text:
Is your thyroid gland the culprit? How many times have you heard these words stated?
Hearing these types of statements many times, from well-meaning friends, relatives and even doctors, can be very discouraging when those around you do not understand your physical and mental suffering. You may wish that they could live inside your body for just one day, and experience the symptoms you have to deal with constantly. However, it does come as a relief when you do find a doctor or person who understands, to a degree, or shares similar experiences.
In Australia, in particular, the average person knows little about thyroid disorders and their detrimental effects upon health. Moreover, it has been difficult for some patients to find a doctor who is willing to test thoroughly, to make a diagnosis, and then explain their condition clearly.
There are many diseases and illnesses that have similar symptoms and it can be difficult for a doctor to make a quick diagnosis. It is therefore important to have a thyroid function test to rule out any possibility of thyroid abnormalities. Thyroid disorders can produce a multitude of symptoms that can affect any or every part of the body.
The thyroid gland is an endocrine (meaning ductless) gland, which secretes its hormones directly into the bloodstream. It is located in the lower part of your neck. It wraps around your windpipe (trachea) like a bow tie, with two connecting lobes, and is well supplied with blood vessels.
The thyroid gland contains cells that secrete chemical substances called hormones. The main 2 hormones made by the thyroid gland are called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), with T4 being produced in much greater quantities than T3.
T3, however, is the primary active hormone. T4 is much less active and while it does produce a limited effect, most of the T4 must be converted to T3 before it can be used by the body. This conversion takes place in particular organs (primarily the liver) and tissues, and is extremely important for the overall functioning of the body.
These hormones act like chemical messengers and deliver instructions to various tissues and organs (target organs) via the bloodstream. The cells within these organs then use the thyroid hormones and respond by speeding up or slowing down their activities. Overall, the thyroid gland is responsible for the speed of metabolism (metabolic and chemical processes) in our bodies, by affecting every cell, tissue, organ and organ system. The thyroid gland is therefore essential for life, growth and development.
Thyroid hormones affect body temperature and circulation, appetite, energy levels, growth, skeletal development, muscle tone and agility, cardiac rate (force and output), fluid balance, blood sugar levels, central nervous system function, bowel function, blood fat (cholesterol) levels, and the regulation of fat, carbohydrate and protein metabolism in all cells.
The amount of T3 and T4 produced by the thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. It does this by secreting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). When the levels of T4 and T3 fall, the pituitary secretes more TSH. When T4 and T3 levels rise, the pituitary secretes less TSH. Normally this complicated production and control system ensures that the body has just the right amount of T3 and T4, but it can go wrong.
When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone (becoming overactive), the condition is called hyperthyroidism. When the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone (becoming underactive), the condition is called hypothyroidism.
The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune condition called Graves' disease. With Graves' disease the body produces antibodies which behave like TSH and stimulate the thyroid gland uncontrollably, to make too much thyroid hormone.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is also an autoimmune condition, called Hashimoto's thyroiditis. With Hashimoto's thyroiditis, white blood cells invade the thyroid gland and attack the tissue, and the immune system produces antibodies which interfere with the production of the thyroid hormones.
With some individuals there can be a malfunction at the cellular level, where the cells of the body do not respond to or utilise thyroid hormones correctly. The receptor sites in cells may be resistant to thyroid hormones and the chemical messages may not be received. The successful conversion of T4 into T3 may also be hindered within the cells, and the body is then starved of sufficient amounts of T3. These problems with T4 to T3 conversion and thyroid hormone resistance are uncommon, and they can be easily misdiagnosed.
Another uncommon problem relates to the pituitary gland. It can malfunction and produce too much or too little TSH. This has a direct impact on thyroid function and the amount of T4 and T3 produced.
Thyroid related illnesses have a variety of causes, and sometimes the problem is not with the thyroid gland itself. Whatever the cause, abnormal physical and mental symptoms will appear, which can range from mild to severe.
Here are the types of complaints that characterise hyperthyroidism—an overactive thyroid gland.
Not everyone has all of these symptoms. You may relate to only a few of the above conditions, or you may relate to many of them. Everyone is different.
Hypothyroidism has been called the 'unsuspected illness' and one that is frequently misdiagnosed. The manifestations that characterise hypothyroidism — an underactive thyroid gland — are the following.
Once again not everyone has identical symptoms. You may relate to some of these conditions, or you may relate to many of them. Everyone is different.
A person suffering from either an overactive or underactive thyroid gland may display many of these symptoms, and find that coping from day to day is extremely difficult. The pressure on bodily functions will continue to increase unless appropriate treatment is given. A thyroid function test should be performed, measuring the levels of thyroid hormones in the blood.
Immunoassay techniques for diagnosing thyroid disorders measure the amount of circulating hormones in the blood very accurately.
A thyroid function test (TFT) generally consists of the following.
|Thyroid function test results
|Normal range
|0.30 - 5.00 mIU/L
|Free T4
|11 - 23 pmol/L
|Free T3
|3.5 - 6.7 pmol/L
Normal reference ranges have been developed for the various hormone levels. These may differ slightly depending on the laboratory's assay methods (methods of analysis). Any blood test results that show hormone levels outside of these ranges usually indicate a potential thyroid problem.
The TSH level is a good indicator of thyroid function and is considered the most important hormone to be initially tested. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), produced by the pituitary gland, is therefore the first hormone assessed when suspecting a thyroid disorder.
If the TSH level is abnormal, a far clearer picture of thyroid function is needed, and T4 and T3 levels must also be tested to ensure a correct diagnosis. People with a diagnosed thyroid problem must also ensure that their T4 and T3 levels are routinely tested along with their TSH level. If the diagnosis were unclear, with blood tests results near the outer limits of the normal range, it would be wise to have a thyroid antibody test. This may indicate that your thyroid gland function is being compromised, especially if you present with classic thyroid symptoms.
