text:
With over 1 million procedures with P4HB medical products, the next generation of Soft Tissue Reinforcement is here![33]
In the 1970's, the first synthetic, resorbable fibers for medical applications were developed. Although resorbable fibers have now been used for nearly 50 years in medical devices, most resorbable fiber-based products degrade too rapidly in the body for use as a transitory scaffold. A resorbable polymer that can be used to produce a long-lasting transitory scaffold, but which will resorb and leave a strong repair has been elusive until relatively recently.
Researchers at MIT developed a biosynthetic system to produce Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a naturally occurring biopolymer. This technology was licensed to Metabolix, Inc. in the early 1990's. While at Metabolix, Inc, David Martin, Ph.D. and Simon Williams, Ph.D. developed PHAs for medical applications, specifically optimizing a new resorbable, high strength suture made from the polymer poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB). With these discoveries, Dr. Martin and Dr. Williams led the spinout of Tepha, Inc. to continue to enhance P4HB medical devices with controlled degradation which began the next generation in implantable medical devices.
In 2007, the FDA cleared sutures made from P4HB for use in soft tissue approximation, and within a relatively short period of time, other applications of P4HB expanded rapidly on account of its unique properties and excellent biocompatibility.[33] In the same year, the FDA also cleared a P4HB scaffold for use in soft tissue support and by the end of 2015 there were 22 additional regulatory clearances for products made from P4HB, including Galatea scaffold which was cleared for use in the repair, elevation and reinforcement of soft tissue deficiencies, including use in plastic and reconstructive surgeries.[20] Other members of the P4HB family include MonoMax® Suture for soft tissue approximation, BioFiber™ Scaffold for tendon repair, and Phasix Mesh™ for hernia repair. Each of these fully resorbable products provides prolonged strength retention, and facilitates remodeling in vivo designed for a strong, lasting repair.
P4HB fibers are now used in a number of clinical products and over one million patients have been implanted with P4HB based devices in the past 7 years. [21]
Researchers at MIT isolated a biosynthetic pathway to produce Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in microorganisms.
Researchers at Metabolix further developed biosynthetic systems for the industrial production of PHAs.
Tepha, Inc. was incorporated to pursue the medical applications of PHAs.
Tepha began commercial development of P4HB in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The first P4HB medical devices: TephaFLEX® Suture & Mesh, received FDA clearance.
TephaFLEX Suture was used clinically for the first time.
Tepha partnered with B.Braun Medical who received the CE Mark for the P4HB device: MonoMax® Suture.
MonoMax Suture was the first commercial launch of a P4HB device in Europe.
TephaFLEX Mesh was first used in Hernia Repair.
P4HB Mesh received FDA clearance for use in Orthopedic Surgery.
B.Braun Medical's MonoMax Suture received FDA clearance and was launched commercially in the US.
TephaFLEX Mesh received FDA clearance for Plastic Surgery.
Tepha partnered with Tornier and commercially launched the P4HB device: BioFiber™ for Soft Tissue Reinforcement in the US.
TephaFLEX scaffold was first used for Plastic Surgery.
Tepha partnered with Bard/Davol to commercially launch the P4HB device: Phasix™ mesh for Hernia Repair in the US.
Galatea Surgical, Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Tepha, Inc.
Tepha P4HB devices achieved milestone of treating 1,000,000 patients worldwide.
Galatea scaffold received FDA clearance of varying shapes and sizes for use in general plastic surgery and commercially launched in the US.
Galatea scaffold achieved milestone of use in 1,000 aesthetic Plastic Surgery patients in the US (cumulative).
Galatea received CE Mark for use of Galatea scaffold in breast surgery.
Contact Us Today!
We are glad you stopped by! Whether you need more information about Galatea Surgical or would like to have a sales associate contact you, we would like to hear from you. Please let us know how we can answer your questions.


text:
Events In: All Locations
No events found
About Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan tickets are on sale now and they are going fast. Be there for a stop on the 2019 Bob Dylan concert tour and get ready for an unforgettable night. Browse concert tickets for Bob Dylan and get ready for the show of a lifetime!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Milan's first architecture week definitely ended on a high note, to the delight of MADE expo, a partner of Milano Arch Week. Throughout the seven-day event, internationally renowned architects and town planners came together to delve into matters that every modern city cares about, ranging from the redevelopment of suburban areas to the relationship between architecture and nature, and the massive challenge posed by reconstruction.
Milano Arch Week again proved how deeply and powerfully architecture can engage the hearts and minds of so many professionals, technical experts, enthusiasts and ordinary people enthralled by the design process: some 20 thousand people are estimated to have attended numerous events staged at the two official Arch Week venues: the Polytechnic University of Milan and La Triennale.
Stefano Boeri was the artistic director who so brilliantly pulled everything together. In January, Milan's own architecture superstar appeared at a press conference announcing the 2017 edition of MADE expo, with a focus on: "Cities in transformation: retrofits and renovations". WATCH THE INTERVIEW
Turning to earthquakes and reconstruction, Boeri emphasised the crucial role played by wood, a strong and sustainable material that should be driving the reconstruction of earth-quake damaged areas and also play a leading role in renovating Italy's real estate assets.


text:
Workers' Party GE2011 Rally – Nee Soon GRC (Yishun Stadium) - photos galore (Part 2 of 4)
Labels: event, night scene, photo, politics
Part 2 of 4. Previously--not in Lost--here
Another series of 10 photos of the event. Oh, by the way according to Straits Times today, the crowd were estimated to be 10,000 people. If you see the attendance beyond the stadium (likely a peek at Part 3 and/or Part 4, I reckon you can easily say the figure should be more than that.)


text:
Marketing has become one of the most important industries in India today. For selling any product or service in the market, one needs to hire marketing and sales staff at his/her office. If you are searching for confident candidates for the post of marketing professional or sales executive at your office, then come directly to Jobingo HR Solution.
As a trustworthy placement agency, our motive is to provide sales and marketing professionals to the companies for helping them in compiling a trained sales and marketing staff. For this, we first understand the requirements of the company and then accordingly look for the candidate.


text:
Portal 10 Year Old Tawny
Portal's 10 Year Old Tawny is a blend of different wines aged in old casks for many years in our cellars where they acquire the amber colour and turn the young rich fruit into elegance. It's big yet balanced by fine acidity. It developed aromas of caramel, cafe au lait along with nutty flavors. Enjoy it with tarte tatin or macadamia ice-cream.
There continues to be substantial investment at Quinta do Portal: new cellars to accommodate the huge Port vats, new equipment that picks out only the ripest grapes, new gravity feed platform, softer pumps and presses all lead to sweeter, riper tannins and rounded complexity.In addition Pascal Chatonnet, from the Institut d'Oenologie in Bordeaux, has been working as a consultant with winemaker Paulo Coutinho in the areas of vinification and barrel ageing since the winery's inception and the results have been exceptional.
Quinta do Portal consists of four different estates, one of which, Quinta dos Muros, has been in the family for over a century. Most of the vineyards lie at highish altitudes for the Douro, so escaping the incessant summer heat, at least by night, and producing grapes that make wines of freshness and elegance.
With a stunning series of vintage ports in the last few years, and perhaps the best examples of fortified Moscatel you'll find in the Douro, it is time for wine lovers to take a trip to Portal; the latest addition to the winery is a fabulous modern guesthouse, the Casa das Pipas.
"This estate, operating under the supervision of French consultant Pascal Chatonnet, is producing an array of wines that generally perform well at fair prices".
Mark Squires - The Wine Advocate January 2008.
Winery of the Year - Revista de Vinhos (Portuguese Wine Oscars)
Winery of the Year - Wine & Spirits Magazine


text: Jay 12132 Report post Posted November 23, 2011 OK the main post is now fully updated with news about when the next titles will release on ALL 5 labels!---Kritzerland released on Monday:2011-11-22 Neal Hefti - Synanon / Quincy Jones - Enter Laughing (1000)And their next announcement should be Monday, December 5th.---FSM's Lukas Kendall said this about this next two CDs:Lukas, will the FSM label be releasing any new titles between now and when this offer expires?FSM CD #244 is at the plant now and will probably be on sale shortly before Xmas, but while I like it, it's not the kind of super-anticipated album like Gremlins that you might expect from our last batch of CDs. (That's because it took ages and ages to finish!) #245, which IS a very exciting title, may or may not be done by then, we are working as fast as we can.Thanks,Lukas----La-La Land's MV posted this on Facebook:A decision has been made -- midnight it is (PST). I'll most likely be up with my daughter any way. The lil' darlin hates sleep. The titles will then be available to purchase starting Tuesday November 29th at 1pm PST (4pm EST)----Varese announced on Facebook:Brace yourselves for one more release from the CD CLUB before we close for the year. Visit us on December 5 for the announcement. It's a whopper.-----Intrada has a batch being announced Monday November 28th and shipping Tuesday November 29th:Holiday or not, we keep plugging away. Next Tuesday will feature two releases -- one Special Collection featuring an early 80s horror score. The other is the third issue of a long time fan favorite in the MAF series. Twice on CD before, only this time as a 2-CD set.The 2-CD set initially had just the LP program CD in great sound. The expanded CD that followed had an indistinct mix which caused the score to loose it's crisp and punchy detail. We were able to fix that, although we preserved the LP mix on the second disc as a freebie, because it's a different mix and worth preserving in its own right.Just to clarify, I meant this release would appear in the MAF line. It was not previously available from Intrada. And the mix on the expanded score was not great for all tracks.I will say the 2-CD set is from the 70s. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
Here comes the bride, with her all white limo by her side!
You have sat and planned for months on end how fabulous, beautiful and perfect you wanted your wedding to be and guess what? You deserve it and with Limousine Service Baltimore providing your wedding limousine, you're going to get exactly what you deserve on this special day.....The BEST!
1. Our Fleet is The Best - Choose from a long list of luxury limousines for your special day and let us handle all of the work.
2. We Will Take Care Of Everything - We will also work closely with others handling your wedding so we can know where to be and when to be there.
3. Let Us Help - Your wedding day limo should be your last concern. We will take care of all of it so you can focus on whats most important and that is your big day!
4. Other Transportation Needs - We have other limos and party buses that can transport people to the rehearsal dinner, or to the reception after the wedding.
Give us a call today at 410-541-0094 to receive specials on our Wedding packages!


