the Latin word "fenum", literally translating to "hay") and commonly grows to up to some forty centimeters in length. Fennel is typified not only by its "hay-like" growth pattern, but by its considerably "compact" features, among them it's long, yet delicate threadlike (filiform) leaves which resemble very thin, almost semi-translucent filaments (at only 0.5mm in width), as well as its delicate yellow-hued efflorescence which grows in a cluster-like mass comprised of some 50 flowers at the most. The plant is also notable for its tiny, darkcoloured seed-like fruits which possess distinct grooves upon its outer skin. [1]
+While fennel is typically employed in its dry form, it was initially more popularly employed (both medicinally and culinary) in its fresh state regardless of the constituent parts used. Fennel is among the few herbs which can be employed as a vegetable, a spice, or an herb depending upon the constituent parts and any (if any) subsequent preparation employed prior to its usage and thus is considered extremely versatile. When employed medicinally, each constituent part of the plant has specific medicinal benefits and purposes, although the as a whole, is typically consumed more as a vegetable than a mere complimentary herb.
+Fennel - Herbal Uses
+While chiefly employed as a culinary herb in both its fresh and dry form, nearly all parts of the fennel plant have been employed for cuisine, typically either as a complimentary herb, a spice, and in some applications, even as a vegetable. The plant itself is grown both for practical and ornamental purposes, although its most common usage veers towards the culinary. Long employed in various cuisines, chiefly country or Mediterranean in flavour, fennel is also employed for savoury and aromatic dishes. In Oriental cooking, particularly in Indian and Arabic cuisine, fennel is typically used as a spice (employing its seeds), and as a flavouring herb (employing either fresh or dried leaves), whereas in general Western cooking such as those found in the Americas, fennel is usually employed as a salad vegetable. Further culinary usage of fennel's constituent parts may include its being integrated into soups, stews, and vegetable-based dishes, or otherwise employed as a garnish in its fresh or dried form. Its seeds and its dry leaves may also be employed to flavour beverages or sweetmeats and sundry desserts. Within specific cultures, fennel leaves or seeds are not simply integrated into foodstuffs, but is a type of food in itself, usually consumed as a digestif or as an appetite stimulant prior to, and after meals. [3] In Greece and Rome where the use of fennel was commonplace since ancient times, the plant plays a very major role in nearly every facet of cuisine and culinary culture, although its culinary applications have been somewhat reduced of late, it having been replaced by other herbs or spices which are similar to, or superior in flavour to the ancient herb. As in the Americas, fennel is employed as a vegetable when its fleshy bulbous stem is employed, but is chiefly used as an herb or spice when employing its leaves or its seeds. Fennel is usually incorporated into fish-based dishes due to its ability to cut off the fishiness often associated with fattier seafood such as tuna or mackerel, or otherwise added into meat-based dishes to add a slightly fuller range of flavours.
+Some countries even veer so far as to employ fennel blossoms as a type of special spice, often employed as a garnish to meals, or otherwise integrated into light soups or stocks for added flavour and nuance. The flower of the fennel plant may also be dried and used as a condiment in meals, as is done in India and some parts of Greece. During ancient times, the use of fennel flower was more commonplace, although its modern usage has become somewhat limited to a number of traditional ethnic foods and a few beverages of note.
+Outside of the culinary range, fennel can be used to flavour alcoholic beverages, and may even constitute the majority of its flavour profile. Because of its minute thujone content, fennel is very similar in flavour to anise or aniseed, hence it's being quite a popular choice for flavouring alcoholic beverages such as gin, aquavit, and even some types of inauthentic (read, imitation) absinthe. While in most cases, such beverages would be flavoured by anise, wormwood, or some other similar bitter, the larger availability and cheaper price of fennel seeds make it a good, if not always a prime choice for an alternative. Old absinthe recipes usually called for the integration of Florence fennel alongside wormwood and a number of other herbs, although nowadays, fennel-flavoured or infused alcoholic drinks are typically sold as cheaper alternatives to authentic absinthe, or is otherwise specifically created to imitate "traditional" drinks, or to create a unique flavour profile. [2]
+When employed medically, the seeds and leaves of fennel can be consumed as is, typically as an after-dinner digestive aid, a practice quite common in Arabia and India. [3] Outside of consuming it (in like manner as one would consume gum via chewing, and expurgating the chewed matter, retaining only the volatile essences absorbed via the salivary glands) in whole form, the leaves, seeds, and even the flowers of fennel may either be infused or decocted to form a medicinal tea. Long employed by many cultures as an early precursor to mefenamic acid, a mild to moderately strong decoction of fennel seeds (or a combination of its seeds and leaves) can be drunk to relieve minor aches and pains, or to soothe minor swelling. It was a reputedly potent remedy for common female complaints such as dysmenorrhea, menstrual cramps, bloating, flatulence, and nausea and was usually drunk in moderate doses, typically in small amounts. [3] Strong decoctions of fennel may be drunk as a remedy for hypertension, although it must be made a part of one's regular diet in order to facilitate significant therapeutic benefits. Because fennel contains similar compounds to anise and wormwood, moderation is of the utmost importance when consuming fennel for the treatment of hypertension. [4] Quick relief from sudden peaks of blood pressure may be had from a combination of lavender and fennel, although one should note that pre-prepared remedies containing fennel may also contain traces of licorice which can be dangerous to hypertensive individuals. It is best to shy away from ready-made preparations (in the form of either capsules or tinctures), or to request for a custom-made remedy for one's specific ailment from an expert herbalist.
+Very mild infusions of dried leaves or seeds can be drunk as a carminative to relieve bloating, flatulence, and even mild cases of heartburn, while stronger decoctions can be combined with purgative herbs or tonifying herbs to either lessen the unsavoury side effects of the former, or to assist in the better assimilation of the latter's tonifying properties by helping to improve the digestive capacity of the stomach. [4] Infusions or very mild decoctions of the plant matter can be employed as a remedy for infant colic, and may even be applied in the modern context as the water for preparing formula (if such is used contrary to breast milk), although prolonged usage or the employment of too potent a decoction can prove to be detrimental to infant health, so moderation and very mild preparations should constantly be observed. [5] Extremely potent decoctions of fennel seed or leaves can be applied topically as a remedy for fungal infections. When applied to the hair and scalp it can help to remove dandruff caused by fungal infections, encourage hair growth, and (as ascribed by traditional medicine), control lice infestation. [6]
+The essential oil derived from fennel seeds also possesses potent medicinal properties. Typically diluted in one's choice of base oil, fennel oil is used for its anti-fungal, anti-microbial, rejuvenative, and invigorating properties. When applied topically, it is used to disinfect wounds, facilitate in the healing of minor injuries, invigorate and rejuvenate skin, and stave off topical infection. When employed in trifling amounts, diluted in water and drunk, it is said to be a remedy for stomach upset, indigestion, nausea, and vertigo. Used in aromatherapy, fennel possesses a refreshing, slightly invigorating effect, although when used in excess it can result in narcotic side-effects. [7]
+In traditional Grecian, Egyptian, and Roman herbal medicine, fennel was said to be excellent for improving the eyesight, and was commonly eaten raw or liberally garnished in the meals and beverages of individuals who were suffering from ocular problems. Both aqueaeous extracts of fennel seed, as well as tinctures (often heavily diluted with water to remove the 'sting') were ingested or otherwise used to wash the eyes. It was believed by ancient herbalists to be able to cure cataracts, clear cloudy eyes, and provide relief from ocular pains brought about by either un-corrected nearsightedness or farsightedness. Its efficiency however was at best dubious, although modern scientific studies have shown that the ingestion of moderate amounts of raw herb matter, or the ingestion of its many preparations may remedy glaucoma; it may even be effective for curing sore (red) eyes, [8] although washes made from mild infusions rather than tinctures are a wiser choice (as tincture are undoubtedly more potent, and they pack quite a sting).
+Folkloric medicine traditionally ascribed galactagogue properties to fennel, although its consumption is now discouraged due to the possibility of neurotoxicity in an infant who partakes of milk from a mother who regularly consumes fennel or its subsequent preparations. It was initially thought that the potent phytoestrogens in fennel (particularly in the seeds) facilitated better milk production, although not-sorecent findings have revealed that it may actually be toxic to infants. [10] Moderately potent decoctions of fennel may be drunk as to hasten one's metabolic rate, thereby helping with weight-loss issues. Very strong decoctions of fennel, or infusions of bruised fennel seeds and leaves in honey may be drunk as a remedy for strep throat, mild to moderate coughing, and hoarseness of voice with the latter remedy being of greater efficacy than the former. Honey infused with fennel may also be applied topically as a remedy for mild skin irritations, itchiness, and flea and mosquito bites. Combined with cloves and ginger root, one can create a near perfect cough and strep-throat syrup. [10]
+Medicines created from fennel is best made from a combination of its flowers and seeds (especially the flowers of wild fennel), which, although expensive, pack quite a curative wallop. The flowers more so are more than simply wonderful culinary additives - they are among the most potent parts of the fennel plant, and can be made into disinfectant, nutritive, and tonic tinctures, teas, or even balms if allowed to infuse in one's choice of beeswax or natural plant-based or lard-based butter.