When it comes to thyroid conditions, it is extremely important to find a doctor (or specialist) with a sensitive and compassionate approach, who is willing to work with you, and vice versa. Communication needs to be open and honest and you should feel comfortable in asking questions concerning your condition. It is also important to know and understand your thyroid function tests, and you should feel confident in asking your doctor for copies of your lab results.
It is definitely worth researching and understanding your thyroid disorder before making a decision on treatment. Your doctor will explain the most appropriate procedures with regard to your condition, and then you can make a fully informed decision, once you understand your options.
Successfully treating and recovering from thyroid related illnesses does take time. Dedication from both the patient and doctor is needed.
Medications and procedures will be required to increase or decrease the levels of thyroid hormones in circulation.
Hypothyroid patients will be given T4 (thyroxine) in tablet form, to restore the amount of thyroid hormones in the body to normal.
Hyperthyroid patients may be given anti-thyroid medication to reduce the amount of thyroid hormones made by the thyroid gland.
Some patients will recover relatively quickly and will only need occasional blood tests to keep check of thyroid hormone levels. For others, their treatment may be tedious and complicated, and may require surgery. It could take up to a year or more to stabilise thyroid function. This will depend upon the severity, and type, of condition. Overall, patients well cared for and treated appropriately should enjoy a healthy vibrant life with a lowered risk of long-term health problems.
Robyn Koumourou
Last Reviewed: 06 September 2007


text:
Why is MPC perceived to be the best?, (an off-topic audio encoding discussion)
Why is MPC perceived to be the best?, (an off-topic audio encoding discussion)
Feb 8 2004, 18:43
Post #1
Group: Banned
Posts: 769
Joined: 1-July 03
Member No.: 7495
This is a question that has floated through my mind for most of a year, but only yesterday became more clear to me.
Actually, it's a two-part question...
... 1. Is MPC commonly accepted among the HA community as the best psychoacoustic encoding format? (i.e., the most efficient at achieving perceptual transparency.)
... 2. If so, why?
The first item I've heard stated quite frequently, but have never seen any results of "transparency threshold tests" that would reveal the superior efficiency of MPC. I've heard that MPC uses superior encoding technology, but I'm referring more to the end result of such development efforts...the perceived sound quality, as measured against other codecs at the point of perceptual transparency for a significant number of people.
These concerns on my part were born from a post I made here, where the points of MPC statistically tying other formats at 128kbps, but no other known test results existing, were brought up. The thread portion ended up in the recycle bin, but I'm taking the chance that my concerns about calling MPC "the best" weren't the reason it was put there.
Hence, I want to bring up this idea in a different context in the off-topic forum (in the hope that this will be the correct area for it).
What I'd like to see, for instance, for the education of myself and others, would be a results summary like the following (though this is a very simplistic example)...
Format............Perceptual Transparency Threshold (nominal bitrate across samples tested)
MPC.................nnn kbps
AAC.................nnn kbps
Vorbis..............nnn kbps
...and so forth
Granted, VBR is more efficient at mid-bitrates and up, and quality-based VBR modes aren't bitrate centric, but we need some means of measurement and comparison between codecs in this context, so if not calling it "nominal bitrate", then perhaps "average filesize per minute of audio across all samples"
Perceptual Transparency Threshold could have a fixed target, like >90% samples with 5.0 subjective ratings, and non-differentiable from reference with ABX testing.
This kind of test has been discussed before, and has been mostly viewed as having little "real-world value". And I agree. Roberto's tests are much more relevant for most music listeners, and for determining the best formats for useful purposes like streaming audio, portable players, etc.
Many of us (including me) have trouble testing even these bitrate ranges, so higher ones would be even more tedious, and would answer not as many pressing questions.
My point, though, is how can MPC be called "the best for achieving transparency" without a test such as this? (Because so far it's been shown to be only "among the best" at lower rates.)
Feb 11 2004, 02:17
Post #2
Group: Members
Posts: 160
Joined: 16-January 03
Member No.: 4597
QUOTE (music_man_mpc @ Feb 10 2004, 09:43 AM)
However if we did the test this way we would not be able to get statistical information to the effect of how many people find the sample transparent at --quality x.x.
That's what I meant by "shrinking the goal" - I strongly suspect people will be dropping out of a 120-sample barrage. ;-)
Also, if another codec raises interest we can later take these results and continue in a different direction.
Regarding matching bitrates, we might simply take the average bitrate of the samples we are testing. However, this may be a stupid idea because these samples - the killer ones - are probably interacting with the codec's bitrate management in peculiar ways.
So, we probably should take a "representative" set of recordings and rely on that.
|Lo-Fi Version
|Time is now: 28th November 2015 - 11:19

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Notescasts bring digital books to iPod classic
updated 07:35 pm EST, Wed November 4, 2009
Books include text and images
TimeStream on Wednesday announced a new series of digital books, Notescasts, designed to be read from an iPod classic and iPod nano. The e-books are installed using the "Notes" feature available on a variety of iPods. Many of the books contain several hundred pages of text, along with color pictures.
The service is currently in the beta stage of development, as the company adds additional books. Current titles include books such as Walk Disney World, Pride and Prejudice, Alice in Wonderland, Yosemite Valley Hikes and Glacier National Park.
Many of the e-books are available to download for free, although some cost $1.


text:
Computer Science Colloquium
Manu Sridharan
University of California, Berkeley
Friday, April 6th 11:30 a.m.
Room 1302 Warren Weaver Hall
251 Mercer Street
New York, NY 10012-1185
Directions: http://cs.nyu.edu/csweb/Location/directions.html
Colloquium Information: http://cs.nyu.edu/csweb/Calendar/colloquium/index.html
Richard Cole firstname.lastname@example.com, (212) 998-3119
Program analysis tools are starting to change how real
software is developed: verifiers can now eliminate certain complex bugs,
and automatic refactoring tools can greatly simplify code cleanup.
