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Posts tagged happiness
Buddha's Brain
I recently came across an authors@google talk by Rick Hanson, who is the author of 'Buddha's Brain: the practical neuroscience of happiness, love and wisdom' and was immediately drawn by the similarity of the framework he uses and my ABCD model. Rick draws a lot from the Buddhist tradition and its humbling to find many similarities between what buddha preached thousands of years ago and what neuroscience tell us today.
In particular the root cause of suffering is believed to be due to
1) trying to avoid unescapable threats/ pains etc like ageing and death.
2) pursuit of pleasures/opportunities etc that are fleeting in nature/ not permanent.
3) trying to separate from and become individuated while the nature of reality is connected and interdependent.
4) trying to stabilize that which keeps on changing
The roots of these Rick believes are tied up to the three (I've extended them to 4) motivational systems that govern us. These are:
1) Avoid system – reigning this in leads to Calm , a sense of peace and increase in a feeling of moment-to-moment Happiness.
2) Approach system – properly aligning this leads to Contentment, a sense of gratitude and increase in feelings of Well-being.
3) Attach system – properly utilizing this leads to Caring, a sense of loving-kindness and increase in feelings of Love.
4) Absorb system – properly using this leads to Creativity, a sense of insight and increase in feelings of Wisdom.
To me these are absolutely aligned to the ABCD model; the Avoid system is primarily about reacting to -ve (or even +ve ) Affect; Approach system is driven by how Behaviouraly actively or passively you respond to opportunities; the Attach system is all about the dynamics driving the Self-other relational issues; while the Absorb system is the more Cognitively focussed one driven by broad / narrow focus concerns.
Rick also thinks that these are related to how the learning (synaptic strength modification) , regulation (inhibition or excitation due to firing) and selection (the decision to fire based on summation of inputs) happens in brains at synapse levels and that reigning these systems leads to Mindfulness (attention relevant/leading to learning) , Virtue (self-regulation of behaviour) and Wisdom (the ability to make informed choices) at the macro level. As Rick believes that not only brains lead to minds, but what and how our minds act also affects our neural wiring due to self-directed neuroplasticity, he advocates practising mindfulness, virtue and wisdom to rewire your brain to take it to the Buddha's state.
Here one might pause and consider what mind actually is. some would equate it simply as mind is what the brain does, but more reflection shows that mind is multidimensional (ya…. fits the ABCD model). To me, mind is a result of:
1) Brain Activity
2) Body rootedness (embodied cognition)
3) Embedded with Other minds (relational construct)
4) Shaped/interpreted by culture
Another thing to note about Rick is that he is a fan of Paul Mc lean's tripartite brain; extending both the MacLean model and Rick associations and aligning with ABCD model, I see the evolution of brain as:
1) Brain-stem (Reptilian brain) : the relative brain sizes in reptiles or those driven by this Avoid mode system should be proportional to their land areas that they need to defend as in territorial defence; this is what I predict, the greater the area/ territory they typically defend the bigger this area. In the reptilian evolution this factor must have driven brain evolution.
2) sub-cortical areas ( Paleomammilian brain) : the relative size of brain in these simple mammals should be tied to their foraging area or how vastly they explore for food/ mating opportunities. I predict that brain evolution during this phase was tied to the Approach mode and linked with exploration propensity and must be linked with typical foraging area, with animals foraging far and wide having bigger brains proportional to those who don't.
3) cortical areas ( mammalian brain ) : the relative size of brain in these higher mammals corresponds with the social group size (the famous Dunbar number) . This phase of brain evolution was primarily driven by Attach motivational system where concerns for others and groups drove evolution of brain with those having dense social groups needing more brainpower.
4) Neocortical areas/ lateralizations (the human/primate brain): the relative size of brains might be related to artistic/ imaginative ability. This phase of brain evolution is still taking place and is being primarily driven by Absorb system; how much one assimilates and accommodates and how much one intellectually rejects would determine whether the brain evolves further and proportional to how creative (broad-minded) the species is. The more narrow minded/ unimaginative the lesser thee neo-cortical size; perhaps this is the advantage we had over Neanderthals and other hominids. The autism-schizophrenia continuum may be one effect of the cognitive evolution still happening.
Which brings me maenderingly to my final comparison:
1) Affect, or Avoid system deregulation leads to Major Depression. The neurotransmitter of relevance here is Serotonin. Compare also to cloningers Harm Avoidance.
2) Behaviour or Approach system deregulation leads to Addiction. The neurotransmitter of concern here is Dopamine. Compare also to cloningers Novelty Seeking
3) Drive/Dynamics or Attach system deregulation leads to Bipolar or manic depression. The neurotransmitter of concern may turn out to be norepinephrine. Compare to cloningers Reward Dependence.
4) Cognition or Absorb system deregulation leads to Schizophrenia . The neurotransmitter of concern may turn out to be acetylcholine.
That covers the major group of disorders. I'm still reading 'Buddha's brain' and not all insights shared above are related to what Rick/ Buddhism says; but I find them broadly aligned with my ABCD model and the eight stage evo-devo model based around Theodore Millons four basic polarities.
Happine$$: Money does buy you life satisfaction, but for feeling good rely on psychosocial capital
A new and important research paper by Ed Diener et al has been recently published in JPSP and you should read the paper in full by requesting reprint using this page (this is how I got access to the paper) . It is very lucidly written and bears upon an important question: can money buy us happiness and if so to what extent and of what kind?
The research paper itself is a result of a till-to-the-date largest Gallup survey of people in diverse countries and covering a large set of people that is a fairly representative sample.
At the outset, Deiner et al differentiate between different types of well-being. Astute and regular readers of this blog will remember the distinction between positive and negative emotions that was earlier highlighted with respect to health and well-being.
There we distinguished between positive emotions and negative emotions as belonging to different types of affective phenomenon (see also this post that distinguishes between the two) , but it is also important to distinguish affective from cognitive phenomenon. while talking about happiness either we may be talking about the positive affect we experienced recently; or the fact that we did not feel any negative affect recently; or we may be using cognitive evaluations of our overall satisfaction with life. Thus overall life satisfaction is a cognitive component of happiness and well being ; while presence of negative and positive emotions is an affective and hedonic component of our happiness measure. In the past these measures were used interchangeably and without distinguishing from each pother and may have led to inconsistent or inconclusive results.
In this survey, the Diener et al group was interested in finding the effect of absolute individual income (taken on a log scale to take care of the fact that 10,000 rs for a person with 10,000 rs income mean much more than 10,000 rs to someone with income of 1,00,000 rs) , the relative (to others within the nation) individual income, the average income of the nation under study (reflecting the societal infrastructure etc) on happiness and well being as measured by three dimensions (positive emotions, negative emotions and life satisfaction). So they measured these variables and calculated their effects on the three measures of happiness and well being.
They were also interested in finding out whether money leads to happiness directly by fulfillment of basic physical needs or whether it does so via a psychological process wherein getting more material goods (that are valued by society) leads to feelings of goal achievement and thus overall satisfaction with life. Thus they measured tow variables : an index measuring possession of material valued resources like computers, and another measuring satisfaction with standard of living.
The authors were also interested in psychosocial variables like social support (say friends and family that can be relied in case of emergency), sense of autonomy, mastery and control over situations where one can show competence and whether these had any effect on life satisfactions or positive and negative emotions. Work in the past has suggested and theoretical models like Deci and Ryan' s Self determination theory posit that meeting psychological needs like that for autonomy, competence and relationships should lead to well being and happiness. Thus they measured these psycho social variables too.
How these variables were operationalized and measured I'll leave as task for the keen reader to read from the original paper. Here I present the major findings:
- A cursory look at table 2 indicates that individual log income and national income were the best predictors of life satisfaction. It is important to note that not only individual income , but also the fact that a person was staying in a wealthy or poor nation affected the overall life satisfaction. Thus, material resources avaiable in a thriving economy affect life satisfaction positively.
- A cursory look at table 2 and 3 indicates that the effect of income on life satisfaction is mediated by material possessions and satisfaction with standard of living and is not correlated that well with meeting of basic needs. Thus, the life satisfaction one feels is mostly due to the fact that one compares oneself in terms of the societal valued money that one earns/has and by the psychological process of having achieved a desirable outcome, one feels pleased/satisfied with oneself. As the authors put , this is like Berridges 'wanting' system and having what you want leads to satisfaction.
- Another cursory look at table 2 and 3 clearly indicate that positive emotions and to a certain extent negative emotions (inversely) are predicted by psychosocial variables. That is the more social support and mastery , autonomy etc one has in one life , the greater the chances that the person feels happy on a day-to-day basis and does not feel negative emotions too frequently. This psychosocial capital enables one to like what one has got and is akin to Berridges 'Liking' system.
- They found that relative income did not predict either life statistician or positive and negative feelings and thus the effect of social comparison might not be relevant in these particular situations when comparing with national averages .
This is the take-home message from the paper:
Contrary to both those who say money is not associated with happiness and those who say that it is extremely important, we found that money is much more related to some forms of wellbeing than it is to others. Income is most strongly associated with the life evaluation form of well-being, which is a reflective judgment on people's lives compared with what they want them to be. Although statistically significant, the association of income with positive and negative feelings was modest. Furthermore, we found that societal income has a substantial influence on life evaluations beyond the effects of personal income, indicating that it is very desirable for life satisfaction to live in an economically developed nation. However, we also discovered that social psychological prosperity is very important to positive feelings. Some nations that do well in economic terms do only modestly well in social psychological prosperity, and some nations that rank in the middle in economic development are stars when it comes to social psychological prosperity.
If replicated, our findings have profound implications for both psychological theories of well-being and for societal policies. At the theoretical level, our results indicate that different types of well-being can be influenced by very different predictors. It is important to note that social psychological well-being is shown to be an important correlate of feelings across the globe. At the policy level, our findings indicate that more than money is needed for quality of life, and the social psychological forms of prosperity correlate only moderately with economic development. This means that societies must pay careful attention to social and psychological variables, not simply to enlarging their economies. Our findings indicate that it is important for societies not only to measure economic variables but to measure social psychological well-being variables as well.
To me, the fact that increasing income can make you more satisfied with life and the fact that greater autonomy, mastery and relationships can make you feel more good, is a win-win situation where the happiness set-point or baseline is no longer a given, but by increasing psychosocial as well as traditional capital one can hope to increase one's cognitive and affective happiness and well being. Pursuit of money need not be at loggerheads to pursuit of autonomy or mastery or better relationships; and if they are one will have to make appropriate trade-offs depending on whether one values more life satisfactions ( living in past and future) or positive feelings (living in presents). No choice is simple, but still there is choice and hope!
Diener, E., Ng, W., Harter, J., & Arora, R. (2010). Wealth and happiness across the world: Material prosperity predicts life evaluation, whereas psychosocial prosperity predicts positive feeling. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99 (1), 52-61 DOI: 10.1037/a0018066
Positive emotions increase with old age; while negative emotions decline
As per a new study reported in PNAS, positive emotions and hedonic well being, like happiness and enjoyment, increase past the age of 50 (after reaching a nadir at that age) , while negative emotions , like stress, worry and anger decline with age throughout.
This is the conclusion that Stone et al reached after analyzing response to a telephonic survey of 3,40,000 individuals resident in the US. Only one measure of global Well being was used and hedonic well being was evaluated by the self reported affect experienced on the previous day.
It was found that Global well being , which to my mind is more of a cognitive construct, showed a U shaped relationship with age with global well being dipping around the age of 50. Happiness and enjoyment , the positive hedonic well being measures exhibited a similar curve . It thus appears that positive affect is more cognitively mediated and that may be the reason for the similarity.
Negative affects on the other hand showed a distinctly different curve, thus bolstering my claim that negative and positive emotions are two different things and should not be seen as opposites of each other on a single dimension. The underlying mechanisms and rationale of negative and positive emotions may be vastly different. While negative emotions lead to specific action tendencies, positive emotions lead to broaden-and-build effects of enhancing resources of all type.
To me the above bodes well. I'll like to quote on how the authors interpret the results (and with which I agree).
The overall WB-age pattern calls out for explanation. Why are older people, on average, happier and less stressed than younger people? The results are generally consistent with Baltes' (12) theory of increased "wisdom" and emotional intelligence with age (at least through middle age), wherein decreased negative affective states could be a result of increasing wisdom, and with Carstensen et al.'s (13) socioemotional selectivity theory, wherein older people have an increased ability to self-regulate their emotions and view their situations positively. They are also in accord with a "positivity effect," wherein older people recall fewer negative memories than younger adults (14), and with the possibility that older people are more effective at regulating their emotions than younger adults (15).
I would like to stress that cognitive abilities(especially the ability to interpret the same situation in a positive/adaptive light) increases with age and that may be the reason that despite negative experiences and lack of positive experiences, the old people are still able to appraise the situations differently and derive more positivity overall. I wont be surprised if it became apparent that emotions become more and more cognitive in nature as one moves up in age and less and less as a hardwired instinctual reaction to a given situation.
Stone, A., Schwartz, J., Broderick, J., & Deaton, A. (2010). A snapshot of the age distribution of psychological well-being in the United States Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107 (22), 9985-9990 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1003744107
The ABCD of Psychology and Happiness
I've recently latched onto the ABCD model of psychological entities, where any psychological aspect is defined by following four features/dimensions: Affect( how does it subjectively feel) , Behavior (what are the manifest effects resulting in overt behavioral changes) , Cognition (how is it cognitively appraised) and Desire/Drive(what are the underlying motivations).
I was prompted on this journey by the evolutionary theory of personality (see here) by Theodore Millon, where he identifies four different evolutionarily salient domains and fields of adaptation: Existence (pain/pleasure) mapped to Affect in my model, Adaptation(active/passive) mapped to Behavior in my model, Replication(Self-other) mapped to Desire/drive in my model and finally Abstraction (broad-narrow) mapped to Cognition in my model.
Thus personality clearly is a dynamic between these four ABCD factors. What we habitually feel, how we habitually act, what usually drives us and how we habitually make sense of our situations clearly defines a personality.
I have also covered how emotions can be similarly considered as belonging to these four domains and having four ABCD dimensions– affective in nature, lead to action tendencies, differential appraisal and cognitive underpinnings and different motivational states-whether the motivation to be in control or to nurture the other.
As it happens I am also keenly into this new 'positive psychology' stuff and keep reading the practitioners in this field; thus while reading 'Happier' I came across the happiness definition (as per Seligman) as anything that is pleasurable, meaningful and engaging, then I could immediately see the relationship to ABCD model by extending the concept of Drive (or intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation) to the mix and thus came up with this ABCD definition of happiness on twitter:
ABCD of happiness: find work that has pleasure(Affect), meaning (Cognition) and is engaging(Behavior) and intrinsically motivating(Desire)less than a minute ago via TweetDeckSandeep Gautam
The above to me perfectly sums up the Happiness formula and is very easy to remember too!
I also serendipitously came across this amazing video based on Dan Pink's 'Drive'
That made me think further of how the same ABCD formula applied to work incentives.
The ABCD of incentives – Offer Money (Affective), Mastery (Behavior:skilled) , Purpose (cognition:meaningful) and Autonomy (Drive:intrinsic)less than a minute ago via webSandeep Gautam
That to me is further proof of the simplicity and power of this simple ABCD formula. So are you ready to apply the ABCD of happiness and work incentives to your life?
Am Manic, will focus; Am sad, will drift
Attention can be focused or it can be diffused. Attentional focus has been shown to be affected by mood or affect; with positive affect leading to a broadening of attentional focus; and negative affect, in general been shown to be associated with a narrowing of focus.
However, Gable and Harmon-Jones argue that emotion or affect is not a uni-dimensional construct, but has at least two dimensions: affective valence- i.e. whether it is felt as pleasurable or dis-pleasurable; and motivational direction- i.e. the action tendency to approach or avoid in pursuit of a preventive/promotional goal.
Much work on emotions has emphasized that they have a number of underlying dimensions. Two dimensions that have received considerable attention are affective valence, the felt pleasure or displeasure, and motivational direction, the action tendency associated with a particular emotional state—approach or withdrawal. Approach motivation refers to an urge or action tendency to go toward an object, whereas withdrawal motivation refers to an urge or action tendency to move away from an object.
They also argue that much of the extant literature on emotion-attention linkage has focused on emotional valence alone, with just one type of motivational direction, and thus has not clarified the (in)dependent role of valence and motivational direction as regards to attention.
Thus, for e.g., the finding that positive emotions lead to broadening of attention is focused on such research as emotions of joy, contentment etc that are low in approach motivation and are emotions felt after the goal has been reached.
Similarly, the research that has found that negative emotions lead to narrowing of focus have relied on emotions such as fear, anger etc that are high in withdrawal motivation and are pre-goal.
I believe, it is important to step back a little here and go back to our conception of happiness-ennui (mental well-being) continuum and sadness-mania (mental illness) continuum. Another way to conceptualize them is to see sadness having negative valence and low withdrawal motivation – it is passive; mania as having positive valence and high approach motivation- mania is characterized by immense desire for a goal and is pre -goal. Happiness is post goal emotion and is characterized by positive valence and low approach motivation- you have already reached the goal and do not need to exert much efforts in goal directed activity; ennui/boredom/listlessness is negative in valence and has high withdrawal motivation- it is pre-goal- a search for a worthwhile goal.
Another way to make the difference stark is employ the terminology of Berridge et al: happiness is related to liking and the opioid system; while mania is related to wanting and the dopamine system. Depression/sadness is related to disliking /feeling pain while ennui/boredom is related to dreading the outcome/feeling anxious (nothing to do and hence life is useless/meaningless!..anxiety but existential anxiety). Berridghe et al have shown that wanting/liking and dreading/disliking differ and have different neural and neurochemichal correlates.
To become a little philosophical, the wanting/disliking mental illness continuum leading to mania or depression in extremes is to be avoided (thus the dictum of all religions to shun desire/ be stoic) while the happiness-ennui/boredom/existential anxiety system is more preferable where you focus on liking positive outcomes and dreading negative/neutral ones. While the former, to paraphrase Freud, is the hysterical misery at worst, the latter is common unhappiness at worst.
But anyway that was long detour. Lets get back to the studies by Gable et al.
In the first study, the authors showed that motivational direction was relevant and was the reason behind the positivity-broadening of attentional focus effect. they showed that positive emotions lead to broadening of attention only in low approach motivation condition; but when the positive emotion had high approach motivation (emotions like desire. engagement etc), the positive affect lead to narrowing of focus.
Now a brief detour into methodology: the attentional focus is usually measured using local-global tasks whereby it is determined whether one is paying attention to global features or local features of an ambiguous/mixed stimuli. For eg, the most popular of these consists of a global big H made up of smaller (say 5 in number) F's and then determining whether the subject notices the global H or the local F. Details can be seen in the Gable papers which are open access.
Now the authors found robust support for their hypothesis that it is the motivational direction and not affective valence that determines the attentional focus. They also relate it to adaptivity.
Positive affects, particularly those low in approach motivation, suggest a comfortable, stable environment and allow for a broadening of attention and cognition, which may serve adaptive functions (Carver, 2003; Fredrickson, 2001). However, broadening does not occur when positive affects are high in approach motivation. Such positive affects often encourage specific action tendencies, such as tenacious goal pursuit, and an associated reduction in attentional breadth. This reduced attentional breadth may prove adaptive, as it assists in obtaining goals.
They also extend these finding to negative affects and depression etc and I can easily relate them to earlier work I have covered regarding the danger or safety of environment and promotional/ preventive focus:
Together with past research, the present research supports the idea that low- and high-approach-motivated positive affect produce opposite effects on attentional breadth. It is possible that the intensity of withdrawal motivation exerts similar attentional effects; that is, low-withdrawal-motivated negative affect may cause broadening, whereas high-withdrawal-motivated negative affect may cause reduction in breadth. Indeed, such an interpretation would fit with past research. For example, individuals with depression, a low-intensity motivation, are more creative than nondepressed individuals (Andreasen, 1987) and show broadening of attention and memory (von Hecker & Meiser, 2005). In the case of low-motivated negative affects such as sadness and depression, "a more open, unfocused, unselective, low-effort mode of attention would prove not deficient but, on the contrary, beneficial" (von Hecker & Meiser, 2005, p. 456), as one disengages from a terminally blocked goal and becomes open to new possibilities (Klinger, 1975). The past research that found negative affect caused decreased attentional breadth may have evoked negative affective states that were high in withdrawal motivation (e.g., fear; Gasper & Clore, 2002).
This brings me to their current paper , aptly titled , The Blues Broaden, but the Nasty Narrows, that found exactly the effect hypothesized above that sadness/depressive mood was related to broadening of attention, while disgust, a negative emotion with high withdrawal motivation was related to narrowing of focus. they also found that the effect of negative emotion was mediated by arousal which could stand as a proxy for motivational direction.
These two experiments revealed that the relationship between negative affect and attentional precedence is more complex than commonly thought. In line with past theory and evidence, Experiment 2 demonstrated that negative affect caused a narrowing of attention. However, this narrowing occurred only when negative affect was high in motivational intensity. When negative affect was low in motivational intensity, in Experiment 1, it caused a broadening of attention. These results are consistent with the idea that the effect of emotion on local/global precedence is not due to negative versus positive affect, but is instead due to motivational intensity. Positive and negative affects of low motivational intensity broaden attention, whereas positive and negative affects of high motivational intensity narrow attention.
To me this is sufficient, clinching and converging proof of the theories I have been trying to develop with regards to emotions (specifically mania, depression, happiness and despair) and make clear that there are at least two dimensions to happiness/sadness and mental well being/illness constructs. Perhaps if we start liking what we have and stop coveting or wanting more, we have a philosophical, religious, as well as now a psychological, blueprint for how to lead the good life and how to avoid a living hell.
Gable, P., & Harmon-Jones, E. (2010). The Blues Broaden, but the Nasty Narrows: Attentional Consequences of Negative Affects Low and High in Motivational Intensity Psychological Science, 21 (2), 211-215 DOI: 10.1177/0956797609359622
Gable, P., & Harmon-Jones, E. (2008). Approach-Motivated Positive Affect Reduces Breadth of Attention Psychological Science, 19 (5), 476-482 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02112.x


