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At first I felt angry and felt like going for a run or bashing the dust out of some rugs with a squash racket. Then I felt sad and felt like hiding in my bathroom and feeling sorry for myself. And then I wandered around aimlessly for a while not really knowing what to do with myself.
We have worked really hard to create the life we lead. We have discussed, we have prioritised, we have made plans and choices and tried really hard to live a life that makes us happy.
And then it occurred to me that they can't if I don't let them.
Crappy stuff happens no matter what, but if I don't react, if I don't give it air, then it wont be so big and it will soon fade away and become part of the back ground.
My priority, my job, is to focus on the good stuff and to keep on living a wonderful life with my family.
We're choosing happy.
I hope you are too.

subset: commoncrawl


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Irving Kristol (1920-2009)
Irving Kristol, father of Bill and one of the founders of neoconservatism, has died at the age of 89. You can find obituaries, among other places, at the Times and the Post, as well as from Robert Kagan (a close friend of Bill and a leading neocon) and John Podhoretz (son of Norman, another founding neocon, at Commentary, one of the key neocon publications).
I usually find myself in opposition to neoconservatism, and hence I usually found myself in opposition to almost everything Kristol stood for. Indeed, I consider neoconservatism a reckless, insensitive, and at times, as during the Bush II presidency, insane ideology. It was the ideology behind the Iraq War and Occupation (through not just Bill Kristol but, more directly, Paul Wolfowitz), after all, not to mention behind the promotion of American global hegemony (through PNAC, the Bill Kristol- and Kagan-founded think tank). It has also been one of the leading ideologies behind regressive right-wing social policy in reaction to LBJ's Great Society initiatives of the '60s, as well as to the civil rights movement. It is more open, to be sure, than more traditional conservatism -- such as the paleo-conservatism of William Buckley and National Review -- not least with respect to its strong support for Israel, an area where I find some common cause with the neocons (even if I'm hardly as extremist in this regard), but, whatever its initially more radical origins (it grew out of the leftist politics of the City College of New York, for the most part), and however much it offered, early on, a useful critique of liberal public policy, it ultimately devolved into a core plank of the Republican coalition. In this respect, while Irving was a Republican, he was nothing like his son, who has spent his post-academic career as a partisan hack (and not nearly enough as an intellectual), and as an extremist who seems to lack the skepticism and flexibility of the earlier generation (even though, in supporting McCain, he has occasionally found himself in opposition to the Republican establishment).
I have not always been so opposed, however. Back in high school and college, when I was fairly conservative, I came to admire Kristol and the early neocons a great deal. Some of them, of course, didn't veer off to the right and embrace Republican politics, but, regardless, what I admired was their ardent intellectualism, their respect, so much at odds with so much of contemporary conservatism, for ideas. And I respected Kristol, in particular, for his adherence to the political philosophy of Leo Strauss (I studied with Straussians and still consider myself a Straussian, albeit a liberal one -- see here and here) and his admiration for Matthew Arnold, the 19th-century British poet and literary critic who is a hero of mine and on whom I focused my studies in graduate school. I moved away from Kristol -- and from neoconservatism, and from conservatism generally -- many years ago, but I suppose some of that early respect has remained ever since. Even in disagreement, usually strong, I have taken him seriously as a thinker, he and the first generation of neocons. (I've also always admired his wife, the historian Gertrude Himmelfarb, who has written extensively on the Victorian period.)
I highly recommend Kristol's Reflections of a Neoconservative: Looking Back, Looking Ahead (1983), which I first read as an undergraduate at Tufts in a research seminar on post-war American political thought. It's not easy to find, but it's worth the effort. I also recommend Neoconservatism: The Autobiography of an Idea (1995). If you want to know more about neoconservatism, why not go back to the source?
Irving Kristol was one of the giants of American conservatism, a true man of ideas who contributed a great deal to enlightened political discourse. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family, including to those with whom we disagree, on the other side of the partisan divide.
Labels: Irving Kristol, neocons, neoconservatism, obituaries, personal, William Kristol


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Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly think privatizing management of the state lottery is a bad idea, with some saying they'll no longer play if that happens, according to a new Franklin & Marshall poll released Wednesday.
The poll also found widespread support for legalizing marijuana use for medicinal purposes and majority support for legalizing gay and lesbian marriage.
Fewer than one in five voters (18 percent) said they either strongly or somewhat favor Gov. Tom Corbett's plan to hand off management of the lottery to a private company. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) either somewhat or strongly oppose privatization.
Almost one in five (19 percent) said they would play less frequently; one in a hundred (1 percent) said they would play more, and three quarters (75 percent) said they would play about as often as they do. The vast majority (84 percent) of voters said they favor requiring state General Assembly passage of the privatization of a government function.
"You know what's going on there, in my humble opinion? I think we have thought of this lottery as ours," said G. Terry Madonna, Ph.D., director of the F&M poll. "Pennsylvania Lottery going to Pennsylvania citizens for Pennsylvania needs. And all of a sudden we're turning it over, the management, to a British company. ... I think that has raised real concerns to people."
The poll surveyed 622 registered voters between Jan. 29 and Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
Mr. Corbett wants to hire Camelot Global Services PA LLC to generate more money for the lottery because of the expected growth in use of the senior citizen programs the lottery supports. He did not plan to ask for the General Assembly's approval of the deal.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday after an appearance at the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre, Mr. Corbett shrugged off the poll results, saying maybe his administration hasn't done enough to explain privatization's benefits.
Mr. Corbett said lottery tickets are printed, sold and advertised by private companies.
"We're bringing in another (private) layer," he said. "And the important thing is so that as we see the (senior citizen) population grow - in the next 17 years, one in four Pennsylvanians will be 60 or older - we're going to have money at that level," he said. "We weren't growing, consistently, anywhere near what we needed to grow to keep up. If we don't keep up at the lottery, then we've got to take it out of the budget side."
The lottery has provided $22 billion in revenue for senior citizen property tax and rent rebates, free bus rides, prescription drugs and long-term living services. Camelot has submitted a bid to manage the lottery for 20 years and promised to produce $34 billion in profits.
In other results, the poll found:
- More than half of Pennsylvanians (55 percent) oppose legalization of marijuana with only more than a third (36 percent) in favor of legalization. The numbers shift dramatically when the question focuses on medicinal use of marijuana with more than three quarters (51 percent strongly, 31 percent somewhat) favoring allowing adults to use marijuana if a doctor recommends it.
- A majority of Pennsylvanians (53 percent) are at least somewhat in favor of selling the state's liquor stores to private companies and about a third (34 percent) are at least somewhat opposed.
- More than half (52 percent - 36 percent strongly, 16 percent somewhat) of Pennsylvanians favor allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry. A bit more than four in 10 (41 percent - 34 percent strongly, 7 percent somewhat) oppose gay marriage.
- More than four out of five (82 percent) Pennsylvanians think the state should spend more on repairing roads, bridges and transit systems, but they are ambivalent about paying more money to get them fixed.
Only a bit more than 4 in 10 (43 percent) at least somewhat favor increasing driver and vehicle fees and lifting the cap on the oil company franchise tax to pay for it. Almost half (47 percent) at least somewhat oppose the idea.
- The vast majority (94 percent) support requiring background checks for all gun sales. Three out of five (61 percent) support a ban on high-capacity magazines, a ban on assault weapons and limiting handgun purchases to one per month.
- Mr. Corbett's job approval rating reached the lowest for a sitting governor in the more than 20-year history of the F&M poll.
Only about a quarter (26 percent) of registered voters believe the governor is doing a good or excellent job. Two-thirds (67 percent) think he is doing only a fair or poor job. Only a quarter (25 percent) view him at least somewhat favorably with more than four in 10 (43 percent) voters viewing him unfavorably and more than three in 10 (31 percent) viewing say they were undecided or don't know.
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com, @borysblogTT on Twitter


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Hello friend,
I am new on OpenCart...
I have created a store on Default OpenCart Template, i have prepared home page layout and update some products on store but when i was trying to shop any product after Check Out not receive any mail to admin and also not on customer registered mail ID.
i am just trying to use and developed e-commerece portal on OpenCart. OpenCart is new Framework for me please guide me please help me please.....
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Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:08 pm
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Ticket sales for the third annual Denver Comic Con officially begin on Monday, Dec. 2, but presale tickets for "loyal customers" (those who bought passes last year) have already begun today.
This year there will be 500 "Speed Passes" which allow holders first access to the Con each morning and head-of-the-line privileges for events and signings all weekend. 300 will be available for presale.
From the email:
Tickets go on sale on Monday, December 2nd at noon (MST) to the general public. We are giving you a five day heads up on buying and the first chance at the 3 Day Adult, Child, and the new Speed Passes.
300 Speed Passes will go on sale during the Presale, after that the remaining 200 will go on sale on Monday to the public.
The event runs June 13-15, 2014, and guests from "The Walking Dead" and "Star Trek" already have been announced.
If you bought tickets last year, go check your email and get ready for 2014!


