text:
This past weekend, I was in our Nation's capital. It is always interesting to see things from the inside looking out, as opposed to from the outside looking in. It is like being in a house of mirrors.
One thing is apparent: the Beltway economy is not suffering like places such as Florida, Nevada, and Detroit. As a result, our elected representatives and the administration may not truly understand the depth of the housing crisis. I think they still blame the greed of "over ambitious" homeowners and speculators as opposed to the real driving force: Wall Street, the over-sized "too big to fail" banks and themselves. The buzz, of course, was the fact that Fannie Mae may have been playing its own political three card "monty" with homeowners over the past year. Simply put: whistleblower Caroline Herron, a former Fannie Mae executive and consultant, is suggesting the administration pushed for temporary modifications knowing full well that many of the loan modifications would fail prior to becoming permanent. In fact, Congress is now pushing for hearings.
Fannie Mae executives bungled their responsibilities of the federal government's massive foreclosure-prevention campaign, creating a bureaucratic muddle characterized by "mismanagement and gross waste of public funds," according to the suit Herron filed. The suit alleges that the homeowner-relief effort was marred by delays, missteps and executives' preoccupation with their institution's short-term financial interests. "It appeared that Fannie Mae officers were focused on maximizing incentive payments available to Fannie Mae under various federal programs – even if this meant wasting taxpayer money and delaying the implementation of high-priority Treasury programs," Herron claims in the lawsuit.
Continue reading


text:
Welcome To
Mechanical Engineering
The Mechanical Engineering Program at Arkansas Tech University is designed to cultivate opportunities for our graduates. We provide students with a strong background in mechanical engineering that they can use to do great things. The Mechanical Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org/.
The faculty in mechanical engineering are highly qualified, experienced, and most importantly dedicated to education. They are responsible for all the course content and evaluation - very little if any grading (and no lecturing) is done by teaching assistants.
Our graduates continue to graduate schools around the nation or work in manufacturing, HVAC or other thermal-fluid related industries, power industries, consulting firms, oil and gas industries, and other areas.
The Mechanical Engineering Department is housed in the Corley Building and has up-to-date lab equipment. Our classes are small with 30-35 students in most sections which allows for more interaction between the professors and students.
While our emphasis is on teaching, research is not forgotten and many of our faculty are actively pursuing research interests with many possibilities for students to become involved.
If you would like to learn more about the Mechanical Engineering Department at Arkansas Tech University, give us a call at (479) 964-0877 or e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Mechanical Engineering Program (Bachelor's Degree)
Educational Objectives
- Graduates who have successful careers in mechanical engineering.
- Graduates who engage in life-long learning.
- Graduates who successfully solve engineering problems.
- Graduates who successfully work in teams to design systems, processes or components.
- Graduates who work professionally and ethically.
Student Outcomes
In order to meet the mission and educational objectives of the program, the Mechanical Engineering Department at Arkansas Tech University established the following list of attributes as goals for its graduating students.
Students graduating from the Mechanical Engineering Program should have:
- An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
- An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret
- An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within
realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political ,ethical,
health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
- An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
- An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- An ability to communicate effectively.
- The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in
a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
- A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
- A knowledge of contemporary issues.
- An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering; tools necessary
for engineering practice.
- An ability to apply advanced mathematics through multivariate calculus and differential
- An ability to apply principles of engineering, basics science, and mathematics to
model, analyze, design, and realize physical systems, components or processes.
- An ability to work professionally in both thermal and mechanical systems.
Institutional Research Reports
Degrees Conferred
Comprehensive Graduation Report
CIP Code
ATU/ADHE Degree Title
Mechanical Engineering
CIP Title
Mechanical Engineering
CIP Code - Classification of Instruction Programs (CIP) Code is defined by the National Center for Education Statistics for reporting data to various entities.
ATU/ADHE - ATU – Arkansas Tech University ADHE – Arkansas Department of Higher Education
Degree Title - Mechanical Engineering – Title used by industry
CIP Title - Mechanical Engineering – Title used by industry
*N - Number of students conferred a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) degree during the school year
*% - Percentage of BSME Degrees of all baccalaureate degrees conferred during a school year
( * ) term used in comprehensive report
Student Head Count
Comprehensive Enrollment Report
Degree Level
ATU Degree Program Title
Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
ATU Major

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Snowboarding with the V1 - a short review
I took the V1+10 mm with me on the ski-slopes during a recent snowboard trip in the alps (Switzerland). Because of the smaller size I could keep the V1 around my neck while snowboarding and had a second lens (18,5 mm) in one of my pockets. Try that with a SLR !
The back LCD diplay was completely useless in these bright light condition, the EVF saved the day ! No big deal for me because I always use the EVF but my wife had to adjust and "discovered" the EVF (she never used it before).
The design of the back dial almost drives me crazy ! It turns by its own and seams to choose a mode that I don't need or when I want to take stills it has moved to video and vice versa. Not good Nikon !
The V1 was out in the cold elements all day but performed flawless. Battery life is very good. We took a lot of pictures of our kids skiing and the strongest point of the V1 is without doubt it's speed, focus was very fast and accurate.
Metering was not easy in these bright white condition but overall I'm happy with the results. The pictures were converted from raw to jpeg in Lightroom.
We took most of the shots while on the snowboard or on the skilift, except for the 50 mm pictures, these were taken on steady ground. Enjoy !
18,5 mm
10 mm
18,5 mm
AF-S 50mm 1,4 G - Aletsch glacier
AF-S 50mm 1,4 G
50mm 1,4 G
10 mm
18,5 mm
The last picture was taken by my wife when we passed her on the slopes, our son is following us on ski's
Thanks for looking !
|Post (hide subjects)
|Posted by
|Mar 17, 2014
|Mar 17, 2014
|Mar 17, 2014
|Mar 17, 2014


