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You're a manager. Why would you want to be on FaceBook with a bunch of college kids?
Simple…There's 60 Million people on Facebook now, up from 25 Million 9 months ago. There's only 15 million college students. Who do you think everyone else is?
The highest growing segment of FaceBook is the over 25 crowd…the hiring managers you want to network with and meet.
But you network on LinkedIN? Great LinkedIN is also a great place for job seekers to network….but the numbers are 1/3 of FaceBook. Almost overnight, FaceBook has grown to be the 6th most trafficked site on the internet, and the number one site to search for people.
Let's see…you're looking for a career change, right? And Facebook is the top site to find people….hmmm. How can you afford NOT to be on FaceBook?
But FaceBook is very different than other social networks. FaceBook is about groups and communicating within groups. You'll have fewer people in your FaceBook network than in LinkedIN. Yet, you can have greater visibility than LinkedIN. How are both possible?
First, let's set up your account. Make sure you also register as an alumni of your undergraduate, and graduate school – Make sure to prepare with an alumni email address from the school, to prove you're a graduate. The alumni networks can be some of the most valuable parts of FaceBook, especially to job seekers.
FaceBook is all about your network knowing what you are doing. You have a news feed that gets broadcast to your network to tell them what you are up to. So when you're looking for a job, you are able to subtly remind your network and group that you are looking for a job…every day.
Now be careful…if you're still employed, you'll want to be careful to control what's on, and who sees your news feed. You're in luck – FaceBook features sophisticated privacy controls to control who sees what.
Facebook is also a great vehicle to have conversations with your network…its email capabilities are more robust and fully featured than LinkedIN.
Best yet, FaceBook is a great vehicle to promote content to your groups and friends – things like resumes, articles, blogs, podcasts, videos, pictures. But be careful because friends can post pictures including you in their own photo albums, tag you, and it's also displayed in your own photo album (you may not even be aware of this). Fortunately, you can set security so you approve all pictures first. That lets you control the pictures of you dancing on the bar, balancing a beer bottle on your head – maybe not what you'd want a potential employer to see.
I'll post future articles giving tips of how to build your FaceBook network, and the best FaceBook apps for job seekers.If you'd like a free 30 minute resume consultation, or some advice your career transition, just email your resume to me at email@example.com, and we'll schedule a time to talk.


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Unofficial Opinion 95-21
Lumpkin County Attorney
Lumpkin County may not enter into a long-term lease with the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee Indians under the intergovernmental contract provisions of 1983 Georgia Constitution, Article IX, Section III, Paragraph I.
You have asked for an opinion from this office on the question of whether Lumpkin County can enter into a valid long-term lease with the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee Indians, when such lease is intended to exceed one year and to exceed the current term of office of the Commissioner of Lumpkin County. You have opined that the lease would be proper based upon the conclusion that the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee Indians is analogous to those entities set out under the intergovernmental contract provisions of the Georgia Constitution. Ga. Const. 1983, Art. IX, Sec. III, Para. I.
The Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee Indians (hereinafter sometimes "GTEC") wishes to lease from Lumpkin County a county-owned structure known as the "Old Jail." The structure would be used as a museum operated by the GTEC and providing a repository for Cherokee Indian records and memorabilia. GTEC also anticipates that, if approved, this site would enable it to petition to receive Cherokee artifacts and human remains which are scheduled to be returned from private and public collections.
Your request states that this museum to provide a repository for material and documents associated with the history of the County and the region would provide a public purpose. I will assume that the consideration to the County for the proposed lease is the operation of the public museum, an activity the County can undertake, and that the "in kind" consideration is of fair market value to the County, leaving no gift and gratuity question. I will also assume that the term is to be of such a length that the question of binding successors in office on a matter of governmental activity is the issue. See Aven v. Steiner Cancer Hosp., Inc., 189 Ga. 126 (1939).
One exception to the binding successors in office prohibition is found in Article IX, Section III, Paragraph I(a) of the 1983 Georgia Constitution (herein the "intergovernmental contract provision"), authorizing specified governmental entities to contract with each other for periods up to fifty years, so long as the subject matter of the contract is something the contracting parties are authorized by law to undertake or provide. See Building Auth. v. State, 253 Ga. 242 (1984).
There is no question of the intergovernmental contract provision's applicability to Lumpkin County. Counties are specifically enumerated in, and given the right to contract by, that provision.
Indian tribes are not specifically mentioned in the intergovernmental contract provision and, therefore, must fall within the umbrella of one of the specifically mentioned entities if the provision is to be applicable to them. The only language broad enough to include the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee Indians is the phrase "other public agency, public corporation or public authority."
This phrase was examined in State v. Blasingame, 212 Ga. 222 (1956). Although the Court focused on the words "public authority," it held as follows: "We therefore hold that the foregoing clause of the Constitution (Code, Ann., § 2-5901 [now 1983 Ga. Const., Art. 9, Sec. 3, Para. 1]) has reference only to corporations and authorities created by the State of Georgia, and does not include any public authorities created by another State or country." State v. Blasingame, 212 Ga. at 225-26. Although this case has been questioned, it has not been overruled. See Building Auth. v. State, 253 Ga. 242, 246-47 (1984).
The Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee Indians, according to your letter, is not recognized as a separate tribe by the government of the United States. GTEC has been recognized by the State of Georgia. O.C.G.A. § 44-12-300. However, the state did not create that tribe, and recognition is not synonymous with creation. Cf. State v. Blasingame, 212 Ga. 222, 226 (1956). Therefore, the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee Indians is not a "public agency, public corporation, or public authority" for purposes of the intergovernmental contract provision of the Georgia Constitution.
In Official Opinion 72-132 this office opined that the term "public agency" in this constitutional provision included the United States Government. That opinion is consistent with the holding of State v. Blasingame, 212 Ga. 222.
In Blasingame the court's decision excluded entities created by "another state or country" from the scope of the intergovernmental contract provision. The United States Government does not fall within that exclusion. That government was created with the participation and concurrence of Georgia. Although the process was protracted, the United States Government was ultimately established by the United States Constitution. On January 2, 1788, in Augusta, Georgia, a convention of twenty-six delegates of the people of the State of Georgia "for and in behalf of ourselves and our constituents, fully and entirely assent to, ratify, and adopt the said Constitution [proposed by the Deputies of the United States in General Convention, held in the City of Philadelphia, on the 17th day of September, 1787]." 1 Cyclopedia of Georgia 444-45 (Allen D. Candler & Clement A. Evans, eds., 1906).
It is, therefore, my unofficial opinion that the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee Indians is not a "public agency, public corporation or public authority" created by the State of Georgia as the phrase is used in 1983 Georgia Constitution, Article IX, Section III, Paragraph I(a), and construed by State v. Blasingame, 212 Ga. 222 (1956).
Prepared by:
Senior Assistant Attorney General

subset: commoncrawl


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Everyone needs a break now and then from your daily routine to restore your energy levels and fuel new creative ideas. Taking a digital vacation might be just what you need during the holidays. That's the decision author Baratunde Thurston made last year, according to Fast Company.
Thurston described himself as a connectivity addict that finally reached his point of exhaustion with online interactions. The decision to take a 25-day digital "detox" came from a combination of insight from his assistant and the feelings of resentment he began to develop toward emails and mobile notifications.
Thurston, referred to as the "most connected man in the world" by his friends, had finally reached his digital burnout point and his experience can help encourage you by taking a break from the online world.
Being hooked on social media is a real phenomenon and unlike alcohol or drug addiction, constant checking doesn't have a monetary value but rather a physical and emotional one. Researchers from the University of Chicago confirmed from a recent study that media cravings outweigh the cravings for alcohol or cigarettes.
It's not that everyone who checks their emails regularly is subject to addiction but that living in a digital world does impact your time and energy. Taking a break gives you a different perspective and is a healthy way to examine areas in your life where your digital activities may be impeding your personal life.
Here are some suggestions on how to take a digital break:
- The best way to take a digital break is to make a plan in advance, choosing the specific date and time.
- Turn off bells, whistles and any signals that would warrant your attention from your phone or tablet. It's best to turn off all of your modes of digital communication however in the case of an emergency have a backup plan on where and how you can be reached.
- Get a family member or friend to help you stay on track, if needed. If you feel the urge to go online during your vacation, reach out and seek moral support.
- Reconnect with people in person, set meetings and plan activities for social interaction.
- Read a book with no mobile phone in sight.
- Get outside and breath the fresh air, take a walk, go for a drive and see the world around you.
Those who have taken a digital break often feel more refreshed and have a different appreciation of time. The internet will be there when you get back refreshed and more focused.
What would prevent you from taking a digital vacation?