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text: Slingatron: US company tries to crowdfund giant space slingshot Technology 31 July 13 by Kadhim Shubber HyperV Technologies Corp File this Kickstarter project under "that's so crazy, it… almost certainly won't work".A US company wants to herald a new era of space exploration by flinging things into space with a giant slingshot called the "Slingatron".HyperV Technologies Corp calls it a "railroad to space" and is trying to crowdfund $250,000 (£165,000) for the project.Put simply, the Slingatron would hypothetically involve accelerating payloads around and around in an ever increasing-diameter circle until the payload was travelling fast enough to escape the Earth's gravitational pull and fly into space.On Earth, that speed is 11km per second, or around Mach 30 (30 times the speed of sound). Orbital velocity is a little slower, around 7-8km per second. That's not including the effect of air resistance. According to the Slingatron Kickstarter page, the Slingatron would first power on, speeding up until it reached peak rotation speed. At that point the payload, a satellite perhaps, would be released into the centre of the Slingatron, accelerating in circles along a track until it reached the exit. Alternatively, the payload could be accelerated using magnets, with the Slingatron remaining stationary. The payload would be held inside an aerodynamic module, to help it cut through the air like a dart.Rocket propulsion would be used in the later stages to climb the final part of the journey into orbit and to position the payload properly.At the moment the team have only built an one-metre diameter prototype, and even if they raise $250,000 that will only allow them to develop a 5-metre diameter prototype that could fire a 0.5 kilogram payload. Head over to their Kickstarter page for more details. In the meantime, we're keeping our bets with the Skylon spaceplane for technologies that will revolutionise space travel. Latest on wired.co.uk


