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Colonic Volvulus
Sean C. Glasgow, MD, FACS
San Antonio Military Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston, TX
Volvulus involves a twisting of any hollow viscus and can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract. In the colon, volvulus can lead to obstruction and sometimes ischemia and perforation. Progressive proximal bowel distension occurs as a result of the obstruction, while gas distension of the closed loop increases intraluminal pressure over venous pressure leading to vascular congestion and eventual ischemia. Twisting of the mesenteric vessels can also produce arterial insufficiency and venous thrombosis. Ischemia affects the mucosa initially but can progress to full-thickness necrosis and perforation. The most common anatomic locations for volvulus in the colon are the non-fixed regions, specifically the cecum, sigmoid and occasionally transverse portions.
By definition a sigmoid volvulus arises due to rotation around the mesentery (meso-axial), and it occurs in a counter-clockwise direction in 70% of patients. In order to volvulize, the sigmoid colon must be freely mobile and not tethered by peritoneal attachments, and the mesentery must be of sufficient length to permit at least 180 degrees of rotation. Additionally, the mesosigmoid root must be disproportionately narrow relative to the mesenteric length. In case-control studies, the ratio of mesenteric root width to overall length is the strongest anatomic predictor for volvulus. However, it is unclear whether this dolichomesocolic arrangement is congenital or acquired.
In support of a congenital etiology are the strong male predominance in endemic regions of the world and the persistently elevated incidence of volvulus among settlers who originate from those areas. However, sigmoid volvulus is very rare in children and young adults despite the presence of a relatively floppy colon during these ages, suggesting that other factors besides congenital colonic mobility are involved. In non-endemic areas of the world, chronic constipation is a strongly correlated risk factor. The increased fecal load is believed to dilate the sigmoid lumen and produce elongation of the mesentery. Likewise, in endemic regions, large amounts of dietary fiber prevent constipation but this undigested fiber may result in excessively bulky stools. Higher incidence is also observed after periods of fasting, with more cases of volvulus observed following bountiful harvests or the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ultimately, a cause-and-effect relationship between chronic constipation, excessive fecal burden and sigmoid volvulus is difficult to discern.
Other predisposing factors for sigmoid volvulus include various causes of megacolon. Congenital colonic aganglionosis (Hirschsprung's disease) occasionally can produce the rare volvulus in children. In Brazil, trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) causes degeneration of the myenteric neuronal plexus, chronic aperistalsis, and a reported incidence of volvulus approximating 27% of those infected. There also is some association between sigmoid volvulus and higher elevations. The lower atmospheric pressure at elevation creates an increased gradient relative to endoluminal pressure that may result in colonic distension. However this does not explain the male predilection in these regions. Others have hypothesized that the wider female pelvis permits more frequent spontaneous detorsion of the volvulus. Supporting this concept is the finding that sigmoid volvulus is the second most common cause of intestinal obstruction during pregnancy, and that the majority of these occur during the third trimester when the gravid uterus fills the pelvis.
Cecal volvulus results from either meso-axial or organo-axial rotation. When meso-axial, the rotation is typically around the ileocolic vessels, creating a volvulus comprised of ascending colon and terminal ileum, not just the cecum. Organo-axial rotation causes the cecal bascule, in which the cecum is flipped anteriorly over the ascending colon to produce obstruction at the ileocecal valve and a closed looped of proximal ascending colon. The major risk factor for either type of cecal volvulus is lack of peritonealization of the right colon, typically due to mobilization during prior abdominal or pelvic surgery. Other forms of colonic volvulus include ileo-sigmoid knotting, transverse colon volvulus and post-resection volvulus around an anastomosis. These comprise <1% of all cases.
Although colonic volvulus is infrequent in North American and European populations, it accounts for the majority (up to 80%) of large bowel obstructions in certain areas of the world. The so-called "volvulus belt" extends across the equator and southern hemisphere from Brazil to sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, India, and Russia. In these regions, the male:female ratio for sigmoid volvulus is 4:1. The peak incidence occurs around 41 – 50 years of age. The younger age at presentation in endemic regions compared to Western countries helps explain the finding that mortality from sigmoid volvulus is actually higher in more developed countries. Furthermore, presentation of sigmoid volvulus in endemic areas is typically fulminant, leading to more timely surgical treatment compared to the more indolent course common to patients in the US. Unlike the sigmoid version, cecal volvulus does not follow any geographic distribution, although it is more prevalent in developed countries where patients are more likely to have had previous abdominal surgery.
Risk factors for sigmoid volvulus in the US include advanced age, male gender, and history of neuropsychiatric disease. African-Americans are also at slightly increased risk relative to Caucasians. Traditionally sigmoid volvulus was believed to account for approximately 60% of all colonic volvulus cases, with meso-axial cecal (35%) and cecal bascule (5%) comprising the remainder. However, a recent study from the University of Minnesota examining their 7-year experience with colonic volvulus in 92 patients challenges this belief. Swenson and colleagues found that cecal volvulus was actually more common, occurring in 57.6% of patients compared to only 42.4% with sigmoid volvulus. Females comprised 81% of those with cecal volvulus and tended to be younger and healthier. Conversely, sigmoid volvulus was more frequent in men (72%), with nursing home residency, chronic constipation and history of neurologic disorders being significant risk factors.
Patients with colonic volvulus typically present with acute-on-chronic abdominal distension that may be insidious and develop over 3 – 4 days. They will report obstipation and loss of appetite. Nausea and emesis are late symptoms of the complete bowel obstruction, although early vagally-mediated emesis is reportedly a poor prognostic sign of colonic gangrene. Abdominal pain tends to be diffuse and non-focal until perforation, at which point peritoneal signs are apparent. Physical exam findings include a hypertympanitic abdomen. Tachycardia, peritoneal signs, lactic acidosis and multisystem organ failure are late findings that suggest colon ischemia. Urgent evaluation by the surgeon must include functional assessment of the anal sphincters, as patients with longstanding fecal incontinence may be best served with resection and colostomy.
Plain abdominal radiographs depicting a dilated, gas-filled loop of colon are suggestive of volvulus in up to 70% of cases. For sigmoid volvulus, the "bent inner tube" or "coffee bean" signs will show the loop pointing towards the right upper quadrant. The "northern exposure" sign occurs when the distended sigmoid loop extends cephalad to the transverse colon. Traditionally, contrast enema studies were the preferred method of diagnosing sigmoid volvulus, with the "bird's beak" appearance of the twisted rectosigmoid junction being diagnostic. However, instilling contrast under pressure rarely reduces the volvulus and may exacerbate mucosal ischemia. Obtaining these studies at night can also be difficult. For these reasons, barium enemas have been supplanted by computed tomography (CT) scanning.
The sensitivity of CT for diagnosing sigmoid volvulus is >95% and only slightly lower for cecal volvulus. In both instances, the "whirl" sign of the twisted mesocolon frequently is observed. Likewise, the "X marks the spot" sign represents the crossing of the superior and inferior transition points within the colon. Also commonly seen is the "split wall" sign, created by interposition of the mesenteric fat between two adjacent colonic walls. Evidence on CT of colonic pneumatosis, portal venous gas, free fluid or loss of bowel wall enhancement are all concerning for necrosis.
The differential diagnosis for sigmoid volvulus involves excluding other more common causes of large intestinal obstruction, including neoplasm and diverticular stricture, as well as other etiologies of abdominal pain such as diverticulitis, mesenteric ischemia, and colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's). More likely to occur in younger and female patients, cecal volvulus should be differentiated from appendicitis, ruptured ovarian cyst or pelvic inflammatory disease, inflammatory bowel disease and the various causes of distal small bowel obstructions.
All patients with suspected colonic volvulus require aggressive IV fluid resuscitation, as dehydration from fluid sequestration is common. Electrolyte derangements should be corrected. Nasogastric tube and Foley placement are also indicated. Empiric antibiotics covering gut flora are reasonable for patients with suspected colon ischemia, and for those who require operative intervention or with a history of cardiac valve abnormalities or implanted hardware.
Management – Sigmoid Volvulus
Colonoscopy and attempted endoscopic detorsion of the sigmoid volvulus should be the initial therapeutic step for all patients without suspected frank necrosis. Although the transition is often within 20 cm of the anal verge and thus reachable by a rigid proctoscope, the fiber optic colonoscope provides better visualization and the ability to easily aspirate and irrigate. The endoscope is gently inserted with minimal insufflation. Once at the spiral transition point of the volvulus, gentle pressure is applied and the scope advanced through the volvulus. There is typically a rush of gas and fluid as the closed loop is decompressed. Careful inspection of the mucosa can determine whether ischemia has occurred. Endoscopic detorsion is successful in 70 – 90% of patients with sigmoid volvulus. Some surgeons advocate placement of a long rectal tube in an attempt to prevent immediate re-volvulization. However, scant data exists supporting this practice and most patients will undergo semi-elective surgery within 48 – 72 hours.
Immediate laparotomy is indicated for cases when endoscopic detorsion is not successful or in patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of full-thickness necrosis. The volvulized sigmoid should be resected back to viable margins and any contamination thoroughly irrigated from the peritoneal cavity. Whether to perform a Hartmann's procedure or resect and anastomose with a diverting stoma are surgeon- and patient-dependent. Even with prompt surgical treatment the mortality rate for colonic gangrene ranges from 30 – 52%.
Following successful detorsion, some authors have advocated observation alone for poor surgical candidates. Older literature reports that 83% of elderly patients with sigmoid volvulus will die within 2 years from other causes, and the true incidence of recurrent sigmoid volvulus is not known. Recurrence rates in the medical literature range from 25 – 90%. However, non-operative therapy in the University of Minnesota experience failed in 48% of patients with a median time to recurrent volvulus of 106 days (range 8 – 374 days). Thus, most suitable patients should undergo semi-elective sigmoidectomy with primary anastomosis after their initial presentation. This can often be accomplished through a limited midline laparotomy or transverse celiotomy, since the sigmoid colon is markedly redundant and its usual peritoneal fixation is lacking. Likewise, a generous mesenteric resection is not required. The expected mortality rate for non-emergent sigmoid resection in this population is approximately 10% and the recurrence rate <5%.
Given the significant medical co-morbidities present in patients with sigmoid volvulus, there is continuing interest in developing minimally invasive approaches. Several authors have reported the use of percutaneous endoscopic colostomy (PEC) devices. The concept is to provide fixation at two separate positions within the redundant sigmoid using PEC tubes to prevent re-torsion (a third fixation point is naturally provided by the mesenteric root). Similar to percutaneous gastrostomy tubes, the PEC tubes are placed endoscopically using an over-the-wire technique. The required duration for the PEC tubes is unknown; while they have been removed as early as 8 weeks post-procedure, there are reports of recurrent volvulus upon removal of PEC tubes 7 months after placement. Others have combined laparoscopic visualization with these endoscopic fixation devices in order to prevent inadvertent mesenteric injury and ensure the correct orientation of the sigmoid colon. The downside to this approach is the requirement for general anesthesia. Long-term outcomes using these techniques do not exist, but the recurrence rate for the largely historical procedure of open sigmoidopexy range from 25 – 40%.
Management – Cecal Volvulus
Unlike in the sigmoid colon, cecal volvulus is less likely to be successfully detorsed by colonoscopy. Swenson et al. attempted endoscopic reduction in 9.8% of patients with cecal volvulus, with no reported successes (0 for 5). Thus, any patient with cecal volvulus should proceed to the OR following resuscitation. The gold standard of treatment for either meso-axial volvulus or bascule is right hemicolectomy. In cases of frank colonic necrosis, care should be taken to avoid detorsion of the volvulus prior to obtaining vascular control in order to prevent the systemic release of potential toxins and translocated bacteria. Conversely, viable colon can be de-torsed, typically in a clockwise direction, to facilitate colectomy. Due to the nature of cecal volvulus (around the ileocolic vasculature), a significant length of terminal ileum may require resection. Ileocolic anastomosis can almost always be performed. In an unstable patient with colon gangrene, a prudent approach may be to resect and leave the bowel ends in discontinuity, temporarily close the abdomen and proceed with further resuscitation, then return to the OR in 1 – 2 days to restore continuity.
Both cecostomy and surgical cecopexy have been described. These techniques have the advantage of avoiding an anastomosis. However, placing sutures or a colostomy tube in the thin-walled cecum is difficult, and both procedures are associated with a not insignificant rate of fecal fistulization and infectious complications. The reported recurrence rates of these approaches are 0 – 30%, whereas recurrence is unheard of following formal resection. Additionally, given the low mortality rate of <5% in patients treated with right hemicolectomy, little is gained with these non-resectional techniques in terms of overall survival.
Volvulus of the cecum or sigmoid colon affects distinct patient populations and requires timely diagnosis and treatment to achieve good outcomes. CT imaging is the diagnostic modality of choice for these patients. An initial attempt at endoscopic reduction is indicated for sigmoid volvulus, however, it's unlikely to successfully reduce a cecal volvulus. Most patients can be safely treated with resection and anastomosis of the involved segment of colon, although newer and less invasive techniques hold promise. Ultimately, the major predictors of poor outcome remain the common significant patient co-morbidities and the presence of gangrenous colon.
Suggested Reading
1. Akinkuotu A, Samuel JC, Msiska N, Mvula C, Charles AG. The role of the anatomy of the sigmoid colon in developing sigmoid volvulus: a case-control study. Clin Anat. 2011;24:634-637.
2. Gordon-Weeks AN, Lorenzi B, Lim J, Cristaldi M. Laparoscopic-assisted endoscopic sigmoidopexy: a new surgical option for sigmoid volvulus. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011;54:645-647.
3. Levsky JM, Den EI, DuBrow RA, Wolf EL, Rozenblit AM. CT findings of sigmoid volvulus. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2010;194:136-143.
4. Mullen R, Church NI, Yalamarthi S. Volvulus of the sigmoid colon treated by percutaneous endoscopic colostomy. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2009;19:e64-e66.
5. Raveenthiran V, Madiba TE, Atamanalp SS, De U. Volvulus of the sigmoid colon. Colorectal Dis. 2010;12:e1-17.
6. Rosenblat JM, Rozenblit AM, Wolf EL, DuBrow RA, Den EI, Levsky JM. Findings of cecal volvulus at CT. Radiology. 2010;256:169-175.
7. Swenson BR, Kwaan MR, Burkart NE, et al. Colonic volvulus: presentation and management in metropolitan Minnesota, United States. Dis Colon Rectum. 2012;55:444-449.