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Facing multiple attackers is the nightmare of most martial artists or anybody else for that matter.
These assaults often escalate and Vladimir's techniques give you a solid basis to counter the wolf pack mentality with its multiple angles and levels of attack.
Usually you don't have time to..read more >>


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Open Source Database Servers - Questions & Answers, Tips & Tricks, TSQL Samples
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules
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rights reserved. Privacy Policy.
Terms of Service.


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Living in South Africa can offer expatriates a unique experience sampling a diverse and rich culture. South Africa is located on the southern tip of Africa and is bordered by Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. It has nine provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Natal, Northern Cape, the North West and Western Cape. It's most well known cities are Pretoria (the executive capital), Cape Town (the legislative capital), Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and East London.
While most people think of Safari and wild animals when they contemplate Africa, there is much more to living in South Africa than this. The cities in South Africa are not unlike other cities around the world with sprawling skyscrapers, cosmopolitan dining and bar areas and shopping malls to suit all budgets. However, those who are in search of a taste of the wild will not have to venture to far to find it. Just an hour's drive from places such as Johannesburg, are natural reserves that are abundant with all manner of wildlife, including lions, elephants and zebra.
South Africa has a population of over 47-million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages and beliefs. Around 79% are black (or African), 9% white, 9% "coloured" (the local name given to people who are of mixed African, Asian and white descent), and 2.5% Indian or Asian.
South Africa is a stunning place of natural beauty and many expats come here looking to enjoy an outdoor, relaxed lifestyle. There is an abundance of outdoor attractions, including white sandy beaches, surf, wildlife, vast winelands and mountains and trails.
South Africa is an extremely cosmopolitan area and people from all over the world live here. A high standard of living is on offer at a relatively low cost and those expats who do locate here find that their money goes much further than it does in many western countries.
In some regards South Africa is still regarded as an unsafe area to visit and in some areas poverty and crime are still rife. However, provided you exercise due care and caution while living in South Africa, as you should anywhere else in the world, you will generally find that people are friendly and welcoming. If you are contemplating moving to South Africa, ensure that you do research in advance and identify the areas of the major cities that may pose a risk to you as a foreigner. See the relocation guide for more information.
South Africa remains relatively cheap in comparison to many western countries. In the 2012 Mercer cost of living rankings Johannesburg (154) and Cape Town (179) fall 23 and 21 places respectively on the previous year, reflecting the considerable weakening the South African rand has suffered against the US dollar in the last year. Tunis, Tunisia (209), remains the least expensive city for expatriates in the region, down two places from last year.
The cheap cost of labor in South Africa entails that expats living here will have a high standard of living and will have domestic help as the norm if they so wish. Alcohol, eating at local restaurants and general service costs are also quite low.
If you're considering relocating to South Africa then please check out our guide to living in Cape Town. It contains full and comprehensive details of the cost of living in South Africa including sample prices of goods and services across different budget types. It will be an invaluable resource for planning your move.
There are eleven official languages in South Africa; Afrikaans, English, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
South Africa is a large country with a climate that varies from region to region. The Western Cape has a Mediterranean type climate whilst the interior of the country has a semi-desert climate that is typified by cold, dry winters and summer rainfall.
There is an Affirmative Action policy in place in South Africa, which gives females, people of color and people with disabilities preference for job opportunities. Such policies, coupled with South Africa's high employment rate, can act as a severe impediment for foreigners living in South Africa who are searching for work, as they will often be passed over in favor of locals. However, there does remain a requirement for skilled employees in some areas, and those will skills that are in demand may find that they are able to secure employment opportunities.
Expat Info Desk currently has a city guide available for living in Cape Town. This exhaustive guide contains everything you need to know about relocating to this South African city and will assist you to:
Unlike a book, the guides are regularly reviewed and updated in order to ensure that the information is accurate and reliable and because the guides are written by real expats who live and work in Cape Town, you can be assured that you are accessing the information that you need as written by people who really are in the know.
Do you have a comment about this article, a further question or even a correction? If so please do let us know. We may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all comments will be published, please be nice!
Our Expat's Manual is updated regularly so comments about the article may have already been addressed.


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Jörg Hartmann, Vice President Global Client Computing Devices, Fujitsu
"Fujitsu has worked closely with its business customers around the world to ensure that the new FUJITSU Tablet STYLISTIC Q555 is the ideal tablet for mobilized roles. Developed to an extremely high standard, its bright anti-glare WUXGA display supports touch and pen input. An attachable keyboard, enterprise-grade security, latest connectivity and a cradle allow users to accomplish their tasks, whether on the road, or in virtually any workplace."
Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 162,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.8 trillion yen (US$46 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.
In Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA), Fujitsu is a leading information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full portfolio of business-technology products, solutions and services, ranging from workplace systems to datacenter solutions, managed services, and cloud-based software and solutions. Fujitsu's Vision is to enable a Human Centric Intelligent Society that creates value by connecting infrastructure, empowering people and creatively defining new forms of intelligence. In EMEIA Fujitsu employs approximately 28,000 people and is part of the global Fujitsu Group. For more information, please see: ts.fujitsu.com/aboutus.
Godeke HarrackFujitsu Technology Solutions GmbH
Phone: +49 89 62060 3479
E-mail: email@example.com
PR Manager International Business
OnPR GmbH
Phone: +49 89 30 90 51629
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.
Date: 19 ноября, 2014
City: Fujitsu Forum / Munich


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Who lived most of his adult life in *Alexandria (1), eventually leaving, perhaps in flight to Athens after 145. He was not, as previously believed, regent to *Ptolemy (1) IX but was in the service of *Heraclides (3) Lembus. His major works, for which there are fragmentary remains, include: Asian Affairs (Τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν), probably a universal history that extended to the *Diadochi; European Affairs (Τὰ κατὰ τὴν Εὐρώπην), perhaps to his own time; and On the Red Sea (Περὶ τῆς Ἐρυθρᾶς θαλάσσης) in five books (some preserved by Diodorus, bk. 3, and Photius). These large-scale histories, interlaced with *anthropology and *geography, provided a model for *Posidonius (2). He attacked the Asianic prose style, and *Photius calls him a worthy disciple of *Thucydides (2) in expression. He may have voiced hostility toward the Ptolemies, from whom he may have fled.Less
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'The Baggage Claim' Will Begin Filming in Late July 2010 at Douglas Education Center
MONESSEN, PA., May 17, 2010 – On any ordinary day, walking into the The FACTORY Digital Filmmaking Program complex at Douglas Education Center (DEC) would be both exciting and imaginative - as students learn the building blocks to develop a positive career in filmmaking. These days the ambiance is absolutely electrifying as students and teachers gear up for this summer's "The Final Product" production.
Golden Globe-winner Irene Miracle (director of DAWNLAND: CHANGELING as well as an actress noted for such films as MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, Dario Argento's INFERNO and PUPPET MASTER) and students from The FACTORY Digital Filmmaking Program at DEC will team up to produce THE BAGGAGE CLAIM in late July 2010. The film is based on a screenplay by Tim Lucas, Saturn Award-winning writer/publisher of VIDEO WATCHDOG magazine, and the cult fiction favorites THROAT SPROCKETS, THE BOOK OF RENFIELD, and the epic biography MARIO BAVA – ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK. THE BAGGAGE CLAIM will be produced under the auspices of The Final Product - the last course students enrolled in The FACTORY Digital Filmmaking Program at DEC will take prior to graduation. "The Final Product exemplifies the Factory's philosophy of immersing students in a real world production situation by teaming them with working filmmakers on viable projects," said FACTORY director Robert Tinnell. Previous productions have been directed by Tom Savini, whose make-up effects school is part of Douglas Education Center, as well as by Tinnell, an industry veteran whose directing credits include FRANKENSTEIN AND ME and whose screenplay for THE LIVING AND THE DEAD will be directed by Brad Anderson in the coming year.
Irene Miracle is eager to begin collaboration with DEC. "What delights me about Robert Tinnell and The FACTORY Digital Filmmaking Program at Douglas Education Center is the feeling of being surrounded by an incredible number of like-minded poetic creators, and that together we're all aiming for the stars. That may explain why this little film we are planning will be so crowded with people, quick scene changes, and a heart beat that takes the world into a quick dance."
Screenwriter Tim Lucas notes, "I sat down and wrote THE BAGGAGE CLAIM in a single sitting, in longhand, hardly changing a word as I typed it up. Irene loved it, and when Robert Tinnell came aboard and we saw what was possible with his resources at DEC, we revised it together with an eye to those possibilities. It was one of the happiest writing experiences I've ever had."
Lucas goes on to say, "In some ways, THE BAGGAGE CLAIM is an opportunity for a group of artists experienced in horror to speak more warmly to our audience by sharing what we've learned about life and relationships by this point in our lives, while telling a story in an unmistakably fantastic vein."
DEC students enrolled in The FACTORY Digital Filmmaking Program will have a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a variety of positions during the creation of the digital production of THE BAGGAGE CLAIM. All aspects of filmmaking will be put to use while students work hand-in-hand with film industry professionals. Education and experience will be used in the field in a green screen environment.
"My students and I are thrilled to be working alongside this wonderful group of film professionals," said Robert Tinnell. "There is a tremendous need for students to have practical, hands-on film-making experience prior to graduating into the real world of professional filmmaking, and I am very pleased that DEC is creating an atmosphere where creativity and learning are one in the same in achieving that aim."
For more information, call 412-684-3684 or visit www.dec.edu.
Here's a link to the actual press release.


