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Information that customers have to share to purchase our service can be found here: It is your responsibility to provide us with up-to-date and correct information about yourself when applying for your ESTA Travel Authorization. Your ESTA application will be processed on your behalf. In the case of an application denial, the Service Fee paid for our Processing Service will be refunded as part of our money back guarantee Refund Policy.
When we refund money to you, we are returning the money which you paid to us for the Service which we provide. That amount does not include fees charged by your credit card company or other parties in connection with your payment. It only includes the fee paid to us for processing your application.
All payments to us are in United States Dollars, and any refund that we make will also be in U.S. Dollars. As described in our Terms and Conditions, for any payments or refunds involving currencies other than U.S. Dollars, the exchange rate in use at the time of the transaction will be determined by your credit card company. The refund which we pay out is based on the payment which we receive in U.S. Dollars, and not on the exchange rate between Dollars and your currency. We cannot be held responsible for any differences in the amount credited to your account by your credit card company based on the exchange rate that they use, or on any foreign-currency exchange fees that they charge. We are responsible only for refunding the U.S. Dollar payment that we received.
We will only make refunds by credit card, and only to the credit card account originally used for the purchase. We will not make refunds by cheque or cash, since neither method can provide adequate security, verification of payment, or guarantee against theft, loss, or fraud. To request a refund, contact us at usavisaonline.net, and include the following information:
- The reason for the refund request.
- Your full name.
- The last four (4) digits of the credit card number used for the original purchase.
- The email address used for the original purchase.
The refund will be credited to the credit card used for the original purchase within twenty-four (24) hours. It will be posted within twenty (20) working days. If you are requesting a refund for reasons other than those listed here or in the Terms and Conditions, please contact Customer Service. We are a private company not affiliated with the U.S. government. When we apply on a customerвАЩs behalf, we take on the financial responsibility of that customer if the ESTA Application is declined. The decision granting the final admission when entering the United States of America is at the discretion of the Customs and Border Protection Officer at the port of entry into the U.S.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about our Refund Policy.


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The Berkeley IST Telecom Service Catalog is where you can order campus voice and data network services. After logging into the Telecom Catalog go to the navigation bar on the left and select "Service Catalog" to place your order.
You can also use the Telecom Catalog to view information about the cables installed in your location. You can lookup cables that are in use (connected) as well as those that are installed, but unconnected (and available for use). Go to the "Cables" lookup page on the left-hand navigation bar to access cable data.
You can see all of your IST Services in the Telecom Catalog by clicking on "View My Dept's Services."
Voice & Data Services
In order to place a change, move or delete on a service you must have permissions to that processing unit. If you need assistance with access rights, please contact your department access rights administrator (ARA) for approval permission or have them place the request for you.
You may also check our Telecom Catalog to find your designated ARA. Please login into the Telecom Catalog and on the left-hand navigation bar, select "Access Rights Administrators" under "Manage My Dept's Services" to find your appropriate ARA.
Please use the button above to order Voice & Data Services.
This includes:
- Cellular
- Changing, moving or disconnecting existing voice services
- Zoom
- Requesting new services
- Voice Projects
- Cable Install Only (No Activation) / Cable Field Surveys, Cable Testing
- Cloud VPN Service (replaces the Amazon Web ServicesDirect Connect
- Connect to Data Network (Install and Activate Connection/Cable)
- Disconnect / Delete Existing Data Network Service
- Expand Wi-Fi Coverage
- Firewall Service
- Hostmaster Service
- Load Balancer
- Move / Modify Existing Data Network Service
- Other Data Networking Service Request
- Site-to-Site VPN
- View Cable Connection Data
Once the order is placed, the system generates an order, or "RITM" number, for the request. That serves as your tracking number for the service request.
Notification of changes about an existing order can be entered directly into the comments section of the RITM. The analyst assigned to process your order can see and get the information directly from the comments.
UCPD relies on accurate up to date E911 locations on campus, in case of an emergency this location information is provided through your desktop landline. For more information, please click on the links below.
Policy: http://campuspol.berkeley.edu/policies/voicecomm.pdf?Refresh=0.0461669875969
Procedure: http://ucpd.berkeley.edu/operations/crime-prevention-unit-cpu
Two-way Non-Emergency Radios http://calfleettalk.com/
Open an incident for break/fix or support questions at firstname.lastname@example.com
This includes:
- Voicemail password resets
- Repair for existing voice services
- Support for using voice services, e.g., Zoom or voicemail support
- Request consultation on voice and data network services
- General inquiries
Once an incident is opened, the system issues a tracking number that can be used to follow your request until it is resolved. Comments can be added at any time for the analyst who is working on your incident.
You will notice that when you send email to email@example.com, you get an incident request acknowledgement from Service Now incident management. This is efficient and removes the confusion about when to log in at a different location
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our consulting unit at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 664-9000. Select options 2, 1 to speak to one of our consultants.
For information regarding other IST Services, please refer to our Berkeley Telecom Website
For student Telecom Services contact Residence Telephone Services.
Contact Us
The Telecom Catalog has a Knowledge Base with articles to help you with questions that may arise. Please select the "Go to Telecom Catalog" above and in the left hand navigation bar, please select the Knowledge Base section to search for articles. If you can't find your answers in the Knowledge Base, contact the Telecom Support Services: email email@example.com, or call (510) 664-9000 (options 2, 1).
- For the IST Billing Team email firstname.lastname@example.com, or call (510) 664-9000 (options 2, 5).
- For the Wireless (Cellular) unit email email@example.com or call (510) 664-9000 (options 2, 4).
For feedback please send an email to email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi: My name is K. Lee and I am writing an e-book about horrible, terrible, very bad bosses. And yes, I have had my share. Some have been blatant and obvious, others have been covert and egregious.
In the economic times we live in, it's a employers market for jobs. We all need to pay the bills so we often can't be as choosy as we like. Bosses can. A few years ago, one needed a minimum of a Bachelors Degree to work at just about any job. Now, degrees are not worth as much as before. We feel lucky to just have a job so we tend to hold onto them, all the while being treated poorly by bosses who remind us daily that we are replaceable.
Is it any wonder workplace stress claims are on the rise?
So, after some trial and error, I have learned that there are many people out there who have a story to tell and I hope you will tell it to me.
Now some of you might think "I am too afraid of being caught". Let me assure you that I will never use your real name, email or anything that has to do with your boss or former boss. Their current employees and families deserve the discretion that I will afford them. Anyone who decides to share with me will be asked to sign a disclaimer that assures you and them this very protection. This form is optional. However, even if you don't choose to sign it, the protection is there for me as well.
Now for the meat and potatoes. If you have gotten to this point, I must have piqued your interest. You have taken a small step toward some sense of justice. I am hoping that this forum will prompt you to share with me the details of how and why you were dismissed or quit.
For instance, did you supervisor make crude jokes in front of you and then you were fired for complaining? When the bosses niece needed a job did you suddenly lose yours? What about when you turned 50 and suddenly your desk was packed up. Were you asked to do something illegal the let go because you said no?
These examples happened to me. And no doubt they have happened to you as well. For all I know something like them has happened to every single worker out there in some fashion. Perhaps it hasn't happened to you but did to a friend or relative. If they want to add their story they are more than welcome to share too.
Now that you know what is needed from you, here is the plan.
I want to have at least 500 submission before I begin editing, but that isn't etched in stone. I have about 165 and counting. I submitted craigslist posts in major cities and got a few trickling in here and there, then and again. I want a flood. I want my head spinning, my fingers hurting and my eyes dried out from typing till 3am. I work from home so this is my biggest project right now. I work on it daily, even if it's just in my head.
Now you might be asking "what's in it for me"? Well, at the very most, a piece of what ever I make from the book. At the very least, a chance to be heard and expose the type of boss you and I have tolerated and survived for years.
Why am I doing this? Bad bosses need to be seen, heard, and called up for their behavior and the damage they do to the people who essentially make them money. Future bosses need to see how not to treat people. And employees need to know how to spot them.
A lot of thought will go into this, with consultations from those who have been there and done that and didn't even get the tee shirt.
So please think about any and all bad bosses you have had, and give me the details you can remember. Pass this website onto the people in your life who you nursed through a job loss and let them share in my book, too.
My launch date is January of 2014 but I may be done sooner. If I get that flood I want, there might be a book then a blog to continue on. Goodness knows there are enough stories out there to continue to share them.
Thanks for your interest and I hope to hear from you soon.
K. Lee Alexander


text:
The Digital Grid Solution Sales Executive will establish and lead the sales initiatives to grow the Energy Management, Distribution Management and Microgrid Market business with new client acquisition and existing client wallet expansion for smart grid operational solutions, systems and products sold to utilities, large industrial and public sector clients.
This role is responsible for delivering on a quarterly basis bookings number across the portfolio of products and services contained within Digital Grid business units including: Energy Management System, Distribution Management System, Microgrid and market operators.
