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The Isle of Champions
Sina Savri
The holy city-state of Savras and its surrounding farmlands have been a work of extraordinary agricultural efficiency for an age. The Red River was dammed shortly after its founding, and the resulting reservoir was channeled through canals and aqueducts to irrigate soil in a land that was rich in nutrients but severely lacking in rainfall, and consequently had been passed over by earlier settlers. However, the dams—known as the Red Eyelids—are a tool of central authority as much as they are a tool of prosperity, for few will dare to challenge the laws of the castes that control the dams. "Rebels, dissidents, and heretics are an affront to Savras," notes the High Sanyar, Mohinder Sastikar. "His Red Eye shall not weep for their livelihoods, nor for their lives."
Sina Savri's highest caste is the elite priesthood, called the Sanyari, which holds legislative and judicial power to interpret the will of Savras. However, Sanyar power is occasionally rivaled and contested by the second-highest caste, the Padizhari—an executive caste that emerged from guilds of police, mercenaries, and great merchants in recent centuries, and which has established a hereditary monarchy and system of pseudo-feudal loyalty in cooperation with the lower castes. Padizhar rulers are known by the titles Rana or Rani, with a monarch called a Maharana or Maharani.
Beneath the Padizhari are the Hajindari, who emerged from trade guilds of moderate power and influence, including the lesser merchants, the farmers, and the skilled craftsmen. Powerful Hajindars may acquire the favor of Padizhar nobles, and the corresponding title of Mirza or Mirzina to denote a minor position in the hierarchy of feudal nobility. Beneath the Hajindari are the Mamkuli, the people of the minor guilds and unskilled or menial laborers.
At the very bottom of the hierarchy is the nameless caste of untouchables, not even considered by many to be a true caste. It consists of the guildless, the homeless, the indigent, and those who perform services considered unclean by the Sanyars—including but not limited to winemakers, prostitutes, purveyors and manufacturers of narcotics, illusionists (whether real or fraudulent), butchers, leatherworkers, and any sanitation workers who regularly come into contact with sewage. Note that these services may not necessarily be illegal—indeed, some may be essential to the functioning of the city. However, this does not alter the Sanyari's stance that such people are to be ostracized and avoided, lest their spiritual impurity taint the higher castes. The vast majority of orcs and half-orcs within Sina Savri belong to this caste.
Some additional pseudo-castes exist as offshoots of the four primary castes, generally with significantly less power and influence than true members of the caste from which they originate. This includes the Sadhu, low-birth acolytes raised up from the streets by charitable Sanyars to become aides in temple rites. It also includes the Elavadu, often called "knights"; knights generally have performed some great service to the crown or to a noble house, and were consequently rewarded with the opportunity to swear adherence to a Sanyar code of honor, to the Maharana, and to a Rana or Mirza's noble house, in exchange for minor noble status of their own and the honorific "Sir" or "Dame".
It is speculated that the strictness of Sina Savri's caste system may have been deliberately influenced, in whole or in part, by special interests in Old Caligulon who desired a small and easily corruptible ruling class through which to indirectly control a much larger population of slaves. Whether or not these claims are true, the caste system has endured Caligulon's fall, and will likely continue to dominate the city's political climate for years to come.


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Rajasthan inks deal for clean drinking water in Barmer
Jaipur, Jan 7 (IANS) Rajasthan on Thursday signed an agreement with Cairn Enterprise Centre Society, supported by oil and gas exploration company Cairn India, to provide clean drinking water in Barmer district.
As per the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the public health engineering department and Cairn Enterprise Centre Society, water plants will be established and maintained to provide clean drinking water to more than 800 villages in Barmer, a part of the Thar desert where drinking water is a precious commodity.
"The initiative will involve setting up of 333 small scale reverse osmosis (RO) plants (1,000-3,000 litres per hour capacity) over the next three years to provide safe drinking water to a large number of people (estimated in excess of one million) living in 800 villages," Cairn India spokesperson Arun Arora said in a statement.
Cairn India's major oil fields are in Barmer district, where the company produces over 175,000 barrels of oil per day.
Cairn India had initiated the "Jeevan Amrit" pilot project in 2014 in collaboration with the state government to ensure safe drinking water to people in Barmer and Jalore through the establishment of reverse osmosis facilities.

subset: commoncrawl


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money makes the world go round
Money gets a really bad rap. The root of all evil? I thought that was overly religious Republicans… or the crazy Muslims who thinks Jihad is a good idea. There is no shortage of crazy, evil ideas – and people with access to guns or explosives – in the 21st century. So money – be it in the form of cold, hard paper currency or even colder and harder gold – seems benign by comparison.
And money has done at least as much good for the world as modern medicine or the enlightenment. So says Niall Ferguson in "The Ascent of Money". Nothing makes my heart beat faster than a smart guy who combines great articulation with a reverence for facts. Both sadly too easily fluffed over in the 21st century where anything over 200 characters is deemed too hard. What happened to the idea that we have BIG brains, not small ones?
And those who exercise their brains in the same way Olympic athletes with great abs do will appreciate that money is not inherently evil. It really is the stuff that makes the world go round and is a greater force for potential good than almost anything else.
But it is also the currency of the Antichrist… so you gotta think about how you are accumulating and spending those dollars, whatever their format.
I am a big proponent of the concept of money as a force for good. And even more important than money is markets. And jobs. But none of them exist without money.
Money. Risk. Markets. They drive our daily life. But most people yawn when they hear any of those words. People in the developed world yawn. But people in the developing world may not be able to articulate the words, especially in English, but they have a much more personal feeling about what they mean.
One of the travel experiences I know I will never forget happened last year in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. It is one of the most spectacular geological formations on earth and chock-a-block with the closest thing to tame wild animals. You still shouldn't pet the lions – but the animals will mostly not run away.
Just being there would have been enough but since I was travelling alone I had spent the previous evening having dinner with our ranger Alex so we were chatting when we stopped for lunch amid all the other tourist vehicles. He had been reconnecting with friends and it was a familiar scene in an unusual setting. Because we had become more friends than ranger/tourist by that point, he introduced me to his friends and noted how happy everyone was and how fun it was to catch up… because they had jobs.
There has been lots of talk about unemployment in the developed world over the past few years – and I have been there so I know how it feels. But unemployment when you have been born into the privileged part of the world and unemployment when you have been born into a part of the world where having a good job is like winning the lottery are totally different things.
When I was in Tanzania, I travelled with &Beyond and I would encourage everyone to do a trip with them. I have never encountered an organization that gave capitalism such a great name. They make a profit. They are well organized. Their employees love them. They give back to the community via a foundation that does everything right.
Money is not evil. Only people are. So use your money to make the world a better place. Think when you spend. Help to create markets that make the world a better place. Read Niall's book. He is a fantastic writer. The book is subtitled "A Financial History of the World."
A bit ambitious? Without question. The message that I took away was how important finance has been to human development. Just ask a gorilla to break a twenty dollar bill 🙂 But what I think we all need to embrace is how we as individuals can create jobs, markets and world prosperity every time we leave the house – or go on-line to buy something.
Money can make the world a better place. Finance matters. Money can be evil. Money can buy guns, slaves and votes. But money can be used for microfinance loans, for medicine and for education. In the developed world we are all rich people by world standards – what kind of rich person do you want to be? Let your spending reflect your conscience.


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Zeleny and Rutenberg follow their "Ricketts plan" scoop with a look at Ricketts, the man.
Mr. Ricketts was shown the commercial at an initial meeting at Mr. Davis's offices in California, which Mr. Ricketts requested as he sought to build a team of top Republican strategists to lead his foray into the presidential campaign. (Aides acknowledge that a second meeting followed in New York, where, they say, he gave Mr. Davis general directions to move ahead with a plan that would create maximum impact for $10 million but did not specifically approve one based on Mr. Wright.)But he had nothing to do with anything! All of a sudden, it's like rich people can't get away with things. Tad DeHaven accuses the Republican frosh of drinking the Kool Aid.
I am not sure what Matt Miller is trying to say here.


