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This article is taken from the book Sona: healing with Wave Front BioResonance , written by Gary Buchanan, a real pioneer of cymatics research and one of the few leading authorities of Vibrational Medicine. You can get hold of the book by clicking on the link below.
Vibrational Medicine http://www.communityguilds.org/sona.html
Vibrational therapy has been called "the way of the future". Most of us working within the field of vibrational healing believe that the "future" is here, now.
Everything from music, chants, rattles, bells, singing bowls gongs, and didgeridoos have been used historically as tools for healing. Now modern researchers like the priests and shamans of the past, have been seeking to find similar, perhaps more efficacious tools for health. As a result we have a host of 'new age' devices, such as tuning forks, vibrating chairs, geodesic domes with loud speakers and other innovative devices as well as traditional methods, used in what are often regarded as respected clinical applications of sound therapies. The common understanding is that sound healing is the therapeutic application of various frequencies, resonances, to bring the whole being into a state of improved harmony and health. That is, to establish proper 'resonances'. There are a number of sound applications currently in vogue, with their related technologies all designed to treat or induce states or changes in the condition of the body. For example:-
Accelerated Learning, Acupressure, Acoustic massage, Auditory biofeedback, Bio-tuning, Hemispheric Synchronization, Drumming, Sound Therapy, Ultra sound, Neuro-musicology, Chanting (Intoning/ Over toning) Tibetan bowls, Voice Analysis, Computerized Spectral Analysis etc.
We all know that sound is powerful and indeed a "primal force". It is linked with the original creative emanation in the universe and we know that sound wave forms are only just vibrational states, linked to primordial light energy and generating archetypal wave formations. Sound waves are defined in physics as "three dimensional structures propagating from a common locus". To simplify that, imagine a sound coming from a loud speaker and try to visualize a series of three dimensional "spheres" rapidly emanating from the cone. As the sound travels it spreads evenly, geometrically, forming rays and patterns in the air. It is unseen but nevertheless it is there and it can be felt and even measured. Cymatics wave form therapy, can be defined as the propagation of sound waves towards or into (via transduction) a person or biological entity, in order to induce resonance.
Since the dawn of history, healers have instinctively used Sound and vibrational therapies and many of these ancient techniques still survive, being practiced in many different ways and many different cultures. However, the science of sound vibrational healing is only in its formative stage. Researchers and practitioners throughout the world are now pioneering new frontiers in health and medicine, learning how to work harmonize with nature and bioresonant fields in order to maximize health and the capacity of the human body to better survive.
- Almost all sound healing technologies involve musical sound, simple tones and chords which are in no way harmful to the body. This is because of their low frequency ranges and power output, which offers a benevolent pressure wave reducing tension, pain and fatigue. Cymatics sounds by contrast, are engineered to mimic sounds out of the normal hearing range and whilst the body recognizes them, they may not be regarded as a melodious experience. They are used in a combinatory formula that is designed to produce a specific state of resonance within a cell. By the same token, inappropriate use of certain computations may produce no effect or at worst, be hazardous. Therefore, Cymatics practitioners draw on their knowledge of anatomy and physiology and pathology as well as trial and error to produce what are often astounding results. Increasingly, kinesiology testing techniques or biofeedback instrumentation is being used to add accuracy to the selection process and proving what most of us have come to believe, that the body can tell you so much more about what it wants than any of our more conventional prescribing service.
The Human body
Within the Infrasonic range alone the human body emits up to 200 frequencies. We are consciously aware of these emissions simply because they lie below the human threshold of hearing, approximately 20 Hz, depending on one's age and condition of the ears.
Absorbed frequencies cause the body to react and perceive in different ways. Those cycles per second lying below the range of hearing (infrasonic) may be felt, providing there is sufficient amplitude; but even if not sensed, such as Ultra Low Frequencies (ELFs) they are still producing interactions. These affect the body positively or negatively, depending on the source. If the sound is within the audible range, we generally are able to classify it according to what we know from our knowledge base of experience. Ultrasound, frequencies above 20,000 Hertz, – just as infrasound – may not be heard, but our body is responding. Again this can be positive or negative.
- Some biological frequencies are obvious and easily measured. For example the EEG (electroencephalogram) can help define the numerical ranges of brain waves and their related physiological and psychological relationships. Many sources of information about this are widely available. There has also been extensive documentation of frequency research in other areas of medicine. A short list includes Tran cranial Magnetic Stimulation; Stroboscopic Stimulation and Photo-Syntronics, Kinesiology, Muscle Tension Tetanus (via Electromyograms); Thermographs and Peripheral Skin Temperature; Galvanic Skin Response; Biofeedback technology; Cardio Vascular research (EEGs + Heart Math Research); Biochemistry; Psycho-Physics; Electro media; Binaural (Hemi-Sync®) Induction; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Neurofeedback; ACMOS Bioenergetics and Acupuncture/Acupressure studies. And the list goes on.
In addition, over the last century, medical researchers have delved ever more deeply into the body, discovering and assigning frequency rates and ratios to virtually every part of the organism, blood serum, hormones, cells, organs, nerves, etc. Nowadays, research is focusing on DNA/RNA resonances, diamagnetic/paramagnetic oscillations, cell wall absorption frequencies and rates of cellular bio-photonic (light) discharge (bioluminescence) Most of these studies are not made public.
- We also have frequencies, resonances, harmonics and ratios that have been well documented by researchers in acoustics and sound therapy, via experimentation, invention and trial and error approaches.
- From the end of the 18th through to the 20th Century, a list of prominent researchers including Ernst Chladni, John Keely, Nicola Tesla, Hans Jenny, Harold Saxon Burr, Royal Rife have all contributed to the study of Applied Acoustics.
- In the same tradition, emerged Dr. Peter Guy Manners, the inventor of Modern Cymatics Therapy and a major figure in the world of Vibrational Healing. Dr. Manners is recognized for his primary research into the computations of the frequencies rates of the human body. He developed over 800 "control tones" and combination patterns that have not only proven beneficial in healing, but may be viewed as dynamic two and three dimensional forms in space, for example, on vibrating plates, in various fluids and/or water.
Meissner and Pacinian Corpuscles:
Near the surface of the organic body we know that tissues have the capacity to transduce sound and or pressure waves into electrical stimuli, via the Meissner (near skin surface). Or Pacinian (deeper lying) Corpuscles (mechanoreceptors). The sensitive frequency range of these transducing cells is believed to lie between 50 and 800 Hz. In addition, at the lowest range of the epidermis are located Merkl Cells – also sensitive to sound stimulation.
Aside from the skin, we receive or perceive sonic frequencies via bone induction. For example, there are new inventions designed to specifically resonate not only with the bones of the cranium, but with the entire skeleton structure. A vibration plate, designed by Russian scientists for use in Space projects, was developed to help maintain bone and muscle strength. The vibrational rates were set to deliver specific infrasonic frequencies to each muscle group in order to enhance fiber strength, patterning and overall function, as well as stimulate lymph and cardio vascular systems. At the same time, the infrasound affects midbrain function – in that it stimulates the production of endorphins and other hormones. In other words, it produces a whole body workout, tightens the Abs and gives the user a natural chemical high all in the time span of 10 minutes. (Turbosonic®) Russian Engineers had developed a machine that successfully allowed them to keep cosmonauts in space three times longer than the US equivalent, without any deterioration in bone or muscle mass. Such 'vibration training machines are now in popular use in Europe and the United States.
Of course the organ most obviously responsive to sound is the human ear. The ear governs a person's sense of balance, rhythm and movement and as such is a conductor for the entire nervous system. Various technologies have been introduced to, for example, binaural pulsations (different tones affecting different brainwaves) and Auricular therapies using acupoint stimulation on the auricles of the external ear, and especially composed music.
Through the medulla, the auditory nerve connects with all other parts of the body, affecting muscle tone, equilibrium, flexibility and vision and the vagus nerve, with inner ear connections is linked to the larynx, heart, lungs, stomach liver, bladder and kidneys etc. While it is generally believed that high frequency sounds (3.000 Hz plus) are best for activation of brain and cognitive functions, thinking, perception, focus and concentration for instance (Dr. Alfred Tomatis-), accumulating research indicates that it may actually be the lower or infrasonic (extra or ultra low frequencies) that have equal or greater potential for efficacy in whole body healing.
Regardless of the acoustical range employed, the fundamental understandings within sound therapy are that
1) Every object has frequencies/ vibrations that are inherent to its natural, optimum condition. All matter can be viewed as pulsations of energy, from the sub atomic wave and particle levels to the larger standing wave fields and nodal formations of galaxies.
2) The energy is emitted and/ or absorbed by virtually all energetic bodies and
3) That the signature frequencies of an object determine its function and essential relationship to all other objects. Absence of these vibrations, forming as standing waves leads to the cessation of life.
Thus we have innumerable vibratory patterns. Vortexial as well as Centrifugal and Centripetal and dynamic functions and there are researchers working on new ways to interface with those wave formations, patterns and behaviors through sound or thermal waves of pressure. Second to that we get the electro-magnetics, light, Colour and other vibrational healing modalities.
Signature Frequencies
All parts of the body have signature frequencies, e.g. the nerves, brain, and its parts, tissues, cells, organs and glands. Even the DNA/ RNA, Meridians, Chakras, the electrical fields and aura, etc…. No part is left out within this holistic conceptualization.
How are these frequencies obtained or determined? This is the core concern amongst researchers and therapists working in the vibrational healing community. It is simply not possible to induce a proper frequency or resonance within the body unless we know exactly what tone or chord, harmonic series or computation has been confirmed as beneficial or optimally efficacious to begin with. Therefore, scientists study the research of others. For example the history of acoustical science, Cymatics vibrational therapeutics and a veritable range of related subjects within the field of "energy medicine"
Contemporary scientific researchers in the specific field of sound healing are well known amongst alternative health practitioners. Some of the more prestigious names are Fritz Albert Popp (German Biophysicist) Robert O Becker; the Indian endocrinologist C V Krishnan and James L Oschmann. Thus the more direct Cymatics tradition continues and therapists have multiple resources to pursue in search of specific frequencies and resonances relating to biological and psychological well being of human beings.