Nevertheless, writing robust large-scale software remains a challenge,
as greater use of component frameworks complicates debugging and program
understanding. Developers need more powerful programming tools to
combat this complexity and produce reliable code.
This talk will present two techniques---refinement-based pointer
analysis and thin slicing---that enable powerful new tools for debugging
and understanding large-scale software. Our refinement-based pointer
analysis is the first to compute precise answers in interactive time,
allowing tools to handle previously inscrutable program behaviors
interactively. Thin slicing is the first technique to give usable
answers to code relevance questions---e.g., "What code might have caused
this crash?"---a long-standing challenge for analysis tools. I will
conclude by describing new tools enabled by the two techniques.


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JLo shows why he is champion. some want to throw out ridiculous claims to discredit the guy and ignore reality
He got access to Rossi's data in 09 as part of his new contract So it was a 2 way street instead of Rossi only getting to look at his.
He is riding a 2011 bike, Rossi did ZERO development on that bike, I'm sure Crutchlow thanks him for his hard work on the 2010 bike he rides.
Rossi got Yamaha to stop data sharing in 2010 because he was worried about competition from JLo.
Rossi didn't use the data to know how to set up his bike, he knows how to do that. He would find out where JLo was weakest on track if they were locked in battles and already knew in 2009 he was in trouble because Jorge was strong.
Give JLo the credit he deserves, he did what a lot of riders haven't been able to do, overcame pressure from Rossi.
And how do you complain about a rider who is leading the championship, scored a podium and is the guy to beat this year without question? Are there any fans of


text:
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Round-DTM - SINGLE-WALL TIPS
Features and Benefits: Single Wall Tips (Weld-On) - T-304 Stainless Steel Tips Installed By Professionals.MagnaFlow's Polished Stainless Steel tips will last 5 times longer than chrome tips. These super tough tips will continue to shine for years to come with a Lifetime Warranty against defects.
Single-Wall, DTM.


text:
Apple One (1) Year Limited Warranty - (UK and Ireland)
For Apple Branded Products Only
The Apple One-Year Limited Warranty is a voluntary manufacturer's warranty. It provides rights separate to rights provided by consumer law, including but not limited to those relating to non-conforming goods.
As such, the Apple One-Year Limited warranty benefits are in addition to, and not instead of, rights provided by consumer law.
If a product is defective consumers may, in addition to any other rights which they may have under consumer law in the UK and Ireland, avail themselves of the rights contained in:
for products purchased in Ireland: the Sale of Goods Act, 1893 (in particular Sections 12, 13, 14 and 15), the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act,1980 and the European Communities (Certain Aspects of the Sale of Consumer Goods and Associated Guarantees) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 11/2003);
for products purchased in the UK: the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (in particular Section 12), the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 (in particular Section 2) and the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002.
Consumers have the right to choose whether to claim service under the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty or under their consumer law rights.
Important: The Apple One-Year Limited Warranty terms and conditions shall not apply to consumer law claims.
For further information about consumer law, please visit the Apple website (http://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/statutoryrights.html) or contact your local consumer organisation.
Apple Distribution International of Hollyhill Industrial Estate Hollyhill, Cork, Republic of Ireland (or its successor in title) ("Apple") warrants the Apple-branded hardware product and accessories contained in the original packaging ("Apple Product") against defects in materials and workmanship when used in accordance with Apple's user manuals, technical specifications and other Apple Product published guidelines for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original retail purchase by the end-user purchaser ("Warranty Period"). You will be able to receive the remedies available under the One Year Limited Warranty for your Apple product via local Apple service facilities in most parts of the world (please refer to section "How to obtain warranty services"). In the event of any defect in materials and workmanship, you will be able to direct your claims to Apple even in situations where you purchased the Apple Product from a third party.
Please note: All claims made under the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty will be governed by the terms set out in this warranty document.
In addition, Apple will provide you with access to telephone technical support for a period of ninety (90) days from delivery of the Apple products.
This warranty does not apply to any non-Apple branded hardware products or any software, even if packaged or sold with Apple hardware.
Non-Apple branded products may have the benefit of a manufacturer's warranty, which provides benefits in addition to consumer law rights - please check your product box and literature for details.
Please refer to the licensing agreement accompanying the software for details of your rights with respect to the use of software.
Service options may be limited if requesting service in a country that is not the country of purchase for the Apple Product. In the event that service for the Apple Product is not available in such country, Apple will notify you of any additional charges for shipping and handling that may apply before rendering service.
When contacting Apple via telephone, call charges may apply depending on your location. Please contact your network operator for details.
This warranty does not apply: (a) to consumable parts, such as batteries or protective coatings that are designed to diminish over time, unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials or workmanship; (b) to cosmetic damage, including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports; (c) to damage caused by use with another product; (d) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, fire, earthquake or other external cause; (e) to damage caused by operating the Apple Product outside the user manual, the technical specifications or other Apple Product published guidelines; (f) to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider ("AASP"); (g) to an Apple Product that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple; (h) to defects caused by normal wear and tear or otherwise due to the normal aging of the Apple Product; or (i) if any serial number has been removed or defaced from the Apple Product, or (j) if the product is stolen or Apple reasonably believes that the product is stolen based on information provided by law enforcement authorities.
IMPORTANT RESTRICTION FOR iPHONE AND iPAD SERVICE.
Apple may restrict service for iPad and iPhone to the EEA and Switzerland. Only Apple or an AASP should perform service on iPhone or iPad products.
Before submitting your Apple Product for warranty service you should make separate backup copy of the contents of its storage media, remove all personal information and disable all security passwords. The contents of your Apple Product's storage media may be erased, replaced and / or reformatted in the course of service.