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I have a straight 25 foot rectangular duct that is 0.9 sqft in cross-sectional area (11" by 12"). There are openings on either end, and nowhere in the middle. I wish to move about 1000 CFM through the duct.
My plan is to use "duct booster fans" to do all the air movement. I can get a 10" diameter 650 CFM fan, and a 12" diameter 800 CFM fan (which is slightly larger than the duct). Here are some options I'm considering:
- buy two 650 CFM fans, and install them in series: one where the air goes in, one where the air goes out. So the fans will be about 25 feet apart. Will their throughput add to about 1300 CFM? I suspect the answer is no, because nothing good ever adds linearly. But would I get close to 1000CFM?
- buy two 650 CFM fans, and install them in parallel at one end of the duct. This would require either widening the duct or somehow splitting it into two ducts, as two 650 CFM fans side-by-side will not fit in the duct. My intuition is that this would be worse than putting the fans in series, but maybe not?
- buy one 650 CFM fan and one 800 CFM fan, and install the 650 blowing into the duct and the 800 sucking out of the duct (or maybe the other way around?). Because the 800 CFM fan won't fit in the duct, I would have to build a larger frame for it, then connect it with some sort of funnel to the duct.
- same as above, only with two 800 CFM fans.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


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At 53 years old, Donna DiCosta has a lot to be thankful for: a successful nursing career and two healthy children. But the thing she is most thankful for is having a second chance at life, thanks to the power of organ donation.
"Every day that I am alive is because my organ donor chose to give the gift of life," DiCosta said. "What she has done for me is truly remarkable."
At age three, DiCosta was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. She managed to live normally for most of her life, but once she had her children her lungs began to fail. She was constantly having a hard time breathing and making regular trips to the emergency room.
"I was really, really sick before my transplant," DiCosta said. "I couldn't walk more than four feet without getting sick and having to lie down."
In her early 40s, Donna was placed on the waitlist for a double lung transplant. She was one of approximately 10,000 New Yorkers waiting for a lifesaving transplant in the state of New York.
"It was scary," she said. "My kids were 10 and 13 at the time, so I had to help them understand what was going on. The call could come at any moment so we had to have several plans in place as far as who would take care of the kids when I had to go in for the transplant."
After nine long months on the waitlist, DiCosta received a double lung transplant and a new lease on life. She celebrated the ten-year anniversary of her lifesaving transplant last month. Since the transplant, DiCosta has gotten to know the family of her donor, Mary, and has found out that they had quite a bit in common.
"We were both nurses and we had kids the same age," DiCosta said. "She always wanted to go to Italy, so once I got better I took a trip to Italy so Mary's lungs could breathe in the Italian air."
Last year, Donna traveled to Spain to compete in the World Transplant Games, where she ran a 5K. This year she plans to compete in the Transplant Games of America in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"Being able to run that 5K with my new lungs was just the most incredible moment," she said.
In her spare time, DiCosta attends community events and fairs where she educates her neighbors about organ donation.
"I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for organ donation," she said. "One person can save up to eight lives, which is such an incredible legacy to leave. I hope everyone registers to donate so that more people like me get a second chance at life."
To learn more about becoming an organ donor, please visit LiveOnNY.org .


