text:
Effective Date: September 23, 2013
(Format Revised: May 21, 2020)
Note: You can download a copy below:
Notice of Privacy Practices (English)
Notice of Privacy Practices (Spanish)
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
If you have any questions about this notice, please contact our Privacy Officer or the Manager of our Health Information Management Department at the address or telephone number provided at the end of this Notice.
This notice describes our hospital's practices and that of:
- Any health care professional authorized to enter information into your hospital chart.
- All departments and units of the hospital.
- Any member of a volunteer group we allow to help you while you are in the hospital.
- All employees, staff and other hospital personnel.
- We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your medical information, to follow the duties and privacy practices described in this Notice, and to give you a copy of this Notice.
- We will inform you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your medical information.
- We will not use or disclose your medical information other than as described in this Notice without your written authorization. If you provide us authorization to use or disclose medical information about you, you may revoke that authorization, in writing, at any time. If you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose medical information about you for the reasons covered by your written authorization, except as described in this Notice. You understand that we are unable to take back any disclosures we have already made with your authorization and that we are required to retain our records of the care that we provided to you.
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose medical information. For each category of uses or disclosures we will explain what we mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.
For Treatment. We may use medical information about you to provide you with medical treatment or services. We may disclose medical information about you to doctors, nurses, technicians, medical students or other professionals who are treating you. For example, a doctor treating you for a broken leg may need to know if you have diabetes because diabetes may slow the healing process. In addition, the doctor may need to tell the dietitian if you have diabetes so that we can arrange for appropriate meals. Different departments of the hospital also may share medical information about you in order to coordinate the different things you need, such as prescriptions, lab work, and x-rays.
For Payment. We may use and disclose medical information about you so that the treatment and services you receive at the hospital may be billed to – and payment may be collected from – you, an insurance company or a third party. For example, we may need to give your health plan information about surgery you received at the hospital so your health plan will pay us or reimburse you for the surgery. We may also tell your health plan about a treatment you are going to receive to obtain prior approval or to determine whether your plan will cover the treatment.
For Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose medical information about you for hospital operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run the hospital and make sure that all of our patients receive quality care. For example, we may use medical information to review our treatment and services and to evaluate the performance of our staff in caring for you. We may also disclose information to doctors, nurses, technicians, medical students, and other hospital personnel for review and learning purposes.
For Health Information Exchange or Personal Health Record Participation. We may participate in one or more health information exchanges (HIEs) through which we electronically share your health information for treatment, payment and healthcare operations with other participants in the HIEs. Additionally, we may make your health information available to you or your personal representatives through an electronic personal health record (PHR). Your participation in HIEs and PHRs is voluntary, and you may opt out of either or both by contacting our Privacy Officer, or the Manager of our Health Information Management Department, at the address or telephone number provided at the end of this Notice.
Appointment Reminders. We may use and disclose medical information to contact you as a reminder that you have an appointment for treatment or medical care at the hospital.
Treatment Alternatives. We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives that may be of interest to you.
Health-Related Benefits and Services. We may use and disclose medical information to tell you about health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.
Fundraising Activities. We may contact you as part of a fundraising effort. You have the right to opt out of receiving such communications by contacting our Privacy Officer, or the Manager of our Health Information Management Department, at the address or telephone number provided at the end of this Notice.
Marketing and Sale of Information. We cannot use or disclose your medical information for marketing purposes without your authorization, except face-to-face communications and promotional gifts of nominal value. We also cannot sell your medical information without your authorization, except under certain limited circumstances that are specifically permissible under law.
Psychotherapy Notes. We may not use or disclose psychotherapy notes without your authorization except in certain limited circumstances: (i) for treatment; (ii) for supervised mental health training programs; (iii) for health oversight activities or certain permitted uses by coroners and medical examiners; (iv) to defend legal actions brought against us; (v) as required by law, and (vi) to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to public health or safety.
Hospital Directory and Individuals Involved in Your Care. We may include certain limited information about you in the hospital directory while you are a patient at the hospital unless you ask us not to. This information may include your name, location in the hospital, your general condition (e.g., fair, stable, etc.) and your religious affiliation. The directory information, except for your religious affiliation, may also be released to people who ask for you by name. This is so your family and friends can visit you in the hospital and generally know how you are doing.
We may also disclose medical information about you to a friend or family member who is involved in your medical care if you consent, or if consent may be reasonably inferred from the circumstances. We may also give information to someone who helps pay for your care. We may also tell your family or friends your condition and that you are in the hospital.
We will provide you with an opportunity to object to these disclosures, or to restrict or prohibit some or all of these disclosures. In situations where you are unable to object due to incapacity or an emergency treatment circumstance, our disclosures under this section will be consistent with your prior expressed preference and our professional judgment as to whether the disclosure is in your best interest. We will inform you of these disclosures and provide you with an opportunity to object to future disclosures when it becomes practicable to do so.
School Immunizations. We may disclose medical information about an individual who is a student or prospective student if the individual (or his or her personal representative, if applicable) agrees, and if the disclosure is limited to proof of immunization and if the school is required by law to have such proof prior to admitting the student.
Research. Under certain circumstances, we may use and disclose medical information about you for research purposes. For example, a research project may involve comparing the health and recovery of all patients who received one medication to those who received another, for the same condition. All research projects, however, are subject to a special approval process. This process evaluates a proposed research project and its use of medical information, trying to balance the research needs with patients' need for privacy of their medical information. Before we use or disclose medical information for research, the project will have been approved through this research approval process, but we may, however, disclose medical information about you to people preparing to conduct a research project. For example, to help them look for patients with specific medical needs so long as the medical information they review does not leave the hospital. We will almost always ask for your specific permission if the researcher will have access to your name, address or other information that reveals who you are or will be involved in your care at the hospital.
De-identified Information and Limited Data Sets. We may use or disclose your medical information in a format that does not directly identify you for the purpose of conducting research, quality assessments, or statistical analysis. We will comply with all applicable laws and regulations if we do so. For example, we may combine medical information about many hospital patients to decide what additional services the hospital should offer, what services are not needed and whether certain new treatments are effective.
As Required By Law. We will disclose medical information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law. We are required to disclose your health information to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services when requested by the Secretary to review our compliance with federal privacy rules.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety. We may use and disclose medical information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Any disclosure, however, would only be to someone able to help prevent the threat.
Organ and Tissue Donation. If you are an organ donor, we may release medical information to organizations that handle organ procurement or organ, eye or tissue transplantation or to an organ donation bank, as necessary to facilitate organ or tissue donation and transplantation.
Military and Veterans. If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release medical information about you as required by military command authorities. We may also release medical information about foreign military personnel to the appropriate foreign military authority.
Worker's Compensation. We may also release medical information about you for worker's compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.
Public Health Risks. We may disclose medical information about you for public health activities. These activities generally include the following:
- To prevent or control disease, injury or disability
- To report births and deaths
- To report child abuse or neglect
- To report reactions to medication or problems with products
- To notify people of recalls of products they may be using
- To notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition
- To notify the appropriate government authority if we believe a patient has been a victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. We will only make this disclosure if you agree or when required or authorized by law.
Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose medical information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the healthcare system, government programs and compliance with civil rights laws.
Disaster Relief Efforts. We may disclose your medical information to a public or private entity authorized by law or by its charter to assist in disaster relief efforts, for the purpose of coordinating with such entities.
Lawsuits and Disputes. We may disclose your medical information in the course of a judicial or administrative proceeding. We will comply with all applicable laws and regulations when making such disclosures.
Law Enforcement. We may release medical information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official:
- In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons or similar process;
- To identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person;
- About the victim of a crime if, under certain limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain the person's agreement;
- About a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct;
- About criminal conduct at the hospital; and
- In emergency circumstances to report a crime; the location of the crime or victims; or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime.
Coroners, Medical Examiners, and Funeral Directors. We may release medical information to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death. We may also release medical information about patients of the hospital to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.
National Security and Intelligence Activities. We may release medical information about you to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence and other national security activities authorized by law.
Protective Services for the President and Others. We may disclose medical information about you to authorized federal officials so they may provide protection to the President, other authorized persons or foreign heads of state, or conduct special investigations.
Inmates. If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release medical information about you to the correctional institution or law enforcement official. This release would be necessary (1) for the institution to provide you with healthcare; (2) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; or (3) for the safety and security of the correctional institution.
You have the following rights regarding medical information we maintain about you:
Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about your care. Usually, this includes medical and billing records but does not include psychotherapy notes.
To inspect and copy medical information that may be used to make decisions about you, you must submit your request in writing to the Health Information Management Department. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request.
We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain very limited circumstances. If you are denied access to medical information, you may request that the denial be reviewed. Another licensed healthcare professional chosen by the hospital will review your request and the denial. The person conducting the review will not be the person who denied your request. We will comply with the outcome of the review.
If you request an electronic copy of your medical information, we will provide it in the form and format you request if it is readily producible in that manner; if not, we will provide it in a readable electronic form and format as agreed upon between you and us.
Right to Amend. If you feel that medical information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for the hospital.
To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing and submitted to the Health Information Management Department. In addition, you must provide a reason that supports your request. We may deny your request for an amendment if it is not in writing or does not include a reason to support the request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that:
- Was not created by us, unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment;
- Is not part of the medical information kept by or for the hospital;
- Is not part of the information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or
- Is accurate and complete.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request an "accounting of disclosures." This is a list of the disclosures we made of medical information about you. We will include the disclosures specified by applicable laws and regulations, but will not include those relating to treatment, payment, health care operations, and certain other applicable exclusions (such as those you asked us to make).
To request this list or accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to the Health Information Management Department. Your request must state a time period which may not be longer than six years prior to the date of your request. Your request should indicate in what form you want the list (for example, on paper or electronically). The first list you request within a 12-month period will be free. For additional lists, we may charge you for the costs of providing the list. We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any cost is incurred.
Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the medical information we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment or healthcare operations. You also have the right to request a limit on the medical information we disclose about you to someone who is involved in your care or the payment for your care, like a family member or friend. For example, you could ask that we not use or disclose information about a surgery you had.
- We are not required to agree to most requests. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you emergency treatment.
- We are required to agree to a requested restriction that pertains to disclosures to a health plan about an item or service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.
- To request restrictions, you must make your request in writing to the Manager of Health Information Management. In your request, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply, for example, disclosure to your spouse.
Right to Request Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about medical matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work or by mail.
To request confidential communications, you must make your request in writing to the Manager of Health Information Management. We will not ask you the reason for your request. We will accommodate all reasonable requests. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted.
Right to Appoint a Personal Representative. You have the right to appoint a personal representative to exercise your rights on your behalf, such as through a valid power of attorney. In some cases, the law gives others the right to act on your behalf, such as when you have a legal guardian.
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice. You have the right to a paper copy of this notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this at any time. Even if you have agreed to receive this notice electronically, you are still entitled to a paper copy of this notice. To obtain a paper copy of this notice, please contact the Health Information Management Department.
We reserve the right to change this notice. We reserve the right to make the revised or changed notice effective for medical information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current notice in the hospital. The notice will contain on the first page, in the top right-hand corner, the effective date. If the Privacy Notice is updated, a new Notice will be posted on our website, available in our Health Information Management Department, and given at the time of registration.
You have the right to file a complaint if you feel we have violated your rights. You may do so by contacting our Privacy Officer, or the Manager of our Health Information Management Department at the address or telephone number provided at the end of this Notice. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.


