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Hidden Secrets
It is now week 13 of the viral outbreak. The undead have outweighed the civilian population and Martial Law has failed in the attempt to take over all urban areas. There is no help coming; The Police and Military have been compromised. We can only save ourselves. The only source of communication is the broadcast by the renegade commander known as The Beacon. We follow his directions for our survival. Any survivors are now renegades.
You must band together as a team! Meet at the most infested sector, BattleField Apocalypse.
If you succeed in destroying these walkers in each sector; you will not only be able to survive any zombie attack, but obtain the cure, get the antidote to the infected and kick some Zombie ASS!
If you're out there, and want to survive the virus outbreak, meet The Beacon at BATTLEFIELD APOCALYPSE!
Discovery Missions
The Gear
Tel: 505-76 HAUNT
Contact Us
Video graphics Created by E3 Animation
Prepare your self for the Most INTENSE ZOMBIE Attraction!
BattleFiled Apocalypse


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What to do if You've Lost Your Pet
In this day of social media your best resource is to get pictures of your pet and your contact information online ASAP. This means facebook, craigslist, etc. Lost Dogs of Wisconsin and Lost Cats of Wisconsin are the best places to start. Feel free to post pictures to our facebook page, too. Then…
Lost Your Pet?
Here are some basic steps to take:
Found A Pet?

subset: commoncrawl


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Announce and Discuss the Latest Theme and Extension Releases.
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Seeing as the Themes will not be ported to the latest versions, this is getting locked.
It's been a privilege & joy to use the Green Cats theme.
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Dubliner Cheese
|Country of origin
|Source of milk
|Aging time
|12 months to two years
Dubliner is a sweet, granular cheese aged over a year and manufactured by Carbery, located in County Cork, Republic of Ireland. Since 1996, it has been marketed internationally by Ornua (formerly the Irish Dairy Board) under the Kerrygold label.[1] The cheese is named after the city of Dublin, although it is made in Cork.
The cheese aims to combine the sharpness of mature cheddar and the buttery sweetness of Parmigiano.[2] Dubliner cheese may contain natural calcium lactate cheese crystals, which appear as small white pieces.
John Lucey created a cheese called "Araglen" in 1990; his goal was to produce an alternative to Cheddar cheese that could be manufactured "using (mostly) existing Cheddar equipment, for sale in Europe."[3] A year later, Carbery Milk Products signed an agreement to commercialize Araglen.[3] Commercial production began in 1994; five years later, it was introduced to the United States, and by 2011, more than 40,000 tonnes (44,000 tons) had been produced for sale in multiple markets.[3]
- ^ "Dubliner". Carbery. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- ^ Blume, Aimee (March 13, 2013). "Dubliner and Dubliner with Stout". Cheese of the Week. Scripps Interactive Newspaper Group. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- ^ a b c Lucey, John (September 2011). "Successful Cheese Diversification Examples: Dubliner Cheese and The Growth of Wisconsin Specialty Cheese" (PDF). Cheese Symposium Proceedings & Presentations. Teagasc. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
|This cheese-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
|This Ireland-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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Saturday evening he died in a base jumping accident at Yosemite National Park. He and a fellow jumper were found dead below Taft Point, a 7,500 foot cliff overlooking the park's famous valley. Their parachutes were never deployed.So, 2 men died, with neither parachute deployed. Was that a game of chicken or some freak wind shear experience?
"I'm addicted to the heightened awareness I get when there's a death consequence," he told ESPN. "My vision is sharper, and I'm more sensitive to sounds, my sense of balance and the beauty all around me. A lot of my creativity comes from this nearly insane obsession. Something sparkles in my mind, and then nothing else in life matters."