+Non-medicinal usage of fennel veers toward its employment as an additive for livestock fodder, due to the long-standing belief that allowing cattle and other grazing animals to feed on fennel may help in the better digestion, and subsequently, the assimilation of nutrients that they derive from their food. The practice of 'lacing' fodder with fennel or other nutritive herbs or spices dates back to the latter part of the Middle Ages, persisting until the latter part of the eighteenth century, where the practice (once common) soon dwindled into selected areas or have become embraced more as a personal preference than a general farming practice (as is the case today).
+Fennel - Esoteric Uses
+When employed magickally, fennel is typically used to confer protection. In traditional magick, fennel is employed as a talismanic herb that is said to protect an individual from negativity and harm that is directed upon one's person. Hoodoo and voodoo traditions furthered this association with "safety" and believe fennel to be a good talismanic herb to have around if one wishes to evade the law. [11] In shamanic practices, fennel is typically encased in a juju pouch or a medicine bag and carried or worn upon one's person to promote luck, invoke healing, and confer protection from spiritual and physical harm. When burnt as an incense and the vapours inhaled, it is believed to help improve psychical abilities, drive away evil entities, cleanse or banish negativity, and increase strength and courage [12] It is typically employed in this manner in the form of a smudge stick or an incense powder, usually combined with other protective herbs. In folkloric magick, fennel is said to be a potent warding herb, and was typically hung top doorjambs or made into a charm to be hung on a peg at a door to ward off sickness and evil. In hedge witchcraft, planting fennel plants around a household was said to protect the inhabitants from any physical or spiritual harm and to dispel any negativity within or outside of the homestead.
+In Greek mythology, fennel is considered as a sacred herb due to its stalk having been employed by the Titan Prometheus as the means to steal the Sacred Fire of Mount Olympus and thus gift it to humankind. Because of its associations with the Sacred Fire of Hestia, and the ultimate sacrifice of the Titan Prometheus, traditional Grecian sorcery typically employed it as an herb of blessing and invigoration. It is also due to the myth of Prometheus's theft that fennel is also called the 'torch-plant', and not without good reason, as dried stalks of fennel have been employed for the purposes of firestarting. Further 'mystically' associated usage of fennels are found in the early Dionysian Mystery religions, which often employed the fennel stalk topped off with a pine-cone as a symbolic wand denoting vigour, renewal, and fertility (it also made for an ineffective weapon in the event that two reveling drunks decided to have a go at each other's heads!). [13]
+Fennel - Contraindications And Safety
+While fennel is relatively safe in moderate doses, pregnant and nursing women are ill-advised to partake of fennel for the duration of their pregnancy or nursing due to the risk of possible abortion or neurotoxicity caused by the herb. Likewise, fennel decoctions or any foodstuff containing fennel (even in moderate concentrations) must never be given to children below the age of six, for similar reasons (infant neurotoxicity). It should also be noted that while there are a myriad species of fennel, not all of these species are absolutely safe for human consumption, with some strains of fennel possessing more potent concentrations of toxic substances than others, and so extreme care must be taken when employing wildcrafted fennel for either culinary or medicinal purposes. Fennel in extremely large or concentrated dosages can be dangerous or even fatal - due to the presence of the compound anethole.
+Inexpert herbalists and wildcrafters may also mistake poisonous plants as fennel, since there are a number of plants which closely resemble true fennel in appearance, foliage, efflorescence, and even taste and aroma. Because of this, it is advised that one only obtain fennel from reliable sources. It should be noted that while store-bought fennel is safer than wildcrafted fennel, some herbal stores or groceries sell adulterated fennel, which often include older leaves or seeds intermixed with new ones to cut down on the expense of purchasing new stocks, and to help 'sell' what should otherwise be discarded produce.
+Fennel - Other Names, Past and Present
+Greek (ancient): marathon / marathos
+Chinese: xiao hui xiang
+Japanese: hinojo
+Sanskrit: shatapuspha
+Arabic: sanuf / bari-sanuf
+French: fenouil / fenouil amer / fenouil sauvage / fenouil commun
+Italian: carosella / feniculum / finocchio
+Spanish: carosella (pronounced: kah-roh-sell-yah)
+English (Old / Middle): fenel / fenyl / finule
+English: fennel / common fennel / garden fennel / large fennel / wild fennel / sweet fennel / torch plant
+Latin (esoteric): feniculum / ferula / foeniculum
+Latin (scientific nomenclature): Foeniculum vulgare / Foeniculum officinale (other nomenclatures exist, depending on varietal and species)
+References:
+[1]
+[2]
+[3]
+[4]
+[5]
+[6]
+[7]
+[8]
+[9]
+[10]
+[11]
+[12]
+[13]
+Main article researched and created by Alexander Leonhardt.
+© herbs-info.com
+Infographic Image Sources:
+Pixabay (PD)
+><<
+This article provides a basic guide to creating an HTML5 audio player that works cross browser, with all the associated attributes, properties and events explained, and a quick guide to custom controls created using the Media API.
+Basic Audio example
+A basic HTML5 web audio implementation looks like so:
+<audio controls> <source src="audiofile.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"> <source src="audiofile.ogg" type="audio/ogg"> <!-- fallback for non supporting browsers goes here --> <p>Your browser does not support HTML5 audio, but you can still <a href="audiofile.mp3">download the music</a>.</p> </audio>
+Note: Instead of mp3 you can use an mp4 file which typically contains AAC encoded audio. You can use
+type="audio/mp4". (Currently, browsers that support mp3 also support mp4 audio).
+- Here we define an
+<audio>element with multiple sources — we do this as not all browsers support the same audio formats and so for reasonable coverage we should specify at least two. The two formats that will give you maximum coverage are mp3 and ogg vorbis.
+- We do this using the
+<source>element, which takes the attributes
+srcand
+type.
+srccontains the path to the audio file to be loaded (relative or absolute).
+typeis used to inform the browser of the file type. If omitted, most browsers will attempt to guess this from the file extension.
+- If the
+<audio>element is not supported then
+<audio>and
+<source>will be ignored. However any supported text or elements that you define within
+<audio>will be displayed or acted upon. So the ideal place to create a fallback or inform of incompatibility is before the closing
+</audio>tag. In this case we've provided a simple paragraph including a link to download the audio directly, but we could instead include something more spohisticated, such as a Flash audio player (see below.)
+- The
+controlsattribute on the
+<audio>element is specified when we require the browser to provide us with default playback controls. If you don't specify this attribute no controls will appear, and you'll have to create your own controls and wire up their functionality using the media API (see below.) This can be a good thing however — each browser's default controls look slightly different, so for consistent controls across browsers this is the way forward.
+HTML5 audio in detail
+Now we've looked at a basic example, let's now explore the different aspects of HTML5 audio in more detail.
+Audio HTML attributes
+We can specify a number of attributes with the audio tag to further determine the way audio is initialized.
+autoplay
+Specifying
+autoplay will cause the audio to start playing as soon as possible and without any user interaction — in short, the audio will autoplay.
+<audio autoplay> ... </audio>
+Note: This value is often ignored on mobile platforms, and its use is not recommended unless really necessary. Auto-playing audio (and video) is usually really annoying.
+loop
+The
+loop attribute will ensure that upon getting to the end, the audio will loop back to the beginning and start playing again.
+<audio loop> ... </audio>
+muted
+If you want the audio to start muted (no volume), add the
+muted attribute.
+<audio muted> ... </audio>
+Note: This value is often ignored on mobile platforms.
+preload
+The
+preload attribute allows you to specify a preference for how the browser preloads the audio, in other words which part of the file it downloads when the
+<audio> element is initialized, and before the play button is pressed.
+preload can take 3 different values:
+none: Don't download anything before the play button is pressed.
+meta: Download the audio metadata; this is usually the best option, as it allows you to access and display information such as audio length, and allow the browser to work out which audio file it should use.
+auto: Download the whole audio file as soon as possible. This is generally not a good option unless you can guarantee your users will have a fast network connection.
+Note: This value is often ignored on mobile platforms.
+<audio preload="auto"> ... </audio>
+controls
+We specify the
+controls attribute when we require the browser to provide us with its default playback controls.
+<audio controls> ... </audio>
+src
+As mentioned above, you can use the
+<source> element to specify one or more source audio files. Alternatively, you can include the
+src attribute directly on the
+<audio> element to specify a single source file.
+<audio src="audiofile.mp3"> ... </audio>
+type
+As mentioned above, to be sure that the browser knows what type of file is being specified, it's good practice to specify a
+type attribute alongside the
+src attribute. The
+type attribute specifies the MIME type or Internet Media Type of the file.
+<audio src="audiofile.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"> ... </audio>
+Fallbacks
+Although the vast majority of browsers now support the audio element, you may want to cater for those that don't. Usually these browsers are covered by using fallbacks written for plugins such as Adobe Flash or Microsoft Silverlight.
+Although most browsers support
+<audio> you may want to provide a fallback for those which don't. The simplest way is just to provide a link to the audio file as we have in the above example.
+Here's an example using the popular Wordpress Standalone Player. You'll need to download the files and link to
+audio-player.js and
+player.swf like so:
+<audio controls> <source src="audiofile.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"> <source src="audiofile.ogg" type="audio/ogg"> <!-- fallback for non supporting browsers goes here --> <p id="audioplayer_1"><a href="audiofile.mp3">download audio</a></p> <script type="text/javascript" src="audio-player.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> AudioPlayer.setup("player.swf", { width: 300 }); AudioPlayer.embed("audioplayer_1", {soundFile: "audiofile.mp3"}); </script> </audio>
+Alternatively you can use
+flashmediaelement.swf, distributed with mediaelement.js :
+>
+Note: You should be aware that Flash and Silverlight code require that the user has the appropriate plugin installed, and that the browser cannot guarantee the security aspects of code running on those plugin platforms.
