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OK build quality, metal screw, long cable, auto iris works as expected. Optics do not produce any noticeable distortions. Also tested on 1/2 sensor and the coverage is average (like most mid range lenses). Large aperture a... Read more
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Martin Kramer: The Middle East Circa 2016Roundup: Historians' Take
Martin Kramer is Senior Fellow at the Shalem Center in Jerusalem, and President-designate of Shalem College (in formation). He is also the Wexler-Fromer Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
When I received the assignment for today, it reminded me of that 1999 book, Dow 36,000. At the time the authors wrote it, the Dow stood at 10,300, and the book became a bestseller. But today the Dow is only 20 percent higher than it was then—it's only at 12,700. Last February, one of the co-authors wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal entitled "Why I Was Wrong About 'Dow 36,000′." "What happened?" he wrote. "The world changed." Well, what a surprise.
Now there was a lot of talk that sounded like "Middle East 36,000″ just a couple of months ago. This is a new Middle East, everything you thought you knew is wrong, bet on revolution and you'll be rewarded handsomely with democracy. Let's face it: Americans like optimistic scenarios that end with all of us rich and the the rest of the world democratic. There's much in the American century since World War Two to foster such optimism. But while you enjoy reading your copy of "Middle East 36,000," I'm going to quickly tell you what's in the small print in the prospectus—the part that's in Arabic.
First, the competition. For years, the structure was defined by what I'll call, for short, the circle and the crescent. The circle was comprised of Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states, wrapping around the region. It was an informal alliance of unnatural allies. American credibility and the willingness to use its power kept the circle intact. Opposite it was the crescent, beginning in Iran and stretching westward through Iraq, Syria, and into Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamists. Iran's skill in using its leverage has kept the crescent in alignment. The crescent is smaller but more cohesive and integrated than the circle—largely because it's mostly Shiite....
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subset: commoncrawl


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This is a turn key business that has been owned and run by the same owner for the last 18 years. All rooms have king beds and they are less then 3 years old. Flat screen t.v. in all the main rooms. You must see, to enjoy the views and neighborhood. There have been lots of updates. Double windows throughout the inn. Newer roof. All the rooms are large several with a king bed and a twin bed or full bed. Basics to run the inn will be included. Any extra antiques can be added. The house has been redone throughout and has many extras. Walking distance to downtown resturants and activities. Decor is period antiques from the turn of the 1900's. It is perfect for the business travelr as it has a guest kitchen and plenty of common areas. The advantage of this house is that it also has plenty of private areas for the owners to live in and have their own space. We have spent 16 years redoing the house and making it comfortable while maintaining the historic touches needed for a 1905 house. The house was built by a family from the east coast so it has a New England look to it. There is more potential to this house as the top floor has never been finished. It could be used for more rooms or an innkeepers quarters. The house could also be used as a triplex with the owners living in one section and renting out the other two sections. So many possibilites. Come see for yourself.
Located in Aberdeen, Washington and just ten blocks from highway 101 on the Washington coast. The location is 45 minutes south of The Olympic National Park, 2 hours from Seattle, WA, and 2 1/2 hours from Portland, OR. It is only 20-30 minutes from the ocean and makes a great city get away. There are 7 large guest rooms all with joined bath rooms plus one extra bedroom that can be shared with one of the guests rooms. One innkeeper's room with a private bath. In the Broaway Hill neighborhoond filled with historic homes. This house was built in 1905. Almost every room in the house can enjoy the amazing view of the harbor, downtown, and two rivers that feed into the harbor. The house is divided into a duplex and has plenty of private rooms for the owner or innkeeper. There are 2 sunrooms overlooking the harbor. One is used for serving breakfast to the guests. The house has 2 living rooms, 2 dinning rooms, and 3 kitchens. There is one suite located on the first floor. The Grays Harbor suite has a kitchen, living room, 2 bed rooms, and bath. This unit can be used as an extended stay or rental unit. The house was built by a pioneer family named W.B. Paine. It is a colonial revival style house with lots of wood and built-ins. This is a turn key business that has worked nonstop for 16 years as a bed and breakfast by the same owner. All rooms have been fully restored. Off street parking for up to 5 vehicles. For more information you can visit our website http://www.aharborview.com or you can call 360-533-7996.
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Nestled in the mountains of Northern California, Lassen Volcanic National Park hosts a large number of hydrothermal features, including roaring fumaroles (steam and volcanic-gas vents), thumping mud pots, boiling pools, and steaming ground. These alone are way more than enough to delight young explorers, but Lassen also offers many unique activities for children and families.
Become A Junior Ranger
During the spring and summer, don't miss a number of ranger-led Junior Ranger programs. According to Christopher Bentley, a park ranger and educator at Lassen, "many ranger-led programs are especially for kids and families." Children 7-12 years old are encouraged to participate in the Junior Ranger program. Kids can pick up the Junior Ranger booklet from the Loomis Museum or the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. "Successful Junior Rangers receive a custom Lassen Volcanic National Park patch and are sworn in as Junior Rangers by park ranger," Bentley says. Similarly, children 6 years old and younger can join the Chipmunk Club. "Kids carry a card with illustrations of plants and animals with them on hikes and circle what they saw. Chipmunk Club participants receive a sticker from the rangers," he says.
Take A Hike
Other ranger-led programs include hikes and, currently, snowshoe walks. "Early in June on the 8th & 9th we have our Trail Safety Challenge corresponding with National Get Outdoors Day," Bentley says. "Hikers are encouraged to plan their hike using our Trail Challenge handout. After hikers complete their adventures for the day and report back to the rangers, they will receive a Trail Safety Challenge bandana." Rangers also give talks at the Loomis Museum. At these gatherings, families can hear about Lassen's volcanoes, wildlife, history, and other topics. Check the online schedule of events or the summer issue of the free park newspaper to find out more.
According to Bentley, "The most popular family hike in the park is Bumpass Hell. The trailhead is at about 8000 ft, which makes access to the trail difficult until the snow level drops in late-June." The elevation and patchy snow makes the hike challenging, but the reward is worth the effort. The largest and hottest hydrothermal area in the park greets hikers with a kaleidoscope of colorful mineral deposits and pools. "Mudpots, boiling springs and steam vents abound in basin, and all are accessible by boardwalk," Bentley says.
Short and Sweet
Families with younger children will enjoy exploring Sulphur Works, a roadside hydrothermal area one mile north of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at the southwest entrance of the park. "This is a good option for parents with young kids who can't hike long distances. Families can park 100 yards away and walk the sidewalks to visit the mudpots, steam vents, and boiling springs," says Bentley.
More adventurous families can climb Lassen Peak on select dates throughout the summer, but plan ahead. Due to trail renovation, the Peak will only be available to summit on June 21-23, July 4-7, August 16-18, August 30-31 and September 1-2"
After Dark Excitement
Last summer, Lassen introduced the first annual Dark Sky Festival. According to Bentley, the festival highlights, "Lassen's night skies and bringing awareness to light pollution and the importance of preserving our starry skies."
For those who missed it or would like to go again, you're in luck! "This year," Bentley says, "we will continue the tradition with the second annual Dark Sky Festival - half the park is after dark!" Special programs targeted toward kids will include ranger-led astronomy programs and telescope viewings, a ranger-led hike through a scale model solar-system. "There's also our Junior Ranger Night Explorer program in which kids can complete an astronomy themed activity booklet and receive a special patch," he says. This year's Dark Sky Festival will be August 9-11.
Don't Forget ...
Other family fun activities can include backpacking, boating, camping, bird watching, skiing, swimming, horseback riding, and fishing. Surely there will be something for everyone!


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Mar. 28, 1997
No. 12 USC Routs Arizona State
TEMPE, Ariz. - No. 13 Arizona State (21-14, 7-10) lost to No. 12 USC (27-10, 10-7) 15-4 in front of a season-high 4,392 fans at Packard Stadium tonight.
The Trojans were led on offense by Greg Walbridge who went 4-for-6 with two runs scored and four RBI. Also helping was Jason Brown who went 1-for-4 with six RBI, hitting his second grand slam home run of the season. Marc Mirizzi also hit a home run in a 2-for-6 effort, scoring one and driving in two. Third baseman Morgan Ensberg also contributed a 3-for-5 effort with four runs scored, and two driven in. Starting pitcher Seth Etherton (5-1) picked up the win for the Trojans going five-plus innings giving up eight hits, three earned runs, and striking out eight.
The Devils were led by Dan McKinley who went 4-for-5 with one RBI. Sophomore Andrew Beinbrink extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-for-4 effort. Catcher Greg Halvorson went 1-for-5 with two RBI. Starting pitcher Phil Lowery (2-2) took the loss for the Devils going four-plus innings, giving up four hits, six runs, while striking out four.
The Sun Devils conclude the three-game series with USC tomorrow afternoon, March 29 at 1 p.m. at Packard Stadium. Righthanded senior pitcher Jeff Cermak (4-1, 4.86 ERA) is expected to take the mound for ASU. Righthander Scott Henderson (5-2, 5.15 ERA) is the probable starter for Southern California. Southern California leads the series 2-0.
USC 15, Arizona State 4


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Cakes & Cupcakes
Choice of CAKE BASE:
Carrot cake
Cinnamon spiced cake
Lemon buttermilk cake
Moist chocolate cake
Rich vanilla cake
Soft sponge cake (can be tweaked to any flavour such as banana, pumpkin, chocolate, matcha, pandan, strawberry, black sesame, etc.)