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Our end unit, 3 level townhome at snowy Mountain Star. Southwest exposure for beautiful apres ski sun. Click on Photo to see more photos.
The kitchen features Granite Counters, Heated Slate Floors and Stainless Steel Appliances. Plus, it's stocked with dishes to feed 12, a Cuisinart, coffee maker, French coffee press, blender, mixer, coffee grinder, Cuisinart cookware, fondue pot and waffle iron. We also provide staples like paper napkins, olive and canola oils, sugar, flour, spices, and vinegar, so you don't have to buy those. If you'd like to have your groceries delivered before you arrive, let us know. We can help you arrange to have the refrigerator stocked so you can start relaxing immediately.
Cozy Living Room with Gas Fireplace. New flat-screen HD LED TV on the wall, Cable, Apple TV and lots of DVD's
View of Sproat Mountain, Rainbow Mtn and Whistler Valley from the deck. SW exposure for lovely apres sun.
Living Room features ten foot ceiling, stereo, cabinet with board games, gas fireplace, a TV with DVD player and DVD collection. The sofa pulls out to a comfortable queen bed.
Kids' bedroom with bunk beds, TV, DVD, VCR, Sony PS2 and Gamecube is stocked with kids' DVDs, tapes and games.
Top floor master Bedroom with King Bed, walk in closet, TV and DVD player, down comforter, and ensuite bath.
Map of The Benchlands. Mountain Star is just off the lower Cruiser run under the Wizard Express chairlift.
About Listing
Welcome to our peaceful end-unit townhouse located right on Blackcomb Mountain.
Ski or board in/out to the Lower Cruiser run and Wizard chairlift just 100 meters (yards) away. Or take a 5-minute ride on the free shuttle to reach the bases of both Mountains.
We offer 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on three floors including:
- Views of Whistler Village, Rainbow Mountain, the Tantalus Range, and Whistler Mountain
- Private hot tub bordering the forest
- Kids' room featuring bunk beds, TV, DVD, VCR, Sony PS2 and Nintendo GameCube
- High speed wireless internet connection at no charge
- Video games and DVD collection
- Heated slate floors
- Secure free underground parking
- Fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counters
- Gas fireplace
- Deck with gas barbecue
- Down comforters and choice of down or foam pillows
- Washer and dryer
- Sleds (and a place to use them)
- Kitchen staples
Make a Live, Instantly Confirmed Reservation.
Click BOOK NOW for Instant Booking on the top corner of this property page. We will follow-up personally within 24 hours.
Click CONTACT OWNER. We will respond within hours.
Thanks for visiting our web site and best wishes for a great vacation!
Great location
James from Cheung Sha Wan, Hong Kong
Date: Apr-08-2018 for a stay in Apr 2018
Spacious and quiet at Mountain Star!
Deirdre from Toronto, Canada
Date: Feb-23-2017 for a stay in Feb 2017
This unit is wonderfully spacious, well-kept and comfortable... in the lovely and peaceful Mountain Star resort. We love the Blackcomb side and this place is an easy 2-minute walk downhill to the ski-out trail to lower Cruiser (you pop out at roughly Pole 6 of Wizard Express chairlift) which takes you down to Blackcomb base and Wizard upload.
Tip: if you spend the day skiing Whistler side, take the Excalibur gondola from village to Base II, cut hard left through learning area and across Lower Cruiser and you will find yourself at the trail leading into the Coast hotel and Mountain Star. As you are a fair bit up the mountain, the shuttle is an easy way to get down to the village and back.
Very well-equipped unit - extra linens and towels, staples, fondue!, (could use some more glassware, however), books, DVDs, games, plenty of extras... and a nice private hot tub out back. Owner very responsive and offers excellent instructions. Very nice to deal with someone who skis, understands your needs, and knows the area! Tip: If arriving after dark, drive to end of the Mountain Star Lane to unload, walk up stairs on right and double back 4 doors to reach the unit.
Highly recommend this spot.View Full Review
Whistler ski trip
Erika from Portland, United States
Date: Mar-21-2016 for a stay in Mar 2016
We absolutely adored the condo. It was an easy walk (less than 5 minutes) to ski down the mountain, and I think it would have been shorter if there had been more snow. Thank you so much for opening up your home to us!View Full Review
Private Amenities
|24 HR Emergency Maintenance
|Basic Food Staples
|Cookbooks, spices, oil, flour, sugar, tea.
|Gas barbeque on the deck.
|On Whistler, British Columbia, local activities, and the Olympics.
|Cable TV
|In kids bedroom, master bedroom and living room.
|Coded Access
|Included, with the ability for guests to set up their own access code.
|Off living room with views north and west and a table and 4 chairs.
|DVD Library
|Many titles available.
|DVD Player
|One in living room, one in kids bedroom, one in master bedroom.
|Granite gas fireplace in living room.
|Fresh Linens
|Complete set of bath, table, kitchen and bed linens (with fitted sheets) for 8 guests. New linens provided every 7 days. Both down and foam pillows available.
|Large selection of board games and cards.
|Grocery Provisioning
|Offered for a small fee by local groceries. We can help to arrange access prior to your arrival.
|One in each bathroom.
|Hot Tub
|Very private 4-person hot tub that looks into forest.
|Internet Access
|Wireless DSL access.
|iPod or mp3 Connectivity
|To play on stereo.
|Iron and Ironing Board
|Laundry Facilities
|Washer and dryer with laundry soap provided.
|Parking - Free Guest Spots
|Secure underground garage or 4 undercover spots with 2 hour maximum.
|Parking - Free Private Parking
|One space reserved in secure underground garage.
|Patio Furniture
|Table and 4 chairs on the deck in the summer.
|Secure Ski and Bike Storage
|Ski/ Board/Golf Club locker is outside of front door with keycode access. Bike storage is in secure, underground garage.
|Combined CD and radio player in living room with Ipod dock.
|Three, one on each level, including one cordless with answering machine.
|3 cable TVs in living room, master bedroom and kids' bedroom.
|In kids' bedroom.
|Video Game Connectivity
|Nintendo Gamecube and PS2 in kids' bedroom.
|Video Games
|Collection for the kids.
|Collection for the kids.
Shared Amenities
|Guest Parking
|Secure underground, or 4 spaces available undercover with a 2 hour maximum.
|Resort Information
|Included with access package.
|Secure Reserved Parking
|Underground with reserved stall.
|Secure Ski and Bike Storage
|Ski/ Board/Golf Club locker is outside of front door with keycode access. Bike storage is in secure, underground garage.
|24 HR In-Resort Emergency Help
|Contact information is included in your check in package.
|Grocery Delivery
|Order groceries via the internet. Let us know and we'll give you a key code so your groceries are put away before you arrive.
Location , location, location!
Mountain Star is next to the Coast Hotel, the highest location on Blackcomb Mountain.
We are right on Blackcomb Mountain, ski in ski out to Wizard chair. We are a 10 minute walk to the Village or take the free shuttle bus.
We love parking our car and forgetting about it until we leave, many of our guests that fly in do not rent a car as you do not need one once you are here
|Blackcomb Mtn/Benchlands
|Mountain Star
We offer competitive rates by constantly comparing our rates with other similar caliber properties. All of our rates are in Canadian dollars for up to 8 adult guests. In order to book our property you must be willing to accept our policies as well as our posted rates and minimum stay requirements. All rates are subject to the 5% Goods & Services Tax (GST). We DO NOT charge the 2% municipal tax. There are NO additional charges for cleaning, parking or internet. We accept live instantly confirmed reservations 24/7 with secure online payment by Visa or MasterCard.
|Applicable Taxes
|PST of 8% applies,
MRDT of 3% applies,
GST of 5% applies
(taxes not included in the rates below)
|Service Fee
|This all-inclusive fee is charged by alluraDirect.com to ensure your trip is safe & secure. Save on fees when reserving with us - up to 50% less than the other rental websites! Services like trip support, dispute resolution, secure credit card payments, property verification, privacy protection and much more are provided. Rent and rest easy!
|Rates Calculation
Minimum night stay requirements are based on your arrival season only.
All prices are listed in Canadian funds
No rates are set up for this property at this time. Please contact Owner for more information
|Amount Required
|Due Date
|Payment Accepted
|Reservation Deposit
|25.00% of total
|Due at time of booking
|Online CreditCard via this website
|Balance of Payment
|Full remainder
|45 days prior to arrival
|Damage Deposit
|Balance of payment. Waived for Star Guests.
|Less than 45 days prior to arrival
|Full payment
|At time of booking
Star Guests (have Host Recommendations) don't pay damage deposits!
Suitable For:
|Adults - Min Age to Stay: 25
|25 years old to make the reservation. The person making the reservation must be staying.
|Babies, Kids & Teens
|We welcome kids and families.
|Celebrations & Special Events
|no grad/stag parties
|Non-Smokers Only
|Not allowed anywhere. Breach of this condition will result in a charge against your damage deposit.
|Travel Reseller Bookings - no Referral Fee offered
|We gratefully accept & invite travel re-seller, tour operator and 3rd party bookings. We do not pay a commission on the posted rate. Please invoice the Guest directly and independently to include your fee.
Not Suitable For:
|Graduation & Stag/Stagette Parties
|No Smoking Inside - Smoking Outside Permitted
|No smoking anywhere on the property
|No. Although we love animals, our son is highly allergic to them and we cannot risk residual pet dander. Breach of this condition will result in a charge against your damage deposit.
These policies are legally bining and require your acceptance to book. Please read them carefully, and contact us if you have any questions or concerns about them.
Reservation & Cancellation Policies
|Cancellations Made by Guests
|Payments are 75% refundable with 6 months notice. All other payments are non-refundable, except if booking can be replaced. Refunds or portions thereof will be refunded based on the number of nights rebooked and rebooked rate. We will charge a 20% cancellation fee on all refunds. Consider purchasing trip insurance at http://www.insuremytrip.com.
|Courtesy Hold Reservations
|We do not hold reservations without payment.
|Delayed Arrivals
|No refunds. We are not responsible for circumstances which result in delayed arrival.
|Delivery of Instructions and Access Information
|Detailed property information and instructions and your access code are sent upon receipt of full payment for your stay. If you do not receive this information, contact us immediately. Please make sure you have it before you leave home.
|Guest Account Termination
|The Owner or their Contact reserve the right to request permanent Guest account inactivation from this web sites technical administrators in the event of one or more of the following Guest actions: intentional property policy violation causing material damage or fines, Guest misrepresentation and/or fraud, intentionally defacing or damaging public or private property, breaking laws and bylaws, theft, public indecency, harassment, causing bodily or emotional harm & disturbing the peace after repetitive warnings. Guests will be notified by email of account termination. Guests may choose to appeal their account termination. Guests may be given the chance to reconcile with the Owner as a condition of preserving or reversing their account status. Account termination prevents the Guest from booking this or any other property that uses the same web site
|Ineligible Guests Reservation Reversal
|The Owner or their Contact reserves the right to cancel reservations made by, and refuse business to: Guests who do not meet the policies published in this property's Policies Table at the time of booking and past Guests known to have : intentionally violated rental property policies, damaged and/or defaced rental properties through intentionally destructive and/or negligent behavior, engaged in theft, broken local bylaws and laws, committed fraud or who misrepresented themselves, and Guests who have caused bodily or emotional harm to any third parties. Guests will be issued a refund by personal cheque. Refunds will be adjusted for any payment processing expenses
|Late Reservation Payments
|Failure to pay by due dates will result in automatic cancellation. Guests can re-book dates if they are still available.
|The Owner, their booking Contact and this web sites technical administrators agree to not sell, refer, rent or divulge to any third parties the names or personal information of their Guests without prior written consent from the Guests, except under force of law, or for law enforcement purposes relating to policy and property violation. The Owner and their booking Contact also agree to not use Guest personal information for any reason other than its original intended purpose without written consent from the Guests. Guests agree to not sell, refer, rent or divulge to any third parties the names or personal information of the Owner or their booking Contact without prior written consent from the Owner and/or Contact, except under force of law or for law enforcement purposes. Guests also agree to not use Owner or Contact personal information for any reason other than its original intended purpose without written consent from the Owners and their Contact.
|Reservation Changes
|Please contact us if you need to lengthen or shorten your reservation, and we will do what we can to accommodate. Changes are not guaranteed, and any refunds will be treated in accordance with our cancellation policy.
|Website Service Fee
|Website Service Fees are non-refundable, with the exception to reservations made before March 15, 2020. If there is an officially mandated COVID travel restriction being imposed by the countries where the property and/or guest is located, website service fees may be usable as a credit. To claim this credit review, the restriction must be in place up to 14 days prior to your rental arrival date. All refunds will be processed in Canadian Dollars (CAD) and any currency exchange difference will not be covered. Please contact email@example.com between 1-14 days before your cancelled arrival date to have reviewed. Flight cancellations alone will not be approved, a copy of the official Government issued restriction will be required.
Guest Stay Policies
|Bike Storage
|Bike room is provided in garage for bike storage. We are not responsible for any stolen bikes. No bike storage in the unit. Ask us re other secure bike storage options if you have a high end bike.
|Check-In Time
|4 PM. Early check-ins may be possible. Please contact us before arrival.
|Check-Out Time
|10 AM. Late check-outs may be possible; please check with us. You will be charged $50 per hour if our cleaners arrive to prepare for the next guests and you are still in our home. As they only have a short window, please use common courtesy.
|Complaints Concerning Property
|Report all property complaints or obvious damage caused by previous Guests to us immediately, by phone and by email as they become evident. Serious problems should be reported with supporting photographs. We will make our best efforts to rectify problems within 24 hours of notification. Failure to notify us of property-related problems while in the property and as they become evident, will forfeit any rights or claims against us regarding property condition after your departure.
|COVID Contact Tracing Requirements
|The property owner must be able to produce a list of guests who have occupied their rentals for contact tracing protocols in the event of an outbreak. The guest must provide names of whop will be occupying the rental property during their rental agreement.
|COVID Maximum Guest Limitation
|The number of people is limited to the capacity of the space, plus a maximum of five visitors at any given time. Large gatherings will be removed from the premises and no refund will be provided.
|Excessive Cleaning Costs
|Additional cleaning charges will be assessed to your credit card upon departure if the unit is excessively dirty.
|Excessive Noise
|Our townhouse is in a very quiet area. Per house rules, unreasonable noise is not permitted at any time. Excessive noise will result in eviction and charges for strata fines & security call out costs.
|The property will be clean upon your arrival and cleaned after departure. A mid-stay cleaning may be scheduled subject to our cleaners availability at your request and expense. Cost per clean is approximately $250.00
|Internet Availability & Usage
|High speed Telus DSL is available with ethernet port on your laptop. Internet abuse including, but not limited to, downloading copyrighted material is completely forbidden. We are not responsible for any service interruptions or connectivity issues
|We are excluded from all liability for personal bodily injury and property loss in our home, while in transit to, or while on resort property. We maintain full insurance on our dwelling and furnishings. This may not cover your personal valuables.
|Maintenance Emergencies
|Call Pete's cell 604-488-9293
|Maximum Sleeping Capacity
|8 people overnight.
|Missing Items
|Please let us know if something is broken or missing!. Upon checkout housekeeping will perform an inventory. Costs to replace missing items will be charged to your damage deposit.
|Parking & Ticketing
|Free Parking in designated unit in underground lot and in visitor parking underground (past gate only) on a first come first serve basis for additional vehicles. No parking in turnarounds or cul de sac. These areas are aggressively patrolled by Whistler towing We are not responsible for any towing and recovery charges.
|Property Damage
|Guests assume all financial responsibility for property damage incurred by themselves or their guests. Costs for additional cleaning and repairs will be charged to you. By accepting our guest stay contract with online payment, you agree to pay us for all damages you incur, including fines for improper garbage disposal. We reserve the right to collect a damage deposit ahead of time.
|Rental Accommodation Zoning
|Our property is legally zoned for either short term or long-term rental accommodation use.
|Resort Information
|Provided with instructions.
|Terms of Eviction
|Guests will be removed for housing more than 8 people, violating the minimum age requirement, excessive noise, damaging property.
Guarantees Policies
|Reservation Guarantee
|Property Sale/Damage-We relocate you to a comparable property. If there are any rate increases associated with the move, we will contribute up to $100 CAD per night towards rate equalization. If we fail to successfully relocate you, you will receive a full refund. We do not accept any related costs . Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against any unexpected events involving your lodging, flights or vacation-related products.
Property Details
First Floor Entry with heated slate floors, closet, hooks for coats, bench for removing shoes and boots. Bedroom with queen bed, dresser, nightstands, and clock radio. Bathroom with double shower, heated slate floors, granite counter. Bedroom with twin bunk beds, dresser, TV, DVD, Nintendo Game Cube, Sony Playstation 2, and clock radio.
Second Floor Kitchen with slate floors, stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, Cuisinart cookware. Dining room with table which seats 8. Living room with two sofas (including a queen sleeper), TV, DVD, granite gas fireplace, deck with table and 4 chairs and gas barbeque.
Third Floor Stacked washer and dryer, master bedroom with king bed, walk in closet, TV, DVD player, and ensuite bathroom.
Sleeping Areas & Beds
Master Bedroom
Master bath, walkin closet, TV, DVD player, down comforter, phone, radio, and a view of Rainbow Mountain to the north.
|Room Type
|Private Bedroom (Has a door & windows)
|1 King
|Has Ensuite Bathroom
|Floor Level
Kids' Bedroom
Twin bunkbeds, TV, radio, telephone, VCR, DVD, Sony Playstation 2 and Nintendo GameCube.
|Room Type
|Private Bedroom (Has a door & windows)
|1 Single Bunk
|Floor Level
Queen Bedroom
Clock radio. Down duvet.
|Room Type
|Private Bedroom (Has a door & windows)
|1 Queen
|Floor Level
Living Room
TV, DVD, stereo, down comforter and pillows.
|Room Type
|Common Area (A living area with a temporary bed)
|1 Queen Sofa Bed
|Floor Level
Bathroom 1
Master bathroom off master bedroom
|Is Ensuite Bathroom
|Bath, Hairdryer, Heated Floors, Shampoo, Shower, Soap
Bathroom 2
Between Kids' bedroom and Queen bedroom.
|Is Ensuite Bathroom
|Double Headed Shower, Hairdryer, Heated Floors, Shampoo, Soap
- Heated slate floors
- Stainless steel appliances (dishwasher, refridgerator/freezer, stove, and microwave)
- Granite counters
- Cuisinart cookware
- Fondue pot
- Crockpot
- Waffle iron
- Cuisinart food processor
- Coffee grinder, French press and coffee pot
- Teapot
- Dishes for 12
- Food staples (spices, flour, sugar, oil, condiments, and tea), and
- A view of the forest to the south.
Living Area
- Tall ceilings
- Granite gas fireplace
- Original art
- 2 sofas
- Rustic pine coffee table
- Cupboard stocked with board games
- DVD player and collection,
- Down throws for each sofa, and
- Views to the west and north.
Dining Area
- Rustic pine table seats 8
- Placemats and paper napkins
- Candles, candle holders, and lighters provided.
Special Features
|North and West with sunset views.
|Lower Whistler Mountain, the Tantalus Range, Rainbow Mountain, and Whistler Village.
About Us
We live in Vancouver but we spend as much time as we can in this very special place that we love all year around.
We have been skiing, riding, hiking and biking at Whistler since the early 90's, and have recently bought our place at Mountainstar. We spent a lot of time looking for the perfect condo, and location and we are really pleased. We wanted to be right on the Mountain for skiing and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature but also be close enough to the village and all that it offers. We really like being able to park our car and forget about it until we have to leave.
We know a myriad of details about the village and the mountains both in the winter and summer seasons; please ask!