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I love to cook baking items especially cakes and biscuits.I have tried cakes for so many times but there was always one or the other problem.But now when i tried this recipe of tarlaji for a birthday party, my cake was a superhit,also as it includes curd it can be made easily.All my family members and guests liked it and appreciated me for such a delicious cake. Thanks once again.
Christmas – A Perfect Time to Celebrate
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Mossy Oak® Graphics Side - by - Side UTV Camouflage Kit
Item # WX2-221142
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This item is shipped directly from the factory. To see the expected shipping date, please add to your Shopping Cart. Sorry, no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses.
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Mossy Oak® Graphics Side - by - Side UTV Camouflage Kit. Customize any side - by - side UTV with high - quality camo, AFFORDABLY!
Get higher resolution patterns without spending a fortune getting it from the manufacturer! Mossy Oak® UTV Graphics Kit contains camo sections for each area of your vehicle. The vinyl material is highly conformable and contains air release technology providing a simple, clean, bubble free installation!
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Premium 3M cast vinyl materials produce a Camouflage Kit with an industry-leading 7-year durability rating and 5-year warranty against fading. Unlike other vinyl products, cast vinyl provides better print quality and a product free of edge lifting, peeling, cracking and pulling away. Mossy Oak Graphics UTV Camo Kit is removable when desired and won't leave behind an adhesive residue.
State Camo Pattern, as available in the Shopping Cart.
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Another stunning image! Joe B.
You are here
Walking at the local park in Weston, Florida, I was drawn by the beauty of these leaves bathed with strong sunlight enhancing their textures and bright colors.
Nikon D80 + Nikkor 18-200 mm - 1/160 - f/5.6 - ISO 100
Yellow & Green
By Lorenzo Cassina Posted: Jul 6, 2014
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Size: 1924kb
Filed Under: Picture This: Bokeh, Shallow Depth of Field
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Yellow & Green
Submitted by Joseph.Bologna on July 8, 2014 - 10:57am


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bryos. National regulations vary from eternal preservation to 5-year and 10-year preservation limits (Moutel et al., 2002; Grubb, 1996).
In addition to excess blastocysts, there might be excess gametes—oocytes and sperm that have been collected for IVF procedures from the couples themselves or from donors—that are no longer needed for reproductive purposes. Women not seeking infertility treatments might elect to donate oocytes for research purposes as an adjunct to a clinical intervention (such as oophorectomy) or as a straightforward altruistic donation specifically for research.
A number of studies have shown that some couples are willing to donate unneeded blastocysts for research purposes—as many as 25 percent in some studies (Bangsboll et al., 2004; Burton and Sanders, 2004; Klock, 2004; McMahon et al., 2003). The attitudes of couples who have undergone IVF range from almost parental concern for the embryos to regarding them as medical byproducts with little relationship to a couple's having a living child. Respondents positively disposed to donation commented on their desire not to waste blastocysts, a desire to help infertile couples, or a desire to advance scientific knowledge. Those with negative views commented on the embryo as a potential child and expressed concerns about a perceived lack of control over the type of research to be performed (McMahon et al. 2003).
Ethical principles dictate that potential donors of gametes or blastocysts for human embryonic stem cell (hES cell) research be able to make voluntary and informed choices about whether and how to donate their materials for research and that there be a clear option of "informed refusal," that is, the right to preclude any research use of embryos. Because of concerns about possible coercion or exploitation of potential donors and controversy regarding the moral status of embryos, it is important that precautions be taken in recruiting donors and ensuring their informed voluntary consent. Some of the protections offered through existing federal regulations can be adapted for application to hES cell research, such as adherence to principles of informed consent and a requirement that an Institutional Review Board (IRB) review the consent process. In addition, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations should be considered for some types of research, specifically if there is a need to retain identifying information about the donors. That has implications for the consent process and for plans to protect confidentiality and privacy of information. Because of privacy concerns, certain provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) might also apply. (Those regulatory requirements were discussed in Chapter 4.)
In this chapter, the committee makes specific detailed recommendations for IRB review of procurement (as recommended in the previous chapter); for the consent processes for obtaining somatic cells, gametes, and blastocysts for use in hES cell research; and for storing and maintaining cell lines once derived. Important safeguards must be in place to ensure that materials are collected ethically and that, once obtained, they are used for scientifically meritorious research (see also Chapters 2 and 3) with the confidentiality of donors protected.