Choice of Frosting:
Chocolate cream cheese
Coconut cream
Cookies & cream
Fruit buttercream (available in mango, strawberry, raspberry, passionfruit)
Madagascar vanilla buttercream
Matcha whipped cream
Peanut buttercream
Salted caramel buttercream
Strawberry whipped cream
Tea buttercream (chai, earl grey or houjicha)
Tangy cream cheese
Whipped chocolate ganache (available in milk, white or dark chocolate)
Here are some of our best seller combinations:
CHOCOLATE VANILLA moist chocolate cake with madagascar vanilla swiss meringue buttercream
DEVIL'S CHOCOLATE CAKE moist chocolate cake with whipped chocolate ganache
RED VELVET naturally red velvet cake made with red yeast, with a tangy cream cheese frosting
VANILLA SALTED CARAMEL fluffy yellow cake with homemade salted caramel buttercream frosting
PEANUT BUTTER moist chocolate cake with smooth peanut butter buttercream frosting
COOKIES & CREAM moist chocolate cake with cookies & cream buttercream frosting
VERY MATCHA fluffy matcha cake with matcha buttercream frosting
LEMON fluffy lemon buttermilk cake with tangy lemon buttercream frosting
CARROT moist carrot cake with tangy cream cheese frosting topped with walnuts and pecans
VERY MALAYSIA fluffy pandan cake made with homemade pandan extract, topped with gula melaka (palm sugar) frosting and drizzled with gula melaka caramel
CHEESECAKE japanese styled baked cheesecake, with your choice of biscuit base (gingersnaps, oreos or digestives)
FLORAL CUPCAKE your choice of cupcake base topped with floral buttercream designs
Options available: mini or regular cupcakes, single or multiple-tiered 4″, 6″ cake, 8″ cake (square or round).
Minimum order: 1-tier 8″ cake ($35 up) or 2-tier 6″ cake ($45 up) or 12 standard or 24 mini cupcakes (of any two flavours, $35 up. Floral cupcakes priced separately.)
VANILLA SABLE tender butter cookie with specks of madagascar vanilla
CHOCOLATE SABLE crisp chocolate butter cookie with choice of 53%, 66% or 70% bittersweet chocolate
EARL GREY SABLE tender earl grey flavoured butter cookie
ALMOND BUTTER COOKIE traditional butter cookie made with almond meal
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE small crisp morsels specked with milk chocolate shavings (can be substituted with bittersweet chocolate)
CHOCOLATE PINWHEEL a pinwheel of tender butter and chocolate cookie – best of both worlds
COMPOST COOKIE thick chewy dark chocolate chip cookies with your choice of any 2 add-ins: salted peanuts, M&Ms, potato chips, milk crumb, oat streusel, pretzels, marshmallows, freeze-dried fruit, butterscotch chips, cocoa nibs or caramel bits.
Minimum order: 100g jar of one flavour ($15 up)
VERY VANILLA vanilla shells sandwiched with madagascar vanilla swiss meringue buttercream
VANILLA CHOCOLATE vanilla shells sandwiched with whipped chocolate ganache
CHOCHOLATE VANILLA chocolate shells sandwiched with madagascar vanilla swiss meringue buttercream
VERY CHOCOLATE chocolate shells sandwiched with with whipped chocolate ganache
VANILLA SALTED CARAMEL vanilla shells sandwiched with homemade salted caramel buttercream
CHOCOLATE SALTED CARAMEL chocolate shells sandwiched with homemade salted caramel buttercream
PEANUT BUTTER chocolate shells sandwiched with smooth peanut butter buttercream and homemade peanut brittle
PRALINE chocolate shells sandwiched with a homemade chocolate hazelnut praline buttercream and hazelnut-almond praline brittle
Minimum order: a dozen macarons of one flavour ($30 up)
Tarts & Bars
BROWNIES rich delicious and moist dark chocolate brownie, spiked with single origin coffee, with an almost fudgy centre
BLONDIES rich blond brownies, speckled with milk and dark chocolate chips
CHOCOLATE TARTS a chocolatey buttery tart case filled with rich bittersweet chocolate ganache
FRUIT TARTS a crisp buttery tart case filled with vanilla pastry cream and topped with seasonal fruits
LEMON TARTS tender tart case filled with luscious lemon curd and topped with torched piped meringue
PINEAPPLE TARTS a tender melt-in-your-mouth closed pastry with homemade pineapple filling OR open tart pastry with homemade pineapple filling (seasonal)
Minimum order: 20 pieces of one flavour


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There's hope to be had here on the farm that the Spring season might be just around the corner. Since I don't have the excuse of either (a) it being my first time gardening or (b) being pregnant, I'm really feeling the pressure to have a great garden this year. Here's what I'm planning:
Herb Garden:
- Italian Basil
- Lime Basil
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Chives
- Dill
- Sage
- Mint
- Thyme
- Heirloom
I'd like to have at least 10 plants...Planning to eat a whole bunch and to do some canning with my dad.
- Shallots
- Leeks
- Storage Onions
- Corn
- Carrots
- Mixed Baby Lettuce
- Cucumber
- Fennel
- Garlic
- Wax Beans
- Green Peppers
If I'm being honest I probably don't have the room for all of this quite yet. I guess I should also plan to add another bed or two. I also might be trying the Self-Watering grow system from Larry Hall (see his videos here). My dad did it last year with a few things and it was amazing.
A few recent photos:
Blissfully happy dog (she just looks mad!)
Winter white sunset:


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This brand is great for sensitive skin and acne prone skin! I love the refreshing feel you get after using this product! Clears up your acne in about 3 weeks!5


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(CNSNews.com) - Open enrollment in the Obamacare exchanges is closed for 2014, but healthcare.gov wants Americans to know, "You may still have options to get health coverage this year."
Healthcare.gov lists eight situations that qualify for special enrollment in the exchanges, including "leaving incarceration."
On Monday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Justice Department will release new clemency guidelines later this week, designed to help thousands of nonviolent drug offenders get out of prison.
In addition to getting out of prison, the other "qualifying life events" that will allow you to enroll in the exchanges before Nov. 15 include:
-- No longer being covered by your parents' plan
-- Moving to a new area
-- Having a baby or adopting a child
-- Getting married or divorced
-- Losing your other health insurance
-- Gaining status as a member of an Indian tribe
-- Gaining citizenship
Uninsured Americans who didn't sign up for health coverage by April 15 will have to wait until Nov. 15 to purchase a policy, unless they're eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. Those government-run plans for low-income people accept enrollees year-round.


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This lotion moisturizes pretty well, but leaves a slightly greasy feel. The scent is too mature for my taste, and is more warm and spicy than what I'd expect of almond milk.2


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Welcome to the forum. Where did you order the mag from?
I found one of these in 17 round and ordered it. I couldn't find that magazine by searching. Has anyone tried one or is there maybe a thread with a review that I missed? It's not easy to find the 17 round mags, it seems.
Welcome to the forum. Where did you order the mag from?
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. Josh Billings
One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. Bob Marley
To conquer a nation, first disarm it's citizens. Adolf Hitler
I like my whisky old and my women young. Errol Flynn
If you need magazines for you PT92, try Mec-Gar. They are said to be as good, or better than the O.E.M. magazines. Mec-Gar makes: 10, 15, 18 and 20 round mags. for the 92/99 series. Here's the page. Taurus - Magazines - Mec-Gar - World's Finest Firearm Magazines
I have 9 mags for my PT-92. Three are O.E.M., four are Pro-Mag, and two are the Mec-Gar mags. They have all been 100% reliable. The P-M mags don't look as nice, but they function. (Mec-Gars are the prettiest. lol)
Retired Firefighter, Advanced Georgia Master Gardener, Hazardous Material Response Member, Certified Hazardous Material Incident Commander, 1911 Addict and General Gun Lover.
Currently Professionally Retired Old Person.
I found them on gunbroker.com. I didn't pay much, so I won't expect too much. I went to my local gun shop the day after I paid for the mag and asked it they had any PT92 magazines. The salesman's eyes lit up and he pulled out a drawer full of 15 round magazines. Apparently Taurus shipped them a load of PT92's with 5 mags included with each pistol. They included 3 but kept two mags each and now they've got about 40 or so magazines they cannot unload. $10 each and i found one 17 rounder (Taurus branded) for $15.
Yep, 10-15 bucks for Taurus 92/99 mags can't be beat!
CDNN has them but i think they are about 29-30 bucks there for the true Taurus mag.
Retired Firefighter, Advanced Georgia Master Gardener, Hazardous Material Response Member, Certified Hazardous Material Incident Commander, 1911 Addict and General Gun Lover.
Currently Professionally Retired Old Person.
I was at a gun show today and bought some mags. I accidentally bought one of these Ramline mags. The reason I say accidentally is because I didn't realize until I got home that it is functionally different. It was the only 17 rounder the guy had so I got it. When I got home and stripped all of the mags to clean them I found that it was different. I uses a tape spring instead of a conventional spring. It's attached to the top of the mag with a rivet and the other end of the spring is attached to the follower. So the spring pulls the follower up to the top of the mag. I don't know how well it works yet. I bought it, two 15 Taurus mags, and an anonymous SS 30 rounder for $60. I wish I had looked closer and noticed that it wasn't conventional but I've got it now. When you take the cover off the bottom no spring pops out and you wonder WTF?
I got a 17 rd Ramline with my preowned pt99 (and a Taurus 15 rd that was promptly lost or stolen). Nearly 500 rounds through it, no malfs - gun or mag.
We ain't played cowboys and muslims yet.