text:
Let me introduce myself. My name is Mark Sisson. I'm 63 years young. I live and work in Malibu, California. In a past life I was a professional marathoner and triathlete. Now my life goal is to help 100 million people get healthy. I started this blog in 2006 to empower people to take full responsibility for their own health and enjoyment of life by investigating, discussing, and critically rethinking everything we've assumed to be true about health and wellness...Tell Me More
In today's post I'd like to explore whether fighting is something missing from our lives. Before you protest, understand what I mean by "fighting." I won't be directly commenting on the war and violence we see on the evening news. Genocide, conquest, theft, rape, and murder? These are acts of coercive violence, wherein either an institution, an individual, or a group of individuals perpetrate violence (or coerce others to do the perpetrating for them) against people who have not consented. No, I'm talking about something decidedly different. Boxing, MMA, martial arts, wrestling, and just roughhousing with some buddies are all examples of two people consensually engaging in interpersonal violence. Going up against another person in single, consensual combat where personal enmity is not the motivating factor? I can't imagine a greater test of one's strength, speed, skill, and smarts. Let's dig in.
Last time, I mentioned that violence was ubiquitous among early humans. Hominids have been fighting for millions of years, and every culture of humans has a fighting tradition, from the boxing, wrestling, and pankration (a freeform mix of boxing and wrestling, similar to MMA) of the ancient Hellenic world to the well-known East Asian martial arts (judo, jujitsu, karate, kung fu, tai chi, etc.) to the folk grappling/wrestling traditions that every culture across every continent seems to have. People fight, people like winning fights, and fighting systems improve a person's ability to win fights, so even if our ancestors weren't writing instructional manuals, they were probably learning to fight.
In the West, we hear the words "martial art" and imagine Mr. Miyagi, Shaolin monks, and Bruce Lee uttering "Be like water." It's come to be associated most strongly with Eastern religious philosophy, with "zen" (or whatever we think zen is) and calm, kindly old men who'd rather teach and talk than fight (but when they fight, you better watch out). And indeed, most traditional Eastern martial arts are linked to various schools of religious thought, but when you get down to it, a martial art remains a codified system of combat – a fighting system primarily developed to improve self-defense and physical conditioning. So why the spiritual stuff? Systematic fighting likely didn't arise as a way to become enlightened or achieve perpetual serenity – people developed codified fighting because it helped them win fights and stay alive in battles – the philosophy came after as a natural product of learning how to fight.
What if fighting is a way to "tame the beast" within? By being aggressive for a short amount of time in a controlled environment where aggression is expected and understood, you satisfy the "need" for aggression. Remember that human aggression is probably an adaptive trait, a deep-seated holdover from the days when surviving and thriving meant killing things (and sometimes people) for food or territory. As I mentioned yesterday, aggressive people had a better shot at obtaining resources, retaining mates, and spreading their genes. Evidence for the effect of fight training on aggression is mixed. While a few studies suggest that martial arts training increases aggression, a recent review (PDF) of the literature found that the majority of studies show martial arts to have a favorable effect on aggression across all age groups. Of course, this all presupposes that "aggression" is always a negative trait that results in actual violence. If that aggression is used or redirected productively – when training or fighting – it may not even result in destructive or "extracurricular" violence.
In fact, I've yet to see any evidence that martial arts training increases violence outside of the ring/mat/gym. There's some evidence that training in martial arts or other fighting systems reduces violence, however, and it appears to have a generally positive effect on mood. Three US elementary schools used a martial arts training program called the Gentle Warrior to reduce bullying in 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Participants who spent the most time in the program displayed the most empathy, fewer bouts of aggression, and a greater frequency of helpful by-standing, or helping out others who were being bullied; the effect was only present in males, however. Another recent British study found that youths who were involved in "combat sports" were subjected to fewer environmental risk factors commonly associated with criminality. It was questionnaire-based and totally observational, but it's supportive of the hypothesis that martial arts does not increase violence. A similar study was undertaken to assess the impact of martial arts training on "high-risk" youth, finding that training improved self-esteem and gave high-risk kids a less favorable attitude toward violence in general.
Martial arts could even be rehabilitative. In female veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who had been sexually assaulted by fellow soldiers while serving, a self-defense program improved their mental states and reduced PTSD symptoms. The results were impressive. At six months, behavioral avoidance and depression had decreased.
For a sport that revolves around inflicting damage on your opponent, mixed martial arts has fairly low rates of serious injury. In a study of injury trends during 635 professional matches, lacerations (tearing of the skin from blunt trauma, like a fist or knee; ugly, but relatively minor) were the most common injury. Serious concussions occurred in 3% of matches, and no deaths or serious injuries occurred. A comparison (PDF) between martial arts, wrestling, and boxing found that boxing resulted in the most injuries, followed by wrestling, and then martial arts, but overall, the three combat sports had similar injury rates to non-combat sports. I've heard that since boxing gloves are bigger than MMA gloves, they allow the fighter to take more hits, so more damage accumulates, somewhat similar to the effects of padded running shoes. The pain is blunted but the damage is done.
Overall, I think there's a strong case to be made that humans derive a lot of benefits from fighting in a structured system against peers, not out of anger, but with mutual respect. Indeed, it appears to reduce or redirect aggression, relieve stress, build self-confidence, and improve mood (and who couldn't use a little less stress, a little more confidence, and a better mood?). In my opinion, structured combat training allows us to address the modern "violence deficit" without seriously hurting others, hurting ourselves, or getting into trouble with the law. Joining an MMA or boxing gym, learning to wrestle, or attending martial arts classes are probably ideal, as they provide the structure and guidance that a beginner needs, and they offer the chance to "fight" people who are there with a similar mindset and purpose. Another option is to roughhouse with a friend, but I'm not sure unstructured, untrained freeform fighting offers the same benefits as a structured fighting system, or if it's even safe. If that's your only option, exercise caution, don't ruin any friendships, or consider a heavy bag instead.
The only MMA site I'm familiar with is Sherdog, and from initial observations it appears to have a robust forum with some helpful folks who do the sport themselves (rather than just talk about professionals who do). If you want to get started with fight training, that might be a good place to start. If you're looking for gyms or schools for instruction, quick Google of "mma gym (your city)" or "boxing gym (your city)" or whatever fighting art interests you will produce results. Be sure to check reviews on Yelp. A lot of places will offer beginner classes for free to let you get a feel for the place. Look for gyms with supportive, friendly teachers and students without visible egos. Don't go joining Cobra-Kai dojo or anything like that.
I know from your emails that I have a lot of readers who are into mixed martial arts and other combat disciplines, so please – blow up the comment section with advice on how one gets started with learning how to fight. I'd really appreciate it, and I'm sure all our readers would, too.
If you'd like to add an avatar to all of your comments click here!
270 Comments on "The Role of Fighting in a Primal Life"
I took a few "self-defense for women" classes. I enjoyed it. I was surprised at how hard women could hit. It did help me feel less depressed about being assaulted, and less vulnerable. The problem was, the classes were very far away from my house, and they were not offered very frequently. There didn't seem to be much demand for them. I'll look into the MMA thing.
The unfortunate fact is that most women take these classes AFTER an assault happens. I have trained some Jiu Jitsu and very basic Muay Thai, and my confidence levels increased tremendously. It is the little things, like being aware of your surroundings more. I don't see myself being able to de-arm a huge man holding a knife, but I am confident that I wouldn't allow that man to come that close to me without being aware of the danger about to ensue.
The really sad part is that just taking a class like this can act as a deterrent to would-be attackers. You start carrying yourself differently and are less likely to be seen as a potential victim. I've been told I'm "intimidating" and I credit taekwondo in high school.
Unfortunately in my case, I had been doing sanda and Muay Thai for years, and under the influence of alcohol, I was still unable to prevent my sexual assault. It actually destroyed my confidence in the ring (I was training for amateur fights).
I only say this because while I still think martial arts classes will benefit women tremendously, I don't want there to be an unreasonable expectation that you will be able to avoid confrontations. Your best defense is still to run away from any fight.
Confidence is the number one thing I got from martial arts in my youth. Going though high school was less stressful when I did not have to worry about being beat up easily. Many, many people wanted to pick on me for being the biggest kid there, but it was bad for them all.
Later, I learned various techniques of BJJ in the Army and have been a proponent ever since. I don't like to fight, but I do enjoy sparring with a friend. There is something to be said about knowing your limits and them knowing theirs and learning together.
good on you. yes macho types, be super heroes instead of warriors
Hey, I go to Temple U too! Yes I have seen several thugs with guns run loose all over my neighborhood. A student even got shot on my street. I am thinking of training at Daddis Fight Camps soon. Where do you train out of? PS: That Aaron guy is living in his own world and is not aware of the evil world that was our paleolithic ancestor's and our current world today.
Because a neighborhood watch isn't fun? Face it: There is something hard wired into our brains. I mean otherwise, why would we take up martial arts? There has to be some element of enjoying it. And That's there. I spar with my buddies all the time, and no one gets hurt. You're either trolling, or you're insulting people who are better than you at something because you tried and failed, or never even tried. Perhaps you're sullen towards athletic types? Either way though, your comment is full of opinion driven fallacies.
Excellent. The idea that MMA is going to stop a bullet is not the point Mark was making. I believe what he meant and what Jay expanded on is exactly on target. Self-awareness, insight, change in who we are from the inside out….spiritual? Maybe. Effective? You bet!
Susan- Thanks. For a minute I thought no one had read my comment!
An excellent explanation, Jay. I never knew about the calming signal when dogs roughhouse. I'm curious if humans do this subconsciously as well. It seems that my well-trained (martial arts, weapons training) friends have a 'cooling' effect in high stress situations. Maybe they are, in addition to being confident, giving off calming signals…
Aaron, you really can't see any reason to up your fighting skills even a little? I'm no mma fighter, but, knowing wrestling/Judo/and just hitting a heavy bag, gives me an edge over someone who may mess with my family. I've used my wrestling skills to help a guy while he was being attacked by a group of guys.
The idea that our ancestors' main hand to hand combat was for hunting purposes is preposterous. That is what weapons are for. Male-male competition is a biological imperitive that most species display, including our own. The fact is that in many modern hunter/gatherer societies violence/murder rates among males is significantly higher than in western countries (in some upwards of 50% of males die at the hands of other males). The idea of the peaceful "Noble Savage" is outdated and racist.
I did judo in my childhood/teenager, it had a very positive effect. Looking forward to coming back to a dojo (most probably will do aikido)
Thanks Mark for a nice article!
I'd start to kneel regularly then – your ankle tendons have probably tightened since your teens and seiza will be uncomfortable until you have let them get used to the stretch.
Plus us westerners spend less time kneeling than the Japanese so we are not as used to it in general.
I take Aikido / Aikijujutsu and I love every minute of it. There's something about being slammed into the floor that is so centering… I just can't explain it. There's no better way for me to burn off the stress from work than a good hour and a half on the mat.
And by the way, I highly recommend Aikido (and even more recommend Aiki-jujutsu if you can find it). I get a lot of great exercise, have learned a TON about how to handle myself in a variety of dangerous situations, and the ukemi (the falling and rolling) is extremely useful for other grok-like activities, such as falling from a tree or rolling over a truck tire, etc.
My entire family and I do Aikido as well. I definitely feel a lot more centered and calm when I go on a regular basis. I also like that it's martial without being about winning or beating anyone.
Indeed, brother!
"blow up the comment section with advice on how one gets started with learning how to fight"
I LOVE it!
I've had thoughts of taking yoga classes and I probably will too. But, I must be honest, these last 2 posts make me want to dive into martial arts or boxing asap too!
Actually some martial art systems offer Dao yoga alongside their other systems to develop flexibility. I do Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Dao Yoga, Qiqong and Qinna with my school.
The karate school I went to also offered yoga for no additional charge. I should go back: no longer too broke to afford the membership fee
