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Detroit Tough
Take a look at what it means to be Detroit Tough.
Tough as the city it's born in
Detroit Tough is a gym that believes in mental and physical toughness. At Detroit Tough, we think outside the box. We are an open gym that also offers over 40 classes per week with some of the top coaches in the country. Our unique and innovative training philosophy allows for any person at any physical level to progress and reach their goals at a safe and manageable pace. As much as we are committed to you and your goals, we are also committed to our community and believe in making Detroit the best city that it can be. Your absolute best is what we ask for on a daily basis, and remember that EVERYONE is welcome at Detroit Tough.
Detroit Tough has recruited the best coaches from around the country to provide you with a wide array of disciplines. Along with an open gym, Detroit Tough offers something for every athlete from the Strongman to the GORUCK to the Yogi.
Corktown Barbell
Corktown Barbell is a strength training class based on measurable strength gains in our 3 base lifts, squats, bench press and dead lifts. Multiple training methods will be utilized from German Volume, Cube, Westside and Wendler. Each class will be structured with technique, form and progression. 60 minute class.
Bodyweight Warrior
Bodyweight involves pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running and planks. Your body is your best gym.
Detroit Tough Run Club
All levels are welcome. Groups will be tiered based on running capabilities and speed. Nobody runs alone, and nobody gets left behind. Beginners will build endurance with a structured run/walk ratio format. Experienced runners will increase speed and endurance by improving technique and using formatted interval training. Our main goal will be consistent, steady improvement focusing on mechanics and efficiency, building a solid aerobic base, increasing race speed, and improving strength to weight ratio.
Train Like A Savage
In the world of Train like a Savage, team is all that matters and each exercise builds upon the last. Words cannot explain Savage, it's just something you have to experience. 120 minute class.
TRX Circuit Training
Utilizing TRX Suspension Training straps as well as your own body weight and many other favorites like kettlebells, medicine balls, battle ropes, etc, this class will get your heart pumping and your sweat dripping in a challenging, yet fun and encouraging atmosphere. We focus on strength, balance, flexibility, and coordination. TRX workouts are scaled so that any person, at any level, with any goal can participate.
Kettlebell Konditioning
The Kettlebell has a long and powerful history. For over 100 years the Ketllebell has been used by a wide variety of athletes for specific strength and conditioning goals. Led by a IKFF competitor and coach, Ketllebell Konditioning is tailored to fit your training. If you don't know what a Turkish Get Up is, Coach Michael will show you. Conversely if you are training for a Long Cycle competition, we will have you covered.
Detroit Tough
Our signature class will combine a little bit of everything our gym has to offer and provide you a "tough" total body workout. Some classes may involve all bodyweight movements. Other days you may find yourself lifting heavy awkward Atlas stones then pushing a football sled.
D-Tough Yoga
D-Tough Yoga is a challenging yoga class that centers around BUILDING & INCREASING strength, flexibility, and stamina using traditional yoga poses. These yoga classes are a supplement to the workouts at Detroit Tough using the fundamentals of yoga: breath, postures, and mindfulness practices. Be ready to move and sweat!
Proving Ground
Part Strongman, Part Kettlebell, Part old skool weightlifting, ALL effort and fun. You will challenge yourself with the Yoke, Husafel Stone, Conan Wheel, Atlas Stones, Sleds, etc. This class is appropriate for all levels.
Rucks Bricks & ACRT
Grab your Ruck, fill it with bricks or ACRT and head out to explore Detroit. This class is meant to explore the city as well as enjoy the city. It meets rain, snow, sleet or shine.
Bricktown Bodies
Bricktown bodies focuses on core strengthening and conditioning. There is a different program scheduled for each class. All levels are welcome and modifications are tailored for individual needs.
Detroit Tough Mechanics
This class is focused on injury prevention and making your weaknesses your strength. Within the hour you will work on mobility, body mechanics, strength development and balance. Focus on the little details to keep our engine running properly.
Detroit Tough Swim
Workouts are held at Patton Community Center in SW. Workouts are geared towards making you a better open water swimmer. Each session will include stroke mechanic work and intervals.
Requirement: Ability to swim 2 lengths of the pool without stopping.
Detroit Tough Bike
Group training for triathlon and bike racing. Sessions are designed around the current season from Base Training to Race Prep. 15 trainers available.
NOTE: Rides Tue/Thur 1-2 hours in duration, Saturday 1.5-3 hours
Detroit Tough Run
Group training for 5k- Marathon. Training session includes: movement prep/run drills, a workout, and mobility/foam rolling post run.
Detroit Tough Transition Run
For triathletes attending the Saturday Long ride. Start time based on duration of ride.


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when arabs stop homicidal/suicidal attacks against us, when they(arabs) say that Jewish people belong in this area then and only then your dream world will come true. As of right now it is a simple life of survival.
If selected for publication, it will appear as soon as possible on Haaretz.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kenzie Fowler's star-crossed career ends as Cats' No. 1 cheerleader
MAY 14, 2014 4:50p ET
TUCSON, Ariz. -- To say she's had her share of "ups and downs" would be a disservice to Kenzie Fowler, Arizona's one-time pitching prodigy in the mold of Jennie Finch, Nancy Evans and Taryne Mowatt.
Those three were NCAA champions and were all but unhittable in Arizona's run to the titles. Fowler seemed destined to follow in their footsteps after signing with the Wildcats out of Canyon del Oro High School.
She was close, leading Arizona to the championship game of the 2010 Women's College World Series as a freshman. But she would never get any closer, and her career came to an unexpected end because of a left shoulder injury (thoracic outlet syndrome) last week.
"I'm not going to let it define the perception of how I'll leave (Arizona)," said Fowler, a fifth-year senior who suffered the same injury on her right shoulder as a high school pitcher. "I've had the time of my life and have had so many great memories and so many great moments to be part of. It's something I'll look back on and say I had a great time."
Her career might be over but Arizona's season isn't. The Wildcats will play host to one of 16 regionals beginning on Friday when it plays Boston. Louisiana State and Louisville are on the other side of the bracket.
Fowler will take on the role of cheerleader and a source of inspiration.
"She has a lot of say on this team, and we look up to her," infielder Kellie Fox said.
"Going all the way to the championship as a freshman is something you don't see very often. You could say it set up my career for something abnormal."
Kenzie Fowler
Fowler, who finished 8-6 this season, said she "will try to give leadership in a different way" to a relatively young Wildcats team.
"I'm excited for them because this is the most exciting part of the season," she said. "I don't think they've had that type of feeling because many have not played the postseason at Hillenbrand."
Of the current Wildcats, the College World Series is foreign territory for all but Fowler, who in 2010 went 38-9 while earning first-team All-America honors.
"The start of my career was definitely unique," she said. "Going all the way to the championship as a freshman is something you don't see very often. You could say it set up my career for something abnormal."
That's a perfect description from the aspiring broadcast journalist who will intern at the Pac-12 Conference headquarters in the Bay Area this summer.
"I've been through a lot of unique things that are very rare, freak accidents, just weird things," she said.
Her sophomore season was interrupted midway through after she was hit by a foul ball and suffered a concussion. She finished 26-8, and Arizona was eliminated by Oklahoma the round before the CWS.
She struggled to regain her form as a junior in 2012, sat out last season as a redshirt following back surgery, and missed additional time this year after getting hit by a batted ball. She finishes her career with an 87-33 record.
"Tell me one kid who has had to do that to play the game," Arizona coach Mike Candrea said. "I admire her for sticking it out. It would have been real easy for her to say my body is just not able to do this anymore. But she was able to do it. ⦠(she has to) be admired by what she's done. "
Her love for the game she grew up playing in northwest Tucson was her motivation. But there were times when it was a rocky love affair as doubts crept in about whether she reached her peak too early.
"You know, could I go nowhere but down? Stuff like that," she said.
It happened the year of the concussion -- just two years removed from being Gatorade's two-time high school player of the year.
"You hear a lot about the sophomore slump and I didn't really have one, but you realize it's hard to duplicate that type of success after that first year," she said. "You don't really realize it when you're a freshman. Nobody really realizes how hard it is to get (to the top)."
She hopes to see her team return to that level, but it's been sort of a struggle this season despite its 41-13 record (including 28-2 at home). Arizona, an eight-time NCAA champion, has been known for its pitching behind the aforementioned Finch, Evans and Mowatt. This year it's led by senior Estela Pinon, who is 17-7 with a 2.54 ERA.
"I think it's fair to say we're going to go as far as we can execute on the mound," Candrea said. "I think we can score some runs. We have to play better defense than we did last weekend (in going 1-2 vs. No. 1 Oregon). But it's the first team that gets 21 outs, that's who usually wins."