Direct Cymatics Application:
The methods employed at Quantum Change, incorporate the use of proven Cymatics frequencies and light and Colour, essential oils and homeopathy. We draw on a wide range of naturopathic substances, for their frequency value and use an assessment process that identifies the body's priority needs in terms of frequencies. Most treatments are situated in a private treatment room. We use a Cyma Therapy unit with various applicators that are applied directly to parts of the body or emitted via a mattress which has multiple sound amplifiers embedded in it. The process identifies a list of Bioresonance frequencies for transduction or induction and most patients find the treatment relaxing and revitalizing.
If anyone including myself were seriously ill or injured, I would not hesitate to call on medical help. Medical help and regular check ups are obviously important and can produce diagnoses or prognoses that need to be acted upon. It's the same with dentistry. If you lose a filling, consider visiting a dentist. They have an important role to play in maintaining health. Another point to consider is that many sound healing technologies involve 'musical sound' Cymatics is not music in the traditional sense. They are sounds outside our normal perception and when well orchestrated, produce a natural resonance with the different cells of the body. Cymatics frequencies are intended to reproduce the signature sounds of the particular organ, tissue, gland or function in the body and as such help re-establish its original form.
On the other hand, the frequencies currently obtained and utilized by a great many commercial sound therapists, along with the applied technologies, are derived from sources not so scientific. I note this, not as a criticism, more as a statement of fact. While many of these practitioners are quite sincere, and often inspired, there are some whose frequency listings and therapeutic approaches are based more on speculation and limited understandings in biophysics, rather than grounded in one or more of the applicable Acoustic disciplines or schools of vibrational healing.
Part of the problem, with many would be healing techniques lies with a poorly informed or limited understanding of the underlying scientific principles governing wave forms or Bioresonance. On the one hand, we have academicians and licensed medical professionals, researchers and their financial sponsors, mainly concerned with patents, proprietary and corporate interests, copyrights etc and on the other hand practitioners wanting to know more about the treatment outcome and less about the physics. In addition, this is not helped by the rising costs of health care, 'public indemnity' and prevalence of traditional interventions.
The first rule of medicine is "first do no harm". Thus a trained healer will know the boundaries of care and make sure that as much as possible they at least do some good.
Traditional medicine, by using drugs, attempts to effect change at a molecular level, by changing the vibratory rate of the cells. In allopathic medicine, if a drug does not improve the condition of the body, escalating levels of intervention are generally applied, say radiation or surgery. Such interventions fail to take account of the quantum matrix or the myriad of vibratory approaches that constitute a more direct link with the whole body's resonances. In addition, there are thousands of conditions that traditional medicine cannot fully address.
Alternatively, vibrational healers have discovered that sonic, frequencies (vibration or pressure waves) applied in combinational arrays, at various amplitudes and or angles, using transduction methods not only alleviate minor physical problems but can significantly improve even the most critical condition – often leading to a complete recovery. These computations, can induce a state of beneficial resonance or harmony within a specific cell for instance, alter a brain wave state or to create regenerative energy in place of a debilitated (dissonant) wave pattern.
Perhaps the day will come when we can actually diagnose illnesses with sound. To some extent this is already being done, for example with ultrasound scanning, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and electro dermal skin testing. So, can you imagine a time when it is possible to take any chemical drug, say penicillin, determine its vibratory values and effects within the body and then reproduce the signature to transduce it into the body? And would this produce more of the benefits and less of the side effects? Dr. Manners has already initiated this research and designated the frequency computations for Morphine, Cortisone, Vitamins, Beta Endorphins, Progesterone, Bach Flower Remedies and many other medicinal type substances.
Sound therapies are perceived as non invasive and work not only with the immediate physiological conditions, but also with subtle energies, fields and higher body potentials of the multi-dimensional Entity. As importantly, using frequencies of light and colors, treatments are even more effective. A therapeutic combination of say, Cymatics, light, Colour waves and bio energetic testing can perform what sometimes may appear to be miracles.
The second edition of SONA: Healing with Wave Front BIOresonance is now available. Published in late July, 2008, the text has been thoroughly edited and now contains additional "Prefaces" by Dorinne Davis and Ileana Isfan. In just eight months the text has become something of an "underground international best-seller" among vibrational healers on all major continents! In Japan, where the book is now being translated, clinics are being established — using SONA as the training manual! Under completely non-profit auspices — we are also now meeting with leading researchers and designers, i.e., the Sona Working Group, to build new, inexpensive, units and tools for SONA applications of sound, color, and light. Consciousness is spreading!
Gary and his team of researchers are continuing in the footsteps of Sir Peter Manners and others,helping to make vibrational medicine and cymatics more available and better understood. To find out more, visit their forum and please consider buying the Book. Grace


text: Jun 17 , 2010 The Daily Fetch Petfinder's shelter-training program, Adoption Options, survives a tornado in Ohio! by Sara, shelter outreach director Damage to a site after the tornado hit Toledo, OH. (Photo: ABC News) Our Adoption Options series takes us on exciting trips all around the country, but the conference scheduled on June 6 in Toledo, OH, had a little more "excitement" than we bargained for! After on-and-off bad weather leading … Permalink | | Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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You never give me your money, you only give me your funny paper
By patrickf on Mar 28, 2006
As I weaved through heavy traffic this morning on my bike, listening to my iPod and keying in a text message to our neighbour to tell her that I had found my spare set of bike keys, my mind started to wander.
When I first opened the iPod package, I was met by three injunctions: the succint and whimsical Enjoy, the rather more prosaic Install software before connecting iPod, and an out-and-out category mistake, Don't steal music.
Steal music? What, deprive the rightful owners of music of their property? Hardly. What it meant was "Don't duplicate digital files in a manner which contravenes local laws, laws which we are busy lobbying to have changed in a manner which will allow us to continue to make a large amout of money while adding little or no value to the process of creating music".
We were treated to a repetition of this double-speak last week when Apple tastelessly criticised France for passing legislation making closed-DRM illegal in France, in other words, Apple's lobbying didn't work out for them. Apple's response? They called it "state-sponsored piracy", echoing the phrase "state-sponsored terrorism" (in itself a circular term), and again touting the idea that people who duplicate music files are not merely sharing music with eachother, but are in fact murderous plunderers. The thing is, all you can do with music is listen to it. How can "music companies" be so anti-music? And how dare they speak about my mother like that?
The fig-leaf of respectability of suppliers of media containing music is that ultimately, artists receive royalties (a fraction of the total spent on the CD or mp3). But once a track has been recorded, Apple, Warner Bros, Sony and their ilk are superfluous to the dissemination of music. I can do it for myself, thanks. Why don't I just pay the artist directly?
Given that an open DRM standard is more likely to enforce a copyright restriction than one that is unique to Apple's devices, their claims are clearly disingenuous. As noted here, DRM is about raising barriers to entry into the digital music market.
So, what about Sun sponsoring the Open Media Commons - a royalty-free (i.e. anyone can use it without paying money to Apple or Microsoft or, heaven forbid, Sun) DRM project? Well, even our Software CTO has his reservations , and the project is excellently parodied here (although we might observe that the music lovers pictured are at least not tied to a proprietary platform). What is perhaps overlooked is that it is very important to remove the profit motive from the use of DRM, both in locking consumers in and in licensing the use of DRM itself. This does present value: if the major suppliers of mp3s and mp3 players find that selling equipment encumbered with a non-standard DRM is a competive disadvantage, why would they push it?
They may also conclude that restricting the great pleasure of music is something that only a Blue Meanie would undertake. But then the Beatles and Apple are in court again.
ps. these views are not necessarily those of my employer
Update pps. I ought to disclaim this further (following the "don't be stupid" principle) - I am an Apple customer (and a semi-happy one at that), my implication that members of my family might be described as "pirates" is not to be taken seriously and I am not making allegations that Apple's lobbying extends beyond their public condemnations. It might, I don't know. Oh, and it isn't safe to ride a bike and send text messages.


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Jul 26, 2013 9:45 AM
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Lebanon pledges hundreds of millions for Syrian refugees at regional conference
Lebanon's President Michel Sleiman arrived Wednesday in Kuwait to attend a donor conference aimed at collecting funds to help host the rising number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, as Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia pledged $300 million each to help the refugees in the region expected to number one million in mid 2013.
Speaking at the conference, Sleiman called for a speedy solution to the issue of the Syrian refugee influx into the country.
"Lebanon has sought in the past months to provide assistance to the Syrian refugees despite its limited capabilities. However, the country needs help in hosting the refugees," said Sleiman.
The president said that although the influx of refugees is expected to increase, the government will keep the border open to those seeking shelter in Lebanon.
"The border will remain open to refugees," said the president.
He also called for the help of Arab countries in hosting refugees along with Lebanon because the country cannot contain all the refugees alone.
"We ask the Arab countries to share the hosting of refugees, not because we want them deported, but after we get the consent of refugees themselves and the Arab countries," said Sleiman.
Sleiman indicated that the government has approved a $370 million comprehensive plan for the refugees.
He said that $180 will be allocated to Lebanese state institutions while $190 will be distributed over international agencies.
Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah opened an international donors conference with a pledge of $300 million in aid for Syrians around the region.
"Due to the great sufferings of the Syrian people and to help ensure the success of the conference, I announce the Kuwaiti donation of $300 million for the Syrian people," the emir told the conference.
The UAE also pledged $300 million to help the refugees.
Prior to attending the conference, President Sleiman held a closed meeting with Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the National News Agency said.
The two leaders discussed preparations for the international conference of donors to support the humanitarian situation in Syria, and exchanged views on how to help the Syrian refugees.