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|July 31, 2000
A schoolgirl assists ailing children by raising funds through her singing
By N.K.Singh
For many people eight-year-old Palak Munchal of Indore is an angel. She looks like one, all right -- cherubic face, curly hair and a beatific smile. But more than her appearance it is her melodious voice -- and her heart -- that endears her to these people. A Class IV student, Palak is a member of Kalyanji Anandji Little Star, an ensemble of young singers. Like any talented child, Palak loves the attention showered on her. She also knows how to use her popularity to help other children.
Children like six-year-old Pooja, who had a hole in her heart and weighed just 10 kg. When she was a month-and-a-half old doctors informed her father Amar Singh, a farm labourer then earning Rs 50 a day, about her ailment. Corrective surgery would cost Rs 40,000. With two other children at home, Singh could not afford it. "We were just counting days," he says. That was till Palak raised money for the surgery, performed in May this year. Says a grateful Singh: "My daughter would have died but for Palak's help."
Palak, who comes from a middle-class family, started singing at school functions when she was just four. The elder of two siblings (her five-year-old brother Palash also performs at her shows) she soon started showing promise beyond her years. Palak started using her talent to help others last year, when she raised Rs 25,000 for the Kargil martyrs from Indore's shopkeepers. Next her parents Rajkumar and Amita helped her organise a charity show for Orissa's cyclone victims which mopped up Rs 19,000.
It was around this time that the teachers of Nidhi Vinay Mandir in Indore decided to approach Palak for organising a charity show to raise funds for one of their pupils, five-year-old Lokesh who was suffering from a congenital heart defect. His father Radheshyam Kuril worked as a helper at a footwear shop and earned Rs 60 per day and with four mouths to feed, couldn't afford the surgery costing Rs 80,000. Palak had a charity show, her first for a child, in March this year and raised Rs 51,000. The event was publicised by the media, and when doctors of the Manipal Heart Foundation (MHF) in distant Bangalore heard about the case, they offered to operate on Lokesh for free.
MHF's large-heartedness saved Palak Rs 40,000. She offered the money to Lokesh's family, but they requested that it be used to help other children requiring heart surgery. Palak's parents advertised for applicants in local newspapers and were inundated with requests. They finally decided to chose only children from disadvantaged families who were below 11 years of age. They soon had 33 children on their list, with ages ranging from seven months to 10 years.
Each operation costs around Rs 80,000, despite the concession extended by the T. Choithram Hospital in Indore. But Palak is unfazed. "I am sure I can raise enough funds for all of them," she says. She started with a series of shows in Indore where she performed patriotic and Hindi film songs and collected Rs 2.25 lakh, enabling five children to undergo surgery at Bangalore and Indore. MHF offered to halve its fee for children below 11. Dr Dhiraj Gandhi, an Indore surgeon, has chosen to waive his fee for cases brought in by Palak at the T. Choithram Hospital.
The beneficiaries of Palak's efforts are children like Gaurav, a seven-year-old with a widowed mother, and Abhishek, a three-and-a-half-year-old-boy who couldn't even sit up till he was operated upon. Those now in the queue are children like Roshni, the three-year-old daughter of an Indore tailor, Anil Kale. Kale needs Rs 90,000 for his daughter's surgery. He read about Palak's offer in a local daily and approached her. Says Kale: "My daughter has been suffering since she was six months old. Palak is our only hope now."
What motivates Palak? She shrugs, unnaturally grave for an eight-year-old: "I just want to help them. They too have a right to live." To find the real answer one perhaps has to accompany Palak on her visits to hospitals and slums, and see the affection her "wards" have for her. That kind of warmth is reward enough for any person, or child.
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Batman: Arkham City Achievements
The Dark Knight Detective faces the biggest challenge of his life — improving on the already great game Batman: Arkham Asylum. Explore the seedy side of Gotham City, converting into an enormous prison after the destruction in and around Arkham Island. Problems abound; Catwoman is on the prowl, the Ridder has turned insidious, Two-Face is setting up his own criminal empire, while the Joker is still kicking, and Dr. Strange is watching this whole violent game play out. It's going to get ugly, so strap on your hockey-pads and prepare to take-out lots, and lots, of goons.
Scroll down for these newly revealed super heroic achievements. Or give our huge crime-fighting video and text walkthrough a try. For more special information, you can also stop by the cheats page to find all the special coverage we have available for Batman: Arkham City.
Regular Achievements
I'm Batman (10 points):
Become the Bat.
Acid Bath (10 points):
Save the damsel, but is she in distress?.
Savior (10 points):
Save the medical volunteers.
Chimney Sweep (10 points):
There is only one way in.
One Armed Bandit (10 points):
Hammer the point home.
Communication Breakdown (10 points):
Clear the airwaves.
Gladiator (10 points):
Last man standing.
Wrecking Ball (25 points):
Stop the unstoppable.
Lost And Found (10 points):
Uncover the secret of Arkham City.
Sand Storm (25 points):
We are legion.
Hide And Seek (25 points):
A deadly game of hide and seek.
Ghost Train (25 points):
Fight for survival.
Freefall (25 points):
Don't look down.
Exit Stage Right (50 points):
All the world is a stage.
Forensic Expert (10 points):
Collect enough evidence to locate the gun for hire.
Contract Terminated (25 points):
Stop the contract operative.
Serial Killer (25 points):
Track down the serial killer.
Mystery Stalker (15 points):
Reveal the mystery watcher.
Distress Flare (5 points):
Answer the call for help.
Broken Toys (25 points):
Destroy it all.
Ring Ring (5 points):
Answer a ringing phone.
Dial Z For Murder (25 points):
Stop the phone booth killer.
Stop the Clock (15 points):
Time is running out.
Bargaining Chip (15 points):
Reunite the separated couple.
AR Knight (25 points):
Complete all augmented reality training exercises.
Fully Loaded (10 points):
Collect all of Batman's gadgets and upgrades.
Aggravated Assault (10 points):
Stop all assaults in Arkham City.
IQ Test (10 points):
Solve the first riddle.
Conundrum (20 points):
Rescue the first hostage from Riddler.
Mastermind (20 points):
Rescue the second hostage from Riddler.
Puzzler (30 points):
Rescue the third hostage from Riddler.
Intellectual (30 points):
Rescue the fourth hostage from Riddler.
Brainteaser (40 points):
Rescue the fifth hostage from Riddler.
Genius (50 points):
Rescue all the hostages from Riddler.
Bronze Revenge (10 points):
Obtain 24 medals on the original Arkham City ranked maps (as Batman).
Silver Revenge (20 points):
Obtain 48 medals on the original Arkham City ranked maps (as Batman).
Gold Revenge (40 points):
Obtain all 72 medals on the original Arkham City ranked maps (as Batman).
Campaign Bronze (10 points):
Obtain 24 medals on the original Arkham City ranked maps (as Batman).
Campaign Silver (20 points):
Obtain 72 medals on the original Arkham City campaigns (as Batman).
Campaign Gold (40 points):
Obtain all 108 medals on the original Arkham City campaigns (as Batman).
Flawless Freeflow Fighter 2.0 (5 points):
Complete one combat challenge without taking damage (any character).
Twice Nightly (75 points):
Complete New Game Plus.
Gotham Base Jumper (5 points):
Jump off the tallest building in Arkham City and glide for 1 minute without touching the ground.
Pay Your Respects (5 points):
A moment of remembrance.
Story Teller (10 points):
Have 12 murderous dates with Calendar Man.
Catch (5 points):
Find someone to play remote Batarang catch with.
50x Combo (5 points):
Complete a combo of 50 moves (any play mode, any character).
Perfect Freeflow 2.0 (5 points):
Perform a perfect combo including all of Batman's combat moves (any play mode).
Gadget Attack (5 points):
Use 5 different Quickfire gadgets in one fight (any play mode).
Perfect Knight – Day 2 (75 points):
Main Story, Side Missions, Upgrades, Collectables, New Game Plus and Riddlers Revenge (as Batman).