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The AVI1O/AVI2O class worked incredibly hard on their stipple animal pictures, more than any other class I've had. The first two pictures you see took up to fifteen hours of dotting to complete. A few are also incomplete, but I decided to post them anyway to give you an idea of what they can look like at different stages. Overall, these drawings show amazing possibilities with humble dots.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Grade 9-10 Stipple Animals
Posted by Ms. George-Easton at 9:49 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Grade 9-10 Faces Drawings
Posted by Ms. George-Easton at 3:24 PM 5 comments Links to this post
Grade 10 Conte Drawings
Our grade 10 class was asked for their first drawing assignment to find two images that would relate together (to create a diptych) and to use conte (a combination of chalk and crayon) as their medium. We're all pleased to see such great results from this new challenge.
Posted by Ms. George-Easton at 1:45 PM 0 comments Links to this post
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Welcome to the SuperLab 4.0 support forum. Please feel free to ask questions and share tips.
This forum is visited by a Cedrus staff member at least once a day. We cannot answer questions like "I need an experiment that does X". You are much more likely to get help if you get started on an experiment and then ask a specific question.
If you have feature suggestions and ideas on how we can improve SuperLab, please post them on the Product and Feature Suggestions forum.


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Reel World
Shootout + Early Bird = Dead Bird?--This summer, Albuquerque will play host to the 8th Annual Duke City Shootout. The idea of this script-to-screen film festival is to cast, shoot, edit and premiere a short film in just seven days. Organizers of this year's festival are currently beating the bushes looking for quality scripts of 12 minutes or less. If Duke City chooses your script, you'll get transportation to Albuquerque (not such a big deal for you locals) and help making your short film. The festival provides cast, crew, digital cameras, equipment, mentors and everything else needed to make your movie a reality. The early bird deadline for scripts is Monday, April 16. You can save five whole bucks on your entry fee if you submit your script by then. If you can't get it done in time, the final deadline is May 11. This year, prizes for the best completed films will include screenwriting courses valued up to $1,300 from Writer's Boot Camp and software from Movie Magic. The festival itself will take place July 20-28. For more information about submitting your hot little script for the Shootout, log on to www.dukecityshootout.com.
Film Review
The Hoax
It's good. Would I lie to you?
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Writers rarely make good subjects for film. They're too insulated, too self-centered and can rarely be considered men of action (Hemingway aside). Liars, on the other hand, are fine cinematic protagonists. Liars are interesting and complex and frequently quite outgoing. And when you think about it, there's a rather fine line between writing and lying. It's the job of writers--those penning fiction, anyway--to make things up. Consequently, people shouldn't be too shocked to find out that even journalists occasionally fabricate their stories. Tales of disgraced journalists like Janet Cooke, Jayson Blair and Stephen Glass should come as no surprise to readers who demand more and more sensational stories on their front pages.
Film Review
2007 Academy Award-Nominated Documentary Shorts
Short but sweet
It's not surprising to find that documentary filmmaking--covering concepts from penguins to politics--is in the midst of a major renaissance. Considering that 70 percent (charitably) of Hollywood features are poorly made, profit-minded pabulum (from conception to completion), documentaries represent America's last best chance of finding intelligent discourse, skillful cinematography and a near total absence of fart jokes. ... OK, so The Aristocrats might have slipped in one or two of those.
Idiot Box
Deal or No Deal?
Nets ax shows
Clear the decks, people, it's upfront season! In case you're unfamiliar with the term, it's that nerve-wracking time of year when the broadcast television networks start greenlighting pilots for the fall season, hammer out their schedules and decide what will and will not be returning in 2007-08.
Week in Sloth
The Week in Sloth
"Happy Birthday, Elton" (KASY-50 7 p.m.) MyNetworkTV tries to add a little star power, hosting a celebrity-interview-and-concert-footage-filled birthday salute to Elton John.
"30 Rock" (KOB-4 7:30 p.m.) NBC's increasingly funny sitcom returns with a guest appearance by Will Arnett, the former "Arrested Development" star who's currently adding laughs to Blades of Glory.
"Human Giant" (MTV 11:30 p.m.) It's hard to keep track of all the alterna sketch comedy hitting the airwaves these days. This quartet (Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer and Jason Woliner) specializes in super-short, no-budget skits and reality gags obviously inspired by Internet viral videos.