Following warranty service, your Apple Product or a replacement product will be returned to you as your Apple Product was configured when originally sold, subject to applicable updates. Apple may install system software updates as part of warranty service that will prevent the Apple Product from reverting to an earlier version of the system software. Third party applications installed on the Apple Product may not be compatible or work with the Apple Product as a result of the system software update. You will be responsible for reinstalling all other software programs, data and information. Recovery and reinstallation of other software programs, data and information are not covered under this warranty.
You may seek service in a country that is not the country of purchase, in such a case you will comply with all applicable import and export laws and regulations and be responsible for all custom duties, V.A.T. and other associated taxes and charges.
Important: Do not open the Apple Product unless the User Manual describes how it is designed for opening. Opening the Apple Product may cause damage that is not covered by this warranty.
If you submit a valid claim under this warranty, Apple will, at its option:
(i) repair the Apple Product using new or previously used parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability, or
(ii) replace the Apple Product with a product that is at least functionally equivalent to the Apple Product and is formed from new and/or previously used parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability, or
(iii) refund your purchase price in exchange for the return of your Apple Product.
When a product or part is replaced or a refund provided, any replacement item becomes your property and the replaced or refunded item becomes Apple's property.
A replacement part or product or a repaired Apple Product assumes the remaining warranty of the original Apple Product or ninety (90) days from the date of replacement or repair, whichever provides longer coverage for you.
For service requested in a country other than the country of purchase for the Apple Product, Apple may repair or replace products and parts with comparable products and parts that comply with local standards.
Please access and review the following online help resources before seeking warranty service:
- International Support Information
- Apple Authorized Service Providers, Apple Authorized Resellers and Apple Retail Store
- Apple Support and Service
- Apple Complimentary Support
If you do not have internet access or the Apple Product is still not functioning properly after making use of these resources, please contact an Apple representative or, if applicable, an Apple owned retail store ("Apple Retail") or an AASP, and they will help determine whether your Apple Product requires service and, if it does, will inform you in which of the warranty service options set out below Apple will provide it.
Before receiving warranty service, Apple or its agents may require that you furnish proof of purchase details, respond to questions designed to assist with diagnosing potential issues and follow Apple's procedures for obtaining warranty service, such as following instructions for packing and shipping Apple Products when receiving Mail-in service as described below.
You will not need to prove that the nonconformity complained of existed at the date of delivery to obtain service and support under the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty, unless this would be incompatible with the nature of the non-conformity.
Apple will at its option depending on the individual circumstances, in particular the type of Apple Product, provide warranty service through one or more of the following options:
(i) Carry-in service. Apple may request that you return your Apple Product to an Apple Retail or AASP location offering carry-in service. Your Apple Product may be sent to an Apple Repair Service ("ARS") location to be serviced. Once you are notified that service is complete, you will promptly retrieve the Apple Product from the Apple Retail or AASP location, or the Apple Product will be sent directly to your location from the ARS location.
(ii) Mail-in service. If Apple elects to provide service through its mail-in service, Apple will send you prepaid waybills and if applicable, packaging material, so that you may ship your Apple Product to an ARS or AASP location in accordance with Apple's instructions. Once service is complete, the ARS or AASP location will return the Apple Product to you. Apple will pay for shipping to and from your location if all instructions are followed.
(iii) Do-it-yourself ("DIY") service. Under DIY service Apple will provide you with a replacement product or easily replaceable parts or accessories of a product, such as a mouse or keyboard, which can be replaced without using any tools. Note: Apple is not responsible for any labour costs you incur relating to DIY service. Should you require further assistance with the replacement, contact Apple at the telephone number listed below, or visit an Apple Retail or AASP location. If Apple elects to provide service through DIY service, the following process will apply:
(a) Service where Apple requires return of the replaced product, part or accessory: Apple may require a credit card authorization as security for the retail price of the replacement product, part or accessory and applicable shipping costs. Apple will ship a replacement product, part or accessory to you with instructions for replacement, if applicable, and any requirements for the return of the replaced product or part. If you follow the instructions, Apple will cancel the credit card authorization, so you will not be charged for the product or part and shipping to and from your location. If you fail to return the replaced product, part or accessory as instructed or return a replaced product, part or accessory that is ineligible for service, Apple will charge your credit card for the authorized amount. If you are unable to provide credit card authorization, the service may not be available to you and Apple will offer alternative arrangements for service.
(b) Service where Apple does not require return of the replaced product, part or accessory: Apple will ship you free of charge a replacement product, part or accessory accompanied by instructions on installation, if applicable, and any requirements for the disposal of the replaced product, part or accessory.
A) Entire agreement:
Other than the consumer law rights to which you are entitled as set out at the beginning of this document, all warranties, conditions and other terms not set out in this warranty document are excluded from the Apple One-Year Limited Warranty. As a result, Apple does not make any other promises, conditions or warranties about the service other than set out in this warranty document.
Some countries do not allow limitations on how long such warranties, conditions and/or implied terms may last, so the limitation described above may not apply to you.
B) Disclaimer in relation to data:
Apple does not warrant, represent or undertake that it will be able to repair or replace any Apple Product under this warranty without risk to and / or loss of information and / or data stored on the Apple Product.
C) Limitation of liability:
In no event shall Apple be liable for
- any losses that were not caused by our breach of this warranty document;
- any loss or damage that was not, at the time of your purchase of the product, a reasonably foreseeable consequence of Apple breaching this warranty document; or
- losses relating to any business of yours, loss of profits, loss of data or loss of opportunity.
The provisions of this warranty document shall not apply to (i) death or personal injury; (ii) fraud; (iii) fraudulent misrepresentation; or (iv) any other liability that cannot be limited or excluded as a matter of law.
Apple will maintain and use customer information in accordance with the Apple Customer Privacy Policy available at www.apple.com/legal/warranty/privacy.
No Apple reseller, agent, or employee is authorized to make any modification, extension, or addition to this warranty.