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Principal Proposed Natural Treatments
Other Proposed Natural Treatments
- Acupuncture
- Ayurvedic Herbal Combinations
- Bacailin
- Barberry
- Biofeedback
- Black Tea
- Calcium
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon
- Cordyceps
- Dietary nitrate
- Fiber
- Fish Oil
- Eclipta alba
- Garlic
- Glucomannan
- Green Coffee Bean Extract
- Grape Juice
- Hibiscus
- Achillea wilhelmsii
- Maca
- Magnesium
- Melatonin
- Olive Leaf
- Milk fermented by probiotics
- Potassium
- Qigong
- Quercetin
- Soy
- Tai Chi
- Vitamin C
Herbs and Supplements to Use Only With Caution
- Citrus Aurantium
- Soy Isoflavones
- Vitamin C Plus OPCs
- Vitamin E
Most people can't tell when their blood pressure is high, which is why hypertension is called the "silent killer." In this case, what you don't know can hurt you. Elevated blood pressure can lead to a greatly increased risk of heart attack , stroke , and many other serious illnesses. Along with high cholesterol and smoking , hypertension is one of the most important causes of atherosclerosis. In turn, atherosclerosis causes heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases of impaired circulation.
The mechanism by which high blood pressure produces atherosclerosis is somewhat similar to what happens in a hose fitted with a high-pressure nozzle. All such nozzles come with a warning label that states, "Make sure to discharge pressure in hose after using." Unfortunately, many people frequently fail to pay attention to the warning and leave the hose puffed up with full pressure overnight. This rather common practice does not produce any immediate consequences. The hose doesn't develop leaks at the seams or burst outright on the first occasion you leave it untended. However, a garden hose that is frequently left under pressure will begin to age more rapidly than it would otherwise. Its lining will begin to crack, its flexibility will diminish, and within a season or two the hose will be sprouting leaks in all directions.
Similarly, when blood vessels are exposed to constantly high pressure, a similar process is set in motion. Blood pressures as elevated as 220/170 (systolic pressure/diastolic pressure), quite common during activities, such as weight lifting, do no harm. Only when excessive pressure is sustained day and night do blood vessel linings begin to be injured and undergo those unhealthy changes known as atherosclerosis .
Although it is important to lower blood pressure with all deliberate speed, only rarely does it need to be lowered instantly. In most situations, you have plenty of time to work on bringing down your blood pressure. However, that doesn't mean that you should ignore it. Over time, high blood pressure can damage nearly every organ in the body.
The best way to determine your blood pressure is to take several readings at different times during the day and on different days of the week. Blood pressure readings will vary quite a bit from moment to moment; what matters most is the average blood pressure. Thus, if many low readings balance out a few high readings, the net result may be satisfactory. However, it is essential not to ignore a high value by saying, "I was just stressed then." Stress is part of life, and if it raises your blood pressure once, it will do so again. To come up with an accurate number, you must include every measurement in your calculations.
In most cases, the cause of hypertension is unknown. The kidneys play an important role in controlling blood pressure, and the level of squeezing tension in the blood vessels makes a large contribution as well.
Lifestyle changes, such as quitting cigarettes, losing weight, and increasing exercise, can dramatically reduce blood pressure. Regarding exercise, one study found that engaging in aerobic exercise 60 to 90 minutes weekly may be sufficient for producing maximum benefits. 69 Another study found that taking four 10-minute "exercise snacks" of brisk walking per day significantly improves blood pressure. 78
For many years doctors advised patients with hypertension to cut down on salt in the diet. Today, however, the value of this stressful dietary change has undergone significant questioning. Considering how rapidly our knowledge is evolving, we suggest consulting your physician to learn the latest recommendations.
If lifestyle changes fail to reduce blood pressure, or if you can't make these alterations, many effective drugs are available. Sometimes you need to experiment with a few to find one that agrees with you.
Principal Proposed Natural Treatments
There are no herbs or supplements for hypertension with solid scientific support. However, the supplement coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) and extracts from the herb Stevia rebaudiana have shown some promise in preliminary trials.
Coenzyme Q 10
The supplement CoQ 10 has shown promise as a treatment for high blood pressure, but the evidence that it works is not yet strong.
An 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 59 men already taking medication for high blood pressure found that 120 mg daily of CoQ 10 reduced blood pressure by about 9% as compared to placebo. 7
In addition, a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 83 people with isolated systolic hypertension (a type of high blood pressure in which only the "top" number is high) found that use of CoQ 10 at a dose of 60 mg daily improved blood pressure measurements to a similar extent. 53
Also, in a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 74 people with diabetes, use of CoQ 10 at a dose of 100 mg twice daily significantly reduced blood pressure as compared to placebo. 62
Antihypertensive effects were also seen in earlier smaller trials, but most of them were not double-blind and, therefore, mean little. 8-10
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full CoQ 10 article.
The herb stevia is best known as a sweetener. Its active ingredients are known as steviosides. In a 1-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 106 people with moderate hypertension (approximately 165/103), steviosides at a dose of 250 mg three times daily reduced blood pressure by approximately 10%. 12 Full benefits took months to develop. However, this study is notable for finding no benefits at all in the placebo group. This is unusual and tends to cast doubt on the results.
Benefits were also reported in a 2-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 174 people with milder hypertension (average initial BP of approximately 150/95). 70 This study used twice the dose of the previous study: 500 mg three times daily. A reduction in blood pressure of approximately 6%-7% was seen in the treatment group as compared to the placebo group, beginning within 1 week and enduring throughout the entire 2 years. At the end of the study, 34% of those in the placebo group showed heart damage from high blood pressure (left ventricular hypertrophy), while only 11.5% of the stevioside group did, a difference that was statistically significant. No significant adverse effects were seen.
However, once again, no benefits at all were seen in the placebo group. This is a red flag for problems in study design. Both of these studies were performed in China, a country that has a documented history of questionable medical study results. 71
Furthermore, a study by an independent set of researchers failed to replicate these findings. 129 And, another study involving people with diabetes, as well as healthy subjects, found that stevia, at a dose of 250 mg three times daily, had no significant effect on blood pressure after 3 months of treatment. 130
Furthermore, a study by an independent set of researchers failed to replicate these findings. 129 And, another study involving people with diabetes, as well as healthy subjects, found that stevia, at a dose of 250 mg three times daily, had no significant effect on blood pressure after 3 months of treatment. 130
For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full Stevia article.
Relaxation Therapies
Although it seems intuitive that relaxation should lower blood pressure, the evidence for the benefits of relaxation therapies for treating hypertension is far from convincing. In a review of 25 studies investigating various relaxation therapies (totaling 1,198 participants), researchers found that those studies employing a control group had no significant effect on lowering blood pressure compared to sham (placebo) therapies. 125
More specifically, biofeedback is widely advocated for treating hypertension. But, in an analysis of 22 studies, real biofeedback when used alone was found to be no more effective than sham (fake) biofeedback. 63 A subsequent review of 36 trials with 1,660 participants found inconsistent evidence for the effectiveness of biofeedback for treatment of hypertension in comparison to drug therapy, sham biofeedback, no intervention or other relaxation techniques. 141
However, not all studies have been unsupportive. A review of 9 randomized trials concluded that the regular use of transcendental meditation significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to a control. 126 Similarly, an analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials of various relaxation therapies found that only transcendental meditation resulted in significant reductions in blood pressure. Biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation, and stress management training produced no such benefit. 127 In addition, a trial of 86 patients with hypertension suggested that daily, music-guided slow breathing reduced systolic blood pressure measured over a 24-hour period. 143
Prehypertension is a condition where blood pressure is elevated above what is considered normal, but not the level of a hypertension diagnosis. A small randomized trial involving 43 patients with prehypertension showed that heart rate variability feedback reduced systolic blood pressure compared to slow abdominal breathing and control groups. 148
Other Proposed Natural Treatments
The Iranian herb Achillea wilhelmsii was tested in a double-blind trial of 60 men and women with mild hypertension. 38 The results showed that treatment with an A. wilhelmsii extract significantly reduced blood pressure readings. In a double-blind study of 43 men and women with hypertension, use of a proprietary Ayurvedic herbal combination containing Terminali arjuna and about 40 other herbs proved approximately as effective for controlling blood pressure as the drug methyldopa. 41
Although the research record is mixed, 15-21,104,137 it appears that fish oil may reduce blood pressure at least slightly. 56 Fish oil contains two major active ingredients, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). Some evidence suggests that it is the DHA in fish oil, but not the EPA, that is responsible for this benefit. 57
Several studies have found that glucomannan , a dietary fiber derived from the tubers of Amorphophallus konjac , may improve high blood pressure. 39-41 Other forms of fiber may be helpful as well. 79-80
Milk fermented by certain probiotics (friendly bacteria) may provide at least a small blood pressure-lowering effect. 64,65,81
Some evidence supports the use of a green coffee bean extract for high blood pressure. 86,97
Three preliminary double-blind studies found that chocolate (high in polyphenols) might help mild hypertension. 91,98,112 A review including several additional studies drew a similar conclusion. 136 A larger analysis of 20 trials studied 856 patients with and without hypertension. The trials compared flavonol-rich cocoa products to low or non-flavonol foods for an average of 4 weeks. Cocoa was found to significantly decrease systolic blood pressure in 20 trials and diastolic blood pressure in 19 trials. 147
Numerous studies have found weak evidence that garlic lowers blood pressure slightly, perhaps in the neighborhood of 5% to 10% more than placebo. 132-135 It remains unclear whether garlic supplements can help patients with high blood pressure safely eliminate or avoid antihypertensive medications.
People who are deficient in calcium may be at great risk of developing high blood pressure. 29,30,58 Among people who already have hypertension, increased intake of calcium intake might slightly decrease blood pressure, according to some but not all studies. 31,59 In an extremely large randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 36,282 postmenopausal women, 1,000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D given daily did not significantly reduce blood pressure over a 7 year period in women with or without hypertension. 139 Weak evidence hints that use of calcium by pregnant mothers might reduce risk of hypertension in their children. 107
Study results are mixed on whether magnesium or potassium supplements can improve blood pressure. 22-28,51,54,72,82 At most, the benefit is likely quite small.
In a 30-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 39 people taking medications for hypertension, treatment with 500 mg of vitamin C daily reduced blood pressure by about 10%. 33 Smaller benefits were seen in studies of people with normal blood pressure or borderline hypertension. 34,35 One double-blind study compared 500 mg, 1,000 mg, and 2,000 mg of vitamin C, and found an equivalent level of benefit in all three groups. 60 (Because of the lack of a placebo group, this study cannot be used as proof of effectiveness, only as a demonstration of the equivalence of the doses.) However, other studies have failed to find evidence of benefit with vitamin C. 36,37,66 This mixed evidence suggests, on balance, that if vitamin C does have any blood pressure lowering effect, it is at most quite modest.
Unexpectedly, one study found that a combination of vitamin C (500 mg daily) and grape seed OPCs (1000 mg daily) slightly increased blood pressure. 73 Whether this was a fluke of statistics or a real combined effect remains unclear.
Other studies suggest possible benefit with the Ayurvedic herb Eclipta alba (also known as Bhringraja or Keshraja), 109beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) , 61 theanine from black tea , 122,145blue-green algae products, 50chitosan , 42 concord grape juice, 88garlic , 1-3gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) , 115-121 various forms of the herb hawthorn , 32,55,89-90kelp , 44lipoic acid combined with carnitine , 106quercetin , 123Salvia hispanica (a grain), 114 and sweetie fruit (a hybrid between grapefruit and pummelo, high in citrus bioflavonoids ). 83 However, the supporting evidence cannot be considered reliable for any of these treatments.
There is mixed evidence on whether soy protein and their associated isoflavones are helpful for blood pressure. 92, 102 A comprehensive review of studies investigating the influence of phytoestrogens (including soy) on blood pressure found no meaningful effect. 131 However, another review found that soy protein alone could significantly reduce blood pressure. 136 See also the section on Herbs and Supplements to Use Only With Caution .
Three small double-blind, placebo-controlled studies found evidence that melatonin may slightly reduce nighttime blood pressure. 74,85,99
Getting adequate vitamin D may help prevent the development of hypertension. 45-49
The vitamin folate may help decrease blood pressure (as well as provide other heart healthy effects) in smokers. 67
The herbs astragalus , barberry , Coleus forskohliibacailin , hibiscus , maitake , maca , and the supplements beta-carotene , cordyceps , flaxseed oil , royal jelly , and taurine are sometimes recommended for high blood pressure, but as yet there is no meaningful evidence that they work. 43,75,101,103,138,142
Olive leaf extract may work as well as the medication captopril in lowering high blood pressure. 146
Reducing homocysteine with B vitamins does not appear to reduce blood pressure in healthy people with high homocysteine. 108
Researchers have also studied cinnamon's role in reducing blood pressure. In a randomized study involving 58 people with type 2 diabetes, 2 g of cinnamon daily reduced high blood pressure levels, as well as HbA1c levels (a measurement of blood sugar levels over time). 144
One study quoted as showing that a traditional Chinese herbal formula can reduce blood pressure actually failed to find any effect on blood pressure. 93 In a review of 26 published studies examining the effectiveness of Tai Chi for high blood pressure, 85% demonstrated a reduction in blood pressure. However, only five of these 26 studies were of acceptable quality. 128 A substantial study (192 participants) failed to find acupuncture helpful for high blood pressure. 100 However, another study, this one enrolling 160 people, did report benefit, 105,111 but it was small and also suffered from problems in its use of statistics. In a review of 11 randomized controlled trials on the subject, researchers determined that acupuncture's ability to lower blood pressure remains inconclusive. 140
The alternative therapies Hatha yoga , Qigong , 113 and Tai Chi76 have shown a hint of potential 68 benefit for high blood pressure, the mechanism of action probably being similar for each. A recent review of multiple studies investigating the effectiveness self-practiced Qigong, for example, concluded that it was more effective at lowering blood pressure than no treatment controls. However, it was no more effective than standard treatments for hypertension: antihypertensive medications or conventional exercise. 124. In a review of 11 randomized trials with adults who were either healthy or at high risk of heart disease qigong was evaluated for its effect on stroke or death rates. Three of the trials included adults currently taking antihypertension medications. Those assigned to Qigong had significant reductions in mortality and stroke during a 20-30 year follow-up period. However, the authors did not know if the patients actually performed Qigong exercises throughout the follow-up period.151
Another review analyzed the benefits of yoga added to conventional hypertension treatment in 120 studies with 6,693 people. In the 48 randomized trials, specific yoga techniques were associated with significant blood pressure decreases. The studies suggest a correlation between yoga and lower blood pressure, but the study populations were extremely variable, making it difficult to draw specific conclusions. 149
In a 12-week study of 140 men and women with stage I hypertension, chiropractic spinal manipulation plus dietary change did not produce any greater benefit than dietary change alone. 77
For many years, the American Heart Association and other major foundations have recommended cutting down on saturated fat and increasing carbohydrates. However, growing evidence suggests that it is preferable to keep carbohydrate levels relatively low while replacing saturated fat with monounsaturated fats such as olive oil. 110 See the article on Low-Carb Diet for more information.
For a discussion of homeopathic approaches to high blood pressure, see the Homeopathy database.
Finally, because atherosclerosis is the main harm caused by hypertension, treatments discussed in the Atherosclerosis article should be considered as well.
Herbs and Supplements to Use Only With Caution
There is one highly credible case report of severe, dangerous hypertension caused by consumption of isoflavones made from soy during the course of a clinical trial on this supplement. 94 This is most likely a rare, highly individual response, but if it could occur with one person, it could occur with another as well.
As noted above, in one study, a combination of vitamin C and grape seed OPCs mildly increased blood pressure. In another study, use of vitamin E raised blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes. 95
The herb Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) may increase blood pressure. 96
In addition, various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat hypertension. For more information on this potential risk, see the individual drug article in the Drug Interactions section of this database.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO CAM Review Board
- Review Date: 09/2014 -
- Update Date: 07/17/2015 -