+Manipulating the Audio Element with JavaScript
+In addition to being able to specify various attributes in HTML, the
+<audio> element comes complete with several properties and methods that you can manipulate via JavaScript.
+Given the following HTML:
+<audio id="my-audio" src="audiofile.mp3"> ... </audio>
+you can grab the
+<audio> element like this:
+var myAudio = document.getElementById('my-audio');
+Alternatively you can create a new one. Here's an example of creating an
+<audio> element, setting the media to play, playing and pausing, and then playing from 5 seconds in to the audio:
+var myAudio = document.createElement('audio'); if (myAudio.canPlayType('audio/mpeg')) { myAudio.setAttribute('src','audiofile.mp3'); } if (myAudio.canPlayType('audio/ogg')) { myAudio.setAttribute('src','audiofile.ogg'); } alert('play'); myAudio.play(); alert('stop'); myAudio.pause(); alert('play from 5 seconds in'); myAudio.currentTime = 5; myAudio.play();
+Let's explore the available properties and methods in more detail.
+play
+The
+play() method is used to tell the audio to play. It takes no parameters.
+myAudio.play();
+pause
+The
+pause() method is used to tell the audio to pause. It takes no parameters.
+myAudio.pause();
+Note: There is no stop method — to implement a stop function, you'd have to pause the media then set the
+currentTime property value to 0.
+canPlayType
+The
+canPlayType() method asks the browser whether a certain audio file type is supported. It takes the mime type of the type to check as a parameter.
+if (myAudio.canPlayType('audio/mpeg')) { // It's supported. // Do something here! }
+canPlayType() returns one of three values:
+probably
+maybe
+- "" (an empty string)
+In practice, we usually check if the result is true or false. Non-empty strings are true.
+Note: A very early spec specified that the browser should return
+no instead of an empty string, but thankfully the number of people using older browsers that implement this version of the spec are few and far between.
+currentTime
+The
+currentTime property gets or sets the current time the audio should play at. This is useful in many ways, for example since
+play() does not take a parameter we need to set the point to play from separately, if we don't want it to be 0.
+The value of
+currentTime is a number which represents the time in seconds.
+if (myAudio.currentTime > 5) { myAudio.currentTime = 3; }
+volume
+The
+volume property allows us to set the audio volume, as a number between 0 and 1.
+// set the volume at 50% myAudio.volume = 0.5;
+Creating your own custom audio player
+The JavaScript media API allows you to create your own custom player. Let's take a look at a very minimal example. We can combine HTML and JavaScript to create a very simple player with a play and a pause button. First we'll set up the audio in the HTML, without the
+controls attribute, since we are creating our own controls:
+<audio id="my-audio"> <source src="audiofile.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"> <source src="audiofile.ogg" type="audio/ogg"> <!-- place fallback here as <audio> supporting browsers will ignore it --> <p>Download<a href="audiofile.mp3">audiofile.mp3</a> </audio> <!-- custom play and pause buttons --> <button id="play">play</button> <button id="pause">pause</button>
+Next we attach some functionality to the player using JavaScript:
+window.onload = function(){ var myAudio = document.getElementById('my-audio'); var play = document.getElementById('play'); var pause = document.getElementById('pause'); // associate functions with the 'onclick' events play.onclick = playAudio; pause.onclick = pauseAudio; function playAudio() { myAudio.play(); } function pauseAudio() { myAudio.pause(); } }
+Media loading events
+Above we have shown how you can create a very simple audio player, but what if we want to show progress, buffering and only activate the buttons when the media is ready to play? Fortunately there are a number of events we can use to let our player know exactly what is happening.
+First let's take a look at the media loading process in order:
+loadstart
+The
+loadstart event tell us simply that load process has started and the browser is connecting to the media.
+myAudio.addEventListener("loadstart", function() { //grabbing the file });
+durationchange
+If you just want to know as soon as the duration of your media is established, this is the event for you. This can be useful because the initial value for duration is
+NaN (Not a Number), which you probably don't want to display to your users.
+myAudio.addEventListener("durationchange", function() { //you can display the duration now });
+loadedmetadata
+Metadata can consist of more than just duration — if you want to wait for all the metadata to download before doing something, you can detect the
+loadedmetadata event.
+myAudio.addEventListener("loadedmetadata", function() { //you can display the duration now });
+loaded
+The
+loaded event is fired when the first bit of media arrives. The playhead is in position but not quite ready to play.
+myAudio.addEventListener("loaded", function() { //you could display the playhead now });
+progress
+The
+progress event indicates that the download of media is still in progress. It is good practice to display some kind of 'loader' at this point.
+myAudio.addEventListener("progress", function() { // you could let the user know the media is downloading });
+canplay
+canplay is a useful event to detect should you want to determine whether the media ia ready to play. You could for example disable custom controls until this event occurs.
+myAudio.addEventListener("canplay", function() { //audio is ready to play });
+canplaythrough
+canplaythrough is similar to
+canplay but it lets you know that the media is ready to be played all the way through (that is to say that the file has completely downloaded, or it is estimated that it will download in time so that buffering stops do not occur).
+myAudio.addEventListener("canplaythrough", function() { //audio is ready to play all the way through });
+Media loading event order
+To recap, the order of the media loading events are:
+loadstart >
+durationchange >
+loadedmetadata >
+loadeddata >
+progress >
+canplay >
+canplaythrough
+We also have a few events available that will fire when there is some kind of interuption to the media loading process.
+- suspend
+- Media data is no longer being fetched even though the file has not been entirely downloaded.
+- abort
+- Media data download has been aborted but not due to an error.
+- error
+- An error is encountered while media data is being download.
+- emptied
+- The media buffer has been emptied, possibly due to an error or because the load() method was invoked to reload it.
+- stalled
+- Media data is unexpectedly no longer available.
+Media Playing Events
+We also have another set of events that are useful for reacting to the state of the media playback.
+timeupdate
+The
+timeupdate event is fired every time the
+currentTime property changes. In practice this occurs every 250 milliseconds. This event can be used to trigger the displaying of playback progress.
+myAudio.addEventListener("timeupdate", function() { //update something related to playback progress });
+playing
+The
+playing event is fired when playback is ready to start after having being paused due to lack of media data.
+waiting
+The
+waiting event is fired when playback has stopped due to lack of media data, although it is expected to resume once data becomes available.
+play
+The
+play event is fired after the
+play() method is returned or when the
+autoplay attribute has caused playback to begin. This is when the state of the media switches from paused to playing.
+pause
+The
+pause event is fired after the
+pause() method is returned. This is when the states switches from playing to paused.
+ended
+The
+ended event is fired when the end of the media is reached.
+myAudio.addEventListener("ended", function() { //do something once audio track has finished playing });
+volumechange
+The
+volumechange event signifies that the volume has changed; that includes being muted.
+An Audio Player with Feedback
+Consider this snippet of HTML:
+<audio id="my-audio"> <source src="" type="audio/mpeg"> <source src="" type="audio/ogg"> <!-- place fallback here as <audio> supporting browsers will ignore it --> <a href="audiofile.mp3">audiofile.mp3</a> </audio> <div id="controls"> <span id="loading">loading</span> <button id="play" style="display:none">play</button> <button id="pause" style="display:none" >pause</button> </div> <div id="progress"> <div id="bar"></div> </div>
+Styled like so:
+#controls { width: 80px; float: left; } #progress { margin-left: 80px; border: 1px solid black; } #bar { height: 20px; background-color: green; width: 0; }
+Now let's wire this thing up with JavaScript:
+window.onload = function(){ var myAudio = document.getElementById('my-audio'); var play = document.getElementById('play'); var pause = document.getElementById('pause'); var loading = document.getElementById('loading'); var bar = document.getElementById('bar'); function displayControls() { loading.style.display = "none"; play.style.display = "block"; } // check that the media is ready before displaying the controls if (myAudio.paused) { displayControls(); } else { // not ready yet - wait for canplay event myAudio.addEventListener('canplay', function() { displayControls(); }); } play.addEventListener('click', function() { myAudio.play(); play.style.display = "none"; pause.style.display = "block"; }); pause.addEventListener('click', function() { myAudio.pause(); pause.style.display = "none"; play.style.display = "block"; }); // display progress myAudio.addEventListener('timeupdate', function() { //sets the percentage bar.style.width = parseInt(((myAudio.currentTime / myAudio.duration) * 100), 10) + "%"; }); }
+You should end up with something like this:
+Seeking using the seek bar
+This is a good start, but it would be nice to be able to navigate the audio using the progress bar. Fortunately this isn't too difficult to implement.