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Land Resource Assessment
Project Title
Burdekin Dry Tropics Land Resource Assessment Project
Project Collaborators
- Land Resource Assessment and Management Pty. Ltd
Land resources, soils in particular, are key elements in determining land condition. Though the various land resource surveys currently available provide land resource inventory for almost the entire BDT region, they do not present or describe the information consistently. In order to fill the gaps in existing available knowledge this project will: collate existing land resource survey coverage; compile a common mapping legend to integrate all mapping units from these surveys; identify the gaps in land resource survey coverage in the BDT region; identify the key gaps and prioritise these through stakeholder consultation; and develop a program to fill these gaps.
Adequate land resource information is an essential component of the data base required for:
- interpreting land condition information and land use patterns
- analysing differences across the region and identifying underlying causes
- developing appropriate management actions to address land condition issues &
- mapping local areas in which management actions need to be focused.
Once completed, the common soil mapping layer derived from the Land Resource Assessment Project will be a valuable resource for monitoring changes in land condition and can also be utilised as a decision support tool for land managers. The information from this project will be available to all members of the community.
Project Service Provider
Land Resource Assessment and Management Pty. Ltd
$227,700 (GST incl)
Project Identification Number
Project Update
A common soils mapping layer has been compiled for the entire catchment using the low-intensity (1:100 000 scale) layer whenever possible. BDTNRM staff and industry experts are currently deciding the future direction of this project, and which areas should be investigated in further detail.
BDTNRM Project Contact
For more information about the Burdekin Dry Tropics Land Resource Assessment Project contact Amanda Laurie email@example.com


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| travel | art | photography |
Late again, but summer and reasons. Nevertheless I have been busy knitting in may as well and I accomplished my first bigger project. I keep using the left overs from my grandma and forbid myself to buy any new yarn until I really run out of stuff in my stash – but this means that it's quite difficult to start bigger projects that acquire more than one skein of the same yarn or ask for a specific yarn. I might have to keep knitting smaller things until I can go and buy some yarn to start a pullover or shirt. Here come the small things:
The Fox Scarf – started some months ago but the neverending cables got me so bored, so I worked on it only once in a while. It would have been a much quicker knit if I wasn't me. But I so love this guy! You can wrap it around your neck and even pull the tail through some loops on the inside of his head to secure it. I'm turning 30 next month – can't believe it… Right hand you see some baby gnomes, a fast knit once you figure it all out. These two were my first ones, the left one is knit flat exactly after the pattern with a lot of sewing (I hate sewing), the right one I highly modified to knit in the round and use Judy's Magic Cast-On (I wanted to learn this method for some time now and thought this fiddly little guy would be perferct to try it out… eh). The third one I gave away and didn't take a picture, but I assure you I improved ;) Those two are just prototypes to try things out, now I figured it all out, using the Magic Cast-On for legs and arms and knit them two at once (the second technique I learned with these guys) and knit them in the round. Aww yeah. I keep knitting them, so I guess you will meet them again at the June Project update :)
These curtain ties are so practical! I needed some for my curtains but did not want to buy some and the showstrings I used were unbelievably ugly. Knit exactly after the pattern, various colours, two of every one for two curtains. Great idea and very easy pattern.
The not big, but fiddly project: The Inga hat. Took some time but I never got bored because of all the fair isle motifs. Knit two colours at once (combining Continental and English Method) and double stitched the blue afterwards just out of a mood. I love the colours. I love the hat. I so wish I could wear it now! Should not start knitting hats in summer, really. Now it lays there and waits for autumn, poor guy and poor me. Some evenings I carried it with me just to put it on my head for an hour or so. Most beautiful hat I ever had, and I made it myself! Booyah.
The big project: Dream Stripes Shawl. Used leftovers of course and kept running out of yarn. Tried to match weight and colours, not too easy with my messy skeins and no information about any of my yarn. After blocking it's almost 2 m wide and about 70 cm high at the highest point. Used the whole skein of yellow, whole skein of blue, almost two skeins of white and some purple and some other yellow for the edge since I ran out of everything. Now this is a stash buster, really. I think it looks a bit more like a baby blanket because of the colours ;) But I like it nevertheless (the lace edge turns out beautiful and it makes a nice summer shawl) and I plan on making another one and modify the pattern a bit. Just have to wait until I have the nerves for all these stockinette rows again…
…The Shawl in all its glory :) It's not so easy to get all of this big thing into one picture, really. Had to climb some chairs. Well.
BONUS for being late again: My balcony-garden-thing is blooming and flowering and now I have a table I can sit on and drink coffee and feel like a fairy in a magic garden :)
It's really a tiny balcony and now there is no room to walk or have another chair anymore. All is occupied by flowers. And tomatoes – I grew tons of them, wasn't thinking I guess… I gave away a lot of them, but I still have so many. But I'm addicted to tomatoes, so well, if they want to have tons of fruits I'm more than happy! I'm still waiting for a lot of herbs to grow, might be too late for them already. Maybe I have a lot of herbs in winter. Well. And I will get me some strawberry plant soon :)
Have a great rest of the week!
Schwanheimer Düne in black and white – in colour 1 and 2 and flowers only.
[Canon AE-1 Program | 50mm | Kodak Professional BW 400 CN]
I went to Bremen and Cuxhaven some weeks ago and of course we had to stop for a few hours at the sea. It was chilly and windy, but we were lucky: there was no rain for that day! My camera though had some light issues, because reasons. And I tried to capture a butterfly that sat still in the sand for minutes, as if it was posing for me, but I only had my wide lens with me and could not capture that little guy properly… that's what I call equipment frustration. Ah well, I might need a sherpa in the future to carry all of the things I might need. Which is a lot. You never know…!
I'm a bit late with pictures for my project 12, but here they are. What I did last month:
knitted 2 wrist warmers/ mitts (one is "endpaper", the grey ones with the butterfly I made up myself);
crocheted a little bird and some "Mollie" flowers (don't know what to do with them yet, but I keep making more since they are so sweet and quick and you could do anything with them – a bracelet, a ring, pillows or blankets…);
knitted 3 snakes 'til now (well – I sure don't know what to do with them, but they are such a fun and easy, quick knit, I just keep making them when I watch tv – and you can wear them as bracelets, or hang them anywhere, so yeah, snakes!);
knitted a tiny bear and a tiny turtle, which I both gave away before taking pictures (that again).
But to make up for that, and since it is something I "create" besides photography and therefore it might as well fit into this project: Our little urban garden!
I've sown some veggies and I'm sure the radishes will be fine, but I'm not sure yet about the salads and tomatoes and all the herbs. It's an experiment with balcony gardening and little place and sun and no green thumb at all, so we will see!
Have a nice week and enjoy spring :)
A bit older, from an early morning walk last autumn – but fits my mood these days. Just a little step aside the road I should be on. When I look back it seems like a big wide gap. My hands lost yours and I miss you so, so terribly.
[Olympus 40 Program | 50 mm | AgfaAPX100]
Schwanheimer Düne again, flowers only.
[Olympus 40 Program | 50 mm Zuiko | dm paradiesfilm 200]
Same place, different time, different camera.
[Olympus µ [:mju:] | Rossmann film 200 | DSLR Scan]
Frankfurt, Schwanheimer Düne. Very lovely place indeed.
[Olympus 40 Program | 50 mm Zuiko | dm paradiesfilm 200]
[Olympus 40 Program | Zuiko 50 mm | dm paradiesfilm]
Life got in the way of my Project 52 and it's on hold since last July. But I don't want to give up completely, so I changed some parameters: The project gets updated every month (hence the 12) instead of every week, and everything crafty or artsy is allowed in the project instead of only painting or drawing – as long as it's not photography, since that was and shall stay the main aspect of the project and force me to focus on other creative stuff besides my main interest in photography.
Last July I started crocheting and I picked up knitting a few weeks ago – I love it! In primary school we had to crochet a square once as an oven mitt and I hated everything about fibers and needles and my work did never want to become a square, no matter what I did, it always came out a strange triangle at best. I got so frustrated and even my mother gave up on trying to help me with that triangle-square-thing. I swore to myself I'd never pick up needles again. But oh, never say never! It happened out of a mood, and I got hooked :) Instead of frustrating me like it did when I was a kid, it now calms me down to create something with my hands. Something real that you can touch and see. I need to be calm and focused for painting and for photography, but I can crochet and knit just whenever. Not everything I do comes out the way I imagined, but then I just put it away and pick up the next one.
Now guess what all of my friends and family get as gifts ;) I rarely keep the stuff I make and I always forget to take pictures, but this week I did and here you go with the first crafty-artsy-fibers-stuff of the new Project 12:
Crocheted Amigurumi Batman. Used this pattern for a basic doll structure but modified it as I went along. The cape is felt.
Mr Hat from South Park as a finger puppet – made the pattern up as I went along. The inside is stuffed with polyfill and felt to make it fit any finger.
The Pi :) Made this softie for a friend who is a physicist. Used this great pattern. Right handed two phone cozies – the left one is mine that was supposed to be a mitt after this pattern, but I highly modified it and in the end it was much too small, but the perfect size for my phone. I love the stranded colourwork, but I have to practise a lot with this. The right one is for my mother, who loved my owl version and wanted one for herself, but she loves teddy bears even more, so I used this chart and made one cozy for her.
A sheep coffee cup cozy! With very bulky yarn knitted after this sweet pattern. I made a pom pom as a tail and used this as a button so you can use the cozy with cups that have a handle and open and close it.
Yoda! Made him after this pattern, but wanted the hood bigger and made the cape up as I went.
Have a nice and crafty time!


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Thibodeau high on Jimmer Fredette's three-point potential
By SETH GRUEN Staff Reporter March 3, 2014 10:15PM
Updated: April 5, 2014 6:28AM
NEW YORK — Jimmer Fredette doesn't come to the Bulls with the most stellar defensive reputation.
But that has never stopped defense-obsessed coach Tom Thibodeau from welcoming a player to the team. If there's one thing he admires other than defense, it's shooting.
"He has the one skill that he can do as well as anyone in the league and that's shoot the three," Thibodeau said. "So we're going to build from there and we're going to try and help him develop an understanding of what we're trying to do defensively."
Attack mode
Former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy is known to bring levity to a broadcast by cracking jokes and ABC teed it up for him during the Bulls' victory over the Knicks on Sunday at the United Center.
During the telecast, Derrick Rose was shown a handful of times playing with son P.J.
That prompted Van Gundy, a color analyst, to make this joke: "I hope he has better knees than his dad."
Attack mode
Guard Jimmy Butler appears to have improved nearly every aspect of his offensive game. His assertiveness, in particular, has paid dividends.
Butler had 14 free-throw attempts in Sunday's victory and scored 19 points. Over the two games heading into Monday's game at Brooklyn, Butler has been to the line 25 times.
"He's been in an attack mode and he's doing it a lot of different ways — transition, he's been great in the pick-and-roll, he's mixing in some post-ups," Thibodeau said.