Talks also touched on bilateral ties.
The president was accompanied by Deputy PM Samir Moqbel, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour.
According to Lebanese officials, over 223,000 Syrians have so far sought refuge in Lebanon as a result of the conflict in their home country.
The government has repeatedly appealed for the help of the international community to pay for health, social and education services for the refugees.
The president voiced hope Tuesday that the conference will end with Lebanon being allocated the needed funds and said Lebanon could build refugee camps in order to better monitor and regulate the large number of Syrian refugees in the country.
The conference seeks $1 billion of aid for Syria's neighbors, who are sheltering 700,000 registered refugees, and another $500 million to bankroll humanitarian work for 4 million Syrians inside their country.
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon was quoted by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) as saying that the U.N. is getting limited support for its aid to millions of Syrians especially that the crisis in Syria is escalating quickly.
Robert Watkins, U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, which has seen the biggest influx of refugees from the Syrian bloodshed, told Reuters that the United Nations had received promises of major donations at the Kuwait conference.
"We have every reason to be optimistic that there will a very good presence and new pledges that will be coming up at this conference," he said.
Watkins said the fact that the conference was being held in Kuwait could encourage other wealthy Gulf Arab states, who have led regional opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, to support the international aid effort.


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GTE Wireless entered into a lease agreement with the City of Puyallup in 1997. The lease agreement entitled GTE Wireless to install and operate what is commonly known as cellular or wireless communications facilities and equipment at the City's Recreation Center. The leased premises constitute a portion of a Recreation Center ballfield light pole and an area on the ground near the light pole. The GTE lease agreement provided for initial rent in the amount of $800 per month, with increases for extension periods. The GTE lease agreement, with extensions, expired in 2012. (A copy of the GTE Wireless lease agreement has been placed in the Council's shared office; additional copies can be provided upon request to the City Manager's Office.)
According to business reports, GTE Wireless and Bell Atlantic Mobile merged to form Verizon Communications. As a part of the merger process, Verizon is reported to have divested itself of a number of overlapping coverage areas. It appears that some derivation of AT&T or New Cingular eventually acquired rights to the GTE Wireless lease agreement with the City of Puyallup.
The proposed lease agreement with New Cingular allows New Cingular to upgrade and operate equipment and facilities. The lease term, with renewals, can be up to 20 years. The rent will be $1,500 per month, with provisions for a 3% annual increase. Generally, the proposed lease agreement has been drafted to more comprehensively address issues related to wireless communications. A copy of the proposed New Cingular lease agreement has been placed in the Council's shared office; additional copies can be provided upon request to the City Manager's Office.
No previous actions, dicussions or presentations concerning the proposed New Cingular lease have occurred.
Pursuant to RCW 35A.11.010 and RCW 35A.11.020, the City Council is authorized to purchase, lease, receive, or otherwise acquire real and personal property of every kind, and use, enjoy, hold, lease, control, convey or otherwise dispose of real property. Accordingly, the City Council may approve the proposed lease with New Cingular or reject the lease.
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The products in the Design Essentials® Strengthening Therapy System were specifically formulated to address the concerns of women who are relaxed, natural and transitioning through properties and ingredients designed to strengthen the hair from the inside. The Elongation Mousse, Transitioning Mousse and Silkening Spray contain micro-fine amino acids which infuse the hair's inner layer with strengthening protein. The products help to block humidity, which prevent reversion and feature nourishing botanicals such as sweet almond oil, rose hip oil, honey and panthenol to infuse the hair with needed moisture. The benefits of the Strengthening Therapy System last for up to 12 weeks and don't permanently alter the texture of the hair.
Brownie Sims, owner of the Brownie Brushes Salon in Los Angeles has found the Design Essentials® Strengthening Therapy System meets the needs of her clientele. "Most of my clients are natural but like to wear their hair straight. I use it myself and it lasts and lasts, so much that people can't believe I don't have a relaxer."
For more information about Design Essentials®, visit www.designessentials.com.
How To Protect Your Hair From Heat Styling
Straightening Systems vs. Keratin Treatments? How Do They Stack Up?
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Chambers Lake
Chambers Lake, located in Hybernia County Park, Chester County was surveyed in October 1999 by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologists in an effort to:
Ten Pennsylvania style trap nets fished for an average of 21.8 hours each and one complete circuit of the lake's shoreline during night electrofishing efforts were used to sample the lake's fish populations. The total catch of bluegill, pumpkinseed, and black crappie were at levels similar to other lakes in southeast Pennsylvania. These populations appeared to be stunting however, with few individual fish larger than 7 – 10 inches present in the catch. Chain pickerel were collected in good numbers with individuals in the 20 – 26 inch range common. The yellow perch population was moderate with fish up to 10 inches long captured with most fish being 7 – 9 inches long. Few catfish (including channel catfish and brown bullhead) were collected.
The statewide management objectives for bass include:
In general, biologists were very pleased with bass, chain pickerel, and yellow perch populations and will continue to work toward improving the other panfish fisheries.
Biologist Reports -- PFBC Home
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A naturally produced metabolite formed from the reduction of white sugar (refined sugar), milk sugar, and glucose has been shown to damage high-density cholesterol (HDL) and reduce the blood levels of HDL. Dr. Naila Rabbani and colleagues from the Warwick Medical School in Britain found that methylglyoxal from sugar lowers HDL levels. The research was published in the Aug. 31, 2014, edition of the journal Nutrition and Diabetes.
Methylglyoxal is a normal result of the conversion of glucose into pyruvate. The process releases energy. Methylglyoxal is toxic to cells. The human body has several methods of removing methylglyoxal before it causes harm to cells. High glucose levels caused by diabetes or eating excessive amounts of sugar has been linked to higher risks of heart disease caused by atherosclerosis.
The effect of methylglyoxal on HDL has been shown in people that have diabetes previously but this new research is the first to demonstrate that HDL is lowered by as much as 10 percent by methylglyoxal levels that result from high sugar intake. High sugar intake overcomes the metabolic pathways that remove the substance. No drugs exist at present that can increase HDL although exercise has been shown to increase HDL.
The researchers suggest two possibilities to deal with the methylglyoxal problem. A long-term solution is the development of a drug that specifically acts on methylglyoxal to remove it from the blood stream. A more immediate and less costly solution is the development of supplements that contain glyoxalase 1. Glyoxalase 1 is the chemical that removes methylglyoxal from the blood stream. No foods contain glyoxalase 1.


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Bioware games are generally big on providing players with choices and making them feel like those decisions matter. The developer's plans to continue this trend with Dragon Age: Inquisition as the upcoming release will take into account all choices from the series' first two installments to help customize the story of the new game to their experiences. Speaking to OXM on Jan 3, Bioware producer Cameron Lee confirmed that Dragon Age: Inquisition will even continue choices from DLC add-ons for the previous titles in the franchise.
The good news is that fans won't be required to actually have purchased and played the DLC packs in order to enjoy this feature of the third Dragon Age title as the game will give fans the ability to answer all important past decisions that have been posed to players in past games through an included survey mechanic. Using the "Dragon Age Keep," fans will be able make choices based off the first two games, all of their DLC, and even the flash game so that the story campaign of Dragon Age: Inquisition can be catered specifically to each player. This means that gamers won't have to have played every piece of past content. Additionally, this will allow those picking up the next-gen versions of the game to be able to continue the series with their own decisions despite the fact that their old save files won't transfer to the new systems.
Dragon Age: Inquisition will release later this year on Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. The game is being built using the Frostbite 3 engine.
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Joseph Bast [1]
Joseph Bast
Joseph Bast studied Economics as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. According to Sourcewatch [2], he did not complete his degree.
Joseph Bast co-founded the Heartland Institute [3] in 1984 with David M. Padder. He currently serves as the institute's president and CEO.
Bast is also the publisher of Heartland's monthly periodical, Environment and Climate News, as well four other like-minded publications.
Bast studied economics as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. He is the author of several books promoting free-market solutions to different public policy problems including Eco-sanity: a common sense guide to environmentalism.
Stance on Climate Change
Bast claims that most scientists believe that human activity has no appreciable effects on the climate, citing a (since-debunked) 17,000-name petition run by the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine [4].
Some of Bast's assertions include that: [1]
- "Most scientists do not believe human activities threaten to disrupt the
Earth's climate" (This is referring to the Oregon Petition).
- "Our most reliable sources of temperature data show no global warming
- "Global climate computer models are too crude to predict future climate
- "The IPCC did not prove that human activities are causing global warming."
- "A modest amount of global warming, should it occur, would be beneficial
to the natural world and to human civilization."
- "Efforts to quickly reduce human greenhouse gas emissions would be costly
and would not stop Earth's climate from changing."
- "The best strategy to pursue is 'no regrets.' The alternative to demands
for immediate action to "stop global warming" is not to do nothing."
Key Quotes
March 31, 2014
Regarding the NIPCC's contradictory conclusions to the IPCC's latest assessment report [5]:
"How could two teams of scientists come to such obviously contradictory conclusions on seemingly every point that matters in the debate over global warming? There are many reasons why scientists disagree, the subject, by the way, of an excellent book a couple years ago titled Wrong by David H. Freedman. A big reason is IPCC is producing what academics call "post-normal science" while NIPCC is producing old-fashioned "real science." [10]
March 26, 2014
Leading up to the Heartland Institute [3]'s Ninth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-9) in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 7-9, 2014, Jim Lakely and Joseph Bast publish a press release [6] in which Bast is quoted:
"The scientists Heartland works with demanded we host a ninth conference this year to foster a much-needed frank, honest, and open discussion of the current state of climate science and we just couldn't refuse. The public, the press, and the scientific community will all benefit from learning about the latest research and observational data that indicate climate science is anything but 'settled.'" [17]
September 19, 2013
"The IPCC – and all the mainstream media and environmental extremists who cite it uncritically — really have become a joke in the scientific community." [8]
In reference to the Chinese Academy of Sciences' rebuttal of the IPCC's assessment, just months before COP19 in Warsaw, Poland, Bast said:
"This is a historic moment in the global debate about climate change… The translation and publication of a comprehensive critique of the IPPC's alarmist reports by a leading national academy of sciences is one more sign of the trend toward skepticism and away from alarmism." [7]
"The benefits of a modest warming would outweigh the costs – by $8.4 billion a year in 1990 dollars by the year 2060, according to Robert Mendelsohn at Yale University – thanks to longer growing seasons, more wood fiber production, lower construction costs, lower mortality rates, and lower rates of morbidity (illness)." [2]
Key Deeds
Heartland International Conferences on Climate Change (ICCC)
As the president and CEO of the Heartland Institute [7], Bast helped organize and introduce the First [8] (March 2008), Second [9] (March 2009), Third [10] (June 2009), Fourth [11] (May 2010), Fifth [12] (Oct 2010), Sixth [13] (June 2011), Seventh [14] (May 2012), Eighth [15] (November 2012), and Ninth [16] (July 2014) international conferences on climate change.
