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National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2007-2008 (ICPSR 25505)
Version Date: Feb 22, 2012 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
United States Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics
Version V3
Summary View help for Summary
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The NHANES combines personal interviews and physical examinations, which focus on different population groups or health topics. These surveys have been conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) on a periodic basis from 1971 to 1994. In 1999 the NHANES became a continuous program with a changing focus on a variety of health and nutrition measurements which were designed to meet current and emerging concerns. The surveys examine a nationally representative sample of approximately 5,000 persons each year. These persons are located in counties across the United States, 15 of which are visited each year. For NHANES 2007-2008, there were 12,946 persons selected for the sample, 10,149 of those were interviewed (78.4 percent) and 9,762 (75.4 percent) were examined in the mobile examination centers (MEC). Many of the NHANES 2007-2008 questions were also asked in NHANES II 1976-1980, Hispanic HANES 1982-1984, NHANES III 1988-1994, and NHANES 1999-2006. New questions were added to the survey based on recommendations from survey collaborators, NCHS staff, and other interagency work groups. As in past health examination surveys, data were collected on the prevalence of chronic conditions in the population. Estimates for previously undiagnosed conditions, as well as those known to and reported by survey respondents, are produced through the survey. Risk factors, those aspects of a person's lifestyle, constitution, heredity, or environment that may increase the chances of developing a certain disease or condition, were examined. Data on smoking, alcohol consumption, sexual practices, drug use, physical fitness and activity, weight, and dietary intake were collected. Information on certain aspects of reproductive health, such as use of oral contraceptives and breastfeeding practices, were also collected. The diseases, medical conditions, and health indicators that were studied include: anemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and lower extremity disease, environmental exposures, equilibrium, hearing loss, infectious diseases and immunization, kidney disease, mental health and cognitive functioning, nutrition, obesity, oral health, osteoporosis, physical fitness and physical functioning, reproductive history and sexual behavior, respiratory disease (asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema), sexually transmitted diseases, skin diseases, and vision. The sample for the survey was selected to represent the United States population of all ages. The NHANES target population is the civilian, noninstitutionalized United States population. Beginning in 2007, some changes were made to the domains being oversampled. The primary change is the oversampling of the entire Hispanic population instead of just the Mexican American (MA) population, which has been oversampled since 1988. Sufficient numbers of MAs were retained in the sample design so that trends in the health of MAs can continue to be monitored. Persons 60 years of age and older, Blacks, and low income persons were also oversampled. In addition, for each of the race/ethnicity domains, the 12-15 and 16-19 year age domains were combined and the 40-59 year age minority domains were split into 10-year age domains of 40-49 and 50-59. This has led to an increase in the number of participants aged 40 and older and a decrease in 12- to 19-year-olds from previous cycles. The oversample of pregnant women and adolescents in the survey from 1999-2006 was discontinued to allow for the oversampling of the Hispanic population. NCHS is working with public health agencies to increase knowledge of the health status of older Americans. NHANES has a primary role in this endeavor. In the examination, all participants visit the physician who takes their pulse or blood pressure. Dietary interviews and body measurements are included for everyone. All but the very young have a blood sample taken and see the dentist. Depending upon the age of the participant, the rest of the examination includes tests and procedures to assess the various aspects of health listed above. Usually, the older the individual, the more extensive the examination. Demographic data file variables are grouped into three broad categories: (1) Status Variables: Provide core information on the survey participant. Examples of the core variables include interview status, examination status, and sequence number. (Sequence number [SEQN] is a unique ID number assigned to each sample person and is required to match the information on this demographic file to the rest of the NHANES 2007-2008 data.) (2) Recoded Demographic Variables: The variables include age (age in months for persons under age 80, age in years for 1 to 80-year-olds, and a top-coded age group of 80 years and older), gender, a race/ethnicity variable, an current or highest grade of education completed, (less than high school, high school, and more than high school education), country of birth (United States, Mexico, or other foreign born), ratio of family income to poverty threshold, income, and a pregnancy status variable (adjudicated from various pregnancy-related variables). Some of the groupings were made due to limited sample sizes for the two-year dataset. (3) Interview and Examination Sample Weight Variables: Sample weights are available for analyzing NHANES 2007-2008 data. Most data analyses require either the interviewed sample weight (variable name: WTINT2YR) or examined sample weight (variable name: WTMEC2YR). The two-year sample weights (WTINT2YR, WTMEC2YR) should be used for NHANES 2007-2008 analyses.
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Geographic Coverage View help for Geographic Coverage
Distributor(s) View help for Distributor(s)
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Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection
Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes
In preparing the data files for this collection, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has removed direct identifiers and characteristics that might lead to identification of data subjects. As an additional precaution NCHS requires, under Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m), that data collected by NCHS not be used for any purpose other than statistical analysis and reporting. NCHS further requires that analysts not use the data to learn the identity of any persons or establishments and that the director of NCHS be notified if any identities are inadvertently discovered. ICPSR member institutions and other users ordering data from ICPSR are expected to adhere to these restrictions.
Many variables that are listed in the Demographic questionnaire sections of the Household Interview were omitted (by NCHS) from this data release due to concerns about participant confidentiality. NCHS did not include confidential and administrative data in this release and further, some variables have been recoded or top-coded to protect the confidentiality of survey participants.
Many of the NHANES 2007-2008 questions were also asked in NHANES II, 1976-1980, Hispanic HANES 1982-1984, NHANES III, 1988-1994, and NHANES 1999-2006. New questions were added to the survey based on recommendations from survey collaborators, NCHS staff, and other interagency work groups.
NHANES 2007-2008 survey design and demographic variables are found in Part 1 Demographics file in this release. All of the data files can be linked by using the common survey participant identification number (variable name: SEQN). Merging information from multiple NHANES 2007-2008 data files using SEQN ensures that the appropriate information for each survey participant is linked correctly. All data files should be sorted by SEQN.
The NHANES 2007-2008 data files do not have the same number of records in each file. For example, there are different numbers of subjects in the Interview and Examination samples of the survey. Additionally, the number of records in each data file varies depending on gender and age profiles for the specific component(s).
The sample person demographic file is composed of a limited set of core variables that are required to analyze NHANES 2007-2008 data.
Per agreement with NCHS, ICPSR distributes the data file(s) and text of the technical documentation for this collection as prepared by NCHS.
Note on the 2007-2008 Data Documentation: Changes have been made to the format of the Data Documentation, Codebook, and Frequencies for 2007- 2008. Revised DHHS and CDC Regulations require that public-use documents that are published on the CDC Web site must be made available in a format that is compliant with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Due to the tabular format of codebook items, it is no longer practical to publish data documentation in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) in a manner that is compliant with Section 508. Starting with the 2007-2008 data release, data documentation will be published in HTML format. The document in its new format contains the same information as it has in previous years. Data documentation for previous years will also be retrofitted to the new HTML format. Some changes you may notice: The cover page with color graphics, introduced with the release of 2003-2004 data, has been eliminated. The Record Locator has been moved to the front of the document, following the title information. The section bookmarks included in earlier PDF documents have been eliminated. The new format has been optimized for printing. The document displays in a Web browser without pagination as a single, continuous page consistent with its HTML format. However, when viewed using the print preview function, headers, footers, and page numbers should be displayed, as these are configured by your local Web browser settings. Codebook items have been formatted to place one or two on a page, in order not to break items over page boundaries. In the case of a few items that contain more entries than will fit on a single page, column headings have been carried over to the continuation page. Actual behavior may vary according to the vendor, version, and settings of a web browser. As these are beyond the control of the CDC, users may need to consult their local expert if further information or assistance are needed.
The user guides that are presently available are comprised of documentation from the NCHS. These user guides do not reflect the merging of each file with the demographics file, as this was done by ICPSR staff.
Study Design View help for Study Design
The most recent series of data collection waves for NHANES began in 1999. Every year, approximately 7,000 individuals, of all ages, are interviewed in their homes and of these, approximately 5,000 complete the health examination component of the survey. The health examinations are conducted in mobile examination centers (MECs). The MECs provide an ideal setting for the collection of high quality data in a standardized environment. The NHANES target population is the civilian, noninstitutionalized United States population. In 2007-2008 a new sampling methodology was implemented. All Hispanics were oversampled, not just Mexican Americans. In addition, for each of the race/ethnicity domains, the 12-15 and 16-19 year age domains were combined and the 40-59 year age minority domains were split into 10-year age domains of 40-49 and 50-59. This has led to an increase in the number of participants aged 40 and older and a decrease in 12- to19-year-olds from previous cycles. Lastly, pregnant women are no longer oversampled. Based on these changes some variables have been modified from previous release cycles. Initially, households are identified for inclusion in the NHANES sample and an advance letter is mailed to each address informing the occupant(s) that an NHANES interviewer will visit their home. The household interview component is comprised of Screener, Sample Person, and Family interviews, each of which has a separate questionnaire (please refer to the data file documentation). Trained household interviewers administer all of the questionnaires. In most cases, the interview setting was the survey participant's home. The interview data are recorded using the Blaise computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) system. When the interviewer arrives at the home, he or she shows an official identification badge and briefly explains the purpose of the survey. If the occupant has not seen the advance letter, a copy is given to them to read. The interviewer requests that the occupant answer a brief questionnaire to determine if any household occupants are eligible to participate in NHANES. If eligible individuals are identified, the interviewer proceeds with efforts to recruit these individuals. Initially, the interviewer explains the household questionnaires to all eligible participants 16 years of age and older, informs the potential respondents of their rights, and provides assurances about the confidentiality of the survey data (reiterating what is stated in the advance letter). A majority of the household interviews are conducted during the first contact. If this is inconvenient for the survey participant, an appointment is made to administer the household interview questionnaires later. Household interviews for survey participants under 16 years of age are conducted with a proxy (usually their parent or guardian). If there is no one living in the household who is over 16, participants under 16 years of age are permitted to self-report. Respondents are asked to sign an Interview Consent Form agreeing to participate in the household interview portion of the survey. For participants 16-17 years of age a parent or guardian consents and the child gives his/her assent. After the household interview is completed, the interviewer reviews a second informed consent brochure with the participant. This brochure contains detailed information about the NHANES health examination component. All interviewed persons are asked to complete the health examination component. Those who agree to participate are asked to sign additional consent forms for the health examination component. The interviewer telephones the NHANES field office from the participant's home to schedule an appointment for the examination. The interviewer informs the participants that they will receive remuneration as well as reimbursement for transportation and childcare expenses, if necessary.
Target Populations
There are different target population groups for the topics within and between NHANES questionnaire sections. For example, in the Nutrition and Diet Behavior section, questions pertaining to infant nutrition and breast-feeding were asked of proxy respondents for children 6 years of age and younger, alcohol consumption frequency questions were asked of persons 20 years of age and older, and senior meal program participation questions were asked of respondents 60 years of age and older. Data users should review the survey questionnaire codebooks thoroughly to determine the target populations for each NHANES questionnaire section and subsection.
The NHANES Health Examination Component
When a participant arrives at the MEC, s/he is greeted by the MEC Coordinator, who is responsible for seeing to it that the SP receives all the appropriate exams for his/her gender and age. The SP changes from street clothes into a paper gown, trousers, and slippers provided by the MEC. S/he is then given an ID bracelet with an identification number and escorted from the reception area to each of the exam locations within the MEC. Persons six years of age and older are asked to provide a urine specimen. MEC staff direct participants to the rooms where the examination components are conducted. In addition to the MEC Coordinator, each MEC survey team consists of one physician, one dentist, two dietary interviewers, three certified medical technologists, five health technicians, one phlebotomist, two interviewers and one computer data manager. Upon completion of the examination, each examinee is remunerated. Some of the medical findings from the examination are given to the examinees before they leave the MEC. The other reportable survey findings are mailed to participants after the laboratory assays and special tests are completed.
MEC Operations
Three MECs are equipped for use in NHANES. Each MEC consists of four large, inter-connected trailer units. An advance team sets up the MECs prior to the start of the survey examinations. Water, sewer, electrical, and communication lines are connected during set-up. The MEC equipment and data collection systems must be checked and calibrated prior to the start of survey data collection. The MECs are open a total of five days per week, and the nonoperational days change on a rotating basis so that appointments can be scheduled on any day of the week. Two examination sessions are conducted daily. For the convenience of the survey participants, appointments can be scheduled during morning, afternoon, or evening hours. The examinations require up to three hours to complete. At any given time during the survey, examinations are conducted at two survey locations simultaneously. Staff vacations are scheduled for periods of about one month at New Years and about two weeks during the summer, leaving ten and one-half months to conduct examinations.
Sample View help for Sample
The NHANES survey design is a stratified, multistage probability sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized United States population. The stages of sample selection are: (1) selection of Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) which are counties or small groups of contiguous counties, (2) segments within PSUs (a block or group of blocks containing a cluster of households), (3) households within segments, and (4) one or more participants within households. A total of 15 PSUs are visited during a 12-month time period. Details of the design and content of each survey are available at the NHANES Web site.
Universe View help for Universe
The NHANES target population is the civilian, noninstitutionalized United States population.
Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation
Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)
Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection
Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales
DISC -- Predictive Scale
Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date
Version History View help for Version History
- United States Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2007-2008. ICPSR25505-v3. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2012-02-22. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR25505.v3
2012-02-22 Data and documentation for the following parts have been updated: 121, 123. Additional updates will occur in the future as the NCHS revises the NHANES data collection frequently.
2011-09-07 All data files in this collection were merged with the demographics file.
2010-05-04 ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Performed consistency checks.
- Created variable labels and/or value labels.
- Standardized missing values.
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Weight View help for Weight
Sample weights are available for analyzing NHANES 2007-2008 data. Most data analyses require either the interviewed sample weight (variable name: WTINT2YR) or examined sample weight (variable name: WTMEC2YR). The two-year sample weights (WTINT2YR, WTMEC2YR) should be used for NHANES 2007-2008 analyses. Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines provided with the data release files to determine the appropriate methodology for analyses of combined years of data.
NCHS September 2006 Version--NHANES Analytic Guidelines
Beginning in 1999, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) became a continuous, annual survey rather than the periodic survey that it had been in the past. For a variety of reasons, including disclosure and reliability issues, the survey data are released on public use data files every two years. Thus, the data release cycle for the ongoing (and continuous) NHANES is described as NHANES 1999-2000, NHANES 2001-2002, NHANES 2003-2004, etc. In addition to the analysis of data from any two-year cycle, it is possible to combine two or more "cycles" (e.g., 2003-2004 and 2005-2006) to create NHANES 2003-2006, thus increasing sample size and analytic options. In order to produce estimates with greater statistical reliability, combining two or more two-year cycles of the continuous NHANES is encouraged and strongly recommended. When combining cycles of data, it is extremely important that (1) the user verify that data items collected in all combined years were comparable in wording and methods and (2) use a proper sampling weight. Beginning in 2003, the survey content for each two-year period is held as constant as possible to be consistent with the data release cycle. In the first four years of the continuous survey, this was not always the case, and some special data release and data access procedures had to be developed and used for selected survey content collected in "other than two-year" intervals (see the NHANES release policy). The decision on how many years of NHANES data are required for a particular analysis can be summarized by the concept of minimum sample size required. The minimum sample size is determined by the statistic to be estimated (e.g., mean, total, proportion...), the reliability criteria (e.g., 20 or 30 percent relative standard error), the Design Effect for the statistics (DEFF defined as the variance inflation factor), and the degrees of freedom for the standard error estimate. Earlier NHANES surveys were conducted for four or more years and, thus, have larger samples than a two-year cycle of the current continuous NHANES. However, in each of those surveys, many subdomains did not meet minimum sample size requirements and in those cases the above concerns were (and still are) relevant. When combining two or more two-year cycles of the continuous NHANES, the user should use the following procedure for calculating the appropriate combined sample weights. When combining two or more two-year cycles of the continuous NHANES, the user must calculate new sample weights before beginning any analysis of the data. NCHS will not be calculating and including all possible combinations of multiple two-year cycles of the continuous survey because it would be impractical to produce them and include them on all public release files. Because of a particular issue with Census population estimates, a set of four-year weights was created for the first four years of the continuous NHANES -- 1999-2002. The sample weights for NHANES 1999-2000 were based on population estimates developed by the Bureau of the Census before the Year 2000 Decennial Census counts became available. The two-year sample weights for NHANES 2001-2002 were based on population estimates that incorporate the year 2000 Census counts. The two population estimates were not strictly comparable. To facilitate analysis for these first four years of the continuous NHANES, appropriate four-year sample weights (comparable to Census 2000 counts) were calculated and added to the demographic data files for both 1999-2000 and 2001-2002. These sample weights have the same variable name in each file. For example, for the sample persons for whom there are MEC data items, the variable name for the four-year weight is WTMEC4YR. Thus, users of the earlier release of the NHANES 1999-2000 demographic file must use the updated demographic file to appropriately analyze the combined four-year data 1999-2002. Because NHANES 2003-2004 uses the same year 2000 Census counts as were used for NHANES 2001-2002, there is no need to create special four-year weights for 2001-2004. For a four-year estimate for 2001-2004, one can create a new variable for a four-year weight by assigning half of the two-year weight for 2001-2002 if the person was sampled in 2001-2002 or assigning half of the two-year weight for 2003-2004 if the person was sampled in 2003-2004. This is possible because the two-year weights for 2003-2004 are comparable to the 2001-2002 weights (in terms of a population basis). For an estimate for the six years 1999-2004, a six-year weight variable can be created by assigning two-thirds of the four-year weight for 1999-2002 if the person was sampled in 1999-2002, or assigning one-third of the two-year weight for 2003-2004 if the person was sampled in 2003-2004. This is possible because the 2003-2004 weights are also comparable (on a population basis) to the combined four-year weights specifically created for 1999-2002.
This information summarizes the most recent analytic and reporting guidelines that should be used for most NHANES analyses and publications. It is important for users to understand the entire document and to become familiar with statistical issues in the analysis of complex survey data. These suggested guidelines provide a framework to users for producing estimates that conform to the analytic design of the survey. Because statistical methods for analyzing complex survey data are continually evolving, these recommendations may differ slightly from those used by analysts for previous NHANES surveys. It is important to remember that the statistical guidelines in this document are not absolute. When conducting analyses, the analyst needs to use his/her subject matter knowledge (including methodological issues), as well as information about the survey design. The more one deviates from the original analytic categories and original analytic objectives defined in the planning documents, the more important it is to evaluate the results carefully and to interpret the findings cautiously. Future versions of the NHANES Analytic and Reporting Guidelines will include additional topics, such as sample sizes and response rates for each NHANES survey, hypothesis testing, multivariate analysis, and a discussion of the concept of statistical versus practical significance. These are Guidelines not standards. Depending upon the subject matter and statistical efficiency, specific analyses may depart from these guidelines; but the burden of proof for statistical efficiency and for appropriate data interpretation is on the data user/analyst. Again, NHANES data files from the continuous survey are publicly released on a two-year basis (1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2003-2004, etc.) and as small, content specific files. The data files and associated documentations, as well as these analytic guidelines, may be edited and/or updated to reflect new data release files. Users should periodically check the NHANES Web site to determine if any new or revised data files have been released and if these analytic guidelines have been updated.
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
- The citation of this study may have changed due to the new version control system that has been implemented. Please see version history for more details.
This study is maintained and distributed by the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging (NACDA), the aging program within ICPSR. NACDA is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Heath (NIH).