+First of all, we apply a quick update to the progress bar CSS to display the hand pointer on hover:
+#progress { margin-left: 80px; border: 1px solid black; cursor: pointer; }
+Then we add the code that detects the click and moves the 'playhead' to the correct position:
+var progress = document.getElementById('progress'); progress.addEventListener('click', function(e) { // calculate the normalized position clicked var clickPosition = (e.pageX - this.offsetLeft) / this.offsetWidth; var clickTime = clickPosition * myAudio.duration; // move the playhead to the correct position myAudio.currentTime = clickTime; });
+Buffering
+Ok we're getting there, but there is another piece of useful information we can display: the amount of audio has been buffered or downloaded in advance.
+There are a couple of properties we haven't looked at yet,
+buffered and
+seekable.
+buffered
+This method lets us know which parts of the audio has been buffered (downloaded in advance). It returns something called a
+TimeRanges object.
+myBufferedTimeRanges = myAudio.buffered;
+seekable
+The seekable method informs you of whether you can jump directly to that part of the media without further buffering.
+mySeekableTimeRanges = myAudio.seekable;
+Buffering events
+There are also a couple of events related to buffering:
+seeking
+- The
+seekingevent is fired when media is being sought.
+seeked
+seekedoccurs when the
+seekingattribute changes to
+false.
+Note: you can read more on Buffering, Seeking and Time Ranges elsewhere.
+Browser support
+The following tables list basic audio support across desktop and mobile browsers, and what audio codec are supported.
+Desktop
+Mobile
+Audio Codec Support
+Note: We are at the stage where nearly all browsers support MP3 — for more details visit this page on media format browser compatibility.
+See also
+- Buffering, Seeking and Time Ranges
+- Media events
+- Using HTML5 audio and video
+- Creating a cross-browser video player
+- jPlayer: An open source audio and video library for jQuery and Zepto.
+- Media Event Inspector
+You're watching...
+Power Play 1/25/2013
+Details
+Abortion foes March on undaunted, will gun ban backers do the same?
+Jan 25, 2013
+27:06
+You're watching...
+Abortion foes March on undaunted, will gun ban backers do the same?
+Jan 25, 2013
+27:06
+Also in this playlist...
+Auto-advance: ONAuto-advance
+This transcript is automatically generated
+And that.
+Is the scene on the National Mall.
+As hundreds of thousands.
+Anti abortion protesters.
+Converge on Washington DC eight.
+For the national march for life.
+In observance of the fortieth anniversary of the Supreme Court decision -- way that made abortion.
+Legal work.
+Didn't legalize it but made it possible facilitated.
+The legality of abortion across the country this is power play and I -- Chris -- -- an Internet.
+The crowd for this marked for life.
+Will certainly rival or is expected to rival the crowd for president Obama's inauguration on Monday.
+These are big numbers these are big big numbers that we're talking about you can see them as I was coming in.
+To the bureau today the streets are filled with these folks carrying their signs they've got there they Wear orange I believe in -- out in force.
+Letting it be known.
+So what can we learn about -- the debate on abortion.
+Where it is today.
+And the future but also what can it teaches about other things.
+We will explore those questions we will do that it will be you will be a lot smarter after you hear what a folks have to say about that.
+We will also talk about -- democratic divide and emerging democratic divide over gun control.
+Is the point of gun legislation to prevent sandy hook shootings or as many Democrats like Rahm Emanuel at Chicago wants to do.
+Really address guns written are so the -- The fracture is fracturing there.
+And we will have.
+Congressman Tom cop he's getting to be a pretty good deal he's a freshman from Arkansas.
+-- he'll be with this -- studio you'll like all of those things which you know what I bet -- -- more most of all because I know how you roll it.
+And admiral is Steve -- he's -- senior writer for the weekly standard.
+He is tireless as as -- -- had no -- Friday we're the -- and exactly where I was beer -- well let's Scotch and cooler and it's you don't -- you're writers got its under the table as per usual.
+That's how we roll you know that but the that this thing is this Steve -- -- about this today.
+-- -- -- People get that relatives in the basket is it I mean if you were to follow me on what I do I know you do and I I -- as I follow you.
+Obviously Stephen -- it's the if you follow me on Twitter you can edit each morning because that's -- hard.
+-- I posited today.
+That if you look at forty years for the pro life movement.
+In and then once and you can say remarkable success I mean really remarkable success compared to where -- was twenty years ago.
+-- pro choice was the edict that many Republicans were pro choice.
+And it was just part of the thing but technology.
+In the -- walkers -- and commitment from these people is taken them along what.
+I don't think there's any question that what's interesting is it is at least some change in the way that the pro life movement is.
+Both perceived and represented in the mainstream -- and in mainstream media and popular culture.
+He had just recently it cover of time magazine which said you know.
+-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Well -- -- won the right to abortions.
+But they've been losing ever since and I think that's true and if you look at you know what the target statistics -- talking about there's -- -- -- by Gallup 41% identify themselves proved to its 50%.
+Identify themselves as pro life more respect for pro life.
+Americans in as they're depicted in the media I think.
+Largely a not to mention restrictions on abortion right at the state level.
+You know I think proliferating particularly over the past five or ten years.
+Do you see lots of success on the big question.
+There hasn't been a success but on all of those smaller questions there event.
+And then turning the wheel public opinion -- been the greatest there's been the greatest thing they've done this thing about this you know twenty years ago thirty years ago where it was was.
+Operation rescue.
+Bull warrants.
+Chaining themselves to abortion clinics and in those cases often time give -- the women.
+Who -- very often sympathetic figures because there and under arrest in their lives they are in the dire straits and looking for a way out.
+Made them the targets of this that was an unappealing picture.
+They've shifted the focus they're -- -- about the women as the pro choice people are now they talk about the right to life for the individual for the right exactly and act and that's been a huge debt that that is made all the difference in the world it's to.
+-- and its culture and you remember when when you had -- actually had a sexual revolution.
+In the 1960s bleeding into the seventies you had.
+People who wanted consequence free decision making bread in that basically does -- well -- well yeah thank Agassi's underground but it but that basically was the the mentality.
+And what you see I think since then.
+Particularly because of technology because of all sounds and the 3-D pictures to forty -- -- now put their audacity yeah I mean.
+It picked -- there's much more of a sense it's it's it's it's an obvious and child too many more people than it was when.
+This was a -- you know something more of an abstract mass of cells right.
+Right it was a mystery and you know dating back to -- they talk about the quickening.
+Was this the distorted.
+-- back in the -- to earlier days until the baby moved.
+Basically it was like what's not a person right and he's like actually baby is moving right just can't feel it because it's -- -- And all of that stuff so anyway.
+There's been good but there's been -- good for these -- And for these folks it is -- An amazing statistic -- my amazing statistic of the day.
+-- in that in New York City in 2009 according to the Centers for Disease Control there were 719.
+Abortions for every 1000 live -- Nationally you're talking about one point 21 point three million abortions every year so as it -- -- like.
+This stuff doesn't get discussed very much because it's no one likes to talk about it -- -- figures apps isn't that just like you just like Russia don't see anything.
+While that is mine and never that before.
+And so when I saw that I was like OK so the the pro life people have analyzed they've had a good down and there -- you know they're they're feeling like they're they've gained ground.
+But when you look at the totality of it you have inside the Democratic Party and then in groups like the national abortion rights lead -- all.
+And all other groups of the national organization women.
+And others.
+Have dug in very very hard on this and in blue America we don't even know by the way what happens in California.
+Because California just doesn't report other states report for a California always led.
+In the number of abortions.
+Every year until they stopped reporting that's probably -- -- stop reporting.
+But we don't even now we can only estimate California because they don't even report.
+Thank you saw the potency of abortion that abortion TNB.
+As a political issue this past year and it was the case you remember the Democratic National Convention it was you know.
+I think that was probably discuss that issue was probably discussed as much or.
+More than virtually any other in the entire time there including jobs -- the economy what was supposed to -- -- the number one issue.
+Four for voters but Democrats wanted to talk about abortion they thought for the vote for suburban housewives and and single mothers that they were targeting it to help -- won't be reelected that this was going to be some movement did the issue that that moved them.
+And you know and I think they had some success.
+So entwined with feminism it is women's liberation.
+Used abortion was a central -- in this -- and to this day it remains that if you talk about being against abortion many people stated.
+You are.
+-- -- -- -- But Steve Hayes is that your kids that kind and friendly colleague because he makes time for you and that he -- -- pretty -- so we just Super Tuesday thank you.
+-- -- -- We're gonna take a quick break but we have some of your other favorites.
+Here we'll have Ford O'Connell and that he -- will be here we're gonna talk about gun control.
+And what the point of what's being discussed right now really is.
+And it's not really about school shootings it's about gun control so we'll talk about that when we come back so stick around.
+Kids would be alive today -- Newtown Connecticut.
+If the law that we're proposing today were in place on December 14 of last year it's as simple -- that.
+That is Chris Murphy he's a senator from Connecticut making a bold assertion that had the gun control bill.
+The gun ban on offer from senate Democrats as of yesterday were in place that the kids at the Newtown school would be alive today.
+But the gun.
+That was used doesn't seem to have been on the list of banned guns the senate is talking about and this is getting very complicated and it's it is opening up a lot of old wounds.
+-- the American psyche.
+As it relates to gun control gun violence second amendment rights and all of these things.
+And this is power play and if you want to have a Smart and insightful conversation.
+About the difficult issue I can think of no two better people.
+Then -- of how he's chairman said the reform act accused former McCain Palin.
+Palin presidential campaign advisor.
+That I know that be accurate and Debbie dingle she's the president decent strategies and -- -- life.