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Ohio is suing major drug makers and distributors for not recognizing and stopping an opioid crisis that has killed thousands in recent years, and now one embattled distributor says that Ohio public officials knew about the opioid crisis and should have done more to stop it.
The state of Ohio is suing major drug makers and distributors for their role in an opioid crisis that has stolen thousands of lives in recent years.
The lawsuits boil down to a contention that those companies should have known about the problem and done more to stop it.
But at least one distributor is turning the tables on the state, saying that public officials knew about the opioid crisis and should have done more to stop it.
"States, including Ohio, signed off on and reimbursed for many of the same prescriptions they're now suing over," said Gabe Weissman, vice president of communications for drug distributing giant AmerisourceBergen.
"Ignoring the role states have in licensing pharmacies, the information they hold from reimbursing for prescriptions and even the actions of state facilities in dispensing opioids, exposes a strong degree of hypocrisy when it comes to state litigation against distributors," he said in a letter to the editor of The Dispatch.
Weissman cited a July 2018 "data brief" by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services inspector general entitled "Opioids in Ohio Medicaid: Review of Extreme Use and Prescribing."
The report, while crediting state officials for several steps to curb the opioid crisis that have helped decrease Ohioans' opioid use, said problems remain:
• Hundreds of Medicaid recipients "were at serious risk of opioid misuse or overdose" in the period studied, June 2016 to May 2017, the inspector general found.
• Hundreds more appeared to be "doctor shopping," getting Medicaid-funded prescriptions from multiple physicians.
• More than 40,000 people who were 18 or younger got opioids through Medicaid. "Research shows that even using prescription opioids for legitimate purposes before high school graduation is associated with increased risk of future opioid misuse," the report noted.
Medicaid, funded by both the state and federal government, provides health coverage for nearly 3 million poor or disabled Ohioans.
John Parker, spokesman for the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, a trade group for drug distributors, said, "Like AmerisourceBergen, we have raised concerns about a range of factors that have flown under the radar and have had a significant impact on prescribing and the use of prescription opioids."
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost dismissed the contention that the state bears responsibility for the opioid scourge.
"It should surprise no one that this company would engage in self-serving blame-shifting," he said. "After all, this is a defendant that got rich on opioid traffic and wants to keep its money."
Kevin Walter, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Medicaid, said the federal report shows "Ohio's efforts to address the opioid crisis have resulted in successes, with work yet to be done. Appreciating that this crisis affects all demographic sectors in Ohio, (the department) is just one of the majority of state agencies working aggressively to address the opioid epidemic and other substance use disorders."
He said health insurers play a key role in reducing opioid use, too, as shown by a report last year from a task force formed by Mike DeWine, then attorney general and now governor.
As far as the federal probe's findings about overprescribing opioids for some Medicaid recipients, including juveniles, Walter said, "The State Medical Board and the State Pharmacy Board have initiated clear opioid prescribing guidelines for prescribers who treat both children and adults. Ohio Medicaid has initiated a standard prior authorization process for prescriptions exceeding the board guidelines."
The inspector general found that nearly 91,000 Ohioans on Medicaid received opioids on a regular basis. "Opioids may have been necessary for many of these beneficiaries, but for others, these opioids may have been inappropriately prescribed or used."
The investigation found that more than 5,000 Ohioans were receiving either "high" or "extreme" amounts of opioids funded by Medicaid. (This did not include recipients who had cancer or were in hospice care, nor prescriptions used for medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder.)
In all, 4,754 were in the "high" amounts category, or receiving more than the equivalent of at least 16 5-mg tablets of Percocet a day. That means they were getting a dosage greater than that recommended by the drug manufacturer, and 33% to 50% higher than guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and the state itself.
"Although beneficiaries may receive opioids for legitimate purposes such as chronic pain management, these high amounts raise concern," the report said.
"Opioids carry health risks, including respiratory depression, constipation, drowsiness, and confusion. These beneficiaries may also be at an increased risk for prescription opioid misuse, which may lead to heroin use."
More alarmingly, 481 Medicaid recipients received "extreme" amounts of opioids for the entire year studied, "putting them at serious risk of opioid misuse or overdose."
"Extreme" means more than 2.5 times as much as the CDC-recommended maximum. The report noted, "Research has shown that patients who receive (such levels) are at increased risk of overdose death."
Investigators found one recipient who received 59 prescriptions in a year—all ordered from one internal medicine physician and filled at one pharmacy. The recipient was being given an amount of opioids that was more than 12 times the CDC maximum.
Another 231 recipients appeared to be doctor shopping. Each was receiving at least a "high" amount of opioids and each was getting the drugs from four or more prescribers and four or more pharmacies.
The inspector general discovered one Medicaid recipient who received 41 opioid prescriptions from 16 prescribers and filled them at eight pharmacies during a single year.
Another obtained 22 opioid prescriptions from 15 prescribers and filled them at 10 pharmacies. The recipient traveled more than 70 miles for oxycodone prescriptions from three different prescribers, the report said. Six prescriptions came from a prescriber more than 145 miles away.
The study ferreted out 47 prescribers who "stand out" for the amount of opioids given to Medicaid recipients "at serious risk of opioid misuse or overdose." More than a third were located in just two counties: Franklin and Cuyahoga.
"Although prescribers may order opioids for legitimate reasons, those who stand out compared to their peers raise concerns and warrant further scrutiny," the inspector general warned.
"These prescribers may be providing poorly coordinated care to Medicaid beneficiaries. They may also be ordering medically unnecessary drugs, which could be sold or used recreationally. Alternatively, the prescribers' identification may have been sold or stolen and used for illegal purposes."
The investigation turned up one nurse practitioner who ordered "extreme" dosages of opioids for 18 Ohioans on Medicaid. For one, the nurse practitioner provided 26 prescriptions within a year — each for a 30-day supply of either long-acting or short-acting oxycodone. That was enough for a daily dosage nearly triple the CDC maximum.
Darrel Rowland is a staff reporter for The Columbus Dispatch.