Crystal – exactly. You can't child-proof the world – you have to world-proof your child.
We all know the kid our freshman year of college that had been super locked down for their entire life, and once they get out on their own, they just explode.
I don't ever want to be the parent of that kid. I would much rather have them be tempered to deal with the world as it comes to them.
I could even argue that children benefit from watching violent programming. I even wrote a paper on it back during my school days (won an award, too!). Rather than regurgitate, here's a link to the paper: http://www.lavc.edu/english/page9/page14/page14.html
You can't child-proof the world – you have to world-proof your child.
Awesome. Thank you!
I like your saying also "you can't child-proof the world – you have to world-proof your child."
I will definitely keep it in my mind as I raise my two young boys.
I teach my son to walk away first, just as my father taught me. This served me well for a long time, but there came a day where it didn't. I have recently taught my son take-downs and various throws and some striking.
You're never going to make a perfect viewing experience for kids from TV, so teach them WHY it's bad when something happens. Heck, I remember sneaking out of my room and downstairs to watch The Crow late at night. Talk about violent.
By the way, I'm gonna use the comment posted here. "World-proof your child" that's amazing. Thanks.
I have participated in many different forms of martial arts including mma, boxing, thai boxing, bjj and jeet kune do concepts.
I can definitely attest to the fact that practicing martial arts makes people less likely to get involved in any fights.
100% agree. Fantastic post Mark- loved it. Ive competed in MMA, BJJ and trained in Muay Thai and Boxing for a number of years and this kind of disciplined training undoubtedly reduces my tendency to get in street fights!
Also just wanted to let you know at my BJJ school we have a number of avid followers of PB and your site Mark so thanks a lot!
Martial arts are for self defense and not to involve in any fights.
I think an "acceptable" form of physical contact with other men (speaking as a man) is a huge benefit of sports/martial arts. I don't believe in training that is based in fear or aggression, though. I find Systema to be a good blend of "real" contact while training the body to be relaxed and calm.
Let me put my two cents in for training in a traditional martial art. I've been involved in karate for over 20 years. Many styles minimize contact to the head (which makes fighting less realistic but is probably a plus for long term brain health) and attract a different group of people than MMA gyms. I blog about eating paleo while training in karate (http://karateconditioning.blogspot.com/) if anybody's interested.
Sounds cool. I'll definitely check that out. I've been trying to square up my training with the Primal lifestyle for awhile. It would be awesome to see how someone else approaches it.
Nice post. The Gracie Brothers have a Jiu Jitsu program that teaches kids to be "Bullyproof" and it focuses martial arts techniques that build confidence. Bullys will observe the confidence in these kids through their demeanor and attitude and likely pick another victim.
If they do chose to engage a kid who has gone through this training, they will likely regret it.
My own son was confronted by a bully at school after training with these guys and let's just say nobody he won't be bothered again.
Sean – SkinnyFitness
> The one thing I've noticed is that the best fighters are also some of the kindest gentlest people I know.
I agree with that. My current sensei is about 5-foot-6, skinny as a rail, and just a nice person, but she can throw a 300 lb. guy across the room. She can also move like lightning with a bokken (wooden samurai sword).
Totally agree. We made friends with a lovely couple a few years ago (at an antenatal class). The husband/Dad was the sweetest, most generous, nicest and straight-up guy you could meet.
He was special forces.
I can't imagine him ever picking a fight with anyone – he had nothing to prove to anyone.
Sadly, he was killed in Afghanistan just a couple of weeks ago. 🙁
You wouldn't happen to live in GA and your sensei wouldn't happen to be Mary Giles would she? I've been told that she kick ass 😀
You wouldn't happen to live in GA and your sensei wouldn't happen to be Mary Giles would she? I've been told that she kick ass 😀
Yes, I live in Atlanta, GA, and Mary Giles is my sensei. She does kick ass, and she's a very nice person, too.
I've noticed this, too. The big burly guys look formidable, and can be…but there are tiny little ladies and awkward shy teenagers and meek-looking middle aged men who can kick ass six ways to sunday. And you'd never know it, seeing them on the street.
This is something that messes up the observational studies as well. Since hotheads don't have the discipline to do serious training, that fact that people who have been through training aren't hotheads comes as no surprise.
I studied Tae Kwon Do as a child, studied Aikido in college, and am now (at age 43) studying Shinkendo and Aikido. I can definitely say martial arts helps my mood and gives me a safe outlet for frustration and aggression.
What is your goal? Is it just for fitness or do you want to learn to defend yourself?
Sports fighting and Self-defense are not the same and require different skills.
The skills you need to defend yourself from social violence are different than the ones you need for asocial violence.
Know what you are learning, don't confuse learning sport fighting with learning to defend yourself.
Some good websites and interviews.
Are you the Abe Wagner that took out Tim Sylvia? Sweet!
The one and the same.
Weren't you also on The Ultimate Fighter?
This is also true. Also, I'm in this round of the Bellator heavyweight grand prix.
Dear Mark, i do some JJB from time to time. I would like to know , where do we place the JJB workouts, they are fairly intense, in a way, but also very fun to do. So if you could just tell us, if I do let's say 4-8 hours a week, that's 2-4 days, and do the primal workouts, i wouldn't be forcing myself too much, would I ? Thanks
You could use the workouts you already do as your base, throw in some strength specific workouts and you are set, even just 2 a week would be fine.
A great place to get started is the Lions Den. Awesome people and fantastic trainers. I belong to the one in CT. Even professional fighters such as Ken Shamrock and Mikey Burnett stop by from time to time and teach.
I have two boys and two girls, and I think our wrestling is about even between the boys and girls, and the girls are still as girlie as you can get (dolls, dresses, hair, etc.)
They all like to dog-pile on Mom, I think even more than on me (I tickle back.)
So Mark, how would you structure your carb intake if you were training in MMA, say at least one skill session per day and probably 4 good hard strength and conditioning sessions per week? (This would be probably be pretty minimal for some) I realize that every individual will be somewhat different but what do you think as a general guideline? Refer to "Primal Compromises for Athletes"????
Fighting is part of our fight or flight mechanism an an essential part of our psyche. Physicality is essential as well to overall well-being.
Too often we are taught to "flight" versus "fight". Talk to any WW2 vet (they are getting fewer and fewer so find one!) and they are all fight. Too much today we tell children and adults to "go get help" for their problems instead of "fighting" and solving it on their own.
Time to bring the fight back.
Good points… violence between humans is natural to us so we might as well do it in a safe context.
I think there's a lot of overlap between this topic and big game hunting, another violent activity we don't engage in often yet we evolved with it. Arguably we probably had to hunt more often than we had to fight other humans.
Regardless, I would wager that both of those fronts could be satisfied by controlled aggressive behavior like martial training. Maybe even some non-combat sports.
I agree. I've been studying BJJ for around two years now and I can't say enough good things about it. Since adopting the Primal Blueprint it's really helped improve my Jiu-Jitsu game and increase my level of fitness.It also does wonders for increasing concentration and relieving stress.
This guy knows what he is talking about: check out his personal fight record, lineage and students. I personally benefited from his insight and wisdom for a good few years. (he also writes a great blog).
Small world! Don't recognize the handle, but I'm glad you enjoyed your time with us. Thanks for the compliments.
Jay Jack
The Gracie brothers seem to have a good system for teaching kids to fight without making them into bullies themselves.
I would recommend Krav Maga. If possible train with certified instructors under Krav Maga Global (KMG) or International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF
I'd second this suggestion. Krav Maga is an awesome combination of thoroughly (and pretty immediately) effective self defense and an awesome workout. I've been training for around 4 years and love it.
The gym I train at blends in a lot of sparring (once you're in level 2/3+) and there are also separate "fight classes" where all you do is spar if you're looking for that. Nothing compares to standing up, face to face against someone who intends to hit you, and beating them to it.
I'll throw in a shout out to KM as well. It's more of a street fighting/self defense system than a martial art, but it still comes with a lot of the side benefits – confidence, awareness, discipline, etc. If you're looking for more of a sport, KM might not be the route to take, but if you're looking for a great workout with practical, street-tested skills give KM a shot.
Absolutely I recommend Krav Maga. If you are in the United States, however, what you are looking for is a Krav Maga Worldwide licensed school with KMW licensed instructors. There aren't many KMG or IKMF schools in the US…
I would love to have the chance to get into some form of defense or martial arts – I think it would help out with the confidence, especially living in the #1 most violent city in the country.
The problem? Things martial arts all seem cripplingly expensive in a city where you're lucky to have a minimum wage job. Any suggestions on how to get in on self defense or fighting arts when you're just barely making ends meet?
Also try College, Churches, and municipal recreation centers. Some have clubs you can join with very reasonable prices.
Extreme video game and movie violence is desensitizing. You experience that violence in an insulated way the retards your ability to empathize. If punch you in the face I have to witness the your pain first hand. If cut your head off in a video game we giggle, fist bump and go get another round of beers.
Brilliant. We've taken self defense (krav maga) classes at two different schools and just enrolled in a new one Monday night. It's a great workout and great stress reliever if nothing else.
Learn some basics on youtube and do them on your own. I shadow-boxed and learned how to throw some nasty kicks over the years, but recently joined a club where I can utilize my fullest potential! DISCIPRIN!
I have experienced many forms of exercise, and I'm no stranger to pushing my limits, but nothing on earth comes close to the level of exertion of a grappling match on the ground. Many times I have been unaware of how hard I was working until nearly passing out. Bipedal sparring is a close second.
So I agree that "fighting", in the way that lion cubs tussle, is very good for you indeed. Aggressing against others, especially when paid or commanded to do so: not so much.
Do it! Do it! Do it! It does not really matter what style you train in. Just pick a reputable instructor and dive in.
Its fun. Its working out with a purpose. It trains your mind as well as your body. Just like any other endeavor, once you get into it. You will start by picking the art. Then the art will pick you.
Dude. You don't need to go balls out full contact to have fun training. You also don't have to go starting fights just because you train martial arts. I have been training for 20+ years and I am healthy, fit and am still having fun training JKD, Eskrima, Boxing, BJJ…..
Agree. The people I know who have done martial arts for years have a lot of injuries. And, I also know people who have trained for years and still don't feel as if they could win a street fight, especially against guys with weapons. In my 'hood, the attackers are armed with pistols. It would be stupid to try to fight one of them.
Amen, Tom. Do an internet search. There are companies out there who do "self-defense" instruction whose only qualifications are a miminal instruction course for their instructors. A complete joke that does nothing but give people a false sense of security.
Well timed again Mark. I've been trying to decide between a Shotokan Karate gym or an MMA gym which has Muai Tai and Jujitsu (along with crossfit classes). The MMA is more expensive, but has more to offer. I like the Karate though because you also learn shadow arts or Katas, which I think would be just as valuable as the martial art itself.
I started submission grappling (like BJJ) two months ago, and it is the most exhilirating thing I have ever done. It's primal, intense, very physical AND mental.
Grappling brings you into body contact with a wide range of people, and it's strangely satisfying. In our society, we are often physically isolated from other people, and the friendly competition of grappling is a great way to make physical connections.
Great point! Another alternative is Tango!
I train in Krav Maga – not only is it a great workout, but it is also a great way to release excess agression, anger, stress, etc. in a controlled environment, and get hands-on experience with fighting and self defense without getting hurt.
I'd definitely agree that controlled "combat" is a healthy engagement. I play roller derby – and while it's not hand-to-hand combat, it's still an aggressive, full-contact sport where there is a controlled, yet combat-driven environment. It is really incredible to feel and witness the positive results – it is a perfect channel for inner aggression, and many women will report an overall increase and improvement in mood, self confidence and health.
Great article!
A friend of mine and I hit the park the other night for a couple of rounds of boxing. You learn a lot about yourself when you are getting punched in the face. I can't say when the last time that I had the adrenaline flowing like that night.
fight club!
You don't talk about Fight Club…
I have been practicing and teaching a full-contact martial art that utilizes continuous sparring. I can't say enough positive things about martial arts – its good for the mental and physical balance and provides strength in a very positive way that has lots of benefits.
Calming the mind and balancing the body are great goals and this is a solid path to attain both!
Its rare that anyone gets hurt in our classes – as finding control is what this is all about!