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Sadie, You're Invited...
This year, Shine is gathering a group of the most empowering women we know to join us on a 5 Night Western Caribbean cruise to Haiti and Jamaica.
You and a guest are invited to join us on the beautiful Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas ship.
Here are the details:
DATES: November 16-21, 2019
DEPARTURE PORT: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
DAY 1: Departure Day - Stroll the beautiful Ft. Lauderdale Beach promenade before we depart at 4:30pm.
DAY 2: Cruising - Enjoy all the thrills and amenities of the gorgeous Independence of the Seas ship!
DAY 3: Labadee, Haiti - You are invited to unwind in a private bungalow overlooking Nellie's Beach. At Labadee, paradise takes many forms and we plan to soak in every single one.
DAY 4: Falmouth, Jamaica - From reggae bands to secluded waterfalls, Falmouth is positively "irie" (pleasing). Head to Chukkah Beach for a shoreside horseback ride, or get your culture fix during high tea at Good Hope Estate. And no trip is complete without jerk chicken! Enjoy your choice of activities on this day exploring Jamaica!
DAY 5: Cruising
DAY 6: Arrival Day - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at 7:00 AM.
We can't wait to SHINE in the sun with you!
Will you join us?
BONUS!! Earn your flight and travel costs! June 1st through August 31st, earn over $5000 in commission with Shine, and we will give you up to an $800 credit toward your travel accommodations.

