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Males in many species differentially allocate sperm and seminal fluid depending on certain social variables, including perceived sperm competition and female reproductive status. In some species, males reduce their investment in sperm quantity or quality upon repeated matings with the same female and increase such investment when mated to a novel female. We tested for effects of stimulus habituation and novelty on ejaculated semen parameters in humans. We analyzed ejaculates produced through masturbation with stimulation from sexually explicit films. When males were exposed successively to the same female six times, we saw no change in ejaculate parameters between the first and sixth exposures to the same female. However, ejaculate volume and total motile sperm count significantly increased when males were exposed to a novel female. Time to ejaculation also decreased significantly upon exposure to a novel female. Thus, our results suggest that human males ejaculate more quickly and invest more in ejaculates with novel females.
Competition between males for fertilization of a female's eggs can result in selection on a variety of phenotypic traits, including morphology, behavior, physiology, and ejaculate composition. In the case of ejaculate composition, selection may favor differential allocation of sperm and other ejaculate components depending on intrinsic (e.g., the male's own condition) or extrinsic factors (e.g., presence of competitors or condition of the females; Perry et al. 2013). Differential allocation of sperm based on exposure to competitor males and on female qualities occurs in a wide range of species (reviewed in Wedell et al. 2002; Kelly and Jennions 2011; also see Evans et al. 2003; Pizzari et al. 2003; delBarco-Trillo and Ferkin 2006; Thomas and Simmons 2007; Lüpold et al. 2011). Males of some species have also been found to differentially allocate seminal fluid proteins (reviewed in Perry et al. 2013). To date, there has been very little research examining differential allocation of ejaculate components in humans; however, work thus far suggests that it does occur (reviewed in Leivers and Simmons 2014; see also Baker and Bellis 1993; Kilgallon and Simmons 2005; Leivers et al. 2014). For example, men who viewed sexually explicit images suggesting sperm competition (i.e., two men with one woman) produced a greater proportion of motile sperm in their ejaculates than men who viewed sexually explicit images suggesting no competition (i.e., three women; Kilgallon and Simmons 2005). In the current study, we tested whether ejaculate parameters change in response to the familiarity or novelty of the female stimulus used to induce sexual arousal.
In many species, including humans, individuals have the opportunity to mate with either a familiar partner (one with whom they have already mated) or with a novel partner (one with whom they have not previously mated). Some species show a pattern of decreased investment in matings with familiar partners and increased investment in matings with novel partners (Beach and Jordan 1956; Dewsbury 1981; Pizzari et al. 2003; Jordan and Brooks 2010). Such variable investment can include time, energy, and resources allocated toward courtship, the actual mating process, and/or ejaculate components in the case of males. It is predicted that sexual selection would favor males who invest more in ejaculates transferred to novel females for two reasons: (i) Males may have already fertilized the egg(s) of (or have their sperm stored by) females with whom they have already mated (Jordan and Brooks 2010); and (ii) novel females may be more likely to have mated recently with another male resulting in increased likelihood of sperm competition. Consistent with this prediction, when male jungle fowl, Gallus gallus, mated with a novel female after mating repeatedly to a familiar female, they transferred significantly more sperm than they had in the previous mating with the familiar female (Pizzari et al. 2003). These results support the hypothesis that males differentially allocate sperm depending on their past mating history with a particular female.
The objective of the current study was to test if ejaculate parameters of human males change in response to familiarity or novelty of a female stimulus. We compared several traits between ejaculates produced after six repeated exposures to sexually explicit films depicting the same actress and actor and then after subsequent exposure to a similar film with a new actress but the same actor. The ejaculate traits we compared were ejaculate volume, percent sperm motility, sperm concentration, total sperm count, and total motile sperm count, all of which we predicted to decrease with repeated exposure to the same female and increase upon exposure to a novel female. We also measured time to ejaculation for which we predicted an increase with repeated exposure to the same female and a decrease upon exposure to a novel female.
Materials and Methods
Test Subjects
The experiment involved the participation of 23 self-identified heterosexual men between the ages of 18 and 23 years old. Each subject provided seven ejaculate samples over the course of 15 days. The recruitment and procedures involving collection of semen samples were all in accordance with the College of Wooster's Human Subjects Research Committee guidelines. Although we knew the identities of the participants, which remained confidential, all other information, including personal health issues and semen parameters, was anonymous. Prior to beginning the experiment, each subject was assessed for healthiness and history of sexual dysfunction, as defined by the World Health Organization (2010), using a questionnaire. Men were only included in the study if they self-reported to have no history of sexual dysfunction, no conditions affecting testicular health, and no sexually transmitted infections and were not taking any medications, were not regular smokers of tobacco or any other substance, and did not chew tobacco regularly. Prior to beginning the experiment, each participant refrained from alcohol consumption and sexual activity for 48 h. Before each ejaculate collection, participants completed a survey self-reporting the number of alcoholic drinks they had consumed and whether they had ejaculated since the last collection. If they reported having more than four alcoholic drinks or they ejaculated between collections, the participants' data were not included in the study. One participant chose to leave the study and his data were excluded. Another participant's data were excluded because he ejaculated between collections, thus reducing our sample size to 21.
Collection Procedure
We used segments of sexually explicit films involving one actor and one actress as the stimuli for the experiment. Each participant viewed the films in the same private room, at approximately the same time of day every 48 to 72 h. For each participant, all sessions were scheduled in advance at the beginning of his participation period. Each film segment consisted of a 3-min section from a longer ~20-min film. This 3-min segment was played on repeat for as long as necessary to achieve ejaculation. Of the seven film segments each participant viewed, the first six comprised the habituation period. Each of these six film segments featured the same man and woman but differed in respect to the sexual acts performed. The seventh film segment comprised the novel female treatment. This film segment featured the same man, but with a different woman who differed distinctly from the first woman in facial and body features, hair color, and tattoos. Across the study, four different 20-min films were used. Each man was assigned to a particular pair of 20-min films, and the segments he viewed were extracted from these films. The specific films used as the habituation film and the novel stimulus film for each participant were randomly assigned. The specific segments from those films that the participant viewed on a particular collection day were also randomized.
Each participant was left alone in a private room to watch the provided film and masturbate into a wide-mouth sterile collection cup. He was instructed to record what time he began watching the film, what time he ejaculated, and whether all of the ejaculate was deposited in the collection cup. If some ejaculate failed to be deposited into the cup, the data from the ejaculate were not used for calculations of volume-based measures (see below).
Semen Assays
We performed all semen assays blind to the identity and the treatment group (familiar or novel stimulus) of the participant and within an hour after ejaculation. Ejaculate volume was measured to the nearest 0.1 mL using a 15 mL graduated conical tube. Once in the tube, the sample was gently vortexed and placed into 1.5 mL Eppendorf tubes. The samples were then allowed to liquefy for 20 min. After vortexing one of the 1.5 mL tubes again to make the sample homogenous, 5 μL of the sample were loaded on a Microcell counting chamber (Vitrolife, San Diego, CA) to record sperm concentration and motility. Using a phase contrast microscope at 20× objective and an eyepiece video camera, we filmed five arbitrarily chosen fields of view close to the center of the counting chamber slide for a minute each.
To determine sperm concentration and percent motility, we counted total sperm number and total immotile sperm. We used Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to place a 10 × 10 grid on top of the sperm videos. For each of the five fields of view of each sample that were videotaped, we counted the total number of sperm and the number of immotile sperm within 1–10 rows (10–100 squares) of the grid. The number of rows counted depended on how concentrated the sample was with sperm. We only counted one to two rows for each field of view for highly concentrated samples (average of 16–32 sperm cells per row). If samples were moderately concentrated, five rows were counted (average of eight sperm cells per row). If there were fewer than five sperm cells in a row, all ten rows were counted. The number of rows counted for each of the five fields of view for a given sample remained consistent.