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Noah Wilson-Rich studies bees and the diseases that are depleting their colonies. He founded the Best Bees Company, a Boston based beekeeping service and research organization, has given a TED talk, and is now the author of The Bee: A Natural History, recently published by Princeton University Press. Today he shares with us the vital importance of urban beekeeping.
By Noah Wilson-Rich via blog.press.princeton.edu
Nearly a decade after the start of Colony Collapse Disorder (C.C.D.), a bizarre phenomenon whereby honey bees simply vanished from their hives across the United States during 2006-2011, bees are still dying at unsustainable rates today. Across the country, about one in every three hives does not survive the winter. Germany shares this alarming statistic across their apiaries. Bee deaths seem higher in areas with harsh winters and in areas with monoculture agriculture use – but lower death rates in cities. In Boston, urban bees not only survive the winter at higher rates, but they also produce more honey than beehives in surrounding suburban and rural environments.
Bees are vitally important creatures. We tend to give honey bees (Apis mellifera) all the credit for pollination because most people are familiar with the old man beekeeper working his white painted beehives image. Yet, honey bees are only one species of bee from about 20,000 total species worldwide. Their contributions span far past pollinating around 100 fruit and vegetable crops that we rely upon, and an estimated $100 billion to the global economy each year. Of the $15 billion that bees contribute to the United States economy annually, the alfalfa bee alone contributes an estimated $7 billion. The alfalfa bee! (Cattle rely on alfalfa for feed.) If the future of humanity is to involve nutritious food, then we must consider bees.
Regardless of what caused or ended C.C.D., or why bees are thriving in cities, the discovery of urban beekeeping as a safe haven for bees gives us hope. The post-C.C.D. world still has myriad dangers for bees; they are still dying. The three leading hypotheses for what's killing bees: 1) Diseases, 2) Chemicals (e.g., fungicides, pesticides, etc.), and 3) Habitat loss. The Typhoid Mary event for bees that opened the flood gates to a series of additive plagues was in 1987, when Varroa mites first came to the United States. In 1998, small hive beetles were added. In 2004, imported Australian honey bees brought with them Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus. In 2006, C.C.D. began. In 2013, the fungus Nosema ceranae became omnipresent in all 200 hives that my laboratory sampled. And we haven't even started on the pesticides, fungicides, and habitat loss yet.
Spring brings to light the brighter side of things. My beekeeping team was back out this year, tirelessly checking hives, maneuvering rooftop equipment on skyscrapers, trekking through waist-high snow drifts, looking for signs of life. One team returned to our Urban Beekeeping Laboratory and Bee Sanctuary in Boston's South End, reporting that 100% of the day's hives visited were alive. I assume they stayed around Boston or Cambridge that day, and my suspicion was right. The next day, another team of beekeepers returned from the field, their faces long trodden and forlorn, with only 1 out of 15 hives visited that day having survived the winter. I assumed they visited countryside beehives; I was right.
Policy makers are increasing their legislative actions to be more permissive for urban beehives, with beekeeping allowed in Seattle in 2008, New York City in 2010, Boston in 2014. San Francisco totally allows beekeeping unrestricted, while Denver limits to 2 hives in the rear 1/3 of a zone lot. Los Angeles is slated to be the next major metro area to allow beekeeping in residential areas. Even Washington, DC now has its first beehives at the White House grounds, in step with President Obama's 2014 memorandum, "Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators."
Urban beekeeping took flight in New York City in March of 2010. It was made illegal by the Giuliani administration in the 1990's, along with a list of dozens of prohibited animals. In the years since its legalization, the island of Manhattan became a pollinator haven. After my recent talk at the March 30, 2015 meeting of the New York City Beekeepers Association, local beekeepers asked if there were too many beehives in the city. Beekeepers in London talk about this, as well. Is there a saturation point, with too many beehives in the City? That's how common beekeeping is in New York and London. (One way to measure this is based on the Great Sunflower Project, whereby everyday citizens record the number of bees visiting a flower for 10 minutes each day, as a means of gathering data to measure pollinator abundance; this hasn't yet been done for cities.)
Los Angeles is the only major city in the United States with illegal beekeeping. The pesticide policy came into effect long ago, way before "killer bees" gave the non-aggressive bees a bad rap. Rather, policy makers received bad info, that bees attack fruit – and decided that the best way to preserve our crops was to ban the bees. We now understand pollination. We know that more bees actually lead to more fruits and vegetables. Yet the law of the land remains, and Angelinos must kill beehives upon site. The future for beekeepers in Los Angeles may be bright, however, with City Councilor Katie Peterson and other policy makers working to legalize beekeeping as soon as within the next few months.
Access to urban beekeeping is a social justice issue. It gives everyone access to local, healthy food. What's more is that is allows for a new avenue of corporate sustainability, with businesses opting to put beehives on their rooftops as a display of their commitment to the environment. For example, simply reusing a towel or having an herb garden on the rooftop is not necessarily enough these days for a hotel to rise to the top of the sustainability ranks. Beekeeping and pollinator protection are the next step for sustainability branding.
Urban beekeeping is happening across the globe, and it's a good thing. We should change laws to allow more of it to happen and also educate the public so they can also raise bees on their rooftops to allow for a more sustainable future for both humans and bees, alike.
Noah Wilson-Rich, Ph.D. is founder and chief scientific officer of The Best Bees Company, a Boston-based company. His latest book is THE BEE: A Natural History.
Read the introduction here, and take a peek inside here:


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Weiser Center signs collaboration agreement with Polish institute
The Ronald and Eileen Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia (WCEE) at the University of Michigan has signed a memorandum of understanding for academic cooperation with the Robert B. Zajonc Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at the University of Warsaw to promote collaboration in social science education and scientific research.
In recognition of the value of international collaboration, WCEE and ISS plan to foster joint research projects and exchange of academic publications and reports; organize joint symposia, workshops, and conferences; and develop opportunities for faculty development and exchange. The agreement was signed by ISS director Tomasz Zarycki and Anna Grzymala-Busse, director of WCEE and the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies. The agreement will go into effect in 2013-14.
The Ronald and Eileen Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia (WCEE) supports faculty and student research, teaching, collaboration, and public engagement in studying the institutions, cultures, and histories of these regions. WCEE is housed in the University of Michigan International Institute with the Center for European Studies (CES); the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREES); and the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies (WCED). Named in honor of Ronald and Eileen Weiser and inspired by their time in Slovakia during Ambassador Weiser's service as U.S. ambassador from 2001-04, WCEE began operations in September 2008.
The Robert B. Zajonc Institute of Social Studies (ISS) is an interdisciplinary research and teaching unit of the University of Warsaw; it was established in 1991. Its American founder was the University of Michigan social psychologist and former director of the Institute for Social Research, Robert Zajonc, after whom the institute is named. The main objectives of ISS are monitoring the social, political, and economic changes in society in Central and Eastern Europe; scientific exchange between researchers in Poland, Eastern European, the United States, and other Western countries; comparative analysis of different theoretical perspectives; and developing methods of data collection and processing.


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Kickstarting a love of learning for more students
3 July 2013
Ten projects across the University have received a total of $320,000 to encourage more students from diverse backgrounds to study at University and to support an inclusive and diverse learning environment.
One of the flagship projects to receive $50,000 in funding is being led by Dr Debra Shirley from the Faculty of Health Sciences.
"There are two aims for our project. Firstly, we want academic staff to consider different kinds of teaching activities when planning their content and assessments. We want the inclusive teaching practices to accommodate the needs of students from diverse backgrounds, such as students from non-English speaking and low socio-economic backgrounds. Teaching is not a one-size-fit all," Dr Shirley said.
"The second aim is to develop a resource package to improve health literacy in high school students from different backgrounds and create greater intercultural understanding. We hope this will encourage high school students from diverse backgrounds to think about studying health science at University."
The other two flagship grants of $50,000 have been awarded to:
- a project led by Dr Jennifer Rowley from the Division of Architecture and Creative Arts to help students develop careers in creative arts through tertiary study.
- Professor Alan Atkinson and Dr Tiffany Donnelly, who will lead a joint project between St Paul's College and the Women's College to help students get better access to residential colleges.
Following last year's success a number of projects have been awarded additional implementation grant funding to continue and expand.
Kickstart on the Road, led by Tom Gordon from the School of Physics, has received $25,000 to help fund another year of the outreach program which brings science to schools in regional New South Wales.
"We visited 19 schools last year from Broken Hill, to Port Macquarie and Dubbo. This year we have already visited 10 schools. We'll be seeing another five or so in Broken Hill this week and hopefully another 15 in Parkes and Wagga Wagga," Tom Gordon said.
"It is simply not an option for students from regional areas to make it to Sydney to our labs. Our demonstrators get a chance to talk to the students about their favourite topic - science. It's great because they act as mentors to the high school students."
Other projects receiving funding include:
- Dr Huw Griffiths from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to help build sustainable rural engagement in literature
- Associate Professor Michael McDonnell from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences for extension of their project from 2012 to build sustainable rural engagement in history
- Jessica Morris and Vanda Northwood from the Division of Natural Sciences to increase engagement with secondary school students and teachers in mathematics and science
- Associate Professor Jennifer Barrett from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to extend the implementation of the Undergraduate Study Hall, an innovative approach to student support developed in response to E12 enrolments
- Dr Sarah Lewis from the Faculty of Health Sciences, who has received renewed funding to lead the mentoring program Belong@FHS
- Dr Marie Stevenson from the Faculty of Education and Social Work, who will lead the project on Bridging Sociocultural Incongruity in the Undergraduate Education Curriculum (BIEC)
The University of Sydney launched the Widening Participation Grant program in 2011, as a joint initiative between the Social Inclusion Unit and the Institute for Teaching and Learning. The program is funded by the Commonwealth Government's Higher Education Participation and Partnerships program (HEPPP).
It is designed to address the University's strategic goal to attract promising students from a variety of backgrounds and to support an inclusive and diverse learning environment.
Now in its third year, the program is attracting support from faculties to ensure the projects continue on an ongoing basis and are integrated into faculty-based social inclusion plans.
Staff who are interested in social inclusion are welcome to join the Widening Participation Scholars Network for information on projects, future grants and professional development opportunities.