Responsibilities and desired background:
- Develop and execute the strategic plan of operations for bookings and present the sales pipeline and forecast to executive management
- Organize and lead teams across Digital Grid - Grid Control product lines to respond to a customer requests for complex system solutions including EMS, DMS, Microgrid market applications
- Develop specific territory and opportunity plans, critical to success in this role
- Proven ability to drive and leverage CxO level relationships
- Attend industry trade shows, prepare customer presentations, and proficiently articulate the value and differentiators of EMS, DMS, Microgrid Market software solutions to clients
- Provide market feedback to the larger software team (regional & global) based on industry trends and customer knowledge
- Lead the internal approval process during the RFP process
The candidate shall have:
- 8-10+ years of business experience selling enterprise software (EMS, DMS preferred) and complex solutions to the utility
- Proven track record of account management, including accurate sales forecast, sales process management, and successful attainment of quota in a complex sales environment across multiple product lines
- Demonstrated experience with diverse sales channels - direct, indirect, and diverse sales processes - product and software solution sales in large matrix organizations
- Extremely partner-focused, proactive and effective within a team environment
- Demonstrated negotiating skills, conflict management skills, and sense of accountability
- Possess persuasive presentation and effective communication skills--both verbal and written
- Willingness and ability to travel 50% of the time
Spencer Ogden is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.


text:
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Quantitative Analysis: Protein extract from E. coli containing a plasmid that expresses a maltose-binding protein-β-galactosidase fusion protein (100,000 units) is passed over a 1 ml column at 4°C. The column is then washed with 10 column volumes of 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 0.2 M…
Prepoured, 100x15 mm plates with Luria-Bertani (LB) Agar Contains 10 μg/ml Neomycin pH: 7.0 Keep away from continuous exposure to light Contains: Plates are pre-tested with 4 recombinant strains of E. coli to demonstrate the efficacy of the antibiotics. All plates have…
Application: L-Phenylalanine-Separopore® 4B-CL is used for the purification of phenylalanine binding proteins, such as phenylalanine hydroxylase.
Applications : L-Aspartic Acid-Separopore® 4B-CL is used for the purification of retinol, or other L-Aspartic Acid binding proteins.
Application: L-Lysine-Separopore® 4B-CL is used for purification of molecules with biospecific or charge dependent affinity for L-lysine. It is also used for the purification of lysine-binding proteins from serum and to purify plasminogen, plasminogen activator, ribosomal RNA, and…
Application: For the purification of membrane dicarboxylate binding proteins and other proteins with affinity to glutamate.
Applications: Histidine-Separopore® 4B-CL can be used in the purification of supercoiled (sc) plasmid DNA (pDNA) from Escherichia coli lysates. This can also be used for the separation of IgG from human plasma and selective purification of bioactive oligouronides such as α-(1,…
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We actually stuck pretty well to our plan last week. I really do work better when I'm organized. Plus with Jonny coming home from work at an earlier hour -- making dinner is actually do-able.
Monday: with family
Tuesday: green chicken posole
Wednesday: barbecue chicken grilled cheese sandwich
Thursday: noodle heaven (frozen meal from my lovely friend Tegan over at celebrate twelve13)
Friday: pizza (maybe frozen, maybe delivery... and maybe - just maybe - homemade)
Saturday: pear & gorgonzola quesadillas
Sunday: buffalo chicken salad
That's the plan this week. I know we'll be at my parents some night -- but not sure what night so I figure I should just plan every night. More menu plans at org junkie.
MPM: Week of Aug 18
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Former Sleater-Kinney member and all around bad-ass Corin Tucker is releasing a new record with her cleverly named band, The Corin Tucker Band. Kill My Blues is due out Sept. 18 on Kill Rock Stars and is a follow up to 2010's 1,000 Years. This new record is reportedly a more collaborative effort among the whole band, which includes members of Golden Bears, Unwound, and Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks.
The band will also tour the eastern half of the United States this September, kicking off at A.V. Fest Sept. 14-15. Dates for those shows are below.
Tickets for A.V. Fest are on sale now and run a mere $50 for a two-day pass. Other acts announced so far include Iron And Wine, Glen Hansard, Lee Fields And The Expressions, Waco Brothers With Paul Burch, and some acts from Redmoon Theater. More acts are still to come.
Corin Tucker Band Tour:
Sept. 14-15—A.V. Fest—Chicago, Illinois
Sept. 18—Johnny Brenda's—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sept 21—The Earl—Atlanta, Georgia
Sept. 22—The Bottletree—Birmingham, Alabama
Sept. 23—DeLuna Fest—Pensacola, Florida
Sept. 25—Local 506—Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Sept. 26—Black Cat Backstage—Washington, DC
Sept. 27—Mercury Lounge—New York New York
Sept. 28—TT The Bear's—Cambridge, Massachusetts
Sept. 29—The Bell House—Brooklyn, New York


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Dental DIMs and Sedation SIMs
Our good friend Wouter is back with another great story – thankfully nothing burned down this time around.
Last week I had an appointment with the dentist to extract a wisdom tooth – left lower jaw. Everything went as planned; some sedation, a pair of pliers and off he went. A few cracks and pops and the culprit was out. The dentist advised that I not rinse too much – the blood clot that forms in the hole is important as it protects the bones and nerves, and off I went.
First day everything is ok. Second day a little more pain, but everything is still ok. Experiencing some pain is not bad – it keeps you alert and reminds you not to chew on anything that could potentially damage the tissues further – or loosen the blood clot.
Day three – the pain gets a lot worse. I started thinking "I had an extraction that went "wrong" a couple of years ago – surely it's not happening again?"
It is. I lost the blood clot.
Now I've got a condition called alveolitis osteitis or "dry socket". It's an inflammation of the socket where the tooth once resided – even writing up this little story with those words makes my jawbone more sensitive.
So, two things happened to me yesterday:
Firstly, I went to work and forgot my pain killers. The pain got bad, really bad. When it radiated to the whole left side of my face I got desperate and phoned home. My partner, how lovely she is, jumps in the car and brings me my stash of 'dope'. Opening my mouth, swallowing the pills brings even more pain, but 5 minutes in and the pain subsides completely. "Damn", I thought to myself, "the stuff isn't even in my bloodstream yet and the pain is gone… Is our system conditioned to respond with immediate relief to 'popping pills' for pain or illness? Perhaps it is – my system seems to have learned, 'the pill is in, I'm safe now, no more pain is needed…'"
Secondly, a few of hours later and the 'drugs' are wearing off. Another thought – "if just swallowing pills is enough to stop the pain completely, why do they 'wear off"?" Anyway, the pain starts to come back. But now it's not only the bottom left of my jaw, but also the top right – where I had a dry socket a couple of years ago… Why is my 'brain' doing this to me? That place healed up completely! Why pain there? Why does my brain 'think' there is danger coming from that area, there isn't any damage…
In both cases it is clear that beliefs, expectation and past experience all play a big role in determining the level of 'credible evidence of danger and safety' in me, and my experience of tooth (and lack-of-tooth!) pain.
– Wouter Ramboer
Physiotherapist, West Flanders, Belgium
Wouter is a very active Twitter user and can be found by his Twitter handle @neuromanter, where he will be regularly posting links to some of the latest and most interesting articles related to pain and neuroscience, and discussing the future of the physiotherapy profession with others from around the globe.
35 Responses to "Dental DIMs and Sedation SIMs"
Gerry Daly
Interesting. Not easy to deliberate publicly on the details of any dental experience, perhaps due to cultural expectations to not add to the phobias that exist privately…but should maybe never be allowed a public platform that might affect a general willingness to attend the dentist when in need. Dental stories require a delicate sensitivity to breach that cultural barrier, and well done with this story.
I realise the point of the article was to illustrate the peripheral influences which might have affected the pain experience, but I was particularly taken with the following…… " First day everything is ok. Second day a little more pain, but everything is still ok. Experiencing some pain is not bad – it keeps you alert and reminds you not to chew on anything that could potentially damage the tissues further – or loosen the blood clot. "
For me, that suggests a 'restraining' purpose to the experienced pain…..almost suggesting that any conscious interference is not to be 'trusted', and the pain is the only barrier to any possible inappropriate interference. If that were so, what would that say about 'conscious reaction reliability' and a need for a conscious perception of pain to counteract any desire to meddle where a full appreciation of the vulnerabilities might not be obvious to us. The pain event would seem to play a role in restraining reactions, perhaps to the point of giving a much sought after 'purpose' to the pain event. Maybe, the reason why pain seems to be so easily manipulated by peripheral influences might be due to the fact that we find it difficult to settle on a purpose for the pain in the first place, thus consciously creating the conditions for variable interpretations of the experience. It would be nice to think that anyone achieving a convincing understanding of their pain experience might also achieve a better tolerance……..just like a basic understanding of aerodynamics should help to reduce any exaggerated fear of flying.
EG Physio
A woman named Sharon Waxkirsh had her wisdom teeth extracted under self-hypnosis. She does this for dental patients also.
Henry Madison
Did the thought of returning to work increase your pain?
IMO pain is useless and a "pain" unless is is indicating tissue threat or damage. We need to scoff at, laugh at, and ridicule pain and the brain (not the pain patient) that produces it when there is no impending doom.
Great name by the way….Wouter Ramboer!
Gerry Daly
"We need to scoff at, laugh at, and ridicule pain and the brain (not the pain patient) that produces it when there is no impending doom"
That is something which is already in the culture…..and wrongly IMO. There seems to be a tendency for conceptualising the brain as an external operating system. when it is quite obviously integrated and inseparable from the body general. Default chronic pain mindsets evolve according to pain experiences, and no amount of 'ridicule' will alter that mindset, although it might help those without a similar misfortune to overcome their unrequited lack of appreciation of the chronic pain mindset. In fact, the patient narrative is the only reality in play, and it should be approached with the respect it deserves. Theories about altering that mindset sound, to me, like desperate attempts to shift the goalposts……perhaps to suit the mindset of those who still have unquestionable faith in a positive 'healing expectation' overview. Seems there will always be a dissonance between the two mindsets, apparent here. Strangely, those in chronic pain do not assume a fault in the mindsets of those who aren't……it may well be time to restore some credibility to the patient narrative, and not stray too far into misunderstood assumptions.