subset: commoncrawl


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I work close by and Prime has never failed on delicious lunch and dinner offerings. You definitely get what you pay for. My favorite is the Asian Steak Salad. Only downside is parking but it's definitely worth finding a spot for.
I have eaten food catered from here at two different parties. Both times exceptional. The meat was fresh and delicious and the sides were very good too. Makes me want to go visit the store and see what else is cooking!
How Do Catering Companies Throw a Super Sweet 16?
When a little girl hits that special age of sweet 16, she can only think of one thing: her sweet 16 party! How can this party be as awesome as she truly wants it to be? If you are a parent preparing to through your little girl the party of a lifetime, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. The good news is, you aren't in this alone! Catering companies are experts at throwing an awesome sweet 16, and Prime Catering is here to see that your daughter has the time of her life. Here are some guidelines to help you along the way, so you don't get too overwhelmed in the process.
Pre-party Planning
You should be thinking about your daughter's sweet 16 party about 3 months before the big day. This is a good time to get some major details out of the way so things can run smoothly as the party gets closer. If you want the party to be intricately detailed, feel free to start planning even a month earlier. Here is a to do list that you can keep in mind as you get into the pre-party planning stages:
Get This Party Started!
Getting the finalized plans for your sweet 16 should start about six weeks before the date. Go through the following checklist to make sure everything is all set.
Whether it is catering a sweet 16, or wedding catering, the team at Prime Catering is here to help you throw the event of a lifetime! For any further tips on how you can wow your guests with an amazing event, contact us today!


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There is an ongoing battle for world domination in the field of technology, which is especially prominent in the mobile phone and tablet industry. As it's customary in such epic fights, the best of the best are pitted against each other, and we, the spectators, witness how the process of natural selection takes its course (Over dramatic, I know, but essentially true).
In this segment, we will pit one of the best Android tablets currently available, the ASUS Transformer Prime, against the newly released iPad 3. And, the battlefield of choice is gaming! Introducing the ASUS Transformer Prime with Android 4.0 vs the iPad 3, running iOS.
This battle is more a competition of the powerful processors running the two devices, the quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor in the Transformer Prime, against the A5X processor in the iPad 3. The carefully selected games are Pinball HD, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, and SHADOWGUN. Each game has been created by the same developers for both the Android and iOS platform, which makes them ideal for showing off the potential of both devices.
So, moving on. Let's FIGHT!
(All videos are courtesy of the guys at Slashgear who have taken the time to produce them. The setup: Stands for the tablets to keep them still, and a tripod to keep the camera still)
Pinball HD
Pinball HD is the highest rated pinball game on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. As it should be, having no competition in this area, at least as far as HD gaming goes.
Both the Transformer Prime and the iPad 3 performed excellently while playing this game. This only serves as a testament to how powerful their respective processors are. The only difference is the Android device took just a tad longer to load the game. The game also seemed to fit the screen of the iPad 3 better, mostly because it is tuned to work with a massive range of display sizes in the Android version. Other than these minor factors, it is very difficult to pick a winner considering the gameplay itself.
Result: Draw (with just the tiniest of leans towards the iPad 3)
Did you notice the Pinball HD "FOR TEGRA" tag on the Android version?
Asphalt 6: Adrenaline
Asphalt 6 is a premier racing game developed by Gameloft for almost every operating system around, including iOS, Android, Bada, WebOS, and Blackberry Playbook. It provides excellent gameplay with a large variety of maps and cars to choose from, never leaving the user bored.
The better graphics on the iPad 3 are easily noticeable, mostly due to the developers ramping up the graphics to suit the Retina-display of the device, for the chance to be the featured app on the Apple App Store. So, it is not an entirely favorable comparison for the Android version, running on the Transformer Prime.
Gameplay is again excellent on both tablets, with very fast response times, giving us another reason to believe that these machines are truly the best of their kind.
Result: iPad 3 (Since it has the latest version of the game with superior graphics, and till developers further optimize the game for Android)
SHADOWGUN, a third person cover shooter, is a hugely popular game on both platforms featuring surprisingly detailed visuals and animation. In this face off, the latest versions for both devices are loaded, SHADOWGUN for iOS and SHADOWGUN THD for the Android version.
This time around, the advantage lies with the Android device, in part, due to the developers again. The developer of SHADOWGUN, Madfinger Games, worked in close collaboration with NVIDIA to provide near optimized gameplay for the Tegra 3 processor – the Android version features added effects, more environment action, and even a few more bad guys.
That being said, gameplay was extremely smooth on both devices. Both had glitches because of the amount of extra pixels on the iPad 3, and the higher detailing for the Android version.
Result: ASUS Transformer Prime (until a graphically enhanced version for iOS is released)
During the announcement of the iPad 3, Apple claimed that the A5X processor would perform four times better than the Tegra 3. It is difficult to draw a conclusion from this incredibly fun but highly unscientific comparison. Both tablets performed admirably and kept up with each other, with the difference lying only in the game development itself. There will be other benchmark and tests that will push these processors to their limits, but mobile gaming isn't one of them.
The only conclusion that can be confidently drawn here is a WIN for gamers everywhere!
This article, iPad 3 vs ASUS Transformer Prime with Android 4.0: Gaming FIGHT! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com – Your Android News Source.


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30 Nov 2019 We've upgraded the Forum software to the latest update, and new users should now be able to register and sign on again. The look and feel of the forum may also change over the next few days.
Started by Mark Morgan, 11 January, 2010, 19:48Previous topic - Next topic


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Recently, we had a graduate reach out to us to ask how she could personally thank the supporters and donors who made her stay at Mercy possible. In 2010, Sara came to Mercy seeking freedom from the abuse, addictions, anxiety and depression she had endured. Her life was changed because of you, and five years later, you are still on her mind:
"Words cannot express how grateful I am for your unconditional love and support to me, a complete stranger. While at Mercy, the girls and I prayed for you before every meal. We never took your generosity for granted.
To think that someone would invest financially into me—a girl who had done shameful things, turned from God, and believed her life wasn't worth fighting for—made no sense. Your giving proved to me that unconditional love does exist and that I was worth receiving it.
It will be five years this April that I first walked through the doors of Mercy, and every time I recall my days there, I always tear up when someone asks "How is it that Mercy was free of charge for you?" I then get to tell them about you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!!!"
--Sara, 2010 Mercy graduate
Sincerely in Christ,
Nancy Alcorn
Founder and President
P.S. Click here if you would like to give a gift to Mercy.