text:
A lesson in history that shamed the world
Now, the lessons of the genocide in Srebrenica, which saw the murder of more than 8000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys, will be explored in schools, with a new, free education pack.
It has been produced by the UK charity, Remembering Srebrenica, which is is marking the 20th anniversary of the genocide.
Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages Dr Alasdair Allan MSP launched pack, which will allow teachers across the country to prepare thought-provoking lessons and help their students learn the lessons from the Srebrenica genocide.
The comprehensive set of lesson plans can be used by teachers across the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.
Remembering Srebrenica worked with experts at Education Scotland to ensure that the pack is suitable for use across the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.
The resource is designed to help pupils understand the behaviours and influences around them that can either build or damage a cohesive community. It also helps to raise awareness of the genocide.
Remembering Srebrenica Scotland chairman the Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood said: "The 1995 Srebrenica genocide shamed Europe and shamed the world. It now stands for one of the darkest chapters of European history, yet knowledge of what took place is still low. It is crucial that Scotland's children learn the lessons from this stain on humanity's conscience."
Launching the pack, Dr Allan said: "The Srebrenica genocide is a dark chapter in European history, the scale of which is still difficult to comprehend.
Events such as Srebrenica, and the recent atrocities in Paris, are tragedies that we must learn from and that's why we must do all we can to educate our future generations."
Teachers can download the pack from www.srebrenica.org.uk/resources/education-packs/

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pharmacy agreement to aid China, U.S. collaborations
July 31, 2013
Pharmacy students and faculty in China and the U.S. will have more opportunities to work together, thanks to a new agreement signed July 26 at The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
Officials met at one of DKICP's administrative locations on Rainbow Drive to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) intended to encourage the exchange of scholarly pursuits. Lei Fu, associate dean at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's (SJTU) School of Pharmacy, met with several DKICP faculty members, including Rose Tseng, professor and director of international programs.
"We are uniquely positioned to influence the future of pharmacy in China because there is no comparable degree program for pharmacists there," said Tseng, who is UH Hilo chancellor emerita and also serves as international advisor to current Chancellor Donald Straney, who met Fu in Hilo. "At the same time, their science programs are very strong, giving our researchers even more opportunities to develop projects that will improve health care worldwide."
The collaboration began through a network of industrial connections with DKICP faculty, Tseng said. "The University has a wonderful reputation, and I knew of the quality of Dr. Fu's education, who received his Ph.D. from Stanford, so I thought this was a good opportunity."
With 41,000 students, SJTU is about twice the size of the UH Mānoa campus. The School of Pharmacy, which opened in 2000, occupies about 160,000 square feet of building space on the campus in Shanghai. The School of Pharmacy, which was called "a rising star" in pharmacology and toxicology programs by ScienceWatch, has 70 students enrolled each year in its masters and Ph.D. programs, according to Fu, who has been a principal investigator with SJTU since 2006.
"We look forward to the potential exchange of students and faculty because of the close proximity of our universities, but also because of the many common interests we share, including natural products," Fu said. "We are hoping to co-develop a PharmD program, as well as create favorable circumstances for postdoctoral associates and visiting scholars."
Researchers from the Chinese University collaborate with many international institutions, including facilitating exchanges with scholars in Germany, France and Switzerland. In the U.S., SJTU has MOUs at several universities, including the University of Pittsburgh and the University of the Pacific.
"Because we are the only school of pharmacy in the Pacific area, it's critical to reach out as the first line of communication in order to give students in this region a level of training never before available," said DKICP Dean John M. Pezzuto. "This has the potential to spin off into a variety of directions, and we are excited and prepared to meet the challenge."
UH Hilo currently has another MOU with China's Zhejiang University. Spearheaded by Tseng in 2008, the MOU was expanded for another three years last fall.
See more news from 2013.


text:
A while back, [m0xpd] picked up an unbearably cheap AD9850 DDS module from ebay. He turned this in to a Raspberry Pi-powered radio beacon, but like so many builds that grace our pages, the trolls didn't like using such an overpowered computer for such a simple device. To keep those trolls quiet, [m0xpd] is back again, this time using the AD9850 DDS module as a radio beacon with an Arduino.
The previous incarnation of this build used a Raspberry Pi, and as a consequence needed a level converter. This was thrown out as [m0xpd]'s own Arduino clone, the WOTDUINO – pronounced, 'what do I know' – is able to handle the 5 Volt IO of the AD9850.
In addition to fabbing a shield for the DDS module, [m0xpd] also constructed a transmitter shield to amplify the signal and allow the 'duino to key out a few simple messages. It's a quite capable device – one of [m0xpd]'s messages traveled from merry olde England to Arizona, his best ever westward distance.


text:
Using a form of the Haag-Kastler axioms for quantum field theory (see AQFT on the nLab for more details), it is possible in quite general contexts to prove that all local algebras are isomorphic to the hyperfinite $III_1$ factor or to the tensor product of the $III_1$ factor with the center of the given local algebra.
(A local algebra is the algebra of observables that is associated to an open bounded subset of Minkowski space. The term $III_1$ factor refers to the Murray-von Neumann classification of factors of von Neumann algebras).
Also see this question on math overflow for more details.
So one could say that quantum mechanics has the $I_n$ and $I_{\infty}$ factors as playground, while QFT has the hyperfinite $III_1$ factor as playground.
My questions has two parts:
1) I would like to know about a concrete physical system where it is possible to show that the local algebras are hyperfinite $III_1$ factors, if there is one where this is possible.
2) Is there an interpretation in physical terms of the presence of the hyperfinite $III_1$ factor in QFT?


text:
WASHINGTON – More Americans packed up the house and put down roots in a new city last year and more of those families moved to D.C.
Moving company Atlas Van Lines says their customers are migrating most often to the Washington area for the seventh consecutive year. The second most popular destination was North Carolina, according to the company's 2012 migration patterns study.
2012 Migration Patterns by Atlas Van Lines
Seems there's been a pent up demand for making a move. The lousy housing market has kept many Americans from changing their scenery. But with a recovery in the works, we're starting to migrate.
The U.S. Census Bureau says a better economy helps. So do rising home prices.
USA Today reports that Millenials, adults between 18 and 34, are most likely to consider moving. About half of Millennials surveyed said they will move in the next year. But it's buying, not renting, that they have on their minds, according to a survey by Mayflower, another moving company.
Most adults surveyed said they want a newer home and a better neighborhood.
Related Stories:
- U.S. Home prices rose in February by most in 7 years
- Fannie's record profit a symbol of housing rebound
- Survey: Private employers add 158K jobs in March
WTOP's Joan Jones contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter.