May 18, 2016
Joseph Bast was a signatory to a full page color advertisement [17] in The New York Times titled "Abuse of Power" (PDF) [18] sponsored by The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) [19]. The ad serves as an open letter from 43 signatories including organizations and individuals in response to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude Walker, and the coalition of Attourneys General investigating groups denying man-made climate change [20]. [23], [24]
"Attempts to intimidate CEI and our allies and silence our policy research are unconstitutional," said CEI president Kent Lassman. "The First Amendment protects us and everyone has a duty to respect it – even state attorneys general. CEI will continue to fight for all Americans to support the causes in which they believe." [23]
The Competitive Enterprise Institute [19] received a subpoena from AG Walker on April 7, 2016. On April 20, CEI filed an objection to the subpoena calling it "offensive," "un-American," and "unlawful," and are contending that AG Walker is "violating CEI's First Amendment rights." [23]
The "freedom of speech" argument was echoed by ExxonMobil's legal team [21], as well as numerous other conservative groups including the Pacific Legal Foundation [22], and Heritage Foundation [23] and the recently-formed Free Speech in Science Project [24], a group created by the same lawyers who defended the Competitive Enterprise Institute in the past. [25]
The CEI letter lists the following signatories:
- Kent Lassman — President & CEO, Competitive Enterprise Institute
- C. Boyden Gray [25] — Former White House Counsel
- Andrew C. McCarthy — Former Chief Assistant United States Attorney, Southern District of New York
- Michael B. Mukasey [26]— U.S. Attorney General, 2007-2009; U.S. District Judge, 1988-2006
- Ross McKitrick [27] — Professor of Economics, University of Guelph
- Ronald D. Rotunda — Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence, Chapman University
- Richard S. Lindzen [28] — Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Sciences, MIT
- William Happer [29] — Emeritus Professor of Physics, Princeton University
- Jim DeMint [30]— President, The Heritage Foundation [23]
- James H. Amos, Jr. — President & CEO, National Center for Policy Analysis [31]
- John A. Baden [32] — Chairman, Foundation for Research on Economics & the Environment [33]
- Lisa B. Nelson — CEO, American Legislative Exchange Council [34]
- Paul Driessen [35]— Author & Energy Policy Analyst
- Thomas J. Pyle [36] — President, Institute for Energy Research [37]
- Steven J. Allen — Vice President & Chief Investigative Officer, Capital Research Center [38]
- David Ridenour [39] — President, National Center for Public Policy Research [40]
- Steven J. Milloy [41] — Publisher, JunkScience.com [42]
- Brooke Rollins [43]— President & CEO, Texas Public Policy Foundation [44]
- Paul Gessing [45]— President, Rio Grande Foundation [46]
- Ron Arnold [47] — Researcher & Author
- William Perry Pendley — President, Mountain States Legal Foundation [48]
- Adam Brandon — President & CEO, FreedomWorks [49]
- Hank Campbell — President, American Council on Science and Health [50]
- Craig Rucker [51] — Executive Director, Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow
- Tom McCabe — CEO, Freedom Foundation
- Richard B. Belzer — Economist
- Heather R. Higgins [52] — President & CEO, Independent Women's Voice [53]
- Joseph G. Lehman — President, Mackinac Center for Public Policy [54]
- Sabrina Schaeffer — Executive Director, Independent Women's Forum [55]
- Joseph Bast [1] — President, The Heartland Institute [3]
- John C. Eastman — Founding Director, The Claremont Institute's Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
- Robert Alt — President & CEO, The Buckeye Institute [56]
- Michael Pack — President & CEO, The Claremont Institute [57]
- Josh Blackman — Assistant Professor, South Texas College of Law
- Lynn Taylor — President, Tertium Quids
- David Rothbard — President, Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow [58]
- Tracie Sharp [59] — President & CEO, State Policy Network [60]
- Kenneth Haapala [61] — President, Science and Environmental Policy Project [62]
- Tim Phillips [63] — President, Americans for Prosperity [64]
- Myron Ebell [65] — Director of the Center for Energy & Environment, Competitive Enterprise Institute [19]
- George Landrith [66] — President, Frontiers of Freedom [67]
- John Tillman — CEO, Illinois Policy Institute [68]
- Craig D. Idso [69]— Chairman, Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change [70]
March, 2015
Joseph Bast is one of several climate change skeptics cc'd on an email from S. Fred Singer [71] in hopes of countering the documentary film "Merchants of Doubt," which exposes the network of climate change skeptics and deniers trying to delay legislative action on climate change.
The October, 2014 email was leaked to journalists before the documentary was released. "Can I sue for damages?" Singer asked in the email. "Can we get an injunction against the documentary?"
InsideClimate News reports in their article "Leaked Email Reveals Who's Who List of Climate Denialists [72]," how "Many of those copied on the email thread, such as Singer and communications specialist Steven Milloy, have financial ties to the tobacco, chemical, and oil and gas industries and have worked to defend them since the 1990s." [18]
InsideClimate News also documented all those who were cc'd on the email, including the following skeptics and groups:
- Ron Arnold [73]
- Timothy Ball [74]
- Joseph "Joe" Bast [1]
- Joe Bastardi [75]
- Michael Bastasch
- William Briggs [76]
- Russell Cook [77]
- Judith Curry [78]
- Joe D'Aleo [79]
- James Delingpole [80]
- David Paul Driessen [35]
- James Enstrom [81]
- Steve Goddard [82]
- Pierre Gosselin
- Greenie Watch
- William Happer [29]
- Jim Lakely
- Patrick J. Michaels [83]
- Steven J. Milloy [41]
- Christopher Monckton [84]
- Marc Morano [85]
- Joanne Nova [86]
- Roger Pielke Sr. [87](Or Roger Pielke Jr. [88] - Unclear in Email)
- Thomas P. Sheahen
- S. Fred Singer [71]
- Wei-Hock (Willie) Soon [89]
- Roy Spencer [90]
- James Taylor [91]
- Anthony Watts [92]
DeSmogBlog covered the emails here: "Merchants of Doubt Film Debuts, Textbook Denial Attack Campaign Led By Fred Singer Ensues [93]" and DeSmogBlog also archived a full copy of the Singer email thread (PDF) [94].
August 2014
"Mr. Joseph Bast, president and CEO of the Heartland Institute, testified for the Intervenors regarding the Texas Taxpayers' Savings Grant Programs ("TTSGP"), a school voucher bill that failed in the 82nd Legislative Session. As a threshold matter, this Court finds that Mr. Bast is not a credible witness and that he did not offer reliable opinions in this matter. While Mr. Bast described himself as an economist, he holds neither undergraduate nor graduate degrees in economics, and the highest level of education he completed was high school. Mr. Bast testified that he is 100% committed to the long-term goal of getting government out of the business of educating its own voting citizens. Further, his use of inflammatory and irresponsible language regarding global warming, and his admission that the long term goal of his advocacy of vouchers is to dismantle the 'socialist' public education system further undermine his credibility with this Court." [20]
May 26, 2014
Joe Bast co-wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal with Roy Spencer [90] entitled, "The Myth of the Climate Change '97%' [96]." In the commentary attacking the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate science [97], Spencer and Bast argued that, "There is no basis for the claim that 97% of scientists believe that man-made climate change is a dangerous problem."
May 19, 2014
As Center for Media and Democracy's PR Watch reports [98], Joseph Bast was featured on part of a Showtime series titled "Years of Living Dangerously" profiling climate change skeptics. A preview of the interview is available here [99]. [21], [22]
May 6, 2014
Joseph Bast was interviewed by Dorothy Tucker, of CBS 2 News in Chicago [100], "to give the other side of [the] story about President Obama's National Climate Assessment report." [16]
1:22-1:40 "We have always had floods, we have always had droughts … I think they [The Obama Administration] are trying to whip up public support and attention for a political agenda. He [Obama] is attempting to shut down coal generation in the United States, and in its place, heavily subsidizing wind and solar, and biofuels." [16]
April 30, 2014
At a mining conference in Denver, CO, Republic Report, cross-posted on DeSmogBlog [101], spoke to Heartland Institute's president, Joseph Bast, about his past support for the tobacco industry. When first asked by Republic Report, Bast denied that he had ever dismissed concerns about the risks of smoking. [13]
In a report entitled, "Please Don't Poop in My Salad," (PDF [102]) released by Heartland and written by Bast in July of 2006, Bast was quoted on page 57 (pg. 65 in PDF format), "A fourth lie is that even moderate smoking is deadly. Several experts (including two who are very anti-smoking) have told me that smoking fewer than seven cigarettes a day does not raise a smoker's risk of lung cancer." [14]
Republic Report captured his response to the statement here [15]:
March 31, 2014
Bast published an Op/Ed piece in Forbes [103] the same week the IPCC released its latest report: "Working Group II Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report [5]." In the article, Bast states that the NIPCC's latest report [104], released that same day, fully addresses the IPCC's eight "reasons for concern" made in the final draft of its Summary for Policymakers. Bast asks Forbes' readers to not just wonder if man-made global warming is a crisis, but to "understand it yourself," by "read[ing] one or a few chapters of one of the NIPCC reports, and ask if what you read is logical, factual, and relevant to the debate." [10]
March 15, 2013
- The science that predicts the extent of anthropogenic global warming is not settled science.
