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2013 October
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Tuesday, 15 October 2013
MyHeritage, FamilySearch Form Partnership to Exchange Technologies and Records
Posted by
Genealogy website and family network
announced a long-term strategic partnership
in which MyHeritage will provide its
Smart Matching
Record Matching
technologies to FamilySearch, and FamilySearch will share 2 billion
records from all over the world
family tree profiles
with MyHeritage.
By the end of this year, FamilySearch records—including vital records, censuses and more—and family tree profiles will become part of the
on MyHeritage, and will be matched with MyHeritage members' family trees.
Some of the content will be available free to MyHeritage basic members, and some will require a MyHeritage.com data subscription to view. FamilySearch's volunteer-indexed records will continue to be available free through FamilySearch.org,
according to a FamilySearch FAQ
When MyHeritage.com technologies are implemented on FamilySearch.org sometime in 2014, SmartMatching will automatically find connections between FamilySearch user-contributed family trees and MyHeritage family trees, and Record Matching will find historical records relevant to people in FamilySearch family trees.
MyHeritage members who don't want their family trees Smart Matched with FamilySearch family trees can use the settings under "My Privacy" to turn off Smart Matching with other MyHeritage websites and partners (
see instructions in this FAQ
This comes on the heels of
FamilySearch's partnership with Ancestry.com
, which has Ancestry.com putting up $60 million over the next five years to digitize a billion FamilySearch records, in exchange for the records and indexing assistance.
Learn more about the MyHeritage/FamilySearch partnership from
this MyHeritage blog post and FAQ
. Also
see FamilySearch's FAQ here
Genealogy Industry
Tuesday, 15 October 2013 09:19:50 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [0]
Friday, 11 October 2013
Genealogy News Corral, Oct. 7-11
Posted by
has added more than 9.5 million indexed records and images to its free record search. They come from Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the United States and the BillionGraves website (which has tombstone photos and transcriptions mainly from the United States, with some contributions from around the world). You can
see the list of updated databases and click through to search or browse them here
Federation of Genealogical Societies
is running a three-part webinar series on genealogy society membership and communication. The webinars are presented by our friend George G. Morgan (author of
Family Tree Magazine
's Document Detective column
) and include:
The Shape of the 21st Century Genealogical Society (Oct. 22)
Harness the Power of Email in Your Society (Nov. 4)
How to Develop and Implement Affordable Membership Benefits (Nov. 18).
Learn more
on the FGS Voice blog and use the links in the post to register for each one
In honor of Family History month, genealogy chart-printing company
Ancestry Graphics & Printing
has released a
video reading of the poem "Dear Ancestor"
by Walter Butler Palmer (
click here to watch
). You also can
download a printable version of the poem
on the Ancestry Printing website.
Genealogist Madonna Davis has launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign called Kicking up the Past, for a television documentary based on submitted family histories.
Find out more about Kicking up the Past, watch a trailer and donate to this project on KickingupthePast.com
. The site also has
a bit more about
the Kickstarter crowd-funding process
Genealogy societies
Genealogy TV
Friday, 11 October 2013 09:19:11 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [0]
Wednesday, 09 October 2013
Free eBook: Finding Ancestors With GenealogyBank
Posted by
I've blogged before about my family history finds in newspapers, including
my first "big" one, on GenealogyBank
—a 1924
Dallas Morning News
article about my grandfather, then a boy in a Texas orphanage. It even had a photo of him.
GenealogyBank is letting us offer
a free ebook you can download
about how to find your ancestors in records on the site (which is known for its huge newspaper collection, although it also has historical documents and books).
Click here to get your free How to Search GenealogyBank.com ebook
Genealogy books
Wednesday, 09 October 2013 13:53:57 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [1]
In Which I Do Some Genealogical Decorating With Pretty (Easy) Family Tree Charts
Posted by
I promised our
Genealogy Insider email newsletter
readers that I'd show the framed family tree charts I put in my children's rooms.
You can
get these charts as type-in downloads or as blank paper versions at ShopFamilyTree.com
. You also can
win a framed one
—more on this below.
Leo's tree is the 8x10-inch
Watercolor design
Why not hammer in the picture nail with what your two-year-old has immediately at hand?
For Norah's tree, I used the
Floral design
, also the 8x10-inch size.
Until Daddy takes care of the picture ledge item on his honey-do list, its home is on Norah's dresser (next to her hairbow frame, inspired by
something I saw on Pinterest
. Yes, I actually completed a project I pinned).
These obviously aren't my research charts or a complete record of all of the kids' known ancestors. Nope. Instead, they're a beautiful way to display the names of my children's parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.
Because these trees are in children's rooms, I chose frames in kid colors. (I printed copies for their baby books, too.)
You also could use a more-versatile gold-tone frame, like
our giveaway family tree
. I think these decorative family trees would make lovely gifts for the holidays, a baby shower or a wedding.
Three family tree chart designs are available in ShopFamilyTree.com—the
trees I used, and this
Vintage tree
The family tree charts are available two ways
in ShopFamilyTree.com
a downloadable PDF, which includes three sizes—8x10, 11x14 and 16x20. You can type names right into the spaces on the PDF file and print it on your printer (what I did), or take the file to an office store to be printed.
a printed chart. You get an 11x14-inch blank chart that you fill out by hand (trace lightly with pencil first, or type names on your computer and print them onto clear labels). It looks like this option might be temporarily out of stock, though.
Here's how you can win the 11x14-inch Watercolor family tree chart, printed with your family names and framed:
Enter our drawing
. That's it!
Oh, the giveaway deadline is Nov. 1, and you can get extra chances to win if you get friends to enter. See details on the
Family Tree Chart Giveaway page
Editor's Pick
Family Heirlooms
Genealogy for kids
saving and sharing family history
Wednesday, 09 October 2013 09:39:04 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [0]
Tuesday, 08 October 2013
"Genealogy Roadshow" Seeks Guests for Possible Season 2
Posted by
Word on Facebook
has it that "
Genealogy Roadshow
" is seeking guests for a second season. (Whether there'll be a second season hasn't been announced, so we'll have to keep our fingers crossed.)
Want "Genealogy Roadshow" researchers to investigate your family stories?
Click here to fill out the application
Genealogy TV
Tuesday, 08 October 2013 16:08:36 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [0]
Chinese Immigration and Angel Island
Posted by
One of my favorite aspects of
PBS' "Genealogy Roadshow
" is the mention of historical people and events that have become fuzzy memories for folks who once learned about them in a history class. The show elaborates on some of these people and places, and others have me googling on my phone.
Last night, Genealogy Roadshow was set in San Fransisco's US Mint building, with stories ranging from the 1860
Wiyot Massacre
to the
1906 earthquake and fire
. The
California Gold Rush
came up when a guest wasn't related to
James Marshall
, whose gold discovery in the American River started the rush.
San Francisco's Chinese community was highlighted when a young Asian-American woman wanted to know about her family and its fabled connection to gangster Big Jim Chen. Researchers weren't able to prove the story because Chen apparently hid his tracks well.
A history segment focused on Chinese immigration and the
Chinese Exclusion Act
of 1882. Here's a little more about Chinese immigration through San Francisco:
Angel Island
in San Francisco Bay was the immigration point for many Asians entering the United States between 1910 and 1930 (along with Australians, Candians, Central and South Americans, Russians and others).
immigration station there
served mainly as a place to to detain and interrogate immigrants, mostly Asian, who were trying to enter the country. When the 1906 earthquake destroyed San Francisco birth records, it presented an opportunity to get around the Exclusion Act, which made an exception for the children of US citizens: Chinese who'd naturalized could claim to have had additional children during a visit to China, then sell the "slots" to those wanting to immigrate.
Immigration officials tried to identify these "
paper sons
" through lengthy interrogations about the immigrant's home, family and village in China. Visitors to Angel Island still can see
some of the poetry detainees carved into the walls
as they passed the time.
Nearly 250,000 case files were produced for Angel Island immigrants; they're at the
National Archives at San Francisco
UC Berkeley has a database with 90,000 of these immigrants' names and case file numbers
You also can
read some immigrants' stories on the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation website
You'll find a guide to researching Angel Island ancestors and locating their case files (even if they're not in the
UC Berkeley index
) in the
August 2010
Family Tree Magazine
You can watch the San Francisco "Genealogy Roadshow" online