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I also keep heartburn, Is this known to be a part of Diabetes ? And it really gets worse at night mostly wakes me up at night along with the sweats!!
6 replies
Thanx jayabee' i will do so when i go back to see my Dr. And ty as well Harlen i will ask about Protonix ' I really do need to take of this not just 4 my health but to be able to get relief from it would be a blessing, Ty all 2 who had replied on my question.
Kats, please get to your Dr. Perhaps have your Dr refer you to a Gastroenterologist. As diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all condition, you could be experiencing GERD (look it up in Google) OR delayed gastric emptying, which can mess with your BG#s, or any other digestive peoblem. OCCASIONAL heartburn is not something to worry much about. But heartburn which occurs with regularity, needs to be looked at by a Gastro Dr soon! If you delay you may destroy your esophagus, and be in a world of hurt.
I pray it is easily remedied, and no damage has been done
Blessings to you and yours
I use to get heartburn before I was diagnosed, now, I wonder if it had to do with high bg #'s…from my observation, I would say yes. Because now that I have bg #'s under control, I do not have this problem..
I agree with MewElla. Except for the time my bone density med. had to be changed to Boniva. Now as long as my BS stays under control I don't have a problem either.
Next Discussion: Headaches - common or problem? »


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Hey there! I know many of you are busy getting last minute shopping done and putting the final touches on your hand made gifts and cards. But I thought I'd share with you the cards and gifts I made for my sons to give to their teachers today, just in case there's a last minute gift you need to hand out to some special people.
First the cards. Let me just start off by saying that I cheated just a tiny bit. I needed something quick and, yes, I'll admit it, I was getting a little tired of making Christmas stuff and just wanted to be done already! So when I saw these beautiful downloadable gift tags on the Dear Lillie blog I knew I had found the solution to making some beautiful, quick and simple cards for the school teachers. Thanks, Dear Lillie!!
Here are the cards. I printed out the Silent Night tags, adhered them to a dark brown card and then simply added some ribbon and called it done.
A beautiful pinkish red ribbon for the female teachers and green polka dot ribbon for the male teachers.
Here's a close up look at the pretty script.
As a simple hand made gift for the teachers I decided on hot chocolate on a stick. You may have seen this before, but I saw it for the first time last year around Christmas, thought it was genius, and knew I had to make some of my own this year. I used this recipe and it turned out great!
I packaged them into simple stamped brown paper sacks because that was all I had on hand. Half a dozen hot chocolate sticks fit nicely into each sack. A coordinating ribbon and a tag to explain the contents finished it off.
It's rich, but it's really good! Each batch makes 36 servings, so you get a lot! I made two batches of the hot chocolate on a stick. One for the teachers and the other for us to enjoy and to share with family on Christmas Day.
So, if you're looking for a fun Christmas treat to make or need a last minute gift to hand out, this may be it. it's been declared a winner at our house!
Also, a friend shared this on facebook today and I think it's just so cute. It made me smile. Actually it made me laugh out loud. So I thought I'd pass it along to you to enjoy as well.
Happy 3 days before Christmas!!!
supplies: card stock: Stampin' Up!; ribbon: Stampin' Up!, Papertrey ink; print out: Dear Lillie


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2014 Nordica Steadfast Ski Review
Average Rating:
All Mountain skis are for on-trail; some off-trail ability
Medium – ideal for all-mountain, off-trail versatility
Stiff - advanced to experts who want power and control
Tip Rocker/Camber skis for edge hold; easy turn initiation
Our Price: $454.95
Reg. $749.99(39% OFF)
Watch 2014 Nordica Steadfast Ski Video Reviews:
Read the Review Transcript:
I'm Adam and I was just skiing on the Nordica Steadfast. 5 out of 5. I absolutely loved this ski. It's a great ski for the advanced skier who's going to spend most of their time on-piste but want to venture off a little bit. 90 at the waist so it's got a little bit of waist width, got a little bit rocker and a full sidewall to it so it's really snappy for short quick turns. Holds a great edge on long turns too. If you're looking for a good ski that can take you anywhere, maybe put a tele-binding on it, this would be a good one for ya.
Read the Review Transcript:
Hey, it's Hunter here. I just got off the Nordica Hell-and-Back Steadfast and this is for sure a 5 star ski. this is for your all-mountain charger, maybe east coast focus who wants a scalpel. I got silly and stupid on this. I stood on this ski as hard as I could. just took it. No whimpers, no complaints. Great edge hold but it doesn't beat you up when you're not pushing it. A great ski that's deceptively powerful.
Read the Review Transcript:
Hi, I'm Thom and I'm here with the Nordica Steadfast. This guy is 5 out of 5. Super, super fun ski. High energy. Tons of power, tons of edge hold but it doesn't beat you up. It kind of politely tells you, I'm going to explode out of the turn and then does. It's a really unique feel. It's very controlled, very precise but still very powerful and exciting. It's really for your frontside carver that wants something a little wider that's got some off-piste characteristics to it but really, with as mellow as it kind of presents itself, you could put a solid intermediate all the way up through an expert level skier on this and they would have just a fantastic time.
Read the Review Transcript:
Kyle here. i just got off the Nordica Steadfast. I give this ski a 4 out of 5. It skied really great all over the mountain. It's mostly a groomer ski but if you want to go off trail with it it still has enough girth to get around any kind of off-trail, so like trees, skiing bowls, a little bit of powder and stuff like that. It's really well but on the groomers is really where it shines. It holds an edge really good and rebound in the turns really easy so I really like this ski. Gave it a 4 out of 5.
Read the Review Transcript:
Hi, this is Trey. Just got done riding the Steadfast from Nordica. I'm going to give this ski 4 out of 5 stars. I think that if you like to cruise and you're going to ski the frontside mainly, do some stuff off-piste and in some crud, it's a really good ski. For me, I like something that's a little bit more playful so if you maybe have a race background or you're really into carving big solid turns, this ski is great. It holds really well. Still has enough energy in it to bring it back and forth quickly if you need to. I just prefer something just a little bit more playful.
Read the Review Transcript:
Hi, I'm Steve. I just got off the Nordica Steadfast. I give this ski 3.5 out of 5 stars. Of the Hell-and-Back series this was my least favorite of all of them. I actually like the model below this, the Avenger, better. And the model above this I loved even better so I don't really see a strong place for this. It's 90 in the waist but the 98 ski that's above it, the true Hell-and-Back ski, skied actually, I thought, narrower feeling than this one did. So, wasn't my favorite but it's a stable ski for that kind of person who's skiing mostly on hard pack but wants something in a 90 waist in case there's a little snow on that day.


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Music, the Breath and Health: Advances in Integrative Music Therapy
Satchnote Press
Item No. 834249
Alt. Part # 9780980135527
UPC Code 9780980135527
Music, the Breath and Health: Advances in Integrative Music TherapyEdited by Ronit Azoulay and Joanne V. Loewy 316 pages The breath affects multiple dimensions of our;health.; Scientific research is increasingly demonstrating the influence of breath on emotion, physical health, resilience and
Music, the Breath and Health: Advances in Integrative Music TherapyEdited by Ronit Azoulay and Joanne V. Loewy 316 pages The breath affects multiple dimensions of our;health.; Scientific research is increasingly demonstrating the influence of breath on emotion, physical health, resilience and vitality.; Music offers a unique contribution to breathing function: Listening to music can impact breathing rhythms; live music entrained to breathing rhythms may support interpersonal connections; and active music-making using the breath directly (e.g., wind instrument playing and/or singing) can support optimal respiration.; Integrative music therapy incorporates clinical interventions using music and breath within a holistic view of the patient and healthcare delivery. In this book, contributors from music therapy, medicine and related healthcare professions offer clinical methods and research on music, the breath and health across a variety of populations including pulmonary medicine, mechanical ventilation, coma, pain management, procedural support, childbirth, neonatal intensive care, oncology, end of life, psychotherapy and wellness. Contents Preface ,,; Joanne V. Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC Introduction ,,; Ronit Azoulay, MA, LCAT, MT-BC Part I: Music and the Breath Chapter 1, Music Entrainment for Breathing Regulation ,,; Joke Bradt, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC Chapter 2, Breathing in Music: A Case-Based Presentation in Three Parts ,,; Clive Robbins, DMM, DHL, MT-BC & Joseph Piccinini, MA, LCAT, CMT Chapter 3, Opening to Breath: An Examination of Breath and Process in Embodied Voice Work ,,; Lisa Sokolov, MA Chapter 4, Music AS A Life Force Energy ,,; Louise Montello, DA, LCAT, LP, MT-BC Part II: Music Therapy and Pulmonary Care Chapter 5, Music Therapy and Integrative Pulmonary Care ,,; Jonathan Raskin, MD & Ronit Azoulay, MA, LCAT, MT-BC Chapter 6, Clinical Improvisation with Winds: Enhancing Breath in Music Therapy ,,; Joanne V. Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Ronit Azoulay, MA, LCAT, MT-BC, Brian Harris, MA, LCAT, MT-BC & Erica Rondina, MA, LCAT, MT-BC Chapter 7, The Use of Musical Wind Instruments with Patients Who Have Pulmonary Diseases: Clinical Recommendations for Music ,,,,,;Therapists ,,; Ellen-Griggs-Dane, PhD, MT-BC Chapter 8, An Individalizes Intervention to Improve Asthma Management Among Urban Latino and African-American Families ,,; Sebastian Bonner, PhD, Barry J. Zimmerman, PhD, David Evans, PhD, Matilde Irigoyen, MD, David Resnick, MD, Robert D. Mellins, MD Chapter 9, The Asthma Initiative Program: Medical Music Psychotherapy with Children and Teens with Asthma ,,; Brian Harris, MA, LCAT, MT-BC & Erica Rondina, MA, LCAT, MT-BC Chapter 10; A Music Psychotherapy Approach for the Treatment of Adults with Pulminary Disease ,,; Ronit Azoulay, MA, LCAT, MT-BC Part III: Music Therapy and Mechanical Ventilation Chapter 11; Integrative Music Therapy and Physical Therapy for Patients on Mechanical Ventilation ,,; Kathy Jo Gutgsell, BSN, MT-BC Chapter 12; The Use of Music Therapy for Patients Being Weaned from Mechanical Ventilation: A Piolt Study ,,; Rosemary Olivia, LCAT, MT-BC, Bryan C. Hunter, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC, Olle Jane Z. Sahler, MD, D'Arcy Gaisner, MS, NP, & ,,; Diane M. Salipante, MSN, APRN-BC Chapter 13; The Breath of Innocents: Music Therapy with Children in States of Severely Impaired Consciousness ,,; Liza WU, MA, LCAT, MT-BC & Anya P. Ismail, MA, MT-BC Chapter 14; The Clinical Use of Piano with Patients Suffering from Breathing Distress Related to Pain ,,; Marcela Lichtensztejn, MA, LCAT, MT-BC, NRMT Chapter 15; Musical Sedation: Mechanisms of Breathing Entrainment ,,; Joanne V. Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC Part V: Music and the Breath Across the Lifespan - Childbirth, NICU, and End of Life Care Chapter16; Dimensions of the Voice: The Use of Voice and Breath with Infants and Caregivers in the NICU ,,; Kristin Stewart, MA, LCAT, MT-BC, SEP Chapter 17; At First and Last Breath: Breathing with Music in Childbirth and Near the End of Life ,,; Suzanne B. Hanser, EdD, MT-BC Part VI: Related Creative Arts Therapy Perspectives Chapter 18; Breath: The Constant Dance ,,; Sharon W. Goodill, PhD, ADTR, NCC, LPC Chapter 19; Conscious Breathing in Drama Therapy ,,; Elisabeth Davis, MA & Lillie McCatty, MA Part VII: Future Implications Chapter 20: Future Implications ,,; Stephen Quentzel, MD, JD, MA Contributors Bibliography Glossary Index ;
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The purpose of this study is to test any good and bad effects of several different study drugs or drug combinations, each of which targets specific genetic changes found in some cancers. The first step is to determine if you can participate in this study (screening step). The purpose of this screening step is to perform tests on your tumor biopsy to find out if you have a gene change or mutation targeted by one or more of the drugs used in this study. The tests done on your tumor are investigational, and are done for the purpose of assigning a treatment on the MATCH study. The tests are not done for any routine clinical use nor can they determine if you have a gene mutation that can be passed on in families.
Parking will be validated for all study related visits.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.