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7:15pm PT by Chris Gardner
10 Fun Facts From 'The Wiz Live!' Panel Event
The stars and brains behind NBC's The Wiz Live! went live once again, this time on Wednesday night at the Directors Guild of America's main theater in Los Angeles a special panel and performance for Emmy voters and fans.
Just about everyone was there, including Queen Latifah (the Wiz), Mary J. Blige (Evillene), Shanice Williams (Dorothy), Ne-Yo (Tin-Man), David Alan Grier (the Cowardly Lion), Elijah Kelley (the Scarecrow), Amber Riley (Addapearle), executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, director Kenny Leon, choreographer Fatima Robinson, music producer Harvey Mason Jr., and director Matthew Diamond. But not quite everyone: Absent cast members included Stephanie Mills, Common and Uzo Aduba.
NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt showed up though to kick off the night's program by joking that he would be the least interesting part of the evening. He did, however, offer a few good notes about the network's recent history with live TV musicals. "A couple of years ago, we had this crazy idea to do a live musical for the holidays and we didn't know what we were doing or how we were going to do it," he recalled of previous stagings of The Sound of Music and Peter Pan. "This is our third one and each one gets better. We learn a little bit more each time we do it. I'm so proud of these shows — they are enormous undertakings that involve hundreds of people behind the scenes."
They only needed 14 on stage for Wednesday's show (including affable and self-proclaimed Wiz fan Holly Robinson Peete, who moderated the panel discussion) and four of those stars for the night's two performances. Williams, Ne-Yo, Kelley and Grier performed the original track "We Got It," while Williams closed out the evening with the show-stopping ballad "Home."
1. When NBC executives first set out to tackle the musical, Greenblatt admitted they didn't know what they had on their hands. "I didn't realize quite the legacy this show has," he said. "Quickly we learned that not only was it the 40th anniversary of the show premiering on Broadway, but the show had never been revived on Broadway in all this time. We were looking back ... on an extraordinary show. ... Now the idea of a black musical isn't that groundbreaking ... but then it was."
2. Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy in the original, Tony Award-winning Broadway production of The Wiz from 1975-1977, was the first person cast in the update (playing Auntie Em), but Latifah received the first phone call about the project. "The wonderful thing was that when I called Dana [Owens, Latifah's birth name] and I foolishly said, 'Do you know the material?'" recalled Craig Zadan, to which Latifah responded, "I pretty much told you that it was the reason that I'm doing what I'm doing now. What are we doing? Let's go!"
3. Playing the role of the Wiz could only happen for Latifah now because of her age, said the 46-year-old. "I finally got old enough to play the Wiz," she laughed, recalling how she played Dorothy and sang the ballad "Home" in a grade school production. "Now here I am and I've (aged) through the whole cast and I've arrived at the Wiz."
4. Williams still gets emotional when recalling the fortunate day when she landed the role of Dorothy — in front of TV cameras, no less. After Robinson Peete rolled the clip, Williams was seen dabbing the corner of her eyes. "It's all I've wanted for so long," she said after explaining how she always felt like an outsider until she found her place on stage. "And then that moment was like everything you've wanted, everything you've worked for is going to come true. It felt so amazing." The tears came again, but music producer Harvey Mason Jr. proved to be a true gentleman, removing a silk scarf from his vest and handing it to the 19-year-old.
5. Zadan and Meron are big fans of Greenblatt's power and quick decision-making abilities. "The idea of doing a live musical on network television for three hours was unheard of," Zadan recalled. "It hadn't been done since the '50s. When we went to Bob with the notion of doing this, he didn't say, 'Let me think about it.' He didn't say, 'Let me talk to people.' He said, 'Yeah — let's do it.' There's been no looking back. We've done one each year and I think that we've gotten better and better at it with the experience. And nothing compares to the quality and the emotion and the talent of this group of people on The Wiz."
6. "It was like family," Kelley explained of the cast's relationship status, which is remarkable considering that some of the stars originally wanted parts played by fellow performers seated next to them. Grier admitted that he really wanted to play the title role which went to Latifah, while Ne-Yo explained in detail his audition process for Kelley's part of the Scarecrow. He was so intent on playing Scarecrow that he "phoned in" the audition for the Tin Man minutes later when they asked him to read for that part instead.
7. He may better-known for his dance-inducing pop-tinged R&B hits, but Ne-Yo claimed he had never heard of the popular dance move "dabbing" born on the hip-hop scene until he learned the Fatima Robinson-choreographed dance routines during rehearsals. (For the record: He's a 36-year-old father of two.)
8. Grier's Cowardly Lion costume was a real work of art — and a sweaty mess. Because of the heavy makeup, costume and wig, Grier wound up sweating his way through most of the rehearsals, leaving pools of sweat on the floor that unintentionally caused some of the dancers to slip. Though no one mentioned injuries, Grier mentioned camping. "I felt like I was in a wet sleeping bag," he joked.
9. Riley had so much fun that she'd show up to set on her days off. "I just wanted to be there. I didn't want to sit in my apartment. I used to come on my days off just to be in that atmosphere. That's how amazing it was on that set everyday," she exclaimed.
10. Latifah snagged an opportunity near the end of the evening (before Williams belted out "Home," which was received by a giant cast hug), to sum up the entire experience of working on The Wiz Live!, offering that they don't care if people loved it or picked it apart. In her words: "We get the gravitas of this whole thing. We get how much people love this project and how much we have to bring to it, but this is bigger than us. It's now going out to a whole new group of people who get to find it. We wanted to pass this thing to a whole new group of people to enjoy. Having that in our hearts — from the top to the bottom — we all wanted to see each other win and I think that really came across. Most importantly, to the audience, that you enjoyed it, that you talked about it, that you tweeted about it, that you nitpicked it, that you liked this one better than that one. It didn't matter at the end of the day because you watched it."
Chris firstname.lastname@example.com chrissgardner


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Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
National Taiwan University
In 2003 the Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (IEEB) was established in response to a growing demand for knowledge in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The aims of IEEB are to provide the highest quality graduate education and to conduct world-class research in ecology and evolutionary biology.
Currently there are 21 faculty members and approximately 85 graduate students and post doctorates in IEEB. In addition, other faculty members of NTU with related interest are also invited to join force with IEEB to promote teaching and research in integrative ecology and evolutionary biology. Although IEEB's offices and laboratories are located in the Life Science Building at NTU, field research often takes IEEB's faculty and students to various parts of Taiwan. The research interests of IEEB's faculty range from genes to ecosystems, which include chemical and physiological ecology, population and community ecology, animal behavior, landscape ecology and remote sensing, applied ecology, molecular evolution, population genetics, plant structures and functions, systematics, biogeography and phylogeny, etc. There is a great deal of interaction and collaboration among faculty members within IEEB and with members of other research institutions.
IEEB's graduate program is designed to equip graduates with knowledge as well as analytical ability that will enable them to respond to future advances in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology. Students of IEEB are guided in taking a comprehensive but flexible curriculum that is designed to meet his or her interest and goals. There are only a few formal course requirements and independent research begins early.
IEEB offers both M.S. and Ph.D. Programs. The wide variety of research interests and strengths of IEEB faculty members in ecology and evolutionary biology helps IEEB students easily find research advisors who match their research interests and can provide the necessary training to meet study goals. Graduate students also have excellent opportunities to experience an environment that promotes innovative and interdisciplinary research.
Biodiversity issues are at the forefront of concerns for our society and IEEB is devoted to promote an understanding and application of the ecological and evolutionary principles in various biodiversity issues. IEEB will take an interdisciplinary approach and an international perspective to teaching, research, and public service.


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Pete Ashton 8bit lounge set 6th October 2009
a night i'm involved with at the hare and hounds every month. 8bit lounge on the first tuesday. last night was great fun with a circuit bent kaossilator set from discocyst, 10-player bomberman, great electro tunes from subcitizen and this chiptune set from ash10:
[soundcloud url="http://soundcloud.com/chromatouch/pete-ashton-8bit-lounge-set-6th-october-2009″]