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Because of
Online Bible Study
Max Lucado
Enroll now in our FREE Because of Bethlehem Online Bible Study with Max Lucado!
Make your Christmas mean more... with this four-week Advent study!
Advent is a season of preparation because it is also a season of anticipation— a glorious gift is coming soon and we want to be ready to receive it! Join NY Times #1 best-selling author and beloved pastor Max Lucado in this four-week online Bible study and discover the enduring promises of Christmas and a lifetime of hope because of one baby born in Bethlehem.
Our study will launch on Sunday, November 25th, and conclude on Saturday, December 22nd! Like each of our online Bible studies, the study is free…our gift to you, plus you can participate at your own pace, watch the videos when you want, and work this study into your schedule (even watch in your pajamas!).
When you register today you will get access to all four of the weekly video segments with Max (each just 14-18 minutes in length because we know your Christmas is busy!)... plus some free goodies (see below), since it's Christmas!
Sign up TODAY to receive the FREE BONUS downloads:
"Let Your Light Shine" Advent Toolkit
and 25 Days of Christmas ScripturesYes! I want access to the videos
Free Resources for this Study when you enroll!
- FREE access to 4 weekly online study video segments with Max Lucado
- FREE session 1 of the Because of Bethlehem Study Guide
- FREE excerpt of chapters 1-2 of the best-selling Because of Bethlehem book
- FREE "Let Your Light Shine" Advent toolkit
- 25 Scriptures for Daily Advent readings - FREE Printable
4 Reasons to Sign Up
- You long to make Christmas mean more– more than just the parties and food and gifts – and don't want to get lost in the busyness and pressures of the season.
- You want to share the Christ of Christmas with friends and family. This study seems like the perfect opportunity to open the door to conversations with others about Jesus!
- You need encouragement. Christmas this year is a season of sadness, lost hope, and disappointment, and you're looking for community and a place to express your feelings and find prayer partners.
- You love Advent, and look forward to it as a time to spend in reflection and prayer to prepare yourself spiritually for Christmas. This study will help you deepen your spiritual practice in the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
About the Because of Bethlehem Study
A remarkable gift can arrive in an unremarkable package. One did in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. No one expected God to come the way he did. Yet the way he came was every bit as important as the coming itself. The manger is the message. In this four-session online video study, Max Lucado will help YOU explore how the One who made everything chose to make himself nothing for us. He experienced hunger and thirst. He went through the stages of human development. He was taught to walk, stand, and wash his face. He was completely and genuinely human. Because of Bethlehem, we no longer have marks on our record… just grace. We have the promise that God is always near us, always for us, always within us—and that we have a friend and Savior in heaven. Long after the guests have left, the carolers have gone home, and the lights have come down, these promises endure.
The Because of Bethlehem Study includes video discussion questions, Bible exploration, and personal study and reflection materials for the Advent season.
This study is just four weeks long and the videos with Max will be available week-by-week for FREE on our website
(we'll even send you a short email each week to remind you to view that week's segment)
- Week One (Nov 25 - Dec 1): God Has a Face
- Week Two (Dec 2 - Dec 8): Worship Works Wonders
- Week Three (Dec 9 - Dec 15): God Guides the Wise
- Week Four (Dec 16 - Dec 22): Every Heart a Manger
Meet Your Bible Study Teacher: Max Lucado
Max Lucado is a preacher with a storyteller's gift — a pastor's heart and a poet's pen.
Max's message is simple: God loves you; let him. Max serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he has been on staff since 1988. He preaches and writes to the hurting, the guilty, the lonely, the discouraged.
That message has traveled around the world in more than 54 languages via more than 120 million individual products. Most of these products are books (92 million), which have occupied spots on every major national bestseller list. Over the years Max Lucado has been featured in countless national media outlets, dubbed "America's Pastor" by Reader's Digest, and named one of the most influential leaders in social media by The New York Times.
Because of Bethlehem is his latest book and video Bible study on the blessed Christmas season.


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Tracking the fall of governments around the world in the wake of global economic crisis
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What happened in Greensboro, North Carolina on February 1, 1960, took even John Lewis by surprise. In his memoir, Walking With the Wind, the future civil rights icon (whose most intense days at the head of the movement were yet ahead of him as that decade began) recounted the episode:
There were four guys in Greensboro, all of them freshman at North Carolina A&T College. They had no plan, no preparation. One of them had read that FOR comic book about King and Montgomery, they had begun talking about the process of nonviolent action, and on this particular afternoon they simply decided it was time for them to do something.
Which they did, taking four seats late that day at the whites-only lunch counter of Greensboro's downtown Woolworth's store and touching off what would come to be called the sit-in movement across the South. It happened so spontaneously, so suddenly, that the next morning's newspapers contained no accounts of the incident.
One of those brave students was Franklin McCain, who died Thursday at the age of 73. In its obituary Friday, the Charlotte Observer recounted this story, which offers some insight into McCain's motivations:
In an Observer story in 2010, on the 50th anniversary of the sit-in, McCain said he had been told by his parents and grandparents that if they followed the Bill of Rights, Constitution and Ten Commandments, and if they worked hard and helped others, they had a good chance of success. "The system still betrayed us," McCain said. "I considered myself as part of the big lie. All four of us did."
And the University of North Carolina at Greensboro has available an old audio interview with McCain and one of his fellow protestors, Jibreel Khazan, who offered this nuance about the events of those days:
It was really designed to be carried out at the Woolworth lunch counter originally. But I remember Frank making a statement as the protest developed during the week. We didn't want to put the world on fire, we just wanted to eat. But behind it, we, I feel, did have the idea that this would catch on. We were hoping it would catch on and it would spread throughout the country, but it went even beyond our wildest imagination.
After he helped integrate the nation's lunch counters, after he helped spark the civil rights revolution of the 1960s, after he and his friends acted while others were still only pondering whether they should act, McCain dutifully completed his undergraduate work with a degree in chemistry and biology and spent three decades working as a chemist and raising a family in Charlotte. And, blessedly, he lived long enough to see the state that once had segregated him honor him.
There are several excellent pieces online about this man's life and times and at least a few nice tributes to him in death. The best by far comes from NPR in a piece put together Friday morning by Mark Memmott. NPR, in turn, cites the work of its local affiliate, WUNC, which offers an audio recollection by McCain on the events of that fateful day. Please do check out those links but here is the heart of the story:
On February 1, 1960 McCain and his classmates walked into the store, purchased some items and then walked over to the segregated counter. McCain recalls:
Fifteen seconds after I sat on that stool, I had the most wonderful feeling. I had a feeling of liberation, restored manhood; I had a natural high. And I truly felt almost invincible.
He hadn't even asked for service. When McCain and the others did they were denied. A manager told them they weren't welcome, a police officer patted his hand with his night stick. The tension grew but it never turned violent.
As McCain and the others continued to sit at the counter, an older white woman who had been observing the scene walked up behind him:
And she whispered in a calm voice, 'boys, I'm so proud of you'.
McCain says he was stunned:
What I learned from that little incident was don't you ever, ever stereotype anybody in this life until you at least experience them and have the opportunity to talk to them.
Woolworth's closed early and the four men returned to campus with empty stomachs and no idea about what they had just started. The next day another 20 students joined them and 300 came out by the end of the week. Word of the sit-ins spread by newspapers and demonstrations began in Winston-Salem, Durham, Asheville and Wilmington; within 2 months of the initial sit-in, 54 cities in nine different states had movements of their own. The Greensboro lunch counter desegregated six months later.
McCain and his three colleagues were heroes in the old-fashioned, soldier's sense of the word: Sick of their situation, unwilling any longer to tolerate it, fearing the cost of inaction less than the cost of action, they stood up and went over the top, out into battle.
Rep. Lewis offered this tribute late Friday: "Franklin McCain was one of the founders of a New America, a nation that was transformed because he lived. Every citizen of this country owes him a debt of gratitude because he insisted that we create a more fair, more just democracy. We are a better people and a better country because Franklin McCain lived."
Rev. William Barber II, President of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP offered this: "Like the Hebrew boys of the scriptures, Franklin McCain and his colleagues walked into the fire of hate, racism, and legalized segregation. They walked in and sat down. But the fire didn't consume them. Instead they transformed the fire. They turned it into the light of freedom. They lit a fire in the hearts of other youth across the nation for justice and freedom."
Anita Earls, executive director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, offered this: "We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Franklin McCain. He was a beacon of courage and hope for many of us in the civil rights community in Charlotte over the years, and an inspiration to generations of civil rights activists. He will be keenly missed but his spirit will live on in our hearts."
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Not all Christmas trees are created equal. Some are fresh and fragrant, others are dry and brittle. Some are meticulously decorated while others are adorned with a beautiful miss-mash of ornaments. And then there are those pitiful and puny trees, whether a household plant or a branch propped up in the corner and topped with a star. Thanks to the 1965 TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas and the thoughtful character Linus who lovingly wraps his friend Charlie's tree with a blue blanket, we know that even the littlest tree can give off a whole lot of holiday spirit.
Last week, we invited readers to send in images of their Charlie Brown Christmas trees. Here's a look at those photos along with some pics contributed by readers in year's past.
Photo: athorsen