. Next week's episode takes place in Austin, Texas. That's where my grandfather went to college in the 1920s and '30s, so I'm hoping to pick up some local history.
Asian roots
Genealogy TV
immigration records
Tuesday, 08 October 2013 15:59:14 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [0]
Friday, 04 October 2013
Genealogy News Corral, Sept. 30-Oct. 4
Posted by
The free
has recently added more than 10 million indexed records and images from England, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. Those include Boston Passenger Lists (1891–1943), Mexican Civil Registrations (1832–2005), and Hungarian Catholic Church Records (1636–1895). See the table below for the full list of updates.
See the full list of updated databases and click through to search or browse the records on the FamilySearch News and Press blog
Those researching ancestors in Ireland, may be relieved to hear this announcement from the
Council of Irish Genealogical Organisations
(CIGO): "In recent weeks stories have been circulated by some within the genealogical community that the new Freedom of Information Bill will restrict access to Ireland's civil registration records. CIGO can categorically state that these rumors are completely unfounded. No such change is contemplated and this has been confirmed by Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State in the Irish government."
Read more on the CIGO website
UK genealogists have launched a free
Register of One-Place Studies website
, where researchers can register historical studies covering the entire population of a particular place. Click the link for each study for basic details and a link to the study website. Most listings are for the UK, with some from elsewhere.
British publisher
, owner of websites including
Genes Reunited
, is realigning itself into two divisions: brightsolid online technology and DC Thompson Family History, the
new name for the online publishing part of the business
. The two divisions will operate as autonomous businesses, reporting to the board of Dundee-based media company DC Thompson.
Genealogy Industry
UK and Irish roots
Friday, 04 October 2013 14:07:16 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [0]
Wednesday, 02 October 2013
The Family Tree Guidebook to Europe: Genealogy How-to for 13 Countries and Regions
Posted by
As you might guess, I enjoy asking people I've just met where their ancestors are from. Here in Cincinnati, the answer often involves Germany, so then I ask about their surnames to see if we have anyone in common. (Then I wrap it up before people start thinking I'm weird.)
Every once in awhile, someone will answer my ancestor inquiry with, "Oh, I'm a mutt" and rattle off a bunch of ancestral homelands.
Well, this is for all you genealogy mutts:
The Family Tree Guidebook to Europe: Your Essential Guide to Trace Your Genealogy in Europe
It collects genealogy research guides to 13 countries or regions of Europe, plus European Jewish ancestors. You'll learn
what records are available and where they're kept
which records you can get from here in the US using the web, microfilm, books and other sources
how to get records from overseas
how to deal with language barriers and boundary changes
what websites, books, organizations and archives can help in your research
It's a good way to get expert instructions for researching ancestors across Europe in one economical package.
The Family Tree Guidebook to Europe
is available now in ShopFamilyTree.com (where you'll see the list of countries covered).
You also can
The Family Tree Guidebook to Europe
as an ebook
Genealogy books
German roots
International Genealogy
Italian roots
Jewish roots
UK and Irish roots
Wednesday, 02 October 2013 14:43:52 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [0]
Tuesday, 01 October 2013
Your Ancestor's Immigration Experience and the Ellis Island Myth
Posted by
Many of the guests on last night's "
Genealogy Roadshow
," filmed in Detroit, had done their own research into family history claims. I love to see all that genealogical interest, and the impact that family history knowledge can have on someone.
The young woman at the center of my favorite story was adopted as part of an open adoption. She knew a lot about her white birth mother's family tree, and little about her African-American birth father's family. All four parents were with her as Kenyatta Berry took her back in time along her paternal line.
Among the other stories was a woman whose English ancestors founded a royal bookstore that still exists today—but later in that line, a physician ancestor went to jail for murder. The final guest learned she was in fact related to Ponce de Leon.
One thing that surprised me in this episode was the show's handling of a guest's tale of his family name change at Ellis Island, a common belief.
Taylor told the man (I'm paraphrasing) that Ellis Island arrivals were brought into a room with a clerk at a desk, and the clerk may not have spoken the languages of the immigrants. When the clerk asked the passenger's name, he would write down what he'd heard, which often wasn't the spelling the passenger used.
He made it pretty clear that Ellis Island officials didn't deliberately change passenger names because they were hard to pronounce or not American enough.
I've always read, though, that passenger lists were created by shipping line agents at ports of departure, and turned over to US officials after arrival here. US immigrant inspectors would then check off the passengers' names on those lists—they didn't write down any names. Ellis Island also employed translators in a wide range of languages to speak with immigrants. TV shows are often heavily edited, so what was actually said could've been quite different from what ended up on screen.
You can
read more about the Ellis Island name-change myth in this article
by Marian L. Smith, a historian at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (now the Citizenship and Immigration Service). The
New York Public Library has a similar article, with details about how passenger lists were created
Here's a statement from Josh clarifying his comments on the show
Many immigrants, like the one in question on last night's show, changed their own names after arrival. Someone could do this legally, but more often, people would just start using the new name.
Two good resources for learning about your ancestor's immigration experience are
They Came in Ships: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record
by John Philip Colletta
Ellis Island: Tracing Your Family History Through America's Gateway
by Loretto Dennis Szucs
Also keep an eye out for the December 2013
Family Tree Magazine
, which will have a workbook to help you find your ancestors on passenger lists.
Also check out these immigration research resources
You can watch last night's "
Genealogy Roadshow
" here. Next week's episode takes us to San Francisco. I'm hoping to see some Gold Rush stories!
Genealogy TV
immigration records
Tuesday, 01 October 2013 14:34:56 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [2]
How the Government Shutdown Impacts Genealogists
Posted by
The government shutdown means that some of you who had big genealogy research or historical travel plans are up a creek:
National parks
Smithsonian museums
will be closed.
National Archives research facilities are closed
, as are most
presidential libraries
(those operated by private foundations will remain open). Any scheduled events won't take place. (
NARA's Federal Records Centers
are still open.)
NARA website
will remain online, but information might be out-of-date and transactions, such as military service record requests, might not be processed until the shutdown ends.
US Holocaust Memorial Museum will close
Update #1:
Bureau of Land Management's General Land Office
website is offline, so you can't use the land patents search. (Thanks to commenter Jennifer for the heads up.)
Update #2:
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors index
, which is run by the National Park Service, is offline. (Fortunately, you can search the same information
on FamilySearch.org
Update #3:
Library of Congress
is closed, its website is inaccessible and events are cancelled.
US mail will still be delivered, so research requests sent to non-federal repositories won't be affected.
For the sake of
those more profoundly affected
and for genealogists' sake, let's hope this gets resolved soon.
Land records
Libraries and Archives
Tuesday, 01 October 2013 09:09:51 (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
Comments [5]
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text:
Chile isn't just a solid spot for Cabernet, it also makes some affordable and interesting white wines — which are almost unilaterally very inexpensive. Here's a look at three white wines from the country, all designed with summer in mind. (The results are hit and miss.)
2012 Echeverria Classic Collection Unwooded Chardonnay – Maybe should have stuck with some wood. Some greenness here, and a little muddiness there. Beyond that… not a whole lot to report. Modest, tart apple notes make of the middle of the wine before heading into unripe territory. Not overwhelmingly satisfying. C- / $12
2012 Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier Colchagua – Initially approaches with big peach and apricot notes, but it settles down with just a few minutes in the glass. From here the wine takes on a distinctly pineapple character, backed with marshmallows and vanilla. A little more like a New Zealand Chardonnay than anything else, which isn't necessarily bad, but may not be what you're expecting. B+ / $10
2011 Meli Riesling – Initially skunky and a little off-putting, this Riesling eventually settles down to reveal thick honey and floral characteristics, alongside a healthy dose of olive and greenery. Not a typical region for Riesling and it shows. B- / $13
Similar Posts:
- Review: White Wines of Stony Hill, 2013 Releases
- Review: Four Wines from Hogue Cellars
- Review: Seven Daughters Wines
- Review: 2 Greek Wines from Cava Spiliadis – Tselepos Santorini and Gerovassiliou Malagousia