+John -- the Democrat from Michigan and the dean of the house.
+That puts her on the blue team welcome welcome.
+-- -- Rahm Emanuel wants to go after banks that fund.
+That provide revolving credit for gun makers.
+Joseph Biden is in Virginia today.
+Talking about -- background checks.
+Senate Democrats are pushing hard on this but Debbie it.
+You warned to fish you cautioned of this is that if you don't star -- from finding common things in building upon them.
+You will never get the consensus necessary to do what your husband help do.
+In 199594.
+Back before which was to get -- ate some kind of weapons ban in place -- do something.
+Proactive on this what's the state of right now.
+Well I think you're seeing bills introduced that.
+-- far many people on the far left are supporting but I don't think he stands a chance at being passed me that the house of the senate.
+And I think in this -- get more thoughtful conversations.
+You're not can you see.
+Anything happen and I think that's not a good place to be so I.
+Hope that we start to get it to go into these next few weeks -- months some very good common sense conversations read the complaint.
+From people who are pro Second Amendment Rights.
+And you know this we were talking with Steve has a -- about a portion.
+You end up in a very similar place here is that people hold sharply divergent views and if you can't agree on the -- basic framework of the argument can be able to -- -- else.
+But for people -- that have strongly held -- pro Second Amendment views here.
+What they're saying is this is -- about school shootings anymore.
+-- this is now about affecting but even broader gun control to deal with crime in the city's.
+In places like Chicago and places like Detroit and that's what they care about.
+There and that were walking past things that might be done to help -- Shouldn't I think that's actually accurate and I think that a lot of people who -- Second Amendment really see this is.
+Trying to fully limit their rights and and I think that's -- -- in knee jerk reaction out there.
+And I also think one of the things -- you and I were talking about agreements that I think part of the reason why is gonna have a tough time senate.
+Even things like background checks is because you have a set of Democrats in red states where the president you know got less than 42% of the vote.
+And for their constituents the Second Amendment is just so highly prized and anything seen as sort of close to being rule called Andrea.
+Just isn't gonna pass because of the views in the conversation going back and.
+I think that the -- things that unfortunately happened which you are correct that I did warn that is a -- everybody into the corner and it will be -- instantly defensive.
+I think you would have thoughtful conversations with people who have been strong supporters.
+The Second Amendment.
+They would be willing to talk about background -- background I have hundred and talk about mental illness and how do you take a step further but if you don't get to real sensitive conversations.
+And where people can find common ground.
+It immediately go for these emotional passionate thinks it will never pass you're not going to do.
+Now -- Mark Kirk a Republican from Illinois moderate -- from Illinois Joseph -- moderate Democrat.
+From West Virginia.
+Are trying to do a consensus builder and they had -- what they're going to offer a background check -- now that wouldn't people will acknowledge.
+Wouldn't have affected the ability of the shooter in -- -- to -- -- -- he just took his mama's guns he didn't go.
+He didn't -- I those guys he just took them.
+Now of course is -- the question of how would a mother -- was thinking about having her son committed to leave guns unlocked in her home.
+Is an open question about one more not probably have the answer to.
+What mansion in her are trying to do is put together a little bit there's the core of something to begin something important.
+You think you can work I have actually do you think it can work and I think particularly the with Joseph Manchin who is -- it -- you know by Second Amendment.
+You know.
+-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Anything that's going to work with respect to.
+Firearms background checks is really doesn't start until marriage.
+And I think that he's somebody who could be -- something more -- Virginia is somebody else who could be key because he's really on that geographical divide and I were talking about and I think folks like that are really the folks to go to and I and I think that.
+Part of the problem -- -- isn't you know working out the way that Democrats would like to work out is because they follow the president credit sensitive term social issues in the knee jerk reaction produces feel good legislation.
+That accomplishes nothing and I think in this case starting small working out we could find some things that will help to try to limit future tragically.
+But he is chaired the Judiciary Committee is -- can be excellent the passage of the critical because he comes from a -- -- the right bear arms is something that we'll.
+Here you have Vermont Vermont they they had they would they may grow a lot of -- up there but they also carry a lot of pistols they're serious about their -- It's bad I think that that democratic leadership really needs to take the time to understand the -- what drives those who desire to protect the Second Amendment.
+1994 happened because President Clinton himself became personally I'll talk to people that were.
+I had strong feelings in ended up personally negotiating that agreement that got done at night.
+They take those kind of personal relationships and not demonizing those that are.
+Demonizing the gun cultures bed and I know more demonize and would you also allow that demonizing big begun Travers.
+Calling everybody go ahead and salute when I see folks like -- -- runner they're talking about car owners and he's missing entirely doesn't the second -- Which is self defense of home protection.
+Okay that is really what those guys look at him when are the ability to protect from any of these people the ability to protect the freedom of speech or.
+Basic freedoms exact is protected by their rights aren't exactly absolutely is and it's -- -- -- say I agree with your heart out today without -- that -- we're we're gonna close it on that because we're now we're getting some warm -- here and that's what that's what we like -- -- no tax credits -- warm -- We also like get your chest.
+Viewer power -- Is obviously pretty faithful because that is that your hair has gotten -- -- Is this true.
+It's just a little greater I think it was probably the election I think when Obama won it probably went down about -- -- that's that's my that's my guess is you should move green on Saturday.
+Under discussion it's tough it's tough out there -- 1953 says guns are just a tool they do not decide.
+What to shoot at the human holding the tool makes the decision and there are many.
+Many other tools they can choose to kill with yes but this is no doubt true.
+But having making 53.
+When it comes to.
+The numbers that are involved.
+That's.
+That's -- -- when we're talking about these -- shootings.
+It only with a gun could you get that or I guess explosives could do that.
+A dry Griffin says yes let's regulate guns more as all the laws and regulations for illegal drugs has really helped prevent illegal drug use.
+And I would make a point about this.
+In the state of Virginia they had a serious problem with guns and gun violence in Richmond it was a disaster and and also down in the in the Newport News -- I mean it was.
+Really really bad.
+You know what they did they do -- -- And they put a lot of people in prison and they win the truth in sentencing for -- and increased penalties for gun crimes and they cleaned it up.
+That was back in the -- Democrats and Republicans didn't get together and did that that was effective it did work it was expensive and it delivers presents but it did work.
+We're gonna take a quick break but when we come back.
+We will talk about the bad -- the hearings with Hillary Clinton we will talk about the path to nomination for Chuck Hagel who's up next week.
+And we'll talk about it with a rising star in -- house Republicans and a guy who had an interest staying back and forth with Hillary Clinton during her visit to -- Will be with Tom cotton when we come back so stick around.
+That I just wish you'd won the democratic primary in 2008.
+And that was a rare moment of levity.
+And Hillary Clinton's testimony.
+In the House of Representatives.
+And it got -- -- cordial after that.
+But that was Tom cotton he is -- Republican freshman from Arkansas.
+And he -- Hillary Clinton spent some time in our judgment call and did OK in that's State's democratic primary as ever call.
+And we have the man himself with us today congressman through congress the Internet first met you.
+When you wanted to be in congress and now you are in congress.
+Are you glad you came.
+I yeah okay I know we've got enough.
+Community to address some of the country's most pressing problems with the debt crisis in front of a nuclear Iran and still early in this congress but I think we're making some strides.
+Towards achieving their skills.
+That's I guess that's a kind of and it.
+All right now the question is this.
+-- You view your your opening levity with Secretary Clinton.
+Went away pretty quick and I think you've got into some tough questioning with her.
+In you know with the Internet should know that you you served in Afghanistan.
+Your -- is don't ever say aren't arming the so you can say don't ever ever accused silver hammer and -- don't -- do that all right so I'm like over there but.
+You can you know about this stuff and you've you've you have that big portfolio on foreign policy.
+And the question here is.
+What did she tell you and do you think that she answered honestly I do.
+The first point that I had as you said during the course the -- -- hope that we bring the perpetrators to justice.
+-- I think that was intention with what -- birth.
+The president since September of last year -- that they -- -- senator down I wanted to make sure that didn't reflect her concern about the course of the investigation.
+And then I was a little surprised when -- asked she was to stress that.
+The Tunisian government had released Ali Karzai the main suspect the couple weeks ago -- And I was surprised she didn't seem to think that was a distressing developments if we don't have an elderly does -- Understanding at the moment yeah and then on the pointed out al-Qaeda in the Islamic -- There's been a report this couple days ago New York Times that some of the fighters are captured the enemy units -- -- attack in Algeria were also involved in Ghazi.
+They have ties to Islamic Egyptian Jihad.
+As well last two Qaeda and Islamic Maghreb so -- try to explore some of those connections.
+Africa and that and so that that's that she she was not eager to talk about that stuff.
+What about the question of how come no one has heard from the embassy from the diplomatic workers who were present at the time the attacked -- -- But they didn't never been produced two now to talk about what happened.
+It's unclear -- some and we should dog talk to -- you know when I was in the army whether Iraq or Afghanistan any -- you had any kind of engagement to get reports afterwards after action reviews and the soldiers are on the very front lines -- the ones you have the best information people are listening and haven't found liner had been there weeks prior.
+So I think you know the congressional committees it's not just the foreign affairs committee are investigating this need access to this Frontline agency workers.