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Brisbane to Dalby
The Warrego Highway, is a highway leading you to a new adventure each day.
Watch the city skyline of Brisbane disappear behind you as you enter the city that almost stole Brisbane's capital status – Ipswich. It is not long and you are passing through the Lockyer Valley, the salad bowl of Queensland, home to top quality local producers that work hard to create unique and exciting products.
Situated adjacent to the Lockyer Valley, on the Great Dividing Range, is Toowoomba and where the Southern Queensland Country experience begins where you can slow down, breath deep and enjoy a taste of life in the country. The Toowoomba region has a lot to offer visitors, renowned for its magnificent parks and gardens, scenic views and provider to gourmet food and wine culture. It is a region of unparalleled beauty, offering the contrasts of the seasons; the colours and characters of the countryside; rich heritage and the release from big city pressures to enjoy country pleasures.
After experiencing the Garden City, it is then time to continue along the Warrego – the next stop Dalby.
Dalby to St George
Dalby is the regional centre of the Western Downs located just over 200kms west of Brisbane. With plenty of local history and culture to experience, from Pioneer Park Museum and a local Heritage Trail to exploring Bunya Mountains National Park, there's no shortage of things to see and do.
Head to St George via the Moonie Highway where you will pass Lake Broadwater Conservation Park, southwest of Dalby, and enjoy the only naturally-occurring freshwater lake in the region. Stop and explore Moonie where the area is noted for its quality grain, cattle and prime lamb production, before continuing on to St George.
From the moment you arrive to the time you leave, St George relaxes the senses in all the right ways. Perched on the banks of the mighty Balonne River, it is the perfect base from which to explore the beautiful Balonne Shire. A star feature, the two-kilometre stretch of shady riverbank walkway which begins below the Jack Taylor Weir and travels alongside the township where you'll find picnic and BBQ facilities, a flood height marker, exercise equipment and information signs on fish and bird species unique to this area.
St George to Cunnamulla
To really take in the Balonne River's magnitude of water, pack a few drinks and nibbles and jump on board a Sandytown River Cruise. Fill in the morning or afternoon by experiencing the St George Cotton Self-Drive Trail. The St George Heritage Centre also offers plenty of historical information and artefacts, blacksmith, printing press, old gaol and courthouse. Pick up a brochure from the Balonne Shire Visitor Information Centre and follow the trail to explore important historical sites, colourful stories and buildings that have shaped the town's history.
The soil gets redder as you head west towards Cunnamulla and approach the great little township of Bollon, sitting on the banks of the peaceful Wallam Creek. From there, take a stroll into Bollon along the creek-side footpath which is flanked by Aboriginal dreamtime artwork.
If you do one thing in town, make it the Bollon Heritage Centre. Even the keenest history buff will be pleasantly surprised by the range of artefacts and stories that narrate the town's rural history and Aboriginal culture.
For the serious campers and 4WD enthusiasts, Thrushton National Park is 40 kilometres north east of Bollon and accessible via dirt roads.
Cunnamulla to Thargomindah
With a diverse assortment of native flora and fauna both within the town and surrounding region, Cunnamulla is a must see for nature enthusiasts. After enjoying your choice of activity, whether it be bush walks, sandboarding, town and industry tours, river cruises, fishing, getting your photo with the magnificent Cunnamulla Fella Statue or a journey back in time along Cunnamulla's heritage trail, take some time out for yourself to enjoy a good coffee or a bite to eat at one of the towns many cafe's, restaurant or pubs.
Continue west to the friendly town of Eulo which is the "Montville of the Outback". Book into accommodation or camping options are behind the hotel and on the banks of the Paroo River, go birdwatching, fishing, relax and enjoy the tranquillity, take in the Billabong and Granite Nature Drives and have some time to rejuvenate in the Artesian Mud Baths.
Take a short detour off the main road to visit the friendly opal town of Yowah. Detour to the beautiful Lake Bindegolly National Park, where you can follow a short walking circuit or simply take in the serenity before rejoining the highway to Thargomindah.
Thargomindah to Innamincka
After you arrive in Thargomindah, call into the VIC to have a break before you visit the historic tourist attractions in town, including the Hydro Power Plant Display, the old Thargomindah Hospital and Leahy House. Hotel/Motel accommodation is available and a well-appointed caravan park is all located in the heart of town for visitors who want to stay overnight.
It's best to leave early on your drive to Innamincka, which is just across the border in South Australia, so that you can take a short detour and stop along the way at the historic Noccundra Hotel. The road is sealed to the border, with a small section of dirt road near the Ballera Gas Field. Just prior to reaching the border, make a detour to the Burke and Wills 'Dig Tree' site. Situated on the banks of Cooper Creek, and where the Expedition ended in tragedy. Visitors can camp along the banks of the Cooper.
The road to Innamincka from the border is unsealed. There are a number of places of interest just outside Innamincka, including the Cullyamurra Waterhole with its Aboriginal rock carvings.


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I'd heard a couple of rave reviews about Ali Baba's Mediterranean Grill on Red Bank and was really excited to try it. I love Lebanese/Greek food and this place is close by and affordable - sounds like a winning combination!
But now - it's home to Ali Baba's.
Sabra hummus has me spoiled - I crave their roasted red pepper on a regular basis. This was of the plain variety made in-house and it was fine. Again - good standard hummus.
I got the Chicken Schwarma pita ($6). I have mixed feelings on this - there were LOTS of veggies in with it - which I loved and the chicken was flavorful. The sauce was a bit lacking and the pita was already torn when I got it so it fell apart quickly. It was also a bit stale.
Aside from the food - service and atmosphere should be addressed. First - it's hot - there's no air and it gets a bit sticky in there. It wasn't too bad the day we went but it was noticeable - I can't imagine on a HOT day. Also - ordering there is a bit clunky - you order at the counter - but it's just awkward. Also - Marla's gyro was probably 5-7 minutes behind our two sandwiches. The kid forgot about it and we ended up going up and it was sitting there waiting to be taken out. They're very very polite and friendly - but it's just clunky and needs some work.
Why Should You Go? The food is good - not amazing - but solid, good Mediterranean food and it's really affordable. The portion sizes are also very large - you won't leave hungry by any means!!!!


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Eliza Jane Schneider's solo show is a showcase for her vocal and musical talents
In her solo play "Freedom of Speech," Eliza Jane Schneider says she grew up a child escape artist with a vivid imagination.
Where she escaped was into dialects — a vocation that has provided her with a lucrative career as a voice artist (she's Mrs. Cartman on "South Park"), and it inspired her 18-years-in-the-making play, which made its San Diego premiere Saturday.
Produced by Moxie Theatre at the Diversionary Theatre space in University Heights, the engrossing 90-minute play not only takes the audience on a linguistic tour of America, it also introduces local theatergoers to the virtuosic talents of Schneider, who recently moved to San Diego.
In the autobiographical play, Schneider portrays more than two dozen Americans she met after she quit college at UCLA and her Hollywood dream job in the 1990s to travel the country in an old ambulance. Eventually she logged more than 317,000 miles and recorded hundreds of interviews in her quest to find the real America, or more specifically, the real Americans.
Narrating her story with humor, pluck and poignancy, she disappears into her characters vocally and physically, plays the fiddle and guitar, croons country music, performs a two-way rap battle and sings a Verdi aria.
Among the many real-life people she creates onstage are Jack Heart, a Chippewa artist in Minnesota (near the Indian reservation where Schneider grew up) who laments the disappearance of traditions and history.
There's also Dotsy, a fast-talking, abused Puerto Rican girl in Spanish Harlem; Edoardo, a Marine from Texas who speaks proudly of his war experiences; Bryce and Eric, gang members in Pittsburgh who fight with rap music; the mayor of a polygamous religious colony in Arizona; a strung-out heroin junkie in Seattle; a blasé prostitute at the Mustang Ranch in Nevada; and a Disney-loving fundamentalist Christian who's awaiting the End Times.
Each character shares with Schneider his or her story, beliefs and philosophy. But instead of simply cataloging them as a linguist would, Schneider gets sucked into their worlds. She gives up vegetarianism (for a day) to eat a Reuben sandwich offered by a waitress in a Jewish deli in New York's Lower East Side; she contemplates shooting up to experience heroin high with the junkie; and she's briefly mesmerized by Barlow's idealistic description of his community.
Many of the people she plays are unsavory, foul-mouthed and even violent, but her sincerity in wanting to suck up all of their words and memories like a sponge to preserve them in her play is disarming.
Moxie's artistic director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg directs what Schneider has described as the play's "definitive" production in a simple, ambulance-inspired scenic design by Jennifer Brawn Gittings (who also created costumes). Kevin Anthenill designed sound and Sherrice Kelly designed lighting and projections.
"Freedom of Speech"
When: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Aug. 11. No performances July 25-28.
Where: Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., San Diego
Tickets: $27 (discounts available)
Phone: (619) 220-0097
Online: moxietheatre.com


text: Denim veteran Ali Fatourechi leads Los Angeles-based brand Adaptation into the streetwear scene with an aesthetic that merges impeccable tailoring with a gritty aesthetic that not only embodies but celebrates L.A.'s all-encompassing creative scene. Fatourechi, the founder of Genetic Denim, has brought his sophisticated denim tailoring to Adaptation while branching out into more creative skate-influenced forms of expression. The irreverent brand offers a multitude of laid-back menswear styles from oversized vintage-style graphic t-shirts and relaxed chinos to cropped hoodies and modified denim jackets. Wanting to embody "specific L.A. moments" Fatourechi collaborates with a different local artist each season, the latest being artist Warren Lotas whose cheeky skeleton graphics and hand-scribbled text on denim and field jackets can be seen littered throughout the collection. Luxe elements like sophisticated tailoring, premium textiles, or sheared rabbit fur trim are a reminder of quality despite the brand's guiding principle of a youthful, carefree existence.