Current Taurus pistols have been shipping with 17 round mags in the PT92/99 series. Mec-Gar mags are great, but you have to watch what the state, as some aren't flush-fit, unlike the OEM mags.
Ram-Line manufactured magazines for these pistols some years ago. I was unaware that they still made them. Note, Ram-Line has discontinued magazines under their own name. They now manufacture magazines under the Shooter Ridge brand name. They now make magazines for rim-fire rifles, ONLY.
At one time, Ramline even made a rim-fire pistol. Their magazines were mostly for range use, and even there, heavy use normally used them up in short order. The constant force spring was a good idea, but never fully exploited by the company.


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Office Space to Rent in Platt's Lane, NW3
We have a variety of serviced offices available to rent in Platt's Lane, NW3. Each office space is offered at the best rates and suited to your individual needs and requirements.
We have a variety of serviced offices available to rent in Platt's Lane, NW3. Each office space is offered at the best rates and suited to your individual needs and requirements.
The prestigious serviced office suites are fully furnished and benefit from personal fax, telephone system and photocopier, ADSL/ISDN facility, kitchen, personal refrigerator (to selected rooms) and daily cleaning.
This centre has been recently refurbished and offers 24 hour access, daily cleaning and a security entry system.
A luxury, modern and large open-plan ground floor office with plenty of desk space and a quiet environment. There is a kitchen area with use of kitchen appliances and spaces to dine away from desks. There is also a ground floor WC. Premises are cleaned to the highest standards thrice weekly to ensure the maintenance of a high standard of hygienic practice. Air conditioning and natural lighting make for a perfect combination to ensure optimum comfort while working. Cupboard space available for coats and bags to avoid clutter and use of drawers at desks to organise paperwork and personal belongings.
Suburb location, offices recently refurbished bright and modern. Offering: Free boardroom, reception, furniture, electronic security, 24 hour access and daily cleaning.
This centre has been recently refurbished and offers 24 hour access, daily cleaning and a security entry system.
Brand new modern luxurious furnished office suites, providing for various workstation requirements. Facilities include a boardroom facility, 24 hour access, CCTV, comfort cooling, fax and photocopier facilities, Category 5 structured cabling, digital ISDN30e telephone lines, Broadband ADSL connection for internet and e-mail.
The office suites situated in a purpose built block, are fully furnished, with personal telephone system, personal fax line, ADSL/ISDN facility, receptionist, kitchen facilities, coded photocopier, boardroom facility (subject to availability), daily cleaning, car parking space (subject to availability) and lift.
33 luxury offices over 3 floors, each with their own individually controlled ventilation systems, complete with luxury office furniture. This business centre offers an array of services which will be offered at this prestigious site. A professional quality, secure fibre broadband connection will serve the building for all business needs with WiFi also available. Two very modern large meeting rooms furnished to a high standard will also be available for hire to tenants and non-tenants alike. With Brent Cross Shopping Centre a few minutes' walk away; this new site has the best of all worlds for discerning clients with high standards and expectations.
Situated in a beautifully converted Victorian pub, this centre provides luxury, individual offices in a warm and friendly atmosphere for small to medium businesses and professional people looking for short term or flexible office space solutions. Along with a prestigious Highgate address, The centre offers all the facilities and benefits you would need to successfully – and comfortably – run your business; individually air-conditioned and heated rooms, on-site parking, wireless internet, use of the on-site gym and private telephone numbers, along with a host of other benefits.
The consulting rooms are located in a quiet building in Swains Lane, set back from the road. Swains Lane is one of Highgate's most charming streets. It is within 50 metres of Hampstead Heath and with easy access to bus, train and underground. Local restaurants and cafés add to the friendly, village atmosphere.•Located in charming north London area, Swains Lane•Purpose-built for psychotherapy•Architect-designed and elegantly furnished•Soundproofed•Fully ventilated•Entryphones to all rooms•Waiting areas•Full-time receptionist and support staff•Rent by hour or session•Available anytime, evenings and weekends, 7 days a week•Group and individual bookings•Broadband free of charge
Below you can see the nearest areas to Platt's Lane, NW3 where you can find serviced offices:


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Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Having Reasons
Because human communication is so wonderfully varied and expressive, a study of semantics can very quickly become complex and obscure.
This is especially the case when we allow that meanings can be based not only in what the speaker intended, but what the listener understood, what the analyst finds, what the reasonable person expects, and what the words suggest.
In formal logic, semantics is the study of the conditions under which a proposition can be true. This can be based on states of affairs in the world, the meanings of the terms, such as we find in a truth table, or can be based on a model or representation of the world or some part of it.
In computer science, there are well-established methods of constructing models. These models form the basis for representations of data on which operations will be formed, and from which views will be generated.
David Chandler explains why this study is important. "The study of signs is the study of the construction and maintenance of reality. To decline such a study is to leave to others the control of the world of meanings."
When you allow other people to define what the words mean and to state what makes them true, you are surrendering to them significant ground in a conversation or argument.These constitute what Lakoff calls a "frame".
"Every word is defined relative to a conceptual framework. If you have something like 'revolt,' that implies a population that is being ruled unfairly, or assumes it is being ruled unfairly, and that they are throwing off their rulers, which would be considered a good thing. That's a frame."
It's easy and tempting to leave the task of defining meanings and truth conditions to others. Everyone tires of playing "semantical games" at some time or another. Yet understanding the tools and techniques of semantics gives a person tools to more deeply understand the world and to more clearly express him or her self.
Let me offer one simple example to make this point.
We often hear people express propositions as probabilities. Sometimes these are very precisely expressed, as in the form "there is a 40 percent probability of rain." Other times they are vague. "He probably eats lettuce for lunch." And other times, probabilities are expressed as 'odds'. "He has a one in three chance of winning."
The calculation or probability can be daunting. Probability can become complex in a hurry. Understanding probability can require understanding a probability calculus. And there is an endless supply of related concepts, such as Bayes Theorem of prior probability.
But when we consider the semantics of probability, we are asking the question, "on what are all of these calculations based?" Because there's no simple answer to the question, "what makes a statement about probabilities true?" There is no such thing in the world that corresponds to a "40 percent chance" - it's either raining, or it's not raining.
A semantics of probability depends on an interpretation of probability theory. And there are some major interpretations you can choose from, including:
1. The logical interpretation of probability. Described most fully in Rudolf Carnap's Logical Foundations of Probability, the idea at its heart is quite simple. Create 'state descriptions' consisting of all possible states of affairs in the world. These state descriptions are conjunctions of atomic sentences or their negations. The probability that one of these state sentences is 'true' is the percentage of state descriptions in which it is asserted. What is the possibility that a dice roll will be 'three'? There are six possible states, and 'three' occurs in one of them, therefore the probability is 1 in 6, or 16.6 percent.
2. The frequentist interpretation of probability. Articulated by Hans Reichenbach, the idea is that all frequencies are subsets of larger frequencies. "Reichenbach attempts to provide a foundation for probability claims in terms of properties of sequences." This is the basis for inductive interence. What we have seen in the world in the past is part of a larger picture that will continue into the future. If you roll the dice enough times and observe the results, what you will discover (in fair dice) that the number 'three' appears 16.6 percent of the time. This is good grounds for expecting the dice to roll 'three' at that same percentage in the future.
3. The subjectivist interpretation of probability. Articulated by Frank Ramsay, "The subjectivist theory analyses probability in terms of degrees of belief. A crude version would simply identify the statement that something is probable with the statement that the speaker is more inclined to believe it than to disbelieve it." What is the probability that the dice will roll 'three'? Well, what would we bet on it? Observers of these dice, and of dice in general, would bet one dollar to win six. Thus, the probability is 16.6 percent.
Each of these interpretations has its strengths and weaknesses. And each could be expanded into more and more detail. What counts, for example, as a 'property' in a state description? Or, what are we to make of irrational gamblers in the subjectivist interpretation?
But the main lesson to be drawn is two-fold:
- first, when somebody offers a statement about probabilities, there are different ways of looking at it, different ways it could be true, different meanings we could assign to it.
- and second, when such a statement has been offered, the person offering the statement may well be assuming one of these interpretations, and expects that you will too, even in cases where the interpretation may not be warranted.
What's important here is not so much a knowledge of the details of the different interpretations - first of all, you probability couldn't learn all the details in a lifetime, and second, most people who make probability assertions do so without any knowledge of these details. What is important to know is simply that they exist, that there are different foundations of probability, and that any of them could come into play at any time.
What's more, these interpretations will come into play not only when you make statements about the probability of something happening, but when you make statements generally. What is the foundation of your belief?
How should we interpret what you've said? Is it based on your own analytical knowledge, your own experience of states of affairs, or of the degree of certainty that you hold? Each of these is a reasonable option, and knowing which of these motivates you will help you undertsand your own beliefs and how to argue for them.
Because, in the end, semantics isn't about what some communication 'stands for'. It is about, most precisely, what you believe words to mean, what you believe creates truth and falsehood, what makes a principle worth defending or an action worth carrying out.
It is what separates you from automatons or animals operating on instinct. It is the basis behind having reasons at all. It is what allows for the possibility of having reasons, and what allows you to regard your point of view, and that of others, from the perspective of those reasons, even if they are not clearly articulated or identified.
The whole concept of 'having reasons' is probably the deepest challenge there is for connectivism, or for any theory of learning. We don't want people to simply to react instinctively to events, we want them to react on a reasonable (and hopefully rational) basis. At the same time, we are hoping to develop a degree of expertise so natural and effortless that it seems intuitive.