+Now the House of Representatives doesn't get to say whether Chuck Hagel will become the next secretary of defense that's job for the upper chamber.
+But you will be having a lot of discussions about defense spending right.
+Which is the central thing that -- go is there -- is -- is too fast cuts in the Pentagon the president would like to see that money spent.
+On domestic programs social programs infrastructure.
+And senator cables on board with that you guys are not on board with that.
+And but we have coming up what they call the sequester automatic cuts and now more more Republicans are saying well maybe we just let the -- -- At least it's something that forces first -- part of hagel I've been someone -- spoken -- his nomination in before the president nominated him that's a true fact.
+You know -- mr.
+hagel served our country admirably and valiantly in Vietnam and honor his service like every -- service.
+But I feel that his service can't be.
+A means to stifle debate about his troubling views on things like.
+Further cuts to defense budget he said the defense budget exploded -- needs to be pared down.
+Or is strange hostility towards Israel.
+Or.
+His dangerous views on Iran -- terrorism more generally.
+-- and -- mentioned the sequester that will be under debate in the next 3060 days really address some these looming fiscal deadlines when -- the Republican Party agrees we have is that the constant party happened have been very devastating.
+I you know are cutting through fatter in -- you're -- cutting to the mound.
+-- mr.
+hagel doesn't -- to share that view.
+So I'm worried the president wants a Republican secretary of defense as political cover for even more cuts in the budget going forward even more is what's in the sequestering.
+The complaint that we hear about the sequester is that it is by law passed to be.
+Indiscriminate yes and it's not saying okay we're gonna give up on the F thirty -- we're gonna stop building -- or we're gonna do this.
+Instead it says no it's got to fall equally so it doesn't stand out there -- it was designed to her it was one.
+And it was enough it was designed what ought not to be implemented in the first place now I for one and a person budget control act because for many reasons that was one very -- -- -- because of the indiscriminate way.
+It cut across the board without giving generals and admirals the flexibility they need to target their -- -- less effective programs and but also that it fell disproportionately on defense is 50% of the sequester spending cuts and defense is less than 20% of the total budget.
+-- at a minimum we need to get our senior leadership at the department offense the flexibility to implement those cuts.
+And reasonable fashion what I would prefer -- believe much Republicans would prefer this to reconfigure the cuts.
+Within the sequestered because of the top line number stays the same but the way they're configured -- moved away from defense and forced -- discretionary spending.
+I know that Paul Ryan has Budget Committee -- or working on that right now we should expect -- -- -- person and president she's got a little different so we're.
+-- have been a very interest staying February -- -- let's -- I have to ask you though they're going to be senate race in Arkansas.
+You -- I know you just got to the house.
+But -- a red state that's got democratic senator and democratic governor.
+You have you given any thought to -- Mark -- You know a lot of people ask me about that for 89 months now the media.
+Or their supporters home in Arkansas and now it seems like a lot of people have big plans for me that sometimes -- -- tell me what those plans are.
+I'm really not focus all right now I'm electoral concerns because of the strange.
+Nature of these living deadlines with the sequester spending cuts in the continuing resolution and now the debt ceiling again and made.
+So the most consequential work we do and analysts will be in this first four months and that's very rare.
+-- are really focused on doing the basics of starting -- this trying to get to balance budget framework.
+The House Republican Conference.
+And then you know down the road -- -- politics were so now.
+We will label that door open.
+Congressman we thank you very much -- -- times -- -- service okay.
+On the -- Jonathan Hunt is coming up next I know you like that but how about would you like to have some power points before I let you go well like it or not you're gonna get them.
+-- our points area 51.
+That refers to oppose legislation from Democrats in the senate that would in fact make what we now know as the District of Columbia the 51 state.
+This is something that we hear every year we hear all of the time.
+And that always -- so here's your first PowerPoint.
+Definition of insanity the definition of insanity of course.
+Is repeating the same thing behavior and expecting a different result.
+Democrats bring this up every time the president just like Bill Clinton reform -- -- no taxation without representation plates on the presidential limousine.
+They -- made it makes them feel good.
+Makes them feel very good because of two things one.
+It's something that what used to be a majority African American city but -- productive eight ace has substantially African American city.
+That they are fighting for their rights that they're doing those things.
+And also makes them feel because it would give them to new democratic senators.
+And couple few democratic house members so so they like that too.
+But here's your second -- -- make amends.
+To do it really really really you have to amend the constitution that's not what happened so here's the third thing.
+That's object permanence.
+Object permanence is the fact that.
+Be cognizant understanding that even if you don't see some thing it's still there.
+Well guess what the Republicans are still there and their opposition to this is still there and their constitutional claims on this are still there so they will come back.
+And -- -- -- this and make them feel good but guess what can any voting rights for anybody in DC it will just be a lot of jawboning and those your -- points for today and now as we like to do every day.
+We want to leave you with the word from -- Charles.
+And the fact they -- denied for so long to go back to the other part of the hearings.
+-- there was any terror in the involvement -- related covered up and pretend it didn't happen in North Africa is an indication of how much -- they've had their head in the sand.
+And how much they've lived off -- dozens of -- killing of bin Laden.
+As a way to tell themselves that the war on terror was over.
+Filter by section
+Yellow Peril: the identity game
+254 Responses
+First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 … 11 Newer→ Last
+Hmmm. I prefer Pakeha, the word I grew up with. Tauiwi offends me with its connotations of foreigner - where the hell else am I native to? New Zealander I have no problem with, and it potentially includes everyone irrespective of ethnicity. Aotearoan sounds phony to me. I'm happy to leave "indigenous" to the autochthons :-)
+What interested me the most were the very old fasioned terminology for what we consider people who are not born in New Zealand. The terms 'Asian' , 'Non New Zealand European' & 'Pacific Peoples' are so wide ranging surely they render alot of the data almost useless.
+The problem with calling ourselves 'New Zealanders' is that it is a term that has in previous years been used and abused by the insecure nationalistic right wing who have the ridiculous image of a 'New Zealander' being white anglo saxon descendants.
+How many Kiwi's who are probably 5th - 6th generation NZer still insist they are 'Europeans'? Its nonsense. It is such a leftover of insecure Victorian NZ.
+I thought we were moving on from that and hopefully giving rise to the terms New Zealand Maori or New Zealand Samoan or New Zealand Vietnamese or New Zealand Irish or New Zealand Somali..... you get my point. The key here is that while we should be able to demonstrate an affiliation with our own or ancestral culture we do actually all have one thing on common. New Zealand.
+Whew I need to go lie down after that little diatribe..........
+1. Maori feel a spiritual attachment with the land while non-Maori feel a material attachment.
+So as a non-maori, spiritual connections are ever denied to my capitalist money-grubbing soul?
+2. For the Maori, however, legal ownership of the land is not an issue in feeling connected.
+Whereas I feel no connection at all to the Wellington region as I only own property in Hamilton.
+3. This is not the case with non-Maori. When the land has been sold to a developer, and all old tales replaced with brand-new joinery, the link snaps.?
+5. We need to differentiate between a tangible link with the land and a non-tangible one. All of us carry both type of links within our existence. The problem occurs when the State decides to subordinate the spiritual to the material.
+Or when one group seeks to deny the spiritual to another.
+I feel this discussion is stuck behind certain mind-sets. Manakura says:
+"I have not ever doubted many or most Pakeha have developed a strong attachment to Aotearoa "
+This may be why many NZers are calling themselves NZers. No longer having close ties with Europe, perhaps never having been there, they now find it meaningless to call themselves 'European'.
+Your definition of indigenous, Manakura, is very much shaped by the Maori experience. Does it fit with Australian aboriginees, Papuan hill tribes, Aleutian eskimos, and Andaman Indians to name just a few of the 'indigenous' peoples of the world. I think, to keep the meaning of the word useful, it pays to keep it simple and as widely applicable as possible. I think you are loading it with too much of your meaning, so it is losing 'objectivity' and thus universal utility.
+Also, if I have 1/8th Maori can I consider myself indigenous? Or if I am accepted by an iwi as a member of a tribe but have no Maori at all, can I then call myself indigenous?
+I think that the category Asian is reasonably useful so long as it clear what it refers to. Wikipedia has comparisons between different countries for census definitions of 'Asian'.
+In its simplest form indigenous means 'native' or born of the land. An Asian emigrating here would consider all the Europeans he/she encounters here as being 'indigenous'.
+I am not trying to make a stand on any of these points, just shift the mind set a little.
+Wow. A lot to think about here.
+I guess one reason that the Michael King argument for Pakeha culture being an indigenous one seems right to me is that I assumed a different definition of the word "indigenous". One that's closer to the old dictionary definition, derived from biology, of simply "originating where it is found". By that definition, Pakeha culture (if not individual Pakeha people) is indigenous, since it is <i>not</i> the same as British culture, it evolved through the experience of living in Aotearoa/NZ (the land, contact with Maori, distance from "home") and it exists nowhere else. In the same way, Maori culture is indigenous to NZ, because it is not the same culture as that of the Polynesian ancestors.
+The definition that you're applying seems to be, as you say, something that has arisen specifically to refer to "indigenous peoples", and that thus has specific meaing within postcolonial discourse. By that definition, Pakeha can never be indigenous.
+So, what can we use as a term for someone who belongs to a people that has evolved culturally in a specific place, and that exists nowhere else? Endemic?).