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I have been thinking about the ways we can display our data, usually for ourselves. For example, the 1940 Census.
My family lived in a town, with about 36 of them living in this same town. FTM2012 is great for generating reports one where folks lived, and with the new hierarchical format we are able to gather and see them together.
For example, this is a Report for the 1940 Census Records that I have in my database. I have blogged about this before, on how to create this report.
With the new update, to FTM2012, we now can see these addresses in a new format. I should mention, that IF the 1940 Census had the street address, I added an Address entry but make the Address Facts private.
I have moved all of my Addresses into the new format and here is a screen capture of what that looks like.
I haven't displayed the full address, but you can get the idea (that column can be widened to see the full address.
BUT, that isn't a good visual presentation on how close or how far those places are, in relationship to one another.
I took the data and created a Google Map for presentation of the same information. Zooming in on the map, and moving around a little, you can see houses, zooming in and out you can see how close the "family" lived in 1940. There is information with each of those houses.
View 1940 US Census Households in a larger map
This is great on displaying the information that I do have, but how to I identify that data that I don't have. Hmmmm
Copyright © 2012 by H R Worthington


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Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray available to order
Snappy days
Play.com has started to take preorders for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray, now scheduled for launch this summer.
Announced last month, the Xperia Ray runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and sports a 3.3in, 480 x 854 touchscreen display of the type Sony E calls a "Reality Display".
The handset also packs an 8Mp camera, complete with a Sony Exmor R sensor usually found in the company's standalone snappers.
Three has already confirmed it will offer the handset, but it's Play.com that has taken the initiative and started taking advance orders first.
The Sim-free Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray will set you back £350. Shipping starts from 15 August, says Play. ®
Sponsored: Practical tips for Office 365 tenant-to-tenant migration


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UM (Unaccompanied Minor) Award
Must your child travel alone? Stay calm: thanks to the UM* (Unaccompanied Minor)Premium , Royal Air Morocco guarantees the accompaniment of unaccompanied minors throughout their journeys.
Chart of the UM Award
Terms of the premium:
- - UM Award is subject to the conditions of validity of the management of the paying UM.
- - UM Award is transferable, valid for any unaccompanied child from 4 to 14 years.
- - Reservation at least 48 hours before the departure date


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My NY Mets sketchbook. I create an entry after each Mets game or commentary on the crazy stuff going on around the team.
Dicky does deserve some color.2 knucks up.2 thumbs up to Duda. I love it when he grooves one. I'm thinking we get 25 HRs from him next season.
Too much B/W lately. Nice to see some color.


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Not every house can practically utilize solar. Even though a residential roof gets sun for most of the day, it may or may not be enough sun to make a solar electric installation cost-effective. A solar contractor should carefully evaluate each potential installation site. If there is not full access to the sun, year-round, it may take longer for the system to pay for itself, which in turn would increase the operation time needed for return on investment. Removing or trimming back trees on a property oftentimes can help improve access to the sun.
Michael Hemming and Susanne Richter, owners of an Eichler in Granada Hills, installed a PV system with the help of Kristina Hahn, a Los Angeles-based architect, and a handful of other key players. The couple installed their PV system on the northeast corner of the roof, which avoided shadows created by tall trees in the yard.
Architects Alexander Victa and Cristina Bontia, Eichler owners in the Rancho San Miguel development of Walnut Creek, decided to go solar in an effort to make their home, which they bought as a fixer-upper in 2006, more energy efficient and ecologically conscious.
"When we were looking to buy this house, it seemed to have the best orientation for solar panels on the roof," Bonita says. "It's on a corner lot without a lot of trees around it, and the angled part of the roof was oriented to the southwest."
The couple has Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditations, so energy efficiency was especially important to them. "We thought that experimenting on our own house would not only educate us on residential 'green' design, but also give us a first-hand experience of living in an eco-Eichler," Victa says.
For Victa and Bontia, installing PV panels proved to be the best way to offset the energy costs of a new high-velocity/low-profile HVAC system, and the challenge was to coordinate the solar installation with a new foam roof. They chose flat-pack solar panels for their easy shipping and low-profile appearance and had them installed on the pitched area of the center of the house instead of the flat areas of the roof. The panels had to be mounted on structural footings, as required by the city inspector, which rested on the main beams of the house.
Unfortunately, the couple's original solar contractor went out of business halfway through their project, so Victa, his father Arnaldo (an electrical engineer), and his uncle Danilo (a mechanical contractor) came together to complete the install.
With these setbacks, the entire projects took about six months to complete and, according to Alexander Victa, cost approximately $16,000. The lag time and final cost, he says, were well worth it, however. After one year of having the PV cells on their house, combined with improved insulation value of our walls, the couple's total heating bill for the year was reported at -$150. The utility company charged $9 per month for metering costs.
Kevin and Jennifer Gray, owners of an Eichler in Thousand Oaks, added 30 150-watt BP Solar modules to his roof (rated at 4.5 kilowatts of power) in 2004. The system provides a large surplus of power, and the Grays report that they have had no electric bills since installation.
"The thing I like about solar is that it completely isolates us from any rate increases, and we make so much more than we use," Kevin Gray says. "We are part of the solution instead of the problem. Our system is pumping power into the system during peak times, and we end up with a $200 to $300 [annual] credit."
The Grays' system is running with two metering plans in place: net metering, which tracks our basic yearly production and consumption; and TOU metering, which enables him to sell PV-produced power back to SCE for up to 50 cents per kilowatt hour during peak times during the day (depending on market conditions) and buy power back at a deeply discounted rate during the night. Overall, the system cost the Grays just over $28,000 and the couple anticipates it will be 20 years before they earn a complete return on their investment.
Kevin says he was particularly pleased with the way his system blended into the home's roofline. "I wanted to do as little violence as possible to the aesthetics of my home," he explains. "From most angles, the neighbors can't see the system, and people continue to ask us when we will be putting it in—so that makes it an aesthetic success."