text:
Page content
About this Website
The Internet department of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation designs and produces www.history.org and www.colonialwilliamsburg.org. The Marketing department designs and produces www.colonialwilliamsburg.com. Since 1996, the site has grown to more than 10,000 pages offering:
- Vacation planning
- Educational resources
- Research material about colonial America
- Donor opportunities
- Information for journalists
- Multimedia experiences about the beginning of the American Revolution
In July of 2000, www.williamsburgmarketplace.com offered WILLIAMSBURG products online. All WILLIAMSBURG products are reproduced from or inspired by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's world-renowned collections of 18th and 19th-century antiques.
See our internet progress through the years...
Click images to enlarge
The Internet staff appreciates the assistance of the following contractors:
Aten Design Group


text:
DipBrow Pomade by Anastasia Beverly Hills is a product I've been lusting after for quite some time. If you're an avid reader of my blog, then you'll probably know that I've been using Eyeshadow as brow powder for quite a while as I struggled to get a product which matached my brows. I finally took the plunge and invested in some Dipbrow and thought i'd share my first impressions of it with you.
Price: £15.00 each
Shade Purchased: Taupe & Medium Brown.
Packaging: I have to say, I adore the packaging on these. The product comes in a thick glass pot with a black plastic screw lid which features the logo on top. These look and feel luxurious in every way. Has to be some of the best packaging i've seen in a while.
First thoughts: I've been using a taupe eye shadow as a brow product for a fair few months now and when I heard a taupe DipBrow was available, I dived straight in. Unsurprisingly, it's love at first swatch with these for so many reasons. They have the most amazing staying power - they do not budge when set. They are easy too apply - I use an angled brush to apply mine, however, if you are used to a powder product, it will take some getting used to as applying these as it takes a different technique to get them blended correctly and looking natural due to the gel/mousse type formula. I'm still getting to grips with them at the moment, but i'm loving experimenting how they look.
On first impressions I'm definitely glad I took the leap and ordered them online and I'm looking forward to testing them further before I give my full review on them.
I'd love to hear from you if you've used the Anastasia DipBrow Pomade and your top tips on how you apply them! Let me know in the comments!


text:
Singer-songwriter Peter Himmelman received his first round of applause on the day he was born.
His mother had chosen to have a natural childbirth without anesthesia, and when her son emerged from the womb, a group of medical students watching the delivery applauded his arrival.
"It's weird," Himmelman said in a phone call from his home in Santa Monica, Calif. "You could say I was born to be on stage."
Himmelman, a versatile artist with a long string of albums to his credit, is on a short tour in support of his new album, "The Mystery and the Hum," a riveting collection of songs that opens with the bluesy, raucous "Motel Room in Davenport," but grows more introspective from there. The album offers a powerful blend blues, rock and folk.
The Minnesota native wrote and recorded the album in a mere two or three weeks. That sounds pretty quick, but Himmelman said it never felt rushed.
"If I can dedicate ten straight days to something, several hours a day, I mean it's a lot of time," he said. "I'm very focused and energized and somehow inspired to do it.
"My son, who is a very good writer, understands that it has nothing to do with time. Time is malleable and stretchable. How did you get into this semi-manic, inspired place in the first place? Think of all the life experiences you've had and all the trips you've had musically. How many thousands of hours did it take to accumulate all that? And how do those come into play in that two-week period?
"So it's not really two weeks, it's a whole lifetime that comes spilling out at that point."
The colorful album jacket features Himmelman's art and graphics.
"I started to make art when I was a kid around the same time that I started in music. The music definitely overtook the art. I'm sort of an art dabbler," he said.
Himmelman recorded his first album, "Gematria" (named for the Jewish system of assigning a numerical value to a word or phrase) in 1985. In the course of his career, he has received glowing notices for his albums. Time magazine once observed that "Himmelman writes songs with the same emphatic edge and aesthetic urgency that impelled the Lost Generation to write novels."
Himmelman's tour features a solo concert Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Tractor Tavern. He has billed the performance as "an evening of music and spoken word." The spoken word portion features stories from a new, unpublished manuscript titled "Shovel."
"Most of the stories are from my life," he said, referring to "Shovel." "And most of them are pretty funny."
On the other hand, the songs on "The Mystery and the Hum" are pretty serious. "Raining Down From Satellite" was inspired, in part, by Daniel Pearl, the former Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped and killed by Al-Qaeda. Pearl was Jewish.
Himmelman, who is also Jewish, was fascinated by the Pearl tragedy — and stunned to learn that Pearl had been a fan of his music. In fact, Pearl had come backstage after a concert in Washington, D.C., in 1995.
"I've searched my mind many a time and have the haziest memory, hazy enough to be non-existent," Himmelman said. "But I've spent a lot of time thinking about him, a lot of time getting to know his parents and a fair amount of time trying to recall that moment when he came backstage. He was a majorly cool guy."
Himmelman describes his current tour as "tiny as well as endless. I just do a few days, come back home, time passes, I do some more dates."
Time with his family is important to him, and because of his Jewish faith, he doesn't work Friday nights at the beginning of the Sabbath. He once turned down an invitation to perform on a Friday on "The Tonight Show."
What was the reaction? "It couldn't have been too bad because they asked me back," Himmelman said.
Once, while recording an album in Memphis, he stopped work as Friday night approached. The veteran sound mixer was puzzled, but accommodating.
"I explained that when it's dark enough to see three stars, then I start working again. So he and I were out smoking cigars in the parking lot and we're looking up in the sky and he doesn't quite get the whole thing, but he's seen everything.
"He looks up and says, 'I guess it's better than looking for three grams of blow for Stevie Nicks.' He had seen it all, so it was probably just one more weird thing to him."
Visit Himmelman's Web site by following this link.
— Gene Stout


text:
Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis
Filename: SACR_026781.jpg
Copyright © Rolf Nussbaumer Photography, 2323 Bretzke Lane, New Braunfels, TX 78132, USA, www.rolfnp.com, Tel. 210 643 4800
Copyright © Rolf Nussbaumer Photography, 2323 Bretzke Lane, New Braunfels, TX 78132, USA, www.rolfnp.com, Tel. 210 643 4800
action, adults, Movement, motion, moving, adult, animals, animal, fauna, wildlife, autumn, beaches, beach, shore, shoreline, behaviour, behavior, behaviors, birds, Aves, bird, cold, coldness, Fall, blue, color, colorful, Colourful, concept, concepts, cranes, crane, day, daytime, environment, farmland, farmlands, females, female, flying, Flight, flies, fly, full body, habitat, environment, freshwater, freshwaters, habitats, Length, horizontal, image, last light, First Light, grassland, grasslands, hunting, hunt, north america, american, big, Bosque del Apache, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Coasts, draker, Full Length, game, Grus, Grus canadensis, plains, males, male, meadow, field, fields, meadows, migrating, Migration, migrate, Moorland, Natural, natural world, nature, new mexico, new mexican, nm, Ocean, park, parks, pastures, nobody, photo, ponds, Lakes, lake, ornithology, outdoors, outdoor, photograph, photography, pond, portraits, portrait, Refuge, relationship, relationships, reserves, preserves, reserve, rivers, Sandhill Crane, Starting, starts, Streams, river, stream, seasons, season, seasonal, swamps, Marshes, marsh, swamp, usa, United States, america, research, vertebrates, vertebrate, waders, wader, wading birds, water, waterfowl, waterfowls, waters, wetlands, wetland, wild, winter, wintery, wintry


text:
Related links:
NASA Feels Strain of Budget Cuts
News story originally written on July 28, 1999
The United States House of Representatives recently put a damper on NASA's celebration of the launch of the Chandra Observatory. The space program will take an 11% cut in its budget, which amounts to $1.3 billion in the next year. Here are some highlights of the statement made by NASA Administrator Dan Goldin.
"The NASA team just launched Chandra, the world's most powerful space telescope. Today, we will have to turn it back on Washington to see what remains of the NASA budget."
"Year after year, NASA is touted for doing more and more with smaller budgets and held up as a model of good government," said Goldin. "The NASA employees get up every day to achieve what most think is impossible. They have risen to the challenge of smaller budgets. And this is the reward the NASA team gets? Not only is this cut devastating to NASA's programs, it is a knife in the heart of employee morale."
Goldin says the future of some space centers and programs is in jeopardy because of the sudden loss of funding. Even the new Deep Impact mission is in trouble.
"This cut destroys the technology base built by NASA," Goldin
said. "Our ability to further reduce costs and increase scientific
productivity would end. NASA is one of only a few investments our
nation makes to ensure a bright future, a strong economy and the
technology base to achieve it. Perhaps most sadly, we will lose the opportunity to inspire a future generation of children. I won't feel better until every nickel is restored."