For many of the past 28 years, Candrea has been on the good end of those 21 outs. But Arizona has lacked a dominant pitching ace since Fowler's freshman year.
He likes much of what he's seen from this year's team, which comes into the postseason with a .353 team batting average.
"It's a step in the right direction," said Candrea. "I really like this team. I think we've got a lot more talent than we had last year. I feel very good about our offense. We've played pretty good defense most of the year, and our pitching has been good, not great."
No need to remind him that this is the time when greatness is required.
Last year, Arizona failed to make it out of the regional round, something unheard of in the Candrea era. The previous two seasons it lost to Oklahoma in the super regionals. Arizona hasn't been to the College World Series since 2010.
"I think they are starting to realize what it takes," Candrea said. "We're in kind of an era where you have to wait and see. We don't have a lot of kids who are battle-tested in the College World Series. That sometimes makes you realize why you do what you do every day. We have to get back there to make that happen. We have to be able to bridge that gap."
Follow Steve Rivera on Twitter
All-Pac-12 team
Arizona had five first-team selections on the All-Pac-12 team that was announced Wednesday, including Defensive Player of the Year Kellie Fox and Freshman of the Year Katiyana Mauga.
Fox, a junior shortstop, has 108 assists, 78 putouts and a .949 fielding percentage and is hitting .401 with a .771 slugging percentage, .505 on-base percentage and 59 RBI.
Mauga, a third baseman, is hitting .382 with 19 home runs, 56 RBI and a conference-leading .924 slugging percentage.
Joining them on the All-Pac-12 first team are junior catcher Chelsea Goodacre, senior utility Kelsey Rodriguez and junior first baseman Hallie Wilson. The first first-team selections are the most of any Pac-12 team. Goodacre leads the Pac-12 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI; Rodriguez has a .424 batting average with 18 doubles; and Wilson leads the league with 66 runs scored.
Arizona senior pitcher Estela Pinon was a second-team selection, and second baseman Mo Mercado was named to the all-freshman team.
UCLA's Ally Carda was Player of the Year, Oregon's Cheridan Hawkins was Pitcher of the Year, and Oregon's Mike White was Coach of the Year.


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What is SOIF?
The School of International Futures (SOIF) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation based in the UK but operating around the world. We give policy officials, business leaders, analysts and activists the tools and techniques to become better commissioners and users of strategic foresight.
At SOIF retreats and courses, you join a global network of foresight professionals who imagine the future together. You receive advice and insights from world experts who have already used foresight to make a difference in the world, you learn the SOIF Four-stage foresight process and you gain the skills to plan a future of prosperity, security and wellbeing for your organisation.
SOIF helps you to think differently – and confidently – about the future.
Join us this August for SOIF 2015
With the world becoming ever more unpredictable, it's important there is a place that teaches strategic foresight and planning. The School of International Futures is a treasure that anybody interested in managing for the future should not miss.
Director, Strategic Foresight Initiative at the Atlantic Council
Recent articles
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A new report from the Institute for Security Studies explores the rationale and importance of systematic trend ana…
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23 Oct
We can help you:
- Scan your strategic horizon
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General News Archive - November 04, 2008
By Jill Lawrence Democrat Barack Obama said months ago that he intended to compete hard in states that Democratic presidential nominees haven't won in decades.
For Nadine Artemis and Ron Obadia, August began with plans for a family vacation in Minnesota. The vacation ended with the two Canadians being led through Toronto's airport in handcuffs, locked up and separated from their baby. "We were dumbfounded," Artemis says.
Democrat Mark R. Warner was the projected winner Tuesday in the U.S. Senate race in Virginia against Republican James Gilmore. Democrats in the U.S. Senate watched election returns Tuesday, hoping to push their party closer to the filibuster-proof number of 60.
Word of the Day
- To give a box on the ear to.
The word 'whirret' may be onomatopoeic.


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I could just write a one-time testimonial as I only do my magic purchases with MJM. But each time I order from them, it just gets better and better!...Read More ->


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Select at least 2 products. Add up to 3 items.
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The Portfolio is a stylish solution to protecting the iPad while carrying it around. The front of the case folds back into a stand for the perfect angle for watching videos, typing, searching the web and more.
When you buy selected software from MacMall, you have two delivery options: you can have it shipped, or you can download it straight to your PC. Downloadable software consists of two parts: 1) a product key and 2) the software files. Both are provided once your order has been processed. Download time will be dependent on your connection speed.
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MacMall is the #1 Apple Direct Reseller. We sell more Apple-branded products than any other direct Apple reseller. Since 1987, MacMall has been supplying Mac computers, Mac software, iPods, iPad accessories, and more Apple brand products and consumer electronics to consumers, businesses, and creative professionals. At MacMall, we understand the increasing demand for the best quality consumer products at huge discounted prices. That's why we are proud to offer the lowest prices on our extensive selection of best-selling products, and hard-to-find Mac and iPod products you crave. Get yourself the new iPad or the new Apple TV for your family. Looking to upgrade your MacBook? Or just want to find out the best suited iPod/iPhone accessories for your hot gadget? Keep your iPad up-to-date with function and technology with our line of top-brand iPad accessories. Compare brands. Equip your Apple products. More than the innovative products, MacMall goes beyond commerce and into affordable, high-quality business solutions. From customized business sites to financing & leasing to software licensing, technology certifications, configuration services, packaged service programs, and more. Enjoy easy management, easy installation, and easy implementation. Discover a whole new way to create and re-create your business. Plus, with our 24/7 customer service hotline, we're always just a phone call away no matter when you want to reach us. Get the MacMall Advantage. Don't miss out on the best deals, special prices, rebate savings, exclusive bundles, and dedicated service you won't find anywhere else!
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"The paper was a heavy, good quality paper. The print was great too. It was easy to write your message with a pen. It did not smudge. It only required one stamp when mailing. The company delivered when promised, and kept me up to date with the status of my order as far as, receiving, printing, and delivering."