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Argument from degree
The argument from degree is based the comparison of objects allegedly requiring extreme examples as a basis for a comparison.
As formulated by Thomas Aquinas, the argument, also known as Aquinas' fourth way, is stated as follows:
"We notice that things in the world differ. There are degrees of, say, goodness or perfection. But we judge these degrees only by comparison with a maximum. Humans can be both good and bad, so the maximum goodness cannot rest in us. Therefore there must be some other maximum to set the standard for perfection, and we call that maximum God."
- — Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, 2006, pp, 78-79, excerpted in Why There Is No God, The Times, Oct. 31, 2006
"if these degrees of perfection pertain to being and being is caused in finite creatures, then there must exist a "best," a source and real standard of all the perfections that we recognize belong to us as beings. This absolutely perfect being—the "Being of all beings," "the Perfection of all perfections"—is God."
- — Strange Notions, Argument from Degrees of Perfection [1]
Dawkins replies:
"That's an argument? You might as well say, people vary in smelliness but we can make the comparison only by reference to a perfect maximum of conceivable smelliness. Therefore there must exist a pre-eminently peerless stinker, and we call him God. Or substitute any dimension of comparison you like, and derive an equally fatuous conclusion."
- — Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, 2006, p. 79
The Argument From Goodness[edit]
The argument from goodness is a special case of the argument from degree. In his Summa Theologica, Aquinas writes:
"The fourth way is taken from the gradation to be found in things. Among beings there are some more and some less good, true, noble and the like. But "more" and "less" are predicated of different things, according as they resemble in their different ways something which is the maximum, as a thing is said to be hotter according as it more nearly resembles that which is hottest; so that there is something which is truest, something best, something noblest and, consequently, something which is uttermost being; for those things that are greatest in truth are greatest in being, as it is written in Metaph. ii. Now the maximum in any genus is the cause of all in that genus; as fire, which is the maximum heat, is the cause of all hot things. Therefore there must also be something which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness, and every other perfection; and this we call God."
- — Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, question 1, article 3, objection 2
Counter arguments[edit]
"More" and "less" are not based on comparison to extreme limits[edit]
The concepts of "more" and "less" are not based on comparing things to extreme cases. By saying, "as fire, which is the maximum heat", Aquinas scuttles his own argument: fusion reactions, which power stars (including the sun) are much hotter than fire. Aquinas, of course, did not know this, and therefore could not have based his idea of heat on the "maximum heat". Heat is defined in terms of energy and movement of atoms. Even though there is no known upper limit to heat, this does not make heat a meaningless concept.
There is no guarantee that a maximum is even logically possible, as in the cases of length or magnitude. We can tell which of two objects is longer or bigger, not by comparing to the maximum length (which would be infinite), but in the mathematical way of seeing which has leftover length when the one is taken from the other. When we compare, we are not seeing which is closer to an extreme, but rather which is in excess of the other: we take one as standard, and see if the other is above or below that standard.
Likewise, we can know what "goodness" and "perfection" (in Aquinas's sense) mean by comparing people and actions to each other subjectively, and not to some superlative standard of goodness and perfection.
No concrete examples of perfection exist[edit]
An abstract standard of perfection can be useful without having concrete existence. For instance, we can mathematically define a perfect circle and use that as the standard for roundness. However, it is impossible to draw a perfect circle, and thus a perfect circle cannot exist. Similarly, the fact that we can imagine a perfectly good being in no way implies that that being actually exists.
Argument from ignorance[edit]
Furthermore, the "and this we call God" part might as well say, "and this we call Bob." The argument is creating a definition of a "maximally good" thing, and then giving it a name Thomas Aquinas likes. However, a "maximally good" being is not what most people call "God", so the conclusion is not proof of a god, it's merely a biased choice of a name given to a particular definition of a thing for which no evidence is given that it even exists. It's basically an attempt to define God into existence by an argument from ignorance and proof by logic.
Which God?[edit]
- Main Article: Which God?
Also, there's no reason the argument can't be applied with evil instead of (arbitrarily) good: "there is evil in the world, and the fact that we can perceive different standards of evil means there must be some maximal exponent of evil, and we call this supreme evil God."
Finally, even if we ignore all of the other flaws of the argument, it doesn't tell us which god is the real one. (Though, if the definition in the argument is strictly followed, it does allow us to rule out any gods that are not maximally good, such as those that would drown out nearly everyone on the planet.)
See also[edit]
- Ontological argument
- Argument from the origin of the idea of God which claims the concept of God can only be caused by God.


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Engineering and Codes » Code Education Resources
Welcome to the Code Education Resources section of the Engineering and Codes Division.
Use the menu on the left side of this page to find what you need or choose another category
STUDENT RESOURCES - The menu item on the left takes the user to a link for all Standard and Continuing Education Courses that have been scheduled by approved Sponsors. This menu item also provides Standard Course supplemental educational materials for the NC Energy Conservation Code - required knowledge for the course and state exams.
NCCOQB APPROVED SPONSORS - The menu item on the left takes the user to links for various CE courses that are available online for credit toward annual certification renewal requirements.
NC CODE PICTOGRAPHY – The presentation in this link provides a pictorial overview of the history of the North Caroline State Building Codes. It is provided as a resource for developing your own specific presentations. You may modified or copy the presentation as needed. The presentation is in PowerPoint format.