text:
Prince of Wales
Clinical School
Welcome to the Prince of Wales Clinical School (POWCS)
POWCS is advantageously situated between the three teaching hospitals at Randwick, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney Children's Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Women. With the support of our teaching hospitals, our School has a proven track record of delivering high quality medical education to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as elective students from national and international medical schools.
The school has more than 300 undergraduate, 8 Honours, 38 independent learning students and 70-80 postgraduate students across the programs of Medicine and Surgery. We have over 120 staff members comprising of academics, researchers and professional and technical staff. There are over 300 conjoint appointments.
There are 26 active laboratory and clinical research groups in the school. These groups work either here at the Prince of Wales Campus, in the Lowy Cancer Research Centre or in NeuRA. Our facilities for clinical research will soon be enhanced by the construction of a new clinical research facility, Scientia Clinical Research. Amongst other things, this facility will provide facilities to accommodate all phases of clinical trials.


text:
Administrator to the Biomedical Neuroscience Research Group
University of Exeter – University of Exeter Medical School Location: Exeter Salary: £19,828 + Hours: Full Time Contract Type: Contract / Temporary This full-time post is available immediately on a fixed term basis until 30th November 2017. The primary purpose of this full-time role is to provide general administrative support to the UEMS Biomedical Neuroscience research group currently comprising Professors Pawlak & Randall and Drs Brown, Tabak & Craig. This will involve providing a full professional and confidential secretarial and administrative service to the highest standard. Management of diaries will apply for the Professors only, although the support of them comprises 0.4FTE of the role (0.2FTE per professor). All other duties will relate to all staff in the group and will occupy the remaining 0.6FTE of the role. To be…
Link to Full Article: Administrator to the Biomedical Neuroscience Research Group
Administrator to the Biomedical Neuroscience Research Group


text:
Funk Soul Brother
Funk Soul Brother is an outstanding 6 or 8 piece band which perfectly captures the essence of the funk and soul era alongside contemporary pop grooves. Dancing is always the focus and the band delivers that every time.
Having performed together for a decade, the band offers a slick and sophisticated performance of iconic songs from the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin through to modern classics by Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk.
For all booking enquiries complete the form below, call us on 01572 335108 or you can email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
View all artists
View our full list of artists at a glance and watch their videos.
The Atlantics
One of the UK's most sought after rock and pop covers bands. Perfect to add style and excitement to any event.
Eleanor Turner
Eleanor Turner is one of the best harpists of her generation. A thoroughly versatile musician and a one-of-a-kind performer.
The Houndogs
One of the UK's best rockabilly and rock n roll bands. After 15 years the band always deliver an enthralling show.
Monroe Band
Fantastic 4 piece band fronted by female vocalist Polly Yates offering the flexibility of unplugged acoustic or electric lineups.
An exceptional vocalist and guitarist bringing fresh versions of well known pop songs alongside original songs.
Group S
Andy Scott's Group S is a world-leading saxophone ensemble featuring eminent world-class performers.
Monroe Duo
An outstanding acoustic duo featuring soulful female vocals and intricate, refined acoustic guitar.
Tāla Tarang
Tāla Tarang embody a special chemistry, through a subtle yin-yang of two halves creating a whole. A truly unique sound experience.


text:
Shankar Mahadevan is carving a name for
himself in the world of music with his debut album Breathless. An album that has made
everyone sit up and take note of a man who can apparently sing an entire song in just one
The Listen Page has the Real Audio Clips......
Artiste: Shankar
Main Himself Music Listen BuyAlbum Groups Lyrics Feedback
site created by tanmay patwardhan
mail me at firstname.lastname@example.com
Some links:
Tanmay's KKHH Homepage with over 23000 hits!!


text:
Chelsea team news: Hazard returns to line-up for Atletico clash
Eden Hazard has returned to the Chelsea line-up for the Blues' Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, while Gary Cahill also comes back in after being benched in the last game.
The Belgium captain makes his second start of the season and his most high profile on after previously only starting in the League Cup against Nottingham Forest.
Hazard 13/5 to score v Atletico
Chelsea have also switched to a more conservative formation as they line up in a 3-5-2 system with their captain returning in place of Antonio Rudiger. David Luiz is back in the team for Andreas Christensen as his suspension doesn't count in European competitions.
Alvaro Morata will be hoping to continue his good form after a hat-trick at the weekend against Stoke and Chelsea have a strong bench, with Pedro making the squad despite his minor injury.
Chelsea XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso; Fabregas, Hazard; Morata
Substitutes: Caballero, Rudiger, Christensen, Zappacosta, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi


text:
Lately I have been doing lots of reflecting.
I think this to be pretty good for the soul.
I'd like to imagine that someday when I am old, gray and calm I might sit on my porch with a cup of joe and just reflect. Maybe for days at a time. I think that would be just lovely.
Maybe there will be time for that in heaven, too.
In my reflection, I looked back at my little blog over the year with a smile. So much life. So much art. So much joy. Some sadness too.
Here are some of my favorite diy's from 2011:
welcome love sign
button bouquet
reupholstered chest
felt wedding
martha pillowcase bag
banner and bunting
recovered photo album
white baskets
tree silhouette
baby hoop art
couch pillows
fall wreathes
felt flower pins and clips
coffee cozies
repurposed coffee tins
crochet winter headbands
cheers to diy 2012
and to having 3 months of summer (crafting)


text: I agree, there would probably be interest from those of us who dont quite have the funds to focus on multiple projects but could chuck in a few quid. I do however think that whatever was built needs an element of madness involved. What is OCUK for if not pushing the boundaries of what can (or should) be done ;-)


text:
Made for the everyday and summer holidays, this linen-rich seersucker shirt features a playful cutabout blue stripe colourway. With a convertible collar, drop shoulders, turned up short sleeves and single-breasted button through fastening, this casual boxy shirt will keep you looking and feeling cool this season.
60% Linen
40% Viscose
Free UK delivery on all orders over £200
UK Standard: £4.95 - delivery within 3-5 working days
UK Next Working Day: £9.95 - Order by 2pm Monday-Thursday for Next Day Delivery
Click here for more information on International and UK delivery times
Back to top


text:
Manchester City v Tottenham: Player ratings
Joe Hart: Not at fault for either of Tottenham's goals. 6 (out of 10)
Pablo Zabaleta: No major errors, but ultimately could not keep City solid enough to get anything out of the contest. 6
Vincent Kompany: Making his first start since early November, the captain did provide a calming influence at the back as was expected, even if his team ended up being beaten again. 6
Nicolas Otamendi: Looked far more comfortable alongside Kompany than when he was paired with Martin Demichelis against Leicester the previous weekend. 6
Gael Clichy: Did little wrong defensively and provided the cross from which Kelechi Iheanacho equalised. 6
Fernando: Put in a decent enough shift before being sacrificed for Iheanacho as City looked to rescue the game. 6
Fernandinho: Was outshone by a lot of the opponents around him. 6
David Silva: Struggled to get into the game in the first half and although he improved a little after the break, he has certainly had better days than this. 5
Yaya Toure: Drifted in and out of the game and perhaps lucky to avoid a booking. Almost scored with a free-kick that cracked against the bar. 6
Raheem Sterling: Conceded the penalty, although the handball decision looked very harsh. Not an occasion when he provided much of a threat. 5
Sergio Aguero: Another City attacker who failed to really get going. Fluffed his best chance by blazing into the stand. 5
Kelechi Iheanacho (for Fernando, 66): Did what he was sent on for within 10 minutes as he converted City's equaliser. 7
Aleksandar Kolarov (for Clichy, 75): Saw the game slip away from City after coming on. 5
Hugo Lloris: Could not get near Iheanacho's goal and did really well to crucially tip an Aguero cross away from Otamendi late on. 7
Kyle Walker: Made some excellent interventions as well as providing an attacking outlet. 7
Toby Alderweireld: Another fine display from the impressive centre-half. 7
Kevin Wimmer: Also steady and reliable throughout. 7
Danny Rose: Prepared to put his body on the line at the back, caused problems down the left flank going forward and provided the cross that led to the penalty. 8
Eric Dier: Very solid performance from the holding midfielder. 7
Mousa Dembele: Did not put a foot wrong in the middle of the park. 7
Christian Eriksen: Constantly looking to create, and produced a great slotted finish to seal all three points. 7
Dele Alli: Some nice touches here and there, but unable to shine quite as much as he has of late. 6
Son Heung-min: Lively at times without having much of an impact. Had the ball in the net early on but the flag was raised for offside, and miscued a later opportunity before being substituted. 6
Harry Kane: Had been quiet but smashed the penalty home in supremely confident style, then sent a shot whistling narrowly wide late on. 7
Tom Carroll (for Son, 72): Helped turn the game back Spurs' way. 6
Erik Lamela (for Alli, 81): Great play to tee up the winning goal moments after his introduction. 7
Nacer Chadli (for Kane, 89): Brought on with only a few seconds to go. 6
Who is your sportstar of the year?
Vote in the Irish Independent Sport Star Awards and you could win the ultimate sports prize.
Prizes include, tickets to Ireland's against Scotland in the Six Nations, All Ireland football and hurling final tickets and much more.
Simply click here to register your vote
PA Media


text:
This website shows how to get involved in
these fantastic sports and in the county's activities, and
the links should take you to anywhere you want to go in
the world of squash and racketball...
Message from Secretary Andy Breen: "The
events we run are a great success but often cost money.
Merseyside funding is always difficult to find and income
is never certain. The benefits will include the sponsors
logo and contact details on all entry forms, promotional
material, t-shirts and include them in our tournament report
we circulate. The sponsor could also display the goods or
services duringevents." Emails: email@example.com
Website that helps find
a club near you....