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It's time to take a break from things. I'm traveling to Peru and Bolivia for all of December to be as far away as possible from the obligations of everyday life, to stay clear of computers and the Internet, and to recharge the batteries for a new episode of my life. I'll be back in Berlin in January, when I hope to continue this blog. Until then, enjoy reading and commenting on the posts from the past. See you soon!
Nothing happeningSadly, I've recently neglected my blog. I'm hoping to write some posts again in the future. In the meantime, I'm sending out thoughts and ideas via twitter (@herrhorn).
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"Alpha Mare" Bumper Sticker
11 inch x 3 inch high-quality vinyl bumper sticker. Great for cars, trucks and trailers...just about anywhere! $2.99 each.
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I Am The Gardener
Pack of 5 Medium Flower Pansy Big Poly (Yellow)
Availability: In Stock
रू 200 रू 100 50% Off
Spend Rs. 1,500 get Rs. 155 off
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Pansies like full or partial sun, but need cooler temperatures to thrive. The ideal planting site will get morning sun but avoid the heat of the late afternoon. Space the plants about 7 to 12 inches apart. They will spread about 9 to 12 inches and grow to be about 6 to 9 inches tall.
About Pansy
The history of the modern pansy begins with a small European wild flower, Viola tricolour, commonly known as Johnny-jump-up. This was Shakespeare s little western flower. Wild pansies have a strong tendency (common among violet family members) to form natural hybrids.
Their appearance is also greatly affected by growing conditions resulting in a lot of variation among the species. These plants offer colourful flowers for any season in your garden. They have one of the widest ranges of colours and are good for containers, borders, and ground covers.
|Common Name
|Pansy, garden pansy
|Space the plants about 7 to 12 inches apart. They will spread about 9 to 12 inches and grow to be about 6 to 9 inches tall.
|Flower Colour
|Blue, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Yellow
|Bloom Time
|Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
|Difficulty Level
Planting And Care
- Remember to water your pansies regularly
- One of the most common reasons pansies fail is because they are not watered enough, so if your pansies are not doing well, try watering them more
- You can use a general, all-purpose fertilizer around your pansies to help them grow
- Remove faded/dead flowers to prolong blooming and encourage more flowers to grow
- Pansies are generally not affected by diseases or insects
- However, where slugs are common, they will not bypass a bed of pansies
- Either set out slug traps or sprinkle a bit of diatomaceous earth around the plants
- If signs of mildew or any fungi are observed, take a sample leaf to a garden centre for correct identification and plant treatment
Large flowering pansy Care
- Pansies grow easily from seed but take a long time to mature, so they should be started early indoors about 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date
- Press pansy seeds into the surface of the soil and cover to their thickness, as darkness is required for germination
- Covering the pots with black plastic is a good idea
- Keep the planting medium damp, and once the seeds have sprouted, (about 14 days at 70 degrees F
- ) Move them to a greenhouse
- A week or so before transplanting into the garden, harden the pansy seedlings off by putting them in a cold frame or a sheltered spot outdoors during the day
|Full Sun
|Remember to water your pansies regularly. One of the most common reasons pansies fail is because they are not watered enough, so if your pansies are not doing well, try watering them more.
|well-drained soil high in organic matter, and full sun or partial shade.
|Pansies like sun and cooler temperatures. 65 to 70 degree C
|Apply dry fertilizer directly to damp soil. Water the fertilizer into the soil. Can use a general, all-purpose fertilizer around your pansies to help them grow.
|Harvest Season
|Plant seeds in late winter for early spring and summer flowering, or plant seeds in the summer for winter flowering. 6 to 8 weeks before you plan on transplanting them.


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Lawyers for Bob McDonnell said in a federal court filing that they want more details on what exactly federal prosecutors allege the former Virginia governor did wrong.
McDonnell's defense team complained in the Thursday filing that prosecutors have "employed vague language that obscures what the government claims Mr. McDonnell actually did'' in their 14-count indictment of McDonnell and his wife, Maureen. The defense team wants a federal judge to order prosecutors to produce a "bill of particulars,'' or a detailed statement of charges.
The McDonnells were charged last month with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans in exchange for helping the chief executive of a health supplement company sell his products.
The crux of the case is whether the McDonnells performed official acts to help former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams or the couple extended routine courtesies, and nothing more, to Williams and his company.
The gifts Williams gave the McDonnells include a Rolex watch, luxury dresses and the use of a Ferrari. When in office, the McDonnells opened up the Executive Mansion for a launch party for a Star Scientific product and arranged for a meeting between Williams and a state health official.
Legal experts have said prosecutors may have difficulty proving the McDonnells abused their official positions in a legal sense, noting that is a fine line between what is illegal versus what is unseemly.
The defense team said in its motion that the lack of specificity used by prosecutors in the indictment speaks to that difficulty.
"The government almost certainly deployed such loose language in order to plead around the stubborn reality that Mr. McDonnell neither promised nor performed any legally cognizable official act at any time,'' the lawyers said in the motion.
The defense team also points out that the indictment alleges that the McDonnells conspired with others, "both known and unknown to the grand jury,'' to commit their crimes. The defense lawyers want prosecutors to provide the names of those individuals.
Without a bill of particulars, McDonnell's legal team argued, it will be difficult to prepare adequately for the July trial.
As of early afternoon noon Friday, prosecutors had not filed a response.
McDonnell Lawyers Want Specifics on Charges
Lawyers for Bob McDonnell said in a federal court filing that they want more details on what exactly federal prosecutors allege the former Virginia governor did wrong.


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Justin Geho
Class of 2013
Major/Minor: Business Management
It's a Wednesday night soccer game under the lights of Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium, minutes before kick-off. The starting players from each side are lined up at midfield for the introduction of the game's line-ups. The fans cheer for each Shoreman introduced, but when the announcer calls, "A sophomore, from Westminster, Md., #5 Justin Geho," there's an extra "pop" from a section of the stands.
Justin's mother never misses a game—home or away. Neither does his father. Nor do his three younger brothers or his younger sister. Justin's grandparents make it to almost every game. He has what amounts to his own traveling cheering section.
"It means the world to me to know that they love and support me the way they do. Having them at my games makes me feel like I have to play my best so I can show my parents the son they have raised, and show my brothers and sisters then man I have become. Not only do I love the game of soccer, but my family does as well and I love that they can come and watch me as often as possible."
It didn't take long for Justin to give his family something to cheer about. A midfielder, he started his very first collegiate game and has been in the starting lineup since. After leading the team in shots with 26 as a freshman, he opened his second season with two goals in a 7-0 Shoremen win.
Justin's impact on the team isn't limited to his excellent play. He serves on the Shoremen's leadership council—a select group of upperclassmen who provide support for the team's captains and help maintain communication between the coaches and players.
The prospect of playing in front of his family every game helped Justin, who lettered in six different sports at Baltimore's Cardinal Gibbons High School, end up at Washington College, but an early connection to the soccer program also played a role.
"I first met Coach [Drew] Hoffman my freshman year of high school at a soccer camp. My old high school coach and Coach Hoffman are best friends, so I've always known about the program."
Justin is all about making and maintaining connections—with his family, with his team, with his coaches and with his fellow students. He has embraced playing a sport on a small campus where athletics is such an integrated and vibrant part of student life.
"The best thing about being a student-athlete at WAC is that all your fellow students know who you are. Playing a good game and having people come up to you the next day and telling you how well you played is one of the nicest things."
Chances are the traveling Geho cheering section would give that a standing ovation.


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http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/147678 ... _i=desktop
ORIGINAL TRADE PAPERACK. Steve White, co-author with David Weber of the New York Times best-seller The Shiva Option, joins with Compton Crook Award Winner Charles E. Gannon to carve another notch in the Starfire adventure saga.
The war with the Arduans—profoundly alien invaders who originally arrived in STL ships—is over. Most of those attackers are now probationary (and very productive) citizens of the Rim Federation.
However, many among the Arduans' warrior caste have neither accepted defeat, nor the personhood of any of the other intelligence races. Their leader, the ruthless admiral of the second Arduan exodus— Amunsit—is in firm control of the Zarzuela system. Along with a fifth column among the peaceable Arduans, she hopes to find allies in subsequent refugee fleets that abandoned their race's now-dead home system long ago.
But as the victors' diplomats attempt to soothe tensions with these warlike neighbors, two heroes of the last war—veteran Admiral Ian Trevayne and young trouble-shooter Ossian Wethermere--suspect they have stumbled upon a deeper Arduan plot: one which could shatter the Pan-Sentient Union, and perhaps interstellar civilization itself.


text:
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Grant unto thy Church, we beseech Thee, O merciful God, that She, being gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may be in no wise troubled by attack from her foes. O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication unto Thee,and turn away the scourges of Thine anger which we deserve for our sins. Almighty and Everlasting God, in whose Hand are the power and the government of every realm: look down upon and help the Christian people that the heathen nations who trust in the fierceness of their own might may be crushed by the power of thine Arm. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.
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Tag Archives: Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Day
In these USA we have observed Armistice Day, commemorating the 11th day of the 11th month when, at the 11 hour, 99 years ago, hostilities ceased and WWI closed. This coincides with US Veteran's Day and UK Remembrance Day. For those … Continue reading
Posted in Just Too Cool Tagged Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday, WWI 3 Comments
Why do liberals have a spittle-flecked nutty about the cappa magna? Wherein Fr. Z rants.
Last night I watched the BBC (on demand) coverage of the Remembrance Sunday ceremonies in London. No one does ceremony and music like the British. The sober ceremony, with its essentially unchanging script, got me thinking about the need we … Continue reading