- There is no convincing physical evidence of catastrophic anthropogenic global warming.
- Computer models need to be validated before being used in critical decision-making.
- Because there is no immediate threat of global warming requiring swift corrective action, we have time to study global climate changes and improve our prediction accuracy.
- The U.S. government is over-reacting to concerns about anthropogenic global warming.
- A wider range of solution options should be studied for global warming or cooling threats from any credible cause.
September 18, 2013
Joseph Bast and Willie Soon [89] appeared on Fox News Channel's, "Special Report with Bret Baier" to discuss the release of "Climate Change Reconsidered II: Physical Science [109]," published for the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) by The Heartland Institute [110]. [9]
May 23, 2012
"Please consider supporting the Heartland Institute. These conferences are expensive, and I'm not a good fundraiser so as a result I don't raise enough money to cover them, we really scramble to make payroll as a result to cover these expenses. If you can afford to make a contribution, please do. If you know someone, if you've got a rich uncle or somebody in the family or somebody that you work with, please give them a call and ask them if they would consider making a tax-deductable contribution to the Heartland Institute." [11]
May 4, 2012
The Heartland Institute released a billboard campaign [111] in Chicago featuring "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski, Charles Manson and Fidel Castro. Heartland's intent with the campaign was to portray those who believe in the overwhelming evidence of man-made climate change as "radical [and] on the fringe of society." [12]
In a statement announcing the billboard campaign [112], Heartland explained its rationale as:
"Because what these murderers and madmen have said differs very little from what spokespersons for the United Nations, journalists for the "mainstream" media, and liberal politicians say about global warming….
The point is that believing in global warming is not "mainstream," smart, or sophisticated. In fact, it is just the opposite of those things. Still believing in man-made global warming – after all the scientific discoveries and revelations that point against this theory – is more than a little nutty. In fact, some really crazy people use it to justify immoral and frightening behavior."
The billboard was immediately and widely condemned as outrageous [113] and offensive [114]. Bast soon issued a statement to The Washington Post [115], rather unapologetically stating:
"We will stop running [the billboard] at 4:00 p.m. CST today. (It's a digital billboard, so a simple phone call is all it takes.) The Heartland Institute knew this was a risk when deciding to test it, but decided it was a necessary price to make an emotional appeal to people who otherwise aren't following the climate change debate." [12]
June 21, 2005
Testified before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on the "Cost of Greenhouse Gas Control"(PDF [116]). [3]
Wrote and designed a series of six brochures on environmental issues for distribution to elected officials, journalists, and other audiences. [3]
Wrote, co-directed, and co-produced a 20-minute video titled Coming Out of the Ice. The video covered a variety of public policy issues such as tort reform, privatization, school reform, and taxes. [3]
The Heartland Institute [117] – President and CEO, Board of Directors 1984 – current.
Nomos Press Inc. — Board of Directors, 1983 - 1988.
State Policy Network [118] — Founding Director, officer, and member of the executive committee, 1991-1997.
Advocates for Self-Government [119] — Board of Advisors, 2003 – current.
Illinois Policy Institute [120] — Board of Advisors, 2004 – current.
Center for Medicine in the Public Interest [121] — Board of Advisors, 2005 – current.
American Conservative Union [122] — Board of Directors, 2007 – current.
- Grassroot Institute of Hawaii [123] — Board of Scholars. [124] [4]
Source: [3]
Bast is the coauthor of 12 books, including Rebuilding America's Schools (1990), Why We Spend Too Much on Health Care (1992), Eco-Sanity: A Common-Sense Guide to Environmentalism (1994), and Education & Capitalism (2003). [3]
He has not published any articles in peer-reviewed journals on the subject of climate change. A list of his books, publications, and policy studies is available at his profile at the Heartland Institute [125].
Joseph Bast. "Eight Reasons Why Global Warming is a Scam" (PDF [126]), The Heartland Institute, February 1, 2003.
"Testimony by Joseph L. Bast President, The Heartland Institute
to the Environment Committee of the Iowa House Monday, February 9, 2004" (PDF [127]), The Heartland Institute.
"Joseph L. Bast - 2008 Resumé [7]." The Heartland Institute.
"Staff and Board Members: Joseph L. Bast [124]," Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
"The Heartland Institute [117]," SourceWatch.
"Joseph Bast [128]," SourceWatch.
"Chinese Translate Climate Change Reconsidered Volumes [129]," The Heartland Institute, August 14, 2013.
"Joe Bast, Willie Soon talking 'Climate Change Reconsidered' on Fox News [130]," The Heartland Institute, September 19, 2013.
"NIPCC Climate Report Covered on 'Special Report with Bret Baier' [131]," The Heartland Institute, September 17, 2013. Archived April 8, 2014.
"The IPCC's Latest Report Deliberately Excludes and Misrepresents Important Climate Science [103]," Forbes, March 31, 2014. Archived April 8, 2014.
"Joe Bast Announces the Death of Denial-a-Palooza at Final Heartland ICCC Conference [132]," DeSmogBlog, May 23, 2012.
"Will Heartland Institute's Corporate Funders Tacitly Endorse Comparing Climate realists to Bin Laden and the Unabomber? [111]" DeSmogBlog, May 4, 2012.
"VIDEO: Heartland Institute Reluctantly Stands by Denial of Cigarette Smoking Risks [133]," Republic Report, April 30, 2014. Archived May 5, 2014.
Joseph Bast. "Please Don't Poop in My Salad" (PDF [102]), Heartland Institute, July, 2006. Archived May 5, 2014.
"Joe Bast reluctantly reaffirms cigarette health risk denial [134]," Lee Fang, April 24, 2014. Archived May 5, 2014.
"Heartland Institute President Joseph Bast on CBS 2 in Chicago Talking Climate [100]," HeartlandTube, May 7, 2014. Archived July 1, 2014.
Jim Lakely, Joseph Bast. "International Gathering of Scientists Skeptical of Man-Caused Global Warming to Take Place in Las Vegas from July 7 to July 9 [6]," Heartland Institute, March 26, 2014. Archived July 1, 2014.
Katherine Bagley. "Leaked Email Reveals Who's Who List of Climate Denialists [72]," InsideClimate News. March 12, 2015.
Jim Lakely. "Apollo 7 Astronaut Walter Cunningham to Headline 'Right Climate Stuff' Event at CPAC 2013 [108]," The Heartland Institute, March 8, 2013.
"The Texas Taxpayer & Student Fairness Coalition et al. vs Williams et al. (pdf) [95]," D-1-GN-11-003130, (District Court of Travis County Texas 2014), 335 to 336. Original also on DocumentCloud [135]. Archived at Internet Archive, June 9, 2015.
"Showtime Exposes Climate Change Deniers, like James Taylor and Joseph Bast's Heartland Institute [98]," PR Watch, May 19, 2014. Archived January 25, 2016 [136]. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6eoGinyNs [137]
"Years of Living Dangerously: Episode 6 [138]," Showtime. Archived January 25 [139], 2016. WebCite URL: http://www.webcitation.org/6eoGmSuMC [140]
"CEI Runs "Abuse of Power" Ad In New York Times [141]," Competitive Enterprise Institute, May 18, 2016. Archived May 31, 2016.
"Abuse of Power: All Americans have the right to support causes they believe in" (PDF) [18], Competitive Enterprise Institute. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.
Steve Horn. "Exxon's Lawyer in Climate Science Probe Has History Helping Big Tobacco and NFL Defend Against Health Claims [21]," DeSmogBlog, May 10, 2016.


text:
It is more than two years since I have visited North America. In these two years much water has flowed under every bridge in the world. Many changes have taken place in every society. Whether these changes would lead us to a better future or a grim one, depends upon our own perceptions, as well as efforts - both individual and collective. Though the technological revolution has brought the world physically closer, politically, socially, culturally, and emotionally humanity as a whole is suffering from a loss of identity and is torn asunder with hatred and violence, maximizing the agony and suffering. The individual human is lost in the vast jungle of sectarian collectivism and exploitation.
So, it seems, it is time for everyone to promote mutual understanding, appreciation, and cooperation at every level with a sense of human responsibility. We have to rededicate ourselves and become more active. Instead of cursing the darkness let us light a candle.
Back at the Atheist Centre all the social work programs are going very well with the help and cooperation of all concerned. Last year, in November we organized an international conference on "Social Progress and Women" in connection with the 80th birth anniversary of Mrs. Saraswathi Gora (1912- ) and the 90th birth anniversary of Mr. Gora (1902-1975).
Since 1970 the Atheist Centre has been in touch with Humanist and Atheist groups in the former USSR and Soviet bloc. Gora visited the USSR in 1974 and I visited three times between 1981-83. These visits also helped Soviet humanists to join the mainstream of the international humanist movement. So, after the dissolution of the Soviet system, for the first time, an all-European Humanist Congress was held in Berlin, July 25-30 of this year. Straight from India I went there. It was a satisfying experience to meet like-minded people from the former warring blocs and trying to find the unity and vision and purpose and jointly plan for the future. I am also happy that it was decided to hold the next world Humanist Congress in New Delhi, India in the last week of December, 1995. On behalf of India I extended a hearty welcome.
After the Berlin Congress I visited Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Holland, and England visiting with humanists, atheists, social activists, and personal friends strengthening old contacts and promoting new ones.