Connectivist theory is essentially the idea that if we expose a network to appropriate stimuli, and have it interact with that stimuli, the result will be that the network is trained to react appropriately to that stimuli. The model suggests that exposure to stimuli - the conversation and practices of the discipline of chemistry, say - will result in the creation of a distributed representation of the knowledge embodied in that discipline, that we will literally become a chemist, having internalized what it is to be a chemist.
But the need to 'have reasons' suggests that there is more to becoming a chemist than simply developing the instincts of a chemist. Underlying that, and underlying that of any domain of knowledge, is the idea of being an epistemic agent, a knowing knower who knows, and not a mere perceiver, reactor, or doer. The having of reasons implies what Dennett calls the intentional stance - an interpretation of physical systems or designs from the point of view or perspective of reasons, belief and knowledge.
We could discuss the details of having and giving reasons until the cows come home (or until the cows follow their pre-programmed instinct to follow paths leading to sources of food to a place designated by an external agent as 'home'). From the point of view of the learner, through, probably the most important point to stress is that they can have reasons, they do have reasons, and they should be reflective and consider the source of those reasons.
Owning your own reasons is probably the most critical starting point, and ending point, in personal learning and personal empowerment. To undertake personal learning is to undertake learning for your own reasons, whatever they may be, and the outcome is, ultimately, your being able to articulate, examine, and define those reasons.
Interesting discussion here. My response:
Let me take a slightly different tack. I don't endorse all the concepts here, but use of them may make my intent clearer.
Let's say, for the sake of argument, that 'to have learned' something is to come to 'know something'.
Well, what is it to 'know something'. A widely held characterization is that knowledge is 'justified true belief'. There has been a lot of criticism of this characterization, but it will do for the present purposes.
So what is 'justified true belief'? We can roughly characterize it as follows:
- 'belief' means that there is a mental state (or a brain state) that amounts to the agreement that some proposition, P, is the case.
- 'true' means that P is, in fact, the case.
- 'justified' means that the belief that P and the fact that P are related through some reliable or dependable belief-forming process.
OK, like I say, there are all kinds of arguments surrounding these definitions that I need not get into. But the concept of 'having reasons' is related to the idea of justification.
Now – the great advantage (and disadvantage) of connectivism is that it suggests a set of mechanisms that enables the belief that P to be justified.
- we have perceptions of the world through our interactions with it.
- these perceptions, through definable principles of association, create a neural network.
- this neural network reliably reflects or mirrors (or 'encodes', if you're a cognitivist) states of affairs in the world
- hence, a mental state (the reflection or encoding) has been created – a belief. This belief is 'true', and it is 'true' precisely because there is a state of affairs (whatever caused the original perception) that reliably (through principles of association) creates the belief.
All very good. But of this is the total picture of belief-formation, then there is nothing in principle distinct from simple behaviourism. A stimulus (the perception) produces an effect (a brain state) that we would ultimately say is responsible for behaviour (such as a statement of belief).
But this picture is an inadequate picture of learning. Yes, it characterizes what might be thought of as rote training, but it seems that there is more to learning than this.
And what is that? The *having* of reasons. It's not just that the belief is justified. It's that we know it is justified. It's being able to say 'this belief is caused by these perceptions'.
(This is why I say that learning is both 'practice' and 'reflection' – we can become training through practice along, but learning requires reflection – so that we know why we have come to have the knowledge that we have).
Learning that 'the sky is blue', for example, combines both of these elements.
On the one hand, we have perceptions of the sky which lead to mental states that enable us to, when prompted, say that "the sky is blue."
At the same time, we would not be said to have 'learned' that the sky is blue unless we also had some (reasonable) story about how we have come to know that the sky is blue.
What I am after is an articulation of how we would come to be able to make such statements in a connectivist envrionment. How connectivism moves beyond being a 'mere' forming of associations, and allows for a having, and articulation, of reasons.
74 comments:
>Connectivist theory is essentially the idea that if we expose a network to appropriate stimuli, and have it interact with that stimuli, the result will be that the network is trained to react appropriately to that stimuli.ReplyDelete
Like behaviourism?
- Jonathon RossTuesday, July 06, 2010
What an insightful post. Thank you for sharing the output of your personal writing time with us all.ReplyDelete
> Like behaviourism ?ReplyDelete
No. A behaviourist will say that the *only* thing we can study is observable behaviour - stimulus and response. Anything 'internal' is a black box and cannot be discussed.
But we are discussing the internal as well as the external. We are attempting to describe the process by which stimulus - plus whatever mediating factors may be present - produces response.
- AnonymousWednesday, July 07, 2010
How about classical conditioning then? That seems like a good fit to what you have said. Did Pavlov think the 'only' thing that can be studied is behaviour? That seems more Skinnerian.ReplyDelete
>We are attempting to describe the process by which stimulus - plus whatever mediating factors may be present - produces response.ReplyDelete
I wonder if Stimulus-stimulus theory is the best fit. The mediating factors referred too are likely the concepts to which the response is made rather than a direct response to stimuli as in S-R theory. This would fit with the concept of having reasons by which to measure one's responses, i.e. the mediating factors (Stephen's term) are the reasons for the responses.
I still wonder about the normative aspect:
>...they should be reflective and consider the source of those reasons.
Why SHOULD one do this?
- AnonymousThursday, July 08, 2010
>We don't want people to simply to react instinctively to events, we want them to react on a reasonable (and hopefully rational) basis.ReplyDelete
(I wonder who 'WE' is).
Ulop, yes, 'mediating factors' means the reasons for the response. Downes wants to ensure that people know what their reasons are and wants their reasons to be rational, whatever those reasons are. His theory goes beyond mere S-R examination to an examination of internal concepts and values that contribute to the response. So yes, his examination is more like S-S theory than simple S-R theory, which is why he is now referring to his brand as 'complex' connectivism. But I don't think it rests there;
One SHOULD examine one's reasons, as this separates humans from animals, cows from learners, in Downes' eyes.
Just trying if this comment comes through..ReplyDelete
You are jumping from science to another so that it is hard to follow. You read a lot and use links.
If the aim is to reach highest level (Dreyfus model) I what to ask in which skills: connecting? making meaning? reasoning? empowering people?
By 'expert' I mean precisely this, from the Dreyfus link:ReplyDelete
"At this point you are not solving problems or making conscious decisions about things, you just "do" and it works. 'Optimal performance becomes second nature.' People may ask you why you decided to do things 'that way' and you may not know how to explain to them the 10 steps necessary to get from 'A' to 'B' because to you it was really just one step. Forcing an expert to detail the steps necessary before proceeding will often cause them to fail or second-guess. Here you think of grandma getting up at 6:00am and making biscuits from scratch for many, many years. She doesn't measure, time, or probably even think about baking – she just does it, and it works. Very few people will attain this level in a particular skill or domain. Some estimates say 10-15 years in a particular area is required.
An Expert has experience that 'is so vast that normally each specific situation immediately dictates an intuitively appropriate action.'"
> I wonder who 'WE' isReplyDelete
- AnonymousThursday, July 08, 2010
Yes, I should have guessed this might be 'teacher-driven'. If ever a group's raison d'etre is to condition for society, it must be teachers, no?
Reacting instinctively to events, is that what an expert (in the Dreyfus view) does?
>To undertake personal learning is to undertake learning for your own reasons, whatever they may be, and the outcome is, ultimately, your being able to articulate, examine, and define those reasons.
And at the end of the day, I articulate my reasons in order to what, satisfy the wants of the teachers?
Hi Stephen,ReplyDelete
Here are some comments on my post. As I think it is too long, I would like to seek your views before posting. http://suifaijohnmak.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/critlit2010-connectivism-as-the-journey-continues/
Alternatively, please advise where you would like me to post them to. You are also invited to comment there.
Many thanks for your stimulating post here.
Hiya John - I've offered a bit of a response on your post, which I also attached here. No need to move the post or anything - post wherever you want.ReplyDelete
Anonymous: you sound like you have a negative opinion of teachers. How else can we learn, if not from teachers transferring their knowledge and guiding us in pursuing more?ReplyDelete
Stephen says this:
>At the same time, we would not be said to have 'learned' that the sky is blue unless we also had some (reasonable) story about how we have come to know that the sky is blue.
>What I am after is an articulation of how we would come to be able to make such statements in a connectivist envrionment. How connectivism moves beyond being a 'mere' forming of associations, and allows for a having, and articulation, of reasons.
Are you looking for connectivism to provide the answer to the question:
How do we know that we know?
> Are you looking for connectivism to provide the answer to the question: How do we know that we know?ReplyDelete
Yes. There needs to be a story here. We need some account of this. Otherwise there's a big black box in the middle of the theory, which would make it no better than all the other theories.
... and, maybe a bit more accurately, there is a good story here (it is the content matter of the Critical Literacies course) and what we need to be able to state is how and where this fits into learning.ReplyDelete
Ok, I think I understand now what you meant by you being more likely uncertain about clear concepts while characterizing George as perhaps more certain of unclear concepts: http://www.connectivism.ca/?p=257ReplyDelete
Perhaps the subjects of the course (cognition, change, pragmatics etc.) are environmental qualities that provide affordances for the human actor. The actions include learning (internal and social), communication, (propagation?)....
Are you suggesting that the the course subjects (context, cognition, change, etc.) are the mediating factors between stimulus and response?
- AnonymousFriday, July 09, 2010
I think that is what he is suggesting. Unfortunately for the connectivists, it won't be enough to seal the deal. So the debate will return to the demo of fancy on-line tools to prove their theory. CritLit2010 was not very successful, definitely not a MOOC, more like a TOOC (tiny online open course).