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Arts and Entertainment
More Than 600 Thousand Binge-Watched House of Cards Season 2 Within 72 Hours Of Release
Akeem Brunson
According to the Huffington Post, 2% of Netflix's 33.4 million U.S. subscribers watched all 649 minutes of House of Cards Season 2 within a 72-hour time span of its Feb. 14 release.
If you did, you know that Frank Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, is even more intense in season 2 than ever before.
The season starts right in the middle of a storyline with a real shocking scene that leaves you wondering how the rest of the season will top it.
In a way, the show itself is as narcissistic as the protagonist, Underwood.
One of my favorite parts of the show in general is the break from the scenes where the audience gets a glimpse of what Underwood is thinking, delivered as monologues with Spacey looking directly into the camera.
In episode one, Underwood doesn't break to share his thoughts with the audience until the very last scene of the episode.
"I hope you didn't think I forgot about you," Underwood said.
This season of the Netflix original series proves why the show swept the Emmy's last year.
The writers know exactly what the audience wants and like the taste of chocolate, we just can't get enough.
If you like those quotable moments from season one you will not be disappointed.
"I've always loathed the necessity of sleep," Underwood said in one scene. "Like death, it puts even the most powerful men on their backs."
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- MIFF 2014 Highlights
- MIFF Selects Film By Reporter Editor-in-Chief As Official Entry Into CinemaSlam


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ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia's governor says he hasn't made a decision on legislation allowing concealed handguns on the state's college campuses.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Jordan Spieth couldn't bear to watch, turning his head before another shot splashed into Rae's Creek. Moments later, Danny Willett ...
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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Market participants were transfixed Tuesday by a stunning slide in the Russian ruble that presented President Vladimir Putin with one of the biggest challenges of his 15-year rule.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Impeded no more by Republican blocking tactics, Democrats are on track to win confirmation of up to 88 of President Barack Obama's top judicial nominations this year, a total that would be the highest for any president in two decades.
PENNSBURG, Pa. (AP) - A woman who told neighbors she feared her ex-husband would kill her was among six people found fatally shot in three suburban Philadelphia homes, and her Marine veteran former husband was on the run.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Electronic cigarettes have surpassed traditional smoking in popularity among teens, the government's annual drug use survey finds.
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SYDNEY (AP) - A flurry of loud bangs erupted early Tuesday as a swarm of heavily armed police stormed a downtown Sydney cafe where a gunman had been holding an unknown number of people hostage for more than 16 hours.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The families of nine of the 26 people killed and a teacher wounded two years ago at the Sandy Hook Elementary School filed a lawsuit Monday against the manufacturer, distributor and seller of the rifle used in the shooting.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is refusing to allow Arizona to enforce stringent restrictions on medical abortions while a challenge to those rules plays out in lower courts.
ATLANTA (AP) - Seventy-five years after the premiere of the movie "Gone with the Wind," research is shedding light on the racial tensions that existed at the time between the producer and city of Atlanta officials.
NEW YORK (AP) - The Dow Jones industrial average is closing more than 300 points lower, its worst loss in two months.
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WASHINGTON (AP) - It's now up to the Senate to pass a huge $1.1 trillion spending bill to keep the government running, but not before a battle between old school veterans and new breed freshmen such as tea partier Ted Cruz and Elizabeth Warren, a liberal with a national following.
NEW YORK (AP) - A rally on the stock market fizzled toward the end of trading as the price of oil sank.
Page 62 of 248