Sperm concentration was calculated by multiplying the average total sperm counts for the five fields of view by the row factor (1 row = 10; 2 rows = 5; 5 rows = 2; 10 rows = 1) and the magnification factor of the microscope (MF = 20) and then dividing by 100, the total number of grid cells. Total sperm count was calculated as the product of sperm concentration and ejaculate volume. Sperm motility for each of the five fields of view was calculated as the total number of motile sperm divided by the total number of sperm, multiplied by 100. The average of these five values was used as the percent sperm motility measure for the ejaculate sample. Total motile sperm was calculated as the product of total sperm count and the percent sperm motility.
Statistical Analyses
We tested for differences between the initial trial and the habituated trial (trials 1 and 6) and between the habituated trial and the novel stimulus trial (trials 6 and 7) for all of the measured variables using either one-tailed paired t tests (after natural log transformation for time to ejaculation) or one-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (total motile sperm and concentration) in SPSS version 22. For all ejaculate measures (sperm parameters and volume), we predicted a decrease with habituation and an increase upon exposure to a novel stimulus. For time until ejaculation, we predicted an increase with habituation and a decrease upon exposure to a novel stimulus. Data from some participants were excluded from the volume, total motile sperm, and total sperm comparisons because some of their ejaculate missed the collection container (four men excluded in the trial 1 vs. 6 comparison, two men excluded in the trial 6 vs. 7 comparison). Data from one additional participant was excluded from all analyses due to extremely low sperm concentration (<1 million sperm per mL). Additionally, we compared each ejaculate parameter across trials 2 through 6 to determine whether there were any changes across the habituation period. To do so, we used a repeated-measures ANOVA for the parameters that were normally distributed and had homogeneity of variances across these trials (volume and natural log transformed time to ejaculation) and pairwise Wilcoxon tests (trial 2 vs. trial 3, trial 3 vs. trial 4, etc.) for all of the other parameters (reported in Supplemental Tables 1 and 2).
Variation in Ejaculate Parameters
We found tremendous intra- and inter-subject variation in all ejaculate parameters. Time to ejaculation ranged between 4 and 21 min. Ejaculate volume ranged between 0.4 and 6.8 mL. Percent motility ranged between 32.6 and 81.1 %. Sperm concentration ranged between 4.5 × 106 and 132.9 × 106 sperm per mL. Total sperm ranged between 10.3 × 106 and 279.7 × 106. Total motile sperm ranged between 4.2 × 106 and 200.6 × 106 .
We found no evidence for a habituation effect. In response to repeated exposure with the initial female and male stimulus, none of the measured semen parameters differed significantly between trials 1 and 6 (Table 1). When we compared across the habituation trials 2 through 6, we found no consistent patterns of change for any of the ejaculate parameters (Supplemental Tables 1 and 2).
Effect of Novel Stimulus
We found evidence for a novel female effect on ejaculate traits. In response to the novel female stimulus (with the original male stimulus), ejaculate volume and total number of motile sperm in the ejaculate increased significantly (between trials 6 and 7; volume: t = 1.84; df = 17; p = 0.041; total motile sperm: Z = 1.76; N = 18; p = 0.039). Time to ejaculation also decreased in response to the novel female stimulus (t = −1.78; df = 19; p = 0.045). None of the other measured semen parameters changed significantly in response to the novel female stimulus (Table 1).
Our findings are the first to demonstrate that men's ejaculate behavior and composition change in response to a novel female stimulus. When men were exposed to a novel female stimulus after repeated exposure to a different female stimulus, time to ejaculation decreased whereas ejaculate volume and total motile sperm in the ejaculate increased. Our results have important implications for understanding selective pressures on male reproductive patterns, the plasticity of ejaculate allocation, and diagnosis and treatment in the context of male fertility.
Our findings of decreased time to ejaculation and increased ejaculate volume and number of motile sperm with the novel female stimulus suggest selective pressures in our evolutionary past for greater investment in and more rapid transfer of ejaculates in matings with females other than a male's social partner (i.e., extra-pair copulations). An increase in the total number of motile sperm may result in higher likelihood of fertilization and greater ability to compete with other male's sperm, whereas a decrease in the time to ejaculation may decrease the likelihood of an extra-pair copulation being detected. Our results complement the findings of Koukounas and Over (2000) that penile circumference and self-reported arousal also increased upon exposure to a novel female stimulus after habituation to a different female stimulus. In addition to evidence for effects of novel female stimuli, other human studies have demonstrated ejaculate adjustment in response to perceived sperm competition risk (Baker and Bellis 1993; Kilgallon and Simmons 2005). Together, these results show that, although we still do not have a complete understanding of how strong selection from sperm competition has been in the evolutionary past of humans (Simmons et al. 2004; Larmuseau et al. 2013; Leivers and Simmons 2014; Shackelford et al. in press), male physiology and behavior respond in such a way consistent with a history of sperm competition and extra-pair mating opportunities.
Although we found an effect of a novel female stimulus on some ejaculate parameters, we found no effects of repeated exposure to the same female and male stimuli. Previous studies have found evidence for sexual habituation in men. Male arousal, measured by penile tumescence, decreased upon repeated exposure to the same sexually explicit stimulus over shorter (i.e., less than 60 min; O'Donohue and Geer 1985; Plaud et al. 1997; Koukounas and Over 2000; Dawson et al. 2013) and longer time periods (i.e., 3–6 weeks; O'Donohue and Plaud 1994; Plaud et al. 1997). In contrast, we did not find significant changes in any of the ejaculate parameters we measured between a man's first and sixth exposure to stimulus material involving the same actor and actress over an 11–14 day period. The only trends in our data that were consistent with a habituation effect were a decrease in ejaculate volume (t = −0.72; df = 15; p = 0.24) and an increase in time until ejaculation (t = 1.23; df = 19; p = 0.12). Interestingly, these were two of the three parameters that significantly changed with the novel female exposure. It is possible that more profound changes in these parameters would occur in the habituation phase with increased number of exposures to the familiar female.
The contrasting results of our study and those of previous studies could also be because our study differed from previous studies in two fundamental ways. First, we tested for habituation to the actress and/or actor in the film clip by exposing males repeatedly to clips containing the same people but different randomly selected scenes. In contrast, previous studies which found a habituation effect on male sexual arousal used the same exact stimulus material repeatedly and were, thus, testing for habituation to any aspect of the material. It is possible that exposure to different sexual acts in the habituation phase of our study added variation to the ejaculate parameters which, in turn, decreased our ability to discern any significant habituation effects. In the future, it will be important to distinguish between habituation to a particular stimulus material, which includes both the same people and the same scene, and habituation to a particular person or people. Second, our study tested for the effect of habituation on a set of ejaculate parameters, whereas previous studies tested for effects on arousal. The association between sperm parameters and arousal has not been well-studied, although there is some evidence that they are positively associated (Zavos 1985; Zavos and Goodpasture 1989; van Roijen et al. 1996). In the case of habituation studies, tests of effects on arousal response do not allow for the participants to ejaculate during the session. Therefore, decreases in male arousal upon repeated exposure to a particular female stimulus could be a physiological response to perceived thwarted mating attempts. It may be costly for males to become repeatedly aroused without ejaculation. In a natural setting, arousal may result in males pursuing a mate which can be both energetically costly and risky. If the costs of repeated arousal to the same female are not outweighed by benefits of successful copulation (e.g., insemination, strengthening of pair bond), arousal in this scenario may be selected against. Finally, it is possible that ejaculate parameters not measured in our study followed patterns consistent with habituation.