As far as teachers, yes, I have had some very bad experiences with their attempts to condition me. As have many other groups located at the boundaries of the societies that are imposed upon them. As far as who else can we learn from? For starters, try Tribal Elders.
That's not a bad characterization Ulop though I wouldn't state it quite so unambiguously. Because these terms - 'cognition', 'change'. etc - themselves need describing. We need to know how people acquire them, what they entail, what impact they have on reasoning and perception.ReplyDelete
The anonymous comment immediately above doesn't merit comment, it being more fiction than anything else.
- AnonymousSaturday, July 10, 2010
That hurts Stephen! Is there not a place for a little humour in connectivism? And is there not a place for fiction in the learning process?ReplyDelete
After all, aren't TOOCs popular in Canada? I wear one all winter....
But seriously, there is a lot of work yet to be done on describing the mediating factors, as you have noted, and is there not a significant portion of the connectivist following that is more interested in the tools and socializing than the hard sledding of theory?
Well if you think I've simply been focused on tools, and not the hard sledding of theory, then you haven't been following my work. Why do you think we took this path, with a difficult course in in critical literacies, instead of a simple networking or how-to course?ReplyDelete
I don't mind the TOOC name - but I think it's unfair to call Critical Literacies a failure. Size is not the objective - openness and interesting learning are the objectives, and we accomplished these.
- AnonymousSaturday, July 10, 2010
Oh, I didn't make myself clear. I am suggesting some of the connectivist following has a greater interest in the tools, not you. It seems that your greater interest is in the theory, and I applaud you for this. As I re-read one of your earlier works (October 2006 - Learning Networks and Connective Knowledge) I surmise that you tested some of those ideas in CritLit2010. Good work.ReplyDelete
However, your two objectives: openness and interesting learning.
Openness must be fairly easy to achieve given the affordances of the web. Interesting learning, how do you determine whether that has occurred?
There was an error in my question, it should be:ReplyDelete
If the aim is to reach highest level (Dreyfus model) I want to ask in which skills: connecting? making meaning? reasoning? empowering people?
want, not what!
Sorry, I should read before sending
I find your post interesting because of the connections you made on topics and blog´s conversations that let me know the way you understand interpretation process regarding "having reasons".
It is good to read the differences of ideas you post on the blog. I can deduce from this that Ulop´s comments let you rethink the issues and argue about them, to expand your meanings and trying to understand the reasons of this, his state of thinking. I think he questions your pretense of objectivity in search of validating hypotheses from "Connectivism".
Regards. María Fernanda
> If the aim is to reach highest level (Dreyfus model) I want to ask in which skills: connecting? making meaning? reasoning? empowering people?ReplyDelete
In this particular instance (ie., the context of 'having reasons') the aim is to achieve expert status in the various literacies described in this course, and in the case of semantics particularly, in evaluating and assessing for truth, value, motive, or objective.
For example: a person reads a newspaper article. In that article are various statements of fact and various inferences.
A person who is unskilled would be unable to distinguish facts from inferences, would be unable to assess the veracity or reliability of them, would be unable to form complusions independently of what was presented.
A person at the mid-level would be able to go through evaluative processes, such as testing for validity, assessing the reliability of evidence-claims, questioning the motives of speakers, etc.
An expert would read the article and just 'see' whether it is reliable and trustworthy, through a complex understanding of analysis and assessment that has been internalized.
The four things you identify - "connecting? making meaning? reasoning? empowering people?" might be thought of as lesser included skills. For example, in order to assess a statement of fact, you need to be able to connect it with a wider set of descriptions, resolve the statement into some sort of proposition, engage in the inferences necessary to assess the claim, and have the capacity to express and act on the assessment.
The four things are shorthand for complex processes. These processes work with other processes to create the higher level skills. These higher level skills are what I have tried to express under the six headings - syntax, semantics, cognition, etc.
> I think he questions your pretense of objectivity in search of validating hypotheses from "Connectivism".ReplyDelete
Oh, I have no pretense of objectivity. I think I'm right. The 'objective' phase of my work ended a number of years ago. Now I am trying to develop and defend (or, more accurately, explain) a specific perspective. That does not mean I am not influenced by the evidence, or that I will never change my views when confronted with conflicting data. But I will regard such data from the perspective of my views.
> I can deduce from this that Ulop´s comments let you rethink the issues and argue about them, to expand your meanings and trying to understand the reasons of this, his state of thinking.ReplyDelete
I will say, I find this process to be exceptionally valuable. What I developed in 1995 was the broad strokes of a theory. The discussion and analysis have been invaluable in refining the perspective, making meanings clear, correcting errors, and drawing out evidence.
> Interesting learning, how do you determine whether that has occurred?ReplyDelete
I've discussed this before ( here: http://www.downes.ca/presentation/251 slide 23 ). In a nutshell, we established whether learning has occurred by observing the totality of the learners activities in a network.
We could (I'm thinking aloud here) probably identify some metrics describing this activity that might give us an assessment profile:
- participation gap - the degree to which a person participates in the activity of the network, as opposed to merely observing it; participation would be measured not only as numbers of contributions but also engagement or response rate
- dissonance - the degree to which a person uses works, phrases, etc., in a manner that does not create a lack of comprehension ('dissonance') on the part of other members of the network
- resolution - the number of positive contributions to the network - problems solved, disputes adjudicated, etc.
Why haven't you developed metrics?ReplyDelete
Here, and in your slide 23, you suggest that the determination of 'interesting learning' is made by 'observing the totality of the learners activities in a network'. That's it? You haven't taken it any further? How can you conclude then that 'interesting learning' has occurred? And what does interesting mean? And who is interested in it? How are these observations made? How are they interpreted? Who makes the observations and the interpretations? Who makes the conclusions?
Let me express my doubts in the form of a (short) story:
Begging the Question - The Story of Connected Learning
Once upon a time a course was created and presented through the medium of the internet network. Participants spanned many regions of the earth, and communicated over great distances and time zones through this network.
The course was created to show that individual learning occurred when individuals participated in the network. This learning was measured by "established whether learning has occurred by observing the totality of the learners activities in a network".
So the conclusion is, learning occurred in individuals who were using the network to connect. How interesting is that?
>Oh, I have no pretense of objectivity. I think I'm right.ReplyDelete
Are you certain that you are right? In the post I mentioned earlier, it seemed that you were uncertain:
I have never claimed, and never will claim, to be certain. That would be foolishness.ReplyDelete
But not being certain is not grounds for not believing that I am right. No?
> Why haven't you developed metrics?ReplyDelete
Creating metrics doesn't make the uncertain any more certain . It just allows us to posture a false precision, to draw out a meaningless abstraction and to make that stand for whatever it is that we're actually trying to achieve. Metrics don't interest me because they so often stand in as a substitute for what is being sought, and in so many minds, replace what is being sought.
If you're willing to go along with me and allow that what we seek is *not* some sort of pseudo-mathematical precision, then I am willing to adduce to some dimensions of the achievement being sought, some signs, if you will for the personal learning you think I treat so slightly. A lower participation gap, lower dissonance, greater resolutioon - these are all ways a person can contribute to a network, and are all surface indicators of the deeper learning that has taken place.
But the deeper learning is, precisely, the newly developed neural structures, the new pattern of connectivity, that has grown in the brain. It would be absurd to say that there is one best instantiation of this, that there is a 'perfect' neural network against which individual achievement can be measured as a percentage. *Any* metric is arbitrary and unfair. At most we get an *indication*, and in the end, the person who determines whether the effort has been worthwhile is the learner.
You can puff that that's a petitio principii all you wish, but I think we both know it isn't.
Have you changed from thinking you are right to believing you are right? Is your belief a justified, true belief? Is your belief knowledge? Do you still think Connectivism is a non-intentional theory of learning and knowledge?ReplyDelete
>and in the end, the person who determines whether the effort has been worthwhile is the learner.ReplyDelete
I was wondering when you might get around to acknowledging the learner in this. Earlier, you stated that 'we' had established that interesting learning had taken place. Was this use of 'we' a reference to teachers again?
But at any rate, you have concluded that 'interesting learning' has occurred without actually examining it, haven't you? You just assumed that it has occurred, because your theory says so.
I have empathy with you on the merits of metrics; however they are not the circular reasoning I was getting at. This is what I think you are claiming:ReplyDelete
1. the neural network functions the same as the social network
2. learners participate in the social network
3. participation in the social network is demonstrative of learning
a) the participation in the social network shows learning in the neural network
b) because the neural network functions the same as the social network
What is missing is proof of the first premise. Is this what you hope critical literacies will do, help prove that premise? (I am calling the learning network a social network to distinguish it from the neural network)
> you have concluded that 'interesting learning' has occurred without actually examining it, haven't you?ReplyDelete
But I have. I've observed the discussions, aggregated blog posts, had discussions in the synchronous forum. So I've seen that personally.
In addition, we (NRC) are conducting surveys of the course participants. So we will have additional evidence of learning.
> a) the participation in the social network shows learning in the neural networkReplyDelete
b) because the neural network functions the same as the social network
No, that's not the inference.
The inference is a lot simpler. It's basically, "In order to function as a physicist (eg. by participation in a social network) you have to have the knowledge of a physicist."
> Have you changed from thinking you are right to believing you are right?ReplyDelete
I've desc4ribed what I think knowledge is on numerous occasions. I clearly said the 'justified true belief' was simply the employment of an expression to make a point. You shouldn't try to suggest that this is now my epistemology, not after I specifically said it wasn't.