+Interesting discussion.
+I think we can all agree that Statistics New Zealand needs to re-evaluate the way it presents quick summaries of census information so far as it relates to ethnic classifications. They need to make available easy to find charts and tables referring to actual rather than theoretical ethnicities, so when the casual surfer, reporter, or politician comes a visiting they do not find the most misleading information first.
+So far as the discussion of being indigenous, spiritual and the like go, well, it has been an education reading this thread.
+Personally I don’t really get spiritualism, except to say that I usually feel better for some reason when I return to certain areas I identify with strongly, specifically the land my family has farmed, and the areas they settled at, upon arrival, whenever that was. As an avowed monist I’ll attribute this to positive memories of experiences had in that area and a constant reinforcement of identity as it relates to this particular area by family, friends, the media and of course, educators. Oh, and it looks nice as well.?
+You and Manakura will be arguing past each other for ever on this one. If I understand Manakura correctly, the connection M is arguing for is supernatural and irrational. It is outside the realm of objective reasoning. If you were to construct a logical argument that demonstrated that a Pakeha could possess an identical quality to that possessed by Maori, M would either dispute the premises of your argument, or posit a new quality, of which one aspect would be that only Maori can have it. And you'll be complaining that M is not objective, and M will be arguing that you're trying to redefine "indigenous". Actually, you are talking about being Jeremy-indigenous, whereas Manakura is Manakura-indigenous.
+As a corollary, in some way, by claiming to be indigenous (left blurry and undefined), you're claiming to be Maori, which you're not. As Tom has noted, it comes down to what you mean by indigenous, and one part of M's definition is evidently "possessed only by Maori." Thus the urban Maori can reclaim their indigenous status because other indigenes acknowledge them, whereas you and I can speak te reo fluently, and point out that generations of our ancestors also lie buried in this land, and never be acknowledged.
+And I suspect that is why references to one people, all New Zealanders, etc, rankle so much. Not just from their overtones of assimilation, but because read a particular way, they deny the legitimacy of other groupings.
+This is how groups define themselves. I wouldn't take it personally. I belong to a group (Jews) you can't just declare yourself into either. It happens. You can't muscle into a group that has decided you don't qualify. You are a Homer trying to join the no-Homers club. You can start your own club, or decide not to play. You can be Jeremy-indigenous, but not Manakura-indigenous, or not worry about it.
+Yeah, let's be endemic, like trout, sheep and possums :)
+Indigeniety "has been co-opted politically by the descendants of settlers who lay claim to an 'indigenous' identity through their occupation and settlement of land over several generations or simply through being born there...
+Their [settlers] linguistic and cultural homelend is somewhere else, their cultural loyalty is to some other place. Their power, their privelege, their history are all vested in their legacy as colonizers."
+Manukura, you are playing with fire.
+Thank you Stephen, that sums things up quite nicely.
+I was starting to feel a case of the Penn & Tellers coming on.
+I also wonder whether the emphasis on spiritual connection is a bit essentialist and even limiting for Maori. Pakeha and other ethnicities can take on a range of religious or philosophical stances and still retain their membership of that culture.
+Are you saying that Maori <i>must</i> feel a spiritual connection to the land? Can a Maori be an atheist or (for want of a better word) aspiritual without renouncing ceasing to be Maori?
+As someone of European heritage, I can recognise that I belong to a culture that has been profoundly shaped by Christianity. I can appreciate the works of Bach, T.S. Eliot or Colin McCahon without sharing the beliefs that inform and guide their work. Yet I'm not Christian, and words like "spiritual" mean nothing to me personally beyond what a word like "emotional" would mean. I still feel myself to be very much a European (the debate that I had earlier this year helped me decide to write "European/Pakeha" for my census ethnicity - I was born in London but I've lived here for most of my life), even though I reject many "traditional" European values.
+Could it be the same for Maori? Is it possible for a Maori person to recognise that all the spiritual connections, whakapapa to the land and other tikanga are a vital part of their heritage and who they are, yet personally not share those beliefs?
+This thread is great. I'd like to address the issues raised by Jeremy & continued by Tom about "lost Maori" from my own perspective as a pakeha of Maori descent. I'd feel utterly disingenuous calling myself Maori - don't really have anything to do with my iwi, don't speak the language, and I think I suffer a sort of survivors guilt having never had to deal with the negative aspects commonly associated with being Maori, like poverty or racism - but I strongly identify with my family origins; although far more with one hapu than the other.
+While I'd love to share the deep spiritual connection of which Manakura speaks, I can't help thinking that the significance I place on my ancestry is more influenced by societal conditioning, and simple history lessons in the form of fascinating anecdotes about this one particular side of the family.
+There does seem to be a difference between my attachment to my country as a New Zealander, and to this very specific slice of my ancestry. Someone earlier took offence at the distinction between "spiritual" & "material" attachment, but that phrase rings true to me, just not with the negative implications of materialism... The New Zealander side of me feels strongly "this is where I live, and this is how I live my life", and I can point to immediate family, stories from my upbringing, the places I've lived, even places I've visited where my ancestors lived that have shaped me - in that sense it's material. However, there's an aspect to the Maori side that feels more like a sort of collective memory from a distant past that I never really experienced. My dilemma is two-fold - 1) I don't really know if it's just a glamour, and 2) I can't work out how it has relevance to the dominant New Zealander part of me, although I really really want it to.
+Did any of that make sense?
+...I guess that wasn't really a question - just I'd be really interested to get some feedback while the smart people are checking in on this thread...
+Good God, this must be about the only forum I have heard this kind of discussion take place intelligently and thoughtfully.
+Thank you Russell and crew.
+My less than intelligent contribution is this indiginous debate is this:
+I was broadly supportive of the foreshore legislation as I find many of the claims to "private ownership" of what are clearly public places distasteful. I also believe that much of this private ownership is held by settler farmers who guard their "rights" so jealously.
+The reaction by Maori has surprised me and educated me. My views are changing on this issue and I suspect others might be reconsidering as well.
+As a person of Scottish heritage I find it very difficult understand how, with the bitter knowledge of the land clearances, fellow "colonists" of Scottish heritage don't have more sympathy for the plight of colonised people anywhere.
+Finally, back to good old Deborah...
+Statistics NZ projections put the Asian population at 860,000 in 20 years, just 10,000 fewer than Maori. Is this what the tangata whenua envisage?
+Actually, from what NZ history I have read many foresighted Maori were envisaging being swamped by peoples and cultures from overseas. Seems to me it probably didn't matter too much whether people came from Europe or other parts of the world.
+That's why they signed the Treaty! That's why their leaders worked (and still work) so hard to ensure Maori would be able to cope with the coming influx and hold their own in what they envisaged would be a rapidly changing world.
+I stand to be corrected and re-educated on all the above :-)
+heather, great comment. especially glamour vs. relevance.
+it's something i suspect a great many struggle with.
+"Indigeneity is about being able to look up at a mountain and say that mountain is my ancestor"
+I don't know of any mountains anywhere that I could say that of. My ultimate ancestors evolved from apes somewhere in Africa - I thought everyone's did?
+If you're of Maori ancestry but you don't buy into the Maori cosmology/belief system, does that mean you're no longer Maori?
+The Highland Clearances were almost entirely conducted by the clan chiefs against their clansmen. Just because someone looks like you doesn't mean they're your friend!
+Hmm, yes indeed, Heather. My daughter, through her mother, can legitimately trace her whakapapa to Ngai Tahu ancestors (and is in fact registered thanks to her grandfather). Yet Maori culture in any recognisable form is extinct in that branch of the family. I'm open to suggestions as to whether she should class as indigenous.
+The Highland Clearances were almost entirely conducted by the clan chiefs against their clansmen. Just because someone looks like you doesn't mean they're your friend!
+Well, yes. Another thing Scots have to be careful about is pointing the finger of blame, the nearest Englishman is usually a bit of a cop-out. By then the traditional Clan structures had been smashed by forces loyal to a foriegn monarchy.
+Whatever the reasons, the fact remains the clearances took place and were absolutely devastating to the indigenous population.
+I'm open to suggestions as to whether she should class as indigenous.
+It's partly an inherent problem of categories - by necessity they are a form of gerneralisaiton and will break down in some circumstances. There's no guarantee that a category such as "indigenous" is always well defined.
+I see on rereading that I have confused some of what Verpal Singh wrote with Manakura. I hope you'll both forgive me.
+Yet Maori culture in any recognisable form is extinct in that branch of the family.
+Actually, that's something that interests me - I doubt throwing a poi around would make me feel any more Maori, but probably learning the language would.
+But...how much practise of traditional "Maori culture" would make me *coff* more Maori, & how much do the Maori people dictate "Maori culture" by just happening to be Maori, and...err...doing stuff? As far as I see it, the most relevant aspect of "Maori culture" seems to be active family/iwi affiliations. I know things like the legends & the waiata are significant, but they seem to have kind of degenerated into historical niceties. So which aspects of Maori history/culture should be retained (& developed) as a current, relevant defining feature, and which can be safely relegated to social studies lessons?
+As a person of Scottish heritage I find it very difficult understand how, with the bitter knowledge of the land clearances, fellow "colonists" of Scottish heritage don't have more sympathy for the plight of colonised people anywhere.