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Pensacola Saenger Theatre Tickets
118 S Palafox, Pensacola, FL 32501
You're in the loop for Pensacola Saenger Theatre! We'll email you the monthly calendar along with special offers.
Have more than just one favorite venue? Let My Ticketmaster keep track of all of them for you.
Do more, see more with My Ticketmaster.
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Pensacola Saenger Theatre Tickets and Event Dates
Related Links
Venue Information
Venue Details
DirectionsTake I-10 to I-110 (exit 12). Take I-110 south to the Garden St. exit, turn left onto Palafox Place. The Theatre is located two blocks down on the left.
ParkingParking is located along Palafox, parking garage on Jefferson
(one block over).
Box Office Numbers(850) 595-3880 and (850) 595-3881
Box Office HoursLabor Day to Memorial Day: Mon-Fri (10am-5pm)
Memorial Day to Labor Day: Mon-Fri (10am-4pm)
Types of Payment AcceptedBox Office accepts Cash, MC, Visa, Honor ATM Cards, and local Checks.
Will CallThe Will Call window is located at the front Box Office window. Tickets
held at Will Call can be picked up early as 1 1/2 hours prior to show. Customer must present the actual credit card, photo I.D., and the confirmation number.
General Rules1.) No smoking is permitted in theatre.
2.) No outside food or beverages are permitted in the theatre.
Children RulesThere are no age restrictions.
Children under 2 are admitted free without seat.
Child age for discounts is 2-12.


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Puppies and Dogs For Sale ClassifiedsPets Local NJ Classified Ads
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we have only one black female left from our Lucy and cujo litter AKC registered parents on premises mom has many show champion lines all over the world this is her last litter pet home is 800.00 breeding home 1300.00 please text me for photos or more information she will be ready may 23rd at 8 weeks old she comes with vet checked first shots first interceptor first K9 advantix II also a goodybag with food and vitamins nupro and ultra oil lifetime health contract (856)739-4773
Web Id: NJC15118513
Published on NJ.com 4/10. Updated 4/10.
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Published on NJ.com 4/9. Updated 4/9.
Labrador retriever puppies AKC Chocolate 850.00 They were born on 03/19/2016 Our puppies are STOCKY and have an EXCELLENT DISPOSTION. They are family raised. We have both parents on the premises. They will be vet checked and receive their first shots and deworming. We sell our puppies with a 2 year health and hip guarantee. The puppies will be ready to go on May 7th I can also send you more pictures upon request. We are located in Buena NJ.08310 FYI: Once the puppy has been picked and deposited I will give access to the new owners to cameras that I have on mommy and puppies for them to view them 24 hours a day. So while your waiting to take you new puppy home you can get to know him or her by watching them interact with mom and their siblings on a live video feed. Please text or call me at 856-506-9992 or you can email me at email@example.com
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Published on NJ.com 4/8. Updated 4/11.
Fawn/black mask, cream, and black/brindle frenchie pups available in our upcoming litters! All of our guys and girls are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and will come with their health certificate up to date on vaccinations and deworming. They will also go to their new home already microchipped with their health guarantee. Our pups are all raised in my home with my family so they really have the best temperaments, very loving little guys. We think they will be the perfect addition to their new families.You can reach us anytime at 201-679-2982 Jessica 201-921-9209 Jim for more information/pictures/video, to inquire about upcoming litters, or to set up a time to come by and meet our guys and girls.Pups will come with their AKC papers, health certificate, 1 year health guarantee, and microchip. Since all pups are raised in my home we are available for appointments anytime once they are 8 weeks if you would like to come by and meet them! Prices vary with gender and color $2899-$3699 No shipping, pickup only as we would like to meet the new families. Thank you!Our website is www.bulldogpuppybreeder.weebly.com if you wanted to learn more about us or read some past puppy parent testimonials.
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Published on NJ.com 4/8. Updated 4/25.
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Published on NJ.com 3/14. Updated 4/25.
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I have an adorable male and female Golden Doodle puppy. They are just away from 9 weeks. They are ready for their new and warm loving home! (Light golden or tan in color). They were given a set of wellness vaccines, and they have been dewormed. $499If interested, please give me a call (973)477-5165.Please only serious inquiries.No emails or texts.
Web Id: NJC15031488
Published on NJ.com 3/13. Updated 5/1.
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Europa Universalis IV: Call-to-Arms Pack
Third party DRM: SteamThis game requires a free Steam account to play.
Customer notes
Requires Europa Universalis IV (base game) to use this DLC
Europa Universalis IV: Call to Arms pack
The Call to Arms content was part of the Europa Universalis IV sign-up campaign held prior to launch. Due to many requests from people who would also like to experience the content, it is now being offered as a DLC pack.
Call to Arms Pack includes:
The Winged Hussars Pack:
The Winged Hussars Unit Pack contains 12 unique cavalry models for the cavalry for Russia, Poland and Lithuania, three of the most influential eastern European states in the Europa Universalis IV era.
The National Monuments Pack:
The National Monuments adds new graphical national monuments to the already stunning Europa Universalis IV map. The new map items are: The Cologne Cathedral, The Notre Dame cathedral, The Tower of London, The Old Faithful geyser, The Kremlin, Saint Peters Cathedral, Mount Fuji and the temple Angkor Wat.
Customer reviews
A cosmetic pack for EU4m0rogfar | June 11, 2014 | See all m0rogfar's reviews »
This EU4 DLC pack adds new sprites to the game. These sprites are the Winged Hussar and National Monument sprites. One annoying thing is that Winged Hussars only appear lategame and the game is significantly better earlygame. You don't really notice the National Monument things. This makes your money better spent elsewhere as you won't see them much.
Content from the sign-up programmichalmichal | Aug. 19, 2013 | See all michalmichal's reviews »
Whoever missed the Europa Universalis IV sign-up program, they should get the Call-to-Arms Pack pack, which is basically the additonal content which was offered in the sign-up pack. Although not essential to the game, it enhances and expands it in a nice way for a very low price. From this pack you will get a new unit pack for your game - the Winged Hussars Pack, which adds 12 models of cavalry units typical to Eastern European powers of the period covered by Europa Universalis IV. Then there's the National Monuments Pack, which adds several famous landmarks to the map of Europa Universalis. As I already said, the content here is not essential to the game, but I expect that no Europa Universalis IV fan will want to play without it.