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Wednesday, April 1st, 2020
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Hope Lutheran Church - Central Campus
Hope Lutheran Church is offering regular Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6:00 pm in the Hope Central Campus sanctuary. For Wednesdays outside of Advent or Lent, the prayer service will be a simple service based on Evensong, or Vespers, which is the traditional Evening Prayer from the book of Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The worship consists of prayers, a psalm, canticles and a Scripture reading. During the seasons of Advent or Lent, more specialized or topical services will be offered, as have been in past years. The service will be led each week by one of the pastors or deacons and is open for all who would like to have a short, prayerful time with God in the midst of our community.
Wednesday Evening Prayer has been purposefully scheduled with our weekly Social Suppers in mind. Those who attend the Social Supper at 5:00pm will have plenty of time to enjoy their meal before ending the evening in quiet prayer.


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The Dynamo Academy U-18 squad, presented by Statoil, entered the Dallas Cup without a win since February 16. But it took only one game in Dallas for the Dynamo to regain their form and now the team sits only 90 minutes from hoisting the prestigious Dallas Cup.
After a dramatic semifinal match, in which the Dynamo gave up four unanswered goals but pulled out the game winner in the 90th minute, Houston responded with a comfortable 4-1 win over California based club PAC Tigres on Saturday afternoon. The win served as a bit of retribution for a Dynamo club that was knocked out of last year's Dallas Cup by the same PAC Tigres squad.
Houston jumped out early on PAC, taking a 2-0 lead into the half behind a PAC Tigres own goal and a team-leading eighth goal from homegrown forward Bryan Salazar (pictured, right).
After PAC picked up a goal early in the second half, the Dynamo responded with goals from Irvin Ramirez (pictured, above) and Carlos Ibarra to seal the victory. The U-18s have now scored 23 goals in their five Dallas Cup matches.
The Dynamo's opponent in Sunday's championship match will be IF Brommapojkarna, a Swedish club that defeated IMG Academy 2-0 on Saturday. Sunday's championship match will kick off at 3 p.m. CT in the historic Cotton Bowl.
Houston will be looking for their third Dallas Cup title, after winning the cup in 2008 and 2010. The Dynamo also advanced to the 2007 championship match before falling to IMG Academy in the U-19 championship match.


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The U.S. Soccer Federation announced a new emphasis on youth development in February, instituting a nationwide mandate that will increase its development academy season to 10 months, from September through June.
The continued maturation of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which was created five years ago, is a big victory for the local elite young players, but is not without collateral damage.
What's the kicker, you ask?
The other cleat dropped, and U.S. Soccer quietly ruled that academy players can no longer participate in any high school sports, as had been previously allowed.
The consequences of that decision shocked the Central Mass. boys' soccer landscape, as several teams will lose their best players to the two academies in Massachusetts — the Revolution Academy, run by the New England Revolution, and FC Bolts Celtic.
The most devastating blow was dealt to Shrewsbury High, which lost senior forward Coupar Lipp and central midfielder Matt Morana, who started every game last season as a freshman. Both are headed to the Revolution Academy.
"Leaving all my friends and my coach, it wasn't an easy decision," Lipp said. "Once I kind of weighed everything out and looked at what this is offering me … (playing academy) was the best thing for me, and I had to go with it."
The 6-foot-2 Lipp said the Revolution were very good about explaining the changes to recruits even before team tryouts began.
Lipp, 17, who would have been a returning captain, was a Telegram & Gazette Super Teamer last fall after having led Mid-Wach A — now called Midland A — in scoring with 20 goals and five assists.
With the Revolution, Lipp will return to center back, the position he played on his club team, the New England Futbol Club, and which he likely will play in college.
"I had extremely high hopes going into the season, especially the way we finished last year," Shrewsbury coach Greg Bennett said. "With those two players, we would be a top three team with North and Algonquin."
The Colonials made it to the Central Mass. Division 1 quarterfinals last season, their best finish since 2007, and as Bennett put it, if a program goes through peaks and valleys, Shrewsbury was in line to reach a crest this season.
Bennett, also an assistant coach on the Shrewsbury hockey team, has seen a similar story unfold on the ice as he has watched the Central Mass. ranks depleted with many talented players leaving to play in the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
Arguably the two top forwards in Inter-High also have joined the Revolution. Defending CMass Division 1 champion North High loses a Super Teamer in Mawolo "Gabe" Gissie, while South goes without junior Matt Nyeayea.
Nyeayea said it was a hard decision to leave all of his friends on the high school team, but he's committed to the Revs because "it benefits us for our future."
Both players are entering their second season with the Revolution.
Gissie, now a junior at Worcester Tech (which forms a co-op team with North), is a rising star with the Revolution, having led the U-16s in goals (15) and assists (eight) in 2011. He was named the team's Player of the Year.
Lucas Ritzer, who as a sophomore last year helped Sutton High to the Division 3 state title while scoring 19 goals as an outside midfielder, has decided to play for FC Bolts Celtic.
"We'd love to have him, but at the same time, we wish him luck," Sutton coach Mike Elster said.
Elster mentioned senior forward Justin Rothermich as an example of a player who has been able to get national exposure on his club team, Mass Premier Soccer, while still taking part in high school soccer, tennis and indoor track.
While the Bolts have not yet published their academy rosters, club president Elliott Pratt said the number of Central Mass. players is down from 2011.
Named the FC Greater Boston Bolts for the club's first 25 years, the Bolts changed their name in April after reaching an affiliation agreement with Scottish Premier League powerhouse Celtic FC of Glasgow.
The one player known to have snubbed academy soccer is reigning Hometeam Player of the Year Nate Pomeroy of Division 2 state champion Groton-Dunstable Regional.
According to Pratt, he turned down the Bolts — after having previously been an academy standout, leading the U-16 squad with 13 goals en route to the Northeast Division title — in order to play his senior season with the Crusaders.
Pomeroy, who also plays varsity basketball, collected 32 goals and 12 assists last fall and was named Mid-Wach B MVP as Groton-Dunstable went 20-1-1.
The attraction of academy soccer is clear — it provides top players greater exposure to coaches and scouts than high school and club soccer.


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I'm an aussie, but when it comes to support, the english kill us. The barmy army is the best supporter group there is.
Trouble is that they will turn an Australian ground to an english sounding ground if efforts aren't made my aussie supporters to increase their vocal presence.
Aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi is old, C'mon aussie c'mon is lame and we have nothing else. Accordingly, there is a site here, to come up with and use (print the PDF) songs for the aussies. Email new songs or different words and we can come up with enough songs to give the barmy army some curry.


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ALEX Toys Do-it-Yourself Wear Watch Me
by ALEX Toys
Please check your favorite toy retailer for availability. Prices may vary.
Buy Online:
Product Description
Watch me change my watch bands…every day! Mix and match four bands and four face rings for 16 different looks! The ribbon bands are adjustable. The watch is quartz movement with second hand on middle dot. Stainless steel and water resistant. Everything included in a colorful keepsake tin.
There are no reviews yet.