If any term is held to be illegal or unenforceable, it shall be severed from this warranty and the legality or enforceability of the remaining terms shall not be affected.
Where the product was purchased in Ireland, this warranty is governed by and construed under the laws of Ireland and each party hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. Where the product was purchased in the UK, this warranty is governed by and construed under the laws of England and each party hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts, unless you live in Scotland in which case the laws of Scotland will apply.
© 2013
Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
032813 UK-Ireland Universal Warranty v1


text:
Synectics Innovation Training
The goal of the Synectics Innovation Training Program is to transfer the knowledge, skills, processes and techniques to individuals, teams and companies that desire to improve their internal capability for innovation and creativity. Through the training, we help to embed the capability to design and lead more effective meetings, help to increase the ability to generate breakthrough solutions to critical challenges and start to improve the teamwork within your organization. Synectics Innovation Training develops a set of unrivaled capabilities that are grounded in over fifty years of research in the human dynamics of creativity and innovation. The Synectics approach delivers the following skill set:
- Agile creative problem skills.
- Dynamic collaboration skills.
- Powerful roles and responsibilities tools to maximize the success of meetings.
- The Synectics Innovation Process to energize the diverse human forces within any team.
- The Synectics way of looking at your world, the people in it, and their potential.
Three decades later, my early investment in Synectics innovation training continues to demonstrate a healthy ROI! Unshackled from linear and closed minded thinking, open to ideas that at first appear asymmetric, the facilitation skills learned at Synectics have been a springboard for me to take great advantage of a global and a richly diverse team within a multinational firm. Thanks for expanding and enriching my leadership potential.
Mario Leone EVP, CIO Ingram Mirco
Over the years, I have found using the Synectics approach to creative problem solving to be invaluable. They allow people to not only become more creative, but also to better communicate, give and receive feedback, and ensure a free flow of ideas. Using Synectics extensively as part our qualitative consumer research has resulted in defining consumer opportunities and developing successful new concepts.
Steven Matis, Colgate
Synecticsworld Courses: Innovative Team Workshop (2 days) + Facilitating Group Creativity (3 days)
Synecticsworld Practicum: Final 1/2 day client session of the Facilitating Group Creativity course
Target Audience: This training is for both individuals and those in organizations who want to begin training in the Synectics Creative Problem Solving Process.
Synecticsworld Courses: Innovative Team Workshop (2 days) + Facilitating Group Creativity (3 days)
Synecticsworld Practicum: Two, 1/2 day coached sessions at your workplace followed by a detailed coaching review. These sessions are run live, with your assigned coach in the facility
Target Audience: This certification is for both individuals and those in organizations who want to begin their mastery of the Synectics Creative Problem Solving Process and bring that methodology to their workplace.
Synecticsworld Practicum: Certified Facilitator practicum, plus further your facilitation skills in planning and design by engaging in a multi-day (1.5 – 2 days) creative problem solving session that may include additional frameworks such as positioning, naming and product claims. The practicum is followed by a detailed review.
Target Audience: For individuals and those in organizations who want to advance their mastery of the Synectics Creative Problem Solving Process and bring its methodology to their workplace by introducing additional frameworks and methodologies.
Synecticsworld Practicum: Certified Master Facilitator practicum plus further your facilitation skills in planning and design by engaging in a 3-day Insight Workshop. This workshop can be facilitated by up to 3 Master Facilitators at a time for certification.
Target Audience: For individuals whose goal is to master the skill of Consumer and Customer Insight Development. This program is often sponsored by organizations who have multiple Master Facilitators. We work with up to 6 Master Facilitators on the Facilitating Consumer Insights Workshop and subsequent coaching exercise.
Synecticsworld Courses
Synecticsworld Practicum:
Target Audience:
The First Step in Synectics Certification is the completion of the Innovative Team Workshop™ and Facilitating Group Creativity programs.
Dynamics of Innovation and Teamwork
Via video examination and skilled coaching, unwrap the group dynamics that unleash the multiplicative power of a diverse group to build breakthrough innovative solutions.
Idea Generation
Breakdown creative obstacles and access your creative self that generates novel and intriguing ideas for solving difficult problems. Gain the power of the Synectics process of 'wishing' and 'excursions' to generate fresh, new ideas.
Solution Development
Discover the Synectics process for systematically building in feasibility into "not yet practical", intriguing, truly new ideas, and building actionable concepts and solutions.
Problem-Solving Experience
Practice the Synectics time-tested 9-step process for innovative problem solving a methodology used in Fortune 500 companies around the world.
Back-Home Applications
Synectics is about interacting with other people in the most constructive ways. As George M. Prince, our founder said, life is a series of meetings. You will walk away with specific plans for applying what you've learned to realize immediate results in your world.
Maximize your Facilitating Style
Maximize the potential of your facilitation style under the guidance of an expert Synectics coach.
Build Successful Meetings
Win commitment from others and build success into meetings with Synectics design and planning tools.
Stimulate Idea Generation
Learn a range of techniques for maximizing a group's creative ability to generate new thinking and fresh perspectives. Model and support the positive climate for collaboration
Unleash the Capacity of a Diverse Group
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Plan and run a real client session using the Synectics 9-step process to develop a solution for their task.
After completion of the two programs (5 days total) you will have earned the designation of TRAINED SYNECTICS FACILITATOR.
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Seeing with New Eyes™ / Insight Training
Seeing with New Eyes™ is a 2 day program designed for those who wish to build skills for more effectively discovering consumer or customer needs, especially those unarticulated wants and needs that can truly drive innovation.
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Synecticsworld has a number of learning program designs, which can be delivered on a custom basis for organizations that want to increase their ability to be successful in innovation and collaboration. Additionally, we regularly develop bespoke programs for a variety of client needs related to Innovation, Creative Thinking, Customer and Consumer Insight, Meeting Management and Facilitative Leadership.