Do you still think Connectivism is a non-intentional theory of learning and knowledge?ReplyDelete
>In addition, we (NRC) are conducting surveys of the course participants. So we will have additional evidence of learning.ReplyDelete
Well, one can hope there is additional evidence of learning. So maybe we shall wait on the NRC before we conclude that 'interesting learning' has occurred? I hope the NRC asks me what I learned. Not much so far, only some insights into your thinking. If the NRC wants to follow up, my name is really Anon y Moose, (spanish-canadian?) and I reside in the swamp-land.
But seriously, how do I acquire the knowledge of a physicist, in order to participate as one in the social network? Another example of your circular reasoning?
>You shouldn't try to suggest that this is now my epistemology, not after I specifically said it wasn't.ReplyDelete
Not trying to suggest anything, just wanted to ensure I understood you correctly. You used the word belief where before you used the word think and I was wondering about your precision in the use of the language.
But it does seem that you are conflicted over the terms belief and knowledge (justified true belief): you are willing to use them to make a point, but seem to be suggesting you don't 'believe' in them. What is with that?
> But seriously, how do I acquire the knowledge of a physicist, in order to participate as one in the social network?ReplyDelete
I've discussed this at length elsewhere, I'm not going to reprise it in a comment area.
> Do you still think Connectivism is a non-intentional theory of learning and knowledge?ReplyDelete
> you are conflicted over the terms belief and knowledge (justified true belief): you are willing to use them to make a point, but seem to be suggesting you don't 'believe' in them.ReplyDelete
So? There's nothing wrong with that. It's like using terminology like 'the Sun rising' in order to describe when something happened. We know the Sun doesn't actually rise - it is the Earth turning, not the Sun moving - but the terminology is convenient.
>We know the Sun doesn't actually rise - it is the Earth turning, not the Sun moving - but the terminology is convenient.ReplyDelete
Actually, from at least one perspective, the sun does in fact rise. The terminology is descriptive, not merely convenient. Where would your theory be without the language of representation to describe it?
The following statement is from your post at:
>What this means is that, in connectivism, learning is not about content. It is not about entering a certain representational state with respect to the world.
I disagree with this statement. I suggest that learning is in fact the opposite: we are born into a representational state, a consciousness that is a product of the culture that went before us.
So when you say:
>Oh, I have no pretense of objectivity. I think I'm right.
I say: I think that you are wrong.
Ulop, you are free to disagree with me if you wish. Note, however, you are now to the point of defending your position by saying (a) the Sun moves around the Earth, and (b) we are born with a pre-existing consciousness of culture. I wish you the best of luck defending these positions; I do not intend to offer further argument regarding them.ReplyDelete
Don't be silly and twist my words around. That smacks of helpless resignation on your part. I am not defending either of the two positions that you suggest I am, and in fact you are misstating at least one of them. I merely point out other perspectives in opposition to your certainty of the strength of yours:ReplyDelete
1. From the eastern seaboard of North America, for example, the sun does appear to rise over the ocean as day approaches
2. A culture holds a collective consciousness that pre-exists the birth of any one of its members
It is good to see you retreat from further argument. I take this as you conceding the field. As you have said before about connectivism:
>It allows - indeed, encourages - the idea that people may have different, and individual, accounts of the external world.
My perspective encourages different accounts as well. Yours seems contradictory, however, in the sense that while you say you encourage different accounts you also know that yours is the right one. Note that I am not so certain, I only 'think' that you are wrong, I am not sure I 'believe' it yet.
- AnonymousMonday, July 12, 2010
At the end of the day, connectivism is like all other theories, a representation in language of what occurs during learning. And I thought it denied representational states?
Are you now adopting Dennett's intentional stance to support your beliefs?
- AnonymousTuesday, July 13, 2010
Stephen's brand is different from George'sReplyDelete
from here:
>I don't think this is true. Siemens, Snowden and Weinberger may all be talking about "more diverse ways of knowing" - but I am not talking about their 'diverse ways of knowing' but rather - as I have been consistently and for decades - on how networks learn things, know things, and do things.
Point #1. Stephen is interested in the study of networks, and how networks learn, know and do things.
And from a comment above:
>The inference is a lot simpler. It's basically, "In order to function as a physicist (eg. by participation in a social network) you have to have the knowledge of a physicist."
Point #2
Physicist knowledge must be internalized for it to be externalized.
- AnonymousWednesday, July 14, 2010
Simple Connectivism (George) vs. Complex Connectivism (Stephen) from 'the representative student' presentation.ReplyDelete
Point #3
Stephen asserts that the Complex view is from the network to the brain, i.e. nature of the world informs the nature of the mind but they are separate and non-contiguous.
The last two comments: thanks. Like you said..ReplyDelete
- AnonymousThursday, July 15, 2010
(thanks, I'll keep going then...)ReplyDelete
But I'm stuck on non-contiguous. I find this a difficult point to get past. Seems to be a mind-matter dualism.
- AnonymousThursday, July 15, 2010
Yup, stuck on non-contiguity.ReplyDelete
The thought that the world informs the mind seems plausible, but I am leaning towards the idea that the mind in turn becomes like the world, and then redefines the world in a spiralling construction-like manner - the remixing aspect you refer to.
I can't see how they are so separate. Perhaps I just don't understand what you mean by separate and non-contiguous.
>At the same time, we would not be said to have 'learned' that the sky is blue unless we also had some (reasonable) story about how we have come to know that the sky is blue.ReplyDelete
Too easy. My family and society taught me this. When I was young, they made continual references to the space above as sky, and the colour of it as blue, such that I was conditioned to associate what I saw as being blue sky. To this day, I still see the sky as blue. What about you? What colour do you see, and why? Do you even see sky?
>At the same time, we would not be said to have 'learned' that the sky is blue unless we also had some (reasonable) story about how we have come to know that the sky is blue.ReplyDelete
Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.
>We are working on difficult problems that have no easy solution, and our work reflects that. And in my case at least, this comes with a concordant dislike for simple answers and easy solutions.
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction.
The tree is a network. The river is a network. When I say the tree is non-contiguous with the river, all I'm saying is that the river isn't a part of the tree, and that the tree isn't part of the river.ReplyDelete
You don't need to imagine any sort of mind-body dualism here. When I say that the neural network in the brain is non-contiguous with the social network, I am simply saying they are different networks, the way a tree and a river are different.
They are both physical. They can actually physically interact with each other. But saying they are not contiguous is the trivial observation that people in a social network are not neurons in a person's brain.
- AnonymousFriday, July 16, 2010
>I am simply saying they are different networks, the way a tree and a river are different.ReplyDelete
Good, thanks for the explanation. I was thinking of contiguous as connected, and I do tend to think that mind is connected to matter. I also tend to think that a tree and a river, although perhaps separate entities in one sense, have connections, one being through a shared usage of water. I guess this is why you also distinguish yourself from George by saying you focus on the patterns, whereas George focuses on the connections.
>When I say the tree is non-contiguous with the river, all I'm saying is that the river isn't a part of the tree, and that the tree isn't part of the river.
>But saying they are not contiguous is the trivial observation that people in a social network are not neurons in a person's brain.
Point #4
'Neurons in a person's brain' is not a metaphor for 'People in a social network'. It is an analogy, at best, and a moot point, nonetheless.
"I guess this is why you also distinguish yourself from George by saying you focus on the patterns, whereas George focuses on the connections."ReplyDelete
I think that marks the difference between previous learning theory from Connectivism, in that Connectivism provides an explanation on why and how the perspectives are similar or different, just like what you have highlighted here relating the different emphasis and perspectives by George, Stephen and even you, everyone else and me. The challenge to previous learning theory based on my understanding of Connectivism is that "Learning theories that were based on particular static learning principles might not be able to explain why and how certain learning has or has not occurred". We are basing lots of knowledge and learning on the behaviors (behaviorism), cognitions (cognitivism), construction of knowledge (constructivism), and though they all tell a part of the story, or tried to explain what has happened, we are not sure if such knowledge and learning could be "repeated" when learning in a different learning space or media, as these theories were not developed at this time, and so a lot of assumptions made may not be precise or accurate (see my Assumption Theory that I suggested in my post). Also, Anonymous: would you (we) be basing a theory on "debate", and "arguments on reasons only"? Have you considered the views and perspectives of others like George, and participants of CritLit2010 and CCK08/09?
Relating to metaphor and analogy, again, I have noted that people are using it in an interchangeable manner in the internet. So, is it a metaphor about connectivism? This would be another long debate, I suppose....
Hi Stephen: I think this conversation has stimulated me to reflect on what Connectivism means to you and Ken and Anonymous in a deeper way. Many thanks.
I have also posted some of my views on Connectivism in my lastest blog post in response to Ulop's questions.
- AnonymousSaturday, July 17, 2010
>Also, Anonymous: would you (we) be basing a theory on "debate", and "arguments on reasons only"? Have you considered the views and perspectives of others like George, and participants of CritLit2010 and CCK08/09?ReplyDelete
So far, debate and arguments seem to be the predominant data set for this theory, making this a more philosophical discussion. George states that connectivism is a theory in its infancy, with few hard facts to support it. So we have mostly views and perspectives to go by (grin). In this conversation here, I am attempting to both understand and re-mix/re-state Stephen's perspective. Sometimes this attempt gets a little heated, as you noted somewhere in your blog, but hard work can involve sweat.
Frankly, at this time I find Stephen's perspective the most interesting one. Most of the other perspectives I've seen that you refer to don't involve the depth of philosophical theorizing that Stephen offers, and I am drawn to it, for better or worse.