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Haas Home
- Haas Newsroom
- Fall 2009 CalBusiness
- Cover Story
- Featured Stories
- In Brief
- Innovation Wizards
- Power of Ideas
- Alumni News
- Personal View
- About CalBusiness
- Past Issues
Business Beyond Borders
From Everest to San Francisco, Alumnus Richard Blum Touches Many Lives
By Cyril Manning
On the cold slopes of the approach to Everest, the world's highest dental clinic sits at 11,600 feet. Here, Nawang Doka Sherpa tends to Sherpas, Tibetan people, and trekkers in a land where, until recently, children had four times the normal level of tooth decay and locals blamed evil spirits for such problems. Nawang's service here would never have been possible without Richard C. Blum, BS 58, MBA 59, the prodigious private equity financier and philanthropist who has made helping her people one of his life's greatest passions.
In 1968, on his first trek in the Himalayas, Blum struck up a strong friendship with a Sherpa guide named Passang Kami, Nawang Doka's father. A few years later P.K. (as he was known) confided that without an education, his five daughters would surely spend the rest of their days carrying loads over the mountains. "At that time no Sherpani had ever gone to high school," says Blum. "I said, 'P.K., your daughters are daughters to me; you get them into school, and I'll pay for it.' We educated all five; two went on to college in the US; and the youngest one, Nawang Doka, went on to become a dentist for her people."
Blum's commitment to those five Sherpani girls is typical of his approach to investing in businesses, philanthropy, and friendship: Dick Blum invests for the long term, has a knack for seeing and nurturing latent value, and ultimately, cares first and foremost about improving human lives. The Haas School has named Blum the 2009 recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize his countless achievements in the worlds of both business and philanthropy.
"Dick Blum is an exemplar of the type of leader that Berkeley-Haas strives to produce," says Dean Rich Lyons. "A pioneering businessman, he invested in Asia decades before others, but didn't stop there. He also dedicated himself to improving the lives of people in remote regions of Asia through his philanthropy and hard work."
At 74, Blum has proven beyond all doubt that his approach is a recipe for success. Born the son of a clothing salesman who died when he was 10, Blum attended San Francisco public schools, earned a BS and MBA from Berkeley, and went on to build a fortune worth hundreds of millions of dollars by investing in troubled, undervalued corporations and breathing new life into them. His astute business skills have played no small role in his other pursuits, from his leadership on the UC Board of Regents to his philanthropic endeavors in the Himalayas.
Along the way, Blum also has helped his wife, US Sen. Dianne Feinstein, with numerous successful political campaigns. Married in 1980, the couple shares a passion for politics, civil rights, and of course, family — including their four daughters and six grandchildren.
Hybrid Strategy
Blum is known as a tough negotiator, but he takes spiritual cues from his time in the Himalayas and his close friend, the Dalai Lama. His downtown San Francisco office could rival a museum of Himalayan art, adorned with ornate Buddha statues, painted and embroidered scrolls known as Thangkas, and a colorful Tibetan prayer wheel that stands just outside Blum's private office.
The offices house both Blum Capital Partners, which Blum founded in 1975, and his American Himalayan Foundation, the humanitarian organization that carries on his vision for helping the Himalayan people. On the business side, Blum Capital's staff includes investment professionals typical of a private equity firm and portfolio managers who invest in public stocks. This structure mirrors what Blum calls his firm's "hybrid investment strategy" of focusing as much on adding value to companies as on acquiring and selling them.
"We will do buyouts like anybody else," Blum explains, "but we look for value in the market. We take large positions in companies and work with them — sometimes for a decade or more."
His early successes included Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus in the late 1960s with previous employer Sutro & Co. and Northwest Airlines in the late 1980s. During the dot-com bust, Blum's firm acquired a majority interest in CB Richard Ellis, now the world's largest real estate firm, where Blum still serves as board chairman.
Most recently, one of Blum's holdings — Myer, Australia's largest department store chain — was moving forward on an IPO to raise up to $2.5 billion (Australian dollars). Blum Capital was part of a consortium that acquired the firm in 2006. If the IPO is successful, Blum and his limited partners will enjoy a return of approximately seven times on their money.
During the pre-recession equity frenzy, Blum's approach may have looked downright conservative, but in retrospect it seems instructive. "Over a period of 30 years, I would say our balance sheets have about one-third the leverage of the average private equity guys, and nonetheless our returns over that period have been right around 20 percent. So I guess we must have done something right," he says.
Leading Change at UC
Blum's skill at getting results has been just as critical to his high-profile role on the UC Board of Regents. As chairman, he issued a scathing public critique of the university system and went on to lead a sweeping leadership overhaul in the office of the president.
Over 18 months, the administration substantially downsized its bureaucracy and cut operating costs by $169 million a year. And "the team of people there now is infinitely better," Blum says, referring to UC President Mark Yudof, whom Blum personally recruited.
Blum also took a hard look at the University of California's balance sheet. "There was a time when we were told we had very little debt capacity, about $7 billion, but it wasn't really true," Blum recalls. "We found that we really had about $11 billion available to us if we were willing to go down to a single-A (bond) rating. We took some arbitrary debt caps off. For example, Berkeley had a $50 million debt cap. That frankly won't keep your plumbing up to date."
Blum's dedication to the UC system stems not only from his loyalty to his alma mater but also a strong belief in its role serving California and the world. He has been involved with Haas for more than 50 years, serving on its advisory board and as president of the Cal Business Alumni Association. He was named the Haas School's alumnus of the year in 1994 and received the Berkeley Medal, the campus's highest honor, from Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau in April.
"UC Berkeley has never had a more passionate or dedicated advocate than Dick Blum," says Birgeneau. "He has repeatedly invested his energy, influence, and personal resources in Berkeley's students and faculty. I know from personal experience that this is not just because of his fond memories of attending Berkeley in the past, but because he truly believes in the role of Berkeley's students and faculty in alleviating poverty and creating more just societies."
Tackling Global Poverty
Perhaps nothing demonstrates this belief more than Blum's more than $30 million gift to create and build a new facility for the Richard C. Blum Center for Developing Economies, where faculty and students from Haas and across Berkeley focus on creating sustainable solutions to global poverty.
"One day walking across campus with Chancellor Birgeneau, it just struck me that you can't find one kid on the Berkeley campus who doesn't care about climate change, environmental issues, or making the world a better place," says Blum.
The center's projects have included designing devices for safe water and sanitation, developing technologies to help the rural poor, and nurturing local entrepreneurs and markets to help communities become self-sufficient. Students and faculty also are addressing issues such as good government and human rights. And a new minor in global poverty in practice is housed within the Blum Center.
If Blum seems keen to expose students to the reality of global poverty, disease, and malnutrition, it's likely because he truly knows the transformative power of such experiences.
"I would say that not merely have I been changed" by the Himalaya, he has written, "but I have been transformed by the great inner strength of the people of this mountain range, and by their lessons of caring and kindness."
Blum's love for the region and its people, and his deep, lasting concern for the chronic poverty, malnutrition, and displacement he has witnessed there led to his creation of the American Himalayan Foundation (AHF), with help from such partners as the Dalai Lama and Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest and founder of the Himalayan Trust. Blum's AHF has about 175 active projects, including clinics, schools, elder care, and conservation efforts.
"He really cares, not in a syrupy way, but in a from-the-heart way — like it's in his DNA — about people who are poor or struggling," Erica Stone, MBA 87, AHF's longtime executive director, says of Blum. "I've been trying to keep up with him and the myriad ideas that pour out of him every day for 18 years now, and I love being on his team getting to figure out real and practical ways to make the world better."
Indeed, it was Blum who urged Stone to earn her MBA from Haas. "There are a lot of well-meaning people that try to go out into the world and do great things," Blum says. "But whether that is running a few schools in Namibia or encouraging carpet weavers in Tibetan refugee camps, the basic skills of business are really fundamental."
"At the end of the day, really the only way you're going to break people out of poverty is to grow enterprise and employment," he adds.
Pioneer in Asia
This philosophy explains Blum's investment approach in Asia and the developing world. In 1994, Blum co-founded Newbridge Capital, one of the first private equity firms dedicated to Asian markets (now a Texas Pacific Group subsidiary, TPG Asia V, of which Blum is chairman). Blum hired another Cal grad, Peter Kwok, MBA 80, PhD 81, as the fund's first managing director. Among the fund's investments: Korea First Bank, one of Korea's largest banks and a successful turnaround in early 2000.
"You find that in places like Korea, China, and India, once someone has an income of a few thousand dollars or more they're a potential bank customer," Blum says. "But these countries really didn't have any banking system that caters to those people so someone can buy a washer or maybe put a little money toward an apartment, car, or whatever. So firstly, investing there is a good business. And secondly, it helps change people's lives."
"I really like to invest in companies that help people grow and prosper in their own lives," Blum adds. "I'm still a deal junkie. But my highest rates of return are seeing how you can change people's lives, whether on the Berkeley campus or in a village in the Himalayas."
2009 Recipient
Lifetime Achievement Award