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Organisation Development (OD) is about improving performance at the individual, group, and organisation levels. It is about improving the organisation's ability to effectively respond to changes in its external environment, and it's about increasing internal capabilities by ensuring the organisational structures, human resources systems, job designs, communication systems, and leadership/managerial processes fully harness human motivation and help people function to their full potential.
Done well, such improvement can be transformational - producing fundamental changes in the way individuals, groups, and organisations function.
Human Synergistics International is a world leader in the field of data-driven change - measuring and quantifying organisational behaviour at the individual, group, and organisation levels. Survey feedback, an integral part of the OD process, provides leaders and managers with research-based information on what is happening within the organisation - be it cultural norms, organisational systems, organisational climate, leadership and managerial approaches and their consequent impact, or the behaviours of key people throughout the organisation. Such measurements must be based on solid, academically-respected research to help guide the process of change.
Helpful feedback tools not only measure the current state, but also identify what needs to be focused on to improve effectiveness in terms of building on strengths and overcoming stumbling blocks. When people receive feedback based on a reliable and valid assessment that highlights what is helping and hindering effectiveness at the individual, group, and/or organisation levels, then they can build strategies for improvement.
The process is quite simple. It's built on a test-action-re-test approach. Whether at the individual, group, or organisational level, the process remains the same - measure what is currently happening, develop strategies for change, implement these, and then re-test to evaluate the effectiveness of the change strategies.
Within this process, there is a set of key steps or phases that are essential to effective feedback and change:
Action, based on feedback, cannot be effective unless awareness and acceptance are first achieved. Acceptance cannot occur until awareness is achieved, so it is essential that the feedback process follows these steps in a facilitative, disciplined manner.
For individuals, managers, and leaders, the OD approach first involves selecting the most appropriate HS assessment and coach. The measurement (test phase) is then undertaken, followed by one-on-one feedback from an HS-trained coach. The coach then facilitates the focal individual through the awareness, acceptance, and action process to identify practical strategies and actions that will help this individual improve his or her personal effectiveness. The focal individual then puts these actions into place (action phase), which may entail changes in personal thinking styles, behavioural styles, management approaches, and/or leadership strategies. After a period of time, the assessment is re-administered (re-test phase) to check progress, and the coach works with the focal individual to help identify improvements, additional change strategies, and further developmental actions.
These steps can then be recycled time and time again as part of a systematic developmental process.
See Individual Development
See Management Development
See Leadership Development
For groups, the OD approach involves members working with an HS-trained practitioner, to identify group issues including task-related, interpersonal, or more commonly, both. The measurement (test phase) involves group members completing an assessment that measures how the group works together, highlighting group styles, or perhaps completing a problem-solving simulation requiring group members to apply task and interpersonal skills. The facilitator then helps group members understand what the feedback or simulation experience illuminates about how the group functions. She/he will then facilitate group members through the awareness, acceptance, and action process to identify what's working and what is not within the group. Next, the facilitator identifies strategies and actions (action phase) for improving group performance. Sometimes two simulations are used back-to-back to reinforce the learning from the first activity. If a behavioural assessment is used, then this can be re-administered after a period of time to assess progress (re-test phase).
These steps can be recycled time and time again as part of a systematic developmental process.
See Team Development Organisations.
At the organisation level, the OD approach involves working with one of HS accredited practitioners or in-house OD experts to set up a project plan for an organisation-wide survey. This project plan will include survey selection, methodology (including administration and data collection process) (test phase), feedback, strategy/action development process (action phase), and post-test timing (re-test phase). It is important from the outset to understand that in Organisation Development, a survey is an action-research approach. Simply doing a survey and then only communicating the results to senior management, who will then determine what needs to be done, simply reinforces the distance of management from organisational members. Action-research surveys use the data to involve people throughout the organisation to identify what the data are saying (test phase) and then build practical actions through the awareness, acceptance, and action process. Those involved determine what they can implement at the department level and what they want to recommend to senior management in the way of broader unit or organisation level change strategies/actions (action phase). The survey is then re-administered after a period of time to assess progress and the success of the implemented change strategies (re-test phase).
See Organisation Development.
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With the U.S elections looming, one can't go anywhere or do anything with hearing something about Obama's family, McCain's time in a POW camp or Palin's wardrobe. Sick of it? You wouldn't be the only one. Everyone seems to be highly clued up to what's going on, well, except McCain. (Oooh). Even … [Read more...]
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The Philadelphia Union are always preparing for their next match.
They also have an eye on the future just like every other club in Major League Soccer.
This was part of the genesis of an intriguing trade announced on Friday which sent forward Jack McInerney to the Montreal Impact for Andrew Wenger. Ironically, Wenger played at PPL Park last Saturday and was actually red-carded as the Impact and Union played to a 1-1 draw.
- Click the graphic to see Wenger and the Union against Real Salt Lake, April 12!
Wenger is a former member of the Union's PDL affiliate Reading United and a Lancaster native. He spent the past two seasons with the Impact after being the first overall selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.
The trade just so happened to take place before the Union's fifth match and the Union decided to move forward.
"It is one of those days that just this business requires," Union manager John Hackworth said on a conference call Friday shortly before the club was scheduled to travel to Chicago for Saturday's match against the Fire. "You do not ever like to see one of those you have to make in order for your game to be professional, but if you believe you are doing the right things, you have to do it. We want to wish Jack well and everything he does in the future, but at the same time we are excited to get like Andrew Wenger, who we think can be really good for us, not only now but long term."
The 23-year-old Wenger played three at Duke before being taken No. 1 overall. Wenger had six career goals and three assists for the Impact.
Hackworth said that Wenger will play forward for the Union.
"Right now it is a straight swap, forward for forward," Hackworth said. "He is more of a prototypical No. 9 than Jack was and that is where we first see him. He is versatile enough which we really like. I think we could literally put him at all but left or right or drop him into the midfield. I watched him for a long time, I know when he was a youth player, he was a fantastic center midfielder. When he first got to college, he was a defender of the year in the ACC at centerback and move him up front, he was the ACC player of the year as a forward. He is a good soccer player, we see him as a forward for us and he brings a lot of versatility."
Hackworth made sure to address the fact that the timing of the trade had nothing to do with any disappointment in McInerney's progress.
It just happened to develop now.
"There is no desperation on our part," Hackworth said. "We weren't disappointed with the way Jack was playing. We clearly have an idea of where we want to go and the type of players we want to bring in the future. We felt like this is a move that was going to improve that. It's as simple as that. We still have guys on our roster currently that we feel are good players. Some of them are coming off injuries and will get opportunities. We feel like we have performed well in this early part of the year, but it's a marathon and we want to be prepared for the long haul. There is no sense of desperation on our end at all."
Once Wenger becomes comfortable with his new teammates with the Union, time will tell how he fits in.
"I think his skill set and what he brings to the team and just his work ethic alone is going to give him a good opportunity here in Philly, and hopefully one given that opportunity he will make the most of and mesh well and help us hopefully he gets the results we desire," Hackworth said.
What do you think about the acquisition of Wenger? Leave a comment below.
Contact Union writer Andy Jasner at email@example.com


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Apparently, being a public servant in Dubai is like a real life version of Bad Boys or Miami Vice. You just get to drive sick performance cars everywhere and generally look awesome. We know the Dubai cops do this, and now we know even the fire department gets in on the action.
Not to be outdone by the supercar-loving Dubai Police Department, the Dubai Fire Brigade recently obtained a new Corvette Stingray, according to Drive Arabia. No, it's not as extreme as the Dubai cops' Ferraris or Lamborghinis, but it can at least keep up for much cheaper, which is kind of the entire point of the Corvette.
Normally this is where I'd applaud the Dubai Fire Brigade for saving the taxpayers a lot of money by getting an affordable speed machine like a Corvette, but Dubai gets so much oil money that people don't pay taxes there. Regardless of who paid for it, the new Stingray should get the city's bravest to fires pretty quickly.
As Drive Arabia notes, it's likely an improvement over the department's old C6 Corvette, which had a wicked yellow aluminum spoiler on the trunk. The new one doesn't, which is good because wings almost never look good on street Corvettes.
Head over to Drive Arabia for more pics. I want to be a cop or firefighter in Dubai. You guys hire Americans at all?
Photo credit Drive Arabia


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Online since June 2000, Saabmuseum.com is the most comprehensive history of the Saab marque that is currently available, in one place, on the internet.
On Friday 30 December 2011, Sveriges Radio News P4 West reports that this is the last day for the Saab Museum in Trollhättan until further notice…
…Fortunately, the Saab Bil Museum survives intact as part of the Innovatum Science Centre and records the living history of the innovation, passion and the Spirit of Saab that embodies this small, influential car-maker. Saabmuseum.com, online, is an independent website that continues to share Saab's rich history for followers and enthusiasts of this unique marque.
This website is currently a work in progress to build upon and improve the information that has been held here for over a decade. If you have any excellent, high-quality photos (to which you own the copyright) and you would like to share them here, or if you have any particular information that you would like to add in order to improve the knowledge of Saab cars, please contact SaabMuseum at Gmail dot com.
Browse the pages and learn how the marque has evolved from the experimental Ursaab of 1947 to the similarly shaped 96 that was still in production some 33 years later.
Discover Saab's long list of innovations, many of which have since become industry standard. Read about the turbo-charged 99 and how turbo-charging technology has become standard on all Saab production models.
Find all Used Saab car ads on the web with AutoXY


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These days, road to No. 1 full of detours
- Poised to take over atop the polls%2C Michigan takes a wrong turn at Ohio State
- Wolverines coach John Belein%3A %22It%27s a journey. You have to embrace an important part of it today.%22
- Win by Buckeyes erases the last of the unbeatens among Division I men%27s teams this season
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Behold the reality of modern college basketball. The last unbeaten team falls, and it's only Jan. 13.
Anyone surprised? No. That would include the coach of the last unbeaten team that fell. The No. 1 ranking is as slippery as soap, the perfect records a creation of cushy non-conference schedules, and losing is inevitable. So, correctly, sayeth John Beilein, who could have been in charge of the top-ranked team in the country had Michigan not been dropped 56-53 at Ohio State on Sunday.
If the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers — college men's basketball's last perfect champions — are anything like the 1972 Miami Dolphins, toasting themselves anew each season when the final unbeaten falls, who has the glasses?
UNBEATEN NO MORE:Ohio State hands Michigan first loss
Thirty-seven years now, and counting.
To review the bloody weekend at the top, Duke lost for the first time Saturday. That left Michigan at 16-0. Except now, it's 16-1.
And so, as is normal, what we know for sure right now is nothing. Whoever ends up as champion in April will have had to grow from defeat, as well as victory.
``At this time of the year, most teams now are seeing their first top level teams on the road,'' Beilein said Sunday. ``Just watch your scores and a lot of the questions you have will be answered.
``It's a journey. You have to embrace an important part of it today.''
Apparently, he means it. Michigan took the floor with a chance to become No. 1, and fell behind 21 points in the first 13 minutes. The Wolverines rallied to tie but gave way at the end.
The word Beilein had after all that?
``This,'' he said, ``is terrific.''
Terrific? He meant the experience for a young team that was blown away early and came back late, playing five freshmen and being led in scoring by a sophomore, Trey Burke.
``Every coach will tell you that. When's the last team that didn't lose? It happens. The teams that prosper are the teams that get better from it.''
Nobody gets away clean very long in college basketball. Not anymore. Too many good teams out to get you.
``I lived it a couple of years ago, when we got to 24-0,'' Ohio State coach Thad Matta said of the trials of trying to stay unbeaten. ``It's mind boggling when you think about it. You're the last unbeaten team in the country when the game starts, and you think, `Man, I've never seen this (opponent) play like this.' And the environments you go into.''
Sunday, that was Michigan wandering into the Ohio State's hot house. And while Beilein speaks of the valuable lessons learned, this still had to sting a little bit for two reasons.
One, it has been 19 years since Michigan was ranked No. 1. Not every day a team gets the chance to do something for the first time in a generation.
``To me the rankings are irrelevant,'' he said. ``We're all about what's the end of the story. What are you like in March?''
``It hurts a little bit,'' forward Jordan Morgan said. ``But we'd rather be No. 1 in March than in January.''
Matter of fact, Beilein thought the whole No. 1 scenario might have had the Wolverines too amped up Sunday, especially on defense, when they eagerly attacked the perimeter early and watched the Buckeyes blow right past them with dribble penetration. They looked up, and it was 29-8.
``We came out with everything we had,'' Beilein said. ``Sometimes, that's not always the best.''
And, two ... well, let me borrow the phrase the Ohio State fans were shouting at the end of the game.
Just like football.
Losing to the Buckeyes in bridge would have to leave a sour taste for a Michigan team. Let alone the fact Ohio State has beaten Michigan nine straight times here, and Matta is 17-3 against the Wolverines.
Top that, Urban Meyer.
``Always satisfying to deny Michigan the No. 1 spot in the country,'' Ohio State's Evan Ravenel said.
``Everything happens for a reason,'' Burke said.
So Louisville will likely be No. 1, something the Cardinals have done but one week in their entire storied history. Odds are, it won't last long. Losing is part of winning in college basketball. Everyone has to do it.