Future studies should evaluate whether decreased investment in ejaculate parameters with repeated exposure to the same female stimulus occurs using different experimental conditions. Six sexual encounters over the course of a 2-week period, as used in our study, would have a low likelihood of conception (Zinaman et al. 1996; Thoma et al. 2013). As a result, habituation effects may be seen after more prolonged exposure. Further, we predict that male investment would be more likely to decrease with increased exposure to the same female under conditions in which male ejaculate components were limited. This condition could be induced by decreasing the time between ejaculate collections. If these predictions are not supported, it may be that effects of repeated exposure to the same stimulus affects ejaculate composition differently in species with pregnancy and short durations of sperm retention (e.g., many mammals; Holt and Lloyd 2010) than in species that lay eggs and have long-term sperm storage (e.g., many arthropods, amphibians, fish, birds, and reptiles; Holt and Lloyd 2010). It could be, for example, that males in the former type of species only decrease ejaculate investment after pregnancy is detected.
In addition to contributing insights to the growing literature surrounding human evolutionary biology and sexual selection, the results of this study are of relevance to fertility medicine. Specifically, this study suggests that male infertility could be under-diagnosed since ejaculate samples used to test for infertility and subfertility are often collected with the use of images depicting women other than the man's partner (Yamamoto et al. 2000). However, this effect could be counteracted by the higher fertility of ejaculates produced during coitus than produced during masturbation (e.g., Zavos 1985; Sofikitis and Miyagawa 1993). Our results suggest that it will be important for future studies comparing the fertility of ejaculates produced under different conditions and studies of male fertility diagnoses to consider the effects of stimulus by novel females and sexual scenarios. Considerations of the effect of novel stimuli may result in different conclusions for such studies and diagnoses. Promoting techniques that more closely match normal sexual scenarios used by patients during conception attempts may improve the accuracy of male infertility diagnoses, whereas use of novel stimuli may improve the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques.
In conclusion, in our study, men produced higher quality ejaculates when exposed to novel, rather than familiar, women. Additionally, men ejaculated more quickly when viewing a new woman after being exposed to the same woman repeatedly. These data suggest that males preferentially invest more into novel sexual situations involving unfamiliar women. Further research could be conducted to elucidate the proximate mechanisms influencing differential ejaculate allocation in humans. Additionally, further investigation of the composition of ejaculates, including seminal fluid protein analysis, could unveil other ejaculate components that change with novel stimuli. These future studies could assist medical professionals in devising improved strategies for male infertility diagnosis and for assisted reproductive technology by providing insights into the causes of semen parameter variation in humans.
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We are grateful to the College of Wooster and the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Foundation for their support of this project. We thank T. Pizzari and S. Wigby for helpful discussions of the design of this project and J. Gros-Louis, M. Pham, D. Sasson, S. Wigby, and one anonymous reviewer for insightful feedback on earlier versions of this manuscript.
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Joseph, P.N., Sharma, R.K., Agarwal, A. et al. Men Ejaculate Larger Volumes of Semen, More Motile Sperm, and More Quickly when Exposed to Images of Novel Women. Evolutionary Psychological Science 1, 195–200 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-015-0022-8
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- Strategic ejaculation
- Differential allocation
- Sperm competition
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LOS ANGELES, CA - In February of 1998, Carole King and many of her fellow musicians joined together to celebrate the life and music of Nicolette Larson, who had passed away three months prior. These shows, performed over the course of two nights at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, were recorded and were released as an album entitled 'A Whole Lotta Love.'
LOS ANGELES, CA - All-star performers including Carole King, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, The Dixie Chicks, Bonnie Raitt and many more gathered in Los Angeles on February 8, 2006 to honor James Taylor as MusiCares' "Person of the Year." At this concert, Carole King performed a song that she wrote, "You've Got a Friend," which was a hit for both her and Taylor.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Carole King performed at the MusiCares 2006 Person of the Year event, which was held on February 6, 2006 in Los Angeles. Every year, MusiCares recognizes an individual to honor who has made extraordinary contributions in the field of music, as well as remarkable commitments to philanthropic and humanitarian causes.
This year's honoree is James Taylor. In addition to Carole, this star-studded event included performances from Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Paul Simon, the Dixie Chicks and many more.
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Nicola Gates (Ollanua Textiles)Northern Ireland
About Nicola
Nicola Gates is a weaver and curator from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, with a passion for craft heritage and sustainable contemporary design. Driven by a fascination with the inherent properties of natural fibres, especially wool, Nicola aims to use natural materials and traditional techniques in a contemporary way. Her work is primarily intuitive and technique-focused, with inspiration often coming from the qualities of the material she is working with or the possibilities of a particular weaving technique.
Since graduating from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, in 2005 with a degreein Textile Design, Nicola has worked in the museum and heritage sector alongside developing her skills in weaving and feltmaking. She is currently designing her first collection of handwoven textiles, which she plans to launch in September 2015 under her brand Olla Nua, a name derived from the Irish for 'new wool'.
Making for the Challenge
Nicola's weft-faced rug has been woven on her Swedish floor loom, which is powered entirely by hand and foot. The geometric design of diamonds and chevrons is based on a sketch of ancient stone inscriptions made during a visit to Newgrange passage grave in County Meath, Ireland, which dates from the Neolithic period.
The weaving technique uses a 'plain weave' base of indigo-dyed yarn, interwoven with shots of twill in natural-coloured yarn to create the pattern. The rug has a linen warp, which is hidden by the dense Cambrian wool weft. The challenge has encouraged her to try new things, with this being both the first time she has woven a rug and dyed with indigo!


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This Flamingo party balloon post, has been inspired by the Anges De Sucre cake, which I had the pleasure of tasting this weekend, at my friend's birthday party.
As you can see, I have the Flamingo balloon, but after you see the cake, you'll agree that I'll need to add some sparkle to the pink. Here it is. Stunning right?
Everything I love in a cake, from the colour pink, to the white chocolate drizzle and the macarons.
Aren't those white chocolate feathers just the perfect finishing touch? So here is how I added a touch of sparkle to the pink Flamingo balloons for the party.
You can never go wrong with gold. For many of you who follow me here on the blog, know how much I adore pink and gold.
I decided to paint gold polka dots on white Helium balloons with gold leaf paint. I used the end of a pencil to dab paint onto the balloon. It was so much fun and strangely therapeutic, as I printed little dots onto the white balloons. It really doesn't matter if the dots are not perfect. The aim is to add sparkle and not perfection. So here they are, all together, held by golden ribbons.
What do you think? It was an easy 10 minute DIY. The pink and gold of the balloons are now ready to accompany the cake.
Is your mouth watering looking at this? Add some beautiful Tulips, and we're ready to party! Thanks to my other reliable pink friend, the Balloon Time Helium tank.
So handy to have nearby. Balloons on demand could never have been easier. The tanks are recyclable too.
Hope you have enjoyed this and that it has inspired you to have fun with Helium balloons.
Wishing you a happy mid week.
( All photography are by Geraldine Tan, editor of Little Big Bell. This post has been done in collaboration with Balloon Time. All opinions are my own).


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Sapphira A Strips and Spreads in Lingerie
Evinka Purgatova, aka Sapphira A., is a stunning brunette model from the Czech Republic. Photographer Luca Helios captures her sensuality perfectly in this set that has the petite model in a two-piece lingerie set. Sapphira seductively strips off her bra and panties then parts her legs and ass cheeks to reveal her cleanly shaven pussy and natural perky breasts. Great set.