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The Oki Islands are located in the Sea of Japan 50-80 km (30-50 mi) north of Matsue, Shimane. The largest island, Dōgo, is roughly circular with a diameter of about 20 km (13 mi). The other three inhabited islands, Nishinoshima, Nakanoshima, and Chiburishima, are closely grouped to the southwest of Dōgo. Once a place of exile for deposed emperors, the islands are now a national park and a popular tourist destination. Okinoshima, the largest town in the islands, has regular air service from Ōsaka, and all the major islands of the group are accessible by ferry from Matsue. The islands are governed as the Oki District of Shimane Prefecture.
In Japanese, the word for a lighthouse is tōdai or toudai (灯台). The words saki and misaki are for capes and headlands, shima (also spelled sima or jima) is an island, wan is a bay, and kō is a harbor. Lighthouses in Japan are operated and maintained by the Japanese Coast Guard's Maritime Safety Agency. On Honshū there is at least one Coast Guard Section Office in each prefecture, often two or more. The Oki Islands lights are maintained by the Coast Guard office at Sakai, on the Shimane mainland.
ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. JCG numbers are the Japanese Coast Guard's light list numbers. Admiralty numbers are from volume M of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.
Mitsabe Misaki Light, Nishinoshima
Japanese Coast Guard photo
Noda Saki Light, Nakanoshima, May 2011
Panoramio photo copyright Hamtaro (ハム太郎)
permission requested
Shiroshima Saki Light, Dōgo, February 2011
Panoramio photo copyright Hamtaro (ハム太郎); permission requested
Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining page: South: Shimane
Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key
Posted February 28, 2007. Checked and revised December 8, 2013. Lighthouses: 32. Site copyright 2013 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


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Jimmy Tomlin: When zombies attack...
"Did you see 'The Walking Dead' last night?" a friend recently asked me.
"No," I replied, "I don't watch C-SPAN."
You see, I assumed "The Walking Dead" was some sort of documentary about the plight of today's Republican Party. Apparently, that was wrong.
"The Walking Dead," for the uninitiated, is a TV show about zombies — and, more specifically, about a group of people trying to survive a zombie apocalypse, in which flesh-eating zombies are walking the earth in search of, well, flesh.
This show is VERY popular. I have a friend who routinely posts on Facebook, "I will be watching 'The Walking Dead' tonight — do NOT call me because I will NOT answer!! And I'm NOT kidding!!"
He's so obsessed with zombies, I'm thinking he may actually BE a zombie. Probably not, but just in case, I have avoided taking my flesh anywhere near him ever since I learned of his obsession.
Zombies are very popular these days, and those who like zombie shows and zombie movies — you know who you are — share a common passion that we non-zombie fanatics cannot possibly understand. It's a unique kind of "esprit de corpse."
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Anyway, I got to thinking — never a good thing, by the way — and I wondered what it would be like if there really was a zombie apocalypse. What if High Point was suddenly swarming with thousands of pale, scary-looking undead beings, lumbering through the downtown streets of the city?
Yeah, I know, it sounds like the furniture market, but play along with me here.
I mean, if a zombie apocalypse really happened here, would you be prepared? Could you survive?
Well, never fear, because I'm here to help. I've done some research on zombies, and here are a few things you'll need to know, just in case:
•Zombies are slow and not very agile — you know, kinda like the Charlotte Bobcats — so I suggest you invest in a new pair of running shoes so you'll be able to outrun them.
•While zombies are known as flesh-eaters, many zombies are thought to feast only on brains. I don't know about you, but I may be safe.
•Zombies have no personality whatsoever. Do not try to engage them in small talk, because your conversation will go something like this:
YOU: Soooo, what do you think the weather's gonna do today?
ZOMBIE: Aaaaaaaaaaargh!! Cloudy, chance of brain ... mmmmmmmmmm!!
•According to the vast array of zombie movies that have been made, some female zombies apparently can manifest themselves as gorgeous women. Therefore, guys, if a hot chick comes on to you unexpectedly, don't be fooled — she only wants you for your brain.
•Stay away from High Point University — the zombies over there will be extraordinarily dangerous. You'll recognize them by their purple T-shirts.
•It's difficult to kill a zombie because, well, because they're already dead. You have to shoot the zombie in the head, thereby disabling its brain. But, of course, you must understand that even if you kill a zombie, it's not really dead — that allows Hollywood to put out a sequel.
•Finally, if all else fails, leave town and head for our nation's capital. You'll be safe there, because even zombies know there are no brains in Washington, D.C.
firstname.lastname@example.com | 888-3579


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Planting Seeds of Hope
Fall Cleanup Picnic Makes A Difference for Hungry Oklahomans
October 12, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY - In order for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Urban Harvest program to flourish this fall, volunteers are needed to prepare gardens for the growing season. On Saturday, October 22 the community is invited to attend the Fall Cleanup Picnic to help fight hunger in Oklahoma.
"This summer was rough on everyone, especially on those who rely on good weather for food production," said Mason Weaver, director of Urban Harvest. "This includes the children and senior citizens who benefit from our Urban Harvest program, but we're looking forward to better conditions. Come help us get our gardens ready to push forward into a better growing season!"
The Cleanup Picnic kicks off at 8 a.m. at the Regional Food Bank, located at 3355 S. Purdue in Oklahoma City. The schedule is as follows:
- 8 a.m. to noon – Welcome from staff and work in the garden. Tasks include weeding, preparing garden beds, composting, cleaning and organizing.
- Noon to 1 p.m. – Bring your lunch and your favorite picnic blanket for lunch in the garden. Mason's famous spicy pumpkin dip and tortilla chips will be available for your tasting pleasure.
- 1 to 2:30 p.m. – Learn about Food Bank operations and sustainable local growing on our facility tour, followed by a Q&A with Urban Harvest Director, Mason Weaver.
"Come for the whole day, or come when you can," said Weaver. "This is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. The more people we have helping, the more prepared we'll be to push forward in our fight against hunger."
This volunteer day is a great family activity and all ages are welcome. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult. Be sure to wear closed toe shoes and dress for the weather. Hats and sunscreen are recommended.
Urban Harvest is a sustainable gardening program of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The four central goals of the program are agricultural education, fresh food production, community outreach and ecological conservation.
For more information visit regionalfoodbank.org or contact Joe Hudson at firstname.lastname@example.com or 405.604.7108.
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is a private, 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that acts as a link through which the food industry and community may donate food and other goods. The products are then distributed to more than 800 schools and charitable feeding programs in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. In the last fiscal year, the Regional Food Bank distributed 46.1 million pounds of food and product to help the charitable community effectively feed people in need. Since its inception in 1980, the Regional Food Bank has distributed more than 414 million pounds of food to feed Oklahoma's hungry. Visit regionalfoodbank.org to learn more.


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Borough business rebound
Development group cites tax incentives to 5 local businesses
NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Economic Development Corp. has helped five businesses earn tax incentives to start up or expand in the borough this year, CEO David O. Prendergast told a crowd assembled Tuesday for the organization's annual meeting.
Statewide, about 50 companies earned the same Enterprise Zone tax benefits over the past year, Prendergast said.
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Ranked #1 in 8 out of the 10 evaluated specialties by U.S. News
MyPatients provides referring primary care providers with secure access to their patients' information.
Boston Children's has launched the world's 1st program dedicated to offering hand transplants to children who qualify.
Innovation insider is a semi-monthly e-newsletter analyzes innovations at Boston Children's, other academic medical centers and from industry.
Read the latest blog by a Boston Children's doctor, clinician or staff member.
Support the hospital with a donation that helps kids get the care they need.
To treat various forms of cancer, doctors often prescribe several different chemotherapy medications. These regimens are effective in targeting cancer cells, but can also damage the bladder and kidneys as they break down in the patient's system. To flush the left over chemicals from the body the patient needs to keep very hydrated so the urological system can work overtime to remove any toxins left after treatment.
Doctors help the process along by hooking patients up to an IV drip or pumping mechanism that injects them with a special fluid. It's a painless but time consuming process; most hydration sessions last for a full 24 hours after chemotherapy drugs have been administered.
To help get these the patients the hydration they need without keeping them in the hospital overnight, a team of doctors and nurses from the Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center created the Home Hydration program, a hydration delivery system that's as effective as it is simple.
Home Hydration lets patients sleep in their own beds, eat home cooked meals and spend more time with friends and family. In addition to improving the quality of life for patients, the Home Hydration Program also also frees up much needed bed space in the hospital. Since itsinception the program has saved payers over $1.25 million and spared patients more than 750 nights in the hospital.
Learn more about this hydration delivery system works.
The Home Hydration program connects a portable IV pump, about the size and weight of hard cover book, to an IV catheter in the patient's chest via a small, self-attachable tube. Once the tube is in place the pump injects fluid to the body from a concealed IV bag. Both pump and fluid bag are small and light enough to be carried in an unassuming backpack, letting the wearer receive hydration on the go.
The Home Hydration Program allows patients to receive the hydration they need outside the hospital with a small and easy-to-use hydration kit that goes any where they can.
If this is a medical emergency, please dial 9-1-1. This form should not be used in an emergency.
This department is currently not accepting appointment requests online. Please call us at: 617-355-6000. International +1-617-355-6000.
This department is currently not accepting appointment requests online. Please call us at: 617-355-6000. International +1-617-355-6000.
If you have questions or would
like more information, please call:
The future of pediatrics will be forged by thinking differently, breaking paradigms and joining together in a shared vision of tackling the toughest challenges before us."