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This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
An image processing algorithm for detecting individual weeds was developed and evaluated. Weed detection processes included were normalized excessive green conversion, statistical threshold value estimation, adaptive image segmentation, median filter, morphological feature calculation and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The developed algorithm was validated for its ability to identify and detect weeds and crop plants under uncontrolled outdoor illuminations. A machine vision implementing field robot captured field images under outdoor illuminations and the image processing algorithm automatically processed them without manual adjustment. The errors of the algorithm, when processing 666 field images, ranged from 2.1 to 2.9%. The ANN correctly detected 72.6% of crop plants from the identified plants, and considered the rest as weeds. However, the ANN identification rates for crop plants were improved up to 95.1% by addressing the error sources in the algorithm. The developed weed detection and image processing algorithm provides a novel method to identify plants against soil background under the uncontrolled outdoor illuminations, and to differentiate weeds from crop plants. Thus, the proposed new machine vision and processing algorithm may be useful for outdoor applications including plant specific direct applications (PSDA).
The limited accuracy of the delivery of agrochemicals to targeted areas is one of the inherent issues of broadcast application technique, thus, broadcast application has great potential of over- and under-applications [
One of the challenges for the PSDA is to detect plants and identify weeds in field, and it is a demanding issue because it is an inherently complex process due to the wide species varibility, non-uniform structures, and plant shape changes as they grow. Very limited techniques are available to detect weeds against crop plants and soil in the field, including remote sensing [
One of the common issues with the machine vision technique in the field applications is to overcome the often unpredictable and non-uniform (shadows in the field of view) outdoor illumination because unpredictable and non-uniform illumination in the field of view directly affect the captured image quality. As a result, unless the machine vision system has a dynamic segmentation algorithm, it is common to produce undesired segmentation results. Therefore, plant segmentation algorithms for machine vision have been investigated to robustly detect plants under outdoor conditions. For example, an environmentally adaptive segmentation algorithm (EASA) with an automated look-up table (LUT) generator was used to identify tomato cotyledons from field images under variable illumination conditions [
The use of two algorithms to segment sunny and shadow parts of an image has been attempted [
A filtered-background subtraction to eliminate shadow effects in detecting a seed row was used to detect it with Hough transformation and monochrome images [
Research in using a combination of RGB (Red-Green-Blue) channels to identify weeds has been reported. For example, the Excessive Green (EG) method has been used to segment plant images against soil [
Although image segmentation algorithms have limitations for autonomous PSDA systems, further efforts have been made to identify weeds against crop plants using machine vision. For example, an attempt at using an ANN (Artificial Neural Network) to identify broadleaf and grass weeds was made with forty plant images [
The ANN technique has also been applied to classify corn plant images captured under natural illumination [
A machine vision system with two weed identification methods, ANN and discriminant analysis, was developed and evaluated in a radish farm [
A left RGB (Red-Green-Blue) sterovision camera (STH-MDCS2-VAR-C, Videre Design, Menlo Park, CA, USA) was used as a machine vision system. The imaging sensor of the machine vision unit was a half-inch color complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS; MT9M001, pixel size: 5.2 × 5.2 μm, Micron, Boise, ID, USA). An IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interface was used to communicate between the camera and the computer that controlled the machine vision system. The image resolution of 320 × 240 pixels was selected to minimize image processing efforts. The camera was equipped with a C-mount lens (LM6NCL, F = 1.4, Kowa Co., Nagoya, Japan) with a focal length of 6-mm (horizontal viewing angle: 58.1° and vertical viewing angle: 45.2°). A liner polarizing filter (VF-25CPKS, Sony Co. LTD, Tokyo, Japan) was attached in front of the lens to prevent specular reflectance from intense outdoor illumination. The installation of the machine vision may be seen in
The height of the machine vision was approximately 605 mm from the ground, and the machine vision was angled at 20 degrees with respect to the ground surface normal. It was mounted on upside-down L shape frame, and the frame was attached to a skid steering robot (PC3-AT, ActivMedia Inc., Amberst, NH, USA). The field of view of the camera was a trapezoid and its area was approximately 548.6 (768.0) mm × 572.4 mm (Wlower Wupper) × H, resolution: 1.7 (2.4) mm/pixel × 2.4 mm/pixel).
Each camera in the machine vision system was calibrated using its built-in functions [
Each field image was converted to normalized red (R)-, green (G)- and blue (B)-channel images:
The normalized RGB channels were converted to the normalized excessive green (NEG) images [
NEG pixel values were converted to integer values via multiplying by 100 to NEG for image histogram computation. Conversion example is in
The threshold value of each NEG image to segment the plant against soil was automatically determined by dividing the pixel distribution of the image to two groups by a pixel value ranging from 1 to 255. The pixel value that minimizes the variance sum of two groups was selected as the threshold value of each image [ If the segmented pixels are less than 20% (15,360 pixels) of the total image pixels (76,800 pixels), upper image segmentation limit (RL), the algorithm moves on to the next image process step. Otherwise, the threshold value is adjusted by an increment (or decrement). If the segmented pixels are more than 0.5% (384 pixels) of the total image pixels, lower image segmentation limit (RL), algorithm moves on to the next step of the image process. Otherwise, the threshold value is adjusted by an increment (or decrement). The increment for adjusting the threshold value is determined:
The lower limit will change to 5% (3,840 pixels) when the initial rates of the segmented pixels are less than 0.5%.
If the segmented pixels are less than 20% (15,360 pixels) of the total image pixels (76,800 pixels), upper image segmentation limit (RL), the algorithm moves on to the next image process step. Otherwise, the threshold value is adjusted by an increment (or decrement).
If the segmented pixels are more than 0.5% (384 pixels) of the total image pixels, lower image segmentation limit (RL), algorithm moves on to the next step of the image process. Otherwise, the threshold value is adjusted by an increment (or decrement).
The increment for adjusting the threshold value is determined:
The lower limit will change to 5% (3,840 pixels) when the initial rates of the segmented pixels are less than 0.5%.
The maximum adjustments of the threshold value were limited to 30 to prevent a continuous loop of the adjustments, and the increment for the threshold value adjustment was adaptively changed by the distance between the current segmented pixel rates and the image segmentation limit. Thus, overshooting adjustment near the limits was prevented so that abrupt changes on image segmentation from adjusting the threshold values were avoided. In addition, since the current algorithm was designed with typical corn field spacing (row spacing of 81 cm) and relatively light plant density (less than 20% of imaging area), updating segmentation limits may be required for higher plant density fields. Image segmentation examples are seen in
A 3-by-3 median filter was applied to segmented images to eliminate random noise in the image. The image processing algorithm was verified with four image groups: randomly selected stationary (68) and non-stationary images (231) captured on the 14th of May 2007, and also randomly selected stationary (178) and non-stationary images (189) captured on the 18th of May 2007. Stationary images were collected while the robot was at a stationary position in the field, and non-stationary images were collected while the robot was carrying the machine vision through the field. They were processed automatically via the developed algorithm without manual adjustments, and the errors of image processing during the automated process were identified under variable outdoor illuminations. The results of image processing were evaluated by examining processed gray scale images with the original RGB images. The processing error in segmenting vegetation from the soil background was reported, and the definition of the error is total number of incorrectly identified plants over total plants in each image group.
The ANN was selected to identify weeds from crop plants from field images since ANN was a determined to be a successful method to identify crop plants from field images [
A total of 240 non-occluded images (109 corn and 131 weed images) were collected and prepared to train and verify the ANN. Four morphological features of plants in pixel unit were measured: (1) the plant perimeter (PRI) defines the perimeter of a plant, (2) the area defines the inner area of a plant; (3) the width, and (4) the height define the longest and shortest distance within a plant, respectively. Four features were then converted to five normalized features: height/width, height/PRI, PRI/area, width/area, and height/area. Thus, the influences of plant image sizes were minimized to plants' morphological features. Normalized features of plants were divided into two groups for ANN training (54 corn and 65 weed feature data) and verification (55 corn and 66 weed feature data). The two hidden layer ANN with 5 and 1 neuron structures was used to identify weeds against crop plants because the ANN showed the highest identification rate. Matlab was used to train and validate the network. Image processing algorithm with the validated ANN was written in Matlab, and the algorithm automatically processed two sets of field images to simulate autonomous field application conditions. Its identification accuracy and potential improvement were discussed. The flowchart of the overall image processing for the machine vision system is shown in
Raw field images, segmented image and individual plant detection results, are shown in
The plant detection results were stable over the illumination condition changes of the imaging area (middle column in
The identification rate of 72.6% was reported from image set 1: ANN correctly identified 345 out of 475 corn plants (
The identification rates of the corn plants increased to 92.5% for image set 1 (231 field images) and 95.1% for image set 2 (189 field images) by implementing the two criteria (
The developed ANN showed better performance in identifying corn plants and weeds in the field. For example, the developed ANN identified more than 90% of corn plants in field images in the automated process. However, identification rates using a Bayesian classifier [
Higher identification rates have been achieved with ANN [
A machine vision system with weed detection and an adaptive image segmentation algorithm was developed and tested. The algorithm contained adaptive image segmentation to robustly identify plants under uncontrolled outdoor illuminations. Thus, the weed detection algorithm presented here was relatively robust against outdoor illumination changes, and it may be relatively stable for outdoor application use. A series of field images was processed without manual adjustments to detect plants: images were processed via normalized excessive green process, computing threshold value, adaptive image segmentation, and median filter. The normalized morphological features of plants were autonomously computed from the processed images, and the features were supplied to the trained ANN to identify weeds and crop plants in the images. Results of the image processing show that the developed segmentation algorithm had the processing errors of 2.9% for stationary images and of 2.1% for non-stationary images with illumination changes. The trained ANN identified 72.6% of the corn plants in the field images. A major source of the inaccuracy, incomplete corn plants at the image edges, was addressed in the identification process, and improved identification rates of 92.5% and 95.1% were achieved for two image sets.
Schematic description of the machine vision installation (
An example of original, red-, green-, blue-channel and normalized excessive green images. (
Changes of image segmentation results by adjusting the threshold values: two conditions of initial image segmentation results are presented. (
Flowchart for the image processing algorithm.
Example results of image processing: raw field image (
Example result images of weed identification: image with corn plants (
Image processing error for individual plant identification.
|A number of processed images
|A rate of processing error (%)
Evaluation of the ANN's performance on identification of corn plants.
|Image set 1 (Morning of May 14, 2007)
|Image set 2 (Afternoon of May 18, 2007)