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I can't even remember how many years my friends and I have been using February as a re-set month. Regardless of great intentions, the craziness of the holiday season with all of it's treats and parties tends to get the best of us. It doesn't end in January either, but by February we've had enough. By February we're ready to shift gears and focus on our health. The best thing about February is that it's 28 days…you can do anything for 4 weeks and conveniently, 4 weeks just happens to be the amount of time you need to establish new habits.
Every year we change things up a little. This year we will be using the 80/20 rule…in other words, it's what you do 80% of the time that matters. You can have some off days, some reckless days. Your body is designed to handle that. The trick is to set some goals and live to those goals MOST of the time. Keep in mind, this isn't supposed to be easy but it's the middle of winter and if you work hard for the next 28 days, you'll be on easy street for the rest of the year…well at least until the holidays roll around again.
2015 Rules (pick at least 4 that challenge you):
1. Include fruits or veggies at every meal
2. Drink half your weight in ounces of water daily
3. Consume less than 40 grams of sugar (all sources)/day
4. Sleep 7+ hours/night
5. Exercise 60 minutes/day (walking counts)
6. Start every day with 10 minutes of mindfulness
7. Restrict eating to a 12 hour window (especially helpful for weight loss)
8. Don't eat in front of the TV, your computer, while reading or in the car
Rules explained:
1. Fruits and veggies are great for us not just because of the crucial vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants they provide, but because of their fiber content. In a perfect world, you should consume about 12 (1/2 cup) servings/day. They help keep your digestive system running smoothly. If you're getting enough, your bowl movements should resemble fluffy floaters, not stinky sinkers.
2. Most of us are chronically, mildly dehydrated. This affects everything you do. It affects your energy level, your sleep, your memory and your mood. Slight dehydration is also linked to colon, breast and bladder cancer. When well hydrated your urine will be almost clear (some medications also affect color). You can add a little liquid stevia to your water for flavor or even add a little fruit juice.
3. In the 1700s, the average person consumed about 5 grams of sugar/day. By the 1800s that jumped to 22 grams/day. Now, we consume (conservatively) over 124 grams/day, much of it hidden in processed food. For example: just one 12 oz can of coke has 39 grams of sugar…a 16 oz bottle has 62 grams! Constant over-consumption of sugar leads to high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity so try to stay under 40 grams/day and you'll be doing your health a huge favor. Read more at Mercola.com
4. There are a few people out there suggesting you really don't need as much sleep as you think you do. They're wrong. The research on this topic is thorough. If you cheat sleep you cheat your health. We can handle short-term deprivation but in the long-run, you need 7+ hours a day to function at your best. Some of the consequences of sleep deprivation include: Heart failure, stroke, obesity, depression, ADD, and accidents.
5. Sitting is the new smoking. We are becoming increasingly sedentary because of technology. There are so many distractions (including social media, 200+ channels on your television, games & apps) that keep us firmly on our butts. However, we're designed to be in motion…we need to be in motion so buy a fitbit or some other devise that measures your steps and try to get at least 10,000/day. The biggest consequence of inactivity is muscle loss. You lose the muscles you don't use so unless you plan to spend the final years of your life confined to a wheelchair…get moving!! If you really want to watch TV, think about doing it on a treadmill. Most health clubs have treadmills with TV's attached these days or invest in a bike trainer and ride while catching up on your favorite series.
6. Starting the day with 10 minutes of mindfulness is a relatively new activity for me and one I wish I started a long time ago. I get up and go downstairs and sit on my yoga mat and just breathe slow and deep for about 5 minutes feeling grateful for my life. Then I spend the next 5 minutes centering the day. I think about the things that are priorities and commit to them and then visualize my best self. This is an easy thing to do and far more powerful than you might think. Why not commit to it for the next 4 weeks?
7. Choosing to eat all meals and snacks within a 12 hour window is the short-cut to maintaining a healthy weight. As an added benefit, the 12 hours of rest you give your digestive system every night has numerous health benefits. If you combine this habit with portion control and eating those fruits and veggies, the pounds will roll off.
8. Not multi-tasking while I eat is by far my biggest challenge. I have a very bad habit of snacking while I drive. I've also been known to eat in front of the TV and even while working in the office. Ugh! This is a mindless behavior that easily gets out of hand. If snacking is part of reading, homework, typing or relaxing, you'll consume far more calories than you realize. If this sounds like you, it's time to break this habit for good.
Happiness and confidence are, in part, the result of creating habits that support the person you want to be. Don't settle for a mediocre you because the better you are, the more you have to share with the world…or as my philosophical son likes to say, "You can't volunteer at the hospital if you need one of the beds."


text: Our guards are available for all makes and sizes of popular excavators. We offer fixed installation, as in the photo, or bolted for clients who need quick access to the caterpillar rollers. These guards are ideal for excavators used in a pit or those used in the making of forest roads.


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In Cable Franchise Deal, New York City Snatches Up Commitments to High-Speed Internet
BY Nick Judd | Wednesday, August 10 2011
New York City on Wednesday announced a deal with Time Warner Cable and Cablevision over their cable franchises that will bring greater broadband Internet access into low-income communities and commercial districts around the city. But if you live in New York and are reading this, you may care more about part of the deal that requires the cable companies to commit to a limited time window for appointments and for answering calls to customer service.
The deal approved today grants Time Warner Cable and Cablevision each a franchise to provide cable television service in exchange for those concessions and a handful of others, which the city pegs at an estimated value of $60 million. These include a $10 million investment in wi-fi service in about 30 parks and public spaces, more money for public access cable systems, and a $1.5 million commitment from Time Warner to support the NYC Media Lab, a public-private partnership to conduct new media research. The city's own institutional fiber network will also get a $20 million infusion. Each provider will pay the city five percent of its revenues from cable service.
As researchers in the field of civic life and the civic health of cities increasingly turn their attention towards digital literacy, broadband is becoming more and more important. High-speed Internet means making visits to YouTube, or the Open Learning Initiative, or that live feed of a City Council meeting, is less of a chore. It means that citizens can create content rather than just consume it, which some researchers believe will become key to political participation going forward. But the United States has fewer broadband connections per 100 residents than Canada and many European countries — the U.S. ranks 15th in a study on the subject by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
In a statement released today by the city's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, city officials announced that Gotham's cable providers had promised to work with local non-profits to set up 40 centers around the city where residents could access high-speed Internet. In a follow-up email, DoITT spokesman Nicholas Sbordone said libraries will get Cablevision service that offers 101 Mbps download speed at 15 Mbps upload. The city previously announced a deal with AT&T to bring wi-fi to 20 other New York City parks.
Internet service providers are stepping up promises around high-speed Internet to underserved communities around the country. In order to gain approval for a merger in January, for example, Comcast and NBC Universal agreed to make high-speed Internet access to 2.5 million low-income households for less than $10 per month, as well as affordable computer equipment and digital literacy opportunities. Comcast recently launched that initiative in Chicago, Ill., Miami, Fla., and Atlanta, Ga., among other cities, under the name Internet Essentials.
In a press release, the city highlighted a provision of its deal that allows the city to renegotiate with cable providers if Internet access rather than cable service begins to account for a greater proportion of the providers' profits. Were that to happen, the city's cut — based on cable revenues — would start to decline.
The deal also requires cable companies to commit to a four-hour window for service calls, answer calls within 30 seconds and commit to resolving service outages within a set time period. In the press release, the city said this deal was based on the 2008 franchise it issued Verizon to provide its FiOS service throughout New York City.