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text: United States Patent: 5558643 ( 1 of 1 ) United States Patent 5,558,643 Samson , et al. September 24, 1996 Catheter with NiTi tubular shaft Abstract A low-profile steerable dilatation catheter for angioplasty procedures which has an inflated balloon on the distal end with little or no tendency to wrap on itself when the catheter is advanced through a patient's vascular system. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular member which is longitudinally relatively flexible but diametrically relatively rigid, a guide extension secured to the distal end of the elongated tubular member, and an inflatable balloon secured on the proximal end thereof to the distal end of the elongated tubular member and on the distal end directly or indirectly to the guide member or the tubular member and an elongated flexible member such as a helical coil secured to the guide extension distally of the balloon. The elongated tubular member is preferably a hypotube of stainless steel or nitinol. Inventors: Samson; Wilfred J. (Saratoga, CA), Tremulis; William S. (Redwood City, CA) Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) [*] Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to August 11, 2008 has been disclaimed. Appl. No.: 08/255,358 Filed: June 8, 1994 Related U.S. Patent Documents Application NumberFiling DatePatent NumberIssue Date 231215Aug., 19885449343 760636Jul., 1985 Current U.S. Class: 604/103.1 ; 606/194 Current International Class: A61M 25/10 (20060101); A61M 29/02 (20060101); A61B 17/22 (20060101); A61M 029/00 () Field of Search: 604/95-103,280-281 606/192,194 128/656-658,772 References Cited [Referenced By] U.S. Patent Documents 3890977 June 1975 Wilson 4261339 April 1981 Hanson et al. 4411655 October 1983 Schreck 4427000 January 1984 Ueda 4503569 March 1985 Dotter 4512338 April 1985 Balko et al. 4768507 September 1988 Fischell et al. 4771778 September 1988 Mar 4776844 October 1988 Ueda 4882777 November 1989 Narula 4925445 May 1990 Sakamoto et al. 5025799 June 1991 Wilson 5067957 November 1991 Jervis Foreign Patent Documents 55-164304 Nov., 1980 JP Primary Examiner: McDermott; Corrine M. Attorney, Agent or Firm: Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May Parent Case Text This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 07/231,215 which was filed on Aug. 11, 1988 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,343 which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 760,636, filed Jul. 30, 1985, abandoned. Claims What is claimed is: 1. A dilatation catheter for performing an angioplasty procedure, comprising: a) an elongated catheter having a proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section; b) an inner lumen extending through the proximal shaft section and into the distal shaft section; c) a tubular element formed of a NiTi alloy which defines at least in part the inner lumen extending through the proximal shaft section; and d) an inflatable dilatation balloon on the distal shaft section having an interior in fluid communication with the inner lumen extending within the distal shaft section. 2. The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the tubular element formed of NiTi alloy forms at least a portion of the distal shaft section and defines at least in part the inner lumen extending within the distal shaft section. 3. The dilatation catheter of claim 2 wherein the tubular element formed of NiTi alloy which forms at least a portion of the distal shaft section tapers in a distal direction to a smaller outer diameter. 4. The dilatation catheter of claim 3 wherein the tubular element of NiTi alloy exhibits shape memory. 5. The dilatation catheter of claim 1 wherein the tubular element of NiTi alloy exhibits superelastic properties. 6. An intravascular catheter having an elongated catheter shaft comprising a distal shaft portion which has a balloon with an interior thereon and a first inner lumen extending therein in fluid communication with the interior of the balloon; and a proximal shaft portion which has a inner lumen extending therein which is in fluid communication with the first inner lumen of the distal shaft section and which is formed at least in part by a tubular element with at least part of the second inner lumen extending therethrough and formed of NiTi alloy. 7. The intravascular catheter of claim 6 wherein the distal shaft portion tapers in the distal direction to a smaller outer diameter in at least one step. 8. The dilatation catheter of claim 6 wherein the tubular element exhibits shape memory. Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to vascular catheters and particularly low-profile steerable catheters for angioplasty procedures, such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In PT CA procedures, a dilatation catheter having an inflated balloon on the distal end thereof is advanced through a patient's arterial system until the deflated balloon crosses the atherosclerotic lesion to be dilated. The balloon is inflated to a predetermined size with radiopaque liquid at relatively high pressures to compress the atherosclerotic plaque against the inside of the artery wall and then the balloon is deflated so that the catheter can be removed and blood flow resumed. Typically, a guiding catheter having a preformed distal end is first percutaneously introduced into the patient's arterial system with the distal tip in the coronary artery. A guidewire is advanced through the guiding catheter into the patient's coronary anatomy until the distal end of the guidewire crosses the lesion to be dilated. The dilatation catheter is then advanced over the guidewire, with the guidewire slidably disposed within an inner lumen of the catheter, until the inflatable balloon is positioned within the lesion. For a more detailed description of angioplasty procedures and the devices used in such procedures, reference is made to Lundquist U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,254; Simpson-Robert U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,071; Lundquist U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,185; Enzmann et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,224 Samson U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,972; Samson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,622; and Simpson U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,652 which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety. Steerable dilatation catheters with built-in guidewires or guiding elements are being used with greater frequency because the deflated profile of such catheters are generally smaller than conventional dilatation catheters having the same inflated balloon size. Further details of low-profile steerable dilatation catheters may be found in Sampson U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,181 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. The lower profile of these catheters allows the catheter to cross tighter lesions and to be advanced much deeper into the patient's coronary anatomy. Moreover, the use of steerable low-profile dilatation catheters having a built-in guidewire or guiding element shortens considerably the time for the angioplasty procedures because there is no need to first insert a guidewire and then insert a conventional dilatation catheter over the previously inserted guidewire. However, it has been found that the balloon elements of commercially available very low-profile steerable catheters tend to wrap on themselves when the catheter is torqued so that the balloon frequently will not completely inflate when positioned across a stenosis or if inflated to deflate within a desired time period. Some suppliers of such catheters recommend that the catheter be limited to one rotation to avoid such balloon wrapping. However, such restrictions on rotations severely limit the steerability of the catheter within a patient's vasculature. What has been needed and heretofore unavailable is a steerable dilatation catheter having a very low profile which can be torqued from the proximal end thereof without wrapping the inflatable balloon element. The present invention satisfies this and other needs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a steerable dilatation catheter having an inflatable balloon which has a very low profile and which will not wrap on itself upon torqueing. The steerable dilatation catheter in accordance with the present invention includes an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal portions, an inner lumen extending along the length thereof, and one or more inflation ports in the distal portion in fluid communication with the inner lumen thereof. The tubular member is relatively flexible in the longitudinal direction, but diametrically it is relatively rigid. A guide extension or element, which is preferably tapered toward its distal end, is secured by suitable means at its proximal end to the distal end of the elongated tubular member. An inflatable balloon is concentrically disposed at least in part about the tubular member with the proximal end of the balloon secured by suitable means to the tubular member proximal to one or more of the inflation ports therein being in fluid communication with the interior of the inflatable balloon to facilitate the inflation thereof. The distal end of the balloon is sealingly secured about the distal extremity of the tubular member or the guide extension so that little or no relative rotational movement occurs between the ends of the balloon during the torquing of the catheter when it is steered through the patient's arterial system. An elongated flexible member such as a helical coil or a cylindrical plastic member (e.g., polyethylene) having a rounded plug on the distal end is coaxially disposed about the guide extension and extends distally of the balloon. It is joined by suitable means to the guide extension at one or more locations along the length thereof. The structure of the catheter tip distally of the balloon can be of standard design wherein the distal tip of the guide extension is secured to the rounded plug at the distal tip of the coil. Alternatively, it may have a floppy design wherein the distal tip of the coil extends beyond the distal tip of the guide extension and a safety ribbon extends from an intermediate location to the rounded plug in the distal tip of the coil where it is secured. The proximal end of the elongated tubular member has an adapter with means to introduce inflating liquid into the inner lumen of the tubular member and also means to apply torque to the tubular member in order to provide steerability to the dilatation catheter. The low-profile steerable dilatation catheter of the invention can be used by itself to dilate tight stenoses, or it can be used in conjunction with a larger diameter conventional dilatation catheter as described in copending application Ser. No. 760,636 filed Jul. 30, 1985, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein. As described in the above copending application, when it is found during an angioplasty procedure that the deflated balloon of a conventional dilatation catheter is too large to cross a stenotic region to be dilated, the steerable low-profile catheter of the invention is advanced through an inner lumen of the conventional dilatation catheter until the balloon of the low-profile catheter is in the stenotic region. The balloon is inflated to dilate the stenosis sufficiently so that the conventional dilatation balloon can be advanced over the low-profile dilatation cathter in place to position the balloon of the conventioal catheter across the stenosis so that upon inflation thereof the dilation can be complete. In a presently preferred embodiment, the elongated tubular member is a hypotube formed of stainless steel (e.g., type 304) or other suitable materials, such as nitinol, which is a nickel-titanium alloy having a "memory" and superelastic properties. The use of hypotubes in such instances allows the dilatation catheter to be made with profiles as low as 0.010 inch (0.254 mm). Moreover, even though the hypotube is formed of high-strength materials and is diametrically rather rigid, the diameter-to-length ratio is sufficiently low that the elongated tubular member made therefrom is relatively flexible. It can be easily advanced through the tortuous arterial passages of a patient and it has excellent pushability. In one presently preferred embodiment, the distal end of the tubular member terminates within the interior of the balloon. In this instance, the guide element, which is secured to the distal end of the tubular member, extends through the distal end of the balloon. In another presently preferred embodiment, the tubular member extends through the interior of the balloon. However, in this embodiment, a plurality of slots