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Every Sunday, I sit on my favourite armchair for approximately seven minutes (an unscientific average) and feel truly excited and inspired by the possibilities within my grasp. There's a reason why this happens. I have flicked through my favourite sections of the Sunday papers for those seven minutes, made a mental reminder to return to my favourite parts of those sections, noted anything new or surprising that should get my full attention later, become unnecessarily lost in new fashion trends, and then I put it all down, knowing that other things require my immediate attention: usually work deadlines, grocery shopping and breakfast. Yet, as I set about those tasks, the nuggets of culture and indulgence I glimpsed for those few minutes remain snapping, crackling and popping in my head, filling me full of optimism and belief – a personal, silent thrill of assurance that everything I used to think was inevitable and just around the corner in life really are there for the taking.
Then work starts, each line of it pricking my enthusiasm with its own individual fishing hook, until my soul is perforated and dragged down, and my optimism bleeds and flows, halal-style, into the gutter of drudgery. Sunday morning begins as the tremulous launch pad of impending greatness, but soon darkens and creeps into Sunday afternoon, which begins as the precipice beyond which lies the piercing stalagmites of Monday and the soul-sapping, inspiration-dampening week ahead.
It's a little bit like New Year's resolutions: the gusto and bluster of those inebriated self-promises generally withers and dies within a few seconds' exposure to reality, routine and the supermarket crisp aisle.
So, in 2014, I'm going to set myself some better, more realistic goals. Healthier, happier, more fulfilled. That'll be me.
Here we are, then: Continue reading


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Most of your favorite TV shows are back this week, as the spring TV season cranks into action. Check out your first look at new episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, Once Upon a Time and several others. Plus our favorite nerdy musical icon is finally getting his own Behind The Music special! (No, not MC Frontalot.)
Find out everything you've got to look forward to in this week's television, right here!
The CW is having a marathon of Secret Circle episodes all evening for the next few days, to get you ready for the show's triumphant return on Thursday.
Other than that, there's absolutely nothing on tonight. That'll teach you to appreciate Terra Nova more.
At 10 PM, CBS has the midseason premiere of of Unforgettable, that show about the cop who can freeze-frame and enhance and zoom in on anything she's ever seen in her life. In "The Butterfly Effect,"
When a construction worker with a promising future is murdered, Carrie and Al wonder if his ties to the mob were the cause of his death or an unrelated coincidence.
At 9 PM in most markets, PBS has the season premiere of Nova, with "Deadliest Volcanoes." Here's the deets:
Millions of people around the world live in the shadow of active volcanoes. Under constant threat of massive volcanic eruptions, their homes and their lives are daily at risk from these sleeping giants. From Japan's Mount Fuji to the "Sleeping Giant" submerged beneath Naples to the Yellowstone "supervolcano" in the United States, we will travel with scientists from around the world who are at work on these sites, attempting to discover how likely these volcanoes are to erupt, when it might happen, and exactly how deadly they could prove to be.
And then at 10 PM, the History Channel has the season finale of Brad Meltzer's Decoded, in which he wonders whether Houdini was murdered.
There's the midseason premiere of The Vampire Diaries on The CW at 8 PM, in which we see just how well Stefan's cunning plan works out. (And yes, I'm suddenly wanting to start referring to Stefan as Baldric.) Here's the blurb:
A REASON TO FEEL GUILTY - Stefan (Paul Wesley) has hidden the coffins containing the bodies of Klaus' (Joseph Morgan) family, and Klaus quickly turns to violence to convince Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) that no one will be safe until he finds Stefan and gets his family back. Tyler (Michael Trevino) continues to make the most of his new abilities as a hybrid, but he has to face the disturbing consequences of his actions as well. After a terrifying incident, Elena and Alaric (Matt Davis) grow increasingly concerned about Jeremy's (Steven R. McQueen) attitude and, ultimately, his safety. Alaric meets the beautiful Dr. Fell (guest star Torrey Devitto, "Pretty Little Liars"), who is intrigued with his amazing ability to heal. While trying to strike a deal with Klaus, Elena delivers news that truly shocks him.
Also at 9 PM: The CW has the midseason premiere of The Secret Circle, "Darkness":
CASSIE REVEALS HER DEEPEST SECRET YET; STEFANIE KRAMER ("HUNTER") AND GREY DAMON ("FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS") GUEST STAR - Cassie (Britt Robertson) turns to Adam (Thomas Dekker) when she uncovers a secret about herself that she needs kept from the rest of the Circle, including Diana (Shelley Hennig). Meanwhile, Diana is thrilled when her grandmother Kate (guest star Stefanie Kramer, "Hunter") drops in for a visit, but Charles (Gale Harold) is suspicious of his mother's motives after Kate takes an unusual interest in Cassie. Meanwhile, Faye (Phoebe Tonkin) recruits a mysterious stranger named Lee (guest star Grey Damon, "Friday Night Lights") to help her with a spell that could change the balance of the Circle forever.
And here's a sneak peek.
Randomly, Cartoon Network is showing a new Secret Mountain Fort Awesome at 4:30 PM.
At 8 PM, there's another episode of Chuck, on NBC, "Chuck Vs. The Kept Man":
GERTRUDE VERBANSKI RETURNS WITH A MISSION FOR CHUCK AND A PROPOSITION FOR CASEY — CARRIE-ANNE MOSS GUEST STARS — While Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) contemplate the next step for Carmichael Industries, Casey's (Adam Baldwin) forbidden love, Gertrude Verbanski (guest star Carrie-Anne Moss, "The Matrix"), walks back into his life with a questionable mission in South Beach. Meanwhile, Jeff's (Scott Krinsky) enhanced intelligence leads he and Lester (Vik Sahay) to suspect that something unusual may be happening at the Buy More.
Also at 8, The CW has the return of its frequently sciencey spy show Nikita, with "Pale Fire":
ALEX RETURNS TO HER CHILDHOOD HOME TO KILL SEMAK - Alex's (Lyndsy Fonseca) mission to take down Gogol comes to a head as she infiltrates her childhood home and faces ghosts from her past. On a completely separate mission, Nikita (Maggie Q) also ends up at the mansion to steal Semak's (guest star Peter J. Lucas) black box. Nikita and Alex run into each other and decide to join forces, but they run into a major roadblock. Meanwhile, Michael (Shane West) and Owen (guest star Devon Sawa) work together to figure out Percy's (Xander Berkeley) secret plan with the Guardians.
A third option at 8 PM: the midseason premiere of CBS' A Gifted Man, the show about the surgeon who talks to his altruistic wife's ghost. Here's what to expect from "In Case of a Bolt from the Blue":
WHEN MICHAEL SHOWS SIGNS OF A SERIOUS CONDITION, HIS COLLEAGUES AT THE CLINIC MUST OPERATE ON HIM IMMEDIATELY DURING A BLIZZARD. While tending to patients at the clinic during a blizzard, Michael shows signs of a severe condition that requires immediate surgery
But that's not all! Also at 8 PM, there's the midseason premiere of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on the Cartoon Network! And it's going to keep getting darker. Here's what's up with "Escape From Kadavo":
Anakin tries to convince the Zygerrian Queen that she too is a slave and pawn in an evil Separatist plot. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan toils in the slave camps of Kadavo, a grim situation that grows increasingly bleak.
Check out a preview right here.
But there's even more! A fifth option at 8 PM is the one-hour series finale of Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney.
"Who Will Be The Family Wizard" - Justin, Alex and Max face a sudden and ultimate test to determine which one of them will be entitled to keep their wizardly powers. After 106 episodes of the Emmy Award-winning hit comedy, the answer will finally be revealed on a special one-hour episode.
And then at 8:30 PM Cartoon Network has a new Generator Rex, "Guy Vs. Guy."
Then at 9 PM, there's the midseason premiere of Supernatural, on The CW, "Adventures in Babysitting":
"ONCE UPON A TIME" ACTRESS MEGHAN ORY GUEST STARS - Still reeling after what happened to Bobby (Jim Beaver), Dean (Jensen Ackles) becomes dangerously obsessed over finding a way to take down Dick Roman (guest star James Patrick Stuart). Meanwhile, Sam (Jared Padalecki) decides to help a teenage girl (guest star Madison Mclaughlin) look for her father (guest star Ian Tracey), a hunter who has gone missing. Sam traces his last steps to a truck stop where the help (guest star Meghan Ory) turns out not to be so friendly.
At 10 PM, Syfy has the fourth season premiere of Merlin, "The Darkest Hour Part 1."
Merlin is to face his toughest challenge yet when Morgana's blind determination puts at risk Arthur's future as well as the very balance of the world. With her unbounded powers at their highest, the sorceress uses powerful magic to tear the mystical veil between worlds making the mighty Cailleach to come forth.
Then at 11 PM, there's the season finale of X-Men Anime on G4, "Destiny."
At 5 PM, The Hub has two episodes of R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series, back to back.
At 9 PM, VH1 has a new Behind The Music, focusing on "Weird" Al Yankovic — an O.G. nerd musician who's known for his copious science fiction in-jokes. Plus the uncategorizeable movie UHF.
Fox brings back its Sunday night animation bloc, starting at 8 PM with a new Simpsons, followed by Cleveland Show, Family Guy and American Dad.
Also at 8 PM: the midseason premiere of Once Upon a Time, with "Desperate Souls," written by Jane Espenson.
REGINA AND MR. GOLD TAKE OPPOSITE SIDES WHEN EMMA RUNS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, AND RUMPLESTILTSKIN TRIES TO TRACK DOWN A POWERFUL SOURCE TO KEEP HIS SON FROM FIGHTING IN A MEANINGLESS WAR... Regina and Mr. Gold play dirty politics and take opposite sides when Emma runs for a coveted Storybrooke public office against Sidney. Meanwhile, back in the fairytale world that was, Rumplestiltskin tries to track down the ultimate power source in order to help his son avert the horrors of a meaningless war.
And here are four sneak peeks:
At 9 PM on TNT, there's a new Leverage, "The Radio Job."
At 10 PM, there's a brand new Finding Bigfoot on Animal Planet.
And finally, at 11:30 PM on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, there's another new Robot Chicken, "Casablankman II."