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Ambassador Team
We are always looking for talented individuals to join our awesome team of Ambassadors (ahem, a fancy name for volunteer!). Ambassadors help run the Venture Café Thursday Gathering, the largest weekly convening of innovators in Miami, welcoming attendees, upholding our Community Credo, enhancing our innovation space, and serving up social lubricants (fancy word for beer, wine, and mocktails!).
Thursday Gatherings & #VCMTakeover's don't just happen on their own. Besides the Venture Café Miami staff, a team of eight to twelve volunteers help produce the magic. If you like telling the story through the creation of digital content, or greeting people as they visit, or serving up a drink to a thirsty innovator, we want to talk to you. Here are some brief descriptions of our ambassador roles.
Ambassadors have the opportunity to:
Our bar crew serve beer and wine to gathering attendees. The job is to maintain a safe drinking environment (only 3 beers per guest- keep track!), checking for nametags and tag stamps before serving guests, and helping to set up and/or keep up the bar area. Shifts range from 1 hour – 2.5 hours.
Our hosts welcome all guests at the check in tables, engage with newcomers to help them orient themselves, help troubleshoot kiosk & nametag printer issues, and check IDs & stamp nametags of people over 21. Shifts are 1.5 hours.
Our photographers & videographers snap photos of breakout sessions and general capturing of the atmosphere, they also try to get shots of people engaging in conversations as well as posed pictures. We ask that the photos be uploaded to Venture Cafe's google drive by the following Monday, so we can upload them to the Venture Cafe Facebook page. Shifts are 2.5 hours.
Check out our Volunteer Guide to get acquainted with the Ambassador role and understand our philosophy. We're grateful for your interest and can't wait to get you plugged in. Complete our Ambassador Interest Form today, and we'll get in touch!
Phil BrasorMEET PHIL!
Matteo CappellettiMEET MATTEO!
Evens St. LouisMEET EVENS!


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After 3794BC on the Korean Peninsula. Kairos, life 23: Kim
"Hey! Who turned out the lights?" Boston called out into the dark and against the roaring sound of the sea breaking on the rocks.
"Over here," Roland's voice rang out. He could make himself heard against the thunder of wind and waves.
"Glad it is not raining," Lincoln said as he and Lockhart came up. Lincoln retrieved his lantern from his pack.
"Can't hardly tell from the sea spray," Lockhart responded and added, "Where's the Gott-Druk?" He went for his own lantern.
"Here," Katie shouted and a moment later she appeared, holding tight to the reigns of the Gott-Druk's horse. Elder Stow looked as seasick as a man caught in a boat in the storm, but he held tight to the saddle horn and tried to grip with his legs as instructed. "I caught him just before his panicked horse dove into the drink."
"Lucky for him," Lincoln said.
"Lucky for Decker's horse," Lockhart offered the alternate view.
"We can't stay here," Boston shouted as she coaxed her horse up the rocks from the other side.
"Inland?" Roland decided but looked at Lockhart for confirmation.
"But keep to the shore?" Lockhart suggested and in turn looked at Boston. She checked the amulet, pointed up the shoreline and it was settled.
Katie handed the reins for Decker's horse back to Lincoln and he took up his usual place in the center, the Gott-Druk beside or behind him. Boston, with her lantern lit, traveled out front with Roland. Lockhart and Katie with their lanterns brought up the rear. Lockhart kept watch on the Gott-Druk. Katie kept looking back as if she could sense something following them in the dark.
"I don't like this," Katie said at last. "We need to find shelter for the night."
"Working on that," Roland heard with his elf ears and made his voice heard to the back of the troop. Shortly, his elf eyes spotted a cave in the hillside above sea level. It was not the best accommodations, not the least because there was no wood around to build a fire, something they all wanted, but it was big enough to get the horses away from the sounds of the storm, and it was shelter in case it did decide to start raining.
Elder Stow got off his horse and fell to kiss the dirt and rocks. He bowed and chanted for a good ten minutes before he collapsed and laid out flat. They left him alone. They rode hard all day in Cophu's time and came through the time gate to this forsaken place. They all remembered when they first started to ride, how painful it was. They were improved now, or at least toughened up, but poor Elder Stow had to be rubbed raw.
Lincoln went first to the back wall to make sure the cave did not continue off into the dark. He was glad to see it did not. He did not want his sleep interrupted by some troll or worse. He just got a comfortable seat in the light and pulled out the database for some reading when Roland came from the back of the cave.
"No hidden dwarf or ogre doors I could find," he said. "Of course, goblins can be clever so we may never know."
"Thanks," Lincoln said and he tried to concentrate on his reading. It helped to read it out loud. "Kim is the Kairos we are looking for."
"Kim?" Lockhart sat by the entrance to put Katie between him and Lincoln. Elder Stow stayed on Lincoln's other side next to the elf whom he kept looking at with big eyes.
"That's it. Kim is the only name. It says he married the sun, whatever that means."
"Maybe he was a bright fellow," Lockhart suggested. Only Katie nudged his arm.
"I have some fresh water in my canteen. At least we can make some bread out of these crackers," she said.
"Hardtack," Lockhart called it.
"Good elf bread," Roland defended his people. "It will sustain you when nothing else will."
Lincoln leaned back into a rock. "This is either Korea or Japan, depending on the time."
"Korea," Lockhart said with enough certainty to get a few stares. "I can smell the kimchi."
"Not kimchi," Boston countered. "I've had kimchi. This smells more like a compost heap."
"Chinese food?" Lincoln made a joke.
Elder Stow finally touched the elf. "You are a strange tribe." He turned to Lockhart. "May I have my sonic device?"
Lockhart looked at Katie. They spoke without speaking before Lockhart reached into the bag and pulled out three suspects. Elder Stow pointed and tried to smile when Lockhart handed it over. The Gott-Druk stood and lifted a stone far bigger than any of the humans could lift. He set it square in their midst so they sat around it. Then he adjusted the device and pointed it at the rock. In a short time, the rock began to glow. A minute longer and it got positively hot.
"Warm bread is better than cold," Boston said, and Katie put the water on to boil. Elder Stow handed back the sonic device. Lockhart looked squarely at the Gott-Druk.
"This could be used as a weapon, couldn't it?"
"Easily," the Gott-Druk looked away. "But I am much too exhausted to argue."
"Argue?" Katie asked.
"In Gott-Druk, even fighting is in familial terms. Argue means fight."
"What is that smell!" Roland looked like he could hardly take it.
"Rotting seaweed?" Boston suggested.
"I've been wondering," Elder Stow said. "It is making me hungry."
Katie screamed, and when Lincoln saw he screamed too. Vines were creeping into the cave from the sea, not all that fast until they touched Katie's ankle. They whipped around her leg like a constricting snake and gave a great tug to drag her out to sea. Katie had her knife out and cut herself free almost before the others could react. When the vine snapped they heard a wail from the water and the dark that chilled them all.
"The horses!" Lincoln yelled. They were prepared to panic. He and Boston got in their way and calmed them as well as they could while Lockhart drew his knife and Roland pulled out his sword. Two more creeping vines were cut and got the same chilling sound from the deep. Yet for every vine they cut, two seemed to take its place.
"A Kraken." Roland yelled between strikes. "But they stay in the deep. It takes a week of stormy darkness to tempt them to the surface. The sun is death to them."
Elder Stow watched, until Roland mentioned the sun. Then he stood. "My sonic device."