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Amaal Malik: Dhoni biopic remains one of the toughest projects I've ever done
Music composer Amaal Malik says every film has a different flavour and he wants to compose music that gives identity to the film.music Updated: Jun 15, 2017 17:59 IST
Singer-composer Amaal Malik doesn't want to get stuck with one genre. Hence, the 25-year-old jumps genres to stay versatile. "I don't want to get typecast in the industry, as people do that quickly here. I have to keep reinventing and jumping genres so that I stay different," he says.
Amaal insists that every film has a different flavour, and he wants to compose music gives that identity to the film. "You can't have a Sooraj Dooba hai (song in 2015 film Roy) in every film. Every film has its own storyline, and you have to compose a song and its music accordingly. You can't just make five superhit songs for a film and think it'll work every time," he says.
Last year, he composed music for the film M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, and this year he has composed for Badrinath Ki Dulhania and Noor.
"In Dhoni, I had to follow one sort of soundscape.The story revolved around a sportsperson. I couldn't do much. It still remains one of the toughest projects I've ever done. Then you have a quirky film such as Badrinath, so I had to compose songs accordingly. And then Noor, which is completely different. I used EDM templates for this film," says Amaal.
He is also reluctant to compose music for films which are similar to the one's he's composed for in the past. " I usually don't sign those kind of films. Last year, I did 12-14 songs in films, and I had jumped genres in all of them. To go back again and do the same thing is something that I don't really look forward to," he says.
Follow @htshowbiz for more
First Published: May 18, 2017 18:16 IST


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This is a case that showed that the so-called "Boston Stranglings" - a case that still divides opinions. Some firmly believe that Albert DeSalvo was the Strangler whilst many others believe there were several killers at large. But in the early 1970`s, Boston was plagued by another series of murders, namely those attributed to the "Hitchhiker Murderer." This monicker was through that a number of the victims were known to have hitched a lift either to school or to their job. One victim was Ellen Reich. This young woman from Emerson College was discovered in a closet in an empty apartment in Seaver Street, in the Roxbury district. An autopsy revealed that sexual activity had taken place before her murder but it was unknown if it was consensual or rape. Ellen had been strangled, then shot.
Another victim was Damaris Gillespie, 22. This young lady was seen on November 29th 1972, and then she was discovered more than twenty miles away in Billerica, on February 8th 1973. The Cambridge student had been strangled. A Police Officer on routine patrol had seen a man in driving a Cadillac, pestering a young girl walking down the street. Officer Conroy stepped in, but upon seeing him, the perpetrator sped off. During the chase, the driver fired at Police, and one officer returned fire, hitting the driver, and arrested him. It was December 26th 1973. He was Anthony Jackson. This murderer had an exceptionally high I.Q. but despite having the intelligence to reach any goal, he was a man who operated as a pimp and had a serious taste for violence and cruelty to women. He was convicted of a number of murders and received life without parole. Jackson has been linked to as many as twenty seven homicides, all the victims were young women. Police believe one victim was deposited in foundations of a building that was ready to be concreted over, in the Cambridge district. At least he is out of the way.


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What does it mean to teach and learn with a child on the autism spectrum? As we homeschool our son, Tom, age 14, we learn more about learning... and more about ourselves.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
When Are High Standards Too High?
We've had Tommy meet with a math tutor once a week, because I thought it was important to supplement TouchMath, which is calculation-oriented, with some content on number sense (focusing on the purpose of the calculations in real life, but also on non-calculation skills like graphing, understanding the concept of multiples, etc.). In conversation with our tutor, I said,
"I know Tom can multiply - but I don't think he has any idea of how to USE multiplication. I'm not even sure he fully understands that 6X3 is the same as 3X6, or the same thing as six groups of three."
"Actually," she replied, "lots of people don't understand that. I'm not sure I fully understood that until I was in high school."
REALLY?? Oh....
We went candlepin bowling, as usual on Saturday. As usual, Tom spoke to no one, and threw the ball two-handed (instead of the usual way, with one hand). He did well: around 70 points. Naturally, I wanted him to interact; to throw the ball "right;" to keep his eye on the scoring screen to know when his turn was up. In other words, I wanted him to act "normal."
But while he was doing his thing, another boy just his age was throwing a temper tantrum. I mean, a real doozy. Another boy his age was rolling the ball - and then rolling on the ground himself. These were not "special needs" kids: they were twelve-year-old boys who are NOT on the autism spectrum.
Later this week, I was talking with Tom's speech therapist.
"I just don't think he fully grasps the ideas of same and different or bigger/smaller," I said. "I mean, he can tell you three ways in which a swan is different from an eagle - but he can't tell you whether six is bigger than nine."
"But he could tell you if you put it differently. For example, if you said 'I have six toys and you have nine toys. Who has more toys?"
She went on to ask whether Tom had trouble in changing his schedule, based on our unpredictably changing job requirements. I responded that he really didn't - he's not an especially rigid person.
"That's huge!" she exclaimed. "Most kids have a very hard time when their routine is disrupted."
REALLY? ohhhh....
Last night, my husband Peter and a local selectman put on a "star party" (observing the moon and planets through telescopes) right down town in front of the library. I stayed briefly, but the kids hung out. One man said to me "wow - I never knew Jupiter had stars around it!" "Those are moons," I replied without thinking.
Y'know, Tom knows all about the moons of Jupiter. He can also name all the planets in order, and describe each. Hm..
Today, I took Tom, Sara, and a friend of hers for a little expedition. We went to a state park, and started exploring a trail. Within about a hundred feet, we knew we weren't on a "real" trail, but both my kids saw a quarry and wanted to check it out. The friend, who is very neurotypical indeed, was scared to stray off the trail - and almost burst into tears with anxiety. As we turned back, Tom wanted to know what the problem was. Why was Sara's friend crying? All he and Sara wanted to do was explore!
Later in the day, we took another path to the "sliding rock." It's a big boulder you can climb and slide down. My kids scampered to the top and slid without thinking twice. Sara's friend wouldn't even think of climbing to such a height. A perfectly reasonable anxiety - but one Tom has never shared.
This week, I also heard from a friend of mine. She has a 13 year old who is truly the perfect kid. He's tall, handsome, a fine athlete, a brilliant student - and a really delightful human being. Not only that, but so far as I can tell he's never had a pimple! I asked how he was. "Where do I start? " she said. "Well, Joey's been diagnosed with OCD. He got to the point where his rituals took two hours a day to complete, and what with traveling soccer four days a week and advanced high school classes, he just couldn't get through everything. So now he's seeing a therapist..."
Tom is, of course, my first child. I have no close nieces, nephews or neighbor children to compare him to. All I really know, as a result, is that he's twelve, and autistic. I know that some 12 year olds can stay home alone, call friends, make their own play dates, even pick up younger siblings at friends' homes. Tom could no more do those things than fly. But he CAN... evidently... do a great many other things that are beyond the reach of his typical peers.
Who knew?
1 comment:
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#Amazon is offering the #BLU #LifeOne 4G LTE handset for a miserly $99.99. This makes it one of the cheapest LTE offerings available in the market. For those unaware, BLU is a Florida based manufacturer that specializes in mid-range and budget devices. With a flurry of devices already in the markets, the company has made quite a name for itself in the American mobile industry.
The Amazon listing mentions that the handset is usually priced at $149, so you're getting a discount of nearly $50, which is quite decent considering what it brings to the table. On the hardware front, you're being treated to a 5 inch 720p display, a 1.2 GHz quad core Snapdragon 410 SoC, a 13-megapixel camera on the back, a 5-megapixel front camera, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage (expandable), Android 4.4 Kitkat and a 2,420 mAh battery.
As you can see, this here is a power packed device and offers the best hardware for the price mentioned. The pricing has remained consistent for a few weeks now, so you shouldn't have any trouble snatching up the Life One for just under $100.