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Kai Woman
A Conscientious Lifestyle
Kai Woman is an academy oriented towards the formation of multifaceted and talented women, through an original method, based on the development ones talents and oriented towards ones personal realization: achieve a happy and conscientious life.
In Kai Woman we deliver tools that support Women in the integration of all their roles in society, in decision making, and in polishing and planning their life project in a practical and experiential way.
Formation in 4 Modules
Module 1
Kai Woman
Discover Powerful Secrets for Women
Module 2
Leading Woman
Balance between Firmness and Sensibility
Module 3
Loving Woman
Conquer the Courage to Love
Module 4
Conscientious Woman
Awaken the Power of a Silent Mind
- Other Services
Consultations, Conferences and Workshops open to the public and in-company:
- Happy Woman
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- Aura-Soma
Visit Us:
Esta entrada también está disponible en: Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil)


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PVC T Profile
|Min. order:
|10000 Meter
|Trade Terms:
|Payment Terms:
|T/T, L/C at sight,T/T.Cash
|HS Code:
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Product Detail
Basic Info
- Export Markets: Global
Additional Info
- HS Code: 3920109090
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3. Strong bonding strength,
4. Excellent light stability,
5. Superior durability,
6. Stain and chemical resistance, etc


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Pain scale
- 0May 13, '03 by webbiedebbieMy hospital uses a pain scale of 1-5 with faces. How effective is this, really? I had a patient tell me she was a 5 (worst pain) and yet she was on the phone laughing with a friend. Of course I documented that she said she was a 5 on the scale, but I also documented what she was doing at the time. And yes, I did make sure she knew that a 5 was the worst pain on the scale.
Why can't we go back to just documenting exactly what their pain level is by what they say, what they are doing, and our assessment? If my notes indicate a 5 (worst pain) and I don't document what is really going on with the patient, then I may be omitting information. Then again, a 5 is an oxymoron to how she is behaving with the laughing.
The 5 may be her worst pain, but the face on the scale says it is unbearable. How reliable are these scales?
- 0May 13, '03 by gwenithWebbiedebbie this is another thread I would like to start - how do nurses REALLY assess pain. Yeah we use the 1-10 pain scale with varing success and yes I get the cardiac patient sitting up in bed wolfin thier meal damanding to know what is on TV while telling you their pain is 10/10.
Jay Jay posted this on one of my humour threads and I loved ot so musch I thought I would copy it down here.
A young man in his 20's who had been in a motorcycle accident and collapsed a lung was whining about his chest tube, and how much it hurt. Eventually, the doctor came by to see him.
"What's the problem?" he asked.
"My chest hurts!" whined the young man.
"How much on a scale of 1 to 10?"
"10!" responded the patient, without hesitation.
"I don't think you understand the pain scale," replied the doctor. "If I took two bricks and smashed your balls between them, THAT pain would be a 10. Now, how much does it hurt?"
"Uhhhh.... about a 3, I guess!"
Says it all really.................Last edit by gwenith on May 13, '03
- 0May 13, '03 by webbiedebbieThanks gwenith...gives me some ideas on how to modify the scale with my patients!
- 0May 13, '03 by Nurse Ratched:roll !
- 1May 13, '03 by memphispandaWe use a 1-10 scale, and it seems to be very effective. We rarely have someone say "10" who isn't aacting like they are in pain. We also were taught in school that pain is what the patient says it is. I don't think we should judge someone who says they are in pain by their behavior. Some people (myself included) can be very good at hiding pain when we want to. A lot of it has to do with how often they have pain--you end up having to go on with life despite the pain. You can't whine about it all the time.
Personally it upsets me to see so many people who are nurses believe they can assess a person's pain better than that person themself can. No wonder it's hard to get meds in the hospital sometimes.
- 0May 13, '03 by rn500(b)"I don't think you understand the pain scale," replied the doctor. "If I took two bricks and smashed your balls between them, THAT pain would be a 10. Now, how much does it hurt?"
"Uhhhh.... about a 3, I guess!"
Says it all really.................(/b)
You know what I thought of when I read about that rock climber that cut his own arm off to save himself?
'Now THERE'S somebody who knows what a 10/10 is!'
- 1May 13, '03 by ShamrockOriginally posted by memphispanda
Personally it upsets me to see so many people who are nurses believe they can assess a person's pain better than that person themself can. No wonder it's hard to get meds in the hospital sometimes. [/B]
I gotta agree with memphis here. Pain
is what the person says it is. Does not
matter what they are doing. May be that the patient of webby's was trying to make the person on the phone feel better about her, (the patients), situation. Maybe the person on the phone was the patients young child and mom was trying to make them feel better. Who knows?
- 0May 13, '03 by gwenithMemphispanda
I wish to explain further - Admittedly "teh book"states that we are to accept pain is what the patient says it is but the nurses posting here have developed thier practice far beyond "the book"
I HAVE to make value judgements about pain because I work in a Coronary Care unit and must assist my patients to distinguish between pain of cardiac origin and other chest pain. I truly wish this was as simple as telling the patient that it is a central crushing pain - it isn't. Some cardiac pain is very difficult to distinguish from say, back pain.
Anxiety also plays a big part - we have to help the patient not only to distinguish what is cardiac but how severe that pain is - else we will cause them to become cardiac cripples afraid to move out of a bed for the rest of thier lives so I HAVE to assess what they are saying the pain is against visible physiological responses.
Yes there are people who are very good at hiding pain and they usually UNDER report pain - guess what I don't believe them either and will titrate the meds until I am sure through all assessment data that they are indeed free from pain. Why would anyone under report pain? Try macho males who won't don't accept that they aer having a heart attack.
When in doubt I always err on the side of giving relief/medicating the patient BUT I will also repost incongruent behaviour because this provides invaluable data to be used to help a patient MANAGE thier own disease later on.
So please do not lecture me on what you learnt at school you will soon enough learn that there is a huge "Theory-Practice Gap" in nursing and this is one area where it is widest.


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See You Tonight
Scotty McCreery Announces 2014 'See You Tonight' Tour Dates
His headlining tour will feature songs from his most recent No. 1 album 'See You Tonight,' which recently topped the Billboard Country Albums chart.
LAUNCH: Scotty McCreery
In celebration of his new album 'See You Tonight,' which hits stores Tuesday, Scotty McCreery is our Launch artist this week.
Scotty McCreery Performs See You Tonight On The Tonight Show
Platinum-selling recording artist and Season 10 American Idol winner Scotty McCreery is set to perform his current single, "See You Tonight" on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Monday, June 3rd at 11:35/10:35c on NBC. That's tonight. "See You Tonight" […]


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Perhaps the late Frank Zappa best described the relationship between international football and beer: "You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer."
If you happened to walk by Ken Geiser these days, he wouldn't fault you for not recognizing him.
From cheesesteaks to Tastykakes, Stephen Starr to Marc Vetri, the Reading Terminal to the Italian Market, Philly food gets a decent amount of attention. But one area of the city that has been virtually written off deserves recognition for its impressive lineup of hidden gems.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Tuesday put up the $25,000 needed to bail out Monsignor William Lynn, and he was released from an upstate prison into the custody of the Philadelphia prison system this morning.
The heating guys have been here. They insist that our system is "balanced" — their word, not mine. They tell us that we're wise and sensible people to have the whole system checked before the real bite of winter kicks in.
— That's what the school district appears to be doing as it seeks to collect money from youth groups for the privilege of playing games in school gymnasiums.
The city has a lot of lots - vacant ones, that is. The Campaign to Take Back Vacant Land wants to find the best and worst of them, and help fix up the worst.
The Northeast Times is committed to publishing news about the milestones that are important in our readers' lives.
In this week's Riverward Rant, columnist Joe Quigley, looks at the often simplified, 'black & white' issues in politics, when all too often, there is a gray area that is overlooked.


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Mirvac Group, Australia's third- biggest diversified property trust by assets, said first-half profit slumped 69 percent after asset writedowns and a decline in development revenue.
Net income fell to A$55.2 million ($57.2 million) in the six months to Dec. 31 from A$176.6 million a year earlier, the Sydney-based company said in a statement to the Australian stock exchange. Operating profit declined 4 percent to A$194.2 million, it said.
Mirvac last week announced a A$273.2 million writedown on residential projects after weaker than expected sales. The move brought writedowns to more than A$1 billion since 2007, figures from Morgan Stanley research show.
"The group is on track to deliver its full year operating earnings guidance," Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, who took over as managing director on Nov. 5, said in the statement today.
Operating earnings per share for the year ending June 30 will be between 10.7 cents and 10.8 cents, and its dividend will be between 8.5 cents and 8.7 cents, it said. Mirvac will pay a dividend of 4.2 Australian cents for the half, it said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Nichola Saminather in Sydney at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andreea Papuc at email@example.com