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Hey weird headline in the Post today! It reminds me of last August when Banco de Venezuela was nationalized. Of course, the difference then was that Venezuela actually purchased a functional, profitable bank that was already for sale. In our case, the US has "forcibly" taken over nine banks to distribute their crappy debt to the rest of us.
Anywho, we thought it would be fun to look at how the Venezuelan deal was covered at the time. What a difference two months makes!
- The Wall Street Journal worried the purchase might "snowball into a systemic bank run that puts the economy and political system in play."
- Seeking Alpha warned of "one of the worst and riskiest" moves in modern Venezuelan history, with the potential to "endanger" the entire economy.
- The New York Times called it Chavez' "latest effort to intensify state control over the economy through takeovers of private companies."
- Oxford Analytica warned of damage to "the prospects for foreign investment in Venezuela."
- Reuters said the purchase "further[ed] his plans of building a socialist state."
Now that it's us doing it, the Washington Post says the deal is just, you know, part of "a coordinated program of injecting cash into the world's banks and guaranteeing their debt," and then whathisname, Bush, said it was "not intended to take over the free market, but to preserve it," so there you go.


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Head over to Amazon to grab Singin in the Rain 60th Anniversary [Blu-ray] for just $11.99 + Free Shipping via Amazon Prime or with a $25 purchase.
I love this movie! It has been one of my favorite classics for years and years and now my girls love it too!
Hurry – Amazon prices are known to change quickly & quantities are limited!


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Who Needs A Wine Rack When You Have a Wine Bra?
What will they come up with next? I've seen some pretty incredible inventions in my lifetime but this one ranks right up there with the beer helmet. If you love wine and want to give a boost to your incredibly nice figure, you might consider the Wine Bra. Yes it's real. Thank the heavens. It's real.


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2 Recommendations
barabajagal's recommendation
Here's another great piece of furniture made from reclaimed molding. I like the warm colors on the one to the left.
My Collections:
BlueRabbit1234's recommendation
Just because it's an end table doesn't mean it can't be the center of attention. Handmade of reclaimed wood from old houses and barns found all over the country, this unique end table with shelf is a patchwork quilt of interesting patterns and textures. Georgia artist Margaret Taylor joins folksy charm with practical and modern design in this sturdy steel patchwood table that will not only give you extra surface area, but also be a fantastic addition to any room. Each is one-of-a-kind and will vary. Handmade in Georgia.
My Collections:


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People from all walks of life have fallen in love with our website, with most of them commenting that it's like sublime art gallery that makes a lasting emotional and intellectual impression.
Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) December 11, 2012
Po Ku Design Build (PKDB), a design & construction company that specializes in crafting stunningly elegant, custom luxury homes for clients throughout North America and around the world, has launched a sophisticated new website at http://www.pkdb.ca.
PKDB's new content-driven website, which features a minimalist layout, breathtaking high resolution full screen images and virtually invisible text, was nominated for a highly coveted CSS Design Award, and beat out thousands of entries to win both the Design Licks Site of the Day Award and the Dope Award, respectively.
"It's unlikely that a traditional luxury home website should garner much interest from the general public, especially from a younger demographic that may not yet be in a lifestyle position to commission our upscale design-build solutions," commented Po Ku, B. Arch, MRAIC, Principal of PKDB. "However, the response we've received from around the world has been nothing short of remarkable. People from all walks of life have fallen in love with our website, with most of them commenting on the fact that it doesn't look and feel like a website at all – it's more like sublime art gallery that makes a lasting emotional and intellectual impression."
Mr. Ku, whose firm is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, also highlighted the fact that the new website's portfolio, which is neatly organized by theme (Headliners; 20th Century; Classical; Traditional; Kitchens; Stairs; Fireplaces; Light & Shadow; 1967) provides future clients with a riveting insight into what's possible when penetrating vision meets transformative possibility.
"After designing and building custom luxury homes for more than two decades, we wanted to show the world that architecture and design are not limited to what a few superstars are showcasing," commented Mr. Ku. "Good design always comes back. Bad design will never come back. So what will disappear and never come back? Whatever it is, we don't do for our clients, and our new website illustrates this philosophy on every level: in words, in photos, in layout, and in design. It's a unique fusion of art and science, of imagination and expression."
Prospective clients and those who simply want to experience a refreshingly different, award-winning approach to web design, can visit PKDB's new website at http://www.pkdb.ca.
For more information or media inquiries, contact Po Ku, B. Arch, MRAIC, at 416.580.8883 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
About Po Ku Design Build (PKDB)
PKDB is a design and construction company of custom luxury homes for discerning clients throughout North America and around the world. Headed by principal Po Ku, B. Arch, MRAIC, the company's team is comprised of world class designers, architects, engineers, project managers, site supervisors, artisans and craftsmen. In addition, the best and most competent sub-contracted tradesmen love working with PKDB because its drawings and instructions are neat, clear, simple and succinct. Most of all, they enjoy working with PKDB because the finished product is always of the best quality, and at the highest design standard – something they can be proud of. Learn more at http://www.pkdb.ca/


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President Obama continues to get low marks for his handling of the economy, says a new Gallup Poll.
Only 37% of those surveyed approve of Obama's performance on "creating jobs," the poll said. His marks are lower on "the economy" in general (36%) and "the federal budget deficit" (30%).
Obama gets higher marks on battling terrorism (58%), education (49%), and foreign affairs (48%).
Republican challenger Mitt Romney is making the economy a major issue in this election.
"Obama's ratings on the economy are significantly worse than all three prior successful presidential incumbents at this same point in their first term," Gallup said.
But those ratings are much higher than those of the last the president to actually lose re-election, George H.W. Bush in 1992.
Gallup's bottom line:
Nearly six in 10 Americans approve of Obama's handling of terrorism; however, that is where majority approval of the president ends in the current poll. He earns his lowest issue ratings on the economic issue areas tested in the survey, with approval on the federal budget deficit the lowest at 30%, and his approval on the economy not much higher, at 36%.
While Obama's issue ratings are largely unchanged from where they have been over the past year, that stability may be a problem given his overall job approval rating is 45%. Historically, presidents who won a second term had near-50% job approval ratings or better prior to the election. To move closer to that range, Obama may want to focus singularly on raising his approval rating on the economy, as with previous presidents it seems to have been the issue approval most closely linked to overall job approval.
David's journalism career spans three decades, including coverage of five presidential elections, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 2000 Florida presidential recount and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has covered the White House for USA TODAY since 2005. His interests include history, politics, books, movies and college football -- not necessarily in that order. More about David
Follow the Oval on Twitter: @The Oval, @djusatoday.
Also contributing to the Oval: Richard Wolf @richardjwolf; Aamer Madhani @AamerISmad


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He pointed out the three viewscreens mounted below the bridge, amidships.
As already stated, it was amidships,—where its owner had been exploring it.
We caught her amidships and the explosion was tremendous, but we were well outside its area.
The order to put it amidships, that is, in a line with the keel.
amidships is a small platform partly roofed over with matting.
With jibs and fore-and-aft sails, the tack confines them amidships.
This accounted for the cessation of the work, and the absence of the sailors from "amidships."
The two lads were under the awning upon this particular day just amidships.
amidships sat another figure, the sight of which gave Samba a delightful thrill of expectation.
There it is, sir," said Joe—"lashed just amidships out of the way.
Used to refer to the striking of a blow in the abdomen
[1937+; fr earlier sense ''in the middle of a ship,'' implying the most crucial or vulnerable part]