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Herb Abram's UWF Fury Hour #7
November 12th, 1990
Taped October 11th, 1990
Reseda Country Club
Reseda, California
Commentators: Herb Abrams & Bruno Sammartino
A few weeks ago, Col. DeBeers refused to have a BLACK MAN referee his match against Billy Jack Haynes so tonight's main event is DeBeers vs. Haynes II: Cry Freedom.
Herb Abrams & Bruno are actually at ringside for a change as there's been a slight step-up in production and the wrestlers all have new graphics. It's still miles behind every other 1990 company but it's not lowest-level anymore.
Steve Williams vs Robbie Allen
Dr. Death squashes are usually a blast but Williams spends nearly all of this match punching and kicking Allen rather than bouncing him with suplexes because he's supposed to be the bad guy in this Paul Orndorff feud. Oh I take it back, Williams gives the sorry bastard The Oklahoma Stampede on the ring-post outside.
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So naturally the crowd cheers their arses off when Williams wins, even though they're supposed to be booed because he took his sweet time with the jobber. But jobbers are for beating up, you know.
Winner: Steve Williams (Williams and Orndorff are allegedly feuding but if it wasn't for the commentary, you'd have no clue. I'm guessing Herb forgot to book the two wrestlers to interact on TV so he's filling in the gaps himself. I can imagine him occasionally looking at Sammaritano for advice and Bruno responding by staring at his watch.)
Larry Zbyszko makes his debut in a green-screen promo where he tells us
how the Invasion should have been booked he's coming to UWF.
Bob Orton Jr. vs. Stephen DeLeon
Unremarkable squash that goes on for so long the crowd start cheering for the jobber. Then DeLeon gets a few lucky strikes and the place goes nuts, only for Bob to get his foot up on a charge to shut them up. Crowd still chants for the Superplex though so I have no idea if Orton's a good guy or if the LA crowd are just drunk. Superplex finishes, crowd cheers, drinks are half-price.
Winner: Bob Orton Jr. (In fairness the Superplex is pretty.)
Post-match Orton bitches about his loss to Orndorff from a few weeks ago and he wants him NOW. Orton refuses to leave as we go to break.
B. Brian Blair (w/Honey Bee) vs. Louie Spicolli
Orton's still in the ring as the wrestlers arrive for their next match so they politely tell him to sling his hook. He leaves with John Tolos as Herb asks"but where's Dan Spivey?" before realising he doesn't have an answer and shuts up. Anyway, this is Louie's debut and it's clear he's better than the other jobbers on the show as he shows personality from the get-go. Louie gets sent outside after a monkey flip and gets a chance bugs out in front of Honey Bee, then deliberately messes up re-entering the ring. It's like watching Larry Sweeney in his prime. Blair gives him a second-rope elbow then finishes with The Scorpion.
Winner: B. Brian Blair (Crowd were way more into Louie than the supposedly charismatic Blair, which is a running theme for the B. Bland Bore.)
Cactus Jack tells us to go appreciate the sites of NYC like the World Trade Centre before he shows up as he's going to send 'em crumbling down. Let's move on.
Cactus Jack telling New Yorkers in 1990 to not take the World Trade Centre for granted as he plans on knocking it down. pic.twitter.com/eJwkCw6Be5
— MaffewBotchamaniaGuy (@Maffewgregg) January 1, 2018
Capt. Lou's Corner with John Tolos
Both guys yell LEMME TELL YA SOMETHING at each other for a few minutes as Lou continues to be the worst interviewer in the history of wrestling. This is filmed in front of a green-screen but the production monkeys still don't understand you're supposed to keep the camera still so the only thing I got from this segment was motion sickness.
Nikita Koloff vs. Spitball Patterson
Nikita tells us before the match he's coming to New York soon and how the fuck did people think he was Russian with that accent? I know films like Goldeneye get criticised for having Europeans playing Russians but at least they sound like human beings. Spitball (great name) would play one of the non-Corporal Kirchner Leatherfaces in Japan. He's bigger than Nikita but looks like a darts player so no wonder they put a bag over him. The big lunk beats up Nikita as the crowd chant for NI-KI-TA as UWF have finally figured out it helps to have some variety in these squash matches. It helps that Spitball doesn't mind hamming it up with cheese on top.
Nikita knocks him around before taking him apart like Gorbachev dismantling the Soviet Union. By which I mean finishes with a Russian Sickle.
Winner: Nikita Koloff (WERY GOOD MATCH FROM COMRADE NUH-KI-TUH)
Paul Orndorff vs. The Grappler
The Grappler is some poor schlep in a mask so generic I'm not going to dignify this fine respected website with a screenshot. He dares to attack Paul before he finishes his entrance so Orndorff slaps him daft and gives him a suplex on the outside before nailing the piledriver in-ring to quickly finish.
Winner: Paul Orndorff (Paul's delayed piledriver is one of the few reasons to watch this show. Match was so quick Herb couldn't bullshit any Steve Williams plot into it.)
Col. DeBeers brings up the recent fire in Universal Studios, telling us fantasy has burned to the ground and we're left with the reality of DeBeers being "the greatest athlete in the universe." Billy Jack tells us he cares about black people because he was babysat by blacks when he was little and tonight he fights for everyone (apart from the South Africans).
Billy Jack Haynes vs. Col. DeBeers
The match graphic reminds me of the Rey vs. Eddy Ladder Match so I'm assuming the winner of the match gets to take BLACK REF home with him. Billy Jack sneak-attacks DeBeers while he's busy explaining to the referee that All Lives Matter. Billy Jack dominates to start so DeBeers gets to show off his Bump Off A Knee-Lift special.
DeBeers gets the advantage with a Snake Eyes across the top rope and follows by dumping BJ throat-first across the guard-rail. This is followed by several slow minutes of DeBeers on offence, consisting of The Col. doing something basic and BJ reacting like he's been told to stop bringing coke into locker-rooms. Crowd are booing DeBeers so it's fine. In fairness, this match has been fine but I'm tired. New Year's Day and UWF mix as well as that parmo I had last night. Billy Jack hurls DeBeers off the top rope, sends him outside and connects with a knee-drop off the apron which is fairly crazy for Billy Jack (in a wrestling match, not in his life). BJ gets two from an awkward falling punch off the second rope. Only Hawk & Ted DiBiase could make that move work. DeBeers shoves BJ into BLACK REF but he recovers to see BJ lock in the Full Nelson, only for DeBeers to knock him down again for THE MAIN EVENT UWF SPECIAL DQ.
Winner via DQ: Billy Jack Haynes (If Haynes had won, racism would have ended in the state of California so thanks Billy Jerk for letting the state down.)
DeBeers argues with the referee and gives him a DDT. WHITE REF convinces him to stop but DeBeers is like "but we're on the same side!" If this was 1998, BLACK REF would have turned on WHITE REF and joined DeBeers, cutting promos about how he puts the African in South African.
Overall: A small step-up from the usual Tramadol-fuelled episode of UWF which was exactly what I needed this morning. I say "morning" I mean "8pm" but when you go to bed at 6am it counts.
Next week it'll be Ken Patera main eventing so you know this'll be a priority for me.


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a beautiful truth
Hello blog readers,
I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful high school program recently, hosted by the schools performing arts department. Singing, acting, dancing, script reading… I was so proud of all the students who worked so hard. Their efforts paid off in an outstanding production. I was nearly brought to tears by some of the performances… which might support this quote by Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy: "Art is the activity by which a person, having experienced an emotion, intentionally transmits it to others."
If the work of hard-working high school students had such an effect on me, I can only imagine the emotion I might experience if I witnessed a masterpiece by a skilled artist. Have you ever seen, in person, a true masterpiece? How do you know if you've seen one?
Webster's defines masterpiece as a "supreme intellectual or artistic achievement." It's also defined as "a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship" … "an artist's or craftsman's best piece of work."
People who have witnessed an authentic masterpiece say the experience never leaves you. Philanthropist Paul Mellon once said, "There is no intellectual or emotional substitute for the authentic, the original, the unique masterpiece."
Let me encourage you with a beautiful truth. You absolutely have seen a masterpiece in your lifetime. According to God's word, it's you.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Not only did He make you His masterpiece — He gave you purpose. Your life is important, and you have a specific work to do. That should make anyone smile. God can't lie…. it's impossible. He called you His masterpiece, so it has to be true. What a gift! It's who you are… and He prepared a good work for you long ago.
Trying to figure out what your work is might feel overwhelming, but God gives us direction on how to do it: Delight yourself in Him.
Psalm 37:23
(NIV) The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
(NLT) The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
(NAS) The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;
Delight yourself in the Lord. Be happy to spend time with Him, seek Him, get to know Him. If you need help doing that, pray for Him to be the desire of your heart. Pray asking Him to help you love Him more. As you live your life loving Him, and treasuring your relationship with Him, He will work all things for your good. He does that for all who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. My prayer for you is that you know the plans He has for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. In Jesus name, Amen.


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Photo by the Dutch National Archive. No restrictions
A quick burst of links for you to chew over, as picked by the Technology team. Want to send a link our way? Tag it with "guardiantech" on delicious.com and we'll take a look.
Pwn2Own hack topples Firefox on Windows >> ZDNet
In the annual CanSecWest Pwn2Own hacking competition, Firefox was beaten after Safari on Mac OS X and IE8 on Windows 7.
Google Code University >> Google Code
Ajax programming, algorithms, distributed systems, web security, languages.. and all with a CC Attribution licence
Gordon's Brown's broadband speech with Twitter Subtitles >> SMIL Player
Fun, intriguing..
New Research Suggests That Governments May Fake SSL Certificates >> Electronic Frontier Foundation
Actually, that's rather worrying.
The BPI's China-like clauses in the Digital Economy Bill >> Epeus' epigone
An interesting analysis by Kevin Marks contrasting China's Great Firewall with the provisions of the Digital Economy Bill. Are they so very different?
Inside a global cybercrime ring >> Reuters
Reuters reports on a Kiev company that produced "scareware" (fake anti-virus software) for Windows. It has now been closed down.
Robot Touchscreen Analysis >> labs.moto.com
Moto eliminated the human element from its earlier test to show that the Apple iPhone's touch screen really is much better than the competition....
Google v. China? No, It's Bigger Than That >> John Battelle's Searchblog
"Thanks to Google's move, thousands, if not millions, of Chinese now understand the extend to which their own government has been duping them. And those who already knew have a new ally, and perhaps additional courage to continue change from within."
The Sun accuses Facebook of spreading syphilis >> guardian.co.uk
"So 0.83% of the cases in 0.80% of the population." Leadballoon applies statistics to show what you knew innately: this is a daft story. But it won't have made Facebook, already fuming at the Daily Mail story earlier this month, any happier.
Digital Economy Bill [HL]: 26 Jan 2010: House of Lords debates >> TheyWorkForYou.com)
Lord Howard of Rising, the Tory shadow in the Lords on culture, media and sport: "I am not sure that we would have demonstrations in Trafalgar Square about this, with people being thrown into fountains, but who can tell?" Who indeed? Though if he had gone to Trafalgar Square I'm sure there are some people who could have accommodated him.
Video: Sneak peek of Content-Aware Fill in Photoshop >> John Nack's Adobe blog
"Content-aware" fill looks like being the thing that will get you writing the cheque for the next version of Photoshop. Watch the video in full-screen at 480p to get the real idea. Photoshop: showing you even more scenes that don't exist in real life.
HELP!!! I need a proxy server!!!! | Chinalyst >> China blogs in English
"The regime has blocked my proxy server which I need to be able to teach my kids the international baccalaureate curriculum. With google search blocked, Wikipedia, anything to do with the Chinese prescribed history topic, etc., my students and I are having a hell of a time being hamstrung by fascists and intellectual pygmies while IB schools outside this country have free access to information and resources." And now you get a ton of proxy server offerings.
The Social Media Bubble >> Harvard Business Review
"During the subprime bubble, banks and brokers sold one another bad debt — debt that couldn't be made good on. Today, 'social' media is trading in low-quality connections — linkages that are unlikely to yield meaningful, lasting relationships," argues Umair Haque.
You can follow Guardian Technology's linkbucket on delicious