text:
Save on Metabolism Boosting Supplements & Metabolic Boosting Products
Allegro ID: 211097
Read Reviews
Allegro ID: 189927
Read Reviews
Allegro ID: 582367
Allegro ID: 582368
Box of 30
Allegro ID: 582369
Allegro ID: 582370
Allegro ID: 582371
Case of 30
Allegro ID: 582372
Box of 30
Allegro ID: 582373
Allegro ID: 582374
Allegro ID: 582375
Allegro ID: 582376
Case of 24
Allegro ID: 190359
Case of 56
Allegro ID: 192059
Allegro ID: 548661
Case of 6
Allegro ID: 559278
Case of 6
Allegro ID: 559279
Case of 6
Allegro ID: 559280
Case of 6
Allegro ID: 559286
Case of 6
Allegro ID: 559287
Case of 6
Allegro ID: 559288
Case of 6
Allegro ID: 559289
Pack of 2
Allegro ID: 559290
Case of 6
Allegro ID: 559293
Because our price on this item is lower than the manufacturer's suggested retail price, the manufacturer does not allow us to show you our price until you place the item in your shopping cart. Retailers like Allegro Medical have the legal right to sell products at prices we set. However, adding the item to your cart allows us to show you our lower price consistent with our promise of always offering you the lowest possible prices on the widest selection of medical supplies, medical equipment and life enhancing products.
Adding this item to your shopping cart won't require you to buy it. However, our prices do change. If you decide to purchase this item now you are guaranteed the price now displayed in your shopping cart. Complete your purchase by clicking on the "checkout" button or simply remove the product from your cart if you decide not to make your purchase at this time.


text:
Code: PRZ-NHcTpUF
The property offers fabulous accommodation for a holiday in the mountains, combining elegance and luxury. Although contemporary, the chalet keeps that charming ´Alpine´ feel with wooden paneling and beams.
There is a huge reception room with high ceilings and plenty of natural light due to the wall of windows which also allows guests to enjoy the views from the cozy indoors. This open-plan room is divided into different areas: Firstly, there is a lovely living space with comfortable sofas accessorized with blankets and cushions around a stylish fireplace and a wide-screen satellite television. There is Wi-Fi internet, an extensive selection of DVDs and games for a fun-filled atmosphere and après-ski entertainment. There is a south-facing terrace, a peaceful ´sun-trap´ with a hot-tub which guests will certainly appreciate after a long day on the slopes.
Other features not yet mentioned are the indoor lift, games room with table tennis and pool table, Hammam spa and Jacuzzi, if you should need any more help relaxing! There is also high level security-surveillance and a security guard, your own car with the option to hire a chauffeur along with a concierge and chalet manager to help with anything you might need during your stay. Everything down to the finest details has been taken care of at Chalet du Lys to ensure a perfect holiday and an unforgettable skiing experience for all.
Dining facilities are excellent with an elegant table seating 10 where you will be served top-quality meals prepared by your own professional chef in the modern kitchen. There is another more informal dining area and breakfast bar too (meals included in rates).
Luxurious Family Rental in Courchevel is one of our France Luxury Rentals . View Guide to France Luxury Vacations
Disclaimer: Pins in map may not be accurate if Google Maps cannot find the exact address. In this case an approximation is made.
View Destination Guides: Courchevel, French Alps, Three valleys, Rhône-Alpes
Cpurchevel 1850, France
Cancellation fee over the total amount will be applied:


text:
NEW ORLEANS -- Police are investigating a fatal shooting that killed three people and wounded at least two others Tuesday night in Mid City.
The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. in the 3700 block of Ulloa Street. According to NOPD, First District officers responded to a call about a shooting in the area.
When officers arrived, three people were found suffering from gunshot wounds with numerous bullet casings in the area.
The coroner later identified those three people as 34-year-old Darome Hilton, 20-year-old Glenquel Emerson and 22-year-old Bobbie Basquine. One of them was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other two were taken to the hospital for treatment, where they died.
During the investigation, police discovered there were two other shooting victims who were taken to the hospital by private conveyance.
The investigation is ongoing. The identities of the deceased and official causes of death will be released by the Orleans Parish Coroner's Office after autopsies are complete and the families have been notified.
Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.


text:
OKLAHOMA CITY - Earlier in the week we told you about a Hollywood film being shot right here in Oklahoma.
William H. Macy is directing and starring in Rudderless, along with his wife, Felicity Huffman, Selena Gomez and Laurence Fishburne.
The film will have a News Channel 4 connection as well.
Hollywood came to KFOR-TV Friday to shoot a critical scene in Macy's plot.


text:
1. Donald Glover's Personal Notes. Donald Glover has a lot of thoughts and frustrations. And he penned each one of them on hotel paper. I found it very raw and very honest. I especially loved the last one. It reads:
I got really lost last year. But I can't be lonely tho. Cause we're all here. We're all stuck here.
I wanted to make something that says, no matter how bad you fuck up, or mistakes you've made during the year, your life, your eternity, you're always allowed to be better. You're always allowed to grow up. If you want.I felt like giving him a hug after reading everything. You can read it all here.
2. Frankie Magazine. It's a national bi-monthly based in Australia. Everything just looks too dainty and crafty and creative. Their magazine covers are just amazing.
3. Illustrations by Julian Landini. What fascinates me is that most of his creations are done by just using ballpoint pens on paper. His illustrations depict women in their everyday intimate moments. It's so incredible how he manages to capture that moment just by using colored pens and sometimes a splash of watercolor!
4. The Tent Scene from The Royal Tenembaums. I found this link that discusses in detail the beauty and misery that is encapsulated in that moment between Margot and Richie Tenembaum inside the tent. So much feels~!
5. Introversion comic strip by Luchie. Click here to read the entire thing. It's lovely and so spot on. Some people just enjoy the solitude and appreciate the silence more.
6. One of my favorite PostSecrets ever. If you don't read PostSecret, I suggest you do. Now.


text:
First ever radio show on CFRU on the training slot "Fill-in Station". Regular time to be determined soon, but it looks like it will be alternating Sundays from 10am - 12pm. Stay tuned!
Play lists will follow this format: Artist - Album - Song - Label
Here's the play list from this week:
Loren MazzaCane Connors - Long Nights - Long Nights I - Table of the Elements
Harris Newman - Dark Was the Night - Cloud City - Kning Disk
Ignatz/Harris Newman - Bring you Buzzard Meat - Bring you Buzzard Meat - self released
Jack Rose - Black Dirt Sessions - Cross the North Fork - 3 Lobed
Crystal Fingers - s/t - Space Seed - Inyrdisk
Gareth Davis/Steven R. Smith - Westering - Contrasted View - Important
Zomes - s/t - Night Signs - Holy Mountain
Friday, August 28, 2009
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
chocolate chip cookies
Ellie Krieger
Registered dietitian Sodexo culinary ambassador
First, let me dispel a common myth: Nutritionists do enjoy sweets. Dark chocolate is pretty hard for me to resist. And sometimes I just need to make chocolate chip cookies! What I don't love, however, is the notion of a guilty pleasure. No one should ever feel bad when they're eating something that tastes good. So I propose taking that phrase out of our vocabulary. (more…)


text:
Name: Rubato
Designer: kibbum
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Year: 2013
Rubato is a minimalist design created by South Korea-based designer kibbum. Rubato is an interactive bluetooth speaker that helps users arrange music by their own taste. Like an Italian musical term 'Tempo Rubato' which refers to the improvisation, Rubato ables listeners control pitch and rhythm of the music freely by posing conducting motions. The light on the botton edge of the speaker turns on when the music starts playing. In order to arrange music, pull out the controller -the wand- from the deck, and swing it as you wish while holding the button down.