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616 Development plans $3M apartment complex in Grand Rapids
Just as the firm heads into the home stretch of its renovation of the Kendall Building in downtown Grand Rapids into a dozen apartments, 616 Development revealed a plan to expand its growing 616 Lofts community into a church in an historic neighborhood.
Heritage Hill landmark
616 Development intends to preserve and restore an 80-year-old, Gothic Revival-style structure in Heritage Hill and then convert the former home of Bethlehem Church, at 253 Prospect Ave. NE, into 22 market-rate apartments.
The company will invest $3 million into its latest project, 616 Lofts on Prospect.
"Considering its proximity to the Medical Mile and downtown Grand Rapids and its incredible location in historic Heritage Hill, this building offers an amazing opportunity to extend our urban community," said Derek Coppess, founder of 616 Development.
"We're excited to bring new life and community to this unused space. Our goal is to add to the vitality of the neighborhood and to do so in a way that respects our neighbors, as well as the historic nature of the neighborhood," he added.
The building is vacant, as Bethlehem has relocated the church to 250 Commerce Ave. SW.
616 Development bought the former church in September of last year for an undisclosed amount.
The units
The apartments will be a mix of studios, one bedroom and two-bedroom units.
Some units will feature vaulted ceilings up to 11 feet high, with exposed, gothic wood trusses.
Some of the structure's stained glass will be kept, while other sections will be removed and preserved, so the two levels of units going into the building's former sanctuary can have clear windows.
The finished project will offer community and fitness rooms, and every apartment will have one on-site parking space.
Leases are expected to start at $800 a month for the studios, $1,000 a month for the one bedrooms and $1,450 a month for the two-bedroom apartments.
616 will begin pre-leasing in the late fall, and the first residents are expected to take occupancy in six months.
"The adaptive reuse of this Heritage Hill treasure will bring new residents and tax revenue to our city, while preserving an architectural asset in the neighborhood," said Mayor George Heartwell. "This is another example of our development community meeting the strong demand for high-quality housing in and around the Medical Mile and the downtown Grand Rapids area."


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Malloy, Foley to appear before Connecticut AFL-CIO
NEW HAVEN -- Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Greenwich businessman Tom Foley, the Republican Party's endorsed candidate, are both appearing before Connecticut's largest labor organization to seek their political endorsement in this year's gubernatorial election.
Members of the Connecticut AFL-CIO on Monday are also scheduled to hear form Democratic Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and state Rep. Penny Bacchiochi (bah-kee-AH'-kee), the GOP's endorsed candidate for lieutenant governor. The labor umbrella group is holding its 10th biennial political convention in New Haven on Monday and Tuesday.
It's not certain that both Foley and Bacchiochi will be on the November ballot, however. Each faces a primary challenge Aug. 12.
Convention delegates are expected to vote on endorsements for state constitutional offices, state legislative seats and five U.S. House of Representatives seats.


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Toby Regbo Gossip
Toby Regbo gossip, latest news, photos, and video.
Great Skin & Gay YA
As you know, I am all about reading YA. As I've noted, too many times, YA is way underrated. Good YA is as profound, complex, and insightful as any "adult" classified counterpart and again, if you don't believe me, check out The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (YA) which is a masterpiece compared to Yann Martel – yeah, THAT Yann Martel – and Beatrice & Virgil, his latest smug mess. Full Story
Ginny & Grindelwald
Young, pretty Harry Potter Brits dating. I'm all over it. The latest: Bonnie Wright who plays Ginny and Jamie Campbell Bower who will be Gellert Grindelwald were spotted this past weekend leaving the EA British Academy Children's Awards together. Very cute. Grindelwald of course was at one time Dumbledore's best friend before he became his bitter enemy. Full Story


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Thijn Brummelkamp receives the EMBO Gold Medal 2013
In recognition of his pioneering work to identify genes involved in human disease
Heidelberg, 8 May 2013 – EMBO today announced Thijn Brummelkamp of the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) in Amsterdam as the winner of the 2013 EMBO Gold Medal. The award acknowledges his outstanding work to accelerate the genetic analysis of human disease.
In 2002, Brummelkamp developed an inexpensive method to permanently inactivate large numbers of genes by the use of RNA interference. This breakthrough involved the development of a new short hairpin RNA vector system (pSUPER) that directs the synthesis of small interfering RNAs in mammalian cells. The method is used today in many laboratories throughout the world and allows researchers to collect detailed information on the function and roles of the many human genes involved in diseases like cancer. The paper by Brummelkamp and colleagues in Science that describes the method has been cited more than 3500 times according to Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge.
Brummelkamp and his research group also investigate how viruses and bacteria make their way into mammalian cells. The development of haploid genetic screens in Brummelkamp's laboratory has permitted the identification of some of the proteins required for the entry of pathogens into mammalian cells. This method was recently used to demonstrate that the entry of the Ebola virus into human cells requires a protein involved in the transport of cholesterol. This type of work helps to identify new drug targets and is opening up novel approaches and strategies for the treatment of different viral and bacterial diseases.
"I am delighted and honoured to receive such a prestigious award and extremely grateful that I have been able to work with many fantastic scientists in stimulating environments over the years," the prizewinner said upon hearing the news.
"Thijn Brummelkamp belongs to a rare breed of scientists that can influence a field of research not once but repeatedly," commented Anton Berns, former director of research at the NKI. "He is expected to make many additional landmark contributions to molecular biology in the years to come," stated EMBO Member Piet Borst from the NKI in his nomination letter.
In 2005, Brummelkamp was selected as one of the top innovators under the age of 35 in the United States by MIT Technology Review magazine. The achievements of the 37-year-old scientist have been recognized by several awards (see Career stages).
Thijn Brummelkamp will receive the EMBO Gold Medal and an award of 10,000 Euros on 22 September 2013 at The EMBO Meeting in Amsterdam where he will also give a lecture about his research.
Career stages
Thijn Brummelkamp received his PhD (cum laude) from Utrecht University in 2003 for his work at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI). He did not pursue formal postdoctoral training but immediately accepted a position to establish his own research programme as a Whitehead Fellow at the prestigious Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts, Cambridge, United States. In 2011, he moved his laboratory to the NKI. He also holds an appointment as Adjunct Principal Investigator with the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Thijn Brummelkamp received the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Award in 2003, the 2004 NVBMB Award from the Dutch Association for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Kimmel Scholar Award in 2006.
Tilmann Kießling
Head, Communications


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What Goes Around Comes Around
Big Ant International have won a Gold Pencil for Design (Public Service Poster) at the One Show Design Awards held this week. Four posters were designed to wrap around poles, campaigning for an end to the war in Iraq, pointing to the Global Coalition for Peace web site. Grenades, rifles, missiles and tank guns come round the pole to catch up with the aggressor in each poster. What Goes Around Comes Around. The campaign won a Silver Pencil at the One Show and has also been shortlisted at the 2009 Clio Awards (May 12-14) (WON GOLD) and D&AD Awards (June 11), and won a Gold Outdoors Lion at Cannes International Advertising Festival (June 23).
What Goes Around Comes Around Credits
"What Goes Around" was developed at Big Ant International, New York, by creative director Alfred S. Park, associate creative director Frank Anselmo, art director Jeseok Yi, copywriters Francisco Hui and William Tran.
Other related posts:
Metallica The Day That Never Comes Music Video
Sphere Action Figures As Real As It Gets
Gruen Transfer Tourism in Iraq Pitches
BBC World Channel Billboards
Misereor – War Kills Families and Leaves Many Scars
Serj Tankian – Unthinking Majority Music Video
Amnesty International Switzerland Not Here But Now
US Flag and Iraq War
Justin Timberlake Music Video: What Goes Around Comes Around
Filed under: Design, Posters, Print
Tagged: Big Ant International
Location: USA