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Director Marc Webb's spun his Spider-Man tale. He's just waiting to see if audiences get caught up in it.
The onetime music video helmer so impressed filmgoers, critics and – importantly – studio executives alike with his 2009 indie romance "500 Days of Summer" that he was tapped by Columbia Pictures to lead the creative charge in retooling its lucrative Spider-Man film franchise, based on the Marvel Comics' friendly neighborhood wall-crawler.
With "The Amazing Spider-Man," the 37-year-old director attempts both to reset and jumpstart the property just a decade after the first film, recasting Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) as a more angst-ridden character, reintroducing Spidey's original comic book love interest Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) and building much of the film's foundation around the heretofore unexplained absence of Peter's birth parents.
U.S. & World
As the film hits theaters, Webb tells PopcornBiz about when Spider-Man first captured his attention, how he got crucial insight from famed Spidey comic creators, why Gwen was the right girl for his film and how he hopes he's built a foundation for more cinematic web-slinging to come.
Can you remember your very first entry point into the world of Spider-Man?
It was probably before I had read a comic book. I think I'd just seen him on TV, or seen the image somewhere. I think as a kid you see this really cool suit – It's red and blue and colorful. It feels friendly. He's kind of a good-natured creature that can do amazing things. Then when you realize that there's a kid inside of that suit, it makes you feel empowered. Everyone wants to put on the mask and become something magnificent.
Did you ever have an opportunity to sit down and talk to Spidey's creator Stan Lee?
The very first thing that I did when I got the job was get Stan Lee's number, and I asked him out to lunch. The first thing that Stan said was, "Let's talk about my cameo!" So from the outset that's kind of the relationship that I've had with him, but he's been a real great supporter. It goes beyond him being a genius. He just understands something, or he has an ability to conjure – Stan and [artist] Steve Ditko in this case – a character that's really transcendent.
Brian Bendis did a job similar to yours in the comics when he reinvented and modernized Peter Parker for "Ultimate Spider-Man." He's a key consultant to Marvel Studios now – did you talk to him at all?
Yeah, I talked to Brian Bendis very early on. We talked about some of the nature of the relationships between Peter Parker and his peers. Brian was really valuable in encouraging me, and there are certain moments in the film that really came directly from conversations with Brian about how he viewed the character, how he felt the character would act in a contemporary environment. I think he understood the idea of the reboot. Listen, there's been so many writers and so many illustrators along the way that have reinvented or rediscovered "Spider-Man" that it felt like there was a great precedent for it.
What led you to tap into an angst-ier side of Peter Parker for your film?
When I look back at the comics that I loved, there was an attitude about Peter Parker. He has a little bit of that sarcastic wit, which I thought was so provocative and so fun to read. Really, I went back and I thought about the character and tried to build the character from the ground up, and I thought, "Well, what are the big moments in his life that really defined his character?" I kept on coming back to a single event that hadn't been explored cinematically before, and it's more significant than a spider bite, in my opinion. It's him getting left behind by his parents when he's six or seven years old. That would have a magnificent, huge impact on anybody. When that happens, it informs not only the narrative, but the inflection of the character.
He's got this chip on his shoulder. Anybody who's left behind like that is going to have a problem with authority. They're not going to trust authority figures because authority figures have let them down. I felt like that was a really interesting side of the character, and it was a way for me to access that humor and that sarcastic wit that happens when he puts on the mask early on. But the other thing is that he has a heroic impulse from the very beginning. He just can't act on it physically, and he has an empathy for the underdog. That's the part of the character that I really adored and wanted to explore.
Andrew Garfield seems to be very serious in his role as a custodian of Spider-Man, a character he's loved since he was a child. Were you two always in lockstep with your view on the character?
I think what Andrew did, he brought a lot of himself to it and his love for the character. That came through in a lot of different ways. For one thing, physically. He looked a lot like, I think, the Mark Bagley art in "Ultimate Spider-Man" in terms of the physicality. There's a lithe, sort of adolescent quality of that, the way his elbows work and the way his fingers work and the really expressive agility of the art work, I think, was really fantastic. But then there are the parts of Peter Parker, like the skateboarding, that's very much from Andrew. I like it when actors take possession of a character. They have to. I've rarely seen that level of commitment in any actor, especially with one like Peter Parker.
Gwen Stacy is known a little bit more for her ultimate fate than her character attributes, while Mary Jane over the years has become Spider-Man's seemingly destined love interest. What made you gravitate towards Gwen?
In "The Ultimate Spider-Man" we see Gwen Stacy a little bit different, and I went back to look at [early] "The Amazing Spider-Man" [comics] to conjure the image of Gwen, but I thought that there was some real fun to be played with Gwen Stacy in terms of their dynamic. I also think that Gwen Stacy is different from Mary Jane in that Gwen Stacy fell in love with Peter Parker and not with Spider-Man. Mary Jane was sort of smitten by Spider-Man, by like, "Oh, who is this guy?" She kisses Spider-Man for the first time and not Peter Parker. This is a very different dynamic, and it sets off something that I think is really quite profound.
As director you must've prayed to find the type of chemistry that Andrew and Emma have onscreen. Did it get even better than you expected as they got to know each other in the shooting of the film?
Yeah. Listen, we screen-tested them together, and it was pretty obvious. They didn't know each other. They just had something kind of great. I don't know how to define it. They brought something in each other out, and I remember from that first screen test. Not only onscreen were they great, but in between takes you'd seem them laughing and making each other laugh. They got along really well, and it translated. I remember there was a very specific moment in the hallway where he's asking her out for the first time. They were both really loose and I wanted to give them the space to improvise or whatever, and it just became this very genuine moment, one that you would get in small movie, I think, where you had the flexibility and the commitment to spontaneity that you don't often get in big movies. I felt like that was really important to protect. I just lucked out.


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It's no real surprise that the splendid Billy Miller is out as Billy Abbott on CBS's The Young and the Restless. Reports have been circulating over the past few days that the Emmy-winning actor was in prickly talks to re-up his contract and, as many expected, no agreement could be reached. But whoda guessed things would end this way? In a startling move, execs at Y&R have decided to replace Miller with David Tom, who won raves in the role from 1999 to 2002 — widely considered the soap's last truly golden era. Like, Miller, Tom was awarded a Daytime Emmy for playing Billy.
A Y&R rep tells TV Guide Magazine that "the show wanted Billy Miller to stay and worked hard to make that happen but we are going in another direction now. We are very excited to have David Tom back in the role. Not only is he a terrific actor, it will give us an opportunity to dig into our archives and use some of those great old Glow by Jabot flashbacks." Adds the rep: "We say a big thank you to Billy Miller and wish him well in all his future endeavors."
Miller, now in the middle of a major plot involving the hit-and-run death of Billy Abbott's daughter, will continue shooting at Y&R until Dec. 19. He will last be seen on the show Jan. 30. Tom, brother of The Bold and the Beautiful's Heather Tom (Katie), is scheduled to hit the air Feb. 3.


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No one enters because they might not come out.
My 2nd bedroom is scarrrrryyyyyyyy. And I am only a little bit ashamed about it.....okay, it does drive me crazy at times.
It is my project every Christmas and summer.
Since I have ZERO storage in my classroom, this is where my other teacher things breed and multiply.
I found a few things I wanted to share with you.
After Christmas, we start Readers Theater with my higher reading groups. I love the story of The 3 Little Pigs because I love my Mr. Wolf. Isn't he stinkin' cute??!!!???