text:
So for quite a few years, the vegetable peeler of choice in my kitchen has been the Good Grips peeler from OXO. It's got a comfy wide handle, it's sharp as the dickens, and it slices off a nice thin reliable peel every time. Been using it for years.
What I didn't know until recently was that this product was originally designed to make vegetable-peeling more comfortable for people with arthritis -- as well as everyone else. Now, if they'd viewed and advertised it solely for the arthritis market, it would have been a tiny little adaptive niche item, sold in special needs catalogs, nobody who didn't have arthritis would have thought to buy it and even those who did would be aware of a certain stigma of using such an item ("sigh, it's a great product but it just makes me feel so old!") But that's not what they did. They had the foresight to realize and capitalize on the fact that what was good for arthritis in this product would be good for a whole lot of people, with or without vegetable peeling challenges -- and they've got a whole line of highly popular kitchen utensils now.
The Good Grips peeler is a fine example of Universal Design.
Universal Design is defined as "the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design." The concept rests on seven principles, which are spelled out in detail at the Center for Universal Design at NC State University. I'm going to list just the principles and their basic definitions here:
Principle One: Equitable Use -- The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
Principle Two: Flexibility in Use -- The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
Principle Three: Simple and Intuitive -- Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
Principle Four: Perceptible Information -- The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
Principle Five: Tolerance for Error -- The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
Principle Six: Low Physical Effort -- The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
Principle Seven: Size and Space for Approach and Use -- Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.
We had some interesting small-group work in the seminar, each table of students analyzing a group of products that were placed on our table, and then making forays through the building to critique design issues from the perspective of case-study scenarios -- if you were a person with certain challenges and needed to do a certain daily-living sequence of tasks in the building, how does the current setup help or hinder?
It made me think of some everyday products and some recent experiences with Joy.
Consider these two battery-powered toothbrushes:
The Dora-toothbrush on the left, from Colgate, is the first one we tried when we decided to try the battery-powered toothbrush thing with Joy. It was a good success. She can turn it on and off herself with minimal support (the pink buttons just above Dora's head), and likes the feel of it in her mouth.
However, eventually it wore out, and when I went to get another one (I think I'd forgotten which store I'd gone to), the Colgate/Dora one wasn't there. So I grabbed the one on the right, the Little Mermaid from Oral B.
Not a good move. Not only was the toothbrush kind of ugly -- the lithe form of the Little Mermaid doesn't lend itself well to wrapping around batteries! Look at the on/off switches -- the on switch is right between her clam-shell bikini, while the lower button approaches her maiden-bits. Why didn't the designer dude (it HAD to have been a guy) just put the on-off switches horizontally, press the right clamshell for on and the left for off -- but I digress. More importantly, the buttons were hard to push. Joy couldn't summon that extra force, and got very frustrated with it. In addition, the bristle-movement was more extreme, and if you didn't get the brush into your mouth right away (and Joy's not that fast with it), it would fling little bits of toothpaste around.
Big universal-design fail on the "low physical effort" principle, plus being ugly and kinda demeaning. We went back out and sought Dora in particular. Accept no substitutes.
Here's another example from our everyday life -- the door handles of our two vehicles.
Our Honda CR-V, which we've had for 10 years now:
Joy cannot yet operate this handle. It takes a pretty sturdy pull, and you pretty much have to wrap your hand around the handle to do it. (Principle 6, low effort). It also doesn't pull straight out, but pivots such that the right side stays in place and it's really the left side that you're pulling out (Principle 3, intuitive).
Fortunately things are better from the inside, when it comes to pulling the door shut:
Look at that nice long snaky handle, with multiple places and heights to grab and pull. You could even use that holder-space lower down as a place to pull if that were more comfortable for you. (Since we have the child-lock on at all times, the door-open handle from the inside doesn't enter our calculations at this point). Joy does well at pulling the door closed, though it's kind of a heavy door and does take some effort.
Then we have our new car, the Honda Fit that we got just about a year ago. With this car, Joy can let herself in.
The handle pulls up, pivoting along the entire top length, with a minimum of effort. As long as you get your fingertips under, you don't have to wrap your hand or anything.
But oh no, what did they do to the inside?
There's only one little place to put your hand and pull. And it's only at one height, which isn't a good height for Joy because she's buckled into a car-seat by the time she needs to close that door. Fortunately she can do it if she stretches. And the door pulls easily, which is a plus. But why couldn't they have provided options, like the long snaky inside pull-bar did in the CR-V? (Principle 2: Flexibility in Use.)
I want to leave you with one final statement here, something that one of my LEND-trainee colleagues quoted in his final Leadership Presentation the other week. The quote applies to systems of health care, and it struck me as really thought-provoking, implying the applicability of universal design for systems well beyond toothbrushes and veggie peelers and car door handles:
Delivery models that work for populations with special health care needs will have applicability for everyone.
It's not just about what's good for special needs. It's about what's good for ALL of us. Universally.
To all my readers -- thank you for providing a sounding board and the opportunity for me to reflect on this year's LEND experience. This has really been a pivotal year for me in moving toward what I want to be when I grow up! :-) The journey continues, and it's so good to have so many people sharing that journey with me.