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Graduate Students and Post Docs
Margaret Barkett Technology Licensing, Nationwide Children's Hospital, OH
Britton Paige Bass Curator, National Cancer Institute
Jay Baum Principal Scientist, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, MA
Kristen Cullen Group Leader, Cell Signaling Technology, MA
Jon Iker Etchegaray Postdoctoral Associate, U.C.S.F., CA
Sarah Kleinsorge Lecturer, South University, Cleveland, Ohio
Kittima Kongton Lecturer, Suratthani Rajabhat University, Thailand
Tracy Meehan Postdoctoral Associate, University of Washington
Tracy Pritchett Lab Manager, Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Portugal
Elizabeth Tanner Principal Consultant, Tanner Scientific Consulting
Sharona Thompson High School Biology Teacher, Las Vegas, NV
Allison Timmons Medical Writer, Mass. General Hospital, Boston, MA
Monwadee Wonglapsuwan Lecturer, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
Undergraduate Students
Majed Abbas MA Student, BU Medical School
Rachel Cannon Medical Resident, Northwestern University, IL
Luz Ceballos Ph.D. Student, UC Irvine, CA
Jeffrey Chang Medical Student, University of California, CA
Brian Czervionke Medical Student, Drexel University, PA
Sarah Durrin Teach for America, Chicago, IL
Dana Fileppo Leonard Research Associate, AstraZeneca, NJ
Kevin Galinsky Research Associate, Broad Institute, MA
Michelle Gammill Physician Assistant Program, Memphis, TN
Corey Habib Student, MA
Zack Hintze New York
Tony Joudi MA Student, BU Medical School
Deborah Jue Medical Student, Albert Einstein University, NY
Tatevik Sarkissian Ph.D. Student, Brandeis University, MA
Adam Klein Medical Student, Kansas City, MO
Christina Koppell Research Associate, Mass. General Hospital, MA
Bonni Laundrie Stahl Medical Resident, Albert Einstein Coll. of Medicine, NY
Aileen Leung High School teacher, MD
Christy Li Ph.D. student, Cornell Medical School, NY
Daniel Mateos Ph.D. student at CNIC, Madrid, Spain
Anuj Minocha Dental Student, Harvard Dental School, MA
Andrea Mislak Ph.D. student, Yale University, CT
Katherine Moynihan Dental student, BU Dental School, MA
Jeremy Nguyen Dental student, BU Dental School, MA
Vishal Patel Medical Student, Albert Einstein Coll. of Medicine, NY
Olivia Rudnicki Dental Student, Tufts University, MA
Claire Schenkel Ph.D. Student, Harvard/MIT, MA
Vincent Sinatra Medical Student, SUNY Downstate, NY
Jemma Taipan Research Assistant, AdvanDx Diagnostics, MA
Jeffrey Taylor Student, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, NY
Jenn Tran Medical Student, Boston University, MA


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31. Januar 2016
Winter X Games, Aspen 2016
Winter X Games, Aspen 2016
Winter X Games, Aspen 2016.
Dalbello skiers have finished their experience taking home a record, 4 medals, and many great results.
First of all Kevin Rolland knocked Kenworthy off the top spot on the last run with an equally smooth down-the-pipe switch dub 10, left and rightside double cork 12s, and a massive double cork 10.
It was redemption for Kevin, who'd placed second the past two years, and hadn't won X Games pipe since his winning streak in 2010 and 2011.
The hype has been around for a while, and 13-year-old Kelly Sildaru lived up to it today, holding off a field of older competitors to claim the gold medal in her first-ever X Games slopestyle appearance while setting the record for the youngest-ever female X Games champion to boot.
Sildaru's winning run consisted of an absolutely dialed K-fed on the top rail, a clean switch 270 on, pretzel 270 out, and a polished performance in the jumps: switch 900 mute, a beautiful right cork 720 reverse mute, and a left 900 tail to round things out.
Former champion Tiril Sjåstad Christiansen didn't let Kelly take the win easily, though. In her third and final run, the Norwegian competitor upped the ante on the rails with a front swap and a switch 2 on, 2 out, and cleaned up in the jumps as well, stomping a massive switch 1080 tail on the bottom jump. But it wasn't quite enough to bump Sildaru from the top spot.
The last gold medal comes from Maddie Bowman that, back from knee injury, wasn't even trying to grab her skis and claimed first place. Yes she threw back to back 900s. Yes there was the first switch 900 by a female freeskier but it didn't have event the beginnings of a grab and barely reached the coping.
Maddie Bowman wins Fourth Gold in a Row
At the end Thanks also to all our superstar that have participated:
5th Janina Kuzma
6th Emma Dahlström
6th Andri Ragettli
7th McRae Williams
7th Devin Logan
11th Nick Goepper
Congrats guys!
Lernen Sie das DB-Team kennen.
Klicken Sie auf Gefällt mir auf der offiziellen Website von DalbelloSkiBoot


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Welcome again to our productivity mind hacks series! On our previous mind hack post, we discussed techniques to improve learning capacity. In this post, we'll learn how to get more focused!
Improving the way we work is an ongoing process. It requires paying attention to certain aspects of our behavior, changing impulsive habits, modifying the tools we use and much more.
But all of the above mentioned modifications can take a while to develop and implement – and sometimes we don't have the time for it, we need a quick fix!
So we start by making our environment distraction or temptation proof. Some argue that disconnecting from the world outside and focusing on the task at hand helps. Others recommend changing our environment since a change in scenery can help us become more creative and productive. Among the supporters of changing your environment to keep things fresh was writer Truman Capote, who wrote his novels in motel rooms or while taking a long train ride between New York and Chicago.
But alas, environmental modifications sometimes don't suffice and we realize sometimes that in order to do our job we need to fight against a much more cunning foe, our brain. The enemy we're fighting knows every trick we've got and is not going to give up easily.
So how can we fight an enemy that knows our every move?
In three words: mindfulness, belief and commitment!
We wander a lot
Mind wandering is linked to impairments in working memory capacity, fluid intelligence and even SAT performance.
Recent research suggests that practicing deliberate mindfulness can improve your focus dramatically and ward off the negative effects of wandering.
So before you begin a challenging task, invest a few minutes in a meditative state (e.g., deliberate mindfulness) that will help you be more mindful. The meditative state that accompanies the practice of mindfulness helps further your focus by tuning out distractions and increasing alpha waves; the brain waves who are responsible for creativity, inspiration and controlling our emotions.
Practicing mindfulness is also good for calming down in stressful environments since it drops your blood pressure levels.
Practicing mindfulness gets you into the zone!
Our brain has the ability to shape our willpower
You probably heard this one before on some motivational poster: If you believe in something you can make it happen.
Our will power is a valuable resource, when spent it's hard to replenish it…Or so you been lead to think.
Until recently, we thought that the amount of willpower we possess is limited and individual. The common misconception is that the amount of willpower we possess is either controlled by a continuous supply of glucose, sleep, or the amount of decisions we made.
A recent study suggests differently; that our willpower is totally suggestive at its base, if you believe that you can do something it will happen.
If you'll believe that your willpower is limitless, then you'll have limitless willpower. You may eliminate fatigue while working on hard cognitive tasks and you'll be able to work longer hours on difficult tasks.
All you have to do is believe.
And last but not least – commit to insane deadlines!
By committing to an extremely tightly self-imposed deadline, you improve your ability to perform a task and push yourself beyond what you thought was previously possible.
Instead of giving yourself slack and spacing out tasks across your schedule, try to push yourself a bit. I know that it sounds a bit counterintuitive; however, pushing yourself to achieve the impossible is the only way to actually achieve it.
Giving yourself too much slack sends a message to your brain and reduces a needed stress level you have to maintain in order to achieve a task.
So be aggressive, set insane deadline that will make you sweat.
Until next time!


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AS many Nigerians had predicted, Nigerian Pastors have begun lambasting Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy over his comment that masturbation is not a sin against God but a mere habit that God is not angry about.
Since the controversial Chris Oyakhilome recently made the comments on masturbation, angry reactions have been pouring in from Christendom over what they called heresy, being preached by the pastor, which negates the words of God.
Pastor Chris was answering a question about how to overcome masturbation. He replied that:
"The reason you are thinking of stopping it (masturbation) is because you think it has become a habit for you… masturbation is not more than a habit than any other habit.
"So once you make up your mind that you want to break a particular habit, you just do it, you make up your mind… in fact the best way to break a habit is to replace it with another habit.
"There is one thing I would like to bring to your mind that may be of help to you because the reason you are thinking of stopping this is because of what you think it is."
He further added that:
"No matter how wrong you think this is in your mind, get this straight, in itself, it is not a sin against God,"
He said that as a result of this belief that it is a sin, Satan used it to oppress people of God "making them feel ineffective and inefficient in the things of God."
Reacting to Oyakhilome's comment, the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Ola Makinde said there was only one way of having sex permitted by God in the Bible, which is only through marriage.
"There is only one way of having sex in the Bible which is natural. Masturbation is unnatural and unethical. Whatever is unnatural and unethical is abomination. I leave him to his own opinion," he said.
According to Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly, every believer must be able to subject his body to control because it could lead to something else.
Popular Evangelist, Pastor Akin Fasawe said Masturbation is a sin as stipulated in the Bible, saying that death was even recommended in the Bible for those who practiced such things.
"Masturbation is a sin because when you masturbate, you will release. If the minister of God said masturbation is not a sin, he can easily tell his church that fornication is not a sin. The Bible recommends death in the Old Testament," he stated.
According to Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Church, it is stated clearly in the Bible that masturbation is a sin against God.
"That is his own view. Where did he see it in the Bible that masturbation is not a sin? Maybe he has his own Bible. It is a bad thing. Maybe it is in his Bible," he laughed.
Pastor Akin Akande of the Men of Purpose Ministry stated that masturbation is a sin.
"It is like abusing the gift of God. It is heresy. The Bible says it is a sin to derive pleasure outside the content of marriage," he added.
Pastor Leke Akinola of the Upper Room Baptist, said self-induced masturbation is a sin against God and that it is heresy for any minister of God to say it is not a sin.
According to Rev. Sam Ogedengbe, "masturbation is a sin and it is unbiblical. It is demonic and anyone engaging in it should know that it has spiritual connection."
Reacting to the issue, majority of InformationNigeria readers indicated that they did not support Pastor Chris Oyakhilome's view on masturbation through their comments on an earlier article on the Oyakihilome's statements. www.informationnigeria.org