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Friday, March 13, 2009
New Beginning 615 (Chapter Opening)
It was so green. How could he have forgotten in just a year? New leaves shining bright, cast a restful glow over the earth that eased the eye and took away the strain. Arms of thick timber reached along the road as if to pull them in. He felt the cool of the deep forest. Like walking into a root cellar, the temperature dropped so much.
Odd, Kincaid thought, how the temperature chewed at the air. Warm sun was being cooled by frigid-air dive-bombers. Gull-winged, screaming Ju 87s, followed by icy squadrons of Messerschmitt bf 109s. The temperature soared down, like a fleet of Siberian MiG-29s dipping and shrieking, encroaching on the sun.
It was cold—it'd taken him a whole year to thaw. Thick ice shining bright, made the forest a refrigerator—a refrigerator fighting a bowl of warm pasta.
Opening: Wes.....Continuation: Rachel
36 comments:
- Evil Editor said...
The army/trees analogy isn't working for me. It goes on too long, and while you mean to compare the quantity of trees to the quantity of soldiers in a deployed army, we don't think mainly of quantity when we think of soldiers. I don't see skirmishers flanking and probing as comparable to trees, stationary in the middle of a grassland.
Also, referring to the forest as a battle line makes it seem like it's going to be a struggle to get through. Then you tell us there's a road.
What is the strain the trees take away? If it's eyestrain, you've already said "eased the eye," so no need to repeat the same idea.
- Anonymous said...
I think analogies are best when they're short and sweet. Or when they're tucked almost out of sight in the choice of words you use throughout the passage. I like ferreting out an analogy on my own, rather than have the author spoon feed it to me.
If I was partway into a book and hit this chapter beginning I'd skip right past it to the first bit of dialog. Dialog usually means something's happening, and as a reader, that's what I want.
YMMV. I skipped past most of the descriptive passages in LOTR, too.
- Dave Fragments said...
Stuff from my own experience:
Uncertainty isn't good -- "Eight, nine hundred miles..." Pick eight or nine and leave it be. Plus, you echo the uncertainty in "who could reckon how much..."
And I agree with EE, the armies-trees analogy isn't working for you. I too thought of a virgin forest wall without a break. But more important, the army analogy doesn't work because the opening sentence is Kincaid's thought. You need to stay with Kincaid, to stay in his personal thoughts.
You do stay in his thoughts in the second paragraph. But you do something distracting. Kincaid thinks how green, we see green in our minds. Then he thinks about forgetting the green. Then you step out of his mind and describe the greenish light, the restful glow and the strain reducing sight. We should have the "tall stout green hardwoods" right before this. It's all very poetic but it's not poetic on the page or even lyric. It's trying hard to be very good.
If "Arms" are welcoming, beckoning, "reaching along the road to pull them in," and not threatening or hostile, they do not just "reach"
- Anonymous said...
I liked this overall, but I was a bit disoriented by the contrast between the somewhat menacing feel of the first paragraph and the rich, peaceful feel of the second. I'm guessing that the menace is not intended, but the army analogy definitely brought that up for me.
I especially liked the root-cellar comparison.
- Anonymous said...
The first paragraph could stand a little trimming but I love the second paragraph. It really makes me feel like I'm there.
- Wes said...
Obviously, this didn't fly. Thanks to all for the critique to make me see the light. My critique group told me it didn't work, but I didn't believe them. Now I do.
Thanks for helping me avoid sending it to an agent or editor.
- _*rachel*_ said...
The thing I noticed was that the metaphors were mixing like the trees and the grass. I'd rather have gobbling OR armies. Creeping might work, since they're plants.
- The Editor said...
I would have rejected this after reading the first sentence.
"Queer how the forests gobbled up the prairie, Kincaid thought."
Speaker attributions used in interior monologue drive me batty. This is from Kincaid's POV. We know this is Kincaid's thought.
Other examples of the author intruding would be Kincaid heard, Kincaid saw, etc.
If you want your interior monologue to be unobtrusive to the point of transparency, get rid of these!
It's okay to do this once in a while (and many successful authors do). But please, please don't do it in your first sentence.
- none said...
Ah, editors and their little foibles :D. We should make a list. My little quirk would be a loathing of homophone errors. Do not reign in your horse. Please! Or say something is against your principals.
Dickens is the master of this kind of metaphorical writing, but even he overdoes it at times. I like the idea of it, but it needs tweaking, imo, so it's more subtle.
- Anonymous said...
You mean it's not a talking-walking-carnivorous tree story???
- Phoenix Sullivan said...
To the POV issue, I would think the attribution belongs precisely in the first sentence. Especially since it's a chapter opening. More especially if the story switches POVs. While this opening is in Kincaid's POV, it doesn't necessarily follow that the rest of the ms is. It kind of horrifies me that an editor would reject that quickly without knowing if it were indeed a necessary reader cue.
As for the extended metaphor -- what EE and the others have said.
- The Editor said...
In my opinion, it is never, never, never, necessary to use a speaker attribution in interior monologue. It's just lazy writing.
Like stating a character's emotion instead of showing us through action.
Dialogue is a different matter. By all means, attribute.
If you don't believe me, go open your favorite book. I'd bet good money there won't be a speaker attribution in interior monologue in the first sentence.
Or, if you need an example of an author who is writing about plants in his opening from the character's POV, read Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule.
I didn't say I wouldn't let you get away with this once in a while.
But first impressions count.
If you do this in the first few words I'm going to read, you've as good as labeled yourself amateur.
Think about re-writing.
- none said...
Phoenix, after a few weeks of reading slush, you'd be much less horrified!
- Evil Editor said...
Actually, regarding interior monologue, I must point out that Dune, considered by many the greatest science fiction novel ever written, is loaded with interior monologue, probably at least 1000 instances of it, and I would estimate at least half of them are attributed to the thinker. Also, a quick scan reveals that two of the chapters open with attributed interior monologue. (The chapters aren't numbered, but these begin on pages 363 and 381 in my hardcover edition.
As Phoenix points out, if it's the first sentence in a chapter, how can we know which character is thinking the thought if it's not attributed?
Also, the first sentence of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland includes a thought attributed to Alice.
- Anonymous said...
If their biggest concern here is the thought attribution, then perhaps they are not seeing the wood for the trees, Anon. thought...
- Phoenix Sullivan said...
So, I picked up two books and took a peek.
Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey has many multiple instances of speaker attribution. Granted, she does introduce interior dialogue, too, but the second sentence in Chapter 1 starts us out with the first of many, many attributed interior monologues.
Pillars of Earth by Ken Follett doesn't have much internal monologue, but does have lots of "he could see" type language written when in the MC's POV.
That's the first time I've ever heard that *rule* about not ever attributing interior monologue. And while I'm not a book or mag editor, I've been around the block a few times: MA in English, had a few short stories pub'd in pro venues, and I edit in the corporate world for a living.
I'm thinking if I haven't run across that particular rule after nearly 50 years given the social and educational circles I've run in, it probably isn't that widely known -- or, as the books EE and I took a peek at attest, not widely followed.
- batgirl said...
Hm. I had a character's interior monologues set off in separate paragraphs, first person, no attribution. One of my beta readers complained that I was switching pov, from 3d to 1st.
I was just trying to avoid 'filtering'. Can't win!
- Wonderwood said...
As a general rule, I try to avoid speaker attribution in internal dialogue, because it's telling and it is a writer intrusion. However, when writing in multiple 3rd POV, opening a scene with internal dialogue pretty much requires it to orient the reader. Once we know whose POV we're in, it isn't necessary and I generally avoid it. But that's just me.
- The Editor said...
batgirl makes a good point. Every editor is different. There are a plethora of works that tell a great story a get published despite questionable writing.
Don't let my little quirks upset you.
However, allow me to illustrate what I am talking about, then you can be the judge of whether you want to use attributions in interior dialogue.
Let's try a little exercise in editing. See if you can spot the attributions:
"It was an odd-looking vine, Richard thought. Dusky variegated leaves hunkered against a stem that wound in a stranglehold around the smooth trunk of a balsam fir. Richard could see sap drooling down the wounded bark, and dry limbs slumping, making it look as if the tree were trying to voice a moan into the cool, damp morning air. Pods stuck out from the vine here and there along its length, almost seeming to look warily about for witnesses.
He could smell the decomposition of something that had been wholly unsavory even in life. Richard combed his fingers through his thick hair as his mind lifted out of the fog of despair, coming into focus upon seeing the vine."
Now, let's look at this piece the way it actually appeared in Mr. Goodkind's book.
"It was an odd-looking vine. Dusky variegated leaves hunkered against a stem that wound in a stranglehold around the smooth trunk of a balsam fir. Sap drooled down the wounded bark, and dry limbs slumped, making it look as if the tree were trying to voice a moan into the cool, damp morning air. Pods stuck out from the vine here and there along its length, almost seeming to look warily about for witnesses.