text:
Jeff Tucker on Isabel Patersons God of the Machine.
More from Jeff Tucker on Isabel Patersons God of the Machine.
Doug French on Isabel Patersons God of the Machine.
Jeff Tucker on Isabel Patersons God of the Machine.
More from Jeff Tucker on Isabel Patersons God of the Machine.
Doug French on Isabel Patersons God of the Machine.
Stephen Cox teaches conservatives about Isabel Paterson.
(Though its a gentle introduction; Cox spares them the Paterson who attacked the corporate elite, condemned the U.S. for perverting science to fry Japanese babies in atomic radiation, and told Ayn Rand that garden-variety collectivist ideas came from liberals and really godawful collectivist ideas from conservatives.)
[cross-posted at Liberty & Power]
Ive found another review of Isabel Patersons The Shadow Riders this one by Wilson Follett in the October 1916 Atlantic Monthly. (See my discussion of a previous review.) Follett says absolutely nothing of any interest in the review, but Ive posted it anyway.
Lew Rockwell interviewed me for a couple of brief podcasts this (Thursday) morning; the first one, on anarchism, is up now. (The second one, on the Giant Squid Menace, will be released when the public is ready for it ….)
I've been a fan of Lord Dunsany's haunting novel The Charwoman's Shadow since I was about nine. (I read it in the edition pictured at right – click on it to see more detail. The beautiful cover has not much to do with the book's contents [apart from the central figure's being deficient in shadow] but is inextricably associated for me with the story's feel – as well as with San Diego, which is where I was living when I first read it.)
But I only recently discovered and read the prequel, Don Rodriguez: Chronicles of Shadow Valley. And although I can see why it's not as famous as its successor – it's just not in the same league artistically – it's still quite charming, and there are a number of references in The Charwoman's Shadow that one won't pick up on unless one has read Don Rodriguez first.
But to come to my topic – reading Don Rodriguez led me to speculate on the book's possible influence on Tolkien (who is known to have read some Dunsany). Now regular readers of my blog know that I tend to detect possible Tolkien sources everywhere (see here, here, and here), so take this for however little it may be worth, but ….
To begin with, the Rodriguez/Morano pair – the noble if sometimes hapless hero and his faithful, more practical, less high-minded servant – reminded me strongly of the Frodo/Samwise pair. I suspect Dunsany modeled the Rodriguez/Morano pair on the Quixote/Sancho pair (especially given the common setting of Renaissance Spain), but Rodriguez/Morano stand halfway between Quixote/Sancho and Frodo/Samwise, just as a blue triangle stands halfway between a red triangle and a blue square. In other words, if one continues developing Quixote/Sancho in the same direction that Dunsany did, one would plausibly end up with a pairing something like Frodo/Samwise.
But what most struck me was the following passage in which several characters are passing through a great forest, searching for the elusive Green Bowmen of Shadow Valley:
They passed afterwards by the old house in the wood, in which the bowmen feasted …. They knocked loud on the door as they passed but the house was empty. They heard the sound of a multitude felling trees, but whenever they approached the sound of chopping ceased. Again and again they left the track and rode towards the sound of chopping, and every time the chopping died away just as they drew close. They saw many a tree half felled, but never a green bowman. And at last they left it as one of the wonders of the forest and returned to the track lest they lose it, for the track was more important to them than curiosity, and evening had come and was filling the forest with dimness, and shadows stealing across the track were beginning to hide it away. In the distance they heard the invisible woodmen chopping. (Don Rodriguez, ch. 10.)
This passage should remind any Tolkien fan of the passage in The Hobbit when Bilbo and the dwarves are passing through Mirkwood and stumble off the track in search of the ever-disappearing wood-elves. (There's also a similar incident, though less directly so, in Tolkien's poem "The Sea Bell.")
I also wonder about the possible influence of Dunsany's 1922 Don Rodriguez on Isabel Paterson's 1924 novel The Singing Season: A Romance of Old Spain, which in addition to its similar milieu and similarly-named protagonist also contains Paterson's most Dunsanyesque prose.
[cross-posted at Liberty & Power]
Montaigne himself, whose subtle candor disestablished
authority as the weather brings down a stone wall ….
– Isabel Paterson
Outside of libertarian circles, the 16th-century essayist Étienne de la Boétie is best known (when he is known at all) as the "friend of Montaigne" – that is, the friend Montaigne praises so extravagantly in his essay "On Friendship."
Within libertarian circles, of course, La Boétie is best known as the author of the brilliant libertarian treatise Discourse of Voluntary Servitude; Rothbard, for example, describes La Boétie as the "one of the seminal political philosophers" and the "first theorist of the strategy of mass, non-violent civil disobedience," and credits him with originating the "fundamental insight … that every tyranny must necessarily be grounded upon general popular acceptance."
But did La Boétie actually write it?
Two recent books argue that Montaigne, rather than La Boétie, was probably the actual author of the Discourse, and that at the very least he was both sympathetic to its message and somehow involved in its composition: The Political Philosophy of Montaigne (henceforth PPM), penned by David Lewis Schaefer, and an anthology, Freedom Over Servitude: Montaigne, La Boétie, and On Voluntary Servitude (henceforth FOS), edited by the same Schaefer. (Amazon lists the latter work at a daunting $130, but I had no trouble finding a used copy online for $20.)
Now it must be said up front that Schaefer is a "Straussian" – that is, a follower of Leo Strauss – as are a number of contributors to his anthology. Straussians tend to approach philosophical texts with the assumption that the authors are likely to have disguised their true views, or hidden them in coded messages, in order to avoid getting into trouble with political or religious authorities; thus any apparent tension in the surface of the text is quickly seized upon as evidence of a deeper meaning contradicting the surface meaning.
While I agree with the Straussians that alertness to the possibility of prudent dissimulation is a useful tool for interpreters, in my judgment Straussians are so quick to read apparent tensions as genuine contradictions, and genuine contradictions as intentionally inserted clues, that they routinely underestimate the value and subtlety of the so-called surface reading. As a result, Straussian interpretations become (IMHO) almost entirely unresponsive to and dismissive of the actual texts they are supposed to be explicating; subtle distinctions the authors are trying to make are ham-handedly misread as contradictions, and the Straussians end up mostly imposing on a rich variety of texts a preconceived, blandly uniform set of Straussian ideas that every great thinker "must" naturally have accepted, rather than opening themselves to an engagement with the ideas the authors actually claim to be propounding. Thus I find the standard Straussian readings of, for example, Plato, Xenophon, Descartes, and Locke, almost completely worthless. (I agree with them that Xenophon is a much sharper philosopher than he's traditionally been give credit for – but my reasons are virtually the opposite of theirs. The Straussians, like Xenophon's critics, find the surface of Xenophon's text to be a mass of contradictions; unlike the critics, they quickly dive below the surface to find the deep meaning. Contra both the Straussians and the critics, I think the surface of Xenophon's text is just fine as it is, and the supposed contradictions are mainly the product of impatience, or a tin ear, on the reader's part.)
Interpreting the apparently conservative Montaigne as a secret radical is a paradigmatically Straussian thing to do; in light of (what I take to be) the weaknesses of the Straussian "esoteric" approach to textual interpretation, Schaefer's thesis must thus be approached with caution. Nevertheless, I think Schaefer et al. are on to something. If ever a philosopher called out to be given a Straussian reading, it is Montaigne, who often seems to be deliberately drawing the reader's attention to the fact that some piously conservative remark he's uttering now is flatly inconsistent with some radical remark he made two chapters earlier. In particular, what Montaigne has to say about La Boétie is very odd (more about this below). Moreover, La Boétie's own later advocacy of religious persecution is hard to square with his earlier enthusiasm for liberty and rebellion. After finishing these two books I went back and slogged through Montaigne's entire massive Essays (1269 pages in my edition – that's why it's taken me a while to blog about it; and I haven't even tackled the letters and journals yet!) while keeping the arguments of Schaefer et al. in mind; the result is that while I'm not 100% convinced that Montaigne wrote the Discourse, I now think it an extremely plausible hypothesis – and I am convinced that Montaigne's thought has far more affinity with the radical libertarianism of the Discourse than has hitherto been recognised. (One of the fruits of this reading was my earlier post defending Montaigne against Mises' charge of holding that economic exchange must always be zero-sum.)
Shaefer's interest in the Discourse may be motivated by libertarian sympathies of his own; at any rate he refers favourably to Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek, and the writing of PPM was funded by the libertarian-oriented Earhart Foundation. On the other hand, Schaefer has apparently written a book attacking John Rawls for being too libertarian (!), so go figure.
To give you some idea of my reasons for favouring the Schaefer thesis, I excerpt below some notes I've been making on Montaigne for a course on political philosophy I'll be teaching in the spring:
Montaigne – no doubt owing to the rambling, unsystematic character of his writings – receives little attention nowadays from professional philosophers, but he was once enormously influential; echoes of his ideas turn up frequently in Shakespeare, Descartes, Pascal, Voltaire, Rousseau, Hume, and Emerson, among others. And if, as a number of recent scholars have argued (though the thesis is far from proven), Montaigne was secretly the author of the Discourse on Voluntary Servitude which he attributes to his friend Étienne de la Boétie, then he also exercised a crucial influence on Lammenais and Tolstoj, and thus indirectly on Gandhi and M. L. King.
Montaigne's political intentions, like his philosophical intentions generally, are difficult to ascertain. An admirer of the Greek skeptics, he often borrows their custom of arguing both sides of a case – but his intentions in doing so are not always clear. In one essay he hails obedience as the primary virtue; then in another he praises to the skies La Boétie's call for revolutionary disobedience. He praises ignorance, and praises learning; he alternately defends and criticises both Christianity and paganism, both frankness and dissimulation, both monarchy and democracy; he advocates numerous reforms, and also counsels leaving existing institutions as they are. He expresses gratitude for governmental authority, warning that in its absence we would all turn cannibal (though the passages he cites from Plato and Plutarch for this claim are actually about how people would not need government if they were sufficiently wise and virtuous); yet when he discusses real-life cannibals in the New World, whom he describes as living without governmental authority, he paints a glowing portrait of their lifestyle as superior to that of civilisation. A life of primitive simplicity is recommended because it would make the job of governing us easier – but it is also recommended because it would make the job of governing us neither necessary nor possible. …
Some scholars have seen Montaigne's opening remark that he would have portrayed himself "quite fully and quite naked" if he had lived in a country that enjoyed "the sweet liberty of primitive laws of nature" as the author's way of hinting that he is hiding his true views to avoid persecution/prosecution. …
In Essays I. 28, Montaigne begins by promising to include La Boétie's Discourse of Voluntary Servitude in its entirety; he also tells us that he and la Boétie were of one mind on everything, and that La Boétie's Discourse is so much greater than all of Montaigne's Essays that it deserves to be the centerpiece to which the Essays are mere decoration. All this looks like a pretty enthusiastic recommendation of the Discourse (and a surprising recommendation, given the apparent contrast between the Discourse's praise of disobedience and Montaigne's own frequent praise of obedience).
But Montaigne ends by saying that the Discourse is merely a schoolboy exercise of no great originality or importance, and that he has decided not to include it after all, since people might wrongly conclude from it that its author favoured disobedience to the government. (Montaigne made many changes in the Essays through multiple subsequent editions, yet this statement of an intention to include the Discourse, followed by Montaigne's "changing his mind," remained unchanged in each edition.) Montaigne assures us that, on the contrary, La Boétie would never have dreamed of advocating disobedience – though he also assures us that La Boétie was sincere in what he wrote in the Discourse (which is of course one long hymn to disobedience). How to make sense of all this is a puzzle. …
La Boétie's Memoir on the Edict of January 1562 was an ultra-authoritarian document advocating state terrorism against religious dissenters; as such it was as far opposed to the vehemently anti-authoritarian Discourse on Voluntary Servitude as could be imagined; many scholars have suspected that the Memoir and the Discourse were not in fact written by the same person, and that if the historical La Boétie was the author of the Memoir, then perhaps Montaigne was the author of the Discourse. Some passages in Montaigne's prefaces to La Boétie's works have in fact been taken to imply this; such phrases as "a man whose like I never met with" and "whom I can hardly, by the utmost stretch of my imagination, conceive a superior to" (the latter echoing Anselm's definition of God) might be a hint that Montaigne's La Boétie is a fictional persona, while "you [the reader] are indebted to me [Montaigne] for all you enjoy of the late M. Étienne de la Boétie" might likewise be a hint at Montaigne's actual authorship, as again might Montaigne's insistence in Essays I. 28 that he and La Boétie were two souls in one body, and that the Discourse really belongs in the Essays, indeed as its centerpiece. …
La Boétie's political intentions are perhaps as enigmatic as Montaigne's. Only two of his surviving works bear directly on politics – the Discourse on Voluntary Servitude and the Memoir on the Edict of January 1562. Each work seems straightforward and unambiguous, taken separately; but the two sit oddly together. As mentioned above, the Memoir is thoroughly authoritarian while the Discourse – a radical essay on the nature, techniques, and limits of political power – is thoroughly anti-authoritarian. According to Montaigne the Discourse was written over a decade before the Memoir, so perhaps the discrepancy can be explained as one more instance of the familiar phenomenon of youthful radicals turning conservative and respectable in later years.
As noted previously, though, La Boétie's authorship of the Discourse has been disputed. Our only source of information as to La Boétie's being the author of the Discourse (or of the Memoir, for that matter) is the testimony of Montaigne, but not everything Montaigne tells us about La Boétie's authorship can be accurate; for he says that La Boétie wrote the Discourse as a teenager and never subsequently edited it (or so Montaigne implies in saying that La Boétie "never saw it after it first went out of his hands"), yet the Discourse contains references to events that occurred only after La Boétie was no longer a teenager. Some scholars hypothesise that Montaigne backdated La Boétie's composition of the Discourse to downplay its significance, on the theory that the censors would find it less alarming if they thought it was a mere schoolboy exercise; other scholars have suspected that the Discourse was actually the work of Montaigne himself, or at least significantly edited by Montaigne, and that he passed it off as the work of his deceased friend in order to avoid prosecution for its subversive content.
Montaigne also tells us both that La Boétie was committed "very religiously to obey and submit to the laws under which he was born" and that "he himself believed what he wrote" – which might be yet another hint that the Discourse was not one of the things that La Boétie wrote, since no one could simultaneously be committed to obedience and also believe the message of the Discourse (which is disobedience from start to finish).
Despite, however, my sympathy with Schaefer et al.'s case for a connection between Montaigne and the Discourse, I find some of their arguments – well, just plain awful. For example:
The contrast between the authoritarianism of La Boétie's later Memoir and the anti-authoritarianism of the earlier Discourse is certainly some evidence in favour of the claim that La Boétie did not write the latter work; but it is hardly as decisive as Schaefer et al. seems to suppose. Schaefer says that the opposition between the two works is "inexplicable" except on the assumption that they were written by different people (FOS, p. 27), while Daniel Martin, one of the contributors to FOS, opines that they "cannot have been written by the same person, because they embody irreconcilable political positions." (p. 148.) Have Schaefer and Martin never heard of authors changing their minds? The phenomenon of a youthful radical becoming more conservative with age is not exactly unprecedented; should we likewise assume that Burke could not have written both the Vindication and the Reflections, or Fichte both On the French Revolution and Addresses to the German Nation, or David Horowitz both Corporations and the Cold War and The Anti-Chomsky Reader?
Just as religious authors once used to assume that no intelligent person could sincerely be an atheist, so Straussians tend to assume that no intelligent person could sincerely be a theist; hence Straussians are constantly on the lookout for coded atheist messages in purportedly theist texts. Of course, if one is determined to find a certain kind of message, one will find it. Schaefer et al. read the Discourse this way, and accordingly conclude that God is the tyrant the Discourse is talking about, the one whose power will vanish if we stop obeying him.
Their evidence? Here's a sample. Michael Platt, another contributor to FOS, notes that "by not qualifying 'Tyran' – by for example adding 'homme' – La Boétie indicates that tyrants are not limited to the class of human beings; they may be other beings, spirits, divinities, or God." (p. 62.) Platt oddly neglects to mention prairie dogs. Moreover, the Discourse's phrase "how many men and cities and nations suffer under a single tyrant" must, according to Platt, be a reference to God, because no human tyrant rules all these different communities! (If the text had said "how many different people have suffered from inflammation of the liver," no doubt Platt would assume that there was one single liver that all these people shared.)
As further evidence, Schaefer and Platt point to the Discourse's claim that the Jews are the only people so debased as to have imposed a tyrant on themselves without any apparent need. (FOS, pp. 20, 62-63, 200) One might have thought this was an obvious reference to 1 Samuel 8: 4-20, viewed through the lens of traditional antisemitism. But for Schaefer and Platt it can only be a reference to Jewish monotheism. (Schaefer oddly mentions 1 Samuel 9-10, but not the famous, and more relevant, 1 Samuel 8.)
Platt shores up this interpretation with what seems like a shifty maneuver; he makes a great deal of the fact that the word "One," in reference to the tyrant, is capitalised in the original text – and so, he infers, must be a reference to God. (FOS, pp. 20-21.) Indeed it is capitalised; but in the same passage the words "City" and "Nation"are also capitalised. Platt's translation quietly drops the initial capitals on these words while keeping them on "One," thus artificially exaggerating the significance of the latter. Moreover, in the same passage the Discourse also refers to the "thirty Tyrants" of Athens; this capitalisation of tyrants plural seems awkward for Platt's thesis of apotheosis by capitalisation. This time Platt does not drop the capital on "Tyrants," but instead he adds one to "Thirty," thus giving the impression that "Tyrants" is capitalised because it's part of a traditional title rather than because the author is free with capitals.
Randolph Runyon works his Straussian magic on La Boétie's sonnets:
But in the twenty-nine sonnets the actual center does not appear in the apparent center. That is, it does not appear in the middle of the fifteenth sonnet. Yet it is not at all that hard to find. The total number of syllables can be determined by adding the sum of decasyllables (14 sonnets × 14 lines × 10 syllables = 1960 syllables) and that of alexandrine syllables (15 sonnets × 14 lines × 12 syllables = 2520 syllables): 4480 syllables. The two central ones are thus the 2240th and the 2241st. (FOS, p. 100.)
These turn out to be the two syllables of "rien," meaning "nothing"; thus nothing is "precisely what can be found at the center of this center." If you like this sort of thing, rejoice – there's plenty more; one expects the Templars to make an appearance at any minute. (And Daniel Martin's article offers a visual equivalent of the same approach.) If you don't like this sort of thing, and think Runyon is making heavy weather over meaningless coincidences, you will be solemnly informed (p. 103) that you are violating Ockham's Razor (a principle of which Runyon obviously has a somewhat eccentric understanding).
There's more. Platt mysteriously says that "Montaigne is the first philosopher since Socrates to give an account of his life" (FOS, p. 81), thus dropping Augustine and Abélard down the memory hole; but for a Straussian perhaps they do not count as philosophers? He adds that the fact that Montaigne hid his views to satisfy the censors shows that Montaigne approved of censorship! (FOS, p. 73.) And in a typically Straussian flight of lunacy, Schaefer takes Montaigne's denial that he has made any unintentional errors as evidence that such errors as we do find must be intentional! (PPM, p. 260.)
They also, naturally, miss the whole point of the central argument of the Discourse. For example, in response to Montaigne's suggestion that the populace might freely switch back and forth between democracy and monarchy depending on what they took circumstances to call for, Schaefer expresses doubt that the suggestion was "intended … to be adopted literally," since such a policy "would presumably require a supragovernmental authority to determine when the regime should be changed, but how would that authority be constituted? The result is infinite regress." (PPM, p. 382.) In other words, despite his insistence that Montaigne authored (or at least accepted) the thesis of the Discourse, Schaefer seems to have forgotten what that thesis is. Surely a Montaigne who taught that all governments of whatever type depend on ongoing popular acquiescence would hardly have thought that changes of regime require a supragovernmental authority!
But then Schaefer reads the Discourse differently. He thinks its apparent confidence in the power of civil disobedience would force us to dismiss its author as "a naïve and confused thinker" (FOS, p. 19) if we took it literally – which of course he does not. (Perhaps Schaefer needs to study Bryan Caplan's piece on the historical effectiveness of mass disobedience.) Schaefer also argues (p. 21) that the Discourse's discussion of the factors that lead oppressed subjects to obey, along with its praise of tyrannicide, shows that its author must have realized that "mere passive resistance is unlikely to bring about a tyrant's overthrow" – a rather drastic non sequitur.
The Discourse has long been popular with anarchists. But how far did Montaigne/La Boétie's own anti-authoritarianism go? Did it extend as far as anarchism? Maybe not, but Schaefer's case against an anarchist reading seems weak. In his article "Montaigne's Political Reformation" (not included in either book), Schaefer writes:
His objection to mastery seems to extend to all governments, democratic, monarchical, or whatever. Yet no one who recalls the essayist's frequently expressed longing for order and his insistence that men must be "bridled" to prevent them from oppressing one another … can think of him as an anarchist.
While I do not think Montaigne was a convinced anarchist, I do think he was deeply interested in anarchism, albeit of a more Rousseauvian than Rothbardian cast. (For example, he praises the native Americans' supposed "admirable simplicity and ignorance, without letters, without law, without king, or any manner of religion.") In any case, Schaefer assumes without argument, first that Montaigne's enthusiasm for order and restraint must be sincere rather than ironic (what has suddenly happened to Montaigne the dissimulator?), and second that order and restraint can be achieved only by governmental means (something Montaigne himself seems to have doubted, most notably in his essay "On Cannibals"). Likewise at FOS pp. 18-19, Schaefer takes the Discourse's enthusiasm for republics as evidence against anarchist sympathies; but first, this Straussian's sudden confidence in the non-ironic nature of the text is surprising, and second, the text is not so incongruous, since anarchism and republicanism were closely allied in the early modern period and diverged only later (once it became clear what democratic republics were actually going to be like); thus early anarchists like Godwin, Proudhon, and Hodgskin expressed sympathy for republicanism, while early republicans like Rousseau, Paine, and Jefferson expressed sympathy for anarchism.
Let me wrap up this already overlong post with a quotation from the persistently underrated Isabel Paterson, showing that, whatever she would have thought of the authorship question, she had already rejected the conventional view of Montaigne as a solid conservative, and anticipated the "esoteric" reading of Montaigne as a closet subversive:
About 1560 or 1570, Etienne de la Boetie, the friend of Montaigne, filled with despair by the Wars of Religion, wrote:
"What think you of the dire fate that has brought us to birth in these times? and what are you resolved to do? For my own part, I see no other course than to emigrate, forsake my home and go wherever fortune bears me. Long now the wrath of the gods has warned me to flee – showing me those vast and open lands beyond the ocean. When, on the threshold of our century, a new world rose from the waves, the gods – we may well believe – destined it as a refuge where men shall till free fields under a fairer sky, while the cruel sword and shameful plague doom the ruin of Europe. Over there are fertile plains awaiting the plough, a land without bourne or master – it is there I will go."
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – what men found in America was the wish they had sent in anticipation. They brought with them the effective knowledge to make it come true. Hence the association persisted in spite of the prompt and atrocious contradiction offered by the treatment of the Indians and the early importation of African slaves. Montaigne himself, whose subtle candor disestablished authority as the weather brings down a stone wall, commented: "If anything could have tempted my youth, it would have been the ambition to share the dangers of this new enterprise." Yet Montaigne, like his friend, was no serf, but a seigneur, enjoying the privileges of rank and a good estate. It was his mind that was tempted to range abroad. He was the epitome of his age, furnishing his medieval tower as a study in which he pondered tranquilly the ideas which must undercut the whole structure. …
Not quite consciously, but in the back of their minds, Europeans felt that they had tried both politics and religion, and neither would "work." This is the undertone of Montaigne's deceptively noncommittal reflections. He did not reach the conclusion, but he stood at the turning point. He would never attack either church or state directly; he sought a by-pass instead; his outward conformity was a tacit escape. When he said that if he were accused of stealing the towers of Notre Dame, he would fly the country sooner than attempt to defend his innocence in court, the inference is plain; there was no justice to be had from the law. The attitude is legitimate as a starting point for inquiry, but rationally it should lead to an examination of the existing system of law and the proper axioms of law, a course which was to be pursued subsequently with useful results. What Montaigne was doing was to assemble bit by bit fragments of evidence of human behavior from which "natural" man might be synthesized. But he never said that either; though his evidence tended mainly to indicate that man was a product of environment. (God of the Machine, chs. 6, 15.)