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* If you do not have a deep 15/16" or 24 mm socket, a shallow socket with a short extension (1-2") will work.
When setting the engine to TDC on the compression stroke for cylinder #1, you must realize that the crankshaft rotates twice for every single rotation of the camshaft. So, if you simply set the crankshaft to TDC without looking at the position of the camshaft, you may actually be at TDC on the exhaust stroke for cylinder #1. So, after you get the crankshaft (by flywheel indication or by checking actual piston location), check the camshaft sprocket to make sure the camshaft alignment mark is at the TDC position as well.
Note: The crankshaft should not be rotated, manually or otherwise, unless the timing belt is installed with timing properly set or the camshaft housing assembly removed. This is done to prevent valve/piston damage.
The picture below was taken on my own car. The "OT" is not really visible in the clutch housing opening due to the rust on my flywheel. However, some time ago, I painted the TDC line on my flywheel with red fingernail polish so it would be clearly visible. From the angle this picture is taken it appears that the alignment mark is slightly off from the alignment tab in clutch housing but it's simply due to the angle. To correctly align the mark for TDC you need to be looking directly down on the opening.
Many people have trouble locating the opening in the clutch housing for the TDC mark. You'll note in the picture the close proximity of the opening to the speed/reference sensor mounting bracket (sensors removed in this picture).
In the picture below, you'll see what the "OT" mark would look like on the flywheel if it is clean (unlike the previous picture).
Note: If this is being performed by one person, the alignment mark on the camshaft sprocket can be used to determine when the engine is close to Top Dead Center (TDC). However, the flywheel should be used for final alignment in case the timing is off slightly. The camshaft sprocket alignment mark is visible through the opening in the front distributor housing cover just above the distributor cap.
Clark's Garage © 1998


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Status: Open
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first YellowBot user to add photos or videos of Robert's Fine Art & Framing
OMG I right love this place, the owners Robert and Elma are the best people ever. I have all my pictures framed by them and they keep impressing me each...
This is a great place to get those pictures and photos framed that you have always been wanting to do, my wife and I have had several items framed here and...
Roberts Fine Art & Frami was founded in 2001, and is located at 24050 Sunnymead Blvd in Moreno Valley.
Robert's Fine Art & Framing is located at 24050 Sunnymead Blvd, Moreno Valley, CA. This location is in the Edgemont Gardens neighborhood. This business specializes in Picture Framing.
If you don't see your business listed on YellowBot, please add your business listing.
YellowBot wants to get your input! If you have a comment, find a bug or think of something neat we should do, let us know by emailing us.
© 2007-2019 Solfo, Inc. – All rights reserved


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Let's make something yummy; raw food inspired candy bars!
I say inspired as some greater connoisseur than I might go all picky and point out on something that might not be considered truly raw food (I've read that most nuts are steamed a bit prior to peeling them which results in the loss of some of the good stuff, to get the real raw-nuts one should order them from the internet. I go for regular ones though. I also used regular roasted cocoa powder, not the one that is made by raw fermented beans). I have some books on raw food and read a couple of blogs about it. But although I find it appealing to eat partly pure and un-cooked I actually haven't been using such recipes that much, yet at least.
I was in the mood to make something filthy good but still healthy -and yes, in some cases you can actually combine those, but you can't really be among those to count calories then- so inspired by other recipes I put together a mix of good and healthy foods.
Scoop up the coconut oil n a small bowl and melt it by placing the bowl in hot water or in a pan with water on the stove. It will already melt in temperatures above +25 so you only need to heat the water a little bit. I used three huge (as in gigantic) scoops of coconut oil.
You do know cold pressed virgin coconut oil is like good for pretty much anything? So many things it almost sounds ridiculous? Google it. I use it for my skin and hair too; I have one jar for kitchen- and one jar for bathroom use.
Roughly grind the walnuts - I used about 40 grams - and cut the apricots into small pieces. I used something like 14 apricots. Then mash the soaked dates into a puree (too un-interesting to get a picture of it's own. I did try though).
Mix the melted coconut oil with one tablespoon of stevia, cocoa powder (three table spoons) and finely ground almonds in a bowl. If you have a fancy machine in your kitchen you can grind your specially ordered raw almonds yourself; I used normal almond flour from the store. I put half a bag of the flour; 40 grams.
Pour in the walnuts and apricots and blend.
I remember I also had some cocoa nibs at home so I put in a couple of table spoons of those too.
One could perhaps roll balls out of this but I decided to make bars (or squares) out of this, so I put it into a pan - about 1cm thick.
Let cool in the fridge for some hours. Here 's a picture of some white cats for a change while waiting.
Dum-du-dum dum.
When you're done waiting, take out the pan and cut the chocolate into bars or squares and serve.
This was a bit of an experiment, but they turned out good!
However, I would recommend not making those oil scoops too gigantic; less would do. Next time I think I'll use less oil, some more almond flour and perhaps some more dates. And a little less cocoa and a little more stevia.
(These should make it up to about a week in the refridgerator. You can also freeze them for later use.)
Since these turned pretty heavy I decided to have them with some fresh fruit. OK; berries.
And an episode of Game of Thrones.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Posted by The Freelancer's FashionBlog at 21:33
3 comments:
- Babi said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- 5 May 2012 at 12:30
- Babi said...
Good recipe! They look very good with strawberries! Generally I made a kind of brownies with orange (peel and juice). You have to prove it!
I love your blog, I discover it some days ago...sooner I will open my first blog!
Babi - http://www.voguebuster.net/
- 5 May 2012 at 12:31
- Chloe Ross said...
nice photos!:) Chloe X
- 9 May 2012 at 01:47
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- Audio
- Microphones
- Studio Mics
- Neumann U 89 I mt Large Diaphragm Microphone, Black
Neumann U 89 I mt Large Diaphragm Microphone, Black
|Product Code
Buy this from the A.C. Audio Online Store. Request more information or contact us now for purchasing information.
The U 89* is a studio microphone for universal applications. The headgrille protects a dual-diaphragm capsule. A rotary switch below the headgrille selects from five different polar patterns. Therefore the microphone can be adapted easily to large sound sources, and those that are spread wide apart, or to sound sources to be recorded at a greater distance.
The amplifier accepts sound pressure levels up to 134 dB without distortion. This figure can be increased to 140 dB. An additional rotary switch activates a filter that changes the low frequency response either below 80 Hz or 160 Hz frequency.
The U 89 i is similar in appearance to the U 87. It is of smaller size, and lighter weight. It features five instead of three directional characteristics and a higher maximum sound pressure level which make this microphone easier adaptable to different applications.
Polar patterns
In addition to the usual directional polar patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid, and figure-8, we have added a hypercardioid and wide-angle cardioid characteristic. When compared to the standard cardioid pattern, the hypercardioid characteristic suppresses sound from the side more efficiently. The wide-angle polar pattern is especially useful to record large sound sources.
Acoustic features
The microphone is addressed from the front, marked with the Neumann logo. The large diaphragm capsule has a very smooth frequency response for all polar patterns over a wide acceptance angle. The frequency response curves are flat up to 10 kHz within a pickup angle of ± 100°.
As a result the U 89 i has a very even diffuse-field response for all polar patterns. This is important in a reverberant environment when more reflections arrive at the microphone capsule. The acoustic information is not affected in its tonal quality when recorded by the microphone.
This characteristic is achieved without resorting to corrective resonance effects.
The capsule it is elastically mounted to avoid any structure borne noise that could interfere with its operation.
Filter and attenuation
The amplifier handles sound pressure levels up to 134 dB without distortion. With a self noise level of 17 dB (A-weighted) the total dynamic range is 117 dB. Maximum sound pressure level is 140 dB when the - 6 dB rotary switch is in the ON position.
A low frequency roll-off at 80 Hz or 160 Hz can be activated with another rotary switch below the headgrille. This filter suppresses low frequency interference, yet maintains an even frequency response for close-up sound sources, for example, when proximity effect could adversely affect the program material.
A steep high-pass filter in the LIN position prevents the output transformer of the microphone from being overloaded due to undesired subsonic frequencies.
Operational safety
All exposed surfaces of the microphone capsule, including the diaphragms, are at ground potential. This technology makes them highly immune to electrical and atmospheric interference and contamination through microscopic dust particles.
Variable large diaphragm microphone
Pressure-gradient transducer with double membrane capsule
Five directional characteristics: omni, wide angle cardioid, cardioid, hypercardioid, figure-8
Thereby most versatile in all recording situations
Two-stage roll-off filter
Switchable 6 dB pre-attenuation
Extended frequency range in comparison to U 87 Ai
A microphone for universal usage
Use as spot mic for wind instruments, strings, piano
Tech Data
Acoustical operating principle Pressure gradient transducer
Directional pattern Omnidirectional, wide angle, cardioid, hypercardioid, figure-8
Frequency range 20 Hz ... 20 kHz
Sensitivity at 1 kHz into 1 kohm 8 mV/Pa
Rated impedance 150 ohms
Rated load impedance 1 kohms
Equivalent noise level, CCIR1) 28 dB
Equivalent noise level, A-weighted1) 17 dB-A
Signal-to-noise ratio, CCIR1) (rel. 94 dB SPL) 66 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted1) (rel. 94 dB SPL) 77 dB
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%2) 134 dB
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5% with preattenuation2) 140 dB
Maximum output voltage 800 mV
Supply voltage (P48, IEC 61938) 48 V ± 4 V
Current consumption (P48, IEC 61938) 0.8 mA
Matching connector XLR3F
Weight 400 g
Diameter 46 mm
Length 185 mm
In the box
Microphone U 89 i (mt)
Wooden box
Equipment available to buy from this site is for professional use only. Please note in certain countries some products listed may not be available from A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd.
E&OE. Information is subject to change without notice. The rights and ownership of all trademarks are recognised.