It was the smell that had first caught his attention, a smell like the decomposition of something that had been wholly unsavory even in life. Richard combed his fingers through his thick hair as his mind lifted out of the fog of despair, coming into focus upon seeing the vine."
Did you have trouble determining whose POV this was without the attribution?
I'm just trying to help you write in a contemporary manner for an ADD generation. And yes, there are many wonderful books written a while ago (and currently) that are the editor's nightmare (The Great Gatsby and Twilight, for example.)
As a side note, Mercedes Lackey and Terry Goodkind have the same agent and publisher.
- none said...
I think a bigger problem for me is one I've seen in a few novels I've read lately, including McCarthy's "No Country for Old Men", where there are multiple POVs, and McCarthy is quite happy to go halfway or more down a page with "he" this and "he" that, so that you don't know for ages which "he" it is.
Often I have to go back and reread in the light of knowing which viewpoint character we're with at that point. Very annoying. And it's not just McCarthy.
- Phoenix Sullivan said...
Did you have trouble determining whose POV this was without the attribution?
In the Goodkind example, I would argue that adding "Richard thought" in the first sentence of the actual passage would plant this firmly in the mind of the reader that it's from Richard's POV. Till we get down to the second paragraph, that description could well be authorial 3rd person.
Then, in the 2nd 'graph, we have "his" before we know that "his" is "Richard's".
So, to your question, yes, I had trouble immediately determining POV. I still contend adding an attribution in the first sentence is not lazy writing; it is a useful cue precisely for those ADD readers.
I'm not arguing the "he could hear/see/smell/touch" stuff. But to immediately cue the reader in to whose POV we're in is, to my mind, never a bad thing.
- Evil Editor said...
I don't see the Goodkind example as internal monologue so much as description from Richard's POV.
If internal monologue is the thoughts of a character, and there are several characters present, we need to know which one is having the thoughts. For instance:
The football coach stood before his team and said, "Okay boys, we're down by forty five at halftime, but it's not over yet."
Who does this ass think we are, idiots? Leave us alone and let's get this fiasco over with.
The football coach stood before his team and said, "Okay boys, we're down by forty five at halftime, but it's not over yet."
Who does this ass think we are, Bubba thought. Idiots? Leave us alone and let's get this fiasco over with.
In the first example we have no idea which player has enough sense to realize the game is over.
- The Editor said...
While Richard's thoughts are descriptive, who is he describing them to?
Another character? No.
The reader? I certanily hope not.
The first line is what he is thinking to himself.
"Wow, that's a weird looking vine."
Namely, interior monologue.
Anywho, I didn't mean for everyone to get so caught up with this little picky issue.
The main thing is to write a good story. Hell, if I'm in a good mood and haven't had too much slush that day, I might overlook this.
But, if you put this in your first line and suddenly there's a form rejection in your inbox, could be me. Sorry.
- Evil Editor said...
Who is telling the reader the story? It's either an omniscient author, or the POV character. In this case, Richard is telling the reader what he saw: an odd-looking vine.
- Robin B. said...
Interesting stuff, EE and Other E.
Other E, I'm not big fan of ever saying 'never'.
With writing,I think knowing what the rules of language and composition are (historically a rather fluid set of rules) is important - but then, I'm not that worried, when I read, if they're followed to the letter if what I am reading draws me in without the words calling attention to themselves.
I agree with you, 'Other E', that the attribution didn't work in this chapter opening. No arguments there.
But I just popped over and checked your blog. I know you're on a purposeful ranting tear there, and I 'get it'. It's your blog and you can do whatever the hell you want to do with it. I do the same with mine.
And I imagine some of the crap you receive makes you crazy. But even so, it seems to me that 'always' and 'never' don't work when describing fiction. In theory, this is a fine and clean way to proceed through your slush. In practice, don't you think it's a bit murky - what does and doesn't work?
- The Editor said...
I would say that the author is allowing us to be privy to Richard's thoughts.
The character doesn't tell the reader anything (unless he's Ferris Bueller). The character just is.
- Evil Editor said...
All fiction consists of the author telling us what he wishes to; the distinction is whether the author is telling us what was reported to him by one omniscient narrator or by one or more POV characters.
The story, to me, is told by the narrator or characters. The author merely writes it down, for the author wasn't there. How could he have been? The events are fictional.
In any case, the argument seems to be over what constitutes internal monologue. In my opinion
Wow, that vine looks strange, Richard thought.
is internal monologue.
It was an odd-looking vine (followed by a report of what was odd about it)
Certainly everything that's in a character's POV isn't that character's internal monologue. I see internal monologue as what a character thinks, not what he sees and hears and smells.
- none said...
I think that extract, in its revised form, has exactly the problem I was talking about--I have no idea whose POV we're in, because the author doesn't tell me until halfway through.
I prefer the viewpoint character to be established at the start.
- The Editor said...
Robin S,
Yes, things can get murky. As I stated somewhere previously in this thread, fresh stories will get published regardless.
If I were already hooked into a good story and these thought attributions started appearing, it likely wouldn't deter me from finishing the read. I would notice, however.
And in my defense, I did preface the nevers with an "In my opinion."
All I'm saying is, if you are doing this, try a simple re-write.
Instead of opening with:
I think I'll go for a walk, John thought.
try starting with an action instead. E.g.,
John walked among the trees.
- Xenith said...
If you don't believe me, go open your favorite book. I'd bet good money there won't be a speaker attribution in interior monologue in the first sentence.
Given that very few books start with interior monologue anyway... :)
In my opinion, it is never, never, never, necessary to use a speaker attribution in interior monologue. It's just lazy writing.
I don't think there's anything in writing that you could say that about. There are things that 99.9999% of the times you should avoid, but no NEVERs.
(At which point someone will come up with one to prove me wrong, I know. This is the problem with absolutes, and therefore proves my point! :)
- The Editor said...
I agree that there is typically an exception to every rule.
Why don't we have a little fun and play a game of stump the editor.
If you'd like, send a short passage to my blog including a thought attribution. I'll post them with a re-write. If I can't think of a way to write it without a thought attribution, you win the glory of knowing you've stumped me.
- Robin B. said...
I don't wanna stump you, Other E. What I want is a story (a novel excerpt, actually) published, and since you're anonymous, that won't happen 'on your watch', as far as I can see.
I take your previous point about the attribution issue - it's just that the 'my way or the highway', all or nothing bit rankled me.
The way I see it, if I changed my prose according to the writing rules/likes/dislikes/pet peeves of every editor whose opinion I came across, I'd be doing a helluva lot of rewriting.
I'd certainly like to think you guys (gender neutral, in this instance) out there haven't become so overworked and jaded that you're using 'personal disdain shorthand' to dismiss otherwise well-written fiction.
And again, I'm not talking about this opening. I'm talking about the bigger picture.
- Xenith said...
If you'd like, send a short passage to my blog including a thought attribution. I'll post them with a re-write. If I can't think of a way to write it without a thought attribution, you win the glory of knowing you've stumped me.
No challenge. Anything can be rewritten. Whether it's always better or necessary is a different question :) I know when I was editing how tempting it was to make changes to reflect how I thought something should be written, even if it didn't strenghten the story -- erasing the athour's voice rather than enhancing it. :\
An interesting coincedence today though, because I bought a book by Chaz Brenchley. You've probably never heard of him, he's a professional British fantasy writer and like most novelists, his books are hard to get out his home country. I was modding an online chat for him on the weekend and I was impressed enough that I'd made a note to watch out for his book, so when I saw one in the bookshop and it was the first in a series, of course I grabbed it.
The first line is:
Not the first, Marron knelt in the Chamber of the King's Eye and thought, What need Ascariel?"
Now you might think amateur. I, long term and very jaded fantasy reader who considers epic fantasy to be dull and predictable, thought, "Hust read. Where's the price? Have I any money on me."
Of course, not every considers encouraging readers to hand over money as an important part of writing.
- Phoenix Sullivan said...
Yeah, Xenith got here first with the "no challenge" comment. I can rewrite anything to obey just about any arbitrary rule laid out: no adjectives, no adverbs, no complete sentences, no dialog tags, no metaphors, no gerunds, no passive, no... Well, you get the point. Being able to right something out doesn't necessarily mean it shouldn't have been in there to begin with.
Sorry to continue hijacking your feedback, Wes!
- none said...
EE, what do you think about leaving the reader afloat without a viewpoint character?
- Evil Editor said...
Is being afloat good or bad? Do mean afloat in a rowboat in the middle of the ocean, or afloat as opposed to asinking? Are we talking about switching POV character within a section? Or omniscient?
I think anything goes as long as you're consistent. If you aren't consistent readers will think you slipped up.
E if you ARE consistent, if you don't write in one character's POV at a time some will think you're slipping up. On the other hand, I have a feeling readers who aren't writers pay little or no attention to POV in the first place.