Lockhart still had it in his other hand and gave it to the Gott-Druk without hesitation. He was otherwise busy. The Gott-Druk took it and turned it on the vines. They quickly burst into flame, full of sea water or not. The sound that got from the Kraken was more like pain rather than shock. Then he turned it to the sea straight out from the cave and turned the volume all the way up. Roland held his ears, opened his mouth in a scream, but that scream was overwhelmed by the scream from the creature. They saw a streak of fire rise from the surface of the sea to several hundred feet in the air. That quickly shrank as the kraken submerged. The vines were all withdrawn and Elder Stow stopped firing.
"Now I will sleep," the Elder said, and he lay where he was beside the hot rock and closed his eyes.
Boston and Lincoln came back. Lincoln had his foot stepped on by one of the horses, but nothing was broken. "Katie and I first watch," Lockhart said. "Lincoln, you can overlap with me and Roland. Roland and Boston third watch. Get some sleep."
"What about the sonic device?" Lincoln asked.
"Leave it with the Elder for now, and pray we don't need it again."
Avalon 2.3: In the Dark … Next Time


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E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo 200ml
In stock
In stock
E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo gently cleanses and helps to reduce discomfort due to dry scalp.
E45 the dry skin experts have developed a shampoo especially formulated with a unique combination of ingredients to provide effective relief and gently cleansing for dry, itchy, flaky scalps while protecting your hair to give it life, body and shine
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- Gentle, effective shampoo for dry scalps.
- Contains Pro Vitamin B5.
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- Available in 200ml.
How To Use
- Apply to wet hair and massage into the scalp, rinse, repeat as necessary.
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- This product is also suitable for use on more serious very dry, itchy skin and scalp conditions.


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Building modern societies
Alongside its vital role in electricity generation, coal is crucial for building modern infrastructure such as transport systems and high-rise buildings, supporting urbanisation and global economic development.
Alongside its vital role in electricity generation, coal is crucial for building modern infrastructure such as transport systems and high-rise buildings, supporting urbanisation and global economic development.
Coal has a significant role to play in building modern and sustainable societies. It is an essential resource for meeting the challenges facing the modern world. It plays a major role in delivering electricity across the globe, is fundamental in the creation of steel and concrete, and provides energy for transportation. Coal mining is also critical contributor to many economies, especially in developing nations where mining's contributions enable them to grow stronger and tackle the dual challenges of poverty and development.
Economic development involves the increased use of highly energy intensive materials, such as steel, cement, glass and aluminium. These materials are necessary for the construction and development of transport, energy, housing and water management infrastructure. Coal is the most widely used source of energy in energy-intensive industries and is important in the development of modern infrastructure in growing economies.
Access to energy is critical to sustainable development - to building stronger communities with hospitals and schools. It supports business and industry so that they can deliver sustainable employment and economic growth. Ensuring access to electricity and supporting economic growth is, in turn, essential to support human development. Without this, modern society cannot develop or function effectively.
Investing in sustainable and resilient infrastructure...is a pre-requisite for achieving many of our goals."
UN Addis Ababa Action Agenda 2015
Steel is an essential material for modern life. Manufacturing steel delivers the goods and services that our societies need – healthcare, telecommunications, improved agricultural practices, better transport networks, clean water and access to reliable and affordable energy. It is fundamental to a more sustainable world, helping to build lighter, more efficient vehicles, new highly efficient power stations and in the construction of smart electrical grids. Steel is a critical component in the construction of transport infrastructure and high energy efficiency residential housing and commercial buildings.
Coking coal is an essential element in blast furnace steel production, making up 70% of global steel production (the remainder is produced from electric arc furnaces using scrap steel and a tiny share through open hearth ). World crude steel production was 1.8 billion tonnes in 2018.
Steel also has a significant role in delivering renewable energy; each wind turbine requires 260 tonnes of steel made from 170 tonnes of coking coal and 300 tonnes of iron ore.
Cement is the key ingredient in the production of concrete, an essential building material for society's infrastructure around the world, second only to water in total volumes consumed annually. Cement is essential for building houses, bridges, roads, dams, harbours and airports.
Coal is used as an energy source in cement production to melt raw materials - limestone, silica, iron oxide and alumina. Kilns burn coal in the form of powder and consume around 200g of coal to produce one tonne of cement.
Coal is a key energy fuel in the production of aluminium – a non-ferrous metal known for its lightweight properties and widely used in cars, trains and airplanes to reduce the weight of these vehicles and their energy consumption. In fact, new cars in Europe use, on average, 132 kg of aluminium per car. Coal accounts for over 50% of the energy used to produce aluminium.
Energy intensive materials such as steel, cement and lime are used to build railroads, tunnels, bridges and roads. Coal, because of its relative affordability, is the most widely used source of energy in the manufacturing process of these materials.
Source: International Aluminium Institute, Primary Aluminium Smelting Power Consumption, 2017


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Daniel 6
King James Version (KJV)
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
I Am Being "Set Up"
I believe the reason for this is because I stood up for a Mother and Daughter who were murdered by our private utility company out here in California (Pacific Gas and Electric), Mrs. Jacqualine and Janessa Greig. They were blown up in the 2010 San Bruno PG&E natural gas pipeline explosion.
Mrs. Greig was a natural gas regulator for the CPUC and had cost PG&E three billion dollars in uneccesary rate hikes that consumers were going to be gouged out of. Since the PG&E natural gas explosion happened directly under her San Bruno home, my amazing powers of deduction concluded that PG&E murdered her.
Consequently, I filed murder charges with the San Bruno Police Department. I then attended the Subcommittee On Gas And Electric Infrastructure Safety Chaired by California State Senator Jerry Hill. When I spoke during the public comments session, I asked the Subcommittee members how they were going to assure PG&E would be held accountable for murder and that I had filed murder charges.
Senator Jerry Hill only responded after I had left the podium, that the statute of limitation for prosecuting PG&E had expired. I then shouted from the audience "there is no statute of limitation for murder, there is no statute of limitation for murder!" Some member of the mainsream "presstitute" media then told me to "shut up".
You can read all about it on my blog devoted to the deceased Mrs. Greig and her daughter Janessa here;
Justice for Jacqueline and Janessa Greig
I have also spoke at the San Francisco Human Services Commission, The San Francisco Board Of Supervisors, Filed criminal grant fraud charges with the San Francisco Police Department, Obtained an San Francisco Department of Building Inspection Order Of Abatement upon my hotel (The All Star Hotel), spoken to SF Chronicle reporter Kale Williams who wrote an article in SF Gate about my dilapidated hotel, filed a complaint with San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera about the hote and, plan to take my criminal charges to the San Francisco District Attorney's office.
I have also attended the federal criminal opening proceedings of the Officers who violated the Civil Rights of SRO Hotel (Single Resident Occupancy) residents here in San Francisco back in the same year, 2010. Current Public Defender Jeff Adachi released video of their crimes. My presence in the courtroom and request of the federal prosecutor to give testimony, promted the officer's attorney to ask for a protective order.
There are many more things that have happened, including the discovery that I have been the victim of Government Sanction Gangstalking for over three decades (I've filed police complaints), I even discovered that most of my neighbors were participating in my gangstalking, for the compensation of money, drugs & legal favors, "get out of jail free cards" if they ever get arrested (they do all kinds of crime but never get arrested)..
I have done nothing except to question politicians about their wrongdoings, confront public utilites for their murders, confront corrupt officers for their crimes and the operators of my hotel, The Tenderloin Housing Clinic run by Randy Shaw.
Gee, do you think someone might want me discredited, incarcerated and killed while in there or disapeared?
This is just one horrible tactic they use to "set up", frame and discredit activists (but the most dispicable).