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Hercules TraveLite Flute Stand
This stand fits in your case and is built to support even heavier silver flutes. Super compact storage is obtained by inserting the fully closed stand into the foot joint of your flute.
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22 things to do instead of watching Trump's inauguration
Watching Trump's Inauguration on Friday is a real shitty way to kick off your weekend.
Even if you are a supporter, are you really excited to watch a handful of Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and 3 Doors Down? The following is a list of things you can do this Friday night instead, whether you prefer to protest, to drink and commiserate, or check out some thoughtful art.
Are you an organization planning something for Inauguration? Feel free to let us know about it at [email protected] and go ahead and comment in the post below.
Inauguration Day Mega-March
Join Resist from Day one as they march to Minneapolis City Hall. Meet at Lake and Nicollet at 2 p.m. or Franklin and Nicollet at 4 p.m., where there will be rallies on the way to their destination (around 5 p.m.). Groups marching include MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), 15 Now Minnesota, Green Party of Minnesota, St. Paul for Justice, Minnesota Socialist Students, IWW Local 14, Native Lives Matter.Org, MN Native Lives Matter, Native Lives Matter Coalition, InquilinXs UnidXs por Justicia, Students for a Revolutionary Society, and International Marxist Tendency.
Water is Life: Resist Cultural Genocide #NODAPL
Meet for hot chocolate and then march to City Hall for a rally. 3 p.m. 1900 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis.
Thanks Obama
Tapping of a special edition winter rye IPA. Surly Brewing Co., 520 Malcolm Ave. SE, Minneapolis; 763-535-3330.
The Mad Ripple Anti-Trump and Pro-People and Music Hootenanny
Featuring Jim Walsh, Dan Israel, Venus DeMars, Brianna Lane, Katy Vernon, Doug Collins, Kari Arnett, and more. There will also be food and drink specials all day. Noon to 9 p.m. Free. Studio 2, 818 W. 46th St., Minneapolis; 612-444-3460; studio2mpls.com.
ACLU Fundraiser
Featuring cocktails, plus music by Ryan Kopperud & Big Cats, GoodKarma Niles, RP Hooks, and DJ set by Claire de Lune of Tiny Deaths. $25 VIP (ticket includes a punch drink and a $10 Norseman gift card for a later date). All VIP sales go directly to the ACLU. 8 to 11:45 p.m. Norseman Distillery, 451 Taft St. NE, Unit 19, Minneapolis; 612-643-1933.
ACLU Music Benefit
Defend civil liberties inauguration concert featuring the Beavers, Charley Dush, Greg Herriges, Dakota Dave Hull, Siama Matuzungidi, Leslie Rich, Matt Sowell, Sue West, and Donald Washington. All proceeds go to the MN chapter of the ACLU. 6-11 p.m. $20. Black Dog Cafe, 308 Prince St., St. Paul; 651-228-9274; blackdogstpaul.com.
Dance Assault (EP Release Show)
With Apollo Cobra and Sloslylove. Fifty-percent of the proceeds will benefit Urban Ventures, which fights to end cyclical poverty. 10:30 p.m. $8-$10. Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-276-6523; www.icehousempls.com.
Another Voice: Political Illustration of the Late Twentieth Century
This group show features political work that appeared in the Progressive from 1981 to '99. The public reception runs from 6-8 p.m. Free. MCAD Gallery, 2501 Stevens Ave., Minneapolis; 612-874-3700; www.mcad.edu.
Drumpfster Fire: A Protest Charity Art Auction
This fundraiser for the ACLU features a silent auction of work by over a dozen local artists. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Free. Blockfort Studio, 2920 Talmage Ave. SE, #140, Minneapolis; 651-307-7792; www.blockfortstudio.com.
Inauguration: Acts of Resistance, Acts of Kindness
This group show featuring protest art, a potluck dinner, and the launch of the Civility Project. 6-10 p.m. Free. Susan Hensel Gallery, 3441 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-722-2324; www.susanhenselgallery.com.
Eugene McCarthy and the 1968 Election
Featuring photographs, campaign literature, and editorial cartoons in celebration of the 100th birthday of the Minnesota senator. $2 gallery admission. James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul; 651-297-2555; www.mnhs.org/places/sites/jjhh.
Emily Schadow: Spark
Artist Emily Schadow uses hashtags and bright colors to make political statements. Her show opened last weekend, but you can still check it out this week. Free. Showroom, 612 W. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-345-7391.
Resistance, Protest, Resilience
This show features 60-plus images of standoffs between staunch proponents of reform and the entrenched opposition. Free. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-870-3131; www.artsmia.org.
Bleed & Burn: Catalytic Flag Making
In times of social and political struggle, it is even more important to express opinions and practice your constitutional rights. "Bleed and Burn" at the Soap Factory is one such patriotic expression. For the show, artists will come together to react to the racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and other forms of hatred spewed by our top politicians and president-elect. Thirteen creatives will design 12 flags, which will be showcased in the gallery's basement space. Post-show, each artist will take their piece and burn it at a location of their choosing. The process, from start to finish, will be documented and published by Beyond Repair at the Midtown Global Market. The project has been organized by Alexa Horochowski and Crystal Quinn. The show opened last week, but flags are on view this weekend. Free. The Soap Factory, 514 2nd St. SE, Minneapolis; 612-623-9176; www.soapfactory.org.
The Trump Trigger
Panel talk explores how artists can make a difference in this political climate. $10. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Robbin Gallery, 4915 42nd Ave. N., Robbinsdale; 763-537-5906.
Flower Drum Song
This musical co-produced by Mu Performing Arts, which is set in San Francisco's Chinatown in the late 1950s, explores what it means to be American. 7:30 p.m. $27-$37. Park Square Theatre, 20 W. 7th Pl., St. Paul; 651-291-7005; www.parksquaretheatre.org.
Love, Resistance, Revolution: An Inauguration Day Community Festival
Family-friendly community festival of solidarity, featuring music, theatrical performances, stories, resources, food, and drinks. Jan. 20, 6-9 p.m. Free. Las Mojarras, 1507 E. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-208-0120.
Not inauguration-based, but also music happening that night:
Gabriel Douglas
With Better Years, Murzik, and Adam Svec. 9 p.m. Free. Hexagon Bar, 2600 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-722-3454; www.hexagonbar.com.
Heatwave & Landman (Album Release Show)
With Kinda Kinky and Hannah von der Hoff. 7:30 p.m. $8-$12. The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge, 3010 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis; thehookmpls.com.
Ice Cube's Good Day 25th Anniversary Celebration
Presented by the Universal Movement for the Advancement of Hip Hop, featuring a community forum, live performances, DJ SciPreme, DJ Francisco, and hosted by William 'Truth Maze' Harris. 7 p.m. $10. Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-338-6424; www.nomadpub.com.
Jack Klatt (Video Release Show)
With Dusty Heart and Jake Jones. 7:30 p.m. $10-$12. Turf Club, 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul; 651-647-0486; www.turfclub.net.


text:
Evénements | Mardi 18 octobre 2016 | France
Product Liability and Product Safety Summit 2016
Following the success of last years' Product Liability and Product Safety Summit in Munich, we are delighted to invite you to join us for the second annual Product Liability and Product Safety Summit. Due to strong demand, this years' Summit will be a truly European event taking place in Paris, Munich and Milan in October 2016.
Hosted by partners from across our award winning global product litigation and compliance practice, the Summit will bring together the worlds' leading product manufacturers, suppliers and insurers from across all sectors with European regulators and law-makers. We will be looking at recent developments in product liability and product safety law, future issues and how to solve them before they become a problem. We will also be hosting interactive topical and regional break-out sessions covering "hot topics" as selected by you.
Speakers will include Alessandro Liotta, Corporate Counsel at Google, speaking about regulation and the internet of things (ioT), and representatives from the European Commission.