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Reviews for
Vampire Kisses
Booklist Reviews 2003 November #2
Gr. 7-10. Sixteen-year-old Raven is a Goth surrounded by "lesser" folks: her parents have transformed themselves from hippie to corporate, and her only friend at school is an outsider everyone picks on. In Raven's rich imaginary life, she is bold and special and in love with the idea of meeting a vampire. Schreiber uses a careful balance of humor, irony, pathos, and romance as she develops a plot that introduces the possibility of a real vampire--in the form of an extra-handsome boy, of course-- while exploring how a girl like Raven finds ways to cope with a bully who is both class- and gender-conscious of his supposed superiority. Raven's voice is immediately charming, in spite of her alleged bravado and coldheartedness. Her hometown could be any Small Town, USA, and its possibly haunted mansion just lightens the scene rather than making the story silly. This tale slides down easily and will be welcomed by Goths willing to look on the lighter side of their own culture as well as by readers who have an openminded appreciation for the vagaries of their peers and, perhaps, of themselves. ((Reviewed November 15, 2003)) Copyright 2003 Booklist Reviews
Horn Book Guide Reviews 2004 Spring
A goth girl living in ""Dullsville,"" Raven is thrilled that the new hunky goth boy might be a vampire--but will she lose him when he discovers her assumptions? Despite some snazzy dialogue, the plot is a lame contrivance, resolving when the town implausibly refuses to judge by appearances--a point undermined when the goth boy turns out at the last second to be a real vampire after all. Copyright 2004 Horn Book Guide Reviews.
Kirkus Reviews 2003 July #1
An awkwardly endearing tale of teen angst and Goth romance. Vampire-loving Raven is a misfit in the town she calls "Dullsville." Her black lipstick, combat boots, and sneering dislike of her classmates leave her nearly friendless. Dullsville has only one exciting feature: the Mansion, abandoned years before. Now the owners have returned, and Raven has never been more excited. A creepy butler, a mysterious Romanian couple nobody sees, and the gorgeous teenaged son, Alexander, populate the spooky mansion of her childhood vampire dreams. Alexander is perfect-a gothic prince, a dark and broody knight of night, maybe even a vampire! Alexander seems equally intrigued by Raven, who knows it must be love. In a sweetly silly climax, troubles in Raven's relationship with Alexander allow the townspeople of Dullsville to show themselves as fun and decent people despite their suburban sameness. Cheesily written, but cute. (Fiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus 2003 Kirkus/BPI Communications.All rights reserved.
Publishers Weekly Review 2003 August #1
Readers don't have to share goth girl Raven's passion for vampire lore to appreciate her misadventures in Dullsville, a town "bigger than a cave, but small enough to feel claustrophobic." Growing up with her brother, Nerd Boy, and ex-hippie parents now bent on climbing the corporate ladder, 16-year-old Raven has always been a misfit. Alternately tormented and chased by popular soccer player Trevor Mitchell, Raven fears she will never meet a true soul mate. Then some ghostly pale Romanians move into a nearby abandoned mansion. While rumors regarding the new family's vampire tendencies fly around town, Raven becomes enamored with the hauntingly handsome son, Alexander Sterling, who rarely ventures from his attic bedroom. Some second-rate sleuthing around the mansion gets Raven in trouble but also wins her a date with the youth she rapturously calls "Gothic Guy, Gothic Mate, Gothic Prince." As in her Teenage Mermaid, Schreiber adds some refreshing twists to genre archetypes and modern-day stereotypes. Raven's ill-fated flirtation will bring more laughs than heartache, and if the ending is a bit rushed, elsewhere the comic timing is dead-on. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Publishers Weekly Reviews 2005 August #1
"Readers don't have to share goth girl Raven's passion for vampire lore to appreciate her misadventures in Dullsville," according to PW. "The girl's ill-fated flirtation will bring more laughs than heartache." Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal Reviews 2003 August
Gr 7 Up-Raven, 16, doesn't fit in at school or home. This goth-girl is obsessed with vampires and when a new family moves into the old town mansion, she is convinced that the son, Alexander, is a vampire. The story swirls around and through sibling rivalry, peer relationships, friendships, and love. Raven is a feisty protagonist with a quick wit and a real sense of self. She defends herself and her friends, often besting her peers with humor and a quick tongue. As her connection with Alexander deepens, she comes to understand her family better. It is through his shadowy character that readers are kept off balance. Schreiber weaves a tale that is more about acceptance and friendship than about vampire behavior and culture, and sustains a tone that draws readers to the characters rather than to horrific plot developments that would keep them reading. There is far less intensity than in Annette Curtis Klause's Silver Kiss (Laurel-Leaf, 1992) and less moodiness than that found in Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's Midnight Predator (2002) and Shattered Mirror (2001, both Delacorte). While the ending isn't tied up in a neat and pretty bow, it fits the style and tone. All in all, a good read for those who want a vampire love story without the gore.-Molly S. Kinney, Peach Public Libraries, Fort Valley, GA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
VOYA Reviews 2004 February
There is not much to do in rural "Dullsville" for a feisty self-proclaimed Goth teenager named Raven. She has always been fascinated by the abandoned mansion on Benson Hill, originally built by a Romanian baroness and said to be haunted. On Raven's sixteenth birthday, Alexander, a teenaged descendant of the baroness, and his eerie butler, Jameson, move into the mansion. Raven believes that she has met her true love in Alexander. He is different from her schoolmates, having traveled all over the world and been tutored at home. He is handsome, artistic, gentlemanly, very cultured, and a Goth like Raven. A rumor begins circulating that Alexander belongs to a family of vampires. At first Raven is thrilled by the idea, but she later becomes ashamed of herself and defends Alexander against the vicious gossip. In a rather odd twist, after the "Dullsvillians" have accepted him, Alexander reveals to Raven that he is a vampire after all. Schreiber, a former comedienne, writes a witty and enjoyable book. Raven's obsession with the "dark side" is a little over the top at times, and the other characters in the novel tend to be poorly formed. Nevertheless, Schreiber portrays the sexual tension between Raven and town bully Trevor realistically, and she captures Raven's bittersweet infatuation with Alexander in a tender way while keeping it innocent. This novel is more romantic than suspenseful, and will be especially enjoyed by female readers.-Dotsy Harland PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-009335-8. 2Q 3P J S Copyright 2004 Voya Reviews.


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The Indiana High School Athletic Association released the Sectional pairings for the 2014 girls' basketball tournament on Sunday. Play begins on Tuesday, February 11th.
Here are the Sectional pairings involving our local schools.
Class 4A
Sectional 2 – Hobart
Portage vs. Crown Point
Hobart vs. LaPorte
Michigan City vs. Chesterton
Valparaiso vs. Merrillville
Sectional 3 – South Bend Clay
SB Riley vs. Penn
Mishawaka vs. SB Washington
Plymouth vs. SB Clay
SB Adams vs. Riley/Penn winner
Sectional 4 – Northridge
Elkhart Memorial vs. Warsaw
Concord vs. Elkhart Central
Northridge vs. Memorial/Warsaw winner
Goshen vs. Concord/Central winner
Class 3A
Sectional 18 – Hanover Central
Wheeler vs. Knox
Calumet vs. Andrean
Hanover Central vs. New Prairie
Kankakee Valley vs. Wheeler/Knox winner
Sectional 19 – Glenn
SB St. Joseph vs. Culver Academies
Rochester vs. Glenn
Jimtown vs. St. Joseph/Culver winner
Mishawaka Marian vs. Rochester/Glenn winner
Sectional 21 – NorthWood
West Noble vs. Whitko
Fairfield vs. Tippecanoe Valley
Wawasee vs. NorthWood
Lakeland vs. West Noble/Whitko winner
Class 2A
Sectional 34 – Winamac
Rensselaer Central vs. Delphi
North Newton vs. North Judson
Winamac vs. Central/Delphi winner
Sectional 35 – Central Noble
Bremen vs. LaVille
Central Noble vs. Fremont
Westview vs. Bremen/LaVille winner
Prairie Heights vs. Central Noble/Fremont winner
Class A
Sectional 50 – West Central
South Newton vs. North White
Caston vs. Pioneer
West Central vs. South Newton/North White winner
Tri-County vs. Caston/Pioneer winner
Sectional 51 – Triton
Oregon-Davis vs. South Central
LaCrosse vs. Triton
Culver Community vs. O-D/South Central winner
Argos vs. LaCrosse/Triton winner