text:
- Home
- Jpop
- Sakamoto Maaya
- Saigo no Kajitsu - The Last Fruit
Saigo no Kajitsu
Original / Romaji Lyrics | English Translation |
mukiau dake de tsunagaru noni fureau koto wa dekinai mama me wo korashita te wo nobashita | All it takes for us to connect is to face each other, and yet we remain seperated. I strained my eyes, I stretched out my hand. |
ame ga futte toki wa michite | Rain falls, Time goes by. |
aisuru tte donna koto? kimi ga hohoemu to sekai wa sukoshi furuete kagayaita marude kokyuu suru you ni ugokidashita | Just what does it mean to love? When you smile, the world shakes a little and glows, As if it comes to live and draws a breath. |
mizu ni natte kaze ni natte | Become the water, Become the wind. |
boku ga sakendemo sekai wa nani mo iwazu ni se wo muketa marude boku wo tamesu you ni tsukihanashita | When I shouted it out loud, the world turned its back on me without a word, It pushed me away as though it was testing me. |
eien wo hajimari wo saihate wo | For eternity, Since the beginning, Till the furthest ends. |
ikiteku tte donna koto? boku ga tazuneru to sekai wa sukoshi furuete kagayaita boku ni nemuru shinjitsu wo ima shizuka ni tokihanatsu | Just what does it mean to live? When I ask that question, the world shakes a little and glows. The truth that sleeps within me is now quietly being released. |
Translated and transliterated by DarkMirage
See an error in these lyrics? Let us know here!
Animelyrics.com now has an OpenSearch plugin that you can install into your browser (FireFox, Chrome and IE/Edge supported)
My Little Pony Ties
Lyrics copyright to their respective owners or translators. No copyright infringment is intended or implied.
Layout and other content copyright Anime Lyrics dot Com / Anime Globe Productions
This is some text here


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
Bishop Hill: Gonzo science and the Hockey Stick
Torturing the climate numbers until they confess
Interview In 2001 the IPCC published its Third Assessment report prominently featuring a graph that became "the logo of global warming". Previous historical reconstructions didn't show our modern warm climate as particularly anomalous. This was very different, and was hailed as a "call to action". Yet Michael Mann's studies were deeply flawed. Omit one or two proxies, for example, and the scary warming 'spike' disappears. Mann's model could produce hockey stick shapes using random data, such as baseball scores, or red noise. Critics alleged that Mann's choices of data and statistical tools all cooled the Medieval Warm Period, and emphasised late 20th Century warming.
A new book recounts how the 'Hockey Stick' model was created and more intriguingly, the political and institutional defence of the indefensible. (At one stage the Hockey Stick's defenders argued that trees on different continents had "teleconnections" with each other - a claim that wouldn't be out of place in a homeopathy brochure.)
Andrew Montford, a science publisher and blogger under the name Bishop Hill, has provided the storytelling to match the detective work and persistence of another blogger, Steve McIntyre, who dismantled the Stick. Andrew talked to us about The Hockey Stick Illusion and some of the key issues it highlights.
You say the IPCC needed the Hockey Stick to be true, and that's why it got such prominence. Was this the best they could do?
If you put any of the other major temperature reconstructions in place of the Hockey Stick I think it's true to say it doesn't look so frightening. They have a Medieval Warm Period that is within a whisker of the temperatures we have now. You can make them look scarier by overlaying the instrumental record over the 20th Century part of the graph - in fact, that's part of the reason why it looks scary. I show this in the book - in Briffa series [see below].
But [these reconstructions] wouldn't convince anybody there's anything going on there at all. So yes, they needed it to convince people; and they promoted it, they had policies to sell. And when it proved to be flawed they had to stand behind it, because otherwise, they'd look stupid.
Now to the story. The preparation of the original Hockey Stick turns out to be a small part of the saga. How the issues McIntyre raised were dealt with by the scientists and the establishment is the main story.
Yes, the book is a detective story of how Steve McIntyre worked out how the Hockey Stick got its remarkable shape, which was a combination of data that's not suitable and questionable statistical methodology. I didn't want to dwell on what happened upfront, it's about how the Hockey Stick met its demise, if you like.
So for the data: people might have heard of Mann's use of bristlecones, which are poor proxies for temperature.
Right, the theory is if you have the right trees you can use them as a thermometer - they'll grow more in a warm year than they will in a cool year. But not every tree. The theory is that trees at the northern limit or upper treeline on the sides of mountains will be sensitive to temperature. But they could be affected by water and nutrients. And there is some doubt as to whether there really is a temperature signal in the tree rings. It's certainly very noisy, if it's there at all.
And this is one of the things that comes out in the book. I spend quite a lot of time discussing the verification statistics: if the mathematical model derived from the tree rings actually is credible in statistical terms. Whether it looks as though the model can create temperatures of the past.
Keith Briffa's reconstruction showed no hockey stick
And this is something Mann went to great lengths, with the Hockey Stick, to keep from us?
Essentially statisticians have a range of measures of testing whether the numbers that fall out of their mathematical models match up to the real world. In the case of the Hockey Stick they used something called a verification period, where they reconstruct the temperatures for the second half of the 19th Century, based on the model, and compare that to the real temperatures, based on thermometers. That can be calculated using a range of measures, but the two that are important for the history of the Hockey Stick are R2 and the RE.
The R2 statistic is essentially a very standard statistical measure of how lines match up against each other, while the RE is a very obscure measure that is only used by climatologists, and has been very heavily criticised because its behaviour in different circumstances isn't really understood. It hasn't been studied by statisticians.
In the story of the Hockey Stick I spend quite a lot of time discussing a paper by two associates of Mann called Wahl and Amman, claiming they had replicated the Hockey Stick entirely. McIntyre did a lot of work looking at their study, and one of the things he concluded was that their model failed the R2 test. This meant it was not credible. So if Wahl and Amman's model was not credible, Mann's was not either.
McIntyre put a lot of pressure on the journal that published it to publish the data and methodology, and they eventually agreed. And it said the Hockey Stick passed that RE test.
There's another really amazing story of how McIntyre found it didn't pass the RE test at all, but there had been a rather dubious, ad hoc adjustment made to the procedure to make it look as if it passed the RE test. It really is the most extraordinary part of the story I think.
What did they do?
This is where it gets quite technical. With the RE statistic, the question is how high does it have to be before you decide your results are 'significant'. So you calculate a benchmark, which involves throwing random numbers into your model, instead of real data, to see how well that compares against the real temperatures.
What Wahl and Amman did in essence was not to take a random set of numbers, but a set of numbers that had been filtered in such a way that the benchmark for the RE became considerably lower, making the Hockey Stick look significant. This was a procedure that was new, no one had ever seen it before, and it defeated the basic object of the analysis, which was to compare what you got with what you could get with random numbers.
So the methodology remains secret, but Mann has gone on to apply the Hockey Stick to different situations. One of which is a Hockey Stick that didn't have tree proxies in it.
Mann has subsequently published new temperature reconstructions that all have Hockey Stick shapes, and these have been picked up by the media, and trumpeted as proof that the Hockey Stick despite its many flaws, was still OK.
There are many problems with these subsequent Hockey Sticks. The paper Mann did in 2008 is particularly famous because it was discovered that in one of the proxies he was using, which was a lake sediment series [varve] from Scandinavia, the uptick or blade of the Hockey Stick was due to agriculture disturbance of the sediment rather than anything climatic. But not only that, he'd got the segment upside-down anyway.


text:
The COOLPO company was built in Shanghai in 2019. This is a professional technology team, aims to study the best conferencing camera. To ensure more officers can gain an excellent remote meeting experience, and make the office life become easier and simpler. The team has launched the latest conference webcam, the conference machine combines with one 360 degree camera, four microphones, and one all-surround speaker, they hope this all-in-one design can provide an immersive meeting atmosphere.
Now, COOLPO team would like to introduce some functions of the meeting camera. The smart video conference camera's 360-degree lens can show the whole meeting room meanwhile, the 4 microphones pick up everyone within 15 feet, plus the best quality of a speaker can allow all members to hear and be heard clearly. Moreover, the conference camera enables 4K, 1080p. 720p HD video calling, it provides multiple scenes and automatically highlights and shifts to different participants.
Besides, the conference meeting camera does not need any driver, it can be connected by plug the USB cable to the PC, and then choose the meeting software and select the COOLPO camera and audio in the software interface. It makes sure the fast setup also protects privacy. It is suitable for the middle size meeting room, best for 15 people. Furthermore, it is compatible with most popular online conference software, such as Zoom, Skype, Google hangout, Cisco Webex, Microsoft Team, etc. And as a cost-effective option, the convenient and portable design make it can be easy carry to support everybody can enjoy the high-quality meeting anytime and anywhere.
Currently Running Promotions: https://www.amazon.com/Video-Conference-Camera-Microphone-Speaker/dp/B08CY2H5BM
Type and Duration
Date: 11.26 12:00 am – 11.30 11:59 pmOriginal Price: $599.98Deal Price: $479.98
Media ContactCompany Name: Shanghai LiwCV Co., Ltd.Contact Person: JeffEmail: Send EmailPhone: +1-833-656-0789Country: ChinaWebsite: http://www.coolpolens.com