text:
Golden Valley Apiaries L.L.C. is a family owned and operated,
Belvidere, South Dakota based "Bee" business. South Beekota
is the trademark of Golden Valley's retail product line.
Our primary products are pure raw "sweet clover" honey with
candle making, pollination and
ussian bee
sales for additional
income. This natural, raw honey is made from predominately
yellow "sweet clover" plants.
The photos you see in the slide show are of Chris Baldwin, the
"bee guy", working a number of "sweet clover" bee yards.
Golden Valley Apiary's bee yard locations cover five West River,
South Dakota counties. This area produces an extremely thick,
light colored, and mild flavored honey, which makes the carefully
packaged, raw and unfiltered product of the company's South
Beekota label. Our goal is to be chemical free and develop a
strain of bees with survivor capabilities to move toward
sustainable agriculture.
Wife and candlemaker, Terry, with a generous supply of honey
and beeswax, coordinates the production of South Beekota's
simple,aromatic, and tasty line of products. Both Terry and the
'Bee Guy" believe in their pure, raw, and natural honey and
beeswax products. There are no perfumes, additives, or bleach
used. We do not micro-filter or pasteurize the honey thus it
retains its natural healthful qualities.
We produce West River, SD honey and beeswax. South Beekota
offers honey in a 1lb. table squeeze, 3lb. refill jug, and 22oz.
canning jar. Check out our
Honey Store
page to order.
Check our Honey Store for
Unheated, Unscreened, Raw Honey Products in gift boxes.
Just south of South Beekota's headquarters is the White River
'breaks' and your first glimpse of the Badlands of South Dakota.
South Dakota. Travellers flying down Interstate 90 to better
known sites like Mount Rushmore, the Badlands National Park,
the annual Sturgis Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Rally, even on to
Perhaps you would even enjoy joining us on a
Country Beeyard
of our rural area. (By appointment only).
Terry's personal passion is the history of old homes, such as
Grace's House
, in the once thriving town of Belvidere, which is
open to families looking for that 'something different' in their
Family Vacation
. Belvidere is a short 30 minute trip to the
Badlands, and several family friendly attractions featured on our
See the Sights
page under
South Beekota is the registered trademark of Golden Valley Apiaries L.L.C..
Learn more about
Chris' work
in developing,
promoting, and selling
strong bee colonies
resistant to"mite syndrome"
With his survivor stock bees.


text:
Clock shut up just because I have no idea what I'm talking about and am basing everything I post on this site on uneducated speculation and theory doesn't mean you can just call me out like that.
I haven't told you that, I told you I don't believe its a good idea and told you because I believe that.
Are you in your period?
Just fooling with you, bro. I was in a rare mood yesterday. Biologically, if I was having a period I'd have gone to see a doctor FAST.
This part of the conversation made me lol, also you both have good points. A agree with clock, you have to look at the game from the perspective of the creative field you work in, but Fenn is right too you also have to look at it from a consumer's point of view. Hence play testing and market research.
I agree with that, but I disagree with how fenn is using it.


text:
Information contained on this page is outdated and is maintained solely for archival purposes. For current information, search OSPs site: If you do not find what you need, send a detailed information request to email@example.com.
The Office of Sponsored Projects is pleased to provide revised guidance for PI eligibility and procedures for requesting PI/Co-PI status for individuals not afforded PI status by virtue of their appointment. The new Research Title policy approved by the University provides PI status automatically for Research Associates. These will now be handled in the same manner as tenure track positions. You no longer need to request PI status for Research Associates.
We are also offering two options for multiple submission authorizations. For multiple submission authorizations, please note whether the individual's status should require annual renewal or you can request that the status be self-renewing as long as the person is in the current position (does not require annual renewal). If you request the latter, it is the responsibility of the requesting department/center/college to inform OSP of any changes to that status. This should greatly reduce the number of annual requests and we hope this will be a welcome change in procedures.
We have also eliminated the need to provide a copy of the most recent curriculum vitae and a summary of the individual's qualifications. The endorsement by the chair/dean/director making the request will suffice. In the near future, we hope to provide a web-based form to further simplify this process.
I welcome your feedback on these new procedures and suggestions for ways to improve any OSP process you feel needs to be revised or updated.


text:
Qantas Grounding
Posted 01 November 2011 - 06:16 PM
Posted 01 November 2011 - 06:27 PM
What sort of job security assurances are the unions EXACTLY wanting?
This is the TWU claim
The pay isn't really in dispute, just conditions like these
"The Agreement will provide that the total number of casual, labour hire, or outside hire employees engaged by the company performing work under the scope of this agreement shall be no more than one fifth (20%) of the total number of directly hired full time or part-time employees (per relevant work group) performing the same work at any given time."
"Superannuation will be payable on all earnings rather than ordinary time earnings."
"shall include provisions ensuring that all long term casual employees shall be
entitled to LSL"
Some of the demands are almost comical.
Posted 01 November 2011 - 06:32 PM
A lot of the Log of claims appears to be fairly innocous.
Posted 01 November 2011 - 07:54 PM
Tell that to the Building Industry were you don't sign on without getting your ticket.
You don't have compulsory unionism in Australia either - haven't done since 1996.
Prison Break on 7
Posted 01 November 2011 - 08:08 PM
Whether that's true or not, it isn't government policy and I doubt it exists in the airline industry.
Tell that to the Building Industry were you don't sign on without getting your ticket.
Posted 04 November 2011 - 01:49 PM
So you want to keep the poor people in Africa and Asia improvished so you can afford to have a second car and bigger TV and yet at the same time be outraged at Western companies for exploiting "slave labour." One of the inventiable consquence of such protectionist polices is that depresses growth in developing countries while what you describe as being "slave labour" is in high demand by potenial employees because a general rule, the pay and conditions in so called sweatshops are vastly superior to any alternatives avalible to them. Farm subsidy in the EU keep European farmers in a job but who it really hurt are African farmers because they can't compete with European farmers who are selling their produce at below cost. You cannot be simultaneously outraged at Western companies exploiting the poor and vunerable while at the same time advocating policy that only further entrench that inequality.