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My brother told me a story a long time ago about how someone, when he went to Middle School, showed up for the first day of class dressed as a Ghostbuster. My brother then saw him a couple years alter, and all he could think of to say is "What's up, Ghostbuster!" Cause that guy never was any more or less than that embarrassing incident.
Which makes me think that in my Freshman year of High School, I had an I KILLED LAURA PALMER shirt, to which a senior later made a shirt that read I KILLED DAMON HOUX. Which may have been my Ghostbusters moment.
My brother said to me the other day that I can get away with hugging someone I don't know, and it's funny because that's something I've done for comedic effect more than once (when I was in London I hugged Edgar Wright... for jokes, mostly). And I realized recently that because of who I am, if I just showed up some place with a bunch of friends dressed as a Ghostbuster, I think people would be cool with it. They'd roll, they'd think I was just being a dick. Which is good and bad.


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After getting enough inspiration from the current trends and stats about mobile learning, the obvious next question that must be bothering you is – where and how to start?
Going Mobile for Enterprise Learning: Trends & Statistics
Did you know that the average smartphone today is more powerful than the PCs that took two astronauts to the moon in 1969?! We bet you didn't.
Origin Learning at mLearnCon 2015
This is an exciting time for mobile learning. New trends are already taking shape, the need for smartphones and tablets is fast becoming a necessity rather than a luxury, and instructional designers and content developers are busying


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JUNO: 3 1/2 Stars
I really loved this movie! I love Juno's sense of humor. I laughed alot! I also loved that it showed her emotions when it came close to the baby being due. Of course I love that this whole movie was positive towards adoption. The 2 things I hated was the fact that the husband was a creep and I didn't think they portrayed the adoptive Mom with the right emotions when the baby was placed with her. They should have consulted a few more adoptive Mom's on that one.
I love that Stacey (one of our Birth Mom's) gave this to me for Mother's Day! It was a perfect gift! Thanks Stac!
Cloverfield: 3 Stars
I have heard people bash this movie...but for me it was good. I was into it and on the end of the couch. I think it is a must see!
Jane Austen Book Club: 2 1/2 Stars
I didn't think I was going to like this when it first started. But as I watched it more it sucked me in. I love the ending....very Jane Austen like. I didn't like one of the relationships in the movie...yuck. That is why it gets a lower rating from me.
Invasion: 3 Stars
This was a good solid movie. I never saw the first one so I have nothing to compare it too. But I got into it. Not one that I would buy but a fun watch.
Bella: 3 1/2 Stars
This was a really beautiful film. It wasn't what I expected exactly but it was very touching. It portrays adoption in a positive light.
27 Dresses: 4 Stars
LOVED IT!!!! A little too much language....but story is soooo cute!! Gotta buy it!
I love movies! I am going with the kids and my Mom to see the new Chronicles of Narnia movie this Saturday. I can hardly wait!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Movie Critic.
I have been watching alot of movies lately. I thought I would just share what I think about them in case you are looking for a good movie.
My Ratings: Scale of 0-4 stars. 0 being the lowest and 4 the highest rating.
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Youth: Things That Remain (Le Cose Che Restano)
Episode 3
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Andrea, Michel and Lila are moving in with Shaba and Nino finds out exactly where he and Francesca's relationship is headed.
Actors: Majlinda Agay Riccardo Montanaro Marco Iannitiello Mambaye Diop Marco Sabatino
View all videos in Youth: Things That Remain (Le Cose Che Restano)


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Be sure to ask your veterinarian whether SILEO is right for your dog.
SILEO is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for canine noise aversion associated with fear and anxiety. SILEO has been proven to work on its own without other treatments or training. The name is pronounced /si-lehh-o/. It's a Latin word that means to "be silent."
SILEO is formulated as a gel that is absorbed into your dog's body when you apply it to the mucous membranes between your dog's cheek and gums. Dexmedetomidine (the active ingredient) calms your dog by preventing or reducing specific reactions in the nervous system.
Noise aversion is the set of anxiety- or fear-based behaviors that dogs can display when subjected to "noise triggers." More about noise aversion »
Refer to the instructions on when and how to give your dog SILEO.
SILEO is supplied in a 3-milliliter oral syringe. Each syringe comes with a dosing ring and end cap along with a prescribing information leaflet.
SILEO is administered by placing the gel between your dog's cheek and gums, allowing for transmucosal absorption.
Each dot is 0.25 mL; 4 dots is equivalent to 1 mL. You'll find the dosing chart here.
Six dots is equivalent to 1.5 mL, a dose volume that is too great to administer effectively to one side of the mouth without the risk of some of the dose being swallowed or flowing out of the mouth. Administering half of the dose on one side of the mouth and half on the other side maximizes absorption through the mucous membranes.
No. This will cause incorrect dosing. (Also, remember to wear impermeable gloves; see more in the Human Safety questions below.)
Yes, within four weeks, but only if there is enough gel remaining for a complete dose (to minimize the risk of incorrect dosing).
Both new and partially used syringes of SILEO should be stored in the carton provided (protected from light) at room temperature.
State and federal medical waste laws apply. The easiest method could be to place the used syringe back into the box and return it to the veterinary clinic. Ask your veterinarian about proper disposal of empty or partially used SILEO syringes.
Answers to most of your general dosage and directions questions can be found here.
Very few adverse events have been reported with the use of SILEO. Vomiting, sedation and/or drowsiness were infrequently reported.
Avoiding food and treats 15 minutes after dosing minimizes the risk of your dog swallowing any part of the dose.
Much of the excess gel may flow out of the mouth or be swallowed, which would limit the effects on your dog. In a worst case scenario where the entire syringe (3 mL) is accidentally applied to a smaller dog and is fully absorbed, mild to moderate sedation may occur. As always, contact your veterinarian in any situation where you feel your dog has received too much of the prescribed medication.
Although dexmedetomidine (the active ingredient in SILEO) cannot be absorbed through intact skin, it can be absorbed through breaks in the skin and through mucous membranes. Therefore, as a precaution, you should wear impermeable disposable gloves when administering SILEO to your dog.
In the case of accidental exposure to the skin, the area should be immediately and thoroughly washed; remove contaminated clothing and contact your physician if you have questions.
If SILEO comes in contact with your eyes, nose or mouth, it can be absorbed into your body, so you should flush the exposed area with water for 15 minutes. If you are wearing contact lenses, flush the eyes and then remove contact lenses and continue flushing; seek medical advice immediately. If the drug is absorbed into your body, it can cause symptoms such as lowered blood pressure (which may result in dizziness, fainting, lack of concentration, blurred vision, nausea, cold, clammy or pale skin, rapid, shallow breathing), sleepiness and slower heart rate. Share package information with your physician and tell him/her that SILEO contains an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist.
Although the active ingredient in SILEO, dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, is approved for use as a sedative for humans, it has not been evaluated in pregnant women. Therefore, pregnant women are warned not to administer SILEO to their dogs.
Look for these common behaviors.Use the Checklist
Important Safety Information: Do not use SILEO in dogs with severe cardiovascular disease, respiratory, liver or kidney diseases, or in conditions of shock, severe debilitation, or stress due to extreme heat, cold or fatigue or in dogs hypersensitive to dexmedetomidine or to any of the excipients. SILEO should not be administered in the presence of preexisting hypotension, hypoxia, or bradycardia. Do not use in dogs sedated from previous dosing. SILEO has not been evaluated in dogs younger than 16 weeks of age or in dogs with dental or gingival disease that could have an effect on the absorption of SILEO. SILEO has not been evaluated for use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs or for aversion behaviors to thunderstorms. Transient pale mucous membranes at the site of application may occur with SILEO use. Other uncommon adverse reactions included emesis, drowsiness or sedation. Handlers should avoid direct exposure of SILEO to their skin, eyes or mouth. Failure to lock the ring-stop on the syringe before dosing SILEO could potentially lead to an accidental overdose. Always review INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE before dispensing and dosing. See full Prescribing Information.
The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may not have marketing authorization or may have different product labeling in different countries. The animal health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with an animal healthcare professional. All decisions regarding the care of a veterinary patient must be made with an animal healthcare professional, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
SILEO® is trademark owned by Orion Corporation Orion Pharma Animal Health. It is manufactured by Orion Corporation and distributed by Zoetis under license from Orion Corporation Orion Pharma Animal Health.
©2018 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. SIL-00112R1