Anon y Moose
- AnonymousSaturday, July 17, 2010
>Relating to metaphor and analogy, again, I have noted that people are using it in an interchangeable manner in the internet.ReplyDelete
Maybe this will help you understand my use of the terms. I get them mixed up all the time too, and for this discussion used this source as reference:
Now, maybe it is all wrong too in its definitions, and, is so, I would love someone to provide some better ones.
- AnonymousSunday, July 18, 2010
>But saying they are not contiguous is the trivial observation that people in a social network are not neurons in a person's brain.ReplyDelete
Question: Are neurons in a person's brain connected to the social network?
Stephen must be thinking or else away on holidays, so I will answer here:ReplyDelete
> Question: Are neurons in a person's brain connected to the social network?ReplyDelete
Everything is connected to everything. So this question is not sufficiently precise.
When we talk of 'a network' we typically talk about a set of similar or related entities that are connected via a certain type of connection.
For example, the 'neural network' is the network composed of various neurons, which are connected by means of axons (ie., neural connections).
When we say that something is not a part of the neural network, we are not saying it could never connect with it - there are certain types of neurons (sensory receptor neurons, for example) that support such connections. But these entities are not a *part* of the neural network, because (a) they are not neurons, and (b) they do not connect to neurons by means of axons.
p.s. I am on vacation so don't always expect questions to be answered quickly.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousWednesday, July 21, 2010
Ok, I understand you now.ReplyDelete
By what means does the neural network connect to the social network? or
How is the neural network connected to the social network?
- AnonymousThursday, July 22, 2010
What is the means of connection between these networks: neural and social?ReplyDelete
i.e. how do they connect, by what means? If connections are supported through 'sensory receptor neurons' and other types of neurons, what is the method of connection, if not via axons?
In http://www.downes.ca/presentation/251 slide 23, the inference of learning appears to be derived from observation of behaviour in a social network. But it requires quite sophisticated observation to confirm that the behaviour is based on beliefs that are founded on good reasons as discussed in this posting. Also, there would have to be a change of behaviour (beyond that attirbutable to increasing familiarity with that specific network)in order to infer that the demonstated knowledge was newly acquired and so evidence of learning. So I must say I agree with those who are skeptical of Stephen and co's ability to provide convincing evidence that "interesting learning" has occurred (other than perhaps by direct testimony of the participants).ReplyDelete
>What is the means of connection between these networks: neural and social?ReplyDelete
I think this is a good question. Stephen is saying that networks are defined by their connections and their matter i.e. a neural network is defined as a network consisting of neurons with axonal connections.
Social networks must consist of people connected by (something). What?
And how do neural networks connect with social networks?
Connected by both input through axons and input and output through interaxion ;-)ReplyDelete
Are you Ulop, Jonhusband, Anonymous, Maria, Heli and me all connected to Stephen now, through this conversation? What is the means of connection between these networks: neural and social? Did you (we) think (neural networks)personally, then post our thought (these comments)in response to Stephen's post. Then we wait for Stephen to respond... I can't speak for Stephen, but I did think and write - that is my connection personally, then I connect to Stephen and your ideas through this posting, and write down what I mean (semantics)and how I have interpreted Stephen and your questions. May be I haven't gone into the neural level in the "analysis" of the neural networks, about the axons, the synapses. Do we know enough on what happens there in the connections - and learning?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousThursday, July 29, 2010
How are we connected? By what means, if not axonal? Digital? Language?
btw I prefer to be called Moose, as in Anon y Moose.
Hi Moose, hope you don't mind me leaving this to Stephen to respond to you on this: how are we connected?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousThursday, August 05, 2010
Well John, I think it will be a cold day in hell before Stephen deigns to respond further.ReplyDelete
So the question stands unanswered....
Connected by emotion. You may be emotionally connected to the content or to a person even if only transiently.
it's all in the peptides :-)
Some reading on emotions and learning
If you have no emotional attachment to the nodes in your network they will cease to be. your connection will be broken.
- AnonymousTuesday, August 17, 2010
Interesting. That would put a high priority on emotions, no? Thanks for the link.


text:
First in the lineup is editor Tortolia's review of Square's Strategy/RPG, Final Fantasy Tactics. You can check out that review here.
Moving right along we've got Commodore Wheeler's review of Enix's highly anticipated Norse RPG, Lost Vikings 3, err, I mean, Valkyrie Profile. Go here for all your Ragnarockian Review needs!
Finally we've got a real qwirky review, just because it's for a Saturn game! Editor Jaime brings us a review of Atlus' hybrid RPG/Side Scroller Princess Crown. Check out the review here.
Well, that's all for this installment review fans. Next time I'll have a reader review update for you all. Till then, if anyone knows who switched the weather device from Spring to Insane, please tell me so I can hurt them. Later!
Date Updated:April 9th, 2000
Time Updated:8:42 AM
Sensei Phoenix
To Be Announced! Sunday, May 21 • 10am PDT/1pm EDT
Vandal Hearts Every Tuesday • 12pm PDT/3pm EDT
Tales of Symphonia Every Wednesday • 5pm PDT/8pm EDT
To Be Announced! Every Thursday • 5pm PDT/8pm EDT


text:
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh has cancelled his visit to Amritsar. He was scheduled to arrive here on Saturday and pay obeisance at the Golden Temple on Sunday, besides attending a private function.
Sources said he changed his plan so as to avoid a clash with the Panthic convention called by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday in the Golden Temple complex. The convention is aimed at mobilising support against the formation of a separate gurdwara body in Haryana.
The SAD has been claiming that then PM Manmohan Singh had stalled the formation of a gurdwara management committee in the neighbouring state.
Confirming the development, Amritsar police commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said, "We have received a communication that the former PM will not be coming to the city. No reasons have been specified. However, his wife, Gursharan Kaur, will pay a visit."
When contacted for comment, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said, "Manmohan Singh has cancelled his visit to Darbar Sahib in view of the SAD convention. It is common knowledge that an attempt to form the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) was thwarted a few years ago due to Badal's closeness to then PM."
Kanwar Pal Singh claimed that during the meeting of the SAD core committee last week, Badal had said that had Manmohan Singh been at the helm of affairs now, the HSGMC would not have become a reality.


text:
SALINAS >> A Pacific Grove builder accused of manslaughter in the drunken-driving deaths of two Pebble Beach women has been scheduled for trial in January.
Stuart Elder was 30 years old at the time of an April 2013 crash that took the lives of Linda LaRone, 65, and driver Sharon Daly, 72.
The trial is scheduled for Jan. 26, with a pretrial hearing slated for Jan. 21.
Although people familiar with the case have said a possible plea agreement was up for discussion, defense attorney Michael Lukehart said no agreement has been reached.
Elder earlier waived his right to a preliminary hearing and agreed to proceed to trial.
California Highway Patrol officers say that on the evening of the crash, Elder's Cadillac SUV swerved into an opposing lane of Sloat Road in Pebble Beach. The Cadillac crashed into a 2005 Ford.
LaRone and Daly died at the scene. The women were well known locally as former owners of a Pacific Grove pet store.
A passenger in Elder's vehicle was injured.
He was arrested at the scene by CHP officers and released on $430,000 bail.
Elder is charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, plus a special enhancement of causing great bodily injury to his passenger, 20-year-old Selvia Gattas.
He faces 15 years in prison if convicted.
Julia Reynolds can be reached at 648-1187.


text:
Apr 9, 2013|
John, Gerry and Kirk laud the Red Sox for the Jimmy Fund based Opening Day festivities, then Kirk mentioned that it was a little early to make major proclamations to the disapproval of Callahan. Kirk's rant that followed was an all timer.
Transcript - Not for consumer use. Robot overlords only. Will not be accurate.