Surely, it's the patient's prerogative whether to laugh at their own narrative, or not. It would be a shame to see patients developing 'chronic self-ridicule' to add to their woes.
Henry Madison
I mean no disrespect. I liken chronic pain to a phobia, a fear towards a situation that is not dangerous to the organism from a sense of actually tissue damage or threat of such. Dare I say an "irrational fear" that doesn't reflect reality. So I may have a fear of the dark, or of heights, or a possible letter in my mailbox, but the chances of those events causing harm are small, yet I "fear." If I minimize it, rebuke it, understand it, rationalize it,etc then maybe, just maybe there is a chance my brain will decrease the fear experience. Or perhaps I have to face that fear, not over medicalize it, don't do treatments that show no benefit or even may harm. If chronic pain in most situations is not because of ongoing or impending tissue damage then the more we coddle to it the more it grips us. I look at the brain as a second entity that wants to guide my behavior and darn it I'm going to fight it, mock it, mess with it as much as I can and not give it the satisfaction of making me miserable. Irrational fear is not really real fear for there is nothing really to fear but fear itself. Irrational pain is not really real pain (tissue damage or threat there of) for there is nothing to be painful about except the pain experience itself, I think. It's pretty inconvenient and irritating but if it's a brain produced experience not reflective of tissue damage then screw it. I know, easier said then done. But why glorify it? Why make it such a big part of our world? It draws a lot of attention and doesn't offer much (or any) good. In fact we should call chronic "pain" something different than pain as it is another "feeling" our brain produces that seems to get our attention an affect our behavior without reflecting tissue damage. We should call it chronic fru fru, or chronic fructoshire, or chronic irributsmacker or something. Sorry, just ranting.
Gerry Daly
Hi Henry
Almost missed your response due to other events on the page. I'd agree with most of what you say about any 'fear' having a vulnerability to tend towards 'irrational fear', and all that might result from that. But I don't see chronic pain as being irrational, in any sense. I'm also aware of the tendency to overview chronic pain as 'persistent' pain, as though it ought to have resolved at some stage, but somehow 'persists' beyond a point of possible resolution.
For instance, a simple trapped nerve will repeat it's referred symptoms day after day, almost like a new acute episode each day. It's meant to happen, and it happens consistently with neurological conditions, perhaps as some kind of protective or restraining means for allowing reduced functionality……lesser of two evils maybe. It's consistency dispels any irrationality, IMO, and I don't think that developing a (respectful) dismissive approach to it, because it seems to some to be irrational, will achieve anything positive. In fact, that might have all the ingredients for backfiring in the chronic pain mindset. It might seem that the reality is being overlooked in favour of some imposed soothe-saying.
Chronic pain patients may be vulnerable to fears, and desperate for remedies, but they are also capable of detecting any 'operator outclauses' presented as part of treatment. Thats usually a low point, where the patient realises that operator soft-talk may be the only thing on offer ! I know I sound quite cynical in that respect, but I also know that such cynicism is protective in those circumstances.
I tend to agree with Henry on his point about laughing at pain and making light of it. Seriousness is rooted in fear and we can't be adding to the client's burden with our serious professional seriousness…. seriously. Even though chronic pain is one hideous condition, we need to stay light about it. Light, but attentive and very focused.
NLP has some great techniques where fear is laughed at. The patient is invited to consider a different perspective on his fear/pain. Maybe worth a look?
The positive expectation approach is by far the most powerful and proven of all healing modalities available to us physios. It leaves everything else in its wake. But one has to know how to apply it. If there's a clash between client and therapist expectations (as can happen), then the client has not been properly prepared. He needs to be taken back to ground zero where all expectations are temporarily void. Then the new expectation is delivered with great expectancy.
Regards, EG
Gerry Daly
Suppose it really depends on whether we're discussing ill-defined palliative distractions or science-based treatments. Any crossovers will always consign the distractions into a secondary role in any comparison. I fully understand the cultural requirement for a bit of self-ridicule, and even some self-deprecation, when faced with difficult circumstances…..and laughter is a great medicine, perhaps on a similar scale to the placebo effect. And let's not forget the need for operators to rise above the issues they encounter everyday, by any means possible.
I guess, what I'm hinting at is the validity of the assumption of any transference of operator optimism which has evolved from a 'healing expectation' overview, onto a chronic pain patient with a mindset already skeptical of humour affecting any outcomes. Humour works fine for transient issues, only because there is an expectation of the pain being resolved. It falls a bit flat on chronic issues, unfortunately…..and, as a possible replacement for sought after science-based treatments, humour could be seen as a means of distracting from the real work of finding solutions.
The usual cultural cliches, whether humourus or not, normally applied to transient conditions…..e.g. 'Hope you feel better tomorrow' , 'Nevermind, you'll soon be normal again' etc etc, simply don't resonate with the chronic pain patient who wakes in the morning savouring the bitter disappointment of the failure of the well-wishing. Similarly with any, probably well-intentioned, inappropriate attempts to 'lighten' the issue. Ultimately, I think the patient will see that as an avoidance of effort to tackle the real problem. If the professional is dismissing a real sense of engagement….what is the chronic patient supposed to think ??
Gerry Daly
Just an afterthought…….
Perhaps one of the most reassuring things a professional can say to a chronic pain patient is, strangely,……'We currently don't know how to fix this problem, but we're working on it'. That honesty will reassure the patient that their difficulties are somewhat understood, rather than any attempts to alter their mindsets to be in tune with more normal expectations. We all have a right to be wary of any questioning of our default mindset, so why should we presume that chronic pain patients might need some mindset tinkering. There may well be more than just a little arrogance in such presumptions….no matter how well intentioned !
EG Physio
–"We currently don't know how to fix this problem, but we're working on it".
That is probably one of the worst things you can say to a chronic pain sufferer, and you really should know this. It immediately shuts down any chance of improvement, and any practitioner who says such a thing doesn't understand the first thing about pain or how to relieve it.
The whole idea of "honesty" is a wrong concept. Pain responds to expectation, so we create either an aggravation or relief depending on where we put our expectation.
— "We all have a right to be wary of any questioning of our default mindset, so why should we presume that chronic pain patients might need some mindset tinkering".
Yes. Pain-producing mindsets are hard to let go of, even though they hurt us. The skillful therapist sets the stage and allows the client changes his own mindset.
Milton Erickson rightly pointed out: "Patients come to you for help. They may resist help, but they hope desperately you'll win". In other words, they want their mindset changed, but not in a way which threatens their self-esteem.
Rgds, EG
EG Physio
Thanks for the response. You present an approach to treating chronic pain in a way which I am at odds with. No problem exploring the differences….but I am tempted to comment that you are resisting any alteration of your mindset. Perhaps that might help highlight the issue where mindset alteration is advised to those in chronic pain. We are conditioned to protect what is precious to us, and that applies across the board. Even if the most extreme form of mindset altering known to us i.e. Hypnosis, was applied, I still doubt that it would in any way affect tomorrow's difficulties for the average chronic pain patient. And, I have no problem with experimentation, as long as the patient enters the contract willingly in full knowledge of past outcomes and possible future downsides. It's one thing to dress up an optimistic overview for chronic conditions, quite another to ignore real research in favour of a sound-bite whose palliative effect might only last minutes. If the tendency towards mindset alteration, as a pre-condition to hoped for beneficial outcomes, gathers pace, as it seems to be doing, then I would be concerned about the real work of exploring these conditions being consigned to the 'unopened file' at the back of the pile.
For sure, self esteem in a vulnerable population is a very important issue. And how do we enhance that self-esteem…….surely not by questioning the mindset which created it. The very assumption that one persons mindset is more stable, or more able, than another's, I'm afraid, creates an unacceptable inequality of status in any process between two people. It needs a rethink !!
EG Physio
Yes I'm resisting from the viewpoint of 'my mindset works for me'. It's functional for me and it's functional in a clinical setting. If my mindset was delusional, then you'd be able to deconstruct my arguments and make me look silly.
If I was to switch into clinical mode here with you, I'd be identifying your central theme (which is doubt), and encouraging you to move in the direction you want to go. I'd have complete agreement with your doubt and let you express that as much as possible, reflecting it back to you. Then it would be up to you to exhaust that theme. If I provide the right environment, then you will exhaust your doubt because you want to. It feels good to. If it takes 10 sessions to express all that doubt then that's how long it takes. Then we're back to carte blanche and good things can happen from that state.
I'm a bit concerned about where the locus of control exists in that arrangement. Seems to me there's an inherent assumption, contained within the contract, that any 'fault' can only lie with one party….and, for reasons of clarity, let's call that party 'the victim'. From my perspective , I have a question niggling me, which supercedes all that might follow…" Are the operator's assumptions only confirmed by their sense of self-righteousness ?". Or, put another way….if self-righteousness is the only confirmation here, then I am absolutely obliged to stick with my own self-righteous belief in my otherwise questioned mindset. Again, the assumption of inequality of status undermines the prospect for a meaningful encounter. A return to the drawing board beckons on that issue also.