text:
- There is also a beatus named Calimerius of Montechiaro (ca. 1430-1521).
|Bishop of Milan
Fresco of Saint Calimerius
|Catholic Church
|In office
|about 270 – 280
|Feast day
|July 31
|Venerated in
|Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
|invoked against drought
|Basilica of Saint Calimerius, Milan
Calimerius (Italian: Calimero, Byzantine Greek: Καλημέριος) (died 280 AD) was an early bishop of Milan. He is honoured as a Saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches and his feast day is on July 31.
The only thing known for certain about him was that he was a bishop whose relics were conserved in the Basilica of Saint Calimerius in Milan, after his death.[1] He was probably not a contemporary and disciple of Pope Telesphorus (2nd century), as is often stated, but lived in the third century, with an episcopate of 270-280.[1][2]
According to one version his legend, he was born to a noble Roman family, entered military service and reached the rank of officer when he was converted to Christianity by saints Faustinus and Jovita. According to another legend, he was born in Greece, and was educated at Rome. He was a disciple of Pope Telesphorus. He succeeded St. Castricianus (San Castriziano). He was ordained priest by Castricianus and served at the Basilica Fausta (now the church of Saints Vitalis and Agricola).[3][4] At the death of Castricianus, he was elected bishop.[4]
According to his legend, when he became bishop of Milan, he preached in the region and was killed during the persecutions of Christians by Commodus or Hadrian, by being flung headfirst into a well.
Calimerius and the well[edit]
Calimerius' relics were exhumed in the eighth century by Bishop Tommaso Grassi of Milan. The urn and the relics were found submerged in water, perhaps due to the many underground channels that ran under the city.[1] However, the fact that his relics were found this way led to the legend that Calimerius was flung into a well. In the eleventh century, the Datiana Historia, written by an anonymous author, states that Calimerius was flung into a well as revenge for having baptized so many pagans.[1] The same source includes the detail that Calimerius was a Greek raised in Rome, as well as the fact that he was a disciple of Telesphorus, although both claims may be historically doubtful.[1] Another legend states that he was a Roman of noble origin, who, after serving in the military, was converted by Saints Faustinus and Jovita and was elected bishop of Milan. The dates on a plaque of marble in the interior of the Cathedral of Milan state that his episcopate lasted from 139 to 192, but these dates, due to disputes with Rome, may have been falsified in the eleventh century in order to make the diocese of Milan appear to be more ancient than it actually was. Thus, it considered Saint Barnabas of the Apostolic Age as its first bishop in order to become more independent of Rome.[5] As Hippolyte Delehaye writes, "To have lived amongst the Saviour's immediate following was...honorable...and accordingly old patrons of churches were identified with certain persons in the gospels or who were supposed to have had some part of Christ's life on earth."[6]
Saint Ennodius, in an epigram, writes that the basilica of San Calimero was built in the fifth century to hold the relics of Calimerius.
The waters of a well said to have been the place of his death acquired special significance. Every July 31, his feast day, the sick would drink of this water. In times of drought, priests would put some of the miraculous water into a bottle and pour it over the fields.[1]
There are basilicas dedicated to him at Pasturo and the Santuario della Madonna di San Calimero is located in Bolladello di Cairate.
- ^ a b c d e f Vivimilano.it - San Calimero e i rimedi contro la siccità
- ^ San Calimero di Milano
- ^ Letter of Ambrose of Milan on the
- ^ a b Santi milanesi della Chiesa Ortodossa - ortodossia a Milano
- ^ Compare C. J. Hefele, Das Sendschreiben des Apostels Barnabas, Tübingen, 1840; O. Braunsberger, Der Apostel Barnabas, Mainz, 1876.
- ^ Hippolyte Delehaye, The Legends of the Saints (Dublin, Four Courts Press, 1955), 37.
External links[edit]
- St. Calimerius
- (in Italian) San Calimero e i rimedi contro la siccità