Now, I am in North America until January 20, 1994. I very much wish to visit you personally. I am not sure whether this is possible. So I greet you, remembering our past association. While I am on the move you can always get my local contact phone number by calling George Willoughby. Please feel free to do so. I plan to come to Los Angeles and San Diego in early January. I will be in touch with you. I shall phone you on the 9th or 10th of November; by then I will have an idea of my visits. My wife told me that you rang her up and inquired about the earthquake. Thanks. Give my greetings to all our friends. I eagerly look forward to my visit with you and to talk about many matters.
Let me extend greetings from all members of the Atheist Centre and particularly my wife, Hemalata. Let us together join efforts to create a better future for all humankind.
Yours humanly,
Atheist Centre -- Benz Circle -- Vijayawada 520010 -- India -- Ph. +91 866 472330
Copyright remains the property of the author.
Volume 120 (1993), No. 6
The Truth Seeker Journal is published in hard-copy four times per year for US$20, or $35USD for foreign. Truth Seeker, 16935 W. Bernardo Drive, Ste. 103, San Diego, CA 92127. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
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Congratulations to the Top 32 of RPG Superstar 2013 and those who competed against them!
Each year the RPG Superstar competition highlights a lot of talented designer, be it those who make it into the Top 32 or the ultimate winner. Talent that I've not only seen as someone who enjoys watching and voting for the RPG Superstar, but many of whom I've had the privileged of working with in the pages of Adventure Quarterly.
Such as RPG Superstar 2012, Mike Welham, who's Sealing the Vault appears in Adventure Quarterly #3, or Matt Banach (RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16) who's Dream Harvest is also within AQ#3. Speaking of RPG Superstar 2009, its Top 8 also lent us T.H. Gulliver who has appeared in AQ issues #1 and #2.
We owe a lot to the RPG Superstar competition, as it has encouraged a lot of talent to join the freelancing pool that feeds the industry and our magazine. It'd be a lot more difficult to fill the pages of Adventure Quarterly without such encouragement.
Speaking of Adventure Quarterly: If folks are interested in submitting to Adventure Quarterly, just click here and you shall find the link to the submission guidelines on our page at Rite Publishing.
Robert N. Emerson (Editor-in-chief of Adventure Quarterly)
One of the perks of being Editor-in-Chief of Adventure Quarterly is that I get to watch these adventures take shape and come to fruition. Each issue has gotten progressively better, which is an impressive thing since I think Adventure Quarterly started out quite well.
Our third offer is no exception, as each adventure has an interesting spin on adventuring concepts. Whether it's a small sandbox or a who-done-it style, I think it's something that folks shall enjoy.
I hope folks enjoy the hard work that our designers, artists, and the rest of the team put into it.
Sean K Reynolds wrote:
Definitely solid feedback, and areas that I obviously left vague, unclear, or could have improved on. It definitely leaves me something to think on, both on other items and next year's contest.
Conceptually I was aiming for an escape and hinder type item, which it ended up being yet not without the need for clarity. As one of the judges stated, it was definitely meant as an escape item leaving the metallic web behind. I should have been more clear in my presentation of that, obviously I was a bit too brief, yet not clear, in my attempt to be succinct in my entry.
There's always next year. Thanks, again!
Notation: Thanks ahead of time for the review, and no worries about the thickness of my skin, as I get the difference between criticism and attack.
Weaver's Kerchief
In this week's Fridays & Functions we talk with the versatile Crystal Frasier, one of the designers on the Questhaven Campaign Setting Patronage Project. In it Crystal talks about her thoughts on the project, patronage, inspirations, and more.
If you'd like to give it a read, then please click HERE and enjoy.
Robert N. Emerson, Project Manager and Editor for Rite Publishing's Questhaven Campaign Setting Patronage Project
Today we interview Owen K.C. Stephens, one of the designers on the Questhaven Patronage Project. In it we discuss Rite Publishing, the Questhaven Patronage Project, Super Genius Games, and other things with this prolific veteran writer.
You can find the interview here.
Robert N. Emerson
Over at the Rite Publishing website we've an interview with Steven R. Russell, the lead designer and publisher of the Questhaven Patronage Project HERE.
In it Steven talks about his thoughts on the project, patronage, his fellows working on the patronage, and general ideas about the Pathfinder Compatible campaign setting. So head on over and enjoy the read.
Robert N. Emerson
taig wrote:
Steve definitely is fun to work with, that's for sure. While I enjoy designing and writing, I can definitely say that Steve helped me discover my love of development and editing, which probably wouldn't have happened without Rite Publishing.
The Book of Monster Templates has been a blast editing, too.
joela wrote:
Thanks for the prompt reply. How do y'all deal with, for example, suggestions of various magic system? Vote? I can't imagine space for all of them.
As with any book, there'll never be a space for everything and that's why we throw word count frameworks on projects. However, one of the things I've always liked about patronage projects is that it's often the participation of our patrons that allows us to hone a handful of ideas into a workable framework.
Just like Steve (Rite Publishing) said, there are ways to incorporate lots of concepts and ideas within specific venues, like races or cultures.
With patronage, it is the vocal folk who participate that are there to help us steer the project. While not every idea given shows up in the final result, every idea said influences the project and the final product. In fact, it's the discussions that can be some of the more enjoyable aspects for folks, because it gives us this process where three ideas whittle down to two, and then either they become one or we've two ideas for a piece, monster, section, or what not.
Heck, art discussions can sometimes turn what was an interior piece, or iconic idea, into a cover piece. You just never know with patron projects, except that, in the end, we hope you know you've a quality piece on the end of it all.
joshua gaines wrote:
As I've found myself being unable to go to PaizoCon this year, I find myself with a banquet ticket to sell.
If you're still looking, that is.
Hey, Folks,
As the editor of the Evocative City Sites line for Rite Publishing, I figured I should say a little bit about my thoughts on this particular piece.
Maybe it's the word play or the tropes touched upon with this piece, but it made me wonder about a "What If" the shop in Gremlins was actually a place like this touching upon our world. But, that's how my brain works when I see something cool that I like.
That's how Kavit M. Tor's hits me, right in that Gremlins or Big Trouble in Little China bone that's right near left clavicle.
If you ever wanted to just through in a place to remove curses, but still enact a punishment on your PCs, not that I'm saying I would do that...okay, I would, as I'm evil...but this would definitely be a nice way to do it.
Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy it!
Azmahel wrote:
Thanks for the feedback, Azmahel.
As for your question about my role around the tabletop; I tend to be a DM as often as I'm a player. In fact, out of the three nights a week that I currently play, I'm running for two and playing for one.
Personally, I like tactical items, both as a player and as a DM, as I tend to think tactically in either role. As a player, I like items that promote my acting, instead of reacting to a situation. As a DM, I prefer my players to do the same, as I think it helps with immersion. Good tactical thought, I think, is just as important as good role-playing, as both lend themselves to balanced play. But, like most preferences, this is gonna be a matter of personal tastes and bias.
Basically, if you're thinking like your character would in a given situation, it cuts down on some of the metagaming and promotes, albeit subtle, role-playing. It's not like players should be expected to bebop down the dungeon halls when, normally, they'd be cautious, right?
While I get the worry, it's not like the wearer of the item is always away of things, since the torc takes conscious thought to use and to leave the sensory orb out there. If the wearer doesn't do that, then the sensory focus resets to non-viewing and to the characters location. It's not like the torc allows someone to be omniscient for a large radius around themselves, at all time.
That said, thanks for the critique, it's definitely something to think about.
I've submitted each time and, as of yet, I've not made it into the Top 32...such is life, and it doesn't mean I won't submit to next year's contest. Well, unless I manage to disqualify myself over the course of the next year.
When it comes to gauging our own success, we're often our own worst critics, too. By the gradient of some of the folks I know, I'm modestly successful since I've been published a few times, mostly via Open Calls or small press. Of course, by other gradients, I'm a rank and file amateur with no skill or ability.
Myself, I just enjoy what I do, even if the emotional paycheck (for now) is bigger than the materialistic one.
If you enjoy working on RPG materials and you wanna keep trying, then keep trying. Everyone had to start somewhere, at least from what I've seen since most folks don't just get handed a fortune and decide to start a gaming company with it. ;)
I'd greatly appreciate any comment or feedback on my submission.
Torc of the Sentinel
While I so, so hope that I don't need that review, I can say that if I do, I'd more than appreciate feedback on my item and why it didn't make it. Even though my item last year almost got that feedback, I still appreciated being able to see and read the feedback that was provided on other folks items, as that helped, too.
Personally I think that RPG Superstar and its process is an excellent primer for honing design skills and craft.
Creative Anomalies interviews Rite Publishing's Steve Russell for Small Press Week. The interview covers RiP's current, past, and future projects, as well as various inside aspects and motivations for the company's patronage projects.
Click here for the interview.
Rite Publishing has released The Hero's Bastard, their latest Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatible product.
What happens when a hero has a lapse in judgment or a misstep that produces an issue as twisted as it is powerful? Are they the only one to pay the price, hero and bastard, or is all in danger of the misbegotten by-blow?
Rite Publishing offers an answer to these questions with The Hero's Bastard, available for purchase today!
Hey, Folks,
I thought you'd all like to know that the latest instance of Unfettered Development has Steve "Qwilion" Russell talking with Clinton J. Boomer about the development of Coliseum Morpheuon.
You can find Unfettered Development #002 at its home on the Rite Publishing website (here) or via FeedBurner (here), where you can also subscribe to the podcast via your preferred listening venue, including iTunes.
Hey, Folks,
I thought you'd all like to know that the latest instance of Unfettered Development has Steve "Qwilion" Russell talking with Clinton J. Boomer about the development of Coliseum Morpheuon.
You can find Unfettered Development #002 at its home on the Rite Publishing website (here) or via FeedBurner (here), where you can also subscribe to the podcast via your preferred listening venue, including iTunes.
In my 36 years of life, 29 of which as an active and enthusiastic game, I've never, ever been to a convention...that was until PaizoCon.