are formed in the wall of the tubular member extending through the balloon to increase the flexibility without significantly reducing the torquability thereof. In accordance with the invention, both ends of the inflatable balloon are fixed so there is little or no tendency for the balloon to wrap on itself when the catheter is torqued from the proximal end during the advancement of the catheter through the patient's arteries. These and other advantages of the dilatation catheter of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed discussion thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a steerable dilatation catheter embodying features of the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the distal portion of an alternate embodiment having a floppy tip; and FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially in section, of another alternative steerable dilatation catheter embodying features of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a steerable dilatation catheter assembly 10 embodying features of the invention. As shown, the catheter assembly 10 generally comprises an elongated tubular member 11, a guide extension 12 joined by soldering or brazing 13 at the proximal end 14 thereof to the distal end 15 of the tubular member 11, a balloon element 16 secured by suitable adhesive 17 at the proximal end 18 thereof to distal end 15 of the tubular member 11 and by adhesive 19 at the distal end 20 to the guide extension 12, and a flexible coil 21 secured to the guide extension 12 at a suitable location distally of the balloon 16. A removable hub 23 such, as the luer lock shown, is connected to the proximal end of the elongted tubular member 11 to facilitate connection to a source for radiopaque inflation fluid. The hub 23 when tightened against tubular member 11 permits torquing of the proximal end of the tubular member 11 which extends therethrough to steer the catheter when it is advanced through a patient's vasculature. The elongated tubular member 11 is preferably a hypotube formed from stainless steel, such as type 304 stainless steel, or other suitable materials such as nitinol, and has an inner lumen 25 extending along the length thereof. It has one or more ports 28 in the distal portion 15 thereof to discharge inflation fluid from the inner lumen 25 into the interior of the balloon element 16 for the inflation thereof. Inflation fluid is introduced into the inner lumen 25 through hub 23. Typical dimensions of the tubular member include a length of about 150 cm, an outside diameter of 0.018 inch (0.457 mm), and an inside diameter of 0.012 inch (0.305 mm) in the proximal portion which tapers to an outside diameter of 0.01 inch (0.254 mm) in the distal portion. The tubular member can be tapered in steps along its length. These steps can be formed by drawing the tubing or by joining sections of tubing having sequentially smaller diameters by brazing, soldering, welding and the like. The proximal end 14 of the guide extension 12 is suitable secured to the distal end 15 of the tubular member 11 such as by soldering, brazing, or welding as shown at 13. Preferably, the proximal end 14 of the guide extension 12 is sized to fit within the distal end 15 of tubular member 11. The guide element 12 tapers in the distal direction to smaller diameters to provide greater flexibility to the distal end of the catheter assembly 10. The most distal portion 34 of guide extension 12 is preferably flattened to provide even greater flexibility in a single plane and also to facilitate its manual shaping. The guide element 12 may be made of stainless steel or other suitable materials, such as nitinol. Moreover, it can be in the form of a solid rod or a helical coil or wire or combination thereof. The length of the guide element may generally range from about 2 to about 6 cm depending upon tip design. The most distal flattened portion 34 of guide element 12 typically has a transverse cross section of 0.001 by 0.003 inch (0.025 by 0.076 mm). The proximal end of inflatable balloon element 16 is secured by adhesive 17 to the distal extremity 15 of the tubular element 11 so that one or more of the discharge ports 28 are disposed within the interior of the balloon element 16. The distal end 20 of the balloon 16 is sealingly secured by adhesive 19 either directly to the guide extension 12 or indirectly through porous plastic element 35 to seal the interior of the balloon element 16 and prevent the escape of inflation liquid when the balloon is inflated. The balloon element 16 is preferably formed from flexible but relatively inelastic materials, such as irradiated polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate. The proximal and distal ends 18 and 20, respectively, of the balloon 16 may also be heat shrunk onto the tubular member 11 and extension 12 if the balloon is made from heat shrinkable material. Preferably, a porous plastic sheath 35, formed of material such as porous polypropylene, is positioned between the distal end 20 of the balloon 16 and the guide element 12 to allow for the escape of air (as shown by the arrows) but not liquid when the balloon is filled with inflation liquid. Other suitable means for venting air when the balloon is filled with liquid include a small conduit, such as described in Powell U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,805. Alternatively, microscopic holes may be drilled in the balloon element as described in copending application Ser. No. 000,651, filed Jan. 6, 1987. Flexible coil 21 is coaxially disposed about the guide extension 12 and is directly or indirectly secured thereto by at least the proximal end 36 thereof. Suitable joining means include brazing, soldering, or adhesives. A smooth round plug 37 of solder or brazement is provided at the distal tip 38 to reduce the trauma to the interior of the patient's vascular system when the catheter is advanced therein. Preferably, the entire coil section is formed of radiopaque metal, such as platinum, tungsten, irridium, rhenium, gold and alloys thereof to permit observation thereof under fluoroscopic examination. The plug 37 may be similarly formed of radiopaque materials. The distal coil section 40 is given a small stretch (e.g., 10%) to provide a greater degree of flexibility to the tip. If desired, the proximal coil section 41 may be formed from stainless steel (e.g., type 304) or other suitable materials. Radiopaque marker coils 42 and 43 may be also provided about the guide element 12 and about the tubular member 11, respectively, to aid in locating the proximal and central portions of the balloon 16 during fluoroscopic examination. An alternate embodiment, commonly termed a floppy design, is shown in FIG. 2 wherein the distal end 34 of the guide element 12 does not extend to the distal end 38 of the coil 21 but instead is joined to the coil by brazing or soldering at an intermediate location 45. A safety or shaping ribbon 46 extends from the brazement at location 45 to the plug 37. The ribbon 46 can be manually bent or curved to facilitate the entry of the distal end of the catheter into a desired blood vessel during angioplasty procedures. In a presently preferred embodiment, the safety ribbon 46 is formed of material stronger than the material of the guide extension such as tungsten or tungsten alloys and has typical transverse cross-sectional dimensions of 0.001.times.0.003 inch (0.025.times.0.076 mm). Another alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 3 wherein a flexible plastic tubular element 48 is disposed concentrically about the tubular member 11 and wherein the plastic tubular element is sealingly secured about the periphery of the tubular member 11 at a location 49 by suitable means such as adhesive proximally of the balloon 16. This construction directs inflation fluid passing within the annular passageway 50 between the outer tubular member 48 and the inner tubular member 11 into the interior of the latter through inlet ports 51. The inflation fluid passes through the inner lumen 25 of the tubular member 11 and flows out of discharge ports 28 into the interior of the balloon element 16 as described in the previous embodiment. FIG. 4 represents an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein tubular member 11 extends through the interior of the balloon 16 and guiding element 12 is secured to the distal portion of the tubular member 11 which extends through the distal end of balloon 16. To provide additional flexibility to the portion of the tubular member 11 which extends through the balloon, a plurality of slots 48 are formed in the wall of the tubular member 11, preferably with each slot axially set off from the adjacent slot by at least 45.degree.. The slots can be formed by any suitable means such as by cutting with blade or laser, etching, and the like. The width and depth of the slots, the distance between the slots, the angular disposition about the perimeter of the tubular member and the angular orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis can be adjusted to vary the flexibility and torquing characteristics of the tubular member. Preferably, the width of the slots ranges from about 0.01 to about 0.034 inch (0.254 to 1.02 mm) and the distance between slots ranges from about 0.02 to about 0.08 inch (0.508 to 0.203 mm). The slots should extend more than halfway through the diameter of the tubular member 11. A similar structure can be obtained by replacing the slotted tubular section with a helical coil. Typical dimensions of the steerable, low-profile dilatation catheter of the invention include an overall length of approximately 150 to about 200 cm, a tip coil length from about 1 to 3 cm, a balloon length of about 1 to 3 cm, and inflated balloon diameters from about 1 to about 5 mm. Deflated profiles for the balloon range from about 0.01 to about 0.025 inch (0.254 mm-0.635 mm), preferably less than about 0.02 (0.508 mm) inch, so that the dilatation catheter can be inserted through an inner lumen of a standard dilatation catheter as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 760,636, filed Jul. 30, 1985. The low-profile steerable dilatation catheter of the invention can be used in the same manner as prior low-profile steerable dilatation catheters. However, because of the smaller profiles available with the dilatation catheters of the present invention, much tighter stenoses can be crossed than with prior devices. Moreover, the dilatation catheter of the invention can be readily advanced through very tortuous arterial passageways with little risk of wrapping the balloon on itself thus ensuring complete inflation and deflation when it is positioned within a stenosis to be dilated. Additionally, the dilatation catheter can be used as described in copending application Ser. No. 760,636 to be disposed within the inner lumen of a standard dilatation catheter in order to first dilate a stenosis so that the larger profile standard dilatation catheter can then be inserted therein to complete the dilatation. The luer lock connection on the proximal end of the tubular member in accordance with the invention provides the further advantage that the luer connection can be removed, an exchange wire inserted into the proximal end of the tubular member and a standard dilatation catheter can be advanced over the low-profile steerable catheter of the invention. Other uses of the invention will become apparent. While the above description of the invention is directed to presently preferred embodiments, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. * * * * *


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As most of you know, we continue to have issues with the stability of our camera feeds. We are working to resolve them and we are confident we will have them fixed in plenty of time for the really important part of this season like egg laying and hatching.
In the meantime we have left the feed online even though it is unstabile so you can see what is going on when it is up. If it continues to be frustrating for our viewers we will take the feed offline for a while until we are confident we have all of the issues resolved.
With the holiday and a couple of other things going on I have not had a chance to post. The cameras are both working just fine. The router we use to take the video from the computer to the folks at Livestream finally bit the dust. I did come in and change the router out on Friday, unfortunately even though I can see both cameras just fine I could not get the stream connected to Livestream. Bruce who is our regular tech guy here was out of town. I am hoping he will have a chance to get over today or tomorrow and fix the connection problem I created. I can tell you that over the lunch hour today I did see a juvie in the nest eating what appeared to be a fish. Things should start picking up over the next few weeks.