text:
The Best Dramas of 2012: 7 – The Walking Dead
(The ten best dramas of 2012 will be revealed on Hulu's homepage each weekday of this week. To view the rest of the list, click here.)
7 – The Walking Dead
Is there any show more shocking than The Walking Dead? With the amount of characte…


text:
Microbiologists study microorganisms (microbes) in order to understand how they affect our lives and how we can exploit them. They focus on the biology of microorganisms at both the molecular and cellular level, as well as their ecology, including viruses, bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae and protozoa.
Their work can be relevant in a variety of settings including:
- hospitals;
- agriculture;
- pharmaceuticals;
- biotechnology;
- the environment.
By understanding microbes, microbiologists aim to solve a range of problems affecting our health, the environment, climate and food and agriculture. This can include the prevention, diagnosis and control of infections and disease, as well as ensuring that food is safe, understanding the role that microbes play in climate change, and developing green technologies.
Microbiology is a vast subject which overlaps with other areas of life sciences, such as molecular biology, immunology and biochemistry.
Specialist areas include:
- medicine;
- healthcare;
- research;
- food;
- climate change.
Tasks vary depending on your area of specialism. For example, healthcare scientists working in microbiology will be involved in preventing, diagnosing and controlling the spread of infections, whereas those working in manufacturing may be involved in quality control, checking for signs of contamination. However, typical activities can include:
- monitoring and identifying microorganisms;
- tracking of microorganisms in a range of environments;
- monitoring and assessing samples from a range of sources;
- following regular sampling schedules within a specific environment;
- using a variety of identification methods, including molecular techniques, to test samples;
- developing new techniques, products and processes;
- developing and planning methods to prevent the spread of disease;
- developing and registering new medicines, vaccines, diagnostic tests and pharmaceutical products;
- planning, implementing and evaluating new products in clinical trials;
- collecting samples from different types of environments, such as agricultural sites;
- developing products such as enzymes, vitamins, hormones and antimicrobials;
- growing microbial cultures, e.g. for use in the food and drink industry or in agriculture;
- working with specialist computer software to undertake studies and research;
- managing and overseeing laboratory work.
Additional activities may include:
- planning and organising resources and activities;
- maintaining accurate and up-to-date records;
- writing up research findings and producing reports;
- keeping up with new research and attending national and international conferences and other events;
- liaising with colleagues from non-scientific departments;
- providing information and advice to colleagues and external bodies.
Jobs for microbiologists working as healthcare scientists in the National Health Service (NHS) usually consist of nine pay bands and are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates.
- Salaries for trainee healthcare scientists typically start at around £25,700, depending on the employer.
- Salaries for qualified healthcare scientists usually start on Band 6 and range from £25,783 to £34,530.
- Experienced healthcare scientists (Band 7) can earn between £30,764 and £40,558.
- Salaries for principal scientists, the highest grade at which healthcare scientists work, range from £39,239 (Band 8) to £98,453 (Band 9).
Those working in London and the surrounding areas may receive a high-cost area supplement of between 5% and 20% of their basic salary. Research and development work in pharmaceutical firms, public health laboratories and medical research council units tend to earn higher salaries.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Working hours
The working day can be quite long, especially at the start of your career when you need to show commitment. Larger employers may provide flexible working schemes.
What to expect
- The work is generally laboratory-based in pathology departments or diagnostic laboratories in hospitals, although there are opportunities in other types of work environments.
- As work generally takes place in a laboratory, protective clothing such as gloves, coat and safety glasses is often worn.
- Microbiologists often work as part of a small team on projects. They are also usually responsible for managing their own workload.
- Contract and temporary work is available at graduate and technician level within a number of sectors.
- Research work can provide more variety than that of routine identification or monitoring, which may be more structured.
- Travel within a working day may be required for meetings or on-site visits, but overnight absence from home is uncommon.
A good honours degree in a related subject is required for entry into the career of a microbiologist. Relevant degrees include:
- applied biology;
- biological sciences;
- biology (specialising in microbiology);
- biomedical sciences;
- microbial sciences;
- microbiology;
- molecular biology.
Courses such as biological sciences or applied biology provide a wide-ranging background prior to having to make choices about specialist areas.
To enter a career as a microbiologist in the NHS, you need to successfully complete the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP). This leads to eligibility to apply for a Certificate of Attainment from the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) , which allows registration as a clinical scientist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
The STP is a graduate-entry programme that leads to more senior scientist roles in the NHS that generally involve leadership and research. Successful candidates are employed by an NHS Trust as trainee healthcare scientists and join a salaried three-year, fixed-term training programme, which includes study for an approved and accredited Masters degree in your chosen area of specialism.
Entry on to the STP is competitive and you will need a first or 2:1 degree in a related discipline, or a 2:2 with a relevant Masters or PhD. Gaining good academic results and relevant work experience is helpful.
Training in Scotland involves either completion of the STP programme or an equivalent M-level programme. For more information on how and when to apply see NHS Education for Scotland: Clinical Scientists. There is a separate scientist training scheme for Northern Ireland - NI Direct Healthcare Scientist.
Entry is not possible without a degree or with a foundation degree only.
You will need to show evidence of the following:
- excellent written and oral communication skills;
- team working skills;
- a good level of numeracy;
- a confident and sympathetic approach to dealing with patients;
- IT skills;
- accuracy and a methodical approach to work;
- leadership qualities.
Employers will usually expect you to have experience of good laboratory practice (GLP).
Work experience
Pre-entry work experience in a laboratory may be difficult to get, but will be advantageous when applying for roles. Relevant organisations and professional bodies may have funding opportunities or useful contacts:
- ABPI Careers has a list of pharmaceutical recruiters on its site, which can be used to contact companies about potential work experience opportunities.
- The Society for General Microbiology (SGM) offers a range of grants, including a limited number of grants to undergraduates to work on microbiological research projects during the summer vacation.
- The Society for Applied Microbiology (SFAM) provides a 'Students into Work Grant' to give students and graduates the opportunity to gain a work placement of up to ten weeks.
Alternatively, speak to hospital laboratories or your university careers service about gaining some voluntary experience.
Becoming a member of a professional body such as the SGM or the SFAM will show your commitment to the field and provide valuable networking and career development opportunities.
Microbiologists work in a range of fields. One of the largest is research and analysis, where employers include:
- the NHS;
- Public Health England and other research institutions and publicly funded research establishments;
- universities;
- private companies.
Microbiologists also work in the manufacturing industry for employers such as:
- pharmaceutical, biochemical, biotechnology and agri-chemical companies;
- food and beverage manufacturers;
- food safety organisations, including the Food Standards Agency;
- health, home and personal care product manufacturers.
Jobs can also be found in the environment sector where employers include:
- water companies, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA);
- waste management companies;
- environmental consultants.
Look for job vacancies at:
- Jobs.ac.uk - for jobs in higher education.
- Nature Jobs
- New Scientist Jobs
- NHS Jobs
- NHS Scotland Recruitment
Specialist recruitment agencies also advertise vacancies. See:
Get more tips on how to find a job, create a successful CV and cover letter, and prepare for interviews.
Professional development
If you join the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) to qualify as a healthcare scientist working in microbiology (also known as a clinical scientist), you will undertake three years of training accredited by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS). This involves spending the first year of training on rotation in a range of settings before specialising in years two and three.
Trainees also follow a period of structured part-time study alongside practical training. This includes an MSc in Clinical Science (Infection Sciences). On successful completion of the STP you are eligible to apply to the AHCS for a Certificate of Attainment, which allows registration as a clinical scientist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
For those wanting to work as consultants, it is also possible to join the Higher Specialist Scientific Training (HSST) programme, a five-year workplace-based training programme with study towards doctoral-level qualifications.
Elsewhere, training opportunities will depend on individual employers and specialist areas. In some jobs, salary increases may be available on completion of training. On-the-job training may include training relating to specific equipment or techniques within your specialist area. The type of training offered depends on the department and the area of work. Training on new equipment may be delivered by the manufacturers.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is an essential part of continued training, and all microbiologists are expected to gain further relevant qualifications. CPD activities can include attending events and conferences, mentoring, teaching and having papers published. Professional bodies offer training on topics related to your area of specialism.
Larger organisations, particularly those involved in research, may provide training and development opportunities for their staff. This may involve undertaking further qualifications such as a Masters degree or a PhD.
Training and development opportunities can vary between organisations, so find out about your options before accepting a job.
Career prospects
There are generally good opportunities for career progression. In the NHS, it is possible to move from practitioner, to specialist, to team manager and then consultant. At the more senior levels, there is an increased involvement in staff management along with a supervisory role with fuller responsibility for the work of the laboratory.
Research in specialist areas such as bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology is possible, working with clinical colleagues or microbiologists working in industry.
In some fields, you may need to be geographically mobile in order to progress. Specialisation in your degree course or in your choice of first job may affect your future career options.
A qualification such as an MSc or PhD can aid career progression. It is also beneficial to develop your own area of specialist knowledge, for example by getting involved in research projects and publications and keeping up to date with developing research.
Networking at all levels is part of successful career development. Maintaining a professional profile by presenting research at meetings, undertaking work exchanges abroad and applying for research grants is also recommended.
Experienced microbiologists may progress into other fields of work that benefit from their specialist knowledge, such as pharmaceutical sales and marketing, patent work, teaching, scientific publishing or the legal profession.
For a range of information and resources for microbiologists at all stages of their careers see the SGM.