text:
I Find the Root Cause for Symptoms and Treat the Whole Person:
Mentally, Emotionally, Nutritionally/Physically and Spiritually.
7 Keys to Fixing Fog, Fatigue, and Flab
Get Access to Your FREE Copy Now!
Are you tired of being tired?
Have you been treated for your symptoms, but you still feel awful?
Is your anxiety out of control and keeping you from enjoying life?
In my 20-plus years of experience as a Social Worker treating depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder (AD/HD), abuse, and many other life altering issues, the most important thing I learned was that I have to treat the whole person: mentally, emotionally, nutritionally/physically and spiritually. When I first started my private practice in 2001, I used traditional methods I learned in school. However, it didn't take me long to see that something was missing. That something was finding the root cause for symptoms and using functional testing and nutrition to see quicker improvement with long-lasting results.
This preferred approach provides a new life of health and wellness.
I now have a unique expertise that allows me to treat the whole person. It is hard to overcome any debilitating issue if you are not in balance. I have been able to help children with behavioral problems and/or AD/HD without using medication by changing what they eat and educating parents. I have helped clients with severe anxiety and depression find relief by using a nutritionally balanced eating plan and supplements. Functional blood labs have been a powerful tool to show clients they have the power to take charge of their own health.
Click here to learn more about New Life Health and Wellness.
Mental Health
Fara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who specializes in trauma, abuse, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, parent-child conflict, behavioral problems in children, and works with families that have children on the Autism spectrum. She is a nutritional specialist that implements functional evaluations to treat the whole person in resolving many mental health issues.
Fara is also Level II EMDR Certified and looks for root causes to treat the whole person and utilizes the latest research in brain health for lasting results.
Nutritional Health
Fara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Functional Nutrition Coach, which makes her a unique expert in treating the whole person. Conditions Fara has helped are anxiety/panic attacks, depression, AD/HD, PTSD, thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue, weight loss difficulty, PCOS, insulin resistance, fatigue, brain fog, autoimmune diseases, digestive issues and more.
If you are sick of being sick, and have done everything your doctor asks of you, with little to no improvement, now is the time try something different.
Psychotherapist and Functional Nutrition Coach
How do I help clients find new life?
By looking at root causes.
A trauma may have been the catalyst to your current issues, but while we do cognitive work there are functional blood tests that can be done to see if there are metabolic imbalances that need to be addressed as well.
Testing allows us to assess your thyroid, adrenal glands, metabolism and gut function. Imbalances can contribute to many cognitive and physical problems. So balancing chemistry can help you heal faster with lasting improvement.
We will work together so that you can maintain that balance physically and mentally.
My journey isn't over and neither is yours. I love sharing my knowledge and experience with others and would love to work with you to help you achieve your goal of happiness, health and wellness.
She has taught my daughter how to heal and become a strong young lady with a voice that speaks loudly to protect herself, her body and her conscience. Fara also has helped me throughout these last four years to become a stronger, better mom.
I can't thank her enough. We will forever love her. Thank you to our Fara. I can't imagine going through this without her."
– Sarah R., CO
She has a wealth of ideas for resources, alternate therapies including spiritual discernment, nutritional enhancements, parenting tips, and information on the brain. Her strategies/ideas were easy to put into practice. This helped give us hope that things would improve and we could grow to trust our son again.
As we continue on our journey with our son, we are thankful that Fara will be available to help guide us in navigating his teen years." – Karen C.
She talks to me about diet, supplements, and overall mental and spiritual well-being. She checks in with me frequently and listens to me without making me feel judged. She continually looks for new natural products and stays current with medical information that may help."– Luke F., AK
Her referral to the appropriate program changed our child's life. Fara also used her knowledge of nutrition and counseling to resolve anxiety issues with our other child. We are so grateful for her wisdom, insight, and honesty in helping us figure out why we were struggling.
Today, we have a stronger and better relationship with our children than we could have ever had without her help! She has made a huge difference in our family!" – KR