text:
Access Denied
IMPORTANT! If you're a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts
Hebrews 11:1 Religious 15oz Coffee Mug
Hebrews 11:1 Religious 15oz Coffee Mug
No reviews
Regular price
Regular price
Sale price
Unit price
Free Shipping in the contiguous US
Hebrews 11:1 Religious 15oz Coffee Mug
- 15 oz Coffee Mug.
- Great full color, printed on all sides ceramic coffee mug.
- Ceramic mug is dishwasher safe.
- Visit VictoryStore shops online for other great coffee mug designs.
- You can send your art to firstname.lastname@example.com with your order number. Or an account rep will contact you after order placement.
VictoryStore: A Family-Owned American Business
Our commitment to you is simple:
✔ Our goal is customer satisfaction, and we won't settle until you are happy.
✔ Our live human representatives are here to assist you during business hours.
✔ We are committed to offering affordable products.
✔ We strive to surpass customer expectations with our exceptional products.
Join our list
Sign up here to get the latest news, releases, and special offers
Invalid password


text:
Warriors Martial Arts Academy
Proudly serving Cedar Park since 1991
Welcome to Warriors Martial Arts Academy & Warriors Christian Academy, located in Leander, TX. We are the only Christian Martial Arts Academy in the area for ages 4 to adult. We also offer Christian School Academy Pre-K through 12th grade. We offer School day programs, After School, Summer Academy, and Evening Programs. We're now accepting applications for all of our programs!
We are a Christian-owned company and we teach conservative Christian values, morals, and ethics. In addition, our students are taught character development and the strongest self defense martial arts for self defense and competition.
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and most populous city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 10th-most populous city in the United States, the fourth-most populous city in Texas, and the second-most populous state capital city. It has been one of the fastest growing large cities in the United States since 2010. Downtown Austin and Downtown San Antonio are approximately 80 miles (129 km) apart, and both fall along the Interstate 35 corridor. Austin is the southernmost state capital in the contiguous United States and is considered a Beta-level global city as categorized by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.As of 2021, Austin had an estimated population of 964,177, up from 961,855 at the 2020 census.
Allandale, Angus Valley, Austin Lake Hills, Barton Hills, Blackland, Central Austin, Central East Austin, Cherry Creek, Cherrywood, Chimney Hill, Clarksville, Crestview, Dawson, East Austin, East Cesar Chavez


text:
The relationship between the United States and Pakistan has long been one of grudging interdependency. The U.S. needs Pakistan to help in the fight against Islamist militants and to serve as a supply transit route for military operations in Afghanistan. Pakistan needs the U.S. for financial aid, and access to international lenders and the global economy. But neither side much likes nor trusts the other.
The relationship has always lurched from one crisis to another, but lately it has worsened and become toxic. Now senior officials from each side are publicly airing their anger and frustration with the other — including outgoing CIA chief Leon Panetta, who has been nominated to be the next secretary of defense.
"This is a difficult challenge. The relationship with Pakistan is at the same time one of the most critical and yet one of the most complicated and frustrating relationships that we have," he told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing.
Compounding Problems
In such a troubled relationship, it's difficult to say definitively when things started to take a turn for the worse.
Daniel Markey, a senior fellow for India, Pakistan and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, says ties have been sorely strained for more than a year over the U.S. buildup in neighboring Afghanistan. But he says things really took a nosedive in January when Raymond Davis, a CIA security contractor, shot and killed two Pakistanis who he said were trying to rob him. Davis was arrested and detained for several months.
"During that time, it became quite clear that the United States was conducting covert operations against Pakistan and against the will of the Pakistani intelligence service. So that brought the rift out ... more into the open," Markey says.
Markey says that rift was compounded by the May 2 attack that killed Osama bin Laden.
The United States did not tell Pakistan about plans for Navy SEALs to raid bin Laden's compound. Markey says the operation deeply embarrassed and humiliated Pakistan's intelligence agency and its military, leading to questions about their effectiveness in Pakistan.
Efforts by the United States to smooth relations have uncovered more evidence of collusion between Pakistan's intelligence service and militant groups.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has expelled most of the roughly 135 American military trainers who were helping paramilitary forces with their counterinsurgency skills.
Conflicting Priorities
Shuja Nawaz, director of the South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council, says Pakistanis never liked the idea of American soldiers in their country. He says the furor over the bin Laden raid gave the Pakistanis an opportunity to put an end to this relationship.
"Now clearly, it may not be entirely in their favor to give up the training support, but politically I think the military wanted to send a signal not only to the United States but to people inside Pakistan that it was taking a particularly tough position against the United States," Nawaz says.
Pakistan also arrested several people who had given the CIA information about the bin Laden compound. The fact that Pakistan arrested those who helped the United States with the raid illustrates the conflicting priorities of the two countries.
Markey of the Council on Foreign Relations says this has upset many members of the administration and Congress.
"They are baffled by it, they're frustrated by it and they're, many of them, quite angry. The only thing that has kept them from taking more immediate action is that when they ask the question, 'Well, what would be better than this?' or 'How do we solve it?' — there's no clear answer," Markey says.
Nawaz says the struggle for answers won't get any easier. He says just by coincidence, many of the leading Pakistan experts in the Obama administration are leaving office in the next few months.
"In the White House, at the National Security Council ... at the Department of Defense ... and then the top two people in the Office of the Defense Representative in Pakistan, who have developed enormously good personal relationships inside Pakistan," he says. "So there is a wholesale movement of the Pakistan expertise out, and there is apparently not enough expertise in the pipeline."
Nawaz says given that, he's uncertain what, if anything, can stop the downward trajectory in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
OCEAN CITY – Ocean City will be increasing its public relations campaign in 2008, reported advertising firm MGH in a Tourism Commission meeting last week.
MAGH Public Relations Account Director Chris McMurry presented the commission with a plan for the 2008 public relations campaign, providing some new ways to generate positive buzz about Ocean City.
Survey results presented to the tourism commission by MGH in November were used to guide the public relations goals of 2008. The survey results revealed some positive and negative aspects about Ocean City. Some of the positive aspects were Ocean City provides a great experience, people are likely to recommend Ocean City to their friends and family, trips to Ocean City are about tradition, and the majority of people would change nothing about their stay in Ocean City and if they did they would stay longer. Although the positives reflected well on the resort, the negatives revealed some of the disappointments that visitors are experiencing including costs in Ocean City being too high and people wanting more out of their trip to Ocean City.
McMurry reported that online chatter matches the research revealed by the surveys. By looking at online forums such as tripadvisor.com and Maryland.com, MGH was able to view candid comments about Ocean City, most of which mirrored the survey results.
"Although there are negatives, they can be flipped into positives," McMurry said. "Negativity, online especially, often breeds more negativity, but there's positive voices out there to match the negative ones."
McMurry explained that, according to online users, reviews generated by fellow consumers have a greater impact than reviews generated by professionals. Furthermore, travel, hotels and restaurants are the three things that people are most likely to view a recommendation of before making a purchase.
To utilize online reviews, McMurry suggested mobilizing Ocean City loyalists to generate positive Ocean City online chatter.
McMurry suggested three main points for public relations in 2008; amplifying the Ocean City voice through websites, entering conversations and enhancing coverage in TV, radio and print media.
In order to amplify the Ocean City voice and enter conversations, MGH plans to utilize the Ocean City Ambassador Unit (OCAU), which was created last year in an effort to better assess Ocean City. McMurry suggested creating a Recommendation Forum for Ocean City, which would be fully monitored by MGH. The forum would provide various categories for people to provide discussion on and would also feature an 'Ask the Ambassadors' section where people could ask OC Ambassadors specific questions about the town. The ambassadors have been, and will be, selected by MGH, come from a variety of geographic areas and visit Ocean City at least 10 times a year.
"It's someone who's satisfied by the experience they've had here, it's more of an educational process," explained McMurry.
Although Ocean City will be spending money to promote Ocean City in the media though advertising, free promotion will also be a focus in 2008. One of the goals of the 2008 public relations campaign will be to generate positive news coverage. McMurry emphasized generating, "stories that brand Ocean City as a place worth visiting for longer than a few days."
Mayor tours, which were done last year and featured Mayor Rick Meehan on several TV and radio spots in the DC and Baltimore area, will also continue in 2008 in an effort to create positive buzz.
MGH also suggested a season kick-off campaign that would include a partnership with a family-focused organization with the goal being showing the value of a longer vacation with family in Ocean City.