We have been having some glitches all day. We made some hardware changes on the computers yesterday and all seemed to be working fine. Unfortunately today we have been offline a lot and even when I did get the Nest View back online it did not last long. I suspect we also have a modem that is dying. I'm not sure if I can get it replaced by tomorrow. It may be next week. I will give all of you an update when I know more.
The activity is really picking up at the nest in the last few days. Lots of time working on bringing and placing new sticks. Hard to believe it is still three months until egg laying time. Both camreas are running well right now. We do plan some behind the scenes work on our computer hardware in the coming weeks. Hopefully we will not be off for loing when we do that work.
We are slowly getting some things reconnnected. The tree-top view camera is back online but without sound. We have been upgrading some of the power and fiber optic infrastructure near the nest. Hopefully we will have both cameras online by next week. We have some additional computer hardware on order that should improve the video quality of our feed. We hope to bring that online in November. We have seen both Liberty and Justice in the area the last couple of weeks. I'm sure with the leaves coming off the tree they are getting ready to begin their annual home improvement projects.
Several of you have requested an update. I don't have much for you. I am told our new power feed will not be complete until sometime next week. We have to have power before we can install the new camera. I have been down to the site a couple of times but have not been there at the right time to catch Liberty or Justice. I did see what I believed to be one of them a week ago flying over the parking lot of the factory...but I did not have my camera with me.
Please be patient. We should be back online before there is much activity!
Alcoa EagleCam will be offline for the next week or two. We are doing some work to the electrical feed and the fiber optic network connections. In addition, we will be replacing the nestview camera to try to get a little better image quality. I will check on the nest from time to time and if I catch any interesting pictures, I will post them along with an update.
Early this morning both Liberty and Justice stopped by the nest for a little while. Below are a couple of frame grabs from the visit and a picture of the Rudy T-Shirt you can now order. Just click the merchandise link in the text above the blog. We will be on and offline today as we test some technical updates to our computers.
This is the time of the year it gets pretty quiet around the Alcoa EagleCam nest. In a few weeks we will begin planning for next season and getting ready to go up and work on the cameras. I spent a little time this afternoon near the nest. I was not able to spot Rudy, but I did find both Liberty & Justice and a woodpecker. I have attached a few new photos.
As you can see, the power is back on in the building next to the nest tree but only one of our cameras is working. We will do some work over the next couple of days from ground level to see if we can restore the TTV camera. If the problem is at the camera itself, we will have to wait to make a fix in September or early October. For now we can hope for a glimpse once in a while of Rudy, Liberty or Justice on the Nest View camera.
The water has receded but it is not dry on the unpaved property below the nest. Today the power company confirmed they have a line down. The ground is too wet for them to access the line for the repair. Hopefully in a few days things will dry enough for them to get this work complete.
Water has receded around the nest. I am hoping the power company can get in today or tomorrow and restore power. Our electricians may have to work on the specific power feed to the camera...we will have to wait and see. I was there for about a half-hour this morning and did not see our eagle family. I did see some other visitors to the area. See the images below.
It looks like the water is about down. We do have a part of a tree down across the access road that we will need to remove before crews can get to the building next to the nest tree. Hopefully we will get power restored on Tuesday or Wednesday. Once power is back we can see if the cameras will come back on or if they were damaged in the storm. We will let you know what we find out!
I wish people would not assume that no-news is bad-news. The river has fallen over a foot since it crested, but it is still quite high and it will likely be next week before we can get to the building by the nest and attempt to restore power.
With that said, I was able to see Rudy this morning sitting on the dead tree about 50 yards to the west of the nest tree. I did not see either parent while I was there, but I am confident that both of them are just fine. Lots of other birds in the area...geese...herons...pelicans. I know it is hard to tell that this is Rudy from the pictures, but I was able to see him more closely with my binoculars and I can confirm it was him.
I hope you all have a great week!
The Mississippi River should crest tonight or tomorrow in the Quad Cities. That will begin the eventual fall back to (and below) flood stage. This afternoon I spent a few minutes checking the nest from about a quarter mile away. I did spot one of the parents in the top of the tree near the TTV camera. I still assume both parents and Rudy are doing fine. Hopefully we can get down to see if the cameras can be restarted by the end of next week.


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Wang Fu-chih (1619-1692)
Wang Fu-chih (Wang Ch'uan-shan) was born at the end of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). His father was a learned scholar, so he grew up in a highly intellectual environment. At the age of seven, Wang has completed reading all thirteen classics. When he was twenty-five, some bandits kidnapped his father and demanded his service in exchange for his father's life. Wang injured himself badly and had himself carried to the bandits. The bandits had no way but to let the father and the son go. The following year the Manchus invaded China and established a new dynasty (the Qing dynasty, 1644-1911). The Ming royalties fled to the south and established a new government. Upon reflection on how Neo-Confucianism in the Ming dynasty has brought about the dynasty's cultural as well as political downfall, Wang began his writing career to renew what he took to be the true spirit of Confucianism. The next few years saw the constant struggles between the rump Ming government and the new powerful Manchu government. Wang participated in the resistance movement but eventually concluded that it would be a futile task. In 1661, the last emperor of the Ming dynasty was caught and the Manchus took control over the whole China. Refusing to collaborate and to avoid being constantly solicited by local authorities for his service, Wang escaped to remote mountains and fled from one place to another. He eventually settled down in a hut at the foot of a barren mountain which he named 'Ch'uan-shan' (literally 'boat mountain', named after a huge boulder in the shape of a boat on this mountain). Wang stayed here for the remainder of his life, and hence took up the name 'Ch'uan-shan.' He died at the age of seventy-four. He devoted over forty years to writing and completed over one hundred books, the manuscripts of which were collected and organized by his son fourteen years after his death. It was not until 1842 that his complete works were put into print. Some of his works were thus lost forever.
Philosophical Heritage
Wang Fu-chih saw that Neo-Confucianism in the Ming dynasty was dominated by Lu-Wang School, which, in his opinion, deviated from the real Confucian teaching. Therefore, he devoted his life to the study of the classics. His philosophical thinking can be traced back to The Book of Changes (I Ching), on which he completed five different commentaries. The Book of Changes contains the root of Wang Fu-chih's cosmological view. He also wrote several commentaries on The Book of History (Shu Ching), The Book of Odes (Shih Ching), Ch'un-Ch'iu, The Book of Rites (Li Chi), and The Four Books (Ssu-shu), all of which represent the origin of classical Confucianism. Among Neo-Confucianists, Wang respects Chang Tsai (1020-1077) the most. He thinks that Chang Tsai's philosophy comes closest to the essence of I Ching, and his own philosophy is basically the continuation of Chang Tsai's theory. Thus the two major sources of Wang Fu-chih's philosophy can be summed up as the Book of Changes and Chang Tsai. But Wang Fu-chih also draws from many other books and thinkers. In his earlier years, Wang praised Chu Hsi and the whole Cheng-Chu School. He later refuted many of the interpretations that Chu Hsi made of the Four Books. There can be no denial, however, that Wang Fu-chih was greatly influenced by Chu Hsi. Wang Fu-chih also draws philosophical as well as literary inspiration from Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, even though he strongly criticizes the later Buddhist association of Taoism.
One prominent feature of Wang Fu-chih's cosmology is his materialistic monism. His view is not strictly materialism, since he does not deny the existence of principle (li). But Wang criticizes Chu Hsi's separating principle from material force (chi) and rendering the former transcendent. Even though Chu Hsi often emphasizes the co-existence and inseparability of principle and material force, he does put them into different logical categories and consider them two different entities. When Chu Hsi was pressed to trace the origin of principle and material force, he would put principle prior to material force. Wang Fu-chih thinks that it is this separation of logical priority and posteriority that shows Chu Hsi's mistake. Under Chu Hsi's picture, principle becomes a metaphysical dangler. Wang takes material force to be the fundamental element (the arché) of the universe. Principle is simply the principle of material force; it is the order inherent in ch'i itself. Therefore, principle does not have any transcendental status; it is also not logically prior to material force. Wang says, "Principle is simply the principle of material force. The way material force ought to be is principle itself. Principle is not prior and material force is not posterior." [Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo, vol. 10] In this respect Wang's view is very similar to that of Chang Tsai. However, for Chang Tsai, material force itself is the substance (ti) of the cosmos. When it consolidates, it forms material objects; when it disintegrates, it is simply a massive formless ch'i which he calls 'The Great Vacuity (T'ai-hsü).' Thus, material force for Chang Tsai remains to be an abstract entity which is divided into two levels of existence: its substance (ti), and its function (yung). Material objects are the manifestations of material force; they are where the function of material force is revealed. The Great Vacuity (T'ai-hsü) is the substance of material force; it is invisible and formless. Wang Fu-chih, on the other hand, does not posit a separate substance (ti0 independent of its function (yung). He carries Chang Tsai's monism one step further to argue that the universe is One not just in its constitutive elements, but also in its ontological order. Wang Fu-chih says, "When we talk about substance and function, we cannot separate the two." [Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo, vol. 7] Therefore, it is wrong of Chang Tsai to assume that there is another state of being for material force that is separate from, and logically prior to, the existence of material objects. It is also wrong of Chu Hsi to treat principle as the substance and material force as the function. Wang Fu-chih thinks that principle and material force can serve as each other's substance or function. There is thus no substance that stands behind reality. The reality is nothing but material force and its function (concrete things).