text: Page Content 1Driving Economic Growth Through Entrepreneurship Ecosystems A Program for Public and Private Sector Leaders May 11-13, 2015 $3,500* Program fee includes program materials, accommodations and meals at the award-winning Babson Executive Conference Center from 4 p.m. on May 10th until checkout on May 13th. To view program brochure click here. Apply Now Overview Fueled in part by the 2008 economic crisis, in part by geopolitical discontinuities, and in part by surprising examples of economic growth, a global consensus is emerging among world leaders that entrepreneurship is a key strategy—some would say, the key strategy—for economic growth and development. We see high profile programs encouraging entrepreneurship in almost every major city, region and country. However, a painful gap exists between public leaders' new commitment to entrepreneurship and their regions' abilities to intentionally create programs and processes that will systematically and measurably stimulate entrepreneurial growth. In July 2010, the Harvard Business Review published an article by Professor Daniel Isenberg entitled, "How to Start an Entrepreneurial Revolution." In this article, Isenberg describes the environment in which entrepreneurship tends to thrive. Drawing from examples from around the world, the article proposes that entrepreneurs are most successful when they have access to the human, financial and professional resources they need, and operate in an environment in which government policies encourage and safeguard entrepreneurs. This network is described as the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Now, Babson College, for two decades the world's #1 ranked entrepreneurship educator, is offering the world's first publicly offered program specifically to help public and private sector leaders create an entirely new internal capacity to formulate and implement entrepreneurship ecosystems in their societies using the most advanced concepts, methods, cases and practice in the field. Program Objectives Driving Economic Growth Through Entrepreneurship Ecosystems is designed to give public and private sector leaders: The newest perspectives on entrepreneurship ecosystem development State-of-the-art assessment methodologies and practical tools The most relevant case examples of practical programs from relevant regions around the world Understanding of the nature of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial mindset Domains of the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Curriculum Driving Economic Growth Through Entrepreneurship Ecosystems is a two and a half-day, open enrollment, residential program consisting of: Case studies of real life global entrepreneurs and accessible global entrepreneurship Case studies of entrepreneurship development in various types of economies Assessments of each participant's entrepreneurship ecosystem's strengths and weaknesses Design and implementation of entrepreneurship development pilot programs "back home" Simulations of entrepreneurship ecosystem development Action planning for activating identifying and activating the entrepreneurship stakeholders Exercises to establish measurable entrepreneurship development objectives Some of the specific topics that are addressed include: Avoiding common mistakes in government support of entrepreneurship Reducing confusion about entrepreneurship, micro-enterprise, SME policies Setting entrepreneurship objectives and measure outcomes Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the entrepreneurship ecosystem Planning and implementing entrepreneurship ecosystem action programs Impacting the entrepreneurial culture and social norms Developing effective public messaging on entrepreneurship Using social media to development entrepreneurship Establishing effective public voice for entrepreneurs Increasing the effectiveness and coordination of various entrepreneurship development agencies Do's and don'ts of using government funding to encourage the development of capital markets for entrepreneurial ventures (angel, private, family, VC, bank, public markets) Differentiating among alternative funding vehicles (matching grants, royalty-based capital, accelerator financing) The appropriate use and abuse of incubators, accelerators, and innovation centers Entrepreneurship as a necessary precondition to clusters Participant Mix Driving Economic Growth Through Entrepreneurship Ecosystems is designed for public and private sector leaders including director generals, program directors, agency managers, private sector and civic leaders, and other formal and informal leaders who seek to create and implement entrepreneurship ecosystems in their societies. About the Faculty Director Dr. Daniel Isenberg is Professor of Entrepreneurship Practice at Babson Executive and Enterprise Education. Since 1981 Professor Isenberg has taught at Harvard, Columbia, INSEAD, and the Technion, and has been an entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Israel, and has been an angel investor in over ten countries. Professor Isenberg is a frequent participant at Davos and the G20 and blogs for HBR, Huffington Post and others. In 2009 he established the Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project (BEEP) to help societies around the world create the policies, structures, programs, and climate that foster entrepreneurship. In this capacity, he has conducted projects in numerous countries, including Colombia, Brazil, Denmark, Canada, and the United States. Daniel has published several seminal articles in the Harvard Business Review, including "Entrepreneurs and the Cult of Failure," "How to Start an Entrepreneurial Revolution," and "The Global Entrepreneur." He is also the author of the Harvard Business Review Press book, Worthless, Impossible, and Stupid: How Contrarian Entrepreneurs Create and Capture Extraordinary Value. Daniel holds a Ph.D. in social psychology from Harvard University. In 2012, Professor Isenberg was awarded the Pio Manzu Gold Medal for "pioneering and innovative work in economic development," signed by Mikhail Gorbachev. Other Program Faculty Include: Ant Bozkaya is Senior Research Fellow at the MIT Sloan School and UC Berkeley Haas School. His research interests include international entrepreneurship, innovation policy and management, and financing of young innovative ventures. Much of his work examines the ways in which institutional organizations and structures impact the nature of innovation and entrepreneurship in a region. He was awarded a Harvard University Fellowship in Science, Technology, and Public Policy to conduct his doctoral dissertation research jointly at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, and holds a Ph.D. in Economics. Dan Breznitz is a worldwide expert on rapid-innovation-based industries and their globalization, as well as pioneering research on the distributional impact of innovation policies. He has been an advisor on science, technology, and innovation policies to multinational corporations, governments, and international organizations such as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, TEKES, IFC, the United Nations, and the US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation. Breznitz is the author of several award-winning books. His new book, Third Globalization: Can Wealthy Nations Stay Rich?, looks at the challenges and opportunities faced by Western economies in the aftermath of the financial crisis and the rapid changes in the global production system. Anders Hoffmann serves as Deputy Director General at the Danish Business Authority. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics. Mr. Hoffmann has most recently been employed as a Senior Economist with the OECD supervising a team of economists and statisticians and coordinating activites related to micro--policy benchmarking. Prior to this Mr. Hoffman served in various leadership positions with the Danish Ministry of Trade and Industry. He has published articles in several major journals including Journal of International Economics at the Copenhagen Business School. Apply Now