Click image or text to go to article below.
ALERT!!!: New virus that may be planting child porn to set up people as pedophiles
Justice for Jacqueline and Janessa Greig
My Youtube channel; Eldon Brown
My main blog, The All Star Activist
https://allstaractivist.com/ and http://slumhotel.com/
Feds indict SFPD officers for allegedly stealing from the poor (SFBG)


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2135 E Avenida Del Valle Ct, Gilbert, AZ 85298
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Pope Seeks Greater Freedom for Church in Cuba
Pope Benedict XVI, celebrating a morning Mass in the heart of revolutionary Cuba, called for a greater role for the Roman Catholic Church on the island nation and urged both Cuba and its enemies to change. Nicholas Casey has details on The News Hub from Havana. Photo: AP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... it was so nice to handicap the likely outcomes but ... it's called Lansing Cuba and a surprise guest shows up we have a live report now with Nicholas Casey using a thank you but ... I'm making the on the phone with us that tell tell us what's been going on ... given that this is the second time only for the Pope's ever come to Cuba ... but the big deal and it also comes at a time or ... two but does all that self more up to the Catholic Church on the back to ... the Cuban he doesn't have a lot of money right now ... it depends heavily on ... the beach and that its waiver ... wire that you and you can actually survive ... the pollution in this year's leaders the Catholic Church ... so much the reason the talking come is to be able to talk with the government ... about what role the church played ... in Cuba I would wonder what my planes that have laughed in the country in the ... world ... I in your skull ... so what's the answer ... what quality yesterday that the kids don't do and discussions you but that that a lot of changes which it can import ... there was a time where Fidel Castro who can sell ... to adjust with schools ... nationalized all church property including this will be good on you ... now because that many of the tube in school ... I that that they hear tales ... of children going to school in the seventeen euro teacher was teaching them ... that the schools are struggling to that power train ... to when you're actually got them both up by opening school ... but by trading futures and out there to work ... on the state which it especially in charge of beating people ... like Richard Whitby to Open soup kitchen ... it would be given to deal ... with them sell provided ... optimistic that the wall was but what was a big topic ... of about where I've basically Pope ... Benedict that he did that I'd I broke up throw ... also after that he thought ... the church in to have a bigger and bigger role ... in Cuban lie ... in actually on the other day out and do well they got ... it ... didn't hurt sales after holiday ... in the calendar because with the top of that ... you're on the ground there in the band ... we see some pictures it's a pretty striking images ... what's your take on the mood in the streets the perception of the probe ... and from the political leadership there ... in Cuba ... what what ... what did you think about it that way it felt like a white cap the countries where ... the wildlife in countries where you have large populations of Catholics ... after all the ... good of the revolution ... targeted traffic into but one thing that you're you're in the street and ... people coming toward Catholic to the map of the open though ... curiosity but what about ... Cuban television ... an informational shows to to tell people what if Greece does and ... the multiple ... so ... um other people that you're in ... what the church is all about to begin with ... which is something you don't see a bottom in the last of ... the week up by the Catholic now we understand that Fidel Castro showed up but to make the top tells about that ... if so Fidel Castro who's who's really right now no one ever explained what is the catch was when he gets up our positioning in two thousand and eight to Cuba in two thousand and six when ... with this post Beatrice DigiTimes ... he added he did meet the Pope today ... and Dom I ... The Apple spokesman Father Lombardi stood apart from ... where he talked about ... that they have a nice conversation ... and that what was that political ... um ... help but think the Pope like God ... he wanted to have a victory for ... the drop of a second ... yet if I did in the States um so we'll see where that goes with them the relationship between Fidel ... and the church has been interesting but because remember ... the dough was excommunicated ... but the Pope years ago ... go up the beget has always been the meeting when you speak to the pastoral ... meaning the Pope was making a mistake writes ... but all why didn't the infidel and and well liked


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For years, video content providers whose talent and ideas exceeded their budgets have had to settle for less-than-optimum production values when working outside the studio. That changed with the introduction of portable video switchers capable of producing video that previously required a truck or a room full of equipment.
A typical large mobile production truck usually houses a technical director operating the switcher, someone else to operate recording equipment, an audio mixer, a graphics operator and outside the truck are likely camera operators. The latest switchers are doing the same amount of work with one or two users. In addition, those content providers have come to rely on portable switchers for live broadcasting and Web streaming, often simultaneously. That has made portable switchers genuine technological marvels.
Broadcast Pix says its Slate Portable Fluent-View touch screen monitor is the most powerful heads-up display in the industry, equipped with the best control surface for combining cameras, clips and graphics.
The Slate's switcher is HD/SD with eight inputs and five outputs, and there are 14 internal and key inputs for clips and graphics. The unit's graphics system is integrated with Harris Inscriber CG, workflow software, and format and aspect conversion for 1080i, 720p, SD and analog. In addition, Fluent Watch-Folders enable clips and graphics to be imported from popular editing and graphics systems, and its dual-channel clip store can hold up to 200 hours of QuickTime, H.264 and ProRes HD and SD clips with audio. The unit's macros combine switcher moves and specific files for powerful effects, while its "Multi-View" capabilities also produce clips and graphics that enable a single operator to create live video.
Datavideo's HS-2000 is an all-in-one mobile studio designed to broadcast live events. It not only provides the features content providers have come to expect from a portable production unit, but is also a wired intercom and tally system with belt packs and headsets.
Broadcast Pix's Slate Portable Fluent-View
Datavideo's HS-2000
Newtek Inc.'s Tricaster 300
The HS-2000—which is designed for high-definition (HD) cameras only—uses the Digital Video SE-2000 video and audio switcher, with five channels, 10 bit, 1080i or 720p and HD-serial digital interface. The unit's 17-inch monitor displays multiviews that include each source, picture-in-picture preview, preview and program, and it has 14 prestored logos, a digital clock display, five operator set-up memories and title overlay. A built-in audio mixer allows up to four channels of microphone or line-level audio inputs.
Newtek Inc. introduced the tabletop-production concept about 20 years ago with its Video Toaster. The Tricaster series has improved upon that product, which was originally a card that ran in a Commodore Amiga computer.
Newtek says a single user or a small team can operate the Tricaster 300 and deliver networkquality video. The Tricaster 300 can simultaneously broadcast—or Web stream—live programs or project images or record full HD programming. It features an end-to-end HD 1080i video pipeline, including effects and virtual sets. It has three simultaneous external video inputs but is capable of simulating six live cameras from three actual sources. It has an inboard digital disk recorder (DDR) to play back pre-recorded clips, and there is a capacity for unlimited Ethernet networked sources or Skype.
Switching can be accomplished with a computer keyboard, but Newtek offers an optional hardwarebased control panel called LiveControl featuring a fader bar, buttons and potentiometers.
Also featured are three digital media players for video clips, graphics and titles, and an input for sharing computer screens and displays from wireless iOS devices. Add five M/E-style virtual inputs to stage dozens of live virtual sets, or create custom picture effects and presets.
The Tricaster provides "all the bells and whistles" users need, said Philip Nelson, Newtek's senior vice president of artist and media relations. Through the Tricaster, Newtek is providing a solution that allows users "to adapt with the changing landscape," he said. Among Tricaster users is the Department of Homeland Security, according to Nelson. "DHS conducts a number of stakeholder conferences, but many municipalities don't have the budget to send staff to attend them," he said. Therefore, DHS is using the Tricaster to produce streaming video and audio that allows participation from home or office. Participation is possible through online chat. "We're at that point where streaming video is no longer a black art," he said. "It is no longer a novelty and is part of the strategy."