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The Father Carroll Luncheon audience at the BVA 70th National Convention was favored on August 20, 2015 by an emotionally stirring address by American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Museum Director Micheal Hudson, who performed a dramatic reading of historic excerpts from the speeches of Father Carroll himself at the same luncheons from 1946 until 1970. In May of 2014, the APH Museum in Louisville received a shipping pallet from Boston stacked with sturdy cardboard boxes. The 40 boxes contained the life work of Father Thomas Carroll (1909-1971), transferred to the museum as part of a partnership with the Carroll Center for the Blind to preserve the Carroll legacy. Hudson used the shipped resources in preparing and delivering his dramatic reading.
Father Carroll was a figure of giant proportions in the blindness field. As the Assistant Director of Boston's Catholic Guild for the Blind, he also became the Chaplain for the U.S. Army's two rehabilitation centers for blinded soldiers during World War II. He emerged as not only the spiritual leader of a group that would push the boundaries of every aspect of what it meant to be blind, but he worked to bridge the significant divide between war and civilian blind throughout his life.
If there was a national committee, anywhere, Father Carroll served on it. If you had a banquet, he was your first choice for the keynote address. His trailblazing book, "Blindness," published first in 1961, is still considered required reading.
Unfortunately, a flood in the basement of the original St. Paul's Rehabilitation Center, which Father Carroll originally furnished with Army surplus camp equipment when he opened it in 1954, left the collection in poor condition. Staff members at APH are painstakingly removing each rusted staple, replacing ruined file folders, and organizing the collection for use. It contains decades of correspondence between Father Carroll and virtually every leader within the blindness field. Although almost every topic is addressed, it is particularly strong in the areas of Orientation and Mobility, blindness and geriatrics, blindness and psychiatry, blinded veterans, blindness and hearing, and vocational rehabilitation.
The most wonderful thing about this collection is the juxtaposition of Father Carroll the priest, the administrator, the healer, the counselor, the reformer, and the visionary, with Father Carroll the very human fellow who had trouble quitting smoking and who ranted against fragrance gardens but loved to buy gadgets out of the back of magazines. They are all there together—super hero and completely ordinary man.
As the director of the museum at APH since 2005, I will attempt in my Father Carroll Luncheon presentation to capture the unique relationship between "Father Tom" and the Blinded Veterans Association he helped to found at Avon Old Farms Army Convalescent Hospital in 1945.
Father Carroll himself was the featured luncheon speaker for the organization 21 times between 1946 and 1971. Throughout this service as BVA's National Chaplain, he was at times a friend, at times an advisor, and at times a prophet just down from the mountain.
At times Father Carroll also came to the BVA events to deliver a well-earned trip to the proverbial woodshed. Whatever Tom Carroll came to say, he said it straight to one's face, whether to one or to an entire audience. On August 20 in Louisville, I will share some of those classic lines gathered from 25 years of his close association with blinded veterans and BVA.
Six veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, all legally blind and from several eras of service, will deploy to the U.S. Army Mountain Ranger Training Camp April 20-24. Despite having lost their sight, participants in the camp will utilize high levels of strength, stamina, endurance, and perhaps even some extra doses of courage left over from their days in the military.
The trainees are all members of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), the only Veterans Service Organization exclusively dedicated to serving the estimated 132,000 blinded veterans and their families throughout the United States. The Association's headquarters is located in Alexandria, Virginia.
BVA's Operation Peer Support initiative is the travel sponsor of the training for the second consecutive year. A similar group from BVA experienced Ranger Training Camp in 2015.
Operation Peer Support, initiated in 2006, seeks to help newly blinded veterans adjust to their loss of sight and look forward to the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead for them. This is done through social activities, counseling, educational forums that inform them of benefits and rehabilitation programs, and events such as the anger Training Camp. Friendships are established with both veterans of earlier conflicts and their military contemporaries with whom they trained and fought.
The site of the Ranger training is Camp Frank D. Merrill Military Base in Dahlonega, Georgia, located in the northern portion of the state. The base is the general meeting point for the 5th Ranger Training Battalion and a school for Rangers.
Activities and tests will consist of mountaineering training that includes climbing sheer rock faces and rappelling down them. The Ranger cadre and instructors will set up climbing stations at which the trainees will prove themselves on the vertical rock. The instructors will assist them in tying knots and ascending the rock face.
The six veterans will also participate in a small arms firing range, competitive foot races, and several eating, drinking, and storytelling competitions. They will forge through each activity using the sixth stanza of the Ranger Creed as their foundation: "Readily I will display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor. Rangers lead the way!"
Accepting these challenges are: Joe Burns (New Orleans, Louisiana), U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and graduate of Ranger Class 3-69; Kevin Jackson (Austin, Texas), U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Gulf War; Travis Fugate (Emmalena, Kentucky), U.S. Army National Guard veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Adam Rowland (Wittman, Arizona), U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Mark Wilson (Palmyra, Missouri), U.S. Army National Guard veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and BVA National Sergeant-at-Arms Danny Wallace (Union, Missouri), U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The purpose of the trip to the Mountain Ranger Camp is to foster and build a bond of camaraderie between BVA and the elite U.S. Army Rangers," said Wallace, also the group leader again this year and the brainchild behind the training experience for himself and his fellow blinded veterans. "It is my intent to demonstrate, not only to our veterans but to the Ranger community as well, the abilities we possess even without our sight."
Wallace said that Ranger trainees will also participate in the camp's annual open house on April 23, an event that typically brings thousands of attendees with whom trainees will be able to share their rehabilitation experiences as well as their personal and group accomplishments at the camp.
This week, Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) Executive Director Al Avina sent a letter asking the Commission on Care, a 15-member body charged with examining veterans' access to health care, as it now is and will be over the next 20 years, to carefully consider in its final report aspects of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system that not only function well but are, in fact, able to provide more comprehensive and higher quality service than similar entities in the private sector.
"While it is certainly true that there are very real and serious problems plaguing the current system of care, it is a well-documented fact that veterans can receive specialized services, such as those provided by the VA Blind Rehabilitation Centers, that are simply not available from private entities," Avina said.
The BVA comments were sent in a letter addressed to Commission Chairperson Nancy Schlichting that supported and concurred with a previous letter signed by representatives of other national Veteran and Military Service Organizations. The letter was in response to the recent "Strawman Document" from the Commission, which detailed a proposal for a large-scale move toward future privatization of veterans' health care.
According to BVA, recent evidence indicates that the Commission is flirting with a proposal to recommend doing away with VA health care altogether within 20 years and relying on private health care providers that would be paid by the government.
"Members of this Commission have stated that the present system of care is 'broken' and that there is no 'efficient' way to fix it," BVA's letter stated. "We believe that such broad generalizations do a disservice to those who have served their country and now need that country to step up and help them regain a place in its society."
Avina petitioned the Commission to ensure that no harm is done to programs that provide essential benefits and services to the nation's veterans in its zeal to deal with other health care providers who do not offer such essential care.
"We strongly urge this body to hold to the principles set forth in its interim report to Congress to produce recommendations that are data driven, decided by consensus, and focused on insuring that eligible veterans receive health care which offers optimal quality, access, and choice," he said.
Avina also stated BVA's position that the present health care system has changed the lives of countless veterans for the better, a fact that rarely makes headline news. "It is just as important to assure veterans that these essential programs and services will continue to be available as it is to assure them that the headline-generating problems will be resolved."
He said that measures undertaken to transform the care provided to veterans should be adopted in a manner that does not inadvertently harm the most vulnerable or those with the greatest needs.
The Commission on Care was established in Section 202 by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to strategically examine how best to organize the Veterans Health Administration, locate health resources, and deliver health care to veterans in the next 20 years. Its final report to the President, the Congress, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is due no later than June 30.
Chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1958, BVA is the only Veterans Service Organization exclusively dedicated to serving the needs of the nation's blinded veterans and their families. The Association was founded in 1945 in Avon, Connecticut, by a group of approximately 100 World War II veterans blinded during their service.
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Rebecca has now entered the world of storyboard painting, which is the graphic organization of illustrations or images in the early stages of visualizing a film, interactive media sequences, animation or motion graphic.
Hip hop filmmaker Tim Greene ("An Intimate Interview With the Masaai," "Raykwan's Cuties"), sent Rebecca's mother, Eve Lowery, an email asking if Rebecca could do a story board painting for one of his movies.
Rebecca and her family attended Greene's "Lil Homeez" casting call four years ago in Charlotte, where she auditioned for a movie and she has participated in recent film-related events for Greene in Atlanta and Charlotte.
"People who are persistent and consistent, I eventually give them a shot. I saw that Rebecca had other great talent besides acting and I put her in my projects," Greene said, adding, "No other black girl is doing storyboards that I know of."
Greene said Rebecca dazzled the Atlanta representatives with her intellect and is a role model for other gents and other kids are inspired by her.
"Tim's a strong pillar for our family. He allows us to learn more about the industry, very supportive and we appreciate him for that," Eve Lowery said.
Rebecca's advice for other youngsters is pretty simple:
"Draw if it makes you happy, keep on doing it. Follow your passion and keep at it."


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text: Home Culture Former Olympic Runner Antonio Pettigrew Found Dead Authorities are not sure if the death is accidental or an overdose. By: Authors Posted: Aug. 10 2010 5:41 PM 0 Pettigrew, Alvin and Calvin Harrison and Michael Johnson Celebrate Olympic Gold Gold in 2000 It has been a tough day for North Carolina. Former Olympic star Antonio Pettigrew was found dead in Chatham County. Pettigrew's body was found in the back seat of his car, which was parked close to a bridge. Chatham County sheriff Maj. Gary Blankenship says the car was locked, and there was evidence that the 42-year-old had taken sleeping pills. Authorities are not sure if the death is accidental or an overdose. Pettigrew was stripped of his 2000 Sydney Gold medal in the 4x400 relay because he later admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. Pettigrew's wife reported him missing on Monday. A sad ending to a storied life. Read more at ESPN. --Nsenga K. Burton Get what we're watching delivered to your inbox everyday! Sign up for our daily video newsletter below. Powered by Livefyre 0


text:
..then please allow Me to let a bright light sparkle of inspiration and truth information.
Ascension can be uncomfortable at times like these within collective consciousness, but it can also be made easier if humanity assists.
Time is short ---- change is coming quickly... and You are understanding there is an END POINT.
Your time is now to take power, make decisions, move forth in freedom, joy and abundance.
Accept power and your part in the divine plan.
There is a gift held in your heart.
This is the gift of love from the universe.
You are the Creator... and You are able to see your way ahead clearly shown.
We are viewers and players in this process of awakening.
Some awaken easily without prodding, others fight the stream and wish to stay sleeping and dreaming.
While others rise in pure joy and energy for the new day.
We work with creator gods that are birdlike and reptilian and it is within our DNA to be ignited!
It's All about BALANCE....esspecially when we are sliding down :)
As the wise crow moves with the stream and lead by example.
Let those who fight the stream learn from their emotional guidance system.
There are many many teachers here now and you are one of them.
No need to Worry about anything else, except to get your 'Spiritual House' in order Now~~~~
~~and use your God Given Power of Intention
..to Focus on the (+)
..and Bring in Humanities rightful Awakening & Evolution...
Now, "let us keep the candle of knowledge lit, rather than curse the darkness!"
..and Be Love together within joyful sense of feeling...
Just feel & accept that is finally 2012 and that IS why You came Here (also)...
There IS Profound Love And Respect
For What WE All have Achieved.
Realising that...
..in an instant...
All The Dreams
All The Work
All The Love And Caring
This is merely a message for YOU to brighten UP....
..the 21st Dec 2012....
..and the 2 Timelines....
..and WE are merging together as 'ONE'...
So...let the muck GO and let light FLOW...
For the "thinkers" amongst us...here is an extended version :)
Re~member that the odd looking bird was showing to maintain in high vibrations and let us FEEL a similar Vibe of Balance.
We CAN do this too :)
So...whatever you"think" >>>o<<< think RE~VERSE...
..and trust your inner~tuition taking the red pill, well done :)
Re~member and enter the stream _^_within the DARKNESS.
Start at the root of your BEing, the dragon or serpents are merely here, within our DNA.
>>> Circles within Circles...thru the Manifestation of LOVE IN ACTION.
"Darkness within darkness.
The gateway to all understanding."
with sudden Seeming...
TIME-codes Firing...
..(MASS)kundalini arises.
...and Humanity IS AWAKENING...
Through the 'POWER' of...
..assisting You/Me and Humanity for a peaceful New Earth!
Wishing You all the strength and courage within graceful angelic abunDance this year!
~~in love and spirit, sensi