+Ancestral origin surely should have little or no relevance to a reasonable adult forming an opinion over the morality of a particular action, or at least so I hope. Or were you referring to the actual Scots who colonised New Zealand, not we, their post colonial descendents?
+If the former, well, I’d wager that a fair chunk of most colonising movements have their origins in the colonising population being put under pressure by some other group.
+I am sure that many people do awful things with a heavy heart, regret tingeing their actions. But rarely does it actually stop them from doing this thing that they know is wrong.
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+Life-Changing
+(I promise I will be silly again in a few days, but I’m somber today.)
+One night over dinner, about thirty years ago, my father was feeling philosophical. He started talking about events that happen in your life that change you. Not just for a while, or in some superficial way – but change who you are.
+He told me about how his sister’s husband had died suddenly of a heart attack – which I remembered had happened when I was about nine. That would have made my father still in his thirties. He said he was the one who had to tell my uncle’s mother that her son was dead. He said it was the most difficult thing he had ever done, and that it changed him forever.
+I asked him what he thought were the three most life-changing events in his life.
+Dad thought about it for a minute and said, “World War II, marrying your mother, and having you kids.”
+Not a bad answer.
+Interesting though that here was a man who fought in a war when he was just a kid, and earned two purple hearts, and I’m sure saw some horrific things – but telling an old woman her son was dead was harder.
+And Dad asked me what my three most significant events were.
+Now I was only in my early thirties – still not married, still struggling to find a career. I hadn’t really experienced that much of life.
+But I didn’t have to consider it for long. I knew what events had changed me.
+“The Vietnam War, The Beatles, and Kennedy’s Assassination.”
+My father scoffed a bit at my mention of The Beatles.
+But I defended my choices.
+Those events – including the phenomenon that was The Beatles – transformed the way I looked at the world. The Beatles changed our culture – they made it possible young people to question the status quo. And I did. Vietnam made me question what adults were telling me. I understood for the first time that important people can be wrong. People with power lie.
+And the first change of all was Kennedy’s assassination. I adored Kennedy. His death was the most shocking event I had ever experienced. And I experienced it in my home. His death was personal. Evil was in my living room. I saw Oswald murdered. I was twelve.
+It has been fifty years. Those days in November are as clear to me as when I was that little girl – stunned and bewildered in front of the TV. The person that I am – the one who always needs to know WHY – was formed on November 22, 1963.
+I wrote a poem recently for my other blog, With Resistance. And today, it seems appropriate to share it with you.
+**
+KENNEDY WHEN I WAS TWELVE
+The
+- Posted in: Humor ♦ Memories
+- Tagged: Assassination, Assassination of John F. Kennedy, John F Kennedy, Kennedy, Poetry, Vietnam War, World War II
+Lovely poetry, Nancy. I was 2 and so don’t remember it, but there has been plenty to remember since. Different time. Different world.
+Thanks for the kind words. Those younger than I feel much the same about 9/11. People my age or older have been through it twice
+I didn’t see that coming: And so he died for me / In June / And not November.
+I like this poem a LOT, Nancy. Great closing, another death..
+It did feel like I lived through it twice. First in November, and then again in the summer when I suddenly accepted it.
+Difficult for a kid.
+I clearly remember that day too. Even here in Canada it rocked our world. I was in grade 6; sitting in the classroom at school when someone in the school office turned on the loudspeaker and we heard the radio announcer tell us that President Kennedy had been shot.
+Excellent poem!
+I was in seventh grade in parochial school. A nun ran into our classroom crying and told us all that Kennedy was dead and that we should all run home.
+Great post and great poem. I was a little girl in rural Canada when Kennedy was assinated, and his death really affected me and everyone around me, so I can only imagine what it was like for the children in the US. I watched the coverage on our black and white television and I cried along with all the broadcasters and American people that were interviewed or filmed, but it was when Oswald was killed that I began to question what was really happening in the world. As far as I remember this was when I left a chunk of my childhood behind and began to question news reports and reporters and the white and black views offered not only on my television screen but also by most of the adults who talked about these events. I also began to suspect that there were many shades of grey in the world which were not being shared with me or with any ‘regular’ people who held no power. Funny thing how many of us, Americans or not, remember those events as if they were just shown on last night’s news.
+The Vietman War didn’t influence my world-view as much at the time…I was so young and it happened ‘over there’, until my American cousins became worried about being drafted and then Kent State University made the headlines…then I became very aware of the politics that were playing with peoples’ lives. When my cousin’s boyfriend, a CANADIAN, for goodness sakes, volunteered to join the US Army and went to Vietnam, I thought he was certifiably insane and should have been protected from himself. He survived, came home with no injuries and married my cousin at the house I grew up in….but to this day I don’t understand what drove him to go fight.
+And the Beatles–well, I was not one of the screaming, crying, hysterical young women who fainted at the mere sight or sound of their voices (although I am more that way now if it concerns Mumford and Sons). But I did love their songs and I played along to them while strumming a badminton racket–(and unfortunately, somewhere there is a picture to prove it). The Beatles opened many doors for our generation (and many legs, too, I imagine), so I totally agree with you that they were influential for their time…and once again we saw violence take a life long before it should have dimmed.
+Thanks for sharing your post, Nancy…lots to think about.
+Your memories are similar to mine. We didn’t leave the television for days on end. We watched day and night. When Oswald was shot before my eyes, I went into a kind of denial. My teacher has us kids all make scrapbooks so we would remember everything, I threw mine away. I was the only kid in class without a book. She could have given me a failing grade. But she never even mentioned it.
+Your choices were right on for our generation. I think I would choose the same three.
+My sister Beth had to tell our cousin Maureen, aged 10, that her father had died. That was, she always said, the hardest thing she had to do. Beth was 17 at the time.
+How hard that must have been for your young sister- I can’t even imagine it.
+And in the thirty years since that conversation with my father, there have been other events that have changed me significantly – but tthose original three would still rank very high. Especially Kennedy’s death.
+I agree. Kennedy’s death really changed the world. And so it had to change us in its wake.
+Being silly is a part of being alive but I can see the realities in this posting, and your account on this most memorable subject matter is worthy of your time and effort. Firstly I would like to say how courageous your father must have been to win two Purple Hearts, it is something that he probably never mentions and yet something that is special and deserving a mention in my comment.
+To be honest it is sometimes rather difficult to pinpoint just three memorable times in one’s life but your fathers and equally your own recollections are fitting in the authenticity of one’s life, and these experiences highlight these choices.
+I have enjoyed reading your posting
+today. Have a wonderful Friday NQO 🙂
+Andro xx
+Thanks for your comments. My father never mentioned his purple hearts. We knew he had earned them but he never spoke of them. I know he was in the Battle of the Bulge, and one of his purple hearts was earned then. My Dad was an amazing man – I can truthfully say that I never heard him speak an unkind word about anyone.
+In Europe, we had crusty old men, who had already screwed up the world, running the show and all young eyes looked to America and Kennedy to see a vibrant, optimistic charaismatic President who briefly gave us some hope. That hope was dashed 50 years ago today. Being older and wiser and tainted with cynicism JFK still looks good to me.
+My perception may be distorted by how young I was – I have certainly read enough now to know that Kennedy was far from perfect – but I remember his energy and optimism inspiring the whole country.
+I was five and in the first grade when Kennedy was killed. Strange how some things stay with us forever. Vietnam was a huge part of our lives during my childhood and into my teen years. Kennedy and Vietnam bookended me, how I defined my views in many way.
+Your poem was wonderfully done. Thank you for sharing it.
+Thanks, Val. I always hope that bad things at least inspire us to be better people.
+Beautifully penned.
+Thank you.
+Your poem is great. What an impact that one horrific incident has had on our country. It was difficult to explain to my children how traumatic it was and how the entire country cried openly, until 9/11. Then they understood. In 1963, it was the weekend we lost our innocence and optimism. Vivid memories.
+The loss of innocence at exactly that moment is what remains with me.
+And I also always wanted to know “Why”
+It tortures me sometimes that we still don’t know.
+I guess I’m older than most of your readers since I was married and had children when Kennedy was shot. He died on my youngest son’s 7th birthday. I also saw Oswald shot. I was in my mother’s living room watching tv and couldn’t believe my eyes. And the day of the assassination I remember Walter Cronkite choking back tears…memories that will always be with me. My husband said he felt as if he had a hole in his heart….I think that described the entire country.
+Very well said. Thank you for adding your adult memories to my childhood ones. It helps complete the picture. Everything stands out about that weekend – and the following long days of denial and acceptance – but especially for me it was Oswald’s shooting. It was completely overwhelming to me at ten – I had seen someone die.
+I was a senior in high school and only 50 miles from Dallas. I remember so many things about that day, but most of all my mom coming home from our store early to be there when we got home from school.
+I remember watching the adults cry. It worried me. Up to that point I had only seen adults cry when my grandmother died. But they cried for the President.
+Elyse, The tears were flowing in our Canadian living room as well. I was six and it was the first time I had seen my Mom cry. She wept and it broke my little girl heart. It was the shot that changed our world and how we saw it…much like 9/11.
+Wow – amazing poem…
+I, too, saw Oswald shot on “live” tv (in the same room with your reader, June, who left a comment above…June is my sister, and I didn’t realize she was one of your followers!).
+I agree that those 3 things you mentioned as changing your life would probably be my 3 too.
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