text:
This is a difficult tool to forge due to the huge difference in size between the square working face and the body of the tool. They could be made by forging from one piece or by forge welding two pieces together. We made one by forging it from one piece. Blacksmith Eric is shown in these pictures.
The starting size was a bar 1.25 inches in diameter. That was upset while hot until it reached 2.25 inches in diameter. That requires the difficult and repetitive work of upsetting.
The body of the flatter then needs shaping. The hammer hole is hot punched through the body.
The tool is hot filed to get closer to the finished shape. After it has cooled it can be filed to the finished shize and shape.
The flatter will be cleaned up, get a wooden handle, and be put into use.


text:
0523 The Empty Copper Sea
January 20, 2014
Another in the new Travis McGee cover series. I've complained before when a McGee cover fails to pick up on the color theme, but there can be no whining here. That is the copperyest sea (and sky) I have ever seen, although it is not exactly empty, well the sky is but not the sea, you know what I mean. I guess it's meant to show loneliness instead of emptiness; you and I know they are not the same but how is some schlunky photographer supposed to know?
What I really like about this cover is the sheer oiliness of the water. How did the photographer capture that?
Milk Carton
Have you seen me? I am a UK hardcover edition of The Empty Copper Sea, printed in 1991 by Book Club Associates.
No comments yet


text:
The Best Types Of Residential Water Purifiers
Access to clean and safe drinking water is every person's dream and prayer in this contemporary world. It is essential to ensure that water is pure before using it to cook clean food or drink as well. All the drinking water should be purified before using or drinking. Despite looking clear and sparkling, tap water comes I contact with so many substances that contaminate it. Depending on the needs, region and financial budget, one should select the most suitable choice out of the many available in the business market.
Popularly known as the RO, it among the most reliable water purifier on the market today. The RO is effective when one wants to purify water full of dissolved metals. Despite removing the salty taste in water, the RO exhibit high costs of energy billings following the high-pressure filtration processes. The RO is one technique that does not temper with the bacterial levels in the water while still causing so much wastage during the purification process.
The gravity water purifiers, simpler in contrary to their name, are the most popular due to their affordability. They do not require electricity to run, and they purify and store large amounts of water. The filtration is achieved by creating a difference in pressure of the double chambers which pushes out the pollutants. They are cleaned fitting in new filters after regular intervals of a few months which is cost effective. The gravity purifiers have some attractive features that make them so popular in most homes today. Although they clean the water of dirt particles, dust, and any other relevant contaminants, they cannot get rid of the metallic pollutants.
The multi stage purifiers on their mission to giving the best results, use more than one technique of filtration. The method not only removes the metallic pollutants but also the biological contaminants. The mode can also be used to improve that taste of the purified water. The purifier runs on high electricity bills and preservation rates.
The UF is an enhanced RO. Despite being bigger than the RO they still can't filter out the germs and bacteria. Although they require power to run, they call for minimal maintenance charges.
The UV apply the Ultra Violet rays to kill the biological pollutants in the water. They save water during the filtration process and do not interfere with how the water tastes. It, however, does not eliminate nitrates, arsenic and extra fluoride from the water.
More reading: read more


text:
I want to define function in Mathematica on different way. Actually, if I already have functions a and b. How can I print the value in some point of function f but without defining functions a and b like f. I dont want to use this before a[x_]:=..., b[x_]:=... because a and b I obtained different and I can not change everything above in my code because of this.
a = x;
b = 2*x;
f[x_] := a + b;


text:
I didn't get near enough laundry done today. And I didn't get the groceries picked up...yet. (I plan on grabbing a few essentials on my way to pick Seth up from his friends house.) I didn't get the house dusted. Or vacuumed.
But I did go to the vegetable stand with my mom. She called unexpectedly and invited me along...said she'd be here in ten minutes...I was ready! I got two big bags of produce for $10. Not bad.
I also got some photos edited. I believe this is Cathedral Rock, the opposite side of El Capitan.
We took 472 photos...and probably 25% of them were lame and/or blurry. So I got rid of them and resized the rest.
These pictures were taken at dusk. We had taken a ride at the end of the day just to kill a little more time. We ended up at this spot on the Merced River and stopped to take a look. Turns out it was really beautiful...and good for some photo ops.
Oh, and I didn't have to read 77 emails. I received 77 emails. 50 of which were garbage. It sounded way more impressive than it was. So now it's almost 8:30pm and I've done a whole lot of nothing...hanging out with my mom not included. She's always fun to be with. There's always tomorrow...right?


text:
Remodeling your home with the right upgrades can not only improve the value of your home but it can also improve the quality of life. Put your trust in Home Services Direct to help you with these improvements. We are a full service remodeling company that does home improvements throughout Chicago and its suburbs. We will walk beside you throughout the entire process. No matter what you need done to your home, whether it is remodeling work or an addition, our team is ready to help.
Learn More About Services Available from Home Services Direct in the Chicago Area and its Suburbs.
Remodeling Projects
We can help you create the space of your dreams! Increase the value of your home while creating a space that you love to live in.
Kitchen Services
Create a gourmet kitchen that any five-star chef would love. We can add-on to your existing kitchen or remodel the space that you have to create something special.
Bathroom Services
You can have the luxurious bathroom you've always wanted, or let us add on a bathroom for your growing family.
Whole House Remodel
Does your home just not seem to function the way you would like it to? Maybe you don't need more space, maybe you just need to redesign your existing space. We can help you create the perfect living environment. Sometimes redesigning the space you have is the answer to your dreams of a perfect home.
You may have the perfect location but lack the space needed to make your dream home. It might be the addition of a family member or the new master suite you have always wanted, or maybe you need to creat he in-law suite complete with all the amenities.
Outside Living
Add living space to your home by taking advantage of the great outdoors! We can help design and build an outdoor living space the whole family will love.
Other Services
Basement flood water removal, rental turnovers, home inspections and more–learn more about other services from Home Services Direct!
Work With the Remodeling Experts You Can Trust from the Chicago Area
Give us a call today at 847-749-0165 and let's start making a plan for your residential or next remodeling project. We're everything your home needs under one roof!


text:
Articles and movies
Sweden's royal cultural heritage is a never-ending source of knowledge, inspiration and experiences.
The page is refreshed continuously with articles, films and VR tours. Select the category and location in the search filter.
Come on a virtual tour of the previous exhibition The Lilian Look, and see clothing fit for a princess up close. Click on the image above...Read more
The Royal Gift Shop is now filled with beautiful Christmas decorations, gifts, delicious delicacies and many more festive treats. Here, y...Buy ticket
Hedvig Eleonora's State Bedchamber is one of of Drottningholms Palace's highlights. Experience one of Sweden's grandest Baroque rooms in ...Read more
Discover the Rococo style at Drottningholm Palace, with a fun and educational image hunt for adults. Rococo was a playful, graceful style...Buy ticket
Hunt for lions, find flowers and discover the Palace's gold. Challenging image hunts in the rooms of Drottningholm Palace is hosted for c...Buy ticket
This activity trail turns a visit to the exhibition into a voyage of discovery. Animals and nature are common themes in Märta Måås-Fjette...Buy ticket
Over the years, the Royal Family have shown their appreciation and support for Swedish craftsmanship. The work of Märta Måås-Fjetterström...Read more
A major exhibition will open at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in autumn 2019, giving visitors the opportunity to wander through the woven...Read more
The enormous size of the Royal Palace of Stockholm has always attracted interest, and has sometimes led to debate about how the building ...Read more
The Folke Bernadotte Bridge – a bridge across Djurgårdsbrunn Bay, linking Museiparken with Rosendal – opened on September 19, 2019.Read more
To mark the exhibition at the Royal Palace, we have created a series of products inspired by Märta Måås-Fjetterström's characteristic pat...Read more
Drottningholm is an unusually well-preserved royal palace setting. It is so unique and popular that in 1991 it was named Sweden's first W...Read more
Märta Måås-Fjetterström left more than 700 patterns. Thanks to her sketches, the craftsmanship and the cultural heritage live on.Read more
Find out about the living history of heraldry in the sacristy at the Riddarholm Church. Since 1748, the Coat of arms of Seraphim Knights ...Read more
Three walks at Drottningholm in the Royal Walks app will guide you through the World Heritage Site of Drottningholm Palace Park, from the...Read more
King Gustav III's collection of ancient sculptures has an eventful history, including a volcanic eruption, degenerating excavations, inco...Read more
Since 1873, the royal flag has been raised on the roof of the Royal Palace. The three-tailed flag which flies here is reserved for the Ro...Read more
The new book 'Royal Palaces of Sweden – People and stories' tells the exciting story about the people and historical highlights through t...Read more
This year's Portrait of Honour is the professor and designer Ingegerd Råman and was created by the photographer Bruno Ehrs. He has depict...Read more
The royal burial church at Riddarholmen also houses the Coats of arms of deceased Seraphim Knights. The deceased Knight is honoured with ...Read more
Every Friday, all year round, around 80 clocks are wound at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. It is the Court Clockmaker Sophia Reuterdahl w...Read more
To mark the 200th jubilee of the Bernadotte dynasty on the Swedish throne, an audio guide has been created for the Bernadotte Apartments ...Read more
Mankind has built fireplaces for thousands of years, for heat, light and cooking. Fireplaces have long been at the heart of the home, inc...Buy ticket
One of the priceless artefacts on display in the Treasury at the Royal Palace of Stockholm is Sweden's Queen's Crown. This differs from t...Buy ticket
A Royal family keeping up with the time. '200 years of Swedish History with the Bernadotte Dynasty' is a story told by Dick Harrison, Pro...Read more
Experience the Museum of Antiquities in 360°. The Royal Palace's stone galleries is housing Gustav III's collection of sculptures. Click ...Read more
Two queens have left their mark on Drottningholm Palace. One of them, Queen Hedvig Eleonora, had the palace built. The other, Queen Lovis...Read more
Leo is unlike any other lion in the world. In its glass box in the Upper Armoury, Gripsholm's very own lion is perhaps more comical than ...Read more
Royal family feuds, King Gustav III's magnificent Christmas celebrations and King Gustav Vasa's home. Gripsholm Castle has no shortage of...Read more