Thus, thanks to Paizo there was a PaizoCon, thanks to PaizoCon I was able to physically meet a lot of people, fans and industry types, that up until PaizoCon I had only known them as text on my screen.
Also, thanks to PaizoCon, the system and flavor of fantasy role-playing games that I prefer is continuing and being actively supported. This is good as it gives me a preferred venue and system of freelancing, kept me interested in the freelancing thing and quite likely led me to doing minor editor's work with Rite Publishing (although they do share that honor with Open Design and the patronage movement).
All in all, Paizo has done a lot of good stuff for myself, the hobby I love, my freelancing, and other coolness.
So, yeah, Paizo is cool. Happy Anniversary!
Clinton Boomer wrote:
Dang, I was going for a Don Knotts meets Don Rickles, yet somehow transformed into a more suave Henry Limpet, known to his friends as Hank. *chuckles*
Okay...with that, I shall now hide before I can be found by this man or his minions.
Hugo Solis wrote:
Totally. Next year an Avatar T-Shirt is almost mandatory, we need to work on that!
If you do get one...wear it, as my roomie brought some and I, like a jerk, forgot it in a drawer and didn't wear it, even though I meant to.
Cool shirt, though, and it's gonna get some wearing. Thanks, Tom! :D
Qwilion wrote:
Very sad could not attend.
I'd have been sad for you, but seems someone gave the pre-release to the "talent" instead of me. Sure, he's all writing something and stuff...but, well...feh, stupid logic and reason.
So, yeah, no sympathy. :P
Hugo was cool to meet, too, so nener!
Silkygreenbelly wrote:
I was in full "fight or flight" mode from being around so many strangers when you first approached so my brain kinda froze.
I can sympathize there, as I'm a bit of an agoraphobe, at least with non-gamer groups. It's odd, throw me into a group of unfamiliar folk and most people start to assume I'm with security due to all the wall leaning and arm-folding, not to mention the stares. But, make the group of unknowns gamers and my normal gregarious and blathering-idiot panache comes right out into the open.
I don't know if I wanna blame the Marines or when I worked as a bouncer, but I really don't like unknown groups much. *chuckles*
Hugo Solis wrote:
Darn, I missed this one...Well, more like I wasn't invited :P
If I'd have ran into your before that, I'd have dragged you a long, as it wasn't exactly exclusive...just attached to patrons seeing the blurb in either LJ or twitter and then saying, "I wanna go."
Heck, we even snagged an extra person on the way, too.
I should have went there, once more, before leaving, as the chicken was nice.
Oddly enough, I never did have a steak in Seattle. *chuckles* Although, the french dip at the Pumphouse (I so wanted to vandalize the sign and call it the Pimphouse) was quite nice.
fray wrote:
PaizoCon was definitely the awesome and I plan on doing it every year that it happens, too. It's my first con and it made quite a nice impression on me, too.
Aside from meeting various good folks at PaizoCon, including a lot of those whom I've talked with on-line, yet never in person before, I've a few addition "best thing" moments to add.
Best Spur of the Moment Expedition: Heading to a Sushi place with folks from Open Design, patrons and talent, for dinner. Not only was it good company and good food, but even the drive there and back was hilarious, too. I finally got to meet Wolfgang, face to face, but I got to imbue some of the best Teriyaki Chicken I've ever had.
Best Paizo Employee-ran Game: I really can't choose, since Unspeakable Future and Into the Scarlet Monastery were both awesome and I had a blast. But, as a sub-category, Unspeakable Future had some damn fine and fresh brownies, which I wish I would have scarfed down more of. Both games were Pathfinder Final, but with tweaks and I enjoyed them both. Not only am I a post-apocalyptic genre junky, but I'm also a lapsed WoW player, so both games touched on something for me, too. Both DMs were a blast, too, which made things even more awesome.
Best Signature Moment: I got to add Sue Cook's signature to my copy of Ptolus, which is something I've been meaning to do since I pre-ordered the epic tome, and that was quite cool. Not only did she sign it, but I got the signature at the end of her seminar on self-editing. I also got SKR's signature added to it, which started my "collect the players" signature quest. Seriously, what made this the best moment was the sheer volume of people checking to make sure I knew to go get it, telling me that she was cool with me getting it, and then making sure I got it. *grins* Obviously, thanks to some late developed neurosis about getting a signature from a nice lady, getting her signature got made into something bigger than it was, but it's all good. It's not like a lot of this folks don't know me, I've chit-chat back and forth with them for years, but I suddenly got nervous about it. *shrugs*
Best Seminar: For me, all the seminars were cool, but the self-editing one with Sue Cook was the best, since I started doing some editing work for Rite Publishing and I try and prune my prose, as needed. Excellent seminar, very informative, and it was nice to share with others, too. Picked up a couple extra tricks from the audience, too, for editing work.
Also, as an added piece of Con advise: if your look has changed and you're gonna update a picture that people know you from...do it sooner than two or three days before the Con, as people react to it better. *grins* I felt like I was ambushing some folk, because they'd always say, "You're hair is longer than the picture." *laughs*


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Feb. 7, 2011
Freshman Clay Thompson (Venice Beach, CA/Crossroads School) of the UCLA men's tennis team was selected as the UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week for Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
With No. 6 UCLA and No. 9 Baylor tied at 3-3 on Sunday, Thompson posted the men's tennis team's biggest win of the season thus far, taking a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8) victory over Sergio Ramirez at No. 4 singles to give the Bruins a thrilling 4-3 road win at the Baylor Tennis Center. Thompson fought off a match point, trailing 5-6 in that final tiebreaker to keep UCLA undefeated on the season at 6-0. Thompson also played a big part in the team's 4-3 victory over UC Irvine on Thursday, as his straight-set win over Stephen Stege at No. 4 singles accounted for one of the team's four points needed to pull off the narrow win. Thompson is now 11-4 on the season and 4-0 in dual matches.
This is Thompson's first UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week honor of the season and of his career.
Also nominated: Patrick Cantlay, M. Golf; Alec Faldermeyer, M. Track & Field; Darxia Morris, W. Basketball; Reeves Nelson, M. Basketball; Priscilla Orozco, W. Water Polo; Lindsay Rowe, W. Track & Field; Laura Winn, W. Diving.


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|Mountain Area Information Network
Wally Bowen
Wally Bowen is founder and executive director of the nonprofit Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) in Asheville, N.C. Bowen is a nationally-known advocate for local self-reliance and social capital formation via local ownership of media infrastructure.
MAIN provides high-speed wireless Internet access and webhosting, operates a low-power FM radio station (MAIN-FM 103.7), and was instrumental in obtaining public, education and government (PEG) cable TV channels for Asheville and Buncombe County. MAIN was recently elected to the national Media and Democracy Coalition.
Bowen was an early advocate of locally-owned "middle-mile" fiber networks, such as ERC Broadband and Pangaea, while representing western North Carolina on the N.C. Rural Internet Access Authority. He is the author of "Local Network Cookbook" (2009).
He has spoken on media reform at the Aspen Institute, all three National Media Reform Conferences, and most recently at the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), the New America Foundation, and the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communications. In 2008, he was one of three media reform advocates featured in Google's launch of a "Free the Airwaves" campaign for reform of U.S. spectrum policies.
Free Speech TV: What would Rupurt Murdoch do?
Connecticut Public Radio: Closing the Digital Divide
Democracy Now!: Bridging the Rural Digital Divide
Recent Articles:
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AA Handbook
'The AA Handbook' has been designed to provide members with a wealth of valuable information to help you enjoy safe, hassle-free driving.
The handbook includes information and guidance on:
- what to do if you are involved in an accident
- how to keep your car on the road – what to check and why
- all-weather driving – staying safe in bad weather
- driving in Europe – what you need and what to look out for
And there are even games and suggestions for keeping your passengers occupied on those long journeys.
You'll also discover a wide range of member benefits, including discounts on products and services from mobile phones to holidays.
See our Benefits Directory for a full range of AA member benefits.
Download 'The AA Handbook'
Download your free copy of 'The AA Handbook' (PDF opens a new window).
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Alain Artur Movies and Career Information
Alain Artur is an actor.
- Alain Artur Movies before 2015
- Under the Sun of Satan (Sous le soleil de Satan) 1987
Although updated daily, all theaters, movie show times, and movie listings should be independently verified with the movie theatre.
Contact mrmovietimes.com for information or comments. Please read the mrmovietimes.com Privacy Policy and terms of use. Enjoy the movie!
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Mayor's Internship Program
Mayor Dennis P. Williams and the City of Wilmington have implemented a citywide internship program for undergraduate, graduate, technical or trade students throughout the City.
"This internship program will give students within our community an opportunity to gain real world experience which will make them more competitive for future job prospects as they begin to enter the work force," says Mayor Williams.
Download the Internship Application.
Download the Department of Finance Internship Program Description.
Download the Department of Public Works Engineering Intern Description.
The scope of candidates looking to apply for the Mayor's internship program will range from a wide spectrum of students. The students chosen will work within departments and assist with day-to-day operations. They will also be exposed to other aspects of City government and participate in events sure to enhance their experience.
Internship positions are unpaid, however, may be utilized for course credit or completion.
The needs of the department, in conjunction with the student's school schedule and flexibility will determine to number of hours an intern may work per week. There will be three internship periods throughout the year, specifically during the fall, spring and summer. Each period will last approximately four months.
Prospective interns must complete the required application, submit two letters of recommendation (no relatives), along with resume and a cover letter indicating specific department(s) of interest.
Send applications to firstname.lastname@example.com. Students may also fax completed applications to (302) 571-4298 or mail it to: Attn: Mayor Dennis P. Williams Internship, 800 N. French Street, 4th Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801.