text:
Dr SD Israni, advocate & partner, SD Israni Law Chambers, spoke on the need for preparing a comprehensive Will and explained how to complete all the requisite nomination & transmission formalities
"Many of us keep postponing the day of reckoning. But it's imperative that you have to leave behind a comprehensive Will. So better start thinking about it," said Dr SD Israni, advocate & partner at SD Israni Law Chambers. He was speaking at a seminar on Wills and nominations, organised by Moneylife Foundation on Saturday, 24th September.
Drawing from his long experience, Dr Israni talked about how to prepare a comprehensive Will, and how to complete all the requisite nomination & transmission formalities for both movable and immovable properties. He explained terms like probate, transmission and nomination, which play a crucial role in matters regarding shares and other assets.
The main elements of a Will are the name and identity of the author/testator, two witnesses and their addresses, the list of assets and their distribution. This must be signed by two witnesses and the testator in the presence of each other. He said, "A codicil is a part of the Will, which comes into play if some minor changes are to be made. If you have to make major changes, like naming a different heir, make a new Will."
The religion of an individual matters for succession under the Hindu Succession Act, Muslim personal law, Parsi personal law, Christian law and for others by default under the Indian Succession Act. When asked about assets which are not mentioned in the Will, he said, "Assets or shares, etc., which are mentioned in the Will automatically go to the successor as per law, or stay with the nominees or owners specified."
Dr Israni explained the difference between being a nominee and an heir in case of transmission of shares. Traditionally, it was understood that a nominee is like a trustee, who has to transfer the shares to the legitimate heirs or claimants. However, last year, a Bombay High Court ruling said that a nominee can possess the shares like an heir unless an order is issued in favour of the heir. "This kind of misbalances the legal interpretation," he said.
However, in such a case, if the shareholder has already willed his shared to an heir, the nominee's claims will be overridden. But for that, the claimant has to prove he is entitled to those, and has to have the Will probated.
When asked about immovable properties held jointly, he said, "The nominees all have shares in that property. So if they want to sell it, they have to come to a conclusion together and then go for stamp duty that is associated with normal property sales. In some other aspects, the cooperative society can have a say-but ultimately, if there is a dispute, the matter must be settled in court."
Dr Israni said, "Young or old, one must make a Will. If one leaves a clear, simple, attested Will which clearly specifies whom he wants to give what, then legal hassles can be avoided. All you need is a piece of paper and two witnesses."
As concepts, a seal of excellence or social performance management will make good yardsticks to monitor Microfinance Institutions, but there will be practical difficulties in measuring these yardsticks and implementing them
A friend alerted me to a paper being presented at a forthcoming international microfinance conference in the later part of 2011. The paper provides the conceptual basis by which MFIs (microfinance institutions) can avail themselves of a seal of excellence-a quality symbol. While the idea is an excellent one, there are a number of practical issues that make implementation of this seal of excellence rather difficult. Let us try and understand the various issues by looking at social performance management in microfinance, which is also a tool that seeks to provide similar (social quality) 'assessments' with regard to MFIs.
Figure 1 gives an overview of the Social Performance Management (SPM) process at MFIs, as articulated by expert stakeholders: "The central arrow demonstrates how an MFI's mission is translated into specific social performance objectives. Through the design of operational systems and products, specific outcomes are achieved in terms of reaching the desired target client groups and meeting their needs. Meeting the needs of target clients leads to the desired changes relating to the social mission of the MFI. Surrounding this arrow is the SPM process. This involves monitoring and assessing progress at each stage of the arrow, and the information produced is fed into generating improved microfinance practice and also used for wider SPM reporting to stakeholders in terms of clients reached, benefits generated to them and the extent of impact created by microfinance."i
The above process may be clear with regard to traditional (paper) models of microfinance but when MFIs use the agent-led decentralised microfinance model, which is what is happening increasingly in India, the last mile end-user client is not at all known. Therefore much of what is envisaged in Figure 1 may not be possible in Figure 2, due to the agent-led decentralised modeliii and lack of information/clarity with regard to servicing the end-user clients at the last mile.
I raise several (starter) questions for SPM advocates and practitioners with regard to the agent-led decentralised model and hope that they factor these into their frameworks:
Thus, under circumstances such as the above, it would be impossible to assess aspects as the following, so critical for SPM:
The above also raises very serious questions about social performance in the decentralised MFI model, currently in vogue in Indian microfinance and these are summarised below:
1. While it is great to talk of social performance, internal controls and the like, how do you enforce this on the ground in a practical sense when you have multiple agents colluding with fraudulent staff (often hired without serious background checks and practically no training) and MFIs that rely heavily on an agent-led fully decentralised model with perhaps the wrong incentives?
2. Given that a lot of growth has occurred (and is perhaps still occurring) through outsourcing to agents, where the end-user clients may not be strictly traceable, how can social performance be enforced in a practical sense? What lessons can the Indian and global microfinance industry learn from past (failed) efforts to enforce codes of conduct and the like?
3. When simple internal controls (and internal audits) were busted and disregarded during the phenomenal growth phase of Indian microfinance (2006-2010) that saw the burgeoning growth of multiple lending and other malpractices, with what confidence can we expect social performance to be implemented on the ground?
4. When MFIs operate using different kinds of agents in an outsourcing model, how can one be sure of the data that is provided by the MFIs with regard to SPM? How can we rely on self-reported data that is supplied by the MFIs with regard to these, especially when many MFIs may not even be aware of who their clients are because of the prevalent agent models?
When one considers these and other questions, the credibility of SPM as a sub-field of microfinance and financial inclusion is seriously at stake. I sincerely hope that the so-called practitioners of SPM address real ground-level issues rather than merely focus on high-level concepts that can at best be called as superfluous and perhaps even redundant. In fact, I would like you all to read this very interesting real life story that shares some parallels with the social performance management situation and related reporting.
"It was the autumn of 2008 and Satyam Company Secretary G Jayaraman was beaming. For the second time in six years, India's IT outsourcer had walked away with the coveted Golden Peacock Award for excellence in corporate governance, an award instituted by the World Council for Corporate Governance. Later that week, Vadlamani Srinivas proudly told the press that the award was 'a testament to our [Satyam's] efforts to continually innovate corporate governance best practices in the industry.'
The Golden Peacock was not the first award that year. In April, a global investor relations firm MZ Consult ranked Satyam among the top five companies in the Asia-Pacific region in the financial disclosure procedures category. 'We are pleased to be recognised... Our practices are designed to provide complete, accurate, timely information in clear formats,' said Vadlamani Srinivas. To the corporate world, Satyam's hubris was well earned. After all it had all the bells and whistles required of a well-governed modern-day company. Satyam's five-star board of directors, as onlookers liked to call it, had just the right number of independent directors with just the right credentials-eminent scholars and administrators. Also, Satyam had Price Waterhouse-one of the big four audit firms-as the statutory auditor. All was well with Satyam's world-or so everyone thought.
Two blows dealt to the company's image within a span of one month ended Satyam's high-prized innocence-the fateful board decision taken on 16 December and then Ramalinga Raju's confession of 7 January. Never in the history of corporate India has a company fallen so hard and fast. And everyone, from investors to experts, attributes this to the failure of the company's corporate governance controls. In fact, all events surrounding the scam-the aborted Maytas bid, World Bank barring the company from all bank contracts-were being linked to the way Satyam was governed ." v
The moral of the story is clear: It is always very easy to provide very positive data and reports that paint a great rosy picture but what may actually be happening inside could be very different. Several organisations that have won the well-intentioned CGAP award for transparency in microfinance have also been reported as having serious corporate governance violations.vi
Likewise, social performance is a great concept on paper, but sadly does not exist on the ground. It is wonderful to talk about it in a workshop in Mumbai or Delhi or Barcelona or Washington but let us get the facts clear-there is nothing like that in operation in India and make no mistake, the ground situation in several of India's populous microfinance states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa and West Bengal is far from that.
Therefore, using so called tools of social performance or seals of excellence-merely to justify the existence of such (and especially, for-profit) MFIs—that look great on reports but are rarely implemented (or visible) on the ground, certainly does not befit the status of a strategic industry like microfinance. And it is about time that we start asking the question as to why, many so-called great concepts (like social performance or codes of conduct or even principles of corporate governance, etc) are not implemented on the ground and in the field rather than creating newer and newer tools that may have lesser and lesser relevance to field realities. Therefore, let us stop creating tools to merely justify existence of MFIs and rather focus on building a really transparent client-oriented low-income financial services industry that provides real tangible benefits on the ground.
iQuoted with adaptation from social performance management in microfinance: Guidelines by Imp-Act in collaboration with Microfinance Centre, (2005)
iiQuoted with adaptation from social performance management in microfinance: Guidelines by Imp-Act in collaboration with Microfinance Centre, (2005)
iiiPlease see previous Moneylife articles on microfinance agents -http://www.moneylife.in/article/how-and-why-did-microfinance-agents-become-a-part-of-the-indian-microfinance-business/19301.html, http://www.moneylife.in/article/implementation-safeguards-against-notorious-agents-are-an-imperative-for-the-proposed-microfinance-bill/19017.html and http://www.moneylife.in/article/proposed-microfinance-bill-has-to-look-at-the-re-leader-as-a-microfinance-agent/20019.html
iv Quoted with adaptation from social performance management in microfinance: Guidelines by Imp-Act in collaboration with Microfinance Centre, (2005)
v Quoted with adaptation From Governing The Corporates, Aanand Pandey, Business Standard, in The Satyam Saga 2009.
vi Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, www.cgap.org
(The writer has over two decades of grassroots and institutional experience in rural finance, MSME development, agriculture and rural livelihood systems, rural/urban development and urban poverty alleviation/governance. He has worked extensively in Asia, Africa, North America and Europe with a wide range of stakeholders, from the private sector and academia to governments).
"Every listed issuer offering IDRs through a rights issue shall prepare offer documents in accordance with the home country requirements," SEBI said in a circular
Mumbai: Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Friday said companies offering Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs) through rights issue have to file offer document as per the prevailing norms in the country, reports PTI.
Through a notification, SEBI on Friday amended the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2009, by adding a chapter relating to rights issue of Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs).
"Every listed issuer offering IDRs through a rights issue shall prepare offer documents in accordance with the home country requirements," SEBI said in a circular.
IDRs are the instruments through which a foreign company raises capital in the country by offering underlying shares to domestic investors.
So far Standard Chartered is the only foreign company which has come out with an IDR issue and the SEBI circular would provide them with guidelines for coming out with a rights offer.
Through a rights issue, a company raises funds by allotting shares to its existing shareholders.
SEBI further said that if the issuing company is in breach of the IDR listing agreement then it cannot come out with a rights offering.
The issuing company would have to inform the stock exchange where its existing IDR is already listed, about the rights issue. Further, the IDRs issued by way of rights issue would have to be listed on one of those stock exchanges in the country.
On fast track issue, the regulator said if the issuer had no disagreement with the stock exchange on the provisions of deposit agreements and listing agreements for at least three years, without any pending show-cause notices or prosecution proceedings, the issuer can get approval for the same.


text:
Multi-stage model updating method via substructure analysis (in Chinese)
Guo, L., Li, Z.X., & Chan, Tommy H.T. (2007) Multi-stage model updating method via substructure analysis (in Chinese). Engineering Sciences, 8(9), pp. 42-48.
Basing on substructure analysis , original research on multi2stage model updating method (MSMUM) is presented to reduce the uncertainties in traditional model updating process. The kernel philosophy of the multi2stage model updating method is used to update a complicated FE model with multi steps , i.e. firstly localize the model errors and then update the error parameters. Comparing with the computed results , it is shown that the error localization methods and the parameter updating methods developed here are fine. As a case study , the model of the Runyang Nancha suspension bridge tower is updated with the MSMUM. Comparing the updated FE model here with the updated model using traditional updating method, it could be concluded that the multi-stage updating method is more effective.
Impact and interest:
Citation counts are sourced monthly from Scopus and Web of Science® citation databases.
These databases contain citations from different subsets of available publications and different time periods and thus the citation count from each is usually different. Some works are not in either database and no count is displayed. Scopus includes citations from articles published in 1996 onwards, and Web of Science® generally from 1980 onwards.
Citations counts from the Google Scholar™ indexing service can be viewed at the linked Google Scholar™ search.
|ID Code:
|Item Type:
|Journal Article
|Additional Information:
|For more information, please refer to the publisher's website (see hypertext link) or contact the author.
|Additional URLs:
|model updating, substructure, error localization, parameters updating, Runyang Bridge
|Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification > ENGINEERING (090000) > CIVIL ENGINEERING (090500)
Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification > ENGINEERING (090000) > CIVIL ENGINEERING (090500) > Structural Engineering (090506)
|Past > QUT Faculties & Divisions > Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering
Past > Schools > School of Urban Development
|Copyright Owner:
|Copyright 2007 China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House
|Deposited On:
|28 Feb 2008 00:00
|Last Modified:
|10 Aug 2011 15:36
Export: EndNote | Dublin Core | BibTeX
Repository Staff Only: item control page


text:
Nebulous Nearnesses, Classic tracks from the Incredible String Band
A "live in the studio" album recorded with an audience at Peter Gabriel' Real World studios. Nebulous Nearnesses is the result of it all: 13 copper-bottomed classic songs of wit, whimsy, power and passion that you probably thought you'd never hear again from the lips of their composers.
Sixties strangeness meets 21st technology beside a lake in Wiltshire. Timeless moments conjured out of the leaf mould of lost years.
Track Listing
Copyright © 2017 TerranovaPowered by osCommerce