Doctor Charles pregame. Was just as ever pack. Jimmy Fund centric. Understated. Classy nice well done feel good story perfect perfect. Very well done I love the fact that it never feels over done it never feels. Melodramatic right. And Ottawa we doesn't that you deal with people. Just the right touch just the right -- -- never like seeing the old -- old grace Stanley scary or whatever you know what do we still looks like he's in great shape and could play all those kinds of -- I mean do you watch. As the kids are some kids in wheelchairs and crutches Friday. You know how the players reacting in the national Saltalamacchia on the top step -- about him and that to me that to -- like I like watching players. Watch kids from the -- on -- have their moment and actually you know given them their moment and applauding for the men if not. For that sixty year relationship and not -- if not for all the fund raising all the research that Dana Farber is done in the Jimmy Fund as its as its fundraising arm does that. On the -- -- would be there to throw out the first pitch and hold hands with. You know. What's I'm sorry no one of them a real a guy who's there who's diagnosed hutchings disease in 1967. Spoke I'm sure there's a lot of people who. Who were there are are here are here today because the Jimmy Fund and the doctors and researchers at the Diaw who did a great job did. I still think -- produce -- -- is a gutless little we -- though he tried to sign them up for the chorus it's a good singer and he's a great you'd be a baritone rise that would. I pulled a chorus down a whole lot of not doing so would they need you got some. It's a big early and choruses -- not yes I think that's an appointment to enter their attention. You know that they -- years ago -- -- up for the lineup. Guess maybe. Cleanup hitter in the I don't think I've ever heard of anybody with those and needs some cute girls in the course. That she could just like that he should probably two ago you couldn't have friendship. -- like competition yeah. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Now it's a cappella and to have guitar players and courses. I mean sometimes there's usually like there's piano accompaniment on mats on the disputed depends on the arrangement. The range. There was one I don't want good. Does talk good news there are lots about the real music is hard almost all the there was one at that moment with -- Ugly moment yeah. The camera and on all of this things well that book. On that. Weren't everywhere and and -- noted that it looks good though there once it's all or wait and I was home run. Something else. Aghast because it was used this -- remarkably surprised that it happened but feel -- -- -- us on the phone one point two which was for a ball and the like that now it's violent city. That it would Dennis went up to the room. And that brook hold one on that he -- the problem called the UC BI TV to -- the ugly moment one as. And we can talk about this at 10 o'clock -- Is standing next to -- And I guess there were eight players and eight Jimmy Fund kids throwing the ball via. And apparently there was probably one I think or eight players at seven. Eight people throw the ball. And reloading intercepted the ball meant for Randy and denied Remy get catching the ball. So ready stem -- likely would put your head up the -- with somebody yeah and they and they stiff yet I'll write to exactly what happened and he is reached it took -- ball away the hate each -- any good at now you should know that they do they don't like each other yeah Vatican to get a little competition that you can -- about it today as -- April ninth -- That won't would be -- may ninth congress -- -- about -- its extreme. Know for sure. It's going to change -- always a matter how solid do you think something -- no matter how etched in stone. You thought the Bruins could lose -- something bad happened to took harassed or somebody. And well Bergeron has got hurt. But you look at thinking say this is the way it's going to be this is not the way it's going to be. I mean. I don't think. I don't think your starters have a 245 ERA starting pitcher starting staff do or five illegals gonna continue. Like the most important things -- static Lester I'm buying it -- -- -- -- I luster off Carl's gonna fix Lester may not be you know Cy -- -- -- -- -- -- knew what he wants. -- I think will be good to as long as he's healthy at support. We IC it's Lester before last year was very consist death and you'll have Lester will -- many -- in the breeze. He'll have a double digit wins. That policies given. That's a pretty good -- I think you're right and buckles will too unless he gets hurt well that's the thing and that's why when I -- this -- -- before their fifth issue of the thought about -- more. I thought Ferrell was going to fix buckles and -- so what that the births are to be better. Oh million that you -- change -- now now listen I picked him for that Britain is asking so but I'm just asking a month from now will be -- and we got -- first week was just a mirage. Well -- an -- well -- -- I'm standing by the fact that seven games -- and -- and yeah -- guys I didn't know and I cut its five -- to that seven games you know computers that just anywhere -- -- glad we brought you where you're acting like I wasn't sure how many games they play it when you're acting like -- definitive you talked about Johnny -- the greatest guy in the planet after seven games -- thought. Exhibit. It's about seventy yards and -- double to -- I supposed to say about my assessment thirty. East Coast say not what I know how many -- I don't -- don't ask don't want to know why I wanted to be something. This is something we've got John I've put a right to say nothing and are actually public and -- Just thought Johnson put him up and write it he's taken note. I've taken notes put him back in his -- drops a ball back as the -- -- up DO GGI puck and Jerry heard him voice yes. Game -- -- seven games it's you've got this reason. Larry it's -- seven day. Yet that's what it -- -- it's been seven game guess what. Thursday morning and convenient Eckert -- telling me home because we won't know how many games and Kirk counts. Processes not effortless. Time now this is an out of water for our enemies that is gonna heal some of these wounds here and ask both questions he's require simple yes or no wind. And this is about the job and affection from these young assistant about and if he can Trevor gonna go away round. This is about the job that. John Ferrell inherited and and all credit to John -- he's doing all the right things so far -- he took Jackie Bradley output -- and saw that he'd been batting better right handed. In spring training and realizing improved himself -- and that's what it worked out really well that always I don't know probably not. Let me ask him just in terms of of the environment and I don't believe in seven games -- and don't forget -- Did this team. Want to he'll talk about inspections and antibiotics. Did this team what to heal from last year sure. Did this team. One to recover what was last year -- -- -- by the way we thought the team you're Google wanted to do that based on the horrible September. But I didn't head and a bat out now other black people who care only about themselves and -- looking for -- pitches and exposing whoever you know. Hold the chicken and beer story to Bob Poehler and all that army to mossy all those kinds of things. We thought this -- wanted to recovering -- a year ago but they did not now -- like Q2 guys there in recovering and recovering. That wannabe you think they wanna be -- not hated because god -- last of September and August and September they were a hated botched the answer to that is yes if they wanna win and be proud of themselves or lose and -- -- my point in asking while this is it was a perfect. Environment. -- John Ferrell the command and do what he has done which is very little other than don't do what Bobby Valentine haven't again I. I wrote in the offseason answer Kirk did too we talked about many times that. Doug Gomes as platoon player hell they're all but two players you know -- is a catcher trying to play first victory as a centerpiece of the plan right. I mean yeah you who's played shortstop in place she's he had won eighteen he can't -- -- but Stephen Drew and me it seemed like. He wasn't exactly the construction a day of a championship caliber team unless you consider. The repairs needed to repair -- -- of the repair was clubhouse you know what I that became a priority and the world too cynical we market we see in on the run a bunch of guys annals of seasonal weird was on the court might yet -- -- that stupid -- buyout numbers say that again by via the biggest cliche at the moment to hold hands and chant going by yum you're exactly heard that a hundred -- -- off season. And it was never sent in in on an a in a constructive way it's set in the cynical. I yeah go back to this so he could say say need to either fix the club house or he could fix Lester Buchholz -- the collateral whenever what they've done both in a blog and then that's -- and brought -- -- all right Omar well so far Korea. It's been a 67 games so far maybe do you -- again which guy on there. And we'll get to this final seven games has the personality that when something personally goes wrong for him when he gets into a -- -- used example. It was a good one although -- small sample of the little Brooks who struck out with nobody with two -- on and nobody out in that seventh inning that was the first one to congratulate novel became. Around the base Youkilis with a non apple I know. I guess every game last year roster that walk off home run in the guys poured out I mean I. David Ross wasn't here they're different -- last year Cody Cody was a feel good guy I thought I don't. Thought it would you be fit amnesty right I thought that would keep them and welded personality also assuming that would keep him. Ross is a better player than Jonny Gomes and yeah I think so I'm in a better all around player but Combs is he he's the face of this team right now I don't know this for a fact that. I don't know this for a fact check Larry August. We should -- this yesterday. Win the discussion among you know the inner circle the guys at the table five or six guys at the table her to Josh -- Do you think anybody they are understanding what. The BBL old for this team was going to be what the what the plan with a recipe that they'd bought into. The change in the chemistry changing that that that the feeling about this team. Think anybody raised and it's -- yes Josh Hamilton's a good idea I don't think so. I think they have bent over backwards to get rid of and not include any high maintenance people. Now by definition of the baseball players -- behind me it's just on the Rafah. But I think they have gone out of their way to find people who don't have to worry about sticking their jobs sticking their heads of the managers press conference and take that should have been hit plot and airs. Did what did Gomes says analysts credit what he said everybody on the -- -- among everyday player now guess what he's not. -- S Davis wanted to do start this stock Elliot he's not wealthy it is and yet you don't have those problems I -- I I I think they felt pretty comfortable the Gomes. Wouldn't be a problem even if he didn't play him in -- set some ground. You know right off the bat -- what game who he was sitting down played against sabathia and they took a seat and I was saying. Lot of guys at this point are already unhappy specially if they were promised at least in the -- promised that play every day. -- just let this -- leads the had a conversation I was -- you're you're gonna have your opportunity they're going to be injuries there's going to be Mitt you know mix and match situations there's going to be day games after night games you're going to have a obvious opportunity here are hoping he's -- -- the course -- -- he's -- him. Anti -- and right he's -- of these guys who say enough and publicly said a lot of stock privately. But do you think we need you mention mixing buckles and Lester. -- that was hard what do you think Valentine was just the problem you get Valentine out and then to -- just went back to basics. It was it was purely mechanical was environmental I don't know remember after the the -- to game and when Lester got popped right up front there was an at an honest person at the meeting right anonymous person but instead Trump Organization told the bunt -- a couple of reporters I -- -- -- what must -- -- -- probably Farrell. And on short assuring that we looked at it did it stuck with -- something. It looks exactly the same -- it was 2010. And a and -- still randomly walked four guys -- they've got to grapple standing up straight on the well maybe yeah I mean and fat right in his delivery. And if you Farrell you sent to slamming him you know he wanted desperately to come -- -- because he knew this a great job. Mean you could he could show up -- his underwear -- head and he's gonna last more than one year than not gonna fire that went at least a couple of years to fix these guys. Only knows how real talent and and what is what is over achieving this year 82 wins. I think that these -- and what -- -- and I -- I still think 82 and eighty is over achieving that's a thirteen game improvement over last year -- 85 mediate. Amazing idea if everything breaks right. Ninety everything breaks right I'm not I'm not would be on that yet. I was told at the stick my fourth -- prediction mr. Jerry sits on the sticker when mine too well it's only seven dedicated to win support placed. But the Yankees would seventy -- a Red Sox went 82 when you are or you have last place. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- On Sunday night as they're leaving Toronto. John Ferrell told Daniel -- the Jackie Bradley was going to sit on opening day and you Daniel Volvo would be in the lineup. Not just said Peter Abraham. It gave me confidence. Jon and -- meaning bench coach to reliable. Have done a great job of communicating with us about whether were playing the following day. The opportunity to mentally prepare is huge I had a lot of confidence knowing my manager had my back. That's the anti Barbie and easy free she ends up as no dummy he knows what he's saying right case and it's all different now it is for.