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Project: Completed History of Athens by Nikomedes, son of Eutychides ('11)
I, Nikomedes, son of Eutychides, was once but a simple priest of Asclepius. I tried to be enthusiastic about helping others in such a mundane way, but I always felt that I was mean for something greater in life. During the war against Sparta, I saw my share of wounded men pass away or hobble away, crippled for life. The sight of each one of those wounded men cut at me like the weapons that had slashed at them. I realized that there was no glory in battle! Only pain, hatred, regret, and other such evils can be spawned from the wicked path of destruction that is known as war. At this point, I knew that it was my job to ensure that such atrocities were never committed again, at least not during my life time.
I was inspired to wander and discover the best path for Athens. In order to take on this endeavor, I have vowed to share my finding with all of Athens and to make it last for generations to come. With a thirst for knowledge and my newfound disgust for violence, I set out to observe many different styles of government, and to find the failings and strengths of each one.
As I traveled, I realized that the heart of Athens yearns for democracy, but that I could not let our polis become an ochlocracy. The power of government cannot be trusted in the hands of those who are incompetent and lead Athens astray. Once I decided that a semi-democratic system would be best for Athens, I returned home so that I could convince others of this plan. I began attending the Ekklesia whenever I could so that I could gain supporter and get to know the opponents of my plan better.
Over the past few months, I have taken it upon myself to record the events that have transpired in the Ekklesia of our beloved city Athens so that even the most minute detail will be remembered for all time. As my history unfolds, I will make a point to identify those who worked to save our city, and those who attempted to drag it further into degradation.
The deeds of the Thirty Tyrants, inflicted upon us by Sparta in order to maintain a firm grip on Athens, can only be classified at outright atrocities. I begin my account as the evil regime of the Thirty comes to a close, though the horrors, as well as the pain that they have caused Athens, will no doubt take years-if not decades- to heal. Unsurprisingly, one of the first ordeals of the newly restored Ekklesia was to debate the fate of these terrible men. It was at this point that Thrasybulus, son of Lycus, began to pour his venom into the ears of the men of Athens.
At this point, I will pause to give a brief statement on the character of Thrasybulus. During this whole ordeal, Thrasybulus was the natural enemy to all my endeavors. With every breath he drew, he tried to poison the masses with the sweet lure of isonomia. All the while, he viciously attacked the ideas of others, marginalizing those who do not support him. It is fortunate that many of my compatriots were able to see through his lies and maintain a rational mind. But that is a story which I will tell later.
The first proposal of the new Ekklesia was as follows:
If anyone should call to mind or make public mention of the the past wrongs of the Thirty, or bring a charge against any of their alleged supporters for actions during their rule, let anyone who wishes, of those Athenians who are entitled, submit a graphe [charge, indictment] to the themothetai. Whoever finds guilty, let it immediately assess whatever fine seems right for him to suffer or pay."–Diodoros, son of Aristonicus, of the Deme Sounion.
Thrasybulus quickly ran to speak on this matter, "It is important that we distinguish between democracy and its extreme opposite, tyranny. Indeed, why should we give amnesty to these tyrants in the first place, when they showed little mercy to us? Should we create a blanket of trust for civil stability? Is letting these crimes go unpunished worth it?"
I admit, after this speech, I saw truth in Thrasybulus' words. But his words reveal one truth that he never learned: the opposite of radical democracy is not always tyranny. Several more citizens came to speak again, and then Sophodoros, son of Phaidros, came up to the podium.
Once more, I must pause to address the character of Sophodoros. Sophodoros is a man of enormous valor and of high ambition. He is a self-proclaimed follower of the man Socrates, whom I recently had the great pleasure to hear speak. I- and indeed, the entirety of Athens- owe Sophodoros a great boon for being the voice of my ideas. But again, I am getting ahead of myself.
Sophodoros spoke thusly, "We cannot forgive the Thirty- we know who they are. But the 3,000 were never identified; it was a number to keep us guessing. We need to be more forward, to band together in out anger. Ambition is not necessarily our enemy. We still need to embrace it, perhaps through trade, and not war. We still, however, need to ensure that the Thirty are punished."
As brashly as always, Thrasybulus replied, "If this proposition is passed, no harm will come to anyone. The Thirty are still alive! We cannot always be peaceful. We need to guarantee that the Thirty will not harm us again. When it is proved that the Thirty will not be dangerous, I will back this proposal."
After much more debate, it looked like the men of the Ekklesia intended to vote the proposal down. Nicolaus, son of Themistocles, took charge, declaring, "We have already have spent so much time discussing this matter. Why should we vote it down? We should instead pass it, and then move on to restoring Athens to the powerful polis it once was."
Despite Nicolaus' words, the resolution failed. Near the end of the session, one more resolution was proposed, which was passed:
All members of the 30 will be subject to all applicable laws of Athens. All citizens will swear an oath on the glory of Athena, and all the gods, to Athens, to the polis, and to the sovereignty of the Ekklesia
–Praxitleles, son of Demetrios.
The next meeting of the Ekklesia was focused on getting Athens' government back on its feet. Unsurprisingly, Thrasybulus insisted, "All power should go to the Ekklesia. The Boule, an elitist remnant of our old system, is like a plague. The members of the Boule are traitors to the sacred isonomia of Athens, as are the oligarchs. We must insure that the power of our government does not end up in the hands of one. The system of oligarchy may be stable, but it is treasonous to Athens, and will lay the foundations for a coup. In order to avoid the corrupting allure of power, we must sortition, not elect our officials."
At this point, rally, I approached the podium myself. In spite of my dislike of public speaking, I knew that my words and ideas would stir the hearts of Athens, and so I proclaimed, "I, Nikomedes son of Eutychides, come before you today because I have witnessed that Athens is in dire need of a change. Although I am but a humble priest of Asclepius, and not a philosopher, or a (something else), I believe that I have found the solution to Athens' chaos. My plan may seem a bit outlandish at first, but please hear me out.
I have observed that Athens, at its heart, needs a democracy. But, after having tended to the wounds of many during the war with Sparta, I could not bear to see more people dying. I believe that we need to make sure that people in certain possessions are qualified to hold these positions. This is why I propose that we create an aptitude test, which must be taken by men who wish to hold certain positions of power in the Athenian government, namely the Boule and the archonships. I understand that this proposal seems elitist at first glance; it is not meant to be.
This is why I also propose that Athens should establish an institution of learning for all young men of Athens. In order to be in the keeping with a democracy, this institution, if created, will be free to all Athenian boys, so that they might be educated properly and learn from the mistakes of our past. Perhaps you are now asking yourself 'How will we fund such an institution, now that we have lost our empire?' Perhaps, while we rebuild, we can set aside some tax money in order to found this school. When all the minds of the Athenian citizens have been united by educated, we will be able to pull Athens out of the darkness. When all men can properly use their rational mind to run our democracy, only then can we can we be assured of Athens' bright future."
Sophodoros rallied to my cause, announcing, "We need not go to extremes. As long as checks and balances are in place, no one can seize power. What Athens truly needs is a system of philosopher-kings and the Ekklesia should guide these men. We need to take the middle road between oligarchy and democracy, so that, unlike Icarus, we do not fall into the sea by flying too low, or become burned by the sun by flying too high."
Insistent as always, Thrasybulus rebutted, "The middle route is the passive route. Tyranny and citizens do not mix, since they are mutually exclusive. In a tyranny, people only benefit when the tyrant says so. Your 'philosopher-kings' might as well be the Thirty. We cannot create a hierarchy that excludes the people. This is the wrong route!"
Sophodoros spoke again, "When does acting rashly suit anyone? Inordinate action is not the best way-we need to unify! To address your points, the philosopher-kings will NOT be tyrants, because the Ekklesia must have the power to deny him!"
At this point, Thrasybulus, through Diogenes, son of Phaedrus, attempted to muscle through a proposition:
The Boule of 500 ought to be chosen every year by sortition from all citizens. Powers included are:
1. Primary goal: setting agenda for the Ekklesia 2. 50 (who rotate in and out of the Boule) will always reside at Athens, fed by Athens, etc. 3. All actions taken by 50 will have to be retroactively approved by Ekklesia.
Thankfully, the proposal failed. Praxiteles then proposed:
There will be two bodies: the Ekklesia (all male adult citizens), and the Boule which will arise from the Ekklesia and will set the agenda for the Ekklesia. The Boule will be composed of some part chosen by sortition and some part chosen by election
This resolution passed, but was struck down at the beginning of the next meeting of the Ekklesia. Praxiteles then put forth a resolution:
The Boule is composed of 500, selected by sortition, 50 from each tribe. A group of 50 [the Prytaneis] from within the Boule will be present in Athens at all times, which will rotate every 1/10th of a year to lead in times of crisis. Sovereignty lies in the Ekklesia.
This proposal passed. A few fellows, whom I now call my friends, including Xanthippos, son of Polycarpus; my kinsman, Alexandros, son of Diokles; Andokides, son of Nicias; Nicolaus, son of Themistocles; and Aristomachos, son of Photios attempted to pass a counter-resolution, stating:
Several members of the Assembly propose the creation of a governing council of 10 within the Boule to respond to unexpected, sudden events in Athens.
Unfortunately, this resolution failed, which concluded the Ekklesia session for that day. The next session, Nicolaus, the great man that he is, set forth the proposal:
Boule will consist of 250 men elected by the Ekklesia after having passed an aptitude test. Each member will serve for one 10-year term. 25 members elected each year so that the elections will be staggered. All offices will be elected.
Enraged, Thrasybulus stormed the podium, declaring, "Tyrants! We were defeated in the Peloponnesian War because individuals in the government acted against the will of the democracy! The form of government you are proposing does not work! In an oligarchy, the number of people in power will only grow smaller. Our progress will be set back years if this resolution is passed." A vote was then taken, and, since Thrasybulus had spread his poison, the proposal failed.
Next, Sophodoros, the wisest of us all, proposed that Athens should build an Academy. I take great joy in the fact that this idea was originally proposed by me, but even as the Ekklesia members laughed at me and scoffed, Sophodoros saw through my poor oration and became the champion of my plan. Sophodoros proclaimed, "It's time for the wealthy to give back and found this institution! I have found a few men, including myself, who are willing to pay out of our pockets for a school that will be open to all citizen of our great polis!" Sophodoros then submitted the resolution:
The establishment of the Athenian Academy, a tuition-free institution open to all Athenian men, will be founded to instruct the future generations of Athens in the arts of justice, war, wisdom, and rhetoric.
Thrasybulus, enemy to all who would wish to learn, spat, "This proposal is elitist! I would not
want to place education into the hands of the Socratics, traitors that they are. If passed, this resolution would restrict and smother democracy." Again, the venomous words of Thrasybulus took hold in the hearts of the men of the Ekklesia. The resolution failed with a margin of 3,200 to 3,600 against. I felt betrayed by my fellow Athenians, that they could not see the Academy for what it would be: a gift to enlighten our sons so that true democracy can again be trusted in the hands of the many.
Next, a proposal was put forth stating:
The community of metics will help fund the boule. They will provide 30,000 drachmas per year to fund an increase in pay for Bouletai. 30 seats will be reserved for metics in the Boule. These seats are subject to the same rules and regulations as the rest. These seats will not be discriminated against and their voices will be considered in the same way as any other Athenian citizen.
Immediately after, the resolution was put to a vote, and then failed. Agathon, son of Tisamenos, another man whom I consider my friend and a supporter of my values, proposed:
The members of the Boule will be no less than 30 years of age."–Agathon, son of Tisamenos
Thrasybulus cried, "This is just another aptitude test. It's trying to narrow democracy into
oligarchy!" Thrasybulus was obviously not clever enough to remember that the age of thirty had been the lower limit of members of the Boule in the past. In addition, Thrasybulus was also not clear-sighted enough to see that Athens need those who are experienced running the government. In spite of Thrasybulus' disapproval, the resolution passed. Sophodoros, who had sensibly reworded his resolution, proposed:
The Athenian Academy, a tuition-free school, to instruct the future generations of Athens in the necessary arts of justice, war, and wisdom and rhetoric is established. The school will be funded by rich Athenians (Sophodoros included), and will be taught during the part of the year, which is not detrimental to one's family occupation, thus in shifts throughout the year.
The proposition was quickly put to a vote, and it passed. Imagine how jubilant I was to have my idea passed! Since I have no children of my own, I consider the plan to found the Academy of Athens my child. I am ecstatic that my creation will live on to help shape Athens for many years. When next the Ekklesia held a session, Thrasybulus was quick to jump up to the podium.