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I've always tried not to identify myself by race. All my life I've said it didn't matter, and I still believe it doesn't. I grew up in Sacramento, Calif., where it was not that unusual to have a black mother and a white father.
But since I've gotten older and left my hometown, I've gotten more looks and questions.
"Are you adopted?" That's the question people ask when they see my parents and me together.
"No," I reply.
"Are you sure?" they often counter.
I'm never quite sure how to answer that. I'm not completely sure. My parents tell me I'm their biological child, but I don't remember my birth.
I've seen the pictures, but the alienlike creature covered in goo could have been someone else. It doesn't look like me, but I don't think I'm adopted or was switched at birth.
I don't know what to say. So, I simply smile and reply jokingly, "Pretty sure," or "As sure as I can be."
The question has always bothered me. Even if I were adopted, would that mean that my parents aren't my parents? Would I introduce them as my adoptive parents? I don't think so.
My mother has a big Afro and coffee-brown skin; my father is white with straight, light-brown hair and blue eyes.
In "The Color of Water," the author's white mother tells her half-black, half-white son that he is "the color of water." But I am not the color of water; it's not that simple.
I look like the perfect mix of Mom and Dad. My hair is usually smooth but wavy and sometimes so frizzy that it looks as though I've been electrocuted.
Depending on the season, my skin ranges from almost pasty white to light brown to olive.
I'm honest about what I am, but people never think I'm black. Most people describe me as "exotic looking," which translates to, "What exactly are you?"
They think I might be Latina, Filipina, Asian, a Pacific Islander, or sometimes even Middle Eastern.
It's kind of a compliment, and I'm always impressed. The truth is so boring by comparison.
I went to a dinner with my mother and her Pakistani friend. The man stared at me and asked if I was Pakistani.
Mom said, "No, she's my daughter, and her father's white."
The man replied "Are you sure? Because you look like you could be from some particular region of Pakistan."
I giggled as the man pressed my mother with the usual guesses as to my race.
I don't want to sound like one of those mixed race, multiethnic, or whatever-you-call-them kids who tell how their lives were destroyed because they never fitted in or weren't a member of a single race. I'm not that.
Race was never an issue when I was growing up. In 2000, the Census Bureau rated Sacramento as one of the most diverse cities in the United States. And the different groups socialized, dated, went to school together, and married each other. Many of my friends were of mixed races, and no one cared.
But now, for the first time in my life, at the tender age of 21, my race has become a bigger deal.
My grandma wrote a book, "When We Were Colored: A Mother's Story," and I'm helping to promote it.
When I go to bookstores and tell people that my grandmother wrote a book about being "colored," they stare at me in disbelief.
I show them the family photo on the book cover and tell them that the chubby black baby on her father's lap is my mother. More disbelief.
They don't ask directly, but I can tell what they're thinking:
"What is this girl of unknown race [they may not be sure what I am, but I'm definitely not black] doing with a black mother and grandmother? And what is she doing using the word 'colored'? Doesn't she know that's not politically correct?"
(Grandma is working on a new book that she may call "Tales of a Negro Grandma," and I dread going to bookstores with that word.)
Still, people are always polite – just surprised. Sometimes they ask me what my family is like, fishing for an answer. Mostly, they say nothing.
I feel compelled to explain. I don't know why, but I think I should satisfy their curiosity, and I also feel I must prove that I am actually related to the beautiful black family on the book cover.
"My father's white," I usually say, and that takes care of it.
Book events are more troubling. My aunts and uncles are immediately recognized as the author's children, and people ask the black grandchildren, my cousins, if they're part of the family. But me – they just assume I'm some person hired to sell the book.
When customers ask to take pictures of the whole family, they give me that "Why is she trying to get in the picture?" look. That is, until my mother explains that I am her daughter. Then they smile and mumble something about multiculturalism.
It bothers me that people think I'm not related to my mother and grandmother because I'm proud of my family – proud that I come from a long line that endured slavery, survived segregation, and prospered.
My grandma's grandfather was born a slave. After the Civil War, he started a shoe shop in Atlanta that was so successful he was able to send his nine children to college.
I'm also proud of the white side of my family. They were Texas sharecroppers who came to California during the Depression. But that's another story.


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Launch of Dispatcher Phoenix ECM streamlines and maximizes enterprise efficiencies and high-volume scanning
Mississauga, ON (Marketwired) - Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Canada) Ltd. (Konica Minolta), a leader in smart office solutions, enterprise content management and cloud services, is expanding its award-winning solutions portfolio with the launch of a new version of its automated document workflow application, Dispatcher Phoenix® ECM. An ideal solution for companies requiring powerful Enterprise Content Management (ECM) capabilities, Dispatcher Phoenix ECM offers advanced batch scanning, batch indexing and document verification features, as well as a report generator tool and batch manager.
With Dispatcher Phoenix ECM, organizations can easily capture, organize and store their important business documents in content management systems such as Microsoft SharePoint, OnBase by Hyland, etc.
New offerings include:
Enhancements include:
"We have taken ECM solutions to a new level with high-volume batch scanning, indexing and advanced capture solution," said Norm Bussolaro, senior director, Marketing, Konica Minolta. "With Konica Minolta's Dispatcher Phoenix ECM, we can help companies drive productivity and improve their business efficiencies. It all begins with obtaining accurate data and making it available as easily and quickly as possible."
About Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Canada) Ltd. is a leader in information management focused on enterprise content, technology optimization and cloud services. Our portfolio of offerings deliver solutions to improve our customers' speed to market, manage technology costs, and facilitate the sharing of information to increase productivity. Our IT Services division, IT Weapons, offers a range of IT strategy, support, project and cloud computing solutions. Konica Minolta has won numerous awards and recognition, including placement in the Leaders Quadrant on the Gartner 2015 Magic Quadrant for Managed Print Services (MPS) and Managed Content Services (MCS). Konica Minolta has been recognized as the #1 Brand for Customer Loyalty in the MFP Office Copier Market by Brand Keys for nine consecutive years. Konica Minolta, Inc. has also been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for five years in a row. For more information, please visit: konicaminolta.ca and follow Konica Minolta on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter @KonicaMinoltaCA.
Dispatcher Phoenix is a registered trademark of Konica Minolta, Inc.
SOURCE: Konica Minolta


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'bright and responsive screen'
'great portable computing device'
'FaceTime calling capability.'
'Wonderful design'
'Its indoor video quality is poor, and without even basic controls for brightness and contrast, there's nothing you can do to compensate for bad lighting.'
'Slim design with larger screen.'
'The bundled headphones do a capable job of rendering FM-quality broadcasts but fall a little flat when it comes to high-quality audio files, and still struggle with sounds at either extremes -- rolling, deep bass or high trebles came out a little squidgy for our tastes.'
'I plugged several pairs of headphones into the new nano and I was as pleased as ever with the sound, playing MP3, AAC, and AIFF files.'
'The tiny screen will likely have you squinting at your vacation pics'
'A bit bulky.'
'The Zune packs enough grunt to play at a smooth frame rate and the pixel density means movies always look sharp.'
'The Zune's radio is dependent on a connected pair of headphones to act as an antenna'
'large, video-worthy screen'
'proprietary 30-pin iPod connection and headphone jack'
'The non-standard headset jack that prevents you from plugging most headphones directly into the iPhone is gone as well--'
'bigger, better LCD, touch screen controls, thinner frame, Wi-Fi access'
'little slow and browsing large volumes'
'sharp and sprawling 4.8-inch, 800-by-480-pixel touch screen'
'The player is a bit awkward to hold because the headphone jack is on the side, jabbing into the palm of your hand.'
'latest home entertainment and digital audio news'
'Videos are extremely sharp--you can even see the rippling of water and waving of grass leaves.'
'I found the included earbuds a bit uncomfortable to use for extended periods of time--they were a little big for me.'
'built-in noise-cancellation technology'
'Pros Gorgeous OLED screen.'
'excellent video format support'
'We became very skeptical of Archos's claim after we noted that a fully charged battery became 30 percent depleted after watching video for about an hour.'
'It was necessary to press the buttons slowly and forthrightly, and I found myself needing to repeat touches far too often.'
'The latest firmware (1.3.05) was very stable and worked in conjunction with the ARM Cortex processor to produce a lag-free experience when moving about the system.'
'Cons Interface is far from perfect.'
'The interface isn't all that difficult to master, but it looks and feels a little too hokey for our taste.'
'It makes it easy to make changes on the fly without have to dive into the menus.'
'most natural, full-bodied sound possible'
'lovely colour screen'
'such an attractively thin device'
'even good photos don't look so great when they're shrunk down to 1.5 inches across (the full-size iPod has a comparatively roomy 2-inch screen).'
'brilliant use of tough, anodized aluminum as the main exterior material'
ReviewGist helps you find the best products to buy by making sense of online reviews.
We are currently aggregating 376,500 reviews
covering over 29,483 products.
© 2019 ReviewGist.com. All Rights Reserved.