I think, at the heart of these issues, lies an unresolved contradiction……people with no subjective experience of chronic pain are devising treatments for those in chronic pain….and then perhaps failing to understand the objections aroused in the mindset of the chronic patient. Chronic pain treatments should not fall into the realms of quasi-religious born again methods, because that would only drag the science back into medieval mystification. We can't laugh off a toothache, it demands a non-humorous visit to the dentist……so, why should we assume that chronic pain is anything less serious ?
EG Physio
You sound like you are getting mileage out of being "the victim". It's a method of draining energy from anyone who engages you. Like a leach.
The number of incorrect assumptions you make is astounding. For example: "people with no subjective experience of chronic pain are devising treatments". So you know everyone involved in the field do you? Is that what you're saying? You've met every practitioner and every scientist in the world and you know their personal health history, do you?
And you've read all the research on expectation, so you'd know it's as powerful as a clearly analgesic dose of morphine…right? You'd know that already. And you would have read the research on hypnosis and you would know that the significance of the findings are higher than pretty much any other method we currently have. You'd know that.
Let me know if you want to continue the discussion. I can offer great value, and I think you can too. But if you persist with the 'leaching', I won't reply.
Gerry Daly
Actually, what I'm doing, is questioning the tendency towards an assumption of a 'fault' in the default mindset of any chronic pain patient. Seems to me, the 'fault' most likely resides in the presumptive attitudes of those who have little subjective experience of chronic pain, and that is why I would tend to insist that the patient narrative must be respected as presented…because sometimes there is simply no other way to avoid second-party, or third-party, misinterpretations of presentations. The tendency to dispute the patient narrative seems to go against medical ethics as I understand them. Only the patient knows their own real experience……all else is assumption unless incontrovertibly supported by the science. Creating assumptive pre-conditions to treatments is merely adding to the exclusivity of treatments….and I suspect that it is being done to assist operators, rather than patients.
What happens if the patient disagrees with having their mindset altered to suit the treatment. Are they then excluded ??
And, just to lighten the tone….here's a little humorous nugget I came across as I was sitting in the dentist's wating room many years ago (in the Readers Digest of all places !)….
Question: " What's the difference between a major surgical operation and a minor surgical operation ?"
Answer: "Everyone else's operation is minor !"
I think that probably has good resonance with the chronic pain experience.
You're afraid that if you let go of your particular mindset that you won't have any value or significance as a person. I understand that. You might even feel as if you don't exist and that the therapist (with his 'superior' mindset) is 'better than' you. After all, he has taught you how to become a respectable, pain-free person. Surely that places him 'above' you?
Obviously, a scenario such as this ^^ would be highly undesirable.
A real therapist never tries to 'treat' anyone because he knows it's not even possible. The only possibility for someone playing the role of therapist is to treat himself. In treating himself, he lets go of as many beliefs, attitudes, tensions and assumptions as possible. His mind becomes quiet and the silence fills the room. The silence is an invitation to the client to follow suit, nothing more. From this place of silence, harmful mindsets are seen as harmful (rather than things that will save and protect us).
You've drawn out my best work Gerry. Well done.
Gerry Daly
Perhaps the patient should be billing the therapist ?? Re harmful mindsets….I don't think a chronic pain patient sees their evolved mindset as harmful. They see it as 'matter of fact', evolved from experiences, and right for the circumstances. However, someone not used to, or not familiar with the inevitability of chronic pain re-occurrence, may well perceive a harm in such a mindset…but only because it conflicts with their own ingrained 'healing expectations' mindset.. The relevance appropriate to each mindset is not transferable because the premises differ. We shouldn't really proxy our mindsets onto others whose experiences differ from ours…that's merely favouring our own limitations above another's unknown limitations.
My soundbite for this issue would be….'Accept fully the patient narrative as presented, and only proceed to treatments which don't conflict with the context of that narrative'. Alternatively, 'Assume a 'fault' in the narrative, and spend the next 10 years attempting to research the reluctance for participation in treatments which come with that proviso'. Any suggestion of mindset manipulation may well be the potentially 'harmful' element in this equation. What if the patient willingly adopts the mindset change, and it fails to produce beneficial results…..is there a support group to help pick up the pieces ? Perhaps some post-brainwashing programme to help re-establish the mindset that existed before the re-education was imposed ?
Gerry Daly
Tinkering with mindsets is a tricky business. What it's really about is undermining a person's intuitive survival instincts, and replacing them with a fabricated mindset in order to hopefully open the door to a new perceptive ability. If all goes according to ' plan ', if there is a plan, …..that's probably fine, because there would be no need to question a positive result. On the other hand, if results don't match expectations, I'd like to know ….where are the safeguards against someone being dropped from the programme because of some assumed incompatibility ? Looks like a treatment method with the potential to create victims, to me.
The only way to avoid hierarchical selectiveness in medical processes is to assume a democratic appreciation of equality of status, and that means giving as much credence to the patient narrative as one would give to one's own narrative, even when there is total disagreement. That's what the 'professionalism' is supposed to address, as it happens all the time. Most medical procedures are already governed by strict rules which dictate who gets to have the final say, who gets to sign on the line which is dotted. Unfortunately, it would seem, there are those who might choose to think that the same restraints might not apply to their experi'mental' methods. Good news is, people are people, and they will resist any change which doesn't tick ALL the boxes.
Have you ever been to a physio (or doctor) who properly applies a confident expectation?
Are you aware that the proper application of the placebo and expectation research is much more than mere words? It's not just about saying to the client "you will fully recover" and sitting back! It's an active process the therapist engages in, and it's for your benefit. Words actually play much less part in it than you'd imagine. And of course you can shit all over that if you want – your choice. But I only uses processes and procedures which the research is VERY, VERY CLEAR ABOUT.
You're afraid to trust anyone. All I can say is that clients who totally let go and trust have huge reductions in their symptoms. And those who resist, do not. I'm not saying it's easy to let go and trust (I struggle as much as the next guy). But this is where we're at – you're afraid. Fine. There's a risk, but it's not a great a risk as you imagine.
It's hard to find good examples of confident expectation that I can show you. I can point you to my blog post "How Powerful, Placebo?". See how she can't move comfortably, then suddenly she can? Now tell me what's going on there?
In Australia we have a minor celebrity neurosurgeon called Charlie Theo. He gets lambasted by the establishment for performing unproven surgeries on "hopeless cases" and in many cases curing them. I don't know the first thing about surgery, but if the establishment is saying a technique is unproven or disproven, then it probably is…right? And yet he maintains this unbelievably tight positive expectation and his patients just surrender to it! And they benefit enormously. Even in those cases where the outcome is not good, I have heard reports that the patient was very appreciative of his attitude. No shattered pieces to pick up there.
I must admit, I am a bit afraid your attitude will put therapists off applying such an approach. As it is, therapists are unwilling to apply research findings and you're not helping anyone's cause, particularly your own. You're sticking with this "all take and no give" approach and it's very off putting.
Gerry Daly
Let me put it this way. Chronic pain patients are not Lab Rats. They must be fully informed of all the implications of any new therapies, before they get to make a decision on whether they see that therapy as appropriate, or not. They must live with the outcomes, therefore they, not the operators, get to make the final decision regarding whether a suggested treatment is appropriate. Can you not see that any new treatment, which comes with a pre-condition that the patient may require mindset altering, conveniently sidesteps that patient control issue, and allows licence for whatever the operator sees fit. In an ideal world, where nothing is predicted to go wrong, that might be ok. In the real world, chronic pain patients are entitled to protect against any suggestions that arouse skepticism. To me, the suggestion that chronic pain can be somehow relieved by self-ridicule, just makes me think that the professionalism behind such a suggestion is laughable. Looks more like an admission of abject failure, dressed up to relieve operators of residual guilt from treatment failures. I am obliged, by my interest in the relevance of future therapies, to question a 'laugh it off' treatment approach. It's not that I don't get the mindset that might be capable of making such a ridiculous suggestion….it's more that I wonder just exactly what goes on at Neuroscience Awareness Weekends that encourages such thinking.
If future therapies are in the hands of those who seem to be so removed from the realities on the ground, then I have much to be concerned about. From my perspective, operators are not entitled to invent their own narrative and introduce it into treatments. Neither are they entitled to dislodge a patient's narrative to achieve that. They are only entitled to treat according to the narrative presented. I think Hippocrates covered that issue 2000 years ago…..for good reason.
Gerry Daly
The trouble with most research into chronic pain issues, I believe, stems from the fact that most research is clinic-based, or hospital based. That's a rarified atmosphere which doesn't really reflect the reality of the 99% of time where the chronic patient has to cope without qualified back-up. There's little , if any, monitoring or research into the coping mechanisms adopted to fill those long intervals. And now there's also the suggestion that the mindset which develops those coping mechanisms should be questioned, and possibly discarded in favour of a new mindset which may have had it's origins at a PT soiree. If there's any resonance to what I'm saying, can you not see that a reluctance might be relevant ?
You're bitter and suspicious because no one has helped you. I get it. I'd feel the same way.
Reaching out for help to professionals for help with chronic pain, and getting a big fat zero in return is actually commonplace. Reaching out *repeatedly* and getting nothing is commonplace. That's why you're baiting me – to try and let me know what that feels like. News flash – I already know.
Most physios don't read the research. And of those who do, most don't know how to apply it.