The emphasis on material objects and concrete existence is another important aspect of Wang Fu-chih's cosmology. 'Concrete existence' (ch'i) is a notion derived from the Book of Changes, which puts the Way (Tao) as meta-physical (what is above shapes, hsing erh shang) and concrete existence (ch'i) as physical (what is within shapes, hsing erh hsia). Confucianists generally put the Way on a transcendental level, treating it as superior to concrete existence and prescribing the way concrete things should be. Wang Fu-chih's theory is thus revolutionary in his rejection of the division between the two realms. He especially criticizes posing an ontological level above the physical world. Wang argues that the Way does not pre-determine the world; rather, it is developed as the world evolves. He says, "What exist in this world are nothing but concrete things. The Way (Tao) is simply the Way of concrete things, while concrete things may not be called concrete things of the Way." [Chou-I wai chuan, vol. 5, p. 25] He further explains, "There is no Way of the father before there is a son, there is no Way of the elder brother before there is a younger brother. There are many Ways that could exist but are not yet existent. Therefore it is indeed true that without a concrete thing, there cannot be its Way." [Chou-I wai chuan, vol. 5, p. 25] The world as we experience it, the physical realm, is what Wang Fu-Chih takes to be the only existence.
The notion of Heaven (tian) is also washed off its meta-physical color. In contrast to Cheng-Chu's remark "Heaven is nothing but li," Wang argues that Heaven is nothing but material force. Wang says, "Heaven has its principle, but Heaven itself cannot be separated from material force. Only when we recognize the Principle as the principle of material force, can we define the Principle of Heaven. If we abandon talk of material force to discuss the principle, then we cannot even find the Principle of Heaven." [ta-ch'üan shuo, p. 719] Furthermore, in Wang's view, Heaven is simply the totality of nature: natural phenomena and natural objects. Natural phenomena and natural objects are made up of the two kinds of material force: yin and yang. The principle of Heaven lies in the order of transmutation between yin and yang. There is no virtue such as humanity (jen), creativity (sheng), impartiality (kung), sincerity (ch'eng), diligence (chien), etc. inherent in Heaven itself. These are all humanly assigned values. Nature itself is value-free. In this respect Wang Fu-chih's cosmology can also be seen as naturalism.
Another feature of Wang Fu-chih's cosmology is his theory of Being. He advocates realism, the theory that the world exists independently of the mind. In this respect his theory directly opposes Wang Yang-ming's idealism. Wang Fu-chih's says, "The Way (Tao ) is real." [Chou-I wai-chuan, vol. 5, p. 44] He strongly criticizes the Neo-Confucianists in Lu-Wang school for their mixing Confucianism with the Taoist teaching of Non-being (wu) and the Buddhist teaching of emptiness (k'ung). To him, the universe is simply the whole of material objects. Individual objects may not exist eternally, but the totality has always been here. Being does not come from Non-being because there was never a Non-being. Being simply is; in other words, it exists all the time. Nothing precedes reality. Wang says, "People cannot see the beginning or the end of the universe, so they conclude that there was an initial beginning at the ancient past, and that there will be an end of everything in the far future. This is really stupid." [Chou-I wei-chuan, p. vol. 4, p. 35] Wang thinks that the talk of creation and annihilation results from the bad influence of Buddhism.
Wang also argues that the universe was not generated by the Great Ultimate (T'ai-chi) as Chou Tun-i and Chu Hsi advocate, not was it preceded by the Great Vacuity as Chang Tsai upholds. The universe has always been here since material force has always been in existence. According to Chou Tun-i, the Great Ultimate through movement generates yang, and through tranquilly generates yin. [Chou Tzu Ch'üan-shu, p. 4] Wang argues, "'T'ai ' means great, 'chi' means ultimate. The term 'the Great Ultimate' is simply a description of the combination of yin and yang." [Chou-I nei-chuan, p. 517] Therefore, the Great Ultimate is not something over and above yin and yang, from which yin and yang get generated. To Chang Tsai's notion of the Great Vacuity, Wang comments: "The so-called 'the Great Vacuity,' I don't know what it can refer to.... The Heaven is principle as well as the emanation of material force. It is not at all empty or unreal." [Li-chi chang-chü, vol. 42, p. 21] The world consists of material force manifested in material objects. This is reality, and nothing can be more real than the totality of material objects.
In conclusion, Wang Fu-chih's cosmology, in his emphasis on the concrete existence of material objects, is a revolution to all the theories that preceded him. His monism brings about his rejection of any abstract, transcendental entity -- be it Non-being, principle, mind, the Great Vacuity, the Great Ultimate, or the substance. Ultimately his interest lies in this real, living, full, visible, tangible world that surrounds us.
Philosophy of Human Nature
Neo-Confucianists, in Cheng-Chu School and Lu-Wang School alike, treat human nature (hsing) as that which Heaven confers on man. Humans and other creatures derive their nature from Heavenly principle (tian-li). It is the same Heavenly principle that makes possible the nature of different creatures. Therefore, humans and other creatures share the same nature. What makes humans different from other creatures lies in the endowment of material force (chi). The purity or impurity of the material force in each being is responsible for the good or evil in different lives. Wang Fu-chih, however, rejects the theory of sameness of nature. He argues that nature is determined by the matter from which a life is formed. Humans and animals are made of different matter, and thus, they have different natures. The nature of vegetation includes growth and decay; the nature of animals includes perception and motion. Human nature, on the other hand, includes moral consciousness.
Furthermore, human nature is not just "that which at birth is so" as most Neo-Confucianists take it to be. Wang Fu-chih thinks that nature is not simply what one is endowed with at birth; it is also what is developed throughout one's life. Wang says, "Nature is principle (li) at one's birth; it gets perfected daily from its daily renewal." [Shang-shu yin-i, vol. 3, p. 6]. Our nature is not determined at birth, since the external environment and later cultivation help to make up the way we are. To him, there is no sharp division between nature and nurture. At any moment of our lives, we can change our nature for the better or for the worse. This view clearly opposes the a priority of human nature advocated by Mencius, and promoted by most Neo-Confucianists.
Wang Fu-chih also departs from Neo-Confucianism in his confirmation of the value of human desires. Cheng-Chu School emphasize that it is only at the extinction of human desires can we see the prevalence of Heavenly principle. Wang argues against setting up an antithesis between Heavenly principle and human desires. Basic human desires are nothing but culinary and sexual desires. Wang thinks that even the saints could not rid themselves of these desires. Desires are not evil; they do not stand in the way of our moral cultivation. On the contrary, to cultivate one's moral self, one has to appreciate the Heavenly principle inherent in human desires. Wang says, "There cannot be Heaven apart from human; there cannot be principle apart from desires." [Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo, vol. 8] This thought is derived from Chang Tsai's view on principle and desire. Chang Tsai thinks that food and sex are nothing but nature, and Wang comments, "principle lies within them." [Cheng-meng chu, p. 274] Wang defines desire as our hearts' interaction with that which is desirable. He says, "Things like music, women, goods, wealth, power and success, anything that is desirable such that I desire it, is called 'desire.'" [Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo, p. 369] As long as we are alive, we cannot avoid interacting with objects; once we interact with objects, we cannot avoid the generation of our desires. Therefore, "to expect one to completely rid oneself of human desires, is an impossible demand." [Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo, p. 371] Wang criticizes Cheng-Chu's treating indulgence in material possession as the source of evil. He also rejects Buddhism's denouncing desirable material objects and the whole material world. He says, "All desirable objects are the products of heaven and earth. To blame natural products of heaven and earth and not blaming people, is like blaming the owner for having too many treasures while acquitting the thieves." [Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo, p. 675]
Wang Fu-chih does not condone indulgence in material desires, however. He thinks that the basic rule is 'moderation'. If one's desires are moderated, then they are in accord with principle (li). Wang's notion of moderation is paired with the notion of fairness (kung). He says, "fairness lies in everyone's getting a share of his own." [Cheng-meng chu, p. 141] In other words, if everyone's desires can be gratified, then there is nothing wrong with desires themselves. If the gratification of one's desires means the sacrifice of others' desires, then those desires are not one's entitlement. That is why one needs to modify one's selfish desires so that the gratification of everyone's desires is fair. "When everyone gets his desires met, there is the prevalence of Heavenly principle." [Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo, p. 248] On the other hand, principle is nothing but the moderation and fairness of desires; it does not have a separate ontological status. Wang Fu-chih compares principle without desires to a pond without water -- both are simply empty. The relationship between the two can be best summarized as such: "Without principle, desires become excessive; without desires, principle gets abolished." [Chou-I nei-chuan, p. 212]
Basically, Wang Fu-chih believes that there is innate goodness in human nature. Human nature is not separable from the material force that makes up human existence, while "there is nothing that is not good in material force." [Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo, vol. 10, p. 2] Evil is the lack of moderation of desires and the absence of consideration for others. Since Wang also argues that human nature is developed and perfected on a daily basis, he does not think that evil is external to human nature. Individuals are thus responsible for their being good or bad; their nature does not determine the way they are.