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More than half of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with methotrexate had persistent pain at 3 months, and even among those who had a good clinical response, almost one-third reported ongoing pain, Swedish researchers reported.
At 3 months -- the generally accepted time point for assessing the initial response to therapy -- 58% of patients were continuing to experience significant pain, according to Jon Lampa, MD, PhD, and colleagues from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
And 29% of those who fulfilled the criteria for "good response" according to the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) also had persistent pain, the researchers reported online in Arthritis Care & Research.
"In early arthritis, active joint inflammation causes a significant burden of pain. However, several earlier observations indicate an uncoupling of pain and joint inflammation during the disease course and that pain may persist in inflammatory remission," they wrote.
To explore this underappreciated aspect of the disease, Lampa's group conducted a population-based study of patients on standard care who were enrolled in the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register during the years 1996 to 2010.
Significant pain was defined as a score of 20 mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale.
EULAR responses are based on the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), incorporating both baseline DAS28 and change in score with treatment. For instance, a score that is 3.2 or lower at baseline and improves by 1.2 units is a good response, while a baseline score between 3.2 and 5.1 that changes by more than 1.2 units is a moderate response. A baseline DAS28 above 5.1 that decreases by only 0.6 is considered no response.
The analysis included 1,241 patients receiving methotrexate as their only disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, but could also be taking prednisone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Their median age was 56, and more than two-thirds were women. Median baseline DAS28 was 5.4 and C-reactive protein level (a measure of inflammation) was 16 g/L.
At 3 months, 40% of patients had achieved a good response, 38% had a moderate response, and 23% had no response.
Persistent pain at 3 months was reported by 29% of patients with good responses, by 70% of those with moderate responses, and by 83% of those with no response.
The researchers also looked at baseline factors that might predict persistent pain, and found that age, greater disability as measured on the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), higher DAS28 score, more tender joints, and worse patient global assessment all were associated with ongoing pain.
They also were particularly interested in factors associated with persistent pain in patients with good responses to treatment, identifying higher baseline HAQ scores (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.4 per unit increase) as being significant.
Persistent pain in the good response subgroup of patients also was associated with less inflammation at baseline as measured on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.81 (95% CI 0.70-0.93) per 10-mm increase.
The association of persistent pain with disability was "not unexpected," as pain and loss of function have been closely linked. And the inverse association between persistent pain and baseline inflammation suggests that "patients with low systemic inflammation at baseline may differ from initially high-inflammation patients in their ability to respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs with decreased pain," they explained.
A significant proportion -- almost one in five -- of patients even reported worsening of pain over the 3 months of initial treatment, the researchers found. Among the good responders, 9% reported worse pain, as did 15% of the moderate responders and 45% of the nonresponders.
Factors associated with worsening pain in the overall cohort included lower disability, fewer tender and swollen joints, worse scores on the DAS28 and patient global assessment, and current smoking. Among those with a good response, worse pain was associated with female sex, higher baseline HAQ and DAS28, and worse patient global assessment and tender joint counts.
Among possible factors contributing to the persistent pain phenomenon were the effects of inflammation of nerves and nociceptive fibers, circulating cytokines, hyperalgesia, and the effects of inflammation on regulation of pain.
The authors found it "interesting" that in the entire cohort and among patients with good clinical responses, subjective findings of tender joints and patient global assessment were less severe among those with persistent pain, making it unlikely that widespread pain or fibromyalgia was present at baseline.
"Instead, it can be assumed that a significant portion of these patients during the disease course may have developed peripheral pain sensitization, which is refractory to both anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory therapy," they noted.
"These results are in line with the hypothesis that a subgroup of early RA patients exhibit pain that is not inflammatory mediated and where non-RA causes and alternative treatment strategies need to be considered," they concluded.
A limitation of the study was the lack of information in the registry about anxiety and depression, which might influence pain.
The study was funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Program, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, the Swedish Rheumatism Association, BeTheCure, and the Swedish Strategic Foundations for Research.
The authors reported no other financial disclosures.
- Reviewed by F. Perry Wilson, MD, MSCE Assistant Professor, Section of Nephrology, Yale School of Medicine and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse Planner
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Insomnia, the inability to sleep adequately. Causes may include poor sleeping conditions, circulatory or brain disorders, a respiratory disorder known as apnea, stress, or other physical or mental disorders. Insomnia is not harmful if it is only occasional; the body is readily restored by a few hours of extra sleep. If, however, it is regular or frequent, insomnia may have harmful effects on other systems and functions of the body.
Treatment of mild insomnia may involve simple improvement of sleeping conditions or such traditional remedies as warm baths, warm milk, or relaxation. Chronic insomnia may require the temporary use of sedatives, hypnosis, or psychotherapy; apnea and its associated insomnia may be treated surgically. The prolonged use of sleeping pills as a relief from frequent or recurring insomnia can have harmful effects. The body tends to build up a tolerance to the medication, necessitating a more potent dosage in order to fall asleep; habitual use can lead to addiction.


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A while ago my mom and I visited Winter the dolphin from Dolphin Tale in Clearwater, Florida.
{bonus teachers get in for FREE}
I think the tale of Winter is inspirational and very fitting for students to relate to. I was so inspired by her story that I wanted to bring Dolphin Tale the book into the classroom for my students to read as a whole. So what do I do create a Donors Choose project for this book!
{Great news half way funded}
{bonus teachers get in for FREE}
{Facts about Winter}
Lives at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Rescued from crab traps in 2005
lost her entire tail and two vertebrates due to this incident
She was not a year old when this happened
Despite the odds learned how to swim like a fish swaying back and forth
A prosthetic liner was created just for her called WintersGel
She does not wear the prosthetic all the time
A book and a movie was made about her remarkable life
{Great news half way funded}


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Enjoy a wonderful evening of food, fellowship, and music featuring FUMC Allen's Chancel Choir, Resonate Praise Team, DARING youth choir, Carillon Bells, and our special guests, the Spring Creek Gospel Band and Tim McLemore.
Some of the songs you will hear are "Victory in Jesus," "Praise His Holy Name," "Have a Little Talk With Jesus," "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart," and "Send It On Down."
We'll serve a home cooked meal in the gym from 5:00pm-6:30pm. The concert starts at 6:30pm in the sanctuary with an ice cream social in the labyrinth following the concert..
We'll collect a love offering at dinner and during the concert to help raise funds to make lighting improvements in the sanctuary. This lighting project is poised to move forward with the infrastructure fee already in place. Our goal is to raise $2,000 to help us purchase two lighting instruments.


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-- Follow England v Germany live for all the build-up to the World Cup second-round clash, plus team news and minute-by-minute commentary from 3pm BST .
Alright alright, so we know about Geoff Hurst and the Russian linesman, 1966 and all that; we know about Gazza's tears, Banks' food poisoning, Bonetti's howler and an inability to hit the net from 12 yards out. But the world doesn't revolve around football, you know? So if England are knocked out against Germany, what other sporting sticks can an England fan beat their German freund with?
European Cup / Champions League - England 11-7 Germany
So we lied before, the world seemingly does revolve around football, but only when it can be used in an argument. England might only have one international trophy compared to Germany's six (the Umbro Cup doesn't seem so worthless now, does it?), but in terms of club football, the English reign supreme. Liverpool and Bayern Munich contribute the most, with five wins apiece, but smaller efforts from the likes of Trevor Francis and Peter Withe tip the balance in favour of England. Incredibly, the European Cup did not leave German or English ownership for 10 years, between 1974 and 1984.
Rugby World Cup - England 1-0 Germany
A-ha! You can't have penalties in this sport, Germany. In fact, drop goals, which are probably the closest thing to them, proved to be England's friend in their 2003 Rugby World Cup win over Australia. Germany have never even played in a World Cup and were recently relegated from the top tier of the European Nations Cup, which is the rugby equivalent of being knocked out of the Anglo-Italia Cup by Bury.
Golf majors - England 30-2 Germany
As England stride on to the majestic 18th green, Germany are standing in a puddle with their trousers turned up trying to find their ball at the 4th. It is an absolute demolition job for the likes of Faldo, Jacklin and Faulkner, who are met with two-time Masters winner Bernhard Langer's futile resistance. It matters not most of these 30 wins came before World War II, Old Carthusians still bang on about their FA Cup win in 1881.
Formula 1 - England 7-7 Germany
England gain a credible draw, despite coming up against car manfacturers such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Porsche. Despite contributions from Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell and John Surtees, the result could have been a lot better for England had Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart not had the temerity of being born north of the border. All seven wins for Germany are courtesy of Michael Schumacher, and his return to the sport this year has something to do with this stalemate. Maybe.
Tennis grand slams - England 0-7 Germany
In the interest of balance and journalistic integrity, Boris Becker and Michael Stich's efforts cannot be ignored, although there is a temptation to put Boris on the England side since he now writes for Telegraph Sport. Becker became the youngest ever winner at Wimbledon in 1985 and then won five more grand slams - two at Wimbledon, two at the Australian Open and one at the US Open. Michael Stich also won at Wimbledon in 1991. Unless Andy Murray is knocked on the head by an Andy Roddick serve and claims English citizenship, don't expect that gap to close any time soon.
Olympic medals - United Kingdom 737-719 Germany
The aforementioned balance and journalistic integrity goes out the window like a Tessa Sanderson javelin. Yes, it's the United Kingdom and yes, the medal counts of West Germany, East Germany and the Unified Team of Germany aren't counted, but it's England v Germany in the World Cup; you'll find more rationality in a bandaged Basil Fawlty.