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That Sinking Feeling
By Catherine Clabby
Dense development can complicate projections of land subsidence in coastal regions
Dense development can complicate projections of land subsidence in coastal regions
At a time when coastal nations worldwide face threats from sea level rise if climate change advances, scientists are sounding an additional warning.
It's not simply that higher global temperatures could raise seas by expanding ocean water and melting glaciers. What people build, particularly on land with looser soils, could worsen the blow by sinking some coastal areas faster than nature would alone.
One project designed to quantify this effect focused on the Fraser River delta in western Canada, home to the coastal city of Vancouver. Using radar measurements taken by satellites, geophysicist Stéphane Mazzotti and colleagues found land subsidence, or sinking, that appears attributable primarily to the weight of what was constructed atop it.
"Subsidence due to human activity exceeds the natural rate in heavily built areas," says Mazzotti, whose findings were published in Geology.
Vancouver itself, built on solid substratum, is not at risk. And in undeveloped or lightly developed portions of the metropolitan area, natural consolidation of upper Holocene sediments is causing subsidence of only 1 to 2 millimeters per year. But in heavily built-up locations outside the city—including the Vancouver International Airport, ferry terminals and industrialized zones—the drop was significantly greater: 3 to 8 millimeters per year.
Mazzotti, a research scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada, and fellow scientists considered how those changes could interact with two sea level predictions for the end of 2100. One was the mean projected rise, 30 centimeters, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The other, based on glaciology and empirical evidence published in 2006 and 2007 in Science, projects a 100-centimeter increase.
Natural subsidence, their data show, could augment climate-change-related sea level rise by 50 to 15 percent under the two scenarios. Anthropogenic subsidence could augment it by 130 to 40 percent, they say. In both cases, subsidence in the delta would need to be considered while preparing for sea level increases, particularly in the design of barriers to protect developed land from seawater.
"Municipal planners have recognized that dykes that were built here in the 1960s and 1970s have to be raised to address global sea level rise. Based on our research, it looks like they will have to be raised a bit higher," Mazzotti says.
Scientists have used radar measurements to pinpoint differences in subsidence rates in other delta regions, including New Orleans, which was devastated in 2005 by flooding after Hurricane Katrina. Tim Dixon of the University of Miami and colleagues argued in 2006 in Nature that irregular subsidence could have played a role. His team concluded that most of New Orleans was sinking at an average rate of 6 millimeters a year. But some spots experienced rapid subsidence in the three years prior to Katrina, as much as 29 millimeters per year. One area with higher subsidence was on the Mississippi River near the Gulf Outlet Canal, where levees failed during peak storm surge.
Dixon and collaborators also argued that some levees may have failed after Katrina because subsidence either lowered levees sufficiently to allow overtopping or because weakened substrates promoted levee failure. Previously, other scientists had warned that subsidence in New Orleans was aggravated by flood protection measures that disrupt natural drainage and reduce the deposition of sediments. "Lots of cities are built on deltas," Dixon says. "Space observations are providing a brand new way to look at the problem."
When it comes to threats of erosion and flooding from sea level rise, municipalities built on deltas will now have a related warning to consider. Working in the Vancouver area, Mazzotti and his colleagues compared vertical land movement measurements captured by interferometric synthetic aperture radar between 1992 and 1999 in the greater Vancouver region. Specifically they assembled 350,000 pixels from radar images to track vertical motion changes, with each pixel covering about 13 by 13 meters of land surface.
The scientists confirmed and expanded the radar measurements with Global Positioning System (GPS) and land-based surveying tools. They found no evidence that local tectonics or other factors sometimes associated with land sinking could explain the changes in the Fraser River delta.
"The specifics may vary depending where you are on a delta. But subsidence is enhanced in areas that are heavily built. That needs to be taken into account," Mazzotti says.
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By Caroline McGraw Jan 19, 2012 0
Crossing the Bridge
My husband and I will be traveling home to New Jersey to visit my family soon, and along with the anticipation and excitement, I feel a sense of fear. I ask myself the same questions I always ask after a long period of time has passed since I've seen my brother: Will he still relate to me? Will it matter to him that I'm there? Will my presence help him to relax, or cause undue stress?
These fears are unfounded, because Willie is always himself when we arrive; that is, always happy to see us, but not likely to be effusive. He's always ready to put my husband and me at a place of honor in his daily prayers, but not likely to want to converse for more than a few minutes. That's Willie.
Coming home is also an experience of living my fears. Invariably, Willie will have a hard time one day, and he'll lash out at me or my mom or dad. He'll feel awful afterward, and so will I. But somehow, against the odds, we will carry on. And when I start to feel anxious at the prospect, the phrase, "Let's cross that bridge when we come to it," is tremendously helpful for me. It puts me back in perspective, back into the present rather than the imagined, feared future.
"Crossing the bridge when we come to it" means that I won't imagine catastrophe. It means that I'll meet my brother where he is, rather than where I think he "should" be. It means that I'll resist my own tendency to put too much trust in words as expressions of love, and choose to trust our shared times together instead. I'll accept those experiences as Willie's primary way of showing that he cares.
What will that kind of acceptance look like? Doing puzzles together, playing ping-pong in the basement, and going for long walks where he'll inevitably run ahead on his own. It will likely mean taking precautions, and making sure that Willie has time and space to cool off, be alone, and follow his own routine. Though I'll prioritize spending time together, I'll also honor his need to do things in his time, in his way.
Most of all, I'll picture the kind of bridge we might come to, if we're able to simply love and accept one another as we are. Perhaps a bridge like the one pictured here, one that I discovered on a rambling walk through rural Virginia this fall. I was following a dirt road past a series of farmhouses, and I stopped to watch a small stream run by. The stream wound its way through the field, and at one point grew wide enough to require the wooden bridge that covered it.
As I framed the shot, I remember thinking, This is such a metaphor for how I relate to Willie. Relating to someone on the autism spectrum with fairly severe behavioral challenges is akin to walking through an overgrown field, where there are no paths to speak of. It's a confusing journey, one that can feel foreign and frightening at times.
But there's a flip side, too, because though there are no paths to be found, there are wildflowers. Though there are no markers, there is sunlight glancing off the grass. Navigating this journey, this relationship, may be a difficult experience, but it is also a beautiful one.
It's only today that I notice: Given the angle at which I took the picture, you can't see the gap where the creek runs beneath the bridge. The divide is lost in green grass, in flowers, in growth. And that's my dream for my relationship with my brother—that one day, whatever divides us will seem insignificant compared to what unites us.