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The society, which is the UK's academy of sciences, says the Department for International Development does not have enough scientific expertise of its own.
The society says DfID also has poor links with research leaders and other ministries on relevant science issues.
It says DfID should appoint a chief scientist, backed by a team able to make more use of available research.
The society's appraisal of the department's scientific capability is contained in a response to a Parliamentary inquiry into the use of science in the UK's international development policy.
Focus on individuals
It says DfID's approach to the use and funding of science in developing countries is "short-term and unco-ordinated", and urges the department to acknowledge how "long-term and underpinning" research can help it to reach its goals.
The society says: "DfID policy, for example, on natural resources science is concentrated mainly on small-scale highly specific projects, which have direct benefits for individual citizens.
"Although very valuable research, this restricted focus means that over-arching research is sidelined.
"For example, satellite-based monitoring of rainfall is the only feasible way of obtaining an overview of the large-scale rainfall pattern in Africa.
"Governments and development agencies could use such information to feed into flood and famine warning systems and crop yield monitoring.
"However, little emphasis is placed on this research as it is not of direct use to individual farmers."
Closer contact urged
Professor Julia Higgins, the society's foreign secretary, said: "Current arrangements within the department are woefully inadequate.
"Without a chief scientist, supported by a dedicated scientific team, it is likely that DfID is missing opportunities to use the latest developments in science... or even gain the full benefits of the research it commissions."
It says work done by the UK's Natural Environment Research Council is highly relevant to developing countries, "but the department has limited contact with this body."
More on way
The society says UK support for scientific training in developing countries is very limited, and urges the government to increase it.
A DfID spokesman told BBC News Online the department rejected the Royal Society's assertion that its approach to the use of science was either short-term or unco-ordinated.
He said: "Our mandate... is poverty reduction. We only fund science contributing to that end.
"We cover a range of scientific disciplines, hence we have five chief advisers (covering environment, human development, economics, social development and governance) rather than one chief scientist.
"We now have almost 500 scientific and professional advisers working across the department in the UK and overseas, and we are increasing resources for the commissioning, monitoring and dissemination of relevant scientific research."


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Please enter a valid mileage
Based on 680 Ratings for the 2005 - 2010 models.Review this car
By Griff on Thursday, October 13, 2016
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 84,000overall rating 10 of 10rating details
Pros: "Cheap, low maintenance, stylish, peppy, RELIABLE"
Cons: "Head room in back seats"
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10
"I bought this car when I was 16 with 20,000 miles on it. Ever since I bought it, it has been nothing but perfect. When I was in Hugh School, my friends would always comment on how cool my car was. They always wanted me to drive them. I live in Colorado, so I had tons of snowy winters, but the tC never let me down. If you get winter tires, the car is amazing in the snow. I took it on a few winter road trips with my buddies to the mountains to go skiing, and it was a beast in the snowy hills. It is super fun to drive, easy to handle, and super safe. I would recommend this car to anyone who wants a responsible, yet sporty car. I get great gas milage, and I have never had to get ANYTHING replaced! I am 6'4", so I have some trouble getting into the car, but once inside, I have plenty of head room. Girls love the car, and so do all my friends. Definitely buy this."
7 people out of 7 found this review helpful
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By dan on Tuesday, December 27, 2016
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 145,000overall rating 7 of 10rating details
Pros: "Looks good,affordable."
Cons: "Manual transmissions weak, very slow."
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 5
"Looks great inside and out, drives on winding roads like its on rails,165 hp is not enough in my opinion, it should have came with a turbo charger although they do offer a supercharger but it's not much faster with it. There's a major flaw with 5th gear in the manual transmissions,Toyota fails to acknowledge, when I took it to them they said the shift bushings were the reason why 5th failed for me but I took it to a shop that works on nothing but transmissions and they said was fine, but after looking online at some forums It's a common issue.But other than the 5th gear problem the car has been great for the price.Anyone looking to buy one be wary of the manual, you can fit a manual transmission from an 02-03 camry with no modification, it bolts right up, has better gear ratios, and has stronger gears.I have owned the car since new and the only repair I've done was the transmission."
5 people out of 5 found this review helpful
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By TDB on Thursday, March 29, 2012
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 204,000overall rating 9 of 10rating details
Pros: "drives well, good price"
Cons: "No updated features"
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10
"Was one of the first to purchase this car back in 2004, loved it then, and still driving the same car with no major issues. I keep up with my maintenance as required and still driving strong."
5 people out of 5 found this review helpful
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By MissManila on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 100,000overall rating 10 of 10rating details
Pros: "fun to drive, fun to modify overall just a fun car"
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9
"I've had my scion tC for a few years now and til this day I still get excited when I get behind the wheel of my tC. The car's bucket seats are comfortable, and the car itself is so compact, I definitely love the dual moon/sun roof, its perfect for driving with all my windows opened during the summer, its a great cruise car, fun to modify and very easy to modify, I've replaced my 07 tail lights with the unlimited scion tyc tail lights and swapped the baged grills to de-badged grills, I love this car, its fun, and if you're creative theres so much you can do with the tC, I've seen it done. Also I find that the tC has a very unique look, which I like a lot. I've had a few maintenance done to the car since I've had it but nothing major, it's a car so there will be minor fixes and replacements here and there, I love the small back seat windows, as well as the hatch coupe style of the car, I wasn't a big fan of the long antenna so I replaced mine with a s2k 7inch antenna, which works perfectly. The think I love most about the tC is its very easy to customize it to whatever look you want, although I'm not a big fan of the 2nd generation, there isn't much you can do with those. Over all the scion tC is a great car, fun to work with, fun to drive I'd recommend it for anyone whose on a budget when purchasing a car and for anyone who likes to customize cars."
5 people out of 5 found this review helpful
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By ScionLover on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 135,000overall rating 10 of 10rating details
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10
"Pros: It's made by Toyota so mechanically it's a great car. It has a timing chain instead of a timing belt so you don't have to worry about changing it out. The 5 speed manual is alot of fun to drive. Super cold A/C. I love the sunroof that covers the whole top of the car and flips open. Gets reasonable gas mileage approx 26 mpg on average. Comfortable and roomy yet sporty. I love the cupholders in the back seat. They are off to the sides and not in your way. I also love that I can get a sporty looking car that has 3 seatbelts in the back that all have sholder belts. I can fit all three of my kids in the back with my two oldest on the sides and the baby and his carseat in the middle. Cons: You can hear alot of road noise once you get up to highway speeds and it can be difficult to see out of when backing up. The black interior and glass top causes the car to get very warm inside if it's setting in the sun but the A/C cools it down fast. Overall I think this car is an amazing value and I love mine."
5 people out of 5 found this review helpful
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text:
Driest September for the Twin Cities in 129 Years
2011 was the driest September in the Twin Cities since Chester A. Arthur was President.
September 2011 will be the driest September in the modern record back to 1891 with only .36 inches of rain reported in the month. This breaks the old record of .41 inches that was set back in 1940. One has to go back to 1882 to find a September that was drier with .27 inches. The reason for the lack of rainfall is a stagnant weather pattern in September.
The two month precipitation deficit for the Twin Cities from August 1 to September 30 is 3.90 inches. This has made for some brown lawns and declining water levels in lakes.
Scant precipitation also fell across southern Minnesota, intensifying the drought there during the month. The first half of September was dry over northern Minnesota, intensifying the drought there as well. Enough rain fell in the past two weeks over northern Minnesota to stop the dry conditions from worsening. As of September 27 drought conditions persist in northern and southern Minnesota.
Top Ten Driest Septembers for the Twin Cities 1837-2011 Rank Value Year --------------------- 1 0.27 1882 2 0.36 2011 3 0.41 1940 4 0.42 1952 5 0.46 2009 6 0.49 1969 7 0.51 1889 8 0.55 1953 9 0.58 1974 10 0.63 1967


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HUNDREDS of pounds worth of books were delivered to a village school and pupils celebrated the arrival with a belated World Book Day.
The youngsters at Defford-cus-Besford CE First School, in Defford, near Pershore, marked the national book day on Friday (March 21) by dressing up as their favourite literary characters.
Andrea Bailey, headteacher, said she was very pleased with the day.
"We had our celebration of World Book Day to coincide with a very successful fund raising sponsored book read with Osbourne Books where the children raising more than £600 worth of books, which is phenomenal for 44 children.
"The day was great, most of the children and staff dressed up and parents came in to see them parade in their outfits. It was a day all about books."