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This nationally accredited, four-year program prepares students for a variety of careers in the nutrition and dietetics fields, or professional school programs. The program curriculum features courses such as food science, chemistry, physiology, nutrition, and microbiology.
Course Schedule
Freshman Year
|WVUE 191 – First Year Seminar
|PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology
|HN&F 171 – Introduction to Human Nutrition and Foods
|ENGL 101 – Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
|BIOL 101 and 103 – General Biology
|BIOL 102 and 104 – General Biology
|PLSC 105 – Plants and People, Past and Present
|MATH 128 – Plane Trigonometry
Select ONE:
MATH 126A – College Algebra (5-Day)
MATH 126B – College Algebra (4-Day)
For full suggested course schedule, class descriptions and more information on General Education Foundations (GEF) see the course catalog.
Featured Students
Karina Walker
Walker, a two-time graduate of the Davis College, aspires to become a registered dietitian.Read More About Karina


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Tune Hotel - London, Canary Wharf
London, England, United Kingdom (LHR)
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Along with a 24-hour front desk, this smoke-free hotel has express check-in and express check-out. WiFi in public areas is free.
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Game designing icon Tetsuya Mizuguchi dropped by our offices last week to show off his latest mind-boggling chaos puzzle, Every Extend Extra. We'll try to break down this disco kaleidoscope of a game into something human beings can understand, because it's totally nuts and packed with bizarre cosmic mayhem.
The basic idea is that you have a number of little bomb-like objects cruising across the screen, and it's your job as a tiny, spinning, geometric suicide bomber to detonate near them and create explosive chain reactions... oh yeah, and you're timed, so you need to get a certain number of explosions linked together in a limited time.
Occasionally, once the bombs explode, they'll release crystals that come in four different flavors: pink crystals are called Quickens and speed up the whole game, green crystals are simply bonus points, yellow crystals give you a time extension and solid yellow dots serve as time bombs that explode after a short delay.


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I carried out some conversions based on these a few years back as a commission and came up against the exact same problem.
A German colleague who is pretty well versed kind of cleared things up for me when he quite rightly stated that the conversion of Seydlitz is pretty well known but anything concerning Lutzow is pure conjecture and simply an extension of the Seydlitz conversion project, people often turning it into a fantasy project and using the exact same profile/ plan for Seydlitz but giving it the name Lutzow.
It seemed that information out there could not really be taken seriously on Lutzow as the idea of converting her to a carrier may have occurred purely with hindsight later and not during the building phase itself .
In tbe end I used a few of my own ideas on the Lutzow carrier negotiated with my colleague simply to create an alternative profile to Seylitz .
Unfortunately a number of these " world of warships forum style designs" tend to leak out onto the net and before long people begin to believe they were serious designs rather than a 21 century work of art.
--Previous Message--
: Hi--
: Need some expert advice or help. I am
: working on the two KM Admiral Hipper class
: cruisers Luetzow and Seydlits as they would
: have looked if completed as CAs in WW2. My
: client says that their bridge structures
: were different. Groener shows them as exact
: duplicates, i.e., one plan/profile for both
: ships. Does anyone have any references to
: this matter? Photos in published material
: that I have do not help. Any help
: appreciated.
: JOhn
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East Africa, Lewa Conservancy
East Africa
Sheba the CheetahEast Africa is a glorious destination where a tapestry of cultures merge to overwhelm the senses. In this particular area, the smiles of the Maasai greeted me and a young Samburu boy took me on a walking safari. Luckily, the sun was at its peak and wild animals were too hot and lazy to even sniff in my direction.
On the other hand, animals were very keen to approach me back at the lodge. Nestled into a couch in an open living area at the Sirikoi House (at Lewa Conservancy) I sipped a cup of tea, in my own world as I relished the beauty. The owner of the lodge is a conservationist and has adopted a number of wild animals, rearing them from infancy. Earlier that day I delighted in feeding a baby giraffe milk from an over-sized bottle, and giggled as wild birds chased me around the property in hopes of getting my last morsel of bread. This, for a New York City girl, was already quite wild.
Wild. Until a cheetah pounced onto the couch where I was quietly enjoying a cup of tea. I sat frozen as he began to nuzzle me, pleading for some attention. I did what any obliging and terrified person would do and scratched him behind his ears.
Sirikoi House (at Lewa Conservancy) is a piece of heaven where the human and animal worlds reside peacefully.


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PSG close on signing of free agent midfielder Lassana Diarra - source
PARIS -- Free agent Lassana Diarra is closing in on a move to Paris Saint-Germain after coach Unai Emery convinced sporting director Antero Henrique that further depth was required in defensive midfield because of Thiago Motta's fragility, a source has confirmed to ESPN FC.
Diarra, 32, has been unattached since his Al Jazira contract was rescinded before Christmas and PSG have been in talks with the player since before the January transfer window opened.
According to the source, PSG have convinced Diarra to join them and resist the interest of other parties, such as Premier League outfit Manchester United, but the France international had to convince Henrique and the Ligue 1 leaders' medical staff of his physical condition.
Now that Diarra has done that, it is merely a matter of details before the move is ready to be completed.
Motta was expected to return to squad training on Friday but ultimately was not present while it was open to the press and the veteran Italian is unlikely to return to squad to face Lyon, so Adrien Rabiot or Giovani Lo Celso will likely deputise in the deep-lying midfield role once again.
Henrique was keen to hand Diarra a short-term deal, while the former Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and Marseille man wanted 18 months with a lucrative salary. The source added that the two parties have now reached a compromise and the midfielder is expected to sign in the coming days.
Jonathan Johnson covers PSG and the French national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @Jon_LeGossip.
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In the pantheon of meaningless phrases, is there any that ranks higher than "we are where we are"? It's often invoked to move a discussion along and curtail examination of where we actually are. But today we don't know "where we are" at all – not on Brexit, not on growth, not on spending, not on interest rates and certainly not on prospects.
We were warned that as a result of the Brexit vote we were heading for recession. But the stock market has rallied, consumers have kept spending, unemployment has kept falling and now forecasts for growth in the third quarter are being upgraded.
The data is not so encouraging in Scotland, though our jobless rate has now fallen to below that of the UK. And the latest Business Trends Report from BDO Scotland pointed to signs of recovery in business confidence.
But for the UK overall, the signs certainly look more positive. Recent Markit surveys for services, manufacturing and construction all pointed to an upturn since July. The visible trade deficit improved as the weaker pound since the referendum appears to be helping export orders.
Last week the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee said it "now expects less of a slowing in UK GDP growth in the second half of 2016". The Bank's judgement is that growth in the current July-September quarter will now be between 0.2 per cent and 0.3 per cent – markedly higher than its August forecast of 0.1 per cent.
Those who predicted the possibility of a recession following a vote to leave the EU – and they included Bank of England Governor Mark Carney – are having to revise their positions.
No need, then, for more monetary stimulus if things are perking up? Think again. After last week's decision to hold interest rates the consensus conclusion from the Bank's press conference was that a further cut to 0.1 per cent could come in November. It's a rate that we would have once have associated with a national catastrophe or a Great Depression.
Then there is the fiscal stimulus which chancellor Philip Hammond has hinted may come in the Autumn Statement on 23 November.
So, if "we are where we are", where are we exactly? More borrowing or less? Getting better or worse? On the mend or needing more medicine?
And what store can we place by a further cut in interest rates? There is a growing conviction that interest rates have now fallen as far as they can and that the rate cycle may already be on the turn in the US, which saw more positive data last week. Will rates really be lower for longer? Or should we be braced for a bump?
Given that it has been household spending and the consumer sector that has kept the UK economy ticking over, the latest figures showing weakening earnings growth do not augur well. "It therefore looks probable," says Global Insight economist, Howard Archer, "that currently decent consumer purchasing power will be significantly diluted over the coming months as inflation trends higher and earnings growth is limited." And he warns that it is "highly possible" inflation could move above earnings growth later in 2017.
It would help to know whether we are in a growth recession or a growth recovery. But the fact that we don't know for sure explains the current conundrum in economic policy. For the moment we are awaiting for a lift in the Brexit clouds – though there seems little prospect of that in the immediate months ahead.
In Scotland, data signals have not been so positive – though there are signs of business resilience. Some reassurance came with figures last week showing unemployment in Scotland fell by more than 1 per cent over the past three months, taking the rate down to 4.7 per cent. And it was heartening to note Scotch whisky sales overseas have risen for the first time since 2013, with a surge in exports to India.
However, overall Scotland's economic needle is still pointing to slow growth at best, and heavily dependent on consumer spending. This is why the 1.9 per cent fall in Scottish retail sales in August on a like-for-like basis is of concern. Non-food sales were down by 1.7 per cent: "uninspiring" was the verdict of Scottish Retail Consortium director David Lonsdale.
Policy prescriptions in Scotland are split – as they have long been split – between those arguing for more government spending on infrastructure and those putting greater emphasis on the need for cuts in the tax burden on business.
Given the marked reticence that has settled over CBI Scotland over the past 18 month, it has been left to the Scottish Chamber of Commerce to be the effective voice for business in Scotland.
"Our members have indicated that reductions in both VAT and the burden of Corporation Tax would be welcomed, together with a clear forward strategy of investment in the UK's economic infrastructure," said SCC chief Liz Cameron. "The Scottish Government also has the opportunity to head off some of the threat of the expected economic headwinds in 2017 by ensuring that next year's revaluation in Scotland's business rates results in a net benefit to Scotland's businesses, enabling them to invest in jobs and growth."
Meanwhile, some Scots firms are not waiting for Brexit clouds to clear but are moving ahead with investment and expansion. Edinburgh-based John Menzies has just agreed a deal to buy plane refuelling business Asig in a deal worth almost £153 million. The acquisition will strengthen Menzies Aviation's offering at major international gateways such as London Heathrow, San Francisco, Denver and Los Angeles.
So while politicians wring their hands on Brexit worries, the more positive response in business – and particularly in the SME sector – is to chase opportunity and crack on. A familiar response, perhaps, but surely preferable to that vacuous refrain "we are where we are".