Theory of Knowledge
Theory of knowledge for Neo-Confucianism consists mostly in the discourse on the meaning and the order of "investigation of things" (ko wu) and "extension of knowledge" (chih chih) from The Great Learning (Ta-hsüeh). Wang Fu-chih's theory of knowledge opposes Wang Yang-ming's theory. According to Wang Yang-ming, 'things' mean the objects towards which the activity of the mind is directed. Extension of knowledge begins with investigation of things, and 'investigation of things' means rectification of one's thoughts. Therefore, knowledge is not to be sought from outside one's mind. One's mind is originally endowed with innate knowledge of the good, and thus one needs to examine one's own mind to gain this intuitive knowledge. To Wang Yang-ming, 'extension of knowledge' turns out to mean 'extension of mind,' and he argues that principle and mind are "made one" in this way. Wang Yang-ming's theory of knowledge is thus a form of subjectivism or mentalism. Wang Fu-chih criticizes this theory as being too close to Buddhism's emptiness and Taoism's inactivity. Wang Fu-chih's theory of knowledge is based on his realism. Since reality is not the product of our mental activities, principle of reality is external to, and independent of, our mind. To investigate the objective principle of different objects, we need to study these objects themselves. This studying makes up the first step towards knowledge of the external world.
To Wang Fu-chih, knowledge can only be obtained through practice and experience. One cannot acquire experience without activities; hence, one's activities or action (hsing) precedes knowledge (chih). Thus he also rejects Wang Yang-ming's doctrine of the "unity of knowledge and action(chih hsing ho yi)." Wang Fu-chih argues that the doctrine of the unity of knowledge and action is actually to replace action with knowledge; it is to assume that action lies within knowledge itself. But to Wang Fu-chih, action is the only way through which one can accrue knowledge. Wang says, "Knowledge has to rely on action to be complete; action does not have to rely on knowledge to be complete. Through acting one can gain the effect of knowing, but just through knowing one does not gain the effect of acting." [Shang-shu yin-i , vol. 3, p. 25] Therefore, action is the foundation, and the completion, of knowledge. Knowledge and action must be separated.
Wang Fu-chih divides knowledge into two stages: knowledge of sense organs and knowledge of the mind. The former refers to studying; the latter refers to thinking. He thinks that Chu Hsi overemphasizes the latter and undervalues the former. Wang stresses that without studying objects, our thinking becomes futile. Therefore, knowledge of the mind begins with knowledge of sense organs. Through the accumulation of our studying we can acquire knowledge of the external world. The learning process is progressive and never-ending. Wang Fu-chih also rejects the theory of "sudden enlightenment" which Chu Hsi seems to endorse. To him, there is no leap of understanding. The universe is daily renewed, our knowledge must also be daily renewed.
Philosophy of History
Wang Fu-chih's philosophy of history is another of his major contributions. He takes a progressive, modernistic view on history. Wang thinks that the universe constantly renews itself, within it, human civilization continues to advance. In opposition to those who praise the ancient civilization and view human history as engaged in an ongoing decline, Wang argues that in the primitive society where rites and culture were not established, men were no different from beasts. If we see how much human efforts have transformed human society, then there is no need to exaggerate the merit of the ancients and to disparage modern civilization. This is clearly the modernist's view against the ancient's view.
On the other hand, even though Wang argues that history keeps progressing, he also sees it as exemplifying a cyclical pattern: after prosperous times, chaotic times ensues; and vice versa. He calls this pattern 'one prosperous era followed by one chaotic era' (i chi i luan), which is the manifestation of the rotation between yin and yang. Wang Fu-chih calls this pattern the principle (li) of human history. Wang claims that the unfolding of human history reflects the movement of yin and yang. When yang is manifested in human history, it results in prosperity and order. When yin is manifested in human history, it results in decline and chaos. Material force is forever dynamic, and thus the two forms of material force are in constant motion and mutation. When one rises, the other declines. Therefore, human states of affairs never stay still. The transition from order to chaos or from chaos to prosperity in human history is inevitable. Wang says, "One prosperity and one chaos, such is Heaven, just like the sun brings us day and night, the moon has its wax and wane. Human subjects cannot use their virtues to determine the fate of Heaven." [T'ung-chien lun, p. 1108]
However, human history is not predetermined by principle, since principle does not precede historical development. This view is consistent with his cosmological interpretation of the relationship between principle and material force. Principle is nothing but the order of material force, and it is only realized after material force has developed in a certain way. Wang argues that before there were ritual and musical instruments, there was no the proper way (Tao) governing rites and music; before there were bows and arrows, there was no proper way (Tao) of archery. Principle comes to be defined as the result of the actual development of the human world. Furthermore, the principle or the proper way for an earlier dynasty, however ideal that dynasty was, is not necessarily the principle or the proper way for a later dynasty. There is no perfect li or Tao for all times. Material force is in constant dynamic state; human states of affairs never stay the same either. Historical characters must therefore recognize the different situations they are in and react accordingly.
The tension between human history's having an inevitable cyclical pattern and its freedom from predeterminacy is resolved through Wang's notion of tendency (shih). When events develop in a certain way, states of affairs naturally follow. This is called 'tendency.' As Wang defines it, "A tendency (shih) is what naturally follows with no forced alteration. High ground yields to low land, largeness incorporates smallness, the tendency is what one cannot defy." [ta-ch'üan shuo, p. 601] For instance, extreme wealth and prosperity easily breeds negligence and corruption in a government, which, if unheeded to, would eventually bring about the destruction of the government. On the other hand, when society is at its worst extreme, there would be an outcry from the people for its regeneration. These natural developments of worldly affairs are tendencies. The notion of tendency can also be explained in terms of the development of material force. Human deeds and states of affairs contribute to the ongoing development of yin or yang. Yin is enforced by turbulence and degradation, while yang is enforced by order and peacefulness in the human world. When the government and the society at large do not check their performance, there emerges a tendency for their downfall. When rulers and the people possess virtues such as diligence and honesty, there emerges a tendency for the society's advancement. At the same time, the movement of material force is governed by the continuing competition between yin and yang. When yin rises, yang descends; when yang rises, yin descends. Each of the two forms of material force would then find the opportunity to regain its force. Wang Fu-chih says, "All tendencies of the world are such that if one follows a tendency, it will grow to its extreme; once it reaches the extreme, the opposite will come." [Ch'un-ch'iu shih lun, vol. 4, p. 12] Hence, the pattern of 'one prosperous era followed by one chaotic era (i chi i luan)' exists for human history. This pattern represents the principle (li) of human history. The notion of principle and the notion of tendency are closely related. Wang Fu-chih says, "Following what is inevitable in tendencies, this is principle; being what is natural according to principle, this is Heaven." [Sung Lun, vol. 7, p. 1] "What is natural according to principle or tendency is simply what is right for that time." [Li-chi chang-chü, vol. 10, p. 5] Even though history is not determined before the human world has developed into a certain state, there is a dominant tendency present in each particular state. Human efforts can revert these tendencies most of the time. Hence, it is crucial that historical figures recognize the tendencies of the times. However, when the tendency is fully matured, there is no stopping it. In his commentaries on historical dynasties, Wang Fu-chih often describes 'the tendency of inevitable destruction.' This is probably how Wang fu-chih viewed the fate of the Ming dynasty, to which he dedicated his life-long loyalty, but not his futile effort to resurrect.