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Chinese Traditional Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) originated in ancient China and has evolved over thousands of years. TCM practitioners use herbal medicines and various mind and body practices, such as acupuncture and tai chi, to treat or prevent health problems. In the United States, people use TCM primarily as a complementary health approach. This fact sheet provides a general overview of TCM and suggests sources for additional information.
Key Points
Is It Safe?
§ Acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by an experienced practitioner using sterile needles. Improperly performed acupuncture can cause potentially serious side effects.
§ Tai chi and qi gong, two mind and body practices used in TCM, are generally safe.
§ There have been reports of Chinese herbal products being contaminated with drugs, toxins, or heavy metals or not containing the listed ingredients. Some of the herbs used in Chinese medicine can interact with drugs, have serious side effects, or be unsafe for people with certain medical conditions.
Is It Effective?
§ For most conditions, there is not enough rigorous scientific evidence to know whether TCM methods work for the conditions for which they are used.
Keep in Mind
§ Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
TCM encompasses many different practices, including acupuncture, moxibustion (burning an herb above the skin to apply heat to acupuncture points), Chinese herbal medicine, tui na (Chinese therapeutic massage), dietary therapy, and tai chi and qi gong (practices that combine specific movements or postures, coordinated breathing, and mental focus). TCM is rooted in the ancient philosophy of Taoism and dates back more than 2,500 years. Traditional systems of medicine also exist in other East and South Asian countries, including Japan (where the traditional herbal medicine is called Kampo) and Korea. Some of these systems have been influenced by TCM and are similar to it in some ways, but each has developed distinctive features of its own.
Although the exact number of people who use TCM in the United States is unknown, it was estimated in 1997 that some 10,000 practitioners served more than 1 million patients each year. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which included a comprehensive survey on the use of complementary health approaches by Americans, an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the previous year. The number of visits to acupuncturists tripled between 1997 and 2007. According to the 2007 NHIS, about 2.3 million Americans practiced tai chi and 600,000 practiced qi gong in the previous year.
This fact sheet focuses on TCM as a whole. For information about some of the individual practices included in TCM, see the pages on acupuncture, tai chi, and qi gong on the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) Web site. Some of the individual herbs used in TCM are discussed in NCCIH's Herbs at a Glance fact sheets.
Side Effects and Risks
§ Herbal medicines used in TCM are sometimes marketed in the United States as dietary supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for dietary supplements are not the same as those for prescription or over-the-counter drugs; in general, the regulations for dietary supplements are less stringent. For example, manufacturers don't have to prove to the FDA that most claims made for dietary supplements are valid; if the product were a drug, they would have to provide proof.
§ Some Chinese herbal products may be safe, but others may not be. There have been reports of products being contaminated with drugs, toxins, or heavy metals or not containing the listed ingredients. Some of the herbs used in Chinese medicine can interact with drugs, can have serious side effects, or may be unsafe for people with certain medical conditions. For example, the Chinese herb ephedra (ma huang) has been linked to serious health complications, including heart attack and stroke. In 2004, the FDA banned the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements, but the ban does not apply to TCM remedies.
§ The FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices and requires that the needles be sterile, nontoxic, and labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only. Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported. However, adverse effects—some of them serious—have resulted from the use of nonsterile needles or improper delivery of acupuncture treatments.
§ Tai chi and qi gong are considered to be generally safe practices.
§ Information on the safety of other TCM methods is limited. Reported complications of moxibustion include allergic reactions, burns, and infections, but how often these events occur is not known. Both moxibustion and cupping (applying a heated cup to the skin to create a slight suction) may mark the skin, usually temporarily. The origin of these marks should be explained to health care providers so that they will not be mistaken for signs of disease or physical abuse.
Underlying Concepts
When thinking about ancient medical systems such as TCM, it is important to separate questions about traditional theories and concepts of health and wellness from questions about whether specific interventions might be helpful in the context of modern science-based medicine and health promotion practices.
The ancient beliefs on which TCM is based include the following:
§ The human body is a miniature version of the larger, surrounding universe.
§ Harmony between two opposing yet complementary forces, called yin and yang, supports health, and disease results from an imbalance between these forces.
§ Five elements—fire, earth, wood, metal, and water—symbolically represent all phenomena, including the stages of human life, and explain the functioning of the body and how it changes during disease.
§ Qi, a vital energy that flows through the body, performs multiple functions in maintaining health.
Concepts such as these are of interest in understanding the history of TCM. However, NCCIH-supported research on TCM does not focus on these ideas. Instead, it examines specific TCM practices from a scientific perspective, looking at their effects in the body and whether the practices are helpful in symptom management.
TCM practitioners use a variety of techniques in an effort to promote health and treat disease. In the United States, the most commonly used approaches include Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and tai chi.
§ Chinese herbal medicine. The Chinese Materia Medica (a pharmacological reference book used by TCM practitioners) describes thousands of medicinal substances—primarily plants, but also some minerals and animal products. Different parts of plants, such as the leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds, are used. In TCM, herbs are often combined in formulas and given as teas, capsules, liquid extracts, granules, or powders.
§ Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a family of procedures involving the stimulation of specific points on the body using a variety of techniques. The acupuncture technique that has been most often studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metal needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
§ Tai chi. Tai chi is a centuries-old mind and body practice. It involves gentle, dance-like body movements with mental focus, breathing, and relaxation.
The Status of TCM Research
In spite of the widespread use of TCM in China and its use in the West, rigorous scientific evidence of its effectiveness is limited. TCM can be difficult for researchers to study because its treatments are often complex and are based on ideas very different from those of modern Western medicine.
Most research studies on TCM have focused on specific techniques, primarily acupuncture and Chinese herbal remedies, and there have been many systematic reviews of studies of TCM approaches for various conditions.
§ An assessment of the research found that 41 of 70 systematic reviews of the scientific evidence (including 19 of 26 reviews on acupuncture for a variety of conditions and 22 of 42 reviews on Chinese herbal medicine) were unable to reach conclusions about whether the technique worked for the condition under investigation because there was not enough good-quality evidence. The other 29 systematic reviews (including 7 of 26 reviews on acupuncture and 20 of 42 reviews on Chinese herbal medicine) suggested possible benefits but could not reach definite conclusions because of the small quantity or poor quality of the studies.
§ In a 2012 analysis that combined data on individual participants in 29 studies of acupuncture for pain, patients who received acupuncture for back or neck pain, osteoarthritis, or chronic headache had better pain relief than those who did not receive acupuncture. However, in the same analysis, when actual acupuncture was compared with simulated acupuncture (a sham procedure that resembles acupuncture but in which the needles do not penetrate the skin or penetrate it only slightly), the difference in pain relief between the two treatments was much smaller—so small that it may not have been meaningful to patients.
§ Tai chi has not been investigated as extensively as acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine, but recent studies, including some supported by NCCIH, suggest that practicing tai chi may help to improve balance and stability in people with Parkinson's disease; reduce pain from knee osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia; and promote quality of life and mood in people with heart failure.
If You Are Thinking About Using TCM
§ Do not use TCM to replace effective conventional care or as a reason to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.
§ Look for published research studies on TCM for the health condition that interests you.
§ It is better to use TCM herbal remedies under the supervision of your health care provider or a professional trained in herbal medicine than to try to treat yourself.
§ Ask about the training and experience of the TCM practitioner you are considering. You can find information about the credentials and licensing of complementary health practitioners on the NCCIH Web site.
§ If you are pregnant or nursing, or are thinking of using TCM to treat a child, you should be especially sure to consult your (or the child's) health care provider.
§ Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
For More Information
Panacea HealthCare System & Research Center
PHCS & RC provides information on complementary and integrative health approaches, including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature.
A service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed® contains publication information and (in most cases) brief summaries of articles from scientific and medical journals. For guidance from NCCIH on using PubMed, see How To Find Information About Complementary Health Approaches on PubMed.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews is a collection of evidence-based reviews produced by the Cochrane Library, an international nonprofit organization. The reviews summarize the results of clinical trials on health care interventions. Summaries are free; full-text reviews are by subscription only.
www.cochranelibrary.com(link is external)
NIH Clinical Research Trials and You
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created a website, NIH Clinical Research Trials and You, to help people learn about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate. The site includes questions and answers about clinical trials, guidance on how to find clinical trials through ClinicalTrials.gov and other resources, and stories about the personal experiences of clinical trial participants. Clinical trials are necessary to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.
Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures & Results (RePORTER)
RePORTER is a database of information on federally funded scientific and medical research projects being conducted at research institutions.
Key References
- Birdee GS, Wayne PM, Davis RB, et al. T'ai chi and qigong for health: patterns of use in the United States. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2009;15(9):969–973.
- Chan E, Tan M, Xin J, et al. Interactions between traditional Chinese medicines and Western therapeutics. Current Opinion in Drug Discovery & Development. 2010;13(1):50–65.
- Kaptchuk TJ. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine.2nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2000.
- Ko RJ. A U.S. perspective on the adverse reactions from traditional Chinese medicines. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association. 2004;67(3):109–116.
- Li CG, Moyle K, Xue CC. Problems and challenges of Chinese herbal medicine. In: Leung P-C, Xue CC, Cheng Y-C, eds. A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Medicine. River Edge, NJ: World Scientific Publishing Co.; 2003.
- Manheimer E, Wieland S, Kimbrough E, et al. Evidence from the Cochrane Collaboration for traditional Chinese medicine therapies. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2009;15(9):1001–1014.
- OBrien KA, Xue CC. The theoretical framework of Chinese medicine. In: Leung PC, Xue CC, Cheng YC, eds. A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Medicine. River Edge, NJ: World Scientific Publishing Co.; 2003.
- Vickers AJ, Cronin AM, Maschino AC, et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: individual patient data meta-analysis. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2012;172(19):1444–1453.
- Xue CC, OBrien KA. Modalities of Chinese medicine. In: Leung PC, Xue CC, Cheng YC, eds. A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Medicine. River Edge, NJ: World Scientific Publishing Co.; 2003.
Panacea thanks the NCCIH & following people for their technical expertise and review of the update of this publication: Adam Burke, Ph.D., M.P.H., L.Ac., San Francisco State University; Ted Kaptchuk, O.M.D., Harvard Medical School; Lixing Lao, M.D., Ph.D., L.Ac., University of Maryland Medical Center; and Wendy Weber, N.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., and John (Jack) Killen, Jr., M.D., NCCIH.
Panacea has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider(s). We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by Panacea.