text:
Friend undermined my parental authority.
About a month ago we went to a movie night with a bunch of other friends. The friend who hosted has 2 young girls. Of course, for movie night she was serving popcorn. My daughter is 1 1/2, so I said I didn't want her to eat any. Someone even backed me up, saying they knew a child who choked to death on popcorn. Then a few minutes later I saw our hostess giving my daughter popcorn. So I had to take the popcorn away. I assumed she had not heard me. But yesterday, one of my friends told me that she had just told the woman, "Her mom doesn't want her to have any popcorn", and she rolled her eyes and gave it to her anyway. Even if I was wrong, it's not up to her to undermine what I say. I don't know how to handle this. My daughter plays with her youngest, but I don't think I would trust her to watch my child if she doesn't respect my rules. It feels funny bringing up something that happened a month ago. I would love some opinions.
Posted: 01/14/2012 by lizlorell
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If it were me I would not bring it up since its been over a month. I also wouldn't let her watch my children when I'm not around. If it happens again I would just say I don't want my daughter to eat that. I would add you make think I'm being over protective but I would appreciate if you respect my rules even if you don't agree with them. Good luckposted 01/14/2012 by Gabie/Jas' mom
almost everyone I know tries to undermine my parenting or tell me I should be doing that this way. I've learned to ignore it and stick to my parenting ways. If someone keeps pushing I will say something and probably not trust that person with my child for a whileposted 04/05/2012 by akveiga
Wow, that is really very disrespectful of this 'friend' to give your child food that you had specifically said you did not want her to have. She is not your friend. She should not be allowed to decide which 'rules' of yours she follows and which to disregard. Whose child is this anyway? Ask her how she would react if any of her friends chose to disregard her wishes as pertain to her child.... (really, ASK her this the next time you see her) From what you have posted, I say she is NOT actually your friend and doesn't respect you. NOT cool, IMO.posted 01/14/2012 by mamashakti
Answer this question


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The world history influences lives because whatever you did research on, it will stay in our brain. My guiding question was: What was King Tut's life like? His life was ery strange; one wierd thing was that he married his sister.
I learned a lot from other people's boards. A cool thing I learned from a friend's board was Cleopatra was a goddess/queen.
The computer you are commenting from has an id number. It is 188.8.131.52!


text:
If you struggled to read the above title, it's okay; you're experiencing the typographic equivalent of Bellmer's doll bodies, which are somatically and sexually illegible. Whereas Claude Cahun blurred sexuality with her androgyny, Bellmer simply preferred to scribble all over it. In his own words he described "The Body (as) comparable to a sentence that invites us to disarticulate it, so that, through a series of endless anagrams, its true contents may be recomposed."
Oh, and the above title is borrowed from Therese Lichtenstein's book Behind Closed Doors: The Art of Hans Bellmer. It reads: Anagrams of Anatomy.
Bellmer may have called his doll bodies anagrammic, but to many they are viewed as pornographic. Sexist, Pedophilic or just plain Savage are also words that have haunted Bellmer's doll work. Or maybe it is better stated as having haunted the viewers of Bellmer's dolls. It's difficult to not be even just a little disturbed by his dolls. They are, after all, adolescent in age and therefore erotically impermissible. But they are also somatically impossible; placing us into a fuzzy area of seeing things we shouldn't see and can't see. The sexual body is liberated and repressed within the imagination of the viewer, who can neither entertain nor escape the thoughts elicited by these deviant dolls.
With Bellmer the body is personal and political.
Charges of pedophilia and pornography are
simplified derogations of Bellmer's dolls which
are, because they are adolescent, disobedient.
This is only a slightly stretched perspective
since, after all, his work was just as likely to
have been a swift political reaction to the rise
of Nazi Germany as it was a solemn personal
reaction to the obeisance imposed by his
tyrannical father. The fear elicited by the
enormous presence and demands
of his father, ensured that illicit
thoughts by young Hans Bellmer
remained secrets of his imagination.
Such childhood secrets later emerged from the dark corners of
his memory, taking the form of pubescent dolls. The clash of violence
and virginity that is found in his decomposed, deconstructed and reconstructed doll poses
are incriminating of a frustrated youth. Incriminating is the ideal word here, since Hans
described himself as "The craftsman who was made into a criminal."
A criminal with an accomplice. Several of them.
The French Surrealists embraced Bellmer's work with a genuine enthusiasm that would encourage him to expand on what he had accomplished with "Die Puppe", his first Doll. Though Bellmer found validation from the surrealists, his ideas for sex-dolls did not find its roots in the movement. Inspiration instead came from the economical and elegant line quality of Dadaist George Grosz. Bellmer mixed linear minimalism with disturbing maximalism to create a sexually confusing body of illustrations. If this was erotic art, what are we to feel of a drawing of a girl, fully nude, tearing open her skin to reveal her intestines?
Critics of "Rose Ouverte la Nuit" (far right) should be reminded of Renaissance anatomy illustrations (left) where "living" subjects also demonstrate their anatomy. Both are a far cry from modern generic nude medical illustrations. Intent, of course, plays a strong role and Bellmer intended for his work to be all together erotic, violent, forbidden and forgiving. Like the Renaissance medical drawings, Bellmer's work was to demonstrate, not surrealism, but hyper-reality.
"the body's underlying awareness of itself."
"...anatomical possibilities."
"the world is a Scandal."
Hans Bellmer
While Bellmer's illustration quality took its cue from George Grosz, Bellmer's life-size dolls that evolved from his drawings had multiple sources of inspiration. The initial spark came from a story told by wax doll maker, Lotte Pritzel. She told Hans about the painter Oskar Kokoschka, who asked her to build a life size doll that would function as a surrogate for female companionship. This story validated Bellmer's own fantasies for a sex object that would channel both present desires and past memories. Kokoschka's request foreshadowed the opera "The Tales of Hoffmann" where a man unwittingly falls in love with a lifeless doll. Kokoschka's story and the opera were the deciding factors for Hans, whom, as of 1933, began to design erotic, "artificial girls with anatomical possibilities."
These words bring to mind pornographic paraphernalia for sexual experimentation. However, while pornography is hedonistic, Bellmer's dolls have a closer relationship with narcissism; going beyond a blind appetite for sex into sexual self-awareness. Bellmer termed this second skin the "Physical Unconscious," further defining it as "the body's underlying awareness of itself." There is more humanity in his work than we initially expected; especially when we concede that "humanity" is defined not only by our civility, but also by our need for cruelty. Censorship is merely our way of reconciling the two. Similar to Jenny Holzer's "Lustmord", a German word loosely translated to mean "Sex-Murder;" Bellmer's dolls speak of lust, surrender and aggression. As one French critic described, "(Han's doll) looks like a police document after the discovery of a dismembered trunk victim."
No doubt Bellmer would have appreciated seeing his work understood outside of the geographic range of the Surrealist Movement. The quixotic "possibilities" of anatomy explored by Hans Bellmer may have grabbed the attention of the Surrealist movement, but this didn't qualify him as a surrealist. The dolls are simply too real. They embody the private desires of the male and make them public. There is nothing surreal nor mythic about the instinctive and often aggressive desires of the body; especially the male body. This may very well be why Bellmer's work struggles to find mainstream acceptance: he has taken the scandal of illicit desires and entombed them in bodies that no nothing of repression or secrets. As Bellmer himself insisted: "If my work is scandalous, it is because the world is a scandal."


text:
6 items found in this collection
The name means everything
2 Detector Tubes are better than 1
Forward March! To Better Radio Reception
Warning, Do Not Be Misled!!
Triad Insured Radio Tubes
For those who have their own ideas on cabinets Spalding recommends this Ware Electric
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