text:
This article is courtesy of OrganicFacts.net.
Radish, that common and beloved part of your salad, is a root crop, and it is pungent or sweet in taste with a lot of juice. Radishes can be white, red, purple or black, and in terms of shape, it can be long and cylindrical or round. They are eaten raw, cooked or pickled. The oil obtained from the seeds of radish is also used in a number of products and beneficial health applications.
The parts of radishes that are commonly consumed are the leaves, flowers, pods and seeds. The scientific name of radish is Raphanus Sativus which belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Radish is also known as Daikon in some parts of the world, primarily in Asian markets.
Health Benefits of Radish
The benefits of radishes in the treatment or prevention of certain ailments and on certain body parts are listed below:
Jaundice: Radishes are very good for the liver and stomach, and it acts as a powerful detoxifier too. That means that it purifies the blood and eliminating toxins and waste. It is extremely useful in treating jaundice because it removes bilirubin and also keeps its production at a stable level. It also reduces the destruction of red blood cells that happens to people suffering from jaundice by increasing the supply of fresh oxygen to the blood. Black radishes are more preferred in the treatment of jaundice, and radish leaves are also very useful in the treatment.
Piles: Radishes are considered roughage, which means that it is composed of indigestible carbohydrates. This facilitates digestion, water retention, and it fixes constipation, which is one of the major causes of piles. As such a good detoxifier, it helps heal the symptoms of piles very quickly. Its juice also soothes the digestive and excretory system, further relieving the symptoms of piles.
Urinary Disorders: Radishes are diurectic in nature, which means that they increase the production of urine. Juice from radishes also cures inflammation and a burning feeling during urination. It also cleans out the kidneys and inhibits infections in the kidneys and urinary system, thus helping the treatment of various urinary conditions that are exacerbated by excess toxins in the system.
Weight Loss: Radishes are very filling, which mean that they satisfy your hunger without running up your calorie count. They are also low in digestible carbohydrates, high in roughage and contain a lot of water, making radishes a very good dietary option for those who are determined to lose weight. Furthermore, they are high in fiber and low on the glycemic index, which means that they increase regular bowel movements, which helps in weight loss, and increases the efficiency of the metabolism for all bodily processes.
RadishCardiovascular Conditions: Radishes are a great source of anthocyanins, which are a type of flavonoids, which not only give color to radishes, but also provide numerous health benefits. Anthocyanins have been the subject of numerous medical studies, and have been positively linked to reducing the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, and they have also displayed anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cancer: Since radishes are detoxifiers and are rich in vitamin-C, folic and anthocyanins, they have been connected to treating many types of cancer, particularly colon, kidney, intestinal, stomach and oral cancer. Radishes are part of the Brassica family, and like the other members of that taxonomic classification, these cruciferous vegetables are packed with antioxidants. Furthermore, the isthiocyanates found in radishes have a major impact on the genetic pathways of cancerous cells. They alter the pathways so much, in fact, that they can cause apoptosis, cell death, thereby eliminating cancerous cells from reproducing.
Leucoderma: The detoxifying and anti-carcinogenic properties of radishes make them useful in the treatment of Leucoderma. The radish seeds are used in this treatment method. They should be powdered and soaked in vinegar, ginger juice, or cows urine and then applied on the white patches. You can eat radishes as well to aid the treatment of Leucoderma.
Constipation: Radishes are very high in fiber, which means that they add considerable bulk to bowel movements, which promotes regular excretory patterns and relieve symptoms of constipation. They can also help to firm up loose bowels and get rid of loose stool or diarrhea. Furthermore, radishes are known to promote the production of bile. Bile is one of the most important parts of good digestion, and also helps to protect both the liver and the gallbladder.
Respiratory Disorders, Bronchitis and Asthma: Radishes are an anti-congestive, meaning that it decreases congestion of the respiratory system including irritation of the nose, throat, wind-pipe and lungs that can come from colds, infections, allergies and other causes. They are a great disinfectant and rich in vitamins, which further protects the respiratory system from infections.
Blood Pressure: Radishes are a very good source of potassium, which contributes to a large list of health benefits. Potassium has been positively connected to reducing blood pressure, because when it interacts with the arterial supply of vascular beds, it can relax the blood vessels, and therefore increase blood flow. It reduces the blood pressure by widening the flow of the blood, instead of forcing it through narrow, constricted channels.
Diabetes: Radishes have long been known to have a low glycemic index, which means that eating it does not impact blood sugar levels. It also helps regulate the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream, meaning that diabetics don't have to worry as much about sudden spikes or drops when eating, or being away from food for a certain amount of time.
Skin Disorders: Vitamin-C, phosphorus, zinc and some members of vitamin-B complex that are present in radishes are good for the skin. The water in radishes also helps to maintain healthy moisture levels in the skin. Smashed raw radish is a good cleanser and serves as an efficient face pack. Due to its disinfectant properties, radishes also help clear up skin disorders like dry skin, rashes, and cracks.
Fever: Radishes lower body temperature and relieve inflammation from fevers. A good method of intake is drinking radish juice mixed with black salt, and since they act as good disinfectants, radishes also fight infections that can cause fever.
Kidney Disorders: As a diurectic, cleanser, and disinfectant, radishes help in the treatment of many kidney disorders. Its diurectic properties help wash away the toxins accumulated in the kidneys and they decrease the accumulation of toxins in the blood, thereby decreasing their concentration in the kidneys. Its disinfectant properties protect the kidneys from any infections as well.
RadishInsect Bites: Radishes have anti-pruritic properties and can be used as an effective treatment for insect bites and bee stings. Radish juice also reduces pain and swelling and soothes the affected area.
Dehydration: Radishes are mostly composed of water, and they are a great way to keep your body hydrated, which is beneficial to many different parts of health. One of the most important parts of staying hydrated is the impact of water on the digestive system. Staying hydrated relieves constipation, improves the efficiency of digestion, and ensures proper uptake of nutrients from the food we eat.
Respiratory Conditions and Sore Throats: Radishes have a strong, natural spice to them, and they are also quite pungent, which is very good for preventing illness, and it also eliminates excess mucus in the throat. Furthermore, radishes have been known to soothe sore throats and relieve congestion by clearing the sinuses.
Vitamin-C and Immune System Health: There are countless reasons why radishes are a good addition to your diet, but improving your immune system is one of the most important. A half cup of radishes per day in a salad or just as a snack is nearly 15% of your daily intake of Vitamin-C. Consistently maxing out your daily dose of Vitamin-C intake can rejuvenate your immune system by replacing many of the antioxidants and white blood cells which are so integral in fighting off every illness from the common cold to cancer!
Vitamin-C does not only boost your immune system, but it also is considered a super vitamin because of all the other high-impact effects it has on the body. It helps regulate your metabolism, which changes fat into usable energy, and it is a main contributor in the creation of collagen, which is an essential protein that strengthens blood vessel walls and reduces the chances of artherosclerosis and various other heart diseases.
Liver & Gallbladder: Radishes are especially beneficial for liver and gallbladder functions. They regulate production and flow of bile and bilirubin, acids, and enzymes. Furthermore, it also removes excess bilirubin from the blood, and it contains enzymes like myrosinase, diastase, amylase and esterase. Regular consumption of radishes protects your liver and gallbladder from infections and ulcers.
Other Benefits: Apart from the benefits outlined above, radishes work as a good appetizer, mouth and breath freshener, laxative, and metabolism regulator. People whose weekly diets are supplemented with normal amounts of radish see an improvement in blood circulation, and radishes are a good treatment for headaches, acidity, constipation, nausea, obesity, sore throat, whooping cough, gastric problems, gall stones, and dyspepsia.
Finding it hard to digest everything you just read? Well, I suggest you have some slices of radish to get your stomach working properly, and perhaps make you hungry for even more nutrient-packed power food.


text:
Retail sales rise modestly in May
Retail sales in May fell short of estimates, but still pointed to an economy making slow progress.
Sales rose a modest 0.3% last month, according to the Commerce Department. That was only half of the 0.6% gain that economists projected.
Sales would have advanced only 0.1% without a strong showing from the auto sector. Excluding autos and gasoline, overall sales would have been flat.
However, revised figures for April showed far more consumer spending than previously estimated. The updated 0.5% figure far surpassed the government's initial 0.1% estimate, suggesting that Americans opened their wallets in April as soon as the brutal winter weather had cleared.
That prompted enthusiasm from some economists, who say growth prospects are better than generally perceived.
"Consumers have not bought this much from your friendly neighborhood retailer or from over the internet up in the clouds since early 2012," wrote Chris Rupkey, an economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, in a report to clients. "Consumers may have dialed it back a touch in May, but overall spending for the second quarter is through the roof."
Separate government data showed jobless claims rising slightly last week, up 4,000 to 317,000. However, that was less than the 324,000 weekly average this year.
Follow Walter Hamilton on Twitter @LATwalter
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text:
Designed with the highest camera quality ever, Nokia on Thursday unveiled the much-anticipated Lumia 1020, with a powerful 41-megapixel camera.
Hoping to emerge out of shadows, Nokia aims to stay at peak among rivals including Samsung Galaxy S5 and Apple IPhone 6. The camera quality of Lumia 1020 is bigger than the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4 that's 8 and 16 megapixels respectively. However, there's one major feature the device lacks- apps. The Lumia 1020 houses only 160,000 apps, whereas rivals hold about five times as many apps.
In a bid to stay in competition, Samsung also last month uncovered a Galaxy S4 version with 16MP camera and Xenon flash on the back.
Nevertheless, with the latest Lumia 1020, the Finnish mobile maker is hoping to make a comeback with a bang.
With the latest Dual Capture technology, the device can take two shots simultaneously, one at 38-megapixel resolution for photo editing and the other at 5-megapixel for uploads to social media.
The Lumia 1020 also houses the Nokia Pro Camera app and Nokia Rich Recording video capturing technology.
Designed with a 4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ Amoled display, the Lumia 1020 runs a 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 2GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The handset holds a 2,000mAh battery.
Starting July 26th, the Lumia 1020 will carry a price tag of $299.99 with a two-year contract in the US via AT&T carrier.