While their remains a substainal difference in the living standard between the developed and developing nations outsourcing is eventiable and pointless trying to fight it. It will contiue until the gap is closed by a substainal increase in the living standards in developing and either a stagnation or decline in living standards in developed nations.
That's the funniest response I've read for a while and the first time I've read someone's tried to say corporate and shareholder greed is based on egalitarianism ideals.
The poor people in Africa and Asia will ALWAYS remain poor - the very thing that keeps them that way is the fact there are no unions, little to no Government protection, and corporations rule. But if you like to think that they outsource to the poorer parts of the world to be nice and give people a chance, gosh more power to you.
As for being outraged, yes totally, because those companies aren't doing a thing to address it. Sweatshops are better than alternatives, hmmm, perhaps - earning a penny a day, being treated like shit and having no rights is better than starving, yeah I guess so.
But if it was really about fairness, those workers in poor countries would be paid the same equivalent wages (not dollar for dollar but based on buying power) - and that sure isn't happening.
The workers in the west are worried about their jobs and livelihoods, but we shouldn't be because there's poor people in Africa and Asia doing it worse?
Now a far better thing to consider is wage and wealth distribution....
Edited by Commander Slicer, 04 November 2011 - 01:54 PM.
Posted 07 November 2011 - 10:48 AM
That's the funniest post in a while and the first time I've read someone's reply to a post which fails to comprehend the argument of the poster before entirely (see what I did there?).
The poor people in Africa and Asia will ALWAYS remain poor - the very thing that keeps them that way is the fact there are no unions, little to no Government protection, and corporations rule. But if you like to think that they outsource to the poorer parts of the world to be nice and give people a chance, gosh more power to you.
This is nonsense, that is the most polite way I can say it. If you say they will always be poor, then you must think they are incredibly stupid. Look at all the nations which have seen a rise in their wealth, because they embraced the market. Furthermore, if you look at the concentration of firms per capita in those poorer nations, they always have far less in per capita income than we do in the West. This is just a thought, maybe just maybe, it is the lack of corporations which are holding these poor nations back! I suggest you read Jagdish Bhagwati or Paul Krugman to see the benefits of trade.
Another contributing factor is the overburdening nature of government in those third world countries. Too much red tape as well as a slow and inefficient bureaucracy are putting a serious dampener on the ability of their people to start and conduct business. Just look at India, China or any communist country for that matter. It was only after they changed their ways to become more flexible and competitive did they begin to see a decline in poverty. The complete opposite of these countries is Hong Kong and Singapore. In Hong Kong it is incredibly easy to conduct business. We can also look at what has happened in Venezuela with Hugo Chavez. This country has far more government intervention than almost any other in South America, yet they are the ones with double digit inflation, empty food shelves in stores and negative growth.
Furthermore, Hornberger is absolutely right about the farm subsidies of the EU and US. They are depressing food prices so the poor in Africa, Asia and South America cannot earn a sustainable wage from their crops. Ever heard of butter mountains? They pay some wine farmers to produce wine of such poor quality that it is just turned into industrial vinegar. Almost half the EU's budget is used up on farm subsidies.
The worry in this country about losing jobs is also an overreaction. I know it is horrible to lose your job if you are an employee (I know several people who have lost their jobs to technology). But if we look at how many people are employed now compared to 20 or 30 years ago it is simply not true that things are getting worse.
Finally, wage and wealth redistribution are something that makes some of us feel good at night. At the end of the day, once you redistribute everything, then what? Here's a question, people's absolute incomes are better than they were in the past, yet income inequality is slightly worse (in Australia). Which era would you rather live in?
Edited by Jonny, 07 November 2011 - 11:06 AM.


text:
To the Editor
April 15, 2014
By Contributor
Tent City
Taking in the homeless is an act of kindness
I am writing about Tent City 4 at my church, Faith Methodist Church.
We are doing a good thing, and for all the people that are complaining, they are complaining about an act of kindness.
The homeless people need help, and I'm proud our church is taking in Tent City 4.
Lily Pearse, age 9
Free lunch
Thank you, unnamed couple, for paying our restaurant bill
On April 6, my family received a random act of kindness from a couple at the Issaquah Brew House.
We went there for lunch. We have little money to spare these days with my son and husband being unemployed, and rarely get to go out to eat, so this was a treat for us. There were five of us, myself, my son and his girlfriend and her mother, and my other son in his wheelchair.
Positioning a wheelchair in a restaurant is always a challenge, especially when it is busy and all the tables are taken. We were trying to make a booth work for us. We are used to encountering such problems and as we all worked together, humorously, to solve them, the couple across from our booth was friendly and seemed to enjoy our interactions.
We felt welcomed right away, and even though we were taking up more space than was ours. They were so sweet and fun, and even offered to share their booth. That, in itself, is a true act of kindness. After we finished our lunch, our waitress cleared our plates and informed us that the couple had paid our bill. Shocked, surprised and thrilled, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
We wanted to say thank you to that couple for their act of kindness. The waitress did not know their names, but said they go there once in while. I hope this thank you does get to you, so you know how much it was appreciated. But also I hope those of you who have done any random act of kindness consider this a thank you for your generosity.
We intend to continue this by also giving an act of kindness to someone else when we can.
Eva Gantala
The numbers don't really add up
Prior to the passage of ObamaCare, without a GOP vote, the Democrats were expounding that 47 million people were without healthcare, so ObamaCare was the solution. After President Obama signed the ObamaCare bill, some 4.2 million people had their health care plans cancelled. So now, there are 51.2 million people without healthcare.