Roland Systems Group's VR-3 is among the smallest units offering an array of production features. At just under a foot long, eight inches wide and three inches thick, the VR-3 features a touch screen for video viewing or easy access to menu items, and it can handle three composite video sources including keying, split screen and picture-in-picture. It also features four mono and two stereo mixable audio channels, a built-in stereo microphone for mixing in ambient sound, as well as an array of audio effects as well. The VR-3 operates under its own power supply or with external battery options.
RUSHWORKS, based in Flower Mound, Texas, offers the REMO II Remote Production System that integrates switching, graphics, encoding and streaming with pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) camera control. That combination allows a single operator to produce a broadcast quality multi-camera show.
"Remote switching requirements using any system are pretty basic," says Rush Beesley, founder and CEO of RUSHWORKS. The REMO II's "integrated touch screen PTZ control is the point of difference that enhances return on investment by eliminating labor costs."
The REMO II—in both standard and high-definition (SD HD)—is configured in a rugged, carry-on sized case with built-in 17-inch touch screen and drop-down keyboard with touchpad. It is available with four or eight video inputs, making available any combination of PTZ and manned cameras based on your production requirements.
There are nine user presets for each camera, as well as presets linked to specified lower-third graphics. The new "Producer" interface enables users to create a screen graphic that simulates a production environment, complete with picture icons of people, musical instruments (called "musicons") and other objects that the user touches to select. The Hot Shot feature automatically takes the shot when an object is selected. The "DoubleTake" feature supports unlimited presets covered by two PTZ cameras with cloned preset data.
Roland Systems Group's VR-3
RUSHWORKS.tv's REMO II
Sony's Anycast Station AWSG500HD
REMO II supports typical video transitions including dissolves, wipes, split-screen, 2D or 3D picture-inpicture and chroma key. It also supports multi-format encoding to its mirrored hard drives, and simultaneous Internet streaming. Adobe Premiere and Photoshop Elements are included for graphics creation and post-production editing.
"It's a one-man-band production system that saves people a lot of money because they don't have to hire crews, cameramen and trucks to produce a high-quality show," Beesley said. The design and operational features make REMO II "a versatile and more cost-effective solution for the customer," he added.
The Sony Anycast Station (AWS-G500HD) also is designed to facilitate the production of live events by operators with little or no technical knowledge, the company says.
The AWS-G500HD is HD-only but retains the original multifunction aspects of the previous standard- definition (SD) version. The unit combines the capability of a six-input video switcher and six-stereo channel audio mixer with a special effects generator and wide-aspect liquid crystal display (LCD) screen for graphical user interface (GUI) control. It features a preview/program monitor control of PTZ cameras, red, green, blue (RGB) connection for PC and projector display and an encoder and Web server for delivering streaming media. The AWS-G500HD also offers a still store, character generator, scale converter and frame synchronizer.
The system is preconfigured with an HD analog component interface module (BKAW-560) and an HD-SDI interface module (BKAW-590). The late physicist and science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke wrote, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Some might say that today's portable switchers do not meet that exact definition, but they sure are impressive.


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The Southwest Corridor light-rail line is approaching a critical deadline amid mounting challenges that threaten to delay the state's most-expensive public works project.
The difficulty came into stark focus last week as cost estimates for the line rose yet again and an advisory panel of community leaders sidestepped the most contentious problem: what to do about nearby freight train traffic.
"They didn't want to take a vote about freight," said Jennifer Munt, who co-chairs the panel. "That's because … they couldn't reach consensus on something like that."
The decision — or lack of one — underscores the rising tension over the LRT line between downtown Minneapolis and the southwest suburbs. Solving the freight dispute and design changes could raise the cost from $1.25 billion to as high as $1.82 billion. The Metropolitan Council, a regional agency overseeing the transit project, is expected to make a decision Aug. 28.
St. Louis Park doesn't want the freight routed through some of its neighborhoods, while Minneapolis doesn't want it running next to future LRT trains and recreational trails in cherished parkland in the Kenilworth corridor.
But in a hint of a potential compromise, Minneapolis city officials are focusing increasingly on plans for hiding the LRT in tunnels beneath the freight and trails in the corridor. A deep tunnel would add up to $420 million to the transit price tag, yet appease many Minneapolis and St. Louis Park residents by getting either the freight or the LRT out of their sight.
Trouble is, that option is by far the most expensive fix.
"I don't really believe that the deep tunnel is a real option," said Minneapolis City Council Member Sandy Colvin Roy, chairwoman of the city's transportation committee. "Too expensive and it just seems technically risky."
A deep tunnel for the light-rail line would run for 1.4 miles from south of Lake Street to north of 21st Street. The LRT would be mostly 30 feet below the surface but would reach a depth of 50 feet to get under the channel between Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake.
A shorter, shallow tunnel has drawn special attention as a cheaper alternative, costing perhaps $250 million. Colvin Roy said she would consider it. "I need to see more of what's possible," she said.
Objections and fears
"The shallow tunnel is a fake option," said City Council Member Lisa Goodman, who represents the Kenilworth area and earlier voted against running LRT through the corridor even if the freight were relocated. "Absolutely opposed to it," she said of the shallow tunnel.
It would run nine-tenths of a mile. LRT trains would surface to go over the channel, a popular recreation area, and then head back into a tunnel on the other side. Goodman said the light rail would be above ground and adjacent to the freight traffic for too long a stretch.
"I'm more comfortable with a deep tunnel," she said.
Allowing the freight to remain in the Kenilworth corridor with LRT running below it in a tunnel would mark a change for the Minneapolis City Council, which earlier approved LRT for the corridor only if the freight were rerouted.
But Goodman and other city officials say they won't endorse a tunnel without guarantees that the Metropolitan Council won't later scrap the option and run the LRT above ground next to the freight tracks and recreation trails. They point to the agency abandoning plans for a tunnel on the Central Corridor light-rail line at the University of Minnesota after it became too costly.
"There's interest in a tunnel option," said City Council Member Robert Lilligren, who represents Minneapolis on regional transportation panels. "What is the guarantee?"
Lilligren said the city has expressed those concerns to Met Council staff members. "I think there will be ongoing negotiations," he said.
In St. Louis Park, city officials seem unmoved by a Met Council offer to drop a planned reroute of freight through its high school football stadium and instead route it near the stadium at a cost of up to $290 million.
"I can't say that's really changed our City Council's official position on this," said City Manager Tom Harmening, noting that St. Louis Park insists that keeping the freight in Minneapolis is preferable to any reroute.
Transportation maze
A web of community and business groups and government agencies will take up the freight dispute in the coming weeks, although not always decisively.
The Southwest LRT Community Advisory Committee has dozens of members and was co-chaired by Munt, who also is a Metropolitan Council member. It was the panel that mulled the freight issue Thursday night in St. Louis Park in a joint meeting with another Southwest LRT panel, the Business Advisory Committee.
St. Louis Park representatives were sometimes at odds with others on the panel over freight plans. A woman reminded everyone that they would act on consensus and not vote. A man wondered how they could establish a consensus without voting. Someone wrote major concerns on an easel for conveying later to other groups.
The freight issue will be taken up early next month by the Southwest LRT Corridor Management Committee, composed of mayors of Southwest Corridor cities, some Hennepin County commissioners and other officials.
Edina Mayor Jim Hovland said he expects the management committee to vote on whether to recommend that the Metropolitan Council keep the freight in Minneapolis or relocate it to St. Louis Park.
"I can't imagine that any suburban mayor is going to recommend relocation," Hovland said.