Contact the Mayor's Office
Mailing Address
Office of the Mayor
Louis L. Redding City/County Building
800 N. French Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Phone: (302) 576-2100
Fax: (302) 571-4102


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The Madame Alexander Peppermint Plie Ballerina Collectible Doll is as pretty as the candy cane she carries. This Asian sculpt features black eyes and braided and banged, center-parted black hair. She wears a white knit sparkle leotard with shimmer sleeves and is paired with a red and white tutu. The top layer of the tutu is white tulle trimmed with bands of red and white organza ribbon and worn over a second layer of red tulle to create a delicious candy cane appeal. Red organza ribbon on the center-front of the tutu, red and white cording at the waist, red glitter trim at the neckline, crocheted flower medallions in her hair, white glissenette pantyhose and white ballet slippers on her feet all add the finishing touches that makes Peppermint Plie Ballerina one sweet treat.
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'Its tough to beat the champ': NBC Sports Network launches aggressive campaign to challenge ESPN dominance
During ESPN's annual bowl-a-palooza during the holiday season, the usual advertising staples – credit cards, beer, cars, beer, insurance – flowed across the screen after seemingly every play. Anybody who watched enough football, and believe me, I did, developed an immunity to the commercials, along with the uberannoying Nelly song that served as a perpetual soundtrack to the action.
Amidst the morass, one ad stood out, not for its humorous content or particularly clever pitch. Its attraction was in its incongruence. And that it appeared on ESPN showed just how far the company producing it was willing to go in its efforts to go after the sports giant.
Washington Capitals star forward Alexander Ovechkin sat in an empty locker room, methodically lacing up a skate. Though he did not speak on camera, he provided the commercial's voiceover. "Practice does not make perfect," he intoned. "Only perfect practice makes perfect." As he said that, the camera panned away to reveal his equipment arrayed neatly on the floor in front of him. It could have been an advertisement for anything, from performance supplements to a sports drink. But it wasn't. Copy on the screen read, "We're getting ready."
The announcer closed the deal:
"Introducing the new, 24-hour sports network. The NBC Sports Network, coming January 2nd."
How about that? ESPN was running ads for its competitor. Or, more accurately, Comcast – my cable provider – was using guerilla-marketing tactics to promote its new property. On January 2, Versus, perhaps the worst-named sports station ever, except of course for its previous moniker, the Outdoor Life Network, became NBC Sports Network. Since Comcast now owns NBC/Universal, it was placing ads for its new network on its main competitor's programming.
It was a savvy opening gambit. Comcast was using its delivery system to tweak its new rival. That's what you can do when you control how the content reaches viewers' eyes, and ESPN could not have been happy with the move. Then again, if ESPN allowed a media buy by NBC that promoted the new channel, it would be the height of arrogance. You could almost hear the folks in Bristol saying, "Sure, you can try to challenge us, but you start in a big hole and have no real chance of ever catching us."
Whether this was Comcast's inserting an ad on its rival or ESPN's saying it doesn't care what Comcast doing, because it can't win, the fact is that the game is on. The question within that statement, however, is whether the game will be competitive or not. Other networks have tried to tackle ESPN before, with no success. Betting against Comcast is not a good idea, but the NBC Sports Network faces a huge deficit, if it wants to become more than a curiosity or sometime choice for viewers.
Let's pretend for a moment that it's possible to take down a network that has engrained itself into American culture and used its multiple platforms to create a synergy that is unparalleled in U.S. media. We'll have to forget that ESPN has long-term TV deals with the MLB, NFL and NBA and isn't partnered with the NHL because it doesn't want to be. ESPN practically owns college football, and though it doesn't control the NCAA basketball tourney, televises more regular-season games than anybody. It isn't close. ESPN broadcasts NASCAR, soccer, golf, tennis and even poker. It has created a web site that draws millions of eyes per day, has radio affiliates across the country and has produced original programming that many consider to be near the top of the genre. NBC Sports Network isn't trying to take down a giant. It's trying to slay an army of Brobdingnagians.
As NBC Sports Group chairman Mark Lazarus says, "This is going to take time."
Really? You mean that fans aren't going to flock to the Dakar Rally or the hours of fishing shows NBC Sports Network is airing on weekday afternoons? There is no way NBC can come close to ESPN with what it's airing right now. A quick scan of the early Network offerings reveals a lot of dead space. A lot. Sure, there is a bunch of hockey coverage. NHL games. College games. Pre and post-game shows. If a puck is involved, NBC Sports Network will show it.
The NBC Sports Talk program is another staple. It's a daily, hour-long look at the day's sports news. Nobody is breaking stories; rather experts are analyzing and offering opinions. NFL Turning Point breaks down the week's action and relies heavily on NBC's contract to air Sunday Night Football. The network will also show Major League Soccer, which is a pretty good move, given the growing (albeit not so fast) popularity of the league. Expect a lot of other, smaller-time sports action, like the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series and the AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series. And look for a lot of Olympic programming this summer, as NBC Sports Network becomes the number two outlet for action and will no doubt get the second-best allotment of U.S. stars.
NBC Sports Network will air some documentary-style programming, such as "Cold War on Ice," the story of the 1972 Canada Cup showdown between players from the NHL and the Soviet Union. That sounds pretty good. Unfortunately, "NBC Sports: A Storied History," doesn't. And I have no idea what to say about the following: "The Supermodel's Secret to a Perfect Butt."
The key to any kind of long-term survival is the continued acquisition of quality content. With the MLB contract up for grabs, NBC could well make another pitch for weekly national and post-season broadcasts, using the argument that putting the World Series on ESPN could potentially hurt ratings, since the four-letter network is only in 86% of U.S. households. (NBC Sports Network is in about 67%, but NBC is in 100%.) That could give the fledgling network a chance to air some baseball games during the summer, when hockey is on hiatus.
There could be some NFL inventory available as well, if the league decides to go with another eight-game Thursday schedule at the beginning of the season. Not that every single network wouldn't be trying for that programming pearl. Expect Comcast to open its coffers often in attempts to beef up the channel's programming in coming years. If NBC can grab baseball and football for its sports station and then pick off some college packages as they become available, it has a chance to become a viable competitor – with one exception: It's practically impossible to slay the SportsCenter dragon. It is the heavyweight champ of highlights shows and perhaps the single greatest promotional vehicle in television history. In the end, NBC Sports Network could be defeated by ESPN's ability to bring in viewers in the morning and sell them its shows coming up that day. It's a remarkable model that has been honed to a marketing razor's edge and helps ESPN continue to grow and thrive.
NBC Sports Network may have Comcast's fat wallet and NBC's "storied history" behind it, but it is miles behind ESPN right now. It can make up ground, but a long-run victory is highly unlikely. Viewers should hope for the best but bet on ESPN. It's tough to beat the champ.
Michael Bradley is a writer, broadcaster and teacher headquartered in suburban Philadelphia. His written work has appeared in Sporting News, ESPN the Magazine, Athlon Sports, Hoop and Slam, among others. He is a host on 97.5 the Fanatic in Philadelphia and contributes analysis for Yahoo! Sports Radio and Sirius Mad Dog Radio. He appears on CSNPhilly.com, writes a weekly column on Philadelphia Magazine's "Philly Post" and has authored 26 books. He teaches sports journalism at Saint Joseph's, Villanova and Neumann Universities.


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Being a good learning coach is a challenge. Of course, there are easy ways to go about it. You can choose to rely on your child's teachers to provide the entire year's education; but a good learning coach is more than just a secondary teacher. A good learning coach has any number of functions, and they aren't just limited to the ones that a parent performs throughout the course of a normal school year. A good learning coach…
Makes sure that their student is up on time every morning and ready to learn. This may include fixing breakfast (or at least being sure that your student makes breakfast for herself). It may mean opening the door three or four different times and insisting that they actually get up and out of bed. For many students, this may mean getting dressed in "real" clothes and not just attending school in their pajamas—it depends on the individual student! Making sure that your student is ready to learn may also include having materials ready each day, and will certainly include at least a glance at the daily plan beforehand. If you can get your child off to a smooth start, the entire day will go better in the long run.
Communicates with the teacher. Sometimes, this is a long, drawn-out process of exchanging kmails until you're sure that everything is "right." Other times, it's a phone conversation, or an email, or whatever it takes to be sure that everyone knows what's going on both with your student and with the school.
Keeps an eye on their child's progress. This means regular checks to be sure that everything is done, done on time, and done correctly. Virtual schooling is not a perfect replacement for a traditional brick and mortar education. The teacher is not able to as easily monitor each student's work, because they don't see the process—they often just see the end result. That makes it your responsibility to find out where your child's weaknesses are, to get them help when they need it, and to make sure that they're progressing as they should be. This also means that you need to keep an eye on what your child is accomplishing every day, and make sure that it's actually schoolwork and not game time.
Knows when it's time for a break. Is your child starting to bounce off the walls? Getting surly and hard to get along with? Making life difficult for you every time you suggest a new lesson? That might mean that it's time to sit back and take a break for a little while. This can be as simple as getting up and moving around for a little while, or it might mean being "done" for the day and coming back tomorrow.
Keeps things mixed up a little. Every once in a while, surprise your kids with something completely off the wall! This might be a game during school time that they weren't expecting, an unexpected present, or just a treat at the breakfast table. It can also mean a surprise field trip, a day with fewer assignments, or a "study island" day when they can play games and still get in some educational time. Obviously, this is something that needs to be scheduled. Students are expected to complete a certain amount of work each week, and they only get eight hours of supplemental time—but that doesn't mean that they can't have a little bit of fun every once in a while.
Is involved. This is the critical one. It would be easy to sit back on the couch and watch while your student completes their work each day. They have a plan in front of them, teachers to help them if they get stuck, and plenty of information at their fingertips. Theoretically, your child could learn without you ever getting involved—but that's not what a good learning coach does. A good learning coach is there, looking over their shoulders and discovering the first time they get off task instead of the twelfth. A good learning coach knows what her kids are learning, how they're learning it, and when they are supposed to move on to the next lesson. A good learning coach is part of the learning process, advocating for their student and making sure that they have everything they need to succeed.