With a vicious gleam in his eyes, he stated, "This is how education is run in Sparta. By age seven, boys are placed into a public education system. The goal of this education is obedience through psychological discipline. The Socratics, who are akin to the Spartan educators, will push through their agenda to corrupt the minds of our children if we do not stop them now! Vote to rescind this educational system!" I could not believe how low that Thrasybulus had stooped, accusing his fellow Athenians of treason and dragging their names through the mud.
To this attack, Sophodoros calmly replied, "Am I a Spartan? I was born and raised in Athens. I am not trying to make secondary citizens. I am trying to raise us above and beyond Sparta. I am not trying to make subservient minions. The Ekklesia will set every standard for this school! Indoctrination is not going to happen! Each one of use is different and has his own perspectives. We will not make our population homogonous. But democracy does not mean we must hold to the lot in life that we are given. This school aims to create a more efficient Athens. Is that so wrong? "
At this point, was wont to jump to my feet an applaud Sophodoros, but I knew that the battle to convince the people to keep the Academy had not yet been won. Thrasybulus, fuming, mumbled that this resolution still seemed Spartan. I am convinced that Thrasybulus was just bitter that the Ekklesia did not have quorum, so he could not force us to vote down the Academy.
The Ekklesia moved on to more pressing matters, albeit they were no more important than the Academy. Both Agathons briefly spoke about an economic plan, but the day ended before anything could be formally proposed.
At the next meeting of the Ekklesia, we were asked to think on the question "What is an Athenian?" Thrasybulus eagerly spouted, "We must define what it means to be an Athenian citizen. We cannot survive without the help of the metics. We wouldn't not have Athens as it is today without them. Someone who shows loyalty and fights for their polis should be entitled to citizenship. Metics should be citizens." While there is no denying the metics' service to Athens, I became worried that the inclusion of these metics would put a strain on the Academy, since they would become entitled to attend the school.
Sophodoros echoed my complaints, saying, "We've managed cooperation with them until now. Why change the system when it is working now? "
A vague proposal was set forth, stating: We propose to include the metics in the electoriate.
The resolution was swiftly shot down. Another resolution, stating:
Metics who have lived in Athens their entire life will be granted citizenship and be taxed and represented as all other citizens
was then hastily passed, but not before Thrasybulus, full of his usual venom, declared, "All those who would vote against this resolution are Socratics, who aspire to divide us into oligarchy." Yet again, Thrasybulus misunderstood the aim of the Socratics. The Socratics seek the betterment of self and the society through justice, not through division. In any case, the resolution passed. At the very ending of that particular session of the Ekklesia, we voted to hold an ostracism at the next meeting. I left the meeting a very happy man, hoping that the ostracism would spell the end of Thrasybulus' lies and slanders.
The next session opened with the intention to vote on a play. We were treated to a few lines from each of the proposed plays. Agathon, son of Tisamenos, and a known playwright, shamed Thrasybulus by discretely calling him an oligarch, the term which Thrasybulus so hates. I almost fell out of my seat, laughing, as Thrasybulus stormed off the stage! The next , written by an aspiring playwright, was about two gods who had forsaken Athens. The votes were cast and the second play had won. I was a bit saddened that Agathon's play will not be preformed, although I will enjoy watching the other play nonetheless.
Suddenly, a messenger appeared! The people of Piraeus, driven mad by their state of hunger, were threatening to revolt! Thrasybulus urged us to "send troops to quell the riots and hand out grain".
All the while, Thrasybulus aimed to bleed money from the Academy for this cause. Sophodoros pointed out what Thrasybulus' statement truly was: a veiled threat.
Nicolaus, in all his wisdom, beseeched the Ekklesia to let him go to Ionia to by grain from his friends across the sea. We permitted him to do so, and he immediately set off.
Next, Thrasybulus attempted to get rid of his enemies by proposing the resolution:
Sophodoros, Diodotus, Agathon (son of Tisamenos), Menexus, and Andokides shall have their property and assets seized in order to restore Athens to prosperity. In this manner, we will also be taking money from the supporters of the Thirty.
This proposal failed quite spectacularly. In retrospect, I must laugh, because this proposal cost Thrasybulus all his supporters. Next, we came to the ordeal of the ostracism. Several men spoke for and against the ostracism of Thrasybulus, who was the most likely candidate to be ostracized. To my surprise, there were enough pieces of pottery incriminating Thrasybulus to ostracize him.
During the last session of the Ekklesia that I will detail, we held a trial against Socrates. Without Thrasybulus to spread his lies, the Socratics were allowed to speak in defense of their teacher. Sophodoros, in particular, proclaimed, "Socrates is trying to return us to faith in the gods and humility. We have lost Athens' foundation. Socrates teaches us to be good, not rich. He was following his piety, not showing his impiety".
Thracymachus, the spearhead of the radical democrats after Thrasybulus' ostracism, told us that "Socrates will bring down Athens lower than its current state" and he urged the Ekklesia, "to nip this problem in the bud". A bit more debate occurred, and then the matter was put to a vote. Socrates was declared guilty. In a strange turn of events, an equal number of people voted to put Socrates to death as did to spare him, so Socrates' punishment is to be fed like an Olympic victor for the rest of his life! I am glad that such an amazing mind was not silenced before the gods allowed him eternal sleep.
As this matter was being decided, I heard a bustle outside. As soon as we had finished counting the votes, Nicolaus burst into the Ekklesia, infuriated, declared, "I return from Ionia to find that instead of fixing the city's foundation and mending economic fences you all are prosecuting my friend, Socrates! Once again you all ignore the bigger problems of Athens! I will stand for it no longer. I am the one feeding the people of Pireaus, warding off another revolt. I have several thousand Persian soldiers at my call. I control our port and I have an army. From now on you all will be answering to me.
You point your finger at Socrates and claim he is corrupting our youth when in fact he is strengthening them. You say he is casting doubts on what justice is and making our children amoral, but this is not his goal. He does not allow his students to be content with accepting everything they hear as simple truth. He expands their minds; he makes them think for themselves. This is an asset for Athens. You want your children to do what you did, you want to keep Athens in stasis. Athens must change and grow if she is to survive. Is there any other city that is so against change? Oh yes, Sparta. Spartan children are taught to be good soldiers and follow orders. Is this how you want your children raised, because I did not sign up for that.
Well now I have something to say. I am going to stop waiting for democracy to prove itself; I am going to stop waiting for others to decide the fate of this city. I stand before you a changed man. A more determined man. I went to Ionia to get grain and a got so much more. I realized that if Athens is ever going to be a great city again it needs a leader, a leader willing to do whatever needs to be done needs to take over. I am more than willing to take that role."
Later on, my good friend Sophodoros gave a grand speech on the current affairs. It was a quite lengthy speech, and regrettably I do not remember it all, but I will attempt to paraphrase it- "Even though we extolled the virtues of democracy, I believe that tyranny is not evil or completely negative if only existing as a state of transition to another government. Also, I believe that my fellow outraged Athenians should consider the failings of democracy that allowed the tyranny to be achieved. And so, if both these forms of governments are not satisfactory, I will endeavor to set before you today a new type of government that we can all, tyrant and Athenian, work towards and capitalize on our current predicament. Tyranny is not necessarily bad and democracy is not necessarily good.
Why do I say this? Am I just a toady trying to suck up to our newly self-appointed leader? No. Although the government has changed, what I say now was as true as when we had a democracy, oligarchy, and tyrannies. However, in a democracy, selfishness the primary good; one does not say that the democracy is the best form of government for any reason besides wanting to be able to guide the government towards one's own interest. I firmly believe that if we allowed justice and virtue to lead us in daily life as well as politics, there would be no problem in being led by a small group, and that oligarchy under these conditions would not prove offensive.
But coming back to the circumstances at hand, I must return to the matters of tyranny. Because I am sure that there are those of you still opposed to my ambivalence to both democracy and tyranny, I think it prudent to recall that the tyranny of Peisistratus actually benefited the city of Athens; he dictated the specialization of Athenian farmers' crops that maximized our profit and promoted Athenian pottery making, which undoubtedly brought us much renown and glory.
However, let it also be remembered that tyranny is not a sustainable type of government in the long run due to a couple of key weaknesses and negative practices. The most pressing is that of the character of the tyrant; if the tyrant is unjust and self-serving, then we Athenians are presented with danger to our persons, liberty, and possessions, but since I believe Nicolaus to be an Athenian of good character, albeit one frustrated with our inability to solve necessary problems, I do not believe he will commit such trespasses against us, so I will move on. The second weakness of tyranny is the keeping of power by the establishing tyrant, but in this case, Nicolaus seems to have that issue firmly in hand.
And so Nicolaus and fellow Athenians, I would encourage that we think of the current tyranny as merely a transition period to another form of government and thus plan accordingly. If we are wise, then we will use this transition government to build the philosopher-ruled government, of which vision I have received from the great philosopher Socrates.
I am still committed to the Athenian Academy, and while I welcome the goodwill of our new tyrant Nicolaus, I am here to remind the people that this school is not just an institution of a tyranny, but was established under a democracy, and that its purpose is independent of whoever rules Athens at any given time because its vocation is larger than the current figures of power; the Athenian Academy stands for the education of our youth, so that they may all become great citizens, more intelligent and proficient in the key areas of virtue, justice, and wisdom, which can and will only improve us. I expect it to aid in the bringing about of the better, more virtuous government born of philosophy of which I advocate here today."
It heartened me greatly to hear that Sophodoros was still planning on running the Academy! I have believed from the beginning that if Athens is to pull itself from its current state, the masses need to be educated in order that they do not become a brainless mob. Perhaps if everyone had the level of educated that I was fortunate enough to have received, they would now see that this tyranny will not be anywhere near as bad as they suppose it will be.
Nicolaus has finally managed something that we have been trying to accomplish without success for a very long time- he has unified Athens at last! We should no longer need to spitefully call each other "oligarchs" or "radical democrats". We are all the same under Nicolaus' reign. It was because of these divisions that we were beaten by the Spartans. Now that we are whole again, Athens will be able to regain the power it once held. The riots are settling down and Ionia is once again allied with us. Once again, we have food to put on our tables and money in our pockets. I hear that we even have a fleet again!
Since Nicolaus established his rule, we have begun taking our first steps as a strong, whole polis. For the first time in history, Athens is allied with Persia. There is no doubt that Athens and it new group of allies could beat Sparta if it came to that, but we must first focus on restoring Athens, rather than exacting revenge. Athens power needs to be based on reasoning, first and foremost. We have lost so many good men in the last war.
There should be no more need or cause for more bloodshed between Athenians and the Spartans. I admit, I say this due to my own distaste for war and bloodlust, but I must stress that now is the time for Athens needs to build, rather than to destroy. New alliances must be made! New ships must be built! The Long Walls need to be refortified! And the minds of Athens must be fortified by the strong foundation of learning and thought! Only when Athens, as a whole, can stop and think before acting will we prosper beyond doubt.
I will wrap up my work by admitting that although the recent turn of events in Athens was rather unexpected, and many of those who had so loudly cried for democracy are unhappy, I am pleased that Nicolaus has gained control. Although I feel that Athens will eventually need to revert to a democracy, what we need now is someone to organize and strengthen our polis. I only hope that the people of Athens can put aside their hatred of tyranny so that we can continue to make progress in reviving the city. Trying to revolt against Nicolaus would only cause more bloodshed and destruction. As long as Nicolaus remains being the upright man that he is currently, Athens will thrive under his rule.
I admit that in the beginning, I was a bit wary of the tyranny that Nicolaus established, mainly because he seized power with a gigantic army, and I feared that he would bring doom down upon our people. But Sophodoros has convinced me that Nicolaus has the potential to be a good leader, and since I had previously assessed Nicolaus to be a man of honor, and I believe that he is just might be the leader that we need to bring Athens back to its former glory. With Sophodoros continuing to back the Academy and Nicolaus organizing the state's rebirth and rebuilding, I am confident that Athens has finally been set onto its true, proper path- one where Athens can walk in logic, and, hopefully, in peace.
May the praises of Nicolaus and Sophodoros be sung for many, many years!
-Nikomedes, son of Eutychides
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