text:
I have been exploring the creation and fall of man and Lucifer in this series of posts. I plan to continue but some recent headlines in newsites around the world are beckoning a side post. A professor at Harvard University has announced the discovery of a business card-sized papyrus fragment dating from the 4th Century (300's AD). The fragment (in Coptic) contains the phrase "Jesus said to them, 'my wife'". Here is a smattering of headlines about this:
"An ancient scrap of papyrus makes explicit reference to Jesus having a wife, according to a renowned expert in Christian history." BBC
"Papyrus fragment quoting 'wife' of Jesus raises questions for Christianity" – The Australian
"Was Jesus married? Papyrus fragment fuels debate" – Jerusalem Post
So what are we to make of this? Is this neo-narrative of Jesus really up for consideration? Well, let's look first at the proximity of this 'witness' to Jesus life. The headlines and articles tell us it is 'ancient' and it is at that, but is it close to the time of Jesus? The articles themselves report the date of the fragment as 4th century, putting it about 300 years after the death of Jesus. Could such a document even be close to being a 'primary source'? Well, just two hundred years ago, the war of 1812 raged between Canada and the US. I live in Canada and if I claimed by my own authority to have a revision of events that transpired back then and have the 'real story' that has been kept hidden these two hundred years by our governments bent on keeping us in the dark – would you believe me? Of course not! How could I, two hundred years after the fact have any credibility as a source to set the record straight about what happened back then? It is so ludicrous an idea that it is beyond even contemplating. So how can a source, 300 years after the fact, be headlined in websites and Harvard professors as setting the real record – hidden all these years – straight? The websites continually refer to 'church doctrine' as standing in dogmatic opposition to this idea (that Jesus was married). For example the BBC article states
"Christian tradition holds that Jesus did not marry – but Prof King said in early years it was subject to debate. The provocative find could spark debate over celibacy and the role of women within Christianity, she added. But the announcement sparked scepticism from some theologians. "
The Jerusalem Post article opines that
Despite the Catholic Church's insistence that Jesus was not married, the idea resurfaces on a regular basis, notably with the 2003 publication of Dan Brown's best-seller "The Da Vinci Code," which angered many Christians because it was based on the idea that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had children.
King (the Harvard Prof announcing the discovery) said the fragment, unveiled at the Tenth International Congress of Coptic Studies, provided the first evidence that some early Christians believed Jesus had been married.
AsiaOne informs us that
Contacted by AFP, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi refused to call into question King's competence as a historian but said that "we do not really know where this little scrap of parchment came from."
"This does not change anything in the position of the Church which rests on an enormous tradition, which is very clear and unanimous" that Jesus Christ was not married, he said.
"This changes nothing in the portrayal of Christ and the gospels. This is not an event that has any influence on Catholic doctrine," he said.
So is this a case of 'narrow-minded' churchmen blindly clinging to 'tradition and doctrine' in the face of contrary evidence? That is the impression one gets from these statements. But in point of fact 'church doctrine' has nothing to do with it. The gospels were written by three eyewitnesses and one investigative reporter (the Gospel of Luke) mere decades after the crucifixion of Jesus. And they are not found today on one business card fragment. I have a reference the size of an encyclopedia book that contains the transcripts of the many manuscripts of the New Testament that exist today that come before the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). That would put all these manuscripts earlier than mid-4th century. An encyclopedia-size of extant manuscripts written by primary source eyewitnesses vs. one business card size anonymous sentence 300 years after the fact! Why is it even making any news, let alone world headlines?
Gospel of Judas
But this is just the latest twist in a bizarre drama that is sweeping the world. It reminds me of the media attention paid a few years ago with the Gospel of Judas. The BBC opening sentence (bolded) was
Judas Iscariot's reputation as one of the most notorious villains in history has been thrown into doubt with the translation of an ancient text.
But did the Gospel of Judas have any historical credibility? Further in their article the BBC informed us it also was a '4th century manuscript' so we know that it was also 300 years removed from the events of Jesus. So it was not, for example, written by the 'real' Judas as his version of historical events. And there is only one extant Gospel of Judas manuscript, against the many manuscripts that claim primary eye-witness source testimony. Yet the BBC article would have us believe that it 'throws into doubt' what really happened. And it leaves you with the impression that it is more 'progressive' and 'educated' to have this doubt whereas it is 'doctrine' and 'tradition' that keeps the 'credulous' within the oppressive shackles of 'church orthodoxy'.
Da Vinci Code
Then there was the Da Vinci Code book and movie, which were based off "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" – a self-proclaimed work of investigative journalism – that concluded that Jesus went off to France with Mary Magdalene and sired a 'secret' bloodline there. It is not necessary to examine all the claims of these books. Some are so easy to disprove that their lack of credibility should be as apparent as the sun rising before our eyes every morning. For example, the Da Vinci Code claimed that the Roman Emperor Constantine forced a vote of church Bishops to make Jesus 'Divine' as the Son of God. Really? So why does the Roman historian Pliny the Younger, writing to the pagan emperor of his day in 112 AD, – 200 years before Constantine – tell him this about the Christians?
"They also declare the sum total of their guilt or error amounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternately amongst themselves in honor of Christ as if to a god, and also to bind themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but to abstain from theft, robbery and adultery …" Letters 10.6
The arch anti-Christian Lucian, writing satire against the gospel in 170 AD tells us that
The Christians you know worship a man to this day – the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account … it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers … worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. The Death of Peregrine 11-13
Constantine in 325AD could not influence what happened two hundred years before his time, so the controversy of the divinity of Jesus definitely was not invented by him and thus one of the main 'historical' claims of this whole revisionary history is shown to be smoke and mirrors. Yet it was once again mentioned with a tone of plausibility in the Jerusalem Post article above as well as with this new 4th century Coptic reference to Jesus' 'wife'.
We live in an age when we claim that we are scientifically inclined – less prone to believe things unless compelling rational evidence is presented. I am not so sure. I meet many who tell me that the evidence to believe in Jesus is not compelling. Fair enough. But then I find many of these same folk embracing fantasies and beliefs that are far, far less substantiated than the Gospel. Why? Probably many factors are at play. Today many of us have not bothered to develop a baseline of historical understanding about the Bible so we are not in a position to have an informed perspective on the latest headlines that will greet us.
But at even a deeper level, perhaps 'rational evidence' is not our main metric in determining what we will believe. Because behind our mind stands a more difficult beast to tame – our will. Implicit in believing the Gospel Story is following it – and that is something we instinctively and desperately fight against. The Gospel Story demands our allegiance while these neo-narrative stories merely tickle our fancies – requiring no surrender to our deeply instinctive need for autonomy. So deep down it is whether the story is preferable, rather than rational, that often drives our beliefs. As the man famous for his wisdom, Solomon, wrote so long ago
"This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes." (Ecclesiastes 7:29)