Question to therapists reading – yes you. How would you use this research (below) and come up with YOUR OWN technique or approach to treatment that would actually benefit someone with chronic pain?
Koyama T, McHaffie JG, Laurienti PJ, Coghill RC. The subjective experience of pain: where expectations become reality. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Sep 6;102(36):12950-5.
Gerry Daly
Before I go in search of the article you mention (no link provided), I'd just like to say something. I don't question the empathy, the sympathy, or even the intention where genuine research obviates itself both by method and by conclusions which reflect the reality of usefulness. Practically all research into chronic pain issues ends up inconclusive about applied therapies/treatments, otherwise chronicity might have become a thing of the past. What I do question is the approach perspectives employed when trying to conceptualise the real dynamics creating the chronic condition. Those dynamics are not created by a mindset fault, they are created by physiological responses to a particular condition, which are then manifested as a conscious perception of pain. That perception is secondary to the cause, as with any injury or disease. Why should it be perceived as being any different, seemingly just because an operator, with little or no familiarity with the subjective chronic experience, cannot get their thinking around what a chronic recurring condition really is.
I'm sorry to say that the 'fault', which discourages proper investigations, might well be an inability to conceptualise the unfamiliar dynamics that render a condition chronic. As someone who is familiar wioth long term chronic issues, I can see the dissonance in approach perspectives, and I comment on that regularly. I can also see the efforts being made to try and bridge the chasm….it's a bit like trying to build a bridge from one side only, without a full appreciation of the difficulties the other side might have completing their side, so both can meet in the middle. Simply insisting that any chronicity might only be a perceptive misbehaviour, looks like a rather blunt instrument to address the realities of the circumstances….perhaps adopted out of frustration at some shortcoming in conceptualisation ability. No need, in my mind, to transpose that on to the other side of the equation, and create more difficulties.
Gerry Daly
PS…..Just read some of article
Quote…."These results confirm that a mental representation of an impending sensory event can significantly shape neural processes that underlie the formulation of the actual sensory experience and provide insight as to how positive expectations diminish the severity of chronic disease states."
Well, we all know that worrying, or anxiety, can increase the expected intensity of anything. But that doesn't, in any way, define the chronic condition which created the allowance for such secondary interesting observations. Just seems to be a convenient overlooking of the real cause, and a tendency towards , again, an insinuation that the patients default mindset might be the originator of such exaggerations. Something has to be there, in the first place, for any exaggeration to occur. Looks like reverse analysis to me, trying to prove a point by only observing some unusual outcomes. Of course a positive outlook will increase transient tolerance, but I hope no-one is suggesting that's some kind of end to the chronicity. That would be a quantum leap to a conclusion which begs questioning. Taking painkillers also offers transient relief, and I don't think anyone would suggest that such a method is a cure of any description. Placebos and palliatives have their place in any regime, but they are usually incidental, temporary, and ill-defined.
You say: "Just seems to be a convenient overlooking of the real cause [of chronic pain]"
What is the *real* cause? [Personally, I don't know the real cause, but I do know what helps and it points backwards towards thought patterns].
You say: "Placebos and palliatives have their place in any regime, but they are usually incidental, temporary, and ill-defined".
So they do have a place now? They didn't have ANY place a few posts ago. You were quite adamant about that point. And temporary…?!! (Read the comments section after my How Powerful Placebo post). Or this. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/16/us/placebo-effect-can-last-for-years.html
And this continual reference you make to "self-ridicule" when no one mentioned such a thing in this ridiculously long thread!
Gerry your posts are all over the shop!! And you don't seem to properly digest any of the replies I post.
What we're doing here is a perfect example of the reason I never mention any topic related to thoughts/mindset in the rooms… even though I am using such concepts maximally.
Ok. I'll attempt a detailed response, despite the insulting 'all over the shop' slight.
"What we're doing here is a perfect example of the reason I never mention any topic related to thoughts/mindset in the rooms… even though I am using such concepts maximally."
So now, not informing the participants of your methods is proper, I presume ?
"And this continual reference you make to "self-ridicule" when no one mentioned such a thing in this ridiculously long thread!"
A chronic patient laughing at their own condition is a form of self-ridicule.
"You say: "Placebos and palliatives have their place in any regime, but they are usually incidental, temporary, and ill-defined".
So they do have a place now? They didn't have ANY place a few posts ago."
I don't think you're reading my posts correctly. You seem a bit overheated trying to defend a rational questioning of your support for a 'laugh it off' method of treatment for chronic pain.
"What is the *real* cause? [Personally, I don't know the real cause, but I do know what helps and it points backwards towards thought patterns]."
Well, exactly. You don't know the 'real cause'. I would have thought that that's an essential part of the equation which needs resolving before proceeding to treatment options. As for "it points backwards towards thought patterns"…..that's exactly the kind of unsubstantiated reverse analysis that I argue against. It's actually assuming a 'cause' with no supporting evidence. If anyone can put forward an argument which proves that thought patterns are capable of creating chronic pain sensations/perceptions with no prime physiological cause involved….I'm listening. Probably best to be careful with that one, because any errors in judgement might have reputational implications, not to mention the implied implications for future treatment prospects for chronic pain patients. The current trend for defining chronic pain by means of illusion-based anecdotal evidence, might well be a bit of an illusion in itself.
However, so as not to seem too one-sided, I will comment that thought processes, alone, can be responsible for a temporarilly perceived illusion of pain……which has absolutely no relationship whatsoever with the causes or experience of chronic pain. So I would say, discounting a physiological cause requires a certainty that hasn't yet been substantiated…..might be more profitable to work off an assumption of 'unknown' real physiological cause. Then, at least, chronic patients might feel that nothing is being intentionally avoided.
"So now, not informing the participants of your methods is proper, I presume ?"
Not informing clients of certain aspects is what I'd call 'expedient technique'. When you go to a restaurant, how would you feel about the waiter saying: "I'm going to smile now because it will make you feel more comfortable. And now I'm going to give you a small compliment on your choice of meal … is that ok? I'm trying to get some rapport with you". You don't explain the art of therapy…. or waiting tables.
"A chronic patient laughing at their own condition is a form of self-ridicule".
This is the crux of our problem. You *are* your condition? There's a huge identification issue here. And you can't see it. I would also argue that your pain is not even a PART of you (let alone WHO you are). This is where philosophy becomes an essential component of therapy. It's a bigger topic.
"Laugh it off".
That sounds glib to me. One particular technique (which I rarely use) is to introduce humour and ridicule in order to re-frame fear. Earlier I said 'fear/pain', but really it's about fear/expectation, which is the underlying cause of the pain.
If you want to see it in action, here's a doctor having treatment herself with a guy called Paul McKenna, NLP expert. It's for a needle phobia.
"If anyone can put forward an argument which proves that thought patterns are capable of creating chronic pain sensations/perceptions with no prime physiological cause involved….I'm listening. Probably best to be careful with that one, because any errors in judgement might have reputational implications"
Reputational implications!! I promise I'll be careful. I wouldn't want you to think of me as a bad guy! : (( You're WAY too serious.
Pain ALWAYS involves physiology. Even in the case that you close your eyes and imagine pain, it involves physiology. I'm assuming what you meant to say was 'pain without tissue threat or damage'.
Nocebo studies – do I have to dig them up for you? Or if you want proof immediate pain resulting from thought without tissue damage, watch this video.
I've posted it numerous times before. Yes, it's real.
Now I'm going to preempt your next rebuttal by saying i get inspiration from all manner of sources. But maybe you'd prefer having some ultrasound for your pain? 5 minutes of ultrasound 1 Mhz, pulsed, 2 watts/cm-2. Sound good?
Hi gentleman
It's been quite the ride reading through the comments on this post, with some interesting ideas and evident passion on the topic of pain. I've been happy to let it run even though it's very much gone off topic from the original post, but, I think it might be time to close off the comments on this post as things are starting to look circular with no end in sight.
I look forward to contributions from you both relating to future posts.
My best
Gerry Daly
That's a reasonable moderation. Thanks
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text:
I am writing to you today to discuss the W.C.W.T's* new and vital conservation project. It is that of one of the least addressed issues facing our society, the destruction of the aquatic ecological systems. In todays society the general stereotype of the sea includes fishing, sailing, water sports and generally mucking about on boats.
However beneath this shallow description there is a complex and terrifying issue overlooked by a large percentage of the population and wildlife conservation charities. This includes the destruction of the kelp forests and the devastating effects of climate change on the coral reef (vital for all aquatic ecosystems). Nicknamed "saving nemo", the project will be documentation on the ecological cycles and systems in various tropical and non-tropical oceanic areas around the world, listing, analysing and comparing vital data using aquatic biological methods created and mapped by Jacques Cousteau, which will give oversight on the harrowing effects climate change poses to our oceanic biodiversity. We will be creating a documentary/short film on our work and findings and will publish a full topic review and paper during the process describing the differences and data discovered. The information collected will be contrasted to figures compiled 20 years ago by marine experts in 4 devoted dive sites and recording areas (South-west England, South East England, Italy/Mediterranean and Thailand). The evidence will prove links between Climate Change (as well as other minor catalysts) and the endangerment and extinction of Aquatic ecosystems. We are working with a Documentary and Short Film company to film the project underwater and above, a team of dedicated marine biologists to determine key factors and gather relevant information, local guides and the local inhabitants to discover how the sea operates. A key point of the project is to create an awareness base and to discover community projects to help respect and aide the environment in the local areas we visit which we will be funding following the launch of the campaign and documentary/short film. We are going to use the short film/documentary to look at how the local people, specifically the younger generation, have lived alongside the sea for generations, conveying how the serious effects of climate destroying the coral reefs impact on their day to day lives. Taking away their livelihood, causing a straining effect of pollution to their reefs and destroying traditional rituals and the respect locals bear for the sea. As we seek investment for this project, we describe how we can truly make a short film that would change the way people throughout the rest of the world can see how these countries depend on the sea and how by destroying it we are simply destroying their culture and their day to day lives. The money raised from the campaign backed by the short film which will be launched soon after the expedition has completed its task, will be donated directly to the local projects to help change lives. We see it through the eyes of the younger generation and we believe we can do something that no other has done before.