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The Book "The Immigration Lawyer-Asylum" Shah Peerally´s new novel, The Immigration Lawyer Asylum has something for everyone; there is romance, suspense, comedy and drama. The story is inspired by a true story and is about a man from Iraq who is a suspected terrorist and wrongfully held by the FBI in the United States. The story is centered on the immigration lawyer who handles the case and describes the entire immigration process to obtain the refugees´ freedom. The story goes in great depth on filing immigration petitions such as asylum and marriage petitions. If you´re a reader who wants to curl up with a book about immigration matters as well as human rights then go ahead and visit Amazon.com to purchase your own copy today.
I bought this book after doing some research on the harrassment of immigrants to America following the events of September 11th. I bought this book with a few things in mind. The most important probably being that I wanted to read something contreversial that may, in some way, enlighten me to a different point of view. This book did just that. It was executed tastefully and written well.
From the start The Immigration Lawyer: Asylum made an impression, weaving a complicated tale of a fight for a better future and a fight for equality. The novel manages to hook you with a very present political and social hotbed issue of immigration, presenting a truly fascinating glimpse into immigration law and what many immigration lawyers have to go up against every day to help their clients get the chance at a better life.
I was recommended "The Immigration Lawyer: Asylum (Volume 1)" by a friend and I have to say that I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Shah Peerally provides a uniquely compelling look into the immigration progress and the atmosphere for immigrants, drawing the reader in and helping them to see through different eyes of the struggles that immigrants face.
Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ´within the limits of the law´ because law is often but the tyrant´s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.
Readers´ Favorite Rating: 5.0 stars
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers´ Favorite
The Immigration Lawyer: Asylum (Volume 1) is a young adult legal thriller written by Shah Peerally. Sarah Mustafagic is a young, successful corporate lawyer who decides that she wants to represent people who have immigration and naturalization issues. Her friend, Shah, is an immigration attorney, and he invites her to join his firm. Sarah´s first client is Ahmad, a chemical engineer from Iraq who came to the U.S. to visit his family. He is detained at customs and imprisoned in a maximum security facility while U.S. officials determine if he is a threat. Sarah visits him in prison, which is a new and terrifying experience for her. She arranges for Shah to be released from prison and be put into the ankle bracelet program, which places him under house arrest pending the resolution of his case. Sarah learns of Ahmad´s past experiences with the brutal government in Iraq and is determined to help him avoid an unjust detainment or a return to his home country.
I am so impressed by The Immigration Lawyer. This legal thriller by Shah Peerally is entertaining and highly inspirational and not only for young adults. I´d recommend it for anyone who wants to make a difference, especially law students and young lawyers who aren´t quite sure about their career plans. Peerally sets out the procedural steps by which Sarah helps Ahmad simply and eloquently, and he makes accessible what has always seemed to me to be a very complicated branch of law. The Immigration Lawyer also explores the all-too-real plight of immigrants in the U.S. after the 9/11 attacks who have been the victims of hate-crimes, and it does all this in an entertaining graphic novel format. The Immigration Lawyer is remarkable and a definite must-read.
Sarah is a successful corporate lawyer who has taken a special interest in the immigration case of Ahmad, who's seeking asylum in the United States. Red flags fly fast and furious as Ahmad's case is handled by the US Immigration in a very non-routine manner. Ahmad came to the States after being imprisoned and tortured from Iraq and Sarah is determined to get him the asylum he seeks. Representing Ahmad turns into a nightmare when she's targeted and attempts are made on her life. To make matters worse, some people are questioning her allegiance to America, but Sarah cannot allow Ahmad to be forced back to Iraq. She and the US Asylum laws are all that stand between Ahmad and certain death if he's returned to his country. Will her faith in truth and the American legal system be rewarded or will she learn the deep, dirty side of the system that she's heard so much about but never experienced?
Shah's new book, "The Immigration Lawyer Asylum," seems to have all the ingredients to keep the reader captivated including how a US immigration court functions. Being an attorney author, he wants to use his book to assist the average US citizen and immigrants to understand the realities of being a new immigrant. In this book, he covers immigration law, hate crimes and other sensitive issues and their implication on society.
Reading this book will fascinate you, especially because it has realistic law notions embedded into a fiction novel. "The Immigration Lawyer Asylum" was written from the attorney author's perspective, and all the US immigration issues found between the lines have been experienced by immigration lawyer Shah Peerally.


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Autoplay: ON Autoplay: OFF
Roadshow Video Reviews
The 2013 Cadillac ATS is ready for battleAt the 2012 Detroit auto show, Cadillac takes aim at the sport luxury market with the Cadillac ATS, equipped with a powerful engine and CUE, the Cadillac User Experience.
The BMW 3 series earned its reputation as an excellent sports car. But now Cadillac wants to eat its lunch. The 2013 Cadillac ATS is an all new model designed to compete in the sport luxury market. Cadillac has a choice of 3 engines in these new ATS. One is the (??) (pedestrian?) 2.5 liter 4-cylinder. Then, we have this all new 2 liter direct injection turbo charge engine making 270 hp. Cadillac will also offer this car with it's 3.6 liter direct injection engine making it about 302 hp. That's the same engine they use in the CTS, which is much a larger car. Now, with the 2-liter engine, you can get a 6-speed manual transmission. That will probably be the choice for the people that really wanna drive this car fast in back roads and maybe do track things and things like that. Cadillac designed this car to be very lightweight. Only 3,400 lbs at an all new platform, but its secret weapon has to be its adaptive suspension. This is a magnetic ride control suspension that Cadillac already uses in its V series cars. And it does... this does an excellent job of keeping the car flat during hard cornering by actively using the shock absorbers to push against body roll and sway. Cadillac doesn't neglect the luxury in this new ATS either. It's got it new Cue entertainment system which has this large screen and gesture controlled to bring up the menu items, this gives you access to your stereo, your phone, your navigation system, all of that kind of thing. And there's also lot of driver's assistance features available as well such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning and a review camera. The new ATS will be available this year and prices starting under 40,000. I'm Wayne Cunningham reporting from Detroit.


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Target: Representative Ed Orcutt
Goal: Demand a correction of Representative Orcutt's claims that bicyclists are a significant source of carbon dioxide pollution
A Republican state congressman from Washington state has claimed that bicyclists are a significant source of carbon dioxide pollution, even going as far as to say that they produce the equivalent to the carbon dioxide pollution of a car. The Washington Legislature is considering a tax on bikes as part of a larger transportation bill.
When a constituent emailed the representative about the wisdom of such a tax, he responded by claiming that because a cyclist has an increased respiration rate while riding, he or she is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. He also claimed that these emissions are equivalent to those produced by an automobile, although this is demonstrably false.
He has publicly commented that he stands by his support for the bicycle tax on the grounds that because cyclists do not pay gas taxes they do not fund the maintenance of roads. However, gas taxes only pay for 25% of the roads budget in Washington. The rest comes from regular taxes.
Ed Orcutt's comments about bicyclists are not only obviously incorrect, they are detrimental to the environment. If a tax were passed on bikes, fewer people in Washington would use them for transportation despite the fact that bicycles are one of the most environmentally-friendly forms of transportation in existence.
Sign the petition below to demand that Representative Orcutt retract his statements and withdraw his support for a bike tax.
Dear Representative Ed Orcutt,
Your recent comments in an email to one of your constituents that cyclists are a significant source of air pollutants are simply untrue. Although respiration does generate a certain amount of carbon dioxide, it is negligible compared to that produced by an automobile. However, you claimed that bicyclists produce more air pollution than do the drivers of cars. This is a false claim.
Please publicly retract these comments, as they are misleading to the public you represent. Bicycles are one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel, and you have a duty to acknowledge the truth of this fact in public.
I am also writing to ask you to withdraw your support for a bike tax contained in the transportation bill being considered by your legislature. Taxing bicycles would have a negative impact on the environment of Washington and the rest of the world, because discouraging people from using bicycles may cause them to use dirtier forms of transport, like cars. Please tell the truth—bicycles are a clean form of transport.
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Skeezix1000 via Wikimedia


text: Get up close and personal with turtles and other special species from the museum's living collections, discover fun facts about these animals, and learn about the threats that many face each day. Nature Museum biologists will discuss conservation initiatives and answer questions. A light lunch and refreshments will be served. Highlight activities include the special turtle feeding program, turtle crafts and turtle-themed games and races.


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Hair Thingie by Melanie Hoffman
Welcome! You are browsing as a guestWould you like to see 24 projects made from this pattern and much more? create a free account What am I missing?
Hair Thingie
This pattern is available for free.
This is one of my favorite ways to use up those little bits of leftover yarn and get a matching accessory. Hand-dyed yarns look great on this.
Feel free to experiment with any yarn. Use whichever hook size recommended for your yarn. The smaller the yarn, the smaller the headband.
Simple alternating sc, dc.
For more information, see: http://theknittingsiren.typepad.com/the_knitting_sir...


text: How It Works Your free kickstart training plan is applied on our web based calendar and mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, and includes daily email notifications with your planned workouts. Log completed workouts or upload directly from your Garmin, Timex or over 100 compatible training devices. Analyze heart rate, power, pace and other data to monitor your fitness as it improves over time.