Now, the Democrats are hailing the success of ObamaCare because they say that 7.5 million have signed up with ObamaCare.
However, using the Democrat numbers, 51.2 million without health care and subtract 7.5 million that is said to have signed up for ObamaCare, leaves 43.7 million still without health care.
So, thanks to all the folks who voted for the Democrats, we have people in Washington, D.C., who have flunked math.
Ken Sessler
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The answer to the trivia question will be: "Monkey Drums (Goskel Vancin Remix) by Chase Buch." That's the 25-billionth song purchased on iTunes.
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Ok, day 1 of calorie counting - so far doing really well. I'm on track, under budget, and meticulously counting and tracking everything. Love the whole start of day at 6pm - easier to keep on track.
Posted on October 5th, 2011 by mama2adrianna
Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »


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Jennifer Musson, Sara Muender, Susan Miller
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Main Street's most interesting new gallery features fine contemporary art & craft lovingly arranged amidst antiques & artifacts from around the world as well as professional custom frame service.
Located on main Street - Boulder Junction
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Café Caprice combines artisan cocktails, a café-style menu, relaxing lounges and sidewalk seating to experience the epitome of Cape Town's cosmopolitan social scene. Situated directly across from Camps Bay Beach at 37 Victoria Road, open seven days a week since 1999, it is a home for many Cape Townians and a must visit destination for tourists.
Camps Bay beach is the ultimate sunset viewing spot and Café Caprice provides the perfect backdrop, as DJ's fill the space with laid back music from Thursday to Sunday with a deep, chilled house soundtrack.
Café Caprice - a landmark on the Camps Bay promenade and an indelible part of the Cape Town bar and entertainment scene.
To reserve a table or party, email [email protected]
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and are not necessarily the actual travelling
Enjoy delicious and tasty cuisine and a feast for the senses dining on seafood, grills and typical Portuguese dishes.
With attention to detail and personal attention, diners relax in tranquil surrounds dining on mouth-watering dishes such as grilled chicken basted in finger linking peri-peri the Mozambican way, or voluptuous grilled prawns, tasty pregos, trinchados, espetadas and popular feijoada.
Adeguita Portuguese Restaurant tantalises with mouth-watering tastes and flavours the true Portuguese way in a colonial setting that invites relaxation.
An unpretentious family-run restaurant serving superb Portuguese cuisine, A Churrasqueira boasts an exciting menu with a wide selection of choices.
An impressive wine list enhances the experience, with a brilliant selection of both South African and Portuguese wines.
The interior is simple and warm, the service excellent and the prices reasonable. All in all, a wonderful place to dine in comfort.
The delicious menu brims with high quality seafood such as voluptuous Mozambican prawns and a variety of succulent steaks, poultry and traditional dishes.
The warm and inviting ambiance sets the tone for a unique Portuguese experience housed in a luxurious house in Kensington.
Suid Afrika Restaurants,
SouthAfrica Restaurants,


text:
Jed Larkin is far from conventional when it comes to managing a ball club, and he knows it.
"Some of the stuff I tend to do is crazy," he said. "Also, I can manage better when I'm not playing."
Larkin sat and watched Thursday night as his tactics led Jacobus to a 3-0 win over York Township in Game 1 of the Susquehanna League semifinals.
He called for bunts after leadoff batters reached first base, and his team cashed in a run in the second inning that way.
In the third, he played hit and run with runners on the corners and another run was produced.
In the sixth, a bunt with one out and runners on first and second was called and it worked out, nearly turning into a big inning.
Jacobus, however, left the bases loaded - the club left 13 men on base during the contest.
"I don't think leaving those runners on was a hurting situation," Larkin said. "Most of these runners we got from a lot of manufacturing. The guys did everything we asked them to do tonight."
"It keeps everything moving along, and it's exciting," Brian Crimmel said of Larkin's style.
Crimmel put Jacobus on the board in the first inning, but the run was made possible by aggressive base running.
With two outs, Joe Doyle singled. He then advanced to third on Drew Kelley's single.
Such a sequence allowed Doyle to score on Crimmel's jam-shot base hit that plopped down in center field.
In the second inning, Nate Kopp led off with a walk and moved to second on Eric Hamberger's bunt.
He moved to third on Brian Hudish's single before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Mike Austin.
Leading off the third, Doyle hit a grounder to short that was misplayed on the backhand by Zach Zambito.
Larkin put the hit-and-run on, and Drew Kelley blooped a single to put runners on the corners.
With Kelley in motion at first, Crimmel lashed an RBI single to left center to make it 3-0.
"I just got a good pitch to hit, and when (Larkin) puts stuff on, it makes me more aggressive," Crimmel said.
Starting pitcher Mike Crowe certainly appreciated the run support.
"It really wasn't the pitching," Crowe said of his effectiveness. "It was scoring runs early and the defense."
Crowe pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing six hits and two walks while hitting a batter.
He fired 120 pitches in the effort.
"I didn't start pitching until I was 25," Crowe said. "I tell Jed I'm just an outfielder out there throwing on the mound. I try to throw as much as possible, so I feel good right now."
"He wants to throw whenever physically possible," Larkin said.
York Township starter Zach Luman departed in the third inning, and his replacement, Briar Lauer, threw four scoreless innings.
"(Zach) had some arm pain and didn't feel strong," York Township manager Jeff Barkdoll said. "Briar made pitches when he needed to and pitched out of some major jams, gave us a chace to win."
Game 2 is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday at McWilliams Field.
Jacobus 3, York Township 0
|York Twp
YT, Zach Luman, Brian Lauer (3) and Joel Buchko. J, Mike Crowe and Mike Austin.
SO-BB — YT, Luman 0-1, Lauer 2-4. J, Crowe 4-2; W — Crowe; L — Luman; 2B — J, Joe Doyle, Anthony Ferrell.