Why the Oceans?
We saw a hole in the conservation region of specific marine life, the reasons appear clearly, the oceans have their limitations; the fact that you need to train to gain the ability to dive into the possible dangers and to reach the point where the sea life begins to flare, several dcuba courses costing a small fortune and a mind to stay calm in the darkest of situations, the sheer power of the sea, one minute you are paddling along and the next you are thrown into an abyss of whirlwinds and undercurrents that could be life threatening, whether you are consumed by nitrogen narcosis (a dizziness that is caused by expanding nitrogen bubbles in your lungs and blood, caused by rising to surface too quickly, which lead to, in severe cases, painful death) or simply your equipment fails and you are stuck 30m down with no air left to drown and never to be found, it is a dangerous game if not properly carried out... However despite these gruelling factors of natural cycles and human error once these limitations are overcome or avoided due to safety management, the view is definitely worth it. Imagine drifting off into a different world, so to speak, experiencing the obvious difference between land and sea, is simply mesmerising, the ecological biodiversity is that of a rainforest just in a different form, with over 30,000 different species of fish in the shallow alone. Fish differentiating by just the slightest adjustment of a fin or a slight hinge of colour. Jacques Cousteau, the Charles Darwin of Marine Biology, once said From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free. This is the passion of a great man who spent his life studying the sea, and his words of wisdom changed the way we view our seas, unfortunately not enough to act.
The coral reef is suffering and the slightest of change in the ecological system of the reef can end with devastating irreversible repercussions. The coral reef is extremely fragile, with organisms ranging from the smallest living organism known to man to the top of the food chain, the Great White Shark and the Blue Whale. Due to the sheer lack of interest from a large percentage of wildlife charities we believe this project is vital to saving more than half the worlds living water going organisms. The ocean also heavily impacts on our day to day life, taking in a massive 70% of the CO2 in the atmosphere, achieving this through plant based aquatic organisms, currently being wiped out due to climate change and other catalytically factors. The coral reef represents enormous safeguard and iconic symbols for people around the world. For example, the reefs around south east asia protect a vast quantity of the local population living by the sea, it does this by breaking up waves which could be potentially threatening to local life near by the sea. If these reefs were to be destroyed, a vast quantity of the islands of Southeast Asia would simply erode away and vanish, causing devastating flooding and barrages of heavy water rushing at un controllable speed toward the shore in the process. The reefs also represent iconic symbols to a large majority of south east Asia, being respected and feared at the same time, locals have lived alongside the sea for centuries living off it passing on tricks of the trade to children and grandchildren and teaching them how to swim at the extremely early age of around 4 years old, some capable to hold their breath forup to 5 minutes to catch food.
How will the project will be run?
The project will be run by passion driven marine biologists, professional photographers and a production team. The team will be lead by Robin Johnson trained PADI Advanced Diver. We will be travelling to the south coast of England to carry out 30 dives monitoring and noting down fish patterns and vegetation density along with many other analytical figures to determine contrasts between the current day and a similar study conducted 20 years ago and to film the general underwater coastline. This will be carried out off Kimmeridge bay and Swanage in Dorset. This will then followed by the marine haven of biodiversity of Thailand for our 30 planned film dives of the coast of Krabi, Koh Tao and Phuket. During this time we will be studying how the locals live with the sea and be working with various community projects filming and interviewing locals about how they live by the sea and how the destruction of the reef is affecting their day to day lives. We will have a full time guide and a dive boat with an experienced captain for the 2 week trip. Our documentary/short film will be concluded by 10 dives off the Mediterranean coast. After these dives we will head back to our film studios to process and produce our documentary/short film followed by the launch of our worldwide campaign to raise money for our local projects and raise awareness about our findings.
Why Invest?
We are led by passion; we will show the sheer volume of our capacity to produce an unseen script of fantastic unseen footage and images when working. The 4 months it will take for this production will be an efficient drive into a better world. This is a unique opportunity that could re-write how we see our oceans and could demonstrate to the world how serious the problem actually is, if you invest you are not only adding to the great cause we are representing in this project but you are investing In the future of our oceans and the future of our planet.
What is the film?
The World Conservation and Wildlife Trust run by CEO Robin Johnson are launching a new and unique project focused on the general population experiencing the beauty of the Sea through the means of a nationwide film (to be launched next year). At the moment we are developing a similar film around the UK to use as an taster for what is to come. So what is the film? The film Is a testament to the beauty that lies beneath, the sea and all of it's aquatic ecosystems. The first part of the film focuses on following marine experts to Marine havens around the world to film how the underwater world operates. The second part to the film Is the impact of the Destruction of the seas on local inhabitants, for example in Thailand, Koh Tao, Phuket and Krabi. Here locals depend on the sea for cultural and practical reasons, as they have lived off the sea for generations, by destroying it we are destroying them. Then finally the third aspect of the film is human impact, here we will look at human impacts on the seas and how we are destroying the beautiful life within the sea. We are launching our taster film on the Marine Life around the UK on October 3rd at 9.00pm 2011 at the Screen on the Green in Angel, London, where with just one screening we will try and seek interest on the topic and we will seek investment for our film which will be launched nationwide (possibly global) to a much larger audience, raising the critical topic of the destruction of our seas next year.
What is the overall outcome of our project?
We will be working with NGO's around the world focusing on Marine Conservation, Awareness and Education trying to estabilish a more stable future for marine life around the World. The money generated from the second film will be put to various ecological projectrs supporting marine conservation and overly making a considerable contribution to saving marine life. The project is unique in the fact that it both raises awareness through the film and raises money for the causes at the same time, adding a double effect.
In early summer 2010, James Lane and Robin Johnson discussed the idea of mobilising north London schools behind some RHN fund raising initiatives. Also, the current Chinese year (until 2 February 2011) is the year of the Tiger. Tigers have been revered for centuries, but over the last 100 years their numbers have fallen from over 150,000 to as few as 3,200, and this decline is set to continue to complete extinction in the wild unless urgent measures are taken to stop poaching and habitat destruction from infringing on their survival. See the RHN websites section on Tigers.
The Tiger Campaign was being managed by Dakini Medias not-for-profit division, who were responsible for the excellent book, Global Warning about climate change and an earlier input to RHNs thinking. The approach was to action RHNs schools mobilisation idea by working with the Tiger Campaign as a specific test case and to build a viral campaign around it using Facebook, the RHN website, and by publishing the efforts of specific activities within and between North London schools.
In late September, James contacted Dakini Medias Founder, Lucky Dissanayake, an entrepreneur and climate change pioneer, about co-operation on the Tiger Campaign and this led to a meeting with Lindsey Kennedy, of Dakini Media, on 29th October 2010. By co-incidence, both James brother George (and one of RHNs key representative at Hereward House school) and Lindsey were born in the year of the Tiger which, as mentioned above, is the current Chinese Year. The Tiger, is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar a sign of how much the tiger is part of the worlds cultural heritage.
Tigers The Book, coming as an eBook and in Hard Cover
Tigers tells the remarkable story of a lone tigress, a formidable huntress and fiercely protective mother, as she struggles to survive and to raise her four cubs in the wild. We follow the adorable, heartbreakingly vulnerable foursome from just ten days old, as they get themselves in and out of trouble, grow and explore the forest, learn to hunt and to fight their own battles and, finally, leave home to start families of their own.
Tigers is a poignant story of survival, motherhood, growing up and letting go is interweaved with spectacular photography, taken by the award-winning John Downer Productions - whose pioneering filming techniques captured what has been called 'the most intimate portrait of tigers ever seen'
The book is written by Carol Kaufmann (an acclaimed wildlife journalist, former Nat Geo and a tiger fanatic) and follows this fight for survival of tigress and her four cubs, filmed in the wild using hidden cameras over a period of 8 years. The photography was described by Sir David Attenborough as the most intimate portrait of tigers ever seen. The picture below is taken from the front cover of the book.
The Tiger Campaign
Dakini Medias Tiger Campaign is designed to celebrate tigers, raise awareness of the dangers that threaten them and raise money to fund conservation efforts. So far, Dakini has been working with the Wildlife Protection Society of India, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Animals Asia, Phoenix (Russia) and 21st Century Tiger and are in discussions with several other charities. Central to the campaign is Dakinis gorgeous book, Tigers, which is being CrowdFunded through pre-orders from the public - a world first.
Courtesy of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Dakini Media has secured the crème de la crème of experiences for tiger lovers, a fabulous 5-night stay for two people in two world-class luxury Oberoi hotels in Jaipur and Ranthambhore, including a wildlife spotting Jungle Drive into Ranthambhore National Park giving a lucky campaign contributor a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a wild tiger for themselves. It doesnt get much better than that. Except, of course, if you were to come back to your Luxury Tent elated and exhausted to be greeted with an all-inclusive slap-up meal with wine and a 60-minute therapy in the Oberoi spa.