text:
Drive-through recycling center to open in Unity
Starting next month, Westmoreland County residents will have a year-round location to drop off hard-to-recycle items.
A new drive-through service offered by Westmoreland Cleanways will increase the opportunities to dispose of recyclables beyond the periodic events held throughout the year.
"It's been a years-long goal to have our own recycling center," said Westmoreland Cleanways Executive Director Ellen Keefe.
The Unity center will open Feb. 3 in Innovative Park, just off Route 30. Keefe said a manager for the center has been hired.
The center will replace annual Hard-to-Recycle days held around the county that bring in hundreds of thousands of pounds of recyclables, Keefe said.
Fred Goodman, a director on the organization's board, said the new center also will offer much more space for staff.
Keefe said the project was driven by the huge influx of electronics at recycling sites. She hopes the center can eventually accept other items, such as tree limbs and yard waste.
"We're thinking that once we get in there and get settled, we'll be able to take advantage of other opportunities that come along," Keefe said.
Funding from the county and state is assisting in the lease, as are two area businesses that take items dropped off at Westmoreland Cleanways — JVS Environmental of Somerset County and Dan's Tire of Fayette County.
"We're always looking for ways to better serve our county," Keefe said. "We're hoping that this is going to be a start of a really good program."
Renatta Signorini is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-837-5374 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
About Associated Bank
Associated Banc-Corp, headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., is a diversified bank holding company with total assets of $24 billion. Associated has approximately 300 banking offices serving approximately 160 communities in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. The company offers a full range of traditional banking services and a variety of other financial products and services.
MyBankTracker rated based on the following criteria that includes real customer reviews and bank fees, among others. Our bank report card is a proprietary rating system that highlights the financial health and stability of the bank. See how it's rated.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Associated Bank Bank Customer Reviews
BReviewed By boreifs May 1, 2014
Horrible experience settling my father's estate.
My father had a TOD Power CD with Associated and it took them over four weeks to even process my request to have the funds transferred after his death. It is now over four weeks since and I am still waiting for the proceeds. I also have a friend who has been trying to settle his aunt's estate; it is now three years and counting.
His regular account was also anything but smooth; they had lost the paperwork for the TOD on the account and I had to jump through all sorts of legal hoops to settle the account. One officer sent me home in the morning (40 minute round trip), claiming she had no time for the paperwork; when I returned late that afternoon (another 40-minute round trip), the "paperwork" consisted of signing a W9 form.
My next step is to bring my lawyer into this; safe to say that once the estate is settled, I will never, ever step inside an Associated Bank. Caveat emptor!Thank you for your feedback Is this review helpful?
LSReviewed By Laurence S. Nov 15, 2012
Very Poor Experience
I will shout from the roof tops never ever to use associated bank. About 2 weeks ago I got a check from my father due to illness to help me with my rent. For whatever reason it got returned from his bank...Funny thing is we resubmitted it Went, through fine. And, there was no evidence that there was even a draw from his bank the first time we put it in. To make thie long and short of it associated hit me with 600 in bounce fees and won't refund me anything for their error. Stay away from them they are crooks.....Thank you for your feedback Is this review helpful?
IReviewed By inthesticks Dec 13, 2013
Started nice, slowly degraded as the years have went.
I have banked with Associated Bank for over 13 years, it started out as a decent to great experience. Over the last 6 years it has been a real battle with them, they push the limits trying to get every cent they can, items like posting your deposits last during the day so they can try and get overdrafts, even when they were sued for this it still continues to this day. Their fee's for ATM are really high, and even charge you to use someone else's ATM.
Three weeks ago I decided to trade in my truck I had for 8 years since I had it financed with Associated they still had name as a lien holder, when I went to the bank to get a lien release (truck has been paid for over 5 years) they stated I would need to submit a request and it would take 5 days to process than mailing time, 10-15 days. They wouldn't even print one out while I was standing there. It did in fact take 14 days to arrive at my house, thank god the dealer was kind enough to still sell me a new truck and take the old one. You have to request a lien release they don't just send one once your loan is paid.
The branch I am near was sold and they gave my checking and savings account to the bank they sold it to, even said they did us a favor so we didn't have to set one up with them, than closed our Checking/Savings with Associated, but kept our Credit Card and Home Equity loan so we have to pay them via check monthly. The new bank only has three branches, all little towns that you will hardly ever visit so now we are stuck with 1 ATM and a small bank. My personal checks I had made are going to collect dust now. All auto pays, Pay Pal, Netflix, Amazon all need to be updated, but wait, it's Christmas season and I don't have any checks or check card to use. so no purchases for me since my Direct Deposit is not going to work for 2 pay periods to the new bank and I have to wait for snail mail to deliver.
So with all this fun, I have now signed up with a Credit Union.Thank you for your feedback Is this review helpful?
- Next {{(rate.rate * 100 | number:2) + '%'}} N/A {{rate.points}} N/A {{'$' + rate.fees}}
- No results matching your search. Please try again.
- Type Fee National Average
- Monthly Inactivity N/A
- Non-Sufficient Fund (Overdraft) N/A 0
- Stop Payment item N/A 0
- Return Deposit N/A 0
- Domestic Wire Transfer (Outbound) N/A 0
- Domestic Wire Transfer (Inbound) N/A 0
Non-Bank ATM


text:
The NRA forces lawmakers to gut a proposed law, leaving it with gaping loopholes.
An officer on horseback screamed as the bullet tore a gaping wound in his leg.
Remarkably, Americans have not risen in revolt against this gaping inequality.
Yesterday the shots were of the gaping hole in the fourth floor apartment that cost three Israelis their lives.
The dolls, with their gaping mouths, are symbols or ciphers that provide a visual scaffolding for social observation.
She saw his mouth pulled open by the taut cords of his neck, and the gaping, silent scream was more terrible than any sound.
Then in every land the sons of men lay dying on the scorched and gaping ground.
Its sharp white teeth gleamed in the gaping red mouth, and I could feel its hot breath fierce and acrid upon me.
Purty good thing, after all,' he repeated, gaping as he spoke.
Games of chance are traps to catch school-boy novices and gaping country squires, who begin with a guinea and end with a mortgage.
early 13c., from an unrecorded Old English word or else from Old Norse gapa "to open the mouth, gape," common West Germanic (cf. Middle Dutch, Dutch gapen, German gaffen "to gape, stare," Swedish gapa, Danish gabe), from PIE *ghai- (see gap). Related: Gaped; gaping. As a noun, from 1530s.


text:
Money for college?
Go ahead and apply to the schools you want and see what kinda of help they are willing to give you. You'll be surprised. My brother got into a private school whose sticker price was around $25,00...
Read More »
How to Win Money for College?
In an increasingly competitive job market, it is becoming more essential to go to college and get a degree to stay ahead of the game. While this sounds like an easy enough task, unfortunately comin...
Read More »
How to Get Money for College?
College is a big expense but a necessary one. A college degree will generally result in a better life with more opportunities and more money. Employers value people with college degrees and seek th...
Read More »
Can you get college transcripts if you owe money?
Many colleges will put a hold on the account of students who owe money as an incentive to encourage swift payment. But depending on the amount owed and how it was incurred, some colleges may still ...
Read More »
How to Go to College With No Money?
Whether the "college" referred to in the title means taking a college-level class or earning a full degree, there are strategies that can be applied for reducing or eliminating the financial burden...
Read More »


text: VILA Jean-Louis wrote: > Tony, > > You're right if you use pserver from cvsnt, the System account works fine. Or SSPI, GServer, basically anything else. > But, many users use SSH tunnelling like openSSH and if they want to use W2003 they will have some great problems with specific rights. That's a cygwin problem... not a cvsnt issue, and also unrelated to the problem under discussion. > Tony, I've still have, with openSSH only not with pserver, a problem : > "Unable to rename file ...." 10 times when a user try to commit file > We use CVSNT 2.0.58d and openSSH 3.8.x and W2003 Something is holding the file open. Probably Antivirus - make sure all AV is disabled for the repository an temporary directories. I don't recommend using SSH on a Win32 platform. SSPI is always easier. Tony


text:
we are wine lovers, wine expert, enthusiast of everything having to do with wine, we love wine and wineries, we are wine consultants, wine trip designers and wine drinkers…..wine collectors and wine travelers, and wanted to offer a b&b to WINE LOVERS combining ensuite accommodation with wine tastings & wine tours. Guests of Villa Giuliana can chose to enhance their stay enjoying, at discounted price, tutored wine tasting of selected wines while relaxing in the garden or by the swimming pool or experience a GUIDED WINE TOUR, to meet and talk to the people behind the wines of Puglia through a private visit the local boutique wineries to get to know more about the local wine production and tradition. The bed and breakfast is immersed in an acre of olive groves, surrounded by fruit trees and other typical plants of the Salento, close to the centro storico (Lecce old town), with a great and convenient location for travelers touring Puglia. If you prefer freshly made pasta to processed food, you can choose us…..Villa giuliana is a place for active gourmet….The ideal choice to explore the Apulian culinary heritage and wine production.
All guests of our B&B desirous to know more about the local tradition, here have plenty of opportunities to enhance their stay with daily cooking classes and guided wine tasting tour of selected local wineries with our sommelier Angela. This is a unique opportunity to transform your holiday in Puglia into a culinary adventures exploring the cooking and wine making tradition with our exclusive support. More into walking and cycling ? Sample one of our coastal trails or rent one of our hybrid bikes and enjoy a self guided cycling excursion along country roads, or explore the coast south of Otranto with a ride along the adriatic sea. Cycling is nice but a VESPA scooter holiday would be more fun ? Rent a VESPA 125LX and transform your sjourn into a scooter holiday to explore Salento.
Normally our guests, do not realize that the b&b in lecce is in a very strategic position until they get here, so close to the center of Lecce and the sea. We are also at a short distance from Lecce's ring road so that you can now easily reach (fast and easy drive through the motorway) all the main touristic destination like Otranto, Gallipoli, Ostuni, S.M. di Leuca with no needs to change accommodation every so and so. If you are new to the area we also think that you need at least 2 or 3 days to get an idea of what the south Salento has to offer.
Villa amenities:
Location & Nearby Attractions:


text:
Several Bollywood stars have sworn their allegiance to a better society. However, when it gets down to brass tacks, not all of them practise what they preach...
Bollywood actors and actresses are known to influence the masses and given the pull they exert on cinemagoers, it is little wonder that they take their public image seriously. Many of them have been openly supportive of public causes; several have gone out of their way to spread awareness about social evils.
But do they practise what they preach? Many leading names have gone off the track they advocated in the first place. We point out instances where celebs seem to have reneged on their stand…
Aamir Khan
What he said: In his TV show Satyamev Jayate, Aamir is vocal about his opposition to social evils — be it rape, water scarcity or safety of senior citizens. In fact, he dedicated one whole episode to problems faced by senior citizens; here he dwelt on their exploitation not just by outsiders but also by their family members.
What he did: In stark contrast to his image is the recent news about how he has apparently been forcing senior citizen residents in his society to sell him their apartments. These residents have now alleged that the society's managing committee has been favouring the actor. They have allegedly stated that the actor is not a developer and does not have the right to force them out of the building.
Salman Khan
What he said: At first, he said that he is not interested in politics and he doesn't like his film Jai Ho being linked to Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) fight against corruption. He the announced that he would vote for two Congress candidates. "In my constituency (Bandra), it's Baba Siddiqui and Priya Dutt," he said.
What he did: On a tour to promote his film Jai Ho in Gujarat during Makar Sankranti, he praised Modi. He went on to say, "Modi saab should be able to fulfill his destiny. He is a great man; I have not seen this sort of development elsewhere and voters must decide who is most suitable. So if you think Modi saab is best for you, vote for him." He added that Modi doesn't need to apologise for the Godhra riots since the court has already pronounced him not guilty.
What he said: During his tenure as Member of Parliament, the actor, representing Congress, had promised to improve railway transport in Mumbai, particularly the Western Railway stretch from Borivali to Virar. The 'Virar ka chokra' then proclaimed that he had worked tirelessly to increase the frequency of trains. After the July 26 flooding in Mumbai, he even announced that his efforts had helped the city get a Rs 150 crore relief fund from the central government.
What he did: Govinda's claims were negated by fellow party members. In fact, they said that he did not attend many sessions and didn't do much to contribute towards his constituency's welfare.
Hema Malini
What she said: In the light of an increasing number of rape cases last year, Hema Malini was asked about safety of women in the country. At that time, the actress said, "Don't take it so easy and go anywhere you want... anything can happen. You can get caught and nobody is going to come to protect you. Krishna had protected Draupadi, but we aren't so spiritually-evolved that God will come and protect us."
What she did: After getting an election ticket from Mathura for a Lok Sabha seat, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) candidate is now promising to wipe out corruption and focus on women's safety.
Shatrughan Sinha
What he said: Although the actor has been with the BJP for nearly decade now, last year saw Sinha support rival party (Janata Dal United) politician Nitish Kumar as a Prime Ministerial candidate. "There is no doubt that Nitish Kumar is PM material. But this is the parties', allies' and the people's decision. If they desire, Nitish can definitely become the PM. If he doesn't, it's doesn't mean that Nitish Kumar is not capable," he had said.
What he did: Now that he is contesting elections from Patna representing the BJP, he seems to have changed his stand. "Now onwards my aim, like Arjuna who focusses only on the eyes of the moving fish, is to make action hero (Narendra Modi) the Prime Minister of the country,"
he says.
Gul Panag
What she said: The actress had earlier shown her support for Narendra Modi on a social networking website. She had tweeted, "When it is between the fire & the frying pan — when you've been roasted long enough in the former — might as well try the latter?? No? #NaMo4PM. (sic)"
What she did: The actress has now joined AAP and is contesting opposite Kirron Kher in Chandigarh. Explaining her decision, Gul says, "That was when there was no AAP around. You look for no alternative and find the one-eyed in a land of the blind. It is not a choice. Narendra Modi for PM was something that came from resignation and a sense of fait accompli."
Have to give credit where it is due. mid-day could have wiped out my message, which was not charitable towards reporters, but it did not
These media hounds so easily pick at celebs as if they themselves are very holy. It is a known fact that many journalists live on by blackmailing. If a celeb does not give an interview, then they are at him by writing malicious articles and hiding behind words like "allegedly", "it is believed", etc. Muggers also stop people, threaten them, and do not budge until they extort money Reporters also stop celebs, threaten them, and do not budge until they extort information
Really Mid-day? and you preach what you practice?


text:
High Energy Physcis Seminar-Kanishk Rao-Top-quarks, Dark Matter, and BSM Higgs at CDF and ATLAS
We present searches in the top-quark, dark matter and BSM Higgs sectors at the CDF and ATLAS experiments. We present a search for fourth generation quarks at the ATLAS detector using a novel W identification method. We search for a new particle resonance that might explain the CDF observed top-quark asymmetry at CDF and ATLAS. We also describe a new method, 'basis-limits',which allows for powerful reinterpretation of experimental results without the need for experiment-specific tools, which are usually not available publicly. Finally, we discuss BSM scenarios for the newly discovered boson at the LHC, specifically in the 2 Higgs Doublet Model framework. We present a search for such a model at CDF and prospects at the LHC.
Location: Jadwin A08
Date/Time: 01/07/13 at 2:00 pm - 01/07/13 at 3:00 pm
Category: High Energy Experiment Seminar
Department: Physics


text:
Published: February 11, 2014 at 8:13 PMSo Cedar Point can just add like 5 kiddie coasters if they want their title back.
Published: February 12, 2014 at 12:13 PMFive more kiddie coasters would give Cedar Point a total of seven to Magic Mountain's four. But I get your point.
Still, Cedar Point gave up on the "Coaster Capital of the World" crap a long time ago. Once Matt Ouiment, formerly a Disneyland great, joined the ranks, Cedar Fair realized that coasters do not equate to long term attendance gains. One day Magic Mountain will figure out that same fact. Or they will just continue to flounder around the 2M a year attendance number. Which is extremely pathetic for a year-round park.


text: Alabama has indicated to MTC that the Uniform Sales & Use Tax Certificate - Multijurisdiction form satisfies our requirements and may be used to claim a resale exemption when it is properly filled out, issued by the purchaser, and accepted by the seller. The use of this form does not absolve the purchaser or the seller from compliance with applicable state laws including provisions that the seller is liable for taxes due on sales later determined to be taxable. A current version of the form is permanently posted on the Multistate Tax Commission's website at the following address: http://www.mtc.gov/Resources.aspx?id=1594


text:
By Wendy Elliott
Driving by the Shubenacadie Residential School years before it was destroyed by fire, I always got the creeps. Sitting on the hillside near the highway, I don't believe that it is just in retrospect that the building had a dark, grey malevolent atmosphere.
But it is only in recent years that the truth about this country's residential school horrors has begun to emerge. Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission finished its third national event in Halifax late last month and many residential school survivors shared their stories in an effort to create an historical record of the horrible legacy this school system inflicted on First Nations People across the land.
We can thank a brave Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq woman for the truth being revealed. The late Nora Bernard of Millbrook First Nation was instrumental in ensuring justice, recognition and compensation for the survivors of the Canadian Indian Residential School system.
A survivor herself, Bernard founded and became president of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School Association in 1987, launching a class-action lawsuit on its behalf. The action inspired residential schools survivors all across the country in what became the largest lawsuit of its kind in Canadian history, representing about 79,000 survivors.
For 21 years, the white-haired grandmother worked tirelessly to raise awareness and seek justice. In 2007 the federal government settled the lawsuit for more than $5 billion. Bernard also worked as a counsellor for the Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association and contributed to the reconciliation program of the United Church of Canada.
Attending a special performance in Halifax that was arranged for the commission's stop in the city, I was able to learn about the pain of survivors through a poignant Aboriginal children's story entitled Fatty Legs. The Inuit authors of the book, travelled all the way from Fort St. John in Northern British Columbia to narrate the text as part of this performance. The audience was surrounded by 300 linear feet of haunting photographs from the residential school era.
The child Margaret Pokiak was the only girl made to wear bulky, ill-fitting red knee socks in the residential school that tried to erase her Aboriginal culture. Despite the relentless bullying of a nasty nun, this feisty young girl gave her oppressors a lesson in human dignity and courage.
The real-life Pokiak and her co-writer and daughter-in-law, Christy Jordan-Fenton, joined the young women's choir Camerata Xara to portray her story through choral singing and movement. Aboriginal dancer Sarain Carson-Fox, who hails from Ontario, brought the young Margaret to life.
Preparing for this collaboration proved an important learning process for the singers of Camerata Xara, artistic director Christina Murray told me afterward.
"Sometimes we, as non-Aboriginal Canadians, feel like this is not our story and we're nervous to approach it," she said. "But through Fatty Legs, we've learned that the legacy of residential schools needs to be everyone's story. Without knowledge of this painful part of our country's history, healing and building new, equitable relationships will be impossible. Fatty Legs is beautifully accessible for people of all ages and backgrounds. It's an amazing entry-point for learning about residential schools and their legacy."
Murray explained how she was so taken with the story that she searched Jordon-Fenton out on Facebook and preparations for the Halifax performances began by sending story and music back and forth across the country. Now there is talk of a school tour, which would be an amazing experience for Mi'kmaq youth today. But more importantly all Canadians need to hear the truth about sadistic nuns and cruel clergy.
The treatment Canada inflicted on 150,000 Aboriginal children was wrong. So is the lack of safe drinking water and other ills that our First Nations people endure today. The so-called Indian school at Shubenacadie closed in 1968, but its legacy lives on until all the wrongs are acknowledged.


text:
Hilma - baby bonnet by Gralina Frie
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?
© Gralina
© Gralina Frie
© Gralina
© cathcart
by amachael Flickr
© Gralina
Hilma - baby bonnet
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download
This sweet little bonnet is knitted back and forth, basically in one piece.
Skills needed (or will to learn how to, since instructions are included):
-picking up stitches
-I-cord + I-cord bind off
-basic embroidery skills
The principles for knitting all three versions of the bonnet are the same, it's your choice of yarn and how you choose to finish it that makes it unique.