text:
To review recently viewed categories or products
Product: Mandarin Collar Ruyi Applique Duangua (Satin) [DGCX-CS-1RY-ST]
Category: Wudang Costumes | Taoist Wear | Daofu | Kungfu
Product: Appreciation of Shaolin Quan and Weapon Routines (1 DVD) 少林傳統功夫拳器欣賞 [DW110-32]
Home Page
new arrivals
product guide
my account
shopping cart
photo gallery
Password forgotten? Click here.
AV - Martial Arts DVD
Footwears - Men
Footwears - Women
Han Chinese Costumes | Hanfu
Hats | Caps | Maozi
Mao Suits | Zhongshan Zhuang
Pants | Kuzi
Robes | Cheongsam
Sashes | Yaodai
Shaolin Costumes | Sengfu
Shirts-Long-sleeve | Duangua
Shirts-Short-sleeve | Duangua
Taichi | Wing Chun Uniforms
Vests | Majia
Weapons | Bingqi
Wudang Costumes | Kungfu
New Arrivals
Shaolin Special Quan VII (1 DVD)
Women's Elegant Chinese Clothing, Cheongsam, Qipao, Tangzhuang, Hanfu and Embroidery Shoes, etc.
Open All
Close All
What are the benefits of creating an account online?
By creating an account at our website, you will be entitled to the following benefits:
If subscribed, you will be updated with the latest news on New Products Release, Promotional Discounts and more. You can always enable or disable the newsletter subscription feature at My Account.
Permanent Cart
Once login, you can save your shopping cart same as a "Wish List." We will remember what you put in the cart, saving it until you are ready to purchase!
My Message Center
Enables easy communication with us online and handy reference to all past messages.
Address Book
No need to retype all your address information for repeat orders. We can now even deliver your products to another address other than yours! This is perfect for sending birthday gifts direct to your friends.
Order Progress
View the progress status of your current order at My Account. In addition, an Order Confirmation e-mail will be sent to you once an order is placed.
Order History
View your history of purchases at My Account that you have made with us.
Redeem Coupons
You will be able to redeem Cash Coupons, % Coupons and Gift Vouchers.
Products Reviews
Share your opinions on products with our other customers.
How do I update my account information?
log in
and update any changes at
My Account
What if I've forgotten my password?
If you've forgotten your password, please enter your e-mail address
and we will issue you a new password by e-mail. You may then
log in
your account and change it to your desired password at
My Account
What if I've changed my e-mail address?
If you've changed your e-mail address, please
log in
your account with your original e-mail address and change it at My Account. It is very important that you always maintain a valid e-mail address for us to keep in contact with you.
Where are you located?
We have our administration office located at Hong Kong, while warehouse and manufacturing facilities are located at Guangzhou, China. You may contact us at
Where is your shop located?
We run online business only and do not hold any shop anywhere.
What products do you carry?
We focus on kung fu related products of clothing, footwear, etc. Please check back to us from time to time as we are continuously adding new items and new categories.
Can you send me a product catalog?
Sorry, we do not have one to send to our customers for the time being. As we update our products and prices from time to time, a print catalog will soon be outdated.
Can I pay offline and what options are available?
We also accept Wire Transfer, Letter of Credit and manual Credit Card process. If you want to use any of these offline payment methods in placing your order, please
inform us
in advance and we will manually activate this OPM payment feature for your account.
Wire Transfer
Please remit your payment to:
Account Holder: YU SHU SUM RODNEY
Account Number: 043-488-0-010814-4
Bank Name: Nanyang Commercial Bank
Bank Address: 1/F., Shop 2, 410 Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Swift Code: NYCBHKHH
IBAN: This is usually used among European banks and not for banks in Hong Kong. Please remit payment by indicating the swift code instead.
The customer shall be responsible for the bank remittance charges. Please timely
inform us
the payment details for us to check your remittance.
Credit Card
Please complete this
and send us by post, fax or as a graphic attachment at
Contact Us
Is it secure to pay online?
We use PayPal as our online real-time payment gateway, who is one of the leading online payment processing companies in the world with over 50 million account members worldwide. The payment transactions take place in a secure encrypted environment of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) between you and PayPal directly and we are not informed of any of your credit card details. We only receive a notification from PayPal indicating the final result of your payment. We consider paying online is more secure than the traditional way as it does not involve any shop assistant who might disclose your credit card information. For further information about PayPal, please visit them at
What credit cards do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards including VISA, MasterCard, DISCOVER and AMEX.
Can I pay online but without using credit cards?
Yes, you can pay us by funding your
account with money from your bank account using Electronic Funds Transfer.
How long would it take to receive my order?
It usually takes around 6 to 8 business days for a ready-made item or 8 to 10 business days for a custom-made, tailor-made or plus size clothing item to arrive at destination if shipped by Express Courier. Some items might require longer preparation time, please always refer to the specific product item for lead time information. Some delay might be expected in case of bulk order or stock shortage, and we will timely keep you be informed of such delay. Delay caused by import customs clearance may also sometimes happen.
For request of urgent delivery, please specify when ordering and we might be able to shorten our preparation time if condition permits.
How to place an order online?
Just add the products of interest to your shopping cart and checkout to pay. Our system will prompt you to log in or create an account if you have not done so. If you choose to pay us offline, please
Contact Us
to manually enable the offline payment option for you.
Can I add or delete item after I have placed an order?
Yes, you may do so if your order has not been shipped by
contact us
with the details. To add item requires you to pay the additional amount which we will inform you accordingly. To delete item involves either a full store credit refund or 95% cash refund as subject to a 5% cancellation charge.
All custom-made, tailor-made, plus size and personal name imprinted items are NOT subject to cancellation once prepared.
Can I cancel my order?
Yes, you can cancel your order if it has not yet been shipped. A 5% cancellation charge will be imposed to offset banking charge.
All special orders including custom-made, tailor-made, plus size and personal name imprinted items must be paid in full at time of order and may NOT be cancelled once we have prepared your merchandise.
Do you accept custom-made or tailor-made orders for clothing?
Yes, we accept custom-made or tailor-made orders for a wide variety of clothing items. Please look for the items with the Tailor-made option.
Do I have to pay any sales tax?
No, you are not subject to any sales tax.
What if my ordered item is out-of stock?
We make every effort to keep a good stock of all the items on our site. Occasionally, a high-demand item may go out-of-stock. If we are out-of-stock of an item you ordered, we will notify you with the following options:
(1) you may cancel any unavailable merchandise at no charge;
(2) you may have a back-order entered at that time; or
(3) you may substitute it by another item.
Do you accept wholesaler or reseller application?
Yes, please create an account online first, then apply with details of your business entity and mode of operation for approval. As a wholesaler, you are entitled to a higher discount rate but subject to a minimum buy of over US$500 per order. For resell, no minimum purchase is required and we can even drop ship to your customer with all products in neutral packing without showing our business info.
Do you offer any discount for bulk order?
Yes, please refer to the specific product for per item quantity discount. In addition, we also offer order discount based on net order amount as stipulated at lower left or at product page.
All discounts will be applied automatically as you checkout.
Do you offer any discount for wholesaler or reseller?
Yes, please create an account online first, then apply with details of your business entity and mode of operation for approval. As a wholesaler, you are entitled to a higher discount rate but subject to a minimum buy of over US$500 per order. For resell, no minimum purchase is required and we can even drop ship to your customer with all products in neutral packing without showing our business info.
How do you charge for shipping?
We offer free shipping for China, Hong Kong and Macao. Please add your desired products to shopping cart and click checkout to see our very preferential shipping charges for your destination.
What shipping options are available?
You have the following shipping options to choose from:
Air Parcel
This is a low cost shipping method and will usually take 10 to 15 business days for its arrival but not guaranteed. Besides tracking service is only available after its arrival at your local post office.
Express Courier
For time sensitive orders, we recommend this fast and reliable shipping method, which usually takes 3 - 5 business days and provides full tracking service right from the collection point.
Air or Sea Freight
For heavy items, shipment by air or sea freight can be arranged with freight to collect.
Once your package is dispatched from our warehouse, we will notify you immediately the related tracking or way bill number.
When will my order be ready for shipment?
All stock merchandise will be dispatched for shipment within 3 to 5 business days upon receipt of full order payment. Please allow 5 to 7 business days for most custom-made, tailor-made, plus size clothing items and bulk orders may take an even longer preparation time. Please always refer to the specific product item for lead time information. You will be notified of any back orders, or other delays in shipping your order.
What countries do you ship to?
We are an online shop and we ship to virtually all major countries in the world with most of our buyers come from USA, Canada, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, France, Australia, Japan, etc.
How to track my shipment?
Once your order is shipped, we will provide you a tracking number for you to track your shipment status.
Who pays for export customs?
We will be responsible for all export customs on our side.
Who pays for import customs?
Import customs, if any, shall be borne by the customers but retail orders are rarely held by customs and liable for import duty.
What is your refund policy for cash or credit?
CASH REFUND for any authorized return other than product damage or error on our part will be subject to a 15% re-stocking fee to offset our handling and banking costs. You have a choice of full STORE CREDIT REFUND for all authorized returns including damage or error on our part. Shipping charges are not refundable other than error on our part.
All unauthorized, "freight to collect" or surface mail returns will be refused and no credit will be issued.issued.
What is your return procedure?
Contact Us
before you arrange to return, our customer service colleagues will give you full return instructions with address to return and might also give you some useful advices. NO RETURNS WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL. All returns must be carefully packed in appropriate packaging and shipping cartons with all shipping charges prepaid. We will process your return once received, but you are responsible for any misfortune during shipping.
All unauthorized, "freight to collect" or surface mail returns will be refused and no credit will be issued.
What products can be returned for exchange or refund?
Customer satisfaction is most important to us at
. In case you are not completely satisfied with the merchandise you purchased, you may return it for exchange or refund. We accept returns of all merchandises purchased with NO reasons, except the followings are not subject to return:
- custom-made, tailor-made, plus size or alteration items;
- personal name, slogan or logo imprinted items;
- audio or video diskettes;
- bargain items;
- items purchased with quantity discount;
- items purchased over 30 days from date of shipment;
- exchange or replacement items;
- items not in original condition as when purchased including wear and tear, alteration, washing, etc.
How to purchase gift vouchers?
Gift vouchers are purchased just like any other item in our store. You can pay for them using any of the store's standard payment methods. Once purchased and delivered, the value of the gift voucher will be added to your own CREDIT ACCOUNT. You will notice the Credit Balance at your account, and it also provides a "SEND YOUR FRIEND" button linking to the SEND GIFT VOUCHER page where you can send the gift voucher to someone via e-mail.
How to send gift vouchers?
To send a gift voucher, you need to go to your account and click the "SEND YOUR FRIEND" button located inside the CREDIT ACCOUNT box. This will link you to the SEND GIFT VOUCHER page, where you need to specify the followings: The name of the person you are sending the gift voucher to. The e-mail address of the person you are sending the gift voucher to. The amount you want to send. (
You don't have to send the full amount that is available in your CREDIT ACCOUNT.) A short message which will appear in the e-mail. Please ensure that you have entered all of the information correctly, although you will be given the opportunity to change this as much as you want before the e-mail is actually sent.
How to buy with gift vouchers?
If you have funds in your CREDIT ACCOUNT, you can use those funds to purchase other items in our store. At the checkout stage, an extra box CREDITS AVAILABLE will appear. Ticking this box will apply those funds in your CREDIT ACCOUNT. Please note, you still have to select another payment method if there is not enough fund in your CREDIT ACCOUNT to cover the cost of your purchase. If you have more funds in your CREDIT ACCOUNT han the total cost of your purchase, the balance will be left in your CREDIT ACCOUNT for the future.
How to redeem the gift vouchers?
f you receive a gift voucher by e-mail it will contain details of who sent you the gift voucher, along with possibly a short message from your friend. The e-mail will also contain the gift voucher Redemption Code. It is probably a good idea to save this e-mail for future reference. You can now redeem the gift voucher in two ways:
1. By clicking the link contained within the e-mail for this express purpose. This will take you to the store's REDEEM GIFT VOUCHER page. If you do not hold an account at our store, you will be requested to create an account, before the gift voucher is validated and placed in your CREDIT ACCOUNT ready for you to spend it on whatever you want.
2. During the checkout process, on the same page that you select a payment method, there will be a REDEEM GIFT VOUCHER box to enter a Redeem Code. Enter the code here, and click the REDEEM button. The code will be validated and added to your CREDIT ACCOUNT. You can then use the amount to purchase any item from our store.
What should I do if problems occur?
For any queries regarding the gift voucher system, please contact the store by
Contact Us
. Please make sure you give as much information as possible in your message.
Copyright 2024. Chinese Kung Fu Hustle. All rights reserved.
Time of Hong Kong: Sunday, March 3, 2024 4:27 pm (GMT+8)
Copyright 2024. Chinese Kung Fu Hustle. All rights reserved.
shipping & returns
privacy notice
conditions of use
web links