Every person to pre-order a book will be automatically entered into the draw to win this amazing prize and, if for those contributors who have already pre-ordered, dont worry your name has been entered.
Winners will be announced in the spring and contributors be given one entry into the draw for every book pre-ordered.
RHN are looking to help Dakini Media by using North London schools to raise £60,000 the equivalent of 3000 pre-orders to make this project possible. This breaks down to an average of £10,000 across 6 schools, or the equivalent of 500 per-order per school.
Fundraising ways to contribute
You can contribute to the campaign in one of several ways:
1. You can chip in a donation of US $10 (circa £6.5) or more, which will allow Dakini Media to include your name in the book as part of the crowd.
2. You can make a donation of $25 (circa £16) or more, which will allow us to include your name in the book, and send you a PDF/e-book version of this.
3. You can pre-order your own copy of the hardback book for $45 (circa £29), which will make the campaign possible, and will also include a 30% donation (This rises to 50% after pre-orders of 10,000 copies are reached to fund the printing of the book) directly to our tiger conservation charity partners. Your name will also be in the book, and you will have this beautiful record of the part you played in the campaign to keep forever. Just make a donation of the amount or more and remember to include your address and P&P for postage. Please remember to add on P&P when making your pre-order, to cover the cost of sending the book to you. This will be: $7.99 (£4.99) within the UK, $9.99 within the EU and $13.99 Rest of world.
4. Spreading the word. Tell your friends, your family, your colleagues - anyone you think would like to help with the project. If your employer offers matched funding, please make sure they know about your donation!


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Is is stigma? I'm not sure, but I do feel that there are dark clouds of suspicion that hamper many conversations.
A little while ago I met Lily's new school SENCO. It was a short informal chat at the school gates. She was friendly, open and clearly passionate about SEN. I enjoyed meeting her and was delighted that she was joining the staff.
A little while later Lily was struggling, she has trauma symptoms from witnessing years of extreme states in Peter (alongside the trauma of him going away to hospital) and was becoming overwhelmed. It was affecting her at school. So I spoke to the SENCO and we met again, but this time the atmosphere was different. I put it down to it being a busy week. Anyway, she was supportive and I thought nothing more of it.
Fast forward to yesterday. My second (and all being well last) meeting with the SENCO, and I sensed an elephant in the room. Lily joined us for the last part of the meeting and sensed the elephant immediately. "Mrs SENCO is scary" she said later, "She had daggers in her eyes. I am never going to a meeting again". Mrs SENCO is kind and skilled I believe, and will ensure Lily gets the small amount of support she needs.
For me it's a bit like she has been 'warned' about me, like I pose a threat of some sort?
It is all so unnecessary. Peter was at this school for 7 weeks. The old SENCO wasn't terribly helpful and the safeguarding lead made a massive mistake after Peter left, but I felt we had a good relationship otherwise, especially with his tutor and the couple of teachers I had met. I chose to send Lily there and I am glad I did, it is a nurturing school with excellent teaching and a kind ethos. It feels gentle, friendly and the quality of the teaching feels really good. So why the dark atmosphere?
I have no idea as to the contents of the elephant: what Mrs SENCO thinks she knows, what, if any, her concerns might be or what her views are of our situation, because these are never discussed. So the elephant sits there with us which is a real shame. A massive shame.
It's the same with parents. I took Peter out of his first, First School. After all he was having hallucinations about his teacher who had written to say he would not be following any professional advice unless he agreed with it (and he didn't agree with any). A while later Lily was so distressed by being around this teacher that she was threatening to run away from school. The head teacher was worse than useless and part of the problem, so I moved Lily. No big deal.
These dark clouds that seems to attach themselves to parents too. I have no idea what the gossip was/is surrounding Peter, his epic breakdown and me not being a fan of their precious village school. I could really live without the occasional atmosphere though; without this apparent stigma and being treated as though I may have some thing dangerous about me. Quite frankly we have had enough to deal with, but smile and friendly chat that the gates of this next school can turn the atmosphere cold when it is with a parent from that last school. Half the time I don't recognise them but they certainly THINK they know me!
I do wonder what it is they think they know? I sometimes think that I would be better received if I had served a short spell in jail.
Over time some of the 'cold shoulders' are warming up a little and The Elephant doesn't affect all of them on either inside or outside of the school gates. I feel I have a lovely relationship with a number of the teachers and I am genuinely fond of them. Many of the parents are friendly too. As for the rest? Ugh. The not knowing is irritating. What exactly did we do that was so terrible?
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text: $DGB looking quite good here. Bounced off the 50% fib retracement level, support line holding up and still plenty of room to grow based on the last rally. Been there since 2014, super fast and cheap transactions. Could also be a long term hold if the support doesn't hold this time.


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Museums and social justice – and why I bang on about it quite a lot.
Posted by Robin Clarke in School of Museum Studies Blog on April 12, 2018
This week marked the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany. Between 1937 and 1945, 280,000 people were imprisoned there. 56,000 of them lost their lives to torture and cruelty. It was a place of deep inhumanity and suffering. A place where people were murdered because of (amongst other things) […]
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Buchenwald, Museum Studies, Robin Clarke, School of Museum Studies, Social Justice, University of Leicester | Leave a response


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This is Joseph, we met on a subway train yesterday evening. I heard him before seeing him though. I was standing at the far end of a crowded car when he got on at the other end announcing himself, "Hello good people of New York, my name is Joseph." I've sort of given up on giving money to street people for a few reasons, one is that I myself have very little of it these days but also I've become overwhelmed, especially in a city like NY. But Joseph was different, he wasn't asking for a lot, just pennies or whatever change we could spare. He held a small plastic baggie with some coins in it as he swayed through the car telling his story. He hears voices, he bellowed, this is why it is difficult for him to keep a job. At first he thought they were real—that everyone could hear them—but then people told him they were not. Imagine, he suggested to us, the sound of all these voices you hear in this car right now were in your head but you were in a room alone, and they were talking to you directly. As he swayed through the moving car a few people put money in his plastic baggie, but no one seemed to look at him. I thought my stop would arrive before he would get to me but it didn't. When he approached I reached into my pocket and found a quarter and a penny, 26 cents, and felt a little foolish as I offered it to him and apologized, saying that was all that I had. "No worries," he relied, "74 more cents and I'll have a dollar." I told him my name was Joseph as well, and asked if I could take his photo, that I like to document people I meet. He got a big grin on his face and struck a pose. After the shutter clicked he told me to put his face on CNN. We fist bumped and as he parted I said, "Good luck, Joseph." And as he exited the car he turned and replied, "I'll be alright, every day is a gift from God. If you believe that, which I do, how bad can things be." With that he exited into a sea of humanity. Thank you Joseph, I needed to hear that. I often forget and you reminded me. This photo cost me 26 cents, but it is worth so much more. Everyone has a story, today I heard a small part of Joseph's and my life is better because of it.
This is Joseph…
May 12, 2019
Uncategorized everyone has a story, faces of homelessness, Faith in Humanity, homeless, homelessness, Humanity, people of NY, street people, urban simplicity Leave a comment


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The Broncos have no longterm solution at QB, are in a deep rebuild and nfl jerseys from China
are likely to struggle to win games again. The Bills are in the same boat and in a tougher division than Denver's. The Seahawks could be right in the mix and will be prepared to move up significantly to land luck, I figure.
Despite the drafting of a QB in the second round this year, you'll never convince me Niners coach Jim Harbaugh won't want to get his hands on his prized pupil again especially at the reduced rate of the new rookie system. And the Dolphins would be silly not to explore options to land him as well, even if it requires parting with a ton of picks.
But the reality is not that many teams will be in this market just look at how many clubs have paid or drafted a passer the past few years and if a retooling team like Denver or Buffalo lands him, it would take a massive cache of players and picks to pry that first overall pick away. This is where we get teed off on by these teams' fans, but they might need a reality check as well. I hope I am wrong because I'm not one to enjoy picking a team or a person's failure but.
The leading contenders are Luck's old college coach Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers jersey cheap. It's hard to figure out where they're headed, but unless Alex Smith jersey cheap jersey cheap is playing possum, their quarterback inconsistency is going to keep them from making much headway. Seattle could be in the hunt, too. I like some of the things I see with Seattle's defense, but offensively they have a lot of holes.
You'd think the Broncos would be better than last season, but there is some serious work to be done there work that might not be cured until they get a quarterback like Luck on board. The Bills, as much as I simply have a hunch that they'll be a surprise team, also could be, well, the Bills, and end up with the No. 1 overall pick.
Yes, I am just kidding, but barely.
But the Panthers will be the worst team in the league, which means the team with the second pick will get a chance at Luck. That team will be the Seahawks. Coach Pete Carroll for Luck in 2008 when he signed with Stanford, but something tells me Carroll won't let him get away this time. 2011 AFC cellar dwellers: Buffalo, Cincy, Denver, Jacksonville.
As for who will be chasing Andrew Luck jersey cheap jersey cheap, how 'bout some reckless and extreme speculation?
Let's say I'm right that the Giants, because of all the big injuries they've already suffered, bring up the rear in the East. New Yorkers will call for the heads of Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning jersey cheap jersey cheap.