text:
International folklore festival "Moonlight in Paris" will be held from 01.-04. May 2020 in Paris, France.Apply now and meet people who are in love wit ....Read More
Here we propose a gregarious invite to all the Directors, Deans, Heads, Scientists, Professors, Speakers, Research professionals and expertise in the ....Read More
Leave the impossible behind and step across the threshold into the Magical field of dreams. Magical Festival is your playground of possibilities. A ....Read More
Like every year, a new theme and unique artwork will be unveiled for this seventh edition. We strive to make the little ones as well as adults dream w ....Read More
You have heard of this unique chance to experience one of the best festivals of the year? Well you heard right because Festival Beauregard is coming t ....Read More
Come together for the cause and share Festival Beauregard with all of the other music lovers with your Festival Beauregard Friday Pass tickets from St ....Read More
2018 Love Supreme Jazz Festival - SundayPlease click the link below for more information. ....Read More
Join us for Kent?s biggest festival for the mind, body and spirit; this 2-day Mind Body Spirit Festival brings together ancient wisdom, and practices ....Read More
Festival MARTO ! MARionnettes et Théâtre d'Objets dans les Hauts-de-Seine Au cours d'une de ses enquêtes, Boon, médecin légiste, identifie le corp ....Read More
GET CONNECTED events are lively, accessible events for adults with learning disabilities, their carers and other providers. At GET CONNECTED events ....Read More
Moscow City Ballet returns to the Festival Theatre with two stunning ballets, each presented in classic Russian style with full orchestra. The ballet ....Read More
Celebrate the festive season with traditional carols, seasonal sing-alongs and a Christmas cracker joke or two. ....Read More
Myminidisco present their mighty popular Festive Throwdown with all the usual attractions including Resident DJ Justin Rushmore (Finger Lickin') a ....Read More
Deep South Music & Arts Festival - SPACE ODDITY Ground control to Major Tom, pack your party bags and put your helmet on! We're commencing countd ....Read More


text:
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Transportation Transformation Series: Opening Reception at Tesla Showroom in New York by Event Photographer New York Jeffrey Holmes Photography.
This exciting series was presented by MCC's Green Business Committee, MCC's Tech and Innovation Committee and E3NYC at Tesla Motors New York, 511 West 25th Street, New York, NY on May 11, 2011. The event was photographed by event photographer New York's Jeffrey Holmes Photography. Jeffrey has served as the MCC photographer for the past 10 years. This event offered a picture perfect show room. Great branding, incredible cars and interesting speakers.
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce offers the business community a variety of perspectives of the direction of clean transportation in New York and beyond. They will explore specific modes such as electric vehicles, carshare (electric and not), bikeshare, water ferry and other innovative modes. They also looked at opportunities generated by new clean transit centers, and examined the opportunities all of this offers both local business and the local economy. The series began with a reception at Tesla Motors New York showroom. Guests were invited to learn about these game-changing concepts that will very soon be redefining transportation and meet the people at the forefront of the clean transportation movement.
The Tesla Roadster is the world's only automobile that offers super-car performance without super-car emissions. Engineered for performance and efficiency, it accelerates from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds, delivering 295 lbs-ft. of torque without using a drop of gasoline. The Roadster travels 245 miles on a single charge and plugs into nearly any outlet in the world – allowing for uncompromisable electric driving.
The event was sponsored by Con Edison Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs for sponsoring the MCC Green Business Committee for 2011. For more information on how you can earn cash rebates and incentives for your buildings' energy efficiency upgrades, contact the Con Edison Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Program office at (877) 797-6347 or visit their website www.conEd.com/energysavings.
For further information about the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce (MCC) or the MCC Green Business Committee, please contact: Laura Bucko, Vice President/Director of Communications, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. 212-473-7875 or www.manhattancc.org or www.manhattanccgreen.org. Established in 1920!


text:
Ed Clint's recent post on his IncrEDulous blog, Why teaching critical thinking fails, argues that while critical thinking skills can be taught, doing so is not enough to turn people into critical thinkers.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The Sinking of the Titanic
We've hit an iceberg, and there is confusion, hysteria, and not enough life boats to save us all.
Monday, September 10, 2012
With respect to respect
"Everyone deserves respect!"
"No, respect must be earned!"
Sigh. I get tired of hearing exchanges like this, especially when they are presented as prescriptive moral or ethical guidance. As usual, the reality and the ethics are more complicated than that.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Some much-needed discussion
There has been quite a bit of activity in the blogosphere and on Twitter and Facebook in recent weeks on two subjects that our regular reader(s) know have been topics of concern to Ardent Skeptic and me.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Noteworthy, 08 July 2012
Advice for a 'Freethought' blog, by Notung, has advice that skeptic bloggers should consider as well.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Noteworthy, 17 May 2012
Steve Cuno has a new post up on his personal blog that's worth a look: The Value of Dissent. And while welcoming informed alternative points of view is useful for everyone, it is essential for skeptics.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Noteworthy, 09 May 2012
This is from last week, but in case you missed it, Barbara Drescher has an excellent post about skepticism on her blog: You Can't Judge an Argument by its Conclusion.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
An Open Letter on Disagreement
by Steve Cuno
Author's note: The inspiration for this article was an angry note from a friend. Any attempt to guess which friend or to point fingers risks missing a great opportunity to see if the shoe fits.
Dear Friend:
Disagreement is inevitable. When it happens, let's see if we can handle it sans ad hominem attacks.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Noteworthy, 11 Mar 2012
Steve Cuno has a new post up on his personal blog: The Art of the Dodge
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Noteworthy, 08 Mar 2012
Ben Radford has a new post up on the CFI blog: Rush Limbaugh, Being a Dick, and Skepticism
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Noteworthy, 16 Feb 2012
- Steve Cuno has a new post up on the JREF Swift blog on how easy it is to switch off critical thinking: The Care and Feeding of Homunculi
- This week's episode of Skeptoid covers some common types of reasoning errors.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Delicate Balance
by Steve Cuno
In Why People Believe Weird Things, Michael Shermer describes his experience as the "guest skeptic" on a program for NBC. The other guests claimed to have experienced a close encounter of the third kind. He writes that after the taping, he and they went out for dinner and talked about...
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Noteworthy, 18 Jan 2011
- Steve Cuno has a new post up on the JREF Swift blog: How to Sabotage Skepticism from the Inside: Entwine the Claim with the Cause
- Steve also recently posted this on his personal blog: Denying human nature is no way to fight racism
Friday, January 13, 2012
A picture of Internet wildlife
by human nature photographer A. Skeptic
|A huge flock, honking and flapping their wings, but going nowhere.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
In Which I Admit to a Bias
by K.O. Myers
I generally eschew the annual ritual of New Year's resolutions. If I don't have the mental discipline to positively alter my character or behavior in June, I'm not sure how passage from one arbitrarily demarcated solar orbit to another is supposed to provide the necessary willpower. If the psychological signpost of the beginning of a new year affords you sufficient impetus to tack toward a course of self-improvement, you have my sincere congratulations. I've never found it particularly motivating.*


text: Has anybody gotten opencl to work on the surface pro 2? Im trying to run an opencl app and it says it doesnt detect any opencl cards. If i try to install the latest intel driver for 8.1 for the 4400, the installer says it isnt for this computer and quits. is there a seperate opencl library i need to install?


text:
July 2013 Washington Post-ABC News poll - National politics, Trayvon Martin, Health care
Q: The U.S. Supreme Court has said abortion is legal without restriction in about the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Some states have passed laws reducing this to 20 weeks. If it has to be one or the other, would you rather have abortions legal without restriction up to (20) weeks, or up to (24) weeks?
Show results by:
Question 37 of 38
In this poll:
Click "detailed view" to see interactive results by political and demographic groups (i.e. Democrats, ages 18-39).
This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone July 18-21, 2013, among a random national sample of 1,002 adults, including landline and cell phone-only respondents. Results have a 3.5 point error margin. The error margin is 4.5 points for the sample of white respondents and 11 points among African Americans. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt-SRBI of New York.