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Perhaps anticipating that event, Barbara yesterday sent me a copy of a speech she gave five years ago at the Washington Ethical Culture Society, where she is a very active member. It reminded me in many ways of the reflection I posted fifteen months ago when I turned eighty.
With Barbara's permssion, I reproduce it here. It will give all of you some sense of what an extraordinary person she is. She did not include the graphs to which she refers.
Platform delivered at the Washington Ethical Society, August 15, 2010
Sometime early last spring, Mary Herman called and asked if I would give a platform in August. I said sure, and promptly forgot about it. Then, last May my son Josh was up here talking to you, and the commitment came back, now with considerably more urgency. Mary's request was apparently motivated, at least in part, by the WES theme for the summer, which is science. Having done many things in my working life, I have now returned, in retirement, to my original fascination with science. For the last several years I've been teaching biology at a local program for retirees at
. So I guess I was an obvious candidate for a
science platform. American University
But who on earth wants a biology lecture on a Sunday morning in August? What was I to do? Clearly, the first step was to bag the science theme. And in fact, something much more pressing is happening to me – I am about to turn 80 years old. Now, we've all been through 'milestone' birthdays, and so we all have some idea of the combination of disbelief and the need to take stock that they bring up. But 80??? I have no idea how to process this rather bizarre occurrence.
Like everyone, I have always had conceptions of what was 'old age.' When I was young, people who were middle-aged looked old to me. I once described my fifty year old father as elderly. He was not amused. And my grandmother, though quite spry well into her 90s, was clearly old. But not me!!! So I thought that preparing a platform might provide a good opportunity to examine what it means to me to be 80.
Often, when I think about my life, I think of a graph. So I decided to call the platform, The Shape of a Life. I'm going to say lots more about the graph in a few minutes, but now I want to make a connection to science. As I sat at my computer musing, I noticed a book in my bookcase that I like a lot. It is called The Shape of Life; it's written by a scientist named Rudolf Raff. This was definitely too much of a coincidence. There must be a deeper meaning to it all! Thinking more about the connection brought me to sea urchins. Yes, you heard correctly, SEA URCHINS. Have you ever seen a sea urchin? Probably not. They're pretty nondescript. But they are quite fascinating (to a biologist), and Rudy Raff has spent a lifetime studying them.
One very interesting thing about some sea urchins is that they go through metamorphosis. You're familiar with this – many insects do it – insects start out as a larva, become a pupa, and then become an adult. I'm talking about sea urchins only because I noticed Rudy Raff's book. The process they go through is roughly the same as with insects. Let me tell you something about sea urchins. (So – here is the science lecture after all!)
Sea urchins begin their development as all multicellular animals do. Two sex cells, the sperm and the egg, fuse to form a single cell called the zygote. The zygote divides, first to 2 cells, then to 4, then to 8, and so on. In this process, every cell that is produced has the same genome—the same set of genes. But in any particular part of the animal, at any particular moment, only some of these genes are active, or as biologists say colloquially, only some genes are turned on.
Animals that metamorphose have a particularly interesting developmental pathway. Very early in the process of forming the larva, groups of cells are set aside that will ultimately be used to begin the transformation to the adult form. While the sea urchin is functioning as a larva these cells lie dormant, not dividing and not taking any part in its life processes. Yet they are an integral part of the animal in that they carry the same identity as the larva.
When a signal arrives for metamorphosis to begin, the tissues of the larva are broken down into their constituent molecules. The cells that were earlier set aside then begin to develop into adult structures. They use the raw materials that originally constituted the larva, and the information in the genome, to form an entirely new kind of organism, the adult.
Why have I told you all this? Because I want to use this process of metamorphosis as a metaphor for what happened to me in my life. Now it is time to turn back to the graph. About 20 years ago, I gave a talk about my life to a group I belonged to at the World Bank. Here's the graph I drew for that talk. On the X axis is age. On the Y axis is success. In a little while I'll say more about how 'success' is defined. Right now, just imagine it is whatever you think it is and you will have the general idea.
Very early in my life, when I was 17, I had a wild success. My science teacher in high school groomed me, and others, to enter the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. This is a science prize given to high school students who take a test and do some sort of science project. It is now run by Intel instead of Westinghouse. The test is given nationwide and the pool narrowed to several hundred kids, who are all guaranteed Honorable Mention. Another selection process yields 40 finalists, who come to
for the last round. In
that last round I won one of two top prizes (the one for girls!). Washington
Then, four years later, I graduated from
with highest
honors in Biology. Swarthmore
I feel awkward telling you this history. It's not something I bring up often. But it is essential to my story.
Now, in my world, in those days, the most prestigious goal I could achieve would be to become a research scientist. By age 21 it seemed I was well on my way.
However, after college, something strange happened. It began when I went to graduate school at Harvard. For a bunch of reasons, my experience at Harvard was a great disappointment. But I soldiered on, and eventually was awarded a PhD. Following a well-beaten track, I got a post-doctoral fellowship in a wonderful laboratory. But my professional life continued to deteriorate. Hard as it was to admit to myself, I hated working in the laboratory. I hit bottom when I was 30. That's this point here. [on the graph] I found myself taking naps in the ladies room during the day. Clearly something was drastically wrong. I resigned my fellowship and sank into a depression so deep I could scarcely find the energy to walk to the end of the driveway to get the mail.
Like the sea urchin undergoing metamorphosis, I literally came apart. Of course I didn't disintegrate physically, like the sea urchin. But my aspirations, my expectations and standards about what constituted a valuable and productive life, in short my very conception of myself, needed to be completely dismantled before I could reconstitute myself, just as the larval sea urchin's body dissolves until only the basic molecules, the genome, and the special groups of cells are left. Let me be a bit more specific. I had grown up believing that science was the most prestigious field, and doing research was the most laudable science occupation. Now I had to give that up. And worse yet, I had nothing to replace it with!
Luckily, a few months later, my first child was born. (That's the Josh that many of you know!) Having a baby was enough of a distraction that I was able to pull myself out of the depression, and set aside the identity problems. A bit later my daughter was born, providing me with some more breathing time. Then, when I was about 35, the slow rebuilding process began. It was still underway when I gave that talk at the World Bank 20 years ago. As the graph shows, I knew the curve was still rising. But I was very pessimistic about ever reaching the height of the earlier peak I'd reached between 17 and 20.
I didn't realize it at the time, but I know now, that in part my pessimism was the result of the way I was defining success. As you will have noted from what I've said about those early years, my definition of success was completely external – that is, it was based on what the rest of the world, including my family, thought of me. The inner truth about the science prize is that I KNEW that I really didn't deserve it, that it was the result of some lucky circumstances, and a glib tongue. Oh, of course I was smart, but so were lots of other people, and in particular the 39 other contestants were REALLY smart. What I did was nothing special. Four years later, the award of highest honors was a little less a reflection of luck and more a matter of work, but luck played a big part there too. Behind all the insecurity I knew one thing – I was fascinated by genetics and evolution. But I had no idea where that fascination could possibly fit into my life. So, at age 35, when the reconstruction process began, I not only gave up my notions about what constituted success--that is, being a research scientist. I also gave up my fascination with biology.
The years between 35 and 65 were, in their way, remarkable and satisfying. I really did recreate myself, several times! I ended my career as the Ombudsman of the World Bank—quite a distance from being a laboratory scientist. I no longer felt so alienated from what I did professionally. But, looking back, its clear to me that what I did in the work world did not truly engage all of me. So, when I retired I began the reconstruction process all over again. (One thing I did, by the way, was to join WES—a good move!) Fortunately I was free of the necessity of earning a living (thanks largely to the Bank, but also to other pensions, including social security). Among other things, I began reading books about science. But it was almost ten years before I actually found myself teaching biology. And immediately, I knew I had found my niche. I am, as it turns out, a good teacher. But more important, I care deeply about the ideas that permeate everything I teach. In fact, I have become something of a missionary. I truly believe that enlightened citizens, today, need to understand how our biology – that is how we are put together and function as living organisms – should be playing a central role in how our society is organized.
Let me take another science detour, and give you a flavor of two of the topics that fascinate me and what I think you, as intelligent citizens, should know about them.
The first has to do with genes. When I was in school, everyone thought of genes as beads on a string. When the idea of a gene was invented, no one knew what they were. By my high school days we knew that the string was the chromosome. All research in genetics and evolution treated the genes as independent entities, not interacting with one another. Furthermore, most research questions were about connecting external features of organisms, what we call traits, with genes. So it was natural to use 'gene for' language. There was a gene for this and a gene for that. Some traits didn't fit the paradigm, like height. But adjustments were easy to make. This 'gene for' language grabbed the public imagination, and continues to be deeply entrenched in the way all of us talk about heredity. And it is basically WRONG (or at least grossly misleading). The more we learn about living organisms, the more wrong it gets. It leads to formulations that are sometimes ridiculous and sometimes pernicious. Some examples: there's a gene for marital infidelity, or a gene for violent behavior, or a gene for homosexuality, or a gene for musical talent. You get the idea, because if you pay any attention at all to science reporting in the media, you've heard it or read it dozens of times. Why is it wrong? It's a long story, but one which all of you can understand, without any special knowledge of genetics. Take one of my courses and you'll see how straightforward it is!
A second topic that fascinates me is a bit less accessible. It has to do with how novelty arises in living organisms. You will remember that
's famous
book was called On the Origin of Species.
Well, the truth is, Darwin had practically nothing to say about this
topic, since the knowledge needed to think systematically and constructively
about it simply didn't exist in his time.
One thing Darwin
believed deeply, and what his book was at pains to demonstrate, is that new
species were not the work of a designer.
Everyone understood that 'designer' was a euphemism for God but he tread
very carefully in this area. One
important reason is that such talk deeply offended his wife. Darwin
With regard to evolution, I think it is important for the intelligent public to be able to differentiate between those who deny evolution because they want or need to attribute life to a deity and those who have genuine questions about the explanations they encounter in school and the media., which often do not seem to make sense. Even where evolution is actually taught, it is often taught badly – at least to my way of thinking.
On a more general level, I believe that societies are going to be called upon to make increasingly nuanced and difficult decisions about the ethical consequences of biological technologies, for example, the capacity to manipulate genomes and transfer genes between species. To participate effectively, we need to be sophisticated in our understanding of both the ethical and biological dimensions of such issues. In my view, we, as a humanistic religious society, have a heavy task in front of us.
Ok, enough biology. Now, for an important caveat: You will have noticed that I've said little about my family and friends. They are tremendously important to me, and greatly enrich my life. In telling the full story of my life, they would have a huge role to play, but I've chosen today to focus on only one small part – that is, me and biology.
Now, back to the shape of my life. A question may have occurred to you: During that long time between 35 and 65 did I know how it was all going to turn out? Of course not. But one thing was always obvious. Whenever I looked back, I could see that, no matter what the ups and downs of the moment, where I was now was basically better than where I'd been. But even more important, I felt less and less of a fraud. The gap between who I felt myself to be and how I appeared on the outside got smaller and smaller. There were a few occasions, like the talk at the World Bank, when I was asked to reflect on my life, and as I did so, I began to see patterns emerging. But only now am I aware of how coherent the whole story is. Not only that, as I approach the end, I can look forward as well as backward. What do I see? Well, on the downside, my body is beginning to fall apart. I guess that's inevitable. That's why I'm sitting instead of standing. But on the upside, until nature intervenes, I expect to continue to experience the deep satisfaction of doing things I love and I'm good at.
So what does my life look like from the perspective of 80? I've drawn a new graph that says it all!