Now let's say the Colts get out of the gate slowly with Kerry Collins at the helm. Let's further assume Joseph Addai and Donald Brown fail to provide any relief on the ground. Peyton Manning jersey cheap jersey cheap forces his way back into the lineup too early and takes some shots on his weak neck because of lousy protection on the left side of the Cheap NFL Jerseys
line and is forced to the sidelines. Indy implodes. The Colts finally acknowledge the need to look for Manning's successor.


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So Shiretoko isn't Firefox So Why Call It That?
I have been using the standard Ubuntu Jaunty repo version of Firefox-3.5 since before it was in the standard security repo when it was in fta's ppa With this version I expected it to be buggy or have oddities such as being called Shiretoko. With the standard repository version I expect it to be Firefox
I know the reasoning was mentioned here some of the reasoning makes sense but if a user chooses to manually install firefox-3.5 they expect to get Firefox since this wont ever auto auto-update from 3.0 to 3.5 with out the users expressed permission I see this as an annoyance.
Calling it Shiretoko is annoying. Having the user-agent string below tends to break sites.
Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9.1) Gecko/20090701 Ubuntu/9.04 (jaunty) Shiretoko/3.5
Now I am not saying call this thing Firefox if it is really an ubuntu build of Shiretoko but since Shiretoko isn't a standard or mainstream browser it wont be in any Device Database. such as WURFL or DeviceAtlas I say these because I mostly work with mobile related technology but the reasoning applies for any device db or user-agent checker.
Face Book makes horrid pop-up windows.
Use the Chat list on the right to start a conversation.You're using an old web browser to browse Facebook. To use the full version of Chat from within a normal Facebook window, please upgrade your browser. Switch to Firefox.
Changing the user-agent of a browser in this day and age severely impacts on a users browsing experience. Since most websites now try to do browser detection (Some better then others) they generate different output for different browsers or even worse sorry this website only works in Netscape Navigator and IE 5 and above.
16 Comments to So Shiretoko isn't Firefox So Why Call It That?
I think the upstream source has a big switch in it that lets you turn on or off MozCo branding. If you set it to "on", you have to call it firefox, you have to use the supplied, non-modifyable firefox icon, etc. If you set it to false, you cannot call it firefox. I believe you specify an alternate name as part of the build and the upstream build system slots that into lots of places, including the user agent string. So in short, it's a effect of the upstream branding "switch" that changes the user agent. To supply the package with all-but-the-useragent changed would mean patching the upstream build system.
Jon on
July 8th, 2009
yeah this is absolutely ridiculous and annoying, not to mention all the shenanigans you hvae to go through as an end user to actually get firefox 3.5 on ubuntu, as opposed to a windows user, who just does the integrated update method…. ubuntu for human beings??
Sebastian on
July 8th, 2009
I always blame websites for things like this. I should be able to fire up a new browser powered by Gecko and have it work, no matter whether the browser is called Firefox or Epiphany or l33tbr0wser2000. As an Epiphany user I do get bitten by things looking for Firefox, and it drives me nuts.
MattW on
July 8th, 2009
In openSUSE when you add Mozilla repository you will get regular update which replace v3.0 with v.3.5 and all this with 1-click install.
Ubuntu is surely not the best or user friendliest distribution. Not to mention other repositories providing many updates to old releases. A tru long term support in every release..
Ubuntu has much to learn and Shiretoko is example of that.
MMMMM on
July 8th, 2009
@Jon: Yes but installing from source code is not recommended on any Linux platform.
@Sebastian: No this makes perfect sense they don't upgrade major application version for the reason that major application version increases normally means major changes that might nto be compatible with the OS.
@MattW: 🙁 It is rather upsetting and yes websites should check for all of these this isn't a question of websites dealing with minority browsers in this I would include a beta Shiretoko it is that this version of firefox is actually out and being in the stable repo's but isn't what they say it is. If I wanted shiretoko application I would have done sudo apt-get install shiretoko!
drubin on
July 8th, 2009
As of today Shiretoko is called Firefox again. Even if you install the Version from the Jaunty repos.
Michael on
July 8th, 2009
I have not had any problems whatsoever, with facebook or otherwise. Here is my user-agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:184.108.40.206pre) Gecko/20090707 Ubuntu/9.04 (jaunty) Shiretoko/3.5.1pre AutoPager/0.5.2.2 (http://www.teesoft.info/)
IIRC Mozilla got rather uptight about non-official builds being branded as "firefox" as additional patches or build options could have caused issues that would not be experienced with an official build. Debian rebranded to iceweasel due to this. Iirc Canonical worked out some sort of review deal where Mozilla will approve their builds and allow official branding, which has not happened yet it seems.
Shiretoko is the code-name for Firefox 3.1/3.5, not some randomly assigned branding. The only issue I've had using it is the window icon is not as recognizable.
Chris Irwin on
July 8th, 2009
@Michael: When where? /me is waiting to see it in the repositories. Where does this information come from.
drubin on
July 8th, 2009
@Chris Irwin: I have no issue with the branding. My issue is with sudo apt-get install *firefox3.5*. They are claiming you are installing firefox but you aren't really are you? BTW if they wanted to include iceweasel and you were installing iceweasel I think I would be ok with it.
Also note this is EASILY fixable by changing your user-agent using http://chrispederick.com/work/user-agent-switcher/ this is just annoying. There are always ways to confuse and annoy the web developers that think they are so cool by putting "Sorry please install IE 5.."
drubin on
July 8th, 2009
Drubin: For a website, the only relevant part of that user agent string is the rendering engine, "Gecko", and the version, "1.9.1". If they're sniffing for the string "Firefox", that's poor website design on their part.
For more, see https://wiki.mozilla.org/User:Sardisson/Gecko_is_Gecko#Sniffing_for_.E2.80.9CFirefox.E2.80.9D_:_Bad
Daniel Holbert on
July 8th, 2009
@Daniel Holbert: Thanks very interisting read. The point about the user-agent string was just an another annoyance if I install Firefox I expected it to be called Firefox. 🙂 (This wasn't aimed at the lack of web devs knowing what they are doing)
drubin on
July 9th, 2009
@Drubin: There are some valid reasons for sniffing for the string "Firefox." For example, I have a web site that uses a lot of math. I serve it up as mathml to ff3 users, bitmaps to everyone else. The alternative would be to bring ff users down to the level of other browsers that don't implement mathml properly.
Ben Crowell on
July 18th, 2009
Fine, let folks have their Shiretoko. Can I have my Firefox 3.5 now?
The excuse I've heard is that Ubuntu wanted Firefox 3.0 to be the default browser, so they renamed 3.5; thank you for making that decision for me…..
Since FF is the app I run most, this prompts me to consider other distributions.
sirald66 on
July 19th, 2009
In Shiretoko (or Firefox 3.x) go to Tools > Add-ons > Get Add-ons > Search All Add-ons > [type:] user agent. The first suggestion will probably be an add-on called User Agent Switcher. Pretty handy.
Piraja on
November 5th, 2009
@Piraja: Ye simple to solve. This issue was resolved in karmic so now I am very happy 🙂 (Until I install the next pre-release hehe)
drubin on
November 5th, 2009
I'm impressed! You've managed the almost ipmsoibsle.
Morey on
May 5th, 2011


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Showing off the lush lawns in your Carefree landscape design can be done so well with a visually dominating, irregular natural stone walkway. Making use of different sizes and shapes of Arizona stone lends a more relaxed welcome to the approach of your home.
Arizona flagstone in both natural and cut stone selections gives paths and walkways in Carefree a unique surface that leads to a matching patio or courtyard pavement. Depending on the cut of the stone you and your Carefree landscape designer decide upon, creating free-form and perhaps geometric designs adds warm character to any walk or path in your yard.
Widely spaced stone walkways, through lush green grass or xeriscape stone mulch, creates a lovely rustic look that is a wonderful perfect complement to your adobe Arizona home. Professional landscapers in Carefree, can easily install natural stone walkways that leads through a variety of different steppable plants like rugged ground creepers that bloom, thick turf grass or desert landscaping stone as seen here in two very different landscape designs around lovely Carefree homes.
Both irregular and snap cut flagstone can be laid in a tightly fit arrangement as well, producing a clean edged, more formal walkway, pool decks or patio designs. There are many different styles and colors of Arizona stone available. This gives you a large array of home landscaping options and applications for incorporating natural stone. When it comes to courtyard flooring and patio designs, stone is quite popular for paving to create different looks in outdoor living rooms.
Carefree landscape designers use either straight or curved flagstone walkway designs. Curved designs look far more natural and are very pleasing to the eye. Meandering and flowing natural stone walkways around flowerbeds, trees or landscape plantings for your yard and garden design in Carefree, can add great beauty to professional landscape design. If you want to get a visual idea of what a curving natural stone walkway may look like, place garden hoses along your selected walkway path to simulate the outer edges.
There are a number of installation options for stone walkways, including mortared stone on a concrete base, or dry laid and placed in sand over crushed limestone like paving stones are installed. Flagstone installed with mortar will be more expensive, but also practically maintenance free. However, you will not be able to have wide set flagstones with thick Arizona lawns or ground cover plants growing between the stones laid in mortar. Dry-based natural stone walkways require periodic weed-pulling maintenance when the stone isn't set into lush green grass. Professional Carefree landscapers will make sure that the flagstone walkway is correctly installed and downright beautiful.