text:
I had a long, lovely and very restful Thanksgiving weekend, and I sincerely hope you did, as well. I did a lot of thinking, praying, reading, painting and resting–and, of course, some eating of turkey and trimmings, graciously served by Wendy and Jeremy at their place.
It seems to me, upon much reflection, that good romance novels (and other kinds, too) are mainly about personal transformation. I may have bitten off more than I can chew here, at least at one sitting, because transformation is a BIG subject, and I'm sure the previous statement seems painfully obvious (as in, 'well, duh'), to many of you. It's not as if this is new knowledge, after all. I've known it for as long as I can remember, and I'm sure you have, too. But I know lots of things that don't really have any bearing on my day to day thought processes, and this insight seems to be one of them. I plan to delve into it until I begin to understand.
The Bible, for instance, is all about transformation–of the heart. And just look at our favorite secular stories: Beauty and the Beast=Transformation. Cinderella, ditto. "The Matirix" and "Star Wars" and "The Fellowship of the Ring"–the list goes on and on, of course. Why do we love stories about change–people who are afraid to love, and then learn to open their hearts, for example? Or characters who must face some daunting challenge–or many daunting challenges–and surmount them? (Harry Potter comes to mind.) I believe it's because there is a deep human yearning to experience profound transformation hidden away in every heart, and well-told stories resonate with that yearning. Like most writers, I'm all about figuring out what works in a story and what doesn't–rodeo mistakes included :)–and the whole subject fascinates me. More than anything I set out to do, I want to touch your heart. I want to encourage you, reassure you, and make you laugh, if only for the span of some three hundred pages in a book. To paraphrase my dear friend Debbie Macomber, I'm not here to change your life–just your afternoon.
I'll be seeing Debbie soon, along with numerous other writing friends, at the annual Christmas party over in Seattle. Looking forward to that!
I've loved your ghost stories–every one of you deserved a prize but alas.
This week's question(s)–winners will be chosen THIS Wednesday–In five years, looking back on this time in your life, what will you wish you'd done? Why don't you do it?
My answer: I will wish I'd exercised and taken better care of myself in general. And I plan to do it.
What about you?
About Linda
The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West.
Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a horse property outside Spokane.


text:
Healthcare Directory—Leslie E. Purnell MD
Last directory upload June-18-2022
Leslie E. Purnell MD |
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Medical School / Professional School:
Temple University School of Medicine
American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Rochester Regional Health (The Women's Center at Rochester General Hospital)
1415 Portland Avenue Suite 400
Rochester New York 14621 Monroe County |
Phone: 585-922-4200
Fax: 585-922-4922 |
Rochester Regional Health (The Women's Center at Newark Wayne)
1250 Driving Park Avenue
Newark New York 14513 Wayne County |
Phone: 315-332-2427
Fax: 315-332-2324 |
Rochester Regional Health (The Women's Center at Alexander Park)
222 Alexander Street Suite 1100
Rochester New York 14607 Monroe County |
Phone: 585-922-8585
Fax: 585-922-8555 |
Rochester Regional Health (The Women's Center at Clinton Family Health Center)
309 Upper Falls Boulevard
Rochester New York 14621 Monroe County |
Phone: 585-922-0260
Fax: 585-922-0260 |
If you are uninsured or underinsured, or need a referral to a doctor or dentist, call our Affordable Health Line at 585-328-7000. Depending on your income and household size, we can help you qualify for Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, Medicaid, Healthy New York, EPIC, or the RPCN Community Health Care Plan. If you are not eligible for any of these plans, we will help you identify other healthcare access options to meet your needs. For more information, visit www.rpcn.org.
Look for the RHIO icon for authorized RHIO participants. Rochester RHIO makes your information available wherever you go—from the doctor to the pharmacist,primary care physician to a specialist, or a radiology center to the emergency room. With your consent, your healthcare provider will be able to view your information so they can provide the most informed care and treatment. For more information, go to ...Rochester RHIO. The RHIO icon appearing in a provider's directory listing indicates the provider participates with the Rochester RHIO.


text:
If you're the leader of a Data Team, chances are your clients are constantly demanding more and more services as time goes on. Your team members might be working longer days to keep up, and still you might not be able to meet all of the needs of your customers.
While the typical approach would be to try and get funding for more team members, there are other things that could be done first.
If you're the leader of a Data Team, chances are your clients are constantly demanding more and more services as time goes on. Your team members might be working longer days to keep up, and still you might not be able to meet all of the needs of your customers.
While the typical approach would be to try and get funding for more team members, there are other things that could be done first.
Here are 3 simple checks that you might want to perform before trying to grow your Data Team:
Check 1: What are the patterns of demand for your Data Team?
Despite being a numbers-driven group of people, it's uncommon for Data Teams to actually analyze their own pattern of demand. Some questions to think about are:
- How often do new requests come in?
- Who do they come in from?
- What is the nature of the requests?
- What is the urgency and target turn-around time for the requests?
- How long does it take to clarify the request?
- How long does it take to deliver a result?
Getting a picture of your demand patterns will help you better understand what's driving the level of busy-ness in your Data Team. It may point you in the direction of converting repeat requests into automated self-service reports. Or it may highlight those customers that have a chronic pattern of last-minute urgent requests, and in these situations you might benefit from proactively checking in with them once a week to see what might be coming up.
Or, at minimum, having this information will be your first point of evidence that your Data Team could benefit from having more team members.
Check 2: Is your team working efficiently?
As the leader of the Data Team you might be convinced that the team is working as efficiently as possible. But think about how you might go about convincing others. Some questions to consider are:
- How many work hours does it take to respond to requests from your customers?
- Does it take some team members less time than others to get things done? If so, what skills are teachable and transferrable between team members? Or, are there any team members that just aren't pulling their weight on the team?
- How much time does your team spend doing "disaster recovery", meaning situations where some bad numbers have been released by the team, and they are scrambling to correct the numbers? If this is significant, then implementation of quality control measures like the Consistency Check can help.
- What's the percentage of time that your Data Team is doing mundane and repetitive work? This may point to the need to further streamline and automate your processes, and/or offer standardized self-serve reports for frequently requested information.
- How many iterations (back and forth with the customer) does it take to complete a request? Are there opportunities to increase efficiency, by slowing down at the beginning, and getting clear on the what, when, why and how of the request?
- What is the pattern of work hours for your Data Team members? Are they constantly working late, and if so, is it measured anywhere?
By attempting to answer these questions you, as the Data Team leader, may find that you have some easy opportunities to pursue before trying to seek funding to grow your team. Or alternatively, by answering these questions you will have the evidence to show that your team is working as efficiently as possible.
Check 3: When the Data Team can't respond to requests, what does this cost your organization?
It's very rare for a Data Team to keep track of the requests they can't get to, which is a shame, because this can be invaluable information when thinking about expanding the team.
At minimum, a central log of requests can be set up, to track all requests that are made of your Data Team. The log should capture 1) requests that were accepted and delivered, 2) requests that the Data Team couldn't respond to, and 3) requests that were accepted, but have been delayed by more than a couple of weeks.
Then, as the leader of the Data Team you could follow up with a sample of your customers that had unmet needs in the past year, and work with them to estimate the cost of not having that information. It doesn't have to be anything fancy – even just a back of the envelope calculation is better than nothing. You may need to be creative, but you could consider the cost of making the wrong decision, or the cost of an adverse situation unfolding because of lack of awareness.
Pulling it all together, you now should know the pattern of your demand, the efficiency of your Data Team, and you should also have a rough idea of what it costs your organization when you can't respond to requests. This will be the type of evidence that your leadership team can use to make an informed decision regarding whether to expand your Data Team or not.
Note: What is a Data Team?
When we refer to "Data Teams" it's a catch-all for groups of technical, statistical, and subject-matter domain experts that are involved in providing information to support their organization. These teams are sometimes called "Business Intelligence", "Decision Support", or "Information Management", but they can also be internal consultants such as "Operations Analysts", "Strategic Information" or "Research". Many of these concepts equally apply to teams of Data Scientists.