Political Philosophy
The basic political ideology of traditional Confucianists is that of feudal propriety: the emperor should act like an emperor; the subjects should act like subjects. Each has its proper place and usurpation is deemed morally unacceptable. But the true spirit of Confucian political philosophy is not to uphold blind loyalty to the ruler. The demand for loyalty from the subjects is matched with the demand for humanity from the ruler. Under the basic framework of feudal loyalty, there are different ways a Confucianist can justify people's right to revolution. Mencius, for example, denies the ruler's legitimacy. Mencius argues that a ruler that disrespects humanity and righteousness is not a legitimate ruler. He should be regarded as a bandit. Murdering a ruler may be unacceptable, murdering a bandit is totally justified. In other words, if the emperor is not a humane ruler, then the people have the right to revolt.
Wang Fu-chih seems to be greatly influenced by Mencius in his political thinking. The emperors of China were called 'The Son of Heaven' (tian-tzu), but Wang Fu-chih says, "What people's hearts share in common, principle is here, and Heaven is here." [Cheng-meng chu, p. 47] In other words, the emperor is the son of what people desire in common. This remark seems to reflect Mencius' political view. Mencius says that to win the empire is to win the people, and to win the people is to win their hearts. To win the people's hearts, Mencius further suggests, is nothing but to amass for them what they desire and to avoid doing what they resent. [Mencius, 4A: 9] Similarly, Wang also thinks that what determines political success or failure is ultimately people's affection or resentment. Wang says, "To appease a dangerous situation, the main thing to do is to win the people's hearts." [Tu T'ung-chien lun, p. 393] Wang Fu-chih also derives his view on the relationship between Heaven and the people from the classic Book of History (Shang-shu), which says, "The Heaven sees and hears what the people see and hear; the Heaven manifests its power through the people's manifested power." Wang states that people's desire is where the will of Heaven lies. What he calls 'the tendency of inevitable destruction' is formed by the accumulation of the despot's cruelty, stinginess, injustice, and intemperance. Thus, under Wang's view, the emperor does not have the Heavenly mandate to be the sure ruler. If he does not do his job properly, eventually there will be an inevitable destruction for his rulership. This outcome, to Wang Fu-chih, reveals the natural development of principle (li).
We may say that Wang Fu-chih's political view is government for the people. He does not advocate government of the people or by the people, however. From historical observation, he concludes that one should use caution in following the people's hearts. The masses can be fickle and short-sighted. They can turn their back on the ones they loved a moment ago, or they can worship someone whom they despised earlier. Therefore, Wang Fu-chih does not think that whatever the people desire is what the ruler should comply with. What people's hearts share in common is not simply what the masses want as a fad or a vogue; it is rather what the universal human nature would desire. Wang thinks that what humans desire in common begins with food and sex and expands to power and wealth. What the ruler should do is to put himself in his people's shoes and exercise empathy. Wang says, "The way of an enlightened ruler (wang-tao) is based on human sentiment." [Ssu-shu hsün-i, p. 5243] Therefore, the political ideal that Wang advocates is one where the ruler understands his people's desires and promotes the satisfaction of his people's desires. It is a political ideology that sets economic and social well-being as primary goals.
It will be a stretch to say that Wang Fu-chih's political view is comparable to the modern notion of democracy. It is not even clear that he would deem revolution justifiable. Ultimately Wang Fu-chih is a supporter of traditional monarchy. He says, "There can only be one king, just like there cannot be two fathers." [Tu T'ung-chien lun, p. 680.] He thinks that an intellectual should select his sovereign in entering politics. If the sovereign is not a suitable one, then the proper thing for the intellectual to do is simply to quit politics. Wang himself has certainly lived up to his own standard. This attitude is not pessimistic, since Wang also believes in the existence of principle (li) in the human world. If the ruler defies the Heavenly principle, which is nothing but what the people desire in common, then he has put himself into the tendency of inevitable destruction. We may conclude that Wang's support for traditional monarchy is certainly not support for despotism or tyranny. Wang Fu-chih thinks that if traditional monarchy can be continued in China for thousands of years, then it has withstood the test of "what the people's hearts have in common." At least in Wang's mind, his times is not yet the time for the abolishment of monarchy. As he remarks, "What can be practiced for a thousand years without change represents what people want; it also represents Heaven.... What are stealthily passed along as popular customs represent what people want, but they do not represent Heaven." [Tu T'ung-chien lun, p. 626] He thus gives his defense of monarchy on the basis of its endurance in Chinese history.
The Significance of Wang's Philosophy
Wang Fu-chih's philosophy can be said to be the real summation of Neo-Confucianism of the Sung-Ming Era. He refused to partake in the endless debate between Cheng-Chu School and Lu-Wang School on the issue of principle and mind. Instead, he redirected the attention towards material force and concrete existence. He opened the door to pragmatism prominent in the Qing dynasty. Yen Yüan (1635-1704) and Tai Chen (1723-1777) continued this direction and gave both the School of Principle and the School of Mind further critique. Later in the nineteenth century and the twentieth century philosophers such as T'an Ssu-t'ung (1865-1898) and T'ang Chun-i were also greatly influenced by him.
Major Works by Wang Fu-chih
1. External Commentary on the Book of Changes(Chou-I wai-chuan), 1655.
2. Internal Commentary on the Book of Changes (Chou-I nei-chuan), 1685.
3. Interpretation on the Images of he Book of Changes (Chou-I Ta-hsiang chieh), 1676.
4. The Extended Meaning of the Book of History (Shang-shu yin-i ), 1663.
5. Discourse on Reading the Great Collection of Commentaries on the Four Books (Tu Ssu-shu ta-ch'üan shuo), 1665.
6. A Contemporary Interpretation of the Meaning of the Four Books (Ssu-shu hsün-i), 1679.
7. A Treatise on Reading T'ung-chien (Tu T'ung-chien lun), 1687-1691.
8. A Treatise on the Sung Dynasty (Sung lun), 1691.
9. A General Treatise on Ch'un-ch'iu (Ch'un-ch'iu shih lun), 1668.
10. A Textual Annotation on the Book of Rites (Li-chi chang-chü), 1673-1677.
11. Commentary on Chang Tsai's Cheng-meng (Chang Tzu's Cheng-meng chu), post 1677.
12. Extended Interpretation on Lao Tzu (Lao Tzu yen), 1655.
13. Interpretation on Chuang Tzu (Chuang Tzu chieh), 1681.
14. Record of Thoughts and Questions (Ssu-wen Lu), post 1677.
1. Wing-tsit Chan, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, fourth edition, [Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press], 1973.
2. Hsi-Tang Chang, The Chronological Study of Wang Ch'uan-shan (Fu-chih) (in Chinese), [Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwan Shang-wu Publishing], 1978.
3. Yu-lan Fung, A History of Chinese Philosophy, Vol. II, translated by Derk Bodde, [Princeton: Princeton University Press], 1983.
4. Tian-shi Hsiao, The Collected Study on Ch'uan-shan's Thought (in Chinese)[Taipei, Taiwan: Chinese Ch'uan-shan Association & the Liberty Press], 1972.
5. Kuan-shan Hsu, Wang Ch'uan-shan's Theory of Knowledge (in Chinese), [Hong Kong: Chinese University Press], 1981.
6. Sze-Kwang Lao, A History of Chinese Philosophy (in Chinese), [Hong Kong: Union Press Ltd.], 1980.
7. JeeLoo Liu, A Treatise on the Problem of "Heavenly Principle As Manifested in Human History" in Wang Fu-chih's Philosophy (in Chinese), [Taipei, Taiwan: National Taiwan University], 1984.
8. Ch'un-chien Liu, The Chronology of Wang Fu-chih's Scholarship (in Chinese), [He-nan, China: Chung-chou Ku-chi Publishing], 1989.
9. Pei-yüan Meng, The Development of Li-hsueh: From Chu Hsi to Wang Fu-chi and Tai Chen (in Chinese), [Taipei, Taiwan: Wen Jin Publishing], 1990.
10. S. Y. Teng, 'Wang Fu-chih's Views on History and Historical Writing,' Journal of Asian Studies 28, pp. 111-123.
11. Fu-chih Wang, The Complete Collection of the Posthumous Works of Ch'uan-shan (Ch'uan-shan i-shu ch'uan-chi, Vol. 1-22, [Taipei, Taiwan: Chinese Ch'uan-shan Association & the Liberty Press], 1972.


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